Visit to Dragon LNG – 24 October 2013
Dragon LNG Visit
Members of the Computer Group and other U3A members enjoyed a very informative and interesting afternoon visit to Dragon LNG. Our special thanks to Wendy Goldsworthy (front right) and Karen Wood (second row left) who escorted us for the afternoon and answered all our questions.
A brief précis of the techy stuff!
Natural gas (mainly methane), from sources around the world, is cleaned of impurities and then cooled to below -160ºC when it is stored as a liquid and transported by ship in insulated containers (like giant Thermos flasks) to Milford Haven. The liquid is then pumped and stored in 2 large containers until required by the national grid. Heating returns it to a gas, it is then further refined for consistency with the national grid requirements and finally released into the large pipelines connecting to the rest of the UK network.
Refrigeration is not used at any point after the original cooling and liquefaction; the liquid gas remains below -160ºC by excellent insulation and the cooling effect of boil-off gas which is removed and used for heating and electricity generation on site. Liquid gas occupies around 1/600th of the volume of the gaseous form which facilitates the economic transport around the world.
During the visit we also learned more about the finite and dwindling natural energy resources in the world competing with an ever increasing population and the added expectations and energy demands in the developing nations.
Further information is available from the Dragon LNG site at http://www.dragonlng.co.uk and also a video about their community support programme is at http://youtu.be/oEfR2OaoRco
Obituary
The death occurred on Tuesday 17th September of John Young (97), former and first Treasurer of Pembrokeshire U3A. The funeral will take place on Monday 30th September with a service at St Ismael’s Church, Uzmaston at 12.30pm followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium Narberth.
Thank you Debbie and Martin
To mark Debbie & Martin’s retirement from the day to day running of NAC they were presented with gifts at the September monthly meeting. Jean Goodeve presented engraved British cut glassware, to express the gratitude of the Pembrokeshire U3A for all the time and assistance they have devoted to U3A members over the years.
Debbie & Martin also received a gift vouchers from the Table Tennis Group presented by Muriel Davies and from the new Bridge Group by Patricia Mason.
U3A Art Group Annual Exhibition 2013
Annual Art Exhibition at the Carew Community Hall Started at 20th August and continued till the 26th August, including August Bank Holiday Monday.
(CICK ON THE THUMBNAILS BELOW TO VIEW PICTURE. CLICK ON “BACK” TO RETURN)
Pembrokeshire U3A Member Erene Grieve Gets Top UK Award
British Postal Museum & Archive Volunteer Lands National Award For Museum Learning
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London, 11 July – The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is delighted to announce that volunteer Erene Grieve has been jointly-awarded The British Museum and Marsh Christian Trust’s national volunteer award for museum learning 2012.. At a ceremony held at the British Museum in July Erene was selected from 10 regional finalists and was awarded a cheque for £1,500.
Erene, who lives in Neyland, Pembrokeshire, won the London regional award in May and was jointly presented with the national award during a ceremony at the British Museum on Monday 8 July for her unique ‘Stamps in Schools’ project. A retired teacher and lifelong stamp collector, Erene runs Stamps in Schools with support from the BPMA, based in Central London. In 2012, she delivered 26 workshops across the United Kingdom and over 400 since she started the project.
Stamps in Schools takes the form of ‘stamp days’ in Primary schools, introducing pupils to the fascinating history of stamps and the idea of starting their own stamp collection. Items including original Penny Black stamps are used to illustrate the important role that stamps and the postal service has played in shaping Britain. The workshop transcends curriculum subjects including maths, geography and history to tell the story of the post from Victorian times to present day. The project is received enthusiastically, and often changes opinions on stamp collecting.
Adrian Steel, Director at the BPMA said, “I’d like to congratulate Erene on her hard work over the past few years and the passion and dedication that she shows in taking this project to ever-increasing numbers of schools and pupils and telling the fascinating story of Britain’s postal past. Erene’s award is more than deserved and I look forward to continuing to work with her over the coming years to further grow Stamps in Schools and the BPMA’s wider educational offer.”
“Erene giving her acceptance speech at the British Museum”
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“Erene working with children”
Erene Adds:
“I also runs 4 junior stamp clubs locally – at Neyland Primary, Prendergast Primary, Tasker Milward and Milford Haven Comprehensive – and helps other people to run clubs as well.
If any members are interested in being involved in introducing children to the fascinating world of stamps they can contact her on 01646-601490 or email erenegrieve@f2s.com ”
Top Award in the world of ballroom dancing for Gwen Thomas
gwen
Congratulations to Gwen Thomas, who, at the age of 84, has achieved the top award in the world of ballroom dancing. On 19th June she achieved the Golden Scroll which was awarded by Ann Phillips Hylde, Examiner of the International Dance Teachers Association. Gwen started dance classes at the age of eleven and has won many cups and shields for excellence in ballroom dancing during her lifetime. She continues to take weekly classes, travelling from Haverfordwest to Carmarthen by bus. Gwen is a member of Pembrokeshire U3A and also attends weekly Exercise to Music classes at Merlin’s Bridge Welfare Hall.
Farewell Martin & Debbie (4th July)
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Debbie receives a bouquet of flowers from Jean Goodeve on behalf of the membership at our recent Monthly Meeting. Debbie and Martin are retiring after many years acting as our hosts at the Neyland Athletics Club.
South Wales and Severn – side Network of U3As
THREE WELSH LIVES
A Network Study Day at the Hi – Tide Inn, Porthcawl, Wednesday 11th September 2013
Programme
10 to 10.30am: Registration and Coffee / Tea
10.30 am: Welcome and Introduction
10.40 to 11.40am: MY LIFE AND POLITICS
SPEAKER: THE RT HON CARWYN JONES (THE FIRST MINISTER OF WALES)
A member of Amnesty International and the Fabian Society and a fluent Welsh speaker, Carwyn Jones was a successful barrister and a tutor at Cardiff University before he was elected as a Member of the Welsh Assembly Government. He is now the First Minister of Wales and a member of the Privy Council. He will tell us about his early life, why he set aside his previous successful career to enter politics, his responsibilities as First Minister, the pleasures and challenges of his work and his hopes and aspirations for Wales.
11.50am to 12.50pm: THAT’S MY BOY – THE EARLY LIFE AND CAREER OF MICHAEL SHEEN
SPEAKER: MEYRICK SHEEN
Brought up in Port Talbot, Michael Sheen enjoys a hugely successful career in the theatre and in films. His many acclaimed roles include portrayals of Tony Blair, David Frost and Kenneth Williams and for these and other outstanding performances he has received many prestigious awards. Michael is currently working in Hollywood but Meyrick, his father and himself an actor and impersonator, has kindly agreed to be with us to tell us about Michael’s early life and his decision to make acting his career even though he had the opportunity to choose a totally different but equally prestigious career path.
1pm to 2.15pm: Lunch
2.15pm to 3.30pm: THE RICHARD BURTON DIARIES
SPEAKER: PROFESSOR CHRIS WILLIAMS
Richard Burton Picture
Professor Chris Williams is a leading academic, a prolific author and the editor of the recently published Richard Burton Diaries. The diaries give new and fascinating insights into the character and thoughts of this celebrated actor – his insecurity, his frustrations, his demons, his work, his aspirations, his opinions about himself and others – and so much more. Professor Williams will highlight for us many of these revelations and help us create a new and authentic portrait of Burton.
To book contact Rhoda
BOWLS GROUP (2nd April)
On the 22nd of March we hosted the annual match against Llanelli U3A. We had a really friendly game followed by an excellent lunch at Greens Restaurant at Milford Haven Golf Club. The final score was Pembs. U3A. 27 Llanelli U3A 26. So we hold the shield this year.
Margaret Lloyd
Obituary
Betty Greeenhalgh (Membership no 7) one of the founder members of Pembrokeshire U3A died recently. Some of the longer standing members and those who attended the Music Group that Betty and Roland ran in the early days, may wish to attend her funeral. It is being held in St Madoc’s Church at Nolton at 2.00 pm on Thursday 7th March.
The Church is in the village of Nolton. Travel along A487 from Haverfordwest to Simpson Cross, turn lst left to Nolton Cross, 2 miles, turn right to Nolton village. Church on right at end of village.
Map Ref: St Davids OS map 157, SM 866 182
GREETINGS FROM BRECON U3A – Brecon U3A Rosemary Maling Lecture Day
Thursday 10th OCTOBER 2013
Just a note to give you early warning of the Brecon U3A Rosemary Maling Lecture Day which this year will be held at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon on Thursday 10th OCTOBER from 10.30am – 3.30pm with the usual buffet lunch. The topic this year is Language & Linguistics and we are delighted to have engaged two eminent speakers in Professor David Crystal – University of Bangor. His many academic interests include English language learning and teaching, clinical linguistics, forensic linguistics, language death, “ludic linguistics” English style, Shakespeare, indexing, and lexicography. He has published widely and is a regular popular contributor at the Hay Literature Festival AND Merered Hopwood – poet and writer, the first woman ever to win a Bardic Chair at the National Eisteddfod, and a TV presenter for S4C. A formal invitation to your members will be sent out during the Summer but we thought it might be useful to let you have early notice.
Newscast
U3A Wales on ITV Wales News (30th January)
U3A Open Day at the Welsh Assembly – Senedd 22 Jan ’13 – aimed at explaining to all AMs the benefits of U3A to Senior Citizens in Wales and asking for their support in promoting Later Life Learning.
ITV Report and Interview with Anthony Hughes, Representative and Trustee for Wales U3As on the National Executive Executive.
The event last week prompted a lot of interest in U3A activities and adult learning across Wales.
If you would like to view the broadcast click on the image.
Graham Goodeve
Special Thanks to Monday Morning Early Risers! 14th Jan 2013
Gloria Droy would like to express her thanks to those members of her Exercise to Music Class who arrived at Merlin’s Bridge Welfare Hall early this morning to record a video, which will be shown at the Senedd this month. It was a very wet and miserable morning, but everyone arrived on time and cheerfully went through the routines. So, many thanks for giving your time and effort: Penny Thomas, Margaret Howlett, Mary Morris, Carol Matthews, Mary George, Valerie Swales, Cynthia Wright, Trisha Biffen, Rachel Harvey, Kimie Atkins and Patsy Goodman. It should be noted that the average age of these class members is 70 years! And an especially big thank you to our cameraman, Mike Green (who says he’s older than all of us, but we don’t believe it)! Mike now has the task of editing and producing the video, ensuring we all look our very best. Thank you, Mike!
Editor: See earlier article
Appeal for stories for BBC series on Wales in the 1960s
Testimony Films is producing a new four part series for BBC1 Wales on life in Wales during the 1960s. We’re keen on speaking to people who lived in Wales in the 1960s and have experiences and stories to share.
The four part series will explore the dramatic changes that took place in Wales in the 1960s to transport, education, industry and the effect of the sexual and social revolution.
Do you have a story about the education system in Wales in the 1960s?
Did you pass or fail your eleven plus? Perhaps you attended one of the early comprehensives in Wales, or perhaps the grammar school you started at changed over to a comprehensive. Were you teaching in Wales at that time and have a story to tell about the dramatic overhaul of the education system.
Do you have a story about the transport revolution in Wales? Perhaps you passed your driving test in the 1960s and remember the feeling of freedom that owning a car had on you and your family. Do you remember the opening of the Severn Bridge and the M4, and the closure of many railway lines in Wales?
Do you remember the sexual revolution in Wales, and if so, how did it affect you? Were you a rebel teenager who defied your traditional upbringing? Do you have a story about the taboo of sex before marriage? Do you remember watching the Beatles play in Rhyl in 1962, or remember travelling to Liverpool to go the Cavern Club? Or did you live in one of the first communes in Wales?
Do you have a story about working in industry in the 1960s? Perhaps you remember the new opportunities that were opening up for women in the work place? Did you work down the mines, the Steel works or in a factory? Were you affected by the many cuts to industry during the 1960s? Or perhaps you have a story about the Aberfan disaster.
If you or someone you know have memories of life in Wales in the 1960s or would like more information on the series, please contact Emily Sivyer on 0117 925 8589,emily.sivyer@testimonyfilms.com or at Testimony Films, 12 Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RH.
Graham Goodeve (6th January 2013)
EMAIL RECEIVED TODAY (2nd January 2013)
Letter
Exercise to Music (9th December)
U3A Day at the Senedd 22nd January 2013.
The purpose of this U3A Day is to inform Assembly Members, representatives of local authorities, colleges and others concerned with the education and well-being of older people about the importance of the work of U3As and to gain their encouragement and active support in sustaining existing U3As and establishing new ones. Over 20 U3As have offered contributions to the Day which will consist of static displays, exhibitions of work, demonstrations of work being created, screening of DVDs and performances of music, drama, sketches and exercise.
As part of Pembrokeshire U3A’s contribution, nine brave members of our Exercise to Music Class at Merlin’s Bridge Welfare Hall agreed to be videoed to show Assembly Members how exercise to music helps them to keep fit.
Our Pembrokeshire video is produced by Mike Green, who came to video the class members on 5th December. He then edited the work, to show only ‘the best bits’, as some class members became rather nervous in front of the camera, and made mistakes
in some routines, which they would normally perform without any problems!
Gloria Droy, Exercise Instructor, Merlin’s Bridge Welfare Hall, Haverfordwest
EM
Photo: From left to right:
Rachel Harvey, Mary Morris, Dawn Paine, Kimie Atkins, Margaret Howlett, Valerie Swales, Trisha Biffen, Penny Thomas, Mary George & in front Gloria Droy