Ramsey and District U3A

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE NEWSLETTER

The chairman (Sheila Gilbert-Hill) welcomed all to the General Meeting on Tuesday 8th May. The usual safety notices were read out. Members were reminded that there is a table set up in the foyer for less able members to sit and have their tea and coffee.

As with all businesses, clubs and websites, we must abide by new legislation which came into force on 25th May 2018. This replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 and is known as The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This is designed to enable individuals to better control their personal data. A few members still have forms to fill in, so please can we have them returned as soon as possible.

Jane Cusworth, was unable to attend, because David Cusworth was having his knee operation, (she will continue as Group Co-ordinator, and be shadowed in the role by Barbara Holloway), the Groups news was read out by Sheila. The Cycling Group and the Table Tennis Group are looking for more members, a sign-up sheet for the Chess Group is on display, beginners or Chess Masters are welcome!

Each month in the foyer, groups will be able to display their wares and have the chance to talk to members about their activities. It will be first come first served, so group leaders, get your groups working on your presentations. The display this month was hosted by the Patchwork and Quilting Group – an excellent display of baby quilts.

Our trip to the seaside could do with a few more names on the outings list, and our new sharing lunch group will take place at The Windmill, Somersham, on 28th June, organised by Lynda and Mike Lewis. There will be no organised Computer Group this month, but if any individuals need support, then please contact Peter Stevens.

Our next trip will be to Bressingham Gardens on 20th July. The final payment of £10 will ned to be paid at our next General Meeting, for those who have already paid their £5 deposit. The trip on 17th August will be to Wells-Next-Sea and Heacham Lavender. The trip in October, either 12th or 26th will be to the National Arboretum. Signup sheets available at our next general meeting, where you can select which date is the most suitable for the Arboretum trip. A big thank you to all Group Leaders for keeping their web pages and calendars up to date. To all members, please keep looking at our website, Aspire and the notice boards

The chairman then introduced the musical group for our afternoon entertainment, “The Upwood Ukeleles.”

The aim of the Upwood Ukeleles was to raise funds for the MAGPAS Air Ambulance Service, any fees for giving performances were donated, as were those for CD sales. Over £22k has been raised over the years for this worthy charity. The session opened with the theme tune to ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum,’ with a request to sing along if you knew the words! This was followed by ‘Sway’ a Dean Martin classic.

The music continued with ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman,’ a Lonnie Donegon hit from way back with slight changes to the original joke line, such as “I say, I say, I say, my son has gone to South Korea to play music,” “Seoul,” “No Rhythm and Blues.” And “My wife hurt herself when she fell on a volcano,” “Krakatoa,” “No just bruised her arm!” The various types of ukulele were introduced to the membership, with tenor, bass baritone and banjolele, each giving a brief sound bite.

The next musical item was ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows,’ the George Formby classic, followed by ‘Never Find Another You,’ a Seekers hit from the 60’s, this was a skit on the original song by reporting that a special ukulele had broken and could not be replaced! Then followed a polka and ‘Crazy,’ by Patsy Cline.

There then followed a touch of audience participation. Selected members were given differing lengths of plastic pipes, each tube numbered from 1 to 13, the tube played a note when hit on the head or knee. When hit in the right order, it played the introduction to ‘Mr Sandman.’ The Upwood Ukeleles or ‘Upyous’ as they like to be called played their tribute to MAGPAS, ‘Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines,’ this time with full audience participation, sitting and standing when we reached ‘Up, Down,’ as the song progressed.

The ‘Upyous,’ then held a recruitment drive, to see if any of the audience could be replacements for the group and selected past and present committee members to dress in a hula skirt, wear a jazzy shirt and wig and erect a music stand and to swap items at each chorus, the song ‘YMCA,’ by the Village People, with words changed to ‘In the Upyous.’

As we were approaching the end of our afternoon’s entertainment, we were entertained by ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and ‘Putting on the Style.’ The very last item to be played was dedicated to Donald Trump, a parody on ‘Nellie the Elephant,’ an up to date version of a classic song. What a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday afternoon, with fun and music from a very talented ukulele group.

The ukulele group was thanked by the chairman for an excellent afternoon’s entertainment and we broke for tea, coffee and biscuits.

Future Open Meetings

Our next General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 10th July 2018 at the Community Centre, when we will be entertained by Peter Lawrence, his subject, ‘A Policeman’s Lot.’

U3A National Website

The email address to receive information about the national newsletter is:

https://u3a.org.uk/about/newsletter

Advance Notice

The Ramsey Carnival takes place on 14th July 2018 and the R&D U3A have booked two tables at the Ramsey Rural Museum, one so that we can raise funds to offset the cost of our hand chimes, by selling Bric a Brac and bottles (wine, beer or soft drinks in a tombola), the other, will be used to display publicity items for the U3A. Donations will be gratefully accepted by any member of the committee, if you have lots to donate, Yvonne Graham will be your contact point, please phone her in the first instance. We are also looking for volunteers to help with the running of our table/display. If you can help, even if it is just for half an hour, please let one of our committee know. Thank You.

Other U3A News

 

Chatteris U3A Community Fundraiser Defibrillator  Chatteris U3A are hosting a Horse Race Night with Fish and Chip Supper, community defibrillator fundraiser on Friday August 17th, 2018 at the King Edward Centre, Chatteris, 7pm till 10.30pm.    Tickets are on sale now. £7.00 with supper or £2.00 entrance only.   Races can be sponsored by local business for £20.  (We have four more races to sell.)  Individual horses can be sponsored for £3.00. Winners of each race will receive a prize.  Raffle prizes are also being sought.

If you would like to purchase tickets; sponsor a race or horse; or generally support the evening, please contact;

Event organiser and U3A member Ted Croucher. 

teds.shed.events@gmail.com  

 43 York Road, Chatteris, PE16 6EB

 

 And Finally

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

JOKES

For the men out there, if you want to win a woman’s heart next Valentine’s, take her out to a nice dinner, go on a romantic walk and look her in the eyes and tell her the three words every woman longs to hear: “You lost weight!”

What’s a stalker and a Pokémon nerd got in common? They both hide in the bushes trying to get a Pikachu.

Editor: Mike Lewis