|
Press Report Sarum U3A Meeting
16 July 2003
The July meeting was opened by the Chairman at 1030, who began by reminding those members who had computers and were not yet receiving the Sarum Newsletter by email to please add their email address to the list provided on the notice board in the church hall. She asked those already using the system to contact her if they were experiencing problems. The Chairman then called the attention of members to the Photographic Competition due to take place in November this year. This announcement provoked a short discussion when one member asked if computer enhanced digital images might be included. After a short discussion it was generally agreed the inclusion of such photographic images should be accepted as any images can be improved by better cameras, printing and computer programmes. The Chairman made reference to Sources, a magazine intended for issue to those who run courses. She said it contained much useful information and many hints and tips for Course Leaders, plus a guide to where materials for learning purposes might be obtained. Jean Lunnon the Courses Organiser told the meeting that members who applied for courses had been given their first choice. She urged them to take particular care in checking the start date of their courses with their course leaders. She stressed this was very important. The Chairman then thanked the Course Organiser and remarked that members should be aware of how lucky Sarum U3A is to have someone to take on this very demanding and time consuming office. The business of the morning over it was time for our speaker. We enjoyed a return visit of Rex Sawyer, an ex-Headmaster from Wilton and well known authority of Salisbury Plain, who has written several books on the subject, The title of his talk was ‘Villages on the Plain.’ There followed a fascinating tour of many of the villages of Salisbury Plain in the years when life for countrymen and women while it could be idyllic on warm summer days, was one of hardship and endurance in cold wet winters. The superb old sepia photographs with which the speaker illustrated his talk, clearly revealed the conditions at times of floods which were a regular hazard for villagers, when road conditions already appalling by today’s standards, were aggravated. We learned that near the village of Woodford a taxi driver was murdered by the notorious Monocled Mutineer. A photograph of an early motor car with open door, and a large uniformed constable complete with moustache, indicating the site of the deed on the surface of a country road, wonderfully illuminated the dramatic incident. It was riveting stuff. Members were very appreciative. |
