January 2011 Bulletin
December Meeting
Many members gathered for the last monthly meeting of 2010 that took on a Christmas theme. After tea, coffee and mince pies, everyone sat down in teams on separate tables. Once everyone was seated and quiet, a quiz took place that all tables found challenging. Whilst this was going on, another paper quiz was looked at. This one was the
initial letters of the first line on popular Christmas carols and songs. Much easier. The highlight of the event was a short pantomime extract with five of the committee volunteering to take part. The
casting was most appropriate even though it was quite random with many laughs from Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother. After the results of the quizzes, there was a raffle for ‘Secret Santa’ prizes.
The early part of next year will revert to more regular monthly meetings.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-0rdinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
Our December meeting had about it a festive air.
Seasonal nibbles and drinks were served together with coffee, fortified for some! Members brought Christmas themed poems, cartoons, jokes and readings. We also had a light hearted discussion entitled 'Is Father Christmas real?' This led on to a very interesting description of the
Lutterworth Open Christmas - a free meal and jollity for the elderly or people who would be on their own at Christmas. In fact the age range is very varied. Usually there are about 80 participants and 20 - 30
helpers. Transport is provided, businesses donate ingredients etc and a couple of chefs spend their Christmas cooking for everyone. The whole event is enjoyed by all - helpers and guests alike.
Topic for February: ‘Same sex parenting’
PUB LUNCH
Co-Ordinators
Sylvia Wilson 01455283575
There are no pub lunches in January or February
March
Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd at The Elms, Lutterworth 11.45 prompt
April
Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th at Kilworth Springs Golf Club 12 for 12.30 prompt
BRIDGE
Co-ordinator
Bob Howes 01455 550027
Over the last month, one meeting was reduced to only three players so instead of bridge, canasta was the order of the day. This brings to the end of the first full year of this group.
WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP
Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore, Lutterworth U3A Julian Hargreaves, Wycliffe U3A
01455 552431 01455 557704
2nd February 2011
Walk Organiser Julian Hargreaves - Tel: 01455-557704
Meeting Point and Time: - Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 09.25 to leave at 09.30.
Directions to the Start: Drive south down the A5 from the Gibbet roundabout and take the first right turn to Newton. In the village park in the Stag and Pheasant car park, where we will be able to use the
toilets and order food. The main choice will be stew and dumplings with crusty bread (as much as we like) but there will be other choices
available.
The walk is approx. 5½ miles long and takes in the Great Central walk, Clifton and the Dow Bridge on the A5.
December Walk
27 walkers and 2 dogs set out from Bretford on our circular walk of approx 5½ miles, the weather was initially chilly but started to warm up later. Using wooded paths, field footpaths and enclosed bridle ways the walk went to Brandon, Brandon Woods, Brinklow Heath and Brinklow and the frozen Sand Quarry at Monk’s Riding, where we took our
coffee break and then made our way back to Bretford for our much
anticipated annual Christmas Lunch at the Queens Head.
We were very fortunate on route, as the temperature rose to see the hoar- frost drop from the bushes and trees like a snow flurry. Quite amazing to see it fall.
The food, welcome and service were much enjoyed by all, so much so that a walk in this vicinity is being sought in readiness for our Christmas Lunch in 2011.
Peter and Irene Moore
THEATRE GROUP
Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley
01455 554564
The late summer production at the Kilworth House Theatre for 2011 is "Little Shop of Horrors" The synopsis is as follows:-
"The musical comedy 'Little Shop Of Horrors' is a wonderfully
entertaining show about a hapless florist shop assistant called Seymour who finds his chance for success and romance through the help of a
giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed!
Set in a small florists in skid row – a dead end part of town that everyone knows about but nobody wants to visit – business is not great, in fact it's awful. Meanwhile cleaner Seymour – who spends his days
undertaking menial tasks and dreaming of shop assistant Audrey –
discovers a strange new plant which seemed to appear just after an eclipse of the sun! Nurtured by Seymour the plant starts to grow at an alarming rate and attracts a lot of interest – but then he discovers his plant has a rather strange appetite!
Audiences of all ages will delight in this riotous adventure where songs including Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That's Green and Suddenly, Seymour propels the audience into a world inhabited by a sadistic
dentist, a beautiful blonde with a decidedly tacky taste in clothes and a rather unusual plant called Audrey II! 'Little Shop Of Horrors' will have audiences singing all the way home – but gardening will never quite be the same again"
This show will run from the 18th August until the 11th September 2011 and the cost per seat is around £25.
Not being sure as to the level of interest for this show I have decided, for now, not to make an advanced reservation. If, therefore, you would be interested please let me know a.s.a.p. and I will take the matter from there.
Visit to renovated and remodernised RSC theatres
December 2nd 2010 Organizer, Anne Smalley
18 members visited the RSC and 13 were first taken up the Tower. This is a new attraction added to the main theatre that allows visitors to enjoy spectacular views over Stratford and the surrounding landscape.
All 18 were then taken in two groups first to see the Swan theatre inside what is left of the old 19th century building, and opened in 1987.
Both this and the main theatre are based on the thrust stage with the audience surrounding it on three sides rather than the Victorian stage with the audience sitting in front. They then made their way to the main theatre, passing the new dressing rooms overlooking the river which have replaced the former Riverside restaurant. The
latter has been reduced to a third of its size as a pleasant little café.
The magnificent new Main theatre has less seats as the thrust stage needs the extra space, but there is a real sense of ‘togetherness’ so that both actors and audiences will be involved in creating a
theatrical experience for everyone and hopefully allowing more
subtle use of language.
The dreaded Balcony seats which, though cheaper did not allow you to hear the plays properly, and were squashed and uncomfortable, have now gone. There is a very up to date lighting system which should be put to good use.
The tour ended by looking at the changes to the front of the theatre complex. Much more of Elizabeth Scott’s art deco design have been preserved as her building was a listed grade 11.
The group were very impressed by what they saw, and hope to be able to go to the productions which begin in February with King Lear in the main theatre and Hamlet in the Swan.
Booking details to follow.
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
House of Orphans by Helen Dunsmore, A tale set in Finland in 1902 where the Russian Empire hold sway and enforce a brutal policy to
subjugate its people. The story reveals how terrorism lies hidden in
ordinary life, as rulers struggle to hang on to power. It is a rich,
brilliant story of love, history and change. Not everybody liked the book and some felt the ending somewhat abrupt, whist others saw this as an opportunity to extrapolate beyond the time frame covered by the book. But all agreed that the descriptive and scene setting elements were well drawn. The characters being particularly believable.
The format of our group is at the moment having to undergo some changes if you are interested in the group please contact the
co-ordinator.
SCRABBLE
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 5534
Happy New Year to Everyone!
The Scrabble group continues to meet on the 2nd Wednesday (10—12)
plus the 2nd Thursday (12.30—2.30 pm)
CANASTA
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 55341
Happy New Year to Everyone!
The Canasta group will meet on the 1st Friday (10—12)
BUT no Wednesday canasta in future
QUIZ GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sylvie Curtis
01455 554504
Ten members met for the final group meeting of 2010.
We enjoyed a game of 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' , U3A style.
The group split into teams of two, selected by drawing lots, and each team answered questions from a 'Millionaire' game book.
Sylvia Wilson and Angela White won hands down, only failing on the very last question. Perhaps they should try entering the show for real! Unfortunately for them, no £500,000 was available. However they did both go home with an individual Christmas pudding as a prize.
If you would like to join us in the new year, you will be very
welcome.
Can members please note:- as from 4th Jan all meetings will be from 2.0pm to 3.30pm
U3A JOINT CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Wednesday 15th December 2010
The quiz was attended by teams from Lutterworth and Wycliffe u3a's
at School Room, URC, George Street, Lutterworth.
After a hard fought contest over 5 rounds including the *Block Buster Round*
the Winners were the team from, Lutterworth u3a, Simple Minds :-
Sue Jones, Gordon Jones,Glenys Peverley and Carol Harrington.
Although 10 points adrift after 3 rounds, they were able to 'engage brains'
and Win by just 2 points. Well done.
The Winning team won a bottle of nice wine each.
The runners up team, Pessimists from Wycliffe u3a, were Alan Foster, Jean Foster, Dave Smith and Collette Smith.
The Optimists, captained by Eunice Mays, took the *booby prize* of a box of chocolates each.
All participants had a most enjoyable evening and look forward to next year.
There was a surplus of £20.00p, giving a donation of £10.00p to the Social fund of both U3A's.
Thank you everyone for your support. See you all next year.
GOLF DAY
A Golf Day has been booked for 11th April at
Ullesthorpe Court Golf Club, tee times from 10 o’clock. The format for the day will be similar to the previous Golf Day at Hinckley G.C.
Full details will be given in the February edition of the Bulletin.
Organiser is Peter Reeves on 01455 209933
Many members gathered for the last monthly meeting of 2010 that took on a Christmas theme. After tea, coffee and mince pies, everyone sat down in teams on separate tables. Once everyone was seated and quiet, a quiz took place that all tables found challenging. Whilst this was going on, another paper quiz was looked at. This one was the
initial letters of the first line on popular Christmas carols and songs. Much easier. The highlight of the event was a short pantomime extract with five of the committee volunteering to take part. The
casting was most appropriate even though it was quite random with many laughs from Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother. After the results of the quizzes, there was a raffle for ‘Secret Santa’ prizes.
The early part of next year will revert to more regular monthly meetings.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-0rdinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
Our December meeting had about it a festive air.
Seasonal nibbles and drinks were served together with coffee, fortified for some! Members brought Christmas themed poems, cartoons, jokes and readings. We also had a light hearted discussion entitled 'Is Father Christmas real?' This led on to a very interesting description of the
Lutterworth Open Christmas - a free meal and jollity for the elderly or people who would be on their own at Christmas. In fact the age range is very varied. Usually there are about 80 participants and 20 - 30
helpers. Transport is provided, businesses donate ingredients etc and a couple of chefs spend their Christmas cooking for everyone. The whole event is enjoyed by all - helpers and guests alike.
Topic for February: ‘Same sex parenting’
PUB LUNCH
Co-Ordinators
Sylvia Wilson 01455283575
There are no pub lunches in January or February
March
Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd at The Elms, Lutterworth 11.45 prompt
April
Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th at Kilworth Springs Golf Club 12 for 12.30 prompt
BRIDGE
Co-ordinator
Bob Howes 01455 550027
Over the last month, one meeting was reduced to only three players so instead of bridge, canasta was the order of the day. This brings to the end of the first full year of this group.
WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP
Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore, Lutterworth U3A Julian Hargreaves, Wycliffe U3A
01455 552431 01455 557704
2nd February 2011
Walk Organiser Julian Hargreaves - Tel: 01455-557704
Meeting Point and Time: - Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 09.25 to leave at 09.30.
Directions to the Start: Drive south down the A5 from the Gibbet roundabout and take the first right turn to Newton. In the village park in the Stag and Pheasant car park, where we will be able to use the
toilets and order food. The main choice will be stew and dumplings with crusty bread (as much as we like) but there will be other choices
available.
The walk is approx. 5½ miles long and takes in the Great Central walk, Clifton and the Dow Bridge on the A5.
December Walk
27 walkers and 2 dogs set out from Bretford on our circular walk of approx 5½ miles, the weather was initially chilly but started to warm up later. Using wooded paths, field footpaths and enclosed bridle ways the walk went to Brandon, Brandon Woods, Brinklow Heath and Brinklow and the frozen Sand Quarry at Monk’s Riding, where we took our
coffee break and then made our way back to Bretford for our much
anticipated annual Christmas Lunch at the Queens Head.
We were very fortunate on route, as the temperature rose to see the hoar- frost drop from the bushes and trees like a snow flurry. Quite amazing to see it fall.
The food, welcome and service were much enjoyed by all, so much so that a walk in this vicinity is being sought in readiness for our Christmas Lunch in 2011.
Peter and Irene Moore
THEATRE GROUP
Co-ordinator
Eddie Hemsley
01455 554564
The late summer production at the Kilworth House Theatre for 2011 is "Little Shop of Horrors" The synopsis is as follows:-
"The musical comedy 'Little Shop Of Horrors' is a wonderfully
entertaining show about a hapless florist shop assistant called Seymour who finds his chance for success and romance through the help of a
giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed!
Set in a small florists in skid row – a dead end part of town that everyone knows about but nobody wants to visit – business is not great, in fact it's awful. Meanwhile cleaner Seymour – who spends his days
undertaking menial tasks and dreaming of shop assistant Audrey –
discovers a strange new plant which seemed to appear just after an eclipse of the sun! Nurtured by Seymour the plant starts to grow at an alarming rate and attracts a lot of interest – but then he discovers his plant has a rather strange appetite!
Audiences of all ages will delight in this riotous adventure where songs including Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That's Green and Suddenly, Seymour propels the audience into a world inhabited by a sadistic
dentist, a beautiful blonde with a decidedly tacky taste in clothes and a rather unusual plant called Audrey II! 'Little Shop Of Horrors' will have audiences singing all the way home – but gardening will never quite be the same again"
This show will run from the 18th August until the 11th September 2011 and the cost per seat is around £25.
Not being sure as to the level of interest for this show I have decided, for now, not to make an advanced reservation. If, therefore, you would be interested please let me know a.s.a.p. and I will take the matter from there.
Visit to renovated and remodernised RSC theatres
December 2nd 2010 Organizer, Anne Smalley
18 members visited the RSC and 13 were first taken up the Tower. This is a new attraction added to the main theatre that allows visitors to enjoy spectacular views over Stratford and the surrounding landscape.
All 18 were then taken in two groups first to see the Swan theatre inside what is left of the old 19th century building, and opened in 1987.
Both this and the main theatre are based on the thrust stage with the audience surrounding it on three sides rather than the Victorian stage with the audience sitting in front. They then made their way to the main theatre, passing the new dressing rooms overlooking the river which have replaced the former Riverside restaurant. The
latter has been reduced to a third of its size as a pleasant little café.
The magnificent new Main theatre has less seats as the thrust stage needs the extra space, but there is a real sense of ‘togetherness’ so that both actors and audiences will be involved in creating a
theatrical experience for everyone and hopefully allowing more
subtle use of language.
The dreaded Balcony seats which, though cheaper did not allow you to hear the plays properly, and were squashed and uncomfortable, have now gone. There is a very up to date lighting system which should be put to good use.
The tour ended by looking at the changes to the front of the theatre complex. Much more of Elizabeth Scott’s art deco design have been preserved as her building was a listed grade 11.
The group were very impressed by what they saw, and hope to be able to go to the productions which begin in February with King Lear in the main theatre and Hamlet in the Swan.
Booking details to follow.
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
House of Orphans by Helen Dunsmore, A tale set in Finland in 1902 where the Russian Empire hold sway and enforce a brutal policy to
subjugate its people. The story reveals how terrorism lies hidden in
ordinary life, as rulers struggle to hang on to power. It is a rich,
brilliant story of love, history and change. Not everybody liked the book and some felt the ending somewhat abrupt, whist others saw this as an opportunity to extrapolate beyond the time frame covered by the book. But all agreed that the descriptive and scene setting elements were well drawn. The characters being particularly believable.
The format of our group is at the moment having to undergo some changes if you are interested in the group please contact the
co-ordinator.
SCRABBLE
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 5534
Happy New Year to Everyone!
The Scrabble group continues to meet on the 2nd Wednesday (10—12)
plus the 2nd Thursday (12.30—2.30 pm)
CANASTA
Co-ordinator
June Hartopp
01455 55341
Happy New Year to Everyone!
The Canasta group will meet on the 1st Friday (10—12)
BUT no Wednesday canasta in future
QUIZ GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sylvie Curtis
01455 554504
Ten members met for the final group meeting of 2010.
We enjoyed a game of 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' , U3A style.
The group split into teams of two, selected by drawing lots, and each team answered questions from a 'Millionaire' game book.
Sylvia Wilson and Angela White won hands down, only failing on the very last question. Perhaps they should try entering the show for real! Unfortunately for them, no £500,000 was available. However they did both go home with an individual Christmas pudding as a prize.
If you would like to join us in the new year, you will be very
welcome.
Can members please note:- as from 4th Jan all meetings will be from 2.0pm to 3.30pm
U3A JOINT CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Wednesday 15th December 2010
The quiz was attended by teams from Lutterworth and Wycliffe u3a's
at School Room, URC, George Street, Lutterworth.
After a hard fought contest over 5 rounds including the *Block Buster Round*
the Winners were the team from, Lutterworth u3a, Simple Minds :-
Sue Jones, Gordon Jones,Glenys Peverley and Carol Harrington.
Although 10 points adrift after 3 rounds, they were able to 'engage brains'
and Win by just 2 points. Well done.
The Winning team won a bottle of nice wine each.
The runners up team, Pessimists from Wycliffe u3a, were Alan Foster, Jean Foster, Dave Smith and Collette Smith.
The Optimists, captained by Eunice Mays, took the *booby prize* of a box of chocolates each.
All participants had a most enjoyable evening and look forward to next year.
There was a surplus of £20.00p, giving a donation of £10.00p to the Social fund of both U3A's.
Thank you everyone for your support. See you all next year.
GOLF DAY
A Golf Day has been booked for 11th April at
Ullesthorpe Court Golf Club, tee times from 10 o’clock. The format for the day will be similar to the previous Golf Day at Hinckley G.C.
Full details will be given in the February edition of the Bulletin.
Organiser is Peter Reeves on 01455 209933