Limebrook u3a has meetings and activities throughout the month. These take place at various venues, which includes the West Maldon Community Centre, the URC hall, members homes, restaurants, cafes and trips to places of interest.

Two of our members gave talks this month. Patrick Forsyth spoke at our Monthly Meeting at the WMCC with the topic "Journey into Print."

The talk stems from his desire to be a published travel writer. It was about deciding what to do, the actual writing and then getting published. The travel itself was largely in Southeast Asia, and he told us of the trials and tribulations of the whole project. Patrick gave some short readings from what is now three travel books.

Another member, Paul Rodgers, gave a presentation to the Social Sciences Group 2 entitled "My time with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo" which he illustrated with photographs taken during his first tour of duty in 2000-2001, where he was a police inspector in MDP and was seconded to become a UN Police Officer. The photographs and descriptions, both shockingly graphic, gave an insight into the life of the residents of the war-torn region of Kosovo and his life living and working there.

Chris Stringer hosts the Family History Groups at her home and at the last meeting they looked at Emigration. "I asked everyone to use one of these scenarios, someone they had already researched or starting from scratch using Find My Past and the Travel and Migration passenger lists or, Ancestry's Immigration and Travel. The idea was to find out where they were living and why they left? Did they travel alone or with others of the same name? Which port they went from and the destination port, where did they end up and what happened to the family."

Graham Churchill held the Photography meeting at the URC where Phil Watkins from Maldon Camera Club reviewed all the photographs that were entered for this year's calendar and also gave his reasons for his choice for the final twelve. The winning photo for the "Windows and Doors "competition was taken by Steve Parrott with Christine Smith and Paul Madge both a close second. The photoshopped version was won by Tim Stubbings with his image taken at Battlesbridge.

Steve Parrott's 'Windows' image.

Tim Stubbing

The Real Ale Group trip to Chelmsford was arranged by Mike Stringer, where they had lunch at The Woolpack before visiting The Hop Shop and then an enjoyable bus journey back to Maldon.

Limebrook is one of four u3as in the Maldon and Heybridge area. If you are no longer in full time employment and would like to learn more about the various groups and activities, please visit Limebrooku3a.org.uk for more information.