Wrecsam. Wrexham. Programme of Speakers for th May Sarah Gathercole Welsh Art and Artists, patrons and their influences

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1 1 Wrecsam March 2016 Volume 8 Issue 6 Wrexham Charity No Programme of Speakers for th March Dr. Mike Leach In the Midst of Gorillas 19th April Trisha King With my Camera in Gujarat 17th May Sarah Gathercole Welsh Art and Artists, patrons and their influences 21st June Cat Williams Survival Secrets of a Military Wife 19th July Fran Sandham Dr. Livingstone I presume 16th August Treasure Hunt 20th September Keith Vigur Mystery Shopper 18th October Paul Jeorett The History of the Quakers in North Wales 15th November Dr. Helen Patterson Wrexham Borough Council 13th December Christmas Lunch 17th January Tracy Livingston Nursing 21st February Penny Brett-Roberts QE 2 Hotel manager 21st March Peter Mathot Amsterdam the Friendly City FROM THE CHAIR As I write this we have just enjoyed our 10th Anniversary Speaker Meeting at which we had a 'full house' audience. Alister Williams gave a fascinating presentation on 'The History of Acton Hall' which kept us all utterly engaged. The next celebration will be the Anniversary Party where we will be able to enjoy each others company and appreciate all that our U3A offers. There will be Interest Group displays, DVD presentations, photographs, memorabilia and much more. I should like to express sincere gratitude to all who have helped so willingly in the organisation of such a large scale event; the teamwork has been wonderful. This is my last newsletter item and I should like to express my heartfelt thanks to those who have supported me during this very busy year. Also I have enjoyed and valued the warm friendship of so many members during the 10 years of my involvement with Wrexham U3A. I look forward to quieter times but will continue to be loyally supportive behind the scenes. I send all good wishes for the continued success of Wrexham U3A in the future. Mary Woolley Items for the May 2016 newsletter must be in the hands of the Editor by 26th April 2016 at the latest. Items to <edjan2@btinternet.com>. All other correspondence to Wrexham U3A, PO Box 2257, Wrexham LL11 0DE 1

2 2 Coach trips for April to July rd April 2016 Port Sunlight A new exhibition and Tour of the Village. A visit to the Church is recommended. Lunch is not included. The afternoon and early evening will be spent in Liverpool. Coach will leave Wrexham at 8.30am from Sainsburys Bus Stop arriving home at approx. 7.00pm Cost For the first time we have to pay a 3.00 entrance fee to the village.(inc. in the cost price). 21st May 2016 Croome Court, Worcestershire A truly amazing find. Croome was the secret war time Headquarters of the RAF. The museum and operations rooms are open to the public. These are in the hands of the National Trust. This year is the 300th anniversary of Capability Brown`s birth and the gardens at Croome, his first commission, have been brought back from the wilderness to his vision. There will be a guided tour of the house once the home of the Earls of Coventry. COST 15.00including tour of the house. We leave Wrexham (Sainsbury`s Bus stop at 8.00am arriving home at approx. 7.00pm Would everyone going to Croome please complete the selection form for their preferred tour which is exclusively for Wrexham U3A. The house, museum and parkland are free to all NT members. If you are not members then it may be wise to consider joining The National Trust. 25th June 2016 Bletchley Park NOTE: This is now a day trip due to the unreasonably high cost of accommodation in the area. Would everyone who expressed an interest in visiting Bletchley, please confirm they are still interested in view of the changed arrangements. Margaret needs to confirm whether she requires two coaches for this trip. This visit will provide a fascinating insight to the secret code breaking methods of the Second World War. One not to miss!! COST : including a year`s valid admission fee. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU PAY MARGARET THE MONIES DUE WHEN YOU BOOK THE TRIP(S). Unless otherwise stated all cheques to be made payable to Wrexham U3A. Margaret`s telephone number is nd July 2016 Four nights Kent Dinner Bed and Breakfast 301 (No single rooms left) Staying at the Four Star Mercure Hotel in Great Danes next to Leeds Castle. Small allocation of rooms available - 14 twin and 8 doubles ( of which 8 twins and 1 double have already been taken). Excursions: Chartwell and Sissinghurst. These visits are included in the price. Hever Castle and Leeds Castle are optional visits which will incur an entrance fee if sufficient people decide they wish to visit these.. You may wish to visit Canterbury or to make a quick cross channel visit to France yourselves. 2

3 3 Canal walking This year`s programme commences on 17th March and continues on the third Thursday of each month thereafter. Please ensure that I am given all the relevant paperwork if you are new to the group so that U3A insurance cover applies. Also, please wear the appropriate footwear for muddy paths and possible inclement weather. me if you cannot attend. Judith Dolben 17th March Llangollen Pavilion to Bryn Howell This walk starts at 11.00am and lunch is anticipated at around Please park (then pay) on the left hand side of the area away from the bus markings. This easy walk traditionally starts our year. 21st April Rednal Junction to Queen`s Head-The Primrose Way A circular route of about three and a half miles, starting from Rednal Junction. From Wrexham take the A483/A5 south as far as the Queen`s head turning. Go past the Queen`s Head pub, across the bridge over the canal and turn immediately left, parallel with the canal. Car park is about half a mile on the right, just before the railway bridge and behind the hedge. Part of the walk is across fields and stiles and a railway line. It can be muddy. We also walk on a busy road without a footpath so care is needed as we approach the QH. We leave at 11.00am prompt. Lunch at QH approx pm 19th May Lion Quays Waterside to the Jack Mytton About three miles each way along a canal tow path. At Lion Quays please park near the Waterside resort area, not near the Spa or Hotel area. Again a prompt departure at 11.00am and lunch is approx pm. The Jack Mytton has been refurbished and is under new management so a warm welcome is assured. 16th June Caldy Park to Christleton The Plough This is about two and a half miles each way, much along canal paths but in places across fields and along hedgerows. It can be brambly so long sleeves and trousers might be wise. We leave at 11.00am prompt and lunch is at 12.30pm approx. Future Walks 21st July Eccleston Ferry to Aldford 15th September Queen`s Head to Navigation (led by Jim and Val Nuttall) 20th October Chirk Hand Hotel to Waterside 17th November Rednal Junction to Queen`s Head These details in future newsletters janndolben@btinternet.com 3

4 4 Short Walks Group All walks start at 10.00am on the 1st Tuesday in the month Meet in the car park behind Sainsburys at 9.30am leaving at 9.45am Car sharing is encouraged ( COST OF 7 PENCE PER MILE) The walks will be up to 4 miles. Please wear suitable clothing and walking boots. A bottle of water is also advised. Walks should take approximately 2 hours. Please note that you walk at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. Take particular care on roads Programme of walks for 2016 February March April May June July August September October November December Alyn Waters Gresford Quarry Erddig Llangollen Nant Mill/Minera Ty Mawr Rossett Loggerheads Dingle and The Darkie Duke`s Driveway Walk to include a Christmas lunch ALL WALKS ON FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH NEW CYCLING GROUP A new cycling group has been established under the leadership of Mary Burman. The group will meet on the First Wednesday of each month. The ability to transport the bicycle is a bonus. You will also need suitable all weather clothing and a helmet. Venues will be agreed by the members of the group. Packed lunches may be needed but it is intended that refreshment stops will be arranged on each ride. Mary Burman Tel. No.: mary@theburmans.co.uk 4

5 5 Which of these two poems by Anne Douglas best describes the winter of ? Winter here With winter truly here, Plants dormant. Now bleak and unnerving, Bitter and cold, Each day brings an ice, A hoar frost. Hard to encounter underfoot, Slippery, Perilous, Scintillating, Unpredictable. Snow covered landscapes, Trees covered in white, Leaves brittle. Such is the season The rain Sheet lightning Thunder Rainfall Deluge Large raindrops Falling fast Heavy showers Garden looks verdant Lush and green. All that was once Dried up is Sodden and wet now But Thank goodness For the rain. Of Winter. German Group Please note that this group Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month At TESCO Community Room Elizabeth Pettitt Archaeology Group Phil Cox, who has been unwell, has notified Derrick Gwilliam that he is willing to restart the group on 10th March. He will let Derrick know the venue of the first session. Please contact Derrick for further information. gwiltier@sky.com Tel No: LEADERS ARE NEEDED FOR: Mahjongg and Welsh and there are vacancies for vocalists in the singing group Recorder Group at the Anniversary Lunch 5

6 6 Gardening Group 5 We spent January and February meeting at Bellis and Grosvenor Garden Centres. A visit to the Plant Hunters Fair at Dearnford Lake near Whitchurch (with lunch) is planned for Sunday 20th March. The programme for 2016 is as follows: March 8th Reni Warden 4 Astridge Park, Gyfelia, Wrexahm, LL13 0YH April 12th Lilian Davies 22 Gleneagles, Holt Rd., Wrexham, LL13 9GR May 20th Di Hoggan Green Farm Cottage, Holt Rd., Wrexham, LL12 0DP June 14th Mary Woolley Tre Helyg, Sontley, Wrexham, LL13 0YB July 12th Lorna Gray 7 Garden Court, Wrexham LL11 2SQ August 9th Mary Stewart 16 Westway, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 2DX September 13th Dorothy Morris Woodvale, The Rake, Burton, CH64 5TL October 11th Beryl Rogers 16 Saxon Road, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, LL11 4SQ November 8th Eccleston Lady Eccleston Village, Chester All meetings on second Tuesday of the month. Further Plant Hunters event to be arranged. December 13th Christmas lunch Grosvenor Hotel, Pulford Lorna Gray Walking group Our first walk of the year in January started at Llanfynydd with a steady ascent on to Hope Mountain. The weather was good for the time of year with sunshine on the way up, a shower on the top whilst having lunch and dry again on the way down. In February we did a circular walk from Nannerch continuing to Lixwm before returning to the start point. A special feature of this enjoyable walk were the masses of snowdrops and emerging daffodils. After the walk we went for a lovely afternoon tea at the Gwysaney Arms Hotel at Rhydymwyn. Future walks 24th March Harthill and Rawhead 28th April Llanarmon yn Ial and Eryrys Peter and Jenny Richardson The Summer Programme will be available on the March walk On the way to Lixwm Lunch on Hope Mountain 6

7 7 Group News My thanks to all those group leaders who were able to attend the February Meeting. By the time you read this you should have had your copy of the minutes-these have been delayed by lack of internet connection in a local rural area. As we are nearing the production of a new Handbook will all Leaders please check that their contact details etc. are up to date and any necessary alterations forwarded as soon as possible. Again my thanks to all those Leaders who contributed to the Tenth Anniversary celebrations with either articles for the anniversary newsletter and/or displays on the day. For many it was not just compiling a group display but also contributing to other displays; if your house was like mine there were 2not to forget lists2 and boxes of items for display everywhere. Thanks also to the members for donating their work for the event. Without the dedication and commitment of the Leaders there would not be a thriving U3A in Wrexham and it would not have survived ten years without you, so a very BIG THANK YOU for all you do. Latest groups to be formed The latest two groups to be formed are Short Walks and Mah-jongg. From personal experience I thoroughly enjoyed the walk, the sun shone and we all managed the walk without needing oxygen, although the hill near the Hack Sanctuary has become steeper than the last time I walked up it!! They must have laid more tarmac on it! Four of us had to rush off after the walk in order to attend our afternoon U3A group feeling very smug when we arrived there revelling in the fact that we had had an active morning with no mention of aching muscles! Mah-jongg has its first meeting on March 16th at 2.00pm at the Cunliffe Arms. There is room for more members and if anyone is proficient in the game they would be welcome to guide the group in the basic rules. There is a possibility of three new groups forming in the near future, details of which will be announced as soon as they are available. Pam Dean Group Co-ordinator Tenth Anniversary Lecture Mary Woolley ( Current Chair) of Wrexham U3A introduced Alister Williams who presented the Tenth Anniversary Lecture to a `sell-out` audience at the Nick Whitehead Lecture Theatre at Glyndwr University. His illustrated lecture was an updated version of his talk at the very first monthly meeting of Wrexham U3A in February As always, it was a masterly and comprehensive history of Acton Hall, its owners and occupiers and its significance in the history of North East Wales, Wales and Britain. 7

8 8 Tenth Anniversary Lunch 8