Last date for entries for the next newsletter is FRIDAY 24^TH FEBRUARY.

The suggested theme is SCIENCE …. -ologies, et al.

Snail Mail: 4 Glenfield Road, Darlington DL3 8DZ

Email: sandy@shood.fsbusiness.co./uk

Tel. 01325 384496

NORTHUMBRIA REGION AGM –

Wednesday 22^nd March - 10.00 for 10.30 am at Angel View Inn, Gateshead

Nominations to be sent to the Secretary – Jenny Lewis not later than Wednesday 1^st March.

STOCKTON’S 20^TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Wednesday 12^th April on the University Campus, Stockton

Time is running out for bookings for this exciting all-day event.

Details from Mel Jenkins on 01642 558205

If any members of the regional choir will definitely be going to the regional celebration in April would they please get in touch with Brian. A performance of the choir has been suggested as part of the entertainment and if there are enough choir members planning to attend Brian will organise a rehearsal.

Regional Chairman

We have had a very pleasant few months since the last newsletter. Now that our computer equipment is up and running we were able to show photographs taken by various groups over the year at our November Open Meeting together with information on what is happening within our U3A. Our members were very pleased with it.

Some members attended the Fashion Show at Robbs (Now Owen Owen) in Hexham and had a very enjoyable day and we congratulate Tynedale U3A on their efforts. The models, U3A members, looked very professional and the staff at the store were excellent. I think most of the visitors spent money they had not intended to!

It is now mid December and next week is Gateshead's Christmas Lunch at the Copthorne in Newcastle and 100 of our members will be in attendance.

On Tuesday 6^th December 2005 in the council chamber of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough a specially invited audience of about 70 people attended a viewing of a video showing the successful re-introduction, after many years, of the Red Kite into the Derwent Valley. As the presenter said, it was a "stunning project" and what made us swell with pride was that it was all the work of our Whickham U3A Sight and Sound Group.

About two years ago Noel Adamson, the group leader, made a video of our local area. One of our members brought it to the attention of her daughter, Melanie, who was Project Officer for Watergate Park, working for the council and knew there was a need for a video concerning the parks and countryside of the area and the contribution made by members of the community.

The video impressed the councillors so much that Noel was asked to do another, specifically about the Red Kites. Twenty of these birds had been introduced in the Derwent Valley in 2004 and a further 41 in 2005. Many groups and individuals were doing hours of work monitoring the birds and making valuable connections with local schools and countryside groups.

The video illustrated the birds beautifully and brought to notice the impressive input local people have had in making this project such a huge success. Individual birds have been adopted by local schools and their progress followed with great interest by children and parents alike.

Melanie Bowden, now the Education Liaison Officer, has worked closely with Noel and Ron Wilson from the beginning and is full of enthusiasm for the work done.

The video will now be used as a promotional aid in schools and in farming circles and in the countryside in general. It is a very impressive piece of work, reflecting many hours of effort and concentration and brings much kudos to our U3A Sight and Sound group and Noel and Ron as well as all the other group members who have contributed to the success of this project.

Well done to all concerned.

Berwick U3A was formed in September 2003 under the guidance of Jeff Armstrong, who has previous form as a leading light in various capacities in the Scottish U3A movement (including Chairman), and Vice-Chairman of the East Berwickshire U3A. We started off with an open meeting at the Maltings Arts Centre in the middle of Berwick, and about 50 people joined on that occasion.

We hold a monthly open meeting at the Maltings, usually on a Wednesday or Thursday morning. We start off with cups of coffee and chat while people arrive, then the Chair calls order and makes any necessary announcements before introducing the main theme of the meeting, usually a speaker from outside the U3A, who gives a talk for about an hour, followed by questions from the floor.

We started this season in September with eighteen groups, some of which meet at the Maltings, some at other venues. Already we've found it necessary to add three more groups, and in the new year we're adding a further five. Currently our membership is 152.

We've applied for registration as a charity, which will hopefully enable us to apply for grants for major expenditure. Jeff produces a monthly newsletter which is distributed free to all members, and shortly we intend to produce our own website, which might save a bit of legwork

I DIV VEN'T WANT TO GAN!! (author unknown as we go to print)

Our photography group is presently putting together an exhibition portraying an earlier period of photography. They've chosen the Edwardian period. It comprises portraits of every character in an Edwardian household, from the master and mistress upstairs all the way down to the cook, scullery maid and "boots" downstairs and everyone in between. All in sepia of course and all modelled by the group members. It's very tongue in cheek and great fun.

There's a great panto to see from our drama and tap dancing group who I believe have nearly got the "X" factor. Our digital photography group are now proudly sending their splendid Christmas cards. All their own work using Microsoft word and transposing their own digital pictures.

We have plans to launch a current affairs discussion group in the new year. That should be interesting don't you think?

We have just enjoyed our Christmas lunch in the Church hall with appetising full Christmas fare. We were then entertained by our newly formed singing group who gave us an excellent seasonal programme

In October, as part of Age Takes Centre Stage in North Tyneside, we opened our general meeting to the public and put on a display of all our activities. It was well attended and we gained 8 new members.

In December we organised with the Northumbria Region Committee a Computer Link Conference with the help of Sunderland ICT Unit, attached to Sunderland local authority. This proved to be an interesting insight into this technology and we hope in the future this unit will help us to set up links throughout the region.

A few years ago one of our members went to live on the Isle of Mull, in Tobermory where she still keeps up her U3A membership. As she was visiting Sunderland for the Christmas holiday, a coffee morning was organised so Joan could meet members and we could find out about her life on Mull. It transpired that she had taken the opportunity to join the Virtual U3A which, as you know, was set up using computer technology and internet to help U3A members who were isolated. Because she was one of the first to participate in this scheme, she has been made an Hon. Member. She told us she is getting lots of pleasure from the topics she has to research, namely, windmills and also ‘something from a famous Egyptian museum’. Joan chose a lesser-known Pharaoh. She then had to circulate her research to other Virtual U3A members and had replies from Australia and New Zealand. It was nice to learn firsthand that Virtual U3A has got off the ground.

Incidentally, those of you who have grandchildren under school age will have heard of the BBC children’s programme Balamory – otherwise known as Tobermory. Joan told us how the island has benefited because of the tourism generated by children wanting to visit the houses which are in the story. Her own cottage was painted orange and her 17 year-old Labrador dog is to be seen in background scenes. The series has now finished, but because it was so popular the islanders are hoping the BBC will do another series.

The main event for us during this period was the move to larger premises for our monthly meetings. We have moved to the Wesley Hall of the Bondgate Methodist Church. This can accommodate all our three hundred members at our monthly meetings. We still have thirty activity only members but at present no waiting list.

The walking group completed another section of Hadrian's Wall. They plan to complete the walk next summer. All other groups continue with the exception of Whist which has been suspended due to lack of support.

We have been celebrating the festive season with a series of lunches. One for the general membership and group lunches for members of individual activity groups.

The session ended with a carol service at Bondgate Methodist Church attended by one hundred and seventy members. Blackwell Ladies Choir sang popular carols and several members gave readings. Refreshments were served by a team of volunteers. Proceeds from the service were passed to the church.

We have continued to have good speakers and still plenty of support for monthly walks.

16 members enjoyed a trip to Whitby and then to Newcastle which included a visit to the Sage centre and in December 20 members had a trip to Grassington, North Yorks; one of the attractions being the Christmas market.

On 17th November, myself together with one of our members, Pauline Keating, were models at a Fashion Show organised by Tynedale Ladies together with Robbs of Hexham. We both had a fantastic day and a number of our members came along to Robbs to lend their support.

On 14^th December, 51 members enjoyed a Christmas lunch and were entertained

afterwards by a husband and wife duo singing songs of yesteryear as well as carols.

In November we held our AGM when Chairman George and Secretary Brenda's term of office came to an end but were replaced by:-

Eric Nelson as Chairman and Frankie Nelson as Secretary contact details to follow soon.

No vice Chairman was elected at AGM and all other officers remain the same.

May I take this opportunity of wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year..

Greetings from Thirsk.

Our monthly meetings continue to be attractive to our members who have enjoyed a variety of speakers covering many topics. We welcomed Joyce McKay, our Regional Chairman, to one such gathering when she re-inforced the importance of the Region to our members.

Our monthly Luncheon Group welcomed seven members from Whitley Bay U3A when we enjoyed a social quiz after lunch. Should other U3As wish to emulate Whitley Bay, then please make contact. (We are able to add no more than twelve to our lunch group and a quiz is not compulsory.)

Our last U3A outing for the year was on 8^th December when thirty-six members enjoyed a visit to Chatsworth.

New groups continue to form and include French, Spanish for beginners, Antique Appreciation and Singing for Pleasure.

Our AGM takes place in January and we have nominations for almost every office.

We hold our Annual Lunch in February and our members are kept up to date by a periodic newsletter.

We wish our fellow U3Aians a healthy and happy 2006.

Geoff Moore

We held our AGM in September and welcomed our new chairman, Margaret Hammond, who is well known to everyone as she previously had the job of welcoming everyone to the general meeting and making sure they signed in. Unfortunately, our treasurer, Bob Martin, has had a stroke and is unable to continue in the position. He is now living in London. We shall miss him as he made a great contribution to Richmond U3A, particularly in the early days when he led a walking group and a French group. We are grateful to Mattie Furnish, who agreed to take over as treasurer.

Richmond remains a small U3A but we are growing and now have 50-60 members. Our general meetings are very friendly. In October we had an excellent speaker, Val Hepworth, who spoke in detail about the history of the Temple Grounds and the area around Culloden Tower in Richmond. Mrs. Hepworth is a gardening expert and our new gardening group is planning to arrange a guided tour around the grounds in the summer.

Our other groups are still very active. We now have a very popular luncheon group which meets after the general meeting. The leader, Margaret Hammond, arranges it so that we move around the various cafés and restaurants in Richmond, giving them our custom. We enjoyed an excellent Christmas lunch in the one linked to the most popular butcher’s shop in the town!

The German Group enjoyed a Christmas party, when we sang German carols and watched a video of Freddie Frinton in "Dinner for One", watched by many Germans every New Year’s Eve.

We are planning a travel group to discuss plans for tours and outings in the New Year, and also a book club.

The last few months have been fairly quiet with events going on as normal. However we did go to see the RSC performance of "The Comedy of Errors" which we had also studied in the Play Reading Group.

We are also working hard to play our part in the celebrations being held in 2006 in Wooler to commemorate the Centenary of Josephine Butler. We are hoping to put on a play in July which will have been written and produced by us.

Although it is a long way off yet we are also preparing for our annual visit by Dr.Andrew Leng from Singapore University in July or August (date to be confirmed). The subject this year is "The Time Machine" by H.G.Wells. If anyone would like to join us they are more than welcome and can prepare by reading the book in advance (available cheaply on the internet at the Amazon web site).

At our December meeting we were pleased to welcome Norman Grainger who had joined our Regional choir for the Tall Ships celebrations. Norman told us of the history of some Tyneside and Northumbrian songs and gave us some details of the lives of the composers of both words and music. And then of course he sang them with, at times, members joining in.

Plans are in hand for our Annual meeting to be held at the beginning of February. The business is usually quickly dealt with and members then enjoy a performance from our choir, peruse the display of many groups’ activities undertaken through the year and enjoy the faith tea.

As a result of retirees and "end of termers" we now have 8 new committee members

With only the secretary and treasurer remaining. A drastic move indeed, and a steep learning curve. We look forward to hosting one of the planned training days to give us a better insight into the workings of the Third Age Trust, NEC, Areas and Regions.

Excellent speakers have included one of our own members who has umpired at Wimbledon and Chris Lloyd from the Northern Echo talking about local history.

‘Talking about Art’

The Art Appreciation group has been meeting for four years. The aim of the group is to extend our knowledge and enjoyment of all aspects of art. To that end we have forged links with our local museum, where we hold our monthly meetings, and our local venue for theatre cinema and gallery - the Customs House. These links have enabled us to experience all the exhibitions that are held in these venues.

In addition to this we have organised visits to galleries throughout the North East. This summer we went further afield to Glasgow on a two day stay to study the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. As well as arranging lectures by art historians and artists, members of our group have researched their favourite artists and art periods and have given presentations using our audio-visual equipment.

This is a popular group. The members agree that their pleasure in art has deepened since joining.

The Appreciation Group is now flourishing under the excellent leadership of Patsy Dingwall. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is opening up a new world for many of us.

Patsy has introduced us to artists of the 18^th/19^th centuries; to Constable and to Turner, both great painters but with totally different approaches to their work and to their life styles. We have listened to their histories, and we’ve seen their great works of art via video recordings. At the November meeting Patsy introduced us to Gainsborough and explained how his work compared with theirs.

Although the group struggled at first with few members and a very temperamental video machine, it is now well established and thriving. The membership has grown steadily over the summer months and the Methodist church (where we meet) has kindly changed the television set for one with an easier video.

Our Art Appreciation group was one of the earliest to be set up when Wearside U3A was established and it is still going strong. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month and our venue is the home of one of our members. Most months we use videos to view work of artists. Videos are recorded from BBC and ITV programmes and U3A resources are available should we need further material.

We also take in any exhibition of interest in our area. We are fortunate to have several galleries and museums within striking distance – the Laing in Newcastle, Durham Art Gallery and our Museum and Winter Gardens and contemporary gallery in Sunderland. Further afield we have visited Bowes Museum. An interesting video and discussion and a cup of tea to follow – what a wonderfully civilised way to spend a Tuesday afternoon – albeit only once a month.

11

Since its formation our group has enhanced its appreciation and understanding of Art through watching videos of most of the great artists. At one session we were privileged to be led by a Sorbonne lecturer and expert on Spanish Art who gave a marvellous insight into the work of El Greco. She later gave a lecture on Goya to the whole of our U3A.

Besides watching videos, we have visited various Art Exhibitions at Newcastle and the Bowes Museum and some of us also went to Salford to see Lowry’s paintings. In Newcastle we were delighted by the drawings of Norman Cornish, and perhaps the most memorable of our visits to the Bowes Museum was the wonderful experience of seeing Raphael’s "Madonna of the Pinks". Another interesting visit was to our nearby Rokeby Hall to see the famous "Rokeby" Venus by Velasquez.

In November some of us went to Hull to see the work of the Beverley artist, Fred Elwel, at the Ferens Art Gallery. It was a memorable outing in many respects, but particularly so owing to the fact that we had chosen a week when, for once, he was not on display! Fortunately, we were able to cajole the very nice young Curator to take us to the bowels of the Gallery, where she allowed us to see Elwel’s most famous painting "The First-born". In the summer we plan to go back to East Yorkshire to see the permanent exhibition of his paintings at Beverley.

I personally feel so much more knowledgeable about Art since our group formed and gave gained great pleasure from appreciating it and being able to share that pleasure with others of like mind.

We have two art groups, an art history study group and an art class. Both are well supported. The art history studies a series of artists from a specified period. The study is assisted by visual aids, books and slides. The art class is practical under the tutelage of a talented artist. From time to time members have exhibited their work at our monthly meetings

Whitley Bay has a small, enthusiastic group of 10 regular members and a further 10 who come when they can. We meet on the fourth Saturday of each month, by arrangement, in a convenient coffee bar, Bar Laing being very popular.

Whitley Bay is very fortunate to have some wonderful museums, art galleries and visiting exhibitions easily reached by public transport.

The National Gallery touring exhibition, in partnership with the Bristol and Laing, have given us the chance to view originals by Renoir, Monet, Rembrandt, Warhol, Van Gogh, Cezanne and a wealth of other famous painters. We visited Domain Field twice at the Baltic to see preparations and the final result. As leader I am always pleased when members agree to lead a morning. This year members arranged to see Living River at the Laing and Simply Norman Cornish at Northumbria University gallery. There is always a notice on our notice board at our monthly meetings with leaflets giving details, travel directions etc. available.

We began enthusiastically in 2003 with a visit to the Laing Art Gallery and the Baltic The Friends of the Laing gave us an hour’s tour and talk about the "Paradise" exhibition. A year later, a return visit was made to view "Making Faces", the National Gallery exhibition. A visit to Beningborough Hall to have a private viewing of the paintings held there was organised.

In between, at our monthly gatherings, I hoped that members would contribute from their own knowledge. We had excellent one-off contributions from people on Brueghel – The Christmas Story and Portraits; Dürer, and the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Otherwise I relied heavily on using slides or videos, mostly from the U3A Resources Centre and I gave a number of talks on Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, the Cuyp brothers. I learned a lot! And found loads of information and copies of paintings on the internet to print.

Unfortunately summer commitments and lack of other leaders and researchers saw the group fold. An attempt to use the U3A online Art course had little appeal either.

We have always had an art and craft group in Alnwick U3A, but it has undergone several changes. To begin with, we simply brought along whatever we happened to be working on at the time, enjoyed one another’s company and shared tips and expertise. We then started going out to exhibitions and this became our main focus for a while. After a lull last year, we re-developed as a creative stitching group, as described below by one of the members.

Our new U3A group, Creative Stitching, has had a very enjoyable beginning.  We meet in our own houses on the third Friday of the month at 10am - just in time for coffee!

After admiring each other’s latest needlework efforts and discussing any problems, we have our 'learning class'.  A new aspect of textile craft is demonstrated and those who wish to 'give it a go'.  As our members have such a varied range of experience and interests it is no problem to choose the subject, leader and venue for the next month.

We have learnt how to make decorative cords (we meant to make tassels as well but we laughed so much at our entanglements they were postponed until another month). We have also made a 'folded star' patchwork.  Our future plans include canvas work, handmade paper for stitching, design, lace making, the use of soluble fabric and many other innovative and unusual methods of embroidery.

We have made friends in the group and enjoy a sociable and instructive Friday

morning.

Ryton Art Group was one of the founding groups when our U3A was established in 1995. It has continued to flourish since its inception, and through the leadership of several ‘co-ordinators’ – I hesitate over the word ‘leadership’ as in all our groups, the functioning of the group is largely given over to the membership and their shared expertise. However, for organisational purposes, i.e. who collects the coffee money and the attendance registration, we have needed to appoint ‘co-ordinators’.

Over the years, we have grown in experience shared including media, i.e. pencil drawing, water-colour painting, charcoal drawing, use of pastels, pen and ink, coloured inks, oil painting, water-based oil painting, canvas, board painting, different types of papers, even felt pens, water colour pencils etc. We have explored the use of different types of brushes for different media etc. Our members have shared expertise on mounting and framing paintings/drawings for exhibitions, and the best places to purchase frames at a reasonable price (IKEA for larger frames, a local factory outlet for ready made smaller frames and mounts). Visiting ‘experts’ have offered frames at reasonable prices for those who want their work framed, without having to go the bother of framing and mounting their own work.

Shared teaching has included still life, painting and drawing outdoors, teaching in the style and techniques of Van Gough, the Impressionists generally, water colour techniques, and after attending a ‘Masterclass’ one of our members sharing what she had learned at a Summer school. We have also had some ‘fun’ events, where one of our members carefully divided up a painting into sections, and every person in the group invited to complete their section, and the whole reassembled, mounted and displayed. One of our group, who is we hope just taking a ‘sabbatical’, also gave us a challenging morning, when she brought a still life arrangement in to the group, set up an easel and board, and we were all invited separately to contribute our ‘bit’ and completed a painting in a morning. This was also displayed for the rest of the U3A to enjoy, with snapshots of members ‘having a go’. During the Summer break many of us attend outdoor sessions at local beauty spots, which have included Bywell, Corbridge, Stevenson’s Cottage, Bradley Hall and gardens, and many other local venues.

We have visited galleries in the area, memorably visiting Sunderland Winter gardens when they held a Lowrie exhibition, and we have also visited the Baltic, the Biscuit Factory, the Hatton Gallery, the Laing and Gateshead Library Art Gallery. The latter galleries have not necessarily been visited as a whole group, but have been enjoyable in smaller groups. One summer we also visited a large amateur exhibition in Northumberland, and enjoyed a pie and pea lunch together.

We have a steady membership, more unusually fairly equally divided between male and female and meet in the Ryton & District Youth Centre on Thursday mornings, 9.30 to 11.30 a.m. during term time. We are very happy to welcome new members, and invite those interested to come along any time.

At senior school in the early 40s I looked forward to the art lessons as a relaxing break from Latin, maths and the sciences which all annoyingly only had right or wrong answers, and also demanded homework.

In Art, I could, within reason, draw what I liked, use what colours I felt appropriate and work at my own speed and lose myself in another world.

Because of the war shortages, and being a Yorkshireman, I learned to economise with paper and ensure that I had mixed the colours correctly before use. If the teacher did not like my work, I put it down to his lack of art appreciation (being an invalided out ex army PTI).

The Latin teacher on the other hand was, I am sure, a contemporary of Julius Caesar.

This must bring back memories to many of you.

Why is it therefore that so few U3A members pursue practical art as a relaxation from the rigours of supermarkets, grandchildren and household chores?

Our small group at Newcastle constantly strive to increase our numbers, but despite many members having obvious artistic talents, they shun practical art.

We meet once each month at our Pink Lane centre and after a short ‘teach in’ on any topic mainly related to watercolours, everyone does their own thing.

Subject matter varies from still life, landscapes to the hand-made Christmas cards. We even use tracing paper and photocopy!!

I try to ensure that everyone enjoys the session and finishes with something that they feel satisfied with and worth the effort.

There is no lack of banter, putting the world (and U3A) to rights, and I am becoming an expert on women’s problems.

Art is for everyone, materials are minimum cost (visit Eldon Square shops), and there is no advance preparation necessary. No-one is an expert and therefore no-one laugh whatever the outcome.

Why not therefore give your own Practical Art group a try, find skills you had forgotten and above all, impress the grandchildren with your work

Brian Cryer, Newcastle U3A

Our Art appreciation Group is a very informal affair dating from the very beginning of our branch in April 2001. We meet monthly in private residences to see and discuss an art video sourced usually from the National Resource Centre.

Our range is as comprehensive a view of art, architecture and sculpture as possible but with western art predominating. We have about eight ‘core’ members and have accommodated up to twelve on occasions. Lively discussion backed up with art books takes place after the video.

Not one of us would claim to be an expert but all of us fancy we are now capable of casting a keen eye over any art exhibition to which we have access.

Ponteland has no Art Appreciation Groups named as such but supports two successful Art learning groups. Both groups meet at 10 am to 12 Noon on a Wednesday morning. Art Group I in St Mary’s Church Hall and Art Group II in Merton Hall. Members contribute toward the cost of room hire.

The groups are self-programming and share ideas and information helping each other to progress. Different mediums are explored and visiting experts welcomed. Members’ work is usually displayed at the A.G.M. Group l is full but Group ll can accommodate a few new members.

As a member of Stokesley and District U3A I have set up an Art History Group and will be running an informal course on Impressionism and the Impressionists between January and June. The details of the course sessions are:

Venue: Stokesley Town Hall 10-12 on 4th Monday each month
Session 1: Monday 23rd January - Background to Impressionism
Session 2: Monday 27th February - The Early Years - Impressionism in the 1860s
Session 3: Monday 27th March - The Heroic Years - Impressionism in the 1870s
Session 4: Monday 24th April - Impressionism Comes of Age - Impressionism in the 1880s
Session 5: Monday 22nd May - Post Impressionism
Session 6: Monday 26th June - The Last Years - Impressionism in the Twentieth Century.

Details from: Tony_Daniels@01yarm.freeserve.co.uk

Tynedale Art Appreciation Group meets regularly to develop and extend members’ knowledge and understanding of Art through presentations, visits and the use of a wide range of resources. Our most recent studies began by exploring British Art from its earliest beginnings to the end of the 19^th century and currently we are focussing on various aspects of Modern Art. Meetings are often challenging as we seek to unravel the mysteries of various artists and their paintings, but lively group dynamics, sharing of expertise and the sheer joy of learning ensure positive outcomes.

No study of art can be complete

without actually looking at paintings, so we have visited a wide range of exhibitions and employed the services of professional guides. It’s not only art that members enjoy on these visits but also the pleasure of being with like-minded people who share a common enthusiasm and interest. We realise that our studies will be inexhaustible for the more we learn, the more we realise there is to learn and therefore members eagerly anticipate many more fascinating meetings.

If anyone is interested in more detailed information about our group please contact Anne Hughes – Convenor, Tynedale Art Appreciation Group.