Introduction
Spring is here and with the clocks going forward last weekend our daylight hours are increasing – all great news and something to feel positive about, together with the most-welcome easing of restrictions. We have passed the first stage on the roadmap: let us hope the next three stages happen on the dates set.
This issue of the bulletin is full of important and interesting items so please make sure you read it through to the end. A very important date for your diaries is our Annual General Meeting (see immediately below). Please try and be there as we need over 70 people for the meeting to be able to go ahead.
We continue with our monthly online talks, currently booked until June, and are now looking forward to being able to offer a range of social and other events as well as our interest groups and online talks in the second half of the year, all being well. We would really welcome some help with planning and delivering these. Please see the item ‘We need you!’ – events range from the online talks and quizzes to parties and our flagship Open Day.
Please take care and be safe.
Happy reading.
Sally
Any queries please email Sally at chair@cedu3a.org.uk
AGM
AGM online via Zoom on 15 April 2021 at 11.00 am
If you haven’t booked your (free) ticket already just click on the link cedu3a AGM to register. If you are sharing a screen with another member, please ensure you each register to provide us with accurate attendance numbers.
Join us to hear how we’ve managed and adapted our activities during the past year, despite all the difficulties during the Covid pandemic, and get up to speed with our plans for the coming year. We need at least 70 participants for the meeting to be quorate, so register today if you haven’t already.
Meeting papers and instructions for joining the meeting will be sent out nearer the time. We’ll look forward to seeing you (online) on the 15th.
Online talks
Details of all our talks can be found on https://cedu3a.org.uk/virtual-monthly-talks/
Tuesday 8 April, 11.00 am – 12.15 pm
Martin Wilkinson: Inequality: its effects on mental health and climate change, and what we can do about it.
Thursday 29 April, 11.00 am – 12.00 pm
Fool’s Gold presents: Dark Light
Tuesday 11 May, 11.00 am – 12.15 pm
Huren Marsh: Reginald Uren’s Remarkable Journey
Wednesday 26 May, 11.00 am – 12.15 pm
Jo Livingstone: Living history – there’s a lot of it about
Tuesday 15 June, 11.00 am – 12.15 pm
Ian Christie: Decadent London was where cinema was born: an online guided tour of the sites
Most of our online talks are recorded and available for you to watch at leisure. Please email cedu3a@gmx.com with your membership number, stating which recording(s) you would like, and copies will be sent to you.
We need you!
As we come out of lockdown, we need volunteers to assist with the planning and delivery of events, such as our Open Day and other recruitment events, online talks, quizzes, dances, parties – and anything else we think of …
Sounds interesting? Great – please email the volunteer team Beatrice and Jenny at volunteers@cedu3a.org.uk to discuss the role that interests you, as well as the amount of time you can commit.
Volunteers work closely together, often in teams, and are supported by members of the executive committee, along with our existing teams responsible for interest groups, publicity, catering etc. Each event has a budget to cover agreed costs.
Interest groups update
Restrictions are continuing to ease, confidence is growing and there is definitely a lightening of mood. Some of the rules – what we can and cannot do – changed on 29 March and groups of 6 people are now able to socialise outdoors, including in our gardens, and outdoor sports such as tennis can resume. Members are already talking of purchasing gazebos and outdoor heaters.
Conveners have been asked to facilitate discussion with their interest groups to plan the way forward over the next four months and further discussions will take place at Conveners’ meetings planned for April. Moving forward along the 4-stage plan is dependent on the Government giving the green light to the next stage of the easing of restrictions, at which time more information will be available. It is important that these discussions include all interest group members so that future decisions are owned by the group as a whole.
New group: short local walks
As restrictions are lifted to permit meeting we are starting up a new short walks group later in April. The walks will initially be local to minimise travel and use of public transport but in time we anticipate these short walks can be further afield as restrictions are eased. Walks will be about 3-4 miles.
If you are interested, please apply via the CEDu3a website even if you were a member of the previous Shorter Walks Group, which is no longer active: https://cedu3a.org.uk/short-local-walks/
What will your feelings be on June 21st?
That (hopefully) is the day the current restrictions are due to be lifted entirely. After so long, what a special and wonderful day that will be. We would like you to send us a single sentence describing what you might be feeling or are hoping for on that day. We would like to use some of these in our next newsletter. Please send your ideas to news@cedu3a.org.uk before the end of April.
With over 280 members our own Facebook group is flourishing, but did you know that there are other national groups that might interest you. Some of us are already members of Craft U3A, but with the arrival of spring, U3A Gardening might also be of interest. Then there is U3A In My Own Write, which showcases books written by UK-based u3a members and U3A Research and Shared Learning for any members involved in shared learning projects. Lastly there is, U3A UK, which is a page rather than a group, but it provides information about national events and initiatives.
u3a Future Lives Group
Invitation to online event 13 April 2021, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm
The u3a Future Lives Group wants to engage with you. What can we do to achieve a brighter future for older people? What issues are most important to you to help us live better lives? The Future Lives Group has identified three themes to explore, and one of these may interest you. This will be an Open Space event, and you will have an opportunity to express your views. Together we will identify our priorities to take forward to achieve improvements in our lives. More information can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/u3a-future-lives/home. Enrol at https://forms.gle/ygDGfJboh5HyLPHt5.
An intriguing question
I have had one answer to the ‘Intriguing Question’ posed in the last bulletin about a tree planted in Finsbury Park to mark the 50th anniversary of the LCC. There is a similar plaque on a tree in Hainault Forest Country Park, according to someone who was trying to find out more about it when they stumbled across my question.
So now we know that the Finsbury Park tree was not alone: the hunt is on to find out if more of them have survived. Keep looking and let me know what you find.
johnhinshelwood@btinternet.com
Local History Group convener
Access to public toilets in London
Thanks to all you who responded to the public toilets manifesto campaign: the response from our members was brilliant. This is an ongoing campaign and I’m continuing to meet people related to the campaign (including those from the GLA). The list has been posted on our website to help our members plan longer walks: https://cedu3a.org.uk/wheres-the-toilet/.
To add to the list please contact roslyn.byfield@live.co.uk.
