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Newsletter January 2012
Please contact Tony Morris at morriscoxtor@yahoo.co.uk, if you would like to receive your Newsletter by e-mail. By choosing to do this, the printing and postage cost saved help us to keep our membership fee at it’s present level.
Our 15th year has got off to a good start with around 400 members and 45 activity groups. Our October speaker, David Larg, gave us a very interesting illustrated account of his walk from Lewes to Lands End. In November we were entertained by Ian Gledhill’s superb knowledge of the History of Trams. In December we enjoyed another success Christmas Quiz and Photographic Competition.
Our Committee is very pleased at the response to our recent survey and we do thank all those who took the time to complete one. You have given us useful comments, ideas and offers of help. The Committee is meting at the beginning of January to discuss all the issues and we will report on future plans.
On behalf of our Committee, I’d like to wish all members a healthy and happy New Year
Beryl Venables
Monthly Meetings
These take place in the Weald Hall, Civic Centre at 2.00 pm. The talk lasts about an hour and there is a chance before and after to see our notice board with up-to-date plans and details of Study Days. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ARE ON WEDNESDAYS (not the usual Thursday or Friday when the hall is not available):
• WEDNESDAY 1ST FEBRUARY– Middle East Update Brian Beeley
Brian Beeley returns by popular request. He is an expert on the Middle East and gives us a very informative view of the current situation there.
• WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH – Victorian Architecture Christopher Wheatley
Christopher Wheatley is another popular speaker. Some of you will recall his talks on stained glass and Dutch painters. On this occasion he will talk on Victorian buildings, particularly those in our area.
• WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL - Ashdown Forest David Brooker
In 2010 David Brooker gave us a stunning visual presentation on the Ashdown Forest that many members were disappointed they had missed. Now is your chance to see this and another area photographed by David.
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If you have any queries or difficulties please ring the Chairman or other committee members.
Please note that no member of Sussex U3A and the work carried out by the committee, the group leaders and the chairman is done so on an entirely voluntary basis.
Change to Monthly Meetings in 2012
Please note that our meetings in February, March, April and May are booked on WEDNESDAYS instead of our usual alternate Thursdays and Fridays. This was made necessary by the block booking of the Weald Hall in those months by Wealden District Council, in case it is needed for their Council Meetings. We hope this does not cause inconvenience: in fact we’ve had several members tell us Wednesday suits them.
The Virtual U3A
The Virtual U3A (vU3A), which went live in January 2009, is an online-only U3A, affiliated to the Third Age Trust. One of its principal aims is to provide the U3A experience for those who are rendered isolated in some way by circumstances or geography and unable to play a full part in a terrestrial U3A. More information is available on the public website www.vu3a.org where one can also apply for membership. Why not pay it a visit? If you know of any one who might benefit, please pass the information on
Photographic Competition
Wow! What a stunning lot. The Judges - Maggie Waters, Margaret Willcock and your reporter anticipated a daunting task. They were not disappointed. The overall standard of entries was highly impressive and the winners in each section must be mightily congratulated.
Amongst a number of finely detailed poses and faces, human and canine, in the Portrait section, Tony Morris’s captivating image of a black and red robed showgirl in Times Square, New York immediately caught the eye. As did Anne Parfitt-Kerr’s dreamy study of autumn trees in the Flora and Fauna class, despite intensive competition from beautifully photographed flower heads. The U3A Groups in Action section was enlivened by Christine Churchman’s snap of Graham Williams directing the Walking Group away from a herd of bullocks (or was it vice-versa?) It took pride-of-place. The Out and About section was the most competitive of all. Among many outstanding prints Anne Parfitt-Kerr’s image of the US Forces Memorial at Omaha Beach, Normandy, beautifully lit against the background of a lowering storm, was exceptional. Deservedly was it not only “Best in Class” but “Best in Show”.
Plaudits not only to the winners but to all the others behind the lenses for the very high quality and standard of their entries.
Julian Oakley
Outing to Rochester
Our coach trip to Rochester to see the German Christmas Market on 7th December was a very enjoyable day
About 35 members and friends travelled by Regency Coach from Uckfield Bus Station to Rochester. It was a crisp, bright but windy day and we were able to explore the many shops, the Market, the Museum, the Cathedral and the Castle.
We hope our next outing will be to Clandon Park National Trust property near Guildford with a stop to explore Guildford on the way. Please see details at our monthly meetings or keep in touch with me.
Beryl Venables
Sussex U3A (S.U.N) Study Days
The Study Day Programme for the next three months is as follows:
Saturday 21st January “Sussex Industrial History: Different Perspectives” - To be held at Crawley Baptist Church Complex
Saturday 4th February “And why not Singing on Prescription” -To be held at The Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea
Saturday 11th February “The Victorian and Edwardian Ages in Sussex C1840-1914 - To be held at Boxgrove Village Hall, Boxgrove, Chichester
Saturday 25th February “From Magic Lantern to Brighton Rock: Exploring Screen Archive South East” - To be held at C218 Lecture Theatre, Checkland Building, University of Brighton, Falmer Campus
Saturday 3rd March “Greeks and Egyptians: Egypt Under Te Ptolemies (305-30 BC) - To be held at Crawley Baptist Church Complex.
Saturday 17th March “Music to Celebrate the Seasons” - To be held at The Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea
All application Forms will be available on the SUN table at the January Monthly Meeting or if you have access to the internet they can be downloaded at http://u3asites.org.uk and follow the trail to Networks and then Sussex.
I have been asked to advise you that application must be received at least 72 hours before the event and refunds are only made in extenuating circumstances. Applications to PO Box 173, Eastbourne, BN24 9EJ accompanied by your cheque and a stamped addressed envelope. Also, let me know you are attending as I have any details about changes in time, venue or cancellation.
Summer Schools
The South East Network Summer School is to be held at The University of Chichester between 3 and 6th July 2012.
The U3A National Summer Schools are to be held at the following venues:
Harper Adams College, Telford 16th to 19th July
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester 20th to 23rd August.
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