Ramsey and District U3A
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE NEWSLETTER
NEWS FLASH
Netherlands visit to Keukenhof, Delft, and Amsterdam 2018
Dews coaches have formalized this tour exclusively for members of our U3A.
Dates April 16th – 20th 2018
Leaving Ramsey taking the Eurotunnel and then to Papandrecht (a suburb of Rotterdam), which is close to Keukenhof, where we will stay at the Apollo hotel (4Star) Half board (includes hot/cold buffet breakfast, & evening meal – three course buffet-menu with choice of 3 starters, choice of 2 main course, and dessert. There is a vegetarian option. (Booking.com rate this hotel as “Best value”). We have the services of the coach and driver for the duration of the holiday.
Itinerary
Coach transportation and admission to Keukenhof Gardens.
Coach transportation to Delft porcelain factory and/or Vermeer museum.
One day in Amsterdam.
Home by Eurotunnel and on to Ramsey.
Cost per person 49-seater luxury coach £435.
Single supplement £77.
To secure your place a deposit of £75 per person will be required by Dews before August 31st2017. This will be made via the u3a bank account which will be transferred to Dews.
The price is based on a minimum of 20 people going.
Because of the extremely good value for this holiday we are extending the invitation to all members of the Ramsey and District U3A.
The booking is being kindly held until Thursday next week.
If you would like to take advantage of this holiday please let us know by 12:00 noon on July 26th.
Reply to tandehubbard@tiscali.co.uk or call on 01487 815041
Please note a similar holiday with rail travel (from St. Pancras) is quoted on line at £715 per person so this is a real bargain.
A warm welcome to all our members
Our meeting on Tuesday 11th July 2017.
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, the usual notices were read out. As Andy was unavailable, Enid introduced two new group activities, Coarse Fishing and Petanque – sign-up sheets were available in the foyer.
Enid also reminded us that the day trip to Southwold on 18th August, when a visit to Adnams Brewery is on the cards. Sign-up sheets are available in the foyer. In September 2018, the Holiday Group are planning a visit to France to visit WW1 sites, approximate cost £500, see John for further details if you would like to join, then a £10 non-refundable deposit will be required.
The chairman then introduced Bill Thompson, who gave a brief outline of the stories written on the study day which was held last month. Some of the stories were on display in the foyer, if you feel the need to write an epic novel or just a short story, why not join the Writing for Pleasure group.
The chairman then introduced the speaker for this afternoons session, he was Chris Dingley and his subject ‘Tax, Care and Toy Boys’ this we learnt later should read ‘Tax, Care and Boy’s Toys’. We heard much on Tax and Care, but not much of Boy’s toys!
Chris has had over 21 years’ experience of law, wills and probate and put this poser to the audience, “There is no point in making a will,” most disagreed, but Chris went on to prove that in fact a will was useful, in that it could spell out how the estate could be divided.
There is no Inheritance tax if the value of your estate is below £325,000 per single person, £650,000 per married couple. From April 2020, this rises to £1 million per couple, or if you leave everything to your spouse or civil partner. To reduce the tax threshold, you can give gifts to the value of £325,000 to people, which need to be in place for 7 years. The other method is that one can donate £3,000 in each financial year to any charity, political parties or grandchildren. His advice was to meet with a financial expert before undertaking any such scheme.
Chris went on to talk about long term care, the cost of care in Kent can be as high as £1134 per week. You pay for your own care, when you have more than £23,250. Means testing takes place when you have reached £23,250 or below, which includes home, savings and investments.
“Tenancy in Common,” If you are joint owner of a home, then each party owns the whole home. Generally,concurrent ownership can take three forms: joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, and tenancy in common. These forms of concurrent ownership give individuals a choice in the way that co-ownership of property will be carried out. Each type of tenancy is distinguishable from the others by the rights of the co-owners.
Usually, the term tenant is understood to describe a person who rents or leases a piece of property. In the context ofconcurrent estates, however, a tenant is a co-owner of real property.
All tenants in common hold an individual, undivided ownership interest in the property. This means that each party has the right to alienate, or transfer the ownership of, her ownership interest. This can be done by deed, will, or other conveyance.
When a tenant by the entirety dies, the surviving spouse receives the deceased spouse’s interest, thus acquiring full ownership of the property.
Trusts are sometimes referred to as family trusts because they are often used to protect family wealth and assets. However, trusts don’t have to be used for the benefit of family members – they simply offer a legally binding way to pass on your assets later, either while you are still living or after you die. Please take advice from professional services if you wish to follow either of these routes.
Finally, Chris talked about mental capacity or lack of it, he said that banks will often freeze joint bank accounts if one party can’t act. Then you must apply to the government to make decisions on financial or welfare matters for those who can’t make decisions at the time they need to be made.
Powers of Attorney – there are Property and Affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney as well as Health and Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney, the first allow you to choose someone to manage your finances, the second to make welfare decisions if you are not able. There are many forms that need to be submitted to the Office of the Public Guardian, again please seek advice from professional services. Chris advises that we shop around, get quotes for professional services.
In the question and answer session, Chris mentioned funeral costs, his advice was to buy it now, shop around, find out what the plan includes, check on dispersements, buy one plan per couple so that those left don’t have to find the money.
The chairman thanked Chris for a very thought-provoking afternoon and we broke for tea and biscuits.
Future Open Meetings
There will be no General meeting in August (Holiday Time), our next general meeting will take place on Tuesday 12th September 2017 at the Community Centre, when our singer will be Andy Smith. “Sing a Century.” Our next letter for the competition is ‘S’ and will take place at this meeting. The winner of ‘R’ was a photo of a waterfall rainbow submitted by Hazel McDowell, with second place going to Fran Holland with a photo of a Robin.
Other News for your diary
Ramsey and District Gardening Club Sunday 6th August 2017 An organised visit to RHS Hyde Hall & Garden Flower Show (A magnificent 360-acre garden with mixed borders, woodland, dry garden and much more. Their flower show will include specialist nurseries, garden trade stands and gardening sundries) Cost £16.00 includes coach and entry to Hyde hall. 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.
Ramsey Rural Museum Saturday 29th July 2017 – Ramsey Horticultural Society Annual Show, 1pm till 4pm.
Saturday and Sunday 19th and 20th August 2017 – 1940’s Weekend.
Sunday 27th August 2017 -Jazz and Tea Afternoon for Macmillan Cancer Care.
Mentors
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 few couples used to get together to talk about life and to have a good time. One day one of the men, Harry, started talking about this fantastic restaurant he went to the other night with his wife. “Really?”, one of the men said, what’s it called? After thinking for a few seconds Harry said, “What are those good smelling flowers called again?” “Do you mean a rose?” the first man questioned. “Yes, that’s it,” he exclaimed. Looking over at his wife he said, “Rose what’s that restaurant we went to the other night?”
Editor: Mike Lewis