Salisbury
and District U3A 
Salisbury
and District U3A
NEWSLETTER
Number 67 April 2010
Salisbury U3A has had a very special year. Chris Dickson, our Course Organiser, was named in the Roll of Honour of the Third Age Trust in recognition of her devoted service to Salisbury U3A.
As chairman, I was honoured to receive an invitation to the Queen's garden party on 21st July. We saw the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and it was a very special occasion.
In September, I organised a combined meeting of all three U3As in Salisbury, and we all enjoyed a hog roast at Alderbury village hall. We have changed over to using Fairtrade coffee and tea at our monthly meetings, thereby helping less fortunate growers in poorer areas.
I have been blessed by having an exceptional committee, who all work very hard on your behalf. Sue Kenway has provided us with extremely interesting speakers. Marian Sewell prepares the material for our website, proof-reads the newsletter and has helped with outings. Dieter Scholz has been our membership secretary, keeping the records up-to-date, and organising coffee mornings for new members. Mike Limbrick has been the perfect secretary, keeping me well informed, and always giving encouragement. We thank Sue, Marian, Dieter and Mike for their hard work, and wish them all happiness as they retire from the committee.
Tony Rea, our financial wizard, has managed to keep our heads above water in this recession, and we are all very grateful to him. Chris Dickson has compiled the largest programme of courses we have ever had and is a staunch supporter of the U3A. Ann Harries organised the Anniversary Lunch in November so efficiently. Catherine Dyer writes the press reports, and John Ewington finds interesting places to visit. We are grateful to them all. On your behalf I would like to thank Elisabeth Richmond who helps John Ewington, Jean Seabrook and Barbara Coulson who arrange the monthly Sunday lunches, Patricia Scholz and Pam Rea who take in the money each month, Bob Pearce who does everything, and all who make coffee and welcome newcomers. Without these willing helpers, our U3A would not be the exciting, friendly association it is.
Moira Dickson
Those who have not yet sent us their email address, please do so by sending a short email stating your name(s) and membership number(s) to u3a_salisbury@live.co.uk. The address will be kept confidential. Should you have difficulties opening our email attachment (pdf) please let us know via the above email address. Also, please remember to inform us about address changes!
I have sent out a number of letters to members who I hope will consider leading an interest group from September 2010. If you have an idea which you would like to discuss, please contact me.
Chris Dickson
Computing: Fiona Green, our U3A Computer Tutor at South Wilts Grammar School, is opening the last four sessions of the year to all former students. The dates are 23 June, 7, 14 and 21 July – all Wednesdays. Those who wish to attend (first come, first served): Fiona's e-mail address is Over to you!
Origami Afternoons: I am planning to hold three Origami Afternoons this summer. Each will be devoted to making one particular model (more if time). As I don’t know what the response will be, I am initially offering just one session per person. If places don’t get filled, then obviously you can come to more than one. The dates and models are: Wednesday 19 May - Japanese Lady; Thursday 3 June - Froebel Star; Tuesday 13 July - Magic Rose Cube. All afternoons will be at my home starting at 2.15 pm and ending by 4.00 pm. If you want to come, please email me (preferably) or phone, telling me the dates you are interested in and your order of preference.
Joan New
Gardening Group Summer Outings: 10 May: Furzey Gardens, afternoon only (£11.50); 14 June: Mill House, Berwick St James, afternoon only (£11); 12 July: to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, all day (£15). Subject to availability, non members may be able to come on these outings.
Rosemary Nicholls
The committee has had a look at how well we fulfil the aims of U3A as a national body in promoting active learning and participation. Could we become more involved in the community, perhaps in a shared learning project with one of the museums? Could the work of some of our groups be shared more widely to the benefit of all? I have prepared a paper with suggestions, mainly culled from the pages of U3A News. We thought that the best way to tackle this would be to get together a group to meet perhaps two or three times to go through the suggestions, and even come up with more. If you would like to see this paper and perhaps join the group please contact me and I will email or send you a hard copy. Let me know if you require large print.
Catherine Dyer
have recently been enjoyed by U3A members at the Old Mill at Harnham, Grasmere House Hotel and at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club. On 11 April we shall be going to the Green Dragon at Alderbury. All members are welcome at these enjoyable social occasions. Please let one of us know if you would like to join us. We look forward to seeing you.
Barbara Coulson and Jean Seabrook
(Held on first Wednesday of the month in the Methodist Church Hall, 10 am for 10.30pm - entry 50p.)
5 May Group Leaders Courses for the 2010/11 session
2 June Malcolm Wells Canine Partners – Dogs transform the lives of the disabled
7 July Richard Edwards Experiences of a Documentary Camerman
4 August John Hook The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard
1 The British Museum and the BBC Radio 4 present a History of the World, told through talks about objects of the past.
For details see http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/programme
2 French Study Groups/Art History Groups see http://canal-educatif.fr
3 All Subject Groups: Have you spotted a video(s) on YOUTUBE that you could use for a talk, need to record it? Applian Technologies ‘Replay Media Capture’ is completely free and will cleverly convert a YOUTUBE clip to a file you can keep on your lap-top or memory stick. See http://www.applian.com/replay-media-catcher/demo.php
4 Would you like to know more about science? How science affects our lives. Click on
http://2020science.org/2009/11/27/science-so-what-so-what/
5. Poetry Archive click on http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/home.do
Neville Jennings
Fortnightly Thursdays – all walks start at 10 am, unless otherwise stated
22 April – Rockbourne, Radnall Wood, Whitsbury Map Ex OL22. GR 114 183 (Village Hall). 5 miles. Kay.
6 May – Ashmore Farm. Map Expl. 118 GR 916 173. 6 miles. Helga
20 May Pentridge Map 184 GR 033 178. Park village green, opposite church. 5 miles. Sheila.
3 June – Savernake Royal Forest and Wootton Rivers. Map Ex. 157, GR 216 646 Limited parking at Royal Oak. Picnic or lunch at pub at 5½ mile point. 7.25 miles. Graham and Margaret.
17 June – Summer Coastal Outing: Hengistbury Head Map Ex OL22 GR 152 921. Public car park in Wick Lane. Picnic en route. Start 10.30 am. Car share essential. Details to be circulated. 5½ miles. Tom and Judy.
1 July – Summer Party courtesy of Joe and Ruth. Pre-lunch walk to see orchids, 3 miles. Cockey Down, Laverstock. Meet and park at Tanglewood, Laverstock Park. Map Ex.130, GR 158306. Joe.
15 July – Bowerchalke, Marleycombe Hill. Hilly, but great views of Ebble Valley. Map Ex. 118 GR 014 225. Park in lay-by on Woodyates Road, beyond Bowerchalke. 6 miles. Maggie.
Please let the leader or Maggie) know if you are NOT coming.
Mini Walks: 3rd Thursday of each month - all walks start at 10 am
15 April – Bentley Wood – GR239 297. Park on track at Livery Gate entrance.
20 May – Clarendon – GR 160 302. Park at the Duck Inn, Laverstock.
17 June, 15 July, 19 August – Walks will be arranged if sufficient demand – please contact Mike before 21 May if you would like to walk on any of these dates.
Please wear stout shoes or boots, and bring a waterproof and a drink.
Michael Limbrick
Second Wednesday of the Month. Walking starts at 10am
14 April – Tollard Royal to Ashmore Map 118 GR 944178 by pond. 6 miles.
12 May – Stoford to Stonehenge and bus back. 6½ miles. No. 24 bus at 9 am from Bus Station. Bill.
9 June – Whitesheet Hill to Berwick St. John. 6 miles. Map 118 GR 964 250.
14 July – Sixpenny Handley. 6 miles. Map 118 GR 992173.
Helga Burtt
Last November our U3A committee received an invitation to attend a countywide consultation on end-of-life care. I volunteered to go since, as a retired vicar, I have had many opportunities to see how people are cared for as their lives draw to a close. Taking part were NHS hospital staff, community nurses, social workers and representatives of relevant voluntary organisations. There was also a cross section of people with life-threatening illnesses, older people (like me!) who know we are getting closer to the end of our lives, and several younger people who had recently experienced the care offered to dying friends and relatives.
Most of the day was taken up with discussions in groups of about ten. We had two questions to tackle: How do we encourage people to have discussions about the end of their lives with family and professionals? and How do we support people who wish to die at home? There were some harrowing stories of care that was inadequate and inappropriate, and suggestions as to how care could be improved, along with an exchange of information about initiatives that we could take on locally. Ideas, complaints and some thanks were fed back, with a promise from NHS Wiltshire that they would all be carefully assessed to improve the care that is offered. It felt good to have the chance to have a say about a very important aspect of living and dying.
One of the organisations sponsoring this consultation was Wiltshire and Swindon Users Network (WSUN) and I discovered that many of the participants had come through this network. I was asked if I would become a member, particularly as membership in the Salisbury area is smaller than in other part of Wiltshire. So I asked to be sent further information.
WSUN is a network of people who receive services from Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, or who use public, community or NHS Wiltshire health services. It aims to give us, the people who use these services, a voice and enable us to challenge poor ways of working and to change services to meet our needs. In other words, it’s a channel for us to get the services that we need and want, rather than what others think we need. Surely this is of real concern to U3A. We must all be aware of how older people tend to become marginalised. As a member of WSUN you can become as involved, or not, as you wish. You can participate in meetings for older people, take part in surveys, attend consultations and workshops etc. It will cost only your time, for travel expenses are paid and sandwich lunches and refreshments are provided.
In my view this is a worthwhile enterprise with which to be involved. I have joined. If you too are interested you can find out more about the Users’ Network and get an application form from Nick Crane, Community Development Worker, Tel 01380 871800 or email
Catherine Dyer
U3A Information Files can be found in Salisbury Reference Library under “370 Education”. The file contains the current newsletter, programme, outings news and latest Third Age News, etc. If you wish to place information in this file, or have any questions about it, please contact Joan New.
Material for the August edition should reach me by the monthly meeting Wednesday 7 July. If possible please send as an attachment to an e-mail. Photographs are appreciated, space permitting.
