1

Established 2008

NEWS LETTER October 2015

WELCOME to our News Letter on the Web.

If you would like to join us at our next meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month at

Turner Hall, Mansfield Woodhouse, you will be most welcome.

e start at 9.45am PROMPT. Any members coming in after this time or who will be leaving before the end of the meeting are asked to take a seat at the rear of the hall and sign out when leaving. Please remember that the morning’s events may have already started

when you arrive and the Committee would request that you keep any conversation down to a minimum so as not to interrupt the speaker/s. Can you also ensure that you sign in and pick up your badge.

Remember to turn off your mobile phone.

Please Contact Margaret Taylor (see below) with any definite dates for an event or information for

the website. Members speak on Fund Raising Events, Interest Group Activities and Outings, etc. If

you wish to speak to the members you can book in a slot by contacting – The Chairman

Alternatively you can put an article into the News Letter by contacting

The Interest Groups’ Co-ordinator, Sue Robb, before the end of the

month.

New Members and Visitors Coffee Morning - You are invited to

have a coffee and a chat in the Stables Cafe on the third Thursday

of the month (the one after the meeting) at 10.30. You will meet

other new other new members and some of the Committee. Come along and

tell us how you are getting on.

Local U3A’s that are actively seeking members are:

NEW Rainworth and District U3A www.rainworth-u3a.org.uk Phoenix Centre (Village Hall), Kirklington Road, Rainworth, NG21 0JZ Contact: John Curtis 01623 475590

Sutton in Ashfield U3A www.sutton-in-ashfieldu3a.org.uk Mansfield Hosiery Mills Sports and Social Club, Off Huthwaite Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield Contact: Susan Harrison 01623 472493 Dukeries U3A www.dukeriesu3a.org.uk Jubilee Hall, Wellow Rd, New Ollerton. Contact: Marie Bartle 01623 82326

New Forest Town U3A, St Albans Church

COMMITTEE MATTERS

W

2

SHERWOOD U3A COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRPERSON Liz Wilson

VICE CHAIRPERSON/HEALTH & SAFETY Lynda Brotherhood

TREASURER Margaret Taylor

MINUTE SECRETARY

BUSINESS SECRETARY

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

NEW MEMBERS & VISITORS SECRETARY

Josie Earnshaw

Jane Lowe

Rita Foulkes

Terry Dillon

GROUP CO-ORDINATOR Sue Robb

EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Pat Collins

GREETER & REFRESHMENTS CO-ORDINATOR Wendy Sterland

SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIR

WELFARE OFFICER

Jeremy Lloyd

Margaret Minto-Smith

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN – Liz Wilson (640835)

Wow! What a tremendous Launch Meeting for Forest Town U3A with over 120 prospective members attending! 12 volunteered for the Steering Committee and lots of the audience left taking applications forms for friends who were on holiday. Thanks go to the many Sherwood members who were invaluable when they came to help in every way needed. 1st October was the Inaugural Meeting, when people signed up as members, so watch this space -- we may, by our Meeting, have a New U3A in the area! On the 7th September, having supported at the Forest Town Launch, I felt that I just had to support Sherwood Wine Appreciation Group on their five day stay in Somerset, organised by David Bradley! As you can see below – we toasted every thing --- the Queen, the vines in the vineyard, each other, the food, and lots to our HOST (in the Pink Pinny). On the 14th September, I joined the rest of the Social Committee to plan all next year’s Events and gather ideas for

2017 and 2018 (when Sherwood U3A will be 10 years old or young!) As well as doing two Rambles with my group, I also joined Jim and the Walkers on a beautiful walk through Dove Dale which finished in Miller’s Dale and then another saunter round Ashbourne where the

Mini Bus dropped us off for lunch. Again, as you can see below, it was a wonderful walk with Jim and I being sensible and crossing by the bridge and boys being boys, risking life and limb crossing by the very slippery stepping stones! For the rest of this month and continuing up to Christmas, I will be visiting some of our Groups to see and photograph what you all get up to – well perhaps not ALL you get up to!!!

3

GROUP DATES

LUNCH CLUB 1 28th October Larch Farm, Ravenshead. 12.30 for 1.00pm.start. LUNCH CLUB 2

21st October Greendale Oak, Cuckney. 12.30 for1pm. INTERNATIONAL DINING

3rd November Il Rosso, Mansfield (Italian) 6.30 for 7.00pm. £5 deposit. STROLLING 5th November Blidworth Bottoms. Meet 10.30am in car park.

RAMBLING (meet Morrisons car park 10am for car share)

Wed Oct 21st Skellingthorpe and Doddington (easy). Start at Skellingthorpe Heritage Centre LN6 5UT. 7.5 miles Thu Oct 29th Scopwick, Kirkby Green and Blankney (easy). Start at Stepping Out Car park Scopwick LN4 3NT. 7.5 miles WALKING 27th October Walesby. Meet at Carpenters Arms for 10.00am start.

GOLF 23rd October Oakmere Park Commanders Course 10.00 for 10.30am tee off. £7

Saturday 10th October, Nunnington Hall Near York £18: Pick up Iceland 8.45, Morrisons, Woodhouse 9.00am BIRD WATCHING 9th October Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham meeting at

10.30am in the car park. There are plenty of facilities including a good cafe. FISHING Tuesday 13th October Park Hall Lake, NG19 9EW 10.00am start.

Contact Jeremy Lloyd if interested.

CLASSICAL SPECTACULAR Please come and collect your Luggage labels, itineraries etc If you want the pre theatre meal pay £5 deposit and put your choice of menu on the list. If anyone knows Jenny Weaver or Joyce O'Neil please ask them to contact Sheila Whalley URGENTLY 01623 453908

4

DANCE CLUB 16th October Turner Hall, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Tea and coffee provided, bring own drink refreshments if you wish. Tickets on sale at

October meeting £3.50pp.

Mallorca 26th Sept - 3rdOct 2016

Please continue bringing in completed passport and

insurance forms. Some members have been away

and have not yet picked up these important forms,

please see me today.

8 day holiday in Paignton Devon 13th - 20th June 2016

Price now £549 including excursions and admissions. Possibility of choosing

excursions so making the holiday cheaper. Need £10 deposit today + £10

optional Company's insurance. Cheques payable to Mansfield & District U3A.

Details available of possible excursions. 7 double or twin rooms still available

which if taken will keep the price as stated.

Names on waiting list much appreciated for both holidays.

HERITAGE In November there will be a guided tour of Malt Cross in Nottingham, the old Music Hall in St James’s Street, which dates back to 1877. It has a fascinating history, uses over the last century include a gin palace, billiard hall and roller skating rink . £3. Date to be confirmed at October meeting.

Members Coffee Morning Thursday 15th October 10.00am-12noon

A chance for ALL members to have more time to chat with

friends, meet other members and hear about interest

groups.

Enjoy a free bacon or sausage cob and drink! (order at

meeting)

Please make time to come along for an relaxing and

enjoyable morning.

5

FAMILY HISTORY Still on the trail……

The family history group has continued its progress during the last year. Although, by now, lots of our ancestors have popped out of the pages of history, into our computers and paper records, we still persevere. Online records give us new leads and exciting discoveries. In group we give tips to each other and explore new topics. This year, our topics have included enclosures, Illegitimacy, divorce, the religions of our ancestors and Nottinghamshire records. Members work hard to research these topics before the meetings and share their knowledge. But we are not entirely self taught. Peter Birchinall came on several occasions to help us understand the role of genetics and how DNA can aid our ancestral knowledge. It seems to me that in years to come, we will be able to tell not only more clearly, by this method, who are our blood relations but also a great deal more about the transmission of health factors. Whether all this is a good thing is open to debate but Peter was so very interesting. Thanks to Bob Bradley for facilitating this. My next thanks go to Viv Brown, who arranged our visit to the Unitarian Chapel in Mansfield. I could not believe such an amazing place, complete with William Morris stained glass windows, was hiding in my own town and unknown to me. We were guided around, saw the records of blessings and deaths, and even had a cuppa to finish. Visitors are made so very welcome. Go on your own, admire and absorb the atmosphere. Our contribution to the anniversary of WW1 resulted in the production of a folder of memory, both in fact and story form. Our ancestors were playing their part and many perished in those efforts. If you have not had opportunity to read this folder, please ask me. I am proud of what we produced and of the efforts of members to write up these histories. From time to time, we pop up to Notts college restaurant for lunch and talk about other things than Family history. Our group is lively, but if you are new to the subject, see Josie Whitworth and make a start in the Ancestry group. I cannot finish without our personal highs and lows. Pam Jones got married. Congratulations to her. But we lost John Swanwick recently. This was sad news as John had been attending from the early days of the group and we have fond memories of him. His descendants will enjoy reading about his discoveries. Ann Cox

Christmas Dinner

Portland College,

Saturday 12th December

7.00 for 7.30pm.

All Welcome. £16.

(£5 deposit at October meeting)

6

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP VISITS WOLLATON HALL

Several members of the Photography Group set off on Wednesday 12th August

to capture scenes for our next photography session in September. The majority

of us hadn’t been for many years but our memories did include deer. Despite

seeing the “droppings” or an odd antler in the far distance the hot weather

was keeping them hidden in the trees and bushes. I wandered down to the

lake, again no deer in sight leaving the others to go into the Hall or to the

gardens.

After eating my sandwiches I met up with some of the Group to hear the deer

had been spotted by the car park end of the lake. Off we went and what a

sight, a group of deer enjoying a paddle, oblivious to all of the people who had

stopped to watch this fantastic sight. This was a photographer’s dream and all

shapes and sizes of cameras, phones etc. were there. The group of deer got

out of the lake and wandered to the trees to

join the rest of the herd who had started to

feed. My little camera was clicking over-time

with photographs and videos and I was

hopeful that I had the “winning” picture for

the September meeting!

The deer now fed and watered it was now

our turn for that longed for cuppa. Cheers.

Margaret Taylor

Any suggestions about your U3A?

What could we improve and how?

New Ideas?

What would you like to see in the newsletter?

At the meeting? In the Interest Groups?

Put your suggestions in the box by the door. Please include your name so we

can get back to you.

7

LONDON BREAK

Forty three members travelled to London for our short break organised by Sheila Whalley We arrived at our hotel in plenty of time to unpack and freshen up ready for our dinner and evening at the theatre. We had a couple of hours enjoying the entertainment at Covent Garden, firstly a five piece fiddle and flute band with Irish jigs thrown in for good measure, everyone joined in the singing of Danny Boy, it was quite moving. Later we heard and watched a comedic tenor performing for everyone's amusement, he was good. After a rummage around the markets and shops we made our way to Henry's Restaurant where Sheila had booked for our evening meal. Although the menu we had to choose from as a party was slightly limited, my food was very enjoyable. The majority of the group made their way to the theatre to see Miss Saigon, very good and, apparently, a little bit saucy in parts. Four or five went to see Beautiful the Carol King Story and myself and Christine went to see Memphis, both very good shows with lively music.

Tuesday found us on the London Eye with wonderful panoramic views of our fantastic capital city, followed by a 4D film, which was truly superb, those who stood at the front got sprinkled with water and others went to see it twice it was so good. After lunch the coach transported us to Buckingham Palace where we experienced the wonderful opulence of the home of our amazing Queen Elizabeth. The art, the decor, the flowers, the furniture, everything is so beautiful, especially the ceilings, everyone should see this once in their lifetime and realise just how lucky we are to have this heritage in our country, a majestically spectacular home for our Queen.

Our holiday all went according to plan. It was very well organised and the attention to detail was very much appreciated by everyone. Thank you Sheila. Sandra Evans

A Date for your Diary……..

Saturday 12th March, 2016 SINGALONGA MAMMA MIA with Pie and Peas

supper Sherwood Welfare 7.00-10.00pm £8

8

And now Forest Town U3A………

Over 130 people from Forest Town and nearby crowded into St Alban's Church, Forest Town, on 3rd September to ask for a local U3A to enhance their lives since completing full-time employment. They were helped by Mansfield and Sherwood U3As, which are both so popular that they haven't room for more members, and by the Nottinghamshire Network of U3As that already helps others in the county. "I was delighted to see the church crowded with people who wanted a U3A in our community," said steering committee chairman Mike King (centre below), a retired bank manager who lives in Forest Town, pictured with Karen Taylor, leader of the county U3A development team (left) and Mansfield resident

Denise Doud who will help members share interests. It will be named Forest Town and District U3A to emphasise that membership will also be open to people in Clipstone, Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse or nearby. Everyone who is retired or not in full-time employment was invited to an inaugural meeting at St Alban's on Clipstone Rd West on 1st

October. Mike is also a governor of Garibaldi School in Clipstone so he is well aware how learning throughout life can help boost confidence, maintain vitality and create opportunities to socialise but he knew nothing about the U3A movement until he was introduced to it by a friend in Sherwood U3A. "I hope to get to know local people who share my interest in improving skills at bridge, keeping fit on short walks and local history", he said. He also hopes learn how to research his family tree. Denise was a local authority administrator until her recent retirement. She hopes the new U3A will soon have interest groups where members can share knowledge and experience in crafts, sewing, gardening and aquarobics too. "Whatever members want", she said, "because every U3A is different and members have different interests." Karen welcomed the initiative in Forest Town saying that the Nottinghamshire Network of U3As was one of the most active in Britain. "We already have nearly 30 in the county, over 900 nationally and several more will launch next year to bring the benefits of continued learning and social opportunities to more people." Web site: sherwoodu3a-mansfieldwoodhouse.org.uk