1

Thought for the month.

“The sun is always shining; you only need to remove the clouds”

David R Hawkins, MD PhD

Winchester

University of the Third Age December 2017

www.winchesteru3a.co.uk

2

Winchester U3A Committee 2016-2017

Chairman: Peter Smith Secretary: Freda Bates Treasurer: Chris Sharratt Membership: Richard Costard Subscriptions: Sylvia Leyton Groups: Joy Bateman Speakers’ Secretary:Julia Whitburn

Website: Barrie Brinkman

Newsletter Editor: Roger Warr

Cover Picture “Curiosity”. Many thanks to John Tennent

Notes for Contributors to the Newsletter. The deadline for inclusion in the February newsletter is 20th January 2018.

Send contributions as a Word document (not pdf) by email attachment in Arial

font, type size 10, single line spacing to the editor, Roger Warr, at

u3aletter@gmail.com.You will receive an automatically generated reply

acknowledging receipt. If you do not receive this reply, we have not received

your contribution! Reports of visits should not be longer than one page

(about 400 words): the editor retains the right to edit items if necessary.

Please send a copy of all your items to Barrie Brinkman, so that he can include

them in the website. He has no deadline to meet, so he can accept items for

the website at any time and in any format (but preferably not pdf). Please also

send any photos separately from the text and in colour so that he can make the

most effective use of your photographic talents!

Winchester U3A Website www.winchesteru3a.co.uk is an information source for members and the general public. Member only information is available by using the Member option on the horizontal menu, and is also required for some “read more” links on the Home page, by using the single log-on password :- Please let Barrie Brinkman, Webmaster, know if you experience any difficulties, have suggestions or would like some help in using our web site by emailing barrie.brinkman@btinternet.com

Chairman’s Comment

3

At the November Committee meeting, we considered our composition from next March and commended Freda Bates as our next Chairman. Richard Costard is standing down having done a sterling job as Membership Secretary and we’d like to invite Members to consider standing for this vital role: details are noted later in the Newsletter. We also need to appoint a Vice Chairman and a Secretary and would like to give one or two new Members a role “without portfolio” to build for the future. I’ve found it both pleasurable and interesting to work with our able Committee and either Freda or I would be pleased to let you have more information. Our Membership numbers are stable at over 1300 and we now have 107 interest Groups. It’s really good that three new Groups are being planned - singing for pleasure; mandarin and international politics - and the Committee agreed to allocate up to £50 to enable the formation of any new Group. Please let Joy, our Groups Secretary, know if you’d like more information. There was little appetite for a separate Alresford Branch, so the Committee decided not to pursue that. Our superb November speaker from Winchester Discovery Centre gave such a fascinating talk on stars and planets that I’m thinking about getting a telescope! The 2018 Programme is already set up to June but please let Julia, our Speakers Secretary, know if you would like to recommend anyone for later. We also held an excellent, very well attended, Group Leaders’ meeting in November and welcomed many suggestions about how we might develop our support for Groups which form the backbone of the U3A. We talked about the more accessible web site, how Groups might “multiply” and welcome new members. The Committee are shortly going to issue a Guide for Group Leaders which we hope will be helpful. It will be mid December when you read this and I would like to wish you much joy and peace at Christmas and lots of enjoyable life-long learning in 2018. With kind regards Peter

Winchester U3A Committee Opportunities We have a number of vacancies from March 2018 and welcome expressions of interest or enquiries to our present Chairman, Peter Smith or our nominated Chairman, Freda Bates. Secretary Our existing Secretary, Freda Bates, will be pleased to work alongside and enable a new Secretary. It’s best to talk with her about what the job involves! Membership Secretary. After three years Richard Costard is retiring at the AGM. He leads a very effective Team with Sylvia Leyton handling the renewal

4

of subscriptions. The Membership Secretary handles all applications, queries and the main data base. The role requires good interpersonal skills and some basic familiarity with Excel. Whoever steps into Richard’s shoes will be assured of having him as an excellent mentor. Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman supports the Chairman and often handles specific projects or represents the Branch on U3A Regional networks and outside groups. He/she may wish to be considered as a future Branch Chairman. Members without Portfolio. The Committee would like to give an opportunity for one or two Members to join them for experience or to discover whether they liked it! There would be no long term commitment.

A Warm Welcome to New Members Mrs Lynda Banister of Winchester Mrs Carole Billingham of Alresford Mrs Margaret Bridport of Winchester Mr Roger Bridport of Winchester Dr Ruth Bryant of Winchester Mr Toby Bryant of Winchester Mrs Mavis Casson of Winchester Ms Tina Connolly of Winchester Mrs Josephine Gartside of Winchester Mr Colin Grant of Lyndhurst Mr Colin Pope of Alresford Mr Paul Haines of Winchester Mr Tony Keniston of Winchester Mrs Pat Mounsey of Winchester Mr Bob Parker of Winchester Mrs Barbara Plant of Winchester Dr. Ian Plant of Winchester Mrs Jenny Rolph of Winchester Mr David Sutcliffe of Alresford Mr Peter Tucson of Winchester Mr Philip Vining of Winchester Mrs Margaret Waghorn of Winchester Mrs Hilary Young of Winchester Richard Costard

General Monthly Meetings

2

These take place on the second Tuesday of each month in Littleton Village Hall. Doors are open from 2:00 and talks which are free of charge begin at 2:30.. Talks usually last about an hour and are followed by tea and biscuits. All U3A members are most welcome. The programme for the next few months is as follows: Tuesday 12 December: Quiz followed by Christmas tea. Tuesday 9 January: South Downs National Park Tuesday 13 February: Peter Wingent 'Flying to the Empire'. Early days of flying.

Rota for Teas at Meetings in the Littleton Hall.

12 December 2017 German Conversation 2 Bob Boddy

9 January 2018 Modern Novels 6 Jane Stephens

13 February 2018 Modern Novels 7 Gillian Davies

13 March 2018 Modern Novels 8 Janice Whittle

At least 3 people are needed. If you think that you will have any difficulty serving teas on your date, please swap with another group and advise me. The German Conversation group will not have to purchase any supplies as these will be provided as previously. However, please note that as from January 2018 the way U3A refreshments are handled are changing as follows: Each group who are allotted the month to serve refreshments will come to the meeting at 2pm bringing all that is required to carry out this task i e: 4 pts of milk Mixed packet of biscuits (Aldi are very reasonable) Medium jar of coffee 10-12 tea bags or a small box of them A small bag of sugar 3 tea towels 1 dishcloth Everything you bring and is left over please take home and use yourselves. There will be £4 available for each group to claim each month if needed from Freda Bates, Secretary. We hope you understand the new arrangements, but if not, do ask us to clarify them On the day, please arrive at Littleton Hall by 2pm to lay out cups and saucers etc., before the talk starts. The hot water heater doesn’t take long to heat up. Alongside are very clear instructions on how to use it. The dishwasher, which completes a cycle in just a few minutes, should be switched on at least

3

20 minutes before needed. During the talk, please sit at the rear of the hall close to the door so that you can make a quick exit as soon as the talk has finished. Thank you for your co-operation. Rose & Steve Saunders .

Possible Future Change in Start Time of Monthly Meetings Several members have suggested the possibility of starting the monthly meetings at 2.00 pm rather than 2.30, in order to avoid driving home in the dark in the winter. It would cause some confusion if introduced with immediate effect. It is proposed to raise it for members consideration at the next AGM

Report on Monthly Meetings Wells for India given by Om Prakash Sharma, assisted by Dr Max

Wilson and Julia Seal. 10 October 2017

Wells for India (recently renamed WaterWise) is a charity based in Winchester that has been successfully working with communities in India for thirty years. It develops small scale and locally-managed solutions to provide water in India, enabling communities to have access to water all the year round. Om Prakash Sharma has been involved with the charity since 1990 and has been the charity’s India Director for eighteen years. He has a team of five in India which oversees the management of projects which are implemented by local Indian partners. As a civil water engineer his wealth of knowledge regarding water harvesting in arid zones has steered the charity to become a leader in its field. Dr Max Wilson was the Chairman of the UK Board of Trustees for six years, and has paid several visits to the community projects in India. We were very fortunate to be able to hear from Om Prakash Sharma as he visits the UK only for about ten days every year in October. In the UK, we tend to take for granted access to clean water for domestic and other purposes. It is hard to imagine life without this. For millions of people living in India, however, before the water harvesting projects began, water collection for many involved a daily walk to 5 to 8 kilometres. The charity works mainly with communities in Rajasthan, a region roughly the size of the United Kingdom with a population of 69 m. Om Prakash Sharma stressed the importance and effectiveness of using traditional methods of saving and storing water, such as step wells. We also learned about different ways of capturing water during the rainy seasons such as self-catching water tanks which are typically lined with cement, ensuring that every drop of water goes into the tank. The type of method used for catching water depends on the geology and

4

ecology of the area, and there is also a variety of means to slow down the flow of water from the hills to enable it all to be captured. The benefits of having access to water for families are immense. Women and girls no longer have to walk each day to collect water for their families, freeing up time for their family or work – for example, in growing vegetables – and girls can go to school. Crop production is more efficient and reduces labour time. Often two crops a year are possible instead of one. Livestock milk production has increased in all the project villages. We learned that the Indian government tends to give financial support to the large-scale water projects such as building dams and canals. It is the independent charities such as Wells for India who do such valuable work with the village communities and transform their lives in this way. Julia Whitburn

U3A Guide to the Galaxy given by Dr Jenny Shipway 14th November 2017 Dr Shipway has been involved with the Winchester Science Centre for the last ten years, and until recently was Director of Communication and Learning there. She has been responsible for developing many of the programmes for the Planetarium there, as well as establishing it as a centre for academic seminars in the field of astronomy. For her talk to Winchester U3A, however, she was – fortunately for us – to be able to explain matters in a simple way. Her illustrated talk – although without the benefit of the wonderful resources of the Planetarium showed us many of the easily identifiable stars in our own galaxy. Starting with Polaris or the North Star, so named because it is always above the North Pole and thus has been used as a navigational tool for centuries, she identified and helped us to find many of the major stars. We located Orion (three stars close together), the Plough (probably the best known), Sirius or the Dog Star, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Arcturus, Gemini (the Heavenly Twins, or Castor and Pollux) and several others. We could see the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters – so called because they are close together. Dr Shipway also explained that the difference in the colours of the stars was due to the difference in their ages, with the red stars being the newest and the one giving off a blue colour being the oldest. She also demonstrated the huge range in the sizes of the different stars and planets, with Earth being only a tiny dot on the screen and others filling the screen. It was very helpful to be told what we might see in the night sky at the present time, with Jupiter and Venus being particularly low in the sky and clearly visible just before dawn. Many of us, inspired by her excellent presentation will be out looking at the night sky in the next few weeks – remembering of course to wrap up warm as colder weather is on the way!

5

Julia Whitburn

Group News.

Proposed Table Top Gaming Group. Would there be any interest in starting a table top gaming group playing games such as Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Mille Borne or any other games you have in your cupboards. Contact Judith Handbury

U3A Singers? Do you enjoy singing? Would you welcome the chance to join an informal un-auditioned singing group (choir) meeting in the daytime? I have had a few conversations with Winchester U3A members that suggest that there may be enough interest to form a new group. If you would be interested in joining a Singing group please email me at rclob@yahoo.com. If there is enough interest, I will take advice from others much more experienced than me - together with other U3As - before convening an exploratory meeting in the spring to discuss possible ways ahead. Richard Leyton

Brainteasers R.I.P. In the last edition of this Newsletter I posed two teasers typical of the ones the Brainteasers Group had tackled over the years. My intention was to try to identify two people who could fill the gaps left by recent resignations. Unfortunately this did not happen. Though one lady supplied perfectly correct answers, she could not commit the time needed for this Group. So I have decided to close Brainteasers down. Some years ago the Group acquired a rather nice white board / flip chart stand, which had belonged to another group (thanks to Richard Johns). Would another group would like it? It is easy to transport, as it has telescopic legs. Please contact me Philip Davies

Quester 4 Visit to Fossil Museum On 27 September, the Quester 4 Group visited The Etches Collection, the fossil museum at Kimmeridge. The museum is the result of 35 year work by Steve Etches, who has collected fossils from the Kimmeridge clay over that period.

6

. The group were taken round the exhibits by Steve himself, who enthused everyone with his specialist knowledge and the extent of his research, showing us many fossils that were unique finds.

Quester 4 Discover Edwardian Vagrancy Members made a visit on October 11th to Guildford

Spike Heritage Centre, and gained a fascinating and thought-provoking insight into the lives of homeless people only a hundred years ago. In Victorian times groups of parishes had established work-houses to cope with long-term residents from the poor, infirm, or destitute. These could be huge establishments - the one in Guildford housed over 300. But there remained a problem of "undesirable" vagrants who with their filthy clothing, crude language and coarse behaviour, could disrupt the structured routine of the workhouse. So "casuals" wards were created - colloquially known as "Spikes"- where vagrants could stay for just one night before being required to move on. The Guildford Spike was built in 1905. It remained in use until the 1930's, and a number of rooms and cells have now been preserved, giving us an insight into the miserable conditions. Vagrants received a meal of bread and gruel, and if they could not pay (2d) were required to do work for it by breaking stone, or picking oakum. Their clothes were fumigated, and after a compulsory bath, in shared water, they were locked into cells overnight. Attached to their cell was a working area where they had to break a quantity of stone into pieces small enough to pass through the window grill. When they left next day they had typically 12 miles to walk to the next Spike; they were not allowed to return for 30 days. The web-site www.guildfordspike.co.uk gives more information. Our enthusiastic guide was so loaded with our questions that we almost doubled our expected time! A number of our group completed our day with a meal at the Cathedral Refectory, and then enjoyed a visit to this beautiful - and seemingly under-visited - modern masterpiece. Marion Miles

7

Quester 9 - Taking the Waters On Wednesday 27th September some eighteen of us met at Twyford Water

Treatment Works on what turned out to be a sunny morning. We were met by Terry, Alan and Ray, all of whom became our enthusiastic and most informed guides. In their hands we discovered the story of water extraction, softening and supply over the last 100 years at this Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was hard to realise that once tunnels were dug deep under the chalk downs to collect

water. Diesel and electric pumps have now replaced steam pumps but the Edwardian past came vividly alive. Only coal had to be carted in as chalk for the lime kilns was quarried and burnt on site. Afterwards most of us retired to The Phoenix for a ‘lite bite’ and some shared memories over a pint of ale. Sadly it was the last tour that Helen Green was to share with us. Richard Costard

Questers 6 and 9 Seek the Stars Both groups had organised their visit independently, so it was a nice surprise to meet at the gates for a rare opportunity to visit this landmark site to learn about the cutting edge of weather and space research. The Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Chilbolton Laboratory near Stockbridge has been a major UK hub for meteorological measurements, radar, astronomy and satellite tracking. It rarely opens its doors to visitors, but on its 50th anniversary on 19 October we were able to take advantage of its ‘Open Day’ . We had been asked to wear sensible shoes and clothing, and because of the wet weather, it was a good thing we did so. We were given a map of the site and were able to visit the various installations (umbrellas came in useful) manned by experts who told us about tracking by radar, the various meteorological instruments and the huge radio telescope. To visit that, we donned hard hats and climbed to the viewing gallery. A visit to the main control room with its banks of screens This really was an interesting and

8

informative visit and a great opportunity to be inspired by so many enthusiastic scientists who did their best to explain their complex work in layman's terms. Afterwards, lunch at the local pub was a welcome place to warm up. Margaret Henstock

Art Today Study Visit to Rome, October 2017 Eight members of the Art Today group travelled with BA from Heathrow on the 18th of

October for a five day study visit in Rome. Our first day began with an open top bus tour for an introduction to the City, followed by visits to three galleries. In the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, we looked at the early 20th century work of Francesco Trombadori, after a delicious lunch we saw the exhibition, ‘Iron Levels’, by the Portuguese artist Davide Balula in the nearby Gagosian gallery. The ‘burnt paintings’ were displayed along the sweeping curve of the gallery, Our final visit was to the ‘Scuderie del Quirinale’ to see the work of Picasso, inspired by his visit to Rome in 1917, in the company of Diaghilav, Cocteau and Stravinsky. This exhibition was a total joy. Friday began with a bus ride to the Lorcan O’Neill Gallery, to see the work of a contemporary artist, Betty Woodman. It was a special treat to find the artist in the gallery putting the final touches to her colourful paint and ceramic work for the preview. We were intrigued by her vibrant, innovative work. Our next gallery, ‘Monitor’, was home to a fascinating exhibition, ‘For a Good Use of Ruins’ by Franco Guerzoni. The last exhibition on Friday was at ‘Frutta’, where Welsh artist, Bedwyr Williams.’s work had the theme of, ‘A wedding and the death of the Best Man’; perhaps we were too tired to appreciate this exhibition properly… Saturday started in the delightful ‘Gallerie Nazionale d’Arte Moderna with coffee followed by the temporary exhibition; the work of an Estonian painter, Konrad Magi, followed by the ‘Time Out of Joint’ exhibition where we found many favourites, Monet, Miro, Van Gogh etc. The Maxxi, designed by the late Zaha Hadid was a delight, and the exhibition of her work in Italy was stunning whilst the work of Yona Friedman, ‘Peoples’ Architecture’ provided a fascinating contrast to the major Hadid projects.

9

Sunday found us in the far north at the Macro Gallery, a converted ‘Peroni’ Beer factory, and then off our map in the south at Macro Testaccio an unused abattoir. The final piece there by Renaud Auguste Dormeuil in his exhibition,’Jusqu’ici tout va bien’ was a showing of the film ‘Vertigo’. We have certainly viewed art in some amazing buildings; stable, beer factory, abattoir, as well as the beautiful creation by Zaha Hadid. Pat Davies

Group Vacancies Advanced French Conversation 2 vacancy for a new member. Lively French conversation in a variety of topics. We meet the 2nd Tuesday in the month pm. For more details Contact Diane. Allotment Group needs more members. Do you hanker to grow your own fruit, vegetables or salads, but haven’t the space? Or perhaps you no longer have the energy to look after a plot on your own? Why not join the Allotment group? Our plot is next to the railway line in Stanmore, Winchester, where we share the learning, the produce and the fun! We grow soft fruits and rhubarb, the usual range of vegetables and a few flowers but like to experiment with new varieties.. Costs and produce are shared equally and in the autumn members discuss the plants to be grown the following year. We try to avoid digging – but just a little is good for our health! For more information please contact Vera Hogg Ameliorez Votre Francais has two possible vacancies. They meet the 2nd and 4th Monday morning of the month. The level is somewhere between the old O level and the old A level standard but they emphasize their group is also about having fun while they work. Trevor Sampier. Chess Club has some vacancies for people in playing chess and want to come along and give us a try. They are changing the venue to the Worthys Social and Sports Club SO23 7NJ between 2 - 4 pm on the third Tuesday of the month. Contact Rose and Steve Saunders

Exploring French Literature is seeking two new members. We are a small, friendly group of French Speakers who enjoy reading both Modern Day Literature and some of the famous French Classics. We try to keep our sessions light-hearted and look at the amusing side of novels as well as the underlying themes. Meetings are from 2pm on the last Tuesday in the month. If you have a good knowledge of French and would be interested in honing in on your French language skills, why not give us a try? Diane Sparkes. Film Criticism 1. Our numbers have been in gentle decline for a while and we would welcome some new faces. We have a rota for choosing a film, usually at The Screen, Winchester, which we go to see independently. Then we meet at

10

the house of the film chooser, who presents the film. There is always a relaxed, friendly atmosphere while we give our own comments, which often last well into the coffee and biscuits stage. If you enjoy cinema-going and long to discuss the film afterwards, why not give it a try? We meet on the 4th Monday of the month at 10am Daphne Poupart. Play Reading Group have one vacancy. They meet between 2-4 pm on the 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons in the month in members houses.They are currently reading plays from the 1970s. Cheryl Greenwood. Science Discussion Wide ranging discussion of science and technology topics and occasional site visits. A mixture of members without and with scientific backgrounds works well. One or two vacancies. Clive Howell Theatre Group are looking for new members to join the theatre group. We meet 3 times a year for coffee in a pub and decide which performances we would like to go to. The Group is not a box office and everyone their turn in organising the tickets for the various performances. Pam Underwood Vacancies are also reported in the following groups

Bridge, Duplicate. Fri pm weekly. Peter Howell.

Clarinet Players. First and third Mon am. Terence Brayshaw.

Computing Apple Mac. Fourth Tuesday. Nick Vernon.

Film Criticism 2. Third Mon. Jan Reynolds

Knitting 2. Mon pm weekly. Cathy Wallis.

Local History 4. First Mon pm. Joanna Morgan.

Mahjong 4 Tues. Anne Wright.

Painting Thur. am weekly Tony Silcox.

Quester 3. Monthly. Jan Reynolds. Quester 6. Monthly. Ferne Baxter.

Science and Technology 1. Second Wed pm Keith Taylor.

Science and Technology 2. Second Mon pm. David Rycroft.

Modern Novels 1. First Mon pm. Vic Stenning.

Modern Novels 5. Third Thur pm Kate Rogers.

Modern Novels 7. Second Fri am Gillian Davies.

Photography. First Mon pm. Colin Chase. Play Reading. First and third Mon pm. Cheryl Greenwood. Railway Group. Variable. Dale Greenwood. Spanish for Improvers. Thur pm. Ginnie Allain Wi.ne Appreciation 2 Meeting days vary. Nick Waring.

Salisbury Playhouse Trips – Spring Programme

11

These are open to ALL U3A members

Murder, Margaret and Me by Philip Meeks, Thursday 22nd February at

2.15pm

Agatha Christie and Margaret Rutherford should never have been friends, but they were. This is the story of how the Miss Marple films almost didn’t get made. Agatha didn’t want Margaret to bring her precious spinster to life and Margaret was mortified at the thought of upsetting her fans with something as sordid as murder. But this wasn’t her only reason for resisting the part. Margaret had a terrible secret – one that she’d lived with for a lifetime. As Agatha and Margaret play tug of war with Marple, Agatha (being a woman who wasn’t without a secret or two of her own) unearths the shocking truth buried in Margaret’s past. Cut-off: Monday 22 January 2018 Pick-up points: Badger Farm Rd/Olivers Battery Bus Stop 12pm The March Hare, Priors Dean Rd, Harestock 12.10pm Winchester Hotel 12.20pm Headbourne Worthy House 12.30pm Southgate St/St Swithun St 12.50pm Barnes Close/St Cross Rd 1pm The ticket price is £30 per person, which includes a discounted top price seat and return coach travel. If you wish to book for this production please send a cheque made payable to Salisbury Playhouse together with a self-addressed stamped envelope and your telephone number in case of any problems to Daphne Poupart,

Walkers’ Programmes

Walkers Group 1 The Group’s walks are about 5 miles in length, and take place once a month in the morning. In addition, shorter evening walks take place in the months April to September. All walkers (who must be U3A members) are welcome. Please let the leaders know by the previous day if you intend to join the walk, and to confirm the details. Thursday Dec 14th No walk – Christmas lunch at 12md at The Abbot’s Mitre, Chilbolton, SO20 6BA. If booking at short notice, please contact Sue Greenway by Dec 7th. Tuesday Jan 16th 10am Leader Sue Greenway Thursday Feb 22nd 10am Leaders John & Christine Rabjohns Sue Greenway

12

All Day Walking Group 2 – The Retreads. Thursday 7th December 2017 Start from layby adjacent to Headley Close, Tichborne Down Road, Alresford (Map ref. SU 587 314) at 9.30am. Walk to the Flower Pots Cheriton Map ref. SU 581 282 4.5 miles 1 stile. Afternoon 2.75 miles. Route uses parts of the Itchen, Kings and Wayfarer’s way. Leaders Tony and Monica Westlake Friday 12 January 2018 (half day) Meet at Exton church (Map ref. SU614211) at 10.00 am. There is roadside parking, or an informal car park outside Exton, just west of A32 (Map Ref. 618213), (Explorer map 119). As the days are short in January and the walk includes viewing three churches en route (Exton, Meonstoke and Corhampton), we have opted for one only 3 ½ miles. The walk is mainly flat and is largely the South Downs Way and we end near Exton Church and the Shoe Inn, where we will have lunch. NOTE: Due to possible adverse conditions at this time of year, we suggest that you contact:Leaders Janet Hurrell or Brenda Venn the day before the walk. Tuesday 6 February 2018 Meet in Five Bridges Road for a 09.30 start (SU 475272 - post code SO23 9RU ).The morning walk is about 6 miles - undulating with 1 stile. The afternoon is flat, stileless and about 2.3 miles. I'm hoping to book lunch at The Phoenix in Twyford; to be confirmed later. Leader: Kate Davies Alison and Chris Henry

All Day Walkers Group 3 Tuesday December 5th: Morning Walk Followed by lunch at Nick Waring’s house Chris Sharratt

Memories I wonder if you have ever regretted not asking something about your family history while your parents or friends were still around. This came sharply to

mind the other day when members of my Local History Group who were old

enough were sharing experiences during World War 2. This exchange was

fascinating with members living their childhood wartime lives in different parts of the country. There were details of my own history that I was unable to amplify as I had not asked my parents in time.

13

For all of us, I do feel that it is important to share our family history and experiences with our children. Show them photos of your childhood surroundings and activities, and of your older relatives. This can help build up a solid family history which they in turn can pass on. As we are approaching Christmas which is a time when families get together, it may be a good time to start the process of passing on what you can recall of your own childhood and family history before it is lost. Ann Rich

Calendar of Events

Month Date Day Event

December 12 Tuesday Monthly meeting – Christmas quiz

and tea

January 9 Tuesday Monthly meeting – South Downs

National Park

February 13 Tuesday Monthly Meeting - Flying to the

Empire

February 22 Thursday Salisbury Theatre Trip