HUDDERSFIELD AND DISTRICT

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE Established 1984

NEWSLETTER

AUTUMN 2016

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CHAIR’S LETTER

Well, here we go again! Another year beginning for Huddersfield and District U3A. I must

begin by expressing a huge debt of gratitude to the people who have manned the office since

the resignation of our administrative officer. Eileen Riley has been beavering away quietly

handling financial matters in the office for four years and her hard work has been much

appreciated but she has now decided it is time to retire. Christopher and Alison Newbery

have done sterling work with the prospectus, registrations, renewals and enrolments and

other administrative issues as well as with this newsletter. David Sheard spends many hours

keeping our Database functioning well. We cannot thank them all enough. Irene Stephenson

has also been a tremendous source of strength as Committee Secretary, often working from

home and is an invaluable asset because of her up-to-date technology skills. She is currently

exploring new ways to help with the office administration systems.

As Chair of this organization I realise more and more how much we depend on volunteers like

these and the class tutors. So many thanks to all concerned. We do however, still need extra

help from a computer savvy person who could share the load possibly in the office one

morning a week – someone at the end of a phone is more welcoming than a machine.

The glorious thing about U3A is that as well as being about learning, fitness and skills it is

above all about ENJOYMENT. So here’s hoping that everyone who reads this newsletter

enjoys the coming year of this wonderful organisation.

Liz Robison, Chair

DATES TO REMEMBER Annual General Meeting Thursday 27 October 2016 at the Methodist Mission, Lord Street at 1.30 for 2.00pm start. The agenda for this meeting, the minutes for the 2015 AGM, the Financial Statement and other reports useful for reference at the meeting are included in this newsletter. Please notify the Chair on 01484 685270 of any AOB items before the meeting. Please bring this newsletter with you to the meeting Carol Service Thursday 8 December at St Peter’s Parish Church at 10.30 Annual Arts and Crafts Fest We are currently considering how best to show off our skills and talents to the world rather than adopt the usual exhibition format that we have used in the past. We would welcome ideas from members as to how best to do this. Please contact the office or Liz Robison on 01484 685270 with any ideas Tutors’ Lunch Provisional date and place for the Tutors’ Lunch is 28 March 2017 at the Jubilee Centre

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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

As the Chair has noted in her letter, our fantastic organization cannot function without

volunteers giving of their time, experience and skills generously. Putting more demands on

the few will eventually lead to collapse both of the organization and the volunteers. Please

think about what you might do to help

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

Despite our exploration of new and more efficient ways to work in the administration team

we are not there yet. So we do need volunteers to become au fait with the current

administration systems. This is an urgent appeal for computer savvy volunteers not experts

to work in the U3A Office ideally one morning a week. As a start a working knowledge of

Word and/or Excel would be useful. Full guidance on the use of the Database would be given

from the existing volunteers.

Christopher has agreed to cover Eileen’s former role in the short term though with the present

number of volunteers able to cover the office, maintaining a two day a week opening in the

longer term is impossible. In addition, it allows no cover for holidays or for sickness so

inevitably the office will be closed at times when members expect that it might be open. We

struggle to keep pace with the work on a day to day basis at busy times. Please can you help?

MONDAY TALKS COORDINATOR

In addition, due to Ted Duggan’s retirement, we need a Monday talks coordinator. For this

year as you will see on the opposite page, Alison has put together a programme relying almost

exclusively on the goodwill of speakers from previous years but the role involves more than

finding speakers. Hosting the talks in the Old Court House on Mondays is critical; as is

reminding speakers of the date they promised and ensuring that any equipment they need is

available. (See Ted’s reminiscence later).

In an organization the size of ours all the responsibilities listed by the Chair in her letter and

on this page by Christopher and Alison cannot continue to fall on their shoulders. Help is

urgently needed.

Please contact the office on 308482 or email office@huddersfieldu3a.org if you can help in

any way.

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The Monday Talks Doors open 1.45 pm start 2.00 pm Town Hall, Old Court Room Monday 2.00 pm to 3.15 / 3.30 pm Co-ordinator and Speaker Contact: Vacant

Technical Team - Donald Sheard. 316963, Geoff Haigh 01422 372447

Please use Peel Street Entrance Admission £1.50 19 Sep Forty Years of Teaching Fun Liz Robison

26 Sep Tall Ships Sailing for All Jubilee Sailing Trust

Liz Cussans

03 Oct I remember when……. Peter Hinchliffe 10 Oct 50 reasons to be grumpy Mel Spedding

17 Oct Walking the John Muir Trail in California Rod Payne

24 Oct Half term 31 Oct For Conscience Sake Arthur Pritchard

07 Nov Weird and Wonderful Jean & John Broadbent 14 Nov Sixtieth Surprise Yvonne Grange

21 Nov Those Wonderful Greeks Lance Tufnell 28 Nov The Mirfield Murders 1847 David Taylor

Christmas Break

09 Jan Wildlife in Gardens Robert Haigh 16 Jan Continuous Improvement Unit

Kirklees Police Insp Andrew Lockwood

23 Jan Huddersfield Film Makers’Club

30 Jan One without the Other Gilbert and Sullivan

Bruce Merlin

06 Feb Emma – Saint or Sinner? Robert Donald 13 Feb Mrs Sunderland – No Meeting

20 Feb Half term

27 Feb Photography Sydney Barnett and Malcolm Parkes

06 Mar Miners and Mining in the New Mill Valley Pat Cooksey 13 Mar A Walk Down the Elbe Dallas Cliff

20 Mar Our U3A Players Richard & Janet Cooper

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A THANK YOU TO THE U3A

Ted Duggan, erstwhile Coordinator of the Monday Talks 1993 to 2016

The Monday Talks started in the Methodist Mission in Lord Street. When the Mission moved to a new

location, the Talks went to the Town Hall into the Old Court Room.

The task of the Coordinator of the Talks was to produce a programme for 20 sessions in the initial

location and 19 sessions in the Town Hall (Mrs Sunderland took one of the dates). The task starts with

recruiting a speaker for each session, organising the equipment (35mm and Digital projectors, audio

devices, screens etc) recruiting a team to help operate the equipment etc and a team to collect

entrance fees. Geoff Armstrong was a founder member the Mission Talks. He was joined by Donald

Sheard and Geoff Haigh. Entrance fees were collected by Barbara, Joan and Vanessa. Much is owed

to these members for their contributions to each event. Thank you teams!

The Talks were very well supported by our members who attended even when there was snow, rain

or wind! Thank you for your enduring support over the years. These members became the most well

informed arm chair travelers and explorers in our U3A. They have insights into six of the seven

continents (Antarctica was not visited) and very many countries. They saw the highest mountains and

the longest wall, and explored the stars during astronomy talks.

In addition to seeing the world, talks were presented on local history, art, sociology, evolution and

insights into Army Medical Services at home and abroad. The Talks have intrigued and enhanced the

experience of our U3A members. The members also made contributions when required to the charity

supported by the visiting speakers who always replied stating their thanks.

I have enjoyed over 23 years as the Coordinator. I thank you to all who have helped me ‘to lead a

fulfilled and active life in my later years’ (U3A aims).

Ted Duggan

MONDAY WALKING GROUP’S TRIP TO ALNWICK

For its annual May expedition, the Monday walking group this year visited Alnwick in Northumberland.

14 of us took part, some staying at the youth hostel, some in B&Bs, and two brought their caravan.

The first day’s walking took us from Alnmouth along the footpath formed from the old Alnmouth-

Alnwick railway line, through Alnwick and beyond into Hulne Park, the former hunting grounds of the

Dukes of Northumberland. The total distance was over 12 miles, but we were rewarded by the sight

of deer and other wildlife.

The next day we took the local bus to Embleton, from where we walked south along the coastal path

to Alnmouth. En route we explored the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and strode along the springy

turf to the fishing village of Craster. Here we faced a problem. We had planned to stop for lunch in

one of the cafes or pubs, so most of us had taken no food. But Craster was in darkness – our lunch

seemed thwarted by a power cut. However, we deliberated so long about what to do that the power

was restored and we were able to feast on sandwiches of local crab and kippers. The coastal scenery

was impressive and varied, and despite a poor forecast our waterproofs remained in our rucksacks.

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On the final day we visited the spectacular Alnwick Castle and its dramatic gardens.

We would like to say a big thank you to the organisers/walk leaders, Chris Dale and David Reed.

Moira Marshall

POETRY, PROSE AND PROSE POEMS

This is a lively group, tutored by Doris Corti advisor and vice president of the Society of Women Writers

and Journalists and nationally acclaimed poet and writer.

I joined this group in September 2014 not knowing what to expect but wishing to keep my mind active,

having retired the previous January.

The members of the group have a mixed range of writing experience but what has impressed me is

their enthusiasm and positive criticism to enable people to develop their writing skills.

I wish to share this experience of the U3A as I feel its achievements often go unsung. In the last year,

two of our members have received awards for their poetry. Anne Broadbent was awarded a Mrs

Sunderland adult open prize with her poem ‘The smell of a Dog’ having attended the workshop. Linda

Kurowski has her poem ‘A Tree from Verdun’ permanently displayed in Beaumont Park having been

the outright winner of the poetry trail competition.

I feel it is important that the achievements of our members are recognised, as it reflects the hard work

of the tutors, as well as demonstrating that there are many ordinary people out there who can do

extraordinary things with the encouragement of the U3A. One is never too old to learn and achieve

new things.

We would certainly welcome new members to our group, all you need is paper pencil and a bit of

imagination and your life experience!

Janet Blackburn

CONGRATULATIONS TO DR JEFF CARR

Members may have seen the Examiner article about Dr Jeff Carr and we would like to add our

congratulations. Jeff was nominated by Peter Clements, one of his U3A class members, to be

considered for the Times Sternberg Award, which recognises outstanding contributions by the over

70s. After retirement and during voluntary teaching assignments, in Tanzania, Jeff created and then

managed the manufacture of a cot innovation which has saved the lives of many premature babies

in Tanzania. These cots have now been copied in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda. Jeff was

runner up in this prestigious competition. Follow that!

Jeff’s class Evolution of Human Nature is running at the Jubilee Centre on Wednesday afternoons.

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FULL CLASSES AT 15 SEPTEMBER 2016 A14, C11, H13, H14, L12, L21, L52, M30, P20, S16, S17, S19, V13, V16, V17, We are always on the lookout for new tutors and new classes. This year the Tai Chi and Qigong classes

were filled very quickly as were Enquiring Minds, Geology, French Conversation and Poetry for

Pleasure. Extra and/or alternative classes would be really welcome in these fields.

SUMMER 2016 - COACH TRIPS Sunday 8 May – Llandudno and Sunday 12 June – Bowness on Windermere I would like to thank everyone who travelled with us on one or both trips; you certainly helped to make a great success of both days. On each occasion the weather could not have been kinder, although ten minutes after leaving Bowness on the return journey the heavens opened and by the time we got back to Edgerton, Thornhill Road resembled a shallow river. Members ideas for trip destinations for next year would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me on 01484 543705 and leave a message including your phone number should I not be available. I cannot promise that every suggestion would be acted upon but I can say all would be considered. I look forward to seeing you all again and shall continue to email upstairs for good weather!!!!!! Rod Heywood, Trips Organiser

Huddersfield Bridge Club – Absolute Beginners’ Bridge Class As U3A is not running an Absolute Beginners’ Bridge class year one this year we have agreed to publicise that the Bridge Club plans to do so. However, the course starts on 15 September on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm. As this will be a little time after you receive this newsletter, if you are interested please contact The Bridge Club direct on 01484 42762 Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre The Law Centre is hoping to recruit volunteers who have recently retired or who are coming up to retirement. There are several volunteering roles for which full training and support is provided. Monthly information sessions are offered where potential volunteers can learn more about the Centre and what it does. Please contact Julie Ashton, Training Supervisor, on 01924 487865 to find out more and express an interest

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OBITUARY: GEOFFREY ARMSTRONG

Geoff was the longest serving member of the team who looked after the Monday Talks. His

participation started when the Talks took place in the Methodist Mission, Lord Street and continued

to take place in the Old Court Room in the Town Hall. Geoff had been unwell for some time and made

his last appearance at the Talk (serving tea) on 7 March 2016. His funeral was attended by team

members and others on 18 April.

During his years with the Talks he helped with lots of activities, these included helping with equipment

and his very much appreciated task of contacting the speakers (speakers were recruited up to a year

before their tasks and Geoff had to remind them of these appointments). He also introduced and

thanked speakers when required. It is thought that one of his most favourite tasks was to serve tea

to the speakers and the members. He enjoyed the contacts. He also gave talks which illustrated his

very comprehensive insights into famous musicals and the history of swing.

The aims of the U3A include maintaining and improving the quality of life; Geoff participated fully and

enjoyed helping the members of our U3A on their journey through life.

GIFT AID

Gift Aid is a tax relief which allows UK registered charities to reclaim an extra 25% in tax for every

eligible donation made by a basic rate UK taxpayer to the charity. Gift Aid allows individuals, who are

subject to UK income tax, to complete a simple, short declaration that they are a UK taxpayer. This

declaration is incorporated into the U3A membership/renewal form and all eligible members are

asked to ensure that they have completed this section before they submit the form to the office.

Currently there are approximately 500 members who have not completed the declaration that they

qualify to participate in the UK Gift Aid scheme and therefore the U3A could be losing out by up to

£1000 per year by not being able to reclaim all eligible tax relief.

Donating through Gift Aid doesn’t cost you any extra on top of what you pay as your annual

subscription to the U3A but it does mean that the U3A can claim back that extra 25% in tax relief.

Gift Aiding your donations to U3A does not prevent you from Gift Aiding to other charities.

Please ensure that you complete the Gift Aid section of the membership form on your next renewal.

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Registered Charity No 516502

HUDDERSFIELD & DISTRICT UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE

Radcliffe House Queen’s Square Leeds Road Huddersfield HD2 1XN

Tel: 01484 308482

October 2016 Statutory Notice

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Huddersfield & District University of the

Third Age will be held at 2.00 pm on Thursday 27 October 2016 at the Methodist

Mission on Lord Street. Doors open at 1.30 pm. All persons attending must show

their current (green) membership card.

HUDDERSFIELD AND DISTRICT U3A

AGM AGENDA 2016

1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the AGM 2015

3. Matters Arising

4. Chair’s opening address

5. Election of committee members

6. Activities Organiser’s report

7. Treasurer’s report

8. Report from the organiser of the Transport Scheme for the disabled

9. Any other business (indicated to the Chair before the meeting)

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HUDDERSFIELD & DISTRICT

UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE

Radcliffe House, Queen’s Square, Leeds Road, Huddersfield HD2 1XN

Tel: 01484 308482 Registered Charity No 516502

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Held at the Methodist Mission – 2.00 pm

PRESENT

Liz Robison (Chair), Arthur Brown (Vice Chair), John Dixon (Treasurer), Isabel Foster (Admin Manager),

Shirley Pearson (Transport for the Disabled Organiser), Jacky Needham, Eileen Riley, Irene Stephenson

(minute Secretary) and 110 members.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cynthia Chadwick. Margaret Fearnley, Linda Gill, Rodney Hey, Jean Kirby, Pat Sheard

1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 29 OCTOBER 2014

The minutes had been distributed and were accepted as a true record – proposed Arthur Brown,

seconded Joan Diamond.

2 CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS

The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and confirmed this meeting (rearranged from

28 October) was quorate. She thanked all the members for their continued support and all the tutors

for their time and commitment. She congratulated the U3A for the quality of programme delivery

during this last year and said that we were always looking at ways to increase the membership. There

are some printed leaflets available at the meeting and she encouraged as many members as possible

to take a few leaflets to display in their local community areas (GP practices, libraries etc.) to ‘spread

the word’.

3 ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The following committee members were re-elected for a further term of office without opposition

Arthur Brown - Vice Chair

Liz Robison – Chair and Public Relations

Jacky Needham – Luncheon Club

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Anne Ramsden – Equipment and maintenance

The following additional new members were elected to the committee without opposition

Geoff Carr

Dallas Cliff

4 ACTIVITY ORGANISER’S REPORT

A vote of thanks was given by the Chair to the Activity Organisers and the various events and activities

organised outside the normal U3A programme were outlined.

5 TREASURER’S REPORT

John Dixon outlined the details of the accounts and a comparison of the position between the 2013/14

accounts and the 2014/15. He referred to the continued increased costs of venue rents, and the

doubling of office rent following the recent move whilst the membership fee income is down 8% and

class fees are down slightly thus contributing to a net loss in the year. He also stressed the small

amount of reserves which are useful and need to be in place. He indicated that an increase in

membership fees may need to be considered to ensure enough income to balance the accounts in the

future.

Questions arose as follows:

A concern was expressed about the cost of printing and postage and could we not do most of the

communication via the internet? An example was given that the choir have been communicating

using the internet for a few years. He did add that it does take some persistence to gather all the

required information.

The committee response was that currently not all members had e-mail access, nor do they inform

the office of any changes. In addition, some members (who do have computer access) still prefer to

receive paper copies and that is their entitlement.

However, there is an increasing number of members who are supplying e-mail addresses and as time

passes more IT could be used. Meanwhile other changes have been made to help save costs eg the

newsletter is now a smaller A5 size, reducing both printing and postage costs.

A suggestion was made that individual class tutors could help with the gathering of the required

information regarding email addresses etc. to reduce the burden on the U3A office.

The committee responded by confirming that once the current IT issues linked to the office move have

been resolved and the recently acquired new IT equipment set up, this will be looked at in more depth

and they will be looking at IT packages that will enable a more ‘paperlite’ system and thus reduce

postage.

Another member suggested that each member provided a stamped addressed envelope in which to

have their membership card posted.

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It had been pointed out during discussion that Kirklees Adult Education classes can cost £100 for a 10-

week programme. A member then stated that the current class fee of £9 is a great deal less per session

than the cost of a cup of coffee. Another member agreed and stated that the Huddersfield U3A is

cheaper that the Holmfirth U3A and the individual classes at Holmfirth pay the cost of the class

themselves and are not subsidised. This led to a proposal that the membership fee be raised to £12

for the coming year. This was proposed by Pat Walton and seconded by Leslie Baxter. A show of

hands indicated that more than 75% were in agreement.

Acceptance of the accounts was proposed by Ted Duggan and seconded by Dallas Cliff, and they were

accepted by the members present.

The Chair gave a vote of thanks for the work involved in producing and managing the accounts and

presenting the report to the meeting.

6 TRANSPORT FOR THE DISABLED – REPORT

The report outlined the usage of the facility by U3A members and it was confirmed how much it is

appreciated by those who use it. A vote of thanks was given by the Chair.

7 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO THE CHARITY COMMISSION

The Chair confirmed that this used to be a requirement for the returns to the Charity Commission but

this is no longer the case and will be removed from the agenda for the future.

8 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

8.1 Ted Duggan summarised his involvement with the U3A and congratulated the current

committee on their hard work and commitment during the past year and also to the ‘hidden army’ of

workers within this U3A.

A special thank you, followed by a round of applause, was given to Ted who continues to be a stalwart

of the organisation, since its beginning, and who continues to organise, plan and deliver the Monday

Talks

8.2 The Chair said that resulting from the previous meeting in October when the AGM could not

go ahead because there were not enough members present to make the meeting quorate, a

suggestion had been made to change the wording of the constitution to avoid any future need to

rearrange the AGM.

The change would be to 5.1 of the Constitution to read “The quorum for the AGM will be the number

of members attending the AGM”. This was proposed by Pat Walton and seconded by Joan Diamond.

This proposal was supported by a show of hands by a majority of members in attendance.

The meeting closed at 3.00 pm

Huddersfield U3A 2015-16 Accounts Income and Expenditure Account 2014/15 Income 2014/15 Expenditure

£ £ £ £ 16,614 Membership Fees 16,754 34,634 Venue Rents (Classes) 33,942 24,275 Class Fees 25,179 4,011 Office Rent 5,832

0 Prospectus 0 30 Annual Subs Refunds 154

318 PAYE Functions 639 516 Class Fees Refunds 362

30 Sundries 4 1,158 Postage 2,571 365 Luncheon Clubs 0 533 Stationery etc. 611 403 Exhibition 399 1,654 Printing 1,663 140 Bank/Building Society Interest 352 223 Photocopying 277 373 Donations 268 59 Tutors Special Expenses 273

9,421 Gift Aid 0 3,992 Tutors Expenses 4,106 0 Bequest 15,000 2,395 Office & Staff Expenses 2,094 Trips 345 1,078 Events/Trips 777 330 Luncheon Clubs 450 106 Sundries 71 145 Capital Purchases/Class Equipment 2,096 1,031 Insurance 550 51 Transport for the Disabled 110 154 Carol Service 80 16 Bank Charges 149 300 Donations 300 603 Telephones 410

1,080 Excess of expenditure over income 0 0 Excess of income over expenditure 2,062 £53,019 £58,940 £53,019 £58,940

Huddersfield U3A Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2016 31/03/15

£ Assets £ 35,125 Yorkshire Building Society 35,477 4,118 HSBC 17,922

0 Debtors 0 3,112 Stock of Postage Stamps 2,005

42,355 55,404

£ Liabilities 7,687 Venue Rents - Classes 9,156 1,675 Other 173

407 Membership fees received in advance 9,479 351 Class fees received in advance 2,299

10,120 21,107

£32,235 Net Assets £34,297

£ Represented by: 33,315 Members Fund b/fwd 32,235 -1,080 Surplus/deficit for the year 2,062

£32,235 Members Fund c/fwd £34,297

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HUDDERSFIELD AND DISTRICT U3A

NOMINATION FOR ELECTION TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Nominee (full name) ___________________________________Position ______________________

Proposer ___________________________Signature ___________________Membership No ______

Seconder ___________________________Signature ___________________Membership No ______

I agree to this nomination and enclose my CV for publication

Nominee signature ________________________Membership No __________Date _____________