GROUPS MEETING OUTDOORS Various groups have continued to meet outdoors this past month, taking advantage of some lovely weather. However, a few were caught out including one of the Family History Groups as shown in the 'before' and 'during' photos. The moral for outdoor meetings is always take your brolly and your mac!

SPEAKERS MEETINGS by Mary Brenchley-Hole, Speakers Secretary This month, on 12 August, we held the second in our series of virtual Speakers’ meetings which was conducted via Zoom. Our talk this month was by Megan Maltby a Senior Public Events Coordinator for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission based in Maidenhead. Her very interesting talk was about the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, what their current work involves and looks like all around the world. Our next Speakers meeting will be on Wednesday 2nd September and our talk will be given by Reverend John Fieldsend on ‘The Kindertransport’, an organised rescue effort that took place during the nine months prior to the outbreak of WW II. The UK took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany and occupied countries who were placed in foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. Many were the only members of their families to survive the Holocaust.  Our Systems Administrator, Chris Mould, has produced a helpful guide on how to access Speakers' meetings on Zoom (produced in our July Newsletter - available to download from our Useful Information page);

GROUPS  UPDATE by Paula Dove, Groups Coordinator The History and On-line quiz groups had their first meetings - thanks to Chris and David for all of their work in getting those groups started. Groups have been continuing to take advantage of the dry weather to meet outside in our local parks and members’ gardens, in small socially distanced groups. The Book-lovers Group met up face-to-face for the first time since lockdown and the Virtual Visits Group picnic, postponed due to thunderstorms, was reorganised taking place on Friday 21 August (pictured right). Even though government guidelines now allow community groups of up to thirty people to meet inside Covid-safe community halls, we are unable to do this as the local facilities we use are not yet Covid-safe. I will continue to monitor changes and keep your convenors informed about what might be possible for their groups in the coming weeks or months. Virtual groups are working well for several groups. Groups meeting virtually with space for new members include - Afternoon Film Group, Photography, Discovering Science and Indoor Board Games.  I am sad to report that, due to some members not renewing, two groups are not continuing - French Conversation 2 and Mah-jong. On a more positive note over-subscribed groups which have lost members were able to offer their places to people on the waiting lists. If you are interested in joining on-line Rummikub, Play-reading or Bridge groups, please let me know as there may be sufficient interest to set up new groups. Contact Paula : Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk

WEBSITE UPDATE - Interests & Activities The "Useful Links to Ideas for Interests and Activities" section of the website has twelve categories. Choose from Healthy Eating; Exercise, Books and Literature; Music, Films & Theatre; Crafts; Gardening; Games and Puzzles; Learning Online; Around the World; Galleries and Museums; Compters & IT and Science & Technology. Something for Everyone! Click on any of the images to be taken to the categories page. Within the relevant categories. you will find lots of recipes and exercises for leading a healthy lifestyle; where to gain access to books, music and films for free or via subscriptions you may already have; ideas for a variety of crafts; gardening tips; ways of keeping your brain active; amazing videos of stunning locations/artefacts from around the world; IT support and recent developments in scientific amd technological research. The Science and Technology category includes key information on Covid 19 research and I would recommend that all members take specific note of reports and updates on the benefits of Vitamin D. These, and other research/developments in the UK and around the world, are presented in well-worth watching daily videos by Dr John Campbell, a former Senior Lecturer in Nursing Studies at the University of Cumbria. Woodley Library is now open on weekdays from 9am to 1pm purely for returning and borrowing books with other services such as public computer use, study space, and newspaper and magazine browsing not available. However, a large number of online library services, as shown on our website, are still available including ebooks, emagazines, enewspapers and audiobooks. Click on our website  screenshot on the right for a summary of these online services and information on steps to follow to access the variious online resources.

LOCAL NEWS Woodley Town Centre is now open for business to its weekly Saturday Markets and Wednesday Artisan & Produce Markets. The popular Authentic French Markets make a return on Friday 4 September from 9am-5pm. Notifications of future dates wull be provided on the Town Centre website. The fortmightly Sunday car boot sales have returned - running fortnightly from 23 August (8.00am-1.00pm). Access the Woodley Town Centre Newsletter for further information by clicking on the Newsletter image.

JULIA AND DAVID'S VIRTUAL QUIZ NIGHTS! EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY It was with real regret that we had to cancel our planned quiz night at Sonning Golf Club on 29 April 2020. Those of you who attended our quiz night in October will remember our fantastic quiz masters, David and Julia, who played a key part in making the evening such a success! Unable to currently run quizzes at venues around Berkshire, David and Julia have produced Virtual Quizzes that we feel our members may well like to download for their own Quiz Nights. The quizzes can be done individually, with family members living at home, or "virtually" with other family members/groups of friends. The quizzes are free but members may care to make a donation to the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice charity supported by David and Julia. To download the quizzes/access further information, click on the image to the right. The link is sometimes a little slow to download, so please be patient.