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Castle Bromwich University of The Third Age

21 March 2021

AGM 31 March 2021: If you have not yet completed a ballot form for the three

motions previously sent on the 11 March there is copy of the form attached to this

email.

The Ides of March - Ray Pearce

I was going to write this week on another topic when I realised that Monday was

March 15th, The Ides of March in the Roman calendar. It was the 74th day of the

Roman year and is best remembered as the day in 44BC when Julius Caesar was

assassinated. Why did I remember this I hear you ask? It goes back 70 years to the

5th form at Waterloo Grammar School in the then Borough of Crosby, just North of

Liverpool on the North West coast. It was O levels time and in English Literature the

set Shakespeare book was Julius Caesar. To commemorate the day when I

answered my phone on Monday I said Julius Caesar speaking and if the caller was a

lady I asked if she was Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife.

So what do I remember of the play now. Beware the Ides of March said by the

soothsayer warning Caesar not to go to the Senate on that day. Earlier at the sound

of distant cheering Cassius, the chief conspirator, asks Brutus what all the noise

about, Brutus replies. “I fear the people do choose Caesar for their king” “You fear it

Trustee Vacancies Treasurer Our Treasurer Peter Hayling is standing down at the end of August 2021 after five and half years of valiant service for which I am truly grateful. Peter has been only our second treasurer since CBu3a was formed. Our u3a can't operate without a Treasurer so it is vital we find a replacement for him as soon as possible. This post is of necessity a Trustee role. A job description will be available from Ann Sparey from Monday 22 March 2021. General Meeting Speaker Secretary We are in need of a speaker secretary who can arrange and organise our future speakers. The speakers for this year are already provisionally arranged but these need to be followed up and confirmed in due course. We have a list of speakers who are available to come and give talks. This is a role which could be undertaken by any member and does not involve coming to Executive Meetings. For more information please contact Ann Sparey from Monday 22 March 2021.

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Brutus” replies Cassius and, in my view Brutus is trapped. To quote Caesar of

Cassius “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men

are dangerous.” Caesar also elegantly says “It is the bright day that brings forth the

adder .And that craves wary walking”

Calpurnia is worried about Caesar going to the senate on that day and suggests he

tells the senate “He is sick, he is sick” to which Caesar replies “Shall Caesar send a

lie? “So Caesar goes to the Senate saying “Cowards die many times before their

deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once” Once at the Senate he is attacked

and stabbed by all the conspirators. The last once to plunge in the knife is Brutus at

which Caesar utters his final words “Et to Brute!” And dies. (And you too Brutus)

The second part of the Shakespeare is dominated by Mark Antony starting with his

famous speech “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury

Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft

interred with their bones” What of the main conspirators? Both Cassius and Brutus

took their own lives.

Our English Literature master at school was Mr Tripp, he thought the play was the

tragedy of Brutus and I think he would be surprised I could remember something of

the play .There was a 1953 film of the play which I think is brilliant with James Mason

as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, Marlon Brando as Mark Antony and Greer

Garson as Calpurnia.

I hope the above gives you a flavour of the play .I had a totally different topic for this

week until along came The Ides of March on Monday. Ray Pearce 17th March 2021.

Waterloo Grammar School 1946/51.

John Gielgud as Cassius and James Mason as Brutus

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LOCAL HISTORY GROUP…………..last one!

We think Lockdown must have affected everyone as no-one seems to be able to

remember what life was like in Castle Bromwich, over the last 60 years or so. We

have gathered lots of detail from Domesday Book onwards through to the war years,

but we have little from post war onwards.

As we are still looking for more information, even if you could send us 3 things

you remember about life here, your memories would be really appreciated.

Thank you

QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILEE

Lots of street parties were held around Castle Bromwich

There was a big party in Hawthorne Rd, which included entertainment by a young

group from Park Hall. One of them was John Taylor, who gained fame as part of

Duran Duran.

We are not sure which road these pictures are from. Can you recognise it?

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Please share some of your memories for our Life in Castle Bromwich

collection. Thank you.

Paulette – pjb2@hotmail.co.uk Barbara – barbaraanndurrant@gmail.com

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Bits - Frank Hill

Arnold Bonce, the renowned cap maker has today received the coveted ‘Brimless

Bits for the Masses’ award. Arnold stated “I’m beside myself with joy!” To which the

other Arnold nodded vigorously.

Thomas Moldfever has successfully tested the world’s first atomic powered Loo

Brush. Unfortunately, the prototype malfunctioned the following day just as Thomas

sat down to read through the specification for removing the brush from the ‘S’ bend.

The investigation team are following the trajectory he left as Thomas made his way

rapidly through the ceiling.

Historical News

The Spanish Armada landed in Devon today, only to be told “Soree Senor’s were

shut, try Tuesday!”

In 1735 George Whitehouse got the contract to build a large house somewhere in

the colonies. He said it will be a bit of a job because the land is in a state.

Everest was first climbed in 1953, unfortunately the guide had the map upside down

during the potholing expedition.

Birmingham City are introducing the Clean Air Zone for the City Centre. If you follow the

online link brumbreathes.co.uk you can enter your car registration and it will tell you if

you have to pay. Our Nissan is free but our Motorhome would cost £8 to drive into the

Clean Air Zone. The charge come in from 1st June 2021.

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Frank Hill: “Rose in the Wind”

John Witten: “Attention!”

Andrew Hill: “Light Rise”

‘

John Mat: “The Wilderness Pool”

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Space News

The sky in March 2021

March evenings tend to offer more moderate temperatures for those wishing to observe the winter constellations in relative comfort.

During the latter half of this month, Orion, the hunter and his dazzling entourage have moved into the western half of the sky by around 9 p.m. local daylight time, yet they are all still very well situated. To those who did not head outside to spend time outdoors with the "mighty hunter" and his retinue during January and February because it was simply too cold, the next few weeks should offer more pleasant observing conditions.

Courtesy Spacewatch.com

Meteor Showers

April 22: The Lyrids. ... May 6: The Eta Aquariids. ... July 29: The Delta Aquariids. ... August 12: The Perseids. ...

All year long as Earth revolves around the sun, it passes through streams of cosmic debris. The resulting meteor showers can light up night skies from dusk to dawn, and if you’re lucky you might be able to catch one.

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If you spot a meteor shower, what you’re really seeing is the leftovers of icy comets and debris from the early formation of the Solar System crashing into Earth’s atmosphere. Comets are sort of like dirty snowballs: As they travel through the solar system, they leave behind a dusty trail of rocks and ice that lingers in space long after they leave. When Earth passes through these cascades of comet waste, the bits of debris — which can be as small as grains of sand — pierce the sky at such speeds that they burst, creating a celestial fireworks display.

The dates of the showers given correspond to mid peak where the maximum number of meteors may be expected. This of course depends on the age of the shower and other transitory factors such as your position and horizon, the amount of possible light pollution etc. How do you observe them?

Naked eye is the most productive method because the extent of our peripheral vision

is far greater than most, if not all optical aids.

First and foremost, of course is your personal safety if observing away from your

home and going to an external site. If you can, persuade a friend to come with you,

with a promise of an unforgettable experience! Visit your potential observing site in

the day if possible and find the place you want to be Meteor watching from. Is it far?

Will you need to drive there say? What about parking? Does the site have a car park

or will you park on the road? If a car park, is it locked at night?

It is not unknown to be caught out and end up locked in!

On the comfort front, this applies whether you go to a site or observe from you own

garden; dress warmly for the early (and late) in the year showers. Take a camping

chair with you. A hot drink in a flask is also a welcome addition to the session. A

chart of the section of the sky you will be mainly observing is a useful aid, a note

book and a torch. Note: not a bright light, even better is a red light or red filter on the

torch. This will help to keep your ‘Dark Adaption’ which helps to spot those fainter

meteors.

How do you observe?

If on your own, settle down and face towards the point at which the meteors are

expected (this will be toward the constellation direction they will be coming from, the

constellation of Lyra for instance) they do not of course come from the constellation,

only from its direction in the sky. Scan the sky, looking across your view point, when

the meteors appear, they will not be directly from the

Atmosphere entry point but a little way aside. So, this is why you need to scan

across the sky.

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It is a little easier if you are in a group, because each of you can monitor your own

‘bit’ of sky. The main thing that you need on a meteor watch; is patience, especially

those showers that have low expected numbers. Even so, there can still be

surprises and you may see a spectacular fireball streak across the sky!

Frank Hill

On This Day in Space! March 16, 1966: Gemini 8 achieves first space docking

NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and David

Scott launched into orbit in their Gemini

spacecraft almost three hours after the un-crewed

Agena target vehicle launched separately. After a

six-hour chase, the Gemini crew caught up with the

Agena target vehicle, and the two spacecraft

successfully docked.

Margaret’s army of knitters are still knitting hats for the homeless. If

you have any odd balls of wool that you would like to donate she is

willing to collect it. Please contact Margaret on 021 749 1296. Thank

you in advance.

U3A Newsletter request Books/Magazine recycling - Michael Buckley If anyone has any books or magazines they want to recycle I'm happy to collect them NO CONTACT. Members can email me please buckleymd@yahoo.com. Also if anyone has old mobile phone or computers, the recycling of these by charity is continuing and I'm willing to help with sending them on. The charity we support is the British Heart Foundation. If someone would like items to go to a different charity that can also be done. Thank you

Courtesy: Spacewatch.com

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. Please keep forwarding any articles, news updates or photographs to mridsdilll@hotmail.co.uk Keep safe Marion

A big thank you to everyone who contributes each week and thank you again to Roger Hateley for the quizzes numbered 46 attached and the answers for quizzes 45. The last 6 weeks of quizzes and answers are now available on the CBu3a website along with back issues of the Newsletter Castle Bromwich U3A: Home (u3asites.org.uk)