Annual Wetherby U3A Holiday for 2020
Book your places now for the annual U3A holiday in 2020. This time we’re planning a trip to Scotland, taking in some fantastic scenery, lochs, castles and delicious food; visiting the Edinburgh Tattoo and a host of other fantastic places. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. All the details including dates, schedules, costs and contacts can be found at this link.
A new U3A organisation is starting up in Tadcaster
Have a look at the following link for more information about the new Tadcaster U3A.
Wed 28 Aug Open Meeting Methodist Church 2.30 pm Martin Lloyd, “Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies” their influence on passport design through the ages.
Thur 12 Sept. Current Affairs group. St James church rooms 2.30 pm Matt Clover and Laura Walker are coming to tell us about the policies of the Yorkshire Party. All welcome
Thur 19 Sep. Historic Houses 2 Coach trip to Burton Constable Hall. Executive coach with toilet facilities. Leaving Station Car Park, Linton Rpad at 9.00 am. Cost £22 per person including coach driver’s tip and house entry. Connie Fox 587176 bev.con@talktalk.net
Wed 25 Sep Open Meeting. Methodist Church 2.30 pm Jane Mckewan, “The Changing Face of Newspapers” – Technical changes and the increasing threats to freedom of speech.
Mon 7 Oct Racketball Taster Session Linton & Collingham Squash and Racketball Club for further details see page 3 of the August Monthly Memo
Wed 30 Oct Open Meeting Methodist Church 2.30 pm TBA
New Group: Walking 6-2-8
For those looking for a middle-distance walk at a moderate pace, allowing time to admire the scenery or take a photograph, this group will start in August. It will meet on a fixed day, the fourth Tuesday of the month, and will include a coffee stop and a lunch break en route and, where possible, a café visit afterwards for tea/coffee and cake/scone – or even an ice-cream! Members will be encouraged to lead walks or volunteer to undertake a recce with a walk leader. For more information contact Judith Pentith pentith@gmail.com.
Music – The Rock N Roll Years
We’re hoping to start up a new group for those who loved the music of the 60’s and 70’s. Have a look at this poster which contains lots more information and contact details.
Audio Visual Spanish
It’s been decided to repackage and relaunch the intermediate Spanish classes. Click here for more information.
Walking Football
Hoping to set up a new group meeting on Monday afternoons between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm at Tadcaster Leisure Centre. Please contact Neil Haigh if you’re interested neilandsusanh@gmail.com
The following groups are currently looking for new members – See the Monthly Memo for more details
- Art Appreciation
- Enjoying Musical Theatre
- Historic Houses 2
26th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival
The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival is back in Harrogate for another spectacular season! The Festival is the largest celebration of England’s most famous theatrical partnerships and attracts visitors from all around the world. This year more than thirty-five full-scale productions will take place in the magnificent Royal Hall, Harrogate and a specially-built theatre in the adjoining Harrogate Convention Centre.
The acclaimed, professional National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company is the Festival’s resident performing group and will celebrate the 26th annual event with four fantastic new productions: The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers and The Yeomen of the Guard. The Festival will also feature performances by professional groups Forbear! Theatre and Charles Court Opera and competing amateur societies New London Opera Group, Peak Opera, Bus Pass Opera and SavoyNet Performing Group.
Said Festival founder and Chairman Ian Smith “The Festival is a unique event. There is no doubt it is one of the happiest and friendliest Festivals in the world and we all need a little bit of cheer at the moment! Gilbert & Sullivan are just the tonic the whole country needs right now”.
As well as the main productions in the Royal Hall, the Festival offers a packed fringe programme in the adjoining Utopia Pavilion and Utopia Theatre. Each morning at 10:30 visitors can explore the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas with a fascinating talk from one of the Festival’s G&S experts, they can hear from the stars of the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company or join a backstage tour and see what it really takes to put on such a complex and jam-packed festival – led by Chairman and Artistic Director Ian Smith.
And in addition, eight leading British universities perform a fully-staged Gilbert & Sullivan opera in the specially-built Utopia Theatre as part of the annual UNIFest competition.
The Festival embraces young and old alike. It certainly lives up to its branding – it’s fun, it’s friendly, and it’s for all the family. Indeed, visitors aged between nine and 99 can actually “tread the boards” in Harrogate this summer
The Festival Youth Production is always a highlight. This year youngsters aged between nine and 19 years old meet for the first time on Saturday, 11 August for a week of rehearsals with a professional director and musical director prior to presenting their production of The Pirates of Penzance on Saturday, 17th August. Anyone wanting to take part should email oliver@gsfestivals.org
And for performers aged 60 and beyond, there is the aptly named “Bus Pass Opera”. This “Senior Citizens” show has proved extremely popular with both audience and performers. Last year the combined ages of those on the Royal Hall Stage exceeded 2500 years. An evening not to be missed and not a glimmer of a zimmer in sight!
Every evening after the curtain falls, the Festival Club really comes to life with singing, and entertainment – usually until the early hours. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our visitors to meet old friends, make new ones and generally have a very good time
The Festival is twelve days jam-packed with pleasure. Beautiful voices and glorious music. It will be in Harrogate from August 7th-18th 2019.
More information: www.gsfestivals.org
Bernard Lockett
Direct Tel: 0777-6174895
Press Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/orwcn0wizo8ifsm/AACgOnhs_KEVnKGCIbvEXISxa?dl=0
Contact: Janet Smith, Director – janet@gsfestivals.org – 01422 323252
At the Open Meeting on 24th April, Linda Glew, highlighted details of a new project led by Leeds Older People’s Forum, in partnership with Leeds City Council and other partners. The project aims to bring together Dementia Friendly and Age-Friendly initiatives to help make Leeds the ‘Best City to Grow Old In’. It is part of the Time to Shine programme which aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst older people.
Further information will be made available over the coming weeks, but brief details can be seen in the flyer here.
Open for applications
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was set up when Sir Winston died in 1965. It provides funding for up to 150 British citizens each year from all backgrounds to travel overseas to gain knowledge, experience and best practice to inspire positive change in their UK professions and communities and society as a whole.
Churchill Fellows come from all over the UK and from many different backgrounds. No qualifications are required. Fellowships are available to all UK citizens resident in the UK over the age of 18. Applications are now open. The deadline for applications is 17th September 2019.
You can apply for any of these 2019 categories:
- Arts for the built environment
- Education
- Emergency response
- Enterprise & social impact
- Environment/ conservation/sustainable living
- Healthcare – innovations for the 21stcentury
- Palliative and end of life care
- Physical activity for healthier lives
- Rural living – strengthening countryside communities
- Science, technology and engineering
- Suicide prevention
- Open category – for any other projects
Further details can be found on the website: https://www.wcmt.org.uk/
This is a fantastic opportunity. Age is no barrier. U3A members might wish to consider applying, or perhaps encouraging family and friends to apply. If anyone requires any further information about the Trust or the application process, then I will be pleased to help.
Brian Taylor – Chair – 20 May 2019
Please have a look at the following requests sent to us by local charities looking for volunteers to help run their organisations.
Here are some links to local services and other sources of local information.
Wetherby Library and Tourist Information
Wetherby in Support of the Elderly
Wetherby Helping People in Crisis
Here are some other nearby U3A organisations
Also have look at these other free learning sources
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses – they’re all free)
TED Talks (Online lectures – there are loads to choose from)
Developing mental health services for adults and older people in
Harrogate, Wetherby and the surrounding areas
Information has been received from Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL), about proposed changes
by Leeds NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to the current mental health service in
Wetherby which is moving to York. It is proposed to set up a new service that aims to deliver
mental health support in private homes or in more personal environments.
VAL are seeking the views of local people in Wetherby about mental health and what they
would like to see from the new service.
People can participate by completing an online survey that can be found at:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ZYHM1/
Further information can be found in this summary or for more details click on this link or through Voluntary Action
Leeds, see below:
Connor Craig-Jackson
Voluntary Action Leeds
Stringer House
34 Lupton Street
Hunslet
LEEDS
LS10 2QW
Tele: 0113 297 7920
Email: connor.craig-jackson@val.org.uk
Website: https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/contact.html
Leeds Central Arts Society are planning an open evening to provide a taster of what the Arts Society have to offer. Why not join them for a glass of wine and a free lecture. Have a look at this leaflet for more details