Redbourn U3A The inaugural meeting took place in the village hall on 23 February 2013. The U3 A? now meets at 2pm on every third Wednesday , with a talk at 2.30

Current News INTEREST GROUPS RUNNING AS AT MAY 2013 (Contact the Group Facilitator to find out if more if you wish to join any of these, and if there is a vacancy. If the group is full, why not think of starting a second group? Contact Mavis Ambrose on mavis.ambrose@virgin.net or 01582 791690 or Diane Whiskin dwhiskin@talktalk.net or 01582 792846 to find out more about being a Group Facilitator.)

ARCHITECTURE/VISITS TO BUILDINGS - Group Facilitator: Charles Milner (792925) BOOK GROUP - Group Facilitator: Helen Gillett (793666)/Sandie Caldwell(794768) BRIDGE - Group Facilitator: Valerie Heather (794354)/Inger Cooper/Lois Smith CAKE DECORATION - Group Facilitator: Janet Burdock (793726) CRIBBAGE - Group Facilitator: Pauline Allcroft (793355) CURRENT AFFAIRS - Group Facilitator: Vivienne Windle(626351)/Mavis Ambrose(791690) FLOWER ARRANGING - Group Facilitator: Rayna Shiach (872447) FOLK MUSIC - Group Facilitator: Jenny Mc Naught? (jen.home@talk21.com) FRENCH - Group Facilitator: Sigrid Mc Cadyn? (793085) GENEALOGY - Group Facilitator: Christine Allen (791933) GRUMPY OLD MEN - Group Facilitator: Mario Violentano (792302) ITALIAN - Group Facilitator: Mariella Lobban(07980310599) JAZZ APPRECIATION - Group Facilitator: Geoff Hall (794741) LITERATURE - Group Facilitator: Vivienne Windle (626351)/ MEDIA/FILMS - Group Facilitator: Vivienne Windle (626351)/ MUSIC APPRECIATION - Group Facilitator: Janie Andrews (792825) MEDITATION - Group Facilitator: Diane Carvill NATURAL HISTORY WALKS - Group Facilitator: Maxine Kerry (793055) PETANQUE - Group Facilitator: Geoff Hall (794741) PHOTOGRAPHY – Group Cacilitator: Ian Caldwell (07528741947) PSYCHOLOGY - Group Facilitator: Nell Walker (799018) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Group Facilitator: John Butcher (793108) SPANISH (RUSTY) - Group Facilitator: Eileen Kaufman (626050) THEATRE TRIPS Group Facilitator: Anna Mc Kenzie? (792834.) WALKS - Group Facilitator: John Bower (793726)/Barbara Ellis (794006) WINE APPRECIATION -- Group Facilitator: Pauline Allcroft (793355)

REDBOURN U 3 A PROGRAMME OF SPEAKERS 2013

Speakers Secretary: Geoff Hall

Monthly meetings are held in Redbourn Village Hall, High Street, Redbourn on the third Wednesday of each month. Doors open from 1.30 pm and talks start at 2.30 pm, followed by notices and business items before refreshments are served. Monthly meetings and refreshments are free of charge to members of Redbourn U3 A.

March 20 - Women I Have Married (Richard Selby)

April 17 - REMAP (Peter Parry) (REMAP designs unique pieces of special, tailor made equipment, given free to people who need them)

May 15 - 1000 Years of St. Albans (Stephen Potter)

June 19 - Grumpy Old Men (Mel Rees)

July 17 - History of Ridgeway (John Tyler)

Aug 21 - Golden Age of Radio Comedy (Janet Naylor)

Sept 18 - Insurance Fraud (Alan Gilmore)

Oct 16 - Insight into a Provincial Auctioneer (Steven Lester)

Nov 20 - Waddesdon Manor (Robert Keating)

Dec 18 - Tudor Christmas (Martin Sinot Smith)

INTEREST GROUPS

Interest Group Leaders: Diane Whiskin/Mavis Ambrose

Situation as at 20 March 2013

INTEREST GROUPS WITH LEADERS:

Running, Photography, Technology (IT), Psychology, Book Group, Literature, Films, Current Affairs, Play Reading, Grumpy Old Men, Music Appreciation, French, Architecture, Walking, Science, Bridge, Spanish, Italian, Flower Arranging, Geography, Petanque, Cribbage, Jazz Appreciation, Natural History Walks.

POPULAR INTEREST GROUPS WITHOUT LEADERS:

Art appreciation, Antiques, Bird watching, Exploring London, History, Local History, Poetry, Practical Gardening, Watercolour Painting, Wine Appreciation.

If you have a burning desire to participate in one of the above groups,and would be willing to take the lead, or you wish to start up an entirely different group, please inform Mavis Ambrose. Once you have a membership number will be able to sign up for an interest group. The first opportunity will be at the April meeting and doors will open at 1.30 pm.

Remember, you must be a member of the Redbourn U3 A to join an interest group.

The Launch Meeting of the proposed U3A was held on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 February in the Village Hall. It was extremely well attended, and such was the overwhelming interest we ran out of chairs, agendas, and questionnaires! This was very rewarding for the Launch Team who have been working towards the event since November.

The audience heard from 4 speakers who described their own experiences of being members of a U3A, and also the links and support at county, regional and national levels. So convinced were the audience of the benefits and enjoyment to be had, they voted without any hesitation in favour of forming a branch in the village.

Although the name “University of the Third Age” would seem to imply an in-depth academic experience, the word in this case means a group of like minded people who gather together to enjoy social and leisure activities, to learn from each other through participating in a wide spectrum of interest groups at a level suiting them. The first analysis of completed questionnaires from the meeting indicate the top ten interest groups for Redbourn are theatre trips, walks/health walks, garden visits, local history, history, books/reading, French, practical gardening, music appreciation and bus pass outings. However, there will be many more on offer to suit all tastes. In fact any member is encouraged to start up a group that they would like to see on offer.

The audience were told that any U3A is a self help group and needs its members to be involved. Already many people have volunteered to be members of the steering group which will see the newly formed branch through its first year. Likewise, a number of people have also volunteered to be Group Co-ordinators of the interest groups. This is very encouraging and positive, and augurs well for a very successful Redbourn U3A..

The inaugural meeting is on Wednesday 20 March, 2.30 pm in the Village Hall. This meeting will be followed by a programme of monthly meetings with a varied programme of speakers. If you are retired or semi-retired, you are very welcome to attend.

Contact us by e-mail on redbournu3a@hotmail.com for further information