Volume 7 Issue 3

Ramsey and District U3A

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE NEWSLETTER

A warm welcome to all our members

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, the usual notices were read out.

Our new Groups Co-ordinator, Andy Wingham, introduced himself to the meeting and said that there were 26 flourishing groups within our U3A. He thanked the Group Leaders for their hard work and enthusiasm. If you wish to start a new group or come up with an idea for a new group, see Andy and he will get sign-up sheets and get support for you.

John Austin then spoke of day trips which had been planned for the next few months. On 30th May, a visit to the Nene Valley railway, using one’s own or shared transport, bring a picnic lunch and with a conducted tour around engine sheds. Then on 23rd June, an evening visit to Tolethorpe Hall, where “Much Ado About Nothing,” will be performed, pick-up times would be 4.00pm with a chance for a picnic. Bring seats and blankets with you! Notice was given for a day trip to Southwold on 18th August, when a visit to Adnams Brewery is on the cards. Sign-up sheets were available in the foyer. In September 2018, the Holiday Group are planning a visit to France to visit WW1 sites, approximate cost £400.

The chairman then introduced the speaker for this afternoons session, she is Doreen Reed, she was here to entertain us with her homespun observational thought provoking, amusing tales of everyday life, mostly told in rhyme. Doreen is well known in East Anglia, as a writer of witty poetry, she has written two books, “The Same O’l Me” and “No Socks to Wash”. Her poems are also available on CDs or Digital Downloads. She auditioned, successfully, to become a W.I. speaker, and has entertained many audiences throughout the U.K.

Her tales began with a rummage and clear out of her kitchen drawer and the amazing number of things found, looked at and put back! Then followed her story of a blind date with Michael, he spent ages looking through a shop window, eventually going in and buying a set of false teeth! Have you heard about the cross-eyed boyfriend, he proposed to the girl on the next table! Then there was Johnnie, who was a would-be bank robber, he had a sawn-off shotgun and wore his sister’s tights. However, the raid failed completely, as the tights, even though a big size, never reached high enough to cover the face, and the sawn-off shotgun was the wrong end!

Doreen sent her nephew out to get a peach for their tea, telling him to pinch them to see if they were fresh, he came back with 10, having pinched the lot! She visited the osteopath to get rid of a pain in her neck, he was a real dish. He asked her to strip down to the essentials so that he could give a relaxing massage – Oh how I wish that I had worn my best undies instead of the thermals!

Her final story was about her Gran, who was a great fan of gardening programmes. She had found that her hero was on a poster advertising the ‘Full Monty’ at the local theatre. Gran had booked seats near the front in order to get a good view of the great man. A packed audience waited for the show to start, and as the lights went down and the male strippers went into full reveal mode, Gran was heard to say that it was the best show she had ever seen in all her life.

The chairman thanked Doreen for a most entertaining afternoon.

Future Open Meetings

Our next general meeting will take place on Tuesday 9thJune 2017 at the Community Centre, when our speaker will be Dave Sharpe, his subject RAPTORXOTICS. Our next letter for the competition is still ‘Q’ and will take place at this next meeting.

Other News

A study day will be held at the Ramsey Community Centre on 22nd June from 10.00 to 16.00.

There will be a guest, Alison Bruce, who teaches at Anglia Ruskin University and is a prolific writer of prose fiction, who will spend the day with us doing a couple of topic focussed presentations, plus joining in with us as we do several fun activities on the spot.  Alison will also tell us about her own experiences of becoming a writer.  There will also be a session on specific areas, including dialogue, genre, mood etc.  There will be a feedback question and answer session to finish off with.

This study day offers members the chance to be with writers from across the region, sharing ideas and experiences, experimenting with different techniques and hopefully moving forward personally.

If you book a place for this study day please let Bill Thompson know, as he is keen to increase the numbers of his group, and he would like to know who is going, ann_bill@btinternet.com Thank you.

 

SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER

A reminder to members, that their subscriptions are due for renewal on the 1st April and anyone not renewing by 31st May will be assumed they do not wish to renew their membership.

U3A Events

You are invited to attend:

Secrets of Staying Sharp….In Later Life (THIS EVENT IS FOR U3A MEMBERS ONLY)

Wednesday, June 7, 2017 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

U3A Royal Society Healthy Ageing Lecture 2017 in association with The European Alliance for the Brain
Professor Ian Deary, Professor of Differential Psychology, Director, MRC Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology University of Edinburgh.
Professor Deary is an entertaining and informative speaker, familiar to some U3A members. He will explore the reasons why some people’s brains and thinking skills age better than others, as described in The Disconnected Mind, a research project which is helping to find some answers. The meeting will be held at the;

Wellcome Lecture Theatre

The Royal Society

6 – 9 Carlton House Terrace

London, SW1

More Other News

Ramsey and District Gardening Club Sunday 2nd July 2017 An organised visit to East Ruston Old Vicarage garden, (a superb coastal garden with traditional borders, water features, Mediterranean gardens, flower meadow and vegetable garden) followed by Taverham Garden & Craft Centre, Norwich.Coach will leave Ramsey Clock Tower at 8.00am, Burton’s Garage at 8.05am and The Cross Keys, Upwood at 8.10am. More details from Yvonne Wright: 01487 814550 or Lesley Owen: 01487 812377

FREE TV LICENCE

If you are over 75, or live with someone who is, you’re entitled to a free TV licence.  The thing to remember is that it’s not an automatic benefit when you turn 75; if you’re eligible, you’ll need to apply.  The process is simple:  Call 0300 790 6131 or www.tvlicensing.co.u/over75info.

We are looking for volunteers to meet and greet new members by becoming ‘friends’ or ‘Mentors’ and help them settle-in at our U3A. Please contact any member of the committee if you think you can help, thank you.

And Finally

Car Parking – Please remember to park your car considerately and use car sharing, if you are able.

 Jokes:

A group of chess enthusiasts were kicked out of a hotel reception for discussing their winning games. The manager can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

Editor: Mike Lewis