Limebrook u3a's main monthly meetings are held at the West Maldon Community Centre and gives the opportunity to meet friends, learn what is going on and listen to a Guest Speaker. 

In January Neil Richardson came to talk to us. Neil is a volunteer with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He told us about the challenges of maintaining war graves in locations spread all around the world. It was a very interesting presentation that was illustrated by photographs and a wealth of information on the way that we continue to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

During the winter months, Paul Madge organises the Photoshop Group. By using various computer software packages and programs, the photographers are learning how to change images and improve their photographs. Each month a different subject is covered and a competition is run to see who can use the new knowledge to adapt a photograph. The "Before and After" images are then judged by the members to see who has produced the best changes. This month the theme was on producing an Artistic Impression:

Paul Madge's Morris Dancers - Before

Paul Madge's Morris Dancers - After

Paul's entry was a picture taken at the Queen's Head. The Morris Dancers were edited and transformed to produce a pleasing interpretation of the event

Christine Smith's Nativity Scene - Before

Christine Smith's Nativity Scene - After

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Christine Smith took a photograph of the Nativity Scene from her church and with the software made the resulting changes into an image full of colour.

These two were voted the best for the month.

The Photographers also met at the URC Hall in Maldon. After a slide show of the pictures taken in the month, Edwina Ord was voted the best image taken using "Celebrations" as the theme. Her spectacular photograph was taken in Maldon and was a clear winner.

The French Group

Terry Wood says "In the French group's December meeting, we sang French Christmas carols, reviewed the many French ways to say 'drunk', and worked our way through an impressive amount of French wine, cheese, baguettes, and a very nice rabbit terrine." The monthly meeting is for anyone who wants to practise or improve their French language skills. Members have a mix of abilities, from memories of long-ago 'O' levels to recent experience working and living in France, so they have a variety of things to do from general conversation, playing out scripted dialogues, listening to native French speakers reading news articles, translating, and even literature and poetry.

The Nature Group

Our Nature Group now has 11 members. Some have a basic knowledge of trees, wild plants, fungi, insects and others have more extensive knowledge. Recently they met for a walk at Hanningfield Reservoir and were lucky that the sun was shining. Their January meeting was following a "Tree Trail" at the Maldon Promenade Park.

To learn more about our other groups and the u3a please visit their website, here.