The Clock isTicking!It is now only 2 months before our AGM. At thatmeeting both the Chairman and Vice Chairmanwill be standing down. We need volunteers totake on these roles. Neither post is difficult. If Ican do it, anyone can! Please come forward ifyou think you might be able to help. Please contact the Chairman, David Seward orSecretary, Jo Earl.

February 2017

Officer Contact NumbersChairman: David Seward t: 384631Vice Chair: Michael Farr t: 383482Secretary: Jo Earlt: 532024Treasurer: Ian MacDonald t: 351221Callingtonu3atreasurer@gmail.com

Editor: Colin Mills t: 208598Email: colin-mills@talktalk.netGroup Leaders and other contributors - Please Note: All Copy to the editor by 25th of the preceding month please.(N.B. I cannot guarantee inclusion of copy submitted after this date - but exceptions may be made wherever possible for groups meeting in the fourth week of the month)

The Newsletter is published at the start of eachmonth. Disabled members: Contact Peter Watson 384509

N.B. Phone numbers without dialling codes are for the 01579 area.

Callington Newsletter

n a dismal January day we were cheered by a very professional and entertaining talk by Janet Cowlard. Janet, who had an interest in theRoyal family, was delighted when her husband bought, at a stamp auction, 5 letters written from various royal residences. None of the

letters had envelopes or a clue who they were from. Some had dates but no year,and only through thorough research did Janet find out the years they were written.She was able to do this by the events mentioned in the letters. For instance oneblack edged letter, used aer a bereavement, brought her to conclude it was inmemory of Empress Eugenie, so she had a clue about what year it was written.Janet even wrote to our late Queen Mother for information as to who mighthave written them.e letters from a mother to her daughter were full of local gossip, news of weddings, and of shopping trips with Queen Mary.  Janet told us about the Queenbeing careless about acquiring items she coveted, sometimes even resorting to kleptomania! Our present Queen Elizabeth has in fact returned many of the treasures to their rightful owners. Much more careful research and backgroundchecks led to the conclusion that the letters were from Lady Elizabeth Dawson toher daughter Kaitilin. Lady Elizabeth was appointed as a Lady of the Royal Bedchamber in the early 1920's. In her position she was able to tell her daughter ofhappenings at court, and of visits to Sandringham and Balmoral .  We heard aboutthe clothes and jewellery of guests, family sickness, and their connections to European royalty.Lady Elizabeth died aged 55,  a short while aer she fell and broke her hip whileout walking at Balmoral . Her daughter Kaitilin went on to marry into the aristocracy and became the mother of an alleged notorious murderer. We wereasked not to reveal the end of Janet's story, so you will have to watch for one of hertalks, and be surprised at what a load of research and 5 hand written letters can reveal.Jane Black

Speakers at the next few Meetings:

� March 6thPeter Brinsdon ‘China past and present’

� April 3rdAGM

� May 8thMillie Lindfield on Hannah Lindfield

And coming up soon...

Walking Groups 1 & 2 at Seaton

Above &Main Photo: Pete Watson

U3A Workshop ‘Managing Your U3A’ On Wednesday 25th January, 5 members joined 45other U3A members from 17 different West CountryU3As in the Town Hall for a Nationally-run, Regionalworkshop on the theme of ‘Managing Your U3A’. Facilitated by a National Council member, Geoff Ren-shaw, the day covered topics of the Constitution, theU3A’s Objects and Principles, Committees and encouraging participation in managing your U3A.is was done by presentations, group discussions andcase studies. It was all very informal, interesting andin some cases illuminating, especially the opportunityto hear from, and discuss problems, with members ofother U3As. A delicious buffet lunch was arranged byAnne and Mary.

ThoseMysteryLettersOO

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Christine’s. If you are interested in joiningus Contact David Seward 384631

� Music AppreciationAt our monthly meeting we enjoyedElgar’s’ violin concerto played by eLondon Symphony Orchestra and con-ducted by the composer himself. e soloviolin was Yehudi Menuhin and althoughit as an elderly recording it is still one ofthe finest. It was followed by the Celloconcerto soloist Beatrice Harrison.    e Next Meeting is on Tuesday February14thContact: Pat Ferguson 384402

� NeedleworkNormally meet on the second ursday ofthe month. Details from Ann Martin

� OperaContinuing our Puccini season our Janu-ary opera was the less well known operaManon Lescuat. His first real success, ourproduction was from e Royal OperaHouse Covent Garden in 1983; the leadssung by two of the world’s leading stars,Placido Domingo and (perhaps a little tooold for this part) Kiri Te Kanawa. It is setin Paris and relates the tragic story of ayoung student’s love for the capriciousManon, who although she loves the pen-niless Des Grieux, cannot resist the lure ofwealth. Before long she becomes boredand when Des Grieux reappears her loveis reignited. When her elderly lovercatches them together she is arrested anddeported to Louisiana. A compassionateship’s captain allows her love to go withher. Once there they escape to the desertbut unable to find water she dies in hisarms.e next meeting is on February 21stwhen we will continue with the operas ofPucciniContact Carol Dowell 382158

� PhilosophyContact: DoreenJohnson 343152doreen.johnson@onetel.com

� Play Reading. Contact Jean Rose 350029

� PoetryAt our January session we concentrated onpoems about ‘e Sea’ both ‘Ancient andModern’ as well as a poem from our ownPoet. For our next meeting ‘Flowers’ willbe our topic.   e Next Meeting is on Friday February10th.Contact Pat Ferguson 384402

� Scrabblee group, led by Lesley Cheetham at herhome, meets once a month on a Wednes-day evening.  e actual  week of themonth will change in some months.Contact Lesley Cheetham383632

� ScribblersIt seemed a long time since we last met andso it was good to get together again in Jan-uary with our attempts at thriller writing.We had two murders - one a person andone a cockerel!  Both stories involved a lastminute twist in the tale and kept us guess-ing. Other stories were crime writingrather than thrillers, although one of ournumber was building up nicely to a mur-derous plot but had got stuck.  So we hadfun filling out the next stages for her!Next meeting is February 16th when weare trying our hand at Comedy writing.  Idon't feel particularly funny at the mo-ment - perhaps that will change with thedark mornings!Contact Penny Beech on 01822834756 or 07971 889572

� Singing for Pleasuree 'Singing for Pleasure' group will bemeeting on February 13th and 27that 3.30 at Callington Methodist Church.Contact: Rosalind Bunkum383171

� StrollersOnly one stroll to report on this monthbut I will do my best...We had arranged a coffee morning for ourfirst meeting.  Just as well as it happenedas  it poured with rain.  However the fol-lowing Monday was beautiful so we metat Calstock Quay for a stroll toDanescombe.  On the way back we calledin at e Boatyard where we made our-

selves at  home in the self help cafe.Everything was provided for us to maketea or coffee and there was home-madecake for those not on a diet aer Christ-mas.  We le money in the honesty boxbefore making our way back to the quay.A very enjoyable morning.Contact: Pauline Husband 350379

� Table TennisWe meet once every 4 weeks on a urs-day evening at the upper schoolroom ofCallington Methodist Church at 7 pm.Dates are on the U3A website. All are wel-come and we are all enthusiastic and playcovers all abilities from beginners up-wards. Why not come and give it a try. Allequipment is provided. A charge is madeto cover the cost of hiring the room.Contact Ray Geatches 350638

� Walking Group 1

A WALK AT SEATON IN JANUARY WITH

WALKERS' TWO GROUP

Waves gently caressing the blue grey sandTurnstones flying in unison

ey seek another rocky pool to landHeads turn to watch their swi ballet

before, as one, they dive and blendinto the seaweed, covered rocks.

e air was damp and the sky greyDid this disturb the seventeen, who,

trod beside the crumbling cliffs.No moans, no groans, only delight, and,

memories of other days, when, spiritslied,

butterflies danced the wild flowers

Lucy omas

Contact: Dorreen Johnson 343152doreen.johnson@onetel.com

� Walking Group 2Contact: Lucy Thomas 350018

See over for photo...

� AllotmentsWe currently have two 8'x10' plots vacantat Haye Road.  Anyone interested pleasecontact Ann Martin for information anda site visit.Contact Ann Martin

� ArtMeetings booked so far are as follows:-ursday 9th and 23rd Februaryursday 9th & 23rd MarchAll at the Old School, Stoke Climslandfrom 10am - 1pm.New members [no skill needed] are wel-come to just turn up on any of these dates,or until further notice please

Contact Jane Black 382187

� Bakingere were biscuits galore at our last meet-ing. Coffee time stretched till nearly lunchtime so all could be tasted ! Many thanksto Marian for hosting this meeting and toall our members for such delicious fare.

Next meeting is at Ellen and David's onFebruary 8th. is is a lunchtime meetingand we shall be baking pies - open to mem-ber's interpretation.

e following meeting is at 10.30 onMarch 8th for Brunch bakes, venue tba.

is group is now full but if you would liketo be put on the waiting list please contactmeContact Jenny Wheeley 351662

� Barn DancingContact Wendy Fader on 01822 835985or email wendykfuk@yahoo.co.uk

� BookwormsContact Hilary Howarth 382172hilary.howarth@btinternet.co.uk

� Bridgee Bridge Club continues to meet regu-

larly each Tuesday evening at theMethodist Church in Callington at7.30pm. We are a very friendly group who play forfun while trying to improve our game.  Wecan always accommodate members whoturn up on their own, so you do not needto have a partner.  We oen discuss diffi-cult hands and generally play Chicagobridge, swapping partners during theevening.  We should be delighted to welcome U3Amembers who have a little knowledge ofthe game, and would like some mentalstimulus to pass the time on these winterevenings.Contact Hilary Davis 350360chebsey@aol.com

� Crime Fiction Appreciation8 members met at Lucy’s in January. Booksborrowed and returned included those by,Elly Griffiths, Louise Penny, DavidMitchell, Ian Rankin, John Grisham andClare Mackintosh. Other authors dis-cussed and recommended were Peter May,Andrea Camilleri, Mick Herron and JoNesbo. Several new authors were consid-ered ; Christopher Fowler, Alan Bradleyand Ian Pears. We all enjoyed David’s chocchip banana loaf with tea. e next meet-ing will be on ursday 23rd February. Ifyou are interested in joining us to discussor learn more about crime fiction, pleasecontact David Seward 384631

� ComputersCurrently this group is resting howeverseveral members have enquired aboutmeeting again. If you would like to cometo a meeting in February please:Contact Peter Watsonor email pwatson177@gmail.com

� Family HistoryContact Eileen Sturt 350639

� Flower ArrangingContact Eileen Sturt 350639

� Food & WineContact Maire Warwick 350711(maire.warwick@btinternet.com)

� Game OnOur next meetings are on February 12th,26th February and March 12thContact Jenny Wheeley 351662

� HandbellsContact Maire Warwick 350711

� HistoryContact Josephine King 350890

� HumourFor this meeting we were just one membershort of a full house. ere were 11 of us.Helen focused on Joyce Grenfell who washeard on radio and seen on TV. AerHelen had given us some insight to her lifeand career  Christine produced a tape ofone of Grenfell’s performances. Aer thebreak we threw jokes around.e next meeting will be on Monday 20thof February 2017 at Christine’s starting at10am.

JOKE OF THE DAYThe plumber asked the woman “Whereis the drip?”She said: “In the bathroom trying to fixit”

Contact: Keith Lane 370713or by email kandslane@hotmail.com.

� ItalianContact: Sally Thomas 01822832017

� Jazz Appreciation9 members met at Christine’s for our firstmeeting of 2017. In a varied and enjoyablesession, we heard piano jazz from DaveBrubeck, Ramsey Lewis. Ellis Marsalis andOscar Petersen, the saxes of Gerry Mulli-gan, Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster andCharlie Parker and vocals from LouisArmstrong, Nat King Cole and DianaKrall. e next meeting will be a members’choice session on Wed 8th February at

G r o u p R e p o r t s

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