Aerial Archaeology Mapping site.

Are you aware of English Heritage's Aerial Archaeology Mapping site.

I hope this link works HERE

Click the box bottom left to open and to get the OK to work.

I had centred it on Stapleford. But also click on the Black Rectangle bottom right.

Aerial Archaeology Mapping Explorer

I looked at Durrington Wall for instance.

2,500 years of history uncovered in Melksham

 This web link opens to show details of this Archaeological dig.

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/thousands-of-years-of-history-uncovered-in-melksham

Our preparation for the construction at Melksham Community Campus site early last year revealed archaeological evidence from as early as the Iron Age (700BC to AD43), found by Cotswold Archaeology.

Field boundary ditches and a phase of settlement, four oxshoes, iron knives, pottery, animal bone and burnt daub with wattle impressions were among the items found.

The investigations found most archaeology dating to the later prehistoric, Roman (AD43 to AD410) and medieval (AD1066 to AD1539) periods, highlighting some of the historical origins of Melksham.

Typography for DI Plus Members

This was run on 22.10.21

CROQUET for All

 Croquet for u3a Members at Hamptworth Croquet Club

Would you enjoy some gentle outdoor exercise coupled with some friendly competition? Then croquet might be the sport for you.

Hamptworth Croquet Club has agreed to host a series of eight Monday morning sessions for u3a members starting on the 5^th July.

No experience is necessary, all equipment will be provided (mallets, balls and hoops). Members need to dress in comfortable clothing (not too long or loose as this may get in the way of swinging a mallet). Ladies note the normal stance is to stand with one's legs slightly apart and swing the mallet between the legs, so slacks or shorts are preferable to skirts. Flat bottom shoes such as trainers are needed so as not to damage lawns. A rain jacket is also useful to continue to play in light showers.

For those entirely new to croquet some instruction and practice will be given on mallet grip striking balls, how to run a hoop and elementary rules of Golf Croquet. The idea is to get everyone playing as quickly as possible.

Hamptworth Croquet Club is set in the Hamptworth Golf Club at Hamptworth Road, Salisbury SP5 2DU. This is easily reached in a car by driving about 5 miles down the A36 south of Salisbury towards Southampton, taking a turning to the right where a brown sign indicates “Country Club”. Then into Landford Village and take another turning to the right indicated by a further brown “Country Club” sign. Continue for about a mile on the Hamptworth Road, past the “Cuckoo Inn” and the Club is on the right-hand side of the road. There is parking available and a clubhouse and changing room. Tea coffee, snacks and drinks can be purchased in the Club House, where there are also changing facilities. The Club House will be operated according to whatever co-vid rules are in place at the time.

There are five well-kept croquet lawns and a small pavilion 50 yards down a small hill next to the car park. The area is surrounded by woodland and has a feeling of spaciousness.

The activity will be limited to a maximum of 12 participants, who will be expected to practice outdoor social distancing and clean and sanitize equipment after use with soap and sanitisers provided.

Sessions will be from 10.00 to 12.00 hours on Mondays for eight meetings starting 5^th July. After the u3a session, participants would be welcome to hang around until 14.00 hours and watch Club members play their Monday afternoon regular mix-ins, observe finer points of the game played by experienced players and the general ambience of the Club..

Cost will be £3 per session, which includes a green fee and the hire of a mallet. If a member has their own mallet there will be a reduction of £1 for each session. Members are expected to pay before each session. The Croquet Club is keen to welcome new members. If after their u3a croquet experience, participants are interested in joining the Club to play croquet all day, all the year-round, the Club would discount any annual membership fee by the amount paid for participation in u3a sessions.

If you want to get swinging (with a mallet). Contact Eric Crowter at mobile: 07538783041 or

Email: ericcrowter63@gmail.com. More information about Hamptworth Croquet Club can be found at https://croquet-websites.org.uk/hamptworth

Phyll Babb - Her Story

You may not know Phyll but she has been an inspiration for many in the u3a in Salisbury.

She persuaded me to be the Subject Adviser for Photography and to write an online Tutorial on digital imaging.

Click on this link to read the wonderful story about Phyll and her connections with the U3A.

Governmentium Vaccination Rollout

Science News

Oxford University researchers have discovered the densest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium, which has the symbol Gv, has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton like particles called pillocks.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years.

It does not decay but instead undergoes a reorganisation in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganisation will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as a critical morass.

When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, symbol Ad, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many pillocks but twice as many morons.

Terry's Homework now uploaded

I have put Terry Waldren's images on our web site as a slide show. This was assembled by Bob Hay of the Canberra U3A Camera Club of Australia. Click HERE to see it.

HISTORY/ART HISTORY GROUPS

Welcome to Britishbattles.com the site that gives you the battles fought by Britain and its Empire forces, lavishly illustrated (see our banner above) and fully mapped. Also included are descriptions of battles from both the American and English Civil Wars.

From Julius Caesar's landing in AD 40 right through to the land and naval battles of World War One, battles are described in full detail, including tactics, uniforms, weapons and personalities. Each battle and its outcome provides plenty of opportunity for discussion.

U3A Science & Technology Seminar 2016 Report

Click HERE to read what happened at this really rather wonderful few days away.

Telling Wiltshire’s Story in 100 Objects

The project involves museums across the county working together to develop an exhibition that tells ‘Wiltshire’s Story in 100 Objects’. The exhibition will shine a spotlight on the diverse and important collections that Wiltshire’s museums collect, care for and interpret. Using 100 carefully selected objects, it will celebrate the rich history of the county from 10,000BC to the present day and illustrate diverse aspects of Wiltshire’s past from Stonehenge to the Moonrakers and much more besides.
The project has been made possible through partnership working between twenty five museums who have contributed ideas, objects, information and images to illustrate Wiltshire’s past. The museums have also agreed to lend objects for two years to enable the exhibition to tour venues around the County including Chippenham, Devizes, Salisbury, Swindon and Trowbridge during the next two years. The project is managed by the Wessex Museums Partnership and funded by Arts Council England.
The exhibition will open at County Hall, Trowbridge on 26 May and run until 11 June.
Everyone is welcome to join us at the project launch in the Atrium at County Hall on Thursday 28 May from 12noon-2pm.
Amanda Loaring
Project Officer – Story of Wiltshire in 100 Objects
Wiltshire Museum
41 Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1NS

History and Book Groups:- LUMINARIUM

This wonderful site - LUMINARIUM - the brain child of Aniina Jokinen, is a rich compendium of more than 5,000 pages of English Literature. She says....

"The site started in early 1996. I remember looking for essays to spark an idea for a survey class I was taking at the time. I started the site as a public service, because I myself had to waste so much time as a student, trying to find anything useful or interesting. There were only a handful of sites back then (read: Internet Dark Ages) and I could spend hours on search engines, looking for just a few things. I realized I must not be the only one in the predicament and started a simple one-page site of links to Middle English Literature. That page was soon followed by a Renaissance site.

I wanted the site to be a multimedia experience in the periods. I find it easier to visualize what I am reading when there is a small illustration or a tidbit about the background of the author or his work. The music and art of the period serve to complement one's rational experience of the site with the emotional".

Roman Structures in South Wiltshire

Roman Structures in South Wiltshire Recent archaeological work in the south of the county has revealed some unique features. Our Assistant County Archaeologist Clare King shares the details and provides information on these exciting finds.The web site gives much more detail. See HERE.
This is a nice idea for the new Archaeology group meeting on 20th Jan. [See poster on an older posting below].

Negative Energy House

Following his recent talk to the Science and Technology group Jeremy Harris has allowed me to let you see his diary related to the building of his new house in Fovant. It makes fascinating reading to see how he has overcome all manner of stumbling blocks.
See HERE

Archaeology Study Days 21 to 22 August 2014 Report

There is now a report and gallery of pictures from this day.
This can be seen HERE

Wiltshire Community Health Services

Wiltshire Community Health Services. Here is a document outling how these services are to be transformed.  Click HERE to read all about it.

Short Video on Cholesterol

Following on from the Sci-Tech talk on Chemicals Around Us here is a clip from the http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/search/label/Cholesterol
There are 6 articles on Statins that are worth pursuing.  These are accessed by clicking on the Cholesterol link on the left side column.

Click on this link 
Short Video on Cholesterol

On Being a Subject Network Co-ordinator

I have been a Subject Network Co-ordinator for about 8 years now and have found the experience very pleasant. The job of the SNC is to help other members of U3As anywhere in the country either to set up a local group or give ideas and help for existing groups.

For U3As wishing to set up a group the first contact is usually head office. Here they hold Start Up leaflets on most topics. These they will send for free.

The second thing to do is to contact the relevant SNC directly and to this end the contact details are printed in every issue of the U3A News. They will have other helpful material such as Newsletters with content gleaned from other people in the Subject Network. In my case I have not written Newsletters since my subject of Photography does not easily lend itself to this except for stories and perhaps images from network members. Instead I have attached a web site of my own to the main U3A site. This contains everything you need to run a group. There is content from members of my network here with links to their sites or pages directly on my site.

Some SNCs organise Study Days where members gather to discuss ideas and learn new methods for teaching their own U3A group. Look out for these in the U3A News.

There are other SNCs who organise conferences or seminars that can last several days. Such a one is the Science and Technology network who for the past 8 years have had an annual gathering in Abergavenny. Talks on a wide range of topics are given by members of the U3A. Also included in the 4 day conference are trips to sites of interest. Having been to this conference a few times I have now also been to see the SS Great Britain, the Big Pit, Cardiff Art Gallery, the Mappa Mundi in Hereford cathedral, St Fagans Museum of Welsh Rural Life and the underside of the new Severn Bridge.

Thus each SNC runs their Network as they wish. The minimum requirement is to produce a Start Up leaflet. I have written a Start Up Leaflet for Photography but as I said earlier I amplified this idea with my web site. This system has the advantage that I can rapidly add or modify the site. Because Sheila and I run local Digital Imaging classes we are always producing new techniques for our students and these ideas are added.

So the message is that if you need a group locally and it does not exist or is full you can start one yourself. If you have no idea how to go about setting one up then contact head office and the relevant SNC.

Help is also available from the U3A Resources Centre and from Sources magazine.

Remember that expertise in your subject is not needed in most topics. No qualifications are required - just your enthusiasm. Members will be very grateful.

Peter Read