March 2020 March 2020 March 2020 Spring Newsletter Spring Newsletter Spring Newsletter No. 43No. 43No. 43

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP There was interest in a Photography Group from the early days of the Lancing and Sompting U3A, but it was not until December 2010 that a member came forward and offered to run the group. By the time she stood down in 2011, the membership had grown significantly and it was now too big a job for one person. A team of three ladies offered to run the group, which they did with enthusiasm. The membership continues to grow and now stands at 33. We have seen two new leaders since 2011, but the group has always been managed as a team. It is in some ways a challenging group because of the technical input. Members are obviously keen to view photographs, as well as watch expert DVDs. Manipulation of the photographs requires technical software. It has therefore worked well to share the work

between one Group Leader to manage the monthly meetings and organise the agenda for the meetings, plus one technical expert, who manages the computer, display equipment, internet connection and technical software plus one administrator who deals with collecting subscriptions each month, paying bills, controlling the membership database and e-mailing members. The group usually has two field trips every year and we have travelled to local venues such as Lancing College, Chichester Cathedral and Littlehampton Harbour. Following a meeting where we learned how to take panoramic

shots, We visited Brighton Pavilion to practise this. We even had a pop-up field trip one year when Worthing Theatres arranged a free Trapeze display on Lancing Beach Green. We had just learned how to take action shots and the group managed some stunning photos.

At the monthly meetings members share their expertise in taking photographs and using software to improve their pictures. We may watch a DVD by an expert advising on enhancing their skills. We have had external speakers sharing their knowledge and one member brought in his collection of old cameras to share with the group. A friendly competition is held once a year, with an external judge, who gives valuable feedback to every entrant. There is a small prize and Certificate for winners. We usually

round off the year with a Christmas meal at a local restaurant. YVONNE WINDSOR

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ALL THAT JAZZ (and other music too)

To our usual end-of-year meeting we brought a CD of our choice, from which we had pre-selected a track to be played. The meeting was full of familiar artistes, but sometimes really "out-of-the-box" choices. I am always amazed how diverse that particular meeting can be. Our 2020 programme started with Margaret Clayton's "Classic Jazz Big Bands". Her presentation included such tracks as "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" (Tommy Dorsey Orchestra); Moonglow" (Billy May Orchestra); "Harlem Nocturne" (Ted Heath and his Music); "One O'Clock Jump (Count Basie); "Love For Sale" (Don "Big Band" Lusher). We also heard tracks from Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, and many others. The second part of the meeting was John Anthony's "Illinois Jacquet"". There was an initial light-hearted discussion on the pronunciation of "Jacquet", very reminiscent of Hyacinth Bouquet/Bucket!! We listened to such great tracks as "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Cottontail", "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "She's Funny That Way", and many more. A great start to 2020.

TRISHA BRISTOW

RAG RUG GROUP

The newly formed Rag Rug Group has enjoyed three meetings since it started in October 2019. Group members are learning some of the history of the craft, the techniques of rug making and design and the use of different textiles. This craft is continuing a very old tradition and adapting it for the 21st century. Modern rugs are more colourful and of greater variety than those of 100 or more years ago but the principles of economy, minimising waste, and recycling still hold true. We hope to have some finished pieces on display at the Exhibition of Work in October.

JENNY BARNES

THE BELL MEMORIAL (a Community Heritage project)

Back in December 2017 Guild Care secured a Heritage lottery funding to run a community heritage project in Lancing, namely The Bell Memorial Home in South Street. The project has been running for the past two years and is finally coming to its conclusion. Chris Hare, the local Historian, has been in charge of the project. A number of meetings were scheduled every 3- 4 months which were attended by a Steering Committee group and sub-divided into another two groups all volunteers, who were responsible for the research of minutes, reports, newspaper history articles from1885, plus notes from photo albums, and articles from 1950, as well as oral histories for the forthcom-ing book. It has been particularly interesting for me being part of this project, as The Bell played a very large part of my life as Nurse Manager for almost 20 years. The minute books were quite detailed although difficult to read, but gave a good historical flavour of the time. These books survived from the first World War until the 2000's. The research included Benefactors such as William Chorley the founder of the home. Much of the history of the Bell was remembered by Eliza Bell, who was a benefactor, leaving a legacy of £400,000 in her Will in 1914. That is close to £400 million in today's money. That is how the Bell got its name. The research includes a timeline 1914 – 1939, the second World War and Post war reconstruction. Oral histories; approximately 16 oral history interviews were recorded and came through me, knowing the people who worked at the Bell for a number of years. Research update so far; the book is now complete and will be launched possibly in April, and published in July 2020. At present there is discussion on the title of the book, but a title hasn't been decided upon yet. The Bell project can be found on Guild Care website. There are many photos as well as anecdotes which form the history of the Bell, which I am sure will be en-joyed by many in the years to come. MAUREEN CONDICK

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Across Down

1 Sailor back near infant (4) 1 Donkey's load and queen support spine for

3 Gang about we french, putrefied (10) traveller (10)

9 About face for the teashop (4) 2 Purchase includes F & F, plus headless crooner

10 Ned's removed from messy unbiased clowning about (10)

squat, a number follows, under water (10) 4 Dutch Island massage in motoring organisation (5)

11 Growers support range by hills (11) 5 Thousand in our goals scrambled is good looking (9)

15 Singer opposing troubled biblical husband (9) 6 Emu's fir lies about mixers (11)

17 Fall about to find Spanish composer (5) 7 Coats have no head for cereal (4)

18 Lake hides unknown, nest (5) 8 Dismiss plunder (4)

19 A piscator is not all Wifi and a tank (9) 12 Awful mater in rail departure building (3.8)

20 Girl is almost sipping river (11) 13 Fire retardent canopy follows me in flap (10)

24 Flue, man in bed with northeast yellow pages (10) 14 Unwell queen holds up dad and writing fluid for

25 Hip company, mostly old (4) analgesic (4.6)

26 Sue held rod sadly taken on (10) 16 A way to live - take a hundred out of feisty cell

27 Forces club retreats in the distance (4) maybe (9)

21 Golf score - me, none (2.3)

22 Experts good hand (4)

23 Pool, endless fibs do! (4)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Solution on Page 8

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JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME Nothing prepares you for the smell of a large penguin colony. Penguins eat krill, nature takes it course and then they walk and slide about in it. And krill is bright pink, by the way. On the ship, the scientists told us many things about penguins, but not this. Not that it would have made any difference, I couldn’t wait to get ashore and I am thrilled beyond imagining to be here. It is 3.30am on a bright December day in South Georgia. We have just landed and are standing on the wide sweeping sands of Gold Harbour, surrounded by a quarter of a million King Penguins. The smell is sensational, a fellow traveller announces that her sinuses are no longer blocked! And the noise is staggering. Pretty much all the penguins have something to say and are yelling at each other non-stop. Presumably they are passing on information about fish stocks or discussing snow levels. Penguin business. Certainly they are completely uninterested in us. We were told that on no account were we to go closer than fifteen feet to any wildlife but clearly nobody has had that conversation with the residents. The adult penguins simply ignore us, and when they have finished screaming at their neighbours they trudge in a straight line down to the sea and plunge into the surf. If you are close to them they just walk straight past, expecting you to get out of the way, not even looking at you. We do as expected, it is only right. They are stunning birds, so beautiful with shining white fronts and gleaming black backs, spotlessly clean until you get to the legs and feet which are krill-pink, for reasons mentioned above. The chicks, on the other hand, are very pleased to see us and keen to socialise. They are nearly full grown but still in juvenile plumage, thick fluffy dark brown downy feathers, and are dubbed the ‘oakum boys’. As far as they are concerned we have just emerged from the sea, ergo we have brought fish, and we are large and therefore will have much fish, so where is it? They follow us, as we wander up and down the beach, making plaintive appeals for us to regurgitate the payload. Their cries are heartrending and I would almost consider obliging, except that all I have eaten this morning is a small Danish pastry. I apologise to my personal shadow and move along. Before we landed, expedition leaders went on shore and marked off a no-go area of beach with flags. Fifteen feet away is insufficient here, this is where the bull elephant seals are hanging out, including the alpha male they call the Beachmaster. They are enormous, the Beachmaster weighs several tons, is longer than a medium sized car and, we are told, has better acceleration. This is proved when one male decides it is time to increase the elephant seal population and sets off to mate with a female a quarter his size that has inadvisedly ventured too far along the beach. He moves like greased lightning - I couldn’t have outrun him even in my youth. It’s fast and it’s spectacular and she disappears underneath him, protesting loudly. At least, I assume she is protesting, maybe not. One woman in our group says ‘oh, he’s hurting her, can’t we stop him?’ I remind her we shouldn’t get within fifteen feet. There are other seals on the beach, fur seals with young pups, along the water’s edge. Best to stay well away from these too, they are incredibly fierce in protecting their young and enforce double the fifteen-feet rule with vigour. It’s not just we tourists they are keeping at bay - other seals, penguins and other bird life are all unwanted anywhere near. We have reached here after five days of sailing from Ushuaia, in Argentina, via the Falklands. We are reeling and bedazzled from all the wonders we have seen. All sorts of birds follow the ship even when we are out at sea, in their hundreds. We have spent hours on the reclining chairs on deck, watching albatrosses glide overhead and smaller birds wheel and turn in the air currents around the ship. We have seen whales, a cherished ambition from my earliest days. Actual whales! Fin whales, orca, humpbacks. For two hours yesterday the ship sat, engines off, in mid-ocean while two humpback whales swam round and under the ship. They rolled on their sides to look up at us, slapped the water with their tails and blew their breath up to us. I was not the only person who wept for the joy and wonder of it.

Continued.....

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The sea is compelling, fascinating, mesmerising. I have never before been on such a large expanse of water and with no other ship within sight. The Southern Ocean is vast. And colourful. I did not know there could be so many shades of blue and green and grey. It changes every minute, and is alive. We landed first on South Georgia at Grytviken, where the slowly crumbling whaling station is a poignant reminder of man's cruelty. We walked the hills behind, spotted reindeer grazing, drank a toast at Shackleton’s grave and pondered his incredible achievement in saving all his men from that ill-fated expedition.

Now we are here. And what a place this is! This bay has a huge arc of golden sands, and behind that acres of rocky terrain, with a stream running through it and scrubby vegetation round gravelly banks where the penguins are nesting. Surrounding all this are the mountains, black and rocky and with deep snow. There is an enormous glacier at one end of the beach. The rocks are covered with lichen in profusion - orange, green, red, yellow and white. And the snow blooms with algae, red, white and orange. We are given the heads-up that we need to return to the ship soon. Just another 15 minutes to glory in this amazing spot on the earth. I sit down on the sand to take some low-angle photographs and am immediately surrounded by four oakum boys. They step up their pleas for breakfast and when I produce my camera they think it may contain food. No matter how hard I try, the only shots I can get are of beaks and bright eyes. I feel a kinship with David Attenborough. Ahead of us are ten more days of sailing through Antarctica. We will see icebergs of all sizes and learn that ice is not necessarily white, it is blue and turquoise and green and umber and clear and it sparkles. And makes a surprising amount of noise - it crackles and bangs and the small pieces in the water sound like giant Rice Krispies in a bowl. We will celebrate New Year by sliding down a mountain on our bottoms on the Antarctic peninsula at Paradise Bay, walk among all sorts of penguins, ride in our dinghy among a pod of Orca, see a leopard seal catch a penguin, get a look at Elephant Island, watch Giant Skuas steal penguin eggs and Gentoo penguins steal each other’s nest pebbles. We will ride in the dinghies round rocky islands and through stone arches, we will sail into the flooded caldera of a dormant volcano and swim in the (reputedly) warm waters at the edge. Finally we will make the passage back to Ushuaia through Force 12 winds and thirty foot waves, where meals are only possible if you hold the food down on the plate with one hand. But all that is to come. For now we must go back to the ship and give our fellow passengers their turn with the penguins and seals. Breakfast calls - it’s still only 4.30am but with 24 hour daylight this is irrelevant - and then we are promised we will sail into an enormous fiord on the other side of the island, to look at the many glaciers there and the stunning scenery. There will, we are told, be cocktails available, and Cherries Jubilee for tea later. It’s a hard life. JENNY BARNES

IMPRESSIONS FROM CISSBURY Little dark man on the top of the hill With sad empty eyes, never tiring or still, Away from the camp you were sent as a scout On that misty morning when the terror struck out.

With what silent grief did you bury your dead. Each proud warrior laid with his spear by his head. With what tender love your own sons and wife Laid to rest, leaving with them your best hunting knife. Long years, proud warrior have you guarded that mound, Ever alert to each new sight and sound. But beware! Little man on the top of your hill Though the old foes are gone there is great danger still. 'Tis not the tribesmen with bow, spear and knife But the ever encroachment of modern day life. DESIREE MERICAN

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RHS WISLEY

I recently went to RHS Wisley with some friends. I haven’t been there for about seven years and the site has undergone some considerable changes. In 1878 George Fergusson Wilson, who was a businessman, scientist, inventor and keen gardener as well as a former Treasurer of the Society, purchased the site and established the 'Oakwood experimental garden'. He set out to grow “difficult plants successfully” and the garden soon gained a reputation for its collections of lilies, gentians, Japanese irises, primulas and water plants. Mr. Wilson died in 1902 and the site and the adjoining Glebe Farm were bought by Sir Thomas Hanbury, who presented the Wisley estate to the Society for its perpetual use in 1903. Only part of its 60 acres were cultivated as a garden at that time. It was then transformed into an ornamental garden with educational and scientific roles, housing the largest plant collection in the world. Students from all over the world go to Wisley to study horticulture, and several TV gardeners have passed through its gates. My last visit coincided with the opening of a large glasshouse with a range of tropical and succulent plants. Since then the car parks and entrance have been extended, and a new Welcome Building has been constructed, incorporating a large shop, restaurant and a plant centre boasting a variety of 20,000 plants of all varieties. There was a sculpture exhibition, and sculptures were placed throughout the site with an enormous chair on the viewing mound. There are a series of gardens laid out, including an exotic garden, fruit garden, cottage garden, South African meadow, rock garden, Bonsai walk, vegetable garden, pinetum, walled garden and water lily pavilion, among many others, so there is a lot to take in. At the southern end of the site extensive building works are being undertaken to provide a state-of-the-art centre in 2021. The centre will include a new conference hall, lecture halls, classrooms and laboratories for students, and new trials beds will be laid out nearby. The original house that currently houses the laboratories will be converted into offices and accommodation for students attending the lectures. The new buildings are designed to be environmentally friendly, and it is intended that Wisley will become the national centre for horticulture science and learning once they are completed. SUE MAXWELL

We have been given 200 Loyalty Cards for this year from Tate's Garden Centres.

The cards cover, Paradise Park Newhaven, South Downs Nurseries Hassocks, Old Barn Garden Centre, Dial Post and Mayberry Garden Centre, Portslade.

They will be available at the March and April Monthly Meetings or until they have all been taken.

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WEST PIER`S HEYDAY FADES TO GREY Brighton`s West Pier , on a cold grey morn Gulls, her only company, take flight at break of dawn Not much of her left now – a skeletal dome of rusted metal A sort of marine birds – nest, ideal to roost or settle

Along the Prom, her sister Pier – all gaudy and flashing lights I must admit, at nightfall, she is an impressive sight ! She is known as the Palace Pier – our Pier is the West This denotes the assumption that the Palace Pier was ALWAYS best !

But was this the reality ? I don`t know, I wasn`t there In its hey-day, was it the West Pier that made people stand and stare?

Remember that our sea-side piers were a totally British invention In the days of Regency and Victorian folk, they certainly grabbed the attention ! It was major entertainment – a day out on the Pier All dressed in their Sunday Best, grinning from ear to ear !

What was there to entice them ? I would really like to know Maybe Fair-ground attractions and a Punch and Judy Show

Ladies in their finest hats, gentlemen put on their spats Families out to take a stroll – Mother, don`t forget your parasol To shield one from the mid-day sun Don`t get a tan – it just isn`t done !

Grandmama brings a picnic lunch A sort of Regency stroke Victorian Brunch Lots of lovely food to munch For the adults, a treat of fruity punch

Daylight is drawing to a close The children start to murmur `I hear cheers from the end of the Pier` `You do Dear – that`s the Theatre`!

The high – light of the day is about to thrill and enthrall them Let`s all go to a Vaudeville Show We really must go home then !

Those were the days, I hear you say Opulence for the weathy What happened then ? I don`t know quite when The West Pier became so unhealthy

The rot set in when revellers Decided to set it on fire And when a barge broke loose, crashing into it The bill just got higher and higher !

Some years ago, it was on the News The Lottery Fund was intervening But the years went on, more damage was done Now there`s nothing there worth redeeming !

More hope came from Chris Eubank The well known Brighton pugilist But his Consortium collapsed after sixteen months `Can`t raise enough money` he lisped !

So, here we are now, with a monstrous eye-sore We must think of the West Pier in days of yore

At least we have the Palace Pier A modern Work of Art It`s jellied eels and Ferris Wheel We`ve taken to our hearts

But in every situation There is always a winner In the grey crashing seas, sea-birds take their ease While watching for their dinner!

JUDY LUKE

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MONTHLY MEETINGS

Monthly Meetings are held at Lancing Parish Hall, South Street, Lancing on the first Monday of the month 2 - 4pm (except when the meeting falls on a Bank Holiday).

Invited speakers talk on a wide variety of subjects, many on local interests. Non-members are welcome to come to one of these meetings to gain an insight into our activities. We respectfully ask that you become a member before attending further meetings. Refreshments are available.

Future Meetings

MARCH 2nd: Peter Hill - From a Mansion in Virginia to a Castle in Ontario – a talk that takes in Stratford Hall Virginia, birthplace of Robert E. Lee, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island, built by the owner of the Waldorf Astoria.

APRIL 6th: Maurice Upton and Dennis Clement (National Observer and Local Observer Assessor on behalf of Central Southern Advanced Motorists - talk on advanced driving techniques.

MAY 4th: Ian Gledhill – Glamorous Nights: English Musical Theatre in the 1920’s and 30’s.

JUNE 1st: AGM

Solution to Cryptic Crossword

Crossword compiled by Cryptic Crossword Group

LATE NIGHT ANGST Sometimes, very late at night When I ought to be in bed I’m still sitting on the sofa Thoughts a-buzzing in my head. The TV is still on but It’s something I don’t see And I don’t know what the programme is As it’s just for company. It’s a background noise - a soft confusion So I feel I’m not alone But I know it’s just a delusion To pad my comfort zone. I’ve adult children, grandkids too And friends I love to see But when the night time comes along I’m sitting here - just me. I think of times both good and bad That have patterned all my days I don’t know if I’m glad or sad The pendulum swings both ways. I’ve so much to be thankful for So why these downward trends? Maybe just because it’s late at night And in the morning ends. I think they call it getting old I suppose that is a reason For feeling like I do today A person past their season! MARGARET BENTLEY

Would you like to join us? Our membership is open to retired and semi-retired people who wish to enjoy learning new skills, or pursuing an interest within a social group. Our subscription year is 1st April to 31st March. Annual membership: 2019-2020 £12.00 If you are a current member of another U3A in the UK your membership fee will be reduced to £8.50 Membership entitles you to attend our Monthly Meetings and as many of the Interest Groups as you wish. An application form is available from our Membership Secretary.

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Saturday April 18th - Horsham A Mathematical Medley - Roger Luther Some numbers, some shapes and some algorithms. Saturday May 9th - Five Ashes, Mayfield Crusades and the Knights Templar - Geoff Doel An exploration of the first 100 years of the controversial crusading movement and of the iconic Order of Knights Templar, which has fuelled so many bizarre legends.

Sussex U3A Network (S.U.N) arranges a programme of study days seeking to cover a wide range of topics, including the arts, humanities, science and current affairs. The study days are intended to enrich our members’ knowledge of the topics covered. They are held at various locations throughout East and West Sussex, and cost £8 per day. Bookings forms are available at least six weeks in advance on the S.U.N website, or from our representative Marion Wood, or at monthly General Meetings.

SUSSEX U3A NETWORK Future Study Day topics include:

HOLIDAYING WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL

If a member books a Riviera Travel holiday directly with Riviera (i.e. not through a third party such as a travel agent) and mentions our U3A name at the time of booking, our U3A funds will then receive a 10% commission on the booking costs. The donations received cannot be passed on to members who have booked holidays as this is not permitted by Charity law and the funds should be spent for the benefit of all members. National Office advises that the affinity partnership scheme between Riviera and U3A has resulted in over £110,000 in commission being paid to individual U3A’s in 2019. This has resulted in thousands of individ-ual payments being made to different accounts which is no longer sustainable. Therefore, the process for the payment of commission from the Company for members of U3A taking their holidays is to change. For all travellers departing on or after 1st April, 2020, the 10% commission pay-ment will be made directly to the Third Age Trust, in the month following that of departure, for them to dis-tribute to the appropriate U3A. Payment for earlier departures will be dealt with by Riviera in the current manner.

U3A EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Citizens 800 PROJECT RESEARCH DAYS will be held on various dates at Royal Holloway University, Egham. https://www.citizens800.org/u3a/ 12th March, 2020: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind will be held at the National Gallery. 11am to 3.45pm. An exploration of animals in art. Cost £25. 16th March, 2020: U3A Explores Science at the Ri. 1.15 to 4.45pm. Join U3A members and explore science through a variety of fascinating talks. Cost £21.50. 30th March, 2020: Discovering Childrens’ literature. 11am to 3.45pm Join us for a study day in the British Library Knowledge Centre theatre to hear five experts speak about the history of children’s literature. Cost £24.

For all the above events bookings should be made through Evenbrite (www.evenbrite.co.uk./u3a quoting the name of the event).

Congratulations to the ladies of the Knitting & Crochet Group who have raised the magnificent

sum of £320 from their Poppy Day and Christmas raffles. They have sent £160 each to the

British Legion Poppy Appeal and Air Ambulance respectively.

Congratulations should also go to Sue Fleck’s Petanque team who came third in a recent

National competition on Hayling Island. It is hoped that in the future three teams will be able to

represent our U3A at the venue.

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18th Century Social History Interactive Travel

Ancient History Jazz & Music Appreciation

Art Appreciation Knitting and Crochet

Art Painting and Drawing Local History

Bird Watching Mah Jong

Book Group 1 Military Matters

Book Group 2 Mindfulness and Meditation

Bridge Group Patchwork and Quilting

Card Making 1 Petanque

Card Making 2 Photography

Card Making 3 Play Reading

Creative Writing Poetry

Cryptic Crossword Practical Gardening

Cryptic Crossword Basic Psychology Today

Current Affairs Rag Rug Group

Easy Cycling Scrabble

Exploring Psychology Sewing

Family History Visits

French Language Walking

Garden Appreciation Wine Appreciation

History

INTEREST GROUPS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2019 - 2020

Chair Judie Dicson

Vice-Chair/Speakers/ Sue Maxwell

Interest Groups Co-ordinator

Treasurer Heather Stone

Secretary Sue Leaney

Membership Secretary Tony Dobbs

Committee Member/Equipment Mary Hill

Committee Member/Visits Jan Smyth

Committee Member Jane Lee

SUN Representative Marion Wood

Webmaster/Newsletter Editor Alan Woodrow

Welfare Officers Tracey Ford

Margaret Foley

The next Newsletter will be published on June 1st 2020. Deadline for articles is 10th May

Email address for articles: u3a.lancingsompting.editor@gmail.com Tel: 01903 752419

NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Please let your Welfare Officers know if any member is sick or has suffered a bereavement