LEARN, LAUGH and LIVE

February 2020 Newsletter Registered Charity 1027348 Printed by Country Cousins Ltd https://u3asites.org.uk/northdevoncoast

Committee Notice Board – Keeping You Informed

We give a very warm welcome to new members Patrick Power, Helen and Nigel Hoadley,and Barbara Martin

Annual General Meeting 2020 2pm, Thursday 13th February at the Fortescue Arms,

We need your help in planning our U3A group’s progress in 2020. We therefore invite you to attend our AGM and to participate in its deliberations. Please come as we value your opinion and appreciate your participation. Those not attending the preceding lunch are equally welcome to come.

Our constitution directs that the AGM elects your committee for the following year. Each year three members stand for re-election. As for the individual roles like chair, treasurer etc., these are then decided by the committee. Your committee currently comprises myself (Chair, standing down at the AGM, but staying on the committee), Jo Rosvall (Secretary), Alison Pannell (Treasurer, standing down having served three years in post), Joan Broxholme (Membership Sec.), Rosemary Stewart (Monthly Lunches, standing down — see her report — and Welfare), Marilyn Stobbe, and James Harber. The constitution provides for ten members, excluding any co-opted. Our immediate tasks are: • find people to take over from those standing down. We have a volunteer to become Treasurer, but we are very keen to hear any ideas you have about other possibilities. Please contact Julian Tippett. • strengthen the committee with new people. Roles they could take (besides the above) are: publicity and recruitment, and strengthening the Monthly Lunch team in various ways.

Nominations for candidates (who should be on email) should be sent using the form below to Jo Rosvall, xxx by Wednesday 6th February.

Resolutions, with Proposer and Seconder, should also be sent to Jo at the same address by the same date. Also, we shall reserve some time for general discussion points or questions. If you wish to raise such a point, please submit your point in writing, also by 6th Feb. Note: AGM attendance is for 2020 members only. Renewal forms will be available on the day and can be processed before the meeting. Julian Tippett

...... 

Election of Committee Member for North Coast U3A – 2020 Please return nomination forms, by Thursday 6th February, to: Secretary Coast U3A, xxx

I, ...... Nominate:...... for election to the committee (Proposer’s name in capitals)

Proposer’s signature ………………………………………………………..

I, ...... Nominate:...... for election to the committee (Seconder’s name in capitals)

Seconder’s signature ………………………………………………………..

I accept the nomination ...... (Nominee’s signature)

Membership

If it is not too late, I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. We are nearly at the end of the renewal period and this is just a gentle reminder to those members who have not yet renewed. Renewal forms are available at the coffee mornings and also the monthly lunches. It can be done by cheque along with the renewal form posted to my home or you can pay by BACS but I still require a completed renewal form to enable me to keep the database up to date. I would like to thank you all for your help and support.

Kind regards

Joan Broxholme Membership secretary

Monthly Lunches and Talks: 2nd Thursday (bar Aug and Dec) Contact Rosemary Stewart Tel: xxx email [email protected] ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO THE LUNCHES

Splendid that our January New Year party lunch at the Golf Club was great fun and much enjoyed by our members. Members Flower Power /Sixties costumes topped all expectations and added enormously to the party spirit. Manager Dean apologised that the service was slow because of staff absence. Consequently, we ran late for the entertainment but Martin and Sarah Fowler gave a cracking performance to appreciative applause. They declare we are their favourite audience and are looking forward to returning for next New year’s lunch 14th January 2021 so that’s a very advance date for your diary!

OUR FEBRUARY 13th LUNCH will be at the Fortescue Arms, Woolacombe, followed by our AGM. To end on a happy high note, ready for Valentines Day and to send us home smiling, Katie Mallett will read three of her poems - from poignant to merry. We have amazing talent in our members and Katie has just won a national competition so come and enjoy this finale. You are welcome to join us for the AGM and to hear Katie even if you are not lunching. This is the last lunch that I will be arranging since, after six years, I am stepping down as Monthly Lunches Organiser. Volunteers to take over all or any of the sum parts - booking speakers, venues, confirming attendance etc would be warmly welcomed. I can attest we have the loveliest, most supportive members imaginable who have seen me through more than one disaster and made the post as organiser a privilege and a joy.

MARCH 12th LUNCH will be at the Golf Club, when Nick Mollart, the chair of trustees of Museum, will give a presentation about Ilfracombe High Street. I look forward to seeing you there!

Rosemary

Coffee Morning 4th Friday Every Month (not August or December) 10.30am at The Lantern Centre, High Street Marilyn Stobbe xxx xxx

We offer a warm welcome to U3A members and guests or family to join us for our monthly U3A coffee morning where we meet up with friends for coffee, tea and biscuits.

Entrance is £2 per person which includes the refreshments and a ticket for a fun raffle. Take stairs or lift to the first floor.

The last meeting was typical in that we all enjoyed very convivial chat in warm comfortable surroundings. There was a real buzz in the room. People had been doing Gill Shadfar’s excellent quiz, and when it came to the answers there was a lot of amusement in comparing people’s answers.

Please feel free to bring a friend along to let them get a taste of our U3A.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday 28th February

Interest Groups /Events timetable – Feb 2020

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sa Sun

1 2 Jim’s Sunday Lunch 3 Singing4Fun 4 Craft 5 Art 6 Shakespeare 7 8 9 French Conv Italian Conv

10 Family 11 12 Art 13 Monthly 14 Ramblers 15 16 History French Conv Lunch and Bridge AGM 17 Discuss 2 18 Novel R 19 Art 20 21 Deadline for 22 23 Fran’s Geology French Conv Italian Conv Newsletter Sunday Lunch Singing4Fun entries

24 Family 25 Pub Lunch 26 Art 27 Life Story 28 Mindfulness 29 History Discuss 1 Coffee Morning French Conv Bridge

North Devon Coast U3A Interest Groups

Bridge Convener: Ruth Hardy Tel: xxx) Alternate Wednesdays 6.30 – 8.30 Brookdale Rooms New members welcome It’s not too late to join us. We have players of all abilities & help each other.

Dates: Feb 12 and 26th

Crafts. Convener: Barbara Mills Tel: xxx Norma Kenton Tel: xxx 1st Tuesday 2pm at Brookdale Rooms.

February 4th, the Craft Group will be doing Daz moulding clay

Discussion Group 1 Convener: Linda Thomas Tel: xxx 4th Wednesday 2pm at xxx, xxx

We meet again on 26th February at 2.00pm at my house. It was a great pleasure to welcome a new member to the U3A and to our group in the January meeting.

Headlines and clippings of interest from the previous month will start our lively conversations as usual and I’m sure that the new Britain will be a hot topic. We will decide on a list of new topics and interest for the upcoming meetings, but as usual the latest news and items of public interest are ever changing, so whatever occurs, we will pick up the threads and run with it! If any U3A members would like to join in with our group, please call me to make arrangements. xxx, you will be most welcome.

Discussion Group 2. Conveners: Margaret Kempson Tel: xxx, and Janet Gibbins Tel:xxx 3rd Monday 1.30pm Brookdale Rooms.

Mon 17th February:- We shall continue with a wide range of topics. Janet will miss both the Feb and March meetings so please liaise with Margie. Over the last year we have had an average attendance of 11 from a membership of 18. Thanks and Happy New Year to all! We are quite a vocal group but we allow all opinions to be heard without offence as that is the essence of debate. Come and join us and bring your topics along!! You will be made most welcome. Tea/coffee and biscuits provided. £1 pp for room hire.

Family History Convener: Joan Broxholme Tel: xxx 2nd and 4th Mondays 2-4pm at Ilfracombe Library

Here are the dates for our Family History group : February .... Monday 10th and Monday 24th at 2pm. Cost £2.00 to include tea, coffee and biscuits

I have 2 or 3 spaces available for us to delve into our family history!!! We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month at the Ilfracombe Library in the Candar where we can access our families history using Ancestry UK on the libraries desktop computers. You can also bring your own laptops to work on if you prefer. Why not give me a ring on xxx to arrange a taster session. It is amazing what we can find out about our ancestors. We have a happy, friendly group who are willing to help and you will be made very welcome.

French Conversation Conveners: Jo Rosvall and Des Hume Tel: xxx Wednesday 2-4, 1st and 3rd Wed, or 2nd and 4th Wed, depending on which group you are in.

Our year ended on a jolly and positive note when our two groups met for a combined social event "chez nous". Since then both groups re-commenced our working afternoons. We have welcomed Mme Brigitte Rushmer who will provide invaluable advice on pronunciation and will also give an added 'soupcon' of French culture. Currently, we have a few spaces.

Garden Visits. Waiting for new convenor or two to volunteer to compile a 2020 programme of visits. Plenty of members & many suggestions for lovely gardens - just need someone to combine the two.

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 5

Geology and Environment. Convener: Margaret Sutcliffe Tel: xxx 3rd Monday 2.30 pm

We shall meet at Margaret’s house on Monday 17th February. Margaret will show a film by the mathematician Hannah Fry “A Day in the Life of the Earth".

We are a small group who, in the winter, have indoor meetings at Margaret’s house. This limits numbers that can fit in and currently we are full. However, in the summer months we try to organise field trips, sharing cars, and any U3A member is welcome to come on these outings. Keep an eye on the newsletter.

History Conveners: Jan Gibbins Tel: xxx and Margie Kempson xxx

We are looking forward to our trip to Bristol on Tuesday March 24th. Participants will be contacted nearer the time with pickup times. Any questions or to go on the wait list, please phone Margie as Janet is away.

Margie Kempson:- xxx

Italian Conversation Coordinator: Julian Tippett (xxx) 1st and 3rd Thursday 7 pm at xxx xxx

We have six members, a good number for a conversation group although we could fit someone else in. We follow the BBC Bongiorno Italia books and DVDs, in an informal non-intensive way. We are also now starting an ‘easy reader’ book — Murder in the Marathon Dates: February 6th and 20th

Mindfulness Convener: Ros Layland Tel: xxx 4th Friday 3pm at xxx

We are exploring all aspects of mindfulness and meditation by following a course from the book 'Mindfulness a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world'. We have just had this months meeting and we were joined by a new member, Brigitte Rushmer who has recently joined U3A. Next meeting February 28th

National Trust visits Convener: Rosemary Stewart Tel xxx

2020 Filers Coach Excursions to National Trust houses & gardens:

We have made block reservations for seven Filers coach day outings to National Trust houses & gardens (includes 2 non NT) through 2020. Members who expressed interest last year have been sent details on booking. Any more members who might be interested in some or all of the outings are asked to contact Rosemary for full information. NB In order to qualify for group discount, it is vital that members make it clear to Filers at the time of making their booking that they are part of the ‘U3A Rosemary Stewart group’. Hopefully we will benefit to the extent of a cream tea or two! All venues offer lunches & teas. Our first outings & costs of coach travel & entry are as follows:

APRIL Wednesday 6th April MONTACUTE HOUSE NT £18 Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture. The Long Gallery features over 60 Tudor & Elizabethan portraits A beautiful garden surrounds the house. It is a place of beauty & wonder.

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 6

MAY Tuesday 12th May HESTERCOMBE £27 The extensive beautiful gardens offer a unique combination three centuries of contrasting design: Georgian, Victorian & Edwardian with stunning input from Edwin Lutyens & Gertrude Jekyll. The restored 17th Century water mill complex provides award-winning visitor facilities: cafes, art gallery & 2nd hand book shop.

JUNE Sunday 7th June TYNTESFIELD HOUSE NT £18 The house showcases the extraordinary lives & possessions of four generations of the Gibbs family. The gardens has flower-filled terraces, a productive kitchen garden & woodland to explore.

FURTHER OUTINGS TO: JULY Tues 28th KILVER COURT AUGUST Sat 29th BOWOOD SEPT Thurs 3rd STOURHEAD SEPT Thurs 24th Brixham & COLETON FISHACRE OCTOBER Sat 3rd KILLERTON

Novel Readers Convener: Betty Williams Tel: xxx 3rd Tuesday 2.30pm at xxx unless notified otherwise.

Happy New Year, everyone. And welcome Marilyn Lisle who has bravely come aboard to face the monthly challenge of reading a book. The Group had Robert Harris’s “Conclave” to discuss, and, indeed, it provoked much discussion. We now have Graham Greene’s “masterpiece” [John Updike] “The Power and the Glory” to occupy our minds. Next meeting: 18 February.

Practical Art. Conveners: Robert Hobson Tel: xxx Roger Styles Tel: xxx Weds 10am - 12 noon. Every Wednesday Morning at Two Lanes, Belvedere, off Springfield Road.

Practical Art is a friendly informal group of U3A members who enjoy painting together. We are a group who have varied levels of skill from beginners to those who deserve to be called ‘artists’. This group is now full. Any new members interested will be placed on a waiting list.

Pub Lunch 0n Tuesday. Convener: Joan Cory Tel: xxx

th The February Tuesday pub lunch will be on the 25 at the Hele Bay Hotel. This friendly group would love to welcome new members. Please contact Joan Cory xxx for details.

Ramblers. Convener: Julian Tippett Tel: xxx 2nd Friday 10.30am

Friday 14th February 2020 — Rockford and the East Lyn River

Length / time: 3 miles / 2 hours 15 mins before lunch. 0.5 miles after. Start point: Community Centre CP — SS765481 Lunch: Rockford Inn

We’ll walk down to Rockford and then do a circuit returning to the pub along the East Lyn river. After lunch we retrace steps back to Brendon. We’re parking in Brendon (£2 fee) to keep the small pub car park free.

Each month we choose a route from our glorious countryside of three miles or a little over, typically ending at or near a pub for a convivial lunch. In recent times we have numbered about ten hardy souls. Should you wish to join in just turn up at the meeting point for a 10.30 start, or consult me about anything you are unsure about. Julian.

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 7

Recording my Life Story Convener: Stuart Coslett Tel: xxx 4th Thursday 2pm xxx

The Personal Writing group goes from strength to strength. In addition to sharing what we have written, we are beginning to share our experiences of writing, and how we plan our work. As a result we are all developing as writers and producing original and interesting pieces. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 27th February when we will be reading memories of our schooldays.

Shakespeare on DVD – Convener: Linda Macpherson Tel: xxx 1st Thursday 1pm At member’s home in Ilfracombe

Our February meeting is on Thursday 6th at 1pm. The play is Julius Caesar. This Hollywood b&w film version pits 2 great schools of acting up against each other. Hollywood's finest method actors, Marlon Brando and James Mason alongside John Gielgud's traditional British verse-speaking. Who wins? you can decide for yourself. I'll just point out that Brando got the Oscar, but then he got the best speech, so he only had to not mess it up. His Friends, Romans, Countrymen is the highlight of this production and masterfully delivered. If you've always wondered what that was all about, this is your chance to find out. Deborah Kerr and Greer Garson give splendid support.

Singing For Fun – Convener: Jennie Tusveld Tel: xxx 1st and 3rd Monday 10 to 11.30am At Brookdale Rooms. Come along and join the fun.

February dates, 3rd and 17th

Another successful year has flown by. I would like to thank all my group for their support. I am very happy to run this group as it is a fun morning and very satisfying. New members most welcome.

Jim’s Sunday Lunch. Convener: Jim Harber Tel: xxx 1st Sunday 12.30 for 1

All U3A members are welcome, subject to space and prior booking. Jim asks you to confirm bookings with him by 5pm the Tuesday before the lunch.

February 2nd lunch will be at The Carlton Hotel, Runnacleave Rd, Ilfracombe March 1st at Ye Olde Globe, April 5th at The Crown, Join us for a happy Sunday lunch with friends !

Fran’s Sunday Lunch. Convener: Fran Barnett Tel: xxx 3rd or 4th Sunday

February 23rd Imperial Hotel, 12.15 for 12.45 with our special prepaid deal. March 29th (avoiding Mothering Sunday), Wards, St James Place, Ilfracombe 12.30 April 19th The New Inn, , EX32 7LX. Cabaret booked! 12.45

Changed Your Email Address or Moved House? Please send changes of address, email or phone to Joan Broxholme xxx

Email:xxx

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 8

For your interest

My Life in Horticulture – a talk by Ian Lawrence Ian has worked in many parts of the country and in many roles during his working life, which he will tell us about. He finally retired in 2016 and is now living in North Devon.

TAW U3A Garden Group are holding an Open Meeting on Thursday 19th March 2020 at the Barnstaple Hotel on the Road commencing at 2.30p.m.

The cost will be £2.00 per person, Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available from 2.00 – 2.30 pm at a cost of £2.50 per person. We will also hold our usual raffle.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND, whether you belong to the Garden Groups or not, and why not bring along a friend. To assist with seating and catering it would be helpful to let Jean know if you will be attending by Tursday 12th March by contacting her on 01271 831126.

Men’s Shed, Ilfracombe

Men’s Shed Ilfracombe is a place for men to get together in a fun, social atmosphere and share DIY, making and repairing skills for the benefit of local community projects. For more information email [email protected] or call 01271 855337 The Basement, Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium, 6 High Street, Ilfracombe.

Welfare Rosemary Stewart is our Welfare Officer Tel xxx

Thanks to people who have let me know of members falling sick or taken to hospital so I’ve been able to get in touch & offer help - shopping or whatever - if needed. An unpleasant chest infection has affected several members, including me, & I can confirm it takes some time to fully recover. Allow yourself that extra time. The one consolation is that being confined to bed saves facing the bitter temperature. Early morning & evening ice has proved a hazard with a couple of falls & members are urged to be wary. A reminder that persons suffering from Parkinson’s disease are exempt from paying Council tax - be sure to apply for yourself or if living with anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Early signs of spring have appeared & the daylight hours are slowly getting lighter: hang on for the warmth to return!

The Deadline for Conveners’ Newsletter entries is 5pm FRIDAY February 21st Please email or phone: Fran Barnett xxx Tel: xxx

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 9

1st Monday 2nd Monday 3rd Monday 4th Monday am Singing for fun am am Singing for fun am pm pm Family History pm Geology&Environment pm Family History Discussion Group 2 1st Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday am am am am pm Crafts pm pm Novel Readers pm Tuesday Pub Lunch 1st Wednesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Wednesday 4th Wednesday am Practical Art 1 am Practical Art 1 am Prctical Art 1 am Practical Art 1 pm pm pm pm Discussion Group 1 French Conversation French Conversation French Conversation French Conversation eve alt weeks Bridge eve alt weeks Bridge eve alt weeks Bridge eve alt weeks Bridge 1st Thursday 2nd Thursday 3rd Thursday 4th Thursday am am am am pm Shakespeare on DVD pm Monthly Lunch pm pm Recording Life Story eve Italian Conv eve Italian Conv 1st Friday 2nd Friday 3rd Friday 4th Friday am am Ramblers am am Coffee Morning pm Mindfulness 1st Saturday 2nd Saturday 3rd Saturday 4th Saturday 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday Jim’s Sunday Lunch Fran’s Sunday Lunch or Fran’s Sunday Lunch

North Devon Coast U3A Committee contact details.

Julian Tippett Chair xxx Email: Jo Rosvall Secretary xxx Email: Alison Pannell Treasurer xxx Email: Joan Broxholme Membership Secretary xxx Email: Rosemary Stewart Lunch Sec and Welfare xxx Email: Marilyn Stobbe Committee member xxx Email: James Harber Committee member xxx Email:

Printed courtesy of:

Country Cousins Ltd, Bicclescombe Park, Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 8JN Tel 01271862834 www.country-cousins.com email [email protected]

Printed courtesy of Country Cousins Ltd 10