February 2023 Newsletter

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Romsey & District Learn, Laugh, Live

A message from our chair, Kay Lovell

Although it began very wet and then became dangerously icy, 2023 is well and truly here! I do hope this year will be a happy, healthy and successful one for all of us. Since our last newsletter, I am pleased to tell you that volunteers have come forward to stand as candidates for the roles of Vice-Chair and Treasurer of our u3a at May’s AGM. Our current Secretary has agreed to remain in post with the role supported by the introduction of a newly co-opted trustee in the role of Minute Secretary.

We do, however, still urgently require someone to volunteer to take on the role of Chair at the AGM. As I explained at January’s monthly meeting: “No Chair, no Romsey & District u3a!”

The position of Chair is rewarding in many ways. I have felt it an honour and privilege to represent you all. I have enjoyed getting to know many of you so much better. I have learned a few new skills too! The role is what the incumbent makes it. Each one will be different but isn’t that what keeps our u3a alive and interesting? If you would like the opportunity to try this for yourself, please do let me know as soon as possible in order for there to be time for you to become familiar with what the role entails before taking over. I am, of course, always happy to chat with you in person if you’d like to know more. Send me an email at chair@romseyu3a.org.uk or phone 07905 798136.

My next Chair’s Report will be in the May newsletter, due to be published on Monday 15th. It will also be my last. Between now and then, Easter will have happened and let’s hope it will be warm and sunny. Another important occasion will, of course, be the King’s Coronation on Saturday 6th May. Will you be joining in a street party to celebrate the event? Perhaps you and a u3a friend or two would like to suggest a way for Romsey & District u3a to mark this very special moment in history.

I hope you will enjoy reading the many, varied articles and notices in this issue of our newsletter and might be inspired to submit something of your own for future publications. Cheers; Kay

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Quarterly Newsletter
February 2023

Events Calendar

Wed 15th February 2023 Time: 10.30am, doors open at 10.00am, refreshments after the talk.

Speaker: Paul Whittle is our speaker again this month.

Topic: BurmeseDays.

Description: In this talk he recounts from Rudyard Kipling and travels by vintage steam train and the Irrawaddy steamer touring Myanmar, visiting Rangoon, the ancient temple at Bagan and much more.

Wed 1st March 2023

This is a Zoom presentation

Time: 10.30am (Zoom will open at 10.15am)

Speaker: Diane Downie

Topic: Sleep

Description: This talk will explore the who, what and why of Sleep, with illustrative stories along the way.

Wed 29th March 2023

Time: 10.30am, doors open at 10.00am, refreshments after the talk.

Speaker: Rosemary LeGrand

Topic: Spectacular South African Flora & Fauna

Description: An opportunity to experience the gorgeous flowers, wonderful wildlife and fantastic scenery of this amazing country, ending with an exciting safari.

Wed 19th April 2023

Time: 10.30am, doors open at 10.00am, refreshments after the talk.

Speaker: Patrick Kempe

Topic: Backstage with Lorenzo and his amazing Lusitano Horses.

Description: An enthralling talk whether you know anything about horses or not. Behind the scenes with any renowned star is fascinating, add to this colour, music and film and this creates an enjoyable experience.

Lorenzon's training is out of this world and the horses love working with him at his shows, in the fields and in the sea. Lorenzo is an incredible horseman who has had shows in Europe, England, the Middle East and at his farm on the Camargue in France.

A full list of current events is available on our web page at https://u3asites.org.uk/romsey/events

This is the current schedule for the next few meetings at Crosfield Hall. If you are unable to attend we hope you will be able to join in from home, via Zoom.

Meetings start at 10.30 am., ZOOM log-in is from 10.15 am.

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ROMSEY & DISTRICT u3a

Charity No. 11082501

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Romsey & District u3a Will be held in Crosfield Hall Romsey and via Zoom

On Wednesday 17th May 2023 commencing at 10:30 am

The purpose and business of this meeting is to :

1. Agree the draft minutes of AGM 18th May 2022

2. Receive the Trustees’ Annual Report

3. Approve the accounts

4. Elect the Trustees and Officers for the year 2023-2024

A formal agenda will be sent out closer to the meeting date together with all other documents – the draft minutes from the AGM held 18th May 2022 can be found on the Romsey & District u3a website. https://u3asites.org.uk/romsey/page/112761

Election of Trustees and Officers

Our constitution requires that all trustees, including those who are officers, are elected annually and that there shall be a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 trustees.

The trustees make up the management committee of our charity and they typically meet 6 times each year.

The officers are the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

If you would like to stand for election as a trustee or officer, you must submit a nomination form which is included herewith and is also available from our website or the Secretary. You and your proposer and seconder can submit your nomination form by email or post as indicated on the nomination form. It is important that you indicate on the form whether you are standing as a trustee or for one of the officer positions.

Before submitting your nomination it is recommended that you read the Charity Commission’s guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’

If you wish to discuss your interest in standing as a trustee you should contact Kay Lovell, chair@romseyu3a.or.uk or 07905 798136

After election an induction will be given.

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TRUSTEE NOMINATION FORM

For election to the Romsey & District u3a for the year 2023-2024

Charity No. 1082501

All nominations need to be agreed by the nominee, proposer and seconder and delivered by email or post to:

Trisha Meredith

secretary@romseyu3a.org.uk

Secretary Romsey & District u3a

2 Windfield Drive Romsey SO51 7RL

By no later than 29th April 2023

Any queries contact : The Secretary Trisha Meredith on 07880 645683 or email

Using the template below, email your full name and the names and email addresses of your proposer and seconder to secretary@romseyu3a.org.uk

Ask your proposer and seconder to email secretary@romseyu3a.org.uk using the relevant template below

[Nominee Template]

I [name] ……………….. ………………apply for election as [trustee/post] ………………………… of Romsey & District u3a Committee for the year 2023-2024

My proposer is [name] [email address]

My seconder is [name] [email address]

[Proposer Template]

I [name] nominate [candidate name] for election to Romsey & District u3a as [trustee/post]

[Seconder Template]

I [name] support the nomination of [candidate name] for election to the Romsey & District u3a as [trustee/post] ……………………………….

Position

Nominee

Proposer

Seconder

Nominee’s signature of agreement

Date

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Interest Group Updates/News : February 2023

Natural History : unfortunately this group has had to fold due to lack of attendance. Thank you to Michael Sleigh for his enthusiasm and interest in setting up the group during the pandemic and for organising trips & meetings to study the natural world.

Music Appreciation has also ceased as a group, but our thanks to Michael Perfect for taking it on just before the pandemic.

The following 3 groups have all had a change of leader : we would like to thank the outgoing leaders for all their hard work and dedication in making their groups successful : Shirley Rogers, Jennifer Jarman & Mary Hill.

Architecture & Local History

Mah Jong

English Literature

The new leaders are Glenda Taylor & Kath Feely (Architecture), Margaret Ellis (Mah Jong) and Sue Brookes (English Literature). Our thanks go to them for offering their services to run their respective groups and we wish them every success for the future.

Snappers : following the retirement of the leader of the group, Mike Driscoll, we are looking for someone to take on the running of Snappers. The group has been very successful over many years thanks to Mike’s enthusiasm and dedication in helping members with their photography skills. None of the current group wish to take on the role of leader so we are looking for someone who is interested in photography and would be prepared to undertake an administrative function in running the group. It could become a self-help group and so it doesn’t need to be an expert in photography to help the group continue. Please speak to Margaret or Jo at the monthly meetings or contact us as below if you think you can help.

Suggested new groups : there have been some requests for us to start either a Scrabble group or possibly a mixed board games group (similar to the old Games Friday). If you are interested in either joining such a group or indeed offering to run it, please speak to Margaret or Jo.

New Theatre Group : This is now up and running and meeting once a month in central Romsey. It currently is at maximum capacity, but anyone interested in joining, should give their name to Margaret or Jo, to see if we can start another group.

Crime Fiction Book Club : this group successfully started at the end of last year and is now at capacity. Anyone wishing to join this or another book group, please contact Jo or Margaret.

Margaret : margaretmarchbank@btinternet.com

Jo : 01794 514134

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Book Worms

Last year we met at our monthly meeting for the first three months via Zoom, for the rest of the year we met either at the White Horse Hotel or the Old House at Home. The books we read were for example;

 "All the Light We Cannot See " by Anthony Doerr, "

 "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle " by Stuart Turton

 " The Salt Path" by Raynor Winn

 " Cold Comfort Farm " by Stella Gibbons

With marks given out of ten after much lively discussion. Our group now numbers ten so there are currently no vacancies.

Kaye Hannah, Group Leader

Bridge for Improvers

The Bridge for Improvers Group meet each Wednesday afternoon at Braishfield Village Hall at 1.45p.m. We would welcome new members, but askthattheyhavesomepreviousexperience playingbridge.Please contact me for more information. 01794 524457.

Lindsay Dunford, Group Leader

Wine Group Christmas Gathering

On Friday evening 9th December, 18 members of the wine group enjoyed our Christmas gathering: six wines were tasted over the course of the evening. Finger foods were served throughout the evening with a quiz thrown in for good measure. There was a draw where everyone went home with a present.

We finished the evening with The Twelve days of Christmas’ sing along. All members were actively involved, singing along and everyone left feeling in the Christmas spirit.

Derek Morley, Group Leader

Pickleball Group

Our indoor group has expanded and we now play twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the sports hall at Mountbatten School each session is one hour 17:00 – 18:00 meeting outside the sports hall at 16:45 to set up the courts. The cost is £2 a session and all equipment is provided.

We welcome members who would like to come along and give it a try and to do this please email Trisha Meredith either via the u3a website or trishameredith54@gmail.com

Trisha Meredith, Group Leader

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Architecture and Local History Group

Abbey Houses

Margaret Massie and Joan Parsons researched and prepared this talk for our meeting in November 2022. An investigation of nos. 11-27 The Abbey, showed that the buildings were developed from a Georgian town house and a brewery and these buildings formed the mediaeval nunnery. We looked mainly at nos. 15, 23 and 25.

The roof timbers of no. 15 have been dated to c.1230 and c.1340. The house has four-foot-thick walls front and back and the cellar (actually under house no.13) has a vaulted ceiling.

Romsey Local History Society found a delightful article for us written in 1983 for the Romsey and District Society by Mrs Aldyth Wellington about her father “Billy” Williams. Mrs Wellington was a past president of the society and had also been the town’s first lady mayor. She describes how, in the 1930’s, he renovated and embellished no. 23 in the 1930s with the well-known dormer window, sundial and Maltese crosses as well as the fanciful chimney pots and rear copper roof. Temple Buildings, nos. 21, 23, 25 and 27 were built in the early 19th century Behind them, across a courtyard, they have older rooms with flint walls. These incorporate parts of the late 18th century brewery buildings.

Illustrations:-

1. Plan of nunnery - the building in front of the cloisters was the nuns’ refectory. Drawn by John Hodgson, © Test Valley Archaeological Trust

2. Plan illustrating 1980s excavations and showing position of nos. 11 -27 The Abbey © TVAT

3. Photo inside no. 15 showing thick vaulted roof of cellar

4. Photos showing exterior of no. 23

5. Photo of room at the rear of no. 25 showing old flint walls and fittings

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Photos taken by Gordon Massie

Can you make the link between Fox Town, Mead, Abbey, Sadlers, Greatbridge, Bark, Burnt, Test, Rivermead and Fox on the one hand and Corn, Fulling, Paper, Flax, Grist, Leather and Wood on the other? It is, of course, the names of Romsey mills and the variety of goods they produced - possible only because of the River Test which underpinned the economy of Romsey for centuries. Jo Morgan gave a thoroughly researched talk on the history of THE MILLS OF ROMSEY at our December meeting. The LTVAS booklet ‘Romsey Mills & Waterways’ inspired the talk which included various drawings and plates from it, with acknowledgement. Apart from mention of three mills in the Domesday Book of 1086, the first reference in a deed crops up in the 13th century. This reference strongly suggests that a fulling mill was in operation in the Mill Lane area and would have belonged to the Abbess of Romsey. Fulling was a finishing process for woollen cloth whereby it was cleaned of grease and oil, then pounded until it resembled a blanket.

Corn is perhaps what we immediately associate with a mill and this was the main product of most Romsey mills until the 18th century. The mills were owned and controlled by the Abbesses until the dissolution of the nunnery in 1539. By a lease of Mead Mill in 1434, a quarterly rent of just over £10 was to be paid to the Abbey together with 450 shafteylings (small eels) and 30 skyvers (large eels), a traditional form of payment.

Fire was a constant threat but when Mead Mill and Burnt Mill needed rebuilding after a fire in 1756, it gave an opportunity for a change of use and Mead Mill became a successful paper mill. Paper making used pounding techniques similar to those of fulling, so was a suitable successor to the waning cloth trade. Test Mill also became a sophisticated paper mill, making its owner, the Skeats family very wealthy. They were able to produce paper with watermarks as was Rivermead, Romsey’s earliest paper making mill (1712). Sawmilling and leatherboard making were added in the 19th century.

In 1813 a flax mill was built alongside the Abbey Corn Mill. The complex gave valuable employment until 1925 when fire claimed one of the mills. La Sagesse Convent erected a new building in 1928 and used the existing water power to drive two turbines supplying electricity to the whole site for many years. Other mills also installed turbines to modernise their operations.

Sadlers Mill, named after an early miller, is perhaps the best known. It housed both a corn mill and fulling mill. In 1745, it was sold to Lord Palmerston who erected the present mill building. An adjacent mill was used for leather dressing and later became a sawmill. Tanneries were essential for curing hides. Bark from cork trees was crushed into a coarse powder under a heavy wheel before being steeped in liquid to produce tannin in which the hides were kept in it for several months. Tanneries produced noxious effluents and were located downstream of the town. They existed in Romsey from the 13th to the 20th century; two were housed in Middlebridge Street.

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Romsey Mills & Waterways (LTVAS) p34

Town Mill, Greatbridge Mill and Fox Mill remained essentially corn mills. Until it was burnt down in 1890, Fox Mill was served by Tadburn Lake whose water flow was unreliable. Water was supplemented from the canal but when that closed, the mill became unviable. Sold to the Broadlands Estate, a new building was erected and used for various industrial purposes.

After 900 years of providing the motive power for the town mills, the River Test, which had been diverted into braids and streams, used and sometimes abused, was left to flow gently into the sea.

How We Built Britain Episode 1 The East: A New Dawn

Presented by David Dimbleby for the BBC

For our January 2023 meeting, we watched a DVD from the 2007 BBC series on How We Built Britain, where David Dimbleby journeys through 1,000 years of our history, discovering the buildings that have made us who we are. The first episode, The East: A New Dawn, explores the East of England, which in medieval times was the richest place in Britain and home to some of our most spectacular buildings:

• He climbs the 288 steps to the top of the West Tower of the Norman built Ely Cathedrala feat of engineering that took over 300 years to build - a “paradise on earth for god not man”.

• He explores magnificent castles, including Headingham Castle built in 1140 for the de Vere family; one of the 500 castles built in a generation.

• He learns how to build a medieval barn

• He goes on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.

• He experiences life in a great hall

• He learns how the Black Death turned England upside down and how, as sheep farming grew, this led to new towns being built for the wool trade, and the rise of the middle class. He visited Lavenham, famous for its blue dye, as an example.

• The journey ended in the famous Kings College Chapel, Cambridge founded by Henry VI in 1446, with its delicate stone work, soaring light from the stained glass windows and the largest fan vaulted ceiling in the world.

It was a very informative and entertaining hour and we are looking forward to seeing the other five episodes in the series at future indoor meetings.

CALLING ALL GROUP LEADERS

IMPORTANT MEETING

WEDNESDAY 26th APRIL AT 2.00PM in CROSFIELD HALL

IF YOU ARE A GROUP LEADER OF ONE OF OUR INTEREST GROUPS, PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO ATTEND

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History, Social & General Group

The history group meets once a month, normally on the third Monday morning, in the centre of Romsey. Once we had mastered Zoom, we managed to keep the group going during the lockdown, but we are very much appreciating meeting in person again. The usual pattern is to have a talk by one of the members, with time for coffee, chat and questions. In December, however, for a change we had an informal discussion on the monarchy which seemed to be enjoyed by everyone despite a range of different viewpoints. A vote at the end showed that out of 12 members present, 8 were in favour of keeping the monarchy and 3 against, with one abstaining.

In January we returned to our normal format with a talk entitled MysteryMan fromtheMidlands This turned out to be Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802), a man no -one had heard of including the speaker until she visited his house in Lichfield which is now a museum. In the latter part of the 18th century, Darwin was famous throughout Britain as a doctor, inventor and poet, and he turned down more than one invitation to become physician to George III. He campaigned for an end to slavery, encouraged girls’ education, supported revolutions and furthered technology. He was a founder member of the Lunar Society which was an important driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, although the Establishment tended to regard its members as dangerous free-thinkers. They were business men, scientists and inventors who met for lively conversation, debating and sharing ideas; they worked very much together rather than as rivals. Among Darwin’s inventions were a canal lift, speaking and copying machines, a horizontal windmill and a carriage steering mechanism. He was ahead of his time in many things, including his views on evolution and the origins of life, which he wrote about in his poetic works. Sadly this caused him to be ridiculed and his reputation suffered, so by the end of the century he was almost forgotten. Erasmus Darwin and his friend Josiah Wedgwood the potter were the grandfathers of Charles Darwin, who was born at the right time for his ideas to be taken seriously.

The subjects covered in our history group are many and varied, and members are not under any pressure to do a talk. Anyone who wants to join us will be very welcome.

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Birdwatching Walk at Lymington Nature Reserve, Maiden Lane, 25th January

The 25th of January did not have an auspicious start. The Met Office forecast had announced a yellow warning of freezing fog and temperatures hovering around zero Centigrade so, the seven members of the R&D Birdwatching Group who arrived at the rendezvous point wore numerous layers of thermals and an interesting assortment of winter apparel. This was our first chance to notch up as many species as we could on our 2023 group year list. With this in mind we, were off to a raring start with a good handful of species recorded before we left our parking spaces!

Entering the reserve, we all had a lovely sighting of a typical reed bed species. A ‘small brown job’ was grasping the stem of a Common reed and was feeding on the feathery seed heads. Was it a female sparrow? The underparts were streaky, so no. Was it a dunnock? Surely the tail was too notched and had a bit of white in it, so no again. We finally agreed that it was a female reed bunting which made sense for the location and food source.

Eight Acres Pond revealed teal, wigeon and shovelers drifting around in the mist. Our next sighting of interest was the spectacle of a very fine grey heron tackling a huge eel. It had brought the eel onto the pond edge within a few metres of us and was trying to maneuver the fish into a position where it could be gulped down the heron’s long neck. Adding to the drama, we had a couple of impressive flyovers by flocks of Brent geese in typical V formation. Their chorus of deep, croaking sounds were very conversational. I wonder what they were saying to each other.

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Normandy lagoon was iced over and there were only a few waders looking quite sorry for themselves. We scoured the seaward side of the bank with our binoculars. Swirls of fog rose atmospherically just above the water’s surface. Hot coffee and biscuits at the corner bench sustained us for the next hour of our walk. Back along the lagoon we latched onto a couple of greenshanks and redshanks.

Retracing our steps to Eight Acre Pond, the shout of Kingfisher went up for the second time that morning and what a bird it was! Very obligingly it perched on a fencepost 10 metres away and took up a variety of poses for our photographers. It flew up and down a bit to give us a flash of its neon back and then came back to perch again. We saw three separate kingfishers on this walk which would have made the day worthwhile despite the weather. However, we had another treat to come.

Birders say that when visiting a reserve you often see the best birds in the car park! As we arrived back at our cars Ed spotted a tiny bird flitting about in the ivy above the ditch a few metres away. Was it a wren? We all got on to it and we could see that it had a brilliant streak of yellow along the top of its head. Was it a goldcrest? After it showed well, we could clearly make out the black and white stripes across its eye area. A firecrest, then. What a wonderful end to a very chilly morning and, with 45 species on our group list, a great start to our birding year.

The next walk is Wed Feb 22nd: Acres Down, New Forest for displaying goshawks.

Photos by Sue Lambert (stonechat, reed bunting, grey heron and kingfisher) and Simon Nickols(greenshank)

Report Marion Slattery, Group Leader

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Wendy Jelbert’s Quarterly Update

Another year starting for all of us. Hopefully, with most of you there will be a renewal of thoughts on how to generate meaningful activities of joy and purpose. Creativity and well-being go hand in hand, hence the start of our art classes for 2023 in Linden Road in Romsey earlier this month. If you feel there is a hesitancy, please either visit our wonderful local library to browse their art books, or my website at www.wendyjelbert.co.uk or ring me on 01794 518211 for advice and/or private classes. (Please leave a message if I am not available). At Hilliers Gardens I am holding 4 different art courses throughout the year. Two of them are for beginners. Acrylics in March and Watercolours in July. The other two are for more experienced pupils: Stunning Skies, and A Seascape in Collage, in October.

During the warmer months last year, when we had several quite blissful celebration garden parties, I discovered a quick cake decorating method, that was both very personal and fun. It was much quicker than icing an elaborate cake! …. call them my 'Sketch Cakes’ . Here, I am holding one, using a supermarket’s Rainbow Decorating Icing set of 6 coloured cake icing tubes, that you or a child, could gently squeeze into any patterns over your cake area! Quick, fun and personal!

We held a couple of exhibitions at Hilliers Gardens last year, and the organisers decided to run a competition for the most Arty Outfit both for the artists and the visitors Here I am having fun, demonstrating at the show wearing my coloured trousers!

During the later part of last year, we re-painted and varnished our large Wooden WINSOR AND NEWTON PALETTE house sign. Here is my husband Paul holding it. Now it is ready to be re-instated over our studio, for our Open Studio Show this summer in August.

Best wishes

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Jeff Delaney has sent in another fascinating article of his musical recollections.

16th January 1938

A bit before my time, but in the popular music world this date is the stuff of legend. Here’s why

It was 1937 and in America, dance/swing bands were still very popular and one of the finest was the Benny Goodman Orchestra. They had just spent four years of constant touring and broadcasting – they were at their peak and halfway through a short residency at a posh New York hotel. In December that year Benny’s publicist, Wynn Nathanson, had the bold idea that Benny and the band should play Carnegie Hall. The impresario Sol Hurok loved the plan and was very enthusiastic. When they approached Benny Goodman with the idea, he had reservationshe thought it wouldn’t work, or words to that effect. For Benny believed that his band was a dance band and people went to his shows to dance. He couldn’t see any possibility that the public would buy a ticket to sit in a chair all night. Also, he thought that Carnegie Hall wasn’t the right venue – it was for serious music and visiting symphony orchestras, not for jazz/dance/ swing music Benny said no.

But after constant badgering, he eventually and reluctantly agreed. The Hall was booked. He was then amazed to hear that all the seats (2760) had sold out within days. This added to Benny’s worries – what could he do to make this concert event special for this audience. He even drafted in extra musicians from other bands, including Count Basie. If it became a giant jam session it would be the best. As the night was getting near Benny even cancelled some show dates so that he and the band could rehearse in Carnegie Hall and overcome the famous tricky acoustics.

Poor Benny was also being nagged to agree to record the whole event. He didn’t like the idea. They had released live recordings before; some were OK and some weren’t. But again at the last minute he gave in, so a single microphone was hastily suspended over the entire band and was connected by telephone wire to a recording studio half a mile away.

Showtime! The scene in the street outside Carnegie Hall was pandemonium with people still trying to find tickets. The night was a complete success“the applause was tumultuous” The audience had witnessed something special and went home very happy.

After all the excitement Benny was presented with the studio master-copy aluminium disc of the night’s recording. He took it home, placed it in a cupboard and forgot about it. Twelve years later his daughter found it, realised what it was and wondered if anyone would still be interested. She sent the disc to Columbia Records. Using the technology of the day, they cleaned up the sound quality as best they could, and in 1950 it was released as an LP set. It then became the first ever jazz LP to sell a million copies. Incidentally, in the late 1990’s this recording’s sound quality was further improved and issued on CD which can still be purchased today. (Not bad for an over-eighty-year-old original recording). Something magical happened that night. It elevated popular music to a culture and performing art form we enjoy today.

When I think back to stadium concerts that we’ve attended, such as the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd (showing my age), I can now understand the root of where and how it all started.

Carnegie Hall, New York, 16th January 1938. –“The single most important popular music concert in history”.

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U3a Chair still vacant HELP!!! We are still looking for a volunteer to take on the role of u3a Chair in May. This is a key role and unless we have one, we cannot continue to run this u3a. Contact Kay urgently if you would like to discuss the role in more depth via email at chair@romseyu3a.org.uk

Xmas 2023 !!!!

Jo Morgan has a number of cards from last Christmas going spare if anyone would like them, perhaps for craft gift tags or hand made cards for 2023. If you are interested, please contact her at 01794 514134 or mailto:js501morgan@btinternet.com

Publications team

I am now settling into my new role as Newsletter publisher and I thank all of you for your contributions and kind remarks. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my two new “proof readers” who have volunteered to assist me in the final version preparation Julie Reeves & Marian Coffin. John Dick.

Newsletter deadlines

Please send your copy for the May 2023 newsletter to John Dick at: publications@romseyu3a.org.uk

The deadline is FRIDAY 28 April 2023 but PLEASE send as soon as you have it!

Booster reminder

If you are over 65 and haven’t had your Winter Flu and Covid boosters, you are encouraged to do so. This includes residents of care homes.

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Appendix 1 Interest Groups Contact details

(January 2023)

1. Activities groups

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Art Appreciation Jo Morgan 2nd Monday 01794 514134 Bird Watching Marion Slattery Varies, by arrangement 07478 101661 Garden Visits 1 Mary Nickols 1st Friday, mornings 01794 322678 Garden Visits 2 Sue Boulain Sylvia Imeson 3rd Thursday, mornings 01794 522131 01794 500786 Horticulture Cathy Suter Christine Scrivener 4th Tuesday, mornings 07891 731159 Pickleball Trisha Meredith Wed’s at 5.00pm and Thursdays at 2.00pm 07880 645683 Short Day Trips Kay Lovell 4th Thursday 01794 515316 Strollers Margaret Massie 2nd Wednesday, 4th Friday 01794 522047 Table Tennis Improvers Juliet Austin Mondays, weekly 13.00—14.30 01794 514354 Table Tennis Fridays Peter Sliwa Fridays, 12.30 - 2.00pm Abbotswood Community Centre 07510 370747 Travel Janet Moody 2nd Tuesday 01794 517589 Walking Jan Morley 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Mornings 10.00am 01794 519967

Appendix 1 Interest Groups Contact details

(January 2023)

2. Discovering the Past groups

3. Discussion groups

Page 17 u3a Romsey & District News
Architecture/Local History Kathy Feely 1st Monday, mornings 01794 884031 Genealogy Graham Woodbury 4th Wednesday, mornings 07736 335625 Geography/Geology Janet Moody 3rd Tuesday, afternoons 01794 517589 History, Social & General Pat Batchelor Patsy Batson 3rd Monday, mornings 01794 514578 01794 519957 Industrial Heritage Janet Payne Winter; 2nd Monday, morning March-October visits 01794 523120
Bookworms Kaye Hannah 1st Monday, afternoons 01794 512033 Books for Pleasure Gilian Gardiner 2nd Monday, afternoons 02380 252307 Crime Fiction Book Club Bryan Langford 2nd Tuesday each month at 2.00pm. Venue pre-arranged each time. 01794 651312 Current Affairs Aelred Derbyshire 2nd Tuesdays, 2.15pm 01794 651350 English Literature Sue Brookes 3rd Tuesday, 11.00am 01794 651591 Philosophy Chris Amery Last Friday of the month afternoons 01794 523135 Wine Appreciation Derek Morley 2nd Thursday, 7—9pm 01794 519967

4. Games groups

Appendix 1—Interest Groups Contact details (January 2023)

5. Languages groups

Page 18 u3a Romsey & District News Bridge for Improvers Lindsey Dunford Weekly, Wednesdays 2.00pm 01794 524457 Canasta Margaret Ellis 1st and 3rd Mondays, pm 01794 516100 Mah Jong Margaret Ellis 1st Thursday, afternoons 01794 516100 Short Mat Bowls Jo Morgan 7.15pm, 4th Monday (Sept 2022 to April 2023) 01794 514134
French 1 Mike Wood Twice monthly, Monday am 01794 519129 French 2 Liz Gill Twice monthly, Monday pm 02380 736744 French Conversation Maryse McKee 2nd Thursday, 2.00pm 07979 847216 German Conversation Teresa Rayment Fortnightly, Monday at 2.00pm 01794 513528 Italian Intermediate Carole Cox Weekly, Friday, pm 01794 323392 Italian Intermediate 2 Carole Cox Weekly, Monday, pm 01794 323392 Italian Improvers Marjorie Blundell Varies, by arrangement 01794 323263 Italian Novices David Haigh Angela Bogatto Weekly, Wednesday, 2.30pm 01962 853826 01794 522036 Latin Literature Sally Dickens Varies, by arrangement 01794 511713 Spanish Vincent Prensa-Vilegas Weekly, Thursdays 10:00—11:30am 01794 522508

Appendix 1—Interest Groups Contact details

6. Music groups

7. Skill & Dexterity groups

8. Theatre & Drama groups

Page 19 u3a Romsey & District News
Enjoying Music Last Wednesday, pm Opera & Classical Song Michael Ward 2nd Monday, 11.00am 01794 523685 Recorder Anne Hayes 2nd & 4th Friday 10.30 12.30 01794 518434 Singing for Pleasure Jo Morgan 4th Monday, 2.00pm 01794 514134
(January 2023)
Creative Writing Jennifer Wineberg 4th Monday, afternoon Jennifer@wineberg.co.uk Introduction to Computers Sylvia Croxall 3rd Wednesday, afternoon 01794 840101 Painting Thursday Janet Moody Every Thursday morning 01794 517589 Snappers Mike Driscoll Varies by arrangement 02380 292178 Technology John Broughall Weekly on Wednesday, 10.30am J.broughall@ntlworld.com
Cinema As and when arranged New Theatre Group Janine Richards 2nd Thursday of the month 07759 215390

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