October 2016 - U3A Site Builder Home Page...3 Solution To Last Month’s Wordsearch Puzzle The missing Olympic sport was HOCKEY! Instructions: Solve this Sudoku using the irregular

October

2016

2 Newsletter Edited by Chris Woolven

Newsletter Edited by Chris Woolven

It’s been a busy summer. Wendy, our vice chair, and myself attended on your behalf the U3A National Conference which this year was held at the East Midlands Conference Centre at Nottingham University in August. We were able to take the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas with U3A members from all regions in Britain, and we were also able to have a 1 : 1 with some of the National Officers, Admin Staff, and our Regional Trustee. Wendy’s report can be seen later in this Newsletter. On the first evening we were entertained by a local U3A Guitar group who gave a varied programme of song tunes to which we were able to add vocal support. It was a most enjoyable evening. The visiting speaker on Wednesday was Nick Hawes who spoke with authority on the application of Artificial Intelligence and the creation of robots that can work with or for humans. Star Wars? We ain’t seen nothin’ yet! On Thursday Dr Victoria Williamson gave a very moving account of the effects that various forms of music can have on human behaviours. Her work at Sheffield University is known internationally, and she brought a tear to many an eye in her description (and in some cases visual on-screen demonstration) of some of the remedial effects that can be stimulated / initiated by music, especially to those who find certain forms of physical movement difficult. The theme of the conference as always was to emphasise that the U3A movement was formed for the purpose of bringing together people to share and develop their interests, using a leader rather than having a teacher. At the moment we have approximately 40 groups, and would like that number to be nearer 50 by Christmas, so if any of you would like to suggest that a new interest group be started, please contact Monica, our Groups Co-ordinator on 01302 536753 George Kirk Chair

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Solution To Last Month’s Wordsearch Puzzle

The missing Olympic sport was HOCKEY!

Instructions: Solve this Sudoku using the

irregular shapes instead of 3x3 boxes. All

of the numbers 1 to 9 must appear once in

every shape and in every line down and

every line across

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The Strollers group has been in existence for more than 10years and has been led by Colin Bycroft for most of this time. Colin has now had to hand over the reins due to an upcoming knee operation. It was the first group that Brenda and I went to when joining the U3A and Colin and Cynthia made us so welcome. I hope we can continue his good work, but we will never have the knowledge of the Doncaster landmarks that Colin has. Colin also ran and built up the local history group up to a few years ago when he gave this up to do an Open University course.

Thank you for everything Colin.

Thank you also to Pat and Dave for planning and leading the August walk from Askern Lake, a new walk for the Strollers. We watched a model boat regatta before setting off. Twenty members braved the weather forecast and were rewarded by an enjoyable walk and meal in the Lake café before the predicted heavy rain arrived on our way home.

We meet on the 4th Thursday of the month at a pub or café and at 10.30 set off for a circular walk of about 3 miles returning at about 12.30 for lunch and chats. We will shortly be planning next year’s walks so if you have a favourite local walk you would like to share with us we would appreciate any help. For more details see the Strollers section on the website.

Allen Whittaker

Would people having an interest to start a paper craft group, sharing ideas about making boxes and novelty items (small bags, purses and table decor) from cardstock please contact Anne Jones by email: [email protected] or mobile: 07776123109.

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19th July 2016 Ladybower and Derwent Edge

The temperature was forecast to be over 30 degrees and so it proved! Numbers who had arranged to meet at Fairholme car park had dwindled to four, but the weather was glorious and not too hot for the mid-morning.

After refreshment, we set off past the magnificent Derwent Dam and then turned south on the road beside the reservoir. Just before Mill Brook we took the path climbing to Lanehead and Briery Side. Several stops for shade, a drink, and to admire the increasingly panoramic views were required but we soon reached the upper moorland with Derwent Edge parallel to the east. There were not many other people about at this stage but a newt crossed our path and was duly photographed. The stiff climb to the cairn on 'Lost Lad' was rewarded by the lunch stop, where there were some other people, including two mountain bikers from Leicester, and we admired the amazingly clear, distant views in all directions. It was hot but there was a bit of a breeze on the edge to cool things down.

We continued south along the edge, past the highest point of Back Tor and stopping to admire the weathered forms of the Cakes of Bread, Dovestone Tor, Salt Cellar and Wheelstones until we reached the point to descend to the reservoir. Going down is often worse than ascending and at the end of the downhill stretch we were glad of another drink, sitting on some convenient logs in the shade of a plantation close to the reservoir. By this time the temperature had soared. We were glad of the intermittent shade along the road skirting the eastern side of the reservoir and we had several more 'pit stops' for refreshment. We were pleased to see Fairholme come into view and with the chance to replenish our water supply and have an ice cream. With our boots off and enjoying a cool drink at the Ladybower Inn before returning to Doncaster, we looked back on a wonderful and truly memorable day. Ten miles had been a long stretch in the hot weather but we had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to Wendy for organising and leading the walk.

Mike Shaw

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Smartphones and Tablets

This group has run for a while now – with some success – however with the infinite variety of phones and tablets it has been difficult to look at anything in depth and has meant I have been whizzing round the room trying to help people who have got stuck. I am away for quite a bit of September and so there won’t be meetings on the dates previ-ously advertised and I decided it was time for a rethink.

I am going to relaunch this group on Monday 10 October 1pm at DCVS. To start I will take a more in depth look at Apple iPhones and iPads and work systematically through the various features and apps for an hour at each meeting followed by exercises to put this learning into practice.

I realise this leaves some of you who have other makes of devices without support so I am going to suggest that if you would like help with a particular issue you email me in advance – to give me thinking time - and I will agree a time for you to come and join the meeting after the first hour when I should have some free time.

Just to be clear, there are spaces available on this group so if you would like to come along please let me know.

Wendy Hattrell [email protected]

GEORGIAN TEA ROOMS –25TH SEPTEMBER AT 1PM

Please meet in restaurant before 12. 45 pm

DANUM HOTEL –23RD OCTOBER AT 1PM Prices are—£13.95 for 2 courses £16.95 for 3 courses tea /coffee extra

Menus will be available from Saturday 8th until Friday 14th October. Contact me to make your choice from the menu or to let me know if you are unable to attend this lunch. EARL OF DONCASTER—27TH NOVEMBER AT 1PM CHRISTMAS LUNCH Prices are ;-£16.95 for 2 courses £19.95 for 3 courses

Names and deposits of £5 are required by the end of September for this lunch

Eileen Dickson

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It was a lovely sunny

day for the U3A

Showcase and was well

attended by various

groups from towns and

villages in the YAHR.

From the Barnsley

Cosmology group to

Whitby Ukuleles there

were over seventy

groups showing what

they could do. The atmosphere was brilliant as people

wandered around the group displays chatting to each

other and picking up new ideas. Amazing

entertainment was provided in half hour sessions

throughout the day from seven choirs, three ukulele

bands and an orchestra from Bridlington! Invitations

were eagerly accepted to “Have a Go” at jewellery

making, calligraphy, Scrabble, a giant Sudoku board

and even croquet. There was something for everybody

and everybody did something. Unfortunately,

Doncaster was poorly represented with just one

group—Textiles (AKA Pins and Needles). We had a

good display of our craftwork and lots of interest was

shown in our “Little Dresses For Africa” project, with

people from other areas swapping information with a

view to starting the project in their own U3As. We also

had three “Muscle Men” from Doncaster who, along

with Katrina and Diane, helped with folding away

tables and chairs at the end of a very enjoyable day—

Thanks lads (Chris, Barry and Trevor). We’ll certainly

be at the next showcase—hopefully with a few more

groups from Doncaster. Christine Fields

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For the Love

of Nature.

The expectation was to see lots of butterflies on a lovely August

morning. The reality was somewhat different as we set off on our

search on a cool and rather overcast day. With everyone’s eyes

strained on the vegetation it was surprising what we did find including,

among others, a Cinnabar moth caterpillar, Ringlet and Small Skipper.

B Thompson

The session about butterflies was very well attended. The session

started with a very informative presentation by Kat, Education Officer,

about the types of butterflies that could be found at Potteric Carr.

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Outings are open to all U3A members on a first come first served basis. Booking desk available at all General and Travel & Theatre meetings. Telephone and email bookings will also be accepted. Payment to be posted to Mr D Franks. 74 West Park, Darrington, Pontefract. WF8

3HY. Tel 01977 620192. Cheques payable to U3A Round & About – Email [email protected] (If a receipt required please enclose

stamped addressed envelope)

Day Trips

Saturday 24th

September Bronte Country, Saltaire & Howarth

Coach Stand, Market Car Park, Doncaster 09.30am - £16.50

Saturday 15th October Pickering 1940s Day

Coach Stand, Market Carpark, Doncaster £16.50

Sunday 29

th November

Harrogate Christmas Market £14.50 Coach Stand, Market Place Doncaster

09.30am

Sunday 11th

December Beverley Festival of Christmas £11.50 Coach Stand, Market Place Doncaster

07.30am

Mini Break Monday 21

st November - Paignton Turkey & Tinsel

Coach Stand, Market Carpark, Doncaster 09.00 am 5 Days £246.00

Full details available at Travel & Theatre & General Meetings or direct from Derrick Franks.

Diary Date – Christmas Lunch 7

th December – Danum Hotel.

All gratuities are included in tariffs for all these outings. Any problems on tour days my mobile number is 07951487533 Derrick.

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Chairman George and I headed south to the East Midlands Conference Centre on the campus of Nottingham University. Neither of us had been to the U3A National Conference before and we weren’t quite sure what to expect, either for the conference itself, or the student accommodation where we were staying! I have been to many conferences during my working life and have a rule – to be considered good I must personally learn new skills or information and the organisation that sent me must also benefit because I am able to bring back those skills and information and put them to good use. I am pleased to say this conference passed that test.

One of the key messages I think we in Doncaster don’t emphasise enough is that U3A is not a sit and listen organisation, it is an organisation that expects its members to contribute and in fact the more members that contribute the more vibrant the organisation as a whole will become. Help is always welcome at the General Meetings and groups benefit from sharing the workload. The national recommendation is that groups should have different people doing different jobs – eg booking the room, taking the register and collecting subs, contacting group members and giving out notices can all be done by different people as well as the content of the meeting being provided by different people in a planned way. If that doesn’t reflect the groups you attend then perhaps you could (gently) suggest changes and offer help.

We learnt of the tremendous increase in numbers of U3As there has been over the last 20 years and that we will pass 1000 U3As in the UK next month. We have seen that increase become exponential over the recent years and with it, of course, the increase in members in this country. All very encouraging.

The first workshop I attended asked delegates to say how many members they had in their own U3A. Of the 35 U3As represented there were only 6 who had fewer than Doncaster – so do spread the word – come and join Doncaster U3A. I’m pleased to say we are now increasing our membership numbers again after they took a dip for a couple of years and we are well over 300 again. We also have increasing numbers of groups, but would like

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more, so if you have any ideas please do make them known to Monica, George or myself.

George and I also had voting rights at the AGM but there were no resolutions that required votes and so we just had to approve accounts and minutes.

We will be reporting back in more detail to the committee and we would encourage other members to attend in the future if they think it might be of interest. We estimate there were about 350 delegates in attendance for the first 2 days and more on the final day for the AGM. Some had come from Guernsey and others from Scotland and Northern Ireland so our drive of an hour was quite modest by comparison.

Wendy Hattrell

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We are now taking orders for the Doncaster U3A Calendar. The price

of the calendar is unlikely to be more than £4, but this will not be

known until they are ordered. Your group leaders have been

encouraged to get group photos to us to be included. We do not make

a profit on the calendar. If all goes to plan they should be available for

purchase at the October Meeting. A number of people were unable to

get one last year as we had sold out so book one now if you wish to

avoid disappointment. Contact Chris Woolven on 01302 265580.

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Our next outing to be announced. If you are interested in joining us and have not contacted us before my details are

on the Round & About page. Derrick Franks

U3A National Events Programme, Autumn/

Winter 2016

Much Ado About Shakespeare, 3 November, Picadilly Theatre, London

The Secret Language of Art, 24 November National Gallery, London

Branfenburg Christmas Concerts, 7 & 12 December, Queens Chapel of the

Savoy, London

Details on how to apply for the above events are given on the TAT website at http://

www.u3a.org.uk/. Alternatively contact the Secretary’

The next regional development meeting will take place on November

24th at Doncaster Trades Club.

The next Italian meal will be on Wednesday October 12th at the

“Trattoria Toscana Restaurant” at 6.30 for 7pm. Menus are online or

available from Diane Harris. Places are limited so be sure to book as

soon as possible.

If you would like to meet your U3A friends for a coffee and a

chat on Saturday mornings then why not call in to our new

morning drop in session on the third floor of the Trades Club

from 11 o’clock, starting on 24th September.

16 Cover Photo by Chris Woolven

Chairman George Kirk 07808191211 [email protected]

Secretary Diane Harris 01302 265580 [email protected]

Treasurer Beryl Kellett 01302 539229 [email protected]

Membership Jill Laming 01302 701395 [email protected]

We are grateful to Monks the Printers for their help in printing this newsletter.

Deadline for the November Newsletter is 5th October

In addition to the monthly Newsletters,

up-to-date information is available at:

u3asites.org.uk/doncaster

We would like to thank our friends at the Prego Cafe for their help over

the past year. Not only is the tea, coffee and food excellent, but the free

use of the upstairs room for meetings has been a great help to many of

our groups. If you haven't been there yet give it a try!

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