Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A€¦ · On starting to play Boules a few years ago now, Peter was my mentor and team captain when we played at Mill Rythe. To our surprise we kept

Stanford-le-Hope & District U3A –January 2020 Newsletter Page 1

Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A

January 2020 Newsletter

Peter with the wreath, November 2019 (Photo by Colin Munro)

I write this with great sorrow for the dreadfully sad loss of our dear friend and

colleague before Christmas and I would like to dedicate this January edition of

our Newsletter to Peter Woodcock’s memory as he was one of our U3A’s


founders, who, six years ago, along with his dear wife Beryl and our Honorary

President Julie Coker caused this U3A to be established. Expecting forty people

to turn out for the exploratory meeting Peter had organised at the Welcome

Club, 120 people actually came in February 2014. He acted as Assistant

Membership Secretary in our first year, aided by his friendly manner, straight-

forward talking and a wealth of experience.

Bird Watching was Peter’s love and he quickly established a flourishing group.

Next was his love of Pétanque/Boules and the Wednesday Pétanque group was

in place within the year, with just 16 members. Over 100 of our members now

play Pétanque.

Next, he filled the role of Group Coordinator, which was followed by his final

role as Vice Chair to my Chairmanship and saw Peter retire from Committee

only last year. This retirement only spurred him on to the starting of even more

groups, like Wine Appreciation and Ukulele, always finding time to support

other groups and causes.

Each of us will have our own memories of Peter and, as our grief is tempered by

time, we will recall many more memories to treasure and importantly, recall the

many times that we all laughed together and Peter would love us to do just

that.

Many of us will pass this way and apart from within our family and closest

friends; we will leave little behind when we move on. Peter Woodcocks trail is

very different. Peter has left a legacy that will affect the lives of many hundreds

of people well into the future. These people are us, the members who are only

here today because of people like Peter Woodcock. Peter put himself out, he

made the effort, and with the help of our Julie Coker and his wife Beryl, he

caused our U3A to be borne. Our lives have all been changed for the better;

because of people like Peter Woodcock.

Our highly regarded friend Peter Woodcock has found his peace and from that

we must draw comfort. May we remind our dear Beryl that our U3A is here

where Peter left us? And we are here for you whenever you need us.

Colin Munro Chairman January 2020

Memories from Julie Coker Peter, Beryl and I had been friends from Thurrock

U3A days and when the Chairman announced at an AGM that they were closing


the waiting list I was upset to think that the U3A and all that it offers was being

denied to so many people. So, I suggested we could start up a second group

which was soundly ridiculed at first - thus the idea of Stanford Le Hope U3A was

conceived. Peter trawled round Stanford and area seeking out a Hall big enough

for us and after a year and a half Stanford-le-Hope U3A was born!

Peter quickly formed the Bird

Watching group and I will miss his

confident “Oh that’s a .........”, when

asked what a particular bird was. I

often suspected it was a figment of

his imagination but who knows!

He was an enthusiastic member of

Play reading 1 and our group will be

diminished without his

contributions .. I remember his “Oh

Aye “ in a broad country accent as

the friend of a racy old farmer read

by Bernie seeking a “housekeeper”, his infectious laughter as the rather

pretentious lady read by Lesley opened her Christmas present and thought it to

be a drinks mixer which actually was a vibrator..We do read some serious books

which always engender some quite often heated discussion afterwards .... Oh ,

how we will miss him! Peter, thank you for all the hours of fun, laughter,

serious discussion and decision making we have shared, and for always being

there for me.

Peter and Beryl were a team, always willing to help. Ann Bailey

Memories from Dave and Jean Jardine We have known Peter for over 40 years. We first met when we ran a cub pack and Peter led the venture scouts at Thors Oak. We both helped raise funds and build the Cubs’ Hut at the subway by the Hassenbrook Underpass. When Beryl, Peter and Julie started S.L.H. U3A we joined straight away. The first group we joined was Boules run by Peter


when we played at the Karis Darling Centre. As ‘the group of a few’ grew we went to play at the Springhouse then Pegasus and now back at Springhouse with over 50 members playing every Wednesday. The photos were taken last new year eve when 18 of our U3A friends joined us at Five Lakes Hotel. It was a great night! (photos by Jean Jardine)

Our group joined Maldon and Blackwater U3A league with Peter’s team winning that League. We also played at Mill Rythe with other U3A members from across the country. Our memories of Peter will be of him enjoying life to the full and his laughter. He did enjoy a good laugh!! Sleep well, dear friend! Memories from Paul Brice On starting to play Boules a few years ago now, Peter was my mentor and team captain when we played at Mill Rythe. To our surprise we kept winning matches and ended up in the final of the Bronze Competition. When we realised it was the final, pressure mounted and we ended up as runners up. As a team together with Brian Page, we entered the local U3A league comprising of teams from Maldon, Billericay and Stanford-le-Hope. Again, we continued to win matches and ended the season winning the league. Much of this was due to Peter’s encouragement and his enthusiasm! He was a man who will be remembered, and from our team of three I am saddened to say I am the last remaining original member. He started many groups with the U3A and handed them over one by one to other people who have seen them blossom and grow. The last that I can remember is the Friday Boules Group which started due to a conversation at a Lunch one day when, a number of people wanted to try Boules but could not make a Wednesday. Peter and I started the Group and, needless to say it has continued to be another successful one. (memories continued on page 37)


Some of the information to look out for in this edition:

• Memories of Peter Woodcock who passed away on 20th Dec.2019

(p.1,2,3,4,37,38,39)

• New Trip – Medway Lunch Cruise – (p.30)

• Local History Group change: Barbara Ward is the new Leader (p.19 )

• Chairman’s New Year Message ( p.6)

• Photos from the Christmas Lunch (p.8)

• Remembrance Day Report (p.7)

• Quiz (p.9)

Air Ambulance

I would like to thank you all who supported Essex Air Ambulance at our December Meeting; we made over £550 on the raffle and items on sale.

It will help to keep them flying! We hope we never need them but it’s nice to know they are there if we do.

Many thanks to the charity craft group and the ladies on the craft stall for all your help. Jean Jardine

St Luke's Christmas Card

On behalf of the Committee I would like to thank you for your Donations to St Luke's.

We raised £70.00 and have forwarded the money to them. The card will be at the back of the hall at the next General Meeting.

Bernie Smith

Vice Chairman


New Year Message from your Chairman Colin Munro

Well it looks like we have survived another Christmas period, sometimes frantic, sometimes frenetic, and more often with a little too much of everything but hopefully a very enjoyable time for us all. As we all prepare ourselves for another year of U3A activities and continued friendships may I take this opportunity to wish all of our members a year of interesting and inspiring activities? Our year on year success is the result of the vast amount of time and energy our group leaders put into their various activities and includes the time and efforts your committee puts in for the benefit of us all at our U3A. The numbers of our members that take part in the many interest groups bear testimony to the ethos of our U3A with friendship, education and teaching to the fore. Thank you for your enthusiasm and for supporting our General Meetings. May our group activities grow and flourish. After all these years, we are still involved in the process of self-discovery. It's better for us to explore and try new things and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full and happy life. Our sixth U3A year has just ended but how do you measure a year. Well we know its 365 days; it’s also 8760 hours and its 525,600 minutes! Better though, to measure our year in the experiences we’ve had. Although for some they were not all good, but it’s hoped that our memorable experiences have outweighed the bad ones. Imagine there’s a bank that every day, credits your account with £86,400. And it doesn’t carry over any balance from day to day…What do you do? Draw out every penny of course!! Each of us has such a bank and its account name is TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds to use as you choose. So, don’t waste those precious seconds, get out and make full use of them. Start a


much-needed new group. Stand for election to your committee. Remember the clock is running. In whatever way you measure your time, it will become just a blink of the eye when you look back. As we all look towards another U3A year, let’s make the most of every moment there is to come. Make the most of every day! From Carol and from myself, our very best wishes for a wonderfully Happy New Year

Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2019 At our Stanford le Hope Remembrance Sunday’s Ceremony, Carol and I were especially pleased to stand alongside two of our respected members, our dear late Peter Woodcock and Vic Tolson. Both RAF veterans, they had proudly marched in parade with our local RAF Air Cadets along with the many adult and young people groups, all smartly dressed in their organisation’s colours, finally breaking parade to join us, ready for the Poppy Wreath Laying ceremony. With a poppy wreath for Carol and I and another for Peter and Vic, our U3A was represented twice, with each wreath joining the great number surrounding the war memorial, all in memory of the local men who gave their lives for us. Our poppy wreaths now honour all men and women who have given their lives since 1914 to now. With all of the assembled flags lowered to the ground, our two minutes silence was well respected by all who stood with heads bowed. We

sang familiar hymns which included Jerusalem; with all of us keen to sing out loud those wonderful final lines…’Till we have built Jerusalem, in England’s green and pleasant land’. Then with emotional pride we sang our National Anthem in a clear blue sky where our Union Jack did

Photo: Pat Tolson its best to fly, in what little breeze there was to be had. Then, amazingly, flying across our sky appeared four WW2 aircraft, three fighter planes, two of which were Spitfires and the much bigger Dakota.


The wonderful timely flypast ended with a spontaneous round of applause from those gathered. As with all things U3A, our wreath laying group retired to The Gateway Centre for hot drinks and biscuits. For me as our Chairman, to get this final opportunity to represent our U3A on this important national occasion was an honour, which I appreciated and was privileged to share with my wife Carol and with Peter and Vic and with their wives Beryl and Pat. An interesting piece from the Service of Remembrance booklet. Rifleman Valentine J. Studwick from Dorking. 8th Battalion, the Rifle Brigade. Died 14th January 1916 aged 15. Buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. The youngest person to die inactive service in the 1st WW. Colin Munro. Chairman Christmas Lunch 2019

We again held our U3A 2019 Christmas Lunch at the Langdon Hills Golf and

Country Club. This year we had two sittings on consecutive days and around

186 members attended.

With the usually efficiency, we found our names on a list, our table numbers

and our seat.

Colin, our Chairman welcomed us at

both sittings with a few well-chosen

cracker jokes.

Our Treasurer, Graham, who also

attended both sittings, thanked Colin

and his wife Carol for organising the

event. Graham continued with Grace.

(It should be noted that Colin, Carol

and Graham only ate on the

Thursday!)

Graham then led the minute silence

in memory of our Peter Woodcock at our second sitting.


With us all seated, we had our chosen starter followed by our main course, and

dessert, rounded off by tea or

coffee and miniature mince pies.

Good food, good company, in

pleasant surrounding ensured

our Christmas festivities for 2019

would start well.

Finally on behalf of all our

members attending, I would like

to thank Colin and Carol for all

the planning and organisation

they did to achieve another successful Christmas Lunch for us all.

Photos by Colin Munro and Mick Miller; report by Michael Farman

QUIZ

PLEASE NOTE: The Quiz Group are holding a Quiz Night on Friday 21st February

2002 at the Springhouse Club in aid of the Scouts and Guides at Tindall Hall,

Herd Lane. Tindall Hall had to be demolished and there is a fundraising

campaign to raise £30,000 for its replacement.

The Quiz Night on Friday 21st February is open to teams of up to 8 persons. Tickets are £4.00 per person. There will be a licensed bar open on the evening and food will be available for purchase over the counter. There will also be a raffle. Brian McDonald will be your Quizmaster for the evening. A local bank has very kindly agreed to match every penny raised at the Quiz Night towards the Tindall Hall rebuilding fund. So please put the date in your diary, round up some friends and come along for an evening to test those little grey cells and have some fun in the process. Even if you cannot get a full team together, please don’t be put off. We can help to arrange some others to team up with you on the evening. It’s a good way to make new friends – which is the spirit of the U3A. Tickets must be paid for in advance and will be on sale from Kevin and Joyce Brice at the next General Meeting. If you are interested in getting a team together, please email Kevin Brice with your contact details and he will send you details of ticketing arrangements ASAP.


Established Interest Groups

(In alphabetical order, apart from Ambling and Rambling which are under Walking)

Birdwatching

Dave Snow 07490 069740

We meet on the 4th Friday of the month Anyone who would like to come along is very welcome, just contact me and I will try to answer any questions.

Book Group

Ann Bailey

Dawn Lloyd-Warne 01375 461885

If you would be interested in joining us, we chat about the book, try and put the world to rights and enjoy Dawn's hospitality. Please contact either Dawn or myself. Dawn looks after us very well with tea and cakes, which we really appreciate.

Wednesday Boules/Pétanque

Dave Jardine 01375679410

We are all getting together on 8th January at Top Meadows for a New Year Lunch; it seems a good start to the New Year. Our first game will be on Wednesday 15th January at 10.00 for 10.30 start followed by coffee and lunch if you wish in the Springhouse. We meet each Wednesday at the Springhouse and we have spare boules if you wish to give it a try.

Wednesday afternoon Boules/Pétanque

Paul Brice 07788452852

We will now be playing at the Springhouse Club each Wednesday.Any new

members will be welcome so if you are looking to start playing Boules come

along and you will soon be playing a match or two. During the winter months we

shall start at 12.30pm to avoid the darker hours and cooling temperatures. New

members are always welcome, and this is the group to join if you are starting

out at Boules. Not sure how much longer it will be French Boules as it may have

to be renamed. Next meeting is on Wednesday 15th January due to our


Christmas meal taking place on the 8th.We have spare boules if you are starting

out, to save buying your own. If the weather is not so good, we still meet for a

coffee and chat. Just go behind the bowling greens at The Springhouse then go

into the Green Shed which opens up as a Badminton Court.

Friday Boules/Pétanque

Colin Munro 07770 85431

Carol Munro We play at Hardie Park every Friday ready to start at 10am.

Please be aware photographs may be taken at our general meetings and during group

activities. If you don’t want your photograph to be taken and put into circulation, please

try to remove yourself from the location the photographer is snapping, or have a word with

him or her beforehand, or if that isn’t possible, afterwards.

British Sign Language Group

Jenny Radford 01375 676338

We meet every Wednesday at 2.30 pm in the Corringham Social Club on the

corner of Lampits Hill/Giffords Cross Road. We have fun learning basic British

Sign Language, helping each other to improve our skills and learn new signs.

To All Members

If you know of any member that is ill or in hospital please contact our Welfare and Disabilities Officer as follows: - Magda Norris

07484658131

When you contact Magda, she will require the following information. 1. The name of the member. 2. Whether they are hospital bound or at home. If in hospital please let us have which hospital and ward name if possible. 3. Their illness or incapacity if known. Their address we can obtain from our data base.

It should be noted that no committee member will visit any member at home or in hospital without an invitation. However, we would like to be kept updated as to our member’s progress.


Don’t miss a word!

Do you avoid going to the theatre to see a show because you, your spouse or

partner or friend is hard of hearing and finds such events too difficult to

understand properly? Help is at hand – at certain venues.

1. STAGETEXT

This is a registered charity which provides captioning and live subtitling to

theatre and other arts venues.

a. STAGETEXT in theatres These captions are similar to television subtitles (and better than opera

ones) providing words and other information such as character/speaker’s

names, sounds and offstage noises. The actors’ words appear on LED

caption units placed next to the stage or in the set at the same time as

they are spoken or sung.

Details of how to find out about captioned performances:

http://www.stagetext.org or phone 020 7377 0540

Booking is via the relevant box office by phone or email. State that you are

booking for a captioned performance and need to sit where you can see the

words. Check prices as tickets for retired people may be cheaper that disabled

tickets and find out whether they operate an access list which gives advanced

notice and advice.

b. STAGETEXT in museums and galleries Use the STAGETEXT website ‘What’s On’ pages for information on talks

and how to book talks with live speech-to-text (live subtitles). Some talks

are free. http://www.stagetext.org

To get a list of accessible talks in museums and galleries each month – contact

Deepa Shastri for more information – [email protected]

2.Smart caption glasses at the National Theatre

These are glasses designed by Epson which are worn (even over your own

ones) and have the subtitling come up on the lenses. For more information

go to https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/caption-

glasses

http://www.stagetext.org/

http://www.stagetext.org/

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/caption-glasses

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/caption-glasses


Booking enquiries – email [email protected] phone 020

7452 3961

General smart caption glasses enquiries email

[email protected]

At the moment of writing (December 2019) there are 11 plays advertised

at the National where smart glasses can be used during 2019-2020.

Other transcribing help

a. Google app ‘google live transcribe’ performs real-time transcription of speech and sound to text on your screen (if you have the relevant phone i.e. an android one) and allows you to understand the conversations around you.

b. If you don’t have an android then investigate Voicea. This is another free app which is reported to transcribe speech for the apple iPhone and also android phones.

Jenny Radford and Diane Wallace learnt about this on their lip-reading and

hearing loss course at the Thurrock Adult Community College in Grays. We

thought this information was too good to keep to ourselves!

Canasta

Pauline Kerridge 01375 462232

The Canasta Group meets every Wednesday afternoon at The Springhouse Club from 2pm. All newcomers welcome.

Charity Craft

Jean Jardine 01375 679410

07551 952211

The charity craft have done a great job this year with making over 300 hats and mittens for the shoe box appeal, and also items to sell for Essex Air Ambulance making over £550. So we will have to get busy for this year! We meet on the fourth Friday each month so our next meeting is on 24th January at 2pm at Dawn’s home. If you would like to join us please email me.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Cribbage

John Green 01375 676441 The cribbage group meets in Gardner Hall, Fobbing, on alternate Tuesdays at

2pm. The next meetings will be Tuesday 21st January, Tuesday 4th February and

Tuesday 18th February. All welcome. Come along and give this easy card game a

try.

Family History

Sue Green 01375 676441

Peter Craggs 01375 643749 /07759 817821

The Family History Group have had an interesting couple of months. At our

November meeting we looked at some of the World War II documents we have

come across in our family research. Members brought in military service

records, albums of ‘airgrams’, an amazing collection of original D Day pictures,

letters, photographs etc. Two hours was not enough to look at it all. One of the

best sessions we have had. As I have said before, I am always amazed by what is

squirrelled away in boxes in our spare rooms. Thank you to all the members

who made this such a success, and for Linda and John Barnes for putting a

display together for the December General Meeting to showcase some of their

Photographs

Our members like to see photographs of our activities (even of groups they

don’t belong to) in our newsletter and on our website. It gives a flavour of

what is happening in our U3A and makes our newsletter and website livelier

and more interesting. The Newsletter Editor and Website Administrator

would like to use a few of such photographs so please send them in (and

don’t be shy – you don’t need to be a keen photographer.)


amazing photos. Who knew family history could be so interesting!

Our December meeting had a fun quiz put together by Peter Craggs to test our knowledge whilst eating our Christmas nibbles

Thank you to him and to Diane Howells who really tested our brains with the 11+ paper she sat in the 1950's. I have never seen such challenging maths questions. Here is a taster of a couple. Much head scratching! Children must have been really brainy in those days. (if you want the answers see Diane) 1. How many yards in 14 miles 5 furlongs 12 chains and 15 yards? 2. A man receives £8 16s 0d for a week of 48 hours work. How much should he receive if he is absent 15 hours in the week? Our meeting at the Evangelical Church Hall in Fobbing Road at 2pm on Wednesday 15th January is going to look at work records, indentures and


apprentice agreements. Please bring along anything you have come across to share with the group either from your own or parents’ history or further back. The February computer session at Basildon Library will be at 2pm on Wednesday 5th. As usual, let Sue know if you are coming.

Flower-arranging

Christine Lambert 01375 678131

Linda Tilbury 07928 221626

We meet 1st Wednesday of the month at Gateway Peoples Centre in Stanford

High Street between 10am and 12pm. The cost is £2 for the hire of the hall plus

any flowers you need to purchase. We also enjoy workshops and days out,

where we are guided by professionals.

French Conversation

Diane Wallace

The November meeting of the group was held at Masons restaurant when we

had an early Christmas celebration. We had one meeting in December and will

not meet again until after the January General Meeting due to all the festivities

around this time of year.

At our next session we will be looking at techniques we can use to ensure that most of our conversation is in French and that we don’t take the easy way out when the topic is difficult by switching to English.

U3A noticeboard

Used for General Meetings, as you enter the room to your right it will be on a

table. On it will be displays, including photos of the Executive Committee

Members and Buddies plus a copy of our U3A’s Policy Document.


Gallery Visits

Jenny Lees 01375 360786

Chris Henderson

Having seen a short piece on TV about the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition at the

National Gallery, two of us decided to go and see it. The focus painting in the

exhibition was,’ The Virgin of the Rocks’. The painting had been investigated by

conservators and they showed the hidden drawing and painting which lies

beneath the final top layer. They also illustrated how the painting could have

originally been part of an elaborate altar piece.

There was a room devoted to Da Vinci’s use of light and shade. There are models where you can experiment with how light affects objects. However, I did feel that we had been short changed. There was not a lot to see and explore and some of it seemed quite shallow and only there to stretch out the experience. I think that what was there could have been part of a larger exhibition.

Our first outing will be on Friday 24th January to the Hayward Gallery to see the major retrospective of the 70 years of Bridget Riley’s work.

I am also hoping that our members will let me know if there is anything that they will want to see next year.

Gardening Group

Madeline Beesley 01375 678576

The Gardening Group meet on the first Monday of the month in Corringham Library. We love to discuss many aspects of gardening and share lots of ideas and advice.

The Gardening Group ended their 2019 year with a Christmas Lunch at The Haywain. Twenty-two members attended and we had a very enjoyable time.

We have had a very good year learning new things. Many of us grew plants from seeds which we had never done before and were delighted with the results. We joined the Royal Horticultural Society as an affiliate member and enjoyed a trip


to RHS Wisley, which we were able to open to the rest of the U3A members. We are looking forward to some new challenges in 2020. On behalf of the Gardening Group we would like to thank the Committee for all the work that they do keeping the U3A going so well and we wish everyone a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

by Michael Farman Golf

Paul Brice 07788 452852

The Golf Group will continue to meet during the winter months, teeing off at 11.30pm at Dunton Hills Par 3 course. However, if the course is closed or it’s too wet, we will use the Driving Range to brush up our shots. If people let me


know they are coming we shall wait if you are going to be late. Coffee, etc. is available afterwards. We wish you a Happy New Year.

Holiday Travel Jean Jardine 01375 679410

07551952211

Carol Smith 07845 233640

In the new year we hope to have some holiday plans that you will enjoy.

Italian Beginners

Ron White 01375673561

We are continuing to increase our vocabulary and understanding of Italian

grammar to enable us to construct sentences. It is appreciated that the most

useful conversation involves ordering food and drink, asking directions,

shopping etc. so we concentrate on these.

Thank you to everyone for bringing food for our Christmas meeting and for all your enthusiasm throughout the year. Line Dancing

Mary Jupp 01375 674623

Carol Lockyer 01375 674732

Line dancing is held on Wednesdays weekly at Horndon Village Hall, SS17 8LB.

This year for our Christmas outing 29

of us went to the Langdon Hills Golf

Club for a three-course meal and

enjoyed an Abba tribute. We danced

the night away but for a change they

were not line dances!

Abba tribute on Friday at the Golf club; photos

by Mary Jupp


Our bring a plate last meeting before

Christmas was great fun and enjoyed

by all.

At the December meeting we put on a

display of five line-dances. The group

chose three favourite dances and we

added two Christmas ones. At the end we

invited the audience to participate and

lots of U3A members got up to join in the

fun.

Photo by Michael Farman


Local History Group

Barbara Ward

The November meeting gave us all a chance to celebrate the Festive Season with a tasty ‘bring and share’ lunch and reflect on a busy year at the Local History Group, but also to bid Julia Harding a fond farewell and the best

of luck as she prepares to move to be nearer her family in

Lancashire.

Flowers arranged by Janet Flint

Photos taken by Diane Wallace


I know everyone will want to join me in thanking her for the hard work and enthusiasm for local history that she has brought over the years while building up and leading the group. We are sure that all your skills will be put to good use investigating the local history of your new home town and, of course, when you join the local U3A group. Good luck!

Our next meeting will be on Monday 27th January at 2.00 pm at the Evangelical Church Hall, Fobbing Road, Corringham, when we will be planning activities for the forthcoming year so please come along with ideas. Note this group is now led by Barbara Ward

Local Research Projects

Diane Wallace

Sue Green 01375 676441

For our first project we are investigating the changes and growth of Stanford-le-Hope from 1950, including shops, industry, financial services, pubs, churches, transport and entertainment. At the December meeting we had a small display of some interesting things we have found and a couple of maps. We enjoyed chatting to those that came to have a look. Some of you have promised us some written accounts of your impressions of moving to, or working in, the Stanford area in the 1950's/1960's and we look forward to receiving them in the New Year. If anyone else would also like to contribute or knows of someone that would have something to add to the research then please get in touch. In the meantime the transcribing of the interviews continues.

London Walks

Dave Snow 07490 069740

Brian McDonald

Our last London Walk was on 11 November and we started with two minutes

silence at 11.00am. We then split into groups, half starting the walk at

St Paul's and the others going straight on to Farringdon.


There was a lot of information about Newgate, the Central Criminal Courts and

the bell used to allow prisoners time to make their peace with God. We saw the

Cutler's Hall and the

sites of Greyfriars

and Whitefriars

monasteries

which were cleared

by Henry VIII. We

saw King Edward

Buildings,

headquarters of the

Post Office as well as

Postman's Park with

its

memorials to civilian heroes and heroines who died while helping others.

There

were numerous

twists and turns

through little

alleyways away

from all the

traffic yet still in the

centre of London.

Shakespeare got a

mention as

did Dr Johnson and his dictionary and of course that man Charles Dickens

who pops up everywhere in London. Photos by Chris Henderson

Lunch and Chat

Chris Brown 01708 852023

The Lunch and Chat Group meets on the first Friday of the month 11:00am at

the Langdon Hills Golf and Country Club, Lower Dunton Road.

We hope we are a friendly and welcoming group and enjoy meeting new


members. We discuss any topic that members bring along and then usually have

a lively and entertaining meal together with a lot of laughter. If you are

interested in joining us please contact Chris Brown so that the right size table

can be booked.

Mixed Craft Group

Kay Alcon 01375 415290

The group works as a team sharing ideas and inspiration, leading the workshops,

passing on skills and knowledge of their chosen craft. There is always plenty of

advice available between members offering techniques and places to go to

obtain materials. The group meets monthly on the first Tuesday of every month

at the Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 OEY

2pm until 4pm.There is a charge to cover the cost of hall hire.

Next meeting is on Tuesday 4th February.

Old British Motor Cycle and Car Enthusiasts

Graham Edgings 01375 677425

We have been very busy this last few weeks.

First, we went on an organised tour of Coalhouse Fort on a lovely, sunny but cold, and windy day. We were shown around the tunnels where the gunpowder and ammunition were stored, and we were told about the various films that were filmed there over the years, and of course the odd ghost story! Next, we went to the Honda Museum in Leiston in Suffolk which is a privately owned collection of motorcycles. While we were there, we went to Aldborough for a very enjoyable fish and chip lunch in a restaurant. The cod was really fresh as it had just been caught that day. Then, we travelled to the Kirkcaldy Museum in Southwark which tests the tolerances of various metals for different structures -for example, bridges and dams. Also, chains for anchors as well as railway lines are all tested for their breaking point. While we were there a test was carried out on a machine which weighs 116 ton. A bar of metal about one and a half meters long was stretched


until it failed. The machine actually jumps when the metal fails or breaks. When the metal is being stretched the pressure is 350 ton and can go up to 450 ton. It was a marvelous machine to watch in action as it’s the only one of its kind in the world! Various other tests are carried out at the museum on metal to see how far each would bend before it breaks. Likewise, concrete is tested to see how many pounds it takes to crush it, then they know the strength of it. Altogether a very interesting day out thanks to Diane Wallace who spotted the museum while she was travelling through London and thought it would be of interest to our group.

Places of Interest

Colin Munro 07770 854318

Carol Munro

Play Reading 1

Julie Coker 01268 931850

This year the group were stuck in a lift with some very strange and scary goings-on!! They certainly kept everyone entertained at the December General Meeting.


Newsletters are printed and saved for members who require it in a larger format, as

long as they have given their name to the Newsletter Editor or another member of

the Executive Committee beforehand.

If you want to see if the large print version would help you, there is usually a spare

large print version in the box of newsletters at the entrance to the Hall at the general

meeting.


Tea CAKE and Play Reading

Deb Foster 01375 677971

Photography Group

Jenny Lees 01375 360786

Chris Henderson

The Photography Group decided to have their ‘Christmas’ dinner in early November. The Bull in Old Corringham was the venue. The menu was varied, very tasty and very reasonably priced. Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was good not to have to get bogged down with Christmas meals all coming at once. We will no doubt return. Our next task is to sort out our timetable for next year and to find a reasonably priced hall to meet in. Please put forward any ideas you have for photographic locations and if you hear of any suitable venues. Friday January 10th will be our next get together.

Quilting


The Quilting Group have two spaces. We meet on the first Monday of the month from 2 - 4pm, tea or coffee with lots of biscuits this month (usually cakes, but have had quite a few packets given to us).

Suggestion Box Close to the Noticeboard should be the Suggestion Box. Paper and pens

or pencils should be found beside it but if not, there should be spares inside the box. All the

suggestions put in there will be looked at, but it is helpful if you put your name on the paper

you use, so the Executive Committee can get back to you directly. If the piece of paper you use

is very small – it may not be seen when the box is checked.


We are a friendly group and will help beginners. I have books to look through for ideas, so ring me and we can have a chat. So please ring me! Quiz

Ann Bailey

There are quizzes for February already, as well as our own U3A one. Please

contact me if you would like to add your name to the list

Scrabble

Magda Norris

Our next Scrabble dates are on Tuesdays 21st January, 4th and 18th February at

Gardner’s Hall, Fobbing, 1400-1600pm. Cost is £1 and includes tea/coffee and

biscuits.

New players are always welcome.

Singing for Fun


Ann Bailey

We sing purely for fun, and if a

wrong note slips in, at least it’s

in the right place! We've had a

good year and look forward to

another. If you are interested

in joining us, please contact

Ann. Here we are entertaining

the General Meeting in

December.



Sketching and Painting

Margaret Schofield

Our first meeting next season (March 16th 2020), will be exploring various art materials that may enhance our work and add another dimension to our skills. Hopefully, we shall have time to sketch from ‘still life’, help one another overcome any problems and enjoy ourselves, as we always do!!!!!!!Exciting times!!!!

An Introduction to Spanish Christine Gomm 07905 117622 This group will start in January 2020 and is for beginners who would like to learn Spanish as a new language. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday monthly at the East Thurrock Community Hall, Corringham Road from 2:00 - 3:00pm. Our first session will be on 14th January 2020. ***For further information please contact Christine on the above phone number or email***

Sunday Singles

Ann Wiltshire 01375 643629

Pauline Thorpe 01375 679571

The Sunday Singles met at Masons on December 17. 13 of us had a lovely meal

and enjoyed the good company. The January outing will be to The Ship, East

Tilbury on the 26th. Names and deposits for this will be taken at the January

General Meeting. Pauline and Ann wish all our friends a very happy 2020.

Ten Pin Bowling

Jean Jardine 01375 679410/ 07551 0952211

Our January meeting is a lunch at Kongs. We meet on the first Thursday each

month, so the February meeting is on the 6th at Hollywood Bowl, Festival Park

Basildon at 10.00 for 10.30 start. Please wear flat non slip shoes.


Trips - Day and Theatre

Christine Gomm 07905 117622


• Please note that tickets WILL NOT be sold prior to 1.30pm on the day of

the General Meeting.

• We do not allocate seats on coaches for day trips.

• We will accept cash or cheques payable to ‘SLH U3A Social’

• Unfortunately, should you need to cancel your booking we will only be

able to give a refund if we can resell your place.

The Trip to Waddesdon on 28th November was very interesting and beautiful

(except for the traffic). The house and grounds were lit in exciting ways; the

house was full of rooms themed to Christmas Songs; the Christmas Market had

some lovely gifts and it was all well-organised.

Well done Jean

and Chris for

another lovely

outing!!

photos by Chris Henderson


Ukulele

Christine Gomm 07905 117622

Our new venue is the Horndon on the Hill Woolmarket. This will be each Wednesday 12.30-13.30. All will be welcome. If you need any more information please contact me.

A Medway Meander - Monday 20th April 2020

River Medway Lunch Cruise on the Kentish Lady

The Kentish Lady will leave Maidstone and take a 3 hour cruise upriver

through Farleigh Lock and onwards under several bridges turning at

Teston Lock for the return journey.

We will be able to enjoy Fish and Chips on board whilst listening to the

commentary along the way.

If we are lucky we will be able to see plenty of wildlife such as

kingfishers, herons, swans, cormorants, geese and ducks.

The Kentish Lady has wheelchair access and has excellent facilities

including washrooms, heating and a fully licenced bar.

• Prior to boarding the Kentish Lady we will visit the Maidstone

Museum where we will have a guide to show us around. This

fascinating museum has been described as a small version of some of

the major London museums. There will also be an opportunity to get

a tea or coffee and use the museum's washrooms before leaving for

our cruise. The £50.00 cost of this trip is all inclusive of our lunch and

travel by Luxury Coach.

Pick-Up Points

Lampits Hill 9:00

Springhouse Club 9:10

The Oak 9:30

***Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis at the

January'20 General meeting.


Walking: Amblers

Tessa Duggan 01375 670212


The U3A trip to Waddesdon Christmas Market, held on the same day as the last of our 2019 ambles in November, lured away quite a few of our amblers. Plus the weather didn't look too promising that morning, which kept a few more of them away. However, a small band of enthusiastic amblers did turn up for the walk at Westley Heights. The weather behaved itself while we wended our way round, kicking the leaves and taking in the gorgeous Autumn colours of the trees. It was an enjoyable, pleasant walk with which to end our ambling year. Join us on the first amble of 2020, with a refreshing walk round Gloucester Park, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon SS14 3DE. Shed the surplus pounds left over from too many mince pies and helpings of Christmas pudding, on Thursday 30th January, meeting in the car park of Basildon Sporting Village at 10.30 am. Look forward to seeing you there.

Ramblers

Chris Gomm 07905 117622

For January's ramble we will be visiting Belhus Woods Country Park.

The address is: Belhus Woods Country Park, Romford Road, Aveley RM15 4XJ.

We will meet outside the Visitors Centre at 10.30. on Thursday 24th January.

This is a beautiful, diverse park made up of lakes, open spaces and woods.

It has been given the "Green Flag Award" which is given to parks across the

country which maintain a high standard. There is a charge for car parking so car

sharing may be a good idea. I'll look forward to seeing you there.


Wine Appreciation Graham Hodgson 01375 675588


07551 952211

Our January meeting will be on 16th.

Interest Groups Timetable

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Week

1

am Gardening Boules (Springhouse) Tenpin

Bowling.

Boules (Hardie

Park)

Lunch & Chat.

pm Quilting.

O.B.M & Car

E.

Golf

Mixed Craft.

Italian

Beginners.

Family History (computer)

British Sign Lang.

Canasta.

Ukulele.

Boules pm (Springhouse.)

French

conversation.

Lunch & Chat.

Week

2

am London

Walks

Boules (Springhouse).

Line Dancing

Boules (Hardie

Park)

Photography

pm London

Walks

Spanish BS Language.

Canasta.

Ukulele.

Boules pm(Springhouse).

SLH &

District U3A

General

Meeting

Photography

Week

3

am Sketching

&Painting

Boules (Springhouse).

Line Dancing.

Rambling

Boules (Hardie

Park)

Gallery Visits.

pm Singing for

Fun.

Golf

Italian

Beginners.

Family History.

BS Language.

Canasta.

Ukulele.


French conv.

Wine

Appreciation.

Gallery Visits.

Book Club.

Week

4/Last

am Boules (Springhouse).

Line Dancing.

Ambling Birdwatching.

Boules (Hardie

Park)

pm Local History Spanish BS Language

Canasta

Ukulele


T.C.& Play

Reading

French conv.

Charity Craft


SCRABBLE and CRIBBAGE meet on Tuesday every 2 weeks. Play reading 1 is every 6 weeks. Places of

Interest is every 2 to 3 months. This table is just a general guide to help members and potential group

leaders plan.

Events such as Bank Holidays and group trips may result in a particular monthly meeting for a group

being cancelled or the date being changed. Check with the group leaders to confirm that a scheduled

meeting is going to occur.

Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in this

publication. You are advised to verify details including dates, times, venue and costs with the

organiser of any event. The views expressed may not represent those of this U3A. Please seek

permission before using any material in part or in whole.

Contact Details for Interest Groups

(*) = Full, (+) = Some spaces left in the group, (n/a) = members can turn up and join in, (bk) = members can take part but will need to book in order to do so. This is correct at the time of going to print. For updates contact the Interest Groups’ Co-ordinators. Apart from a very few exceptions you must be a current member of our U3A to take part in our Interest Groups.

Group Leader Phone Email

Ambling(n/a) Tessa Duggan 01375 670212


Bird

Watching

(n/a)

Dave Snow 07490 069740

Book Group

(+)

Ann Bailey

Dawn Lloyd-Warne 01375 461885

Boules(Wed

am) (n/a)

Jean Jardine

Dave Jardine

01375 679410

Boules (Wed

pm)n/a

Paul Brice 07788452852

Boules

(Friday) (n/a)

Colin&Carol Munro 07770854318

British Sign

Language(*)


Canasta (+) Pauline Kerridge 01375 462232

CharityCraft(+) Jean Jardine 01375 679410

Cribbage(+) John Green 01375 676441

Family

History (+)

Sue Green 01375 676441

Peter Craggs 01375 643749

Flower

Arranging(+)

Christine Lambert 01375 678131

Linda Tilbury 07928221626


French

Convers.*

Diane Wallace

Gallery Visits

(bk)

Jenny Lees 01375 360786

Chris Henderson

Gardening

Group *

Madeline Beesley 01375 678576

Golf(+) Paul Brice 07788 452852

Holiday

Travel (bk)



Italian* Ron White 01375 673561

Line

Dancing*

Mary Jupp 01375 674623

Carol Lockyer 01375 674732

Local History(+)

Any trips (bk) Barbara Ward

Local

Research (+)

Diane Wallace

Sue Green 01375 676441

London

Walks (*)

Dave Snow 07490 069740

Brian McDonald

Lunch and

Chat (bk)

Chris Brown 01708 852023

Mixed Craft

(+)

Kay Alcon 01375 415290

O. B. Motorcycle

& Car (+)Any trips

(bk)

Graham Edgings 01375 677425

Places of

Interest*

Colin & Carol

Munro

07770 854318

Play Reading 1* Julie Coker 01268 931850

T. C. & Play

Reading*

Deb Foster 01375 677971

Photography

(n/a)

Jenny Lees 01375 360786

Chris Henderson

Quilting* Carol Smith 07845 233640

Quiz (n/a) Ann Bailey

Ramblers

(n/a)

Chris Gomm 07905 117622

Scrabble (+) Magda Norris


Interest Groups’ Co-ordinators:

Paul Brice 07788 452852


If you have an idea for a new interest group, or would like to lead (perhaps as part of a team) a completely

new group or another version of an existing group (in order to eliminate a waiting list) please contact Paul

or Jean.

Please let your interest group leader know if you no longer wish or cannot attend their group on a

permanent basis or are likely to have a prolonged absence. Your name can be taken off a full group’s list if

you have not attended for 3 months without notifying the group leader, and you can then be replaced by

another member who is on the waiting list for that interest group

Dates of General Meetings

These are on the second Thursday of the month at The Springhouse Club from

2.00pm until 4.00pm.

Please can members help us by not arriving at the Springhouse Hall until 1.30pm which is

the time from which we have the Hall officially booked. Committee Members and Speakers

need time and space to set up the room to be able to deal with things such as the

projector, attendance, membership and distribution of Newsletters.

If members arrive early it hinders this process and causes problems for the Springhouse.

Singing for

Fun (+)


Ann Bailey

Sketching&

Painting(+)

Margaret Schofield

Intro to

Spanish (*)

Chris Gomm 07905 117622

Sunday

Singles (bk)

Ann Wiltshire 01375 643629

Pauline Thorpe 01375 679571

Ten Pin

Bowling (n/a)


Trips – Day &

Theatre bk

Chris Gomm 07905 117622


Ukulele (+) Chris Gomm 07905 117622

Wine

Appreciation

(*)

Graham Hodgson 01375 675588



Stanford-le-Hope & District U3A Dates for your Diary

Date Type of Event Details

9thJan2020 General

Meeting

Tom Way (Wildlife Photographer) – ‘African Imagery’

10th Jan 2020 Group Accounts

Deadline

Deadline for all interest group accounts from1st

April 2019 to 31stDecember 2019to be received by

Treasurer

27th Jan 2020 Meeting Executive Committee Meeting

30th Jan 2020

Thursday

Trip Romford Greyhound Stadium

31st Jan 2020 Print Deadline Articles and Photos for February Newsletter

13th Feb 2020

2020

General

Meeting Paul Clancy (Talk & demonstration on ‘The Art

of Magic’)

24th Feb 2020 Meeting Executive Committee Meeting

27th Feb 2020 Print Deadline Articles and Photos for March Newsletter

3rd Mar 2020

Tuesday

Trip Saffron Walden and the Chocolate Lady

12th Mar2020 General

Meeting

Arthur Brooks – Old Time Musicals ‘A Taste of

Musical’

17th Mar 2020

Tuesday

Trip Saffron Walden and the Chocolate Lady

26th Mar 2020 Print Deadline Articles and Photos for April Newsletter

30th Mar 2020 Meeting Executive Committee Meeting

9th April 2020 General

Meeting

Deborah Brady – ‘A Female in Fleet Street’: My Life

as a Former Photo Journalist

20th April 2020

Monday

Trip River Medway Lunch Cruise on the Kentish Lady


Memories from The Old

British Motorcycle Group

Peter was a popular

member of the Old British

Motorcycle Group, always

giving us good input as to

where we could go on our

day trips, and even away

for a few days. He had a

very happy-go-lucky

disposition and was a joy

to be around. On our

monthly meetings and

trips out Peter will be

dearly missed.

Graham Edgings

Memories from Madeline Beesley

On behalf of the Gardening Group I

would like to say how sad we are to

hear the news about Peter. He will be

such a great loss to everyone. When

the Gardening Group first got together

Peter came to give us advice and a talk

about plants. He was very

knowledgeable about gardening in

general as he had worked in his own

allotment for years. As the group took

off and we started to have

competitions Peter and Beryl became


our resident guest Judges, which they did with great professionalism and

humour. Peter will be greatly missed by us all and we would like to send our

condolences to Beryl and the family.

More Memories from Madeline and

the Ukelele group. Peter started the

Stanford-le-Hope U3A Ukulele Group

nearly four years ago with the support

of his wife Beryl. Most of us who

joined had never played the Ukulele

before and under Peter’s guidance,

and with great laughter, we were

introduced to the mysteries of chords,

chord changes, strumming and singing.

Rehearsals were great fun for us every

Wednesdays as we were all learning

together. Peter loved it when we

managed to play a song well and if we ruined it, he would say “ put that in the

origami pile” He was so pleased and proud when we played to an audience and

his aim was to get us good enough to play in Residential Homes. Peter has had

such a great impact on our lives with his enthusiasm; he was the heart and soul

of the group and we will miss him terribly.


Memories from Chris Gomm Our U3A was barely getting off the ground when Peter decided to introduce a Ukulele Group and nobody was more surprised than Peter when so many of us turned up with our ukuleles purchased for no more that £20 to try to learn this instrument. Thanks to Peters instruction and a little effort on our part we soon managed to play a tune.

Memories from Dave Snow I first met Peter when I was a member of Gray's U3A and I contacted him with regards to joining his bird watching group. His welcome was typical Peter as I found out as I got to know him better, "Good to have you" he said, " we could do with younger blood in the group." I was 68 at the time! When the Stanford and District group was formed, I followed Peter over and carried on with the group. Peter's enthusiasm for bird watching was infectious and the group slowly grew in numbers. As Peter took on more roles within the U3A he asked me to take over as group leader with him as my number two. Peter never stopped helping and would always step in to run the trips in my absence. He was always ready to share his knowledge with anyone who showed an interest. I know that the bird watching group will all the poorer for his passing.

My wife and myself also played Boules with Peter and Beryl, and last year the four of us went to Hayling island to play in the annual U3A National Competition. Although we didn't win anything, you couldn't stop Peter enjoying every moment, as usual. Good memories of good times spent with good friends. I think we will all miss him greatly.


Contact details for Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A

Chairman – Colin Munro

Vice-Chairman/Speakers – Bernie Smith

Treasurer – Graham Hodgson

Assistant Treasurer – Jean Jardine

Secretary –Davina Brown

Membership Secretary – John Green

Deputy Membership Secretary – Richard Fox

Website Administrator – Michael Farman

Website Administrator – Christine Gomm

Newsletter Editor – Chris Henderson

Advance Notice Email Co-ordinator – Paul Brice

Interest Groups’ Co-ordinator – Paul Brice

Welfare and Disabilities Co-ordinator – Magda Norris

Buddies – Maureen Nicholas

Policy Documents Administrator – Michael Miller

Deputy Speakers Secretary & General Meeting Co-ordinator- Kevin Brice

Stanford-le-Hope and District U3A Website

https://u3asites.org.uk/slh

National U3A Organisation:

National Office www.u3a.org.uk

Tel 020-8466

Printed by the Diocesan Print Unit, 53, New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1AT

https://u3asites.org.uk/slh

http://www.u3a.org.uk/