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In this Issue ……….. News from the Groups 1-10

Social 10 Channel Island Explorer 11 Diary Dates 11

Contact List 12 Groups Timetable 13

SWANLEY AND DISTRICT

Newsletter

No 80 September 2019

Hello everyone, Melted yet? I think it’s time the climate engineers and fixers sorted this out. They ought to remember that we are Northern Europeans

and this is Australian Summer weather, so please go back to the drawing board and put this right. We don’t like extremes and I intend to make a complaint!! Hopefully by the time you get this newsletter and by our next meeting it will have cooled a little. I probably sound very flippant when you see and hear what is happening at this moment to our fragile world. Can’t believe we are in the 9th month already, but our September speaker is Andy Thomas who is going to give us some insight into ‘Unexplained Mysteries and Cover-ups.’ I do like conspiracy theories and I’m sure it will be enjoyable and interesting. Remember the Titanic one? It was all so credible and gave plenty of food for thought.

I hope to see you at the meeting where we may find we have to huddle together for warmth. Only joking------I think.

Sandra Treloar

Group News It seems quite possible that the suggested MOTO (Members On Their Own) group can be

organised. Look out for further details in future newsletters. The walking rugby group was well attended recently. The next session will take place on Friday 27th September on the village green in Crockenhill starting at 11:00 a.m. For additional information on all rugby related matters speak to Alan Hayward or myself. Please note that all places have now been filled for the London History walk on Wednesday 16th October.

John Baker

News from the groups

Theatre Group On 25th June a small but select group of 25 found themselves in the courtroom of County

Hall to see Witness for the Prosecution. This production was very cleverly set, using the audience as members of the Court whilst the scene unfolded before us. Unfortunately I only discovered, on reading the programme on the way home, that you were permitted to take photographs during the interval. The set changes that were all carried out by members of the cast and transformed the stage from office to Courtroom to street were so beautifully choreographed that it was a joy to watch. The acting was impeccable and kept us all enthralled to the end. The only photograph I managed to take was of a very weary group of travellers on their way home.

Madeline McCubbin

Charity No T1155593

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Antiques and Collectables - August meeting

This month we had another of our ‘show and tell’ meetings – we invited members to bring along something they had purchased at the July trip to Detling Antiques Fair, or something else if they didn’t go. First up was John with a Detling find - a very old set of Happy

Families cards with some rather scary illustrations. This set was first produced in 1851 when John Jacques commissioned John Tenniel to design ‘a new game for juveniles’. The cards show characters in similar grotesque style to those created for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Tenniel a few years later. The game was promoted to great success at the 1851 Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace.

Another set of playing cards was purchased by Wendy – these were in a presentation box and dated from the 1930s. It included a set of rules for 20 different kinds of Patience. Audrey had a beautiful collection of stamps from all over the world, depicting paintings by grand masters of art. The album had been very well presented by the collector and each stamp carefully labelled in neat pencil.

Tony had been rummaging in a National Trust bookshop on his travels (to be recommended as they often have some good bargains!). He had found an old school text book called ‘Our Heritage’ by Rowland Purton, which was a comprehensive but simplistic, whizz through the history of Britain. Each chapter had a simplified version of the text for less able children. He also brought along a topical ‘Race into Space’ Brooke Bond card album from the early 70s (priced at One Shilling or 5p). Jennifer showed us a collection of rings and medals from her father in law, who drove for the NHS. One was inscribed ‘Ten Years of Safe Driving’ 1964.

There was also an old coin which depicted a young Queen Victoria. We passed round a collection of ceramic plates from the 1950s

brought along by Tim. Some were by Alfred Meakin. My favourite was a saucer proudly showing the crest of Swanley Junction’s Women’s Institute and their motto ‘For Home and Country’. New member Dave had an interesting anti-propaganda medal. This was originally designed by Karl Goetz in Germany to celebrate the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 when 1198 were killed. The medal was wrongly dated 5th May instead of 7th which led to the incorrect claim that the act was premeditated by the Germans. The British Foreign Office obtained a copy of the medal and published a photo of it which provoked much anti German feeling. The Foreign Office arranged for copies to be made by Harry Selfridge in presentation boxes to highlight this outrageous act. Proceeds from their sale went to charities for war veterans.

My contribution was some items I had found when clearing my mum’s house. Out of the loft came a pewter vase and an old drinks coaster, both of which I remembered very well from my childhood. There was also a photograph of me aged about 4 from 1959 or 1960 sitting in the living room, with the vase on the table, and a Chinese ink painting by Xu Beihong above the fireplace (the same artist as on the coaster). This painter was very popular in the 1950s. My mum

was very proud of her modern living room! Gill Baker

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Herring Gull Black Headed Gull Wood Pidgeon Lapwing Cormorant

Mute Swan Greater Black

Backed Gull

Black-tailed

Godwit

Oyster Catcher Linnet

Redshank Avocet Lesser Black

Backed Gull

Whitethroat Grey Heron

Hobby Young Goldfinches Mallard Duck Teal Young Shelduck

Gadwall Sedge Warbler Little Grebe Coot Starlings

Sparrow Hawk Whimbrel Pied Wagtail Moorhen Willow Warbler

Shoveler Duck Golden Plover Yellow Wagtail Kestrel

Courtesy of

Tony Scale

Birdwatching

August Report – Oare Marshes Nature Reserve – Kent Wildlife Trust ( KWT ) The 34 bird species observed on our visit to Oare Marshes on the 21st August were as shown below. This month I have included illustrative images of all the birds seen for all our readers to experience.

Our next Bird Watching outing will be to Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT) on Wednesday, 18th September.The address is: Guilford Road, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich CT13 9PF We shall meet at 10:00 at the Field Centre - showing as SBBOT on their website map - Google

SBBOT. We visited SBBOT last year for the first time and were fascinated to witness the bird ringing process close up at the start of our visit before heading off to Restharrow Scrape and deeper into the reserve. I have booked us in again so really hope you will join us! SBBOT is an independent registered charity that relies on the support of its members and volunteers to maintain the Field Centre and the reserves. New members and visitors are always welcome, however, there is a small fee of £1 at the Tollgate for non-members visiting the

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Observatory – tell them you are visiting SBBOT. As an accredited bird observatory and charity,

SBBOT is committed to the conservation and recording of the natural environment in the Sandwich Bay area.

As usual and because the distance from Swanley is over 60 miles (that’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes drive), it would be better to car share for this adventure – accordingly, please

inform me if you require or can offer a lift. The routine reminder: please note the weather forecast and be prepared with suitable clothing and footwear on the day. This expedition is open to all U3A members. Please sign up at the Bird Watching Group desk at the monthly meeting

on Friday, 6th September, or you can contact me by phone or text on 07470 201703 or email at rogerbryan@ntlworld.com.

Avid Birdwatchers at Oare Marshes Roger Bryan Book Group The Essex Serpent was the book we discussed at our August meeting. It is by Sarah Perry who was born in Essex in 1979 and it is her second book. It had great reviews on publication -"a rapturously acclaimed historical novel", and was awarded the British Book Awards' Book of the Year in 2016. However, our group had mixed feelings about it! The whole story takes place in 1893 and is set mostly around the River Blackwater in Essex. At

New Year the body of a reveller is found washed up in the mud, with his neck broken. Fears spread among local people that a fierce monster described in a pamphlet of 1669 has returned. Cora Seaborne, newly widowed, leaves London for Essex with her young son and their nanny/companion. Cora is a wealthy intellectual with a great interest in natural history, especially the collection of fossils. She is therefore keen to investigate this monster as it might be some creature previously thought extinct. The fears and superstitions of parishioners are being allayed by the local vicar, Will Ransome. Cora and Will meet and, despite their Science v Faith situation, develop a growing relationship and even have the blessing of his ailing wife. Strange things continue to happen in Essex among the local people and the children - one child goes missing and another is hypnotised. A gigantic rotten fish is washed up - is this the monster? Fear is ever present. Tied in with what is happening in Essex, the story moves to London, involving the skills of a young surgeon, who is in love with Cora. Could he be the doctor to cure the vicar's wife back in Essex? Whilst dealing with his patient in London, details of the dreadful housing conditions of the poor are described and efforts at improvement are initiated (I thought these "sub-texts" were interesting and well researched, but maybe they made the novel rather over-long). We follow the trials and tribulations of Cora and Will and their families until, at last, the River

Blackwater gives up its secret and the mystery of the monstrous serpent is solved.

Pauline Long

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Croquet, Table Tennis & Petanque

Croquet On Wednesday 25th September the croquet group are playing a team from Dartford council at 4pm, come and support us hope the weather is nice. The croquet section is going very well and will continue till the end of September, the last game will be Wednesday 9th October.

Table Tennis In their own words one of the table tennis section is suffering withdrawal symptoms, so I will restart the Table tennis on Friday 20th September usual time. Petanque

I apologise for my absence this was due to hospital appointments for my daughter. Petanque will be on the following dates Thursday 5th & 19th September, Thursday 17th & 31st October. Let’s make our meeting on Thursday 12th December a Christmas themed party. I am sure the pub will be doing Christmas lunch by then. I am having a bit of trouble with emails. If you receive one from me could you please reply that

you have got it ok, I will do likewise. If you email me and I do not reply within three days, phone me, thank you.

Bill Hammond Gardening group 28th August visit to Boundes End, Bidborough, Kent

Our meeting this month was to Boundes End, which is a member of the National Garden Scheme. We were warmly welcomed by Carol & Mike who have owned the property since 2001, when the gardens front and back were completely overgrown and bore no resemblance to today’s beautiful garden. Over the years they’ve tirelessly developed it into the amazing garden, we were lucky enough to see today. It is an unusual shaped plot being two triangles, point to point, made into separate rooms of differing styles. The terrace had lots of colourful pots and planters with

cannas and exotics all leading down to a more formal area with all sorts of bright herbaceous perennials and

a pebble bed with drought tolerant plants. These are only watered in late spring with a seaweed feed, otherwise left to their own devices. Moving down the garden, through a gate, we came to the mini orchard, log store, tool museum and working area and then onto a small prairie garden with grasses ,perennials and a camp fire circle (the owners are members of the Scout movement). Towards the far end of the garden colours were more subdued, with planting of bamboos, acers and hostas. There was a dry riverbed feature next to a bog garden, which had come about to solve a problem with storm water from the road running under their house and coming out in the garden causing it to be rather boggy. This was a very secluded private garden with tall hedges and trees and backing on to woodlands

which was a real treat to visit. We finished off in our usual style with delicious tea and cake, with seconds aplenty.

Sue Saunders

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London History Group

The Guildhall Library Members of the London History group recently visited the Guildhall Library in the City of London. Prior to the visit we ate lunch in Ye Olde Watling, a pub just along the road from St.Pauls. It was built by Christopher Wren in 1668 as accommodation and office space for those involved in the

construction of the new cathedral (so it seems that Wren did not just build churches!). It was a short walk to the library where we were met by our host, Ann. She began by telling us the history of the place. It was established in 1425 with money left by the former mayor, Richard Whittington. In 1549 the books were “borrowed” by the Duke of Somerset for his new London home and never returned. It was re-established in 1828 and has been in its current home since 1974. It is a public reference library which stores thousands of books with an emphasis on London

and its history. Our host had gathered a selection of books from the huge collection for us to see. There were two early 15th century religious books, hand written on vellum and beautifully illuminated. It was a special experience to be invited to turn the six hundred year old pages. An

early printed book, a London gazette, contained illustrations which had been hand coloured. The owner’s notes could be seen in the

margins. We saw Bills of Mortality from the 1665 plague and accounts of the following year’s Great Fire. A 19th century broadsheet described the murder conviction and subsequent execution of Mr and Mrs Manning. These publications were popular souvenirs at the time. We were also able to look at a Victorian bus timetable.

Ann took us down to the underground store rooms which were filled with rows of metal shelving containing thousands of books. We

were intrigued by the largest book in the collection. It measured 3 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 3 inches and the cover was made of wood. It was produced for the International Exhibition of 1862. Four people are required to lift the book! There is no need to turn the pages as the book is completely empty. Later in the afternoon we were able to plot our route home with the help of a map of Kent printed in 1719. Anyone can visit the Guildhall Library and books will be provided for you upon request.

John Baker

A page from the records of the Great Plague of London

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Photography Group

Over the last two months members of the photography group have been out and about. In July we visited Brands Hatch for a photo fair with the chance to photograph motorcycles practicing for a forthcoming event.

In August nine members of the group did a photography walk from Limehouse DLR station to Abbey Road DLR station around the Limehouse Marina (formally the Regent Canal basin) along Limehouse Cut (first navigable canal to be dug in London, it opened nearly 250 years ago in 1770) though Bow Locks and the River Lee, around Three Mill Island and finishing at Abbey Mills Pumping Station. (Still a much-admired masterpiece of Victorian public works engineering, built in 1865–8 and nicknamed ‘the cathedral of sewage’.) Designed by Joseph Bazalgette, the station’s pumps drew waste water from the drains of north London and sent it down to the filter-beds at Beckton (Thames Water receives more requests to see inside Abbey Mills than any other property in its portfolio.) The walk gave us many opportunities to photograph both old and new architecture in the area and it was good to see that Tower Hamlets council is preserving much of its rich ‘East End’ history. The canal itself had a variety of wildlife along it with many craft of which some had seen better days. When we reached Bow Locks at

the junction of the Canal and the River Lee a member of the public asked if we had come to photograph the seal? Apparently, one had been spotted on many occasions at high tide – as it was low tide,

we decided to continue on our way to Three Mill Island. An industrial island formed by the dividing and recombining tributaries of the River Lea. As a site it has nearly a thousand years’ milling history, first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 and the Tidal Mill House is an 18th century grade 1 listed building. Our route then took us on to Abbey Mill and from

there to Abbey Road DLR station – unfortunately there was no zebra crossing for us to try and re-enact the Beatles crossing the road! (Although it is not the Abbey Road of Beatle fame it does receive a lot of visitors due to the station name and the number of visitors to the nearby Olympic Park). There will be a photographic slideshow of the walk at the October meeting.

Alan Hayward

Rugby Appreciation Group

In preparation for the forthcoming season, including the World Cup which starts mid Sept in Japan, seven members of the present group met in the Chequers (following the walking rugby).

We selected some of the World cup games to watch on TV together (Japan being a bit too far to travel) as well as live games at Swanley, Blackheath and Sidcup. The Sidcup games normally include a carvery lunch which is very good value for money (and the rugby is free to attend).

If anybody else would like to join us (at present we have seven males and two females, so not quite gender balance!) please let me or John Baker know you will be made very welcome.

Alan Hayward

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Walking Groups

Wednesday 11th September 2019 10.00 for a 10.15 start

Meet Clive at The Windmill on the village green at Weald Village TN14 6PN for a walk of between three and four miles. There are a couple of points en route where people who wish to do a shorter walk may drop out.

Directions: By car: Leave the A21 at the Hildenborough /Weald exit, turn right at the roundabout, crossing over the A21 then go ahead down Morley’s Road to find the green at the

centre of the village.

By public transport: You can reach the Weald on a 402 bus from Dunton Green or Sevenoaks.

Please contact Clive at clivetheilex@gmail.com or 01474248377/07748 8952686 to let him know you are coming and to let him know if you will be staying for lunch.

Friday 20th September 2019 10.00 for a 10.15 start

Meet Mark at The Black Horse, The Street, Pluckley TN27 0QS for a walk of about four miles.

Directions: by car: Leave the M20 at junction 8 and continue on the A20 heading away from London. When you reach Charing, turn right into Station Road and continue ahead as it becomes Pluckley Road then Smarden Road to reach Pluckley. Turn left into The Street to find the pub a short way down.

By public transport: the nearest station is in Charing. Please contact Mark at

fittock75@gmail.com or 01322 665026 to let him know you are coming and to let him know if you will be staying for lunch.

Clive Rayner

Walking Group Friday Review

On Friday 23rd September eight of us did a beautiful walk around Sutton Valence led by Alan Ansted in glorious weather. We saw East Sutton church - St Peter and St Paul which dated from Doomsday and Sutton Valence castle at the end of the walk. A delicious lunch in The Kings Head to finish a lovely morning!

Pauline Lockstone

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Wednesday Walking Group - Horton Kirby - Report

On Wednesday 14th August 2019, a group of fourteen entrepid walkers gathered in the car park of The Fighting Cocks in Horton Kirby. Despite the heavy rain all the walkers completed the 4.5 mile walk along the River Darenth and around the fishing lakes in South Darenth. We ventured down overgrown paths and passed the now redundant Watercress beds, by St John of Jerusalem - National Trust property. Spirits were good with jokes and friendly banter shared along the way,

despite the weather. Upon our return to the Fighting Cocks we were welcomed with a hot pub lunch to round off the day. Great company, great food and great weather, if you’re a duck!

Phil Saunders

Quiz Nights Dates for this month's quizzes are: Tuesday September 3rd Birchwood Golf Centre. Wednesday September 11th Red Lion. Tuesday September 17th Red Lion. Wednesday September 25th Red Lion. All my quiz nights start at 7.30pm. Please sign up at the monthly meeting or just come along on

the night if you would like to join a U3A team on any of these evenings.

David Collins

Food Appreciation Due to holidays and other commitments the group will not meet in September. The next meeting will be on 17th October when our theme will be Victorian Cookery.

Anne Cudd

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Walking Rugby

Nine people plus a photographer (after some action shots for the photography’s group sports theme) came along on a rather warm Friday morning for our third walking rugby meeting on Crockenhill Village Green. After a

session of passing and catching the ball, we went through a few of the basic rules for the new comers. You have to walk and pass the ball backwards. A tackle is made when you are touched and you have to pass the ball straightaway. After the fifth tackle the ball is given to the opposition. The most difficult part is remembering that you have to be behind the person with the ball to receive a pass.

We then had a very enjoyable game of four a side for 30 minutes (the ninth person refereeing) until the midday heat made it too hot to continue. Everybody that came along enjoyed the session and in the true tradition of rugby, six of us wandered across the green to The Chequers pub for lunch and some liquid refreshments

The next session will be on Friday 27th Sept, 11.00-12.00 on Crockenhill Village Green (free car park behind the village hall). Optional lunch afterwards in the Chequers or Angel Bake (if you prefer tea &

cake). This is a good way to keep fit and NO rugby experience is necessary.

Alan Hayward / John Baker

Social

Postal Museum This trip will take place on Monday 9th September. Pick up points are: 10.30am Hextable. 10.35am Swanley Asda bus stop.

My emergency contact no. is 07518 750463. Christmas At Faversham & Canterbury This is booked for November 19th. The trip is now full so if you are signed up but have not yet paid please pay (£43) at the monthly meeting to reserve your place as there is a short waiting list.

Leonardslee Illuminated This is booked for Saturday December 14th from approximately 3pm-8.30pm. Enjoy the spectacular Christmas illuminations and trail through the beautiful woods and lakes at Leonardslee Gardens near Horsham. This will feature enchanting light displays, music and theatrical performances and large scale projections onto Leonardslee House. Refreshments will be available. Cost of this trip is £21.50. Cheque payments only please.

Penny Collins

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Channel Island Explorer Saturday 28th September 2019 - Saturday 5th October 2019 Well our holiday to the Channel Islands is getting closer, when forty one of us will be invading these beautiful Islands and partaking in some, hopefully sunshine, good food and wonderful experiences.

We are awaiting the final itinerary from “Just for Groups,” which will include details of our coach pickup times from Swanley and Hextable, together with our confirmed flight times from Southampton to Jersey and return. Information will also be provided about the two included excursions around Jersey and Guernsey plus our mid holiday ferry and our day trip to the Island of Sark.

We have booked sunshine and hope our order will be fulfilled, in full! Nevertheless, as always, we will make the best of whatever happens and enjoy ourselves and each other’s company. We will be manning the holiday desk at this month’s meeting to give out information and answer any question from members.

Phil & Sue Saunders

Diary Dates

Date

6th September

Unexplained Mysteries And Cover Ups - Andy Thomas

4th October

History of Food, Drink and Table Manners - Gilly Halcrow

1st November

Virtual Tour Of Canterbury Cathedral - Pam Wait

Newsletter The closing date for the next newsletter will be Friday 27th September . Please send articles to pfjc@btinternet.com or text to 07732 804042, thank you.

Peter Cudd

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Contact Details

Chairman Sandra Treloar sandratreloar04@btinternet.com

Vice Chairman David Collins dacollins53@hotmail.com Business Secretary Carol Willingham carolw8920@gmail.com Social/Outings Coordinator Penny Collins pennycollins@hotmail.com 01322 669724

Membership Tony Scale tscale001@aol.com Linda Herlihy linda.herlihy@talktalk.net 01322 664287 Group Co-ordinators John Baker johnbaker52@talktalk.net David Collins dacollins53@hotmail.co.uk

Website - https://u3asites.org.uk/swanley

Here is some space so here Are some one liners

As the coffin was being lowered into the ground at a traffic warden's funeral, a voice screamed from inside, "I'm not dead! I'm not dead! Let me out!" To which the vicar replied, "Too late pal. I've already done the paperwork!" I was at a fancy dress party last night when a chunky lass came over to me. She blushed and said, "I really fancy you." "Calm down, " I replied. "It's just a costume, I'm not a real doughnut!" I went to my allotment and found that there was twice as much soil as there was the week

before... The plot thickens! I just cross-bred a crocodile and a homing pigeon... I expect that'll come back to bite me! Fancy playing hide and seek all day and getting paid for it? Become a member of staff at B&Q! Nurse: "Doctor, there's a patient on line 1 that says he's invisible." Doctor: "Well tell him I can't see him right now!"

My window cleaner was banging my window, shouting and swearing... I thought to myself, "He's lost his rag!"

Why is Peter Pan always flying? Because he Neverlands! I like this joke because it never grows old!

Okay I give in, enough is enough ....... until next space time !!

The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are of a general nature and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Swanley and District U3A or any part of the University of the Third Age unless specifically stated. All rights

reserved, any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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Groups Timetable

Group Leader Group meets

Antiques and Collectables John and Gill Baker 3rd Tuesday morning

Art & Craft Penny Collins 4th Tuesday afternoon

Art Appreciation Margaret Austin 1st Monday morning

Art Outdoor Gill Baker As notified

Art Painting Drawing Gill Baker Tuesday evenings fortnightly

Bird Watching Roger Bryan 3rd Wednesday morning

Book Group Linda Herlihy 2nd Tuesday afternoon

Chess Terry Bennett 4th Wednesday morning

Computer Paul Brenchley 4th Thursday afternoon

Creative Writing Penny Collins 1st Thursday morning

Croquet Bill Hammond As notified

Family History Susan Polden Last Monday of month in morning

Fishing Mike Axford 2nd Wednesday

Food Appreciation Anne Cudd 3rd Thursday afternoon

Gardening Peter Cudd 4th Wednesday afternoon

History Modern Jackie Griffiths 4th Tuesday afternoon

History of London 1 John Baker 2nd Thursday morning

History of London 2 John Baker 4th Thursday morning

Lets Speak French Barbara Ramsay As notified

Music Making Mark Fittock Every Tuesday morning

Petanque Bill Hammond As notified

Poetry Appreciation Penny Collins 3rd Wednesday morning

Photography Digital Alan Hayward 2nd Friday afternoon

Play Reading Penny Collins 3rd Friday morning

Quiz Team David Collins Tuesday and Wednesday evenings fortnightly

Rugby Appreciation Alan Hayward tba

Singing Group Sue Scott 3rd Tuesday afternoon

Table Tennis Bill Hammond 1st and 3rd Friday afternoon

Theatre Group Madeline McCubbin As notified

Wednesday Walking Roger Bryan 2nd Wednesday morning

Friday Walking Clive Rayner 4th Friday

Wine Tasting Bob Brickell 4th Wednesday evening

For contact details of group leaders please contact John Baker

johnbaker52@talktalk.net or David Collins 01322 669724

or dacollins53@hotmail.co.uk