Monthly meetings 2019
Details of monthly meetings that took place in 2019
Details of monthly meetings that took place in 2019
28 January 2019
Hilary and Ian Templeton
Pictures in Harmony – Heroes and Villains
The hobby of U3A members, Hilary and Ian Templeton is to produce high quality audio visual shows designed to entertain, inform and amuse their audiences. They have produced over 100 titles to date and the money they raise is donated to Air Ambulance. So far they have raised over £32,000. “Heroes and Villains” is their latest production and will include sequences featuring Lord Hunt, leader of the 1953 Everest Expedition, Ludlwig II of Bavaria and many others.
Hilary and Ian Templeton
Pictures in Harmony – Heroes and Villains
The hobby of U3A members, Hilary and Ian Templeton is to produce high quality audio visual shows designed to entertain, inform and amuse their audiences. They have produced over 100 titles to date and the money they raise is donated to Air Ambulance. So far they have raised over £32,000. “Heroes and Villains” is their latest production and will include sequences featuring Lord Hunt, leader of the 1953 Everest Expedition, Ludlwig II of Bavaria and many others.
25 February 2019
Graham Short
The hands of a genius
Graham lives in Birmingham and left school with no qualifications before beginning an apprenticeship in engraving. He discovered he had a special talent for this and he is now a world-famous micro-artist. His work, which is invisible to the naked eye, is much in demand and sells in galleries around the world. He is the man who engraved the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin, ‘Nothing is Impossible’ along the sharp edge of a Wilkinson razor blade and the portrait of writer Jane Austen on the transparent section of four polymer banknotes which were then put into circulation. This venture was reported by the media in fifty-eight countries around the world. How does he do this? His presentation will reveal his methods and will be both instructive and entertaining
Graham Short
The hands of a genius
Graham lives in Birmingham and left school with no qualifications before beginning an apprenticeship in engraving. He discovered he had a special talent for this and he is now a world-famous micro-artist. His work, which is invisible to the naked eye, is much in demand and sells in galleries around the world. He is the man who engraved the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin, ‘Nothing is Impossible’ along the sharp edge of a Wilkinson razor blade and the portrait of writer Jane Austen on the transparent section of four polymer banknotes which were then put into circulation. This venture was reported by the media in fifty-eight countries around the world. How does he do this? His presentation will reveal his methods and will be both instructive and entertaining
25 March 2019
Robert Hodge
The Witch Trials
From 1324 to 1783, some scholars suggest nearly 200,000 trials of witches took place in Europe, with around 50,000 executions. Others estimate anything up to one million were tried. Who were these unfortunate people and what brought them to their grim end? Our vice-chairman, Robert Hodge, a historian, will talk about the witch trials in England and throughout Europe, how they came about and how they ended – whilst challenging some of the perceptions of ‘witches’ and their fate.
Robert Hodge
The Witch Trials
From 1324 to 1783, some scholars suggest nearly 200,000 trials of witches took place in Europe, with around 50,000 executions. Others estimate anything up to one million were tried. Who were these unfortunate people and what brought them to their grim end? Our vice-chairman, Robert Hodge, a historian, will talk about the witch trials in England and throughout Europe, how they came about and how they ended – whilst challenging some of the perceptions of ‘witches’ and their fate.
29 April 2019
Barry Picken
Red Flowers and a box of old Bones
Barry is now retired but has been very active in public life having been Chairman of a large district hospital and Chairman of the board of the City of Wolverhampton College. He is now very much involved with Rotary Clubs in Shropshire and across the West Midlands
The talk “Red Flowers and a Bag of Old Bones” arose out of curiosity about the symbolism of the Poppy and the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior He will tell us how the poppy came to be a symbol of remembrance and the process by which an unknown warrior was selected and transported to Westminster Abbey to represent the many who died on active service during the Great War. 2020 will be the centenary of this event. Barry’s account is both fascinating and moving and has been given to a wide variety of audiences in the UK over the last three years.
Barry Picken
Red Flowers and a box of old Bones
Barry is now retired but has been very active in public life having been Chairman of a large district hospital and Chairman of the board of the City of Wolverhampton College. He is now very much involved with Rotary Clubs in Shropshire and across the West Midlands
The talk “Red Flowers and a Bag of Old Bones” arose out of curiosity about the symbolism of the Poppy and the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior He will tell us how the poppy came to be a symbol of remembrance and the process by which an unknown warrior was selected and transported to Westminster Abbey to represent the many who died on active service during the Great War. 2020 will be the centenary of this event. Barry’s account is both fascinating and moving and has been given to a wide variety of audiences in the UK over the last three years.
20 May 2019
James Hughes
Estate planning
Legislation changes frequently and, in organizing our affairs, it is important we are fully informed about the decisions we make concerning our financial affairs. James Hughes specialises in all aspects of estate planning and his t alk will provide up to date guidance on lasting Powers of Attorney, Wills and Trusts and how they can help people and their famililes. In many cases, a Will on its own is not enough. Careful planning can help significantly reduce costs and stress for loved ones dealing with the bereaved relative's estate.
James Hughes
Estate planning
Legislation changes frequently and, in organizing our affairs, it is important we are fully informed about the decisions we make concerning our financial affairs. James Hughes specialises in all aspects of estate planning and his t alk will provide up to date guidance on lasting Powers of Attorney, Wills and Trusts and how they can help people and their famililes. In many cases, a Will on its own is not enough. Careful planning can help significantly reduce costs and stress for loved ones dealing with the bereaved relative's estate.
24 June 2019
Geoff Scargill
The Last Laugh of the Railway King
Geoff is a retired head teacher and magistrate with a multiplicity of interests including politics, music and travel and has given many talks the proceeds of which go to Cancer Research. Amongst his repertoire it is his talk about Sir Edward William Watkin that is the most popular.
Now largely forgotten Sir Edward was known as the Railway King because of engineering projects to develop railways. He had, however, a much wider interest in projects to benefit society. He initiated the development of the first Channel Tunnel and the development of Wembley Park as a pleasure park, but now associated with English football.
Geoff’s talk is not technical and will reveal the greatest sensation Scargill caused in the art world in 20th century America 70 years after his death.
Geoff Scargill
The Last Laugh of the Railway King
Geoff is a retired head teacher and magistrate with a multiplicity of interests including politics, music and travel and has given many talks the proceeds of which go to Cancer Research. Amongst his repertoire it is his talk about Sir Edward William Watkin that is the most popular.
Now largely forgotten Sir Edward was known as the Railway King because of engineering projects to develop railways. He had, however, a much wider interest in projects to benefit society. He initiated the development of the first Channel Tunnel and the development of Wembley Park as a pleasure park, but now associated with English football.
Geoff’s talk is not technical and will reveal the greatest sensation Scargill caused in the art world in 20th century America 70 years after his death.
30 September 2019
Janet Diamond
Ancient Egypt - A History in Ten Objects
Janet lived in Egypt for three years in the early 1980s and it was this that triggered her interest in and love of the ancient history of Egypt. She has a diploma in Egyptology and is committed to keeping her knowledge up to date. She has spoken to a wide variety of audiences, including passengers on cruise liners.
Janet has chosen ten items, taken from across the main periods of ancient Egypt, from c.3400 BCE to 30 BCE. They illustrate a variety of artefacts, styles and materials from different museum collections around the world – each with its own fascinating story to tell. Janet clearly has great enthusiasm for her subject.
Janet Diamond
Ancient Egypt - A History in Ten Objects
Janet lived in Egypt for three years in the early 1980s and it was this that triggered her interest in and love of the ancient history of Egypt. She has a diploma in Egyptology and is committed to keeping her knowledge up to date. She has spoken to a wide variety of audiences, including passengers on cruise liners.
Janet has chosen ten items, taken from across the main periods of ancient Egypt, from c.3400 BCE to 30 BCE. They illustrate a variety of artefacts, styles and materials from different museum collections around the world – each with its own fascinating story to tell. Janet clearly has great enthusiasm for her subject.
Monday 28 October 2019
David de Haan
A guided tour of the 1851 Great Exhibition
Unless you are really old, you probably didn’t get to it, but David de Haan is leading a guided tour of the Great Exhibition of 1851 in his talk to the Ludlow U3A. By using plans, catalogues and prints, the layout and content of the 1851 Exhibition has been reconstructed, making it possible to visit stand after stand in the order the Victorians would have seen them. In this way the original Crystal Palace is brought to life. Over six million people visited the exhibition and Queen Victoria visited forty-one times! David de Haan, formerly director of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, is now Chairman of the Friends of the Museum and Secretary of the Association for Industrial Archaeology.
David de Haan
A guided tour of the 1851 Great Exhibition
Unless you are really old, you probably didn’t get to it, but David de Haan is leading a guided tour of the Great Exhibition of 1851 in his talk to the Ludlow U3A. By using plans, catalogues and prints, the layout and content of the 1851 Exhibition has been reconstructed, making it possible to visit stand after stand in the order the Victorians would have seen them. In this way the original Crystal Palace is brought to life. Over six million people visited the exhibition and Queen Victoria visited forty-one times! David de Haan, formerly director of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, is now Chairman of the Friends of the Museum and Secretary of the Association for Industrial Archaeology.
Monday 25 November 2019
Fran Sandham
"Traversa: A solo walk across Africa"
Fran Sandham is a critically acclaimed author and public speaker who took on the challenge of a lifetime, by walking completely solo across Africa from coast to coast. His 3,000-mile walk from the Atlantic on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar was the first time anyone had crossed Africa solo, entirely on foot, by this route. He had no back-up plan and endured much discomfort and danger en route.
Fran is a former editor of Rough Guides and has also written freelance for many newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph, the Observer and the Financial Times. His book "Traversa: A solo walk across Africa!'' received terrific reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and was serialised in the Sunday Times
Fran Sandham
"Traversa: A solo walk across Africa"
Fran Sandham is a critically acclaimed author and public speaker who took on the challenge of a lifetime, by walking completely solo across Africa from coast to coast. His 3,000-mile walk from the Atlantic on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar was the first time anyone had crossed Africa solo, entirely on foot, by this route. He had no back-up plan and endured much discomfort and danger en route.
Fran is a former editor of Rough Guides and has also written freelance for many newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph, the Observer and the Financial Times. His book "Traversa: A solo walk across Africa!'' received terrific reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and was serialised in the Sunday Times