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U3A is a movement of retired and semi-retired people who come together to continue their educational, social and creative interests in a friendly and informal environment.
www.u3asite.org.uk/kingsbridgeestuary
by Myra Davidson, Publicity Officer
END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES T
he past year has been a very successful one for Kingsbridge
Estuary U3A. There are almost 500 members and 45 different groups of differing interests anything from Greek Mythology to Antiques and visits to churches.
VISIT TO THE HILL OBSERVATORY AND DONKEY SANCTUARY, SIDMOUTH
The Hill Observatory, named after Sir Norman Lockyer, was the first destination when a group of U3A, led by Tony Westlake, went by coach before Christmas to have a guided tour of the facility by volunteer amateur astronomers. It was a fascinating place with rope pulleys and weights used to move around the very large telescopes. Sir Norman had discovered the element Helios in the sun’s corona in 1868 and was one of the founders of the science journal Nature in 1869. We all ended up in the Planetarium and it was spectacular. None of us had heard of the thirteenth sign of the zodiac which is Ophiuchus (the quiz team got a question right in a recent quiz, courtesy of this fact). After this visit, we made our way to the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth. It was bitterly cold, so our first stop was the restaurant, where we had hot soup and pasties; oh joy! The Sanctuary, as a whole, cares
for 4,500 donkeys at present, and at least 24,500 have been helped since the start in 1969. It is possible to adopt a donkey
for £3.00 per month and several of the people on the trip already sponsored donkeys there and were able to identify them. A good day out and return home around 6 p.m.
TALK BY ADAM HART-DAVIS
The next memorable happening was at the monthly U3A meeting in the Malborough Village Hall. It was a talk by television personality and scientist, Adam Hart-Davis. His subject was “What made Britain Great”, an add on from his television show “Local Heroes”.
At one point in history, half of all
cotton came through the docks in Britain
Adam took a tour of Britain’s
role in metal working then on to entrepreneurs like Thomas Savery, a mechanical engineer, who invented water pumps for mines. This was improved on by Thomas
Newcomen, a local man, who introduced coal (or coke) powered steam engines which improved the performance of the Miner’s Friend, (Thomas Savery’s invention). Adam then went on to clothing and especially the cotton industry; people like Sir Richard Arkwright, an English inventor who helped industrialise weaving techniques. At one point in history, half of all cotton came through the docks in Britain. Adam then touched on
electrification and electrochemistry, which, with other processes, ensured Britain’s place in the forefront of engineering. The talk was much enjoyed by
everyone and Adam and some of the committee had a good lunch in the local pub afterwards.
CHRISTMAS SHOWS & LUNCHES
December 6th saw the U3A pre- Christmas Show held in West Charleton Village Hall. Everyone was in a festive mood and joined in with the Singing for Pleasure Group and their carols. The show began with Once in Royal David’s City sung by the choir, led by Peter Bolt, and the audience. Nicola New was the accompanist. A really lovely start to the lead up to Christmas. It was followed by Gill Matthews playing the guitar as backing for the choir who sung Silent Night. An audience member said, “There were some old favourites as well as new carols and songs, including Winter Wonderland and the Coventry Carol.” All beautifully sung and so much appreciated by the audience. Really pleasant light refreshments
were served, little sausage rolls, mince pies, baked sausages as well as tea and coffee. The second part of the concert
saw a rousing rendition of “We Three Kings” with three unsuspecting male members of the audience inveigled into singing the solo parts. One lady, also from the audience sang the page’s role.
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