Dear Friends.

   Everyone who went on the coach trip to Albert Dock had a great day with plenty of places to visit and many things to do. Although it was raining on arrival it soon stopped and stayed dry for the rest of the day. Our next trip is to Southport, which will be on Tuesday the 22nd of July. Why not make it a family day out at the seaside, the cost will be £7.50 Adult £4.50 per Child. The coach will pick up at Joiners Square at 9am and at Newcastle 9.15am. If you would like to join us please contact Malcolm or Mary to book your seat please book early to avoid disappointment.

   Our thanks go this month to Mr David Nixon, who kindly came along to our June meeting and give us fascinating insight in to the mining industry in Staffordshire. He gave a talk which included a short video and gave a demonstration of the pit props that he brought along with him. It was a very interesting informative evening.

   On the 29th of July (7.30 for 8pm,) at the Thistleberry Hotel, Newcastle Staffs, our guest speaker will be Mrs Joan Baggaley. She has kindly agreed to give us a talk on the history of Health Services in Staffordshire. Why not come along and join us. Remember, you do not have to be a member of our group to come to one of our social meetings or events. Everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you on the night.

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KNITTING WOOL

   A big Thank You to everyone who has kindly donated knitting wool, it will certainly keep one of our members very busy making more Items to help us raise funds for our groups charity stalls.

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CARNIVAL

   It’s carnival time again and we are going to have a charity stall at Tunstall, on the 27th of July this year. We are looking for some small items, bric a brac, videos’ cds etc. for our fund raising events. If you can help with anything at all please let me know.

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FUN DAY

   Thank you to Mrs Maureen Coxon, family and friends who held a charity stall at Our Lady’s R. C. School and raised £400 on the day with a tombola stall. Maureen kindly donated the proceeds to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice and The British Cardiac Patients Association Staffordshire area group. Each organisation received £200.

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Our thanks for their kind donations go this month to: -

   Mrs Flo Kelly, family & friends for £25 which takes the total donated to £225 in memory of her late husband Mr Frank Kelly.
   The Red House Pub collected £18.60
   The Talbot Pub collected £6.08

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The following questions were set in last year's GCSE exam

These are genuine answers (from some 16 year olds)

Q)  Name the four seasons
A)  Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar

Q)  How is dew formed
A)  Sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire

Q)  What causes the tides in the oceans
A)  The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins the fight

Q)  What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on
A)  If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed

Q)  What are steroids
A)  Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs

Q)  What happens to your body as you age
A)  When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental

Q)  Name a major disease associated with cigarettes
A)  Premature death

Q)  How can you delay milk turning sour
A)  Keep it in the cow

Q)  What is the fibula
A)  A small lie

Q)  What does 'varicose' mean
A)  Nearby

Q)  What is the most common form of birth control
A)  Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium

Q)  Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarean section'
A)  The caesarean section is a district in Rome

Q)  Give an example of a fungus. What is a characteristic feature
A)  Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and they look like umbrellas

Q)  Use the word 'judicious' in a sentence to show you understand its meaning
A)  Hands that judicious can be soft as your face

Best wishes
Alan Lea
Area Co-ordinator