bearsden and milngavie u3a newsletter 2 · 2016-12-02 · milngavie u3a newsletter issue 6,...

www.u3asites.org.uk/bam Bearsden and Milngavie U3A Newsle�er Issue 6, Dec 2016

BEARSDEN AND MILNGAVIE

Bearsden and

Milngavie U3A

Newsletter

Issue 6, December 2016

Report from the Chair One in a thousand

T hree years ago, in December 2013, Bearsden and Milngavie

U3A was the 940th U3A to start up in the UK. There are now

1000 U3As in the UK with almost 400,000 members. Scotland

has 47 U3As.

Here in BaM U3A we reflect the success of this movement. Our

numbers continue to grow steadily, and we are in many ways a typical

U3A, with monthly meetings and a wide range of interest groups.

Walking, art, music, reading, languages, history, science subjects,

games and cultural visits appear in the group lists of many U3As.

Edinburgh U3A has 175 groups, while Mull and Iona U3A has just

seven, but they are very new!

Why are U3As so successful? I believe that the reasons lie in U3A’s

flexibility and its basic principles; all U3As are entirely voluntary, self-

help, open to all and ‘bottom-up’ organisations. The members make it all happen, initiating many

different styles of learning from formal lectures to informal social gatherings through discussion

groups, research, outings, arts and crafts, and physical exercise. The principles acknowledge, and

make use of, the vast experience of the membership.

Our main challenges here in Bearsden and Milngavie are those of success. Our monthly meetings are

getting very crowded and demand outstrips supply in some groups. At the same time, more members

means greater scope for new activities. If you have an idea, our

experienced Committee members will do their best to support and help

you. Popular groups in other U3As, that we do not yet have in BaM U3A,

include philosophy, yoga, geology, bridge, creative writing, playing the

ukulele, and many more. Any volunteers?

Janet Holland

Wishing all members � BaM U3A a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

In this issue

Somme project ................ 2

News from the groups ..... 3

Contact details ............... 10

Local History Group – guided tour of Glasgow University

Bearsden and Milngavie U3A Newsle�er Issue 6, Dec 2016 www.u3asites.org.uk/bam

2

Gilbert Heron Currie

2nd Lieutenant 1896–1916

Killed in action 12 October 1916

aged 20.

Robert Robertson Reid


Wounded on 12 July 1916 and

died the following day aged 19.

James Arthur

McFarlane

Lieutenant 1896–1916

Killed in action 16 September

1916 aged 20.

I n the run-up to Armistice Day 2016, Genealogy Group 1 was involved in the Commonwealth War

Graves Commission (CWGG) Living Memory Project. The purpose of the project was to encourage

the British public to remember the forgotten front, the 300,000 war graves and memorials in Britain

from both World Wars, in time to mark the centenary of the 141-day Battle of the Somme. The Battle

of the Somme lasted from 1 July through to 18 November 1916.

With the help of the staff at Brookwood Library, the group members researched the names of some

men whose names appear on local war memorials. Most of the casualties are, however, buried in

cemeteries in France. We looked, in particular, at five young men, all of whom had connections with

Bearsden and died in the Somme. A poster was produced by the group giving detailed personal

information about these soldiers. Copies were displayed in Brookwood Library, in New Kilpatrick

Church and at the November U3A monthly meeting.

For further information you can search online at the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

www.cwgc.org for all 1.7 million deaths of Commonwealth

soldiers who died in the two World Wars and subsequent

conflicts.

‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.’ Laurence Binyon

Battle of the Somme Project

Anne Mar n

James Andrew

Ross


Died on 26 July 1916 from

gas poisoning aged 34.

Gordon Walker

Moir

Lance Corporal 1893–1916

Died of his wounds on 18

July 1916 aged 23.

Five Bearsden Boys

Members of the group at the Commonwealth War Graves, New

Kilpatrick Church

3


“...the encouragement of meeting like-minded people in a

convivial atmosphere”

News from the Interest Groups

Outings

T his group has now been running for over a year and continues to attract new members.

In early August we had a trip on the Waverley Paddle Steamer to Rothesay. It was typical

Scottish weather and rained all day. Even the hour we had ashore it continued. In spite of that it was

still enjoyable.

At the end of August we went to the Edinburgh Tattoo. The weather was perfect, good seats and an

excellent performance.

In October we visited Scotland’s Secret Bunker in St Andrews. This has now been turned into a

museum, and we had a very interesting talk about the history of it. We then headed to Anstruther for

fish and chips for those that were keen to try. The final outing for the year is in December to Glamis

Castle Christmas Market, followed by a tour of the castle. Jane Bex

Learning Italian

T he current Italian Group meet over coffee in the upstairs room of the Station Bar at Bearsden

Station on Tuesday mornings. Classes are very informal with a mixture of grammar and

conversation. As we have been meeting for some time, interested new members who wish to join this

group should have an understanding of the present, imperfect and past tenses in Italian.

For those members with no or just a little knowledge and who wish to learn Italian, our tutor would be

prepared to teach another group at beginner level, on the same basis as the current group, provided

that there are at least six people interested.

We use a professional tutor who is Italian and, at present, each pay him £10 a week on a pay as you go

basis. A commitment to attend, whenever possible, is expected in order to keep the group viable and

to maintain some continuity in our learning. Carolyn Flavelle

Mindfulness and Meditation

T he first meeting was held in February 2016. To date we have a core group of eight people who

attend regularly, another six people who come occasionally and several more who hope to

come at some point. We meet each Tuesday morning except for the third Tuesday of each month so

that people can attend the U3A monthly meetings. The meetings are held in Westerton Church Hall,

which we find to be a very welcoming and bright venue. For the first hour we do a three-part

meditation. The second hour gives an opportunity for sharing and discussion.

There is no doubt that meeting regularly is a great incentive to make Mindfulness and Meditation an

integral part of our lives. The benefits of this are very numerous – feeling less stressed, managing life

challenges more calmly, and improved sleep to name but a few. There is also the encouragement of

meeting like-minded people in a convivial atmosphere. Anna MacLeod


4

Photography

A s the original Photography Group we have a very settled membership that hasn't changed since

the founding year, which meant that potential new members had to be placed on a waiting list.

However, a new member of the waiting list, Steve Plastock, kindly volunteered to coordinate a new

group, which is now active with seven members.

We have had a busy six months since the last newsletter with many challenging projects, plus we have

produced a photographic calendar for 2017, with thanks to all members for their stunning entries

which made selection difficult. Thanks also to Richard, who has once again organised the formatting

and printing of the calendar.

Outdoor Painting and Sketching (OPS)

W hat nicer on a sunny day than sitting in front of a lovely view, peacefully imprinting the

magical moment in memory with a bit of sketching, with like-minded friends and a tearoom

chat afterwards. That’s us. Our first visit to Mugdock, Campsie Glen, and Schoenstatt achieved all this

and at Killearn, almost.

Oh, that it were always so perfect! Despite so many

locations locally, and we’ve been to some new ones this

year, the actual sketching and painting were often the least

of our challenges. Whether weather or wildlife though, we

still had fun. When raining, we went indoors to the Kibble

Palace, still with a few drips through the leaky roof though,

and to Dobbies ‘conservatory garden room’. When windy at

Bowling, we sheltered between boats, behind buildings and

bushes. Then, at another Mugdock visit the forecast was

completely wrong. The sunny intervals never materialised,

leaving only grey skies and no colour, and the wind rippled the loch causing all the castle reflections to

disappear, with dogs and ducks adding further swirls. Of course it’s no surprise really – we need to

share such favoured locations. At Campsie Glen, photographers at the waterfall provided a delightful

colourful focal point to our paintings, that is, until they finished and moved.

Our sketchbooks continue to fill with our attempts to capture such moments and challenges, be they

lingering, fleeting, or just something else for a smile.

Billy Mar n

Science

A lthough the Science Group was only launched in April 2016, its popularity has grown incredibly

rapidly, with membership now exceeding some 60 individuals. Our regular meetings consist of a

scientific presentation, either by a group member or an invited external speaker, followed by tea/

coffee and a general discussion, which is invariably very lively and enjoyable. Talks so far have covered

topics as diverse as: Medicines From Plants; Life in the Depths of the Oceans; The Immune System;

The Art and Science of Brewing; and The Sun – Our Local Star. The Group also enjoyed an excellent

guided tour of Hunterston Nuclear Power Station in August. Future events include a talk by Emeritus

Professor John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, and guided tours of the Titan Crane in

Clydebank, and the Hunterian Anatomy Museum at the University of Glasgow. Our full Programme of

Events for the coming year can be found at the Science Group page of the U3A website. In a recent

initiative, we opened up our talks to all BaM U3A members, but if you have a general interest in

science why not consider joining our vibrant group.

Frank Fisher

Ann Neve)

Heading off at Mugdock

5


Longer Walks

Michael Lane

Spanish Conversation

T he group has now been meeting for a year (since November 2015). Meetings are friendly and

informal. We have a topic to start the conversation but subjects can be quite wide-ranging. We

usually bring along articles from Spanish newspapers, magazines and the internet which are relevant

to the topic and/or of general interest.

The group includes several members who regularly visit family and

friends who live in Spain. Others have lived in Spain and Spanish-

speaking countries for several years. Some of the group have also

studied in Spain. We all enjoy the meetings as they allow us to maintain

and improve our fluency in a relaxed atmosphere over a cup of coffee. In

the coming year we plan to have outings to Spanish films. The range of

fluency within the group is from intermediate onwards.

Unfortunately the group is now full. However, if you are interested in

setting up another group you can contact me if you would like any

advice.

T he walks are on the first and third Monday of the month. We have had, once again, a successful season. The average attendance has been about eight to ten but occasionally it has been more.

We meet up in Milngavie, Mugdock Country Park or Bearsden. We also end the walk with lunch at a tearoom. The walks from Spring to Autumn 2016 have been:

March 21st – Walk along the canal from Speirs Wharf to Anniesland.

April 4th – Walk from Edenmill Farm along the John Muir Way (JMW), the new Burncrooks path and

back along the JMW.

April 18th – Circular along West Highland Way (WHW) to Craigallion Loch, woods, Mugdock, and

WHW.

May 2nd – Circular from Cobleland to Gartmore via cycle track, minor road to Gartmore and back down through woods.

May 16th – Callander circular. Forest track, road, track and old railway line.

June 6th – Circular walk around Drymen. Rob Roy Way (RRW), WHW, Buchanan Castle Estate.

June 20th – Circular from Braeval car park, forest track uphill, RRW and path to viewpoint, RRW and a path back.

July 4th – Walk along River Allander past Tesco across the A81 and out to Dobbies. Cross the road to Balmore and walk along the river Kelvin into Balmuildy Woods, past the Glasgow Golf Course, out into Acre Road and on to Maryhill Road. Bus back to Milngavie.

July 18th – Circular walk from Loch Katrine (pier) for 1 mile on road. Then track up and along hillsides then back to road and pier.

August 1st – Circular walk from Overtoun House to Doughnot Hill.

August 15th – Circular walk to Craigallion Loch, Carbeth via Mugdock Woods and WHW. Return by higher path.

September 5th – Loch Sloy Dam Walk from Inveruglas Visitor Centre past the Power Station to Hydro Board road to top and return.

September 19th – Walk at Loch Ard. Circular on forest tracks, minor inclines.

At the top of Doughnot Hill

Mary Wilson A recent meeting


6

Julia Karling

The Stitchers

T he Stitchers are still enjoying our monthly meetings where we swap news of creative

workshops, exhibitions and new places that we have discovered for wool or materials. While

having a tea or coffee we work away on our own projects but are always willing to show a new pattern

or skill. Lately we seem to have made a lot of baby blankets!

We have twelve names on our list with an average of eight attending each month, which we feel

works as no-one feels bad if they cannot make it. However, several people have expressed a wish to

join and I do feel there are enough people to start another group. It would be an opportunity to have

a group on another day as our Tuesday afternoon does clash with other interest groups. I would be

more than willing to help and support someone else start up – it really is not an arduous task being a

coordinator. You would have the opportunity to meet and make friends with others who share your

interest. If you think you can do it please contact Elaine or myself. Heather Newton

“...all the members are unfailingly friendly, helpful and cheerful”

Julia Douglas

Art

W e continue to meet fortnightly at Milngavie CEC. After a slow summer we

are currently enjoying good numbers and some welcome new faces. In

recent weeks we’ve been exploring soft pastels and oil pastels, working closely from

direct observation of rose hips and seed heads. We are making progress with some

pleasing results. We have just enjoyed the greater challenge of a large still life with

varying degrees of success but always with pleasure or shared frustration.

We all enjoy the break for tea and biscuits and socialising.

House and Garden Visits

T he group visits gardens and historic houses of interest between April and September, normally

on the third Friday of each month. For longer trips, coach travel is arranged, while shorter

outings are accommodated by a car sharing system. Our longer visits usually last from 10 am to

5–6 pm and include a tour of the house or garden and a soup-and-

sandwich lunch at the venue.

This year we have gone to several spectacular gardens, notably

Crarae, at Loch Fyne, Benmore, near Dunoon, and the Royal Botanic

Garden, Edinburgh. The flowering shrubs on display at Crarae in May

were particularly memorable. House visits have included Traquair in

the Borders, Newhailes near Musselburgh, and Dumfries House,

where we were treated to coffee and lunch in the library. Our last trip

to Newhailes, on a glorious day in September, was followed by a brief look at the lovely nearby garden

at Inveresk Lodge and rounded off by a stop in Musselburgh for ice cream.

Although our total enrolment is now over 60, the outings are usually attended by 20–25 members, all

of whom are unfailingly friendly, helpful and cheerful! We have recently formed a steering committee

who will contribute their ideas and organisational expertise to future visits, and we look forward to

another highly successful year in 2017.

Visit to Inveresk Lodge Garden

7


Margaret Stewart

Saturday Morning Coffee

W e were saddened by the sudden death of our founder Margot Pollock but have carried on and

appear to be doing well. Our group is very informal; you just come along about 10.30 and

chat with coffee or tea until about 12.00 on alternate Saturdays at the West Highland Gate next to the

Premier Inn. Some of us have started to stay on for lunch occasionally. We do not have speakers and

find we can cover a wide range of topics on our own. These can range from advice and suggestions to

putting the world to rights. Our numbers vary due to weather and holidays from eight to fourteen.

Opera Visits

O ver the past year the Opera Visits Group has increased in size to a current membership of just

under 50. To meet the taste and appetite of such a large enthusiastic group the performance

programme has not missed any local opera opportunities. Our programme this year has been diverse,

enjoyable and interesting in nature, ranging from:

♦ Scottish Opera productions – The Mikado to Rusalka

♦ Scottish Opera orchestral concerts to the Royal Conservatoire student opera productions

♦ Our own Glasgow Sloans Opera to international productions, eg Tosca

♦ Great Fun – Great Melody – Great Singing – Great Company

♦ Live relays from the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera NY.

We have had the privilege of attending some superb live

performances; hearing magnificent singers, powerful dramas and

emotional rollercoasters set to wonderful music. We are not in any

way elitist, we just enjoy opera; indeed, at only £6 a ticket for some

performances it is superb value! We also had an interesting Opera

Experience at Sloans Bar, midyear – the accompanying photograph

was taken on our visit.

By the way, how many sopranos does it take to change a light bulb? One – She just holds on and the

world revolves around her. Franco Zeffirelli summed up everything about our enjoyment of opera

when he said, ‘I have always believed that opera is a planet where the muses work together, join

hands and celebrate all the arts.’ I doubt if anyone in our group would disagree.

Our 2017 forward Opera Programme looks equally interesting: Comedy, Tragedy, Mishap, Love. Of

course we still have room for more members to join us – the Theatre Royal seats 1541, after all. Make

contact if you are interested. Lots to enjoy! Graham Forsyth

Opera Experience at Sloans Bar

Spanish for Beginners

T he class started in June with three or four members, all at varying degrees of Spanish, though all

claiming to be beginners. We had a change of teacher in September, which has worked out OK;

change is always difficult. The aim is to concentrate on practical, conversational Spanish. However,

inevitably declensions of verbs have to come in to it at some stage.

We meet in the Inn at Bearsden on a Tuesday at 11 am for an hour. Once a month we meet at 10 am

to allow class members to go to the U3A monthly meeting. We have capped the class at eight

members and due to two leaving we have two spaces. We pay the teacher £10 a session on

attendance. We plan to have a Christmas tapas lunch in December. Liz Ervine


8

Pamela Davidson

Theatregoers

T he Theatre Visits Group celebrates its third Christmas with a change of name and a visit to the

Theatre Royal to see The Commitments, which promises to be a funny fast-paced musical event

with a lot of sing-along potential. More seriously perhaps we have seen some great theatre and NT

Live performances this year, and early in the year, a ballet. This was Cinderella, which kept the

fabulous fairytale atmosphere but sneaked in some up-to-date touches including the ugly sisters as

Z-list celebs in break-your-ankle heels and a Prince Charming who

eschewed the glass slipper. Hansel and Gretel is next in January 2017.

Some notable highlights of the year – The Mousetrap had a great set, roles

perfectly played and a clever denouement. Also the sound quality was

crystal clear, as all the actors were miked. The first of the James plays,

James 1, showed us a lesser known Scottish king; The 39 Steps, which was

played at great speed and for laughs, was a very clever production of an old classic. Then there was

the Òran Mór summer panto. Soon we’re off to the Citizens for a touring production of The Rivals.

That’s just a few! We go to the theatre once a month at least and welcome new members.

Gaelic Conversation

O ur stalwart group continues to gather for tea/coffee – and sometimes croissants and pastries, if

we're fortunate – and enjoy each other's company. Previous knowledge of and contact with

Gaelic among the participants is very varied but we benefit from the different approaches and it is

somewhat amazing how many interesting (if not altogether related!) pieces of information come to

light. We even learn some Gaelic! I do occasionally wonder what my husband, David, would have

made of the group he started back in 2014. Jill Morley

Happy Snappers

W e are a small group of six members, enjoying set assignments which

prompt us to get out and take photographs. We have taken some

images to rival those of the U3A Photography Group and some where we just

have to laugh and enjoy the story. All the group are now more thoughtful and

creative and I have been dragged into the world of phone camera

photography. We also share ideas on photo organisation and storage and on

cleaning and protecting our equipment. When we’ve had a holiday we share the experience through a

few select images. We use point and shoot digital cameras and try to use the best setting for the task,

not just Automatic. We concentrate on composition and the visual elements and are a very happy,

creative and supportive group having fun and making progress. Julia Karling

Ann Brackenridge

Being a Third-Ager

D ue to such a high proporPon of those 12 or so interested people being busy with other

commitments, it has proved impossible to find a Pme when more than a few people could

a�end. Now, with Christmas approaching, and my absence from then unPl mid-February, it has been

decided that we will wait, and have another go in the Spring.

“We are a very happy, creative and supportive group having fun

and making progress”

9


Urban Explorers

T his group was formed in Spring 2016 with the aim of exploring Glasgow on foot, and discovering

some of the rich history of the city. Around 40 members have signed up for the group, with an

average of eight to twelve a�ending each walk.

Since our first ouPng to Glasgow Green in May we have enjoyed some

interesPng walks around different parts of the city. To date we have

explored the Necropolis, Hyndland, Maryhill and Woodside, mainly in

glorious sunshine. The one excepPon was the walk round Hyndland

when the guid Scots word ‘drookit’ springs to mind! Being a hardy bunch,

however, the constant downpour did not dampen our spirits or detract

from our enjoyment!

Each walk is led by a group member who has done a bit of ‘digging’ into

the local history of the locality. As a new group the walks have been

organised from month to month, depending upon willing volunteers. It is hoped that for next year it

may be possible to draw up a programme in advance.

In November we had our final meePng of the year, which was a walk round Kelvingrove Park followed

by coffee in the café, where we discussed our plans for next year. It is hoped that the walks will

recommence in March/April 2017.

Cycling

T he Cycling Group has had its third successful season. We have had our usual runs along old

railway tracks and canal banks, beside rivers, lochs and mountains, and added in some new

ones for variety.

These have included:

Bishopbriggs to Kirkintilloch

Strathblane to Kirkintilloch

Clydebank to Dumbarton

The Stables to Auchinstarry

Auchinstarry to Bonnybridge

Luss to Tarbet

Kilsyth circular

Some of the views have been breathtaking and we can always depend on seeing lovely reflections and

interesting wildlife along the canal banks. Because of rain we had to turn back from one of the runs

but otherwise the weather was dry and sometimes hot and sunny with good visibility. At Tarbet we

were plagued by midges and had to make a hasty retreat in the middle of our lunch! On the way to

Clydebank we got a surprise – as we passed Loch 27 – one of the group who couldn't come on the run

suddenly appeared and took photos as we approached! In September we had our now annual trip to

Cumbrae, where we cycled round the island and had a coffee stop as well as a lunch break!

The membership of the group has jumped from 12 last year to 19, and we now have five men in the

group. Luckily not everyone comes on every run. Everyone is very enthusiastic and many friendships

have been made. Cycling has now ceased for the season and we are all looking forward to our

Christmas lunch in December. Runs will resume in April 2017.

Dalreoch to Lomond Shores

Cadder to Auchinstarry

Callander to Strathyre

Anniesland circular

Callander to Brig O'Turk

Outing to Cumbrae

Round Loch Leven

Helen Lane

Doreen Edgar

Visit to Glasgow Necropolis

Cycling round Cumbrae


10

Bearsden and Milngavie U3A Contact Details

• Website: www.u3asites.org.uk/bam – send us an email via the Contact page or group pages.

• Telephone: 07592 501648 – leave a message and we will ring you back.

Janet Holland Chair

Sue Walker Secretary

Mar&n Blackwood Treasurer

Jane Mar&n Membership Secretary

Elaine Miller Groups’ Coordinator

Jane Bex Programme Coordinator

Val Perman Communica�ons Officer

Aileen McDonald Welfare Officer

Carol McKean Special Projects / Groups

Peter Davies Commi"ee Member

Billy Mar&n Commi"ee Member

Mary Kennedy Commi"ee Member

Julia Southco2 Commi"ee Member

Bearsden and Milngavie U3A Committee

Natty Knitters

We are the Natty Knitters

On Wednesdays we meet

We are based at Garvie’s

Come in and grab a seat

Not only do we talk and laugh

We really have some fun

And in between the coffee

We get some knitting done

Cynthia Grice

IT

T he IT Group continues to meet on the third Thursday

of the month in the Milngavie Waitrose Community

Room. All BaM U3A members are welcome to join the group,

regardless of ability. As well as getting to grips with their

devices, the friendly members learn about and discuss issues

and gain information and tips, and help one another. We

now have additional ‘helpers’ who may be able to assist with

problems outwith group meetings.

A plethora of topics has been covered, which can be viewed

on the group website that Richard McKean, our tutor, has

developed: itgroup.bamu3a.com. This really useful website

can be accessed by all U3A members.

Aileen McDonald

Art Appreciation

M embers of the newly formed Art Appreciation Group made a

very interesting visit to the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

recently. Well disguised as an anonymous warehouse on a trading

estate in Nitshill, the GMRC houses many treasures. Everything and

anything that you might find in the city's museums might be stored

here from vases to vehicles and paintings to pangolins.

We were taken to visit the Oil Painting section, a vast cavern of hanging frames, each frame bearing

paintings from the Renaissance to the modern day. Paintings might be in storage because they are

presently surplus to requirements or in the process of restoration. The Kelvingrove’s lovely Botticelli is

resting there temporarily, having just come back from loan to another museum. It was exciting to be

able to get really close to such special art works, and to see Rubens and El Greco hanging cheek by

jowl with work by some of the New Glasgow Boys. We were given a short tour by Jana, one of the

curators, who showed us a selection of her own favourite paintings and answered our questions.

I think most of us found it a fascinating experience, albeit one where we have hardly scratched the

surface. We shall certainly be making a return visit next year. Carol McKean

Admiring the El Greco painting

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