Ramsey and District U3A

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE NEWSLETTER 

The chairman (Sheila Gilbert-Hill) welcomed all to the General Meeting on Tuesday 13th November. 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. Sheila offered a special welcome to the Mayor of Ramsey.

One of our committee has stood down due to family commitments. The committee can continue for the moment with eight members, but we need volunteers so that our U3A may continue in the future, two further committee members will be standing down next year.

Our Christmas Party will take place on Tuesday 11th December at 2.00pm. a limited number of tickets may still available from Sheila or David Gilbert-Hill, price £5.00. We start our meeting with food on the table, and a table quiz. Festive music from the Hand Chime Group will take place during the afternoon. Wine, Schloer, Soft drinks and tea/coffee will be available in the foyer.

The Food and Cookery Group is being reformed, Irene Lugg is the contact if you would like to join/re-join this group.

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 Family History Group with a WW1 theme, however, there will be no display at December’s meeting. In January, the Digital Photography Group will be displaying some of their work.

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 docudrama, “Evelyn’s War,”

The cast were members of our U3A, namely Sylvia King – Narrator, Jane Cusworth – Evelyn, Brian King – Harry and John Austin – Australian soldier. The docudrama was directed and produced by Enid Hubbard. Audio/Visual David Gilbert-Hill.

The docudrama was made up of extracts from Evelyn’s Diary interspersed with events which were taking place during WW1. On the screen were pictures of the WW1 events that were happening as well as more intimate pictures of Evelyn’s home and family life, with her brothers and sweetheart and family friends.

Evelyn was born in Isleham, (between Ely and Mildenhall), her father a successful businessman and a county counsellor. She played the piano and had a passion for writing, she collected money for the war effort as well as looking after Belgian refugees fleeing German oppression. She met Harry, whilst he was visiting the family and became sweethearts, he had joined the Army and was waiting to be posted to the front.

It was not long before Harry was reported missing in action, by telegram, later Evelyn had a letter, written by the Australian soldier to say that he had been killed on the Somme, but that his body had no known grave. This was in 1916, Evelyn did not write a diary for quite some years after that terrible news. She never married and died in 1946.

Her diary is full of stories of life in the Fens, it was a fascinating moving account of a young lady’s position in society. Jane Cusworth is related to Evelyn and her cousin who attended the meeting today, still lives in he big house in Isleham.

U3A National Website

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

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

 

Next Meeting

Our Christmas party will take place on Tuesday 11th November at the Community Centre, Stocking Fen Road, Ramsey, starting at 2.00pm.

 

Other News

Our Chairman, Sheila Gilbert-Hill, and Mike Lewis laid a wreath at the Ramsey War Memorial on behalf of the Ramsey and District U3A during the Armistice Day Service on Sunday 11th November.

 

The Ramsey Choral Society, Conductor Tansy Castledine, will perform “On Christmas Night,” by Bob Chilcott, followed by other seasonal favourites. Saturday 1st December at 7.30pm at St. Thomas a Becket Church, Ramsey. Advance tickets available price £10.00 from the Green School Shop, Great Whyte, Ramsey or from 01487 813562. Tickets at the door will cost £12.00, under 16’s free.

And Finally

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

 

JOKES

Helvetia and Times New Roman walk into a bar. “Get out of here!” shouts the barman. “We don’t serve your type.”

Once my dog ate all the Scrabble tiles. For days he kept leaving little messages around the house.

Editor: Mike Lewis