September Talk

On 5th September, the Army Engagement Team gave a presentation covering the broad topics of ‘Army’s present tasks’ and ‘How the money is spent’. The talk, by Major Twumas-Ankrah (from the Household Cavalry) and Corporal Samantha Blyth (from the Royal Logistics Corps), was backed by slides showing recent conflicts, the equipment employed, the training and wide range of tasks undertaken by a variety of Army personal. A wide variety of races are represented in the Army and the role of women, presently 7000 in number, has increased.

The main task at present is in Afghanistan and involves efforts to improve life for the population. An intriguing series of roles are undertaken, including training the Afghans, Medical Teams and the commitment to support injured soldiers, linguists and bridge-builders.

The global requirements on the Army are regularly reviewed and the level of intervention is decided by the Government after advice by the Army. Questions were asked about the Rapid Reaction Force and its level of readiness; the role of Reservists, whose numbers are to increase to 30,000, was also discussed.

Peter Sollars, (Outgoing) Speaker Co-ordinator

September Trip

On Wednesday 10th September a coach took 38 members on a visit to the Royal Museums at Greenwich. Details of the day can be seen on the attached page.

October Talk

Horndean U3A was transported back to the time of the English Civil War by Paul Ullson at our monthly meeting held at Merchistoun Hall on Friday 3rd October. He preceded his talk about the Civil War 350 years ago by taking us back through our history of the 17th century to Henry 8th ‘s time, highlighting events that built up to the civil unrest.

During this time there was dissent regarding the supremacy of the monarch especially over parliament, raising taxes, religion and the abject pauperism of the populous. This built up from Henry 8th’s reign, via consecutive monarchs eventually to Charles 1 who in 1649 was beheaded. The Civil war continued in short sharp bursts between the Royalist and the Parliamentarians throughout the country with our area in the south being less involved than London, Midlands and the North until 1660 when the Royalist reinstated the monarchy by crowning Bonnie Prince Charlie, Charles 2nd .

Paul was dressed in typical clothing of the 17th century mainly woven in wool with knee high leather boots to protect his legs. He passed around several artefacts relating to the period and posed questions as to their use which led to many interesting questions and answers.

Paul’s talk was lively and interactive particularly when he requested members of U3A to play the parts of monarchs, especially Henry 8th and Charles 1 which caught our imaginations; probably because of their many remembered exploits! It was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

November Talk

Horndean U3A members were given an interesting and light hearted talk on life in a prisoner of war camp by one of our own members, Jeff Thomas, at our meeting on Friday 7th November at Merchistoun Hall, Horndean. Jeff told us about his Father-in-law S/Sgt Harry Brett RAOC/REME who signed up as a reservist in the Second World War.

Jeff’s Father-in-law became a POW having been wounded at the fall of Crete to the Germans in 1941 (having previously been one of the last out of Dunkirk in 1940) and spent the rest of the war in Stalag 383 a large camp situated NE of Munich.

At the end of the war he returned home with an interesting photo album (much of its contents having been taken ‘illegally’) showing a selection of activities which took place during his incarceration.

Until 1943 the prisoners in Stalag 383 endured bad conditions but once the Swiss Red Cross became involved, life improved. They supplied many extras, one of which was watch making equipment which Harry became proficient at. He did work for the German guards and was secretly able to make compasses incorporated into metal buttons which assisted several successful escapes.

The young fit Germans were fighting on the Russian front so as a result the guards at the camp were mainly older easy going fellas! They called the prisoners “Kriegies” and were easily bribed and happily supplied them with cameras, books for the library, printing press etc. Bribes were paid for with the Deutsche Marks they supplied in the camp.

The biggest problem in the camp became boredom but they overcame this by setting up lots of activities - gardening club, dance band, theatre group, library, rugby team, display team et al. The Red Cross supplied a gramophone in which was housed a hidden radio for daily news bulletins. Jeff showed a photo of the Mikado “leading lady” in a beautiful dress made entirely out of Red Cross bandages!

S/Sgt Harry Brett had a long happy life after his incarceration and demob and died aged 92 years. A book “Barbed Wire” was published after the war about Stalag 383 but is now extremely rare.

December Talk

Dr Dave Allen entertained us once again on his third seasonal presentation to the group about Christmas songs. This year he talked about the popularity of Christmas songs in the past and those chosen by people on Desert Island Discs. Dave has searched through 77 years of the Radio Times to identify the most popular choices. He projected many front covers of the Radio Times dating back to 1923.

During his research he found that 35 different Christmas songs had been selected by 3,000 guests since 1923. The most popular choice by 14 potential castaways was 'In the Bleak Midwinter' by the Kings College Choir. We then enjoyed a short rendition.

The second choice (by 13 castaways) not surprisingly was Silent Night by a variety of performers together with several requests by Bing Crosby. We listened to a very old German recording.

The third choice was Bing’s rendition of White Christmas. The next two were the Holly & the Ivy and Fairy Tale of New York (which no one seemed to know!).

Next at seven was 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', and finally eighth was 'Dulci Jubilo' which Dave’s favourite cricket commentator, John Arlott, who was a castaway twice, said that Kings College Choir recording of which was the one record to epitomise England.

During the presentation we listened to several of the choices. At the end of his talk Dave told of his own personal favourites all associated with different events and memories in his life. Top of his list is Santa Claus by Sonny Boy Williamson.

Following Dave Allen’s talk we were serenaded by our own U3A singing group. They sung their hearts out with seasonal treats and most of us just couldn’t help but sing along! A truly seasonal meeting followed by tea and mince pies and enjoyed by all.

Diane Stoner, Speaker Co-ordinator