Sarum U3A Press Release November 2006

The monthly Coffee Morning of Sarum U3A was held in our usual venue of St Francis Church Hall on Wednesday 15 November and thanks is due to the volunteers who make and serve coffee prior to the morning’s speaker.

Members had either received their monthly Newsletter by email prior to the meeting or at the meeting.  It contained information about membership renewal, group activities, outings and visits. 

Our Chairman reported the appreciation of the work done by the joint U3A Research Health Care Group, which contributed to the opening of the new wing at the hospital. 

Tickets were on sale for the New Year Party, which will be held on 17 January. 

A welcome volunteer has come forward to look after the sound system, which is used every month by our speakers.

The morning’s speaker, who was speaking to a packed hall, was Michael Sparkes, a retired ship’s pilot working out of Southampton docks.  He described the issuing of the charter in 1514, which set up the Trinity House pilotage system.  This continued until 1988 when pilots became employees of the various ports rather than being self-employed.  The training of a pilot which could take up to 10 years through time at sea, becoming a master mariner, followed by 6 months of self-funded on-the-job experience, led to a professional life which clearly was enjoyable, exciting and highly responsible, requiring the pilot to fully understand speeds, currents, tides and water depths in his port. 

Michael Sparkes told about the hazards of boarding a ship in a 12-foot swell in an amusing but hair-raising way.  He included the scientific side of understanding how water was displaced by a ship and the effect it had on under keel clearance and gave us a detailed account of how a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) is docked at the Fawley refinery. 

It was a talk, which contained a large amount of fascinating information, which was put over in an interesting, accessible and entertaining way. The number of questions that were asked and answered showed the popularity of the talk. 

More information can be gleaned from the web site here

Alan Reeve gave the vote of thanks and the final applause showed our appreciation.

The next meeting is on Wednesday 20 December at our usual venue when the speaker will be Ruth Newman on “Life in Salisbury in World War One ” 

New members are always welcome.