Scrabble . Mah Jong. Shakespeare . Ten-pin Bowling . Bridge . Bowls . Music, Photography ; Aviation
SUMMER 2015
4 June
Doreen Reed
2 July
Dr Stephen Bloy, Part 1 of Fishing Industry in Local Author Grimsby - Apprentice
Boys
Poet & Storyteller
6 August Jennie Mooney, Grimsby Library
Local Topics but yet to be finalised. Family History (Library Resources) Trip down Memory Lane (Gy and Clee)
3 Sept
Living in the Falklands
Jackie Adams
CHAIRMANS CHAT—from JOHN WILKINSON Brochure Editor Since the continuity of the quarterly brochure there could possibly be confusion between the titles of Newsletter Editor and the Brochure Editor. As the newsletter is not continued at the present time except with specific news items all copy for the brochure should be forwarded to our Brochure Editor. Open Day; Thank You On behalf of the committee I would like to sincerely thank Pauline Campbell and all Group Leaders and members who arranged displays and supported the Open Day at the Memorial Hall on Thursday 9th April. The benefit on the day was at least 15 new members joining various activities. Festive Lunch Details of the next Festive Lunch have been arranged at the same venue as the last two years at the Masonic Hall, Cambridge Road, Grimsby on Thursday7th January 2016 with the meals options as Follows:First Course = Melon - Prawn Cocktail - Soup Main Course = Lamb - Chicken - Haddock. Dessert = Cheesecake - Pavlova - Apple Pie. Vegetable meal available on request Suggested Price: £18/£18.50 Spanish Course Alan Waumsley is considering starting a Spanish Course providing that sufficient members are interested and after the May meeting those expressing interest was encouraging. Other members who may be interested and not listed at the May meeting, please contact Alan by telephone 01472 320150; all interested will be contacted by Alan. Members’ Day-Excursion Anne Mann and Pauline Campbell are planning to organise a Day-Trip by coach when a reasonably priced venue and date can be arranged, Details as soon as possible. Members’ Transport Support An idea was discussed regarding any members who are unable to attend meetings because of transport difficulties to and from home each month. If you know or are aware of any member with these problems please contact any committee member who will discuss your situation at a committee meeting. 2
HOW TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2015 As I have got older, I have found it difficult to cope with changes. Nowadays if I am visiting a new place or person, I find myself anxious. I tend to do research about it to reduce my anxiety. This is how it was with a treasurer’s job, trying to get my head around it to see how it can be easy for me and easy for others, at the same time becoming efficient. Over a period of time, I have brought about changes, some of them have been helpful, and others have caused difficulties. In this process I have some very sympathetic and supportive members, while some have behaved rudely and insultingly to me. I suppose they must have found it hard to cope with changes. Initially I updated the annual form, but talking to Inland Revenue, I realised I needed to share and collect different information. We have got acceptance for tax aids and I designed declaration forms. I need to have a declaration from every member; irrespective of whether they pay tax or do not pay. These forms may be important if the Inland Revenue decides to audit our claims. A second important aspect is I need to have an up-to-date members’ database, in case, in the unlikely situation, an insurance claim arises. If a member attending a group activity may have a fall or other injury and a claim arises, as U3A officers, unless we can speak to members, we cannot substantiate the claim. We have a few members who refuse to provide their details. It is important to note that information collected will only be used for U3A purposes. Renewal will be due on first September. We will collect renewals from the August meeting. For the coming year you will not be required to complete a new form. You will have your fixed membership number, which will continue while you remain members. Only new members will be required to fill the declaration forms. (Still forty-six members have not yet filled up a declaration form, I will pursue them). If there is any change of detail, e.g. telephone number, E-mail id or address, then complete a change of detail form. When you pay the treasurer’s office your subscription, we will immediately provide you with a new membership card and ask you to collect your receipt that day before the meeting ends. We have a facility to make direct transfer on the Internet to pay subscriptions. Only three members made use of this last year. You are encouraged to use this modern method of payment, Internet transfer. We will send your card and receipt in the post if you pay by that method. When you come to pay we would like you to check your details which we have on our database, to make sure they are correct. We are hoping that this would make it smoother for you and for us to renew your membership. We will continue to hold membership at £15 per annum, which pays for all general meetings and speakers and pays for all leaflets brochures and administrative cost. We need membership of 250 to break even. If we can go beyond three hundred, we could consider reducing membership fees. Himanshu Ghadiali, Treasurer
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“NEW AGE KURLING When we start playing New Age Kurling again in October unfortunately the cost will have to rise to £2.50. Last October we had a £20 credit from the previous season but unfortunately this was soon used up and in fact at the last session on the 21st April, the 10 members who attended contributed another £1.20 each to cover the short fall at the end of the season. Many thanks to our generous players, especially to Anne Mann who kindly arranged the collection and our Chairman John Wilkinson who had left enough money with Anne for me to cover the last session if it was needed. I was very pleased and relieved to be able to repay him. As our players know, the cost of the hall is £30 per session so having 20 members playing covers the cost only of the hall and not the refreshments and the increase of 50p per person should help with the times when we do not have a full complement of players and also something towards the provision of tea, coffee and biscuits. We could still accommodate another two players as not everyone is able to attend every session. The first date which we will next be playing is the 6th October in the afternoon and on the first and third Tuesday afternoons in each month until the end of April. If you would like to join please telephone me nearer to the date. Pauline – telephone 01472 813010”
RUMMIKUB and CANASTA—Anne Mann The new Rummikub Group has started and is going very well. We have 8 members who meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2.00 pm. We meet at different members’ houses each time and have two tables, which works just perfectly. The new Canasta Group is now off the ground – with 4 members meeting every other Monday evening. There are two members who are also interested in the Group who would like to meet in the daytime, so there is room for more members. Please contact Pauline Campbell, the Groups Co-ordinator on 01472 318010 if you would like to join the daytime group. A day to suit everybody will be sorted out later.
FAMILY HISTORY The Family History Group meets on the 3rd Monday in each month at Waltham Library from 10 am until 12. The group has use of 4 computers in the Library and these are booked for 15th June and 20th July (there is no meeting in August) Anne Easterbrook 4
U3A BIRDWATCHING GROUP—MARTIN FRANCIS Thoughts from the Group Leader - May 2015 In the last 15 months or so, the Birdwatching Group has welcomed several new members and added a number of new sites to the list of placed visited. In fact, it has been very gratifying to hear a number of people say that they have joined U3A mainly to be able to join the Birdwatching group. It seems to suggest that the approach that was adopted from the start suits most people. On the other hand, we were shocked to lose Bobby Darby who had been an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, well-liked and respected member of the group almost since it started. After travelling to the chosen site by sharing cars if necessary, we take a gentle (or, in some cases, not so gentle) stroll, looking and listening as we go. Plenty of idle chatter about holidays, grandchildren, gardening and 1001 other topics accompanies the walking. And of course, sometimes the conversation drifts into more serious business like environmental issues or local politics! It might not make for the most serious or thorough birdwatching but it keeps the day interesting. Amongst the sites visited for the first time was Messingham Sand Quarry near Scunthorpe, which can be a difficult place to find (particularly for some members!!!). Here we were lucky to return to the cars just before there was a violent thunderstorm with hailstones. Our first trip to Gibraltar Point was marred by a fatal accident on the A16 which caused lengthy delays and a late arrival time. However, it was at this site, while we were still mustering in the car park on arrival, that we saw the rarest bird of the year – a rough-legged buzzard. This is a fairly uncommon winter visitor which is very like our common buzzard but as its name suggests, has feathers all the way down its legs. It also has a lot of white feathers in its tail, which aided its identification. Fortunately, we also got good views of it from a hide a little later. The light shower forecast for lunchtime turned out to be prolonged heavy rain and 2 cars decided to call it a day and left. Luckily for the third car, the weather cleared up and just as we decided to leave, we were rewarded with outstanding views of a male hen harrier, which is a truly magnificent bird. Our February trip was to another site which was new to us – North Cave Wetlands, just over the Humber. This is a fairly small reserve with only basic facilities but we were blessed with the most perfect winter’s day. It was frosty at dawn but there was not a cloud in the sky, the air was gin-clear and there was not a breath of wind. Consequently, the 11 hardy souls who made the journey had a very pleasant walk without feeling too cold. Forty different kinds of bird were seen, including 5 buzzards in the air at the same time. These were supplemented by a deer (species not identified) and 2 sightings of a mammal which was either a weasel or a stoat. Research after returning home indicated that it was a stoat because it had a black tip to its tail. By the time this article is published, we will have visited Whisby Park Nature Reserve, near Lincoln, with three new members who joined us on the Open Day. At Whisby, we are hoping to hear the beautiful song of the nightingale in its most northerly stronghold. If we are really lucky we might even catch a glimpse of this elusive bird as it sings from the depths of dense vegetation but there is a good chance we will have seen a good number of other birds which visit these shores only for the summer months. The number in the group is large and, if everybody was able to go on a particular visit, it would be too large. Fortunately holidays and other commitments intervene and some members understandably prefer to avoid the coldest days. As a result, the actual number on a visit is usually small enough to give everybody a chance to see the birds spotted and get full enjoyment from the day, which is the whole 5 idea.
PLAY READING GROUP We normally meet at a Cleethorpes Church Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. This year, however, we have had to change dates twice and the venue once. We have been reading "A Murder Has Been Announced", a ghostly thriller by E.Williams, and "Black Comedy", a hilarious farce by P. Shaffer. To celebrate Shakespeare's birthday we read extracts from "As You Like It" and "The Taming of the Shrew". The current play is "The Three Sisters", by A. Chekov. The next meetings are on June 11th and July 9th; but there will be no meeting in August. For further information see me at a General Meeting, or contact the Groups’ Co-ordinator. David Muir A note from Beryl Lee (Speaker at the May general meeting) I would like to thank Grimsby U3A for the kind donation of £50 that I received following my talk to the U3A last Thursday. I really enjoyed my visit and thank everyone for their warm welcome and reception to my talk. Many members were extremely generous and made personal donations - when I added up the donations basket, I found £120 which of course will increase by another £25% once I claim Gift Aid on anonymous donations. This means that the total benefit to KSDP following my talk to U3A was £212.50. This is wonderful and will help to support three of our orphaned students for a whole year. I will be pleased to send you details of our Christmas Sale for Burma (Nov 13th & 14th) later in the year and hope that I might welcome a number of your members along to our home for a spot of Christmas Shopping. With kind regards and much appreciation Beryl Lee Chairman KARENNI STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (KSDP)
Reversal of Situation What Joy! Someone told me this many moons ago. I found it amusing. Do You? WHEN I AM OLD, I WILL LIVE WITH MY CHILDREN AS THEY LIVED WITH ME WHEN YOUNG. BRINGING THEM HAPPINESS. JUST AS THEY DID FOR ME. I WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL THE JOY THEY PROVIDED FOR ME. I'LL WRITE AND DRAW ON THE WALLS—IN DIFFERENT COLOURS. JUMP ON THE FURNITURE, WEARING MY SHOES I'LL CAUSE HAVOC AT BEDTIME AND LEAVE ALL MY CLOTHES ABOUT THE FLOOR, WHEN THEY ARE SITTING COMFORTABLE DOWNSTAIRS I'LL GIVE THEM A SHOUT, FOR A DRINK OF WATER, (COS I CAN'T SLEEP) WHEN THEY COOK DINNER AND CALL ME TO DINE, I'LL LEAVE ALL MY GREENS AND SALAD AND MEAT. (BECOS OF MY TEETH) ANON
Berenice Dudeney U3A
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HOW TO FIGHT THE BIG GUYS In May 2014 I moved my then 93 year old father to sheltered accommodation. That in itself was an 18 month battle against local bureaucracy which may provide material for another article next issue but not now. In order to move he had to cancel his utilities at his old address but as his heating and water were included in his rent he only needed domestic electricity at his new address – simple!! Some years ago I had horrendous problems with a utility company and had since changed, so when I saw that they supplied my father I was tempted to move him. However, he had had no complaints and the move was traumatic enough for him without adding disruption so I started the procedure of closing one account and opening another – big mistake! My father is very deaf and during the move period developed a severe ear infection rendering him completely deaf. He couldn’t hear anything the young lady from the utility company was saying but she was very understanding and probably broke the rules by allowing me to speak on his behalf without proper authorisation. She also advised me on getting my father to write a letter of authorisation so that I could speak on his behalf in future. I put this idea on the back burner intending to deal with it later. The new account started with no problems but closing the old account was to become a nightmare. Without boring you with all the details they paid a refund of £1386 directly into his bank account with no documentation to say where it had come from. They then sent a bill for £53.58 with no mention of the £1386. We questioned this and so began the refusal to talk to me because I wasn’t authorised. I sent a letter, they lost it, I sent another which took three weeks to be put on the system. All we wanted was an explanation about the refund and to pay it back if it had been paid in error. The Utility company rewarded my father’s honesty by threatening him with blacklisting, bailiffs and finally theft. I wrote on his behalf to their CEO and the Ombudsman, sought legal advice and in the end went to the press. It was only after my approach to the media that the 10 month ordeal was over and the whole thing written off. In
For my father’s sake it has to all be over but I am angry that big corporations can get away with treating people, especially the elderly in such an appalling way. £1386 is nothing to them, if you are a utility customer reading this it has probably gone on your bill. Legally they could have been sued for harassment and defamation of character. My father couldn’t have coped with any further action so it is over but not resolved. I’m writing this because had my father been alone with this we would probably be planning his funeral now. The stress it put on him was criminal but he had me. Do you have a Margaret? Do you have someone who would write letters for you and advise you on the way forward – you do now. I believe that we at U3A should be there for our members so don’t be on your own. I have fought this utility company twice now and providing you are in the right there is no need to be frightened of them and no need to face it alone. If you need help my phone number is
at the back of the brochure. The elderly in this country are becoming second class citizens and it will get worse – but not if I can help it. Margaret Sisson Vice chairman 7
GROUPS’ TIM Bird Watching am (or all day monthly) Martin Francis
International Cookery pm week 3 Margaret Sisson
Scrabble pm weekly Pearl Turner
Aviation pm week 1 Geoff Lenthall
Enjoying music pm week 3 Frank Marston
Lip Reading pm Diana Green
Croquet (in Summer) pm weekly Berenice Dudeney
Caligraphy 3 2-4pm fortnightly Irene Harris
Bridge in Winter pm weekly Berenice Dudeney
Calligraphy/ Rosemaling am weeks 2 & 4 Thelma Sadler
Calligraphy 2 pm fortnightly Sue Bullen
Card Making pm week 2 Anne Mann
Gardening Group am last week of month Carole Petchey
Mah Jong Group 1 pm Wed/Thur or Fri Irene Kelly
Music for Pleasure pm week 3 Margaret Temprell
Armchair Travel am fortnightly John Wilkinson
Book Club am week 1 Jill Maltby
Social Group am weeks 2 & 4 Jill Maltby
Reading Music/ Clarinet Any day Brenda Roffey
Computer Support As required Himanshu Ghadiali
Bowls Indoor Oct-April pm weekly George Bass
BY ARRANGEMENT
To register interest in joining any of the above c please contact Pauline Campbell, Groups 8
METABLE Canasta Fortnightly Monday Evenings Anne Mann Literature pm fortnightly Estelle Foulkes
New Age Kurling pm weeks 1 & 3 Pauline Campbell
Table Tennis am weekly John Pitt
Creative Writing pm week 1 George Bullen
Mah Jong Group 3 2-4pm weekly Jean Blair
Rummikub 1st and 3rd Wednesday 2 pm Anne Mann
Social Cycling 10 am fortnightly Chris Hallgarth
Poetry Appreciation Shakespeare Group pm week 3 pm week 3 Ted Riley Shirley Grant
Ten Pin Bowling am weekly Thelma Sadler
Play Reading pm week 2 David Muir Entertainment pm weekly Christina Hansen
Mah Jong Group 2 pm weekly Thelma Sadler
Memory Course As required Himanshu Ghadiali
courses, or to obtain information, s’ Co-ordinator on 813010
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Minutes of the Grimsby/Cleethorpes U3A Committee Meeting held on 27th April 2015 at 97 Abbey Road, Grimsby Present:
John Wilkinson (Chairman), Gill Clarke, Anne Mann, Anne Easterbrook, Pauline Campbell, Janet Cullum, Margaret Sisson, Janet Parratt, Jenny Dutton, Christina Hanson, Himanshu Ghaldiali, Barry Haden
Item 1
Apologies None. All Committee members present.
Item 2
Minutes of the Meeting held on 25th March 2015 Minutes of the committee meeting held on 25th March 2015 were accepted to be a true record of the meeting. Proposed by Pauline Campbell and seconded by Margaret Sisson.
Item 3
Matters arising from previous minutes. The Chairman welcomed Barry to the Committee. No matters arising from the minutes.
Item 4
Correspondence Received from TAT – 1 A flyer advertising the next U3A event at The National Gallery on 4th June. 2 A flyer advertising ‘Staying Sharp 2015 – The story of Music and Memory’ at the Royal Society in London on 11th June. 3 Details of a new photography competition, the theme of which is Britain’s Wildlife. 4 An update on Membership Systems. U3A systems.Wordpress.com all U3As asked to fill in a questionnaire 5 Details of the Gilbert & Sullivan International Festival at Harrogate 12-13th August. 6 U3A Committees Forum to be held at Leeds on 11th June 2015. 7 Huntingdon U3A would like to hear from any U3A that has either put measures in place to help members who can no longer get to interest groups and meetings or is considering what can be done to help. Contact teresac@btinternet.com 8 The treasurer of Hawkhurst U3A would like to hear from any U3A which currently offers a facility for online payment for trips and events and is willing to share what has been learnt through practical experience or is using membership management software for the payment of membership and other fees. Please contact Peter Hoole at wolfish@hotmail.com 9 Conference/AGM. Reminding resolutions for consideration at the AGM must be in by 30th April with a stated proposer and seconder. 10 U3A Roll of Honour. A reminder that if you have a member to be considered for the Roll of Honour who has given service to the U3A above and beyond what anybody could hope for, please consider sending in some details. 11 A thank you from Lin Jonas for those who responded to her plea for more photographs for the U3A competition. They had a significant number of submissions and she is hoping to get plenty more before the 30th April closing date.
Item 5
Chairman’s Report A discussion arose about how we could help members who do not have transport and how we can help others. This could be put in the magazine so it reaches all members. Offers of lifts to meetings and groups could also be put in the magazine. The idea of a transport co-ordinator came up and it was thought to be an excellent idea. Margaret said she would be willing to help members who have any utility problems as she has been dealing with this previously. We will consider this at a future meeting. An Email referring to the next meeting being cancelled was sent out to members to clarify the situation. This has never been a consideration and the Committee expressed its concern that such comments have been going round some members. The next Group Leader’s meeting at Waltham Library will be held on 21st May, commencing at 10.00 am. Trips – Anne Mann will look at a day trip before the next meeting and give details out at the meeting. Committee meeting room – Granville Street was not available for the last meeting, nor 97 Abbey Road. We had a meeting at Waltham Windmill and John has made enquiries and for any future meetings there will be a charge of £20 for 2 hours. The next Neighbourhood meeting at Navenby will be held on 28th May. Our Chairman will be chairing the meeting. 10
Item 6
Treasurer’s Report We have £607.70 in the current account and £5,735.59 in the savings account. There was a suggestion put forward by the Treasurer that there should be a new members admission fee of £5 to be refundable if renewing next year – this was for members joining part way through the membership year. This was not considered to be feasible. It is felt that we should continue with the £11 or £15 as at present. It was discussed whether we should pay at the monthly meetings and a nominal amount for yearly membership. This was again not thought to be possible at the present time but could be a point for further discussion. We have 186 members at the moment.
Item 7
Open Day 2015 Report Janet P will produce a new advertising sheet for us which will contain details of the monthly meeting, speaker, etc., and can be easily changed each month. These can be put up at the central library and anywhere else thought suitable in order to advertise our U3A activities. John wants a standard poster giving details of our meetings to be put up in Supermarkets, libraries, etc. Anne M will have a word with her nephew about the cost of producing these. The Open Day was deemed to be a success although some thought there were not so many visitors. We had approximately 15 new members from this day. It is felt that U3A is still not known by a great number of people. We need to promote more. It was suggested that every 2 years would be preferred.
Item 8
Festive Lunch 2016 This is booked for Thursday 7th January 2016. Meal options are: First course: Melon – Prawn cocktail - Soup Main course: Lamb – Chicken – Haddock Dessert: Cheesecake – Pavlova – Apple Pie Suggested price £18/£18.50 Anne will enquire what vegetarian options are available to that members have a choice.
Item 9
Committee Members’ comments We would like a regional representative to give a talk. We will contact YAHR to see if a representative will come to the meeting. Janet P will do this. Group leader co-ordinator. There is an ongoing issue with members of groups not paying membership. These have now been sorted out – some have not renewed but most did pay membership. It is suggested that membership cards should be shown at group meetings and the group register should include a column for the membership number. It is the responsibility of the Group Leader to check their members have paid their subscriptions. We need to emphasise the importance of this at the Group Leaders meeting. The Vice chairman mentioned a forthcoming event to take place at Askham Bryan in 2016. This is a regional event and it is hoped that members will be willing to take part in this event. Avertising – Anne E is distributing U3A leaflets around town in every possible place. We need a new up to date version to distribute in future when the new Committee details change. Anne has also handed leaflets out at the Cinema. Catering – Open Day was very busy – there was help from a few members – scones, tarts, cake, etc., were available (176 items in all) and biscuits. Over 100 teas and coffees were given out on the day and it was much busier in the kitchen than last year. We can claim £100 from Head Office towards this. Many remarks were made about the excellent quality of the food available. Thanks were given to Gill for organising this and making cakes for the day.
Item 10
Any other business A suggestion was put forward of making a rota of people willing to help in the kitchen each monthly meeting. Members will be asked if they will put their names on a list so they can help out at the monthly meetings. John and Margaret (Chairman and vice chairman) will not be available to take the meeting in May so Anne M will chair the meeting.
Item 11
Date of next meeting The next meeting will be held on Monday 1st June at 97 Abbey Road – commencing at 2.00 pm.
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HEY!! THAT’S MY SEAT Having taken advantage of wheelchair assistance again, I was first on the aircraft and settled in my seat at the front with lots of leg room. I had been allocated seat 1C but instead grabbed 1A, the window seat, thinking there would be no problem. Ha ha! I was rudely disturbed by the above words and looked up to see a six foot, 18 stone, shaved headed giant with tattoos and an earring in his left ear. I apologised and offered to change places but he reluctantly agreed to let me stay. Not a good start to my holiday as a 4 hour journey to Cyprus next to a disgruntled passenger was not an ideal way to travel. However, after an hour’s silence, I was surprised to be offered a sausage roll, then an Eccles cake and a drink. I gratefully accepted and we started talking. He was an amateur radio enthusiast and so we had a common interest. I had been forgiven and the rest of the journey passed quickly. I was of course returning to my “second home” in Paphos to find out how my on-off affair with Aphrodite was progressing. I was staying in the same hotel, same room and was made welcome and delighted to find the usual complimentary bottle of wine and basket of fruit in my room. Met Adrian, a retired Australian 747 pilot, whose father was a WW2 RAF pilot with the Pathfinder Force. Next morning I was having breakfast with a lady from Barnsley when Adrian came up and said that he had hired a car for 3 days and suggested a trip to the Troodos Mountains. He then asked the lady if she would like to join us. She said she was with a friend, who was still in bed and he said bring her along as well. So at 10 o’clock the following day Adrian and I with two blondes from Barnsley, headed for the mountains. A great day out in good company. The next two days we spent exploring the Island, then back to the hotel for Happy Hour and a four course meal. Email addresses were exchanged and we shall be in touch. Visited the Alexander Hotel across the road to see two friends from Grimsby who go every year to meet friends. Went for a meal at our favourite restaurant before they returned to cold and gloomy Grimsby. The weather had been hot but a violent thunderstorm cooled the temperature and hailstones gathered on the sun beds. This happened so suddenly and several of us were caught and suffered a soaking. A chance meeting with a man who was a tenor in Tenby Male Voice Choir led to an invitation from his lady friend to contact her friend from London who was looking for someone to accompany her on holiday. Could this lead to something further now that Aphrodite had showed signs of cooling off? Lazing by the pool in the hot sunshine leads to a period of introspection and I was looking into the future and thinking “will I be here next year or will I have taken off on the final runway to heaven to join my dear wife. It could be that God has other ideas and I may go to hell as I have sinned – who hasn’t in some form or other? When I was in the RAF we had a saying “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may die.” The same still applies and I live for the day, for what will be will be. My family all died in their 70’s and I guess I am living on borrowed time. But enough of this morbid speculation as I trust that Aphrodite has over her sulks and we shall meet up once again. Adonis
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“APRIL FOOL” A Rebounded Story C/W 2015
When in the mood of melancholic musing it occurs to me that, although most of us enjoy looking back with romantic nostalgia singing the old school song, as if all in the past were clouded with a holy haze, the sports day, and the pranks we played on fellow pupils, especial on APRIL the first. There comes to mind images such as that of a plumpish child of ten or eleven, who was a year younger than my pal. This pupil always arrived late to school. Late girls assembled, for one reason or another, in the “late room” as they had arrived too late for registration in their form rooms. These girls could be divided into two broad categories—those who had a good reason for being late and those who hadn’t. In the first group were the “train girls”, who had travelled from outlying villages which gave them an acceptable explanation for their failure to arrive before nine. A plumpish girl, Vivienne was a late girl and was in the habit of nodding off during certain lessons—possibly due to her long train journey. One April fool’s day towards the end of the maths lesson, when Vivienne had nodded off, the other girls played a prank and flicked ink on her face. It was a mixture of red and black ink. On being roused they told her she had spots or worse still measles and should report to the health nurse. On discovering and treating Vivienne the health nurse reported the incident to the Headmistress. The whole class was told to appear at the Head’s office at two o’clock. Most of the girls were honest, conscientious, well behaved law-abiding pupils. The excuse they gave when called to the Head-mistress’ office was “Well it is “All Fools Day”. “April the first Miss”. This was one of the April fool tricks that rebounded on them. Why? Because: All the class were given lines from the writings of Charles Dickens. Except Vivienne who was allowed to leave early to enable her to catch an earlier train home. Anon
Berenice Dudeney (u3a)
GARDEN GROUP After a winter spent in the warmth of home brewed cuppas and biscuits, the group have ventured out on their summertime visits to gardens. Our first visit was on 4th May, Bank Holiday, to The Old Quarry Lodge at Elsham. Here we found a garden full of many delightful blooms including daffodils and tulips which always create a delightful springtime landscape as well as many other varieties promising a summer and autumn of colour. This beautifully designed garden is open later in the year under the National Gardens Scheme so, if you are interested, look at their web-site NGS.org where you will find details of many gardens open to the public. As a member of our U3A, if you are interested in joining the group to any of our garden visits, please give me a ring on 232117 or email me at sidwest@ntlworld.com and I will let you have details. Carole Petchey
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SPRING BREAK IN YORKSHIRE
In February, while shopping in our village of Waltham, I picked up a brochure belonging to a local Coach company and upon reading it noticed a trip on the 6th March for a long weekend to Scarborough and the Yorkshire Coast, staying at the Royal Hotel, Scarborough. Although it is cold at that time of year it was just the break Barrie and I needed after the Winter and was not too far to travel so we would soon be at our destination. We contacted Graham and booked two places on the holiday which at £125.00 each was excellent value for 4 days, three nights, half board. Graham picked us up in the village on the Friday morning and called at local stops to collect the rest of the passengers. Soon, on a fine sunny morning, we were driving over the Humber Bridge to Driffield, the capital of the Yorkshire Wolds, for an extended coffee break. We then continued our journey, taking in Bridlington, Flamborough Head— somewhere we had not been before and it was very interesting reading about the ancient lighthouse, which still stands there not far from the modern one—and Filey, with a break upon the way. Then we carried on to the Royal Hotel, where we were shown to a comfortable room on the first floor, so we easily walked up the beautiful Regency Staircase, which can be seen to go on right to the top floor. Of course, there are lifts if guests wish to use them. We had an enormous bedroom, while you could have held a dance in the bathroom. There was a large bay window with a carpeted platform underneath that Barrie climbed to look at the roof garden on the floor above, otherwise we just looked upwards and saw sky between the fire escapes. Still, what did we expect at such a bargain price and we spent very little time in the bedroom anyway, as Graham took us to a lot of places every day. We coach trippers served ourselves at Dinner and the main course was the same as the menu of the guests who were staying there privately. Breakfast was a generous menu to choose from once more and throughout our stay the food was excellent. There was entertainment in the lounge bar during the evening too. On Saturday we visited Robin Hood’s Bay, walking carefully up and down the main street, then to Whitby, where we did not stop as Graham asked us if we wanted to, or would we rather cross the North Yorkshire Moors and go to Saltburn by the Sea. A quieter, seaside town, which was new for Graham as well, where, when we looked across the bay we could see Middlesbrough, so we were on the Yorkshire border. We had some delicious sandwiches in a Wi Fi Café, and explored for a while, then back to the coach across the Moors to Whitby and our hotel. Sunday, after a leisurely breakfast, we drove to Pickering where at the station there was a special steam day. As it was 50 years since British Rail closed the railway line, Barrie was in his element photographing the extra steam trains that were present. As we had been before we decided to travel on the coach to Goathland and therefore we walked past
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Scripps Garage and the pub that featured in Heartbeat, the 1970’s TV Series. I took photos there ! We walked to Goathland station and Barrie hurried ahead of me to photograph any trains and again, “his day was made” because, standing on a special viewing area, there was Sir Nigel Gresley, which he was able to get a picture of. Did I say one ? more ! before the steam trains arrived from Pickering and blocked his view. Having had fine weather and even some sunshine, on Monday morning we awoke to find it was raining, but it did not dampen our spirits and there were plenty of places to visit where we could keep dry in York. Then, after lunch, homeward bound, saying goodbye to the lovely people who had shared the weekend trip with us, including Celia who is a member of our U3A. We have been on coach holidays before where the driver in one case, just dropped us off in Edinburgh, one cold March day, and left us to it, leaving us to find our way around. Not so, Graham, nothing was too much trouble, and he was keen for us to have a relaxing break. Graham said to take our time, we need not worry as he would not leave us anywhere and had been on the WWW to found out interesting things to tell us about the places we visited. If you would like to know the name of the coach company we would be only too willing to tell you, to go on the WWW or where to obtain a brochure—Graham takes trips abroad as well as in our country. We certainly will be travelling on his bright yellow coach again. Janet and Barrie Portas
THOSE WERE THE DAYS ! Following George Bass’s interesting contribution in our last brochure showing restaurant prices from 1958, Jean Salvador has passed to me 2 receipts; one from 1967 showing the purchase of 3 dresses at a total of £2.5s (that’s 15s each ! Or for those of us who understand the decimal currency, 75p each !) The other receipt is from The Blinkin’ Own Hotel, The Kingsway, Cleethorpes for : 25 meals at 1.25 each totalling £31.25 4 x 2 litre bottles of wine totalling £7.19 Coffees for the party totalling 1.50 Extras totalling £2.30 This bill comes to £42.24 and all this for 25 people !!! 15
COMMITTEE Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: Vice Chair: Group Co-ordinator: Webmaster: Speaker Finder: Publicity
Catering Team: Welfare:
John Wilkinson Anne Mann Himanshu Ghadiali Margaret Sisson Pauline Campbell Himanshu Ghadiali Janet Parratt Anne Easterbrook Janet Cullum Christina Hanson Barry Haden Jenny Dutton Gill Clarke Marj Dalby (non committee)
316597 348833 343474 235445 813010 343474 239165 310061 599482 873613 505629 873613 312820 599750
Neighbourhood and Network Representative: John Wilkinson and Another
MEMBERS’ WELFARE If you know of any member who is unwell please contact Marj Dalby on 599750 who will usually send a get well card and/or speak to the members who is ill, to help to cheer them and let them know that their friends at the U3A are thinking of them. BROCHURE The Grimsby and Cleethorpes U3A News is published 4 times a year. Each new brochure is available to members at the general meetings at the Cleethorpes Memorial Hall in MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER We would be grateful if members would ensure they do not pick up a duplicate copy, so that there are sufficient copies for all. The next brochure will be our SEPTEMBER edition. Please send any items for this to Carole Petchey, 52 Westfield Road, Waltham, Grimsby, DN37 0DX or telephone 232117 or Email sidwest@ntlworld.com The closing date for the next edition will be 14th AUGUST 2015 PLEASE NOTE: In submitting any article, you are confirming that any items submitted ARE NOT SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT, ie they are your own original material, or you have obtained the author’s permission for their use. 16