WTu3a Newsletter – July 2024
Our newsletter for July has now been published. Read all the news here.
The next meeting is the Summer Lunch on Thursday, 25th July. Don’t forget to bring your ticket!
Doors open at 1pm (please don’t come any earlier as you won’t get in until then) with food served at 1.30pm. We have our fingers crossed that the BBC weather forecast for the day proves to be wrong! The bar will be open so our usual tea/coffee service will not be operating. Details on the flyer.
Remember – please take care when first parking and particularly when leaving after a meeting as the lines delineating parking spaces in the Rugby Club car park are not very clear (and in areas do not exist).
News from the Groups
Image by Carlos Antonio Correia from Pixabay
Lace Making – Potential NEW Group
Sandi Latimer, used to make lace and now she’d like to pick up her bobbins again and would like to start a new group. If any are members interested. Please contact her on sandi_latimer@hotmail.com.
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
Dates for your diary:
WTu3a Quiz Night 2024 – Friday 8th November
and sorry to mention it already but…
Wtu3a Christmas Lunch – Friday, 13th December
At The Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (unless otherwise stated). To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk
Thursday, 22nd August – 7.30pm – Ghost the Musical – Price £37.50.
Wycombe Swan Theatre – Thursday, 26th September – 7.30pm – Bonnie and Clyde – Price £35.20.
Wycombe Swan Theatre – Thursday, 3rd October – 7.30pm – A Chorus Line – Price £37.
Thursday, 17th October – 2.30pm – Lord of the Dance – Price £44.
Milton Keynes Theatre –Wednesday, 27th November – 2.30pm – Come from Away – Price £39.50.
To book or for further details, please contact Melanie Evans at theatre@wtu3a.org.uk.
Science & Technology
NEW – Wednesday, 14th September
NEW DATE Thursday, 3rd October –Visit to Museum of Military Medicine and Milestone Museum, Basingstoke.
Full details on the above trips are on the flyer here.
To 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.
Image by Anita Smith from Pixabay
Card Making
Thursday, 8th August then 12th September
Takes place at 10am on the second Thursday of each month in Weston Turville Chapel Hall. The initial charge is £2 per person.
The group leader can provide supplies and various equipment to experiment with which may have an additional cost of £1-£1.50. You can bring your own supplies and equipment as well.
If you are interested in joining this new group please contact Lindsey Beer on cardmaking@wtu3a.org.uk .
GARDEN VISITS
Wednesday 21st August – Walled Garden, Luton Hoo Estate
Garden entry is £7.50 per person and this includes a fascinating guided tour of the walled garden which was designed by Capability Brown in the late 1760’s.
Tuesday, 10th September – Robin Hill, Water End, Stokenchurch, High Wycombe
Informal cottage garden/prairie style with a variety of trees, woodland edge plants, shade borders, shrubs, perennials and grass borders blending into pastureland. The cost will be £10 as a donation to the NGS and will include tea and cake.
Contact Heather Marshall on gardens@wtu3a.org.uk to add your name to her list for future garden visits.
Gardening
Monday, 26th August – NO MEETING as it’s bank holiday, then Monday, 23rd September
Full details to follow.
The group normally meets at 2pm in Weston Turville Chapel Hall and meets on the fourth Monday of the month. Cost £3. Don’t forget the ‘Swaps Table’. For more information or to add your name to the list of group member’s, contact Jenny Hunt or Rosemary Williams at gardening@wtu3a.org.uk
Walking Group
Thursday, 1st August
This is an extra walk to the usual monthly one and has been planned for those who fancy doing 9 1/2 miles. Starting at 10.30am in Wooburn and using woods and fields around Burnham Beeches.
Tuesday, 13th August then 17th September
The walk on 13th August will be a circular walk based at Whiteleaf Hill.
Another walking holiday in May 2025 is being planned and will be based at Speech House Hotel in the Forest of Dean. The walks will be around 6 miles per day.
Further details from Sylv Elliott at walkers@wtu3a.org.uk
Quiz Afternoon
NO MEETINGS – Friday, 26th July or Friday 23rd August (for a summer break)
The next meeting is 27th September. 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
Visiting Churches – RESTARTING
After a break of about 18 months, the Visiting Churches Group Leaders, Odette Harris and Geoffrey Howell hope to restart this Summer if there is sufficient interest from members. The first visit is expected to be to Rycote Chapel near Thame (date to be decided).
Please email Odette and Geoffrey on churchvisits@wtu3a.org.uk if you are interested and would like to add your name to the new group list. Plans are in the pipeline to visit Rycote Chapel as the first visit. Details yet to be finalised.
Image by Rosa Rugosa from Pixabay
MAHJONG
**UPDATE** MEETINGS SUSPENDED – HOPEFULLY WILL RESTART IN THE AUTUMN
Rummikub
Tuesday, 20th August then 17th September
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 August then 19th September
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 July, then 9th August and 23rd August).
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 on a Friday morning at 10am at the group leader’s home. New and prospective member welcome. For more details and further dates of meetings, contact John Beer at handbells@wtu3a.org.uk
WTu3a Newsletter – June 2024
Our newsletter for June has now been published. Read all the news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 27th June, with a talk entitled “The Sea Route to India” by Fran Sandham. This is the story of how the 15th century Portuguese explorers braved everything in order to discover a sea route around Africa to reach the rich spice markets of the East.
This year the Summer Lunch is on Thursday 25th July (and we are hoping for better weather this year!). There will be no speaker that day, but instead, a fabulous lunch will be provided by Lynne Padgett and her team of helpers, along with afternoon entertainment with the Folk, Blues and Beyond Group and the Handbell Ringers. This is a members only event and a ticket is required. Details on the flyer.
The fee is £5 per person and tickets will be on sale at the June meeting. If you are not able to attend the meetings to buy your ticket, you can pay by bank transfer (Bank: NatWest, Sort code: 60-01-31, Account number: 50853236 – Ref: Lunch) or by cheque, please contact Sarah Gunn at summerlunch@wtu3a.org.uk for details.
Incident at last month’s meeting – Unfortunately, at some time during last month’s meeting, a member’s car was inadvertently hit by another member’s opening car door, causing some significant damage. I am naturally sorry that this happened.
The lines delineating parking spaces in the Rugby Club car park are not very clear (and in areas do not exist). I would remind all members of this and that you park at the Club at your own risk. In addition, neither Aylesbury Rugby Club nor Weston Turville u3a takes any responsibility for your car while it is parked there.
Please take particular care when first parking and particularly when leaving after a meeting.
WTu3a Newsletter – May 2024
Our newsletter for May has now been published. Read all the news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 23rd May, starting with the AGM, and followed with a talk entitled “Jenner and his vaccine”. The story of the development of vaccination is more complicated than you may think and our speaker Steve Bacon explains how Jenner developed the technique and how he got it accepted by society.
This year the Summer Lunch is on Thursday 25th July (and we are hoping for better weather this year!). There will be no speaker that day, but instead, a fabulous lunch will be provided by Lynne Padgett and her team of helpers, along with afternoon entertainment with the Folk, Blues and Beyond Group and the Handbell Ringers. This is a members only event and a ticket is required. Details on the flyer.
The fee is £5 per person and tickets will be on sale at the May and June General Meetings. If you are not able to attend the meetings to buy your ticket, you can pay by bank transfer (Bank: NatWest, Sort code: 60-01-31, Account number: 50853236 – Ref: Lunch) or by cheque, please contact Sarah Gunn at summerlunch@wtu3a.org.uk for details.
Remember – it’s Membership Subscription Renewal time – thank you to all those who have already paid and for those that haven’t yet done so, the details of how to pay are on the newsletter and website.
Future Speakers – Click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024. Contact Carol Johnson on speakersecretary@wtu3a.org.uk if you have any suggestions for a future speaker.
Thames Valley u3a – Currents 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.
Wednesday, 11th September
10.30am on Zoom
Two Neil’s
A presentation by Clive Aronson
Closing date: TBC
Monday, 23rd September
10.30am on Zoom
A Virtual tour of the CERN Facility
A presentation by Clive Aronson
Closing date: TBC
Monday, 22nd July – Women Artist of the Ashmolean
A talk by Jude Garrett.
Jude Barrett from the Ashmolean Museum will be choosing and discussing paintings by women artists whose works are exhibited there.
Details on the flyer. The fee is £2 per device.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 19th July.
Wednesday, 11th September
10.30am on Zoom –Two Neil’s
A presentation by Clive Aronson playing the music of Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka.
Details on the flyer. The fee is TBA per device
The closing date for applications is TBC.
Monday, 23rd September
10.30am on Zoom – A Virtual tour of the CERN facility
Details on the flyer. The fee is TBA per device
The closing date for applications is TBC.
Friday, 4th October – Autumn Quiz
2.30pm on Zoom
Questions by Avis Furness
Details TBA.
Monday, 7th October
10.30am on Zoom – The American Election
By Mark Lovatt
Details on the flyer. The fee is TBA per device
The 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 – April 2024
Our newsletter for April has now been published. Read all the news here.
Remember – it’s Membership Subscription Renewal time – thank you to all those who have already paid and for those that haven’t yet done so, the details of how to pay are on the newsletter and website.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 25th April, with a talk entitled “The Island of Crabs”. John Tyler’s presentation is about Christmas Island, a remote speck in the Indian Ocean beyond Java which is dominated by a vast number and variety of crabs, and his talk follows their annual migration.
Future Speakers – Click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024. Contact Carol Johnson on speakersecretary@wtu3a.org.uk if you have any suggestions for a future speaker. 
Our thanks must go to Ash Webber of Webber Training, who has provided us with two very useful, interesting and informative sessions for 100+ of our members. If you missed the sessions, Ash has three simple steps to follow. Read them on the flyer here.
Thanks too, to Carol Johnson our Speaker Secretary for spotting this and bringing it to WTu3a.
WTu3a Newsletter – March 2024
Our newsletter for March has now been published. This month it’s a 6-page edition! Read it here.
*Reminder* – Defibrillator / CPR Training session – 18th April, 2pm, Weston Turville Village Hall
With almost 50 members already registered, if you would like to attend, and haven’t yet done so, please register your interest for this session at Chris Bennett at defib@wtu3a.org.uk to add your name to the list.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 28th March, with a talk entitled “Passports, Assassins, Traitors & Spies” Passport stories from history by Martin Lloyd. This is a slight change to the previously advertised talk (although still on the subject of Passports), where we hear stories of how three passports have played their influential role in the course of history; an attempted assassination which altered the regulations for issuing passports; the capture of a spy which caused a worldwide modification to the design of the document and for one person the passport itself which turned into a killer.
Click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024. Contact Carol Johnson on speakersecretary@wtu3a.org.uk if you have any suggestions for a future speaker.
WTu3a Newsletter – February 2024
Our newsletter for February has now been published, Read it here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 22nd February, with a talk entitled “The Sky At Night” by Gordon Rogers.
Update on Defibrillator / CPR Training session:
The Defribillator / CPR training session held recently was excellent and we are planning another in mid-April for those that missed out, or have heard just how good it was and now wish to attend. Full details will be available in due course. Please register your interest for this next session at Chris Bennett at defib@wtu3a.org.uk to add your name to the list.
Flower Arranging Group Leader, Gaynor Edwards, is retiring from leading this very successful group for 11 years. We would like express our thanks for her dedication to WTu3a over the years. If you would like to pick up the reins so the group can restart please contact Chris Bennett at chairman@wtu3a.org.uk.
Click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024. Contact Carol Johnson on speakersecretary@wtu3a.org.uk if you have any suggestions for a future speaker.
WTu3a Newsletter – January 2024
Our newsletter for January has now been published, and includes news of what is happening in the groups as we kick off 2024. Read all the rest of news here.
The next general meeting is on Thursday 25th January, with a talk entitled “The History of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane” by Pete Allen.
Update on Defibrillator / CPR Training session:
The session arranged for Thursday 8th February at the Village Hall is now fully booked, but the list for the next one is open and already proving popular. If you wish to register your interest in the next session email Chris Bennett at defib@wtu3a.org.uk to add your name to the list.
Click the link here to see details of Speakers planned for our General Meetings at the Rugby Club until November 2024. Contact Carol Johnson on speakersecretary@wtu3a.org.uk if you have any suggestions for a future speaker.
WTu3a Newsletter – December 2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS
Our newsletter for December has now been published, and includes news of what some of the groups are planning for 2024. Read all the rest of news here.
The first General Meeting in 2024 is 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.
