To join a group please contact the group leader to check on vacancies and programme.
To join a proposed group speak to Enid, Groups Co-ordinator at the Monthly Meeting or contact the group leader.
To suggest new ideas for groups speak to Enid at the Monthly Meeting.
Would group leaders please keep Enid informed of any changes to the information given above.
Associate Members should contact Enid for information concerning groups. a

Art & Collectables

Our enthusiastic group of 14 members has continued to enjoy visits and meetings in members' homes. In the autumn Paul Langton, the Chairman of the Esher Local History Society, gave us a fascinating talk and PowerPoint presentation on "The Golden Age of Postcards". The first British postcard was dated 1 October 1870 although picture postcards were not available until 1894.

Cards painted by Louis Wain (who died a pauper) are now highly collectable. His cat cards sell at a minimum of £15 and can reach £50, depending on the condition. At our November meeting Tony Roberts kindly stepped in at short notice to give us a very informative talk and live demonstration on how to buy and sell our items on eBay.

In January Bob Hepworth gave us a brief history of our postage stamps. We learned that, in a reform of an unpopular postal system, the cost of postage was set at a uniform rate of 1d per half-ounce to anywhere in the British Isles.  The Penny Black, the world's first official adhesive postage stamp, was issued on the 1 May 1840 for use from the 6 May. The Penny Black is not a rare stamp (68 million were printed).  In those days it was usual for a letter to be written on one side of a sheet of paper, folded, sealed and the stamp and address written on the reverse, thus if the letter was kept the stamp would be kept too.  The Twopenny Blue was issued on 8 May 1840. Collectors prize these more than the Penny Black.  The stamps were initially not perforated but had to be cut with scissors; perforations were introduced in 1854.

In March we were invited by Ann Wickham to view the Guildford Cathedral Treasury.  Ann gave a very informed talk on the pieces kept in the Cathedral on behalf of the churches in the Diocese.  It was interesting to learn that the oldest piece was a 12th century bronze Censer Top belonging to All Saints Church, Little Bookham.

Diary dates:

16 May - Antique Maps
20 June - Visit - preview of Summer Antiques & Fine Art sale
18 July - Visit Watts Gallery, Compton
15 Aug - Visit - V&A The Sacred Silver & Stained Glass Galleries
19 Sept - Jewellery
17 Oct - Staffordshire Flatback pottery
21 Nov - Coins

(No meeting in December) Members outside our group will be welcome to join us in our visits/outings and are asked to contact me by the end of June, in case the date and meeting times have been changed.

Marilyn

Art Appreciation

We started off the year by having a lunch at La Meridiana in East Horsley to which the Music Appreciation group also came.

In the absence of the Group Organiser Bryan ably led the group through a February afternoon of watching a video on the artist William Hogarth before a visit to the Hogarth Exhibition at the Tate Britain in March.

Our next meeting in April will be to visit the Renoir Exhibition in London.

Jenny

Art & Mixed Media 1

The Art - Mixed Media Group 1 has arranged another Oil Painting Tutorial on 30th August to paint a waterfall In Effingham.

As before, all materials will be provided.  Cost  for the day will be about £40 but please bring a packed lunch. 

Anyone outside our group is welcome to join us for the day - please contact me.

Margaret

Art & Mixed Media 2

Now the warm weather is getting more likely, we can soon think of painting outdoors again. We mainly find something interesting in the garden (so that it is easy to retreat indoors if it rains or is just too hot) but sometimes venture further a field. We use mainly watercolours, pastels, crayons, pencils or ink, but have avoided oils as being a bit too messy to cope with in each others houses!

Janet

Afternoon Tea Dance Ballroom Dancing Group Saturday, 27th January 2007

What a ball we had! Thirty of us spent the afternoon putting into practice our dance steps in the beautiful ballroom at The Grange Centre. Everyone took to the floor in their finery as the music played – the waltz, quickstep, rumba, cha cha cha and jive all featured – though there was some insecurity with the tango and fox trot! (more lessons needed!) We enjoyed some progressive dances, where we had the opportunity to greet and dance with everyone there. During the afternoon we sat to rest our legs and to devour a delicious tea, to which we had all contributed. Many thanks from us all to Enid for organising such a great occasion, (one to be repeated please Enid) and to Brenda, Yvonne and friends for all their help during the afternoon. Last, but by no means least – thanks to Vi, our teacher, whose instruction, enthusiasm and patience at our monthly sessions are much appreciated and who led and provided the music for our Tea Dance.

Jo

Birds in Surrey

This is a new group which had it's first meeting on 13th March.

The following meetings will be:

10th April 2pm Members will be going to The Mill Pond in Fetcham to see the wild fowl.
8th May 2pm Meet at Car Park by tunnel near Bookham Station for a walk on Common.
12th June 2pm Headley Heath Car Park by tea caravan

Linda

Card Craft

We are enjoying making our cards of all types of craft some easier than others. Mutterings of frustration can be heard at times along with a lot of laughs. Everyone turns out really beautiful cards with very few failures and these are put down to experience.

In the summer we will be having a free afternoon whereby everyone is left to create their own design, should be interesting to see the results.

We will be having a cream tea, followed by a display of the cards in July.

Jan

Computing

In January Keith entertained the Group with a lesson on how to make a presentation with digital photographs using Microsoft Moviemaker. There was as much interest in his pictures as there was in the technique itself. Graham followed in February with an impressive array of kit, including an old record player and showed us how to transform those old 78’s into CD’s that sound perfect on a modern hi-fi. At both meeting there was news of recent developments, like Vista and how to download free software. The next meeting is sometime in April, (date to be communicated by e-mail), when we shall rely on your problems to keep us talking and my Wifi connection to the Net to add interest to the evening. Come prepared.

Tony

Cookery

As a change from our usual meetings sampling lots of new dishes and sharing recipes, we had a visit earlier in the year from a Cordon Bleu cook who talked to us over lunch about her interesting life. She had travelled widely in her career, working in Canada and Australia – and among many jobs she was assistant to Graham Kerr (the galloping gourmet) in his TV series way back. She had lots of interesting anecdotes to relate and she also brought a selection of gadgets and containers, which she found useful to show us.

Diana

Explore London - Walking 1

Since the last newsletter we have continued to venture once a month into “Town”.

January found us exploring Bloomsbury’s 18th C squares and ending up at the vast and impressive British Library where we had lunch before inspecting the Magna Carta as well as numerous original documents written by the likes of William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton and Frederick Handel et al.

February’s outing took the group to hackney but as the writer was in India at the time I cannot report the details!

In March we went to Hampton Court Palace and walked through the park on a very chilly morning before reaching the Thames towpath back to Kingston, through Bushey Park and back to the Palace and the Tiltyard Restaurant for lunch. The heavens opened afterwards so we beat a hasty retreat back to Fetcham.

April’s walk took us across Westminster Bridge and past the Jewel Tower, Smiths Square and the Greycoat Hospital to Westminster Cathedral where we took the lift to the 6th floor and enjoyed a bird’s eye view of London. After lunch at an Italian restaurant we continued with a stroll through St. James Park with the sun shining and a glorious display of spring flowers.

Linda

Explore London - Walking 2

Explore London Walking Group 2 In addition to exploring London, we do, whenever possible, take our lunch break in a pub or inn that has some historic interest and if possible serves “real ale”.

Just two recent visits may be recommended and are worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area. Both are in easy reach of the Inns of court, Soanes museum, Royal College of Surgeons, St Brides and the Silver Vaults – I am happy to supply detailed information to any U3A member on request.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is one of the few pubs in London that can justify the 'Ye Olde' in its name. It was well known in the 17th century and many pubs have previously occupied this site, one of them, the Horn Tavern is recorded in 1538. The earliest incarnation was a guest house belonging to a 13th century Carmelite Monastery, the pub's vaulted cellars are thought to belong to that building. The pub was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt the following year. Approached through a narrow alleyway (Wine Office Court) the Cheese beckons you into a bygone world. By the entrance a board lists the reigns of the 15 monarchs through which this grand old pub has survived. The dark wooden interior is an enchanting warren of narrow corridors and staircases, leading to numerous bars and dining rooms. There are so many, even regulars get confused – Situated in Wine Office Court on the north side of Fleet Street between Fetter Lane and Ludgate Circus.

Cittie of York The site of a pub since the 15th century, the Gray's Inn Coffee Shop was built here in 1695. Coffee was introduced to Britain in the mid 17th century and became the fashionable drink. Many coffee shops were the offshoots of taverns (sound familiar?). They sprang up all over London and sold beer and wine too.

The Coffee Shop was set back from the road, with a garden at the front. This was built upon and after various incarnations and expansions the whole site was redeveloped in the 1920's. What we have today is three distinct bar areas behind a 'Tudor' façade.

The front bar is panelled, dark and comfortable. The cellar bar forms the brick foundations of a much older building. The bar to the rear is both fascinating and unique. In a great church-like hall, under a high pitched roof, a long bar counter sits below large oak vats. These are dwarfed by massive wine vats near the entrance, said to hold 1000 gallons each.

On the opposite wall is a series of small cubicles, like confessionals, where it's easy to imagine lawyers in confidential conversation with their clients. Another unique feature is an ingenious triangular stove (c.1815) which stands in the centre of the bar. It has no visible chimney, the smoke is ducted away below the floor.

Some of the fabric of the pub is older than its rebuild date and it's thought that much of it was recycled from its predecessor. It is certainly one of London's most extraordinary and unique pubs – Situated in High Holborn on the north side between Chancery Lane and Gray’s Inn Road.

One advantage is that the food is very good these days and very reasonable priced due to the large work force in the area and the wish therefore to remain competitive.

Tony & Joan

Family History Group 1

Family History Group 1 This year we are alternating between a visit and a house meeting each month. Consequently we have spent a day at the Family Records Office in Clerkenwell and will be going to the National Archives at Kew in June.

It is a sign of the times that the FRO will be closing next year and moving to Kew because they feel that most people are using the internet to research their ancestors, and the cost of a London Office is too expensive to maintain. I suppose it is not too bad for us as Kew is only 30 minutes away by car. Most of our group use computers but I still like to double check the details in the actual Registers whenever possible - it is frustrating and expensive to order erroneous certificates! This hobby is increasingly popular thanks to BBC and ITV both offering entertaining programmes about celebrities searching for their ancestors - but it’s not as easy as it appears on an edited TV programme!!

John

Family History Group 2

We have formed a liaison with the Family History Group of Leatherhead U3A who are arranging a series of talks by well known personalities within the hobby. The next one will be on Researching First and Second Wold War Records and will be in the Harrison Room, Old Barn Hall, Bookham on Thursday 3rd May at 2.00 pm. The speaker will be Paul Blake BA, Fellow of the Society of Genealogists whose articles appear in the genealogy magazines. Tickets £2.00 including tea and biscuits.

Maybe this isn't of sufficient interest to the general membership and might be published too late to be of any use but other than to say that we are now running very smoothly as a friendly group where all members join in the discussions, it is all that I can offer. We are past the stage of wondering whether Fetcham U3A can support two Family History Groups but still have a few vacancies for beginners and experienced new members.

Neville

French Conversation Group 1

Our discussions have been as varied as usual, generally inspired by articles in La Vie Outre-Manche to which we have subscribed as a group. This excellent magazine, which I would thoroughly recommend to any Francophiles, provides very varied material and members have taken it in turn to choose an article as a ‘point de départ’ for our discussions. It has also kept us up to date with the forthcoming Presidential Elections, which we felt we could not ignore.

On a lighter note, Keith is arranging a repeat of the ‘déjeuner gastronomique’ at Wissant, which many of you enjoyed on our previous visit. This will be on Friday June 29th, with coach travel to the Admiral Benbow restaurant. An apéritif will precede a five course lunch, all accompanied by appropriate wines. Did I say a lighter note? There will be time to work this off with a walk on the beach, before returning via a supermarket stop. The cost will be about £70 depending on numbers. Venez tous!

Anna

French Conversation Group 2

We have continued to meet regularly twice a month to discuss a broad range of subjects. Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to England and the French presidential elections have provided topical material and increased our political vocabulary. We have also enjoyed hearing about members' personal experiences in South Africa, Ireland, Costa Rica, Cyprus and the Baltic countries as well as their accounts of visits to concerts, museums, art galleries, the cinema and Portsmouth Docks.

By the time you read this, Jackie will have rejoined us and we look forward very much to hearing about her work and life at Mayfield, a mission hotel in Kenya, where she has worked for the last three months.

Lesley

Spanish Conversation Group

Spanish Conversation We have almost finished our book, Sueños 2, but most us can only dream of remembering all that it contained! The last unit has been about ecological issues and the effect of out of town shopping centres on local shops; both very relevant issues.

We are not sure where we are going next. We shall probably use Geoffrey’s magazine Puerto del Sol, encouraging members to take turns in presenting a topic from this. Perhaps we shall manage another visit to El Rincon ... the excellent Spanish restaurant at Tattenham Corner. Some of us might even get to Cuba or Madrid!

Anna

German Conversation Group

We are a small group who meet in member's homes once a month for an informal session. Recently the format has been that the group leader has given a brief chat about something 'German', such as 'Christmas' or 'Chimney Sweeps', followed by other members talking about something they have done recently, such as a holiday. This tends to be followed by a general chat among those present. New members are always welcome.

Tom

Industrial Heritage

Forthcoming visits being organised by the Industrial Heritage Group:

Monday 18th June leaving Leatherhead at 9am - RAF Museum, Hendon. Contact Ken

Sunday 1st July leaving Leatherhead at 9am - Crofton Beam Engines at Gt Bedwyn near Marlborough, Wiltshire Contact Lew

Thursday 30th August leaving Fetcham at 8am - Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton near Blandford Forum, Dorset. Contact Tony

Ian

Local History Group

A very enthusiastic Local History Group has recently been inputting and checking data for the local Census and Parish Records data base covering Leatherhead, Fetcham, and Bookham as well as other areas. We are now turning our attention to other projects and liaising with the Leatherhead & District Local History Society and local U3A groups to ensure that all our effort is put into fruitful activities that have not already been done or are in progress. Our aim is to undertake tasks that will add to the general understanding of the history of the Fetcham area, and provide satisfaction to our members by working with topics in which they have a particular interest.

Keith

Music Appreciation Group 1

Music Appreciation Group 1 started this year on a relaxed note with a video of ‘On the Town’ with Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller and Vera Ellen in the main roles.

Poor old Jules Munshin and Betty Garrett who played the third sailor and the third love interest rarely ever get a mention. It’s a shame because without them the story would fall very flat. We all went home singing away to ‘New York, New York’ and some of the other songs in the show. I think it was only last year that Sheila got up a large group of U3A members on one of her wonderful outings to see this show live on stage.

In February we had an evening of Russian composers, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Khachaturian, Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin are just a few of those we all know, but we were introduced this evening to 3 new members of this elite band of Russians, Glinka, Glazunov and Liapounov. After we had heard some of the works of these last three we were all amazed that they were not as well known as the others. I can seriously recommend to our members, to listen to these last 3 composers if they can.

It is amazing to me to think that it is Russia of all countries that seems to produce such a large number of composers. I suppose that in their winters it is the one thing to do when you are stuck inside for so long, just sit at the piano and play a few notes and see what transpires.

In March we watched Charles Hazlewood conducting the St. Martins in the Fields Chamber Orchestra playing bits of the Vivaldi Four Seasons and explain to us what Vivaldi was trying to imitate with each trill and phrase of notes. The birds waking or soaring, the rain splashing, the thunder approaching and lots of other impressions. We are now in the position to understand each of the Four Seasons and what Vivaldi was trying to suggest.

After a tea break we listened to the 10 Greatest Choral Masterpieces as voted for by composers, conductors, performers and others such as John Rutter (composer), Trevor Pinnock (conductor), Sir Willard White (singer) and Richard Baker (Broadcaster). Again Vivaldi was evident with his ‘Gloria’, Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’ and the ‘Requiem’s of Verdi and Faure. But of course some of the greatest had to be ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ (Elgar), ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ (Handel) and ‘Ode to Joy’ (Beethoven). One that I was not expecting to be there though was ‘A Child of our time’ by Tippett. Another piece to recommend to all of our members.

Bryan & Penny

Music Appreciation Group 2

Five members met for our first meeting in March and enjoyed a pot-pourri of piano pieces from Chopin to Gershwin. We agreed to meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month, from 7.30 - 9.30 pm, at members' houses. We would take it in turns to provide a program of their choice., with the expectation that members would join in any discussions/critique of the music, and learn together. Our next meeting on 6th June will be run by Pam who will be presenting music by Beethoven.

Hugh

Needlework Group

The ladies of the Needlework Group are beavering away on their lampshades. We are making a wide range of shades from small and plain all the way up the range to large and pleated, with quite a few variations in-between. We all realise now why good lampshades are so expensive!

As a group, we are going on a visit to Ramster Gardens for the Embroidery Exhibition. There are also some beautiful gardens and most importantly there is a lovely Tea House to refresh ourselves between the two attractions.

Eileen

Renaissance Art

An Evening Course of Renaissance Art from 1480 to 1580

A weekly Art course of 20 lectures with slides will start on 26th September 2007 at 7 pm until 9.30 pm. Sessions will take place at the Fetcham Village Hall and St. Mary's Church Hall Tutor - Leslie Pitcher B.A. (Cambridge) Cost £20 for each group of 10 lessons payable in advance. To secure your place contact Bryan, Treasurer

Bryan

Scrabble for fun

We are approaching our limit of fitting comfortably into each of our members houses. Certainly, if every member turned up on the same night, we would be in trouble. Luckily this hardly ever happens! It occurred to me that someone might be interested in starting a second group, which met during the daytime. Not everyone likes to venture out in the dark. It is a very easy group to run. Basically all the co-ordinator needs to do is make a rota of whose house to meet in, and make sure every one knows. Once the ground rules are agreed it really runs itself. If you would like to discuss this do give me a ring.

Stop Press: Jane has taken up the challenge. Contact Jane for information

Janet

Sunday Lunch Clubs

Both clubs are continuing to meet regularly, one on the first Sunday of the month and the other on the third Sunday, and most members come along quite regularly. We are fortunate in this area to have such a number of nice pubs and restaurants. We have succeeded so far in visiting twenty-nine of them between us and there are many more still to be explored. We find that average prices have been noticeably increasing over the past year and several establishments have been given "make-overs" in accommodation, menu choice and, inevitably, price. Have you noticed this? We are giving such places a miss!

Geoff and Fred

Walking Group One

We started 2007 with a very enjoyable lunch at The Preston Cross Hotel. On our walks so far this year, we have visited Reigate Heath, Ockham Common and walked along the Thames Path to Sunbury Lock. We walk on the 4th Thursday morning each month and always end up at a local hostelry for those who wish.

Future walks planned (with approximate distance) are:

May 24th 4.5 miles Epsom Downs.

Meet at 10am in the car park opposite the Grandstand on Epsom Racecourse (about 8.5 miles from Fetcham). Just before Tattenham Corner, turn right (signposted ‘no vehicles at night’) This takes you left, round part of the racecourse to the large car park. The walk is undulating in places. We should have some good views of the Downs and London. Refreshments afterwards, if required, in the Derby Arms.

28th June 4.5 miles Bushy Park.

Meet at 10am in the Diana Fountain car park (about 11 miles from Fetcham). The walk is flat and we will visit the ponds and the woodland gardens. The walk to be followed by a picnic in the Park, weather permitting. Please bring your own refreshments and something to sit on.

26th July 4.25 miles Wey Navigation & Wisley Golf Course.

Meet at 10am in the furthest car park on Ripley Green - opposite Wyllie and Mar furniture store. (about 8.25 miles from Fetcham) The walk is almost flat. Refreshments afterwards, if required, in The Talbot Hotel, Ripley.

23rd August 3.75 miles Ashtead and Epsom Commons.

Meet at 10am in the ‘Stew Ponds’ car park, Malden Rushett (about 5.7 miles from Fetcham). The walk is almost flat and has plenty of shade from trees, in case it is a hot day! Refreshments afterwards, if required, in the Shy Horse, Malden Rushett.

27th September 4.75 miles Norbury Park and the River Mole.

Meet at 10am at the far end of Bocketts Farm car park. The walk is undulating in places, with fine views at times. Refreshments afterwards, if required, in the Bocketts Farm Tea Room.

Additional details of all the walks and full directions to the starting points are available at monthly meetings, on the U3A website or from Jo & Ernie.

Jo & Ernie

Walking Group Two

After the washing machine has been set going on a Monday morning what better thing is there to do, whilst it churns away, than to go for a walk in the Surrey countryside? A number of those who think so meet at the Lower Shott car park in Bookham at 9.30 a.m. on the third Monday of the month. From there we share cars to the start of our (fairly gentle) walk, usually of about 4 miles. At the end of it some of us have lunch together whilst others, perhaps anxious to start getting the washing dry, return to Bookham. If you want to know more, contact me. Otherwise just turn up on the morning of the walk. Four-legged walkers welcome!

Margaret

Please note that walkers in all groups take part entirely at their own riskl

Wine Appreciation 1

2007 started with a delicious post Christmas meal at La Meridiana in East Horsley. A group of us enjoyed ‘A Taste of Denbies’ evening in March, tasting ten of their wines in the cellars before going up to the Gallery Restaurant for a meal – with a different wine for each of three courses! A taxi home was pretty essential! At our monthly meetings recently we have tasted French and Chilean wines and are looking forward to the annual ‘Taste Wine and Dine’ evening at The Old Barn Hall in April. Also we shall be going to the Hilton Cobham hotel in April for another wine tasting evening and watching the latest ‘Richard and Judy Wine Club’ programmes soon, where this time the focus is on a single grape for each of the six programmes. We are still learning and having fun in the process.

Jo

The main speaker was the UK Head, with contributions from the European Head, who is a local girl. We learned from his opening remarks that 80% of the Australian product is from four companies. Brown Brothers, relatively small, is tucked away in Victoria and has excellent visitor facilities.

The wines were in the £5.00 to £7.00 range and identified by the grape variety. We learned that although wines are blended to give consistency of sugar and flavours they do not mix grape varieties in the same way as say in Bordeaux where the main grapes, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are combined with many others to give individual characteristics to each vintage.

There is a good website www.brownbrothers.com.au which describes the whole range of wines, with a section giving recipes and wines to accompany different dishes. The wines are widely available, certainly in Waitrose and Tesco.

Altogether a very pleasant and entertaining evening. If I had to give a favourite it would be the Pinot Grigio 2006.

Geoff

A summary of Tony’s talk to the Industrial Heritage Group

Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1542, Japan had been mainly influenced by the flow of ideas from mainland China, adopting Chinese writing characters and absorbing Buddhism alongside its own Shinto religion. The Portuguese established a trading station near Nagasaki, introduced firearms and their Jesuit priests set out to seek converts.

Round about 1600 the first Englishman, Will Adams, landed from a Dutch sailing ship at the time the Tokugawa Shogun was bringing order to the country after a civil war. Adams got on so well with the Shogun he never returned to England and Will Adam’s Day is still celebrated in Japan. Shortly after this the Japanese were prohibited on pain of death from travelling out of the country.

Subsequently in 1639 the Portuguese were expelled because of involvement in a Christian uprising and only the Dutch were allowed a trading station on an island off Nagasaki. At the time there was some knowledge of European science gained from the Dutch and interest in microscopes, telescopes and camera obscuras. After these problems with foreigners Japan isolated itself from the world for more than 200 years. Even Stamford Raffles (Governor of Java) of the East India Company and founder of Singapore failed to set up a post in Nagasaki.

However the big shock came when Commander Matthew Perry of the US Navy arrived with seven Kurofune, ships painted black from stem to stern and belching black smoke. They anchored off Kanagawa on New Years Day 1854 with a letter from President Filmore that forced Japan to open its ports for trade and bunkering and was followed by other countries gaining access to ports at Shimoda and Hakodate in Hokkaido. It took five years to negotiate the treaty!

The British not to be left out, sent Lord Elgin, the first British envoy to Japan and he signed the Treaty of Edo on the 26th August 1858 which gave jurisdiction over British nationals, provided for the appointment of diplomats with the right to live in Tokyo and the opening of ports in Hakodate, Kanagawa, Nagasaki and later Kobe. Agents however had to live in a foreign enclave in Yokohama which became the main trading port in the 1860’s.

Later Lord Elgin became the honorary Rector of Glasgow University where he fostered links between Japan and Glasgow, then a centre of steel making, shipbuilding, and the locomotive industries. The Scot Thomas Glover was quick to capitalise on the new Treaty and set up as Trading Agent in Nagasaki and helped to establish the Mitsubishi shipyards. Trade blossomed when P&O opened regular services from Shanghai and Hong Kong to Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama.

There were still restrictions on Japanese travelling outside the country but in 1863 five members of the Choshu clan were smuggled out to attend University College London where they studied chemistry, railway engineering, mining, shipbuilding, surveying and iron-making. One of them, Hirobumi Ito, became Japan’s first prime minister. Several years later another 15 young samurai students were smuggled to the UK by Thomas Glover to attend courses at UCL.

The Treaties required the Japanese to service the ports and provide navigation aids and in 1867 the Scottish firm, David and Thomas Stevenson was contracted by the Japanese Government to build lighthouses. These were no ordinary lighthouses as they had to resist earthquakes but Richard Brunton was up to the task and over seven years built 34 lighthouses, 2 lightships 13 buoys and 3 beacons and in between times introduced road drainage and built the first iron bridge. By 1867 there was strong feeling that the Tokugawa Government was not looking after Japan’s interests well enough and that foreigners were getting too good a deal, what was needed was a national construction programme so Japan could meet the West on equal terms. As a result the ruling Shogun Keiki resigned and Emperor Meiji took control of state affairs and the Meiji Restoration began.

To start with Edo was renamed Tokyo (Eastern capital) and the Government was centralised with western style ministries. Whereas the previous administration had been hostile to change, the Meiji government embraced it. The new emperor decreed “knowledge shall be sort throughout the world” and the Government embarked on a programme of modernisation with missions to Germany, USA, UK and France to learn about technology and education systems. More than half of the advisers engaged in building railways, telegraph lines, mines, bridges, harbours and public works came from Britain.

Between 1870-1878 all aspects of railway construction were under British direction, Edmund Merrell built the first railroad from Yokohama to Tokyo with British rails and rolling stock opening in June 1872. However the Japanese were quick learners and by 1881 the Japanese were building their own locomotives in Kobe’s state owned factory under the supervision of Richard Francis Trevithick, the grandson of Richard Trevithick the inventor of the steam locomotive.

From early on the Japanese recognised the need for engineers and in 1871 they set up an engineering institution that became known as the Imperial College of Engineering. It opened in 1877 with a 25 year old Glaswegian, Henry Dyer as its first Principal and eight British lecturers. Dyer had an impressive CV. He had served an apprenticeship at a foundry and attended evening classes at Anderson College Glasgow now Strathclyde University. In 1868 he won the prestigious Whitworth Exhibition scholarship and went on to a full time academic career at Glasgow University studying engineering and naval architecture. At the Imperial College he introduced a 6 year course based on Professor Rankine’s and Lord Kelvin’s ideas that included the systematic teaching of physics, mathematics, and chemistry combined with practical experience in factories.

Dyer was a confident young man and with the Emperor’s support coped with frequent objections from the Japanese on how to run the College. After 10 years in Japan he returned to Glasgow but never realised his earlier potential, probably because he was not a good committee man. Professor William Ayrton was one of Dyer’s colleagues, and his Chair in Electricity the first in the world. He introduced electricity to Japan and was one of the first to advocate high voltage power transmission. He is famous for lighting one of his lectures using 50 Grove Cells to light an arc lamp. It lasted for only 15 minutes but sufficient to convince the audience that electric lighting had a future. Another of Dyer’s colleagues was John Milne, Professor of Geology, who studied earthquakes and formed the Seismological Society of Japan. He devised a seismograph that recorded both horizontal and vertical movements. Josiah Condor, Professor of Architecture was another member of staff, he introduced modern architecture to Japan and trained numerous architects.

During this modernisation period the Education Ministry spent a third of its budget on funding student training. More than 500 Japanese students studied in Britain between 1890-1900 most favouring Glasgow because of the opportunities to work in factories and shipyards and study naval architecture.

By the beginning of the 20th Century Japan had become strong industrially and self reliant. Perhaps the last vestiges of British influence was during the Russian – Japanese war, 1904-05, when the Japanese fleet crushed the Russian navy at the battle of Tsushima using British training and equipment. In 1912 Emperor Meiji died and was succeeded by his son.

Tony

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Would you like to change a child's life?

Imagine, just for a minute, how you would feel if you couldn’t read. You wouldn’t be able to sit down with a good book, couldn’t read the newspapers (or the U3A Newsletter!), and wouldn’t be able to enjoy letters from loved ones.

On a more practical level, try to imagine: not being able to read bus or train timetables; not being able to read instructions on a whole range of items from food to washing machines; not being able to read posters advertising local events and not understanding what is going on around you when people are following written words. Can you imagine how isolated you would feel, how lacking in confidence you would be, and how difficult it would be to become part of the community?

Volunteer Reading Help is a national charity which was established 30 years ago. We recruit and train volunteers to work with children aged between 6 and 11 who find reading a challenge and may need extra support and mentoring. The work of the volunteers not only increases reading skills, but helps with children’s communication, development of self-esteem and confidence, and is all done in a fun way which is enjoyable for both the child and the adult.

The majority of our volunteers are retired, so there is no age limit. The volunteers go into a school twice a week for an hour and a half, and work with the same three children, so each child has a full hour’s attention each week which can produce amazing results.

The 2005 pupil survey results showed that, amongst other things, 97% of children showed an improved attitude to reading and improvement in reading performance, 96% showed an improvement in self confidence, 92% showed an improvement in general motivation and 91% showed an improvement in general attitude.

This quote from a teacher illustrates perfectly how important the volunteers are: “VRH has changed this boy. Initially he would ask if it was “Ted’s Day” and would only be at school on those days. He was very reluctant to come into school. Now we have a boy who attends 5 days a week, is a confident reader, enjoys school, and smiles.”

The personal rewards for the volunteer can also be very fulfilling. As one of our volunteers wrote recently “For the first year I worked with 5 and 6 year olds. It was wonderful when I walked into a classroom to find the children clamouring over who would sit me with first. This year I have 3 boys aged between 8 and 10… the grins on their faces when I write praise in their reading collector cards is well worth the effort. At the end of last term I was astonished and honoured to be asked to become a school governor. All together I think I can say that joining VRH has changed my life.”

If you would like more information on changing a child’s life, please do call either Bridget Martin or Lindsey Parr on 01372 377286, we’d love to hear from you.

Lindsey Parr

Editors note: Fetcham U3A Committee decided to support ‘Volunteer Reading Help’ by allowing Lindsey to put this article in the U3A newsletter.

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The 2007 South East U3A Forum

The one-day conference on the theme “25 years on – A View of the Future” was held at the end of March at the Meridian Hall, East Grinstead. Bryan, Kathy and Tony attended. It attracted more than 100 people from U3As in East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey, all interested in hearing Eric Midwinter, one of the U3A’s founding fathers, Jean Goodeve, Chairman of The Third Age Trust and Ian the NEC member for the South East.

                        Our Team: Bryan, Kathy, Tony, Ian                          Eric Midwinter                                  Chairman Jean Goodeve

Eric, now in his 70s, gave a lively presentation. He expressed concern over the media’s negative image of retired people and the current cultural mindset which seem to disqualify older people from an active life. Originally the hope was that one in 40 of the eligible population would belong to a U3A, but the national rate is nearer one in 90 although there were notable exceptions in Farnborough, Hants and Mole Valley where it is nearer to one in 10. He was disappointed that the U3A initiative had not been joined by such bodies as a U3A for Sport or Health or House Maintenance (sounds like a franchise). However the underlying message was that there are too many retired people missing out and he looked forward to the time when there will be more than 500,000 members and a proportionate increase in the 600 U3As and 1400 Interest Groups.

In her role as Chairman, Jean Goodeve made a strong case for the National Office and the services provided, especially the comprehensive liability insurance for U3A members. She paid tribute to the National Office staff and the hard work that had gone in following the disastrous fire last year. Looking to the future, she hoped that the U3A would become a major voice for retired people and lifetime learning and have a natural place at national and local government fora. She had high expectations for the recent memorandum of understanding signed with the Open University.

In the closing minutes of the morning session Ian, our Past Chairman, summarised the communication routes between the NEC and U3As. He mentioned a new U3A Mission Statement had been produced and reminded us that the Trust is planning on a 10% annual growth per year.

In the afternoon there were group discussions on what are the requirements and expectations of U3As and are these being met at both the local and national level; what changes are needed and how should the U3A develop in the next 25 years. These discussions were notable for the digressions and the useful exchanges of information. There were several presentations on new groups including one on the Great Bear (ask us about this), and Books in a Bag that the Arun U3A Craft group produced for a local school. Once again Fetcham’s display of Group activities won wide acclaim.

      Our Display Boards                            The Bookham Team: John, Sheila, Vic

Tony

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Miscellaneous

Half thoughts - Good judgement comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judgement. Winnie

Forethought - Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself. Winnie

Afterthought - You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck! Winnie

Caption competition

In the last issue we asked you to say who said what when Ian and Graham were manoeuvring a canal barge. Winner of the best, printable, entry was sent in by Tony for his entry: "We should have put out more chairs"

Tony will receive a bottle of wine from the Editor’s cellar

The next edition of Fetcham in Focus is due out in September 2007. Please email your copy to John or Judy by 1st August.

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