Text Box: THE HISTORY GROUP IN THE DOCK! The final session of the recent Local History short course was a field trip, led by our tutor, Pauline Crump.  The course looked at various local events with a wider historical impact. Having discussed the effect of the Bloody Assizes and the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ affair, we visited the old Courthouse and cells in Dorchester, and the Martyrs Museum.  We had an excellent tour of the old Courthouse (now West Dorset District Council offices) where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried The underground cells, where the martyrs were held, were still in use until the fifties.  Judge Jeffreys was the 'hanging judge' who was sent to punish those who supported James Duke of Monmouth's ill-fated rebellion, at his court on the High Street. The 'Bloody Assizes' in 1685 saw more than 70 rebels hanged, drawn and quartered, with body parts distributed around the county as an awful warning. We continued to the Martyrs’ Museum at Tolpuddle, where the displays tell the story of the seven farm workers who were tried and transported on a trumped-up charge of “illegal oath-taking”.  Their wages had been reduced several times, and with their families facing utter poverty, they formed an association to get a living wage from their employer.  The case caused such a scandal that the men were eventually pardoned and repatriated.  We walked round the village, where you can still see the tree where the men held their first meetings. Interest groups are usually organised by our members, but where we have no-one with the specialised knowledge needed, Di Shearman has organised occasional short courses at Weymouth College on a variety of subjects. Carol Green, Local History Group member A U3A INNOCENT ABROAD Exploring Nice, the Museum of Art and History Masséna beckoned.  This beautiful town villa Masséna was built in 1900 in the style of Italian villas of the First Empire by a descendant of the distinguished soldier, André Masséna, and was later given to the city after the 1914-18 war, on condition that it became a museum devoted to local history. So far; so good. In the sepulchral foyer three tall, imposing French men confronted me, gravely dressed in black suits, snow-white shirts and highly polished charnel-coloured shoes.  It was reminiscent of a high-class funeral parlour.  My white trousers, coloured top and sandals seemed flippant.  Seriously, my bag was taken from me and seriously the way into the first vault was indicated by one of the pall-bearers. Having been somewhat intimidated by my sombre reception, my escape from the marble entrance hall was with a sense of relief; however, this did not last.  It was the lunch hour, or, siesta time, and I appeared to be the only visitor.  Soon I became aware of loud, dead-march footsteps pacing with great regularity up and down, and turned from the display to see one of the large under-takers making his presence felt.  Oh well, I thought, psychologically he needs to feel important; stature, loud shoes, small woman, etc. But wherever I went more pall-bearers slid onto chairs in corners, or, appeared from behind gilded doors. At the first floor paranoia was filtering into my mind and disturbing concentration.  What on earth do they think a little old English lady is going to do—snatch a picture off the wall and try to run off with it?  My nails, always short, wouldn’t have damaged anything.  Oh, there were my teeth, of course; with a bit of ingenuity a corner of a picture frame could have been indented. No doubt, had I stayed there long enough I would have thought of something disreputable to register my protest, or, prostrated myself peacefully for embalmment. Barbara philpott, member u3a                  

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Text Box: Group Coordinators Liaison The next Group Coordinators’ meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 24th, 11.30 am, at Southill Community Centre.  Lunch will be provided after the meeting, to thank all our coordinators for their hard work during the year. N.B.  All invoices, receipts and expenses claims should now go to the new Treasurer: Michael Miles, 13 Wyke Oliver Road, Preston, DT3 6BW Di Shearman, group coordinators’ contact     Derrick Harman, Group Coordinators’ Advisor        

Text Box: U3A THEATRE & OUTINGS GROUP  What a successful time we have had in the last three months. We have been to several shows including ‘Tribute to Nat King Cole’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘West Side Story’. We also had a lovely outing to Tiverton, including a trip on a horse drawn barge down the Grand Western Canal. Keep your an eye on the notice board for future events. Don’t miss out!  See you soon, Ann Ann mason, theatre & outings coordinator                   Ann Mason, Theatre & Outings Coordinator.         Ann mason, theatre & outings coordinator                   Ann Mason, Theatre & Outings Coordinator. Text Box: “Members in the dock, how do you plead?”   “Not guilty, your         honour”