Members’ Market Place

Good to see this new facility on the website being used. Select here to visit and read about:

• A special concert of combined choirs from Ilkley and Coutances as part of the twinning weekend on Saturday 29th April.
• Local choir and art events posted by Paul Hudson.
• An opportunity to serve your community as treasurer of Clarke Foley.
• How to purchase reduced price (u3a exclusive) tickets to see a Tom Jones tribute act at Kings Hall in September.
• Lesley Mercer wishing to swap 18th May for 18th April tickets at Ilkley Cinema to see the screening of a Vermeer Exhibition.

You need to be a u3a member and log into the website to access this forum. It’s intended to be a place to give away stuff you no longer want and to make announcements likely to be of interest to other u3a members.

In due course, we can establish other forums for group discussions or widen the scope of Market Place. Ideas by replying to News Flash will be welcome.

Group news

Wednesday Racquetball This group has vacancies for new and experienced players to come along and give racquetball a go. All abilities welcome. More information including contact details on this link. There will be a short break at Easter so this is an ideal time to get a taste for this fast growing sport.

Walking Cricket Another sport gaining in popularity. Everyone was especially pleased to have beaten Leeds u3a in a recent fixture. The group moves outdoors from 6th April and will be playing on the hockey pitches at Ben Rhydding Sports Club, Thursdays 11-1pm. All welcome, no previous experience necessary. Cost is now just £5 per session. Contact details on this link.

Pickleball. A mix of badminton, tennis and table tennis played on a badminton court using a graphite or wooden paddle, about twice the size and weight of a table tennis bat, and a perforated plastic ball. Every Wednesday from 2pm to 4 pm at Aireborough Leisure Centre in Guiseley. More information and contact details on this link.

Fitness Partnership with Ilkley Tennis Club The four groups have started their next round of sessions and currently have some spare capacity for existing and new members:

• ·         Tuesday 13.00-14.00: Move Freely
• ·         Thursday 13.00-14.00: Pilates One
• ·         Thursday 14.00-15.00: Pilates Two
• ·         Friday 13.00-14.00: Silver Spin

Email fitnesshub@ilkleyu3a.org to express an interest. However, numbers are limited, so we can’t guarantee everyone a place.

Saving the Planet This group will be conducting a survey of members’ responses to climate change at the Saturday talk this week. This is a small scale pilot, designed to collect information which could lead to a full scale digital survey later in the year. If you would like a copy of the questionnaire, or to give us your views, please call 01943 608836 before 21st March.

Online groups via Zoom Details of one-off national u3a events and a variety on ongoing study groups on this link. You can also find details towards the top of the home page on our website.

The range of talks and groups is very impressive. What about Lyons Teashops, the Corner House Restaurants and the Nippy waitresses? 2 pm Thursday 23rd March Select here to book.

Dates for your diaries

10:30 am to 12 noon Friday 17th MarchThe date of our next drop-in at Clarke Foley. An opportunity to discuss anything related to your membership of u3a. Want to help? Want to start up a new interest group? This is your opportunity to share thoughts and ideas.

10 am Saturday 18th March We are delighted to welcome a distinguished resident of Ilkley, Sir Rodney Brooke, for our Saturday Talk. Well worth reading this link which gives you a flavour of his varied career. This could be an ideal opportunity to bring a friend to introduce them to u3a.

Tuesday 13th June A Music Festival has been organised by the Yorkshire & Humber Region of u3a, taking place in York. The cost is £15 to include refreshments and a buffet lunch. Details, including how to register as a performer, on this link.

Ilkley Newspaper Archive

The regular updates are now up to 1984. Of particular interest is a planning proposal to turn the ‘daffodil hill’ on the corner of Bridge Street into a car park. Read more on this link. Read the full collection by selecting this link and taking a volume from our digital bookcase.

Thanks to Denise Marsden for these smiles

A good friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg. Even though they know you’re slightly cracked.

It’s ok to talk to yourself – and ok to answer yourself. But sad when you have to repeat yourself – because you weren’t listening!

I had the slowest cashier today. I guess it’s my own fault for using the self-service checkout.

A hypnotist once convinced me I was soft, malleable with an atomic number of 82. I’m easily lead.

A weasel walked into a bar. The bartender says “what can I get you?” ‘Pop’ goes the weasel.

The Cartoon Gallery

For the latest additions to our cartoon gallery on the website, select here. Started during lockdown and still going strong with more than a dozen items added each month.

Regards

John & Christine

Email NewsFlash@ilkleyu3a.org

Our u3a featured in a local radio broadcast Details and a short audio extract from the programme can be found on this link. The audio clip features u3a members Peter Mate and Glen Berry giving a rendition of Summer Time and a wonderful poem about the hermit on Ilkley Moor written and performed by Roy Anderson, a member of our Poetry Writing Group.

Clarke Foley Newsletter Latest edition can be read on this link. Not mentioned in this edition is that the Barclays Premier League Trophy is on display at the centre on Friday 24th March. Expect lots of school children wanting to have their picture taken with the trophy. Details here.

Exhibition: How Ilkley has grown. An exhibition that plots the changes and growth of the town over the last 80 years including aerial photos and other images. At the Manor House from 25th March. Details here.

The national u3a quiz. In recent News Flash editions, we have asked if anyone is interested in creating a team to enter this online quiz. It’s hosted once a month on a Wednesday evening by Ayr u3a and started as a distraction from lockdown. Our team of four came a credible 6th (out of 10 teams) in our first match.

Each round has 10 questions and breakout rooms are used so each team can deliberate on the answers before sending the answer sheet back to the quiz master electronically. A unique experience, just like the real thing but without anyone to buy the next round.

If anyone wants to start a second Ilkley & District team or be on the reserve list for our existing team to cover for holidays etc. please respond to this News Flash.