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Monthly Archives: August 2013



Aug 30

Ooops we Missed the October Visit in the Newsletter – Sutton House, Hackney Oct 18th

Sutton House tells a tale of change, evolving from a Tudor courtier’s house in a quiet village, to its present role as a National Trust property and community resource in a rich and varied urban area.

Built in 1535 by Sir Ralph Sadleir, a knight and diplomat at the court of Henry VIII, it retains much of the atmosphere of a Tudor Home.  There are many stories to be revealed in this historically richly layered house.  Hackney was then a quiet, rural village and many wealthy and powerful people had houses there including Thomas Cromwell, Sir Ralph’s employer at the time. Later the house was home to silk merchants, boarding schools, Huguenot families, a church institute, trade unions and squatters.

We will begin our visit at 11.15 with coffee or tea and a slice of gluten-free tray-bake, followed by an hour long guided tour of the house and then a light lunch in the cafe.  Lunch-time drinks are not included in the cost of the trip.  The house has no lift so the first floor is only accessible by stairs.  The stairs to the cellar are also steep and narrow.

After meeting at Waterloo we will take the Jubilee Line to Stratford and then walk for 2 to 3 minutes to the Overground Platform where we will take the train to Hackney Central. From there the walk to Sutton House is a pleasant 10 minutes through a churchyard and a street of Georgian houses.  In all the journey from Waterloo will take about 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Date:      Friday 18th October

Meeting Point:     Waterloo Station outside Platform 1

Time:     10.10

Price including refreshments, talk and lunch:  £8.05 for National Trust members, £11.55 for non-members.

To obtain an application form electronically please email   gzuercher@btinternet.com

Aug 30

Kingston U3A Workshops for the Autumn

Liz Magennis has planned the following meetings:-

Poetry of the Great War (1 )

Thursday 17th October 2013; 11.00am-1.00pm: Coming up to the centenary of the beginning of the Great War we will explore some lesser known as well as well known poets and their stories. This will be an informative foray into each but with a lightness of touch to give an idea as to why such richness & breadth of writing occurred at this time.

Followed by a showing of Joyeux Noel, at 2.30pm – 4.15pm; a film giving a fictional account of the Christmas truce of 1914, but which is based on true events. NB in English, French & German, so quite a number of subtitles

Poetry of the Great War ( 2 )

Wednesday 6th November 2013; 11.00am-1.00pm: A further look at poems & poets of the Great War; the 2 workshops, though linked, can be taken separately. (see above)*

Followed by a showing of A Very Long Engagement, at 2.15pm – 4.30pm; a French film giving a fictional but touching account of a young girl and the man she loves who are caught up in the war. Slightly quirky but moving; starring Audrey Tatou of Amelie fame.

NB in French, so subtitled

Venue : 46 The Roystons, Berrylands, KT5 8HH to which the K2 bus & trains are convenient to Berrylands stop; there is also ample street parking in the area. Light lunch offered, small donation appreciated, or bring your own if preferred, if you choose to stay for both events.

 

Please send completed application form(s) and stamped addressed envelope if you do not supply email address. to: Liz Magennis, 46 The Roystons, Surbiton, KT5 8HH

Enquiries: Email: gillyvor@hotmail.com or phone: Liz Magennis on 8241 5513

Aug 29

U3A & Open University in the South East – Music Groups Workshop – Enjoying Music Nov 22nd

Friday 22nd November 2013

Tutor: John Hursey    Facilitators: Gill Pitt, Alison Gaitonde.

 The venue for this workshop has altered as the Open University cannot now host.  New venue: UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, WOODMANSTERNE LANE, BANSTEAD SM7 3EX. Website: www.bansteadurc.org.uk for directions.

 This South East Forum U3A workshop is for present and potential group leaders of music groups, and aims to explore and extend their experiences.  It is for those who would like to consider leading a music group – and for those who already do and would like some fresh ideas. John Hursey has been a music tutor at Canterbury Christ church University for 25 years.  

   9.30    Registration.

 10.00   Welcome (Alison).

10.05   Introductions (Gill).

10.15   Music workshop (John): Everybody has a heart that beats, a voice that pitches, and a memory that connects, so everyone has the potential to enjoy music without needing to read notation or play an instrument.

11.15 COFFEE/TEA

 

11.30   The sort of course I would like to lead; the sort of course I would like to attend (John)

 

12.45 LUNCH (BRING YOUR OWN)

 

13.45    Music workshop: simple ways of exploring the craft without technical knowledge.

14.15    Listening to music – why the process has been described as the “medicine of the mind” (John).

15.15   Evaluation of the day

16.00 CLOSE

 

Refreshments: tea and coffee (20p) available throughout the day. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH. Cost of workshop £3 payable on the day.

 

Detach the form below and send to: Alison Gaitonde, 7 Ashurst Road, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5ET ( 01737 812646 or alisonmgaitonde@gmail.com. If unavailable, phone or email to Gill Pitt, 01293 528943 gmpitt34@gmail.com

 

 

 

U3A Music Groups Workshop         Friday 22 November 2013

                                                           

Detach this part and send. Bookings on first come first served basis (please print).  £3 payable on the day.

 

First name………………………Surname………………………………………….U3A…………….

 

Address  …………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Post Code ………………….  E mail address ………………….………….

 

Tel: …………………………………..

 TO GET  A PRINT OUT OF THE APPLICATION FORM  CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

U3A workshop 2013 Nov

Aug 29

Older Peoples Day 1st October 2013

The Government and other supporting groups, under the “Full of Life” banner, have made UK Older People’s Day the focus of a wide programme of activity, celebrating later life. Numerous organisations are working together to coordinate a national programme of activities and events leading up to and around 1 October.Building effective partnerships is vital to our work – enabling us to celebrate the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and to the economy. Through this we hope to start to tackle negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes.

Our partners are committed to make Older People’s Day a success and organisations have made pledges for their involvement in UK Older People’s Day.  Click below for any more information.

http://olderpeoplesday.co.uk/our-partners/

Any ideas on how Kingston U3A might contribute???     Contact us at  kingstonu3a@gmail.com


Aug 08

Volunteers for Research in Measuring White Blood Cell Survival

Volunteers sought for participation in a Research Study Measuring white cell survival in vivo using heavy water labelling

 We are looking for volunteers to help us with a research study investigating how the body uses white cells to defend against infections

 What does it involve?

This study involves three things:

  • A screening visit where we ask some questions and take a blood samples
  • Drinking some “labelled” water which enables us to trace new white cells when they are made. You can do this at home. It is tasteless and harmless.
  •  A series of blood tests over a four month period.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people who are at least 60 years old and in good general health

Are there any benefits?

This is not a treatment – it is an investigation – but it will help us understand the immune system better. It is not commercially funded and does not involve any drug administration.

We make a payment of £20 for the screening visit and £150 to cover your time and expenses if you take part in the whole study.

Interested in helping?    Who do I contact?

For more information, contact me:

Raya Ahmed

St George’s, University of London

Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE

Tel: 0208 725 5646

Email: rahmed@sgul.ac.uk

OR
Derek Macallan

Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine

St George’s, University of London,

Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE

Tel: 0208 725 0283; Fax: 0208 725 3487

Email: macallan@sgul.ac.uk

This study is funded by the Medical Research Council and has been approved by the National Research Ethics Committee London (Chelsea).