Social & Educational Group for Market Rasen & Surrounding Area

West Wolds
University of the 3rd Age

No longer working full time and live in the Mkt Rasen Area?
Want to learn or be creative? Want to stay active & meet new people?
40+ interest groups, visits, low subscription fees.
Monthly meeting with speaker at Mkt Rasen Festival Hall
2nd Thursday of the month doors open 9.30 – Everyone Welcome

POSTS

  • Cardiff – April 2017

    8.00 on Tuesday morning, Tesco’s bus stop, bleary eyed. It must be one of Brian’s adventures again. Cardiff this time, almost abroad. Our brand new coach arrives, well not quite true, its maiden voyage was to France last week, the clock at the front is still on French time, for the next five days we’ll be ahead of ourselves. We set out on time in bright sunshine, what could possibly go wrong? At that well known beauty spot, Caenby Corner, our driver, Ian, announces that he has a cunning plan to avoid the traffic in Lincoln. Sure enough, in no time at all we are sailing past Newark, metaphorically speaking (we did it for real in a previous life with Brian).

    Our first stop was at Leicester North services, a first for everyone, including Ian. A bit like its cousin at Leicester Forest East but much smaller and quieter, heartily recommended. Onward again, heading for our favourite lunch stop at Evesham Garden Centre and time for a little retail therapy. By mid afternoon we were already in Wales and heading for our first destination, Caerphilly Castle. After a fascinating tour of the back streets of Abergavenny we found the Heads of the Valleys road; and the roadworks! It looked as though we wouldn’t reach the the castle (or castel in Welsh, we’re quite fluent already) before 4.30 and they closed at 5.00. Plan B – we followed in the PMs footsteps and took a vote, tea and biscuits at the hotel won resoundingly. Dinner tonight was in a private dining room in the hotel, entertained by a young lady, Eluned Henry, playing the Welsh Harp (made in the USA – the harp not the lady), a lovely introduction to Cardiff.

    To our surprise breakfast on Wednesday morning was enjoyed in the company of a group of American tourists. Promptly at 9.30 we were met by our guide for a walking tour of the city, to be followed by a tour of the bay area on the coach. Our delightful guide, Stella, informed us that her first language was Welsh!!! Not to worry, her second language, English, was perfect. We spent a vey pleasant hour wandering the streets and enjoying the architecture, ancient and modern. Brian pointed out Cardiff Arms Park, our venue for the next evening, and we saw the castle, very interesting but not as big as the Arms Park. Back at the hotel we boarded our coach for a very enjoyable tour of Cardiff Bay, an area that has been totally renovated in the last 20 years, with excellent tourist facilities and many striking buildings. A barrage across the bay now prevents the water from disappearing into the Bristol Channel twice a day, and forms a huge area for water sports and marinas. Apparently FIFA are holding a conference in the area in the near future and one of the highlights will be a celebrity football match on the bay (unless it’s waterlogged). After a pub lunch we were off to Llandaff Cathedral, the principal church in Wales. Nothing could have prepared us for the impact as we walked through the entrance. The Cathedral is much like any other, but right in the centre is a huge modern Epstein sculpture that quite takes the breath away.

    We awoke to beautiful sunshine on Thursday, no sign of our transatlantic cousins at breakfast, they had done Wales. Off to Duffryn Gardens this morning, to be welcomed by a U3A group from Sully (it’s somewhere in the Vale of Glamorgan). The house and garden have recently been aquired by the National Trust and a tremendous amount of work is underway to renovate it, should be quite stunning in a couple of years time. At last we get to visit a castle this afternoon. We were welcomed to Fonmon Castle by Casey, the estate manager, who explained that the usual guide was not available and she did not really know the history but she would do her best, then proceeded to tell us everything about the place and the two families who had owned it since the 11th century. Tea and cakes in a beautiful room in the castle made a perfect end to our visit. This evening we were planned to attend a rehearsal by the Cardiff Arms Park Male Voice Choir in the Arms Park, unfortunately the venue had to be changed to a large room in a local hotel. The “rehearsal” became our very own half-hour concert!  Hearing a Welsh male voice choir on the television doesn’t quite prepare you for the real experience, quite astounding and moving.

    Friday, our final day in Cardiff, began at the Royal Mint. Our guide, Geraint, had obviously done it all before but was very entertaining. We took up his offer of a group photograph in front of a million pounds, that’s a lot of £1 coins. Sadly when we saw the photo later only half of us were on it, that’s inflation for you! This afternoon the Welsh Assembly are to be graced with our presence. Unfortunately they are all on holiday, but that means we have the building to ourselves. Gareth, our charming young guide, is a mine of information and we get to see just about all of the building. It is a very impressive modern construction of wood, lots of glass and, of course, slate. The facilities even include a pleasant restaurant for visitors, in fact they seem not only to welcome visitors but to actively encourage them.

    All too soon it’s Saturday and time to go home, but not quite yet. Not one to drive past an attraction, our intrepid leader had planned a visit to Caerleon, a partially restored Roman site only a few miles away. We were amazed at the extent of the site but the highlight of the visit was the superbly recreated Roman Baths, definitely worth a look if you are in the area. The return journey was much the same as outbound but via the Severn Bridge, it’s free to leave Wales, you only pay to enter. Now there’s an idea! No, we don’t do politics. By now we are almost on first name terms with the staff at Evesham and a very pleasant lunch was enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine. On behalf of everyone, thanks to Brian for a most entertaining five days, and for arranging the weather.

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  • Gerry Burrows – General Meeting

    The title of this month’s talk seemed familiar but I just couldn’t place it until halfway through when the speaker, Gerry Burrows referred to the BBC radio programme entitled Children’s Hour. Presented and produced by Derek McCulloch better known as ‘Uncle Mac’, it was he who used the phrase ‘Goodnight children everywhere’ as his sign off line; then the penny dropped.
    Gerry never actually explained what his talk was about but, as he reminisced, it became obvious that he was giving us a potted history of children’s entertainment through the years starting with early radio broadcasts, some of which then metamorphosed into television programmes. His talk was very well illustrated with photographs of radio broadcasters and television presenters, legendary story and cartoon characters, renowned hand puppets and marionettes along with numerous easily recognisable animated folk from a multitude of TV series. All the snapshots were complemented by the catchy and very familiar theme tunes and songs which accompanied the programmes, many of which aroused the audience sufficiently for them to join in with a mini singalong.
    Regardless of your age, something in this talk will have struck a chord, made you smile and chortle whilst bringing back a poignant childhood recollection or two. For me it was ‘Listen with mother’ on the radio followed by Andy Pandy and The Flowerpot Men on the television. I hardly ever missed an episode of The Magic Roundabout or the supermarionation of Thunderbirds but I was too ‘grown up’ by 1992 to want to make a homemade version of Tracy Island as demonstrated by Anthea Turner on Blue Peter.

    It was thought provoking to be reminded just how much children’s entertainment has evolved over the years, and Gerry’s talk evoked many happy memories of the heroes and villains I used to boo, hiss, whoop at and drool over in my youth. As cinema and television developed, someone, somewhere realised that children could be targeted as primary consumers of entertainment and entertainment related products. Looking back, whatever we enjoyed listening to or watching seems quite simple and basic in comparison to what’s on offer to children nowadays however, now as was then, their primary purpose of educating, entertaining and empowering continues and Gerry helped remind us of exactly how well it was done.

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    Nadia Dawson
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  • Ethics and Moral Dilemmas

    This is a series of five monthly sessions where a small group get together and discuss moral dilemmas that raise a number of ethical issues. The topics range from everyday moral dilemmas to more far ranging issues such as should there be limits placed upon free speech…

    It’s not all serious stuff, we frequently go off at a tangent exploring personal experiences which can lead to some very amusing stories.

    The next repeat series of meetings will be Autumn 2019

    To register an interest please email: steve@pigyard.com

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  • Chairman’s Update

    Hello again. As members of West Wolds U3A you might think that committee are only active at committee meetings and the monthly general meeting however we are always busy making sure the organisation runs smoothly and trying to think of new opportunities we can offer everyone.

    This month we’ve hosted a new members get together at my house and a Group Coordinators meeting at Middle Rasen Church Hall. Unfortunately only 4 new members could make the former meeting but we had very good feedback and those who couldn’t attend also emailed their thoughts giving their first impressions of joining us. Most people were very complimentary about the joining experience although some had not attended the monthly meetings because of one poor experience.

    Thankfully the Group Coordinators were very supportive and we had 28 people attending. Whether it was the buffet lunch that enticed them or not they certainly had to work for their lunch (no such thing as a free lunch). We covered a number of topics including the Action Plan, Group Finances, short courses, one off activities and experiences, and our links to neighbouring U3As and to Lincoln University. It was a dynamic morning with everyone taking part and some lively discussions. More detailed notes will follow.

    Many thanks for your continued support and if you wish to leave a comment here then please do so or you can contact me on chairman@westwoldsu3a.org

    Best wishes – Steve McCarthy

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  • Andy Smith – General Meeting

    With an interesting array of stringed instruments stacked behind him, our speaker Andy Smith introduced himself as an instrumentalist/vocalist and songwriter who originally hailed from Lincoln. An hour whizzed by as he took us on a journey through his life using self-penned songs and well known tunes interspersed with nostalgic anecdotes and amusing chat to illustrate some momentous occasions.
    Starting with his own song ‘Baby Blues’ which is self-explanatory, he moved on to ‘Fairground Machine’ which was inspired by his childhood trips to the circus and fair on Lincoln’s South Common. The latter was played on a mandolin but then he exchanged it for the more unfamiliar tenor guitar which has only four strings, is expensive to buy but sounded wonderful as he launched into ‘Leaving on a jet plane’. At this point, he announced that after every talk, he likes to score his audience on their participation however, they did not need an incentive to join in with such a legendary ballad although their voices were lacking in volume.
    The tenor guitar was swapped for an unusual looking, shiny black, curved and bulbous electric guitar. He explained that this reflected his rock era and was a popular instrument with many eminent musicians of the time although he now found it quite difficult to play on his less than slim line figure. His lyrics told of the dodgy late-night curries he and his friends consumed after over indulging in the pub and his words probably resonated with many in the audience who had enjoyed similar experiences in their youth.
    As he matured in age, Andy’s music tastes changed, he stopped going to rock concerts and he traded his electric guitar for an acoustic one so he could emulate the great singer songwriters of the time. Picking up his own acoustic guitar, he played the opening chords of American Pie by Don McLean which was immediately recognised by the audience who joined in enthusiastically and loudly this time. Andy now began patronising folk clubs where he decided he too could compete with the best of them and write and sing songs which were not just about shipwrecks. To prove it, he plucked at the strings of his acoustic guitar and sang us ‘The girl with the innocent smile’.
    To make ends meet, Andy worked at Nat West bank during the day and gave guitar lessons at night to students, many of whom didn’t practice from one week to the next so he wrote a song about them. His lyrics certainly expressed his exasperation at their lack of musical ability but also his affection for a particular female student which made everyone laugh out loud. His next song was entitled ‘Wish you were with me tonight’ and was written about his new girlfriend, now wife. Before singing it, he furnished us with details of how, why and where they met; this was followed by a song he wrote about his good friend Paddy who was considered to be a bad influence on him by his mother. Their antics together were fully itemised in ‘Take me home’ and the catchy tune generated much foot tapping and swaying from the audience. Andy’s final song was a lullaby; soothing, simple and melodic, it was a fitting end to an excellent mix of music, yarns and personal stories delivered pitch perfect.

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    Nadia Dawson
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  • Lincoln University – Help Wanted

    My name is Mo Ray and I am the Research Director for the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln. I am a member of a special interest group which has been trying to raise the profile and importance of high-quality social work with older people. The Chief Social Worker for Adults has now asked the British Association of Social Work (BASW) to develop a set of capabilities for social work with older people. They will be developed in conjunction with older citizens, older people who use services, carers and other people such as social workers. We have been asked to comment on a number of questions (click here) and very much hope that you will be able to take a few minutes to answer them, based on your experiences and views. There are no right or wrong answers. They will be used to inform the initial development of the capabilities.

    We are hopeful that BASW will host a forum event in Lincolnshire to launch the draft capabilities in the summer and we will hope to invite interested members to come along to that event.

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  • Gardening Group Outing

    Hodsock Priory

    It was a small but valiant group of gardeners who set out to defy the gloomy weather forecast and visit Hodsock Priory near Blyth in Nottinghamshire to see the snowdrop display. The rain had started in earnest by the time we reached the priory, and we were met by the sight of men hastily shovelling grit and stone into the mud – and this just so we could get into the carpark! After hastily donning boots and wellies we scuttled into the de-luxe style, heated marquee to scoff cake and have a welcome hot drink, while watching the rain get even heavier.

    For the full story click here…

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  • Important Diary Dates

    New Members Social

    There will be a new members event on 25th March at 2pm. Everyone who has joined since September will either receive an invitation by email or through snail mail (if we don’t have an email address for them) over the coming weeks.

    Group Leaders Event

    Another important event is the Group Leaders meeting on Saturday 1st April starting at 09.30. The venue and outline of the morning will be announced shortly.

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  • Auctioneering – General Meeting

    I hold my hands up to not knowing who David Palmer, this month’s speaker was when he was introduced however, it soon became clear that he is a renowned and very experienced auctioneer and familiar to those who watch the likes of Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Cash In The Attic. He oozes charisma although it was probably his snazzy waistcoat (for which he is also identified) which caught my eye and attracted my attention first. As a speaker, he is animated, informal and humorous and, if he adopts this style when auctioneering, every audience member will fall for his witty banter without realising he is extracting every last penny from their pocket. His philosophy is that people need to be entertained when parting with their money so, he endeavours to make every auction into a spectacle and fun for all involved; this, he maintains, encourages buyers to bid ever higher for the lots on offer.
    As a freelance auctioneer, David travels the length and breadth of the country and gives generously of his time particularly to charity auction events and, although a consummate professional, he did let us into some of an auctioneer’s secret tactics which I will certainly keep in mind if and when I attend another auction. An hour quickly slipped by as he beguiled the audience whilst reiterating amusing anecdote after amusing anecdote. I think it would be fair to say that we were sold on David’s inimitable eloquence and vivacity and the gavel would definitely have gone down in his favour.

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    Nadia Dawson
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  • Gardening Group Update

    Wednesday 18th January 2pm Holyrood Church Old School Hall, King St Market Rasen

    A talk by Pam Tatam from Hall Farm Garden, Harpswell. Pam will be describing the development of her lovely garden, one of the best in Lincolnshire. The garden is open all year round and is a delight in any season.

    Advance notices – February
    1) Visit to Hodsock Hall to see the snowdrops. Visit also includes a talk by the campfire in the woods. 2 cafes and shop available. Specimen species of snowdrops for sale. Date to be announced later, depending on when the snowdrops make their appearance!
    2) Wednesday 15th February. A talk by Steve Lovell, who has spoken to the U3A before. “Every Garden should have some”-the use of water in the garden.

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  • Discovery Award Group

    Broken your New Year Resolutions already?

    Oh dear! Never mind. What were you going to do?  Lose weight?  Get out more? Be more active?

    Whatever it was you were obviously going to try and make life a bit better and more positive for yourself than it was in 2016.  And that’s good, – pat yourself on the back – at least you tried! But why give up?  Try again!  Remember Robert the Bruce!

    Finding someone to share your goal with can be half the battle.  Better still, why not join the Discovery Award Group and share it with us. Everyone here has their own goals and we all encourage and support each other to achieve them.  Sharing makes it good fun instead of a chore.

    If you have forgotten or don’t know what the Discovery Award is, it is an internationally recognised award scheme with bronze, silver and gold levels.  We set ourselves the task of undertaking 4 challenges of our own choice – no pressure, no time limit, no competition, no need to go out of our comfort zone if we don’t want to.  The four challenges are, 1) to start a new hobby or interest, 2) to do something which keeps us physically active, 3) to do something which helps others or our community, 4) to undertake a ‘journey’ which can be actual, like a holiday, or mental, as in finding out more about something you are interested in.

    You set your own level, do it whenever you can, do the challenges one at a time or several together as you wish. And of course we are part of the U3A with all its support, which makes doing the challenges even easier.

    And apart from supporting each other, we are a social group.  We go out together for a meal, to a play, or an afternoon out somewhere, -whatever we decide that as a group we would like to do.  If you are interested and would like to find out more contact Mary Howes on 01673 849554, email mary-howes1@hotmail.co.uk or simply come along to our first meeting at Jossals café in Market Rasen on January 27th at 10am.  We will be in one of the upper rooms.  Just order yourself a drink at the desk and the staff will bring it up to the Discovery group for you.

    Take the first step.  Pick up the phone, or come along to hear more without any commitment whatsoever.

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  • Diabetes Type 2 Research

    Lincoln University would like to identify approximately 12 people who are living with, or care for someone living with type 2 diabetes (must be type 2). We need these people to talk to our students in the School of Pharmacy about the medicines that have been, or currently prescribed and any issues, ill effects or benefits they feel (or felt) from this.

    We appreciate that people’s time is valuable, and of course would never leave anyone out-of-pocket. Therefore we offer to make a payment of £10 per hour for involvement, and pay any mileage claims at .45 pence per mile.

    If you are interested in taking part in this research then please contact Brian Ward

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