THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE
Welshpool & District
Spring/Summer 2017
Newsletter
23
A note from the Editor
Once again I find myself in the role of editor for our Newsletters as well as
the Webmaster. While I have always enjoyed producing all kinds of
publications it would be wonderful to have a totally new editor or perhaps a
small team of interested members (could be an idea for a Special Interest
Group). New people bring change, fresh ideas and help to enliven the
content of these pages. If you have ever thought of being part of a
publication team please email me [email protected]
Next Newsletter will be available in October
Please ensure that the editor receives your contributions for the October
issue by Friday 15th September 2017.
This hard copy and emailed copies are the only sources for you to look-up
contact details. No personal details are published on our website. Changes
to Group details will be updated on the web, but if the Group Leader
changes you will need to either get a revised hard copy of contact details at a
general meeting on the first Tuesday of each month or email
[email protected]
and ask for the new details you require.
Please make sure that you tell a committee member of any changes to contact
details ASAP so that we all keep up to date. You may find it easier to email.
Our thanks go to Lynne Geldart who designed our Welshpool & District logo
Disclaimer :
The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the opinions of the Third Age Trust or the Welshpool & District U3A.
Sonia St.John
2
Committee Report
Welcome to Peter Dagger our new Treasurer
Subscriptions
Our finances are sufficiently healthy for subscriptions
to befrom
heldNick
at £Ashby
12 a
Peter takes over
head for another year.
whom we whole heartedly thank
The Cowshacc
for looking after all our U3A
The Committee has worked with the Cowshacc
to resolve problems with the
finances.
microphone system and the hearing loop.Peter
We think
that the microphone
is a relatively
new comer to
problem has been overcome. It is now recognised
Cowshacc
the
our U3Abyand
cannotthat
be expected
hearing loop installed has never worked for
whole
to the
know
our room.
namesWe
andare
positions
therefore reserving seats in the area whereovernight,
the loop does
work ensure
for users
of
so please
that
hearing loops. The Cowshacc intend to extend
the loop
butofhave
you always
givecoverage,
full details
any
no date for this. Otherwise the location and
facilities arethat
serving
us well.
transactions
you give
or send
Membership
to our new Treasurer.
Membership has topped 200◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
, despite an unusual number of long-standing
members having moved awayThe
fromCommittee
the area last year.
Chairman
Barbara Read
2017 Annual U3A Lunch
[email protected]
Following
the
success
of
the
2016
annual
U
3A lunch at the Royal Oak in
Secretary
John Davies
Welshpool we decided to stay with [email protected]
venue for 2017. The venue and
timing for the next annual lunch will be reviewed with members.
Treasurer
Peter Dagger
Groups and Welshpool U3A Website
[email protected]
We
now haveSecretary
37 interest groups. With the help of our Webmaster we are
Membership
Maryke Stansfield
working on significant improvements
to our local U3A website. Check it
[email protected]
out! Group details
have been
updated
Programme
Secretary
Mark
Daviesfor this Newsletter. Members have
been advised of a number of groups which
are short of members; but some
[email protected]
Groups
Co-0rdinator
Jacqui
groups (walkers/gardening)
haveDavies
no limit on numbers, and all groups will
[email protected]
maintain waiting lists and welcome enquiries.
Publicity
David Stansfield
National Review of U3A organisation
and Objectives
The Committee
objective for U3A’s on the following lines :
Notice
Boards offered a revised
Peter Stelfox-Griffen
“Helping keep members intellectually, socially, mentally, and physically
Other
Members
Hilary Fitzgerald
active for
as long as possible”.
This proposed revision widens
the current
Michele
Vaughannational U3A charitable objective
3
Committee Report
Subscriptions
Our finances are sufficiently healthy for subscriptions to be held at £12 a
head for another year.
The Cowshacc
The Committee has worked with the Cowshacc to resolve problems with the
microphone system and the hearing loop. We think that the microphone
problem has been overcome. It is now recognised by Cowshacc that the
hearing loop installed has never worked for the whole room. We are
therefore reserving seats in the area where the loop does work for users of
hearing loops. The Cowshacc intend to extend the loop coverage, but have
no date for this. Otherwise the location and facilities are serving us well.
Membership
Membership has topped 200, despite an unusual number of long-standing
members having moved away from the area last year.
2017 Annual U3A Lunch
Following the success of the 2016 annual U3A lunch at the Royal Oak in
Welshpool we decided to stay with the venue for 2017. The venue and
timing for the next annual lunch will be reviewed with members.
Groups and Welshpool U3A Website
We now have 37 interest groups. With the help of our Webmaster we are
working on significant improvements to our local U3A website. Check it
out! Group details have been updated for this Newsletter. Members have
been advised of a number of groups which are short of members; but some
groups (walkers/gardening) have no limit on numbers, and all groups will
maintain waiting lists and welcome enquiries.
National Review of U3A organisation and Objectives
The Committee offered a revised objective for U3A’s on the following lines :
“Helping keep members intellectually, socially, mentally, and physically
active for as long as possible”.
4
This proposed revision widens the current national U3A charitable objective
which is almost exclusively ‘learning’ focussed. It is recognised that in
practice many U3As are operating on the lines we are suggesting. In this
connection we would want to do all we can to help individual members
overcome difficulties that make their participation in our activities difficult.
Suggestions or requests for help from members would be welcome.
Committee Vacancies
The continued survival of our U3A depends on members being willing to
give up a small amount of their time to serve on the U3A Committee. While
we have sufficient volunteers for 2017 we are always interested in knowing
of anyone who might be willing to be an active member of the Committee.
The Small Talk French Group
We rounded off 2016 by having a "Franglais" pantomime. Parts handed
out as people drew their part out of the hat, so Cinders was played by Paul
Lucock, no type casting there! It was a really funny day. The photo shows
the costumes pulled from a "Dressing up box" and shared with
amusement. The afternoon rounded off with warm croissants, and apricot
jam as a sort of French feel to Christmas.
This newish group is making great progress.
Maryke Stansfield
5
Walking Group
Since the last report our walks have mainly revisited old areas albeit with
variations of route and at different times of the year. The high ground still
seems to attract us with climbs to the summits of Roundton, Corndon, Lan
Fawr, Allt y Main and Mynydd Myfyr. Most of the time our efforts were
rewarded with impressive all-round views from the top.
Walks have also included sections of long distance trails including old
friends like Glyndwr's Way, Offa's Dyke Path and the Shropshire Way plus
Nature Reserves at Sweeney Fen and in the Hope Valley. On a walk around
Mathrafal from Pontrobert we found that the Quaker Chapel was a very
convenient lunch stop. We even managed to fit in one cafe near Chirk
6 Aqueduct - which was very welcome as the weather deteriorated during the
walk.
6
In early October a small group of us completed the next stage of Offa's Dyke
Path northwards from Monmouth where we had finished in the Spring. As
anticipated this section was not as dramatic as the first stage which followed
the Wye Valley from Chepstow. However it was surprisingly hilly and very
pleasant walking as we were blessed with unexpectedly beautiful Indian
Summer weather. The route was mainly through prosperous farmland and
orchards - with views of Skirrid and Sugar Loaf in the distance. A highlight
was stopping for a picnic lunch at White Castle.
Enjoying that
picnic lunch
at White Castle
At the end of November we had an earlier than usual pre-Christmas walk
and Lunch at the Lowfield Inn at Marton. A relatively small group of us
appreciated a one way downhill walk beforehand from Long Mountain to
the Inn where we were joined for an enjoyable meal by partners, other nonwalkers and strollers. Many thanks to Gerry Skinner for leading this walk
and Jeny Heard for making arrangements with the Lowfield.
Paul Corby
7
The month of June last year heralded the arrival of the Breast Screening unit
into Tesco’s car park.
Each time I passed by, I thought that perhaps I should pay it a visit. Of
course now that I have reached the magical 7th decade I am in the ‘no longer
invited’ age range so it is necessary to make one’s own appointment.
“Tomorrow” then “tomorrow” but then I did it! Within three weeks of my
Mammogram and three biopsies later it was decision time. I had already
decided what I was going to do but I talked it over with my daughters and
we all agreed that I should make the decision to have my breast removed
rather than go through more weeks of worrying.
My cancer was “in situ”-for those of us not familiar with such terminology it
was in one place and not yet moving into other areas!
My surgeon told me my decision was good since there really wasn’t any
other course of action. So at the end of the third week I duly underwent a
full mastectomy of my right breast. Four days later I was home, not ill, just
very uncomfortable!
Three weeks later I returned to the hospital. Good news. There was to be no
further treatment as the cancer had been caught in its earliest stage.
How lucky am I?
Apart from pain and a lot of discomfort coping with prosthesis placing, I
have never felt ill so again how lucky am I?
Had I not gone? Who can tell? Even the experts weren’t completely sure but
the chances are it would have spread and in time the end result would not
have been nice!
I was treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital where there is a fantastic unit
dealing with all types of Cancers. The staff were superb and my follow up
8 care has been terrific. I shall be checked regularly and am very positive
about the future
8
The support from family and friends has been wonderful and has made it
all bearable and we have talked about it openly. It is what it is and it has to
be dealt with in a positive way. Those of us affected by the dreaded ‘C’ are
proof that all things are possible and we can survive and indeed recover. I
met so many familiar faces during my hospital visits which made me realise
just how many of us were affected, but the one positive thing that emerged
was that we talked about it and shared our worries and experiences so that
there were no secrets.
I must stress that I had no symptoms. No lumps or bumps or funny
feelings. So….. if you have not been for a check -up don’t put it off, please go,
and remember that breast cancer affects men as well as women.
Sally Pryce
Thank you Sally for sharing your experience with us.
Reading your article certainly reminded me that it’s been
too long since my last check-up! Many of us will no
longer get invitations to screening programmes, but we
can request check-ups if we wish to stay healthy.
The Editor
Want to find out more?
http://www.screeningforlife.wales.nhs.uk/home
might be a good place for you to learn what’s available. If you don’t use a
computer at home you could go to the library and ask to use a computer
there. Let the Librarian know that you would like some help to get going.
Try attending the People and Computers Group where members can show
you how to search the web for information.
The Editor
9
Time-table for Special Interest Groups
Contact details are available on the next page. All updates can be found on www.welshpoolanddistrictu3a.org.uk/groups.html
Day/Time
Monday
morning
First week
Second week
Third week
Fourth/Last week
French 9.45
Strolling 9.30
French 9.45
Strolling 9.30
Walking
afternoon
Tuesday
morning
afternoon
Writing 14.00
Main monthly meeting at
COWSHACC 10.00
Small Talk French 14.00
Walking
Small Talk French 10.00
Crafts & Textiles 14.00
Family History 10.00
People & Computers 15.00
Seven Ages Of Britain
Local & Social History 14.30
Book Club-1 14.00
Book Club-2 14.00
evening
Wednesday
morning
Wine Appreciation
Film Group Monty 10.30
Supper Group 18.00-18.30
Classical Music 10.30
Film Group Pool 10.30
lunch
French Conversation
Lunch Group
afternoon
Thursday
Friday
Astronomy 15.00
morning
NLP 14.00 (Last week)
Latin
afternoon
Earth Sciences 14.00
Photography 10.00
Knit & Natter
morning
Poetry Group 14.00
Bird Group 10.00
Art Appreciation 10.30
Focus Discussion
Spanish 10.30
Painting for Pleasure 10.00
Spanish 10.30
Garden Visits
Discussion 10.30
afternoon
10
Jazz 14.00
11
GROUP
Art Appreciation
Astronomy
Bird Group
Book Club 1
Book Club 2
Crafts & Textiles
Discussion
Earth Sciences
Family History
Film Group Monty
Film Group Pool
Focus Discussion
French
French Conversation
Garden Visits
Jazz
Knit and Natter
Latin
Local/Social History
Luncheon
Medieval History
Research
Classical Music
Neuro-Linguistic
Programming
Painting for Pleasure
People & Computers
Photography
Poetry
Seven Ages of Britain
Small talk French
Spanish
Strolling
Supper Club
Walkers
Wine Appreciation
Writing
CO-ORDINATOR
Roger Brown
Sonia St.John
Bob Vidler
Brayton Holt
Celia Goodyear
Peter Stelfox-Griffin
Lynne Geldart
Ann Lawrence
Margaret Dodd
Roy Blower
Brian Mills
Sonia St.John
Jacqui Davies
Liz Mathieson
Hilary Fitzgerald
Ruth Beardsell
Gerry Skinner
Maryke Stansfield
Sue Harrison-Stone
Pamela Clare-Joyce
Lynette Davies
Paul Corby
Elisabeth Barnes
Maeve Caplin
John Davies
Pamela Clare-Joyce
Carol Harris
Lynne Geldart
Tony St .John
Arthur Bell
Pamela Clare-Joyce
Matt Mathieson
Maryke Stansfield
Liz Mathieson
Paul Lucock
Lynette Davies
Paul Corby
Mark Davies
Jacqui Davies
Bob Vidler
12
Telephone numbers are
printed in the emailed copy
and the hard copy given out
at monthly meetings
Quiz Time
How’s your General Knowledge?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
What item of clothing was named after its Scottish inventor?
By which Latin name was Rosa Gallica previously known?
What is the painting 'La Gioconda' more usually known as?
How many valves does a trumpet have?
Where would you find the Sea of Tranquility?
Which word goes before vest, beans and quartet?
By what name is Lancelot Brown more usually known?
Name the world's biggest island.
Name the seventh planet from the sun.
Give the alternative name for a Mountain Ash tree.
Which kinds of bulbs were once exchanged as a form of currency?
What kind of weapon is a falchion?
Name the largest freshwater lake in the world?
Who was the legendary Benedictine monk who is said to have
invented champagne?
15. Which four British cities have underground rail systems?
Sudoku
Each row and column square must contain all the numbers 1 to 9
3
2
7
2
4
8
9
3
3
6
1
9
5
6
7
9
1
7
7
9
4
6
8
2
5
2
5
Answers and Sudoku solution on page 19
13
9
How to make new friends
At the AGM there was a suggestion about starting a ‘Sunday group’ for
people who feel lonely at weekends. It made me think about things people
can do to create new friendships (and this also is the kind of topic that our
monthly NLP group covers, so if any of you would like to know more about
the group please do contact me).
Some people are naturally good at building relationships with others. It
often comes more easily to those who are very outgoing. And, to explain
this, it’s useful to understand the basic difference between ‘extraverts’ and
‘introverts’. Put simply, extraverts are people who love being with other
people; they actually gain energy through social interaction. On the other
hand, introverts find their energy is drained when they are with other
people – their ‘internal mental life’ and time alone is what re-charges their
batteries.
This has become a very topical issue, with several recent books on the
subject, including one called ‘Quiet – the power of introverts in a world that
can’t stop talking’. Knowing which of those two descriptions best fits you is
important as it can help you learn the best ways for you personally to
improve your network of friends.
So how can you make new friends easily? Well, if you are very extravert this
question may puzzle you – you probably think you have no shortage of
friends already. However, extraverts tend to have very wide circles of
acquaintances but sometimes not too many really close friends. If you are
an introvert you may have a very small number of close friends with whom
you have longstanding and close relationships, but may find extending that
group of people challenging as talking to new people may feel daunting.
And if you lose some of those close friends (or family) you may find your
social contacts are suddenly diminished.
And knowing which category fits you best is useful so you know how to
14
‘manage’ conversations with others. Introverts often find it hard talking to
people they don’t know. And extraverts may overpower others with their
high levels of enthusiasm.
So, how can you extend your social network easily and comfortably? It’s all
about practising and here are a few tips:
Smile at people. Look at people and smile at them. This achieves two things
– firstly the act of smiling changes your body chemistry and makes you feel
good and secondly it will make another person feel appreciated.
Make a point of talking to someone each time you leave your house or
someone visits it. Here are some examples of situations and possible
conversation starters: Speak to the cashier at a supermarket checkout (You
could ask: ‘How’s your day going?’). Talk to someone in a waiting room at
the dentist. (You could say: ‘The rest of the day’s going to seem great after
this’. Say something to the courier delivering a parcel to your door. (You
could ask: What’s it like on the roads this morning?’). Ask a question of
someone you don’t know at a U3A meeting. (You could ask: ‘Have you been
a member for a long time?). And the first one of these (How’s your day
going?) is a wonderful one for almost all situations (although maybe not
appropriate to a fellow patient waiting in A&E)!
Get into ‘rapport’ with people. People feel most comfortable with others who
are like themselves. When people are getting on well we say they ‘have
rapport with each other’. An easy way of getting rapport is to ‘match’
something about the other person. Please note, this does not mean you
mimic them, as that may cause offence. It’s just about picking up on how
the person is behaving and then doing something similar, (for example
smiling if they do, speaking a bit more slowly if they are a slow speaker or
giving an example of something you have in common (for example if the
person says they have just bought some new plants for their garden you
might mention similar plants you have and where you’ve placed them).
15
Getting out of your ‘comfort zone’. We all have situations in which we feel
really comfortable and most people have situations which they find difficult
or frightening (apart from the person on a medical programme on TV this
week – he had had his adrenal glands removed and as a result could not
feel fear). Challenging yourself to ‘get out of your comfort zone’ is an
excellent way of changing aspects of your life that you are dissatisfied with.
It may seem hard to speak to someone new (for introverts) or to listen rather
than speak (extraverts) but, once you’ve done it, you will feel a real sense of
achievement.
So challenge yourself to talk to some new people every week and soon it will
become a habit and your social life will be transformed.
Carol Harris
U3A Tablecloth
Those of you who were around in 2009 will remember when the Textile
Group presented the newly-made tablecloth to the membership. The idea
for a tablecloth had arisen during my Chairmanship as an item of U3A
regalia for use during meetings and it seemed to have been well received.
16
It then disappeared for a few years, resurfacing again at the AGM last year.
After that we had further discussions in the Textile Group and thought it
would be nice to update it with more motifs representing some of the newer
groups.
As you will have seen, the techniques used by members of the Textile Group
vary from highly skilled embroidery to more representational appliqué, in
some cases very simple but effective. The Welshpool U3A logo was skilfully
done by Ann Corby. We decided that simply sewing the motifs on to the
cloth was too plain, so enhanced them by couching a twisted gold cord
around them. This was tricky work, but I’m sure you will agree it shows
them up nicely.
I hope the cloth will continue to be used at meetings as a great deal of
thought, time and work has gone into it – though we did enjoy making it.
Lynne Geldart
17
Family History
We all have a family history and
today we are fortunate that the
process of discovering some of that
history has become much easier. Join
us on the third Tuesday morning of
each month and you might find an
infamous relative or perhaps a photo
of your grandmother as a little girl.
Whatever you find, it’s sure to change
the way you look at your family
history, and yourself. The story of
your family is the story of you!
There is a wicked inclination in most people to suppose an old man decays
in his intellects. If a young or middle-age man, when leaving a company,
does not recollect where he laid his hat, it is nothing; but if the same
inattention is discovered in an old man, people will shrug up their
shoulders, and say, “His memory is going.”
Samuel Johnson (1709 to 1784)
18
Quiz Time Answers/Solutions
1. A Mackintosh 2. Rosa Mundi 3. The Mona Lisa 4. Three 5. The Moon
6. String 7. Capability Brown 8. Greenland
9. Uranus
11.
Tulips
14.
Dom Perignon
15.
Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle and London
5
2
7
1
6
8
3
4
9
6
8
9
4
2
3
5
7
1
12.
A sword
13.
Lake Superior
10. Rowan
Sudoku
1
5
2
7
4
6
9
8
3
3
4
6
8
9
2
1
5
7
9
7
8
3
1
5
4
6
2
8
6
5
2
3
1
7
9
4
2
3
4
6
7
9
8
1
5
7
9
1
5
8
4
2
3
6
4
1
3
9
5
7
6
2
8
The name Sudoku comes from Japan and consists of the Japanese
characters Su (meaning 'number') and Doku (meaning 'single'). The
Sudoku puzzle here was not invented in Japan. This Sudoku game
originated in Switzerland and then traveled to Japan by way of America.
Sudoku has its deep roots in ancient number puzzles.
19
Monthly Meetings at the COWSHACC
11th April
Russell George A.M. - The History and Work of the
National Assembly for Wales
2nd May
Sylvia Sparrow – Hogarth
6th June
Marie Carter - On the Trail of Agnes Hunt
4th July
Sonia St.John - A Hidden History of Chirk Castle
1st August
Open Day & Group Presentations
5th September
Steve Jones - Shrewsbury Street Pastors
3rd October
Bruce Lawson - Charles Rolls
Please remember to bring used postal stamps for MS Society
collection