U3A Newsletter January 2016e

January 2016

Members Meetings are held in Heswall Hall
on the second Monday of each Month between 10.00am and 12 noon.

There will be a Speaker Meeting on the fourth Monday at 10.30am
(where this falls on a Bank Holiday it will be an alternative Monday).

Please note there are no meetings in August.
Membership Fee is £15 per annum per person
and there is a £1 meeting fee.

The Newsletter which is published monthly is free.
It is available at monthly Members Meetings, by email to members and

may also be found on our website www.heswallu3a.co.uk
Registered Charity No. 1152217

1

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

Hello everyone,

A very Happy New Year to you all! I hope you,
like me, are looking forward to another enjoyable
U3A year. 2015 has been very good. Our mem-
bership continues to increase and at our Christmas meeting many
people commented to me on the friendly relaxed atmosphere. I hope
you feel that Heswall U3A is a friendly, relaxed group of people
brought together by a love of learning.
For me, one of the 2015 highlights was the wedding dress meeting
at Heswall Hall and then the exhibition at the Williamson. We have
had a very positive response from Williamson staff and visitors, and
I hope it may be a collaboration we can continue.
Thanks to all who helped with the Christmas meeting, too many to
mention individually, but the trees proved inspiring once again, and
the raffle achieved an impressive £252.25. This means that this year
between us, we have raised an amazing total of £1100 for the Wirral
Alzheimer’s Society. I know this is a cause dear to many of our
members for various reasons. Hopefully, we will have helped to publi-
cise the cause, as well as contribute to its work.
This month’s members’ meeting topic is Games and Activities.
No, not the type you have to wear shorts and tee shirts for, but the type
you can test your brain and coordination on! Hopefully you can try
out some things you have not tried before and have some fun. We
thought it would be a good start to the New Year.
Our Speaker will talk about ‘The snowdrops of Ness’. For those of you
who have visited Ness Gardens in snowdrop time, you will know that
they have an amazing number of varieties, and the garden looks
beautiful for the snowdrop trail.
Once again, I hope 2016 is a happy and healthy New Year for you,
Karen

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MEETING INFORMATION

Speaker Meetings - Fourth Monday of the Month

25th January 2016 Andy Lambie of Ness Gardens
‘The Snowdrops of Ness’

Andy has been at Ness for a number of years involved with the many aspects of
the care of the many plants there. He is also a lecturer running several courses
during the year ranging from a ‘Beginners Guide to Gardening’ to the more
ambitious ‘Art of propagation’, ‘Garden Planning’ etc.
Ness grows over fifty different types of Snowdrops planted throughout the
gardens and Andy is going to tell us more about this fine collection.

22nd February 2016 Maureen Thompson T. W.W.
Tomorrow’s Women Wirral

Maureen has already addressed Heswall U3A on her work as a JP. It is this role
that led her to establish T.W.W. to help all Wirral Women in the community but
in particular to reduce female imprisonment, offending and to provide support
and assistance to those women who are in recovery. The achievements and
progress that have been made are inspirational.

21st March 2016 Piano Recital given by Andrew Wilde

Andrew Wilde, an internationally acclaimed musician who has given recitals at
major venues throughout the world, will once again be playing for Heswall
U3A. Last January we were captivated by his performance and explanation of
the music.

This year we will be asking for £3 entrance fee instead of the usual £1.

Members’ Meetings - Second Monday of the Month

11th January 2016 Games and Activities

February 8th From board games to cycling, snooker to
March 14th skittles - Try them out or simply reminisce !

Emergency & Rescue services

Food & Drink

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INTEREST GROUPS’ NEWS

Heswall U3A currently has currently almost fifty interest groups. The following are
news items of special interest written by group co-ordinators. A copy of the annu-
al activities handbook is available on our website - www.heswallu3a.co.uk

Architecture 1

12th FEBRUARY (Friday) 10 for 10.30 am
Group 1 and an invitation to members of Group 2 : Timber Construction.
A talk and video by architect John Maddock. Refreshments. £3 Alexander
Room , Heswall Hall. Book at JANUARY Members’ Meeting.
Organiser Marilyn Maddock.

22nd FEBRUARY 2016 (Monday)
Visit to M&S Cheshire Oaks to tour the Eco environmentally friendly building to
observe and learn details of its construction.
Details and booking at JANUARY Members’ Meeting. (Group 1).
Organiser and leader Val Garner

10th MARCH (Thursday)
Thornton Hough Tour. 10.00am from Seven Stars Car Park. Further details and
booking at January Members’ Meeting. Group 1 members only.
Organiser and leader Alison Adlard.

Gaynor Leidecker 342 8570 [email protected]

Country Dancing

Was your New Year Resolution to take more exercise in 2016? Well, Country
Dancing will help you achieve your goal! We meet on 15 th January 2016 at
2pm in St Michael's Church Hall, Pensby then on alternate Friday afternoons
until May. Wear the dancing shoes Santa gave you for Christmas and join the
group for an afternoon of fun and activity. Sequins optional!! No previous
dancing experience is necessary. Why not try a 'taster session'? - you will be
made very welcome. Partners are supplied along with a cup of tea and low cal-
orie biscuits! Parking is available. Dancing shoes should be flat with non-slip
soles.
Contact Moira Featherstone on 0151 632 0763

Craft

The next meeting of the Craft group will take place Monday morning at 10.a.m.
on the 18th January at the usual venue.
Peggy Collett [email protected]

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Knitting for Charity

After our two month Christmas break from our monthly Get To-
gethers , the next one at Barnston Church Hall will be on Monday
25th January at 2.00 pm.
We are welcoming some new members and I will be contacting
them individually before the 25th with further information .
Jan Armstrong [email protected] 0151 342 5084

Language Matters

The Language Matters group had an interesting meeting last month on the re-
lationship of the Indian and English languages, led by Umi Prasad. We wel-
comed three new members, one of whom, Derek Shanks, will lead the next
meeting titled: "According to Shakespeare…". This will be held on Thursday,
28th January at 2pm.
All welcome Diana Lane (342 6749)

Philosophy

This group, always well supported, has run monthly for over five years.
Jenny Heywood now leads and I head two other such groups spanning several
U3As in Deeside & Wirral, but we also have demand for a second Heswall
group, so hope to form one - this note is an invitation for members to declare
an interest. Alternatively, you may find that the "offer" below appeals to you.

We meet in people's homes and have a wide range of varied discussions,
with emphasis on philosophy for modern living. Minutes of meetings are taken
and a sample is available to anyone who emails requesting this. Be warned:
there are intriguing questions, but fully satisfactory answers are very much rar-
er.

GENERAL OFFER: Group members thought we might occasionally pose
examples of such questions, in the Newsletter, for wider consideration by any
members of our U3A. For instance, we recently debated a moral theme:
"justice & punishment". So we now ask for your opinion on a specific issue: "A
driver, subsequently found to be over the alcoholic limit, knocks down and kills
one of your relatives. How should the law deal with it - and why is this your
view?"

Your answer, or any request for sample "Minutes", can be sent to
Arthur Maltby [email protected]

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Sunday Lunch

We are looking for more people to join our monthly Sunday Lunch group. We
sign people up for bookings at the monthly members' meeting, getting to-
gether for lunch the following Sunday, at a different venue each month. We
don't operate early in the year, because of potential weather problems so the
next chance to sign up will be at the February members' meeting. For more
information, please contact Jean Norton 342 3363.

iPad Help Desk

At every Members' Meeting between 10-45 am and 11-15am there is a table by
the bar. We aim to help with any problems you may have with your IPad. Wi-fi
is available in the hall .
Pat Murray 342 3108; Joan Neil 342 7186

PROPOSED NEW GROUPS

New Badminton Group

The United Reform Church Heswall has the hall available on Monday after-
noons 1.30 - 4.30pm. The cost would be £46 per session. To make this viable
therefore we need at least twelve players to pay for a term of nine weeks @ £4
per session ie £36. Obviously if we had more members then the cost would be
less. If you are interested please contact me
[email protected] or phone 342 8211

Racquetball?

An invitation to join a Racquetball group, to find out what it's like, (it's similar
to squash but, apparently, slower and easier) has come from Chester U3a. If
interested, please contact Dave Gipson [email protected]

Coin Collecting

British to Foreign, Ancient to Modern. Potential new group.
If interested, please contact Paul Lovelady 522 0037

Science

One of our newer members is willing to start a science group. Initial expres-
sions of interest please to :

[email protected]

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Scrabble

A new group devoted to playing scrabble was once again suggested at our No-
vember Showcase event. I already have the names of three members who
would like to be part of a Scrabble group, but more would be merrier and word-
ier too. If you'd like to be part of this prospective new group please contact me
- Margaret Ludovici on 625 7908.

Apple Computer

A new member has offered to run a computer group but he would like potential
members to email him with topics they would like to learn about. He does not
want the group to focus on trouble shooting. He proposes to start the group in
the New Year.
Please contact. [email protected]

SHORT TRIPS

Thursday, 4th February
THE FLORENCE INSTITUTION, LIVERPOOL
There is a trip organised for a tour starting at 11.00 am. Meet at the Institute at
10.50am for the tour to start at 11.00am. The cost of the tour is £2.50pp (which
is non-refundable). Bookings are being taken at the January meeting, with a
limit of 20 places available. For further information please contact Tricia Harri-
son on 334 6085 or [email protected]

Wednesday, 24th February
THE OLD DOCKS, LIVERPOOL
There is a trip organised starting at 10.30am. Meet at the Maritime Museum
at 10.20am for the tour to start at 10.30am. The cost of the tour is £2.00pp
(which is non-refundable). Bookings are being taken at the January and Febru-
ary meetings with a limit of 20 places available. For further information please
contact Tricia Harrison on 334 6085 or [email protected]

Wednesday, 16th March

THE MANSION HOUSE, CALDERSTONES PARK

There is a trip organised for a tour starting at 11.00am.

Meet at the Mansion House at 10.50am for the tour to start at 11.00am. The

cost of the tour is £3.00pp (which is non-refundable). Bookings are being taken

at the January and February meetings, with a limit of 20 places available. For

further information please contact Tricia Harrison on 334 ….
6085 or [email protected]

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Heswall U3A – Short Trips

The short trips organisers have arranged more than fifty visits since May 2011.
These have included numerous guided walks in Wirral and Liverpool, visits to
various galleries and museums, “behind the scenes” visits to local theatres, vis-
its to the Cathedrals, churches, town halls and other local buildings and sites.
However, we do appreciate any suggestions for suitable places to visit.

The team currently arranging these visits comprises Tricia Harrison,
Jenny Schwarz, Lesley Crombie, my wife Ann and myself.

Noting that many of our U3A members have joined since we started I
thought it would be helpful to provide some information about the approach
adopted in arranging our trips. These are local in the sense of being primarily
here in Wirral or Liverpool, although on one or two occasions we have ventured
further afield. We try to visit locations which can be accessed by public
transport so members may use their bus passes, or where there is adequate car
parking available.

We are not a “group” as such – short trips are available to all members
of our U3A. However, some venues impose a maximum number and for oth-
ers, eg guided walks, we impose our own limit for safety and comfort reasons.
Visits are on a “first come first served“ basis and so that all members have an
equal opportunity to sign up we try to give advance notice in the newsletter at
least two months beforehand. Members sign up at the members’ meetings,
usually two months before the trip. To keep a level playing field we do not take
bookings in advance either by phone or email.

We try to restrict our locations to those with no entrance fee or only a
nominal charge. Some visits do require a guide so we ask for a payment before
the visit takes place. In the case of “free” visits we ask members to make a do-
nation in advance. On some occasions we pass on the donations to the venue’s
own funds or associated charity. These prepayments are not refundable be-
cause if a member failed to turn up it could deprive another to join us and a
modest prepayment seems to be an incentive for attendance! Our contact de-
tails are supplied and we appreciate notification if a member cannot attend,
then that place can be offered to someone on the reserve list.

We accumulate the monies which are “forfeited” and in December we
made a donation to Maggies Merseyside at Clatterbridge in the sum of
£100.00.
Ray Allan – 342 2827 – [email protected]

8

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Our Christmas lunch held at the Adelphi in December was a great
success. It was a very pleasant occasion and we all enjoyed good food
and some fun quizzes in the magnificent Sefton dining room.

AFTERNOON TEA CLUB
We have now renamed the club (ta da!) Tea @ 3 !

The next meeting will be at Avanti in Heswall on Wednesday 20th January
at 3.00 pm. We have arranged a price of £3 for tea/Americano and cake.
Payment can be made at the Members’ Meeting in January .
Nicky 345 7680 Jan 342 1165

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Have a fun afternoon with a short and 'sweet ' bakery demonstration and talk
on how Nicky started her flapjack business. Begins at 2.00 pm on Wednes-
day 24th February at The Beacon Cafe next to Heswall Methodist Church on
Telegraph Road.

Tickets are £3 including refreshments and can be purchased at the Janu-
ary/February Members’ Meeting. Maximum number 20.
Nicky 345 7680 Jan 342 1165

ST PATRICK'S NIGHT
On Thursday 17th March we shall have an Irish Quiz

Night at the Jug and Bottle in Heswall. Meet at 7.00 pm for
7-15 pm start. There will be Irish Stew and champ mash served
with soda bread and a glass of wine at a cost of £12.

Numbers are restricted so please sign up at the Janu-
ary, February or March meetings.

If you are brave wear something green.

SLEEPING BEAUTY BALLET on 17thFEBRUARY
Please pick up your tickets from the desk at the January meeting.

For further information please contact any of the Social Activity Team.

Pat Murray 342 3108. Joan Neil. 342 7186. Jean Sands 342 5950.

Jenny Tirebuck 342 6041. Val Smith. 342 1065

9

WALKING HOLIDAY
6th/7th OCTOBER 2016 ANGLESEY

Travel on Thursday 6th and return Saturday 8th October.
Two nights at Trearddur Bay Hotel www.trearddurbayhotel.co.uk

Cost £105 per night per room for double/twin (dinner, bed and breakfast in
en suite standard room.

Single occupancy £95 per room per night
Thirteen doubles and four singles provisionally booked ie 30 walkers in total.

Booking needs to be confirmed in March and I would need a £50 deposit per
person at that time to secure such a good rate. Brochures and details available
in January's meeting for those interested in coming. As usual there will be a
longer and shorter walk each day to cover all abilities.

Byron and Tricia Williams 342 8211 [email protected]

MARCH MEMBERS’ MEETING

We are holding a FOOD AND DRINK meeting on 14thMarch 2016, here are
some ways you can contribute...

 · Share with us your special recipes and swap recipes with others.

 · Bring in old or unwanted recipe books and swap them for other
recipe books.

 · Cook something and bring it in for others to taste

 · Bring in some home brew

If you have any of the following skills (or any other culinary skills), would you
like to show others how to do it?

 · Cake icing
 · Food sculpting
 · Chocolate making

We know that you men have many skills regarding food and drink (not just
eating and drinking!) so please let us know how you would like to be involved
in this event.

If you would like to get involved with any of the above, please contact
Celia at [email protected] or on 07808 566702
10

SEARCH FOR NEW TRUSTEES AND
NOTIFICATION OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our AGM is due on 25th April, prior to the speaker meeting, so the annual search
for Trustees is on. I’m delighted to say most are willing to continue for a further
year. However, as I will have completed three years as Business Secretary, our
constitution states I should stand down from that role - but plan to put my name
forward for alternative/split duties.

None of the existing Trustees want to take on these administrative tasks so
we need someone with Word, Excel and general IT skills who, using their own
computer, can write meeting agendas and minutes, keep the Charity Commis-
sion on-line record correct and spend some (six) two-to-three hours a year com-
pleting the hmrc gift aid biannual on-line return and the quarterly Third Age
Matters members’ address submission. In addition the Business Secretary is the
Third Age Trust point of contact for email communications and keeps our licens-
es and insurance policy files up to date.

The good news is I think it’s time the duties were split between two and I’m still
willing to do some of this!

Interesting, if you enjoy administration and would like to help keep our, ever
growing, U3A on a solid administrative footing.

If interested please feel free to email me, [email protected],
with your name and phone number so we can have a chat.

If interested in any other Trustee position then please speak to Bill Woods,
Karen Rees or myself.
Liz Stewardson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heswall U3A Short Walks

There are now 35 names on this list!
The first walk is scheduled for 27th January 2016 departing from West Kirby

Concourse at 10.00 am.
From Heswall it is the right hand turning at the bottom of the hill into West Kirby
which passes Morrisons service station. The car park is on the left. Any prob-
lems with lifts just get in touch.

It will be no longer than four miles on flat reasonably surfaced paths. There-
after walks are planned for the last Wednesday morning of the month and it
would be great if anyone willing to lead a short walk could sign up at the next
members’ meeting.

Alison Adlard Tel 342 2531 alison.adla1r1d70’gmail.com

2016 Speaker Meetings

Monthly Speaker Meetings have been a key feature of Heswall U3A
since we were founded in 2009. Every year we try to find the new, the
unexpected or the simply excellent for you to enjoy.

2016 Programme

25th January Snowdrops of Ness, Andy Lambie
22nd February T.W.W. (Tomorrow’s Women Wirral)
Maureen Thompson
21st March Piano recital by Andrew Wilde,
North West Music Trust
25th April Wings Over Wirral, Colin Schroeder
23rd May The History of Thornton Hough , Gavin Hunter
27th June The Statues of Merseyside, Julie Robson
25th July European Folk & Dance Music from 12th Century
onwards, ‘Fayreplay’ (Chris & Joan Hocking)

August No speaker meeting

26th September From the Muddy Banks of the Dee, Matt Thom-
as
24th October The Big Shop , Mike Murphy
28rd November Sleight of Mind, Peter Turner
12th December Combined meeting

Tea, coffee and biscuits are available from 9.45 am and the meetings
start at 10.30 am. Do come and join us.

If you would like to assist in the preparation of the Speaker Pro-
gramme we should be very pleased to expand our team. If you have
ideas for future topics and speakers please contact any member of
the team.

Speaker Meeting Team: David Purdell-Lewis and Alison Adlard
Marilyn Maddock who represents the Refreshment Team and

At every meeting we almost always have the odd interruption, so
out of respect for our speakers, please remember to TURN OFF YOUR
MOBILE PHONE!
David Purdell-Lewis and Alison Adlard

12

THANKS TO JOAN ON HER RETIREMENT

Joan Cain who has organised the coach trips for the
last seven years since our inauguration received a
beautiful bouquet as a small token for all her
efforts and our appreciation of her management of
the Coach Trips over the years.

Glad to say, Jenny and Sandra remain on the
team!

BBC REQUEST!!! - Make sure you get U3A name out there!

BAKE OFF IS BACK! BBC baking contest The Great British Bake Off is
returning in 2016 and the production team are currently looking for the
next batch of great home bakers to take part. So who’s the best baker you
know? If you, or someone you know, can turn out a terrific tart, produce a
perfect pie or serve up a sublime sponge, then please get in touch now.

For more information or an application form, go to:
www.thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk Please also feel free to pop it on any
social media accounts you might use. If you or someone you know thinks
they have what it takes to bake in the tent, then please do encourage them
to visit our website where they can download the application form :
www.thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk or email [email protected]

The NW Regional U3A Committee are advertising this as a way to promote
U3A.

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HESWALL U3A TRUSTEE COMMITTEE

Joint Chair : Activities Karen Rees
[email protected]
Joint Chair : Business
Bill Woods
Business Secretary [email protected]
Liz Stewardson
Treasurer [email protected]
Learning Development Sue Mousley
& Networking Lead
Membership Secretary Sue Woods
[email protected]

Beryl Ashburner

Speakers’ meeting organiser David Purdell-Lewis

Community Liaison Keith Foggin

ACTIVITIES SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDE:

Interest Groups Liaison Officer Jenny Heywood
[email protected]

Members’ Meetings Organiser Sue Woods

Speaker Meetings Organiser David Purdell-Lewis

Speaker Organiser Alison Adlard

Social Activities Organiser Pat Murray

BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDE:

Web Master, David Platt and Newsletter Editor, Chris Holmes;
plus several others who all contribute their time to the running of this U3A

14

Christmas Trees

Despite a little hesitation when first approached, thirteen Interest Groups par-
ticipated in a wonderfully innovative display of Decorated Artificial Christmas
Trees this year. The hard work and effort was certainly worthwhile as the
trees looked lovely and very representative of the groups who decorated them.

They certainly helped
to create a very festive
atmosphere in the hall
for the social event.

Thanks to everyone
who took part.

Pam David &
Val Turnbull
Members’ Meeting
Team

HESWALL

HESWALL U3A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

The Universities of the Third Age (U3As) in the UK are autonomous, self-help
organisations for people in their third age and no longer in full-time employ-
ment. Their aims are to provide educational, creative and leisure opportu-
nities in a friendly environment, run by the voluntary efforts of their members.

At Heswall U3A we embrace the aims and guiding principles upon which all
U3As are based:
 We are a self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operative run by

our members.
 We welcome members who wish to follow these aims and pursue learn-

ing not for qualifications, but for fun. Our interest groups and other
activities provide opportunities to share interests and learning
experiences with others.
 Our success relies on all members contributing in some way to the
organisation and the running of our U3A, no matter how small.

15

Heswall U3A web site - www.heswallu3a.co.uk
http://mountainwalkinggroup.weebly.com
Deeside and Wirral U3A network site:
http://u3asites.org.uk/deeside-wirral

The North West U3A website http://u3asites.org.uk/north-west
Third Age Trust website is www.u3a.org.uk

Please note that if you wish to have an item included in the
newsletter which is not specifically related to the U3A

please contact Joint Chair - (Business) Bill Woods 342 5331
[email protected]

If you have items or any comments for, or about, the newsletter
please email them to Newsletter Editor:

Chris Holmes - [email protected] – 07884 557 234
DEADLINE for FEBRUARY newsletter is 29th January 2016

16