Hoylake, West Kirby & District · Hoylake, West Kirby & District a NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of Hoylake, West Kirby & District U3A will be Thursday

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A message from the Chair

Can we really be in March already? It seems only yesterday that I was wishing

everyone a Happy New Year. I do hope that 2016 is proving to be a good year

for you. Certainly everyone seems to be happy at our Speaker meetings, in fact

there is such a lively atmosphere in the Centre that it seems almost like a party!

We started our U3A year really well when our application for charitable status

was approved in less than three days from submission. No queries, no

exceptions – Wow! We were elated, and very pleased with ourselves. I can’t

thank Victoria Doran, Ann Stott and Graham Thwaite enough for the work they

put into drawing up the new constitution and particularly to Victoria for her

stirling work with the document submission. Our thanks go also to the rest of

the Committee who gave great support throughout the process.

When we first began booking Speakers for double talks we were slightly

concerned that it might be arduous for them to speak twice, and that their talk

might possibly become a little lacklustre second time round. To our surprise just

the opposite has happened and some speakers have over-run on their second

talk and commented on how much they have enjoyed coming to us. They have

said what an interested and intelligent group we are, and how appreciated they

felt. How nice is that?

We carry on into 2016 with lots of lovely new people joining us and almost

everyone renewing their membership already. We feel very optimistic about the

future of our U3A. When the AGM takes place in June we will be losing a few of

our Committee members. We do hope that some of you will consider taking

their places. We promise we won’t work you too hard (well, not right away at

least!) … and you would have a say in the running of our U3A. We always

welcome ideas for improvement from our members, but how much more

satisfying would it be if you joined the committee and actively implemented

those suggestions? AGM information and a nomination form is inside this

Newsletter, so now is the time to do it … please consider going forward for

election and work with us to make our U3A grow stronger and better than ever.

Marjorie

Don’t forget that 2015

membership lapses

on March 31st …. To

remain a member of

an interest group you

must hold a current

U3A membership

card.

www.u3asites.org.uk/hoylake

Registered Charity number 1164889

Newsletter Spring 2016

Inside:

AGM

information

Membership

Update

Interest Groups

& Gossip from

the Groups

Committee

contacts

Forthcoming

Speakers

Social events

Items for Sale

Regional News

Our Committee

Hoylake, West Kirby & District

a NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of Hoylake, West Kirby & District U3A will be

held at Hoylake Parade Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake on

Thursday 2nd

June at 2pm.

It will be followed by a single talk by Gordon Bartley entitled ‘Fish & Chips, Little

Ships and North Sea Spray’.

Refreshments will be available after the AGM before the talk begins. There will be

no charge for the AGM and the usual charge for those attending the talk. See

inside this Newsletter for further Committee & AGM information.

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Membership Update

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members who have joined us in the last few months. They are as follows:- Pam Appleyard, Allan Bickerstaffe, Hazel Brown, Ray & Sheila Davies, Elizabeth Hazlehurst, Geoffrey & Brenda Halewood, Mervyn Hudson (Snr.) & Amy Hudson (Mervyn’s parents) Barbara Jones, Anney Murray, Kathleen Newns, Adele Sedgwick (Shirley’s daughter), David Short, Diane Watterton, Moira Williamson, Christine Lyth.

Many thanks to all of you who have already renewed your membership for 2016, and a brief reminder to those of you who have yet to renew that your 2015/16 membership will lapse on March 31st, but don’t despair, you can still rejoin at the monthly speaker meetings, or by post. Simply download a copy of the membership form from our website www.u3asites.org.uk/hoylake or contact our very helpful Graham Thwaite on 632 2742 for assistance.

Committee Contacts March 2016

Please feel free to contact any of the Committee members for information or assistance.

Chairman Marjorie Hargreaves 0151 632 1188 [email protected]

Treasurer Victoria Doran 0151 345 3816 [email protected] Asst. Treasurer Sue Burke 0151 625 7098 [email protected]

Secretary Lynne Gilmour 0151 632 3536 [email protected] Groups co-ordinator Ann Stott 0151 632 6337 [email protected]

Groups Asst. Christine McDonnell 0151 364 8387 [email protected] Membership Sec. Hilary Alcock 0151 648 0439 [email protected] Membership Asst. Eirwen Thomas 0151 678 2558 [email protected]

Membership & Data Manager

Graham Thwaite 0151 632 2742 [email protected]

Speakers Sec. Harry Copnall 0151 538 7446 [email protected] Speaker Sec. Kate Jones 0151 632 1446 [email protected] Webmaster Mervyn Hudson 0151 633 233 [email protected] Social Rep. l 0151 625 4987

Refreshments Margaret Pedder 0151 625 8725 [email protected]

Legal Helpline. Arc Legal, in partnership with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors are the

providers of the legal helpline service available to U3A members. The legal helpline is operational seven days a week and covers general and preliminary enquiries on any

aspect of UK law. To access the helpline call 0344 770 1040 and quote ‘U3A Legal Helpline’

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Our Speakers

Happy Easter to all you folks out there, 'Big H' here to put you in the picture about our forthcoming speakers, please remember what I mentioned in our last newsletter......we don't all like the same

topics however we DO try and arrange a good cross-section to meet everyone's choice (doesn't always work!!) …. so here's what I've got for you May, June & July. May 5th....Joining us for today we have Anthony Poulton-Smith who is a freelance journalist and writer apart from compiling crossword puzzles and quiz’s. Anthony is travelling from Tamworth and will have a number of his books on display for you to browse to see if anything takes your fancy, I must admit that he has a VERY varied choice of subjects. As you may have gathered, I am trying to make the subjects varied and I don't think we will encounter a more varied subject than today’s...wait for it ... 'When Nature Calls' is a history of the loo!!!? Think back decades ago to those cold nights creeping down the garden to the outside loo trying to keep the candle flame from blowing out then scurrying back to bed, I'm sure you get the idea of today's reminisce. Thankfully the chore is much more civilised these days. June 2nd .......After the A.G.M and a welcome ‘cuppa’ we will welcome Gordon Bartley who again has many varied subjects which he gives presentation about but today, being as how the summer is upon us (hopefully !!), I have opted for his talk on 'Fish Chips, Little Ships and North Sea Spray'. For those of you who are venturing eastwards to the Yorkshire coast then you will be particularly interested in this presentation as Gordon is taking you on a tour route from our area to Whitby calling at those little off-the beaten-track village cafes and places of interest which you can call into to break up your journey. Personally I love this kind of thing which probably comes from my time as a Shearing’s Tour driver when one would try and get to these out of the way gems but the lanes were too narrow. I shall attempt to infuse a fish & chip smell to the meeting to add a bit of authenticity!!! Don’t forget that due to the AGM being held at 2pm, there will only be one talk this month.

July 7th.....Another single session talk, starting at 2pm when ex- school teacher Arthur Cross is with us, and ‘if’ it's a hot day, he may bring some cooling comfort to the meeting. Arthur is taking us to Kilimanjaro by way of an expedition in which he took part but which

turned into quite a fight for survival. You may be interested to hear that Arthur is donating his fee to The Charnwood Nursery & Family Centre in Stockport. This is a charity that offers a third of their placements to children with disabilities and operates as one big happy family. I am not a mountain climbing enthusiast so I may have to bring an oxygen mask for this talk!!

Your Speaker Secretary,

Harry Copnall.

The toothbrush was invented in London’s most notorious prison. The site occupied by the old Bailey once housed the legendary Newgate Gaol. In the 1770’s, William Addis was a

prisoner there. Brushing his teeth the same way as everyone else, (using a rag to rub them with salt and soot) he decided that there had to be a better way. Inspired by the sight of a broom, he took a

small animal bone left over from his dinner and drilled some holes into it. Persuading a guard to get him some bristles, Addis threaded them through the holes and glued them into place. On his release the invention made him a fortune. His company, known as Wisdom toothbrushes survives to this day.

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INTEREST GROUPS ** Group may be full

HCC = Hoylake Community Centre H = House L = Library V = Outside or variable

Antiques/Collectables (H) Carol Johnston 678 1680

Vanessa Blackwell 625 4987

Monthly

3rd Tuesday @ 10am

Art Appreciation (HCC) Barbara Howard

632 1342

Monthly

1st Friday @ 10am

Art & Craft (Practical)

(HCC)

Ann Stott

632 6337

Monthly

3rd Wednesday @ 2pm

Bridge **(H) Gill Harvey - 632 2052 Weekly Wednesday pm

Bridge for Beginners**(H)

Pauline Tarleton

Contact Ann Stott 6326337

Variable days pm

City Studies ** (H) Keith & Vanessa Blackwell

625 4987

3rd Thursday @ 2pm

Creative Writing (L) Jo Tibble

625 7567

Monthly

Last Thursday @ 10am

Digital Photography (H) Keith Blackwell 625 4987

Jill Warnock 625 3354

Monthly

2nd Thursday @ 10.30am

What The Papers Say** (H) Jean Mathers 678 5378 3rd Thursday @ 2.pm

Family History (HCC) Mervyn Hudson 633 2331 2nd Tuesday @ 2pm

Gardening (HCC & V)** Marjorie Hargreaves 632 1188

Audrey Bottle 677 6781

Jean Mathers 678 5378

Last Wednesday @ 2pm

Kindle Reading (H) Hilary Alcock - 648 0439 3rd Tuesday @ 10.30am

Local History (HCC) Victoria Doran 345 3816 2nd Monday @ 10. 30am

Local Interest Group 1 (V&HCC)

Local Interest Group 2(V)

Pat Nixon 632 5688

Graham Thwaite 632 2742

Jean Graham 625 2370

3rd Thursday @ 10.30am & 2pm

2nd Friday @ 11am

Needlecrafts (HCC) Anne Lindley

632 3989

Monthly

4th Thursday @ 2pm

Play Reading Group 1 (HCC)

Play Reading Group 2 (H)

Jean Bishop 632 5145

Carol Johnston 678 1680

2nd Thursday @ 10am

4th Thursday am

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Reading Group 1**(H)

Reading Group 2 (H)

Reading Group 3 (L)

Marjorie Hargreaves 6321188

Carol Johnson 678 1680

Ann Johnson 678 1260

3rd Tuesday @ 2pm

3rd Wednesday @ 2pm

2nd Thursday 10.30am

Science (HCC&V) Margaret de Wolf 678 5504

John Lindley 632 3989

Monthly

1st. Tuesday @ 2.00

Scrabble (L) Chris McDonnell 07891526293 3rd Friday @ 2pm

Sunday Lunches (V) Margaret de Wolf 678 5504 Sunday @ 1.15pm

Tap Dancing (HCC) Alison Griffiths 378 9209 Weekly Monday @ 2.30pm

Walking (Easy)** (V)

Easy Walking 2 (V)

Audrey Bottle 677 6781

Ian Browell 677 7403

Barbara Cunliffe 07977175532

Wednesday @ 10am

2nd 3rd 4th

Thursday

Wine Appreciation (H) Carol Johnston -678 1680 2nd Thursday 7.30pm

HCC = Hoylake Community Centre H = House L = Library V = Outside or variable ** Group may be full

Gossip from the Groups.

Our brief winter hibernation is now over, and we have a busy start to spring.

We have not one, but three workshops running in March and April. All these are now fully booked. If you have any suggestions for other short courses or workshops, please let us know. Even better, if you can run one yourself!

A new group is forming (hurrah). This group will be a Kindle Reading Group. What a good idea - saves going to the library and so many of us now own Kindles and Tablets of all sorts, it makes sense to have a reading

group using them. This group already has a leader (hurrah), some of you will know Hilary, and she will hold this group in her home in Irby on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10.30am. Obviously, you will need a Kindle or Tablet to be part of this group!

It has occurred to me that there are a significant number of our newsletter readers who do not regularly attend the monthly speaker meetings and some who never attend. These

members are missing out on the opportunity to be involved in our brand new ventures.

These members will not be aware of the lists of new interests that we promote, in the hopes of starting new groups. These lists are present at every meeting, for interested parties to add their names should they wish to join.

To address this situation, I will in future, publish a list of these embryonic groups, just in case some of them appeal to those who do not attend the speaker meetings. This way, ALL our members have a sporting chance of being part of a brand new group (hurrah).

Lastly, our Groups section is getting busier than ever, and in order to maintain a good service, we are pleased to say that, Carol Johnson has agreed to help out, and she will be joining Chris and myself. Carol is already a Group Leader, and her experience will be very useful to us.

You know what this means? Hurrah – Now I can spread the blame! . . . . . . . .

Ann

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Groups in Waiting

The following subjects have been suggested by our members.

Each suggestion has a ‘sign up’ sheet allocated to it for members to place their names if they are interested in joining that group. The ‘sign up’ sheets are always available at our monthly meetings, however if you do not attend the monthly meeting are would like to

place your name against a subject, you may telephone Ann Stott 632 6337 to register your interest, and I will keep you informed about progress. Card Games These can be any games suggested by the group, but will not include Bridge. What the Papers Say Lively discussions centred on current affairs, and putting the ‘world to rights’. Crosswords An informal group that could meet at a local venue (why not include breakfast?) Poetry All things poetry, this can mean writing poetry, reading poetry or discussions and debates about poetry. History Explore and research your own piece of history from any age or country. This could be eye opening and appeal to those who love to learn about something special. Birdwatching We live in a marvellous place for this. Watch and learn about the land and wading birds that live with us on the Wirral. Kindle Reading If you own a Kindle and you would like to share some books, and discussions, this is the group for you. Philosophy This may be a ‘joint venture’ with Heswell U3A, if our members are too small for our own group Learn to play the Recorder Make a noise share and enjoy your disharmony with others Wednesday Walkers Our Wednesday walking group is full to bustin’, so if you are raring to go on a Wednesday walk – sign up for this group. Are there any other subjects that you would like to see happening, and we could put forward for group activities?

Science Group

The Science Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

You do not need to be a Scientist! In line with the aims of the U3A, we are a mixed ability group - from people who had science-based jobs to others who have never been involved in the subject. At the end of each meeting, we choose a subject which we all prepare for the following month. Everyone is asked to do some research and talk for between five and ten minutes; we have a projector available so, when appropriate, we add interest with illustrations or examples. Last year’s subjects covered a variety of topics including the Dead Sea, Genetics and several environmental issues. We are a friendly group and believe that it is good to relax and enjoy a laugh. Occasionally, we go on visits and, last year, we visited the Catalyst Museum in Widnes and the Bidston Household Waste Recycling Centre; both of which were interesting and enjoyable. If you would like to learn or to share your knowledge, you would be welcome to join our Group, so please contact: Margaret de Wolf: 0151 678 5504

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INFORMATION REGARDING THE 8th

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY 2ND

JUNE 2016 at 2pm

In accordance with the constitution adopted in December 2015, the committee may consist of the following:-

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Up to 2 Vice Chairmen

Committee members to make a total committee of no more than 15 members. Each committee member is elected for a 2 year term of office. The position of each member of the current committee is as follows:- Marjorie Hargreaves, Chairman – will remain to complete her 2

nd year in office

Lynne Gilmour, Secretary – will remain to complete her 2

nd year in office

Victoria Doran, Treasurer – will stand down after 1 year as Treasurer and stand for election as Vice Chairman Sue Burke, Committee member – will stand down after 1 year and stand for election as Treasurer Ann Stott, Committee member – has completed 2 years as committee member and will stand for election as Vice Chairman Graham Thwaite and Harry Copnall who were each co-opted during the year will each stand for election as Committee Members Eirwen Thomas who joined the Committee this year to fill a casual vacancy will stand for election as a committee member Kate Jones has completed 2 years of service and has decided to stand down from the Committee and does not intend to stand for re-election at this time . Hilary Alcock has decided to stand down after 1 year as a Committee member. Mervyn Hudson and Margaret Pedder have both completed 6 years on the committee and have to stand down. Vanessa Blackwell and Chris McDonnell have both completed 1 year of a term of office as committee members and will remain to complete their 2

nd years.

A nomination form for new committee members is enclosed with this newsletter. Any motions (duly proposed and seconded) to be put to the AGM must be in the hands of Lynne Gilmour, Secretary by Wednesday 4

th May 2016.

The Agenda for the AGM will be available to view on the website from 19 May 2016 Copies of the Agenda, Annual Report and Accounts will be available at the venue on the afternoon of the AGM. Members wishing to vote in any elections (if contested) or for any motion must bring their membership cards to the meeting. This meeting will be held in accordance with the Standing Orders for Annual General or Special General Meetings of Hoylake, West Kirby & District U3A. Copies of which will be available at the meeting.

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Your Committee

Under the terms of our Constitution all members of the Committee, (officially titled ‘Trustees’) are elected to serve for two years. Committee members may be re-elected for a further two years, and anyone who takes an Officer’s position on the committee (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer or Secretary) may be re-elected for a further two year term, but no-one may serve for more than six years in total.

Unfortunately, some of the committee have almost reached the end of their maximum time of service so the committee will be saying a sad farewell to Mervyn Hudson, our Webmaster, and Margaret Pedder, our ‘tea-lady’. We are very pleased to report that Margaret will continue with teas as normal, and Mervyn will continue to assist on the website and with technical issues at meetings. (Phew!) It will just mean that they will need to step down from the committee and no longer be a trustee of our U3A. They have both done a great job over the last six years.

Mervyn joined the Committee in 2010; he set up the website in 2012 and has maintained it since then. He reports to the Committee on the interest shown on the Website and posts new information. He has been invaluable on the technical side of the Speaker meetings. You will have seen him at the front of the hall assisting the speakers to set up their equipment. You won’t have noticed him at the back of the Hall mastering the dreaded light switches, but I have! I am always most relieved to see Mervyn grinning at me from the back of the hall … then I know all is well. If Mervyn is not there, you may have had to endure my stabbing at every

computation of switches in an attempt to turn the lights on or off. Margaret has been behind the tea flasks to borrow her expression ‘since Methuselah was in nappies’ (actually 2009) … and long may it last! Margaret devised the serve-yourself method. We found that as membership increased, so did the washing-up and consequently conscripts to the tea rota were becoming scarce. Margaret suggested this method, and organised everything so that we could make our drinks as weak or a strong as we wished. It has worked well, and other than when she had her hip replaced she has never once missed a meeting and has been providing us with hot drinks and lovely biscuits for nearly seven years.

We will also be losing Kate Jones this year as she comes to the end of her two years of service. Kate has latterly been working as Assistant speaker secretary but has very willingly, cheerfully and competently turned her hand to any other task that needed doing. At committee meeting her calm, common-sense approach and clearly considered comments have been invaluable.

Hilary Alcock will be stepping down this year. We will be very sorry to lose Hilary because she has made a great impact on the welcome our new members receive and has been the most wonderful ‘welcoming face’ of the U3A to new members. She has volunteered to continue to help with this role outside of the Committee, which is very good news. Our grateful thanks go to all three, and also to Jean Bishop who booked some wonderful speakers and stepped down in November last year.

Now we are planning how our Committee will look after the AGM. Harry Copnall and Graham Thwaite were co-opted onto the Committee last year, and new member, Eirwen Thomas valiantly stepped in to to fill a ‘casual vacancy’ on the committee. We will need you to confirm their places by electing them onto the committee at the AGM. (Please do! - we would be lost without them). Eirwen, pictured here, has been assisting on membership, and she, like Harry and Graham have invaluable business experience to bring to us.

As a growing U3A we are now in dire need of a Vice Chairman, and under the terms of our new constitution we can elect two! (a bit like buses, none for ages, then two come along!) This we feel is a good thing; it is not an onerous position and one that an experienced existing committee member could take on, therefore Ann Stott, our brilliant Groups Co-ordinator will seek election as a Vice Chairman, but will also retain her present role. You all know that Ann works very hard and puts a lot of time and effort into organising new groups so we will be looking to increase her little ‘groups’ team with a new committee member. Continued on page 9…

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……Continued from page 8 It is not desirable for an Officer of the Committee to take a second role, so Victoria Doran will be stepping down as Treasurer and seeking re-election as Vice Chairman. Sue Burke who is a very experienced Charities Treasurer has been working as our Assistant Treasurer and will seek election as Treasurer. We will still have up to five committee places available and we are hoping that some of you will join us. The double Speaker meetings have meant some of us trying to be in two places at once so support roles for Membership, Groups and Speakers are required. Also someone to take on the publicity side of our U3A which has been shelved this last year. Someone to organise distribution of notices and Newsletter would be wonderful. None of them huge jobs, just requiring some willingness and commitment. Some of these jobs could be shared by two people outside of the committee even … any offers? I love working with the Committee and even though I hardly knew many of them last May they have become friends. They are a super group of people, and are doing a great job. We are a thriving and fast-growing U3A, so we work hard, but we enjoy working together - so why not join us? There is a nomination form inside this newsletter. Please use it, and ring me if you have any questions. Marjorie 632 1188

MARCH

15th March 1956 'My Fair Lady' opened on Broadway 1st March 1946 the Bank of England was nationalised 4th March 1936 The Hindenburg airship made its first flight 20th March 1916 Albert Einstein published 'The Theory of Relativity' 20th March 1616 Sir Walter Raleigh was released from the Tower of London 2

nd March 1969 Concorde maiden flight from

Toulouse

10th March 1886 Cruft’s Dog show moves to

London

24th March 1603 James and VI of Scotland

became James 1 of England and Scotland

Items for Sale

Ladies/Girls tap shoes size 4 unworn £10

Ladies tap shoes size 8 used …. Offers Contact Marjorie 632 1188

Rollerblades size 7’ish. Wheels are worn but

the bearings are ok £25 Contact Graham 632 2742

BKS two-piece set of Motorcycle Leathers in black.Full armour and removable quilted lining. Will fit someone of 5’ 6” normal figure. £50 Contact Graham 632 2742 Two used wireless & 4 port Ethernet routers for £5 each. One TP-LINK 16 port switch (offers) Contact Graham 632 2742

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North West Regional News The following events are available to all U3A members. Come and meet like- minded people from other groups around the Region, and ‘learn, laugh and live!’

A Music Workshop To be held on Friday 13th May here at our Parade Community Centre in Hoylake. There will be a guest speaker, a buffet lunch and afternoon activities to explore different approaches to Music in U3A. There will be a small charge for this event. The Regional AGM and ‘Conference’ Will be held at the Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool on Friday 8th June. Nigel Linge will be speaking about ‘How Manchester Cotton wired the World’; There will be entertainment from local U3As and discussion groups. The AGM will be held at the end of the day. Further information for the voting delegates and anyone else wishing to attend will be available soon. The NW Residential Summer School is arranged for 30th August – 2nd September at Newton Rigg Agricultural College near Penrith. Nine courses are available to explore: The works of Elizabeth Gaskell; Science - The Universe; Japanese Encounters; Ukulele; Recorders; Art; Architecture; Medieval archaeology; Geology. Register by May 31st for an early bird discount. Bookings are now available. Keep an eye on the website: u3asites.org.uk/north-west as details and booking forms for the Summer School can be found now on the Events page. Further information about other up-coming events will be posted soon. Meanwhile for more information about these and other Regional events please contact 633 2796. Gill Russell

In 1539, during the reign of Henry VIII, the first recorded horserace meeting was held at Roodie Fields in Chester, making it the oldest racecourse still in use in the UK. The Mayor at

the time was Henry Gee, who is thought to have inspired the term ‘Gee-Gee’ for a racing horse.

The Teddy Bear The Teddy Bear’s history began when Theodore Roosevelt the 26

th US president, went on a

hunt in 1902 and refused to shoot an injured black bear. A cartoon of the event prompted a sweet shop owner to put a couple of stuffed toys in his window, calling them ‘Teddy Bears’ Experts advise that brown bears and grizzly bears are extremely dangerous, but Teddy Bears

less so. If confronted by a Grizzly or Brown Bear... what is the best course of action? Climb a tree say some, while others suggest running away. A spokesman for the North American Federation of Bears says ‘neither – show-offs or cowards both taste delicious to us’. However there have only been three reported attacks by Teddy Bears during the last decade says the spokesman; ‘let’s face it, they were reacting to extreme provocation. ‘How would you like your head to be twisted around 360 degrees, and then tossed across a room like a rugby ball?’

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Our Banner

If you attended the last few Speaker meetings you will have no doubt noticed our new directional banner in the front entrance. (If you have encountered our banner at the rear entrance, we hope that you won’t see it again!)* … and shortly we will be getting a most beautiful new banner. In response to Ann’s request for the design of a decorative promotional banner, well-known local artist (and also super little U3A tapper) Barbara Singleton has designed an absolutely beautiful piece of art for us. It is yet to be manufactured because as you can see the text requires a slight adjustment, but we wanted you to have a sneaky preview as we are absolutely stunned by this incredible piece of work and extremely grateful to Barbara to designing this for us. As soon as the banner is produced we will have it on display in the hall during the monthly meetings, then it will be carefully stored and brought out for promotional purposes. Thank you so much Barbara, we will be so proud of our special banner, and so very grateful to you. *(despite numerous requests apparently some people are still entering through the mini-hall!)

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays

young.” ― Henry Ford

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”

― Albert Einstein

“I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time.” ― Mary Ann Shaffer

(author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society)

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Lino’s Restaurant meal Tuesday 19th April 7 for 7.30pm Price to confirm. Audrey Bottle 677 6781 Coach Trip to York Tuesday 3rd May 9.00am £15.00 Vanessa Blackwell 625 4987 ‘Heartbeat’ at the Floral Pavilion Wednesday 8th June 2.30pm £21.00 Jean Mathers 678 5378. Last Night of the Summer Pops at the

Philharmonic Hall Saturday 16th July. Price to confirm. Jean Mathers 678 5378.

Audrey Bottle

Jean Mathers Margaret Gascoigne Vanessa Blackwell

The Social Committee … Vanessa writes about ‘how we work’. We four (pictured above) are the Social Committee who arrange Theatre visits, meals out and Outings. Our outings do not need to have an educational aspect and are not connected to any specific Interest group .At monthly meetings we can be found in the Mini-hall opposite the Raffle table (ably manned by Pauline and Carol pictured below) The Social Committee arrange the Raffle and all the profits from it are put towards different Social events throughout the year to ensure that we can offer you, our members, good value. The last event that we put money towards was the Christmas outing to the Philharmonic Hall and it also bought extra prizes towards the Christmas Raffle, and the Champagne and chocolates Raffle at the Christmas meals. Everything we arrange is offered to you on a first come first served basis as we feel this is the fairest way. During the last six months there has been availability for all events during both first and second sessions at monthly speaker meetings. However, if an event does sell out we will endeavour to obtain more tickets or have a waiting list available.

All meals, outings and Theatre visits have to be paid for in advance to ensure a place. Refunds can only be given if we are notified well in advance, provided we have not made any payments. All our events are for U3A members so can only be offered to non-members if spaces allow. All our events are included in the Newsletters and on the U3A website. Our telephone numbers are listed above to help you contact us if you do not attend the monthly meetings.

This Newsletter …. Has been an earlier and larger issue than normal in order to highlight the AGM being held in

June. The next issue will be available for you to collect at the July meeting. Your letters, comments and any items of interest will be most welcome for inclusion. Please contact Marjorie (632 1188) or email them to

[email protected] before 10th June 2016.