Chichester U3A Spring 2025 PDF Free Download
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Mudlarking For treasure
The Chichester Festivities
A Balkan Adventure
Chichester
U3A
News
Spring 2025
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Page 2
Spring has Sprung
Well sort of. It started,
stopped, restarted, then
produced a heat wave for
the London Marathon.
I discovered that some 145 runners in that
were aged over 75 and 40 over 80. If any
of them are Chi u3a members we would
love to hear about your motivation and the
whole experience, for the next magazine
edition.
In this edition, as well as news from the
groups, some of you have sent in stories
about trips and interests, and there are
items about the CFT, The New Park Centre,
and Chichester Cinema, all venues
frequented by our members.
And there is a lovely piece from Cindy
Smith which gets to the very essence
of U3A.
So, a
big
thank you again to everyone
who contributed
It is your magazine. Our aim is to
provide a platform for you to talk about your
group and its activities and to share
experiences or talents. And we welcome
articles from any of our individual members
who feel that they have something to offer:
stories, reviews of books read, or films viewed,
suggestions for weekends away or holidays,
ideas for local walks or interesting places to
visit.
Indeed, anything that you would enjoy reading
and which may also be enjoyed by other
members.
So don’t be shy. We want to hear
your stories and contributions.
Penny Blackmore Smith. Editor
IN THIS EDITION
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR pg3
SPEAKERS CORNER pg4
BOOK REVIEW pg6
NEWS FROM THE GROUPS :
• Writing for Fun pg8
• Impressionism Group pg9
• Crime Fiction pg9
• Art Appreciation pg10
• New Park Art Group pg11
• Bus Walk 1 pg12
• Scrabble pg13
• Keep Fit pg13
• MOTO 1 pg14
• MOTO 2 pg 15
• Garden and Allotments pg17
• Skiing Group Trip pg17
• Tuesday Recorders pg18
• Practical Science pg19
• Crosswords for Fun pg20
ARTICLES
• Combining Passions pg21
• Parking is Such
Sweet Sorrow pg24
• Climate Change pg25
• Flint Point pg26
• John Munro pg27
• Embracing the Unknown pg29
• Meeting my Older Self pg31
AROUND CHICHESTER
• New Park Anniversary pg33
• Chichester Living pg34
• CFT pg35
• Oyster Return pg36
• The Festival of Chichester pg37
• The New Park International
Film Festival pg38
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
FROM THE CHAIR
It is with great enthusiasm that I step into the role of Chair for
Chichester u3a. As a retired headteacher I thought I’d exchanged lesson plans and
whiteboards for gentle, relaxing mornings and leisurely afternoons. That never
happened; I swapped the wonderful chaos of a primary school for the equally busy and
vibrant u3a community.
I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to those who have served on the
committee in the past, and have retired, and I wish them well in their future endeavours. Their hard work has
laid a strong foundation for us to build upon. Thank you also to those who are continuing to serve on the
committee and to new members.
We have a lovely group of people on the committee with diverse skills, interests and talents, and I am
confident that together, we can achieve good things for our u3a. I am excited about the opportunity to work
alongside them.
My vision for the coming year is to strengthen the various teams needed to support the committee. It is a
deliberately simple vision. If we can strengthen our teams (and create new teams where needed) we can then
begin to explore new opportunities and continue to create and grow a vibrant and engaging u3a community
without placing undue burden on individuals. Going forward and with strong teams in place, we could then,
as a committee, consider expanding the social events and growing the number of groups on offer.
We continue to be grateful for the support we receive from all members who contribute in so many ways.
We now have over 1000 members and 100 groups and because we are a self-help organisation, Chichester
u3a would not exist without your active participation.
I look forward to working alongside you all during the next twelve months.
Best wishes Jacky Easton
Page 3
Jill Cook who retired as Chair in May became a member of
Chichester u3a in 2014 and was quickly appointed to the Committee
on which she served for 10 years, the last 3 as Chair. Jill is one of a
faithful few who have ensured that Chichester u3a is a thriving, well
governed organization surviving financial difficulties as well as the
Covid Lockdown. Jill may have been the first person you met in our
organization, as she has planned and attended all the New Members’
Meetings, at Little
Meetings at the Little London Tearoom, as well as leading the team of committed volunteers planning our
social events. Given that, on average, we have 20 new members joining each month that has kept her busy,.
We all wish her well and Enjoyment in her second retirement. At the AGM Jill said “ I have TRULY
enjoyed working with you all and throughout the last 3 years I have been grateful for your support,
enthusiasm and friendship. I will miss your company but when we get back from sailing in the autumn, I
hope to join a few groups and to participate in events and to catch up with you all again.”
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
SPEAKER’S CORNER
Forthcoming Events
Our talks take place on the third Thursday of most months at 2pm and are open to all
members and are held at the Assembly Rooms. (First Floor), The Council House,
North Street, Chichester. From June 1st we will be serving free tea or coffee after the
talk.
12th June 2025, 2pm
The History of RAF Tangmere, a talk by Joe Marsden
Joe will give us a short history of the famous
Battle of Britain airfield at RAF Tangmere,
and an introduction to the Tangmere Military
Aviation Museum, showing some of the
themes and exhibits.
Joe served in the RAF for 30 years as a pilot
on Vulcan and Canberra aircraft.
17th July 2025, 2pm
What Makes People Believe Things That Aren’t True? The (Surprising)
Psychology of Misinformation, a talk by Dr Simon Clark
Simon will give us a fun and informative talk which explores how and why people are
misled by misinformation, including some fascinating psychological studies, old and
new.
Simon Clark is a cognitive psychologist who researches how people respond to
misinformation.
18th September 2025, 2pm
Horatio Nelson: Life and Loves, a talk by Dr James Taylor
During the talk, we will discover the extraordinary life of Vice
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) through period
paintings, drawings and prints. Nelson was a charismatic and
complex character who met his premature death on the deck of
HMS Victory on 21st October, 1805.
James is a former curator of pictures at the National Maritime
Museum, Greenwich, an exhibition organiser, author and Fellow of the Royal Society
of Arts.
Page 4
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
SPEAKER’S CORNER
16th October 2025, 2pm
Reflections on Nelson Mandela, a talk by Rev. Colin Chambers
Colin will give us his reflections and insights from the years
during which he was chaplain to President Mandela and other
Robben Island prisoners. Rev. Colin Chambers, a former
Lieutenant Commander in the South African Navy, was
Nelson Mandela’s chaplain for eight years when President
Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island.
20th November 2025, 2pm
Forty Years of Catching Smugglers – Why Do I Always Feel So Guilty? A talk
by Malcolm Nelson
Malcolm will give us an insight into how Customs/Border Force officers select people
in the green channel, who they think are carrying prohibited drugs in their baggage.
Malcolm Nelson was a Customs Officer for 40 years. He worked in many places in the
UK but most of his career was in London Airport and Heathrow. He also worked in St.
Petersburg (Russia), Malta and several airports in the EU. Since retiring, he has
become a public speaker. He has also written 2 books: ‘Forty Years
Catching Smugglers’ and ‘In Pursuit of the Two-Legged Mule.’
11th December 2025, 2pm
(Almost) Death in Paradise: The Caribbean, Pirates and Rum, a talk by Neil
Sadler
Neil is a retired Police Officer. His talk will focus on his
time working with the police in the Caribbean. And he
will answer a number of important questions.
• The island of St. Marie in the TV series, Death in
Paradise real?
• Who were the real Pirates of the Caribbean?
• What time did pirates go to bed?
• What was marooning?
• The answer’s rum – now what’s the question?
Page 5
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Look What I’ve Been Reading
Chichester author and U3A member, Kate Wiseman, takes us through some her
recent reads, both old and new
The Peepshow: The Murders at 10, Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
When I mentioned to friends that I was reading a book about John
“Reg” Christie’s murders, the most common response I got was a
wrinkled nose and a comment along the lines of ‘Urgh. They were
really grubby.’ I didn’t really know what they meant until I read
Kate Summerscale’s intensively researched, beautifully written
account of them.
For a start, the murders themselves were particularly unpleasant:
Christie, a back-street abortionist, murdered numerous women between 1943 and
1953, preying on those who were down on their luck and struggling to find their feet
in a country in which the war had changed everything. Police found evidence of rape
and necrophilia on his victims, whom he stuffed into a wallpapered kitchen alcove and
buried under floorboards or in his garden, where the bones of one victim were
discovered propping up a fence.
Kate Summerscale examines Britain at the time of the murders, and she describes a
grubbiness about life in general at that time: shared outdoor toilets, over the fence
gossip and rationing were the norm, as was virulent racism and suspicion of outsiders.
Somehow Christie’s murders were particularly apt for their time. They were a Fleet
Street sensation, provoking panic around the country. Churchill’s comment that the
only good thing about his sudden illness (actually a stroke, but it covered up) was, ‘At
least I have had the honour of removing that creature, Christie, from the front pages,’
demonstrates how far Christie’s shadow reached.
Fascinating and highly recommended.
Page 6
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
BOOK REVIEW contd.
Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood
Let’s face it, Margaret Atwood is incapable of writing anything
that isn’t brilliant and profound. Alias Grace is my favourite of
all her books; it was recommended to me about twenty-five years
ago by an English teacher, who described reading it as ‘peeling
back layer after layer of an onion’. I’ve been reading it every
couple of years ever since, and I still haven’t decided how I feel
about the protagonist.
Based on a real-life 19th century Canadian murder case, Alias
Grace invites you into the mind of Grace Marks, an immigrant servant girl who was
found guilty of murdering her employer and his housekeeper/lover and was incarcerated
for many years, while experts argued over her sanity or lack of it. Grace was spared the
noose because of her youth and gender but her alleged lover, James McDermott, was
not so lucky and was hanged, naming Grace as the mastermind of the plan until the very
end. I love an unreliable narrator, and Grace Marks is that in spades. What does she
remember? What does she hide? Is she evil or mad or neither of those things? If you
relish masterful characterisation and world-building, give this book a read. We could
have a good argument about it, afterwards.
A String of Pearls: Somerstown with Love, and Other Stories by Pearl Goodman
Just to prove that I don’t only read books about murder, A String of
Pearls is a memoir of life in Somerstown, Chichester, between the
world wars. Pearl Goodman was a notable actress who co-founded
Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, played the part of Blanche
DuBois in A Streetcar Called Desire, and sang with Ewan McColl
(father of late lamented Kirsty). Proud of her Chichester roots, Pearl
recalls her childhood in the Somerstown area of the city with
nostalgia and humour. The way of life she describes and the characters she knew are
vividly described, and Pearl’s own illustrations add to the joy of this evocative and
hugely enjoyable memoir.
This isn’t a book that would normally appeal to me, but Pearl Goodman’s writing is
irresistible. Her character shines through. There is a follow up book, More Pearls,
which I am eager to acquire. You can’t read about murder all the time!
Page 7
6
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Page
5
WRITING FOR FUN
The Writing for Fun group continues to meet monthly for 2 hours. Membership has remained stable
but it is hoped to open a second group later this year to accommodate other Chichester U3A members who
have expressed an interest.
The ethos of the group remains the same in that it is run to meet members, needs and new ideas relevant to
the group are always welcome. It is not a creative writing group
although the members are creative in what they bring along and
hopefully, attending encourages and influences this; pooling of ideas
helps members develop their skills but each does this in their own way.
However, the ethos is to make the group a positive and welcoming
experience where experimentation is a possibility and there is nothing
to be lost if it does not work. Discussion is central to the meetings but not to members' detriment, so their
individual development as a writer is a subtle outcome. Members can, if they wish, try new modes of writing
and hopefully, the meetings are a safe setting to do so.
Helen Millen
... The ethos of the
group remains the
same in that it is run to
meet members needs
The following 100-word piece of Flash Fiction I wrote for the U3a Writing For
Fun group. The only prompt we were given was
There was Elephant on the Menu
The siege of Paris saw the people come close to starvation. Butchers offered dog
and cat meat. People even ate rats. Eventually the zoo was raided.
The city is surrounded, it’s certain we will starve.
They’re serving cat with mushrooms
Papa says it’s hard to carve.
Braised dog with petits pois, and rat with mayonnaise –
The innovative dishes are certain to amaze.
But Papa says we cannot last and next they’ll raid the zoo –
Oh please don’t let them put Castor and Pollux* on the next
menu!
*Castor and Pollux, the only two elephants in the zoo, were slaughtered for their
meat.
Rosie Speer
Page 8
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Page 9
U3A IMPRESSIONISM GROUP
We meet on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month
in the Friends Meeting Hall in Chichester to look at
the lives and paintings of initially the founders of the
movement, and set this in the context of the
fascinating history of France in the 19th Century.
We will go on to look at those who came along later,
often called the Post Impressionists, and howthey
continued the genre.
If you enjoy the works of the Impressionist painters and would
like to learn more, then come along and you will experience
literally hundreds of artworks they produced and hear of their
intriguing lives that had so much of an influence on their work.
Contact can be made through the website
Alistair Bennet
The Crime Fiction Group
We meet on the last Thursday of the month at the Festival Theatre Café to
discuss the chosen book we have read that month,or on occasion, to also meet the
author.
The authors tend to be from suggestions from our members, and we have read
unknown authors, foreign authors as well as the well-known British mainstays of
crime writin,g from Anthony Horowitz to Susan Hill and Elly Griffiths.
Sussex is blessed with a number of local authors who we have managed to get to
come along and talk us through the writing process, and these conversations have
been most fascinating.
If you would like to join in our experiences of reading and meeting crime authors,
then contact us through the website
.
Alistair Bennet Group Leader
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
ART APPRECIATION GROUP
Our monthly Art Appreciation meetings include a number of presentations of
different lengths in each session. The aim is to share with our members interesting facts about the
lives of artists, accompanied by images of their work that reveal something
personal to their character and to the lives they led (or lead if they are
contemporary artists). Most paintings are chosen that tell a story. Each
session has an overriding theme which links the presentations together.
An example of a recent theme is “Looking at Ireland : a sense of place, its
history and its people through Art.” Included beneath this “ umbrella” were
presentations on The Book of Kells, Lives of Irish Saints, artworks
depicting victims of the Great Irish Famine, the Story of Strongbow and Aiofe
and also paintings by four 20th century artists – Jack Butler Yeats, Harry Kernoff,
Nora McGuiness and Colin Middleton. Once you learn all about the artists
featured, that information adds to the understanding and /or the appreciation of their work.
We do also look at the technical side of producing Art. For example, one month the theme was “ Mark
Making, Methods and Materials”.
In March the entire meeting was devoted to the National Gallery’s 200th Anniversary, where we looked at
photographs from the Gallery’s archives as well as artists who had at one time held the title of ‘Artist in
Residence’, plus we learned about the favourite paintings of visitors.
Between WW1 and WW2 it
was very popular for visitors
(including students) to copy
artworks on the walls of the
gallery. They did have to
apply first though to a
Gallery Committee and
submit examples of their own
work first before they were
allowed to participate .
Linda Brown
Saint Dymphna from a
series of paintings on
oakwood by Goswin
van der Weyd
The Irish Famine by
George Frederick
Page 10
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
MeMbers’ Art
The Art Group at New Park
Texture and perspective
Page 11
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Page 12
Bus Walk Group 1
The Bus walks continued through the season and we have many and varied walks this
year
In November we walked from Wolverstone farm to Singleton through beautiful autumn
colour and countryside.
In December we walked part of the Pilgrims Way and the Hillsea Lines at Portsmouth.
In January we walked along the coast from Littlehampton to Rustington and back.
In February we walked Medmerry to Bracklesham via The Periwinkle sculpture.
In March we took the South Downs Way then south to the native daffodils and finished at
West Dean.
In April we walked from Wolverstone to Singleton via Levin down admiring primroses,
wood anemones and bluebells.
Jenny Price
The group still has
space for new
members so if you
are interested in
joining us please do
contact me
David Rigglesford
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Scrabble Group
We meet on the first Thursday afternoon of the month at the
Festival Theatre Café for a very sociable playing of Scrabble,
with everyone from beginners to the well experienced. It goes
without saying that over a coffee or tea in the light and airy
surroundings of the Café it makes for a very pleasant afternoon ,
discussing word possibilities with each other.
If you would enjoy a couple of hours of chat in good company
over an entertaining word puzzle then consider joining us!
Contact can be made through the website.
Alistair Bennett
The Keep Fit Group
Our friendly group meets at Westgate Leisure Centre, Via Ravenna, PO19 1RJ on Mondays at 11.30 -12.15.
We do exercises to popular music with an instructor, Becky Doherty, who is very understanding about our
ageing bodies sometimes limiting our performance.
We use exercise mats, and weights and stretch bands (both
optional). Mats and weights are available in the hall if you do not
have your own. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable
clothing. Class costs £7.40 per session - pay as you go at
Reception. Car park is free for 2 hours - just take a free ticket from
the parking machine. Some of us usually stay for a coffee and chat
in the cafe after class. We have an annual lunch in town around Christmas/New Year. We have space for a
few more members so feel free to come along one week and see if the class suits you. Louise Coulthard
Page 13
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We would like to identify and utilise the skills and experience of members, to help
with particular projects, one off events or (a more regular commitment) assisting
the various teams listed below .
The Social Team, Membership Team, Groups Team, IT team, Governance
Team, Media and Communications Team, Volunteers Bank, Outreach team
There are plenty of opportunities to suit a wide range of skills, experiences and
time commitment. If you are interested in volunteering, please
email chair@chichesteru3a.org.uk Jacky Easton Chair.
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
MUSINGS ON MOTO 1
(Members On Their Own)
After an organised monthly walk and then
tea at West Dean Gardens several of us sat outside in
the April sunshine and reflected on what our group has meant to us,
how we have met others who live on their own, for whatever reason,
made friendships and felt the kindness and support from those within
the group. Somebody likened it to another family and I would agree.
There are several of us who do not have family who live within
striking distance or indeed family at all, so Mother's Day, Christmas
and New Year and other family orientated holidays can be spent
alone.
I think the U3A is brilliant in what it offers all its members and there
are many groups I really
enjoy, however MOTO
has added a different
dimension to my life for which I am so grateful and I wanted to
know how it started
It appears there was a group of single ladies who had heard of
similar groups within other U3A areas. Between them they put
together the bones of the group and the Committee agreed it
would be a welcome new addition to Chichester U3A. MOTO
made its first appearance at the regular coffee morning on 1st
February 2022 when 14 members expressed interest. A
WhatsApp chat group was started and by the end of the first
year there were 37 members This gradually increased to 67 when it was agreed that MOTO Two should be
created.
The beauty of our group is that anyone can suggest and organise an activity and you can dip in and out of
what is suggested and get involved in what interests you. A woods trip may include half a dozen or more
MOTO members . There are trips to the theatre or cinema, monthly Sunday lunches, trips to places of
interest within West Sussex and further afield as well as West Dean Walks and Coffee Mornings.
We have some dynamic people in the Group and there is a continuous flow of new ideas .There are no
cliques, no hierarchy, just a real willingness to make everyone part of the group - to whatever extent they
wish.
I have lived in the area for over forty years, and I have a lot of friends. However
this year my daughter is in the USA for 18 months and so I learned the real value
of MOTO. I spent Christmas Day lunch at Brasserie Blanc, a walk and then a pub
lunch on Boxing Day and lunch at Côte on New Year’s Day with others who
could not see their family In fact it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas
Season. On Mother’s Day some of us got together and organised a “potluck
lunch”where each of us brought a course, delicious wines and cheeses etc, and we
had an enjoyable, fun time. Whenever you want to have company there are
MOTO members who want to join you. The fact that there were sixteen of us at
Côte on New Year’s Day shows the need for groups such as ours and I believe
shows how successful MOTO has become.
Cindy Smith
MOTO has added a different
dimension to my life for
which I am so grateful and I
wanted to know how it
started …
Page 14
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
MOTO 2
On a bright and breezy spring day,
the U3A MOTO2 group set off on a
delightful countryside walk from the charming village
of Funtington. Our route took us through the picturesque
lanes and fields of West and East Ashling, winding our
way toward the beautiful Ashling and Stoke Woods.
This time of year, the woods are a riot of colour, and we
weren’t disappointed. The bluebells were in full bloom,
creating a carpet of vibrant violet beneath the trees—a
magical sight and a true highlight of the walk. As we
wandered through the dappled sunlight, the scent of
spring and the cheerful birdsong made for a truly peaceful experience.
After stretching our legs and soaking in the natural beauty, we made our way to The Hare and Hounds pub
for a well-earned lunch. With its welcoming atmosphere and hearty fare, it was the perfect end to a lovely
outing. Good company, fresh air, and the beauty of nature—it was a walk to remember.
A Visit to the Heart of Democracy
On April 2nd, members of Chichester U3A’s MOTO2 group embarked on a fascinating visit to the Houses
of Parliament, immersing themselves in the history and grandeur of one of the UK’s most iconic institutions.
The trip provided an unforgettable opportunity to explore the heart of British democracy and gain insights
into the workings of government.
Our guided tour took us through the historic corridors of power, where we marvelled at the architectural
beauty and rich heritage of the building. From the splendour of Westminster Hall to the intricate details of
St. Stephen’s Chapel, every corner told a story of the nation’s political past. A highlight of the visit was
stepping into the House of Lords, where we observed the opulent red benches and learned about the
chamber’s vital role in shaping legislation.
Following our tour, we had the privilege of meeting our local
MP, Jess Brown-Fuller. Engaging and insightful, she shared
her experiences as a Member of Parliament and discussed key
issues affecting our community. The session provided a
valuable chance to ask questions and gain a deeper
understanding of the challenges and responsibilities faced by
our elected representatives.
The day was both educational and inspiring, leaving us with a
renewed appreciation for the democratic process. It was a
wonderful experience for all who attended, reinforcing the
importance of civic engagement and political awareness. A
huge thank you to everyone involved in making this visit such
a success!
Page 15
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
MOTO 2 Goes Pott(er)y
On Friday 11th April, 10 enthusiastic members of MOTO2 took part in a hands-on pottery training session
at the New Park Centre. The workshop was led by Jo, a talented member of the Southern Ceramic Group,
who guided the group through the process of creating decorative ceramic tiles and wall art.
Jo’s expertise and passion for ceramics shone through as she introduced us to a range of techniques, from
shaping and carving to adding textures and patterns. With her patient guidance, members unleashed their
creativity, producing a variety of unique and personal pieces. The room buzzed with laughter, concentration,
and the occasional splash of slip!
Once completed, Jo carefully collected the creations to be
professionally fired in her kiln — ensuring that each masterpiece will
be preserved and ready to display.
The session was not only a chance to learn a new skill but also a great
opportunity for members to bond, relax, and express themselves in a
completely different medium. A huge thank you to Jo for her
inspiration and to everyone who took part — we can’t wait to see the
results which may be available in time for the next U3A coffee
morning!
VE Day 80th Anniversary
Five members of the MOTO2 group
gathered at the Tangmere Military
Aviation Museum to commemorate the
80th anniversary of VE Day. The visit
proved to be a wonderful mix of history,
camaraderie and celebration.
The group toured the museum's fascinating collection of wartime aircraft and exhibits,
gaining deeper insight into the aviation heroes of the past. The atmosphere was festive,
with street food stalls offering a variety of delicious treats, accompanied by a selection
of wines to enjoy in the sunshine. Land girl Kate had difficulty putting a gas mask on,
it messed up her hair she said. And Christian found his inner gangster with a replica
of the machine gun used by the infamous Dillinger. The D-Day Darlings provided a
great nostalgic singalong.
. It was a fitting tribute to the spirit of VE Day and a
thoroughly enjoyable outing for the group.
Christian Gaze
Page 16
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Garden and Allotment Group
The Garden Group has continued with
monthly meetings and visits. In
November we had a practical session
making sustainable floristry guided by
Tony the Flower Man.
In December we visited Tawny
Nursery for Christmas wreath making.
In January we shared photos of our
own gardens and others that we had
visited with a short demonstration of pruning.
In February we visited West Dean gardens and admired their fruit tree pruning and early
bulbs.
In March we went to Manor of Dean Garden near Petworth. We had a short history of the
house and garden and then a stroll at our leisure followed by coffee and cake.
In April we visited Rampster Garden and
viewed the camellias, mid-season bulbs and
magnolias.
Simon Price
Ski Group
Following on from our successful trip in 2024, the U3A ski group is off to Italy in
March 2026. We are going to Sestriere in Italy, leaving on the 1 st March and returning on the
8th . We will be staying in the Hotel Principi di Piemonte, half board with the
following facilities;
1. Ski-in, ski-out on a blue run
2. 10 minutes walk to the lifts
3. 15 minutes walk to the centre of Sestriere
4 .Indoor pool
5. Spa with sauna, steam room and Mediterranean bath
If anyone would like to join our group please email barryeaston@gmail.com
Page 17
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
TUESDAY RECORDERS
It’s a well-researched fact that
playing a musical instrument has a positive
effect on mental and emotional well-
being. It reduces stress, improves memory
and fosters a sense of achievement and
confidence. It can take you out of yourself
and into another, unassailable world of
pleasure and enjoyment.
In the Recorder Group in the last few months, we’ve had the pleasure of medieval madrigals
and The Deadwood Stage; Bach, Handel and Sussex By The Sea;minuets, sarabandes, rags
and swing; Holst, Warlock and a host of hymn tunes; Scottish tunes, Welsh tunes and By the
Light of the Silvery Moon; Mendelssohn, Klezmer and a fantastic 16th century piece called
‘Gaudete Omnes’ : Rejoice Everyone!
And there’s a lot of rejoicing in the Recorder Group. I asked some players what they
Thought:
Ann: “I love the Tuesday recorder group. Having not played regularly with others for
many years, I relish the opportunity to develop my playing skills in a well-disciplined
yet relaxed and informal setting. And I’ve made some new friends too.”
Maurice:I can only think of two art forms where communal creativity is possible
the performance of music and dance. When performing music, things like age, gender
and nationality haven’t the slightest importance; the only things necessary are the
love of music and the willingness to devote some time in practising a musical
instrument. In our recorder group we play a very wide variety of music, and there will
always be something there someone likes. I think we all find that meeting together
to take a part in the creation of a series of beautiful sounds is a very rewarding
experience. And there is the added advantage of meeting, perhaps even forging
friendships, with other like-minded people as well.”
Kate: “I started the group with very limited sightreading experience, and through
attending regularly, I’ve improved no end. Playing such a variety of music works well
for us, and it’s lovely to belong to a friendly group. I always come away feeling
uplifted.”
Steve: “Each week we’re treated to a wide range of music in different styles with a
variety of technical and musical challenges and opportunities. Jean is very
knowledgeable and puts the pieces in their historical context and works to enhance our
ensemble playing, together with a professional recorder player who makes regular
visits.”
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
There are 9 of us at the moment, meeting weekly on Tuesday afternoons, 2-
4pm, where I live on The Hornet. The group has been bigger and can easily be
so again if you decide to join us. You need to have a music stand and play at least two sizes
of recorder. This is because players like to change instruments over the course of the
afternoon. Some players have three or four sizes of recorder: descant, treble, tenor,
bass. Sometimes I add in a great bass or even a contrabass. This mix makes it
possible to play a very wide range of music which increases the pleasure of the
afternoon.
So if you’ve played in the past and would like to re-start, why not join us one Tuesday
afternoon for a taster session? It’s a friendly, supportive group and everybody has to
start somewhere, so don’t worry about wrong notes! Every month we invite a local
professional player along and she takes us through some more challenging music,
which we enjoy.
There’s more information about us on the u3a website . We’re listed under Groups by
Day. Use the contact form to get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you!
Oh - and don’t believe those sceptics who deride the recorder! It’s alive and kicking
all over the UK. There’s a Society of Recorder Players with local branches, lots of u3a
recorder groups, also amateur and professional ensembles and orchestras, and a
whole host of professional players across the world!
The recorder lives! Come and find out ! Linda Brown
Practical Science group
At a recent Minerva theatre coffee, morning members of the practical science
team demonstrated some amazing steam engines from the simple starling engine to the Newcomen steam
engine, to a very racy old traction engine. During the last
meeting of the group Dave Widdup gave an excellent resume of
the history and meaning of the Gas Laws and how it gave rise to
the age of steam in the 18th century. In particular we focused on
the importance of Charles’ law which states the volume of a gas
at a constant pressure is proportional to its absolute temperature.
We set up some beakers containing hot water with a capillary
tube of air. The tip of the tube was sealed with olive oil (very
tricky). As the water cooled the gas volume was recorded. Dave
managed to draw the predicted line of results whilst Nick just
made a mess.
Earlier on in the month, members made a small aerial attached to
a fishing rod and then ran around the football pitch in the rain
downloading a satellite signal from 600kms away, a very British
way of doing science. Then the computer got wet. Clever
software translated the signal into a picture of the Earth’s
atmosphere."
Nick Doll
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Group News
Crosswords for Fun
The aim of both ‘Crosswords for Fun’ groups is to practice answering cryptic crossword clues.
It’s a bit like a new language – you can get started with some simple grammar and vocabulary,
but you need practice to make real progress. If you can practice with others, then so much the
better. Our approach with cryptic crosswords is very similar.
The basic ’grammar’ of cryptic crosswords is that most clues include a ‘definition’ which points
towards the answer, and the clue also gives a ‘word
play’ which leads to the same answer in a more oblique
fashion. An ‘action indicator’ may suggest which type
of ‘word play’ is being used. A couple of examples:
In the clue ‘Amy diced a tuber (3)’ the answer must
be three characters long, and the action word is ‘diced’
which suggests that we might need to take an
anagram. Mixing up the letters of ‘Amy’ we get the
answer ‘yam’ which is defined as being a ‘tuber’.
In the clue ‘Safe place in Fifth Avenue (5)’, the ‘in’ is
an action word pointing to a sequence of letters within ‘Fifth Avenue’. Just looking at the
characters we can see that the answer ‘haven’ is spelt out by sequential letters across the two
words and satisfies the definition of a ‘safe place’.
A different type of clue uses a construction technique: ‘Quiet worker may breathe heavily (4)’.
The answer is ‘pant’, where the ‘p’ is derived from the musical p for pianissimo meaning ‘softly’,
the ‘ant’ is an example of a worker, combining to give the answer as defined by ‘breathe
heavily’.
There are many other types of ‘word play’ that can be used, and it is necessary to become
familiar with the more common forms. As with all other skills nowadays, there are plenty of
study resources available on-line. However, a comprehensive introduction is “How to Crack
Cryptic Crosswords (The Times Crosswords)” by Tim Moorey, which identifies and unpicks the
structures of clues and the ‘word plays’ that can be used.
This book also lists some of the other word ‘tricks’ that can be used. For example, by thinking
laterally a flower might suggest a river, or a number might point to an anaesthetist. Roman
numerals, V, L, C, etc, and abbreviations, Dr, St, AM, etc are also just a few of the ways of
identifying letters that can be used to construct the word answer.
The enjoyment and satisfaction obviously come from unpicking the linguistic gymnastics
being used and then finding an answer to fit the definition. However, the on-going challenge
is that the crossword compiler also seeks to disguise the word play and indulge in
misdirection to send the solver off in completely the wrong direction. This is why cryptic
crosswords can be so addictive!
As one source of crossword for practice, we use books from the series of
“Times Quick Cryptic Crosswords”. The advantage of these is that they
maintain a similar level of ‘word play’ that appears in the ‘harder’ standard
Times crosswords but tend to avoid the more obscure words or connections
that sometimes make the standard crosswords so confusing. These books are
also useful to practice on your own, in that you can look up the answers to
clues you can’t solve and then work backwards to identify the ‘word plays’
involved – gradually you can increase the proportion of clues that you can
solve!
Graham Currell
the crossword compiler also seeks
to disguise the word play and
indulge in mis-direction to send
the solver off in completely the
wrong direction
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Members Stories
Combining Passions Chichester novelist and U3A
member Kate Wiseman explains how she combined her joint passions of
writing and mudlarking to produce her series of Mudlark Mystery novels.
It was a windy day in Greenwich, London, home to the Cutty Sark tea clipper and the Royal
Maritime Museum, and my friend, Joy, and I were impatiently waiting for the arrival of an
acquaintance who was to take us on a treasure hunt along
the foreshore.
This would be my first experience of mudlarking, and one
of the most exciting days of my life. Our guide turned out
to be a fount of knowledge, and his expertise in pinpointing
treasures hidden by mud and rubble was astonishing.
‘Look for places where the tide has washed away some of
the debris,’ he would say, or, ‘always check out patches
where you can see lots of old metal. The river likes to be
tidy; she deposits things of a similar weight together. If you can see nails and old bits of metal,
there may be coins or jewellery, too. ‘I asked endless questions, and our guide answered them
with limitless patience. Yes, the fouled anchor on that button means that it fell from the jacket
of a naval man; yes, Kate, that does look like a huge uncut emerald, but it’s actually a lump
of broken glass; no, Kate, I’m afraid that chunk of painted stone is unlikely to be from a Tudor
palace. I may be wrong, but it looks to me as if a child has daubed it with paint and thrown it
in the river. Maybe three months ago. That man had the patience of a saint, and without further
ado I was hooked on mudlarking.
I got my three-year permit and went to London whenever I could,
eventually ‘getting my eye in’ as mudlarks call the ability to spot the
things that lay camouflaged on the foreshore. I found the odd,
interesting piece, but nothing that would make an attention-grabbing
headline for one of the many mudlarking groups on social media. I
didn’t care. The pins, pottery and pipestems were all treasure to me:
little pieces of history that seemed to dissolve the gap between the
present and the past. To touch a fist-sized piece of Roman mosaic floor
just revealed by the tide, to know that the person who stuck those tesserae haphazardly into
the knobbly cement had lived two thousand years ago, is to throw open the doors of time. I
imagine the mosaic maker, a short man, clean shaven as Romans and Roman acolytes liked
Page 22
‘always check out
patches where you
can see lots of old
metal. The river likes
to be tidy; she
deposits things of a
similar weight
together
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
to be, hurriedly poking the little cubes of white marble into place. Maybe it had been the end
of his day, and he wanted to get home. Maybe he had backache from bending over all day.
For two millennia, while kings and queens reigned and fell, while London burned and plague
raged, that man’s handiwork waited to be found. And I was the one who picked it up – the
first person to touch it for years almost too numerous to count. The thought takes my breath
away.
My other passion is writing, and I am very lucky to have novels published
in several countries. Mudlarking is growing in popularity very quickly, and
there are an increasing number of books about the subject appearing on the
market. I buy each one, carefully arranging them to form my own small
library on the subject closest to my heart. I realised, with astonishment,
that there was hardly any fiction on the subject and I decided that it was a
gap that I was destined to fill. As a lover of history, it seemed natural to
set my novels in the days when mudlarks abounded and when it was a
survival tactic, not a wonderful hobby. My characters seemed to develop without much help
from me. The surname of the central characters, siblings Joe and Edie Lighterman, is homage
to a very common Victorian Thames-side occupation. Lightermen transferred the cargo from
the teeming ships that used to moor in the Thames, to the shore. There were so many of them
that they sometimes had to wait for weeks, their precious cargo guarded by a skeleton crew,
for the lightermen to unload it onto huge flat-bottomed boats called lighters (because they
lightened the ships of their loads) and take it on its onward journey.
I’m loving writing the Mudlark Mysteries and hope that there will be
many more to come (at the moment there are two published and one
coming out later this year). I also hope that my 19th century mudlarks
pass on some of their amazing luck to me. They always seem to be
finding astonishing treasure that plunges them into adventure after
adventure. I’d be happy with just one of their finds: a silver pocket
watch with an undecipherable note tucked into its casing; a golden
Aztec skull; an Egyptian cat fashioned in lapis lazuli. It would have
pride of place among my Thames treasures and would certainly make
the others – spent bullets from two World Wars, sherds of beautiful pottery that I make into
mosaic tables, and tiny doll limbs – look a bit shabby. But I will still love them all. They’re all
treasure to me.
Kate Wiseman
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Parking is such sweet sorrow
Bill has been sailing for more years than he cares to remember. Actually more years than he can remember
now. Bless him. He likes to reminisce but is a bit fuzzy after 1985. I’m the same. Memory is like that. The recent bits
sort of fall out of the top of the bin, but the older bits like the words of all the songs playing in the summer when you
met your first love; or who starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, they sit snugly at the bottom, easily
dredged up.
Anyway, we were sailing round the Ionian Isles. Some lovely names – Lefkas, Nidri, Scorpios, Ithica. I’ve always
wanted to go to Ithica. It was the birthplace of Homer and his hero King Odysseus, and of Odysseus’ queen. She is my
namesake, Penelope, so I had to eat at Penelope’s restaurant. The original Penelope had a hard life. After swanning off
for 10 years to the Trojan wars and spinning some story about
sirens kidnapping him, Oddy came back, didn’t like the way
that she had carried on and bumped Penny off. The current
Penelope’s hubby is a nice chap, sort of round and Greek
looking. I can’t imagine any sirens fancying him much, but I
can’t imagine him bumping off the missus either.
We called in to Frikes, a small harbour full to overflowing
with charter yachts in August, as is the whole Ionian area it
seemed. We got in early and enjoyed the spectacle of the late
afternoon wind causing panic amongst flotilla crews trying to
park in a crowded marina. It should be called Fracas. Anxious
wives/ girlfriends nervously clutching ropes, as the skipper for a week, screaming instructions, hurtled towards a wall
or another boat, to the enraged shouts of local Greek boat owners. “You not anchor there“, “You go back,”
“ ξεκουμπίσου !!!”
Bill and I of course have years of experience, so we don’t need to shout. After 3 weeks on a boat we were hardly
talking at all! Bill’s boat is lovely, but it doesn’t go too well in reverse he says. I don’t know cos I am not allowed to
park it, That requires the special ‘parking lobe’ that men think they have in their brains. It’s next to the real ale
appreciation lobe. He says his boat was made to only go forwards so we usually tried to find quiet places to drop
anchor. Not easy in the Ionian, they mostly resemble a parking lot in Croydon, but on Ithica we found the perfect
place. A bay called Sarakiniko. Just a little beach and a few fishing boats moored with a line ashore. That was our
plan. I rowed across in the dinghy, a very long way, he doesn’t like getting close in as it might scratch the boat, and I
tied a line to a rock. A long line, about 70/80m., with three fenders attached to it. We really were not going to scratch
any rocks, but we did annoy an incoming fishing boat as our line was halfway across the bay. So I was told off to row
back whilst he reparked. What happened was not my fault, I was gathering up 80m of heavy rope and 3 fenders,
watching him re-anchoring, and a rock bit the dinghy. It was a sharp little bit just below the surface, and the dinghy
went “psssssssssssssssssssss”. Uh oh I thought. I started rowing out towards the
boat , he was still anchoring, so I shouted calmly , “ I’m sinking’ , “what” , “I’m
sinking”, “ go back , you’re a hazard “, “I’m effing sinking”.
By the time he had re-anchored, I only had half a dinghy, the seat had collapsed,
and one oar and the other half were under water. Of course, the boat wasn’t near
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Parking is such sweet sorrow contd
to where I had tied on, so I had to paddle half a dinghy back with one hand clutching miles of rope and
fenders, to find another rock to tie to. “Not that one, that one there is better”, he shouted. Me “(deleted) “
When I finally got back, he was very concerned. Not about me. “My god” he said, “ it’s an enormous
gash”,(less than a centimetre actually). “It’s irreparable, it’s too close to the towing point , it needs a
specialist, we’ll have to go back to Lefkas”. We did. The dinghy repair man was very happy to agree it was
almost irreparable. He arrived with his little repair outfit, explained the intricate process involved, and
charged 85 euros. Nice chap. He told me “my brother has a boat” ! Now I definitely remember that movie.
Penny Blackmore Smith
Climate Change Group
Headlines come and go but the largely unreported world is changing around them.
President Trump wants to encourage more oil and coal extraction as well as banning the use of
the phrase Climate Change in publicly funded education. Meanwhile in the USA, electricity
from solar panels is set to overtake coal and coal mines are closing. The Chinese, for so long the
baddies in producing so many carbon emissions from coal and oil, (and many people’s excuses
for delaying the steps we need to take) are likely to become the first major economy to reach net
zero.
Closer to home big changes are planned to local government in Sussex but will the climate be
changing, and will we better prepared while local government stops doing anything positive to
reorganises itself? Yes, we know the answer to that question!
If you’re someone who wants to know more about what is really going on in the world of
climate change and discuss it with others, please come and join our group. And if you want to
take part in local initiatives relating to climate change, we organise events locally working with
Transition Town Chichester. The next initiative is a Green Energy Fun Day on Saturday 14th
June - see the Festival of Chichester Programme or look at details on our website:
:https://www.transitionchichester.org/green-energy-fun-day/
Colin McKenna
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Members Stories Page 26
FLINT POINT
When my stepdaughter’s grandmother died, aged 102, Lucy
found this flint point in a drawer when she was clearing the
house. Knowing our interest in “old” things, she gave it to us.
Over the years it has been on display on a chest amongst our
collection of interesting things. On our travels we have seen a
number of similar flint points in museums in Europe and
North Africa and decided to try to find out more. Googling
produced many similar images but apart from references to
grey/green flints found in mountains in France and Austria,
we were none the wiser.
We decided to ask the Curator at Fishbourne Roman Palace, Rob, for his opinion and David Bone (Chair of
the Friends of Fishbourne Roman Palace and a flint expert) happened to be there. They both agreed it was a
flint, not English and quite old and suggested we contact the British Museum.
Imagine our amazement when just a day after sending this photo of the flint to a generic British Museum
email address, we received a reply from the Keeper of Britain, Europe and Prehistory, Jill Cook, herself,
saying she would love to see it and could we bring it in to the Museum.
British Rail intervened and it was not until the middle of June that we finally met Jill Cook to show her our
carefully wrapped “inheritance”.
We explained all we knew about the provenance of our flint, including the fact that Lucy’s Grandfather had
lived in British Honduras (now Belize) and wondered if it might have originated in Central/South America.
Jill Cook quickly disabused us of this fanciful notion and explained that its origins were closer to home. She
said she had wondered, when she saw the photos, if it was one of a known hoard of flint points dating from
18,000 BC, the whereabouts of some were still unknown. It wasn’t. We felt so sorry to have raised her
expectations.
However, she was very complimentary about our flint. She said it was Neolithic (8000 years old), probably
made in the Normandy or Brittany, areas of what is now France by the earliest settled farming communities.
It was made from grey Chert in a Laurel leaf shape. As it was never used and is beautifully crafted, Jill
suggested it was possibly a ceremonial offering. We feel very fortunate to be custodians of a small piece of
ancient history.
Heather Smith
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Members Stories
John Muro Our Oldest member reaches 95
This is Johns story "You’ve got a lot of anger in you," remarked a fellow
student during coffee break. Me? I thought I was a mild-
mannered man. At the time I was on a social work course
at the age of 45. I’ve had four careers; I started off in
advertising, followed by publishing. Then, after a midlife
crisis, I became a social worker. Finally, best of all, I
became publisher for the social work department of West
Sussex County Council
I’d had a rocky start in life, and I turned to social work not
because it needed me, but because I needed social work to
help sort myself out. I was conceived in Paris, born in New
York and raised in Surrey. My mother was an actress, she was
performing at the English Theatre in Paris and also modelling for a
Russian sculptor. One day a lawyer came into his studio to
commission a bust of himself, he saw my mother, was
immediately smitten, and so I came into this world. My mother, pregnant, unmarried
and ostracised by her family, made her way from Paris to New York in the hope of
finding work and probably a husband. Failing on both fronts she returned crestfallen
to England, with me just a few months old.
My mother had found it difficult to bond with me in New York and when we got to
England she handed me over to a foster mother. Mrs P was good with babies but as I
grew older, she made it clear that she didn’t like me. Life was not easy as we didn’t
have visitors, and I could never bring a friend home. There were no books or music.
The only programmes we listened to were the news at six and at nine and on
Saturday evenings 'In Town Tonight.' Later there was ITMA and Arthur Askey’s show.
Somehow, I seemed to do everything wrong and was constantly belittled and
criticised. I felt unloved and unwanted – just one of many millions of babies who had
been unintended.
But a great joy was joining the Scouts. I learnt the scout law and can still remember
the jingle: trusty, loyal, helpful, brotherly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
pure in body and mind. Baden Powell, the founder, set my moral compass.
But trouble was ahead as I got to the stage of answering back. Again and again, I
was told to clear out. I’d pull my suitcase out from under my bed and start packing
my belongings. Where would I go? God knows, but always Mrs P would finally relent
(no doubt my mother’s 25 shillings per week helping to change her mind – it paid the
rent).
One day I was in the kitchen and Mrs P was reading a letter from my mother and her
new partner. They had paid for a place in a boarding school for me in Devon– co-
educational Dartington Hall. Mrs P said "if you want to go there with your mother’s
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
foreign friends, after all I’ve done for you and sacrificed, don’t feel you can come back
here anymore." I was 14 and although I wanted to , I feebly complied with her. She
insisted that I write and tell my mother I didn’t want to see her any more. Strangely,
my mother never came down to challenge that decision. Somehow I had never told
her how very unhappy I was. It seems that children put up with what’s going on,
when they shouldn’t.
Naturally the 25 shillings each week stopped coming and Mrs P insisted I got a job to
pay my way. So off to the Labour Exchange where I found a job with the biggest
advertising agency in London in Berkeley Square as a routing boy at £2 a week. At
last National Service provided a route out of grey North Cheam and the RAF brought
me release, cheerful companionship and the warm sunshine of Egypt.
The life of work has been fulfilling for me; my careers in advertising, social work and
publishing for the local authority have given me stability, purpose and social
interaction. As a young man I became involved with Moral Re-Armament, the
international moral and spiritual movement started by Frank Buchman. MRA’s
emphasis on honesty, purity, unselfishness and love gave meaning to my life, as had
the scouts’ law when I was a lad.
When I was 23 a strong urge impelled me to try and find my mother and apologise to
her for breaking away. She embraced me with open arms and really tried after that to
make up for what she failed to do early on. But my loveless childhood had left its
scars. Intimate relationships were difficult for me and while I had plenty of friends, I
was not able to commit to a long term relationship and to marriage. This I know had
a serious impact on the women that I was involved with. So, I never had children. I
had wanted to be the perfect father I never had. Instead, I was asked to be
godfather to six different children.
And yes, as my fellow student had remarked, I had a lot of anger in me. However,
when I was in my 70’s I was persuaded to invent a correspondence with my two
mothers and my unknown father. My letters to them were the usual litanies of
resentment and recrimination, but the responses I wrote on their behalf surprised
even me: my mother told me to get over it; my
foster mother told him how hard times had been; my
father just sent me his love.
A further development came after a friend did some
sleuthing on ancestry.com. So on my 80th birthday,
a Saturday, in came an email with a photo of my
father, long dead and the address of a nephew in
Paris. As I stood up in church the next morning, I
experienced a wonderful closing of my two families
and felt a whole man for the first time.
Last month I celebrated my 95th birthday with cards and two large birthday cakes.
But the best present was my friend accompanying me to Paris for two nights last
week. We spent a very enjoyable evening with my French nephew and visited the
rejuvenated Notre Dame. What a wonderful experience! The thought struck me how
even the most severe devastation can be healed and made whole. I wonder what
adventures lie round the corner…...
If you would like to read more about John’s life you can download his memoir ‘Calm
Before Coffee’ for free from calmbeforecoffee.com
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Members Stories
Embracing The Unknown
60 may be just a number, but I found myself dwelling a lot on the past and the future and not on the
present. It took this turning of the new decade to realise that if I didn’t do the ‘inter-railing’ I always felt I
missed out on when younger, then I never would.
No sooner had this thought occurred, when the stars aligned, giving me a totally free 20 days in March.
No excuses. Now to plan – no wait, the whole idea is to step into the unknown, so no heading to France and
Spain where I can comfortably converse. No no no! No planning – or very little.
Having said this, I did plan certain elements. As a hobby potter, I have long wanted to visit DiLuca
Ceramics in Urbino, northern Italy to learn about saggar firing. So, I booked a course, four days of
accommodation, and a flight to Bologna. I also wanted to spend some time in
Montenegro. No direct flights back from there in March, and the railway service was
going to take five days I would rather spend exploring, so I booked a flight back
from Dubrovnik. The bit in the middle – yes, I hada rough plan. And the day before
leaving I booked a proper ‘dangling in a cave’ experience in Divaca.
So, with great trepidation (and more than a little anxiety, and just 5kg of carry on
luggage, a backpack, 2000 euro budget, I caught an evening flight to Bologna for my
first home stay (where you have a room in a local house).
Lovely chat with my host over breakfast who gave me the heads up on the buses in Italy (purchase tickets
from a local café before boarding) and I was off by bus, train and bus to Urbino and my clay course. I met
some great people on the course – I was the only Brit and we were truly a European group. Lots of fun. My
pots were being posted back to the UK and I travelled on with two of the course to Padua, arriving during
the opening of the Tomb of St Antonio. So many nuns kissing relics!
And also home to the Aperol Spritz. From there I continued solo for a day/night in Trieste coinciding with
the worst rains in recent history. I was soaked. Everything I had was soaked. I booked a
hotel for the next stop in the hope of drying off. It was in Trieste,
in the rain, that I randomly met a lady from Rome who remembers
working with me back in 1992. Unbelievable. The following day I
crossed into Slovenia. By Italian train to the middle of nowhere,
where it stops and the conductor escorts you across the tracks to an
old single-track train on Slovenian soil. I arrived in Divaca (in the
rain) to learn my caving experience had been cancelled. The whole reason for
arriving. Truly a low point emotionally. Until a lovely local guy agreed (via google
translate) to drive me 25 mins to Scokjan Caves. This is a UNESCO site and was amazing, especially as the
underground waterfall was rising so fast that the day after they shut the caves on safety grounds. The 850
steps coming out nearly killed me! But the hotel dried all my clothes in their dryer.
I moved on to Ljubljana, the capital, the next day and ended up staying put for four days, simply because I
couldn’t work out how to get to Montenegro from there over a weekend when there was no direct public
transport. Not a bad place to stay as it’s a really interesting and small capital city with lots of sculpture and
art – right up my street. I took a coach day trip to Predjama Castle (built into the rocks, home of Erasmus)
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
and then Postojna Caves which was like a Disney event with a train ride but none the less
interesting. These caves got electricity in 1884, five years before the capital did. Slovenia is a
lovely country, very clean and green (in colour as well as ecological practices) and the people are so lovely. I intend to
go back and explore more another time.
I decided to short cut my way to Montenegro with an early flight to Belgrade (Serbia)
and then another later flight to Podgorica (Montenegro). I booked four days in an
apartment with a washing machine for 26 euro per night. Cheap in March. Serbia uses
the Dinar, not the Euro, don’t take contactless, nor cards in many places so it was a dry,
hungry three hour visit..
Montenegro is a stunning country. It has snowy mountains and amazing gorges – none
of which I got to see without a car – I did try to hire one, it was a nightmare, avoid Avis
at all costs. It has the most amazing lakes and wildlife. And potentially lovely beaches if you ignore all the
building waste piled up everywhere. And lots of protected UNESCO sites.
The train was an old diesel engine that you strolled along/across the tracks to get. I needed to time my
arrivals because out of the capital, the station names were in their local script which I couldn’t read, and
people were VERY unhelpful. Hatted and suited conductors on the trains and stations which only ran a
couple of times a day and were very cheap. These are trains prior to the slam door, window down to open
from outside type. The whole door opens on a plate from outside and you jump a long way down onto the
rails if there is no platform. Lake Skadar was my favourite place of the whole visit. The air is so clean, and I
had a lovely hike there.
I also had an interesting bus ride to visit the Ostreg monastery. Unhelpful station staff told me which bus to
get. Unhelpful driver shoo’ed me off the bus by the side of a dual carriageway, the Monastery clearly in the
distance. I walked down the slip road to the local town and managed to get a lift (in a Mercedes) up the hill
for 20 euro – much genuflecting at every view of the building. This lovely chap waited whilst I visited for a
couple of hours and drove me back dropping me on the opposite side of the dual carriageway. I was feeling
very nervous at this point, but a bus came along– and stopped! – just 10 mins later.
A friend joined me for the last four days – nice to speak English again especially to a native. We took a boat
ride from Kotor to Lady of the Rock and Perast, but it was too wet and slippery to climb the fort. We also
had some great meals and local wine.
The crossing from Montenegro back into the EU (Croatia) was an argument of stamping passports – we
travelled on a 32-seater public bus, no toilets, 4 ½ hours but we did manage to get the
driver to stop in a layby near the airport in Dubrovnik for a 10euro ‘tax’ rather than
have to catch another bus from the town centre.
I learnt so much about myself on the visit. That I can be self-sufficient. That I really
enjoy planning just a day ahead and seeing how things pan out. And that I am
stronger and more able than I think. I have come back a lot more relaxed. Maybe it is
the realisation that without the present there is no future, so I seem to be able to enjoy
each day and what it brings without getting stressed and anxious about what might have been.
And of course, planning the next visit . . . Karen Griffin
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Meeting my older self
A short story by Rosie Spiers
She was a little plump around the hips, her skin was prone to spots
and her long mousy hair inclined to greasiness.
On her sixteenth birthday, Sally was fed up. All her friends had
boyfriends and went on about them all the time. Sally hated being
the gooseberry and having to politely look away when Jackie and
the drip snogged at the bus stop every morning. Sally would have
liked a boyfriend, but all the decent ones were taken, just leaving
Smelly Brian. To be fair, Smelly Brian was very keen on Sally, but
the sentiment was not returned. Sally had her eye on Will, a tanned,
muscular rugby player who was staying on to do the Oxbridge
exams. Naturally Will had never cast a single glancein Sally’s
direction.
So, on this auspicious day on the cusp of womanhood, Sally wandered into the park. The sun was beating
down as she settled on a bench by the boating lake. After a while she started to feel sleepy, and through her
half-closed eyes she was aware of a succession of women walking past her.
The first looked to be in her mid-twenties. Her skin was clear, and her shiny hair was cut into an expensive
bob. She was slim and well-dressed, and her confident walk emanated success.
The second woman, bearing a remarkable likeness to the first, was pushing a bonny baby in a pram and a
pretty little girl skipped along beside her. The woman looked a little fraught, but the children radiated
happiness.
Next came a middle-aged woman who was frowning and seemed to be having an argument with the person
on the other end of her mobile phone. Sally heard her say, “I’ve had enough of your lies.”
Following this unhappy scene was yet another woman. This one seemed very familiar to Sally, she looked a
bit like her granny. She had grey hair and her face was lined, but she had a serenity about her, which wafted
over Sally as the woman passed, and she felt a kind of peace.
Thinking she must be seeing things now, the next woman was like an even older version of Sally’s granny.
She had glasses, was a little bent over and walking with two sticks. “Do you mind if I join you?”
This jolted Sally into sitting up straight. She shifted along a bit and nodded to the space on the bench beside
her. The old lady’s voice was high and quavery.
“I’m weary you see, I can’t walk the distances I used to be able to, and my eyes water so in this wind. These
poor old bones aren’t going to hold out much longer. But I don’t mind, I’ve had a good life, dear.” The
woman settled herself and carefully leaned her sticks against the arm of the bench. Sally felt her staring at
her. “Why do you look so glum my dear? All your life ahead of you and you look so sad on this sunny day.”
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Sally wasn’t sure she wanted to tell this old biddy why she was so fed up, but the kindness
in her voice had touched something in her. Besides, she was so like her granny. “It’s my
birthday and I feel like my life is going nowhere.”
“Oh, do you indeed? And what makes you think that?”
“I just can’t get a boyfriend and I’m the only girl in my class that has never been kissed.” To Sally’s distress
the old lady let out a peal of laughter.
“It’s not funny.” Sally exclaimed. She made to get up,
she wasn’t going to stick around to be made fun of.
“Oh, no, it’s not funny now, of course it’s not. And
believe me, I know. But just you wait. Once you get
away from home and out into the world your eyes will
be opened my dear, your horizons will expand and all
sorts of chances will come your way.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to settle down with the
first man who asks you. It won’t end well.”
“Huh, I don’t reckon anyone will ever want to marry
me.”
“Well, I guarantee they will. Children will come along too, and then you will find out what true love really
is, and you will find then that love flows down and love multiplies. And true love asks for nothing in return.
Those children will be the treasures of your life.”
Sally wasn’t sure about all this advice. She hadn’t thought as far ahead as children, since that would require
a boyfriend first, and that was where she was stuck.
The old woman was off again. “Men,” she said, “are all very well. Very attractive when you are young and
full of hormones, and of course you want those babies, but mark my words, they become harder and harder
to fathom. No doubt they’d say the same about us, but I reckon they don’t get over coming second once a
woman has a baby. Then they hit fifty and all hell breaks loose.”
Sally thought about her dad. He’d just bought a motorbike and announced to the family that they had all let
him down and he was leaving. Sally’s little brother had been more upset than Sally. She was just glad the
rows had stopped, and the house was peaceful.
“Mid-life crisis, late-life crisis, call it what you like, although I’d say childish and selfish, who knows? What
I do know is, once you’ve got used to being on your own it’s like a liberation.” Sally had lost the thread of
what the old woman was rabbiting on about. Suddenly, an arthritic hand grasped Sally’s. Sally was so
shocked she turned to face the woman. When the two pairs of blue eyes met, they melded into one another,
and the next instant Sally was alone on the bench.
In her head she heard, “Go and have fun, and don’t take yourself too seriously. All will be well.”
Rosie Spiers Writing for fun group
Page 32
The sun was beating down as she
settled on a bench by the boating
lake. After a while she started to
feel sleepy, and through her half-
closed eyes she was aware of a
succession of women walking
past her.
Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Around Chichester
New Park – A Community Hub at
the Heart of Chichester
Celebrating 50 years of creativity, connection and lifelong learning
Located in the heart of Chichester, New Park Centre
has long stood as a vibrant example of community
spirit. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year,
the centre remains true to the values it shares with the
University of the Third Age, promoting lifelong
learning, creativity and meaningful social connection
for improved health and wellbeing. Like U3A
members, New Park knows that keeping the brain
engaged and social engagement is key to a fulfilling
life at any age. Whether it’s discovering a new passion,
developing skills or simply connecting with others, the
centre offers opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.
For nearly five decades, New Park has provided a warm, inclusive space that
welcomes people from all walks of life. Home to an Olympic-standard dojo, a
much-loved auditorium and cinema, as well as a range of versatile studios and
event rooms, the centre is the ideal venue for hosting regular meetups, classes or
community groups. Offering over 100 activities each week, from creative
writing, salsa dancing and drawing to martial arts, mindfulness and Qigong; New
Park is a place where curiosity is celebrated and connection is at the heart of
everything. Members of U3A are warmly invited to explore existing sessions,
discover new interests, or even
launch a group of their own within the centre’s dynamic and
supportive environment
Centre Manager Allison McDonald-Hughes explains: “New
Park is more than just a venue. It’s a place where people
come to feel part of something. Whether that’s through
learning a new skill, getting involved in the arts or simply having fun together. There’s a real sense of
belonging here.”
This year marks an exciting new chapter as New Park Centre launches its Golden Jubilee celebrations. With
a packed programme of events running throughout the year, there are countless ways for the community to
join in.
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Highlights include The Heart of New Park Festival in June and July, a community Time Capsule project, an
interactive exhibition sharing stories from the past 50 years and a big anniversary celebration in September
featuring performances and demos from the many groups who use the centre.
Bob Long, Head of Trustees, says: “For 50 years, New Park has been a space for people to connect, create,
and celebrate. As we reflect on our history, we’re also looking ahead and inviting the community to be part
of our next chapter.”
Whether you're looking to learn something new, meet like-minded people, or find a venue for your own
group or activity, now is the perfect time to discover what New Park has to offer.
Find out more and see the full calendar of events including our Golden
Jubilee celebrations: www.newparkcentre.org.uk.
Allison McDonald-Hughes New park Centre Manager
Chichester Living
U3A member, Vicki Meddows-Smith has launched a new community web
resource, Chichester Living (www.chichesterliving.com).This is a refreshing
guide to what is happening in the Chichester area, with content added by the
residents themselves. Its aim is to bring charities, businesses, artists,
performers and solopreneurs all together in one space to provide one
comprehensive resource. It is completely free of charge to submit an event,
press releases or suggestions for the blog. Regular newsletters form an
integral part of the offering and as well as featuring items on the site will
contain recommendations and little nuggets of information about living in the
beautiful Chichester area.
You can explore the site and to sign up for the newsletters
at https://chichesterliving.com/subscriptions. You are also invited to share
local events by completing the form via the ’Suggest an Event’ link at the
base of the home page. Press releases and ideas for inclusion in the blog can
be sent to info@chichesterliving.com.
.
Vicki Meddows-Smith
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Around Chichester
Easily the country’s most successful regional theatre’
is a typical accolade for Chichester Festival Theatre.
Situated in West Sussex’s cathedral city the Festival Theatre’s bold
thrust stage design makes it one of England’s most striking
playhouses – equally suited to epic drama and musicals. The studio
theatre, the Minerva, is particularly noted for premieres of new
work alongside intimate revivals. It was a 1959 television
programme about Tyrone Guthrie’s Theatre Festival in
Stratford Ontario – a Canadian town with the same sized
population as Chichester – that spurred a local dentist,
Leslie Evershed-Martin to found a theatre for his own
community. His crowning coup was to secure the services
of Laurence Olivier as CFT’s first Artistic Director.
Following the Stratford model, the architects Powell and
Moya developed Britain's first modern thrust stage theatre, combining elements of ancient Greek, Roman
and Elizabethan theatres, and seating 1300 people. 1989 saw the opening of the 300-seat Minerva Theatre,
with Sam Mendes, now an Oscar-winning director, as its first Artistic Director.
While the inaugural 1962 festival ran for just nine weeks, CFT is now open year-round. The summer Festival
season runs from April to October, during which all productions originate at Chichester; countless shows have
transferred to the West End or toured nationally and internationally over the past six decades. During the
Winter season the Theatre presents high-class touring drama, music and comedy, and a traditional Christmas
show by the renowned Youth Theatre.
Festival 2025 includes five world and two UK premieres, two musicals, and
masterpieces from world drama. This year’s eagerly anticipated summer musical
will be Irving Berlin’s classic tap extravaganza Top Hat, filling the stage with
elegance, glamour and swing, and some of Hollywood’s greatest songs: Cheek to
Cheek, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat White Tie and Tails and Puttin’
on the Ritz. Directed and choreographed by multi Tony and Olivier Award-winner
Kathleen Marshall, it runs from 14 July – 6 September.
Lucinda Morrison Head of P & P CFT
Devotees of classic drama should check out screen and stage star Natalie Dormer in
Tolstoy’s sweeping masterpiece Anna Karenina (7 – 28 June); powerful modern
classic Lord of the Flies (19 September – 11 October); and Chichester’s first ever
production of Hamlet, with Olivier Award winner Giles Terera (6 September – 4
October). Visit cft.org.uk for the full season.
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Around Chichester
The Return of the Oyster
In February 60 volunteers from the Friends of Chichester Harbour gathered at Portsmouth University’s Institute of
Marine Sciences to scrub 4000 Native Oysters. Their aim was to clean them for biosecurity, ready to be introduced to
the waters of Emsworth Yacht Harbour.
The oysters are being introduced as part of the Return of the
Oyster project, a community-led initiative supported by The
friends of Chichester Harbour and is spearheaded by
“Harbour Oysters” - sisters Poppy and Lottie Johns from
Emsworth.
The purpose is to improve water quality and boost biodiversity
within the area, and with 4000 oysters it is Europe’s largest
marina-based oyster restoration project. Supported by the Blue
Marine Foundation, the introduction of the oysters will also
boost oyster larvae within Chichester Harbour, which will have
significant benefits for a planned restoration of an oyster reef
within the harbour through the Solent Seascape Project later
this year.
“Following our successful pilot phase last year, the 4,000
oysters have been installed at Emsworth Yacht Harbour.” says
Poppy. “Here they will naturally filter and improve the water quality.”
“A single mature oyster can filter up to 150 litres of water per day – significantly improving water quality and clarity.”
adds Lottie. “The European Osterea edulisis endemic to Emsworth and has been a keystone species in our natural
environment and part of our local heritage well before Romans came to area. However, since the 1700s – due to
overfishing, disease and pollution – stocks have been depleted by over 95%. As well as cleaning up the waters, we
hope our oysters will act as
broodstock to help support the rehabilitation of local native populations.”
Oysters and Emsworth’s Heritage
The ‘Return of the Oyster’ project will also help to articulate and re-energise a key aspect of Emsworth’s heritage,
recalling how the town was pre- eminent in the UK oyster trade in the late 18 th century. A reported 24,000 oysters
were said to have been dredged on a single tide in 1760, and the Emsworth Museum has a gallery dedicated to how the
town became increasingly known for its oyster bounty. Moored at Emsworth Yacht
Harbour today is the beautifully restored Oyster Boat Terror – the last example of an open-decked working sail boat
from that period – which has undergone an extensive restoration and now takes passengers on trips around the harbour
from May to September each year.
Keep up to date with nature recovery work in Chichester
Harbour at www.conservancy.co.uk
Kate L’Amie
Communications and Engagement
Officer
Chichester Harbour Nature Recovery
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
Around Chichester
FESTIVAL OF CHICHESTER 2025
This year the Festival of Chichester will be 5 fabulous weeks of fun and
learning across the community from plays to talks, music to walks, art to
workshops and all kinds of summer entertainment.
This year is BIG with more than 130 individually organised events,
packed with both local talent and big names from further afield.
The Festival for summer 2025 is particularly special in many ways.
The festival joins the Cathedral in celebrating Chichester 950, with the
Trinity Fest on the Green on 15 June as the official festival launch.
The inspiring Children’s Bookfest charity has curated a mini-series of
events with children’s authors plus a fundraiser, featuring media
personality, Rev Richard Coles.
The fabulous New Park Centre, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has also
put together a series of taster classes and workshops. The fun-filled City Gala hosted by Chichester City
Council in Priory Park features as a partner event. There’s an artists’ weekend showcasing local creativity
and you can unleash your inner artist with a workshop drawing live alpacas!
If you fancy learning something new why not try a taster session for tap dance, musical theatre, flamenco or
even belly dancing?
Join one of the many walking tours to learn more about your city or walk for charity and help St Wilfrid’s
Hospice with their annual Moonlight Walk. You can immerse yourself in nature at Brandy Hole Copse or
Kingley Vale as well as several outdoor events to highlight eco-
friendly initiatives.
Enjoy outdoor theatre at West Dean or the Cathedral or for
something completely different, book in for the Cabaret Club at
Oaklands Pavilion.
And all this is on top of another fabulous summer of music to
suit every taste in a variety of venues in and around the city.
Music events from around the world: choral, chamber,
orchestral and jazz featuring a wide range of performers and instruments..
You can access this year’s programme from www.festivalofchichester.co.uk or pick up a brochure from
The Novium at New Park.
Vicki Meddows-Smith
The festival joins the
Cathedral in celebrating
Chichester 950, with the
Trinity Fest on the Green on
15 June as the official festival
launch.
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Chichester U3A News Spring 2025
FILM FESTIVAL
9TH TO 25TH AUGUST 202
Each summer, the Chichester International Film Festival brings the best in cinema
from the UK and abroad to the south coast of England. Featuring an outstanding
variety of films and talks, including UK premieres and previews, retrospectives on the
world’s best filmmakers, treasures from the archives, and an exciting array of special
events such as filmmaker Q&A’s, open-air screenings and silent films accompanied by
live music.
The Chichester International Film Festival was launched in 1992 as the representation
of the art of film at the Festival of Chichester, a summer programme of the arts in the
city.
Roger Gibson (pic right) programmed every edition
from the festival’s inception until 2023, and saw the
event grow from 29 films in one location, to 150
films in seven locations. These have included open
air screenings in Priory Park, classic silent films with
live musical accompaniment in the gothic St. John’s
Chapel, 35mm screenings at Slindon Cinema, special
screenings at Chichester Cathedral, and drive-in screenings in the city centre.
After 31 years, the founder and Artistic Director of the Chichester International Film
Festival - Roger Gibson - passed on the baton to Walter Francisco.
Walter had been Roger's right-hand man since he joined the Festival in 2003, so with
a 20-year apprenticeship.
Walter delivered a super exciting programme of films for the 2024 Festival,
highlighted by the expansion into new venues in the area.
Look out for some more innovation in 2025, underpinned by a selection of quality new
and classic cinema.
Film Directors, Actors, Writers, Composers and Critics
have visited over the years and given talks during the
festival, raising both the profile of the event and of
course, the quality. These include Sir Alec Guinness,
Steven Poliakoff, Kathleen Turner, Ken Russell, Mike
Leigh, Kerry Fox, Ronald Harwood, Daniel Brühl, Elaine
Paige, Michael Winterbottom, John Lithgow, David Hare,
Nick Moran, Derek Jacobi, Virginia MacKenna, Carl Davis,
Steve Coogan, Phyllis Logan, Timothy Spall and Ralph Fiennes to name a few.
Anne-Marie Flynn Executive Director Chichester Cinema
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