July 2008

Dear Members,

Our June programme certainly gave us plenty to enjoy. We began with a very informative illustrated talk by Brian Davies on how 19th century industrial Wales has been portrayed by artists, and the following day we went off to the theatre at Stratford where, in the best traditions of the theatre, the production was perhaps controversial but nevertheless enjoyable.  However, there was nothing controversial about our Play –Reading Group’s performances of Foiled Again, a morally uplifting tale of dastardly doings thwarted by the ingenuity of right-thinking people of class and breeding, performed to perfection for our delectation by a hugely talented cast under the direction of the estimable Elizabeth Sumner. Many congratulations, everyone! We also enjoyed our visit later in the month to the Shambles at Newent and Coughton Court near Alcester where we had excellent guides - and a good lunch on the way! The U3A Study Day at the National Museum in Cardiff proved to be one of the best ever, with expert and engaging speakers and highly informative tours of the wonderful Impressionist paintings. With nearly fifty members attending we were by far the biggest U3A contingent there. Add to all this the fact that our Interest Groups continued to meet throughout the month, achieving as always good attendances and high standards.

We are ending our summer session with a flourish. Most Interest Groups will be continuing into July, and this month we have two monthly talks to look forward to, the first by Gwerfyl Gardner and the second by Barbara Jones. Both are on very interesting periods in the history of Wales. There are two very special events - the Evening of Poems and Stories arranged by our Writing and Story-telling Groups and our Singalong Group’s Summer Concert. Both of them are certain to be hugely entertaining. Our monthly visit is to Highclere Castle and The Vyne, two houses of considerable architectural, artistic and historical interest. We are attending one of the Welsh Proms concerts and Cardiff University is arranging a U3A Study Day on Ancient Sparta.

Although we are taking a break in August and there won’t be an August Newsletter, you will see from this Newsletter that we are making two visits to the National Eisteddfod in August – to the Bryn Terfyl concert and a general visit later in the week. You will see also that our Book Club is meeting on 29th August. This Newsletter heralds some of our Autumn programme –  visits to the special lecture at Brecon U3A,  Abergavenny Food Festival and to Prague and Vienna in September, and to the St Petersberg Orchestra Concert at St David’s Hall and the Ballet at the Millennium Centre in October. With all this in prospect for July and later in the year I think we can count ourselves very fortunate indeed, and once again I want to express our gratitude to our Interest Group convenors and all other members who arrange events and visits for us. Their sterling efforts create such an enriching programme.  

I have included in this Newsletter the note we’ve received from Chris Williamson about the future plans for The Rest. I know that you will find it most reassuring and that you will want to wish The Rest every success in the future.

Finally, it is with the greatest sadness that I have to announce the death of two of our members, Beth Devereux and Daphne Dorr. Beth was a founder member of our U3A. She served as Honorary Secretary, then as Membership Secretary and as a member of our Committee from the beginning right up until the time of her death. She was the convenor of our Welsh Conversation Group and organized our visits to the theatre at St Donats Arts Centre. Beth brought warmth and vitality to everything she did and she made a huge contribution to our U3A. Daphne was also a very active member of our U3A. She supported many of our activities and particularly enjoyed the Food in Britain Group. We shall miss them very much indeed and we extend our deepest sympathy to their families and their many friends.  Yours sincerely,    Gwyn Davis (Chairman)

 

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We organise visits to local, national and international places of interest and theatrical events.  Members also benefit from a monthly Luncheon Club held prior to monthly talks provided by a wide selection of gifted members and Guest speakers. A newsletter including an activities PROGRAMME, TALKS, VISITS AND EVENTS and OTHER INFORMATION is issued monthly, except for August when even pensioners take a holiday. We have a hardworking and dedicated COMMITTEE   

 

 

Request for help with Administration

 

Members who deal with the administration of our U3A are finding that their workload is increasing significantly as our membership grows. We would therefore be very grateful for additional help. We would be particularly pleased if one or more members would be willing to write letters of thanks to guest speakers and also to send our U3A’s good wishes to members who are ill and condolences to those who have suffered bereavement. Please contact me if you feel you can help in this or any other way.

Porthcawl U3A Publications

 

It is with great pleasure that I draw your attention to the publication of Life is a Merry-go-round, a new anthology by our Writing for Pleasure Group. It’s excellent and it’s selling very well. In fact, there are only a few copies left, so if you want a copy at £2.50 each, please phone Carol Jones (tel. 788813) without delay.

 

We still have available copies of two other excellent publications. One is A Listener’s Guide to Music, a five volume series written by Harry Lowman. These are now priced at £3 per volume but the set of five volumes is available at a substantial discount. Please contact Harry (tel. 663353) for details.

 

The other is We Made It….and Then What? Witten by a group of members recounting their experiences in the aftermath of the Second World War. Copies are now available at £2.50 each. Please contact any member of the Committee if you would like a copy.

Gwyn Davis (tel. 654766)

 

BOOKS FOR SALE - together with the Rest where U3a hold most of their meetings, Porthcawl Lions will be putting out a quantity of second hand books for sale. They will be in the lobby between the large Lounge and the Dining Room and maybe purchased by putting the appropriate sum in the adjacent honesty box, with proceeds to the Rest. Customers will obviously include all Rest Guests and Visitors, but we hope also to provide books of particular interest to U3A members, with categories to be notified in this newsletter. We propose to start in June with Literary Classics (alongside the permanent 'holiday reading'). Such schemes have done very well in some hospitals, raising needed funds and meeting patients' needs. We hope to do the same for The Rest and to extend the libraries of U3a students. During the summer we will introduce travel books and future book categories will include various hobbies,  the arts etc. There will also be a box for donated books if anyone has them to spare. Any queries, suggestions, book-requests to Andrew Collier,  phone 784939.