Parish Cake Autumn 2017

club news
Cranbrook U3A
THE CRANBROOK branch of the ‘University of the Third
Age’ is for anyone at that stage in life where you are
no longer working or are semi-retired. There is no age
restriction on becoming a member.
In the UK the national U3A organisation supports
development of local U3As which are self-managed by
volunteers with a democratically appointed committee
of members, who run the local organisation.
There are currently over 1,000 U3As in the UK and
more than 385,000 members. Cranbrook U3A supports
and encourages its members to join interest groups
hosted and run by other members with a particular
interest, life skill or sporting activity which they would
like to share. Over 160 members and more than 25
interest groups offer a diversity of subject matter such
as bridge, pottery, languages, play reading, walking,
gardening, local history and wine appreciation –
activities that appeal to most people.
On the social side there are regular coffee mornings,
a lunch club and outings to the theatre and museums.
Sharing educational, creative and leisure experiences
the lives of all who participate are significantly
enhanced.
Cranbrook U3A meets monthly (except for August)
in the Vestry Hall, to enjoy a chat, a coffee or tea and
listen to an invited speaker. Topics are wide and various
including life in Kent School during the war years, how
a group of young men in the 70s took a double-decker
bus around the world and about Charles Dickens and his
love of magic.
Members receive a National U3A magazine and a
quarterly Cranbrook Matters which provides a real
insight into our activities. Jane Pugh
To join Cranbrook U3A please visit the website www.
u3asites.org.uk/cranbrook, pick up a leaflet in the Vestry
Hall or pop along to a Monthly Meeting. Look out for
notices in the Market Cross notice board.
FROM VILLAGE
LUNCH TO
CHURCH REPAIRS
WHILE TRINITY Church cannot
boast a history going back to the
11th century, it can be proud of
its supporters who belong to the
Friends of Sissinghurst Church.
The group was formed by the
late and much-missed Canon Doug
Redman who was keen to see the
fabric of the Victorian church
safeguarded for the future.
For years, he headed the
committee which organised
everything from a popular village
lunch with well-known personalities
as speakers to the book stall at the
annual fête.
Money raised has gone to a
variety of projects including
bespoke oak cupboards at the
back of the church, the painting of
the church interior and extensive
repairs to the parish rooms.
The Friends are still pursuing
Canon Redman’s wish for a
memorial plaque at Sissinghurst
Castle to commemorate the many
French prisoners of war who were
incarcerated and died, most without
graves, during the seven years’ war
1756-63. The Friends, who have
been promised a donation of £500
by the National Trust, have separate
fundraising for this project.
Anyone interested in joining the
Friends should contact membership
secretary Peter Mellor on
01580 715860.
14 Parish Cake • Autumn 2017