The monthly Coffee Morning of Sarum U3A was held in our usual venue of St Francis Church Hall on Wednesday 18 October. The hall was packed to hear a follow-up talk by Jan Saunders who regularly visits Romania as part of her work with the charity “Share”.  Ms Saunders, a retired nurse and midwife, who still lectures at Odstock Hospital had returned from Romania 2 days earlier.

Hearing about the primitive conditions in which rural villagers live in the area which she is concerned with – round the town of Sibiu or see Sibiu- is heart rending and makes one feel very grateful to live here in Salisbury.  The work of the charity ranges widely from health to education and is clearly vital in all areas of the lives of the people who live in harsh conditions which become even harsher in the freezing winter.  Ms Saunders always takes a variety of supplies (things from food and baby milk to contraceptives) with her when she visits and had tales to tell of her travelling experiences which had her audience roaring with laughter despite the seriousness of her topic.  The Romanian government are, of course, hoping soon to join the EU but the ordinary (poorer) people are not so enthusiastic, particularly as EU policy is to reduce agricultural output and growing things is something at which they excel.  Corruption both at national and local level is a problem to ordinary people who sometimes have to use bribery to get treatment in hospital, or find that money allocated to their mayor for, say, provision of a source of clean water has been spent in a way which in no way benefits them.  Poverty is also a problem and in some cases new mothers leave hospital without their babies as they know they cannot afford to feed or look after them.  Despite all the problems Ms Saunders stressed that the average Romanian was kind, caring and very nice.

This was a eye-opening and thought provoking talk and members were keen to contribute to a collection to further her work with “Share”.

The vote of thanks was given by Mike Hiles.

Information was given out about the Stonehenge Enquiry1 , Enquiry2 ; Enquiry3 and about home contents and motor insurance relevant to U3A members, the next meeting of the Health Care Research Group and the fact that 2007 diaries were now available.

The next meeting is on Wednesday 15 November at our usual venue when the speaker will be Michael Sparkes on “The history of Piloting in the Solent”