Local History
Meetings: In the Waterloo Room at The Elms, 2 Lower Road, Bedhampton unless stated otherwise,
Contact: Pat Hindley, email pat.hindley@hotmail.co.uk
This aims to be a friendly, fun, informative group exploring local history using members within U3A groups with local knowledge and inviting experienced speakers along during the year. Talks tend to be about the local area but not exclusively so. We aim to include at least two outside visits to places within easy reach.
How is it organised? A small team organise an annual programme which is planned in advance after everyone pitches in with suggestions and requests during the year.
Whether born and bred in the local area or more recently settled here, we all have an interest in what has created the place that we live in – its buildings and its landscape, its people and their industries, successes and tragedies. We have a varied programme in the Local History group with sessions suggested and led by group members. We have heard talks about Havant Workhouse, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Portsmouth Pals and the Development of Paulsgrove and Wymering; visited Uppark, Portchester Castle, the St Cross Almshouses in Winchester, the Map Room at Southwick House and Winchester College and taken part in History Quiz Walks in Havant and Old Portsmouth.
Program - all meetings are on Fridays
Where possible car sharing is encouraged with a donation for petrol. Occasionally an invitation is extended to the other members of Havant U3A
Normal meetings are in the Waterloo Room at The Elms, Old Bedhampton on the 3rd Friday each month and start at 10:00am
A charge is made at the beginning of the term to cover the cost of hall hire and speakers.
Programme for 2024
August: No meeting.
20th September: William Cobbett's Botley. Speaker Geoff Watts.
18th October: The Bridge to Hayling. Talk by group member Tom Bennett.
15th November: Sir George Staunton. Speaker Simon Walton.
13th December: Christmas celebrations with group members Steve Doe and Nigel Gossop.
Programme for 2025
17th January: The Portsmouth Blitz. Speaker John Marshallsay
21st February: The Portsmouth - Arundel Canal. Talk by group member Nigel Gossop
21st March: French Prisoners of War, Smugglers and Conspiracies. Speaker Paul Chamberlain
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