website: www.cvu3a.ukRegistered Charity No. 1126990

Chess Valley U3A outing to OxfordAmblers and Wildlife groups back in business

New Ukulele GroupFirst Members’ Noticeboard

AGM on June 8th

A Tulip at Chenies Manor captured by Sylvia Walters

June - August 2017 1

The members who went on thetrip to Brighton in May wererewarded with excellentweather and a fascinatingtour of the Royal Pavillion(Keith Hoffmeister). Somemembers also braved a ride inthe Doughnut (British Airwaysi360) (Liz Stoelker).

There was a record attendance for the Convenors’ meeting at the endof March. (Keith Hoffmeister)

June - August 2017 2

Speakers for General Meetings

All meetings start at 2pm

Broadway Baptist Church

76 The Broadway

Chesham

Bucks HP5 1EG

Roger Mason Thursday 8th June Votes for Women

Roger has kindly provided a welcome ‘fill-in’ for Cheryl Gillan who is now otherwise engaged on this date! Roger spoke to us some while ago about Robert Maxwell and his new talk is very appropriate on election day as it covers the enfranchisement of women from the Suffragettes to the present day.

Richard Selby Thursday 13th July Women I Have Married

Richard is a former Registrar and he presents a light-hearted jaunt through the history of marriage over the centuries. Men get a mention as well as the women…

Dinah Latham Thursday 10th August Walking Forward, Looking Back

Dinah was a local district nurse/midwife and in this talk she presents her reflections on her working life, many of them the product of walks with her close companion, her dog, which will be present to keep her in order! The title of her talk is drawn from her book on the same subject.

Alan Wise Thursday 14th September Achieve the Happiness and Good Health You Deserve

Alan is a psychotherapist who has practised in both Europe and the US and he offers specialised knowledge as a motivational speaker. He has also worked for many years in the medical/legal field reporting on post-traumatic stress disorder.

June - August 2017 3

Chairman’s Notes

Welcome to our Newsletter for June-August 2017.

Our Annual General Meeting takes place at 2pm on Thursday 8 June, to be followed immediately afterwards by our usual monthly General Meeting. As you may already have heard, we shall have an enforced change of speaker at the General Meeting. The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan was to have been our guest speaker that day, to talk to us about ‘Parliament and Democracy’. Unfortunately, of course, as 8 June is also General Election Day, Mrs Gillan is understandably unable to attend our meeting. In her place, we shall have a welcome return visit by Roger Mason, whose talk this time will be on ‘Women and Votes’. (Some members may recall Roger’s last visit in February 2015, when he gave a very interesting presentation on ‘Robert Maxwell: did he fall or was he pushed?’)

Tony Biddle, who has been Vice-Chairman of Chess Valley U3A since its inception in 2008, has decided to stand down from the Committee at our Annual General Meeting. I would like to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hard work that Tony has put in over the past nine years, initially in establishing our U3A as a going concern and then ensuring the smooth running of the organisation, often undertaking those small but very necessary tasks which go unnoticed. At the same time, I would also like to say a big thank you to Gill Biddle, both for supporting Tony in his work over the years and for providing refreshments at our monthly General Meetings. Thank you, Tony and Gill!

I also wish to place on record my thanks to the joint editors of our U3A Newsletter, Liz Stoelker and James Cadle, for their hard work in producing an excellent publication four times a year. A number of representatives of U3As elsewhere in the region have mentioned to me the consistently high standard of our newsletter, both in terms of its presentation and the information it has to offer. I hope that you agree with this assessment and that you also find it a useful and handy reference document on Chess Valley U3A activities and events for the next three-months.

Lastly, an early warning that we shall be holding our annual Chess Valley U3A Quiz Night on Saturday evening, 18 November 2017, at the White Hill Centre in Chesham, starting at 7pm. Please note that we shall not be offering a fish supper at the Quiz, as we have done in previous years. Further details on, and an application form for the event will be included in the next quarterly newsletter, which will be published in early September.

With best wishes Eric

chairman@cvu3a.uk

They’re back!

Amblers and Wildlife Groups return…

…and the new Ukulele Group is up and running.

We’re very pleased to report that, after a brief hiatus, the Amblers and Wildlife Groups have been reinstated under new Convenors. Sue Osborne has kindly taken on the Convenor role for Amblers, which provides the gentlest offering of our walking groups. And Harry Howlett and Keith Sonley have stepped up as Co-Convenors of the Wildlife Group. Contact details are on page 9 of this newsletter. It’s also worth mentioning that our Ukulele Group is now operational, with Alan Bridges as its Convenor. His contact details are also on page 9.

June - August 2017 4

New Members We offer a warm welcome to our newest members: Elizabeth Alcock Great Missenden Kate Miller Chesham Phillip Bangs Holmer Green Hanna Morgan Chesham Dorothy Barker Chesham Pauline Naman Chesham Anne Bartlett Chesham Trevor Pagdin Prestwood Gary Bartlett Chesham Derek Pedley Amersham Molly Bell Vicki Phillips Amersham Frances Billington Amersham Marcus Robb Prestwood Bob Burgess Hook Morag Robertson Chesham Pamela Burnett Widmer End Julia Sands Great Missenden Raymond Cockerill Amersham Sue Santer Lee Common Edwin Deason Chesham Joan Shepherd Amersham Lynn Ede Amersham Keith Sonley Holmer Green Kristin Ford Amersham Helen Stacey Ashley Green Janice Gray Little Chalfont Robert Stacey Ashley Green Nigel Hughes Amersham Tony Whyman Chalfont St Peter Colin Jenkins Chesham Karen Woodward Chartridge Thelma Malpass High Wycombe Trevor Woodward Chartridge Linda McWalter Chesham If you know anyone you think might be interested in joining, please ask them to contact the Membership Secretary; contact details below.

Do we have your up-to-date contact details?

If you have moved, changed your phone number or got a new email address, please let the Membership Secretary know (contact details above). We’d hate for you not to be kept up-to-date

with the happenings in your U3A or miss out on events and outings.

Chess Valley U3A Committee Members

Chairman Eric Magson chairman@cvu3a.uk 01494 714420 Vice Chairman Tony Biddle vicechair@cvu3a.uk 01494 725429 Treasurer John Anderson treasurer@cvu3a.uk 01753 887463 Secretary Chris Kinsley secretary@cvu3a.uk 01442 863028 Membership Secretary Derek Gardner membership@cvu3a.uk 01494 771102

Groups Coordinators Marian Bangs

groups@cvu3a.uk 01494 713627

Sue Broad 01494 718128 Webmaster Valerie Garrood webmaster@cvu3a.uk 01494 433585

Newsletter Editors Liz Stoelker*

newsletter@cvu3a.uk 01494 712164

James Cadle 01494 716992 Speaker Organiser Michael Cohn* speakers@cvu3a.uk 01494 763542 Events Coordinator Jackie Cobb events@cvu3a.uk 01494 773718 The * indicates a non-voting member How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

June - August 2017 5

Groups Coordinators’ Report

We had a record turnout of 33 Convenors at our last meeting on 30 March. Was it us you came to listen to or were you more interested in the delicious lunch?

Whatever the reason, we managed to cover a wide range of subjects including feedback from the monthly Committee Meetings. The minutes of our meeting have been emailed out to all Conveners so please contact us if you have not received your copy; alternatively you can find a copy on our website cvu3a.uk under the headline “Convenors meeting”.

We are getting comments from members at our General Meeting that they didn't know about some of the study days and events that we advertise on the notice board. These days are arranged either by the Thames Valley Network or the Herts Network to both of which our U3A is affiliated. We try to send out as many information sheets as we can but it’s not always possible. Please encourage your members to look online for details as the popular events get sold out very quickly: u3atvnetwork.org.uk and u3asites.org.uk.

The next Convenors’ Meeting is on Thursday 29th June 2017 in Chesham Town Hall, from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

Marian Bangs and Sue Broad – Groups Co-ordinators

Visit to Oxford

Wednesday 27th September 2017

Our trip to Oxford will leave from Chesham FC, Amy Lane, Chesham, HP5 1NE, at 08:15am.

The first stop will be for coffee and biscuits at The Bastion Room, built into the old city walls and part of Jesus College. We will be joined by our guide who is Chairman of Oxford U3A and, after a tour of Jesus College’s library, chapel and quad, we will proceed, via other points of interest, to Christ Church. At their magnificent cathedral, two cathedral guides will show us round.

We will then have a guided return to Jesus College, where a two-course hot buffet lunch will be provided in the ancient college dining hall.

The afternoon will be free to explore some of the many Oxford attractions – museums, walks, the covered market and so forth – as well as an optional river trip (not included in the price but £8 per person on the day).

The coach to return home is scheduled to depart at 4:30pm.

The cost is £42 per person. Numbers are limited to 40 and all who have registered interest with me will be guaranteed a place. If the trip is then oversubscribed, I will hold a ballot.

Included in the cost is the coach, driver’s tip, coffee, lunch, all guides and entrance fees for the colleges we visit.

There is some walking, and steep steps, so no wheelchairs unfortunately.

Payment by cheque in favour of ‘Chess Valley U3A’ should be sent to Michael Cohn, Bidston, Burtons Lane, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4BN. Cheques will not be cashed before a place is guaranteed.

For more information, and to register interest, please contact me at events@cvu3a.uk. Michael Cohn

June - August 2017 6

Proposed new walking group

Owing to the high numbers of walkers in Walkers 1 and 2, we are considering starting a similar third walking group, i.e. walking distance up to 5-6 miles. These walks would take place once a month, on the first or third Wednesday of the month.

Mick Rothwell is happy to coordinate the group but he would rather have a Co-Convenor as, in common with many retired people, he tends to be away quite frequently.

At the moment, we are just gauging the level of interest in a new group. If you are interested, then please contact Mick Rothwell rothwellmick@aol.com giving your name and your preferred choice of Wednesday.

Chess Valley U3A equipment

We have various items of equipment that have been purchased by Chess Valley U3A. These are held by the groups that requested them but are available for use by other groups. If you would like to borrow any of this equipment, please contact the relevant custodian.

Equipment Custodian Contact details Data projector 1 Sue Broad Sue Broad

01494 718128 familyhist@cvu3a.uk

Data projector 2 Ian Hutt Laptop computer 1 (Windows 10) Sue Broad Companion speakers for laptop Sue Broad

Ian Hutt 01494 583955 history@cvu3a.uk

Laptop computer 2 (Windows Vista) Ian Hutt PAT-tested extension cable / power surge adapter

Sue Broad

Projection screen 1 (5 ft) Caroline Jenks Keith Hoffmeister 01494 766990 photography@cvu3a.uk

Projection screen 2 (6 ft) Ian Hutt Projector stand Ian Hutt

Pinboards x 3 Keith Hoffmeister Liz Stoelker 01494 712164 digimaging@cvu3a.uk

Easels x 3 Keith Hoffmeister Portable PA systems x 3 Keith Hoffmeister PAT-tested 6-gang 2-metre extension leads (x 2)

Liz Stoelker Caroline Jenks 01494 772090 artdiscuss2@cvu3a.uk

PAT-tested 4-gang 5-metre extension lead Liz Stoelker Rubber mats to protect extension leads (x 2) Liz Stoelker

Who said that? Here are a couple of rather good quotations we’ve come across recently. See if you can run them to earth and we’ll print the answers in the next newsletter. (There is a vague ‘connection’ between the two quotes.)

“If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”

“Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.”

June - August 2017 7

Chess Valley U3A Convenors

(All phone numbers are prefixed by 01494 unless otherwise indicated)

Group Convenor/s Phone U3A e-mail

Art Lin Spoor 433896

art@cvu3a.uk Claire Fallowfield 863160

Art Discussion 1 Jude Jones 723215 artdiscuss@cvu3a.uk

Art Discussion 2 Caroline Jenks 772090 artdiscuss2@cvu3a.uk

Book Group 1 Mary Saywood 868746 bookgroup1@cvu3a.uk

Book Group 2 Liz Howlett 727482

bookgroup2@cvu3a.uk Christine Ross 431521

Book Group 3 Eileen Overton 01753 891667 bookgroup3@cvu3a.uk

Bridge Graham Beavan 775745

bridge@cvu3a.uk Patrick Clarke 727184

Chess Peter Schweiger 729321 chess@cvu3a.uk

Computers Betty Hutton 875507 computer@cvu3a.uk

Current Affairs Eileen Overton 01753 891667 currentaffs@cvu3a.uk

Digital Imaging Liz Stoelker 712164

digimaging@cvu3a.uk Sylvia Morris 722385

Dinghy Sailing Wendy Barnes 783790

sailing@cvu3a.uk Judith Young 259807

Eclectic Music Juliet Crussell 711159

music@cvu3a.uk Ron Hartwell 786738

Family History Marian Bangs 713627

familyhist@cvu3a.uk Sue Broad 718128

Fantasy Shares Merelene Davis

shares@cvu3a.uk Andrew Davis

French Conversation Jackie Cobb 773718 frenchcons@cvu3a.uk

French Intermediate Hilary Alleston 581934 french@cvu3a.uk

Gardening Janice Cross 728291 garden@cvu3a.uk

German Jenny Lee 863970 german@cvu3a.uk

History Claire Paterson 712736

history@cvu3a.uk Ian Hutt 583955

Italian Beginners Joanna Hughes 814630 newitalian@cvu3a.uk

Jazz Appreciation Alan Crussell 711159

jazzmusic@cvu3a.uk Danny Robins 581079

Mah Jong Julie Wolstenholme 876908 mahjong@cvu3a.uk

MOTO Mo Barnes 786766 moto@cvu3a.uk

June - August 2017 8

Chess Valley U3A Convenors (continued)

(All phone numbers are prefixed by 01494 unless otherwise indicated)

Group Convenor/s Phone U3A e-mail

Patchwork & Quilting Margaret Payne 783167 patchquilt@cvu3a.uk Photography Keith Hoffmeister 766990 photography@cvu3a.uk

Pilates Christine Ross 431521

pilates@cvu3a.uk Liz Howlett 727482

Play Reading Claire Paterson 712736

playread@cvu3a.uk Linda Hepworth 762783

Poetry Christine Ogborne 773194 poetry@cvu3a.uk

Railways Geoff Povey 772596

railways@cvu3a.uk Eric Magson 714420

Science & Technology

Mike Christianson 01753 890480

sciencetech@cvu3a.uk Allan Saunders 01753 883159

Peter Twist 837437

Singing for Pleasure Angela Bratton 725312

singing@cvu3a.uk Stephanie Rothwell 729416

Spanish Conv (Inter) Hilary Alleston 581934 spanishconv@cvu3a.uk Stamps John Small 762000 stamps@cvu3a.uk

Theatre Chris Aylott

727555 theatre@cvu3a.uk Diana Aylott

Amblers Susan Osborne 866272 amblers@cvu3a.uk Walkers 1 Wendy Nimmo 721887 walkers1@cvu3a.uk Walkers 2 Sue Rawbone 713649 walkers2@cvu3a.uk Walkers 3 ? SEE THE NOTICE ON PAGE 7

Striders 1 John Bratton 725312 striders@cvu3a.uk Libby Odell 772842

Striders 2 Ian Lee 863970 striders21@cvu3a.uk Ukulele Alan Bridges 783098 ukulele@cvu3a.uk

Walks into History: Country

Tony Biddle 725429 walkshist@cvu3a.uk

Peter Schweiger 729321 Walks into History: London

Liam Dineen 715413 walkslondon@cvu3a.uk

Angela Shipley 862699

Wildlife Harry Howlett 727482

wildlife@cvu3a.uk Keith Sonley 712857

Wine Appreciation 1 Rodney Garrood 433585 wine@cvu3a.uk Wine Appreciation 2 Muriel Gray 581068 wine2@cvu3a.uk Writers Tony Renwick 782311 writers@cvu3a.uk

June - August 2017 9

DiaryDate Group Event

06 Jun Committee Monthly Meeting06 Jun Family History The Militia of Great Britain07 Jun Photography Field trip to Wendover08 Jun General Meeting Votes for Women12 Jun History The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways14 Jun Walks in London Past the Palace15 Jun Computers PowerPoint16 Jun Railways Talk on Gresley A4 locos19 Jun Science & Technology Sugar22 Jun Eclectic Music Entertainment by the new 'performers' group22 Jun Poetry Singer Songwriters23 Jun Opera & Dance Dance – Members introduce their own choices26 Jun Digital Imaging Multi-media Presentations27 Jun Jazz Appreciation Same Song, Different Treatment!28 Jun Gardening Visit to Deepwood Stud Farm29 Jun Convenors' Meeting04 Jul Family History The Work of a Professional Genealogist05 Jul Photography Field trip to Aston Clinton Ragpits and/or Tring10 Jul History The Battle of Trafalgar11 Jul Committee Monthly Meeting11 Jul Dinghy Sailing BBQ after sailing12 Jul Country Walks into History A walk around Old Windsor Town13 Jul General Meeting Women I Have Married17 Jul Science & Technology Chemistry Topic19 Jul Patchwork & Quilting Workshop with Sheila Wilkinson19 Jul Theatre 'The Tempest’ at The Barbican24 Jul Digital Imaging Free Software24 Jul Stamps Bechuanaland and the Royal Philatelic Society26 Jul Gardening How to Grow Roses Successfully27 Jul Poetry Simon Armitage28 Jul Opera & Dance Opera – Puccini’s early opera ‘Edgar’01 Aug Family History Tour of The Charterhouse (booking required)02 Aug Photography Field trip to Oxford09 Aug Walks in London Beatles Magical Mystery Tour10 Aug General Meeting Walking Forward, Looking Back21 Aug Digital Imaging What’s new in Photoshop Elements 15?21 Aug Science & Technology Revamping in a Refinery23 Aug Gardening Visit to Upper Chalford Farm24 Aug Poetry The Metaphysical Poets29 Aug Jazz Appreciation Operetta -'The Pirates of Penzance'05 Sep Family History Workhouses in Bucks

Copy date for the next Newsletter is 22nd AugustJune - August 2017 10

News from the Groups

The Art Group continues to be well attended with no vacancies at present.In the past months we have made our own egg tempera paint with which we paintedpictures of birds. We studied the work of David Hockney and invited a student to model forportrait painting. We have recently looked at the work and life of the sadly late Sir HowardHodgkin, after which we painted in abstract style. He said of painting ̀ Painting is like putting

a message in a bottle and flinging it into the sea` - presumably to wave it goodbye.

In March we shared a very mixed bag of favourite works, with more than half by British artists.No blows were exchanged as we looked at Hogarth, Spencer, Paul Nash, Winifred Knights,Hockney, Hepworth and David Tress among others. In April 2 members, admittedly joined inholy matrimony, produced a highly professional presentation on the Brueg(h)els. In May wevisited the refurbished Henry Moore foundation in Perry Green, Hertfordshire SG10 6EE, nowopen Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. Journey time - 1 to 1.5 hours. We would all highly

recommend a visit - very knowledgeable staff, a cafe (teetotal), several large exhibition barns, a maquettestudio, tapestries to Moore's designs made by West Dean College and about 20 large works in the grounds.

Our March talk was given by Gillian Eastmond who compared the very different livesand works of two 18th century artists, Constable (1775-1836) and Turner (1776-1851).Constable, from an affluent background, was subsidised until the age of 40 by his fatherwhen his paintings didn't sell, whereas Turner, who was working class and had to earnhis own living, was apprenticed to an engraver at the age of 12. Constable was a familyman, wanting a wife and having 7 children but Turner was not much interested in

either. Constable painted in oils using a knife, producing idyllic country scenes from memory andimagination, of that which had already been lost to industrialization. Turner painted in watercolour,depicting the reality of nature, and produced many engravings which sold well. Constable portrayedemotion and feeling and, later in life, produced numerous sky studies while Turner painted colour and lightand, later in his life, painted in oils and in a more abstract style.Caroline Jenks gave a presentation on David Hockney at our April meeting. Several of our members alsoattended the Hockney exhibition at Tate Britain. Hockney trained at The Royal College of Art and first cameto the public's attention when he was still a student. Some of the better known images of the sixties areby him, e.g. ‘Sunbather’ and ‘The Bigger Splash’. He has lived and worked in America and his paintings ofsun-soaked landscapes are vibrant with colour. In later life he has painted extensively in his native Yorkshire,giving us vast canvasses of East Yorkshire in all seasons of the year. His style of art has continually changedthroughout his artistic career and he has embraced new technology in his later years, experimenting withimages on his iPad to great effect. Is he a 'Great Artist', who will stand the test of time? Our group wasdivided on this.

GROUP MEETINGSWhile members are generally welcome at any meeting of a group, it is helpful if they advisethe Convenor of that meeting before attending. Some groups are full and most meetings arestructured; the arrival of an unexpected member may cause an unnecessary and perhapsunwelcome blip to the arrangements.In public buildings it is important that the Convenor knows who is at the meeting incase of fire. Please, always sign in at the beginning and sign out and in again if youpop out for a while. Also, make sure you know where the fire exits are.

Art Lin Spoor & Claire Fallowfield

Art Discussion 1 Jude Jones

Art Discussion 2 Caroline Jenks

June - August 2017 11

This is a book group with a difference. We don’t all read the same book! Several timesa year a group of avid readers meets to discuss the books we have read betweenmeetings. It’s a most stimulating and wide-ranging session in which it’s almost certainthat at least somebody will have read the same book or the same author as somebodyelse in the group. Our discussions have included fiction, biography, history, politics and

include authors such as Barack Obama, J.M Coetzee, Sebastian Faulks, Rose Tremain, Max Hastings, DavidOwen and many more. The group has gained one new member this year and continues to thrive. We arefull at the moment but please contact the Convenor if you would like to be added to a waiting list. Meetingsare at the Convenor’s home in Great Missenden. Please ring for more details.

We meet in Chesham Library at 11.45 am on the first Wednesday of the month. Of the books covered sincethe last Newsletter, Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse' was the most challenging. The author uses a methodof writing called 'stream of consciousness' which minimises narration and focuses on the thoughts andfeelings of the characters. Its autobiographical elements of loss, grief and reconciliation were interestingas Woolf lost her mother in early life and this was mirrored in the death of the central character. Thenovel provoked discussion about why we read and whether it is good to tackle 'hard' books occasionally.By comparison, Anita Shreve's 'Light on Snow', also a tale of loss and grief, was a much 'easier' read but wefelt, in this case, that the thoughts and feelings of some of the characters could have been developedfurther. Our third book, a complete contrast, was 'Fleshmarket Close' by Ian Rankin, featuring DI Rebus'fight against illegal immigrants and human trafficking, appealing only to the two Scots in the group. No-oneelse could believe Edinburgh had such a seamy side!

Meetings are held in members’ homes at 2pm on the third Tuesday of each month. Availability is governedby the ten books we get each month from Chesham library; we have our full quota at the moment butplease contact the Convenor in case a vacancy occurs. We have had a varied mix of titles so far this year,some good, some quite bad but there is always something to discuss. We are looking forward to readingand discussing our current book, ‘Offshore’ by Penelope Fitzgerald. Other titles on our list are, ‘Harvest’by Jim Crace, ‘Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand’ by Helen Simonson and ‘The Lacuna’ by Barbara Kingsolver.

We continue to play every Wednesday afternoon at Chartridge Park Golf Club startingpromptly at 2pm.We still have a waiting list of members who would like to join us and are unlikely to bein a position to accept any new members for the foreseeable future.

The Chess Group continues to meet on the 4th Friday of the month at 3.00 pm in the Convenor’shome. A game is guaranteed because we only need two people. It is a pleasant way to spend anhour or so with a coffee and view of the garden.Just turn up with a board and then you won’t be bored.

Book 1 Mary Saywood

Book 2 Liz Howlett & Christine Ross

Book 3 Eileen Overton

Bridge Graham Beavan & Patrick Clarke

Chess Peter Schweiger

June - August 2017 12

The Group meets in Little Chalfont Library on the third Thursday of each month for 2hours, commencing at 1.30 pm and new members of all abilities are always very welcome.The group is headed up by Peter Barnett who has been involved with computers sincethe 1960s and a different topic is covered each month. May’s meeting was onPhotography when Peter demonstrated very easy ways to manipulate photos. For June’s

meeting the topic will be on using PowerPoint with special reference to preparing a presentation on FamilyHistory.

Meetings are held in members’ homes at 2pm on the first Thursday of each month. Wediscuss a wide range of current topics. Politics are very dominant at the moment but, in twohours, we cover a wide range of topics, some serious and others are quite frivolous. Thereare always plenty of viewpoints and everyone gets a chance to put their ideas forward. Themeeting is held in a friendly manner and there is a lot of laughter. If you would like to beinformed or to inform others, please contact the Convenor for the next meeting.

We meet in Little Chalfont Village Hall from 10:00 - 12:00 on the fourth Monday of the month, except whenthis is a Bank Holiday, when the meeting is on the third Monday. Presentations are given by members andwe explore how to improve our photographs and how to create interesting effects that result in somethingquite different. The sessions are based on Photoshop Elements but other software can be used. Bringinga laptop with a copy of Photoshop Elements to the meetings is an advantage but not essential. No previousknowledge is necessary as notes and sample images are sent to members before the meeting.In March we investigated making Panoramas using RAW and JPEG files. In April we did some cropping andmanipulating a group of images in one go. The topic for May was a change from the advertised programmewith a presentation on High Pass Sharpening which led to some lively discussion of alternative ways ofachieving the same effect. As always with Photoshop, there is more than one way of doing something.26 June Multi-media Presentations24 July Free Software21 August (3rd Mon) What’s new in Photoshop Elements 15?

Our sailing season started in April, and so far, the weather has been kind to us, and everyone whohas attended has been able to sail. We were fortunate to have the services of a guest dinghyinstructor at our session at the beginning of May in the person of Wendy’s son, Andrew, whogave a demonstration of how to manage a spinnaker. Some members were able to practice theirskills in the new (to us) Comet Versa which Rickmansworth Sailing Club has recently purchased.We have welcomed several new members this season and hope others will join us on the second

Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of the month from 1:00 till 5:00 pm at Troy Lake, just outside Maple Crossand we plan to have a BBQ after sailing on July 11th. No experience is necessary but we do ask that youcan swim at least 10 metres. All members are required to take part in a capsize drill which we normallypractice in July or August when the water is warm.

Computers Betty Hutton

Current Affairs Eileen Overton

Digital Imaging Sylvia Morris & Liz Stoelker

Dinghy Sailing Wendy Barnes & Judith Young

Eating in the Fifties:▪ Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking.▪ Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.▪ Cubed sugar was regarded as posh.

June - August 2017 13

The last meeting before the summer break will be:THURSDAY 22ND JUNE when our new 'performers' group will entertain us, along with somesets by other members of the group. This is always a fun session with the addition of someextra refreshments. Do come along and see what we are up to.All meetings are held at AMERSHAM FREE CHURCH, 2.30 - 4.30

Our group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 2.15pm to 4.30pm in Chesham TownHall.If you are interested or would like to find out more about how to research your family historyplease come along, there is no need to book. We have a variety of members, books and helpsheets to get you started.

Our speakers cover a wide variety of subjects and we encourage members to tell their own stories as theyusually turn out to be the most interesting. In June a favourite returning speaker, Tom Doig, will be talkingabout the Militia (a change from the advertised programme). The Militia of Great Britain were the principalmilitary reserve forces after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom ofIreland. He will also try to date any photographs members may care to bring along.4th July Antony Marr - The Work of a Professional Genealogist1st August NO MEETING - External visit & tour of ‘The Charterhouse’ C14 (Booking required)5th Sept Julian Hunt, Local historian and writer - Workhouses in Bucks3rd Oct Ian Waller STUDY DAY - How to use the National Archives on-line (Booking Required)

Our last meeting in May was after the General Election had been called and after various ‘Let’sbe beastly to the British’ statements from Eurocrats. Together with the frightening sabrerattling from North Korea and random Trumpisms from the USA, it looks like a more thanusually rocky time over the summer. As a consequence the group decided it would be wise tofollow the adage ‘Sell in May and go away until St Leger Day’. After much discussion, it was

agreed to sell half of our Fantasy Shares portfolio. This way, whatever happens, we would still have £9,728cash to begin again in September. It has certainly been a most interesting year with so many thingsshaping the markets. One good thing is that it is inspiring people to look more closely at what influencesour living standards and the society we live in. We thought David Goodhart’s book “The Road toSomewhere” was a most original analysis and it stimulated discussion about the future.

Notre groupe est composé de personnes ayant de bonnes connaissances en français. Nosréunions, très amicales et divertissantes, ont lieu deux fois par mois; notre premierrendezvous se tient le deuxième mercredi du mois, à 12h30, autour d'un petit repasconvivial dans un pub local. Nous avons également plaisir à nous retrouver le quatrièmemercredi du mois, à 10h15, autour d'un café, chez un des membre du groupe. L'accueilest toujours très chaleureux et nos discussions se font dans la bonne humeur. Nous

organisons de temps en temps des soirées autour d’un bon vin et de quelques plats.L'objectif est d'offrir aux membres de notre groupe le moyen de s'exprimer et de converser en français surdes divers sujets d'actualités, de pratiquer les expressions idiomatiques mais aussi de passer un bon momentensemble.New members who are interested in conversing in French are welcome to join us.

Eclectic Music Juliet Crussell & Ron Hartwell

Family History Sue Broad & Marian Bangs

Fantasy Shares Andrew & Merelene Davis

French Conversation Jackie Cobb

June - August 2017 14

We are a small friendly group with varied levels of French; we chat with the help of the Convenor andsometimes a native speaker who is a great source of vocabulary and corrections to our grammar.Unfortunately we are now full, as numbers are limited by the venue and by the need to give everyone achance to contribute.

During the last quarter, we covered subjects as diverse as Front Gardens, Climbers and Herba-ceous Clematis. For the next quarter, we have two garden visits lined up - in June to DeepwoodStud Farm near Maidenhead, and in August to Upper Chalford Farm near Chinnor, both openingfor the National Gardens Scheme. In July we have a talk from regular speaker Graham Talbot,this time on ‘How to Grow Roses Successfully’. New members and visitors are always welcometo the group. We meet in the Albert Ellis Hall at the Amersham Free Church, Woodside Road,

Amersham. Doors open at 2pm, the speaker starts at 2.30 for an hour or so and then we have refresh-ments. A small charge of £3 is made to cover costs.

The German Language is renowned for its complex sentences and very long words, forexample :-Donaudampfschiffahrtselektrizitatenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaftthis means :-sub-ordinate officials of the head office of the Danube steamboat electrical services.When to use it? After a dozen schnapps with the aforementioned captain!!!!

Our German conversation group is fun, so why not join us on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

We have been entertained, informed and made thirsty by our speakers over the last threemonths.In March, Jim Matthews talked about brick-making and his family firm of brick-makers, H.G.Matthews, of Bellingdon, Chesham, which produces traditional hand-made and machine-madebricks. His talk covered the origins of brick-making from mud, dating back to 7,500 BC, to the

Romans bringing their brick-making skills to England, and up to the present day. Due to the many clay-beddeposits laid down 150 million years ago, South Bucks was the ideal location for brick-making and it hasexisted in the area for 800 years. Jim brought samples of bricks in differing colours. Local clay gives a verynice brick with a good colour after drying. Many of the buildings in Chesham are built with Chesham Multies.H. G. Matthews is the last brick-maker in this area, Bovingdon brickworks having closed last year. At onetime there were 20 Brick Yards within 5 miles of Chesham.In April we had a most enlightening talk on Heraldry by John Hockey. A complex, fascinating and colourfulsubject which would take a long time to get to grips with, not to mention the Latin. However, we weregiven an interesting and humorous overview which whetted the appetite. Heraldry was formed on thebattlefield with crests, flags and banners enabling participants to know who was who, and began after theBattle of Hastings. There is a very specific language in heraldry and with the symbols that make up a coatof arms, each one has a story to tell, if you can read it. A great deal to take in but greatly enjoyed byeveryone.Finally in May, we had a visit from a very well known speaker, Colin Oakes, who spoke about ‘Brewing inBuckinghamshire’ or as he liked to term it ‘Boozy Bucks’. With pubs around every corner and severalbreweries in every town it appears the term is quite accurate. The drink that was brewed in Bucks wasspecifically Ale as it was a fermented drink made using barley not hops and with no added sugar. The best

Gardening Janice Cross

German Jenny Lee

History Claire Paterson & Ian Hutt

French Intermediate Hilary Alleston

June - August 2017 15

beer is produced in hard water areas which this is, only Bath, apparently, has harder water. He talked ofpubs and breweries past and revived many memories of places long gone and forgotten. His display of oldbeer bottles was fascinating and by this time we were all thirsty! A very lively and totally encompassingafternoon's event.Our next meetings:June 12 'The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways - Yesterday and Today' - Richard Ogden, a volunteer on the Ffestiniog RailwayJuly 10 'The Battle of Trafalgar' - Derek Ayshford of the Bucks Family History Society (Men from Chesham took part in this battle)August NO MEETING

The Group continues to make inroads into Contatti 2, interspersed with conversation andtranslations.We would welcome new members although a basic level of Italian would now be required.You would be made very welcome. Please contact the Convenor if interested.We continue to meet at the White Hill Centre on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month at

2.30 pm.

All types of jazz are covered: Armstrong to Basie, Ella to Peyroux. We have excellentprofessional and non-professional speakers using a wide variety of audio and visual equip-ment. Members share their knowledge and enthusiasm in an informal, relaxed atmos-phere. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 2 pm in The Owen Room, AmershamFree Church, Woodside Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6AJ.Meetings for 2017:

June 27 Dave Bevan – Same song, different treatment! Live music with vocal refrain.July 25 Annual Holiday Break.August 29 Annual Holiday Break.September 26 Alan Crussell and Danny Robins - Great British Jazz Legends - Humphrey Lyttelton and Tubby Hayes.Please contact one of the Convenors if you have any questions.

Mah Jong is a game played with tiles and originated in China. It’s a very sociable andfun game played by 2, 3 or 4 people. There is no competition involved as each personplays their own game and any mistakes are easily hidden! Don't worry if you haven'tplayed before; if you have ever played the simplest of card games you will quickly pickup the basics of Mah Jong. This is a friendly group of people who enjoy each other’s

company for an afternoon, playing, chatting with a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit. Anyone is welcome,from beginners to more experienced players. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays (except Bank Holidays)at 2.00pm in The Free Church, Amersham.

Italian Beginners Jo Hughes

Jazz Appreciation Alan Crussell & Danny Robins

Mah-Jong Julie Wolstenholme

▪ A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.▪ Two fish swim into a concrete wall.  One turns to the other and say's 'Dam!'▪ Atheism is a non prophet organisation.

June - August 2017 16

MOTO is a group especially for members on their own. We meet over coffee at 11am in Cafe Nero inChesham on the first Saturday of every month to plan our programme and chat. We try to arrange twoSunday lunches each month at local pubs and restaurants. Other outings include visits to gardens, galleriesand exhibitions, and sometimes short breaks away. Our summer programme so far includes a June visit tothe gardens of Cornwall and an outing to the ‘Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion' exhibition at the V & A. Lunchesare planned at the 'The Pomeroy' and 'Côte Brasserie', Amersham, and at The Conference Centre, Chartridge.We are also looking forward to our annual summer barbecue in a member's beautiful garden. The nextplanning meeting is on Saturday, 3rd June, when the remainder of our summer programme will be discussedand finalised.

South Bucks U3A shows Blu-ray/DVD recordings at Beaconsfield Rugby Club, Windsor End, Old Beaconsfield,HP9 2SQ on the 4th Friday of the month at 2pm. Members of other U3As are invited to attend. Take acushion!Fri Jun 23rd Dance – Members introduce their own choices of any dance clips. The clips can be ballet(classical or modern), contemporary, tap, ballroom, Latin etc.Fri Jul 28th Opera – Puccini’s early opera ‘Edgar’. Edgar is sung by Jose Cura with the Orchestra andChorus of Teatro Regio Torino. This is the 4 act version.

The Group meets twice a month for ten months of the year with no meetings in Augustand usually only one meeting plus a pub lunch in December.On the first Wednesday, 9.30am until 12 noon, we meet at the house of the Convenor inHyde Heath. This is a discussion and show-and-tell session with members encouraged tobring along any work with which they are having problems. On the third Wednesday we

sew from 9.30am until 3.30pm in Hyde Heath Village Hall. Small charges of £1.50 (first Wednesday) and£4 (third Wednesday) are made to cover photocopying, refreshments, other incidentals and the fee to agentleman who puts out and clears away our tables at the Village Hall.The Group continues to be productive. For the last three months we have concentrated on our own sewingbut shall be welcoming Sheila Wilkinson back as a tutor on 19th July. At this meeting we shall mark ‘end ofyear’ with a sandwich and strawberries lunch. There will be no meeting on Wednesday 7th June as theConvenor has childcare duties covering her daughter’s jury service. Meetings resume on 21st June at theVillage Hall followed by 5th July at the Convenor’s house. There will be no meetings in August and we shallreconvene on Wednesday 6th September.We like to welcome new members but it is impossible for the house of the Convenor to accommodate anymore. Reluctantly we shall be starting a waiting list but hope it may be possible to include those on thewaiting list at some of the meetings in the Village Hall. Please email or telephone the Convenor for furtherinformation. Experience of sewing, but not necessarily patchwork, is an advantage, as is the possession ofand familiarity with a sewing machine.

MOTO (Members On Their Own) Mo Barnes

Opera & Dance South Bucks U3A

Patchwork & Quilting Margaret Payne

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.  Everybodywas sure Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.  Everybody thoughtAnybody could do it but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody couldhave done.

June - August 2017 17

We had an interesting programme this spring. In February we visited Roger Longdin’sstudio and darkroom in Great Missenden. Roger is a fine art print maker and uses anold fashioned full plate camera. Members found the visit most fascinating. In Marchwe had a talk by local professional photographer, Mark King, about his approach tophotography. In April we had a terrific talk by international wildlife photographerTom Way. This was an open meeting and we were joined by members of the Wildlife

Group.We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 2.00 pm in Little Chalfont Village Hall. At the summermeetings we view and discuss pictures taken on the associated field trip. We also cover a range of topicsof interest to members. New members are always welcome regardless of experience and ability.June 7th – Field trip to WendoverJune 21st – Monthly meetingJuly 5th – Field trip to Aston Clinton Ragpits and/or TringJuly 19th – Monthly meetingAugust 2ⁿd – Field trip to OxfordAugust 16th – Monthly meeting

Following the huge success of Pilates One and Two, a third group, for Beginners,started at the end of April. As a result, Mondays are busy days for our excellent andenthusiastic teacher, Sue Noble, who takes the one hour classes at 11.15 (Pilates 3)12.30 (Pilates 1) and 2:00 (Pilates 2). All classes are held at the Jubilee Hall, RectoryHill, Amersham and each has a maximum of 16 attendees. Currently, all are full forthis term but the Convenors are happy to receive enquiries from potential new

members in case of future vacancies in September.

The Play Reading Group is going well with a full membership. We have chosen mostly comedies so far butare looking for more serious and modern plays to add to our list. Our next reading will be ‘Absurd PersonSingular’ by Alan Ayckbourn.Our next meetings’ dates are June 21 and July 19 but we cannot take any new members at present.

For our meeting in March we looked at the poetry of Ruth Padell, the great granddaughter of Charles Darwin.Poems chosen included ‘The Miser’, 'Herodotus in Egypt' and 'Worms'. A very appropriate choice of subjectin April was the poetry of birds and we enjoyed reading such gems as 'The Pelican Chorus' by Lear, 'HawkRoosting' by Ted Hughes, 'Hummingbird' by D H Lawrence and the hilarious 'Sparrow' by Norman MacCaig.In May our subject was ‘Truth and Lies’ with some devious lines chosen, including 'Mrs Faust' by C A Duffy,'Oh Tell Me The Truth About Love' by W H Auden and 'The Present Crisis' by J Russell Lowell.22 June Singer Songwriters27 July Simon Armitage24 August The Metaphysical Poets

Photography Keith Hoffmeister

Pilates Liz Howlett & Christine Ross

Play Reading Claire Paterson & Linda Hepworth

Poetry Christine Ogborne

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customersgot unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settledown. It's where we get the phrase 'mind your Ps and Qs'.

June - August 2017 18

We meet on the third Friday of the month at 10 am at Christ Church Hall, Waterside,Chesham.In April, Keith Hoffmeister kindly lent us a DVD on the history of the southern end ofthe Great Central Railway, so we spent an hour or so wallowing in nostalgia,reminiscing about loco changes at Rickmansworth and how Marylebone has changed.

It didn’t seem that long ago that Marylebone was being proposed for closure and the railway replaced witha coach route. Now the old GC is a thriving railway operated by Chiltern Railways.In May, a number of us visited the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. We travelled there by train fromChesham/Chalfont, then via Farringdon and East Croydon to East Grinstead where we joined the steamtrain for the 40-minute ride to Sheffield Park. We were greeted by the Chairman of the Bluebell RailwayTrust, Graham Aitken and then had a pleasant lunch. Graham took us on a tour which included the signalbox, where the duty signalman explained the workings of the box, and the loco shed, where we saw manylocos awaiting work on them, some of which requires large amounts of cash! Following this, we visited theinteresting and well-presented museum. Despite a terrific downpour which lasted much of our time there,we had a most enjoyable day.Next meetings:16th June Talk on Gresley A4 locos21st July TBAAugust No meetingIf you are interested in joining us, please contact the Convenor.

We meet at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at the Amersham Free Church,Woodside Road, Amersham HP6 6AJ. Emails directed to sciencetech@cvu3a.uk willbe seen by all three members of our steering committee.

June 19 Tony Feather SugarJuly 17 Richard Eastmond Chemistry TopicAugust 21 Roger Lane Revamping in a Refinery

It’s all systems go preparing for our informal end of term concert in July for family and friends.The programme is wide and varied and calls for a range of singing styles; a challenge which weendeavour to meet but don’t always succeed! In addition to the planned repertoire some members will be having their own moment of gloryperforming songs of their choice. Kathryn, our tutor, has some innovative costume and prop.

ideas in mind for us to wear. These weren’t exactly greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm! Nevertheless,we always enjoy performing and the concerts are entertaining and good fun.If you enjoy singing and would like to join us then please contact one of the Convenors and come along fora ‘taster’. We are a very friendly, supportive group and the weekly sessions are always enjoyable. Thereis no audition ordeal and although the ability to read music is an advantage it is not essential; many memberslearn the songs by rote. The emphasis is on the benefit and enjoyment of singing. We meet at AmershamFree Church every Monday during term time from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm There is a charge for tuition andaccompanist fees.

Railways Geoff Povey & Eric Magson

Science & Technology Mike Christianson, Allan Saunders, Peter Twist

Singing for Pleasure Stephanie Rothwell & Angela Bratton

June - August 2017 19

We meet twice a month at the home of the Convenor and cover a range of topics as wellas having a general chat. Unfortunately we are full at the moment as numbers are limitedby the venue and the need to keep everyone involved.

We had only the March meeting during the last three months and this featured the UnitedStates. Peter Coe, our speaker, majored on the 1893 Chicago Exposition and the stamps thatwere issued to commemorate the event. Peter gave the background to the postal history ofthis period and followed-up with an extensive collection of examples of envelopes and stampsused to send the post around the world, with stories to support each. Thanks also to our host,

Ian Hawkins, and for the Danish delights so admirably baked by his good lady, Marianne.We have lined up several other speakers who will continue our exploration of the history, geography andpolitics of countries around the world. Our next meeting, scheduled for the 5th June, has been cancelled.Please join us to spend an occasional sociable afternoon developing a common interest in stamps and theirhistory. You don’t have to collect them!Please call the Convenor for an update or further details.24th July Don Jeffreys - Bechuanaland and the Royal Philatelic Society25th September Alan Williams – Jamaican stamps and postal history27th November Chris March - Birds plus Muscat and Oman

The Theatre Group’s trip in March to see ‘Half a Sixpence’ at the Noel Coward Theatre wasa great success and enjoyed by everyone. We went to ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ at The Millat Sonning at the end of May.On 19th July we are going to see ‘The Tempest’ at the Barbican Theatre, London and on 25thOctober we are seeing ‘An American in Paris’ at the Dominion Theatre, London. This has

proved so popular that we have booked two coaches for the trip. We have a short waiting list but pleasecontact us if you are interested as, with so many members going, there may be several cancellations nearerthe time.We would welcome suggestions for our pre-Christmas show. We try to alternate musicals and non-musicalproductions but so far ‘42ⁿd Street’ is our only idea for early December.Any Chess Valley U3A members are welcome to join the Theatre Group and should contact the Convenorsby email so that their names can be added to the mailing list.

The Ukulele Group is very much in its early days. It is a beginners’ group with the emphasison enjoyment. We meet a couple of times a month at someone’s house on a day that isconvenient to most of us. We practise some easy chords and tunes; our favourite tune atthe moment being that old chestnut ‘You Are My Sunshine’.Anyone interested in joining us, give me a call. Remember though, we are doing this forFUN!

Spanish Conversation (Intermediate) Hilary Alleston

Stamps John Small

Theatre Chris & Diana Aylott

Ukulele Alan Bridges

A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.Kenneth Tynan, theatre critic.

June - August 2017 20

I am very pleased to report that the Amblers Group is walking again.We plan to walk once a month, preferably the second Tuesday, though we can be flexible depending onour members' commitments. Our circular walks take between 1½ and 2 hours, beginning at 10.30. Weusually start from a pub where many of us finish off the morning with a congenial lunch, though this isoptional. Well behaved dogs are welcome. Information is emailed directly to members.The names of some interested Amblers are already on our list and we welcome new members. Pleasecontact me, Sue Osborne, on 01494 866272 or email amblers@cvu3a.uk.

Information about walks is sent directly to members by e-mail.Walkers 1 Wendy Nimmo

We continue to enjoy our wonderful countryside on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Sinceour numbers are rather high we are now operating a 'waiting list'.

Walkers 2 Sue RawboneFor once we were defeated by Storm Doris and had to cancel the planned walk in February - as faras I know it is only the second time that this has happened since we set up in 2009, the other beingbecause of heavy ice.We still continue to have a full complement on the walks which is great for those leading as a lot ofhard work is put into arranging the walks and my thanks go to everyone who has volunteered.As a result of the collections made after our walks we have contributed £250 to both The ChilternSociety, for a new gate, and Thames Valley Air Ambulance. The Chiltern Society will let us knowwhere 'our' gate is once they have identified a stile which is in need of replacement.Our walks take place on the fourth Thursday of the month and new members are very welcome,so please contact the Convenor if you wish to join our friendly group.

We have enjoyed a good winter for walking in the Chilterns with not too much rain. All of our plannedTuesday walks have gone ahead with no weather interruptions. Walks are planned throughout the yearwith leaders already planning their future walks which are about 7-10 miles in length, followed by a publunch. We have welcomed some new members to both groups this Spring.Our longer walks team are once again active throughout the Summer organising 12-15 mile walks whichtake about six hours. We carry a picnic as pubs are not always available at the right time on these longerwalks.

Members come on walks and accept lifts from other members at their own risk and carry theirown simple first-aid kit, water etc. and should be responsible for their own safety when crossingroads or climbing stiles. Our walks are on uneven and sometimes hilly ground and paths areoften muddy so good walking boots are essential for most walks. Suitable warm and waterproofclothing is necessary – we will not usually cancel in case of rain! Car-sharing is recommended;talk to other group members and find out who lives near you. In fairness to all, Walkers 2 havedecided not to allow dogs; for other groups, please check with the Convenor.Walks can only go ahead if there are at least three members present - one to break a leg, oneto stay with the injured person and one to get help.

Amblers (3 - 4 miles) Sue Osborne

Walkers (5 - 6 miles)

Striders (7 - 15 miles)

Walking Groups

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In early April a group of nearly 30 Striders decamped down to Selworthy in Somerset for a long weekendof walking on Exmoor, along coastal paths, and in the Quantocks. The early Spring sunny weather, thelocation and the company were all excellent. Many thanks to Jill Smith for organising such a great weekend.Our highlight of the Summer will be our coach outing and we will walk from Newhaven along the cliff pathto Peacehaven and then inland along the South Downs Way to the market town of Lewes. We have justdone a full recce of this and I can promise some spectacular views.If you enjoy your Chiltern walking you will certainly be made very welcome in either of the two friendlyStriders groups; please contact a Convenor for further details.Booking Arrangements for Striders 1 and Striders 2Members of Striders 1 and Striders 2 can book with either group when places are available; check with therespective Convenors for details.Striders 1

Walks are on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. John Bratton & Libby OdellStriders 2

Walks are on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Ian LeeLong Striders Walks are on the first Thursday of every month from April to October Jill Smith

Each walk/town visit involves some fun in a little pre-reading or research and then pre-walkingthe route to ensure familiarity, to plan where to park, toilets en route, and where to lunch whenleading the group.The newly formed Leaders Group has agreed the Programme for 2017 but please support yourConvenors with any ideas for new town walks that you would like to do.

July 12 - A walk around Old Windsor TownMike Christianson will take us around the old parts of Windsor Town, taking in the haunts of the Royals andtheir courtiers, and other famous names outside the castle walls from Christopher Wren to Nell Gwynne.13 September – Halton House, WendoverPeter Schweiger and Alison Pullinger are organising a visit to Halton House and Museum whilst we can stillget a guide; the RAF is due to run down its current custodianship.08 November – PinnerIan Hutt will lead us around some old parts of Pinner.Contact Tony Biddle on 01494-725429 or e-mail walkshist@chessvalley-u3a.org.uk

Walk around Wendover on 10th MayThis walk was a triumph - it had all the ingredients of a good town-potter! – interesting and well preservedbuildings, well documented history in a Town Trail, well led and researched by Tony Biddle and PeterSchweiger and a beautiful sunny Spring morning.20 of us met in the Shoulder of Mutton car park where the origin of the town name Wendover was explainedas coming from the Celtic ‘gwyn – dwfr’ meaning “White waters” owing to the chalky deposits from thesprings which feed the streams from the Chiltern Hills. Set close to heavily forested hills and in fertilecountryside, for centuries Wendover was self contained despite being on the Icknield Way which was animportant trade route between East Anglia and the Thames at Goring and the Roman London to Aylesburyroad.Wendover had royal patronage from Saxon times and Edward the Confessor used to hunt here. It passedto William the Conqueror in 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book records. As such it had theauthority to hold weekly markets and then, in 1214, the town received its first royal charter for an annualfair in May and October under the Lord of the Manor.

Country Walks into History Tony Biddle & Peter Schweiger

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We saw many delightful old Tudor houses, remnants of the Saxon monastery, a massive brick windmill, thehead of the Wendover Arm canal and a church dating from Saxon times.From the High Street and Back Street we followed the river uphill to the south through Wendover Park andpast the sites of 2 old mills. The Saxons brought Christianity to this Celtic area but a Norman stone churchreplaced the original Saxon timber one. Inside the delightful St Mary’s Church we even saw graffiti carvedin the soft limestone columns and left by Oliver Cromwell’s troops who were billeted in the church grounds.Everyone enjoyed the walk and thanked Tony and Peter for a lovely day out. Maureen Boylan

The walks planned for the rest of 2017 are as follows:June 14th Past the PalaceAugust 9th Beatles Magical Mystery TourOctober 11th Street ArtDecember 13th Literary London

Those of you with an eye for detail will have noticed the absence of a summary of the February walk ‘InsideCovent Garden’ in the last Newsletter; this walk was so good it merits some review, even if a little truncated.Oversubscribed, those lucky enough to be included enjoyed an excellent walk led by two first-class Londonguides, Karen and Simon. The walk began inside Rules Restaurant in Maiden Lane (the oldest restaurant inLondon, famous for oysters, pies and puddings). Among the rich and famous who dined here were Dickens,Betjeman, the future Edward VII and Lily Langtry. From there the walk encompassed Covent Garden (oncea Benedictine convent), various churches, Simpsons-in-the-Strand, another traditional English food provider,and, in the 19th century the most important venue for chess in London, before ending in St Martins-in-the-Fields. If you were one of the unlucky ones and missed this walk it is well worth doing independently withLondon Walks.Moving swiftly on to the ‘Mayflower to Brunel’ walk in April and another brief review. After some confusionat the start when only two guides turned up instead of the promised three, Robert, the main guide andcurator of the Brunel Museum, quickly took control and ushered us en masse from the tube station acrossJamaica Road (we were in the domain of the East India Shipping Company), to Cherry Gardens overlookingthe Thames. This was a perfect location to view Tower Bridge (completed by Marc Brunel) and ExecutionDock on the opposite side of the river where the unfortunate Captain Kidd and many others met theirdemise. This section of the river was also the site of the iconic Turner painting ‘The Fighting Temeraire’.In the late 18th/early 19th centuries the river Thames was constantly busy with ships carrying cargo fromall parts of the world; as London Bridge provided the only road outlet for transportation of goods to thecanals feeding the north of England congestion was extreme; hence the desire to create a tunnel under theThames to ease the movement of cargo.Continuing along the riverside towards Rotherhithe, where the Mayflower was built, we finally arrived atBrunel’s Tunnel. Although a tunnel had been proposed and started before Brunel’s involvement, floodinghad caused these attempts to be abandoned. In 1818 Marc Brunel (Isambard’s father), patented a devicefor ‘forming drifts and tunnels underground’ and in 1825 his project began. After many setbacks, five floods,one of which seriously injured Isambard who by now had taken over managing the construction due to hisfather’s ill-health, the tunnel was finally completed in 1843. Visited by Queen Victoria, the tunnel not onlytransported goods, it became London’s top visitor attraction and boasted the capital’s first shopping arcade.With the development of the railway and construction of more bridges the tunnel eventually fell into disuseand in 1865 was taken over by the East London Railway; today it forms part of the tube network. Robert,our guide, was again exceptional as were Karen and Simon on the Covent Garden walk, they are worthlooking out for.

Walks in London Liam Dineen & Angela Shipley Treasurer: Mick Rothwell

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Noel Coward.

June - August 2017 23

The Wildlife Group will reconvene in the coming weeks, led by Harry Howlett and Keith Sonley. Details ofthe first activity will shortly be sent out to all members of the group. All new members are welcome andif you would like to join the group, please email Harry on wildlife@cvu3a.uk.

We have had meetings covering three aspects of oenological enjoyment. The Rosses gave us analternative Burns night, themed on another of Scotland's awful poets, William Topaz McGonagall,who was, counter-intuitively for this group, teetotal. One stanza of his poetry will give you someidea:“Thou causeth the mother to neglect the child/Also the father to act as he were wild/So that he

neglects his loving wife and family dear/By spending his earnings foolishly on whisky, rum and beer”.No mention of wine so that's OK then. A great evening with many W.T.M toasts and contributions. Oh andwe also tasted some wine, memorably a Canadian ice wine, and a Malt to finish on an appropriate Scottishnote.March was the turn of the Smalls with a fascinatingly different evening based on wines exclusively fromSouth America; whites from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina and reds from Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.The group felt that the Tannat grape took some getting used to but the evening was an expression of theexperimental spirit of the group. April saw the debut of The Brattons with an eclectic and personal choiceof wines, reminding us that a good Muscadet is a fine thing and that sometimes higher alcohol strengthallied to good wine making can be a force for good, despite what Mr McGonagall might have said.So three very different sessions, as one would expect from a diverse and social group of people.

Our monthly meetings have continued over the last two months with two very interestingselections of wines and two lively meetings. In April we sampled a selection of 3 whites and 3 redspurchased from Majestic Wines, courtesy of Alan Gray. Our favourite white turned out to beHungarian from the Tokaji vineyard and our favourite red was a New Zealand Pinot Noir from theOtago region. In May we should have attended a tasting at Waitrose in Chesham but their wineexpert had left so instead they gave Mike Blanchard 6 wines for us to taste ourselves. The meeting

was held in The Pottery Room in Amersham and this time the favourites were a South African SauvignonBlanc (called Fishhoek) and a French Syrah with hard tannin, a pleasant change, from the Rhone Valley. Inboth cases the quality of the wines did vary and not all to our tastes.

The Writers' Group meets at the Friends Meeting House in Old Amersham, normally on thesecond Tuesday of the month at 2.30. As an experiment one of our members wrote the firstchapter of a detective story and invited the others to write the next chapter. There was a widevariation on how members continued the story and we might try this again in the future.Generally speaking, members can write on any subject they wish for discussion by the others. Wehave had a variety of short stories, autobiographical pieces and some poetry and have discussed

the style of a number of professional writers with a view to writing in a similar style. We would welcomeanyone wishing to join us at our next meeting on 13th June. The object of the Group is to encouragewriting rather than to engage in harsh criticism.

Wildlife Harry Howlett & Keith Sonley

Wine Appreciation 1 Rodney Garrood

Wine Appreciation 2 Muriel Gray

Writers Tony Renwick

Physics is like sex. It may give some practical results, but that is not why we do it.Nobel laureate Richard Feynman.

June - August 2017 24

Members’ Noticeboard

Due to buying a replacement printer, I have the following spare cartridges for a Lexmark S405 printer: 1 each of 100XL Black, 100XL Magenta, 100XLCyan, plus compatible 1 x 100XL Yellow, Magenta and Cyan cartridges. All free. John Anderson (01753 887463 or treasurer@cvu3a.UK).

HP301 tricolour printer cartridge available (free) because I have recently bought a new printer. If this would be of use to you, please contact me, Eric Magson (chairman@cvu3a.uk, tel: 07711 353270).

This noticeboard is available to members looking for companions for specific outings, assistance with projects or to seek or dispose of items (for free). It is NOT for advertising items for sale or for notices of a ‘campaigning’ nature. To advertise on our board, please email newsletter@cvu3a.uk. The newsletter appears quarterly and the deadlines for the next issues are:

22nd August for the September-November edition

22nd November for the December-February edition

Research Guide from the Third Age Trust Our parent organisation, the Third Age Trust, has produced a Research Guide called Getting Involved in Research. The Guide has been produced in response to to a growing interest in research within the U3A movement. It aims to encourage U3A members to get involved in research and provides some basic guidelines on developing a research project. One printed copy has been provided to each U3A and we can get further printed copies or electronic ones as PDFs.

It is also available on the Trust’s website, within the Members’ Area (you need to have registered to access this). Once in the Members’ Area, follow Document Downloads > General and you’ll find it.

There is also a U3A Research National Adviser, Rodney Buckland, who can be contacted on u3a.research@gmail.com.

Visit to Brighton, 16th May

On 16 May, we had a very successful visit to Brighton, organised by Jackie Cobb. The weather was perfect; a warm, light breeze off the sea and no rain.

After being entertained in the gardens by a piano playing zebra (!), we visited the Royal Pavilion where we were split into two groups and had a fascinating 60-minute professionally-guided tour.

George IV had bought a small farmhouse and extended it twice to produce a party palace. The strong Chinese influence appeared throughout the building, especially in the opulent Dining Room and even more in the Music Room. To quote one of the guides, this is China ‘made in England’ as the ‘bamboo’ is made from European woods and even from cast metal on the staircase. At the time, George IV was strongly disliked in the country because of his extravagance. Our guide said that the chandelier in the Dining Room had cost £6,000; I made a quick check on Google and the current value would be £600,000!

After the tour of the Royal Pavilion, people went their different ways. Some visited the ‘Doughnut’, which elevates up to 200 passengers at a time via a 162 metre-high steel observation tower. Others strolled on the pier or wandered through The Lanes, a network of small lanes with shops and restaurants.

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Chess Valley U3A Groups Schedule

FIRST in month MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Singing for

Pleasure (eve) Walkers 1 Patchwork and

Quilting (am) Wildlife

Art Discussion 2 (pm)

Striders 2 Spanish Conv’n (am)

Current Affairs (pm)

Pilates classes 1 and 2 (pm)

Art (am) German (am) Italian Beginners (pm)

Family History (pm) Books 2 (am) Books 1 meet at irregular intervals throughout the year

Jazz Appreciation meet on the last Tuesday of each month (pm)

Writers (pm) Bridge (pm)

Wine 2 (eve)

SECOND in month MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

History (pm) Striders 1 Walks into History OR

Walks into London (alternate) months)

Art Discussion (am)

Mah Jong (pm) Dinghy Sailing (pm) General Meeting (pm)

Pilates classes 1 and 2 (pm)

French Conv’n (am) The Chess Valley U3A Committee meets on the first or second Tuesday of each month Singing for

Pleasure (eve) Bridge (pm)

THIRD in month MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Wildlife (odd months)

Walkers 1 Patchwork and Quilting (all day)

Computers (pm) Railways (am)

Science and Technology (pm)

Striders 2 German (am) Italian Beginners (pm)

Pilates classes 1 and 2 (pm)

Books 3 (pm) Spanish Conv’n (am)

Singing for Pleasure (eve) Photography (pm)

MOTO (Members On Their Own) have an ‘anchor meeting’ on the first Saturday morning of each month

Monday groups sometimes have their schedules interrupted by public holidays; contact the Convenors for more information

Play Reading (pm)

Bridge (pm)

FOURTH in month MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Digital Imaging (am)

Striders 1 French Conv’n (am) Walkers 2 Chess (pm)

Mah Jong (pm) Art (am) French Intermed (am)

Eclectic Music (pm)

Pilates classes 1 and 2 (pm)

Jazz Appreciation (pm)

Dinghy Sailing (pm) Poetry (pm)

Singing for pleasure (eve) Gardening (pm) Wine 1 (eve)

Stamps (odd months only) Bridge (pm)

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So…. the impressiveproducts of thePatchwork and QuiltingGroup are actually foruse and not just forornament.

One of the Pilates Groupshard at work improvingtheir core strength andmaybe trimming thoseupper arms. (Laurie Bat-ten)

Jill Smith had to shareher lunch with a newmember of the StridersGroup when some membersspent a long weekendwalking on Exmoor.

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The Photography Group’svisit was well timed tocatch the stunningdisplay of tulips atChenies Manor. (BarrieWhitten and MiriamMee)

Members of the RailwayGroup used three trains toreach the start of theirsteam train ride from EastGrinstead to Sheffeld Parkon the Bluebell Railway.(Barry Whitten)

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