Weston-super-Mare U3A

2008-08-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

Doreen Wickham

It is with great regret that we learn of the death of Doreen Wickham, who has died of a heart attack while in hospital. Doreen was for many years the leader of the Craft Group, and both she and her husband Alan have been involved with Weston U3A from its very beginning. We send our condolences to Alan and his family, and also to Doreen's many friends.

2008-07-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

This picture of the disastrous fire at Weston-super-Mare pier was taken by Peter Watson, our newsletter editor, at 10.00 am on Monday, 28th July, only three hours after the fire started. It is remarkable that this much-loved feature of our town was destroyed in such a short space of time. We all hope that it will not be too long before it is rebuilt and that we who live in Weston and all our visitors will once again be able to enjoy all that it has offered us in the past.

2008-07-07T02:56:00.000-07:00

Shirley James has provided us with the following report on Keith Anderson's "Word & Wit event that was obviously much appreciated by all those who took part in it.

WORD AND WIT

On 16th May we were treated to another Word and Wit Speaking Contest held in the lovely old Mayor's Parlour in Weston Town Hall and a most enjoyable time it was.

We listened to amusing poems and limericks from Stan Radcliffe - delivered in his usual witty manner - followed by a personal assessment of the Art Appreciation Group by Bernard Openshaw which gave a real insight into the subject.

Eight Speakers told us who their heroes were and the judges chose five to talk further about their ideal holiday. All the subjects were fascinating and the three worthy winners were then presented with quite impessive awards.

Three members of the book club read extracts from three different books ( spanning 100 years in time ) on a theme of ' the visit '. These certainly illustrated changing times!

Keith Anderson gave a great rendering of ' Brahn Boots ' and William Paton delighted us with his harmonica playing throughout the afternoon.

Looking forward to next year's Word and Wit a limerick came to mind -

One fine spring day
In the month of May
Was Word and Wit
Oh what a hit !
Long may it stay

2008-06-09T03:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more reminders for you. The following trips have still a few vacancies

West Somerset Railway & Dunster on Monday June 16th

Dartmouth and the Naval College on Wednesday July 23rd

Blaise Castle & the SS Great Britain on September 1st

Northern Spain for 6 days, from September 24th

2008-06-07T02:51:00.000-07:00

A few reminders for you all

The Group Leaders' Meeting will be on Friday July 4th at 2 pm at St Paul's Church Hall.

The Information afternoon will be on September 4th between 2 anbd 4 pm at St Paul's Church Hall.

The "Singing for Pleasure" Summer Concert will be held on June 24th (pm) at St John's Parish Church.

The July lecture will be on the 25th instead of the second Friday of the month. It will be about local village architecture and anyone interested in taking part in an Architecture Group is invited to stay behind afterwards to discuss setting one up.

2008-05-12T03:32:00.000-07:00

A coach trip to Weymouth

Betty Bussell, who is a member of our Weston U3A, has asked us to let everyone know that she still has some seats available for the coach trip she has arranged for the St John's Women's Fellowship and she would be happy for any U3A members to join them.

The coach will leave Weston-super-Mare at 9.15 am on Tuesday, 3rd June and it will stop at Hornsbury Mill for coffee. It will return 6.30 to 7.00 pm.

The cost of the trip will be £15. Ring Betty on 632898 for more information and joining instructions.

We must point out that the trip has nothing to do with Weston U3A and anyone who does decide to participate will not be covered by any of our insurance arrangements.

2008-05-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

Tony Layland has just sent us these pictures taken during the recent expedition undertaken by the walking group. The stocks were found in the churchyard at Stoke St. Gregory.

2008-05-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

Slough Manor, near Stoke St Gregory

2008-05-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

The River Tone, near Athelney

2008-05-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

These three villianous looking characters were apprehended during a recent expedition of the U3A Walking Group. We are pleased to see that the punishment they so richly deserved was meted out to them.

2008-04-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Cothay Manor

We are informed that it is necessary for a few more tickets to be sold for the trip to Cothay Manor on Sunday May 11th for it to be viable.

(£17.50, including cream tea, leaving Locking Road car park at 1.30 pm)

Anyone interested should contact Martha Perriam without delay

2008-04-02T01:51:00.000-07:00

A challenge!

Make sure you can get back, though!

From the 1st April pensioners are able to travel on buses free to any destination in the country after the rush hour. Already there are those jumping on the band wagon to take advantage of this.

We have just been told of a web site that is challenging pensioners to compete to find who can make the longest journey. We doubt if the busy members of our U3A will have the time to enter into this competition, but any who would like to do so should log on to this web site to find out the details:

www.buspasschallenge.co.uk

2008-03-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Course on World Religions

The editor of this blog has to offer his apologies to Ken Marsh, who provided him with information on his new course on World Religions that commenced on 6 February at 2.30 pm at Locking Castle Church. Unfortunately, due to an error for which Ken was entirely blameless the message was sent to a wrong address,

The course is designed to explore the beliefs and practices of the most wide-spread religions across the world and which we experience most frequently in Britain today. The course began with Christianity and will also include Judaism. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and New Age Spirituality.

Remaining sessions will be held on 5th and 26th March and 2nd and 16th April.

2008-03-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

David Hunt

We would like to let members know that David Hunt's funeral will take place on Monday March 10th at 2.30 pm at the Crematorium and afterwards at the Conservative Club, Alexandra Parade.

2008-02-25T02:06:00.000-08:00

Your help is wanted.

Weston U3A relies entirely upon the voluntary services of a host of individuals. We are exceedingly grateful to all group leaders and to those who work in the background providing the essential services needed to keep us going. We appreciate that many of our members are unable to help, sometimes due to their age or health, and sometimes because their other commitments prevent them from doing so.

However, we appeal to anyone who could spare a little time to consider coming forward. There are two areas where help is urgently need.

Firstly, we need volunteers to help at our weekly coffee mornings held at the Friends' Meeting House in the High Street. Reg Whittaker and Noel Feltwell have been setting out and clearing the tables, etc. for many years, and they have recently been joined once a month by Jack Luxon. They could do with more help for the other Tuesdays and for holiday relief.

Secondly, due to the sad demise of Dave Hunt we need to find another cashier. He took in the monies collected at the coffee mornings and banked them every week.

If you can help, send an e-mail to webmaster@u3aweston.org.uk giving your name and contact details, together with the job you could do and you will be contacted as soon as possible. We are asking you to do this, as we try as far as possible not to disclose telephone numbers online. as doing so can attract unwanted spam.

2008-02-24T01:51:00.000-08:00

David Hunt

We very much regret having to inform our members that David Hunt, who was Weston U3A's cashier and as such will have been well known to those of you who are regular attenders at our weekly coffee mornings, died suddenly at home this week. He was also for many years the leader of our Table Tennis Group. He will be greatly missed.

We send our condolences to his family and friends.

2007-12-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

A very Happy Christmas to all the members of Weston-super-Mare U3A

2007-11-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Walking Group in October 2007. Although they did not find a hippopotamus they too said there
was nothing quite like it for cooling the blood.

2007-11-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

On their way back from this expedition the Walking Group bought a couple of fish and a few loaves.
They will be putting on a lunch for the members of U3A Weston next week.

2007-10-31T03:08:00.000-07:00

Mr John Wilcocks

We regret to inform members that John Wilcocks, who was the leader of the Psychology Group for some years, died on the 28th October.

We send our condolences to his wife and family and friends.

The funeral will take place at the crematorium on Monday 5th November at 3.30 pm and afterwards at the Friends Meeting House. His wife would appreciate it if anyone who knew him woluld jolin her then.

Annual Carol Concert

This concert, given by the Singing for Pleasure group, will be held at St John's Church at 12.15 on Tuesday December 11th.

All members are welcome. There will be mince pies after the concert.

Coffee Mornings

Because of the above concert there will be no coffee morning on December 11th. There will be one on December 1th, which will be the last one before Christmas.
Normal service will be resumed in the New Year on January 8th.

2007-09-26T03:40:00.000-07:00

Brian Pike, Martha Perriam, and Jill Heal at the U3A 2007 Summer School in Cirencester

2007-08-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Chamber Music

As well as Hazel Uren trying to set up a madrigal group, we also have Sylvia Allen trying to start a group to play light classical pieces. See her article in the summer newsletter

2007-08-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

Yet another new group.

New horizons are opening up for those who up to now have only expressed their musical talents by singing in the bath. Hazel Uren is trying to start another group devoted to the singing of madrigals, part-songs, rounds, and catches.

She has given details of this in an article she has written for our summer newsletter, where it can be found on page 26, amongst Group Reports. You can also see it by logging on to our web site http://www.u3aweston.org.uk/ and opening up the most recent newsletter page, Scroll down the newsletter until you find it.

Note. It has become necessary to remove our newsletters from our web site for the time being. They will be restored as soon as possible.

We wish Hazel success with her new group. You can telephone her on 01934 622982 for more information.

2007-08-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

A new Art Group

A new Art Group is being formed under the leadership of Elizabeth Ward. The first meeting is scheduled to take place at St Paul's Church Hall, Walliscote Road, from 2.00 to 4.00 pm on Tuesday 2nd October 2007.

Elizabeth invites you to join her on a journey discovering what you can do with watercolours, drawing with charcoal and chalk, together with mnany other mediums, or you can do your own inspirations and socialise with other people of like mind.

Contact her on 01934 820160. Do not delay as there is a limit to the number of members that can be accepted.

2007-08-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

U3A's National Office Publications.

The latest edition of Sources, U3A's educational journal, has just been published. If you are not already a subscriber this can be seen by going to our National Office's web site at www.u3a.org.uk and registering as a member. This is a simple procedure and only involves providing your e-mail address and a password. You will then be able to go to U3A publications in the members' area to see the current and back issues. These can be downloaded and printed out if required, If you wish you can become a subscriber.

U3A also have a Storytelling Network, whose co-ordinator is Stella Porter. If anyone in Weston U3A is interested in forming such a group she could probably be of help[.