Events
National U3A - Opportunities:
A number of opportunities are available to U3A Members arranged by the National Office. Please go to the National U3A web site for the latest offers.
There are numerous online groups being set up on a great variety of subjects. These are available to all U3A members. Click on the link www.u3asites.org.uk/trustu3a/ groups to find out more.
A number of opportunities are available to U3A Members arranged by the National Office. Please go to the National U3A web site for the latest offers.
There are numerous online groups being set up on a great variety of subjects. These are available to all U3A members. Click on the link www.u3asites.org.uk/trustu3a/ groups to find out more.
Monthly Meetings:
Regular general meetings with a speaker will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month in the Town Hall, with coffee and chat at 10:00 am and the meeting starting at 10:30 am. Talks will cover a wide range of topics of broad general and local interest. The list of speakers and topics is shown below. There's something for everyone there!
Thursday 28th November - 10:00 AGM Coffee and chat from 09:30
Thursday 28th November - The Extraordinary very early history of the Theatre Royal Bristol - Sara Gray
Known to us now as the Bristol Old Vic of course, Sara will talk to us about its highs and lows and its heroes and villains. From a riot at the “hut on Brandon Hill”, a secret door, predictions of idleness and debauchery, illegal performances, a gate crashed funeral and perceived insult to the American president, to its stars who took Bristol by storm – and an elephant. And this is just the first fifty years !!
Thursday 5th December 14:30 - 16:30
Come and enjoy fizz, mince pies and shortbread with other members at a social meeting before Christmas!
We’ll be entertained by members of the play-reading group performing a short pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk.
Thursday 30th January - Travel adventures Galápagos Islands – through the eyes of an amateur photographer - Paul Davies
Paul, with his wife Yvonne, moved from Kent, where both had been GPs for nearly 40 yrs, to Malmesbury, to be nearer to their 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Paul has been a keen photographer since his early 20’s together with travel they were a good combination.
Though he is keen on all forms of photography he is especially interested in wildlife and landscape. They have recently visited Costa Rica and the Artic circle. In addition to photography Paul is a keen gardener and DIY enthusiast. He is currently redesigning his garden.
FRIDAY 28th Frebruary - Rowing the Oceans - Roz Savage MP
Roz Savage is the first (and so far only) woman to row solo across the world’s “Big Three” oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. She holds four Guinness World Records, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to fundraising and the environment.
It was an unexpected career move for a former management consultant who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise. She was inspired to brave the oceans when she realised two things: 1) we are all capable of much more than we tend to believe we are, and 2) we need to make some changes if we're going to live healthy lives on a thriving planet. So she used her voyages to expand her own limits, and to promote sustainable living.
In July 2024, Roz was elected as the Member of Parliament for the South Cotswolds. She continues to pursue her passion for creating a better, brighter, more sustainable future through her work in Westminster and in her constituency.
Thursday 27th March - Working with the ghosts of Hampton Court Palace - Sarah Slater
Sarah is a Guide lecturer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide who has worked for Historic Royal Palaces, since 2008.
Sarah is qualified as Blue badge tourist guide for the whole of the South Central Region and is also a White Badge Guide Lecturer for Hampton Court Palace.
Sarah’s foundations are in acting, having been theatrically trained. Having pursued, for 23 years, a career in finance, time with her family came next and then to work within Heritage.
Thursday 24th April - The Borneo Graveyard 1941-1945 (The Japanese occupation of Borneo 1941 – 1945) - John Tulloch MBE
The story of the POWs, the Death marches, the internees and the locals.
John served in the NZ Army, RNZIR, RNZA 1965 – 1973.
2 tours Northern Ireland. Sultan of Oman’s SAF. Clearing up operations in Dhofar. Postings in UK,Germany, NL Falkland Islands 1982.
Thursday 22nd May - Ian Pickering’s Weather Roadshow - Ian Pickering
Ian has had an avid interest in the weather since 1976 with a passion on how the weather machine works. He has been on two storm chase holidays in the USA, in tornado alley. Ian also has an interest in historic weather.
Thursday 26th June - Gardening and climate change - Claire Mitchell
How climate change is affecting our gardens, the hidden impacts of horticulture, how we can adapt and mitigate in response.
Claire is a horticulturalist with a professional background in climate change and renewable energy. She has a strong eye for design, a passion for living sustainably and a belief that gardening is for all, regardless of skills, ability and background.
Claire runs the Garden Editor, a sustainable gardening advice service to improve people’s gardens without costing the earth. She also works at Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants in Hants. She hosts a fortnightly garden prog on radio, is a Trustee of Chartered Institute of Horticulturalists and is founder director of a community-owned renewable energy Co-operative.
July - Summer Party
Date TBA
September - TBA
Thursday 23rd October - Horatio Nelson: Picturing Britain’s Greatest Admiral - Dr James Taylor FRSA
Discover the extraordinary life and loves of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) through period paintings, drawings, and prints.
Nelson was a charismatic and complex character who met his death on deck of HMS Victory 21st October 1805 aged 47.
Dr James Taylor is a former specialist in Victorian paintings at Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers, an author, curator and exhibition organiser at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Thursday 27th November - Water pollution and threats towards the River Avon, Bristol - Dr Richard Skeffington
The Sherston and Tetbury branches of the River Avon meet in Malmesbury. They are favourite places for walks and looking at nature. However, observations by local people and official data show that the quality of the river is not as good as should be and there are factors which may worsen its condition. This talk will look at the issues impacting the river and what we can do to improve things.
Richard Skeffington is an environmental scientist with a wide range of experience in both industry and the academic world. He spent 22yrs in the electricity industry working on assessing and alleviating environmental problems caused by power generation. After leaving the power industry 1999 he became Principal Research Fellow and Professor in the Dept Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. He retired in 2018. He is a Trustee and Director of the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust.
December - Christmas Party
Date TBA
Previous Monthly Meetings: For a list of speakers and subjects for previous monthly meetings, please click HERE.
Regular general meetings with a speaker will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month in the Town Hall, with coffee and chat at 10:00 am and the meeting starting at 10:30 am. Talks will cover a wide range of topics of broad general and local interest. The list of speakers and topics is shown below. There's something for everyone there!
Thursday 28th November - 10:00 AGM Coffee and chat from 09:30
Thursday 28th November - The Extraordinary very early history of the Theatre Royal Bristol - Sara Gray
Known to us now as the Bristol Old Vic of course, Sara will talk to us about its highs and lows and its heroes and villains. From a riot at the “hut on Brandon Hill”, a secret door, predictions of idleness and debauchery, illegal performances, a gate crashed funeral and perceived insult to the American president, to its stars who took Bristol by storm – and an elephant. And this is just the first fifty years !!
Thursday 5th December 14:30 - 16:30
Come and enjoy fizz, mince pies and shortbread with other members at a social meeting before Christmas!
We’ll be entertained by members of the play-reading group performing a short pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk.
Thursday 30th January - Travel adventures Galápagos Islands – through the eyes of an amateur photographer - Paul Davies
Paul, with his wife Yvonne, moved from Kent, where both had been GPs for nearly 40 yrs, to Malmesbury, to be nearer to their 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Paul has been a keen photographer since his early 20’s together with travel they were a good combination.
Though he is keen on all forms of photography he is especially interested in wildlife and landscape. They have recently visited Costa Rica and the Artic circle. In addition to photography Paul is a keen gardener and DIY enthusiast. He is currently redesigning his garden.
FRIDAY 28th Frebruary - Rowing the Oceans - Roz Savage MP
Roz Savage is the first (and so far only) woman to row solo across the world’s “Big Three” oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. She holds four Guinness World Records, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to fundraising and the environment.
It was an unexpected career move for a former management consultant who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise. She was inspired to brave the oceans when she realised two things: 1) we are all capable of much more than we tend to believe we are, and 2) we need to make some changes if we're going to live healthy lives on a thriving planet. So she used her voyages to expand her own limits, and to promote sustainable living.
In July 2024, Roz was elected as the Member of Parliament for the South Cotswolds. She continues to pursue her passion for creating a better, brighter, more sustainable future through her work in Westminster and in her constituency.
Thursday 27th March - Working with the ghosts of Hampton Court Palace - Sarah Slater
Sarah is a Guide lecturer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide who has worked for Historic Royal Palaces, since 2008.
Sarah is qualified as Blue badge tourist guide for the whole of the South Central Region and is also a White Badge Guide Lecturer for Hampton Court Palace.
Sarah’s foundations are in acting, having been theatrically trained. Having pursued, for 23 years, a career in finance, time with her family came next and then to work within Heritage.
Thursday 24th April - The Borneo Graveyard 1941-1945 (The Japanese occupation of Borneo 1941 – 1945) - John Tulloch MBE
The story of the POWs, the Death marches, the internees and the locals.
John served in the NZ Army, RNZIR, RNZA 1965 – 1973.
2 tours Northern Ireland. Sultan of Oman’s SAF. Clearing up operations in Dhofar. Postings in UK,Germany, NL Falkland Islands 1982.
Thursday 22nd May - Ian Pickering’s Weather Roadshow - Ian Pickering
Ian has had an avid interest in the weather since 1976 with a passion on how the weather machine works. He has been on two storm chase holidays in the USA, in tornado alley. Ian also has an interest in historic weather.
Thursday 26th June - Gardening and climate change - Claire Mitchell
How climate change is affecting our gardens, the hidden impacts of horticulture, how we can adapt and mitigate in response.
Claire is a horticulturalist with a professional background in climate change and renewable energy. She has a strong eye for design, a passion for living sustainably and a belief that gardening is for all, regardless of skills, ability and background.
Claire runs the Garden Editor, a sustainable gardening advice service to improve people’s gardens without costing the earth. She also works at Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants in Hants. She hosts a fortnightly garden prog on radio, is a Trustee of Chartered Institute of Horticulturalists and is founder director of a community-owned renewable energy Co-operative.
July - Summer Party
Date TBA
September - TBA
Thursday 23rd October - Horatio Nelson: Picturing Britain’s Greatest Admiral - Dr James Taylor FRSA
Discover the extraordinary life and loves of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) through period paintings, drawings, and prints.
Nelson was a charismatic and complex character who met his death on deck of HMS Victory 21st October 1805 aged 47.
Dr James Taylor is a former specialist in Victorian paintings at Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers, an author, curator and exhibition organiser at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Thursday 27th November - Water pollution and threats towards the River Avon, Bristol - Dr Richard Skeffington
The Sherston and Tetbury branches of the River Avon meet in Malmesbury. They are favourite places for walks and looking at nature. However, observations by local people and official data show that the quality of the river is not as good as should be and there are factors which may worsen its condition. This talk will look at the issues impacting the river and what we can do to improve things.
Richard Skeffington is an environmental scientist with a wide range of experience in both industry and the academic world. He spent 22yrs in the electricity industry working on assessing and alleviating environmental problems caused by power generation. After leaving the power industry 1999 he became Principal Research Fellow and Professor in the Dept Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. He retired in 2018. He is a Trustee and Director of the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust.
December - Christmas Party
Date TBA
Previous Monthly Meetings: For a list of speakers and subjects for previous monthly meetings, please click HERE.