Timetables for the week of 23 May
Copies the full timetable, also the Town Hall and Zoom timetables, the Monday talks list and the revised handbook are available in the Office, or you can look at our website www.u3alondon.org.uk
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
We were all getting a bit confused about dates, so I checked with Marion in Reception.
There is no late May Bank holiday this year. Instead we are having a Jubilee holiday on Thursday and Friday, 2 and 3 of June. The Town Hall will be closed on those two dates and so shall we.
Enjoy that long weekend – and congratulations to Her Majesty!
The Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The following were elected to the Executive Committee
Stephen Barry, Ruth Freeman, David Iwi, Diana King, Marie-Ange King, Gillian Korgaonkar, Sue Kwok, Hazelanne Lewis, Shafeeq Siddiqui, Richard Sisson, Pam Strangman, Gilli Vafidis
The following were co-opted
Amalia Michaels, Gerta Regensburger, Anthony Sober.
On Friday 20 May, the following were appointed as Officers, Gilli Vafidis as Chair, Amalia as Vice Chair and Anthony Sober as Treasurer
From Wally Howard
As usual, all these films are at 14.00 in Room 1.22.
Monday 23rd May – El Sistema – a multi-award winning documentary about the remarkable network of children’s and youth orchestras, music centres and workshops in Venezuela, set up over 30 years ago by Jose Antonia Abreu.The most famous alumni of El Sistema are the conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the double-bass player Edicson Ruiz, who at 17 became the youngest musician ever to join the Berlin Philharmonic. An inspiring and uplifting story.
Wednesday 25th May – The Piano – directed by Jane Campion, is an outstanding film that has been discussed by film-goers since it was first released in 1993 and re-released in 2018 to mark its 25th anniversary. Set in New Zealand, it tells the story of people trying to maintain the appearance of the European society they have left behind and opens with a mute 30ish year old woman (Ada) and her young daughter (Flora) being rowed ashore, together with Ada’s piano, to meet a suitor. With incredible performances from Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, Sam Neill and Harvey Keitel, this mysterious and beautifully shot film richly deserved the accolades and awards it received.
Thursday 26th May – Rabbit Proof Fence , based on a book by Doris Pilkington, is a fictional account of the experiences of her mother, aunt and cousin, who were torn from their families by government officials and transported to a “training school” 1,500 miles away. The film follows their adventures as they escape, are captured and escape again whilst using a rabbit-proof fence as a navigational aid. The girls’ journey was described by Roger Ebert as being “beautiful, harrowing and sometimes heartbreaking”. With skilled direction by Phillip Noyce, this thought provoking film about Australia’s “Stolen Generation” has great emotional heft.
Barry Rae – funeral arrangements
From David. Barry’s funeral will be at the West Norwood Crematorium within the West Norwood Cemetery (Norwood Road, Norwood, SE27 9JU) on Tuesday May 31st at 12.30pm. No flowers, instead if people choose, they can make a donation to charities that Barry supported: RSPCA or Centre Point. I’d love to see you there, but because Barry loved life and was such a cheerful person, please avoid wearing funereal black. Parking is available.
There will be a ‘wake’ at the Rosendale, about a 15 minute walk from the cemetery, but there is a London Transport bus that runs that way.
If you are coming to Barry’s funeral by public transport, the nearest station is West Norwood and that train (2 per hour) comes from Victoria. Please note that from the cemetery gate it is a good 15 minute walk uphill to the Crematorium where the service takes place.
From Judith Michaels
There will not be a ‘Salsalates’ class on Wednesday 25 May. I will be accompanying my mother Amalia to Buckingham Palace to a Garden Party where we will attempt to give your regards to Prince Charles and Camilla.
From Linda Shannon
The Shakespeare Study group is taking a break. There will be no class on Wednesday 25th May, resuming on 4th June.
Thank you!
From Sharon Theodore
There will be no Arabic classes on 24 May and 7 June.
From Amalia re “History of Astronomy”
I had given up on Hybrid, but encouraged by Alan Morton, I’m giving it another “go”. On Tuesday 24 May I’ll be Zooming at 14.00 from Room 1.33 (instead of from home) a repeat of the talk I gave last Tuesday.
Bear with me. If it doesn’t work, I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to my loyal zoomers.
From Mickey Yudkin
There will be no Psychoanalysis class this week on Thursday 26 May. Back next week, all being well.
Amrita Narain’s ‘Cook Indiahh!’
Amrita is taking a break of a few weeks. We’ll let you know when she is about to resume.
From Anthony Guter
If you fancy acting in front of a live audience, or directing a play, a sketch or any sort of theatrical event, the Drama Group would like to hear from you. The Group is taking a break for the rest of the term but we aim to return in September to work on an End-of-Term performance
Spanish Classes- any offers?
We need another Spanish class for beginners – please tell Amalia if you would like to volunteer – and is any Spanish speaker out there willing to ‘have a go’ at running a Spanish conversation group? We have had one tentative offer for next term.
Walks Leaders – again, any offers?
We need some more volunteers to keep us fit and healthy. We have had one offer but the more the merrier.
From Ken Baldry
European History on Wednesdays at 11:40 in Room 2.21. This week, we will look at Agri & other culture, with 86 slides & contemporary music. This is from farming to fun, with (for once) no war & no religion.
From Stanley Volk
“Singing for Pleasure”. Please note we are live in Room 2.21 on Wednesdays at 15.10. Our singing includes Choral work, Jazz, as well as Popular music. New members are welcome and you don’t have to read music. Come and join the fun!
LONDON REGION SUMMER SCHOOL 26th & 27th JULY 2022 at St
Bride Institute,14 Bride Lane (off Fleet Street), EC4Y 8EQ
This year’s general theme: ‘London – past, present and future’ Activities include talks, creative workshops, guided walks.
This is a popular non-residential event for u3a members only. £39 per day including refreshments and cold buffet lunch
Members can choose to attend for one or both days.
Few spaces remain for walks, but there’s still good availability for a wide range of interesting talks and workshops e.g.
Music: Symphonic London; The Story of Jazz in London;
Literature: William Golding (author of Lord of the Flies and more);
Conan Doyle — Sherlock Holmes and London;
Drama workshops: Playing with Shakespeare; Writing your own play
Science & Technology: Sir Magdi Yacoub (pioneering heart surgeon) Biosciences in London; The Thames Tunnel; Carbon capture
London traditions: Pearly Kings and Queens
Full Programme and application forms (online and paper) and publicity flyer are available from the Events page of London Region website https://u3asites.org.uk/london-region/events
Also…
Ealing U3A are pleased to offer to members of other London Region U3As a Zoom talk on Thursday, 26 May at 10.15 for a 10.30 start a presentation to be given by Emeritus Professor Richard Clift, CBE, FREnd. Professor Clift will be delivering his talk from Sweden and is a chemical engineer who has spent much of his working life on government policy and company strategy to address environmental issues as well as a past member of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This talk will cover the problem of plastic pollution, mainly but not only, of the oceans and why international action is needed to clean up the legacy of plastic pollution.
To make you smile
Little David was in class when the teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came up – fireman, office manager, policeman, doctor, solicitor, etc.
David was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father.
“My father’s an exotic dancer in a gay club and takes off all his clothes in front of other men. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, he’ll go out to the alley with some guy and make love with him for money.”
The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the other children to work on some exercises and took little David aside to ask him, “Is that really true about your father?”
“No,” said David, “He works at 10 Downing Street for Boris’s Government, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the other kids.”
Best Wishes from Gilli and Amalia
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Gilli
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Amalia
