Group Leader reports

Architecture and Local History Group

On a day with heavy April showers, Jo Morgan led 14 of our group on a tour of ALRESFORD. We followed the Millennium Trail from the Watercress Railway car park, past the parish church with its notable Saxon rood above the door and into Broad Street. Dating from the 13th century, the town became a prosperous wool centre with regular markets and fairs in Broad Street. Most of the houses have been destroyed by fires over the centuries and now the town has essentially Georgianarchitecture, often built over original Norman cellars. Mill Hillhas the oldest houses dating from the 14th century. Ladywell Lanetook us to the River Arle where we spotted watercress. Along this stretch is the picturesque 13thcentury fulling mill(now a private house) which spans the river. It used wooden hammers to render raw cloth into useable material. We then made our way along The Deanand into West Streetwhere, on the corner, the original Perrins School was founded in 1698 for poor boys. We then dried out and had a welcome snack before our journey home. Let’s hope this short summary will have whetted your appetite to explore this lovely Hampshire town.

Visit to NETLEY CHAPEL

Peter and Elizabeth Lawrie organised this visit to recently restored Netley Chapel when over twenty of our group were given a fascinating talk by tour guide and architect Dorte Barkley. Netley Chapel is all that is left of the original military hospital commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1863. The hospital, nearly a quarter of a mile long, fronted Southampton Water. Its design, although architecturally impressive, did nothing for the comfort of the soldiers as their wards were at the back. Florence Nightingale together with Prime Minister Palmerston, tried to get the design changed but the building was too far advanced for any significant alteration. Initially, it was intended to transfer the wounded by ship to a specially built pier; this idea was abandoned and instead a specially constructed railway line brought the patients into the hospital grounds. Overwhelming numbers (some 50,000 casualties in the course of the First World War) led to huts being built at the rear of the main hospital. The hospital also held soldiers during the Second World Warafter which it gradually became defunct. It was closed in 1979, and apart from the Chapel, was eventually demolished.

The Chapelhas been superbly restored with imaginative representations. The more adventurous of us climbed the tower and were rewarded by magnificent views across Hampshire. It was just possible to see Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower on the horizon. A pleasant wooded walk takes you to the large hospital cemetery where there are a few German graves among those of soldiers from allied countries.

Birdwatching Group walk at Broughton Down

On the 6 July a group of seven members met for a walk on Broughton Down near Stockbridge. My covert name for this trip was Operation Yellowhammer as I ‘needed’ this bird for my year list and I was hoping that seven sets of keen eyes would turn up trumps. More on this later. The weather was beautifully warm with a mixture of hazy sun and cloud and the lack of breeze was just perfect for butterflies. As we waited for the group to assemble small white, marbled white, gatekeeper and peacock butterflies were spotted flitting about the wildflowers which lined the track. It felt like it was going to be one of those ‘glad to be alive’ days. The track up through the woods is relatively steep. It can be treacherous if wet as there is a very thin layer of soil on top of the slippery chalk. Fortunately, it was bone dry and we soon reached the top for a breather and a chat. The track then passes through a stretch with farm fields on either side. There were glorious views of the Hampshire countryside with the ripening crops delineated by the darker hedgerows. Chiffchaffs called and we had a cracking view of both buzzard and a sweetly singing skylark ascending higher and higher. This was interrupted by a couple of deep ‘korrps’ emitted by a pair of ravens flying over the nearby field with deep, elastic wingbeats. We were to see this pair again later from the top of the down. On entering the nature reserve, we were greeted by the lovely sight of pyramidal orchids amongst the many other wildflowers. Butterflies were numerous and green veined white, brimstone, gatekeeper and small skipper were identified and captured by the photographers in the group. We spotted a juvenile robin with its cryptic, spotted markings a few metres away from a beautiful heath spotted orchid. Gerald Manley Hopkins got it right in his poem ‘Pied Beauty’ when he wrote ‘Glory be to God for dappled things’. This little pink and white orchid has the most exquisite dotty markings and blotchy leaves.

As we progressed through the reserve, we scanned the hedge line as there were many birds calling. Suddenly a smallish bird flew up on to the top branch of a hawthorn. Scanning with our binoculars we were excited to see that a male yellowhammer had decided to show up for us and was singing his ‘little bit of bread and no cheese’ call to mark his territory. Mission accomplished and a beautiful sighting. We had a pause at the bronze age tumuli. These intriguing grassy mounds form a fantastic viewing point over the whole vale surrounding the village of Broughton, taking in views to the East. An obliging red kite flew slowly along the tree line below making our coffee break all the more enjoyable. Moving on we saw dark green fritillary, small heath and ringlet butterflies before re-entering the woodland for our descent back to the valley. But the delights of the morning were far from over as Sue and Alan had mentioned the village community café as a possible finale to our walk. So, we felt it needed investigating purely for u3a research purposes and can report back that the cakes are home-made, delicious and very good value. The outside seating surrounded by flowering lavender is rather lovely. Laughter, friendship, cake and a yellowhammer. What could be better!

Marion Slattery Group Coordinator

Creative Writing Group

Ever thought of writing your memoirs or penning a fairy tale for your grandchildren? Why not join a group of enthusiastic scribers with whom you can share your creative ideas. All good writers are good readers so often the group members are channelling their inspiration by looking at the works of other great writers and poets. We try and help each other out by listening to each other’s work. If you think this would float your boat why not come along to one of our sessions. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month between 2pm and 4pm, and we have three spaces left in our group. We are a hybrid group, which means that you can join in by ZOOM, or come along to my house in Fishlake Meadows, share a cup of tea and a biscuit, and join in the fun. Please ring me on 07786680251 if you are interested or e-mail me on jennifer@wineberg.co.uk. Our next meeting will be Monday August 22. We look forward to hearing from you

Jennifer Wineberg

Genealogy Group

In recent months members of the Genealogy Group have delivered presentations on topics from their own research. The first of these was from Antonia Stickland, who told members about the Hursley Ladswho served in the armed forces during the Great War 1914-1919. Hursley had a large population for a parish and by Easter 1915 some 10% were serving, around half with the Hampshire Regiment. Many were from the Hursley Estate. Antonia reported that the records of the Ancient Order of Foresters identify families who had been supported whilst their menfolk were away. The war memorial in Hursley records the names of 210 men who served, survivors as well as the 34 who perished. Of those 34, only one is buried in Hursley cemetery. Another, Denis Hewitt from Ladwell, was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions in leading his men in an offensive at Ypres. Antonia has written a book in honour of the Hursley Lads; a copy is held by the Genealogy Group in its library. The following month members were invited to talk about Military Ancestorsidentified within their own families. We heard about successes in tracing records of individuals, in several cases to confirm, or otherwise, anecdotes of past glories. Two of the subjects were individuals who had served as far back as the 1700s. Most recently Kay Lovell spoke to the group about Pubs and Publicans. Her focus was Southampton, and the involvement of her own ancestors, the Pratt family, in the trade. In the 1800s licencing laws were introduced which were intended to make beer more readily available to the population, with the intention that this would wean them from hard spirits such as gin. A licence back then cost two guineas. Ale houses increased rapidly; Kay related that at one time Southampton had 522 pubs, which for a population of 80,000 meant one per 153 people! In 1878 a drinking map for the city was published, with good intentions of warning of the ready ability for habitual drinking, but with an unwanted impact as providing a useful guide to alehouse locations for those visiting the port. Members of the Pratt family have been identified by Kay as having been involved in more than 10 public houses in Southampton and area. Those included the Platform Tavern, Duke of Wellington (both in the old town) and the Royal Exchange in St Mary’s. The latter was run by her Uncle Charlie in 1939, but only until 1940 when it was one of 45,000 buildings hit during the 57 bombing raids on the city during World War II.

Graham Woodbury

Horticulture group

We are pleased that the horticulture group will continue to run on the fourth Tuesday of each month. We meet in the Scout Hall, Braishfield Road at 10.30. This is a friendly, informal group and we are very lucky that we have a professional horticulturist, Philip Jeffs, who comes and shares his invaluable experience. We are able to ask questions and share our own ideas, things that have worked and things that have not! We have room for more members. All are welcome whether you have a garden or window box, whether you are knowledgeable or a novice, come and try us. Group leaders Cathy Suter cathy.suter1@gmail.com 02380 263913 Chris Scrivener scrivenerc@ymail.com 01794 368972

U3A Reading for Pleasure

We are a small friendly group, meeting on the second Monday of the month at 2.30 in the afternoon. During the spring we have continued to meet via Zoom but in June and July we met in person. Luckily the weather was good and we were able to meet outside. We decide by agreement between ourselves which books to read so everyone contributes to choosing a book for the month. We try to source re-cycled books so this does mean that we don’t usually read current best sellers. We try to read a wide variety of books and generally have wide ranging discussions. In May we read The Unexpected Return of Josephine Foxby local author Claire Gradidge. This book is a thriller set in Romsey during WW2. It is an engaging tale, and the fact that it is set in the local area adds interest. For June we read Rachel’ s Holidayby Marian Keyes. It is an interesting read, although we felt it was a little too long. Nevertheless, it is a candid look at family dynamics, mental health issues and addiction. The author, a recovering alcoholic, gives a humorous, but sometimes brutal, look at the process of rehab. In July we read A Summer Birdcageby Margaret Drabble. This was Margaret’s first book, written in her early twenties, and is believed to have sparked the rift between herself and her older sister A. S. Byatt. It is a no holds barred look at life and relationships at the start of the Swinging Sixties. It is very much of its time and as a first book is immature in style but worth a read (it is only a slim volume!). As a counterbalance to this we will be reading The Shadow of the Sunby her sister (written a year after Margaret’s book) in August. We hope to be able to compare the two authors who, since their early attempts, have both become celebrated writers. If you would like to join us, contact me on: giliangardiner274@gmail.com

SHORT DAY TRIPS THE AMERICAN MUSEUM, CLAVERTON, near BATH, May 2022

In May we visited the American Museum on the edge of Bath. We stopped for a comfort and coffee break ‘en route’ and arrived at the Museum about mid-day. The museum is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The hilltop site of the museum’s home, Claverton Manor, takes full advantage of the spectacular views over the Limpley Stoke Valley and River Avon. As it was a nice day, many of us took the opportunity to wander through the grounds to see remnants of the old Italianate style manorial pleasure gardens, dating from the 1820s, as well as the grotto, the balustrade and curtain walling. The museum itself is housed in the manor house and takes you on a journey through a period of American history primarily focused on 14th – 20th centuries. With its remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts alongside cultural objects, the museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. The highlight for many was the textiles room with its display of rugs, blankets and a myriad of colourful quilts. In the purpose-built Exhibition Gallery, we explored Native American material culture through the “Dress to Redress” temporary exhibition of the work of “Anishinabe” artist Celeste Pedri-Spade which featured a series of spectacular wearable-art pieces, personal artefacts and photography. The “Anishinabe” are group of First Nations peoples originating in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. Naturally there was the usual gift shop and a café providing refreshments, some with an American flavour, which could be consumed inside or out on the terrace whilst overlooking the grounds. All in all, we had a great day!

BIRDWORLD, near FARNHAM, June 2022

Our June trip took us to Birdworld, one of the largest bird parks in the country. It is located on the Hampshire border with Surrey and is a great place to explore for a pleasant and informative day out. On arrival most took a coffee break at The Palm Café, now serving Costa Coffee, and revisited later to feast on a range of snacks, sandwiches and mouth-watering cakes. A few had brought their own packed lunch as there's lots of space for picnics.

In addition to a walk around 26 acres of aviaries and beautiful landscaped gardens, we were able to admire over 1,200 birds and 180 species from around the world. Popular exhibits include The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament, Penguin Beach and Flamingo Cove whilst, Outback Landing and The Jenny Wren Farm are also very popular. The variety of birdlife itself, plus their antics, colours and sounds, provided plenty of entertainment for us all. A good number of Grey Herons were also spotted around the site. Although not part of the Birdworld collection, they have certainly made it their home where there is food a-plenty and could be seen nesting in the high treetops. All agreed, it was yet another successful and enjoyable day’s outing.

TRIP TO ARUNDEL CASTLE, July 2022

On Thursday 28th July 2022 our Short Day Trip took us by coach to visit Arundel Castle which is situated high on a hill, in magnificent grounds, overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex. Founded at the end of the 11th century, it has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk, the Howards, and their ancestors for almost 1,000 years. Everyone was free to explore at their own leisure and to learn the history of the sometimes notorious members of the Howard family. Many of us climbed the stone steps up into the Keep, squeezed along the narrow passages and enjoyed the magnificent views from the top of the walls. We also wandered through the State Rooms of the castle interior to appreciate many marvels, including the Baron’s Hall and the Regency Library, where valuable artworks and artefacts are on display. Outside in the grounds, there were exhibitions of jousting, falconry, fire eating and stalls demonstrating medieval crafts including leather goods, armour, and jewellery. There is also a Rose Garden to enjoy and the 14th century Fitzalan Chapel which has had a varied history, including damage during the Civil War in 1643-4. We returned to Romsey all agreeing we had had a very enjoyable day.

Margaret Waghorn, Trip Organiser

Friday Table Tennis Group

I am pleased to report that the group is thriving although there is still room for new members whatever their skill level. We play each Friday at Abbotswood Community Centre 12.30 pm until 2.00pm. Why not come along and join us.

Peter Sliwa

Travel Group

At their July meeting 36 members of the Travel Group enjoyed delicious homemade scones, jam and cream at their coffee morning in The Annexeat the Crosfield Hall. Mary shared memories of a Viking Danube River Tripfrom Bucharest to Budapest. John gave us two helpful reminders as we resume travelling. Luggage: In these days of lost luggage, it is a good idea to keep to hand luggage only – that way you are in control and your bag won’t disappear into the growing mountain of lost luggage. Check out the CABINMAX website https://cabinmax.com. Use a Credit Card: When purchasing any large item [including a holiday] of a value between £100 and £10,000, it is recommended that you use a credit card for all or part of the cost. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the Credit Card Company jointly liable with the Supplier to provide the item that is supplied, in accordance with any given description. The part payment can be as little as £1 on the credit card, but it is more likely to be the deposit. Don’t be persuaded to pay for the item all on a Debit Card as you are foregoing this FREE protection. Happy Travelling!

Jan Moody

Wine Group

Our July meeting was a Garden Party, where 20 members enjoyed English wines from our local vineyard at Bramshaw, served with an assortment of locally sourced food. Smoked trout pate, from Chalk Stream, Romsey; a selection of sausages from Drummond the Butchers, Romsey, and strawberries from Waitrose Romsey. We also tasted three different cheeses: Lyburn oak smoked cheese, produced in the New Forest, and bought in Romsey Co-op; Rosary goat’s cheese produced in Landford and Tunworth produced in Herriard, which were both bought in Waitrose Romsey. As you can see the wine went down very well. It was again a very successful garden party.

Derek Morley

Opera and Classical Song Group

Opera and classical song group successfully completed its 2021/22 season in June this year using Zoom. As always, we tried to have a balanced coverage of different opera genres. Thus, there was one baroque opera (Handel’s Giulio Cesare), two verismooperas (Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticanaand Giordano’s Andrea Chenier), two popular 19th Century Italian operas (Verdi’s La Traviataand Puccini’s La Boheme, a French opera (Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet), a German late romantic opera (Richard Strauss’s Arabella) and operetta (Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus) and two twentieth century operas (Bartok’s expressionist masterpiece Duke Bluebeard’s Castleand Janacek’s delightful Czech dance opera, the Cunning little Vixen). Three members of the group presented operas over the season and ensured that we had a wellresearched discussion afterwards. We were fortunate that Robert Bideleux joined us just before the new season. A long-standing opera enthusiast, he has an extensive knowledge opera on DVD and a large personal collection which proved invaluable. David Llewellyn, who it seems has opera singing in his blood, has a particular love of Italian opera and the singers of the Golden Age. His presentation of Andrea Chenier, with the great Franco Corelli in the title role, was particularly popular despite the dated production, showing that the group universally recognised great singing. The third presenter, Michael Ward, has a special interest in early opera, German and East European opera and modern opera. The surprise favourite among his presentations, under the topic of expressionism and metaphor was the Hungarian opera Duke Bluebeard’s Castle. Overall, there was a friendly and high level of discussion after each opera, with members diligently searching the internet for interesting information. Elaine Rockell had unique insights among the group as a former professional opera singer herself. A summary handout was prepared after each discussion and can be found on the group website. Opera group meets on Zoom every second Monday of the month at 10am. The meetings usually start at 10am with streaming of a chosen opera and the discussion finishes promptly at 1pm. Our first meeting is on Monday, September 12th when the subject is Saint-Saen’s Samson and Dalila, with Jon Vickers and Shirley Verrett in the title roles. New members are welcome to join the group; contact the coordinator Michael Ward via email from the Romsey and District u3a opera group web page.

Michael Ward Opera and Classical Song Group Coordinator

Bookworms group

There are three vacancies in the u3a Reading Group. If you'd like to join the group, which meets 1.30 to 2.30pm on the first Monday each month, and share your love of reading with other members, contact the group leader, Kaye Hannah on 01794 512033.