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Newsletter number 171 October/November 2026 https://www.cfordu3a.org.uk Registered charity 1076319 Wolvesley Castle - 2026 This document contains confidential information and should NOT be shown to non-members. Committee Members Chat from the Chairs With holidays (mostly) out of the way, we’ve had a busy start to Autumn, attending a number of events both in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh. We started with taking the gazebo to the North Millers Dale Party on the Green held near the Hiltonbury Farmhouse on 5th September, featuring local groups including a Sea Shanty choir! This was our first opportunity to talk about our u3a to people in that part of Chandler’s Ford, although of course they were aware of the Postbox Toppers. On Sunday 20th we again partnered with Monks Brook u3a at the Eastleigh Community Showcase at The Point in the town where we had a chance to speak with visitors and other community groups about what we do. We also spoke at some length with Community First about our concerns relating to local transport facilities. The Mayor also spent some time with us – we’d previously met at the Hiltingbury Junior Parkrun in August where he “opened” our Topper at Ashdown Road. Then came the morning of Monday 21st and a Litterpick, planned to celebrate the national “u3a Week”, and what a pleasant morning it was. 10 members out there collecting 13 bags of litter followed by a clean up and refreshments in the Dovetail. On the Groups front, well done to those who have stepped up to work with David Wealleans on his “50,000 words in November” challenge. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to their end result. It’s always good to report on new groups – I wonder if we have any more new ones on the horizon? Dave [email protected] Dave Claxton: 078 7968 5056 Pam Moffat: 079 7959 7343 CLOSING DATE for Newsletter articles is 24th November 2026. Dave Claxton (Chair) 078 7968 5056 [email protected] Pam Moffat (Vice-chair) 079 7959 7343 [email protected] Marion Crowe (Secretary) 023 8025 4935 [email protected] Paul Day (Treasurer) 079 5158 9193 [email protected] Mike Staniforth (Membership) 023 8026 2476 [email protected] Ursula Nicol (Minutes) 074 4353 3547 [email protected] Sandra Claxton (Newsletter) 023 8026 5830 [email protected] David & Penny Criswick 023 8026 9879 [email protected] Anne Lockley (Speakers) 023 8026 0182 [email protected] Lyn Atkins 023 8026 2258 [email protected] Debby Bartlett 078 3316 1571 [email protected] Susie Warwick 079 0008 5966 [email protected] from the Committee meeting held on 23rd September, 2026. The Committee discussed a new Governance & Guidance booklet produced by the Chair which explained policies and procedures in an easier to access form. The number of members of the Tai Chi group does not cover the costs, therefore the Groups Co-ordinator wishes to have sight of the accounts. There was also discussion regarding succession. There will be a “Group Leaders Thank You” session on Monday 9th November 2pm – 3,30pm in the Dovetail with refreshments. You can read further details of committee meetings on our u3a web pages, under the “Library” tab. Celebrating u3a Week – our Litterpick The National u3a Week comes around every September and this year we celebrated it not only with a presence at the Eastleigh Community Showcase but also with a Community Litterpick in Chandler’s Ford. Our members targeted Fryern Hill and the Recreation Ground, the Library Carpark, Winchester Road, Hiltingbury Rd as well as the shops on Ashdown Road. Quite a lot of litter of all sorts, including discarded clothing, was collected and deposited in the large bins behind the Church. Not only was litter collected but also many compliments from the people we encountered on the way, although one of the members was asked if we were doing “Community Service” – I wonder what they thought our crimes might have been? If you’d like to join in with future Litterpicks please let us know via [email protected]# Left to right: Jane Nighy, Dave Claxton, Wendy Trewick, Linda Francis, Pam Moffat, Maggie Pearce, Lorraine Collis, Daryl Collis, Gareth Davies Speakers Report Future talks October - My Chemistry Journey - Dr Gill Morton November - Keep Calm - I'm an Air Traffic Controller - Phil Holt December - Christmas Quiz - David Wealleans Following the interest shown by members at the talk by Alastair from the Southampton Art Gallery & Museum we have made an enquiry regarding the possibility of small groups (6 or 8) having accompanied visits to the exhibits held in storage. Please bear in mind that we will need a new Speakers Coordinator starting 2027, so if you feel that you can help please contact me: Anne Lockley: Anne : 023 8026 0182 [email protected] Groups Book Group For further information or to discuss please either text Dorothy Karnik on 07854507124 or email her at [email protected] Thank you Bridget Bridget Hignett [email protected] 07957871230 5,000 Words Challenge Contact - David Wealleans There are nine plucky members who have signed up to write 50,000 words in November. The challenge is to crack on and write what we have all wanted to write but have never quite had the incentive to knuckle down to. We will have one month of intensive activity which should complete a significant volume of written work. All members have now met and are making our preparations to write an average of about 1,700 words per day. Some are writing their memoirs, others focusing on specific interludes in their lives while others are aiming to create a novel. Mutual support and encouragement should help to keep us all on track. The group has yet to decide what the next steps after November will be (other than lying down for a well-deserved rest). Whatever comes next, the group will have spent a rewarding month. David Countryside Walks Group Countryside Walks in October 2026 Meet in the car park of the Old Ship, Swanwick, 261 Bridge Rd, SO31 7FN at 10am on Tuesday 13 th October 2026. Kindly I have been told that we can park in their forecourt whilst we go for our walk, but the pub will not be open at that time – so there will be no loos available or a need to preorder our lunch before the walk but there will be toilet facilities halfway through the walk for those that need them. The walk is approximately 4.5 to 4.8 miles depending on what the tide is doing. We will start by walking along by the river Hamble, through a marina where some of the boats are extremely special and then veer off left to walk up the hill to Holly Hill Park. We will enjoy the lakes and the trees before returning down to the river, to return to the cars via the nature reserve. If the tide is out, we can take a different path, but I won’t know until the day, but I have mapped my route on the trusty app Komoot so hopefully we will not get lost! Due to the weather currently the path is very dry, but I don’t know what it will be like by October - in the past I know there are places where it can get muddy and slippery. There are no stiles, or fields but one or two inclines and is mostly on footpaths although there is one stretch on roads. U3A Walking Group: November Walk near Langley. The walk for November will be based at Langley, just north of Lepe. The walk is 4.5miles in length on almost level tracks through woodland and fields. There are no stiles and just two very short uphill sections. The tracks are mainly wide, made-up tracks. But being November, it is prudent to have suitable jackets and footwear. We will be meeting at the Langley Tavern pub at SO45 1XJ (m.r. 447011) at 09.45 to choose from the menu for those who wish to stay for lunch. Parking is in front of the pub. Leader Dave Rawlinson 07784 513 032 ([email protected]) Out and about Having had a fantastic group experience on Borealis in May, we are now making bookings for a group Fred Olsen Cruise on 23rd October 2027 on Borealis, sailing from Liverpool to Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar. I have flyers with full details available, but early booking is essential as the lowest possible prices are now, but only using our Group Code GRP0317 and booking by telephone to Reservations 08000355 144. The next coach outing that I have booked for us is on 8 th October, 2026 to Brooklands Motor and Aviation Museum (the home of Concorde). It is a large site with various areas of historical motor, motorbike and aircraft. It is possible to board some of the large aircraft, which is fun but accessed, of course, by steps. We will have time to visit their lovely cafe and then, by way of contrast, we will visit the Mercedes Benz Modern showrooms with views of the skid pan and testing tracks. Here we can enjoy a 20 minute sit down watching a short film. Sue Povey Pantomime There are still a few tickets left to see Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal in Winchester on Wednesday 9th December at 18.30pm. The tickets will be between £15 to £17 depending on the number of those who wish to attend. Please let Bridget know - 07957871230 or email [email protected] Crafties Leaders: Jane Day and Debby Bartlett. CRAFTIES SALE IN LIBRARY. What have Crafties group been up to in the last couple of months? The last two meetings have been where we do our own crafts - it is always interesting to see the variety of skills of others. At the same time, some of us have been making drawstring bags as part of an initiative from the new Forest group for Ukraine. They are wanting to make 1000 bags which they will fill and then send to Ukraine for Christmas. So far, the Crafties have made over 110 bags and one blanket for Ukraine. These are all from donated fabric (recycling at it best). Above are items all made by our ladies for the sale in the Library on Saturday 17th October and at our Monthly meeting on 19th October,2026. The Craft Sale is being held at the Monthly meeting on the 19th October 2026 and we hope you will purchase some of the items we have made. The Topper Ladies There are approximately 19 toppers for Autumn/Halloween which will be going up on 5th October, 2026. There will be cobwebs, toadstools, pumpkins, witches and bonfires. Traditional fare for the season. If anyone would like to join the Topper group to produce covers for post-boxes, please get in touch with either Debby Barlett 078 3316 1572 or Pam Moffat 079 7959 7343. The Topper group likes a challenge when they have time. They make the Toppers to bring smiles to the local community and to spread the word about Chandlers Ford u3a. Toppers are only made for Charities or Community Initiatives - the group does NOT accept any personal requests for individual commissions. Evergreens October we will be visiting Furzey Gardens to help support them after the fire in the forest and subsequent closure of the A31 which meant they lost their expected income for a fortnight during the summer holiday. We will meet on Tuesday 20th (Change of Date) at 10.30am in the car park. The cost will depend on how many there are of us. If there are enough of us (15 or more) the cost will be £7.50 pp. else they ask for a donation of £10 for entry. But payment for entry and for refreshments will be directly to the Gardens. If you wish to come and require a lift please let Bridget know, 07957871230 or email [email protected] Please keep November 24th free - it will be the Evergreens Christmas Lunch - more information to follow. Pickleball Following on from the previous introductory session of Pickleball at Dinks (behind what was Peter Greens) there is now a new group – led by Ralph Maingot. Dinks have confirmed that when we play, we can each pay our share of the fee by card (no cash). The standard off peak charge is £26 so if four of us play the charge will be £6.50 each; £5.20 if there are five and £4.30 if there are six. We play weekly with each hour-long session starts at 11.00am but the days vary depending on the week of the month. All equipment is supplied, just turn up in comfortable clothing and soft-soled shoes. There are refreshments on site in a quite comfortable lounge with views over the courts. Dinks are currently offering free introductory sessions between 5pm and 6pm most days, so anyone who is interested could try Pickleball out before deciding whether to join our u3a group. More info: Contact: Ralph Maingot - [email protected] THE CAPYBARA STILL MISSING MONTHS AFTER ESCAPING MARWELL ZOO - LATEST Hampshire & IoW News The capybara that escaped from Marwell Zoo was sighted, photographed by a member of the public and Marwell staff have confirmed it was Samba. However, she still has not been caught although Marwell staff are hopeful. The zoo has also worked closely with members of the public, asking for sightings to be reported directly with exact locations so they can be properly investigated. For now, the search continues along the River Itchen and surrounding countryside, where one of Hampshire’s most unusual wildlife mysteries remains unresolved. Our efforts continue to find missing capybara, Samba and her welfare remains top priority for us. If you think you've seen Samba please take a photo, send it to: 07436 167401 and include the What3Words or Google Maps location. Stay up to date with the search for Samba: bit.ly/SambaUpdateFB Sunrises and Sunsets in Chandler’s Ford – Saturdays next 3 months October 3rd 07.04 18.34 October 10th 07.16 18.18 October 17th 07.28 18.03 October 24th 07.40 17.49 October 31st 06.52 16.36 November 7th 07.05 16.23 November 14th 07.17 16.13 November 21st 07.29 16.04 November 28th 07.40 15.57 December 5th 07.49 15.53 December 12th 07.57 15.52 December 19th 08.03 15.53 December 26th 08.06 15.57 SUDOKU Challenge Gardening in a Heatwave I can't be the only one who got rather fed up with the heatwaves we had this summer. The incessant heat, the humidity, one's lack of energy and the absence of rainwater for our own use – and for the garden. Then the hosepipe ban ... The place I really felt it was the garden. Partly because I like to sit out there, book in one hand and coffee/tea/wine in the other. But sometimes the heat was just too much, even in the shade so I was chased indoors - not really where I want to be on a summer's day. But what really got to me was the effect these temperatures had on the poor plants. Some shrivelled up and went toastie. Others accelerated towards flowering which then lasted just a day or two. Others took just too much watering to stay alive. When they announced that next year it's going to be even worse, I decided it was time to make my garden heatproof – or, in other words, Mediterranean. Time to get rid of anything that didn't like this weather and restock with stuff that did. And what fun I had! First of all I decided that the soft fruit (strawberries and raspberries) took too much water so I gave those away. The tomatoes were similar but they were coming to an end anyway. Not for next year. At this stage I must declare a love of hydrangeas (the water-loving clue is in the name - hydra), of which I have four shrubs and a climber. The climber and one in a pot in the shade did quite well (on the basis that anything in a pot gets watered) so of the other three, two will go into pots in the shade and the other has been given to a daughter. Talking of containers, I usually plant several with annuals but as of next year, these will nearly all be just pelargoniums, which being Mediterranean, don't need much water. And they do make a lovely cheerful show. I then dug up those plants that really didn't like the heat – crocosmia, aconites and phlox mostly (to be fair, the phlox didn't complain too much about the heat, but their flowers lasted all of a day so they don't really earn their places any more). I left in the plants that survive well – roses, sedum, rudbeckia, hardy geraniums, catmint, salvia, aquilegia, muscari, japanese anemones, fennel and epimedium.Despite these left in, the flower beds were starting to look a little empty, so I did my research and set out to restock, taking full advantage of the reduced section at Brambridge. New shrubs are buddleia, hebe, lavender, hibiscus, euonymus and potentilla. (I am also turning to shrubs more than hitherto, as these are less labour-intensive and therefore more suitable for a woman of advancing years.) New perennials are more of those in the paragraph above, plus echinacea, gaura and blue fescue. No more annuals in the flower beds. I also bought more alpines as they don't want much water. So, next year's beds will first need to survive our usual winter rains. Then, when we get the expected heatwaves, I will be concentrating my watering (using kitchen and shower water when the butts run dry) on the pots. I am also thinking of getting an irrigation system for the thirstier pots (these are exempt in a hosepipe ban). Let's hope next year's garden is the riot of health and colour that I want it to be ... Christine Clark HELP REQUIRED I am sure most of you recognise Paul and his lovely guide dog Bobbi. Paul and Bobbi need help with giving Bobbi a free run off his lead and harness. Paul needs guidance to help him avoid obstacles, such as holes in the paths or overhanging branches. But also to be his 'eyes' in watching that Bobbi is safe, his pooh is picked up and that any dogs that he plays with are not aggressive. If you'd like a doggie fix , please let Paul know on 02380 267971 or email him at [email protected] Thanks, Bridget Hignett Complete these well-known phrases As bold as _ _ _ _ _ Tickled _ _ _ _ Sick as a _ _ _ _ _ _ Three wise _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Slippery as an _ _ _ As gentle as a _ _ _ _ As good as _ _ _ _ As hard as _ _ _ _ _ As hungry as a _ _ _ _ As light as a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ As cunning as a _ _ _ As dead as a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Wolvesey Castle I wonder how many of us have wandered around the ruins of Wolvesey Castle in Winchester? Situated just next door to the seventeenth-century Wolvesey Palace (see photo), our diocesan bishop's home and office, the castle is now a ruin, apart from its chapel which is now part of the bishop's residence (see photo on front page). The castle was mostly built by Bishop Henry of Blois in the twelfth century, apart from the chapel which is fifteenth-century. Originally built as a palace, the site is on a small island in the River Itchen known as Wulveseye or Wulf's Island and the first building here was constructed around 970 by Bishop Ethelwold of Winchester. A hall was added around1110 by Bishop William Giffard and then the majority of the castle was completed by Henry of Blois. who had it fortified due to The Anarchy, a period of breakdown in law and order. In 1554 it was the location of the wedding breakfast between Queen Mary l and King Philip of Spain, who were married in our cathedral. Then, during the Civil War, it was destroyed by the Roundheads in1646 and has been a ruin ever since. But let's go back to the twelfth century and see what Henry's diocese was like. First of all, it was much larger than the present diocese (there were only 21 dioceses then as opposed to the current 42), stretching to Taunton in the west, up to London and north of Oxford, including the Isle of Wight. Henry would have spent much of his time travelling around, staying at his own manor houses (such as at East Meon) and castles (like Farnham) or other palaces (such as that at Bishop's Waltham). Sometimes the bishop would be at the royal court as he would have held other important official ranks or posts. Travelling with him would have been a household of perhaps 50- 100 officials and servants, together with his belongings and moveable furniture. The gatehouse stored the bishop's accounts and money. His wealth came from vast landholdings (land rents, sales of produce and fees imposed at manor courts), making it one of the richest estates in medieval England. Each year the estate manors totalled up their accounts and sent the profit in cash to the treasury at Wolvesey. In the year 1301-2 this totalled £5188, over £2 million in today's money. The castle is managed by English Heritage and open to the public. Christine Clark Mount Stuart House At the beginning of September, I was lucky enough to visit Scotland, spending a day on the Isle of Bute. I visited Mount Stuart house - a wonderfully built house, full of marble columns, stained glass windows and painted ceilings. The 2nd Earl of Bute put together plans for the first Mount Stuart in 1716, with the house being completed in 1719, before later suffering from severe fire damage. The 3rd Marquess is responsible for the house we see today. It’s the result of an ambitious 21-year project, and his wish to live in a palace rather than a house. Innovation was integral to the project – Mount Stuart was even the first house in Scotland to use electric lighting. This boundary-pushing spirit set the scene for the years to come. Although still the family seat of the Crichton-Stuarts, the Mount Stuart Trust has taken care of the house since 1989, maintaining it for the enjoyment of the public. The staff are the heart and soul of the house. Their passion is unmistakable, their knowledge vast, and their quest for improvement consistent across every department. Not only is the house a wonder to behold but the gardens are beautiful. I could have spent the whole day there. So if you ever visit the Isle of Bute, I would recommend you to visit this house. Sandra Claxton Editor - Chandlers Ford u3a newsletter. Email - [email protected] PS. I am still looking for members to volunteer for “Meet the Members”. Please contact me if you would be willing to share a little about yourself. Answers to Sudoku and comparative phrases Brass ; Pink ; Parrot ; Monkeys ; Eel ; Lamb ; Gold ; Nails ; Wolf ; Feather ; Fox ; Doornail