LEARN LAUGH LIVE

News from Paddock Wood U3A

October 2016

"Mainly Men Group" at Chatham Dockyard

Seminar News

Excellent reports on the recent Seminar presented by professional landscape and wildlife photographer, Robert Canis which was sponsored by the Digital Photography Group.

Members who attended are still talking about this memorable event, which was fully booked.

There are still some spaces on Tuesday October 25th at 10.30am when our own Elizabeth Rhodes will be speaking about the influence of ancient civilisations on modern man with her

talk "What we owe the Greeks". This is a talk you will not want to miss!

Tuesday November 22nd at 10.30am: Sponsored by the Mainly Men Group. We are fortunate to have booked Toni Hunter, the “Vulcan to the Sky Trust” representative to speak to us about this aircraft and the programme to ensure its memories are preserved. It was the first successful large delta wing aircraft and it led directly to Concorde and the Space

Shuttle. Vulcan XH558 is now based at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster”.

It is encouraging that so many of our Interest Groups have been involved in putting together this year's programme. We are now looking to next year's programme, and some exciting suggestions have been put forward – such as British spies, the Millennium Seed Bank and Code Breaking at Bletchley Park. If you have an idea or a subject you would like to see

covered next year contact Andy Wickham or Colin Mark.

To book contact Andy Wickham on andywickham59@sky.com or at a monthly meeting

Seminars cost £3 per member and include refreshments.

"I could do that"

SEMINARS

There is no doubt that the series of Seminars have been a resounding success. We are looking for somebody who would like to help with the organisation of future events.

Please contact Andy Wickham or Colin Mark andywickham59@sky.com

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT

Michele Sinclair has been quietly beavering away working on a programme of entertainment for the December meeting. She is looking for ideas from members for this event.

I am sworn to secrecy on what has been arranged so far, but I can reveal that the theme is 1930’s Hollywood, so this could be a glamorous affair!

Contact Michele at the Monthly Meeting or at michele@sinclairx.com

Barn DanceA U3A Quattro Production

Our U3A Barn Dance will be held onSaturday 7th January at Mascalls School.

We will be dancing to a professional Band and Caller.

The evening will start at 7.30 and will include a Ploughman’s supper,but do please bring your own drinks.

The tickets are only £10 each so why not while away thosepost Christmas Blues at our Barn Dance.

A Barn Dance is in essence very similar to a Square Dance,an English Country Dance or even a Scottish or Irish Ceilidh.

The caller always introduces each simple dance with ademonstration and a slow run through without music.

There is no need to have a specific partner as most dances feature changing partners at times during the dance. The aim is community orientated fun, with the name coming from the times when such

dances were held in the barn (Just like in Poldark).

Tickets from Eileen Cook 01622 813 720 (e­Mail yaldingfinches01@sky.com)Jan Wheddon 01892 836 932 (e­Mail janwheddon@hotmail.com)

or at the U3A full monthly meetings

AGM 13th October 2016 at 3pm: 1. Apologies 2. Agreement of the Minutes of the 2015 AGM 3. Chairman’s Report 4. Membership Secretary’s Report 5. Presentation of Accounts for approval 6. Previously notified questions from the floor. 7. Election of new Committee

PADDOCK WOOD U3A ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGMinutes of the 4th AGM held at St Andrews Church Hall, Thur 8th Oct 2015 at 3.00 pm.

Present:

Committee comprising:

Fred Lemont Chairman Andy Wickham Treasurer

Jan Wheddon Secretary Michèle Sinclair Educational Outings

John Spoor Vice Chairman/Publicity Ron Trevillion Membership SecretaryPauline Middlewick Group Coordinator Dawn Kirk Welcome Committee

A total of 102 members and 2 vistors were present

Apologies: Margaret Swaite, Richard Turpin, Alec Newberry, Anne Trevillion, Pam Parker, Sue Thompson

Chairman’s Report Fred went through the activities and events held though the past year.

Treasurer’s Report Andy advised that the Accounts are available on the website. There is approximately £7k cummulative surplus

and it was therefore proposed that the subscription fees be reduced from 2016 to £12 for an individual and

£20 for two members at the same address. This was agreed unanimously.

Membership Secretary’s ReportRon advised that we now have 355 members, 5% up on last year, and 43% up over the last 3 years. 124 of

the original 182 members are still members. It is interesting to note that membership is currently made up of

240 women and 115 men – a ratio of 2:1 which although heavily weighted towards the ladies is nonetheless

quite normal compared to other U3As. Members may wish to consider why this should be and whether it is

inevitable or not in this age of equal opportunities.There are now almost 1000 U3As across the country with a

total membership of around 361,000.

Election of CommitteeAs Fred was standing down as Chairman this year he handed the meeting over to Andy to introduce the new

proposed committee for approval and election by the members. The committee members proposed and

seconded for 2016 are as follows:

Andy Wickham Chair Jan Wheddon Vice Chair

John Spoor Treasurer Cheryl Linnegar Secretary

Colin Beavington Membership Secretary Linda Stedman Group Coordinator

Pat Lynn Speakers Coordinator Michèle Sinclair Study Days Organiser

Fred Lemont Publicity and Marketing Dawn Kirk Welcome Committee

Stephen Waterman Asst Speakers Coordinator

There was a unanimous show of hands by the members for approval to elect the above committee.

The Committee is also looking for a website manager

Fred, Pauline and Ron were each given a thank you gift for their work on the Committee.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.30 pm.

"I wish to make a complaint"

I came across the article "Making a Complaint" while reading the U3A September Newsletter, and I thought your readers might also

be interested to know about another site that is extremely good for doing exactly that!

"Fix my Street" is a web site that I've found works remarkably well for making complaints about issues relating to our environment.

Complaints are passed onto the appropriate council and they have to either rectify the problem(s) or provide a good reason for not

doing so.

The problem can be from something as simple as lack of bin collection, fixing potholes in roads, to getting householders to cut

back hedges which are blocking footpaths.

Thank you to Roger Stiles for that information

A problem with making complaints is where no­one is really sure just who is responsible.But don't be afraid to complain, as often those responsible do not know of the problem.

Otherwise it can be a case of "Everybody Knew" but "Nobody Told Us".

If you can add to this information, or have successfully (or unsuccessfully) made a complaint, please contact the Editor Fred Lemont

In recognition of the substantial role that the Welfare Team plays in our U3A, the Committee proposed that Jenny Carney become a full Committee Member as Welfare Officer.

Welcome to Jenny!

Exciting developments at "The Bull at Brenchley"!The Grade 2 listed building is now a holiday let with fully equipped kitchen, dining area seating 16, sitting room, TV room, South

facing courtyard and 8 bedrooms. It can be booked in its entirety.

Meanwhile a delightful Cafe/Bar known as "The Little Bull" has opened. Open every day the coffee is excellent while the cakes are difficult to resist. Currently it opens Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings as a Charcuterie Restaurant as well as weekends, and if you are a Gin drinker they promise an amazing selection.

Next Monthly Meeting Thursday 13th October

Ann Chance ­ "Petticoat Pilot"

Ann Chance is a remarkable lady. At the age of 50 she decided to learn to fly …so that's exactly what she did. She has always done things that she set out to do, even though it has not always been easy. With a delightful sense of humour Ann will explain how she

became a "Petticoat Pilot" and gained her Private Pilot Licence. You will hear how she has frequently taken the "Chance of a Lifetime".

A celebration of 1,000 U3As

In November this year the U3A family will celebrate the formation of the 1000th U3A in Great Britain, although they don’t intend to tell us which one it is! For an organisation only founded in 1981 and whose early years were a struggle, the explosion of U3As over the last few years has been inspiring, with nearly 400,000 "Third Agers" who want more in their life

than falling asleep sitting on the sofa watching TV.

In this country we can thank Cambridge University academic Peter Laslett, Michael Young, whose many initiatives include the Consumers Association and the Open University and

Eric Midwinter director of the Centre for Policy on Ageing for starting things off.

A special event is being held on Tuesday the 22nd November at Friends House, 173­177 Euston Road, London from 13.00 to 17.00. Eric Midwinter (founder of the U3A movement) and Baroness Frances d'Souza (Speaker of the House of Lords) will be addressing the hall.

1.30pm Arrival2.00pm Opening Address ­ Pam Jones Chairman, The Third Age Trust2.15pm THE HOUSE OF LORDS: A VITAL ANACHRONISM? ­ Baroness D'Souza 3.15pm U3A; Foundation and Future ­ Eric Midwinter4.15pm Closing Remarks ­ Pam Jones Chairman4.30pm End

Tickets cost £5 from u3a1000.eventbrite.co.uk

Our October Meeting is moving - but not far

In October we will be meeting in the Church

but tea and biscuits are not affected!

Due to popular demand from U3A members, there are three Christmas concerts this year; it is the same program at all three. Held at the Queen's

Chapel of the Savoy, Savoy Hill, London WC2R 0DA

7th December 2016 - 2pm and 5.30pm and 12th December 2016 - 2pm

Whetting your appetite for the coming season, the concert will include traditional carols, enhanced by the gentle glow of mulled wine and mince pies.

The concert will be introduced and conducted by Bob Porter, the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London’s Artistic Director.

The building is a ‘Royal Peculiar’ Chapel, not within any bishop’s jurisdiction, but remaining within the Church of England, and belonging to her Majesty

the Queen as Duke of Lancaster. It is the last surviving building of a hospital founded by Henry VII for homeless people in 1512, and is a beautiful,

intimate space for concerts with a fine acoustic and splendid Walker organ.

The Brandenburg Singers are a small hand-picked group drawn from the finest members of the 150 choirs that perform in the Brandenburg Choral Festival

of London. They will perform a balanced programme of familiar Festive repertoire alongside traditional carols with the audience, interspaced with

topical readings and a couple of surprises.

Tickets: £19 per person including programme, mulled wine and mince pie. Seating is unreserved.

THIS EVENT IS FOR U3A MEMBERS ONLY

Tickets can only be booked online at:http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/u3a­christmas­concerts­tickets­27459623473?ref=ebtn

U3A Christmas Concert with the

Brandenburg Singers

The stunning interior of the Queens Chapel

EDITOR: fredlemont1@gmail.com Next Newsletter Deadline - 27th November

We bring together three speakers with an academic and literary background, to explore different aspects of the

political figure called the giant of the 20th century. But do we know all there is to know about Churchill? The

Study Day seeks to throw new light in to unknown corners of his life and work.

Programme

9.15am Registration and coffee on arrival

9.50am Welcome

10.00 ­ 11.10am Jonathan Smith: The Churchill Secret, KBO

11.10 ­ 11.40am Tea and Coffee Break

11.40am ­ 12.50pm David Lough: No More Champagne

12.50 ­ 2.10pm Lunch Break

2.10 ­ 3.20pm Sonia Purnell: First Lady

3.30pm Close

Jonathan Smith has had careers as writer and teacher, being Head of English at Tonbridge School. His first

book "Wilfred and Eileen" was made into a series for BBC TV. His novel "Summer in February" was released

as a feature film while "The Churchill Secret, KBO" was adapted for an ITV Sunday night film.

After a career in finance David Lough founded a private banking business advising families across the range of

their private affairs and became chief executive. In 2008, he became its part­time chairman while researching

"No More Champagne" revealing the untold story of Winston Churchill's precarious personal finances.

Sonia Purnell's portrait of Clementine Churchill First Lady, has been hailed on both sides of the Atlantic and

shortlisted for the Plutarch Prize for Best Biography. Her first book, a rollicking clear­eyed biography of Boris

Johnson, has been credited with changing the national political debate and was long listed for the Orwell Prize.

Monday 10th October 2016 at Salomons, Broomhill Road, Southborough TN3 0TG

Cost £12.50 includes 3 lectures and coffee Lunch 2 course hot or cold buffet lunch £11.50.

You may bring a packed lunch. Organiser Adrian Twiner Tel. 01892 459352

Signed copies of the books mentioned will be available to buy. Members may visit the Salomon Museum as well

as the Estate gardens. This Study Day is open to members of any Kent U3A in who may bring one guest.

Apply: Adrian Twiner, Flat 16, Bishops Court, Bishops Down Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8XL

I/ We wish to apply for 1/2 places for the Kent U3A Study Day on Monday 10th October 2016

Name(s)..........................................................................................................................................

Address..........................................................................................................…..............................

E­mail: ............................................................Tel No…........……………Home U3A………………..

I/We wish to apply for lunch at £11.50 a head OR Will bring a packed lunch. Please tick.

Make cheques payable to Kent Network Account and include a stamped self­addressed envelope (9" x 4") to

receive ticket(s) and directions to Salomons

KENT U3A STUDY DAY: The Lesser-Known Churchill

As you probably already know, the Paddock Wood U3A calendar for 2017 has been produced by our very own Art Group and contains pictures of paintings produced by

members of the Group. The charity this time is Hospice in the Weald, and while sales are going well, it stands to reason that the more copies sold the greater the profit we

shall have to donate to the Hospice.

Copies of the calendar are now available and you can purchase a copy at the U3A monthly meetings. It is also available in Paddock Wood from Barsleys, Paddock Wood

Cards, The Inprint Shop and the Fair Trade Shop in St Andrew’s church. Further details about how to get hold of a copy can also be obtained from Colin

Beavington, PW U3A Committee members and Group Leaders. £6.50 including a strong mailer envelope. Christmas Presents solved with style!