2022 Talk Dates
Alternate Monday and Tuesday mornings
Please reserve the following dates in your diary.
Details of each monthly talk will be emailed to all members and published in the News Bulletins.
We’ve changed the days of the Monthly Meetings to alternate Mondays and Tuesdays to allow more time for chatting afterwards over a coffee or tea, at the Goods Shed. This is a most important aspect of the u3a.
Monthly talks held at the Goods Shed
Monday, 16th May
10.30am
John Barnett
RNLI
HannahLogan_and Crew_Stranraer-121 – Photo credit to RNLI / Nick Mailer
Do you ever go to sea, either in a small boat or large cruise ship or even relaxing on a lilo at the edge of the water? If you do, then you must feel safer knowing that the RNLI is there if you have a problem. John Barton will tell us something of the history, the characters and the courage of this voluntary organisation.
You will all know that the RNLI relies entirely on contributions from the public. John makes no charge for his talk but there will be an opportunity for us all to make a donation. Should you wish to contribute, we would be grateful if you could bring a little cash with you. There is, of course, no obligation for you to do so.
Tuesday, 21st June
10.30am
Paul Barnett
Purton Ships Graveyard
The story of the largest ship graveyard in Britain. Our speaker today, Paul Barnett, has boats sailing around in his blood.
Paul Barnett’s book, ‘Fore & Aft: Lost Ships of the Severn Sea’, is available via barnadillo@aol.com
His father came from Newcastle but, forced by economic reasons, moved to Gloucestershire when Paul was six. As you can imagine, this was a considerable culture shock as Paul had never seen a cow before in his life, but the Tyne was replaced by the Severn and roaming the river banks as a child, Paul came across the Purton Hulks. Paul is going to talk to us today about the Purton Hulks, their purpose and history and about his passion for preserving them.
Monday, 18th July
10.30am
Brian Barber
A radio station under fire in Liberia
Brian has worked as an Aid Worker for fifteen years in many African countries and in Afghanistan.
His work was particularly about establishing lines of communication, often in war zones, and attracted a great deal of dangerous resistance.
Air-lifted by French Special Forces during a civil war, finding mass graves in Rwanda and caught up in a gun battle between bandits and government troops in Nigeria, trailed by Secret police in Liberia and arrested as a suspected terrorist in Kenya, it is a wonder our Speaker today, Brian Barber, is here today to talk to us.
No meeting in August
Tuesday, 20th September
10.30am
Roger Browne
New Orleans to New York in Music
A musical journey with demonstrations.
Roger had an early and long career as a singer from the age of four until eight. In 1958 he resumed his music career in Merseyside playing with a jazz band where he actually shared a bill with The Beatles. In 1968 he resumed his singing career and fell in love with musical theatre.
Today, he is taking us on a musical journey from New Orleans to New York and you do not even have to leave your seat.
Monday, 17th October
10.30am
Chris Witts
My life on the Severn
WYESDALE H loaded, out of Swansea bound for Sharpness.
Our Speaker today is a Bristol man who very early on developed a passion for the River Severn.
Chris started his working life as a deckhand on a tanker barge. He worked many years on the river before joining the fire service but, eventually, he returned to his first love. Chris is going to tell us about his varied and interesting life on the Severn.
Tuesday, 15th November
10.30am
Elizabeth Tebby Germaine
Dangerous journeys in Burma in WW2
Elizabeth is a an author, musician and artist. Her research through family and historical records, including some inherited documents and photos, has inspired her interest into this particular section of the Second World War.
No meeting in December
2023 Talk Dates
Alternate Monday and Tuesday mornings
Please reserve the following 2023 dates in your diary.
Details of each monthly talk will be emailed to all members and published in the News Bulletins.
We’ve changed the days of the Monthly Meetings to alternate Mondays and Tuesdays to allow more time for chatting afterwards over a coffee or tea, at the Goods Shed. This is a most important aspect of the u3a.
January 2023 Monday 16th
February 2023 Tuesday 14th
March 2023 Monday 13th
April 2023 Tuesday 18th
May 2023 Monday 15th
June 2023 Tuesday 13th
July 2023 Monday 17th
August 2023 No Meeting
September 2023 Tuesday 12th
October 2023 Monday 16th
November 2023 Tuesday 14th
December 2023 No Meeting