Category Archives: Expired

National u3a Newsletter – January 2024

29 January, 2024

The u3a National newsletter for 🌧️January 🌧️ is available HERE. As usual there is plenty to read, take part in and enjoy. Including:

Get involved in u3a Eye

This is not a competition and it is not only about your photographic skill – we are looking for any interesting photos and interpretations of the theme. This month the theme is “Home Town Pride”.

Judges pick based not only on the quality of the image but also on the interpretation of the theme. At the end of every deadline, we will choose and publish up to 15 photos in the online gallery below. Your photo should also not include any people. Deadline for submissions: 12pm on Thursday 29 February 2024. Enter here. There are more learning initiatives on our learning pages.

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News from the Groups

3 January, 2024

GARDEN VISITS

Tuesday, 20th February

This is the first visit of 2024. Opening for the first time by arrangement with the National Garden Scheme to showcase Katharine Hersee’s collection of snowdrops. Tuesday 20th February from 2pm and the cost will be £10 as a cash donation to the NGS, and includes a hot drink and slice of cake.

TOUCHWOOD, Grimms Hill, Great Missenden is a 2 acre garden containing drifts of common snowdrops as well as a few unusual ones.

Maximum of 25. Meet at 1pm in car park of the Five Bells for car share. Contact Heather Marshall on gardens@wtu3a.org.uk to book your place.

TRIPS FOR 2024

This year’s trips are at the very early planning stage, and these are some of the possibilities.

Hampton Court in spring
The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in September
Highgate Cemetery date to be decided

So, would you be interested in doing these trips? Have you other suggestions for us to consider?

Criteria is not more than 2 hours by coach, accessible, and combined price of coach and tour is less than £60 each.

Email us on trips@wtu3a.org.uk or speak to Mandi Simons at the January monthly meeting.

Image by Rosa Rugosa from Pixabay

MAHJONG

Thursday, 18th January

The Mahjong Group is actively seeking new members. The group is a mixed ability group, though most are relatively new to the game; so whatever your skill level you will be welcome.

The venue has now moved to The Chandos Arms in Weston Turville and they meet on the first and third Thursday of the month starting at 2pm.

There is no charge, however you are welcome to purchase a drink or coffee etc. from the bar. For more information please contact Ken Shaw at mahjong@wtu3a.org.uk.

Theatre Visits – 2024

At The Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (unless otherwise stated. To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk

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.

Saturday, 9th March, 2.30pm – The Kite Runner – Price £30.00.

West End hit, engrossing and captivating, based on the book by Khaled Hosseini.

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.

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.

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, 26th January

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

No Meeting in January then the next one is Monday, 26th February

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.

Science & Technology

Proposed plans for 2024.

POSTPONED from Thursday, 1st February to 15th February – Talk – Chapel Hall. 5.30pm. How to get the most from your Android Mobile phone.

EXTRA DATE – Thursday, 8th February – Talk – Chapel Hall. 10.30am. How to get the most from your iPhone.

Thursday, 7th March – Visit – Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. Entrance free.

Thursday, 11th April – Visit – The Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford.

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.

Walking Group

Tuesday, 13^th February

This walk is based at the Half Moon in Cholesbury and covers 4 1/2 miles of woodland. Lunch is available if required. 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

Rummikub

Tuesday, 20th February

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, 15th February

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.

Contact Marie Jones for more information on coffee@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, 26th January).

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

Grub Club

Unfortunately, there will be no Grub Club at the moment, as unfortunately, Annie Edwards is out of action for a while due to her falling and breaking her leg and pelvis.

We wish her all the best with her recovery.

Annie says that hopefully Grub Club will resume in the New Year, but if anyone would like to organise a get together before then, please contact her at grubclub@wtu3a.org.uk and she will send out the details for you.

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 – December 2023

24 December, 2023

The u3a National newsletter for ☃️December ☃️ is available HERE. As usual there is plenty to read, take part in and enjoy. Including:

Don’t forget to enter the u3a national poetry competition, with th theme for this year: ‘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

There are more learning initiatives on our learning pages.

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The PACE Centre ‘Winter Waggle’ – Friday 16th February – sponsored dog walk

12 December, 2023

Knowing that many WTu3a members are dog owners, we thought we would share with you details of an inaugural, ‘Winter Waggle’ organised by local charity PACE. This will be a sponsored dog walk in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor Estate.

With a choice of 3k and 5k routes, registration takes place at the Welcome Pavilion, between 11.00 – 11.30 am and the walk starts at 11.30 am. Free parking available.

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Thames Valley u3a Network – first event of 2024

12 December, 2023

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.

Tuesday, 27th February

10.30am on Zoom

Burt Bacharach

A talk by Clive Aronson

Closing date: Saturday, 24th February

Tuesday , 27th February - Burt Bacharach

Tuesday, 27th February – Burt Bacharach

10.30am on Zoom. A talk by Clive Aronson.

Details on the flyer. The fee is £1 per device.

Closing date for applications is Saturday, 24th February

BOOKING

The easiest and best option is to book electronically by clicking on the

‘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.

If you have booked an event and do not get the link 2 days before the event, please message TicketSource to advise. DO NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EVENT AS YOU WILL NOT GET A REPLY.

Please note: If you find that you are unable to join an event for which you have booked, please inform the organiser as soon as possible so that your place can be offered to someone else.

National u3a Newsletter – November 2023

1 December, 2023

The u3a National newsletter for November 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’.

There are more learning initiatives on our learning pages.

(more…)

News from the Groups

13 November, 2023

Image by Rosa Rugosa from Pixabay

MAHJONG

Thursday, 4th January then 18th January

The Mahjong Group is actively seeking new members. The group is a mixed ability group, though most are relatively new to the game; so whatever your skill level you will be welcome.

The venue has now moved to The Chandos Arms in Weston Turville and they meet on the first and third Thursday of the month starting at 2pm.

There is no charge, however you are welcome to purchase a drink or coffee etc. from the bar. For more information please contact Ken Shaw at mahjong@wtu3a.org.uk.

Theatre Visits – 2024

At The Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (unless otherwise stated. To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk

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.