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Newsletter December 2019
Learn, laugh and live. Meet people, learn new skills and have
fun.
Registered Charity No: 515733
Tynedale
https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
Monthly Meeting: December 3rd 2019
Fiona Forsythe and Phillip Clark: Tyne Valley Community Rail
Partnership
F ounded in 2004, the core aim is to promote, strengthen and
protect the role of the Tyne Valley railway line for residents,
tourists, employees and service providers. It works closely with
partners and stakeholders including Northern, CrossCountry, the
Railway Heritage Trust, rail users, Cumbria and Northumberland
County Councils to raise funds and implement outcomes to improve
rail travel between Newcastle and Carlisle.
In June 2019, it was the first community rail partnership in the
North of England (and Northern franchise area) to be awarded
accreditation by the Department for Transport.
We meet at 2.00pm in the Great Hall for registration and
tea/coffee, followed by announcements at 2.15pm and the talk at
2.30pm.
Beginners Italian
Beginners Italian started about 18 months ago, during which time
we have slowly worked our way through the BBC Talk Italian 1 course
and have started Talk Italian 2. As a result we are not total
beginners anymore, nor are we anything like fluent Italian
speakers. We meet for an hour every Wednesday in a private room in
a Hexham café. We are looking to boost our numbers, so if you have
some basic Italian and are interested in joining the group, please
contact me at: [email protected].
Alastair (Group convenor)
Festive Fun Photo Competition
As the festive season rapidly approaches, many groups decide to
have a Christmas get together. The committee would like to offer a
prize for a photo of Tynedale U3A members being Festive in a Fun
way!
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a group-related photo, just a
photo of Tynedale U3A members having festive fun. The committee
will judge the best/most amusing picture, a prize will be awarded
and the winning photo will be printed in a future Newsletter.
http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedalemailto:[email protected]
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https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
Events
Events - 2019
Our first Theatre trip to see Alan Ayckbourn’s play in November
went well and we are encouraged to consider further trips in the
future.
Would you like to learn more about the Attendance Allowance?
It is said that the take up of this non-means tested benefit is
far lower than would be expected in the west of Northumberland and
it may be that we do not know enough about it. Wendy Dale is
willing to organise a coffee morning or afternoon tea for a small
group and invite someone from Northumberland County Council to come
along and explain the benefit and help with the filling in of
forms. An announcement was made at the November meeting and a few
members showed an interest. If you would be interested please let
Wendy know by December 9th.
Events - 2020
Trinity House
There are 30 members who have expressed an interest in a tour of
Trinity House, Newcastle and we are now in the process of
identifying potential dates. There could be 2 dates to maximise the
opportunities for everyone. Wendy will be in touch, in the middle
of December, with those who have expressed an interest. If you have
not registered your interest but would like to join the group,
please let Wendy know by December 10th. The tour will cost £6 per
person and last between 1½ and 2 hours. It does include steps which
may present some difficulties to our less mobile members.
Scottish Ballet’s The Snow Queen - Wednesday 12th February
7.30pm
There are 18 members booked on the trip to see the ballet. Wendy
Dale would now like the payment of £48.50 by January 13th. Please
make cheques payable to Tynedale U3A. The coach will pick up at
Hexham and Corbridge.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap - Thursday 11th June 7.30pm
Running time 2hr 30 minutes. There are currently 12 people booked
on this trip and it may be possible to acquire more seats if there
are more members interested. The cost is £42.50 which includes a
seat in the stalls and coach picking up at Haydon Bridge, Hexham
and Corbridge.
Garden Party - 4th August at Corbridge Cricket Ground More
details to follow next year. Other events for 2020 will be
announced soon and will include a trip to Ushaw College, a city
guide walk, and a tour around Bywell Hall.
For any information about the above events or ideas for future
events please contact Wendy Dale, Events Secretary 01434 606215 or
email
[email protected]
http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedalemailto:[email protected]
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https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
Group News Thank you to Carole and Rosalind from Book Group 2.
Carole had been convenor of the group for some time but has now
handed over to Rosalind. Their contribution to the success of the
group is greatly appreciated. Our thanks also to Janet who has led
our Research Group and many research projects. Janet is soon to
relocate to Wales and so it has been decided that the Group will
now be closed. Any future research projects will be dealt with
individually on an ad hoc basis. We say thank you, and bon voyage,
to Janet and wish her well in her new home.
New Groups I am delighted to tell you that we have another two
new groups:
Environment Group This group will be wide ranging in its
consideration, and action, on environmental issues. They plan to
meet monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Their first meeting
will be on Tuesday 17th December at 10.00am in the Newcastle
Building Society community room, Beaumont Street. You will be made
very welcome if you would like to join them. The group convenor,
Sean, will be very happy to tell you more: email:
[email protected] or tel 01434 609320
Singing For Fun You don’t have to have the finest singing voice
to join this group whose members just want to sing. It will be fun
and you are guaranteed to feel so good afterwards. The group will
meet on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at 10.00am in Core
Music, Market Street, Hexham. The sessions will last about one and
a half hours with a refreshment break. For more information contact
convenors Vera, 01434 609697 or Muriel
([email protected])
Still Waiting - We have members who are waiting for others to
join them to make groups for: Fluent German Conversation Wine
Appreciation (Hexham) Mahjong (for beginners) Military History
Cinema Play Reading
New Ideas Up-cycling / Recycling. Wouldn’t it be so
environmentally friendly and economic, not to mention the
satisfaction we would get, if we fixed rather than replaced our
domestic and personal possessions. I have in mind a group that
would repair, or renovate, broken down or outdated “stuff”, with
some expertise at hand to show us how.
Just Cycling Anyone interested in joining a cycling group? Great
exercise in the fresh air with good company. A fine way to keep
fit.
Walking with a Twist If cycling is not your thing how about
walking netball or walking football?
I’d like to hear from anyone who would like to join a group
either currently active or just a seed of an idea. There are bound
to be other like-minded members to join you in our ever expanding
U3A. For more information about any of the above group activities,
please get in touch with Margaret Earl, Group Liaison Secretary,
[email protected] tel 01434 689123
http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedalemailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
What a treat! How often do you hear sparkling live jazz in your
living room on a Tuesday afternoon? This month, the Jazz
Appreciation group were delighted by a live session led by one of
their own members, Bridget, on saxophone, supported by guest double
bass and electric guitar players. There was also an explanation of
the differences between soprano, alto and tenor saxophones and
Bridget’s personal approach to jazz improvisation. During 2019, the
group has listened to a wide range of Jazz topics including Bossa
Nova worldwide, the anatomy of a melody, Women in Jazz, Orchestra v
Jazz, plus artistes from Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth to Chris
Barber, and instruments from Trombone to Clarinet. If you enjoy
listening to, playing or just widening your experience of jazz, do
come along to our monthly meetings – you would be most welcome. Our
convenor is Geoff tel: 604130
Regional Events Working Group
Festive lecture (circulated from Voice)
Thursday 12th December 2019 17:30 - 19.00 Location: The Catalyst
3 Science Square,Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TG
Join us for our annual Festive Lecture, an evening of talks
celebrating Newcastle's national and international activity in
ageing and data. Hosted by Angela Rippon CBE. Thursday 12th
December, 17:30 - 19:00, followed by drinks reception in The Helen
McArdle Atrium. Registration from 17:00. Speakers include:
Nic Palmarini, Director of the National Innovation Centre for
Ageing
Steve Caughey, Director of the National Innovation Centre for
Data
Mike Trenell, Director of the NIHR Innovation Observatory
This is a FREE event but spaces are limited so booking is
essential. To register your place at this event, please click the
following link: Register
http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedalehttps://www.voice-global.org/opportunities/mcardle-festive-lectures/
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https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
Committee Positions
At the AGM on March 3rd, two members of your committee will be
finishing their three year term of
office so we are looking for new members to fill these
vacancies. Might you be interested? If you would
like any further information you can contact current post
holders (contact details on page 6) or have a
chat at one of the monthly meetings.
Serving on your committee gives you a valuable insight into the
workings of the U3A and having “new
blood” prevents the committee from becoming stale and
complacent. Give it a go!
Tynedale U3A Business Secretary
The role, in brief, involves dealing with correspondence - both
postal
mail and emails, preparing the agenda for the monthly
committee
meeting, taking minutes at the committee meeting and then typing
up
and circulating the minutes by email. All you need to qualify
for the
position is a knowledge of Word processing, the Internet and
good
organisational skills.
Tynedale U3A Newsletter Editor
The role isn’t overly taxing as long as you are fairly
organised. Items for
inclusion are usually emailed to the editor, so confidence
using
Information Technology would be useful. The current newsletter
is
produced using Microsoft Publisher, but any desktop
publication
programme could be used. As well as the digital version on our
web
site, we also produce some printed copies for those members who
are
unable to access the Internet.
http://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
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2019/20 Programme at a Glance
Monday Note Change of Day Jan 6th Rt. Hon. Baroness Joyce Quin:
Angels of the North
Feb 4th Great North Air Ambulance (speaker tbc)
March 3rd AGM
April 7th Prof Michael Bentley (Durham Uni): Climate Change
See the Events section of the web site for full details of all
meetings, speakers, outings and much more.
We meet at 2.00pm in the Great Hall at Hexham Abbey for
registration and tea/coffee, followed by
announcements at 2.15pm and the talk at 2.30pm.
Your Committee Chairman Alistair Sinclair - 394158
[email protected]
Business Secretary Sally Pearson - 674896
[email protected]
Treasurer David Pattinson - 01661842903
[email protected]
Membership Secretary Barbara Herring - 07851085476
[email protected]
Events Secretary and Vice Chair Wendy Dale - 606215
[email protected]
Programme Secretary Barrie Mellars - 07831255520
[email protected]
Group Liaison Secretary Margaret Earl - 689123
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor Sue Charlton - 684475
[email protected]
Joint Website Manager and Publicity Officer Kevin Stephens -
01661 843347 [email protected]
Beacon Administrator John Sandiford - 602262
[email protected]
NEXT MEETING: Monday 6th January 2020
Please send contributions for the January Newsletter to the
editor at:
[email protected] by Thursday, 19th December.
https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
Membership News
We have several new members to welcome this month. They are: Max
Cairns, Ian Diggory, John Dark, Joan Robson, Peter Carter, Linda
Rowell, Elizabeth Lonsdale, Jackie Davison, Josef Weber, Valerie
Weber and Jane Young.
Our current Membership stands at 464 (including 9 associate
members)
A Merry ChristmasA Merry ChristmasA Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Yearand a Happy New Yearand a Happy New Year
to All Our Membersto All Our Membersto All Our Members
https://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale/eventsmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://u3asites.org.uk/tynedale
