Welcome
From Sharon Parsons Editor
These wintry months are the perfect time to make some plans for the year ahead, and I hope that this issue provides you with the inspiration you need. To start with, our travel special focuses on eco-friendly holidays. We know how concerned many u3a members are by the effect of climate change on our planet, but that doesn’t mean new adventures are off the table – it’s more about finding ways to tread lightly when travelling, and still have a fantastic time. We also suggest historic places to visit with a romantic back story (well, this issue does come out near Valentine’s Day!), and last but not least, invite you to take advantage of the great savings you can enjoy on a short UK break with Friends. Meanwhile, u3a’s popular Summer Schools are already being carefully planned . These provide a wonderful opportunity to learn something new, meet like-minded members, and generally have fun in wonderful surroundings, so why not enrol for school 2025? Perhaps, too, this is the year you’ve decided you’ll take up a new interest through your u3a, or get more actively involved in the organisation as it continues to evolve? Do take a look at u3a’s Learn to Live report, and let us know your thoughts, and be inspired by the Trust Volunteers who tell us about the valuable work they do. Enjoy the issue!
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EDITORIAL
Editor Sharon Parsons
Sub-editors
James Hundleby,
Amy Beveridge
DESIGN
Art Editor Yvey Bailey
Picture Editor Jessica Marsh
PRODUCTION
Jane Easterman
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Connections
News and views to share what's been happening across u3a
Community spirit
sensation
A historic railway station has been given a first class transformation by this dedicated u3a crew.
The imaginative ideas, hard work and determination of Wyre Forest & District u3a have not only seen impressive results appreciated by the whole community, but shone a light on the entire movement. Sue Langley who was chair between 2019 and 2021, and is lead adopter of the project, explains: “Back in September 2021, our u3a was invited to ‘adopt’ Kidderminster mainline railway station by the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (WCRP). The brief was ‘to tend to a few planters’ to make the station more welcoming, but here was an opportunity to show that our u3a could achieve much more than that! Not least, the project would be a means of demonstrating that the u3a movement is not just about enjoying new interests in later life – it’s also about working with the local community to improve the place we all call home.
Full steam ahead
Once we’d got the green light from the u3a executive committee, our crew of enthusiastic u3a volunteers came on board. Creative ideas came thick and fast – all of which were given the blessing of the WCRP – and by December, the station had been officially adopted. Work could now commence... though keeping it all on track was not always easy! One of Kidderminster’s most notable attractions is the Severn Valley Railway (SVR), and we wanted to create a dramatic statement to recognise it. Following various discussions, we decided on a 46ft-long, black, steel artwork, depicting SVR’s flagship locomotive, which would be mounted on a white wall of the station: this, we felt, would bring a unique sense of place. Bringing such an ambitious project to life took the concerted efforts, talents and generosity of a great many – from the input of SVR, which provided a design of the Hagley steam engine and carriage, to the skills of graphic designer Marcin Wisniewski, who interpreted it. We then had to find a manufacturer specialising in steel to make the piece – AJS Profiles in Smethwick not only came up trumps, but also part-funded the project. Not least, there was the generous contribution of a local supporter, the late Andrew Davie (the artwork is installed in his memory): without such donations, the project would not have been possible. Finally, we needed the permission of Network Rail, which owns the land, to install it: this proved a hugely convoluted exercise, but finally – some two years and six months after the idea was first mooted – everything was in place, and the artwork finally installed.
Platform changes
Along with this show-stopping artwork, other brilliant concepts were brought to life, several of which reference our town’s illustrious history. As Kidderminster is famously the home of the woven carpet, 11 colourful designs were gifted by the Museum of Carpet, and are now displayed below a welcome sign. The town has many historical points of interest, so we replicated 14 of the famous blue and red plaques to mount on platform 2 (with QR codes providing instant access to further information about each one). Kidderminster is twinned with Husum, a maritime town in Germany, so the station approach now displays a repurposed boat planter (this also nods to the glorious River Severn and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal system). And we set about maintaining the long sloping bank at the station’s entrance – a real labour of love. There is now a newly planted herb garden for commuters to enjoy, along with a ‘bug hotel’ in the middle of a tiny woodland.
Just the ticket
Last but not least, we have a prominent u3a adopters notice board that not only tells passers-by about this project and its ongoing progress, but is successfully raising awareness of the u3a, and what the movement is all about, encouraging others to join This has been the most rewarding project, and last September we were thrilled to be presented with a Community Champions award by West Midlands Trains in recognition of our services. The 14-strong team have worked so hard, and we are delighted with everything we’ve achieved for the community – and the u3a.”
Could your u3a adopt a station?
If you’re inspired by Wyre Forest & District u3a’s fantastic project, why not consider a similar u3a initiative with a local unadopted train station? To help you get started, the Community Rail Network (CRN) has produced Station Adoption: a Guide for the Local Community (go to communityrail.org.uk). Paul Webster, the CRN’s regional support manager, is also happy to advise u3as on the way forward, and can be contacted at:
- If you’d like more information about how this project was achieved, contact Sue at stationadopters@ wyreforestu3a.org.uk
u3a friends newsletter
Become a friend
Have you signed up to the fantastic u3a Friends newsletter yet? Sent straight to your inbox every month, you’ll find it brimming with interesting news and updates that share what’s happening across the u3a movement, from the latest stories to brilliant learning opportunities and upcoming online events. Not least, when there’s news that we think you’ll want to know sooner, you’ll get a speedy ‘newsletter express’ – which means members of the u3a Friends newsletter community are the first to know what’s going on. In addition, you’ll also have exclusive access to our Friends Extra website, which offers a range of discounts and services across various categories including health and wellbeing, shopping and travel (for more exciting news on all that, find the 'Get away with Friends!' story in Connections).
- So what are you waiting for? Join our u3a Friends newsletter community on: u3a.org.uk/ u3a-friends. We look forward to welcoming you!
u3a Summer Schools 2025
Get booked for Summer School!
After the resounding success of last year’s regional Summer Schools, many of you will be looking forward to the events planned for this coming summer, so here’s a taster of what’s in store. Some of these are still in the planning stages as we go to press, but you’ll find regularly updated information about the courses on offer, and how to book tickets, on each region’s website. (In case you’re wondering, Scotland only organises its Summer Schools every two years so there won’t be one for 2025. )
Yorkshire and the Humber
Once again, YAHR’s residential Summer School will take place at The Hawkhills in Easingwold. Planned for 18-21 August, courses will include improvised drama, cosmology, Iron Age Britain to Anglo-Saxon England and more.
- To find out more, go to: yahru3a.uk
South East
The South East u3a Forum Summer School dates are 1-4 September 2025 at the University of Chichester. General and course information is expected in mid-March, and bookings will be open in mid-April.
- Check out information on the Forum’s website on the Summer School page at: southeastu3aforum.u3asite.uk
North West
This year’s Summer School will be held at the Manchester Metropolitan University from 12-15 August. Courses include archaeology, art appreciation, art challenges, Egyptology and literature.
- For full details please visit the North West Region website at: northwestregion.u3asite.uk
London
The London Region of u3as’ 2025 summer programme includes a series of walks and visits for Women’s History Month in March, a Gilbert and Sullivan music day, and an exploration of AI and its repercussions for society. Later in the year there will be lectures held at the Natural History Museum and a Wellness Day featuring yoga and meditation.
- Keep an eye on their website for further details: lru3a.u3asite.uk/events
PLUS...
The u3a Climate Change Summer School takes place on 9-12 May at Warwick University.
- For more details, contact Eleanor Brooks at:
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Remembering
A poignant journey
Patrick Forsyth, coordinator for the Creative Writing group at Maldon & District u3a, shares the highlights of a moving tour.
A tour of battlefields and cemeteries may not appeal to everyone, but personally I found it not only proved to be a wonderful experience, but a complete eye-opener about the Great War. On this excursion, which was arranged through Pathways to the Past (connellycontours.co.uk), a group of us went via the Channel tunnel to Calais and then travelled by road for little more than an hour to the market town of Arras. Here, we checked into our small, quaint and very comfortable hotel in the square. Our professional guide, Professor Mark Connelly, was for many years professor of modern history at the University of Kent and had spent untold hours researching the history of the First World War: his knowledge and passion for the subject made the trip very special. We hadn’t specified a particular itinerary in advance, though my late wife Sue mentioned that her grandfather had been killed fighting in 1916: many people who go on such tours do so with specific family history in mind.
Time for reflection
We saw major sights such as the huge, impressive Thiepval memorial, commemorating those lost and without graves: here, the list of names began to provide irrefutable evidence of the magnitude of this tragedy. But it was the many war cemeteries that made this scale so very striking. All beautifully maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the headstones stretched out in seemingly infinite rows, prompting sobering moments of reflection about the suffering inflicted during this horrific period of history. We were reminded that the British Empire war dead were estimated at more than a million, with a worldwide military death toll of as many as 15 million. The facts recounted as we went along were often a revelation. In places, the war trenches are maintained much as they were during the fighting, and it was shockingly clear just how close to the enemy these could be: less than one hundred yards in one case. Even with the surrounding countryside now long returned to a peaceful and orderly state, one could almost hear the sounds of battle and smell the smoke in the air.
A special moment
Before our group returned home, something remarkable happened. Mark took my wife and I aside in one of the cemeteries, and there in front us was the grave of her maternal grandfather. A little research (Mark knows his stuff) had unearthed the fact that in the confusion of war, Private JH Barnley’s body had been moved and buried far from where earlier family searches had been made. To say it was moving moment is a serious understatement. It was the highlight of this fascinating tour, and so very much appreciated. Horrific though the Great War was, the final thoughts prompted by this unforgettable experience were uplifting: so much here is carefully preserved and maintained to ensure the countless personal sacrifices that were made can never be forgotten.
Changing perceptions
A positive approach to later life
In December, u3a were excited to feature in a news-style programme Redefining Later Living, produced by ITN Business.
The programme featured organisations at the forefront of the sector, sharing case studies and contributions from industry thought-leaders. Its aim was to challenge the traditional connotations around ageing, and explored ways to embrace later life, manage postmenopausal changes, and identify age-related medical developments. The programme included a five-minute interview with our new CEO, Iain Cassidy, who discussed the u3a model and the positive impact that social interaction and learning can make in later life.
- You can watch the interview on the u3a website at: u3a.org.uk/pushback-ageism Let us know what you think!
THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR
New beginnings
Chair Allan Walmsley considers the important new developments taking place within the u3a.
Things have been moving quickly at the Third Age Trust. It seems only a few weeks ago that the Fit For The Future (FFTF) concept was passed at the October AGM, followed quickly by nominations for both the new Board and the u3a Council. By the time you read this, elections should be complete, and we will be in the middle of a comprehensive training programme for around 30 u3a members, all of whom will form the Board and the Council to take the next step in the evolution of the u3a movement. Every member who’s prepared to do should be applauded. Of course, it will not always be easy: challenges will arise and inevitably some representatives will take more to their new role than others. But enthusiasm and commitment will shine though too, and with the right tools and member support, we should soon be in a position to better understand the collective views of u3as. These teams start their important new roles in March and April, and will have the full backing of the Third Age Trust, along with the resources to match their needs. The early months will, of course, be important, but such a major change will no doubt take time to fully comprehend, and assess the value it brings. In any case, let’s wish everyone involved well! The October AGM also saw the start of new roles for myself, the new vice chair, Margaret Fiddes, and not least our new CEO, Iain Cassidy. Again, it takes time to understand new positions, but hopefully we have settled in well, and with Derek Harwood, our treasurer, we have formed a strong working partnership to support the movement as it takes that next step. I’m enjoying working with my new colleagues and I look forward to working with a new range of Council representatives and Board trustees.
- My direct email address is:
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Life lessons
WORDS OF WISDOM
Professional coach Barbara Bates of Nottingham u3a shares her thoughts – all connected with a K! For more, check out her website: www.thiscoachingbusiness.co.uk.
APPRECIATE KNOWLEDGE
There are different kinds of knowledge, such as factual or scientific knowledge, but there is also ‘heart’ knowledge. For example, how do you know if you love someone? You don’t make a list of things for and against: you just know, in your heart.
TAKE UP KNITTING
It gives your hands something to do – you might get a scarf out of it – and knitting patterns make your brain work. It’s fascinating that there's a whole ‘thing’ about knitting anatomically correct models of the brain and neurons: people get together to enjoy neural ‘knit-ins’!
BE KIND
It’s good for us. If we behave kindly, it increases our sense of wellbeing. Surely, all the beings in this world really need kindness, now more than ever. Ask yourself, what’s one kind thing you can do for someone today? And don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.
- What are your Words of Wisdom? Send your three short and sweet thoughts and why, to:
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Obituary
A true u3a legend
Graham Goodeve’s contribution to the u3a will never be forgotten.
Graham’s working life was spent in education. Having left the University of Sheffield with a degree in geography, he started his national service in the RAF as an instructor and remained as a commissioned officer for several years before leaving to begin his teaching career on civvy street. After several teaching jobs, Graham took a post at a new teacher training establishment in Birmingham called Newman College, where he remained until he took early retirement in 1983, having completed his master’s degree while continuing to teach. In 1987, Graham and his wife Jean moved near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and, very soon afterwards, Graham’s relationship with the u3a movement began. His contribution to the development of u3as in West and Mid Wales was enormous. He founded and chaired Pembrokeshire u3a in 1990, the first in West Wales, and played a big part in setting up many others, including Narberth, Preseli and Aberystwyth. He was also instrumental in establishing the West Wales u3a network. In 1996, he was elected to the national executive committee (NEC) of the Third Age Trust and was appointed honorary secretary at the 1997 AGM, a position he held with distinction for five years. AGMs can be tricky affairs but Graham’s efficiency, calmness under pressure and great sense of humour kept the ship steady. Graham’s individual contribution to the success of the national u3a movement and u3a in Wales was enormous, but what made it all the more memorable and remarkable is that we didn’t get just one Goodeve – we got two! Jean was an ever-present support to Graham, both locally and nationally, and when he stepped down from the NEC and Jean was elected, (going on to become chairman in 2006), Graham was constantly by her side. Team Goodeve became the dream team! Anybody who was lucky enough to know or have met Graham will remember a man who was unfailingly positive, optimistic and cheerful, and someone to whom they owe a huge debt of gratitude for his energetic support of their u3as. He was a true u3a legend and will be missed.
Lin Jonas, former CEO (1996-2016).
Great North Run Sunday 7 September 2025
Calling all runners…
For the second consecutive year, Team u3a will be taking part in the Great North Run. One of the biggest half-marathon events in the UK, the run starts in Newcastle upon Tyne and finishes in South Shields. We’ve secured five charity running places for this iconic event that are open to u3a members and their families. If you’d like to run and fundraise £375 on behalf of the Third Age Trust, please send your details to
Get away with Friends!
How about a spring break?
The short, chilly days of February give us time to think about when we can get out and about more once the weather improves. Once we’ve had enough of hunkering down, why not lift the mood with a little escape? A break in the UK has much to offer – historic towns, lovely countryside, history, culture, foodie breaks, experiences... the list goes on. And don’t forget Friends Extra – here to help with an extensive range of offers. For example, did you know you can get:
10% off your hotel with hotels.com.
25% off English Heritage memberships.
10% off National Trust gift cards (which you can use yourself).
20% off travel insurance.
20% savings on more than 4,000.
Virgin Experience Days – short breaks, art activities, balloon flights, driving experiences and much more.
All of these offers can be shared with
family and friends too!
Please don’t keep these great savings and opportunities to yourself! Let others know that by becoming u3a Friends themselves, at no cost, they too can enjoy these benefits as well as the other advantages of being a member.
- Find out more and sign up by subscribing to the u3a Friends newsletter at: u3a.org.uk/u3a-friends
Prize winner
You’re welcome!
Our prize draw in association with HeritageXplore (Winter 2024 edition) offered the chance to win a u3a group visit to one of Britain’s finest historic houses. The lucky winner is Anne Stuart, a member of Pershore & District u3a in Worcestershire, who nominated her walking group, Loosenders. “We’re thrilled to have won, and plan to visit Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds,” Anne says. “It’s not far away, but none of us have been inside before, so this will be a really fascinating visit for us all.” Enjoy your day, Loosenders – let us know how it goes!
Getting involved
Meet the Trust Volunteers!
Susannah Hodge, joint interim head of member services, introduces some of the inspiring u3a members who bring so much to their role as Trust volunteers.
There are nearly 400 fantastic volunteers who support and work closely with the Third Age Trust. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to support the u3a movement in a wide variety of roles, from providing subject advice, delivering online workshops and running Beacon (the online management system for u3as), to supporting a trustee for their region or nation and working with the advice and information team to respond to enquiries. In January 2023, the Third Age Trust was accredited with Investing in Volunteers: this is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. The accreditation demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to ensuring all Trust volunteers are well supported, feel valued and have a positive volunteering experience. Indeed, in the 2024 Trust volunteer survey, 84% of respondents confirmed they feel their contributions are meaningful and rewarding: the most popular motivation to become a Trust volunteer is the opportunity to make use of their expertise and skills to support other u3as. Trust volunteers are u3a members, but their roles are separate from other volunteer positions they may have as part of their local u3a or network. Here we discover what this means for just a few...
ONLINE ACTION
Michael Astrop is a learning volunteer and an equality, diversity and inclusion presenter From May to September 2024, 9,254 members attended online learning events, and 98.5% of attendees said they’d recommend the events to others. Michael belongs to Todmorden u3a, and is part of the team of learning volunteers who support the delivery and raise awareness of these events. “Having spent most of my working life in the world of communications and the last 25 years delivering learning to businesses on an international scale, I felt that taking up the role of a learning volunteer seemed to fit with my skillset,” he explains. “In my view, the talks do more than just share knowledge and experience with members: they also reach out to those who are alone, or who may be unable to get to regular meetings.”
GUIDING HANDS
Mavis Turner and Rose Marie Bradley are start-up volunteers.
Start-up volunteers work together to provide support, advice and guidance to a new u3a that is being established. “This role has enabled me to learn so much about the u3a movement, and I want to enable others to enjoy being u3a members, just as much as I have,” says Mavis, a member of Belfast u3a. “Guiding new steering committees through the start-up process and seeing members from all backgrounds making friends while learning something together and sharing common interests is very rewarding.” Rose Marie of Foyle u3a adds: “I really enjoy my role as a startup volunteer, and it is inspiring working with Mavis – we’re a great team! I have learnt a lot and love the connection with other Trust volunteers, new members, and committee members.”
SITE FOR SUCCESS
Sue Bailey, Nick Talbot and Richard Crowder are SiteWorks volunteers SiteWorks is the volunteerled website platform created to replace SiteBuilder for around 700 u3as. The u3a SiteWorks volunteer team are responsible for building the u3a website software and helping u3as migrate on to it. “I became a SiteWorks volunteer in February 2023 when I saw a request for volunteers with the required expertise that could not be ignored,” says Sue, a member of West Bridgford u3a. “Being retired is all very well, but there is nothing quite like being asked to utilise the skills you learned and used at work. I now help web managers migrate their sites to SiteWorks. The challenges have come thick and fast with new IT skills to learn and new ways of communicating. It isn’t ever boring, there are plenty of meetings and interactions with the u3a web managers. Appreciation from the u3as we have supported has made it all worthwhile, and it’s fascinating to see the variety of websites around the country and how every single u3a is different.” “What I have found most interesting about working on the project is to appreciate how far technology has come in supporting this ‘virtual’ project team,” confirms Nick, who belongs to Llandrindod u3a. “The vast majority of the 60 or so Trust volunteers working on the project have never met face to face, but using Zoom and Teams alongside email enables us to work together very effectively. I think that what we have achieved has been way beyond what those of us who were initially involved in the project could have anticipated.” Richard, a member of Romsey Archway u3a, says: “This project is an example of volunteers coming together to deliver something that is transformative: it’s been a privilege to work with them.”
- If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Trust volunteer or the opportunities available, please contact
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Diary dates
Online learning events
u3a runs a programme of web talks, workshops and events, as well as online initiatives such as competitions, memory collections and puzzles for you to get involved with.
Nanophotonic devices for healthcare applications
WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY, 11AM.
In this talk, Professor Steven Johnson will discuss the applications of light-matter interactions in nanophotonic sensors to detect physical, chemical or biological events at nanoscale levels. These sensors have shown great promise in biosensing, overcoming the various shortcomings of current bioanalytical tools.
From turmoil to joy: the sculpture of Auguste Rodin
THURSDAY 13 MARCH, 2PM
Professor Chris Dowrick will focus on two powerful, expressive elements of Rodin’s work: his creation of sculpture The Burghers of Calais, with their stoicism in the face of despair, and his fascination with the human hand.
Making your smartphone or tablet easier to use
TUESDAY 18 MARCH, 2PM
Are you making the most of everything your devices can do? If you suspect not, this helpful talk from AbilityNet will teach you more about the various features that can make devices work better and more conveniently for you.
- For more events and to book those above, go to: u3a.org.uk/events
Learning activities
To participate in, or contribute to, our learning activities, please go to: u3a.org.uk/learning/learning-activities.
u3a Eye u3a members are taking brilliant photos and submitting them to our u3a Eye photography project. With a new theme every two months, entries are judged not only on photographic skill, but also creativity and unique interpretation. The theme for February and March is ‘Cutting edge’. Please send us your photos and descriptions via the online form on the u3a website.
Maths challenge
Solve problems and puzzles set by u3a members passionate about numbers. New challenging maths questions are available every week, along with the answers to the previous week’s questions. Want another challenge? Check out the monthly logic puzzles too! Find both on the u3a website.
- Contact
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interests
GREEN TRAVEL
Taking the green route
If you want to see the world, but are increasingly conscious of the impact your journeys may have on the planet, try travelling differently instead.
If there’s one thing the travel industry loves more than anything else, it’s a buzzword. Once upon a time, when Concorde graced the skies, it was ‘supersonic’. Sometime after that it was ‘gap year’. In more recent times ‘staycations’ were all the rage (remember those..?), but these days there’s only one that even comes close: sustainability. When it comes to your holidays, going green has never been more important – or more popular. According to The Eco Experts, a respected group of climate focused writers and researchers, the travel industry accounts for up to 11% of all the world’s carbon emissions and, as we all know, action is urgently required. As such, travel organisations of all persuasions – from cruise companies to airlines - are on a mission to not only minimise the impact of their operations and presence, but also offer reassurance to travellers that it’s still possible to explore this wonderful world of ours without destroying it. It is recognised, nevertheless, that there is still a very long way to go.
Train of thought
Over three-quarters of Britons today are more likely to consider an eco-friendly holiday than a decade ago, and a recent study revealed that more than 42% of UK travellers would rather take a train, ferry or coach than fly – an emerging trend that is proving particularly popular with those aged 65 and over.
In fact, interrailing – once a rite of passage for every 18-year-old – is now attracting more retirees than ever before. The prospect of a thrilling European adventure that’s high on culture and low on guilt has sparked a boom in the sector, with older generations now accounting for 10% of all those who do it. Meanwhile, the ‘Interrailing for the Older Crowd’ Facebook group has nearly 50,000 members. And the over-60s have been given an extra incentive to hit the tracks with a discount on Interrail passes, meaning no fewer than 33 countries – everywhere from Montenegro to Latvia – are within reach without stepping foot in a single airport.
New directions
Navigating exactly how to travel as responsibly as possible takes a bit more thought and organisation. Here are the answers to just a few common questions: What does ‘green travel’ mean? Confusion abounds. Generally speaking, the term refers to being thoughtful and minimising the impact on the local environment. Many people believe it to be solely about avoiding high-polluting modes of transport, but that is merely one aspect. Travelling responsibly also means making mindful decisions about how you engage with a destination and the people who call it home.
What if I have to fly?
Sometimes flying to your destination is the only option. If that’s the case, then the best way to minimise the impact is to fly direct and in economy on a fuel-efficient aircraft. Also consider offsetting your emissions with Atmosfair (atmosfair.de) rather than via the airline’s scheme. It’s also important to remember that it’s still possible to make conscious decisions about treading lightly once you’re on the ground. Use public transport instead of taxis and pick accommodation that has a strong eco approach (no singleuse plastic, for starters) and plays an active role in empowering the community. Always shop and eat locally, and try to spread your tourism dollar as widely, and to as many, as possible. Engage with people – travelling responsibly is also about cultural awareness and respect.
Which countries meet the needs
of green travellers best?
From far-flung new discoveries to old favourites, there is no shortage of places that are excellent choices for a greener holiday. Spain – historically one of our best-loved getaways and one blessed with an excellent public transport system – is encouragingly trying to lure visitors away from the popular pockets by promoting lesser known regions. Meanwhile, Baltic countries such as Estonia and Lithuania are known for celebrating their national parks and innovative local food scenes. There are also enticing options beyond Europe. “Community tourism and wildlife conservation projects in diverse places like Namibia, Belize and Cambodia are helping to shape the way those destinations are perceived,” explains Tom Hall of Lonely Planet. How can I book with confidence? Be thorough in your research, consult the national tourism board and book with companies that can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices and how they give back to the places they operate in. “Look for sustainability certifications such as Green Key, EarthCheck or B Corp, as these indicate verified eco-friendly practices,” says Vera Bruntink, sustainability manager of Inhabit Hotels. “Some booking platforms offer filters for sustainable properties, but always ensure these are based on recognised certifications rather than internal criteria.” Also look for local certification programmes, such as Visit England’s Green Tourism scheme.
- USEFUL RESOURCES
- Check out:
Flight Free: flightfree.co.uk
Green Traveller: greentraveller.co.uk
The Man in Seat 61: seat61.com - Listen to: Funny Old World podcast by travel and sustainability expert Juliet Kinsman
- Read: Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More by Helen Coffey (Flint Books, £16.99)
Fresh perspective
‘The journey becomes part of the holiday’.
Catherine Budgett- Meakin, from Hampstead Garden u3a, is a member of Climate Matters and runs a Climate Emergency group “Our generation has benefited enormously from easy and plentiful opportunities to travel. My husband and I have always been aware of the environmental consequences of air travel. “I think we only ever had four holidays by air: the rest were camping trips to France – usually with the car and our bicycles in tow – or to a cottage somewhere in the UK (with our cat in tow!). “I have had some wonderful adventures by rail: Naples, Seville, Florence, Delft, Barcelona, Vienna…
“The journey becomes part of the holiday. It gives you time to sit, stare and unwind, and gives you the opportunity to see the land. I remember the journey from Barcelona to Seville: it took all afternoon, but the countryside and the scenery were changing constantly. That was fascinating to me. “On another journey I found myself sitting next to a woman who was busy typing away on her laptop. We somehow got talking and ended up having the most wonderful and deep conversation. It was lovely and we even swapped email addresses. I think that kind of thing is far more common on trains than planes.”
Thoughtful decisions
‘We are conscious we are guests in another country’
Joe Grimm is a member of Edinburgh u3a "My wife Louise and I lead very low-impact lives, whether we are travelling or not. Given that, we allow ourselves to fly on occasion, but we haven’t gone long haul for a very long time, despite having lived in the US for many years. “We’re based in Scotland now and love to escape the cold and dark winters – for a few days at least. Going to the Canary Islands is a particular favourite and we don’t offset emissions: we believe there is a lot of greenwashing around that. “Instead, we try to travel simply and remain conscious that we are guests in another country, so we try to use as little as possible and not be a drain on natural resources. That means quick showers and not having the towels and sheets changed too often. It’s also important to show respect to the culture, so we always learn some of the language before arriving. “Self-catering accommodation suits us well, especially as it gives us the opportunity to shop for local produce. We also make a point of giving our custom to independent businesses such as local bakeries. Not only does that support the community, but it also gives us a more enriched travel experience."
‘I’d be very happy never to fly again’
Elizabeth Wardle is a member of Barnet u3a “I’ve always enjoyed travelling by train – there’s something so special about it. You get to see so much more of wherever you are, and it gives you a real sense of just how big and vast the world is. “Budapest was one of my favourite trips. I went with my u3a choir and we took the night train from Paris to Munich, before taking another the following day to Hungary. The landscapes along the way were beautiful. My next trip? I’m off to Berlin, which I’m looking forward to. There’s a group of us going – by train, of course! “To be honest I’d be very happy never to fly again, but my sister lives in the United States. There’s no train across the Atlantic sadly, so I have to take a plane when I go and visit her. Otherwise, I’d much rather travel around Europe by train.”
Six of the best
Travel companies with a conscience include the following:
1. Byway Travel is a tour operator that specialises in 100% flight-free holidays while still offering epic travel experiences across the UK, Europe and North Africa. Options include truffle hunting in Italy and exploring the untamed wilds of Finland’s lake district.
byway.travel.
020 4525 6215.
2. HF Holidays is a cooperative organisation offering over 260 walking and activity holidays in the UK, Europe and further afield. Check out this B Corp certified company’s ‘Tread Lightly’ country house breaks, which aim to minimise walkers’ carbon footprints while exploring stunning surroundings. hfholidays.co.uk
0203 974 8865.
3. Intrepid Travel has been delivering adventures and small group escorted tours to every corner of the world since 1989. In 2018 it achieved B Corp certification, which recognises organisations with the highest standards of social and environmental practices.
intrepidtravel.com.
0808 274 5111.
4. On Foot Holidays is an
independent travel company that started in 2004 and specialises in self-guided walking trips to some of Europe’s most pleasing corners. Routes have been carefully researched using local insight and are dotted with charming family-run guesthouses along the way. There are options available for all abilities and luggage transportation is included, meaning there’s nothing to carry. Hurrah!
onfootholidays.co.uk.
01722 322652.
5. Responsible Travel offers holidays to suit all tastes and budgets, from safaris to self-drives and cycling breaks, with a strong focus on supporting local communities and preserving nature running across all of them. There are also special itineraries for wheelchair users. responsibletravel.com
01273 823700
6. Railbookers is an expert at putting together hassle-free rail-focused holidays with accommodation included, whether it’s a once-in-a lifetime journey across Canada or a short-but-sweet city break in Cologne.
railbookers.com.
020 3780 2222.
PRIZE DRAW
Travel by the book
WIN! A superb set of travel books from Bloomsbury Publishing.
Whether you’re looking for new destinations for adventure, want to revisit favourite spots, or are content to be an armchair traveller, these wonderful guides promise to fire the imagination, provide fascinating insights, and fresh inspiration. We’re delighted to offer two lucky members the chance to win this quintessential quartet – worth £82 altogether. It’s so easy to enter. Simply go to
surveymonkey.com/r/7TSBF6J
The closing date for entries is 31 March 2025.
Here’s a quick look at what each book has to offer…
SPECTACULAR BRITAIN
From the Northern Lights to murmurations, tidal bores to sunken villages, this fantastic spotters’ guide explains the most magical natural phenomena in the UK, and explains how to see them for yourself…
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITIES
This is a fun and entertaining guide to all the 76 cities of the UK, aimed at helping visitors explore these exciting destinations within a weekend, as well as on day trips.
SHORT WALKS TO CURIOUS PLACES
Explore mysterious sites, ancient history, legends and folklore with this mesmerising book of walks to some of the gems found in the British countryside.
TAKE THE SLOW ROAD: ENGLAND & WALES
Forget rushing. This is a guide to slowing down and taking the time to enjoy journeys and places for their own sake. How are you going to do it? In a camper van or a motorhome, of course!
Terms and conditions
The closing date for this prize draw in association with Bloomsbury
Publishing is 31 March 2025. The prize is non-exchangeable and
non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered.
ESPECIALLY FOR YOU!
We’re delighted to let you know that u3a and Bloomsbury Publishing have a special agreement that allows all members a 30% discount off a wide selection of books. This includes titles from many imprints, with subjects ranging from non-fiction to childrens books and cookery books. To view titles, simply go to: bloomsbury.com. Use discount code U3A30 in the checkout area.
LIVING WELL
How to make simpler, better - and more enjoyable.
Life Laundry
Boss your admin!
Piles of paperwork, a brimming inbox and a confusion of folders? It’s time to take action! These days it seems we have more administration, documents and correspondence to deal with than we ever have before, whether it’s coming through the letterbox or popping up in emails. “It can feel completely overwhelming,” says Siân Pelleschi, president of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (apdo. co.uk). “Deciding what you need to keep, what you can ignore and what you can bin does take a strategic approach, but it can be done. The main thing is to stop procrastinating – and get started!”
SORT THE PAPER TRAIL
Stay on top of all that paperwork – and lose what you really don’t need: Monitor your letterbox. “So much superfluous stuff lands on the doormat and most of it isn’t needed,” says Siân. “Take leaflets advertising local services or takeaways, for instance: do you really need to keep them tucked away in a drawer? The reality is, if you need a plumber or want to order in, you’ll get recommendations or do an internet search. The golden rule is only to keep something that is truly valuable to you – not ‘just in case’ you might need it one day.” Empty the envelopes. Most official documentation arrives with reams of extra paperwork and inserts. “You may not need pages of detailed terms and conditions, for example,” points out Siân. “Reputable companies will have them on their website: check first, then get rid.” It’s also not necessary to keep a trail of unnecessary correspondence: “An invitation to make an appointment, for instance, is not needed once that appointment has been confirmed in further correspondence,” Siân says. Aim for methodical. If you’re going for a major admin-sorting session, collect all the paperwork together, and find space to separate everything into relevant piles: a spare bedroom is ideal. Go through each set of papers one at a time, putting anything unnecessary to one side for recycling or shredding. File only what you need. Invest in a neat filing cabinet with slim drawers to stop you from cramming in anything superfluous – take a look at Bisley (bisley. com). Label each of the drawers simply and file only relevant, up-to-date documents, or those you need to action. “I’d also advise keeping details of, say, last year’s insurance policy, with the current one, so you can compare changes at a glance,” says Siân. Old documents that are either important, or you think you should at least keep for now, can be kept in a separate box file – similarly organised and labelled – then stored away as you won’t need to refer to them regularly.
DEAL WITH THE DIGITAL
Going digital has many advantages, but can be even more challenging unless you get organised:
Monitor the mailbox. If you receive endless – and largely unwanted – marketing emails, take action. “Create a separate email folder and move them all into it so you can see what you’ve got to deal with: this also has the advantage of making your inbox instantly more streamlined,” says Siân. “Open each one and go through the ‘unsubscribe’ process systematically – do this in chunks of time if it’s easier to face! Going forward, whenever one drops in to your inbox, move it into the folder to deal with later, or make a point of unsubscribing there and then.”Alternatively, take a look at a service such as Leave Me Alone (leavemealone.com), which will do the task for you – for a fee.
Organise your folders. If digital folders are not clearly labelled, it can be time-consuming and frustrating as you constantly have to click them open in order to remind yourself of their contents. Equally, moving everything to do with a particular subject into just one folder can be confusing. “Name the main folder clearly – say, ‘Car’ – then create sub folders within it such as ‘insurance’, ‘tax’, ‘maintenance’ and so on,” advises Siân. You might also want to make use of online storage services, such as Google Drive or iCloud, which can be easily accessed should your computer or device be damaged or stolen.
Keep or bin? Older emails and documentation can be moved into a folder labelled ‘Archive’: again, make sub-folders for each subject within it. If you no longer use a particular service or company – and having a record of correspondence is not in any way necessary – get rid. Remember to empty the ‘bin’ though! “If you download bank statements and so on, keep them organised in an archive ‘Accounts’ folder, but tidy up every year,” advises Siân. “I only keep personal bank statements going back a year – though anything businessrelated is kept for six years as a record.”
Copy that. If you’ve gone digital on all household bills, create PDFs of a few recent ones as you may be required to show proof of address when registering for a new account or service.
Stay safe. Do not keep a record of passwords and personal information on your computer or device, and if and when you change it, always make sure the hard drive is wiped so that all data is deleted.
Smart moves
Stay organised. Going forward, find a way that works for you. “That could just be a quick sift through every day, or diarising a regular ‘slot’ each week to go through latest admin – it won’t take long if you do it frequently,” says Sian. “If you have a dedicated ‘sorting session’, choose a time when you won’t be interrupted and set a timer – it focuses the mind!”
Streamline tasks. Consider what could be a direct debit or standing order to free up admin and time. Also, create a calendar of reminders for annual payments, renewals and so on. “Having all this information in one place makes it so much easier to refer to as and when you need to,” explains Sian.
Think ahead. One day someone else is likely to need access to all your documentation, so ensure your system is as organised as possible. You may want to share passwords (securely) with trusted friends or family, or let them know where they can find them.
WHAT SHOULD YOU KEEP?
Birth/adoption/death certificates
Marriage/civil partnership certificates
Divorce certificates
Powers of attorney
Wills
Mortgage policy/statements
House deeds
Rental agreements
Car V5C logbook
Insurance policies
Pension information
Medical records
Passports
National Insurance numbers.
Smart ideas
Good buys, tips and inspiration.
Garden plans
Dahlia dreaming. This old-fashioned perennial has had a revival in recent years. Now is the perfect time to choose a few new varieties so you’re ready to plant out tubers once the weather improves. Specialist grower and supplier Andie McDowell of Dahlia Beach (see Flower Power, below) introduces stunning new varieties every year. Here, she shares her favourites: Bumble Rumble is a bee and butterfly magnet! Dark pink outer petals contrast beautifully with the white frill on the inner petals, leading to a soft yellow centre. It’s brilliant for pots or containers as it doesn’t grow too tall.
Polka features vibrant yellow centres and lemon-coloured petals that are gently curled and rimmed with dark pink. As the flower matures, the centre becomes more like a fluffy pin cushion.
Rancho is a big and blousy beauty, similar to a peony. The more flowers you pick, the more Rancho produces.
Pinkie Swear is an eccentric, pink pinstripe variety. If you look closely, the edge of the petals glow golden! It’s a huge producer of flowers and lasts well in a vase. Hapet Harmony features an orange,
russet and white tip combination - a real talking point. It’s a small decorative so it’s highly versatile in an arrangement too.
Flower power
1. Order dazzling varieties to grow yourself - or arrange to come and pick your own blooms - at Dahlia Beach, Oxfordshire (dahliabeach.co.uk)
2. Three of the best historic dahlia gardens: Great Dixter, East Sussex. (greatdixter.co.uk); Dyffryn
Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
(nationaltrust.org.uk);
Valley Gardens, Harrogate
(friendsofvalleygardens.co.uk)
- To discover more about dahlias and their fascinating history, go to the National Dahlia Society (dahlia-nds.co.uk)
Blooming advice
Here are grower Andie McDowell’s top tips.
1. Plant at the right time. Wait until the soil has warmed to at least 60°F (16°C) and all danger of frost has passed. Plant tubers 10cm deep, with the ‘eye’ or sprouting side facing up. Space 20-30cm apart for smaller varieties, and 30-40cm for larger.
2. Choose the right location. Dahlias thrive in full sun, so select a location that gets six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. They prefer well-drained, fertile soil. If your soil retains too much water, consider planting in raised beds, or amending with compost and sand.
3. Provide proper suppor. Tall dahlia varieties and those with large blooms may need staking. Insert stakes or cages when planting to avoid disturbing the tubers later.
4. Water and fertilise with care. Water sparingly until shoots emerge. Once established, water deeply two to three times per week, depending on your climate. Feed with a low-nitrogen fertiliser every three to four weeks to promote blooms instead of foliage.
5. Deadhead and prune regularly. Remove spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. Pinch off the centre shoot when the plant is about a foot tall to promote bushier growth and more blooms.
- Let us know your garden plans for the coming year. We’d love to share your tips, ideas and more with other green-fingered members. Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . uk. Head your email: GARDENING
Recipes
Full of beans
These delicious hearty recipes are perfect on cold wintry days. Make double the amount you need and freeze half for another time.
The recipe I return to.
Butterbean and sausage soup.
Serves 4.
Eileen Outram, a new member of Tunbridge Wells u3a, says heart-warming soups were regularly on the menu during her Scottish childhood. “Soups were something my mother enjoyed making for us, and I’ve carried on the tradition with my own family. This one is a particular favourite – it’s like a comforting mini meal.”
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
4 pork sausages, or 6 chipolatas
(regular or gluten free)
1 medium onion, chopped
300g chopped swede
300g carrots, sliced
300g parsnips, chopped
500g of butternut squash, peeled
and chopped
3 stalks of celery, chopped
3 small bay leaves
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
2 vegetable stock cubes
Salt and black pepper to taste
400g can of butterbeans (drained)
Parsley to garnish/
Method
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan or casserole, brown the sausages on medium heat for 5 minutes then set aside. Cook the onion for 3 minutes, then add all the other vegetables and lightly brown.
2. Add the bay leaves, mixed herbs, stock cubes, seasoning and enough water to cover the vegetables. Continue to cook until the vegetables are to your liking.
3. Return the sausages to the pan, add the butterbeans and heat until piping hot. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
Another one to try...
Cookery writer Beverley Jarvis from Ashford & Wye u3a tempts with a simple stew that combines sunshine flavours with homely root vegetables, beans and pulses.
Mediterranean bean and veggie stew
Serves 6
This filling Mediterranean-inspired stew is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians, though carnivores might like to fry off about 225g sliced chorizo and stir into the stew just before serving. Alternatively, top with some crumbled feta cheese. Serve with rice, couscous or just good bread to mop up the delicious juices.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large red onion, chopped
1 large red or yellow pepper, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 courgettes, sliced
1 medium carrot, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 red chilli, chopped
1 tsp dried basil
400g pack fresh cauliflower and broccoli florets
1 rosemary sprig
400g can chopped tomatoes, in juice
3 tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp runny honey
450ml vegetable stock
100ml red wine (or use water)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g can chickpeas, drained
400g can red kidney beans, drained
400g can butterbeans, drained
Fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley
Method
1. In a large pot, heat the oil on the hob.
2. Add the onion, pepper, celery, courgette and carrot. Stirring frequently, cook over a medium heat for 10- 12 minutes, until vegetables soften and start to turn golden.
3. Add the garlic, paprika, chopped chilli and dried basil. Continue to cook gently for a further minute or two, until aromatic.
4. Add the cauliflower and broccoli florets, rosemary sprig, canned tomatoes with their juice, tomato puree, honey, vegetable stock, red wine (or water) and a light seasoning of salt and pepper.
5. Add the drained chickpeas, red kidney beans and butterbeans.
6. Bring to boil, stirring, then lower the heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove rosemary sprig. Top with fresh basil or chopped parsley.
Bean there...
Three simple ideas.
1. In a classic cottage or shepherd’s pie, substitute half the mince for creamy cannellini beans instead: this not only adds another dimension of flavour, but is much healthier too.
2. A chunky white bean mash makes a great side for Mediterranean-style meals: in a medium-size saucepan heat 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil, add two crushed cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of chopped thyme or rosemary and the zest of a lemon. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Add the beans and smash gently using a wooden spoon. Stir and warm through thoroughly, season and serve with an extra drizzle of olive oil on top.
3. Combine a drained tin of mixed beans with two tins of cherry tomatoes, and cook gently on the hob for 10 minutes in an ovenproof frying pan. Sprinkle in a teaspoon of harissa or paprika if you want an extra hit of flavour, then add 200g of spinach and wilt for about five minutes. Heat the grill to medium, make four indentations in the mixture using a spoon and crack an egg into each one. Grill for about five minutes until whites are set. Serve with crusty bread.
STORIES TO SHARE
u3a members share their poignant, inspiring and illuminating memories and experiences.
Merseybeat memories
Call of The Cavern Club
For David Thomas of Upholland u3a, growing up in the 1960s meant trips to the Liverpool club made famous by pop star icons.
As a teenager growing up on Merseyside during the Merseybeat ‘explosion’, it felt like Liverpool was the centre of the earth. The Cavern Club in the city started off as a jazz club and my first visit in 1962 was quite an adventure for a 15-year old lad. My girlfriend at the time, Jenny, took me during the school half term. We travelled by ferry to Liverpool and then walked up to Mathew Street, where The Cavern Club was situated. I remember seeing letters from fans stuffed behind the handrail on the way in: later, I discovered that The Beatles had just returned from Germany, and this was how their fans got letters to them. We walked down several steps into the club and paid our one shilling for the lunchtime session entrance. Jenny said she was going to the band room to speak to the group appearing and asked if I wanted to join her. I declined as I was more interested in paying my first year’s membership of one pound. The group Jenny had gone to speak to came on the tiny stage around noon. They were called The Beatles. Of course, later I would realise I had missed the chance of a lifetime. I was so taken with the place, I visited again with my friend Chris Kearney two lunchtimes later. As we walked down the entrance steps, we heard Gerry and The Pacemakers playing for the first time. On one occasion I saw Cilla Black sing there. My favourite group from that time – The Big Three – were playing and the lead guitarist broke a string. While he fitted a new one, the drummer, Johnny Hutchinson, asked if Cilla would join them. She sang the Peggy Lee song Fever, backed by just drums and bass. I can claim that I ‘appeared’ on The Cavern Club stage twice, although I regret both occasions. The first was when a group I had once played for asked me to join them on bass for their first appearance at The Cavern Club. To my eternal regret I’d had a few too many drinks in The Grapes on Mathew Street before we went on to steady my nerves. The second time was in 1964 when Billy Butler, one of the DJs, asked me to take some photographs of the famous American singers Inez and Charlie Foxx. I thought I would be clever and use a Polaroid instant camera. During their performance I quickly fired off several pictures, only to find to my horror that none of them had turned out. The camera had malfunctioned due to the club’s extreme humidity. Red-faced, I quickly made my exit. In February 1966, Ray McFall, the owner of The Cavern Club and an accountant by trade, was declared bankrupt. He had spent the whole of that day trying to save the club, without success. By chance, I was in The Grapes that night and saw him arrive, dejected. Later in the evening, after he had drowned his sorrows, I remember him reciting: “It’s been A Hard Day’s Night.” It certainly had been for him. In the following years, The Cavern Club did open again under new ownership. The current site of the club is just a few hundred yards up the road from where the original venue stood, and is a marvellous reproduction.
What a tale
A boy’s own adventure
John Whitton of Horsham u3a shares a story that’s so extraordinary, even he began to wonder if his recollections were true!
Improbable though it may seem, at the tender age of 11 I went on a three-week commercial fishing trip on the steam trawler Kingston Agate from Hull to Bear Island in the Arctic Circle, some 1,500 miles away. To put it in perspective, 1946 was the year after the war ended and a mine-free channel had been created to the fishing grounds. I was to be under the care of our neighbour in Hull, Mr Doughty, who was the trawler’s skipper. He had always treated me like a son, and somehow he persuaded my parents to allow me to go. The ship had no radar and no telephone. The only communication was by radio, operated by one of the crew, and I remember the horror of standing in front of officials of the Kingston Steam Trawling Company to establish that I would have the fibre to survive three weeks without any contact with my parents. I recall the exhilaration of feeling the ship roll as she left the Humber for the North Sea, soon followed by it crashing into troughs between the waves with the spray drenching the bridge windows. I quickly became seriously seasick: Skipper Doughty made me eat Mars Bars by the score to overcome it. During rough weather, I was confined to the bridge, with my bunk in the Skipper’s cabin underneath. Eating in the galley with the crew was an unforgettable experience: the camaraderie, the banter, and particularly the wonder of being accepted into a man’s world. The galley table had raised partitions to prevent plates sliding off, and the substantial meals were supplemented with delicious pickles floating in a huge barrel of brine. The crew reached their sleeping quarters in the forecastle by hanging on to a rope across the pitching deck. The stoker and engineer worked below deck in oppressive heat; I loved going down to watch the steam-driven engine. The actual fishing was most memorable. The pear-shaped net, bulging with cod, was winched on to the deck partitioned into squares, each with a man gutting the fish. They were then thrown through a hatch to a man below deck who broke up solid ice blocks and mixed it with the fish. The cod liver was collected in a basket, which was later boiled by ‘Sparks’, the radio operator, into a smelly oil that was sold to the pharmaceutical industry for refining. On occasions while in the Arctic, the ship was enveloped in an eerie fog. The engines were then shut down and the ship would drift at the same speed as icebergs and the other motionless ships. Whales, icebergs and ice flows were a constant source of amazement. My only job was to keep the decks cool on the return journey by hosing them down with sea water as there was no refrigeration on the ship. Inevitably, the adventure came to an end. We returned to the fish dock where I received pocket money from every member of the crew as they were paid. Later, Skipper Doughty gave me a wonderful model yacht kit, which was assembled with my dad’s help. I must confess that in the years that followed, I gave up telling my story as it was obvious people thought it was unlikely an 11-year old would be allowed to go on such a journey. I even began to wonder if everything I remembered was just a figment of my imagination! Happily in 2018, after making contact with Dr Alec Gill MBE of Hull University, an expert in the history of Hull’s fishing industry, my recollections were verified as true and accurate. He even sent me a photograph of Kingston Agate. Now in my 90th year, I am writing my memoirs, which I hope will be of interest to future generations.
Treasured keepsakes
Love in a suitcase
For Virginia Aighton of Clitheroe u3a, so much was revealed when she began to read the contents of her father’s old valise.
A few years before his death in 2003, my father Jim Allen gave me a small brown suitcase, with his blessing to do with it as I wished. However, due to various circumstances it wasn’t until many years later – after I had lost both my parents – that I decided to properly investigate the case’s contents. And what a treasure chest I found! For inside that little case there were piles and piles of papers, all relating to the Second World War. Most importantly for me, they included nearly 300 love letters written by my father to my mother, Ella, after he had been called up to join the Irish Guards. At first I felt rather emotional, reading the words my father had written before I was born. However, I soon found myself looking forward to opening each new letter. Indeed, it became a kind of comfort for me – I could almost hear my father’s voice again as he described to my mother all the things that were going on around him. Furthermore, it gave me a fascinating insight into their lives during that time. It was like peering through a window into the past. In spite of becoming a sergeant in the Guards, I found out that underneath Dad’s supposedly tough exterior he could be incredibly romantic! And I admired him so much, as he faced up to the many dangers around him – often with his characteristic dry sense of humour. However, I also learnt he was both upset and extremely angry when he was refused leave to go to see Mum and their new baby daughter (my sister) because he was waiting ‘in readiness’ to join the battle for France in June 1944. The dad I knew always walked with a limp and used a calliper for support. He never fussed about it and seemingly “just got on with things”. But now I know how devastated he was at the time when he was blown up by a land mine – an injury that nearly caused him to lose his right leg. And I also discovered that, tragically, Dad lost some of his closest pals in battle. Reading his letters has helped me to fully appreciate the sacrifice he and many, many others made for us and our country. I am so proud of my father. I decided that it was very important to preserve these letters, so I sorted and labelled them, put them into chronological order and copied them onto the computer. To my surprise, eventually everything came together to make a wonderful, moving story. I published my father’s story as an e-book on Amazon, entitled About the Jam, Darling, in 2014. I have also given talks about him to local groups including my own u3a. I was so inspired by my father’s writing that I have since produced further books of my own, including a memoir of growing up in the 1950s and 60s. I hope that future generations in our family may, in turn, enjoy reading my own personal story about bygone times.
- Do you have a story to tell us about your life? Send it to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mark your email: STORIES TO SHARE
Your good health
Keep mind, body and soul strong, active and happy with the latest news, expert tips and members' inspiration.
Six ways to pack in more protein
Protein plays many important roles in our health, from maintaining muscle strength and helping to heal wounds to making new cells and repairing old. It also plays a key role in making hormones and enzymes, which carry out vital functions. When we digest protein from foods or drinks, they are broken down into amino acids – the building blocks of protein that the body needs. Increasing protein intake not only helps maintain muscle mass but also supports energy levels, metabolic health and bone strength as we age. Nichola Ludlam-Raine, dietitian and author of How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed, advises on how to get enough:
1. Start your day with an egg. Regularly swap out your bowl of breakfast cereal for eggs, which are high in complete protein. Eggs also provide essential nutrients including vitamin D, which supports bone health.
2. Put protein first. When you’re having a meal, eat the protein part of it before anything else. This helps with satiety and blood sugar management, and reduces post meal cravings. It also ensures you get the protein you need. Aim for a variety of sources such as meat, fish, lentils, eggs and dairy, including some plant-based options such as beans and pulses for added fibre and phytonutrients.
3. Try protein shakes or smoothies. They’re so easy to prepare and can be customised with fruit, greens such as spinach and ground nuts for a nutrient-dense option. Shakes are especially handy if you struggle with larger portions. Include milk (dairy or soya for more protein) or Greek yoghurt, or add a scoop of protein powder for an extra boost.
4. Boost your intake. Add protein-rich toppings and mix-ins, such as sprinkling chia seeds on porridge, adding chopped nuts to salads or stews – flaked or ground almonds work well – or using cottage cheese as a topping for chilli or baked potatoes. These small protein additions add up over the day.
5. Keep snacks on hand. Stock up on convenient, protein-rich snacks such as Greek yoghurt with berries, cheese cubes, boiled eggs on crackers, hummus with carrots or a handful of nuts. These are portable and provide a quick protein boost.
6. Be aware when you shop! Most shop-bought protein snacks are far from healthy: many protein bars, for instance, contain a high percentage of chocolate, and many are also high in saturated fat with added sugar and salt. They’re often
expensive, and many bars contain ingredients such as palm oil, which is high in saturated fat, and corn syrup, which has been linked to insulin resistance. The NHS warns against replacing meals with highly processed protein snacks.
How much is enough?
As we age, our ability to taste and smell may change, which can affect our appetite. We may also move less. A lower dietary intake of protein and less weight bearing exercise means some older people become frail and have an increased risk of falling. So, it’s vital to maintain protein intake. The amount you require will depend on your size, age and activity levels. The NHS recommends a daily protein intake of 50g – about the same as 1.5 chicken breasts. On average in the UK, males eat about 85g and females eat about 67g of protein per day. However, a January 2021 review looking at older adults found that 27% of those aged 65-74 years and 33% of those aged over 75 did not meet this amount of daily protein intake. Getting it right Top protein foods include plant-based proteins such as pulses, nuts and seeds; meat and fish (oily varieties also protect heart health); chicken, eggs and tofu; and dairy foods such as quark, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Vegetarian and vegan diets According to the NHS, most vegetarians usually have enough protein in their diet. It’s found in lots of foods, particularly eggs and dairy. Protein-rich foods also include pulses, soya, tofu, oats, wheat, quinoa and nuts and seeds. Vegetables such as asparagus, avocado, broccoli, sprouts and cauliflower can also offer a surprising amount of protein.
FEET FIRST
Your feet work harder for you than you might ever realise, so give them the attention they deserve.
Over a lifetime, our feet put up with a lot. “Several tonnes of pressure go through our feet every single day,” explains podiatrist Emma McConnachie, spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry (rcpod.org.uk). “The feet are like a piece of complex machinery, with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments, muscles and tendons in each foot, but all too often we take the feet for granted.”
Changes afoot.
Most of us don’t really appreciate why foot problems are more likely to occur as we get older, but along with general wear and tear, other age-related changes are also likely that typically affect the skin, connective tissues, joints, circulation and nails. A key issue is that as we age, tendons and ligaments lose strength and don’t ‘spring back’ so easily: this results in a falling arch, which in turn flattens and lengthens the foot. A consequence of this is that feet get bigger – meaning a larger shoe size might be necessary in later life. So rather than buying the same size you always have (and then wondering why new footwear is always so uncomfortable!), go up in size and see if it makes a difference.
Treat your feet
Regular self-care is a vital step to healthy feet. Keep toenails short and clean, and dry feet properly after bathing, especially between the toes; file dry skin or try an exfoliating scrub, and use a specialist foot cream daily. “Always examine your feet for changes including blisters, broken skin, cracks and signs of infection. If you have a pain or problem that hasn’t improved or resolved within two weeks, do see a podiatrist,” advises Emma. Get checked “A thorough examination by a podiatrist can also highlight medical risks such as diabetes, circulatory issues, and even heart conditions,” Emma says. “So if you notice any changes in the appearance of your feet – be it colour, temperature, swelling, shape or size – it could be a sign of something more serious. Similarly, don’t ignore persistent foot pain.” Finally, says Emma, don’t be shy! “People are often ashamed of their feet, but a podiatrist will never judge – we are here to help. Patients may think treatment will hurt, but usually at the end of an appointment, they’ll be so surprised, and say: ‘Is that all it took to sort out?!’”
- Check with your local NHS regarding a podiatrist service in your area. To find private HCPC-registered podiatrists near you, visit rcpod.org.uk/ find-a-podiatrist
FOOTNOTE
There is no difference between a ‘chiropodist’ and a ‘podiatrist’. The former name for the profession has traditionally been used in the UK , but nowadays the latter is more internationally recognised.
Be aware.
Safety steps.
As the production of collagen and cell turnover slows down, the fatty layer of cushioning on the soles of your feet becomes thinner and your tendons and ligaments become less elastic, which in turn affects the shape of your feet and how your body moves. Podiatrist Emma McConnachie suggests taking the following preventative measures:
1. Do strengthening exercises for feet. Your podiatrist will be able to suggest specific exercises to help you.
2. Wear the right footwear. Shoes or boots should have a good non-slip sole and hold your foot securely. Ill-fitting or backless slippers are a huge risk.
3. Be realistic. Don’t refuse to use a walking aid if you need one, simply because of ill-placed pride. If you are not 100% stable on your feet, you are likely to fall.
Health Notes
News and views from the world of wellbeing.
All ears.
To mark World Hearing Day on 3 March, Paul Harrison, audiology expert at Hearing Aid UK, explains why addressing hearing loss early is so important A s we age, our hearing often starts to decline. Th is is a natural process known as presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. It’s usually caused by the gradual degeneration of inner ear structures and neural pathways, which can result in reduced sound clarity and difficulties with distinguishing voices in noisy environments. Factors such as genetics, exposure to loud noises and health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure may also play a role in accelerating this. Despite being so common, hearing loss still carries an ugly stigma, often leading people to ignore their condition and delay seeking help. Many view it as a sign of growing old that they’d rather ignore, which can lead to social isolation and reduced quality of life. However, recognising the signs and taking proactive steps to get help can make a big difference in preserving both hearing and mental wellbeing. Free hearing tests are available on the NHS: your GP may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist). Alternatively, it may be quicker to make an appointment at a larger pharmacy or an optician that also offers tests – these may also be free. A hearing test is a simple and non-invasive way to assess how well you’re hearing, and identify any challenges. Audiologists can also provide guidance on the best options, including hearing aids, which have advanced significantly. Today’s designs are not only discreet, but may include features such as Bluetooth, connectivity and background noise reduction. Clever new AI features are also pushing the boundaries of hearing. Many providers offer local ongoing support with device fittings, maintenance and follow-up care to ensure individual needs are met
New research.
Diet and dementia.
While age and genetics remain the biggest risk factors, experts say almost half of cases of dementia could be prevented or delayed, and mounting evidence indicates that diet could play a role. New research led by Queen’s University Belfast suggests that increasing the intake of flavonoid-rich foods and drinks could help reduce the risk of dementia by more than a quarter. Flavonoids have a range of health benefits, and have also been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, and improved cognitive function. Lead researcher Professor Aedin Cassidy said: “The worldwide prevalence of dementia continues to increase rapidly. In this study, we analysed dietary data from over 120,000 adults aged between 40 and 70 years from the UK Biobank. “Our findings showed that consuming six additional servings of flavonoid-rich foods a day was associated with a 28% lower risk of dementia. The findings were most noticeable in individuals with a high genetic risk, as well as in those with symptoms of depression.”
Cold comfort.
Our feature about Raynaud’s disease in the Winter 2024 edition omitted to give the details of UK organisations that may offer support and solutions – apologies! Take a look at Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (sruk.co.uk) for detailed information. A wide range of products and clothing is also available at raynaudsdisease.com.
Experts on call
In our organisation, there are a wealth of national Subject Advisers who offer valuable expertise, knowledge and support to group leaders and members. We meet three to discover more.
Brush up your Shakespeare
Moyra Summers is a member o Mawdesley Villages u3a and Subject Adviser for Shakespeare.
When did you first become interested in Shakespeare?
It goes right back to junior school – my teacher did a lot of expressive movement and dance with us, and one day the lesson was on Macbeth. A group of us role-played as the witches, dancing around and reciting, “When shall we three meet again?” This really piqued my interest from a young age. My mother also had a great love of theatre, and I inherited her enthusiasm for it alongside literature and poetry. She took me to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare’s plays, and I was hooked for life.
What appeals to you about Shakespeare and the study of his plays?
Shakespeare introduced a lot of new words and phrases into our language, and his words still speak to us now. His writing is as relevant today as it was 400 years ago, because it addresses every facet of the human condition. So, his words are very thought-provoking. His plays address complex issues, questioning our assumptions. I have several favourites, including The Tempest, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Hamlet. I think the reason I like these plays so much in particular is because of their use of poetry and beautiful language – a good example of this would be Caliban’s speech in Act 3, Scene 2 of The Tempest.
How did you first become a group leader, and then the Subject Adviser for Shakespeare?
A few years ago, the group leader for Shakespeare in my u3a retired and I was asked to take over. Then he retired from being the Shakespeare Subject Adviser, and it was suggested that I apply for the role – so I did! This was at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, so the first play I studied with the group was online via Zoom. This worked very well, and we continued to have both online and face-to-face group meetings for quite some time after the worst of the pandemic was over.
What activities do you do with your group?
There are typically 20 people attending the groups in person. We study a play over a five-week block – we listen to an audio recording of the play while following the text and then discuss it. I also produce a PowerPoint presentation, and we look at film clips of good productions. We go to see plays a couple of times a year, usually in Stratford-upon-Avon. I think it’s really important for people to actually watch productions, not just read them, as you see the plays come to life. Our next trip is to see Hamlet.
What advice would you give to others in Shakespeare groups?
I’ve had quite a few people contacting me asking for advice – either those who are group leaders already, or those who want to start a Shakespeare group and wonder how to get it going. The main thing I try to do is help make Shakespeare accessible to people so they understand it and can enjoy it. It’s good to see how other groups operate. I was talking to another group leader recently who said her group are happy reading a play aloud in turn. In other groups they read the play at home and then discuss it together. No matter the approach taken, what’s important is that the group actively involves its members and can adapt to meet their needs. That way everybody can get the most enjoyment out of their study of the Bard!
Unearthing history
Roger Mintey is a member of Reigate and Redhill u3a and Subject Adviser for Metal Detecting.
What first sparked your interest in metal detecting?
When I was a small boy, our wealthy next-door neighbour owned four acres of land and employed a fulltime gardener who used to dig up old 18th-century copper coins. This first gave me an interest in digging up old finds. Much later, in my mid-30s, I would often go hillwalking in Surrey and the North Downs and see people sweeping with their metal detectors, so I decided to give it a go myself. In 1985 I went to a shop in Biggin Hill in south London and picked up a second-hand machine for £130. I spend the next four and a half years wandering around public land until I made my big find. The rest is history!
Tell us about that...
In 1990 I was part of a group that spent a few months detecting in a disused sports field that was about to be redeveloped for housing. We’d found a few bits and pieces, but nothing major. We had noticed a massive signal when we first started searching but assumed it to be a drain. In late September, not long before the
start of the building work, I was sweeping by myself and came across the huge signal again. This time I investigated, and what I found has since been named ‘The Reigate Hoard’ – a collection of 6,705 15th-century coins stacked vertically in two ceramic pots. I suspect the owner of the coins buried them before the start of the Wars of the Roses. I’ve found a couple of smaller hoards since then, but never anything close to the same scale.
How do you share your enthusiasm for the subject?
I joined the u3a in 2023 (my partner Heather and her brother were already members, and I initially went along with them to meetings as a guest). I was reading the magazine and noticed a call-out for a Subject Adviser for metal detecting, so I applied and was accepted. Since then, I have been available to help those wishing to take up metal detecting themselves. Recently I’ve been in contact with Sandra Whitnell and Mike Fox, the Subject Advisers for local history and military history respectively, with the idea that we collaborate across our subject areas – perhaps displaying finds and information we have uncovered. I’m keen for as many people as possible to discover what a fascinating subject it is!
What advice do you have for beginners?
I recommend that you start off with a second-hand metal detector from a reputable dealer, not the internet. You should be able to get a high-quality machine relatively cheaply. Before starting to search, you will need permission from the landowner. Be aware that ‘land’ includes everything from farmland and woodland to parks and public places. Be mindful that different laws regarding finds may apply depending on where you live in the UK, and it is important to check what these are before you begin metal detecting. For further information, visit the website of the National Council for Metal Detecting at ncmd.co.uk If you have any questions, do email me at
Learning the lingo
Pam Upton is a member of Charnwood u3a and Subject Adviser for English Language.
How did you first become interested in the English
Language and Linguistics?
I’m a former English teacher, though I have always preferred English language over literature. Later on, I began teaching one of the first A-level courses in English language studies, and it felt like coming home. After that I taught mostly 16+ students in a variety of English language and linguistics courses up to postgraduate level.
How did you become a Subject Adviser?
I joined Charnwood u3a in 2018 – I came across u3a totally by chance, as I was browsing the internet for local Spanish courses. From there, I found that there were a number of language groups, but nothing focused on the English language. I then started what I called the ETHEL (Exploring the English Language) group, which proved very popular. A couple of years ago, I noticed that there was no English Language Subject Adviser, so I applied and was approved. Given the popularity of ETHEL, I wondered whether there were any similar groups across the u3a. It has proved difficult to find them, but I did discover a few – with a variety of group titles – and we meet every couple of months on Zoom to share ideas. I’m keen to find out what other groups are already running across the u3a and to increase the membership of our network group on Zoom. If there are members of a u3a English Language and Linguistics group reading this that haven’t been in contact with me yet, please get in touch!
What topics do you discuss in your group?
We cover a pretty broad range of topics, such as dialects, accents and the names of people, places, shops and pubs. We’ve also had lots of fun with jokes, riddles and malapropisms. You can take a deeper look at the language of practically any field of interest – say, the language of advertising, literature, science, sport, food or politics. Other groups have taken a much broader approach to linguistics by looking at, for instance, the beginnings of language and what similarities there are among languages. You can even include how animals communicate, or children’s acquisition of language. When members look at language, they themselves are the experts as they have had lots of experience of communicating throughout their lives. With ETHEL I started by asking my members how their own language had changed over the years and how their language changes in various social situations. So you can start with the members as the resource, and take their interests and experiences as potential topics for discussion.
What support do you provide as a national Subject Adviser?
I’m always happy to help with questions and ideas for topics. I refer people to my page in the Subject Advice area of the u3a website, but I also tell them about what I’ve done with my own group. I now have a pretty long list of topics that we’ve tackled, which can give people ideas of how to get started. I’m also always happy to share resource material, and the internet is a vast fount of information about language and languages. If you are interested in English language and linguistics yourself, see if you can get together a group in your u3a and get started. And if you’d like to get in touch, please do at
Subject Advisers
Looking for inspiration for your interest group? Find information at u3a.org.uk/learning/subjects for full details.
Good times
Make the most of life – great places to visit, new things to try, what to watch, read and enjoy.
Special places
Love stories
Romance is in the air with this round-up of historic destinations.
True romance
Discover just some of the places where passions run high...
Devon. Lorna Doone Valley.
When RD Blackmore wrote his romantic adventure Lorna Doone, he could never have imagined the impact it would have on the part of Exmoor he set it in, which was to become known as ‘Lorna Doone Country’. The novel tells the story of how farmer John Ridd falls for beautiful Lorna, unaware she’s a member of the savage Doone clan and destined to marry the heir, who killed his father. RD Blackmore’s vivid description of the landscape of wooded hills, lush green valleys and babbling streams has brought visitors to the area, now owned by the National Trust, ever since the book was published in 1869. Popular stops are Lorna Doone Farm in the tiny hamlet of Malmsmead, with the 17th century packhorse bridge over Badgworthy Water; memorial plaques to RD Blackmore; Oare Church, deep in a valley, where Lorna is shot during her wedding; and the deserted medieval settlement at Badgworthy. nationaltrust.org.uk
Aberdeenshire. Balmoral Castle.
As royal romances go, the marriage between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was a true love match, despite having been engineered by relatives. Although she proposed, as was her prerogative, Albert was as equal a partner as it was possible, being married to a Queen. Their lives were intertwined at every level – they had their family life with nine children, and even worked together as they set their desks alongside each other. It was quite natural, therefore, that Prince Albert should take on the task of finding them a Highland home. He bought Balmoral for Victoria in 1852. She thought the house pretty but too small, and a new one was commissioned and built by 1856. Victoria took to Scottish life with gusto, decorating with tartans and attending the Highland games. When the castle was opened to the public for the first time last July, visitors found pretty much the same family home the couple had created. balmoralcastle.com.
Cheshire. Lyme Park.
It was one of those TV ‘wow’ moments when Colin Firth emerged in that wet shirt from the lake at ‘Pemberley’ in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The romance between the proud, rich, Mr Darcy and the prejudiced, poor Miss Elizabeth Bennett properly begins from that moment, and Lyme Park, which was used as the exterior setting for Pemberley, is fittingly grand. The home of the Legh family for 600 years, it’s the largest house in Cheshire, set within 1,400 acres of historic parkland. Among its treasures is the Sarum Missal, the first text of the Catholic Mass to be printed instead of hand written (and by William Caxton, no less, in 1487 ). It’s the only surviving book of its kind and, unusually, has been in the same family for over 500 years. b.link/NT-Lyme
Derbyshire. Haddon Hal.
Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is considered one of the greatest fictional love stories of all time. The romance between the plain, small, morally upright and passionate-natured governess and her cynical, embittered, dissolute employer is so popular that there have been over a dozen TV and film adaptations made. Haddon Hall, near Bakewell, has been the location for three of these – in 1996, 2006 and 2011 (the latter starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, and viewed by many as the best film version). Set in the River Wye valley, and owned by the same family for 900 years, Haddon Hall is the best-preserved medieval manor house in England. Astonishingly, the family left it unoccupied for 200 years, from the 1700s, preferring to live in another home. As a consequence, the Hall avoided the restoration fever of those times and remained the medieval and Tudor delight it is to this day. haddonhall.co.uk
Member's story
Vicki Harvey, chair of Bangor u3a, shares the romantic legend behind this mystical Welsh site.
Wales is a land of myth and folklore – and Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, is part of that history. St Dwynwen’s Day is celebrated on 25 January, and is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine’s Day. She was born in Brecon as one of the 24 daughters of fifth-century King Brychan Brycheiniog. There are various stories about her, the main one being that she wanted to marry a prince called Maelon, but her father chose someone else. Distraught, she prayed that she’d fall out of love with Maelon, who was turned to ice. Later, God granted Dwynwen three wishes – that Maelon be freed; that God would look after all lovers; and that she’d remain single. She retreated to Llanddwyn Island, near Newborough, on the south-west coast of Anglesey – I can almost see it from my house. It’s a tidal island, so you can walk there when the tide is out. My late husband Andrew and I used to visit several times a year. It’s a magical place. Dwynwen built a church – Llanddwyn means Church of Dwynwen – and the ruins that remain are where people feel her most strongly. She died in 465AD, hugely venerated. During the Middle Ages it became an important pilgrimage site, and today Dwynwen is still celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church. While not all Welsh people celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day, a straw poll at our recent u3a meeting showed that almost everyone knew about her.
- For further details, go to: angleseyisle.co.uk/llanddwyn-island.
More to explore...
Love is all around.
1. Georgette Heyer was the queen of Regency romance. In two of her novels, Bath Tangle and Black Sheep, she writes of heartfelt goings-on in the city of Bath - home o the Georgian Assembly Rooms - and of characters ‘taking the waters’ at the Pump Room. visitbath.co.uk
2. Hever Castle, in Kent, has the distinction of being the home of two of Henry VIII’s ‘loves’: the family residence of his second wife Anne Boleyn, and the ‘retirement’ home o his fourth wife Anne of Cleves, who lived there after their six-month marriage was annulled. hevercastle.co.uk
3.The great Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell’s 1851 book North and South is one of her most renowned: it tells the story of a mill owner in love with a vicar’s daughter, and many will recall the 2004 BBC adaptation starring Richard Armitage. The author was a Manchester resident for many years, and her last home there is now a museum. elizabethgaskellhouse. co.uk
4. The poet John Keats met his secret fiancée and muse Fanny Brawne at this villa in Hampstead where he lodged for two years. Suffering with tuberculosis, he moved to the warmer climes of Italy, so much of their courtship was conducted by letter. Sadly he was to die abroad in 1821 before he could return home to her and they could marry. b.link/ CoL-KeatsHouse
what’s on
Take a quick look at what to watch, visit and listen to now...
Film and TV critic Mark Adams of Chichester u3a recommends the following.
Big screen action
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Renée Zellweger returns as Bridget, but sadly she is alone once again. We discover she was widowed four years ago and, now a single mother to nine-year-old Billy and four-year-old Mabel, she is stuck in a state of emotional limbo. Cue possible romance in the form of a dreamy younger man (One Day’s Leo Woodall) and her son’s science teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Not least, her former love interest, the dastardly Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), is still around… RELEASED ON 13 FEBRUARY
ARMCHAIR CINEMA.
Winchester '73. A beautiful new 4K digital restoration of Anthony Mann’s brilliant 1950 noir western, starring James Stewart as an avenging sharpshooter whose stolen Winchester rifl e becomes a harbinger of death as it is passes from one doomed hand to the next. Lovely Criterion restoration packed with special features. CRITERION BLU-RAY (AND UHD)
STREAMING NOW.
Prime Target. Brilliant young math postgraduate Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall, see Bridget Jones, left) is on the verge of a major breakthrough that could see him holding the key to every computer in the world. NSA agent Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell) is assigned to watch him, but soon the pair realise they are involved in a deadly conspiracy. PREMIERED ON APPLE+ LATE JANUARY, EIGHT EPISODES.
High Potential: Season 1. A delightful high-concept crime drama series, starring Kaitlin Olson (from the series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as a single mother with an IQ of 160 who works as a cleaner at the LA Police Department. After figuring out a case for them, she becomes a consultant by bringing her significant brainpower into play. Sounds silly, but offers great entertainment. PREMIERED ON DISNEY+ LATE JANUARY
Worth a listen
The Rest Is Entertainment. This lively podcast pulls back the curtain on television, movies, journalism and more. It’s hosted by Richard Osman (TV producer, host and now best-selling author), and Guardian journalist Marina Hyde, who use their years of knowledge, contact books and wit to cleverly and amusingly examine what’s hot and what’s not in the world of entertainment. ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AMAZON AND OTHER PLATFORMS.
Art in focus !
Maghull and Lydiate u3a’s Art Appreciation Group are off to Bristol this March. Member Maureen Birchall shares more: “Like Merseyside, Bristol is an eclectic port city with a vibrant, diverse culture. We’ll explore Banksy’s Bristol, contemporary art at the Arnolfini gallery and historic collections in the beautiful Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. We’re particularly excited to visit the SS Great Britain: it’s not art per say, but our group mantra is that art is everywhere - like a river with so many tributaries and a different destination at the end of each. You just need an open mind!”
- What exhibitions, shows or other cultural events are you and your u3a planning to visit this year? Let us know!
BOOKS
My Life In Books.
Sue Beardon of Lancaster & Morecambe u3a shares her best reads.
Best childhood book:
It has to be Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I read and re-read this book in my early years and still remember much of it today. It’s very funny, full of logical and linguistic puzzles, and gives a wonderful portrait of an intelligent, curious child. And it’s full of fabulous creatures too.
Favourite book of all time:
I'm going to recommend Aminatta Forna’s The Hired Man. It’s a subtle and beautifully constructed evocation of the aftermath of civil war. Set in Croatia, the fractured relationships in place following the war emerge, while an English family employ a local man to uncover a hidden mosaic on their newly acquired holiday home.
Currently Reading:
And the Roots of Rhythm Remain by Jo Boyd, who has had a long career in world music production It's a fascinating look at global music, and a well-researched delve into the history, conflicts and cultures of the countries it comes from. The title comes from a line in a Paul Simon song on his Graceland album, made with South African musicians. A must for music lovers and those interested in world cultures.
- Tell us about your best childhood book, favourite book and current read. Send an email headed BOOKS to:
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MAILBOX
We love to hear from you, so please email your letters, including your name and u3a, with ‘Mailbox’ in the subject line to
Singing for pleasure
There are many community groups that provide opportunities for singing in a choir. However, many u3a members are not particularly good at singing, cannot read music or do not want to perform in front of an audience. They just want a good sing-song, mistakes and all, to lift their spirits. This is why, in Caterham and District u3a, we set up our Glee: Singing for Pleasure group. We pride ourselves on our ethos: no auditions, no concerts - and you don’t even have to be a good singer! We aim to cater for the musical tastes of as wide an audience as possible. There is something for everyone, and we have a very good time. Initially, we put all the song lyrics in binders, but we ended up with over 256 songs in each one, which made them very heavy! I decided to create small A5 booklets of lyrics with one song per page, and in a larger typeface. This proved quite the task (I have typed out over 220 songs so far!), but very much welcomed by group members. We sing everything from Frank Sinatra to ABBA and The Beatles, along with great show tunes - and we always finish with our theme tune ‘Young at Heart’. Numbers attending have grown considerably this last year – so we must be doing something right!
Alan Brinded, Caterham and District u3a.
SPREADING THE WORD
Our new CEO Iain Cassidy’s column in the Winter 2024 edition of u3a Matters prompted many of you to get in touch. Here are just a couple of letters...
AFTER READING THIS VERY POSITIVE ARTICLE in the magazine, I took a photo of it and sent it to my son in Sydney. Andrew is 59 and has been in the same job in human resources for around 15 years. His company was recently taken over - yet again - and he has been given the choice of reapplying for his job or being made redundant. After much thought, he has decided to take the second option, and reassess his life. His reaction to Iain’s article was: “I like that, it’s so positive.” It was so good to read - for both Andrew and me.
Marion Benzie, Redbourn u3a.
I’VE JUST READ IAIN’S ARTICLE about what he hopes to do to raise the profile of the u3a. I’m a great believer in the movement, and am a member of two – Elmbridge, where I lived until recently, and now Merton as I’ve moved back to Wimbledon. When I tell others how I occupy my time in retirement, I am surprised that some people have no knowledge of the u3a. This extends to younger people who, while they would not yet be ready to join, could tell parents, grandparents, extended family and neighbours if they knew about it. I wonder if promoting the u3a in places where younger people might look should be considered?
Lynn Coward, Elmbridge and Merton u3as.
Driven to despair
I’m 75, and recently needed to renew my driving licence. I filled in the online forms and submitted the application, only for it to come back with a message that they were rejecting it because they couldn’t verify my identity with the Passport Office. By using the online chat with a helpful lady, I discovered that the DVLA was unable to verify my signature. Why? Because I have a new-style passport that must be signed on receipt, and not during the application process . I was advised I would need to apply by post. So before you try to renew your driving licence online, prepare yourself for the hassle and expense if you have a sign-on-receipt passport. You’ll need the printed photo, and you’ll have to pay the outrageous cost of a stamp.
Rob Boler, Northampton u3a.
Creative collaging
I read with interest the article in the Winter 2024 edition of u3a Matters entitled ‘Artistic endeavour’. I belong to Syston & District u3a and recently helped to set up a second painting and drawing group. We had a large stash of old magazines that had been donated and we used them to try out a collage. It was suggested we could be a bit experimental and not try for realism, but be a little surrealist instead. We eventually decided to make a picture based on a vase of flowers. Each member was asked to create a collage of either a flower or leaves, and one member did the jug. We now have the collaborative artwork on display at the Syston community centre where our group meets.
Helen Disley, Syston & District u3a
Putting the cat..?
Has anyone heard the expression ‘to put the cat in the oven’ as a way of wishing good luck, or averting mishap? I have known this from my childhood in the 1940s but have never heard it used outside the family. I can’t work out what the implication is of putting the cat in the oven – any ideas?
Carol Ouvry, Bristol u3a.
We are sailing!
Each year, u3a members from all over the UK sail together for 10 days in the Mediterranean. Last spring, 30 people on five yachts sailed out of Athens to explore various beautiful Greek islands, the vivid blue waters and stunning anchorages. We enjoyed some amazing sailing and landscapes as well as evenings dining in some great locations. At the end of a day’s sailing, we would often get together for refreshment. We are looking for newcomers to join us on future trips. We sail bareboat chartered yachts where we skipper and crew the yachts ourselves, sharing expenses equally. You need to be in good health and fairly fit as you will help with all tasks on board, such as sail trimming, helming and navigation. This is a chance to experience sailing, develop skills, make new friends or renew old sailing acquaintances. Each boat has an experienced skipper and first mate on board to ensure a safe time and help crew learn about sailing. Anyone interested should contact me or Sue Gibson (Monks Brook u3a) at
Tim Steele, Croydon u3a.
Valuable support
Caring for the carers. t was with interest that I read
‘Rights for carers’ in u3a Matters Winter 2024. Rights, benefits and the need for support are important, but carers’ physical health, and their mental and emotional wellbeing, are just as vital. In my previous professional capacity, support often only included telephone calls or carers’ groups, and I never felt these were enough. Loneliness can be a real issue for carers, and u3as could offer a valuable service here. At Silhill u3a, I act as a liaison officer for the committee and regularly phone members who are ill, or unable to attend meetings, and send emails or cards. This could be a useful role in any u3a. If it’s possible, getting out to a monthly talk can be invigorating and sociable, and it provides mental stimulus too. Local interest groups often meet in homes, so for some carers that could be a welcome opportunity for company, even if only for a short time. Regarding the physical needs of carers, some u3as offer walking groups, keep fit, dancing and so on, all of which could provide social and physical activity. I know getting out can be difficult when one has caring responsibilities, which is where information about carers rights can help as it may signpost to respite or sitting services (go to carersuk.org) Emotionally, carers have a tough time, often facing loneliness, stressful situations, isolation from family and friends, but they often feel they have no choice. I’ve never found the ‘You have to get on with it’ a helpful or empathetic instruction. Other emotions can be so hard to manage, such as frustration, anger, helplessness and fear. Most of us are very happy to care for our loved ones, but it is hard to admit when the burden becomes intolerable. I think this taboo of silence should be broken, and many members in similar circumstances may be exactly the right people to offer compassion.
Wendy Westley, Silhill u3a .
- Does your u3a provide similar support to the many carers in our community - or perhaps plan to do so?. Please email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Head your email: CARERS
Your annual recollections
Helen Griffith’s account of her late father waiting for the Pip & Squeak Annual to be
delivered by Santa in our Winter 2024 issue led to a wealth of reminiscing about favourite childhood annuals...
LIKE HELEN GRIFFITH’S FATHER, my younger sister and I loved Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. We grew up in the 1950s but were lucky enough to have an annual dating from 1931. It had belonged to our mother’s younger brother. Our uncle had three sons who were younger than my sister and myself. Our mother thought that the boys would enjoy our uncle’s childhood book, as we had done, so she returned it to him. When we visited soon afterwards, we were disappointed to find that he had donated it to a jumble sale. Our mother, my sister and I wished that she had kept it, as we missed it. This was in the 1960s, long before it was possible to buy books online. I may now follow Helen’s example, and try to purchase a copy of our much-loved 1931 Pip, Squeak & Wilfred Annual, through the internet.
Maxine Elvey, Palmers Green & Southgate u3a
SOME OF MY HAPPIEST and most exciting memories are of devouring the mountain of comic book annuals I’d requested from the big red man and his trusty elves. Titles such as Tiger, Lion, Valiant, TV21, Whizzer & Chips, Cor! and Scorcher dominated, alongside Beano, Dandy, Beezer and Topper. Amazing stories and incredible artwork made my childhood imagination buzz, and even to this day, having a few still stashed away in the loft, I can truly appreciate what an art form they all represent. I loved them – great times!
Chris Girling, Evesham u3a.
THIS BUBBLE & SQUEEK ANNUAL was my brother’s Christmas present from our parents in the 1950s.
Frances Davis, Leigh Estuary u3a.
I SAVED UP MY POCKET MONEY for most of the year to buy the Picture ShowAnnual, and still have four of them, with post-war stars like Anna Neagle on the cover. Going to ‘the pictures’ was very affordable in the 1950s, and only extremely ancient films turned up on the television then.
Adele Winston, Barnet u3a
MINE ISN’T AN ANNUAL butone of my favourite childhood books, The Big Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook. I used to borrow these from the library when l was seven. I am now 79. I told my daughter about this a few years’ ago and that Christmas she gave me one of the Milly-Molly-Mandy books that l so loved as a child. I was absolutely delighted with my present. In fact, I would admit to being a bit tearful. Happy memories.
Mary Owens, Llandudno u3a.
EVERY CHRISTMAS I WOULD RECEIVE
the Bunty Annual and after Christmas lunch my sister and I were told to go and have a lie down so we could stay up late in the evening. My sister hated this but I loved it. I would take my new annual to bed and immerse myself in the stories of boarding schools, horses and ballet. It was rare to have a new book and the library was my only real source of reading matter, so a new annual at Christmas was very special.
Ingrid Fox, Pershore & District u3a.
I HAD THE GIRL ANNUAL every year and still have most of them. I remember one year my mum couldn’t get it so I got the Girls’ Crystal instead. I was quite upset.
Sheila Bates, Locks Heath u3a.
ANNUALS WOULD START TO APPEAR on the shelves of WH Smith in early autumn, but it was always hard to choose which one I wanted for Christmas. In the end I usually asked my parents for the Eagle Annual (9/6d) because of intrepid Dan Dare, the pilot of the future, and his suitably scary arch-enemy, the green-skinned Mekon. Early on Christmas morning, while everyone else in the house was still asleep, I burrowed into my stocking, ignoring the pencil case, pair of gloves and tangerines, until I found the annual.
Jerard Bretts, Milton Keynes u3a.
A problem shared
In our Winter issue, widower Ronnie explained he had fallen for a lady in his u3a. They’re good friends, and planning a holiday together, but he hasn’t told her his true feelings, and is worried about creating an awkward situation. Here is your advice...
I AM SO PLEASED YOU FIND yourself in love again! Could you ask your lovely friends in u3a for a little help? Someone who knows you both might be able to ask this lady how she feels. That would save you embarrassment and not put your friendship in jeopardy. If she is considering going on a holiday with you, it is likely she feels the same way. Don’t delay: life is short and you could have some very happy years ahead of you.
Rev Marty Presdee, Sully u3a.
IT WAS LOVELY TO READ RONNIE’S LETTER and learn that he has been surrounded by the warmth and friendship of his local branch after the sad loss of his wife. I think another wonderful relationship might well be developing, moving on from a sound friendship to a more meaningful level. But I think he should take things steadily, suggest further chats about that holiday, and take pleasure in the potential future together. Perhaps the lady concerned doesn’t have the confidence to show her own feelings, but if they are there, they will develop spontaneously.
Phil Proud, Leicester u3a.
COOL IT RONNIE, DON’T BLOW IT! Your adult sons may approve, but they are of a faster generation. Your lady may be unsure for a number of reasons – or maybe she’s not ready for a new partner. You might also have to accept that she doesn’t want a ‘proper’ relationship. Take that holiday together: she’ll probably feel more comfortable in separate rooms, but you will be closer for longer and the situation may become clearer for both of you. Don’t frighten her off by showing your cards too soon.
Annabel Campbell, Quantock u3a.
I CAN RELATE TO RONNIE’S PROBLEM. As a widow, I found u3a very supportive and a real lifeline, particularly as I’d moved 200 miles away. I became good friends with a lovely man and for a couple of years we were just that. We’d chat on the phone in between meetings and then he suggested a holiday together. That moved the relationship on and we became a very happy couple for three years before he sadly died. My advice to Ronnie would be to move gently – maybe invite the lady out for a meal – but to remember that life is for living!
Anonymous.
IT’S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE reached the stage when you can fall for someone else. From what you say this is just a ‘friends’ relationship, and I think you should proceed with caution, even though this lady is willing to go on holiday with you. I wonder when she was widowed and what stage she has reached in her own journey? She may not be at the same point as you. Maybe go on holiday on a purely platonic basis and see how – or if – things develop?
Lorraine Harding, Cookridge and Horsforth u3a
RONNIE SHOULD GO FOR IT. They are already thinking of going on a short holiday together. He should get some brochures and start that way. Then they will know if they want to continue into a proper couple. If not, they can still remain friends. They are not teenagers, so it shouldn’t stop them from continuing at the u3a. The lady is shy, so is probably waiting for him to take the lead.
Helen Warren, Dunmow u3a.
- Have you found love through the u3a? Do let us know if so! Head your email LATER LOVE and email
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Another dilemma
My husband John and I joined our u3a a couple of years ago. He has enthusiastically thrown himself into all manner of activities, but the trouble is he’s not very good at any of them and – particularly where skill and talent is required as part of a team effort (e.g. the ‘serious’ singing group) – it’s very clear he is tolerated, but not wanted. He also organises and hosts various quizzes, which invariably end up as a confusing muddle, and social events are a nightmare. At the last u3a get-together, he insisted on an impromptu singalong, although nobody really joined in. Later at the bar, several people were jokily impersonating him, and although he laughed with everyone else, I know he was quite hurt as he means well and tries so hard to fit in. I’m dreading what he’ll sign up for next... How can I manage this without upsetting him?
Stella (Names have been changed.)
- How would you advise Stella? Send your thoughts to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject ADVICE: A PROBLEM SHARED. If you have a dilemma you’d like help with, head your email DILEMMA and send this toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (alternatively, send a letter to the u3a office). All letters are anonymous.
Members pinboard
What have you been up to? Got an event to celebrate, news to share, or something to commemorate in your u3a world? We want to know about it!
Shining out in Northern Ireland
Upper Bann u3a recently took part in a Country Comes to Town event, aiming to raise awareness of the organisation Locals made a beeline for the eye-catching stand with its bright blue and yellow balloons and u3a bunting. Lots of fun had been organised, from the lure of a photo booth to raffle prizes including a beautiful knitted doll, and games such as ‘guess the number of sweets in the jar’ and ‘guess the weight of the basket of fruit’. Well done to all the enthusiastic members who volunteered to make it such a success.
Musical recruitment
Rugby u3a’s October meeting was very special, thanks to a mesmerising musical performance given by Midlands premier vocal ensemble, Opera Emporio. The event, designed to attract new members, attracted over 100 people including Rugby Mayor, Simon Ward, as guest of honour. All were delighted by the programme of pieces from the world of operas and shows.
Labour of love
The craft group at Syston & District u3a spent 10 months in 2024 knitting and crocheting poppies. With some help from family and friends, these created a display at the war memorial in Syston, Leicestershire, for Remembrance Day. “Other places have their poppy displays to honour those who have given their lives in combat, so we felt that it was time we had one too,” says Pat Glover, who heads up the group.
What a milestone!
Rotherham u3a celebrated its 30th anniversary in December by hosting a Christmas lunch at the local golf club. The cake was cut by founding members June Robinson and Penny Ralph, and professional singer Ajay Jackson provided music for an afternoon dance. The group has grown from its initial 60 members to almost 500, and now runs 38 different activities as well as special events. Here’s to the next 30 years!
Roman roaming
Swansea u3a’s Latin class took a break from classical literature to discover more about the area’s Roman history. The first port of call was Caerwent, a Roman town in South Wales that boasts some of the best preserved remains in Europe. After a stroll around the town and a lunch, the group headed off to nearby Caerleon, where they visited the museum, Roman baths and amphitheatre. “The many inscriptions on the stones tested our Latin knowledge, but the assistance of our amazing teacher, Janet Thomas, and the expert guide at the museum were invaluable,” says member Carol Green.
- Send brief details of your memorable event – and a good clear photograph – to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Mark your email: PINBOARD.
Brain games
Crossword
Adrian Brown, a member of Romsey Archway u3a, provides this
edition’s crossword .
Across
7. Meaker, revised version of old film (6)
8. Brothers with degree back to captivate (6)
9. Succulent sounds like a cheery greeting (4)
10. Mixing water, Mayan endlessly becoming a hooligan (8)
11. Body of water near Iowa forms group of countries (7)
13. Lukewarm debate, pidgin used (5)
15. Small moustache is a secret hiding place (5)
17. Genie joins United Nations to order the real thing (7)
20. Appetiser around a firepit (8)
21. Part of London, somewhere only half occupied, initially speaking (4)
23. Note, less high, makes air move (6)
24. Performance contains marketing on the dark side (6)
Down
1. Left line between ancient sites, raised a cry (4)
2. Angela sorts the mineral (6)
3. Painter about to be related (7)
4. NASCAR attribute includes weight (5)
5. Superheroes’ capes provide a way out of trouble (6)
6. A certain ring around God’s work (8)
12. Moggy has time to include Paul to build a ballistic device (8)
14. Mussel fi shing accommodates narcissistic trait (7)
16. Small swimming stroke leads to untidy writing (6)
18. Sue and Nat arrange fall from a saddle (6)
19. About face and change policy (1-4)
22. When eating on this you don’t sit down (4)
- To submit a crossword, grids should be no bigger than 15 square. Email it to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject CROSSWORD SUBMISSION
Crossword SOLUTION
Across: 7. Remake. 8. Absorb. 9. Aloe. 10. Tearaway. 11. Oceania. 13. Tepid. 15. Stash. 17. Genuine. 20. Aperitif. 21. Soho. 23. Blower. 24. Shadow.
Down: 1 .Yell. 2. Galena. 3. Pertain. 4. Carat. 5. Escape. 6. Creation. 12. Catapult. 14. Selfi sh. 16. Scrawl. 18. Unseat. 19. U-turn. 22. Hoof.
- Calling all crossword fans! We know how many u3a members enjoy tackling the clues on this popular page, but what’s your preference – a regular crossword, a trickier cryptic one, or maybe you’d enjoy both? Do let us know!
Pitcherwits
ACROSS
1. They’ll come round in a minute (6,5)
5. Headrests that can give you a low lisp! (7)
8. Religious song keeps almost hidden (5)
9. Fertiliser that tires out the smoothie (5)
10. Radios do not have a style that suits her (5)
12. Punctuation that helps digestion? (5)
14. PM with a failed romance (7)
15. Sub, but not necessarily underwater (11)
DOWN
1. Spent the night, as vet proposed new treatment (7,4) 2. Harvest a crop of dried coconut (5)
3. Seen as a latent bit of nose (5)
4. Trashing? Try it out on a dark but cloudless time (6,5)
6. Hammer addition to retire with? (4,3)
7. PC type, and a gentleman? (7)
11. There’s a little summary in there, Captain (5)
13. Thrust forward from a gluten-free tea, say (5)
Pitcherwits SOLUTIONS
Across: 1. Second hands. 5. Pillows. 8. Psalm. 9. Filer. 10. Doris. 12. Colon. 14. Cameron. 15. Replacement.
Down: 1. Stopped over. 2. Copra. 3. Nasal. 4. Starry night. 6. Lump sum. 7. Officer. 11. Recap. 13. Lunge.
- For more free Professor Rebus puzzles visit pitcherwits.co.uk
Maths challenge
Anne has a 5m x 5m lawn and wishes to replace 9m2 of the original lawn with stone to create a smaller square lawn boarded by the stone. What will be the size of the smaller square lawn?
Maths challenge solution
The area of the smaller lawn will be 5 x 5 − 9 = 16m2. It will have sides of length 4m.
- Problems and puzzles are posed weekly online by Rod Marshall, Ian Stewart and u3a Maths & Stats Subject Adviser David Martin, and can be found at u3a.org.uk/learning/learning-activities/maths-challenge
Bridge
From Michael Cleaver, of Lancaster & Morecambe u3a
The Hold-Up
Draw trumps, take finesses, cash winners. This is the plan on almost any hand where you are declarer, taking the three steps in that order. However, there are frequent occasions where the first task has to be postponed.
North.
♠ J,7.
♥ A,7,5,3.
♦ 9,2.
♣ A,Q,10,9,5.
West.
♠ 6,2.
♥J,9,2.
♦ K,10,8,5,4.
♣ 7,6,3.
East.
♠ Q,10,9,8.
♥Q,10,8,4.
♦Q,7,6.
♣K,4.
South.
♠ A,K,5,4,3.
♥K,6.
♦ A,J,3.
♣J,8,2.
The Auction
South. 1 ♠. 2NT.
North. 2 ♣. 3NT.
West leads the ♦5, East contributing the♦Q.
The Play
Declarer should refuse the first diamond trick and, if the suit is continued, she should refuse the second also. Winning trick three, she takes the losing club finesse but still makes nine tricks with 4 clubs, 1 diamond, 2 hearts and 2 spades.
The Principle
Whether declarer should win the first trick or not may be decided by the manner in which she will have to play any other critical suit. In this instance she must play on clubs and finesse into the East hand. For that reason it is necessary to break up the diamond communication. Supposing the spades were stronger and she had to finesse into the West hand, now she would win the first diamond trick so that the jack of diamonds was protected. When employing the Hold-Up, count the number of cards you and dummy hold in the relevant suit and subtract that number from 7 to suggest the number of times you may refuse the trick.
- What other puzzles and quizzes would you like to see in u3a Matters? Let us know by emailing:
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Quiz league
READY FOR A CHALLENGE? Do you enjoy quizzes and want more opportunities to compete? Why not join fellow u3a quizzers competing in the National Online Quiz league every Wednesday evening - one of the toughest quiz leagues in the country!
- Contact Angela Bell (a member of East Suffolk u3a) for more details:
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Personal ads
The Third Age Trust will be streamlining the way it displays all holiday advertisements in future editions into the Classified Advertising section of u3a Matters.
To submit a classified advertisement for issues going forwards, please call 0207 324 2773, or email
Holidays, UK
TOPSHAM, DEVON. 2-bedroom cottage overlooking Exe estuary and hills. Local shops, inns, teashops, walks. Coast, moors, Exeter nearby.
Tel 029 20759314.
HOLIDAYS, JURASSIC COAST.
4-berth caravan on quiet site in Thomas Hardy country, modern, well appointed.
POOLE HARBOUR. Shoreline cottage sleeps 4. Stunning views. Close Poole Quay. Prices from £350-£1040pw. www.sandbanksview.co.uk.
SOUTH COTSWOLDS. Self-catering country retreat for two, located in large garden. Enquiries: 07966 515691.
CORNWALL. Just for 2. Comfortable and well equipped. Free Wi-Fi. Village near Truro/Falmouth. EV charging. No dogs/ smokers. Tel: 01209 860402. www.cornwallallyear.co.uk.
NORTH CORNWALL. 3-bedroom
static caravan in St Minver. For more details please visit www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/cornwall/ st_minver/10197 or email
NORTH DEVON. Spacious country cottage, sleeps 6. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Well equipped, Wi-Fi, wood burner, garden, parking, Village with pub. Coast, moors and RHS gardens nearby. www.wearecottage.co.uk. Wendy 07973406807
WHITBY. Bungalow. Quiet area close to golf course. Ample parking. 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4, possibility of extension to 4 beds for 8 with disabled access.
WEST SUSSEX. Caravan to rent. Attractive comfortable holiday home in beautiful quiet location. 2 double bedrooms, CH and all mod cons. Sorry, no dogs. Close to Chichester, Witterings beach, foot and cycle paths. Phone 020 7735 3558/07395 817409.
NORTH NORFOLK, near Holt, period cottage, sleeps four, dogs welcome.
Holidays, Cyprus
CYPRUS, NEAR PAPHOS. Members’ one bedroom apartment, air con/heating, large sunny terrace, panoramic sea views, fantastic sunsets, large pool, undercover garaging, Wi-Fi/tv.
Holidays, Spain
ALTEA, COSTA BLANCA.
Modern 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom heated apartment. Pool, tennis, garden, garage. Shops, restaurants, beach close. Warm winter area. Transfers available. 029 20759314;
Holidays, Greece
WESTERN CRETE. Private villa with swimming pool.
Holidays, Portugal
ALGARVE. Tavira 2-bed 2-bath townhouse. Excellent location. www.casanautica.com.
Wanted
MINDERS KEEPERS, long-established, highly respected Home and Pet sitting
company is looking to recruit mature, responsible house-sitters for paid sits. Please call 01763 262102 or email
BOOK COLLECTIONS - best prices paid. Martin Johnson 01253 850075.
INSIGHT
Learning through life brings so many benefits
Dr Jonathan Doherty of Harrogate u3a offers his thoughts in response to an exciting new u3a report.
>Learn to Live: a blueprint for better health and wellbeing has recently been published by the u3a. A brief summary appeared in the Winter 2024 edition of this magazine, and has some very welcome findings for members. While recognising the advances in healthcare over the last 50 years, it also addresses the need for a more fundamental approach from government and policy-makers for increased life expectancy and quality of living in a post-pandemic world. As a nation we are living longer. Many perceptive writings now debunk stereotypes of growing older and directly challenge ageist ideas. Former notions about the capacities of people “of a certain age” are being refuted and dismissed almost daily. We read or hear of people aged 50, 60, 70 and 80+ doing amazing things and living life to the full. This report identifies the u3a model of non-formal learning as key to this, with benefits to individuals and the wider society. We know the many diverse self-interest groups – be it painting, bridge, walking or learning a new language – reflect a collaborative approach to non-formal learning that sits at the very heart of the movement. Not least, during the dark days of Covid-19, such activities and groups – often held online - helped to promote community resilience and reduce the impact of social isolation and loneliness felt by many. Lifelong learning is recognised as the fourth pillar of ageing by the World Health Organization. International frameworks recognise later-life learning opportunities as crucial for active ageing, which promotes dignity, health and wellbeing. These have direct links to improving cognitive stimulation, social engagement and inclusion. Nonformal learning is a mixture of formal and informal learning. In this style of learning, learners become teachers and teachers become learners, and it is very much suited for learning at an older age. The learners are active participants. One quote in the report chimed with me. It said: “A future without nonformal learning would be bleak indeed. It would likely lack people with diverse skillsets, creativity and adaptability.” This is a powerful image and one that really cements the need to continue and expand on what we do in our u3as so well. Members everywhere are creative and imaginative, bringing their years of experience and wisdom to the groups. This report is very welcome for confirming all of the above reasons, but also for calling for more action, including funding support, greater recognition and targeted resources, and establishing new advocate and commissioner roles so that we all reap the benefits of non-formal learning. Learning through life brings so many benefits. Much has been achieved already, but there is more to be done – this report is a most welcome step on the road forward.
- To read the full report, go to: u3a.org.uk/our-impact/ learn-to-live We’d love to know your thoughts after reading it in order to help us ensure more people know about the findings. Please email us at:
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