saltburn district...tree shadows taken by hugh melvin letter from the chair – march 2019 despite...

Registered Charity Number 1109691 Certificate of Membership U3A Trust 607/586/05 http://u3asites.org.uk/saltburn

Saltburn District Saltburn District Saltburn District March 2019 Issue 32 Website: http://u3asites.org.uk/saltburn

Website address: u3asites.org.uk/saltburn

Tree shadows taken by Hugh Melvin

Letter from the Chair – March 2019

Despite having seen and spoken to many of you at the January Update meeting, we are

aware that not everyone can get there so, if this applies to you, Happy New Year to you and

your families! (if a little belated). This year has flown past!

Christmas and New Year in our house was quiet, but family and friends centred time.

However, over the festive season I was continually reminded through press and TV reports

of the vast numbers of people across the UK who live in isolation and experience chronic

loneliness. Through attendance at U3A groups and meetings we hope to alleviate the

isolation that some members may otherwise experience, but I would like to ask that starting

this new year we are all more vigilant about members of our communities who may be

suffering from loneliness. Look out for them, try and speak with them and invite them along

to one of our sessions, so that they can see for themselves how learning (and laughing)

alongside others can improve quality of life generally.

Our vast range of groups continue to meet as usual and we have much to look forward to at

our regular Update meetings (held on the first Friday of each month) over the next few

months. The list appears on Page 2.

We are also finalising plans for the Group Leaders and Key Workers event on Thursday 14th

March – further details about this will be available soon.

Wishing you all the very best for 2019 and hoping that the spring flowers will be raising their

heads very soon.

Louise Moore - Chair


“MONTHLY UPDATE ”

APRIL UPDATE WILL BE ON APRIL 5TH

&

MAY UPDATE WILL BE ON MAY 3RD

The order of the morning will be:

9.45am – doors open

Coffee/tea to be served until approx 10.30am

10.30am - Business, updates and notices

After the notices there will still be the opportunity to speak to committee

members, sign up for groups, continue conversations etc, so don’t feel you

have to rush away

THEATRE COFFEE MORNINGS EVERY 2ND SAT. 10 AM - ECHO CENTRE

UPDATE MEETING UPDATES

We have much to look forward to in the coming months.

Update Meetings (held on the first Friday of each month) over the next few months include:

The launch of our members ‘Not-Quite-Swop-Shop’ March 1st – see inside for more details),

Début performance of our newly formed Band group (date TBC).

The next new member’s meeting will be held after the April Update.

Our AGM will be held on May 3rd.

Last year has flown past! Our range of groups continue to meet as usual.

Article deadline for next newsletter is Friday May 11th

By email

Or

By hand to any of the newsletter team.

Northumbria Messenger is available on the Newsletter web site page.


Editorial

While politicians of all persuasions demonstrate the meaning of ‘intransigent’ and the national

mood gets more uncertain, it is even more important to hang on to good things that are

happening and the good people who make it happen. Standing in for Howard as editor I have

been made even more aware of the many aspects of the U3A ‘orbit’ than usual.

In this issue we have not only the reports of existing groups, but new groups forming. Outside our

U3A we have the Singing for Pleasure Christmas event and the ‘Men’s Shed’ talk at the February

Update which shone a light on the ‘Footpath’ project in Redcar. So many people trying to make

everyday life better.

The cost for indoor U3A sessions is to rise from £1.00 to £1.50 – less than a cup of coffee.

Hugh Melvin

REMINDER * Fee increase for indoor groups

Due to rising venue costs and other general expenses, we will be increasing our group atten-

dance fee for the first time in SDU3A history from 1st April 2019. The new session fee will be

£1.50 for all groups that use bookable venues.

For groups who do not require rooms e.g.walking, cycling, theatre group outings etc, the session

fee will remain at £1.00 as previously.

We thank our members for their support in this matter.

SDU3A committee


Renewal of Membership

31st March 2019 is the end of our current membership year and your RED card is only valid until

then. Members will need to renew for 2019-2020 and get a YELLOW membership card. It will

be valid until 31st March 2020. Group leaders will ask to see a valid card when you attend

group sessions and trips

MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT AS WITHOUT IT YOU ARE NOT COVERED UNDER OUR

PUBLIC LIABILITIES INSURANCE.

At the time of writing this we have 871 paid up members

Renewals can be made at the usual monthly Update Meetings and at Milo’s Café (previously

Destinations) during April – see below for dates and times. The subscription is £10.00 per

annum. Please note: Milo’s staff are not collecting renewal forms.

Forms will be available at Update Meetings and Milo’s on the dates below.

We will process individual applications while you wait, but there may be a queue at busy times.

To avoid long delays for individual members, groups of three or more and batch applications

by group leaders will be treated separately. It may not be possible to process these

applications during the session and for this reason, we must insist that batch applications

are paid for with cheques and not cash.

Thank you in advance to all of our volunteers who give their time so generously helping with this

mammoth task. Without their goodwill there would not be a Saltburn U3A and I’m sure we are

all very grateful to them.

Liz Read & Val Moore

Membership Team

Milo’s Dates and Times

Monday 11.30 – 2.30 1st April 8th April 15

rd April

Tuesday 11.30 – 2.30 2nd April 9th April 16

th April

Wednesday 11.30 – 2.30 3rd

April 10th April 17

th April

* NEW MEMBERS * NEW MEMBERS * NEW MEMBERS *

Have you joined Saltburn District U3A since October? Or did you miss the New

Members' Meeting in December?

If yes, then this message is for you. A New Members' Information Meeting has been arranged

immediately following the 5th April 2019 Monthly Update Meeting.

You will have the opportunity to speak to the committee, resolve any queries you may, learn a

little about U3A, find out how to access our website and how the groups operate.

No need to book – just stay behind and join us for about 15 minutes from around 10.50am.

Coffee and tea will be available.

It is very informal and we will just be a small group, which makes it easier to ask questions. We

look forward to meeting you then.



Men’s Shed

At February’s Update Meeting John Lambert from the Footprints Organisation in Redcar outlined

the concept of Men’s Shed and how it works. In essence the Men’s Shed is a place where men

can meet, chat, have access to the equipment and technical advice (if needed) to carry out Do-It-

Yourself activities.

John explained that the shock of SSI closing left many adrift, not only from actual work (bad

enough), but also socially isolated. The Shed (originated in Australia) gives everyone an

opportunity to meet others and generally ‘chill out’ with no pressure to do anything other than

learn skills or rediscover old ones. As well as workshop facilities (donations of tools also

welcome), there are areas where tea or coffee can be had, a TV watched or card games played.

The Footprints Project is an overarching charity which provides a network of support to local

people and organisations.

Contact John on 07526 994468, or look up [email protected]

Before you ask .. there is a Women’s Shed as well!!

Novel Writing group

What a Good Read!

Saltburn District’s Novel Writing group got 2019 off to a flying start at the first Update Meeting of

the year with a presentation of their work.

The audience were treated to excerpts from four prospective

novels, all offering very different genres and styles. These

included John Fellows’ ongoing adventures of Hector the

Pillock, Sybil Waite’s mirthful memoires, Roger Elgood’s eerily

unnerving tale and Ann Gillatt’s raw and gritty crime thriller.

The silence throughout the readings, appreciative applause

from those attending and encouraging comments offered

afterwards, attested both to the writing skills and the

presentational abilities that these wordsmiths shared.

It is quite a daunting task, sharing one’s work with a wider audience at this early stage in the

publishing process. The Novel Writers would like to thank those SDU3A members in attendance

for their consideration and positive feedback received on the day.

Watch this space for the next novelist to publish from our SDU3A ranks. Whoever is first past

the post, you can bet it will be a good read.

Deb Barwick

Christmas workshops

This is what some of our talented members created for Christmas. Well done!

Diamond painting Wreath

Felt


Singing for Pleasure

An Afternoon of Song

Our Singing for Pleasure group were invited to participate in this festive event at Saltburn

Methodist Church in early December.

Alongside two internationally renowned opera singers: Sarah Sweeting and Eddie

Muliaumasealii they performed a variety of songs and 'wowed' the audience all afternoon with

the entertaining programme. Eddie was an excellent raconteur; providing interesting background

information to some of the song selections in addition to his awesome deep, baritone voice

which seemed to rumble through the wooden pews! Our member, Vicki Taylor should be

applauded for her efforts in bringing the whole event together and for 'coaching' the group to

such a high level. Thank you, Vicki.

U3A Band

Here’s the new U3A band in practice mode! We meet every week on Tuesday afternoons at the

Methodist Church in Saltburn at 2.30 for 1 hour.

We are playing a variety of marches and well

known melodies from musicals. All are welcome

who play wind instruments brass or wood but we

do need flutes, clarinets, trumpets / cornets.

If you want to revive an old passion for making

music then please contact me.

Pat Ryan

British History

This new group meets on Wednesday afternoons, 2.30pm – 3.30pm, at Saltburn Methodist

Church. The group is now full, but there is a waiting list.

Sybil Waring


Rocks, Fossils and Scenery of Northern England

This new group has been looking at aspects of Northern England geology which has evolved

over the last 500 million years; how the Lake

District was once an area of deep seas,

followed by scenes of explosive volcanic

activity when two landmasses collided, forming

part of a long mountain chain. After a long

period (about 46 million years) of erosion, our

area, then situated on the equator, underwent

varying changes in sea level resulting in

alternating tropical seas and rain forests, the

former giving us the beautiful fossiliferous

limestone terrain of the Yorkshire Dales, the

latter, the Coal Measures so vital to our former

industries. The famous limestone, so called

Frosterley Marble, can be admired in Durham Cathedral, as well as in Helmsley Parish Church.

Future meetings will consist of a look at Permian and Triassic sediments deposited over a period

of 25 million years, beginning with the Lower Permian Yellow Sands Formation when Durham

“enjoyed” an environment similar to the present day Sahara Desert, and the Marl Slate, the latter

famous for its fossil fish, followed by the encroaching “Zechstein Sea” resulting in the deposition

of various salts, now commercially exploited at Boulby Mine and by Sirius Minerals.

Subsequent meetings will look at Northern England as it was in Jurassic times, followed by the

Cretaceous (the Chalk) and finally, the last Ice Age.

John Waring. Group Leader

ATS Belly Dancing

Love To Dance?

If the answer’s YES then come along in January 2019 and learn some basic steps of American

Tribal Style Bellydance. This glamorous modern style is a fabulous mix of Egyptian, Middle

Eastern and Flamenco dance with a variety of musical origins.

You’ll learn to use zills (finger cymbals), put together a costume

and dance with our tribe. Our dancing is low impact, but

exercises the torso, arms and legs, helps coordination, is great

fun and gets you out and about. We perform locally and hope

you’ll perform with us when you are ready. The photo you see

shows us in our Christmas costume at a December event.

Beginners' classes started again on 6 January 2019 and are

held every Sunday morning between 10.00 – 11.00am at the

Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn. There’s nothing to lose, as the first

3 lessons are free in January and February. Or come along on Mondays at 2.30pm to join an

experienced U3A group.

Do come and try it – we are a friendly and supportive group who welcome new members. Feel

empowered and have fun with something new.

Val Grainger.


Group News

Laughter Yoga

Laughter Wellness (Yoga) is a fantastic way of keeping fit and healthy, which is used all over the

world with clubs in 100 different countries.

Laughter Yoga is based on the principal that your body doesn’t recognise the difference between

simulated and genuine laughter. The chemicals that are produced assist both physical and

emotional wellbeing. Participants in Jan’s groups have reported improvement in many worrying

conditions, such as depression and asthma and has improved confidence and resilience.

Laughter sessions start with gentle warm-up techniques, which help break down inhibitions and

develop feelings of 'childlike playfulness'. These exercises lead to prolonged and hearty genuine

laughter. Laughter exercises are interspersed with yoga style breathing exercises.

No yoga mats or Lycra are required, just an open mind! Saltburn group meet Monday between

11.45-12.45 in the Yoga Space, Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn.

Contact Jan for any further information.

Sew and So

I hope to form a new group to make anything you need a needle and yarn for, including all types

of embroidery, soft furnishings, toys, gifts and dressmaking. There will be no formal tuition, so it

will be an informal sharing of skills group. Bring along your own sewing projects and share your

expertise. Beginners are welcome for those wanting to try something new. I hope to introduce

small projects for those who wish to make them.

The group will take place either on Wednesdays (pm) or Thursdays (am/pm). An interest sheet is

open, so please contact Daphne Wood, the groups' co-ordinator.

Ena Philips

The ‘Not-Quite-Swop-Shop’ .…

An explanation from Jack Wood

I’ve got 58 empty jam jars in my cupboard, all clean and shiny, just waiting for some ardent jam

or marmalade maker to come and take them off my hands. If there’s anyone out there who

wants some, please ring me and we’ll arrange a hand-over. And that’s it, as simple as that. If

you have something you want to get rid of (we’ll call it THING) and it’s still in reasonable condition

and working properly (if applicable), and you don’t want to lug it down to a charity shop, or just

put it in a bin, then ring me and I will put the item and your name and phone number on my ‘Not-

Quite-Swop-Shop’ List. Later, someone rings me and asks if I’ve got a THING on the ‘Not-Quite-

Swop-Shop’ List. I look at the list, say “Yes” take their name and phone number and pass them

on to you. And the rest is up to you.

It works the other way, too. If you want something, can’t find what you want, or don’t want to pay

‘new’ prices, you can ring me and ask if I’ve got one on the List. If I have, I give you the name

and number and off you go. And that’s it. Good hunting! (And if you happen to want some jam-

jars….)

Jack Wood


SALTBURN AND DISTRICT U3A PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

FRIDAY, 3rd MAY 2019

According to our constitution, the election of officers shall take place at the AGM.

Nominations for the committee should be received by the Secretary, Deb Barwick, by Friday,

5th April 2019, or given to any member of the committee by that date. Nomination forms will

be available for download from the SDU3A website and at our monthly meetings in March

and April. They require a proposer and seconder. Current committee members who have

served two years may apply for re-election. Notice of any motions for the AGM, which must

be seconded, must be received by the Secretary, or handed to a committee member, by

Friday 5th April 2019. There is no entry fee for this meeting.

Deb Barwick Secretary Saltburn District U3A

Pastoral Care Coordinator

Hello I am Sally Melvin. If you know of a fellow member who is ill, or has suffered an accident, is

caring for someone who is ill, has been bereaved, or is just having a difficult time and would

appreciate a card, please contact me.

Or you can let me know via your group leader.

The lovely cards are hand made by Judith Brun and her card craft group.

Thank you.

Saltburn District U3A Timetable Summary

Morning Afternoon

Bird Watching, Novel Writing, Papercraft,

Poetry Reading 1, Poetry Reading 2,

Scrabble, Spanish

ATS Dancing, Bead Weaving, Italian

(Beginners), Italian (Real Beginners), Laughter

Yoga, Mah Jong 1, Play Reading 2,

Singing for Pleasure, Tai Chi 1,

Recorder Group

Backgammon, Bridge 3, Parchment Craft,

Walking 1, Circle Dance, Gardening,

IT for the Bewildered

Card Craft, Digital Photography 1, Digital

Photography 2, Knitting/Crochet 2, Play

Reading 1, The Band (woodwind & brass)

Art Group, French Conversation, German,

Tai Chi 2, Local History Lectures, Ukulele

Bridge 1, Canasta, Creative Writing 2, British

History, Play Acting for Fun and Laughter,

Quiz (evening)

Beading and Crafts, Bridge 2, Mah Jong 2,

Natural History

A Life Remembered, Cookery, Country

Dancing, Creative Writing 1, Family History,

French (Beginners), Reading Group 1,

Reading Group 2

Latin, Mah Jong 4, Music Appreciation,

Rocks, Fossils and Scenery of NE England

Senior Cycling, Walking 2, Walking 3

Knitting/Crochet 1, Mah Jong 3, Russian,

Tap Dancing

Theatre Group Games Afternoon

saltburn district...tree shadows taken by hugh melvin letter from the chair – march 2019 despite...

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