Monthly meetings take place on the last Monday of each month, but there are no meetings in July, August and December. (The May meetings take place a week earlier, as the bank holiday is usually on the last Monday of that month). Meetings are held in the 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 u3a, please come along and say hello.
Monthly meetings take place in the Assembly Rooms, Ludlow - see Welcome page for information.
31 January 2022
Alison Utting
Eglantyne and Ellesmere Eglantyne Jebb was born in 1876 in Ellesmere and spent her early life there. She was a member of a fascinating family who worked to improve social conditions nationally and internationally. Eglantyne and her sister Dorothy created Save the Children to help children impoverished and displaced by the Great War. Eglantyne also wrote 'The Declaration of the Rights of the Child' which was adopted by the League of Nations. Her work changed the lives of millions.
Alison Utting's illustrated talk will explore Eglantyne's life and achievements and celebrate her links with Shropshire. Alison, who lives in Ellesmere, is a teacher with a love of public speaking, theatre, amateur dramatics and history.
Alison Utting
Eglantyne and Ellesmere Eglantyne Jebb was born in 1876 in Ellesmere and spent her early life there. She was a member of a fascinating family who worked to improve social conditions nationally and internationally. Eglantyne and her sister Dorothy created Save the Children to help children impoverished and displaced by the Great War. Eglantyne also wrote 'The Declaration of the Rights of the Child' which was adopted by the League of Nations. Her work changed the lives of millions.
Alison Utting's illustrated talk will explore Eglantyne's life and achievements and celebrate her links with Shropshire. Alison, who lives in Ellesmere, is a teacher with a love of public speaking, theatre, amateur dramatics and history.
28 February 2022
Richard Rallings
The Gardens and Houses of E L Lutyens One of the leading architects of his time, Lutyens is renowned for his wide range of iconic buildings and memorials. Lutyens’ professional interests also extended to gardens through his collaboration with influential horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll who was herself responsible for designing over 400 gardens.
A splendidly illustrated talk presented by horticulturists Richard and Jill Rallings who took over the plant nursery and display garden at Delbury Hall Walled Garden almost a decade ago and created their nursery Mynd Hardy Plants.
Richard Rallings
The Gardens and Houses of E L Lutyens One of the leading architects of his time, Lutyens is renowned for his wide range of iconic buildings and memorials. Lutyens’ professional interests also extended to gardens through his collaboration with influential horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll who was herself responsible for designing over 400 gardens.
A splendidly illustrated talk presented by horticulturists Richard and Jill Rallings who took over the plant nursery and display garden at Delbury Hall Walled Garden almost a decade ago and created their nursery Mynd Hardy Plants.
25 April 2022
Roger Browne
The History of Jazz Piano 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.
Roger Browne
The History of Jazz Piano 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.
23 May 2022
Jeremy Derrick
The Work of a Practising Homeopath A lifelong experience of homeopathy: Jeremy grew up in a household where homeopathy was practised and, in adulthood, he became a practitioner. His anecdotal talk about his personal and professional experience of homeopathy explains and illustrates how he considers its approach may help and why he feels it is valid in the 21st century.
Jeremy Derrick has been a practitioner of homeopathic medicine for over 20 years. His practice is in Shrewsbury.
27 June 2022
Jim Holmes
Afghanistan Goes Solar Dispatched into the unknown, first on an ancient Russian Antonov aeroplane then in 4 wheel drive vehicles over dramatic mountain ranges into central Afghanistan. The assignment – to document local ‘barefoot’ solar engineers installing sustainable power systems in remote villages to bring light into people’s lives. The early onset of winter snows was only one of the fears…
Professional documentary photographer Jim Holmes has worked around the world for 30 years focusing particularly on environmental and humanitarian projects. This is his richly illustrated account of his journey through central Afghanistan with a Norwegian aid group.
Jim Holmes
Afghanistan Goes Solar Dispatched into the unknown, first on an ancient Russian Antonov aeroplane then in 4 wheel drive vehicles over dramatic mountain ranges into central Afghanistan. The assignment – to document local ‘barefoot’ solar engineers installing sustainable power systems in remote villages to bring light into people’s lives. The early onset of winter snows was only one of the fears…
Professional documentary photographer Jim Holmes has worked around the world for 30 years focusing particularly on environmental and humanitarian projects. This is his richly illustrated account of his journey through central Afghanistan with a Norwegian aid group.
26 September 2022
Brian Fernley
‘Jumping’ Joe Byerle He grew up during the Great Depression but Joe Byerle might have been a renowned international athlete had the war not intervened. He joined the famous 101stAirborne and flew from Exeter to France on D-Day. This was not his first trip to France for the military. How did Joe become the only World War II US serviceman to fight with both the American and Soviet Armies?
Brian Fernley, a former Technical Training Manager and now a volunteer with the educational charity the South West Airfields Heritage Trust, will reveal all in this uplifting story of human will and determination to survive
Brian Fernley
‘Jumping’ Joe Byerle He grew up during the Great Depression but Joe Byerle might have been a renowned international athlete had the war not intervened. He joined the famous 101stAirborne and flew from Exeter to France on D-Day. This was not his first trip to France for the military. How did Joe become the only World War II US serviceman to fight with both the American and Soviet Armies?
Brian Fernley, a former Technical Training Manager and now a volunteer with the educational charity the South West Airfields Heritage Trust, will reveal all in this uplifting story of human will and determination to survive
31 October 2022
Phil Griffiths
Stories of the English Coinage Money! Plastic cards and tapping the credit card machine may be more popular these days but for centuries coins have been the most important currency. Phil’s talk traces the evolution of coins from Greek civilisation, through the Roman period, the Dark Ages and Medieval period, to decimalisation and the present day, with a glimpse into the future.
JP Phil Griffiths is a Chartered Engineer whose career has spanned the technological advances from steam engines to making electronic controls for jet engines but now he has retired he has discovered the joys of motorcycling – but only in the summer months! He delivers his charity fundraising talks from October to March
Phil Griffiths
Stories of the English Coinage Money! Plastic cards and tapping the credit card machine may be more popular these days but for centuries coins have been the most important currency. Phil’s talk traces the evolution of coins from Greek civilisation, through the Roman period, the Dark Ages and Medieval period, to decimalisation and the present day, with a glimpse into the future.
JP Phil Griffiths is a Chartered Engineer whose career has spanned the technological advances from steam engines to making electronic controls for jet engines but now he has retired he has discovered the joys of motorcycling – but only in the summer months! He delivers his charity fundraising talks from October to March
28 November 2022
Andrew Lound
The Discovery of New Worlds In 1781 William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus and ‘doubled the size of the Solar System’. Since then numerous worlds have been discovered and old worlds have had their surfaces imaged by spacecraft. Andrew takes us on a dramatic voyage of exploration to the worlds in our Solar System telling us the tales of the explorers, of the bravery, of the controversies, and offers a glimpse of worlds beyond, all illustrated by amazing images and accompanied by music.
With a background in Astronomy and Planetary Science and also in Media, Andrew has been active in raising public awareness of astronomy and space science since the 1970s. He has frequently been interviewed on radio on astronomy, space and history and he often tours the UK with his Odyssey Dramatic Presentations and Lectures.
Andrew Lound
The Discovery of New Worlds In 1781 William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus and ‘doubled the size of the Solar System’. Since then numerous worlds have been discovered and old worlds have had their surfaces imaged by spacecraft. Andrew takes us on a dramatic voyage of exploration to the worlds in our Solar System telling us the tales of the explorers, of the bravery, of the controversies, and offers a glimpse of worlds beyond, all illustrated by amazing images and accompanied by music.
With a background in Astronomy and Planetary Science and also in Media, Andrew has been active in raising public awareness of astronomy and space science since the 1970s. He has frequently been interviewed on radio on astronomy, space and history and he often tours the UK with his Odyssey Dramatic Presentations and Lectures.