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 A Horizons Meeting 
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Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
This award recognises groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen’s Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Find out more about the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
We are all truly delighted with the news that Alex, our founder chairman, has been awarded an MBE in this years Queen’s Birthday Honours list in recognition of his contribution to Ormskirk. Full Birthday Honours List for 2008 Chairman's Column - Ted Morrell
Thanks to all our super, unpaid volunteers A&O U3A is a truly marvellous ‘life long learning’ organisation. We believe, and are proving, that learning is effective when both optional and enjoyable. U3A members do not face entry qualification or exams nor receive awards instead they choose subjects or projects that interest them and set their own goals (but only if they wish to). We feel it good not to be ‘measured’ nor have folklooking for ‘outcomes’! We are not single issue and so seek to balance the educational options with activities that focus on hobbies, culture, exercise, trips that reflect our local appetites. The cost of participation is always kept as low as possible. New ideas and offers are invited and always welcome. The AGM was held on 8 May and was attended by 135 members. The Charity Commission approved Constitution was accepted, the Finances approved. A copy of the Minutes is available on request. We have continued to ring the changes on the main Committee. Dorothy Harrison left the committee (but continues with Theatre and Welfare leadership); Jeff Roberts stepped down as Treasurer to become Vice Chairman. New Committee members are Beth Blamires, David Blanchflower and Chris Jones. Chris has taken on the role of Treasurer. We have since also co-opted Ann Haskell. All bring a wide experience from their careers and voluntary sector involvement that we are sure will prove invaluable. Please can I invite all members to write in (or drop into the Suggestion Box at Horizons) with their suggestions to help shape our process of gradual and continual improvement. Additionally your ideas on how to mark our 5th birthday (see page 11) are invited.
The few remaining tickets (£14 or
£18 with coach) for the first such
event the 25th June Mersey
Cruise, are still on sale, please
apply within seven days.
Secretary's Column - Sue Watkinson
The name ‘University of the Third Age’ and the logo we show on this newsletter were registered in 1993 after some argument about the use of the word ‘university’. The erudite founder who conceived this name used it in its original concept ~ bands of fellow-scholars gathered together for the selfless pursuit of truth. He saw the spontaneous coming together of older people in dialogue and allied activities (for their own sake and not for competitiveness or qualification) being totally analogous with his definition of ‘university’. Seven years on the 500 has become over 660 with 200,000 members and, whilst we are autonomous charities and free to act in whatever way our members decide, we must subscribe to the principles on which the movement was established. The first one is: “U3A shall consist of a body of persons who undertake to learn and to help others to learn. Those who teach will be encouraged also to learn and those who learn shall also teach, or in other ways assist in the functioning of the institution.” So, when we say we are a DIY
organisation, we mean that everyone
should be pleased to take part in
whatever way they can best
contribute. We are always looking for
more members to help
in practical ways so if
you think you can
offer something,
please contact any
member of the Committee.
Your contribution
will be most welcome.
Mersey Ferry Cruise An evening cruise on Wednesday, 25 June to celebrate our fifth birthday. The boat leaves the Pier Head at 1800 for a three-hour cruise and includes a Buffet, Bar and Dancing. Coach transport from Aughton and Ormskirk will be arranged. Please pick up a booking form if you would like to go Christmas Lunch Christmas Luncheon at
Adelphi Hotel
Friday 19 December. Identification During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They cleaned her up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid enjoyed the rest of the BBQ. But later Ingrid's husband called everyone to say his wife had been taken to the hospital where she later died. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It only takes a minute to read this - perhaps a minute that could save someone's life. The trick is recognizing, diagnosing, and then getting the patient medically cared for as soon as possible.. Sometimes symptoms are difficult to identify but unfortunately the lack of awareness spells disaster and the stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions! Read on … Recognising a Stroke Read and remember the "3" steps, S.T.R. S - Ask the individual to SMILE. A new sign of a Stroke is to say “Stick out your Tongue” - if the tongue is 'crooked', i.e. if it goes to one side or the other, then that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately and describe the symptoms to the operator. Information provided by Mickey Scott – former Nursing Sister ‘MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BRAIN’ Professor Baroness Susan Greenfield, a world renowned expert in the physical nature of the mind, is to be our speaker at the September meeting. Besides being Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University where she leads a team of medical scientists researching the ageing brain, she is also President of the Royal Institution, Director of the Institute for the Future of the Mind and Mindweavers plc as well as being a working member of the House of Lords and in demand as a TV lecturer. Not only are we privileged to have this busy, feisty, medical scientist to speak to us, but she and her colleagues will be supporting our ‘use it or lose it’ programme in the use of ‘Mindfit’ ~ software developed by the world’s leading neuro-scientists that seek to harness the dynamism of the brain and address issues such as short term memory loss. Our long term programme includes the use of software to deter age-related vision, hearing and brain degeneration ~ programmes developed by Professor Greenfield and her colleagues at Oxford and Nottingham University Medical School. Get the date in your diary ~ don’t just try to remember it Web Editing Software - Adobe Dreamweaver Web Editing Software, Adobe Dreamweaver, is now on some of the U3A PCs in the upstairs room at the Scout & Guide Hut. U3A groups can use it to update their U3A group web page or anyone can use it to develop their own web pages. If you would like to edit your group web page or would like to use this software or would just like more information please contact Margaret on web@aughton-ormskirk-u3a.co.uk Tree Planting at Gorse Hill Nature Reserve
Contact Sue Watkinson or Fiona Taylor for more information or the NWET Secretary, Jonathan Atkins The U3A What Members Do: Mona Duggon
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.”
Previous "What Members Do" OUR 5th AGM was held in Christ Church on Thursday 8 May at 1045. All details Updates for the website: please contact the webmaster with any comments or updates
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Aughton & Ormskirk U3A has won the 
Congratulations to Alex for his MBE
I AM pleased (thanks for my reelection
at the AGM!) to write
this, my third column as chairman.
Winter is behind us and hopefully
summer will allow us to enjoy even
more U3A ‘events’. I am sure that
our friendly, welcoming style remains
a vital component of all that we do.
We especially welcome new members.
We are all unique but our aim is that
every member fully feels part of the
‘family’.
I AM reading ‘500 Beacons’ ~ the
story of the first 21 years of the
U3A in the United Kingdom. Written
by one of its founding members, Eric
Midwinter, it is a story of inspired
vision, dedication and plain hard work
on the part of so many retired people.
The charity they established is ‘The
Third Age Trust’ (TAT) and this body
provides all registered local U3As
with much advice, support and the all
too essential insurance cover. The
quarterly magazine ‘Third Age News’
is produced by TAT and distributed
widely throughout the network. 
Fifty trees have been planted on a 12-acre field at Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, Holly Lane, Aughton, to launch The U3A Wood, from seedlings and saplings grown in members' own gardens. A big thank you to all who took part on a wet, cold windy December day, to help our local environment. 
The U3A Wood is an initiative between Aughton & Ormskirk U3A and the North West Ecological Trust (NWET), to celebrate the UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. It is a contribution to NWET's aim to manage its 60-plus acres of land in a sustainable way and help reverse the loss of wildlife habitat in the North West. 
The largest sapling planted was a 12ft oak, and the other species included birch, holly and hawthorn. Jonathan Atkins, Secretary of NWET, says: 'We were very pleased with the response from U3A, particularly considering the awful weather. There was great cooperation between U3A members and Trust volunteers as they planted the trees in lashing rain and a Force nine gale!'
There will be a further opportunity for members to contribute trees to The U3A Wood at the end of this year, so please start nurturing your seedlings now. Native species are ideal, except sycamore. They can be pot grown, or left in the ground but please water them in the spring and summer so they have the best chance to survive. The advantage of homegrown seedlings is that they have genetic diversity, unlike cloned, shop bought root cuttings. Better still, they are free of cost! 
NWET would appreciate donations of any surplus garden or woodworking tools, nails, screws, wood (for bird boxes), preservatives and labelled seeds. Also plant pots of any size to grow wild flowers. Please bring along on any Wednesday or Saturday. 
Gorse Hill Nature Reserve is on Holly Lane, off Gaw Hill Lane, Aughton and is now 11 years old. Volunteers work on the Reserve every Wednesday and Saturday and are pleased to explain the NWET's work to visitors. NWET would be grateful for any time members could volunteer to help with tasks such as hedging, clearing undergrowth, growing and planting wild flowers and wildlife watching. 
Our U3A hopes to have a stall at the Open Day on Saturday May 24th from 11am to 4pm. 
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.”