Heart of England U3A UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE Newsletter Editor: Ron Castleton, 114 Loxley Road, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7DS New Website address:- 01789 205 878 : [email protected] www.heartofenglandu3a.btck.co.uk Membership Secretary: Brian Bradley, 7 Appleby Close, Gt. Alne, Alcester, B49 6HJ June 200 801789 -488N 551e : [email protected] July 2011 Newsletter TODAY'S SPEAKER Richard Eggington will be speaking to us today on the American West, from the first settlers through the Indian Wars and through to the cowboys and outlaws, something a bit different for all of us. NEXT MONTH'S SPEAKER The speaker for August is Rob Hemming whose subject will be The Regal Cinema and Effect on Peoples Lives. All this recounted in his book 'Shazam' At a Committee Meeting held on 17th June 2011 it was agreed to set the Membership Fees for 2011/2012 at £16.00 per person and they become due from 1st September 2011". Important Notice: Our 10th AGM will be held at the beginning of the September meeting which will include the election of members to the committee. We therefore need nominations for the posts of officers and committee to be submitted in writing to the Chairman or Business Secretary by Thursday 4th August. All nominations require agreement from the nominee, the name of the proposer and seconder. A nomination form will be available at the monthly meeting or by post. More Important Notice: Straight after the AGM, we will be celebrating our 10th Birthday and invite members to attend the party being organised by Dorothy Jones and her team. On Line Courses from National Office. – Proposed new course to begin in the autumn. “China – an introduction through history, culture and language.” The course is ideal for group learning with members helping each other. It consists of 10 units which could extend over several months with probably 1 unit covered per month. Members will require access to the internet for research and an e-mail address for receipt of the units in pdf format. To register for this course, please sign the list on the notice board table adding e-mail address or send an e-mail to Robyn - [email protected] The introduction to the course will be sent to all those interested and the first unit will be e-mailed at the beginning of September. (Study the past if you would define the future. Confucius.) National Summer Schools: Information and application forms for the Summer Schools are on the notice board. The above may also be found on the national web site. www.u3a.org.uk (Members‟ area - events) New Opera Interest Group The suggestion of an Opera Interest Group met with a small but enthusiastic response so a list will go on the Board to sign. Expect the Group to start meeting in the Autumn. Page 1 NEWS FROM THE GROUPS Art Appreciation Group In June we went to the Summer Exhibition at the Torquil Gallery in Henley in Arden, which was exceptionally good this year, with a lot of striking paintings, some painted on old wooden panels; animal sculptures by Rachel Higgins among others; some lovely lampshades, and a lot of quirky sculptures and mosaic decorations in the garden. Next month on 15th July will be the summer outing to Upton House, including lunch. Please contact Pat Wood for arrangements. Phyllis Collins Big Band Swing Jazz Group The next meeting of the H of E Big Band Swing and Jazz Group is on Tuesday 26th July 2011 at 2pm in the Lounge of The Methodist Church, Old Town, Stratford upon Avon. You are welcome to join in with us. We listen to recorded Big Band Swing and Jazz music. Our Group is a very informal and friendly mixed group of enthusiasts. A reminder that our August meeting date has been changed from Tuesday 23rd August to Tuesday 30th August. Also as funds are running low, subscriptions are now due. Dennis Sully Bird Watching Group. The group have had two outings to date to Snitterfield Bushes and Hampton Wood, both are Warwickshire Wildlife sites. Both visits were extremely interesting and we sent a small donation to the W.W.fund for their assistance and allowing us to visit their sites. Further visit planned to Kingsbury Water Park - July 5th. Elizabeth Chambers has arranged a minibus for this visit. We will have some spaces on this trip. If interested contact John Stagg. John Stagg Bridge Group The Bridge Group is very friendly, very sociable and very keen to encourage new members. Following the life-long learning ethos of all U3As we can offer encouragement to "rusty" ex- players and, for complete beginners, separate introduction card play to get you started. We meet every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 in the Methodist Hall Side Room 1. Complete beginners can contact Ann parker to arrange for introductory sessions. John Yeomans Chinwags We met at Grants again, and I think it was unanimous that the lunch was delicious even though we were all absolutely baking ourselves, we managed to do it justice. Everything was so beautifully presented, and we ate, drank and talked until we were ready to go out into the rain, hoping it would cool us down. The next meeting will again be at Grants on the 25 July, hope to see you all then. If anyone would like to join us please ring Aline Cumming on 298357 Gwyneth Bevins The Choir Now our Musical Director is with the Choir from 12 noon to 1.30pm, may I remind members to be there soon after 11.45am so that we can be organised for the start. We are now looking forward and planning for the September 10th Anniversary meeting and our first performance. Tony Griffiths Classical Music Group We enjoyed another Bring Your Own programme. Jean led off with Bach‟s Brandenburg Concerto No2. In contrast this classical piece was followed by Howard‟s first choice of the romantic Adagio from Rachmaninov‟s Symphony No 2. Rosemary brought the dramatic Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel then from Valma we heard Faure‟s Cantique de Page 2 Jean Racine, familiar but often not identified, George picked Tango by Albeniz to complete the first part. After tea Valma‟s second choice was the Petite Suite by Debussy. This was followed by the Piano Concerto No 2 by Shostakovich played by the orchestra of the Birmingham Conservatoire; the soloist is related to Deidre and she had been present at the performance. An exciting rendition. Finally we heard Howard‟s other choice, On the Trail, from Grose‟s Grand Canon Suite and were transported to the donkeys taking intrepid riders down the trail into the Grand Canon. Another delightful selection! Thanks to all. Aline Cumming Computer Group At Stratford High School. 2nd and 4th Thursdays 4pm – 6pm. A Beginners Course is running for the rest of this term. The final session before the School Holidays is on Thursday, 14th July. Robyn Nicoll Cooks Club Group The Cooks' club summer lunch was a great success despite depleted numbers; who would have thought that a quiche lorraine could be made using rolled out bread instead of pastry! Asparagus flan, salad, chocolate roulade and coffee ice cream completed the lineup. Diet tomorrow! You don't have to be a culinary whizz kid to join us - just come along and learn a few tips, pick up some new recipes etc. The next meeting will be on July 27th at 10.45 am, when a couple of members are bringing in puddings for us to sample. For more information, tel 01789 550662. Chris Heaps Chris Heap‟s Poem written after the Cook‟s Group Meeting when Geoff Bridgewater had told us the sad tale of a large salmon in his freezer that he was loathe to part with. Ah! Pity the poor salmon who never made his great debut At the house of Heather and Geoff (A talented, scone-making chef) The salmon, quite a hefty geezer, had languished too long in the freezer. The Salmon became the lively hub of jokes, and at the cooking club Geoff would ask, on a monthly basis "Were there any other cases Where a salmon, left so long had been cooked, or would it pong?" We said "You've sealed that Salmon's fate 'cos you have left it far too late To put that salmon on a plate it's surely past its sell-by date!" So Geoff eventually saw sense, despite the salmon's great expense With tail, reproachful eye and fin he chucked it in the rubbish bin And now, at Geoff's sincere request the matter has been put to rest! Athena Roderick Creative Craft Group At the June meeting, the group were given ideas and tips for doing encaustic art pictures by Geoff James and Roy Tabor. Geoff‟s wife Margaret, a very keen crafter and card maker, sadly died recently and Geoff has donated waxes and equipment for the group to use. Geoff came along specially to demonstrate techniques. Roy had discovered Encaustic Art in 1996 and brought a portfolio of some of his exquisite miniature pictures. Members are keen to experiment further in this art form and will be arranging another day workshop in August, open to anyone who would like to come along. At the next Craft afternoon, on Thursday, 21st July, starting at 2.00pm, we will be making a beaded chain for spectacles. Beads, thread and connectors will be supplied and members will need to bring 2 fine beading needles.