In this update:
- Notices/announcements
- Hayling Island community fair
- October monthly meeting report
- Gongoozling for beginners - life on the canals
- News from the groups
- Waterlooville u3a annual lecture
- Other local information
- Feedback
Notices/announcements
How old do you need to be to join Hayling u3a? - Many people think that the u3a organisation is for the older generation. However, any adult can join our organisation provided that they are not in full time education or work. Help quash this image by discussing it with your friends and relatives.
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;
- audio/visual helper/s for the monthly meetings. Instructions will be given if necessary;
- people to shadow current committee members to help with their duties.
Food donations required - We collect tins and dried foodstuffs for both "Hayling Holiday Lunches" and "Community Pantry" food banks. The collection occurs 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.
Membership – as of 17th October 2024, we had 576 members.
Pen pals required – The Hayling youth group would like to set up a pen pal scheme between local school children and older Hayling residents. The scheme will strengthen the children’s’ literacy skills and allow them to get a better understanding of what life is like outside of their family unit. I have investigated potential safeguarding issues with them and I have been reassured that all ‘letters’ written to and from the children will be monitored by the youth group. If you are interested in joining the ‘writers’, please let me know.
Hayling Island community fair
Our u3a had a stall at the Hayling Community Fair at the Hayling Island Community Centre on 18th October, alongside other community groups.
We had a good number of visitors showing an interest in all our activities, but the fair provided us with the opportunity to link up with the other community groups and to find ways of working in partnership to the benefit of our members.
October monthly meeting report
Our Speaker in October was Andrew Negus, who is giving us a series of talks about the history and development of Southampton as a City. In the first of these (earlier in the year) Andrew traced the arrival of the Romans and the slaughter of the Saxons, but we picked up the story a lot further on in Tudor times.
The deep-water inlet (The Solent), with its very unusual pattern of four tides, is a perfect place to develop a harbour, and by the time Henry VIII was on the throne, it was a very busy port known as the “Gateway to the Empire.” Henry with Ann Boleyn visited this thriving port to the great excitement of the inhabitants.
Boat building was one of the biggest industries and the proximity of the New Forest with a good supply of strong straight oaks meant quality materials close by.
In August 1620 the Mayflower Pilgrims left Southampton for the new lands in America, but the boat they were in, the “Speedwell” met rough weather and proved to be unseaworthy and too small for the 102 passengers. It put into Plymouth, from where the new bigger boat, the “Mayflower,” set sail in September 1620 and hence Southampton gets very little of the glory.
By the early 1700’s trade patterns had changed, and Southampton was struggling and poor. Ever enterprising, Southampton “discovered” a freshwater spring rich in iron and soon invented itself as a Spa town. The fashion for drinking mineral waters and for sea bathing had been established and to support the new spa, houses, hotels, pubs, and a theatre were built. The Prince of Wales visited with friends, and many other celebrities e.g. Jane Austen, became regular visitors. Grand houses were built outside the town, and the Marquis of Lansdowne built a town house. The spa phase lasted into the early years of Victoria's reign, but Brighton became more popular and took the trade away. It was later discovered that the ‘spring water’ was probably waste water draining from the land above, i.e. sewage and not really a natural spring.
Never to be idle for long, Southampton saw the potential in making use of the recently established railway by building the Docks, thus re-capturing the freight trade, but also by developing the highly lucrative passenger market. Many of the very large cruise ship Companies traded from Southampton e.g. White Star Line, and liners like “Titanic” sailed out of “the new gateway to the world.”
We will have to wait and see how this extraordinary city survives into the 20th Century and two World Wars when we hear Part 3 of the talk in 2025!
Gongoozling for beginners - life on the canals
November monthly meeting taking place at Hayling Island Community Centre, 2pm on Thursday, November 21st. More details here.
Neil Sadler trained as a school teacher. In 1978 he decided to join Sussex Police. He spent much of his 30 years' service in various ranks across Sussex working briefly in Hong Kong, Trinidad and Abu Dhabi. On retirement he decided to journey around some of the 2,000 miles of navigable waterways in a 58 ft canal narrow boat. This talk has a small amount of history, lots of humour, a rather wet puppy and only one broken arm.
News from the groups
New groups
New creative writing group – a second creative writing group is being set up. If you are interested in joining – please let Bridget know.
5 and 3’s Dominoes – this group has its inaugural meeting on Tuesday 5th November at 7.00 pm at the Newtown Hotel. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact group leader, John Cushion.
Chair yoga – I am currently investigating the feasibility of running a Chair Yoga Group. If anyone is interested, please let me know.
Painting and Drawing 1
There are a couple of spaces in this group, which meets on the 3rd Tuesday afternoon of each month. More details including contact links here.
Pickleball
Following the success of the Pickleball group, it has now purchased two sets of portable nets. Up to now they have been playing with Badminton nets set at a lower level which has restricted their ability to play at other venues. Hopefully this will give us an opportunity to set up new Pickleball groups going forward.
Walking
Richard North has signed Hayling u3a up to a National Walking Exchange. The scheme builds relationships between different walking groups encouraging the local group to provide the lead for visiting walkers. There is potential for a group of us to arrange a trip to another area for a few days and ask the local group to lead the walks for us. More information about this initiative will be available in the future.
Ambling
Chidham amble led by Sonia Keeble. More details about the Ambling group here.
Waterlooville u3a annual lecture
Beyond Beliefs by Sohail Husain on 20th November 2024 at 2 pm. Come and hear Sohail’s story of his parents’ incredible story. The lecture will be held at Cosham Baptist Church. This is a ‘free’ ticketed event. To book contact Linda at Waterlooville u3a.
Other local information
Inspiratio Ensemble - the next concert is on Sunday 10th November at 3pm at St Mary’s Church, Hayling Island. The concert is free and will be Three Trios. Three Musicians will present works by Haydn, Rachmaninoff and Schubert.
Havant Borough Talking News - This is a free service for blind and visually impaired people. Call 023 9248 0101, visit the web site, or get in touch for further information.
HICCA Mayflower Theatre Trips - the Hayling Island Community Centre is organising seven theatre trips during 2025. Shows include: Hairspray, Only Fools and Horses, Hamilton, Kinky Boots and Mamma Mia. Please visit HICCA to book your tickets and support the Community Centre.
Feedback
Any comments would be welcome. Please send any feedback to chair@haylingu3a.org.
Julie Taylor