Limebrook u3a has been expanding the range of activities available to its members in April, as Chairman Brian Harris writes...

The Wine Tasters Group launched and had its first meeting, with the second already in the diary. Chris Smith is going to head up a team who will organise and run the fledgling group. Susan Hilton will look after the WhatsApp Group, Howard Corlett is taking responsibility for the communications, and Carol Egelton will research and arrange trips to vineyards and events. We believe that this is the way forward - to have several people taking up roles in organising activities in a particular group who have a shared interest.

Brian Rivers has been coordinating the Music Appreciation Group for many years. At the April meeting, they enjoyed another relaxing morning of excellent music whilst listening to the playlist selection of the month which contained twelve items. Meetings feature a selection of music from well-known composers along with others whose names have faded into obscurity. Due to the capacity of the venue, we are looking to launch a second group.

The Family History Group held a meeting on the subject of 'How to Read Old Handwriting'. Chris Stringer says that this went down well and once you see the letter patterns, transcribing gets easier. Of course, practice makes perfect! What is more difficult are documents that are faded or just badly written, no matter how old they are. She offers 1-to-1s to our members who are starting out with family history and want some help. These sessions can be face to face or via a video call.

Our French Group is for anyone who wants to practise or improve their French language skills. Terry Wood says the members have a mixed range of abilities, from distant memories of long-ago O-Levels to recent experience working and living in France. They arrange a variety of things including general conversation, playing out scripted dialogues, listening to native French speakers read news articles, translation, even literature and poetry.

Mike Stone, one of the newer members of the Photography Group, was the winner of the competition this month with his image taken at Madison Heights, where he also attends one of our Ten-Pin bowling groups. He received his trophy from Sonia Churchill. The theme was to illustrate an image of 'One'. Mike took a photograph of just one pin in the middle of a 10-pin bowling alley.

Mike Stone's photo of a lone bowling pin won him this month's Photography Competition. (Photo: Limebrook u3a)

Second place went to Chris Smith with her image of a Robin. Dave Dove's photograph of a converted water tower came a close third.

In the Maldon area, we are very fortunate to have four u3as, all providing opportunities for people no longer in full time employment to meet and share their interests, hobbies and pastimes. Visit Limebrook u3a's website to learn more.

Read more

• Maldon: Essex cops bust driver with suspected Class A drugs | Local News | News | Maldon Nub News
• In Case You Missed It: Man arrested on suspicion of GBH, Plume Academy's rugby stars, Maldon Festival's new youth programme, and more near you
• Maldon District: Over-55s development refused, new corner shop in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, public path to move for new crematorium, and 9 more planning applications near you