Clive Waterman:- Chairman

Welcome back after the Easter Break. I am sure all of you leaders and helpers appreciated the rest despite the wintry weather. At least there will not be another Easter this early in our lifetime.  

No doubt many of you booked your chosen trips on our first Monday back after Easter, from the extensive list that our hardworking Glennis had prepared to cover the next six months.

We finish the spring term on Friday 30th May and return on Monday lst September. Will all leaders whose groups use rented accommodation please inform our Bookings Manager, Edith Bowers, before the end of May, when you wish to start and finish your group meetings in the Autumn.  Otherwise, you may find that your preferred venue will not be available.

We will not, as hoped, have Bill Freeman's Orchestra performing for us at the end of this year's Autumn Term. However, we are grateful that last November, Bill volunteered to add a musical sparkle to our 10th Anniversary Celebration. And you will be able to sit and listen to our Orchestra without any background noise, in the Civic Hall on Saturday 26th April. Tickets are available at the Council Office in Lawton Road with all proceeds going to St. Luke's Hospice.

  Our l0th Anniversary Celebrations are now drawing to a close with most of our veteran members having received their Anniversary Booklet. The final item is the Floral Display on the planted mound in Milton Park with "U3A 10th. Anniversary" picked out in flowers. The exact date is dependent on when the bedding plants will be ready and, of course, the weather. However, it will certainly be on view before we close down in May. So have your cameras ready.

  Just one more but important item the Committee would like you to think about in advance of the AGM, is would you be, or do you know anyone else, willing to serve for a couple of years in one of the posts on our Committee? If any of you would like to know more about the posts, we have written details of the duties for each of them. They may be obtained at the Help desk on Monday mornings.

  Now go and enjoy the spring.

ANTIQUES SECTION  - by Peter Need

The Antiques Section continues to grow, which has enabled me to obtain some first class speakers. On the 25^th February Terry Abbotts gave a talk on Burgess, Dorling and Leigh, and how the Dorling Family have re-vitalised an old pottery due for demolition, and are now exporting their blue and white ware worldwide.

Fred Hughes gave the last of his trilogy on the music hall and its effect on modern day music, which everyone enjoyed very much. At the time of writing we are looking forward to the following talks which will take place before the publication date of the 28^th April 2008.

  On the 31^st March Kay Bashford will be giving a talk on “The Story of Hats” , with some fine miniature examples. Alf Hughes will give a presentation on Staffordshire Figures on the 14^th April. The 28^th April sees a visit by Peter Goodfellow, an authority on Vine Pottery, set up by ex Minton workers. There will be standing room only for a visit by Kath Niblett, who will give a talk on Moorcroft, an extremely popular subject. Hope we can find some extra chairs!!!!!!!!!!! This will be the last meeting before the summer break.

  For anyone wishing to join us, we meet every other Monday at 3.30 in Wesley Place. You will be most welcome.

  Our new term starts on the 8^th September with a visit from Richard de Peyer from

Macclesfield Silk Museum. Anyone got any Macclesfield Silks??????

Information is posted on the Civic Hall Notice Board

BOWLS - Peter Thompson

Ably led and inspired by our leader, Ken Lanham, and his wife, Valerie, the Rode Heath group has gone from strength to (ebbing?) strength. Friendships are being forged and never a crossword! We may have variable standards, being only relative beginners, but we do have a barrow full of laughs and the friendliest of rivalries (only the keen keep scores!). We look forward to our regular meetings with relish (and tea and biscuits!) This year we have been testing our skills on different greens: twice, at the Nag's Head near Nantwich (reassuringly, the right hand continued to function as well with the glass as with the bowl!), and once, early in the New Year, at the long distance indoor course at Prestatyn. This latter occasion was, by all accounts, an experience in itself, and enjoyed by all who took part. Unfortunately, due to railway engineering works at Rugby being work in progress, and incomplete at the time, my wife and I were thwarted in our attempts to travel North to make the trip. Having now survived a bout of indoor bowling (an activity for which tablets are nearly always prescribed!), we are all looking forward to the new season outdoors.

DEFIBRILLATORS IN ALSAGER By Alex Mc Nee SB.St.J FBIST Organiser

Some three years ago, thanks to donations from local organisations, we raised enough money to purchase four defibrillators. (Heart Start Machines)., which remain in situ today.

           At our request, St John Ambulance, Chester Headquarters, trained twelve local volunteers to operate the machines should a heart attack occur.

           Back in 2007 the EEC Resuscitation Council altered the resuscitation process meaning that the defibrillators had to be recalibrated to meet the new process requirements.

  The recalibration by the manufacturers cost £500.00 and I wish to thank the following people who contributed to the cost:

Alsager Round Table, United Co-op Charities Fund, Alsager Town Council, Alsager Probus Group, Alsager U3A, And some small Public Donations

  The defibrillators are situated in the Civic Centre, (Manager's Office), Alsager Co-op Store, Williams Chemist, and Alsager Leisure Centre.

FIRST AID GROUP - Alec McNee  Leader

The last First Aid course for Alsager was the twentieth group, having run two to three groups every year for the last eight years, and having taught first aid to some 300+ members.

The photograph shows members at the Jan-March group practicing C.P.A. (resuscitation) to a casualty who has collapsed from a suspected heart attack, whilst others apply slings and bandages to control bleeding or fractures.

In fact the gentleman with the arm sling, Winton, using skills learned at the first aid course, was able to give first aid to a young man who had slipped and injured himself one icy morning early in February,.

The next FREE FIRST AID course will start on Friday, October 3rd, for six weeks at the United Reform Church rooms, 10:00-11.30am each Friday.

To book a place, enter your name on the list on the Notice Board in September, or contact ALEX on 884350.

Mah-Jong - Sue Palser

Hello. I’d like to introduce myself. My Name is Sue Palser, and I have just taken over the running of our Monday afternoons Mah-jong club.

We are a small friendly group who meet at Wesley Place church hall between 1:15 and 3:15 pm.

All new members are made welcome and can soon become addicted to this fascinating Chinese tile game.

Please come along and join in the fun. For more information my telephone number is 882437

Philately group - Leader Ken Lowe

Stamps !!! How do we get them? No, not from the Post Office, but how do they get there ? Who decides what should be on them and how many should there be ?

Most countries postal authorities are the people who decide a plan of issues, so for GB the plan is worked out by the Post Office, and they take into account any special government need. When this has been done, and dates set for new issues, a competition for designs is requested. Most modern countries use committees to decide on the actual final design to be used. This committee will usually include serious graphic designers and also philatelic experts. The committee sets out at the beginning all details about methods of printing, and what could be included in the end design. As you are aware, GB was the first issuer of stamps. However in the early days stamps, letter sheets and envelopes were not printed in the quantities that we have today. So some mail was still handed in at post office counters with cash and marked up "Paid". This continued until stamps became compulsory in 1853, some 13 years after the first stamps were issued.

There are various methods of printing. When the final design is accepted it may be given to an engraver who then produces a line drawing of the design. This is usually at least six times the size of the stamp, and enables the designer and the committee to check all details and ensure that it can be reproduced at the required size. Then various printings are made to check colours that have been suggested, or to see if anything needs re­doing before the final order is given. The designer and the committee are again involved prior to the stamp being printed up ready to issue at the post offices.

In some years not many stamps were produced, for example in the reign of George VI from 1936 to 1952 some 16 years, 58 different stamps were issued. These include colour changes, definitive stamps and commemorative stamps. Contrast this with say 1987, when 33 commemorative stamps alone were issued. For 2009 I believe some 15 or 16 sets of stamps will be issued, taking a guess of at least 4 stamps per set are we now producing too many.

John Kane.

OUTINGS AND VISITS - Glennis Roper

May 1^st Thurs.      Ring a Ring O’Roses story of the plague of 1665- tour to Eyam, guided by John Doughty, lunch break in Bakewell & on to Tissington Well Dressing Cost approx £15 includes coffee and  biscuits.

May 14^th    Wed.  On the trail of Pendle Witches, guided coach tour of the area, tour of The Heritage Centre and some retail therapy at Bardon Mill Cost approx. £21.50p. Includes morning coffee and biscuits.  8.15 am  dep.

June 11^th Wed. Guided tour of the Yorkshire Dales with David Haydon, lunch stop in Hawes Cost approx £12.  8.30 am dep.

June 26^th Thurs. Crosby for Andrew Gormley’s Iron Men (guided by Rodger Burgess.)    Afternoon free in Southport.  Cost approx £10.5 8.30am dep.

July 9^th   Wed.      Evesham, four star day out inc. coffee on arrival, guided tour of heritage centre, free time, a cruise on the River Avon and finally a cream tea. Cost approx £19. 8.30am dep.

  July 24^th Thurs.    Port Sunlight guided tour. Cost approx. £10.

  Aug 6^th    Wed.     ‘Electric Mountain’ LLanberis. Guided tour inside the mountain by expedition bus to see the hydro electric power station. Coffee stop at Llangollen, lunch stop at Betws-y -Coed   Cost approx £16. 8.30am dep.

  Aug.20^th   Wed.    Wroxeter Roman Vineyard and Roman city, Shropshire inc. tour, coffee, lunch and wine tasting! Cost approx £22

  Sep 3^rd      Wed     Visit to Whittington Barracks for World War 1 trench followed by visit to Alrewas to see Armed forces Memorial etc. Cost approx £11

  Sep 16^th    Tues.   Judges Lodging at Presteigne, Powys stopping for coffee at Dobbies Garden Centre near Shrewsbury en route Cost approx £17 includes tea and cakes after afternoon tour

The above are the ‘Days Out’ for the summer. In order to meet the deadline for articles for inclusion in April newsletter I have to write this piece before ‘signing up day’ so I do not know how many places will still be available by the time the newsletter is published but it is always worth putting your name on a waiting list if the day out you would like to go on is full. It is rare to go anywhere with every seat taken and I do telephone people in waiting list order to see if they would still like to go right up to the last minute. In order to save time and money it is helpful if you remove your name from a waiting list if you find that you are no longer interested in going should a place arise. The difficulties with the web site have hopefully now been resolved  so I all  the above are on the website www.alsageru3a.org.uk Our visit to London in early March to see the Terracotta Warrior and Tutankhamun exhibitions was most successful; I am indebted to Pam Freeman for her report on our visit. Judging by the amount of shopping bags everyone was carrying when we left Boundary Mill last week I think most people also enjoyed that day out, the fish and chip restaurant was certainly appreciated! I hope that there is something in the above list to interest most people and I shall look forward to spending days out with you during the summer, lets hope that we have the same good weather that we have become accustomed to. As in previous years I am appealing for soft toys in good condition to be used to raise funds for St Lukes Hospice on the Teddy Tombola at Alsager Carnival, that is if you still have any  left as you have been most generous in the past! They can be brought in to me at the Outings desk any Monday morning. Thank you.

*****STOP PRESS*****

  SOUTH AFRICA PANORAMA TOUR FEBRUARY 14^TH 2009 15 NIGHTS £2350.PER PERSON EARLY BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP THE ABOVE AMAZING PRICE FOR THIS TRULY FANTASTIC HOLIDAYFULL DETAILS AVAILABLE AT THE OUTINGS DESK

“Mummy, what did your Daddy do?” by Liz Holmes

Is that a question you wish you’d asked your Mother?  How many of us wish we’d asked our parents more about their own parents and grandparents when they were alive to ask?  I certainly wish I’d asked these questions of my parents when I was younger, but somehow I never had any interest back then.  It is only when it’s too late that you wish you could find out more.   In an attempt to prevent our children and grandchildren from having the same regrets in later life, the “Life Story Writing” group was set up to try and keep our own families’ records.   We are a fairly small group who meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of the month in the Civic Centre bar room from 2.00 till 4.00 p.m.   During the time between meetings we write a short piece on a subject from our past that interests us, and read it out to the group at the next meeting.  It’s amazing how many memories one person’s account can stir in the others, and fascinating discussions often take place between readings.   Some of the group have now been meeting for about four years, whereas others have been with us for less than 12 months.  We’d love to see some new members join the group, and guidance can always be offered on suitable subjects to concentrate on to get you started. It’s surprising how many people say they’ve started writing their family history but don’t seem to get round to it very often.  If that description fits you, joining our group will give you the incentive and discipline to carry on.  We rely mainly on our memories and those of our siblings – we don’t delve deeply into many past generations, though it was watching the BBC’s “Who do you think you are?” that first inspired me to join the group.

  I’d love to hear from anyone who’d like to join us.  Why not give me a ring on 874536, and we can talk more about what we do.  Hope to hear from you soon!

DIDN’T WE HAVE A ‘LUVVERLY’ TIME…….?  by Pam Freeman

At 8am on Tuesday 4^th March a full coach of U3A travellers pulled out from the Civic car park, bound for London. At one o’clock we arrived at the British Museum (the famous ‘carbuncle’) to see the Terracotta Warriors.  Nothing read or seen in pictures could have prepared us for what we saw.  The warriors, crafted over 2000 years ago, stand larger than life in perfect detail; foot soldiers, archers, court dignitaries, musicians – each face as different from the next as real-life people are.  Indeed, they are eerily life-like.  Behind them stand a team of four full-sized horses, nostrils flared, drawing a replica chariot.  Next, there is a team of four bronze horses, about a third of life size, hitched to the original bronze chariot – made to represent the one The First Emperor Qin would have used to make his journeys in the spirit world.

  Next day, we were driven right across London, seeing all the famous buildings on the way, to the O2 Dome and forward in time to 1300BC to see some of the Tomb Treasures of the boy King Tutankhamun.  These included his gilt and cornelian looking-glass case, wooden model ships and gold tableware, all placed around him to make his after-life comfortable and fitting his status.  One richly decorated chest contained several pairs of royal sandals and other items, including jewellery said to have been worn by him during his short reign.

  There was ample free time to pursue our own interests.  These included independent sightseeing, meals out and visits to theatres of our choice, providing lots to talk about the following day.  Two intrepid ladies (who shall be nameless) actually came back from the theatre to our hotel in Bayswater in a Bicycle Rickshaw.  A breezy and hair-raising ride, according to reports!  They acquired a Chinese lantern each from the furiously pedalling young man as a souvenir!

  Our last morning was spent at Kensington Palace, looking around Princess Margaret’s apartments (now sadly unfurnished), the Princess Diana memorial rooms and the Royal Apartments, looking much as they did when lived in by Queen Anne and the young Victoria before she became Queen.  Lunch in the elegant Orangery rounded off our visit and we strolled back across Kensington Gardens to the Hotel to be driven home to Alsager.

  The trip was exciting, memorable, instructive – but above all great fun, in great company.  Can’t wait for the next one , And by the way, true to tradition, the weather was beautiful.

ITS ONLY MONEY - K M Ryan

  As we grow we learn about money in many different ways. One way is through our nursery rhymes: for example-Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye, half a pound of two-penny rice, half a pound of treacle. A few years later we will ask for a penny for the guy. Even later on we whisper a penny for your thoughts into our lover’s ear. When we fail to understand, we say the penny has not dropped.

No not the largest amount of money the penny, but its influence is embedded in our memory, and as they say its ‘only money’. The humble penny, the smallest of our legal tender, is in truth an important part of our every day life. Its value is so often abused. To a poor man it means he is not without: to the rich it means nothing. Yet in its own way, to each and every one of us, it can become a vital part of our lives. It is said that a King once offered his kingdom for a horse. We, as mere commoners, can take great comfort in the fact that we can sit upon the proverbial throne for one penny. The rich and the poor, at sometime, will need to spend a penny. It is then that the penny rules!

So never let it be said that the penny has little or no value. For at times far from being the least valued coin it has become the most precious coin we have. Can we say honestly ignore the part it has played, and dare we say pleasure, relief, this humble coin has given us. To this end we should salute the majestic part it has played in our lives.

WEDNESDAY TABLE TENNIS Gwyneth J. Godfrey

How time flies! I can hardly believe it is now a year and three months since I took over the leadership of the Wednesday group from Joyce Salt. When I first joined some four or five years ago now, Joyce wasn't sure if the group could continue as numbers were dwindling. However, since then, the group began to go from strength to strength, and we now have 30 members on Wednesday morning . A new group was formed by Bob Somerville-Roberts on Friday afternoons some eighteen months ago and now has 27 members. At the present time there are waiting lists only for both groups.

We have had another varied and mainly happy year during 2007, with the purchase of three new tables by the U3A, thus enabling more people to play. I feel we have all improved our games and there is a strong competitive spirit amongst us! We also have great fun! There were, however, a couple of sad moments last year, when we lost two of our members, Dennis Doncaster in July (the official 'ballboy') and Frank Billows in September (his good-natured Liverpudlian humour keeping us all laughing) We miss them both and our thoughts are with Jean, and with Dorothy, who still plays on Wednesdays. We all look forward to another happy year, filled with companionship and, hopefully, ever-improving table tennis.

Table Tennis (Friday) - Bob Somerville-Roberts

The Friday group started life about two years ago as an overflow from the Wednesday group.  We meet on Fridays at 14:00 for a two hour session at the Rode Heath Village Hall. Our numbers fluctuate at different times of the year, but for the last session, Christmas to Easter, we had a full complement of 28.  This resulted in a waiting list for the overflow group as well!

We play on three full size tables and usually play doubles.  Our playing standards range from quite good to pretty awful in spite of which, or possibly because of, we all get on very well.  We are an extremely friendly crowd and it is clear from the continuous laughter and chatter that everyone is enjoying the experience.   Many new members make the same comment on their first visit – “I haven’t played for over 50 years” but it does not take long before they realize that most of us are in the same boat.

There is one group member who plays in a different league to most of us.  I refer, of course, to Peter Hancock.  Peter generously attempts to show us how we should make our shots.  This sometimes produces good results for a short time and sometimes not.  It seems that bad table tennis habits come into the same category as riding a bicycle.  Once learned – never forgotten.

We are extremely fortunate in our venue.  It is absolutely ideal for our purpose and there is room for our three tables and still plenty of sitting out area.  Even the kitchen allows us to have our tea and coffee in comfort.

Clearly table tennis is a very popular activity.  Whilst the numbers are at the maximum for the Friday group at the moment, as mentioned earlier, numbers do vary, so anyone wanting to join is encouraged to ask – you never know – you just could be lucky.

I feel honoured and privileged to be the leader of this group, a position that owes nothing to my standard of play but more to my expertise in buying coffee, tea and other goodies.

U3A Wine Club (Clive Kendrick)

The club has been in existence for a few years, and it is surprising how much the wine scene continues to change. Of the wines the group taste, a great variation of wines from different areas of the world are now sampled, with French wines only part of the wider scene, rather than having the lion’s share. Frank (Mawman) rings the changes and seeks to reflect the changing and contemporary scene. The format for the evening, however, has remained remarkably stable i.e. six wines to sample and discuss, analysis and grading of the wines and of course differences of opinion within the group.

  As the years have passed, more technical vocabulary is used, but essentially the social nature of the evening has been retained. Frank’s specialist knowledge helps fuel the debate, but the group has developed a confidence to articulate its likes and dislikes. We have been fortunate to be able to enter Frank’s world of wine- a treasure trove of flavours and styles to be assessed and enjoyed,

  On the second Friday of most months, members arrive at Dennis Round Court in a mood of expectation. Will they encounter tonight the Cabernet Sauvignon grape from Bordeaux- the Haut Medoc, or perhaps the wines of the Napa Valley from California, or one from Coonawarra in Australia, or from Hawkes Bay in New Zealand, or perhaps Curico in Chile?

The U3A Wine Club is a reflection of a world commodity with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wines to taste- it looks as if second Fridays are pencilled in for some time yet!

LOCAL HISTORY AND TALK  TIME

On a recent Monday morning we had the pleasure of listening to John Lindley's poems from his book 'CHESHIRE RISING', which I thoroughly enjoyed. John was the second of Cheshire's Poet Laureates in 2004 when he undertook various commissions from Cheshire County Council. I particularly enjoyed his poem 'Cheshire Rising' which was commissioned for a  'Revealing Cheshire's Past' exhibition, and most evocative it was.

I didn't know anything at all about the Cheshire Poet Laureate, so I went into the library to find out. In the library I found Andrew Rudd's book of poems ‘ONE CLOUD AWAY FROM THE SKY', to commemorate his tenure of the title for 2006. I found two poems which might bring memories back to you of the time Gordon Farr of Willaston came to talk to us on the Willaston International Worm Charming Championships. This event, under the heading of the 'Englishness of a village fete', was one of Andrew's commissions. He was kind enough to give me permission to put these in the U3A Magazine. I will return the book to the library and recommend it to you as a good read.

SONNET OF THE WORM-CHARMERS

With strange contraptions & inventors art

We set the siege and mark the heaving field.

How many worms our skill and labour yield

Is entered, totalled on the tally chart

Which will bring glory. In this race

Patience is strength, and every worm

Unearthed, a goal which will confirm

One victory, one final winning place.

And all those worms that blindly wait fpr rain

Whose gentle drops can make our briftle world

A friendly place where worms may bask, uncurled,

Come squirming, writhing from their holes in vain:

Drawn from that darkness by the hopeful sound

That pulls them hopeless from their native ground.

Spring Prom

Presented by the Alsager Support Group of St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice

at

Alsager Civic Centre

Saturday 26^th April at 7.30pm

Members and friends of Alsager U3A Orchestra

Will entertain with music from shows and films

Soloists Gill Barrow, Lynne Evans and Jane Olphin

Tickets price £7.50p available by telephoning 01270 872813) or 01270 877598

Tickets include light refreshments. There will be an interval bar.

Home Thoughts - Pat Hughes - Writing for Pleasure Group

Oh, to be in England

Now that April's there

And whoever wakes in England

Is, every day, aware

The Budget didn't help us, there's the Council Tax to pay

And the papers only bring us gloom and misery every day

We'll have to manage, can't think how!

In England - now.

But, wait - we're missing something,

Just look outside - it's spring.

Let's get out and enjoy it all,

It doesn't cost a thing.

The birds still sing, the flowers still bloom

Don't sit inside your little room.

The summer's coming, get things planned

It's still a green and pleasant land

And Browning got it right!

(With apologies)

Obituaries

It is with deep regret that we sadly inform you of the passing away of  a member of Alsager U3A.  Doreen Pollock