First dance, setting the scene.

Some of the locals get lessons.

Finale time.

Swirling and twirling.

Our U3A Market Rasen Ukulele Band and our Turkish Delight Desert Dancers attended the Spilsby U3A 10th Anniversary celebrations on the 14th September. Both groups delighted the audiences with their entertainment: the Ukulele Band were gaily decorated in hats and waistcoats of many colours, and played two sets with a variety of numbers, to everyone’s delight.  Do they have any photos to display?

The Turkish Desert Dancers, likewise attractively dressed (almost!) in veils of many colours, swirling skirts and jingling jewellery, were introduced by the Sultan, Mustafa Kupoftee, and hindered by their smelly, downtrodden camel herding slave, Abdul.  Their costumes brought forth applause when they entered the Hall, and on completion of their dances, the ladies were loudly clapped and cheered as they left the stage.  They even managed to get some of the local members up to join in the veil moves at the end of the concert, much to the delight of all in the Franklin Hall.  Well done, West Wolds members, for taking your skills and entertainment out to the wider world in Lincolnshire!  Next stop the Albert Hall, London?

Dennetts Ice Cream company was started in the 1920s by Robin’s grandparents who had a dairy farm. Using milk from their herd of Lincoln reds/Friesians, Arthur and Mary Dennett sold milk by the pint along with butter and cheese and ultimately ice cream but, with no freezers in those days, it was a case of make it and sell it immediately!! As the popularity of their ice cream grew, they decided to sell the farm and concentrate on making ice cream along with their son Eric.

During WW2, Eric served in the RAF and, whilst on tour in Italy, he discovered the secret of Italian gelato so, when he took over the business in 1948, rather than just selling vanilla ice cream, he started adding Italian flavouring. By now commercial freezers were available which made it possible to store ice cream in bulk so, armed with an assortment of delicious natural flavours, he took his ice cream to sell at seaside resorts along the Lincolnshire coast. Sales skyrocketed because it was still a new concept to have flavoured ice cream, and the Company’s reputation rapidly spread.

Dennetts now sell approximately 400 litres of ice cream on a daily basis and although vanilla is still the most popular, they also offer over 30 different flavours. The milk and cream is bought in from just one dairy thereby ensuring the butter fat content always remains consistent; their range also includes frozen yoghurt and frozen sorbet.

In 1995, Dennetts opened an ice cream parlour in Lincoln’s Bailgate which is run by Robin’s wife Claire and, when his father Eric died sixteen years ago, Robin took over as the Company’s Managing Director; his mother Joan however, still likes to visit every day to ‘keep an eye on things’. Robin and Claire’s son and daughter have also now joined the Company so the family tradition will continue for a fourth generation.

Dennetts ice cream is delivered in refrigerated vans all over the County and, has won many awards over the years however, Robin maintains that the best publicity is by giving demonstrations, attending shows and word of mouth and, judging by the amount of lick smacking that could be heard after we had all chomped our way through a delicious bowlful of three different flavours, his reputation for producing excellent ice cream will be broadcast yet wider as it was indeed very yummy!!

Some 25 members recently attended a Red Cross led half day session on essential First Aid knowledge.  Arranged for us by Sharon as one of her unique experience events, the tutor was Isabel Wyatt, who travelled from Grantham to lead us through some basics of what to do when we encounter someone who needs help.  Whilst the initial need is to call for professional medical help, we can all lend assistance through better knowledge of  cardiac resuscitation, what the defibrillator can do, getting the patient comfortable, in the correct position to free the tongue and such matters.  A truly worthwhile couple of hours well spent, and the next session is scheduled to be held on 5th March next year.  Don’t miss that one!

A new day trip has been created to take place on Friday 23rd November 2018.  Depart Tesco Market Rasen 09.45, return depart Harlow Carr c. 19.30.  Free time in Harrogate for shopping, lunch etc, then to RHS Harlow Carr to see their GLOW illuminations of the gardens.  Stroll around the gardens, lake and walks to admire the winter setting.

Full details and Booking Form available at September Monthly Meeting on Thursday 13th September.  Cost £24.00 pp RHS Members, £28.00 pp non Members.

The 2019 U3A diaries are now available. They can be ordered individually online from the national U3A website or via West Wolds U3A.

In September I shall take orders [together with payment] for those members wishing to purchase via West Wolds U3A. The price of a diary is £3 each. There may possibly be a discounted price of £2.50, if sufficient orders are received.

David Oliver 

Lincoln U3A Badminton Group is open to visitors.

The group meets every Friday between 1.30 and 3.30 at Riseholme College on the Showground Campus. There are vacancies within their mixed ability group for anyone who has played Badminton before (not suitable for complete beginners).

If you would like to participate please contact Roy Shooter on 01522 684355 or roy@theshooters.me.uk.

Tax, Care and Toy Boys or, future proofing your assets

Chris Dingley is a solicitor/ legal practitioner who specifically deals with Wills and probate and, in less than an hour, he worked hard making us all mindful of some of the tasks we need to do on an annual basis to ensure our ‘estate’ (or our money, property and possessions) is properly taken care of when we die. This is a complex and quite emotive subject but one which we all need to tackle head on. His ideas and suggestions were thought provoking and possibly a wake-up call for some or music to the ears of others.
He suggested putting in place a package of bespoke documents to include a Will, Trust Funds, succession planning, powers of attorney, insurances and lifetime gifts to ensure peace of mind and protection against Care Home fees. In the event of incapacity or death, your assets will be dealt with effectively, with minimum fuss and, without leaving chaos and heartache for loved ones left behind, not to mention an unnecessary tax bill.
While it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality, making a Will ensures your estate passes to those you want it to and as tax-efficiently as possible. If you die without making a Will, your estate is dealt with according to the Rules of Intestacy, so legislation decides what happens to it all. Once drawn up, it’s important to regularly review and update it as any changes in your family structure, location, status or physical and mental health can have a big impact on it.
Chris covered a number of issues relevant to us all so, if you want further information, click on this link to read more in depth detail.

Due to a lady having to cancel her booking for this trip, she is offering it to anyone who would like to take her place, free of charge; everything has been paid for.

Three days of visits, and two nights in a country house hotel, two lunches also included, and all entry fees!  What a bargain for some lucky person.  More rooms can be booked (doubles only now) at £366.00 pp (£75 single occupancy supplement) if more members or guests wish to join the existing happy band.

Contact Brian: brianthecamel39@gmail. com.

Two places have arisen for this visit on Wednesday 22 August due to cancellation for health reasons.  Departure from Tesco Market Rasen at 07.30.  Cost £40 pp.  If interested please contact me and I will forward you the flyer with all details if you do not have it.  Brian.

On 18^th July, about 47 members paid a visit to the new International Bomber Command Centre, on a hilltop overlooking the city of Lincoln, and with views of the Cathedral which had been a landmark during WWll for bombers returning from raids over Germany, to the many Lincolnshire airfields.

We were split into two groups and assigned a guide who took us all around the grounds that form a Memorial Park, planted with a tree to commemorate every Lincolnshire airfield at which bomber squadrons had been based, and dominated by the ‘spire’ (the height is that of a Lancaster wingspan), together with the steel memorial plaques naming almost 58,000 airmen from the UK, Commonwealth, the Americas and other countries, who died on active service with this branch of the RAF.  At 31.09 metres high, this is the tallest war memorial in the UK. A Ribbon of remembrance is also being laid along the walk to the spire.

A Dakota from the Battle of Britain flight circled us three times to add to the sense of occasion, it was almost as though Brian Ward had arranged it.

The Chadwick Centre exhibition building – the roof is curved along the lines of a Lancaster wing – houses an interactive museum showing poignant stories of what the war entailed for the men and women who joined Bomber Command, and how it functioned; the Home Front is also remembered. A large café in the building was frequented by all members to take refreshments and lunches.

When we came out to rejoin the coach, the local Austin Car Enthusiasts club were having a meet in the drive of the IBCC, some were in remarkable condition, there were a number of Austin Sevens in various formats and other Austins too.

After lunch we moved on to the local Wickenby Airfield, which had been home to 12 and 626 squadrons, and which is now home to a small, volunteer run Memorial Collection in the old control tower, as well as being still an active airfield.  Our group of members also welcomed members of Market Rasen Retired Forces Veterans Association.

Many Thanks to Brian for a special outing.