Upcoming WT U3A Local History Group Meetings
WT U3A Local History Group Meetings from March to September 2017
Below is an update to the schedule for the talks and visits of the Local History Group. The schedule takes us up to end of August and I am working on talks for September, October and November. Please note that there is no meeting in June but two in July. I have arranged for a visit to the Aylesbury Museum Archives in Halton and the best date they have is Monday 3rd July. I hope that there is sufficient variety of topics that you will find interesting.
Tuesday 28th March 2017
Barry Tomlinson has agreed to give us a talk on “The History of RAE Bedford”.
Construction of RAE Bedford began in 1947 with wind tunnels for testing up to Mach 5 and new airfield. Many of the well known aircraft, including Tornado, Jaguar & Harrier Jump Jet, as well as helicopters were tested at RAE Bedford. It has thus played an important part in our aircraft history and is a fascinating story.
Meeting is in the WT Chapel Room from 10:30 – 12:30pm. Entrance of £3.
Tuesday 25th April 2017
Hugh Grainger has agreed to give us a talk entitled “Wild, Wild Women”.
After a talk in March on “boy’s toys” I thought it was only right to give the ladies amongst you a more female orientated talk. The topic covers:
How did Mary Reade and Anne Bonny become pirates? How did Mary Frith become Cut-Purse Moll? Why was Katherine Ferrers known as the Wicked Lady, All will be revealed.
Hugh has spoken to us previously and is an entertaining speaker.
Meeting is in the WT Chapel Room from 10:30 – 12:30pm. Entrance of £3.
Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Some of you may remember that in 2013 we had a talk by Keith Harry entitled “The History of Grafton Regis”. Keith and his wife Kathy have been back in touch and have updated their talk. I looked at the list of people who attended in 2013 and we have a significant number of new members and some of those who came in 2013 are no longer with us. It is a great story and involves; “The White Queen”, Richard III and Henry VIII and his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and much more. Lots of intrigue and a fascinating story.
Meeting is in the WT Chapel Room from 10:30 – 12:30pm. Entrance of £3.
Monday 3rd July 2017
Several of you at the last meeting expressed an interest to go back to the Aylesbury Museum Archives in Halton. I was fortunate to meet with Will Phillips of the museum a couple of weeks ago and asked him about the possibility of visiting the archives.
He said that if we could go on Monday 3rd July there would be 4 archivists available and they could accommodate 20 people. There would be 4 groups of 5 and they would rotate the groups around. It would be a half-day session. I now have more than 30 people signed up so we will have an afternoon session of 20 people. The morning session will start at 10:00am and the afternoon at 2:00am. Priority will be given to regular members of the WT U3A Local History Group if more than 40 people express interest in going to the archives.
The cost of the visit lasting 2 hours is £10 and payable on the day.
Tuesday 25th July 2017
Visit to Grafton Regis
To complement the talk on 23rd May I have arranged with Keith and Kathy Harry to have a guided walk around Grafton Regis. As it is a summer month they will be able to get many of the actors who dress up in costume and meet us around the village to tell their story. We did this in 2014 and although we did have a little rain it was a great visit. The visit starts with tea or coffee on arrival, a talk in the Grafton Regis Village Hall, then a walk down to the Church to learn more about the history. Finally we go back to the Village Hall for soup and bread and drinks. The cost of this is £8.50 per head and is excellent value.
They can accommodate up to 45 people and thus far over 35 people have signed up. If you have not done so please contact me. Priority will be given to regular members of the WT U3A Local History Group if more than 45 people express interest
I plan that we meet in the 5 Bells car park at 9pm and we would be done by around mid-day.
Tuesday 22nd August 2017
No meeting
Glynn White
