Skye U3A news Issue #16 – May 2015 web: u3asites.org.uk/code/u3asite.php?site=325&page=0 Message from the (arm)chair Aurora and solar eclipse Contact details Having occupied the Vice Chairman role for the past The skies over Skye have been very active Chair four and a half years, it was inevitable that the fun recently. Here are two photos, one of the aurora Tony Livesey would have to end and I would have to do some real and the other of the solar eclipse. We had ✆ 01470 511207; work – that time has now arrived. 8 [email protected] aurora all around us one evening and this one Our AGM in March saw Judy Atherton agreeing to was taken almost overhead at our house; the Vice Chair take on the Secretary roll from Jo-Ann Cherry (the solar eclipse was glimpsed through clouds from Vacancy change-over to take place a little later this year), and I succeeded Joy Davies as Chairman. a window. Secretary I think all our members will want to join me in offering Jo-Ann Cherry a huge vote of thanks to Joy for all her work in setting ✆ 01470 542777 up the Skye U3A, and steering it so professionally 8 [email protected] on our behalf. She could now put her feet up, but thankfully she has agreed to carry on in a general role Treasurer on the committee. Chad Killington ✆ I would also like to thank all our group leaders/ 01470 582384 8 [email protected] coordinators, and the Speakers Group for their sterling work, without which we would be in deep trouble. Membership Secretaries Moving on to a subject close to my heart, I think we Barbara Macdonald must concentrate on ways to increase our membership ✆ 01470 521576 numbers. Whilst geography will always mean we are 8 [email protected] a small U3A, with more members we could offer so Peggy Hunter much more. More interest groups would mean we ✆ 01470 521324 could cover a greater range of subjects than we do at 8 [email protected] present. So let us don thinking caps and come up with innovative ways to broaden our appeal, and attract Group Co-ordinators more members. Pola and Tony Livesey Finally there are moves afoot to develop a Highland ✆ 01470 511207 and Islands Network, putting groups and their leaders 8 [email protected] in touch with each other, to share activities and The Isle of Skye U3A has been knowledge …more on this later. in existence for over four years. Hoping to see many of you at the monthly It was originally based around meetings, and in the interest groups, wishing the island’s capital, Portree, but you a happy Spring if it ever arrives… has extended itself to include Broadford. These two centres Tony Livesey are separated by 26 miles and Bruce Killington many members are scattered in remote locations around the island. This presents special Two come along at once challenges but the Isle of Skye itself is a major compensation, offering rich sources of interest As the old saying goes, you wait ages for a bus and in areas such as archaeology, then two come along at once. Well the same thing geology, nature, and walking. might be said about publications on Portree, two of Given the population of Skye which were published in March. we will never approach the First, there is 'Portree: Origins and Early History' by Ella size of city U3As but we are Liley, published by The Island Book Trust which also very much hoping to grow and publishes Skye U3A member, Liz MacRae Shaw's book new members are extremely L'ove and Music will Endure' (see page 2). welcome. In the book, Ella asks the questions: who decided Skye U3A news is published to build Portree, when, why and who were the first irregularly. Copy date for the villagers? And why was it called Portree anyway? She next issue is 10 June 2015. then proceeds to answer her questions, tracing the Send material for inclusion to development of the town from the first suggestion Ian Burn [8 [email protected]]. of a few houses to a village with churches, schools, banks … and the jail. The second bus, sorry publication, is Portree History Society's leaflet 'A historic walk around Portree' which Together, the two publications offer a welcome is available from the Tourist Information Office. As well addition to our knowledge of the history and as outlining the history of Portree, the guide includes a development of Portree. map and information on notable streets and buildings. Isle of Skye U3A 2014-25 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 Highlands and Islands, Maggie all over the UK, which are charities in their own will be talking about what the right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local ✆ 01470 511727; 8 [email protected] college has to offer for both U3As are learning cooperatives which draw Vice Chair full-time, part-time and leisure upon the knowledge, experience and skills of Tony Livesey classes. their own members to organise and provide ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] interest groups in accordance with the wishes Isle of Skye U3A Maggie has worked at the of the membership. The teachers learn and Secretary college for 12 years and the learners teach. Between them U3As offer Jo-Ann Cherry watched it grow over the years the chance to study over 300 different subjects ✆ 01470 542777; 8 [email protected] 2015 programme Our speaker this month is to its brand new extended in such fields as art, languages, music, history, Maggie MacDonald. and refurbished centre on Treasurer life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, Manager of Portree College, Struan Road which opened in Chad Killington photography and walking. part of the West Highland September 2013. ✆ 01470 582384; 8 [email protected] The U3A approach to learning is – learning for College, University of the pleasure. There is no accreditation or validation Membership Secretaries and there are no assessments or qualifications Barbara Macdonald Friday 30 January 2015 meeting to be gained. ✆ 01470 521576; 8 [email protected] The U3A movement is supported by its national Peggy Hunter Love and Music will Endure ✆ organisation, the Third Age Trust. 01470 521324; 8 [email protected] by Liz MacRae Shaw The Isle of Skye U3A was founded in September Group Co-ordinators 2010 and originally operated in the northern Pola and Tony Livesey Our January speaker, U3A Our talk was made even more part of the island, with meetings taking place ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] member Liz MacRae Shaw interesting when a member of in the ‘capital city of Skye’, Portree. It was spoke about Màiri Mhòr the audience offered to sing subsequently extended to the southern part nan Orain and her recently unaccompanied one of Marie's of the island, with meetings being held in the published novel based on song. A wonderful addition to ‘second city’, Broadford. These two centres her life, Love and Music will a very interesting talk. are separated by 26 miles and many members Endure. are scattered in remote locations around the A ‘Place’ in politics island. This presents special challenges but the Isle of Skye itself is a major compensation, As a footnote to the recent offering rich sources of interest in areas such as General Election, U3A member archeology, geology, nature, and walking. Given Ophir offers us a poem that the population of Skye we will never approach the size of metropolitan U3As but we are very might raise a smile were it not so accurate. much hoping to grow and new members are extremely welcome. If you can credibly fake ‘Sincerity’, Your future is assured; If you can listen to ‘The question’, We meet at 2.00 pm on the last Friday of every month, with Without showing that you’re the venue alternating between Portree Shinty clubhouse and bored; Highlighted with readings Breakish Hall. At most meetings there is a guest speaker, but If you can respond with some from her book, Liz outlined the now and again we hold internal events such as quizzes, group assurance, fascinating story of the Skye presentations, etc. Yet leave ‘The question’, poet and political campaigner, effectively ignored; Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available at all meetings. who was born into a crofting Whilst passing to much safer family in North Skye. Friday 29 May ground, Her powerful voice was only Without showing you are University of the Highlands and Islands unleashed in middle age after ‘floored’; Maggie Macdonald, Manager, Portree College she was falsely accused of Yet leaving the questioner theft and imprisoned. She Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG Believing that you, ‘Care’. poured her rage and despair Then there’s a ‘Safe Seat’ Friday 26 June into songs about the plight for you; Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Services of her fellow Highlanders It is out there somewhere Meg Gilles who were being driven from And, with practice, it will come Breakish Hall, Breakish. their homes. Through force of character she overcame the You only have to find it Friday 31 July barriers of background, class And you already have the Summer barbeque and gender to become their knack Date and venue to be confirmed.