Dear Friends Doesn't time fly? We've been back holding meetings at the Miners for three months already! Unfortunately, we have had a few issues with room availability and some groups having to be moved or postponed, but in general things seem to be getting back to normal. Sadly, it also came to my attention that a couple of former members, Elaine Norman and Sean Howlin, have passed away recently. Some of you may remember them fondly. As you may well know, our Indoor Bowls group are struggling to lift their (very heavy) bowls carpets off and on the stage in the ballroom so they can lay them on the dance floor; basically, if they can't do this then they can't play. There is nowhere else they can store the carpets other than behind the stage and there is nobody at the Miners who is available to help. Unfortunately I had only one reply to my email plea, so if you or someone you know who is fit and able and would be willing to help them out please get in touch. They meet from 10:30am –12:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. The Board Games group are now merging back with the Scrabble group and meeting on the first Thursday afternoon of each month. Mixed Crafts will start meeting twice a month in the New Year and Jenny Peters is starting a new Line Dancing group in the New Year too. There is the possibility of new Amateur Dramatics and Bridge groups starting in early 2022 as well. Please see our website for more details of all our group activities. If you have any particular interest that you think would be suitable for a group then please let us know. We're also always keen to hear from you if you would be willing to lead a

group, either on your own or shared. Our Facebook page is still doing well and we now have our own Instagram page too. If you have anything you think appropriate to put on these pages please email the details to socialmedia@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk. Our Open Day went really well and, together with other events such as Age UK Health & Wellbeing afternoons, and our Facebook & Instagram pages (and some word of mouth!), we have had 30 new members join since the start of September, so we now have just over 400 members, which is great news. We've now got our Christmas Party to look forward to on Friday December 17th at 1pm. There will be a buffet and the bar will be open. The Musical Instruments (aka "The Rolling Bones") and Ukulele groups will be providing live music for us. A few tickets, priced at £6 each, are still available. Jenny organised a few successful and enjoyable trips during autumn and is busy planning new ones for the New Year. Please keep checking our website for details. We've had some interesting talks during the autumn too. Special thanks go to one of our own members, Veronica Walker, who presented one recently on the life and times of Charles Dickens. Christine Hart, our Speakers’ Organiser, also has speakers lined up for our first Friday Socials of each month through until April so there is plenty to look forward to. Wishing all our members a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Best wishes, Iain (Chair)

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2021

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LOOKING BACK OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS ...

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Friday 17th December 1pm—Christmas Party There are still a few tickets available for the Christmas party, at £6 per person. This includes entertainment provided by our own music groups, a buffet and the bar will be open. Please contact Sue Fowler if you’d like a ticket. Friday 7th January 1pm —Roger Browne, ‘The History of the Jazz Piano”

From Blues, Ragtime, Boogie, to Swing, Be Bop, Free Form and Avant Garde, the journey of jazz piano has been one of consistent and rapid evolution. In this talk, Roger explains the influence that creative

talents such as Scott Joplin, Pine top Smith, James P Johnson, Willie the Lion Smith, Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett etc., had on this evolution. As with all of Roger’s talks, “The History of Jazz Piano” is illustrated with live musical examples in the style of the great masters and is punctuated with hilarious stories about the people, places and events that fuelled the development of this remarkable genre. Friday 4th February 1pm — Paul Atherton, "The Cuerdale Hoard Coins" Paul explains that his interest in the Vikings began when he heard about the Viking Cuerdale Hoard near Preston. The Viking hoard was found by the south bank of the River Ribble in 1840 and is one of the largest ever found. Around 8,600 items were found including silver ingots and coins and it is thought they were buried around 903 AD. Paul’s interest in the Vikings continued and his researches enabled him to write his historical novel ‘Viking Voices - The Sword of Amleth’ published under the name of Vincent Atherton. For details of further talks or trips please visit our website: https://u3asites.org.uk/leigh-lancs/page/28102

EVENTS

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QUILTERS AND NEEDLEWORK GROUP

Our group were very busy last month with lots of Christmas decorations — there was even a turkey!! We had all been given a pattern for a peg bag the previous month and so several were on show, we just need 'a good drying day' to use them.

Jennifer brought in a long awaited heirloom quilt that had been at least two years in the making and she had not let her usual needlework standards slip. It is a most amazing work of art all done on a plain standard sewing machine.

Next month we will be starting a whirly gig bag which you sew directly on to the paper pattern; something new to some members of the group. Our group has also swelled recently with three new members joining us and they are most welcome. If

anyone else would like to join us, we meet at 1pm on the fourth Thursday of each month. Lilian Lockwood

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Our Musical group goes from strength to strength and is now heading for our 5th Anniversary from our inception all due to an idea by our Candice Barber in 2017.

Our group continues to grow with new members enjoying our sessions and realising talents they never thought they ever had. We are learning and teaching all aspects of music playing and singing in a friendly atmosphere where accomplished musicians interact with musicians from beginners to intermediate. We have a complete range of musical tastes

reflected in the choices of music by our members who submit their choices of numbers to be played at our fortnightly sessions. So if you like Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Elvis, the Buzzcocks, Dylan, Adele, The Doors, The Beachboys or Eric Clapton, this is the group for you. Recently a lot of members have written and performed their own original songs and there’s no reason if you’ve got your own song you can bring it along and get support from songwriters in the group and have your own original music performed. Alternatively if you just want to be a rock star, name your song in advance, have it included on the playlist and the group will

play support for you; how great is that? During the lockdown our zoom sessions kept the group alive and interacting and thanks to Mel Barnes our Musical Director for his endeavours and IT skills where we all learnt to be on TV.

Come and join us. We meet at the Miners the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 1pm-3pm. The last meeting this year is the 14th December

Our scheduled sessions for January 2022 are on 11th and 25th January.

Bob Sullivan

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS GROUP

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The Relaxation and Support Group has continued to help members who need or want help from like-minded people who, in particular have experienced various levels of loneliness during the last few months. Not only that but, as a group we have helped and supported each other during our meetings. Sometimes people just wish to listen, other times individuals are able to express their thoughts and views in a safe environment. More recently we had a speaker join us who gave information regarding alcohol and it’s effects both on the body and brain when drunk to excess; we certainly valued her input and it made us think somewhat about the consequences of this. I have another speaker in the not too distant future talking about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. So come and join us for the last Thursday of the month at 10.30am. Please note the next group meeting will be on 27th January. Christine Hart

RELAXATION & SUPPORT

Although the Poetry Appreciation group kept in touch during lockdowns, it is sooooo good to be back at The Miners. Our last meeting coincided with Remembrance Day and so we read war poems. I had deliberately sought out poems which have been overlooked or forgotten but are nevertheless powerful and resonate with us today. Below is the first verse of a poem by Leslie Coulson who fought in the first world war and was killed on the Somme in 1916. This poem is unusual in that each verse details the horrors of war but ends with the beauty of nature. It is amaz-ing that the poet can still appreciate and relay what is around him, dawn breaking, the singing of larks, poppies and corn-flowers and the swaying of corn. The Rainbow August 8th, 1916 Leslie Coulson

I watch the white dawn gleam, To the thunder of hidden guns.

I hear the hot shells scream Through skies as sweet as a dream Where the silver dawnbreak runs.

And stabbing of light Scorches the virginal white.

But I feel in my being the old, high, sanctified thrill,

And I thank the gods that dawn is beautiful still.

The full poem is here: The Rainbow by Leslie Coulson - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry Jane O’Rourke

POETRY GROUP

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Our new Acoustic guitar group is going really well with everyone

enjoying playing and singing along to some great songs. We sit in a circle, campfire style, playing from the songbook we’ve put together. It's great fun, the people who were too shy to sing and play at first now have the confidence to sing and play. There are a couple of places left if you feel like you would like to give it a go. Just contact myself, Marian Hulmes, 01942 589471 and I'll give you all the details. Marian Hulmes

Hello, we are the Italian group which was founded by Steve Fletcher. After the pandemic shutdown we restarted in August this year, when I took over the helm as the new Facilitator. Our sessions are every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12.30pm and they are filled with laughter and joy, where one of the leading lights is Ethel Stones who recently celebrated her 93rd birthday. Two new members this term are Maeve and Dave a husband and wife from Bolton who are making great strides, making up for the long journey they make to get to the sessions. At present we are consolidating our knowledge of the continuous tense, and have learned to say our telephone numbers and tell parts of our life stories as well as make imaginary purchases at the market, all in Italian of course! Next week is our Italian Party when we celebrate in Italian style including a game of Italian Bingo. Ci vediamo presto, ciao! Vi aspettiamo……….

Krystina Meinardi Rimmer

ITALIAN ACOUSTIC GUITAR GROUP

The Mixed Crafts group recently enjoyed a meal at Don Albertos in Leigh. If you’d like to join the group at their usual group meetings at 10.30am on the first Monday of the month and at 1pm on the third Mondays of the month, please contact Jackie Anderton: 07530 010157

MIXED CRAFTS

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We have managed to get together three times recently with the

group as enthusiastic as ever. Fewer people have attended than

before lockdown, but that is only to be expected.

So far we have covered ancient and modern number systems and

two sessions of geometry. The latter included properties of

shapes and how Eratosthenes discovered the circumference of

the earth so accurately using angles.

In the New Year we are doing some algebra and then area and volume.

All are welcome, so come if you can.

Pat Todd

MATHS GROUP

We are a well established group of writers who enjoy writing and like to share our work with others. We write on a wide variety of topics, some agreed at the end of the monthly meeting; others spread over a range of topics and genres. We have, for example, a member who is writing his latest novel, another who prefers to compose poetry and others who write a response (usually a prose response) to a given theme. If any of this should resonate with you, why not come to one of our meetings? With the exception of December, we meet at 12:30pm on the last Friday of every month. We look forward to seeing you soon! Chris Thompson

CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

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The Tai Chi group has been running for a few months and I'm very pleased to say it is going from strength to strength. We are a happy group that enjoy the routine exercise of health and well being of our Tai Chi. Some are so interested they still follow the Tai Chi that is on our Leigh & District

u3a Facebook page. I was asked by one of our ladies who suffers from arthritis if there is actually any benefit from doing our routine Tai Chi for Arthritis. I told her that it is proven by physios that Tai Chi is beneficial for this condition although the movements are slow they really do help, so she now tries to do it when she

can at home which helps with her mobility. So keep practicing everyone; you’re all doing great! There is always room for some more members to join our happy group. Just give me a ring on 01942 589471 Marion Hulmes

TAI CHI GROUP

Our regular monthly quizzes at Leigh Miners are going strong with 24 members, in 6 teams, at the last quiz in November. Surprisingly, there was a tie between 2 teams for first place! We've also had 4 different quiz presenters, which has kept things fresh and us all on our toes! Please take a look at the Quiz Club page on our website for more information. If you haven’t managed to take part yet, please get in touch with me, join the group and hopefully we will see you at the next one. You won’t be expected to quiz on your own, everyone is allocated a team to join. Everyone welcome! Cheers, Iain

QUIZ GROUP

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It has been an exciting couple of months, with continued face to face meetings and an increase in numbers attending the group. We have welcomed seasoned readers and new members alike and the group feels reinvigorated. Contributing to good vibes has most definitely been the arrival of the book boxes from Leigh library services. It is quite exciting to see the box and wait until the end of the meeting to discover its contents. For some, the books have been rereads and for others, completely new writers or a new novel by a known author. What the group sets have done is produce very lively, wide ranging and often quite personal discussion, taking us to places we had not expected! The shared experience of reading a book is fascinating as we can find points in common and yet we can each share our own insights and favourite moments and quotations. We read ‘Small Island’ by Andrea Levy in October, a book based around the Windrush generation as a way of marking Black History Month. In November our chosen book was ‘The Shock of The Fall’ by Nathan Filer, which explores issues around mental health and its debilitating impact on people’s lives and the lives of their families. What is December’s choice of book? Well, that just can’t be revealed as it would spoil it for the members! October’s Book November’s Book

December’s Book Chris Lovelady

BOOK READING & ARMCHAIR CRITICS

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LOCAL HISTORY

The Local History group subject for November was Schools and Parks. We covered a large area from the first schools that were run by churches. Did you know that on the street along side the Town Hall there was a “British School“ run by the Unitarian Church, until the council took over the running of schools along with the Church of England and Catholic Churches. Or, that the first Grammar School in Leigh was on the site where the little Asda is now, it was a boys only school at first then they started to let girls go to it but, only if they had a brother already attending there! Most of the land for parks in Leigh was donated by local landowners; Lord Lilford rented the land to the council at first for Lilford Park then later gave it to the town. The last owner of Pennington Hall was George Shaw from the brewery family, in 1920 the family offered the Hall and grounds to Leigh Town Council who laid the grounds out as a public park. In 1928 the Hall was made into a museum and an art gallery.

The final meeting of the year for the Local History Group was a visit to Chowbent Chapel in Atherton which celebrates its 300th anniversary this year. Here are some photos of this amazing building.

Many thanks to all the members that returned to the group after lockdown was lifted and have continued to attend since. Keith Anderton

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Women in History Group Since starting back in August we have enjoyed good attendance and, whilst we need to be careful about indoor meetings, we are taking the usual precautions, so numbers are holding at the pre pandemic level. It’s good to be back and thanks to all members who have joined us.

We will be starting 2022 with a presentation by Kath, one of our members. The presentation looks at the female victims of Jack the Ripper. The victims tend to get lost in the story and it is unusual to focus on the lives of the women. We meet for this session on Tuesday 18th January at 10.30 repeated on the same day at 1pm. February sees the reinstatement of our

discussion group and the topic will be ‘servants’. It is hoped that as many members as possible can bring information on this subject. In March Brian Joyce will be talking about the phenomenon of ‘Fasting Girls’. In the Victorian era there was a spate of girls who became famous for (allegedly) living without food or drink. This includes one local girl from Culcheth. We do have a number of men attending the group and if you are interested in history I think you may find something to fire your interest. You will be made most welcome. Crime and Punishment Group 2022 will start with a presentation on a famous trial which has just ended in the USA. The trial of Robert Durst is stranger than fiction and, in spite of the serious nature of his offences, has many elements of humour. February will look at famous people who have broken the law and been incarcerated. These include Paul McCartney and Robert Mitchum. In March we look at prison escapes and focus on the IRA prisoners escaping the H Blocks in 1983 and the Great Train Robbers Charlie Wilson and Ronnie Biggs in 1964 and 1965. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 10.30am and is repeated at 1pm. All members are welcome and no need to book. We can maintain social distancing and there is good ventilation in The Miners so if you feel safe to attend why not give it a go? Barbara Joyce

WOMEN IN HISTORY AND CRIME AND PUNISHMENT GROUPS

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u3a Keeps Connected This Festive Season A new advent calendar created by member and trustee, Derek, seeks to mythbust some of the misconceptions about the Third Age Trust for members. A new door opens each day to a picture and a fact about the Third Age Trust, the organisation that oversees the more than 1,000 u3as across the UK. See the advent calendar and open today's door now. This is just one of several initiatives to keep the movement connected over the festive period. Members will also be receiving extra newsletters to connect the community throughout the season. Sign directly up to the newsletter and encourage other u3a members to do the same. Join us now to be a part of the u3a community. Learning Events Our relationship with leading organisations, built up over many years, has meant we are in a position to offer selected national events online ensuring that learning is still available to our U3As and their members. This includes events with the National Gallery, Royal Institution, Guildhall Art Gallery, and the British Library (for which there may be a charge). We are also offering a number of workshops, webinars and interactive sessions delivered by members for members, which are free to join. These are in high demand and spaces are limited, particularly for those with an interactive element. At the time of booking please ensure that you are committed to attending to avoid other members missing out on places. If you are unable to attend please cancel your place through Eventbrite. Many online events are being delivered via the Zoom video conferencing/webinar platform. We have some 'How to Guides' and are offering 'Online Tutorials' for using Zoom that may assist you if you are not familiar with this tool. For further information regarding the national u3a please view their website here: https://www.u3a.org.uk/latest-news

NATIONAL and NORTH WEST u3a NEWS

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GROUPS AND FACILITATORS (as at December 2021)

Acoustic Guitar: Marian Hulmes 01942 589471 guitar@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am-12.30pm 1st and 3rd Wednesdays (Oct-Mar)

Art Appreciation: Susan Fowler 07860 353304 art@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 1st Wednesday in month

Astronomy: Steve Fletcher 01942 538545 astronomy@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. 1st & 3rd Fridays in month

Book Reading & Armchair Critics: Christine Lovelady books@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 1st Monday in month

Bowls (Indoor): Shelagh Galvin 01942 518465 bowls@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am-12.30pm. 2nd & 4th Fridays in month

Creative Writing: Chris Thompson 07939 565747 writing@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. Last Friday in month

Crime & Punishment: Barbara Joyce 07516 225608 crime@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. 1st Tuesday in month Repeated at 1pm on the same day

Egyptology: Maureen Lewis 01942 740269 egyptology@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 2nd Wednesday in month

iPads and iPhones: Marje Judic 01942 729560 ipads@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. 4th Wednesday in month

Italian: Krystina Meinardi Rimmer 07590 489478 italian@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am-12.30pm. Every Wednesday morning

Line Dancing: Jennifer Peters 07580 010332 linedancing@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am-12.30pm. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays

Local History: Keith Anderton 07855 995586 localhistory@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 1st Monday in month

Luncheon Club: Al Foy 07885 165807 lunch@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm Meet. 2nd or 3rd Tuesday in month

Maths: Pat Todd 01942 799188 maths@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 4th Monday in month

Mixed Crafts: Jackie Anderton 07530 010157 crafts@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am 1st Monday in month, 1pm 3rd Monday in month

Musical Instruments: Candice Barber 07816 403974 musical@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm—3pm. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays in month.

Play Reading: Kathleen Smith 01942 604790 plays@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 2nd Friday in month

Poetry Appreciation: Jane O’Rourke 01942 517862 poetry@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. 2nd Thursday in month

Quilters and Needlework: Lilian Lockwood 01942 259013 & Jill Bowker 01942 679686 quilters@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 4th Thursday in month

Quiz Club: Iain East 07966 172601 quiz@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 2nd Thursday in month

Relaxation/Support: Christine Hart relaxation@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am-12.30pm. Last Thursday in month

Scrabble & Board Games: Barbara Jones 01942 273180 scrabble@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 1st Thursday in month

Shakespeare: Sue Fowler 07860 353304 shakespeare@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 1st Thursday in month

Singing for Fun: Pauline Roper 07778 215470 singing@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 2nd & 4th Mondays in month

Tai Chi for Health/Wellbeing: Marian Hulmes taichi@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am—12.30pm. 1st & 3rd Thursday in month.

Ukulele: Alan Murphy 07768 842730 ukulele@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. Every Monday

Walking Cricket: Marian Hulmes 01942 589471 cricket@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 2nd & 4th Wednesdays (Apr—Sep)

Watercolour Painting: Lynda Hodgkiss 07954 192473 & Jean Lawson 07541 952464 watercolour@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 1pm - 3pm. 3rd Thursday in month

Women in History: Barbara Joyce 07516 225608 women@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk 10.30am - 12.30pm. 3rd Tuesday in month Repeated 1pm - 3pm on same day

Registered Charity No 1158866

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Chair: Iain East 07966 172601

chair@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Deputy Chairs: Christine Hart and Keith Anderton

deputy@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Secretary: Babs Barker 01942 571063

secretary@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Treasurer: Sue Fowler 07860 353304

treasurer@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Deputy Treasurer: treasurer@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Membership Secretary: Keith Anderton

07855 995586 membership@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

U3A Websites

leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

COMMITTEE CONTACTS

Social Secretary: Jenny Allen 01942 726770

social@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Groups Co-ordinator: Krystina Meinardi Rimmer

07590 489478 groups@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Speaker Co-ordinator: Christine Hart speakers@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Publicity: Maree Houghton

07850 198666 publicity@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Diversity and Inclusion: Chris Lovelady diversity@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk

Committee member: Janet Lythgoe

07591 073985 committee@leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk