WESTON- SUPER-MARE NEWSLETTER Winter 2007 Issue 35

INSIDE OUR BUMPER CHRISTMAS ISSUE:   More great day trips   New photo centrefold   New groups   Classified ads   New monthly lectures   Stan’s schooldays   Full activities guide   Ken’s Kryptic Kwiz   And much more

Your Committee

 

 

Chairman                      Roy Comer

                                               

Vice Chairman              Jack Donkin                                         

 

Business Secretary        Martha Perriam                                                                        

 

Treasurer                      Shirley James

                                                                                   

Membership Sec.          Marjorie Elliott

                                                                       

Programme Sec.           Pam Murphy                                        

 

Social a/c Treasurer &

Welfare Messages        Hilary Chesters                                       

                                   

Cashier                         David Hunt                                          

 

Public Relations             Alan Walters                                        

                                   

                                    Pat Hase                                             

 

Gift Aid                        Bryan Osborne                                     

 

 

 

Dates for Your Diary

 

Fri 7 Dec          Trip to Bath & American Museum

Tue 11 Dec       Annual Carol Concert, 12.15 St John’s Church

Fri 14 Dec        December Lecture Dresden and Coventry

2008

Wed 9 Jan        New Year Lunch – tickets from Pat Hase (see below)

Fri 11 Jan          January Lecture Charterhouse

Fri 8 Feb           February Lecture Love & Marriage Edwardian Style

22-24 Feb         Spring in Paris (see Art Appreciation group notes)

Tue 4 Mar       COPY DEADLINE FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER

Tue 19 Feb       Trip to Houses of Parliament

Thu 13 Mar       Trip to Big Pit

Fri 14 Mar        March Lecture Governor of Shepton Mallet Prison

Fri 11 April       April Lecture Lunatick Astronomy

Fri 25 April       Trip to Malmesbury

 

Annual Carol Concert

This will be given by the Singing for Pleasure group at 12.15 on Tuesday December 11. All members are welcome. There will be mince pies after the concert.

Coffee Mornings

Because of  the carol concert there will be no coffee morning on December 11. There will be one, the last before Christmas, on December 18. Normal service will be resumed in the New Year on January 8.

New Year Lunch

Wed 9 Jan 2008 at the Commodore Hotel, 12 noon for 12.30. Tickets on sale every coffee morning for rest of 2007, £15 per person.

 

 

    Editorial

What are you giving the U3A for Christmas? How about a little of your time? None of the activities that we all enjoy would be possible without our small army of volunteers, beavering away quietly in the background. Whether it be for making tea and coffee, running a group, organising a day trip, or serving on the committee, we need new faces and new skills all the time, so don’t be shy. Read on and you might well think of something you could do in your spare time. I’m sure Martha or Pam will be only too pleased to hear from you.

            Hope you like our new photo centrefold. I think everyone looks wonderful, don’t you? (No letters please.)

            Finally, may I wish all our readers a peaceful and enjoyable festive season. Note to Santa: an Aston-Martin please.

Peter Watson

Our web site

A new page has just been added to our web site called Feedback.  Anyone opening up this page, which can be found by clicking on the word “Feedback” on the menu at the left hand side of each page, will find that it contains the address to which e-mails  with your comments and suggestions for the site’s improvement can be sent.  You can also send any matters of local interest.  If appropriate, these may be published on the web site.

Just a reminder.  The web site address is  www.u3aweston.org.uk

Tom Grundon

.   Monthly Raffle

Many thanks to all who contribute to the monthly raffle in aid of Weston Hospice. Should you have unwanted Christmas presents that would make suitable gifts, they would be gratefully received!

NB. From 1^st February 2008 the raffle will be held on the first Tuesday in every month, ie. 5^th February, 4^th March, 1^st April, etc. The Hospice really appreciates your generous support. Thank you again.

Muriel McElroy

Chairman’s Comments

We are now well into the winter months but the shorter days are alleviated by having several new subjects and study groups to occupy minds.  We now have three computer groups and I do hope you have managed to secure a place on one of them as most have already been taken up.  If you have other interests there is a tremendous variety of things on offer so do check out the latest list.

An exciting development over the past few months has been the number of day trips to places of interest being organised by members themselves.  All of these have been over subscribed so there are even more on offer during the coming months.  These are detailed in this Newsletter but the key is to book early to avoid disappointment.  Encouraged by this success, members experienced in the travel field have organised a short break in Paris in February and a week long holiday is being planned for Northern Spain in the autumn – watch this space.

At a recent meeting to discuss day trips and short breaks, the question of ‘perks’ (complimentary tickets and discounts), was unanimously rejected by the organisers themselves.  However these incentives, which are usually offered by tour operators and other venues, will be taken up and the savings spread equally among participating members.  It was extremely gratifying to hear the organisers independently arrive at a conclusion which reflects the true spirit of the U3A – to paraphrase JFK’s comment - it’s not what the U3a can do for me, but what can I do for the U3A. Let me leave you with best wishes for you and your loved ones, coupled with a sincere desire that you have a happy and prosperous New Year.                                                    Roy Comer

 

Following discussions with day excursion and travel organisers, the Executive Committee are pleased to issue the following declaration:

 

Committee News

·         Membership now stands at 768.  Our very reliable and hard working Membership Secretary, Marj Elliott, would like to stand down at the end of her two year term next summer.  Is there any member willing to take the job on - or to work in tandem with Marj for a while with a view to taking over?  A job-share might work well.

·         Our Treasurer Shirley James would also like to stand down.  She would be very pleased to hear from a member with the appropriate skills.

·         Gift Aid, now administered by Bryan Osborne, has saved the U3A £469.13 so far this year.  If you have not already registered, and are a tax payer, please consider it.  We get £2.80 back on each £10 subscription.

·         If you know of a member who is ill or has been bereaved please let Hilary Chesters know so that she can send one of her lovely hand made cards on behalf of the U3A.

·         Room hire fees increase steadily all the time.  In order to cover this essential expense the amount payable by group members using a hall has gone up to 70p.  The coffee contribution remains at 30p.  Tuesday coffee has gone up to 50p to include, for the first time, a room hire element.

·         Since the last AGM Jeff Alen agreed in writing to abide by our constitution and was re-admitted to membership but he has continued to claim that his travel group is part of the U3A despite requests not to do so.  His membership has therefore been terminated.  Please note that the U3A does not have a Travel Group as such; individual members are arranging trips and holidays under the authority of the committee, using the Social Account.

·         We have had several enjoyable and successful day trips recently thanks to Roger Perks (Welsh National Museum) and to Martha Perriam (Clifton walk and Hardy Country tour).  Coming up soon are a theatre visit to see Mamma Mia, an Ice Dancing Show in Exeter, a visit to the American Museum in Bath and a day learning calligraphy - all sold out.  In the New Year, as you can see elsewhere in this newsletter, we are going to Paris, the Houses of Parliament, down a Welsh coal mine, and to the Abbey Gardens at Malmesbury.  There is clearly a demand for such jaunts so please consider running one to somewhere YOU think interesting.  Contact the Secretary for guidelines and suitable dates.

 

 

CLASSIFIED ADS

Note: Telephone numbers have been removed from these ads.

Anyone wishing to be put in contact with an advertiser

should send an e-mail to westonviews@aol.com

 

FOR SALE

Smith Corona Electronic Typewriter with word processor, dictionary and spellchecker functions.

 Many other features. Manual included. £20.

 

Four traditional canvas deckchairs (with arms) in good condition. £10.

 

FREE!

21” Panasonic CRT television. Excellent picture. Analogue but suitable for digital Freeview box.

 

WANTED

Does anyone have any OS Landranger (1:50,000) maps of Somerset or neighbouring counties they don’t want?

Ian’s walking group would be pleased to receive them.

 

 

 

 

Lecture Report

OCTOBER Body Language – the Truth

On Friday, 12 October  a packed hall waited … and waited … for the arrival of Dr Harry Witchel, our lecturer for the afternoon.  Plan B had already been set in motion when he arrived like a whirlwind and set up his technical aids.      The promised title was ‘Body Language – The Truth’, but he changed it to ‘Body Language Laid Bare’,    claiming that it was more sexy!   That set the tone for what was to follow.   We learned that much of what we read and hear about body language has been so oversimplified, and even inaccurately reported, that it is not only false, but can be positively misleading, and can lead us to make false assumptions about other people, so leading to possible lost opportunities, and misunderstandings.    For example, people who don’t look us in the eye are not necessarily lying, and the ‘sincere’ handshake and intent gaze [see centrefold photo] may be covering malicious intent.    In fact, we were told that ambiguity is implicit in all body language, partly because it is dynamic and not fixed in advance.  Neither can it be looked up in books.   On a positive note we were told that it can be used to establish trust.   There are many more questions we’d like to ask besides those that were put after the talk, but nonetheless we had an exciting and stimulating afternoon, not least owing to the dynamism and exuberant personality of the speaker, and the way he engaged with his audience.

Hazel Uren

‘River Cruising’ by AHGS

With Saga we ventured to Wien

To survey the Danubian scene.

Was it true that the hue

Of the river was blue?

No,no, it was certainly green.

 

At Melk there once dwelt a young friar

Ambitious to be senior prior,

But he found life more fun

With a pretty young nun

And six little monks did he sire.

 

 

Weston U3A Day Excursion to Big Pit and Blaenavon Ironworks onThursday 13^th March 2008

 

A day excursion has been arranged for U3A members on March 13^th to go down into Big Pit, part of the National Coal Museum of Wales, with a short walk underground conducted by a miner.  After lunch the coach will take us to Blaenavon Ironworks, founded in 1789, part of the Blaenavon World Heritage site and the best preserved example of this type of industrial archaeology in the world, where we shall have a guided tour.

The cost will be £12.50 per person to include both guided tours.

The coach will leave Locking Road Coach Park at 8.30 am and return at approx 6.30 pm.

Refreshments are not included in the price but there is a restaurant at Big Pit for coffee on arrival and lunch if required.  After seeing round the ironworks we shall walk into the village of Blaenavon (10 minutes) where there are many places of interest and also cafes for tea.  The coach will pick us up in the village.

            Please

·         Return the tear off slip below to Martha Perriam at 3 Glebe House, 80 Upper Church Road, W-s-M, BS23 2AE before February 13^th.

·         Enclose your cheque made out to Weston U3A Social Account

·          Enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

After Feb 13^th you will either be sent your ticket(s) or, if there are not enough members interested, your cheque back. Applications will be dealt with in the date order of receipt. Refunds after Feb 13^th will only be possible if your place can be taken by someone else from the waiting list.

 

…………………………………………………………………………………

Big Pit Excursion Thursday 13 March 2008

 

I should like to apply for …. tickets.

Name(s) in capital letters …………………………………………………………………

Telephone ……………………….

I enclose my cheque for …………. made out to Weston U3A Social Account

I enclose a s.a.e.

Signed …………………….. Dated …………………

 

Regional Workshop October 2007

‘Collaborative Working’

Shirley James, Pamela Murphy and Bryan Osborne attended at Chew Valley School. The subjects for the workshop were Future Projects in Shared Learning and a presentation on the Open University.

            Jenny Clark, U3A National Co-ordinator, gave a talk Projects in Shared Learning after which the members were formed into three groups for discussion.

            A project can be from a wide range of topics, including specific ones which have been found and then worked on in collaboration with other organisations including schools, museums, English Heritage, the National Trust, past mining and industrial activities. The scope is wide-ranging and will be decided upon by the U3As in the region.

            When a topic has been chosen members of the research group will carry out research with the agreement of the outside organisation. Key points are:

 

1. Having up to 12 members working on the project at least one day a week with each member being allocated a separate part of the work. Projects would take up to 12 weeks to complete.
2. When working with an outside organisation the Education Officer or other official would need to be contacted at an early stage.
3. A room to be provided by the organisation, with a café or coffee-making facilities available.
4. On completion of the project the U3A will have the material to produce a brochure, possibly with photographs, which would be available to the organisation and U3A members.

 

Jenny offered to talk to members about their ideas and to give mutual support, and also to be in touch with all interested groups in the region. It is estimated that it would take about two months for a shared project to be ready to start. She also said that enthusiasm on the part of all participants is needed together with a capable and flexible U3A team leader.

            Shared projects have recently been completed in Cornwall, including Hedgerows and Cider Orchards. In Plymouth a successful project was based at the City Museum.

            Paulette Bjergfelt, adviser for the Open University and based in Bristol, gave an interesting talk on the OU and said that there are now over 500 courses available, including short courses and those leading to degrees. Rates of study will vary but are flexible and usually involve up to 15 hours per week of study. A new OU venture is Open Learn – information and course material is available on the Web, free of charge. Ordinary courses are well subsidised with online and telephone support. This popular facility has been available for over a year.

            Unwanted course books are also freely available from the Bristol Office at 4 Portwall Lane (by St Mary Redcliffe Church).

Email: south-west@open.ac.uk.  Telephone: 1179 299 641.

Bryan Osborne 415558

 

U3A Summer School 2007

Question: Does the U3A run Summer Schools?

Answer: Yes it does, one in Chester and one in Cirencester.

I must admit that I do not read the U3A Magazine very closely and I would not have known about the Summer School unless Martha had mentioned it to me. However, once informed, Brian and I decided to go to Cirencester for the course there in August. He chose That Sweet Enemy, the title of the Anglo-French History course. Martha and I chose the architecture course entitled The Built Environment in the Cotswolds. There were many others to choose from including Botany (which was my reserve choice). Apparently it was the leader of this group who started the whole idea of the Summer School when she organised a field trip for her group 15 years ago. From that small beginning the rest grew; this year there were nine different subjects to choose from.

The event took place at the Royal Agricultural College, a fine old building set in beautiful park and farmland on the road between Cirencester and Stroud. The accommodation was fairly basic as we were staying in the students’ rooms (but they had been cleared up!). We had everything we needed including an en-suite shower room. The food was excellent with plenty of choice and served in the students’ large dining hall, surrounded by the College’s ancient Honours Boards.

The courses were well organised and the evening conversation was stimulating. It was good to meet other U3A members and hear how they organised their groups. All three of us really enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to our members. However, be warned, the places get snapped up very quickly.

Jill Heal

THE WESTON U3A LECTURES

December 2007 - April 2008

At St. Paul’s Church Hall, Walliscote Road, WSM. Members and GUESTS £1 including refreshments. On second Fridays of the month, at 2.15 pm

 

                                                           

Dec 14^th:                   Martin Turner: “Dresden and Coventry: Destruction and Reconciliation”.  Martin, one of our members, was on the staff of Coventry Cathedral after the war and led the reconciliation mission to Dresden.

                                    Chair: Peter Watson

Jan 11^th                     Vince Russett, North Somerset Archaeologist: “Charterhouse, the biggest Roman town in the South West”.  Vince will bring us up to date with recent unexpected archaeological discoveries on Mendip.

                                    Chair: Kevin Morris

Feb 8^th                       Yvonne Bell: “Love and Marriage - Edwardian Style”.  Yvonne is well known to the U3A as an interesting and amusing speaker.  She has published books on the Edwardian period.

                                    Chair: Jack Donkin

March 14^th                Nick Evans, Governor of Shepton Mallet Prison.

                                    Chair: Peter Watson

 

 

 

 

 

April 11^th                   Andrew Lound: “Lunatick Astronomy”.  The Lunar Society was one of the most influential groups in the 18^th century; no aspect of science or industry was overlooked at their monthly dinner parties.  Although the development of the steam engine and coin production became the main focus for Matthew Boulton, he had developed a passion for astronomy.  Andrew Lound will tell the story of the Lunar Society’s interests in astronomy based on new and surprising research.

                                    Chair: Mike Wilkinson

 

 

 

 

A Message from our Public Relations Officer

With membership numbers increasing every week it must be possible to get some new groups up and running.  Have you ever thought of starting a new group?  If you have any interests or hobbies you’d like to share there may be others out there just waiting for the opportunity too.

We used to have a thriving Drama/Concert Party Group and there must be many talented members who could get one going again.  We had a lot of fun doing it. 

If you have any ideas just contact Pam Murphy or any member of the committee. Please note that there are many trips arranged for the coming year.

Alan Walters

 

 

Day Excursion to Malmesbury

Friday 25 April 2008

 

A day excursion has been arranged for U3A members on Friday 25 April 2008 to see Malmesbury Abbey, the adjoining gardens and historic town. The cost will be £12.50 per person to include admission to the Abbey Gardens (home of the Naked Gardeners as seen on TV). The coach will leave Locking Road Car Park at 10am and we shall return to Weston at approximately 5pm. Arrangements for refreshments: small area in gardens for tea/coffee/biscuits, and several eating places in the town.

To book tickets please return the slip below to: Chris Sage (513128) at 12 Hawthorn Gdns, Worle, WsM BS22 9ED or Chris Curnock (631243) at Leyton Cottage, 68 Milton Hill Rd, Worlebury, BS22 9RF.

Enclose your cheque made payable to ‘Weston U3A Social Account’ and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You will then be sent confirmation or, if there are not enough members interested, your cheque will be returned.

Applications will be dealt with in the date order of receipt. Refunds will only be possible if your place can be taken by someone else from the waiting list.

 

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Weston U3A day excursion to Malmesbury on Friday 25 April 2008

 

I should like to apply for ……….. tickets

Name(s) in capitals……………………………………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Telephone number………………………………………………………………

I enclose my cheque for …………………… made payable to Weston U3A Social Account. I enclose a SAE.

Signed …………………………………………………………………………..

 

                                                                                      Centrefold Pictures

Brian Pike, Martha Perriam and Jill Heal at the U3A Summer School at Cirencester                                                                 Arthur demonstrating the recycled teenager theory  

                   Some of our volunteer tea ladies. But where are the men?                                                                                  Dr Harry Witchel giving us 'The Truth About Body Language'

MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI
MORNINGS
Ballroom Dancing	Everyday French	Astrology	Art Appreciation	Computers
Play Reading	German Conversation	Book Club 1	Discuss & Debate	Ethical Issues
Table Tennis	Current Affairs	Geology	Crafts	History A
18th Century History	Computer Class	Music Appreciation	Life Stories	History B
		Music Making	Line Dancing	Movement to Music
		Philosophy	Murders & Mysteries	Skittles (lunchtime)
			Natural History (am & pm)
		Quilting	Public Speaking
		Walking (am & pm)	Short Tennis Economic Affairs World Religions
AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS
Badminton	Come Singing for Pleasure	Writing for Pleasure	Art 1	Monthly Lectures
Discussion	Flower Arranging	Book Club 2	Wine Appreciation	Family History
Poetry Reading	Rummikub Plus		Wine & Food Appreciation	Local History
Scrabble	Computing for Beginners		Palmistry	Singalong
Mahjong	Drinks App.		ALSO SUNDAYS: Sunday Lunches NO FIXED DAY: Classicism & Romanticism 19th century French Poetry Theatre Visits
Jazz	Art 2
Science & Technology
Opera (eve) Boules (eve)

Schoolboy Memories

‘What do you know about Darien?’ asked my wife, coming home from a U3A History Group. Grey cells surged in the memory, and up came the much-quoted line: ‘Silent upon a peak in Darien’. But who was the author? Where does it come from? I plumped for Keats, and my wife concurred. I reached for my schoolday copy of Palgrave’s Golden Treasury. I was now hot on the trail of the source: Keats’ On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer, final line. Problem solved.

            Nostalgic recollections of Eng. Lit. studies rose to the surface as I leafed through the pages. I consulted the fly-leaf of the book and there it stood, my proof of ownership in those long-past days: ‘S. Radcliffe 6^th Form (Modern) 1938’.

            Turning back to read some of the poems we had studied – the English Romantics had been one of our subjects – I came upon a marginal note. ‘Learn this’, it said.

            We had spent many an hour mugging up suitable quotes which the English master had recommended to us: ‘Gobbits’, he called them. Many lines of verse, indeed entire stanzas, were marked as significant and, therefore, presumably worthy of being learned by heart. You scored extra marks in the examination if you could quote appropriate chunks of your selected author. And the procedure was not restricted to English either. I committed to memory sizeable chunks of French and German authors too.

            Some were to come in handy occasionally even at university level. Many remain to this very day.

            I wonder if the practice still persists in today’s sixth form in the run-up to A-levels. I somehow doubt it. But the occasion certainly prompted me to experience ‘emotions recollected in tranquillity’ (Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads).

Stan Radcliffe

 

 

Kenneth’s Kryptic Animal Kwiz

 

£25 Does it pester? Put on an island Money A very tidy animal Split this if you are pedantic A kind of bread T – V

Fresh Don’t trust this one It’s almost much warmer Precipitation darling A skin blemish Copy It’s expensive   Kenneth Bingham

 

 

 

 

 

Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.

Always try to be modest, and be proud of it!
If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments

If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what
happened.

GROUP NEWS

Archaeology

Interested in Archaeology? Why not dig a little deeper?

Contact Kevin Morris

Art Appreciation

The group will be embarking on a three-day study programme in Paris from the 22-24 February. They will spend time at the D’Orsay and Louvre Galleries and will be staying at the 4-star Sofitel Hotel. Cost £138 per person. There may still be a few places left and even if you are not an art lover there are plenty of alternative interests in Paris – the world’s most romantic city! Enquiries to Maureen Page

 

Computers

Although there have been a few changes in our membership the group is still well attended. I have been asked if the group is run on the lines of a computer ‘class’, the answer to this question is No. The best description I can come up with is that it is more of a forum at which members let others know of problems they have, or perhaps problems which they have been able to solve. The ability to project a computer monitor on to a screen is most useful, often enabling illustration of problem and solution. This frequently results in lively discussion and everyone goes home a little wiser(?)

Jack Luxon

Family History

1^st and 3^rd Friday of each month at St Paul’s Church Hall; 2.15-4.15pm

The Family History Group continues to flourish.  Over 40 members regularly gather to exchange details of their own research and to encourage those newer members who have been inspired by the BBC and “Who do you think you are?” to delve into their own family history.  Someone did comment that they couldn’t get back to Adam & Eve overnight and it was taking longer than they had thought!  However, along the way, not only do we look at the methods of researching but also a little of the life and times in which our ancestors lived. The topics still to be covered this year include: 

·         Researching in France, which will be led by Ann Senior,

·         Family memorabilia – and heirlooms,

·         The role of the Church in Family History Research – Parish Records etc.

·         Looking after the poor: Overseers’ Accounts & Workhouses,

·         Wills and Probate,

·         Links with Local History, led by Margaret Jordan, Local Historian for Compton Bishop

·         Death, funerals, burials and memorials

·         Leisure time activities and hobbies

·         Migration and emigration

·         Doctors, Nurses & midwives

·         Different races & religions

Each session members are asked to bring in examples from their own research which illustrate the theme of the meeting.  This can lead to some interesting discussions and often a great deal of laughter.

 

                                                            Pat Hase  

 

Flower Arranging

A very full class began the new session in September with three completely new members. We revisited several of the standard traditional designs such as a crescent, the Hogarth Curve, and a diagonal design. The Hogarth Curve is one of the more beautiful shapes - it is an elongated ‘S’ shape, but fairly difficult to do.  We also tried a large pedestal arrangement based on a symmetrical triangle. Some members find a large design harder to do than a smaller one -so this was a challenge. However, the results were worthy of display in any church and one could easily have graced Westminster Abbey!

One week we hired a minibus and went again to the Warehouse to stock up on ‘necessities’ for Christmas floral arrangements. We stopped at the Riverside Café for tea and cakes and once again it rained so we have not had the chance to look around the garden centre yet. We will try again in the summer.

In October six of the members enjoyed a Day School run by Weston-super-Mare Flower Arrangement Society. It was interesting for them to meet new people with the same hobby and to learn new skills. Everyone found it sad to take all the petals off a beautiful ‘Grand Prix’ rose and stick them on to a sphere of oasis to make a decorated sphere with various wires and pins. We also completed a sphere using both sides of  bay leaves to create a variegated effect. In the afternoon we used a terracotta flower pot to arrange a variety of foliage and natural objects such as nuts and fruit surrounding a candle.

November starts our Christmas designs and we plan to decorate doorways, dinner tables and mantle pieces.

Our last meeting before Christmas will be members’ own choice of an arrangement to illustrate  a pantomime. From past experience I know they will be very imaginative!

Congratulations to Iris who entered the Novice classes at the summer shows in Uphill, Weston and Bleadon. She won first prizes at all of them and is the proud holder of three trophies.

Lindsay Ireland

History A

During the autumn, we have examined in some detail the famines in Ireland, and the resultant starvation and mass emigration; we also studied the situation in India in the middle of the century and the Mutiny of 1857.

            At the time of writing we are moving swiftly towards The Last of Bladesover, and shall examine the early career of Winston Churchill.

            We have been glad to welcome half a dozen new members to the class for the 2007/2008 session.

AHGS

 

Local History

Monthly - 4^th Friday of each Month at St Paul’s Church Hall; 2.15-4.15pm

The programme of talks is now complete and there is plenty of room for anyone to join us.

Nov 23^rd           Radio in Wartime                                              John Penny      

Dec 21^st            No Meeting

2008