Romsey & District u3a February Newsletter 2021

Romsey & District U3A Newsletter – February 2021 Web site: romseyu3a.org.uk Monthly Meetings There will be NO Crosfield Hall meetings until advised.

ONLINE talks using Zoom have replaced them.

The programme MAY NOT match your programme card so please always check the Bulletins & Website for updates.

Meetings start at 10.30 am (Zoom log-in from 10.15 am).

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17 March Beatrice Von Prussen Arctic and Antarctic, as an Artist aboard a Science Ship Beatrice is an artist inspired by nature, working with scientists exploring the world around us to make prints and illustrations. She hopes these will encourage others to see the natural world with wonder and awe.

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21 April

Ian Keable The Century of Deception

In the 1700s the people of England seemed to be especially gullible, even believing a woman could give birth to rabbits. These hoaxes were widely written about, and depicted amusingly and brilliantly by satirical artists (Hogarth; Gillray). Ian demonstrates how they are memorable, for both their imaginative nature and the differing motives of the tricksters.

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19 May

Annual General Meeting followed by u3a Travel Group : Uzbekistan - the Silk Road

2,000 years ago the Silk Road developed as the world’s greatest overland trade route, running from China through Uzbekistan (the heart of the Silk Road) to Venice. Come on our journey as we visit Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent, beautiful cities full of the ‘4 BM’s’: beautiful mosques, minarets, museums and madrassas covered in fine turquoise tiles.

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Chair’s report “The cold days of February”…

Well, that’s the title of a song from the 1960s (by the “Incredible String Band” — does anyone else remember them?), but it seems an appropriate heading for my Chair’s report this February. A year ago, I wrote a very positive and forward-looking report, all about our plans for 2020, urging you to renew your membership for 2020-21, take a look at what Interest Groups we were running, and inviting your ideas for new ones, maybe get more involved in running our U3A, and reminding everyone that we are all volunteers, as we prepared for our AGM in May. A year on we’re now all too familiar with Coronavirus, Covid-19, new variants of the mutating virus, the daily statistics — and that three vaccines have been approved with more on the way. We’ve got used to the idea that “older people are more at risk” — and are more cautious — and that “social distancing” and other precautions will be needed for a while yet. Crosfield Hall is no longer where we hold our monthly meetings and chat over coffee afterwards, but somewhere to go for a vaccination when your turn comes.

But since lockdown was announced last March — less than a year ago — so many members of our U3A have adapted, coping with ever-changing and confusing advice as to what is or isn’t allowed from one week to the next.

Most groups have found new ways of working, often online, or have made plans for the future when we can all meet again properly, and even go out on trips together once again. Most of our members are online (over 91% of you) and thanks to the Beacon database we’re able to contact you directly by email. That includes sending out information, newsletters and bulletins, occasional “this might interest you” emails from me, group leaders’ messages, and links for “Zoom” events, such as the monthly meeting, and “Coffee & catch up” sessions a couple of times a month.

I’ve mentioned “Zoom” events — until last March, hardly anyone had heard of it, and initially it was just one of several ways of video conferencing. [See my piece in the August newsletter for a short historical survey: “90 years of video calls”.] In June, we tried our first monthly meeting since March, when Gordon Massie took us along the Amazon, thanks to Sylvia Croxall and John Broughall behind the scenes making it all work online. Since then, we’ve resumed our “Third Wednesday morning” monthly meeting with an invited speaker, including some of our own members, and a bit of a chance to chat / wave at each other as we each login and appear on a computer screen. Our Programme Secretary, Marion Fowler, continues to find new speakers who can present their talks online, or persuades planned speakers to change

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their topic — check the website, or this newsletter, for what’s happening next. Of course it’s not the same, and I’m certainly looking forward to meeting again in person, and being able to chat to each other before and after each talk. Meanwhile, we’ve typically had 120 or so logins each month, and there’s room for many more (we pay for a licence that allows up to 500 — more than we could fit into Crosfield Hall!). So if you haven’t yet joined one of our online sessions — PLEASE ASK HOW TO JOIN IN. We’d love to see you. Various groups are meeting online now, as you may have seen from reports in the various bulletins and newsletters, and we also offer “Coffee & catch up” sessions, with various themes.

A bit of technology history — when I first started at university, the professor said “Now, gentlemen*, I’m going to talk to you about electronic materials that made THIS possible” — and held up one of the early Hewlett-Packard calculators. (HP-35, first scientific “slide rule” calculator.) “And it only costs TWO HUNDRED POUNDS” he said triumphantly. The following year, I was paid £19-26 a week in my student placement… I’ve acquired many more devices since then, and I’ve just bought a new mobile phone for about £150, far more powerful than those early calculators — and it takes pretty good photos, too. But that’s a topic for a future technology history article… [*gentlemen? OK, I was one of only four women in the lecture theatre, amongst about a hundred of us keen 1st year engineering students, but even so!]

So the necessary technology is far cheaper now, and far more usable — an iPad or other tablet works well for joining a Zoom session, and between us we can offer help in getting online and joining in. Yes, you need an online connection — typically “wi-fi” via your landline or mobile phone provider — but it is feasible for almost everyone now. IF IN DOUBT, PLEASE ASK. It’s not just about the technology, of course — our U3A runs, and has continued to run, thanks to the hard work of so many of you, all volunteers.

No meeters & greeters, furniture arrangers, or tea team, required for Crosfield Hall since last March; but the group co-ordinators and group leaders have carried on the main business of our U3A, while the Newsletter and Bulletin teams have been kept busy producing reading material for all our members, whether online or not. The committee has continued to meet and run our U3A, including finances, membership, Beacon and website, and liaising with the Third Age Trust, our umbrella body, who provide guidance and a glossy magazine.

Looking ahead, we have our AGM coming up in May — last year, thanks to Covid-19 and lockdown, we postponed it until August, but then had to meet online anyway. This time, we agreed we want to hold it at the scheduled time — Wednesday 19th May — but it will definitely be ONLINE. (There’s more

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about that elsewhere in this newsletter.) Last time, two people stepped down, but no-one joined, so we had two vacancies. I was half way through my two year term, as was Gill Hodge, Treasurer, and the other members of the committee stood for re-election, including our Secretary, Janet Moody, who had completed three two year terms but bravely agreed to stay on for a final year, during the Covid-19 situation. Dave Lovell was a committee member, then stood for Vice Chair last time, and will be doing that this year.

However, quite a few members of the committee will be standing down in May — including me — and so we need some new people to join us. We have some volunteers already, but we need more. There’s no-one running our U3A for us — we’re all volunteers, doing it for ourselves, as part of our lives. I’ve been on the committee for six years, as Treasurer and then Chair — and I’d like to spend more time on other things, such as history of technology, and to take up an invitation to get involved with some software archaeology (oh, and railways, and travel, when I can). Janet Moody has plenty of energy and enthusiasm, as you’ll know if you’ve met her — but would like to work more with new members, as well as all her other activities outside the U3A. And after seven years as Secretary, she’s earned a break!

Similarly for other committee members — it’s worth doing, and a great way to meet a whole host of interesting people, and find out what goes on “behind the scenes”. Why not try it, for a year at least, and help guide us out of lockdown into a new beginning?

The U3A motto is “Learn/laugh/live” — and we are still doing that, one way or another. The cold days of February will pass, and spring is already on the way.

Janet Payne, written on Imbolc/Candlemas, 1st/2nd February, 2021

*** PLEASE READ! *** You will find a copy of the Membership Renewal Form with this newsletter. Everyone needs to complete their own form this year. Please confirm your Gift Aid status and tick all other relevant boxes over both pages. If you return it promptly you can continue to receive all the benefits of belonging to Romsey & District U3A!

AGM Documents: You will find the AGM Notice & Agenda on the next page. All other AGM documents will be available very soon and will be either emailed or posted to you, as well as being on our website.

Finally, a very big Thank You to everyone who has sent in such fabulous content for this February newsletter. It’s a bumper edition with lots of different articles, stories, group news and photographs to entertain you.

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ROMSEY & DISTRICT U3A ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Due to COVID-19 and Government restrictions Notice is hereby given that the

Annual General Meeting of the Romsey & District U3A will be held using ZOOM video-conferencing on

Wednesday 19 MAY 2021 at 10.30am AGENDA 1. Minutes of the AGM held on 19 August 2020 2. Matters arising from the minutes * 3. Chair’s report 4. Treasurer’s report

5. Secretary’s report 6. Election of Trustees: Chair Treasurer Secretary Committee Members 7. Other Appointments: Examiner of Accounts 8. A.O.B. * N.B. * Please make sure any points you wish to raise under

Matters Arising and A.O.B. are with the Secretary by Friday 19 MARCH 2021.

AGM@romseyu3a.org.uk : 01794 517589 : 07709 362383 5

SEARCHING FOR A WALK In my break-out group the other day there was a question about footpaths for enjoyable walks during this lockdown. In particular, about walks well away from other walkers, so you have very little (or no) chance of catching Covid-19 from anyone else.

You can use Ordnance Survey maps but they may not always be up to date.

Some of the online OS maps are FREE but if you want to view online detailed OS maps, then you need to subscribe for about £24 a year.

The real details of legally recorded Rights of Way are held by County Councils. You can find them here for Hampshire. Note: if you want to search a parish then you need the parish number, for example 198/9/1 is Romsey Extra (198) Footpath 9 section 1. This is the most up to date information about Rights of Way but landowners sometimes re-route paths without going through the formal legal procedure to update the HCC RoW records. Similar Rights of Way maps exist for Wiltshire.

When I am planning a walk, I view the appropriate map online and then use ‘print screen’ or ‘take a screenshot’ to save the image, before printing it (maybe edit it first). During a walk it is much easier to carry one A4 sheet for your walk for that day than to keep on opening up a full OS map, which can be difficult particularly if you walk off the edge of that map or it is windy.

A nice place to walk, when current restrictions are lifted, is Bentley Wood a large, nationally important nature reserve and SSSI site, renowned for its butterflies. One comment is that there are paths and tracks everywhere in these woods but no signs anywhere. Hence you must be good at navigating otherwise you might never find the route back to your car! Also, read the access policy on the Pitton & Farley website to ensure that visits to the wood are as enjoyable as possible for all visitors and cause the minimum disturbance to wildlife.

Brian Marchent

Newsletter Team Contacts Please send copy for the MAY 2021 newsletter to:

Dave Lovell : 01794 515316 news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk The deadline is FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2021 but PLEASE send any copy as soon as you have it!

OTHER newsletter queries to: newsletter@romseyu3a.org.uk 6

The Joy of Painting At the time of writing, we are just coming out of the second lockdown. Whilst the long periods of enforced staying at home have been frustrating and indeed lonely for some, it’s also been a time to rekindle underlying passions.

Since my schooldays I have always had a love of art and have dabbled in and out of it for many years, with limited success. I enjoy working in all media and am always looking for ways to achieve new and exciting effects.

I confess to having spent many hours on YouTube tutorials during the lockdown.

No doubt many of you will have enjoyed watching Bob Ross, The Joy of Painting on BBC 4. I must say that after a couple of episodes I was hooked. With his soothing voice, and the way it looked so effortless, it wasn’t long before I dug out my dried-up oils and decided to have a go.

Needless to say, I had to order some more tubes of paint and of course the Liquid Clear and odourless thinner which seemed vital to achieve the effect.

At first, I avidly watched Bob’s sessions and copied the paintings that he had done. Unsurprisingly, the paintings he did in half an hour took me two days, but nevertheless they weren’t too bad. Encouraged by my results I decided to use subjects of my own and as I live on the edge of the New Forest it wasn’t too difficult to find suitable scenes.

Here are few of the paintings I did in lockdown. If I can do it, why don’t you have a go. The results can be very rewarding and the time just flies by.

Happy painting!

Hilary Buttle

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A CHAIN STORY During the last ‘Coffee & Catch-up’ Zoom meeting before Christmas, members created what might be a world first, a u3a ‘chain story’ to which all participants contributed a part. How we smiled, how we giggled, how we laughed out loud! With a little creative editing, here is the story we created…

A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS! The Abbey bells chimed 11, light snow settled on the piazza in Romsey, it was 14 days before Christmas… The yuletide tree winked in silvery homage to the moon as the tinsel tickled its branches and the snowflakes tinged a bright bauble. From round the corner peeked a little face, its eyes gleaming.

Who was it? Where was he going to go to? He tiptoed out, leaving footsteps on the snow but where was he headed? The little face with gleaming eyes, maybe it was a fox? Maybe it was a cat climbing rudely around the trees seeing what he could find for his dinner but where did he go next? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, in Eastern Australia, someone paddled in the warm water feeling very homesick for Romsey thinking about the Christmas tree in the piazza as a helicopter circled overhead ringing out the alarm, “There’s a shark in the water!” She quickly ran back to the beach. In spite of the shark in the water, the lifeguards didn’t seem unduly concerned so she wondered if there was a misidentification of the species. Anyway, she settled down to enjoy the warm sun and think more about Romsey. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the shadows of a shop doorway, John knew it was time to leave for home in Bulgaria. “It’s going to be a long journey and will take all of the 14 days to get home for Christmas, hitching a lift here and there wherever I can,” he thought. “I hope someone in my family will have a spare bed and take me in. My grandmother will be pleased to see me, if no one else. When I left the orphanage at 16, I wanted to go to England, a long and hazardous journey, and I finally ended up in this little town of Romsey where there were one or two friendly faces. In the beginning I had to sit outside the shops, opposite a shop called Reeves which had a lovely shop window with fresh bread and what they call pasties. Whenever I got enough money to buy something I would go across the road but they wouldn’t let me in because I didn’t have one of these masks everybody is wearing. One day, a lady came along and asked me about myself. I told her I was called John and where my home was. She gave me a few pounds and when she left I went back across the road to the patisserie hoping the shop assistant would forget I’d been before, but she saw me and refused entry. I realised I must get a mask. The lady who had given me the money saw this and she gave me a mask from

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her pocket so now I could also go to another shop up the road and buy a hot drink in their café. Now it’s time to leave the lovely people of Romsey and go home for Christmas so goodbye to my little igloo tent that sheltered me from the rain and the frost…”

People were coming out of Romsey Abbey after a concert. As usual the Romsey singers had put on a good performance and they passed this poor young man about to make his way back home all those hundreds of miles.

Somebody gave him some money, somebody gave him a scarf, somebody gave him a woollen hat and somebody said, “You might like some money to get the next bus to Winchester but, watch out, it goes all the way round Abbotswood and no one gets on or off!” He did take the money and, wearing his mask, he did get the bus. He went to Winchester Station from where, still wearing his mask, he could travel on the train to start his long journey home.

John was not the only person on that bus to Winchester. One lady thought what a good idea it would be to go to Winchester Cathedral because it was linked to the Normans and Romsey Abbey. It would be lovely to see the Cathedral at Christmas with all the people gathered there singing carols.

She decided to phone her sister in Cornwall who had never been to Winchester Cathedral and, doing that, they sang the carols together; one on the phone, the other in the Cathedral.

Three days later in Romsey, as the Abbey clock struck 3, someone wondered, “Is there honey still for tea?” There was no honey for tea.

However, the Conservative Club was open where everybody had come to have a couple of drinks to warm themselves up: a brandy here, a rum there.

By 11 o’clock the following evening with now only 10 days left till Christmas, everybody came falling out of the Conservative Club flat on their faces in the ice. Because they were down there they decided they would make some snowmen but could they get up? No… Elsewhere in the town, I got up from my armchair in front of the television, walked across to the window and slammed it shut. There was such a noise coming from the cafe I could hardly hear the sound on the television. I thought, “This is Christmas Eve; why do they want to make so much noise?

I’m trying to watch the television.” I sat down again and, by that time, the programme I was watching had finished. I decided I’d stay in the chair, have a little doze and wait till breakfast time… Suddenly I awoke from my doze to hear a tapping at the door. Should I open it? Cautiously I crept towards it.

“Who’s there?” No reply. I listened again. Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap! I put the chain on, as I had been told to do by my daughter, before even more cautiously opening it a fraction. There, outside, was a little black and white cat. “Poor little thing,” I thought, “cold and miserable!” I removed the chain and welcomed her into my house. Immediately she rushed towards the

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kitchen. “What could I give her?” I wondered. ”I know, at the back of the fridge is a tin of salmon.” Quickly I opened it up and tipped it into a saucer.

She ate ravenously and then curled up… in my chair!

I thought I’d find her a nice bed rather than my chair because I like my chair but she obviously did too so I went off to bed and left her beside the fire. In the morning she was still there. I don’t like cats that much but I thought, “Well, it is Christmas Day so I’ll let her stay and I’ll take her to the RSPCA after Christmas.”

The little cat was really lovely, very friendly and, as I’ve said, it was Christmas Day so there was a mass of turkey for her. There was nothing happening but it was snowy outside and the sun was shining, a beautiful day for a walk, so I went for a walk in the snow, only my footprints showing under the snow-covered trees which was quite surreal. What a beautiful Christmas Day - snow, sun and a lovely pussy cat…

I walked through Romsey in the snow, up round Squab Wood, back into Romsey, along beside Saddlers Mill and eventually into Memorial Park.

There were The Old Cadets playing beautiful music in the background and children playing in the snow on their brand new bicycles which Father Christmas had brought them. Some of them were bright and clean but others already muddy where they had been ridden through snow-covered, muddy roads. Older people were slipping over, having problems with their legs as they do, and children started to build snowmen. As time went on, Memorial Park became a very dangerous place because children started throwing snowballs at passers-by as they walked through the snow making them lose their balance even more.

That night there was a sound in the piazza and three men, all elaborately dressed and riding camels, appeared. They said, “We’ve come a long way from east of here and we understand you’re having a reconstruction of something that happened 2000 years ago.” People said, “No, you’re much too early. It hasn’t happened yet.” They replied, “Oh dear, we can’t go back now. Where can we leave our camels?” They were told, “Actually there’s an equestrian centre in Wellow; they might look after them for you. In any case, you’re not due until January 6th which is the day you give your gifts.”

Reluctantly they resigned to hang around for another three weeks… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far away, on the other side of the world, in Western Australia, with her feet in the warm water, the secretary thought about all that was going on in Romsey. She wished it wasn’t 40○, it was too hot, too hot for Brussels sprouts, and she would be having a salad sandwich for her lunch but that’s not what you want at Christmas. You want to be in Romsey, in the snow!

THE END DL, Vice Chair

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Strollers Do you enjoy walking but find that the main walking group’s walks a challenge, or would prefer walks closer to home? Then this group could be for you. We try to find walks around Romsey or perhaps using public transport. Before the restrictions we had, for example, walked through Tadburn Meadows, along the canal to Abbotswood and, using the bus, walked in Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, Winchester.

Since the restrictions we have had to think of other ways to share our enjoyment of short walks. Each month members receive an e-mail to catch up. We have shared memories of previous walks including those from childhood (virtual walks can be anywhere). It has been interesting to hear from others about their strolls. I have also enjoyed the BBC series of Winter Walks showing the beautiful countryside of Britain.

We look forward to being able to enjoy one another’s company while walking and before too long explore all of Romsey’s paths. When we are able, we will start again strolling on the second Wednesday of the month.

We always welcome new ideas for strolls and welcome new members.

Sandra Vines

The Book Worms Group The group has been meeting via Zoom since we set it up soon after the first lockdown. We had been getting our book sets via Romsey Library, so it was decided to read some classics either on Kindle or similar device and discuss them at our usual monthly meeting. When library services reopened in August, we resumed reading our already requested book sets, which we continue up to the present time.

We limit our number to 10 but one member has left, so if you are interested and would like to join please give me a call on 01794 512033 and I'll explain the set up. We are a lively and friendly group!

Kaye Hannah

Disconnected?

If you feel that you are losing touch with the changing world around you, practical technology may be able to help. National & local governmental departments, banks and companies expect us to know how to operate their systems.

Don’t feel isolated, just join our local weekly U3A Technology Group and you will find out what you need to know from this friendly group.

John Broughall at broughall@talktalk.net

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OPERA and CLASSICAL SONG Quite by chance, the last quarter seems to have been dominated by Italian opera. In November we watched a performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, one of the three acknowledged masterpieces of Verdi’s middle period, (the others being Rigoletto and La Traviata). All six operas of this period feature women who are perceived to have transgressed. They coincided with Verdi’s scandalous liaison with the notorious soprano Guiseppina Streponi, who he later married. Il Trovatore has arguably the most ludicrous baby-swapping plot in all opera, but it serves as the dramatic peg for music of great emotional intensity, power and drive. The arias make huge demands on the voice. Indeed, Caruso famously remarked that all one needs for a good performance of Il Trovatore are the four greatest voices in the world! Part of the enduring fascination of opera, as in football, is trying to imagine the ideal team. We enjoyed an excellent performance from the Royal Opera House; it came close to meeting Caruso’s criterion.

The opera group did not wish to slack over Christmas, so the coordinator said we would have a Christmas pantomime opera and invited the group to guess what it might be. There are not that many operas with a pantomime theme but no one guessed right! It was Rossini’s La Cenerentola (i.e.

Cinderella). The fairy story by Perrault is followed fairly closely, but in Rossini’s version Cinderella is called Angelina, the fairy godmother is replaced by the Prince’s tutor Alidoro who arranges attendance at the ball, and the glass slippers are replaced by a silver bracelet. In the 19 th century, Cenerentola eclipsed even the Barber of Seville as the most popular of Rossini’s many operas. Superficially Cenerentola is a comic opera, it certainly has comedy and wit, but Rossini writes music of great tenderness and pathos. Modern productions, notably by Peter Hall, have tended to bring out the underlying dark world of female oppression, which is also present. Our brief discussion afterwards on Zoom was enlivened by the virtual appearance of Father Christmas and Rudolf the Reindeer. The group thoroughly enjoyed the production from the Metropolitan Opera, with the spectacular voices of mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato, as Cinderella, and tenor Juan Diego Flores, as the Prince. However, the operatic deviation from the classic Perrault fairy tale did not meet the approval of our group’s resident expert in French literature!

After two such easily digestible operas, it was time for the group to consider the origins of opera. The Ancient Greeks discovered that words carried further in amphitheatres if sung. The Church also found that singing helped words carry further through large buildings and, moreover, helped to convey a mystical meaning. Gradually, music became an important part of dramatic presentation throughout the middle ages. By the time of the Renaissance in Italy, madrigals were extremely popular in the Courts and, while not

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intended to be acted, did attempt to delineate character in music. The comedy L’Amfiparnasso (1594) by Orazio Vecchi, grouped several madrigals together into a madrigal drama, interspersed with dialogue.

Another form of dramatic singing that appeared around the same time were the interludes or intermedi performed between the acts of a play. Some of the most famous of these were performed for celebrations of the Medici family, in Florence. In the Renaissance, people were increasingly aware of the world around them. In the early baroque, which emerged soon after, people became aware of themselves as individuals, with the world as a stage. Composers sought grand dramatic gestures. Stage machinery was invented. Opera was an art form waiting to be invented.

A group of academics, thinkers and composers, the Camerata Fiorentina, met to discuss how music and words were used together (melodrama) in ancient Greece (a subject later to be revisited in the theoretical writings of Richard Wagner). Their deliberations led to the single declamatory vocal line supported by a single instrument known as recitative which linked individual arias to drive the plot along. The aim was to reflect the meaning of the words without, as in madrigals, holding back the drama. Jacopo Peri was the first person to compose in this new style. His second opera Euridice, composed for the Medici court in 1600, survives and is generally taken as the start of opera. In 1606, Claudio Monteverdi, who was working for the Gonzaga court at Mantua, was asked to write something for the 1607 Carnival of Mantua that would outshine the Medicis. He took the same subject for his new opera, Orfeo that Peri had used for Euridice.

However, he greatly extended the new aria / recitative form, using the music, not just as accompaniment, but to underline the drama and the emotion Christian Gerhaher (Orfeo) and of individual characters. Orfeo is the Angela Brouwer (Hope) in earliest opera to feature in the regular Monteverdi’s Orfeo, Munich 2014 opera repertory today.

Renaissance opera has grown in popularity in recent years, aided by musicological research into performance practice and the refreshing sound to modern ears of early instruments. The performance the group watched was staged at the Munich Prinzregenten theatre in 2014/15. Your scribe attended the performance in 2015 at the Munich Opera Festival, a great place to catch lots of operas and get to walk in the nearby Alps. This is anything but a conventional production. The Financial Times giving it a 5star review wrote (précised here): “If any singer was destined to play

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Monteverdi’s Orfeo, it is Christian Gerhaher. Gerhaher is ….. nothing short of ideal for Monteverdi’s poet-in-song. ….. The sounds he produces make you forget he is actually singing, so direct is his communication, so intelligent his projection. Listening to the opera’s central aria, it was difficult to believe this music was written 400+ years ago. That impression was reinforced by a staging … that came across as simple and atmospheric, light and serious, timeless and modern. What we saw were characters of our time in mythical settings: the stage … became anything and everything the imagination told us it was. The Act One wedding party centred round a clapped-out camper van beneath suspended flower petals. Hades was a Lord of the Rings underworld. The Finale found the party-goers resuming their casual frolics while Orfeo and Euridice, reunited, retreated to the grave: life ends, life goes on”.

Opera group covers the full range of opera, from the Renaissance to the present day. However, it is probably fair to say that most members of the group were apprehensive about this choice of opera. At the follow-up twohour discussion meeting, after a brief talk with examples on the origins of opera, members had clearly enjoyed Orfeo and were very enthusiastic. One member wrote afterwards, “I found the performance interesting and was carried away by the dramatic intensity, the darkness of the story, and surprisingly the production. I don't normally like modern interpretations but was riveted by this one. During rehearsals and performances, the artistes must have been affected by the music, the text and the actual emotional content swirling around them. How they slept at night I can't imagine! The intensity of the story and production I'm sure they will never forget.” Another member thought that the opera was an intellectual treat.

February’s opera will be La Fille du Regiment, a Gallic comedy which completed the 1840 takeover of Paris by Donizetti.

Michael Ward

QUESTERS GROUP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS QUESTERS DAY TRIPS group needs at least TWO PEOPLE to join the organising committee to help to plan & arrange their programme of trips.

If you would like to see the group continue and are interested in helping, please contact: Liz: liz@lizholloway.f2s.com : 01794 514597 Christine: christine.burgess2@virginmedia.com : 01794 501558

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ARCHITECTURE AND LOCAL HISTORY The group has kept in touch with monthly bulletins, and Zoom meetings attended by about a third of members.

In November Gordon Massie gave us a fascinating insight into the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1926) and has kindly supplied the following summary and photographs that he used by way of illustration.

Gaudi, today known as Gods Architect, was born in the village of Reus, near Tarragona in Catalonia. He was very proud of his Mediterranean heritage which he said “endowed him with originality and creativity”. After working his way through college he started work designing street lamps.

Quite soon the scale of his commissions grew and today much of his work can be seen in Barcelona, including Park Guell and Casa Mila (La Pedrera).

Today his name is linked with his most famous work, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. He was given this commission in 1883, for a simple basilica construction, but this gradually increased in size, first to include five towers then to the present-day total of eighteen. He dedicated his life totally to this project, but beset by many problems, by the time he died in 1926 only the eastern facade illustrating The Nativity had been completed. Thereafter the rate of work slowed and during the Civil War (1936-1939) it ceased totally.

In addition, considerable damage was done to the site and some of the plans for the next phase, The Passion Facade, were destroyed. However, by 1980 this was completed by Josep Maria Subirachs. More recently the very foundations were threatened by the construction of a new railway tunnel linking Barcelona’s two main stations. The basilica is now expected to be finished in 2026 to mark the centenary of the architect’s death, but don’t hold your breath. After all Gaudi himself said: “..my client is in no hurry”.

La Sagrada Familia

Park Guell

La Pedrera

In December we held our usual Christmas Quiz which, this year, featured Romsey architecture and history. It served as a useful reminder of our rich surroundings as well as being fun; winners: Margaret & Gordon Massie.

Starting the New Year and still in lockdown, we continue with Zoom. With considerable help from John Broughall, we were able to put on a most comprehensive account by Bob Marshall (a member of Romsey Archway U3A) of the many new town initiatives our country has seen. Here is Bob’s summary of Urban Utopias – Garden Cities:

During the 19th century notable individuals sought to improve the worker’s lot by building better communities. Robert Owen, a wealthy Welsh radical,

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acquired mills in Lanarkshire and managed the factory along co-operative lines. In 1840 near Broughton in Hampshire he built Harmony Hall which was an agricultural co-operative; it failed.

Titus Salt made his fortune from alpaca and moved his factory from Bradford to Shipley, a site near the River Aire, and alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Midland railway. He built the town called Saltaire: a complex of houses, the factory, churches and school with open spaces. It was a community, not just a factory town.

The Lever brothers expanded their business by building on the Wirral, at Port Sunlight. The houses were arts and crafts style, designed so as not to overlook their neighbours, and allotments. The development had schools, a church and art gallery.

Likewise, the Cadbury brothers moved their factory from Birmingham to Bournbrook (later Bournville). This was a complete town built in the arts and craft style with complete infrastructure. The Cadbury’s encouraged healthy out-door Bourneville village pursuits, producing a productive and healthy workforce. primary school Garden Cities: Ebenezer Howard developed the concept of the Garden City, which would have a population of 20-30,000 and be largely selfsufficient, with industry, schools, shops and recreation facilities. Land was purchased at Letchworth. Parker & Unwin (influenced by C A Voysey) were appointed as architects and planners. Restrictions were imposed on building design, but this produced a wealth of good arts and crafts style buildings. Later, land was acquired at Welwyn for another garden city, this time in the Georgian style. It became a New Town after WW2. Howard’s ideas were adopted in the USA and Germany (Hellerau).

In the early 20th century Gidea Park in Essex was built to demonstrate housing from £350-£500. The result the epitome of the leafy London suburb.

The modernist movement built a show estate at Weissenhof, Stuttgart; Van de Rohe, Gropius and Corbusier were the architects.

After WW2 New Towns around London were built with good intentions, but later developments were hardly utopian. Developers have aped the Garden City by building large estates, but these were driven by greed rather than the well-being of the community. The architect Eric Lyons and Span Developers were an exception, because they built interesting and people-orientated estates around London, and at New Ash Green in Kent.

A lively discussion followed. We hope to arrange a visit to Letchworth when circumstances allow.

The subjects for our next talks are: King Alfred, and The Lace Makers of Calais.

Shirley Rogers, Group co-ordinator

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CLIMATE CHANGE I only scored 8 out of 10 when I completed the BBC Bitesize Climate Change AQA GCSE test. You can test yourself here. It’s a good job I am not directly involved in home schooling our two grandsons!

When I think about their future it seems clear that they will have many more global challenges to face than my generation. Whilst some may argue about what is the greatest challenge we all face, the science seems clear. Climate Change is already affecting lives and livelihoods across the world.

Nature is under pressure like never before.

I don’t know about you but I want to understand more (learn). I also want to play my (very small) part in mitigating climate change (live) and I want to enjoy life (laugh).

Over 60 U3As now have a climate change topic group, with their own Climate Change Network website. If taking part in one in Romsey & District interests you please express your interest in an email to membership@romseyu3a.org.uk .

Dave Lovell

Books for Pleasure This month we read The Choice, by Edith Eger.

Edith survived the holocaust, Mengele, concentration camps, being used as a human shield, and seeing things that no human should ever have to witness. Her time in the camps had given her an insight into the minds not only of the inmates, but also the captors. She used both aspects to try and help others overcome their problems by becoming a psychotherapist. Her experiences in the camps, and during her recovery, led to her determination to help others in making better choices. Edith is a strong woman, prepared to make the right decisions for herself and her family, even when those decisions come at a cost to herself and her marriage.

Our discussions went well beyond the confines of the book itself. In a lively discussion we considered the effects on democracy of the use of social media to spread unrest and conspiracy theory, and looked at examples in the past and present, such as antisemitism, Covid-deniers and claims of illegal votes.

We're a friendly group, and would love new people to join us. Although our meetings have a structure, we are quite informal, and ready to listen to different points of view. If you think you would like to join us please contact Gilian Gardiner for more information.

Nan Keightley

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Interest Groups News : February 2021 There are two major groups without leaders for when we return to nearnormal activity: 1. THEATRE TRIPS: as mentioned in the last newsletter (November 2020) the original leader has retired & we are looking for a small group of people to act as a committee to organise future theatre trips. No previous experience necessary, but good organisational skills would be required. If you are interested in helping, please contact Margaret or Jo as below.

2. QUESTERS: Please see Liz Holloway’s notice on page 14.

GROUPS SUMMARY DURING LOCKDOWN NINETEEN GROUPS are meeting online. Speakers are often found within our own membership.

WEEKLY ZOOM: Italian Improvers; Technology MONTHLY ZOOM: Architecture & Local History; Art Appreciation; Books for Pleasure; Bookworms; Creative Writing; Current Affairs; Digital Photography; French Conversation; Italian Beginners & Intermediate; Genealogy (see website); Horticulture; Introduction to Computers; Industrial Heritage; History Social & General; Opera & Classical Music (using web-streaming & research); Philosophy; Wine Appreciation

OTHER GROUPS: Bird Watching (enjoying bird activity on walks) Bridge for Improvers (a small number of members playing online) Garden Visits 1(Committee meeting and Christmas quiz on Zoom) Latin 2 (email and phone calls) Painting (drawing & painting privately) Short Day Trips (quizzes, crosswords & virtual trips + email & letter) Snappers & i-Snappers (photo competitions) Strollers (monthly emails) Table Tennis for All (email, phone, WhatsApp & social visits to Hilliers) If you have not been meeting regularly and would like to re-start your group’s activities online, please contact your group leader, email Margaret or phone Jo on 01794 514134. There is plenty of technical & other support available. If your group is not represented here and you are meeting, even if not regularly, please let us know.

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Memories of the Blitz 1. In 1944 when I was five and the doodlebugs were coming over London, my parents had me, and my brother and sister, evacuated for three months. We were sent to Penrhiwceiber, a coal mining area in the Rhondda Valley in south Wales. It was the most exciting but frightening time of my early life!

Life was wonderful playing in the mountains behind the house, with the giant coal slag heaps on other side of the valley dominating everything.

The tragedy of Aberfan in the 1960s reminded me of those days as Aberfan was in the next valley to Penrhiwceiber. I have often wondered if the Welsh children I played with in the valleys became the parents of the children who were in the buried school in Aberfan, it really upset me at the time.

I visited Penrhiwceiber, again, in about 2000 and found the street in which I was evacuated. The village is now a green and pleasant village with not a slag heap in sight, quite a transformation.

Ruth Walker Photo credits: St Winifred’s Church and the Clock Tower War Memorial by Darren Wyn Rees, Aberdare Blog, CC BY-SA 3.0

—————————————————— 2. I spent the war years living in Osterley, Middlesex which, with its close proximity to the factories on the Great West Road made us a pretty good target for the blitz. Heston Airport, now Heathrow, was only about 5 miles away to the west.

We spent our nights in the dug-out, an underground shelter built by our neighbour in the back garden. My night attire was a one-piece garment known as a siren-suit. My first memory of bombing was coming home in the early morning and seeing a huge red ball in the sky and an unfamiliar smell. During the night Woolworths in Hounslow had been bombed and was still ablaze. One night, an incendiary bomb landed in the field opposite our house. The next morning we scrambled through a pile of tiles from our roof, and went indoors to find the blast had shaken all the china off the dresser, the hall carpet was rolled up as if in preparation for a removal, and the beds were smothered in glass where the windows had been blown in. There was an Air Raid Post nearby where teams of neighbours did fire watching duties and I remember my mother taking them trays of tea and cake.

Later on, when the V1s and V2s started we had a Morrison shelter in our dining room, which incidentally made an excellent table tennis table. We had

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a spaniel at that time and we knew that when he moved into the shelter we would soon be hearing the air raid siren. He could hear the whine of the rockets before we could, and knew what to do! Walking along the road to school I used to collect shrapnel, which I kept for a number of years.

My worst experience was taking a ride on the 91 bus along the Great West Road the day after many of the factories had been completely flattened by the bombing the night before. I remember the clusters of weeping people outside, the many ambulances and gangs searching the rubble, scenes which we now see on TV. Valerie Chandler See where the bombs fell on London .

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3. Michael Perfect is something of an authority on the Blitz locally. He kindly provided a number of books on the subject. Here’s a collection of things that caught my eye.

In July 1939 Southampton Education Committee issued a six-page pamphlet on evacuation. It began prophetically: “If a war breaks out, Southampton will be an obvious target for enemy aircraft. The Government has therefore arranged for certain sections of the population to be moved, if the time comes, to places which are not so likely to be attacked”.

During the war 57 attacks on the city were made, but over 1500 air raid warnings were issued. Some 2,300 bombs were dropped on the city amounting to 470 tonnes of high explosive. Over 30,000 incendiary devices were dropped. The collective result was that nearly 45,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed with most of the city’s High Street being hit.

On 11 August 1940, 51, Manor Farm Road, Bitterne Park became one of them. It was home to Kay Lovell’s grandmother and thought to be the first domestic property to be hit. The rear wall was destroyed and the house was subsequently demolished.

Of greater note, and with more devastating impact, was the destruction of the Supermarine factory building in Woolston, where Spitfires were built.

Two day-time raids, on 24 and 26 September 1940 resulted in its almost total destruction, with 110 people killed.

The worst raids on Southampton were on 23 and 30 November and 1 December 1940. In the first, 77 people were killed, 300 were injured, and the city’s water supply so completely interrupted that many of the fires had to be left to burn themselves out. (I remember my great-aunt, who lived on the north side of Winchester, recalling how that night, when she

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stood on the steps of her house, the whole sky glowed red.)

During the bombing on 30 November, 120 German bombers dropped 800 bombs on the city in a six hour period. Amongst the buildings destroyed were the All Saints’, Holyrood and St Mary’s churches. St. Michael’s suffered only minor damage, allegedly because its spire was used as a navigation landmark by German pilots.

The last ordnance to fall on the city were two V1 flying bombs in July 1944.

Dave Lovell from material provided by Michael Perfect Do you have memories of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz? Is there a family history that has been preserved, perhaps in documents or photographs?

If you have memories that you would like to contribute to the Third Age Trusts Blitz Project visit here.

—————————————————— 4. The Blitz in Romsey After reading edition 15 of the Low-down in the Lockdown bulletin, Bob Merrett wrote, “ I’ve just read the January Bulletin and noticed the item on the Blitz. You may already be aware, but as an aside, I recently read a novel by a Romsey writer set in the area during the Blitz: The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox by Claire Gradidge.”

According to Goodreads the story is set in Romsey in April 1941.

“Josephine 'Jo' Fox hasn't set foot in Romsey in over twenty years. As an illegitimate child, her family, headed by her controlling grandfather, found her an embarrassment. Now she wants to return to what was once her home and uncover the secret of her parentage. Who was her father and why would her mother never talk about him?

Jo arrives the day after the Luftwaffe have bombed the town. The local pub, The Cricketers' Arms, has been completely destroyed and rescue teams are searching for the remains of the seven people known to have been in the pub at the time the bomb hit. They are shocked, however, to uncover eight bodies, not seven. The eighth, unidentified, body is that of a teenage girl, who no one in the town claims to know. Who is she, how did she get there, but most importantly - who killed her?

Teaming up with local coroner and old friend, Bram Nash, Jo sets out to establish the identity of the girl and solve the riddle of her death. In doing so, she also uncovers her own personal mystery.

Everyone has secrets - some are just more deadly than others…”

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SHORT DAY TRIPS UPDATE Keeping in regular contact with all members of the Short Day Trips Group has been a prime focus for me since the beginning of the very first Covid lockdown last March. To this end, I have sent regular emails to the majority and, so they have not been left out, letters to the handful of members who do not use any form of computer. These have been hand-delivered within Romsey or posted to more outlying districts.

There have been quizzes, crosswords, word-searches and anagram puzzles to challenge minds and memories. Little did I think it would have to carry on so long and, having begun with the theme of places we had visited over the years, I have recently extended it to feature Hampshire in general.

In November, I took things a little further and, having become more conversant with it, I organised a Zoom meeting for my members on the day we would normally have been going on a trip somewhere. Instead, we went on a virtual trip, the destination a secret until the actual meeting. Suffice to say, it was somewhere we wouldn’t have been able to reach on a short day!

Using my own photos, I took members on a trip to Paris but, instead of the usual tourist landmarks, I showed them parts of Paris they may not have seen before. We firstly walked the Promenade Plantée or Coulée Verte; i.e.

Green Path. It begins on the eastern outskirts at the edge of Bois de Vincennes and ends at Place de la Bastille. What used to be a railway line now provides a magical, green, three-mile walk. In typical French innovative style, part of the long-abandoned mid-19th century Paris line with its viaduct had been converted in 1993 and it has become a cherished landmark. At times it is 10 metres above street level, and was the world’s first elevated park walkway.

Along the way the path sometimes goes under bridges, but at one point it takes you over an arched footbridge with a park below (Paris is a very green city) where people of all ages would often be seen relaxing, picnicking, playing games or sunbathing. So many Parisiennes live in apartments that the parks are well-used, and generally well-respected too. As areas have been re-developed thought has been given to how to incorporate what already exists.

The railway, now a pathway, was here first, and here it must stay, so some buildings are constructed around it!

On the elevated section, which may be linear but where it is still possible to create an oasis of calm, a water garden, flanked by lavender, roses and other shrubbery, is framed within a trellis archway. When the lavender is in

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bloom, it’s stunning. To add interest, sometimes the path deviates, and in places there are specific viewing areas where you can look out over the streets below and you can see that extensive tree-planting makes even the urban areas green. Walking at this level you can also see the upper parts of nearby buildings. Reproductions of Michaelangelo's The Dying Slave (the original of which can be seen in the Louvre) is a show-stopper. They adorn, of all places, the top of the 12th Arrondissement’s Police Station. What a great piece of architecture!

The second part of our virtual day out in Paris, took us on water. Rather than the popular Bateau Mouche cruise on the River Seine, we wended our way along Canal St Martin. The canal, full of locks, swing bridges and arched pedestrian bridges, is in a part of the city which has not been re-developed with modern buildings so it makes a very picturesque scene.

There’s plenty of interest either side of the canal too. St Louis Hospital, for example, was built four centuries ago and is still standing. Over the years it has had extensions added but the original buildings are classed as historical monuments. The south-west entrance became popularly known as the entrance to the police station in a hit French detective television series called Navarro which began in 1989 and on air for 18 years. A little further on we see another building that gave its name to a 1938 film. Beside the meandering Canal St. Martin, at the Hôtel du Nord, a nearly fatal gunshot separated a dejected young couple. But, amid a sad but beautiful panorama of lively characters, love had the final say.

Canal St Martin ends at La Villette Basin but it is not the end of our boat trip because we will continue into Canal de l'Ourcq and on to our destination. We leave the traditional sights behind us and begin to marvel at the more modern side of Paris as we approach Parc de la Villette. Here is the breath-taking sight of the Geode, which is a mirror-finished geodesic dome that holds an Omnimax theatre and is one of the great attractions at Parc de la Villette. It is part of The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie building which also includes a planetarium and an aquarium. There are a number of other buildings in this cultural park, among them Pavillon du Charolais, where you a 140-seat theatre is dedicated to French song.

Our virtual day-trip to Paris ended in a small, eccentric local brasserie in the 12th Arrondissement where the décor includes upside-down tables, chairs and bicycles hanging from the ceiling and where the menu is simple, yet extensive, and very tasty indeed. Named Chez Gudule, it is situated on a narrow corner and, typical of anywhere in France, makes use of

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the pavement area outside, which is a good idea when the premises are as small as this! Even in wintertime, the Parisiennes like to sit outside and so café owners erect see-through awnings, often with heaters above the tables, so that their clientele can still watch the world go by. In UK the trend for outdoor eating and drinking is becoming popular, but it is definitely a continental thing!

Kay Lovell ---------------------------

Short Day Trips Lunch Strict adherence to COVID lockdown rules were observed when twelve members of the Short Day Trips met for lunch on Thursday 28 January.

After gathering in a Zoom open meeting room members, calling on just a little of their imagination, found themselves sitting at tables for four (OK, so Zoom called them break-out rooms) and lunch was soon served.

Unfortunately, despite plenty of notice, one member’s lunch was delayed after an incident in the kitchen but she did get a complimentary glass of wine on the house and received table service whilst most members made do with self-service.

A good time, a good gossip and a good lunch was had by all.

KL

Wine Appreciation The Wine Group have continued to meet monthly, although virtually; December and January saw 22 members joining via Zoom.

Over the last two sessions we have tasted a number of different wines; our Christmas gathering ended by singing The Twelve Days of Christmas, with all members being involved with all the actions!

January saw us going on a Tour of Spain led by Gordon Massie. Rioja seemed to be the wine of choice for a large portion of the group, and of course members had created a wide assortment of tapas to enjoy en route.

Obviously, in this lockdown members have not been able to meet up, so virtually has been the way forward for us to continue meeting and enjoying the pleasure of tasting wine together.

If any U3A members are interested in being involved in a wine group we are still looking to start a second group!

Contact Derek Morley on 07814 951650 or Margaret Marchbank at groups@romseyu3a.org.uk .

Derek Morley

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EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT FROM CENSUS 2021 Households across Hampshire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this spring. Run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), it is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every ten years since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone, from central government to organisations such as councils and health authorities, to plan and fund public services. Census outputs inform where millions of pounds of public funding will be spent on services like transport, education and health; for example, on cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries.

It also helps other people and organisations do their work. Charities and voluntary organisations can use it as evidence to get funding. It helps businesses to understand their customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops. Those doing research, like university students and people looking into their family history, use it and it provides important information on population diversity, allowing organisations to know whether they are meeting their responsibilities and triggering action where necessary.

Census 2021 on 21 March will be the first run predominantly online; households will receive a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. Paper questionnaires will be available for those who need them. The Census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. For the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces. There are also new, voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity if 16 and over.

Remember that the census.gov.uk website is the only place to fill in your Census online and they will never ask for payment or bank details. There is a Help area on the website covering everything from who to include on the questionnaire to how to answer each question. If you cannot find what you need there, there is a dedicated contact centre where Census staff will be on hand to give help over the phone, in a web chat or on social media.

There is also a wide range of support services available, for you, or someone else, including:  guidance and help in many languages and formats  a paper version of the questionnaire, if you prefer  accessible Census guidance, for example, in braille Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, and kept safe for future generations.

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Genealogy Group – First 2021 Meeting We met for the first time in 2021 at the end of January, by Zoom of course.

This was the group's traditional year-opening 'Problem Solving' Q&A. With 25 screens logged in there was a good range of questions, and a lot of helpful suggestions from around the group. The online format had the advantage that 'facts' could be readily checked online, and images shared on screen.

Amongst the tips coming forward were:  always be wary of spelling variations in names. Check several sources and the original if possible

 the geographical distribution of a surname, over time, can be found via websites. These include in other countries. For less common names, such sites can be a clue as to where a missing relative may have originated  for relations overseas, try contacting a relevant Society. There are many Anglo (country) Societies and also Family History Societies within the country concerned. These can provide useful sources of information, and enthusiastic society members may be able to help.  Cyndi's List is a categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet; it lists both free and paid-for resources.  GENUKI provides a virtual reference library of genealogical information of particular relevance to the UK and Ireland. It is a noncommercial service, maintained by a charitable trust and a group of volunteers.  The National Archives (TNA) holds a directory of where archives and records may be found locally across the UK.  Wills potentially provide details that you may not find elsewhere, by way of who is mentioned and what the legacy may have been. Wills proved in the UK since 1858 can be purchased online for a very modest charge.  Facebook There are groups with particular local family history interests. Posting photographs of unknown family members has proved successful in securing identifications from people you would never otherwise be able to contact.

Hopefully these tips will help members in their struggle to 'Break Down the Wall' that is trying to block their efforts.

Graham Woodbury

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Using the Census for Family History What is the purpose of taking a census? It certainly was not originally intended to help would-be genealogists!

Data from censuses (in England and Wales) are held by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), who make it available to public bodies.

Government departments and local authorities use the information to guide decisions on allocating funding to, for instance, education and health services, for the planning of infrastructure, and economic development strategies. The census records help to monitor numbers and diversity of population, areas of deprivation, and transport demands. Analysis by public bodies is at an aggregated, anonymous level. However, that is not necessarily at a high level, since areas as small as 125 households can have their statistics analysed. The use and value of census-derived data is at its most visible today, perhaps, as the basis for the wealth of statistics we are able to see on the Coronavirus and vaccination rates.

In its planning for the needs of the 2011 census, the ONS noted that: “the data are also widely used by academics, businesses, voluntary bodies and the public”. Yes, the public; that's us who are interested in our family history.

Because the census is built up of very detailed records of people, it is vital fodder for the genealogist, together with the perhaps more familiar birth, marriage and death (BMD) certificates. (see also FreeBMD) Censuses commenced in 1801 and, with the exception of 1941, have been undertaken every 10 years thereafter. Until the 1851 census, no details of individual people were recorded but, since then, an increasing amount of detail has been collected by successive surveys. Name, age, gender, relationship to head of household, occupation, religion, disability and place of birth are recorded for all present at every address. A real indication of how a family may have lived can be developed through searching successive censuses and, by reference to supporting data from BMD certificates, links of children to parents can be confirmed. Having identified the names of your ancestors, further searches can be made of, say, newspaper archives, school rolls, trade directories and passenger lists to get a fuller and more colourful picture of their lives.

The census is relatively accessible, especially in this digital age. Rarely are they free, though, unless you access records at The National Archives or at a public library. Transcribing historic paper records to a digital format is labour-intensive and thus expensive. Two of the leading commercial companies control licensing, albeit some partial records are available via other sources, sometimes at no cost. Frustratingly but not unsurprisingly, the transcriptions of elderly, hand-written survey records are of variable quality.

Patience, and double-checking between sources, is advisable, as is looking

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at originals rather than just transcripts. Family history can be a frustrating hobby (or obsession), but the satisfaction when a brick wall in your research is broken down is a memorable event!

For the public, census records are available to view only up to 100 years ago. Later data is not available, for reasons of confidentiality of living persons, so you need not have too many worries about the sensitivity of any information you are going to give in the forthcoming 2021 census, unless you anticipate living for another 100 years! A final thought: I think you can imagine the building anticipation and excitement within the genealogy community ahead of the release of 1921 data, due in early 2022.

Graham Woodbury — Genealogy Group The above description relates primarily to the National Archives of England and Wales. In Scotland the records are held by ScotlandsPeople and by PRONI for Northern Ireland. Sadly few 19th century Irish records survive.

A Look Inside Our u3a Have you ever wondered what is involved in running our u3a?

Here is a short insight into the numbers.

759 71 59 52 19 16 14 12 11 8 3 £10.00 £6.50 £3.50

Members in 2020; Group leaders; Different groups; Members who belong to other u3as; Newsletters and ‘Low-down in the Lockdown’ Bulletins sent to every member since February 2020; Committee members: 13 trustees + 3 expert advisers; People to run a monthly meeting in Crosfield Hall; Monthly general meetings with speaker + free tea or coffee; Trustees to elect at the AGM (one year term); Communications team members (Website, Newsletter and Bulletin); Officers to elect (two year term): Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.

Current membership fee; Paid out of the membership fee to the Third Age Trust; Amount available to spend running our u3a.

Would you like to help run our u3a or shall we hope that the mythical person ‘someone else’ offers to?

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ON EVERYONE’S LIPS...

What’s the first question on our lips when we meet a friend these days?

“Have you had yours yet?” A good number of our members have. Here are the experiences of two of them: 1. On 16 December I rang West End Surgery about a blood test, then asked how I would be notified about the vaccine; would it be by phone or by email?

The receptionist replied, "I can make an appointment now." This was for 18 December, at Lowford Medical Centre, with the second one on 8 January, three weeks later to the minute. It is a great new centre with good parking.

There was a bit of a queue outside but exceptionally good marshalling, all very good natured and efficient. Quite pally, in fact!

I waited to hear if my second session was postponed; no message came, so on 6 January I rang the surgery and was told that it would be going ahead.

There were even better arrangements this time, with a very short queue. We wore masks, with our carers (mine was my son) and it got quite chatty, quite sociable, but no coffee and biscuits!

The vaccines were given on the first floor, with easy stairs or an open lift and organised seating for the 15 minute wait to make sure we displayed no unfortunate after effects. All in all it took about an hour and everything was done to make us feel secure and comfortable.

Anon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. There was great excitement in our household when early one Saturday I received a surgery phone call, telling us to go to Crosfield Hall on Thursday for our Covid Vaccinations. At last it had come! It was very well organised with lots of helpful volunteers and car park marshals to direct us to a parking space. If you come to our monthly meetings you will feel quite at home there.

In the Lobby we were logged in and had our temperatures taken, then went straight into the Main Hall for our vaccination; we did not experience any waiting time. After seeing all the vaccinations on TV, we were feeling a little apprehensive but we did not feel a thing! In the Annexe we had to sit down and relax for 15 minutes afterwards - only five minutes if you are not driving. Luckily, we met another member of our U3A and chatted. Don’t forget to collect your sticker. (We were as bad as children with wanting a sticker!)

Thank you Dave (Lovell) for keeping us up to date with information.

Marion and Alan Fowler

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Model Railways Modern OO gauge model railways have come a long way since the Triang train set I had in my early teens. During the first Covid lockdown my family, knowing my interest in steam trains and model railways, bought me a belated birthday present of a new train set titled Whiskies Galore. (Could the choice be anything to do with my love of malt whisky?) More to the point this set was digital with sound; digital sets use Digital Command Control (DCC).

A DCC locomotive has a circuit board (miniature computer) fitted inside the body and, programmed with a unique address, allows individual control even when on the same piece of track. Of course you need a DCC Controller for the layout as well. They can even be set up to provide realistic scaled-down acceleration and deceleration.

With DCC Sound, they provide realistic sounds for the type of locomotive, generally recorded from real locomotives of that type. The sounds of diesel engines, steam locomotives, whistles, horns, wheel squeals, lights and many more sounds and functions can be controlled individually in each locomotive, even changing with the locomotive's speed and direction.

DCC-ready locomotives run on a non-DCC layout, but if you want to run it as a DCC locomotive you need to buy and install the DCC, or DCC Sound circuit board - harder to do in a steam locomotive than a diesel, where the inside space is much tighter due to the boiler shape. And with DCC Sound you have to fit in a miniature speaker as well, very often into the tender of a steam locomotive. The level of detail is so much greater nowadays; they are no longer simply playthings but need handling carefully.

You can progress even further with a laptop or desktop computer controlling everything including points and signals.

I hope this little insight into modern model railways has wetted your appetite for one. Since receiving my present I have increased the amount of track and locomotives and will continue to do so; it is an ideal hobby in the current climate. The photograph shows my layout, which is very much in its early stages; even the track changes weekly. Nearly all the wagons were somehow miraculously saved from my teenage layout, the vast majority sold off to help finance a new racing bike.

I am trying to set up a model railway group, the object initially to exchange knowledge, lessons learnt etc., all without physical contact. You should have received an email from me, so if you are interested, and have not already replied, please email me at mike.koscian@btinternet.com.

Mike Koscian

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PERSONAL MEMORIES OF LOCKDOWN Lockdown has certainly been an alternative lifestyle, and in varying degrees, often a bewildering journey for us all. Each trying to keep positive, having to conform to an acceptable new set of rules that would occupy our time constructively, and of course keep us safe. A kind of ‘inventive reality’ forming some kind of stability, to ease our expectations and slowly prepare to us for unknown events, ahead. I therefore listed some routines that would perhaps be important for a stable mental and physical survival! Firstly, a ‘must’ had to be creating a ‘Diary’ of some sort and documenting happenings, discoveries, and just interesting facts, accompanied by sketches and photos done on the spot.

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Figs 1 & 2: Two Diaries with content and illustrations.

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This too, was ideal for Paul, my husband, who loves painting out of doors in Pen, Line and wash. Another idea, possibly learning a new skill that had not been fulfilled, keeping up with friends and family, or even delving into completing a Family Tree? …a regular exercise regime with walks into our local parks, and discovering beauty spots, studying local maps and searching on-line for gorgeous discoveries? Creating a good balanced diet, and cooking new dishes that we had no time to experiment with before and what about those decorating activities that should have been done so long ago, but never happened! I had to smile, as this could possibly take up all my time for months to come!!

I have quite a scattered family of mixed ages, some close, and others quite a distance away, probably similar to many of you. My husband and I are in our late 70’s and had to struggle with the fact of whether to keep up with the youngsters and adventurous older friends and family, and just buckle down and learn how to negotiate, with gritted teeth and fraying tempers, many of the latest gadgets that would keep us in touch with other human beings!!

This became a life-changer in itself, as my husband decided not to touch the computer at all! so I had many headaches, and sleepless nights entering this technophobic world, and still am an innocent in this specialised section of world activity!

In our usual life, Paul was a retired Architect and painter. I am an exhibiting Painter, an author of art instructional books, a lecturer and demonstrator in painting to Art Societies and an art teacher. So our busy lives suddenly stopped, as schools, halls and exhibiting spaces such as Hilliers Art centre at Ampfield, closed their teaching blocks and busy Exhibiting Spaces.

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Luckily, I was asked to write an article for ‘Leisure Painter Magazine’ early on, called ‘Inspiration from Home Painting during Lockdown’. This seemed an excellent start by setting a pattern that we have been following most of the time.

Apparently this stark situation has occurred and effected this country every 100 years in the past, and these pandemics have occurred over so many centuries. I was amazed to see many similar old photographs of everyday people in the 1800’s walking the streets, sitting at old typewriters, all wearing masks very much like us. Folk, during the last Wars, never knew where bombs were going to drop, so fears of the same kind, with the presence of the Covid Virus, have started to undermine our feelings of security and thus adding to our rising anxieties. Therefore, I felt if we all secured a plan of some sort to channel and encourage individual strengths in the first place, to find a way through this maze and the unimagined phase of time that stretched before us…

This is my Diary (in March 2020) completed at the end of the year: Fig 3: A painting of Braishfield Lane, with the sun and moon out at the same time at 6.00 in the morning! on a cycle ride. I had such fun charting and highlighting facts, and happenings, however small or 3 profound. My feelings about the rich nourishing soundscapes, and amazing observations of nature, events and news, in words, photos, cuttings from newspapers, tickets, magazines and small sketches and paintings of memorable places were all in the rich mix… all charting new paths from the normal ones. Fig 4: My first painting of Fishlake Meadows in early March. Like so many others, I decided to break free and start exploring with a willing friend or relation, or most times just by myself, more far flung beautiful woods, countryside and coastal regions. These new and exciting were astounding and 4 territories marvellous discoveries! Fig 5: small coloured paintings of Braishfield at dawn and Abbotswood reflections in the large nearby lake, in mid-morning. I found that visiting these gems of places at different times of the day, such as very early, or early evening was enriching and highlighted their atmosphere, light and drama in amazingly 5 diverse ways.

We also had a couple of good friends who were wizards at organising outings with the bookings of the places, exact locations, and times of the intended visits… we had wonderfully assorted places and locations of Gardens, both posh and personal, Farms, Old buildings and assorted

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animals as at ‘Weald and Downland Farm Museum’ in Sussex and many more, - all within ‘Lockdown Rules’! I taught myself how to use the SatNav which helped enormously when confronted with narrow and winding tiny lanes, which had no names!!… but everyone was a hunted treasure. Some opened up, with such care and passion, but only a few times a year… what privileges we had experienced. Having every visit documented in my Diary, was a real comfort to look back upon and reminded me of our fabulous adventures; but other times, just being close and returning home was being in the best place of all…

Fig 6: Here is a painting of Romsey, in our town’s 6 newly converted Market Place, that I did for a friend.

I have found that this forced confinement, although very challenging at times, was the ideal time to reflect on who we are, and what we have to offer to others. Being thankful that we are alive, and how we can enrich the time that remains. Counting our blessings in the fact we now have some stores of food, the NHS, and the hope of these various vaccines, when in the past, our citizens certainly had none of this! Perhaps, in future our children will be studying this Pandemic and our efforts to record events that may be of interest, and help with their knowledge on how we coped with the laughs, loves and losses, throughout these passing months?

Wendy Jelbert

The spelling chequer or Poet tree without mist aches I have a spelling chequer It came with my pea sea It plainly marks four my revue Miss steaks eye can knot sea Each thyme when eye have struck the quays I weight four it to say If watt eye rote is wrong or right It shows me strait a weigh As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two late And eye can put the error rite Now I shall fined it grate I’ve run this poem threw it I’m shore yore policed too no It’s letter perfect in its weigh My chequer tolled me sew.

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Martha Snow

Snappers Here are some of our latest photos. Congratulations to everyone.

NOVEMBER:

‘Autumn’

and

‘Red’

Another Autumn goes by DECEMBER:

We shall remember

‘The Festive Season’

Dashing through the night JANUARY:

Christmas reflection

‘Shot on my Mobile phone’ and ‘New Beginnings’

The Sky is Limitless

Happiness is...

Here comes Spring

Caught in the Act We heard a bang on an upstairs window. Birds sometime fly into one of the windows and we assumed from the loud bang it was a pigeon. Alan dashed upstairs expecting to see a stunned bird on our flat roof, then called me to come quickly.

On our flat roof there was a sparrowhawk plucking feathers out of the pigeon it had caught. The pigeon was still struggling and both pigeon and sparrowhawk ended up on our neighbour’s roof. By this time the pigeon had been killed and the sparrowhawk began to eat its meal. We watched until the sparrowhawk picked up the pigeon and dropped down into our neighbour’s garden in a spot where we could no longer see it. It left behind a pile of feathers and a pool of blood!

Alan & Sue Edwards

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THE STORY OF HOPE -

A RATHER WET TONGUE IN CHEEK ONE!

by BB Wrag - Hants. WI magazine, with permission I had a good routine going. The family would all wake up, at some unthinkable hour and start hurtling around me, shouting at each other to hurry up. First “It’s breakfast time” (but not for me, I’m on one meal a day) then, “brush your teeth”. Why they won’t use Dentistiks is beyond me. Then one by one they leave the house saying, “Look after the house, good boy.” Now I never agreed to that. However, during the day I give an occasional token bark at passers-by or if fingers come through the letterbox depositing on the mat. After all I must live up to my reputation of apparently being a guard dog and I do like to earn my keep.

Now I am all alone there are decisions to be made. Shall I have a nap on the forbidden sofa, have a drink or two (if the bladder will allow it), chew up the post, look out of the window and growl at the cat from next door?

Then suddenly and overnight things CHANGED! They don’t go out in the morning. Suddenly THEY seem to want to look after the house. Perhaps they didn’t think I was up to the job. They spread out in all the rooms, supposedly “working from home”, whatever that means. There isn’t anywhere I can be on my own, they have invaded MY space. I just want to close my eyes for my morning nap and one of them decides that I need to go out for a walk.

There is much discussion about who will take me. Now I don’t mind walking but when it’s two or three times a day it gets a bit much. Actually, I think they are using me as an excuse for them to go out. Then when we are out, they keep crossing the road or pavement as soon as another two legged appears. Very strange behaviour. And they are ruining my love life! Is there a Helpline number for dogs?

Once I’ve walked them and we are back indoors they calm down again, for a bit. I decide I will snuggle down for a much-needed nap. But oh no, they decide to become all needy and keep calling me, so I lie across their feet but then they stroke me or pat my head. It makes it very difficult for me to sleep. Or they think we should all play a ball game together. Don’t they remember we usually do that in the evening! Thankfully, once I’ve kept them entertained and worn them out, they decide to “work from home” again.

Thank goodness - sleep at last zzzzz. Just as I’m dreaming about that gorgeous Cockapoo from up the road, I hear shouting. I open one eye and give them my best bored look but it’s no good. “Hope! Hope! come on boy, time for a walk!” Oh no not again!

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Lockdown advice - People are going crazy from being locked down at home!

I was just talking about this with the microwave and the toaster while drinking my cup of tea, and we all agreed that things are getting bad.

I didn’t mention any of this to the washing machine, because she puts a different spin on everything!

I certainly couldn’t share it with the fridge, ‘cause he’s been acting cold and distant.

In the end the iron straightened me out! She said the situation isn’t all that pressing and all the wrinkles will soon get ironed out.

The vacuum however was very unsympathetic………. Told me to just suck it up!

But the fan was VERY optimistic and gave me hope that it will soon blow over.

The toilet looked a little flushed but didn’t say anything when I asked its opinion, but the front door said I was becoming unhinged and the doorknob told me to get a grip!

You can just about guess what the curtains told me – to ‘pull myself together’.

Please be careful and ask for help if you need it.

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