1. sports
2. rugby

Newsletter MAY 2015
Newyddion MAI 2015
From the Chairman
May I, first of all, thank all those who wished me well during my recent illness. I am pleased to say that I have made a
complete recovery and look forward to my future with Porthcawl U3A.
st
April was a month filled with very interesting events and began on 1 April with a very successful Annual Gala Coffee
Morning and Spring Fair. On behalf of the committee may I thank those who worked so hard to make it so. The talk
given by Dr Richard Lewis entitled ‘The challenges facing the medical profession’ was well received with Dr Lewis ably
responding to the questions and discussion which followed. We thank Andrew for the series of evening talks, and I’m
told that the talk given by Canon Neville Cahill on the Church was also very well received. Our visit to the Cardiff
Flower Show on a glorious sunny day was enjoyed by all who came. What about the visit to Madresfield Court near
Malvern? That was indeed a great day. We had a good lunch at a most welcoming hotel before going to Madresfield
Court, and what an eye-opener that was! It was a massive building with the history of the Lygon family. You have
done it again, Dorothy, and we thank you once again for a wonderful visit.
May promises to be a month filled with very interesting events. Please read about them in this newsletter and I look
forward to seeing you. I conclude by once again thanking the committee, the convenors and you, our members, for
your continuing support. With my very best wishes.
Handel
Thursday 21st May at the Hi Tide: Our U3A Special Study Day on LEADERSHIP
The theme of this Special Study Day is leadership, examining the demands of leadership in various institutions and
organisations. FULL DETAILS OF THE DAY ARE SHOWN OVERLEAF
Doug Jones (tel. 657571).
Sunday 14th June: Porthcawl U3A 100 Plus Club Summer Event
th
Please see the information inserted into this newsletter about our Summer Event on Sunday 14 June. It will be a
very enjoyable occasion - good company, strawberries and cream and more. Do come along if you can.
Elizabeth C Bower (tel. 786234)
14th to 20th October: Our Holiday in Scotland
We are busy finalising the details of our trip, and our tickets for the ride on the Falkirk Wheel are now booked. We still
have spaces if you would like to join us on our Scottish adventure. Non U3A Members are welcome. Contact us for full
details. Sally Corbett on 713690, or 017773 181467 e-mail [email protected]
or
Rowena Millward ~ 01656 78500
e-mail [email protected]
Learn to love your iPad or Android Tablet
We are pondering the need for a short course to help get newcomers to these devices up and running, and
even loving them. If you’re interested please contact any of us specifying which device you have (or plan to get) they are quite different. If there’s enough demand we’ll try to run something before the summer.
Geoff Henderson 786 790, Martin Patten 786 745 or Laurence Parry
Sunday Lunch Group
st
We eat at a different place on the last Sunday of each month. On 31 May it will be the RAFA Club on Station Hill,
Please phone me without delay to book your place or to cancel a booking.
Caroline David (tel) 771657.
Saturday 23rd May 2015: Visit to the Hay Literature Festival
The coach for this visit will leave the Atlantic Hotel at 8am and Sainsbury’s at 8.15am approx. It will leave the
Festival at 5pm. Details of the programme for that day can be obtained from www.hayfestival.com or by
telephoning the box office on 01497 822629. Bookings can be made either on line or by telephone. The cost of the
bus is £10 per person. Please send a cheque for this amount, payable to Porthcawl U3A, to me - Margaret
Williams, 54 St Christopher’s Road, Bridgend CF31 1RU.
Margaret Williams (tel. 665128)
.Saturday
27th June 2015: Visit to Ledbury and the Malvern Theatre
We will leave Porthcawl in the morning and aim to be at the pretty market town of Ledbury by 11.00am. You will then
be free to explore its shops and timber-framed buildings, including the Market House built in 1617, and have lunch
before the coach returns to take us to Malvern where the play begins at 2.30pm. This is a thriller called ' The Business
of Murder ' which ran in the West End for 7 years and received excellent reviews including "The most intelligent thriller
for a decade" The cost including ticket and coach is £30.00 p.p. and cheques made payable to Porthcawl U3A should
be sent to me at the address below as soon as possible. Judith Hillman 1 Seawinds Rest Bay Close Porthcawl
CF36 3UN. Tel: 07981 869066 or e-mail: [email protected]
Tuesday 21st July: Visit to the Welsh Proms at St David’s Hall
All tickets reserved for this concert have now been taken up, but if you would like to put your name down for a
possible cancellation please contact me. This concert will be given by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with
Owain Arwel Hughes (conductor) and John Lill (piano). The programme is Wagner: Overture Tannhauser;
Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream; Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 2; and Elgar: Enigma
Variations.
Janice Lloyd (tel.786532)
STUDY DAY
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP
An Invitation Study Day arranged by Porthcawl U3A at the Hi - Tide Inn, Porthcawl
THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2015
PROGRAMME
9.15 to 10am:
10.05 am:
Registration and Coffee / Tea
Welcome and Introduction
10.15 to 11am:
PRESIDING OVER THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF WALES
SPEAKER:
DAME ROSEMARY BUTLER, THE PRESIDING OFFICER
With 60 elected members, the role of the National Assembly is to legislate in certain fields, to hold the Welsh
Government to account and to represent the views and interests of the people of Wales. As Presiding Officer,
Dame Rosemary has to enable the Assembly to fulfil this role and ensure that all shades of opinion can be
expressed and given due consideration. She will tell us how she meets the challenges of this very important task.
11.15am to 12.15pm: WALES AIR AMBULANCE – FLYING TO SAVE LIVES
SPEAKER:
PAUL CANNING, A SENIOR MANAGER OF THE SERVICE
Wales Air Ambulance is a charity which provides emergency assistance to those with life - threatening illnesses or
injuries. Its three helicopters together cover the whole of Wales 24 hours a day every day of the year, each with
highly qualified paramedics on board. Flying an average of 2000 missions a year it is the busiest service of its kind
in the whole of the United Kingdom. The service costs £6 million a year to run, all of which is raised from the
generosity of the general public. It receives no state funding. Mr Canning will tell us about the work of this hugely
important service and how he and his colleagues meet its demands
12.30pm to 1.30pm:
LUNCH
1.45pm to 2.45pm: LEADING ATLANTIC COLLEGE – THE VISION, CHALLENGE AND JOY
SPEAKER:
JOHN WALMSLEY, THE PRINCIPAL
Founded in 1962, Atlantic College enables young people from over 90 countries to live and study together for the
International Baccalaureate as well as its own distinctive Atlantic Diploma. With an experiential, hands-on
approach to learning the college places emphasis on academic achievement, interdisciplinary thinking, mutual
understanding and community engagement. Mr Walmsley will tell us about the work of the college and how he
leads it towards the achievement of its challenging objectives.
3pm to 4pm:
SELECTING AND TRAINING LEADERS IN THE MODERN BRITISH ARMY
SPEAKER:
COLONEL LANCE PATTERSON, DEPUTY COMMANDER 160 BRIGADE
The British Army is universally admired for its skill in combat, in peace keeping and in aiding the civil authorities
in times of emergency. To fulfil its many duties and responsibilities the Army requires leaders of the highest
quality at all levels. Colonel Patterson will tell us how it selects, trains and supports these leaders for the wide
range of exacting roles they are called to perform and how their skills and knowledge are kept up to date.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The cost of the Day, to include coffee on arrival, a two course lunch and the four talks is £12. If
you wish to come please send a cheque made payable to Porthcawl U3A to:
Doug Jones, 84 Heol West Plas, Coity, Bridgend CF35 6BA
Meetings of Our Interest Groups in MAY
Group
Archaeology
Time & Venue
10.15am at the
Holiday Home
Date
Tuesday
th
19
Art History
2.15pm at the
Holiday Home
Monday
th
18
Book Club 1
10am at Stella
Maris
10am at
132 New Road
Friday
th
29
Wed.
th
13
Information
We will be looking in depth at the reasons behind
the Roman invasion of Britain. Britain's mineral
wealth was there to plunder and we shall be
looking at some of the archaeological evidence for
this before we go prospecting for gold in July.
We will study examples of the work of L.S. Lowry
(1887 – 1976) who lived all his life in or near
Manchester. He is rightly famed for his industrial
subjects and crowds of figures..
Discussing H is for Hawk by Helen McDonald
Contact
Ian Hutchinson
tel. 654418
Graham Cross
tel. 785876
Bridge
2pm at
Awel y Mor
Tuesday
th
th
12 & 26
Please contact me if you would like to give Bridge
a try in this small group. Do come along.
Barbara Miles
tel. 783291
Annie Rance
tel. 711848 or
07788 243552
Caroline David
tel. 771657
Canasta
2pm at the
Rugby Club
10am at the
Coast, Dock
Street,
Porthcawl
Monday
th
th
11 & 18
New members welcome but please phone Deidre
first. Please note the dates
Deidre Wilkins
tel. 773277
Monday
18th
Drop-in and help service to make the best use of
all kinds of electronic gadgetry. All members and
all gadgets welcome. The coffee's good too.
Geoff
Henderson
tel.786790
Martin Patten
tel.786745
Laurence Parry
Book Club 2
Computers,
tablets and
other gadgets
Discussing The Secret Life of Saeed by Emile
Habiby and Gilead by Maralyn Robinson
Please also see note on Page 1.
Conversations
(Discussion)
2.15pm at the
Holiday Home
Thurs.
th
14
th
28
Crafts
Discussing:
Selfishness, dishonesty and greed are essential
for the survival of the human race
Schools, colleges and universities will die out but
learning will survive for ever.
Doug Jones
tel. 657571
Pam Munro
tel. 783751
Elizabeth
Bower
tel. 786234
Margaret
Williams
tel. 665128
Merial Hewson
tel. 786240
2pm at the
Y Centre
2pm at the
Rugby Club
Thursday
th
th
14 & 28
Monday
th
18
A warm welcome for members interested in any
type of craft
We shall continue our study of Ibsen's The Doll’s
House.
Food in Britain
2.15pm at the
Rugby Club
French
10am at the
Rugby Club
10am at the
Rugby Club
Tues. 5th
th
19
nd
2 June
th
Tues.5 &
th
19
th
Tues 12
Len & Prim Smith lead on Let’s design a dinner
Marion Phillips leads on Edible Flowers
Lunch at the Seasons Restaurant
Work based on our Course Book & other material
Drama – Origin
& Development
Gardening
Continuing our study of Manon des Sources
th
Please note that we will not meet on 26 May
Jeanette Victor will talk on Garden Tips
10.15am at the
Rugby Club
10.30am at
Stella Maris
Tuesday
th
26
Thursday
th
th
7 & 28
History
10am at the Y
Centre
Wed
th
13 &
th
27
On 13 Chris will deliver his postponed presentation on
th
DNA and our ancestors which is likely to run into 27 .
Meanwhile Ben, who nobly stepped into the breach with
Poland and Lithuania, may well be ready for a return
and I am preparing a Magna Carta celebration.
Latin &
Ancient History
RAFA Club at
2.15pm
Monday
th
11
Ancient History: Ruth will speak on aspects of the
th
Military and Political History of Greece in the 7
th
and 6 centuries BC.
Grammar Revision and translation from and into
Latin
The programme includes Mendelssohn’s Octet
and Dvorak’s Cello Concerto.
German
Listeners’
Guide to Music
th
10.15am
18
2pm at the
Rugby Club
Wed
th
6
th
27
Looking at all things German and Germanic
including conversational language and grammar.
Please note the dates
th
The programme includes Mozart’s Horn Concerto
No 1 and Sibelius’s Symphony No 5
rd
Our first meeting next month is on 3 June
Handel Davies
tel. 788364
John Murdoch
Tel.
07583570891
Andrew Collier
tel. 784939
Doug Jones
tel. 657571
Brian Nelson
tel. 742159
Group
Mah Jong
Time & Venue
2pm at the
Rugby Club
Date
Thursday
th
7
Information
A fascinating game of skill and chance. We have
room for more players. New members welcome.
Movement to
Music
Painting
Workshop
2.15pm at the
Rugby Club
10am at the
Y Centre
Tuesday
th
th
12 & 26
Thursday
th
th
7 , 14 ,
st
th
21 & 28
Simple exercises, stretching and some aerobics
Philosophy
and Ideas
10am at the
Y Centre
Friday 1
st
th
15 & 29th
Photography
for Everyone
Play Reading
New U3A members wishing to join this group
must phone me beforehand owing to space
constraints. If there is the demand, additional floor
space may be taken.
Contact
Elizabeth
Bower
tel. 786234
Liz Sumner
tel. 772314
Steve Jarvis
tel. 649165
I will give a slightly personal, not very philosophical,
take, on pragmatism.
Sue will introduce the ever - controversial topic of
Consciousness. If neither of these carries us through
th
29 we have a queue of possibles: Graham, Neil,
Charles, Gary – we obviously haven’t found all the
answers.
Andrew Collier
tel. 784939
10.30am at the
Holiday Home
10am at the
Rugby Club
10.15am at the
Rugby Club
Monday
th
18
Wed
th
6
Monday
th
11
Learning and developing skills in digital, still and
video photography
Continuing our preparation for our performance
2.15pm at the
Y Centre
10.30am at
Awel y Mor
1pm at the
COAST CAFÉ
2pm at the
Holiday Home
Monday
th
18
Tuesday
th
th
12 & 26
Testing mind and memory, and above all friendly
good fun.
New members welcome but please phone Judith
first.
David Morgan
tel. 740605
Liz. Sumner
tel. 772314
Elizabeth
Bower
tel.786234
Andrew Collier
tel. 784939
Judith Evans
tel. 650084
Scrabble
10am at the
Holiday Home
Gwyn Davis
tel. 654766;
Brian Nelson.
tel. 742159
Pat Parry
tel. 784211
Shakespeare &
other great
writers
2.15pm at
Stella Maris
2pm at the
Holiday Home
We will show the second half of the DVD of
Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida
We will begin and continue our study of Greek
drama
Enjoying singing together
Barbara Miles
tel. 783291
Singing for Fun
Monday
th
11 May
st
& 1 June
Tuesday
th
5
th
12 &
th
26
Friday
th
8 &
nd
22
We will deal with the topic of gravity and its
effects on us and on the universe as a whole. This
will be in the form of a DVD followed by a
discussion Please note the date.
A game, a chat and a cup of coffee. Members of
all abilities welcome.
Table Tennis
At the Y Centre
10am
2pm
2pm at the car
park of Ogmore
Castle
Poetry
Quiz
Russian
Language &
Culture
Science
Walking
We shall continue our study of Piers Plowman
th
5 & 19th
Monday
th
11
Friday
th
8 &
nd
22
2pm at the
Abbot’s Kitchen,
Margam Abbey
Come and join in our relaxed and friendly games.
If you have a bat please bring it along. Please
wear suitable shoes. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME
Jillian Davies.
tel.859033
Veronica Rees
tel. 784718.
Pam Munro
tel. 783751
This is our very enjoyable BLUEBELL WALK
around the Merthyr Mawr area with the popular
Farmhouse Kitchen beckoning as an end of
walk reward.
On this walk we’ll meander amongst the rich red
and purple colours of the rhododendron bushes above
Margam Park.
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. If the
weather is doubtful please phone me to check that the
walk will take place.
John Pearman
tel. 782133
Welsh
10am at the
Rugby Club
Thursday
th
th
14 & 28
We will make you welcome in this group whether
you are a beginner, an improver or a fluent
speaker.
John Pearman
tel. 782133;
David Parry
tel. 784211
Writing for
Pleasure
Groups 1 & 2
10am at the
Rugby Club
Friday
st
th
1 , 15 &
th
29
We write simply for the pleasure of writing and to
receive friendly advice. Places are now available
in Group Two.
Marcia
Humphries
tel. 772895
Jo Brooks
Tel 869535