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YAHR News
November
2014
In this edition:
Letter from your new regional
trustee
Summer School 2015
Trips to South Africa and Spain
YAHR Poetry competition
News and photos from around
the region
Please send copy (articles preferably unformatted in Word and images in jpeg) for the
February 2015 Newsletter to [email protected] by Friday 30 January 2015
To request your own e-mailed copy of future newsletters sent please go
to www.YAHRU3A.co.uk
YAHR Management Committee
Post
Name
Telephone
E Mail
Chairman
Shelagh Woolliscroft
01246 416139 / 07979 286324
[email protected]
Vice Chairman
Alan Swann
01226 241200 / 07718 542607
[email protected]
Secretary
Kate Helm
01274 482495 / 07817 735784
[email protected]
Treasurer
John Byrom
01765 450114 / 07539 579176
[email protected]
Regional Trustee Neil Stevens
07976 928865
[email protected]
Member
Hilary Baker
01729 840609
[email protected]
Member
Bill Airey
0113 2759546
[email protected]
Member
David Davies
01423 871673
[email protected]
Member
Barbara Dransfield
01751 467179 / 07841 261026
[email protected]
Member
Hazel Ward
01482 849168
[email protected]
SLP Link
Denise West
0114 2746797 / 07817890090
[email protected]
Message from the Chair
It doesn’t seem three months since I was putting the August newsletter to bed, but the time
has really flown by during this wonderful summer. Once again we had a sunny day for our
big summer event, which this year was a multi-topic study day at Northern College in August.
This was voted a great success, as was September’s study day on the artist Laura Knight.
More recently a workshop on developing strategy was trialled in Harrogate and found to be
very useful by those who attended. Two more workshops are in the pipeline this autumn –
for newly-appointed trustees and IT managers.
At the national AGM in September our much respected regional trustee, David Morton, stood
down and it was announced that Neil Stevens had been elected to replace him. I am sure
that we all wish Neil well in his new role.
At last week’s general meeting for chairs and secretaries we had a lively exchange of
information. The idea of a regional travel group was mooted and a small group will meet to
take this forward. Meanwhile places are available on two trips in 2015 – see pages 10 /11.
Jean Stevens, Settle U3A, has kindly agreed to judge our first poetry competition – see p7.
Planning is now underway for the second YAHR summer school (see page 5) and we are
very grateful for the large number of offers from potential tutors. Expressions of interest are
now being sought so that we can choose with confidence which topics to run with.
Our regional committee really enjoys putting on events which enable members to experience
a wider range of activities or which support trustees with the day to day running of their
U3As. There will be vacancies on the committee next April – why not consider joining us?
Anyone interested is welcome to phone me for a chat or to arrange to observe at one of our
planning meetings.
With best wishes
Shelagh Woolliscroft
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YAHR Forward Plan November 2014 – October 2015
1.We will increase the number of people trained to assist the start up of U3As and to support
fledgling U3As and we will undertake promotional activity in at least three areas.
Lead : Neil Stevens
2. We will maintain the interactive regional website and build up our mailing list to assist with
the publication of YAHR events.
Lead: Neil Stevens
3. We will produce four Newsletters - in November, February, May and August.
Lead: Shelagh Woolliscroft
4. We will organise three Regional meetings including the AGM.
Lead: Kate Helm
5. We will run at least four workshops on aspects of running a U3A.
Lead: various members
6. We will run at least one study day, probably in the Hull area.
Lead: Hazel Ward
7. We will maintain the list of recommended speakers.
Lead: Kate Helm
8. We will expand on the networking groups already established.
Lead: Alan Swann/Barbara Dransfield
9. We will explore relationships with other agencies in support of shared learning.
Lead: Denise West
10. We will run a second regional summer school at Northern College in August 2015.
Lead: Alan Swann
11. We will run a regional poetry competition.
Lead: Shelagh Woolliscroft
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Message from the Treasurer
John Ellison the Honorary Treasurer of TAT was our guest speaker at the General Meeting in
October. YAHR have had issues around TAT funding to the Region for quite a while and it was
useful for John to give us his interpretation. As many of you are aware our income streams are
from two sources, TAT and YAHR sponsored events. We have held two of the latter in this
financial year and both have made a small surplus. We have several TAT sponsored
workshops planned so John's talk was very timely.
> At the GM I presented the half yearly accounts. In response to comments at the AGM these
were presented in a new format that allowed members to see how our retained funds were
progressing year on year. We plan our activities and associated finances on an annual basis
and you will be pleased to know that we are on budget. If anyone would like further information
please don't hesitate to contact me.
John Byrom
From the New Regional Trustee
Handover from David Morton
Unfortunately I have been unable to talk to David in detail since August so if there are any
issues that you lodged with him and are unresolved please let me know.
I would like to thank David for his contribution over the last three years. I often travelled with
him to regional meetings and his understanding and enthusiasm for our movement was
inspirational.
What’s on at the National Executive Committee (NEC)?
The NEC is the executive board of the Third Age Trust. The National Office implements
policy and works for the NEC. I went to my first NEC meeting last week.
The NEC has a number of sub-committees that deal with issues in detail and make
proposals for the main NEC to consider. I am on the Information Technology subcommittee and our first job will be to produce an advice sheet about membership
systems. The framework for the sub-committees’ work is the 3 year plan which was
unveiled at the national conference this September. I recommend this document to you.
A copy was sent to your chairman and you can download it from the national website.
Two other documents I can recommend are More Time to Learn, a good read for Group
Coordinators and Leaders, and also the Third Age Trust annual accounts. The latter is
not just figures and contains a good insight into the other regions as well as the TAT.
They are both available on the national website or with your Chairman or Secretary.
What’s on in our Region?
A key job for the Region’s Trustee is to help start new U3As. Holme Valley, based in
Holmfirth, is our latest and officially joined the Third Age Trust this August. I have just
had an enquiry from a village between Doncaster and Scunthorpe which I will be
following up in the next week. If you hear of any enquiries or have any suggestions for
new U3As please let me know.
Many regions have very active local groupings of U3As. There are few in YAHR and it is a
subject that we should consider in more depth at a future session.
In addition to the workshops organized by your YAHR committee there is a “Managing
Growth” workshop put on by the TAT this November 20th in Doncaster. (You can apply
via the national website) This is an issue for almost all U3As so you may well find it
helpful.
Neil Stevens
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YAHR Summer School
3rd – 6th August 2015
The topics on offer are yet to be finalised but will include at least 6 of the following:(further detail s are on the next two pages)
Climate Change
Feng Shui
Literature
Ukulele
History
Philosophy
Photoshop Elements
Tai Chi
The Romantics
DNA/Criminology
Gift Wrapping
Painting and Drawing
Singing for Pleasure
If you are interested in attending please email [email protected]
We will let you know the final list of topics and send you an application form in January.
It will help us if you say which would be your favourite topics from the list above.
Or write to Denise West 18 Periwood Grove, Mill House Green, Sheffield, S8 0HX
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Climate Change [Mike Wiseman]
Adapting to Climate Change - how do we manage our future?'
'What should governments be doing, what should industry be doing, what should householders
be doing, and how should we guide the next generation?
Literature [Melinda Jackson]
The Mid-20th Century English Novel. A resume for this would be:
This theme will look at works by Laurie Lee, LP Hartley, Alan Sillitoe and others who reflect the
changes taking place after the Second World War and their struggles to come to terms with a
rapidly changing society.
History [Peter Palmer]
Blenheim to Waterloo, including a contrast between command styles on the battlefield with emphasis on Marlborough (Blenheim) and Wellington (Waterloo).
Philosophy [Beth Rudkin]
An introduction to Philosophy including a look at some of the thinking of ancient and
modern Philosophers and the chance to do a bit of thinking yourselves.
Tai Chi [Jim Butterfield]
By the end of the summer school those with no Tai Chi experience will learn some simple exercises useful for daily routines and have an appreciation of the 24-step form. Those familiar
with Tai Chi will have the opportunity for a few days of intensive practice and to share their
their experiences. All may expect to feel fitter and healthier at the end of the summer school.
DNA/Criminology [Chris Woolven]
Starting with the concept of what DNA is and how it determines our individual biological make
up, we progress to explain the nature of genetic fingerprinting from its conception through to
the most recent advances in the methodology and available technology. There will be discussion on the controversial nature of keeping National DNA databases and we will look at the different approaches used by various countries around the world.
Painting and Drawing [Roy Ridsdale]
Still life drawing and painting and/ or buildings. All depends on the weather. Wentworth castle
is a lovely environment to draw.
Feng Shui [Christine Latham]
To provide a basic understanding of the principles with attendees developing the skills to use
Feng Shui in the home environment.
Ukulele [Sheila Metcalfe and others]
An opportunity for beginners to learn some basic chords and to join in and play with a small
group of recent converts to the Ukulele
Photoshop Elements [Peter Higginbottom]
A chance to learn how to make best use of the available software to enhance and dramatically
change your digital photographs.
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The Romantics [Dave and Margaret Alton]
From Innocence to Experience, The Romantics in Verse and Pictures.
We propose to match poems from the romantic poets with appropriate paintings by artists of
the same period.
For example, "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" by Wordsworth alongside
a painting of the Abbey by Turner.
Gift Wrapping
Learn how to professionally wrap your gifts including how to make beautiful bows and
astonishing flowers out of simple ribbons.
———-
Have you visited the Wentworth Castle Gardens?
Most members attending the August Study Day took the opportunity of touring the gardens
and many took part in a guided tour. The enjoyed the rose garden, the refurbished
conservatory and Stainborough Castle, the folly at the top of the hill from where the Earl
of Wentworth used to look down 9physically and metaphorically) on his rival at Wentworth
Woodhouse.
The visitor centre has an attractive tearoom where you can get coffee, lunch or afternoon
tea at very reasonable prices.
Retiresavvy…
….is the name for an ‘on-line community’ to be launched shortly by Skipton Building Society.
Watch this space!
Regional Travel Network
It’s been suggested that YAHR facilitate a regional network of local U3A travel organisers
with the idea of offering places that are available on trips to other U3As in the region.
Several benefits of the idea have been muted including for example, preventing planned
trips from being cancelled due to lack of takers, keeping travel costs to a minimum, offering
a much wider variety of travel options, and opportunity for networking. It may even give local
travel organisers the courage to plan longer trips or be more adventurous, knowing that the
Regional Travel Network can be there if required to help make it happen.
A presentation was made to YAHR’s regional general meeting on 24 th October and
chairs and secretaries were supportive of the idea. The next step is for a small number of
interested people to get together to discuss the issues involved and agree key points that
can be drawn together into a draft protocol.
It is important to stress that the region is not of itself organising trips but that the main
purpose of the network would be to help reduce the risk for trips and holidays organised by
member U3As failing to happen because of low numbers, and for individual folk who love to
travel or even feel the urge, to get the best out of their membership of U3A.
If your U3A was not represented at the general meeting and you would like to be involved,
please contact Barbara Dransfield.
Samina Aslam, Vice Chair of Sheffield U3A & Coordinator for Sheffield European
Travel Group
Barbara Dransfield, Travel Network Project Coordinator, YAHR
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Calling all poets!
You are warmly invited to enter the first
YAHR Poetry Competition
The competition is open to members of U3As in the Yorkshire and Humber
region. Jean Stevens, of Settle U3A, has kindly agreed to be our judge. Jean is
a recognised poet and has significant evaluation experience.
Members may submit up to three poems on any topic. Poems may not
exceed 40 lines, including the title. They must be original work and should
not have been previously published. They should be typed and in English.
Jean will judge the poems on their overall quality. Her decision will be final.
The results will be announced in May 2015 and the winning poem(s) will be
published, along with Jean’s comments, in the May edition of YAHR News
Poems should be emailed to [email protected] or sent to Hilary
Baker by the closing date of 28 February 2015. Hilary’s address is:
Ivy End
The Green
Long Preston,
Skipton
BD23 4PE
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9
Visit to South Africa including Volunteering Opportunity in Lesotho
From 15 January to early February 2015 members of Howden and Sheffield U3As will
combine a visit to Cape Town and a mini-safari with 11 days’ volunteering in a mountain
village in Lesotho. Places are still available! Our leader is the inspirational Ken Dunn .
It was in 2009 that Ken began to reach beyond mainstream teaching and build on the success
of the community-linking with southern Africa he had established throughout the previous
decade. Having resigned from his post as assistant head teacher at a school in Sheffield, he
set up Connecting Communities Worldwide, a social enterprise that does just that; it connects
people from one part of the world to another, on real projects – projects that are lifeenhancing, life-changing, and in some instances, life-saving.
Ken considers that a lot of well-intentioned work carried out in Africa has been done badly and
believes it would have been better had it not been implemented at all, because all it has done
is perpetuate a dependency culture. But rather than working for the community, what Ken is
doing, is working with them – such a huge difference – and something that is far from easy, as
there is much that needs to be done. As a consequence, Ken has been extremely selective
with the groups that he is working with, both in Africa and the UK. First and foremost, he
wants people to come and give human kindness – to give of themselves – and if they have
skills and knowledge, that’s wonderful – that can be weaved into the mix - but come and see
another person in a different circumstance, and have good grace.
The visit will be provided through a strategic alliance between Connecting Communities
Worldwide and Face Africa, a UK registered, bonded & insured tour operator with over ten
years’ experience of working with UK school and community groups on expeditions to Africa.
The visit is not exclusive to U3A members and is suited to others who also have the desire to
engage with the community in Lesotho and build relationships with people.
What better start point for the 20-day itinerary than the ‘Mother City’, Cape Town. Organised
visits to Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Cape Point
and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, will all create lasting memories of the first days of
the African adventure. The journey continues on day 4 with a flight to Bloemfontein in the
Orange Free State and the party then travel by road to Lesotho for a stay of 11 nights at
Malealea Lodge in the Maluti Mountains. Accommodation is provided in ‘Farmhouse’ rooms
or Rondavels, all with en-suite bathrooms. Work days will depend on the project to be
undertaken but there will be opportunities to head out and explore – a hike to the spectacular
Botsoela Waterfall - a pony-trek along the ridge of the Makhaleng River. With the project work
completed and an abundance of memories to treasure, the group then fly from the capital
Maseru to Johannesburg for a two-night stay in the Pilanesberg National Park, the ideal
location for viewing game from an open vehicle, before heading back home .
The base cost per person for a group of 12 people will be in the region of £2400. For a group
of twenty people, the base cost per person would reduce to a sum in the region of £2000.
Optional add-ons at stated additional costs are available, such as an extra day in Cape Town
or a guided tour of the Apartheid Museum situated just south of Johannesburg.
Anyone interested in obtaining further details of the visit should contact Kay Phillips, telephone
01405 752444 or email [email protected]
Brian Curtis, Howden U3A
10
Sheffield U3A’s 2015 Big Holiday
The Rioja and St James Pilgrim Trail
8th – 18th September 2015
On this remarkable tour of Northern Spain we travel from Sheffield to Barcelona by train, where
our adventure begins. After an overnight stay and free morning to experience this cosmopolitan
city we leave by train to Logrono, the Capital of the Rioja region. From Barcelona we travel by
rail to Santiago de Compostela, through the very heart of the La Rioja wine region. We taste
the famous wines of the region including the Marques de Riscal estate, visit the cities and
sights on the pilgrimage route of St James, then onto Burgos which holds the burial tomb of
El CID and finish at the elegant 2016 European City of Culture, San Sebastian for 2 nights
before travelling back to Sheffield.
The holiday includes 10nights bed and breakfast, 6 dinners and a 1 lunch. Return rail travel
from Sheffield, coach trips to vine villages and all transfers and most gratuities and guided
walking tours of Leon, Santiago de Compostela and Burgos.
Please note. The first and last day of the holiday will be spent on trains with changes in London
and Paris. Whilst the seating is spacious and comfortable with plenty of opportunity to move
around, it can be demanding - Carrying your own luggage, getting on/off trains, changing
platforms, walking to hotels and coaches.
The cost of this 11 day, 10 night stay will be approximately £1735 per person with a £400
single supplement. This price is based on a minimum number applying. Should we have more
applying the price will be reduced
For a more detailed itinerary/ application form please Contact Brian Cave, at
bpcave@hotmailcom / 73 Highcliffe Road, Sheffield S11 7LP/ Tel:0114 230 5312
Samina Aslam, Sheffield U3A
11
Hornsea & District 5th Birthday Celebration
**Barbara Lewis and Doreen Shuttleworth
(Courtesy of Hornsea Gazette)
Hornsea U3A celebrated their 5th birthday at the Sacred Heart Church Hall with a picnic. Barbara Lewis, Chairman of
the Third Age Trust, opened the proceedings having travelled from London via train that morning. The U3A in
Hornsea started with just 40 people who wished to continue learning in retirement in a social environment and now
has just under 200 members.
Doreen Shuttleworth entertained us with a monologue dedicated to Yorkshire pudding, After this the Folk Dancing
Group showed us a very good way of improving our memory and fitness, whilst enjoying ourselves through country
dancing, and encouraging other members of the U3A to join in. As you could see from the mayhem you need to remember what to do next! Spectators and dancers alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Thanks to David & Hazel for all their hard work in arranging the display.
Many members enjoyed their Irish Coffee and a small flutter on the horses, the racetrack being a large green jigsaw
and the horses made out of cardboard. The winning group shared the kitty of £16! Winners of the raffle prizes of 12
months U3A membership, afternoon tea for two at Williams Farmshop, a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine
and a large box of Thornton chocolates received them with delight. Doreen closed the proceedings with another
monologue..
Sadly, the afternoon came to an end all too quickly. All agreed the picnic was a success and we look forward to our
next 5 years with enthusiasm.
Suzanne Jones, Hornsea U3A
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A Reason to Celebrate—20th Anniversary of Doncaster U3A
On Tuesday 16th September, 2014, Doncaster U3A celebrated its' twenty years of existence
with a luncheon at the Trades Club, Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster. Over ninety members were
present, together with guests. Round tables had been hired for the occasion, each centred by
attractive floral arrangements provided by some of our groups, and outside caterers provided
an efficiently served and perfectly satisfactory three-course meal.
At shortly after 12.30pm our Chairman, Chris Woolven, welcomed everyone, especially our two
honoured guests, The Deputy Mayor of Doncaster, Councillor Glyn Jones, and our guest
speaker Dr. Alex McMinn, J.P., M.B.E. Chris also welcomed a number of present members who
were 'founder members' twenty years ago.
The Deputy Mayor admitted that when he had received the invitation to attend he knew little
about the U3A, but he had done his research and his encouraging talk indicated that he
understood and supported our aims and objectives. He was well received.
After the meal our Chairman introduced Dr. McMinn. Those of us who have heard him speak
before were not disappointed. Alex McMinn, of Ormskirk and District U3A, has been an
eloquent and informative advocate all that the U3A means for many years. At over eighty years
of age he illustrates in himself the main thrust of his enlightening, stimulating and often funny
talk, that we are not only living longer but staying active and energetic longer than we were
even twenty years ago, and that the well-being fostered by U3A activities is helping significantly
in this. He underlined the importance of how 'belonging' can combat the loneliness experienced
by many people as they get older, and concluded by making the admonitory point that we must
not rest on our laurels because the world is changing rapidly and we in the U3A must embrace
this and change with it in order to best serve our communities.
Our talented Chairman then surprised us with some relaxed and melodic renditions from 'the
great American songbook' finishing in style with some attractive umbrella twirling by Jill, Diane
and Betty to accompany 'Singing in the Rain'. Our vice-chairman, David Allen, then entertained
us with some amusing poems and monolgues in the Stanely Holloway mould, and the
afternoon's entertainment was concluded by 'Sing Along With Harry' - song sheets provided - in
which we followed Harry Santuiste's lead and gave voice to some real old favourites from our
childhood and beyond. I think I can say, on behalf of everyone present, that the occasion was a
resounding success, and I have already heard requests for something similar at Christmas.
Colin Brown, Doncaster U3A
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