RAYLEIGH GRANGE U3A

Newsletter - Edition No. 114 2020

Welcome to the February Newsletter

Next Monthly Meeting is on: Wednesday 5th February 2020 at 2.00 pm

Doors open for registration at 1.30 pm.

Please be signed in by 1.55 pm with mobiles switched off ready for the meeting to start promptly at 2.00 pm.

Please remember that before going into the main hall you must sign in.

“Tales from the Smithy” Roger Dorking, our speaker, will be talking about “the old days” in rural Essex. A humorous talk about his father who was a Blacksmith and Farrier in Witham from the age of 14 until he was 73. Also his own working life as a Farm Labourer at Cressing Temple.

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FROM THE CHAIRMAN

I would like to start this newsletter with a few well-deserved “thank you’s”. First to the members who arrive a little early to assist in setting out the chairs and tables. Secondly, to the ladies who slip out of the meeting a little early to ensure that our hot drinks and biscuits are ready and waiting for us once the meeting has closed. Thirdly, not forgetting those on the bookstall and our Group Leaders and Committee Members who ensure the smooth running of our U3A. I hope you have all received my email regarding volunteers to step forward and take on the role of Social Secretary. To date no one has come forward. Looking forward to seeing you all at our meeting on Wednesday 5th February. Bob Farrow Chairman

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Our membership year ends on 31st March 2020. The next membership year will run from 1st April 2020 until 31st March 2021. The renewal fee is £12.00. As in previous years, we want to start the renewal process early enough to give members sufficient time to receive and complete their renewal form, and for us to receive it no later than 16th March 2020 for processing. The 2020 Renewal Form has been uploaded to the Rayleigh Grange U3A website; we will email a copy to those members with email and print facility, and also print come copies for collection at the February monthly meeting. Members who do not attend the monthly meetings and/or do not have email/print capability will have renewal forms posted to them. For members who do not attend monthly meetings it is essential that you include a stamped addressed envelope with your completed renewal form and remittance in order to receive your new membership card. Please advise us if you are not intending to renew your membership as we can then introduce new members from the waiting list. Thank you to all the members who have already renewed. Susan Neil and Peta Turner Membership Secretaries

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NEWS FROM THE GROUPS

Local History Group The February meeting of the Local History Group at Rawreth Village Hall will be the last to be hosted by Pam Green who has been Group Leader for the last eight years.

SOCIAL NEWS Please make all payments for day trips and social events by cheque wherever possible rather than cash even if the sum involved is small. If you have booked a place at our Armchair Treasure Hunt on Friday 28th February please ensure that you have paid for your place and any food you have ordered at the next meeting on Wednesday 5th February. Salt, vinegar and tomato ketchup will be provided. A few places are still available on our 5 day break to Yorkshire in August with a visit to Kynren, Beamish, the North York Moors and Whitby. Please contact me if you are interested. Pam Green Social Secretary FROM THE TREASURER For those of you stuck indoors on another wet and dreary winter’s morning I thought we would brighten your day up with a fun read! Rayleigh Grange U3A now has its own “Financial Controls Policy and Procedures” which can be found in the “Links” on the right-hand side of the “Welcome” page on the Rayleigh Grange website. On another matter, can I please remind any couples, who have both submitted a gift aid form in the past, to make two separate payments for their annual membership. Otherwise, we will only be able to claim one membership fee of gift aid tax refund. ….. and if any tax paying members have not signed a gift aid form please do so. If you do not have a form please let me know. Roy Gunn Treasurer

OBITUARY

It is with sadness we record the death of our member Pam Siggins. Pam was a founder member of Rayleigh Grange U3A and at one time Group Leader of the Beading Group. Our sincere condolences to her family and friends.

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THEATRE GROUP

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT A trip is being organised to see “Joseph” at the London Palladium

Date: Wednesday 5th August 2020 at 2.30 pm for the matinee

Cost: £49.50 (actual ticket price £85!)

Payment required by 9th February at the latest

To reserve a seat please contact Doreen Brown

Payment by cheque at the monthly meeting

Coach will be organised in due course

Doreen, Edna, Susan & Ann

QUIZ – THE LAST ROUND

1. Which battle is commonly referred to as “Custer’s Last stand?

2. What is the last book of the Old Testament?

3. Who wrote the book “Last of the Mohicans”?

4. What was last letter of the Roman alphabet?

5. Which football team were the last to win the English football league Division One?

6. What mission number was the Apollo lunar landing?

7. Which band’s debut single was “Last Train to Clarksville”?

8. Who created the television series “Last of the Summer Wine”?

9. In which month does “The Last Night of The Proms” take place?

10. Traditionally which tradesman would use a last?

Answers on page 13

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iPAD/TABLET GROUP The iPad tablet group had the annual late festive meal at the Toby Carvery. Numbers were down this year, but the company and the food were both good.

Some timely advice from Mark Wiseman, iPAD Group Leader

I have come across the following advice, which I believe makes sense and might help prevent fraud and which may be of interest to members. When you sign and date cheques or legal documents during 2020 don’t shorten it to (for example) 28/2/20. This date can easily be modified to 28/2/2019 or any other year in this century and is open to fraud. Complete the full year. It’s called having 2020 vision!

GARDEN GROUP

It was the week before Christmas and nothing stirred in the little village of Rawreth ‘til the U3A arrived at the village hall for the Xmas Party night !! Everyone was in the festive mood, wine chocolates and crackers were on the tables and the music was playing. There was plenty of chatter, the buffet was opened and there were lots of prizes for the free raffle. The DJ played all the right music and the dance floor was full for the rest of the evening. The stars of the dancefloor were Ken and Mary who jived the night away and the tireless Betty!! Both were rewarded with a bottle of wine. Happy New Year to you all. Theresa McAninch Editor’s note: Photographs of the evening can be seen in the January newsletter.

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THE WINE APPRECIATION GROUPS CHRISTMAS WINE TASTING AT THE PIPE OF PORT

Members from both our Wine Appreciation Groups enjoyed a meal and Wine Tasting evening at the Pipe of Port. The theme was “The Wines of South Africa” and we were able to sample three white wines – 2017 Alphabetical White from the Western Cape, 2016 Adi Badenhorst Papegaal White from Swartland and 2016 Springfield Estate “Life from Stone” Sauvignon Blanc from Robertson. The three reds were 2017 Stellenrust Simplicity from Stennenbosch, 2016 Alphabetical Red from the Western Cape and 2013 Fairview Caldera from Paarl. This was the fourth wine tasting our groups have enjoyed at the Pipe of Port and we will be returning for our post-Christmas celebration again in 2021.

QUIZ - SPORT

1. What distance is covered in one circuit of a modern outdoor running track?

2. Who was the first snooker player to score a maximum 147 break in World Championship snooker?

3. In boxing, which weight category comes in between Flyweight and Featherweight?

4. In what country was the game of golf invented?

5. How many players in total get down in a normal rugby union scrum?

6. What is the minimum number of darts a person needs to throw to complete a leg from 501?

7. What was the first British football team to win the European Cup?

8. How many players make up a netball team?

9. In the Olympic Games, what five sports make up the modern pentathlon?

10. In what year was the first World Snooker Championship held?

Answers on page 13

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WARNING FROM ESSEX POLICE

AMAZON PRIME SCAM Unsuspecting members of the public are targeted with automated calls which tell them a fraudster has used their personal details to sign up for an Amazon Prime subscription. The victim is then instructed to press 1 to cancel the transaction. When they do this, they are directly connected to the real scammer who poses as an Amazon customer service representative. The criminal tells the victim the Amazon Prime subscription was purchased fraudulently and that they need remote access to the victim’s computer in order to fix a security flaw that will prevent it from happening again. The victim is instructed to download an application called Team Viewer and asked to log onto their online banking account. The software download grants the fraudster remote access to the victim’s computer and allows them to see the victim’s personal and financial details. Other variants of the crime involve victims being told they are due a refund for an unauthorised transaction on their Amazon account or telling victims their subscription will be ‘renewed’ for £39.99. The call will then say that you should ‘press 1’ to speak with an ‘account manager’. Do not press 1, simply hang up immediately. Amazon will never contact you in this way, and the call being completely unsolicited should also set off alarm bells. Unsolicited requests to remote access your computer should always raise a red flag, as once in to your PC they can gain access to all your personal data. If you’ve receive an unexpected phone call, or other communication, stop and take a minute to think about whether an organisation would get in touch with you out of the blue in this way. Instead, contact them directly using a known trusted email address or trusted phone number. Never use a telephone number supplied by the caller or an email address. Never divulge personal details/data over the phone.

STAMP APPEAL FOR BONE CANCER RESEARCH Thank you to everyone who saved their Christmas Stamps for the Bone Cancer Research Appeal. There is a box on the newsletter desk each month for any stamps which are collected all year round – so please continue to save them. Ann Rawlinson

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TUTANKHAMUN & THE ROARING TWENTIES A CITY & VILLAGE TOURS GUIDED DAY TRIP

“Can you see anything?” asked Lord Carnarvon as Carter opened the tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the

Kings. “Yes,” replied Carter. “Wonderful things.”

THURSDAY 2nd APRIL 2020 £46 including guided coach tour and timed entry to exhibition

Good news for those of you who don't like early starts - we will be leaving Rayleigh Grange at 9.45 am for this tour! Our first stop will be the National Army Museum where there is a large café - ideal if you wish to obtain lunch. Spend some time exploring the exhibits if you wish. Our guide will be meeting us at the museum and giving us the background to the archaeology which led to the discovery of the world of a boy king who lived more than 3000 years ago. We rejoin the coach to drive through Kensington & Chelsea and turn the clocks back to the Roaring Twenties. We see where Howard Carter was born and where he died. Discover how the fashion for Tutankhamun and Ancient Egypt influenced everything from the first Thomas Cook package tours to the Middle East, to the novels of Agatha Christie - it’s an irresistible combination of high adventure, romance, and history. Next the highlight of the day - we visit the exhibition Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh. Be transported to Ancient Egypt to accompany Tutankhamun on his journey to the afterlife and quest for immortality. The exhibition is staged to celebrate the centenary of the tomb discovery. Over 150 stunning authentic tomb objects, 60 on display outside Egypt for the first time, showcase the spectacular artistry of the boy king’s 3,300-year-old treasure. Depart for home at 6.30 pm (hopefully avoiding the traffic). Please contact Pam Green to book your place. Payments will be taken at the meeting on 5th February.

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OUT AND ABOUT GROUP

Visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral and “Winter Lights Festival” at Canary Wharf

Thursday, 16th January saw 20 of the group travel to London for the afternoon and evening. Members “did their own thing” for lunch and then met at St. Paul’s Cathedral for a conducted tour.

Our guide began by giving us a brief history of the third building on the site, (or is it the fourth?? nobody is sure). Sir Christopher Wren had submitted his proposals for the new building to be erected after the disastrous Fire of London in 1666. Numerous amendments were demanded by the (inevitable!) committee of the great and good, but many of these seem to have been ignored by the time the first stone was laid. The whole structure was completed in only 35 years. Wren even had his salary reduced in the later years as it was considered that construction was taking too long – present day planners, public enquiry chairmen, builders etc. etc., please note!

We were then taken around parts of the building where various memorials and other features were pointed out to us. The dome you see inside is not the underside of the dome visible from the outside – it is a completely separate structure. The inner is linked to the outer by an upside-down cone of brickwork holding up the weight of the surmounting cross. The entire structure is supported by eight columns which were originally hollow and filled with rubble. Over the years, this rubble crumbled to dust and the whole building was declared unsafe. Liquid concrete pumped into the columns saved the day!

The crypt contains the remains of, among others, Nelson and Wellington. The memorial to Wellington is above, in the nave. This huge structure depicting him on his horse was not installed until the last century; prior to that it was considered unseemly for a horse to be in a consecrated building. Nelson’s tomb is topped by a black marble sarcophagus originally made for Cardinal Wolsey. After Wolsey’s fall from royal favour, it languished at Windsor until a suitable recipient could be found. Nelson was considered suitable! The memorial to Wren is very discrete and contains the words “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”

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After the tour, and fortified by a cup of tea, we made our way to Canary Wharf. The Winter Lights Festival is now in its 6th year and this time consisted of 25 illuminated structures, several of them interactive, erected in various locations within Docklands. Many designers from across the world were featured. My personal favourites were “The Clew” – circles of red light installed above the Cubit Square bridge, designed in Portugal: “Sky on Earth” – illuminated bubbles giving the impression of clouds seen from above accompanied by thunder and lightning effects, designed in the Czech Republic; and “Affinity” coloured rods and spheres, reminiscent of the Atomium in Brussels, where the colours changed as you walked through the structure, designed in Australia. By now, the day’s walking had taken its toll on our energy levels and so we retired to Amerigo Vespucci for a well-earned meal before making our way back home. Our thanks to Ann C-O for organizing such an enjoyable day.

SHORT MAT BOWLS

We had an exceptionally good game and this was one of the many good ends which we thought warranted a photograph to show how close the game was. Often there is a lot of chat and not much concentrating, but this week was an exception. Well done to all. Jackie Colson

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CYRIL’S GARDENING NOTES – FEBRUARY

Now is the time to prune Wisteria by cutting back summer growth to two or three buds.

Lift and divide Snowdrops while the leaves are still green if you want to create more plants.

Plant bare root Roses.

Check Hellebore plants for leaf spot and remove any affected leaves.

If you need to move deciduous trees or shrubs, now is the time to do so, before they start active growth. When moving them, move with as much root ball as possible.

Start Begonia tubers into growth by putting into seed trays just below the soil with the indented side up. Once they have made growth and frosts are clear, they can go outside.

If you have not pruned your Roses, now is the perfect time.

Trim deciduous bushes and hedges before the birds start nesting.

Cut back ornamental grasses to 2cm before new growth starts.

Now is the last chance to prune Apple and Pear trees, but not soft fruit trees as this could cause diseases.

Start chitting your potatoes.

Pot on any cuttings that you took last summer.

Start thinking in earnest about plants or plugs that you may want to order for spring despatch.

Don’t forget to keep the weeds in check in your flower beds. They never stop growing.

As we have had a lot of rain saturating the soil, the base elements will have been washed away. To help the soil recover when the soil has dried out, water with a solution of Epsom salts which will put back the base elements. Do not buy from the chemist – get it from a garden centre.

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TOP BRANDS MARATHON

Apologies to all - these were the answers to the Marathon Quiz we did at the January meeting but omitted to read out on the day!! Phil & Jill Cogger.

1. Finish

Dishwasher Tabs

2. Cadbury Dairy

Milk

3. Lucozade 4. Mr Kipling 5. Pepsi Cola

6. Red Bull 7. Walkers Crisps 8. Whiskas 9. Uncle Ben’s Rice 10. Pringles

11. Pedigree Chum 12. McCain’s Chips 13. Kit Kat 14. Dolmio Sauce 15. Bird’s Eye

16. Andrex Tissue 17. Coca Cola 18. John West 19. Maltesers 20. Nescafe

21. PG Tips 22. Wheetabix 23. Warburton Bread 24. Schweppes 25. Muller Yogurt

26. Lurpak 27. Persil 28. Tetley Tea 29. Heinz Baked

Beans

30. Cathedral City

Cheese

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QUIZ – THE LAST ROUND ANSWERS

1. Little Big Horn 2. Malachi

3. James Fenimore Cooper 4. Z

5. Leeds United 6. 17

7. The Monkees 8. Roy Clarke

9. September 10. A shoemaker

QUIZ – SPORT ANSWERS

1. 400 metres 2. Cliff Thornburn

3. Bantamweight 4. Scotland

5. 16 6. 9

7. Celtic 8. 7

9. Running, fencing, swimming, horse riding and shooting

10. 1927

From the Editor

You may have noticed that the U3A logo on the first page of the newsletter has changed. The new logo is part of a Development Plan by the Third Age Trust to raise the profile of the U3A movement and to make it more accessible to third agers. The term “University” has been dropped from the logo and its usage in the way we describe ourselves. This was widely recognised as being a barrier to membership of people who otherwise would benefit from participation in U3A and who bring the benefits of diversity to the movement. It has been replaced by the strapline “Learn, laugh, live”. The Trust have also launched a day of celebration for the movement both locally and nationally when 3rd June has been designated U3A Day. The Trust will be staging national events and there will be press and social media coverage for this day of celebration.

The deadline for receiving articles for the March 2020 Newsletter is Friday 21st February 2020

rgu3anewsletter@hotmail.com

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday 4th March 2020

A return visit by Brian Carline “An amusing account of our life in our Schools”

Ann Rawlinson

Newsletter Editor

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Updated December 2019

If you are interested in joining any of these Groups please contact The Group Co-ordinators – Doug & Jackie Colson through the contacts page on the website. 1

st MONDAY OF MONTH French Conversation 10.30-1.00pm Margaret Randall

Family History 1 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson

Maritime History Group 2.30-4.30pm Sue Howarth-Reading

Rummikub 2.00-4.00pm Jill Cogger

2nd

MONDAY OF MONTH Digital Photography 2.30-4.30pm Geoff Kittle

Canasta 1 2.30-4.30pm Doreen Brown

3rd

MONDAY OF MONTH Scrabble 2.00-4.00pm Jane Gee

Canasta 2 2.30-4.30pm Pat Hadden

Film Appreciation 2 Joan Hanscomb

1st

TUESDAY OF MONTH Family History 2 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson

Singing for Pleasure 11.00-12.30pm Joan Wayman

2nd

TUESDAY OF MONTH Book Club 2 2.00-4.00pm Denise Humphreys

Hand Chimes Group 10.30-12.30pm Alison Rutledge

3rd

TUESDAY OF MONTH Singing for Pleasure 10.45-12.30pm Joan Wayman

4th

TUESDAY OF MONTH Book Club 1 2.00-4.00pm Angela Bartlett

Trivial Pursuit 2.00-4.00 pm Phil Cogger

1st

WEDNESDAY OF MONTH U3A Monthly Meeting 1.30-4.00pm

2nd

WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Family History 3 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson

3rd

WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Church Visits 10.00-1.30pm Ann Rawlinson

Poetry 2.30-4.30pm Irene Jones

Beginners Canasta 2.30-4.30pm Ann Clarke-Overy

Art Appreciation 2.00pm Geoff Pearce

4th

WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Family History 4 2.00-4.00pm Ann Rawlinson

Beading 2.00-4.00pm Lyn Farrow

3rd

or 4th

WEDNESDAY OF MONTH Bird Watching 10.00am Peta Turner/Jackie Ginn

2nd

THURSDAY OF MONTH Knit & Natter 10.00-12.00pm Ann Clark-Overy

3rd

THURSDAY OF MONTH Wine group 7.30pm-late Susan Neil/Ann Newman

Discussion Group 10.00-12.00pm Doreen Brown

4th

THURSDAY OF MONTH Cribbage 10.00-12.00pm Sue Neil

Calligraphy 10.00-12.00pm Geoff Kittle/Peta Turner

1st

FRIDAY OF MONTH Textile Crafts 10.30-12.30pm

1.00-4.00pm Lyn Farrow

2nd

FRIDAY OF MONTH Local History 2.00pm-4.00pm Pam Green

3rd

FRIDAY OF MONTH Friday Photography 10.00am Jeff Goodman

Textile Crafts 10.30-12.30pm

1.00-4.00pm Lyn Farrow

Shakespeare Appreciation

10.30-12.30pm Paula Whittle

4th

FRIDAY OF MONTH Wine group 7.30pm-late Susan Neil/Ann Newman

LAST FRIDAY OF MONTH Art 1.30-4.30pm Brian Stammers

1st

SUNDAY OF MONTH Lunch 12.30pm Pam Burchill

3rd

SUNDAY OF MONTH Lunch 2 Susan Neil

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LAST SUNDAY OF MONTH Walking 10.30am Denise Humphreys

Strollers 10.30am Pam Burchill

FORTNIGHTLY TUESDAY Tenpin Bowling 11.00am Jacqui Butcher

Short Mat Bowls 2.00-4.00pm Sue Neil

FORTNIGHTLY WEDNESDAY Badminton 2 10.00-12.00pm Brian Felstead

FORTNIGHTLY THURSDAY Badminton 10.00-11.00am Jacqui Butcher/Jane Green

FORTNIGHTLY FRIDAY Table Tennis 1.30-3.30pm Lynda Cornell

MONTHLY VARIOUS DATES Weekday Lunches 12.30pm Edna Webb

Theatre/Events Group Theatre Group Team

Out and About Peta Turner/Ann C-O

Mid-week walkers Theresa McAninch

MONTHLY VARIOUS DATES Garden Group Theresa McAninch

CHANGEABLE WEDNESDAY Family History 5 10.00-12.00pm Lynda Rooke

Cinema 11.30am Christine Shaw

1st

/3rd

FRIDAYS Ipad/tablet 2.00-4.00pm Mark Wiseman

FORTNIGHTLY - TUESDAY Mahjong 10.00-12.00pm Keith Robjent