News

Art Appreciation Group have a special celebration 🎉

Art must definitely be good for you. At the April meeting of the Art Appreciation Group, Joyce Austin celebrated her 99th birthday with a lovely cake. Congratulations Joyce !!

Theatre Visit for Speaking Shakespeare Group

The Speaking Shakespeare group will be meeting at Canford, to watch a local production of 'The Winter's Tale'. We would like to invite anyone who might be interested to join us. Details as follows:

'The Winter's Tale'

by William Shakespeare

at Canford School, Wimborne, BH21 3AD

Wednesday 13th August 7.30pm

(will be changed to Thursday 14th August 7.30pm if Wednesday proves to be too wet)

presented by Brownsea Open Air Theatre

https://www.brownsea-theatre.co.uk/tickets/

Please note that tickets are selling rapidly, so book ASAP if you wish to have your choice of seat.

Picnic - we are able to picnic at Canford before the show and will also aim to meet during the interval in the bar/refreshments area.

I look forward to seeing you all there, hopefully on a balmy summer's evening! (Bring coats and bug-repellent spray to cover all eventualities.)

For more information please contact Sylvia: shakespeare@purbecku3a.org.uk

Science & Technology Group

The Science & Technology Group (now 155 members strong) has a dedicated website for all S&T Group News and future monthly presentations at https://greenacre.info/technology(or search “PU3A tech” on Google).

The S&T Group, which welcomes new members, has its monthly meetings on the third Wednesday morning each month and the subject of future talks by Guest Speakers is shown on the Programme page of our website and is tabulated below. Take a look and you are very welcome to come along to join us at Harman’s Cross Village Hall.

Meetings Start at 10:00 am on the 3rd Wednesday most months in Harman's Cross Main Hall (and we livestream on Zoom). Meetings end at about midday.

Entrance Fee: £2 - Non-members Welcome.

Programme from April 2025:

16 April: Showing of “Echoes of the Past - Early Radar in Dorset” (This meeting will be open to all U3A members)

21 May: Cyber Awareness: Internet Scams & Phishing threats

18 June: Ocean Currents in the west Mediterranean Sea

16 July: The Swanage Water Treatment Plant

20 August: Field Trip (members of S&T only)

17 September; [No Meeting]

15 October: The Future of Low Carbon Transport

19 November: The Significance of Purbeck Heathland

10 December: [Second Wednesday] TBA

… and we already have future interesting presentations scheduled for 2026!

The S&T Group has a frequently updated website which is full of information, so please take a look by clicking HERE for its Menu tabs and see the Next Meetingspage for available details of forthcoming meetings.

First Plunge for Sea Swimming Group

The first meeting of the Sea Swimming, Dipping and Walking Group met on a chilly afternoon in March at Banjo Pier Swanage. Spring had shown signs of coming but a north wind was blowing for our debut swim. Three hardy, or as some may say foolhardy members braved the water and a fourth came to watch with a promise that she will go in the water when it warms up. The group meets either a Monday or a Tuesday alternately. The next meet is Tuesday 25th March then Monday 31st March. For details of future swims please contact Poppy: seaswim@purbecku3a.org.uk

Boule Group Are a Hardy Bunch

Despite flooded pitches the Boule Group have continued to play throughout the winter and have put their engineering hats on to clear water and drain the pitch. There was a lot of laughing and ingenious use of a grass roller.

Acclaim for member of Fiction Writing

One of their members (Greg Duncan) features on the front page of Swanage News click the following link to read the article.

Historical novel by Purbeck writer inspired by freedom fighter aunt

His book "Champagne in a Broken Teacup" is available on Amazon.

In the spring of 1940 recently married Marie-Claire was blissfully pursuing her career as a freelance artist in Paris. She had no idea that in early May Hitler's armies would invade France and rip her life apart.

The story follows her life as tragedies strike and she is forced to flee Paris to escape from the Gestapo. Using a false name and identity she begins a new life in the small provincial French town of Nevers. She finds unexpected inner strength as a resistante but her previous life in Paris catches up with her.

Although this is a fictional story woven into historical reality, it was inspired by the activities of his French aunt, an art teacher, who during World War 2 was a document forger for the French resistance.

Singing Group Christmas

On 18th December, the Singing Group performed a concert of Christmas songs and carols for the residents of Pine Martin Grange Care Home in Sandford, Wareham. Under the direction of Paul Martin, who accompanied throughout on keyboard or accordion, the singers sparkled through festive favourites such as ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Walking in the Air’, as well as a number of Christmas carols including ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Silent Night’. The performance ended with ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ before requests were taken from the audience for any favourite carols.

Further gigs are planned in 2025, and new members are always welcome. The group meets on the first and third Wednesday in each month, from 2.00 to 4.00 pm at Carey Hall, Wareham. Further details from: singing@purbecku3a.org.uk

New Photography Group

There are a couple of spaces still available for this course with the first session on Tuesday 17^th December at 3.30pm meeting in the Corfe Castle Village car park. This session will be an introduction to photography and tips on how to capture images at night. All cameras are welcome as well as smartphones. A tripod would be useful if you have one.

The following sessions from January will be on the 3rd Tuesday every month, weather permitting. The fee for the course is GBP5 per a 2 hour session x 5 sessions.

Anyone else still interested should contact Mark Fielder: groupscoord@purbecku3a.org.uk

Patchwork & Quilting Group

Dehlia Fitch has been group leader for a long time but has now passed the reins to someone else. She will still attend as a member and the group gave her a lovely thankyou for all her hard work with a cream tea at Knoll House. It looks like they had a great time.

Lovely Thankyou GIft

Yummy Cream Tea!!!

Matisse Art Appreciation Group

The Art Appreciation Group had a practical session last November, having watched and discussed a video on the life of Henri Matisse.
It was a fun session, and they hope to do another practical session on another artist in the future. Here are some pictures of their creations.

More Congratulations for Fiction Writing Group

Caron Parrett is another member of the very successful Fiction writing group and with entries from all over the country, was one of the 17 finalists in the National u3a Short Story Writing Competition for 2024. Click HERE to read her story called “Maureen”.

This follows on from the success of Gill Calvin Thomas with the publication of her book called, ‘Vex Not Her Ghost’, available from Amazon.

They are both well written and a good read. They are certainly a talented bunch and if you would like to try your hand at writing you would be more than welcome to join them. For more information contact Caron: fictionwriting@purbecku3a.org.uk

PPQ Group Have Been Busy Again

Qigong Group

The next U3A Qigong 6-week Course will be TAIJI SHI - BASH

SET 1 comprises 18 postures providing the body with a gentle flexibility and increased mobility.

Penny will start Wednesday 6/11 through to Wednesday 11/12 inclusive, Course fee £30.

An open invitation is extended for U3A members to attend this Course on 6/11 and/or 13/11 @ £5 fee per session. Continued attendance would be at the usual rate.

Penny's New Year 2025 U3A 6-week Course will be 'DAOYIN BAO JIAN GONG'. This is a sequence for General Health; which provides a gentle full body workout.

An open invitation is extended for U3A members to attend either on 8/1 and /or 15/1 @ £5 per session.

We hope that some members will come and experience the wonderful benefits of this very relaxed and friendly class.

MPenny Youssef - Group Leader

Fun and Games for Ukulele Group

The group has played a variety of gigs this summer and not all end up quite like Tolpuddle Fete. After performing they were asked to take part in ‘Tolpuddle Taskmaster’. There were lots of different tasks to complete and overall their two teams finished first and second and you can see the results of one task below!!

Garden Group

They have had a busy year with visits to Carey Sectret Garden and Kingston Mauward and Masha Bell, one of our members, kindly opened up her garden for us in August. It was stunning and such an interesting garden. We all came away having learnt so much and it was also a good social occasion. For more photos please see the gallery.

General Notice for all U3A members

AGM Plant Sale Proceeds

A representative from Purbeck Dementia Nurse, Tim Leech, will be presented with the money raised at the AGM plant sale at the meeting on Mon 16 Sept 10am. He will also speak about the work of the nurse in Purbeck. We meet at Stoborough Village Hall, refreshments are available at a cost of £2 and as this may be of general interest to all members you are welcome to come along.

Carol McCarthy

Gardening Group Leader

Boule Group BBQ

The Boule group had their annual Summer BBQ and it was a lovely enjoyable sunny day.

Lovely setting for the Painting Self Help Group summer meeting

In August, the group met in one of the member’s garden. It was a lovely sunny day to paint, eat cake and drink coffee.

PPQ’s Summer Project

The PPQ group made ' Infinity Scarves" which proved really popular. Patchwork isn't all about quilts and table runners! The scarves are plain on one side and any design of patchwork on the other. They are sewn in such a way that they twist and therefore each side is visible when worn.

Singing Group Perform at Wedding

On Saturday, 8th June the Purbeck U3A Singing Group was invited to sing at the wedding of Claire Burton (a member of the Singing Group) and her fiance Gil. The wedding took place at St Mary's Church, Lytchett Matravers, with Reverend Stephen Partridge officiating. The Singers joined in the hymns, and also sang three pieces from their repertoire (as requested by Claire): 'Linden Lea', 'Shoshone Love Song' and 'Catch a Falling Star'. Thirteen members were able to attend and luckily the balance between sopranos, altos and men was exactly right for the various harmonies. We were fortunate to be accompanied by renowned pianist and organist Sally Plowright. The congregation were very appreciative, and we felt honoured to participate in such a joyous occasion. Claire had even arranged for us to enjoy some 'fizz and cake' after the service!

The Singing Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 to 4.00 pm, at Carey Hall, Carey, Wareham, under the direction of Paul Martin. There are no auditions and you don't need to read music - just have a love of singing! If you would like to come along for a taster session, please contact singing@purbecku3a.org.uk

Ukulele’s Entertain at Corfe Castle

What an amazing afternoon with the Purbeck U3A Ukulele group on Bank Holiday Monday at Corfe May Fair. We had 20 members from PUUG who gave up their afternoon to play for an hour raising money for Motor Neurone Disease, their charity for 2024.

Well Done PUUG

Lovely Trip for Cycling Group

The Intermediate Cycling Group have been on trips away for 8 years now. We have just returned from this year’s, for which we decided to revisit St Malo where we went in 2017.

There were 19 of us on this trip, quite a handful to keep count of on the rides. Apart from those who were extending the trip and made their own way, most of the group took the Portsmouth – St Malo ferry, boarding on our bikes. We sailed there and back overnight and stayed two nights in a lovely little hotel, Les Charmettes on St Malo seafront. This gave us 3 days for cycling. The three rides, each about 25 miles, fell into place very neatly. The first day we went south, across the Rance tidal barrage, up the west side of the river, crossing it at Port Hubert and returning on the east side. The second day we took the passenger ferry to Dinard and cycled along the coast to St Briac and beyond, returning across country. The final day we went west, stopping at the natural harbour in Rotheneuf, then across country to Cancale, famed for its oysters and returned along the coast.

I think we can count the trip as a success. The Intermediate Group is a very sociable one anyway, but never more so than on these trips when eating and drinking features quite a lot. From my point of view the main achievement was not losing anybody, not good when most would admit to being extremely vague about the routes.

I would recommend trips like this to any U3A group which lends itself to them. The members get to know one another a whole lot better.

Steve Drew

Singing Group

The PU3A Singing Group continues to flourish under the leadership of Paul Martin, and they are always looking for new members to swell the sound. They meet on the first and third Wednesday in each month, from 2 to 4 pm at Carey Hall, Wareham. No audition is required, and you don't need to read music.- you just need to love singing!

Their repertoire is varied, including rounds, traditional songs, songs from musicals and more. They sing in unison, or in 2 or 3 part harmony.

Do come along for a taster to see if this is for you. We are particularly short of male voices.

Contact: singing@purbecku3a.org.uk

Group Coordinator News

I hope you enjoyed the SummerBreak and are looking forward to the Autumn term with your group.

The Committee is always looking for updates and interesting activities within our existing groups to promote on our website. Indeed, where groups require new members to top-up existing numbers or start new groups (as we have recently done with cycling, french and latin), then the website is an excellent way of reaching out.

Do please send me a few lines in an email, outlining your groups’ activities and plans. I will gladly arrange for these comments to be promoted on the website. As you will have read in the newsletter, with new members joining each week, we are now at pre-Covid membership levels with over 50 interest groups for members to participate.

Many thanks,

Mark

u3a Group Coordinator

Meeting Points Potter

Meeting Points for February was a little different with an interesting and humourus demonstration and talk from retired GP Jonathan Easterbrooke on how he digs his own clay, processes it and then makes pots. He uses a pestle and mortar to grind up the clay, not your normal size as you can see from the picture.

Jonathan then demonstrated how to throw a pot using this very local clay. It is quite a long process to reach this stage but is very satisfying. There were lots of interesting questions from the audience.

PPQ Have Been Busy Again

A measuring frenzy has taken over, not that it’s competitive and it always seems to be the same end!!

National u3a News

Board Meeting: 21 February 2024

Summary Report :This was an online meeting. Main items discussed:

• Vacancies. The process of replacing the North West and Wales trustees has commenced and closing date for nominations is due.

• Q3 Financial Results. The Trust’s business activities (including the TATTL trading activities) for the period to 31 December 2023 shows a positive surplus of £83k against a budget deficit of £87k. Income is still below budget due to lower membership numbers than expected, although staff costs, spend on grants available to u3as, and project costs are all lower than forecasted. The current year-end forecast for the Trust, including TATTL, is a surplus of £51k against a budget deficit of £156k.

• Reserves. The reserves level is the amount of funds required to be retained by all charities to weather unforeseen charges and hypothetical dissolution. The Board approved the latest thinking on the reserves policy which recommended a reserves level of £1.1m.

• Investments. Numerous bank accounts previously held by the Trust have been closed as part of a rationalisation to focus on interest-earning accounts and spread funds as part of a risk management exercise. The Trust’s Investment Policy takes a low risk approach to investments, based largely on high street banks and similar organisations, with a significant amount covered by the FSCS guarantee scheme.

• Development Projects. The Board had the first opportunity to review projects being considered for 2024/25. These included scoping ideas for a digital advice and guidance service to address the current “digital divide”, providing measurement analytics for trustees, developments to the Zendesk ticketing system to improve the advice service, reviewing the effectiveness of communications, and the potential for a radio and social media campaign to support the resolution from the last AGM. Most projects still required further thought before they can be considered for the 2024/25 budget.

• Resolution 500k. This resolution, passed at the last AGM concerns raising the profile of the movement as part of attracting new members. The work being done focuses in four main areas, social media promotions, What’s On and specific radio advertising campaigns, launch of the new Friends concept and re-branding the magazine, and person to person promotions involving a Pass It On campaign, contributing to pre-retirement courses, and specific messaging.

• Draft 2024/24 Budget. The Board discussed the current stage of the preparation of the budget. There are still a number of areas that need to be examined in more detailbut the overall aim of the 24/25 budget is becoming clear. The aim is for business as usual to be largely funded by a forecasted modest increase in income as membership numbers continue to recover from the Covid period. The movement’s strategic aims will be funded largely by development projects funded from designated reserves which will enable the accumulated cash reserves to be reduced over time. Nevertheless, by comparison to previous years, the final budget is expected to show a different basis for grants, and a different basis for staff costs.

• CEO Recruitment. Following the announcement that the CEO will stand down from October 2024, arrangements were outlined for a process to seek a replacement. It is hoped that the new CEO will be in place by September to allow for a structured handover.

• Influencing and Social Change. A presentation of a number of options will be made to the Pilot Council on 28 February. The Trust Board emphasised the need for sensitivity in considering options and care when consulting widely with the membership.

• Trust and TATTL Protocol. The Board approved a protocol that updated the governance arrangements between the Third Age Trust and TATTL, its wholly owned subsidiary. The protocol concerned the membership and reporting relationships between the two bodies.

• Fit For The Future Consultation. An update of progress with the consultation process was provided. All regions/nations had started online or face to face consultations and feedback comments were generally in favour of the concept at this stage although significant detail work is still to be done.

Please note that official minutes are the true record of discussions and decisions taken at Board meetings. This is a brief summary of the main topics discussed and should not be taken as an authoritative statement. If you require any further detail about any item, please contact your Trustee.

Interesting Cycle Rides For the Softies

During the lovely warm spells the softies have combined their coffee stop with a swim, paddle boarding and visits to the bookshop.

Purbeck Music Groups Performing Well

The UKULELE GROUP performed to great applause in a packed venue at the Swanage Folk Festival. It was great fun.

The GUITAR GROUP gave their first public performance at Holme Gardens to a very appreciative audience who thoroughly enjoyed it.

The AGM this year was well attended with people enjoying refreshments and chatting with friends, after which they were treated to a very enjoyable performance from the Guitar Group. They played a lovely selection and even had some harmonica thrown

The Cycling Softies Have Some Interesting Encounters On Their Rides

The PPQ group had some interesting quilts on show from a visiting speaker. Any members interested in joining, please click on the email to contact: Delia ppq@purbecku3a.co.uk

Christmas Festivities for Groups

The Boule Group treated themselves to mulled wine and mince pies in the fresh air. It was one of the colder mornings they had played so was very welcome and maybe even improved some of the performances !!!

The Cycling for softies had their traditional ride to Shipstal point where cakes, mine pies and mulled wine were consumed before singing Christmas Carols on the beach. It must be the most spectacular spot for singing. The sun was out the water was sparking and it was good fun. Margaret trying to get 8 unruly people to play bells and have others guess the tune,,Well all I can say is that it is harder than it sounds !!

The Ukulele Group played several gigs over the Christmas period but Swanage Pier was barely above freezing and they could only manage 45 minutes before frostbite set in !!!

Changes to the Highway Code

Have you heard about the new changes to the Highway Code? The new code will be available to buy in April.

The Older Person”s Forum is providing free webinars to take you through the changes showing excellent video clips.

Should you wish to follow this site for details of new events and information there is a space to signup for email updates on the righthand side of the Home Page.

www.olderdriversforum.com

A small sample of information on their website:

Quick Guide leaflet for Dorset schemes

Road Safety web site

Relevant pathways for assessments if you are a medical practitioner

‘Cost Calculator’ to estimate how much it costs to run your car and how much you would need to spend on public transport

If you don’t have a medical condition which affects your driving then the forum recommend the following assessments: List of notifiable medical conditions https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

If you do have a medical condition that may affect your driving then see Wessex DriveAbility assessment

If you live in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire or Berkshire then why not have a look at the ‘Going Car Free‘ web site. You can additionally Contact them by: Tel: 02380 554100 E-Mail: hello@goingcarfree.com

Dorset Driver Gold is aimed at people aged 65 years and over who have an interest in updating their skills and knowledge, want help in familiarising themselves with a new vehicle or simply want to gain confidence.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Offer a number of courses to give assistance to the older driver, like the Mature Driver Review which is great in building confidence

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Offer an Experienced Driver Assessment. This is a one-hour drive in your own car with a RoSPA Assessor

Gerry Griffin

Group Leader, Advanced Driving