Bude & District U3A Report of March Meeting 2011
Anyone who attended the March meeting of the Bude U3A would have
quickly realised that this is a lively and expanding organisation both
in membership and in the range of activities it can offer its members.
Proceedings were opened by our chairperson, Hilary Workman who
welcomed new members who had just enrolled.
Tamar Sailing club have offered to run sailing courses for members
and so has the Archeology Society. She drew our attention to the
table at the back of the hall where information about these courses
and various other matters of interest to U3A members were diplayed,
including information about theatre trips, holidays, courses, lectures
etc some run by the U3A and others by other organisations.
Cora the group leader of our newly formed Philosophy Group told us
about her group which meets on the first Tuesday morning of the month
at the Falcon Hotel, and how more members would be welcome
We were then introduced to our two guest speakers, Geoff Moore and
Larry Girling who were from the Drive Safely for Longer Scheme. Both
of them are pensioners and ex driving instructors and had done
research into the problems of older drivers. Between the two of them
they created a lively interractive sesion backed up with photographs
and short videos. We in the audience were given plenty of
opportunities to express our own opinions and anxieties about driving.
Many interesting facts emerged during the session about particular
problems for older drivers.
Larry stressed the importance of regular eye checks, for all drivers
and pointed out that when we get older our eyes take longer to adjust
to changing light situations, especially glare. It is possible to get
special glare resistant coatings on glasses which can be helpful.
Much of the sesion was taken up with problems at junctions which was
backed up by photographs and videoclips. There was a very realistic
one shown of a collision with a motor cycle. Most collisions occur at
road junctions which is why this was so important.
The Drive Safely for Longer Scheme runs assesment courses for older
drivers. Geoff stressed that these courses are not tests but advisory
courses for drivers, starting out from their own homes in their own
cars experiencing their everday driving situations. These courses
normally cost £27 50 but if we signed up at this meeting we could have
a free session. As you can imagine our response to this fantastic
offer was taken up with enthusiasm.
At our next U3A meeting we are being given a talk about the Childrens
Hospice and there will also be a plant sale. This is likely to be
very good because we have a flourishing and enthusiastic gardening
group
Jenny Leyland
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