Issue  20-24 (1 DECember 2020)

An update from Chair Angie Grain

Use this link to read of new roles for some trustees and other issues following our AGM on 14 November.

Ilkley History scrapbook

This is a new monthly item on our website,  The u3a Archiving Group is working with local organisations to create a digital record of the many paper records held throughout the district.  One of the most fascinating is a series of scrapbooks kept between 1948 and 2000, filled with items from local newspapers.  Select here to view the first edition.

If you have material that you think maybe of interest to this project, email details to Ann Thake who leads the u3a Archiving Group.

Christmas Cracker event

Saturday 12 December at 10:30 am There are rumours that Santa might put in an appearance because he needs cheering up with seasonal music, singing, and a quiz. Provide your own mulled wine for what looks like being a very impressive event.. Bookings now open on this link.  

Anyone with expertise in creating DVDs?

it's hoped to create DVDs of our Christmas Cracker so members without internet connection can join in the fun.  If you have any expertise in this area, including indexing the content, please just reply to this News Flash to volunteer help.  Thanks.

Lockdown photographs

Remember these?  Christmas and New Year is an opportunity to add to the collection.  Please email Mary Podesta with your snaps over the next month with a short ten word description and we will update the gallery.  Include “Christmas Lockdown” in your email heading so Mary can easily spot them.  Thanks.

Help to get your group meeting remotely

This guide may help.   We offer practice sessions to get you started.  Just reply to this News Flash.  Voyagers, Art Appreciation, Environment Forum and Religions of the World groups are meeting again via zoom and are surprised at how many members have joined in.  The Railway Group had 55 join their last meeting..

An update on our talks and events

For more information on any of the following and to book your place, select here.

2:30 pm Tuesday 1st December:  Marconi presented by Andy Botherway. 'He invented radio, didn't he?' Come and discover the real story of the man, his inventions, love life and scandals.

2.30 pm Thursday 10 December. The Boeing Max Saga presented by John Metcalfe.  A look at the story behind the two B737 Max tragedies in 2018 / 2019 and the ramifications for aviation and Boeing

2.30 pm Tuesday 15 December. The Armchair World Tour is back. Join members of our u3a on an Armchair Journey around the World

10:30 am Thursday 7 January. Lockdowns of the past.  This is a presentation by members of Barnsley u3a with whom we are sharing talks.  

The power of social media

A post on our Facebook page about the Art for Fun gallery on our website was been seen by 1558 people throughout the UK.  There are some lovely comments which have been passed to the group.  Why all the fuss?  Click here to see for yourself.

All about WestNet,

This is a cluster of local u3a organisations that give reciprocal access to meetings and events without having the pay separate joining fees to each u3a.  Most are active with online talks and events to which we are invited.  More information here.  

Settle u3a Bird watching, Dance exercise, Geology, Great Lives, Family History and Art Appreciation groups are all active on Zoom and they have invited us to join their sessions.  Details on their website.  Get the zoom links by emailing :groupcoordinator@settledistrictu3a.org

If you have a friend who is a member of Settle, Keighley, Craven or Bradford u3a, they can now register their contact details with Ilkley u3a online at our website.  This means they will receive a regular copy of News Flash and can attend any of our own Zoom events.  Ask them to visit ilkleyu3a.org click on the join us link and then click again for WestNet registrations.  As they are already members of their local u3a, there is no further subscription to pay.

.More website links

• The Quirky Humour collection.  More content added since last News Flash.  This is one of the most visited pages on the website with well over 700 seeing the cartoons in the past month alone.  Thanks to our regular contributors and this month also to Nancy Stedman.
• Green tip of the month.  How Green is your Christmas Tree?.

Select here to see the images of Ilkley on our website.  Thanks to John Rhodes for his photos.  We need pictures of Menston to feature on the website in January.  Send your images to the News Flash email address below.

Target your daily walk

To add interest to your local walks, Neil Stevens suggests using Turf, a GPS based game from Sweden that has recently launched in Ilkley and Otley.

If you have a smart phone, download the Turf App.  Then search your phone map to find local targets.  On your walk visit a target, stay for 10 seconds and gain points.  u3a member Sue Stevens is currently top of the leader board in Ilkley.

To find out more just search for “Turf App”.  If you would like to join in but having trouble getting started email Neil Stevens

I’ve just sold my entire collection of Sooty, Sweep and Sue puppets.  Someone is paying me £200 to take them off my hands.

Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

What do you call birds that stick together?  Vel-crow

With thanks to Anne Hodgson and Bruce Chalmers for these groan jokes.

Keep safe

John & Christine

Email NewsFlash@ilkleyu3a.org

PS.  Thanks to all 25 members who took part in our u3a virtual pub quiz.  Three teams tied for first place.  Well done to Sheep Shearers, Masked Crusaders and Famous Five all with 41 points from a possible 46.  Runners up were Trial & Error and Blake Seven.  Great fun and plenty of laughs even without alcohol.

PPS,  Third Age Trust are supporting a UK-wide conversation about what divides us, what unites us and what will bring us closer together.  If you have 5 minutes, please complete this survey.  Thanks.

To read a copy of the Third Age Trust newsletter for November select this link.