CHEADLEANDGATLEYU3ARegisteredCharityNumber:1172853

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE

JUNE2020NEWSLETTER

Specialeditionnotice

AstherehavebeennoMonthlyorGroupmeetingssinceMarch,thisisaslimmed-downversionofourusualNewsletter.Thereisnolistofforthcomingspeakers,andsomeofthenormalfeaturessuchasreportsontheNewMembers’MeetingandCoachHolidaysareabsentbecausetheydidnottakeplace.ThistimetheprintedblackandwhiteversionofthisNewsletterisidenticaltothecolouronlineversion(exceptforthecolour!).

ThecoverphotographnormallyfeaturesoneofourGroups,butonthisoccasionIhaveusedacollageofflowerandblossomimagestakenaroundGatleyduringtheperiodoflockdown.ApartfromtheBeeOrchid,theyareallcommonvarieties.TheBeeOrchidwasspottedon8thJuneneartheLakeDistrictestateandislonggonenow.

000 000 Pinkcherryblossom ArareBeeOrchid(Ophrysapifera) Whitecherryblossom

000 000 000 Hollyhock Orchid Yellowiris Bramble

2

Yetoutofthisexceptionalsituationaroseanabundanceofextraordinaryactsofkindnessandgoodwill:neighboursgottoknoweachotherforthefirsttimeandstartedlookingoutforeachother.Shoppingandemergencyhelpschemesblossomed.Strangersexchangedkindwordsandtherewasapalpablesenseofhelpfulnessabout.Inmanyways,thispandemichasshownthegoodnessofpeople.

ItseemsalongtimeagosinceourusualU3Aactivitiescametoanabrupthalt.Butfollowingthedisruptionthepandemiccaused,manyofourmembersandtheirInterestGroupsfoundnewwaysofkeepingintouch–bytelephone,throughFacebookgroupsandviavideoconferencing.YoucanreadabouttheseendeavoursinthisNewsletterand,whoknows,thismightstimulatesomeofusintofindingyetmorewaysofkeepingintouchandkeepinglearningandlaughing.

AtthetimeofwritingitisnotknownwhenourMonthlyMeetingsandregularInterestGroupswillbeabletoresume.Whenwehaveinformationaboutthiswewillinformallmembersbyemail,andbypostforthosewithoutemail.ItmaybethatoutdoorGroupssuchastheWalkingGroups,wheresocialdistancingiseasytoachieve,willbeabletoresumebeforeindoorGroups.Thismayhappensoonortakesometimeyet.Wewillbeguidedbygovernmentadviceanditwillhappen.AsTheQueenreassuredusall:WeWillMeetAgain!

Withallbestwishesandgreetingstoyouall, BatshevaSamelyMessagefromtheTreasurer

TheCovid-19outbreakhascausedconsiderablefinancialdifficultiesforalmosteveryone,fromtheGovernment,throughbusinesseslargeandsmallandcharities,tofamiliesandindividuals.CheadleandGatleyU3Aislikelytomakeasubstantiallossduringthecurrentfinancialyear,butfortunatelywehavesufficientreservestobeabletocopewiththis,andwewillremainfinanciallystrong(seethe2020FinancialStatementcirculatedrecentlywiththeAGMinformation).

Eventhoughwehavebeenunabletoofferafullyear’sactivities,theCommitteedecideditwasbesttoleavetherenewalfeeat£12forthefollowingreasons:

1. Itisrelativelyinexpensive(5cupsofcoffeeatCostacostaboutasmuch!)andmembershipoftheWIis£43peryear.

2. Ourfixed‘permember’expensesremainsubstantiallyunchanged.ApproximatefiguresfortheseareNationalU3Amembership£3.70,Beaconlicencefee£1.00,ThirdAgematterspostage£2.00,C&GNewsletters80p,atotalofabout£7.50.Theremaining£4.50,togetherwiththesmallsurplusmadeonroomhirecosts,enablesustofundsuchthingsastheChristmasmeeting(a£370subsidy),Committeeand60splanningmeetingsroomhireandrefreshments(£280),resourcesforGroups(£180)andaNationalConferencedelegate(£310lastyear),atotalof£1140,about£4.60eachforour250members.

3. Whenmeetingshadtobecancelledabruptlyduetothenationallock-downon23March,theCommitteetookthedecisiontohonourpaymentsforthecancelledMarchmeetings(£230),andagreedtomake‘goodwill’paymentstotheURCandStJamesforApril,May,JuneandJulytotalling£480.WehavenoGroupincometocoverthesepayments,andwillhavetoreviewthesituationinSeptember.

AllanWitton

It has been another busy six months for Cheadle and Gatley U3A. Our membership has increased to 250 and we now have 32 Interest Groups, with two new ones recently started.

The afternoon tea and information session for new members and Coordinators in March was very much appreciated by all who attended.

We amended our application and renewal forms in line with the new GDPR regulations and have also included a Gift Aid form for members.

At the AGM a resolution was passed to change the Object Clause in our constitution to bring it in line with the Charity Commission requirements.

It has been another busy six months for Cheadle and Gatley U3A. Our membership has increased to 250 and we now have 32 Interest Groups, with two new ones recently started.

The afternoon tea and information session for new members and Coordinators in March was very much appreciated by all who attended.

We amended our application and renewal forms in line with the new GDPR regulations and have also included a Gift Aid form for members.

At the AGM a resolution was passed to change the Object Clause in our constitution to bring it in line with the Charity Commission requirements.

MessagefromtheChairDearMembers

NotonlydoesthisNewsletterlookdifferent,ourveryliveslookandfeelverydifferentfromwhattheywereonlyaveryfewmonthsago.

Mostthingsthatmadeupourlivesgavewaytosomethingentirelydifferent:goingoutshopping,meetingfriendsorrunningerrandswasreplacedbyhavingtostayathome.

Communicationbecamescarce.Togethernesschangedintosocialdistancing.Allofasuddenwehadtodealwithfeelingsofisolationandloneliness.

3

CommunityInvolvement

OurCommunityInvolvementfor2019-2020wasthePipFoundation.ThiswassupportedviaavarietyofdonationsfromtheChristmasraffle,booksales,cardmaking,seedsales,theSingingGroupandcollectiontins.Thetotalraisedwas:

£530

MarieMcManushasthankedthepeopleofCheadleandGatleyfortheirgenerositywiththefollowingmessage. Thankyousomuchforyourgeneroussupportandbeautifulwords. ThePipFoundationwillcontinuetoraisefundsand awarenessforthosesufferingfromthisterribleillness. WithyourhelpPip’slegacywillcontinuetogrow,helpingothersinneed. Love,MarieX

ThankyoumessagefromAnorexiaandBulimiaCare.

ABCisverygratefultoreceiveyourkinddonation. Weworktirelesslytoraiseessentialfundsinordertocontinue providingourvitalservicestosupportandcareforpeople sufferingwitheatingdisordersandtheirfamilies.Thankyou!NewsfromaroundtheGroups

AnyoneinterestedinjoiningaGroupshouldinthefirstinstancetelephonetheConvenororspeaktothemattheMonthlyMeeting.Archaeology LoisEvans 4284373

WehavenotmetsinceFebruarybutthathasbeennoexcusefornotgettinginvolvedandlearning.Wehavehadplentyofmaterialtokeepusengagedwitharchaeology:FutureLearncourses;DigVenturevideos;SMARTonZoom;andvariousothersitesandlectures.MondayBookGroup LesleyWitton 4281522

Westartedofftheyearasnormal,choosingthethemeofnovelswrittenorsetintheSixtiesasourJanuarychoiceinpreparationforthe60sCelebrationDayplannedfortheautumn.TherewassuchawiderangeofbookstochoosefromthatwekeptthisthemeforFebruarytoo.

JohnUpdike’sRabbitRunwasonenovelfelttocapturethespiritofthetimewithuncertaintiesaboutsex,religionandtheplacesofmenandwomeninsociety.OthernovelsdiscussedwerePortnoy’sComplaintbyPhilipRoth;RoomAtTheTop,JohnBraine;TheSpyWhoCameinfromtheCold,JohnleCarré;TheListener,TaylorCaldwell;andTheGoldenNotebook,DorisLessing,whichallreflectedtheperiodindifferentways.Someoftheotherbooksread,thoughwritteninthesixties,weresetinothertimes.

LowbornbyKerryHudsonisanautobiographyaboutbeingbornpoorintoday’ssociety.Theauthorisnowaprize-winningnovelist,buttwentyyearsagoshescored8/10ontheAdverseChildhoodExperiencesmeasureofchildhoodtrauma.Thismovingandreadableaccounthasbeenhighlypraised.

InMarchwemettodiscussnovelsbymodernBritishwriters.Someofusmissedthememothattheyshouldbesetinmoderntimes,however,andthetwothatIread,thoughwrittenin2018,werebothsetintheSecondWorldWar!DearMrsBirdbyA.J.Pearceisaboutagirlwholongstobeawarcorrespondentbutendsupansweringletterstotheproblempageofawomen’smagazine.Itisaneasyread,amusingbutalsoquitemovingandacelebrationofthecourageofwomen.TranscriptionbyKateAtkinsonismorecomplexinplotandstructurewithtimeshiftsandatangledwebofintrigue.MuchofitwasbasedonfactaboutworkingforMI5duringthewarandfortheBBCinthefifties.

4

SallyRooney’sNormalPeoplewasenjoyedbytwoofthegroupandhasgoneontobeaverysuccessfulTVseries.Itisasensitiveaccountoftherelationshipbetweentwoyoungpeoplewhobothhavedifficultyfittinginindifferentways.InQueeniebyCandiceCarty-Williams,theeponymousheroineisfromaJamaicanBritishfamily,whodon’tseemtounderstandher,andhasproblemswithherjob,herboyfriendandlifeingeneral.Thenoveldealswithrelationshipsandracismwithhumourandrealinsight.

OurchoiceforAprilwasmodernAmericanauthors,butthecoronaviruslockdownpreventedusfrommeetingtodiscussthem.Weexchangedreviewsviaemail,however.Someofthenovelsenjoyedwere:AllTheLightWeCannotSeebyAnthonyDoerr;HazardsofTimeTravelbyJoyceCarolOates;There,TherebyTommyOrange.

ForMay,wedecidedthataslibraries,bookshopsandcharityshopshadallclosedwewouldresorttoourownbookshelvesandeitherchoosebookswehadbeenmeaningtoreadforagesorre-readoldfavourites.Twoofourmemberstookadvantageoftheisolationtoembarkontheirownreadathons!OnereadWarandPeace,theotherreadallthreebooksintheHilaryMantelWolfHalltrilogy(hehadalreadyreadthefirsttwo,butreadthemagainasapreparationforthethird!).Theconclusionofbothreaderswasthat‘greatliteraturemakeslockdownapleasureratherthanapenance’.Otherbooksreadwere:TheRosieProjectbyGraemeSimsion;CrimsonChinabyBetsyTobin;GhostwrittenbyDavidMitchell;APlaceofRefugebyTobiasJones;WithoutMeritbyColleenHoover.

WecontinuedwiththisplanintoJuneandreviewswerereceivedforTheSecretRiverbyKateGrenville;AThousandAcresbyJaneSmileyandWildfirebyAnnCleeves.Ourmembershavealsobeenreadingbooksaboutartandgardening.

Thereisnotroomtogivethedetailedreviewshere,butIhavethemallonfilesoifanyonewantsarecommendationpleaseletmeknow!Iamverygratefultoourgroupmemberswhohavetakenthetimeandtroubletocirculatetheirinterestingcommentsforthebenefitoftherestofus.TuesdayBookGroup TinaKelly 3767909

000

Aswerelyonthe(nowclosed)libraryforbookandmeetingvenue,weareawaitingdevelopmentsaboutfutureopening.However,somemembershavebeenexploringonlineborrowingandithasnowbecomepossibletodothisasagroup,whenandifeveryonehasaccess.Astomeetings,memberaccesstoZoomhasbeenpatchysomeetingscannotyethappen.Thelibraryaresendingnewslettersandbeingmostcooperative.

Bowling AnneMcCarty 4379900

Weareallmissingeachother,thegentleexercise,theteamcompetitionsandthefriendlychatoveracupofteaandbiscuits.Untilwemeetagain,staysafe.

Bridge LindaEwing 3125072

WhenitispermissibleformeetingstoresumewewillgatheragainatSt.James’ChurchHallat1.30onthe1stand3rdWednesdaysofeachmonth.Weusuallyhave3or4tablesandthecompetitionis(not)intense.Aboutonceevery6weeksanexperiencedplayercomesalongtocoachusonthefinerpointsofthegame.NewplayersarealwayswelcomeandwedoprovidethebestbiscuitsintheU3A.

InJanuary,wereadAgnesGreybyAnneBrontewhicheveryoneappreciatedforitsstyleandsocialcomment.

InFebruarywereceivedDon’tTurnAroundbyAmandaBrooke.Suchwasthecontrastfromthepreviousworkincontentandquality,thatsomecouldnotevenfinishit.

InMarchwereadThereseRaquinbyEmileZolawhichdividedthegroup.SomehadreadotherworksbyZolaandwereenthusiastic,whileothersfoundthesubjectmatterandtreatmentdarkanddepressing.Weconductedthelastfeedbackonline.

5

BusPassandExplorers JanetFarrall 4287883

Asmostofyouknow,ourGroupdoesn’tneedaspeakerbecauseweareaverychattygroupwhomeetovera‘helpyourself’cuppa.Wecatchupwithfriendsandexchangeideasaboutwherewewouldliketogonext.Whilewehaveallbeenverygoodatself-isolating,justdoingourrecommendedhour’slocalwalk,wehavekeptintouchviaanemailsentoutonthedaywewouldhavemet.Wehavepassedonnewsandinformationgleanedfrommeetingpeopleonourwalksandfromtelephoneconversations.Fromourfeedbackpeopleseemtohaveenjoyedthissopleasekeepitup.

Wefeelthisisallwecandoatpresentbutarereallylookingforwardtoorganisingthenexttrip-afternoonteaatClaridgesforMary,andthePonderosafortherestofus?Wehadtocancelnextmonth’sbookedtripontheJudithMaryCanalBoat(withafternoonteaofcourse!),butwewillbookitagainonanotheroccasion.Staysafe,everyonematterstosomeone.

ComputingAssistance PeterBayley 2823468

Ihavebeenabitmoreengagedinthelastquarterwithhelpingmemberstoresolvesomeemailandvideocallingissuesandintheselectionofanewcomputersystemtocopewithhigherusageofvideocallingandgeneralonlineactivity.

Iamcurrentlyinvestigatingtheavailabilityanduseof(free)screenreadersoftwaretoassistthoseexperiencingvisionissuessurroundingourenhancedrelianceononlinesystemsduringtheongoingpandemicandassociatedlockdown.Ifanyonehasanyquestionspleasefeelfreetocontactme.

Craft/Sewing JosephineHaynes 4912382Thisisasmallbutenthusiasticgroupofpeoplewhohaveinterestsinsewing,knittingandgeneralfabricandpapercrafts.It'sareallyfriendlygroupoflike-mindedpeopleandwebringourownongoingprojectstothegroupandshareskillsandexperiencewitheachotheroverrefreshments.Thereisnosetprogrammeofeventsbutthereislotsoffriendlychatterandexchangeofideas.

Duringthisperiodoflockdownwehavebeenworkingonourcraftsathome,althoughwithouttheencouragementoffriendsandtheexchangeofideas,tosaynothingofthelaughterandchatterofouractualmeetings,someofushaveratherlackedmotivation.WehavestartedaFacebookpageforthegroup,andofcourse,wecanemail,butwecan'twaittoactuallystartourpersonalmeetingsagain.Therewillcertainlybelotsofchatterthenaswelookbackforashorttimeandthenforwardtothefuture.

OurmemberLoisHaslamhastakenadvantageofalittlemorefreetimeduringthelockdowntofinishthislovelyquilt.Shewrites“Itismadefromtheremnantsfrom70yearsofsewing,andisahistoricreminderformeofthedresses,shirts,curtains,cushionsandthemachinedpatchworkquiltImadeformygranddaughter’s18thbirthday.”

Agreatdealoftime,careandskill(andlove)haveresultedinthisbeautifulquilt,welldoneLois.

000

6

CreativeWriting NigelBann 4916835

Atpresentthegroupissevenstrong,andweallprepareapieceoforiginalwritingsome600-800wordslong,onanysubjectwelike.Weeachreadoutourofferingsatthemeetingsandreceiveconstructiveandencouragingcommentsfromtherestofthegroup.Wewritestories,poetryandreports;anythinggoes.

LOCKDOWN GIRL (A poem for the times by Nigel and Pam Bann)

She said her name was Sue, her shop closed at six. Will it ever open again, this virus sticks.

I hadn’t known her long, we seemed to connect. Will I ever see her again, this virus wrecks.

The girl behind the counter at the bakery. Was that smile for everyone, or was it just for me. Will I live a lifetime with her memory in my brain. Or maybe in a month or two, will she be serving me again.

The shop is open now, but Sue,where is she. Baker said she won’t be back ‘til she’s virus free.

We’ve had the all-clear now, there’s Sue at the till. “How about a drink”, I ask her, she says she will.

She’s back behind the counter at the bakery. She still smiles at everyone, especially at me. No more endless fretting with the “might or might not be”. I took my chance and I’m made up ‘cos she is coming out with me.

*************************************** NigelBannandDavidWilliams(bothU3Amembers)andtheirfriendJeanThomasarethemembersofthegroupDiJoNwhohaveentertaineduswonderfullyatvariousU3Aevents.Theyperformanumberoftheirsongsonthefreewebsitewww.charitysongs.co.ukwhere(optional)donationscanbemadetocharitiesifyouwishtodownloadtheirsongs.

Dining LoisEvans 4284373

SadlywehavehadnomealsoutsinceFebruaryandweareawaitingnewsofrestaurantsreopening,butwearen’tsurehowsocialdistancingwillworkforthisverysociablegroup!

Environment PeterBriggs 4856871

AcoregroupofmembersinourEnvironmentGrouphavenotmetsince2019butareconsideringfutureoptionsfordiscussionsandpossiblevisitsfor2020–2021(postCovid-19pandemic).Inthesetryingtimes,therearesomeenvironmentalsubjectsthataresimilar(orevenmoreurgent)thanCovid-19;theseofcourseincludeglobalwarmingandclimatechange.However,ourGrouppolicyhasremainedtostudyandtorelatetoourlocalenvironmentandtoheritageareasofinterestmainlywithintheNorthofEngland.PriortotheCovid-19outbreak,wehadaratherlonglistofplacesthatwererecommendedfordayvisitsandthislistiscurrentlybeingrefinedsothatmemberscanchoosefrom#EnvironmentalplacesforU3Avisitsin2021.Pleaselettheconvenorknowifyouwouldliketoofferashorttalk(oravisitvenue)withenvironmentalorheritagethemes.

FamilyHistory LindaCorry 4284094

ThegroupmeetsinmyhouseinGatley,offStyalRoad.Wearecurrentlyasmallgroupatvaryingstagesinourresearch.Fromexperiencegainedweareabletoadviseeachother,andhelpeachotherbylookinguprecords.WeusetheInternetforourresearch,tryingtousefreewebsitesasfaraspossible.Somegroupmembershavenowmovedontotakingoutasubscriptiontoapaid-forwebsite.Thesamedataisavailableforfreeinlibraries,butitisstilloccasionallynecessarytobuyacertificate.Iamalwayshappytogiveadvicetoanyonewhodoesn’tknowwheretostart.

WehadthenormalmeetinginMarchandsincethenhavebeenusingsomeofthelockdowntimetopursueourownindividualresearch.

7

Gardening HeatherWilkinson 4289278

German MarianneOwen 4913323

WeaimtoencourageconversationandfluencyinGerman.Groupmembersplanandshareavarietyofactivitiesandexercises,withspeakingbeingthemostimportantpart.

Ourrecentmonthlymeetings(forthoseofuswiththetechnicalexpertise)havebeenvirtualonZoom,butwelookforwardtomeetinginpersonagainonthethirdTuesdaymorningfrom10till12inamember'shome.Newmembersarewelcome.HistoryofArt MarySharples 4284901

TheHistoryofArtGrouphasbeenfindingnovelwaysoflearningwithouthavingtomeetinpersoninabuilding.

Wehavefoundmanyinstitutionsofferingvirtualexperiencethroughdigitaltechnology.Itispossibletovisitartgalleries,watchfilmsandattenduniversitylecturesindestinationsallovertheworld.ThisjourneyhastakenustoartgalleriesinLondon,alectureatHarvardonJapaneseArtandthecinemaexperienceofImpressionistPainters“MonettoMatisse.”ThereisstillmuchmoretoexploresountilitissafetoorganiseameetingattheURConthelastWednesdayofthemonthat1.30pmourvirtualexcursionsaroundtheworldwillcontinue.

Newmembersareextremelywelcome.Theexperienceisafreeandeasywaytolearn.Whynotbeamazed?Getyourcontactdetailsonthemailinglist!

LocalHistory JohnPollard 4282150

Webeganour2020programmeinFebruarywithatalkinCheadleLibraryCommunityroombyourfavouritespeakerDrDianaLeitchon“MenofWarrington”.Itisfascinatinghowherresearchesestablishthehistoryofourlocalheroes,theirachievementsandtherelationshipsbetweenthem.

InearlyMarchourfirstvisitoftheyearwastoManchesterPoliceMuseum,NewtonStreet,Manchester.Setinanoldpolicestationitcontainsmuseumdisplaysofuniforms,helmets,truncheons,handcuffsandequipmentfromthepast200yearsoftheCityForceandthemodernGreaterManchesterPolicearea(seemaponthegroupphotograph).Therearealsoanoldstreetpolicebox,achargeroom,cellsandanoldmagistratescourtremovedfromDukinfield.Overall,amostworthwhilevisitwhichwouldwellrepayareturnonaTuesdaywhenthemuseumisnormallyopentothepublic.

Webegantheyearwithourannualquiz.ThankstoChristineBensonforthequestionsandprizes.Wegaveouttheprogrammefor2020arranged,overcoffee,onourvisittoBent'sGardenCentreinOctober.

InFebruaryweshouldhavegonetoRodeHalltoseethesnowdropsbutduetotheverycoldweatheronthedaywewenttoBrooksideGardenCentreinstead.

WehadarrangedaprivategardenvisitinMacclesfieldforMarchbutthisofcoursecoincidedwiththelockdown&socialisolationsowascancelled.

Iftherehavebeensomepositivesideeffectsofthelockdown,oneofthemhastobethatmorepeoplehavespenttimegardening&ofcoursetheweatherhasplayeditsparttoo!Sowehavebeensharingphotosofourowngardens.

8

ThegroupatManchesterPoliceMuseuminfrontofthemapof

GreaterManchesterPoliceareaandphotosofpolicecarsandapolicemotorcyclist.

Thearrivalofthecoronaviruspandemicinmid-MarchledtothecancellationofourmonthlynewsletterandmeetingsplannedfromApriltoJuly.Hopefullysomeofthese,includingVictorianPlantHuntersandMemoriesofWorldWar2,mayberescheduledintheautumnorwhenmeetingsresume.

Duringthelockdownmembersmayhavepursuedtheirownlocalhistoryinterests.Personally,Ihavebeenfurtherresearching‘GatleyVillagein1960s’fromourownresourcesforourdisplayinthehopethatwemaybeabletoholdour’Celebration60s’meetingintheautumnornextyear.

LunchtimeConcerts–forfree BarbaraWingard 4285922

RecentlyChetham’sSchoolofMusichasstarteduplunchtimeconcertsonline.ThesetakeplaceonFridaysat1.30onYouTubeinthehomesoftheparticipatingstudents.Sofar(asIwrite)theperformershavebeenratheryoungerthanweareaccustomedto,withoccasionalproblemsofintonalities,buttheyallshowpromise.

TheRNCMarealsoarranginglunchtimeconcerts,againonYouTube,withprogrammedetailsavailablewellbeforetheconcertsonMondaysandThursdays.Iwouldbeveryinterestedtoreceiveyourcommentsabouttheseevents.

MOOCs–TheOnlineLearningGroup BatshevaSamely 4286030 07722026278

TheMOOCsGroup–learningnewthingsthroughonlinecourses–atlastwentonlineasagroup!Itwassogoodtoseeeachotherdespitethelockdown.

WediscussedCovid19,ofcourse,andinparticulardiagnostics,testingandmentalhealthissues.

AlsoGlobalWaterSecurityandMoodandFood.Otherthantheseweeachdippedintoaconsiderablenumberofothertopicsandenjoyedthecontinuedstimulationandinspirationwegainfromlearningnewthings.

9

PaintingandDrawing PatMarsden 4287820

Wehaveabouttenmemberswhoworkindividuallyonavarietyofsubjectsusingpencil,chalksandpaints.Thereisaninformalatmospherebutweworkwithconcentration,seekingadviceandinspirationfromeachother,makingitanenjoyableandfruitfulexperience.Newmembersarealwayswelcome.

ThankstoLindaCorryforpermissiontoreproducetwoofherworks.ShesawtwoparakeetsinhergardenandbelievetheyarebreedinginGatleyHillfields.

000 Rosyringedparakeet(watercolour) Lilac(pastel)Poetry TinaKelly 3767909

WiththeclosureofURCnotmuchactivityhastakenplace.Althoughpersonalcircumstanceshavesometimesreducedthegroupto4members,itissurprisinghowlivelythosemeetingshavebeen.Anyonestartingagroupcouldbeencouragedbythis.Scrabble AnnGane 4280204

SingingforPleasure BarbaraWingard 4285922

Sadtosayourmeetingsareonholduntillockdownisover.Ihave,however,beenturningovervariousideasforanewthemewhenwestartagain,asourpost-warAmericanmusicalscametoanendwithTheSoundofMusic.HowaboutthesongsandthehistoryoftheBeatlesasournewtheme?Mostofuswillhaveveryvividmemoriesoftheformidablefourandtheirmusicwaybackinthesixties.So,blowthedustoffyouroldLPsanddosomerevisionoftheiramazingsongssuchasYellowSubmarine,Michelle,Yesterday,AHardDay’sNightetc.

OnceagainIacknowledgethehelpofoneoftheChoir,JanetFarrall,withthisidea.Shegavemeacopyofamedleyarrangementthatshehadsungsometimeagowhichwillsuitusfine.

Lastly,ifyoufollowGarethMalone(rememberMilitaryWives?),youcanfindhimonYouTubeconductinginself-isolationtheGreatBritishChorusandChoir.

Wenowhaveninemembersinthisfriendlyandnon-competitiveScrabbleGroupandlookforwardtoresumingourfortnightlymeetings,whenbetweenfiveandsevenmembersattend.Wecanstillaccommodatenewmembersandwouldwelcomeanyoneinterestedinjoiningus.

C

O

M

S R A B L E

E

W

E

O

B

M

E

M

E

R

C

M S

E

10

Spanish ElaineBowker 4378480

TheSpanishgroupcontinuesto‘meet’everyThursdaymorningforaboutanhouronZoom.Ithasbeengreattobeabletokeepintouchandmakesurethateveryoneissafeandwell.Wehavebeendoingsomewrittenactivitiesduringtheweekandthencheckingthemandpractisingsomeconversationexerciseswhenwemeeton-line.Ithasmeantthatwehaveedgedforward(especiallywithconjugatingourverbs!)ratherthanslidingbackwards.Itwillbegoodwhenwecangetbacktogetheragain.TheatreVisits ChrisBester 07587162517 3767909

Wehaveinthepasttriedtovisitoneofourlocalamateurtheatresduringtheseason.However,ournumbershavedeclined,andthiscouldbeforseveralreasons.Maybewearereluctanttogooutatnight;wenowhaveNetflixtokeepusathome,orperhapstheplaysonofferarenottoourliking.ButwhateverthereasonIhopewecancontinuetosupportourlocaltheatresinthefuture.

Therehasalsobeenconfusiononmypart.MycomputerwashackedandIlostalltheaddressesofmembers,whichmeantIcouldnotcontactyou.SoInowproposetomakeafreshstartandaskthatifyouwouldliketojoin,orevenjustbekeptuptodatewithwhatisonoffer,thatyoucontactmewithyouremailaddress.WhenthenewseasonbeginsandourtheatresopenupIcansendyoualltherelevantinformationandwecanbegintoenjoyourtheatresonceagain.Withmyverybestwishestoyouall.

Ukulele IanEwing 3125072

Thegroupisnowwellestablishedandcompetentandeveryoneenjoysplaying(andsinging)ourevergrowingrepertoire.Fromnowonwewillconsolidateandcontinuetolearnnewsongs.Newplayersarealwayswelcomebutanyabsolutebeginnersmightliketocontactmeforacoupleoflessonsinthebasicsbeforejoiningthevirtuosiintheband.

Walking(LongWalks) AllanWitton 4281522

OurJanuary,FebruaryandMarchwalkswentaheadasusual.

January: AwalkintheGoytvalley,roundFernileeReservoir. (7miles–moderate)

Theweatherturnedouttobenotquiteasbadastheforecast,butitwasagloomyday.

OntheMidshiresWay

11

000 LunchbyFernileeReservoirFeb: MarburyCountryparkandNorthwichCommunityWoodlands (6½miles–easy)

000

000 Coffeetime BytheAndertonBoatLift

12

March: DunhamWoodhouses,Bridgewatercanal,SpudWood,Heatley,Trans-PennineTrail.(7miles–easy)

Thiswalkwasjust3daysbeforethelockdownwasannounced,butsocialdistancingwasinplace,soIbroughtanoldclimbingropewithmarkersat2mintervalstomakesurewecomplied!

000 LunchinSpudWood ButterburnearSpudWood

CarsharingfromGatleyHillHouseisthenormalarrangement.Ifyouwouldliketojoinusforfreshairandexerciseinmarvellouscountrysidewithconvivialcompany,thenregisteryouremailtoreceivemonthlydetailsoftheforthcomingwalks,andfeelfreetocomeonasmanyorasfewasyouwish.

13

Walking(ShortWalks) StuartForsyth 4913592

Ourwalksareabout5milesonthethirdThursdayofthemonth,meetingat10:00outsidetheURC.Anyonewishingtojoinuscanmeetustherewhenourgroupwalksresume,ormaycontactmeasabove.

Walking(Strollers) MarianneOwen 4913323

Wehaven’tstrolledsinceearlyMarch,butnormallyourwalksareonthefirstandthirdMondaysofthemonth,startingat10:30atElmRoad.Theyareneverlongerthanaboutanhourandwealwayshaveacupofteaorcoffeeafterwards.

OccasionallyweusethetrainorabusandmostofthetimewewalkinparkssuchasAbney,BramhallandBruntwood.Sometimesourwalksareevenmorelocal,suchasGatleyHill,orGatleyCarrs.Weareafriendlychattybunchandwouldwelcomeanynewmemberswhowishtojoinuswhenweresume.WineAppreciation PeterBayley 2823468

TheWineAppreciationGroup,affectionatelyknowntoitsmembersastheWAGs,hasbeenmeetingeverymonthforseveralyears.

WecancelledthescheduledMarchmeetingbecauseofrisingconcernsaboutthespreadofthevirus.Emailswerethenimmediatelycirculatedwithinthegroupaboutthepossibilityofholdinga‘virtual’meetingandaweeklaterweheldourfirstexploratorymeetingcheckingoutvariousvideopackagesandsomeofourownwines.SeveralofususevariousvideosystemssuchasSkype,FaceTime,Zoom,Housepartyandothers,toconnectwithourdispersedfamilies;itwasconcludedthatthebestvideosystemwouldbeZoom.

Andso‘WAGsintheCloud’wasformallylaunchedaweeklaterandwehavecontinuedtomeeteverytwoweeks(doublingourpreviousmonthlyschedule!).Ourinitialconcernsabouttheviabilityofholdingavirtualmeetinginvolvingsuchatangibleandtactileactivityhavetosomeextentabated;allisnotwonderfulbutisveryworthwhileinthecircumstances!

Ourformathaschanged,insteadofsharingfourtoeightdifferentwinesorsowiththehostselectingsuitablenibblesasaccompanimenteachmeetingwenowusuallyhaveonered,onewhiteperhouseholdchosen,boughtanddistributedtoeachother’sdoorstepbyvariousgroupmembersandweeacharrangeourownnibbles;aseverwejustsharethecostssurroundingeachmeeting.

Theformaltastingandsharingofcommentsandimpressionsremainsmuchthesameandquicklywerelaxintotwotothreehoursoflightweightgeneraldiscussionofallthingsandanythingofinterestwhichisreallygood,particularlyatthecurrenttime.Itseemssomewhatbizarrebutitdoeswork.

Laterinthesummerwehaveaplannedbarbecueevening,whichwehopetobeabletoholdasa‘Real’eventaswehavenotyetquitefathomedhowavirtualbarbecuecouldhappen.

Itturnedoutthatforsuccessfulparticipationwithmultiplevideostreamsaquitegood,fastbroadbandconnectionwasrequiredand,unfortunately,asaresultoneofthehouseholdshasnotbeenabletocontinuewithCloudparticipationandwealllookforwardtowhenwecanallreturntonormalmeetings.

Thesetypesofvideoeventareabitdifferentfromourusualexperiencesoffamilyvideocallsandevenworkrelatedcallsofthedimanddistantpast.Ifanyothergroupswouldlikesomeinformationbasedonourexperiencepleasecontactme.

14

ParkingnearElmRoadChurch

WheneverMonthlyMeetingsresume,pleaseremembertobeconsideratetolocalresidentsandnotcauseanobstructionwhenparkinginElmRoadornearbystreets.YourCommittee

Chair BatshevaSamely 428603007722026278

BusinessSecretary LesleyWitton 4281522Treasurer AllanWitton 4281522MembershipSecretary BrianGreen 4288535SpeakerSecretary MarySharples 4284901NECheshireNetwork MarySharples 4284901Trustee HeatherWilkinson 4289278Trustee DavidWrigley 9155337

000 Heather Mary Brian Batsheva David Lesley Allan June’ssocially-distancedcommitteemeeting Wilkinson Sharples Green Samely Wrigley Witton Witton todiscussarrangementsfortheAGM

North-EastCheshireNetwork

TheNorthEastCheshireNetworkofU3As(NECN)comprisesCheadleandGatley,Bramhall,CheadleHulme,Poynton,Macclesfield,andWilmslow.Wehavecontinuedtomeetwithourfellowcommitteemembersfromthenetworktoworktogetherandsharegoodpractice.

SomeInterestGroupswithintheNetworkhavebeendesignatedas‘OpenGroups’.ThesecanbeattendedbymembersofotherU3AsintheNetworkprovidedtheyarecurrentmembersoftheirownU3Aandpayforattendanceatthemeeting.MemberswhoattendameetingofanOpenGroupshouldshowtheircurrentMembershipCardfortheirownU3A.C&GOpenGroupsare:Archaeology;Bridge;Environment;German;andMOOCs.Thereare27OpenGroupsacrossthewholeNetwork.ThefollowinglistincludesjustthoseforwhichC&GdoesnotcurrentlyhaveaGroup.IhavebeennotifiedofnochangesatJune2020,sothelistremainsasbefore.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bramhall Embroidery ScottishCountryDancing LineDancing Video&FilmMaking___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CheadleHulme ArtAppreciation Photography___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Poynton FilmDiscussion Geology HalléConcerts Needlecraft___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wilmslow Cycling EnglishCountryDancing___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Furtherinformationaboutall27GroupsisgiveninalinkfromtheWelcomepageofourwebsite,andyoushouldusethecontactdetailsprovidedthereifyouareinterestedinjoininganOpenGroup.

15

Liaisonwithmembers

Pleasegiveanynoticesaboutyourgroup’sactivitiesoranythingelseofinteresttoLesleyWittonsothatthesecanbeemailedtomembersduringthisperiodofsocial-distancing.

Wewillcontinuetosendcardsonbehalfofthecommitteetoanyonehavingaspecialbirthdayorundergoinganoperationorillnessorsufferingabereavement,sopleaseletLesleyknowofanyoneappropriate,byemailortelephonesothatshecanactpromptly.Severalcardshavebeensentduringlockdownandhavebeenmuchappreciated.CheadleandGatleyU3Aemails

Sendingemailsisanimportantmethodbywhichwecommunicatewithourmembers.AnexpandededitionofeachNewsletter(thesameasonthewebsite,whichhasadditionalimagesallincolour)issenttoallmembersforwhomwehaveanemailaddress.AnemailcontainingallthenoticesannouncedattheMonthlyMeetingissentshortlyafterthemeeting,andothernoticesofinteresttothemembershipasawholearealsocirculated.Ifyouacquireanewemail,orchangeyouremailaddress,pleaseletoneofthecommitteeknowsothatwecanupdateourrecords.OnlineManagementSystem:Beacon

TheCheadleandGatleyversionofthisU3ANationalsystemisnowbeingusedtoenablemanyaspectsofourmembershiptobemanagedcentrallyonline.EmailstoallmembersarenowsentviaBeacon,andGroupConvenorswhowishtocannowusethesystemtomaintaintheirgroup’smembershiplistandtocommunicatewithmembersoftheirgroup.CheadleandGatleyU3AWebsite

Ourwebsiteisfullyupdatedtwiceayear,inJanuaryandJulyonthepublicationoftheNewsletter,withminorupdatesatothertimes,andweencouragethoseofyouwhoareonlinetolookatitperiodically.Thesimplestwayistodoawebsearchfor‘CheadleandGatleyU3A’,andthensavethesitein‘favourites’oronyourdesktopforeasyaccess.Inadditiontosummariesofallouractivegroupsyouwillfind,amongstotherthings,linksto: •thetwolatesteditionsoftheNewsletter,withadditionalimagesallincolour; •membershipapplicationandrenewalformstoprint; •aNewMembers’LeafletwithanoverviewofourU3A; •theNorth-WestregionandtheNationalU3Awebsiteswithdetailsofcoursesetc; •variousotheritemsofinformationandinteresttoourU3Amembers.Membership

WewouldbedelightedtowelcomeanynewmemberstojoinourU3A.PleasepassthisNewsletterontoanyoneyouthinkmightbeinterested.

PeoplearewelcometoattendoneMonthlyOpenMeetingoroneInterestGroupmeetingbeforebeingrequiredtojointheCheadleandGatleyU3A.

ThefeetojoinCheadleandGatleyU3Ais£12peryearpro-rata,ApriltoMarch;e.g.someonejoininginSeptemberwouldpay£7(forSeptembertoMarch).Inadditionthereisachargeof£2foreachMonthlyOpenMeetingandasimilarchargeformostgroupmeetingsinahiredvenuetocoverroomhireandrefreshmentswhereappropriate.

Editor’sNotes

ThanksverymuchtothosewhohavesubmittedarticlesandphotographsforthisNewsletter.Photographsbreakupthetext,addconsiderableinterestand,bythefacilityofre-sizingthem,giveflexibilitytopagelayouts.PleasebearthisinmindforthenextNewsletter,especiallythosegroupsthatgoout-and-about.Itdoesn’thavetobetheGroupConvenorwhotakesandsubmitsthephotos!ThesimplestwaytosendthemistoreplytoanyU3ABeaconemailyoureceiveandattachthephoto.

SincestartingtofeatureanimageofoneofourgroupsoreventsonthefrontcoveroftheNewsletterinJune2013,Ihavechosenadifferentgroupeachtime:LongWalks;LunchtimeConcerts;Gardening;Strollers;LocalHistory;MediaCityTour;Archaeology;ChristmasLunch;ShortWalks;Singing;Environment;CraftandSewing;CoachHolidays;PaintingandDrawing;andforthiseditionacompilationofflowerimagestakenduringlockdown.

Technicalnote.IproducedthisNewsletteronanAppleiMacdesktopcomputerusingWord.IfanyoneisinterestedinlearningorimprovingtheirimageeditingandDTPskillsIwouldbehappytohelp.

AllanWitton

16

DETAILSOFINTERESTGROUPS OpenGroupsareinboldblue EventhoughtherearenoGroupmeetingsatthemoment,thislisthasbeenleftforreference. GROUP CONVENOR CONTACT DATES TIME VENUEArchaeology LoisEvans 4284373 3rdTuesday 1:30-3:30 URCBookGroup1 LesleyWitton 4281522 1stMonday 7:30 HouseBookGroup2 TinaKelly 3767909 1stTuesday 1:30-3:00 CheadleLibraryBowling AnneMcCarty 4379900 1stTuesday 1:00 URCBridge LindaEwing 3125072 1st&3rdWednesdays 1:30 StJames’HallBusPassandExplorers JanetFarrall 4287883 3rdThursday 10:15-12:15 StJames’Hall

CoachHolidays BrendaWard 9436095 Periodicallyasarranged Various VariousComputers PeterBayley 2823468 Asarranged Various HouseCraft JosephineHaynes 4912382 3rdTuesday 10:30-12:00 StJames’HallCreativeWriting NigelBann 4916835 2ndMonday 2:00-4:00 StJames’HallDining LoisEvans 4284373 3rdWednesday Various VariousEarlyChristianity TomFanning 4288666 3rdMonday 10:30 URCEnvironment PeterBriggs 4856871 Periodicallyasarranged Various VariousFamilyHistory LindaCorry 4284094 1stTuesday 9:30 HouseGardening HeatherWilkinson 4289278 4thThursday 2:00 VariousGerman MarianneOwen 4913323 3rdTuesday 10:00-12:00 HouseHistory JohnHoughton 4282892 2ndand4thFridays 1:30 URCHistoryofArt MarySharples 4284901 LastWednesday 1:30 URCLocalHistory JohnPollard 4282150 1stWednesday 1:30 CheadleLibraryLunchtimeConcerts BarbaraWingard 4285922 Periodicallyasarranged Various VariousMOOCs BatshevaSamely 4286030 3rdWednesday Various VariousPaintingandDrawing PatMarsden 4287820 1stand3rdFriday 10:30-12:30 URCPoetry TinaKelly 3767909 1stMonday 1:30-3:00 URCScrabble AnnGane 4280204 FridaysFortnightly 2:00 HouseSingingforPleasure BarbaraWingard 4285922 2ndand4thTuesdays 1:00-3:00 URCSpanish ElaineBowker 4378480 1stThursday 10:00-12:00 HouseTheatreVisits ChrisBester 3767909 Monthlyasarranged Various VariousUkulele IanEwing 3125072 2ndand4thTuesday 3:15 URCWalking(Long) AllanWitton 4281522 3rdFriday 9:30 MeetatGatleyHill(Upto~8miles) HousecarparkWalking(Short) StuartForsyth 4913592 3rdThursday 10:00 Meetat(4-5miles) URCWalking(Strollers) MarianneOwen 4913323 1stand3rdMondays 10:30 MeetatEasylocalwalks URCWineAppreciation PeterBayley 2823468 Monthlyasarranged 7:00 HousePleasenotethatoccasionallydatesortimesdochangebetweenupdatesoftheInterestGroupList.AnyoneinterestedinjoiningaGroupshouldinthefirstinstancetelephonetheConvenor,orspeaktothemattheMonthlyOpenMeeting.DetailsofforthcomingeventsforGroupswhichmeet ‘periodicallyasarranged’canbeobtainedbycontactingtheConvenor.IfyouareinterestedinsettingupanewGroup,pleasecontactanymemberofthecommittee.