Local & National Events
A Open meeting, consisting of a guest speaker, is open to all members and visitors of Chard, Ilminster & District u3a and is held once a month in The Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard. The meeting normally takes place on the third Monday of the month, starting at 2pm and lasting to around 4pm. The meeting also gives members an opportunity to hear news and announcements about group activities, new groups, and forthcoming events. There is time for tea/coffee and biscuits during the afternoon, giving members ample opportunity to talk to group leaders or chat among themselves. The format of the afternoon is usually tea/coffee followed by a talk by a guest speaker at 2.15pm and this is followed by notices and business.
2023 Open Meeting are held in The Guildhall, Chard or Horton Village Hall, or Ilminster Parish Hall
Here are the up coming talks for this year. Please put the dates in your diary NOW and then you won't miss them !!
Monday 15th January 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall)
Talk given by Ashley Jones - The life of Douglas Bader
Monday 19 February 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by Andrew Powell-Thomas - 50 gems of Somerset
Monday 18 March 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Chard music, Charles and Kath Sugden.
Monday 15 April 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by Carol McFadzean - Devons lacemaking industry
Thursday 23 May 2024 at 10am (Archie Gooch Pavilion Ilminster) Coffee morning
Tuesday 11 June 2024 at 2pm (Horton Village Hall) Talk given by Matthew Denney - The British Empire Exhibition 1924/5.
Tuesday 09 July 2024 at 2pm (Horton Village Hall) Horton summer fete
Tuesday 20 August 2024 at 2pm (Horton Village Hall) Talk given by Janet Diamond - The curious mind of Leonardo Da Vinci
Monday 16 September 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by Ronald Howell - 3000 years of history from the sea
Monday 21 October 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by Kirsty Pearce - The wolves of Yellowstone Park
Monday 18 November 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by Peter Lansdown - The Mary Rose - A sailors perspective,
Monday 16 December 2024 at 2pm (Chard Guildhall) Talk given by John Walters - Secret World of the Undergrowth
Further details about the talks will be announced nearer the time.
AVALON u3a EVENTS
Some of the AVALON group of u3a's also welcome Chard, Ilminster & District u3a members to their Open Meetings. These u3a's are Camelot (Castle Cary), Crewkerne, Martock and Somerton.
CAMELOT AREA u3a talks
Caryford Community Hall, Ansford, Castle Cary BA77JJ
Doors open 2.00pm - Members Free
Non-members welcome. Admission £2.00
(to include tea, coffee and biscuits)
Friday, 24 November 2023 at 2.30pm
Talk given by Brian Fernley
Destination Utah
this talk illustrates the impact of around 1500 American servicemen taking up residence in a quiet English village. The talk looks at the impact on the local population, the role of the airfield in the conflict and the missions undertaken
Friday 26 January 2024 at 2.30pm
Talk given by Lottie Dale
Falling With Style
Covers an in-depth & often amusing overview of Lottie’s Skydiving Day which began at the age of 31. During the next fifteen years she completed 1200 jumps including record-holding jumps, demos into Airshows, Wembley Stadium and competing at National Level.
Friday 23 February 2024 at 2.30pm
Talk given by Kay Wych
16th Century Kitchen Maid
This talk is humours and educational. There is a surprise at the end!.
Friday 22 March 2024 at 2.30pm
Talk given by Sally Smith
Magnificent Women and Flying Machines
Sally’s gives an entertaining insight into the lives of these amazing women. The talk offers fascinating insights into the characters and lifestyles of these wonderful women and also offers fascinating glimpses into how society has changed, right up to Britain’s first ever woman into space and how living in a small space capsule with a group of Russian men was thought to be quite acceptable!
Friday 26 April 2024 at 2.30pm
Talk given by Susie Simmons
Museum of Somerset
Susie, the Museum Operations Manager from the South West Heritage Trust will talk about the remarkable Treasures of the Museum of Somerset, housed in Taunton Castle.
MARTOCK u3a
Meet at 2.15pm in Martock Parish Hall. Martock ask that members take with them their membership receipt to demonstrate current CID u3a membership.
Wednesday, 8th November 2023 Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jane Robinson presents an approach to good health that has been well documented for over 300 years and continues to be relevant in the 21st century.
SOMERTON u3a
Somerton u3a also invite CID members to join in their Open meetings. The details of meetings for the next six months appear in their latest newsletter Somerton Jan 22. Likewise it will be necessary for members to take their membership receipt to demonstrate current CID u3a membership.
CREWKERNE u3a
Crewkerne u3a have invited Chard and Ilminster members to their planned musical trips. Crewkerne Opera Appreciation group leader, John Bartholomew, is organising the musical trips listed below. If anyone in Chard and Ilminster u3a is interested, can they get in touch with John directly (jdbart45@gmail.com) and please specify that you are a current members of CID u3a.
POTENTIAL TRIPS CREWKERNE u3a
For these potential trips please register your interest with John Bartholomew. Whereupon he will send more details before asking for any kind of commitment.
u3a NATIONAL EVENTS
Have you discovered the u3a National Events Page for what's on around the country? You will need to visit the u3a national website https://www.u3a.org.uk to reach this page. There is online booking for most On-line Events and Tutorials, all organised for members by u3a National Office.
These events are also listed in the Third Age Matters delivered to your door.
PLEASE NOTE: It is possible to receive Newsletters about forth coming u3a National and Regional events by joining the Newsletter Mailing List also on the Events Page at https://www.u3a.org.uk. You do not need to log in to the website to register for these.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------