R O Y S T O N · 2017. 11. 1. · St Mary Magdalene in Caldecote where we were met by Grazyna...

NO.15 NOVEMBER 2017

R O Y S T O N

www.u3asites.org.uk/royston

Spring is

here and

the days

are getting

longer

again so

to keep

Inside this issue:

Chairman’s message October meeting September meeting

1 1 1

Five Mile Walks group Clay Shooting group

2 2

Birding group Pudding group Mixed Crafts group

3 3 3

French Conversation group Strollers group

4 4

Theatre group

Current Affairs group

Dates for your diary

Guide to Interest Groups

5 5 5 5

Interest Groups Contacts

Royston U3A Committee

6

6

“ It’s easy to forget all the excellent speakers

we have had throughout

this year. Highlights for

me that spring to mind

include The Great Musi-

cal Theatre Partnerships,

May Savidge Moves Her

House and Antarctica -

and its Amazing Wildlife.

We have a programme of

excellent guest speakers

planned for next year and

I think January will be

magical!

We now have over 450

members and numbers

continue to grow. Three

new interest groups are

starting up in November -

Scrabble & Board

Games, Creative Writing

and Reading Ulysses;

details are now on our

website.

I hope to see you all at

the November meeting

for some extra early

pre-Christmas cheer.”

Jackie Gellert

Chairman

Crops, technology and the countryside Redbourn farmer Bill Barr gave us an illuminating talk about farming today and how it has changed radically over the years.

Small farms of around 200 acres have been super-ceded by the modern day contractor farmer and Bill has diversified into other areas as well as growing wheat, barley and oats. He used to breed pigs but a virus which wiped out up to 25 per cent of his pigs made it no longer profitable.

An environmentally friendly project and good money spinner is a biomass boiler which has revolutionised his home heating. As his 650 acre farm is bounded by the River Ver, he has developed

water meadows which attract a variety of wildlife including barn owls.

Another source of income is letting out barn space to tenants. Bill’s 10 tenants range from a furniture maker to someone who makes prosthetics for the film industry.

Phone masts are also a profitable source of income for farmers, as are wind turbines and solar panels. Bill also makes sewage cakes - and his tomatoes are extra special as a result!

Bill exhorted us all to support farmers, especially our local ones, and to think about attending the

Hertfordshire County Show at Redbourn over the late May bank holiday.

Annette Guttridge

When the posting ended they managed to stay on, with Jim teaching at US bases until his death in 2001. Linda then set up a property development business with her daughter and embarked on the road to citizenship in 2008 when

she heard that Americans could apply for dual nationality. The following year it was time to celebrate becoming officially British at her swearing in ceremony.

“The question I’m asked most is why

do you want to stay here? This is a great country, the British are generous, kind, law-abiding, cultured, tolerant, fun, funny and loving - the list goes on.”

were excited to be posted to England, moving to a village in Suffolk. “From the very beginning we were welcomed and my husband found his home, settling into village life,” she said.

American born Linda Scoles proved how hard it is to become a British citizen when she put our eligibility to the test. The bad news was that the packed meeting of U3A members failed some of the questions in the Life in Britain knowledge test which applicants have to pass. But the good news was that the story of the hoops she went through to become a British citizen made for one of our most entertaining talks ever. Born and raised on a ranch in Washington State, Linda and her USAF husband Jim

I’m as British as Y’all!

Bill Barr

Linda Scoles

is well known

in East Anglia

for her lively

and humorous

presentations

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ROYSTON U3A NEWS I NOVEMBER 2017 www.u3asites.org.uk/royston

PAGE 2

ended in a ‘shoot-out’ between the top two scorers with Chris Cowling clinching the Top Gun trophy. Up to now Frank, an experienced shooter, has not been including his scores in competitions. But the standard of play of the former novices has risen so much that he entered the fray at the September meeting. And although he triumphed as Top Gun winner he pointed out that

some members were close behind! “I have watched each shooter’s progress since September 2016 and derived much satisfaction from it, and the improve-ment is there to see on the progress chart,” he said. Frank Martin

Monumental day out for Five Mile Walkers dedicated to the Women of

World War II which was

unveiled by the Queen in

2005 as part of the 60th

anniversary of the end of

the Second World War.

Mr and Mrs Mills invited us

into their garden to see a

Our September walk

started in Hinxworth and

took us close to Hinxworth

Place Manor House, the

mediaeval home of

internationally famous

sculptor John W. Mills.

One of his major works is

the Monument in Whitehall

selection of sculptures and

we were privileged to go

inside his studio. Our group

would happily have stayed

much longer but we had to

proceed with our walk.

Later we arrived at the

redundant Church of

St Mary Magdalene in

Caldecote where we were

met by Grazyna Tutak, a

friend of the 14th century

church, who was kind

enough to give a talk on the

history of the smallest

church in the county.

We resumed our walk

which we had to cut short so

that we could return to the

Three Horseshoes pub in

time for an excellent lunch.

Eric Heaton

Royston U3A’s Clay Shooters have earned high praise from group leader Frank Martin. Since the group started at Nuthampstead over a year ago he has watched each shooter’s progress and is impressed with the results. Fourteen members who turned out for the August meeting notched up their highest scores yet. A friendly team competition

Monument to the Women of World War II in Whitehall

‘we were privileged to go

inside the studio of

internationally

famous sculptor

John W Mills’

Top Guns - that’s Frank and Chris

Frank Martin group leader

(centre) with the Top Gun

Trophy

‘Ready


Birding at Frampton

Marsh near Boston in

Lincolnshire

Mixed Crafts group members will be creating beautiful handmade cards using Form-A-Lines stitching patterns at their next meeting on November 16. Inviting newcomers to come and have a go group leader Sue Higginbotham said: “If you’d like to make an unusual Christmas card for a special person then please join us. The cards look amazing but they’re easy to make and no special sewing skills are needed. Just punch the holes from the pattern into the card and then follow the instructions to make the design with shimmering metallic thread.” All the materials needed to make a card will be provided - plus refreshments - and the session costs £5. The next Mixed Crafts meeting will take place on November 16 from 2-4pm at the Town Hall. Contact Rosie Cowsley on 07809 047380 or [email protected]

PAGE 3

“We usually cook some-thing for the group and bring along a story relating to it. It could be an old family recipe or a favourite pudding like the member who brought a vegan recipe for chocolate mousse.” “If members don’t want to cook that’s fine. It’s a very relaxed group. Once a month we all indulge. We get together to share information and then eat!” The next Pudding group meeting will take place on November 16 from 1-3pm at the Conservative Club, Kneesworth Street. Contact Liz Wells on 01763 247460 or [email protected]

Patiently waiting to observe the birds We picked a warm and

sunny day for our outing to

Fen Drayton Lakes, an

RSPB reserve just north of

Cambridge. Twelve of us

set off first to Ferry Mere

where we watched the

birds from behind the new

viewing screen.

We continued to the hide

at Drayton Lake where we

saw plenty of birds includ-

ing goldeneye, scaup and

common tern. Spotting a

silver washed fritillary

butterfly was a first for me.

The verge was full of wild

flowers with scabious,

cranesbills and blue

chicory.

Later in September we

had an extra day's birding

at Frampton Marsh, near

Boston in Lincolnshire.

It was further than we

usually go, but it is a very

good reserve and the

journey was certainly

worth it.

Birds were in abundance,

with a total of 54 species

and included a whooper

swan, marsh harrier, snipe

and yellow wagtail. At the

end of the day a few of us

walked to the reservoir to

look for the red necked

grebe, and we found it!

We didn't get home until

6pm, but what a good day.

Many thanks to those

friends who supported me

on this special day.

Carol McGeoch

Getting into the Christmas spirit.... It may only be the start of November but two groups are already planning for the festive season. So if you want to get a head start on all those Christmas preparations the Mixed Crafts and Pudding groups are offering some welcome ideas and inspiration. Pudding group members will be putting their heads together to come up with an alternative to the tradi-tional Christmas pudding at their next meeting. Group leader Liz Wells said: “Not everybody likes Christmas pudding so it’s a challenge to people to think outside the box. For example, my mother doesn’t like dried fruit but she does like citrus so I’ll probably do a citrus pudding which is lighter.” Welcoming new members along she stresses that the group is friendly and informal.


Royston U3A opens a new chapter for Elisabeth Member Sandra Restall added: “It’s given me far more confidence when I’ve been abroad and had quite long conversations with people. Being in the group has helped a great deal.” Elisabeth was born in Belgium, learning French as a child, and over the years has helped people with their French. “It was especially rewarding when a man in his nineties came along and did really

Author Elisabeth Goodman has a new book hot off the press – and her Royston U3A group helped to inspire her. Elisabeth runs the French Conversation group and has written Conversation s’il vous plaît! a guide for anyone who wants to start a similar group. Based on her experience her book talks through the practicalities with tips on how to get up and running, topics and materials, plus insights into how members have benefitted from the group. “One of the good challenges of my U3A class is working with people at different levels, so I am now preparing two versions of lesson plans,” she said. Group member Barbara Fielden said: “I think it’s brilliantly done and makes the whole idea of setting up a group far less daunting.”

Strollers put their best foot forward staying for a drink at the Green Man afterwards. The Strollers usually alternate between walks at Wimpole and on Therfield Heath, so they can appreciate seasonal changes in the landscape between visits. The October stroll on another sunny day started out from the Heath Sports Club car park, taking the chalk path next to the golf course, along the path to Church Hill and through the track to Jubilee Wood. Skirting the golf course the group returned to the sports club for some well-earned refreshments after their 3.2 mile walk. David Walker and

Brian Holson

well. Although he had been working on reading and writing in French he only started using conversation with us. When he finally went to France and someone said ‘you’re good’ he was so chuffed. That’s what makes running a group like this so worthwhile,” she said. Elisabeth also runs business training courses for adults and has written business reference works. Her latest publication has just gone on sale on Amazon.

There was a change of setting for the Strollers group when they stepped out for a sunny September walk in Fowlmere.

Sixteen members turned out for a most enjoyable stroll from Dunsbridge Turnpike to RSPB Fowlmere, with a few

Elisabeth Goodman

Elisabeth with members of the

French Conversation group

Taking a break at the watercress beds in the wetlands reserve

For frequency and contact details about all interest groups please see the chart on the next page or check out our website for more

information. Announcements about future theatre trips and excursions will be posted on our website when details become available.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

MORNING Flower Arranging Fitness Birding Walking: Strollers Book Club 2

Meditation Seated Exercise Book Club 3 Scrabble &

Board Games

Five Mile Walks

Patchwork

Reading Ulysses

AFTERNOON Current Affairs MONTHLY MEETING last Tuesday of month Clay Shooting

Ballroom & Latin Dancing Petanque/Boules

Curry Club Book Club 1 Creative Writing Gardening Pilates

French Conversation History Wine Appreciation 1 Golf

Pottery

(Hand Building) Ukulele Wine Appreciation 2 Mixed Crafts

Tai Chi Pudding

EVENING Jazz Appreciation

Easy Guide to Interest Groups


Dates for your diary

November

Tuesday 28, 2pm

Royston Parish Church

Richard Furnival-Jones will give a talk on

‘THE PALACE OF KNIGHTSBRIDGE’ aka HARRODS

December

January

Tuesday 30, 2pm


Ian Keable will give a talk with performance of magic tricks on

DAVID DEVANT - the life, times and tricks of England’s greatest magician

February

Tuesday 27, 2pm


Guest speaker to be confirmed

Details will be posted on the website when available

Making a song and dance about 42nd Street What a truly spectacular

show! The theatre group

went to the Theatre Royal

Drury Lane to see this

wonderful musical. The tap

dancing was unbelievable,

even dancing down a flight

of stairs!

Sheena Easton was the

star - remember her from

the 1980s - but the ‘real

star’ was the story of the

backstage dancer who had

to conquer her fears and

take on Broadway to have a

shot at the stardom she’d

always dreamed of.

Sets, costumes and colours

were all amazing. We all

enjoyed a great day out and

would recommend this

musical. Thank you to

everyone who came

along.

I am planning some new

theatre trips for early in

the New Year so look

out for details amongst

your e-mails.

Deirdre Smith

Points of View Recent subjects discussed

have included Rip Off

Britain; The Gender Pay

Gap; Alternative Power

Sources - Wind, Water &

Solar and Robots & Artificial

Intelligence.

If you have an opinion that

you would like to air and

share then you may well

enjoy this group.

Contact George Karger on

01763 245988 or visit the

website for details.

Since it started a year ago,

the Current Affairs group

has discussed a broad

range of topics. The group,

which meets monthly, is

very friendly and is always

happy to welcome new

members.

ROYSTON U3A NEWS I NOVEMBER 2017

Chairman Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097 Vice Chair Sandra Walker [email protected] 01763 241896 Treasurer & Speakers Secretary Barbara Andrew [email protected] 01763 245363

Secretary Karen Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989

Membership Secretary Marion Martin [email protected] 01763 246876 Minutes Secretary Sylvia Fuller [email protected] 01763 243006 Existing Groups Co-ordinator Joan Westcott [email protected] 01763 220812

New Groups Co-ordinator Sharon Camilletti [email protected] 07725 847303

Publicity Pam Dajda [email protected] 01763 246234

Royston U3A News Ralph Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097

Committee Member George Karger 01763 245988

Co-opted Committee Member Eric Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989

Royston U3A Committee

www.u3asites.org.uk/royston

Interest Groups

GROUP DAY TIME FREQUENCY GROUP LEADER CONTACT DETAILS

Ballroom & Latin Dancing Thurs 4:45pm 2nd & 4th Thurs of month Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097

Birding Wed 8:30am Monthly 1st Wed Carol McGeoch [email protected] 01223 207354

Book Club 1 Tues 2:00pm Monthly 1st Tues Deirdre Smith [email protected] 01763 244700

Book Club 2 Fri 11:00am Monthly Variable Janet Burton [email protected] 07984 600295

Book Club 3 Wed 10:30am Monthly last Wed Elizabeth (Lee) Towers [email protected] 01763 241488

Clay Shooting Wed 2:00pm Variable Frank Martin [email protected] 07831 898234

Creative Writing Wed 2.00pm Variable Sharon Camilletti [email protected] 07725 847303

Current Affairs Mon 4:00pm Monthly Variable George Karger 01763 245988

Curry Club Mon 12:00pm Monthly Variable Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Excursions Variable Variable Occasional Annette Guttridge [email protected] 01763 241818

Fitness Tues 9:30am Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Five Mile Walks Wed 9:45am Monthly 2nd Wed Eric Heaton [email protected] 01763 242989

Flower Arranging Mon 10.00am Monthly Variable Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097

French Conversation Mon 1:00pm 1st & 3rd Mon of month Elisabeth Goodman-Spain [email protected]

Gardening Thurs 2:30pm Monthly Variable Val Fairbanks [email protected] 01763 230724

Golf Thurs 1:00pm Weekly Ralph Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097

History Tues 2:00pm Monthly Variable Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Jazz Appreciation Wed 7:30pm Monthly 2nd Wed Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Meditation Mon 10:30am 2nd & 4th Mon of month John Froggett [email protected] 07900 210808

Mixed Crafts Thurs 2:00pm Monthly 3rd Thurs Rosie Cowsley [email protected] 07809 047380

Patchwork Wed 10:00am Monthly 1st Wed Maureen Strugnell [email protected] 01763 241967

Petanque / Boules John Bishop [email protected] 01763 246703

Pilates Fri 2:00pm Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Pottery (Hand Building) Mon 2:00pm Fortnightly Variable Rosie Cowsley [email protected] 07809 047380

Pudding Thurs 1:00pm Monthly Liz Wells [email protected] 01763 247460

Reading Ulysses Wed 10.45am Variable Sharon Camilletti [email protected] 07725 847303

Scrabble & Board Games Fri 10.45am Variable Sharon Camilletti [email protected] 07725 847303

Seated Exercise Tues 10:45am Weekly Kathy Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Tai Chi Mon 3:00pm Weekly Reg Hounsell [email protected] 01763 241805

Theatre Trips Variable Variable Occasional Deirdre Smith [email protected] 01763 244700

Ukulele Tues 1:30pm Weekly John Bishop [email protected] 01763 246703

Walking: Strollers Thurs 10:15am 1st & 3rd Thurs of month David Walker [email protected] 01763 241896

Wine Appreciation 1 & 2 Wed 2:00pm Monthly Variable Jackie Gellert [email protected] 01763 248097

Get it in the News

If you’re involved in a group why not publicise it in Royston U3A News? Send in a short report of your latest meeting or outing - photos welcomed too - to Pam Dajda at [email protected] or phone 01763 246234 Next deadline for submissions: Tuesday December 12, 2017

If you have an interest that you would like to share with others let us know. Contact Sharon Camilletti, New Groups Co-ordinator

Suspended till Spring 2018

R O Y S T O N · 2017. 11. 1. · St Mary Magdalene in Caldecote where we were met by Grazyna...

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