January has been another busy month for our Interest Groups Online community. Read in more detail about what IGO have been up to.
Download a PDF of the January 2023 News Extra for IGO members: u3a IGO News Extra January ()
Military History Group News - from group leader Harry Belsey
The Military History Group (MHG) has existed since 1996 in Cambridge, under different leaders.
I’m the third leader and have been running the MHG since 2012. I joined Trust u3a (as it then was) about two years ago and took in additional members from all over the U.K. Recently within the Interest Groups Online, we have guests sitting in from Canada (5 am start for them) and New Zealand (midnight start for him).
We adhere to university term times, so we meet weekly during term times, 3 x 10-week terms plus a 6-week summer school. In between, according to personal preference, we prepare presentations.
In term times we meet Wednesdays at 10.30 am for 90 minutes and usually attract about two dozen members.
Members are encouraged to give PowerPoint (or similar) aided talks on aspects of military history in which they are interested, but it is not an obligation. Members have presented a wide range of interesting subjects covering conflicts from different periods of time and from various parts of the globe. Presentations are followed by discussion, and individual members choose the subjects.
New members are welcome. No qualifications are required except an enthusiasm for military history, an email address, and a camera/microphone. Members tend to communicate with each other by email to discuss points arising.
I hope members will enjoy the forthcoming spring of Military History – the main objective of the exercise.
Why not Zoom in?
Spring Programme 2023
8 Feb at 10:30am - John Kaye: The Battle of the Yellow Sea: fighting at long range FOLLOWED BY Christina Leadlay: My Link with Constance Markievicz
15 Feb at 10:30am - Carlos de la Riva: The Rise and Fall of The Peru-Bolivia Confederation FOLLOWED BY Kevin Fitzpatrick: The Double Hush Club
22 Feb at 10:30am - Justin Hiscock: Hetman Bhodan Khmelnytsky 1595-1657 FOLLOWED BY Keith Ginsberg: 5 Military Co-incidences
1 Mar at 10:30am - John Kaye: The Fleet that had to die: the Baltic Fleet on its way to Tsushima FOLLOWED BY Adrian Rose: The Thornycroft ‘Mighty’ Antar - British Army Tank Transporter, 1950s - 80s
8 Mar at 10:30am - Harry Belsey: The Battle of ONS 5, April 22nd - May 11th, 1943: the pivotal engagement against the U-Boat packs
From the January News Extra - Anagram Clues
An anagram is a word (or words) that, when rearranged, forms a different word or phrase. For example 'swore' is an anagram of 'worse'.
In the examples below, the meaning of the answers are highlighted (ie, the solver should be looking for a synonym of the words in bold).
EXAMPLE A: Ms Reagan is upset by the executives (8)
Managers - The answer, managers, is an anagram of Ms Reagan, the anagram pointer being ‘upset’. ‘Executives’ is the meaning of the answer.
EXAMPLE B: Cook a chop another way (5)
Poach is an anagram of ‘a chop’, the anagram pointer being ‘another way’.
Answers from the News Extra:
- Times when things look different (6)
- NIGHTS
- Birds observed in slow motion (4)
- OWLS
January's Mini-Quiz
Question 1: Who wrote Silent Spring – the first book to document problems associated with pesticides?
Question 2: To what family of instruments does the recorder belong?
Question 3: What is the other name for the dangerous CFCs first created in 1920s refrigeration?
Question 4: The recorder was the favourite instrument for which Tudor monarch?
Question 5: Which corporation in 2010 was responsible for the explosion and oil spill at DeepWater Horizon?
Read the answers below!
Question 1: Rachel Carson
Question 2: Woodwind instruments
Question 3: Freon
Question 4: Henry the VIII
Question 5: BP