SEPTEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER
Tower Hamlet U3A members
Hello Everyone
I hope you’ve all enjoyed the amazing summer we have had, and that you will like this latest
newsletter telling you what is going on in your U3A.
The number of members remains constant even though, sadly, we lose some people when we
ask for subs renewal, but then we gain some new folks during the year. You will see that the
groups are thriving but unfortunately, Andrew had to give up leading the bridge group due to work
commitments. If there is an experienced bridge player amongst our membership maybe you’d like
to think about leading this group. Do let me know if you can.
We do get quite a few requests for volunteers to take part in various research projects and I know
that many of you do respond to these, which is great.
I had the pleasure of being part of a U3A Shared learning Project with the Peace Pledge Union
(PPU) recently which aimed to find out more about Conscientious Objectors during World War 1.
It was a very interesting project and between us we gathered a lot of information which the PPU
is making copies of for the participants and various archives which helped us in our research.
When I get my copy I will let you know so that if anyone wants to see it, I will make it available.
Our Annual General Meeting is on Wednesday 15 October at 2.30pm in the Anson Room and
our Guest Speaker will be Dee Kushlick-Williams, who led the above project. She is a member
of Haringey U3A and will speak to us about the Women Who Opposed WW1, which I think will
be a fascinating topic. You will be sent notice of this meeting nearer the date but I do hope that
you can make a note of the date and as many as possible of you will be able to come along.
Please also give some thought to the possibility of becoming a member of the Committee which
meets every 2 months. It would be good to have some new members and it isn’t doesn’t take up
to much of your time!
I would like to extend my thanks to all the current members of the Committee, especially, Angela
our Membership Secretary, Elizabeth our Treasurer and Leslie our Secretary, for all their work on
our behalf during the year.
Remember, it is your U3A, so if you have any ideas for new groups and would like to lead one, or
if you have thoughts or suggestions about anything else to do with our U3A, then please don’t
hesitate to contact me – details below.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM on 15 October and till then – best wishes – Jil
jilcove@yahoo.co.uk or 020 7247 4283
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ART GROUP
The U3A Art Group continues to meet weekly from 2 - 4 pm on Tuesdays at Vic Johnson House,
Armagh Road.
We have been on an outing recently to see the East London Group Exhibition at the Nunnery we thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly as the East London Group enjoyed artistic success in the
1930s with paintings of the East End.
Inspired by this exhibition, many of us are painting the East End as we know it now! I attach a
photo of us enjoying a cuppa in the sunshine outside the Nunnery Gallery, Bow Road in July.
Gateway Housing Association has suggested that we show some of our art at their headquarters
in Mile End and we are currently working towards what we hope could be a lively display of our
work.
We have now 3 residents from the sheltered accommodation painting with us and we are
hoping to encourage more!
For more information contact: haydaylewis@btinternet.com or heatherdyer@homecall.co.uk
Art Appreciation
When we return from our much needed summer break, tanned and full to the brim with fish and
chips and ice cream we shall continue to follow the development of Impressionism.
Their spontaneous, quickly painted studies of light and colour will then be contrasted in the
various thoughtful reactions of the Post Impressionists, including Van Gogh, Gauguin, and
Cezanne.
An understanding of these developments at the end of the 19th Century, by the Impressionists,
the Post Impressionists and the mysterious, moody works of the Symbolists, should help us gain
much more insight when we look at the often challenging works of the 20th Century.
We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month in The Chapel between 2.30-4pm. Contact
Iain Dickson Gill on 020 8521 2746 for more information
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Book Group
There are now eleven regular members of the book group, but anyone else who would like to join us would
be welcome. We meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm to discuss the recent book and the
meetings are always lively, sometimes controversial, but all with good nature.
The café at Whitechapel Idea Store is a nice venue and drinks and cakes are available to help us along in
choosing next month’s book. So if you like to read a wide diversity of books, then why not join us? Contact
me to find out the recent book and the next meeting.
Jil on jilcove@yahoo.co.uk or 020 7247 4283
Creative Writing
This group meets every 2nd Monday afternoon at 2.30 at Create Place and benefits from being small i.e.
four or five attendees. This means we each have the opportunity to write a short story or description either
before or during the session and read our writing out to others for their comments.
We find the deadline of meeting together provides a stimulus for the kind of writing for which we perhaps did
not have time before retirement.
We would welcome new participants with or without experience in creative writing.
Contact Jackie Gooding (Facilitator) on 8981 8300 or jackie.gooding@btinternet.com
Eat Your Way Around the World Lunch Group
After a search of almost three years duration we finally found a French restaurant to our liking (thanks Mary)
though this was much to the chagrin of some members who had been agitating for some time to visit Lille by
Eurostar to sample the real thing.
Other cuisines we have tasted recently have included Korean, Argentinian and Georgian, so our dining is
nothing if not varied. We meet at 1.00pm on the last Thursday of each month, taking a break in December.
If you would like to join the group e-mail Leslie Armstrong lesarm@btinternet.com
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Jazz Group
The U3A Jazz highlight of 2014 was Jazz on a Summer’s Day. This was a national U3A event held at Cecil
Sharp House in Camden Town. It was attended by 250 U3A members from all over the UK and was a great
success. Scott Stroman, professor of jazz (yes, really) at the Guildhall, presented an entertaining and
instructive programme, supported by an excellent band – all students from the Guildhall.
At our regular weekly sessions we listen to, and talk about, Jazz: What is jazz? what’s special about it? Why
is some of it good fun and some of it hard work? We talk about tunes we like, and those we don’t, and
why.We look at a different topic each week: sometimes a particular musician; or one of the jazz eras; or an
important album. We look at the history of jazz from its origins in marching bands, ragtime and country blues
and its development through dixieland, swing, bebop, modern and cool jazz. We look at the evolution of
jazz, different jazz styles, improvisation.
We’ve had about 180 meetings over the last 6 years and listened to more than 1500 tunes. But we’d love to
have new members - as with all things U3A, it’s never too late to start. Normally we meet in the Old Chapel
behind the Gallery Café on Thursdays 10.30-11.30, but we’ve also had outings to festivals, concerts and
local gigs. Louis Armstrong was once asked: “What is jazz?” He’s reported to have said “If you don’t know,
don’t mess with it.” But we mess with it every week – so please come along too.
For information contact Peter Sellars on peter.sellars@gmail.com or 020 8981 2154
Local History Group
Almost 6 years have passed since the group embarked on our first walk. This was looking at the Roman
remains in the City, to learn about our early London roots. We then decided to study and walk the streets of
Tower Hamlets, starting in the north, and walking west to east. After 6 years we've almost completed
walking the Borough. But there is always more to learn, and we will continue with a mix of study, walks and
visits over the next year.
We usually meet every 2nd & 4th Wednesday; and we will commence our next term on September 10th,
with a meeting at 11am in The Create Place, and welcome new members.
Contact Patty Singleton on 7392 2187 or meat.patty@talktalk.net
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The Music Group
The Music Group meets on the first and third Mondays of the
month, 2.30 – 4.30 at the Create Place, 29 Old Ford Road. It's
strictly for fun, so it’s easy to drop in or out at any time, if you
can't make every meeting. Most people sing, some play ukulele, and there are
percussion instruments to try out. We work on anything the group wants to try - fingerpicking 'House of the Rising Sun' and learning 'Blowin' In the Wind' are two current
examples. AND I’M PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE STRUMMING IS IMPROVING BY
LEAPS AND BOUNDS!!
For more information please contact Helen on 020 7791 0783 or hlnmnzs@gmail.com
Reading Poetry
The poetry reading group meets throughout the year, once every month or two on Friday
afternoons. We now have 12 active members, and are truly a ‘creative reading group’. We
read aloud and talk about poems and ideas about poetry, and decide together on future
topics or poets for discussion. There’s always plenty of constructive argument and differing
points of view, and we see this as a strength.
Recently we’ve had sessions on Emily Dickinson and Seamus Heaney, on poetic techniques
(‘ekphrasis’, for instance…. poems that are about or draw on other art forms such as art or
music…) and on Shakespeare’s sonnets. In the coming months, we hope to follow the T S
Eliot prize, something we enjoyed last year. We’ll read and try to get to know the work of at
least a few of the short-listed poets, and perhaps take part in the Poetry Book Society’s
online vote.
Like Emily Dickinson, we’ll continue to look out for - and revel in - divinely sensibly madness –
Much Madness is divinest Sense To a discerning Eye Much Sense - the starkest Madness `Tis the Majority
In this, as All, prevail Assent - and you are sane Demur - you`re straightaway dangerous And handled with a Chain Emily Dickinson
Please contact Alex Josephy on 020 8891 6601 or alexjosephy@btinternet.com
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Reminiscence Cinema Hackney Picture House
These are regular movie showings for anyone who enjoys a bit of cinematic
nostalgia. Recent showings have included Don’t Look Now, Dr Strangelove
and Sunset Boulevard.
We are frequently joined by members of the Hackney U3A and are also
fortunate to have an informal introduction and discussion afterwards with a film expert. Knowing
why the Director chose a particular theme, location and cast members adds value to the overall
experience.
Price £3.00 including complimentary tea/coffee, 2nd Thursday of the month, 1pm.
This is an interesting afternoon out at exceptional value for money!
If you wish to join us please contact: Jil Cove 07586200744 or jilcove@yahoo.co.uk
Social Walking Group
The opening of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has given us more scope for local
walks and my Boris Pass has given us more scope to walk further afield.
Far from taking a Summer break in August we added three extra walks to our
programme to enable us to see all fifty Book Benches before the trails close in
September.
For a copy of the current programme of walks, which take place on the first and third
Tuesdays of the month at 11.00am, e-mail LeslieArmstrong lesarm@btinternet.com
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Tai Chi Group
The Tai Chi group has taken advantage of the beautiful
weather with some al fresco classes over the summer, both
at St Margaret’s and with a drop in session in Victoria Park
during August. The classes include a gentle warm up,
standing and moving chi kung, wu chi meditation and the tai
chi form. Classes return to St Margaret’s on Monday
September 1st from 12.00-1.00 and new members are
welcome.
Contact Carolyn Clark on 07773 784 517 for more information
Sessions are every Monday at St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road Bethnal Green.
For more information, please call Carolyn on 07773 784 517, or just turn up and give it a go!
Your Street
Is your street pleasant to walk along?
Does it have broken paving stones or uneven pavement?
Are there drop kerbs to make it easier to push a buggie or get a wheelchair across the roads?
Does it have a safe crossing point like a zebra crossing?
Are the streetlights, bus stop, bollards or rubbish bins in the wrong place restricting the width
of the pavement for pedestrians?
Are there other things that make it difficult to walk along?
Do you have ideas on how to make it better and would like to let the Council know?
Then we may be able to help, as we are part of Living Streets, a pedestrian organisation. With
your help we can do a street audit and put together a report with photos and suggestions for
improvements to send to the Council. There is no guarantee they will react positively, but we
have had some influence in the past such as the changes in New Road and St. Paul’s Way.
So, if you’d like to take place in a street audit to see if changes can be made to your street,
then do contact us.
Patty Singleton on meat.patty@talktalk.net or 020 7392 2187
Jil Cove on jilco@yahoo.co.uk or 020 7247 4283
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