U3A Wight in Newport on Saturday

Isle of Wight University of the Third Age (U3A) finished its recent 40th-anniversary celebrations with a day in St Thomas’s Square, Newport.

U3A is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community — those in their third ‘age’ of life.

Sally Forster, the Island’s group co-ordinator and membership secretary, said: “We had U3A volunteers talking to passers-by about what they loved about belonging to the U3A. The air of celebration was supported by the Aspire community choir, leading a sing-along, and the Bloodstone Border Morris dancers strutting their stuff in the sunshine.

“We were also joined by knitters from Aspire, Ryde, who completed 60 red poppies on the day. They are working towards a target of 10,000 poppies by the end of October. They plan to string a net of poppies between the church tower and the War memorial.

“The U3A are recruiting knitters to support the project. Try something new today – join the U3A.”
For more information, visit u3awight.uk

If you’d like to knit some poppies to help Aspire knitters hit the 10,000 target. Here is the pattern. Please get finished poppies to Aspire Ryde in Dover Street before the end of October.

One ball of red double knit (dk) gives 15 poppies, plus you’ll need some black dk for the centre and size 4mm (number 8) needles.
Leave a long thread for sewing up. Cast on 120 stitches in red. Knit 4 rows. Slip 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over, pass slip stitch over – repeat to end of row (40 stitches). Knit 4 rows. Knit 2 together (or slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over) – repeat to end of row (20 stitches). Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row. Change to black, knit 2 rows. Knit 2 together (or slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over) – repeat to end of row (10 stitches). Knit 2 together (or slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over) – repeat to end of row (5 stitches). Thread end through stitches, pull tight and sew black centre. Use red from beginning to sew up the poppy.