Monthly meetings
ONLINE – Thursday 17 February 2022, 11.00am – 12.15pm via Zoom
Peter Webb: Hockney’s stage set designs
Following his talk on David Hockney last summer, Peter will be giving a further talk on Hockney’s stage set designs where the vitality and colour we know in his paintings can be seen throughout his work for the theatre.
LIVE – Thursday 10 March 2022, 10.30am – 12.00 noon (entry from 10.00am)
Union Church and Community Centre (located on Weston Park at the junction with Ferme Park Road N8 9PX)
Pete Paphides: Broken Greek
The popular music journalist Pete Paphides has recently published his 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. He will talk about how the book was written and researched with some fascinating anecdotes about the music industry.
Interest groups update
After taking a Christmas break interest groups have restarted with renewed vigour and in anticipation of all restrictions being lifted soon. Some groups have reverted to online meetings with others reverting to in-person meetings either in members’ homes, cafes or pubs, or a mixture of both. Keep checking the website for information.
From 27 January face masks will no longer be compulsory in any public spaces -although they may still be recommended in some – and are likely to remain mandatory on TfL services. Where groups meet in external venues, community halls, sports halls and indoor public venues members should confirm arrangements with relevant conveners.
New interest groups
Alexander Technique introductory 4-week course
This new group provides the opportunity to learn about the Alexander Technique and how it can help you understand your alignment and natural balance and help to reduce pain, aches and stress. The first course begins on Tuesday 1 March and continues for the next three Tuesdays, at Yoga Junction, Weston Park N8 9PR between 11.30am and 12.30pm. Another course will be offered the following month provided there is sufficient interest.
The small friendly groups will be for a maximum of 6 people ranging from complete beginners to those with experience. More courses will be organised depending on interest.
Retirement – what next?
Proposed by a member, this is a series of four workshops that will explore issues arising in the transitional stage of retiring from your main job. Themes would be identified and explored using gentle writing activities. Details are yet to be finalised with the proposed convener who is qualified in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. Interested? Please contact groups@cedu3a.org.uk
Art Appreciation – opportunity to convene a new group
Our Art Appreciation groups are very successful and very, very popular. There is such demand that we would dearly love to offer a fourth group to complement the existing three. This group could follow one of the models already used to run our existing groups or there might be someone in the membership who has different ideas! In either case we do need someone to step up and act as convener.
Rest assured that full support will be provided to get your new group started, so if you think you might be the person for the job, please contact groupsorganiser@cedu3a.org.uk .
Groups team update
John Hemingway has recently taken over from Graham Bennett as Groups Organiser.
Diana Pavey remains as Groups Coordinator and Team Leader. Tasks across the Groups Team are now shared including those in respect of finding conveners for and establishing new groups. Interest groups have been allocated for general support as shown on the website here.
Volunteering opportunities
We are looking for three volunteers to help at our monthly meetings:
Speakers organiser – to research and book speakers
Meetings organiser – to check that everything else is in place for the meeting to run smoothly
Light refreshments organiser – to organise the serving of light refreshments (tea/coffee/biscuits) at meetings. This might particularly suit someone who joined since lockdown (an ideal way to meet people).
Would you be interested in finding out more about these volunteer roles? Perhaps you would like to share one of them? For more information on all the above roles, see the Volunteer page on our website, or contact the volunteer co-ordinator Beatrice or Liz, the volunteer development co-ordinator at volunteers@cedu3a.org.uk, to show an interest.
Dates for your diary
CEDu3a AGM
The CEDu3a Annual General Meeting 2022 has been scheduled for 14 April 2022 at 11.00am online. Meeting papers and instructions for joining will be issued nearer the time
CEDu3a Open Day
An Open Day is now being planned for mid-June 2022, later than originally envisaged, given the COVID-19 situation and social restrictions.
London Region of u3as Summer School 2022
The London Region of u3as is planning to host a 2-day Summer School 26-27 July 2022 at the usual venue, the St. Bride’s Institute, off Fleet Street.
Activities will include talks, workshops and guided walks. There will be a wide range of subjects to choose from such as Art, Current Affairs, History, Literature, Music, Sciences and Social Studies. In addition, this year London has been selected as a general theme.
At this stage we are just asking you to save the dates. We want everyone to be safe and will be closely following COVID-19 guidance from the government, Third Age Trust, and working with St Bride’s. The full programme and booking details will be publicised from mid-April.
Buy a good read and support CARIS Haringey for Homeless Families
The u3a writing groups are delighted to bring you their second book – Reflections and Echoes 2 – a follow-up to the anthology published in 2019. We are pleased that we were able to continue meeting online throughout the pandemic restrictions. Writers from all three writing groups have each contributed up to eight stories, articles, or poems, including the fruits of our lockdown labours.
All proceeds from the book will go to CARIS Haringey for Homeless Families. We ask for a minimum donation of ÂŁ5.
To arrange payment and get your copy please contact Nicci at nicci37@btinternet.com
National u3a poetry competition 2022
This year’s theme is new. Poems must be no longer than 16 lines, plus the title, and all are required to have a rhyming component. For more information and submission details, please see the National u3a website.
