Saturday 5 October 2013

Map of All U3As

I have posted an e-spatial interactive map of the UK with all U3A's marked including Alderbury currently only a proposed U3A and Tisbury as a potential U3A.

Saturday 28 September 2013

Future Learn Course - FREE

I thought you may be interested in a bit more detail about the University of Leeds ‘mini-MOOC’ to share with U3A members. It’s a short two-week course with wide appeal which begins on 21 October.
Fairness and nature: when worlds collide

Do you think nature should be conserved for future generations, or is it a resource to be exploited for its financial value? How can government policies provide economic benefit, whilst being environmentally sustainable and delivering social fairness for all those affected, even the most disadvantaged groups? How we make difficult but fair decisions about managing our natural resources has relevance to many local and international issues, for example, in the UK there are currently lively debates about high-speed train lines and fracking for shale gas. This course examines how we can make those difficult decisions about natural resource management, when there are many competing interests and values to consider, using fundamental principles and learning how to apply them to international case studies.

Join us at: http://futurelearn.com/courses/when-worlds-collide

I also attach a publicity poster, please do pass it on along with the above text if you think it would be helpful to spread the word about this new opportunity to learn.

I hope it is of interest to your members and we can share this online journey together! We are also actively learning about this method of sharing knowledge and the experience and contribution that U3A members bring would be greatly appreciated.

Please do get in touch if there is anything else I can provide or if you have any questions.

Many thanks,
Katy Sidwel
Head of Digital Communications | Communications | University of Leeds
T: +44 (0)113 34 34100
E: c.a.sidwell@leeds.ac.uk
W: www.leeds.ac.uk/comms

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Elderly hit by new phone scam

Housebound and elderly people are being targeted with a new telephone scam that involves con men posing as bank staff or police, a fraud watchdog has warned.
The fraud, which has cost victims £7m in a year, is difficult to detect when well- executed, Financial Fraud Action UK said.
The criminals instruct the victim to disclose credit and debit card information before emptying the person’s bank accounts.
Those who have fallen into the trap have had their life savings wiped out within 24-hours. Around one in four adults in the UK has received a cold call like this. Financial Fraud Action said 43pc of victims have been aged over 50
possibly reflecting the higher proportion of elderly people who spend working hours at home.
The new con is dubbed “vishing”. It involves a fraudster posing on the phone as someone from a bank or building society fraud investigation team, the police or another legitimate organisation such as a telephone or internet provider. An automated system calls the unsuspecting victim. Once they pick up the receiver the criminal, posing as a representative of a reputable organisation, claims an urgent need for their debit or credit card details, this often involves telling the bank customer their card has been cloned and fraud is about to be enacted on their account.
The crook urges the victim to act straight away to avoid the disaster.
If he or she can sense doubt, they urge their victim to put down the phone and ring back. However, the criminal simply stays on the line and either pretends to answer the phone or passes the receiver to another member of the gang.
It may sound far-fetched, but the scam is so believable that four in ten people fail to see through tricks, Financial Fraud Action said.
Once the details have been handed over, the criminal simply empties the account. In some circumstances, victims are being persuaded to go into their bank, withdraw their life savings and then hand them over to a courier who arrives at their front door later in the day.
Financial Fraud Action said it had seen a £36m increase over the past year in crimes involving either online or phone banking, purchases made online and over the phone or criminals filling out fraudulent applications.
The fraud prevention body said people should not be afraid to just put the phone down on someone if they are unsure about handing over details.
It warned consumers never to assume a caller is genuine just because they hold some information about them. Criminals may already have obtained some basic information to try to make the call appear legitimate. Real bank employees would never ask for passwords, it stressed.
Kyle
Caldwell and Jessica Winch. Daily Telegraph. 31.8.2013

Monday 19 August 2013

U3A Sci-Tech Seminar 2013

I went along to this seminar held at the Harper Adams University from the 12th to the 15th August 2013. This venue is superb and the weather was fair. The talks were very varied as always. They were presented by U3A members from around the country. 53 members gathered for all this.
Thrown in was a visit to RAF Cosford.
More information about the talks and a photo tour of RAF Cosford can be seen HERE
Here too is our new programme for the coming season. You will note that it is not complete yet but we are working on it.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Visit to Chilbolton Observatory - 10th September 2013

I am pleased to confirm that the allocated visit time, for 20 members of U3A Salisbury, will be from 15:00  to 16:30 on Tuesday 10th September 2013
I hope the following information will be of interest and helpful,  to you and your members
 
The Chilbolton Observatory is owned and operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and supports UK and international research.  It conducts experimental work in the areas of atmospheric science and radio science.  Find out more now by checking our web page at http://www.stfc.ac.uk/chilbolton.
 
On a visit to the Observatory, there are 5 principal areas to see activity:
  1. Radar  control room
  2. 25m Steerable antenna (dish)
  3. Satellite ground station compound
  4. 500 m Met Range
  5. LOFAR antenna site
 
The areas are quite widespread (there is about 1000 m between the furthest extents). As some are outside, we do always ask that people dress appropriately for the weather and advise the ladies that they may find trousers more practical for access to some parts. The site is reasonably flat, and there are only two areas where people with limited mobility or wheel chairs would find difficulty visiting: the dish, and the Receive cabin.
 
Personal items must be kept with you at all times.
 
Guide dogs only on site.  Please do not leave dogs in cars.
 
Directions are available on our web page links, however please note:
Sat-nav systems -  if they direct you to approach via the A30, you may be sent on a route that bypasses Chilbolton village but includes a long stretch of an unpaved road only suitable for 4WD vehicles. Make sure to approach the Observatory via Chilbolton village - that way you will only experience a short stretch of the unpaved road
 
You are welcome to take photographs, so don’t forget your camera and bring lots of questions for our staff!
 
We look forward to meeting you and hope you have an enjoyable and informative visit.
Best regards
Jan
 
STFC Chilbolton Observatory
Drove Road
Chilbolton, Stockbridge
Hampshire
SO20 6BJ
UK
 
Tel: 01264 860391

This tour is still open to any member of one of the Salisbury U3A's.  No need to book even, BUT I would be grateful if you would let me know beforehand if you wish to go so that I can tell the Observatory how many to expect. Ring me on 01722 501218 or email the webmaster. Peter.

Thursday 23 May 2013

Christopher Browne at Waterstones


Christopher Browne at Waterstones
7 - 9 High Street, Salisbury SP1 2NJ
Until May 25



Christopher Browne is showing 17 etchings and aquatints on Waterstones’ front staircase.
He hopes this may encourage Plain Arts members to have positive thoughts about doing some printmaking since the news of his Harnham workshop is that an etching press is expected to arrive there in the first days of May.
It will not be serviceable immediately, but now is not too soon to indicate any interest you have in this.

Monday - Saturday 9am - 6pm, Sunday 10.30 - 4.30

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Sci-Tech Group Visit

We have arranged for U3A members to visit the

STFC Chilbolton Observatory 
Drove Road
Chilbolton, Stockbridge
Hampshire
SO20 6BJ

on Tuesday 10th September 2013 at 10 am.
We shall be limited to 20 members so please email the web master Peter Read soon to ensure a place.

The Observatory has one of the world's most advanced meteorological radar experimental facilities, and is home to the world's largest fully steerable meteorological radar.

Monday 1 April 2013

Salisbury Rotary Club Swimathon

Dear Friends,
Once again I will be swimming for our Fundraising Swimathon on Saturday 6th April 2013

This year I will be swimming for the charity rehabilitation centre at Tedworth House for disabled servicemen and women. These young men and women have a lifetime ahead of them coping with their recently acquired disability and retraining for a new career to support themselves and their families.

If you would like to support the work of Tedworth House, Tidworth , Wiltshire, please donate to my swimathon page. Just follow the link to http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/annataylor

Best Wishes
Anna Taylor
Sarum U3A Member

Monday 25 March 2013

Phyll Babb recently received a National U3A Roll of Honour.
Below Jenny Mawer Chairman of Sarum U3A presenting this to her at the Sarum AGM on 20th March 2013.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Bubbles

Following on from a Cafe Scientifique talk in March there is an interesting video by the speaker.
He says how it may be possible to use bubbles to cure cancers.
View it HERE

Friday 1 March 2013

U3A SCIENCE SEMINAR 12 - 15 AUGUST


The seminar format is a mixture of talks, visits and socialising. Talks are at a general interest level so no specialist scientific knowledge is needed – just a general interest in the world around you.
Accommodation is in single study bedrooms with en-suite facilities at Harper Adams College, Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB
Cost £240 residential; £105 day visitor
Book early to secure your place
Click on the links below to download a booking form and further details.
There is a web site devoted to this seminar found HERE
On the Welcome page there are several links to past seminars that give a small flavour of what they are like.
I have booked my place now and can give a lift to anyone if they wish.
I have been to about 5 of these events and enjoyed them all and so I can recommend them as a sort of short holiday with good company and interesting visits.
Let me know if you are interested but not sure.
Peter 01722 501 218

Thursday 14 February 2013

Spire U3A New Home page

I am trialing a new version of the Home page. It contains all the links as before but has left space for other items. Currently I have added a photo of the Mayor's Chair that resides in the Guildhall but maybe Stop Press could be here or a changing set of pictures. Maybe you would like to suggest things. Or perhaps you would prefer the previous page.  Let me know please. 
Peter.

Saturday 12 January 2013

Do You have un-used Jessops Gift vouchers still?

On BBC Breakfast this morning they mentioned that if anyone has Jessops vouchers or gift cards and the person who bought them paid by Debit or Credit Card that the person can get their money back.

But there are time limits, so you will have to be quick.

Pass this information on if you know anyone who this could help