Please see details on new website: aou3a.u3asite.uk/u3a_events/wine-luncheon/

5th July – Barn Dance @ Aughton Village Hall

Details are on the new website: aou3a.u3asite.uk/u3a_events/barn-dance/

Bring along your surplus seedlings, rooted cuttings, houseplants etc and swap for something else!

Please label everything and wrap appropriately.

Thursday 2nd  May at the Scout & Guide HQ during Horizons (9.30 – 11 am approx).

The u3a tap-dancers recently took part in a fundraiser for the Charity, MacMillan. They were led and encouraged by their ‘incredible’ tap-dancing teacher, Wendy Harris. Our small but enthusiastic group were able to join with Wendy’s other classes, which she holds in Southport.

The event was great fun and it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our dancing in front of an appreciable audience. The event raised about £600 for this very worthy cause.

Our tap-dancing group welcomes new members, so if you would like to try this fun, energetic form of exercise, please contact Group Leader, Irene Arkinstall. Contact details are on the u3a website in the Tap Dancing Group Page.

Click or tap on any picture to view it full-size.

Very recently, your Web Manager discovered – quite by chance – a music Radio Station that plays all her old pop favourites. (The tunes on Radio 2 were becoming increasingly unfamiliar and sometimes she yearns for some lighter entertainment than Radio 4.) It is called Boom Radio – not because it blasts out loud music all the time but because it is aimed at Baby Boomers.

It has also been discovered by the u3a National Office apparently. See this item in the March National Newsletter!

Advertising campaign with Boom Radio

We are thrilled to announce that we will be running an advertising campaign with Boom Radio, which has over half a million listeners over the age of 55. The three month campaign will start in April, alongside a u3a social media campaign, and will feature three u3a members sharing their stories about what u3a means to them. Listen to Boom Radio and let us know what you think by emailing communications@u3a.org.uk.

Alexa – Boom Radio!

A coat was left in the Scout & Guide HQ by a Scout Helper over the weekend of 2nd /3rd March.  It is a large Man’s Berghaus black raincoat. If you have seen it or perhaps taken it home by mistake, or as Leader of a u3a Group on Monday 4th / Tuesday 5th may have set it aside assuming it belonged to a member of your Group, please contact the Web Team at: webteam@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk.

My involvement in this is that I picked up a call about this from a Skelmersdale Scout Leader on the phone at the Scout & Guide HQ. As it happens, I know the Scout Leader from way back

Thanks

Joyce Nolan.

The Musical Theatre Group’s next production stages at Aughton Village Hall on Friday 22nd March at 7.30pm, and Saturday 23rd March at 2.30 and 7.30pm. See more details about The Trinket Box.

Advance Notice ………

The date and time of the 21st AGM will be the 13th June at 11:30am. The meeting is to be held at Scout & Guide HQ following Horizons.

It is hoped a Zoom meeting option could be set up to facilitate those who may not be able to make the meeting.

Volunteers are needed to join the Management Committee who are looking for 4 in total. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Secretary.

More information to follow.

The Drama Group will be performing a radio play – a light hearted comedy – “Pride and Prejudice and Other Useful Qualities” by Geoff Bamber at the next Sunday Social at HQ on Sunday 25th February 2024 – starting at 2pm, and still only £1.50.

After the refreshments break we will have a quiz/game – so come along and enjoy a lovely entertaining afternoon!  All are welcome.

Bridge is the most popular and enjoyable card game in the world, offering constant mental challenges and a great way to make new friends.  If you would like to learn to play bridge or to return to playing after a break, then why not join the u3a Bridge Group’s next ‘Learn To Play Bridge course’.  It will start in April and run for about 30 weeks, on Friday mornings at the Scout and Guide HQ.

If you would like to find out more, then please ring Nick Dowrick on 07988 119408.

Looking for a new Leader and Helpers for 2024.

Sadly, Judy Ingman has now stepped down as Organiser of this Group and as yet no other Member has offered to take her place. Unless that happens this Group will finish. There would be helpers available but it does need one or two people to step up and organise a programme of a few outings and indoor social sessions.

This group was born around 2010/11.  It was created to help people feeling isolated due to loneliness or a physical disability to be encouraged to join different forms of social interactions. As its name explained, it was to help those who were confident in some directions to help others less able, and for others to help them too where they were struggling.
Meetings were mostly 11 or 12 times a year on a monthly basis. During colder months they tended to be held in the Scout Hut with a socially directed meeting including light refreshment,  often being led by another u3a group e.g. card making, choir, flower arranging, and perhaps a games afternoon or just chatting together.

In warmer months, short local outings were arranged usually with Charlton mini coaches which have a lift at the back of the coach and room for walkers and wheelchairs if necessary. They included lunches or afternoon teas at local garden centres, the Safari Park, and Music afternoons at Sefton Park, perhaps a canal trip or to visit a place of local interest.

Tasks for leaders and helpers are to discuss with the Group their ideas and then to devise a programme of meetings as described above. The Group has never been restricted and has always been open to all u3a members, and although it has generally included regular attendees, newer members have always been welcomed.

Please feel free to contact Judy on 01695 423141 if interested or see her at Horizons.

Does anyone fancy starting a new ‘Stamp Collecting’ group? Please contact Ian Lyster in the first instance on phone 01695 578348.

Aughton & Ormskirk u3a are planning a new, collaborative venture with Southport University Extension Society (SUES), whereby members of our respective organisations will be able to take advantage of each other’s talks and other events. If you are interested in attending any of the following, please contact Pam Ball in the first instance on 07974 749362.

Forthcoming SUES learning opportunities include:

Lectures

Membership Renewals for 2023/24 commenced at Horizons on 14th September 2023. Note that you can also renew online anytime / anywhere.

Thursday 16 November:   Beethoven’s Symphony No.7.   Concert programme also includes Rossini’s Overture  – The Italian Girl in Algiers  & Walton’s cello concerto. Please check for further details on the groups’ Philharmonic web page and also for programme notes on the October’s concert.

The Philharmonic now requires booking confirmation 4 weeks in advance and there can be a demand for tickets – so book early to avoid disappointment. 

Most Thursday mornings at Horizons, there is a Bookstall where members can procure a variety of paperbacks, ideal for reading on the dark winter days.

You are welcome to bring in books for the stall, but please only paperbacks, not hardbacks (due to lack of space). A variety of genres are appreciated. (There tends to be an preponderance of crime fiction at the minute!)

A day trip to ‘Golden Days Garden Centre at Appley Bridge’ – Monday 16th October

We will be leaving St Anne’s Social Centre at 10.40am – the Scout HQ Long Lane at 10.45am, and Aughton Village Hall at 11.0am.  For anyone who hasn’t been before – the Garden Centre also sells clothes and other articles and has a cafe where people can buy lunch.

For further details – select ‘Helping Each Other’ web page.

If you are unable to visit our weekly Horizons meetings on Thursday mornings at the Christ Church Scout & Guide HQ, you can view the slideshow which highlights events in the coming weeks along with some general notices.

On Thursday 6th July at Horizons, we will welcome Dave Carlos, who will speak on the important topic of Cyber Crime.  See Speaker Meetings for details.

Saturday 29 July at Aughton Village Hall – 2 to 5 pm

Join us for afternoon tea and a glass of Sparkling Wine

Entertainment by our Music and Dance groups

Free Raffle

Tickets £5 (non refundable) available at Horizons or phone 01695 577614

Member, Julia Bate is Coordinator for the Health & Wellbeing Group which provides occasional talks on relevant topics for members to attend.

Additionally, Julia herself attends and reports back on regular meetings with the Patient Safety and the Patient and Public Involvement Groups attached to the North West Coast NHS Innovation Agency.  Interesting and comprehensive reports from these meetings are listed below. These meetings continue to be either face-to-face or via video-conferencing.

For further information, email Julia on: wellbeing@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk

Reports

2024

• March and April 2024 meetings

Fingerprick blood tests, a mental health app and pulmonary rehabilitation

• Meetings January and February 24

Happy Hearts website, patient opioid awareness campaign and a mobile phone app          for health monitoring

2023

• October and November meetings

Renaming of the Innovation Agency, review of Patient Medication Review Literature         and review of new Happy Hearts website

• September meeting
  Developing a questionnaire relating to an App into which details of home-monitoring of blood pressure etc are entered and submitted to the GP practice, a new means of befriending, and more about polypharmacy reviews.
• July meeting
  Telehealth (a home monitoring service for long-term health conditions), more information on the system for recording the improvement in response to physiotherapy following knee surgery, and the link between deprivation and health inequalities.
• June meeting
  A dementia-friendly photography group, a mobile phone app for accessing GP records, a portable ecg monitor worn for 14 days, and a system for monitoring response to physiotherapy
• May meeting
  A digital physical activity hub, a system for recording clinical consultations, enabling patients to revisit a consultation as many times as they wish, and an update on a website for people with lung conditions.
  
• April meeting
  A website providing fiction and creative writing as therapy
• March meeting
  Reducing ‘addiction’ to mobile phones, update on medication reviews and reducing opioid prescribing.
• February meeting
  Musculoskeletal pain relief via an App, an agency providing independent home carers, and a flu test and treat pilot project.

  2022

• December meeting  Ability consulting, an App that demonstrates how life is for disabled people.
• November meetings Triage for lung cancer patients, new website for patients with respiratory conditions, initial management of mental health conditions.
• October Meetings Asthma reviews, blister prevention pads an update on socks for people with diabetes, and another follow-up on Endoscopy alternative.
• July meetings – A tool for detecting deterioration in patients in care homes, follow up on Endoscopy Alternative, COPD questionnaire and training for Heart Heroes on blood pressure monitoring
• June meetings – Music therapy, Genomic medicine, Endoscopy alternative, Medication review and Self-monitoring of blood pressure
• May Meeting – self-referral to consultants using an App; spotting patients with severe asthma
• April Meeting – Update on alcohol withdrawal project; Cardiac Network and Websites helping with management and prevention of heart disease; Blood pressure testing in barbers’ shops
• March meeting – Update on Back Pain Management App; Chatbot with Mental Health Advice; Patient Safety (Opioid withdrawal and Medication review)
• February meeting – Pillow with a hole; Back pain management App; Menopause Consultancy
• January meeting – Influenza; Mental Health safety; Lipid management

2021

• December meeting – re-usable medical grade PPE; diabetic socks
• November meeting – ‘Biodose’ smart medication dosage tray; diabetic socks
• October meeting – Celsium wearable thermometer; Alcohol related brain injury; loneliness aid
• September meeting – ‘Drivernet’ transport system; ‘Tiny Medical Apps’ eg for asthma management
• August meeting
• July meeting
• June meeting
• May meeting
• April meeting
• March meeting
• February meeting

2020

• December meeting
• November meetings
• October meetings
• September Meetings
• August Meeting
• July Meeting
• June Meeting

Peter Lloyd has started up a group for electric bikers.

Peter Says:

He has had long experience with our u3a cycling groups, but he thinks now is the time to enjoy some help with the pastime for “not so young legs” – pedal power greatly enhanced, let’s say.

Usually on a Wednesday, 10:30 start, local area. Very much social rides to include a cafe stop, fun and friendship. Weather permitting, of course. Not too far at 15/20 miles, with plenty of stops.

Contact Peter on 07801 106335 if interested or for more information.

This event was a great success! look our for a report in the next u3a Magazine.  Many thanks to all those involved both at Edge Hill and within A&O u3a. And thanks too to all those who attended – Edge Hill staff and students, u3a members and the local community.

As a follow on from the successful collaboration with Edge Hill University on the Ageing Better Project, the leaders are holding a free Showcase Event at the University on 11th February 2023, starting at 10 am in the Arts Centre. The purpose of the event is to present and discuss the findings of the workshop series attended by a number of our u3a members. The event will feature  talks about brain and ageing and will include  dance performances and a calligraphy stall.

Continue reading →

Our u3a provides many opportunities for learning. But we also have a vibrant social dimension to our activities. They bring together people from across a wide range of special interests,  in a convivial atmosphere, simply to enjoy themselves. These excellent events are mostly organised by the Social Subcommittee.

There are  usually committee members at the weekly Horizons meetings from whom you can get more details on their events and book places or buy tickets.

2024 Events

• 5th July – Barn Dance @ Aughton Village Hall

Tickets for the Barn Dance will be on sale from 2nd May at Horizons.

Please see Paul or Mike on the Social Committee Desk

Tickets priced at £15 which includes a supper

Bring your own drinks and glasses

Dancing to “Change of  Key”

• 4th October – Quiz night @ Scout & Guide HQ
• 6th December – Christmas Social @ Aughton Village Hall

Further details of all the above events will follow nearer the dates.

Note that some Groups and individual members also organise learning and social events open to all members ie not just their regular attendees.  They are usually well advertised on the run-up to their dates in the monthly enews / the occasional magazines / at Horizons / on our u3a facebook presence and elsewhere on this u3a website such as the News page, the Groups Pages and the Front Page sidebar.   Check the various  Communication methods regularly so you don’t miss out on advertising your u3a event!

Examples of Past Events in 2023

• Friday 16th June 7pm at Aughton Village Hall
• Dancing to Rollercoaster

* Aughton & Ormskirk u3a 20^th Anniversary Celebration

• Saturday 29 July at Aughton Village Hall, 2-5 pm
• An afternoon tea and a glass of fizz; also free raffle and entertainment
• See the September 2023 Magazine for report and photos.

* Quiz Night

• at the Scout & Guide HQ on 29 September

* Christmas Lunch Party

• At the Christ Church Ministry Centre on 8 December
• Dancing to Rollercoaster

Examples of Past Events in 2022

• • Vegan Lunch – 23 March

    • at St Michaels Church Hall
    • on Wednesday 23 March, 12 noon for 12:30

  • Queens Jubilee Event – 25 June

    Click on Poster to view details full-size

• • Quiz Night with Hotpot Supper – “Battle of the Groups” – 30 September

    • • Friday 30th September
      • Venue – Scout & Guide HQ

  • Christmas Lunch Party – 9 December

    

See details and photos of this very successful and enjoyable annual event.

2021 Highlights

Click on u3a Christmas Lunch  for a gallery of photos from this social event, the first for a long time due to Coronavirus lockdown and social isolation rules.

View Past Social Highlights

Pay a regular visit to  this brand new Page on our Website to avoid missing out on special Guests and Events at Horizons.

Local history meetings returned to our indoor venue at the S&GHQ from Tuesday, 4 October. Please see details of future talks on our webpage Local History

please visit the National u3a Home Page.

Cancelled due to lack of numbers!

Helping Each Other Group  have planned a Tea Dance at the Sefton Park Palm House on 13th September. But if they do not get more people signed up by this coming Tuesday, 6th September,  it will regretably have to be cancelled.

Please phone  Judy ASAP on 01695 423141 if you would like to go on this outing. All welcome, even if you do not usually attend HEOG.

Film Appreciation has a new programme for the summer and early autumn months in its new afternoon slot at the Scout & Guide HQ. Come and join us for a relaxing afternoon.

To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Social Subcommittee organised a

Summer Dance on Saturday 25 June. 

This turned out to be a most enjoyable and jolly ‘do’.  The dance floor was never empty while the excellent band – the Rollercoasters – rocked out a series of old favourites from the 50s through to the 80s. The eatables – finger food on this occasion – was very suitable, tasty and plentiful. And it was a great opportunity to reunite with u3a friends and meet some new folk. So, all-in-all, this was a very successful event, with many, many thanks due to all those Social Team members involved in making it so.

(Don’t miss out on future opportunities arranged by the u3a! Take a few minutes to check out some other events that are coming soon, as advertised via the sidebar of this Front Page and elsewhere on the website.)

Computer Advice session will be suspended for the summer months i.e. June –August. Computer Advice will still be available, during this period, at Horizon sessions, or by e-mailing elearning@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk. The reason for this suspension is that there have been very few clients to make use of these facilities. If you don’t use them they may disappear altogether. For further information contact the e-mail address given above.

Our present Choir Group musical director, Paul Dickie has successfully led us for the past 18 months and in spite of the challenges of covid we organised and performed the u3a advent service under his direction. However, to secure continuity for the future we would like to bring in someone else with the necessary musical knowledge and creative skills to assist Paul, help take the choir forward and build on our success.

We are a very friendly, sociable group with 30 members and like to sing a wide range of music including; Musical Theatre, Folk, Sacred and Popular. We enjoy the challenge of three part singing as well as a good unison sing-a-long at most of our sessions.

We give one formal concert a year in the summer and organise the annual U3A Advent service. We are also regularly invited to sing at several local nursing homes.

We meet every Wednesday morning at Aughton Village Hall from 10 am until 12. (Broadly following school holidays). We have a well organised team who take care of admin, finances and hall bookings.

If you are interested in finding out more then please contact choir leader Ann Henders 07847 364330.

Please note there is no remuneration for this role.

Hello everyone, here we are at Christmas once again and despite Covid Aughton & Ormskirk u3a has continued to thrive through these difficult times.

Since lock down ended in the late Summer almost all our groups and activities have started meeting again, and in fact some of them are oversubscribed and have a waiting list! So thank you all for your support.

Let’s hope that 2022 sees restrictions easing and some normality returning.

I’m sure you will all enjoy the Christmas break and the opportunity to spend time with your friends and families.

Good wishes for Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

John Tomlinson

A report of the 20th September 2021 walk

The September Monday u3a Walking Group walk was in the Tawd Valley Park, Skelmersdale, which is an area of green open space of 65 hectares running from Skelmersdale town centre and following the line of the River Tawd as it heads northwards to join the River Douglas.

Those participating in the walk soon realised that Tawd Valley Park is a hidden jewel in the heart of Skelmersdale. The site surrounds the River Tawd as it meanders its way from Yewdale across a large section of the historic town of Skelmersdale through to Cobbs Clough Brow. The area is a haven for a wide variety of wildlife with birds of prey soaring above the meadows and Kingfishers patrolling the riverbanks.

Barry Carr the walk leader did an excellent job in explaining the history of the area, with the ruins of an old mill, millponds and capped mineshafts providing a glimpse into the area’s industrial history.

Everyone agreed it was an excellent afternoon walk in an area that was previously unknown to most of the walk participants.

Most Groups have now restarted following on from the times of  lockdown, tiers and  social isolation during 2020 and the first half of 2021. If you are a Group Leader of a Group without a Group Author, please check your Group Page and contact the Web Team as to any updates your Group Page you require to bring it up-to-date.

webteam@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk

With some Groups restarting in September 2021, your Web Manager had a notion to try out something completely new.  I was seeking a non-techie subject that I’d never before studied.  Spotting a new series of 7 introductory talks being organised by Tim Miles of the Philosophy Group, I thought this might well fit the bill, took the plunge and signed up. Thoroughly enjoying the September talk on Ethics, I am now much looking forward to the next one on Friday 1st October on Politics!

Tim has indicated there may be room for a few more participants. A handout was provided for the September talk, so it should be easy enough to catch up.  If interested, further information and Tim’s contact details are on the Philosophy Group Page.

Joyce Nolan

In case you missed reading about it in an email dated 6 September 2021 and sent to all members with email addresses on  Beacon,  here is a special  Message from the Secretary about an Extraordinary General Meeting in October:

Dear Member,

Due to the Annual General Meeting held on 26.08.21 not being quorate, any votes taken were indicative only.  It is, therefore, necessary to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on the following resolutions –

Resolution 1 – To approve the Accounts 2020/21.

Resolution 2 – JVSA to be appointed as the Independent Examiners of the Accounts for the year 2021/22.

This meeting to be held on Monday 11th October, 2021 at Scout & Guide H.Q. at 1.00 p.m.  All members are welcome but please note members attending will be quorate irrespective of the number, as per our Constitution.

Megan Tomlinson

Secretary

In Person Speaker Meetings are back!

The plan is to hold all Speaker Meetings at Aughton Village Hall as part of New Horizons, starting at 11.15 am. The first of these will take place on Thursday 19th August, when author Carolyn Kirby will speak about the background to her new book, When We Fall, a gripping 2nd World War thriller which was chosen by the Times and Sunday times as one of the 10 best historical novels of 2020.
Please click here for further information, and for October and November dates.

I have been approached by Liverpool University Biomechanics Laboratory who are looking for volunteers to take part in a research project investigating the effect of ageing on leg muscle strength.  Please see more information on the Research Poster.

Our u3a have taken part in a previous project at the Biomechanics Laboratory on walking gait so we know that they work professionally with proper arrangements for confidentiality and safety.  If you are interested in getting out of the house as pandemic restrictions are eased, seeing university research work in action, and helping the study of the effects of ageing, please contact Dr. James Charles at j.charles@liverpool.ac.uk directly.  I’ve checked with James: the MRI is only on your legs so you do not need to be worried about the claustrophobia which some people may get with whole body scans.

Jack Brettle

Our June Speaker Meeting, featuring the Fool’s Gold duo, was live on Zoom on Thursday 3 June…
click the poster for the full size version

The sun was very hot, as usual, and my dress was long and with full sleeves due to the local custom. I couldn’t wear trousers of course as these were seen as the sign of a woman of ill repute,  and that’s not what  I particularly wanted to be mistaken for.  We were off on a visit and were driving ourselves so didn’t need to be collected by a car bearing the proverbial red number plates used by the royal family. The drive was quite short and the guards on the entry gate waved us in.  Inside the palace it was cool and we were shown into an ornate room decorated mostly in gold, probably real.

Continue reading →

Keep an eye on this website for the latest u3a news – check out the links displayed in sidebar of this Front Page or the items on the News Page. The brand new Restart Page will also increasingly keep you informed as Groups and other activities get underway again over the next few months.

Refer to  your email for past and current enews and special enews and Bulletins, Newsletters. (For the relatively few members without an email address recorded on their Beacon Membership Record, a paper version of certain  important missives such as the occasional Newsletters are hand-delivered or sent in the Post.)

Thank you to all those who have supported our Zoom Speaker Meetings so far. The talks have been hugely enjoyable, entertaining and informative, so if you haven’t zoomed in already, why not give it a try? The next one will take place on Thursday 6th May at 11 am, when John Whittles will join us to speak about Mason Bees. Click here for more information.

If you would like to attend, please email speakerteam@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk by Monday 3rd May to book your place – the Zoom information will be sent to you a couple of days before the meeting.

Pam Ball

We are part of the North West Region of u3as,  all 100 plus of them.  From time to time the regional committee organises events and projects for their membership.  “My Street” is the latest one with an aim of fostering local and regional involvement, pride and awareness – a sense of place to present to the outside world.  It’s described as a Collaborative Project.

The project will be a collection of images – photographs, paintings, drawings, embroideries, accompanied by some words to tell the story behind the image.    It can be done by individual u3a members or groups. The image should be of the local area – the street where you live.

If you would like to take part or to find out more about this project then use this link for My Street – North West Region of u3as Collaborative Project.

The first meeting took place via Zoom at 11 am on 4th February when Julia Clayton  provided us with a fascinating talk on the topic of What did the Spartans do for us?  Details of this and future Speaker Meetings already arranged for 2021, including how to sign up to attend, can be viewed on Pam Ball’s Speaker Meeting webpage.

If not familiar with joining in remotely, check out Zoom Support for help.

Note that the mini-magazine referred to above was Newsletter No 2, emailed in mid-December to all members with an email address on their Beacon membership record.  Those without email were sent a printed A5 version by post or via hand delivery.  These occasional Newsletters, currently in place of the long-standing quarterly Magazine, should not be confused with the monthly enews which are emailed to members at the end of every month – too frequently for printed copies to be posted.  So if you know of any member without an email address or not on the Internet, perhaps you could print and deliver a copy for them to read or phone them with any important u3a news.

The latest enews was sent out by the enews Editor to all members with an email address on Monday 28 December. If you have not received it, check your Spam folder. If not there, check with the Membership Team that they have your correct details on record

If you missed the enews deadline, and have some U3A content you would like to publicise on this website, contact the Web Team.

You can use the web forms for the enews Editor, Membership Team and the Web Team on the Contact Us webpage to get in touch, selecting appropriately from the ‘drop-down list’ on the form as you fill it in.

If you have set up an email address for the first time (or you have changed your email address), please don’t forget that you can logon to update your u3a Beacon details for yourself.  Or  if you need it to be added, changed or checked for you on your Beacon membership record, contact the Membership Team.

It is important (especially during time of lockdown and tiers) that your correct email address is on the Beacon system.  This ensures that you, as a member of Aughton & Ormskirk u3a, will receive useful emails such as the monthly enews,  the occasional special Newsletters (currently in place of the Magazines) and important notifications from the Chairman, the Management Committee and other u3a Committees and Officers. It is also an easy and secure way for Group Leaders to contact their members.

Our u3a has a Zoom licence which enables groups to have meetings without a restriction on duration.

For further details, and to book a meeting slot, contact Willem Wiechers by email at: elearning@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk

The most recent enews came out on Monday 30th November (last Monday of the month). If you missed the deadline and want items posted in the December enews, please send them to the enews Editor

In the meantime, if you want u3a information posted on the website, contact the Web Team.

Following the introduction of government restrictions, the National U3A has published some Covid-19 advice on u3a activities.

You can also read messages from our Chairman Alan Starkie and Trustee Sue Watkinson about what our u3a is doing in the meantime.

Of course, any restarting of activities in the foreseeable future will involve assessment of risk and acceptance of some required changes to behaviour (social distancing) and additional tasks relating to hygiene. Our work to date on this subject is given in this Covid-19 Risk Management presentation.

A new virtual group – Science during Lockdown – has been specially set up for these strange times.  It features a Daily Science Snippet, Science Jokes and Cartoons, Illusions, online Science Quizzes that any member can try out and links to Coronavirus articles.

All meetings are currently postponed until further notice.

I like gardening – it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself – Alice Sebold.

Hello Everyone –  Helen here from the Gardening  Group.  I do hope that you are all staying safe and well and enjoying your garden or outdoor spaces. Garden centres are now opening so we can get on with planting up lovely colourful summer baskets and containers. For anyone isolating many are still offering local delivery and online ordering.

Continue reading →

The Third Age Trust (TAT) currently issues regular bulletins to members. Please check the TAT website regularly and, if you have not already done so, sign up to their national U3A Newsletter which disseminates advice and information quickly to all U3A members. On a rainy day, stuck in the house  during this lockdown, you might also like to pass some time browsing past issues – see the newsletter archive.

When looking at the TAT website, you will find the first three top menu links particularly useful for the current circumstances viz Home, Learning and Newsletter.  Another very helpful place to go  on the TAT website is down to the grey footer area on the main pages.  Here you will find an area called Covid Links with 3 very useful entries for these times.  Have a browse.

Many of our favourite activities and interests have been curtailed due to social isolation.  But here are some ideas how can keep your participation alive.

National Theatre at Home

Watch top-notch online shows for free. Productions are shown every Thursday at 7pm and are then available for 7 days.

‘Local’ Theatre

Spot On is Lancashire’s touring theatre network. They are obviously currently not able to Tour but they area launching and an innovative project to compensate for this.

We will be launching Spot On Stories on Tuesday 21st April at 3pm via our website, Facebook and YouTube. Find out more about our first show.

Tuesday afternoons will be stories for children and families, and Thursdays will be something a little more grown-up. Once they are live, they’ll be available to watch on the Spot On website for 30 days.

The Royal Opera House

The ROH is offering selected productions on demand free of charge as part of a wider package of online content available for audiences.

Travel

If you are missing  holidays, enjoy seeing the sights  from your armchair courtesy of the BBC.

Virtual Museum Tours

Take a trip round a Museum without leaving your home.

Zoo Outing

Chester Zoo

All suggestions to add to the above list are very welcome.  Contact us:

webteam@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk

Following a meeting of the Management Committee and Trustees, all Aughton & Ormskirk U3A face-to-face activities are suspended with effect from 17 March 2020, until further notice.

This government guidance on coronavirus includes ongoing and changing information about how to protect yourself or check if you need medical help, and provides advice about social distancing, staying at home and travel etc.

The Third Age Trust (TAT) has published a special new and ongoing bulletin on their website – Covid-19 News and things to do.

The Open Forum, held on 23^rd January, 2020, was interesting and several points and questions were put forward by members.  Alan Starkie., our Chairman, opened the Forum reminding members that the U3A is all about its members.  Also that the National office have now opted not to use the word ‘university’ but simply call ourselves U3A.  National U3A Day is on 3^rd June, 2020 and U3As are encouraged to celebrate this day.

The change from four issues to three of the Magazine was well received and it was noted that our magazine continues to be much appreciated. Suggestions were made as to how to recoup the cost of postage.  Moving forward, newer members tend to visit the website and read enews.

It was put forward that the Management Committee and Trustees should be combined for more efficient working and members were encouraged to come forward to join Committees.

It was generally agreed that new members should be made welcome at Horizons and everyone was urged to assist in this. A ‘Meeter and Greeter’ was suggested.

Discussion about car parking took place and efforts are being made to co-ordinate activities with Christchurch School, The Ministry Centre and Christ Church.

This is only a brief outline of the Forum – a more detailed account will appear in the next issue of the Aughton & Ormskirk U3A Magazine.

Megan Tomlinson (Aughton & Ormskirk U3A Secretary)

Check out the Digital Photography Group Page (and the Group Posts that follow it) for details of the first meeting this year and exhibitions of the excellent photos taken in past years.

NHS Innovation Agency

North West Coast Patient Safety Collaborative

on Medication Safety

On behalf of our U3A I attended a meeting of the above group on 22^nd January. They are conducting a project aimed at increasing medication safety, looking at four areas in particular:

1. The safe prescribing of medicines in primary care.
2. Transfer of care between primary and secondary care to ensure effective and timely communication of any medication changes when a patient is discharged from hospital.
3. Poly pharmacy (prescribing of large numbers of medication items to one patient, which increases the risk of drug interactions and can lead to failure to take medicines correctly).
4. Medicines administration in care homes.

If anyone has any suggestions of how medication safety could be improved from a patient’s perspective, please contact me – Julia Bate, Tel: 01744 883086 – and I will mention them at the next meeting which will probably be in 2 or 3 months’ time.

Julia’s email address can be found in Bob Carlton’s January enews.

English Medieval Cathedrals of the South and South-east

Commencing Tuesday 28 January, for this fourth series of Church History we move to medieval cathedrals in the south-eastern extremity of England, interspersed with two visits to more-local medieval sites.

The 1st talk is on Canterbury Cathedral – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and mother church of the Anglican Communion, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Speakers are Peter Goodrich, Peter Hatfield and Peter Gateley. For further details, please refer to the Church History Group Page.