Monthly Bulletin for January 2016
Report on the November Meeting
Report on the December meeting
Christmas through the Ages
Report on the December Meeting
From Pagan medieval customs to modern day shopping, we skimmed through the centuries A mixture of carols and specialty choir numbers were interspersed with poems and snippets of interesting information. Notable characters of the period, played by members of the choir, caused great amusement as did the final interactive rendering of “the Twelve days of Christmas” In keeping with U3A ideals, many contributed to the presentation. Chris. Brady based the script on Jane Clark’s research, while Ruth Bones selected relevant carols for the programme. Special thanks go to Liz Garratt, our musical director/ accompanist and to Nigel Bones our sound engineer.
Chris Brady
MURDER MYSTERY EVENING
By enlisting the services of Guilty Party Productions, we have organised a Murder Mystery Dinner at Lutterworth Golf Club, to be held on Friday 4th March 2016 at 7 for 7.15 pm.
Before the dinner the MC introduces both the context of the murder and the six suspects through a brief interrogation of each. From that point on, the diners are able to interrogate each suspect as and when they wish throughout the meal as the actors are “in character” throughout the evening. Between each course, a number of scripted conversations between the suspects are staged in order to reveal more clues for the diners. At the end of the meal, diners from each table are invited to declare” whodunit” and why. This interactive part of the evening is unfailingly amusing and memorable for the participants. When all tables have given their verdict the murderer is revealed as the cast give their own version of events.
We hope to fill around 10 tables of six persons each and the cost will be £22 per head to include a three course dinner and coffee and the evening’s entertainment. There will be a sign-up sheet at January’s meeting but if you are unable to attend and would like to take part, please contact Jane Clark on 01455 554449.
Payment should be made on or before the February monthly meeting (Thursday February 11th)
Cheques should be made payable to “WYCLIFFE LUTTERWORTH U3A”
We can promise you a very enjoyable evening !
PHOTOS FROM THE CHRISTMAS MEAL AT KILWORTH SPRINGS GOLF CLUB ON 8TH DECEMBER TAKEN BY VALERIE BROWN
GROUP REPORTS
(in alphabetical order)
ART APPRECIATION
Co-ordinator
Ursula.Kanetis
01455 553563
The topic of our December Meeting was: Photographic Portraiture. We split the time into an information section and an open introduction and discussion of individually selected photo portraits.
At the end of November four of us went to London for a study-day at the National Gallery on PORTRAITS. So we reported back to the group on those lectures: " Functions Of Portraiture”," Rembrandt’s Portraits”," Goya And The Spanish Face” and “Degas’s Portraits”. We then moved onto Modern Times: Photographic Portraits. They do not feel overburdened by art’s historical tradition, they seem less frightening, especially in this smart-phone era. Everybody can take a photo of a person! And the sitter does not need to sit still for such a long time! We found, many definitions of Portrait Paintings/Drawings apply to Photo Portraits as well, but quite a few newly discovered criteria belong solely to the latter category. Because of the complexity of this subject we decided not to rush through all the selected photos in the remaining time, but to enjoy and discuss them in more detail and continue with this topic in January.
Next meeting: 8.1.2016 14.00-16.00 Lutterworth Golf Club
BOOK CHAT
Co-ordinator
Mick Curtis
01455 554504
Our December read was "Nella Last's Peace " by Patricia & Robert Malcomson a true daily journal of Nella's life.It describes what it was like to live through the harsh winters of 1946/47 with the shortages and deprivation experienced in post war Britain. Although her life style was reasonable by the standards of the day her husband had his own business, they ran their own car and were home owners. She seemed to be somewhat of an enigma as one of her neighbours described her as espousing Tory philosophies but acting in a very socialist way. A book that was generally received positively by our group.
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2nd BRIDGE GROUP
Co-ordinator
Ann Hetherington
01455 203498
ann@netcomz.com
A Monday evening bridge group has been established & is being enjoyed by all involved. Any bridge players would be very welcome—do give Ann a ring to get details.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Co-ordinator
Sue Hicks
01858 880273
There was no meeting in December. The January meeting will be on 28 January 2016
GARDEN GROUP
Co-ordinator
Sue Creeden
01455 557888
Happy New Year to Everyone.
There was no meeting in December.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 26th January and will be a talk by Richard of the Bonsai Nursery, Lutterworth. Unfortunately it is not the best time of year for him to display his bonsai trees as most of them are deciduous varieties, but hopefully he will give us some background to bonsai-ing (?not sure that’s a word!) and demonstrate how it’s done and how to care for the plants. The meeting will be at the One Stop Shop, Wycliffe House, Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth. LE17 4DY starting at 2.00 p.m, will last about an hour, followed by the mandatory tea and cake. There will be a charge of £3.50 per person to cover room hire, refreshments and a donation for the speaker.
If you would like to come, please contact me as soon as possible on 01455 447888 or email sueandpeter.creeden@talktalk.net
LIVELY DISCUSSION
Co-ordinator
Dot Barnard
01455 208190
Lively Discussion December14th 2015
For our Christmas meeting we again played ‘Call my Bluff’. We were only given the true definitions and had to create the other two. Some may remember that ‘Bluff’ was a BBC TV panel game hosted by Robert Robinson. Panel members included Frank Muir, Dennis Norden, Arthur Marshall and Marghanita Lasky. The teams were given 3 differing definitions of unusual words and the opposing team had to guess which was correct. So can you give definitions for the following words?
Birl
Varec
Ditz
Herl
Retasus
Fishgig
Metopic
Raddle
Answers on a postcard please…………………….
Or if you’re really good, how about including them all in a sentence?
Much laughter ensued and after the drain on our brain power we boosted the ‘little grey cells’ with seasonal refreshments.
We have one vacancy in the group for 2016. Please contact Dot Barnard if you would like to join.
SUPPER CLUB
Co-ordinator
Ann Hetherington
01455 203498
ann@netcomz.com
The two Supper Club groups meet once a month in the host’s home & have super food to share & a really enjoyable time together.
Probably a third group could have a ‘Take Away’ theme & not have to make the food themselves. This might encourage single folks to get involved, but if interested we’ll help you set up & get going!! Any new members would be welcomed so do contact Ann or Nigel for details.
1st WEDNESDAY WALK GROUP
Joint Co-ordinators:
Roger Watmore 01455 552431
Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
WEDNESDAY 3rd February 2016
Walk Organiser: Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
Meeting Point: Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.25 to leave at 9.30am.
Direction to the Start:- Leave Lutterworth on the A4304 in the direction of Market Harborough. Through North Kilworth bear right after the canal bridge. At next T junction go right then left to Sibbertoft. Take fourth left in Sibbertoft then bear right to Clipston. In Clipston take second right and the Bulls Head Pub is on the left.
Route and Distance:- We start around the village passing two Churches and the amazing Village School building from the 1600's which started as a Free School Grammar School. Then across fields and along tracks to the side of the A14 and down towards Kelmarsh. Back across fields to Clipston a total of 5 and a half miles. The walk has a few ups and downs but nothing too steep and there are 5 and a half stiles.
Usual fare at the pub including two courses for £7.95.
2nd WEDNESDAY WALK GROUP
Joint Co-ordinators:
Julian Hargreaves 01455 557704
Mike Chapman 01455 209972
Date of Walk : Wednesday 10th February 2016
Walk Organisers : Tony Allen 01455 552087 Paul Butler 01455 699437
Meeting Point : Coventry Road Recreation Ground at 9.15 to leave at 9.25. See note below.
Start Point and Time : Outside the Queens Head, Saddington
Directions to start : Drive to North Kilworth and just before the Filling Station turn left up the B5414 for 2.5 miles to join the A5199. After another 2.5 miles take a right at a set of crossroads signposted Saddington. Continue on to a road junction and take a right into Saddington. Drive past the Queens Head and park just beyond the church where there is space for about 8 to 9 cars. There is street parking on first entering Saddington but it is rather narrow and therefore it is advisable to car share where possible beforehand. Return mileage 25.5 miles.
Route and distance : A circular walk between the Doomsday villages of Saddington and Gumley, 3.75 miles. The walk drops down via meadows to a minor road skirting Saddington Resevoir and after a while rises steeply to Gumley, where we will take a coffee break at the church. We return high up following the Leicester Round through meadows and one arable field. There are two steep hills, including Smeeton Hill, and the panoramic views are splendid. No proper stiles, only four barriers to step over which are two feet high.
Leaving for Lutterworth : Don't try turning around in Saddington but head for Mowsley, turning right in the village to join the A5199 south after about a mile.
December Walk
21 of us met in the centre of Swinford to set off on a 4.5 mile walk. The sun shone from a clear sky and the wind was much less forceful than forecast. We walked across grassy meadows and down a quiet road to pass Stanford Hall and stop for a coffee break at the church in Stanford on Avon. Since it was nearing Christmas, the very generous walk leader, who is a Scotsman, handed out chocolates as a treat. We completed the walk in fields alongside the busy A14 before heading back into the village.
4th WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP
Co-ordinators:
Sue & Peter Creeden
01455 557888
Wednesday 27 January 2016
Walk Organisers: Sue and Peter Creeden Tel: 01455 557888
Meeting Point and Time:- Lutterworth Recreation Ground car park at 9.20 am to leave at 9.30am.
Start Point and Time:- The Bulls Head, Wolvey (Postcode LE10 3LB) at 10.00am.
Directions to the Start:-. Go out from Lutterworth on the A4303 (towards Magna Park) to the A5 roundabout. Take the 3rd exit into Coal Pit Lane towards Wolvey. Keep straight on crossing the Fosse Way until you reach the Axe and Compass roundabout. Take the first exit and follow the road through Wolvey Heath and then into Wolvey passing the church on your left as you go up the hill. The Bulls Head is approximately 200 yards further on the right.
Route and Distance:-. The walk will be a mixture of field tracks and lanes, relatively flat and, when we did it, there were no stiles. There is no guarantee that the walk will not encounter some mud but we will endeavour to keep it to a minimum. It may be worth bringing your walking poles for one section but they may not be necessary as the pub landlord says that there is a detour around it. We will check this out and advise you at the start. The distance will be about 5 miles. A nice easy one for the start of a new year.
Lunch Arrangements:- The Bulls Head menu has a good choice of standard pub food and is reasonably priced if you take advantage of their 2 for1 deal.
DECEMBER WALK and Christmas Lunch
53 walkers turned out for this one. After a fairly easy walk along the old railway track and back to Claybrooke Church we then made our way back to the Chequers at Ullesthorpe for our Christmas Lunch. And what a success it was, the terrific choice of menu, beautifully presented and tasty food, plenty of it and served by very pleasant girls, what more could you want. Everyone seemed to being enjoying themselves judging by the noisy chatter that was going on, so again well done to Peter and Sue Creeden for organising it all and getting everyone's choices right, quite a feat!
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JOINT WYCLIFFE LUTTERWORTH
And LUTTERWORTH U3A GROUPS
TUESDAY WALKING GROUPCo-ordinator
Gordon Jones (Lutterworth U3A)
01455 556192
Date of Walk: Tuesday 19th January 2016.
Coordinator: Gordon Jones. Tel. 01455 556192
Walk Organizers: Peter and Jean Child - Home 01788 811765 - Mobile 07478891480
Meeting Point: Coventry Road Recreation Ground
Meeting Time: 9.15 to leave at 9.20
Start Point: The Queens Head at Bretford
Route and distance: Just over 5 miles of field paths and woodland.
Lunch: Lunch will be at the Queens Head. We may order before setting out.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
ON THURSDAY 10TH MARCH 2016
At the AGM we need to elect a new committee.
The committee will consist of a maximum of 10 members of which 6 will be Honorary Officers as follows:
Chairman Vice Chairman
Secretary Treasurer
Membership Secretary Interest Group Liaison
Written nominations for the committee shall be proposed and seconded on the form below, which should be delivered to the Chairman, using any of the methods listed by 28th February 2014. Consent of the Nominee MUST be obtained in advance of submission of this form.
In the event of excess nominations a vote will be taken.
If insufficient written nominations are received, the members present will be asked for nominations from the floor. A vote will be taken on all nominations.
In accordance with the Constitution a member elected Chairman can hold office for a maximum period of 3 years.
There is no restriction for the other committee members.
At the time of going to press it is uncertain which officers are willing to stand again. More information in the next bulletin
January 2016
NOMINATION FORM
We wish to nominate (full name)…………………………………………………
Proposed…………………………………………...Signed………………………………
Seconded……………………………………………Signed……………………………..
Agreement of Nominee (Signed)…………………………………………………..
Date and Time of Receipt by Chairman: Date:…………….Time………..
Please return this form by 29th February to:
Chairman: Jane Clark 66, Greenacres Drive, Lutterworth.
Email rojayclark@talktalk.net
A poem written by one of our members.
Ode To “Tenpey”
I can’t remember names now –
Neither can my friends
I’ve given up the Yoga class -
I couldn’t do the bends.
I don’t care what I look like –
As long as my shoes still match.
I’ve stopped looking at ‘boys’ now –
I’m really not much of a catch.
Now I know I’ve finally flipped –
‘Cos I bought a Teddy Bear.
This week I will be knitting him
A rainbow scarf to wear.
In this crazy world we live in
The pleasures can be small.
Ten p is all he cost me,
Happiness a tiny bear – that’s all!
Anne Hearn