Mansfield and District U3A's monthly newsletter shows what members have been doing recently and what's planned. This edition announces plans to celebrate their 15th anniversary and to visit the RHS garden at Harlow Carr. Reports include contributions from the Digital World, Antiques & Collectables and Art groups.

1. Mansfield and District U3A
Newsletter
Groups News; Antiques and Collectables: Page 9
_____________________________
Established 1999
HMRC Charity Registration No.: XT30525
April 2014
Website: www.mansfield-u3a.org.uk
Noticeboard: http://mansfieldu3a.blogspot.com
Page 1 of 12

2. Welcome from your chairman
GOOD MORNING Everybody.
Almost Easter and what a lot has happened in the world since we last met! The weather itself is
debatable, flitting between blue skies and doomsday-like conditions. For a few days, or even hours,
we can wear unseasonable clothes before the grey skies return. Yet we are told, once again, that
we are due a very hot summer, for which we are all more than ready.
So the Budget – have we all come in our Lamborghinis and will leave for a pint and to play bingo?
What a faux-pas! The news is depressing enough with the terrible tragedy of the missing plane and
Russia seemingly doing its own thing. I find I now have to mark everything down in my diary up to
six months ahead, so I hope the world does not end between now and then!
I was very sad to know that Mr Selfridge had finished for another season – and wasn’t the last
episode a tear-jerker? All the young men going off to war, which leads me to our speaker today, who
is a change from the original one printed in your membership card.
'Lest We Forget' this year celebrates 100 years of the First World War and our speaker is Mr Danny
Wells who is going to tell us about “The Great War – Shattered Illusions”. I am sure many, if not all,
of us had ancestors who served their country in this way. If you have not already been, the National
Memorial Arboretum is a special place to visit. Created in 1997 it is where those who have served,
and continue to serve our nation in different ways and wars, are remembered.
I was also interested to read that next year celebrates the 800th anniversary of the sealing of
Magna Carta and that the Chancellor has set aside £1 million for a request to have a 21st Century
Citizens’ Charter to defend our threatened liberties.
The 23rd April 2014, of course, sees St. George’s Day and I have included an article later in your
Newsletter, which I hope you will find of interest. My thanks go to David Ling who has inserted a
good image of St. George for me. We seem to forget our heritage on occasions and we should
bring this to the fore whenever possible.
Very important to Mansfield and District U3A, however, is our 15th Anniversary Year, so please
remember to get your tickets for the Crystal Anniversary Ball on 20 May 2014. These are on sale
today again and final arrangements are in hand to make this an evening to remember! The Social
Committee have worked hard to make this happen and our thanks go to them for giving much of
their own time and effort. Black tie is optional.
One last thing, is everyone wearing their name badge?
With that thought I wish you all a Very Happy Easter and look forward to our May Celebrations!
Glenis Carr
______________________________________________________________________________
In this issue
Page 2 Welcome.
Page 3 Social Events. (Coffee Morning; Anniversary Ball; NNNG Picnic in The Park).
Pages 3 - 4 Holiday Updates. (Thoresby 2015; The London Musical; Hayling Island; The
Algarve).
Pages 5 - 8 Interest Groups meetings diary.
Page 8 Book Table.
Page 9 Groups News (Digital World; Art; Antiques & Collectables).
Page 10 Groups News (Shufflers; Luncheon Club). U3AArt Study Day.
Page 11 Member's Contribution. ('St George').
Page 12 Dates for your diary and Notices.
Page 2 of 12

3. SOCIAL EVENTS
COFFEE MORNING – 9th May at the Towers on Botany Avenue from 10.00. Tickets will be on
sale at the April meeting: £2 each, including a hot drink and biscuit.
This is an opportunity to meet everyone, have a chat and a drink, a flutter on the tombola, buy a
cake and plant and try your luck on the raffle.
The donations are coming in well but we still need lots more so do have a look around and hand
them over to members of the Social Committee. Bring your plant and cake donations on the
morning. See you there!
CRYSTAL CELEBRATION BALL – 20th May at the John Fretwell Centre from 7pm. Tickets are
on sale now: £20 each including food and an entertainer. (Smart dress please.)
This is our 15th year of Mansfield and District U3A and we all decided to have a bit of a 'do'!
The food will be their Premier Buffet, which sounds and looks fabulous; the entertainer is a very
good singer, and we can all have a dance too so do come and join us to celebrate!
With the help of Rita Turner, Linda Leivers and I have also visited other local U3As who began with
our help as we thought it would be great if they could join us to celebrate. Members from Ashfield,
Hucknall and Sherwood will be there.
Tickets sales are very good but Linda Leivers will still have some to sell at the April meeting.
See you soon,
Karen Troop – 01623 633404, karentroop@hotmail.com. Check for updates on the website.
_______________________________
IT’S PICNIC TIME AGAIN!
The North Notts Neighbourhood Group will be holding its fourth Picnic in the Park on Wednesday 4
June 2014. This will take place in and around the marquee at the beautiful Rufford Country Park
and is a free event between 10 am and 4 pm.
There will be singing by massed U3A choirs in the morning and afternoon entertainment provided
by Worksop U3A Swing Band who wowed us at our 2012 Jubilee Jamboree. There will be the usual
outdoor games for the fitter members!
Nine local U3As are involved so come along and meet the neighbours. Just bring a picnic and a
chair and enjoy!
Rita Turner, Chairman NNNGroup – 01623 660003, raymond.turner2@ntlworld.com
______________________________________________________________________________
Holiday updates
ANNUAL MANSFIELD U3A HOLIDAY AT WARNERS THORESBY HALL. (Mon. 2nd. to Fri. 6th
Feb. 2015). £208pp sharing, £248 single, inc. 4 nights bed, breakfast and evening meal. Plenty of
daytime and evening entertainment provided (from 10am to past midnight if you want it.)
This holiday is open to members of any U3A and friends of members are welcome too.
At the time of writing I am opening a waiting list for singles but doubles/twins are still available. No
charge to go on the waiting list and with 180 people coming the odds are someone is going to have
to cancel. The previous two years I have filled the cancellations on the Sunday before the Monday
we started the holiday.
I can be contacted by email on 2015@whiteheaduk.plus.com or by phone on 01623 626991.
Terry Whitehead, 37 Skegby Lane, Mansfield, Notts NG19 6QS
Page 3 of 12

4. LONDON MUSICAL, Pajama Game (10th - 11th June)
All balances must be paid at the April meeting please. As in March newsletter, £160 (singles), £125
(theatre goers) and £115 for the rest. Your packs with itineraries, coach plans, etc. may be ready to
collect from my table if luggage labels and maps come through in time for the meeting. Theatre
tickets will be given out at Porters' restaurant.
LAKESIDE HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Hayling Island (23rd - 27th June.)
Balances have been received by the travel company – thank you all for your cooperation in paying
on time. Individual packs with itineraries will be given out in May. Everyone has elected to go to
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard so I shall need you to pay for the tickets by cheque in May, which will
be handed out when we arrive on the site. Cheques payable to Mansfield & District U3A. £23 pp &
£18.70 for those with mobility problems. (By the meeting you will know if you are entitled to this
concession.)
THE ALGARVE, PORTUGAL (18th - 25th Sept.)
1. Balances are due no later than the May meeting. £850 (singles); £760 (twins & doubles).
2. If you have not done so already, please collect passport sheets at the April meeting on
which you must follow instructions implicitly, otherwise if errors are found once submitted, it will
cost you to have them amended.
3. You must take out your insurance before you pay your balances so please write out on
the back of your passport sheet the name of your insurance company, the policy number, the
company's telephone number and, most importantly, the 24-hour medical emergency
number, which can also be found in your policy details.
4. Please check that your passport does not need renewing before we fly and that it must
have more than six months left on it from the date we leave England (18th Sept) or you
will not be allowed to fly!
5. Finally, check your EHIC card, which needs renewing every 5 years. (Even I was caught out
and had to renew mine by telephone a few days ago!) The telephone contact number is 0300
330 1350. If you have never had one, then you can also use this number.
Margaret Burlinson – 01623 632538, marburl@lineone.net
Updates about all holidays are on the website ...
Groups News
Garden Visits
HARLOW CARR (12th June)
Our next visit is to RHS Harlow Carr at Harrogate, one of Yorkshire’s famous gardens, where I have
booked a guided tour of the gardens to give us the history of the development of the gardens and
Janet has booked the coach.
This year, the RHS has reduced prices for U3A members so we have a bargain for you! The cost is
as follows:-
£15 for the coach plus £7 entrance including the tour.
(£2 entrance for RHS members but DO NOT forget your cards).
The coach will leave the Odeon at 8.30am and return about 4pm.
There are still a few seats available.
Karen and Janet
PS don’t forget there is a 'BETTY’S' there! Groups News continues on page 9 ...
Page 4 of 12

5. Key to Meetings details:
THIS TABLE SHOWS THE DAY of the month, time and frequency using the first two letters of the
day, followed by numbers 1 - 5 to represent the week number. The final letter M (or F, W or V) indic-
ates that the group meets monthly, fortnightly, weekly or at variable intervals.
So 'Tu2, 2.30 - V M' would mean a group meeting on the 2nd Tuesday at 2.30pm Monthly but with
Variable finish times.
The main Mansfield and District U3Ameetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (exceptAugust
and December) at the Oakham Suite, 155 Nottingham Road, Mansfield from 10 am - 12.30 pm.
All members are invited to contact the relevant Group Leader if they would like to participate in any
interest group or attend an event. NB: * indicates a waiting list.
Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact
Antiques & Collect-
ables *
Tu 2, 10 - 12 M Stanhope Centre,
Bridge Street,
Mansfield
Pat Blackwell
01623 481745
Next Meetings: May 13th – War Memorabilia
Art We3, 10 - 12 M Big Barn Lane
Methodist Church,
Mansfield
Linda Spray
01623 795176
Next Meetings: April 16th; May 21st
Art Appreciation Mo1, 2.00 - 4.00 M Stanhope Centre,
Bridge Street,
Mansfield
Pauline Boucher
01623 644798
Next Meetings: May 5th – No Meeting (Bank Holiday); June 2nd
Beginners' Bridge
(With Ashfield U3A)
Mo, Various
6.30 - 9.00
Enviro Centre,
Derby Rd College,
Mansfield
Maxine Rose/Glenis
Carr
01623
459081/627735
Next Meetings: May 12th; June 2nd & 16th
(Also Acol sessions at the Mechanics Institute – Thurs 10 - 12.30 W)
Bowls Tu, 2.30 - 4.00 W Lammas Sports
Centre, Sutton
Don Wright
01623 628946
Next Meetings: Outdoor Sessions begin and Coaching starts Thursday May 1st.
Club Official Opening: Tues. 15th April at 6.15pm. All interested U3A members welcome.
Caravan & M'home
Rally
Various Various Terry Lammas
01623 471963
Next Meetings: June 1st to 29th – France. See web page for more details.
Chat and Stitch Mo3, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Doreen Storer
01623 407731
Next Meeting: April 21st; May 20th; June 17th; No Meetings in July and August.
Page 5 of 12

6. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Current Affairs Tu2, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Norma Shillinglaw
01623 466934
Next Meetings: May 13th; June 10th; July 8th
Digital World Fri 2 & 4, 2.00 - 4.00
2/M
Stanton Hill Baptist
Church, Skegby
David Ling
01623 822994
Next Meetings: 25thApril – Visit to Hardwick; May 9th – Review of Hardwick photos; May 23rd - TBA
Family History Tu4, 10.00 - 12.00 M St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Max Clarke
01623 621744
Next Meetings: April 22nd – Interesting Ancestors; May 22nd – Wills & What they Reveal!
Film Studies * We1, 1.30 - V M Joy's home Joy Crowe
01623 645400
Next Meetings: May 7th; June 4th; July 2nd
Garden Visits During the Summer Various Janet Whitlam
01623 635607
Next Visits: June 12th – RHS Harlow Carr. Check at desk for details.
Gardening Tu1, 10.00 - 12.00 M St Peter's Centre,
Mansfield
Avril McGee
01623 452688
Next Meetings: May 3rd – Lilies and Chillies; June 3rd – Plants in Literature
Heartstart Check Day below
1.00 - 3.00
William Kaye Hall,
Ladybrook Lane
Linda Leivers
01623 471963
Next Meetings: New series starts Monday March 24th. More dates later
Holidays
(Home & Abroad)
Various TBA Margaret Burlinson
01623 632538
Next holidays: June 23rd - 27th – Warner's, Hayling Island*; Sept. 18th - 25th – Portugal;
Tues. Dec. 3rd - Thurs. 5th – Thursford Xmas Spect.; 2015: Mon. Feb. 2nd - Fri. 6th – Thoresby
Local History Fri1, 10.00 - 12.00 M Bridge Street
Methodist Church
Bob & Sue Longden
01623 486903
Next Meetings: May 2nd – Visit to Temple Newsam. Cost £15; June 6th – Early Non-Conformists,
Why Mansfield? With Rev. D. Smith; July 4th – 1st World War: members' contributions
Luncheon Club Th after 3rd Tu,
12.00 - 2.00 M
Various David Ling
01623 822994
Next Meetings: April 17th – The Earl of Chesterfield at Shelford; May 21st – Anniversary Lunch at
The Hostess. Details on the website or at the desk.
Movement to Music
(New)
W 10.30 - 11.30 W St Peter's Church Hall Linda Leivers
01623 471963
Next Meetings: Weekly on Wednesdays
Page 6 of 12

7. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Music Groups
Classical Music 2 Mo4, 2.00 - 4.00 M Members' homes Peter Hart
01623 620940
Next Meetings: April 28th – Schubert with Marie; May 19th – Italian opera at Alan's. NB Date
Music 2 * Mo4, 2.00 - 4.30 M Members' homes Eric Prescott
01623 631160
Next Meeting: April 23rd – Your Desert Island Disc with Ray & June; 28th May – Something in the
Air with Elisabeth Ellis
Popular Music
Appreciation *
Tu4, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's School,
Mansfield
Peter Haynes
01623 610886
Next Meetings: April 22nd; May 27th; June 24th
Pudding Club * Tu1, 4.00 - 6.00 M Members' homes Sylvia Slack
01623 633981
Next Meetings: May 6th & July 1st – Sylvia; June 3rd & August 5th – Janet
Reading 1 Th3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Peter Dawson's home Peter Dawson
01623 882191
Next Meetings: April 17th; May 15th; June 19th
Reading 2 Tu3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Ravenshead Library Joan Hufton
01623 557488
Next Meetings: April 15th; May 20th; June 17th
Science & Technical Tu1, 2.00 - 4.00 M
(NB Change)
Stanton Hill Baptist
Church, Skegby
Ian Boucher
01623 644798
Next Meetings: May 6th – Renewable Energy Discussion; June 3rd – Visit to JCB Factory
Scrabble * Mo2, 2.00 - 4 .00 M Brenda Thurkettle's
home
Brenda Thurkettle
01623 628136
Next Meetings: May 6th; June 10th; July 8th
Singing for Fun Thur, 6.30 – 8.30 Methodist Church,
Chesterfield Road
June Fell
01623 623547
Next Meeting: Thurs. April 17th. Fortnightly until further notice. (Plenty of parking on side road.)
Tai Chi Mo, 9.30 - 10.30 W St John's Centre,
Mansfield
Cliff Laycock
01623 481985
Next Meetings: Weekly on Mondays
Theatre Visits Various Various Sheila Whalley
01623 453908
Next Meetings: Wed. 16th April – Cats; Sun. 27th April – Monty Don; Thurs. 29th May – Sister
Act. (See web page for venue, time, cost and future trips)
Page 7 of 12

8. Interest Group Meetings Meeting Place Leader/Contact
Walking Groups
Hikers
(all-day, 6 - 8 miles)
Th1 & Mo3, 9.30 - V
2/M
Tesco car park, off
Oak Tree Lane
Peter Thurkettle
01623 628136
Next Meetings: Mon. 21st April – Hope / Edale End; Thurs. May 1st – Farnsfield;
Mon. 19th May – Everton Mattersey; Thurs. 5th June – Cromford;
Mon. 16th June – Youlgreave & Middleton
Shufflers
(short & gentle)
V Lunchtimes Various Sylvia Slack
01623 633981
Next Meeting: Thurs. Wed. April 23rd – Rumbles Café, Sutton Lawn (1pm)
Strollers
(a leisurely 2 miles)
We2, 10.30 - V M Various Barbara Massey /
Marion Thornton
01623 628357 /
01623 651528
Next Meetings: May 14th – Rufford Abbey; June 11th – Sherwood Pines
Walkers
(an easy 4 - 5 miles)
We4, 10.30 – V M Various Joy & Nick Crowe
01623 645400
Next Meetings: April 23rd – Teversal Bluebell Woods; May 28th – Rowthorne Trail
Wine Appreciation 2* We3, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Mike Allen
01623 653345
Next Meetings:April 16th – Ron's Own Choice Whites; May 21st – Rosé with George & Mavis
Wine Appreciation
3*
Tu4, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Graham Allin
01623 473662
Next Meetings: April 22nd – Thai Wines with Colin; May 27th – Pomerol with Graham & Eileen
Writing for Pleasure * Mo2, 2.00 - 4.00 M Stanhope Centre,
Bridge Street,
Mansfield
Sue Ford / Hilary
Miller 01623
844286 / 620067
Next Meetings: May 12th; June 9th; July 14th
Book table
SALE of books in March raised £49.00 exactly; the total this year since January is £142.60.
Many thanks to the loyal ‘volunteers’ who work behind the counter month after month and
also to the donors and purchasers of the books every month. We LITERALLY could not run
this enterprise without you.
Lilian Whitehead
______________________________________________________________________________
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays
young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
Henry Ford
Page 8 of 12

9. Digital World
OUR Spring started with a photographic walkabout at
Thoresby on March 28th when we met in the Courtyard and
let our cameras lead us where they willed. It was rather dull
but members were able to show and discuss many inter-
esting and creative shots at Stanton Hill on 11th April.
It doesn't matter if you just use a simple point-and-shoot or a
complex DSLR so you'll be very welcome if you'd like to join
our next walkabout, at Hardwick on 25th April.
You'll be free to follow your instincts or walk around with an-
experienced member if you'd like tips. And please come
along to Stanton Hill Baptist Church at 2.00 on any 2nd Friday to see what we've have been up to.
David Ling (01623 822994)
Art
OUR MARCH session marked our first year's anniversary and was attended by 13 members.
Michael had set us the task of portraying an animal, so various artefacts, pictures and photographs
were tackled. Next time we are assembling these contributions for a photoshoot which, hopefully,
we can display at the 'Picnic in the Park' this year. Watch this space!
Our next meeting will be on 16th April, when we are going to try perspectives in buildings.
If you want to give art a go (talented or not) please come along and join us, as you will be made
very welcome.
Linda Spray
Antiques and Collectables
AS THE SAYING goes ‘Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun’? It has flown and I have certainly
had fun seeing the wide variety of things emerge from shopping bags and boxes each time we
meet. I can hardly believe that we have already had six meetings since we began in October 2013.
We have varied the topics from a list made by the group
members and so far we have looked at Royal memorabilia,
glass, treen (small wooden pieces), silver and textiles. Our
December meeting covered Christmas and seasonal items
and also included a quiz to test our knowledge.
Our March meeting was about textiles and as usual we had
an excellent selection of items to look at and discuss. We had
Christening gowns and shawls, wall hangings from China, a
WW1 embroidered handkerchief, lace evening gloves and a
handbag were among the things we saw.
The oldest item, I think, was a framed sampler embroidered
in 1832 by an eight year old girl and the most recent was the
‘retro’ tablecloth on the front of this issue. There was even a
little boy's dress worn by one of the U3A members whose name I have promised not to reveal!
Quite a few of members have been to antiques fairs and have told us of their bargains; by the time
you read this we will have had our first outing to Hemswell Antiques Centre, near Lincoln.
I will be looking forward to seeing what emerges from the shopping bags next time.
Pat Blackwell
Page 9 of 12

10. Shufflers
THE SHUFFLERS are going from strength to strength. On March 27th, twenty-four of us gathered
for tea in the elegant surroundings of the refurbished Manor Hotel.
We sat looking out over Carr Bank Park and enjoyed an excellent selection of sandwiches and
cakes. The occupants of one table (who shall be nameless) even demolished a second plateful of
cream scones!
In spite of the rather poor weather we did manage a short shuffle in the park between showers. It is
so good to be able to go at our own pace without feeling guilty about holding other people up. Many
thanks to Sylvia and Rita for organising this group. Our next meeting will be at the Rumbles café,
Sutton Lawn, on Wed April 23rd at 1.00 pm when we will celebrate St George's day.
Marjorie Smith
Luncheon Club
OUR MARCH LUNCH at Woodborough Hall, near Calverton, was another success for Alan Miller
as it was a great success generally, although their event management and housekeeping standards
didn't match those of the kitchen and service teams.
The bread and butter pudding test, previewed last month, was an honourable draw with some
preferring their butterscotch variation and others still fans of the Maypole's white chocolate and
marmalade one!
Next, on 17th April, Sheila Whalley has arranged for us to try The Chesterfield Arms near
Gunthorpe, which is gaining fame as one of the first community-run pubs in the county after villa-
gers resisted the brewer's closure plans. The simple and attractive menu is priced at just £9 for two
courses and £11.50 for three. Please pre-book at the Lunch Club table or by email to
dlpruk@aol.com.
Then, on 22nd May, our 15th Anniversary Lunch is being arranged by Norma Shillinglaw at The
Hostess at Sookholme that was a favourite of the Luncheon Club's first leader, the late Edith
Senior, who was also Mansfield U3A's first chairman. Their full carvery will cost just £7.50 or choose
their 2-course special menu for £10.95. Order on the day.
David Ling
______________________________________________________________________________
U3A Art Study Day at the National Gallery, London
BEST OF BRITISH – Exploring 18th C. painting through the National Gallery Collection.
Over 250 U3A members from various parts of the U.K. attended this study day at the National
Gallery and what a treat we had.
Presentations were made by curators of both the National Gallery and the Royal Collection and
focused on both the artists and selected works by British painters in the 18th century. Works by
Thomas Gainsborough and William Hogarth were looked at in detail and we were also shown how
patrons and promoters of British art had helped to develop the National Gallery as we know it to-
day.
A lively discussion followed and members agreed that this was indeed a most successful venture
for the U3A. This was the first time the U3A and the National Gallery had organised such an event –
I’m sure it will not be the last!
Pauline Boucher
Page 10 of 12

11. England and St. George
ST. GEORGE’S DAY is on 23 April 2014, which is England’s national
day. As many of us know, he is the patron saint of England. His
emblem, a red cross on a white background is the flag of England
and part of the Union Jack.
Whenever discussions take place about St. George and his Day,
usually in the press and in the media in the run-up to 23 April, a
number of issues are always raised and questions asked! Was
England’s patron saint a real person? Did he actually slay a dragon?
Why did he become such a revered figure in the country?
He was, in fact, a real historical figure and it is believed he was born
in either Cappadocia (present day Turkey) or Lydda (Palestine) in
around 280 AD. It can be asked, therefore, why is he the patron
saint of England when he wasn’t actually English?
Many adopted saints do not actually come from the country they
were born in and we have to bear in mind around 1,700 plus years
of history. St George is also patron saint of numerous other coun-
tries, including Hungary, Malta, Portugal, Lithuania, Russia and
others. It is said he was a brave Roman soldier who protested
against their torture of Christians and he died for his belief. His popularity in England stems from the
time of the early crusades and his emblem was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to
England in the 12th Century. The king’s soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.
On 23 April 303 he was executed by the Roman emperor Diocletian for resisting the persecution of
Christians and steadfastly refusing to renounce his faith. It is what he has stood for throughout
history which has enshrined him as our patron saint and, indeed, a number of legends do connect
him with various English places. In Dorset a church is dedicated to him and some of Sussex
churches depict St. George in battle.
The story of St. George slaying the dragon and rescuing the princess allegedly took place at Silene
in Libya and in 1483 William Caxton published the first English translation. There are numerous
other legends linking St George with England. Some stories like to believe he was born here, in
Coventry or Cornwall, and that he married the princess he saved and had three sons, one being
Guy of Warwick.
The story of St. George, therefore, is a complicated tapestry of historical truth, colourful legend and
fanciful fairytale and, whether or not he ever did visit England does not really matter. He is all around
us – in churches bearing his name, in paintings, carvings and stained-glass windows and in the red-
cross flags that are waved and shown on special English occasions. And as Shakespeare said in
Henry V: “God for England, Harry and St. George”.
Famous people born on St. George’s Day include William Shakespeare, JMW Turner (the artist),
Roy Orbison, Shirley Temple and many others.
To quote Winston Churchill yet again:
“There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That
word is England”. (Winston Churchill 1874 - 1965)
How strongly I second this!
Glenis Carr
Page 11 of 12

12. ______________________________________________________________________________
Speakers' Corner
OUR speaker today is Danny Wells who will be telling us about the shattered illusions of the Great
War.
World War 1 (1914-1918) was one of the greatest upheavals in history involving upwards of 70
million combatants. It set off shock waves that were felt world-wide long after the Armistice of 1918.
Over 8 million people are said to have lost their lives, leaving 3 million widows and 10 million
orphans. This talk will look at the romanticised image of war on the run up to 1914 and the shattered
illusions that followed thereafter, including the works of some of the First World War soldier poets.
______________________________________________________________________________
Dates for your diary (Check the website for more information and updates.)
Fri. 9th May: COFFEE MORNING at The Towers. 10.00 - 12.00. Tickets £2.00. See p3.
Tues. 20th May: CRYSTAL CELEBRATION BALL at The John Fretwell Centre. Tickets £20
inc. food and entertainment. See p3.
Wed. 4th June: PICNIC IN THE PARK at Rufford. 10.00 - 4.00. Free but bring your own picnic
and chairs/tables. See p3.
Tues. 15th July: EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL U3A CONFERENCE AND AGM at Trent College,
Long Eaton.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Event and Visit Payments
MEMBERS are reminded that deposits and payments for events and visits organised by Mansfield
U3A and its interest groups are non-refundable, but places so reserved may be offered to others.
______________________________________________________________________________
Changes of address, etc.
PLEASE contact the membership secretary, Avril McGee (01623 452688), if you've changed your
address, phone number or email since joining Mansfield U3A so that she can update our records.
______________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer
THE VIEWS expressed here are those of the contributors, only, and do not necessarily reflect those
of the editor, the committee of Mansfield U3A or the Third Age Trust. Nor can any responsibility be
accepted for members' announcements or any errors that may occur.
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Next Issue
PLEASE SEND contributions for the May issue to mansfieldu3a@aol.com, or in typescript,
to the editor as soon as you can and by 1st May at the latest. Thanks!
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Editor: David Ling (01623 822994) Printed by: Portland Print (www.portlandprint.org.uk)
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