Spring Newsletter
Hi Everyone
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter, although at the moment, it feels like Winter has returned with a vengeance. Still, as they say “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. Please could I remind you, once again, that if you have renewed your membership by Balance Transfer, it is important that you return your renewal form to Pat Stokes if you haven’t done so.
I would like to invite everyone to join us to celebrate our 20th Anniversary this year.
It will be held on Tuesday 16th May at the Eden Centre from 2.30 onwards. The plan is to partake of Afternoon Tea supplied by Glebe Farm (all dietary requirements can be met). The cost will be £9 to include a free raffle and entrance will be by ticket only. Tickets will be on sale at the March and April meetings. It is hoped that everyone will dress up for the occasion. If you, or anyone you know, have been a member since it began please let me know so we could put together some sort of display. Not everyone comes to the monthly meeting or receives a copy of the Newsletter so please spread the word. All members will be contacted either by email or by phone.
Take care and much love
Monthly Meetings
Mar 21 Back to the Sixties by Philip Hanzlik
Apr 18 Wandering & Wondering by Mike Sweeting
May 16 Celebrate Kettering u3a 20th Anniversary
Registered Charity No. 1108614
Jun 20
Murder and Mayhem by Author Jane Isaacs
www.u3aKettering.co.uk
u3a Kettering 1
March/April/May 2023
Di
Group Leaders Information
Check that all members of your group are fully paid-up members of the U3A. Ensure that you have:-
· Checked their current membership card. (Ask the membership secretary to check if you are unsure)
· The name and telephone of each member’s In Case of Emergency contact. (ICE)
· The post code of your venue will be required by the emergency services if you need to call them.
· Send articles, reports and photographs about your group to the Newsletter Editor. Copy deadline for the newsletter is 2 Saturdays before the monthly meeting.
· Advise the Group Coordinator and Newsletter Editor of any changes to your group arrangements, e.g. venue, timing, etc.
Members Information
· Advise the Membership Secretary, in writing, of any changes to your address, post code, telephone number or email address.
· If you are unable to attend your Group’s meeting, please advise your Group Leader in advance.
· If you know one of our members has a special occasion ahead, e.g. important birthday, anniversary or if they are ill and you feel a card from the U3A would be appreciated, please contact the secretary.
· Bring your membership card with you to the meeting and have it available for checking in.
· If you cannot get to the monthly meeting for any reasons, you can get a copy of the Newsletter from either Kettering Library or the Tourist Information desk, Manor House Museum, Kettering or online at www.u3akettering.co.uk
· View & Download the newsletter (in glorious colour) from web site, www.U3AKettering.co.uk & click on the links. Select DOWNLOAD LATEST link or to look back for older issues, click newsletter image or any other newsletter links.
· Membership year runs from 1st November to 31st October and is £15 a year
· Half year 1st May– to 31st October £8. More details and membership form on the web site
· Payments to the u3a can be cash, cheque, bank transfer credit/debit card
Monthly Meeting Dates & Speakers
Mar 21 Back to the Sixties by Philip Hanzlik
Apr 18 Wandering & Wondering
by Mike Sweeting
May 16 Celebrate our 20th Anniversary
Jun 20 Murder and Mayhem
by Author Jane Isaacs
Your Kettering U3A Committee 2022-2023
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Diane Tebbutt 01536 392 556 di_tebbutt@hotmail.com
Chairman & PR Anne Smith 07786 252 366 a.smith5353@hotmail.com Secretary Jane Slack 01536 516 116 janeslack121@hotmail.com
Ruth Gunn 01536 482 581 ruthgunn@hotmail.com
Secretary Pat Stokes 07845 737 679 patriciamstokes@outlook.com Groups Co-ordinator Sue Perkins 01536 519 438 lazygirl_tresham@yahoo.co.uk Newsletter/Data Protection Richard Boyles 01536 744 753 richard@boyles.co.uk Web Master/Programme Secretary Committee Member Tony Loft 01536 685
tonyloft@me.com
Member
01536
Committee VACANCY
Chairman
Vice
Treasurer
Membership
166
Committee
Elizabeth Woodcock
723 081 bettywoodcock1939@gmail.com
News — Interest Groups — Visits and Reports
Our meetings at the Eden Centre, 21, Montagu Street, Kettering
Format of the meeting:-
1.30 – Doors open - Sign in FREE Refreshments
Buy raffle tickets
Browse the group notices
Have a chat with friends
Sign up to groups and trips
2.15 Chairman’s notices followed by this month’s Speaker
3.45 (approximately) Meeting ends
Wheelchair disabled access is available at the rear of the building by phoning 01536 484 800
Newsletter DEADLINE is 2 Saturdays before the monthly meeting.
You can read and download the newsletter in FULL COLOUR from our internet page at www.u3aKettering.co.uk
ARE YOU A GROUP LEADER?
Group leaders are required to...
1. Have a copy of your members “In Case Of Emergency” (ICE) details with you so you can contact family or friend
2. Have the postcode location of your meeting so you can direct the 999 emergency services
3. Check that all members of your group are fully paid-up members of the U3A so they are covered by the U3A insurance
EDITORIAL
Due to the 30% reduction in membership since COVID and the associated reduction of income, I am now producing this newsletter quarterly instead of monthly.
We are lacking news. Please help fill our newsletter with your group’s news and photographs.
For those of you with internet access I have continued to regularly e-mail you with updates as well as keeping the web site an Facebook up to date. So keep reading the e-mails and updates on the web site and please pass on any news to anyone you know who does not have internet access.
Richard
www.u3aKettering.co.uk
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The Bake It or Fake it group meets on the third Friday of each month. Members take it in turn to host the get together and to provide the cakes which we all enjoy.
Contact: Mary Earl 01536 522 456 or Bridget Ling 01536 521 250
Bookworms
Busy Needles and Banter
Contact: Mary Wildman 01536 741 222 marywildman365@gmail.com
Since my last book review, the group has read a variety of books and welcomed a new member.
Island of Secrets by Patricia Wilson.
The story is set in war-ravaged Crete and tells us of the horrors committed by the Germans occupying the island.
An excellent spy story set in England, Ukraine and Dubai.. A real page turner.
The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen.
A love story, discovered by the grand-daughter of Juliet who had visited Venice in her youth and fallen in love. The sights of Venice are beautifully described and brought to life in the pages of the book.
Contact: Pauline Parkin 01536 799 197
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Judas 62 by Charles Cumming.
Bake It or Fake It
Card Playing
Canals & Waterways
This friendly group meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at Kettering Bridge Club from 1.45 until 4.00. The cost is £2 which includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Everyone is welcome and no previous knowledge of any of the games is needed as there is usually someone there who can give some instructions on how to play. If you are interested then just come along or email me
Contact: Di Tebbutt 01536 392 556 di_tebbutt@hotmail.com
The Canals and Waterways group had a delicious Christmas lunch at the Waterfront restaurant at Union Wharf, Market Harborough.
Our meeting for 16th March will be at Chester House in Little Irchester. We will meet at the cafe at 2pm.
Contact: Tony Loft 01536 685 166 tonyloft@me.com
On the 20th April the group will be going to Stanwick Lakes. Meeting in cafe at 2pm. Unfortunately Richard and I will be away.
For the 18th May we will be at Barnwell Country Park, which is just outside Oundle.
June 15th we will be going to Rutland Water. We will be meeting 2pm as usual.
Full details will be sent via email nearer the date.
On the day of the outings please check your email for cancellations due to bad weather.
Contact: Brenda Boyles 01536 744 753
brenda@boyles.co.uk
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Canasta
2023 Programme
Thanks to Tony for several year’s of interesting monthly meeting speakers and events. I have now taken over and here is next year’s programme.
Jan 17 Alice Hawkins - Suffragette
Feb 21 Sat Navs & just how does GPS work?
Mar 21 Back to the sixties
Apr 18 Wandering & Wondering
May 16 Celebrate our 20th Anniversary
Jun 20 Murder and Mayhem
Jul 18 Rosetta the Comet Chaser
Aug 15 AGM + Quiz + “Nibbles”
Sep 19 WWI Concert parties.
Oct 17 Life After Eurovision by Vince Eager
By popular request to hear part 2 of his talk
Nov 21 Ghosts and legends TBC
Dec 19 Christmas party
As always, more details on the webs site at www.u3aKettering.co.uk
Family History
We have plenty of room for new members thanks to the superb FREE facilities offered by the LDS church. New members are welcome to join our Zoom chats too. In February, member Joe Fletcher gave a light hearted talk called “A Medley of Family History Searches and Occurrences" where he spoke of his many and sometimes hilarious experiences during many years of his family history research.
Creative Cards
We are a small group and we meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Unfortunately we do not have any vacancies at the moment due to the size of the room we use.
Contact: Eileen Mason 01536 725 925
eileenm1935@gmail.com or Maggi McGuire 01536 392 716 maggi.mcguire@outlook.com
Some of our members joined the three day online genealogical conference called RootsTech, which is the largest in the world with over 3 million online attendees in 236 countries and territories.
In March, member Rob Green gave us a talk entitled "The Footman, The Hall, The Diamond and the Basket".
Meetings are held on the second Monday, 2-4pm in the Primary Room of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), Rothwell Road, Kettering located next to Brewers Fayre/Premier Inn.
We are continuing our 40 minute Zoom chats at 3pm on all other Mondays. Contact: Richard Boyles 01536 744 753 richard@boyles.co.uk
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We have a regular core of members who enjoy researching their family history as well as “having a chat” each week via Zoom. Our web site (above) has many helpful resources, as well as access to over 170 video tutorials which our group have watched since COVID hit.
Our meetings at the LDS are FREE and our host is a family history expert with over 40 years experience and offers us help with our research.
This group is now meeting regularly at the Kino Lounge on Friday mornings. The official meeting is the first Friday of every month but some members meet every week. Please come along and join them.
Contact: David Clayton 01536 520 965 clayton472@btinternet.com
Gardening
20th Anniversary Celebrations
The plan is to partake of Afternoon Tea, (sandwiches, scones, cream and jam) supplied by Glebe Farm (all dietary requirements can be met). Also Bake It or Fake It and others are providing home made cakes. The cost will be £9 to include a free raffle ticket and entrance will be by ticket only
Tickets will be on sale at the March and April meetings.
Rushden Hall Park. Situated at Hall Avenue, Rushden, NN10 9NG Set in 34 acres, Rushden Hall dates back to the 14th Century and is well worth a visit. There is a museum, unspoiled Park land with a variety of mature trees and a walled garden with a listed boundary wall. Woodland walks and a formal garden and an informal meadow with plenty of grass for walking and playing so it's good to bring the kids along for a day out. Wheelchair friendly with formal and informal seating throughout. Entry is free. Open 1 April to 30 September.
How about 2 April 2023 to meet up with U3A friends.
Contact: Ray Bradbury 01536 516 587 prbrad@live.co.uk
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Family History (continued)
"Have your say" is a small, friendly discussion group. We talk about various subjects that are raised by members be they from currents affairs or members suggestions. Tea/Coffee, and biscuits are provided. Meetings are held in the St. Andrews church rooms, and start at 2pm.
The car park is accessed from Crown Street. via Regent Street.
Fees are £5 per quarter to cover the cost of the room.
The next meeting of "Have your say", will be on Tuesday 14th. March at the St. Andrews church rooms. The subject will be proposed by Muriel Eames who is a long standing member.
The next two meetings are on Tuesday 11th April, and Tuesday 9th May starting at 2pm
New members to the group are always welcome. Just turn up, and join in.
Contact: David Clayton 01536 520 965 clayton472@btinternet.com
Knit and Natter -
Contact: Annette Chidwick 01536 523 867 annette.chidwick@tiscali.co.uk
Lunch Club
This is now meeting regularly on the fourth Tuesday of the month which means that people can sign up at the monthly meeting.
I would like to thank those people who have volunteered to arrange the venues but am still looking for a few more people to sort out places for later in the year. I would like to thank Eileen and Maggi for arranging the lunch at the Stirrup Cup; Brenda and Richard for our lunch at the Thornhill Arms and Christine and Margaret who are hosting this month’s lunch at the Lilacs in Isham.
Contact: Di Tebbutt 01536 392 556 di_tebbutt@hotmail.com
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Have Your Say
Musical Circles
Painting & Drawing
Contact: Eileen Mason 01536 725925
eileenm1935@gmail.com
Play Reading
We meet on the first Thursday of every month at Kettering Bridge Club from 10.30 until 12.30 and the cost is £2.50 which includes tea, coffee, biscuits and rental for the plays. At the moment we are reading Hobson’s Choice and many of us had forgotten how amusing it is. There will be no meeting in April as I am away but come along and join us on Thursday 4th May.
It would be lovely if a few more people came along to support the group.
Contact: Di Tebbutt 01536 392 556
di_tebbutt@hotmail.com
Unfortunately, due to illness & operations the number of members recently has dropped. We have continued to meet 2nd & 4th Thursday’s and would like to welcome some new members. We do not meet during the summer months as we are busy with other pursuits and holidays.
We shall begin our Autumn meetings on September 14th. Meantime, should you be interested, why not come to one of our meetings in March and see us at North Park Pavilion 2-4pm.
Contact: Jo Beaver 01933 224 474 beaver.jean@yahoo.co.uk
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Strictly Seated
Sing (and Laugh) Out Loud
The Strictly Seated dance team continue to amaze with their style and tenacity! We have perfected a nifty Hornpipe to the Blue Peter Theme and thrown ourselves into the opening number from LaLa Land. ( we missed out the part where you cartwheel off a car bonnet!)
Hernando's Hideaway has seen us embrace some dramatic Spanish lines and all from the comfort of a chair-anything is possible!
We meet every other Friday at Christ the King Church in Deeble Road from 10.30. We have welcomed several new members recently which has been great, We continue to sing along either accompanied by the ukulele players or music on my phone and have lots of fun. We sing, talk, laugh and sometimes cry. Our next meetings are on 24th March and then on 14th and 28th April. Come along and join us, you will be very welcome and don’t forgot that singing is very good for your mental health.
Contact: Di Tebbutt 01536 392 556 di_tebbutt@hotmail.com
Travel & Theatre
More new members have just joined - please come along and see what we’re up to if you think this is for you .
Contact: Katy Ellis 07713 550 177
Contact: Maria Coleby colebymaria@hotmail.com
Eileen Mason 01536 725925
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Stitchin' Time
The clickety click of needles reverberates whilst we produce some beautiful garments, soft toys, trauma teddies and twiddle muffs. These are donated to Care Homes, and other items to charities caring for the homeless and refugees. A pleasant afternoon in the company of other crafters.
Recorder Group Ise Valley U3A
I organize (with Sue Hartley) the Ise Valley U3A recorder group. The group is open to anyone who plays, or would like to learn to play the recorder. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 2.00 to 3.30 at a member’s home. We would love to have some more players.
Contact: Mary Cooper (Ise Valley)
cooperm1@btinternet.com
Singing For Pleasure Ise Valley U3A
We are meeting at St. John’s Church Hall, our new venue, alternative Fridays at 10 a.m. It was good to be able to sing again with our friends, old and new.
Contact: Linda Harris 01536 628 940 (Ise Valley)
Contact: Pauline Parkin 01536 799 197
Walking Group
Contact : Jackie Rowson 01536 515 959
u3akettwalk@outlook.com
Short Walks Ise Valley U3A
3rd Thursday
Venue and Time Varies
Contact: Wanda Moffatt 01536 659 236 (Ise Valley)
Ukulele Group—Ise Valley U3A
The Ise Valley U3A Ukulele Group meet fortnightly on Tuesday mornings 10-12. We are all beginners and are sort of following a course from the internet. Training videos and song sheets and are available and with practice you will quickly get to our standard ! There is even a spare Uke if you want to ‘try before you buy’. If you don’t fancy learning the Ukulele (which is a lot of fun) but would just like to sing or play percussion (or any other instrument) with us, the more the merrier.
Contact: Alan Bailey 01933 350 147
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with Ise Valley U3A
Meetings
www.isevalleyu3akettering.org.uk
