Salisbury and District U3A

NEWSLETTER
Number 62 August 2008

From the Chairman

Writing this in June for the August Newsletter, I am probably too late to wish you all a good summer and a change of scenery somewhere.  We have had a week in Cornwall and will have another week in the north of Scotland, both to the extremities of the British Isles, but beside the sea.
We owe our Committee thanks for their continuing hard work on our behalf.  Dieter Scholz and Neville Jennings deserve a special mention for their efforts in achieving the National Lottery award worth £4306 for a new computer-based audio-visual system.  Marian Sewell has efficiently and unobtrusively typed the newsletter for several years and is now having a well earned rest!
Sue Kenway works hard at finding subjects and speakers to amuse, interest and educate us.  If you cannot stay please show consideration to our speakers by leaving quietly and unobtrusively.  It would be helpful if you stood on the side or rear during coffee.  If you feel a need to sit please use an end of row seat.
Here’s hoping for some good weather.  Happy holidays.

Moira Dickson

From the Secretary

Copyright Licence - The Third Age Trust has announced that it has now entered into an agreement with The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA).  The Agreement will license any participating local U3A for multiple photocopying and digital copying (e.g. scanning and retyping) of books, journals and magazines – original print material – for educational purposes.  Digital copies can also be made and those digital copies may be used with technologies such as white boards within virtual learning environments, e-mail, fax etc.  The Third Age Trust has worked closely with the CLA to ensure that the Agreement reflects the ethos and working practice of local U3As, providing ease of implementation and economy of scale.

U3A 2009 Calendar “Images of Water” (size 355mm x 242mm).  The current issue of U3A News gives a preview of some of the pictures selected.  All the pictures will be on the website.  The price will be £5 including p&p.  Orders to the Bromley Office.

Help another U3A Group – A member of Launceston U3A is compiling a history travelogue of the route taken by the naval officer carrying dispatches of Trafalgar.  He is aware of the memorial on the Blandford Road but would welcome any further local details.  Please contact me to progress this further.
Michael Limbrick

Welcome to New Members:  Chris Cochrane;  Hilary Ducker;  Gerda Eade;  Dorothy Entwistle;  Brenda Freeman;  Jean Hankey;  Elizabeth Hayes;  John Hodgkin;  Jack Osborne;  Christine Power;  Elizabeth Willson.

We regret to record the deaths of Sheila Tupling who sang with the U3A choir and who until very recently organized the Sunday lunches and also of Colin Tindall who led a group in poetry appreciation for many years.

Monthly Meetings
These meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month in the Methodist Church building in St. Edmund’s Church Street.  Coffee is served from 10am and outings bookings can be made.  At 10.30 a few announcements are made, followed immediately by an address by a visiting speaker.  You will see from the list below what interesting and varied subjects are covered.  We are privileged to have gifted speakers, often eminent in their fields.

There is a charge of 50p to attend the meeting, whether you have coffee or not.  This is for the hire of the hall.

Speakers at Monthly Meetings or go HERE
3 September   Mark Cook........... Hope and Homes for Children
1 October        John Coombes... Photos of Dorset
5 November    Annual Lunch..... St Francis Church Hall
3 December    Bill Moore.............. The Life and Times of the Mary Rose, 1511-1545, Henry VIII’s Flagship

Course Groups’ News

Course Hall/Room Hire

It has been agreed by the Committee that, from September 2008 and until further notice, the full cost of hiring rooms or halls for courses will be paid from our funds.  Last year 75% was covered.  From September 100% of the cost will be covered.  Course Organisers will still be responsible for forwarding invoices to the Hon Treasurer for payment.

Spaces on Courses for 2008-9

Birdwatching:  Helga Burtt has very kindly offered to take on the Birdwatching Group, with help from Rosemary and Gerald Nicholls, which will be meeting on the third Wednesday morning in the month, starting on 17 September.  Her first Birdwatch will be in Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury, meeting at 10am by the loos in Crane Street car park.  Sound shoes, binoculars and possibly cameras will be required.
If you are interested please contact Chris Dickson.  First come, first served; maximum number: 10.

Bridge:  If you are interested in playing Bridge, please contact Phil Philbrick, for arrangements regarding time and venue.  He needs at least 3 more people to join in.

Exploration of the Solar System:  Salisbury U3A now has the equipment necessary for Dr Chris Cochrane to be able to offer this research.  If you are interested and want to know more, contact Chris or Chris Dickson.

Family History:  As in previous years, every third meeting of this Group, 16 October and 27 November, will be open to anyone interested in Family History and will give an opportunity to discuss problems and triumphs and to consult an extensive range of reference books.

Vacancies:

There are vacancies in the Groups listed below.   Some of the vacancies are very few, so if you are interested in joining any of them, it is advisable to phone Chris Dickson without delay.  Further details can be found in your Programme and “Study Groups” listing.

Corrections to 2008-9 Course Programme

Maupassant’s Short Stories:  In the description of this course, Guy de Maupassant was placed in the 15th century.  Apologies to Roger Theobald and to de Maupassant who lived, of course, in the 19th century.

Wednesday Morning Walks:Helga Burtt leads walks on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, not the 3rd as in the Course Programme.

Healing and Meditation:  (Wednesday pm) and Card Making: (Thursday pm) are listed in the programme as meeting fortnightly. Valerie Quinton offers these Groups to be held weekly.  Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this error.

The Theatre Discussion Group: Fridays at 10 am will take place at 9 Greens Court, Salisbury – not the number given in the programme.

Outings News

For details of forthcoming outings, click here.

Notes for Walkers

Fortnightly Thursdays
25 September – Map Expl. 118 GR 994 241.  5 miles.  Start at Horseshoe, Ebbesbourne Wake. 10.15.  No parking at pub.  One long hill at start.  Alan
9 October – Map Expl. 130 GR 109 265.  5 miles.  Start 10am Fox and Goose, Coombe Bissett.  Dogdeane, Ox Drove.  John
23 October – Map Landranger 184 GR 114 182.  5 miles.  Start 10am at Rockbourne Village Hall.  Joe
6 November – Map Expl. 130 GR 134 379.  5 miles.  10am meet at Black Horse, Great Durnford.  Spring Bottom Farm, Normanton.  Tom and Judy
20 November – Map OL 22 GR 231 141.  5 miles.  Start 10am Fritham.  Bramshaw, Telegraph Island, Thorn Enclosure.  Kay
4 December – Map Expl. 131  GR 215 250.  5 miles.  Start 10am Pepperbox Hill Car Park.  Standlynch, West and East Grimstead.  Pub to be decided.   Maggie

Please let the leader or Maggie know if you are NOT coming.  Meet to share cars with each other at 13 Dorset Road.

Mini Walks

3rd Thursday of each month – Walks start at 10am
August – No walk
18 September – GR 133 391 – Lake to Stonehenge.  Park at Lake near the bus stop or at the start of the side road.
16 October – GR 105 162 – Damerham.  Park at Village Hall or pub.
20 November – GR 071 308 – Burcombe.   Park near Manor Farm Shop.

Please wear stout shoes or boots and bring a drink and a waterproof.       Sheila and Peter Brown1

Second Wednesday of the Month

10 September – Two Counties and Three Mills – 6.5 miles.  Map Expl 118, ST 866 231.  Start 10.30  Old Cattle Market, Shaftesbury (above Tesco) OR bus 29 from Salisbury 9.20, arr. 10.23, via Christy’s Lane.
8 October – Fifield Downs and Ebble Valley - 6.5 miles.  Map Expl 118, GR 993 240.  Bus 29 from Salisbury 9.20, arr. 9.57.  Start 10.15 The Horseshoe, Ebbesbourne Wake.
12 November – Wilton - 6 miles.  Map Expl 130, GR 095 311.  Start 10am Michael Herbert Hall, South Street.  Bus from Salisbury 60A or 61 9.30 or 9.45.  Wilton Market Place
10 December – Wilton and bus back.  Start from loos Crane Street. Car Park 10 am.

Please come suitably clad and bring any drink/snack you require.  Helga Burtt

New audio visual system

We have finally been successful with our grant application for a new, computer based audio visual system.  Awards for All have given us a grant of £4306 to purchase a portable system which is suitable for large audiences.  It should be a great help not only to our speakers but also to all participants at our monthly meetings.  Our special thanks go to Robert Key, MP, who has helped us as referee.
We are currently in negotiations with our supplier about the detailed configuration for the new system and hope to have everything operational for the September meeting.
H-D. Scholz

Computer Websites of Interest
The following websites cover a variety of subjects, including climate and history.   Well worth a look - highly recommended.
    http://u3asignpost.pbwiki.com - password is ssignpost
    http://u3ahistorygroups.pbwiki.com - password is waterloo
    http://u3aclimatestudy.pbwiki.com - password is cclimate
You may like to receive the monthly signpost e-mail full of surprises.   Send an e-mail to and request your e-mail address be added to the list.
Neville Jennings

Sunday Lunches

On the Sunday following our monthly General Meeting some members of the three Salisbury U3A groups meet for lunch.  Transport is shared where possible and we usually choose venues within 5-7 miles of Salisbury.

Recently we have enjoyed meals at the Barford Inn, the King’s Head at Redlynch and the Milford Hall Hotel.  This month (August) we shall be going to the Green Dragon at Alderbury.  Costs vary, but as a general rule we expect to pay between £10-£15 for two or three courses.  Sometimes we are able to take advantage of special offers.

All members are welcome to join us for these enjoyable social occasions and we welcome suggestions, based on recent visits if possible, for new venues.  As well as enjoying a meal it is an opportunity to meet fellow members at a very sociable gathering.
Details of the next lunch will be on the Notice Board at each monthly meeting.  Please let one of us know if you would like to join us.  We look forward to seeing you.

Barbara Coulson and Jean Seabrook

John Ewington - Norwegian Cruise

        On 24 May forty-three members of the three Salisbury U3As proved that our historical seafaring heritage was alive and well when we sailed out of Southampton on Fred Olsen’s cruise ship, Boudicca, bound for the Norwegian fiords, returning to Southampton nine days later.  Although threats had been made, no-one was lost overboard, as John Ewington found to his relief as he counted us in.  The force 8 gale encountered shortly after leaving Southampton, made a few of us question the authenticity of their seafaring heritage, but it was soon over and for the rest of the cruise beautiful sunny weather was enjoyed.

The fiords were beautiful beyond our expectations.  There were magnificent waterfalls to see and, on one occasion, going above the snow-line, we spotted the end of a glacier.

Coming down a narrow twisting mountain road with a gradient of 1 in 4 we witnessed the miracle at first hand of two coaches passing on a road designed for one, with a nasty drop on one side waiting expectantly to receive us should the drivers miscalculate.  I think we all breathed in as they inched past except for one passenger who had her hands over her eyes.  The visit to the Natural History Museum which followed provided another unsettling experience as we took a filmed trip on a helicopter flying in and over the mountains, that was so realistic several had to leave because they were feeling decidedly queasy.

It was a pleasure walking round Bergen which is a sizeable city with a thriving port and wonderful fish-market.  And the trip on the funicular railway to the top of one of the mountains gave us a spectacular view across the city and the surrounding countryside.  In the afternoon many of us had the unforgettable experience of visiting Grieg’s house and listening to a short piano recital of his music, although there was a tour guide to contend with who unceasingly fed us snippets of useless information as though they were the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.  “And on your left/right” – depending on whether it was the outward or inward journey – “is the bus station” ….pause….”and above the bus station a car park!”  And to think we had travelled so far to hear such a commentary.

Amsterdam it was everyone for themselves with some of the group taking a boat trip round the canals while others visited the museums or just enjoyed walking round the city.

We had a very enjoyable cruise with plenty of laughs, good food and excellent company.  Getting to know other U3A members was a bonus.  Furthermore we had John to sort out the little problems that inevitably arise, which he did with his usual diplomacy.  And who could possibly forget the gallant U3A travellers, reasonably sober, waving Union Jacks and singing Land of Hope and Glory.  Not, I hasten to add, because they thought this was another Titanic. 

At the Salisbury U3A monthly meeting we were reminded of that occasion when, thanking John and presenting him with a gift token on behalf of all who were on the cruise the usual decorum of the meeting was disturbed by a small group from the cruise who insisted on jumping up and waving their Union Jacks.  Thank goodness we were spared Land of Hope and Glory.
Ivan Raynsford-Smith

U3A Health Care Research Group 

This Group has ceased to exist so I am acting as a contact between our U3A and Salisbury District Hospital.  We have been involved in several projects, including suggesting to Pharmacy improvements to the waiting area and the time to collect prescriptions.  I am now working with the Patient Food Forum which discusses menus and diets of all patients.  Recently we observed meals being served on a ward at mid-day so we could recognise the problems involved.  At our latest meeting we were served, like patients, from the trolley to sample the new menus.  We congratulated the chef for the taste and content and the provision for allergies and diets.
I should welcome help.  Volunteers please contact me. 
Joan Brown

U3A Information Files

A ring-binder containing information about U3A is to be found in the Salisbury Reference Library shelved with prospectuses of Higher Education under the heading “370 EDUCATION”.  The file has a copy of the current Newsletter and programme, Outings News and the latest Third Age News.  It also contains recent issues of Sources and sections on Spire and Sarum U3As.
If you want to place information in this file or have any questions about it, please contact Joan New.

Editor’s Note
The aim of a newsletter is to provide relevant information to a targeted readership, so I hope Members will find this a useful reference point during its 4 months run.  We have increased the size of the print, but if some people still find it too small to read, please contact me.  Most of the changes have been made in response to comments from our members, and/or inspired by newsletters of other U3A groups.  Thank you.
Material for the December edition should reach me by the monthly meeting Wednesday 5 November.  If possible please send as an attachment to an e-mail to margeryleeming@hotmail.com  Photographs would be appreciated.
Margery Leeming