November 2022

1 pu3a pulse Nov 2022 Issue 8 Contact: [email protected] Peterborough University of the Third Age No contents list this month? Why? As you may have noticed, there is a contents listing embedded in the software that launches Pulse. Here s ’ what it looks like,. Click on this symbol in the bottom left of the newsletter screen, and you can select which page you wish to read. Want more info? Just click anywhere you see the blue HERE and you ll be directed to ’ the PU3A website. Last chance enter now Quiz night Fri 18 nov See page 3 Our new Chairman Ian Gray took office at the AGM on October 22nd. Here s his first thoughts ’ ……. Taking office in the 30th year of an organisation s ’ existence is both an honour and a responsibility. We remain one of the largest U3As in the country with well over 2000 members and 130+ groups. Its our history and our members that helped us reach this point, but we also need to look forward to our future. Our U3A thrives today—indeed, survives— on its volunteers, whether committee members, group leaders, web buddies or any other such role. Yet, as we all get a little older each year, we need to find tomorrow s volunteers. Have you ever thought about ’ who will run your favourite group when the current leader retires And who will be Chair when my three ‘ ’? - year term of office expires? The answer to these questions is its either YOU, or maybe YOU, or even possibly YOU. Do talk to a committee member about how you can help, either in an official role, or on an as ‘ and when basis. More on this as the year unfolds. ’ Oh, by the way, I ll be handing over the editor s pen ’ ’ for Pulse to Ann Ritchie from next month, one of the aforementioned volunteers. But I suspect you ll still ’ hear from me from time to time. Ian Gray More news from the AGM on page 9

2 Hop on a bus with Howard Lewis in this month s Meet A Member. ’ Born in Hereford, but I finished my career in Peterborough, with Perkins Engines. Not surprising being an engineer. But let s go back to the start at ’ Rolls Royce! Ah, nothing so glamourous as luxury cars, I started in the Oil Engine Division as an apprentice, working through every department including the curiously named Electronics and Vibration. It was here, whilst cycling home, the lid of my newly acquired socket set fell off, and I can tell you, it wasn t fun searching in the gutter for a ’ 5/8 inch socket by the light of a nearby streetlamp. I then moved all the way to London as a Development Engineer on Diesel Fuel Injection Equipment, but also found the girl from next door but one. My wife, Jennifer. Soon, we were off to Shoreham by Sea for a role at the third largest bus and coach - - company in Britain, but the demand for buses was beginning to decline, and that s ’ where Peterborough beckoned. By this time, my wife was teaching, so she also made the transition to this city. I found myself working on marine engines, and, for a non swimmer, rushing at 32 knots on sea trials off the Dorset coast could be - described as thrilling ‘ ’! The same could be said for racing shunting locomotives side by side, but that s ’ another story. Locally, I became involved in the Peterborough Society of Model Engineers and the Perkins Heritage Group and Peterborough Engineering Society. Recently, the latter as a group merged into PU3A Engineering Group. Nowadays, I ve been involved with running the PU3A UK Travel Group, and are ’ actively involved with Plane Daft, Railways Studies ( Ed: now merged to become Transport Studies), and Churches and Cream Teas. I occasionally pop back to volunteer at the Hereford Waterworks Museum, where I donated my father s ’ socket set from the 1920s. I consider myself fortunate, spending nearly all my life doing what I enjoy.

3 Peterborough U3A celebrating 30 years QUIZ NIGHT ‘ THE LAST THIRTY YEARS ’ FRIDAY 18th NOVEMBER JACK HUNT SCHOOL, NETHERTON £4 per person, teams of up to eight. Team leaders—select your teams, or individuals/couples enter to join other teams. Bring your own drinks & snacks ENTER NOW TO BOOK YOUR SPACE Call Ian 07979347624 or click HERE or email [email protected] PU3A Members Speaker Meeting You’re Invited! Janette Merilion, well known horticulturalist and TV/ radio broadcaster talks about Christmas Crackers; Folk lore associated with Christmas plants, suitable plants for gifts and what is looking good in the garden over the Christmas period. HERE Tuesday 29 Nov, 2pm at the John Clare Theatre (Central Library) Pboro’.

4 The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Peterborough, Councillor Alan Dowson (himself a member of PU3A) invited PU3A committee members, past chairpersons, founder members from 1992 and some of longest serving - Group Leaders to a reception to celebrate our 30th anniversary. L to R: John Hucklesby (in office 2003 5 & 2011), Brian Keegan (2014 16), Jill - - Wright (1999), Jacqueline Casson (2017), The Mayor, John Douglas (2012 13), - Alan Locke (2020 22) Brenda Fearon (2018). - In his address, the Mayor spoke of how community colleges were at the heart of the local education strategy , and how this facilitated the creation of PU3A, after governors of Bretton Woods School supported founder John Knight s ’ proposal in 1992. Peterborough U3A celebrating 30 years Mayor s Reception ’

5 Brian Keegan (who incidentally has a complete set of EVERY PU3A newsletter in hard copy, dating back to issue one in September 1992!) responded to the Mayor s address, by introducing those present, and ’ detailing the extraordinary growth in our membership from year one when just 122 people kicked it all off. We hit the 1000 mark in 2004, and 2000 in 2009. Today, we have 2066, as numbers recover steadily following the inevitable dip during the pandemic lockdowns of recent times. “ Its generally accepted that there were three key factors in this growth said ” Brian. Firstly, during his period as Chair, John O Halloran s missionary zeal “ ’ ’ and energy in preaching the good news of U3A. Secondly, the leadership and commitment which Pat and Arthur Hunt displayed in running the Travel Group from 2006 onwards, with a real ‘ the world is our stage ’ approach, and thirdly, Keith and Shirley Temperton s determined efforts in organising ’ theatre trips from 2005 on such a frequent basis ” Founder members from 1992, from L to R: Jill Wright, Bill Collin, Lynette Hare.

6 For enquiries about new groups, please contact Hilary on 01733 265769 or [email protected] NEW GROUPS • CRIBBAGE for any level of experience. Venues to be agreed, dependant on potential members. Meetings may be fortnightly or monthly. Boards will be needed. Interested? Email Graeme [email protected] or call 07976790789 • ALLOTMENTS Some initial thoughts ….  Meet up at different allotments to help dig etc, especially those with some form of disability  Possibility of buying plants in bulk as a group  Helping on questions as a forum  Help those with disability to harvest etc  Discuss issues / problems / ideas  Share excess of harvest to others in the group  Probably will need to meet every 2 or 3 weeks depending on how it goes  Needs to start before Jan 2023 due to planting season and getting seedlings ready etc Email Graeme [email protected] or call 07976790789 NEWS FROM OUR GROUPS ….. • TEN PIN BOWLING The Monday group is now led by Ian and Pat Duff. HERE • TRANSPORT STUDIES The next Transport Studies meeting is on Tuesday 8 November, when John Truluck will be talking about “ Is it a plane or is it a Boat? My 56 year Peterborough Hovercraft - story of Coincidences! He will tell of his work in a Peterborough ” firm who built Hovercraft and their adventures. All will be suitably illustrated. Meeting at Indoor Bowling Club at 14.00. HERE

7 • CLASSIC AND KIT CARS On 28th September, the group left in convoy for our visit kindly arranged by Vera & Jo Brown to AK Sportscars manufacturing workshops in Yaxley. This is an established family business set up as a hobby by its founder that has developed into a full scale business of manufacturing replica Cobra, GT40 and SS sports cars. They now have new workshops where they continue to make these vehicles either as a kit or as a fully completed road car or anything in between. Firstly we were given a brief history of the business and in the first \"workshop\" we saw various chassis awaiting shipment as well as completed vehicles, the second workshop had various bodyshells along with complete replica GT40 and a body off GT40. The third workshop was the fibreglass moulding shop and the 4th was their metal workshop for building the chassis. Following our very informative visit with Jon Freeman the founder's son we adjourned to The Farmers pub in Yaxley. HERE

8 • PATCHWORK & QUILTING On 17 October, Winnie Wakefield, th group leader for Patchwork and Quilting, handed over a cheque for £1476 to Fr John, vicar of All Saints Church. The money was raised through fund raising activities supported by the ladies of Winnie s Monday & ’ Wednesday Patchwork and Quilting groups. A fete held at the church on 17 September included a Pick a th - - Pocket and a Silent Auction run by members of the group. The Silent Auction for a beautiful quilt made by Jean and friends, raised £500! The money will go towards buying a defibrillator, which will be placed outside the church. HERE • WORLDWIDE DINING We went Mexican in October, at Chiquito s at Hampton, with two ’ nights, each of over 20 members. In November, we return to Cote Brasserie, and finish off the month at the Cherry House for our (pre) Xmas bash. Plans for 2023 are well in hand, with even more variety. Why not dine with us? HERE

9 About 70 members attended the AGM on 22nd October at Jack Hunt School. The main decisions were: 1. To accept the Annual Accounts and Trustees Report. 2. To abolish the joint membership category from 2023/4. 3. To charge a membership fee of a maximum of £11 in 2023/4. 4. To rescind the decision of the previous AGM to change the status of the U3A from an Unincorporated Association to an Association Charity Incorpo- rated Organisation. 5. To withdraw the motion to adopt a new constitution. 6. The committee for next year will be: NB the new committee will consider at its first meeting in November how to fill the vacant Secretary post and that for a committee member. AGM 2022:AGM 2022:AGM 2022:AGM 2022:AGM 2022 Ian Gray : Chairman Mary McCarthy ; Treasurer Shirley Chilvers Joy Green Alan Locke Chris Wareham Louis Verdegem : Vice Chairman Lynda Brimmell Janice Dickin Hilary Keegan Elaine Locke Terry Young There s so much more ’ • Join Interest Groups Online; a u3a community furthering their learning within friendly online group settings. Access over 80 groups, covering a range of subjects, and meet members from all across u3a. For the latest in the movement sign up to our national newsletter. • Tune in to our monthly u3a Radio Podcast on the u3a YouTube channel or on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. • Carry on the conversation with u3a Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. If you have an idea for an event or something to share, get in touch at [email protected] • Find out more here

10 What s not to like? Collection and drop off at ’ - local points, transport laid on, great day out in good company, interesting destinations. As the PU3A day trips get booked up pretty quick, just get your diary out and start planning ahead. Note cut off dates for booking, subject to availability. - Transport generally by Fowlers Coaches, operating the full safety and COVID protocols applicable on the day. The coaches are fully cleaned and sprayed every evening and are fogged once a week. To book, call Gina Bates on ‘ ’ 01733 579317. When booking please give your membership number, mobile phone number, pick up point and any special request to Gina. HELP NEEDED: After regrouping after COVID, there are now only 3 of us planning and running Day Trips. We would really welcome any assistance, ideas, etc. We meet about 3 times a year to plan out possible trips then whoever is interested takes on the task of booking the coach and arranging entry etc. If you don t feel you can lead the trip, that isn t a problem as Fowlers ’ ‘ ’ ’ drivers are more than capable of organising things if none of the others are available to lead. DAY TRIPS HERE CUT OFF DATE DATE of TRIP DAY TRIPS TO: 31 Oct 17 Nov Ely: a chance to do some early Christmas shopping at Ely Christmas Fair. LAST CHANCE —only a few places left now on the second coach. tba 16 Feb and 21 Feb London Canal Museum: Dates now announced . We will travel to London to visit the Museum, by train, departing 8.56. Includes guided walk along Re- gents Canal. Places are limited to 20 per trip, but if sufficient demand, extra dates can be arranged.

11 SPACE not only the final frontier, it’s also WHERE YoUR GRoUP CoUlD sPREaD tHE WoRD iN THE NEXT ISSUE OF PULSE. it’s YoURs to UsE. There is no charge for this event, but please book in advance. Call Hilary 01733 265769 or email [email protected] Wrapped raffle prizes will be most welcome Monday 12th December 2 — 4pm The Fleet Centre, Fletton Mince pies, raffle, fun quiz, music

12 On which Peterborough building is the sign shown ? That s what we ’ asked last month. And the eagle eyed - winner this month is Felicity Kirby, who is now £10 better off with our prize M&S voucher. She correctly named the rear of Peterborough Museum, from the days when it was an isolation hospital. This month we return to song titles. And a clue ….. The correct answer is very timely right now! But, as usual with our song conundrums, there could be more than one answer. Your challenge is to guess the one which we have in mind. Which song would follow these three in a sequenced playlist? 1, Witch Queen of New Orleans—Redbone 2. There s a ghost in my house—R Dean Taylor ’ 3. She s not there—The Zombies ’ First correct entry out of the hat to name the song wins our monthly M&S voucher. Enter as many times as you like. Entries to [email protected] PU3A Committee Members and their families are ineligible to enter. Win £10! Did you know? Dolly Parton once entered a Dolly Parton lookalike contest ... and lost …. to a drag queen . Cute cuddly koalas have unique individual fingerprints . If you place a koala and human finger print side by side, they are hard to differentiate between.

13 THE COMMITTEE LOWDOWN Who are the people who make things tick at your PU3A? ELAINE LOCKE is in the hot seat this month. Background; born in Carshalton, Surrey where I lived with my parents and grandparents, until I moved with my parents to Sutton, where I lived until I moved back to Carshalton when I married. My links to my husband go back to Nursery School although neither of us remember knowing one another. We then unknowingly followed one another around during our single years where we both went to the same Youth Club, had paper rounds at the same shop but never really speaking to one another, until a fateful BT disco. The Jobs: I left school at 15 going to work as a Punch Card Operator for the Gas Board. This was when a computer filled a whole room. I then moved to the GPO as a local 100 Operator until I became an operator in various Government Buildings in Central London. Juggling commuting, work, marriage and children did not work well together and I moved to the NHS as an Auxiliary Nurse and had the first of my 2 girls, with the second arriving 2 years later. I continued with the NHS in various roles and finished my time as a Project Officer for NHS London. And Then: I moved to Peterborough in 2014 as Alan had taken early retirement and I had decided after working in the NHS for over 25 years I had had enough. I joined several groups as I needed to meet people. U3a History : I joined the U3a after moving here and have joined several groups including Social History and Patchwork and Quilting. I am always looking for new groups to join and have recently joined the Bus Pass Days Out. And Now: I am on the U3a Committee and will soon become the Assistant Membership Secretary.

14 Our latest trip to see South Pacific at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham was spectacularly successful, showcasing classic Rodgers & Hammerstein songs, enthusiastic choreography and ingenious staging. The Theatre Group Team is able to obtain very good discounts for group bookings, with members often paying less for the coach travel plus the show than the face value of the ticket itself. When a new show is available for booking, an email is sent to Theatre Group members at about 4.00pm on a Tuesday. Some members recently experienced difficulties receiving emails, particularly with Gmail, so it is advisable to check spam folders regularly. Details of the latest shows are also posted on the PU3A website at 4.00pm on the day of release, for information only – PLEASE DO NOT BOOK FOR A SHOW VIA THE WEBSITE (see below). To reserve tickets for a show, telephone Margaret Gaunt on 01733 235638 to check availability. Due to the popularity of these trips, only two tickets per booking will be permitted. If the trips are sold out it is always worth putting your name on the standby list as tickets often become available nearer the time. The coach picks up from Thorpe Meadows. Parking is available at the Nene Park Trust public car park (NOT the hotel). The charge is £2.60 for up to 24 hours, payable by bank card or SABA parking app (cash is no longer accepted). New members of the Theatre Group are welcome, and there is no charge to join. You can apply to join the Theatre Group via the website and receive emails about future shows. As we are nearing an expensive time of year the Theatre Group Team will not be releasing any more shows for sale until the New Year. The Show Must Go On!

15 November 18 Thirty Years Quiz Night, Jack Hunt School, Netherton November 29 Members Speaker Meeting, John Clare Theatre 2pm December 12 Xmas Party at the Fleet NOTE NEW DATE! Jan 23 2023 Travel Group Meeting, Jack Hunt School 6pm Jan 27 2023 Barn Dance, Jack Hunt School, Netherton Mar 11 2023 30th Anniversary Concert, St John s Church. ’ Aug 19 2023 Activities Day, The Fleet, Fletton Fancy a date? Diary at the ready Here s what happening around PU3A over the next few months ’ ….. Upcoming dates for PU3A Theatre Group: November 24: The Nutcracker at the Birmingham Hippodrome – a classic production of this timeless Christmas ballet with Tchaikovsky s popular ’ score, showcasing 60 dancers of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia orchestra. February 12: Cirque du Soleil – KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities at the Royal Albert Hall, London. This Cirque du Soleil performance weaves jaw dropping - acrobatics with a refreshing touch of poetry, artistry and humour. Featuring never seen before acts, KURIOS is a mind - boggling escape from reality, unveiling a festive, steampunk inspired universe where the - unexpected lies at every corner. March 30: Fisherman s Friends The Musical ’ at the Leicester Curve – based on the true story of the Cornish chart topping - buoy band, this is a feel good musical about friendship, community and music. - Dianne Fletcher and the Theatre Group Team HERE

16 PU3A Barn Dance with the Dennis Cuddles Starlight Band Friday, January 27th 2023 7:30 p.m. Jack Hunt School Hall Only £10(pay cash on door) Free Raffle Bring your own refreshments Reserve your tickets by contacting Hilary Keegan email [email protected] telephone 01733 265769 It s ’ back!! Ever wondered why your group isn't featured in Pulse? Have a story to tell? Maybe for our Meet A Member section? ‘ ’ Planning a PU3A event? Need new group members? JUST TELL US by emailing, words or photos to: [email protected] Next issue deadline is November 23rd.