October 2020 - U3A Site Builder
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October 2020
Chairman’s Message
Dear Fellow Member
I am disappointed to report that though we thought we may be able to meet in November we
have now had updated guidance from the Third Age Trust that like everyone else we are subject
to the new rule of six and therefore cannot meet as a group until the situation improves.
Committee Members had been to Kirby Misperton’s Village Hall (KMVH) to carry out a COVID Risk
Assessment and we are confident that once we get the go ahead we believe that we can - with
some rearrangements - seat 50 Members. I know that this is far short of the normal 80 - 100
Members who customarily attend KMVH’s events, but at least it will be a step forward.
As we are legally bound to hold our AGM this year, I will be writing to you all to advise how this
might be possible using both mail and online via Zoom – which I am aware many members are
now using regularly to keep in touch with family and friends.
No more from me re being ‘scammed’, but still on a safety theme, I had a plea from
Neighbourhood Watch. They want more people to get involved either as individual members and/
or as coordinators. I’ve been a member and former coordinator in Old Malton for many years.
The scheme here used to be called “Good Neighbours”, and I think that’s a more personalised
name, but the idea is still the same: protecting ourselves AND our neighbours. We’re hearing a
lot now about ‘dobbing’, (where’s that word come from?), or ‘snitching’ on our fellow citizens.
But looking out for neighbours is not the same as telling the police that “there were seven people,
Officer, at her house for supper last night”. I commend NW to you.
Thanks to all who called me re our last Newsletter. Most found it interesting if different but found
the size of print too small. I agree, so we’ll change it.
Lastly, but by no means least, a warm welcome is extended to new members who have joined
from August: Ruth Blake, Norton; Berenice Gardein, Kirkbymoorside; Gwyneth Mitchell,
Pickering; and Diana Wealleans, Pickering.
Take care and stay safe
Kindest regards
David
David Wright, 7-9 Westgate, Old Malton, Malton, YO17 7HE. 01653 691642. 07759 892852
1
October Updates
From Our Committee
Newsletter Feedback General Meetings
The longer length newsletters and their content
have been generally very well received. As seen in the Chairman’s message it seems
current restrictions will be in place until
The Increased Size of the Publication March 2021 unless the situation radically
Many U3As run their newsletters on this basis as it improves - however we will be ready
makes U3A more accessible for members who are whenever we get the go ahead.
unable to join in meetings/groups/outings – a
significant majority at present! *We will of course ensure full safety
measures will be in place
Larger content is designed to keep everyone in
touch with the work of our committee, the broader * Entry fee will be £2.50
U3A movement, provide updates on our local
In readiness for this, if you are able to offer
group activities and articles etc. to expand
knowledge, as well as exercise brains and smile help with set up, refreshments etc. when the
muscles. time arrives, please contact
Small print issues are being addressed. It takes a Chairman: David Wright 07759892852
while to iron out the flaws and newsletters are,
after all, produced and distributed by a team of
dedicated volunteers. 2021 Diaries
We are now able to order 2021 U3A diaries -
Printing Costs for the larger publication have been £3.00 each.
questioned. Worries on this front can be allayed as As we have to order in packs of five we need
costs have significantly reduced by using different to have an idea of how many members
printing options. The postage weight remains the would like a diary for next year. Please let
same. The only extra cost has been the increase in the Treasurer know how many you want.
Royal Mail postage charges. Judi Watkinson:
treasurer@ryedaleu3a.org.uk
The A5 postal version is designed to fit a C5
envelope Tel: 07966 156944
Facebook Explained for the Uninitiated
Facebook helps you to make friends and get people to ‘follow’ you. Try it!
Just go outside and tell people you meet what you’ve just eaten, how you feel, what you did last
night, what you’re doing later and who with.
Give them photos of your family, dog, holidays (v. important), garden, car, meals out and so on.
Listen to their replies, tell them you like or love them. Just like on Facebook.
It works! I’ve already got four people following me: two police officers, a social worker and a
psychiatrist!
2
Snips from National Office
Future Lives Working Group Judi Watkinson
Last year, I joined the national U3A’s Future Lives Working Group that was set up to look at ways
to develop a better future for older adults.
We chose to explore four main areas:
• Attitude of Life – Fulfilment/Life purpose/Challenging ageism
• Health & Wellbeing – isolation and loneliness/care needs
• Products and Services – things that we need: homes/neighbourhood/infrastructure
• PR – getting our voices heard – using contacts/media/briefing the Trust’s Chief executive.
Attitude of Life is the area I alighted on as I have a keen interest in challenging all aspects of
ageism – the personal, interpersonal and social, as well as the political. This extends to looking at
new outlets, avenues and opportunities for us all to live a fulfilled life beyond retirement. Related
to this end I carried out a desk top review of academic research papers and produced a research
paper for the Working Group based on what it feels like to retire.
The findings conclude that the impact of negative ageist attitudes is increasingly being recognised
as detrimental to wellbeing in later life.
This topic is also mentioned in the latest National U3A newsletter under “Let’s Change the
Narrative about Older People”. In early October they are launching a media campaign to help
take some of the negative perceptions people have about those in their third age. You can give
your views by doing an online poll https://sg.your-survey.co.uk/s3/language-and-ageingv2
Under the aspect of ‘Products and Services’, another member of the working group – Janet
Sutherland from Crouch End & District U3A - is looking at the type of housing we need as we get
older. This is both highly relevant and topical when considering the changes proposed to the
planning system.
Using her research, Janet has been giving talks on types of retirement housing and the most
preferred options - a short piece on this was published in the recent edition of Third Age Matters
magazine (Autumn 2020, P16). As Janet points out, studies have shown that despite a seemingly
broad range of housing options for older people, from mainstream housing to specialised housing
with various elements of support, the supply of age-friendly housing does not seem to fully meet
the needs of older people. A report by Age UK (2018) on later life in the UK identified that 93%
of older people live in mainstream housing and only 7% in specialist housing (McCarthy & Stone
owning 60% of this market).
When we move house and home, we have to choose from what is available, taking on a
developer’s idea of what we need. This one-size-fits-all approach does not really address the
diverse population of older people – other solutions are needed – as Janet rightly says, “the right
home can provide an additional five years of independent living”.
With such a large pool of interested and knowledgeable people across the U3A, members are well
placed to be influencers of change. Keep an eye out for the next Third Age Matters [Winter 2020]
as it will include a more detailed article, and a questionnaire to complete and return with the
results being published in due course.
3
Invitation to take part in a national Shared Learning Project –
“Our 1901 Postal Pensioners”
This on-line research project may be of great interest to anyone who has researched
their own family history, has a relative who was employed by the Post Office or
anyone interested in social or medical history.
The Post Office was major employer, with 167,000 employees by 1901. Careful records were kept
logging the amount of sickness and causes of retirement for each employee. Using approximately
30,000 pension records, we will be able to identify how worker’s health varied over time and across
different parts of the country.
The idea is that U3A researcher volunteers working from home will collaborate to research the
health of Post Office workers in 1901 the first year in which a full census is available. The Project is
running with Kings College London and the London Postal Museum.
By Taking part you will be contributing to important research into occupational health in the
Edwardian era and forms part of a larger project funded by the Wellcome Trust
(www.addressinghealth.org.uk).
Contact: Jennifer Simpson, National SLP co-ordinator at jdsimpson057@gmail.com
Creative Writing Competition 2020
During lockdown, U3A launched a regional short story competition. The task was to
write an original story, no more than 1500 words, around the theme of Time. The
hundreds of entries from across the country were considered and winners decided.
- The overall winner is Rosemary Burton [Oxford U3A] with her story “The Clock”
- 2nd place Penny Holland [Horncastle U3A] “There’s a time for everything”.
- 3rd place Gillian Griffith [Much Wenlock & District U3A] “Time to Leave”.
The winning stories, alongside all other regional winning entries, accompanied with a brief note
from each writer detailing the inspiration for their story and their writing background, are
available to read u3a.org.uk/learning/creative-writing-2020
NB U3A members can access a discount of 30% on all Bloomsbury books (bloomsbury.com/uk)
using code U3A30
Calling All Sailors Nick via U3ASail2021@gmail.com
Holders of Day Skipper Practical certificate or above, or Shortwave Radio
licence are invited to crew on U3A’s National Sailing Group’s 10-day holiday
around the Adriatic Islands next April or May (dates tbc) on sailing boats up to
50ft.
This is not a U3A activity so all will be responsible for their own welfare and
safety ………………………
4
Group News
Proposed Literature Group
To date, 4 members are interested – if you’d like to be kept updated, please contact
Jean Leggott 01751 475093 or membership@ryedaleu3a.or.uk
Walking Groups
For information on planned walks please contact the appropriate group leader:
Long Walks 7+ miles Michael Richardson 01751 477131 richardsonmandv@btinternet.com
Medium Walks 5-7m Sheila Barnes 01751 473924 sab.greenlands@gmail.com
Leisurely Walks 2-5m Robin Saltonstall 01653 228239 robin.rous@aol.co.uk
Birdwatchers Bob Coursey
The group had two meetings in September both to Ellerburn and Dalby Forest. Twenty-
five species of bird were recorded on both occasions with an overall total of 31. Interesting
sightings included Goosander, Hobby and Grey Wagtail. Most importantly, members were very
pleased to be able to meet again doing what they enjoy albeit in smaller groups and at a safe
distance from one another.
Northern Book Group Susan Hall
The group has decided to start again this month. We will meet in gardens if the 3rd
Monday of the month is a suitable day. Otherwise we are going to have our meetings
using Zoom. Hopefully there may be more news from us after our first meeting.
Mah Jong Liz Clark
It is hoped that the group can restart soon pending agreement with the venue.
Meantime what do you know about the game? Did you know for example that the
shuffling of tiles at the beginning of a game is referred to as the ‘twittering of the
sparrows? Or that the game originated in China and is called Mahjong as this loosely translates as
“sparrow”, with enthusiasts linking the game to Confucius and his love of birds.
Mah jong is based on draw-and-discard card games that were popular in 18th and 19th century
China, but the oldest historical record is in the 1880s. The earliest surviving tile sets date to around
1870 and were acquired in Fuzhou, Shanghai, and Ningbo. After 1905, the game spread
throughout China, overtaking chess as the most popular game among Chinese citizens. It is now
popular across many countries with both local and international tournaments being held.
With 144 tiles in a set, each player is given 14 tiles. To get a ‘Mahjong’, a player must arrange their
tiles into four sets and a pair. Similar to the Western card game rummy, Mahjong is a game of
skill, strategy, and calculation, but it also involves a degree of chance. The trick is to remember
the characters which, as the differences in rules played, are many and varied!
The way we play is that once the tiles have been dealt, the remaining tiles are formed into a wall
of 17 tiles long and 2 high in front of each player before we start picking and discarding a tile in
turn until someone declares ’Mahjong’!. Original rituals of play such as forming the wall were said
to guard off cheaters as Mahjong can be played as a gambling game.
Traditionally, tiles were made of ivory, bone and bamboo, with some costing a great amount, but
nowadays due to worldwide trade embargoes, the tiles are largely made of wood, plastic or, as
popular as ever, ceramic. The ban on gambling after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949
led to a decline in playing, and it was banned during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976).
5Today, Mah Jong remains popular among people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a favourite
pastime again in China and other Chinese-speaking communities, where it is not unusual in
summer to see tables spread under trees in ‘hutong’ [alleyways] in villages, towns and cities, with
a light bulb strung across to allow play to continue after dark! At Chinese weddings and other
celebrations, the game is commonly played and relished as part of the reception; the tile sets
being given to guests as a gift!
Current Affairs Brenda Blakeley
Post-election protests in Belarus, our schools’ reopening, Brexit including fishing
quotas, looking to the needs of our vulnerable citizens in a time of CV19, should
another complete lockdown be decreed……and many other topics. Wonder which
of these would be debated this week if the group had managed to restart? There are still 2 places
so do contact Brenda if you would like to log your interest for later 01751 460262
Garden Visits Jill Mathews & Valerie Chadwick
When we were planning our programme of garden visits at the beginning of this year,
we did not suspect that a pandemic would come along and put an end to it! Along
with a beautiful spring and an indifferent summer, that can only be described as
"mostly cloudy", came lockdown and uncertainty. Looking at our list of visits in 2019 and
remembering the interest, beauty and diversity of the various gardens, this can only be regretted.
Each garden reflected the interests, priorities and passions of its owner - whether that was in the
flowers, trees, or shrubs, the design, the need to provide habitat for insects and birds, or just a
chance to be creative and have a lovely place to sit and think.
Sometimes we travelled up a long country lane, wondering where on earth the garden was hiding,
sometimes we found it tucked away behind a house on an ordinary-looking street. Without
exception, these visits provided pleasure, interest and inspiration for us. And we haven't
mentioned the tea and cake! We shall try again next year and hope that you will join us.
Cryptic Crosswords Judi Watkinson
The cryptic crossword group are still meeting – we’ve always been socially distant, it
stops us peering over at another’s answers[!] – and trying out some really difficult
crosswords, which most of the group (present company excepted) have mastered. If
you are wondering why we tax our brains with misleading and deliberately deceptive clues it is
because they are so much more fun than quick coffee-break puzzles which just ask you to replace
one word with another with the same meaning. We enjoy the feeling of success in solving a clue,
especially if it makes us smile at having the wool pulled over our eyes.
To join the group in solving the perplexing, simply ring Judi 07966 156944.
Meantime, here are two favourites that you might like to try [answers next month].
1A: Presumably one doesn’t run after it (4,3)
2D: A bit worn round the bottom (5)
The Positive Impact of Trees on the Environment & Climate Change Management
Members of Tonbridge U3A took part in the Friends of the Earth Citizen Science
Project that hopes eventually to assess the canopy cover over the whole UK. Those
taking part learnt a lot about the loss of canopy cover, its value, and what needs to
be done. The strategies which most councils have for trees is based on preventing
the public from being harmed, whereas they ought to be thinking about the long-
term benefits of trees. In towns such as Royal Tunbridge Wells, for instance, the
cover is comparatively good but not when compared with 30 years ago.
Evidently, it is detrimental to plant trees which would not last for at least 30 years as the energy used in
buying, transporting, planting etc outweighs the benefit derived from the tree, so maintaining existing
trees is often even more important than planting new ones.
6Looking For Ideas for a Trip Out?
The Town of Beverley
What about a visit or revisit to this lovely market town on a Wednesday for the
market? Whatever day, the market place with its magnificent Cross is worth a closer
look. Built between 1711 and 1714, it bears the coats of arms of the 2 local MPs who paid for the
construction as well as well as those of Beverley and the Royal Arms of Queen Anne. Stay in the
market place for lunch at the C17th Kings Head before spending an hour in the minster. As one of
the largest parish churches in the UK, the minster is larger than one-third of all English cathedrals
and regarded by many as a gothic masterpiece.
You could then trip over to Beverley Beck, a canal running from Grovehill Lock
on the River Hull where you might spot a boat or two moving into the Beck to travel
the 0.8 miles to reach the town at the other end
First mentioned in 1296, the then Archbishop of York sought to have fish-weirs
removed from the River Hull so that boats could reach Beverley. Until 1802, the beck was tidal
with the Beverley and Barmston drain running into it. A tunnel was then built to channel the beck
water and a canal lock was constructed, thus creating the canal and maintaining water levels. In
1898, a steam engine was installed again to maintain the water levels in the beck, this time by
pumping water from the River Hull. In more recent times, a multi £M refurbishment of the area
including the lock gates and pumping engine was completed in 2007.
Try the Self-Guided Hockney Trail around East Yorkshire
yorkshire-wolds/hockney
The Wolds provide the backdrop for 50 years of Hockney’s fascination with the area.
From Warter, through picturesque Wolds scenery, one reaches Hockney’s favourite
location Woldgate - an old Roman Road near his home in Bridlington where he lived for some
time. For OS locations try wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.html. Type in a grid reference and
you will be presented with a map alongside a Google satellite image.
The wonders of modern technology to marvel over on a sunny autumn day when out searching
Covid-safely for Hockney’s favourite sites.
Do You Know?
‘A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush’
One of the best-known proverbs that came into the
language in the 15th century, probably imported
from other cultures. The allusion may be to falconry
where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable
asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush
(the prey).
The term was adopted as a pub name in the Middle
Ages and many with this name still survive. English
migrants to America took the expression with them
and 'bird in hand' must have been known there by
1734 as this was the year in which a small town in
Pennsylvania was founded with that name.
7The Virus:
Sorry, can’t get away from it, it’s a pundemic
As we all know, humour is essential, especially in challenging times. Laughter
shared reportedly gives us strength in adversity and can help us feel a bit more in control. Most
importantly, “jokes” – even coronavirus jokes – are said to bring us together and help us to feel
connected. And laughter literally makes us stronger. Recent studies have found that a good
chuckle can boost our dopamine levels and shore up our immune system.
Would You Believe It ?!
In March this year, the NT News, a Darwin, Australia-based newspaper with a national
reputation for its headlines and antics, printed a special eight-page insert that can be cut into
toilet paper.
For a video of the paper and its 8-page supplement try The Guardian link: australian-newspaper-
prints-extra-pages-to-help-out-in-toilet-paper-shortage
Current regulations change so often, we
can’t include updates. However, we’re
hearing that some people flying back
from holidays abroad are calling it
‘lockdown’ because they have no idea
how to spell kwarunteen
For Those Who Skip Read this Newsletter:
Aoccdring to rscheearch at Camrbigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer
waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny imptroant thing is taht
the frist and lsat lteters be in the rghit pclaes. The rset can be a tatol
mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bceause the
hmuan mnid deos not raed ervey leettr by itself, but the wrod as a
wlohe.
Please do send us your opinions, experiences or views.
Deadline for pieces to be included in the next newsletter is
Friday 13th November [no witticism intended]
newsletter@ryedaleu3a.org.uk
The topic this month is: “What advice would you give to parents of
sixth formers about how their offspring might forge a future in an
age of pandemics and interrupted education?”
8That’s not my age, it’s just not true
My heart is young – the time just flew
I’m staring at this strange old face
And someone else is in my place!
Focus on Pam Ayres
‘I don’t write about highfalutin things; I write about everyday things that people come into
contact with. People identify a lot with what I’ve written but it depends on the angle you take,
whether or not you can make it funny. It’s not as simple as it looks’
Pam Ayres interview, TAM Autumn 2020
A bit of reminiscing by Pam:
‘Yes, I’ll Marry You’
Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear. Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear,
And here’s the reason why. You’re virile and you’re lean,
So I can push you out of bed My house is like a pigsty
When the baby starts to cry. You can help to keep it clean.
And if we hear a knocking That sexy little dinner
And it’s creepy and it’s late, Which you served by candlelight,
I hand you the torch you see, As I do chipolatas,
And you investigate. You can cook it every night!!!
Yes I’ll marry you, my dear,
You may not apprehend it, It’s you who has to work the drill
And put up curtain track,
But when the tumble-drier goes
And when I’ve got PMT it’s you who gets
It’s you that has to mend it. the flak,
You have to face the neighbour I do see great advantages,
Should our labrador attack him, But none of them for you,
And if a drunkard fondles me And so before you see the light,
It’s you that has to whack him I DO, I DO, I DO!!
The good news for our members is that interest is growing for setting up an
Online Philosophy Group. Are you interested in joining it?
You could win a chance to meet in a group larger than N (or whatever the latest number is) to
do more navel gazing.
Essays: please produce a minimum of 30,000 words and send to your friends so they can while
away a few hours reading your considerations on these key topics:
1. After a game of chess, the King and the pawn go into the same box. Discuss
2. Kill one man and you’re a murderer. Kill a million and you’re a conqueror. Discuss
3. If God meant us to fly, he’d have made it easier to get to the airport.
Don’t discuss or you’ll get cross.
950 questions – Each answer contains a number in a word or words – some numbers occur more
than once.
1. Aventine, Caelian, etc. (3,5,5,2,4)
2. TV programme 1957-67 (9,4,3)
3. Proverb (1,6,2,4,5,4)
4. Cole Porter number (4,3,4,5,6)
5. J. K. Jerome composition (5,3,2,1,4)
6. Athos, Porthos, Aramis (3,5,10)
7. 1975 Film starring Jack Nicholson (3,4,4,3,7,4)
8. Skating manoeuvre (6,2,5)
9. Tchaikovsky composition in Eb major (8,6,8)
10. Greed, sloth etc. (3,5,6,4)
11. 1997 Jack Lemmon film (6,5,3)
12. Shakespeare Play (3,3,9,2,6)
13. Craig Douglas number 1 hit (4,7)
14. Joseph Heller novel (5,6,3)
15. WW1 US Cocktail named after a field gun (6,7,4)
16, US TV PI drama series 1958-1964 (7,5,6,5)
17. T S Elliot collection (1943) (4,8)
18. Frankie Laine hit song (7,4)
19. Babylon, Halicarnassus etc. (5,7,2,3,5)
20. Richard Attenborough film (3,10,5)
21. Very stupid (2,5,2,3,5,6)
22. Regular TV Programme (4,2,3)
23. Baked beans, soups etc. (5,5,5)
1024 BBC Sitcom (3,5,4,8)
25. Nursery Rhyme (5,5,4)
26. The same thing applies to me (4,5,3,2,2)
27. E Nesbit story (4,8,3,2)
28. A Beatles hit in 1964 (5,4,1,4)
29. Proverb (1,7,6,1,8,5)
30. Spencer Tracey film (6,7,4,5)
31. Comedy sketch show 1971-1987 (3,3,7)
32. Dystopian novel published in 1953 (10,4,4,3)
33. Christmas Carol (2,5,5,2,6,3)
34. Early evening TV programme (3,3,4)
35. An avian proverb (1,4,2,3,4,2,5,3,2,3,4)
40. Dickens novel (1,4,2,3,6)
41. Pantomime Jack’s question (3,4,5,4,4)
42. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic (3,5,2)
43. British science fiction TV series (6,5)
44. 1961 Disney classic (3,7,3,3,10)
45. 1975 Paul Simon song (5,4,2,5,4,5)
46. Start of middle-age rejuvenation (4,6,2,5)
47. Novel set 36 years ago (8,6,4)
48. Musical film with music by Harry Warren (5.6,6)
49. Who sang “Oh What a Night”? (3,4,7)
50. Start again from the beginning (2,4,2,6,3)
Send your entries to:
Ryedale U3A, Newsletter Admin, 13 Woodlands Avenue, Norton, Malton YO17 9DB
Email: newsletter@ryedaleu3a.org.uk
Answers to September Quizzes
Quiz 1 Scrambled Animals 1. Squirrel, 2. Groundhog 3. Chipmunk 4. Lemur 5. Turtle 6.Elephant 7. Hedgehog
8. Armadillo 9. King Cobra 10. Wolverine 11. Mountain lion 12. Bobcat 13. Peacock 14. Chimpanzee 15. Orangutan
16. Rhinoceros 17. Boa Constrictor, 18. Baboon 19. Rabbit 20. Lizard 21. Opossum, 22. Narwhal
Many apologies for the errors in nbrs 2 and 13 where the B or the E should have been an O!
Many thanks to Judy Catterall, Jean Leggott and Team Pickering for your entries. Some of your answers
were different to ours – but were possibly better!
11Quiz 2 Old Money
£ S P
1 Unit of weight Pound 1 0 0
2 Fraction of Queen’s
Half a crown 2 6
headgear
3 Form of Transport Penny farthing 1 1/4
4 Man’s name Bob 1 0
5 Poorly octopus Six quid 6 0 0
6 Leather worker Tanner 6
7 Half a knicker 10 Shillings 10 0
8 Jupiter, Saturn, Venus 3 far things 3/4
9 Woman’s name Flo -rin 2 0
10 Kind of pig Guinea 1 1 0
11 Type of singer Tenner 10 0 0
12 Lady Godiva Fiver 5 0 0
Total 23 17 2
Fingers Crossed Drawing Competition
We remain somewhat optimistic that our U3A activities will restart ……...before too long.
Meantime, instead of twiddling thumbs, why not while away an hour drawing crossed fingers!
Endpiece
“Wild horses couldn’t drag a secret out of most women.
However, women seldom have lunch with wild horses.”
Anon
Selected by Dorothy Kershaw
12You can also read
