Speakers
Speakers for Weston Turville u3a General Meetings
January – May 2026
22 January 2026 – Rugby Club
The Secret Lives of Molecules – Kathryn Harkup
Revealing the inner lives of the invisible molecules that make up our world, ranging from the fundamental to the frivolous; from the psychedelic effects of caffeine to the global impact of medicines. This is a talk about the stories of discovery, the quirks of science and of human history that have enhanced our appreciation and understanding of the world.
26 February 2026 – Rugby Club
Tea, Coffee and Chocolate: How the British first fell in love with Caffeine – Melanie King
Tea, coffee and chocolate play an important part in the modern British diet. Most people may not know that tea originated in China, coffee was allegedly discovered by a goat herder in Yemen and chocolate plantations were cultivated in 4000 BC by the Olmecs in South America. These exotic beverages arrived in London around 1650 causing immense anxiety and debate. This talk explains why Europeans were so terrified of these drinks and explores some of the ingenious ways they were consumed in the 18th century.
26 March 2026 – Rugby Club
Wildlife on your doorstep – Tom Way
This talk emphasises all the fantastic wildlife there is to see and photograph on or doorstep, from deer and hedgehogs to owls and foxes. Tom will not only be showing his wildlife images from our local area, but also describing all the stories behind how he took the pictures. This talk also branches out to talk about our coastline and northern areas of the UK, showing photographs of the very charismatic puffins and red squirrels.
23 April 2026 – Rugby Club
Where do Novelists get their ideas from – A beginning; A muddle; and an end – Bobbie Darbyshire
In an entertaining, informative talk, Bobbie Darbyshire will explain how the complex world of character, location, plot and subplot arrives in a writer’s mind. Winner of the 2008 fiction prize at the National Academy of Writing and the New Delta Review Creative Non-fiction Prize 2010, Bobbie is author of five novels. She has also worked as a barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, cabinet minister’s private secretary, care assistant and volunteer adult-literacy teach, as well as in social research and government policy.
28 May 2026 – Rugby Club
Royal Jubilees-George III, Victoria, George V and Elizabeth II – Sarah Slater
A lecture about the origins of celebrating the Royal Jubilee, the pomp and pageantry but also the role that Hampton Court Palace played within the celebrations of the four monarchs.
26 June 2026 – Rugby Club
TBC
