We have two new groups starting in January. On Wednesday 8th January the newly introduced Keep Fit Group meets for the first time. Roger Cross, its Leader is a Registered Boxing Coach and he has assured us that the exercises will not be too arduous, no pumping iron or weight lifting.
Another new group starting up is the “Happy Snappers”. This starts on Wednesday 22nd January and will be led by Kevin Gainford; he will be instructing members on how to improve their camera techniques.
The U3A Photography Group were interviewed on 10Radio by Richard Tomlinson (Ignite Somerset) on 10th December 2013.
Listen to the full show below.
In October at the U3A open day the Crochet & Knitting Group raffled over 30 hats, scarves, etc. that the group made to raise money for Hounds for Heroes, which netted £45 to help their cause.
Members are in the process of providing items for the U3A’s Christmas Hamper that will be the top prize in a raffle to be drawn on Wednesday 11th December, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Children’s Hospice South West.
Following the recent successful exhibition, held at the Burnham-on-Sea Princess Theatre Art Gallery, that showed portraits members, the Photography Group members have now gained some more valuable experience by being the official photographers for the traders during the recent Burnham-on-Sea FoodFest. They also photographed the crowds and illuminated carnival floats during the Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea Carnival that was held on Monday 4th November.
Following the retirement of the Keep Fit Group leader a ‘new’ group is to be formed under the leadership of a member who is a registered Boxing Coach. He has offered to lead the new group on the understanding that members will not be required to ‘pump iron’ or resort to any form of fisticuffs.
A recent weekly Coffee Morning held by the U3A raised a total sum of £430.00 for Macmillan Cancer Support Fund, this particular coffee morning, held in conjunction with the annual Macmillan BIG Coffee Morning, was organised by Pearl Price. She had arranged for there to be a cake stall where members would sell their homemade cakes and other homemade goodies, there was also a raffle and an auction, these were held to sell off any unsold cakes.
By Janet Raine (Creative Writing Group).
“MALE MEMBERS WANTED” a radio play by the Creative Writing Group
Last Spring the Creative Writing Group was challenged, by Somerset Film & video (which exists to promote film and digital media making in Somerset and the South West), to create a radio play for broadcast on local radio. 10Radio broadcasts on 105.3 FM and www.10radio.org out of Wiveliscombe to the 10 parishes, hence its name.
The Creative Writing Group were rather bemused by this request since we were in the habit of producing mostly prose and poetry. It seemed a monumental task for 7 disparate writers to cooperate in the production of a radio play. Fortunately Grace came up with a scenario: a local Amateur Dramatic Group looking for new male actors in order to put on their next performance. We were all allotted characters and worked on our own lines. A lot of extra meetings, revision and discussions were involved and our efforts were being pooled by Linda. Finally it all came together and Richard Tomlinson, from Somerset Film came to one of our meetings to record the play.
This was an unusual experience for most of us: having to raise our hands when our character was about to speak, then having the woolly microphone shoved under our noses to catch these lines. Kathy having her part recorded separately as it is mostly ‘asides’ and incorporating sound effects of hoovering, tea making and so on. In fact, the afternoon’s recording session might have produced a wittier play than all our efforts as playwrights.
A few weeks later we were invited to meet Richard at the Engine Room in Bridgwater, headquarters of Somerset Film & Video. We were treated to coffee and a tour of the premises, where we noted portrait photographs of some U3A members , taken by the photography group. Then Richard drove us over to Wiveliscombe to record an interview and broadcast our play. Only five of the group were able to attend but this was just as well since the recording studio was so small I felt quite claustrophobic.
The programme of events for 2013 is almost complete and details for 2014 are being discussed prior to final agreement, availability of transport, etc.
A few Social/Festive activities have yet to be held, they are:-
The annual U3A of Highbridge Open Day was held on the 15th October 2013 and was attended by the Mayor of Burnham-on-sea and Highbridge, Cllr Martin Cox.
Use the control below to listen to the radio play created and produced by the Creative Writing Group. The play was first aired on 10Radio on Tuesday 22nd October 2013.
The Radio Play Only
The whole radio show including the play and interview with the Creative Writing Group members can be heard by using the control below.
The Full Radio Interview including the Play