Wednesday 17 August 2016

Digital Imaging for Starters and Improvers

I shall be starting a new class to show you how to prepare your photos using simple digital imaging programs.
This will start on 2nd Sept at 10am until noon. Then every 4 weeks.
If you wish to join in then contact me on 501218.
Peter

Monday 15 August 2016

NEW - U3A National Research Database

This database has just been set up and reveals the amazing extent of original research by U3A members in the UK.
The direct link is http://u3aresearch.org.uk/

Monday 1 August 2016

My U3A - Do you know about this?

Are you visiting another town, city or country? Would you like to get in touch with U3A people there - perhaps even arrange a meeting or request some helpful information? Simply go to http://myu3a.org
There is a link on our web site too.
We will be happy to put you in touch with a U3A contact in the place you wish to visit. Confidential information (email addresses and contact phone numbers) will not be shown here, but can be requested on our contact form.
Currently you will observe both Sarum and Spire have joined this system.

U3A Visits from Salisbury & District U3A



OUTINGS AND EVENTS NEWS – AUGUST 2016
Salisbury & District U3A 

See also SalisburyU3A.org.uk for information about all of Salisbury's U3As.
Outings are offered to any and all U3A members from 10am at our meetings or by post or by email
Please book and pay early to avoid disappointment

CHELTENHAM – Thursday 10th November 2016 – BOOKING NOW  Home to the International Festival of Literature and Music, Cheltenham is the most complete Regency town in Britain.  From humble beginnings as a modest market town on the edge of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham became one of the most fashionable health resorts in the country.  After King George III arrived for treatment in 1788, rows of handsome Regency houses, broad avenues and fine parks were built and the town became Cheltenham Spa.  The medicinal waters can be taken at several sites in the town but mainly at the Pittville Pump Room (architect John Forbes) featuring a blue dome rising above the lakes of Pittville Park – you can still drink from its original pump, England's only source of natural alkaline water.  The principal street of Cheltenham is the Promenade with its fine Regency terraces and Neptune Fountain.  Considered to be one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in the country, its tree lined avenue is flanked by smart shops and cafes.  The composer Gustav Holst was born at 4 Clarence Road in 1874 and his childhood home is now the Holst Birthplace Museum where you can see the piano on which he composed The Planets.  The Antarctic explorer Edward Wilson was born in Cheltenham in 1872, and Zara Phillips makes her home here with her family.  The centrepiece is Montpellier Gardens, blooming with flowers and a fountain surmounted by a bespectacled Gustav Holst with his baton raised aloft above the water jets.  Or you may wish to visit St Mary's Minster, the only surviving medieval building in Cheltenham where parts of the church represent the Early English style of architecture though the Decorated style predominates, the former north porch is early Perpendicular with a good example of Lierne vaulting, and the high quality stained glass is late Victorian.  Our visit starts with an optional meet and greet introductory talk at The Wilson where you can purchase refreshments in their Cafe and pick up a free  town map before exploring the Art Gallery and Museum or venturing out to visit the town's many attractions.  Cost:  £14 to include coach and driver gratuity – entrance to The Wilson is free.  Coach Pickups:  8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park OR 8:30 at London Road Park & Ride.   Our Grosvenor/Taylor's coach will arrive at Cheltenham around 10:30am and leave at 4:30pm.

WINDSOR CASTLE – Thursday 13th October 2016PLACES STILL AVAILABLECoach Pick Ups:  8:15am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:30am at Millstream Coach Park, Castle Street, Salisbury OR 8.:45am at London Road Park & Ride.  Cost:  £31 to include  coach, driver gratuity and Windsor Castle entrance.  Our Grosvenor or Taylor's coach will arrive at Windsor Castle around 10:30am and leave for Salisbury at 4:30pm.

COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK AND GARDENS – Thursday 8th September 2016 – PLACES STILL AVAILABLE to see 179 newborns over 50 species including armadillos, camels, miniature donkeys, lemurs, and zebraCoach Pick Ups:  8:15am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:30am at Millstream Coach Park, Castle Street, Salisbury OR 8:45am at London Road Park & Ride. Cost:  £21 to include  coach, driver gratuity and entrance.  Our Grosvenor or Taylor's coach will arrive at the Wildlife Park around 10:30am and leave  for Salisbury at 4:30pm.

MARBLE HILL HOUSE AND PARK and CHISWICK HOUSE AND GARDENS – Thursday 11th August 2016 – TWO PLACES NOW AVAILABLE Coach Pick Ups:  8:15am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:30am at Millstream Car Park, Salisbury OR 8:45am at London Road Park & Ride.    Cost: £29 (English Heritage Members £18) to include coach, driver's gratuity, all entrances and tours at both Houses.  Our Grosvenor or Taylor's Coach will leave Chiswick House at 4:30pm.                                            

               
FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – You can reserve place(s) in advance on future trips and are asked to return the favour by confirming with your payment at your very earliest opportunity once costs are published if you still wish to go.

VERY IMPORTANT
If you reserve places in advance on outings, you must pay for them (once cost details are published) by the 1st of the month previous as shown below or your reservation will automatically go to the next person on the waiting list. 

1st December 2016 – National Gallery and West End Christmas Shopping –  (please pay by 1st November)
19th (not 12th) January 2017 – Bath – (please pay by 1st December) – Please note change of date
16th February 2017 – Kew Gardens Orchid Festival – (please pay by 1st January)
9th March 2017 – Swindon Steam Railway Museum and Shopping Outlet – (please pay by 1st February)
13th April 2017 – The Wallace Collection – (please pay by 1st March)
11th May 2017 – The Vyne and Sandham Memorial Chapel – (please pay by 1st April)
8th June 2017 – Loseley House and Gardens (please pay by 1st May)
13th July 2017 – Waddesdon  Manor and Claydon House (please pay by 1st June)

Just a thought:  If you'd like a painting or drawing day out, do please feel free to bring your art materials on any trip.
                                                                                                                                                                           
PAYMENTS FOR OUTINGS                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
From 10am At Meetings:  Cash or cheques payable to SALISBURY U3A. One cheque can cover as many people as you like, separate cheques for each outing please.  By Post:  If you can't attend the monthly meeting or prefer to book by post, please email Margaret  for a booking form.  Otherwise, please post your cheque with destination, your name, home and mobile phone numbers and pick up point on the reverse to Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG. 

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS: Full refund if cancelled more than one month before the outing. Cancellations less than a month before a trip are only refunded if we have a waiting list and can resell your place.

ANY QUESTIONS OR TO CANCEL YOUR PLACE 
OR TO CHANGE YOUR PICK-UP POINT AFTER BOOKING:                                                                             
 Please contact Margaret at margaretvacha@hotmail.com or 01722 335586 or 07845 870512           

I often hear of other events, study days and/or trips you are very welcome to go on – no memberships required ...

Wednesday 3rd August – National Trust Salisbury are offering you a trip to Devizes Brewery, Canal and Museum including morning coffee, a tour of the Brewery and on-site pub sign studio, a visit to the Shire Horses' stables, and a 'tutored sampling' of a selection of hand-crafted ales.  Please note this is a Victorian building with a steep 4-floor climb, narrow corridors and uneven floors.  After lunch in the marketplace at your own cost, there will be a guided tour through the most historic part of the town and time to explore the Wiltshire Museum galleries.  Cost: £34.  Coach Pick Ups:  8:30am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton and 9am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park.  Return to Salisbury at 6pm.  If you would like to go, please send your name, address, landline, mobile and email address together with your coach pick up and cheque for £34 (£29.50 to Salisbury Museum members) payable to National Trust, Salisbury to Rosemary Pemberton, Stratton House, Winterbourne Earls SP4 6HD.   Rosemary's contact numbers are 01980 610900 or 07523 851633.

Thursday 25th August – Sarum Over 50's offer  an outing to Frogmore and Saville Gardens.  Coach Pick Up:  8am at Salisbury Millstream Coach Park.  Cost:  £35.  Please ring Betty Holmes on 01722 324726 to book your place and then send your cheque  for £35 payable to Sarum Over 50's Group to Mrs Betty Holmes, 26 New Zealand Avenue, Salisbury SP2 7JX.


Sunday 28 and Bank Holiday Monday 29 August, both at 5pm – The conductor of the Salisbury U3A choir, David Davies, is also musical director of Opera at Chilmark (www.operaatchilmark.weebly.com), a company that produces an opera every year in a large barn at Cleeves Farm, Chilmark. This year's production is the first performance of a new chamber opera, Beowulf, by the young composer Louis Mander.  Three years ago the company gave the first performance of Louis’ ballad opera Wild Edric and this was very well received – the reviewer in the Salisbury Journal described it as ‘a wonderful way to spend an afternoon’. As a consequence, when Louis was commissioned by Cantata Dramatica, an organisation which promotes new music, to write an opera on the story of Beowulf he asked Opera at Chilmark to give its first performance. As always there will be young professional soloists, an orchestra and the Chilmark chorus, dancers portraying some of the action, and a long interval for picnicking in the courtyard!  For more information or to book tickets (£25 each) please ring David Davies on 01722 714440 or email davidracheld@gmail.com.

Wednesday 14th September from 11-2:30pm – The Third Age Trust offers Talks, Lunch and a Concert at St John's Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA:  Vivaldi The Four Seasons:  The Contrast between Harmony and Invention with La Serenissima and Adrian Chandler.  This special event explores the 18th century context of this superb concert hall and theharmony and invention of Vivaldi's masterpiece.  The day begins with the Director of St John's Smith Square, Richard Heason, discussing the unique history of this musical and architectural landmark, followed by a sandwich lunch in the crypt, a concert performed by LaSerenissima, and concluding with a talk by their director Adrian Chandler.  Tickets £25 (cheques payable to Third Age Trust and sent to Third Age Trust, 19 East Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1QE with your name, U3A, address including post code, telephone and email address).  Unreserved seating.  Queries to U3A National Office on 020 8466 6139 or email events@u3a.org.uk.  Postal applications for tickets only.  No online booking. harmony and invention of Vivaldi's masterpiece.  The day begins with the Director of St John's Smith Square, Richard Heason, discussing the unique history of this musical and architectural landmark, followed by a sandwich lunch in the crypt, a concert performed by LaSerenissima, and concluding with a talk by their director Adrian Chandler.  Tickets £25 (cheques payable to Third Age Trust and sent to Third Age Trust, 19 East Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1QE with your name, U3A, address including post code, telephone and email address).  Unreserved seating.  Queries to U3A National Office on 020 8466 6139 or email events@u3a.org.uk.  Postal applications for tickets only.  No online booking.

Wednesday 5th October 2016 -- Kinky Boots at the Adelphi London -- This show has won awards for Top Musical and is based on a true story.  Doreen Till of Salisbury Nifty Fifties has managed to get £69.50 tickets in the stalls for just £32.50!  What a bargain!  The coach will leave Salisbury (pick up point to be advised) at 9.30am and we will have some free time in London before the 2.30pm matinee.  After the show, we will make our own way down The Strand to The Strand Palace Hotel for a Carvery, Pudding and Tea/Coffee.  The coach will pick us up from there around 7pm and we should be back in Salisbury around 9.30 – 10pm.  Would you believe you will be sitting in £69.50 seats but the total price is just £65 for the whole package including dinner!  Tickets will go really quickly, so book now by ringing Doreen on 01722 501538 or email her at nobbins@ntlworld.com  to confirm your place before sending your cheque for £65 payable to Mrs Doreen Till to her at Nobbins, 29 Harper Road, Salisbury SP2 7HG. 


Saturday 8th October from 9:30am to 4:30pm  – The National Women's Register offers Making the World a Better Place at Sarum Academy, Salisbury – The speakers include Alison Kelly, Head of Policy at Christian Aid.  Alison has had a long career in development, initially working in the Middle East and subsequently with Quaker Peace & Service supporting community based programmes focusing on rights and pace building.  She has managed various development and humanitarian programmes in conflict affected areas in SE Europe, the Middle East, Afghanistan and Central Asia, to  integrate development, women’s rights and economic inclusion, as well as community based programmes to decrease ethnic and religious divides. She is currently involved in developing Christian Aid’s new priorities in the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals and Paris climate agreements.  Marion Molteno is a writer who grew up in South Africa where she actively opposed the apartheid regime. She lived in Zambia at a time of profound social change, has pioneered educational projects in multi-ethnic communities in the UK, and worked for Save the Children in many of the poorest areas of Asia and Africa.  Her latest novel, Uncertain Light, is set in the world of international aid workers, much of it in Central Asia in the years following the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union.  Anthony Grayling, Master of the New College of the Humanities, has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy and other subjects; among his most recent are The Challenge of Things, The Good Book and Ideas That Matter. He is a frequent contributor to the Literary Review, Observer, Independent on Sunday, Times Literary Supplement, Index on Censorship, and New Statesman, and is a frequent broadcaster on BBC Radios 4, 3 and the World Service. He is a Vice President of the British Humanist Association, the Patron of the United Kingdom Armed Forces Humanist Association, a patron of Dignity in Dying, and an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society.  Enquiries/bookings: sw04conference@gmail.com £32 [NWR members] or £35 [non-members] or please contact Vanessa Moulding on 01722 744029 or Lisa Conway, NWR Area Organiser on 01722 327605 or 07811 321779 or lisa2613@hotmail.co.uk

Thursday 8th December – A&A Theatre Trips have reserved 55 best stalls seats for the 3pm matinee performance of The John Rutter Christmas Celebration 2016, a wonderful start to the Christmas festivities.  The coach will leave the Rugby Club in Salisbury at 9am.  The performance starts at 3pm, so you will have time for a meal in London before the show.  The cost for this trip is £65.00 per person, which includes your ticket, the coach, a tip for the driver and your donation to Ann
and Alison's charities.  To apply for tickets please email either Ann or Alison and send a cheque to Ann (payable to A&A Theatre Trips) or if you would prefer to pay by Bank Transfer, please contact either Ann or Alison for bank details.  Ann’s address is Field Barn, Kings Stables, Upper Woodford, Salisbury SP4 6PA.  They expect a lot of interest in this trip, so please reply as soon as possible, as seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis.  For further information please contact Ann Cameron on 01722 782665 or  chasanncameron@aol.com or Alison Webb on 01264 781289 or alison47@tiscali.co.uk

Wednesday 11th January 2017 – A&A Theatre Trips are offering you a seat at the 7:30pm performance of The Play that Goes Wrong at Theatre Royal, Bath.  Cost:  £42 to include a best stall seat, coach, driver gratuity, and a donation to Ann and Alison's charities.  Coach Pickup:  3:30pm at Salisbury Rugby Club Car Park to arrive in plenty of time for a pre-theatre supper.  To secure your booking email either Ann Cameron on chasanncameron@gmail.com or Alison Webb on alison47@tiscali.co.uk and send your cheque for £42 made payable to A&A Theatre Trips to Ann Cameron at Field Barn, Kings Stables, Upper Woodford, Salisbury SP4 6PA.  If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, please contact either Ann on 01722 782665 or Alison on 01264 781289 for details.
 
CHELTENHAM  – Thursday 10th November 2016
Cost:  £14 to include coach travel, driver gratuity, and free entrance to The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum. 
Coach Pick Ups: 8am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:15am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR  8:30am at London Road Park & Ride.
NAME ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 
LANDLINE …........................................................................ 
MOBILE .........................................................................................
EMAIL …......................................................................................................... 
COACH  PICKUP ..................................................
PLEASE SAY WHICH U3A YOU BELONG TO ......................................................................... 
(Any U3A members are welcome)
Please complete and return with your cheque for £21 payable to Salisbury U3A to:                                                       Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
WINDSOR CASTLE – Thursday 13th October 2016
Cost:  £31 to include coach travel, driver gratuity, and entrance to Windsor Castle. 
Coach Pick Ups: 8:15am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:30am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR  8:45am at London Road Park & Ride.
NAME ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 
LANDLINE …........................................................................ 
MOBILE .........................................................................................
EMAIL …......................................................................................................... 
COACH  PICKUP ..................................................
PLEASE SAY WHICH U3A YOU BELONG TO .........................................................................  
(Any U3A members are welcome)
Please complete and return with your cheque for £31 payable to Salisbury U3A to:                                                       Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG           
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK AND GARDENS – Thursday 8th September 2016
Cost:  £21 to include coach travel, driver gratuity, and entrance. 
Coach Pick Ups:  8:15am at Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton OR 8:30am at Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury OR  8:45am at London Road Park & Ride.
NAME ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 
LANDLINE …........................................................................ 
MOBILE .........................................................................................
EMAIL …......................................................................................................... 
COACH  PICKUP ..................................................
PLEASE SAY WHICH U3A YOU BELONG TO .........................................................................  
(Any U3A members are welcome)
Please complete and return with your cheque for £21 payable to Salisbury U3A to:                                                       Margaret Vacha, 1 Grasmere Close, Salisbury SP2 8DG