Please send items for the December issue to

Marilyn Gibbon

editor@fairfordu3a.org.uk by 17th November

November

Monday 2 Bridge, French, Short Tennis, Yoga, Solos

Tuesday 3 Main Meeting, Computers, Keep Fit

Wednesday 4 Table Tennis, Quilting, Needlework

Thursday 5 Model Making, Scrabble, Traditional Jazz, Latin, Boccia, Mah Jong

Friday 6 Poetry 1 & 2,

Monday 9 Bridge, French, Short Tennis, Yoga

Tuesday 10 Computers, Keep Fit, Book Circle 1 & 2, Spanish

Wednesday 11 Table Tennis, Walk with PL, Geology

Thursday 12 Model Making, Rummikub

Friday 13 Recorders

Monday 16 Bridge, French, Short Tennis, Yoga

Tuesday 17 Computers, Keep Fit, Birdwatching, Postcards

Wednesday 18 Table Tennis, Five Rhythms, Family History,

Needlework

Thursday 19 Model Making, Straddlers, Garden, Mah Jong

Friday 20 Music Listening, Ballroom Dancing

Monday 23 Bridge, French, Short Tennis, Yoga

Tuesday 24 Computers, Keep Fit, Striders

Wednesday 25 Table Tennis

Thursday 26 Model Making, Photography

Friday 27 Recorders, Strollers

Monday 30 Bridge, French, Short Tennis, Yoga

December

Tuesday 1 Main Meeting, Computers, Keep Fit

Wednesday 2 Table Tennis, Quilting, Needlework

Thursday 3 Model Making, Scrabble, Traditional Jazz, Latin, Boccia,

Mah Jong

Friday 4 Poetry Circle 1 & 2

Fairford & DistrictFairford & DistrictFairford & District

NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter

Issue 222 November 2015

A History of Pub Signs

from

Angela Panrucker

www.fairfordu3a.org.uk Registered Charity No 1072658

General Meetings

Forthcoming events

1 December: Christmas Entertainment Go for BroKe will entertain 7 December: Christmas lunch At the Colosseo restaurant in Fairford 5 January 2016: The History of Mosaics. Nick Humphris will talk about this interesting and ancient craft. 2 February 2016: The Modern Magic Lantern (How we all became square eyed) Pete Morris will talk about the early days of TV and how various firsts in broadcasting happened in the UK; not always America, with some nostalgic and humorous moments from our past

Today, 3 November ‘The origin of Pub signs’. Angela Panrucker talks about Pub Signs and their history.

Tea Rota 1 December : The Committee 5 January: Ballroom Dancing 2 February: Birdwatching

Photo Album If you have any interesting photographs of U3A activities, please pass them to Ann Wightman (01285 712723) for inclusion in the album

Editor this month: Sarah Bottomley

2

Reminder

Should you change your email

address or any other detail, will

you please let the Membership

Secretary know, so that our

records can be up to date.

Sue Jonson

sue.jonson@hotmail.com

3

Christmas Lunch Just a reminder from me that Christmas lunch places are filling quickly so get your order in to Marilyn soon. For further information see page 5.

Editor of the Newsletter We are still on the lookout for a new editor to replace Don in the new year. Please see me if you are interested. Jan Mills Chairman 01285 850384

Chairman’s Report:

Photocopying Will Group Leaders please be aware that Head Office has advised us that it is no longer legal to make multiple copies of:

a Chapter of a book an Article in a journal or magazine a Short Story or Poem from an anthology

This will probably be relevant only to the Leaders of Study Groups, but the Committee felt that all Group Leaders should be aware of the situation. Michael Yorke Secretary 01367 253286

New Members Welcome to :

Barbara Ellen-Mitchell Muriel Muir Rosemary Neate Trixie Pannell Renate Pascoe Margaret Pickavance Richard Stevens Carole Sturgiss Derek Thornhill

4

Fairford U3A October Meeting

Many aspects of Lord Redesdale’s family (the Mitfords) with its local associations in Asthall and Swinbrook may have been familiar to the audience at October’s U3A but Diana Alexander, who began by saying, ‘You couldn’t make it up’, untangled the complex relationships and shone a new light on many of the shenanigans. She pointed out how Sydney Bowles (Muv), whose father began the Lady magazine, came to meet David (Fav) son of Algernon ‘Bertie’ Mitford. For a while David edited the Lady, not very successfully. No telling of their animal-loving, horse riding, country house lifestyle could avoid words like exuberant, unconventional, outrageous, determined, ruthless, and witty. Perhaps the slightly constrained conditions thought suitable for their class accounts for many of the six daughters flouting the ‘rules’. The only son was killed in WW2 but four of the girls spurned their English inheritance. Diana became a friend of both Hitler and Churchill, Nancy, the most prolific author among them, turned Francophile, Unity was so enamoured of Hitler that the day war broke out she shot herself (not fatally) and had to be nursed ever after, while Jessica became a communist and married a similarly inclined American. By chance, when she needed to earn some money, Diana Alexander answered an advertisement for domestic help and slowly through noticing possessions about the house realised that her employer, Pamela Jackson, was indeed a Mitford sister - the quiet one - always referred to as ‘woman’. The family failed to appreciate her but the significance of this stable character in the otherwise erratic household is beautifully told in Diana’s book, ‘The Other Mitford: Pamela’s Story’. Sylvia Jones

5

Christmas Lunch 2015

It’s an Italian Christmas! Monday 7 December 2015 at 12 noon at

Colosseo Restaurant, Fairford

In a break with tradition, this year the U3A’s Christmas lunch will be held in the popular Colosseo Restaurant, Fairford, which specializes in Italian food. A choice of Italian food is offered and the cost of the meal will be £24.95 per head. The menu was provided in a form inserted in the October Newsletter and is also available on our website. Please make your choices and return the bottom part of the form to Marilyn Gibbon (01285 713928) or any Committee member at the November meeting , or by Monday 23 November. Places are limited to 80 so please book early if you wish to be included.

A new Activity: Indoor Kurling

Cirencester U3A has recently started an Indoor Kurling Group. On Wednesday 14th October six of us took up their offer to go along and try it out. We enjoyed 2 hours of play with a hot drink and biscuits served at half time. They meet on the second Wednesday of the month from 2.00pm to 4.00pm in the Watermoor Church Hall, Cirencester. Please contact me for further details.

Lilian Pooley Group Co-ordinator 01367 250346 lilian.pooley@gmail.com

GROUP MEETINGS Please contact the group leaders if you are interested in joining any of the groups or visit www.fairfordu3a.org.uk for further

information.

Birdwatching Tuesday 17 November Our final visit this year will be to Slimbridge to see the early winter arrivals. Meet at Fairford car park at 9am. As usual we will have lunch in their restaurant. There is an entrance fee for non WWT members. The suggested passenger contribution is £3. As I shall be on holiday Alan (01367 252052) has kindly agreed to lead the outing. Richard Morgan 01285 712085

6

Ballroom Dancing

Friday 20 November

We meet fortnightly (as hall is available) in the Palmer Hall, Fairford on Friday from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. New members are very welcome to come along and give it a go! No dates have been booked in December Lilian Pooley (Group Co-ordinator) 01367 250346

Bridge Improvers

Mondays Do you play bridge?

If you play bridge and would like to improve come and join us; we are a friendly and informal group, meeting every Monday afternoon (except Bank Holidays) from 2 to 4 pm in the Heritage room, Fairford Community Centre, for a lesson and friendly practice play. At present we are working on defence Partners and refreshments provided. Margaret Bishop 01285 713747 mbishop1@timetalk.co.uk

7

Boccia

Thursday 5 November We will have our first meeting on Thursday 5 November (Guy

Fawkes Day) in the Farmor Room, Fairford Community Centre at

2.00pm. We shall play Boccia and enjoy a cup of coffee and a

biscuit. All are invited.

Boccia is a game suitable for people of all abilities and can be

played sitting down.

As we have to pay for the room, there will a charge of £1 per

person.

For further information please call:

Reg Thoburn 01285 712397

David & Heather Baber 01285 711343

Computer Group Tuesdays

We meet every week on Tuesday mornings at my home where I aim to help members in the use of computers, the internet and more. If you are interested in joining, please contact me and you will be welcome. For those just starting, I have a desktop computer that is available for members to use, although it is helpful if you have a laptop to bring along. If you want to start using email, I can allocate you a personal email address for your sole use.

Nick Humphris 01285 711740

Book Circle 1

Tuesday 10 November

We meet at Pauline’s to

compile our reading list for the

coming year. Please let one of

us know if you are unable to

come.

Sheila Morgan 01285 810471 Barbara Cobbett 01285 712692

Book Circle 2 Tuesday 10 November We meet at Miriam's this month

to discuss The Casual Vacancy

by J.K.Rowling.

In December, we hold our

planning meeting at Ian and

Rosemary's home. Please come

with lots of suggestions for 2016

reading. This meeting would be

a good opportunity for anyone

interested in joining us to come

along and see what we shall be

doing next year.

Ian and Rosemary Westlake:

01285 712329

or idrwestlake@gmail.com

8

Dance to Five Rhythms

Wednesday 18 November

We dance regularly at the Palmer Hall on the third Wednesday of the month, at 10.00am.

New members welcome. Come and move to the music

Gillian Bilbrough 01285 712579 Joyce Deane 01285 851408

Chess

Do you know how to play chess? If not, have you ever thought about learning? Why not join us and give it a try? We play for fun and don’t take it too seriously whether we win or lose, and it is a good way to keep the grey matter ticking over. We meet once a month, usually on a Wednesday afternoon, start with a chat over tea and biscuits, and play for a maximum of about an hour-and-a-half. Please contact me if you are interested or would like more information

Mike Bennett 01367 252379 mish252379@btinternet.com

9

French Conversation

Intermediate

We meet on Mondays at 11.00am at my home; deciding dates

from meeting to meeting.

Our sessions are great fun and new members

are very welcome. Please call me for more

information

Rosemary Westlake 01285 712329

Advanced Every Monday We start by reading a couple of pages from a magazine published for groups like ours, and then discuss matters arising from that, and anything else that takes our fancy! This is done in two small groups of generally not more than six people. New members are always welcome!

Barbara Cartwright 07989 353726

Family History Wednesday 18 November This month we shall meet at Miriam's house at 2.30pm. Please let Miriam know if you are unable to attend. There will be no meeting in December. Miriam Scott 01285 713441

10

Garden Group

Thursday 19 November Please phone Beth or Geoff on the telephone number below for details of this month’s activities Beth and Geoff Dennis 01285 712195

Geology

Wednesday 11 November For details of this month’s meeting please contact: Clive Watson 01285 713003

Italian for Beginners Mondays We meet on Monday afternoons at my home. Much of our chat

focuses on food and drink; however, we regret that at present the

group is full.

Bea Bostock 01285 750456

11

Latin Thursday 5 November, 3 December

The group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2.30pm at my house. Please contact me if you are unable to come.

Susan Greig 01285 810274

Keep Fit Tuesdays

We meet in the Palmer Hall on Tuesday each week at 9.15am. New members are welcome. Chris Pooley 01367 250346

12

Mah Jong Thursdays 5, 19 November, 3 December

Our new group has now started and we will be meeting at

10:00am for two hours on the first and third Thursdays of the

month in the Tame room at Fairford Community Centre.

Mah Jong is a friendly game and easy to pick up. You will enjoy

the experience whether you are a seasoned player or a total

beginner.

Future dates, Thursdays 3 and 17 December

If you would like to know more or join the Group please contact:

Alan and Linda Eagle

01285 712515

Model Group

The Model Group meets weekly on Thursday mornings. Please contact me for details:

Ian Westlake 01285 712329

Music Listening Friday 20 November We will meet at 2.30pm at Rosemary and Ian Westlake’s home when the theme will be Music which Expresses a Mood e.g. Happiness, Sadness, etc. Joyce and John Dear 01285 238537

Needlework Wednesdays 4 , 18 November, 2 December

We meet at the Fairford Community Centre. This group brings together many different skills under the heading of ‘Needlework’; we are a friendly group and enjoy our sessions. If you would like to know more, please contact

Pauline Jones 01285 851212

13

Photography Thursday 26 November

We shall meet at 2.00pm in the Community Centre. Anyone interested in joining please contact: Gordon Hart 01285 238641 gordonghart43@tiscali.co.uk

Pétanque Wednesdays We have now finished our

outdoor meetings for the

season. For details of Winter

meetings please contact:

Dave and Heather Baber 01285 711343

Tuesday 17 November Our November meeting will be at the usual venue at 2.30pm. The anagram challenge will be Countries of the World. John Higgs 01285 712488

Philosophy

Please ring Dan for details of this month’s meeting Dan Deane 01285 851408

14

Quilting Wednesdays 4 November, 2 December This group meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 12.30pm to 2.00pm in the Barker Room of the Community Centre. New members welcome. Please phone me for more information Jan Mills 01285 850384

Poetry Circle 1 Fridays 6 November, 4 December

The group usually meets on the first Friday of the month at 3.00pm when we read and enjoy poetry and verse of all kinds. Anyone interested in joining us would be most welcome

This month Poetry Circle 1 and 2 will meet together in the Barker

Room at the Community Centre at 2.30pm to read one of our

favourite poems. There will be a charge of £1 to cover the cost of

the room.

Please let Barbara Cottam 01285 711054 or

Jen Thoburn 01285 712397 know if you are unable to come.

15

Poetry Circle 2 Fridays 6 November, 4 December This month Poetry Circle 1 and 2 will meet together in the Barker

Room at the Community Centre at 2.30pm to read one of our

favourite poems. There will be a charge of £1 to cover the cost of

the room.

In December Poetry Circle 2 will meet at my house to read poems about Anniversaries. Please let me know if you are unable to come. Jen Thoburn 01285 712397

Rummikub Thursday 12 November

The group meets on the second Thursday of each month at our

house in Lechlade from 2.00pm -4.30pm for some friendly games

of Rummikub. For further

information or explanation,

please refer to the Fairford

website or telephone me.

Mary Bennett 01367 253287

Recorders Fridays 13 , 27 November We start with anyone who would like to play the treble (from 2.00 to 2.30pm) followed by the main group at 2.30pm to finish at 4.30pm, with a break for tea.

We will be in the Heritage Room on the ground floor of the Fairford Community Centre and will let you know if we have to use another room. As usual, we will be playing a varied selection of music arranged for Descant, Treble, Tenor and Bass with the addition of Great and Contra basses in the occasional piece. If there are any more recorder players (no matter how rusty) who would like to join a friendly, non-judgemental group you would be very welcome - please contact: Hilary Bradshaw 01367 860030: hilary@burytown15.co.uk

We have some spare instruments and stands;

please ask if you would like to borrow one.

16

Jay Mathews 01367 860869: jaymathews124@mac.com

Short Tennis Mondays

We meet in the Palmer Hall every Monday between 3.00pm and 5.00pm. As we only have one court we often cannot accommodate any more players, so if interested please speak to me first.

Margaret Trickett 01285 712421

Spanish

Tuesday 10 November

We are a continuation group now, reading selected articles and commenting on what we have read.

Meetings are at my home from 11.00am to 1 2 noon.

Frank Hall 01285 712583 fkhall@talktalk.net

17

Thursdays 5 November, 3 December We will meet from 2.30pm to 4.30pm in the Heritage Room, Fairford Community Centre, Kathleen Price 01285 712417

Straddlers

Thursday 19 November

A pleasant circular walk of about 7.6 miles starting at Withington, up the hill towards Staple Grove and then along the crest past Shill Hill heading NNW past the disused quarry. Wonderful views across the Cotswolds. Through Foxcote, across the road and alongside Shipton golf course and returning to Withington past Thorndale and Upcote Farm. Only four stiles and one significant hill (at the start); beautiful scenery and several manors to admire. Generally good paths and tracks; if very wet there may be one or two mud patches at the top of the hill. Meet at Fairford car park at 9.12am or at Withington Mill pub car park at 10.00am. Suggested passenger donation £2. Michael Bottomley 01285 712074 michaelbottomley@hotmail.com

Solos Mondays 2 November, 7 December

Solos next general meeting will be at Val's house at 2.30pm Michael Johnson 01285 712637 sanaelma@yahoo.co.uk

Table Tennis Wednesdays

The Group meets every Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm in the Keble Room, first floor of Fairford Community Centre. New members of any ability always welcome – just come along.

Nick Stroude 01608 238715

18

19

Striders Tuesday 24 November A circular walk of about 6.5 miles starting from Burford and using a combination of the D’Arcy Dalton Way, the Palladian Way and Oxfordshire County Council’s well maintained and quiet byways. Along the quiet road to Westwell then through a beautiful valley into Holwell; following an ancient track to Signet, then back to Burford skirting the golf course and back in time for lunch at the Royal Oak pub. Once out of Burford, we will be on quiet roads, tracks and paths – only two stiles and no significant hills! Meet in Fairford car park at 9.01am or at the Royal Oak car park at 9.30am to order our lunch. Suggested passenger donation £1.50. Please contact me by 10.00am the day before the walk to confirm you will be coming. Michael Bottomley Tel. 01285 712074

michaelbottomley@hotmail.com

Strollers

Friday 27 November This month`s walk is a town walk around Burford, starting from the free public car park (signposted on the right from the High Street at the bottom of the hill). We will spend approximately one hour and a half visiting a few surprising places of interest. Lunch venue will be decided by popular demand on the day. Meet at Fairford car park at 9.45am or Burford car park at 10.15am for a 10.30am start – suggested passenger donation £1.50. Ann Wightman 01285 712723 Jackie Ephgrave 01285 712042

Striders and Straddlers Annual Planning Meeting

Thursday 10 December

The annual planning meeting of the Striders and Straddlers walking groups will take place in the Bull Hotel in Fairford on Thursday10th December at 10.30. All group members are invited to attend and new walkers are especially welcome to join us. In particular, we now need new walk leaders so if you think you would like to have a go please come and talk to us. A good turnout will be essential if we are to fill our programme of walks for the year. If you can lead a walk but are unable to attend the meeting please let one of us know before the meeting.

Striders Phil Trickett 01285 712421

Straddlers John Burrows 01367 253056

Strollers and Pub Lunch Walking Groups 2016 Planning Meeting

Friday 11 December This meeting will be held on Friday 11th December at 10.30am at The Bull Hotel, Fairford, and we look forward to seeing members who have led, or would like to lead, a walk in 2016. Maps, guides etc. are available for those who would like to volunteer for the first time. If you are uncertain, do join us at the meeting; walks are fun for leaders as well as walkers, so hopefully we can convince you. I am also looking for a joint leader to help co-ordinate these two walking groups - if you are interested please contact me. If you can lead a walk but are unable to attend the meeting please let me know before the meeting. Reg Thoburn 01285 712397

20

Yoga Mondays

The Yoga Group meets weekly on Mondays at the Community Centre at 10.00am. I am sorry there still is a waiting list.

Sylvia Jones 01285 712657

Walking with a Pub Lunch Wednesday 11 November Meet in Fairford car park at 9.30 or at the Tunnel House Inn,

Coates, grid ref: 965006, at 10.00am. We shall walk along two

sections of the Macmillan Way, through woods, across fields and

along a section of road, taking in Tarlton near the end with views

back towards the pub. This is a gently undulating five and a bit

miles walk with one stile.

We hope to preorder lunch before setting out. Suggested

passenger donation £1. Please contact us at least 24 hours before

to let us know if you are coming.

Jan and Dave Mills.

01285850384

jananddavemills@ hotmail.com

Traditional Jazz Thursdays 5 November, 3 December The group meets on the first Thursday of each month at my house from 2.00pm to 4.30pm to listen to recordings of Traditional Jazz. All U3A members welcome.

Ian Bennett O1367 253287 ianbbennett51@gmail.com

lilian.pooley@gmail.com

21

22

Book Circle 1

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively Dame Penelope Lively was born in 1933 and grew up in Egypt, on the outskirts of Cairo, where her father was a Bank Manager. From the start she was looked after by a nursemaid, who later became her governess. She was an only child and led a lonely life. She says of herself, “I spent long hours just playing alone, building elaborate stories in my mind around my toy animals.” When she was twelve she was brought to England after the war by her father (by this time her parents had divorced) who sent her to boarding school, a traumatic experience for a young girl who had never been to school before. Much of the plot of Moon Tiger is set in Egypt and resonates with the emotions and experiences of the author’s own life. The principal character is Claudia Hampton who at the age of seventy-six is terminally ill in hospital. She decides she will write the history of the world, using her own life as a guide. We follow Claudia’s thoughts and dreams as she reveals her past, moving backwards and forwards in time as she remembers the people and events which made up her life. There are similarities between Claudia and Penelope, but it is not an autobiographical novel. The author writes about life as lived, taking from life the situations that seem to offer insights. Members of the group were generally appreciative of Moon Tiger, which won the Booker Prize in 1987. Barbara Cobbett

GROUP REVIEWS

23

Book Circle 2

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes The author has won awards as ‘Romantic Novelist of the Year’. However, this is not the easy love story. It opens up the subject of wheelchair users, paraplegics, especially ’quads’ (quadriplegic) their personal situation, their carers, and the mixture of public attitudes towards them. Almost the whole story is shadowed by the life or death choice: Dignitas. Some like Will’s sister, Lou and her own mother instinctively shouting “no”. Others like Nathan or some of the quads online, a carefully considered response. The subject is really topical, with the Assisted Dying Bill recently having come before the House of Commons. Jojo Moyes is a gifted storyteller, here weaving together the past, present and future using comedy alongside tragedy. Her characters often have a true realism, Grandpa, Thomas, sister Treena were all so recognisable. ‘Will comes to supper’ is a touching and funny scenario. Camilla becomes a much more sympathetic character as her situation is revealed. A story of change, where fixed ideas are challenged,

understanding slowly grows, attitudes gradually alter. ‘Love

changes everything’ could be the title! Ah! There’s the Romance

after all. We found it an easy compulsive read.

Jane Pugh

Book Circle 2

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald We met in August to discuss this book. The author has been passionate about birds since she was a child. Although written five years after the events, the book covers the period in her life just after her father had died suddenly. The subject matter combines grief, the training of a hawk at that time and some background to the life of T.H.White whose book about hawk training ‘The Goshawk’ had interested Helen Macdonald from the time that she first read it in her youth. Most of us thought that the book was well written and found it an engrossing read and the varied subject matter led to a wide ranging discussion. Anthea Wordley

Cycling with a pub lunch

24 September

‘Normal service was resumed’ as we set off from Fairford with a

clear blue sky. There were eight of us, and we picked up Robin in

Kempsford. The ride was a combined effort, as the route was a bit

of a mystery tour, i.e. we did not know where we were headed.

Tom took us into and through Kempsford, Alan guided us to

Highworth, then Phil B on a route through Fresden which

freewheeled us into Coleshill. Bit of a pull up to The Radnor Arms,

where we had an enjoyable lunch. The Landlord and Lady had

only been there a few days - nine cyclists arriving unexpectedly

was a bit challenging! Home via Buscot and Lechlade. Thirty

miles through gentle countryside, mainly downhill. A grand

peloton, as usual, thanks for a very enjoyable day.

Paul O'Shaughnessy

24

Family History Instead of the September meeting, there was a trip to Kew. Joining the Gloucestershire FHS turned out to be an extremely comfortable and convenient way to visit The National Archives, with a coach from The Beeches car park. Some of the recent changes at TNA were disconcerting at first, and those of your belongings that you needed always seemed to be 100 yards from where you were, or even two floors down, but other changes were a delightful surprise. For example, you can now take a ‘free’ photograph of any document, of any age, and email it to yourself. I didn't know how to work the camera, but there was plenty of ungrudging help. One thing that hasn't changed is that you can get a really good lunch for £5, and you can still get your hands dirty examining piles of foolscap documents tied up with pink tape, for there are plenty of classes that have not yet been filmed, let alone digitised. I had a meeting with a member of staff who brought me up to date with the state of play with indexing Administrations (grants made in cases of intestacy). I doubt if I shall live to see this as it is a huge task and requires funding! On the way home we had one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen, which we followed as we travelled West on the A4. Miriam Scott

25

Pétanque It certainly has been a fantastic 'Indian summer' and we really

apprec ia ted i t on our two weekends away .

On 18 September nine players travelled to Mill Rythe Holiday

Village on Hayling Island. We were able to use the Lechlade and

District Lions' mini-bus and were in the very capable hands of Reg

Thoburn who was our driver for the weekend.

Although it was not an officially arranged weekend, Heather had

been able to contact a member of a local team who very kindly

came over and ran a melee for us on the Saturday. This was won

by Peggy Holbrook and Malcolm White was runner up.

On the Sunday Malcolm and Dave ran a one-to-one Pétanque

competition which everyone enjoyed and this was won by Val

Higgs and Sally White was the runner up. It was a good fun

weekend and the Holiday Village is certainly to be recommended,

the food was excellent and the entertainment on the Sunday

evening was incredible. As it was a Veteran weekend for

Submariners the show was from the West End story of Vera Lynn

and the young staff on the site really did put on an excellent show.

We shall be returning to Mill Rythe next year.

Once again the sun was shining on our second Petanque weekend.

This was on the Isle of Wight and although the total number of

players over there had declined drastically it was good to play

against other teams.

Patsy Egerton, Dave Baber and Jen Thoburn were runners up in

the League competition held on Saturday. The 'plate' competition

final on Sunday was a hard fought game which was won by Dave,

Patsy and Jen. Reg Thoburn, Val Higgs and Paul Freke lost by only

one point!

26

Poetry Circle 1

Our theme for October was 'Yorkshire'. The opening poem,

fittingly, was 'The Licorice Fields of Pontefract' by John

Betjeman'. This produced a North-South divide on pronunciation,

the Northerners amongst us favouring 'licorish' as correct. Other

well-known poets included Ted Hughes, Simon Armitage and

Stevie Smith. Kay, as befitted one born and bred in the county

read two of her own poems, 'Ilkley' and 'Settle and Carlisle

Railway'. This led to much reminiscing about happy visits to our

favourite beauty spots. As you would expect, cricket featured in

'The Catch' by Simon Armitage. The grimmer side of Yorkshire life

was the subject of 'The Fisher Lad of Whitby' by C.F.Fowler, but on

the whole we had a very jolly afternoon. We are now looking

forward to November when we join with Poetry Circle Two to

read poems of our own choice.

Barbara Cottam

27

Once again we were accompanied by our mascot Helen Evans who

we nearly lost when she decided to go on a 'ghost walk'!

Now that this season is over we are looking forward to seeing

some of our members at the Boccia and coffee mornings.

The New Year's lunch date will be arranged shortly.

Regards Heather and Dave

28

Philosophy September The subject for discussion was ‘Childhood, where has it gone?’. We started rather tentatively having to decide whether we consider childhood remembered, or the markers that determine the passage to adulthood. There have been many changes in childhood in our lifetime and children now appear to have to cope with pressures unknown to us. The children of the nineteen thirties and forties had much greater freedom and, we thought, greater opportunity to mix with their peers. Now parents are fearful for the dangers faced by their children who are consequently restricted to the home. Due to the technical advances children spend more time at home using I-pads and the like with the danger of having contact with unsuitable people. Another difference between then and now is that in the past there were markers which showed the transition to adulthood, boys starting to wear long trousers for example; there does not appear to be anything similar nowadays. We noted that primitive societies still had rites of passage for their young. We thought that this was good. One’s own memories as a child tend to be brief cinematic- type shots sometimes of outstanding events, sometimes of bewilderment of adult words and actions. We finished with a poem read by Francis the beginning of which was:

Where has my childhood gone? those carefree days of dancing round the garden, like a sprite. That girl in the mirror is no longer there.............

Dan Deane

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Solos activities During September I am afraid to report that Solos reputation for gormandising will continue unabated as we have enjoyed two congenial meals this month having lunched at the Three Tuns and dined at The Old Boathouse. Those of us who had not recently visited the Cotswold Wildlife Park with grandchildren had a most interesting time and we were blessed with a fine day for our monthly outing. We all braved the reptile house; although some spent longer there than others. The new baby rhino was a delight to watch as were the meerkats. Heather Holwell Ploughing match Two of us had a great day at the Ploughing Match at Kelmscot. Unfortunately there were only four teams of heavy horses ploughing this year; the numbers seem to drop every year. However, there was steam ploughing where two traction engines are placed each end of the field pulling the plough backwards and forwards across the field. There were lots of vintage tractors going through to the multi- bladed ploughs of today. There was a lot of entertainment in the arena, including falconry and sheep, and three sheep dogs herding runner ducks - very entertaining. A really good day out, but it is not often our numbers are so low, Michael Johnson Thursday 15th October What a lovely day was enjoyed by the Solos. Nine of us travelled to Slimbridge in three cars; the weather was very pleasant. First stop, you've guessed it, coffee and biscuits. We then started off in different directions; some went to the hides, where we saw cranes, teal ducks , and many other different species. Others saw the most wonderful flamingos in their glorious colour.

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Strollers In September On a beautiful day, 15 folks set off from The Jolly Tar in

Hannington to the countryside beyond. The walking conditions

were excellent, being dry underfoot, and wall to wall sunshine.

There were some good views from higher ground after finding our

footpath across a field which had recently been ploughed, with

views overlooking as far as the waterpark beyond Cricklade and

surrounding areas. The downward steps through a tree lined

copse were negotiated and our round trip followed fields and

bridle paths back to base, finishing the day with an excellent pub

lunch, including birthday celebrations for Mike Johnson. With good

company and perfect conditions - a most enjoyable leisurely walk

enjoyed by everyone.

Bert Sampson

Solos continued We were mobbed by swans, geese, and ducks, for the food we purchased, some of the swans were quite vicious; needless to say none of us lost any fingers. We saw the lovely otters, three of them, Mum Flo and kids Mini and Ha Ha. We listened to the talk given by the keeper and watched them being fed. The kids were very greedy, but as usual Mum was quite happy for them to have the most. Lunch was really nice: fish, chicken, and macaroni cheese. Retail shopping done by some. We all returned home I am sure very happy after a lovely day. Valerie Wood

Walking with a pub lunch

October Sixteen of us set out on a sunny, glorious red and gold autumn morning for South Cerney; no problem with torrential rain this time on our second attempt to do this walk! The route was deliberately chosen to include differing features of the landscape with views of the pretty cottages and houses of the village as we passed through. Then up we went to a disused railway line adjacent to a derelict canal shrouded by trees which opened out onto a watery scene as the lakes at the Water Park came into sight with little sailing boats bobbing on the breeze. There was only one moment of panic as orange tape and ‘path ahead closed’ appeared in the distance; however fortunately we had to make a right turn before it! All in all, five miles of our wonderful Gloucestershire countryside completed with a meal at the attractive Old George Inn, South Cerney, where the menu, prices and service seemed to please everyone. What a difference it makes when a caring landlady who takes a great pride in her pub (I spoke to her mother in the bar!) had the tables, food and a welcome ready for everyone. We all kept up even if Alan did set rather a cracking pace which ensured the five miles was quickly covered. It was also nice to welcome a couple of new faces to our walking group – hope to see you again soon! Marilyn Gibbon

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