In this newsletter:
- Dates for your diary
- Notices
- Group news
- Other information
- This month's short story
Dates for your diary
Next Monthly Meeting Thursday 17th July 2025, 2pm at Hayling Island Community Centre – Shelley Lozano will give a talk entitled: “From Cabaret to Conservation”. She will talk about the most memorable stories from her life in show business to her passion for wildlife and the big cat conservation projects with which she has been involved. More details here.
Committee Surgery (What does being a Committee member entail?) – Friday 18th July 2025, 10.30am in the Barley Mow conservatory. Join Julie Taylor and Anne Hollis for a coffee and find out how you could help run the Hayling u3a.
Notices
Committee members due to retire September 2025
The following Committee Officers are due to retire at the September AGM:
- Chair
- Treasurer
- Group Co-ordinator
- Network liaison officer.
Please consider whether you could stand for any of the above positions. Further information on any of these roles can be found out by contacting any of the current committee members or coming along to the surgery on the 18th July.
Volunteers required
For tea and coffee monitors at our monthly meetings.
Meeting on scams
On Friday 13th June, we held a meeting on online scams and how to avoid them. The presentation given by John Perry was very interactive, providing lots of examples of potential scams that any if us could be subjected to. There was plenty of opportunity for people to ask questions and everyone found the session very informative. One key point from the meeting for everyone to take away is that you should have different passwords for every application used and that they should be longer than 8 alphanumeric characters.
As this was a very helpful presentation, we will organise further opportunities for members to attend similar meetings in the future.
Last monthly meeting
Our topic for June was called “The Great American Songbook” brought to us by Roger Browne, a professional writer, director and pianist who has appeared on the international jazz circuit. He talked to us, sang and played brilliantly about the various aspects of American popular music from the early part of the 20th century. The main focus of his talk was the history, roots and influences of the “Great American Songbook” which covers the lives and backstories of the composers, lyricists and publishers who created these iconic genres of the first half of the 20th century, backed up with a personal view of this fascinating topic. What a great speaker!
River Hamble cruise report, 25th June 2025
We enjoyed our Visit using a Gosport Ferry cruise to Solent Forts last August and so we were looking forward to a different and much longer cruise. The Solent Forts cruise lasted two and a half hours but this one would be twice the duration.
We started taking bookings for this very late because we had originally planned to go to Oxford this June. Unfortunately, that was not to be. We sold only 8 tickets for this cruise before the deadline when we had to hand the unsold tickets back to the ferry operators. However, 6 other people got tickets direct from the Gosport Ferry later, so 14 of us (a number which included one grandchild) made the trip.
For once, all the bus connections worked like a dream, and we arrived at Gosport ahead of schedule. It was a cool and cloudy morning and some of us started the cruise in jackets or added layers as the ferry pulled into the cool breezes of the Solent.
It started to feel warmer as we moved into the Hamble. I think many of us were amazed at just how many boats are moored in the river, and how luxurious many of them looked.
The ferry turned tightly at The Jolly Sailor and returned to the Solent. We sailed close to the Isle of Wight shore and returned to Portsmouth having enjoyed views of Cowes, Osborne House and Ryde.
Group news
Photography
At last month’s photography group we looked at the print that we produced following a talk the previous month on Macro photography and photographing close up to bring out the detail.
The example presented here are a beautiful dragon fly wing by Mike Burnham, Bubble by Vanessa Dove and a Fly by Sue Wakely.
Come and join us to share in the joy of photography.
Our approach is friendly and informal and welcome all levels of photography with no pressure.
The fun is in the journey not the destination.
Sue Wakely
Play reading group
The group is currently looking to recruit a few more "would be" thespians for its monthly play readings.
We meet at the Station Theatre at 1pm normally on the last Thursday of the month and a session lasts approximately two hours. Group members participate by assuming a character role in the play and the readings range from well-known plays to sit coms, comedies, thrillers and everything in between.
This is a fun group which has been running successfully for over 3 years. New members are always welcome. Please register your interest via the u3a web site or email me.
John Cushion
Local history group 3
On 30th May our group had a very interesting visit to The Royal Garrison Church, Old Portsmouth. It was wonderful weather; parking was very easy and our first sight of the church was very interesting and impressive.
The hospital closed in 1540, adapted as an armoury and military storeroom as part of Portsmouth's defences.
Sometime in the 17th century the building became a chapel for Portsmouth Garrison. Around this time there was a Military Governor for Portsmouth and the governor's house was built alongside the church, the scene for a royal wedding and many grand receptions.
In 1941 the nave was badly damaged in a firebomb raid and survives as a graceful shell. The Chancel still roofed and furnished, the fine 20th century stained-glass windows depict scenes from the second world war and the church's own history.
The church has such a chequered and rich history and changed uses. We found it a very interesting visit. We were lucky to be guided by one of our members who had been an official guide there recently. There are guides on site and we would recommend this as a historical site well worth visiting.
Karen Walker
D’ukes Of Hayling – née Ukulele Thursday
Recent gigs include the Wimborne Care Home open day, and the Mundham Jam at Mundham Village Hall in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Forthcoming gigs include: St Patricks centenary celebrations on July 12th, Hi Fest July 27th, Sam's Sunflowers in August and our own AGM in September among others.
Peter Haskell
Science and technology
Our meetings are cancelled until September 2025.
Robert Hornby
Island shanty
Come and enjoy a superb fish and chip supper listening to songs of the sea with your local u3a shanty group at the Newtown House Hotel on Friday 11th July from 6.30pm.
A similar event last year was a sell out and tickets are now selling fast at £15.
Island Shanty raised over £1,000 for charity last year and we hope to do the same again in 2025 so please support the event.
Vegetarian and other dietary options available.
Bookings available direct with Newtown House Hotel on 02392 466131.
Look forward to seeing you there!
John Cushion
Other information
u3a friends
The National u3a is running a scheme called u3a friends. If you sign up to the scheme you will receive a monthly newsletter by email shares news, learning opportunities and member stories from across the u3a movement. and membership gives access to the discount scheme u3a Friends extra. The ‘extra’ scheme is free and gives you money off a range of different outlets.
Find out how Andy Henderson is making a profit on his HIU3A membership by saving 4% on his Tesco shopping.
Reminder of South-East u3a’s summer school
1-4 September 2025 University of Chichester. u3a summer schools are organised by individual regions and nations, giving you the opportunity to spend a couple of days getting to know other members, learning new things and exploring topics your u3a might not usually offer. If you are interested further details can be found at: southeastu3aforum.u3asite.uk/2025-2
This month's 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 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 Jerram, Creative writing group