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Retford U3A Newsletter - APRIL 2021
Membership No. 822/801/10
www.retford-u3a.org.uk
CHAIRMANS THOUGHTS 9
Kate and I are about to have our 2nd injection
and it’s the season of major work in the back
garden. As I type this I am waiting for half a ton
of timber, which Listers are going to deliver, so I
guess it will be a busy few days ahead.
The committee are still monitoring closely the
Governments roadmap, and it is obvious that
gradually some meetings will be able to get
back to some degree of normality. However, we
are still going to renew our Zoom agreement,
which means those groups who have found it an
easy way to communicate with members can
still use it.
I have still to hear from the Well, but we have
now heard from Bassetlaw District Council about
their venues re-opening. We are obviously
concerned about the use of their facilities and
have limited information as to if amenities like
the toilet facilities or kitchens will be available to
us. There are also ongoing concerns about how
the hygienic deep cleaning of the chairs and
tables etc. can be managed before and after
any public meeting.
In the early stages of opening, do we, for
instance, have to wear masks or keep a record
of who attends any meeting for track and trace
purposes. Do we still have to have a written Risk
Assessment every time we hold a meeting, and
probably equally important for some members,
do we need to know who has not had the
vaccination and could still be a risk to those who
have.
So as you can see we are not tyring to impose
the ‘Granny State’, but as a committee we have
a duty of care on all of you. It would be an
absolute disaster if anything went wrong now,
after we have all been so careful for so long.
I am personally in touch with members of a
number of other local organisations, The Round
Table, Retford Men’s Probus, Gringley on the Hill
History Society amongst others. We are all in the
same boat, and none of us can see an easy
way out of the problem of ‘live’ meetings at the
moment. As I said last month we will have to
remain patient for a while longer. Finally on this
topic, we have still not heard anything definite
from the National U3A in London about holding
meetings again, and neither have we had
confirmation that if we do, our insurance cover
will be valid.
New groups are starting. Andrew Bell is starting a
Current Affairs Group, and again you will be
advised about the start up with timings etc.
Don’t forget, although we have reached the
next point in the Prime Minister’s Road Map, if
you do have folk around to your house, who are
not members of your ‘bubble’ they must stay
outside, be limited to six in number, and are not
allowed to use your toilet facilities.
We are still working towards commemorating
National U3A Day on 3rd June, but the
committee may decide to put this back a
month or so. I will let you know in early May, after
our next committee meeting.
Our AGM went well last month with Patricia
Everitt being elected on to the Committee as
Treasurer. As I mentioned last month we do have
a potential problem in a year’s time, when The
Secretary, Pippa Ramsey, the Group Co-
ordinator, Brenda Wilson, Sue Ross and I will all
have completed our terms on the committee.
We will definitely need a new Secretary and a
new Chairman for Retford U3A to carry on, so
please think about what could happen to our
groups and all the effort the Group Leaders
have done if we have to fold, through lack of
volunteers. We have 500 members so surely
someone should be able to help, otherwise why
are the committee working so hard to make
Retford U3A work. Roy
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 2
NEWS FROM GROUPS
CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP
Who have we been listening to?
Due to the Covid restrictions the Classical
music group took to the Zoom format although
it had taken a little while to set up. The format
was changed to accommodate this move
where everyone attending was invited to
recommend a piece of their choice. At the
end of the music there was the chance to
discuss what we had heard.
It was during one of these discussions that an
intriguing point was raised with regard to how
frequently we listened to certain composers.
This led to all the past programs being
analysed to check this out. Since the group
had started there had been some 75 meetings
during which several pieces would be
programmed.
We have over this period listened to 214
different composers a figure that shocked
even Marie, and they have ranged from 16th
century composers to very contemporary
people who are still writing/composing today.
Of course, like all good lists there is a “top 20”
and these include all the usual suspects as the
table below demonstrates.
These 20 composers account for a total of 178
appearances whereas those who were
listened to only once accounted for 136
“appearances”
It has just gone to show the very eclectic
range of music being enjoyed by the Classical
Music Group.
Many thanks to Maire Thompson for being the
Group Leader and ‘facilitator’ that keeps
everything going so smoothly. David Lee
The photo of the month chosen by the
members on the theme of Still Life.
“DEAD TO THE INCOMING TIDE”
By Marie Thompson
In recent years, the media has been awash with
news pieces and comment on a whole range of
contentious issues, including race, gender,
censorship and attacks on free speech,
cybercrime, the monarchy, brexit, ‘wokeism’,
COVID-19, the breakup of the UK and the failings of
the justice system.
These are all matters of real public concern, but we
still have very little opportunity to step back
together, and reflect on the gdiverse range of
opinions expressed.
I propose to start a Current Affairs Group this
Autumn, when, it is hoped we can all return to our
face to face meetings. We will see if we can try to
address some of these problems, but also enjoy
some lively interaction and discussion where
everyone’s viewpoint is respected.
Initially, I suggest we meet fortnightly and see how
it goes.
If you would like to join us, then please contact me
at [email protected] or call 01777 817835. Andrew
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP CURRENT AFFAIRS GROUP
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 3
Design, Production & Printing - Christine Cook
Contact:- [email protected]
For the foreseeable future I will still be publishing a
monthly or bi monthly newsletter and will
appreciate any articles etc.
Contact me on 01777 870583. Items for inclusion in
the next edition can be sent in any time until things
return to normal.
Christine
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
Unfortunately the Coffee
Morning meeting in April
has been cancelled,
hopefully the meeting will
take place in May as usual.
Have you changed your details (address,
email or telephone number) in the last year – if
so please contact Sue Paul, Membership
Secretary ([email protected]) with
the changes or telephone on 01777 705008.
We need to ensure our contact info is up to
date especially in these strange times.
I have had several queries re subscriptions so
please note subs are not due until MARCH
2022
Sue
MEMBERSHIP COFFEE MORNING
GARDEN OPEN
Primrose Cottage
16 Bar Road North
Beckingham
DN10 4NN
Tel. 01427 848852
Garden open for National Garden Scheme on
SUNDAY JUNE 2 – 5 pm
Home made teas, plant stall
by Norwell Nurseries, Flowers
by Spotty Dog, metal
garden ornaments/structures
by Patrick. All on the village
green.
NGS have given the go
ahead for this event. Usually
very well supported, so do
come. Admission £3.
Terry & Brenda Wilson
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
COVID-19
The National Office website is
regularly updated to take
into account the latest
in s truc t ions f rom the
Government. The current
regulations can be found on
the Home page under How
to Run Your u3a: Covid and Beyond. It is possible
that, even when we have all had our ‘jabs’ it will
be some time before we can meet again face -to-
face, so in the meantime take care and stay safe.
Your u3a will still be there when you can return.
NATIONAL WEBSITE
Have you looked at the national website recently?
It is constantly being
updated, with new
information added.
Have a browse, it’s
amazing what you can
find there. If you are
unsure as to how to find
your way round the
website, there is a ‘u3a
website tour’ video which you can access through
‘Running your u3a’. Have you looked at the Online
Learning Events that are available? Most of them
are free and easy to sign up to.
NATIONAL NEWSLETTER
Have all your members signed up for the National
Newsletter? If not, encourage them to do so. It
goes out monthly, direct to each member’s email
address. It contains information about what other
u3as are doing, news from u3a Office, information
about learning events and lots of other things.
Members can sign up to the newletter on the
national web
SOURCES ONLINE
Do you and all the members of your u3a know
about Sources Online? It is full of information from
other u3as about what they are doing in their
groups and projects they have worked on. Your
u3a can send in articles and you might find
inspiration to take your own u3a forward.
NEWS FROM THE REGION AND u3a OFFICE
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 4
Imagine that you are out for a walk across some fields
and come across someone who needs emergency
help. Think how you would describe your exact
location to someone in a call centre in say,
Birmingham …..almost impossible.
The what3word app solves this problem. It is a free
app and is easy to download to your mobile phone. It
works because the world has been divided up into 3m
squares. Each square has been allocated 3 random
words eg, gladiator, cup, swim. By pressing the
satellite button if you don't know where you are, or
entering an address if you know where you are, the
app will show you the unique sequence of 3 words. All
you need to do is tell the call centre the 3 words and
the emergency services use this identifier to find you.
Does it work?
This weekend we came across a cyclist who had fallen off her bike on a remote country road.
She needed urgent medical help and we called 999, but we struggled to describe where we
were. Only one bystander (out of 5 bystanders) knew about the what3word app and he had it
on his phone. He gave the operator the 3 words for the location and within 15 minutes we had
a paramedic, an emergency ambulance and the air ambulance on the scene. They could not
speak highly enough of this app.
Please think about putting this app onto your phone. It could save someone's life – or even your
own life. Geoff and Ann Marsh
HAVE YOU GOT THE what3words APP?
MILITARY HISTORY GROUP
Pre-commencement works start for The Vulcan Experience
Contractors have started pre-commencement works for the
new hangar at Doncaster Sheffield Airport that will become
The Vulcan Experience.
The team from principal contractors, Wordsworth
Construction Management, will be onsite for two days along
with the ground worker and civils contractor, Alto Construct,
to start the foundations that will form the main visitor centre,
taking the legacy of former CEO, Dr Robert Pleming, who
died in February this year, a step closer to reality.
John Sharman, chair of trustees at The Vulcan to the Sky
Trust (VTST) said: “We are extremely pleased to have made
the first holes in the ground for the new hangar and while it
is a great step forward, we are still quite a way off our
fundraising total to make this project a reality...
THE NOT SO IDLE TIMES Page 5
QUIZ ANSWERS
Is your u3a making plans for u3a day? We do not know
whether lockdown will be over and you can have publicity
events with visitors or whether what you do will have to be
virtual - you could make plans for either eventuality. The
idea is to publicise the u3a movement and its benefits to as
many people as possible. u3a Office is planning to contact
the national media, but your u3a can do its bit to help by
contacting your local press and radio.
There is information available on the website to help with
planning and publicity material will be available via the
office.
https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/u3a-day
REMINDER FOR u3a DAY - WEDNESDAY 2ND JUNE 2021