retford u3a ewsletter day 2021
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Retford U3A Newsletter - MAY 2021
Membership No. 822/801/10
www.retford-u3a.org.uk
CHAIRMANS THOUGHTS 9
Hi there, two things to think about this month. Next
Wednesday is National u3a Day. This is seen by
London as a celebration of all that is good within
the movement. Other u3as in Nottinghamshire and
around the country are presenting their branches
to their local areas.
The Committee here in Retford made the decision
to commemorate the day on Thursday 3rd, by
having a market stall until the early afternoon in
Retford’s Thursday Market. The stall has been
arranged and will be on the Market Square near
Spencers. Various Committee members and
Interest Group Leaders will be on the stall from
9.00am until about 2.00pm.
The main idea of having a stall is to raise the profile
of the u3a and attract new members. Dawn
Madine’s Group have been busy producing cloth
shopping bags, which we will be giving away to
prospective members. We have had professional
leaflets produced showing various activities which
take place in our branch and we have
membership forms which folk can take away or fill
in on the stall. If you are in Retford next Thursday
morning, do come along to the market to say
hello.
The second point I want to discuss covers when we
can meet up again in Interest groups or at Monthly
General Meetings at the Well.
As I said last month, the committee are still
monitoring closely the Governments roadmap,
and it is obvious that gradually some meetings will
be able to get back to some degree of normality.
However, we are still going to renew our Zoom
agreement, which means those groups who have
found it an easy way to communicate with
members can still use it.
We know that Bassetlaw Council are making both
Hallcroft and Westhill Community Centres
available to us, but as things stand at the moment
they can’t provide caretaking backup. This means
that if you need to put up tables for your meeting
you will have to do this yourselves. Also if you want
to use their kitchen facilities you will need to take
your own cup or mug if you want a drink. Obviously
at the end of your meeting you will have to put
everything you have used, chairs and tables etc.
away.
It may be sensible to wait a month or two to see
how the virus pans out. Even though most of us will
probably have had the injections, there will always
be people who for various reasons have not had
the security of the vaccine. Social distancing
would still seem to be the sensible course of action,
so if you are meeting at your home, although we
can now do this in greater numbers do remember
the need for individual safety still exists.
As far as walking and cycling, I think the restrictions
on these groups will probably be the first to be
relaxed, but again until we know otherwise masks
and some degree of social distancing would seem
sensible. Things are definitely getting easier and
Group Leaders can find more information on the
National u3a Website. Stay safe, Roy
REMINDER FOR u3a DAY - WEDNESDAY 2ND JUNE
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 2
NEWS FROM GROUPS
ARCHITECTURE GROUP
As we say a very fond farewell to Thelma Britz
who moves to pastures new in Cherry
Willingham, Lincolnshire, an opportunity has
arisen to lead her popular and successful
Architecture Group. This meets in the glorious
garden room at Trinity Hospital, Retford, and is
co run by Mike Costello from the Dukeries
U3A. The group has a solid membership and
entertains external and inhouse speakers,
alongside interesting outings in the summer.
Refreshments are provided at meetings which
cost £1, parking is plentiful and the meetings
take place monthly for about 2 hours. This is joint
group with The Dukeries U3A.
If you are interested in leading this group, please
contact me on 01427 848852 or email
brendawilson16@outlook.com I will be happy to
help in any way, and Thelma has left a box file of
useful information.
Currently, this group is suspended and will not
recommence if we cannot appoint a volunteer
to lead which will be disappointing as along with
over 25 members, there is a waiting list too! Brenda Wilson Groups Coordinator
At the recent Photo Group Zoom meeting members chose
the following image as the Photo of the Month. The theme
was TEXTURE.
The image below is of a Rusty Scaffold Clip
is by Adrian Hetherington
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP CURRENT AFFAIRS GROUP
In recent years, the media has been awash with
news pieces and comment on a whole range of
contentious issues, including race, gender,
censorship and attacks on free speech,
cybercrime, the monarchy, brexit, ‘wokeism’,
COVID-19, the breakup of the UK and the failings
of the justice system.
These are all matters of real public concern, but
we still have very little opportunity to step back
together, and reflect on the diverse range of
opinions expressed.
I propose to start a Current Affairs Group this
Autumn, when, it is hoped we can all return to our
face to face meetings. We will see if we can try to
address some of these problems, but also enjoy
some lively interaction and discussion where
everyone’s viewpoint is respected.
Initially, I suggest we meet fortnightly and see how
it goes.
If you would like to join us, then please contact me
at currentaffairs@retford-u3a.org.uk or call 01777
817835.
We hope this message finds you well.
As things are very slowly getting back to some
kind of normality, we are looking to start the
Local History meetings again at the Westhill
Community Centre, on Tuesday, 14th
September.
At this stage, we would be pleased to learn if
you are interested in attending this meeting, so
we can go ahead and book the centre and a
speaker accordingly.
Further instructions will be sent to you shortly.
LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 3
Design, Production & Printing - Christine Cook
Contact:- newsletters@retford-u3a.org.uk
For the foreseeable future I will still be publishing a
monthly or bi monthly newsletter and will
appreciate any articles etc.
Contact me on 01777 870583. Items for inclusion in
the next edition can be sent in any time until things
return to normal. Christine
NEWSLETTER CONTACT A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - REMINDER
The lack of activity available for some of our
interest groups has perhaps resulted in a few
'casualties'. The following groups will no
longer run when we resume in (hopefully) the
Autumn, but are open to restarting if a new
group leader comes forward.
Cosmology
French Intermediate
Knit & Natter
Thursday Lunch Club
Spanish Improvers
These groups are not viable either due to
falling numbers or leader retiring, or both.
Thanks go to John Kelly, Margorie Gibson,
Jean Winder, Coralie Brown, Sheila Fox &
Norma Taylor for their commitment to running
these groups.
More new groups will be coming on stream in
the future not least of which, CURRENT
AFFAIRS - look out for the flyer.
If you think you could run a group or would
like to start a new one, please contact me on
01427 848852 or
Email brendawilson16@outlook.com
INTEREST GROUPS UPDATE
GARDEN OPEN FOR NATIONAL
GARDEN SCHEME
SUNDAY 6th JUNE 2 – 5 pm
Primrose Cottage
16 Bar Road North
Beckingham
DN10 4NN
Tel. 01427 848852
Home made teas
Plant stall by Norwell Nurseries
Flowers by Spotty Dog
Metal garden ornaments/structures by Patrick.
All on the village green
We are sorry to inform you of the death in April
of Eileen Hart. She had been in several u3a
groups over the years and enjoyed the
company of the friends she had made.
Condolences have been sent to the family.
We are sorry to announce the death of one of
our members. Dave Valentine died on
19.05.21. The u3a send condolences to his
family and friends.
RIP
FOND FAREWELL
" I came to Retford in September 2006 having
been involved with the U3A for 10 years in West
Sussex - Chairman and Secretary a few times
each. I joined The Dukeries U3A and soon
became actively engaged for several years until I
was asked to start a Retford U3A. That then
became my main focus.
Until this pandemic it has been a huge part of my
life. I enjoyed participating in many of the Interest
Groups (running the Architecture Group), learned
to play Bridge (sort of), transferred the table tennis
group I started to our Wednesday session, had
some great outings and holidays, listened to good
talks, but mainly made some wonderful friends. I
shall be sorry to leave it all behind but recent poor
health has confirmed that I have made the right
decision. I need to be near family who can watch
over me.
My new telephone number is 01522 754084. My
address will be 1 New Crescent, Cherry
Willingham. LN3 4AJ. My e-mail address stays the
same.
I am not leaving U3A and hope to return to Retford
occasionally. I would like to continue with some
activities so - see you soon, as they say in these
parts."
Thelma Britz
NGS have given the go
ahead for this event.
Usually very well supported,
so do come. Admission £3.
Terry & Brenda Wilson
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 4
QUIZ
1. COUNTRIES - NAMES What is the present day name of -
a. Formosa
b. Ceylon
c. Northern Rhodesia
d. Siam
e. Persia
2 BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS a. Which book ends ‘He drew a deep
breath, “Well, I’m back,” he said.’
b. Which book begins ‘It is a truth
universally acknowledged, that a single
man in possession of a good fortune
must be in want of a wife.’
c. Which book ends with the words ‘It is a far,
far better thing that I do, than I h a v e
ever done, it is a far, far better rest
that I go to than I have ever known.’
d. Which book begins ‘On December 3rd the
wind changed overnight.’
e. Which book ends ‘After all, tomorrow is
another day.’
3. CLASSICAL MUSIC a. In which opera do Ping, Pang and Pong
appear?
b. By what name is the 2nd symphony of
Gustav Mahler commonly known?
c. The English composer Philip Heseltine
died in 1930. He composed many
songs and a well-known orchestral suite
but is better known by his nom-de-
plume. What is it?
d. Which orchestral work is dedicated ‘to m y
friends pictured within.’
e. Who composed a choral symphony
entitled The Bells?
4. SONGS a. Who sat under the shade of a coolibah
tree?
b. Who wheeled her wheelbarrow through
streets broad and narrow?
c. Whose tiny hand was frozen?
d. Who may very well pass for 43 in the dusk
with a light behind her?
e. Who waits at the window wearing a
face that she keeps in a jar by the
door?
5. FAMOUS ANIMALS a. What was the name of Long John
Silver’s parrot?
b. What was the name of the Darling
family’s dog?
c. Who wrote about an otter called Tarka?
d. Who travelled with a donkey called
Modestine?
e. Who has a dog named Toby?
6. DATES IN HISTORY a. In which year was the Battle of T rafalgar?
b. In which year was the first man sent into
space?
c. In which year did Queen Victoria die?
d. In which year was the American
Declaration of Independence signed?
e. In which year did the Titanic sink?
6. POETS AND POEMS a. Who wrote these lines, “Dirty British
coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,
Butting through the Channel in the mad
March Days...?
b. Who, poetically speaking, was “A Better
Man than I am’?
c. Who wrote the poem, ‘Hiawatha’?
d. Which poet was the husband of El izabeth
Barrett?
e. What were Lord Byron’s given names?
7. CITIES a. In which capital city is Gorky Park?
b. What was the former name of the
capital Harare?
c. Of what country is Bogota the capital?
d. Which capital city is situated on the river
Liffey?
e. What is the capital of Norway?
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