Category: Announcements

An opportunity for all members: A presentation about aspects of Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome of brain decline that affects memory, thinking, language, mood and behaviour.

Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.

Many of us have experienced it to some degree through its effect on family and friends.

This is an open invitation to come along to  the Science group meeting on Friday 20^th September from 10am to approx 11.15am in the main hall at JGC.

We are delighted to host a presentation from Dr Alison Cowley and Dr Collins about their current research and clinical work around aspects of Dementia.

Unfortunately, the speaker booked for July has had to cancel, at short notice a new speaker has been found. Bert Flitcroft is a member of Madeley & District u3a in Staffordshire. Bert runs poetry/art/writing events and will share a few poems with us. He will tell us their origins and why they were written, with an emphasis on how they should be read for best effect. He does encourage the audience to take part.

Lloyds Bank

I received an email allegedly from Lloyds Bank stating that they had tried to contact me by phone and assumed my mobile contact number was out of date.

Instructions given – Please click on attached link to upload latest personnel details.

Initially suspect as I don’t have a Lloyds account, on clicking on the sender’s email address it was obvious that this was not from Lloyds – DELETE email.

Ozempic phishing scam

Scammers are setting up fake phishing websites peddling the new weight loss drug Ozempic, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned.

The websites ask for your personal details including your name, address and banking information.

 PayPal invoice scam

Scammers impersonating PayPal are sending recipients a ‘receipt’ for a high-value order in an attempt to get them to call a dodgy phone number.

The number is provided if you ‘didn’t authorise this charge’ and leads to a phone scam where a fraudster will try to obtain your personal details.

Don’t click on the links in these emails and don’t respond to them.

 ITV impersonation email

This scam email impersonating ITV offers a subscription to the ITV X streaming service for just £2 a year.

The link in the email leads to a phishing website which asks for your address, phone number, email and bank details.

Please beware scammers and thieves are after your money; never respond to any email or text you are not 100% happy with.

 

First of all, just a short vote of thanks to Mark Thornley for organising the trip to Kendal in March. Fifty two of us went and had an excellent time, coach, driver, hotel, food, staff, entertainment, walks, outings, were all very good, well done Mark.

I trust you all put your clocks forward on the 30th, it meant we had one hours less rain!

Well with the AGM next meeting, it means that my term as Chairman has come to an end and we will be voting in new committee members and re-electing some existing committee members, I would like to give you just a few details.

Diane Heenan has served her full 6 years and has been an excellent Speakers Secretary, sourcing some very good speakers, thanks Diane.

Angela Cornish has also served 6 years and has been an outstanding Webmaster, keeping our website fully up to date and setting up our new Facebook page, thanks Angela.

Mark Jackson has also completed his 6 years as both Business Secretary and Beacon Administrator. Mark has been a mainstay of the committee and has helped and mentored others whenever needed, many thanks Mark.

The are 4 new candidates for the committee – Helen Rose, who was co-opted during the year as Minutes Secretary (to replace Sandra Green), Robert (Bob) McEwen to stand as Vice Chair, Kevin Varey to stand as Business Secretary and John Pretty to stand as Beacon Administrator.

There are 8 current committee members who are willing to be re-elected, these being – Tina Holmes as our new Chair, Gary Holmes to continue as Treasurer, Greg Umney to continue as Membership Secretary, Sue Tedstone to continue as Group Co-ordinator, Elizabeth Attenborough to continue as Equipment Manager, Lynda Smeathers as our new Webmaster, Christine Eagle as our new Speakers Secretary, thanks to them all for being willing to continue, and finally myself, Melvyn Francis as committee member.

I must not forget the fabulous work that Stephen Lawrence, our Newsletter Editor does all year, collating, editing and producing our monthly newsletter, helped as required by Kevin Varey as required.

And, of course, where would be without the thankless task of providing our refreshments that John and Christine Berrill carry out, not only at every monthly meeting, but at many specials and one-off events, thanks to both, (don’t forget to volunteer to help).

Finally, I would like to thank you all for making my two-year Chairman’s post so enjoyable. It has been hard work at times, but the privilege of serving our u3a and meeting so many wonderful folks more than compensates. Many, many thanks to you all.

God Bless  

Melvyn Francis