Jan 17

Research Project -University of Westminster-Audio Resources

Research project: Developing enjoyable audio resources for museums and galleries

Researchers at the University of Westminster, in collaboration with the Museum of London, are looking for participants to take part in a two-part study. They are looking at experiences of recorded audio for a series of photos taken from the collections of the Museum of London. They are interested in all perspectives – whether you visit museums often or never; whether or not you frequently use audio facilities in museums. Your participation will contribute to the development of our understanding about what makes successful audio resources, and about their potential for use more widely across the museum sector.

What you will need to do

You will be shown eight photographs on a laptop screen and asked to listen to the audio through headphones. Afterwards, you will be asked questions about your thoughts and experience. This should take about an hour. One month later, we will ask you to complete a follow-up questionnaire to fill in at home, again asking about your thoughts and experiences. It should take you about 20 minutes to complete. We will offer you a £15 Amazon voucher upon completion to thank you for your participation.

Where and when?

The first part of the study will take place at the University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW (nearest Tube station is Goodge Street). The questionnaire will be emailed to you. We have dates available to reserve now.

Further information and registration

Please contact Rachel Hutchinson via email at r.hutchinson@my.westminster.ac.uk or call her on 07816 244469.

Third Age Trust – National U3A Body – Research Participation Advice

We are often asked to publicise research studies and trials to our members. Where we do so it is because we believe it may be of interest to you and we are not endorsing or promoting the research study in any way. U3A has not undertaken any checks or due diligence on the relevant department or the study and accepts no liability whatsoever if you decide to agree to participate. If you choose to take part in any study, you do so at your own risk and in your own capacity (and not as member of U3A). You should make sure that you understand all the risks associated with any study before you sign up and ensure that you understand the time commitment, any restrictions and possible side effects. You should also ensure that you will be insured as part of the study.

Jan 15

Royal Holloway Citizens 800 SLP Research Days

As part of Citizens 800 project, Royal Holloway have arranged a series of Research Retreat Days.

(more…)

Jan 10

March 21st National Gallery U3A Art Day

Satire to Sublime: British Art from Hogarth to Turner
Thursday 21st March 2019

Find out how eighteenth and early nineteenth-century painters grappled with the rapid changes of life in eighteenth and nineteenth-century Britain.

Listen to National Gallery experts on Hogarth’s satirical look at British life, Wright of Derby’s provocations around scientific ethics and Turner’s confrontations with modernity and progress and learn about key developments in British painting c.1745-1845, focussing on portraits, landscapes and scenes of everyday life in the National Gallery’s collection.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/satire-to-sublime-british-art-from-hogarth-to-turner-at-the-national-gallery-tickets-53956566543

Nov 29

April 3rd Wed – South East U3A Forum (Kent, Surrey & Sussex U3A Networks) South East Forum Conference 2019

Open to members of all U3As in the South East Region
Wednesday 3rd April 2019 at Meridian Hall, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT

8th December 2018

Dear Chairman and Members,

A South East Forum Conference will once again be held in 2019, bringing together U3As across the South East Region. It will be held in the Meridian Hall on Wednesday 3rd April with registration from 9.15am. This popular and valuable event gives members across our large region an opportunity to meet, exchange news and views, and hear of innovations and examples of good practice. Please would everyone bring one recent success story and one current challenge?

We are very pleased to welcome a number of speakers covering a range of interesting subjects. Our Regional Trustee, Bob Duckmanton, will highlight recent activities in the South East Region and discuss new ways of organising the links between our many U3As. We will then hear from our new National Chairman, Ian McCannah, on the challenges facing the Third Age Trust as it develops a new Three Year Plan. There are then speakers on communication and the world-wide U3A Movement. After lunch there will discussion groups on current topics of interest. This will be followed by presentations on active projects from several networks. We conclude with feedback of the various discussions and a chance to discuss the best structure for the Forum in future years.

We continue to have support from the Trust’s Regional Support Budget which helps us communicate with our U3A members, so that we are able to offer free attendance and a light buffet lunch. Attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is open to all members in the South East Region.

The Forum Committee currently comprises John Hubbard and Helen Turner from Kent, Ian Funnell, Alison Gaitonde, Sheila Hill and Doreen Raine from Surrey, Isabel Baker, Jill Collins, John Pheby and Chris Senior from Sussex, and Bob Duckmanton, Trustee for the South East Region. We welcome offers of help, especially in organising our conference and the Chichester summer school, and thank those already involved.

A booking form is attached together with a map of the venue location; please copy more booking forms if they are needed and remember that members and group leaders are very welcome as well as the stalwarts on the committee. Please book early and by Friday 29th March 2019; booking forms should be sent to Alison Gaitonde. Your U3A is again invited to contribute to the display of work from U3As across the region; see the attached form which should be sent to Jill Collins.

I look forward to meeting you and your members at the conference. Chris Senior
Acting Chairman of the South East U3A Forum – csenior@ukgateway.net

South East U3A Forum (Kent, Surrey & Sussex U3A Networks)

South East Forum Conference 2019

Wednesday 3rd April 2019 at Meridian Hall, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT Open to members of all U3As in the South East Region

Programme:

09.15 Registration: Join us for Coffee/Tea
10.00 Welcome & Introduction – Chris Senior, Acting Chairman of the Forum
10.05 Activities in the South East Region – Bob Duckmanton, Regional Trustee, will cover news and future

organisation of the region.
10.30 View from the Bridge – Ian McCannah, Chairman of the Third Age Trust, will give an overview of the

U3A movement; highlighting the Three Year Plan to achieve the Trust’s mission of supporting learning for

individuals and U3As, and raising the profile of and facilitating growth in the U3A movement. 11.20 Short Break

11.30 Successful Communications – Elizabeth Drury, National Office Communications Officer, will outline the importance of joined-up communications to raise the profile of U3As and discuss different platforms for U3As to maximise their communications.

12.00 The World-wide U3A Movement – Ian Funnell, former Trust representative on AIUTA, will talk about the various models adopted in different countries and the U3A Charter and present a video covering international conferences on China and Mauritius.

12.20 Lunch & Tea/Coffee Provided – View Exhibition of Work of Various U3As and Networks
13.20 Discussion Groups on sharing experiences – An opportunity for members to share experiences of promoting their U3As to the community, communicating with their members, and managing U3As through

committees responsible for interest groups, finance and communications. 14.20 Reports of interesting U3A and Network activities in the Region

Chichester Summer School 24th–27th June 2019 – Helen Turner will highlight this important event. Forum Workshops – Alison Gaitonde will describe the programme that ran for many years.
Sussex Myths, Legends and Spirit – Louisa Sewell will describe how various interest groups compiled fascinating results in a Shared Learning Project.

Surrey Network Exchange with Poznan U3A – Sally Baker will describe some of the highlights of our exchange group visits over the last six years.
Project 57 – David King and George Redgrave will talk on Membership and Ethnic Diversity in Crawley.

15.00 Feedback from Discussion Groups
15.15 Open Forum on the Future of the Forum
15.45 Close of Conference
The conference is free as the Regional Support Budget covers the costs. Please book by 29th March.
Applications will be on a first-come first-served basis. Please complete and send the slip to:
Alison Gaitonde, Flat 3, Pegasus Court, Bolters Lane, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2AR
For enquiries ring 01737 351782 or send an email to alisonmgaitonde@gmail.com …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I wish to attend the South East U3A Forum Conference on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 Name…………………………………………………………….U3A ……………………………………………………………. …………… Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Phone ……………………………………Email ………………………………………………….. Veg/Gluten-free …………………….

South East U3A Forum (Kent, Surrey & Sussex U3A Networks)

South East Forum Conference 2019

Wednesday 3rd April 2019 at Meridian Hall, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT Open to members of all U3As in the South East Region

Show Us What You Do

As an additional attraction at the conference, there will be an exhibition of work done as part of U3A activities. We are looking for items which are likely to be of interest to those attending. These might include paintings, needlecraft, photographs, books, reports on studies, wood or metal craft, archaeology, geology etc., etc. What fascinating things do U3A members do in their groups? The exhibitions have been a significant feature at previous conferences.

Please give details about your proposed exhibit on the form below and return to: Jill Collins, 12 Brookway, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0LL
For further information send an email to jillcollins@uwclub.net

There will be tables for display boards; please provide your own labels and descriptive information as in previous years. Items should be brought to the meeting on the day and set up in the lecture hall from 9.15am where members will be present at all times. The organising committee cannot accept responsibility for the items on display.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Show Us What You Do

At the South East Forum Conference – Wednesday 3rd April 2019

Name ……………………………………………………… Name of Your U3A ……………………………………………………… Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Phone …………………………………………………….. Email ……………………………………………………………………….

Description of items:
Size:
Any comments about the items and their display?

South East U3A Forum (Kent, Surrey & Sussex U3A Networks)

How to reach the Meridian Hall
East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT

The Meridian Hall lies in the north-east sector of East Grinstead and the map below shows how to find your way there from the local major roads. There is plenty of free car parking adjacent to the hall. The hall has been carefully designed to integrate with the magnificent Grade II listed building, East Court Mansion, which is immediately adjacent. Great care has been taken to ensure sympathetic architectural design throughout, and the needs of users, including the disabled, have been taken fully into account. There is a sculpture with a meridian line on the terrace behind East Court Mansion from where there are fine views over the Sussex countryside. The hall holds 220 for lectures.

Nov 26

27June to 1July 2019- Heritage and Art of Holland – KU3A Trip

We board an executive coach at our designated pick-up points with our Tour Manager and travel to Dover for the P&O Ferries Channel crossing to Calais. We then continue approx. 130 miles to The Hague and the 4* Marriott Hotel for a 4-night stay on half board.

The next morning we visit the Panorama Mesdag, a cylindrical painting over 14 metres high and 120 metres in circum- ference. Depicting the vista of the sea, the dunes and Scheveningen village, this is the largest painting in The Nether- lands. It was painted by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, the most famous painter at The Hague School.

After spending some time at leisure in The Hague we visit the world famous

miniature city of Madurodam with a re- markable selection of Dutch monuments and landmarks rebuilt on a scale of 1:25.

On arrival in Amsterdam on day 3 we enjoy an included boat trip to admire some of the city’s architecture from the picturesque canals. We visit the Rijksmuseum for a guided tour of this world-renowned art collection, the most famous of which is Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, it also includes many

Dutch Old Masters like Jan Steen, Frans Hals and Vermeer. As well as paintings the collection includes sculptures, clocks, Delft Blue, porcelain and Asian and Oriental art.

We begin day 4 with some time at lei- sure in Leiden and then continue to Zaanse Schans, an old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteris- tic wooden houses, small bridges, trade- men’s workshops and historic windmills.

In the morning of day 5 we visit the Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles in Delft. This – the Royal Delft – is the only remaining factory of the 32 earthenware factories that were established in Delft in the 17th Century. We take a guided tour through the history of Blue Delft and Royal Delft and its development and production process. We see a master

Kingston U3A Winter 2018 Newsletter Page 6

painter at work, visit the dining room of Vermeer and the Dutch Royal Family Chamber, the museum with antique Delft pieces, the historical courtyard and visit the factory. The showroom has a comprehensive collection of handpainted Delft Blue by Royal Delft, as well as an extensive selection of Dutch earthenware and souvenirs.

After our P&O Ferries Channel crossing from Calais to Dover we continue back to our original pick-up points.

Dates: 27 June – 1 July 2019

Cost: From £ 759.00 – includes 4 nights HB accommodation, all excursions, some entrance fees, professional Tour Manager throughout, P&O Ferries Channel crossings, Executive Coach, local accommodation tax.

Single room supplement: £ 129.00

If you would like to join this holiday please complete the enclosed application form and send it together with a stamped addressed envelope (not too small, please) to Gisela Zuercher-Feiss, 37, The Byeways, Surbiton KT5 8HT – Tel. No. 020 8399 4990

Jul 03

Kingston University Research Project – On Optimism

The experiment investigates the optimism bias with event-related potentials and involves the recording of electrical brain activity with EEG (electroencephalography). This is a safe, harmless and non-invasive technique that involves the fitting of a cap with electrodes on the scalp. During the experimental session, the participant will be shown a series of statements on the computer screen and will be asked to make judgements on them while the electrical brain activity will be recorded. The study will take place at the Department of Psychology of Kingston University (Penrhyn Road campus) under the supervision of Dr Giulia Galli. Overall, the experimental session will last about one hour and half, including preparation for the EEG recording.

We are looking for a particular demographic population to research (people who are 65 years old and above, and native English speaker).

Please reply to Roberta Allegretta at :-

k1751112@kingston.ac.uk

May 22

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

There will be a longer item on the GDPR in the Summer Newsletter due out at the end of May 2018. In the meantime we have been asked to put this item on the website now, particularly to assist Group Leaders.

We were already following the guidelines of the previous legislation, the Data Protection Act 1998. We have checked with National Office and read pronouncements from the Information Commissioner. No major changes are necessary for us at Kingston U3A or Group level because of the limited sort of data we hold, but we will amend the renewal form to make it clearer how we use your data.

– There is no need to get written consent from your Group members to keep the list of names and contact details which you need to administer the group. If you have already done this, that is OK, so do not worry.

– The only change you need to make is to send email circulars blind copy (bcc) unless all Group members agree otherwise, verbally.

– Destroy old lists containing personal details of U3A members unless you anticipate a real need to keep them. We are initially recommending 2 years pending experience. I need to keep your Gift Aid declarations for 6 years under other legislation from HMRC.

– Any queries on this, contact Linda Foreman database@kingstonu3a.org.uk

May 22

15th June – Surrey Network – Prehistoric Britain New Discoveries …

PREHISTORIC BRITAIN
NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT OUR ANCIENT PAST

Mike Parker Pearson

Paul Booker

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

The Ice Age to the Romans, What DNA reveals

Stonehenge – How & Why The People of Stonehenge

The Beaker People Metal Technology &

a new way of life

dannysullivan, Creative Commons

Menuhin Hall

Friday, 15th June 2018

Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte,Berlin

.

Image by Alfons Åberg, via Wikimedia Commons.

May 22

27th June – Summer Music – K3A Orchestra

SUMMER MUSIC

This year’s informal summer concert will take place at 11.30am on Wednesday 27^th June at our usual venue in Kingston United Reformed Church.

We have a varied programme with pieces to please everyone, some familiar some less so. Listeners who know Mendelssohn’s Heimkehr aus der Fremdemay notice a few additions to accommodate the particular composition of our orchestra. In Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme we will be joined by the soloist Felix Stephens. And we will also be playing Elgar’s Salut d’Amouras well as movements from Bizet’s Symphony no. 1.

It’s a short and informal affair and an opportunity, we hope, for families to come along and hear us play.

ONE MORE THING

We’d love to carry on sending you updates on the orchestra’s concert programme, but to comply with the new data protection requirements (which come into force on 25 May) we need to confirm that you want to continue receiving them.

We hope that you are still interested in our orchestra. If you have not done so already please update your subscription settings by clicking on the button below.

Note that on the update page you need to click on the “email” checkbox to carry on receiving our newsletters.

Update settings

Apr 25

Research Project – Mental and Physical Fitness in Older Adults – Volunteers Wanted

Would you like to take part in our Research on

Mental and Physical Fitness in Older Adults

We would like to invite you to take part in a research project that is done as part of a Master’s Degree in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how people’s physical fitness is related to their mental abilities such as memory and attention.

If you agree to participate you will be asked to complete questionnaires about:

Your physical abilities, your leisure activities and general health
Your everyday memory abilities

In addition, we will conduct computerised tasks that provide some insight in your attention and memory abilities. To measure physical fitness, we do short tests measuring the strength in your hands and legs and your pulse rate while you are relaxing

The study will take about 1.5 hours and you will receive £15 for your time. You are free to stop the study and withdraw at any time without giving a reason. All the information you provide will be kept totally anonymous and confidential. The study has received ethical approval from the universities’ ethics committee.

If you would like to take part please contact me via below number/email;

Gulsah: 0795 0560 346 lceti01@mail.bbk.ac.uk

The results of the study will be written up in a report of the study for my Master’s Degree. The study is supervised by Dr. Eddy Davelaar. If you wish to contact the supervisor, contact details are: e.davelaar@bbk.ac.uk

Departmental address: Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX Tell: 0207 079 0807

Apr 01

31st July – 2nd Aug U3A Non Residential Summer School

St Bride Foundation, Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8EQ

(Easy access: 5 minutes from Blackfriars underground station)

There will be a wide range of subjects in 2018 on the themes of Art, Current Affairs, Drama, History, Literature, Music and Science – a choice of 32 different talks, 2 workshops, and 6 guided walks around the City of London.

In this 100th Anniversary Year of Women’s Suffrage, we are including some talks covering various aspects of women’s literature, history, arts and sciences.

Attendance can be for one, two or three days and the cost is £36 per day.

Refreshments and a cold buffet lunch are included.

YOU CAN REGISTER NOW FOR PROGRAMME DETAILS TO BE SENT TO YOU DIRECT IN FEBRUARY

Contact: Chris Feldman ccris@waitrose.com

Mar 08

University of Roehampton Research Seminars – Spring 2018. U3A Members are Welcome to Attend

U3A Members are welcome to attend any of the following seminars. Travel information and a map of Roehampton’s campuses with the names of buildings are available by clicking here.

Seminars with asterisks (**) have been recommended to U3A members by their respective departments. For more information, U3A members are encouraged to contact :-Dr Dustin M. Frazier Wood – Dustin.FrazierWood@roehampton.ac.uk

Social Sciences

**12 March, 1-1:50pm, Hirst 209**

‘Visions of Obamageddon: The Political Foundations of “Doomsday” Prepping in the Contemporary American Right’ – Michael Mills, University of Kent

**19 March, 1-1:50pm, Hirst 209**

‘Innovative Approaches to Asylum-Seeker Reception: Learning from the Utrecht Refugee Launchpad’ – Caroline Oliver, University of Roehampton

Centre for Research in Evolutionary, Social and Inter-Disciplinary Anthropology (CRESIDA)

8 March, 4:15-5:30pm, Whitelands G070

‘The hominin STD clinic: the ancient origins of HSV2’ – Charlotte Houldcroft, University of Cambridge

**22 March, 4:15-5:30pm, Whitelands G070**

‘How we talk and don’t talk about relatives: Cultural diversity, speaker patterns, and child acquisition of kinship terms’ – Fiona Jordan, University of Bristol

Centre for Research in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour (CREEB)

8 March, 1-2pm, Richmond Room (1007)

‘Molecular regulation of social behaviour in insects’ – Fabio Manfredini, Royal Holloway University

15 March, 1-2pm, Richmond Room (1007)

‘Flexible social cognition and dehumanised perception’ – Lasana Harris, University College London

22 March, 1-2pm, Richmond Room (1007)

‘Causes and consequences of environmental contaminant exposure in seabirds’ – Alice Carravieri, University of Liverpool

29 March, 1-2pm, Richmond Room (1007)

‘Dispersal and biogeography in the marine deep biosphere’ – China Hanson, Queen Mary University of London

Psychology

12 March, 1-1.50pm, Whitelands G036

‘Neurophysiological mechanisms of cognitive control in anxiety’ – Jason Moser, Michigan State University

Professorial Lectures

**19 March 2018, 5pm for 5:30pm, Grove House, Portrait Room**

‘Employable Me: Career guidance for neoliberal times’ – Professor Anita Biressi, University of Roehampton, Department of Media, Culture and Language

English and Creative Writing

**14 March, 1-2pm, Fincham 001**

‘Party Girl / Part Girl / Arty Girl: experimental form and the creation of an avant-garde film-noir poem-novel’ – Tim Atkins, University of Roehampton

21 March, 1-2pm, Fincham 001

‘“It’s not someone unless it can talk! Otherwise it’s just food!” Ontological Dialogues and the Metaphysical Structures of Children’s Literature’ – Lisa Sainsbury, National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature

**28 March, 1-2pm, Fincham 001**

‘Thomas Payne’s Modest Revolution’ – David Fallon, Centre for Research in Romanticism

Department of Psychology

University of Roehampton RCTE Seminars and Events- 2017-2018

Other than the Advanced Practitioner Programme, Workshop, and Conference (which can be booked through their respective website links below) these events are free of charge to all. Please note that the seminars need to be booked through the Eventbrite link provided.

Advanced Practitioner Programme/Training in Existential-Analytic Psychotherapy and Counselling
19th April 2018 – 21st June 2018 – Summer Term 2018
Thursday Evening 6.00pm – 9.00pm (Room 2001)

Phenomenology through Postmodernism and Neo-liberalism

http://estore.roehampton.ac.uk/short-courses/short-courses/train-in- existentialanalytic-psychotherapy-counselling

3rd May – 6.00 for 6.30 to 8.00pm – Anastasios Gaitanidis (RCTE) Wisdom versus Desire: Deconstructing the Mind-Body Dichotomy in Representations of Love and Disability in Literature and Psychotherapy
(Room G001)
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wisdom-versus-desire- deconstructing-the-mind-body-dichotomy-in-representations-of-love-and- tickets-36577473207

17th May – 5pm to 6.00pm – Prof Del Loewenthal and Cath Altson (RCTE)
Individual involvement and escape motivation: determinants and consequences

(Room G071)
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/individual-involvement-and- escape-motivation-determinants-and-consequence-tickets-37233651855

7th June – 6.00 for 6.30 to 8.00pm –Dr James Davies (RCTE and CREA)
The new opium: neo-liberalism and mental health (Room G001)

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-new-opium-neo-liberalism- and-mental-health-tickets-36577482234

21st June – 5pm to 6.00pm – Dr Onel Brooks (RCTE) Approaching Apuleius cagily
(Room G071)

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/approaching-apuleius-cagily-tickets- 37233661885

For further information, contact Prof Del Loewenthal, d.loewenthal@roehampton.ac.uk

Jan 27

March 13th National Gallery Day for the U3A – exploring the paintings of Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Velásquez, Goya and Picasso.

DESCRIPTION

Join National Gallery experts for a day of talks exploring the dazzling paintings of Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Velásquez, Goya and Picasso.

The National Gallery’s collection of Spanish paintings is renowned as one of the finest in the world. It is arguably the best place outside of Madrid to study the work of Velásquez and holds masterpieces of the ‘Golden Age of Spain’, the great flourishing of the arts from about 1575 to 1700.

Tickets: £25 per person (lunches & refreshments not provided).

Should you be unable to attend we may be able to offer your place to another U3A member if there is a waiting list.

DATE AND TIME

Tue 13 March 2018

11:00 – 16:00 GMT

Add to Calendar

LOCATION

The Sainsbury Wing Theatre

National Gallery

Trafalgar Square

London

WC2N 5DN

BOOK TICKETS https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spanish-treasures-spanish-paintings-at-the-national-gallery-tickets-41992571913#tickets

Jan 27

Feb 26th Active Learning and Research: a Workshop for Enquiring Minds

You are invited to an interactive study day with participants from across London Region.

Presentations and discussions will include:

– Lifelong learning: How do we learn as adults?

– Stimulating enquiry-led learning in U3A

– Research with partner organisations

– Challenges and examples of best practice

– U3A support facilities for research

The workshop is suitable for all members who have an enquiring mind, whether they have research experience or not.

Time: 10am-4.30pm (Registration + tea/coffee 10am)

Date: Monday, 26 February

Place: Canada Water Library, Surrey Quays Road, London, SE16 7AR (Nearest station: Canada Water)

Cost: £5 (includes lunch)

Booking: Please go to London Region website https://u3alondonregion.wufoo.eu/forms/m1lwo8qe0th9jkq/ Space is limited, so early booking is advised.

Further information: email Liz Day liz@the-days.org.uk

* * * * * *

Research and your group

Does your interest group encourage its members to undertake research? If so, Liz Day would like to hear from you, so she can invite them to participate in discussions. Please email Liz Day liz@the-days.org.uk if you are interested.

Nov 28

Follow Up from the AGM – News from our New Chair

“As the new Chair of Kingston U3A, I am most grateful to be following in the footsteps of Richard Hawkins who steered the ship most ably for three years. The well functioning committee continues to offer support and guidance to the Chair and I look forward to carrying on the good work of our organisation. The new constitution, passed at the recent AGM, keeps us in line with U3A National Office and the Charity Commission requirements.
> Linda Foreman, our database manager takes up the position of Vice Chair which will be a great help to me. I’d like to encourage new members to start up new groups as these are the life blood of U3As around the UK. I look forward to introducing myself more personally at our Christmas function and our regular monthly Monday meetings next year.
> Wishing you all a happy Christmas and very good New Year.
> Ireni Esler

Nov 23

SE Forum U3A Summer School 2018 Chichester University 18 -21 June 2018

SE FORUM U3A SUMMER SCHOOL 2018 CHICHESTER UNIVERSITY
18 -21 JUNE 2018

The Summer School for 2018 will consist of 13 courses as listed below. The School runs from Monday afternoon until lunch-time on Thursday. There will be a short seminar late on Monday afternoon when you will meet your tutor and fellow students and then three morning seminars and two afternoon seminars.

Entertainment will be arranged for the three evenings including the choice of a theatre trip (extra charge) or a film, a quiz and a musical evening. There will also be a drinks reception.

Further details of the courses will be provided by your tutor nearer the date.

PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. Application forms can be accessed via

http://u3asites.org.uk/southeastu3aforum/
The Courses

Bridge Refresher Course

Tutor : Bryan Stephens

For bridge players with a minimum of six months play experience. CONTENT – Rule of 20, Roman Hands, Opener’s re-bid, Stayman, Transfers, Overcalling, Unusual No-trump, Michael’s Cue Bid, Fourth Suit Forcing, Opening 2/3/4/5 levels, 4 Doubles, Leads and Card play.

Culture & Rituals Tutor – Bernard Smale

An academic but informal examination of symbolic ceremonies designed to emphasise important social situations ranging from the mundane to the highly significant. They exist to unite individualsintosupportivegroupsandprovideareflectionofeachculturespriorities. Personal experiences will be welcome and help to inform our search. Possible areas to cover could include include rites of passage, lawful behaviour, sexual interactions, body adornments, medical examinations, witchcraft, musical concerts, birth and death rituals.

Knitting Tutor – Penny Ryan

Practical knitting plus the origins, development and the role of knitting today. Practical work will include lace knitting, cables, colour work and sampler bags. The course is suitable for anyone whoknowsthebasicknitstitchandhelpwillbegivenwithcastingon/off. Experiencedknitters will be given the opportunity to try something new.

Life Story Tutors – Bernard & Teresa Hall

This is an opportunity to join others making a start or moving your story closer to completion. There will also be an opportunity to reflect on life, its ups and downs, the “what if and the “what if not”, as well as the social history of bygone decades. The course will be structured for beginners and more experienced life story writers. Your work will be shared with others and you will give and receive constructive feedback. Working together enables progress; working alone can easily become, “I will do it one day”. Our aim is that by the end of the course all participants will have made a start, accumulated ideas about different ways of reaching the finishing line and possess both the means and the will to complete their story.

Mah Jong Tutor – Ann Barlow

The course is designed for beginners or those who have played once or twice and will be based on “Mah Jong: Game of Four Winds” (based on the British Mah Jong Association rules.) The aim is to learn the basics of the game and practice some special hands. A copy of “Materials for U3A Groups by Susan Fifer will be supplied for each table but is available from the National Office for £4. If you have a Mah Jong set, please bring it along as it is interesting to examine the differences in sets.

Music – “Jazz – The Sound of Surprise” Tutor – Mike Head

Jazz is possibly the only true American art form, and has evolved to produce an approach to music both fascinating and unique. We look at the development of jazz across much of the 20th century, through recordings of some of its most important performers. We hear great music from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis, from Duke Ellington to Billy Holiday and many others from the world of Jazz. We look at its many styles and get an appreciation of its great musical variety – assisted by illustrations from Mike on piano. We also have the opportunity to see unique video of some of its greatest musicians. Suitable for anyone open to the wider world of music.

Maths – The Joy of Maths. Tutor – Roger Luther

This course will look at a variety of mathematical activities – both those which are used in applications, and those which are simply fascinating in themselves. We will be looking at how many friends you have, how maths and music relate, how to pack oranges efficiently, and the meaning of infinity. No specific maths knowledge is required, only a willingness to be open- minded and to think hard!!

Painting – Discovering Techniques in Water Colour Painting. Tutor – Janet Blight

This exciting course is aimed at keeping an open mind and breaking the rules of traditional watercolour painting. You will be experimenting with your paints using household and plant materials to produce unusual and amazing artwork. The course is not suitable for beginners.

Pagham, Parham and a Palace With Ann Wickenden & Isabel Baker

The two full days will be spent exploring both Pagham Harbour and Parham House, Gardens and surrounding Park. On the final morning there will be a choice of a visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace or a guided walk around Chichester.

Portrayal of People, Events & Nature Tutor – Margaret Nicholle Below Stairs: Servants in Portraits and Literature, Artists & Poets of the Great War, Nature in Art. Suitable for all participants. A variety of topics will allow maximum discussion

Psychology – A Sense of Well-being Tutor – Anne Dale

We will look at what constitutes a sense of well-being, what factors psychologists find contributes to it and some of the things that may get in the way. Suitable for all

Ukulele Tutor – Dawn Simpson

Suitable for inexperienced and experienced people. The course will include history, basic instructions, playing and singing together. No knowledge is required but those with a little knowledge will also fit in and benefit from being with other ukulele people. All sheet music and teaching notes will be provided but students will need paper and pen. Ukuleles will be needed (we are seeing if these can be borrowed) and a digital ukulele tuner (<£10). Please tell us if you will need a ukulele.

Walking With Roger Sugden

Using public transport, we do full day walks of 7/8 miles with picnic lunches on the Downs and the Coast near Chichester (different routes to 2017), and a shorter walk on the Thursday morning.

Contacts Helen Turner Isabel Baker

Arthur Browne

01622 817264 01293 618685 01293 771794

turnhelen@gmail.com isabelbkr@virginmedia.com a.browne693@btinternet.com

Summer School 2018 applform

Summer School 2018 – poster

Summer School 2018 – course details Nov 18

Oct 31

Cleave’s Almshouses, Kingston upon Thames – Possible Housing Opportunities

Cleave’s Almshouses, Kingston upon Thames

This local charity provides delightful small homes in central Kingston, at low cost, for elderly people of modest means. From time to time there are vacancies.

To be eligible, you need to be

In housing need – in temporary or very unsuitable accommodation or facing eviction.
Of modest means – this may mean eligible for Housing Benefit.
60 years or older – there is no upper limit.
Living in Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames or with links to the Borough – except in special cases to be approved by the Trustees.
Capable of independent living – able to look after yourself and your home, if necessary, with help from, for example, friends, family or social services.
Aware of the need for give and take when living in close proximity to others.

To check if there are currently any vacancies, please see:

https://www.almshouses.org/?sfid=3953&_sft_news-category+residential-vacancies-london

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Aug 26

Kingston U3A AGM 6th Nov (Prior to the Monthly Meeting) Nomination Form for Committee members

As indicated in the Newsletter we will be hoping for lots of members to volunteer to be on the Committee for the new membership year and here are the Nomination forms that need to be filled in:-

Nomination Form 2017

Aug 26

Research Project on Action for Hearing Loss – Volunteers Wanted.

Study description:

We are looking for approximately 40 volunteers for the Action on Hearing Loss funded summer research project in which we investigate why some speakers are easier to understand than others are, and how age and hearing levels influence speech intelligibility.

We are looking to recruit monolingual Southern British English* speaking adults with and without hearing loss between the ages of 65-85 years. In this study, you are asked to visit us once for approximately 50-60 minutes. The task is to listen to English sentences played in background noise (via headphones), rate how easy it was to understand, and to repeat back what you heard. We will also do a quick hearing test. We pay £7 for your participation and for your travel costs.

You can take part if you are/have:

Between 65 and 85 years of age.
Monolingual (learned only English at home as a child) Southern British English speaker.
Normal hearing or have mild age-related hearing loss (with/without hearing aids, but please see
below). We will assess this during the study session.
Able to visit us once for approximately 60 minutes between August 28th and September 12th
Unfortunately, you cannot take part if you:

Acquired multiple languages at home when child.
Speak ‘other Englishes’ such as American, Australian, Scottish, Irish…
Have previously taken part in the studies advertised by Outi Tuomainen/UCL
Use hearing aids on every-day basis (occasional use, such as in theatre, social events etc, is fine
but please note that because the study requires you to wear headphones, it cannot be conducted with hearing aids on).

The study takes place at UCL (Chandler House, 2 Wakefield Street, WC1N 1PF, i.e., a walking distance from both King’s Cross and Russel Square stations). If you are interested in taking part, please contact me directly via email: l.tu.16@ucl.ac.uk

This study is a final stage in our large 3-year ESRC funded study which aims to achieve a better understanding of the effects of ageing on speech communication and of the various contributing factors to potentially degraded speech communication in a population of ‘healthy aged’ individuals.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with further details should you need them!

Best wishes,

Lilian Tu
Outi Tuomainen Valerie Hazan

[* this particular language background restriction applies to this study because previous research world- wide has shown that bi- and multilingual speakers can differ from monolingual speakers in their cognitive skills (that also include working memory), and this can affect how they perform in noisy backgrounds. Furthermore, different accents (e.g. ‘other Englishes’) are differently intelligible to various speakers especially in noisy backgrounds. Because both of these variables are hard (or almost impossible) to control in an experimental setting, and both would affect our results, we can only recruit individuals from very specific linguistic backgrounds.]

May 22

Kingston U3A Singers (Meeting time error starts at 10.30 not 10.00)

Do you enjoy singing? Enjoy it more with the Kingston U3A Singers.

We are looking to expand our numbers in all voice ranges, especially in the Alto and Tenor sections. The group meets on Thursday mornings from

10.30 to 12.30 a.m. in the Shiraz Community Hall in Malden Manor Park. This park is near the A3 New Malden roundabout and has a large car park. The 213 bus stops outside.

Come along to meet us and make new friends. There is no formal audition and you do not have to be able to read music, just come along for a month to see if you would like to join. The work varies from Classical through to Folk music and is mostly sung in parts. The cost is £40.00 per quarter and the music is provided.

If you would like to come along and join in to see what it is all about, please contact any member of the singers or: Helga Randall: 8397 8712.