Clarion online

Edinburgh U3A Newsletter Number 53/4

Spring 2008

In this issue: COMMITTEE NEWS 1 Letter from the Chair

2 U3A in Scotland

Our new database: do you want to add your email?

The new Committee

FEATURES 3 Retirement transitions Mary Walker looks at planning and the realising of those plans

5 Interview with Sally Heron Garden Guide at the Botanics

7 Rosemary Miller on The Haymarket Public Planning Enquiry

7 Open Meeting Location

8 My Dancing Life Christina Dickson’s story

9 Volunteering: Elspeth MacGregor on HOST UK

9 ‘The Intrepid’ by Kay Clive

10 A Gude Cause Still! 100th Anniversary of Women’s March for Votes in Edinburgh

GROUP NEWS 11 French Network

Scottish Country Dance

Scottish History

12 Geology Visit to Arran

14 Where will all this lead? Rachel Frith

15 Local History 2 Visit the Royal Burgh of Dysart

Theatre Tickets Offer!

16 Reading Shakespeare

Photography Shoot in Linlithgow

18 ‘The Sound of Christmas Bells’ by Judith Lyons

Jean Napier Letter from the Chair

Number 53/4

Autumn 2009

T his is a year of changes! We are moving to St George's West Church, Shandwick Place, for our monthly meetings. The first meeting there will

be on Wednesday 16 September at the new starting time of 2.30 pm. For the first year there will be no admittance charge, but if you wish to have tea or coffee the charge will be £1.

We leave St Peter’s reluctantly, and only because we have outgrown the capacity of the hall for our Open Meetings. Our membership now stands at 1080. We are most grateful for all that St Peter’s has provided.

At the AGM on Wednesday 17 June an amendment to the constitution was passed to allow one more committee member to be elected if this was considered necessary. The meeting elected Dianne Fraser as treasurer and Margaret Farish as membership secretary. Three new members were elected to the U3A Committee: Jenny Cowper, Rachel Frith and Jeff Middlecote, and Barbara Clarke, Frances Clark and Pat Cattanach were re-elected, having previously served for 3 years.

Our grateful thanks go to outgoing committee members for their hard work over the past years: Colin Williamson, treasurer, Ruby Skinner, membership secretary, Freda Froehlich, vice-chair, Michael McBrien, group co-ordinator and Iain Langdon who has kindly agreed to continue as our representative on Scotland U3A.

The proposal to increase the subscription from £10 to £12 for singles and from £15 to £17 for double membership was also passed. Another change is the introduction of the option to pay the subscription by standing order which will reduce the workload for our membership secretary.

We are delighted that the U3A’s National Conference takes place on 3–5 September at the Heriot-Watt University. There is no charge for attending the AGM on Friday 4 September, however booking is advisable. Please either download an application form: www.u3a.org.uk or ring National Office: 020 8466 6139 (see U3A News, Spring 2009).

The U3A gives us such wonderful opportunities. May I wish all members a year of satisfying learning, exercise of the body and mind and, perhaps best of all, enjoyment and companionship.

Jean Napier Chair

19 Endnotes and Editor’s Note page

Page 2 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

U3A in Scotland AGM Edinburgh, 6 June 2009

newest being China and Poland. Bill also men-tioned that every month a new U3A opens somewhere in the UK.

Jean Napier (Edinburgh) then gave an update on the arrangements for the National Conference which is to be held in Edinburgh from 3–5 September at the Heriot-Watt University. U3As in the vicinity of Edinburgh have been asked to help with stewarding at the event.

The Chairman, Ian Goldsack (East Berwickshire), and Secretary, Morag Tamisari (Aberdeen) were willing to stand for a third year but we still need to find a Treasurer. Bill Dixon, the interim Treasurer, is willing to continue until someone is found.

After a short break, the Chairman introduced Emeritus Professor Sally Brown of Stirling University who gave a talk on ‘The Development of Education in Scotland’. This covered all the changes in attitudes over the past 30 years and how politics has had such a significant effect on education.

Iain Langdon Edinburgh Representative

T he Chairman, Ian Goldsack welcomed those who had managed to travel to Edinburgh for the

meeting. He thanked Robina Hutton for all the work she has done in Development, thus increasing the number of U3As in Scotland by one third since she started, so that we now have 32 groups. The newest groups formed are Biggar & District, Cupar & District, East Kilbride, East Renfrewshire, Isle of Coll, Oban, Orkney, Pitlochry, Penicuik & District, The Stewartry, Uists & Benbecula and Wigtownshire.

For the future, he advocated more use of IT and paperless communication, which is much faster and cheaper. He also proposed more use of teleconfer-encing so that more of our U3As can take part in meetings without the need to travel great distances.

The Regional Representative for Scotland, Bill Waugh, gave a résumé of what is available from the National Office and the Resource Centre by way of helpful information and items to borrow for groups. He reported that U3A is now in 26 countries, the

Our new database: do you want your email to be on it ? Thanks to Ruby Skinner our outgoing Secretary, Margaret Farish our incoming Secretary, but most of all to Sonia Duffy, we now have a new, streamlined database holding members’ details.

We are making increasing use of email to circulate U3A information. If you would like us to hold your email address, please send a confirming email to: membership@edinburghu3a.org.uk

Your email should say, ‘Please add my email to the U3A Edinburgh database’ and include your name and postal address to avoid any mistaken identity.

Please note: in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, your email will only be used for U3A purposes and will not under any circumstances be made available to other bodies.

If at any point you want your email address to be changed or deleted from the database, that can be done immediately by sending an email to the membership address above.

Your Committee 2009–10 Jean Napier Chair • Meryl Kempster Secretary, • Dianne Fraser Treasurer • Margaret Farish Membership • Pauline Cairncross • Rachel Frith • Jeff Middlecote • Helen Steuart Group Coordinators • Frances Clarke Hospitality • Jenny Cowper New Members • Pat Cattanach Speaker’s Committee • Stewart Emm Technical Support • Barbara Clarke Publications.

The U3A Committee has elected Helen Steuart and Barbara Clarke to the post of Vice-chair for this year. A job-share is unusual for the U3A but seems to be a

satisfactory way of deputising for our Chair, Jean Napier, as and when required. Barbara will chair the Committee and Helen will convene the Open Meetings.

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I n the immediate months after retirement, assuming money is sufficient, the plan may mean you take off

for the holiday of your life. Bigger changes may have involved a move to the seaside, a foreign country, or a longed-for homecoming. All or some of these may have quickly been achieved in those early months of new freedom.

Our decisions about living out retirement are immediately determined by our personal family circumstances. A happy marriage or similar alliance may well be the foundation for many years of loving tranquil companionship. Divorce or loss of a ‘significant other’ could mean a very different, and even sad, retirement. In the case of bereavement, or unexpected disabling illness in one’s partner, a feeling of being cheated is likely to reduce the joy. All personal circumstances need new negotiations to give life positive, happy and creative outcomes.

However, the reality of retirement, once the early euphoria has worn off, may show that the circumstances can trigger a variety of responses: relief, if work has been stressful, or conversely, if work and colleagues were enjoyable and fulfilling, loss of these may be hard to replace. Having spare time can mean that pursuing pleasures seems wonderful but also that quite a high level of effort and imagination is required to sustain and develop new possibilities and interests.

So what are the opportunities out there at ‘65’? Because you do not intend to disengage, you may use the gift of time for leisure activities, for sport, reading, going to the theatre, cinema, or gardening. And, of course, for volunteering. If you have grandchildren, geographically close, you can play a vital role in helping the younger members of the family by sharing the care and development of the new generation.

If we have been in a position to plan, and are fortunate, we have adequate savings and a pension. The inescapable truth is that our financial circumstances determine how we live out that chunk of life which is the time before we come to

Retirement Transitions Mary Walker

When a glance at the appointments pages no longer tweaks ambitions, and the heavy document that is your CV is ready for the shredder – you have retired.

What were your dreams for this life of leisure? What plans did you make?

FEATURE

old age. In the past, poor people worked until they no longer could. Our improved state of health and well-being gives us more opportunities to embrace before our ‘old age’ or disability determines otherwise.

Retirement has the potential to be the happiest time of our life given health, adequate income, good friends and family relationships and a variety of enjoyable activities.

Of course, membership of The University of the Third Age is one of those excellent opportunities that enable us to continue to be lively, to make new friends and find interests in new or continued learning as well as it being a movement we can contribute to and treasure.

One way of easing the transition when work ends is to think ahead and explore possibilities. Find an activity, perhaps, or decide to join an organisation in readiness where you hope to fit in quickly. If it does not work, you will have at least tried and can seek out something else. Delaying, to see ‘what turns up’, may reduce your motivation.

It can be daunting to join a new group. An adven-turous, open spirit of readiness and willingness to make the first move achieves more, and results in finding new friends to enrich our retirement. Whereas working life provided contacts, in retire-ment we need to do the finding for ourselves. In the U3A individuals who are naturally outgoing can give a welcome to new comers and help ease their shyness. In

the following three case studies I discussed

with U3A members how their plans

for retirement had worked out.

In the following three case studies I discussed with U3A members

how their plans for retirement had worked out.

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Retirement Transitions cont.

GLADYS retired 10 years ago and immediately moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh. Living in the capital had been her main ambition for retirement. Her Aberdeen house was quickly sold and a property in Edinburgh found with a desired garden. Moving meant a completely new lifestyle and, early on, time was enjoyably spent on making her new home and garden hers. The big decision has brought no regrets. What happened? Once Gladys had her new house and garden in order she joined U3A, made new friends, worked at the Botanical Gardens as a volunteer, with WRVS in a toy library until it was discontinued. Living in Edin-burgh has attracted old friends and family from other places to visit, enriching and nourishing life-long valuable relationships. Membership of U3A has provided many new friendships, and a variety of interests: current affairs, film, French conversation, French network and genealogy. Gladys enjoys a happy and interesting retirement. Still working on... On her wish list is a computer, soon to be chosen. When her PC skills are honed, she intends to write her memoir for her friends and family.

JOAN AND BILL were relieved to retire early at 55 and 59 respectively because running their pharmacy had become too demanding. They wanted freedom to spend time with their, then, two-year-old first grandchild and freedom from work responsibilities. What happened? The couple had always enjoyed some separate interests. Joan befriended a widow who shared a longing to travel. Since retiring, they have made many enjoyable long-haul trips and still have some to come. Joan joined U3A and enjoys play reading, current affairs, scrabble, theatre and fiction reading. Bill found an allotment, and enjoys growing vegetables and soft fruits. Joan spends some of the summer making jam from the produce, sharing it with family and friends. The couple have enjoyed looking after additional grandchildren, now seven in number; for those in London they regularly travel south. Bill plays golf and bowls apart from Joan; they take walks together, though she says hiking has now become strolling. On the last day of one of Joan’s holidays, she fell and fractured her hip. She was admitted to hospital and was treated well; all the complications of being away from home, facing the return flight, and making insurance claims were achieved without too much additional trauma. Fortunately she has recovered well. Still working on... Being with grandchildren has given enormous fulfil-ment to Joan and Bill; they hope to continue to give their energy, love, and time to the young ones. Voluntary work on the garden in the grounds of a Hospice will continue. Joan has planned a holiday with her friend this year to Alaska and the Rocky Mts. The couple have booked a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. They plan to increase their laptop skills. Joan and Bill have been married for 51 years and find every year a bonus.

TERESA AND MIKE left their home in South Queensferry in 1986 to work in Brussels. They lived and worked happily there for nineteen and a half years, Teresa as an archivist/librarian in the European Council, and Mike working from home. They planned to retire to Edinburgh and returned in 2005 to a flat previously chosen for their third age. Teresa intended to continue with yoga and hoped to spend time drawing and painting. Walking and dancing were included in their joint plans. What happened? Mike and Teresa had enjoyed a very active social life in Brussels where Teresa taught yoga and together they walked a lot, and enjoyed Irish, American and Scottish dancing. Once the Edinburgh flat was made comfortable for their new life, Teresa found that classes in art were not available for some months ahead. She felt at a loss, she had few contacts here, a social and personal vacuum became difficult to handle. Although Teresa retired at 60, Mike continued to work, which took him to Australia. This added to Teresa’s feeling of isolation. Email helped, but she experienced a time of acute loneliness. Eventually art classes started and she joined a book group. She also took on some voluntary work at the One World shop. Teresa and Mike joined U3A which offered Teresa an opportunity to form a group teaching yoga

and she joined the film group, too. They enjoyed holidays in India and travel in Europe. In 2008 Michael sustained a knee fracture in a road accident in Australia. A lengthy recovery has resulted because of reduced mobility. During and since the recovery they have had to reduce their walks and stop dancing. The reduction in their activities changed everyday life: Mike needed help to manage, provided by Teresa. As a result, a new level in their relationship emerged that has further enriched their retirement. Still working on... Teresa takes three classes per week teaching yoga which will continue. After a long wait she has started art studies. The black and ethnic women’s support group, Sahelya, gives Teresa an opportunity to teach the staff. A return to India is in the offing. Slower walks are enjoyed but no dancing yet for Michael.

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‘Leave them with a sense of wonder’ INTERVIEW WITH SALLY HERON, A VERY SPECIAL GARDEN GUIDE

Sally has been guiding tours and training garden guides in the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh for 18 years. She is a legend in the Botanics – a walking compendium of knowledge about the Garden in all its seasons, with an ability to enthuse and inform visitors from all over the world.

She was awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to the RBGE. I was keen to find out how her role has developed over the years and how she manages to keep so much detailed information at her fingertips.

BARBARA CLARKE I gather you were the very first Garden Guide.

SALLY HERON Yes, in 1990 I was taking an HNC course at Stevenson College in Tourism and Languages. I’d always been keen on Italian and French. One of our outings as trainee tour guides happened to be to the Botanics. Alan Bennell (now Head of Visitor Services) took us round and noted my name. They were just starting the Garden Guide Service. Shortly after this I had a post card from him saying ‘Come along’. And I started in 1991, thrown in at the deep end with a group if international teenagers who only wanted to find out about the tuck shop and skiing! BC But you did have a relevant background in science and horticulture?

SH Well, to a certain extent. I had worked at Hilliers in Hampshire in the ‘60s when they were doing experimental work, so I had some knowledge of propagation. I’d also worked at the local garden centre while the children were growing up, and I had my own garden. At that stage there wasn’t a Garden Guide training scheme at the Botanics. One of my main and on-going tasks has been to develop a training programme for garden guides and to enrol suitable people. BC How demanding is it to take groups of people round the Garden? SH In my heyday I would sometimes be taking out 2 or more tours a day, 6 days a week, with 15 or more people in a group. So it was physically very demanding. But a bigger challenge is to get the measure of a group quickly: What are their expectations of the tour? Where are they from? What climate are they used to? Are they teachers, botanists, experts? If we have a few minutes to chat while the tour is assembling, this gives us time to work out what the mix of people is, to find the right register and build up a rapport, and to try to get some interaction going between the members of the group. If they talk to each other, it makes for a good tour. BC So what is it your visitors are looking for? SH A lot of our foreign visitors are very well-informed. People want different things, but generally they are looking for knowledge, hidden knowledge, ideas for their own gardens and, of course, enjoyment. When I say hidden knowledge I mean legends and superstitions about plants, their uses and their common names. For instance, the Sorbus torminalis or Chequer Tree (near the pond) has astringent fruits that, according to the Romans, cured diarrhoea. The fruits are rich in Vit C and in my

FEATURE

Nomocharis pardanthina Grace of the meadow

Strongylodon macrobotrys Jade vine

Tropaeolum polyphyllum, from Chile ▲

Gentiana sino-ornata ▼

Page 6 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

INTERVIEW WITH SALLY HERON CONT. mother’s day you could buy a bunch for a farthing in the sweet shop. We choose a route round the Garden depending on the season. The Garden Guides keep a diary of what is looking particularly good for all guides to refer to. Our aim is to give people a different view of the Garden, to show them things about plants they would not necessarily notice on their own, for instance the furry underside of a rhododendron leaf which helps to prevent drying out. I try to leave our visitors with a sense of wonder. BC I’m always impressed by your ability to remember so much information and to rattle off the Latin and common names of plants. SH I’ve got a good memory. I enjoyed Latin at school, which helps, and my time at Hilliers was good tuition in plant names. But I think I’m an extremely curious person by nature, I love absorbing new information. For me the most challenging aspect was tropical plants. At first the Glass Houses were a mystery. I was much more used to outdoor plants.

BC Has security in the Garden changed over the time you’ve been there?

SH Now we have the Rangers patrolling, but until as recently as 2001 we had the Botanic Garden Constabulary – police patrolling in uniform with powers of arrest! They always used to keep an eye open for ladies walking with large umbrellas: sometimes full of plantlets and cuttings! A determined thief, I’m sorry to say, will always be hard to stop.

BC Does the new John Hope Gateway please you?

SH I think it’s a very exciting project and will make a huge difference to the quantity of visitors and their understanding of biodiversity. We will be able to put across the key functions of the garden more effectively: Research, Education, Conservation and an Amenity to appreciate.

BC You officially retired in 1997, but it seems you are busier than ever.

SH Well, it’s hard to stop! I have carried on guiding and training since I ‘retired’. But this year I have stopped guiding except in an emergency. I am now a Vice-President of the Caledonian Society and in July I am taking about 30 people on a 6-day study tour to gardens in Northumbria.

Horticulture, and just being in the Garden, is very therapeutic. I am so fortunate that for almost two decades I have had the opportunity to help develop the Garden Guide Service at the Botanics n

Wild flowers at the new John Hope Gateway

Meconopsis betonicifolia

Pterocarya fraxinifolia Caucasian Wing nut, near East Gate

Sorbus torminalis

Acer griseum Paperbark maple

The photographs here are of some of Sally’s favourites in the Botanics.

The images of Nomacharis pardanthina, Strongylodon macrobotrys, and the photograph of Sally, with kind permission of Linsey Wilson, RBGE.

Other photographs: Anita Cutting and Barbara Clarke.

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The Haymarket Public Planning Enquiry Rosemary Miller FEATURE

At the time of writing (10 June ‘09) the enquiry to assess an application to develop the large site at the Haymarket Junction has just ended. This developer proposes to build two large hotels totalling 437 rooms, together with offices and several premises for leisure and retail uses. The 5* hotel would be 17 storeys high and the 3* one adjacent to the Dalry Colonies would be similar in height to nearby build-ings. As pictures have been recently published in the local Press I will not attempt a fuller description of the plans. I have attended on as many days as I could, about four out of 10, my interest being as a life member of the Cockburn Association, which is the principal objector to the tower hotel. Other objectors are representatives or individuals from the local communities, raising points concerning their homes and the effects on their lives which they foresee if this scheme is approved.

The application has been called in by the Scottish Executive on the grounds of impact on the skyline and on the views into and out of the City Centre. A large area of the city, comprising the Old and New Towns is recognised as a World Heritage Property by UNESCO; these features are fundamental to its inscription and are protected to a considerable extent by Council policy. The Cockburn Association therefore focussed on these matters, and appointed Counsel and appropriate witnesses to bring out the grounds on which to ask for refusal.

I will not describe the procedure fully or in detail, and I have chosen to omit all names to keep this account a readable length. However I could not omit reference to Professor Stovel, a Canadian expert, who is a key figure in the granting of World Heritage status to national applicants, and who came here last October to lecture on this work. He emphasised the importance of this location, at the edge of the New Town and at the point where the natural and historic route into the City from the

West diverges according to one’s destination to Old or New Town. It is an important transport hub for locals and for visitors using road or rail to arrive from west or north, after their first dramatic view of the Castle against the line of Arthur’s Seat. The City Council wishes a development at this point to form a fine ‘gateway’ to the City Centre, clearly some-thing we would all agree is desirable.

Those present at the enquiry spent many hours debating the meaning and relevance of terms such as landmark, precedent, tower block, boulevard, slab etc. and even managed to laugh a little at a reference to the monkey house in the adjacent zoo, from which we could occasionally hear the howl-ing of primates from their cages. We could also enjoy, from our top floor room in the Holiday Inn, marvellous and sunny views of the Pentlands and the lush green slopes of Corstorphine Hill, remind-ing us of the splendid wider landscape in which we are fortunate to live.

It has been a fascinating experience to observe a large part of the enquiry which fully satisfied my enjoyment of ‘people watching’ as well as listening to the arguments on each side. The Reporter, who chaired the proceedings, will now report to the Scottish Ministers to enable them to make a final decision on this scheme, although the site already has planning approval for an earlier version by a different developer. The Reporter was always calm, pleasant, and alert, and I thought treated the non-professional objectors very kindly without being at all patronising. It was quite an object lesson in local democracy; my admiration for these latter determined and well-informed people is consider-able. Now we must all wait and see if we have succeeded in preventing the construction of a very tall and large modern building at this location, which many believe would be the wrong kind of landmark for Edinburgh. n

Our New Wednesday Open Meeting Location St George’s West, 58 Shandwick Place, corner of Stafford Street.

Wednesday 16 September, 2.30 – 4.30pm new time! Access: a few steps, or ramp in Stafford Street and lift to ground floor. Toilets: all accessible by lift and stairs. Seating: plenty of space in ground floor of church. Sound system: hearing loop and good amplification. Refreshments: tea or coffee and biscuits £1. Entry to meetings free this year. We will miss St Peter’s, but St George’s West is a friendly place with good facilities, and easily accessible. There is a café if you want to meet friends for lunch before the meeting.

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My Dancing Life Christina Dickson

‘Dancing has helped shape my life, my health and my happiness’

In 1982 we joined the Dunedin Dancers in Edinburgh and this took us to dance in many countries in Europe: Finland, Norway, Faeroe Isles, Germany, Belgium and Italy. In turn we had the pleasure of entertaining overseas groups of dancers in Edinburgh. Some of you will know The Reel of the Puffins – danced to a traditional pipe tune The Black Bear – which was written by John to celebrate the wedding of two dancers who got together in the Faeroes. Dancing has given me so much pleasure, and friendships all over the world. But now, as an older person I realise it has helped me stay healthy, agile and mentally alert. It was my good fortune to marry a dancer. Our maxim was ‘Always take your dancing shoes with you – there are Scots wherever you go’.

“True grace in motion comes from art, not chance, As those move easiest who have learnt to dance.”

Allan’s Ball-room Guide

Postscript: When the U3A Geology Group were in Arran recently, Chris produced a photo of herself, in a

kilt, about to climb this rock...in 1950!

Hawick, 1989

Christina and John

FEATURE

When I was five, like many children, I went to dancing school. The first thing I learned was pas de basque. During the Depression my family moved to the south of England. At the age of seven I started English country dancing in school where I was told to ‘Keep those feet straight, not at 45 degrees!’ I think of walking as exercise, and dancing as a social occupation. During the War, in Dundee where I was training as a wireless telegraphist, some serious social dancing occupied us on Sundays when boys would be invited from the ships, and the curtains drawn. After the war I was living down in Surrey and joined a group of Scots who gave concerts in old people’s homes. They wanted me to teach the dances, but I really wasn’t very good so I joined a weekly beginners class in London with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society to learn how to teach. In time I graduated to the Intermediate class where I met John, my future husband. The first major dance demonstration I took part in was at The Festival of Britain in 1951. By 1952 we were married and John’s work took us to Australia. There was already a RSCDS in Sydney and we helped found the branch in Adelaide. Immigrant Scots remembered bits and pieces of dances and put them together in ways that were not always accepted by the RSCDS. When I first joined the Society there were about 5 books each with 12 dances. They had, for the most part, been carefully researched from old manuscripts and variations were not permitted. However one that was accepted had been devised by prisoners in a POW camp, The Reel of the 51st. There was a moving moment once in Adelaide when an Australian who had been watching a demonstration said, ’I remember seeing that danced by Scots in a POW camp.’ Then on to Montreal, Canada, where we helped found the RSCD Club which later became a branch, and 55 years on it is still running. We had a wonderful time dancing on TV and for various occasions. It was in Canada that John began writing dances for weddings and other events. Some of the members of our U3A Scottish Dance group tell me that they have learned some of John Bowie Dickson’s dances, which is nice to hear. He had a particular eye for patterns and movements and a good ear for music. His flowing dances are known and danced all over the world.

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Welcoming the world to my home Elspeth MacGregor

When you are abroad on holiday, do you ever wish you could just pop in and chat with a local person in their home? It would probably make an enormous difference to your enjoyment and understanding of the country. Now that I have retired back to Scotland after thirty years of working abroad and receiving local hospitality, I am trying to pay this back. Through an organisation called HOSTUK, I have welcomed a number of international students into my home for a weekend, and at Christmas.

HOSTUK is a small but very worthwhile national charity. It was set up 22 years ago by the Foreign Office and the British Council to offer adult international students at UK universities the chance to meet British residents and experience British life and culture first hand. Our most recent guest was a royal prince from the north of Nigeria where traditional rulers still control huge areas of land. ‘How many people live in your house?’ we asked. ‘Oh, I’m not sure – maybe about 50,’ he replied. We took him to Stirling Castle and he was vastly impressed with the mighty stone structure. ‘Now this would be a good thing for me,’ he said. ‘My palace is made of mud brick and isn’t nearly as strong as this one.’ We pointed out that it doesn’t rain quite as much in northern Nigeria as it does in Scotland, so he was probably quite secure nonetheless. Hosting international students is very much a two-way process. Not long ago, we welcomed a couple of law students who cooked us a splendid Vietnamese meal, after taking us on a tour of the Chinese supermarket to choose the ingredients. And they fixed our computer in two ticks, and told us wonderful stories about their home country. They, for their part, were delighted to sample our home-cooked food and be looked after, even if it was only for 2 days. It makes a big change from a soulless student residence, and students love meeting older people and staying in a private home. The effect of the visit is far out of proportion to its short duration, and it creates an immense amount of good will. If you feel that this might be something for you, whether you live in a town or in the country, whether you are single or married, do think about becoming a host. It's an unusual thing to do, but

you will enjoy hosting very much. You choose the weekends that suit you and you host only as often as you wish to. All you need is a spare room and a hospitable home. You will find that welcoming the occasional student opens new dimensions and enriches your life. You will be contributing greatly to international understanding in a troubled world, and at no time is this of more importance than now. Learn more about HOST by contacting me, Elspeth MacGregor or one of our Regional Organisers, Anne-Marie Ringler or Margaret Jacobsen, who will allocate your visitors as and when you are free to have them. We look forward to welcoming you into our community of host families. Elspeth MacGregor 0131 441 6079 emacgregor@gmx.net Anne-Marie Ringler 01698 386 100 amringler@blueyonder.co.uk Margaret Jacobsen 01546 606 914 scot50west@yahoo.co.uk HOSTUK Website: www.hostuk.org.uk

Another volunteering possibility

The Intrepid The most intrepid are the very old.

They venture out, stout sticks, wool overcoats to withstand arctic cold, shield brittle bones,

climb onto buses steep as Matterhorn, trusting to strangers to cross roaring roads,

to choose their change, in shops where no one now can spare the time to chat or help them home

with plastic bags of food that feel like lead.

No wonder that they have an anxious look, blinking in light too strong, forms indistinct,

the noisy world absurdly amplified or deathly quiet. Sometimes they must smile

to think they once ran empires with less angst, less hazard than an outing to the shops.

Kay Clive

Kay is a member of the Creative Writing group.

Page 10 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

have disengaged from the political process and do not bother to use their vote.

Elspeth King, Scottish women’s historian, puts it well: ‘For the past thirty years, the political parties have worked hard at spreading apathy and getting political action off the streets, out of the meeting rooms and into the more managed area of the television studios. Media management is now a main strategy of most of the political parties, rather than seeking to engage the public with issues at a personal level. The net result is that thousands believe that voting does not matter, is not for them, and will not make a difference.’

If Gude Cause, its events and commemorative procession, manages to engage our young people and reconnect them with the political process, it will be well worth the huge effort involved.

So come and join us! The starting point of the Procession, Bruntsfield Links, is the same as in 1909. Princes Street is not at its best, so the route will go across the Meadows and end at Calton Hill. There will be choirs, bands, colourful banners and costumes. Our U3A banner will carry the slogan: STILL A GUDE CAUSE! Details of where we will meet on 10th October before joining the Procession at 12 noon will be on our website, given out at the Open Meeting on 16th September, or ring me on 556 9417.

Barbara Clarke

A Gude Cause Maks a Strong Arm FEATURE

100 years ago, in October 1909, at the height of the campaign for votes for women, a grand procession took place in Edinburgh.

GUDE CAUSE was formed to mark the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement Procession along Princes Street in 1909. The culmination of this celebration will be a re-enactment of this procession on 10th October 2009. It will pay tribute to the women in Scotland who fought for their right to vote, and will celebrate the power of women’s contribution to society, culture, and all aspects of public and private life in 21st century Scotland. A group from Edinburgh U3A will be joining the procession.

Leading up to the Procession, events have been taking place in community groups in different parts of Scotland to mark what has changed in the past century to improve women’s position in society, and to draw attention to what still needs to be done. Gude Cause was launched to give a history lesson on the street, and to inspire renewed action on gender equality issues. Thirty years after the Equal Pay Act, many women, the poorest in our society, are still waiting for equal pay. Female representation has fallen in the Scottish Parliament since the first elections in 1999. Despite this, devolution can and is improving the position of women in Scotland, leading to a more pragmatic, less confrontational style of politics, as favoured by Chrystal Macmillan and early suffragist founders of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Suffrage for women was dearly won in 1928. What an irony that a mere eighty years on, many women

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GROUP NEWS French Network – Réseau Français The Réseau Français is a loose network of U3A members interested in France and in talking French. It is a members-led organisation and it is open to any member to suggest activities. Come along to the open coffee mornings to find out what we are up to:

Coffee mornings: 4th Friday in the month (not Dec)

10.30am Fri Sept 25 Café Rouge, Frederick St

10.30am Fri Oct 23 Filmhouse Café, Lothian Rd

10.30am Fri Nov 27 Café Rouge, Frederick St

10.30am Fri Jan 22 Filmhouse Café, Lothian Rd

Dorothy Buglass, Mary McKemmie

Scottish Country Dance Group Inspired by Chris Dickson on Page 8? Our teacher, Moira Leith, does wonders with us. Her expertise, enthusiasm and patience are quite remarkable. It is fair to say, I think, that ‘progress has been made’! But whatever our modest achievements, dancing is good for body and brain, and great fun. We meet fortnightly and expect to start again on Tuesday 15 September at 10.30am in St Serf’s. Please ring Moira to confirm: 664 1930. BC Some lines from our resident dancing poet:

Step we fraily To Fred Astaire foxtrots

we move gently warming up

pointing toes and heels sweeping feet arching arms

our stuck out knees like swinging gates hands held like girls

in a playground game but now to stop us falling down

as ageing joints rebel against being held too long in a punishing pose

before we wheel and reel minding lefts and rights

our muddled moves morphing to smiling strathspey ,

pas de basque, petronella, allemande.

Irene Brown

A Trawl through Scottish History The Scottish History Group decided to make individual visits to the Museum of Scotland, to select an object or display of interest to them, and then to give five minute presentations using each chosen object to illustrate an aspect of Scottish History.

We began with the 19th cent. when Meryl mused on some displays of Scottish provincial Silver, illustrated by some of her own collection of silver spoons; the hallmarks are one of her big interests. Kay extended this silver theme by a millennium or two, describing the Traprain Treasure, mostly of silver from the Roman period, and the excitement of the unearthing of it, just after WW1. Hugh used a 19th-cent. picture of the Spottiswoode Ox to develop the story of the Spottiswoodes, a Borders family, over several centuries, with thumbnail sketches of several illustrious members, e.g. Archbishop Spottiswoode. Anne used a poster for intending emigrants in the 19th cent. to bring in the story of some of her ancestors, emigrants to S Africa; we reflected on the impact of such emigration on Scotland itself. Mary chose an exhibit of the last gold coins to be struck in Scotland, which led her to a description of the Darien Scheme, one of the disasters to the Scottish economy which led to the Union of Parliaments. Joyce had seen a display case about the Old Scottish Parliament, and produced a poster copy of the 17th cent. French print showing the Riding (up the Royal Mile) and Downsitting (in the old Parliament Hall) of the Old Parliament, and alluded to two of her own ancestors, Burgh Commissioners (to the old parliament) in the 17th cent. Philip chilled us with tales of the Thumbikins, Boot, and Maiden, reminding us of the nasty, brutish and short side of Scottish life in Covenanting times.

Finally, Cath described items (probably 14th and 15th cent.) excavated from Threave Castle, allowing her to tell us the story of the Douglas family, from the Good Sir James, who died attempting to carry the Bruce’s heart on a Crusade, through to the rivalry of the Douglas family with James II, and the regal murder of the Earl of Douglas at Stirling Castle.

Joyce Holt

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GROUP NEWS Geology Visit to the Isle of Arran 15-19 June’09 The Isle of Arran, beautifully situated at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, has the best geology in Scotland, according to our leader Angus Miller. In only three days we followed its geological history back over 1000 million years. It’s all here – rocks demonstrating periods of mountain building, tropical seas, hot deserts, volcanoes and underground cauldrons of magma. Arran has been an island longer than Britain!

Monday 15th

As we looked out to sea, the ancient volcano, Ailsa Craig, stood out clearly in the evening light – our first short stroll from the bunkhouse at Kilmory to the beach in the very south of Arran. Wonderful evening light and wild flowers in the hedgerows.

Tuesday 16th

The main road skirts the island close to the coast and three minor roads cross it from east to west so it was never hard to work out where we were. Catacol was our first stop on the west coast where we explored the Highland schist and granite by walking up the most wonderful valley towards the prominent peaks of Arran. The fast-flowing stream, in the peat-free valley, is renowned for having the second clearest water on the island!

Arran has been described as a miniature Scotland – the northern and central granites have a Highland appearance, the lower ground

resembling much of the Lowlands and with a great variety of rocks that we would see over the coming days.

The next stop was Lochranza and a picnic by the famous ‘Hutton unconformity’. Here, the unconformity was a time gap in geological terms, a break in the geological record. Arran was made famous by James Hutton, the father of modern geology, who in 1795 first described the unconformity between the old red sandstone and the older schists. Hutton was the first to propose that the earth’s surface had evolved over a vast period of time, contrary to the long-held beliefs his day.

Angus Miller, our leader, pointing to the Hutton unconformity

Lochranza, pondering time and unconformity

Page 13 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

We continued on foot round the coast finishing back in Lochranza via a cliff top view and ice-creams in the warm sun. By minibus for short walk up Glen Sannox to see the now deserted baryte (barium) mines and then back to the present day and shopping for supper at the Co-op!

Wednesday 17th

The geological maps were spread out on the kitchen table after breakfast for Angus’ introduction to the rocks of Arran. Briefly, the Northern Granite gives the serrated peaks and rugged terrain in an almost circular mass. Goatfell (874m) is the highest mountain on the island and managed by the National Trust. The heart of Arran consists of ring-shaped areas of shale, sandstone and chalk and the southern half, below the Central Complex, consists of many igneous rocks, sills and dykes intruded into the sandstone.

A visit to the Heritage Museum and the National Trust Castle at Brodick, once home to the Hamilton family, started the day before we headed up the east coast to Corrie. The Museum is well worth a visit for its geology exhibition and the huge collection of artefacts enthusiastically cared for by volunteers.

To walk along the shore at Corrie was like seeing rocks come alive – a time line under our feet. Beside the granite, old red sandstone, formed by sediments carried by rivers off the Caledonian mountains, could be seen at one end of the beach

(350 million years old), giving way to the new red sandstone formed in desert conditions as the continents drifted slowly but surely, looking just like arial views of windswept sand dunes. (250 m years old).

There was evidence in the limestone caves, a steep, overgrown, midge-infested walk up the cliffs at Corrie of brachiopod gigantica – a type of early shelled animal living in the shallow seas. (500 million years ago). Lime had been extracted from the mines there for many years.

Thursday 18th

Taking the west coast road and driving north to Blackwaterfoot we stopped to see the cliffs set back from the sea. These had once been pounded by the sea before the sea level dropped. We were on a raised beach.

We headed for Drumadoon Point – a sill of hard igneous rock left standing after the softer rocks had eroded away. The vertical columns were very dramatic. (photos) Beyond the Point we came to Kings Cave but first we clambered up a very steep path to see the tracks of a chirotherium, a giant lizard living around 270 million years ago, before the dinosaurs.

The Kings Cave, said to be one of Robert the Bruces’s hiding places, 8m up from the sea and formed 6000 years ago, again showed how sea levels have fluctuated since the end of the ice age. There were some Pictish carvings on the wall. Here we had our picnic and not one spider was spotted!

Geology Visit to Arran cont.

Now to Corrie – a geologist’s paradise ▼

New red sandstone ▼

Page 14 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

Joining a committee seems quite an adventure to me. Nearly sixty years ago I was treasurer for a University country dance club. Our funds were healthy – largely through the sale of Penguin biscuits and rather watery squash – but it did not lead into a catering or banking career. I am now a member of the Edinburgh Assembly, the Scottish Country Dancing Society and the Scots Music Group. About thirty-five years ago in Watford I joined the WEA committee when already much involved in its classes. The move to the Open University was a short step. Then my daughter married a Frenchman at the same time as Sheffield introduced a part-time degree course in French. U3A entered my life too. Teaching English to a Pakistani woman led in two steps to driving a mini-bus to collect mothers of handicapped children for a self-help group. Occasionally we went further afield – to pick our own strawberries, or Bradford for fabrics or

Geology Visit to Arran cont.

Leicester to buy gold. It wasn't clear that I was insured and my husband persuaded me to give this up. I did not foresee when becoming a volunteer at Mind, the mental health charity, where it would lead. We had a client, a single parent whose only son had just died. She was naturally very depressed but over the weeks it became clear to me that she needed less psychological help and more help with dealing with poverty. We directed her to her local CAB and I became a volunteer at another one. That was in 1988 and in 2005 I knocked on the door at 58 Dundas Street keen to continue. I was a bit anxious that I might be too old for this, my favourite charity, but it turned out that I was one of the younger members of the local information team. Where will being on the U3A committee lead? I am full of anticipation. n

RF

Where will all this lead? Rachel Frith has just been elected to the U3A Committee

Our last stop was on Machrie Moor, an empty, desolate area with the most wonderful collections of standing stones. This is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Scotland, evidence that people have been living on Arran for thousands of years. The six stone circles were erected about 4500 years ago. Partial excavations have shown that two of the circles were used for cremations but others were burial sites. Much is still buried deep in the peat moor.

Leaving day

We dodged the showers on the final morning to marvel at the number of dykes visible at Kildonan on our way to the ferry. This was a ‘swarm’ of dykes forming closely spaced fingers, like ribs running out to sea. Some can be as high as 8m. Dykes are made of magma forced vertically through the rock. It is a site of world importance.

We were soon on the ferry and heading for the mainland. Thank you Angus for a fascinating few days. Arran is certainly an island to return to. Goatfell beckons.

Anita Cutting

Page 15 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

GROUP NEWS Local History Group 2 visit the Royal Burgh of Dysart On a bright but very cold day in May, 20 members met in the Harbourmaster’s House in the Royal Burgh of Dysart. The House was built around 1840 as a warehouse to store cargoes from the incoming ships – timber, pantiles, flax, wine and spirits. The House is now a visitor centre with café attached. After an introduction, our guide explained that James VI had granted a charter to the village in 1587. Royal burgh status was important and granted lucrative privileges including holding eight-day markets three times a year, and collecting custom dues. Our walk began at the Harbour which dates back to early 17th century. Trade was carried out virtually worldwide but in particular with Scandinavia and Holland. Dysart Sailing Club, formed in 1967, has restored it to full use for small boats after many years of hard work. At Shore Road we viewed St. Serf’s Tower. The 80ft tower with its ruined church dominates the foreshore; although built for the steeple, it was used as a lookout for enemies coming from the sea. As we entered Fitroy Place we passed the house where John McDouall Stuart was born. He was the first man to cross Australia from South to North in 1864. His house is now a museum. Climbing up Rectory Lane we viewed through the trees Dysart House, built around 1725, once the home of the Sinclair family, the Earls of Rosslyn. When the 5th Earl was declared bankrupt in 1891, the house and grounds were sold to Michael Baker Nairn the linoleum magnate. His son Sir Michael Nairn later gave the estate back to the town on its amalgamation with Kirkcaldy. This is now

Ravenscraig Park. The house was bought by Miss Coates of the Paisley thread family who gifted it to the Carmelite Order which occupies it today. Going along the High Street we came to Dysart Cross and the Tolbooth built in 1576 when it housed both the public weights and measures office and the jail, where witches, smugglers and pick-pockets were housed. The adjoining Town Hall was built in 1887 the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. The Jubilee Lamp was erected at the Cross at this time.

Leaving the High Street we continued down towards the shore passing Pan Ha’. This row of white 16th to 18th century cottages were restored by the National Trust for Scotland in 1969. Typical of Fife with their whitewashed walls, crowstepped gable ends and red pantile roofs, they stand below the tower of St. Serf’s Church. Our circle was complete. It was a very interesting afternoon, and well worth the visit.

Barbara McRury

Theatre Ticket Offer for U3A members

On the back cover of the Clarion you will see an offer for good tickets at £12.50 in the Stalls and Grande Circle, for the King’s Theatre Autumn Drama Season.

Shows included are: The Steamie (28 September–3 October), The Silver Darlings (6–10 October),

The Grapes of Wrath (13–17 October), Entertaining Angels (19–24 October),

Kes (27–31 October), Rain Man (10–14 November).

Offer excludes Friday and Saturday evening performances.

Page 16 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

GROUP NEWS Reading Shakespeare Two Shakespeare Play-reading Groups have just completed their first year in action, Nancy Dyer’s on the north side of town and mine on the south. Nancy’s meetings include discussion of the plays; ours involve reading only, with an element of performance encouraged by the ‘casting’ of each play beforehand, so that individual members of the Group know which part(s) they will be reading and can if they wish do some preliminary homework.

We tend to follow tragedy with comedy, and comedy with history; we are working our way through the history plays according to the actual chronological order of their subject-matter, from ‘King John’ to ‘Henry VIII’. Our last play before the summer break was ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, which we started on 23rd June, just two days after Midsummer Day. Miraculously, the sun shone out of a cloudless sky and, with only a light breeze, it was warm enough to sit outside.

So we took our chairs into the garden, and read through the first three Acts of the play in leafy surroundings, our voices having occasionally to compete with those of the resident seagulls. It might all look rather serious – but we were definitely enjoying ourselves!

Elisabeth Hutchings

Photography: Five get snappy in Linlithgow

44 each. Alistair was the most profligate taking 70, Moira being the most economical, with only 21. The next stage in the process will be for everyone to select half a dozen of their shots for editing and printing. Then at the next meeting the prints will be compared, composition discussed, and methods of improvement proposed. I am told – I am a complete beginner – that you should not necessarily choose your best photos, but consider picking pairs of shots taken from slightly different angles, or elevations; or zoom and wide-angle shots taken from the same vantage point, in order to generate helpful debate. As an example, photographing St. Michael's Church, from where we first assembled in the car-park next to the Palace, proved difficult because the

One Kodak, two Panasonics and two Canons were put through their paces on the Photography Group’s latest outing to Linlithgow. The June weather was almost ideal, good sunshine, but not too bright. The main aim of the outing was to take photographs on the same general topic – Linlithgow – so that the varied approaches adopted by individual members could be compared. The afternoon commenced by everyone photo-graphing the same subject: St. Michael's Church. Then one hour was allocated for general photogra-phy before the group reassembled at Linlithgow Cross, which just happened to be next to the coffee shops. How many images do you think we took during the hour? It turned out to be 220, on average

The photographers photographed. We started the afternoon by each taking a shot of the others

Page 17 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

Photography: Linlithgow Snappers cont. cars intruded into the Church’s setting.

A first attempt at rectifying the problem, by just tilting the camera upwards, was not very successful. The image is poor because the lighting is rather uniform, the part of the Palace caught at the top

left is distracting, the tower appears tilted (perspective distortion caused by the camera pointing upwards, there is no foreground to create interest, avoiding the cars has led to the base of the church being cut off, and finally the nave and north aisle tend to lead the eye out of the picture.

A second attempt involved moving to the right (through the entrance arch) and using more zoom to get closer to the subject. This is better: there is more contrast, the brick work shows up cleanly, the car-park problem has been overcome, the perspective distortion is less distracting – possibly even serving

to make the tower look more dramatic, and the shields emphasise the Church’s historical connections. (The histories of the Palace and Church are closely entwined, their documentary records going back to King David I of Scotland in 1138. Mary Queen of Scots was born in the Palace on 8 December 1542, becoming Queen six days later.)

Moving further around the Church and using a wide-angle creates a different ambience: Man’s creation framed by God’s. This, too, is a better image, the lighting is good and varied (sun behind the camera), there is an interesting foreground, the

Church has been placed to match the rule-of-thirds, the foreground has more colour (though to some the rose spray may appear distracting), and the tower now looks straight since from this distance the camera is held almost level.

Roy Thompson

The U3A Photography Group is keen to attract new members of all skill levels including novices, or people new to digital photography. The emphasis of the group is on composition. Joint days out are particularly popular and more are planned for 2009–10 including to South Queensferry and Cramond. Each month features a different topic. Suggestions

At the July meeting of the Photography Group the following photographs were chosen as best representing the range of results obtained at the

Linlithgow ‘away-day’. A shop window. Looking for something a bit different, I tried to fill the frame with the contents of the window display. (SD) One for the Road. The pub sign was taken using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 camera in the Intelligent Auto mode - which basically means ‘point and shoot’. (MC)

Sea serpents. Base of lamp-post opposite Linlithgow Cross. More photogenic and more eye-catching than the whole lamp post. Taken using a basic ‘entry-level’ digital camera: Canon IXUS-80 (RT) Splish, splash, we were takin' a bath. This photo of ducklings was taken with my Pansonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 using Scenery Mode. (AC)

A row of swans on the lake. I hoped the eye would be led through the gate to what might be beyond. (MP)

Swan in

an interesting position. We had been taught to try to get animals facing the photographer, preferably with an eye visible. The others all swam away… (SD)

Willow Grouse Close-up of the prow of a house-boat on the Union Canal. The rope hopefully leads the eye into the picture. (RT)

for the coming year include the rule of thirds, textures, holiday photography, red-eye removal and cropping. Come along to meetings: 1st Thursday of the month at 2.00pm. Details from Sonia Duffy, Tel: 441 7434 Email: enessde-soc@yahoo.co.uk

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The Sound of Christmas Bells Judith Lyons

A s Christmas comes around each year, I am reminded of the time I became a member of a

handbell-ringing team. Our organization had been invited to take part in the Mayor’s Christmas Charity concert. Locally, this was considered something of an honour, and we were keen to make a good impression. A meeting was called to discuss the form our contribution would take. Various suggestions were put forward and rejected, and we were beginning to despair, when a member stood up and said she had recently acquired a set of handbells she was anxious to try out, and that she would be willing not only to lend them but also to train and conduct us. We were a mixed group that met later that week. Some had experience in other musical fields, others had only distant memories of making music at school, but we were assured no experience was needed and above all it was going to be fun. The first surprise for me was that the bells were not robust musical instruments. They had to be treated with extreme care. The tables had to be covered with foam rubber and blankets, and we each had to don a pair of white gloves. Eventually the bells were brought carefully from their case and a certain amount of quiet diplomacy took place as the different size and weight of bell was roughly matched to the physique of the potential ringer. Music was handed out. ‘A Child’s First Christmas Tutor’, was a bit of a blow to our pride, but we realised we had to start somewhere. ‘Silent Night’ was chosen for our entry into the world of handbells. It was a tune we all knew, it didn’t seem to have too many notes, and it was comparatively slow. At last we were ready to actually ring the bells. The conductor raised her baton; we began. Silent night it wasn’t. It was, rather, a perfect example of Eric Morecombe’s quip that he was ‘playing the right notes but not necessarily in the right order’. We had, it seemed, several major problems. One or two of the group admitted they could not actually read music buthadn’t liked to say so, and most of us realised the necessity of rigorously counting the time. In most other group musical activities you play or sing with other people. Bells, we had just discovered, were in essence solo instruments; there was nobody else to cover for a missed or wrong entry. The suspicion that we had all made a terrible mistake began to descend: why had we rejected the choir option?

A coffee break was called. Eventually it was decided that where necessary music could be highlighted to indicate ‘left’ or ‘right’ hand, and the conductor agreed to beat the time forcefully and to nod or point to bring in those having the most difficulty. It took three weeks of intensive rehearsal and a severe curtailment of the ambitious programme planned by the conductor, but at last we were presentable. We knew we were not very good but at least there was a chance of the audience recognising the tunes. The day of the concert arrived and we went to the church for the afternoon run-through. Chairs had been placed before the altar for the various choral and speaking groups, with a space left for instrumentalists. The organizers had presumed we would walk on with a bell in each hand and ring out our music. Nobody had thought to tell them that we would need to erect three padded decorator’s tables and a dozen music stands. Lengthy discussion ensued, but it was plain that no amount of re-arrangement would produce enough space. We were on the point of withdrawing gracefully and not without some sense of relief, when somebody had a bright idea. We could occupy the space behind the choir stalls. It was rather gloomy but we were assured temporary lighting could be installed. By then it was too late to rehearse, and we left to prepare for the evening.

There was a Christmassy atmosphere in the church when we returned. We took our places, butterflies’ wings of panic growing larger and stronger with the passing of each contribution. All too soon we were announced: it was our turn. We put on our gloves and prepared to begin. The lights were switched on. Oh, why hadn’t we tried them before the concert? The spotlights either completely obliterated the notes or added to the gloom that already existed. We had to carry on blind. Fortunately we knew the music by heart, we had rehearsed it so many times, but without the reassurance of the music we played a little tentatively. Then it was over. The applause was a little slow but eventually rose to a satisfactory level.

Later, I asked my husband what he had thought of our performance. He said he hadn’t been able either to hear or see us. Further enquiries revealed that a significant section of the audience at the back of the church had shared his experience. For many people that night, the bells did not ring merrily on high. n

Judith is a member of the Creative Writing group.

Page 19 Clar ion on l ine No 53/4 Autumn 2009

ENDNOTES LUNCHES 2009–10

SEPT Tues 1st Weds 2nd Thurs 3rd

La Fontana, 1 Howard St, Canonmills

OCT Tues 6th Weds 7th Thurs 8th

Jasmine Chinese Rest, 32 Grindlay St

NOV Tues 3rd Weds 4th Thurs 5th

Jewel & Esk Velley College, 25 Milton Rd

DEC Tues 1st Weds 2nd Thurs 3rd

Daniel’s Bistro 88 Commercial Street

JAN NO LUNCH

FEB Tues 2nd Weds 3rd Thurs 4th

Overseas Club Princes Street

All meetings at 12.15pm for 12.30pm.

Book at an open meeting or telephone Pat Thomas on 667 8992. Essential to tell Pat if unable to attend.

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS! Corrections and addition to your Groups Booklet

SCRABBLE 4 Margot Montgomery Tel: 441 7102 4th Tuesday PHOTOGRAPHY Sonia Duffy Tel: 441 7434 ANCIENT GREECE 2nd and 4th Tuesday 2–4 pm from 8 Sept. Paul Bailey Tel: 447 6214 Email: pvb@paul-bailey.demon.co.uk

DON’T MISS:

Exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh, Canongate, charting the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Edinburgh.

August 2009 – February 2010

? Why not write something for

The Clarion

Editor’s note As ever, I am most grateful to the editorial team: Rosemary Miller and Mary Walker for their ideas, support and willingness to write; and to all our contributors to this issue. We are pleased to welcome Elisabeth Hutchings to the Clarion team.

This Clarion Online Autumn 2009 is available to read and download as a PDF from the middle of August.

The Clarion print version will continue to be mailed to everyone. Thanks to Neil Duffy, our webmaster, for his considerable expertise and generous input.

Autumn Update This will be produced in early November for Group Leaders to pass around. Publicise your groups, new groups starting, or U3A matters in general.

Update items to be with the Editor by mid-October.

NEXT ISSUE

The Edinburgh University of the Third Age Scottish Charity Number SC020301

Please note that the Spring issue of The Clarion will be available in February 2010. Deadline for copy is 30 November 2009.

Contributions should be typed and sent by post or email to:

Barbara Clarke Flat 5, 1 London Street, Edinburgh EH3 6LZ Tel: 0131 556 9417 Email: beclarke99@gmail.com With any contribution include your name, phone number and address, and please keep a copy.