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Chudleigh &
District U3A
April 2019 Newsletter
HISTORY GROUP A feast of photography
The objects of the history group
are twofold – to share our love
of history by way of a talk or
presentation and to meet and
enjoy each other’s company. So
far, we have had some
interesting presentations, one
on ‘the Chindits’, one on ‘the
Seretse Khama Affair’, a number
on local history and one on
family history. At our next
meeting, Monica, (our own Kate
Adie) will give us a potted
history on Saddam Hussein’s
Keith answering questions
background followed by an
account and images whilst being
part of ‘Operation Safe Haven’ in The speaker at our March general meeting was
the Middle East in 1991. In Keith Choules. He is a talented amateur
August we will be identifying photographer who enjoys creating wonderful audio-
certain memorials in the church visual presentations in which he merges his fabulous
– those of ‘the great and the photographs with music.
good’ in Chudleigh’s past. There For an hour he treated us to a trip through the
is no strict programme to follow, vibrant colours of the fall in New England; we
one month the topic could be explored the architecture of Troyes in France and
the Norman Conquest and climbed a mountain to admire the breathtaking
another, the history of tea. We panorama from the snow-covered summit. Among
simply invite members to share other treats was a study of French dog poo aimed at
their own particular interests, encouraging us to (a) be careful where we tread and
and not everyone is expected to (b) to clean up after our dogs. He commented that
give a talk, so don’t be put off. he had some very odd looks whilst taking those
But if anyone would like to give photos! There was much hilarity as we watched his
a presentation and has not done award winning presentation called “Market Garden”.
so before, help can be given. In This featured a wide collection of fruit and
vegetables set to a rather riskée song full of
any event, just come along and
innuendo – celery will never be the same!
enjoy!
Keith’s presentation was inspirational and he
Helen Turnbull assured us that the software he uses was not to
Turnbull7685@gmail.com difficult to master. I think he is a rather modest man!
MAH JONG GROUP…. April Monthly Meeting
Our next meeting will be on April 17th, at 10.00 am in the
Chudleigh and District U3A
Woodway Room. Our speaker with be Laura Cowie from
Mah Jong Group
the Devon and Cornwall police’s Cyber Crime unit, talking
The Mah Jong group meets about “Cyber Crime Awareness”. This should be a
at the Con Club at 2.00pm fascinating insight into what can go wrong if we let slip
on the second Monday of our guard when using our computers and smart phones!
each month. It is a very The refreshments at the April meeting will be hosted by
the Cookery group.
friendly group with
members ranging from
absolute beginners to more
Calling all Spanish speakers and Chess
experienced players. Some Players
members bring their own
Mah Jong sets and we are Spanish: There are a number of members who expressed
lucky enough to have had a an interest in joining a Spanish conversation group at the
set bought for the group by start of our U3A. We were unable to find a coordinator
the U3A which means that last year, but now we are more established we will try
we are now never short of a again.
set. If you are interested in joining a Spanish group,
particularly if you are willing to be the coordinator or
If you would like to join the have ideas as to how a group could be set up, please
group and “have a go” we email Tony Ducker (see below).
would love to see you – just
come along, but please let Chess: We have a volunteer to coordinate a Chess group.
me know let me know in If you are interested in joining. Tony Ducker would like to
hear from you.
advance so that I can set up
the right number of tables
Tony Ducker’s email: membership@chudleighU3A.org.uk
etc.
Libby Farrant Chudleigh & District U3A Financial Position
March 2019
Tel. 01626 854208
In response to some queries as to how are finances are
progressing at this point approximately half way through
News from the Groups the year, I can give you this brief statement:
In our monthly newsletter we Income £
are including a rolling Members Subs 2,340
programme of articles from our Donations (including money
various interest groups sharing collected at meetings) 425
what they are doing and their Grants 950
plans for the future. This month 3,715
features articles from History Expenditure
and Mah Jong groups. Next
Equipment 1.329
month we will hear from
Croquet and Science/Natural Room Hire 685
History Presenters 279
TAT & Beacon 111
If you would like to write an 2,404
article for a future newsletter
please contact me. Surplus (cash in bank) 1,311
Mark Macnair
Secretary@chudleighU3A.org.uk Roy Ashworth, Treasurer
Visit to Old Walls Farm Near Widecombe on Thursday 16th May at 14.30 Old Walls Farm nestles in the heart of Dartmoor and is owned by Miles and Gail Fursdon. The following is information from their website: In 1995 they developed a micro-hydro system at Old Walls, drawing water from the West Webburn and channelling it along the valley side in a leat. It then enters a long, steep pipe and turns turbines before returning to the river. Clean, renewable electricity is generated – enough to supply around 80 homes. It is used to power the farm, with the surplus exported to the National Grid. Old Walls and the nearby Lowertown are two Dartmoor farms that used to be run as one unit but are now run independently. Miles is still in partnership with Gail at Old Walls but with Luke, his son, at Lowertown. Both farms have a herd of single suckler cows which produce calves that are sold at 15 months old to lowland farms where they are fattened for beef. The cattle are only fed on fresh grass in summer, dried grass (hay) or pickled grass (silage) in winter. Miles and Luke also have a herd of Dartmoor ponies running on the common. At Old Walls our in bye farm land measures 13 hectares, including 5 hectares of woodland, and our common rights allow us to graze cattle, ponies and sheep on Bittleford Common. We have permanent pasture throughout the farm but we grow different varieties of grass in fields cut for hay and silage from those fields used for grazing. Old Walls farm is within Dartmoor National Park. We have an ancient scheduled woodland bordering the West Webburn river with steep valley sides that are typical of this area. We farm from 800 to 1,000 feet in altitude which gives us a relatively short growing season on the highest of our ground. We have some very small fields contained within old Devon hedges (stoned earth banks with tree and shrub growth on top) and we still use all the historic field names. We are in a high rainfall area, averaging 62 inches per year, with moist warm south-westerly winds prevailing. It is an ideal climate in which to grow grass. This guided walk takes about 1.5 hours and boots or stout walking shoes are essential. The guided walk is free as it is part of the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme but we need to know that we have sufficient numbers to qualify, so If you wish to come please let Marion Thomas (01626 852670, or huxbear_barton@btopenworld.com) know by 29th April at the latest.
Visit to Innovation Valley Members of the Chudleigh and District U3A recently visited Innovation Valley, the premises in Chudleigh, adjacent to Harcombe bends on the A38, occupied by two sister organisations – Lightfoot and Ashwoods Electric Motors. The visit was fascinating and it would be no exaggeration to say that we were amazed by the work going on there and by the sheer enthusiasm of the staff whom we met. We were shown around by Paul and Dan who were able to tell us a great deal about what was going on. The two companies recently moved from Exeter to the site at Chudleigh and are growing rapidly, in 2010 there were just four employees and today the figure is over 140 with great plans for the future. The Lightfoot system is an in-vehicle device which plugs, very simply, into the vehicle’s computer with a small display on the driver’s dashboard. The aim is to allow the driver to find the “sweet spot” when the engine is running at its most efficient and thereby dramatically reducing fuel consumption and pollution. Tests have been carried out at Bath University which show a fuel saving of up to 30%. Large numbers of the Lightfoot device have been sold to both fleet operators and private drivers, in addition to the fuel and pollution savings it seems that there is a reduction in accident severity of up to 60%. The other part of the organisation – Ashwoods Electric Motors – build motors which are highly efficient and much lighter than most conventional electric motors. These are being developed and sold around the world. During our tour we saw potential applications for these motors which are truly innovative. Lightfoot recognise that pollution is a global issue and believe that their developments really can play a part in reducing pollution. In this connection they have launched a programme called “Breathe Exeter” and believe that with the support of local organisations, businesses and individuals, they can deliver a sustained impact on the level of emissions. They also hope to become involved with Chudleigh in this context and believe that they would to be able to deliver monetary, safety and environmental improvements. Anyone wishing to find out more about this initiative should contact Tiffany Bale on 07778 155345. Martin Farrant
Calendar for April
Below is the Schedule of meetings for April, correct at date of writing! Please check website for
latest version.
Contact Details for Committee
Chairman Vicky Macnair chairman@chudleighU3A.org.uk
Treasurer/Finance Roy Ashworth treasurer@chudleighU3A.org.uk
Secretary Mark Macnair secretary@chudleighU3A.org.uk
Membership Tony Ducker membership@chudleighU3A.org.uk
Groups Rep Rita Foreman anoforeman@hotmail.com
Webmaster Len Wilson lenandmary2000@yahoo.co.uk
Publicity Leah Stirrat leah.stirrat@hotmail.co.ukContact Details for Group Coordinators
It has been suggested that it would be helpful if everyone could have the list of current groups, and
the contact details for their coordinators. Further details of the groups (where and when they
meet, and a brief description), can be found on the website.
Armchair Travel Andrew Turnbull turnbull7685@gmail.com
Book Club Sue Edmunds sedmu90566@aol.com
Bridge Tony Ducker tony@ducker.org.uk
Cookery Vicky Macnair m.r.macnair@exeter.ac.uk
Craft Leah Stirrat leah.stirrat@hotmail.co.uk
Croquet Mark Macnair m.r.macnair@exeter.ac.uk
French conversation Patricia Langman majidah925@gmail.com
Gardening Mark Macnair m.r.macnair@exeter.ac.uk
History Helen Turnbull turnbull7685@gmail.com
Mah Jong Libby Farrant farrantm10@gmail.com
Photography Andrew Turnbull turnbull7685@gmail.com
Alan Winn alan@theuniversody.co.uk
Science and Natural Vicky Macnair m.r.macnair@exeter.ac.uk
History Jan Corlett jancorlett@outlook.com
Scrabble Arnold Cade 2108ancade@gmail.com
Theatre Rita Foreman anoforeman@hotmail.com
Visits Marion Thomas huxbear_barton@btopenworld.com
Walking – Longer Bernard Groves chepdesk@icloud.com
Walking – Shorter Andrew Turnbull turnbull7685@gmail.com
Martin Farrant farrantm10@gmail.comYou can also read
