CandNU3A Newsletter Mar23

March 2023 Volume 25 Issue 2 Learn Laugh Live Crewe & Nantwich u3a Newsletter Contents Page 1 Chair’s Message Page 11 Computer Failure Page 4 Quiz Page 12 Group Spotlight Page 5 Transcription Day Page 13 Persian Cookery Page 7 Poet’s Corner Page 14 Judith’s Message Page 8 EWC Page 15 Quiz Answers Chair’s Message to Members I felt very honoured to become Chair of Crewe and Nantwich u3a at the 28th AGM on 8th March 2023. I’d like to thank all members for having faith in me and I can assure you that the interests of all candnu3a members will be at the forefront of every decision taken by the 2023/24 committee. I once heard Dawn French refer to her family as becoming a 3-legged stool after the death of her father. It occurred to me that a 3-legged stool is the perfect analogy for Crewe and Nantwich u3a - there are three aspects of our organisation, none of which can function without the other two; group leaders, without whom groups cannot function; trustees, without whom no u3a would exist legally, and members, without whom nothing would take place as group leaders and trustees are also members. However, in my experience, there are many members who play vital roles within their groups to help things run smoothly - register-takers, tea mak- ers, trip organisers, IT troubleshooters, rota-organisers, chair and table movers and others. These tasks all contribute to lightening the load of group leaders, but also importantly, taking on a role within a group helps members to feel part of the group, to feel they are making a contribution and not just regarding the u3a as a ‘pay and go’ organisation. (Cont)

2 At the AGM, I issued a challenge to members. The committee is still smaller than we would wish for an organisation with approaching 1300 members. However, we recognise that a committee role is not for everyone, but there are ways in which members could help out. There are small administrative tasks on which several members could work briefly, or perhaps you miss the members’ meetings and would like to become involved in considering a re- launch of these. I, (or any other committee member), would be very happy to speak to any member who would like to explore how they can support the committee without needing to join it. Finally, maybe the most vital role we can all play is that of welcoming new members to our groups - we have all been a ‘new member’ and the wel- come we receive is often as important as how interesting/challenging the subject of the group is. We must not leave it up to the group leader, who of- ten has much to do at the beginning of a session. If you notice a new mem- ber, a friendly hello and a question about them may be the biggest contribu- tion you make to your group - and for small groups in need of new members, it may also be the most important in terms of survival. The Committee I’d like to thank the retiring committee, many of whom decided to stand for re -election and will be returning to the fray. However, Judith Ross has decided to stand down for the present. Judith led us with commitment and integrity through very difficult times - two thirds of her tenure was served under the on-off conditions created by the Covid 19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns. Under such conditions, some difficult decisions were necessary, however Judith showed complete dedication to the ethos and values of the u3a and in particular, to Crewe and Nantwich u3a. I am very grateful to her for her example and I know she will continue to be a much valued member in her groups as well as a source of support for the committee. Peter Brook (former Treasurer) and Bryan Roe (former Vice Chair) are also to be thanked for their three years of service. Peter’s skills as Treasurer have enabled us to retain a position of financial health after the uncertainty of 2020 - 22, for which we are all thankful. Bryan also supported the commit- tee, by taking on the levy cheque collection and banking but also proving to be particularly effective as MC at several of the events held as we emerged from lockdowns. Bryan also revealed a talent for making traybakes when he hosted a garden meeting in summer 2021! Both Bryan and Peter are return- ing to the committee to serve in non-officer positions. (Cont)

3 We shall also be joined by two new trustees and a co-opted committee mem- ber - thanks go to them for volunteering their time and talents to candnu3a. We welcome Irene Dixon, Michael Taylor and Jenny Jinkinson to our team. Roles will be as follows: Chair and Development Officer - Sue Steele Secretary - Marian Simmons Treasurer - Adrian Finney Vice Chair and Membership Secretary - Lynne Jones Vice Chair 2 and New Members Officer - Ann Marie Lloyd Webmaster - Neil Crossley IT Support - Michael Taylor Minutes Secretary - Irene Dixon Room Bookings - Peter Brook Events Officer - Nigel Bahrani Levy Payments - Bryan Roe Committee member - Jenny Jinkinson Sue Steele Chair of Crewe and Nantwich U3a The generic emails for the above are on the back page of this Newsletter. (Ed)

March Quiz (Answers on Page 22) 4 1. In the cartoon series what was the name of Olive Oyl’s Niece? 2. In which country is Hunter Valley, famous for its wines? 3. What is the singular of scampi? 4. Lady Isabella is another name for which well known landmark? 5. How many letters are there in the Russian alphabet 28,30 or 33? 6. Who wrote the novel \"Breakfast at Tiffany's\"? 7. What is the chemical symbol for the element plutonium? 8. What is the name of the UK’s latest aircraft carrier? 9. Which plant is vanilla obtained from? 10. In which city did Oscar Wilde die on 30th November 1900? 11. Does a cow rise front legs or hind legs first? 12. How many players in total are on the court in beach volleyball? 13. In which English city did Adolf Hitler study art? 14. What animal is on the golden flag of Flanders (Belgium)? 15. Which advert promoted a product \"full of Eastern promise\"? Barrie & Ann-Marie Lloyd U3A Quiz Group LNWR – not just a railway Crewe has a large park, Queen's Park (laid out by engineer Francis Webb), the land for which was donated by the London and North Western Railway. It has been suggested that their motivation was to prevent the rival Great Western Railway building a station on the site! The railway provided an endowment towards the building and upkeep of Christ Church. Until 1897 its vicar, non-conformist ministers and schoolteach- ers received concessionary passes. The school had been established in 1842. The company provided a doctor's surgery with a scheme of health in- surance. A gasworks was built and the works water supply was adapted to provide drinking water and a public baths. The railway also opened a cheese market in 1854 and a clothing factory for John Compton who provided the company uniforms, while McCorquodale set up a printing works. (Ed)

Transcription Tuesday 2023 and Parkside Asylum 5 In January, some of the Genealogy group decided to get together and take part in Transcription Day 2023, run jointly with ‘Who do You Think You Are’ Magazine, and Find My Past. There were several projects on offer, and we decided to work on Parkside Asylum, as it was in Cheshire. Cheshire Ar- chives hold a variety of records relating to Parkside Asylum (Parkside Mental Hospital), which was a large Victorian Establishment built in the 1880s in Macclesfield, housing up to 1500 patients. Cheshire Archives, with the help of a bequest, have digitised a number of patient casebooks, which hold a wealth of information. In order to make these records more accessible to family history researchers and historians looking into mental illness and the way it was treated in the past, they needed volunteers to read these docu- ments, and extract relevant information to form a searchable research data- base. This is all done online, through the medium of Zooniverse. Between us, over the day, we classified around fifty of these documents. The total for the day was 860! This meant the first phase of the project was 100% complete. Photo ‘ Parkside hospital Macclesfield - The towers’ from Manchester Evening News 2012 April. Now converted into housing. It was not always easy reading. The main reasons for admittance were ma- nia often related to drink, and epilepsy. We all found it emotional and tough to do, but at the same time, fascinating. Some of the handwriting was a challenge and many terms were used that would not be regarded as professional these days. Here are a few summaries of the records we looked at. ‘Charles was recently transferred from Derby Asylum. He is 46 and a fustian cutter. He has religious mania and says he has committed murder and he is going to be killed for it. He often remains for hours on his knees praying and refuses food. Memory is impaired cannot say when he went to Derby Asylum. He has never seen his wife for the last ten years. It was thought it was the best thing to separate once he was in the asylum. He conducted himself well and was respectful’. Diagnosis: Dementia

6 James was a 20 year old collier. He had been ill for 4 years when admitted. ‘He appears dull and apathetic, unable to converse rationally, has no idea of his place or the date. At times, he is violent with fellow patients apparently losing control of himself. He has the look of an imbecile, answers simple questions and says he was 14 days in the workhouse. On the whole, he is quiet and obedient’. Diagnosis: Imbecile Mary had been married for 14 days, when she was admitted. She had been engaged for 18 years! Her husband returned from working in New Zealand, to marry her and take her back out. She was diagnosed with ‘confused insanity’ due to prolonged mental stress and sudden stress of marriage. One of our group members had a special interest in Parkside. His great uncle was admitted there in 1947 following several failed attempts to get work in the war years and immediate post war years. Family stories discuss that his wife was not a nice lady and was instrumental in getting him committed. After twelve years he was taken off the ‘committed’ register and was merely a vol- untary resident. Sadly it appears he’d become institutionalised and remained there until his death in 1980. How things have changed! Gill Weston, and members of the Genealogy Group. Hello, I’m Adrian Finney and I’m your New Treasurer. I lived most of my life in Staffordshire and Milton Keynes, retiring to Crewe in 2014. I worked in the engineering industry for many years with ICL and Philips. For five years I ran my own limited company (Finney Contracting Ltd). It closed in 2017 without going bust! There’s nothing similar you can do in re- tirement so I chose to join the U3A. In 1996 I got A level accounting and have experience with account- ing software. I have been your Newsletter editor for the last three years and now I’m taking over the reins of Treasurer from Peter Brook. My other time consuming activity is Model Railways. Adrian Finney

Poet’s Corner 7 THE STRANGER I awoke, Warm, comfortable I lay Looking into a most beautiful face, That of an angel I pray. Her breath, a whisper, and long soft hair Caressed my furrowed brow. “Hush, just lie still, there.” That gentlest of touch, I recall it now, Holding my head in her lap ‘til anon, In the flash of a blue light I vow She’d vanished, and so quickly gone. A paramedic said “I’ll care for you now, You are not in any danger.” Where is she? I thought, who is she? My guardian angel, the stranger. Tim Lloyd FORGET ME NOT. Late one night, captivated, love at first sight, The gaze held when our eyes first met. Later, in the misty grey dawn we huddled together, The breeze raised goose bumps on her bare thighs. A tear dropped from her eyes, wiped gently away with my thumbs Tasted salty, sweet as ambrosia, so divine. An embrace, a kiss, words left unspoken, Love tokens exchanged, another tear shed. A whispered “I love you.” Prompted “I love you too.” The parting – no long farewell, we just turned and walked away. Exactly fifty years have passed since that day, I hold the love token and whisper her name. I drop to my knees, close my eyes and pray That perhaps, somewhere, she’s doing the same. (a Sonnet by) Tim Lloyd

ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION 8 BEES, INSECTS & GARDENS The EWC group held their first meeting of 2023 on 26th January and the speaker on this occasion was Andrew Easterbrook, who gave a very interest- ing talk about bees, gardening and the implications of other insects and wild- life. Andrew has been a beekeeper in Crewe for 40 years after receiving a beekeeping starter kit as a birthday present. During his presentation, An- drew talked about some of the different species of bees his interest in wasps and hornets and pollination. He began with the red mason bee which appears early in the year. It is soli- tary therefore it does not colonise and lives in holes in the mortar of build- ings. Prior to death, it attaches its egg to a pollen ball, which then metamor- phoses into an adult. The miner bees also live a solitary existence but unlike the red mason bees they tend to live in holes in lawns. The tree bumble bee is another species that imposes no harm to humans although they can create problems by taking over empty bird nesting boxes before birds have chance to use them. These bees nest early and tend to be observed at gutter height in people’s homes. Honey bees gathers pollen from early Spring from various sources, particu- larly single petal flowers found in our gardens. Interestingly, these single petal varieties are easier for bees to extract the pollen from than multi petal varieties therefore we should consider sowing more single petal plants, in- cluding lavenders and summer/winter heathers. Pussy willow, hazel and brambles are great early sources of pollen for bees as are rosebay willow- herb and the lime tree. Unsurprisingly, bees also need to forage in the sum- mer months. The month of June has become a drought period for collecting pollen as the bramble flowers that the bees depended upon has now ceased flowering by the end of May, which is six weeks earlier than 40 years ago. From bees, Andrew turned his attention to wasps of which there are many species in the UK. Wasps have four stages within their lifespan: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The adults feed on a sweet substance secreted by their larva and as the supply diminishes, wasps need to find other sweet food sources. An example of this is fruit, hence the reason wasps are attracted to our jam sandwiches! (Cont)

9 Another species which is often confused with a wasp is the hornet, which An- drew had recently spotted and described as a ‘whopping great wasp’ as it grows to 1 ½ inches in length. Despite this fact, it is characteristically rather a docile insect and poses no threat. However, the Asian hornets are a different matter as they are a threat to our insects and other wildlife. As they are not indigenous to the UK, our insects have not evolved to deal with the threat. They have been known to com- pletely decimate a nest of honeybees. Andrew also enquired if any of our members cultivated vegetables such as the leek, as this is a plant from the allium family. He was interested to know if those who grew them had noticed any minor predation as he himself was having problems caused by a fly which pupates in the soil in and around the leek. He concluded that the only preventative method to deter this pest was a pesticide spray which he was not prepared to use. Barn owls are another species that are suffering a decline in numbers due predominately to loss of nest sites and food sources such as mice and voles. He also gave an ex- treme example of another species which are completely extinct, and this is the bat population that existed in the River Sangone region in Turin where the river has now run permanently dry. Andrew went on to talk about wetland work which is presently being carried out in the UK to help safeguard the many birds that are moving across from the continent due to global warming. The spoonbills, as an example, are wintering sometimes in the UK and this was unheard of some 50-100 years ago. In the final part of his talk, Andrew discussed the effects of global warming on the environment and what we can personally do to help insects as this is hav- ing a destabilising effect. If we cultivated more pollinator friendly plants (crocus, snowdrops, brambles), this would increase the opportunities for bees, wasp and other pollinators. Also, it would be beneficial to local wildlife if you have an area of garden that you are able to leave uncultivated. At the close of his talk Andrew left us to ponder on two important facts. The first one was that a single sycamore tree is the nectar equivalent of 2 acres of clover for bees and that the availability of water is essential for bees to digest the pollen. The talk was concluded by a round of applause by our members in appreciation of Andrew delivering a very interesting talk and lively question and answer session. (Cont)

10 EWC Forthcoming events: 27th April 2023 RSPCA Wildlife Rescue Centre – Speaker Evie Astbury-Field 11th May 2023 Visit to Swettenham Arboretum with a walk to Brereton Mere (optional) 25th May 2023 Regenerative Market Gardening - Speaker Michael Fitzsim- mons, Head Grower – Cinderwood Market Garden 22nd June 2023 Action for Wildlife in Local Communities - Speaker from Cheshire Wildlife Trust (TBC) June 2023 Visit to Growing@Field28 Limited – Producer of microgreens, edible flowers and heritage vegetable varieties (TBC) July 2023 Visit to RSPCA Wildlife Rescue Centre (date TBC) 10th August 2023 Visit to Bickerton Hills with guide Jon Twigg from the Nation- al Trust If you are interested in becoming a member of the EWC please do come and join us, there are a few spaces presently available as our membership is not quite at full capacity. Alternatively, you may prefer to come along for a taster session before making up your mind to join. This can be arranged by contact- ing one of the Group Leaders via email and they will make the necessary ar- rangements. (Rosemary Betteley) Plan for Failure of your Computer Hard Drive! The heart and brains of a desktop or laptop computer is the mechanical hard drive; unless you’ve migrated onto SSD. Whilst a failed drive can be re- placed; its contents will need to be restored from a backup. In this context it’s important to plan for and test execution of a “bare metal” restore to the same computer equipped with a replacement blank hard drive. The U3A Digi- tal Learning Group, under Neil Crossley, can help with restoration if the ap- propriate backup is available; however, it requires that computer owners plan for failure and supply an appropriate backup.We are offering to demonstrate the Microsoft backup and “bare metal” restore process available free of charge to Windows users. This does require purchase of a small USB pen- drive and an additional hard drive; however, the associated costs are low when compared with the heart ache associated with potential loss of all those family memories. (Cont)

11 The demonstration will take approximately 2 hours and include a Q&A and a handout. Whilst demonstrated on a Windows 10 laptop, the process also works for Windows 7/11 computers. This session will take place on Friday 21/04/23 at the Memorial Hall in Wistaston, between 2 – 4pm. Michael Taylor (member of Computer Drop-In, Fridays) If you’d like to join, contact Sue Steele, [email protected] or join the group called ‘Computer Recovery’ on the website (candnu3a.org.uk) Development News Learn - Plans are afoot for another Absolute Beginners’ Bridge course, starting in September. Keep an eye out for announcements if you are interested in this very popular activity. Laugh - Another enthusiastic u3a member, with many years’ experience as a dance teacher, has volunteered to lead a new dance group called Motown Movers. This will be modern dance, although there will be no jumps. It will run on Wednes- days from 2.15 - 3.30pm, at Hough Village Hall. For further information, see the group page on the website, or contact Mary Griffiths through ‘Contact a Member’. Due to high levels of interest, it may be necessary to split the group into 2 and run weekly, but with members dancing fortnightly. If you are interested, join the group and you’ll be kept informed Live - 2023 started with a highlight for me in my role as Development Officer - a visit to Mabs’ Bahrani’s Persian Cookery group, at Worleston Village Hall. Accom- panied by the Development Team of Liz Page and Eileen Churchman, I tasted the delights of slow cooked lamb with broad beans and dill rice, followed by a sliver of almond and lemon cake. Mabs is a wonderful cook and members very much enjoy watching Mabs create these visually enticing dishes and tasting the fare, once the hard work is done. Many members have re-created the dishes at home, to the delight of their families. The Development Team continues to be welcomed into various groups - leaders are invited to request a visit and a place on the spotlight page of the website. Contact Liz Page or Eileen Churchman through ‘Contact a Member’ on the website, or myself at [email protected]

Spotlight shines on more groups 12 In December’s newsletter we told you about an exciting new feature , Groups Spotlight, to celebrate our many and varied groups and their won- derful leaders. Since then, the feature has gone from strength to strength and at the time of writing we now have a dozen Spotlights, including on Pickleball, Choir, Persian Cooking, various Arts and Crafts, and Gardening. Working with Development Officer Sue Steele, members Liz Page (words) and Eileen Churchman (photographs) visit the group to find out more and take pictures, even in some instances, video clips. Web master Neil Cross- ley then uploads them onto the website, and Eileen posts on the private U3a Facebook group. The Spotlights are a wonderful way for members to find out more about a group they may be interested in joining, or just find interesting. To access the reports simply visit that group’s page on the web- site and click through on the Spotlight and Gallery buttons. Here are a couple of extracts from Spotlights on groups that currently have vacancies: Choir Tuesday: ‘Whose pigs are these, whose pigs are these, They are John Potts’, And they’ve got green spots, And I found them in the vicar- age garden.’ The fabulous rhythm of these words takes you halfway to singing them – and that’s the point at the joyous Tuesday choir, as group leader Liz Barfield explains. “You just need a voice, there’s no such thing as singing out of tune. This choir is for you if you think you can’t sing but would like to sing.” (Cont)

Persian Cookery: 13 A delicious, warm, spicy aroma greets us as we approach Worleston village hall to meet the Persian Cookery group. Inside, in a packed kitchen, Mahboubeh (Mabs) Bahrani is serving up a wonderful array of food for lunch. The main dish, Baghali polo, broad beans & dill rice with slow cooked lamb could- n’t look or smell more enticing. For vegetari- ans, there’s a dish based on okra, or lady’s fingers, and to accompany it all a juicy salad. Needless to say the lunch is devoured with great enthusiasm and, just as you think it’s done, Mabs produces a lovely lemon and al- mond cake for pudding. Other groups with vacancies for new members (as at 21/02/23) include Scot- tish Dancing, Recorded Opera, Poetry, Today's World, Writing for Pleasure, Nantwich Local History, Spanish Improvers, Environment and Wildlife Con- servation, Sharing Shakespeare, All craft groups, Archaeology Liz Page Phase 2a HS2 will see a new high speed railway line constructed the north- ern end of Phase One at Fradley in the West Midlands to Crewe in Cheshire. Services will join the existing rail network to create direct services to places including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Crewe is also the station for con- nections to North Wales and Shrewsbury. It will be built at the same time as the line between London and the West Midlands. High speed ser- vices will begin operating between London, Birmingham and Crewe between 2029 and 2033. (Delayed 2 more years Ed)

Retiring Chair’s Message 14 I completed my third and final year as Chair at the AGM on March 8th. I am now stepping down from the committee to return to the u3a “back benches”, where, with extra time to spare, I intend to participate more fully in group ac- tivities. I would like to thank all those who have made my three years as Chair such a positive and enjoyable experience. Apart from the wonderful community of u3a members, who never cease to amaze with their commitment, energy and talents, my committee colleagues deserve a special mention. I have worked on many committees before, but this committee has been among the very best to be part of– professional and dedicated, with a lot of humour and fun thrown into the mix. Please do not underestimate the committee’s devotion of time and effort to the u3a as an organisation and to the welfare and enjoyment all our individual members. The committee does not expect special appreciation or thanks from the members, but always seeks to do its very best within both the strict rules of trusteeship and the rules and ethos of the national u3a (the Third Age Trust). I know that some of decisions that the committee has made over the last three years, especially the adoption of national u3a constitution that restricted the tenure of committee members, and of course the overturning of the group levy relief granted to Group Leaders, were unpopular. These decisions were, however, legally necessary if Crewe and Nantwich u3a was not to be in breach of the terms that allow us to enjoy the protective framework of the Third Age Trust. Our u3a is in good shape, despite the effects of Covid and its restrictions, and the new committee, under Sue Steele’s leadership, will, I am sure, take us forward to even greater strength and achievement. Judith Ross March 13th 2023 All Humerous content has been removed from the newsletter for this issue. Its use in future newsletters will be decided over the summer. There will be no May newsletter this year. Liz Page will be taking over the editor role from the August Newsletter. Contributors, please continue to use [email protected] (ed)

March 2023 Quiz Answers 15 1. Deezil Oyl 9. The Vanilla Orchid 2. Australia 10. Paris 3. Scampo 11. Hind legs first 4. The Laxey wheel 12. 4 5. 33 13. Liverpool 6. Truman Capote 14. A Lion 7. Pt 15. Fry’s Turkish Delight 8. HMS The Prince of Wales (not yet in service) Barrie & Ann-Marie Lloyd Group Levy for the Spring Term 2023 The calculation of the group levy for this next term is difficult because the term straddles both Holy week and Easter week. There are three further bank holidays all on Mondays. Group leaders are free to decide which of three op- tions they want for starting back and which of the bank holidays they want to take. The levy for groups starting back on w/c 3rd April and taking no holidays then the levy is 13 * £1.50 per person (£19.50). The levy for groups starting back on w/c 17th April and taking no holidays then the levy is 11 * £1.50 per person (£16.50). A Monday group starting back on 17th April and taking all the bank holidays will further reduce to 8 * £1.50 per person (£12.00) Of course your group will do some combination! Group leaders need to decide which holidays they are taking and communi- cate the decision to their group members before the end the Winter term. Please make sure the dates are correct on your group page as the rooms will be booked on that basis. Next year (2024) the spring term starts after Easter so this won’t happen again. (ed)

Committee Roles & Contacts 16 Sue Steele [email protected] Sue Steele [email protected] Lynne Jones [email protected] Lynne Jones [email protected] Ann-Marie Lloyd [email protected] Ann-Marie Lloyd [email protected] Marian Simmons [email protected] Adrian Finney [email protected] Peter Brook [email protected] Neil Crossley [email protected] Michael Taylor [email protected] Irene Dixon [email protected] Nigel Bharani [email protected] Vacant [email protected] Dr Bryan Roe [email protected] Jenny Jinkinson (tba) Non-Committee Roles (from April) Liz Page [email protected] The above email addresses are in flux. Editor’s Notices Spring Term : Starts 3rd April Ends 30th June Summer Term: Starts 17th July Ends 26th August Autumn Term : Starts 4th September Ends 22nd December Newsflash At the meeting on 15th March the committee restored the Summer term for 2023 and 2024. This means that group leaders may choose to continue through to the end of August using the U3a system to book their venues. There are 6 weeks at £1.50 so the levy is £9 per member. The group lead- er may choose not to do all the 6 weeks. So check the group page on the web. Visit our Website— http://www.candnu3a.org.uk u3a National Website – www.u3a.org.uk August Newsletter : Articles to [email protected] by 15th July 2023.