WTu3a Newsletter – November 2023
Our newsletter for November has now been published, and includes news of what is happening in the groups. Read all the rest of news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 30th November which along with mulled wine and mince pies, there will be Christmas Entertainment with of a feast of anecdotes and music on a seasonal theme.
There is no General Meeting in December, so we will return in 2024 on the 25th January with a talk entitled The History of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by Pete Allen.
Defibrillator Training: After a show of hands at the last meeting proved this would be something many of you would be interested in attending, a couple of sessions consisting of a talk and a defibrillator demo are currently in the planning stage. More details to follow.
Our Speaker Secretary, Carol Johnson, has booked Speakers into the new year, so click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024.
News from the Groups
Image by Rosa Rugosa from Pixabay
MAHJONG
Thursday, 16th November then 2nd December
At The Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (unless otherwise stated. To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk
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Sunday, 14th January – 7.30pm – WITNEY, Queen of the Night – price TBA. Direct from the Royal Albert Hall the ultimate tribute to Witney Houston. 7.30pm. Price TBA. |
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Thursday, 7th March, The Elgiva, Chesham. 7.30pm – Sweet Charity – Price £TBA The Panda Players present this musical staged and choreographed by Bob Fosse based on the book by Neil Simon. |
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Saturday, 9th March, 2.30pm – The Kite Runner – Price £30.00. West End hit, engrossing and captivating, based on the book by Khaled Hosseini. |
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Wednesday, 17th April – 7.30pm – Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners – Price £31.50. A talented cast of musicians and singers brings this iconic group back to life. |
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Thursday, 18th April – 7.30pm – Johannes Radebe, The House of JoJo (Dance). Price £56.00. A brand-new theatrical celebration jam-packed with roof-raising music, dazzling costumes and of course, world class dance. |
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Sunday, 28th April -7.30pm – Madama Butterfly, Puccini – Price £37.75. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. |
To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk.
Quiz Afternoon
Friday, 24th November
Start time is 2.30pm at the Chapel Hall, Weston Turville.
Individuals and couples welcome. No need to get a team together. Questions are suitable for all levels of knowledge.
For more information contact Joy Mantell at quizzing@wtu3a.org.uk
Gardening
Monday, 27th November
The group meets at 2pm in Weston Turville Chapel Hall and meets on the fourth Monday of the month. Cost £3. For more information contact Jenny Hunt or Rosemary Williams at gardening@wtu3a.org.uk.
QUIZ NIGHT
**NOW FULL**
Saturday, 25th November at 6.30pm
Following the success of one of last year’s 10-2 Anniversary celebrations, the very popular Quiz Night returns!
Cost is £15 per person and includes a ‘Fish and Chip’ Supper (other are options available though), see all the details on the flyer here. Preferably tables of 6 will be organised or you can sign up as a Team.
To sign up or get more information contact Juli Whitehead on wtu3aquiz@gmail.com
Christmas Lunch 2023
Wednesday, 6th December
The WTu3a 🎄Christmas Lunch 2023🎄 is once again at The Chiltern Forest Golf Club, Aston Hill, Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 5NQ.
This is a three course meal including tea/coffee and mince pies, raffle and gratuities. Cost £36. View the full menu here.
There may be a few places left. Contact Carol Williams at xmaslunch@wtu3a.org.uk to book your place.
Science & Technology
Thursday, 7th December is a talk on ‘The latest development in Fusion Technology‘ by Bob Woodman in The Chapel Hall at 10.30am. Cost. £2.
Proposed plans for 2024.
January – No meeting
Thursday, 1st February – Talk – Chapel Hall. Details to follow.
Thursday, 7th March – Visit – Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. Entrance free. Details to follow.
Thursday, 11th April – Visit (tbc) The Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford. Details to follow.
To express your interest, book your place on any of the above, or if you have any thoughts about future visits, please contact the group leader John Beer for more details at science@wtu3a.org.uk.
Rummikub
Tuesday, 21st November 2pm
The game of Rummikub is based loosely on Rummy (but with a twist). The group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 2pm at The Five Bells, Weston Turville. Contact the group leader Deborah Brown for more details at rummikub@wtu3a.org.uk.
Coffee Morning
Thursday, 16th November, 10.30am. No meeting in December. Next one is Thursday, 18th January 2024.
The group (in conjunction with Aston Clinton u3a) meets for tea, coffee or a drink and a chat at The Five Bells, Weston Turville, at 10.30am on the third Thursday of the month.
Please contact Marie Jones for any more information. coffee@wtu3a.org.uk.
Walking Group
Tuesday 12th December
Based at the Plough in Cadsdean the walk is 4 miles using the woods and along the Ridgeway Further details from Sylv Elliott at walkers@wtu3a.org.uk
2024 Walking Holiday
Friday, 26th April – Monday, 29th April 2024
Based at the Longmynd Hotel in Church Stretton, Shropshire. Walks range from 6 to 12 miles, so this is for Walkers only.
For more information please contact Sylv Elliott at walkers@wtu3a.org.uk
CHESS
The Chess Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at Chandos Arms, Weston Turville. We meet for any combination of chess, chat, lunch and/or a convivial glass on Fridays (next one is Friday, 24th November).
We welcome newcomers of any (or no!) ability. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, either email Geoffrey Howell at chess@wtu3a.org.uk or phone him on 07916 328202
Pétanque (weather permitting)
Details for pétanque group sessions:
- They will be every Monday afternoon.
- Timing 2pm to 4pm
- Venue is the new terrain behind Weston Turville village hall
- Parking is available
If you need more information, contact Ken Shaw at petanque@wtu3a.org.uk.
Handbell Ringers (Beginners)
The group meets every two weeks on a Friday morning at 10am at the group leader’s home. For more details and further dates of meetings, contact John Beer at handbells@wtu3a.org.uk
National u3a Newsletter – 🍂October 🍂2023
The u3a National newsletter for 
October is available HERE. As usual there is plenty to read, take part in and enjoy. Including:
Enter the u3a 2023-4 Poetry Competition
The u3a national poetry competition is back for its fourth year, and the theme for this year’s competition is: ‘What If’.
The competition opened on Wednesday 8 November 2023 and the deadline for submission is 12pm on Friday 26 January 2024. You must read the competition rules before submitting your poem. Enter the u3a national poetry competition
u3a Festival 24 is taking place 18-20 July 2024 in York, where we will be running a wide variety of activities – talks, sporting events, musical entertainment and workshops which will make this first u3a national festival something to remember. Find out more about the festival on the u3a website.
We’re keen to strengthen our musical offering so if your u3a has singers or musicians who would like to come please get in touch by emailing festival@u3a.org.uk.
October’s u3a Radio Podcast – Episode 33 – Maths for fun, Give it a go, Theatre
Members can listen to it, and all previous Podcasts on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts – and it is still available in captioned video form on YouTube.
You can find lots of events on our online events page. Here is a sample:
Wendover u3a – Ireland Holiday – open to WTu3a members
Thursday, 6th June to Wednesday, 12th June
Travelling with Crusader via Holyhead/Dublin. Staying at the Carrickdate Hotel and Spa ****, Dundalk.
Six nights half board, all room types available. Cost: Approx £879.00. For more details on the provisional itinerary, click here, or visit the Wendover u3a website here. Or contact: Belinda Horn – details on the attached flyer.
WTu3a Newsletter – October 2023
Our newsletter for October has now been published. Read it here. The next general meeting is on Thursday 26th October when our speakers are Ann and John Ford, with their talk entitled “Morris Minors in the Media”.
This is an informative but light-hearted and often amusing presentation by Ann Ford, ably assisted by her husband John who ran a successful business hiring out their collection of Morris Minors (and some other classic cars) to film, TV and publishing companies spanning the period 1990-2015.
Don’t forget to book your tickets for the Quiz Night on Saturday 25th November. Cost is £15 with a Fish & Chip supper included. Full details on the flyer. Contact: wtu3aquiz@gmail.com.
Carol Williams and Sandra Bennett have arranged the 2023 WTu3a Christmas Lunch for Wednesday 6th December, taking place at Chiltern Forest Golf Club.
Three courses for £36 per person which includes raffle and gratuities. View the Menu here. See Carol at the Monthly meeting or email: xmaslunch@wtu3a.org.uk.
BRANDENBERG CONCERTS
Our members are offered free or discounted tickets for Brandenberg Concerts. Please see attached flyer for details.
Our Speaker Secretary, Carol Johnson, has booked Speakers into the new year, so click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024.
Thames Valley Network – Latest Events
Unless otherwise stated all the events below will be on Zoom. Detailed flyers will be available nearer the time. When available click on the links in the boxes below for the flyer with full details of costs and how to book through TicketSource or Eventbrite.
A talk by Clive Aronson
Closing date: Sunday, 12th November
A talk by
Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry
Closing date: Tuesday, 28th November
Questions set by
Avis Furness
Closing date: Wednesday, 6th December
Thursday, 30th November – My Falklands War
2.30pm on Zoom
A talk by Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry.
For this talk, Chris will offer insights into the Falklands War, based on his own experiences as a member of the helicopter flight of HMS ANTRIM. His talk will include details of his own part in the operations, including the rescue of 16 SAS from a glacier, and the eventual restoration of the Falkland Islands to British sovereignty.
Details on the flyer. The fee is £1 per device.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 28th November.
A new Winter Quiz for TVN Members
Friday, 8th December, 2023
at 2.30 pm on Zoom
Quizmaster: Avis Furness
The fee for this event is free. To download or view the flyer click on the link here.
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 6th December.
Monday, 15th January – Genetics of Ancient Populations in Britain
2.30pm on Zoom
By Dr Tom Booth
Full details on the flyer. The fee is £ per device.
Closing date for applications is TBC.
‘TICKETSOURCE’ icon immediately below the event on the TVN website. You will receive an acknowledgement immediately and the Zoom link a few days before the event. PLEASE CHECK THAT YOU ENTER YOUR DETAILS CAREFULLY WHEN YOU BOOK.
WTu3a Newsletter – September 2023
Our newsletter for September has now been published, and includes news of the latest trip to Winchester. Read all the rest of news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 28th September when our speaker is the returning Dr Kathryn Harkup. Her talk is entitled “Mad, Bad and Dangerous” on why are scientists depicted as chronically shy, slightly odd and carrying out crazy experiments to try and take over the world? Of course, it’s only Bond villains who are plotting to take over the world and most scientists are lovely sociable people. But the stereotype has to come from somewhere…
Carol Williams and Sandra Bennett have arranged the 2023 WTu3a Christmas Lunch for Wednesday 6th December, taking place at Chiltern Forest Golf Club one more. Three courses for £36 per person which includes raffle and gratuities. View the Menu here. See Carol at the Monthly meeting or email: xmaslunch@wtu3a.org.uk.
Our Speaker Secretary, Carol Johnson, has booked Speakers into the new year, so click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024.
WTu3a Newsletter – August 2023
Our newsletter for August has now been published, and includes news of two new Groups starting in September. Read all the latest news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 24th August when our speaker is Paul Robbins. His talk is entitled “The Life of Edward VIII” in which he reveals much about the complex character that was Edward, Prince, King, Emperor and finally Duke.
Our Speaker Secretary, Carol Johnson, had already booked Speakers into the next year, so click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until September 2024!
WTu3a Newsletter – July 2023
Our newsletter for July has now been published. Read all the latest news here. There is good news about a couple of new groups that will hopefully be starting soon – these are a Gardening Group and a Quiz Afternoon Group. Also, the Garden Visits group hopes to restart soon with Heather Marshall taking up the mantle from Mary Duly.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 27th July which is our Summer Luncheon. We have had a fabulous response with nearly half our membership buying a ticket! Fingers crossed the weather is kind. Details on the flyer.
Our Speaker Secretary, Carol Johnson, has been busy booking our Speakers for the next year, so click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024!
WTu3a Newsletter – June 2023
Our newsletter for June has now been published. Read all the latest news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 22nd June when we have a popular returning speaker, Tom Way. This time his talk is entitled “Tooth, Claw and Mane” in which he will speak about his latest photography.
As mentioned previously, our July’s meeting event is now a Summer Luncheon. Tickets are £5 and will be on sale at our June meeting. Details on the flyer.
Just a reminder if you like saving a bob or two to have a look at the u3a Click & Save. Click here or on the tab on the menu above for more information.
