RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the U3A

April Newsletter

Sadly, as a result of the Covid

19 emergency we have had to

cancel all our planned social

events.

I hope you all continue safe and well in these unusual times. We would normally hold our AGM and elect a new committee in May but that is not possible at the moment. We hope to hold the AGM in August subject to advice from the National Office, and as a result of the delay, the current committee has agreed to stay on until then.

I think we all know it is going to be a while before all the restrictions can end, so we must be creative about how we can pursue our activities in the meantime. Do please keep us posted about what you are doing. Sadly, no-one has come forward to take on the newsletter so it may be that we just send out a monthly email from now on without all the lovely photos and nice touches that Barbara has created for us in a separate newsletter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for all her hard work over the years, which has been much appreciated. Rowena Langtry rutlandu3a@gmail.com

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

The U3A needlecraft group would

like to share some of their work

with you.

My husband

Dale bought the knitting kit, Sleepy

Sheep, and gave it to me for

Christmas 2017. I had never made

socks and never knitted fair isle so

was rather daunted at the thought

of the project, it remained in my

knitting bag! Forward to 2019 I

decided to set to and to my surprise

it was easier to knit than I had

expected. I thoroughly enjoyed the

challenge and am very pleased with

the result.

Kay

This is a quilt

that I made with help from others in

the group who provided the bits

and pieces to help me finish when

the shops were closed. It won’t win

prizes and certainly is littered with

imperfections but less so than if I

had a full diary! We learn from each

other and take a great interest in

each other’s projects - offering

advice and encouragement. We are

keeping in touch by email and

sharing news and pictures. We will

have lots to talk about when we

meet next and our friendship has

grown stronger through this period.

Judy

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

A design based on 17th century

embroidered boxes for trinkets,

where botanical subjects were very

popular. They were made all over

Europe in small factories for those

that did not embroider.

Lucy

Spanish Group 2 is meeting every other Friday via video conferencing app Zoom. If you are interested in joining us and want some information regarding what we do and the levels of Spanish involved contact David Matthews via the link on the website

The Living History Group have shared

reminiscences from some of the years

they have been researching

1972

‘The new year marked the start of my second term at Leeds University studying Ceramics. It was also the start of the 7 week long miners strike that began on January 9th.I lived in a hall of residence in Far Headingly and the two things I remember most about the strike are having cold food and being rationed with baths (a bit like being back at school!)

A positive that came out of it was my addiction to radio.

In 1972 75% of the nation's electricity came from coal burning power stations. A state of emergency was declared by the Heath government on 9th February. There was a three-day working week and rationing of electricity. By 22nd February power cuts increased to up to 9hours a day and the country was within a week of running out of power supplies.

The miners went back to work with a deal that made them among the highest paid in the working classes. The offer was a rise of 7.9% which sounds a lot but inflation in 1972 was 7.13% which puts the offer in context. Many people were affected by the strike for years to come but it was nothing compared to the yearlong strike in 1984.’

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

1980s.

Bombings in London In 1979 I started working in London firstly in the Strand, then Chancery Lane before moving to Blackfriars. The IRA bombings were a fact of life, something that all Londoners were used to and to an extent ignored. Every so often there would be a bombing that made you feel a bit vulnerable, the Hyde Park bombings in 1982 where the horses were killed for some reason appeared to shock us more than people being killed. I used to regularly shop at Harrods and in Oxford Street and was used to having my bag searched when entering a store, it was just normal. The Harrods bomb in 1983 didn’t stop me shopping at Harrods. I also remember when going to a station, if you saw an official with red and white tape you used to run for a train, any train, to get out of London. You were not scared of the bombs but more concerned about being stuck for hours when the trains weren’t running. If you could get to Clapham Junction you could then get out to Surrey where I lived. Trains used to terminate at Clapham during bomb scares and turn round so if you managed to get there you could get home. One evening I had not got on a train and was outside Waterloo looking for a bus or taxi to get me to Clapham and met a friend I had not seen since school; we shared a taxi to Clapham with 2 other waifs and strays and caught up on old times. We saw the bombs as an inconvenience rather than a threat and from memory most of us were not concerned about the wrongs and rights of the IRA campaign.

1976

‘I was a third-year student nurse when the heatwave and drought of 1976 was at its height. The temperature topped 28 degrees Celsius for a record breaking 22 days. I was on night duty and studying for my finals. Sleeping during the day in a south facing bedroom was nigh on impossible. Luckily, I could shower at work so water rationing and the standpipe in our street was not too much of a hardship, quite fun getting to know neighbours over a bucket.

1976 has been deemed to be one of the best years in history. Our quality of life was improved by a reasonable cost of living. I earned about £1600 per annum (just over £30 a week) and didn't feel badly off.

No sooner was a minister for drought appointed than we had torrential rain for 2 months during which I sat (and passed!) my finals.’

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

Here are some online ideas sent in by our members to help if you are missing our programme of visits, talks and events

See Machu Picchu at youvisit.com/tour/machupicchu

View Van Eyck at closertovaneyck.be

Check the opera archives at sydneyoperahouse.com

Take a virtual tour of the British

museum

britishmuseum.org

Enjoy

the natural world

bbc.co.uk

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

The Photographic Group is still active during the lockdown. All images are sent to me and I write my assessment of each image each week. As a U3A group we think it is important during in these difficult times to remain involved. Stan

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

Notices

Following the Government and NHS announcements, the Third Age Trust has created a dedicated page on the national website to keep you up to date with the latest guidance and advice - both general and specific to U3A. All members can find it here

You can find lots of interesting information and details of events

on the National U3A website

www.u3a.org.uk

The National U3A newsletter is sent out to members every month

Here is the link to sign up for the

newsletter

https://www.u3a.org.uk/email

Do you need a weekly brain exercise? The national U3A website has a weekly quiz to keep those little grey cells active, the quiz questions are posted on the national website with the answers revealed the following week A Taster of the first quiz: Identify the Familiar shop name 1.Footwear for a cat (5) 2. Father neglect? Just the opposite! (10) 3. Space traveller (5) 4. Tries to get favours with copper on this planet? (6, 2, 5) 5. Motor? Call the store (8, 9) The answers and more questions are on the national website You can follow the U3A on

Twitter, U3A@U3A_UK

@u3auk

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

Dear Rutland U3A, We are considering the possibility of

appointing a Marketing and

Fundraising manager to the

administrative team of EMICS. We

are a small medical charity and in

keeping with both our clinicians and

administrators the role is voluntary.

I was wondering if any of your

members who came from a

marketing background might be

interested.

Many thanks for considering this

request.

Best wishes

Dr Tim Gray MBE Chairman East

Midlands Immediate Care Scheme

------------------------------------------------

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Reply to Dr Tim Gray

<timgray86@hotmail.com

If you would like to donate to the Rutland Food Bank and are not able to visit the shops in person you can make a donation to their funds. Cheques should be made out to Rutland Food Bank can be sent to Treasurer Rutland Food Bank Mr Michael Masters 7 Barmstedt Drive Oakham LE15 9RG

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

The RCC website is the place to

find information, advice and services offering help to people

living in Rutland through the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Services include:

• crisis helpline • shielding and support for

vulnerable people (including food box scheme)

• good neighbour schemes, foodbanks

• financial help - including help with paying council tax, and other benefits

• housing • domestic abuse support,

safeguarding • see which shops and essential

businesses are open in Rutland, including places you can get food (supermarkets, food boxes and takeaways)

• Bereavement information, advice and support for people who are bereaved, including temporary changes to registering a death

• Official government and NHS guidance on keeping people as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic

For updated information about all local services you can follow the Rutland County Council website

www.rutland.gov.uk

Rutland Council (@rutlandcouncil)

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Thanks to everyone who

contributed to this month’s

newsletter. Please send items for

next month

*Deadline for publication for the next edition of this newsletter is 20th May 2020*

RUTLAND U3A APRIL 2020 NEWSLETTER

2019/20

Committee members

Chairman Rowena Langtry Vice Chairman Vacant Secretary Ann Smyth Treasurer Bob Bennett Data Protection Bryan Howard Groups coordinator Sharon Pratt Membership Secretary Lucy Marsland Speakers Secretary Ros Kenny Social Secretary Diane Case Co-opted Sally Gordon-Boyd Tony Dunne Hedley Greaves

Committee advisors and

helpers

Publicity Barbara Webster Minutes Diana Dixon Website Phil Grimley Hall set up and AV Peter and Jane Hammond Michael Seccombe Beacon Vic Newland IT Mike Shea Events Lynne Costello Joy Kelly Noticeboard Lynne Costello New Member Support Kath Rolison Janet Bilby Jenny Wilce Jane Gillon Printing Margaret Macpherson