Category: Announcements

Regretfully I have again not been very active this month, due to my knee and eye. My knee replacement has gone really well, getting about the house, stairs etc., without any crutches, just using them outdoors, so very pleased with progress. Starting attending physio classes next week, so more pain, but hopefully more gain.

Sorry to say, that my retina reattachment didn’t repair and detached itself again, so had to have a second operation on 13^th June, took a lot longer than the first, filling the eye with silicon that will have to be removed after about three months and see how my sight is. So only one eye for a bit more.

The NHS is just coming up for its 75^th anniversary on 5^th July and I am really grateful for its service recently, I just hope that its current problems of staffing, waiting lists, underfunding etc., can be resolved and get back to what it was when we grew up. I remember that when my father died our local GP paid for a holiday for my two younger sisters who were 3 & 9 yrs old, can’t imagine that happening now, don’t even know my doctors name or what he/she looks like.

Having the problems above and having to be basically housebound for three months has really made me appreciate how great it is to belong to our u3a and what an amazing organisation it is, especially those that volunteer to run the groups and activities. I have very much missed being part and joining in with my groups and look forward to taking part again, now that I can eventually get out and about.

Spare a thought please for the many folk that are permanently housebound.

Anyway, it is St. Swithin’s Day on Saturday 15^th July, so lets hope that the weather is exceptional and doesn’t rain, otherwise, according to folklore, it will rain for the next 40 days so states the old poem:-

“St. Swithin’s day if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain, St. Swithin’s day if it be fair, For forty days ‘twill rain no more”

I must congratulate the Sub Social Committee who despite having a few members on holiday or invalided, still put on an excellent Quiz Night on Friday 23^rd June, with 15 teams competing, congratulations to the winning team ‘3 Pairs’. The food was also good, so thanks to the caters, a good night out and a good time had by all.

Look forward to seeing you all (out of one eye) at July’s monthly meeting, please try and remember to wear your name badges so that all know who you are, and of course don’t forget to sign out if you leave early,.

Melvyn Francis, Chair

Beware of doorstep scams

It can be challenging to distinguish between a genuine doorstep seller and a scammer.

Doorstep scammers are people who show up at your front door out of the blue with the intention of either tricking you out of money or gaining access to your home.

It’s important to be cautious when dealing with strangers who appear unannounced at your doorstep, good advice is to always say NO.

Cyber-romance scammers

Romance scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals on charity Facebook pages that focus on sensitive topics such as mental health, bereavement and ageing. We’ve seen scammers lurking on pages belonging to Age UK, The Good Grief Trust and Mind.

Romance scammers often use grooming techniques, where they connect with their victims before exploiting them financially.

Remember, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and cautious when interacting with strangers online, especially on platforms where vulnerability is prevalent.

Beware of fake Microsoft fraud protection emails

If you have a Hotmail or Microsoft Outlook email account, watch out for fake ‘fraud protection’ emails that prompt you to log into your account.

These emails claim to be from the Outlook Support Team, are flagged as ‘high priority’, and state that they come from a ‘trusted sender’. The messages inform you that there’s been suspicious activity on your account and say you’ll need to click a link to log in. If you do so and enter your details, you could end up giving personal information to scammers, potentially compromising your other accounts.

Microsoft will never ask you to provide personal information or login credentials via email.

Welcome to our website.  It’s nice to welcome the sunshine back, even if it does mean having to water the plants. I trust that you had a good May with all the bank holidays and the coronation to watch, whatever your views it must be said the UK can certainly be proud of its pomp and ceremony.

Not a lot to report this month, mainly as I have been out of action due to a detached retina at the end of April, this was repaired and reattached almost immediately at the Queen’s Medical Centre, on 21^st April, just a couple of days after being confirmed. I was very impressed and grateful for this very quick response, considering what we read about the current huge waiting lists. It’s a bit difficult getting about with only one eye, but I will have to wait and pray that my vision returns.

This was followed by me having a planned total knee replacement to my left knee at the Park Hospital on 22 May (had the right knee done last year), Amazingly only kept in one night and discharged after the Physios (pain corps) knew I could cope at home. Just a lot of exercises, physio and pain control for the next six weeks and then hopefully somewhat back to normal.

Crutches and one eye, a real-life Long John Silver ‘me hearties’.  Thankfully our Vice Chair has taken over in my absence helped of course by the rest of the committee. My many thanks.

Hoping that you can attend June’s meeting, please remember to enter the John Godber Centre for our monthly meetings via the car park, and as always, please book in at the desk on arrival and, as importantly for Health and Safety, ensure you sign yourselves out if leaving early.

Please also try and wear your name badges so that we all know who we are speaking to, 500 members are a lot of names to remember and of course turn off or silence your mobiles during the meeting.

If you feel that you can be part of the committee, please enquire what it entails, as next year, we have several committee members coming to the end of their six year term and we cannot exist without certain officers in place.

Please don’t forget to volunteer for the tea and coffee rota, if we all volunteered, we would only have to do so every 4 years.

Melvyn Francis, Chair

Watch out for fake B&Q product giveaways

Fraudsters are impersonating B&Q in dodgy emails which promise free products in exchange for filling out a survey. If you click on these emails, you’ll be taken to a recently created website where you’re asked to complete a short survey. You’ll then be asked to fill out a form and pay £2 for postage. At this point, scammers will steal your personal information and bank details.

Soaring TV Licence scams

TV Licence scams are again on the rise, with Action Fraud warning people about emails that lead to dodgy websites asking for your details. Action Fraud says it has received over 3,400 reports about TV Licence scams in the past two weeks.

These emails typically state that a recipient’s licence is about to expire or that there has been an issue with their most recent payment.

Government launches fraud crackdown – what you need to know

The Government is taking steps to tackle fraud and protect consumers from scams. This includes a ban on cold calls selling financial products in an attempt to stop scammers from tricking people into buying fake investments over the phone. The government hopes that by banning these cold calls, consumers will feel more confident to hang up and report scammers.

NEVER DISCLOSE ANY DETAILS TO COLD CALLERS / EMAILS

ALWAYS BEWARE, CRIMINALS LURK EVERYWHERE.

I’m pleased to share that a portable defibrillator has been purchased to be used in the building thanks to funding raised from the Hucknall U3A and an anonymous donor.

The defibrillator chosen allows for the use for children and adults without the need to change pads. There is a switch on the device to change quickly between adult and paediatric mode which in an emergency situation could save crucial time and anxiety to the user than having to change physical pads. 

We give a huge amount of thanks to the U3A and to our anonymous donor, they have enabled us to purchase this lifesaving piece of equipment that we hope we’ll never need to use but have the peace of mind that it is to hand if ever needed. For our level of usage in the Centre for various age groups and range of activities this particular defibrillator will be ideal to have. As a registered charity, as for many, times are challenging and this kindness to help us be able to have this vital piece of equipment for the many people who use the building is greatly appreciated. We’re so humbled by the fund-raising efforts and donations of those involved in our wonderful community, without them this wouldn’t have happened.

The U3A Science group, which is one of many groups who use the Centre, took on the challenge of researching the range of defibrillators to help narrow down the choices and the item was purchased from the British Heart Foundation.

Currently the unit is housed in the Centre office with the first aid kit and further funding will be sought to purchase an external cabinet to house the defibrillator so it can be more easily accessed for the wider community.

The defibrillator has been registered with East Midlands Ambulance Service who will arrange training for the Centre team and volunteers free of charge.  If you would like to be notified of the training date, please let us know, you’d be very welcome to join us when the demonstration is arranged.  I hope this update may offer you some comfort knowing there is a unit nearby.