Monthly meetings
We are delighted to report that, subject to Covid restrictions remaining unchanged, our monthly meetings are resuming at the Union Church and Community Centre (located on Weston Park at the junction with Ferme Park Road N8 9PX) on the second Thursday of each month.
Thursday 9 December 2021, 10.30am – 12.00 noon (entry from 10.00am)
Come and join us for festive refreshments with mulled wine after the talk.
Graham Bennett: Our wonderful West End theatreland
In London we have a unique collection of about 40 historic theatres in a compact area, but how did this come about? It’s a fascinating story, involving the plague, executions, fire, murder, ghosts, jealousy, licentious behaviour and hissy fits.
Advance registration is essential for this talk as places are limited. Further information and registration details here.
Thursday 13 January 2022, 10.30am – 12.00 noon (entry from 10.00am)
Pete Paphides: Broken Greek
The popular music journalist Pete Paphides will talk about his recently published coming-of-age memoir, bringing together his experiences as a child of Cypriot parents growing up in Birmingham and his early immersion in pop music in vivid and poignant prose
Online talk
Tuesday 25 January 2022, 11.00am – 12.15pm via Zoom
Brenda Ainsley: The climate crisis and some solutions
Brenda leads various Eco and Climate Groups for the u3a, including ‘Countdown to COP’ for the online Trust u3a. In November 2021, Brenda led four u3a workshops during the COP Climate conference in Glasgow, with an emphasis on Intergenerational Climate Action.
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.
New members’ question and answer session
Unfortunately, because of last minute concerns around Covid numbers, we decided to postpone the new members’ coffee morning scheduled for Tuesday16 November.
However we wanted to welcome members who have joined over the last year or so and give you the opportunity to raise queries and concerns, and give us feedback about how you have found things so far. We have arranged a question and answer session via Zoom for new members on Thursday 2 December at 11.00 am. Members of the Executive Committee are looking forward to meeting you!
Please register using the link already sent to you recently to join the session. We hope to meet you then.
Interest groups update
Given the current uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we have been committed to giving groups as much flexibility as possible in meeting up again, face to face and online.
Interest Group conveners have now updated group information on the website, correct as of 4 November. The information indicates those groups meeting via Zoom often in conjunction with planned face to face meetings. As mentioned in the last issue, some have planned a seasonal approach – Zoom in winter moving to face to face meetings as spring/summer approaches. Members will need to keep up to date with arrangements as they change and if uncertain confirm with relevant conveners.
New group conveners needed
German Language
Conveners or co-conveners needed for German Language groups (Basic and Intermediate) which had to be suspended when the previous convener had to step down for personal reasons. If you are interested, please contact Diana Pavey on groups@cedu3a.org.uk
Writing groups new short story collection
Reflections and Echoes 2 – the Writing Groups’ second collection of short stories – will be on sale at the monthly meeting on Thursday 9 December. The book contains several pieces from 11 members of the three groups, with photos from the Photography group. All proceeds from the book will go to CARIS Haringey for Homeless Families. We ask for a minimum donation of £5. Please bring cash or proof of online donation to: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/10530#!/DonationDetails
Volunteering opportunities
Monthly meetings organiser
You will be pleased to see that we are preparing for the re-opening of our monthly meetings at the Union Church. The speakers’ organiser will book speakers, and we also need a person to check that everything else is in place for the meeting to run smoothly. Would you be interested in finding out more about this volunteer role? Perhaps you would like to share this role?
Light refreshments organiser
We are looking for someone to organise the serving of light refreshments (just tea/coffee and biscuits) at our monthly meetings. Again, this will be just once a month, and the role could be shared. This might suit one of the many people who have joined in the last eighteen months (an ideal way to meet people).
Volunteer development organiser
Would you be interested in supporting our volunteers? We would like someone to work with Beatrice and Jenny to develop and maintain regular contact with our current volunteers – to check on their welfare, see how they are enjoying their volunteer role and to discuss any suggestions or queries they may have – and help to attract new volunteers.
For more information on all the above roles, see our the Volunteer page on our website
Facebook
During the penultimate week in November there was a flurry of activity on the CEDu3a Facebook page with photos and posts from the Mosaics, Short Walks, Wine Appreciation, Theatre, Birdwatching, Beer Appreciation, Middle Way Walkers and Gardening groups. It is a great way to gain insight into what happens in our groups and stimulate interest, but is also very useful for last minute notifications of late ticket and place availability, when cancellations happen.
Some groups are noticeably silent, however, and it would be great to hear news from them too! Even if you are not a Facebook user, your group can still be represented by emailing posts to Jacqui at facebook@cedu3a.org.uk and she will be happy to post them for you.
Hornsey Historical Society
The Hornsey Historical Society runs a public Local History Surgery on the first Saturday morning of each month in which members of the CE&D U3A can get face to face help with their research. John Hinshelwood, convenor of the U3A local history group, runs the surgery and is looking for people to help revise and update the many local history guidance sheets that have been written over the years. If you think you could help you would be given a detailed brief explaining the purpose of a selected guidance note and how you could review and update it. This would be of great help to the Hornsey Historical Society and you would learn about local history.
Much of the work could be done from home, or in the Old Schoolhouse during the Local History Surgery.
Please get in touch by emailing hornseyhistoricalsurgery@gmail.com or telephoning 07531866714.
National Kindertransport Day
On National Kindertransport Day (2 December), National u3a will be hosting an event with Dame Esther Rantzen which features u3a members with ties to the Kindertransport. Guest speakers will include Kindertransport evacuees themselves, children of ‘the kinder’ and those who have grown up calling these rescued children their siblings. More information and booking details on our website here
This email was sent by Beacon on behalf of cedu3a@protonmail.com
