Banstead Area U3A Group -Activities

2011/2012

News

For further information click on the course

Languages
Italian intermediate	Weekly	Tue 10.30 am
French improvers	Weekly	Fri 10.00 am
Taking French Further	Weekly	Mon 2.30 pm
French conversation	Weekly	Tue 2.00 pm
Further German	Fortnightly	Wed 2.00 pm
Self help Spanish	Weekly	Wed 10.00 am
Outdoor pursuits
* Walking	Monthly	3rd Mon 9.30 am
** Thursday walkers	Monthly	2nd Thur 9.30 am
Gentle walking (Banstead	Fortnightly	Mon 10.00 am
Bowls	Weekly	Tues 2.00 pm
Arts and Crafts
Talking about abstract art	Monthly	3rd Wed 2.30 pm
Drawing and Painting	Weekly	Mon 9.30 am
Drawing and painting	Weekly	Fri 9.30 am
Music Appreciation (1)	Monthly	1st Mon 2.00 pm
Music Appreciation (2)	Monthly	4th Mon 2.00pm
Jazz Appreciation	Momthly	3rd Tues 2.30 pm
Mainstream Jazz	Monthly	1st Tues 2.00 pm
Poetry Discussion	Monthly	4th Fri 2.30 pm
Poetry Writing	Monthly	2nd Mon 2 30 pm
Reading for Pleasure (1)	Monthly	3rd Tue 2.30 pm
Reading for Pleasure (2)	Monthly	3rd Mon 2.30 pm
Reading (Tadworth)	Monthly	Last Tues 2.30 pm
Shakespeare Enjoyment	Monthly	2nd Mon 2.30 pm

Opera (1)and Ballet	Monthly	3rd Tue 7.30 pm
Opera (2)	Monthly,	1st Thurs 1.30 pm
Opera (4)	Monthly	3rd Thurs pm
Opera appreciation and Ballet	Monthly	2nd Wed 2.00pm
Computing	Monthly	3rd Fri 2.30 pm
Past and present
History	Monthly	1st Wed 2.30 pm
Local History (A)	Monthly	1st Thurs 2.00 pm
Local History (B)	Monthly	3rd Thurs 10.00 am
Naval/Military History	Monthly	Last Mon 2.30 pm
Social Studies	Monthly	3rd Thur 2.30 pm
Philosophy	Fortnightly	Fri 2.30 pm
Pondering the imponderable	Weekly	Fri 10.00 am
Science /Technology/Maths	Monthly	4nd Wed 2.30pm
Family History	Monthly	2nd Thur 2.00 pm
Parenting for Grandparents	Monthly	3rd Mon 2.30 pm
Relaxation	Fortnightly	Wed 10.00am
Astronomy	Monthly	2nd Tues 2.00 pm
Psychology/Sociology	Monthly	1st Tues 2.00pm
Pastimes
Bridge - Intermediate	Monthly	Fri or Sat 7.00pm
Bridge - beginners & improvers	Weekly	Tues/Thurs 1.30 pm
Bridge - improvers	Weekly	Mon 3.00 pm
Bridge - no beginners	Weekly	Fri 12.45 pm
Bridge - Intermediate	Weekly	Mon 2.15 pm
Board Games	Monthly	1st Tues 2.30pm
Table Tennis 1 (Tadworth)	2nd & 4th	Tues 10.00 am
Table Tennis 2 (Banstead)	Weekly	Mon 3.00 pm
Scrabble (Banstead)	Monthly	1st Fri 2.00 pm
Scrabble beginners and Imps	Monthly
Wine Tasting	Monthly	2nd Tues 3.00 pm
Line Dancing	Monthly	2nd Wed 10.30 am

As at 20/11/11

Banstead walks leave the Community Centre at 9.30 sharp
** Walton walks - check for start point
Table tennis 2 and beginning bridge - School term time only

Possible new groups: -
Beginners computing
International cookery
Gardening
Photography

Italian

The Banstead U3A Italian Group is an established group of people who enjoy meeting once a week (Tuesday 10.30 to 12 noon) at Tadworth to share our knowledge of the Italian language. We converse, read, play games, discuss news items and brush up our grammar. We are not fluent but our weekly meetings are producing good results.

We would like the opportunity to invite others to join us. All that is required is some knowledge of the language and a willingness to learn. Anyone who would like to know more about the group should telephone the Group Leader on 020 8660 2159 in the first instance and then come and join us for a cup of coffee at one of our meetings.

Taking French Further

We welcome people with a good understanding of French., who wish to increase their fluency by listening, reading and chatting

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Thursday walkers

We amble along the North Downs and local beauty spots stopping to appreciate the local flora and fauna, archeology and local history as well as the views. We meet on the second Thursday of the month for a morning walk of about four to five miles avoiding very steep hills.
Future walks Walkers
Walkers
Click here for 2006 Programme

Walkers looking at rare plants in Fames Rough.

Gentle walking - Banstead

These are local walks lasting between an hour and an hour and a half taken at a gentle pace. They are suitable for people who would like to take a little walk in the company of friends, but do not feel they are up to striding along with the other walking groups.

Walks programme

Friday Art Group

The Friday morning art group meets weekly at 9.30 am in the meeting room of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tadworth. We work in various mediums but mainly in watercolour, receiving tuition from a local watercolour artist.
We have this year visited local Art Clubs to see demonstrations and exhibitions especially when any of our members are exhibiting their work. We are a small group who enjoy painting and learning from a tutor as well as from each other in a pleasant friendly atmosphere. We have a full class at the moment and have already started a waiting list.

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Music appreciation

A large group, meeting on the first Monday in the month at 2pm, to hear and discuss members� choices of music. Nearly always classical, we have enjoyed presentations on the concerto, adagios, individual composers varying from Beethoven to Lehar, male voice choirs, and opera extracts. A fun time at at the December meeting had each member bringing a five minute presentation, which resulted in a fascinating mix of music. We are welcomed by the Sunrise Retirement Home and meet in the comfort of their activity room; we are glad to include those of their residents who enjoy classical music.

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Music appreciation(2)

I will be starting a course next year from January to November 2011 entitled "The Romantic Tradition" on the 4^th Monday each month from 2.00 -4.00 pm based on Romantic music of the 19^th C. Beethoven was both a Classicist and Romanticist, and this course will explore how Beethoven developed the Classical style that he inherited from Mozart to the development of Romantic music that became so widespread with the characteristic and individual styles of Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and many others.

Further details from Pauline Evans (01737 358778).

JAZZ APPRECIATION GROUP

We are a small very mixed group with a common interest in wishing to learn more of the history of jazz. We all enjoy listening to jazz music and try to present a varied programme each month. The ethos of the U3A is that we are never too old to learn and to this end the meetings usually end with a lively discussion.

Mainstream Jazz

The group meets at 2.00pm the first Tuesday of each month in the Mead Room of Banstead Community Hall in Park Road.

We aim to introduce people into Jazz who might not have much previous knowledge, but have heard one or two tunes that they really like and would like to explore further.

Sessions usually take the form of a talk (video sometimes) about one of the main figures in Jazz with examples of their music and influence, usually followed by a short general discussion.

Previous subjects have included Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday, and Benny Goodman.

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Poetry Discussion

The Poetry Discussion Group, now in its 12th year, meets on the 4th Friday of each month,at 2.30 pm, at the Group Leaders address.

All about poets and poems, historic and modern, British or otherwise is discussed, e.g. the appointment of Carol Ann Duffy as the first woman Poet Laureate.

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Poetry Writing

The Poetry Writing Group is now in its seventh year. It has a faithfull membership of five. We sometimes write using the classic forms as patterns and sometimes follow our own ideas. Some of us like using rhymes, some do not. Two members have had poems included in a National Poetry Anthology

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Opera (1) and Ballet

A small evening group meeting monthly (third Tuesday, 7pm), to watch and discuss operas and ballets.

Opera 2

We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 1.30 pm in the home of one of our members, and watch a video or DVD, usually of an opera, but occasionally we choose a ballet for a change.

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Local History B

A Local History Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at the

United Reformed Church,Woodmansterne Lane,Banstead.

We meet at 10.00a.m. for a coffee and the speaker starts at 10.30a.m.,

usually speaking for about an hour.

Recent subjects have been " A 100 years of Banstead"and" A History of

Coulsdon".

The next two talks are "The Great Party in Oaks Park" and

"Doodlebugs and Rockets".
war memorial

Renovation to the village war memorial

This picture and that on the home page have been supplied by the BansteadHistorical Research Group where further images can be seen

History

This new group is beginning as an interactive discussion group, with members encouraged to bring topics of their own choice on which they have done a little research. It is too early to say how the group will develop; it is likely that we will focus on some time period and investigate as far as we can within a particular time or geographic frame.

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Military History

The U3A Military History Group usually meets on the last Monday of each month in the first floor lounge at Sunrise Senior Living in Banstead. This is sometimes impacted by public holidays so please check with Mike Fox on 01737 350452 if you are in any doubt.

Our discussions cover all areas and talks have ranged in time from the Battles of Alexander the Great to World War 2 and even to the future with a presentation by a serving officer on the RN�s plans for its next generation of aircraft carriers.

The group is becoming quite large with nearly 30 active members so please contact Mike Fox by phone (see above) before turning up at a meeting.

Social Studies

SOCIAL STUDIES GROUP

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month in The Mead Room, Banstead Community Hall at 2.30 pm

Topics are selected in advance and each month all members are invited to contribute something related to the subject. A member gives a brief introduction and the informal discussion which follows is open to everyone present. Last year we shared views on The Big Society � including laws we would like to repeal; education; the NHS, the media; the Silver Vote; and our natural resources.

2011 to 2012 Programme

The Thirties - Leisure then and now

U3A Resources Centre Film: �30s in Colour�

Royalty: Past (at the Diamond Jubilee) and in the Future

The Olympics and Sport � then and now

How much do we give/care about overseas?

Living or holidaying in another country (introduction: South Africa, with open discussion about other places we have visited

U3A Film: �Positive Ageing�, a lecture by Professor Susan Greenfield

The Good News � what do we enjoy?

Contact Pat Hargreaves: 01372 748756

Philosophy

Almost all of the traditional topics in general, moral and political philosophy in the West have been covered over the last fifteen years or so, but we keep returning to them. In addition there are many developments in philosophy and in related fields, which remain to be explored. One topic, which we are currently debating and where there has been a revival of interest is that of practical ethics. Everyone has a view on this.

SCIENCE

2.30 PM ON THE 4^TH WEDNESDAY

MEET MONTHLY IN THE MEAD ROOM

2011 Programme

February	Experimental archeology	Alison
March	How Gothic cathedrals stand up	Roger
April	History of Anaesthesia	Victor
May	Experiments we have tried
June	Global warming
July	Bats
August	-
September	Fundemental particals
October	Paul Dirac
November	Transistors
December	-

Grandparenting

This discussion group includes people with grandchildren of ages from birth to maturity, and we discuss successes, concerns, or problems affecting the children, whether emotional, behavioural or academic. Within the group we have both considerable experience of looking after grandchildren and past professional expertise. It is always a pleasure to hear of the childrens growth and progress.

MONDAY BRIDGE GROUP

Day: Monday (weekly)

Time: 3.0 to 5.0pm

The group started in October 2006 with 6 months tuition in the Basic Acol System of Bridge. There are now 10 of us who meet weekly in each others homes to play bridge. Our teacher comes occasionally to give us a refresher session or teach us more advanced rules. Our standard is improving.

Mindtraining
This is not a group, but an eight session course dealing with brain function and memory. The first course is full but another will be offered in the autumn. This is modelled on the course run by Aughton & Ormskirk U3A, with the addition of information on physical and psychological aspects of normal aging, avoidance of adverse effects, and the relationship of meditation to memory and cognitive function.

Why Relaxation?

The need for physical relaxation is increasing in response to the changing demands of society, our working environment and personal lives. While some people can cope effectively with stress of this nature, others may bury deep within themselves. However, it may eventually materialise in a variety of stress-related illnesses.

We cannot avoid all stress, but we can counteract its negative effects by learning how to evoke the relaxation response , a state of deep rest that is the polar opposite to the stress response .

The stress response floods our bodies with chemicals that prepare us for "fight or flight". But while the stress response is helpful in true emergency operations where we must be alert, it wears our body down when constantly activated.

The relaxation response brings our system back into balance: deepening our breathing, reducing stress hormones, slowing down our heart rate and blood pressure, and relaxing our muscles.

In addition to its calming effect, research shows that the relaxation response also increases energy and focus, combats illness, relieves aches and pains, heightens problem-solving abilities, and boosts motivation and productivity. Best of all - with a little practice - anyone can reap these benfits.

If you are interested to learn this simple technique, please contact the Group Coordinator
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Astronomy

Like a supernova our Astronomy Group burst into life with its first meeting on the first Tuesday of December 2009.

At our first meeting we decided to meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 2.00 pm for two hours. instead of the usual blackboard and chalk to illustrate a point we would use a large flat screen TV to look through the Hubble Space Telescope and see the remotest part of the Cosmos in full colour.

Each meeting we will have a different subject. Our first one was Shooting Stars, Asteroids and Comets. January was Ringed Planets and February was Introduction to the Cosmos.

Questions are always welcome, however simple or scientific.

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Table Tennis 1 (Tadworth)) Players

This is a very friendly mixed group who meet together
once a fortnight in the Anti Room, Church of Good
Shepherd Hall in Tadworth.

Tadworth Table Tennis Group. This group started in January 2000. It meets in the ante-room of the Church of Good Shepherd Church Hall for one and a half hours on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings of each month throughout the year. We currently have 13 members which, as we only have room for one table, is the maximum we can accommodate. For the same reason most games are "doubles", slightly less demanding than singles! The joint group leaders are John and Wendy White (tel 01737 814788 or email mearecats@mypostoffice.co.uk

Table Tennis 2 (Banstead)

The group currently has 16 regular members who meet for 1 � hours every Monday afternoon (school term time only) at Banstead Youth Centre. Up to three tables are available and most games played are doubles. It�s a fun way of helping keep both physically fit and mentally alert.