Official newsletter of the Syston and District University of the Third Age

From the chairmanOctober is already upon us! How time flies! I do hope that you have enjoyed a pleasant Summer, in spite of the largely disappointing weather, and that you are now all geared up for an exciting late Autumn and Winter programme. There is a great deal on offer from our ever-expanding list of active Groups. Keep your eyes open for new U3A-based challenges and opportunities to enhance your quality of life.

Gardening GroupA big thank you to our Gardening Group. They volunteered to design and plant one of the many flower beds for the Town’s entry to the East Midlands in Bloom competition.Thanks, in part, to their supportive efforts, Syston was awarded a highly-regarded Silver Award. The Group received written thanks from Town Manager, Catherine Voyce, who said: " I am delighted to be able to tell you that Syston received a Silver Award yesterday at the East Midlands in Bloom Award Ceremony. We could not have achieved this without your

expert input his without your expert input and enthusiasm."

DiariesOn a personal note, although I am very happy to take advantage of the many benefits offered by modern technology, I remain something of a Philistine when it comes to smartphones and tablets to be carried around with you wherever you go. So I am delighted that U3A has published a diary.The diary presents one week per page to view, on the left hand side with a full blank page for notes on the right and are available at the reasonable price of £2.50. Our treasurer, Christine Ringrose will co-ordinate the orders. Please contact her as quickly as possible and no later than the close of our General Meeting on 11th October, if you would like to order one (or more).

General MeetingsAt our October meeting, we are promised another quality presentation with a naval theme. This time the subject is Admiral Beattie "The Last Naval Hero". I look forward to having your company at what promises to be a stirring presentation.

New French GroupI'm also looking forward to launching a new French Group on Tuesday afternoons from 3rd October. (see page 6 for details). At the time of writing, there are a few places left.

Executive CommitteeOur next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday 13th October so, if you have any suggestions, comments, complaints or praise to pass on for our consideration, please feel free to drop me a line at u3abiz@btinternet.com and I'll happily pass them on.Support the EditorFinally, in this piece, I am sure that you share my pleasure in the quality and content of the recent Bulletins and "Vitality" produced by our new Editor, Margaret King. Please do everything possible to keep her supplied with materials to be included in future editions.

I close by wishing all Members continued success and joy as we "Learn, laugh and live!"

Colin Grimes

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Vitality!October 2017 2017

Syston and District

A review of September

A Trip to the Seaside

We went down memory lane, and further with Felicity Austin when she took us back to the origins of the seaside holiday. At first men bathed naked on beaches whilst women were covered from head to foot. Bathers both swam in and drank sea water, believing it to be healthy.

The development of steam travel and introduction of bank holidays from 1871 meant holidays were no longer limited to the middle class. As seaside towns grew they attracted entertainers and pedlars and seaside rock was invented. Blackpool Tower was built to cater for visitors and holiday snapshots became popular with the arrival of the Kodak Brownie camera in 1901.

The first Butlins holiday camp opened in Skegness in 1936. After the war everyone was entitled to a week’s paid holiday, camping holidays developed from the 1950s so families explored further afield, opening up Cornwall. Then package holidays allowed more people to go abroad. Now we go all over the world!

We sang holiday songs that everyone seemed to remember, including the old

favourite“I do like to be beside the seaside. Margaret King

Exhibits

We were treated to an exhibition of beautiful knitting, crochet and parchment work. The Group leaders are very proud of

what has been achieved. Total beginners are producing beautiful work.

If you would like to try, contact the Group Leader, information on the website.

Gardening Group

We were delighted to hear that Syston has won a Silver Medal in the East Midlands in Bloom competition.We would like to think that the Gardening Group’s contribution – planting up containers outside the Brook Café and Aldi, made all the difference!We certainly enjoyed the experience and will be very happy to help next year.

Sue Blaxland

Local History GroupVisit to Bradgate ParkBradgate Park is so familiar to us and I’m sure that many of us have happy memories of walks that we have taken, picnics that we have enjoyed and the children and dogs that we have fished out of the River Lin! We know the stories – Lady Jane Grey’s childhood home and the oak trees that were pollarded after she was executed; Old John – a memorial to a loyal family retainer.

In August, the Local History Group went on a guided walk to learn more about the history of the park and this is more fascinating than the stories.

The earliest written record for the Park is dated 1241, but, in fact the history of the site goes back so much earlier. After being hidden for nearly 15,000 years, and following an archaeological survey by ULAS (The University of Leicester

Archaeological Services), remains have been uncovered of a hunter-gatherers’ site dating from the Upper Paleolithic Period, after the last Ice Age. We saw the site, which is at the far end of the gorge known as Little Matlock, by the Newtown Linford entrance.

A scatter of flints was found in a circle, indicating that the hunters may have been working in a teepee, knapping flints to use as weapons for

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Please contact Margaret if you would like to review one of the monthly talks.

the animals that they were herding and hunting. It was likely that this was a temporary camp which was only used for a few months, before they moved on, as they were nomadic people. It is possibly the oldest dwelling place in the UK.

We handled artefacts which spanned the full history of the Park: a fragment of a Roman ring and a lead musket ball, possibly from the Civil War period. Other finds include coins from the 1200’s and bullets from Second World War when the site was used for training.

Our guide showed us the line of the Leat, which channelled water to Bradgate House where it was collected in a pond which fed a mill. We also learnt that the original hunting park was smaller than the park which we see today.

We arrived at Bradgate House and met one of the volunteer guides, who told us about the history of the Ferrers and Grey families, the owners of the park who were highly influential in the Medieval and Tudor periods. The house itself was built between 1499 and 1520 by Sir Thomas Grey, son of Elizabeth Woodville (who married Edward IV). It was the first house in England to be built of brick and was unfortified. Lord Grey had been exiled in Europe for a while and he incorporated

some Renaissance influences into his house along with formal gardens. We went into an area behind the House which is not regularly open to the public. This contains ponds which would have been used as fish ponds, to supply the House. It is now used as a sanctuary for 450 deer.

The Grey family stopped living in Bradgate in the first half of the 18th century and it became a sporting estate, used for

shooting. Old John was a folly, built in 1784, by the then owner, the 5th Earl of Stamford, to watch his horses gallop round the racecourse laid out at the base of the

hill and as a vantage point to watch fox hunting. So much for the story of the faithful retainer!

After the tour, some members went to the newly-opened Visitor Centre in the middle of the Park. If you have not done this, it is highly recommended. We came away feeling that our new knowledge of the Park will enrich our future visits.

Sue Blaxland

Beading Group

This is the beading group having afternoon tea at the Quorn country hotel.

Thank you to Elaine Yarwood who thought we were a lovely social group. The ladies make some fabulous things with beads which we will be displaying at the next general meeting.

Marylin Horsnall

Hunstanton:Memories of a day at the seaside.

Next, a poem about family holidays to the seaside by Julie

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Johnson. Julie facilitates the Creative Writing Group and hopefully we will have more

contributions from the group’s members. Contact Julie on

0116 2609012 to find out about the group.

A DAY AT THE SEASIDE Off to the seaside, at least that’s the plan.The kids want to get there as quick as they can.Dad are we there yet? Surely, we’re near.We’ll be there soon, never you fear. At last we arrive, still all in one piece,Despite getting lost and stopped by police.Down to the beach, with bucket and spade,Just look at the castles some people have made!Dad with his hanky knotted on head Him use sun cream? He’d not be seen dead!But wait ‘til tonight, when he puts on his shirt,Ouch and ouch! and ooh that does hurt!He’ll regret the fact that he dismissed the notion, While Mum searches out the calamine lotion.A ride on a donkey, must have one of those,But don’t get the one that digs in its’ toes.The risqué bright post cards, now just look at them,But don’t send one to auntie, she’d do more than a-hem!The chink of the coins in the penny arcade,We’ll win the jackpot and we’ll have it made!A fish and chip dinner, or chips with a pie,No matter it’s roasting, that’s just by the by.To the pub for a pint and a sit in the shade,Whilst the kids have their crisps with lemonade.Then off to the funfair, rides spinning and turning,Music blaring, and stomachs churning.Some of the girls let out squeals of delight, Others are screaming or frozen with fright,Dan’s on the waltzers, but get him off quick,He looks a bit queasy, oh no, he’s been sick!No sooner he’s off than he wants an ice cream, Mum looks at him closely and isn’t so keen.She eyes the bikinis and goes tut, tut, tutShe doesn’t approve that they don’t cover up.And Dad gets an earful for staring too long,You’d better believe she has such a sharp tongue.We see giddy young girls in their “kiss me quick” hatsLooking out for the lads who might do just that. The cheap trinket stalls, sellers shouting their waresDad says it’s rubbish, but Mum says who cares?Can’t go to the seaside and take nothing awayTo keep and remind us of such a good day.So, it’s back to the car, all worn out and red,The kids won’t need rocking when they get to bed.In fact, they nod off as homeward we’re boundThe backseat is silent, no hint of a sound.Not even when Dad stops the car for a pee.He shouldn’t have had that last cup of tea.

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And when we get home, we’ll trample in sandAnd all agree that the day was just grand.By Julie Johnson

From the Editor

Thank you to everyone for your contributions this month, next month’s copy deadline is 23rd October so get out your notebooks and write your reviews. Have you been to see Victoria and Abdul yet? Brian and I thought it was a tender film about the lonely part of Victoria’s life, sad and thought provoking; well worth seeing.

Did you watch any of the How to Stay Young programmes shown in September? The programme is based on the difference between our actual age and “body age”, that is how well our bodies work in comparison to the average population. We know that healthy eating and exercise are essential to stave off older age but the most essential element of keeping the brain active is to challenge it by learning something new, such as a language or skill. So check the activities on the website or come along to the monthly meeting to find out about lots of different ways to keep challenging our brains.

Margaret King

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October and Onwards

Table Tennis

TheTable Tennis group have changed their location. We are now playing at Rearsby Village Hall on Fridays at 12:30 to 1:30. This is so that we can have access to 4 tables for each session. With an average turn out of around 10players, this means that there is no longer a lot of waiting around for a game. The photos show the new venue.

Jim Storer, Group Organiser

Call Jim on 0116 2608396 if you would like to join in.

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New: ipad and iphones for beginners

This one off session is being offered free of charge on Tuesday morning, 24th October. This is aimed at Apple products only, not other makes of tablet computers or phones. This could be useful for members already having an ipad or phone or those trying to decide whether or not to get one. We will show you the versatility of these devices (There’s more to life than the internet). The session is likely to be at Rearsby Village Hall, at an approximate cost of £2.00 (dependent on numbers attending).

Please contact Dave or Lyn Palmer on 0116 2606889 or 07701448253 or email dpalmer@btinternet.com

Drop in session

In Partnership with Age UK free advice sessions are available in Syston on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the Jubilee room at Syston Community Centre. No appointment necessary, no question too small. Help available with Laptops, ipads or smartphones. Bring your own equipment or use Age UKs.

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Lazy Days on Sundays

Don't fancy being on your own on Sundays?

Why not come along and enjoy a wide range of activities and outings.

So far we have enjoyed Minton Gardens (June), River cruise on the RIver Trent (July), Kirby Castle and Uppingham Garden Centre (August) and most recently Whitemoors at Shelton in September.

Future planned programme:

November: Staunton Harold December: Melton Victorian Xmas Fayre

Interested ? Contact Janet Downes. jandow70@aol.co.uk

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French Class

Colin is starting his French Class on 3rd October. At the time of writing, there are a few places left. Please contact Colin in advance (2608412) if you would like to be included. It will start with basics, so the course will suit beginners as well as those with previous experience but who would like to try to polish their spoken French.

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Art Workshop

Jane Goodall is running another workshop on 10th November, The cost is £26.50. This was very popular last time so please sign up early. Contact Janet Downes to book. jandow70@aol.co.uk

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Monthly meetings

October 11th: Roy Smart “ David first Beatty, the Last Naval Hero”.

November: Hollie Ind of Age UK, “Last Orders”

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Treasure Hunt,, Sunday 15th October

Organised by Lyn and Dave Palmer, starting with lunch at the White Horse in Seagrave then roaming the village to find the answer to cryptic clues. Contact Dave for more information at dpalmer@btinternet.com

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Just a reminder of the dates as these events are now fully booked.

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Ukulele Workshop 12th November, now full

Blood Brothers, DeMontfort Hall, 18th October

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Finally

A Report from the Annual Conference and AGM of the U3A, Third Age Trust

Held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, 29- 31st August 2017

It doesn’t seem a year since Christine Ringrose and I, Gillie Clarke were acting as your representatives at the National Conference and AGM, but here we are standing in the queue waiting to register and receive our badges and packs. There is a sense that it is bigger and more business-like this year but the welcome and the feeling of inclusion is the same.

Chairman’s Address

The Chairman’s Welcoming Address reflects the growth of the U3A Movement, announcing that we now have 1,103 U3As and 400,000 members. Countries including Poland, Mauritious and Australia have adopted the Aims and objectives of the Movement very much in the British format. Japan is the latest on board. France has adopted the idea in principle but has put a French slant on it, no surprise there then.

Research & Shared Learning

The workshops and discussion groups on Group Co-ordinators, Research and Shared Learning melded very well with similar messages coming through strongly. Group Co-ordinators/leaders being recognised as the bedrock in delivering the three principle aims of the U3A Movement. Research was seen as a difficult concept that discouraged members to participate, however many interest groups have established links with universities, museums and other organisations to do just that. It was felt that many groups have information that would be useful if it was shared. Walking, Bird Watching, Gardening and similar groups where there was an element of observation came over most strongly. Shared Learning was seen to be a less contentious title.

Charity Law

An excellent presentation was given by Charity Lawyer, Jo Coleman, aptly called ‘Gruesome Governance’, giving a positive approach to problem issues and the limitations of Charity Law. It sometimes feels like walking a very fine line beset with traps.

Interest & Wellbeing

During the discussion session on ‘What Makes a Successful U3A’, a degree of complacency was recognised and that U3A’s tended to look at negatives; we need to look creatively.

The discussion session on ‘Give and Take and how we can support the U3A Movement’ had some very positive messages. The U3A was seen as a ‘giver’ that contributed to the well-being of Third Agers in communities across the country. An organisation built on respect for each other and opportunities to learn together and from each other. The U3A was seen as a unique and flourishing organisation with a steady income unlike many charities today.

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Waiting lists for the most popular subjects, and the availability of suitably sized and accessible venues is a common problem. It was emphasised that closure of membership was not an option. Membership is open to all. Alternatives suggested were:-

Setting up another U3A in the area, Lutterworth now has two. Bi-monthly meetings with a sub-committee. Two meetings on the same day, with the same speaker, each in a different location or one in the

morning and one in the afternoon. Interaction between U3As within areas for the interest groups needing specialist or scarce

expertise was seen as a good innovation.

Record Keeping & Finance

The need to keep accurate records of membership and finance is paramount to maintaining a viable U3A and throughout the U3A there are many systems available.

A Management System, known as ‘The Beacon Project’, developed by a U3A member in 2015, is now being quietly promoted by the National Executive Committee [NEC]. The NEC had some concerns about the sustainability of this computer package and have now contracted a company called ‘Siftware Softhouse’ to implement some of the recommendations. To offset the costs of this there will be a charge of 50p per member per year to any U3A using the Beacon System. This money will be ring-fenced solely to fund the project.

Currently 113 U3A’s are using the system with a further 50 on the waiting list. Beacon is designed to provide secure, efficient and effective means of managing membership, finance and groups and we are currently reviewing the possibility of implementing it in the New Year.

We, in Syston and District, are fortunate to have Christine’s accountancy expertise working for us and Norma Grimes is doing a grand job of maintaining the membership records. Thanks to both of them.

Finances at National level are very healthy and the move of offices to London has brought savings instead of the feared added expenditure. We are told that the new offices have an en-suite committee room negating the need for additional rental charges. The old offices had no lift and therefore no disabled access; the building was also in need of renovation.

Where Now?

Changes to the Constitution are in the discussion stage and no doubt any outcomes will filter through to us in due time.

Further development of the Beacon System into a user friendly programme.

Strategic Planning for succession was seen as essential, and consideration should be given to having separate meetings to discuss this, rather than include it in routine Executive Meetings. The importance of induction for New Trustees was also emphasised.

The future at National and Local level depends on people continuing to become members and on members being willing to take up posts at Committee Level and Group Co-ordinators/Leaders. The future is in your hands.

This conference has great value, delegates travel great distances to attend and the knowledge gained from talking to each other is as useful, if not more so, than the formal programme. Any member is eligible to attend in line with no member having greater value than any other. I recommend it most strongly.

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Gillie Clarke

Christine Ringrose

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