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 Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2008 |
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This page features selected members of the Aughton & Ormskirk U3A....the most recent first
George had been an active Rotarian for 25 years and a Parent Governor at Ormskirk Grammar School for 8 years. He was able to continue his interest in the school and last year was elected Chair of the Governing Body working together with a team of 20 other Governors. School Governors play an important role in strategic management working closely with the teaching staff and the local authority. He finds the position challenging and stresses that the aim is to ensure that ‘every child matters’. Add-on tasks include using his professional background at careers evenings and in conducting mock interviews for Sixth Formers hoping to study at dental/medical schools. Sometimes he reconnects with students as they move through their training because he also tutors undergraduates at Liverpool Dental School. A love of languages led George to embark on a degree course in Spanish with the Open University. His children had all taken language degrees and he came to love the romanticism of Spain and its culture. Perhaps there is something in the family genes since his father was a wartime interpreter with the Allied Forces and spoke not only English but also Russian, Italian and German. Rotary membership established many friendships when he first came to Aughton and brought him into contact with the plight of children from Chernobyl. Maghull and Aughton Rotary Club founded the Ormskirk Branch of Friends of Chernobyl’s Children. Ten years on, the group continues to thrive and is now run entirely by local volunteers and George currently serves as Secretary and Chairman. The generosity and hard work of people in our local community allows 15 children aged between 8-13 to visit for a month each summer over a five year period, benefiting from fresh air, good food, medical, dental and eye checks together with lots of fun and a full family life. Bonds are formed and experiences enjoyed resulting in life-long friendships that give inspiration to the children. George, who keeps his native language well-honed, finds it useful conversing with the Russian interpreters who at times understand Polish better than they do English ~ a three-way translation process must give rise to much amusement for everyone involved. Each visiting child from Belarus appears to gain enormous benefit as a result of these annual visits. It is a sobering thought, however, that the radioactive contamination following the nuclear disaster in 1986, will remain for hundreds of years. An enthusiastic member of U3A, George is currently a joint leader of the Digital Photography group and a member of the Theatre group. He believes that we have a fantastic organisation. “We are so fortunate to belong to a U3A with such a diversity of activities. By sharing our ability, knowledge and experience we engender lasting friendships, derive enjoyment and subsequently enrich our lives and our U3A.
Before the break from paid work came in 2004, she had already heard of Asylum Link Merseyside and through a friend discovered they were desperate for volunteers. “At first I thought I wouldn’t cope, because it can be very chaotic, but I have adjusted to this very different role and look forward to my Thursdays spent at the drop-in centre housed in a disused presbytery in Liverpool,” she said. Margaret talks of her regular chats with often traumatised people who have fled their birth countries for political, religious or other reasons, all of them terrified to contemplate ever returning home. “They arrive here in despair and in fear for their lives. Eventually they receive Home Office processing to give them legal status and hope that, if their cases are approved, they will become official refugees and can stay indefinitely. These people are not to be confused with immigrant workers, which is another major problem,” she stressed. Although basic housing and finance is available, the men, women and families are naturally baffled by how things are run in England and they seek help on a regular basis with letter writing, filling in application forms, finding a doctor, dentist or solicitor or registering in an English class. If all goes well for them and their cases are approved, they are then in a position to find work and settle down to a more permanent life in England. “I think around 20% of asylum seekers became official refugees on Merseyside last year. Others go to appeal and about another 10% of these cases are successful. Obviously that still means a lot of them don’t and face deportation. In the main they come from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, the African countries, plus Pakis tan, China and Burma. Despite hearing of their desperate problems on a regular basis it is interesting and rewarding and I have been privileged to meet a lot of very different people.” Margaret can’t foresee a time when the drop-in centre is not a necessary part of Liverpool but, as it is not government funded, the lack of money is always a problem. A keen walker with husband Willem, she enjoys membership of a number of U3A groups, including philosophy, science, bird watching and aerobics and the pair are very enthusiastic about their regular trips to Paris to visit their two young grandchildren. *Anyone who can spare clothes, shoes, bedding, TVs or computers and other household items that can fit into the boot of a car, please contact Margaret on 573 744. Words: PAT ROBERTS
“Suddenly, there I was with this enormous space in my life,” said the 71 year old. Needless to say that state of affairs didn’t last long and through the daughter of a friend she learned about the Jacob’s Well medical charity, which had launched a major response to the desperate need of Romania’s orphanages. “They needed volunteers to spend a few weeks at a time out there to help in a variety of ways and as I had spent some years teach ing in special schools I decided to give it a go.” Dorothy remem bers with clarity that first trip to the desolate north east of Romania in March 1999, accompanied by a young man also volunteering from England. Picture heavy snow, long hours on a train with people who spoke a different language. “There was no one to meet us when we finally arrived in Siret, a small town near the Ukraine border. The tele phone lines were down but even tually a taxi came and before we knew it I was being welcomed by a wonderful couple - Dina and Nikolai, offered a cup of warm raspberry wine and an even warmer bed.” Her memory of the three dank and dark orphanages in the town also remain. They housed hundreds of children, many of them handicapped and one of the first things she did was put up strips of brightly coloured balloons. “It took a long time to gain their confidence but it was magical when they started to smile. Our job as volunteers was to help stimulate the children with basic massages and encourage them to do things for themselves.” After her first six week trip Dorothy returned home full of enthusiasm and pledged to return and also to fundraise for basic clothing and medical supplies. She certainly kept her word and has returned year after year. In August she made a second trip to attend a very special wedding of Ilena and Vasile, now in their 20s and two of the first children she met in the orphanage. “It was wonderful to see the fantastic support they received from the hospital, rehabilitation centre, doctors ~ even the mayor came.” Things are slowly moving on and a new housing project is underway to help the youngsters experience independent living as they get older. “I have enjoyed tremendous friend ships and marvelled at the way some of the children have pro gressed. There is still a great need out there and I want to carry on going for as long as I am able,” added Dorothy. One of the first members of our
U3A (she is number 7) Dorothy took More recently she has taken on the
chair of the new Helping Each Other
group , which aims to
develop ways to help ensure nobody A passionate singer, Dorothy has been with the Liverpool Welsh Choral Society for 15 years and is also gifted in embroidery and stained glass. Words: PAT ROBERTS
NEW vice chairman Jeff Roberts knows all about moving on. From a safe spot in the life insurance workplace in his early 30s he felt the need to try something new. That something was the bold decision to head for a teaching career ~ a move that gave him almost 30 years as a lecturer in business studies at a further education college. Even retirement from his senior lecturer post at the age of 60 was fairly shortlived as he changed tack again a year later to do the books on a part-time basis for a small firm in Rainford. Finally, at the age of 65 he gave up paid employment. Jeff didn’t exactly sit back and do nothing though. He already had almost a lifetime of involvement in the scout movement, the last 23 years at Christ Church, Aughton, where his business acumen played a huge part in the re-building of their head - quarters. “The asbestos roof exploded and we were left with no choice but to set about putting up a new building. I was what you would call the clerk of works so the job was enormous but there was great satisfaction in seeing the new headquarters ready for use in 1999.” Shortly after, Jeff first heard about an organisation called the University of the Third Age and took part in the initial meeting among a number of the group’s current core members who belonged to Christ Church. It attracted about 30 people. “I fell into the treasurer role by accident really and said I was prepared to keep the accounts, certainly not knowing that five years on the membership would pass the 2,000 mark and we would have more than 70 sub groups,” he went on. Now 70, Jeff strongly believes that U3A sits well in the local community, bringing with it a number of benefits. For a start his scout group has a steady income from rental of the rooms to U3A, lessening the need for constant fund-raising. A fair amount of money has also been enjoyed at the local primary school, as a result of parking income from U3A’s enthusiastic theatregoers and even the local shop has seen business improving. As he looks forward to becoming chairman in May 2010, Jeff is a great supporter of the local group keeping an open door to new members. “I am a people person and enjoy seeing people being nice to each other and having their values and skills recognised. We are a growing force both locally and in the wider community and most definitely on the map and here to stay.” Jeff and his wife Ann, a part-time Ormskirk Hospital midwife, are thrilled that their offspring have also forged strong links with the scout movement and even two year old granddaughter Rachel is on the waiting list! Six year old Joseph is joining Beavers in September and Isobel hasn’t quite made up her mind But she is only four months old! Words: PAT ROBERTS
On the day I went to see her at her delightful Haskayne home, the town’s bookshop had put up a prominent display of her latest offering ‘Ormskirk ~ a History’ and expect to be doing the same when her current work is published before the end of this year. This book features the prominence of sugar refinery in the area in the late 1600s. Spurred on by her children, Ross and Janet, as they set about doing their own degrees, she tackled her first with the Open University, progressing from a BA degree, then with honours, with her M. Phil efforts being swiftly promoted to a doctorate. “Basically, I just haven’t been able to stop since then and so many aspects of life in these parts have caught my imagination. I was fortunate to have the backing of various publishers along the way,” explained Blackpool born Mona. Her strict convent education didn’t really prepare her for her first teaching post in a primary school in a rough area of Manchester. “On arrival I was given a leather strap in case I had to punish a child in my class of 45 to 50 children. Moving back to be near my parents in Thornton Cleveleys was just as challenging. I had to teach 60 seven year olds to read in a school where the classes were divided by glass screens.” Escape came in the form of walking in the Lake District - an area she has loved all of her life. It was there, standing at the Tarn Hows viewpoint, that she met her future husband Heaton, an apprentice at Bowers, a Maghull television business. After they married she came to this district and taught at Maghull Church of England Primary School. After the birth of Ross ~ now the Superintendent Judge of the Family Division of Staffordshire and Janet, a senior GP in Birkenhead ~ she gave up teaching. House moves followed to Lydiate and then 20 years ago to her present home, which she shared with Heaton until he died two years ago. Once she graduated she took on lecturing roles with Liverpool Univer - sity’s Continuing Education Depart - ment. At the same time she immersed herself in historical ‘finds’ to share with her readers in written and photographic form as books were published at regular intervals. All of her published efforts have meant a great deal to Mona and her family. Although the commissions never brought any big financial rewards, she was particularly pleased to write booklets to help to celebrate the centenaries of the village school in Haskayne and Longmoor Lane Primary School in Aintree, which her late husband attended. Mona is a member of many local,
county and national groups, including
Emmanuel Church and our own U3A,
where she has enjoyed country
dancing, bell ringing and digital
photography. She is president of the
Lancashire Local History Federation
and on the local front supports the
National Trust group, the Archaeology
Society and Country Dancing Society.
Spare time isn’t something she has
in large quantities but she still likes to
escape to her beloved Lake District.
“Many people have helped me on
my wonderful journey through history,
with their photographs and memories
and I am indebted to them all.” " I didn't start making the chairs then. Other things sort of got in the way, like work and family, but retirement a couple of years ago finally spurred me on to honour my promise." It is obvious that Beth is as thrilled with the end product as her husband is and their beautiful lines, crafted in beech, would be the envy of home owners for miles around. John’s hugely talented hands - he is a skilled woodworker,, metalworker and jewellery designer - have been inherited from generations of family members who earned their living in the field of engineering. " My love of fine working comes from my father who made model railway engines," added John, whose last teaching post was in the Design and Technology faculty at Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, prompting a move to this area for the family almost 20 years ago. Yorkshire-born in Cleckheaton, John met Bolton born Beth, at a ballroom dancing session at Billy Martin’s in Liverpool. Now more than 40 years later they continue their love of ballroom dancing with the local U3A group. John has been the capable organiser for some months. Since retiring he has also been an active member of the painting group and both of them love photography. John was a busy man before retirement but, like lots of us, now says he wonders how he found the time to work! He is a dedicated volunteer at the West Lancs Light Railway in Hesketh Bank and also sings with the Haydock Male Voice Choir. But it is his passion for wood and fine objects that have forged the major challenges both in his p r o f e s s i o n a l teaching days and the marginally slower pace of life that has enabled him to take out his precious tools again. " When I retired I did miss the interaction with the students but many new friendships have d e v e l o p e d through U3A." The next project is going apace ~ a pair of beech bedside chests, with one completed and the next not far off. A list has emerged that now includes a storage chest for the Blamires’ lounge and a set of coffee tables. John's beautiful chairs have already been profiled in last November’s edition of the Good Woodworking magazine, complete with his drawings and photographs as the design was transformed into what are likely to become family heirlooms. Active grandchildren permitting, of course! March 2008 9. Founder Chairman - Alex McMinn
The current chairman of trustees of the local group, Alex's recent appointment to the National Committee of U3A involves him being the Trustee responsible for the North West - a region stretching from Carlisle to Staffordshire and Derbyshire - with no less than 73 U3A groups and five regional committees. Additionally he will have an educational remit to nationally develop " shared learning" research, linking local groups to universities, museums, archivists and research centres and - wait for it, there's more - because of his background in international medical education he has been charged with representing the National Executive body on the Council of the International Association of Universities of the Third Age based in Paris. This is an organisation currently working with more than 30 countries and in official relations with the UN Education Social and Cultural Organisation. I feel quite exhausted just typing up this information for our local membership and even Alex, a sprightly 74 year old, is a little concerned about the workload being manageable. " It is fair to say that the roles I have agreed to take on - and I do so with total commitment - should probably be done by a professional paid person but the organisation is just not in a position to fund someone. " Yes, it means many, many long meetings and the sort of travelling distances that may prove daunting, but I really believe that U3A is good for individuals and for the community. " Life-long learning wards off things like depression and evidence already shows that membership produces much happier people. The health and well-being of older people is a real passion for me and I hope that this stage of ‘moving on' in my life will prove beneficial to many other people." Our Founding Chairman four years ago, Alex promises to be on the local scene as much as possible and some of the local links he retains are as chairman of the West Lancs Older People's Partnership Board and as a Director of West Lancs Council of Voluntary Services. He will also continue to engage in the Development of Healthier Ageing programmes as a member of Central Lancashire's Primary Health Care Trust's Planning and Commissioning Strategy Committee. We wish him well in his new endeavours with the knowledge that his wife Kath will undoubtedly continue to give him her support and carry on her own commitment for U3A too. 2008 8. Behind the scenes - Chris Proctor Chris Procter has never been allowed to forget the comment she made when the newly launched local group of U3A decided on a weekly coffee morning instead of just monthly. " It was a rainy morning and I said ‘It will never take off.' We opened the Scout HQ door and people were queuing up outside," chuckled Chris, who has been the hardworking organiser of the Thursday Horizon sessions for nearly two years. Undoubtedly, now one of the growing group's most successful events, and a major fundraiser – income from the coffee mornings is expected to top £2,000 this year – its smooth running is down to the commitment of Chris and her team of helpers. The rota now tops around 50 U3A members, and so far only two of them are men! When she took over from another busy member, Wendy Wilkinson, the facility was taking around £30 a time. Now it has shot up around £70 to £80 every week and on speaker Thursdays, the £100 has been passed several times, that's 200 people paying 50p a go for coffee, tea and biscuits – the cheapest cuppa around. Chris was a widow when she joined the group, and having spent a long time caring for a sick husband, found her social life and associates had dwindled somewhat. " Like a lot of other people who are members, I have found U3A a wonderful place to make new friends, re-establish old acquaintances in the district and take on the challenge of trying new things, already I have enjoyed the gardening group and theatre visits, am on the social committee and tackled handbell- ringing, keep fit and canasta. I have also joined holidays and outings, and the companionship has been wonderful." Alan Worthington's Saturdays have been mapped out since he was a young boy – rugby, rugby and yet more rugby. A passionate rugby union participant since his school days, his enthusiasm has never waned and even now in his official retirement years he sets off pretty well every Saturday during the season to watch a game. But his eye isn't always on the players or the ball these days but on the very important overseer of the match in hand – the referee. For Alan is now one of the top assessors of rugby referees in the North of England watching referees in the North 1 League which keeps him in the north but does involve referees from all over the country. "The aim is to make sure that today's young up and coming referees are keeping up a good, consistent standard, whatever situation may arise during play. I make copious notes throughout the match and at the end hold a debrief with the referee and go through some of the comments I have jotted down" . "Within two days a report is sent off to the Rugby Football Union and generally I feel that standards are being kept at a high level. If there is a problem it usually means that the referee being assessed threatens any promotion chances,'' says Alan a past president of the Liverpool Rugby Union Referees' Society. The hard-working joint editor of U3A's very polished newsletter with Sue Watkinson – he maintains high standards in rugby union himself and wouldn't dream of turning up in anything less than his official blazer and tie, and crisp white shirt. "Rugby union is unique I think in that the players do have great respect still for referees and there is rarely any swearing or dissent. The old fashioned disciplines still apply." The former deputy headmaster at Ormskirk Grammar School until his retirement in 1995, Alan is a mathematician, having gained his degree at King's College, London. Born in Preston he has remained a Lancashire Lad and has lived in Aughton for many years with his wife, Ann; they have three children and three grandchildren. An early recruit to the local U3A – he is member number 10 – he admits it was difficult to avoid getting very involved with helping to run it and agreed that as he is pretty nifty on a computer and able to work things out space wise, he took on the pressured role of editor he happily shares with Sue. " I am doing a job that I enjoy doing and am happy that the end product meets with the approval of our many members." Sheila has been busy selling next year's U3A diaries at Horizons sessions but her own engagement list for 2007 is looking pretty sparse. For the 63 year old chartered librarian is abandoning the usual cold and damp days of February for the warmer climes of a village thousands of miles away in Tanzania, to take on one of the biggest challenges of her life. The international development charity, VSO – Voluntary Service Overseas – have welcomed her offer to share her many skills and experiences with staff and students at Katoke Teachers' College , 20 miles from the nearest large town of Bukoba in the north west of the country. "I have pledged a 12 months commitment but the chances are I will stay for two years," said Sheila, as she started making firm plans for her departure in the New Year. Until her retirement in 2003, she spent a number of years managing the libraries at Ormskirk and Wrightington Hospitals and prior to that was at Edge Hill College, experience that will stand her in good stead for the task ahead of setting up a library at her new base. " I know there is very little in the way of library facilities in Katoke at the moment and I will be passing on my skills to the teacher training staff so that they will be able to run it when I return to England," said Sheila, who will be paid a local wage by the college. Her travel expenses and accommodation are paid for by VSO, but she will have to buy food and other items out of her small salary. " Friends and family have obviously commented on how brave I am but I have wanted to do something like this for a while. I have no dependents and I am reasonably fit and healthy so it is the perfect time to give something back, especially when the community I will be living in is so poor." " Sheila, who will have language training in Kiswahili, admits she will miss her usual home comforts, her garden, family and friends – especially those in U3A -, and her latest passion for golf. " We enjoy a lot of freedom here and I feel safe even going on long walks on my own but I am not sure how restrictive it will be in my new home." Sheila, who is a widow, has already made contact with volunteers in the area and will be taking her laptop to stay in touch by e-mail. We all wish you well Sheila and look forward to hearing your news. 2006
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Born of Polish parents, George came to England as a small child unable to speak English. After a state education, he eventually graduated from Liverpool University and worked as a general dental practitioner. Married to Ruth, he has three children and five very young grandchildren, spending as much time as possible with them. Having to retire after 25 years with back problems, he felt he needed to find new interests to occupy his mind and time.
HELPING asylum seekers find their feet in a strange city seems a far cry from her orderly life as a university librarian, but the challenge has been a rewarding one for Margaret Weichers, our U3A webmaster. She found, like most people on the verge of retiring, that there would be gaps in her daily routine. 
TEN years ago life took
one of its big downturns for Dorothy
Harrison. In a short space of time
she lost her beloved husband Tom,
retired from the teaching profession
and had her first taste of empty nest
syndrome.
FINDING out about life in and around
West Lancashire and Ormskirk in
particular over the last few hundred
years has been Mona Duggan’s
passion. Her documen tation of the
way we were has been on the local
bestseller list for some time, although
she is quick to point out ~ “I am no J
K Rowling.”
Sitting in pride of place in John Blamires John Blamires’ Ormskirk home are six superb dining chairs which he designed and made himself. They have been a ‘work in progress’ for a lengthy amount of time as the 65 yearold first promised to make them when he became engaged to Beth, to whom he has been married for almost 40 years 
IT is just as well Alex McMinn didn't plan a lazing around kind of retirement. The reality is that he is now ‘working' longer hours than in his paid employment and not content with being one of the original driving forces behind one of the country's most successful U3A groups - our very own Aughton and Ormskirk one - he has now landed a major voluntary role in the organisation. 