Lockdown Quiz
The latest quiz from Julie Clarke (number 62) has been loaded to the website as well as the answers to number 61. Go to the quiz page where you’ll also find this week’s music quiz (number 61) and the answers to music quiz number 60. Our quiz page lists all the quizzes that have been set previously.
I’m sure you’ll understand that after 15 months of providing us with two weekly quizzes Julie has decided to ‘retire’ at the end of June. As Julie says this will hopefully be a time of family holidays and outdoor activity.
We’re extremely grateful to Julie for keeping us engaged, entertained and challenged over the last fifteen months.
Group News
Weekly Update
Our weekly update will, hopefully, be on the agenda of our next Trustee/Committee Meeting. Whilst the update isn’t going to go away we will be reviewing the content and frequency of future updates, on the basis that groups continue to open and we can meet in person.
If you have any thoughts about the update it would be useful if you could reply to this email at mailing@sandbachu3a.org.uk to let us know what you want from the updates and how often you’d like to receive them.
Membership Renewal – (Repeat posting)
This has been a difficult year for us all, with many of our activities seriously curtailed. We have endeavoured to let as many groups as possible run, following government rules and guidelines.
We are hopeful that we should be able to run a normal or near normal programme in this coming year.
We would like to say a big Thank You to the great majority of our members who did renew last year, and we understand why some members didn’t renew and allowed their membership to lapse.
To say thank you to the loyal members who did renew your committee has decided that the membership fee for 2021-2022 will be just £5.
Members who lapsed and new members joining Sandbach U3A will be asked to pay the usual £10.
Early in June emails or letters will be sent to all members inviting them to renew their membership for the next 12 months.
There are 3 ways that membership can be renewed: –
- The preferred method is online. This can be achieved by following the link in the email or by logging in to the system, clicking the Membership menu and following the Renew Your Membership link. Renewing online requires the payment to be made using PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account, you can do this as a guest.
- Using the U3A post box in the library (either popping in and dropping your renewal request into the box or by post to Membership, Sandbach U3A c/o Sandbach library). If you use this method please put your renewal letter or email in an envelope, along with your cheque and enclose an SAE if you would like a new membership card. Please write your membership number (if known) on the back of your cheque.
- As we don’t yet know what facilities we will be able to use at the library and we don’t want long queues forming in the library we have arranged with Sandbach rugby club to use their large marquee, as we did last year. You will be able to come along and either drop your renewal in a box or go to one of the tables where we will be processing renewals. You will be able to pay by one of 3 methods, cash, cheque or card (at a desk). The dates we will be at the rugby club are 14th and 28th of July and 11th and 25th of August, between 09:30 and 11:30 am.
If you have any questions or queries regarding your membership please email the membership secretary at membership@sandbachu3a.org.uk
Barrie Hacking, Membership Secretary
Local News
Although cases remain low in Sandbach, Cheshire East Council is warning residents and businesses to not let their guard down as Covid-19 cases rise following the relaxing of step 3 restrictions last month.
Dr Matt Tyrer, the council’s director of public health, said: “Unfortunately after the easing of lockdown restrictions on 17 May, and some residents dropping their guard, we are now seeing a worrying increase in positive Covid-19 cases right across the borough, typically of the Delta (Indian) variant of concern.
“We are not asking residents to change their behaviour, but to continue to adhere to the guidance of hands, space, face and fresh air and to get tested regularly, even if they have had one or both vaccinations.”
SandbachGPS provided the following update on the SMASH residents vaccination programme:
Vaccine update to the end of May 2021:
Phase 1
33,418 in Cohort 1-9 have received at least 1 vaccination (94.24% of population)
4,713 partially vaccinated (1 dose)
28,705 fully vaccinated (2 doses)
Phase 2
12,217 in Cohort 10-12 received at least 1 vaccine (56.02% of population)
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) are urging all in the 60+ age group to make sure they have both doses to ensure they maximise the protection currently available.
Sandbach Walking Festival
The 2021 Sandbach Walking Festival (SWF) will be from:
Saturday 26 June to Sunday 4th July.
40 walks over the 9 days.
Interesting events, walks, fresh air, nice countryside, pubs and teashops, friendly sociable people, and good exercise.
Events range from toddlers in the park, through a wheelchair and dementia friendly event, to short walks, long walks and one or two tea shop and pub based walks.
The SWF 2021 Programme is below and is also available on Facebook (search for Sandbach Footpaths). Please check from time to time, in case events have to be modified for Covid restrictions.
Sandbach Walking Festival 2021 Programme
National News
u3a members across the country are joining forces with the Centre for Ageing
A survey of u3a members found that nearly 40% had heard ageist language used about their age group. The results contrasted strongly with how members saw themselves, with common responses in the survey including ‘friendly’, ‘curious’, ‘intelligent’ and ‘independent’.
To support u3a members to challenge ageism, u3a and the Centre for Ageing Better have produced a toolkit which includes information and resources on how to challenge ageism including a ‘Top Tips’ guide.
Sam Mauger, CEO of the Third Age Trust, said: “u3a represents a diverse and enthusiastic group of members who are wonderful examples of what it means to age well. Our members all approach later life in different ways and we want to see this reflected in the way we talk about and think about ageing.
“We want to shift the narrative around ageing to reflect the positive and realistic experiences of older adults which is why we have partnered with Ageing Better on a toolkit to combat ageism.”
Louise Ansari, Director of Communications and Influencing, Centre for Ageing Better, said:
“Ageism affects us all, limiting our perceptions of what we can do as we get older, and leading to discrimination against those in later life. With all of us living longer, it’s vital that we work together across society to combat harmful stereotypes so we can all make the most of our later years.
You can download the toolkit here
On a Lighter Note
And on the subject of aging, if we can’t laugh at the process, who can ?
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- Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough
- I don’t know how I got over the hill as I never reached the top.
- You start a sentence but forget what you ……………..
- Middle age is when it takes longer to rest than to get tired
- It is hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.
- The world only beats a path to your door when you’re in the bathroom.
- If God wanted me to touch my toes, he’d have put them on my knees.
- Have you grown up and spread cheer or grown up and spread
- Age makes furniture more valuable and people worth less!
- My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.
- If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?
- It was a whole lot easier to get older, than it was to get wiser.