Aug 15, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
I don’t usually watch sport on TV, but while I was doing my ironing, I thought I would watch the gold medal mixed final in badminton played at NEC, Birmingham.
I learnt a little bit. Firstly, they have a little rest when they get to 11 points and then continue to 21. When I play at the U3A, we don’t have a little rest at 11, we play straight through to 21, so, I can only deduce from that, that we at the U3A are fitter than these young ones playing for gold.
The commentator said the female England player was not playing up to her usual standard, because the opposition wouldn’t let her play well. I must remember that. It is not that I am having a bad day, or losing in fact, it is the opposition’s fault for not letting me play well.
Some of the rallies were so long that I was in danger of scorching my ironing, so, I modified my ironing.
They have a new feather shuttle every two or three points. We at the U3A use plastic shuttles, much more economical, and the keeper of the shuttles, usually like one shuttle to last a whole year. When the edges get a bit frayed, they put the shuttle back in the tube hoping that the next time it appears to be played with that the frayed edges will miraculously disappear and we won’t notice.
I am sure if these Commonwealth players had to pay for their own shuttles they would be using plastic too.
I guess we can’t all be U3A badminton players. I am sure that the Commonwealth medal winners are not aspiring to play like us at the U3A, and in reverse, we wouldn’t want to play with them, or against them.
I am sure the Commonwealth players would not like to accept the way that we play either. What’s a service fault? You mean I can’t serve when the person receiving has got their back to me!!!!!!!!!! I’ve got to keep both feet on the ground when I serve, really!!!!!!! An overarm serve is not allowed. They can do underarm in cricket, why can’t we do overarm in badminton? Can I have another serve, that one wasn’t very good!!!! You can’t have two people on the same side who can’t move, that would never do. We’ll try and get at least one player on each side who knows how to serve, can walk quickly, even if not actually run, can keep the score, knows what side to stand, and doesn’t mind playing with a human obstacle on their side of the court somewhere. At least they know where the obstacle is.
And if you don’t quite know the rules, you just make some up that suit. We can always have three people on each side, Badminton triples. They don’t do that at the Commonwealth of Olympic games, but, the courts are much, much smaller there. They only have a maximum of two each side, but they seem to take up a lot of room, and only move two steps either way and they have the court covered. Our courts are much bigger and we have the obstacle to contend with. They would never cope.
MARIA BUTLER
Aug 10, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
It is with great sadness we report the death of Mike Thompson. Several members of the u3a Drama group were with Mike when he passed away of Tuesday so I am attaching a message from the Drama group, in his memory.
Thank you, Peter Hunt.
OUR LOVELY FRIEND MIKE THOMPSON WON THE U3A TALENT SHOW SINGING,“ IF I WERE A RICH MAN” I THINK IT’S FAIR TO SAY, THAT THE LIVES OF ALLTHE U3A DRAMA GROUP MEMBERS ARE RICHER FOR HAVING KNOWN AND LOVED MIKE, HE WAS A GREAT CHARACTER AND WE SHALL ALL MISS HIM DREADFULLY.
Aug 4, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
What a great session, enjoyed by everyone who took part.
Our main skittle winners were Hillary and Sue the killer skittles winner.
We are hoping to have another day in October. As these events are always oversubscribed – Book early!
Carole Ward.
Jun 26, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
About 40 members gathered for the Platinum Jubilee Concert on Ferndown St George V field The weather could have been warmer but dressed up with coats and rugs we enjoyed a very convivial evening with drinks and nibbles. We sat at the back of the audience so that we could still hear each other speak !! So lots of chatting and catching up. The band were very good (and loud!) and some dancing was seen!! The grand finale was the fireworks. They were extremely good …”well done Ferndown Council “
A good evening was had by all.
Angela Larcombe
Jun 13, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
This was a wonderful visit. Richard Tucker had put together an extremely interesting and well organised tour. Everything went smoothly and even the sun was on our side. The weather was glorious. The accommodation at Lanhydrock was lovely and we enjoyed pre dinner drinks overlooking the golf course. The only downside was that Richard was unwell and unable to make the trip himself. However, his detailed itinerary and organisation meant that Bob and Clare were able to pick up the reins and lead this fabulous three days.
Thank-you Richard, so glad you are on the mend. Thanks also to Bob and Clare for stepping in and leading a great visit.
EXETER DAY 1
The first stop on our trip was Exeter where we were given a guided tour of the city by the extremely knowledgeable red coat guides. The City Wall tour covers 2000 years of history from the Romans to present day. We learn about the significance of the Cathedral and how the city developed, the witch hangings and the devasting fire in 2019.
LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN DAY 2
The Heligan estate is a palatial manor house with surrounding parklands first built in the 1200s. It wasn’t until the 16th century that the wealthy Tremayne family moved in, and another two centuries before they started cultivating what is now known as the “Lost Gardens of Heligan”.
The gardens are considered lost because there was a 75-year period during which they were forgotten and received no attention.
At the outbreak of World War One, the estate employed 20 men working in the Heligan gardens all of whom were conscripted. The manor house took priority and was turned into a convalescence hospital during the war. Jack Tremayne the last heir to the estate died unmarried and childless and Heligan was given to a trust made up of extended family none of whom remembered the existence of the gardens. The gardens remained forgotten until the hurricane of 1990 when the discovery of an old door revealed the lost gardens. In the past 30 years, the gardens have been cultivated and restored to mirror the grandeur they knew in the time of the Tremayne family.
WHEAL MARTYN CLAY MUSEUM DAY 2
The clay works began at Wheal Martyn in the 1820s and were started by Elias Martyn on the Carthew Estate. Elias became one of the major clay producers in Cornwall and by 1869 he was producing 2,000 tons of clay a year at Wheal Martyn. After his death in 1872, the family kept the land but leased the works to other operators and the site continued to operate until 1969.
The museum was established at Wheal Martyn in 1975 by English China Clays Ltd., the producers of China clay at the time. The adjacent Wheal Martyn clay pit continues to operate today under the global mining company, Imerys Minerals Ltd.
EDEN PROJECT DAY 3
In the 1990’s a group led by Tim Smit, bought an exhausted steep-sided clay pit 60 metres deep, with no soil, 15 metres below the water table, and essentially gave it life.
Into it they brought a huge diversity of plants that are used every day but often don’t get to see, planted in soil made from ‘waste’ materials, watered by the rain, in giant conservatories and buildings that drew inspiration from nature.
The project opened to the public in 2001 and with its now famous Rainforest and Mediterranean domes has continued to develop into the most amazing ecological site.
To find out more about the Eden Project visit
May 31, 2022 | ARCHIVE 2021-2022
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who attended or contributed in any way to our Open Day event which was an outstanding success. We attracted a lot of interest from visitors so much so at one point we could hardly move! It was great to be back in the Barrington Hall where we could show first hand what we are about.
In particular, thanks go to Jo Brearley and her team for organising the event, and Jenny Bass and her team for the refreshments which were extremely popular. In addition, thanks to the outdoor team who encouraged the public over our doors.
Finally, it was also great to see so many of our Group Leaders taking considerable trouble to promote their Groups in imaginative and interesting ways.
