Cheddar Valley news Dec 2020 / Jan 2021 - One of the projects completed by the Stained Glass Group - U3A Site Builder
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Cheddar Valley news
Dec 2020 /
Jan 2021
Volume 26 Issue 6 www.u3a.org.uk
Registered Charity 1040522 https://u3asites.org.uk/cheddar-valley
One of the projects completed by the Stained Glass Group
Thanks to Margaret Farnie for the photograph
1
The Chairman’s Chat
As I write this, we have good news and bad. The
American Elections are almost over, Hurrah!
The polls closed nearly a week ago and a
winner has been announced, at least by the
press, although the legal battles could go on for
some time. Let’s hope, that by the time you read
this, it will all be over for another 4 years. The
bad news is that we are in our first week of
Lockdown #2. In some ways it will be easier
than last time in that we know what to expect and have our previous
experience to fall back on, but on the downside, the novelty has long
since worn off and the opportunities for meeting outdoors are very few
and far between. Again, hopefully, by the time you read this, it will be
drawing to a close; at least it will if everyone abides by the rules and
doesn’t keep looking for loopholes.
In the meantime, your U3A is struggling on. Many groups have met
physically, in a limited fashion, during the recent past and many more
have found new ways to get together remotely. We’ve even had a new
group start up. The “Great Lives Group” held its first on-line meeting on
5th November when eleven members met to discuss the life of Margot
Fonteyn. There is a review later. If you have an idea for a way that your
favourite group could operate during lockdown, why not give the Group
Leader a call and discuss it, or if you’ve an idea for a new group that
could operate remotely then share your ideas with our Group Liaison,
Ade Macrow. His details are at the back of this newsletter together with
those of the other committee members.
Talking of committee members, we also have good news and bad. I’m
incredibly pleased to tell you that two members, Mary Evans and Alex
Smith, have agreed to job-share the Membership Secretary role. They
will start the takeover process in the new year. However, in May we will
also need someone to act as Speaker Secretary as Ken Brown is forced
to stand down due to failing health. Moreover, Martin Fewings has
reached the end of his term as a committee member and we will need a
replacement for him. But more important is my own replacement. You
will have received, or will do shortly, a personal letter from me regarding
2
the future of our U3A. Please read it carefully and don’t just assume it
won’t affect you because, if we don’t get a volunteer to replace me by
next May, then be in no doubt, we will close and 28 years of Cheddar
Valley U3A will come to an end. This would be an incredibly sad outcome
for an organisation with over 450 members.
On a happier note, despite Covid 19, we are pressing ahead with a
Christmas Entertainment. It will not be in the format we have known in
the past but it should help to cheer us up. Margaret Farnie is leading on
this and has an article later in the newsletter, on page 8. Margaret also
has an idea for a Poetry Event and I’m thinking about a Musical Coffee
Morning. Both of these are mentioned later.
Well, it just now remains for me to wish all our members and their
families a Very Peaceful Christmas and a Happier New Year.
John Morgan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find out on pages 8 and 10 why books like these (or more
modern versions) might be useful to you for two upcoming
events!
3
Speaker Meetings Report - the Speaker Secretary
At present most of the speakers we had booked are unable to speak on
the internet as their talks are not geared up for Zoom and so we are
relying on Mirthy Talks, as these are set up for the internet. In the past
we have had to pay for the speakers, but currently Mirthy is putting on
one talk a week free. However, the Company only works a month in
advance, and changes the times of the talks, as one specific time is not
suitable for everyone. It could well be in the future that the day will also
change.
In view of this, members wishing to attend one of these talks will need
to register for themselves, but the procedure is very easy:
● Go to: https://mirthy.co.uk
● Scroll down and you will see the talks on offer, and the times.
● You will need to register your interest in whichever talks you think
might be interesting by clicking on the “Register for your FREE
online talk!” button and filling out the form which appears.
● A day or so before the talk you will receive an e-mail giving you
the link.
Often there are between 800 to 1000 attendees.
I will try to circulate the talks via the Membership Secretary, but you will
still need to register yourself in order to receive the link.
We still have a load of actual speakers ready for when we are able to
meet again in Cheddar Village Hall. These cover local history, natural
history, a local author, a judge and a variety of topics that do not fit easily
into any category. However in the meantime Mirthy is providing a
valuable service with some very interesting talks.
On a separate note, for health reasons I shall need to give up as
Speaker Secretary at the next AGM, and so I hope that someone
will be able to take up the baton. It is not an overly demanding
position and there is always help available. If you might be
interested please speak either to me or to the Chairman.
Ken Brown E-mail:
4
Coffee Mornings Co-ordinator: Barry Coppard
Following yet another change to the lockdown rules, the resumption of
Coffee Mornings in the Village Hall seems to be moving ever further into
the distance. They will, therefore, continue to be held as Zoom meetings
on the 4th Thursday of each month. See box below for dates and time
(note - no Meeting on 24th December). The Zoom attendance has been
low and we have been discussing ideas to make it more attractive to a
wider "audience". John Morgan has expanded on this in his "Chairman’s
Chat", and on page 6.
Stay safe everyone.
Barry Coppard Coffee Morning Co-ordinator
Email:
Zoom Coffee Mornings
Zoom Coffee Mornings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month
at 10.30 am. The link is sent out by email a few days before. On the
day members just need to click on the link to be admitted.
Thursday 26th November
Thursday 24th December - NO MEETING
Thursday 28th January 2021
Thursday 25th February (if use of Village
Hall still not permitted)
5
Musical Coffee Morning
Whilst we all enjoy a Coffee Morning, they have not been the same on
Zoom. Somehow, the conversation is fairly stilted when we can’t all chat
at once as we do in the Village Hall. So, I’m trying to come up with
various ideas to make Zoom Coffee Mornings more fun.
The first is a Musical Coffee Morning. In advance, members would send
me the name of a piece of music with one line about why it is memorable
for them. It might be the first time they met someone, a piece that was
playing when something memorable happened, a song their mother
sang. I’m sure you get the drift. I will then put together a programme and
tell individuals the running order. On the day, I will ask each person to
talk about their piece of music before I play it and then give everyone a
chance to comment before moving on. A bit like “Desert Island Discs” we
should get a wide range of music and some great memories. If you’d like
to take part, email me the name of your piece of music and a one line
memory. If I get enough, I’ll put it on at a suitable Coffee Morning,
perhaps in January?
John Morgan E-mail: chaircvu3a@gmail.com
Plastic Bottle Tops Update
We have been informed by Cheddar Vale Lions Club that they are
discontinuing their bottle top collections. Fortunately for us, Gill
Davies has kindly made the following offer, “I know of a company,
Engineering Plastic of Beverley, who want plastic bottle tops to make
into new plastic bowls. Engineering Plastic use clean dry HDPE
number 2 bottle tops - that is all plastic bottle tops. I can take them
to Beverley once a month when I visit my mother. Please leave your
plastic bottle tops, bagged up, at: .”
We shall be reviewing whether we are able to accept bottle tops
when Coffee Mornings resume in the Village Hall. Until then we are
most grateful to Gill for her offer.
If anyone is aware of a local charity collecting bottle tops please let
me know, just in case Gill is unable to get up to Beverley.
Barry Coppard
6
Group Liaison
Although the ghastly Covid-19 pandemic has meant very little or no
activity for most Groups, I will use this space to praise the unstinting hard
work and enthusiasm of my predecessor, Barry Coppard. Shadowing
Barry for the best part of two years has been both an enjoyable and, as
I know he will agree, a very interesting (in all senses of the word)
experience.
We all have our own quirks, foibles and ways of doing things but I can
only hope I will adequately fill Barry's footsteps. Thank you, Mr. C!
Although, at time of writing, it isn't known when we can all begin to start
enjoying our many activities once again, please be assured that I, along
with all U3A Committee members, will be doing the utmost to ensure that
Cheddar Valley U3A returns, brighter, stronger and bigger than ever
before.
Ade Macrow Group Liaison
E-mail: u3agroupliaisoncv@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day Trippers' Group
At this stage there is nothing new I can tell you about our day trips but
we will let you know how things progress next year.
We have a few spaces left for the holiday in North Wales in May 2021 so
if you are interested then please contact Shirley Vincent. The news from
the Government on vaccines could be very positive for us if things get
underway very soon but of course we will have to see how things pan
out over the coming weeks and months.
Merry Christmas to all our supporters from Margaret, Mary, Roy, Anthea,
Shirley and myself.
Roger Coe
7
Our U3A
Christmas Selection Box
We’re planning to showcase items and activities from groups and members
to help cheer us all up. They will be presented in a "Christmas Selection Box"
and the recording of this will be available for members to watch on Zoom in
December. It will also be available on the U3A Facebook website and on
DVD. (If you would like a copy of the DVD please contact Margaret Farnie.)
So far, we have items which are humorous, musical, artistic, etc. If you
would like to contribute to this Christmas Box in any way please let us know.
Some examples could be, (but we’re sure you’ll think of more):
● A humorous sketch (Pam Ayres style?)
● Background artwork / photos for title pages
● Poetry reading, or a poem written by you
● Musical items, singing, playing guitar or another instrument
● Reading groups / members reading short passages.
● Story telling
These are just a few suggestions, we are looking for lots more ideas, think
"outside the box". If you have any ideas, get in touch and, despite
lockdown, there are several ways you can get your items / article / activities
to us.
Apart from having something to work towards together, it will be a record
of what our U3A can produce in difficult times. We are calling it our
"Christmas Selection Box", and the presentation will take place in mid-
December, possibly 10th or 17th. The date will be confirmed once the latest
lockdown either ends or new rules are confirmed.
Val Webb Tel:
Geoff Farnie Tel:
Margaret Farnie Tel:
8
ACROSS DOWN
1. Track (8) 2. Intonation (6)
6. Woodworking tool (6) 3. Type of system (5)
9. Animal (6) 4. Suppresses (9)
10. BSI (8) 5. Small farm (7)
11. Devoid of government (8) 6. Type of dish or plate (5)
12. Discount (6) 7. Control (9)
13. Kate felt pine (anag) (12) 8. Transport (8)
16. Sour lean bean (anag) (12) 13. Maintained (9)
19. Take (6) 14. Mobs smile (anag) (9)
21. Smeared (8) 15. Coup de grace (8)
23. Felons (8) 17. Opponent (7)
24. Store (6) 18. Performs dutues (6)
25. Heavy food (6) 20. Greek goddess (5)
26. Dilemma (8) 22. Church’s land (5)
Thanks to Barry Ede for creating
this crossword. Solution is on page 33.
9POETRY DAY
A U3A Poetry day is planned for February 2021.
If you have written a poem or poems on any subject and would
like to share it with fellow U3A members, then this will be the
occasion for you. Alternatively, if you have a poem you particularly
like, you can share this as well. You will be able to read your poem
yourself or we can find someone to read it for you.
At present we don’t know whether we will be meeting in the flesh
or continue to "meet" using Zoom or Facebook etc. Further details
will go out in the new year. In the meantime, choose your
poem/poems.
Contact Margaret Farnie if you are interested.
Poems by:
D. Thomas, A. Tennyson,
R. Burns, P.B. Shelley,
P. Larkin, J. Kirkup.
10BEHIND THE SCENES OF CHEDDAR VALLEY U3A:
CVU3A NEWSLETTER
by Helen Batt, Newsletter Distribution
I found taking over the distribution of the hard copy of the CVU3A News
(from Roger) really interesting, and thought members might, too.
The hard copy of our newsletter that you have in your hand has arrived
via a team of member volunteers. It is assembled and prepared for
printing by Sue Bathe and proof-readers Brenda Anderson and Geoff
Bathe, then passed by e-mail to St Andrews Press in Wells.
241 hard copies were sent out in September 2020, to just over half the
membership. Roger Coe has overseen its distribution for the last seven
years, and he handed the job on to me earlier this year. Roger estimates
that in those seven years we have saved our branch about £5,000 in
postage.
Some copies are still posted - CVU3A has members all over the place,
including Ubley, Langport and Cardiff - too far to walk. 44 copies were
posted in September. Alan Anderson prints the address labels, sticks
them onto envelopes and passes them to me - in postcode order - then
I put the newsletters in the envelopes and sort them into bundles for the
various volunteers to post through letterboxes.
The person who delivers them around Winscombe and Sidcot is leaving
the area. If anyone in Winscombe or Sidcot is able to step in and take
about ten or so around the village every two months, please get in touch
with me.
Everyone who has given an e-mail address to the Membership Secretary
receives a copy by e-mail. Any member can ask for a hard copy as well
at any time, and you can also ask to come off the list and receive your
copy by e-mail only.
Helen Batt
11Learn, Laugh, Live
Condensed Minutes of Cheddar Valley U3A
Annual General Meeting
Held on: Thursday 10th September 2020 2.15 for a 2.30 start
via Zoom
A full copy of the Minutes will appear in the March 2021 newsletter.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending via Zoom, a Quorum had
been achieved.
Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting held in May 2019 and
Minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting held in November
2019
The minutes had been distributed to the members previously and were
agreed as accurate records. Members voted unanimously to adopt the
minutes which were signed by the Chairman.
Chairman’s report
The Chairman thanked the Committee members, Village Hall volunteers
and non-committee members for their assistance during the past year.
The Chairman commented on the successful year 2019/2020 and
thanked everyone who had made it so enjoyable and praised the
Newsletter for its high quality. The difficulties faced since the advent of
Covid19 lockdown in March 2020 changed everything for everybody.
Treasurers Report
Marilyn CATTELL presented the annual Financial Report which was
voted upon and adopted.
12Fees Holiday
In view of the lack of group activity in the year 2020/2021 a Fees Holiday
was proposed and voted upon, with unanimous acceptance, to take
effect from May 2021 for all members who had renewed their
subscription by the end of June 2020.
TAT subscription increase
An Amendment to the TAT proposal to increase their fees is to be voted
on at the TAT AGM at the end of September.
The Chairman explained the proposal and asked membership to agree
to support the amendment. A vote was taken, full membership approval
was given. CVU3A has three votes at the TAT AGM. Three committee
members will attend and vote on our behalf.
Appointment of Auditor (Verifier) 2019/2020 and 2020/2021
Roy NORRIS was approved as Auditor/Verifier for 2019/2020 after
voting.
Christine QUINN was appointed as Auditor/Verifier for 2020/2021 after
voting.
Group Liaison Report
Barry COPPARD presented his report on Groups’ activities during the
year and announced his retirement from the role of Group Liaison but will
remain on the committee. Barry thanked his assistants for their hard
work during the year.
Election of Committee
The following post holders John MORGAN, Sue DAVEY, Marilyn
CATTELL, Ken BROWN, Martin FEWINGS and Barry COPPARD were
re-elected en bloc following a vote by members present.
Ade MACROW and Brenda ANDERSON were voted onto the committee.
Margaret WOODLIFFE did not stand for re-election.
13Vacant Roles:
Vice Chairman
Membership Secretary
The Chairman appealed for volunteers to fill these roles as the
committee cannot run without them next year.
No one came forward.
The Chairman advised that in the absence of a Vice Chairman to take
the place of the Chairman and a Membership Secretary in May 2021
CVU3A would have to consider dissolution at the AGM in May 2021.
Dissolution of CVU3A
A request for volunteers to serve on the committee as Chairman and
Membership Secretary was unanswered, no one came forward.
The Chairman advised actions would be taken to dissolve CVU3A next
May if no one came forward.
Margaret WOODLIFFE has offered to remain in post as Caretaker
Membership Secretary until May 2021.
Members Comments:
Comments were invited: none were put forward.
AOB
Mary EVANS gave thanks to the committee for putting forward platforms
to enable members to keep in touch.
The meeting closed at 3.25 pm.
14"Life before Somerset:
Sue Ryder and Stagenhoe Park"
It was a case of two for the price of one when our "tea lady" abandoned
her cups for a camera and microphone following September's AGM. First
Chris Barker told us about Sue Ryder and her work and then about her
own career as a physiotherapist, the final twelve years of which saw her
working at Stagenhoe, a Sue Ryder home.
Sue Ryder, born in 1924, was the youngest of 9 siblings. Confusion
about her year of birth came about when Sue gave it as 1923, as she
needed to be 16 to join the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANYs) and
following that she worked in the Special Operation Executive (SOE), until
its disbandment at the end of the Second World War. She had served in
North Africa, Germany, the Czech section and in Poland. Here her love
for the country and its people developed. Sue later became Baroness of
Warsaw as a result of honours given to her by the Polish Government.
Sue had a deep faith and shared this with Leonard Cheshire who she
married. Her faith, her horror on what she saw on entering concentration
camps, and also from working with refugees, led her to committing the
rest of her life to relieve suffering. Her humanitarian work would become
a living memorial to those who died for freedom. "Do what you can for
the person in front of you", was one of her mantras. Back in England Sue
went on to study palliative, neurological and bereavement support and
through this founded palliative care centres and hospices. She wanted
to provide specialist neurological care, rehabilitation and support tailored
to individual needs. Stagenhoe was one such centre caring for people
suffering from progressive diseases, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and
multiple sclerosis for which there are no cures. The centre also treated
those suffering brain injuries and strokes.
Chris Barker comes from a sporting family, many of whom were
Physiotherapists, and she had thought of teaching PE but, after helping
disabled children with swimming for her Queen's Guide badge, decided
to opt for training as a Physio, qualifying in 1966. She then worked at The
London Hospital (not yet Royal), firstly in orthopaedics and then for two
years helping people following neurosurgery. After a long break bringing
up a family Chris worked in outpatients in the Brentwood Community
15Hospital and then at Warley in a mental
hospital before moving to Hitchin in
Hertfordshire. It was there that she began
working at Stagenhoe. It was obvious that
for Chris the work there, particularly with
patients suffering from Huntington's
Disease, was both interesting and fulfilling.
The ethos of the Sue Ryder homes suited
Chris and she continued working there
until she retired.
I'm not sure if Chris has given a talk before
but I take my hat off to her delivering an
interesting and informative talk on Zoom,
coping not only with camera and
microphones but putting up pictures and
using a pointer via the laptop. I hope she
had something stronger than a cup of tea
afterwards.
Sheila Eastland
Chris Barker
Sue Ryder's Visit to Cheddar Charity Shop
After Christine's interesting talk one of our members, Val Webb, sent to
the CVU3A News some newspaper cuttings from when the Sue Ryder
Charity Shop was first opened on 1st August 1985, in the building which
had housed the Fine Fare Supermarket in Union Street, Cheddar. Val
was the first manager, jointly with Daphne Outhwaite. Sue Ryder visited
the shop in October 1985, where she met many of the 40 helpers who
manned the shop, and talked to them about her work in Poland and
residential care worldwide.
The Fine Fare building was later rebuilt as the Veterinary Surgery and
Saxon Court. Val oversaw the move of the Sue Ryder Shop to its present
position on Union Street.
Thanks to Val Webb for this local postscript to Christine's talk.
16"A Line in the Sand"
Like most people what I knew of the Siege of the Alamo came from the
John Wayne film of brave "upstanding" Americans fighting against a
huge Mexican army. So it was quite a revelation to learn the background
history and the true story from David Skillen's talk. What is now the US
state of Texas was under Spanish control from 1519 to 1821. Their aim
was to convert the native population to Catholicism by establishing
mission settlements, one of which was at Alamo. This aim failed as the
natives were very hostile, the mission system itself was weak and there
were formidable geographical barriers in this vast country.
When Texas came under Mexican control Americans were invited to
settle, purchasing four and a half acres of land very cheaply, but they
had to become Mexican citizens (Texians). Many Americans settled
illegally and though at that time Mexico had abolished slavery the USA
had not and many settlers had slaves. In the 1835 election conservative
forces gained control, the constitution changed and the Mexican
Republic was created under General Santa Anna, described by our
speaker as having a Napoleon complex. With much of their old rights
taken away the Texians, who had made little effort to adapt to the
Mexican culture, rioted. Initially their forces defeated the hastily
assembled Mexican army and Santa Anna wrote to the US president
classifying immigrants fighting in Texas as pirates and banning the
taking of prisoners of war. It is unlikely that any of the fighters on the
ground would have been aware of this.
Alamo mission had been hastily fortified by the Mexicans but its
sprawling 3 acre site, which had low protective walls, was difficult to
defend and was easily captured by the Texians along with its cannons.
It was manned by about 100 soldiers which were reinforced under the
co-commandership of Jim Bowie (he of the knife fame) and William B
Travis, a lawyer and slave dealer. Bowie was a fraudster, another slave
dealer and an alcoholic. Davey Crocket was in fact Hon David Crocket,
a politician who it is said failed because he was too honest. Believed to
have somehow survived Alamo and probably the nearest to "upstanding"
of the famous three.
On February 23rd approximately 1,500 Mexican troops occupied San
Antonio de Bexar and from then until 6 March the Alamo was effectively
17under siege and bombardment. Colonel James Walker Fannin was
ordered to take reinforcement troops and supplies to Alamo. He
attempted three times but never got further than 5 miles from his base.
Determination was obviously not his strong point. On 6th March the
Alamo defenders repulsed two assaults but during the third were forced
to retreat into the buildings fighting hand to hand, but sadly forgetting to
disable their cannons! The end was inevitable, no fighting men were left
alive but some women, children and black slaves were spared. Between
182 and 267 Americans perished and 400 to 600 Mexicans were killed
or wounded.
The Texians finally defeated the Mexican army at the battle of San
Jacinto on 21st April 1836 but it was not until 29th December 1845 that
an independent Texas legally became part of the USA. The state
purchased the Alamo fortress in 1883 and in 1903 acquired title to the
remainder of the mission. Restored, it now hosts some 2 million visitors
a year.
Sheila Eastland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A History of Witches"
One of the first things we learned from Sandy Leong's talk on the History
of Witches was that older women, unmarried or widowed, (thus without
the protection of a man), who were also herbalists or healers were in for
a pretty bad time. It didn’t help if they owned a cat either.
Around 925 AD the death penalty for witchcraft was introduced, but
William The Conqueror reduced this to banishment. However by 1441
the death penalty was back and Roger Bolingbroke, an astrologer to
Eleanor of Cobham, the Duchess of Gloucester, rather rashly predicted
the death of childless Henry VI. This would have meant her husband, the
Duke, would become king. Eleanor escaped the fate of Bolingbroke, who
was hanged, drawn and quartered, and instead was forced to do public
penance. In this case her rank saved her.
It is probably from the 1500's onwards that trials for witchcraft are well
recorded. From 1542 trials were by civil law. Probably the most well
18known trials are those at Salem (1692) in the USA and Pendle (1612) in
the UK. The latter took place during the reign of James 1st, a staunch
Catholic monarch who wrote a book called Demonology and took an
active part in pursuing witches. Whilst King of Scotland he was
convinced that witchcraft had conjured up a storm that had wrecked his
fleet in 1590. Some 80 defendants were arraigned, tortured and put on
trial. James himself supervised trials held at North Berwick. Most had
confessed under torture and were executed.
It became customary to test a person accused of witchcraft after first
stripping them and looking for witch's marks, which could just be the
presence of a mole, then binding them to a ducking stool and
submerging them in water. If by some miracle they survived they were
judged not guilty.
Matthew Hopkins, better known as the Witch Finder General, was
responsible for the deaths of some 230 people, including clergymen,
between 1644 and 1647. He travelled Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk with
two assistants offering, for a fee, to root out witches. He was eventually
revealed as a fraud.
The last person put to death in England as a witch was Alice Mollard at
Exeter in 1658. Looking at the whole of the UK it was Janet Horne in
Scotland in 1727. By 1736 modern thinking led to the repeal of the
James 1st statute by George 2nd. Although in 1944 Helen Duncan, a
Scottish medium, was given a 9 months prison sentence under the
witchcraft act for summoning up spirits. She had claimed to speak to a
sailor who had been lost with his ship. The sinking had not been made
known to the public, only relatives, and the charge was motivated by War
Office officers trying to protect official secrets.
Our speaker did not mention Helen in her talk, I found her name whilst
checking some dates and thought readers might be interested. I have
long thought that in the past wise women and healers who became
popular threatened the power of the male doctors and local officials.
Charges of witchcraft were an easy way of removing them. I find it
interesting that even comparatively recently powerful men used the
charge to silence a woman.
Sheila Eastland
19COMMUNITY NEWS
This Community News section of the Newsletter includes short specific
items of local interest or about people and places which are indirectly
linked to the Cheddar Valley U3A.
Cheddar Valley Strawberries
In 2017 a CVU3A member, Helen Batt, wrote a memoir of what she knew
of the strawberry-growing industry in the Cheddar Valley. In her
childhood it was one of three industries that dominated life in Cheddar -
most earners in the village were employed in one of them. (The other two
were Batts Combe and Chelmscombe Quarries, and the golden mile of
the Gorge. A goodly number of people worked in more than one of those.)
The book, Cheddar Valley Strawberries The Golden Years 1950 – 1990,
is available in paperback from Amazon, or direct from the author for £5
(plus £1 for postage).
Helen Batt Tel:
20Group News
This section of the Newsletter brings you news of what
our various groups have been doing recently. Not every
group has an entry in every newsletter, but all estab-
lished groups and group leaders are shown in the table
on pages 34 to 37.
Classic Film Group
Just when it looked as though normal service might be able to resume,
Brian Nicholls and I turned our attention to thoughts of a future
programme.
Brian’s idea is to present a film to represent each decade of the twentieth
century, starting with the 1910s, which would take up the whole of one
season, from September till May. The first film, which premiered in 1919
so only just squeaks in to the first decade, is a silent film directed by DW
Griffiths – Broken Blossoms, a romance, made as a follow-up to
Intolerance.
Sadly, at the time of writing it looks likely that the shutters will be going
up again shortly, and the plan will have to be put off. However, if and
when we can resume U3A activities, the Classic Film Group will hit the
ground running.
Helen Batt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
U3A Computer User's Group (U3ACUG)
The Group still continues to meet regularly on Zoom, and any U3A
members wishing to join in occasionally are welcome; Invitation details
below. The group covers topics on the use of our computers, and the
vagaries of the Windows operating system, together with information on
useful programs.
The latest Windows update is called 20H2, but there are no major
changes.
21Chrome will now show any of your saved passwords that have been
found on the web and have thus been compromised. They should be
changed. To find out: open Chrome, select Menu (3 vertical Dots), then
Settings/Autofill/ Passwords – Compromised/Password Page. Of my 36
saved passwords I had 6 compromised.
To cycle through all the windows you have open, the old keyboard short
cut is to press Alt Tab, or Alt Shift Tab (In Reverse). There is now an
option to press Alt Ctrl Tab so the windows stay on the screen, to allow
you to select or close.
Our Zoom Meetings are every fortnight 10am to 12 noon:
23rd November; 7th and 21st December; 4th and 18th January; 1st and
15th February & 1st March.
Please email me for the Zoom invitation details at:
Bryan Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day Trippers' Group
Details of the Day Trippers' outings are on page 7.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great Lives Group
On 5th November the Great Lives Group held its first meeting. Having
previously listened individually to the BBC programme Great Lives about
Margot Fonteyn, we spent an interesting hour discussing her life. And
what a life it was: a childhood in England, USA and China, leaving
education at 14 to concentrate on her ballet, becoming a prima ballerina
and a household name. All this was before marrying a very dubious
Panamanian diplomat, whilst on the way appearing on TV as early as
1936 (we didn’t know TV went that far back), and having a string of
affairs, two abortions and a “nose-job”. It really was a revelation. The
discussion was lively and we all enjoyed it. The group is, like a reading
group, ideally suited to Zoom as we don’t need to be together. We each
spent time in advance of the meeting listening to the Great Lives
programme and some of us did additional research. On the day, we all
22joined the meeting and then a leader led us through the discussion. It
was a simple format and it worked very well. If you’d like to join us, just
give me a ring and I’ll talk you through it or if you want to hear more about
Margot Fonteyn just search for BBC Great Lives Margot Fonteyn.
The group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 10.30 am. Our
next Great Life is John Lennon who we’ll be discussing on 3rd
December; Philip Holden will be leading the discussion.
John Morgan Tel:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Handbell Group
The Handbell Group was divided into two groups, with eleven members
in each, and has managed to meet on two occasions. Both groups just
managed to record a piece for the Christmas Presentation Box.
However, the Village Hall is now closed, so we are not sure when we’ll
get together again.
It was good to see each other and catch up with how everyone has
coped in the lockdown, oh, and we did a bit of ringing as well! It was so
good to be making music together.
Margaret Farnie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jigsaw
Exchange
Group
Thanks to Sue Davey
for this photograph of
the doorstep Jigsaw
Exchange table,
which she puts out
every Sunday. For
more details see
page 8 in the CVU3A
News for Oct/Nov
2020.
23Patchwork Group
It has been lovely to have been welcomed to the Patchwork Group and
adopted as Group Leader. I was due to join them, for the first time, on
the third Friday of March. As we couldn’t then meet in person, to sew and
learn together, we’ve had regular Zoom meetings ever since. My joining
brought the group to seven and with another recent addition there’s now
eight of us (maybe nine?). Please contact me should you wish to join us
too.
We’re in the process of finishing a couple more quilts for Project Linus.
By the wonders of technology we’ve worked on them together but apart,
during lockdown. We’re all trying, and failing, to use up all our "scrap"
fabric. We’re not sure why the piles of leftover fabric never seem to go
down.
Margaret Farnie instigated the first charity quilt early in lockdown; a
stunning multi-coloured fan shaped quilt (previously shown, on the cover
of the Aug/Sept 2020 CVU3A News). The second quilt (and in fact a third
one too, as we were so productive) was created using a wonky log cabin
block. It has challenged us all to abandon straight lines and embrace
both pastels and saturated colours. It’s been interesting to think a little
about colour theory which will continue to help in all our patchwork and
quilting colour combinations.
Some of us visited the excellent and inspiring Man-made Quilts
exhibition at Midsomer Quilting in Chilcompton, back in August, in a
social but Covid-secure venue. It included 96 quilts made by either boys
or blokes. It was great to see their craft and creativity and it was so lovely
to do something quilty and normal.
During our Zoom calls we’ve talked about the national U3A Creative
Covid Challenge. By now there are hopefully some submissions from
one or two members of our group, in one guise or another.
It’s been fun to try new skills demonstrated and explained by different
members of the group. Trying Jenny’s Suffolk Puffs was fun and getting
to grips with festive, textile gifts is planned for the near future.
As I type everyone in the group is probably still scratching their heads.
They’ve been set a challenge. We’ve all received a piece of fabric; a
piece of UGLY fabric. I wonder what they’ll each make from it?
Wendy Booth-Boyd
24Poetry Group
We continue to keep in touch with each other by email and telephone.
Our monthly Newsletter includes poems and information re broadcasts
and podcasts that may be of interest. The Poet Laureate, Simon
Armitage, has written a poem, The Bed, to commemorate The Unknown
Warrior.
We miss our discussions and hope that in 2021 we will be able to get
together again.
Glenys Runciman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Groups
All of the Reading Groups’ Reports are at the end of the Group News
section, on pages 28 to 33.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scottish Dancing
Lockdown has proved a challenge for the Scottish
Dancing Group, even our get-togethers on Zoom
have dwindled away without the stimulus of some
real dancing. However, we thought that was
changing. At the end of October, eleven of us met
at Draycott Village Hall where, socially distanced
and wearing masks, we spent a happy hour
practising steps and doing some very simple
dances adapted for the situation. It was tiring and
we were all very out of practice but it was great to
meet up again and to see everyone.
We planned to repeat this monthly but have been
thwarted by the latest lockdown. I’m sure we’ll
manage it again in the not too distant future. Whilst
new members are not possible at the moment, I’m
sure we’ll be going back to basics when we restart
so do get in touch if you fancy learning this very
enjoyable activity.
John Morgan
25Stained Glass
The Stained Glass Group has been active since August, working in my
carport until early November when it became too cold. We will not meet
again now until, probably, next March. We have met in two groups of
two, and it does seem to have worked with members undertaking various
projects. There will be one vacancy next March if there is anyone
wanting to give it a try.
One of the projects completed by the Stained Glass Group is shown on
the front cover.
Margaret Farnie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tai Chi (Original)
Our last meeting prior to Lockdown was on the 13th March and group
members were notified on the 17th March of the intention to cancel
sessions until further notice. I doubt any of us at that time realised it
would be a further 7 months before we were reunited. As not all
members of the group are familiar with modern technology I telephoned
or sent letters to keep in touch throughout. I am pleased to report that
finally, after many discussions and the exchange of Risk Assessments,
we were able to resume classes on the 23rd October in the Methodist
Church Hall. There were only 5 members of the group present but I am
hopeful that confidence will return and we will be back to almost full
complement before Christmas.
I would like to sincerely thank Barry Coppard for always being ready to
assist when I needed reassurance, and to wish him well in his new role
as Coffee Morning Co-ordinator. My thanks also go to Ade Macrow who
came to my rescue, at very short notice, when I needed a Risk
Assessment for the Methodist Hall. Both of these gentlemen have been
and will be excellent Group Liaison Officers.
Tai Chi (Original) meetings are held at the Methodist Church Hall,
Cheddar on Friday mornings at 11 a.m. Our final session before
Christmas will be on 11th December and classes will resume on 8th
January 2021. Virus permitting of course!
26The Tai Chi Group send their Best Wishes to all members of the
Cheddar Valley U3A for a peaceful, healthy and more normal 2021.
Brenda Blunt (Co-ordinator) Telephone:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking Group
Thursday 17th December: Leaders – Alan and Brenda. Starting Point:
The Square, Westbury-sub-Mendip. GR501488. Time: 11.00am. For
further details contact Alan or Brenda.
NOTE: This will be our Christmas Walk, which we intend to finish at the
Westbury Inn for lunch at 12.30 – 1.00pm. If you intend to come for lunch
please phone Martin, as only 12 will be able to come due to coronavirus
restrictions.
Tuesday 5th January 2021: Leader – Martin. Starting Point: Blackmoor
Nature Reserve, Charterhouse. GR505558. Time: 1.30pm. For further
details contact Martin.
Wednesday 20th January. Leader – Mary. Starting Point: Shipham
Village Hall. GR445577. Time: 1.30pm. For further details contact Mary.
Wednesday 3rd February. Leader – Martin. Starting Point: Bleadon
Village Hall, Bleadon. GR333572. Time: 1.30pm. For further details
contact Martin.
NOTE: These walks must comply to Covid Rules as ruling at the date of
the relevant walk.
Martin Fewings
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
27Reading Group 1
“In Extremis: The life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin” by
Lindsey Hilsum
Our Group had a Zoom Meeting to discuss our book for October, In
Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin.
Marie Colvin was an amazing woman who John Simpson described as
"the finest war correspondent of our time". She was fearless, determined
to tell the world what really happens in wars, especially to civilians. In
fact she seemed to thrive on danger. She was compassionate and
honest, reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world.
She was hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka in 2001, resulting in the loss of her
left eye, and in 2012 she was killed in Syria.
In Extremis is a collection of interviews with Marie's friends, family and
colleagues also drawing on her diaries. Marie seemed to thrive on
danger and her personal life was full of highs and lows. At times she
portrays as fragile with less than perfect health. She was a heavy drinker
and smoked continuously. She was loyal to her many friends yet had a
problem with relationships, especially men. She was promiscuous.
A complex lady who led a life full of drama. Was she brave or was she
reckless? Was she running away from herself? At times the book gets a
bit tedious but we all agreed we were glad we had read it. In Extremis is
also a recommended read for anyone who is interested to learn how
reporters operate and form relationships in order to get the best story.
Margaret Needham
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Group 2
We are continuing to read our individual books and submit our views
every month for our select group to be informed and hopefully get a few
ideas
This month the books have varied with:
281. Detective stories: Eg. White Nights by Ann Cleeves, set in Shetland,
and The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths which is about a police forensic
archaeologist. An excellent series. Also Trace Element by Donna Leon,
an Italian crime writer based in Venice. Very enjoyable too.
2. Two war stories: One Man's War by Fred Stroobant set in Guernsey,
an interesting biography, and There Was a Time by Frank White, a
fictional story set in a Lincolnshire village.
3. Another true story, completely different: Following Atticus by Tom
Ryan, about his Miniature Schnauzer dog, their adventures and time
together. Very emotional.
4. A mystery:The Perfect Widow by A M Castle. PC Holt is convinced
that Patrick's death was not an accident but can he prove it!
5. Mum and Dad by Joanna Trollope. A pleasant change - rather like a
meringue, “soft and sweet”, according to our reader! Lastly, Sea of Lost
Love by Santa Montefiore. A love story starting in Cornwall and finishing
in Southern Italy.
So take your pick everybody and good reading.
Pat Panchaud
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Group 3
"Love is Blind" by William Boyd
Meeting as a socially distanced group of six (some members having
other commitments) we considered our latest book Love is Blind by
William Boyd, in which Brodie Moncur, a piano tuner by profession, is
overwhelmed by obsessive love for a Russian woman, Lika Blum. It
would seem that the author has a distinct predilection for Chekov and
proceeds to reference him in much of the story line. The characters are
well developed in this fast-paced novel, and the writer displays a good
command of language.
The story is set at the turn of the 20th century and although not an
historical novel nevertheless Boyd paints interesting historical
background in his writing. We read of the effects of tuberculosis, a killer
of the time, the world of musical entertainment, prostitution and the
rather ludicrous details of the duel, all serve to set the story in context.
29Love may well be blind but the complex characters of Brodie's own family
and his professional associates are well drawn. Themes of manipulation
and coercive control run throughout the story leaving us pondering on
the relationship between the Kilbarron brothers and the other
protagonists. We travel to numerous locations during the tale and the
detailed references to places indicate a wealth of research. It was
however suggested by one of our number that, although reflecting
Brodie’s obsessive behaviour, the many details about piano tuning were
perhaps unnecessary.
As a group we enjoyed Boyd’s style of writing and expressed a wish to
read more of his work - Any Human Heart being a recommended read.
Jackie Wattam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Group 4
"East of Eden" by John Ernst Steinbeck (1902 - 1968)
For some unfathomable reason I was less than enthusiastic about reading
East of Eden. Then when the 700+ page book arrived my heart sank to
my boots. But Steinbeck’s multi-generation epic novel enveloped me
almost immediately.
Of German, English and Irish parentage Steinbeck was born in America.
During his lifetime he wrote 33 books. East of Eden, written in 1962, won
him the Nobel Prize in Literature. His writing is renowned for its combined
sympathetic humour and keen social perception. This is no more evident
than in East of Eden. Most of his work, including this novel, is set in
Central California, in particular the Salinas Valley and the Californian
Coast Ranges.
The story revolves around the lives of two families - the Trasks and the
Hamiltons - who live in the Salinas Valley. The protagonist, Adam Trask,
is a gentle soul, who, after a loathsome time in the army, was restless on
his return to the family ranch in Connecticut, and he wanted to move out
to California. Enter Cathy, a cruel, heartless schemer. Adam was
completely infatuated by her, and married her. They went to a
homestead in the Salinas Valley in California, where he met and bonded
with Samuel Hamilton. Cathy had twin boys, whom she abandoned and
30returned to her former "profession" in Salinas. In time Cathy inherits the
business but the reader dreads the day when her sons might find her.
This book is written during an interesting time in American history from
the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the First World War.
As one would expect of that era the story is male dominated while women
play their supportive roles with the exception of Cathy. Above all is the
huge story line of two families intertwined over generations and the
memorable characters.
Like other members of our group I thoroughly enjoyed East of Eden but
I do wonder if I would have completed it had it not been for lockdown.
Judith Strange
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Elegance of the Hedgehog" by Muriel Barbery
In a luxurious Parisian apartment block the residents live out their lives
restricted and isolated by bourgeois prejudices. Renée the concierge
has to hide her intelligence and extensive if self-acquired knowledge
under a prickly layer of apparent ignorance. Several floors above
Paloma, aged twelve, plans escape from her materialist family via
suicide on her thirteenth birthday. Life seems a bleak monotonous
round, punctuated by absurd moments which cannot easily be shared
across the bourgeois divide. Then Mr Ozu moves in and healing
connections begin to form.
Muriel Barbery writes with the wit and elegance expected of a quality
French novelist. She plants philosophy at the root of her characters'
needs and uses exact language as the beautiful although sometimes
sharp-tasting fruit. Woven throughout the novel are images of beauty,
both from Japanese and Western sources. Barbery expects her reader
to pay close attention and come either with knowledge or be interested
to learn. Her cool intelligence is balanced by the warmth of her
characters, caught up in their everyday absurdities and cocking a mental
snook at their fellow apartment dwellers. Just as you think this is a
French intellectual game where philosophy and intelligence rule, the
game changes and emotion takes over - before reason has the last word.
As a group we thoroughly enjoyed The Elegance of the Hedgehog, both
the moving and contemplative storyline and the cool sophistication of the
31language. It is a book we can highly recommend.
Stephanie Gall
Group Leader: Sue Gudgeon Tel:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Group 5
Reading Group 5 members have continued to meet on Zoom once a
month and two members are in touch by phone. We are still reading our
own choices as opposed to a set book for the group. Quite a lot of content!
One member has read several titles and commented on The Perfect
Wife by JP Delaney. A woman wakes up in hospital only to find she is
not human but a robotic copy of the man's dead wife. She gets a
message on a laptop telling her she is in danger. The story continues
with what happens to her and her controlling "husband". Other books
read by this member were The Chain by Adrian McKinty, Play Date by
Alex Dahl, Us Three by Ruth Jones, The Thursday Murder Club by
Richard Osman and Because of You by Dawn French.
One member read The Forestwife by Theresa Tomlinson. This is an
imaginative and enjoyable take on Maid Marion. A 15 year old orphan
from a good family who lives with her uncle, flees to the forest to live with
the Forestwife, a herbalist who is feared as a witch, but also sought out
for her healing abilities Eventually the orphan becomes the Forestwife
and gathers various people around her, including of course Robin Hood.
In various escapades with the Sheriff for poaching, the group find
themselves protected by the inaccessibility of the forest and by the
reputation of the Forestwife. The little community fights against King
John but realise the Barons do not have the interest of the little people
at heart.
Finally from our only male member is a book by Rob Lilwall, Walking
Home From Mongolia. This reader says: I first came across Rob last
month, reading his Cycling Home From Siberia. This walk is described
as "Ten million steps through China from the Gobi Desert in winter, Rob
sets out on a 3,000 mile journey across China." He is accompanied by
Leon, a fellow adventurer and cameraman. We are given a first-hand
account of the people of the rapidly disappearing rural China, amid the
32usual tales of hospitality, authority, and the hardships of the trek through
difficult terrain. For me it was also a gentle introduction to the history of
that part of the world, particularly the Chinese and Japanese influences.
My second book is Champagne and Polar Bears: Romance in the Arctic
by Marie Tieche. Read by Margaret (F) first then passed on. Initially I
thought it would be fairly scientific but it turned out to be more of a
romance. It's a story of a chance meeting between Marie and a German
professor which resulted in Marie agreeing to accompany him on a
yearlong expedition to a remote island above the Arctic Circle, living in
little more than a hut with only two dogs for company. They have severe
weather, encounters with Polar Bears and four months of total darkness.
I would have liked a few photographs and some insight into the scientific
basis for the trip, but it has a happy ending.
Mary Evans (On behalf of Chris White, Group Leader)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS DOWN
1. Causeway 2. Accent
6. Padsaw 3. Solar
9. Ocelot 4. Withholds
10. Kitemark 5. Yokelet
11. Anarchal 6. Petri
12. Ignore 7. Dominance
13. Palette Knife 8. Aircraft
16. Unreasonable 13. Preserved
19. Accept 14. Embolisms
21. Maligned 15. Knockout
23. Convicts 17. Nemesis
24. Shelve 18. Serves
25. Stodge 20. Tyche
26. Suspense 22. Glebe
33Special Interest Groups
Art Patchwork
Ballroom & Latin Dance Philosophy
Boules Photography
Bridge (Tuesday) Photography: Digital
Bridge (Wednesday) Poetry
Canasta Poetry 2
Card Playing Quiz Group
Cardaholics (Greetings Cards) Reading Group 1
Crafte Reading Group 2
Classic Films Group Reading Group 3
Computer: Apple Devices Group Reading Group 4
Computer: Computer Users Reading Group 5
Day Trippers' Group Rock Music
French: French Conversation Rummikub
French: Les Francophiles Scottish Country Dancing
French: Les Hesitants Scrabble
French: Simple Singing for Pleasure
German Solos
Great Lives tbc Spanish: Charlemos En Espanol
Handbell Ringing Stained Glass
History: History Table Tennis
History: Industrial History Tai Chi Original
Italian Self-help Tai Chi Beginners
Jigsaw Exchange Group Walking: Easy Walking
Lace-making Walking: Gentle Short (Proposed)
Mah-jong Walking: Original
Woodcarving
34Group Meetings Timetable
Group Week Leader
MONDAY MORNING
Computer Users 2nd
Rummikub Weekly
Solos 1st
Spanish: Charlamos en 2nd & 4th
Espanol
MONDAY AFTERNOON
Boules Weekly
Canasta 2nd & 4th
Classic Films Group 1st
Italian Self-Help 2nd, 4th & 5th
MONDAY EVENING
Woodcarving Weekly
TUESDAY MORNING
French: Les Hesitants Fortnightly
History 2nd
Lace-making Weekly
Photography 3rd
Poetry Group 2 1st
Reading Group 2 4th
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Bridge (Tuesday) Weekly
Crafte 2nd & 4th
Singing for Pleasure 1st & 3rd
Table Tennis Weekly
35Group Week Leader
WEDNESDAY MORNING
French: Conversation 2nd & 4th
French: Simple 1st & 3rd
German 2nd, 4th &
5th
Poetry 3rd
Reading Group 1 1st
Reading Group 4 4th
Scottish Country Dancing Weekly
Easy Walking 2nd
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Bridge (Wednesday) Weekly
Card Playing 4th
Industrial History 1st
Quiz Group 2nd
THURSDAY MORNING
Coffee Morning 10.00 am 3rd
Cardaholics - Experienced 2nd (All Day)
French: Les Francophiles Fortnightly
Handbell Ringing 1st, 2nd, 4th
& 5th
Philosophy 4th
Tai Chi Beginners Weekly
(Term Time
only)
36Group Week Leader
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Speaker Meeting 2.00 pm 1st At Cheddar Village Hall
Cardaholics - Beginners 4th
Photography: Digital 2nd
Rock Group 2nd, 3rd &
4th
THURSDAY EVENING
Stained Glass Weekly
FRIDAY MORNING
Art 4th
Mah-jong 2nd & 4th
Patchwork 3rd
Reading Group 3 2nd
Tai Chi Original Weekly
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Ballroom & Latin Dance 2nd, 3rd &
4th
Reading Group 5 Last Friday
Scrabble 2nd & 4th
NO FIXED DAY
Apple Devices Group By
arrangement
Day Trippers’ Group See page 7
Walking: Original See page 27
37Submission of material for our next issue
Submissions for our February / March 2021 edition
should be sent to:
Sue Bathe,
cheddar.u3anews@yahoo.co.uk
DEADLINE: Friday 15th January
I will acknowledge all e-mail communications.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement in a reasonable time,
you must assume it has not been received,
and use another method to contact me.
Please use identifying words in the subject
line of your e-mail, and in the title of any
attached files,
e.g. Group name and month of report,
such as "Drama Group November report",
and not just "Notes from November" or
"U3A Article".
If possible please send in your articles and reports by e-mail.
The information can be in the body of the e-mail itself,
or be as an attachment in a common format,
such as Word, Open Office, or as a pdf.
(Please do not send anything as .pages, I cannot open it.)
Photographs of your groups and group activities
are also always welcome (as jpgs please).
Please always state who took the photograph.
38You can also read
