Note from the Chair - U3A Site Builder Home Page

Meeting July 25th 2018

                                Agenda

                     Tea, coffee and biscuits

 2.00pm Chairman’s Welcome
 2.05pm Speaker
 2.15pm Tea, coffee and biscuits
 2.30pm Speaker Peter Lawrence “History of Essex, a miscellany.”
 +0+6+64.00pm Close

IMPORTANT NOTICE
IN FUTURE EVERYONE ATTENDING THE MONTHLY MEETING WILL BE
ASKED TO SHOW THEIR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD.

                        Note from the Chair
Dear Friends

This is the last letter from me before the summer break. It has so far been a
long and hot summer which is better than I can remember. The downside of
course is that the gardens desperately need water!

My thanks go to all those who have contributed to our excellent programme
of events and outings. Individual groups are taking a well-earned break as
well.

In the autumn we intend to publish an illustrated booklet recording our first
year as a fully fledged U3A which we hope you will find interesting and a
good keepsake.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Best Wishes
John Versey, Chairman

DUNMOW U3A COMMITTEE

Officers
Chair                                              Dr. John Versey
Vice Chair and Welfare Officer                     Jane Tadman
Secretary                                          Anita Davey
Treasurer                                          Colin Bradley

Committee Members
Press Officer                                      Jenny Versey
Outings Coordinator                                Peter Watson
Speaker Organiser                                  Pat Kelly
Group Coordinator                                  Amanda Brown
Membership Secretary                               Mike Best
Events Manager/Facilitator Mentor                  Terry Parker
Newsletter Editor                                  Marilyn Hammond
Web Master                                         Ian Brown

There are two vacant posts on the committee.
1. Associate member
2. Study skill days administrator.

Please speak to John Versey if you are interested in joining the committee.

                       DATES FOR YOU DIARY

Next Meeting – September 26th 2018
Speaker: Lucy Allen. Stunt woman on Titanic and Harry Potter.

A Note from the Editor
I would appreciate contributions for the next Newsletter by
 Wednesday 19th September 2018.

VISIT TO “KINGS SEEDS”, COGGESHALL, ESSEX
This visit had something for everyone – social history, industrial and
commercial “shenanigans”, tools and machinery of yesteryear, plant
science, modern engineering and good old plain horticulture.
The photograph (see insert) is of Peter Miller, a current shareholder, who
showed us around and gave us a wonderful history of the Company.

Essex has been the centre of English seed production for many centuries,
Kings Seeds surviving those centuries to become the sole seed merchant in
Essex today.
In the late 1700’s the founder, Mr John King, came to prominence as a
Brewer/Innkeeper and seed merchant in Coggeshall. Over several decades
the seed business grew and became an important part of what was now a
family business with several generations involved. By the late 1800’s four
sons of the founder were running the business. Then a great grandson, E.W.
King, descended from the founder by his first marriage, had a serious
disagreement with his grandfather who would not employ him, and decided
to set up in the seed business on his own. There were now two seed
merchants using the Kings name in Coggeshall next door to each other.
Shortly a second shop was opened by the great grandson opposite, and he
spent the next few years doing everything to irritate and frustrate his great
grandfather.

Eventually the great grandson’s business became more successful, whilst
John King began to fail. In desperation, the four directors called in the great
grandson to rescue them, but to no avail, and E.W.King continued to
become Kings Seeds as we know it today.
Touring the industrial units, you encounter hi-tech machinery amidst
machines that would not look out of place in the Science Museum (many
over 100 years old and still reliable and in working order).
The current workforce of 28 is mainly drawn from the local area, as in times
past. Two hundred years ago the workforce would have been considerably
larger. One machine in particular, which separates unwanted debris from
the seeds before packaging, replaced 14 female workers who carried out
this tedious task by hand day after day.
Roger Davey

                              GROUP NEWS
Wildlife Detective Group
To be known as Nature walks group, leader Jane Tadman.
Future dates. August 29th, September 19th, October 17th (all at 2pm until
4pm).
Music Appreciation Group Leaders Shirley and Peter Hodge. First
meeting September. Further details TBA.
Gentle Exercise . Group Leader Anita Davey. Further details TBA
Garden Group. This group is not accepting any new members for the time
being due to numbers. If anyone is willing to start a second group please
speak to Amanda Brown.
                              SPEAKERS FOR 201

Sept.26th 2018   Lucy Allen   Stunt woman on Titanic and Harry Potter

Oct.31st 2018    Fools Gold Acoustics To celebrate 100years/end of

                 First World War, music and slides to accompany

.Nov.28th 2018   Keith Lovall History of food in Essex, Oysters, jam, salt, spice

NATURE WALKS GROUP             JANE TADMAN

We had our first outing on July 18 along a small section the
Flitch Way near Takeley. We identified quite a number of plants
including 3 types of willowherb, traveller’s joy and the colourful
scabius amongst many others.
                            However, the highlight of the walk
                            was a Silver-Studded Blue butterfly.
                            These little
                            creatures
                            are quite
rare and confined to small colonies in
southern England and Wales.
                               We
                               shared our expertise and
                               consulted our wildlife books as we
                               walked, finishing off with a
                               welcome cup of tea in Marilyn’s
                               garden.
Our next walk is on August 29 th , meeting at Cammas Hall Farm
car park for a short nature walk, returning to the cafe for a cup
of tea.
More details are on the Dunmow U3A website.

Dunmow U3A — Outings 2018
                             Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent
               th
 Wednesday 15 August         Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, remodelled by
                             the Astor family in the 20th century
                             “The King and I” London Palladium (Matinee)
 Wednesday 22nd August
                             £68pp. SOLD OUT
                              Picasso 1932-Love, Fame and Tragedy.
 Wednesday 5th Sept.         Exhibition at Tate Modern, London. £32pp.
                             6 places left
                             Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show Celebrating
 Saturday 22nd Sept.         ‘RAF 100’. Red Arrows,Avro Lancaster, RAF
                             Typhoon and more…..
                             Burghley House and Gardens near Stamford,
 Thursday 11th October       Lincs. One of England’s grandest Elizabethan
                             homes.
                              Thursford Christmas Spectacular
                              The largest show of its kind in the country, if not
 Monday 19th November         in Europe: An extravaganza of non-stop singing,
                              dancing, music, humour and variety. Near
                              Fakenham, North Norfolk. £63pp
                              Bury St Edmunds Christmas Market
                              Over 300 stalls, two entertainment stages and a
 Friday 23rd November
                              wide range of music, street theatre and dance.
                              £16.50pp

You must have received confirmation before assuming you have a place
on a trip. There have been some disappointed people

                            CRUFTS DOG SHOW

A day trip to Crufts Show at the NEC Birmingham for the final “Best in Show”
day. We will need to order tickets very soon. We will need at least 20 takers
to make the trip viable? If you are interested please speak to Peter Watson
or one of the outings team.

WALKING GROUP PROGRAMME
               rd
MONDAY 23           JULY 4.5 miles Essex Way (Good Easter/Pleshey). Meet
Dourdan Pavillion 9am. Walk Leader Adrian Abbott.
MONDAY 30th JULY 5 mile river Stort walk. Meet 9.25 Dourdan Pavilion or
10am The Three Horseshoes Spellbrook CM22 7SE. Lunch to be ordered on
arrival at Three Horseshoes. Walk Leader Jenny Versey
MONDAY 6th AUGUST 5 mile walk Coggleshall area, further details to follow.
Walk leader David Butterworth
MONDAY 13th AUGUST Approx. 6 miles, Debden area, meet Dourdan Pavilion
9.30amWalk leader Mike Best
MONDAY 20th AUGUST Approx. 5 miles, Essex Way - Pleshey/Gt. Leighs area.
Meet Dourdan Pavilion 9.00am.Walk Leader John Hardy
TUESDAY 28th AUGUST Approx. 5 miles. White Notley/Cressing area. Meet
Dourdan Pavilion 9.30am Walk leader Adrian Abbott
MONDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER Approx. 3.5 miles, Hatfield forest, meet 10.00am at
Hatfield Forest car park by entrance to forest .Walk leader Anne Preece
MONDAY 10th SEPTEMBER Approx. 5 miles Essex Way - Gt. Leighs/Terling area.
Meet at Dourdan Pavilion 9.00amWalk Leader Mike Best
MONDAY 17th SEPTEMBER Approx. 5 miles, airport area. Meet at Kersey
Airways 10.00am. Walk leader Jenny Versey
MONDAY 24th SEPTEMBER Approx. 6 miles Essex Way - Terling/Cressing area.
Meet at Dourdan Pavilion 9.00am. Walk leader John Hardy.
MONDAY 1st OCTOBER. Meet at Dourdan Pavilion 10.00am, details to follow.
Walk Leader Adrian Abbott.
MONDAY 15th OCTOBER Approx. 5 miles Radwinter area. Meet at Dourdan
Pavilion 9.30am. Walk leader Mike Best.
MONDAY 29th OCTOBER details to follow. Walk leader Jenny Versey.
MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER Approx. 6 miles Essex Way - Cressing/Coggleshall
area. Meet at Dourdan Pavilion 9.00am. Walk leader John Hardy
Walk Leader John Hardy.
MONDAY 26th NOVEMBER Details to follow. Walk leader Adrian Abbott.
MONDAY 10th DECEMBER Xmas Walk Details to follow.

GROUP LEADERS
Art                    Tutor Anita Davey
Art 2                  John Quinton
Club                   Christine Coates
Bookworms               Christine Coates
Bridge                 Bryony Reece
Canasta                Jan Moffat
Creative Writing       Carolyn Bryant
Cycling                Jenny Versey
Family History         David Wolfe
Flower Arranging       Madeleine Lloyd
                       Tutor Sandra Walker
French                  John Evans
Garden                 Lucy Myers
General Crafts         Michelle Turner
Golf                   John Versey
History                Keith Mileham
Luncheon Group         Paul Bryant
Italian Conversation   Shelia George
Knitting               Anila Banerjee
Line Dancing           Jan Barlow
London history tours    Amanda Brown
Mah Jong               Margaret Kleyn
Outings                Peter Watson
Patchwork/Quilting     Maureen Best
Pergamano              Rosemary Crowley
Photography            Dave Gregory
Scrabble               Fiona Fraser-Thomson
Spanish Conversation   John Versey
Sunday Lunch Club      Marie Cautley
Walking                Mike Best
Wine Appreciation      Maurice Pannell
Newsletter             Marilyn Hammond
Web Admin              Ian Brown