Message from the Chair – April 2021

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Hello Everyone,

We had a good warm and sunny start to spring in the final days of March and for the next six months the clock in my car is reading the correct time now we have entered British Summer Time (BST) – the time used in the UK from late March to late October, that is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

The early history of BST is interesting. It was first established by the Summer Time Act 1916, after a campaign by builder William Willett. His original proposal was to move the clocks forward by 80 minutes, in 20-minute weekly steps on Sundays in April and by the reverse procedure in September. In 1916, BST began on 21 May and ended on 1 October. Willett never lived to see his idea implemented, having died in early 1915.

April is also the AGM month of our u3a. I would like to move ahead by 12 months to focus on the AGM in April 2022. Currently our constitution states the trustees (main committee members) can serve for a total of 6 years.

In April 2022 five members of the current committee reach that milestone and will vacate their office:

David Rose – Chair
Christine Berrill – Treasurer
Siobhan Lee – Groups Coordinator
Philip Attenborough – Equipment Manager
Barrie Saunders – Support across the committee roles

A u3a cannot function without trustees designated as officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Business Secretary. Before April 2022, Hucknall u3a will need members to step forward and volunteer for committee vacancies especially the officer roles of Treasurer and Vice Chair.

We had a similar situation in April 2016 and for a time it was almost a closure situation. It was thanks to the work and persuasive powers of John Tedstone and his retiring committee that encouraged the retiring members of the current committee to volunteer.

We will need at least five volunteers next April , if you are interested please get in touch with a committee member or myself via the form below:-

David Rose

    Have you tried something new during lockdown?

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    Proposed presentation to celebrate some activities carried out by Hucknall and District u3a members under Covid restrictions since March 23rd 2020

    Have you tried something new during lock down?
    A new craft or hobby: Learnt a new language or piece of music?
    Walked or cycled a different route in your neighbourhood and noticed something you hadn’t before?
    Have you had time to try a new recipe or baking technique?
    Read a book or watched a film you never had time to read before or wrote your own poem or story?

    I would like to compile an audio /visual presentation of activities undertaken by the Hucknall u3a members during the various levels of lock down. This will be shown at one of our future meetings.

    Your contributions would be most welcome, please send photos, short videos, illustrations or pieces of writing to me via the contact form below:

    Thank you
    Chris Vincent

    Error: Contact form not found.

    Choir Group

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    Spring has definitely sprung, we all have something to sing about, and not just the weather, which is glorious today (when I have typed this I am heading for the patio with a Magnum). Although local gardens are looking as beautiful as they will at any time, it is good that we can now have a change of scene, driving non-essential journeys to somewhere further than an exercise walk away! The hills will be alive, whether or not anyone bursts into song.

    During the month we had another Ring and Sing request, this time from a choir member for herself, who enjoyed an extra pleasant surprise due to an unexpected musical skill from our choir’s R&S volunteer. Hidden talents, well done. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before we can sing together, it won’t be soon, but I think we can begin to look forward to it, and so many other things. Keep patient, keep taking care, see you later.

    Pub Quiz

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    PUB QUIZ – Here are the MARCH PUB QUIZ ANSWERS

    SECTION ONE – PEOPLE
    1. Who rode his ‘Funky Moped’ to No 5 in the UK charts in 1975? Jasper Carrott
    2. What are the surnames of the 3 tenors?(1 point for each) Pavarotti, Domingo, Carrera
    3. Who wrote and illustrated the children’s book, ‘The Snowman’? Raymond Briggs
    4. What was the name of A.A. Milnes’ son? Christopher Robin
    5. Who was the captain of ‘The Black Pig’? Captain Pugwash
    6. What nationality was the magician and escapologist, Harry Houdini? American
    7. Which month in 1969 did Neil Armstrong first stand on the moon? July

    SECTION TWO – GEOGRAPHY

    8. Which explorer discovered the Hawaiian Islands? Captain Cook
    9. In which modern country are the ruins of Troy? Turkey
    10. What TV series was set on Craggy Island? Father Ted
    11. Which river runs through Baghdad? Tigris
    12. On what street in London would you find The Bank of England?Threadneedle St.
    13. The A1 road starts in London and finishes in which city? Edinburgh

    SECTION THREE – GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

    14. What food would a Cockney be eating if he is going for a ruby? Curry (Ruby Murray)

    15. What is the colour of the black box on commercial aircraft? Orange
    16. How many old pennies were there in a guinea? 252
    17. In which film did Raquel Welch appear in a fur bikini as a cave girl? One Million Years BC
    18. The first two words in the film title where David Bowie plays Mr Lawrence? Merry Christmas
    19. What is the motto of the boy scouts? Be Prepared

    SECTION FOUR – SPORT & LEISURE

    20. What is the highest bid, without doubling, in the game of bridge? 7 No Trump
    21. In a game of bowls, what name is given to the target ball? Jack
    22. Which team won the 2017 FA Cup? Arsenal
    23. Which sport is said to have been played for over 3,000 years? Hurling
    24. What is Japan’s national sport? Sumo
    25. What is an ice hockey puck made of? Vulcanised rubber

    And just for a change, let’s have a Name the Creature Quiz for April

    1. Result of a sore throat – (5)
    2. A bit of a wrench – (6)
    3. Monty’s soldier Desert – (3)
    4. Not colder, I think I hear? – (5)
    5. These were filmed in the mist? – (7)
    6. Hard to hit the ball without one of these? – (3)
    7. Tony used to think Frosties where grrrrrreat? (5) – (5)
    8. When their tails up, they can cause quite a stink – (5)
    9. Troy Tempest used to command one of these? – (8)
    10. Naked – (4)
    11. Used to lock up the Urine? – (4)
    12. A dance where you need to follow? – (6)
    13. A shy fish? – (3,4)
    14. This bird used to be great for Guinness? – (6)
    15. A Roman soldier would die for this standard? – (5)
    16. Not the most sensible thing to put down your trousers? – (6)
    17. Pulled? – (4)
    18. Take the red out of this misleading clue – (7)
    19. Boy George thought this animal really had Karma! – (9)
    20. Simples! – (7)

    Reading Group

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    It was World Poetry Day (21 March), established by Unesco in 1999, it aims to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind – but how do you convince people that this is something worth celebrating? Poetry is for academics and posh people, right? Wrong! So Reading Group members, why not let us share your favourite poem with you? Thanks.

    Otherwise, please let me know what books you have been reading over the last month.