ROMSEY and District
Low-down in the Lockdown Bulletin No.5 - 1 July 2020 Yes, it’s already time for our fifth ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’ ! There are updates on previous topics, so have a good read through both pages; see p2 for these bears! Stay Safe, Keep Active & Keep Well.
June Monthly Meeting
On 24 June we launched our first ‘virtual’ general meeting via the ZOOM videoconferencing platform. In the capable hands of John Broughall (Technology) and Sylvia Croxall (Introduction to Computers) 75 screens joined the event, which meant around 100 members taking part. It was great to ‘see’ everyone and there was some excited chatter as we glimpsed friends, albeit in a 1-inch square. After a brief introduction by Janet Payne (Chair), Gordon Massie gave an excellent talk on ‘Sailing down the Amazon’. We hope members enjoyed Gordon’s talk - our first attempt at this new way of meeting.
July Monthly Meeting
Our next online talk on 15 July will now be by Dan Ball, the Outreach Officer from the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop. Discover how the army in the air has changed over time; see some of the more quirky and unusual artefacts from the museum’s collections and hear about their creative community projects. The Library and Archive holds a unique collection of published volumes covering all aspects of Army flying including early aviation, the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Artillery Air Observation Post Squadrons, the Glider Pilot Regiment and the modern Army Air Corps. The Museum Archive is a rich source of original documents of historical, personal and technical interest including official papers, flying log books, pilots’ notes, manuals and a large collection of photographs and slides. Click this link to the Army Flying Museum website.
AGM and August Monthly Meeting As you know, our Annual General Meeting scheduled for 20 May had to be postponed due to the COVID -19 lockdown. It will now be held on Wed. 19 August at 10.30 am and will be a ‘virtual’ meeting using ZOOM. It is important that you attend. Your committee will ensure that you see all the papers in good time, and have the opportunity to approve the accounts, nominate and vote for committee members, etc. Your committee has a meeting on 8 July, so you can look forward to AGM emails / paperwork for your attention shortly after that! Please don't hesitate to contact our secretary, Janet Moody if you have any queries, questions or wish to contribute to the AGM. secretary@romseyu3a.org.uk 01794 517589
The Membership Survey is now closed. Thank you to the 46 members who responded. A small team is starting to summarise the replies and will present your ideas at the next trustees’ committee meeting. The ‘wordmaps’ below show activities mentioned by members - the size of text indicates their popularity.
Activities at least 2 members say they are already doing; lots more were mentioned by only 1 member.
These are some of the activities members might be interested in doing.
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YOUR POEMS
Bobby Buddies
The solace of nature is a theme running through everything at the moment, hopefully something that will be of lasting value from this pandemic.
A Haiku poem by Patricia Morris Maureen Sercombe has shared these photos of her latest project. “These knitted bears were made by a friend of mine. I stitched, stuffed and put their faces on, complete with radio and POLICE label.
Can This Be My New Normal? by Gill Hodge How much I took for granted Children & Grandchildren not far away. Now we cannot receive or give hugs They may as well be in distant Cathay. Life needs re-prioritising Family first, interests another day. Am I who I know myself to be? Or am I the person others see? My activities should not just be filling in time Or joining in another’s design. Life enhancing to go for a walk, hearing only birdsong Watching shy animals reclaim the countryside. Once again, part of nature, back to being a small child Actively seeking out the corners that hide. Places where the working world cannot reach & drown out the beauty Of those creatures, who with us, on this planet reside.
This allows police to share a lovingly knitted bear with a child who is going through a distressing experience, helping to communicate with them and break down barriers.” Find out more here
Continue to send your poems to: Clare Wikeley cewikeley@hotmail.com
If anyone would like to help make these bears, the pdf patterns are on these links:
Husband and I went grocery shopping with masks, got home, took off masks, brought home wrong husband !! Stay alert people !!!
Knitted bobby buddies Crochet bobby buddies
Contact Janet Moody if you need help delivering your bears: 01794 517589
Giddy sun, free air Petals unfurl testing space Wind in uncut hair!
ROMSEY shops are starting to reopen! Remember all the local small businesses that you’ve asked over the years to donate and support your sports clubs, school events, organisations etc? They’re calling in a favour. Answer the call — SHOP LOCAL where you can.
UK TOWN ANAGRAMS - part 1 ANSWERS © Madeley & District U3A
1. STONE
11. WORCESTER
2. TOTNES
12. TAMWORTH
3. BAKEWELL
13. BRIDGNORTH
4. FLEETWOOD
14. CHELTENHAM
5. DUNFERMLINE
15. CARLISLE
6. MACCLESFIELD
16. ROCHDALE
7. STAMFORD
17. ALDERSHOT
8. NUNEATON
18. ANDOVER
9. WORKSOP
19. BASINGSTOKE
10. DONCASTER
20. BILLERICAY
‘Walk The Test another Way’ In Bulletin 3, we mentioned the Rotary Club of Romsey Test’s alternative way of supporting a local charity. Stewart Mitchell, a member of the Industrial Heritage group, is celebrating completion of his Garden Tramway in Whitenap by raising money for Youth in Romsey. In July he’ll be driving 30 laps of his Loop Line, equivalent to 1.6miles - the distance from its Depot in Whitenap, via Palmerston Street to the Youth in Romsey headquarters near Romsey Rapids. Sadly, due to social distancing he won’t be carrying passengers for a while. However, all those that make donations will be welcome to a free pass to travel when normal service is resumed. To support Stewart and help raise funds for Youth in Romsey, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/yir-stewart-tramway
Bulletin 6 is due out on 15 July. YOU too can share what you’ve been doing! 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