Summer 2006 News

Canasta Group Ralph Chapman.
Meet in South Stanley Community Centre on the first Monday each month. Next meeting is on Monday September 4th. 1.30 –3.30pm

Craft Group Maureen Robertson
Meet on alternate Thursdays in Stanley Community Centre. The next meeting is on September 21st. 1.30—3.30pm. We welcome new members.

Computers For the “Too Olds” Maureen Hodgson or Colin Broadhurst
Next meeting is on Monday September 4th in the training room at The Tommy Armstrong Centre. 10 –12noon. Anyone who would like to find out more about Computing or Digital Photography is welcome and we will try to help.

Creative Writing Catherine McAnany
This group has just managed to survive because of the dedication of Myrtle Broadhurst. Having had three spells in two hospitals Catherine was out of action for a long period. However Myrtle and Colin managed to taxi the two members to and fro to keep the group together. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 10.30am until 12o’clock. We would like to see an increase in the numbers attending. It is very informal and you are not expected to write a novel at the first meeting. Just be there and give your support. Please let us know if you intend to come to the next meeting which is on September 7th

Mah-jongg Lilian Osborne
Meet in South Stanley Community Centre, on alternate Thursdays. We are using very simple rules and have not found the game as daunting as expected! The next meeting is September 7th 1.30 –3.30 pm.
New members Welcome—we are all learning together!

Scrabble Group Maureen Mc Guffog
Meets on the Wednesday before the monthly meeting in South Stanley Community Centre 1.30pm. Two hours of entertainment for only £1.35! You will not get a better offer! Come and join us, and learn to play by the rules.

Play Reading Group Colin Broadhurst
The Group is going along nicely with a steady group of regular attenders. There is always room for more of course & anyone can drop in for a first FREE taster session of what we do. Lots of folk ask about it but don’t get round to coming so come-on now and enjoy it. We’re now getting into some longer, better known, plays so it is more interesting - although it’s never been dull!Next outing 28th September at Stanley Community Centre 1.30—3.30pm

Short Walks. Maureen Hodgson
Unfortunately we have only had one outing recently. A visit to Durham Botanic Gardens was enjoyed on July 7th. I am unable to walk far at present due to problems with my knee. Would someone be willing to organise walks until I am able to resume? Please let me know if you can help and I will provide any assistance necessary.

CLASSIC CINEMA Catherine McAnany
What a disappointment this has been. The staff at the Lamplight Theatre have really tried to show films without sex and four letter words yet we cannot get you to come. U3A members from Whickham support this much better than our Derwentside members. Let us say we tried and failed.
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The next film is
“Double Indemnity” on Wednesday September 6th 1.30pm
Admission only £2 and includes tea/coffee & biscuit after the film.

Quilting Group Anne Nanson
The Group has 5 regular members and about 3 “waiting in the wings” who I hope will join us as days shorten and an afternoon of sewing around a cosy fire takes on an attractive glow.
We are a very informal and friendly group. I started it over a year ago when asked, by a fellow member to help her make a baby quilt…..
Two other members overheard our conversation and expressed an interest, and so a group was formed. As it happened, I was just about to start on a baby quilt of my own and so we worked together, photocopying patterns, sharing equipment and experiences as we each solved the problems of “joining up” and “finishing off” between meetings. (Fridays, after Coffee mornings and/or, monthly Meetings). I am no expert, but have had the advantage of having attended some courses at “Cotton Tree” in Stocksfield. Neither am I a “teacher” in any sense of the word, but am more than willing to pass on any expertise I have gained, and continue to learn, from books, from future courses, and above all from sharing ideas with fellow members.
We currently alternate our venue, each member in turn acting as “host” to the Group, providing tea or coffee—we take our own lunch to eat before the stitching begins. (Transport is available for the carless).
There is no compulsion to “host”. It is understood, for example, that partners cannot simply be thrown onto the street to enable us to pursue our hobby!! Over the Summer, we have made “etui” and “star” boxes (three of us did the initial course at Cotton Tree). One or two of these may be on offer at the forthcoming “Sale of Work”, though I’m not sure I can bear to part with mine—they are very labour intensive.
You do risk addiction. I had always dismissed “patchwork” as a rather silly occupation—until I did my first course at Cotton Tree (about 5 years ago). Now I cannot pass a fabric shop and am a regular customer of Ikea as the need for suitable storage space grows in proportion to the number of future projects….
More members may mean we have to look at renting a venue but what we lose in “informality” we will make up for in “utility”. Then I may approach Jan Earl from Cotton Tree to come and “set us off “ with a few ideas. Making a full size quilt takes up a lot of space and it would be good to have the use of those big tables at the Community Centre. The keynote of the group is pleasure at our shared achievements.
You are most welcome to join us

Speakers Corner

The following letter was received by the Speaker Finder from Bill Fish who does the booking etc for David Hughes :—

“Derwentside U3A
On behalf of David Hughes may I thank you for your Hospitality and Generosity at his recent talk to your group.The total amount raised was £242.00. This includes your generous donation, proceeds from the raffle and sale of a Watercolour. The printer requires £40 and the rest goes to Grace House Charity.
Thank you again. Regards, Bill“

So well done everyone who donated.


Friday August 25th. The Speaker is :—
Sue Constable B.A. (Hons.) D.C.A. Senior Fair Trading Officer.

September 29th —
Glynis Grainger “The White Mouse” Nancy Wake, the subject of this mornings talk, is a very remarkable lady who during the war led thousands of resistance fighters in France. Tying up many divisions of German troops before D.Day. An excellent story narrated by a master storyteller.

October 27th —
Ann Preacher “Save The Children” Ann gave us a very interesting talk two years ago on the work of Save The Children and is back by popular request to give us an update on her Charity.

November 24th —
The Derwentside Singers. The Singers gave an excellent performance last year and we look forward to another enjoyable experience.

The next Coffee Morning is on Friday September 8th 10am—12 noon