Speakers
Speakers for Weston Turville u3a General Meetings
January – November 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 talk 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.
18 June 2026 (moved from 25 June) – Rugby Club
Andrew Carnegie – The World’s Richest Man – Rags to riches to giving it all away – Jeremy Holmes
Andrew Carnegie came from a slum in Dunfermline, Scotland, made his fortune in America as a ruthless steel magnate, then at the start of the 20th century gave it all away by setting up philanthropic foundation’s all over the world. In his day he was worth more than Bill Gates and earnt so much that he couldn’t give it away fast enough. This talk illustrates his rise, his motivations and his unique personal story, in the context of the dramatic industrialisation of America. The speaker was a trustee of the Carnegie UK Trust for many years.
23 July 2026 – Rugby Club
Summer lunch and entertainment (No Speaker)
27 August 2026 – Rugby Club
AGM +
Special Visit of Laura Kyrke-Smith, our MP
Laura has kindly agreed to come to a Question and Answer session on this date. She will do this after our AGM. The meeting will start at 2.30pm as usual at the Rugby Club and all members are very welcome.
(The speaker originally booked for 27th August – John Pearson – has kindly agreed to postpone his talk on cheese-making until the following month.)
24 September 2026 – Rugby Club
Blessed are the cheesemakers – with tasting! – John Pearson
John Pearson has spent all his working life in the Food Industry, primarily with Marks & Spencer. He is an international cheese judge having travelled throughout Europe visiting dairies selecting dairy products for M & S. In this talk he describes some amusing anecdotes about encounters with suppliers, impossible customers and will conclude with a short, tutored CHEESE-TASTING
22 October 2026 – Rugby Club
How we remember and why we forget – Jim Ellis
How do we comprehend, remember and retrieve information, and do we all do this in the same way? Jim explains and demonstrates this with various examples and dispels some common myths about the brain and memory. He also encourages some audience participation – but only if people are comfortable doing so.
26 November 2026 – Rugby Club
Christmas entertainment (see below) with mulled wine and Christmas Fayre.
“The Great American Songbook” – Gershwin, Rogers, Porter and More – Roger Brown
Professional pianist, speaker, raconteur and singer – Roger has been the pianist with the internationally renowned Manchester Jazz Band since 1995, having started his jazz career in 1958. He is also President of Stockport operatic Society and Artistic Director of Manchester Athenaeum Drama Society. He will be entertaining us with music and his wealth of fascinating and hilarious stories.
24 December 2026– NO MEETING
