Salisbury and District U3A  
NEWSLETTER
Number 53 August 2005

 

From the Chairman

 

Change Not Decay - the argument for life long learning for older people has, sadly, to be made not only to policy makers but alas, in many instances, to older people themselves.

 

Whilst the education policy makers are concentrating on the economy and skills for the work place, many older people feel that education has nothing to offer them. For such people it is irrelevant, they are too old, and they lack the skills, confidence, money and information to participate.

 

Europe is  greying. In some countries the population levels will be maintained with small growth; in others there will be severe population decline. If there are to be more older people than younger people then education policies have to be changed to ensure that older people are allowed to contribute as fully as possible in all aspects of civil society. The biggest assumption in our country is that all these extra older people will be dependent on the state for their very existence in terms of pensions, health care and welfare. Little seems to be happening to make changes that would lessen the likelihood of that dependency.

 

Many elderly people are likely to be in relatively poor health, live in poor housing, be isolated with poor social networks and to have minimum income. All these factors contribute to social exclusion and disengagement. Frequently they are compounded by lower levels of initial education, a lack of 'power' and a view of education as being irrelevant.

 

Often it is these negative aspects that influence the view of policy makers about older people. For members of our organisation it is important not only to draw attention to these discriminatory factors but also to draw attention to the positive ones. Many older people have experience, maturity, wisdom and compassion. There are many role models around our world suggesting that one is never too old to do anything. Life long learning can be an effective tool for the social inclusion of older people. There is clear evidence in our country of the improvements in health and well-being and in the confidence and curiosity of older people engaged in learning activities.

 

We are never too old to learn and in so doing we make it well known that age is not equated with being brain dead.

 

---Jack Leeming-----

Top

From the Secretary

 

Are members really aware of the interesting document available free of charge, three issues per annum, from U3A Third Age Office called Sources? It is an educational Bulletin packed with information and worth reading. All you have to do to obtain a copy is ask the Secretary for a Subscription Form and then post it to the London office. The Resource Centre at Bromley has study aids such as videos, CDs, DVDs and other materials which can be borrowed by members. Some of these are mentioned briefly later in this newsletter.

 

Also the London office has available a translation of a very interesting and relevant lecture given by the President of AIUTA earlier this year in Geneva entitled ‘Seniors, U3As and Society. When Utopia becomes Reality' If you would like a copy see the Secretary.

 

Mature Times, a new publication, is only available in quantities of 100 so this is normally delivered to libraries and other public places. Go and get yourself a copy and tell the Committee what you think of it - your views can then be shared with the other members. You can get a flavour of the paper on the website (maturetimes.co.uk)

 

Those members with an eye for detail will have noticed an omission in the Group prospectus, namely 6th Form Forum. The Forum over the years has been a most rewarding experience for both the students of Bishop Wordsworths School and South Wilts Grammar School and for the U3A members who have taken part.

 

The Forum is geared to only having the U3A age group and the Students so no Parents or Teaching Staff attend. This has meant complete freedom for all to express their views without stepping on ‘Adults' toes.

 

However the course is not going to happen next term because no-one has volunteered to step in and organize and arrange the diary details associated with the Forum. This is a great pity and if you would like more details as to what is entailed please speak to Jeremy Turtle or the Secretary. It is not too late to resuscitate the course.

 

U3A Poster Competition

 

The Office in London needs at least one new poster for publicity and promotional purposes throughout the UK.

 

Submit your design(s) which should be in A4 size, a mixture of illustration and ‘easy to read' text and in two colours - blue and yellow - on a white background It should reflect the aims and guiding principles of the U3A Movement, have space for local details and incorporate the U3A logo.

 

The closing date for entries is 30 November 2005

 

e-mail Communication Skills

 

The London Office has an excellent handbook on the above written by Mike Williams of the ICT Committee. This is based on Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and can be obtained from 19 East Street Bromley Kent BR1 1QH for £1.50 inclusive of postage.

 

Mention is often made of the Salisbury U3A Website The address is salisburyu3a.co.uk. Have a go - it will surprise you.

 

The U3A International Group are pleased to announce another e-mail project for U3As worldwide. The  Advice project, in partnership with Exeter University, is a short exercise in creative writing which helps with some very interesting research work. Please click on or go to worldu3a.org/cooperation and then the 'Advice' button.

 

Middle Ages, www.moyenageenlumiere.com/illuminated,  is a database of several hundred recently digitized high-resolution illuminated images and texts from French national library collections. Some commentaries are in English and German.

 

A list of U3A Travel Network tours with an educational or cultural interest is at db.u3a.org.uk/travel/tour_list.htm  All U3A Travel Network tours are for U3A members and companions.

 

Don't forget to check the U3A website at www.u3a.org.uk/ regularly. There is always something new, and some excellent advice on how to deal with ‘computer nasties'.

 

As well as the MSN routefinder map site there are two other quite interesting ones at www.viamichelin.com  (covers Europe and USA) and maps.google.com (covers UK and USA).

 

Got a digital camera and having trouble organizing all those pictures? You should try the excellent Picasa programme - free from www.picasa.com  It is very easy to use!

 

----Neville Jennings-----

 

From the Treasurer

 

At present the position of assistant treasurer is not filled. This represents a risk to the smooth running of Salisbury U3A if I am incapacitated or otherwise unable to do the job. No one else has knowledge of how the books and accounts are kept, nor where the documents are filed.

May we please have a volunteer - contact myself or anyone on the Committee. I naturally hope you will have nothing to do other than understand my records and keep an updated disc! At worst you will be asked to keep the finances running till a permanent replacement is found.

 

Reminder. Anyone requiring to draw on U3A funds should give their request to myself using a ‘cheque request' form, or an ‘expenses claim' form. Requests should be supported with invoices and/or receipts if at all possible.

 

----David Wilson-----

Speakers at the Monthly Meetings

August         

Bob Baker Bobby's War - a child's view of WWII in            Salisbury

September         

                     

                     

        

Peter Redmond   Geriatric on a bike in Jordan
October Two speakers from Salisbury Samaritans
November Anniversary Lunch
December Dr Denise Allen Pompeii and its surrounding area

Top

Outings News
Friday 23 September Clarence House, London and optional visit to Buckingham Palace State Apartments. Clarence House, formerly London home of the late Queen Mother. A Royal Residence for over 170 years. Now the London Residence of the Prince of Wales. An afternoon (optional) visit is offered to the State Apartments at Buckingham Palace. Coach Tesco's Southampton Road 8 am Coach Park Castle Street 8.15 am. Return from London 4.30 pm. Cost £16.50 (Clarence House only) or £26.50, including Buckingham Palace. Cost includes entry fees, coach travel and driver gratuity. Full - waiting list only!.
Wednesday 12 October Mystery Day Tour including Cream Tea. Cost £16.50. .A. Day of pieasant surprises! Three Pick Up points. Coach departs Wilton Michael Herbert Hall 8.00 am, Tesco's Southampton Road 8.15 am, Coach Park Castle Street 8.30 am. Driver gratuity included. Booking now!
Thursday 1 December To Mayflower Theatre Southampton for a performance of the Merry Widow featuring Lesley Garrett. 7.15 pm Centre Stalls. Coach 5.45 pm Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton. 6.00 p.m. New Canal Street. 6.15 pm, Tesco's Southampton Road. £25.00 including coach and gratuity. Advance postal bookings accepted now or at September General Meeting.
Thursday 8 December Christmas Shopping trip to McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Swindon. This is claimed to be the largest covered designer outlet in Europe. Members attending will receive a 10% discount card providing further discounts in 56 stores. Coach Tesco's Southampton Road 9.30 am Coach Park Castle Street 9.45 am. Return from Swindon at 4.30 pm. Cost including driver gratuity £8.20. Booking from September meeting.
Note:

Cheques only please payable to ‘Salisbury U3A'. No cash. Separate cheques for each outing. This will greatly ease the administration burden. Non members of U3A are welcome but subject to availability and a £1.00 supplement.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations will be treated sympathetically and no charge will be incurred within 1 month of Booking Start date. After this refunds will be subject to re-sale less £1.00 administration charge.

Visit to Dublin. A 5 day visit to Dublin is planned for the period 24--28 April 2006 with flights from Bournemouth or Southampton. The inclusive arrangements will include accommodation at the four star Burlington hotel in the city centre on a room and breakfast basis; a city sightseeing coach tour and a full day visit to the scenic Wicklow mountains; coach transfers between Salisbury and Bournemouth or Southampton and Dublin airport and the hotel; porterage at Dublin airport and the hotel. All ground arrangements in Ireland will be handled by a reliable tour operator. The cost is expected to be approximately £350 per person sharing a twin or double room. Single room supplement £ 90 for the full period. The cost is based on a minimum of 15 persons travelling. Members are asked to register interest only at this stage at the next general meeting or by phone. A decision whether or not to proceed will be taken by the end of September 2005.
  ----John Ewington-----
Walking Group
Welcome to new Members. All walks are on a Thursday meet at 13 Dorset Rd. at 9.15 unless you are going to the walk start. Please wear strong shoes or boots and bring something for a coffee break.
September 22nd Stonhenge circular. GR 121424 Main car park. 5.5 miles Meet 9.15 Start 9.45 am Leader: Graham Carter
October 6th Walk around Pitton, Farley and Winterslow, starting from Silver Plough car park. GR 213312 or Hall car park opposite if not having lunch. Meet 9.15 Start 9.45. 5.5 miles  Leader: Anne
October 20th Walk at Charford Drove, Mizz Maze and Wick Down. Starting from Leisure Centre, Downton. GR 167216 5 miles Meet 9.15 Start 9.45 Leader: Maggie
November 3rd Walk around Broadchalke and Bowerchalke starting at Broadchalke Church car park. GR 641254 5 miles Pub possible. Meet 9.15 Start 10.00 am Leader : Rex Sawyer
November 17th Abbotswell, Dockens Water, Slodin Enclosure. GR 178129 5.5 miles Meet 9.15 Start 10.00 am. Leader: Kay
December 1st Trafalgar House, Witherington Down and Standlynch. Park in Wooden Spoon pub car park or Moot Lane car park GR 212182  End of term lunch. Meet 9.15 Start 9.45 Leader: Maggie
Your Walk Leader is now Maggie Hunter - telephone number above. Please support her and if you would be prepared to lead a walk next year please let her know.
Make a note of the dates for next year: January 12th & 26th, February 9th & 23rd, March 9th & 23rd, April 27th, May 11th & 25th, June 8th & 22nd and July 6th.

Thank you all for your help and kindness to me.

 

----Anne Bull----

 

Mini Walks

All walks are held on the third Thursday of each month.
August No walk
15th September West Dean GR 257272 Village Hall Car Park
20th October Berwick St James GR 073389 Guide Hall Car Park
10th November Stonehenge GR 122423 Car Park No dogs allowed
Walks of about 4 miles are on country footpaths. Start at 10.00 am. We have a break midway - please bring a drink. Stout shoes or boots are necessary. If bringing a dog ask leader beforehand.
----Sheila and Peter Brown -----

Top

Family History
Programme until Christmas
Once again, I am offering help with researching your family tree and the past history of your family. At present I have only a very small group and would welcome more members! In between the meetings designed for beginners I shall have informal, open meetings where I welcome anyone, beginner or experienced, who would like to consult my fairly comprehensive collection of books, discuss problems, boast of achievements and chat over coffee.

The dates and subjects are as follows:
September 23rd Introduction; what we want to find out and where to start 
October 7th Birth, marriage and death certificates, their value in research, and where to find them.
October 21st Open, informal meeting.
November 4th The Censuses 1841 - 1901. The Family Records Centre
November 18th Parish Registers, research before 1837.
December 2nd Open, informal meeting.

December 16th

County Record Offices. The International Genealogical Index, the IGI.
January 6th First meeting after Christmas.
All meetings are held on Friday mornings at 10.15 am at 8 Shakespeare Road, Stratford-sub-Castle.

I am also arranging a visit to The National Archives/Public Record Office, Kew, London, and Kew Gardens, on Monday, September 12th, leaving the Coach Station off Castle Street at 8 am. The coach will go first to the entrance to Kew Gardens for those who would like to spend the day there, and then on to TNA/PRO. We will be leaving around 5 pm. I realise that the cost of parking in the Central car park all day has risen to £5, so suggest that if you cannot find someone to drop you there, you should share transport, and also the cost. It has also been suggested that you might make use of the Park and Ride, but I am not sure about its opening and closing times.

Please contact me if you would be interested in going on this trip (address and phone number above) or mchrism@tiscali.co.uk .

The cost of the trip will depend on the number who opt to go; if I have a full coach it will be less than £10.
----Chris Dickson-----

   

Forthcoming Events
18th Anniversary Lunch of Salisbury U3A

This year the Anniversary Lunch will be held on Wednesday 2nd November in St Francis Church Hall at noon for 12.30. This will take the place of our usual monthly meeting.

 

Please bring a plate of food for general consumption and your own plate and cutlery. Wine, soft drinks together with tea and coffee will be provided. There will also be a short entertainment.

 

TIckets at a cost of £2.00 will be available at the September and October monthly meetings , or from the Secretary from September onwards - to whom you should send a s.a.e. together with a cheque for £2.00 made out to ­Salisbury and District U3A. Numbers are limited and tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.
Sunday Lunches

The popularity of Sunday lunches is steadly growing. The lunches are held on the first Sunday after the Wednesday General Meeting (the coffee Morn­ing to some). A list is on the notice board at the General Meeting with details, or telephone me.

 

-----Sheila Tupling ----­
  Top

Groups/Courses 2005-6

 

You should have received notification of your groups/courses for next year. I'm sorry if you are disappointed because you haven't got the places you applied for, but I am sure you appreciate that we have a lot of members and only 58 Groups. Several subjects were very popular and had masses of applicants, and some members couldn‘t have their first choice. However, there are vacancies in quite a number of groups; if any of these appeal to you, contact me (335223) soon, as I shall be offering these places to Sarum and Spire:

5  German conversation  30 Bowling Experience
6  Gardening  32 Scottish Country Dancing
8   U3A choir  33 Latin poetry
9  Water colour painting 40 Seapower through the Ages
11  Discovering Architecture 43 Bible Study
14  Italian 48 Geology
19 Intermediate Spanish 53 World affairs
25 Crosswords 54 Family history
25 Canvas embroidery 56 A good read: the Apocrypha
28 Play Reading (not Shakespeare) 58 Ballroom dancing

   

 

Salisbury U3A and the Planning Process

 

In August 2004 the Government made it obligatory for County Councils and Local Authorities to involve local communities in an active and meaningful manner in the planning process; in particular ensuring that options are thoroughly debated at the stage at which people recognise they will have the potential to make a difference. To achieve this end a Statement of Community Involvement has been prepared after consultation with various groups, including Salisbury U3A, laying down the ground rules on how this involvement is to be achieved, and this will be submitted to a Government Inspector later this year for approval. Once approved it will become mandatory.

Salisbury U3A has also agreed to be represented at technical meetings dealing with the subject of waste disposal, the next taking place on July 20th in Salisbury, the topic being: The disposal of Toxic Waste. To meet our commitments we have formed a working party consisting of members with a civil engineering backgrounds, namely John IIIston, David Quinion and Ivan Raynsford -Smith, who will attend these meetings and report back as necessary to both the Committee and the members.

I am sure members will be delighted that our status in the community has been recognised and that we can play our part in helping to determine the future.

 

---- Ivan Raynsford-Smith-----

Top

Recorded Music Society

 

Two members of the Committee, by special invitation of the Recorded Music Society. were guests at a meeting on March 30th in which Rosalind Plowright, the world renowned singer, was answering questions about her life and career and choosing pieces of music, rather in the style of Desert Island Discs.

 

Rosalind, who had appeared on BBC TV a few days earlier in the role of Fricka, in a transmission of Das Rheingold from the Royal Opera House, answered the questions put by the Chairman of the RMS, lan Lace, very fully, appearing to be quite relaxed and enjoying the occasion. The questions and answers were interspersed with excerpts, chosen by Rosallnd, from recordings of her singing arias from operas such as Aida, Queen Elizabeth and Othello.

 

We learnt that her interest in opera began when she heard a performance of The Mikado. Rosalind trained at the Royal Northern College of Music where she received a thorough grounding under the tutelage of Frederick Cox. She emphasised the importance for young singers of not over-straining their voices by taking too demanding roles too soon; telling us that she knew of a number of promising singers whose vocal chords had been damaged in this way.

About eleven years ago Rosalind experienced health problems and gave up singing altogether for over a year. When she resumed she found,to her dismay, that she could no longer reach the highest notes. Previously she had no problem singing top C. She soon came to realise, however, that she now had the opportunity to widen her repertoirs by singing mezzo roles, which were both demanding and enjoyable.

 

Rosalind told us that the conductor with whom she most enjoyed working was Carlo Maria Giulini, while her favourite opera house was the Royal Opera House. La Scala, she explained, was her least favourite opera house because of the 'claques' which are commonplace in Italy. Claques are groups who, for a fee, will organise applause on a singer's behalf.. They come to the dressing- room before a performance, demanding their fee, and if this is not forthcoming, then woe betide the singer who can expect an aria to be greeted by boos or silence.

Talking about the inevitable problems that professional singers are faced with due to the nature of their work, the constant travelling, the difficulty of enjoying a family life, Rosalind recounted an episode of how, when travelling by train in Europe, she was surprised to hear her name called over the public address system while the train waited in Cologne station, telling her to go to the station- master's office. There she was told that a message had come through from her manager in London instructing her to fly to Hamburg and to sing, without any rehearsals, a role she had recently sung in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos. She admitted that it had been a rather terrifying experience to walk straight into the part, and at first she had relied entirely on the prompter mouthing the words to her. Having strong nerves and plenty of stamina was essential if one was to succeed.

 

The most difficult and demanding role Rosalind has ever sung was that of Norma in Belliini's opera for the simple reason that Norma, as she explained, is on stage throughout the whole of the opera and literally holds the opera together.

 

Asked about her future plans Rosalind told us that she was beginning rehearsals for the role of Clytemnestra in Strauss’ Electra. She named Strauss as one of her favourite composers as he wrote  such wonderful parts for women.  Finally she answered a number of questions put to her by members of the audience. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and wish the Recorded Music Society every success in the future.

 

----Barbara Coulson and Ivan Raynsford-Smith-----

A contribution from Arthur Addis (who swears it is true) entitled ‘How we won the war’.

 

It was some time after D-Day, while I was waiting to hear whether my own company was to go over as well, when I received an urgent message from my Colonel.

‘Drop everything and report immediately to General So-and So at Command H.Q. for special duty. Drive yourself - it’s evidently hush-hush’

I soon stood before the General, who swore me to secrecy. He handed me a large sealed package and said ‘Sign for this will you. It’s for General Montgomery. He must have it today. Understand?’ ‘Yessir’.

‘Now, take it to (he mentioned a certain military airfield) - I'll give you a pass and go straight to the a.c. - he’ll be waiting for you and he’ll take you to a special plane. You will personally hand this package to the pilot and get him to sign for it on this form. Wait to see him fly off, then come back to me. And, remember, the whole operation is Secret’.

In next to no time I returned to the General with the signed form.

‘Everything O.K.? See him fly off?’ ‘Yessir’ ‘Good. Now keep this in the dark’

As I drove back to my company location I wondered what was in this important package. A new battle plan, perhaps, fresh information about the enemy?

It was not until some months later that I was able to ask one of Monty’s staff what the secret package had contained. He laughed - ‘Oh, just birdseed for Monty’s carrier pigeons’.

 

Editors note. Terrific stuff, but were the pigeons carrying a new battle plan?

Top

The Resource Centre
The following is a selection taken from the descriptions by Elizabeth Gibson, the manager, which have appeared in recent issues of Sources
Music Since the creation of the Resource Centre in 1998 we have been providing videos of operas suggested for purchase by group leaders from all over Britain. We now have a considerable collection of these. 
Health I receive many requests from groups studying health matters and the two BBC series we have on health and the human body are heavily used. We now have four new videos on complementary practices for treating common health problems such as back pain, migraine, osteoporosis, insomnia and so on.
Art We have some unusual slide sets that have recently been added to stock. Scandinavian art of the nineteenth and twentieth century is a set of 22 donated slides on the work of artists from Norway, Sweden and Finland. We also have 3 large slide sets on the work of women artists from the 16th century to the present day.
Science We have acquired two copies of a pack produced by the Royal Society and the Centre for Science Education, the title is 'Exploring the Lives of Leading Scientists'.
Literature We have a complete collection of Shakespeare's plays on video as well as other material relating to his life and his writing. We have now added the first four plays to be released by the BBC on DVD. They are Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Foreign Languages Probably the most popular sets we have are the BBC series: Talk French, Talk German, Talk Spanish and Talk Italian. They consist of a small booklet and two audiocassettes or Cds.
Gardening Gardening groups use our stock heavily during the winter months. I have started to collect gardening DVDs as well as videos.
Fashion We have recently acquired a set of three videos on the history of fashion. They are presented by Karl Largerfeld and trace the development of fashion during the last 150 years.

For further information or for lists of material on any subject please contact:

Elizabeth Gibson, Resource Centre Manager, Third Age Trust

19 East Street Bromley BR1 1QH, Kent Tel: 0208 3150199  E:mail:resource.centre@u3a.org.uk

From the Editor

 

I could not resist buying a large (and expensive) electric fretsaw for my workshop. It is a copy of a famous European maker and it has been made in ? - you guess.

 

With it comes an Instruction Manual and I thought you might be interested in some of the instructions. (In the trade, apparently, they call it ‘Chinglish’).

 

Under NOISE LEVEL 2. The place where machine install must be flat.

The total weight of the machine must be ensured before handling.

Connect dust extrection equipment.

Do not use the tool if you are under influence of drugs or alcohol.

Under SITE CONDITIONS: 1. Vibration free 2. Drying 3. Freely of aggresive gases and damp 4. Freely of mineral.

SETTING UP. Tricks it in addition the control knob in the clockwise direction until the saw blade gives a bright clay/tone with finger.

Turn control knob H against clockwise direction.

 

Paying attention which is upward folded the protection hood.

REPLACING SAW BLADE. Flaps the hood downward. Put new saw blade exactly centrically and straight.

Editor’s note. This is all very funny but I have written to the supplier to point out that in the photographs of ‘replacement of saw blade’ they actually miss out a vital step and if you had never used a mechanical fret saw before, you could not change the blade with the instructions given.

 

Have you had similar problems with ‘Chinglish’ instructions? If so, drop me a line sometime.

 

Distribution of the Newsletter

 

Bob Pearce, as you know, is responsible for the distribution of the Newsletter. He needs a distributor for the area at the top end of Castle Road. I would be grateful if someone will help him please.  He is currently on holiday but will be back on the 8th August.  He has asked me to thank all those who kindly distribute - he’d be lost without you.

 

Jimmy Mogford, Newsletter Editor

Top