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learn, News
laugh,
live
May 2021
Odiham District
Fresh Beginnings Out & about in Hartley
Wintney
Last month saw the beginning of our gradual return to
normality with the restart of some of our outdoor With Viv Needham
groups; more about this from our Group
Coordinators, Nicki and Hugh and individual group
leaders in Group News. Now, as we move into May, we
build on this on this with Liz and Gary Glazerman
planning the launch of ‘The Local Theatre Group -
LTG’ by asking you to take part in a survey, also found
in Group News.
A further contribution to our ‘fresh beginnings’ is a
summer visit. One of our members, Pam Forey, has
kindly offered to arrange a garden visit for us (e.g. a
garden south of Alton or another near Farnham)
under the National Garden Scheme. There are some
specific gardens that are only open to groups and
could therefore accommodate 20-30 of us. We
would have sole access to the garden for the
duration of our visit.
The earliest the visit is likely to take place is July and
obviously will be subject to any changing Covid
regulations that might still be in place. It would be
appreciated if there could be some car sharing as it is
unlikely that 30 cars could be accommodated in the
car park. The cost will be around £5 per person.
There is no commitment at this stage, but if you
would be interested in joining a visit, please would
you be kind enough to email me
( chair@odihamu3a.org.uk) as soon as possible. If
there is sufficient interest then Pam will then go
ahead with the booking arrangements and contact
those who have registered an interest with further
details.
Helen Smith
Chair
Page
Page 1 Odiham
Odiham District News
Monthly Meetings & our last Spring Surprise!
Wednesday May 5th at 10.30 am
Sally Botwright: ‘London Curiosities and Oddities’
Sally was born in London and has always loved this
wonderful city and was therefore delighted when she
initially passed the City of London Guide exams and
then the London Blue Badge Tourist Guide exams in
2001. She is a full member of the Institute of Tourist
Guiding which is responsible for setting the standards
for the tourist guiding industry. She spoke to us in June
2018 on London Docklands and many members said
how much they enjoyed that talk which was both
entertaining and highly informative. Sally says this is
her most popular talk and so we are surely in for a
treat.!
Thursday 20th May at 2 pm
Anney Harris: 'Beatrix Potter: Artist, Scientist, Storyteller, Farmer, and Conservationist'
Beatrix Potter was a remarkable and many talented Victorian. Anney's illustrated talk tells of
her privileged childhood in Kensington, the flowering of her creative abilities and how the
famous Peter Rabbit books came to be published, her long struggle for independence and
eventual move to the Lake District. There, she became Mrs Heelis, the successful sheep
farmer and ardent supporter of the aims of the National Trust.
If you thought you already knew all about her, Anney can
guarantee that you will come away from her talk with some
new insights and probably a few amusing stories.
For 30 years Anney Harris worked as a professional librarian
in a wide variety of organisations, from stately homes to a
prison library including for two public library authorities. She
co-founded the Beatrix Potter Society in 1980, having
worked for 5 years as Librarian of the National Book League
( now the Book Trust), then custodians of the Linder
Collection of original watercolours, drawings and first
editions by Beatrix Potter.
Talks in June:
Wednesday 2nd June 10am
Malcolm Nelson: ‘The History of Smuggling’
Page 2 Odiham District News
Groups’ News hurdles to overcome but good progress is
being made.
With the latest part of the Government’s
roadmap for emerging out of lockdown in One of the benefits of interest groups
place, we are looking forward to working meeting on Zoom has been that we have
towards achieving a “new normal” for our been able to open these meetings to other
interest groups. members. Once groups start using a venue
We had a very successful Group Leaders’ for their meetings, this might not be possible
Conference and you can read more about due to limits on numbers. However, for many
this in Hugh’s report, below. groups, this is still a long way off and group
leaders will be able to advise you about what
As groups of six are now able to meet is going to be possible. As before, if you are
outdoors, Walking for Pleasure, Bowls and interested in a particular group, please
Tennis have resumed and Nordic Walking will approach the group leader in the first
soon be following in their footsteps (excuse instance using the information in the Annual
the pun!). The Towns and Villages group Programme or the groups’ pages on the
leaders have surveyed their group members Odiham and District U3A website.
so that they have a clear idea of what
members think before putting any plans into
action.
The next milestone will be in mid May, when
groups of 6 are able to meet indoors. Several
group leaders are already making plans for
their groups to restart, including at least two We are looking forward to the start up of a
of the Wine Appreciation groups. new group called Local Theatres as soon as
the easing of restrictions allow. Please read
and respond to the piece in the Groups
section from Gary and Liz Glazerman who will
be coordinating this group if you are
interested.
We would like to say a big thank you to
The most important aspect of any plan is Patricia Davison who started the Drawing
finding out what the group members want to Group during lockdown. Now that the weather
do. So, please do respond when you are is improving and people are getting out and
contacted so your group leaders are armed about more, Patricia has decided to stop
with the best information. putting activities on the group’s page on our
website. However, we will leave the page up
Of course we appreciate that not everyone and running for a while to give members a
will be feeling confident enough to rejoin a chance to engage with the activities. We are
group at face to face meetings. We are hoping that there might be some more
currently exploring the possibility of “hybrid” projects available in the winter time. Thank
technology which could enable some you to everyone who has submitted their
members of a group to meet face to face, drawings. You are a talented bunch of
while others remain on Zoom. There are some people!
(Continued on page 4)
Page 3 Odiham District News
(Continued from page 3)
Group Leaders’ Conference
Each year the Committee hosts a Group Leaders lunch and Conference as a means of
thanking them for the work they all do on behalf of us all and also to exchange ideas and
information. Sadly, this year a lunch was impossible but we did have a virtual conference
on the morning of Monday 29th March.
The aim of the conference was to discuss our mutual thinking as lockdown eases and to
agree a broad route map for 2021/22.
We all are missing the social interaction that face-to-face meetings brings but everybody
recognised that despite the vaccine we will face continued uncertainty. Quite simply no
one can predict how the covid virus will evolve or how regulations will change. So,
everybody agreed that flexibility was vital and it would be up to each group and its
members to decide how quickly they wanted to progress toward actual meetings indoors.
One phrase perhaps sums up the general perspective – “Make haste slowly”.
Reflecting this need for flexibility, the speakers for next year’s monthly meetings will be
able to present either in the hall or via zoom and indeed the Cross Barn now has the
ability to handle what are called “hybrid” meetings. Thus, if social distancing limits the
numbers who can actually be in the hall, all other members will be able to watch it on
zoom. This is similar to the system Parliament currently uses and clearly will be
particularly helpful to members who have mobility issues.
Other highlights were:
There will be no increase in the annual subscription of £15
A simplified and printable on-line Annual Programme will be emailed to all members
at the start of July, after which online renewals will commence
The website has recently been updated and greater use will be made of it so that all
members will be able to easily access updates and more detailed information
regarding all our activities.
The monthly newsletter which is a vital link between us all has also been visually
updated and an interesting new section about members activities added.
The various task forces set up after the survey of members are now beginning to
prove their value. A good example is that the technological team are now
undertaking tests to see if our own portable version of the hybrid option, described
above, can be made available at other locations.
So, as we move toward the “new post-covid norm” members can be confident that the
Odiham District u3a’s commitment to “Learning, Living, and Laughing” continues
unabated.
Hugh and Nicki - Joint Groups Coordinators
Page 4 Odiham District News
Groups together, greatly assisted by some
The Local Theatre Group (LTG) members whose previous academic studies
are now benefitting the rest of us. We have
The Local Theatre Group (LTG) hopes to
adapted well to Zoom and to using various
start booking performances for later this
other online means such as You Tube.
year, as soon as social distancing
Please contact Deborah Markham if you are
restrictions are lifted and it's officially safe
interested or have any questions via the
to do so.
Shakespeare Uncovered page on the
Odiham District U3A website . Click here
Bowls
The Bowls group is due to restart outside,
on Monday 27th April. We play on the green
at Odiham & North Warnborough Bowls
Club every Monday, 2pm to 4pm, and by
the time we are due to play indoors in
September, we hope restrictions will have
The group coordinators (Gary & Liz
been lifted to allow for this.
Glazerman) want to find out:-
Throughout the winter months we play on
• Who, of our u3a members, want to join
two mats in the
the group
clubhouse, tea or coffee
• When folk will feel confident to start
and biscuits always
attending performances
mark half time!
• What sort of performances folk would
If you would like to join
like to attend
Please look at the LTG page on the Odiham us, woods are available
u3a website (Local Theatre Group) and if but you will need to bring clean flat shoes or
you are interested in joining the group and trainers. We provide some coaching but we
attending live performances please don’t take ourselves too seriously and have
respond to the survey in the link survey
a lot of fun. Please click here to look at our
link
website page or contact David Woodward
Shakespeare Uncovered bowls@odihamu3a.org.uk if you are
This group was set up three years ago to interested in joining us.
look at the works of Shakespeare, starting
with the most famous plays.
We have recently
progressed to
some of the less
well known works
and to the sonnets,
and the more we
look the more we
find! The group has
the same original First game back!
core membership and our individual
(Continued on page 6)
knowledge and understanding has
developed over the years of studying
Page 5 Odiham District News
(Continued from page 5)
Creative Writing Group 2 better recall of digitally recorded
experiences, how to start writing and
In March, the Creative Writing Group 2 managing word limits. The hour flew by,
hosted a session to explore a interspersed with lots of laughter. It
contemporary writer's perspective on encouraged us to reconsider how the smart
authorship. Luke Turner’s writing talent phone can be used for recording material,
came to my attention when his proud thoughts, quotes, events, sights, and
mother, a long-term friend from student sounds and for starting the writing process.
days, regularly sent me digital links to his It seems so obvious now.
work. These included his recent acclaimed
Luke inspired us to write about Nature for
book, Out of the Woods1: a memoire,
May’s piece and I may well start on it by
Guardian newspaper articles, including
taking my phone onto Danebury Hill Fort
clever pieces about Vera Lynn's musical
today.
influence and the TV programme, Grand
Designs, reviews of his work in The Times, Helen New
publications from 2Quietus, an online music
magazine, where he is founder and editor 1
Out of the Woods: A memoire by Luke
and his piece on Countryfile about Epping
Turner, reprint 2021, Greystone Books
Forest, which features in his book.
2
https//thequietus.com
His writing career was picking up pace. His
book continues to attract interest and
praise in the Western World, just being
launched in North America and Canada.
Though for many, it is shocking and
disturbing. I decided to read it and make
up my own mind.
He is evidently a very able, up and coming
writer. So, I suggested to the group that we
ask him to do a session with us. As with
most newly published authors, he was
delighted to be asked and we planned a
Q&A zoom call. We agreed a fee and a
theme of ‘Writing about Nature’.
The discussion ranged from recording the
sounds and sights of Nature, the accuracy
of memories, checking of facts,
authenticity, consistency, how other (Continued on page 7)
authors write about nature, the possible
Page 6 Odiham District News
(Continued from page 6)
Walking for Pleasure – The Relaunch The other photograph shows that we do try
to keep to the social distancing rules.
On 6th April 13 members of the walking
group set off in cold, crisp, sunny weather
for a five mile circular walk around Upton
Grey. This was our first group walk since
December and there was a definite buzz in
the air. Although we had all led very similar
lives during lockdown there was no
shortage of things to talk, and laugh, about.
The combination of fine weather, good
company and exercise in lovely countryside
in the early stages of spring was a real
tonic.
For the second walk on 22 April we were The u3a has agreed that walking groups
blessed with equally wonderful weather, may operate under the guidance of The
although this time considerably warmer and Ramblers Organisation which allows up to
spring much further advanced, and our
30 people to meet for an organised walk..
numbers almost doubled. This time we
were in Finchampstead and stumbled If you would like to join us on a future walk,
across a link to Dogmersfield. A small you will find more information on the
plaque informed us that King Henry VII and Walking for Pleasure page on the Odiham
Prince Arthur had been hunting in the area District u3a website, or contact
when they received word that Catherine of walking@odiham.org.uk
Aragon had arrived at Dogmersfield Park. In
the spirit of learn, laugh, live, we all learnt
something new on that walk.
One of the attached photographs shows
some of the members reading the rather
unprepossessing plaque.
Click here to go
to the Groups
page on our
website
Page 7 Odiham District News
Online Safety
• For general technical queries then use
Be aware... Connect with care. the Click to send a message button at
the top of the screen
As mentioned in the report on the Group
Leaders’ Conference, Marin Sharp has been By clicking on the link called Safe on Line
busy with updating our website. As well as you move to this page where you will find;
finding out about what our groups are up to
and what the next Monthly meeting is Stay Safe on the internet
about , there are also some useful AGE UK Making the most of the
information pages, including four articles on internet
being ‘safe on Line’ AGE UK Safe on Line Advice
Thorpe Bay U3a Scam alert page
The menu that runs across the top of the
website includes a tab called IT Help.
The U3A nationally has supported a series
Clicking on it will take you to the IT Help
of seminars put together by Barry Linton of
page where you are offered the following
Thorpe Bay U3A and Essex Police. ‘Stay
options, the links being listed on the right
Safe on Line’ is a write up by Hugh Thomas
hand side of the page;
of Barry’s recent Zoom presentation to our
• If you have queries using Zoom then u3a which took place at the end of March.
please click the Zoom link at the side Take the challenge mentioned in the article
of the page. and see how long a computer would take to
work out your password!
• For hints and tips on beacon use then
again hit the Beacon link at the side of
the page . 42
• For Hints and Tips for staying Safe on Minutes!
Line then visit the Safe on Line link at
the side of the screen
Page 8 Odiham District News
Light Relief
BREAKING NEWS: Yorkshire holds its breath as
main shipping route of pork pies is blocked!
Fred Slathwaite, Captain of the vessel, said,
“One minute we were fine, then a gust of wind
caught us!”
“Yorkshire is expected to loose as much as
£3.45 a day until the carnage can be cleared,
which could potentially take weeks to clear” a
spokesman said.
Page 9 Odiham District News
Light Relief (continues) I got over my addiction to chocolate,
marshmallows, and nuts. I won’t lie, it was a
PUN-ISHMENT rocky road.
Dad, are we pyromaniacs? Yes, we arson. What do you say to comfort a friend who’s
What do you call a pig with laryngitis? struggling with grammar? There, their,
Disgruntled. they’re.
Why do bees stay in their hives during I went to the toy store and asked the
winter? Swarm. assistant where the Schwarzenegger dolls
are. He replied, “Aisle B, back.”
If you’re bad at haggling, you’ll end up paying
the price. What did the surgeon say to the patient who
insisted on closing up their own incision?
Just so everyone’s clear, I’m going to put my
Suture self.
glasses on.
I’ve started telling everyone about the
A commander walks into a bar and orders
benefits of eating dried grapes. It’s all about
everyone around.
raisin awareness.
I lost my job as a stage designer. I left
Scientists got together to study the effects
without making a scene.
of alcohol on a person’s walk, and the result
Never buy flowers from a monk. Only you was staggering.
can prevent florist friars.
The Vegetable Garden This is how your
How much did the pirate pay to get his ears
vegetables get stolen!
pierced? A buccaneer.
I once worked at a cheap pizza shop to get Wild Hamster Has A Graveyard Feast |
by. I kneaded the dough. Seven Worlds, One Planet | BBC Earth
My friends and I have named our band
‘Duvet’. It’s a cover band.
I lost my girlfriend’s audiobook and now I’ll Coffee Time
never hear the end of it.
Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a k and not c? Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful
Because you can’t see in the dark. World
Why is it unwise to share your secrets with a
clock? Well, time will tell. Norah Jones - Everybody Needs A Best
Friend
Bono and The Edge walk into a Dublin bar
and the bartender says, “Oh no, not U2 Quizzes:
again.
‘Prison’ is just one word to you, but for some Guess 25 Movies By Famous MUSIC
people, it’s a whole sentence. Themes
I’m trying to organize a hide and seek
Cryptic Football Clubs Answers
tournament, but good players are really hard
Dingbats Catchphrases Answers
to find.
Page 10 Odiham District NewsStory Time
Dancing
Slender, reaching up and out, I stand at the edge
Of the path through the wood, revelling in the dance;
I shiver with delight at
The lifting of my skirts in the breeze.
My skirts of fresh bright green will mellow and
Turn to darker shades as the sun
spends its days climbing through the sky,
but still my gown flutters in the wind.
The wind is cooler now and sometimes rough,
Tossing my young limbs to and fro.
The sun grows lower in the sky, losing its heat,
Making my gown change its colour.
Oh how I dance in my new glowing robe
Shades of yellow, orange, ochre, red.
I sing each morning with the birds
And long to move my feet.
The wind plays with my multi-hued gown
Ripping pieces off and tossing them
High into the air, only to let them fall
Discarded, unwanted, on the ground.
Naked I stand, stripped of my skirts.
But along my limbs the nascent furled leaf buds
Are waiting for Spring and
The new season’s dancing gown
By Pam Howard
Creative Writing Group 2
Page 11 Odiham District NewsThe Host
J imfiftieth
had left the Army soon after his
birthday, his knee never having
They headed south: M6, M5 and into the
West Country. Jim explained to his
properly recovered from an awkward bemused daughter that they were heading
landing on what was to be his last to Cornwall, to “help out an old Army friend
parachute jump, and soon afterwards his for a bit”. Jim explained, quickly so she
wife left him. She took the cat, the couldn’t interrupt, that they were going to
stroppier one of the two daughters, enough run his mate’s pub for the summer while he
money to buy a plain pebble-dashed went off to Australia, and he knew she’d
house three roads back from the sea in worked in a bar, and done a cookery course,
Blackpool and round the corner from her been a waitress and was a dab hand at
ageing parents who had never liked Jim. changing a duvet cover, so OK? There was
The feeling was always mutual. After the silence in the car until there was an
initial shock, he surprised himself by feeling explosion of noise from the passenger seat.
nothing but relief, and when Jessica, the “Fantastic, Dad! It’ll be amazing and we’ll
easy one, had finished at University and work our socks off, have fun, and we’ll show
came home for a breather, he was Mum, my boring sister and that swine of a
brimming over with plans for the future. boyfriend, that there’s more to life than
She was needing some light relief as her putting up with them!”
boyfriend of three years had
unceremoniously dumped her the day after
graduation. It was, of course, very hard work. The other
staff were young seasonal workers who
needed considerable training, but the chef
“Right, my girl, we’re off on adventure, you, at least was experienced and innovative,
me and Hector”, Jim smiled as Jessica and best of all, Jim took to being the host
yawned over her yoghurt the next morning, with good humour and a bonhomie that he
indicating the Labrador asleep in the sun in never thought he had. Hector learnt to
the open doorway. Hearing his name, he relinquish his place in front of the fire or in a
thumped his tail twice, cautiously opening patch of sun to visiting dogs, and one night,
one eye to see if either of them had when they were closing up, Jim brought his
noticed he’d pinched the piece of toast glass of whisky to sit beside his dog, ruffling
lying on the table. They hadn’t. “Dad, I’ve his ears. Suddenly he burst out laughing.
only just got home, and I’ve got things to “You, old boy, have become a host too: you
do.” She paused. “Actually, I don’t think I are giving refuge to a whole army of fleas!
have got anything,” Jessica grinned at her We welcome everyone here, with possibly
dad. one or two exceptions …”
“Pack a bag, we’re off in half an hour, and all
will be revealed.”
By Caroline Mitchell ,
Creative Writing Group 1.
Page 12 Odiham District NewsMembers’ Corner The link should take you to our
news page where you can read
Members’ news and information taking place outside of about the walk, look at the
the U3A. ‘thermometer’ and trace our
route around Britain on the
Derek Spruce • A volunteer at the Citizens map. There are also
Advice Bureau and Relate photographs of the many
Derek has been nominated by • a long serving trustee of places where walking took
members of the community for Odiham Consolidated place.
a Parish Council Community Charities and is President Basingstoke Ladies' Choir
Award. This is a précis of the of the Odiham Society and News
nomination that was read out at continues to serve in that
the APA. role.
Derek and his Wife Wendy Can you help members Peter
Derek Spruce has served the always walk if they can and set & Moira Kelsey?
community in numerous ways an example to all, uplifting the We are sorting through our
for many decades and spirits of all they meet. many cine film reels which we
continues to do so. He is used to watch on our Eumig P8
modest and never seeks A huge swathe of the parish Imperial projector.
recognition, which makes him population would be delighted
all the more deserving. to see Derek honoured in this
way and could think of no one
Derek is the foremost more deserving.
historian and author and has
also written many articles for Margaret French says;
local newsletters and journals.
He leads numerous walks and I am delighted to be able to tell
you that the choir members, We cannot remember how to
gives many talks each year to get the drive belts to work.
inspire others and pass on his their families and friends,
together with other volunteer Is there a U3A member with
love and knowledge of our local some knowledge of this
heritage and walkers unconnected to the
choir, really embraced this particular projector who could
countryside. Additionally, he is help us?
also a great supporter of local initiative and did indeed walk
heritage and history societies throughout March for the Trust.
We live in central Odiham, and
and a well-known and can be contacted through the
respected researcher at Around sixty participants
walked a total of 4125 miles and, Odiham U3A .
Hampshire Records Office. As a
former Open University as of yesterday evening, had
raised £2 181 with more to come. Thank you
lecturer, he is a great supporter Peter and Moira Kelsey
and advocate of Odiham U3A, 01256 703616
leading varied and energetic I would like to thank everyone
interest groups over several who supported Basingstoke
decades. Ladies’ Choir. We have more
than doubled our original target
Derek's span of past activity of £1000.00 and we are all
and service is exceptionally thrilled that we have been able
broad. He has been; to raise so much for our chosen
• Chair of both Odiham charity.
Parish Council and Robert
May’s School Governing
body
Page 13 Odiham District NewsYou can also read
