Monthly meetings take place on the last Monday of each month, but there are no meetings in July, August and December. (The May meeting takes place a week earlier, as the bank holiday is usually on the last Monday of that month). Meetings are held in the Ludlow Assembly Rooms and start with coffee and tea at 1030 in Oscars. The meeting itself starts at 1100 in the auditorium.
Meetings provide an opportunity for members to meet and chat, to talk to committee members and to hear a talk given by a guest speaker.
If you are not a member, but are interested in Ludlow u3a, please come along and say hello.
30 January 2023
The Heritage of Song
Robin Burton
Before radio, TV and the internet, we used to make our own entertainment. Usually this meant singing... Robin's talk charts the history of our shared songs and how knowledge of them has survived to the present day. He also explores the link between folk songs and local and national custom and identity. Robin will give us examples along the way.
Robin Burton, amongst many other roles, is Chair of Stroud Wassail.
The Heritage of Song
Robin Burton
Before radio, TV and the internet, we used to make our own entertainment. Usually this meant singing... Robin's talk charts the history of our shared songs and how knowledge of them has survived to the present day. He also explores the link between folk songs and local and national custom and identity. Robin will give us examples along the way.
Robin Burton, amongst many other roles, is Chair of Stroud Wassail.
27 February 2023
Elgar: The Composer You May Not Know
Richard Westwood-Brooks
As a boy Richard met Elgar’s daughter and was inspired to devote much of his time, over the past 40 years, to studying the man and his music. Richard is now the author of two biographies of Elgar and many articles published worldwide. In 1988 he assisted composer Anthony Payne in his reconstruction of Elgar’s Third Symphony. However, Richard, who now gives regular talks at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, is a radical voice in the Elgar world – hence his lively, but down to earth, talk including aspects of Elgar that might surprise you.
Elgar: The Composer You May Not Know
Richard Westwood-Brooks
As a boy Richard met Elgar’s daughter and was inspired to devote much of his time, over the past 40 years, to studying the man and his music. Richard is now the author of two biographies of Elgar and many articles published worldwide. In 1988 he assisted composer Anthony Payne in his reconstruction of Elgar’s Third Symphony. However, Richard, who now gives regular talks at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, is a radical voice in the Elgar world – hence his lively, but down to earth, talk including aspects of Elgar that might surprise you.
27 March 2023
AGM followed by
A forgotten Naturalist, Explorer and Eccentric
Bernard North
Bernard’s illustrated lecture will inform us about the extraordinary life of a 19th century prolific explorer and naturalist. Almost forgotten, or remembered solely for his eccentric escapades and antics, this gentleman naturalist, an inspiration to Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, deserves acknowledgement for his pioneering conservation work.
AGM followed by
A forgotten Naturalist, Explorer and Eccentric
Bernard North
Bernard’s illustrated lecture will inform us about the extraordinary life of a 19th century prolific explorer and naturalist. Almost forgotten, or remembered solely for his eccentric escapades and antics, this gentleman naturalist, an inspiration to Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, deserves acknowledgement for his pioneering conservation work.
24 April 2023
Fêting the Finns
Christopher Massy-Beresford
1918-2018 – a hundred years of intrepid independence! Along with Iceland, Finland prefers to be classified as a Nordic country rather than as part of Scandinavia.
From its struggle to express its early independence from the clutches of Russia and the former dominance of Sweden, this talk, by linguist and professional translator Christopher, highlights the outstanding achievements of this remote country with its vast terrain, terrible winters, and relatively small population – along with some of its loveable oddities.
Fêting the Finns
Christopher Massy-Beresford
1918-2018 – a hundred years of intrepid independence! Along with Iceland, Finland prefers to be classified as a Nordic country rather than as part of Scandinavia.
From its struggle to express its early independence from the clutches of Russia and the former dominance of Sweden, this talk, by linguist and professional translator Christopher, highlights the outstanding achievements of this remote country with its vast terrain, terrible winters, and relatively small population – along with some of its loveable oddities.
22 May 2023
Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies
Martin Lloyd
Writer and broadcaster Martin’s dramatic account of how three passports have played an influential role in changing the course of history: an attempted assassination which altered the regulations for issuing passports; how the unmasking of a spy caused a modification in passport design and how, for one man, the passport itself turned into a killer.
Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies
Martin Lloyd
Writer and broadcaster Martin’s dramatic account of how three passports have played an influential role in changing the course of history: an attempted assassination which altered the regulations for issuing passports; how the unmasking of a spy caused a modification in passport design and how, for one man, the passport itself turned into a killer.
26 June 2023
Aggie
Alison Utting
Dame Agnes Hunt was a phenomenal woman who established the practice of orthopaedic nursing and co-founded the world-renowned orthopaedic hospital at Oswestry. She also set up an award-winning specialist college to provide further education for students with special educational needs and disabilities. Severely disabled herself, Agnes overcame huge obstacles in her mission to help others. Her indomitable personality and self-deprecating humour are woven through her remarkable autobiography, which forms the basis of this dramatic monologue, performed by Alison Utting.
Aggie
Alison Utting
Dame Agnes Hunt was a phenomenal woman who established the practice of orthopaedic nursing and co-founded the world-renowned orthopaedic hospital at Oswestry. She also set up an award-winning specialist college to provide further education for students with special educational needs and disabilities. Severely disabled herself, Agnes overcame huge obstacles in her mission to help others. Her indomitable personality and self-deprecating humour are woven through her remarkable autobiography, which forms the basis of this dramatic monologue, performed by Alison Utting.
25 September 2023
How the Stagecoach changed Ludlow and Shropshire
John Butterworth
Popular speaker, and former local newspaper editor, John Butterworth is returning to give another of his illustrated talks. The subject this time is how the stagecoach transformed our area – how it changed the local economy, who were the most famous drivers and who were the people who travelled on the stagecoaches linking Ludlow and Shropshire to other parts of the country.
How the Stagecoach changed Ludlow and Shropshire
John Butterworth
Popular speaker, and former local newspaper editor, John Butterworth is returning to give another of his illustrated talks. The subject this time is how the stagecoach transformed our area – how it changed the local economy, who were the most famous drivers and who were the people who travelled on the stagecoaches linking Ludlow and Shropshire to other parts of the country.
30 October 2023
Quiz
In Oscars
Bring your little grey cells and your friends – make up a team of four or come along and join other members to make up a team. Enjoy socialising and testing your knowledge at the same time. Bowing to popular demand we promise the questions won’t be quite as challenging this year!
Quiz
In Oscars
Bring your little grey cells and your friends – make up a team of four or come along and join other members to make up a team. Enjoy socialising and testing your knowledge at the same time. Bowing to popular demand we promise the questions won’t be quite as challenging this year!
27 November 2023
The History of Jazz Piano
Roger Browne
From Blues, Ragtime, Boogie to Swing, Be Bop, Free Form and Avant Garde, the story of jazz piano has been one of exciting and rapid evolution influenced by creative talents such as Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Count Basie and more.
Pianist, with internationally renowned Manchester Jazz, Roger Browne’s talk is illustrated with live musical examples in the style of the great jazz masters and punctuated with hilarious anecdotes about the people, places and events that fuelled the development of this remarkable genre.
The History of Jazz Piano
Roger Browne
From Blues, Ragtime, Boogie to Swing, Be Bop, Free Form and Avant Garde, the story of jazz piano has been one of exciting and rapid evolution influenced by creative talents such as Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Count Basie and more.
Pianist, with internationally renowned Manchester Jazz, Roger Browne’s talk is illustrated with live musical examples in the style of the great jazz masters and punctuated with hilarious anecdotes about the people, places and events that fuelled the development of this remarkable genre.