Registered Charity No 1072658 Fairford & District Fairford & District Fairford & District Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter General Meetings Palmer Hall, 2.30pm 6 August Visit to the Ernest Cook Trust Forest School by Anne Newman 3 September ‘The Tewkesbury Benedicnes’ by Don Freeman 1 October Scary Tales for Halloween by Chloe Lees Today, 2 July We shall hear about one of Britain’s oldest and most aracve trout farms, providing stocks of nave brown trout for local rivers and streams. It is now a famous visitor aracon, featuring a ‘Catch Your Own’ fishery. August Meeng , 6 August We meet in the school car park at 2.30pm, walk to the offices and the forest to hear about the Trust and its estates. We will return to the Community Centre for tea. Please let Sarah Basley know if you can supply items for the tea (cake, scones, biscuits etc.) - [email protected]. The Farmor's Room kitchen at Fairford Community Centre will be open to receive donaons from 9.15am. Tea Rota 3 September: Poetry Circle 2 1 October: Postcards 5 November: Recorders New members We welcome the following new members: Des Jobbins ,Peter & Wendy Lewis, and Roger Phillips Photo Album Ann Wightman has taken over the photo album. Please give any new photos to her. 01285 712723 Editor this month: Sarah Boomley Issue 197 July/August 2013 www.fairfordu3a.org.uk Bibury Trout Farm by Kate Marrit 2
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Registered Charity No 1072658
Fairford & DistrictFairford & DistrictFairford & District NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter
General Meetings
Palmer Hall, 2.30pm
6 August Visit to the Ernest
Cook Trust Forest School by
Anne Newman
3 September ‘The Tewkesbury Benedictines’ by Don Freeman
1 October Scary Tales for Halloween by Chloe Lees
Today, 2 July We shall hear about one of Britain’s
oldest and most attractive trout
farms, providing stocks of native
brown trout for local rivers and
streams. It is now a famous visitor
attraction, featuring a ‘Catch Your
Own’ fishery.
August Meeting , 6 August We meet in the school car park at
The words ‘abstemious’ and ‘facetious’ both have all the
vowels in alphabetical order
The dot that appears over the letter ‘i’ is called a ‘tittle’
‘Bookkeeper’ is the only word in the English language with
three consecutive double letters
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GROUP EVENTS Please contact the group leaders if you are interested in joining any of
the groups or visit www.fairfordu3a.org.uk for further information.
Birdwatching Tuesday 16 July Something a bit different this month: We shall meet at Fairford car park at 3.00pm and travel to the Forest of Dean. We shall spend the late afternoon hoping to see the peregrines at Symonds Yat and looking for other birds in the forest. We shall then have a pub meal before going in search of nightjars as it gets dark. I suggest you bring insect repellent and a torch. A donation of £4 by passengers would be suitable. Parking at Symonds Yat is rather pricey (£3.50) so the fewer cars we take the better. There will be no meeting in August.
Richard Morgan 01285 712085
Book Circle 1
Tuesday 9 July , 13 August
At our meeting on July 9th we will discuss ‘Why be Happy when you can
be Normal’ by Jeanette Winterson.
Our August 13th book will be Tolstoy's ‘Anna Karenina’. Both times we
plan to meet at Pauline's, but if there is a change of venue, I will contact
everyone well in advance.
Denny Rawlinson 01285 711009
Book Circle 2
Tuesday 9 July
We shall meet at Sue’s house at 2.30pm having read ‘The Secret History’
by Donna Tartt. Please let either Sue or me know if you are unable to
attend.
Tuesday 13 August
The meeting will be at Anthea’s house, at 2.30pm; the book ‘The 1000
Autumns of Jacob de Zoet’ by David Mitchell. Please let either Anthea or
me know if you are unable to attend.
Sue Middleton 07976-365728 Anthea Wordley 01285 712545 Sarah Basley 01285 712720 [email protected]
I will be in touch about future meetings. Rosemary Westlake 01285 712329 [email protected]
Advanced
We start by reading a couple of pages from a magazine published for groups like ours, and then discuss matters arising from that, and anything else that takes our fancy! This is done in two small groups of generally not more than six people. New members are always welcome!
We dance regularly at the Palmer Hall on the third Wednesday of the month, at 10am. New members welcome. Gillian Bilbrough 01285 712579 Joyce Deane 01285 851408
Family History 2
No Meetings July or August Start again Wednesday 18th September 2013 Michael Johnson 01285 712637 [email protected]
Computer Group
We meet every week on Tuesday mornings at my home where I aim to help members in the use of computers, the internet and more. If you are interested in joining, please contact me and you will be welcome. For those just starting, I have a desktop computer that is available for members to use, although it is helpful if you have a laptop to bring along. If you want to start using email, I can allocate you a personal email address for your sole use. Nick Humphris 01285 711740
Cycling and Pub Lunch
Wednesday 24 July A ride of roughly 27 miles will take us to The Swan at Radcot Bridge via Eastleach, Filkins, Broadwell and Clanfield. The return will take us through Grafton, Kelmscot, Little Faringdon and Southrop. Leave Fairford car park at 10:15am or ring me for meeting points en route. Phil Trickett 01285 712421
Wednesday 28 August
Not sure how many riders will be around, will check
nearer the time. Either way, a visit to The Sherborne
Arms is well overdue. We will glide into Gt Barrington, via Eastleach, then
through some very pretty Cotswold villages, cross the A40 and cruise
down past Lodge Park, an NT property, on a long straight road, all the
way into Aldsworth. No effort, just sit in the saddle and admire the
scenery. After a nice lunch and the odd half, just to check the ale quality,
we have a gentle incline back in to Coln St Aldwyns. We shall then go our
separate ways, all in glorious sunshine. Meet at Coln Post Office at ten
thirty am.
Paul O'Shaughnessy
01367 850262
Family History 1
Wednesday 17 July
We shall meet at Fairford Library at 2.30pm to use their computers. We shall be mainly looking at the National Archives website www.nationalarchives.gov.uk ; other suggestions of useful websites or tips for searching would be welcome. Please let me know if you are unable to come. There will be no meeting in August. Miriam Scott 01285 713441
The Model Group meets each week on Thursday mornings.
Please contact: Jim Sullivan 01367 252539
Latin
Thursdays 4 July, 1 August
The group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2.30pm at my house. Please contact me if you are unable to come.
Susan Greig 01285 810274
Keep Fit
The Keep Fit class meets at the Palmer Hall each week on Tuesdays at 9.15am. Eddie Rosser 01367 252504
Music Listening
Friday 19 July
We shall be meeting at 2.30pm in the Tame Room sharing music relating to the letter 'S'. At this meeting we will each pick a musical heading for a 'Prom Concert' programme, to be held at the next meeting on Friday 20 September in the Tame Room at 2.30pm. There is no meeting in August. John and Joyce Dear 01285 653338
Needlework
Wednesdays, 3,17 ,31 July 14 ,28 August
We meet at the Fairford Community Centre. This group brings together many different skills under the heading of ‘Needlework’; we are a friendly group and enjoy our sessions. If you would like to know more, please contact: Thelma Hardie
01285 713971
Geology
Wednesdays 10 July, 14 August
The Geology group meets at the Chapel in Milton Street on the second Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm.
Clive Watson 01285 713003 Brian Routledge 01285 712853
Garden Group
Thursday 18 July A possible trip to Seizencote House and Garden or alternatively we may meet at Rosemary’s. For further details contact Penny or Glenda. No meeting in August due to
We have several events planned for the summer. In July we have invited members of the Cirencester U3A Petanque group to join us in a friendly match on a Thursday morning. On Thursday, 15th August at 6.30 p.m. a team from Lechlade and district Lions will competing, in a very friendly match, against a team of U3A Fairford Petanque members. On Saturday,7th September Dave will be organizing our annual melee. This will be held in the morning and this year it will be followed by a picnic and our 'trophy award ceremony'. We are certainly putting our new piste to good use and we just hope the weather will be kind to us for all three events.
Our Isle of Wight weekend in October has now been booked with 27 U3A
members setting off from Fairford. Hopefully the Pétanque players will
once again bring back many trophies.
David and Heather Baber 01285 711343
Industrial Heritage
For details of future meetings, please contact me.
This group meets in the Palmer Hall every Monday, starting at 3pm. Please note the earlier starting time. For further details, please contact Margaret Trickett 01285 712421
Spanish
Tuesdays 9,23 July, 13, 27 August
The group is for beginners, but those with some Spanish are welcome. Meetings are at my
The group meets at our house in Lechlade from 2.00—4.30pm for some friendly games of Rummikub.
For further information or explanation please refer to the Fairford U3A website or telephone me.
Mary Bennett 01367 253287
Recorders
Fridays 12, 26 July, 9, 23 August
We meet In the Farmor room in Fairford Community Centre. We start at 2.00pm for anyone to play treble. The main group meets at 2.30pm and we finish at 4.30pm.
If there are any more recorder players who would like to join a friendly, non-judgemental group please contact:
We do have some spare instruments and stands; please ask if you would like to borrow one.
Poetry Circle 2 Fridays 5 July and 2 August
The theme this month will be
'Family' and we meet at Jen's
house at 2.30pm.
On 2 August we shall be at Denny's house to read some of the poems of Philip Larkin. Please let Jen (01285 712397) or Denny (01285 711009) know if you are unable to come.
Barbara Cobbett 01285 712692
Philosophy
Wednesdays 17 July ,21 August
For details of meetings in July and August please contact:
Dan Deane 01285 851408
Poetry Circle 1
Fridays 5 July and 2 August
The Group meets on the first Friday of the month.
Barbara Cottam 01285 711054
Postcards Due to the fact that a number of
members will be unable to attend,
the July meeting has been
cancelled. Our next meeting will be
on Tuesday, 17th September.
John Higgs 01285 712488
Scottish Reels
Our group will re-commence on Wednesday 18th September and fortnightly thereafter.
If you would like to receive our emails (no more than one a month) please email:
Solos Monday 1 July 2.30pm at my house Monday 5 August 2.30pm at Val’s house Monday 2 September For a midday lunch meeting at Val's house at 12.30 for 1.00pm Other planned events: 5th July - Meal at Blunsden House Hotel 9th July - Railway trip on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway 16th July - Gloucestershire Docks 10th August - Bar-B-Q Contact Michael Johnson 01285712637 [email protected]
Striders
Tuesday 23 July This 6 mile walk begins at The Plough Inn at Ford on the B 4077 west of Stow on the Wold. The route takes us to Cutsdean and Taddington then across fields to Stumps Cross. After a short distance on the Cotswold Way, we follow Campden Lane and return to Ford via the site of the mediaeval village of Pinnock. Meet at Fairford at 9.15am or at The Plough at 10am to order lunch before walking. The distance to Ford is 25 miles so a suggested journey contribution would be £2.50. Gaynor Williams 01367 252052
Straddlers
Thursday 18 July The approx. 8 mile walk will start from the car park of The Seven Springs hostelry at the junction of the A435 and A436 near Cheltenham. The route starts in a north-easterly direction following the latest revision of the Cotswold Way (not as per current OS Map) for about 2 miles before turning south east across country to join the Gloucestershire Way which we shall follow through Upper Coberley to Coberley. We leave the Glos. Way at Coberley to return to the Seven Springs car park. Please bring your usual requirements for coffee and lunch breaks but note that the hotel is open all day for after-walk refreshments or additional food. Depart from Fairford at 9.30am or meet at the Seven Springs at 10.00am. Travel distance from Fairford via Cirencester is 20 miles so a car passen-ger fee of £2 is suggested. Alan Williams 01367 252052 Thursday 15 August We will start this month’s walk from Saint George's Church in Ogbourne St George. A short walk brings us to a footpath that takes us to Ogbourne St Andrew where, if we are lucky, we will be able to see a Long Eared Owl! Passing through a farm and some gallops on our left we join the ancient Ridgeway for a steady climb along a rutted track to the 6th century hillfort called Barbury Castle. Here there is a handy picnic site but no shelter so we hope for a fine day. All the climbing is now over so we hope to enjoy fine views over a great plain towards Oxford as we make a steady grassy descent back to Ogbourne St George. A distance of about 8 miles. Meet at Fairford car park at 9.15am or at St George's Church at 10am.Please bring a packed lunch and unless it is very dry boots are rec-ommended. Suggested passenger fee is £2. Tony Clarke 01285 712794
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Traditional Jazz
Thursdays 18 July and 1 Aug
The group usually meets on the first Thursday of each month at our
house in Lechlade from 2.00 to 4.30pm.Please note that this month we
will not meet until the 18th July. In August we will meet on 1st of the
This month our walk is a gentle stroll along level terrain in the peaceful
countryside of West Oxfordshire. We will be walking on quiet rural
roads, bridleways & footpaths passing a large country house, a prep
school, across farmland and through a wooded area between the
fairways of a golf club. There are a few stiles and two crossings of a main
road, which will need care. The distance is approximately 4 miles of easy
walking.
Meet in Fairford car park at 9.30am or at 10am in the car park of the
Lamb at Buckland. To get there take a left turn off the Faringdon-Oxford
road. We can order food at the start. Suggested car fare £2.50
Ivor Price 01285 712417 There will be no Strollers walk in August
Striders
Tuesday 27 August The August Striders walk takes us back to Honeystreet near Pewsey – a walk last done about 4 years ago. Honeystreet is on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Alton Barnes; the walk starts at the Barge Inn which featured on the BBC’s Village SOS series in 2010. The pub (http://www.the-barge-inn.com/localhistory.php) is the Headquarters of the local Crop Circle en-thusiasts – a fact reflected in the wacky nature of some of the websites pages! Enough of the background though. The walk is just over 6 miles and takes
us into Alton Barnes and Alton Priors before starting an easy-ish uphill
stroll around horse paddocks before climbing up to Walkers Hill. We then
walk above the restored Alton Barnes White Horse (http://
The Yoga group meets weekly on Mondays at the Community Centre at 10am.
Sylvia Jones 01285 712657
Walking and Pub Lunch Wednesday 10 July The walk is mainly flat with one descent and one stile. We cross the
Thames, take in the Thames and Seven Canal and a spur of the Wilts &
Berks Canal plus part of the National Nature Reserve. Could be wet under
foot in places if there has been recent rain so please wear suitable
footwear.
Meet at Fairford car park 9.30 or the Red Lion
Cricklade SN6 6DD at 10am to order food. There is
no car park at the Red Lion so take the second left
(marked Town Wall) and park in the road (this is
also where the walk ends and is 2 minutes from
pub). Travel fee £1
Contact Michael Johnson for further details 01285712637 [email protected] There will be no ‘Walking with a Pub Lunch ‘in August
GROUP REVIEWS Table Tennis
The Group meets every Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm in the Keble
Room, first floor of Fairford Community Centre. New members of any
ability always welcome – just come along.
Nick Stroude 01285 750646
Book Circle 1
‘The Warrior Queens - Boadicea’s Chariot ’ by Antonia Fraser. Antonia Fraser has written biographies of many famous historical figures including several Kings and Queens. At the heart of this book is Queen Boadicea or Boudicca, as she is also known. This uncertainty of name is reflected throughout the text as the author brings together the few facts and the surrounding myth of the leader of the Iceni tribe of ancient Briton. Using Boadicea as a lynchpin the author explores a range of historical figures she describes as ‘Warrior Queens’. These were women who led their subjugated people into war against their oppressors. This romp through history was not an easy read. You would have to be a dedicated bibliophile to keep up with the amount of books you are expected to have read. An indication of the research that Antonia Fraser undertook for this book is the 30 pages of references. Most of the book circle managed the first chapter of the book. The numerous unfamiliar names and events meant that no-one was keen to read the whole book. Described by one person as “more of a textbook for an ‘A’ level or degree student”, gives an indication of the response to the book. Having said all of the above the book did generate a lively discussion. This ranged from the way history is recorded to the interpretation that future archaeologists would put on finding remains of female soldier in Israel and similar war torn countries. No one can doubt the author’s enthusiasm for history or her erudition. In hindsight maybe we should have chosen one of her biographies of a British monarch. We would have been more familiar with the main characters in the story. A thought provoking book, even for those who have not read Tacitus or Dio. Helen Evans
At our May meeting Eddie Cuss showed us some of his rare postcards of Fairford. As was to be expected, this brought about much discussion and interest from the members. What was most amazing was Eddie’s vast knowledge of the people and locations on the cards. As he has a huge collection of cards following the course of the River Coln, he will no doubt be talking to us again in the coming months. At each meeting members may bring up to six cards representing a letter
of the alphabet. This month it was the letter “Q”, which provided a bit of
a challenge. Nevertheless all the group came up with some interesting
cards but it must be said the Queens Victoria and Elizabeth came to the
rescue, shortly following by various seaside Quays.
John Higgs
Book Circle 2
We met on 11 June to discuss ‘My Father’s Glory’ and ‘My Mother’s Castle’ - twin books by Marcel Pagnol (1895 – 1974). They describe a period in the very early years of the 20th century when he was aged about 9 and his family rented a rundown property in the countryside in Provence, close to Marseille where they lived. He remarried in 1945 to Jacqueline Bouvier having 2 children born in 1946 and 1949, but then his 2 year old daughter died in 1951 and this had a profound effect on him. Six years later he published these 2 books about his idyllic childhood doing all the (horrible!) things that little boys will do, plus the culturally French habit of trapping small birds to eat. Our delicate sensibilities (!) were a little unsettled by this, but one could not but admire the way he captured the simple pleasures of childhood in those days, and the way he could switch from the voice of a 9 year old boy, to that of an adult when perhaps describing a brewing storm. As one member put it, this talked of another time, another place and another life – sadly, in many ways, not to be seen again. In a sense there is no story, just the memories of long summer days when holidays went on forever and the sun, unlike today, seemed to shine almost all the time! For the first time this year we all enjoyed it! Kevin Hannigan
Table Tennis Group
Both of our tables are playing well. We plan to replace one of the nets which was prone to collapse in the heat of a game. If you fancy some gentle exercise – just come along. New players always welcome. Nick Stroude
Cycling with a pub lunch 29 May - It was quite bright over Eastleach, but pretty dull over Fairford. To cycle or not to cycle? Get wet or a suntan? No decision there then, ever the optimist, on arriving at Quenington from all over we were delighted to find that there were five of us. What a keen sociable bunch the U3A cyclists are! We headed off on the Roman road towards the B4425, which was crossed, and when we approached the A429, the traffic stopped in each direction to let us cross. Then on to Calmsden, past the recycling centre to The Hare and Hounds at Fosse Cross. When was the last time you loitered outside a pub waiting for it to open? We were ten minutes early! Anyway, had an excellent bubble and squeak, a little liquid refreshment, and cruised home via Ready Token. By the time we each got home we think 29 miles had been cycled. We had started from four different points. Thanks Phil, Phil, Alan and Tom for a good day in dry conditions and as usual it was “all downhill." Paul O'Shaughnessy
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Solos Owing to reasons beyond our control only 4 of us managed the trip to
Slimbridge but I know we had several
disappointed members.
The 4 of us who did go had a
wonderful day with lots of sunshine
(but a cold wind). We started with
the compulsory hot drinks and on to
see lots of birds with young chicks
which are always so charming
especially the very tiny swan chicks, all the birds were very vocal and
squabbling over everything. We also visited the hides where we saw
various birds, and the wild flowers were wonderful. We were hoping to
see kingfishers but with no luck. After an enjoyable lunch we visited the
otters and were given an interesting talk about them, before wandering
back to the exit admiring the beautiful flamingos as we went. After a
quick cup of tea and a wonderful day we were on our way home.
Thanks Gwen for being our driver for the day
Michael Johnson
Strollers
24 May - The rain gods were kind and 17 hearty folk got together to
enjoy a walk based on the area around Witney. It proved to be a popular
mix of town and country. This was followed by a hearty lunch at the
Eagle Tavern where mine host had reserved a small restaurant area for
our use and with a lovely living fire we all left with warm smiles on our
faces.
John Yorke
Walking with a Pub Lunch
12 June - About 10 of us met at The Keepers Arms, Quenington to start
the walk. Knowing that the pub did not open until midday, it had been
arranged that we should leave menu choices before departing. Now
The Keepers does not have a letter box through which to post our
choices, so we were relieved when the chef arrived and unlocked access
to the kitchen. We wrote down our menu choices - only to find he had
locked the door behind him. No amount of banging on doors and
windows seemed to attract his attention. We even tried phoning on a
mobile phone. He did eventually emerge after about 10 minutes and
we could then set off.
Rain was forecast on the day of the walk after a few days of glorious
sunshine. When we started rain threatened but then we experienced
ideal cool walking weather for most of the walk. We set off across
Quenington Green and followed a footpath that eventually led us to
Coneygar cottages. The steep descent to the River Coln was fortunately
dry and when we reached the river the sun shone. This made our walk
back to Coln along the river even more pleasant. We skirted Coln St
Aldwyns and crossed The Grandage, with its colourful wildflower
display, to follow the track back to The Keepers. There we were
welcomed by landlord Jonathan (and Jennifer’s husband Philip) and
enjoyed our meals and some of the pub’s fine ales. While eating the
wind outside got up and the heavens opened. We had made it just in
Timetable of Group Activities Needlework Group meets Wednesday afternoons fortnightly; Scottish Reels Wednesday evenings fortnightly September to March. Pétanque and Cycling & PL meet April to October. Industrial Heritage at varied
