ROMSEY and District
Low-down in the Lockdown Bulletin No.11 - 21 October 2020 BULLETIN TIME is here again! However, your Communications team is now ‘taking a short break’ and so there will NOT be any bulletins next month. You can though, still look forward to your November Newsletter, which will be emailed on Monday 16 November. If you still receive a printed copy, this will be posted to you or, if you are on a local ‘Romsey route’, will be hand delivered by one of our intrepid delivery team - out in all weathers and using it as a means of keeping active! (There might be a bit of editorial licence there!!) Whatever you are doing until our Low-down in the Lockdown returns in early December, please do take good care of yourselves in these difficult times. Stay Safe, keep Active & keep Well.
CONGRATULATIONS! Councillor Dorothy Baverstock BEM
YOUR NEWS We’ve loved hearing about what you have been doing recently. You will be able to read Yvonne Ward’s amazing story in the Newsletter (we couldn’t do it justice here). It’s about ‘getting in touch’ and has a very happy ending! Other members have regular video chats across continents with family or friends. Linda Smith has been busy with several craft projects and a holiday in Devon. Not to be outdone, husband Roy appeared on TikTok (dancing with a grandson), and finished his second novel ‘Homeward Bound’ (available on Kindle) “ ...dedicated to an elderly gentleman who gave a talk at one of my local U3A meetings…” Thanks for the mention Roy! Alan Tiller is learning to play the ukulele, like several of our members. Thank you!
We are delighted to learn that Dorothy has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours, for the well deserved recognition of her many years of service to the community in the Test Valley. Read her story here. Dorothy was one of the people instrumental in setting up R & D U3A in 1999, recognising the needs of the growing senior community in our town. For 21 years our organisation has flourished, leading to the creation of Romsey Archway U3A and now with over 1,100 members and 102 interest groups between them. We send our congratulations to Dorothy, from whose vision U3A in Romsey has grown into a thriving community, much appreciated and enjoyed by the ever-increasing number of ‘third-age’ citizens.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembrance Day was first established on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1919 to mark the end of hostilities of the First World War. Now, of course, we remember all those who have lost their lives in this and all armed conflicts since. Despite the difficulties that Covid-19 restrictions present, Romsey & District U3A will lay a wreath at the Romsey War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday to say thank you for their sacrifice. Some 100 men of Romsey lost their lives in WWI. Men like: * Private Stanley George Elliott, Hampshire Regiment Died: 28/02/1918 (aged 19): ROMSEY CEMETERY, United Kingdom, Son of Joseph and Annie Elliott, of 26, Winchester Rd., * Private J S Tucker, Royal Army Service Corps, Died: 19/02/1919 (aged 27),: HALLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Belgium, Son of Edwin Charles and Sarah Tucker, of 1, Church Place, * Ordinary Seaman Coombs Royal Navy, HMS Tartar Died: 17/06/1917 (aged 18) RINGWOOD CEMETERY, United Kingdom Son of Elijah and Jane Coombs, of 59, The Hundred. These three are chosen at random from A street near you where you can look for more – near where you live now, perhaps in the vicinity you were born, etc. - or you could search here for a photo of the CWGC headstone of someone connected to your family.
BLUE MOON on HALLOWEEN Each month normally sees one full moon, but October 2020 will have two. The first full moon on 1 October was a Harvest Moon, so called for being the closest to the autumn equinox. A second full moon in the same calendar month is called a Blue Moon and, for the first time since 2001, it appears on 31 October, The term Blue Moon can be traced to the early 1900s, hence the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ - meaning something that occurs very rarely - not that it turns a shade of blue or looks any different! Blue Moons occur once every 2 - 3 years but are even rarer on HALLOWEEN when they only happen every 18 - 19 years. Between 1900 and 2100, a Halloween blue moon will occur only 12 times: 1906, 1925, 1944, 1955, 1974, 1993, 2001, 2020, 2039, 2058, 2077, and 2096. In a rare treat, the 2020 Halloween full moon will be visible to the entire world, rather than just parts of it, for the first time since World War II. Page 1 of 2
'Poppy for the Soldiers' by Angela Owen : Worcester Area U3A “In a meadow on a sunny day out, I was drawn by their striking illuminated colour... I took some photos of this poppy from above and was impressed by how it was the ‘exact’ same shape as a traditional remembrance poppy. When I was home and viewing the photos that I took from the side, I ‘saw’ shadows of ‘soldiers’ at the heart of the poppy.” See it at U3A Eye in the Shadows theme.
TOWN ANAGRAMS A Quiz (final part 3) © Madeley & District U3A What is the UK town — all one word answers. Answers next time. 41. CAN’T LASER
46. RETEST COW
42. THE PROM
47. LOT OF STEW
43. LABEL MANY
48. HE’S RICH ETC
44. THE RECORDS
49. GROW THIN
45. THE ONE STAR
50. ME? SHAVE?
Hand-made poppies
New Laptop, Tablet or Smartphone?
If you are ‘getting to grips’ with new technology, you Would you like to make your own poppy? may find Which? Computing has the answers. They You can find patterns for knitted or also have a ‘Smartphones made easy’ guide which crocheted poppies on the web, some of you can download. which benefit the Royal British Legion, like this one. And please send us a photo!
HISTORIC SOUTHAMPTON
STATE PENSION AGE rises to 66 The state pension age (SPA) has risen for men and women born from 6 October 1954 onwards. The changes came into effect on 6 October 2020. Millions will now have to wait until they’re 66 to start claiming their state pension, as the minimum age has been hiked from 65. Read more here.
Would you like to take a walk around Southampton and explore its rich history? If you are not able to do this in person, do read this Old Town Walk which is full of details, interesting facts and super photos that will make it seem like you were there. Thanks to Marion Fowler who hopes to walk it on a fine day!
To make you smile... I was wondering why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. When life gives you melons, you're dyslexic. What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A maybe. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. UK TOWN ANAGRAMS - part 2 ANSWERS © Madeley & District U3A
21. BOLSOVER
31. STIRLING
22. DUMFRIES
32. PORTSMOUTH
23. CAMELFORD
33. HUDDERSFIELD
National Tree Week 28 Nov. - 6 Dec. is the start of winter tree planting. Does your garden need a new tree?
NATURE’S CALENDAR — OCTOBER This month, the UK sees a big arrival of migrant birds. They’ll spend the winter in our gardens, woodlands, farmland and wetlands. This RSPB page will help identify them. Also see when to feed them.
TREASURE HUNT Forty 3rd-agers from Romsey Archway U3A were seen diligently searching the streets of Romsey one Sunday afternoon. To encourage members to get outside prior to the cooler weather setting in, they had organised a fabulous Walking Treasure Hunt.
24. CHEADLE
34. HASTINGS
25. HALESOWEN
35. CAERPHILLY
26. NANTWICH
36. INVERNESS
27. WARRINGTON
37. HARROGATE
28. NOTTINGHAM
38. SWANSEA
29. NORWICH
39. ABERDEEN
Teams of 4 started at 10 minute intervals from the Memorial Park, and went on a socially distanced walk around Romsey looking for clues to find the treasure. It was great fun, really enjoyable and we were thrilled that we only got one clue wrong - although we did take 117 minutes instead of 60-80 mins to complete the course.
30. LEICESTER
40. ALFRETON
So we missed out on the treasure!
Janet Moody
Bulletin 12 is due out on 9 December. Lots of time for you to send us your short item or photo. *** We appreciate you getting in touch — don’t forget! *** Contact Gill Hodge 01794 511529 treasurer@romseyu3a.org.uk This Bulletin will also be on our website: romseyu3a.org.uk ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’ team: Gill Hodge, Glenda Taylor, Janet Moody, Margaret Marchbank, Dave Lovell. Do you want to join us? We’re just an email away: news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk Page 2 of 2