Perranwell Meeting - 7th July  

Robin Dunseath gave us a talk "Around the World in Eighty Ways". It was an extraordinarily interesting account of his trip round the world with a group of disabled people using many different forms of transport on the way. 

There were tales of blind people driving cars round a race track, guided by their sighted friends. There were pictures of a paraplegic man scuba diving, using a wheelchair on the seabed. Some of their adventures were very funny, such as their attempts to ride on ostriches. But underlying the excitement and humour was a very important message. After taking part in these activities, the disabled people felt they had regained their self-respect.

At the next Perranwell meeting on August 4th. a representative from Imerys will be talking to us about the China Clay industry. Then on September 1st, Dean Evans will be telling us about Passmore Edwards when he was Liberal candidate for Truro in the 1868 elections (just after the Second Reform Bill).

^{Tony Herring}

Truro Meeting - 27th July 

Roger Bicknell talked to the Truro Meeting in July about "Travelling Post Offices". This was mainly about the special mail sorting offices on long distance overnight trains. These began as early as 1838 and continued until 1971. 

He described the fascinating way in which mail was thrown into moving trains. Sorted mail was then thrown back into nets by the side of the rail track for local delivery.  He also talked about the special underground service which transported mail between the main London stations. His lecture was illustrated by pictures in booklets which he handed round to the audience.

There will not be a Truro meeting in August. The next meeting in Truro Town Hall will be on September 28th. Maxine McCombie is going to give a talk about fencing and organise a fencing display.

Tony Herring

Falmouth Meeting - 21st July  

Members attending this month’s meeting at St Mary’s Church Hall, Falmouth found that the chairs had been laid out in a slightly different fashion to normal. This was because we were to be given a talk by no less than three magistrates - Jane Thompson, Bill Anderson and David Kitley. They are all currently serving on the Bench and each had an input into the meeting. David introduced himself and the other two speakers. Bill was to explain who the magistrates are, Jane as to what they do and finally David as to how they do it – hence the unusual layout of furniture.

First to speak was Bill who was also the most recently appointed magistrate. He explained the process by which a magistrate is selected from the first application made by someone who considers him/herself to be suitable for the post (must be over 18 and under 65) – through the various stages during which six main attributes are considered. 1. Good Character. 2. Good communication skills. 3. Social awareness. 4. Maturity of judgement. 5. Soundness of judgement and finally 6. Commitment and reliability. An advisory committee try to ensure that the magistrates within their area achieve a balance that reflects the local community from most points of view – ethnic minorities etc and take this into account when deciding as to the suitability of an applicant. If suitable the applicant then has further interviews where he/she is assessed on a range of attributes such as logic of argument and awareness of local social problems eg. alcohol and drug abuse. If successful the applicant finally gets a letter of appointment from the Lord Chancellors Office and can put JP behind his/her name. There is then further training before being allowed onto the Bench and then for a year they work under the guidance of a Mentor (another fully qualified magistrate).

The next speaker was Jane Thompson, a magistrate for ten to eleven years. She explained how magistrates deal with cases. Initially all criminal offences come to the magistrate’s court in the first instance. Magistrates decide which cases should or need to go to the Crown Court. Some such as murder or rape go there without discussion. If a defendant so wishes he can elect to go straight to the Crown Court. Magistrates have to decide whether or not a case is serious enough to warrant it being sent to Crown Court bearing in mind that the maximum sentence they can impose is six months in Jail (or one year if two guilty offenses are involved). 

If the outcome of the case is likely to warrant a more severe sentence then they would send it to the Crown Court. She gave examples of how they attempt to make the punishment fit the crime with fines, curfew orders, compulsory attendance centres, community orders etc. Account is taken of an individual’s circumstances – financial state, previous offences, domestic situation etc. She mentioned that magistrates also sit on the Bench in Youth Courts covering children from age twelve to eighteen. They also cover Family Courts.

After a question and answer session David Kitley finished the meeting with a role play session involving the audience to show how a court works. Various members of the audience were ‘volunteered’ to play parts including Magistrates, Press Officers, Clerk of the Court, Probation Officer, Prosecutor, Defendant’s Solicitor and of course a Defendant ably played by Tony Herring. With prepared scripts for the hearing the session finished with the audience helping to decide the ultimate fate of the Defendant.

Jean Jefford gave a vote of thanks saying that we had all had a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting morning.  There will be no meeting in August. The next meeting will be on the 15^th September, when U3A member Eric Irons will give a talk entitled ‘Rambles with Railways’.

John Harris

If you are interested in joining Carrick U3A, or participating in any of our wide range of activities, you are invited to request an membership information pack from our Membership Secretary: Michael Tapp Tel: (01209) 820301