Summer 2021 Newsletter

Reg. Charity No. 1112735

SUMMER 2021 NEWSLETTER

1 NORTON RADSTOCK Reg. Charity No. 1112735

The u3a A positive and creative approach to retirement. “Learn, laugh, live”

All meetings are open to members. Non-members may attend a maximum of one Speaker Meeting/Coffee Morning and one group meeting - if numbers permit - on a trial basis before joining. Annual membership fee: £12 per person.

Extra charges: Coffee Mornings - 50p, Speaker Meetings - £1.

Committee Members

Chairman Neil Gordon 07708 805289

Vice-Chair Ginny Edwards 07740 493789

Treasurer Robert Jamieson 01761 470036

Secretary David Pearson 01761 232081

Press Officer Ginny Edwards 07740 493789

Membership Secretary (Vacant)

Safeguarding Officer Linda Dyer 01373 812065

Groups Co-ordinator Mary Piper 01749 938650

Member Dave Connor 01761 239077

Member Colin Tincknell 01761 413414

2 Non-Committee

Newsletter Editor John Clutterbuck 01761 416059 Technical Editor Keith Redding [email protected] Welfare Officer Maureen Burdall 01761 232275 First Aiders Andrew Green, Margaret Light Speaker Secretary Mark Crocker 01761 419288 Webmaster Sue Green [email protected] Meeters/& Greeters: To join the team, please contact: Helen Pease 01761 470077 Somer Centre (Colin Taylor - Manager) 01761 419703 Fire Marshall Margaret Light

Notice to Members: Please be aware that your names, addresses and telephone numbers are held on a central database and released internally on a ‗need to know‘ basis solely for essential contact purposes.

Please send items for the newsletter by email to [email protected], or by post to John Clutterbuck, 25 Somer Avenue MSN, BA3 2SB.

There are no Monthly Bulletins at present, because of the lock-down. However, important update Bulletins may be posted on our website at appropriate times.

Please Note: Deadline for the Autumn 2021 Newsletter is

Monday August 2nd

Welfare Get Well cards and telephone calls have been sent to all known members. Please let us know as soon as possible if any member is not well or has passed away. Maureen Burdall (232275)

3 From Your Chairman

Dear friends and fellow u3a members, The 2021 AGM is nigh. I am therefore launching an appeal to you! Please give serious thought to either volunteering to serve on the committee, or proposing someone to fill one of the upcoming positions. We have a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Webmaster and 2 committee members. We desperately need the following:- Vice-Chairman, Membership Secretary, Speaker Secretary, Groups Co-ordinator, Safeguarding Officer, Charity Rebate Liaison Officer, also two more committee members! The 5 current committee members are working hard on your behalf to keep the group viable! BUT unless we can fulfil the vacant positions the group is in serious trouble and in danger of having to close down! Please do not ignore this appeal - come to the aid of your u3a! Neil Gordon, Chairman [email protected]

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NB. Neil is moving away from the area for work soon, and Colin Tincknell has agreed to take over as Chairman. However, other proposals are welcome. Ed.

Sixteen Questions – with Bob Piper Our u3a Secretary for 6 years

1. What's your earliest memory, Bob?

My earliest memory is from when I was about 3 years old. Someone bought me a cowboy outfit with pistols and everything. Apparently, I wouldn‘t take it off for nearly a week after my birthday party!

The earliest known photo of me is this one taken at about the same age, as I return from a trip to the local shop to buy some fish.

I am told by my older sister that it was considered to be quite safe for me to be sent the half a mile to the local shops on my own with a note from my mother and some money.

2. Where were you brought up?

I was born in Plymouth in 1947 (on my brother‘s 11th birthday). I also have a sister who is 8 years older than me living in Worle and she is also a U3A member, in Weston-super-Mare.

3. Your family background - toffs or toughs?

My father had just left the Royal Marines as a Provost Sergeant responsible for enforcing discipline, and then he took up a career as a policeman in the Admiralty Police Force. So, he was definitely a toughie. My mother was a seamstress and she made hundreds of Marine uniforms during the war years. She would walk from our house on the east side of Plymouth, to the Marines‘ barracks on the western side to make her deliveries, a distance of about 7 miles. So, she was also a toughie.

4. At school – swot or slacker?

I enjoyed all of my school life. In the early years I was happy to just go along with whatever was required and I took a relaxed attitude to schoolwork. However, somehow, I passed the 11-plus exam, and I went to Sutton High School in Plymouth where I was always in the ‗C‘ stream.

However, I had an epiphany when I was about 16. I told my careers master that I wanted to earn the same salary as my father when I started my first job (about £1,000 per annum). I was told if that is what I wanted, then I would have to study hard and go to university to get a good degree. So I did, and I was the first boy in my school from the ‗C‘ stream to do so.

5. Were you inspired by anyone other than your father?

I had no vocation or special inspiration, but I used my engineering degree to good effect, and I did earn more than my father when I started my first real job at the age of 21 with Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons as a Site Engineer on the M32 Bristol Parkway, and this was the springboard to a number of other projects in Bristol and in Wales.

One interesting project was the Colston Centre (now renamed) in Bristol which utilised a particularly innovative construction technique for its 17 stories. I became the ―expert‖ in this technique, and it was utilised on many other high-rise buildings including the Inland Revenue Office in Cardiff.

6. How and when did you meet your partner?

I met Mary soon after I came to Bristol with my first job. Our first meeting was at the Grand Spa in Clifton and we were married within 9 months in Bristol. Mary was a BT telephonist in the days when you could actually talk to a human if you called on the telephone. Her impeccable telephone manner enabled her to later become a receptionist with Price Waterhouse in Bristol.

7. What are the highlights of your social/family life?

I have used some of the time during Lockdown to write my family history and so I have thought about this question quite a lot. Our family is small, I only have my sister still alive, and Mary has no living relatives from her side of the family. Our youngest son lives in Paulton, and he does something secret working for Thales on radar and defence systems; while our eldest son went to work and live in Singapore twelve years ago, where he married, and we now have our one granddaughter who is 10 years old. We had just returned from visiting them in January 2020, before the Coronavirus hit. We have made 13 trips in the 11 years since their wedding.

I would say that the highlight of my family life has been the success that both of our sons have achieved and how they have made their own way in the world.

8. Are you sporty?

Can a 73 year old still be sporty? I am not sure. However, I was sporty in my school days when I played rugby for my school at all levels and nearly played for Devon Schoolboys - if one of my friends hadn‘t been selected instead. Still, no hard feelings, and I suppose that is the spirit of ―being sporty‖. In later life, I enjoyed playing badminton at club level until a ruptured Achilles Tendon largely put an end to that form of exercise.

9. Do you have any special hobbies?

My main hobby is photography and I really enjoy opera and art, and these interests are reflected in the u3a Groups that I lead or contribute to. Having retired in 2010, I volunteered as a Gallery Guide at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, and I really enjoyed this role which just enhanced my love and interest in art from the Renaissance and up to the present day.

10. How long have you lived in this area?

Having come to live and work in Bristol in 1968, we moved to Timsbury in 1973 where we lived for about 4 years. Then after a short spell in Trowbridge, we moved to Paulton in 1978 where we lived until we moved recently in 2016 to Wells.

11. When did you join the U3A?

I joined Norton Radstock u3a in 2011 and became its Secretary the same year. In all I have been Secretary for 6 years in two periods up to now.

12. What U3A projects have you been involved with?

In addition to my role on the Committee and my involvement with various groups I have also instigated and led two long-term Shared Learning Projects for our U3A. The first SLP was concerned with the Roman Hoard of 17,577 coins known as the Beau Street Hoard, in Bath.

8 Working on the Beau Street Hoard with Graham and Doug, a very interesting project for us all.

13. And the other SLP?

The second SLP was a project based on the photographic archive of Downside Abbey and School which continued right up until the pandemic last year. Having moved to Wells in 2016, we have also become members of Wells U3A, whilst continuing our membership of Norton Radstock.

14. What does U3A membership mean to you?

I am a firm believer in the benefits that members can derive from U3A and my hope is that more and more people will do so for a long time to come.

9 15. Your future role?

Having been Secretary for 6 years now, I am standing down at the next AGM largely because we are no longer in the Norton Radstock U3A catchment area. I am also taking up an offer of employment with the Office of National Statistics relating to Census 2021 during the second quarter of this year.

16. How will we cope?

David Pearson has agreed to take over the Secretary‘s role from me, and I am more than confident that he will do a very good job when he is elected. Mary is also standing down as the Groups Coordinator, and a replacement is currently being sought. We both remain committed to Norton Radstock U3A, and we will still be involved as Group Leaders, and contributors to other groups. Bob ————————————————————————————-

Your Committee needs your help! The Committee has recently lost two members due to personal and family reasons, and a further two members will be standing down at the next AGM after serving on the Committee for 10 years between them. All of this means that the Committee need two new members to be co-opted now in preparation for the transitioning of key roles in the Spring of 2021 without which our u3a cannot continue. Please come and join us – we are friendly bunch and we will provide all of the help you need to enable you to make a significant contribution towards the running of your u3a now, and in the future. Remember the u3a ethos For the members by the members. Please contact any of the current Committee Members or email [email protected]

10 From the Third Age Trust u3a Day, 2nd June 2021, is set to celebrate the new experiences that come from being in your third age. The annual event, which will take place in Volunteer Week on the first Wednesday in June, is intended to show the amazing and diverse things that our members get up to and challenge preconceptions of what being an older adult means.

On a national level, the 2021 event will be enhanced by the multitude of projects, activities, outcomes and new approaches to communication that have emerged as a consequence of the 2020 Pandemic Lockdown period.

It is also recommended that as many individual members sign up to the national online newsletter (www.u3a.org.uk/newsletter) to receive regular updates as to advice and measures being put in place during this unprecedented time.

Let’s look forward to a time to celebrate the wonderful organisation that is u3a!

National u3a Day Publicity Event As part of the publicity week for the u3a nationally we hope to have an information stall at the Farmers Market on Saturday 5th June at Hollies Garden, MSN from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. The aim is to publicise the u3A nationally and Norton/Radstock u3a in particular. Now we need to think up some publicity activities! Please contact a Committee Member with your bright ideas! ————————————————————————————————--

Equipment Available We have some equipment available which can be borrowed and used by any member for u3a purposes (as and when activities re- start):- A digital projector and screen; a laminator; a portable microphone and speaker (although it has to be plugged in to the mains in order to be used). This equipment is stored at the Somer Centre. To borrow the equipment, please contact a committee member.

11 Northern Somerset Association of u3a branches

As members will know, Norton/Radstock u3a are members of the local Network of 11 u3a groups who meet on a regular basis and organise events and seminars for their members. It has a new Constitution which follows the template version provided by the Third Age Trust ('the Trust') and has what is termed a National Affiliation Agreement with the Trust and a licence to use the u3a logo. There are 70 such local Networks in the UK which are seen as essential in communicating Trust work and activities to members, Of course, much of the proposed Network activity in the last months has been curtailed due to the virus.

The Network has continued throughout the Covid crisis to meet on a regular basis, with much discussion about the effects of the Covid virus on u3a activities; and the post-virus situation, which includes the issues of u3a groups starting up when regulations permit, and how groups can continue with meetings, coffee mornings etc. etc. There are clear indications that all u3a groups could have less members renewing in 2021; a challenge given that many payments will continue having to be made, i.e. Trust subscriptions (which will rise to £4.00 per member in 2022) and the TAM magazine which must be pre-ordered. Norton/Radstock will continue to purchase the TAM magazine for all members/couples who have returned their renewal forms.

The Network has discussed at length the precarious situation of some member u3a groups without enough people to fill officer and committee posts. Some are thinking the unthinkable, that they may have to close; u3a groups cannot function without officers or a committee. To assist with this problem the Northern Somerset Network has organised a series of ZOOM sessions led by experienced officers, for all members to learn about the different roles, with the expectation that members will come forward to save their u3a. Even groups such as Norton/Radstock will need to review the situation in December 2021 as there are specific wind-up procedures which have to be followed.

Norton/Radstock is represented on the Northern Somerset Network by Bob Piper and Neil Gordon.

Colin Tincknell OBE, Northern Somerset Network Chairman 12 SEVEN YEARS FROM INDIA TO BRISTOL ON AN ENFIELD BULLET!

Using the Professional version of ZOOM purchased by our U3A, on 8th February we enjoyed a talk by Jacqui Furneaux who revealed the story of her unexpected and unplanned lengthy journey through 20 countries with her trusty 500cc motorbike. It told of the reasons for this epic trip and how a six-month holiday became a seven year way of life in Asia, Australasia and the Americas. Jacqui had to become a mechanic and adapt to life on dusty roads and goat tracks from the mountains to the sea, through barren deserts to lush jungles.

Topics covered included:- How it all started; the 500cc Enfield Bullet motorcycle; the travel method and tips on how to do it; benefits and disadvantages of being female in this activity; triumph over adversity; people met along the way; highs and lows, fun and fear!

The talk lasted for about an hour and it was peppered with pictures, but this was NOT a slide show of beautiful landscapes and sunsets. It was not only interesting to motorcyclists and travellers, but to all of us who could do with a bit of inspiration to follow a dream during these difficult times. Jacqui‘s book ―Hit the Road Jac!‖ is available from her website http:// www.jacquifurneaux.com/the-book.html Bob Piper 13

My Tanzanian Adventure Ian Williamson

March 8th Speaker Meeting on Zoom.

Ian, who's in his early seventies, fund-raises for Somerset-based St.Margaret's Hospice, which cares for local people with life-limiting illnesses. He spoke about a 2-week trip he made to East Africa, flying out to Kilimanjaro Airport in November 2019. It was a wild-life tour rather than a mountaineering one, though he hopes to return later this year for the actual climb.

First stop with local guide Moses was the Weru Weru River Lodge, where glacial melt-water gushes down from the mountain. Then they were taken on a four-hour drive to the Nogorongoro Crater Conservation Area, with sightings of wildebeest, hippo, zebra, giraffe, and best of all, a pride of lions – from the open back of a truck.

Then came a hike on foot to a tented camp at another crater, Olmoti. Here there was a 5pm curfew, and they had an armed Ranger guarding them against marauding animals overnight. Later, at a Maasai village they heard an elder talking about his family life; and visited a Primary School, with upwards of 600 kids. Were all of them boys?

The tour continued over the open plains around a salt-lake with lots of flamingos. Then eventually a rather hairy thousand-metre descent – on foot - into the Great Rift Valley, then on by truck to Lake Natron, and more flamingos... Later came a visit to the spectacular Engare Sero waterfall, wading waist-deep through a river and over slippery rocks to get there. On the last day there was a stop at the so-called 'God Crater', before a 4-hour drive back to the airport. All in all, quite an exhilarating experience!

14 Group Meetings Timetable - eventually

Group Week Time Venue Leader

MONDAY

Speaker 2nd 2.00 pm Somer Centre Andy Green 410026 Meeting

Art Appreciation 3rd 2.00 pm Varies Penny Lloyd 415270 Mary Piper 01749 938650

Pastel Painting 1st & 3rd 10.00 am Somer Small Hall Mike Hoskins 413969

Solos 1 1st 10.30 am Jays Bar, Pat Williams 432630 3rd 10.30 am Centurion Hotel Vera Harper 415360 MSN

TUESDAY

Bluebell Last 2.00 pm Bluebell Rise Margaret Light 417764 Readers

Play Reading 1st 2.15 pm Somer Small Hall Gwen Hoskins 413969

Guitar Alternate 10.00 am ―The Cellar‖ Charmain Gay 232785 Paulton Memorial Hall

Psychology Alternate 2.00 pm Old Town Hall, Andy Green 410026 Months

Red Devils 2nd 10.30 am Varies Pat James 410589 Reading

Table Tennis Weekly 2.00 pm Pratten‘s Chris Satchel 417136

15 Group Week Time Venue Leader

WEDNESDAY Art Weekly 10.00 am Somer Small Hall Avis Heley 418490 Geraldine Hayes 413562

Computing 2nd 10.00 am Somer Centre – Brian James 410589 Comm. room

Creative Writing Alternate 9.45 am TBA Hazel Williams 402552 1 Current Affairs 2nd 2.00 pm Somer Centre Barbara Brophy 436198

Digital Monthly 2.00 pm Varies Bob Piper 01749-938650 Photography

Opera Last 2.00 pm Varies Mary Piper 01749 938650 Poetry Reading Last 10.00 am 18 Rackvernal Rd Gwen Hoskins 413969

Recorder Alternate 11.00 m Various Wendy Nelson 479606

Scrabble 1st & 3rd 12.00 pm Methodist Hall, Jo Orchard 432648 Radstock Singing for Alternate 2.00 pm Somer Small Hall June Russell 452750 Pleasure

Solos 3 Monthly 10.30 am White Hart, MSN Dilys Abbot 07773-366549

THURSDAY Chess 2nd & 10.30 am George Hotel, Nigel Marshall 241646 4th Gurney Slade

Crazy for Uke Weekly 10.00 am Methodist, Paulton Sue Green 410026

Family History 2nd 10.30 am MSN Library Carol Channon 233580

History of our 3rd 2.15 pm Leader‘s home Felicity Taylor 420871 times Sorel Higginson 412229

Mah Jong Alternate 2.00 pm Methodist, Paulton Gerry Burdall 232275

Music 4th 10.00 am Westfield Bill Whatley 418072 Appreciation

Recorder Weekly 10.00 am Holcombe Noel Avis 232040 Ensemble

16 Group Week Time Venue Leader FRIDAY

Badminton Weekly 10.00 am Chilcompton Linda Dyer Village Hall 01373 812065

Creative Writing Monthly pm TBA Hazel Williams 402552 2

Mahjong for Alternate pm Timsbury June Jamieson 470036 Beginners

Rocks & Ruins 1st 2.30 pm Varies John Clutterbuck 416059

Rummikub 2nd/4th 2.00 pm Radstock Eunice Campbell Methodist Hall 434151

Solos 2 1st & 3rd 10.30 am Centurion Hotel Pat James 413467 Sheila Darvill 419773

Spanish Weekly 10.30 am Somer Small Hall Chris Sparkes 568795 David Bryant 402573

Table Tennis Weekly 2.00 pm Pratten‘s Chris Satchel 417136

VARIOUS

Bird Watching Varies Varies Jacqui Butt 437746 Linda Godwin 470352

Cycle Group Weekly Varies Dave Connor 239077

Garden Group Varies Varies Colin TIncknell 413414

Theatre Visits Varies Varies Juliet Moore 415326

Wine Varies M-S-N Colin Tincknell 413414 Appreciation

Downside SLP Weekly am or pm Monastic Library, Bob Piper on Tues Downside 01749-938650 & Thurs

17 Group News ART APPRECIATION Last August we decided as a group to try Zoom and keep our Group motivated.

We looked at the work of the National Trust. During Lockdown the architect George Clarke produced television programmes on important houses and gardens We learnt how they fared with limited staff and how wildlife had encroached on their grounds.

In November we looked at the paintings of the Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, who learnt her craft in her fathers workshop .Her rape by the artist Agostino Tassi was the talk of Rome. Still she managed to overcome her difficulties and become a famous artist in her own right; a big accomplishment in the 17th century.

We realized this January that we were still a long way from meeting up, so on-line we discussed the works of Leonardo da Vinci and the Impressionists.

In April we will look at the work of great photographers, and seeing how they changed the way we look at the world.

Penny Lloyd (415270) & Mary Piper (415801) - Group Leaders. ——————————————————— CRAZY FOR UKE Our group has managed to meet each week on Zoom to play a selection of material as well as add a few new songs to our repertoire.

Some of our players also take a turn at playing and singing for us, while we join in at home. While this isn‘t the greatest musical experience and is quite a challenge, we regularly have twelve or more arrive via technology to join in and have a chat with other players. Of course, we are looking forward to getting together in a group of six when we are allowed and seeing other friends who have not been able to visit our little gatherings. Let‘s hope it‘s not too long before we can play for you all again.

Sue Green (Group Leader) 410026

18 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY The Group has been meeting on Zoom since the first lockdown in March 2020, but the number of members willing to take part understandably reduced as lockdown progressed, and the effects of the Coronavirus became more prevalent. However, it became clear that a similar group in Shepton Mallet U3A was also experiencing reduced numbers of members wanting to continue. After some initial discussions, it was agreed that interested members of our group would join with the residual members of the Shepton Mallet group in order to continue a photographic interest to a meaningful number of members in both groups. The combined group is led by John Law who had been our judge for a recent competition. This joint venture group now meets fortnightly on Zoom to benefit from instruction and demonstrations from John, together with enthusiastic contributions by all its members responding to the challenges of photography topics set at each meeting. The aim of the now extended group is to take photos and to share experience and information with the objective of providing mutual help to improve on our photography - and to enjoy doing it. The fact that we can do all of this on Zoom has been a real help to the members who take part, and it is hoped that this will continue and progress with time. If you would like to find out more or to join this group, please contact Bob Piper Tel: 01749 938650); or [email protected]

PAINTING WITH PASTELS Having run this group for more than ten years, I have decided to stand down as group leader. I'd like to thank all those who have supported me over this time and I hope someone else will be willing to take over as group leader.

Hopefully the u3a will be back to normal and we can meet up again soon.

Mike Hoskins 413969

PSYCHOLOGY This group held its first meeting of 2021 last month on Zoom. The topic was ―Older people and the Lockdown‖ and the Powerpoint presentation that I used to generate discussion around this topic is now on the u3a website. We had a dozen attendees. Any u3a member is welcome to attend these meetings, and if you need help in using Zoom in order to access these meetings then please contact me. I am planning several more meetings using Zoom. The dates and topics are : Wednesday 31st March 2.pm: Positive Thinking Wednesday 28th April 2pm Am I normal ? ( Memory, Obsessions, Hearing voices) Wednesday 26th May 2p.m: Perception and Visual Illusions. In June we may possibly be able to meet face to face as a group again. Andy Green (Group Leader) 01761 410026

WINE APPRECIATION

The Group held Zoom meetings in December and February. The meetings were very well attended by Group members. In December much of the meeting was taken up by just catching up with every one‘s progress and thinking about the Covid virus. We did also think about all the NHS staff, nurses, and doctors etc. who were giving so much and who deserved our sincere thanks. During the meeting, each member had by their side a bottle of their favourite wine which we took it in turns to describe - the grape, flavour, price etc. There were a variety of wines and it was interesting to learn about members choices. For the February meeting we again had by our side a bottle(s)! of wine, and continued our catch-up. A Wine Quiz was organised which - given that it was quite hard - each member did really well, with the usual wine buffs coming out well. Of course, for Zoom meetings we miss our usual contact, but all members agreed that the initiative by the Committee to purchase a full Zoom licence was very welcome and we hoped that many of our groups were making use of this opportunity to catch up, etc.

Colin Tincknell (Group Facilitator) 413414

———————————————————————————-- OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

― Easter 2021‖

Every day more bulbs and blossoms bloom As we recall the year of trials and gloom. Sunny skies see all our spirits soar. The vaccine keeps the virus from our door. Easter comes to strengthen hope for all, Restoring friends and families, large and small.

Wendy Nelson 21

My Mother’s 1945 diary

One of the things I have been doing is to transcribe a diary my mother Joan Fear kept from 3 July 1945 through to 21 November of that year, when, unfortunately, it ceased abruptly. The photo of her (below) is from around that time.

Mum worked at Bletchley Park from mid-1943 until June 1945. (Her sister was a Wren working in the section breaking Japanese codes). Mum was employed as a civilian in Hut 6. She was a clerical assistant, helping to file the coded messages that had been intercepted by listeners tuning into the radio wavelengths used by the German Army. As such, Mum was a small a cog in the BP wheel, rather than one of the original code-breakers.

Anyway, once the authorities could see that the Allies would win the war, invitations went out for volunteers to apply for jobs in consulates and embassies overseas. Those places would be inundated by enquiries from displaced people and for other reasons and would need extra staff. (Mum's sister had no such opportunity; she was posted to Ceylon to continue her work from nearer the new front line).

In due course Mum was notified of a vacancy in Athens but her dream and first choice was for Italy and a week later she was offered a post at the Consulate in Naples. The next two pages give some excerpts from her story.

Nick Waton

22 1945 TUESDAY 3 JULY Left Croydon 0930. Could not see much of England because of cloud cover. A wonderful sensation being above the clouds & seeing the country like a map below one. The weather became clearer over France & I could see quite a lot of the country. We touched down north of Marseilles for lunch. Sanitation there appalling. Passed Sicily and Isle of Monte Christo- very beautiful. Landed at Naples, after circling Vesuvius, at 6.30 approx. First taste of fruit of the continental type for years. Spent the night at the Hotel Patria. The Italians make a fearful row. One was singing nearby till the small hours. Food pretty awful at this hotel. WEDNESDAY 4 JULY. Reported at British Consulate in the morning & within an hour was on the road to Bari in an army lorry to relieve them (at Bari) for two or three weeks. Had a bad skid outside Naples but survived it. Passed through Avellino & Foggia, then along the coast road to Bari. Magnificent scenery in the mountains. The hedgerows might have been English except for the white dust. The smell in the villages is appalling. Saw women washing their clothes in streams. Saw a train puffing down a town street. Many of the villages have a hammer & sickle scrawled up, with the names of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin underneath. This, apparently, is a reactionary outbreak after their liberation. There is very little sign of war around, apart from the presence of the Allies, & the military notices everywhere. We reached Bari at 6 approx & went straight to the Consulate. A wonderful sense of security from seeing the British flag flying. Stayed at the Hotel Imperiale. Went to the Yacht Club dance with the Consul‘s party & had a grand time, although felt rather sleepy. Fireworks were being set off. Had some interesting food there. The cool of the evening is glorious after the heat of the day. Went to bed at 12.30, complete with mosquito net. Had a room overlooking the sea. Am enjoying life… THURSDAY 26 JULY Labour Govt in in England- clear majority of 180-odd. Unfortunate that Eden will have to relinquish post of Foreign Secretary when he is making such a good job of it. Might be a good thing to have a change on the Home Front, especially where coal is concerned. Very staggering that the Labour Party had

23 such a large majority. TUESDAY 31 JULY Italian in evening….. Sirocco blew all day. 108 deg F in the shade. Like an oven. FRIDAY 3 AUGUST Very hectic day. Both of us feeling dim. Yugoslavs turning up without tickets, Egyptians rolling up from concentration camps without papers, transmitters (4 or 2?!!) Still no mail (none since Monday, which doesn‘t improve morale…… TUESDAY 14 AUGUST Restful day. Italian in evening. Enjoyed it. News came through of Japanese surrender. Unbelievable after all this time WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST VJ DAY! Hung out flags on the Consulate. Actually, had the afternoon off so spent it at the beach, bathing & writing letters. Simply delicious to have some free time. Went to the Yacht Club Dance again with Dr Vaughan and Co & had a super time. Met the two 8th Army captains again (Charles & Duffy). Drank Spumante only & felt fine next day, with no hangover (Vide last Yacht Club Dance). General rejoicing. Rockets going off. Allied Officers‘ Club came along after their affair had shut down. Dance went on till after 2.0 (we left at 2.0)…. FRIDAY 17 AUGUST Official Army holiday, so was given yet another half day. Again, went to beach, bathed, sunbathed & wrote letters. Went to Italian class in evening. Nick Waton, November 2020

24 Say that again?

To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.

When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

I had my patience tested. I'm negative.

When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say 'nothing,' it doesn't mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days....

I hate it when a couple argues in public and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.

When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"

When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminium can stuffed with celery?

I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles in a bucket of glue.

Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.

The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

My luck is like a bald person who just won a comb.

I run like the winded. Shared by Pat Williams 2

RESULTS OF THE PANDEMIC

Although I‘m old, I finally have learnt how to use Zoom. I find it‘s helping to dispel the Pandemic gloom. My age group was very nervous of new technology, but it has become a life-line for single folk like me. Now with friends and relatives I Facetime and I Skype I email and I download. Now I don‘t watch all the tripe that they put on the telly ‗cause I‘ve got a Firestick, so I binge watch things I like. All there with just a click! The kids got me an Ipad, which I couldn‘t use at first, but after I had twiddled, fiddled, moaned and curst, I at last got the hang of it. Now I spend all day online. I order anything I want to be delivered, so that‘s fine. With Google Earth I go to any place I pick but now I think I have become agoraphobic. Wiltshire Farm Foods bring my dinners, Pharmacy2U my pills; my only worry will be paying Internet connection bills. Hazel Williams ———————————————————————————

Painting by Wendy Nelson

THE END AND THE BEGINNING (a poem but not a poem!)

I don‘t know how I‘ll feel, when at last the spell is broken Touching hands, standing close, maskless face, glove-free. I don‘t know if I can hug you, not when you‘ve been so far I don‘t know if I want you, to get close and hold my hand.

Can I ever go back to a time when I can rush toward you With open smile and outstretched arms, kissing your cheek and taking your hand Our friends have all been lockdowned Their own company has sufficed, what need have they for me and mine When they‘ve managed without me for so long?

Some of our friends and family have found life so very hard Locked up for days on end, with no one to visit or laugh with. So I think I‘ll take it slowly, stand back and say ―hello‖ And wait for my closeness to happen in good time.

We can all be grateful, if we are still here safe and well We‘ll remember with sadness those who aren‘t with us now. For those who are fit and healthy must be so very happy That we have survived a time we thought we may never see

We'll laugh and smile, hold our children, hug our families, joke with our friends And pretend this time never happened And be so very grateful that we are still here, Living, breathing and enjoying our wonderful world.

Pat Williams (2)

PS. I have been saying these things in my mind for ages, and then decided to write them down, so they made sense to me. It just helped me to put my feelings into some sort of order, as I really do feel some hesitation about greeting and being close to my friends when for so long the only contact has been by phone or email. And that is me, a very ―hands on‖ sort of person normally! Pat

A History of Involvement

After joining the U3A my husband Paul and I volunteered to lead the Line Dancing, taking over from Juliet. We did that for some years, and also led the Rambling group (pictured). We have also joined many groups and made many friendships.

However, when Paul was diagnosed with Alzheimer‘s, I fell apart and spent 5 months in Salisbury hospital with a breakdown. I had support from family, friends, our chapel and from the U3A and the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC).

It took a lot of counselling to get my confidence back. Members used to ring and ask when we were coming back; and even when Paul didn't come to meetings because he was at a Day Centre, many still asked how he was.

We have two daughters and a son, who have always been there for us both. Our younger daughter did a parachute jump and our son did a cycle ride from John O' Groats to Lands End, for Alzheimers - raising money to keep the bus on the road for Pinelea Day Centre. Our elder daughter is an SRN who works in the RUH.

When I read Neil Gordon‘s report we were sorry to have missed his talk. Paul has always had motorcycles - including a BSA . He has been in the VMCC since we were married and we have arranged motorcycle runs from our home - the Croscombe Trial, Guy Fawkes run - and also been marshals, plus doing the backup. When the club had two auto jumbles at the Bath & West twice a year, Paul marked out stalls, and helped out in general. These two events raised money for the air ambulance. Donations for our runs went to Dorothy House.

Paul's later interest was the Choir for 10 years, but had to give up because of his osteoarthritic knees. We always went on tour with the choir, and the highlight was singing at the Royal Albert Hall at the 'Festival of 1,000 Voices' for cancer research..

28 Wendy Treasure JUNK ? In 1969 the RAF, as part of a treaty with the United Arab Emirates, maintained 4 Shackletons & crews in Sharjah – the next town along from Dubai, then a sleepy Arab village where the only sign of industry was a small boatyard in Dubai creek.

While taxiing back from a sortie out of Sharjah I noticed that the aircraft we had were Juliet, Uniform, Kilo and Quebec, each with its own letter painted on the side of the nose on letters about 1.5m high. Without thinking, I said over the intercom ―It‘s a pity we didn‘t have November out here; we could line them all up and it would spell JUNK‖. The following morning my captain came to me and said ―The CO thinks that‘s a great idea of yours.‖ ―What idea?‖ said I. ―To change Quebec to November, line them all up to spell JUNK and take a photograph‖

So there I was on a ladder in the burning heat, with red, white and grey paint carefully changing Q to N and making sure that the status quo could be restored by simple removal of masking tape.

Andrew Nelson 29

CARAVANNING For holidays, some take a plane /To take them there and back again And book a flashy hotel room / To take away the workday gloom. Other people ride a bus / (Can‘t do with all that airport fuss) And book a seaside B and B / So they can sit and see the sea.

Some healthy folk though, like to plod / even if we think they‘re odd. With rucksack, bedroll, pots & crook /pitch a tent by burbling brook. For me though, joy is unconfined / To slow the drivers down behind. Overtake me if you can / No chance! I pull a caravan.

The caravan. My touring dream Polished to a shiny gleam. I drive it at a steady pace Uphill and down – it‘s not a race!

And when at last, a car goes past A toot he gives, (well – more a blast). And at the wheel – a man who‘s crazed / Red of face, his finger raised!

Of course, my dear (I‘ll make it clear) I cannot see much at the rear So when I pull across your path Sit back, relax, and have a laugh!

And should we meet on country lane / You know I can‘t go back again. Don‘t punch the wheel, swear and curse / Just smile sweetly, & reverse!

So should you choose to travel far / Take a plane and not the car. Be sure that you‘re not the man / Who‘s stuck behind my caravan!

30 Noel Avis Leonardo da Vinci is still relevant and inspirational! Our Art Appreciation Group was researching Leonardo da Vinci recently to answer the question ―Does he still inspire us today‖? Leonardo was an inventor, and an engineer, as well as being the finest painter around Renaissance Europe. He was also a philosopher and a number of quotes are attributed to him, and one of our members thought that had he known about them at the time, they may well have inspired him and others in his engineering career. The relevant words from Leonardo are as follows: ―It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.‖ "I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.‖ ―The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding." Upon reflection, it seems that these words could also be inspiring to members of the u3a:- Don’t sit back and just let it happen - think what you can do to make it happen. Those who can – Do. Those who don’t, should expect to remain unfulfilled. Don’t be content with what you know, find ways of helping others to increase their understanding and to learn new things. I hope you find these words interesting and worthy of at least some further consideration in the way in which you contribute to and benefit from our u3a. Bob Piper

Coffee Mornings

When they re-start, these will be on the last Monday of every month, (except when that is a Bank Holiday, then it will be the week before) at the Somer Centre from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon (please do not clear away too soon) and the rota for the first three will (probably) be as follows:-

1. - Birdwatching 2. - Badminton 3. - Bluebell Readers

Group Leaders - please note that you are required to supply the milk and biscuits which can then be reimbursed from proceeds. There are book (sale of paperbacks and regular size books), puzzle, CD/DVD stalls. Please help with the donation and purchase of items. The beneficiary of the proceeds is Designability. The Chairman hopes everyone will feel able to give their fullest support to this very worthwhile cause.

Please note: There are no Diary Dates or Speaker Meeting details in this issue, for obvious reasons. Updates will be posted on the website.

Note: The website for

the Norton Radstock U3A is:- u3asites.org.uk/norrad/