The U3A (University of the Third Age) is an organisation which promotes continued learning for retired and semi-retired people. I have belonged to the Andover U3A for 4 years and have seen the membership numbers grow so rapidly that a second group has been formed. The subjects currently on offer are:-Art, Bridge, Flower arranging, French, Gardening, Genealogy, History, Latin, Local History, Music, Nature, Photography, Quester, Reading, Scrabble, Singing, Spanish, Strollers, Sunday lunch and Walking. The co-coordinator leads the group in their weekly or monthly meetings but is not an expert on the subject and is not paid. Meetings take place in members’ homes. If you would like further details of how to join U3A please contact me.
I have offered to co-ordinate possible groups for Longparish based on the idea of U3A but open to all ages. If you have a skill such as the ones listed above and would be willing to teach this subject informally to a small group, possibly for just a few weeks rather than a longer commitment, please phone me. If you would like to learn a new skill then please contact me also.
I would like to start coffee mornings in Longparish, open to all. The first meeting will be at my house - Longmead House, at the top of the drive next to the Cricketers, on Friday 12th May at 11am.There will be coffee, tea and home-made cake and this will be free. Please come and discuss whether this idea of regular coffee mornings is a good idea.
Wendy Ellicock Tel. 01264 720386
email jhe@waitrose.com
only £1 to join for a year
Benefits include:
Look out for your application form in next month’s Hill and Valley
Forms will also be available in the shop or you can join when you buy your tickets for our Midsummer Fun Event
Supporting a thriving community
This report covers the April meeting. Minutes of meetings are on the village website www.longparish.org.uk.
The meeting started with a presentation about affordable housing by John Lancaster, Rural Housing Enabler from Community Action Hampshire.
The Vitacress Charitable Fund has kindly given £1,000 towards the cost of restoring the Ashburn Rest. This will enable us to ensure that we use the best possible materials. The work should start soon.
Councillors who had walked the route of the proposed new footpath from Whitchurch to Hurstbourne Priors reported that it would be a huge improvement to have a safe walking route joining the two parishes.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be on Monday 15 May at 7.30 in the new Community Hall. There will be a presentation by the new Longparish Community Association. Please do come along and find out what the LCA can do for you and what you might do for the LCA. The APM is also your opportunity to hear what the council has been doing in the last year and ask questions. All parishioners are welcome and there will be light refreshments afterwards.
The council objected to two proposals
The next Council meeting is at 7.30 on Monday 8 May in the Community Hall. Meetings are public and all parishioners are welcome to come and can speak.
Jeremy Barber Chairman. Tel 720459