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U3A EAST LONDON NEWSLETTER

The University of the Third Age

Newsletter No 76 April/May 2016

It is always good to start off with some good news. Thank you to Margaret Baxter, Shirley Slinger, Sue Smith and Marion Victor for coming forward and joining the Committee. We welcome you and hope you will have as much fun serving on the Committee as we do. Anne Cooke sent me part of a letter she had received from a friend in the UK and I quote it here as I think it sums up what serving on a U3A Committee is all about.

“Last year I realised just how much U3A had given me – new friends, new outlets and new study avenues among like-minded people …So when the Chairman appealed for volunteers to join the Committee, I thought it a good way to give something back…It has been rewarding and fun so far. Almost 100% back-up from my fellow-committee members – they’re a hard-working and enthusiastic group – not to mention sharing a sense of humour, so meetings go well….”

I think we can say the same about the EL U3A Committee. Ideally we would like to have another two members on the Committee to begin learning the ropes so there is a continual smooth operation of U3A affairs. So volunteer and join in the fun. Calling all U3A men – John and Toni would like some male support, please!

It was wonderful to see the good turnout for Dean Allen’s talk on his new book, “Empire, War and Cricket”. Everyone there enjoyed the talk very much and, for me, I was amazed at the history behind that little ‘dorp’ Matjiesfontein. And a Scottish Laird? Who would have thought?

I hope you have all enjoyed the recent rain and the cooler air that followed. The sun is coming up later in the morning and there is a welcome freshness in the air. Okay – so I am an Autumn and Winter person and I suppose if you are a Summer one, you won’t agree. Just as well the world is occupied by ‘all sorts’.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS: Shirley Baxter: (043) 721 3518. Shirley is also at every General and Current Affairs Meetings to answer any queries you may have regarding membership.

NEW MEMBERS: We have 221 Members.

Elaine Bourbon, Pearl Cox, Marlene Van Wyk, Julie and Peter Dangerfield, Meg Clark, Yvonne Gilbert, Carol Keep, Barbara Monfoort, Thelma Jamieson, Sheila Kilian, Anne and Paul Stamp. Returned Members: Jane Potgieter and Coralie Durrheim.

We welcome you and trust you will find U3A activities rewarding and fulfilling.

BIRTHDAYS:

April: 4 Dorothy Dutton, 7 Donese Jenkins, 11 Avriel Murdock, 14 Ruth Strunck, 17 Aletta Erasmus, Yvonne Gilbert, 19 David Donkin, 21 Marion Mackley, 23 Pam Hobson, 28 Michael Stent, 30 Rose Thompson.

May: 3 Lorraine Long, Alvan Mandy, 6 Cyriel de Keyser, 7 Barry Chapman, Moira Dobrowsky, Jennifer Galloway, 8 Sheila Sanderson, 10 Nola Durno, Sheila Slinger, 14 Merle Bak, 15 Barbara Wiggill, 16 Jenny Swift, 17 Denis Ansell, 17 Annelies Boeke, 18 Estelle King, 23 Zilda Bursey, 25 Sue Matthis, 26 Mary Carter, 28 Laura Maynard, 29 Val Viljoen.

May your personal new year be healthy and happy.

COURSE NEWS: Anne Cooke: 084 502 2055, (043) 735 2055, .

Easter is upon us but I do hope you will find time to take part in U3A activities scheduled for April/May. Do remember to let your Course Leader know in good time if you are unable to attend the course.

We are delighted to welcome back Dave Donkin who assures us that he is now as “good as new”. He has a wonderful selection of Gilbert and Sullivan on offer starting on the fourth Thursday in April so be sure not to miss this.

Unfortunately Deanne Driver is unable to convene Music Appreciation at the moment, due to family commitments. Deanne will contact all M/A members when she is able.

Shirley Baxter commences her Walks of East London on Monday 23 May. As we all know, Shirley has a wealth of East London history at her fingertips so it should be a very informative and interactive outing. Thank you, Shirley.

DO CHECK THE ATTACHED COURSE SCHEDULE THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE DETAILS.

N.B. Management at Berea Gardens, Parklands and The Valley ask that all U3A members attending Courses held at any of the above venues PLEASE PARK IN THE STREET. Management have noted with displeasure that a number of members park inside the grounds and as you all know, parking is limited. I ask you all to co-operate as we do not want to lose our privileges in regard to the use of the venue. Should you have a problem with mobility please speak to the Officer on duty, or ask your driver/friend to drop you at the door and then to park outside. Please contact Shirley Baxter if you are disabled so that she can arrange parking with Management.

SPEAKERS: FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016:

General Meeting: 14 April, 09h30: Carl Vernon will be giving a presentation, “Peg-Leg and others on the Beach at Bonza Bay”. This will be an amusing and informative talk on birdlife on the beach.

12 May, 09h30: Nancy Tietz will be giving an illustrated talk “Weekending on the
Western Front”. This is an account of her four day visit to sites and cemeteries of the Somme and Flanders at the beginning of the Centenary, and her impression of the effects of WW1 on the people living there today.

Current Affairs: 21 April’, 10h00: Mary Wrench, Adviceworx, will be talking on Financial Matters for retired people and unpacking the Budget.

19 May, 10h00: TBA

Book Club: 21 April: To be held at Ann King’s home, 6 Lower Ridge Road.

25 May: Members will be advised.

Gilbert & Sullivan: 28 April: Dave Donkin: Dave will treat us to “The Mikado”, which has an amusing score and wonderful “Japanese” music. Many of you will have been members of various productions of this well-known operetta.

26 May: The well-loved “HMS Pinafore”.

Getting to know the J.S.E: John Pearson: First Thursday of the month: Each month we look at different JSE listed companies in depth and analyse as to whether we should add them to our ‘dummy” portfolio. The course aims to give us the knowledge to ask more probing questions of our portfolio manager, particularly in regard to our pension and investment funds. It is a great interactive course which is of interest to all of us. (This is one of the most interesting U3A Courses I attend and so I am surprised to see so few ladies there. It is much more than just understanding the JSE and I wonder if ladies are not interested in what will be happening to their investments and pensions? – Ed.)

Armchair Travel: John Stoddard: 4 April: Crossing Australia by Car and Train: This will cover Evelyn and John’s amazing trip from Darwin to Adelaide on the Ghan train and their 2,700km drive from Perth to Adelaide via Kalgoorie and the Nullarbor Plain.

2 May: Awesome Antartica, Nancy Teitz: What to wear, how to get there, life on board an ice-breaker and what happens when you get there. NOT TO BE MISSED.

Film Club: Rose Anley: 6 April: “Woman in Gold”. This is the story of Maria Altmann’s eight-year fight to reclaim “Woman in Gold”, a Klimt painting stolen from her family by the Nazis. Starring - Helen Mirren.

4 May: “Boy Choir”: A demanding Choirmaster (Dustin Hoffman) at an elite Music Academy pushes a gifted but rebellious student to fulfill his true potential.

Garden Club: Ann King: 12 April: TBA: 10 May: Meet at the home of Terry Briceland.

Walks of East London: Shirley Baxter: 3rd Monday of the month 08h30:

23 May: Meet at the Wimpy on the Esplanade. Duration – One and a half hours. Shirley will tell you a little about this and that as you walk to the harbour pier along the beach. This will be followed by coffee at the Wimpy (at your own expense).

John Stoddard would love to receive any photos taken of U3A’ers at Courses, so please take your cameras along and snap away merrily. Your photos might very well appear in the Newsletter and on the Website.

TAILPIECE: (An extract from an article in the British “Telegraph” of the 14th March 2016 sent in by John Stoddard).

“Passing on pearls of wisdom boosts pensioners’ health and gives them a sunnier outlook on life, scientists say. A new study showed that those who hand out tips to family members, friends, neighbours or even strangers see their lives as very meaningful. But pensioners who don’t share their experience feel their life is more pointless, scientists believe. People over 60 uniquely seem to benefit from providing advice, the study published in Social Psychology Quarterly concluded. But this happens to be the age when opportunities for dispensing it becomes increasingly scarce. ….

Prof Schafer said: “The mattering perspective helps explain why it’s this period of the life span, in particular, when it’s important for people to feel like they can still have influence on others through actions such as giving advice.”….

Hear, hear! So folk, pass this ‘pearl of wisdom’ on to your young ‘uns and starting handing out your hard-earned wisdom.

NOOKIE MIDDLETON AND THE NEWSLETTER TEAM.