Text Box: Page 1 Text Box: Geology and Landscape Through a combination of lectures and fieldwork we have continued to look at the “Jurassic Coast”, this year from Weymouth eastwards as far as Old Harry Rocks at Swanage. The first visit was to Osmington Mills at the Smugglers Inn car park trying to interpret the cliffs in the teeth of a     howling gale  -  although things improved a bit as we got to the Ringstead National Trust car park for our walk down to the sea examining faults and the great unconformity. Lulworth Cove was next, which is almost too perfect for words, both scenically and geologically.  At Stairhole you can see the sea battering at the Purbeck and Portland Limestone and opening tunnels through, whilst immediately above is the contorted foldings of the “Lulworth Crumple”. We went on to walk to Durdle Door which was 400 feet up and 400 feet down, and coming back 400 feet up and 400 feet down! Next was Kingston, just south of Corfe Castle, which again is an idyllic setting.   Viewed from the garden of the Scott Arms you cannot fail to be impressed by the chalk ridge of the Purbeck Hills with that 1000 year old Norman castle sitting right in the gap ( “corf” is Old English meaning a pass or a cut) built to control all movements within the area. The geology, too, is classic; it reads like a book.   We then went south out along the Hounstout Ridge through to the cliffs over-looking Chapman’s Pool and St. Aldhelm’s Head.   If you haven’t been to Kingston, just get out there and enjoy it – never mind about the geology. We have also had a visiting speaker, Robert Christian, President of the Dorchester U3A, a very knowledgeable        amateur palaeontologist, who both informed and entertained us with his array of fossils. Next term the “Jurassic Coast” to the west of Weymouth – more delights in store, starting with Golden Cap  - the highest spot, at 630 feet, in the whole of the south coast of England. Jim Malthouse, Coordinator, geology and landscape                                                                                                         Paul Brickell, Hon President

Text Box: FESTIVAL TIME IN DORSET! Yes ‘tis the season to dig out your dusty picnic baskets, parasols and straw hats, or perhaps blankets, umbrellas and raincoats and head off to a festival near you!  There is certainly plenty of choice to tempt you across the county, from Abbotsbury, to Bridport, Dorchester, Lulworth, Plush, Lyme Regis, Sherborne, Wimborne, and not forgetting       Weymouth. Whatever your particular fancy in music and the arts, you will find something to entertain you without travelling to the big national festivals and spending a fortune on tickets. Let me tell you about our favourite, which is now in its 14th year at Beaminster.  This delightful village hosts an   eclectic mix, attracting many well-known artistes, during the last week in June and first in July.  Peter and I have been attending for about five years now and are always spoilt for choice between the music concerts, anything from indi-pop to the classics, talks by authors and performances by poets, theatre from Shakespeare and Hardy to      puppets and Pinocchio, taking place in various venues, sometimes in the open air, in pubs, halls or the beautiful     St. Mary’s Church.  Besides all this, the visual arts are not forgotten and there are always some wonderful exhibitions of painting, pottery, textiles and photography.  Yes, it is all there in Beaminster; something for everyone and it’s local; you can even travel there by bus if you do not have your own transport.  By the time you read this you may be too late for this year’s events, but do bear it in mind and try looking at www.beamfest.org.uk next May, or phone 01308 862943 and they will send you a programme.  A couple of years ago on a U3A college course we met a lady who had recently moved here from London and was complaining that Dorset was a “cultural desert”!  However, I am sure that many of you will join us in saying, “Oh no, it’s all here; you just have to go out and look”.  So enjoy the summer folks, explore the festivals and perhaps you will find another Dorset secret to tell us about!        Julie Flannery, Member    

Text Box: Out and about with Weymouth & Portland U3A

Text Box: Dorset is a very special county, tucked away, lying neither truly in the south west nor in the south east.  It remains just where you find it, and it  was special before the Jurassic label was applied! Sometimes life events overtake you, your commitments to clubs and voluntary work seem to have the upper hand.  We decided to cut loose the other day!  First a ‘late breakfast’, sat in the sun at The Smugglers at Osmington, catching up with a friend who had recently moved to one of the coastguard cottages behind the pub.  Not many smugglers these days, but those walls could tell a tale or two. Then a gentle drive to Swanage, through the wonderful heathland between Arne and the coast.    The sea was blue,  boats bobbed on their moorings, Old Harry Rocks stood out           majestically and glancing westward across the bay at the new apartments nestling around an ancient clock tower from the City of London, and the dishevelled fishing huts below the headland, you could have been forgiven if you thought you were in a Mediterranean coastal village. We took a walk along the pier,  climbed up to Peverell Point, around the Coast Watch tower, then down and across the lifeboat ramp to where the old fishing boats lay.  Everywhere looked bright and cheerful.  We even managed a cream tea!  Finally, we made our way to the Scot Arms at Kingston for a glass of wine, and sat in the garden enjoying the last rays of the sun, listening to the bird song, looking out at Corfe Castle romantically lying in the Purbecks, imagining what it would have been if Cromwell had not come calling!  We had had a stunning day out — our ‘day off in retirement' . So be bold, you too can break out and take time to relax and enjoy!     Pauline Carter, Editor