CALDICOT & DISTRICT. Newsletter & Diary October 2017 Meetings in Caldicot Choir Hall at 2.15pm PHOTOGRAPHY ALLAN LLOYD

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1 CALDICOT & DISTRICT Newsletter & Diary October 2017 Meetings in Caldicot Choir Hall at 2.15pm Reg Charity No THURSDAY 19th OCTOBER 2017 SUBJECT: TEA ROTA: OPEN DAY WALKERS THURSDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2017 SUBJECT: SPEAKER: TEA ROTA: PHOTOGRAPHY ALLAN LLOYD ART CHAIRMAN S LETTER Hi Everyone Well here we are at the start of our Autumn season. The trees are taking on a new colour slowly and of course it s conker time! I, like many, use conker s to keep the spiders at bay from my house. Yes, it really does work and every year I renew them. The spiders do not like the oil in the horse chestnuts and any of the sprays you buy contain this oil. Conkers are cheaper than the sprays and work just as good. Just a little tip for you non spider lovers. A Convener s meeting was held during September and it appears that all is well with them and everything is functioning as it should. Thanks must go to the Convenors who keep their Groups up and running. We are still desperate for a Convenor for the History Group which I will run until we find such a person. I am not prepared to do this indefinitely, so please give it some thought. All help necessary will be given to the new Convenor until they feel comfortable in that role so come on you History lovers HELP. There will be a History meeting on the 18th October at 2:15pm in the Day Centre. As you already know the October meeting is Open Day when each group displays their activities for those people who visit us on that day and wish to know what is the U3A. I have sent invitations to Philip Stephens the Mayor of Caldicot, Cllr Jim Higginson, Leader of the Monmouthshire County Council Peter Fox and head Governor of the Caldicot Comprehensive School Peter Nurcombe and they have all accepted my invitation, which was written on behalf of my Committee. So let s make it a good afternoon for them as well as any other guests visiting us that day. Don t forget to bring the scones, we will supply the jam and cream. Looking forward to seeing you all there then. Best Wishes Pam Caines Chairman 1

2 SPEAKERS LIST 2017 TEA ROTA December 21st Drama Presentation Phoenix Players Bridge SPEAKERS LIST 2018 January 18th Caldicot School Music Group (Prov) Computing February 15th R.S.P.B Gavin Jones Drama March 15th Windsor Castle Alan & Jane Denman Exercise April 19th AGM followed by Ukulele Group (TBC) Family History May 17th Talk on the Honours system Ashley Jones Gardening June 21st TBA Handicraft July 19th Drama Presentation Phoenix Players History August NO MEETING September 20th TBA David Harrison Jive Bunnies October 18th OPEN DAY Music Appreciation November 15th TBA Science & Nat. Hist. December 20th Drama Presentation Phoenix Players Scrabble COPY FOR THE NEWSLETTER We welcome reports from all groups for inclusion in the Newsletter or forwarding to our website. Word doc is preferred and should be sent to: or tel by midday on the 27th October 2017 Typed or hand written notes should be submitted a few days earlier if possible. Please try to limit reports to about 300 words. Angela Hodson-Hirst, Editor. LINK SECRETARY I would ask that if you hear of any member(s) who reach their 80th, 90th, 100th birthdays, Golden, Diamond, Platinum Wedding Anniversaries or even Marriages between members to please contact me so that I can send a Congratulatory card. Also if you hear of any member or their family who are in hospital, sick or any other reason please inform me. Angela Hodson-Hirst leechpool@talktalk.net or ANNOUNCEMENTS Our heartfelt condolences go to Paul Tidmarsh whose wife passed away unexpectedly in September. Congratulations go to Pat Oxenham who celebrates her 90th Birthday 27th October. THANK YOUS I should like to extend my very grateful thanks to everyone who attended my 80 th birthday party for making it such an enjoyable evening. Thanks also to everyone for all the cards and gifts. A big thank you is also due to my family and friends who were involved in arranging such a special evening for me. I had a great time. Adrian Dallow Ann & Rob Taylor-Heard would like to thank all friends and members, in particular the Strollers Walking Group, Computer group and the Short Mat Bowls Group for their expressions of good wishes on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary. 2

3 GROUP NEWS AND INFORMATION Would all group Convenors send me news and information for the monthly Diary which will be included in the table below. Thank you. Editor ART ACTIVITY GROUPS Every Wednesday 1.30 to 4.00pm, Recreation Hall, Portskewett. Convener...Mary Richards Tel: BRIDGE Every Monday 2.00 to 4.00pm, Council Day Centre No Meetings on Bank Holidays. Convener Madelyn Drake Tel: COMPUTING Every Friday 9.30 to12.30am at the Baptist Church, Neddern Way. Convener John Mills Tel: DRAMA INFORMATION Oct 19th - Open Day: Would group members please bring your art work for the display Nov 18th: Two Art Exhibitions one at Caerwent Church 12.00am to 1pm and the other one at the Methodist Church Caldicot 11.00am to 1pm Dec 7th: Christmas lunch at the Huntsman Discussion/Demonstrations Second Friday of the month 10.00am to 12 noon digital image completion with Ann Taylor-Heard Every Friday 2.00pm Portskewett Hall. Conveners Pam Caines.Dianne Payne Tel: EXERCISE Every Wednesday: Aerobics 10 to 10.45am Pilates to am. Scout Hall. Convener Jacquie Ellis Assisted by Sue Kelly FAMILY HISTORY Every other Friday 2.00 to 4.00pm. All welcome at Bethany Baptist Church. Caldicot. Convener John Jeffery Tel: GARDENING Indoor meetings run from October to April in the Scout Hall on second Thursday of the month at 2.15 pm Convener Rosa Morgan Tel: Oct 13th: Oct 27th: From November 24th meetings held 4th Friday of the month 10.00am 12noon Oct 12th: Restoration of Hestercomb Gardens Speaker David Usher Nov 9th: The wonders of Westonbirt Arboretum an update Dec 14th: All our yesterdays..speaker Frank Hardy 2018 Jan 11th: X-rated Invertebrates Savagery & Sex in the garden Speaker Roger Umpelby Feb 8th: Ron & Jim s film show of trips and 3 day holiday 2017 Mar 8th: Foraging for fabulous food from the wild....speaker Liz Knight Apr 12th: Plant hunting around the world.

4 .Speaker Nick Macer HANDICRAFT 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month to 12.00pm Council Day Centre. Convener Beryl Lewis Tel: Assisted by Jill Greenhalgh Tel: HISTORY 3rd Wednesday of the month 2.15pm Council Day Centre Convener TBC Oct. 18th: Samuel Plimsoll Sheila Ford JIVE BUNNIES 7.00 pm 9.00 pm Portskewett Recreational Hall Convener Wendy Protheroe Tel: MUSIC APPRECIATION Sessions: Oct. 5th & 19th Nov. 2nd, 16th & 30th Dec. 14th 4th Thursday of the month 2.00 to 4.00pm. Council Day Centre. Convener Jan Potter assisted by Adrian Dallow Tel: (Jan) Tel: (Adrian) SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY Meetings to be held 1st Monday of the month noon. Scout Hall, Sandy Lane Convener.Bob Whitehead Tel: Oct 2nd: Climate change/global warming. Speaker.Prof. Paul Pearson, University of Wales. Oct 16th: Field trip to Amazing alpacas. Meet 10.45am for 11am Nov 6th: Talk on the Mercy Ships. Leaflets and merchandise display (stocking fillers) will be available. Speaker..Lynne Melly from Bath. Dec 4th: Life and Work on South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean. Speaker.Jenny Bonner. With Christmas goodies to warm us up after the above adventure Jan 8th: Slide show, to music, 2017 events plus a look at the past. Feb 5th: Caring for our seas, shores and wild life. Speaker Gill Bell Marine Conservation Society Mar 5th: Life, Work, Recreation and Conservation of our UK National Parks. Speaker..Katheryn Cook Director of National Parks UK. WALKERS ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THIS MEETING. Apr 9th: A sortie in Spain and Portugal.

5 Speaker.Philip Mugridge ARPS Apr 30th: Prosthetics through the ages to present day. Speaker(s) Katy Reslie & Hannah Pentu. Bristol Centre for Enablement SCRABBLE Alternate Fridays pm. Town council Day Centre. Convener Glynis Croft Tel: SHORT MAT BOWLS Wednesday afternoons 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Scout Hall. Friday evening 7.00 to 9pm Convener..Roland Carey Tel: SPANISH Monday Mornings to various venues. Convener..Julian Woods Tel: SPECIAL EVENTS Convener..Pam Caines Tel: TABLE TENNIS Meetings: Oct 6th: Oct 20th: Additional Sessions: Our Short Mat Bowls now meets on Friday evenings, in addition to the Wednesday afternoon sessions. So if you would like to try to roll a ball on Friday between 7pm and 9pm contact the Convenor Dec 2nd - Dec 6th: Turkey & Tinsel, Portbyhan Hotel, Looe February 2nd 2018: Barrowfield Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall Feb 7th: Trip to Bristol Hippodrome to see Wicked Monday 2.00 to 4.00pm Scout Hall, Sandy Lane Friday 2.00 to 4.00pm Scout Hall, Sandy Lane Convener.Les Mitchell Tel: UKULELE Every Tuesday 2.00 to 4.00 at the Recreation Hall Portskewett Convener...Pauline Fryer Tel: WALKING GROUPS Oct 4th: Rogiet Cheerful Club, Rogiet Church Hall, Green Close at 3pm For further information please contact Conveners WHEN: WHERE: Every Tuesday 9.00 & 9.30 am Caldicot Choir Hall Car Park. ALL WALKS SUBJECT TO CHANGE STRAGGLERS 3-4 miles - easy and moderate Convener Derek Watson Tel: Oct 3rd: Coach trip to Malvern Oct 10th: St Pierre Great Wood with Clive & Linda. Lunch: The Millers Arms, Mathern Oct 17th: Redbrook with Barbara Pearce. Lunch: Two Rivers, Chepstow Oct 24th: Wentwood with Claude & Janice. Lunch: Rock & Fountain Oct 31st: Portskewett with Gill & Anne H. Lunch: Portskewett Inn 5

6 AMBLERS Around 4 miles some hills/stiles Conveners Gaynor Pask Tel: Jeanette Trask Tel: STROLLERS Convener Rob Harry Tel: STRIDERS 5-7 miles - moderate & strenuous Convener...Richard Harding Tel: Oct 3rd: Coach trip to Malvern Oct 10th: Llandogo with David & Bridget. Lunch: Abbey Mill, Tintern Oct 17th: Magor with Ann & Sue(S). Lunch: Wheatsheaf, Magor Oct 24th: Penhow with Jeanette & Gaynor. Lunch: Coach & Horses, Caerwent Oct 31st: TBC with Marie & Sue(G). Lunch: TBC Oct 3rd: Coach trip to Malvern Oct 10th: Cwmcarn area with Judi & Wendy. Lunch: Darren Inn, Risca Oct 17th: Woolaton with Queen Liz. Lunch: Two Rivers, Chepstow Oct 24th: Pontypool area with Dave. Lunch: Rising Sun, Abersycan Oct 31st: Pennalt with Joy & Judi(M). Lunch: TBA Oct 3rd: Coach trip to Malvern Oct 10th: Sugar Loaf with Stuart. Lunch: Lamb & Flag Oct 17th: Llangwm with Mo & Carol. Lunch: The Huntsman Oct 24th: Garth Mountain with Peter & Anne. Lunch: Gwaelod-Y-Garth Inn Oct 31st: Hewelsfield with Richard. Lunch: The Brockweir GARDENING September/October 1. Time to plant dwarf irises for winter colour 2. Take cuttings of favourites lavenders choose non-flowering sideshoots 3. Take off seedheads from poppies and nigella dry them off and store in airy room in paper bags, plant next spring. 4. Keep dead heading dahlias 5. Sow hardy annual flowers in pots to flower early next year 6. If you are lucky to have runner beans keep picking to encourage more My beans failed this year! I thought I was a gardener Rosa GARDENING TRIP TO FORDE ABBEY, SOMERSET On a mild autumn morning in September 48 members of the Gardening Group set off on their last trip of this year to Forde Abbey in Somerset. The event this year was organised by Toby Buckland, and called Toby s Garden & Harvest Festival. Toby was at one time a popular member of the BBC s weekly programme, Gardeners World. The hosts of this year s event were Alice & Julian Kennard the present owners of Ford Abbey. On arriving at the Abbey we were confronted by a magnificent building set in 30 acres of well-kept lawns and surrounding meadows. The building was built by Cistercian monks over 800 years ago, and it became the richest and most learned monastery in the Country. After the customary coffee & bun it was off to visit the well-kept walled vegetable gardens & herbaceous border. All the winter greens were all flourishing with no signs of pest or diseases. A lot of summer flowers still in bloom. 6

7 There was plenty of room to walk around and admire all the exhibits. A walk around the long pond with adjacent herbaceous flower border was excellent, and above the pond the mermaid pond with a spectacular fountain in the centre. One of the displays I noticed was Send a Cow a charity which helps people in Africa. About twelve months ago a lady from this charity spoke at the U3A monthly meeting, and gave us a very interesting talk. There were plenty of exhibits to cover all aspects of gardening and crafts. One exhibit of interest was the display of old varieties of apples, these included Beauty of Bath Newton Wonder and Tom Putt varieties which some of us remember as children and which we rarely see in our shops today. Other exhibits included have a go at Archery. How to manage meadows and lawns, with the old fashioned scythe. Basket weaving, and making corn dollies Cosmo still on the move was a company where you could distil and buy the festival gin with different flavours. Plenty of plants and bulbs to purchase. A very busy place was The Great Hall where Toby Buckland, Charlie Dimmock, Alan Down, Kevin Croucher and Jim Buttress held a gardeners question time. John & I looked everywhere for his Indian rubber ducks but without success. The only ones we found that were similar with those carved out of wood. I am sure most of the members on this visit will agree it was an excellent day out. Many thanks once again to Rosa Sheila & Pauline. Brian Hopkins SIGHTFIRST PROJECT LIONS Unwanted spectacles/sunglasses will continue to be collected at the Monthly Meeting. The collecting box will be on the bar at the back of the hall. Lions Clubs International is a leader in providing support for preventing avoidable blindness and restoring sight for people around the world. Rowland Searle FIRST AID If any of our members would like to go on a St. Johns Ambulance First Aid course would they please contact Jackie Hicks (Committee Secretary) for further information: Tel hickers648@gmail.com FAMILY HISTORY The Family History Group has been going for over 6 years but over the last year our numbers have decreased. Our regular members who loyally attend every session would like the group to continue, so with this in mind the decision has been made to incorporate the Family History Group into the Computer Group on the 4th Friday of the month starting November 2017 The meetings on the 13th and 27th October will still take place at 2.00pm in Bethany Baptist Church but our first meeting with the Computer Group will be the 24th November from 10.00am to 12 noon on the 4th Friday in the month again at Bethany Baptist Church. 7

8 We do however still look forward to welcoming any budding genealogists who wish to take the opportunity to discover their family s past in the near future. John Jeffery HISTORY GROUP FIELD TRIP TO MATHERN Mathern was originally known as Merthyr-Tewdrig ("burial-place of Tewdrig"), after the martyrdom of St. Tewdrig, king of Gwent and Glywysing. According to the Book of Llandaff, Tewdrig (or Tewdric) was wounded at Tintern around the year AD630, after fighting the invading Saxons with his son Meurig ap Tewdrig. His wounds were washed at a spring, where he died. A church was erected on the site of his burial at Mathern, and he was later revered as a martyr and saint. In his memory, Meurig gave the surrounding land, extending for several miles, to the Bishops of Llandaff. During the 12th century, the shorter name Mateyrn, meaning "place of a king", came into common use for the village; Meurig's name is perpetuated in the neighbouring village of Pwllmeyric. The existing parish church of St. Tewdric dates largely from the late 15th century, when it was rebuilt in the Perpendicular architectural style on an earlier foundation by John Marshall, Bishop of Llandaff. However, parts dating from the 12th and 13th centuries are still visible. The church is the supposed resting place of St. Tewdric; on the north wall of the chancel is a tablet installed in the 17th century by Francis Godwin, Bishop of Llandaff , who claimed to have found the saint's stone coffin while repairing the church. The church also possesses several monuments to Bishops of Llandaff, up to the end of the 17th century. The building was heavily restored in the 1880s. Hando recounts the story told to him by an old lady who had lived in Mathern and who claimed to have seen for herself, in 1881, the stone coffin bearing the remains of St. Tewdrig with his mortal wound (a hole in the skull made by a spear-point) still visible. The medieval font was recovered from beneath the porch by Canon E. T. Davies in Close to the church is the ancient St. Tewdric's Well, mentioned by the historian Nennius in the 8th or 9th century. The church is a Grade I listed building as of 19 August Dave Edwards DRAMA As I hinted at the monthly meeting the Drama group has decided to put on something different for Christmas this year. As I am sure you will all appreciate we do not have time in which to rehearse for a big show as many of the group have holidays booked etc. and therefore we would be limited with regard to casting parts. We will still entertain you with various performances throughout the afternoon but I have arranged for someone to provide music so dancing can be incorporated into the afternoon in between our different acts. Of course to make this into a party we have to ask you to bring a plate of food, which in the past you have done and turned an afternoon treat into a banquet. I am sure many of you miss the Christmas dinners we used to have at Dewstow Golf Club, so perhaps this will compensate for this year. Of course I will remind you nearer the date to bring your mince pies, cakes, sandwiches and whatever to share a lovely afternoon of dancing and entertainment. Pam SPECIAL EVENTS TURKEY TINSEL IN PORTBYHAN HOTEL, LOOE Thank you all for paying your monies for this event. As soon as I have the necessary information relating to pickups and times, I will be passing this to you. Again thank you for your support. Pam 8

9 BRISTOL HIPPODROME WICKED 7th FEBUARY 2018 Thank you all for paying for your tickets to this show promptly. The price of the coach is each and I will require this in November please. I have just had notification of one of the stars in this will be the late Stephen Beale from Eastenders. No wonder they finished him off, he s busy rehearsing!! Pam BARROWFIELD HOTEL NEWQUAY CORNWALL 2nd FEBRUARY plus ss. The balance for this holiday will need to be paid to me by November please. I have not been notified of any single supplement as yet so I m keeping my fingers crossed there will be none. Thank you once again. Pam TREASURER S CORNER At the half year end I can report that we have presently 451 paid up members of our excellent U3A which is just a little down on last year s total. Subscriptions are well now overdue and we would dearly like to match the 477 paid at last year s end. All paid up members should be holding a white membership card for the current year. Glenice Dallow is still recruiting for gift aid which reduces our subscription levels in successive years, and Pam Simpson continues to assist me with the governmental contacts to who we are responsible for our financial affairs. Team work is of the essence. Tony Hodson-Hirst Treasurer ART GROUP Would group members please bring your art work for the Open Day display on October 19th.. The Art group are holding 2 exhibitions on the 18th November. One in Caerwent Church 11.00am to 2pm and the other in Caldicot Methodist Church 11am to 1pm. Mary Richards SOME LATE NEWS HISTORY GROUP I m pleased to announce that History will start again on the Thursday the 18th of October with a talk given by our own Sheila Ford on Samuel Plimsoll. I hope you will all be there to support Sheila. It will be decided at that meeting if we are able to continue with this group and if there is anyone able to help organise it. NEW GROUPS SINGING FOR PLEASURE It appears that this is one of the groups that is favoured so therefore we are making enquiries for a venue and we will let you know when we intend to start this group up. Of course it will depend on how many people turn up for the meeting. 9

10 SUNDAY LUNCH CLUB Again I am pleased to say that this popular event will start up again in November. Those of you who would like to attend would you please let me have your names as I need to organise with the venue the date and how many will be attending. I will let you know in plenty of time where the first of this year s Sunday lunches will be held but it will be fairly local. Marion Guppy and I will be running this club so please contact Marion or me. Pam Caines LOCAL EVENT HOGGIN THE BRIDGE 2017 SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER am til 5pm Taking the usual route from Aust services across the Severn Bridge though Magor, and Rogiet and finishing at our new location of the fantastic grounds of Caldicot Castle. NEW END LOCATION Caldicot Castle & Country Park Live Music Stalls Family Fun Laser Tag Food Stalls Bar Cinema Screen AMENDMENTS TO ROUTE Ride starts at Brightside car park (behind Aust Services) Ride over the old Severn Bridge as normal and off the M48 at Magor Ride through Caldicot town centre (instead of mini roundabout) Straight across onto church road, and right into Caldicot Castle (Road closure for last ½ mile) CHEER ZONE A new Cheer Zone will be created within Caldicot town centre Cinema Screen showing live route from Aust Jelly Baby Lady will be situated in Caldicot town centre The perfect place to watch thousands of bikers come through Interactive fun before the ride arrives in Caldicot Closed roads, for the safety of those viewing bikes 10

11 OCTOBER CROSSWORD Across 1. African equine (5) 3. Artery (5) 5. Part of a circle (3) 7. Farm vehicle (7) 9. Embellished (6) 10. Break suddenly (4) 13. Plant support (4) 14. Lumber (6) 16. Household implement (7) 17. Make a mistake (3) 18. Awful (5) 19. Cacophonous (5) Down 1. Avid (7) 2. Shrewd (6) 3. Slightly open (4) 4. Atmosphere (3) 6. Yield (7) 8. Well-founded (7) 11. Depict (7) 12. Stringed instrument (6) 15. Catch sight of (4) 16. Large vase (3) September Crossword Solution OCTOBER HUB WORD How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel? Each word must contain the hub letter E. Can you find a 9-letter word and at least 20 other words of five letters or more avoiding proper nouns? September s Hub Word Solution 9-letter word - ENIGMATIC Some other words of four letters or more containing the hub letter G: cage, gain, gait, game, gate, gent, geta, gnat (UK), giant, icing, image, magic, mange, tinge, acting, aiming, citing, eating, enigma, ignite, magnet, mating, taming, timing, imagine, mintage, teaming, magnetic. Solution next month 11

12 TRUSTEES Chairman Pam Caines Vice Chairman John Jeffery Treasurer Tony Hodson-Hirst Committee Secretary Jackie Hicks Speakers Secretary Network Secretary Newsletter & Diary Editor Link Secretary Committee Committee Committee Committee Anne Duke John Duke Angela Hodson-Hirst Susan Gilbert Jean Gilham Rob Harry Merrill Lang OFFICERS Public Relations Membership Secretary Dave Edwards Alma Gaskell 12