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National website: www.u3a.org.uk Locally: http://u3asites.org.uk/street-glastonbury
T wo important things to say this time. The first is that the AGM will be held on
THURSDAY, 16th APRIL at 10.00 (coffee for 10.30 start) in Glastonbury Town
Hall. Please try and attend: it is your chance to have your say.
The second important thing is that we are due for a big changeover in the
committee this year and we need people to come forward and join us. The rule is:
No committee = No U3A. It's that simple. There are some specific jobs to be filled
but we also need people just to be committee members. Our Chairman, Sue Oxley,
has now served her three years and is not allowed to continue nor to be re-elected
to the post. Sue is also resigning from the committee. We are without a vice-
chairman so there is no one (a) to take over or (b) to do the job of vice-chairman.
We are also without a publicity person. And we are short of 'ordinary' committee
members to help make the decisions which need to be made. What this means is
that, for a start, existing committee members are doing several jobs at once which
takes up more time than they have available for the U3A. It also means that we are
in danger of sliding below the statutory numbers. If we don't have a viable
committee we don't have a U3A. Out of more than four hundred members, there
must be one or two of you who can spare us a little time so that the work is shared
out more evenly.
We must offer grateful thanks to Steve Wright who has taken on the task of Group
Leader Liaison/Co-ordinator. Steve will be the person to contact in the first
instance if a Group Leader has a problem or a query. Steve is not expected to deal
with the question himself but he will be able to point you in the direction of the
person who can help you.
Editor
The views and ideas expressed by the contributors to this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the editor nor the Street and Glastonbury U3A.
Don’t miss the AGM!
THURSDAY 16th APRIL
10.00am for coffee—meeting starts 10.30am, Glastonbury Town Hall
THE EDITOR’S SAY
CONTENTS
Editorial ........................ 1
Chair’s Musings ............ 2
Membership Report ...... 3
Chairman ...................... 3
Group News ................. 4
Dates for your Diary ..... 5
Monthly Meetings ......... 5
Invitation from Wells U3A ..................... 5
Departures .................... 5
Visit to the Moat of
Poppies ......................... 6
Cabinet War Rooms ...... 7
Choking to Death .......... 8
DNAs ............................. 8
The Christmas Party ..... 9
More Changes ............... 9
Audrey and the Knitting Group ............................ 10
Our 25th ........................ 10
Thanks .......................... 10
Wells Cinema Discount ........................ 11
Avalon Network Meeting ......................... 11
A New Job ..................... 11
Bishop’s Talk ................. 11
National Shakespeare Week ............................. 11
Your Committee ............ 12
Deadline for the next edition:
20th June 2015
2
I t has been a great honour to be your Chair for
the past three years and I have learned so much
from the experience. It is always good to know
where one's energy needs to be used in retirement,
and committee work certainly focuses that
attention.
It is important to give your time to something
worthwhile and I have been really struck during
this three years as to how many people look to the
U3A after a bereavement, or retirement, or a move
away from friends and family, to fill a space in
their lives, and how well it does this. Someone
told me just today how wonderfully friendly the
walking group is, and how she has been
encouraged to come out of her mourning by their
kindness and helpfulness. Isn't that fantastic? It
has been worth all the work over my years as Chair
and group leader just to know that some people's
lives have been made brighter and worth living
again by the interest of the activity they have come
to enjoy, and by the friendships they have made.
I have learned that it is important to do what you
really love, and then it is not work but really good
fun. Quilting, writing/laptops and sorting out
journeys are my true enjoyment. Of course, we
have to help other people in various ways as well,
that isn't really a choice for us to make, and I think
that is one of the reasons why many of us run
groups.
I have also learned that when a large number of
local people know you, and you don't necessarily
know them, it is really important to keep your
temper in Morrison's, Tesco's, Sainsbury's, or
anywhere else you might be inclined to vent your
frustration about the awfulness of shopping! One
morning I was so infuriated about being crowded
that I was about to make some loud and sarcastic
comment when a kind and lovely person said to
me, just in time, 'Hello Sue, when is the next
monthly meeting?'
(Continued on page 3)
CHAIR’S MUSINGS
London Trip 30th October 2014 (Part One completed—we are about to re-join the coach) Photo: P Thompson
3
There isn't a great deal to report about
membership this time of the year – I would be very
surprised if our number, now 414, changes by
more than one or two, if at all; after all we are only
a few weeks from the end of our spring term. I do
however want to remind any of you whose contact
details change over the coming months to be sure
to let me know. It is our next newsletter in July
that will contain all the details of our 2015/16
programme so you won’t want to miss it.
As you will realise, the vibrancy of our U3A
depends upon its membership and in particular
the range of activities offered by our Group
Leaders. Your committee is already thinking about
our programme for next year so it is now that I
would ask you all to give it some serious thought -
Might you be willing to lead a group, either a new
group in an existing subject or a completely new
subject? If the answer is “yes”, or even just
“maybe”, do give me or any member of the
committee a call to discuss. As someone once said,
“Think not what your U3A can do for you but what
you can do for your U3A.” (Apologies JFK).
FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
S ue has served her permitted three years and
must now stand down. She is also resigning
from the committee. Her last official duty will be
to give her report at the AGM so now is the time to
offer thanks to Sue for all she has done for our
U3A over the last three years. Sue brought with
her great enthusiasm and new ideas. It was Sue
who suggested the Monthly Meetings, having
heard of them in other U3As. She also took on the
job of organizing some of them as well as having
the ideas for events we could undertake. Some of
these were a great success: for example the visit to
Forsey's; the visit to the Cabinet War Rooms and
THE POPPIES; Julie Felix's concert. But the
biggest task Sue undertook (with some help from
her daughter) was to investigate, apply for, and
achieve Lottery Funding to the tune of £8,000 and
although some Groups, by their nature, had no
need of financial help, some of the others have
benefitted greatly from it. You wouldn't believe
the amount of work, form-filling (with the proper
wording to ensure that we put our case
effectively), consultation with our Treasurer and
then the distribution according to very strict rules,
the spending and then the gathering of reports
from each Group which received money as to how
it was spent and what benefits the Groups had
experienced…The job still isn't finished now. A
final report has to be submitted and will be as
soon as it is required. So thank you, Sue, for all the
hard work you have put in over the last three
years.
CHAIRMAN
She knew me. I didn't recognise her. Shocked at
the closeness of bad temper disaster I immediately
felt sorry for really famous people. Fancy never
being able to act normally in public – and by
normally I mean rage against the shopping! And
fancy if I had behaved badly, but as my mother
would say, 'be sure your sins will find you out' and
ain't that the truth.
Once again, thank you for having me and if you
feel like doing a little sewing or laptopping (one p
or two, do you think?) come and find me on
signing up day. We are lucky to have found this
lovely organisation, don't you think, and long may
it continue in Street and Glastonbury.
Sue Oxley
(Continued from page 2) And on the same note, you will have read
elsewhere that we are very keen to recruit new
volunteers to the committee to be elected at the
forthcoming AGM. Without them our wonderful
organisation would not function, so please do
come forward if you feel you can make a
contribution.
As always, any questions or comments don't
hesitate to contact me, Julie Hillman, Membership
Secretary, 01458 446643 or
4
GROUP NEWS
1. The PHOTOGRAPHY Group has prepared a Calendar for 2016. The pictures are chosen and the Group needs to know how many Calendars would be required so that they can order their print-run. The draft calendar will be available to view at the AGM (16th April) at which time they would like orders AND PAYMENT. The Calendars will be ready for distribution at ENROLMENT (20th August). Depending on the number ordered, the cost will be around £4.
2. The QUILTING group will meet once a month throughout the year starting in April 2015. They will be known as the Avalon Quilters and any former quilter who wants to come back to the group can contact Sue Oxley (01458 834832 or [email protected] ) for the dates.
3.The SHAKESPEARE Group has once again been asked to take part in a reading at STREET Library in March. This is tight to publication day but they are looking for volunteers. If you are interested contact Julie Hillman (01458 446643 or [email protected])
4.FOOTBALL five-a-side. We have been offered the chance to use the astro-turf football pitch at Strode College. The suggestion is that the
term would start after Easter (Yes: this year!) and run for twelve weeks. The College will provide bibs (they used to be called 'tabards') and a ball; you provide footwear of TRAINERS. I displayed my dismal lack of football knowledge by making an enquiry about 'boots' and half the committee went into cardiac arrest, explaining that TRAINERS are the footwear on astro-turf. Teams would, obviously, consist of five persons: that is, ladies are included, teams to be mixed or, if sufficient numbers, we could have several teams, arranged as seems best. The suggested time for this exercise is Monday afternoons, say from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. If you are interested please contact Vaughan on 01458 850830 or [email protected] Cost is yet to be arranged but will be minimal.
5.BRIDGE David King who is the leader for this group is not able to take the group at the moment but the members (perhaps only four) will keep the group going for the rest of this term.
6.RACQUETBALL 10.30-12.30 every Wednesday morning would welcome new members and was not included in the list circulated earlier. Please contact Steve Wright 01458 442737 for more information.
Enrolment Day, 2014 Photo: P Thompson
5
MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
1. March Monthly Meeting Monday, 23rd March
at 2.00pm Glastonbury Town Hall. A talk by the
writer Michael Malaghan. Michael has written
novels, children's TV, short fiction and he has been
a journalist. If you are interested in attending this
talk please contact Sue Oxley (01458 834832). If
insufficient numbers want to come the event will
be cancelled. (See the entry under Monthly
Meetings)
2. The SHINDIG will be held on Wednesday, 1st
April in Glastonbury Town Hall from twelve noon
to about three p.m. For more details please see the
piece elsewhere in the Newsletter.
3. The AGM will be held in Glastonbury Town
Hall on Thursday, 16th April at 10.00 for 10.30
start. Please make every effort to attend: this is
your forum, your chance to have your say about
your U3A.
4. The annual Group Leaders' Meeting will be
held in the small hall at Glastonbury Town Hall on
Thursday, 4th June at 10.00 (As usual this will be
followed by a committee meeting.)
5. And the BIG Event of the Year is
ENROLMENT which will take place at
Glastonbury Town Hall on THURSDAY, 20th
August from 10.30. I will remind you again about
this in the next NL but if you can pencil it in now
that will help you avoid double booking yourself.
INVITATION FROM WELLS U3A
NB The timing is tight for this but if you are
interested contact Jane King as soon as you can.
OAKHAM TREASURES, PORTBURY,
BRISTOL - Invitation from Wells U3A to
join them on their organised trip, Tuesday
17th March.
Oakham Treasures is a unique collection of
memorabilia from days gone by. There are fully
stocked themed shops including a sweet shop, pub,
haberdashery, chemist, grocery shop, hardware
store and tobacconist. All feature original counters
and cabinets so it is really like stepping back in
time! There is also a tractor museum with more
than 100 tractors and stationary engines as well as
manuals, books and documents from the past.
Come and have a trip down memory lane! There is
also a café.
We set out from Wells coach park at 11.30am and
leave Oakham Treasures at 3.30pm.
The cost is £14 to include entrance, coach and
gratuity. If you would like to join us, please ring
Jane King of Wells U3A on 01458 833571.
The whist drive on 20th February was cancelled
because there were not enough takers. So our only
remaining Monthly Meeting which is planned is
the one on MONDAY, 23rd MARCH at 2.00pm in
the small hall at Glastonbury Town Hall. This will
be a talk by the writer Michael Malaghan entitled
It Shouldn't Happen To A Writer. Michael has
written novels, short fiction, children's TV and he
has been a journalist. If you are interested in
attending please contact Sue Oxley on 01458
834832. If there are not enough attendees this
event will also be cancelled.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
DEPARTURES
JEANNIE WALL died on 23rd November 2014. She
was a member of many groups over the years
including Scrabble, Latin, painting, history and
table tennis. There is a fuller obit in the Book of
Condolence which will be available to view at the
SHINDIG on 1st April and at the AGM on 16th
April.
GEOFFREY WEBB died on 1st December 2014. He
was a member of the S&G for twelve years and was
a keen member of the German, French, Music
Appreciation and Opera Groups.
ALAN DONSON died on Monday, 5th January
2015 at Torwood Care Home at the age of eighty-
three. He was a member of the S&G until 2011 and
he was for some years leader of the Renaissance
Art Group. I am awaiting a fuller piece for the
Book of Condolence.
6
VISIT TO THE MOAT OF POPPIES
At the Tower of London 30th October 2014
This was added to the War Rooms visit when we (ie Sue, the organizer) discovered the moat display and thought it would be good to go and see it. How right she was. There had not been very much publicity about this idea and even when I did come across it I thought they meant putting paper or fabric poppies into the moat and I didn't want to be the person who had to help clear them all up when they were soggy from the rain. It was only at the last minute that I found they were ceramic poppies and would be sold for charity.
Now that I knew about them I went looking for pictures and, as each picture was taken, the flood of poppies increased and really did seem to flow out across the grass. What I hadn't appreciated was that by now they had almost reached this side of the moat and had filled the entire moat space around the Tower. It is a spectacular sight and very striking especially when you analyze the very simple basic unit of the display. Each poppy consists of two pieces and two rubber 'bungs'. First, there is a metal stem about eighteen inches long. The top is fitted with a black 'receptor' rubber bung, then the stem is pushed into the ground (with a hammer in some cases!) Then the ceramic petals are fitted –each one is about five or six inches across– then a top-bung is fitted as a cap to hold the flower-head in place. That sounds straightforward enough but when you see them all, cascading out of a gun-port of the Tower and down across the ground, spreading and creeping across the grass until they wash up against the nearside wall, it is hard to comprehend the numbers involved. I heard one mother insist that the poppies represented losses in both Wars; another gave an assertive figure to her children. Both of them were wrong. I have checked with the Royal British Legion and the poppies commemorate everyone killed during hostilities, or as a direct consequence of them, who served in the UK Armed Forces or from the Empire on behalf of the King in the Great War only. (The wording now is 'the Commonwealth' but
at the time it would have been the Empire and the colonies.) The Legion gives the total number as: eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand, two hundred and forty-six (888,246) and there is a poppy for each one. But this does NOT include anyone lost during the Second World War. As you move around the circumference of the moat you start to try and imagine that each one of these red flowers represents a human being; a life lost; and before long you find yourself running the flowers together, in drifts, because your human brain cannot comprehend all those thousands, many of them far from home and fighting for a King they have never seen and a cause they do not understand. Nevertheless, they came, they fought
and they died. The least we can do is remember them. The last poppy is to be planted on 11th November, fittingly, and then gradually they will be removed and sent to those who were lucky enough to have been able to purchase one for £25. A bargain, I would say, considering that they have still to be packed up and sent. The proceeds will be shared among six military charities but I wonder whether they wouldn't have done better to auction them (like the Swans of Wells in the Jubilee year of 2012). They
would have raised a fortune. On the other hand, £25 is a sum most people can afford and it puts these 'collectibles' within the reach of just about anyone.
I have heard some people (on Radio Somerset, for example) complaining that this commemoration glorifies War and they suggest using white poppies as a gesture of peace. Even to utter the words is completely to have missed the point. Firstly, I do not know of a white poppy that occurs in Nature so the symbol itself is meaningless. Secondly, the red poppy was chosen because it was as much a part of the War as any other 'collateral' which suffered damage. It is also a very potent symbol, representing both the fragility of life and the life-
(Continued on page 7)
Photo: P Thompson
7
CABINET WAR ROOMS
Visit 30th October 2014
This visit took place while the previous NL was being prepared for publication and there seemed no point it trying to rush this report through and upset all the laying-out which had already been done, not least because the War, both Wars, were not rushed; they dragged on and on and although we are all fired up with enthusiasm for commemorations at the moment (31st October), by next March we may well be wearying of the constant reminders and it is THEN, when we start to tire of the memories, that we most need to be reminded that there was no 'getting tired of it' for those who fought, whether in the Great War or in the continuation twenty-five years later. And we need to remember else we risk it happening all over again.
The Cabinet War Rooms were well worth the visit and my only criticism would be that it is not made clear enough that there is as much to see AFTER the café as before. True, the guide did say, There's a café halfway round but most of us were mindblown by then, grabbed a quick cuppa (and very nice it was too) but had used up three-quarters of our time so the second half was rather rushed which was a shame. The guide took us (all 45 of us) in through an upper door, showed us a very short video, then issued us each with an audio handset so that we could wander at will. The handsets were excellent: very clear sound quality and very easy to work. The only problem was the quantity of information available; the poor brain couldn't absorb it all.
In the centre of the exhibition space was the Churchill Museum with all sorts of items illustrating Churchill's life. They had set up an interactive 'diary' in the form of a massive table, perhaps twenty feet long and about six feet wide, with a scrolling screen arrangement that meant you could 'turn' to any page from 1874 to 1965 and see what had happened to Churchill on that day. I checked the dates of birth of two grandparents and both parents but the date which cleared the table was 6th August 1945 with the dropping of the first atomic bomb. The entire display went blank-white and we all thought the program had crashed. But after a few seconds of very-whiteness the lettering returned and it was scrolling headline news of the dropping of the bomb. And after a few more seconds the headlines faded and the table reverted to its previous state. Somebody suggested that this had probably happened because 'somebody had put that date in' but I wasn't going to tell them it was me what broke it, was I??
P Thompson
blood which soaked the ground of France a hundred years ago. I'm told that, for decades after the Great War, France reaped bumper harvests on land which had been the battlefields, the land having been 'improved' by all the blood which had been spilt upon it. And this morning on Radio Four John Humphries has quoted some moron in one of the dailies using words like 'prettify' to criticize the poppies. Well, if the writer of that word had actually seen the poppies and taken a moment to try and comprehend what he was looking at he would have understood that you can have beauty and horror side by side, just like the original, living flowers when they stood at the edge of the shell holes of liquid mud before they too drowned in the water-filled graves of the dead.
Only those who have seen the Poppies in the Moat with their own eyes can appreciate the impact they have. As you look down from the ramparts into the moat there is the subconscious echo of a trench as well as the 'flowing water' connection associated with a moat. You couldn't possibly have accomplished such an effect with a non-existent white poppy. It simply would not have worked. And I would suggest that the best way to persuade politicians to avoid wars in the future is to remind ordinary people what those in the past have cost.
P Thompson
(Continued from page 6)
Photo: P Thompson
8
CHOKING TO DEATH
There was a third component to the London visit
in October: the very real danger that we are
choking our cities, and ourselves, to death. Our
transport system is in imminent danger of total
breakdown. We travelled to London in a coach and
encountered no problems until we came within
fourteen miles of London. It took us over an hour
to cover those last fourteen miles and that was in
the middle of the day. We were a bit late for the
War Rooms but not disastrously so. We then
boarded the coach again for a journey of perhaps
ONE STATUTE MILE along Whitehall to reach the
poppies at the Tower. It took us thirty-five
minutes to get there. And when we left, at four-
twenty-five, it was well before the start of the rush
hour but it took us nearly an hour and a half to re-
trace those fourteen miles. Then we did sixty mph
for about five minutes on the M3 before we
encountered road works and a narrowing of the
motorway from three lanes down to one. It took us
another thirty-five minutes to do eighteen miles on
the M3. Altogether, it took us four hours to get to
our first destination, half an hour to get to the
second, and FIVE AND A HALF to get home. And
of all those hours of travel more than three were
just getting into London, across it, and out of it: a
total distance travelled of twenty-nine miles. And
there was no real problem causing the delay except
that there are just too many people trying to get
into too small a space. We do not have enough
land-space to build enough roads for us all to
move ourselves around. In central London there
were signs about congestion charges (whatever
they are they are not high enough to discourage
the congestion we encountered), and low-emission
areas (we must have contributed more pollution
while trying to travel one mile yesterday than most
of us manage in a year here in Somerset.) All this
fiddling and tinkering with ways of keeping the
traffic moving are just not working. The only
solution that will ever work is to GIVE US MORE
PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Never mind the financial
cost: the government (any government) has no
choice but to meet it by subsidy and keep the price
to users low enough to persuade us to use it. We
DNAs
Now is the time for me to have a nag on behalf of
Group Leaders and, indirectly, of ALL U3A
members in any class at all.
I have had grumblings from Group Leaders about
people who sign on for a class and then don't turn
up, but far worse, THEY DON'T SAY THEY ARE
NOT COMING. This is bad manners for a start but
what is worse is that they are blocking places for
other people. There are six such no-shows in one
class I have heard of and this is really too much.
Nineteen new people signed on at Enrolment and
of those, SIX have never turned up and have never
contacted the Group Leader. Now this is just not
on. All right: you may be keen in August but you've
gone off the idea in September. Fine, but you
MUST let the Group Leader know. Otherwise,
there are people on a Waiting List who either never
get the chance to join the class or else they miss
half a term (or more) before they can get going. We
have to give people who have enrolled a chance to
miss a couple of classes though it is helpful if you
TELL somebody if you can't come. There's no
problem with missing a class here and there. The
people causing the trouble are those who don't
come and don't say so. Please: If you have signed
on for a class but, for whatever reason, you decide
not to come, please please: Tell the Group Leader
so that others can be offered your place.
Nag over.
Editor
simply cannot afford to go on polluting the planet
at this rate and WASTING TIME in these
unending traffic jams. SOMETHING will have to
be done.
PS I have to acknowledge my gratitude to all those
teeming millions who have chosen to live in
London and our other 'great' cities because it
means there is still enough room in Somerset for
me to live in the green. So: I thank them.
P Thompson
9
This was booked at Glastonbury Town Hall on
Thursday, 18th December 2014. Only thirty people
turned up which was a great disappointment to all
those who had given their time and effort to make
it happen. I missed it because of illness and no
doubt others were in the same boat. BUT if you
didn't go for some other reason: date, time, venue
were awkward, or you didn't like the sound of it, or
you just don't want an Xmas Lunch–––Please let
us (the committee) know why you didn't come.
Much work was put in to organize this event and it
is disheartening if people don't come. When we
were way out at Compton Dundon we had nearly a
hundred people, and that for three years running.
Yet in town there were just thirty. You don't have
to give your name but if there was a particular
reason WHY you didn't want to come please let us
know. After all, if nobody wants an Xmas Buffet we
won't go to the trouble of organizing another one.
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Other people are also moving on or stepping down.
For personal reasons our Vice-Chairman has
declined to continue on the committee. Our
Publicity volunteer has also decided that she
cannot take up the job. Jan White was the other
half of the Monthly Meetings team and she is also
resigning. We are therefore short of some key
positions in the administration of the U3A. If
anyone feels they could take on the organizing of
Monthly Meetings we would be grateful. (This
sometimes involves thinking up the ideas but there
is help with that from the rest of the committee
and, indeed, from any member of the U3A who has
a bright idea.) It is a job which works well with two
people sharing the task. Without anyone to take
this on we will be holding our last Meeting on
March 23rd with the talk by Michael Malaghan.
(DETAILS on page 5).
MORE CHANGES
Enrolment Day, 2014 Photo: S W Thompson
10
AUDREY AND THE KNITTING
GROUP
Don't think this group is just an excuse to knit and
chat, or knit and natter. Audrey and her group are
producing useful items for children in Africa,
ranging from the newly-born to schoolchildren.
You may not think that woolly hats and vest,
jumpers and cardies would be needed in Africa but
they are. Some new-born babies have no other
clothing in which to go home and, if it were not for
the efforts of the Knitting Group, these babies
would be wrapped in newspaper for their first
journey in life. They are known as fish-and-chip
babies because they are wrapped in newspaper. So
here is a picture of Audrey with a batch of clothes
ready to go; and another picture of the clothes
being modelled by the recipients.
THANKS
Thanks are due to the three Group Leaders who
came to our December committee meeting as
observers. (We also had one Apology for absence.)
These Leaders stayed for about an hour and I hope
they found it useful to see how we work and the
sort of things we have to discuss and decide.
U3A member on look-out duty on Hadrian’s
Wall—June 2014
Photo: P Thompson
OUR TWENTY-FIFTH
Our new Treasurer, Vaughan, has many other
talents and he is organizing a SHINDIG (his
word!) which will show-case what our U3A is
about. The idea is that each Group will show what
they do to the rest of us (ie this is for US, not the
public). As you will all know, Vaughan is our Music
-man and he was a drama teacher so he is
experienced in the putting-on of shows and
spectacles. And that is what we would like you all
to do this time. The excuse is to celebrate our
twenty-five years of existence and it would be a
good way to round off a year of celebration. What
Vaughan is hoping is that, for example, any of the
'performing' classes will perform something on the
stage at the Town Hall: singers, players, dancers,
even table-tennis people, who have been heard
muttering about playing 'keepie-uppie' with a ping
-pong ball. (Is that the right phrase, all you football
experts?) The poets might recite a short piece;
others might give us perhaps two or three minutes
on How To Play Chess, Whist, Raquetball OR two
minutes on the theme of: What We Get Out Of Our
Class. Any brilliant ideas will be considered and
Vaughan can be contacted on 01458 850830 or
The SHINDIG will take place on Wednesday, 1st
April at the Town Hall in Glastonbury from twelve
noon. It is envisaged that the event will last until
about three p.m.
As usual, we will all take a contribution to the food.
11
BISHOP’S TALK
This took place on Wednesday, 28th January in
Glastonbury Town Hall and about sixty people
attended. It was a very good talk and those who
came appreciated it. The Bishop, I'm told, was very
happy with the way it went.
WELLS CINEMA DISCOUNT
FOR U3A MEMBERS
One of our members found this information on the
website http://www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk. PS the
offer also applies to WI members.
To register as a member you will need to call in at
the cinema and give the staff your name, address,
telephone number and e-mail address along with a
one-off joining fee of £5.
Thereafter you will enjoy the following benefits at
all Tea Matinee screenings:
Discounted ticket price
No booking fee (including on-line booking)
A cup of tea or coffee
PLEASE NOTE this offer applies to what they are
calling 'Tea Matinees' ie afternoon performances
(which suits many of us) AND if you purchase a
discounted ticket you must bring the appropriate
proof of entitlement with you to the cinema or you
will be required to make up the difference between
the discounted price and the appropriate full price.
It isn't clear exactly what the discount is (perhaps
5%). But the booking fee is £1.50 so you'd save that
on telephone or online booking. If you go to the
website and click on the words Event Cinema from
the list on the left you'll see a list of their
forthcoming screenings – it’s a superb way of
seeing opera, ballet and plays by the very best
companies from around the world; many good
books are in film these days and this year there are
some great films about. Thanks to Linda for this
information.
AVALON NETWORK MEETING
It is our turn to host the six-monthly meeting of
the Avalon Network. This is a meeting of
representatives from all the U3As in the local area
to discuss ideas, ways of doing things, and problem
-solving. The meeting will take place on 20th March
(tight for publication day but you may well have
had other notification by email). If you have
anything you would like raised at this meeting
please let Tony Martin know.
A NEW JOB
We have a new person to help in the administration
of our U3A. Steve Wright has volunteered to take
on the new post of Group Co-ordinator. His job will
be to help Group Leaders solve their (U3A!)
problems by pointing them in the right direction to
get the help/information they need. Steve won't
necessarily be able to solve the problem or answer
the query for you but he will be able to tell you who
can. This post has been found to be useful in other
U3As so we thought we would give it a try. Steve's
details are on the back page but they are also here.
Email = [email protected] and telephone =
01458-442737
NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE
WEEK—16-22 MARCH
U3A Reading Shakespeare Groups will be
marking National Shakespeare Week by holding
public reading sessions at Street Library during
the week of 16-22 March. On Monday 16th 2-4pm
our Week 1 group will be reading this term’s
chosen play, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and on
Wednesday 18th starting at 2pm members of both
groups will be reading selected favourite passages
to one another and to library visitors. There will
be the opportunity for onlookers to join in if they
dare! The Friends of Street Library will be
providing light refreshments. Do come along to
enjoy and offer your support to your fellow
members.
12
Design and layout: U3A member Geraldine Charles, www.geraldinecharles.co.uk
Printed by: Purnells 4 Print & Design, 27 Friarn Street, Bridgwater TA6 3LH
YOUR COMMITTEE
Chair Sue Oxley, 5 Bilbury Lane, Glastonbury BA6 8LX
01458 834832 [email protected]
Vice Chair TBA
Point of Contact & Julie Hillman, 1 Brookfield Way, Street BA16 0UE
Membership Secretary 01458 446643 [email protected]
Treasurer Vaughan Williams, 7 Parkfields, High Street, Butleigh, Glastonbury
BA6 9SZ
01458 850830 [email protected]
Webmaster & Tony Martin, 14 Plough Close, Street BA16 0UF
Regional Rep 01458 841060 [email protected]
Secretary Elaine Robertson, 17 Willow Road, Street BA16 0RU
01458 840252 [email protected]
Newsletter Pat Thompson, Greenloaning, West Compton, Shepton Mallet
BA4 4PD
01749 890213 [email protected]
Publicity TBA
Venues Manager Alison Boswell, 11 Gooselade, Street BA16 0TD
01458 446265 [email protected]
Also Horst Elsebach, Caleb's Cottage, Parbrook, Glastonbury BA6 8PD
01458 851102 [email protected]
Co-opted Peter Griffiths, 19 The Boardwalk, Street BA16 0AJ
01458 445107 or 07765 387341
Group Co-ordinator Steve Wright [email protected]
01458 442737
