17 Melling Lane Maghull

Thursday 13th December at 7.30pm
Lydia Cassatt reading the Morning Paper by Harriett Scott Chessman
Thursday 10th January at 19.30 Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve

23 Buckingham Road, Maghull
Friday 14th December at 10.30am Sea Glass by Anita Shreve

Two local volunteer groups, which are supported by many of our U3A members have been honoured with numerous awards this year – and not for the first time. Amongst other awards handed out to these groups at the RHS and North West in Bloom Awards Ceremony in Southport recently , the Maghull in Bloom Group won the Gold Award in the Best Large Town category and the Maghull Station Volunteers won the Best Railway Station Award. Chairman Nigel Winchester was was also presented with a Special Outstanding Achievement award in recognition of his work over many years as leader of the Station Volunteers.

The Macmillan Cancer Care Coffee Morning was a great success, thanks to the generous support of U3A members and  friends who attended the event last Tuesday. Many thanks also to the local shops and businesses who generously supported the event with donations of prizes. Organised and led by the indefatigable Mary Prendergast  the event raised a massive £1338.36 for this worthy charity. Well done everyone.

Here are some pictures of the event courtesy of  Terry Horrobin. of our Digital Photography group:

Mary with Cllrs Steve and Gwen Kermode, Mayor and Mayoress of Maghull

David’ group will meet Thursday 11th October to review ‘Arthur and George’ by Julian Barnes

Anne’s group meet on Friday 12th October and will be reviewing two books:
‘My Cousin Rachel’ and ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne DuMaurier

The group, led by Phil Hughes and assisted by John Jackson, meet every week and plan to continue through the winter period, braving the cold. There have been some new members, who have joined the group this summer and sometimes there have been as many as seven people on the rides. The routes are varied and scenic, covering both north and south of the city as well as the Wirral. Normally meeting at Maghull railway station at 0955hrs every Monday, the group use the train in order to get a a head start with most rides being of about 15 miles duration and finishing in time to be home for lunch after stop off for a well earned coffee/tea break and a chat mid way. Some recent photos:

Congratulations to U3A member Nigel Winchester who was granted the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.  The award recognises the sterling work done by Nigel in various local projects including his leadership of the award-winning Maghull Station Volunteers in transforming our local railway station,  and his work as principal fundraiser for the renovation and improvement of the Ancient Maghull Chapel. Well done Nigel.

The mosaic was created by pupils of Deyes High School in liaison with the Maghull Station Volunteers & Merseyrail. Following a Tuesday morning presentation to U3A members by Les French (Chairman of the Hornby Trust), volunteers were invited to assist in the making of a mosaic panel with a Hornby theme, for mounting at Maghull station in recognition of Frank Hornby, a Maghull resident for most of his life.  Deyes High successfully sought funding for the project and the work was recently completed, with a purpose made frame provided by Merseyrail for mounting  adjacent to the MtoGO shop. The photograph illustrates the formal unveiling of the mosaic on Thursday 5th July by the Mayor & Mayoress of Maghull, Mr Steve and Mrs Gwen Kermode. Also present were Pauline Treanor, project teacher, with students from Deyes High and U3A members who played an important part in working with the students, namely Mary Prendergast, Bridget Wilson & Jo Healy. Also present were Steve Abernethy of Merseyrail, Marion Atkinson of Merseytravel plus other U3A members Eileen & Alan Pritchard, Joe McGivern & Ena Winchester & Nigel Winchester leader of the Maghull Station Volunteers.

Wednesday 11th July 2012 10:30

Subject   ‘Morning’

A Summer Morning

Never was sun so bright before,
No matin of the lark so sweet,
No grass so green beneath my feet,
Nor with such dewdrops jewelled o’er.

I stand with thee outside the door,
The air not yet is close with heat,
And far across the yellowing wheat
The waves are breaking on the shore.

A lovely day! Yet many such,
Each like to each, this month have passed,
And none did so supremely shine.
One thing they lacked: the perfect touch
Of thee–and thou art come at last,
And half this loveliness is thine.
Robert Fuller Murray