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May 2021 1
May 2021
Newsletter
Melton Mowbray U3A
Item Page Item Page
Monthly Meetings 1 Walking Groups 4
Committee Notices 1 Annual Reports 5
Group Activities 2 Final Notices 6
The monthly meetings scheduled for May and June 2021 are replaced by Zoom talks (see below).
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT It is very good news that so many of our members have now had both doses of Covid vaccine. And, that the results nationwide suggest the vaccine is delivering significant protection both to individuals (immunity) and communities (transmission).
What will the summer bring? As a U3A we will at all times follow the guidance of the government, the Third Age Trust and our insurers. But, it seems increasingly likely that we will be in position to think about restarting our small (<6 individuals) indoor group meetings in later May. And then our bigger indoor meetings after the 21st June, possibly as early as our July meeting!
We will be working closely with our hosts at the Baptist Church to ensure any resumption of our monthly meeting will be as safe as we can possibly make it. It is too early to know what restrictions there will still be in place, for example, on social distancing, numbers or mask wearing. And it will be so good to be able meet together again. Graham Cherryman, Chairman
ZOOM TALKS May 20th 2021, Companion Planting for a Balanced Garden by Ian Bedford- an introduction to plants which can attract or repel insects and how they can be used in our gardens to create a natural balance. June 3rd 2021, One in the Eye by Graham Cherryman - how blowpipes, pus, society ladies, medical entrepreneurs and the 52nd “Best Bostonian of All Time" helped defeat smallpox. June 17th 2021, What Lies Beneath the Surface by Ginny Davis To receive Zoom codes for these meetings, or our simple guide to setting up Zoom,
Registered Charity No. 1137780
Committee Notices
May 2021 2
email [email protected]. Committee members are happy to advise members having difficulty accessing Zoom meetings.
Joan Allen, Speaker Secretary
Video & Sound We Need You!
If you have experience as a video cameraman or sound recordist, please help. To ease the transition between Zoom talks and public meetings, we want to hold hybrid meetings. This means televising talks on a live video feed. Any level of expertise (even willing beginners), will help, as we have none! If you can help, please contact:
If you know somebody, please pass this on!
'IT'S NOT TOO LATE' As detailed in an earlier Newsletter, the access to u3a benefits has lapsed for a further 162 members who have not renewed their membership for 2021. The current membership stands at 564. Our u3a is gearing up for many activities to restart soon now that Covid restrictions are being eased. (Subject to Government and Third Age Trust guidance). Contact your Group Leader for further information that applies to the group(s) that you attend. If any current members have friends, relations or others who have not renewed their membership, for whatever reason, please let them know that "It's not too late" to renew for this year. We would also be very pleased to welcome any new members in joining us.
Eric Faulconbridge, Membership Secretary
KEEPING IN TOUCH If you become aware of a member becoming seriously ill or experiencing other life changing events please do let a member of the Committee know, even if you think someone else may have notified us. We would rather be notified more than once than not at all.
GROUP LEADERS Calling all Group Leaders – come and join us for a meeting on Zoom. It’s a chance to speak to other group leaders meet your committee members, ask any questions, discuss any points you might like to raise or just have a chat. It’s friendly and informal so why not give it a try? Our next zoom meeting will be on Friday 28th May at 10-30am. Invitations will be sent out nearer the date. I look forward to welcoming you there.
Linda Faulks, Groups Coordinator
Group Notices
May 2021 3
AMERICAN STUDIES Meetings have been suspended for the summer The next likely meeting will be in October By then we have every reason to hope that we can return to Tesco
Chris Lawman
BRIDGE 1 (TUESDAY BRIDGE)
The Tuesday Bridge group will resume meetings from Tuesday 22nd June when,
hopefully, the Covid-19 restrictions will have been lifted, in accordance with the
Government's road map. Currently designated as Bridge Beginners and Improvers
Group, the group will revert to its original designation as Bridge Group 1. Tuition
will no longer be provided for beginners.
More details will appear in the June Newsletter.
Contact John Playfer [email protected]
COMPOSER OF THE MONTH
With the likelihood of Covid-19 restrictions being lifted on 21st June in accordance
with the Government’s road map, it should be possible to resume meetings of the
group on Wednesday 23rd June. More details will be notified in the June Newsletter
Contact John Playfer [email protected]
CROQUET It’s here at last! Our croquet season starts on Thursday afternoon, weather permitting. We look forward to catching up with our members and are happy to welcome newcomers. If you want to play this season but have not yet let us know please contact us now by email at [email protected] or telephone. See you there!
Diane Cherryman, joint group leader
OUTINGS We are delighted to announce that we have organised the following outing: Royal Leamington Spa – Wednesday 15th September 2021 Price: £20 per person Depart from Melton’s Tesco car park at 9.00 a.m. returning at about 4.30 p.m. There is plenty to do with all areas of the town centre easily accessed on foot within a ten-minute walk. There is a lovely shopping area, art gallery, museum, Royal Pump Rooms, Jephson Gardens and the River Leam. To reserve your seat on the coach you will need to pay in advance. Please telephone Jean Pearson to make your reservation and arrange payment. You will need to give: • your name; • U3A membership number (only fully paid-up members for 2021 can go on the trip); • contact number (preferably mobile for track and trace purposes on the day); • email address (to be used in the event of any alterations/cancellation of the outing, and to inform you nearer the time of any Covid-safe procedures to follow on the day of the trip). We are currently organising another outing for November and will announce that in the June Newsletter. In the meantime take care, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Debbie Adams, Jean Pearson and Ruth Rigby, Outings Group Leader
May 2021 4
PARCHMENT GROUP It is with great regret that I am reporting that the U3A Parchment Group will be disbanding as at May 1st 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to give a very sincere thanks and gratitude to Mrs Josie Toon - a founder member of the Melton Mowbray U3A - who set this group up and ran it for 20 years plus. Josie taught Parchment with enthusiasm, and was a very fine and patient teacher of the craft, plus also organising displays and keeping everyone interested throughout all the years. In addition, I would like to thank all the members of the group who gave their time and expertise in making many of the get well and sympathy cards used by the U3A group. All the members of the group are sad the group is having to close after all these years.
Frances Hellard
TAI CHI The NHS say that Studies have shown that (Qi Gong and) Tai Chi help older people reduce stress, improve posture, balance, mobility and increase leg muscle strength. It’s truly amazing that something so slow and graceful gives even greater benefits than a vigorous workout. In Birmingham volunteers, aged between 65 and 75, who didn’t exercise regularly were assigned to 12 weekly classes of either Zumba Gold or normal Tai Chi and Qi Gong. With surprising results:
Both exercises give similar increases in heart health and fitness The power of Qi lies in greater blood vessel health and decrease in fatigue The research paper is called “Tai Chi is an effective form of exercise to reduce markers of frailty in older age”. Are you too old for it? I mean tai chi and qigong. No it’s a low-impact exercise. It’s gentle on your bones and joints. Most people should be able to do it. So Tai chi is good for everyone; it’s ideal for older couch potatoes wanting to raise activity levels gently and gradually. Even if your balance isn’t too good right now you can begin by sitting or lying down. Using flowing easy movements that don't stress the joints or muscles. It’s very unlikely to cause injury when done correctly. Contact Peter when you would like to give it a go.
THEATRE GROUP [email protected] Please use this to contact any of the Theatre Group Leaders Gilbert and Sullivan, Buxton - August 4th 2021 Whilst all those who were listed for this show should have received an email, this is to let everyone know that it has been decided to cancel this trip. Thanks to all those that have supported us and hopefully we can try again next year. The Nutcracker, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thursday 25th November at 2pm. We have 5 tickets not spoken for to date. Please let me know using the email above (or ‘phone Lynda) if you would like a ticket. I am not asking people for money at present – hopefully we can sort that out when we meet again The cost of a ticket is £38.50. Transport will be arranged at an extra cost Some Good News: heard on the grapevine that Melton Theatre will be reopening – possibly in November
Walking Groups
May 2021 5
2ND MONDAY WALKING GROUP- 10th May
Meet at Burton Lazaars Village Hall Car Park 10-15 for 10-30 start.
Members to be divided into groups of not more than six. Group Co-ordinator Geoff Harris
4th MONDAY WALKING GROUP
Our walk on 25th May will be from the Geese and Fountain pub in Croxton Kerrial – meet at 10am Andy Wade will be leader for the day and he has requested that those wishing to stay for lunch should contact him well before the day itself as the pub require numbers Members of the group have been emailed with his contact details Advance notice of the next walk – from the Blue Bell, Hoby on 22 June at 10am Please consider volunteering to lead future walks
Chris Lawman, group leader
3rd WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP – 7km (approx.4 1/2 miles) First post 2021 Lockdown walk will be on 19 May. Meet at the Wheel Inn, Branston, NG32 1RU, 10.15 for 10.30 start. Parking available behind the Inn. Food can be ordered prior to walking if required. Many thanks Terry Hopper (Group leader/Co-ordinator)
1ST THURSDAY WALKING GROUP We like to walk approximately 6 miles, starting at 10am, and usually start and finish at a public house. Some members stop for lunch and/or a drink afterwards. Details of our meeting point and walk will be included in the June newsletter. Please let us know if you wish to continue walking with this group and are a current member, if you have not already done so. Likewise, if you wish to leave the group please let us know. We look forward to meeting up with everyone soon! Best Wishes,
Stuart and Wendy Posnett, group leaders Email [email protected].
INDOOR/OUTDOOR BOWLS Due to Covid restrictions the last three sessions of the indoor season at the end of March 2020 had to be cancelled along with the proposed fish and chip supper on the 30th of March. The Melton indoor bowls club did open for a while when lock down rules were eased but just for bowls club members The membership at the end of March stood at 40.
Annual Group Reports
May 2021 6
Subject to the governments roll out going as planned we hope to start indoor bowling in some form next October. At the moment I not sure of the situation regarding outdoor bowls.
Cliff Thompson, group leader
HISTORY Unfortunately because we are such a big group and also because no-one felt capable of setting our group up on Zoom, there have been no History meetings this year. Hopefully at some time in the future we might get going again
Joan Dawson
SINGLES 1 There is, of course, not a lot to relate concerning summing up the previous 12 months, except to confirm that Singles 1 is still an entity and the members are still in contact with each other, waiting for the day of release when we can meet, all 13 of us, once again. I phone the ladies and they phone me, and we stay in touch that way. The conversations are usually optimistic, though wistful, but not at least without hope of better days to come. In fact, reading extracts from Alan Duncan’s new book today I saw that he viewed us, the elderly population, in a kindly and therefore not depressing, light. I quote from his 2017 diary: “Friday, January 26th: “My 27th Melton (constituency) Ladies lunch. Usual cheerful gathering of 80 year-olds.” Yes, cheerful, every one of us, no matter the afflictions of old age. So 2021 unfolds with surprising weather changes, hot, cold, who knows, and we garden or stay indoors, or go for a walk. And now relatives can meet up as well. I am discovering as we email and talk on the phone, a lot more about our individual members, which is a good and rewarding thing. However, the end of this plague is in sight and if we do as we are told, the government, which has done a magnificent job in its endeavours to keep us safe so far, will be due a big pat on the back when all this gets simply written into history.
Michaela Kelly, group leader
ANNUAL REPORTS DUE FOR THE JUNE 2021 NEWSLETTER: Latin Line Dancing Luncheon Clubs Mah Jong 1 and 2 Maths for Fun
Contributions to the June 2021 newsletter to be received no later than 31st May. Items should be emailed to [email protected] or posted to 20 Gartree Drive, Melton Mowbray LE13 0AE
And now, recently unlocked and always unhinged, Dr Pan d’Mick – Chairman and Chief Dotty of the Molten Mewbray U1D [University of the First Dotage] writes:
Final Notices
May 2021 7
I was in Bond Street recently and decided to buy my wife a present. I went inside a perfumery and started sampling the fragrances. When I found one I liked, I asked the assistant the price, “Seventy-five pounds”’ she said. “That’s too much” I said, “Is there a smaller bottle of the same perfume?”. She produced a tiny bottle, “This one is thirty pounds”, she sniffed. When I asked if she could show me something even cheaper. She handed me a mirror. NEWS FROM OUR VACCINATION CENTRE: While walking home after his second dose, one of our fellow Dotties found his vision was blurred. He phoned the Centre for urgent medical advice and was advised to come back as he had left his glasses behind. Another Dotty required injection into her leg muscle rather than her arm. She didn’t mind at the time, but now she tells me ‘My Pfizer’s killing me’. Proof the vaccine is not about Bill Gates taking control of our minds- our IT expert, Chip Hacking, still hates Windows 10. One of our Dotties got vaccinated abroad with the Russian COVID-19 vaccine. He təlls me not to woяяy! He still doи't seə anч sidə efectoski secundarioski и меня зовут Лопес Обрадор, и я коррумпирован и лжец и почему я даю чистые прямые награды.
- Dr Pan says, “I’m not putin that in my body”. FROM ONE OF OUR GROUPS: Anna Gramme of our Crossword Solvers Group finds the harder the crossword, the more cross words she uses.
She likes jigsaws as much as crosswords, but dot to dot’s are where she draws the
line.
Anna once went to a party dressed as a jigsaw piece, but didn’t enjoy herself. “I just didn’t fit in”, she tells me. IT’S PUNDEMONIUM IN HERE: What is the difference between a hippo and a zippo? Well the hippo weighs a ton, while the zippo is a little lighter. A bicycle cannot stand on it’s own because it is too tired. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat. Once you have seen one shopping centre, you’ve seen a mall. Reading while sunbathing makes you well red. I, for one, like Roman numerals. No matter how hard you push the envelope, it will still be stationary. Police were sent to a local child care centre where a three-year old was resisting a rest.
May 2021 8
You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish. Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine. Alphabet Soup – beware may contain N, U, T, S. A magician works on a cruise liner. Each cruise the audience is new, so he repeats the same tricks over and over again. But the captain’s parrot sees the show every time and gets bored. He starts spoiling the act by giving away the magician’s secrets. “Why are all the cards the ace of spades? It is not the same hat. The flowers are hidden under the table”. The magician is furious, but it is the captain’s parrot and he can’t do anything. One day the cruise ship hits a submerged reef and sinks. As fate would have it, the magician and the parrot end up in the sea, clinging to the same piece of wreckage. They stare at each other in silent hatred for two days, until eventually the parrot says, “Okay, I give up. What did you do with the bloody ship?” A man is pulled over by a traffic policeman. “Didn’t you notice your wife fell out of the car three miles ago”, he asks. “That’s a relief,”’ the man replies’ “I thought I had gone deaf”. DOCTOR, DOCTOR Patient: “I have a serious problem. I can never remember what I have just said.” Doctor: “When did you first notice this problem?” Patient: “What problem?” Patient: Doctor, doctor, I can’t feel my feet. Doctor: That’s because we cut your arms off. Patient: “I have these silent gas emissions. I have already had had two since I walked in the room”. Doctor: “First, we will check your hearing”. Some medical definitions:- Bacteria – the back door of a cafeteria
Bandages – the Rolling Stones
Benign – what any eight-year old would like to be
Bowel – like A, E, I, O, U
Buccal – does up your belt
A man, a woman and her dog are all watching TV together. The dog stares the screen intently, growling at the villain and wagging his tail whenever the hero comes on-screen. The man starts watching the dog, and eventually turns to the woman and says, “That is extraordinary behaviour for a dog”. “You’re right”, says the woman, “It is surprising – he hated the book”. REMEMBER – While the early bird catches the worm, it is the second mouse who gets the cheese [think about it]. That’s all Dotties. Well I think so. My memory is not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory is not as sharp as it used to be.
Dr Pan d’Mick
