In this newsletter:
- For your information
- Dates for your diary
- News
- Words
- Puzzles
- Short story
For your information
Hayling u3a Facebook
Our Facebook page has more than 150 members and growing.
We are looking to keep you up to date on all Hayling U3A activities.
Hayling u3a web site
Keep up-to-date with all the activities organised for our u3a group.
The web site gives you all the most up to date information you need, activities, dates, times and much more.
The opening page links to lists of groups; simply click on the group you are interested in, and you will be given all the information you need.
Dates for your diary
August 20th
Jon Perry – How to avoid being Scammed.
August 25th
The Bletchley Park visit is now open for bookings. Bletchley Park was the home of the World War 2 code breakers.
It will be a long day out, price £46.
September 17th at 14.00
Hayling u3a AGM - More information to follow.
October 15th
Ian Worley - Racing through the southern ocean. Ian was chosen to crew on Great Britain II in the 1977/78 Whitbread Round the World Race as a watch leader, taking over as the skipper in the southern ocean on a temporary basis. The race was completed after a number of setbacks such as being knocked on her side, several breakages and damage as well as ferocious storms and being struck by lightning.
November 19th
Andrew Negus – Winchester, Bishops, Buildings and Bones. Andrew a retired history teacher is a recognised local historian and a blue badge holder as an official guide, among his hobbies he lists keeping chickens, bees and daughters. He will cover history from 1100 BC and the development of cities from iron age huts to cathedrals.
News
Bletchley Park
We are still taking bookings for our visit to Bletchley Park on Tuesday 25th August.
The venue is famous for being the centre of British success in breaking Germany's coded messages in the Second World War.
The price is £46 which includes the cost of the coach, driver's gratuity and entry to Bletchley Park.
Your entry fee will be valid for 12 months.
It will be a long day as we plan to spend at least 5 hours there - there is a lot to see.
The coach will leave from Langstone Quays Hotel and travellers on the coach will be able to pre-order pastries from the hotel to take on the coach, and/or a Lasagne supper when we get back in the evening.
History Allsorts
Our group (previously History 2) has been in existence for nearly 20 years, and we have decided to change our name to "History Allsorts".
We present on and discuss all sorts of history - Local, British, European, World - Ancient or Modern.
At our latest meeting we had a challenging presentation by Robert Pitchford on the role Europe played in the political fate of Margaret Thatcher.
As we have just experienced the downfall of yet another Prime Minister, it was a subject both thought-provoking and relevant to current times.
The group is open to new members, and there is lots of room to spread out in the room we now use at the Royal British Legion.
My Fair Lady
On Saturday 18th July 2026, 28 of us went to Chichester Festival Theatre to see a musical, and ended up as witnesses to a drama!
We all enjoyed the first act of My Fair Lady, with some great acting and famous songs like ‘Wouldn't It Be Luverley’, With ‘A Little Bit of Luck’ and ‘The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain’.
We came back for the second half for the scene at the Ball, the orchestra struck up, and then the music was drowned out by what sounded like 3 or 4 attempts by a novice to get a note out of a trumpet.
The music stopped, the stage manager came out to say there was a technical issue they needed to resolve, and the performance would restart in a few minutes.
Three more false starts and half an hour later, the performance was called off.
Hopefully if you were one of the attendees, you will know by now whether you can attend a different performance or await a refund.
In the morning, 20 of us did a backstage tour which was very enlightening.
In retrospect, we realise how much work goes on backstage to make the theatre's performances work, and how much different equipment there is that can cause a disaster for the event if just one element misbehaves!
Thursday Ukulele
The Thursday Ukes meet up at the Langbrook Farm the first Thursday of every month and at the Barley Mow for the second and fourth Thursday.
We perform under the name ‘D’ukes of Hayling’ playing as a group they will be performing this month:
- 1st August. At the Portsmouth Cultural Festival, Victoria Park Portsmouth, A multicultural event in Victoria Park celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth being a city.
Playing on the acoustic Community Stage from 3.20 to 3.40. - 1st August. At the Barley Mow Hayling Island, playing from 19.00 to about 21.00 a selection of songs from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s.
- 8th August. Playing from 12.00.to 12.45 to support the Guide Dogs collection day at Whiteley Shopping centre
- 30th August. Sam’s Sunflowers 10.30 to 11.30, here we will collect for our nominated charity Rowans hospice
Bus to Parham House and gardens
On the first day of June's heatwave, seven of us used the businessmen's minibus for the first time for a day out to Parham House and Gardens.
The minibus can take 16 passengers so the turnout for the visit was disappointing.
We found the minibus very comfortable, especially once we had sorted out the air conditioning! Juliana, our driver, declared it a good vehicle to drive.
We arrived at lunchtime so found some shade in which to eat our sandwiches.
We all went into the house which had the advantage of being cooler than the world outside, and which dates from Elizabethan times. Several rooms have been rebuilt in the style of a particular era and feature paintings and furniture from that time. Each of the bigger rooms had a guide who was valuable in answering our questions.
There was a particularly English view from one of the windows, over a cricket match which was in progress in the grounds.
We came out and had time to explore the delightful and thoughtfully planted gardens then take more refreshment before the drive home.
We look forward to using the businessmen's minibus again in the future. If we can get a dozen passengers or more, we are confident that we can drive to a venue up to an hour away and only charge £10 a head for the coach. In contrast, when we get a quote from Powell's or Laguna for a 50-seater coach to go even a short distance, the cost is more than double that.
Roger Browne - A brilliant performance
The speaker in June was Roger Browne who did not disappoint us. His brilliant playing and singing and his highly amusing anecdotes kept us spellbound for over an hour.
He told the story of how he grew in up In Salford and how his Catholic up bringing shaped his future. The figure of Father O’Malley featured in many of his tales and the way the two religions, Catholic and Protestant, and the two Manchester Football clubs, United and City were tied together.
Music was constantly part of his early life in the late 40’s and 50, with radio shows like Housewives Choice playing numbers on request. They played an eclectic mix of artists but he didn’t quite understand how a radio show had a performing magician and a ventriloquist.
He was amazed then and still is to hear artist like Art Tatum, virtually blind and playing from ear, perform an intricate version of ‘Tea for Two.’ It was heard by classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein who asked to see the music score so he could play it. There is no musical score he was told, so he went away with a recording, and two painstaking years later he revisited Art Tatum expecting praise for the hours it had taken him. Art said nothing but simply played a new more complex version.
Cole Porter also changed music into a minor key, and Ella Fitzgerald sings ‘Every time we say goodbye’ to highlight how a small change can influence the melody.
Roger then said goodbye to us, with an upbeat foot tapping performance of ‘I got rhythm’.
He certainly has!
Alan Bartlett
The questionable history of the TV quiz show by Jeff Evans.
Jeff covered the evolution of the TV quiz show, from its start on BBC Radio in the 1930s, where prizes might have been a pack of handkerchiefs, to today's shows where it could be possible to win £1 million.
The early meagre prizes were due to the BBC thinking it not appropriate to spend license money on prizes. Then along came commercial television where advertisers' money could be used to provide very attractive prizes.
In 1955 shows such as "Take Your Pick" and "Double Your Money" became very popular, largely due to the prizes available and the tension of the win/lose risk.
Jeff told us that prizes were limited by various legislations e.g. 1967 had a cap of £1000, 1990 a cap of £6000 and in 1993 the cash prize became limitless. Somewhat ironically quiz shows with no cash prizes then became popular such as University Challenge, Mastermind, etc.
Finally, along came "Who wants to be a Millionaire”. This show reversed the trend of the UK taking quiz shows from abroad to other countries wanting to copy the UK Show.
Jeff was an entertaining and informative speaker, inviting the audience to call out names, catchphrases etc. All in all, a very good talk.
Alan Bartlett
Science and Technology Group (Open Group)
Our meetings are held in St Patrick's Church Hall at 2pm for tea and biscuits, presentation starts at 2.30pm. These presentations are open to everyone in HIU3A, so if you are free then please come along, you do not have to be a boffin and with a £2 donation towards refreshments and the hall hire, it’s a bargain.
The final presentation for this summer session was about two of the main types of Medical Scanners one using X-rays and the other magnetic and radio frequency fields called the MRI.
From the late 1800’s and into the 1900 various scientists were experimenting with electromagnetism, radio, radioactive materials.
In 1894 a German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen was investigating the cathode ray tube and inadvertently walked in front of the tube and saw his hand shape on the wall. In 1895 he made the first X-ray picture of his wife’s hand and this was the first Xray.
Throughout the early part of 1900’s scientists and doctors used differing types of X-ray machines to study the human body not realising that exposure of these X-rays were accumulatively dangerous and many died or had arms and legs amputated as a result. Today the X-ray machines in use are strictly monitored and all staff have dosimeters to ensure they do not go over the limits. The machines of today do not bear any resemblance to those of yesteryear and there are three types of scanners, X-ray, the traditional flat scanner, Computer Tomography (CT) scanner and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner.
The traditional Xray scanners are good for taking 2D pictures of the body which are used to diagnose defects, bone breaks etc.
A CT Scanner is a medical imaging device that use X-rays and computer technology to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body. This imaging technique is essential for diagnosing various injuries to internal organs and tissues.
PET scanners: a radioactive isotope is injected into the body and when the radiopharmaceutical undergoes beta plus decay, a positron is emitted and when the positron interacts with an ordinary electron, the two particles annihilate and two gamma rays are emitted in opposite directions. These gamma rays are detected by two gamma ray cameras to form a 3D image. These machines are typically used for cardiac investigations and are extremely expensive to buy and run.
Magnetic Nuclear Resonance Imaging (MRI). In the 1930’s Physicists were investigating the interaction of elements of the periodic table and what effects magnetic fields and radio frequency had on them. A physicist named Larmor found that certain radio frequencies and magnetic field strengths, particles precess around the magnetic field. Our bodies comprise of 95% water so Hydrogen particles are made to precess, this is detected, and a CGI created. The magnetic field must be turned on and off which is why the machine makes a huge noise. MRI scanners are used for tissue investigations when up to 250 shades of grey depicting various tissues are combined to give a slice image of the patient’s body.
You can see from this that each method of image creation is only useful for a particular type of investigation.
We are back on 23rd September, with and updated version of ‘Why do aircraft crashes make it safer to fly’ by Rod Wing
Bob Hornby S&T group leader - roberth@haylingu3a.org
Walking – Winner walk
After a winter of walks cancelled because of the rain, we have had to postpone several summer walks because of the heatwave!
We did have a lovely walk out on The Winner (the sandbank which is revealed at low tide on the west of Hayling), led by Peter Haskell.
We all walked on the firm sand in bare feet. We enjoyed lunch in the Ferryboat, which has changed hands recently, and has a more imaginative menu than before.
We hope that we do not return to oppressive 30-degree temperatures and that the walks planned for the rest of the summer will go ahead. Another bus walk is planned for August 10th so Walking Group members should keep a lookout for details of that.
Paris – by bike
Year ago, when three of my friends were diagnosed with cancer, I decided to give them something to focus on.
So, I signed up for the 40th year of Paris to Hayling bike ride started by Pete McQuade who still does it every year.
I wasn’t sure which bike I would be riding as I was practicing on my granny bike as I call it.
Sadly, before the ride took place my three friends had passed away.
So now it had become a mission for me to complete, I had only done two really big cycle rides up to the point of the impending start date, 4th July.
Five days before my bike sort of gave up on me, I was wondering what bike I would use, Portsmouth Cycles helped me out by doing me a deal on an electric bike, not a fast one but one that I could have a little power to help me up all the massive hills in Northern France.
The ride took place from 4th to 11th July 2026.
We left catching 6am Hayling ferry which they kindly put on early for us, then to cycle to Portsmouth ferry port, arriving in Caen ready to take on the epic journey ahead.
It is so well organised with plenty of support crew, hotels booked for when you arrive and luggage waiting.
So much I could say about this well-oiled event, but possibly need to get to it...
The route is planned, using as many cycle paths as much as they can and through pretty French villages.
Can’t say it was easy - it was hardest thing I have ever done, hills, 37 degrees of heat and roads of melting tarmac.
Longest day was 70 miles (we got lost), but I had the three girls’ pictures on my back which definitely drove me and kept my legs turning. I nearly surrendered a couple of times but couldn’t as so many people believe in me up to date. I have raised nearly £5000 for Rowans hospice.
On the 6th, in the evening there was a dinner at Caen castle and I was proudly awarded a trophy for the most determined achiever.
For first time in my life, I felt very proud that I had succeeded for my amazing friends and felt with their help it proved that if your determined you can achieve anything you put your mind to it.
So never say you can’t do anything, mind over matter.
Bobby Clayton Aged 76
I forgot to add to my story “I completed 400 miles in the week by the time I got home”
Words
Fifteen English words you may never use.
Victorian Word no longer in use but we may need them:
- Blatherskite – a person who talks at great length without making much sense.
- Fopdoodle – a foolish or insignificant person.
- Pother – a state of fuss, commotion or confusion.
- Rentipole – a wild, reckless or unruly person.
- Snollygoster – a clever but unprincipled person usually in politics.
Talk about the weather:
- Apricity - Warmth of the winter sun.
- Petrichor - pleasant smell after rain.
- Brontide - distant rumbling sound of far-off thunder.
- Mizzle - fine rain (conflation of mist and drizzle).
- Favonlan - Gentle west wind
A name for it:
- Acnestis – the part of the back between shoulder blades that is difficult to reach.
- Horripilation – Bristling of hair, goosebumps.
- Haft – Handle of a knife or axe or similar tool.
- Anopisthograph – Page only written on one side.
- Crapulence – Bloated feeling after eating too much.
Puzzles
Countdown conundrum
Find the anagrams of:
| A | S | L | E | I | S | S | N | T |
Countdown numbers game
Make 873 using these numbers:
| 100 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
Countdown words game
Find the longest word you can using these letters. We know of one obscure 8-letter word and some 7-letter words...
| E | S | A | E | B | U | C | H | M |
Local knowledge
- What type of locomotive ran along the Billy trail?
- Who was the Russian Princess buried in the graveyard of St Peter's Church in Northney?
- Established on Hayling what does COPP stand for?
- Which existing pub claims to be the oldest on Hayling dating back to 1776?
- The 1824 what was described as, “One of the finest structures of the kind in the Kingdom”, on Hayling Island?
Word search
Short story
Choices
The two women looked at one another. They were dressed in a similar fashion with long skirts and a smart high neck blouse. Each had a hat on top of an elaborate hairstyle and across their upper body they wore a sash of green and purple. They had come from their comfortable homes to protest against the fact that women were denied a vote in who would govern and control their country. It was better than it had been in the past, when only men of property and wealth had any say in the matter, but considering that 50% of the population were female, the activists, for that is what they were, wanted a better balance of power.
So far, the protest movement had not had a great deal of success. Polite requests were met with less than polite refusals to even consider the argument.
It was time to up the stakes.
Their leader, a Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, was a ferocious and passionate speaker. She inspired a great deal of support from all social corners of society, some of them men as well as women. These two sisters were from the middle classes, both with husbands bringing home a comfortable income, but they had a social conscience, and were well aware of the huge gap between themselves and the women of the lower classes.
Catherine, the elder of the two was more inclined to try peaceful negotiation, whereas her younger sister, Maud, was itching to “get out there and make some waves”
“You can’t really be thinking of chaining yourself to some railings Maud. What would Charles and Father say if you got arrested and were carted off to the police station?” “Oh, they would probably say that I deserved it and leave me there.” Declared Maud. “It would be one less woman to fight with, for one night anyway” “Yes, and you would then be confined to the house for a week and would miss Mrs Pankhurst’s’ lecture on Saturday.
Be sensible for once, will you?
Maud glared at her sister “I suppose you would like me to write a nice polite letter to our local MP, would you? Perhaps I should invite him for afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches.
Well, I’m sorry Kitty, my mind is made up.
Drastic action is required and I’m going to chain myself to the railings outside the Town Hall. You can do what you like” “Have it your own way then, and on your head be it” replied Catherine. “How will you do it then? Where will the chain come from? And how will you lock it to the rail? You are not having my new bicycle chain” “Oh I’ll get it from somewhere, and maybe Harry will help me to lock it” Replied Maud airily. Catherine laughed out loud.
“Harry!” she spluttered. “Harry couldn’t tie his own bootlace if Mother didn’t help him. And anyway, what makes you think he would want to help you? He’s a B.O.Y. a man in waiting” Catherine spelt the word out. “Oh, come on Maud, admit it, you’re not cut out for outrageous behaviour, you’re much better at making these lovely sashes for us to wear.
Tell you what, we’ll make some rock buns to throw at the rally tomorrow. What do you say?
Maud pulled a face, “I suppose so.” She replied sulkily, “They will have to be real rock buns though, with real rocks in them. I know who I’ll be throwing them at too.” “Just you be careful” warned her sister, “I‘ve seen your throwing before.”