Issue no.60

CRAVEN U3A

SPRING 2016

magazine

A Nepalese greeting for the Charles Darwin Group - see page 35

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This is my final Chairman's letter before stepping down as Chairman at the AGM in May.We have reached a total of 935 members as I write this, once again more than we have ever achieved before, taking part in an average of 2.2 classes per person, again a record. Very many thanks to all the group leaders for working so hard to put together such an obviously interesting collection of topics.Changes are a-comin’ (probably)Our continuing growth is obviously very pleasing, but one thing that does cause me concern is the administrative burden, particularly on the enrolment system. When I took on the role of Membership Secretary in 2011, we had nearly 200 fewer members, and it was a lot of work to process the applications on a first-come first-served basis. Since then, we have made changes to the way we process applications to try to make the system more fair and to reduce as far as possible the number of applicants who don't get on to any course. These changes, to which I plead "Guilty", coupled with the increased and, I hope, increasing, number of members, make the system of processing enrolment applications very burdensome. We are looking to simplify this as far as possible. Furthermore, our database system, whilst very satisfactory and so far very robust, doesn't produce Gift Aid reports in the new format required by HMRC, doesn't integrate with the accounts system, and doesn't produce the report required by the Third Age Trust for addressing "Third Age Matters". To try to deal with all of these concerns, the committee is looking at various systems, including one developed by U3As for U3As that looks very promising, and is being evaluated and adopted by many U3As. The problem is that Craven U3A deals with enrolment in a fashion very different from all other U3As that I know of, so there doesn't presently seem to be a solution we can adopt without some change. We will obviously try to keep any changes to the absolute minimum.AGMThe AGM this year is on Tuesday May 19th, at St Andrews Church Hall, Newmarket Street, Skipton, starting at 2pm. The Agenda is included with the magazine. I know that AGMs are not the most interesting

The Chairman’s LetterContents

Craven U3A Magazine No.60 February 2016Editor: Roger French

Craven U3A Registered Charity No.1038617Printed by: Jason Miller - JAYMILL PRINT

1 The Chairman's Letter 4 Committee Nominations Form 5 Notice of AGM 6 Real Time Accounting 7 "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" 9 Advanced French Group does...10 Crown Green Bowls Group12 Hurrah for the Walking Group!14 Railway Study Group17 Christmas Trees and Carols18 One Foot in the Gargrave20 The Life of Gerhard Fieseler23 Racketball class24 Venice revisited25 Reading the Detectives27 Bridge Groups28 Craven U3A Annual Ceilidh30 The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth31 Film Documentaries of 20th Century Life32 Keep Going! Ballet DVDs Group33 Science Discussion Group34 Frank's Soliloquy35 Greetings from Nepal May I have the Pleasure?36 Chocolate Mousse

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of meetings, but they are important to the running of the U3A, so please make a special effort to attend. Your voice, and your vote, does matter.Committee electionsOne of the important activities at the AGM is the election of committee members. Mick Richings (the current Vice-Chairman) is standing for the position of Chairman; Marcia Watson is standing for re-election as Venues Secretary, and Judith Edy as Membership Secretary (although she will serve only one further year). If you have even the slightest interest in taking on the position of Membership Secretary from May 2017, contact her (membership@cravenu3a.org.uk), as it might be very helpful for her eventual replacement to go through the enrolment process with her in 2016 before taking it on in earnest. Doug Hirst is willing to stand again as an ordinary Committee member. However, we are very sorry to lose Tony Canfer, who has decided to step down from the committee. He has done sterling work in keeping the minutes of our meetings. A candidate to fill his position as an ordinary Committee member is needed. In addition, we still have a vacancy for Vice-chairman; please put yourself forward if you have any interest.If you wish to nominate other people for any of the other positions, of course this would be very welcome; there is a Nomination form in this magazine. Finally, we co-opted Nigel Mason onto the committee to replace Stefan Srutek, who is planning to move away from the area. We need to elect Nigel as Treasurer.Email addressesIf your email address changes (or postal address, or phone number), please inform the Membership Secretary. But, in addition, don’t forget to notify leaders of every group you belong to. Our current database system doesn’t allow group leaders to see such changes automatically.ConstitutionAs you may remember, the Committee hoped to adopt a revised constitution, to better meet our needs and the expectations of the Third Age Trust and the Charity Commission. We thought to make this process simple, by trying to switch to a model constitution drawn up by the Third Age Trust and approved by the Charity Commission. Unfortunately, when we sought approval from the Charity Commission

to make the change, they refused us permission, objecting to wording that (as I understand) they themselves had required the Third Age Trust insert. We are not the only U3A caught out by this, there are at least three U3As in this situation. The Third Age Trust and the Charity Commission have had discussions, and I have been promised that the Charity Commission will contact me. To date, I have heard nothing, so I guess we have to put this down as the big failure of my time as Chairman. I hope my replacement will be more successful.Summer SchoolWith this magazine you will find a programme for our second Summer School, to take place on Thursday July 7th and Friday July 8th at Ermysted’s School in Skipton. Enrolment starts immediately, and places are reserved for Craven U3A members until the 31st March. After that, any remaining places are available to members or non-members. As the class size for each session is limited to a maximum of 32 (and sometimes fewer, see the programme). It is quite important that you list your first and second choices for each session (Thursday morning, Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Friday afternoon.) Of course it is not essential that you attend all four sessions! In earlier messages, I mentioned a charge for the Summer School. However, I am very happy to tell you that the committee have now decided that once again, the Summer School will be completely free to attendees.Thank you and GoodbyeDuring my two years as your Chairman, my life has been made immeasurably easier by an excellent committee. They have reined in many of my dafter ideas, always in a positive way, and have willingly given me all the support and help I could wish for. Thank you all. I wish my replacement every success in the role of Craven U3A Chairman. I would also like to thank all those, not on the Committee, who helped, for example with Coffee mornings, Carol Services and Summer Schools. It has been a pleasure working with you. I have enjoyed (almost all of) my time serving on the committee, as Membership Secretary for three years, then as Chairman for a further two, and I look forward to continuing for many years as an ordinary member of Craven U3A.

Vic Edy

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1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the AGM held on 19th May 2015

3. Matters Arising

4. To receive and approve the Chairman's Annual Report

5. To receive and approve the Financial Statement

6. Election of Committee Members

7. Appointment of Independent Examiner

8. Any Other Business

CRAVEN U3ARegistered Charity No. 1038617

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 31st Annual General Meeting of Craven U3Ato be held on Tuesday, 17th May 2016

at St Andrews Church Hall, beginning at 2 pm

AGENDA

Office

Nom

inee(block letters)

Nom

inee’sS

ignatureP

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Chairm

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ick Richings

Vice-Chairm

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TreasurerN

igel Mason

Mem

bership S

ecretary Judith E

dy

Venues Secretary

Marcia W

atson

Com

mittee M

ember

Doug H

irst

Com

mittee M

ember

Mick R

ichings was co-opted as V

ice-Chairm

an during the year, he is therefore standing for election as Chairm

an. This leaves the position of V

ice-Chairm

an vacant, nominations for this post w

ould be very welcom

e. With S

tefan Srutek stepping dow

n as Treasurer, the com

mittee co-opted N

igel Mason. A

t this AG

M w

e need to elect the new Treasurer for a tw

o year term. The M

embership S

ecretary and Venues S

ecretary have both reached the end of their two-year term

s, both are willing to stand again. O

ne comm

ittee mem

ber has also reached the end of their three-year term

. Doug H

irst, who also serves as our W

ebmaster, is w

illing to continue to serve for a further term.

Tony Canfer is standing dow

n as an ordinary Com

mittee M

ember. You are encouraged to m

ake nominations for all positions on the form

below

and return it at least ten days before the AG

M on 19th M

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an, Vic E

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Editor’s noteSo was named a very popular Western film. But I could apply it to the content of any U3A history class, and that includes our Popular Music (1920-60) class each Tuesday afternoon.

Not that our music each Tuesday is bad or ugly, but whatever events have occurred in the world in the past 100 years, they have been accompanied by popular music. We always start our every class each week on a real nostalgic note, beginning with a song from the war years of 1914-18. I usually choose a song that is from 100 years ago and they come thick and fast from 1916....”Keep the Homes Fires Burning”....”Pack up your troubles”....”I’m always chasing rainbows” have been our overtures on several Tuesdays.

Long before the First War, people were singing the blues,- a com-bination of spirituals, hymns, folk songs, and later jazz. This all came from a background of slavery in the USA, and later unemployment and poverty. Bessie Smith was known as the Queen of the Blues and her singing with her rich and powerful contralto voice is pretty unforgettable. Try her “St.Louis Blues” or the more commercial “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” for starters. Louis Armstrong came from a very similar background, much of his music being spontaneous, improvised and heart felt. No-one influenced popular music more in the last century than Louis. Another example of hope and joy overcoming hurt and sadness.

Throughout our 20th Century music, the blues have always been there, sometimes at the fore, often in the background. It was there in the 1920’s Jazz era, and it was there in the 60’s with the songs of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Billie Holiday in the 1920’s came from a background of drugs and alcohol, poverty , prostitution and racial hatred. And you can’t get more “bad and ugly” than that. But listen to her voice!

After the First War came the times of the Great Depression, with no song more appealing than “Brother, can you spare a dime”, sung by Bing Crosby. Singers of the 1950’s like Tony Bennett, Paul Robeson and the beloved folk singer Willie Nelson all had their beginnings in depression and difficulty. Came the Second World War and the music

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”The principle of JIT is well known in the manufacturing and retail worlds where items from wing-mirrors to meat pies are made available Just In Time for when they are needed. This was well demonstrated during a 2014 visit to Sunderland's Nissan car plant. So well, in fact, that I decided to adopt the same approach for this edition of the magazine.It's fine for car-assembly. It does not work for magazine compilation! Older now, and wiser, I will revert to the practice of appealing for material well in advance of future deadlines.I am very grateful to all who have submitted articles, and it all worked out in the end - quite close to the end ...

Real Time

Accounting

Now is the time that counts. Subtract the pastbefore it detracts

from the present,(save where the memory

adds to the current sum of happiness).

Dreading the future is a waste of time, spending the only time there is

in fruitless speculation.Now is the real time,

so let's spend itin rewarding activity,

which brings a bonus - now ! Linda Lee

Roger French

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David Wiseman

of Vera Lynn (“We’ll meet again”), Flanagan and Allen (“I don’t want to walk without you”), Anne Shelton (“I’ll be seeing you”),- yes, and even George Formby (“Bless ‘em all”) helped the country to overcome bad and ugly times.

The rock and roll of the 1950’s had its roots in the blues, and you can hear its mournful cries in the songs of Chuck Berry and later the Animals and the Rolling Stones. In France, singers like Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour came from childhoods of poverty and hardship; Harry Belafonte’s calypsos were only an extension of the spirituals that the cotton plantations a hundred years earlier had heard. Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash and their ilk had all seen the insides of American prisons.

Carole King’s songs, the cries of Little Richard, and those of Lennon and McCartney echo the sounds and words of street people, ghettos and a down to earthiness which spoke to the vast majority of humankind. Nana Mouskouri sang Greek folk songs. She came from the shadow of Nazi occupation, and her father was a leader of the local resistance movement.

Even though the words of Bob Dylan are now themselves over 50 years old, they still reflect the heartbeat of a sixties generation of protest and violence. The war in Vietnam, racial protest, and a spirit of unrest were all addressed by songs. “The times, they are a-changing” and “We shall overcome” were international anthems indeed.

Yes, much of our music came from “bad and ugly” times and yet the music our parents played and sang during more difficult days of war, depression and hardship reflected much that was good,- hope, courage, love and laughter.

History books are written from hurt and hardship but very often our own personal history is written in vinyl !

More than once our class listening to “Popular Music (1920-60) has been described as “Stan Hall’s class set to music!”

“We’ll meet again” Next Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Members of the U3A Advanced French group regularly give a presentation in French to other members. In December, Jackie Eames decided to educate us into the history and practice of Ballet. Ballet as we now know it, was introduced from Italy into France in the 15th century. In the late 17th century, Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique (the Paris Opera) within which emerged the first professional theatrical ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet. The predominance of French in the vocabulary of ballet reflects this history. Examples are: Corps de ballet, Aplomb, Attitude, Pas de deux.After donning her tutu and demonstrating many of the steps, Jackie then encouraged the more agile (!) members of the class, including Tutor, Sue, to attempt some steps "with attitude and aplomb".Amazingly, we managed to fit some steps to the opening bars of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, with the occasional "attitude" but very little "aplomb"!As this was the last class before Christmas, we rounded off an enjoyable morning with some French carols, led by Charlie and Jane.A week later, members plus husbands and wives, met up at the Gamecock in Austwick to sample the French Chef's version of Christmas Dinner....to be recommended !

Advanced French Group does... ballet !

Christine Clinch

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There is an old saying "You are only young once but you can stay immature indefinitely". A practical demonstration of this saying could be seen at Whinfield Bowling Club on friday afternoons throughout last summer.The second season of this course saw some new faces, lots of old faces and remarkably clement weather - only one friday afternoon was washed out. Some say that Whinfield has it's own micro climate, protected by Merritt & Fryers to the east and the hospital to the west but I have not raised the subject with Paul Hudson.On the playing front the new faces quickly mastered the skills of the game and a slight competetiveness crept into the play. It was interesting to note how the new faces responded. After all, with one season under their belts, the old faces had become used to the quirkiness of the green and the contrary nature of crown green bowls.The photographs show a smiling new face, "is that two to me?" and a well deserved tea break.

Crown Green Bowls Group

Keith Waddington

Livin' life on the edge, in the Crown Green Bowls Group

The new faces soon got to grips with the Crown Green Bowlers' language (and meaning!)Good weight (lousy line!); Good line (lousy weight!); You are expecting a lot from that one (lousy line and weight!); Good back bowl (you were lucky it didn't go in the ditch!); That's in their way (that's in my way!); That could be useful there (the bowl is closer to you than to the jack!).All taken in good part of course. The group is a real pleasure to be with and representative of what U3A is all about.The members of Whinfield BC have gone out of their way to make us welcome and to make us feel at home on their bowling green and in their clubhouse. They have always ensured that club members were there to open up the clubhouse, organise the equipment and the tea and biscuits break and provide gentle guidance, advice and help. Grateful thanks to everyone at Whinfield BC for supporting our U3A course. Roll on summer 2016 !

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When I came to Skipton nearly five years ago From Glasshouses in Nidderdale (a village, small you know); 'Twas such a wrench for me to leave that really lovely dale. To move to such a busy town it made me feel quite pale.

No-one I knew to greet as I went from stall to stall At the market, on the streets, no-one I knew at all.

But thanks to U3A (and Church) I now have lots of friends, And the list of possible things to do just never, never ends!

A great variety of subjects with interesting talks But what I most appreciated - many lovely walks. Footpaths west of Skipton I'd never walked before

And as I got to know them I liked them more and more.

The first few weeks that I was here I walked so many miles By rivers, streams, up hills, down dales, and over lots of stiles.

Up Skipton Moor five times I went, and Sharp Haw more than two; My love for Craven footpaths just grew and grew and grew!

I haven't walked much lately, the weather's been so bad, And now I have dodgy toe - it's really very sad.

My walking boots they hurt so much I cannot go too far; At least I got to the Dog & Gun by bus, and back by car.

Walkers are very friendly, their companionship I need; So thanks to U3A Walking Group, especially those who lead.

With a different pair of boots I hope to walk again, And enjoy this beautiful countryside by footpath, track and lane.

Hurrah for the Walking Group !

Eileen M. Rawson

The Walking Group's New Year Lunch at

the Dog & Gun

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Rail stood in for Alec Hines his MD who was sidetracked at the last minute by a George Osborne from the government and talked about Northern Rail. Keith Crabtree of the A1 Trust gave a well received talk on the creation of TORNADO and the new on the stocks P2 PRINCE OF WALES.As usual the bulk of meetings have member speakers. - Chris Nash delivered on Dr Richard Beeching regarded by many as the hammer of the railways and who in fact did a good job within the remit he was hired for. - Ian Appleyard introduced part 2 of his ‘Railway Fortifications’ a play on GWR locos named after Castles in GWR territory. One surprisingly after a Scottish castle! - Peter Field introduced us to his recipient of his ‘The Forgotten Engineer’ title who turned out to be Charles Benjamin Collett of the GWR who he felt should be referred to in the same breath as Stanier, Gresley, Churchward etc.. - Next an unusual event with 5 speakers. ‘The Quintinshill Disaster 1915’ Britains worst railway disaster on Saturday 22nd. May 1915 with a death toll of 227 including over 200 troops of the 7th. Battalion, Royal Scots en route to Gallipoli via Liverpool. 50 persons were listed as missing! Ian Appleyard set the scene and described the accident. David Lowe our resident signalling guru discussed the signalling considerations. Ian Appleyard described the rescue and medical response. Glen Rae related the tragic tale of John Cowper one of the drivers involved. Bill McInnes talked of the reaction at the headquarters of the 7th Battalion, Royal Scots and the memorial at Leith. Ray Moss summarised the ‘new evidence’, presented in a recently published controversial book about events surrounding the disaster, ‘The Quintinshill Conspiracy’. - Ian again, standing in for a visitor cancellation, gave his ‘ The Brunels Pt 1’ talking largely about Marc the father of IK. - Michael Laycock elaborated on Frenchman ‘Andre Chapelon – Locomotive Engineer Extraordinaire’ whose advances in locomotive engineering influenced steam locomotive design worldwide in the 20th century. - Last session before Xmas. David Lowe talked about the Wootton Basset spad on March 7. - Robin Corbett gave an amusing and interesting discourse on acronyms.- Jim Drake tested the troops with a 25 question quiz. Fortunately only the first six winners were revealed.

Michael Laycock

The group travelled to Llandudno to the Dunoon Hotel, a place favoured by the group on two previous occasions for its ambience, food and proximity to The Great Little Railways of Wales. The first full day, Friday, took us onto the main line service to Blaenau Ffestiniog from the newly furbished Llandudno railway station there to join the narrow gauge Ffestiniog steam railway service to Porthmadog where enthusiasts and those reasonably fit amongst us walked back along the tracks to Boston Lodge railway works and enjoyed a tour of the works viewing the building and overhaul of locos and rolling stock. Collected by the next passing train the journey was reversed to Llandudno via Blaenau Ffestiniog. Next was a free day and members visited local highlights such as Bodnant Gardens or the cable hauled tram cars to Great Orme summit.Sunday. Coach to Llangollen Railway for a ride on this steam railway with a morning(!) cream tea. On return a group departed to visit the sheds whilst others, mostly the ladies, ensconced themselves in various hotel lounges to watch the mens final at Wimbledon! Monday opened wet and windy. We coached to Porthmadog to join the Welsh Highland Line for conveyance to Caernarfon. Despite the weather the sounds of the Beyer Garratt locomotive pounding through the steeply climbing twists and turns above Beddgelert was music to enjoy. The mountain views equally so. The collecting coach transported the group to Penrhyn Castle to visit its attractions and then onwards to Llandudno. A reluctant group departed the Dunoon Hotel on Tuesday, most heading home, others to further adventures.The autumn term started with Ian Appleyard in command and after the new course preliminaries a preamble by Roger Smith called ‘To make up lost time or not’ recalled experiences of different attitudes by drivers during his career sojourn in the midlands. Ian carried on with ‘The decimation of Scotlands Railways,’ todays mileage being 44% of that in 1921.Three guest speakers graced the podium at different times. John May a career railway man whose career extended from porter to area manager who regaled us with reminiscences. Peter Myers of Northern

Railway Study GroupJuly holiday and Autumn term 2015

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This, our 19th Craven U3A Carol Service, was again a great success at St Andrews. It was arranged by Kenneth Jackson and Vic Edy. Kenneth was also our organist. We sang all our old favourite carols and listened to the story of Christ's birth as told in the Gospel of Luke. John Betjeman and TS Eliot also played their part in the Service with Advent 1955 and The Cutivation of Christmas Trees.We were surrounded by Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, decorated by most of the Churches and Societies in Skipton. Our U3A tree was splendid as were all the others. They offered many creative ideas, some simple but very effective and others quite elaborate. All worth closer inspection and lending themselves well to the atmosphere of Advent.We had the Singing for Pleasure group in the choir stalls leading the singing and the Recorder Group played two traditional pieces.The Rev. Richard Atkinson led our prayers. In his Address he took us back to his childhood memories. I think many older people look back on childhood Christmases and want their own children and grandchildren to experience the magic of it all, as they did.Afterwards, in the spirit of Christian hospitality, we were all invited to stay for tea and mince pies. Here we met up with old friends and acquaintances we had met in former and present classes. The proceeds from the Collection have been shared between the Church and Manorlands Hospice.A truly lovely start to Christmas and thank you Nita and Stanley for getting it going. Long may we have a U3A and our own Carol Concert.

Christmas Trees and Carols

Jan Gordon

Pictured opposite are all the decorations, from Craven U3A groups, that appeared on our Christmas tree. They reflect the wide variety of pursuits within our organisation. Many thanks to all who participated.To arrange for their return, please contact me (01535 636362 or see inside back cover). Otherwise, I will store them safely.

Roger French

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A 23-mile charity challenge organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, starting and finishing at Gargrave Village Hall. It took place on 12th September 2015 and is one of many events staged annually around the country ranging from 20 to 100 miles in length.This year, for the first time, a team was entered from Craven U3A. The aim was to finish in under the nine hour limit, gain an ornate certificate and a free pie and peas supper. On the day, seven U3A members set off with about a hundred others at eight thirty in the morning. After five days of dry weather we were destined to suffer almost continuous rain and a cold wind on the tops over Mastiles Lane and Boss Moor. This meant mud and heavy going on most of the public path sections.

The organisers are thanked profusely for hoisting gazebos at the Malham Tarn and Boss Moor checkpoints, where excellent energy snacks and hot drinks were freely available during a few minutes respite from the elements. All seven of the Craven U3A team finished

One Foot in the Gargrave

Gareth Davies

about an hour faster than they expected. Tom Baines was particularly encouraged as he had never walked further than 15 miles previously.There were many retired fell runners and joggers who finished long before us. Only one starter withdrew during the challenge and about 12 did not start due to the severity of the expected weather conditions. The official results showed the finishing times for the Craven U3A team were all between 6hrs 45mins and 7hrs 30mins.This performance amply confirms the advances in the health and energy of retired people in general over the last thirty years, and their optimism in taking on quite severe physical challenges.

A happy Craven U3A team on completion of One Foot in the GargraveLeft to Right: Anne-Marie Grindley, Tom Baines, Gareth Davies,

Ann Keene, Martin Hall, Wendy Hall, Geoff Hiser.

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the First World War broke out, he joined the Kaiser’s Flying Corps. He proved to be a brilliant fighter pilot. In my book I actually argue that he was a better pilot than Richthofen. • Was Fieseler’s autobiography your main source?Nigel: Yes, of course. But I consulted many books and articles in German and English, as I wanted to reveal his life in the four contexts of Germany he lived through.• What were those four contexts?Nigel: the Germany of the erratic Kaiser, the unloved Weimar years, the ghastly Third Reich, and the ‘old’ West Germany. I wanted to capture some of the continuities, whilst showing how his life was shadowed by the trajectory of aviation from ramshackle flying machines to ballistic rockets – in just 42 years of stunning technological development. • So not a biography focussed exclusively on Nazi Germany.Nigel: Precisely. That’s the last thing I wanted. • When did Fieseler get back into flying after the First World War?Nigel: In 1925 via gliding. Then, to cut a long story short, he got into aerobatics, becoming world champion in 1934. By then the Nazis were in power with big plans for building up the Luftwaffe. By then too, Fieseler had a small company manufacturing light sports aircraft.• And then he built planes for the Nazis?Nigel: Yes. His most famous plane was the Storch reconnaissance aircraft, which was indisputably the best of its type in the Second

Nigel Holden is going to give talks on Gerhard Fieseler, a German pilot and aircraft builder, who lived from 1896 to 1987, for the Stories of Scientists Group and at the Summer School. He has almost completed a full-length biography in English.This is a conversation with Nigel, about the biography and the man. • How did you first hear about Fieseler?Nigel: About 15 years ago I was working in Kassel. I knew nothing about the place beforehand. Then I learnt about the horrific RAF bombing in October 1943. Fieseler had three production sites, which were badly damaged. In the university there was a special unit researching Nazism in that region of Germany. The colleagues showed me copies of Fieseler’s company newspaper which was published from 1938 to 1943. I am not a historian, but I could tell straightaway that this was a really important record of life in a small Nazified manufacturing company in Hitler’s Germany.• How small a company?Nigel: Only 5,000 maximum in 1945 and half them were forced labour from Holland, Poland, the Ukraine and Russia. • How come you decided to write a biography?Nigel: I wrote an article about Fieseler for an academic journal concentrating on him as an industrial manager in Nazi Germany. My source was the PhD from that research unit at Kassel University. Then about three years ago I showed the article to a friend of mine, who is a squadron leader in the RAF. He suggested that I write Fieseler’s biography. I duly got hold of Fieseler’s own autobiography, which was published in 1982.• So he wrote that when he was a very old man.Nigel: Yes, he wrote it for posterity, but he is extremely selective in what he writes about the Hitler period. As a very small example, he does not mention that he joined the Nazi Party in 1933. Anyway, he was 7 years old when the Wright Brothers made the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine• And he got hooked?Nigel: Yes, absolutely. He was a passionate model builder. Then, when

The life of Gerhard Fieseler

Paris 1932: Fieseler presents a bouquet to American aviatrix Amelia Earhart

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World War and which accompanied the Wehrmacht literally every-where. Rommel wrote an appreciative article about one in the Fieseler company newspaper. It was popular with the enemy too. In a German book, I read that Churchill flew in a captured Storch in France, hopping between breakfast meetings with his army commanders!

• What else did he build?Nigel: His company also built Messeerschmitt 109s and Focke-Wulf 190s under licence. He also built the V-1, which bombarded London and the south of England in 1944 and 1945. There is a remarkable and, I suspect, highly biased insider account about its inception and development.

• Did he meet Hitler and other top Nazis?Nigel: He describes two close encounters with Hitler in 1927 and 1939 and a truly bizarre meeting with Göring in 1938.

• What happened to him after the war?Nigel: He was incarcerated by the Americans for a grim year. He then had to go through a protracted denazification process. That was a complete farce. But he wasn’t really a free man until 1950. These were not good years for him.

• Did he ever get involved in flying again?Nigel: Yes, he did some aerobatics judging in the 1960s.

• But his post-war life was less dramatic than under the Nazis?Nigel: Clearly. On the other hand, his old age is a fascinating study of decline into sheer obstreperousness! What I found intriguing about him as a very old man is what he did to leave a legacy for posterity.

• Oh?Nigel: As a boy he had a strong sense of air-mindedness: the conviction that Germany’s destiny and future greatness was bound up with the greatest symbol of modernity, the aeroplane. The Nazis had their angle on air-mindedness. Fieseler bought that. So my book is an attempt to interpret his life from the idea of German air-mindedness.

• Have you got a publisher yet?Nigel: Not yet. That might prove harder than writing the book !

Snorkels, goggles and wellies were the order of the day when the Racketball Group resumed their class in January. Although experienced players on dry land, they quickly realised extreme measures were called for when they found the Sports Centre where they play had been severely flooded over Christmas. Being a hardy lot they were not going to be put off their favourite sport that easily (especially after all the usual festive excesses), so begged and borrowed suitable attire for a new sub-aqua version of the energetic game.Fortunately for them, the staff at the Centre took pity on the intrepid players and managed to find a dry patch on which they could play, so sub-aqua equipment has been put on hold for the time being !

sub-aqua Racketball Class launched?

Maureen Woolf

Readers should not be alarmed - "water" has been added for dramatic effect

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I thought last year’s Summer School was a huge success. The sun shone, the school made us very welcome and everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time. What I could not get over was the sense of being in classrooms almost exactly the same as those I had walked out of in Liverpool fifty-odd years ago.I enjoyed both sitting in other people’s classes and also teaching my own class. I had decided to do a talk on Venice, which turned out to be a particularly beguiling topic. Many more people applied than there were places for. It seemed a great pity that so many people had to be disappointed.However, I am giving a lecture in March to raise money for my local community library and I have decided on a slightly shortened version of the Summer School talk on Venice. I am hoping this will be popular locally, but it would also be an opportunity for anyone who missed out in the summer, and was still interested, to hear the lecture after all.The event will take place in Embsay Village Hall on 3rd March at 7.30. The cost will be £4, but will be going to a good cause.

Venice revisited

Ian Adams

The long dark nights have been full of murder and mayhem for the thirty one members of the “Reading the Detectives” groups as they have explored some of Europe's fictional crime hotspots.

So far they have armchair travelled from Britain to Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Italy and France; they have been immersed in the flooded Po Valley in Valerio Varesi's “River of Shadows”; marooned by snow in Siglufjordur in Ragnar Jonasson's “Snowblind”; and educated in the ways of ice by Miss Smilla in Peter Hoeg's classic “Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow”.

At each monthly meeting the groups discuss, review and rate the book they have been reading – their star ratings to date are -

“An Advancement of Learning” by Reginald Hill

“Don't Look Back” by Karin Fossum

“Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow” by Peter Hoeg

“River of Shadows” by Valerio Varesi

“The Day of the Owl” by Leonardo Sciascia

“Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson

“The Silence of the Grave” by Arnaldur Indridson

Norwegian writer, Karin Fossum's “Don't Look Back” and Icelandic writer, Ragnar Jonasson's debut novel “Snowblind” achieved the top ratings and most positive.

Karin Fossum's “Don't Look Back” provoked a lively discussion which focussed on the meaning of the book's unsettling beginning and its slightly ambiguous ending. The narrative provides plenty of room for readers to make their own interpretations of the evidence and arrive at their own conclusions.

With its comfortable pace, distinctive writing style, atmospheric descriptions, believable dialogue, intriguing plot and a panoply

Reading the Detectives

Canal Grande - Venice

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of interesting characters “Don't Look Back” draws the reader in immediately.

The storyline is enhanced with wonderful descriptions of small village life in a Nordic setting and the developing relationship between the two detectives.Highly recommended.

“Snowblind”, Ragnar Jonasson's debut novel introduces readers to the rookie detective, Ari Thor, who has just graduated from Police College in Reykjavik, Iceland's capital city. Naive and desperate to make his mark, Ari Thor finds his first job in a small town in the northernmost part of Iceland more difficult than he thought – cut off by the winter weather and frozen out by the local inhabitants he tries to determine whether an unexpected death was an accident or a murder.

Jonasson successfully creates the claustrophobic feeling of small town life in a settlement cut off from the rest of the world by snow and ice. The undercurrents of this community and its insularity are well drawn. And the young detective's naivety provides a necessary foil to the complex web of inter-relationships between the town's long standing residents.

Although the reader easily engages with the young detective, Ari Thor, there is plenty of room for this central character to develop.

An elegant, simple writing style with an interesting storyline set against an atmospheric backdrop make Jonasson's first novel a good read. Highly recommended.

If you have read any of these titles and would like to share your views with us please email them to catherineowens799@hotmail.com.We would be interested to hear your reactions to any of the books we have read.

Catherine Owens

on behalf of the members of the "Reading the Detectives" groups

The Beginners Bridge group has 16 enthusiastic members. It was originally going to be for just one term but they are so keen that it will run for another eleven sessions this Spring term. A small pairs competition, held on the last session before Christmas, was won by Barbara Ball and Tony Turnbull. The group were given a ‘Christmas Quiz’ with eight hands to study over the holiday and we have spent most of the first two weeks of this term going over the suggested solutions remembering that there is no ‘right’ answer just some that are much better than others !

The Improvers Bridge group continues with about seven Tables each Thursday afternoon. Claire Fletcher, with 58.6%, won the prize for the highest average percentage in the Autumn term; Stuart Holtam was second with 57.4% and Geoff Pipkin third with 57.3%.

Bridge Groups

Douglas Goode

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The Annual Ceilidh is to be held on Friday, 4th March, 2016, at Embsay Village Hall, with music for the dancing from the Buttered Peas band, supper being provided by the Cavendish and with a few songs to join in with for good measure! Extract from Wikipedia: “A Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland and Scotland but the term is also used to refer to social dances in England.Ceilidh music may be provided by an assortment of fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, and bodhran, while, in more recent times, drums, guitar and electric bass guitar have been added. The music

is cheerful and lively, and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is normally provided before the start of each dance.A ’set’ consists of four couples, with each pair of couples facing one another in a square or rectangular formation. Each couple exchanges

position with the facing couple and possibly exchange partners while, all the time, keeping in step with the beat of the music.Some of the couple dances are performed in a ring, either by fixed couples or in the more sociable progressive manner, with the lady moving to the next gentleman in the ring.Some of the dances are named after famous regiments, historical battles and events as in the Gay Gordons, Seige of Ennis, The Walls of Limerick while others are after items of daily rural life like The Stack of Barley.The English ceilidh has many things in common with the Scottish and Irish social dance traditions, with the dance figures being similar,

Craven U3A Annual Ceilidh using couple dances, square sets, long sets and circle dances. An important part of an English ceilidh is “The Caller” who instructs the dancers for the different dances.And what of the ‘take’ of the Craven U3A on all this?Well, to a large extent, we follow the established pattern and tradition of ceilidhs. The Buttered Peas Ceilidh Band consists of flute, fiddle, guitar, harp and caller, and, to accompany the dances, will be playing an exhilarating mix of tunes from Scotland, Ireland and the North of England including Scotland the Brave and Athol Highlanders; Dingle Regatta, Rakes of Kildare and Rakes of Mallow; and Hexham Cottagers, Morpeth Rant, Rothbury Hills and Blaydon Races. We’ll attempt everything that's thrown at us, as long as Jennie remembers we don’t make mistakes – we just do ‘variations’ and carry on regardless! In addition, the informal and sociable nature of the evening is epitomised in the progressive nature of many of the dances we will be introduced to.Embsay Village Hall is the perfect setting for the Ceilidh and the supper provided by the Cavendish Arms is something to look forward to and enjoy. One other thing which provides a break in the proceedings and a chance to have a bit of a rest is the ‘Music for Pleasure’ group leading a sing song! So see if you are going to be free on Friday,4th March, 2016, and , if so, why not buy tickets for family and friends, and come along , join in and enjoy yourselves? All ages welcome and details are posted on the U3A website (www.cravenu3a.org.uk) and in the monthly newsletter. Tickets (£10pp) are available from Geoff Hiser (tel. 01535 633806) or any member of the ‘Music for Pleasure’ group.

Geoff Hiser

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Henry Tudor won the crown Of England on Bosworth Field. When Henry the Eighth came to the throne This power he would not yield. He had to have a son and heir To continue the Tudor reign, He needed to find a wife and queen, So he married, again and again.

Catherine was the bride from Spain, Anne, the goggle-eyed whore, Sweet Jane Seymour was the third, Anne of Cleves was number four. She was followed by Catherine Howard, But her time was quickly past, The widow Katherine Parr came next, She was the sixth and last.

Catherine was the Spanish queen, From Aragon she came, She married Arthur, but he died And that was such a shame, For then she married Henry, But raised no living son, So Henry's roving eye espied A more seductive one.

Anne Boleyn would not give in, She said that they must tarry, 'Til the King's Great Matter was resolved, They then were free to marry. Alas, she bore no living boy And, “She's a witch,” 'twas said, So then a swordsman came from France And poor Anne lost her head.

The next wife was Jane Seymour, Quite soon she bore a boy, The child was christened Edward And the King was full of joy, But joy soon turned to sorrow, For Jane ne'er left her bed, She was smitten by a fever And then the Queen was dead.

Hans Holbein painted a portrait Of a Lady young and fair, When the Monarch saw his bride-to-be He called her the Flanders Mare. Henry married Anne of Cleves For a time too short to mention, But she got off very nicely, Divorce and a generous pension.

Pretty Catherine Howard was next, The Duke of Norfolk's niece, King Henry was besotted, But she was a flighty piece. He thought she was unfaithful, With other men she'd been, She was accused of treason And died on Tower Green.

Henry married Katherine Parr, Who was a kind step-mother, To Mary and Elizabeth And Edward their young brother. Katherine tried to go along With Henry's way of thinking, So she was lucky; she outlived His Majesty, the King.

The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth

Moyra Sonley

Life in the 20th century at home and abroad is shown through filmed documentaries, offering a varied and fascinating insight into a wide range of topics. Early sessions put into context the situation around 1900, in countries close to home and around the world. Predictions for the future from pre and post war times seemed on the whole to be wide of the mark when viewed today. Some inventions have far exceeded expectations whilst others still remain distant dreams.As the weeks have passed, films have been closer to home in terms of the times revealed. A session about more modern times brought to mind my brother's reminiscences. Showing scenes from Mao's China from 1941-59, parts of the film were harrowing as they followed the great famine, but others were more positive from "the great leap forward". My brother joined the Merchant Navy at 16 years old, sailing as a midshipman with the Blue Funnel Line out of Liverpool. At that time, much of the company trade was in the Far East. During a trip in 1950, at a time when fighting between communist and nationalist forces was still taking place, the docks where my brother's ship was moored, in Shanghai, were bombed. At that time, before containers, crews had long periods in port working cargo. Some years later, all seamen were given copies of the "little red book" - quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. I still have the copy given to my brother, published in English in 1966, together with a number of photographs of Mao and party leaders, and a Mao badge. After a life at sea, my brother retired in 1988. Despite two trips to the Falklands during the conflict, he never came under fire again. Traditionally, as ships enter port, the navigation charts are updated, but in Chinese waters the arrival of the pilot meant all charts had to be put away. Everyone was regarded as a spy.The class's last session before Christmas promises to tickle my husband's memory. We are to watch archive films from the late forties and fifties, including the Suez campaign. In 1956, Marcus was serving in the RAF for his National Service. Billed as an exercise, the Suez preparations meant little to the troops. Did we sleep more soundly through such conflicts in those days?

Film Documentaries of 20th Century Life

Janet Catling

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Another term of energetic, strenuous exercise (ha-ha) is over.We stretched, balanced, bent and power walked to all types of music.In November as our tribute to the Forces Personnel we exercised to war music, which most people found touching.We had our usual end of term Christmas party during which we did a few exercises (just to show willing), followed by comic dances and games which were hilarious.The party finished with us attacking nibbles whilst we socialised.Now we look forward to being stretched both literally and physically for another term.A Happy New Year to all, from the Keep Going Exercise Class

Keep Going !

Joan Hardy

The Science Discussion Group continues to thrive and has welcomed two new members this year. Every Tuesday Morning at Holy Trinity Vestry we try to give our opinions on items of interest which our Tutor, Doug Hirst, has chosen from current scientific journals or from the week’s media. Occasionally we have an outside speaker including recently Andre Botherway from the ‘Stories of Scientists’ group who spoke about Marconi’s developments in telecommunications.This term we have looked at how VW tried to cheat on their car emissions tests and we have wrestled with the science behind both the Noble and IgNoble prize awards. Variety is the spice of discussion and so other topics have ranged from space exploration and ‘dark energy’ through why crocodiles sleep with one eye open, to whether brain scans can detect intelligence; there is always lively banter when male and female attributes are discussed! Some members of the group are more squeamish than others when the talk turns to medical matters, while a few eyes glaze over when we delve into statistical data. However everyone is keen to contribute, so much so, that Doug has a gavel to call us to order when the discussion becomes too unruly.

Science Discussion Group

Margaret Goode

Ballet DVDs Group

J.Mollie Self

Friday mornings, and we trip along to the Champion's Church for 9.30am to find Con busily setting up for the morning's entertainment of artistic delight - movement, music and drama on-screen.We sit comfortably, the lights go out and we, the "rats de ballet", indulge in a morning's pleasure, watching dancing and choreography of international skill to the music of Tschaikovsky, Stravinsky, Straus, Bizet - to name but a few!Con's programme is nicely varied, sometimes containing a film and sometimes dipping into opera where we might hear Kiri Te Kanawa singing die Fledermaus - conducted by Placido Domingo.In November we saw the film "White Nights" which opens with Baryshnikov's solo performance of "Le jeune homme et la mort" which, for me, was of amazing virtuosity and skill - completely mind-blowing!We look forward to an outing in late February, to see live ballet at the Bradford Alhambra.So come and join us and be assured of very good company, both on screen and off. And all in the competent hands of Con, our mentor.

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To vote or not to vote, - that is the question:-Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the pangs of disappointment Or prudent to accept the claims and promises made by politicians, However, treat them with the disdain they deserve, As wishful thinking and not worth a row of beans

To ponder, to think and by that process, what doubts, disillusionAnd heartaches would beset us? Must give us pauseSo sleep on it - perchance to dream. No more,To dream of halcyon days - a land filled with milk and honey.

Instead, years of constant austerity and always jam tomorrow.Where the rich; the have and the have yachts, get richerWhilst the poor; the have not, get poorer, that’s life!But who cares about that as long as we are all right Jack.

Politicians, hah, unable to give an honest answer,In many cases, answers came there none,Instead, deriding their opponents as dishonest. Without fulfilling their own promises.

Now is the summer of our bygone days made winter by their frailties.And we have to wait to see, the undiscovered country we are to be..The Tories have gained a small working majority.Obligations demand we combat injustice and inequalityAnd with endurance we will confront our destiny.

Frank's Soliloquy

Frank Waller

on the general election 7th May 2015 Thank you, to all in Gillian Wheatley's Charles Darwin Group who donated so handsomely to the Monastic & Nunnery School in Mustang/Pokhara in Nepal. The £80 you collected arrived at the school on 13/01/2016, every penny (or should I say 12,046 Nepali Rupees) will be spent on the children. The front cover shows the Christmas and New Year greetings card that my wife and I received, and may their greeting pass to you also.

Keith Mollon

Greetings from Nepal see front cover

Trying to decide which U3A group to join, I considered the Music for Pleasure Group. It sounded appealing but as I was a member of a choir I wondered if I had enough music in my life. I opted to join.The first week seemed a glorious mish mash of styles and types of songs. Likewise the musicians were a mixed bunch with guitars (acoustic and electric), ukuleles, clarinet, flute, keyboard and bongo drums all represented, not to mention the odd kazoo solo thrown in! We non-instrumentalists sang (mainly in tune).Each week threw up a host of songs for the newcomer but in many instances we were building on tunes previously practised, and confidence grows with familiarity. I don't know of a music group anywhere else that ranges from folk songs commonly belted out in pubs (The Wild River), romantic songs turned into football anthems (Blue Moon) to 50s, 60s, and 70s pop classics that we all know.At our last meeting before Christmas we entertained U3A members at a coffee morning, raising £165 for Manorlands Hospice. The audience had a great time joining in, waving their arms in the air, reliving their disco days to Hi-Ho Silver Lining.Our thanks are due to many in the group but particularly to Geoff Hiser who puts the weekly song list together and who patiently keeps his group of players and singers reined in.You can hear us at the Ceilidh in Embsay Village Hall. And if you want an uplifting Tuesday morning, sign up for the group next time round !

May I have the Pleasure?

Chris Cahill

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Craven U3A Magazine

The editor welcomes contributions of articles about groups, activities, visits, recollections, poems, or anything that you think may be of interest to other members. Colour photographs will be printed as black & white, but will be in colour when the edition appears on the website.The editor reserves the right to edit, use, or not use any submitted material. The preferred form of submitted material is an email containing plain text or attached documents. All received emails will be acknowledged.The editor cannot be held responsible for any submissions that are lost in transit. The magazine appears twice yearly and articles may be held over to appear in a later edition.

serves 4-6

Glenys Swallow

Chocolate Mousse

150g mini marshmallows

50g soft butter

250g good dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids), chopped small

1 x 284ml tub double cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

60ml hot water from a recently-boiled kettle

Normally you need to make a chocolate mousse a good few hours, or better still, a day before you want to eat it, so that the egg yolk sets and the whisked whites permeate everything with air bubbles. Forget that, here we have no yolks, no whites, no whisking, no waiting. The absence of raw egg means that you might be happier offering this to small children or the elderly.

Method:Put marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water into a heavy based saucepan.Put the saucepan over a fairly gentle heat, stirring the contents now and again until melted. Remove from the heat.Whip the cream with the vanilla extract until thick, then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth, cohesive mixture.Pour or scrape into 4 glasses or ramekins, about 175ml capacity, or 6 small ones 125ml capacity, and chill until you want to eat.The sooner the better !

Craven U3A the first thirty years, written by Gareth Davies, is a personal view inspired by the Craven U3A archives and Gareth's own

recollections. The seventy-two page A4-size coffee-table style book is printed in full colour and is packed with photographs and stories from across the years. You may recognise many old friends and perhaps even yourself !

Some copies are still available. Yours is ready for despatch, in return for a donation of £10 to Craven U3A funds.Contact Vic Edytel: 01756 795997 chairman@cravenu3a.org.uk

The 30th Anniversary Book

Copy for the Summer Edition should be sent to the editor beforeMonday 13th June 2016

by email:magazine@cravenu3a.org.uk

or by post:R.French, 6 Cross Lane Mill, Bradley BD20 9QB

Dates for your Diary

AGMTuesday 17th May 2016

2pm at St Andrew's Church Hall

Craven U3A MagazineDeadline for copy submissions

Monday 20th June 2016

Open DayTuesday 9th August 20162pm at Skipton Town Hall

Postal Enrolment CommencesMonday 15th August 2016

Craven U3A WebsiteFor details of events (and more) go to:

www.cravenu3a.org.ukItems for inclusion on the website should be sent to:

website@cravenu3a.org.uk

Craven U3A NoticesItems for the monthly Notices should be sent to:

notices@cravenu3a.org.uk

Craven U3A Summer Schoolat Ermysted's School

Thursday 7th July 2016Friday 8th July 2016