Our monthly newsletter shows what members of Mansfield and District U3A in north Nottinghamshire have been doing recently and what's planned. http://www.mansfield-u3a.org.uk/

1. Mansfield and District U3A
Newsletter
Round Britain Cruise: Pages 3 & 4
_____________________________
Established 1999
HMRC Charity Registration No.: XT30525
July 2013
Website: www.mansfield-u3a.org.uk
Noticeboard: http://mansfieldu3a.blogspot.com
Page 1 of 12

2. Welcome from your chairman
IT IS INTERESTING to reflect on why we are members of the University of the Third Age. Why
‘Third’? Why not second or fourth? You could argue that there are three ages – childhood & youth;
adulthood; old age. But this seems to set us apart – we are no longer ‘adults’, but a group that has
passed a line in the sands of time which cannot be stepped back across and which defines us for
the rest of our lives. It is a definition that is often perjorative.
Shakespeare gave us seven ages in ‘As You Like It’ – possibly a more realistic view, although his
description of the seventh age is not flattering in the least:
Last scene of all. That ends this strange eventful history. Is second childishness and mere
oblivion. Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
I’m not sure that such a University of the Seventh Age would be inundated with prospective
members, even if the description were true! We would wish to retain a little self respect and more
than a little conceit that we were not as decrepit as we appeared to be.
So if not Third or Seventh Age, what age should we call it? Are we in our Leisure Age? With no
family, my daily life is leisurely, but how many of the 60+ generation look after grandchildren on a
regular basis? Many do, and at no small cost to their comfort and health. How many spend time
and effort looking after aged relatives? Again, many.
And if you removed all the volunteers above 60 from the groups that they serve, help to run and
keep afloat, then the lives of the first and second agers would be far less enjoyable.
In the end, what age are we in? It would be too long to say "The University of the Bloody-minded,
Hard-working, Determined, Not going-to-be-imposed on, Out to enjoy ourselves". So.... I suppose
that ‘Third’ is the inevitable choice.
The projected U3A in Rainworth. No-one approached me in the break last month to offer to help
with setting this U3A up. If anyone from Rainworth, South Mansfield or Ravenshead would like to
help, see me at the July meeting or register your interest by email to rainworthu3a@outlook.com.
You need to be quite quick as the first Launch Meeting takes place in early August and the steering
committee will welcome your input.
In fact, it would be very worthwhile if everyone kept checking the temporary Rainworth U3A page on
our website as this will be updated as plans advance. (Just click the link at the bottom of the Home
Page.) Nice hall at Rainworth!
Mike Allen
______________________________________________________________________________
In this issue
Page 2 Chairman's Welcome.
Page 3 Subscriptions. Holiday Updates. Book Table. Recent Events: Round
Britain Cruise (Start)
Page 4 Recent Events: Round Britain Cruise (End). Groups News: Theatre Visits
in London (Start).
Pages 5 - 8 Groups Meeting Programme.
Page 9 Groups News: Theatre Visits in London (End), Sci-Tech visit to Pleasley Pit
Museum, Gardening visit to Doddington (Start).
Page 10 Groups News: Gardening visit to Doddington (End), Family History visit to
Southwell Workhouse.
Page 11 Groups News: Luncheon Club, Digital World. Reflections from the
Committee Table
Page 12 Obituary. AGM Notice. Speaker's Corner. Dates for your diary. Notices.
Page 2 of 12

3. Annual Subscriptions 2013/2014 – Reminder
OUR FINANCIAL year ends on 31st July and annual subscriptions are due at the September AGM.
Due to the generosity of our members in supporting our social events and the tax we have
reclaimed via the Gift Aid Scheme, we are yet again delighted to offer our members a refund of £2
on this year’s subscriptions. Existing members will therefore only pay £15 for this year. (Associate
members: £11.50.)
Subscriptions to Mansfield U3A remain at £17 for the forthcoming year for new members.
Payment can be made any time between now and the September meeting so please let me have
your cheque when convenient, made payable to Mansfield U3A. Post-date to September if you
wish.
Please remind any friends who wish to renew their membership but are unable to attend the
monthly meetings to contact the treasurer or any committee member.
Online Banking
For those members who use internet banking, why not pay your subscriptions ONLINE this year?
Full details available from the treasurer. Thanks.
Pauline Boucher (Treasurer)
______________________________________________________________________________________
Holiday Updates
Thursford Christmas Spectacular – 4th, 5th & 6th December
The balances of £194 for singles and £168 pp for those sharing must be paid no later than the
September meeting. These prices include the driver's gratuity. Since cheques will not be cashed
until the last week in September you can start paying now especially if you know you may be
absent at any of the meetings before then. Cheques payable to Mansfield & District U3A.
Margaret Burlinson Details of all holidays are on the website ...
______________________________________________________________________________
Book Table
SALE OF BOOKS in June slipped a bit but we still raised another £37.90, bringing total to date for 6
months to a very welcome £241.22..
The July meeting is your last chance to refresh your holiday reading material as we don't have a stall
at the popular Summer Picnic at Queen Elizabeth's on 20thAugust that's a highlight of the year.
Thank you everyone, especially my helpers.
Lilian Whitehead.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Recent Events
Cruise round Britain & Ireland
WE LEFT Mansfield by coach on Friday 24th May to travel to Dover to join our ship, Fred Olsen's
Braemar. It was very cold, windy and before long raining as well. Not a good start! It was dry though
by the time we arrived at our destination and it was not long before we were all safely on board.
We were made welcome by a very friendly and efficient crew. We all had to attend Lifeboat Drill – a
very necessary part of cruising. After unpacking we were ready to relax and enjoy the holiday. The
weather was kinder to us and the sea calmer than we had dared to hope for, if rather cold.
I asked everyone if they would jot down their highlights of the cruise. We had all organised our own
trips ashore. Six of us ate in the Grampian restaurant and everyone else in the Thistle restaurant.
Page 3 of 12

4. Everyone enjoyed the food and the excellent service. We celebrated Ray Reader's birthday with
champagne and all the waiters sang 'happy birthday' and brought in a lovely cake complete with
candle. This was our first formal evening so everyone was in their best bib and tucker! This day was
certainly Ray's highlight.
We also celebrated Fred and Pam Brown's 3rd wedding anniversary with more champagne. Other
highlights included a lovely day in St Peters Port, Guernsey, an interesting tour round the island, a
visit to the little china and shell chapel and Victor Hugo's house.
Elizabeth's highlight was going for a paddle at Falmouth even though the water was freezing. We
had a day and a half in Dublin. There many interesting tours to go on or could explore on your own
and of course some Guinness to be drunk. A visit to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells and the
great library there was especially interesting.
As too was sailing to Lerwick on a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky, having lunch with the
sun glistening on the sea and passing the lovely Scottish coastline. Later in the day sailing between
the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides and through the Minches. A beautiful sunset but not until 10.30 at
night was just perfect. At Lerwick you could see a beautiful stained glass window in the Town Hall.
A lone piper welcomed us to Invergordon. There were various trips to Loch Ness. (I don't think
anyone saw Nessie though!) When we set sail there was a pipe band to send us on our way.
Rosyth was our final port of call; many people went to Edinburgh and enjoyed Princes Street, the
Royal Yacht Britannia and the Palace of Holyrood House. Well worth the full day out. Others went
for a bit of retail therapy at Dunfermline with its beautiful church and park.
Life on board was enjoyed by all. We had two full days at sea during the cruise when you could
either take part in the activities on offer or just relax with a good book. There were shops to tempt
you to part with your money. Photo galleries of the many photographs taken by the professional
photographers. There was a good selection of food to tempt all palates and the free drinks package
was certainly a bonus!
The theatre shows were very good but sadly the theatre was too small to accommodate everyone
who wanted to see them.
Our thanks to Margaret Burlinson for organising this interesting holiday. Without her hard work and
dedication it would not have gone so smoothly.
Norma Shillinglaw Photos on the website ...
______________________________________________________________________________
Groups News (Check the Interest Group web pages for updates)
Theatre Visit to the Musical “Billy Elliot”
TUESDAY morning, the 11th of June, saw 38 of us in a coach bound for London. We were
delivered to our central London Hotel, the 'St. Giles', close to Tottenham Court Road and Centre
Point, and with hardly time to settle in, we were back in the coach to take us to Covent Garden.
We then had plenty of time to look around the shops and stalls in the old fruit and vegetable market
and to listen to some buskers, a string quartet. They played a range of classical and popular music
as the crowds milled around them. They were good, in fact very good. Were they amateurs or
professionals?
Most of us had pre-ordered a meal at the nearby Porter’s Restaurant where an amazing thing
happened – the waiters brought everything exactly as ordered without a single mistake! Wonderful
organisation by Margaret Burlinson!
A few of the party went to see 'Top Hat', but the coach took most of us to the Victoria Palace to see
'Billy Elliot'. Groups News continues on page 9 ...
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5. Key to Meetings details:
THIS TABLE SHOWS THE DAY of the month, time and frequency using the first two letters of the
day, followed by numbers 1 - 5 to represent the week number. The final letter M (or F, W or V)
indicates that the group meets monthly, fortnightly, weekly or at variable intervals.
So 'Tu2, 2.30 - V M' would mean a group meeting on the 2nd Tuesday at 2.30pm Monthly but with
Variable finish times.
The main Mansfield and District U3Ameetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (exceptAugust
and December) at the Oakham Suite, 155 Nottingham Road, Mansfield from 10 am - 12.30 pm.
Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact
Art We3, 10 -12 M Big Barn Lane
Methodist Church,
Mansfield
Linda Spray
01623 795176
Next Meetings: July 17th; August 21st; September 18th
Art Appreciation Mo1, 2.00 - 4.00 M Baptist Church,
Rosemary St.
Mansfield
Pauline Boucher
01623 644798
Next Meeting: 5th Aug (6.00pm) – Summer Soiree at Pauline's. (Poetry and prose with a
summer theme); 2nd September – My Favourite Impressionist
Beginners' Bridge
(With Ashfield U3A)
Mo, Various
6.30 - 9.00
Enviro Centre,
Derby Rd College,
Mansfield
Maxine Rose/Glenis
Carr
01623 459081/627735
Next Meetings: TBA
(Also Acol sessions at the Mechanics Institute – Th, 10 - 12.30 W)
Board Games Mo F, 6.30 TBA Linda Leivers
01623 471963
Next Meetings: Suspended
Bowls Th, 1.30 - 3.30 W Mansfield Bowls
Club,
Chesterfield Road
Don Wright
01623 628946
Next Meetings: July 11th, 18th, 25th; Aug. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
Caravan & M'home
Rally
Various TBA Terry Lammas
01623 471963
Next Meeting: 26th & 27th July; 1st & 2nd Nov. – Both at Swinethorpe, nr. Lincoln
Chat and Stitch Mo3, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Doreen Storer
01623 407731
Next Meetings: No meeting in July or August; 16th September
All members are invited to contact the relevant Group Leader if they would like to participate in any
interest group or attend an event. NB: * indicates a waiting list.
Page 5 of 12

6. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Current Affairs Tu2, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Norma Shillinglaw
01623 466934
Next Meetings: July 10th; No meeting inAugust; September 10th
Digital World Fri 2 & 4, 2.00 - 4.00
2/M
Stanton Hill Baptist
Church, Skegby
David Ling
01623 822994
Next Meetings: July 12th & 26th; No meeting inAugust; September 13th & 27th
Summer Theme: TheAlphabet in Pictures
Family History Tu4, 10.00 - 12.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Max Clarke
01623 621744
Next Meetings: TBA
Film Studies * We1, 1.30 - V M Joy's home Joy Crowe
01623 645400
Next Meetings: 7th August; 4th September
Garden Visits During the Summer Various Marion Thornton
01623 651528
Next Visits: 19th July – Trentham Gardens and Wollerton Old Hall
Gardening Tu1, 10.00 - 12.00 M St Peter's Centre,
Mansfield
Avril McGee
01623 452688
Next Meetings: 6thAug. – Visit to Felley Priory; 3rd Sept. – Cooking with edible plants & flowers
Heartstart Th3, 1.00 - 3.00 William Kaye Hall,
Ladybrook Lane
Linda Leivers
01623 471963
Next Meetings: 18th July *; 22nd Aug.*; 19th Sept. (10.00 - 12.00); 17th Oct. (1.00 - 3.00)
Holidays
(Home & Abroad)
Various TBA Margaret Burlinson
01623 632538
Next holidays: 4th, 5th & 6th December – Thursford Christmas Spectacular; Monday 27th to
Friday 31st January 2014 – Warner's Thoresby Hall (Contact Terry Whitehead on 01623 626991)
Keep Fit (New) TBA TBA Linda Leivers
01623 471963
Inaugural Meeting: TBA
Local History Fri1, 10.00 - 12.00 M Bridge Street *
Methodist Church
* NB New Venue
Bob & Sue Longden
01623 486903
Next Meetings: No meeting in August. Sept. 6th – Clipstone Camp with John Danbury
Luncheon Club Th after 3rd Tu,
12.00 - 2.00 M
Various David Ling
01623 822994
Next Meetings: July 18th – The Lion at Farnsfield; No meeting in August. September 19th –
Bestwood Lodge,Arnold
Page 6 of 12

7. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Music Groups
Classical Music 1 * Th2, 2.00 - 4.00 M Members' homes Alan & Marlene
Radford
01623 427934
Next Meetings: 11th July – Your favourite music. No further meetings planned
Classical Music 2 Mo4, 2.00 - 4.00 M Members' homes Peter Hart
01623 620940
Next Meetings: 22nd July – Saint Saens & Faure. No meeting in Aug. 23rd September – TBA
Concert Visits (New)
(With Southwell U3A)
Various Royal Concert Hall,
Nottingham
David Ling
01623 822994
Next Meeting: TBA
Music 2 * Mo4, 2.00 - 4.30 M Members' homes Eric Prescott
01623 631160
Next Meeting: TBA
Popular Music
Appreciation *
Tu4, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's School,
Mansfield
Peter Haynes
01623 610886
Next Meetings: TBA (Subs are due at the next meeting. PH)
Pudding Club * Tu1, 4.00 - 6.00 M Members' homes Sylvia Slack
01623 633981
Next Meetings: No meeting in July; Aug. 6th at Janet's. No meeting in September
Reading 1 * Th3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Peter Dawson's home Peter Dawson
01623 882191
Next Meetings: 18th July; 15th August; 19th September
Reading 2 Tu3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Ravenshead Library Joan Hufton
01623 557488
Next Meetings: 16th July; 20th August; 17th September
Science & Technical Tu1, 1.30 - 3.30 M Stanton Hill Baptist
Church, Skegby
Ian Boucher
01623 644798
Next Meetings: No meeting in August. 3rd Sept. – Steel with Bob Longden
Next visits: TBA
Scrabble * Mo2, 2.00 - 4 .00 M Brenda Thurkettle's
home
Brenda Thurkettle
01623 628136
Next Meetings: TBA
Singing for Fun Th V West Notts College,
Derby Rd. Mansfield
June Fell
01623 623547
Next Meetings: July 11th; Aug. 8th; Sept. 5th & 19th
Page 7 of 12

8. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Tai Chi Mo, 9.30 - 10.30 W St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Cliff Laycock
01623 481985
Next Meetings: No meeting after 8th July until restart on 9th September.
Theatre Visits Various Various Sheila Whalley
01623 453908
Wed. 21st Aug. – Ghost The Musical; Wed. 18th Sept. – Fiddler on the Roof. (Matinees at the
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham)
Walking Groups
Hikers
(all-day, 6 - 8 miles)
Th1 & Mo3, 9.30 - V
2/M
Tesco car park, off
Oak Tree Lane
Peter Thurkettle
01623 628136
Next Meetings: Thurs.11th July, Evening Walk – The River Maun; Mon. 15 July – Elkesley /
Hardwick Village; Thurs. 1st Aug. – Carl Wark / Higger Tor; Mon. 19th Aug. – Southwell and the
River Trent; Thurs. 22ndAug, Lunch Walk – Hardwick Inn; Thurs. 5th Sept. – Ashford-in-the Water
Shufflers
(short & gentle)
V Lunchtimes Various Sylvia Slack
01623 633981
Next Meeting: TBA
Strollers
(a leisurely 2 miles)
We2, 10.30 - V M Various Barbara Massey /
Marion Thornton
01623 628357 /
01623 651528
Next Meetings: 10th July – Pleasley Pit Trail; 14thAug. – Teversal Trail; 11th Sept. – Oak Tree
Heath
Walkers
(an easy 4 - 5 miles)
We4, 10.30 – V M Various Joy & Nick Crowe
01623 645400
Next Meetings: 24th July – Blidworth Woods; 28th Aug. – Thoresby; 25th Sept. – Calverton
Wine Appreciation
2*
We3, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Mike Allen
01623 653345
Next Meetings: July 17th – Australian Reds with MRA; Aug. 21st – Chardonnay from four
different countries with RB
Wine Appreciation
3*
Tu4, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Graham Allin
01623 473662
Next Meetings: July 23rd – New Zealand White with Ian & Pauline; Aug. 27th – Lesser-known
Rhone with Barrie & Lynne
Writing for Pleasure * Mo2, 2.00 - 4.00 M The Stanhope Centre
(Bridge St. Methodist
Church)
Mansfield.
Sue Ford / Hilary
Miller 01623
844286 / 620067
Next Meetings: 8th July;12th Aug.; 9th Sept.
Page 8 of 12

9. Groups News (cont. from page 4)
The show is set in County Durham in 1984, the year of the miner’s strike – Thatcher versus Scargill.
Billy, a twelve-year-old, having finished a boxing lesson in the local miners' welfare, finds himself in a
girls' ballet class. This leads to his love of dancing, and after seemingly impossible opposition from
his family and friends, he finally auditions for and is accepted to train at the Royal Ballet school.
As this is happening, the bitterness of the miners' strike, and the opposition to it by the police is
being brilliantly enacted on the stage. Billy’s family finally realise his artistic talent and proudly rally
round him.
The next morning, after breakfast, the coach was waiting to take us to Kensington Palace. This is an
enormous building, still a Royal Palace, with much of it occupied by various members of the Royal
Family. However, there was still plenty of room to exhibit the Queen’s State Apartments, which
showed the apartments of Queen Mary the second, and the end of the Stuart dynasty, the King’s
State Apartments, which showed the costumes and decoration of Georges the First and Second,
and 'Victoria Revealed', showing the rooms where the young Victoria spent her childhood and
became Queen.
Some of us were then lucky enough to have a complimentary ride around the park in a golf buggy!
And so to the coach for the return journey home.
A wonderful time was had by all, and many thanks to Margaret Burlinson and Sheila Whalley who
organised the visit. Please do another one!
Max Clarke Photos on the website ...
Sci-Tech visit to Pleasley Pit Museum
THE WEATHER was sunny and warm when a party of 21 members visited the Pleasley Pit
Museum on 4th June. This is an amazing project and is run by enthusiastic volunteers whose hard
work and commitment is saving and restoring a redundant colliery.
With three very knowledgeable guides the three groups toured the complete north winding house
with great steam engines and winding drum, the south winding house with its equipment under
restoration and the mine car circuit.
The colliery was originally owned by Florence Nightingale’s father and commenced production in
1879, when it was owned by the Verney family. The colliery closed in 1983.
The demolition of the pithead baths, coal wash plant, screens and boiler house took time but in
1986 a preservation order stopped further destruction. In 1995 the preservation group 'Friends of
Pleasley Pit' was formed and began restoration of the site. The two headgears, the engine-house
roof and the chimney were made sound.
This regeneration has won several regional and national awards including the English Heritage
Angel Awards in 2011 and the EMCBE (East Midlands Centre for Constructing the Built
Environment) Heritage Award.
A very interesting visit with guides Tony, Nev. and Martin who made the day memorable with all their
mining knowledge mixed with a sense of humour.
Ian Boucher Photos on the website ...
Gardening Group visit to Doddington Hall Gardens
ONE OF the nice things about Doddington Hall is that it is only one hour from Mansfield so the
Gardening Group visit allowed us a full but leisurely time on the 4th of June.
The weather was remarkably fine and sunny all day long and on arrival we were warmly welcomed
with home-made shortbread and refreshments before the tour of the gardens guided by Jon, the
Head Gardener.
Page 9 of 12

10. The original mellow Elizabethan walls provide the formal frame-work for the garden layout together
with box-edged parterres full to bursting with colourful flag Irises – sadly we were just about a week
too early to enjoy the full effect. Among the many sights to be seen and which also formed the
structure of this four-hundred-year-old garden were some grand old trees, sourced by early plant
hunters and grown from seed here. Among them were contorted Sweet Chestnuts, a Handkerchief
Tree, spectacular Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
Although the under-storey had gone through tough times over the years, the restoration in 1900,
with the help from Kew and more recently with a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund, has been a
remarkable achievement in just six or so years. The 2-acre kitchen garden that supplies the
restaurant is a delight.
After our tour it was time for a light lunch, after which we had free time to explore so much more that
there was to see in the garden, and to visit the excellent Farm Shop before returning home.
Our day was enhanced by the wonderful warm service from the staff taking excellent care to ensure
a great day, and who could not have been kinder or more helpful when one of our members took
too close a look at the pond!
Altogether a great day. My thanks to Janet Whitlam for her excellent travel arrangements.
Jackie Ling Photos on the website ...
Family History visit to the Workhouse and Southwell Minster
ON MONDAY the 24th June, seventeen members of the Family History Group paid a visit to the
Southwell Workhouse.
The Workhouse, which was built in 1834, is now owned by the
National Trust and is normally closed on Mondays but it was opened
specially for us, and we had a guided tour with an excellent tour
guide.
Even those who had been before on an ordinary open day hadn’t
really comprehended the strict rules and segregation that took place
there. Husbands were separated from their wives, children from their
mothers and a strict regime of hard work was enforced. Nobody had
an easy time. It is the most complete workhouse in existence, and
was a refuge for those in need, but a terror to the idle and dissolute.
We all agreed that it wasn’t the place to go for a voluntary change of
lifestyle!
After lunch, those who wanted to visited Southwell Minster, but first
we were shown a film in the Minster Centre showing the day to day
life in this beautiful cathedral.
We weren’t sufficient in number to justify an official Minster Guide to show us round, so the writer,
who was at school there sixty years ago, and knew a bit about it, took over as an 'unofficial' guide.
We were all particularly impressed by the wonderful skill of the stone masons in the chapter house,
and saw a few things that aren’t on the proper guided tour.
Everyone enjoyed their day out without travelling too far!
Max Clarke Photos on the website ...
Luncheon Club
MIKE ALLEN arranged our lunch on 20th June at the new West Notts College training restaurant
'refined', which turned-out to be a treat at a bargain price with food and service to a far higher
standard that anyone has any right to expect from Level 1 students.
Page 10 of 12

11. Next, on 18th July, we'll complete the season by returning to our Pub of the Year for 2011, The
Lion at Farnsfield, where John and Karen Troop have negotiated a good discount from their
normal prices for an attractive menu with dishes priced individually from £9.90 for two courses.
We'll explore new ground on 19th September, after the holiday break, when Pauline and Ian
Boucher are taking us to Bestwood Lodge Hotel, a Victorian Hunting Lodge just north of
Nottingham, where our 2- and 3-course menus are priced at £10 & £15. We'll be dining in their
elegant Parkside Restaurant overlooking the beautiful gardens. (A simple pub it ain't, I'm told!)
Bookings for both of these are open now, and please make a diary note that our annual Christmas
fine-dining lunch at Launay's in Edwinstowe will be on 12th December. There'll be a choice of 2, 3
or 4 courses of French family cuisine priced from £15.95 for 2. Please book with a £10 deposit at
the September meeting (cheques only please, payable to Mansfield and District U3A.)
David Ling Menus are on the website ...
Digital World
WE HAVE been preparing for two projects to keep us busy during the holiday season:
• Firstly, we have been sharing experiences producing slide-shows with music
accompaniment with the hope that members' holiday photos will be more entertaining to
watch in future!
• Secondly, we have been trying to educate our eyes to seen images that aren't obvious by
looking for the alphabet in commonplace subjects so that members will be able to make
up words in a similar style to this:
We'll restart after the holidays on 13th September, looking as members' successes with these and
have a back-to-basics session on the 27th to bring new camera users up to speed with the camera
settings and menus that may seem daunting until they're explained.
Do come along to Stanton Hill Baptist Church at Skegby on any 2nd or 4th Friday (2.00 – 4.00),
apart from August, if you have a digital camera of any kind and would like help to make better use
of it.
David Ling
_____________________________________________________________________________
Reflections from the Committee Table
ON BEING THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR
I took over this job at short notice in February 2010 and couldn't think of a better way to get to know
and make friends with all our Interest Group Leaders and the rest of the Mansfield U3A
membership who have helped our newsletter to evolve.
Some found my style a welcome change, but not everyone sees my efforts in that light, so thanks to
the former and apologies to the latter! And thanks too to everyone who has contributed the words
and photos that make the job possible.
My aim has been to reflect the friendly, chatty style that Mansfield U3A members have always
enjoyed with a touch of professionalism from my working years in publishing and marketing. But the
time is approaching for a new editor to take the job onwards ...
David Ling
Page 11 of 12

12. ______________________________________________________________________________
Cynthia Driscoll. It is with deep regret that we record Cynthia's passing on 6th June after a short
illness. A Requiem Mass on June 13th at St Patrick's RC church, Forest Town was followed by
committal at the Crematorium.
______________________________________________________________________________
MANSFIELD U3A 14th AGM: Tuesday September 17th. 2013.
Members are reminded that nominations for the Committee close at the end of July. In addition, if
members wish to raise motions at the AGM, these must be proposed & seconded by the 20th
August. In both cases, please place the completed papers in the Suggestion Box, contact the
Chairman or send the information to the Secretary via the website Contact form.
______________________________________________________________________________
Speakers' Corner
OUR SPEAKERS today are The Workhouse Storytellers, costumed performers who will give a
fascinating impression of what life was like for inmates and staff, how they interacted with one
another and how it might have felt to enter The Workhouse starving, cold and penniless.
Prepare to be surprised, entertained and moved by the Storytellers as they take us back to life in a
Victorian Workhouse.
Marilyn Dibble
______________________________________________________________________________
Dates for your diary (Check the website for more information and updates.).
Sun. 28th July: OPEN GARDEN at Sheila Whalley's home in aid of Air Ambulance. 2.00 - 5.00. £2
inc. drink and cake. Tickets on sale at the July meeting.
Tues. 20th Aug: SUMMER PICNIC at Queen Elizabeth's Academy. 12.00 to 3pm, with garden
games. FOC, but bring food to share and your own drinks. Details from Jean Hinds (414393)
Sat. 12th Oct: FLEA DRIVE (similar to a Beetle Drive) at St. John's. 7 to 10pm. Tickets, £6, inc. fish
and chip supper, will be on sale soon.
______________________________________________________________________________
Event and Visit Payments
MEMBERS are reminded that deposits and payments for events and visits organised by Mansfield
U3A and its interest groups are non-refundable, but places so reserved may be offered to others.
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Changes of address, etc.
PLEASE contact the membership secretary, Avril McGee (01623 452688), if you've changed your
address, phone number or email since joining Mansfield U3A so that she can update our records.
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Disclaimer
THE VIEWS expressed here are those of the contributors, only, and do not necessarily reflect those
of the editor, the committee of Mansfield U3A or the Third Age Trust. Nor can any responsibility be
accepted for members' announcements or any errors that may occur.
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Next Issue
PLEASE SEND contributions for the August on-line-only issue to mansfieldu3a@aol.com, or in
typescript to the editor, as soon as you can and by 1st August at the latest. Thanks!
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Editor: David Ling (01623 822994) Printed by: Portland Print (www.portlandprint.org.uk/)
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