Totton U3A

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2015 

Thank you for your interest in the Totton University of the Third Age group. We meet on the second Wednesday afternoon of the month from 1.45-4pm at the Eling Masonic Hall, Lexby Road, Totton, SO40 9HD.
Generally at each monthly meeting we have a speaker and members are brought up to date with group activities and can opt in to activities/new groups. We currently have groups for Walking, Theatre, Bird Watching, Lunch Club, Genealogy, French,  Book Appreciation, History, Craft,  Art, Philosophy and Wine Tasting. Annual Membership/joining fee is £12. Extra costs would be for refreshments and any costs incurred from the activity eg theatre tickets. Members are encouraged to think about hosting an interest group in their home and sharing any skill or hobby they have with other members.It is a very friendly group and membership is growing all the time. Visitors can come along for two monthly meetings paying £2 per entrance fee before deciding if they wish to join.If you would like any more information, contact the Secretary, Ann 02380 867417or Sue via livelybird@hotmail.co.uk
We look forward to meeting you.

Jan Meeting

Colin Van Geffen

Southampton Flying Boats

Flying boats have been a familiar sight in the Solent since the dawn of aviation. Two of Britain's major manufactures, Saunders-Roe and Supermarine, were based in Cowes and Woolston respectively. The area has been home to flying boats of Imperial Airways and, latterly, BOAC and Aquila Airways. With a terminal at Hythe and then Southampton Docks, one could view not just majestic ocean liners but huge flying boats too, from the Empire boats of Imperial Airways to the majestic Saunders-Roe Princess

Feb Meeting

Julie Gallagher

Doorstep Crime and Scams

Julie explained that scams take a range of forms which are sent by post, telephone or email and normally originate outside the UK so it is very difficult to prosecute offenders successfully, even to stop the scam calls, e-mails and post. The team is working in partnership with the Police to stop the scams as well as prevention by raising awareness and giving advice on taking measures to avoid being scammed. The results of any scams can be devastating, financially as well as physically and mentally and although anyone can fall for a scam, the elderly and vulnerable are more likely to be targeted.

March Meeting

Gwen Appleton
As Good as it Gets

Hall was full to listen to How to Grow Old Disgracefully. This was very amusing and told us about all the ‘dont's’ of growing old – like no exercise and how the young talk to the older generation. People have treasured memories and live thinking of the past. Quote from Gwen: ‘It is not how old you are but how you grow old’

April Meeting

AGM

The meeting was well attended despite it being labelled as the AGM which some find less than exciting. This year we had a speaker publicising the voluntary work of those dedicated to help the young and homeless in the New Forest, a very commendable charity.

New Forest Nightstop provides the only emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds in the homes of trained and approved host households around the New Forest. New Forest Nightstop was established in 2003 and is a team approach to homelessness. It is a voluntary service managed by Community First New Forest based at Ringwood and is affiliated to the national registered charity, Depaul Nightstop UK

 May Meeting
10 Year Celebration

John recounted the story of how Totton U3A was first formed by Sheila Webb with the encouragement of Totton College. Hilvary Robinson South East Region  attended and was presented with a bouquet of flowers by John. A two tier cake was cut and each member had a small slice. Brian handed out two engraved pens to all those attending. Brain then kept everybody happy with an amusing quiz. The afternoon was for all concerned, a success.

June Meeting

Gordon Griffin

Speaking volumes

650 audio books

Hi. I’ve been an actor for over 50 years and I’ve performed in everything from Shakespeare to rock musicals but what impresses people the most is that I was the voice that told you to ‘Mind the Gap please’ on the London Underground! Other claims to fame: I was once a presenter on PlaySchool; I spoke the very first line of the very first episode of Byker Grove. And in my very first film I had a scene with Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren! But for the past number of years I have recorded nearly 700 audiobooks and this website will concentrate on those. It’s a wonderful job for an actor. I get to play all the parts and I am also the director and casting director!!! And I love going around the country talking about recording books. The talk (called Speaking Volumes) is fun (I hope) and anecdotal and it explains how an audiobook is prepared as well as how I got to be the person who recorded more books than anyone in Europe! I also read extracts from books I have recorded.

July Meeting

Graham Mylward

Driver Skills 60+

Graham Mylward is a Senior Road Safety Officer at Hampshire County Council and takes the lead on the Driver Skills Scheme 60+. Graham has been a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) for 15 years and in the five years before joining the Road Safety Team worked as a Fleet trainer conducting driver training courses and risk assessments for various national organisations. Since joining the Road Safety Team in 2008 he has been involved in advising Hampshire companies on lowering the driving risk for their employees as well as looking after the Driver Skills Scheme for drivers of 60 years and over. Besides arranging driving appraisals and managing a team of driving assessors Graham will often advise drivers and their families about legal requirements to do with licencing and eyesight as well as ways to keep driving for as long as they are safe to do so.

August Meeting

Cream tea
Speaker Emily Price
Medical Detection Dogs

Speaker Emily Price said 'I was diagnosed with brittle type 1 diabetes at the age of four, and I was able to manage it for years. But following a bout of food poisoning in 2009, my body stopped giving me the signs - dizziness and sweating - that my blood sugar levels were changing, and I suffered regular fits because it dropped so low.

'My confidence was shattered. I blood-tested myself obsessively and I didn't want to go out alone. In September 2011, my mum heard about Medical Detection Dogs. In January 2012, I was invited to meet a dog.

'When Toby ran through the door I was blown away - he was such a bundle of energy. We went for a coffee and Toby began pawing at my leg. The trainer told me to check my levels - I did and saw they were rising.

'I hugged Toby and nearly cried, because it dawned on me that my life could change for ever. 

'Each time he fetches my blood-testing kit and drops it on my lap or at my feet..

John also presented a £320 cheque to Claire  for the Totton Garage Youth club, money raised from Pat & Brian's garden party. Dave handed out a quiz for all to test their knowledge and with the cream tea it was a well attended enjoyable meeting.

Sept Meeting

Sue Dewey

Living with Sioux Indians

Not many attending today, one of those missing is Dave so no picture of Sue Dewey giving her talk on the many ethnic tribes of North America. We were told how they came to the continent over thousands of years when there was a way of getting from Siberia to Alaska. Sue brought with her the typical headdress we associate with the Sioux although no Eagle feathers as they are not allowed.

Oct Meeting

John Combes

Exploring the Hampshire Avon

Good attendance to hear an interesting journey along the banks of the river Avon. The slides and  video were excellent John has been interested in nature and photography for over 30years. A business studies lecturer for 31 years, but after early retirement he is now self-employed as a wildlife photographer and lecturer concentrating on giving presentations to local clubs and societies and running photographic workshops/courses.  He also does his own wildlife sound recording and music production as part of his presentations. Early interests in wildlife photography were concentrated on close-up work with insects and flowers, but he now covers all aspects of UK wildlife as well as landscapes

Nov Meeting

Phoebe Merrick
Romsey Remount

The British Army sent around a million horses to the Western Front. Fewer than one in ten returned.

Romsey Remount Depot prepared more than 120,000 horses for war, sending them to Southampton where they embarked for France.

The Remount Depot was opened in 1914, at Pauncefoot Hill. The horses, many of them semi-wild from North and South America, arrived by train at Romsey station and were led through the town to a vast military village, spanning more than 500 acres and with a complement of more than 2,000 men. Most of the horses were later sent on to Swaythling Depot to be shipped to France.

Dec Meeting

Ocean Harmony

A good meeting as all of us enjoyed the well known songs.  This is the information from their web page. Ocean Harmony is a men’s barbershop singing chorus based near Southampton, Hampshire.

We sing popular songs and provide entertainment for private parties, arts festivals, charities and fund raising events – any sort of appropriate event.

Ocean Harmony started in October 2003 and has grown from the 5 new people who attended the first meeting, to over 35 men singers at present. We are always looking for new recruits to grow our chorus, both experienced singers and beginners. If you like to sing, and are free for a couple of hours on a Wednesday evening, please contact us.

We are lucky enough to be involved in a musical hobby that uses nothing more complicated than the human voice – no instruments to buy and maintain, no heavy and awkward cases to lug around, and you can take it anywhere you like and join in almost instantly.