SEE THE EVENTS PAGE FOR 'DATES FOR YOUR DIARY'
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Greetings and welcome to our September Newsletter
Another summer has come and gone. The grandchildren have returned home and are readying for a new academic year. Yet, we have finished our holidays and are returning to our studies in our chosen Groups in the u3a, preparing our presentations and activities. A continual learning process with some occasional hard work but with huge rewards of fun and friendship.
So it is with much sadness that we heard of the passing of Eric Midwinter in August, aged 93, co-founder of the u3a.
A son of a fireman, he attended Sale Grammar School and gained a scholarship to Cambridge, leading to many eminent posts in education, such as visiting professorships. However, his main passions were cricket and writing, often combining the two, notably an acclaimed biography of W G Grace.
His eclectic range of interests focused in 1981 as a co-founder of the u3a. He was passionate about promoting life-long learning via self-help groups for retired people in the community. The imagery of retired people has never been the same! He was happiest watching cricket at Lords with a pint in his hand and was appointed OBE in 1992. We owe him a huge amount of gratitude. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and by their two sons, to whom we send our heart-felt fellowship and support. RIP Eric.
Keep safe!
Richard Lewis Chair Furness u3a
GROUP NEWS
LOCAL HISTORY
Our next meeting is on Monday September 8th. Susan Benson from Barrow Archives is coming to talk about William Fleming, a local Yeoman Farmer
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Industrial History Group visit to Oxley Developments on the 28th August 2025
On arrival at Priory Park, we received a warm welcome from Joanne who supplied each of us with a pass card, to enable us to move through the building. First stop was the Chief Executive Officer’s office for tea and coffee. Joanne introduced Darren, the CEO, and his marketing colleague, Jane. Darren told us about Mr Robert Frederick Oxley, founder of the company, the history of the buildings and described some of the electronic components that are designed and produced on the site.
R.F. Oxley, 1909 – 1988, was an engineer and inventor who led and inspired the company to become a major supplier to the international electronics industry. His London workshop and office were destroyed during the 1940 Blitz and, because his work was of vital national importance, the Ministry of Aircraft Production instructed him to move to Ulverston to avoid the bombs. He established his factory in the Market Place, in the building that is now the Oxfam shop. By 1954 the Company had outgrown these premises, and by 1956 everything had been moved to Priory Park, a large Victorian manor house in Bardsea. Here he built new offices, workshops, assembly lines and a laboratory. Self sufficiency was an essential feature of his business planning.
Today Oxley Developments designs and manufactures panel mount LED indicators with military and aerospace applications.
They are specialists in electromagnetic interference suppression filters. EMI is unwanted disturbance to an electronic device or circuit caused by an external electromagnetic field or radiation. It can degrade or completely stop a device’s performance leading to malfunctions or total failure.
Also, they produce precision machined connectors for military and industrial customers requiring quality and reliability.
On our guided tour of the factory we were shown examples of all of these products and met several engineers, designers and apprentices. It was good to hear that the Company has strong links with many local primary and secondary schools.
After more coffee and biscuits and a group photograph, we left Priory Park happily clutching our generous goodie bags.
WORLD HISTORY
London Coffee Houses, Columbian Coffee and Coffee Fun Facts
To finish off our fascinating study into coffee the World History Group had three presentations. We heard how the London coffee houses developed in the 17/18th Century into public social places for men for conversation and commerce with a penny for admission and a cup of coffee. Coffee houses were very much associated with the intellectual and cultural history of the Age of Enlightenment. The first Coffee House though was founded in 1650 at the Angel Coaching Inn in Oxford and the first in London in 1652. It was said that like Noah’s Ark every kind of creature in every walk of life frequented coffee houses from the town wit, the grave citizen, a worthy lawyer, a worshipful justice, a reverend nonconformist and a voluble sailor.
The language of polite and civil conversation was considered essential with established rules and procedures. However, there were a few of the rougher sort of coffee house like Moll King’s frequented by lowlifes who often spoke in a criminal slang called “flash”. The stock exchange, the insurance industry and auctioneering all started in 17th Century coffee houses. They were also centres for news with printing, distribution and reading of materials. Few women went to coffee houses, but they were allowed in when involved in business ventures and at auctions. They also ran coffee houses as portrayed on the BBC in Blackadder the Third, with Mrs Miggins Coffee Shop.
However, by the end of the 18th Century coffee houses had almost completely disappeared. Their importance as a centre for news had declined, there was the rise of the exclusive gentleman’s club and a growth in tea houses which could be enjoyed by men and women. In the 1950s though we saw the rise of the coffee bar which acknowledged the coffee house as its long-gone predecessor.
We then heard about Columbian coffee and how Columbia’s climate and soil type favours coffee production. Coffee growing was introduced into Columbia by the Jesuits. Columbia even has a very popular coffee theme park. In fun facts on coffee, we learnt about how drinking coffee was seen as the right thing to do for American Patriots during the War of Independence. We found out how coffee works as a stimulant, how to make decaffeinated and instant coffee and how Starbucks are the largest coffee chain in the world.
We will next be studying the history of Germany up to 1815. We always welcome new members keen to learn how history has shaped the world we live in.
If you would like to join us, please contact Rosie Kyles
QUESTERS
Leighton Hall
Questers had yet another super visit! This time it was to Leighton Hall that opened especially early in order to meet and greet our party of 25. After meeting up with Suzie Reynolds, the matriarch of Leighton Hall, we were guided to the café where we enjoyed a light lunch at a reasonable price before going out to investigate the gardens.
We found that the time at Leighton Hall, seems to pass by so quickly as before too long, it was time to join Suzie for a tour of the house. She proved to be a very warm, enthusiastic and an entertaining guide.
We were told about the architecture and development of the house as it stands today, as well as the family history in a very frank and often funny manner.
There were many portraits of her descendants and through her enthusiasm and our questions, made the tour not only interesting but an absolute pleasure to be there. She was quite happy to go "off-track" and share stories with us which were not in the "everyday" script. She made the tour a real pleasure.
After our tour of the house, we resumed our look around the gardens where the summer flowers were still in bright bloom and the autumn colours were just developing. We were very lucky with the weather!!
And then onto the Falconry display………….
Tom the Falconer, did a good job of describing the less than intelligent approach to life of Buttons the Barn Owl, only to be out-witted by the bird who refused to fly and yet managed to get a complete supper from her master Tom!!
He had more success with Goose the Harris Hawk who preferred to spend most of the display sitting on the lawn with the audience or joining them on the wall to listen to Tom's whistles and calls.
The third and final bird, was a Falcon named "Scruffy-the-messy-eater" which was probably the best of the three, but continued to dive bomb poor Tom until he handed over supper.
It was easy to get the impression that the "bond" Tom said he had with his birds, may not have been mutual!!
What a super day out and all thanks to Kate Brown and Sandie Pye for making the arrangements. - Thank-you both!
Our Next Questers Visit
Quester's September visit is to Windermere Library to learn about the Holocaust children who came here after the war. Joan Bush and Janet Kelly are organising this and have come up against a problem meaning we have to go on Friday the 19th September instead of our usual Thursday. Sadly, this means a few people have had to drop out, so if anyone is interested in this visit, please email Sue Whibley
Please see the Questers Group page for details, or contact Tim Evans or Sue Whibley
VISITING GARDENS
Last month we had an excellent visit to a lovely private garden on Walney. This month, on Tuesday 16th September, we are going to Holehird Gardens. We will be meeting in the cul-de-sac on Victoria road at 9.45am for carsharing and leaving at 10am. The costs are £6 minimum donation for the gardens and £4 for a lift. Please book your place by 10th September by emailing Diane Hill
MARDI FRANCAIS 2
Eric Midwinter, a co-founder of National u3a, passed away this month and it seemed appropriate to spend some time in our group talking about his contribution to u3a.
Eric was a historian but worked throughout his career on improving education and wellbeing. He wanted people in retirement to be valued and to be given the opportunity to continue learning. Here are some of the points we raised.
We feel that our u3a is special because it is so welcoming.
Members of our group discussed how much they valued u3a and that to some it had been "a lifeline".
The structure of our groups is important as once a group is formed there is no end date. ( Some u3as run courses as a university, or on more formal lines, restricting how long each member spends in a group.)
We noted that most of our group are 'incomers' to Furness and that made meeting new people and making friends after retirement very beneficial. Our group structure has helped enormously and we thank the co- founders of Furness u3a for their forethought in providing the group framework.
Some of our group did not know who was on our committee and suggested that perhaps a booklet with photos of each member could be available on the table at the Monthly Meeting. [Editors note: Photos and contact links are available here Commitee ]
We understand that there is to be an Open Day in the Coronation Hall later this year when groups will be represented and we look forward to the opportunity to share with others the wealth of interests that Furness u3a has to offer."
SOME OTHER SOURCES OF WIDER U3A NEWS
There are several places where you can catch up on U3A news from further afield.
There is a U3A Friends Group who send out a regular newsletter. You can see the August edition here, and if you would like to subscribe there is a link at the bottom of their newsletter.
There is a U3A YouTube channel, which includes an interview with Eric Midwinter recorded in 2022.
The North West Region of the U3A have their own website, and a quarterly newsletter.