You are invited to the first ‘Like Yesterday: Movement and Memory’ workshop on Friday 19^th July at 1pm at St Michael’s Church Hall in Church Lane.

Dr James Hewison from Edge Hill University, who some of you will remember from a dance workshop held as part of the Ageing Better’ project is going to be leading this series of workshops on blending movement and memory.

All u3a members are welcome to attend.

3.05.24 Live music from Change of Key, Frank – lead violin, Brian – melodeon, Ian – violin/fiddle and Steve – guitar.

• The Waggoner a 3 couple dance pub. Thompson 1783.
• Welcome in the May an appropriate dance for May. A contemporary longways dance by Sharon Green 2018.
• Mardigras Minnesota another longways dance.
• Chestnut a 3 couple dance from Dancing Master 1651- 1796, interpreted by Cecil Sharpe 1912 x2
• Barn Dance Reel a 4 couple dance x2.
• Christina a Naomi Alexander longways dance from 1992.
• Mendocino Redwood a longways dance by Margaret Devlin, Bob Fraley and Elizabeth Zekley 2005. Music- Woodlands Walk by Jonathan Jensen.

Thanks to the Band for a very enjoyable session.

10.05.24 ** Elfrida birthday requests, * other requests.

• ** Guildhall a longways dance.
• * Spanking Jack a 1726 longways John & William Neal dance from Margaret McFarlane’s collection of dances.
• ** Sam’s Maggot a 5 couple dance choreography & music Walsh c1728 reconstructed by Andrew Shaw. Fast becoming a favourite dance.
• Diversions an Ellen Taylor longways dance 1989.
• ** Christmas Stars a 3 couple dance.
• Princess Royal a longways dance , choreography and music Pat Shaw.

17.05.24 Elfrida recording the dances including some more of her birthday choices.

• Which Way Now a 4 couple dance x2. A June Jones dance involving diagonals and stars.
• Rostillion a longways dance.
• a 5 couple dance Nan’s Ring in circle formation by Elsie Wilson?
• Longways St. Crispins Eve 
• Lord Caernarfon’s Jig a 4 couple dance

24.05.24 ** more of Elfrida’s birthday choices.

• Morrison’s Reel a 5 couple dance x2
• Blythe Company a 3 couple dance by Brooke Friendly & Chris Sackett 2012.
• The Italian Disappointment by John & William Neal 1726.
• ** April’s Lady a waltz for 3 couple in circular formation.
• Hoffedd Miss Hughes a Welsh dance by Ian Hughes. “Hoffedd” translates as “Lovely”
• Picking up Sticks a traditional Playford dance 1651 for 3 couples.

31.05.24 ** and a few more of Elfrida’s birthday choices.

• The Spaniard a longways Playford dance from 1777.
• ** Six for Gold a June Jones 3 couple dance x2
• ** Sam’s Maggot (see 10.05)
• Bonny Cuckoo a 4 couple dance by Gail Tichner 1986.
• St.Katherine’s a John & William Neal longways dance 1726.
• Gasconne a longways dance from 1710 interpreted by Pat Shaw.

A full and enjoyable dancing month. Our thanks to all who contributed.

In the session we continued to look at the impact of the arrival of Christianity to Britain considering the early saints.

There is archaeological evidence of Christianity in Britain dating back to the late 200s and it gradually spread.  In the early 400s the Romans left and people who arrived in the south-east and north-east after they left were pagan, so Christianity was reduced.  However, this did not happen in the west, where it consolidated and expanded.   Roman-style Christianity then slowly expanded in the south-east and east, while British/Celtic Christianity remained strong in the west.  The Celtic form had a more mystical approach and was perhaps more open to the folklore. Up until the eighth century, the British church remained independent of Rome

In early medieval times people were still following the pagan ways. The Roman church had an aim to convert all heathens to the faith so in 601 instructions were sent by the Pope to the British Clergy to take over existing pagan sites.  In 669 a letter from a different pope was sent which instructed them to clamp down upon existing pagan practices.

We looked at the ways the Church did this using the early saints and religious converts.

The lives of the saints were written by Monks in various centres, these were not historical documents.  They were in a position to be able to manipulate the stories.  There was not a lot of concrete information on the early saints and they filled in with the folklore.

1/.  St Brynach – had very little known about him.  He probably lived in the second half of the fifth century, studied in Ireland and then moved to Wales as a missionary and was credited with founding the Church at Nefyn.  In The ‘Life’ written by the monks he outsmarted a Celtic wise woman, created a healing well, built a church in ancient woodland and followed a white sow to a site in the Nefyn Valley where he built another church.

This story had ancient sites and echoes of Celtic stories.  A saint can do anything a Celtic hero can do.  It also made the stories understandable to the people who read about them.

2/. St Cadoc.  Again there were very few facts, he was brought up in a Christian home and then came under the influence of a hermit.  In the ‘Life’ Cadoc had royal origins and was very like a Celtic hero.  He changed the colour of cattle in a clash with King Arthur and won against him.

King Arthur had a difficult relationship with the church at the time, in the early days he was pagan.

3/. St Carannog – had an encounter with King Arthur who was so influenced by Carannog he persuaded a local chieftain called Cato to provide land on which Carannog built a church.

4/. St Padarn – also encountered and overcame King Arthur.

5/. St Illtyd – founded a monastic centre in Llanilltyd.  According to ‘Life’ he was a cousin of King Arthur and was a warrior but gave up his warrior life to live as a hermit after St Cadoc caused his men to be buried alive.

6/.  St David – very little is known about St David, he trained under St Illtyd at Llanilltyd and founded a monastery.

In the ‘Life’ his mother is Non a granddaughter of King Uther Pendragon, his father is a Prince and his birth is surrounded by portents, omens and strange phenomena, prophesied by Merlin.  He trained as priest and followed an austere lifestyle, had a magic bell and horse.  He travelled widely.  He was directed by an angel to Glyn Rhoslyn where he defeated the druid Boia and his wife in a way which echoed the old testament plagues or Celtic Mythology.  There he built a monastic settlement, the origins of St Davids.

T1 Colour Popping  click for slideshow

1st Ginny Salkeld

2nd Alan Starkie

3rd Jean McCabe

4th Jenny Jobe

T2 Chimneys  click for slideshow

1st Di Piggin

2nd Bob Broughton

3rd Ginny Salkeld

4th Phil Birchall

Summer Concert

Our summer concert in July 23 was a great success.  Our theme was ‘Joie de Vivre’ and we were joining with three wonderful young performers who really did lift the spirits.  we were also treated to a stunning version of ‘Come to the Cabaret’ by our very own Musical Director, Polly.

Tuesday 6th February 2024, Ormskirk’s Famous and Infamous!

Dot Broady will tell us about some of the people in our local history.

Tuesday 5th March 2024, Southport – An Artist’s View.

Ever since Southport developed as a seaside resort it has attracted the attention of artists, from local painters such as Edwin Beattie to more well known artists for example L.S. Lowry and Laurence Isherwood. Stephen Whittle’s talk explores the changing perspective of Southport over the last 200 years as seen through the artists eyes.

Tuesday 2nd April 2024, The Great British Seaside.

Continuing the seaside theme, Andy Luscombe will talk about the tradition of writing and sending postcards. Seaside venues were a popular place to see postcards for sale and holidaymakers often sent “Wish You Were Here” postcards to family and friends. Our afternoon continues with a film “The Great British Seaside”.

Ageing Better: The Impact of Alcohol on Mental Health and Wellbeing

This Health & Wellbeing session (part of the series from Edge Hill University) will be on Friday 14th June at 11am at St Michael’s Church Hall.

Do come along and join us.

Click on the poster for an enlarged view and details.

A big thank you to everyone who came to support us last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This was the first time we had done 3 shows and each performance was well received judging by the wonderful feedback.

We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did and we look forward to seeing you again later in the year.  Dates will be announced shortly.

Here are some of the photos kindly taken for us by Bill Soens.

In the session we started to look at the impact of the arrival of Christianity to Britain

1/.  According to the early histories, Christianity reached Rome in the year 60 CE, when Paul arrived to preach the gospel.  Christianity reached Britain in the late 200s CE, during the years of Roman occupation.  With the end of the occupation in the early 400s and the arrival of pagan Angles, Saxons and Jutes, Christianity declined in the south east and eastern parts of the country, but continued in the west.

In the year 597 Pope Gregory in Rome sent Augustine on a mission to convert the pagans in Kent. Roman-style Christianity slowly expanded in the south east and east, while British/Celtic Christianity remained strong in the west.  Up until the eighth century, the British church remained independent of Rome.

2/.  According to the folklore tradition (as opposed to the historical account) Christianity reached Britain in a number of different ways:-

i/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Christianity was brought to Britain by St Paul (version favoured by the British church).

ii/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Christianity was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea.  Joseph founded the first church in Britain at Glastonbury (version favoured by the British church).

iii/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Pope Eleutherius in Rome sent St Fagan and St Dyfan to Britain. They revived Jospeh’s church at Glastonbury and spread the faith from there (favoured by the Roman church).

iv/. Christianity was brought to Britain by the Welsh princess Elen of the Hosts (version favoured by the British church).

The British church favoured versions i, ii, & iv because they cut the Roman church out of the picture. The Roman church favoured iv because it gave the credit of spreading the faith through the country to Fagan and Dyfan.

5.04.24

• The Maid peeked out the window a 4 couple dance.
• (The) King of Poland a 4 couple dance. Choreography & music Playford 1698.
• Wibsey Roundabout a 5 couple circular dance by Gary Roodman 1996. As requested by Pat & John & loved by us all. The tune Hugh O’Donnell by Carolan.
• St. Andrew’s gardens a longways dance with a choreographer much closer to home, our own June Jones.
• Turning by Threes another Gary Roodman dance for 3 couples from 2003.
• Cobbler’s Hornpipe another 3 couple dance in triple time, by Jenny Beer 1701, the tune Tourner a Trois by Paul Machlis.

several danced twice.

12.04.24

• Minnesota Mardi Gras a longways dance.
• Greenwich Park a longways dance adapted by Cecil Sharp 1922 from the 1698 dance.
• Karla’s Waltz a longways dance.
• Chestnut a 3 couple dance from The Dancing Master 1651-1796. adapted by Cecil Sharp 1912.
• My Lady Winwood’s Maggot a 3 couple dance from Dancing Master 1728. One of June’s favourite dances.
• Top and Bottom a longways dance by Bernard Bentley 1971. All danced several times.

No dances recorded from 19th.

26.04.24 Elfrida calling the dances today.

• Robert’s Reel a 3 couple dance x2.
• Dover Pier a longways dance by Preston 1791.
• Spanish Jig another longways dance from Dancing Master 1721.
• My Lord Byron’s Maggot a longways Playford dance from 1701 with clapping.
• Guildhall a longways dance.
• Alabama a 4 couple dance in a square formation.
• Birthday Reel a 4 couple dance.

A REMINDER THAT NEXT WEEK 3RD. MAY, WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC FROM FRANK’S BAND.

In the session we continued Dragons.

We looked at folklore stories and legends from various parts of the country concerning dragons and their preferred habitat of woods, pools, wells, and hills. We considered the theory that originally the dragons could have been pagan gods or spirits that were venerated at these various natural sacred places. On a similar theme, the many encounters recorded between the dragons and the saints could represent a battle between Christianity and paganism.

We also traced the links between the dragons and Norse and Celtic myths, and suggested a possible link to earlier cycle of the seasons and creation mythology, with the dragon representing winter, or an original chaos and anti-universe force.

                           Future Meetings                    

All future meetings will be at the Scout & Guide H.Q. building on the 3rd Monday of the month.

All meetings will take place in the small room from 2.00pm

The Competition topics from January 24 to December 24 are now listed above with the due dates for entries.

Our next  meeting will be on Monday 17th June 2024.

We will judge the June competition which is :-

Topic 1 Picture of Single Stemmed flower

T2 Furry Creatures (No Cats or Dogs)

We shall look at  Landscapes and Black & White photography with Bill

The Summer outing to Tatton Park N.T. is on Thursday 27.6.24

We shall have our annual break in July and August and reconvene on September 16th 2024

HAVE A GOOD SUMMER

Continue reading →

1.03.24

• Jack’s Maggot a longways dance from 1702 published by Playford.
• Morris On see last week. Still needing more practise!
• Yellow Crocus also from last week, a June Jones, longways dance, adapted slightly from last week x2.
• No Taxes a 3 couple dance x2 from 1791.
• Sadler’s Wells a 3 couple dance from 1728

8.03.24

• Jamaica (the original longways format) Pub. Playford 1670.
• Double Duet a Gary Roodman longways dance from 1999.
• Gathering Hay (whist the sun shines) a 3 couple dance with’ heys’.
• I care not for these ladies a circular formation, choreography and music by Katherine Creelman Skrobela 1969
• (A) trip to Amsterdam a longways dance by Philippe Callens.
• Grimstock a 3 couple Playford dance from 1652 including 3 different ‘heys’. Grimstock, Arches and Circular.

15.03.24 June recorded the dances. Two new dancers join us.

• Upon a Summer’s Day a 3 couple dance from 1651.
• The Magpie a longways dance.
• My Lady Anne a 3 couple dance.
• Pilgarlic  a another 3 couple dance from 1751.
• Delia & another 3 couple dance,  choreography by Ellen Taylor 1997.
• ?  A starter dance.

22.03.24

• Bonnet’s so Blue a longways dance.
• Ladies of London from the Walsh collection 1740.
• Which way now a June Jones 4 couple dance with diagonals and stars x2.
• The Bonny Cuckoo by Gail Tichnor 1986, to the tune Sheebeg & Sheemore (or Si Beag Si Mhor) by Turloch O’Carolan. x2.
• Nampwich Fair a longways Playford dance from 1726.

N.B THERE IS NO DANCING NEXT WEEK AS IT’S GOOD FRIDAY. Back on the 5th. April.

🎙🎙🎫

Our Drama group entertained  us in February with a light hearted comedy Radio Play based on Pride and Prejudice.

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🎤🎶🎼🎵

A return visit from our wonderful Ukelele group who entertained us with a great range of music.  There was plenty to sing along to.

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In March we wrote two short stories. The challenge was to have something happen in the second story that was a consequence of something that happened in the first. The time lag between the two stories could be minutes, millennia or anything in between. Sarah is one of the group’s newest members. Here are her stories:

In the session we completed Plant Lore and started Dragons.

1/. Plant Lore

i/. Fern/Bracken

Has protective powers against evil, storms.  Protective amulets could be made from the dried and treated root of the Male Fern dug up on Midsummer Eve, a ritual had to be properly followed.  These looked like hands.

This led us to a rather gruesome side topic of healing and protective hands. There were gifted healers who could heal by touch.  These healing powers also applied to dead hands, which were best obtained from an executed person, a hand from the ordinary dead could be used but were not as powerful.  The ‘Hand of Glory’ was a charm used in the United Kingdom and most of Europe by sorcerers or occultists.  Cut from a criminal body and dried and pickled until hard it could be used as a holder for a candle made from dead man’s fat and other things, which had the power to stupefy any person who sees it, as if dead and unable to move, so was used as protection.

According to Nicholas Culpeper Adder’s tongue fern cures snake bites, ailments of the tongue, cuts & wounds, sore eyes, stomach aches & toothache

Fern seeds (bracken spores) will bring good luck, find hidden treasure, detect veins of gold, aid fertility, foretell marriage etc.  if collected following a strict ritual on Midsummer Eve, these could not be collected by hand, a hazel rod had to be used.

ii/.  St John’s Wort

It has been used as a treatment for various ills for a very long time and its name is now associated with St John the Baptist, a Christian church reference.

Nicholas Culpepper believed it was a treatment for fevers & palsy, bruises, wounds, vomiting, bleeding, internal obstructions, melancholy & madness, and to get rid of intestinal worms.

If collected in the proper way on Midsummer Eve it would foretell marriage.

iii/.  Mandrake (Mandragora)

There are a lot of legends about it.  It has physical attributes which can make it look like a crude human figure.

Nicholas Culpepper thought it looked like a carrot/parsnip.  He thought the leaves could be used in ointments and other applications and the dried root could be used as an emetic.

According to folklore it is a dangerous plant that screams when it is pulled up causing the person to drop dead or go quite mad. One could use a hungry dog to pick the mandrake by tying a thread to the loosened mandrake and then to the dog, putting some meat by it, letting the dog loose and running. The dog would pull out the mandrake and it would be the dog that died.

The dried root was said to promote fertility, cure insomnia, to relieve pain and promote visions.

2/. Dragons

Prominent in Britain and large parts of the world.

The terms dragon, worm and Serpent are interchangeable.  They can be composite beasts, with scales, legs, snake like, forked tails with optional wings and are formidable.  Found by or closely associated with water, seas, rivers, lakes, bottom of wells, caves, dens in woods, high ground.

They were not always hostile to humans, in the East they are associated with good luck and prosperity, the New Year Dragon in China and Japan.

In western lore they are mostly hostile to people.  We started to look at why there were so many stories in the folklore and why there was a split between eastern and western folklore.

Here are some photos from “Never Mind the Butler”

We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Continue reading →

There was no dancing on 2nd. February as a new floor was being laid at the Village Hall.

9.02.24 The floor has been completed and looks amazing, we’re almost afraid to dance on it but of course we do. Some of John’s birthday choices* & some of Liz’s **

• *De’il tak the Warr a 3 couple set from 1721 reconstructed by Andrew Shaw 
• **Mile of Smiles a longways dance by Joseph Pimentel, with the tune by Dave Wiesler.
• **Young Phyllis of Wakefield a longways dance from ’24 Country Dances for the year 1715′ with interpretation by Andrew Shaw. From the Elephant Stairs CD 2007. On this track the jazzy piano is played by Rebecca King from California, includes clapping.
• **Bar a Bar a longways dance  from The Walsh collection 1719
• Drive the cold Winter away (we wish) a 3 couple dance from 1651 Dancing Master. x2.
• The Queen’s Birthday a longways dance pub. Playford 1703.

A good session for longways dances as we had a good turn out, nearly a full compliment of dancers.

16.02.24

• Jump Frogs Jump a 3 couple dance x2.
• The Yellow Crocus a new longways June Jones dance still under construction.
• Scotch Cap a 3 couple dance from The Dancing Master 1651.
• Lord Fopp(ph)ington a longways Playford dance from 1701 with interpretation by Pat Shaw 1965. Lord Foppington was a character in the comic play The Relapse or Virtue in Danger!
• She looked down her nose and sneered…a longways dance.

23.02.24 Elfrida recording the dances.

• Fourpence halfpenny farthing L/w.
• Yellow Crocus see last week. 
• Morris On With Morris Heys, ‘we practised and practised until we got it right’.
• Gold for the Matthews, one of Philippe Callens dances with Morris heys and gypsy moves, danced x2.
• Forty bar jig, a good dance and not too challenging! L/w
• Princess Royal also L/w.

The Trinket Box

Doctors say we should keep physically and mentally active when we get older, and the u3a Musical Theatre Group helps members do just that.

Singing and dancing are among the best ways to stay active, and to see the results, why not come along to our latest production, “The Trinket Box”?

There are jewels and trinkets aplenty in this new review, with gems such as “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, “Band of Gold”, “Black Pearl”, “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Gold Finger”.

You can get tickets online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/u3amtg or by contacting John Hardiker on 07912 879 822, or any member of the Musical Theatre Group at Horizons.

Read more about the Musical Theatre Group

The Musical Theatre group presented –  ‘Once Upon a Time‘ – which is set in an apartment building called ‘Falling Stars’ for retired thespians.

Continue reading →

Wishing us all a Happy and Healthy New Year.

5.01.24 Still some of Geraldine’s Birthday requests to carry over from 2023. *

• * Valentines Day a little out of season but a nice longways dance Pub. Playford 1679 interpreted by Pat Shaw 1966.
• * Zig Zag Tuesday a longways dance, with zigzag moves.
• * April’s Lady a waltz for 3 couples danced in a circle x2.
• Morrison’s Reel  a Scottish country dance devised by Roy Goldring,  for 5 couples.
• Queen’s Jig pub.Playford 1701 a longways dance.

12.01.24 and still some more of Geraldine’s choices.*

• *Trip to Richmond a longways dance by Kath Riley 1956 x2.
• *Sailor’s Wives a 3 couple dance x2.
• *Trip to Bavaria a 4 couple Scottish country dance & all time favourite. Devised by James MacGregor Brown 1960.
• Punch and Judy a longways dance.
• Lord Caernarfon’s jig a 4 couple dance Playford 1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1910.

19.01.24 Some of John’s Birthday choices.*

• * Marching to Praetorius a 2 couple Gary Roodman dance 1996 x2.
• Bonnie Lads and Bonnie Lasses a 4 couple dance.
• * Eastbourne Grove (rover) a 3 couple dance by Kevin Prigmore 2015.
• On the Edge no.2 a 4 couple dance x2.
• If all the World were Paper 1651 Playford, with re interpretations.
• Triplicate danced in lines of 3. By Peggy Roe 2012.

26.01.24 some of Liz’s Birthday choices.*

• The Maid Peeked out the Window a 4 couple dance.
• * Mendocino Redwood a longways dance by Mary Devlin, Bob Fraley & Elizabeth Zekley 2005.
• * Peace be with You a longways dance by Fried de Metz Herman 1986.
• * Newcastle a traditional dance from 1651 danced in a square formation. Happy memories for one of our dancers, dancing this in her 20’s.
• * Brighton le Sands in contrast, a contemporary a longways dance by our own June Jones.
• Shandy Hall another contemporary dance from 1977, music & choreography by George Middleton.

N.B THERE WILL BE NO DANCING ON 2.02.24 as the floor in the Village Hall is being upgraded.

Back on the 9th.

In the session we covered the Green Man.

There are traditions relating to the Green Man in France. Switzerland, Germany and across continental Europe as well as Britain.

They are mostly in religious settings such as churches and cathedrals and spread between late 1100’s – early 1500’s.

They were located in all parts of the church, the choir, roof, chapels, private chapels, roof bosses, sacristy which showed that they were accepted by the church authorities as well as the carvers and congregations.

We looked at why they were so popular and possible origins.  Were they supposed to ward off evil spirits, products of the imagination of the workmen who created them, linked to the Tree of Mercy mythology, reminders of the consequences of sin?

These seemed too simplistic for the widespread use of the images within the churches and across both Britain and Europe and felt it was likely to be the co-opting of pagan beliefs by the church.  The church had to work reasonably hard to get the people to join them.

We looked a number of likely examples of these including Jack in the Green which Lady Raglan was convinced was the origin of the Green Man.  The term the Green Man was coined by Lady Raglan in the 1930’s, prior to that they were known as foliate heads.

May Crosses which were done on May Day.  Not all were benign, the Burry Man from South Queensferry was sinister and involved the proper following of a ritual and discomfort for the man dressed as the Burry Man.

We were set the challenge of writing about new year resolutions. Here are a couple of the submissions.

We continued the topic of trees in Irish Celtic Mythology under trees and plants in the landscape.

In the previous session we had covered under the Chieftain Trees oak, hazel, holly and apple trees, leaving ash, yew, rowan, birch and elder to be covered in this session.

i/. The Ash Tree

The tree was powerful and magical, Yggdrasil which holds the world together is an Ash.

It is protective against evil influences, can be used for divination and has healing powers.  The healing powers involve rituals which need to be followed closely.

ii/. The Yew Tree

Yew trees can live for a thousand years and are evergreen.  The lower branches can grow into the ground and grow up from there. They are a symbol of eternal life and the renewal of life.  These too can be used for divination to tell the future and be used to douse for lost goods.  Often found in church yards they may have already been there on a pagan site and co-opted in, or a symbol of the regeneration of life.

Some ancient yew groves exist today, they are dark and gloomy.  It was thought that you could see the spirit of someone as they departed if you held a yew stick, yew trees were seen as a doorway to the other world.

iii/. The Rowan (Mountain Ash)

Gave protection from evil influences of all kinds.  An example was rowan twigs protected babies in cribs.  To stay on the good side of fairies the tree should be protected.

iv/. The Birch Tree

Was associated with the return of summer, growth and fertility in animals and people.  Jumping over a birch besom was part of the marriage ritual.  It was used as a symbol of the woman of the house. It also had protective powers against evil influences including witches, a twig at the threshold gave protection.  Contradictorily it was believed witches used birch brooms to fly at night.  It was also credited with the power to raise the wind and storms.

v/.  The Elder

There were two different views of the elder, possibly one more ancient.

The elder was seen as an ill omen to be feared, in Christianity it was the tree from which Judas Iscariot hanged himself.  It was considered an unlucky tree, wood from it would be kept separate and should not be brought into the house and its wood should never be burnt.

The older pre-Christian lore associated it with positive powers.  The change over may have been due to propaganda being used to persuade people away from the elder’s original venerated status.  Here the burning of the wood may have been seen as disrespectful, permission was sought before a tree would be cut.  It was viewed as being inhabited by the Elder Mother/Owd Gal/Old Lady rather than witches, these had powers to protect from witchcraft.  It was also considered to have all kinds of healing powers, treating bites, rheumatism, erysipelas, wounds, burns etc.  The dried and powered pith was sometimes given if a person was bewitched.

The next session will look at some traditions relating to the Green Man.

1.12.23  Some of Geraldine’s birthday requests*

• * (The) Geud man of Ballangigh a longways dance, pub. Playford 1698. Also on Pat’s birthday list.
• * Christmas Stars very seasonal…a 3 couple dance also danced in December 2022.
• The Fair Quaker of Deal, a longways dance from the Walsh collection 1715, with some adaptation by J.J. Coincidentally I visited Deal a few weeks ago.
• Solitaire a longways dance.
• Whim of the Moment a longways dance pub. Thompson 1791.

8.12.23 Elfrida recording the dances.

• Christmas Stars see last week.
•  Jamaica a 4 couple dance x2. 
• Clopton Bridge a 4 couple dance x2. A hornpipe, so hop skip rhythm.
• Maiden Moor a 4 couple dance x2.
• Bobbing Joe another 4 couple dance.
• Upon a Summer’s day some wishful thinking here as it’s pouring rain outside!  A 3 couple dance.

15.12.23 more of Geraldine’s birthday choices*

• * Mirror Me a 3 couple dance x2. A lovely dance once you get into it.
• * Marching to Praetorius a 2 couple Gary Roodman dance. x2
• Abbot’s Way a 4 couple dance x2
• The Doldrum this 4 couple dance has some tricky moves, we danced it twice to try to nail them!
• The Maid Peeked out the Window a 4 couple dance x2.

22.12.23 Our last country dance session before Christmas and the New Year. We celebrated with live music from Change of Key (Frank’s Band) and refreshments.

• Trip to Sheringham a 4 couple dance, in a square formation. The musical accompaniment was a Seasonal Medley.
• Jackdaw another 4 couple dance.
• Eastbourne Grove a 3 couple dance.
• The Hive another 3 couple dance.
• Lord Caernarfon’s Jig a 4 couple dance Playford reconstructed by Cecil Sharp in 1910
• (The) Comical Fellow a favourite 4 couple dance, pub. Thompson 1776 on which to end 2023’s dances.

We danced most of them twice.

N.B WE RETURN TO COUNTRY DANCING ON FRIDAY THE 5 th JANUARY 2024.

Our many thanks to June for keeping us dancing. Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Continue reading →

The Last Science Group Meeting – November 1st, 2023 ??? 

Our visiting speaker, David Sutton, talked about Generative AI, a type of Artificial Intelligence, in particular at the combination of Artificial Intelligence with Art and Photography.  The three images were produced by such an AI program.

🎄🎅Not quite Christmas but this was  our last meeting of the year.   We had a  quiz and games and then after our festive refreshments  the excellent local guitarist, Pete Mercer, returned to entertain us 🎄🤶

The Musical Theatre Group are now starting to cast our next show “The Trinket Box”. We have openings for new members, men & women, to come and join us. You do have to be a retired or semi-retired person to be a u3a member, then able to come to rehearsals on a Tuesday afternoon between 1-4pm.

“The Trinket Box” will be performed at Aughton Village Hall on 22nd & 23rd March 2024.

In addition to cast members, we are also in need of people to work backstage and ‘front of house’. Please access Musical Theatre Group page on the u3a website for further information.

3.11.23 Elfrida recorded the dances.

• Birthday Reel a 4 couple dance
• Jackdaw 4 couple dance, to a different, more lively tune – Cumberland Long Eight.
• Jump frogs jump 2×3 couple set.
• The Magpie – longways.
• Sprigs of Laurel – longways
• Brighton Review – longways.

10.11.23 from June’s dance records.

• The Merry Monarch 3 couple dance.
• Aughton Reel 4 couple dance.
• Leaving of Liverpool 3 couple dance
• Trip to Sheringham 4 couple dance in a square formation.
• One each & all together (unlikey to repeat this dance)
• Lord Caernavon’s Jig 4 couple dance 1851 reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1910.

17.11.23 including some of Geraldine’s Birthday requests.

• Barn Dance Reel.
• Brighton Le Sands a June Jones longways dance.
• Welcome in the May slightly out of Season but a good longways dance by Sharon Green 2018.
• and following on the theme Upon a Summer’s Day a 3 couple dance.
• The Spaniard choreography & music, Playford 1777.
• Whim of the Moment a longways dance , choreography & music Thompson 1791.

24.11.23 John called the dances.

• Go to the Devil and Shake Yourself a longways dance from 1795/99
• A fig for Bonaparte longways, by Henry Thompson 1804. On 2nd December 1804 – Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of France. (some kind of political comment?)
• The Whim of the Moment see last week.
• We Will Down with The French a 3 couple dance following the French theme, Thompson 1780 reinterpreted by Charles Bolton 1997.
• Brighton Review a longways dance 1794.
• The Leaving of Liverpool 3 couple dance x2.

Delighted to announce, that this month we’ve had a new couple join the group. Still room for more dancers if you’d like to try Country Dancing.

We broadened the topic of the landscape by looking a trees and plants starting with trees.

1/.  Trees live for a long time, are big, strong with a lifespan beyond those of humans.  They move and make noises with the winds

Most ancient civilisations would have sacred trees, they were venerated. We have a love for trees now but they have ancient sacred memories associated with them too.  Genesis has the tree of life and tree of knowledge so have been seen as wise.  Irminsul the tree of life venerated by the Saxons may be the origin of the English Maypole.  Yggdrasil, the world tree from Norse Mythology held the universe together.

Not all tree were good, The Wild Wood of Northern Europe has a dark ominous view of them.

2/.  Trees in Irish Celtic Mythology

The Chieftain Trees were the most important and included oak, hazel, holly, apple, ash, yew and fir.

i/. Oak – we looked at the Oak in detail, as it was the most important.

It has a powerful spirit, in winter the spirit goes to the mistletoe which is frequently found on it.  A protector against lightning, for the God fearing.  Links to Thor.  Associated with fertility and thus with marriages.  Newly married couples would dance around Marriage Oaks.  Couples would marry in church and process to the oak tree.

Healing powers – an iron nail driven into the oak would cure tooth ache, water from hollows in the tree would cure ulcers.

Some stories were attached to existing traditions.  Oak Apple Day 29^th May took existing traditions appropriated by the Royalists to commemorate the restoration of Charles II.  This was very popular, sprigs of oak were worn on coats, sprigs in churches, houses.  The origins were probably from May Day.

ii/. Hazel – hidden knowledge.  9 hazel trees surrounded the Celtic Well of Knowledge.  Hazel rods were used to search for hidden things, suspected thieves, water, minerals, metals.

iii/. Holly – Protective, belonged to the fairy folk.   Not generally allowed in churches due to their pagan associations.  If cut one had to apologies to the tree.

iv/. Apple Tree – Symbol of youth, strength, and healing.   An ancient symbol of fruitfulness and fertility.  Apple trees should never be cut down and should be honoured.  There was a tradition of wassailing the apple where an offering of cider-soaked bread would be made.  These were serious ceremonies where the whole family from eldest to youngest were expected to attend but are more light-hearted in modern times.

Continue reading →

We continued the topic of hill figures in the landscape.

1/. We discussed the possible link between hill figures and folk legends concerning giants

The Long Man of Wilmington was said to be the outline of a giant who was killed in battle.  A figure that was once at Plymouth Hoe was said portray the giant Gogmagog, who was killed in combat with Brutus’ champion Corineus.

In the 1950s, the archaeologist T. C. Lethbridge carried out a prolonged investigation of the Gogmagog Hills in Cambridgeshire, in search of a hill figure of the same giant.  He claimed to have discovered several figures, but his claims have largely been dismissed.

In a similar fashion, in 1929 Katherine Maltwood claimed that she had discovered the figures of a huge prehistoric zodiac marked out by roads, lanes, field boundaries, watercourses and earthworks in the area around Glastonbury.  The centre of the zodiac was occupied by a figure of King Arthur at Glastonbury Tor.  Mrs Maltwood’s claims have largely been discounted.

2/.  We also considered the ancient mazes – convoluting pathways cut into the turf, or marked out by rocks and stones – that have survived in Britain and on the continent.  The purpose of these mazes is unknown, but it has been suggested that some of them may have been used by church men as paths for contemplation; or they may have been used for ritual dances, with the dancers spiralling in and out of the maze along the paths.

6.10.23 Elfrida recording the dances.

• Duke of  York’s cotillion – 3 couple dance (deferred)
• Prince Rupert’s March see last week.
• Bartlett Bells also danced last week.
• Greengage a nice longways dance & music.
• James’ Park – longways, also deferred.
• Whim of the moment – longways, went well , all went home happy.

13.10.23

• The new Rigged Ship a 3 couple dance.
• Fine Dame a 4 couple dance by Simone Verheyen.
• Nonesuch a 4 couple dance pub. Playford 1651, adapted by Pat Shaw 1964.
• On the Edge II a June Jones 4 couple square formation dance with Grand Squares.
• Lord Caernarfon’s Jig a 4 couple dance from 1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharpe 1910.

20.10.23

• Hit and Miss a 2 couple dance, pub. by Playford 1651 in The English Dancing Master.
• St. James Park  a longways dance from 1718, source John Young.
• Fret and Rejoice a longways Gary Roodman dance from 2015.
• If all the World were Paper… a traditional 4 couple dance from 1651 in a square formation.
• She looked down her nose and Sneered a longways dance and a fascinating title!
• Nampwich Fair a longways Playford dance.

27.10.23

• Barbara Walton’s delight a 3 couple dance, apparently written by her friend Irene Crew. Barbara was due to retire but sadly died before this happened. Published in 1999.
• The Slof Galliard a 4 couple dance by Pat Shaw in 1975, everyone is dancing all the time in this flowing dance. (a belated birthday request from Wendy)
• Handel with Care a 2 couple Gary Roodman dance.
• On the Edge II see 13th. danced a few times.
• Jamaica a 4 couple Playford dance from 1670 adapted by Tom Cook.

A good selection of both Traditional and Contemporary dances.

Peter Gateley gave us a great presentation  on the new RHS Bridgewater garden👩‍🌾🌼
This was followed by a plant related quiz after the refreshments break.

Continue reading →

1.09.23

• One is one and all alone…..a longways dance by Fried de Metz Herman 1994 part of a series.
• Freeford Gardens another longways dance by David & Katherine Wright. Good tune.
• Dancing at Lughnasa a 4 couple June Jones dance MarkII
• Black Bess a longways dance from Dancing Master 1696-1728
• Faithful Shepherd a longways dance Charles & Samuel Thompson 1773.
• Gasconne see 21.07 23

8.09.23

• Winifred’s Knot a 4 couple dance from 1652.
• The Merry Andrew  a 3 couple dance by Marjorie Heffer & William Porter 1932
• The Waters of Holland a 3 couple dance by Pat Shaw 1971
• Dunant’s House waltz a 3 couple dance by Colin Hume 1991.
• Bells of Newport a longways dance.

15.09.23 Elfrida calling the dances today.

• The Prince Regent a 3 couple dance.
• Simple square as  befits the title, danced in a square formation for 4 couples. From Margaret McFarlanes collection of dances.
• Birthday Reel a 4 couple dance. Just because we like it, not for anyones Birthday!
• Which way now MkII a June Jones 4 couple dance with diagonals & stars!
• Go to the Devil and shake yourself a longways dance 1795/9.
• Trip to Sheringham danced in a square formation. The music getting faster & faster.

22.09.23 Elfrida recording the dances for the next 3 sessions.

• a longways dance Olive Grove danced to the tune Childgrove.
• a 3 couple dance April’s Lady a waltz danced x2.
• a 3 couple dance A Lady Remembered.
• a longways dance The Militia danced April 2023.
• a longways dance  Irish Lamentation a slow waltz from the Walsh Collection 1735 and rather beautiful.

29.09.23

• In the Fields of Frost & Snow a longways dance.
• Bartlett Bells with diagonal Heys.
• Prince Rupert’s March a 4 couple dance with lots of casting & 1st man in the lead.
• Dunham Oaks a longways dance.
• Prince William of Gloucester a longways waltz.

We had an excellent poetry  recital from our very own Poetry Group, followed of course by refreshments and a game

Continue reading →

Continue reading →

1/. We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape.

We completed our discussion of folklore associated with inland water, and legends that connect Celtic goddesses to rivers as the sprits of the water.  We questioned if there was a connection between these, the waters are dangerous, there are obvious warnings contained.  It is possible that there are folk memories of the goddesses and spirits from pagan times.

There were beliefs that rivers demanded a quota of drownings over a period of time, some said per year, others every seven years.  We also looked at the importance of the recovery of the bodies of the drowned.  There were rituals used to locate where the bodies were.  It was important for the bereaved to bury them and show respect.

We looked at the folklore related to Aine an Irish Celtic sun goddess/earth mother/mother earth figure and the creation of Lough Gur in Ireland.  She created the lough as a young woman by leaving the top off a well or she was caught by St Patrick as an old woman as she was urinating and that created the lough.

There are many stories in mainland Britain where women left the lid off a well creating lakes and lochs.  Very few of them related to men.  They may have been warnings to protect your precious water source, the water gods could also be dangerous.   Possibly there are links to the memories of the great flood myth which has lots of stories all over the world.

2/. We started a new subtopic of hill figures in the landscape.

White Horses

Most existing white horses are from the late C18th and early C19th due to them becoming fashionable.  These were mainly in Wiltshire due to its topography and the chalk.  A few of these may have earlier figures underneath or Iron Age forts or enclosures nearby.

The white horse at Uffington is the oldest surviving horse.  It is 120 metres long.  It has a stylised shape.  It predates the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the most likely contenders for its creators are the Celts around 1000 BCE.  There is a hill fort by it which is likely to be of the same time.

The stylised shape of the horse is quite common in Celtic metal work and the Atrebates tribe have them on their coins.  It may be dragon not a horse.  There is a Dragon Hill just opposite and the story is that the dragon was killed by St George and the grass did not grow where the blood was spilt.

Human Figures

We looked at two the 180ft Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset and the 230ft Long Man of Wilmington.

There a number of theories of the origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant.  It had an Iron Age enclosure above it and it is likely to have been involved in fertility rites.  We looked at possible dating information/clues for it; the best guess being Celtic.

The Long Man of Wilmington is possibly Saxon or Romano British.  The figure may have had more detail such as eyes as it was almost lost in the turf and was reinstated by white painted bricks.  There is a giant legend associated with it where two giants fought and the figure is the outline left in the hillside of the one which was killed.

We’ll finish this sub topic next time and start a new one.

We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape.

In the session we carried on with our discussion of folklore associated with stone circles, standing stones, burial chambers etc; petrification legends, stones that are impossible to count, stones that have the ability to move.

Many standing stones and stone circles are said to be able to move, to drink from nearby streams or to dance. It is suggested that originally it would have been the people who visited the stones who danced, or poured water over the stone as an offering.

Long Meg and her Daughters are said to be a coven of witches who were turned to stone by the Scottish magician and alchemist Michael Scott.

Callanish Stone Circle on the island of Lewis is said to be giants who were turned to stone by St. Kieran. There is also a folktale concerning a white cow that appeared out of the sea at a time of famine. She gave milk to all, until a malignant witch milked her dirty and the cow vanished.  Possibly offended by the greed and disrespect that the witch had shown.

We also began to consider folklore connected to inland water, and legends that connect Celtic goddesses to rivers as the sprits of the water; Boann and the River Boyne, Sinnan and the Shannon, Deva and the Dee, Sabrina and the Severn etc.

4.08.23

• Barberini’s Tambourine a longways dance from the Walsh Collection c 1735. We last danced this in August 2019.
• Bartlett Bells another longways dance.
• Greensleeves and Yellow Lace this is a 3 couple dance which has gone out of fashion but June is keen to give it another chance. From Dancing Master 1721. It was challenging!
• Handel with care a Gary Roodman 2 couple dance from 1987. 

We danced most of these dances x2.

11.08.23 Some Golden Oldies from 1650’s. (ex 3 & 5)

• The Maid peeked out the Window or The Friar in the Well a 4 couple dance x2.
• Gray’s Inn Mask a 4 couple dance with the tune at varied speeds. Very enjoyable.
• Cat’s Cradle Mk2 a June Jones 4 couple dance. Mk1 28.07.23.
• Bobbing Joe a 4 couple dance, slow and measured. 4 movements synonymous with Traditional dances.
• Ashley’s Ride a 3 couple American dance 1795 by Nancy Shepley.
• Upon a Summer’s Day a 3 couple dance. A fitting finish to an August summer day.

18.08.23 Elfrida recording.

• Chocolate Cake 4 couple- which we’ve danced before. You can never have enough cake!
• Bobbing Joe see last week. Music- Balshazzars Feast playing J.Playford’s Secret Ball.
• Alice – Longways, one of Phillipe Callan’s dances.
• Connaught Water was tried but abandoned!
• Swirl of the Sea – square set 4 couple dance.
• Whim of the Moment – longways. Went well.

25.08.23.

• The Happy Couple a longways dance x2.
• Prince Georges Birthday a longways dance from 1713 with ‘clapping’ to your neighbour and to your partner.
• Dancing at Lughnasa a 4 couple dance. x2
• St. Andrew’s Gardens a longways dance x2

I may have missed a dance here but will add next month if so.

This story is a memory I have of an unusual Irish man, and of a time now long gone, and I hope it will be of interest to u3a readers.

The poems attached at the end are by my husband, Francis Loughlin, and also relate to Connemara.  We both fell in love with this special place on our first visit there in 1986 and spend as much time as possible there.

Adrienne Loughlin

The Dancer

When I was a little girl, my mother filled my head with stories of fairies, goblins and any other mythical creatures she could think of, so I spent quite a long time searching under the bushes in our back garden for a sight of one of the Little People.  With no luck, I asked her just where were they.  She smiled a half smile, scrunched my cheek and said, ‘Aah child, you have to go to Ireland to see the fairies.  That’s where they live’.  She was on a safe bet there as the chances of our family visiting Ireland in the 1950s were as remote as us flying to the moon.

But I did visit Ireland in 1986 and have visited every year and several times a year since then.  I still haven’t seen a fairy or leprechaun but I have met quite a few other weird and wonderful characters.

I was walking along a narrow country road in Connemara, which is in the far west of Ireland, on a fine day in June and admiring the thick banks of wild dog daisies each side.  The only sounds were the droning of bees in the fuchsia hedges and the occasional mellow call of a cuckoo.  Very few people owned cars then in that part of Ireland and the only traffic you might have seen in the early mornings would be farmers driving their cattle from one field to another.  I had a bit of a surprise then when the figure of an old man appeared, looming over the rise in the road.  He was the thinnest and tallest man I had ever seen.  He wore a crumpled suit which had long since seen better days and as he walked towards me, gave the impression of being a puppet on strings so loosely did he move.  He passed me by with a, ‘ How are ye?” and went on his way.

A few days later I came across this tall and thin, old man again when I was listening to a traditional music session in a local pub.  Towards midnight, when the pub was packed and the air thick with pipe and tobacco smoke, in he came.  Bending his long frame he entered through the door, and then stretched to his full height. With  a wide smile on his face, he began to dance.  He still wore the same suit I’d seen him in previously and a pipe dangled comfortably from his mouth in a space where his teeth had once been.  The musicians, who consisted of an accordion player, and several others playing  tin whistles, fiddles, and a bodhran were  playing fast reels and jigs.  Someone found a pair of spoons and added to the rhythm.  The old man’s dancing was of a style I’d never seen before.  First he shrugged one shoulder, then the other, then both.  Sometimes he held out a hand to anyone who might dance with him.  Some did but most cheered him on.  His heavy boots made a pleasing, thumping sound on the wooden floor of the pub and every so often he raised an arm and punched the air in his enjoyment.  He was mesmerising to watch, his long, lean body bending forwards and backwards, whilst his audience clapped him on.  But even the best dancers need to rest and soon  he wandered over to the bar where he sat and nursed a pint of Guinness in his bony hands.

I found out later that the old man had been born and bred on one of Connemara’s small offshore islands.  His island had to be evacuated in the 1970’s due to the extremely harsh living conditions, often being cut off for weeks during the frequent Atlantic storms in winter,  and the lack of any help in an emergency.  He and the rest of the islanders, along with their cattle, hens, dogs, cats and everything they owned, were then ferried over to Connemara’s mainland, and settled there, in view of their old island homes.

That man has long since passed, taking with him old traditions, customs and his very own island way of dance.

Adrienne Loughlin

Connemara Sea

Connemara Land

Francis Loughlin 

Thank you everyone who came to see our Spring 2023 performances.

These are some of the photos.  (Click to create slide show)

A Drama Group Show

Photos by Bill Soens

Spring 2023 Performance

The Musical Theatre Group presented – ‘The Not So Young Ones’.  A Celebration of songs from –  50s, 60s & 70s – at Aughton village Hall

 

7.07.23 Elfrida recording the dances. More of Wendy’s birthday choices.*

• Black Nag (see last week)
• *Leah’s Waltz ditto
• Leaving of Liverpool ditto
• *Trip to Bavaria 4 couple Scottish dance by James McGregor Brown.
• *Wibsey Roundabout a 5 couple dance in circle formation, by Gary Roodman 1966.
• *Morrison’s Reel another 5 couple dance.

14.07.23

• *The Rakes of Rochester  a longways dance from 1756 by Rutherford.
• Money in both pockets a longways dance c1800.
• One is One… a longways dance by Fried de Metz Herman 1994.
• Black Nag, Leah’s Waltz, Leaving of Liverpool these 3 dances are being demonstrated at the U3a 20th Celebration later this month.
• Irish Lamentation a longways dance c1735 pub. Walsh.
• Christina a Naomi Alexander longways dance.

21.07.23

• Six for the Six proud walkers…another Fried de Metz Herman dances 1995.
• The 3 demonstration dances, practise makes perfect!
• Double Jubilee a 3 couple Gary Roodman dance c2015. Tune (a great one) by Dave Wiesler.
• Giant Steps a 4 couple June Jones dance, we’re still making a giant effort to improve this .
• Summer Waltz a longways dance
• Gasconne a longways dance from 1710 reinterpreted by Pat Shaw 1965.

28.07.23

• Waters of Holland a Pat Shaw dance from 1977 x2.
• a June Jones – in progress dance, possibly named the Cat’s pyjamas! we will see.
• the 3 demonstration dances -final rehearsal for tomorrows celebration.
• The Baffled Knight a 4 couple dance by Heffer & Porter 1932 one of the early contemporary choreographed dances. (Becoming less baffling!)
• Nonesuch a 4 couple dance Playford 1651
• Lord Caernarfon’s Jig another 4 couple dance from 1651 reconstructed by Cecil Sharpe 1910

This Spring of 2023, the Nolan household, in the interest of the local insects, decided on a No Mow May policy for the Front Lawn.  This experiment has produced some quite interesting results.

Many more wild flower varieties popped up than expected. These included: shining cranesbill, dandelion (in profusion but surprisingly few daisies), wild violet, pansy (probably reseeded from last year’s plant pots), lesser trefoil (suckling clover), creeping buttercup, chickweed, and white clover.

shining cranesbill

dandelion

creeping buttercup

chickweed

pansy

lesser trefoil

white clover

Cutting resumed post-May, though few mowings have been required because of spells of very dry weather. Most of the wild flowers quite quickly disappeared with the exception of the clover, now carpeting large expanses of the lawn area!  So much so, that it may not be easy to get rid of.  Maybe we won’t even try for a while as the bees are just loving all that clover.  And there are other ecological benefits of this plant. For example, clover is capable of adding nitrogen to the soil, and is often mixed with lawn seed to reduce the need for fertilizer.  It is also drought resistant, so survives without much watering. It can out-compete other plants, thus reducing the use of weed-killers. It can be foraged by both animals and humans.

Although mowing is now underway, we have left an inconspicuous strip of grass uncut under the side hedge.  This has almost no flowers but the now tall grass is a haven for tiny moths – also useful pollinators.

Weighing up some advantages and disadvantages ……..  is No Mow May 2024 on the cards for our Front Lawn? Possibly.  Or perhaps we could even consider letting it become a Completely Clover Lawn.  Then, apparently, it will: attract lots of insects, bees and butterflies, smell nice, feel good to walk on with bare feet, not be discoloured by dog wee, stay pretty green all year without much attention and remain short with very little mowing at all. It’s tempting.

Alan and Joyce Nolan

When I was a little girl, my mother filled my head with stories of fairies, goblins and any other mythical creatures she could think of, so I spent quite a long time searching under the bushes in our back garden for a sight of one of the Little People.  With no luck, I asked her just where were they.  She smiled a half smile, scrunched my cheek and said, ‘Aah child, you have to go to Ireland to see the fairies.  That’s where they live’.  She was on a safe bet there as the chances of our family visiting Ireland in the 1950s were as remote as us flying to the moon.

But I did visit Ireland in 1986 and have visited every year and several times a year since then.  I still haven’t seen a fairy or leprechaun but I have met quite a few other weird and wonderful characters.

I was walking along a narrow country road in Connemara, which is in the far west of Ireland, on a fine day in June and admiring the thick banks of wild dog daisies each side.  The only sounds were the droning of bees in the fuchsia hedges and the occasional mellow call of a cuckoo.  Very few people owned cars then in that part of Ireland and the only traffic you might have seen in the early mornings would be farmers driving their cattle from one field to another.  I had a bit of a surprise then when the figure of an old man appeared, looming over the rise in the road.  He was the thinnest and tallest man I had ever seen.  He wore a crumpled suit which had long since seen better days and as he walked towards me, gave the impression of being a puppet on strings so loosely did he move.  He passed me by with a ‘How are ye?” and went on his way.

A few days later I came across this tall and thin, old man again when I was listening to a traditional music session in a local pub.  Towards midnight, when the pub was packed and the air thick with pipe and tobacco smoke, in he came.  Bending his long frame he entered through the door, and then stretched to his full height. With  a wide smile on his face, he began to dance.  He still wore the same suit I’d seen him in previously and a pipe dangled comfortably from his mouth in a space where his teeth had once been.  The musicians, who consisted of an accordion player, and several others playing  tin whistles, fiddles, and a bodhran were  playing fast reels and jigs.  Someone found a pair of spoons and added to the rhythm.  The old man’s dancing was of a style I’d never seen before.  First he shrugged one shoulder, then the other, then both.  Sometimes he held out a hand to anyone who might dance with him.  Some did but most cheered him on.  His heavy boots made a pleasing, thumping sound on the wooden floor of the pub and every so often he raised an arm and punched the air in his enjoyment.  He was mesmerising to watch, his long, lean body bending forwards and backwards, whilst his audience clapped him on.  But even the best dancers need to rest and soon  he wandered over to the bar where he sat and nursed a pint of Guinness in his bony hands.

I found out later that the old man had been born and bred on one of Connemara’s small offshore islands.  His island had to be evacuated in the 1970’s due to the extremely harsh living conditions, often being cut off for weeks during the frequent Atlantic storms in winter,  and the lack of any help in an emergency.  He and the rest of the islanders, along with their cattle, hens, dogs, cats and everything they owned, were then ferried over to Connemara’s mainland, and settled there, in view of their old island homes.

That man has long since passed, taking with him old traditions, customs and his very own island way of dance.

Adrienne Loughlin

23 July  2023

A music quiz – songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s.   Refreshments and then entertainment from local Guitarist🎸 Ken Waters.   Lots of singing 🎶along.

25 June 2023

Our u3a Choir returned to entertain us with some of their excellent performance pieces plus some sing-along songs to join in on – followed by a game or two after refreshments.

28 May 2023

Our long standing member Vaughan entertained  us with a series of songsand videos  that he has published on his Youtube Channel.     The videos were taking on his various jaunts around our local towns and places of interest.

23 April 2023

We were well entertained by the local Guitar Group Revamped 🎸 🎤 🎵

Super refreshments – as always – 😁

We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape.

In the previous session we had broken the topic into three parts and completed the first section of rocks and rock formations with healing properties.

i/. Natural Rocks and Rock Formations & Stones with Healing Powers

ii/. Natural Rock Formations & Stones with Powers of Fertility

iii/.  Natural Rock Formations & Stones connected to Oath taking etc.

In this session we completed the second two groups and started a new section of Stone circles, Standing stones etc.

1/.

1.1  Natural Rock Formations & Stones with Powers of Fertility

These included examples of ensuring female fertility and for easing childbirth and one example of male fertility from Boho, Enniskillen.  Then we looked at stones relating to good harvests, fine weather, or good catches at sea.  In one example in the Western Isles Scotland weather stones were treasured by families and clans; these stone were not always big and were looked after in houses, kept wrapped (often in flannel) and washed in water or milk.

A lot of these stories were in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We discussed why stones might have been used in these rituals.

1.2   Natural Rock Formations & Stones connected to Oath taking etc.

We looked at number of these which covered marriages, inauguration of kings, oaths and agreements.

If the stones were not respected there could be consequences.  The Deity stone in Penmaenmawr, North Wales it was told that if a person blasphemed or used bad language within arm’s reach of the stone it would strike them.  In the legend it was told someone had challenged this, used bad language and had been found battered and trampled to death beside the stone.

We looked at why stones may have been used for this, perhaps because they are fixed and a constant and somehow these attributes could be borrowed by the process used.  The use of stones in this way goes back at least as far as the Celts.

2/.  Stone circles, Standing Stones etc.

These go back a very long way, certainly to 3500-1000 BCE.  They are all over the country and there are lots of examples in Cornwall which has areas which have not been inhabited so remain undisturbed.  Not all have folklore attached.

There were a number of common themes such as petrifaction of people who failed to observe the sabbath or are duped by the devil, the number of stones being impossible to count, consequences of trying to count them, offerings being made.  There was impact of Christianity on the folklore.

One example in Rollright, Oxfordshire covered a stone circle which had stories relating to a king and his Knights being turned to stone, the stones being impossible to count and the king someday coming back to life.

2024

May 2024

On Thursday 9th May we welcomed Dr John Patterson, Principal at St Vincent’s School for visually impaired children, in the Archdiocese of Liverpool. After taking over as Principal in 2012, Dr Patterson set about encouraging students’ entrepreneurialism, employment skills, creativity, and solidarity with those less fortunate. On Wednesdays pupils choose lessons they feel play to their strengths, including in music, drama, sports, ICT, environmental work, and growing food on the school grounds to use in a student-run café. One of his many achievements has been to oversee pupils developing a disability sports toolbox that now helps children in 20 countries across four continents.

He has championed pupils’ leadership skills with an enriched curriculum which has them teaching their international peers in how to use the toolbox, and the Indonesian government has since asked for 70,000 of its social workers to be similarly trained.

The school’s pupils have made ceramic Remembrance poppies worn by leaders including the then-Prime Minister Theresa May; they have sung for the Queen; and have also been featured in an exhibition by celebrity photographer Rankin for the COP26 climate change summit that took place in Glasgow during 2021.

Thank you John for this inspirational talk!

April 2024

On 11th April Russell Parry entertained us with the fascinating story of The Appley Bridge Meteorite.

We heard how, at 8.45 pm on Tuesday 14th October 1914, a large meteorite landed at Halliwell Farm, Up Holland. Locals at first mistook the explosion and fireball for a German invasion, the police were called and promptly confiscated the meteorite. It was then put on display in the village shop and can now be seen in the Natural History Museum in London.

Thank you Russell for this most interesting talk!

March 2024

A large audience gathered on Thursday 14^th March to hear magician Pete Turner’s fascinating talk, Through the Eyes of a Magician. Using a series of ‘magic tricks’, including a handkerchief which mysteriously found its way into one member’s wallet, Pete demonstrated how the seemingly impossible can appear to happen before our eyes. This was a very entertaining and thought-provoking talk, very much enjoyed by all who attended. Thank you Pete!

February 2024

The first Speaker Meeting of the year took place on Thursday 8th February, when Angela Danby returned with more extraordinary tales from her time as a reporter with the Southport Visiter. Angela was a print journalist for almost 20 years. During that time, she worked as a news editor, features editor, sub editor and crime corresponden

We heard about the history of the Southport Visiter (originally literally aimed at visitors to Southport) and were shown a copy of the first edition, from May 1844. We heard about the horrific murder of Linsey Quy in the 1990s, whose husband was jailed for life in 2001 for her murder, and also the murder of Nigel Bostock in 1986.

Thank you Angela for an interesting and entertaining talk!

2023

December 2023

The final Speaker Meeting of the year  took place on Thursday 14th December, when Carol Rogers MBE, Director, House of Memories, National Museums Liverpool spoke about the multi-award-winning House of Memories, a flagship dementia awareness programme for National Museums Liverpool.

November 2023

On Thursday 2nd November a large audience welcomed Stuart Elliott, who spoke on the subject of English Village Life in the Middle Ages.

September 2023

The first of our Autumn talks took place on Thursday 7th September, when author Fran Sandham spoke about his Solo Walk across Africa.

In a most entertaining and fascinating illustrated talk, Fran told us how, as a 6 year old child in hospital in Birkenhead, he was enthralled by a Tarzan comic featuring Africa. This developed into an interest in Victorian explorers such as David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley, then a New Year’s Eve decision to spend a year walking solo across Africa in 1997. Carrying a rucksack weighing 100 lb and walking an average of 26 miles a day, he managed to cover 3,500 miles in a year; at the outset he weighed 12.5 stone, and by the end of the journey 8.5 stone. Despite illness, blisters and a very uncooperative donkey, what Fran remembers most vividly is the friendship, kindness and hospitality of the people he met along the way. Thank you for sharing your unique experience with us Fran.

July 2023

A large audience gathered on Thursday 6^th July to hear Dave Carlos (Cyber Volunteer for Lancashire Police) speak on the subject of Cyber Crime. In a highly informative and well illustrated talk, Dave offered detailed advice on passwords, scams and online security, and emphasised the importance of vigilance when responding to emails and texts. Since the talk, Dave has sent over some links which may be of interest:

June 2023

On Thursday 1^st June Sid Calderbank returned to entertain us with songs, stories and poems in Lancashire dialect, expertly accompanied this time by violinist Joy Hunter. Sid’s theme was the life and career of Edwin (Ned) Waugh, born in Rochdale in 1817 to a very poor family who ran a cobblers’ market stall. He was apprenticed to a printer, and through the trade became acquainted with literary men who inspired him to write songs and stories. He eventually settled in Manchester and in 1856 wrote a poem about a young wife pleading for her husband to come home from the pub. The poem was published and made him famous, he made a lot of money and travelled widely giving readings and singing songs. He died of cancer of the tongue after a lifetime addiction to snuff, and 2000 people came to his funeral. We love hearing your stories Sid, thank you!

May 2023

On Thursday 4^th May we welcomed Dave Joy, who vividly described how his own family had moved from Wharfdale in Yorkshire to set up in business in Liverpool supplying fresh milk from their own cows. Using many photographs to illustrate his talk, Dave explained how, in the early nineteenth century, many farmers were moving from the Pennine Dales with the intention of taking advantage of the mass migration of workers into cities like Liverpool, as the industrial revolution took hold. We heard how such farmers would typically set up in end of terrace properties, housing their cattle in the back yard. The cows would be fed on grass cuttings from local parks, spent grain from breweries, molasses and oil seed cake. Waste products would be exchanged for hay at the city’s haymarket. The businesses did a roaring trade selling fresh milk, until competition began to emerge from corporate dairies, who brought milk into the city by train. Nevertheless, Dave’s ancestors traded successfully as A Joy & Sons between 1863 and 1963. Thank you Dave for an exceptionally interesting and well presented talk.

April 2023

The Real War Horses

On Thursday 6^th April Dot Hawkes, Secretary and Trustee of Lathom Park Trust, gave a detailed and moving account of how Lathom Park became a Remount Depot during the First World War. Opened in 1915, Lathom Park was just one of 12 such depots around the coast, where horses were imported from Australia, the USA and Canada in specially adapted ships, then trained and cared for until they were ready to be taken onward to battle sites. A ship could accommodate 500-700 horses, and many were lost when the ships were attacked at sea. The Horse Mobilisation Scheme was a major undertaking and the horses played a vital role in warfare, to the extent that it was said that the loss of one horse was the equivalent to the loss of 100 men. Upon arrival in Liverpool, horses were checked by vets, before being brought by train to Ormskirk then walked to Lathom. The Warhorse Route is a popular walk today, and in 2019 a memorial was erected at the entrance to Lathom Park.

An inspiring story, thank you Dot!

March 2023

A large audience gathered at HQ on 2^nd March to hear Graham Stirrup’s talk on Women in World War 1. In a superbly well illustrated talk, Graham took us back to 1773, when records show that a man sold his wife at a cattle auction for one shilling. By 1914 women could still expect a life of drudgery in the home, the mills and in service, unless they were very rich. Things began to change with the outbreak of war, when thousands of men were called up and women were called upon to work in transport, munitions factories, in mines and on the land, often working in dangerous conditions and with toxic substances. After the war ended in 1918 and men returned from fighting, women were obliged to return to the same occupations they had before. However, this era also saw the beginning of the Suffragette movement and the Women’s Land Army, heralding the start of momentous changes which we benefit from today. A most entertaining informative and thought-provoking talk, superbly well presented. Thank you Graham!

February 2023

 The first Speaker Meeting of 2023 took place on Thursday 2nd February, when Angela Danby gave a very entertaining talk about her 20 year career as a journalist with the Southport Visiter. We were shown a first edition copy of the paper from 1844, which included the announcement of the birth of a baby to a lady with 24 children! Angela also gave us a vivid description of a fire at Huntapac in Tarleton, the famous visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, to Queenscourt Hospice in 1992 and the attempted murder which took place at Pineapple Park restaurant, also in 1992. Angela has met and interviewed many famous people during her career, including Jason Donovan, Ken Dodd and Roy Castle. A thoroughly enjoyable talk – thank you Angela!

2022

November 2022

The last Speaker Meeting of the year took place on 3^rd November, when author Philip Caine entertained us with a whistle-stop tour of his extraordinary career. In 45 minutes of vivid description, colourful characters and fascinating anecdotes we heard of Philip’s extraordinary adventures and exploits in the North Sea, Algeria, West Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iraq and finally Dubai. Philip retired in 2015 and is now pursuing as second career as a writer and speaker.

October 2022

On Thursday 6^th October we enjoyed a moving and inspirational talk by u3a member Mike McKenna and ex-serviceman Tom O’Brian. After a difficult childhood blighted by ill health, Mike trained as an athlete and competed successfully at a high level.

He then went on to teach discus and shot put and joined Preston Harriers as a coach, where he began training injured ex-servicemen to take part in the newly inaugurated Invictus Games.

Tom was one such veteran. Having joined up at 17, he served with the Scots Guards in London before being posted to various locations around the world including Afghanistan in 2010, where he acted as an interpreter in addition to active service. Having sustained significant injuries during heavy fighting, he left the Army in 2012, but over the next 4 years struggled with mental and physical injuries which brought him to a very low point in his life. Eventually, he heard from a friend about Combat Support and the Invictus Games, and decided to approach Preston Harriers, where he met Mike. This friendship, and the sport training, changed his life. He competed in the Warrior Games in the USA, met Prince Harry and took part in the Invictus Games.

This was a vividly described account of triumph over adversity and the power of friendship. Thank you, Mike and Tom, for sharing it with us.

September 2022

On Thursday 1^st September a large audience gathered to hear Roger Blaxall speak about his interesting and exciting career as Public Relations Officer for Greater Manchester Police and also Lancashire Constabulary. In a very detailed and entertaining talk we heard about the Police Constable who stole cars to pay off his £58,000 gambling debt, the Police Sergeant who smuggled drugs to India whilst claiming to make monthly visits for specialist back treatment, and the Detective Sergeant whose strippergram party was covertly filmed and sent to the News of the World.

June 2022

A large audience gathered on Thursday 9^th June to hear David Hearn’s fascinating talk about Sir William Brown. One of linen merchant Alexander Brown’s four sons, William was born in Liverpool but moved with his family to Baltimore, then returned to Liverpool in 1810 and married his wife Sarah. They had 9 children, and William outlived all of them.

William’s extensive interests covered shipping, banking and railways, and by 1836 he was turning over £10 million a year. $1 in every $6 of US overseas trade was handled by William Brown’s companies. Several office buildings were built in Liverpool, including the library and museum we see today, and William Brown Street is the only street in Europe which consists entirely of public buildings. In spite of this William was not well liked and was rather an introvert, however he was well known for his philanthropy.

May 2022

The Lancashire Cotton Famine

Sid Calderbank

1860, and the Industrial Revolution is well under way, with 2000 cotton mills employing half a million people, using cotton mostly supplied from the cotton fields of the Southern States of America which arrives regularly in the port of Liverpool with its 7 miles of docks. Then in 1861 war breaks out in America. 800,000 lives will be lost and there are naval blockades of the Southern States. The supply of cotton comes to an end; nearly 50 mills close within a few months and in Wigan alone 10,000 workers are unemployed. With no other source of income or support they are reduced to begging and burning furniture for warmth.

Then in 1862 John Whittaker, aka Lancashire Lad, writes a letter to the paper about the plight of the workers and begins to receive donations. Other philanthropists follow suit, and before long towns are setting up their own Relief Committees. Sewing schools are set up to retrain young mill girls, and by 1865 the war has ended and the supply of cotton resumes.

This amazing tale of triumph over adversity was told by Sid Calderbank, a Lancashire Lad himself who for 25 years has been entertaining groups such as ours. Using songs, poems and extracts from contemporary diaries, Sid painted a vivid and evocative picture of these extraordinary times, and drew parallels with the present tragic situation in Ukraine. A spellbinding talk, thank you Sid!

April 2022

Fakes and Forgeries: is there a difference?

After a most informative, amusing and well-illustrated talk by Bill Soens, we were left in no doubt: a fake is not intended to deceive, whereas a forgery most definitely is.

Bill began by showing us a Georgian silver coffee pot, valued at several thousand pounds and complete with hallmarks. In fact this turned out to be fashioned from a silver chalice, to which a spout, handle and lid had been added and which now had two sets of genuine hallmarks about 150 years apart.

By contrast, we were then introduced to ‘The Bolton Mafia’, aka George and Olive Greenhalgh and their son Shaun. Working in his garden shed, Shaun forged paintings by Lowry, artefacts by Barbara Hepworth and Paul Gauguin and an Egyptian statuette which he sold to the Bolton museum for £440,000, after it had been authenticated by the British Museum and Christie’s Auction house experts. He also claimed that an alleged Leonardo painting, La Principessa, had been painted by him and was in fact the checkout girl from the local Coop.  This is still in dispute.  He was eventually prosecuted and spent 4 ½ years in jail. Apparently he is still painting but signs everything with his own name, and has returned his ill-gotten gains to the Bolton Museum.

March 2022

On Thursday 3^rd March Julia Clayton made a welcome return, and gave a good size audience a fascinating insight into The Grand Tour. We heard how one of the first Grand Tours took place from 1613-14, when Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, and his wife Alathea journied to Italy, accompanied by the artist Inigo Jones. Amongst many other works of art they purchased 37 paintings by Titian, which can all be seen in the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. Many others followed in their foot

steps, renting a carriage in Calais and travelling onward in the hope of improving their language skills, building on their classical education, viewing artworks (and often having portraits painted of themselves), and listening to new music. This would build up their prestige and confirm them as men and women of taste. Clothes would be bought in Paris, and lists of what to take included such suggestions as a sofa bed, cutlery, condiments, cork-soled shoes and ‘portable soup’.

Julia then introduced us to 3 Lancashire gentlemen who made the Grand Tour: Charles Townley of Burnley, whose sculpture gallery formed the basis of the British Museum collection; Henry Blundell of Ince Blundell, a landowner whose collection of sculptures can be seen in Liverpool Museum; and finally John Foster Junior, a young architect. After spending 7 years abroad John Foster became the chief architect for Liverpool and designed the ‘bombed out church’ we are all familiar with, and many other buildings.

With the advent of the railways, improved techniques for reproduction and mass market guide books, the Grand Tour fell out of favour, but its legacy remains for us to enjoy today. Thank you Julia for a most interesting and enjoyable talk.

Julia will be back next year – keep an eye open for details.

February 2022

Neil Stevenson

The first of our 2022 Speaker Meetings took place via Zoom on Thursday 3^rd February, when Neil Stevenson gave a fascinating illustrated talk entitled From Pit Graves to Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Burial Practices. We heard of evidence from 3500 BC in the form of Gebelein Man, who was simply buried in sand surrounded by grave goods, and whose body can be seen in the British Museum. In later times large structures were built over graves, then further developments led to step pyramids being constructed out of mud bricks. Finally techniques were perfected and the famous Pyramids at Giza were constructed using locally quarried limestone and granite from Aswan, using various transportation methods including sleds, levers and ramps. Neil also gave us an insight into hieroglyphics, the sophisticated writing system developed by the Egyptians 4500 years ago.

A lively Q & A session followed Neil’s talk.

2021

October 2021

If you’re irritated by the cost of renewing your passport, be grateful you were not trying to obtain one in 1858, when it would have cost you £2 7s 6d (equivalent to £266) and involved personal acquaintance with the Foreign Secretary!

A large audience attended the Speaker Meeting on 7^th October at Aughton Village Hall, to hear author, broadcaster and former Immigration Officer Martin Lloyd describe three events which have influenced the development of the passport we know today. In a vivid and detailed talk we travelled back to France in 1858 and the attempted assassination of Napoleon III, then to events Germany in 1914 which led to the inclusion of photographs, and again in Germany in 1945 when William Joyce, alias Lord Haw Haw, was executed for treason.

August 2021

An appreciative audience gathered at Aughton Village Hall on 19^th August for the first ‘in person’ Speaker Meeting since for 18 months. Author Carolyn Kirby spoke about the background to her latest novel, ‘When We Fall’, a gripping 2^nd World War thriller which was chosen by the Times and Sunday Times as one of the 10 best historical novels of 2020. Carolyn spoke movingly about the women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary who flew aircraft from factory to airfield with minimal training, often making 3 or 4 trips a day. In particular we heard about Diana Barnato Walker, whose obituary in The Guardian was the original inspiration for the novel, Amy Johnson, a huge celebrity of the time following her solo flight to Australia, Polish pilot and resistance hero Janina Lavandowska, who was taken prisoner by the Russians and killed at the infamous Katyn massacre, and Monique Agazarian, who after the war became a pioneer of simulator training.

Carolyn is at present working on her 3^rd novel, and we hope to hear from her again in the future.

June 2021

On Thursday 3rd June we were greatly entertained by Fool’s Gold, alias Carol and Steve Robson. Carol and Steve have been performing their unique shows for some while – long enough to rack up over 1000 performances which have been delivered to audiences all over the UK. Since the pandemic began, they have adapted their performances so that they can be delivered very effectively via Zoom. Dark Light is the new Fool’s Gold zoom show for 2021. Using a very effective combination of songs, film, photos and graphics, Carol and Steve told the fascinating story of the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from Flannan Island in 1900. A most enjoyable performance. More details about Fool’s Gold can be found on their website: foolsgoldacoustic.co.uk

May 2021

On Thursday 6th May an appreciative Zoom audience enjoyed a fascinating and informative talk by John Whittles on Red Mason Bees. John told us how for many years farmers had been relying on imported bees to pollinate their fruit crops, due to the low numbers of native species. MasonBees.co.uk was originally a pollination service for farmers and growers, but has now developed into an educational enterprise designed to encourage us all to use our gardens and green spaces to create homes for solitary bees, which represent 90% of the bee population. We heard about the life-cycle of the Red Mason Bee which spans only 6-8 weeks in Springtime, and how the use of simple, specially designed equipment can greatly improve the chances of success, and so increase the declining numbers of bees.

You can find out more about these essential insects and their lifecycle on John’s website masonbees.co.uk

April 2021

On Thursday 1^st April a very appreciative audience was entertained once again by chocolate expert Andrew Thwaite, whose talk ‘Brilliant Brands’, told the stories behind the history and development of chocolate manufacture in York, and in particular Rowntree’s and Terry’s. We heard how the 19^th century founders of these companies were Quakers, and how cocoa was considered to be a wholesome alternative to the ‘demon drink’. In the beginning only hand-made chocolate assortments were produced, which were so expensive that the receipt of one was considered to be as good as a marriage proposal! The Kit Kat which we all know and love was first produced in 1935 as a result of a suggestion box scheme at the factory, and is now the world’s best selling chocolate bar – 6 million being made every day. Kit Kats are very popular in Japan, where they have developed flavours such as squid ink, hot dog and purple sweet potato! Andrew vividly described the early development of many of the products we still enjoy today, such as Polos, Walnut Whips (one eaten every 2 seconds, even though there is no longer a walnut on the top), and Terry’s Chocolate Orange, which started off as Chocolate Apple, then Chocolate Lemon before becoming the chocolate treat we enjoy today.

March 2021

Stephen Wells spoke about The Curious Incident of Agatha Christie

Thursday 4^th March over 50 members enjoyed a most entertaining and informative talk by professional entertainer Stephen Wells. The topic was ‘The Curious Incident of Agatha Christie’, and we heard how the famous author staged her own ‘disappearance’ in 1926, after receiving the devastating news that her husband had been having an affair. After a much publicised investigation involving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Wallace and Dorothy L Sayers, she was finally found 10 days later, very much alive and well, at the Hydro Hotel in Harrogate (now the Old Swan), having caused huge embarrassment to her errant husband, whom she divorced shortly afterwards.

Agatha Christie became known as the ‘Queen of Crime’ and is the best-selling novelist of all time, her books being outsold only by The Bible and Shakespeare. Stephen’s enthralling talk not only outlined her incredible career as a writer but also described how the film adaptations of her books have entertained huge audiences over the years, and continue to do so. An excellent presentation, complete with archive photos, film clips and music, added to our enjoyment of this excellent talk.

If you missed Stephen’s talk it can be viewed by following this link

February 2021

What did the Spartans do for us? Quite a lot it seems!

The first ever A&O u3a Zoom Speaker Meeting took place on 4^th February 2021, when author and historian Julia Clayton transported us back 2500 years to Sparta, the largest of 2000 separate city states in the region now known as Greece. In an enthralling talk, we heard how Spartan ideas, attitudes and culture such as constitutional monarchy, token money, team sports and the welfare state, form the basis of our modern society.  In her illustrated talk, Julia vividly described the unique social and economic system in operation at the time, where there was a ‘national curriculum’ of education for boys aged 7-30 and where the decision making was only done by people over 60 years of age. Julia commented that the Spartans would have approved of the u3a, conforming as it does to their philosophy of life long learning.

Julia’s blog can be found at: http://www.classicalclayton.blogspot.com

2020

[Speaker Meetings were paused during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.]

March 2020

On 5^th March we welcomed Natalie White, Community Banker for NatWest bank. Natalie’s talk was based on the Friends Against Scams initiative, which through organisations such as the U3A, aims to contact one million people by the end of the year, raising awareness of scams and how not to fall victim. We heard about many different scams: postal, phone, doorstep and online, and of how scammers are trained in befriending and grooming techniques in order to gain trust. 43% of people over 65 have already been targeted, resulting in huge financial loss and emotional impact. Natalie summarised her talk by suggesting 5 things to remember: Never disclose security details, don’t assume everyone is genuine, don’t be rushed or forced to make a decision, listen to your instincts and stay in control.

(Since the outbreak of the corona virus there have been reports of scammers attempting to take advantage of people’s vulnerability – please be extra vigilant).

February 2020

The first Speaker Meeting of the year took place on 6^th February, when a very appreciative audience heard U3A member Jane Sheehan speak on the subject of Foot Reading. After an introduction describing Jane’s career path to Reflexology and Foot Reading via Avionic Engineering and the Foreign Office, we were invited to remove our shoes and socks in order to be able to ‘self read’ our feet. We heard how wide feet indicate a hard-working mentality, whereas narrow feet suggest someone who is good at delegating. High arch? You are independent, self-reliant and enjoy time to yourself. A very long second toe suggests leadership qualities (or bossiness!). Members were invited to ask questions, all of which were competently answered by Jane. Altogether a most enjoyable and entertaining talk.

2019

November 2019

A large audience gathered on a cold, wet morning in November to hear John Winter speak about his book: Blame it on the Beatles – and Bill Shankly. John was studying medicine in Liverpool during the 60s when he became involved in the burgeoning music scene as a singer and songwriter, and his fascinating and entertaining talk brought back many memories of that time for those present. We were taken back to the early days of the Beatles (who at one time considered calling themselves The Raving Texans), and to Liverpool in the 60s, still recovering from the devastation of the war but nevertheless boasting over 300 groups. We heard about the famous Cavern Club, the Casbah in West Derby and Litherland Town Hall, where the Beatles played for the first time in December 1960. The poster for this event read ‘Direct from Hamburg’ and everyone thought they were German!

John is a keen fan of Liverpool FC, and readers of his book will note that the sky on the front cover is red, not blue! We heard how Bill Shankly joined Liverpool as manager from Huddersfield in 1959 with a mission to take his team to the top. He famously once said: ‘Football isn’t a matter of life and death, it’s more important than that’, and under his leadership the team went from strength to strength. By the mid 60s, through music and football, Liverpool transformed its image and the Beatles had the world at their feet.

September 2019

A large audience gathered in the Ministry Centre on 5^th September to hear a talk by Harold Hoggarth on the Civil War in Lancashire. Illustrated by maps, paintings and illustrations and based on the writings of 19^thcentury historian Ernest Broxap, Harold’s talk described how Lancashire at the time of the Civil war was divided into 6 regions, or ‘hundreds’, of which only 2 were on the Parliamentary side. The 2 armies were a combination of professional soldiers and ‘clubmen’, or local vigilantes, and towns quickly changed allegiance back and forth. We heard about the use of the musket, and how it was just as likely to kill the user as the enemy when the gunpowder exploded. Between 1642 and 1644 our region saw a number of conflicts, one of the most notable being the Battle of Whalley at Read Bridge, where 400 untrained men defeated 5000 Royalist soldiers. We also heard about the famous Siege of Lathom House, when the Countess of Derby, Charlotte de la Tremouille, held off the Parliamentarians for 3 months before being relieved by Prince Rupert, nephew of the King, in May 1644. The Battle of Marston Moor, west of York, was the largest battle of the Civil War, resulting in victory for the Parliamentarians and the abandonment of Lancashire by the Royalists.

Note: The Battle of Ormskirk (August 1644) was fought in our local area. More details can be found here.

June 2019

Seven members of the group attended this visit on a cold and blustery March morning.  Fortunately the rain and sleet that would dominate the afternoon held off apart from a couple of sharp showers when we were able to take shelter in one of the hides.

A pair of Shovellers through the sleet

Goosanders ignoring the rain

It was good to see the improvements that have been made to the facilities at Pennington Flash which now include a café.  A total of 41 bird species were recorded on this visit.  The feeders in front of the “Bunting Hide” always produces a good number of birds.

Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of 41 species seen:

Continue reading →

2.06.23

• A Lady Remembered a John Wood longways dance.
• The Merry Andrew a 3 couple dance 1932 by Heffer & Porter, published by Maggot Pie.
• The Baffled Knight also by Heffer & Porter 1932. I think we were a little “baffled” with this dance, one to return to!.
• Wakefield Hunt a 3 couple triple minor dance by Thompson 1779.
• Moonlight a 3 couple dance
• Dover Pier a longways dance from Preston 1791.

9.06.23 Elfrida calling. June having a well deserved break.

• Jump Frogs Jump a 3 couple dance.
• The Journey a 4 couple dance x2.
• Prince of Wales Fancy a 4 couple dance.
• The Morning Rout a fast 3 couple dance with ‘trotting step’ Thompson 1789 x2
• Roberts Reel a 3 couple dance.
• The Hop Pickers Feast a 3 couple dance Thompson 1786
• Nampwich Fair a longways dance. Playford 1726.

16.06.23 No dancing today

23.06.23 Elfrida calling and recording the dances. Some of Wendy’s Birthday choices * Also Marie’s Birthday request +

• Jump Frogs Jump 
• * Liberty.
• * The Leaving of Liverpool.
• * Leah’s Waltz – Wendy chose The Ashokan Farewell music.
• + Upon A Summer’s Day 

Most danced twice.

30.06.23 Welcome back June with more of Wendy’s Birthday choices*

• * (The) Black Nag a 3 couple dance Playford 1657 x2
• * Jackdaw a 4 couple dance x2
•  Prince of Wales Fancy a 4 couple dance
• The Prince Regent a 3 couple dance x2.
• Trip to Sheringham a 4 couple dance in square formation x2. Not the speedy version.
• The Leaving of Liverpool  a 3 couple dance to the traditional tune, x2. I have previously attributed this dance to June but this is incorrect. Choreographer is not known.
• (The) Comical Fellow a 4 couple dance music & choreography by Thompson.

In the sessions we the completed the topic of Odysseus, and started themes associated with the British Landscape.

1/. Odysseus

Odysseus was part of the Greek Army which besieged Troy for 10 years.  After Troy fell Odysseus set off for Ithaca, however there was a prophecy that it would take him another 10 years to return.   He fell foul of Poseidon by blinding one of Poseidon’s sons and gloating about it.  That enabled Poseidon to curse him so that he would arrive home with nothing, on a borrowed ship.

On the journey back he annoyed a number of other gods and was beset by storms and lost his men and his ship.  He landed on the Island of Ogygia where Calypso a sea nymph fell in love with him at first sight.  She offered him a place to stay and immortality if he stayed with her. They had 2 children and he stayed for 7 years but he stilled dreamed of Ithaca.

Not all the gods and goddesses were against him and with the help of them including Leucothoe and Athene he made it back to Ithaca as foretold.  Here he was reunited with the faithful Penelope but not before more intervention from the gods where he fought off suitors.  She had been expecting him back after the siege of Troy had been broken.  She had been pursued for marriage and had kept her suitors at bay as she waited for the prophecy of his return to be fulfilled.

There are two versions of Odysseus’s death, one where he died peacefully and the other, after intervention from the gods, he was killed by his son Telgonus who did not know who he was.

Odysseus was a complicated character.  He was at times loyal, resourceful, silver tongued, wise and cunning as well as having warrior characteristics.  He was also a leader with no respect for his men, and a liar.

The ancient Greeks liked this though and regarded him as a tactician and heroic warrior.

The Greek gods and goddesses were very hands on with him and impacted his life.

2/. Exploring the British Landscape

We looked at folklore about how the landscape was used and the impact on the landscape starting with rocks.

Rocks have always been regarded as special places, sacred with associations with old gods.

This is the same all over the world with examples such as Mount Fuji, Uluru and Everest.

The links to giants and the devil may have been the pagan gods venerated at the time, downgraded and surviving in folklore.

We broke the topic into 3

• i/. Natural Rocks and Rock Formations & Stones with Healing Powers
• ii/. Natural Rock Formations & Stones with Powers of Fertility
• iii/.  Natural Rock Formations & Stones connected to Oath taking etc.

i/. Natural Rocks and Rock Formations & Stones with Healing Powers

We looked in detail at a number of these which are spread across the country.

These could be rocks with holes in which could be passed through.  Not all had holes or arches

Sympathetic magic where the strength of the rock can be transferred by contact with it by squeezing through, touching.

By following exacting rituals, it has to be difficult, or it wouldn’t work.  Repeating actions a number of times, in the direction of the sun etc..

These may be preserving folklore memory at these sites.  Some sun worship.  Similar beliefs could be attached to man-made structures.

Mike M set us the task of writing a piece up to 500 words that had to include words that we’d each picked randomly from the dictionary. The words were:

Question, Dialogue, Lithe, Premium, Misunderstanding, Puffin, Wall-to-wall, Integral

BY MIKE McKENNA

Duncan and Phylis had first met at the athletics club. Both were keen runners and trained three times a week. Duncan was immediately attracted to Phylis. She was a very good 800 metres runner. Extremely fit and lithe, the result of many hours exercise and training. Initially their conversation and dialogue was faltering. They were both shy but after a few misunderstandings their friendship eventually blossomed into more than that of training partners. After 18 months Duncan ‘popped to the question’ and Phylis accepted.
They decided to honeymoon in Iceland. Iceland is notoriously expensive but after much research they decided to pay a premium for their accommodation in a classy downtown hotel. Their room was amazing and beautifully appointed and it even had its own integral sauna.
On their second evening they chose a very traditional restaurant. The dining area was like a baronial hall with wall-to-wall elk antlers jutting from the wooden panelled walls.
They browsed the menu but were none the wiser because it was all in Icelandic. Although the waitress obviously appeared to speak English they decided to be daring and choose unaided. Phylis saw ‘Lunda’ as an option and liked the sound of the word. Duncan agreed and so that’s what they ordered.
It had an unusual taste and was similar to chicken or even pork and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
Back in their hotel they looked the word up on their mobile phones and discovered that it was puffin.

How Can Elephants and Puffins Be Friends?

BY JUDY INGMAN

‘The question is’ the elephant said,

As he pranced from wall to wall,

‘Is whether animals and birds can really mix

A little or never at all?’

‘This’ said the puffins extending their chests

And chunnering through the fog

‘To create no misunderstanding

We must have a dialogue.’

‘An integral meeting is what you need’

Sang a premium voice from outside.

‘Puffins and elephants must make up a dance

To prove that they both can be lithe.’

‘A jigging together can be quite upbeat

To help them enjoy feeling nice

Yes, a good old feathery fling together

Will certainly break any ice.’

5.05.23

• Slof Galliard a 4 couple dance. In February when we last danced this, “We needed more practise” today we finally cracked it ! x2
• The Northdown Walk a longways dance, choreography & music by Goulding 1820. Some J.J adaptation.
• The Pursuit a longways dance with ‘Heyes’, see 21.04.23 a challenge 2 weeks ago. Danced several times but practise makes perfect!
• Up to no Good a June Jones 3 couple dance, requested by Elfrida, x2
• The Ladies of London a longways dance from the Walsh Collection 1740.

12.05.23

• Welcome in the May a longways dance by Sharon Green 2018.
• Lovely Nancy Choreography & music by Johnson 111 1744. A longways dance.
• Chickpeas and Spinach a 3 couple dance requested by John. This might sound like a recipe but was a challenging dance.
• The Recruiting Officer a 3 couple dance interpreted by Pat Shaw 1960 from Nathaniel Kynaston 1710 in the Walsh collection.
• Canadian Traveller a longways dance by Pat Shaw.

19.05.23 recorded by Elfrida.

• Millicent’s Jig from 1651, a nice 3 couple dance.
• Chelsea Reach a 4 couple square set, Playford style with lots or parts to it, danced x2.
• Friday Square another 4 couple square set dance – music was Life in the fast lane from the Short & Sweet CD.
• Swirl of the Sea 4 couple square set in waltz time, another mini challenge, accomplished 2nd. time around.
• Lord Caernarfon’s Jig a 4 couple longways dance enjoyed by all.

26.05.23 – Elfrida again.

• School for Scandal x2 June adapted a triple minor dance to a 3 couple, which worked well.
• Happy Heyes x2 – 3 couple dance which includes ‘cross heyes’.
• Greengage a longways dance at a  slower pace.
• Lovely Nancy (see 12.05)
• Jack’s Maggot longways dance.

Continue reading →

Certain Groups run events, meetings and outings where any u3a member is welcome to attend even if they do not regularly or usually go to the Group Meetings.  Indeed extra people are sometimes necessary to make an event or group viable or cheaper.   So now and then, do check out the following:

• Beer Appreciation
• Theatre Visits
• Philharmonic Visits
• Drama Productions
• Musical Theatre Productions
• Opera Appreciation

If any Leaders would like their Group adding to the above list, contact:

webteam@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk

Family friendly workshop highlights healthy ageing to combat dementia

Edge Hill University researchers and Aughton & Ormskirk u3a welcomed more than 170 visitors to a workshop to highlight healthy ageing and combat dementia.

The Healthy Brain Showcase featured talks and discussion on healthy ageing and memory, in addition to dance performances and crafting.

The event was part of the Ageing Better with an Active Mind research project which aims to encourage healthy ageing in Lancashire and Merseyside, where the elderly population with dementia is higher than the national average.

Dr Dorothy Tse, senior lecturer in psychology and principal investigator, said: “This event was a great opportunity to engage with the whole community, to improve people’s understanding of healthy ageing, promote a better understanding of brain health and raise awareness of key actions to reduce the risk of dementia.”

The co-principal investigator Dr Nicola van Rijsbergen added: “Ultimately we want to inspire behaviour change within communities across Lancashire and Merseyside and show people how they can take positive steps to improve their brain health.”

At the workshop the team presented and discussed the findings of a consultation with members of u3a which explored themes of memory and dementia, how physical activity benefits the brain, neuroscience, brain health and the active mind.

Alan Buckley, a u3a member who took part in the previous workshops, said: “Dementia affects so many people but it is so complex, so to have better awareness of the disease and how it can affect you is really useful in understanding how we can reduce its effects. We have to do something about it at an early stage instead of letting it progress.”

Fellow member Sue Buckley added: “It was interesting to focus on something which is already close to our hearts, I was absolutely amazed to find the link between physical activity and mental activity.”

Attendees described the Healthy Brain showcase as “a fabulous day”, “interesting and entertaining”, “an excellent event for the local community”, “well organised and presented” and said “the speakers were all excellent”.

Speakers included Dr Jitka Vseteckova, senior lecturer in health and social care from The Open University, Dr Jade Thai, programme manager of neuroscience and mental health at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Carol Rogers MBE, Director of House of Memories at National Museums Liverpool.

Organisations and charities also attended with stalls hosted by The Brain Charity, the Liverpool-based Women’s Health Information and Support Centre (WHISC), Age UK Lancashire and the National Museums Liverpool initiative House of Memories.

There were dance performances by u3a members, Edge Hill’s James Hewison with the Hard-Wired project, 50 Moves, Men Dancing and Base Dance Performing Arts, and the University’s Confucius Institute led crafts such as calligraphy and Chinese paper cutting.

The research project showcase is funded by Edge Hill’s Institute for Social Responsibility and the Department of Psychology.

Photo gallery

Introduction

Healthy brain research

Carol Rogers – House of Memories

Chinese Calligraphy

50 Moves

Men! Dancing!

u3a Line Dancing + audience

A wonderful day in a sunbathed Chester.

We visited some of Chester’s oldest and finest hostelries, guided by Dag Griffiths;-

• The Old Harker’s Arms
• Ye Olde Boot
• The Pied Bull
• Telford’s Warehouse
• The Bull and Stirrup

Next month’s visit is Chorley.

Chester photos

On the way to Ye Olde Boot

Eastgate clock

Lunch on the hoof

Inside Ye Olde Boot

Thoughtful customers

Back room – Ye Olde Boot

Chester cathedral

Chester town hall

Oldest Inn with its own brewery

Through the city walls to Telford’s warehouse

Telford’s warehouse. A great selection of beers in a converted warehouse, next to the Shropshire Union canal

Continue reading →

Tuesday 7th February 2023

A Brief History of Entertainment

A ‘cheer up’ on a Winter Afternoon with the help of Mervyn Saunders.

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Tuesday 7th March 2023

The Architecture of Alfred Waterhouse

Born in Liverpool 1830, Alfred Waterhouse went on to study architecture and was particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival Style. He designed many of our well known buildings such as the Great Western Hotel in Liverpool, Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London. Sean Jinks also told us more about the architecture of Alfred Waterhouse.

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Tuesday 4th April 2023

Ormskirk in Days Gone By

Images of Ormskirk presentation by Chris Bentley and how Gingerbread plays a big part in our local heritage with one of Ormskirk’s Gingerbread Ladies.

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, Cotton Town Chronicles.

We will have a folk song presentation by Barbara and Peter Snape. Key moments of Lancashire’s social history provide the context for the songs and each song tells the story of grease, grit and grime, mills, mines and machinery, poverty, struggle, love, humility and the ability to look on the bright side of life when coal and cotton was king.

Tuesday 7th November 2023, The Defender Returns – Spitfire BM597.

Supermarine Spitfire BM597 saw wartime service with 315 and 317 Polish Squadrons operating from RAF Woodvale. Post war, Spitfire BM597 spent time at various RAF Stations and was used as the master mould for the replica spitfires for the 1969 film ‘Battle of Britain’. Today, BM597 is flown by Dave Harey, our speaker. We will hear more of the history and local connections of this aircraft.

Tuesday 5th December 2023, Time to Revisit the Tudors.

..in the Grand Banqueting Room of our Tudor Manor (S&G HQ).

Led by the ‘Lord of Misrule’ with a visit from ‘Lady’ Sheila of Speke Hall, we will mix facts with fun!

In the session we the completed the topic of Heracles and started on Odysseus, who is the last Greek hero we shall cover.

1/. Heracles

Heracles’ twelve labours were a way of atoning for his madness (imposed by Hera) for breaking the code by killing the defeated King of the Euboeans and desecrating his body.  Whilst in the throes of this madness he killed six of his own children and their partners.

Heracles’ final and most challenging Labour was to go down to the Underworld to bring back the guard dog Cerberus.  He accomplished this formidable task with help from the goddess Athene, and with that the gods declared that he had cleansed himself of the sin of killing his children.

Heracles’ Labours were at an end but his adventures continued and his hot-headed nature continued to get him into trouble.  After Eursytheus insulted him, Heracles killed three of Eurystheus’ sons in his rage.  He murdered a guest in his own house and when the Oracle at Delphi refused to tell him how he could be absolved of this crime he desecrated the holy shrine.

Nevertheless he kept the favour of the gods and when he died (killed by the poison of the Hydra by way of her son Nessus the Centaur) Zeus welcomed his immortal spirit to Olympus.  Acclaimed as the greatest of the Greek heroes, he was a hero with flaws.

2/. Odysseus

A formidable warrior with many hero characteristics.  He was the son of Laertes the King of the island of Ithaca and Anticleia.  Anticleia’s father was Autoclycus the son of Hermes.

Having received the prophecy that if he went to Troy, he would be gone for 20 years and return penniless and alone Odysseus tried to avoid going to Troy which was not usual warrior behaviour.

Odysseus is resourceful, silver tongued, wise and cunning as well as having warrior characteristics.  He was also a leader with no respect for his men, and a liar.

The ancient Greeks liked this though and regarded him as a tactician and heroic warrior.

Next session we shall complete the story of Odysseus and start a new folklore topic relating to natural features.

Continue reading →

3.03.23 Some of John’s Birthday choices.

• Trip to Bavaria a Scottish 4 couple dance by James McGregor Brown. We danced it twice.
• Eastbourne Grove a 3 couple dance by Kevin Prigmore 2015 also danced twice.
• Sam’s Maggot a Traditional 3 couple dance from 1728 reconstructed by Andrew Shaw, also danced twice.
• Posties Jig a 4 couple dance devised by Roy Clowes of Ormskirk. One theory is that the ‘arches’ section of the dance symbolises ‘the tying up of a parcel’ We certainly created a few knots!
• Gasconne see 3.02.23.

10.03.23 No Dancing due to snowy conditions.

17.03.23 with an Irish theme to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

• Dancing with Friends a longways dance choreography by Elizabeth Goossens 2013. Music by Sue Stapleton from Irish tunes from Liverpool.
• (The) bonny lad & the bonny lass by John & William Neal 1726
• Giant Steps a June Jones 4 couple dance to the tune ‘Blind Mary’ played on the Irish Harp.
• Season of Mists a longways dance.
• The Princess Royal a longways dance by Pat Shaw.
• Shandy Hall a 4 couple dance with circles & half stars.

24.03.23 some more of John’s Birthday choices.

• Criss Cross Jig a 5 couple dance.
• Nonesuch 2 a longways dance.
• Trip to Bavaria see 3.03.23.
• Peace be with you a contemporary longways dance by Fried de Metz Herman.
• Fourpence Halfpenny Farthing a traditional longways dance from 1709.
• Dancing with Friends see last week.

31.03.23 still more of John’s choices…

• Frances Ann’s Delight by George Middleton 1975 for his wife Frances Ann!
• (the) Italian Disappointment a longways dance pub. Neal 1726.
• Marching to Praetorius a Gary Roodman 2 couple dance 1996.
• Indian Princess a Colin Hume 1984 longways dance. Danced to the tune of the Indian Queen.
• Upton Priory a 4 couple waltz time dance.
• Nampwich Fair a longways dance Playford 1726.

There will be no dancing next week as it’s Good Friday

Back on the 14th.April.

Lacemaking   by Jayne Shepherd 

Jayne introduced us to her journey and sabatical through lace making.  Very interesting and thought provoking

Followed by refreshments🍰  ☕and a game of bingo   🔢

Film afternoon featuring ‘Finding Your Feet’ – a 2017 British romantic comedy 

Ice creams 🍦were enjoyed at the interval as well as the usual cuppa☕ and cakes 🍰

In March we wrote short stories of 100 words, maximum. Here is a selection:

A Nice Cup of Tea

BY JILLIAN RIDDOCH

She waited with her sister, seeking reassurance. “It will be alright.”  Her sister replied sympathetically. “What if she wakes up?” She fidgeted nervously.” We’ll stay up all night, watch TV and drink tea.” Her sister replied. “She said some terrible things.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s the illness, she can’t help it.” They talked about the past, particularly their childhood, and their mother’s illness.

A noise came from above. A creak, a shuffle of slippered feet on the linoleum floor. The door opened. “Hello girls. You’re up late. Got a nice cup of tea for your old Mum?”

BY VAL HEARN

Avril suspected Brian was up to something when he claimed he had taken up jogging. She followed him but he only got as far as the High Street when he went into a flat above the haberdashers. The Perspex sign next to the door that led to the flat above said ‘Miss Jenkins Piano Tutor, phone number Melton 62145’. The following evening Brian claimed he was going jogging. Twenty minutes later Avril phoned Miss Jenkins on the home phone and simultaneously phoned Brian’s mobile using her mobile. As Miss Jenkins said ‘Good evening’ Brian’s mobile rang in the background.

Gotcha!

Another Phone Call

BY JOAN POTTER

“Oh Mum! Please don’t ring school.”

“You can’t go. It’s my bridge night and your father’s out.”

“But Mum I’m fourteen. I can walk home.”

“Not on a dark, winter’s night you can’t.” Justin cringed as he listened.

“Mr Marlowe? Mrs Carey here. I’m afraid Justin can’t attend your special rehearsal. There’s no-one to collect him. I see, but if he’s really needed, could you change to a more sensible time or arrange for him to be brought home. What’s that? You’ll run him home yourself. Fine. Good evening.”

Rehearsal over, Mr Marlowe pedalled off with Justin running beside him.

Seven members of the group enjoyed a good morning’s bird watching at this Lancashire Wildlife Trust site adjacent to the river Alt and a total of thirty three species were recorded.  A particular highlight of this visit was a young female Kestrel which perched, flew low and hovered quite close to us.  We noticed the bird was ringed and information subsequently seen on Facebook confirms she was ringed as a nestling on 10th July 2022 at Cockerham near Lancaster.

Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of 33 species seen:

Continue reading →

Correction from 6.01.23. Floss Galliard should read Slof Galliard. (a Morecambe and Wise moment, all the right letters, in the wrong order!)

3.02.23

• Brighton le Sands a June Jones longways dance x2. People always ask, ‘Where is Brighton le Sands?’ x2

It is between Blundellsands to the North, Waterloo to the South and Gt. Crosby to the East.

• Valentine’s Day a longways dance called by Elfrida in preparation for 14th. pub. 1670 Playford. x2
• Up to no Good another June Jones 3 couple dance. 1st. version.
• No Taxes from 1791.
• A Lady remembered a longways dance remembering all former dancers who have ‘passed on’.
• Gasconne a longways dance from 1706 with interpretation by Pat Shaw.

10.03.23

• Portsmouth a longways dance from 1701.
• Roll the Line a longways dance with some ‘travelling’.
• Harvest Reel a 3 couple dance x2.
• Diamond Diversion unsurprisingly, in Diamond formation for 4 people.
• Morrison’s Reel a 5 couple longways  dance. x2
• Nampwich Fair a longways dance pub. Playford 1726, interpretation by Pat Shaw 1964.

17.03.23 some of John’s Birthday choices.

• (The ) Farmer’s Joy a Joseph Pimentel longways dance.
• Two’s Lead a longways dance.
• D’e’il Take the Warr a 3 couple dance from 1721.
• Triplicate danced with 3 in a line, choreography Peggy Roe.
• New German Waltz a longways dance.

24.02.23

• The Spaniard a longways dance 1777.
• Zephyrs and Flora  a longways dance from the Walsh collection 1715.
• (The) Slof Galliard a Pat Shaw dance 1975 for 4 couples.
• Homebound Duet a 2 person dance by Judy Keeling 2020, to the tune Elizabeth.
• Pilgarlic a 3 couple dance from 1751.
• Comical Fellow always a favourite longways dance with clapping. pub. Thompson 1776.

Continue reading →

In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology by looking at Heracles.

The Greek myths credit Heracles as being the greatest of all the heroes.

His famous Twelve Labours showcase his many hero attributes.  Heracles used his hero qualities of superhuman strength, courage, and supreme skill as a warrior to accomplish a series of apparently impossible tasks.

The Labours also illustrate some of the flaws in Heracles’ character.  He could be hot-headed and impulsive with a tendency to over-react to situations.  Hercules was frequently unable to control his superhuman powers and got himself into trouble as a result.  It would seem that the Greeks wanted their heroes to be complex characters with flaws and shortcomings alongside their super powers.

In February our theme was ‘children’. Some wrote the first chapter of a children’s story, a couple of people wrote complete stories, one wrote a poem, and there were two articles about children’s authors. Here is Judy’s story:

The Rainbow Children

BY JUDY INGMAN

Ginta-Marie was eight years old with a rather unusual name and an extra-ordinarily difficult problem. Her close friend Betsy, also eight was blind. Betsy had moved in next door a year before and had become so familiar with both houses and gardens that it was easy to forget she couldn’t see.

Then, yesterday it had rained and when the sun shone through later, there was the most beautiful rainbow that Ginta-Marie had ever seen and without thinking she had shouted out to her friend, “Look, Betsy, see the rainbow and all those fantastic colours.”

Betsy couldn’t understand what she was talking about. Feeling sad for her friend Ginta-Marie tried to describe the rainbow but Betsy grew more and more tearful and cross and as she tripped over a stone running between the hedges to her garden, yelled, “Leave me alone, leave me alone!”

Ginta-Marie raced after her, crying, “Betsy, wait, I’m so sorry. I forgot you can’t see. Wait, Betsy.”

Betsy just rushed into her house and wouldn’t come out again.

Ginta-Marie was so unhappy, she couldn’t eat her tea, went to bed early and sobbed into her pillow.

She had always accepted Betsy’s blindness and even sometimes she’d closed her eyes and moved around as though she were blind too. It had even felt exciting to pretend she couldn’t see trying to enter into Betsy’s world. She found out that she could hear the birds more clearly. She didn’t just see the flowers she sniffed them and breathed in their scent. She’d shut her eyes at times when eating and had found she enjoyed the taste of food more. It had been like a game.

It had never seemed to occur to her that Betsy couldn’t see colours and her tears fell even more as she realised how black and dark her friend’s world really was. Very unhappily she at last fell asleep.

She awoke to a very noisy chorus of cats and birds. She kept her eyes shut listening and then shuddered as she remembered her dream of a black and white rainbow that kept following her, trapping her into corners of her room as she tried running away from it.

Sitting up in bed she thought of the real rainbow that Betsy couldn’t see or even imagine. She closed her eyes and thought and thought. Betsy could hear better than her, her sense of taste and identifying smells was more accurate and she was always good at guessing what an object was by touching it. Ginta-Marie felt she must help Betsy find a way to imagine a rainbow, so she thought and puzzled until she suddenly smiled to herself and then jumped out of bed.

Much later on, if her Mum was surprised at all the bundles and food from the kitchen, that kept disappearing into the playhouse, she said nothing, although she was curious, as she and Betsy’s Mum had both been upset by what had happened between the girls the day before.

After a quick lunch, Ginta-Marie called for Betsy.

“Please, come and play. I have something to share with you.”

Betsy wanted to refuse, “Its no use, I can’t see.”

“Please, Betsy I really have a nice surprise for you,”

Betsy’s Mum urged her to go.

Ginta-Marie, pulled her into the playhouse taking her hand and leading her to each corner. The first was filled with fruit, the second with flowers, the third had a mouth organ and a recorder and the fourth had some felt tips and paper. She made Betsy feel everything in each corner.

Then she announced, “Betsy, here are four different rainbows. The first corner is the tasty rainbow,” and she giggled as she made her friend taste each fruit in turn, which were all in rainbow colours, strawberry for red, then an orange, banana for yellow and a green apple. The blueberries were from a tin. Finally she made her taste a purple grape and a deep dark plum which was rather squashy. When Betsy had tasted them all and said she would remember this as the Tasty Rainbow, Ginta-Marie led her to the second corner where all the flowers were.

“This,” she declared is “ The sniffy Rainbow corner.”

She giggled again and Betsy did, too, as she sniffed a bright red rose, an orange marigold, a yellow daffodil, some cut grass, a blue hyacinth in a pot, a sprig of lilac from the tree in the garden and finally a small bunch of deep purple Chrysanthemums. In fact the giggling led to sneezing as the leaves tickled Betsy’s nose.

In no time she was trundled to the third corner, where she was given the mouth organ while Ginta-Marie picked up the recorder. She insisted they play all seven notes together.

“ Doh ray me far so la tee “ and then she added the final doh, laughing out loud she said, “This is the Sound Rainbow.”

Betsy was soon laughing along before she was led to the final corner where there was paper and coloured pens.

“This is the Touching Rainbow,” she said solemnly.

She gave each of the pens to Betsy to hold, getting her to feel the notches she’d made on each, one on red, right up to seven on the purple one. Then she guided Betsy’s hand on each pen in turn so that she actually drew her own rainbow on the paper.

Ginta -Marie hugged Betsy, “ you are my bestest, bestest friend and you may not be able to see it, but I’ll help you draw a rainbow, if you want to on a card for your Mum’s birthday next week.”

Betsy hugged her back, very excited about all the different kinds of rainbows.

Together they ran for their mothers, who were already creeping down to the playhouse in search of all the giggling. The girls led them happily round the four corners of special rainbows.

Then Ginta-Marie’s Mum responded, “You mustn’t forget the most important rainbow of all, the Feely one!”

The girls looked puzzled, so she held each of their hands with Betsy’s Mum too, and said,

“Both of you were very sad yesterday, and you went through lots of different feelings.”

They both agreed the range of feelings they had both felt were, sadness, anger, fear, worry, love, excitement and finally happiness.

Then Betsy said holding on to her friend’s hand, “I want to call the Feely rainbow the Friendship Rainbow”

Both Mothers smiled at each other and gave both girls a hug before leaving them to carry on playing with all their new rainbows.

In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology.

We completed the story Theseus.

We did a recap of his origins and how he became the accepted heir to the throne of Athens.

His story was as deliberate amalgamation of three characters and how his story was deliberately used to promote an image of a hero.  Theseus was not content to be a prince he wanted adventures and emulated the feats of Heracles.

He defeated the fire breathing white bull which had killed hundreds of men and took it up to the Acropolis and sacrificed it. Crete and Athens had been at war for some time and Minos the ruler of Crete had the upper hand with a strong navy.  King Minos’s son had been killed and he was due recompense for this, so every year seven youths and seven maidens were sent over to Crete and put in the Labyrinth where they were either killed by the Minotaur or died of thirst/starvation.  The story goes that the tribute fell due and Theseus took the place of one of the youths promising if he survived he would fly white sails on his return to indicate he was alive.  He went to Delphi to consult the Oracle who told him to put his trust in Aphrodite.

The back story to the Minotaur was that he was the half-brother to Ariadne King Minos’s daughter, his father was the white bull who had mated with Ariadne’s mother.  King Minos had a labyrinth constructed to contain him.

Ariadne was smitten as soon as she saw Theseus and offered to help him if he would take her to Athens.  Theseus agreed.  She told him to take a ball of thread with him and use it to find his way back out.  Theseus navigated the Labyrinth and slayed the Minotaur in his sleep and followed the thread back out.

Ariadne guided Theseus and his companions to the harbour where they escaped under the cover of darkness.  They sailed to Naxos where Theseus built a shelter for Ariadne and then left her there, breaking his promise to take her to Athens. When she found herself alone she called upon the entire universe for vengeance and Zeus nodded his assent.

Theseus sailed for Athens where he encountered adverse winds which delayed his progress, it took him some time to get there and he forgot about his promise to put up white sails and left the black sails up.

His father Aegeus watched for his son every day and upon seeing the ship with the black sails swooned and fell into the Aegean Sea and was killed.  Some say Theseus did this deliberately.  The original warning by the Oracle had finally come true as Aegeus died of grief.

Theseus became ruler of Athens killing his opponents and setting up a federation of states, a law court and coins with the image of a bull on them.  The mythology also credits Theseus with more adventuring, leaving counsellors and advisors in place whilst he was away.

His adventures also include encounters with the Amazons and the taking of Queen Antiope with whom he had Hippolytus.  He had an alliance with Deucalion the ruler of Crete, whose daughter Phaedra he married, casting Queen Antiope aside.  Antiope attacked them at their wedding and she was hunted down and killed.

Theseus’ grandfather Pittheus adopted Hippolytus as his heir.

There followed Greek tragedy where gods were offended, Theusus’ wife Phaedra was enchanted to fall in love with her stepson Hippolytus, was rejected, and ended with both of them dying.

Another convoluted story involving abducting Helen of Sparta (later of Troy) when she was very young and the consequences of his actions.  He ended up with Hades inviting him to sit in the Chair of Forgetfulness in the underworld from where eventually Heracles rescued him.  During this time the Spartans marched into Athens and set up a Regent.

When Theseus eventually returned he was seriously weakened and unable to do anything so set sail to Crete, he was blown off course and took shelter on Skyros where its ruler Lycomedes initially welcomed him before throwing Theseus to his death from a cliff.

During his life Theseus showed some very bad judgement, not thinking before he acted with some severe consequences for those around him, offended the gods and treated women badly  (for example Ariadne and Antiope).  This may explain why he did not get a hero’s end.

The next session we shall start on Heracles

Following on from the successful collaboration with Edge Hill University on the Ageing Better Project, there was a free Showcase Event on Saturday 11th February in the Arts Centre at Edge Hill University, starting with Reception and coffee at 10am.

Programme

10:00 -10:30 – Reception & Coffee
10:30 – Opening ceremony
10:45 – Talks from guest speakers on health and wellbeing

• Dr Jikta Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care, The Open University
• Carol Rogers MBE, Director of House of Memories, National Museums Liverpool
• Dr Jade Thai, Programme Manager of Neuroscience & Mental Health, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

12:00 – Lunch and poster session
13:30 – Dance performances

• Base Dance Performing Arts Academy
• 50 Moves – Jennifer Hale
• Men! Dancing! – Jennifer Hale
• u3a Line Dancing – Lorraine Dyke
• u3a Tap Dancing – Irene Arkinstall
• Hard-Wired project – James Hewitson

15:00 Closing ceremony – Dr Dortothy Tse

Coffee

Five members of the group attended our first visit of 2023.  We started by meeting in the café to discuss the programme of visits for the year after which we visited some of the hides and the Reedbed walk before lunch.  This site never disappoints and an excellent variety of species were recorded with several raptors and many woodland and farmland birds as well as waterfowl and waders.  One member was able to stay on for a while after lunch and added a few extra species at some of the other hides we did not have time to visit in the morning.  In total forty six species were recorded on this visit.

Whooper Swans

Greylag Goose

Male and Female Pintail

Teal

Black-tailed Godwit

Male Stonechat

The Black-tailed Godwits can be quite feisty!

Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of 46 species seen:

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Bill Soens took some photos of works by the Painting Group.

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Tuesday 4th October

Lancashire Comedians 

Dr Tom Preston joins us to talk about the evolution of local comedy by referencing some of the styles of Lancashire comedians of the past.

As it is Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Anniversary year we will begin with the wit of Her Majesty, Duke of Lancaster.

Tuesday 1st November 

Coal Mining in Lancashire

There were many coal mines in our area, the borough of Wigan for example in 1863 had 48 collieries operating, employing thousands of men, women and children. Mining historian Alan Davies will tell us more about the history of coal mining.

Tuesday 6th December

Christmas in Victorian Lancashire

We begin with some of the Christmas traditions associated with Victorian times. Kate Hurst will continue with her illustrated presentation about Victorian Lancashire at Christmas time.

£3.50 includes sherry (or a non-alcoholic drink), shortbread and a raffle ticket.

Please book for the December meeting with Margaret at the Local History meetings or at Horizons.

Our outdoor visits began Saturday 30 April Milford Junction.

Where? Clue: be careful to avoid getting grit in your eye. We were going for a brief encounter at Carnforth Heritage Centre. Part of the film Brief Encounter was filmed at Carnforth Station, named Milford Junction in the film.

The visit included lunch – sandwiches, cake and tea/coffee in the film set Refreshment Room.

A screening of the film `Brief Encounter` was optional.

Saturday 11^th June

Tour and Tales Around the Ribble Valley.

As we travelled around the lovely Ribble countryside most of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we will listen to the history, legends and stories that shape the area. From views of Pendle Hill to the Forest of Bowland, through historic villages to Dunsop Bridge, declared by Ordnance Survey as the official centre of Britain. We stopped at one, two, three or more (!) of the ancient Inns, some dating back to the 18^th century, all had an interesting ghostly history. Lunch was included.

Our challenge for January was to write something with the theme of ‘dilemma’. Below are two examples that were read and discussed at the January session.

Geoff’s Dilemma

BY LIZ DIXON

‘Geoff, come and meet the latest newbies in the neighbourhood.’ Alan clapped a friendly hand on Geoff’s back and directed him across the grass to the couple who had recently moved into the area. ‘Geoff’s been here longer than us, haven’t you, Geoff? Must be nearly 40 years for you and Mary now!’

         Normally Geoff would have managed more than the mumbled agreement to Alan’s comment but he was feeling far from normal. His mind was all over the place. The neighbours often got together in one garden or another for a drink and a barbecue and whilst Geoff was never the ‘life and soul’ like Alan, he was usually sociable and chatty in a calm, understated way. But without anything to say on this occasion, he looked around and caught sight of Mary talking amiably to another neighbour. His heart sank. His beautiful plum cake (a name he occasionally used in public by mistake) might just have her whole world shattered very soon. Could he put her through that? Would it be worth it? He had no idea.

         Mary wandered over, her comfortable expression turning quizzical as she saw he was not himself. ‘Are you okay, Geoff, love? You look a bit peaky.’ He tried to assure her he was fine and only too happy to nip back home for her cardigan. She raised her eyebrows at the new neighbours as she exclaimed, totally unnecessarily, how unpredictable the British weather was. He left the three of them chatting and headed next door but Mary’s cardigan was the last thing on his mind. He slumped in his armchair and began picking over the agonising memory of his encounter with Amanda at work the previous day.

         Amanda had only joined the office team a month ago. She was good at her job – focused and reliable – but she seemed to find any excuse to talk things through with Geoff. He’d shrugged off the ‘Aye, aye, wink, wink’ comment from another colleague. Why were people in the office so interested in extra-marital gossip? Geoff was totally devoted to his plum pudding and their two amazing offspring, Robert and Claire, both in their late thirties with delightful young families of their own.

         ‘Just checking you’re still alive, love, you’ve been ages!’ Mary had breezed in, too chilly to wait any longer for him. ‘I’ve got to get back because I’ve promised Anita I’ll butter the rolls but if you’re not feeling well why don’t you go to bed.’ He certainly did feel ill, even if it was due to stress rather than a virus. God, he loved this woman so much. She joined in with Dusty Springfield singing ‘I Only Want to Be With You’ as she headed back towards the music and the party.

         Geoff’s head was in his hands. The bomb that had been dropped by Amanda was news that he had, unknowingly, fathered a child 42 years previously and that child was Amanda. She’d been given scant details by her mother but had painstakingly followed up every avenue to arrive at the conclusion Geoff was her dad. Once she was fairly convinced she’d found the right man she had planned to ask his permission to do a DNA test but she’d chickened out in case he’d refused and had gone ahead with it already. For this she was deeply apologetic. The DNA test was the least of his problems. He had seen Amanda as a smart, pleasant woman but now he was staring at another daughter. It excited him and terrified him equally. How on earth was he going to deal with this? He didn’t want to wreck the idyllic life he had with Mary and his children – his other children – but if he kept it a secret, would that betrayal be worse?

         Mary would be back in a couple of hours. Tormented, he took a pad and a pen out of the bureau to make some notes but he couldn’t bring himself to commit his thoughts to paper. Once he’d done that there’d be no going back. So he tried to bring some order to the bewilderment in his head and work out what he would say to Mary if he decided to come clean: He was sorry. It was a moment of irresponsible madness before he’d met her. He’d had no idea until yesterday. He was so sorry. He would understand if she wanted nothing to do with Amanda. He was sorry if she’d preferred not to know but he couldn’t hide it from her. What would they tell Robert and Claire? Please don’t hate me, Mary.

         He sat bolt upright when he heard Mary come in through the back door. His hands began to shake but, with his mind made up, he tried to steel himself for the conversation. ‘Oh, you’re still up, love. I thought you’d have gone to bed,’ she said brightly.

         ‘Mary I’m so sorry.’ But he didn’t have chance to say anything else because Claire came in behind Mary wittering away about how lucky they all were that she and her brother got on so well when many of her friends were indifferent or positively hostile towards their siblings.

         ‘Look who popped in to the party!’ Mary was beaming, happy to have had her daughter to herself for a short time without husbands and small children.

         ‘Hi Dad,’ said Claire. ‘How’re you feeling?’ He didn’t answer the question because all he could think about was that he couldn’t put this off any longer.

         ‘I need to talk to your mother,’ he said and suggested Claire made some tea in the kitchen, out of earshot. And so it began. The words came tumbling out in a jumble of phrases, less coherent than he’d planned but he just had to get them all out. Eventually he took a breath and looked up at Mary. She was stunned. Calm but stunned. The silence was broken by Claire bounding in.

         ‘A sister? I’ve got a sister!’ She was genuinely happy. Mary considered her thoughts for a moment and said quietly,

         ‘Geoff, I have no right to be upset about any of your liaisons before I met you.’ And after another moment’s pause, she said, ‘I reckon we can accommodate another daughter, don’t you?’ and for the first time ever, she saw him shed a tear.

What a Dilemma

BY ANN HENDERS

I hardly ever go to Chorley but a friend told me about the curtain stall on the market so I thought I’d have a run out to get a new net curtain for my front window, freshen the place up for Easter. I’m not very familiar with the lay out of the place and got a bit lost coming out of the car park. I was on a quiet side street when I passed ‘Maisie’s Coffee Shop’ and happened to glance inside. Who did I see but Malcolm, you know, married to Lizzie who’s in the same Knit and Natter group as us. But he wasn’t with Lizzie, he was with a dark haired woman I’d never seen before. All long dangly earrings and shellac nails. They were having a good giggle over something or other but it wasn’t till the waitress brought their order over that I realised they’d been holding hands under the table. Well that had to stop so they could deal with their cappuccinos and all day breakfasts. Well, I didn’t know what to do for the best. I stood back so I couldn’t be seen, not that they were looking anywhere but into each other’s eyes. Anyway, I decided to risk a quick photo, which came out quite well considering.

Well, I spent a sleepless night that night, I can tell you! I tossed and turned. Shall I tell Lizzie what I saw I wondered? If my Len had been carrying on would I have wanted to know? In the morning my mind was made up, I knew I had to do the right thing. I messaged Lizzie and told her I was popping around. I decided the only thing I could do was give it to her straight. I told her exactly what happened and pulled the photo up on my phone. She said nothing at first but gave me a strange look then told me she did not want to see the photo and she was very sorry that I had seen Malcolm yesterday. I said to her I didn’t know how he could do such a terrible thing to her and she shouldn’t put up with it. I was outraged for her! She put her hand up, palm towards me and said,

‘Stop! You’ve no right to criticise Malcolm or judge my marriage. You know nothing about our private life. I wish it could stay that way but now I feel I have to explain something to you in order to keep my privacy. Will you promise to keep this absolutely confidential?’

‘Well’, I said ‘you know me, the soul of discretion. I won’t breathe a word’. Then she told me about the horrendous health problems she’d had a few years ago. Terrible operation which went badly wrong. Really everything was just a mess and Malcolm had been marvellous throughout. But it left her with no interest in sex at all.

‘I know, so sad. So, her and Malcolm have come to an agreement. He has a lady friend he sees from time to time, if you know what I mean and Lizzie and Malcolm carry on as before and they go on lovely holidays together and have you seen her new kitchen? Fabulous!’

‘What, should I have told you this? Oh my dear I know you’re just like me, the soul of discretion. I know you won’t tell anybody else, so telling you doesn’t count, does it’

Anyway, I’ve decided to put new nets all around now so I’ll just need to pop back to Chorley again next week. I wonder if I’ll come across that café again?

In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology.

1/.  We completed the story of Jason and Medea.   Including Jason and Medea’s ruling of Corinth.

He had a close association with the gods with Hera, Atheni and Aphrodite who intervened in his life.

We again looked at where Jason shared characteristics in common with the heroes from Celtic, Germanic and Scandinavian myths and legends and where he seemed weak.  His partnership with Medea continued to be important.  They used deception and magic.

We also looked at the consequences of Jason’s decision to divorce Medea and take a new wife, breaking the oath he had made to the gods to keep faith with Medea.  This had an impact on the rest of his life.  The trust and protection of the gods was vital.  Even though a number of Medea’s actions are quite brutal she maintained a good relationship with the gods and ended her life immortal in the Elysian Fields whilst Jason’s breaking of his solemn oath to the gods meant they withdrew their favours and he spent his last years wandering, hated by all.  In old age he sat in the shadow of the Argo and was killed when it toppled over on top of him.

2/. We started the story of Theseus.

The early myths started in the bronze age and there were originally three characters called Theseus from different areas.  These became amalgamated into a single person; this was done deliberately when the Lapith clan became the senior clan of Athens around 6th C BC. What people wanted at that time was a hero and it was used for political purposes and promulgated by poets and storytellers.

We looked at the early years with Theseus’s father Aegeus going to Delphi to see the Oracle for advice on how to get a son, travelling to Corinth and meeting Medea and then travelling further with Theseus eventually being born to Aethra and raised by her father philosopher Pittheus.  We looked at the symbols and prophecies involved, he had sandals and sword from his father.  These were symbols of royalty and kingship and were part of the real rituals at the time.

Theseus was precocious, strong, intelligent and cultured.  When his mother judged the time was right for him to go to Athens, Theseus insisted on going down the notoriously dangerous coast road.    He wanted to prove himself and have adventures.  He would only react if provoked and any punishment he meted out would fit the crime.  The tale covers an astonishing list of feats and encounters some of which are very similar to those of Heracles.  We looked at the qualities of heroes to see where he matched up.

Meanwhile in Athens Aegeus had married Medea and she had given him a son whom she wanted to be king, so when Theseus arrived in Athens she plotted against him.   Her plot failed as Aegeus recognised Theseus as his son due to the sword he was carrying.  Medea and her son were given safe conduct form the city.

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(Please accept my apologies for not posting individual reports of these visits)

13th September 2022 – Speke Hall

Four members of the group attended our first visit of the Autumn to this National Trust property by the Mersey Estuary.  A total of twenty bird species were recorded on this visit.

11th October 2022 – Leighton Moss RSPB and Morecambe Bay

Five members of the group travelled to this site, the most distant of the sites we regularly visit.  This large RSPB reserve regularly has many less common species including the bearded tits, which we only managed to hear on this occasion, and Marsh Tits.  A total of thirty six species were recorded across the two sites.

8th November 2022 – Burton Mere RSPB

This visit was called off at the last minute when several members had to pull out, however one member of the group didn’t get the message in time and recorded a total of twenty nine species.

The visit was re-arranged for 13th December but again was postponed when only two members of the group were available.  We will try again early in early 2023, hopefully it will be third time lucky!

29th November 2022 – Martin Mere

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust site at Martin Mere is always a good visit at this time of year and six group members were well rewarded with a total of forty two species being recorded.  A particular highlight was seeing four Marsh Harriers flying over the land beyond the mere, though the hazy conditions made it difficult to capture good photographs.  The number of Whooper Swans in ‘first winter’ plumage indicates they have had a good breeding season.

Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of species seen on the above visits:

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(Please accept my apologies for not posting individual reports of these visits)

29th March 2022 – Marbury Country Park

Five members of the group enjoyed a lovely morning’s birding at this extensive country park with its wide range of habitats between Burton Mere and the Trent and Mersey canal.  A total of twenty six species were recorded and a particular highlight was the good views we got of a Mistle Thrush at quite close range.

Thanks to group member Ken for this shot of the Mistle Thrush.

12th April 2022 – Mere Sands Wood

Four members of the group attended this visit on a soggy and misty morning.  It was interesting to see the on going repairs and replacements of the hides and the improvements to the main hub.  A highlight was about twenty Swallows flying low over the water.  A total of twenty six species were recorded.

10th May 2022 – Yarrow Valley Country Park

Yarrow Valley is another extensive country park with a wide variety of habitats alongside the River Yarrow and six members of the group had an enjoyable morning’s birdwatching, recording a total of twenty two species.  Highlights of this visit were the Dippers feeding their young and the Grey Wagtails.

14th June 2022 – Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve

It was good to be able to return after three years to this very special Site of Special Scientific Interest set on an island between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal close to the Thelwall Viaduct.  Five members of the group enjoyed this visit with a total of thirty species being recorded.  One of the main attractions of this site is the breeding colony of Black-necked Grebes and the timing of this visit was ideal as the adults were seen feeding their chicks.  It was also good to see many other birds with their young.  The Black-necked Grebes were at quite a distance but this one put on a good show for us as it constantly dived for food for it’s chick:

Thanks to Tony and Ken for these other pictures from this visit:

12th July 2022, Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve

Eight members of the group attended our final visit before the August break.  This Wildlife Trust reserve, alongside the River Lunt, has a good variety of habitats and always produces a good range of sightings.  This visit was no exception with a total of thirty seven species being recorded.

Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of species seen on the above visits:

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May 2022

Old Boilers and

The End of the Pier Show

November 2021

Death by Paintbrush

April 2019

Two weddings and a Conference

November 2019

Christmas Pudding

April 2018

A Fate Worse Than Death

October 2018

“Slim Chance” and “Commemorate and Celebrate”

April 2017

Get Staffed

and

Love and Marriage and All That Jazz

October 2017

Smalls Talk

and

Cabaret at the K P Club

April 2016

Acting – It’s Not Plumbing

and

Let’s Go To The Movies

October 2016

Death on Delivery

June 2015

Out for the Count

and

Follow the Rainbow

October 2015

S S Persephone

A review of “The Persephone Affair”

It was ‘all aboard’ the S S Persephone when the Drama Group presented ‘The Persephone Affair’ – a murder mystery – in Aughton Village Hall, which was attended on Saturday evening by the play’s author Kevin Green.
The Hall was transformed for the evening into the liner’s first class lounge thus ensuring that the audience felt part of the plot.
All the actors fully immersed themselves in their parts, taking on wonderfully the character being played. It was revealed through the course of the play that each one of them was in financial straits. A touch of humour was supplied every time the Steward appeared when the ship seemed to roll. This was achieved by a superbly choreographed swaying by all the actors who were on
the stage.
When Lady Daphne met an untimely end it was apparent that each one of them had a motive and was a suspect. Miss Marbles, an amateur sleuth, announced that the death was ‘murder by poisoning’. As she led the suspects away, the audience was left to contemplate the means, motive and opportunity for the murder, over an excellent supper.
We all left the hall having had a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining evening.
Sally Bahia

Group members were also able to take part in other activities such as:
Sunday Social

Loitering within Tent

In 2017 the Drama Group were asked for volunteers to take part in a short film being made by
Edge Hill University students.  The film, “Take Care” is now available to view on YouTube and
stars Jackie Roscoe and Maureen Bridge. Congratulations to both of them.

Summer Social

On Parade

“Summer Serenade” with the u3a Choir

Everything in Moderation

Lost at Sea

“Acting Up”

In 2015 five of our members attended the first session of a pilot scheme called “Acting Up”.
This was run by Kaleidoscope, a Northern Ireland professional theatre company and was held at
the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.  Representatives of several other U3A Drama or Play
Reading groups from the North West region also attended.
There were many activities during the day including ice breakers, memory games, learning focus
and stagecraft, improvisation and acting in sketches.  The two excellent facilitators, Kerry and
Karen made it interesting and enjoyable for all.
There then followed two further workshops building on the knowledge  and experience gained
and the icing on the cake was a performance at The Lowry, Manchester on 23 rd  February.  The
Drama Group members performed three sketches, two of which were written by Kerry Rooney,
who is the Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope.
We learned a lot and everyone enjoyed the workshops, especially the opportunity to perform on a
professional stage.
This was an experience which we will remember for a long time.

Wednesday, 2nd November 2022

Emeritus Professor Dr Chris Hunt

The Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave, Iraq

Further details of Professor Hunt’s presentation will be uploaded when available.

If the scientists are to be believed, including our favourite TV presenter, Prof Alice Roberts, all of us north of the Med have a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA.

Continue reading →

In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology with Diomedes (also known as Jason- which means healer).

He had a close association with the goddesses Hera, Atheni and Aphrodite who intervened in his life.

We looked at his origins, and why he was brought up by Cheiron a centaur; he grew up to be handsome, strong, and accomplished.  We included why he was tasked with bringing back the Golden Fleece from Colchis; explored in detail his voyage and adventures in the Argo and the setting up of the Argo and crewing it with an elite crew which included Heracles.

We covered the part Medea played in Jason bringing back the Golden Fleece.  Medea was the daughter of Aeetes the ruler of Colchis and was a powerful priestess, brought into the story by Aphrodite who had Eros shoot Medea with an arrow so she would love Jason.

We looked at where Jason shared characteristics in common with the heroes from Celtic, Germanic and Scandinavian myths and legends and where he seemed weak, in these his partnership with Medea was important.

In the next session we shall complete the story of Jason and Medea as they return to his homeland and start the story of Theseus and the minotaur and labyrinth.

Wednesday 21st December 2022

Christopher Wheeldon’s lively Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland transports audiences to the riotous world of Lewis Carroll’s characters, including a tap-dancing Mad Hatter and a comically wicked Queen of Hearts. Bob Crowley’s ingenious mixture of traditional and innovative stagecraft together with the pace and colour of Joby Talbot’s score make Alice a gloriously vibrant experience. Packed with clever choreography – from the memorable croquet scene, complete with flamingos and hedgehogs, to a parody of the Rose Adage from The Sleeping Beauty – this is enchanting family entertainment at its best.

In the session we began our discussion of the heroes from Greek mythology with Perseus and his role in killing the Gorgon Medusa and in rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster.

We noted that Perseus shared many characteristics in common with the heroes from Celtic, Germanic and Scandinavian myths and legends – strength, courage, a skilled warrior but also learned in the arts of poetry and music and philosophy, and a close association with the gods.

In one version of Perseus’ adventures he is also portrayed as an honourable man who followed the warrior code of conduct to the letter, lived an exemplary life and died in old age.

However, in a second version of his story, Perseus is less than honourable and is eventually murdered by his cousin whose kingdom Perseus unjustly usurped. We suggested some possible reasons why the Ancient Greeks might have been attracted to the idea of the “flawed” hero.

Speakers:     Brian Farrimond – Peter Gateley – Peter Hatfield

Anglo Saxon Timeline  can be accessed on this link.

March 22, 2022 –  Talk  – Westminster Abbey – Part 1

On the site of a Saxon monastery, a large new building in the Norman style was ordered by King Edward the Confessor some time after 1042 and consecrated in 1065.  The building has been renewed and embellished over the years and is now largely a magnificent gothic structure, based on the major rebuild carried out under Henry III, which started in 1245.

In Part 1 we will look mainly at the western parts of this large and important building, along with its nearby associated claustral adjuncts.

April 26, 2022  – Talk – Westminster Abbey – Part 2

Edward the Confessor envisaged the new church as a place for his burial and since that time the majority of English kings and queens have been buried here.  Since the days of King Harold and William the Conqueror, in 1066, it has also been the location of the coronation of British monarchs, as well as many royal weddings.

Part 2 will cover the eastern section of the Abbey and the more far-flung buildings around the former royal palace of Westminster, associated with the abbey over many years.

May 24, 2022  – Visit – Lancaster Cathedral and Lancaster Priory.

Formerly known as the Priory Church of St Mary, Lancaster Priory is now the parish church for the city of Lancaster but began as a Benedictine priory established in 1094, though remnants of a Saxon church have also been found on Castle Hill.  The original priory church has been much enlarged, starting in 1360, and was completely remodeled in the Perpendicular Gothic style from 1431 onwards.  The church underwent a restoration as early as 1558.  Today it is a Grade 1 listed building.

The Roman Catholic cathedral church of St Peter was a parish church up to 1924, it is now the seat of the diocese of Lancaster.  The present Neo-Gothic building replaced a mission established in 1798 and was built between 1857 and 1859 to a design by the eminent Gothic revival architect EG Paley, a later baptistry was designed by Austin and Paley.  The notable tower and spire rise to a height of 73m (240ft). The cathedral is listed as a Grade 2* building.

August 16, 2022 – Visit – Beverley Minster and St Mary’s Church.

The coach excursion to Beverley, in Yorkshire’s East Riding has been rearranged for Tuesday 16 August.

Our main aim will be to enjoy the medieval glories of Beverley Minster, a former abbey church that is larger than one third of all English Cathedrals.

The coach will collect us at Four Lane Ends Mission at 9 o’clock and we should arrive in Beverley in time to disperse and find somewhere for a quick lunch. At 2 o’clock we will re-assemble at the West door of the Minster to begin our visit. If time allows, over lunch, the wonderful St Mary’s church is also worth looking into.

We would be leaving Beverley around 3.30 and arriving back around 6.30, depending ontraffic.

The cost of this trip will be £33.00p per person. If you would like to join us for thisvisit, please contact Peter Gateley on 07518 685807.

Situated over in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Beverley Minster is now one of the largest parish churches in the UK, being larger than a third of all English cathedrals.  This Gothic masterpiece, with double transepts, is the latest church on this site, originally  based on a monastery founded in the 8^th century.  There are elements of Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic all of the highest architectural quality and unified into an harmonious composition by the continuous vaulting from one end to the other.

St Mary’s was established in the 12^th century as a daughter church of the Minster.  Although some sections of 12^th and 13^th century work remain, the church was more-or-less totally rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style from the late 13^th century up to the 1340s.  There was another major phase of rebuilding, this time in the Perpendicular style, after the central tower collapsed in 1520.  Like the Minster this church is also classed as a Grade 1 listed building.

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