BASILDON AND BILLERICAY u3a NEWSLETTER No 330 MAY 2021 Covid – 19 edition14 Bluebells in Norsey Woods, Billericay 1 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Alan Wood Hello Everyone The weather seems to be stuck in a cycle of showers, winds and below average temperatures for May, making it difficult to plant out the bedding and vegetables whilst hoping they will not be checked by the cold temperatures. I’ve just realised that it is only four weeks till the longest day and the nights start to draw in – what happened to Spring? Along with all the other problems at the moment, how’s that for a bit of despondency (glass half empty etc.)?! However, on a brighter note, our groups will be able to operate in a normal fashion shortly, although we have no further news from the Canon Roche hall regarding opening before September for the monthly meetings. It may be possible to make alternative arrangements in the meantime. We are sorry to hear that Joyce Clark, our Speakers secretary, will be moving to Suffolk in the near future. Along with her husband Geoff, Joyce has served us well for the past few years in booking and organizing some excellent speakers, including the more recent Zoom meetings. I am sure we all wish them great success in their new venture. SECRETARY’S NEWS – “From under the stairs” Andy Fletcher Nearly there!! I would guess that by the time that this is published, a good number of us will have taken the opportunity to “mingle” with more family and friends than we have been able to for a long time? I’m writing this on 16th May and I must admit that, although I am looking forward to a few more freedoms starting tomorrow, there is still a little bit of caution in my mind about how people will react to being let off the hook. Let’s all be careful. Enjoy those extra freedoms and abide by the guidelines and hopefully, in June, we can all start to plan for a much closer return to the normal activities of our u3a and its Interest Groups. During our recent Committee Meeting on, 10th May, it was heartening to note that our membership numbers, with a few exceptions, have remained healthy. We can expect our meetings to be well attended when we start to get together again for our Monthly events and talks. I think Stuart, our Membership Secretary, will be mentioning elsewhere in the Newsletter that he would very much appreciate those of you that may not have renewed their affiliation to the Basildon & Billericay u3a getting in touch with him as soon as possible. Ann, our Group Facilitator, has reminded the Group Leaders that u3a membership is required by all members of Interest Groups. It would be a great shame if non-payment meant that members were precluded from attending their meetings. Did you know that 2nd June this year is “u3a Day” around the Country? National Office and u3a Branches are being encouraged to get the word out to their Communities about the benefits of becoming a member of our organisation. Although some COVID Restrictions and Guidelines will still be in place and we will be unable to have a physical presence in a specific venue, we will however try to contact local Broadcasters and news media to let them know about us. If you are in a position to chat to friends, family, neighbours and members of other organisations you may belong to, it would be great if you could “spread the word”. The link below from the u3a Website will give you an idea of what u3a Day is all about. https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/u3a-day 2 Our next Speaker at the Monthly Meeting on 28th May will be Jef Page, giving an “Illustrated Talk on London in the 1950s”. A lot of my family on both sides were either born or lived in London and, having been born there myself, I’m JUST about old enough to remember some things about it before we moved to Essex. London is a wonderful place and I’m hoping to have my memory jogged! Here’s a little London conundrum to whet your appetite:- “How do you get from Aldgate in the City of London to Temple Church on Fleet Street in the City of London withoutcrossing a road”? Tune into the Zoom Meeting and we’ll see who worked it out! Talking of Speakers, you will be sad to learn that Joyce Clark, our excellent Speaker’s Secretary and her husband, are leaving Essex for pastures new, and therefore her post on the Committee will become vacant. I’m sure you will all wish them well and thank Joyce for the excellent job she has done liaising with and organising the Talks we have had at the Canon Roche Centre and, most recently during the Lockdowns, on Zoom. Of course, this means that we will now be looking to recruit a new Speaker’s Secretary. I understand it is a very interesting position and great fun and not too complicated to carry out. Please let us know if you would like to join the Committee and take on this very important post. I’m very sure you all appreciate the hard work that our Janis Horsley does to bring you an interesting and informative Newsletter each month? Please don’t forget that she would be very pleased to receive Group Reports, photographs and anything else that members would find interesting. How about writing a poem about the last year or tell us a (clean!!) story or joke? Send your efforts to her email at: - [email protected] Stay safe and well and see you online at our next Online Meeting. Details are on Page 5 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Stuart King MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Renewal of membership of the Basildon & Billericay U3A was due on or by the 28th of February as usual. I know this has been an extraordinary year and that is why we introduced the lower fee of £5 to encourage people who might otherwise not have renewed to do so anyway. It was our way of repaying you for your support. It is now over a month since the renewal date expired and despite several reminders, there are still a few that have not renewed and the lower fee concession will expire at the end of May. If anyone wishes to renew please do so now, otherwise, the normal joining fee of £15-00 will be payable after that date. 3 GROUPS’ FACILITATOR Ann Fletcher It is fantastic to see that several of our interest groups are starting to find ways to meet together, whether it’s in someone’s back garden, the park or, if the group is small enough, in someone’s house. A few of our groups have been meeting together during lockdowns via the internet, either using something like Zoom or just emailing one-another.Now they are starting to visit the wider world, brandishing their vaccinated arms and socially distancing wearing masks, but ready to talk face-to-face again! A couple of the sporting groups, like golf and Petanque, have been meeting together for quite a while, and now they are about to be joined by the rambling groups. One of the gardening groups, at least, has started to get together in their gardens and the Philosophy group is keeping their fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to their meeting. If your group would like to meet in person, just check on the current Government guidelines and think about how you can best make sure that your group keeps safe. If you don’t want to meet in person yet, and your group members are unsure about meeting up with others yet, that’s fine. We still have the Zoom available to organise on-line meetings, just contact me about setting up a date and time. Remember, you will still have to complete a Risk Assessment if you are meeting in a different location, such as a local park. There have been several changes to groups over the last few months, with some groups closing and others changing Co-ordinators. If your group has made changesplease let me know, so that I can keep the Groups’ List updated. I know that at least one group has changed Co-ordinator and I am waiting to hear if a new one has been chosen from its members. Without a Co-ordinator a group can’t continue. Let’s hope that the changes really are leading us back to ‘normality’ and that we can all start meeting together soon. A MESSAGE FROM THE THIRD AGE TRUST From The Chief Executive, Sam Mauger Link to u3a newsletter express https://mailchi.mp/u3a/newsletter-express-13-05-21-survey-ageism-fashion This newsletter contains a survey of ageist attitudes to dress and appearance, and news of u3a Day in June. 4 SPEAKERS SECRETARY Joyce Clarke April 23rd, saw Brad Ashton give us a humorous presentation on his experiences as a writer to the stars of comedy. The number of members attending the zoom talk was consistent with previous month’s attendance figures. Our next speaker will be Jef Page, Chairman and Programme Secretary of Ilford Historical Society. He will talk about London in the 1950s, hopefully jogging some good memories for all of us. Do join us on Friday May 28th 2021 Meeting starts at 14:00 which gives you half an hour to have a chat and get settled before the talk starts at 14:30.