Short Walk – 20th May, 2021

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Many of us have been completing a lot of local walks so, for a change of scenery for our first short walk of 2021, we are starting from the car park behind Lowdham Village Hall, Main Street, Lowdham, Nottingham NG14 7BF.

The entrance is opposite The Ship Inn – please park at the rear of the car park

Meet at 9.45am for a 10.00 am start.

The walk is approximately four miles with one early uphill which provides good views followed by some downhill before walking by the Dover Beck and Lowdham Mill and back via the churchyard. It is basically all footpaths with one short quiet road section.

David Rose

Science 2 – April 2021

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At the April meeting Ann Murray, assisted by Ian, gave a very interesting presentation about glaciers and icebergs.

We learnt that icebergs:
– Are a floating mass of freshwater ice that has broken from the seaward end of either a glacier or an ice shelf.

– About 90% of the total volume of the iceberg is under water always.

– The density of the iceberg is about 10% lower than the density of sea water, so 1/9 of it stays on the surface until it melts.

– There are different types of iceberg classified by size and shapes.

Ann included some photographs of glaciers taken when they visited the Rockies and explained how they are important indicators of global warming and climate change in several ways. Melting ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels and as ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melt, they raise the level of the ocean affecting plant and animal life.

In May we meet on Friday 21st at 10.00 am via Zoom and I will be looking at aspects of flooding, its impact on the environment and the science and technology contributing to flood control.

David Rose

Proposed Hucknall u3a Litter Picking Group

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Are you concerned about the environment and the amount of litter in our locality? If so, read on. When we are out cycling and walking no doubt, like us, you notice lots of litter in both urban and rural areas.


Litter collecting in Linby Brook Feb 2021

We do complain and moan to each other about the amount of litter we see but we have now decided that we would like to do something about it.

For this we will need your help – we wish to gather some volunteers from our membership by setting up a Hucknall & District u3a Litter Picking Group.

It is suggested that this could take place one day per week and last for about an hour per session. All equipment such as litter picking sticks, gloves and collecting bags will be provided. We have contacted both Ashfield and Gedling Council and there is an offer of some equipment and all rubbish will then be collected by the council.

Think of the benefits – gentle exercise and fresh air in the company of fellow u3a members whilst making a difference to the environment. If you are interested please contact Val Gant on the form below:-

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Fun with Languages

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Our April zoom meeting was fairly well attended and the sudden disappearance of the Tedstones part way through caused much speculation!! However, on that windy day, it was all hands to the pump to rescue the gazebo! This caused much amusement, as you can imagine.

We talked about the wordsearch and definitions first, then continued with the next episode of our drama Mi Vida Loca. This was followed by a short look at coronavirus vocab on Butterfly Spanish by our Ana, a favourite with Mark. We are all finding Spanish quite challenging and feel sure some months on a beach in Spain would help considerably!

We are not zooming in May but having a break for a month, so our next meeting will be on Thursday, 10th June, 2021 at 10.30 am. At present this will be on zoom but if in person you will be contacted. Here’s hoping for warmer weather!

To contact Liz and Ann, please use the form below:-

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    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