Pocklington & District
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New Groups Our U3A branch now has 260 members with 28 established special interest groups with a further 8 groups currently in the process of forming. An indication that we are steadily creating an interesting and varied programme. To maintain this energy we would like to hear of suggestions and ideas for new groups. Could you co-ordinate a new group? You dont necessarily have to have expert knowledge but just to organise members with similar interests to get together. It might be for just a few meetings to explore the subject or visiting places of interest. Without participation from you we cease to exist as the whole ethos of U3A is self help. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in our midst why not share it with others? Please forward any ideas to a member of the Committee. Casual Tennis Group: Anyone interested in joining a casual Tennis group? To begin this would probably take place within Wilberfoss. Members interested please contact: Rod Turnough on 388292 or email rod.turnough1@virgin.net Croquet Group: Some 16 members have expressed an interest in forming a Croquet Group. Mrs Claire Brash of Givendale House has offered the use of her lawn for Monday and Thursday afternoons. The first occasion was the 8th Sept to explain the game and procedure. This is a private house. Many of our number have never played before and we have elected for the early interest to play Golf croquet, working our way towards Association Croquet, if successful. Should you be aware of a more accessible lawn please let me know. For more information contact: Professor Peter Dale. Family History Group: Many people have shown an interest in learning more about their family ancestry. As a result we are hoping to start a group in the U3A. This will be a discussion group with guest speakers and possible trips to various archives in this country. If you are interested then please contact Group Leaders: Pauline Atkinson or Beverley Austin. Garden History: This is a subject that has interested me for some time and I wonder if it does anyone else? I would be happy to set a programme to work through from the earliest gardens to the present day. There is a lot of information easily available and it would be a fascinating route to take. Ideally I would like to think that anyone wishing to join would be willing to take gardens of a chosen century looking at how they developed and, after some research, bring their findings back to the group. It could be done at a leisurely pace meeting once a month over the next year with illustrations, for instance, by video, power-point and general discussion. It would be fun to try and visit some examples next year. Anyone interested contact Freda Snelson on email: freda@snelson1.plus.com Cycling Group: The group has just started and their intention is to meet fortnightly, dependent on group numbers. Cycle routes will take the recommended East Yorkshire Council routes; Millington etc. and normally extend to five miles or more. The canal route is also being explored, although a permit may be required. New members welcomed. For more information contact Gordon MacDonald. Swimming Group: Membership of a private swimming club which meets at Pocklington School two evenings each week (7- 8 pm) during term time is available to U3A members. Currently there are no vacancies. Co-ordinator Freda Snelson. Instrumental Players Group: In the last Newsletter we enquired if any member had an instrument languishing in the loft. The idea was to get a group together to play for fun. We did get two or three of you who were interested and mention this again to see if there are any other members who would be interested please contact: Brian Snelson For more information about any of the above possible new groups please call the Group Co-ordinator. New Literature Group: Peter Thomas has agreed to lead this new group. Peter suggests a group which embraces both English literature and play-reading. This would give members the opportunity to look at performance literature of various sorts as well as to study a variety of other works and texts. He suggests a focus on the twentieth century. It is amazing to consider that at the start of the century Hardy, Henry James and Kipling were still hard at work, Hilaire Belloc was a young poet of 30 and T S Eliot was a 12 year old boy. This is the century that introduced the war poets. , the novels of Hemingway, Iris Murdoch and Steinbeck, "The Wasteland", "Look back in Anger", the urbanity of Coward and the drama of the absurd, "Brideshead" and Betjeman, P D James, V S Naipaul and so much more. It is envisaged that the group will read, revisit and discover a wide variety of writing, not just from British sources, but from many other countries where English is alive and well with everyone contributing in some way, especially in terms of ideas and suggestions. The Literature Group meets monthly on the 1st Monday 10 am - 12 noon. Contact Co-ordinator Peter Thomas for further details and venue. Local History Group - Pocklington at War: Two years ago a subgroup of the local History Group was formed to explore the lives of Major Percy Stewart and his wife Katharine. Its activities included interviewing, historical research, photo scanning and writing. All group members were involved in one or more of these activities. The booklet that they produced, "The Stewarts of Burnby Hall and the People of Pocklington", was published in June. Click here to learn more. There may be some interest in using a similar approach to research the impact of the Second World War on life in Pocklington. Although there may be some limited scope for making use of outside speakers, our experience suggests that a small, active and committed group generating its own impetus makes for the most productive and rewarding way forward. If you would like to join this group or chat about what might be involved, please contact: Jim or Margaret Ainscough or email jandm_ainscough@yahoo.co.uk
Military History Group: Anyone wishing to join a Military History Group please
register their name and telephone number with John Taylor. Providing there is
sufficient interest it is anticipated that the group would meet on the
4th
Thursday of each month (frequency and venue to be
decided later).
Natural History Group: A look at British birds and mammals past and present, their relationship with man and their future prospects in a changing planets. The origins of farming. Looking back some 10,000 years to the time when the human race took the revolutionary step from hunter gathering to farming. Domesticating wild animals and plants and enabling our present lifestyle to evolve. Frank Reitz has agreed to lead what promises to be a fascinating study into Natural History. Contact Anne Challoner. Pub Lunches Group: Anyone interested in being part of a monthly pub lunch group? Contact: Ted House 301661 or email tedhouse@btinternet.com Scrabble Group: I am proposing to start a Scrabble Group at my house on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 10 am to noon, starting early October I would like the group to be friendly but competitive and would use the Official Scrabble Words book as the arbiter of all disputes about the use of any word. I would only be able to accommodate 8 people. If a large number of people contacted me then we would have to use a room in the Methodist Chapel, which would then involve us having to pay for the use of a room. Anyone who is interested please contact Pam Smith on email: pam@pampock.plus.com Singing for Pleasure Group: No auditions required Just come for fun and enjoyment! Group singing Popular music. Anyone interested? N.B. Pianist required! Please contact: Pauline Atkinson. ...And Finally: A Rock & Roll Group: Does anyone fancy being a "Rock God?". Well perhaps not but instead how about joining Robin Gray and friends twice a month for a jam session of good old 50's & 60's Rock 'n Roll songs and instrumentals.
Page updated 21 October 2008 ©2008 Pocklington & District U3A
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