In this monthly newsletter:
- Announcements
- Monthly meetings
- Visits
- Your committee needs you
- News from the groups
- u3a Trust events
- A short story
Announcements
Helping others
We will collect tins and dried foodstuffs for both "Hayling Holiday Lunches" and "Community Pantry" food banks. The collection will be at each Hayling u3a monthly meeting (put food donations on the stage). In addition, a collection bucket will be available at the meeting if you prefer to give a cash donation. Please ensure that any food products you donate are within the sell-by date.
Volunteers Required
We are always looking for volunteers to help run our various activities. Currently we need additional tea monitors for making the tea/coffee at the monthly meetings. We run a rota so that you would only have to cover once or twice a year.
Monthly meetings
June meeting
Madeleine Salvetti gave a fascinating talk about the origins behind the sayings we use in everyday language. Here’s a few of the more obscure ones:
- White elephant - something that cost a lot of money, but that has no useful purpose and is no longer wanted. This goes back to the Kings of Siam. If there was someone who annoyed them, they would give them a gift of a white elephant, knowing that it couldn’t be used for work and so was an expense to them.
- Right track - following a course of action that is likely to result in successful outcome. Traditionally, in Heraldry the side of the shield facing the viewer's right is the dexter, or right-hand side, and that opposite it is the sinister, or left-hand side. So, it was better to be on the right side, or track.
- Hunky dory - if events or situations are hunky-dory, they are very satisfactory and pleasant. Thought to originate from the main street in Yokohama called huncho-dori, frequented by American sailors who liked it for its shops (and brothels!), and which also led back to the harbour and their ship.
Next meeting
"A grandmother's legacy." On Thursday July 18th Jenny Mallin will present a memoir of five generations who lived through the days of the Raj. Now a writer, Jenny has had a career at the BBC in television production living in Kingsclere with her husband, Westie the dog and three cats.
Visits
We arrange occasional visits to places of interest. The next trip, on 21st August, is to the three Solent Forts. You don’t have to join the Visits 'group' to go on one of our trips.
We recommend traveling to Portsmouth Hard by bus and meeting there at 10.40 before going together to the Gosport Ferry. This involves catching a 30 or 31 bus to Havant as early as 8.40am.
At the time of writing there are no tickets left but there is a waiting list in case of cancellations. Tap/click here for the latest information.
Your committee needs you
There will shortly be vacancies on the Hayling Island u3a committee. You are invited to apply. Being a committee member is not scary! Committee ‘visitors’ are welcome so you can see what goes on. It’s an opportunity for you to influence the way that Hayling u3a is going.
What’s it like to be a Committee Member in Hayling u3a?
As a member of a supportive and enthusiastic team you are always made to feel welcome and valued. Each member of the committee has specific responsibilities but help and advice are always available from your fellow officers to ensure that no individual has too many things to do. Team working is essential to provide support to all. Our committee meetings are held monthly, last no more than 1.5 hours, are very informal and most of all fun. Tea, coffee and biscuits are always available, an essential part of making decisions to continue to develop Hayling u3a and be successful going forward.
Why not come and see the work of the committee at one of our monthly meetings? We meet at Wimborne Care Home at 10.30am on the third Thursday of each month. Please contact Julie if you want further information.
News from the groups
Walking
Our next 4-mile walk is on July 29th. Please pack a picnic and bring a folding chair if you wish, and meet at West Town Car Park for car share, departure at 9.15. Drive to Harting Down National Trust car park, grid reference SU790181, postcode GU31 5PW. This car park is free to National Trust members but takes payment by phone from non-members. If you are a member please say so in your reply if you intend to join the walk.
The walk is 4 miles with 500 feet of height gain. We set off Westward along the South Downs Way then turn southward to Round Down, turning north again by Round Copse and Foxcombe Farm. We return to the car park along the South Downs Way. More intrepid walkers may wish to divert slightly on the return by dropping into The Warren, adding 0.4 miles and 150 feet ascent to the total walk. We can enjoy our picnic lunch with a view over South Harting and hills beyond. A drink stop at the Village Tea Rooms in Compton Victoria Inn at West Marden is possible on the drive back to Hayling.
Please let Pam know if you wish to join us, stating whether you would like a lift or could offer one.
Richard North
Current Affairs
The Current Affairs group is now established, and has met four times. We meet in the Barley Mow at 10am on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. There are still two places available. Richard North
Chess
Currently it looks as though we have five interested members. Favoured meeting time is a Wednesday afternoon. We plan to start the group early in October after the Summer holiday season finishes. All levels of chess playing are welcome (some seem hesitant if they have not played for a long time - neither have I!) Other interested Members can contact me for more information and to join the group.
Viv Fowler
Canasta
A fun game of cards with a group of friendly people. We have space for a few more players and beginners are welcome. Tea and cakes are included in the price of £3. Please see the group page here for further details. Viv Fowler
u3a Trust events
u3a online events
The u3a Trust conducts a national learning programme month by month. For details of the June 2024 events tap or click here for details.
u3a Friends and Friends Extra
u3a Friends is a new initiative to bring together stories and interests from across the u3a movement. Tap or click here for more details. Friends Extra is a new benefits website exclusively for u3a Friends. Tap or click here for more details of Friends Extra.
Southeast u3a forum summer schools
Tap or click here for details.
A short story
Poetic Justice
It didn’t take long for the news to spread through the village, Robin Cockrane was dead. Not only dead but murdered. He would not be mourned. In fact “Couldn’t have happened to a nastier bloke” was the general reaction. His wife would genuinely miss him, but would openly admit that although she had never felt the weight of his heavy hand, the loss of his foul temper, spiteful tongue and controlling behaviour, together with his womanising, would certainly ease her grief.
The body was discovered by poachers, out lamping, the glare of their headlights illuminating a good bag of rabbits and also Robin’s body, slumped against a tree, his hands clutching the arrow, skewering him to the trunk. Their immediate thought was “Let the bugger be” but charity and sanity prevailed. Police were notified, forensics summoned, metres of official tape marked the crime scene and rumours were rife. There was no lack of suspects of the crime that was placed at around midday, most of the villagers were on the list, though John Barton who lost an arm in an argument with a tractor, and Susan Meadows whose mantlepiece proudly bore a birthday card from the King, were eliminated almost immediately. Whoever it was, has done us all a favour, certainly his poor wife, was the general reaction, deserves a medal they muttered.
“Were you not concerned when your husband failed to return home that evening?” His wife was asked. “No, he often stayed overnight with a “friend”. I assumed he was with her. I have no contact details, but if you ask around, someone will probably be able to help.
The case was never solved, at least, not by the police. Though most villagers, who were keeping quiet, had their suspicions. After all, Simon Sparrow who belonged to the local archery club which drew members from a large area, was also the brother of Robins long suffering wife. At the time of the murder, the Bird in Hand was doing its usual roaring lunchtime trade, and several witnesses gave Simon an alibi. Although held in custody, and subjected to in depth questioning, he was not charged.
Did he do it? Of course he did, but he confessed only to his sister, several months later.
Everyone commented on how well she looked these days, taking part in many village activities and joining a group in the nearby market town. “I’d have done it sooner she said, but I wasn’t eligible before. They call themselves The Cruising Widows and they have invited me to go with them round the Greek Islands, so thank you. It was you wasn’t it?”
“Yes, I killed him.” He admitted. Something had to be done, so I shot him with my little arrow, quite a big arrow actually. If anyone had been charged, I would have confessed, but no one was so I don’t feel guilty.” “You shouldn’t, you were very brave”. She told him, and she thought of the weed killer in the shed. It had been there a while now and she had not had the courage to use it. She didn’t need it now so one day she would ask Simon to get rid of it for her, perhaps after her cruise.
© Janet Jeram u3a Writers group 2024
Feedback
Any comments would be welcome. Please send any feedback to editor@haylingu3a.org.
Robert Bull