1. SOCIAL MORNINGS
Please note that the Social Mornings in March and April will take place in Sandbach Town Hall.
At the Social Morning on Monday 3 March at 10 am Sgt Mark Ellershaw will be speaking on ‘Life as a Motorway Cop’.
2. Do you know about Brook Wood ?
On 12th April at 2.00pm Brook Wood will be formally opened.
The Environmental Action Group has played a crucial role in the transformation of this woodland, turning it into a valuable local recreational area. Our local MP, Fiona Bruce, will lead the ceremony, our Mayor, Cllr Mike Benson, will also be a guest.
If you don’t know about this attractive little walk you should make an effort to visit it and feel proud of the U3A involvement in this community effort which is ongoing. Access can be gained from the roundabout down the hill from Homebase, from a gate off the grassed area to the left as you enter Mill Pool Way (The Morris Homes estate), through the play area in Newall Avenue and from Town Fields, where there is car parking available. There are signs at most entrances to the wood.
In 2010 Brook Wood was a neglected, inaccessible and rubbish-filled eyesore, hardly used by anyone and unknown to most of the residents of Sandbach. It has now been totally transformed. Good quality woodland trails have been laid down, rubbish removed, much undergrowth has been cleared and trees have been planted. The U3A Environmental Action group has worked with The Sandbach Woodland and Wildlife Group and other local groups and residents to help make this happen.
The U3A Environmental Action Group was started in September 2009 with the objective of doing practical work to improve the external environment in which we live. Since then it has undertaken some remarkable projects for the wider benefit of everyone in Sandbach who appreciates woodland and wildlife. It has never had more than nine members, currently there are eight. Possibly their greatest achievement however has been to help turn Brook Wood into a significant public resource and an asset to the town
The group meets on the 4th Monday of every month and if you are interested in getting involved please get in touch with Dick Macaulay (d.macaulay@talk21.com).
3. Pilates
Another Pilates session is to start on 6th March at 9-45 until 10-45 at the Methodist Chapel on London Rd in Elworth. If anybody is interested in joining this group, they should contact Pauline Evans on 01270 761384.
4. Play Reading
There are places available on the Play Reading Group which meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 2 – 3.30 pm in the Masonic Hall. If anyone is interested please contact one of the committee members or visit the U3A desk 2nd or 4th Wednesday morning in the Library.
5. Suggestions from U3A Members
Theatre Trips – Many thanks for the suggestion for a trip to Shrewsbury to see shops, cathedral etc combined with a visit to the Severn Theatre. This was an excellent suggestion. However, on viewing the Severn Theatre web site most of the productions are ‘one off’ shows in the evenings. There were a couple of mid week matinees but not quite what we could organise a trip to see. However, please keep the suggestions coming. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Joan Chadwick 01270 747461.
Speaker for Social Mornings – Following the suggestion for someone to speak on and demonstrate the differences between various musical instruments contact has been made with a couple of U3A leaders of music groups and a positive response has been received. They will be contacted again when arranging next year’s programme.
Many thanks for these suggestions. It would be appreciated if a name and contact details could accompany any future suggestions so that someone can get back to you personally for any follow up or discussion.
6. Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2014
A three day coach trip to see the Christmas Spectacular at Thursford in Norfolk will take place on Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November, 2014, staying at the Wensum Valley Golf and Country Club in Taverham near Norwich for two nights.
The total cost of the visit will be £189.50 per person (single supplement £20.) A deposit (for tickets) of £37.50 is required on booking. Cheques should be made payable to Sandbach U3A. The balance to be paid on Tuesday 30th September.
Booking will take place in Sandbach Library on Tuesday 25th March, 2014 between 9.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Further details will be given at the time of booking.
7. Quiz Night
A U3A quiz night has been organised for Wednesday 2nd April 2014 in St Mary’s Church Hall, Sandbach at 7 p.m. Teams should consist of up to 6 U3A members and there will be an entry fee of one pound per person which will be used to cover the cost of the hall. Any money left over will be used as prize money.
Keith Pointon will be the quiz master and Geoff Miller will be keeping the scoreboard up to date.
The six members of each group can confer together to obtain an answer to the questions which will then be marked by an adjacent group. Members may bring along refreshments, i.e. drinks (plus glasses) and nibbles for consumption during the evening.
If you wish to participate in what is usually a very enjoyable evening, please contact Bill Dowell on 01270 766763 or email: vjdwfd@aol.com giving a team name and the leader’s name. Alternatively, you can put the name of your team on the U3A notice board in Sandbach Library before Friday 21st March.
8. Short Walk and Dine
There are spaces on the Short Walk and Dine group that takes place on the 1st Tuesday of the month if anyone is interested please contact a committee member or visit the library desk etc etc.
9. Possible New Groups
Suggestions have been made regarding the formation of a number of new groups covering a wide range of interests:
Art Appreciation
Interactive History Forum
Jazz Appreciation
Metal Detecting
Petanque (aka French “Boules”)
Philosophy
If you are interested in any of these suggestions, or would like more information please phone Margery on 01270 766964
10. Devonshire Delight Holiday
There are places still available on the Devonshire Delight Holiday organised for Sandbach & District U3A in conjunction with Regent Travel.
The holiday is for 5 Days and departs on 22nd September 2014 at a cost of £425pp (single supplement £80). There is a fully inclusive itinerary, details of which can be found on the U3A website, and the trip will be accompanied by a Regent Tour Manager. The holiday is on a half-board basis and the base will be the 4* Jury’s Hotel in Plymouth which is centrally situated.
If you would like to book a place on this holiday please contact Wendy or Kelly at Regent Travel on 01785 818852 or e-mail – tours@regent-travel.co.uk
11. Bowling
If you would like to participate in Bowling, there are vacancies in Group 7 which is led by Roger Cranmer. Please feel free to contact Roger on 01270 765553 to discuss this further.
If any crucial information is missing from any of the above items, please accept our apologies and check the website where it might also appear. We shall certainly make sure it’s on the website once the questions start flying back.
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Membership Team