Skye U3A news

Issue #17 – September 2015 web: u3asites.org.uk/code/u3asite.php?site=325&page=0

Message from the (arm)chair Contact details

Following our very splendid summer (sic), hosts U3A Facebook page. It is a 'closed group', so Chair of visitors, and 16 nose to tail campervans only those with a Facebook account, and an Tony Livesey heading through Glendale for Neist Point invitation to join, can see the posts. If you would ✆ 01470 511207; 8 (similar lunacy spotted up by heading like to be included just email myself or Joy. [email protected] for the ), life begins to return to normal. On the subject of computers we have three Vice Chair Christmas decorations and baubles for sale in Vacancy every shop and the rain is a little cooler than Secretary of late. Judy Atherton In June, Joy attended the Scotland U3A AGM ✆ in Oban. I found the ideas about computerised 8 [email protected] care for the elderly arriving in the very near Treasurer future, somewhat disturbing. It appears our Chad Killington morning routine will involve our tablets, both ✆ 01470 582384 those we swallow with a glass of water, and 8 [email protected] those we fire up for news, emails etc. But shortly a vast amount of our data will be stored Membership Secretaries in 'the Cloud' enabling the computer/tablet to Barbara Macdonald interact with us in spooky ways. Should you ✆ 01470 521576 wish to learn more, visit Rita.me.uk (stands for virtually unused machines which we have 8 [email protected] Responsive Interactive Advocate). decided to sell – watch out for details in an Peggy Hunter email very soon. The money raised from the sale ✆ 01470 521324 8 [email protected] of them will be very much needed, as with such a small membership, we don’t find it easy to Group Co-ordinators make ends meet. Pola and Tony Livesey Please do all you can to encourage your ✆ 01470 511207 8 [email protected] Skye U3A 5th Birthday Party in aid of Crossroads Care friends, family, simply anyone to come along and perhaps join the Skye U3A group. We The U3A has been have barely half the numbers we need to be in existence for over four years. sustainable. I trust you will do all you can to aid It was originally based around the continuation, and development of our U3A the island’s capital, , but has extended itself to include on Skye. Broadford. These two centres Hope to see as many as possible on Friday are separated by 26 miles and 25 September at the Shinty Hall in Portree for many members are scattered Also thanks to Joy for the information she our Coffee Afternoon in aid of the excellent in remote locations around the brought back about utilizing publicity in all Crossroads Charity. island. This presents special its various forms. We hope to utilize some of challenges but the Isle of Skye Tony these ideas here, and we now have a Skye itself is a major compensation, offering rich sources of interest in areas such as archaeology, Greater Tilted Red Fronted Calorigasious Lorriai geology, nature, and walking. Given the population of Skye we will never approach the Ophir has penned a poem on the rare It was decided to leave it in the ditch. size of city U3As but we are sighting of the Greater Tilted Red Fronted It didn’t seem to be in pain; nor have an itch. very much hoping to grow and Calorigasious Lorriai. Not to be confused with the No one had had previous knowledge; new members are extremely SuperCalorfragilisticexpialidocious which is somewhat Though one had been to college, welcome. larger, though of lighter build. Its song was last heard That part of the course suffered a glitch. Skye U3A news is published in the London (England) area, many years ago, though It was still there, to our surprise, when we returned. irregularly. Copy date for the no sightings, or better yet, photographs, have been We hoped it didn’t think it had been spurned; next issue is 10 October 2015. reported until now (see page 3). But there’s a limit to one’s skills, Send material for inclusion to We were on a ‘Nature' walk one day; And besides, where to send our bills? Ian Burn [8 [email protected]]. And came across one of the genus, Lorriai. Even though a salutary lesson had been learned. It was standing in a ditch, So, to sum up, Nature walks may turn out well. There seemed to be a hitch, Who is it, in this in this uncertain world, can really tell? For the trainer; where was he? Had gone away. One has to be prepared, We were lost to know what to do; For a burden to be squared2 We had a schedule that we had to follow through. And that my friends, is it, in a nutshell. So, plainly at a loss, We turned to ask The Boss; Our leader for the day!! – at a loss too. Isle of Skye U3A 2015 programme Friday 29 May 2015 meeting University of the Highlands and Islands U3A stands for the University of the Third Age, Contact details which is a self-help organisation for people by Maggie Macdonald, Manager, no longer in full time employment providing [email protected] educational, creative and leisure opportunities in Portree College a friendly environment. It consists of local U3As Chair Joy Davies Our speaker in May was all over the UK, which are charities in their own Maggie MacDonald, right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local ✆ 01470 511727; 8 [email protected] Manager of Portree College, U3As are learning cooperatives which draw Vice Chair part of the West Highland upon the knowledge, experience and skills of Tony Livesey College, University of the their own members to organise and provide ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] interest groups in accordance with the wishes Isle of Skye U3A Highlands and Islands. of the membership. The teachers learn and Secretary Maggie outlined the wide the learners teach. Between them U3As offer Jo-Ann Cherry range of courses offered at the chance to study over 300 different subjects ✆ 01470 542777; 8 [email protected] 2015 programme the college. U3A members in such fields as art, languages, music, history, Treasurer were very interested in finding life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, Chad Killington out what arrangements photography and walking. ✆ 01470 582384; 8 [email protected] were available (course The U3A approach to learning is – learning for fees, bursaries, grants and pleasure. There is no accreditation or validation Membership Secretaries allowances) for retired persons. and there are no assessments or qualifications Barbara Macdonald . to be gained. ✆ 01470 521576; 8 [email protected] The U3A movement is supported by its national Peggy Hunter ✆ U3A calendar 2016 organisation, the Third Age Trust. 01470 521324; 8 [email protected] The Isle of Skye U3A was founded in September Group Co-ordinators Hopefully we don't have 2010 and originally operated in the northern Pola and Tony Livesey more than 12 photographs part of the island, with meetings taking place ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] submitted or we might have to in the ‘capital city of Skye’, Portree. It was call on the Chairman to make subsequently extended to the southern part the final selection! of the island, with meetings being held in the Ideally, suitable photographs ‘second city’, Broadford. These two centres are separated by 26 miles and many members should have a U3A link or are scattered in remote locations around the theme – eg, photographs of island. This presents special challenges but a U3A event – ideally taken the Isle of Skye itself is a major compensation, during 2015. Files should be offering rich sources of interest in areas such as landscape format (see dummy archeology, geology, nature, and walking. Given page below) in digital format the population of Skye we will never approach (jpeg, tiff, png) and at as high the size of metropolitan U3As but we are very a resolution as possible. much hoping to grow and new members are extremely welcome.

Last year, as an experiment, Skye U3A produced a calendar highlighting events and activities of the group. We meet at 2.00 pm on the last Friday of every month, with the venue alternating between Portree Shinty clubhouse and The 2015 calendar was well Breakish Hall. At most meetings there is a guest speaker, but received by members and it now and again we hold internal events such as quizzes, group was suggested we should presentations, etc. produce one for 2016, but try to get it finished in time for Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available at all meetings. Christmas instead of in mid- January! Fri 25 September Preparations are now complete Crossroads Care for the 2016 version and we Jenny Millington hope to be able to have a few Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG. copies printed professionally Please email files to me. Any Friday 30 October for U3A members to purchase, questions, please get in touch. either for themselves or to give Many thanks, RSPB as presents. Dr Alison MacLennan Ian Burn Al that are missing are suitable Breakish Hall, Breakish. [8 [email protected]] photographs to include. Friday 27 November If any U3A members has photographs they would like Possibly special interest groups feed back to be considered for inclusion Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG. please forward them to me.

Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #17 | September 2015 Isle of Skye U3A interest groups

Walking Group – (July 2015) U3A Skye interest groups Six members attended, including two new ones (Anthony Walking group manner, the outings are also and Moira). A windy crossing on the ferry was followed by an The Walking Group presently great fun and always involve a enjoyable walk around the headland in lovely sunshine; some organizes one walk each month, mini-picnic. wind in places but no rain at all. on the 16th (date altered if it Tuesday 6 October Unfortunately there was still no great wildlife numbers to speak coincides with the weekend), Coire Lagan for signs of of: two Red (probable) Throated Divers on the way over, the though in summer two walks are glaciation. Meet at Glendrynoch held each month. Short walks odd Black Guillemot, a few Meadow Brown butterflies and road side, parking on the A863 alternate with longer walks and one Fritillary butterfly. The biggest sighting of the day was of a just before the turnoff for the locations alternate between the Greater Tilted Red Fronted Calorigasious Lorriai lying in a ditch. Carbost road at 11.00 am. north and south of Skye. As we passed it we noted several previous attempts at ditch entry before it finally settled in its nesting place. Wednesday 21 October Tuesday 10 November Bearreraig Bay for fossils. Low Dalaville, The walk finished at the cafe in Raasay House where we sat tide at 11:50. (This event will outside in the sunshine enjoying our well earned drinks. need to be rescheduled – clashes Group co-ordinators Only Arctic Terns to report on the way back over on the ferry. David Hammond with the nature group.) 8 [email protected] Tuesday 1 December Linda Shove to look at ropy lava 8 [email protected] again!!!! High tide at 10:00 and low tide at 16:30. Meet at Nature group Glendrynoch roadside parking just before turnoff for the The group has a field trip each Carbost road at 11:00. month to see what Skye has to offer in the realm of nature. Tueday 5 January Although each event focuses The Quiraing slippage. on a particular area of flora and fauna, we keep an eye out for anything, from lichen to raptors, from flowers to sea mammals. Tuesday 29 September Wee woody walk Meeting at Aros at 11:30 for a wee woody walk and cobbling together an autumn-winter schedule over a cup of coffee. The current U3A nature blog is available at http://u3a-skye- nature.blogspot.co.uk Group co-ordinator John Kennedy Remember to visit the geology ✆ 01470 532765 blog http://u3askyegeology. Geology group blogspot.co.uk/. The group normally makes a Group co-ordinator monthly field trip on Skye. We Jo-Ann Cherry try to read up on an area before and after our trip as some of us ✆ 01470 542777 are complete beginners. As well as broadening our knowledge of geology in a practical ‘eyes-on’

U3A Geology interest group blog http://u3askyegeology.blogspot.co.uk The Old Marble Quarries at Cill Chriosd On the south west side of the Broadford to road a dolerite intrusion is exposed. Dolerite is a volcanic rock, similar to basalt but containing crystals visible with a hand lens as it has cooled underground (at a relatively shallow depth) and therefore slightly more slowly than basalt. Granite cools at a greater depth and therefore contains larger crystals than dolerite.

Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #17 | September 2015 National U3A news and events

U3A Scotland – email from Graham Clark, Scottish U3A Trustee

Some of you may be interested in reading Show but also any U3As who might be says that indoor bowls is a gentle exercise Graham's email to Chairpersons, outlining arranging a visit to the show – we had and a sociable sport, suitable for all ages forthcoming U3A events in Scotland. super help from a group from Dundee last (and most disabilities). There are 50 clubs Welcome to the new U3A year – and may year) to help out at the stand. I do not yet spread throughout Scotland and if any I wish all 47 Scottish U3As a very enjoyable have details of opening times, etc but we members of your U3A are interested, he and successful one. normally need people to do a morning can be contacted on 01324 622977 or (10.00 - 13.00) or afternoon (13.00 - 07788878470 or at mrronmcarthur@ As usual, the purpose of this e-mail is to 16.00) session. The deal is that they get btinternet.com. inform you of various events that will be free entry to visit all the other show stands taking place throughout the year and to 5. Through the auspices of Tom Berney if they volunteer to do a session at the pass on anything that might be of interest (who is the Chair of the Scottish Older U3A one! Please get in touch with me if to you personally as Chairperson of your People's Assembly, as well as Chairman you are able/willing to help – it's good fun U3A (perhaps you're a new one – in which of U3A in Scotland) I was invited to and only involves talking to people about case welcome to your new post with my participate in a 'Celebration of the U3A and encouraging them to join. thanks and best wishes). And, if you are contribution of older people to the no longer the Chairperson of your U3A, When we participate in regional/national democracy of Scotland' at the Scottish please forward this e-mail to your new publicity/marketing events, it is sometimes Parliament on the evening of 9 September. Chairperson and ask him/her to contact remarked that our displays are comprised I was joined by two members of one me if only to get my e-mail contact list up mainly of 'generic' UK-wide U3A materials of our new U3As (Falkirk & District) to date. and are not sufficiently 'Scottish'. To and am very grateful to them for their counteract this, I wonder if your U3A help because we were 'inundated' with 1. Your U3A in Scotland Executive are has developed local information/publicity interested MSPs, representatives of other arranging what promises to be a superb materials that we could use. Also, do older age organisations and other invited programme of events for 2015-16. This you have any good photographs of U3A members of the public. We made lots starts with an All-Scotland meeting Interest Groups in action that we could use of potentially useful contacts and have (sometimes now called an 'All-Scotland to enliven and 'Scotticise (?)' our displays? already passed an enquiry on to Edinburgh Assembly') in East Kilbride Arts Centre If so, please could you e-mail any items U3A. I will continue to pass on anything of on 13 October. You have already been that you think might be useful to me? interest and would, of course, be obliged circulated with the agenda for the day, if you could follow these up – there are so I hope you will make every effort to 3. As many of you will be aware, I am always promotional and membership come along yourself or send a delegate encouraging 'clusters of neighbouring opportunities from these. (or two or three – there's no limit on U3As' in Scotland to consider getting numbers but if you want to bring a 'pack' together in Networks (formal or informal). 6. It may be a little early, but may I remind ask John Alexander if there is sufficient This is simply to try to ensure that no U3A everyone that my term as Scottish U3A room!). Future All-Scotland events are finds itself isolated and unable to get the Trustee ends in August 2016. The Trust being planned for the early Spring and flow of new ideas that help to keep U3As will set up the process for nominations for the early Summer AGM/conference vibrant. In a large geographic area like early next summer and, if necessary, – details will be announced as they Scotland this happens easily and those arrange for an election to be held. I have become available. Also there is to be an furthest from the central belt are probably no role in appointing my successor (that is exciting new venture – arrangements the most vulnerable. Some networks a matter for the Scottish U3As) but I am are in hand to hold the first residential are already in existence – perhaps the happy to talk, in confidence, to anyone Scottish Summer School in the West Park most 'structured' at present being the who might be interested in putting their Conference Centre, Dundee on 30 August Highlands & Islands network – known as name forward and wishes to find out - 1 September 2016. Details will soon be HInet – which has organised an event on more about the role/responsibilities of the available, so look out for them – I think 'Organising Outdoor Activities' in Inverness Trustee. there could be a rush for places! on 21 September. There are future 7. Finally please remember that, as plans to hold joint 'field study' events I emphasise the importance of these your National Executive Committee at which members of outdoor groups events because they are the few representative on the Third Age Trust, (photography, walking, bird watching, opportunities for Scottish U3As to get I am available to any Scottish U3A to geology, archaeology, etc) can meet in one together and network. It is only by provide advice on constitutional matters, location for a couple of days – the first meeting and talking with others that U3As management practices, educational probably in Orkney next year. I know other can make contacts/friends from other parts developments, issues and problems, etc, U3As in other parts of the country are also of Scotland, get new ideas, learn best etc. I can meet with U3A Committees to looking at how they might co-operate and practices, and generally become informed discuss such matters or I can just come link – for example in joint interest groups, about developments that can be taken along to one of your monthly meetings to finding monthly speakers or in setting back to your U3A to keep it energetic meet members and, if you wish, do a short up a shared learning project. There are and refreshed – one of the principal presentation on the work of the Trust and small funds available to help initiate such responsibilities of the Chairperson. the Trustees (strictly by invitation – I have networking, so please let me know of no powers to impose!). 2. We are again taking a stand at the any such developments. I have attached a I hope to be able to meet many of you annual Scottish 50+ Show which, this paper about networks for your interest. year, is to be held on 11-12 November in over the 2015-16 season. 4. I have been approached by Ron the SECC, Glasgow. I am, as usual, asking With best wishes to you all, McArthur, the President of Scottish Indoor for volunteers (particularly from the U3As Bowling Association. He would like to Graham Clark (Scottish U3A Trustee) around Glasgow/Strathclyde who have extend an invitation to all Scottish U3A Contact: 01463 870889 or most to gain from our attendance at the members to a bowls 'Taster Session'. He [email protected]

Isle of Skye U3A newsletter; issue #17 | September 2015