Petersfield U3A: Events

Events

Petersfield U3A Events

Petersfield U3A organises a range of events including three monthly meetings, trips, day workshops, study visits and occasionally two or three day residential breaks. These are open to all members (subject to space available) and may be organised by the main Committee or by one of the subject groups.

Monthly Meetings
There are three monthly meetings all held in the Petersfield Community Centre.

The Main General Meeting is held on the second Monday of every month between 2.30 and 4.00 p.m. with a different speaker talking about a general subject of interest each time.

These meetings are the flagship events for Petersfield U3A. They are held in the extended large hall at the Community Centre on the second Monday of each month (except for August and December). The topics are varied and are intended to be of general interest to all of our members. They commence with a welcome by the Branch Chairman and they conclude with tea / coffee and biscuits whilst members enjoy a convivial chat with the speaker, committee members and their fellow members and friends. The presentation normally lasts for approx. an hour with up to 30 minutes of comments and discussions.

U3A activities are mentioned and some Group Leaders have tables at the back of the hall for Group Business. At the back also are tables for discussions with new members and for recruitment and renewal of membership. Copies of the latest News and Views are available for members to take home, if they are not able to receive it by e-mail.

These meetings are seen as being of special interest due to the greater numbers who attend and the possibilities of socialising and carrying out Branch Business.

The Arts and Heritage meeting is open to all members on the third Wednesday of every month 2.30 – 4.00 p.m. and there is a charge of £2.50 per meeting. Each meeting has a speaker who is well qualified in a subject relating to the arts or a heritage topic. Occasionally talks are linked with visits to local sites or exhibitions. Please note that the meetings originally programmed for September and November 2019 have had to be swapped over, due to changes in speaker availability. Those now shown in the programme are the correct entries.

The Science and Technology meeting is open to all members and is held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 2.00 to 3.30 p.m. with a charge of £2.50. per meeting. We invite speakers on a range of subjects to give a talk followed by questions, discussion and debate. The 2019 programme of meetings is still being formulated and will include a wide variety and type of topic. The Science Forum is an offshoot of this Group and offers informal learning and discussion on a topic of the day. These meetings are held at the Liss Triangle on a monthly basis.

Other Events

There is a regular series of other events ranging from theatre and concert trips, heritage visits, and special interest sessions organised through individual groups but open to everybody. Other one day subject sessions, short courses and occasional social events are held and publicised on this website and members can receive a regular updating “News & Views Extra” email to keep you in touch.

South Bank Group The Group attends concerts on the South Bank of the Thames in London. These are held at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room. Availability of tickets and further information may be obtained from Derek Bowtell by contacting him via the South Bank Group page.

(See below for details of the upcoming meetings and events)

Past Meetings

Click the link above to see descriptions of our last few meetings for Arts & Heritage and Science & Technology

Dates for your Diary
June 2019
Tue Jun 25th	Science and Technology	A presentation on "The Age of Anxiety” with Sara Langston of Southern Health NHS. The title has a deliberate ambiguity. We live in an age where anxiety and worry at different levels seem to affect us all, irrespective of age. There are also specific issues which are related to older people and this talk addresses topics such as how to identify signs of anxiety, how common symptoms are and how they are generated. Information will be given on how to access support as well as tips for managing worry – both your own and others’. Stress affects us physically and mentally and Sara will also talk about the work of her unit and the way we may be entering an age where there is a greater freedom to talk about mental health.
July 2019
Wed Jul 3rd	Jazz Appreciation	Peter’s Two-Part Thing – Peter Lindon A session of two halves! The first part will be an introduction to Cuban music – with its colourfulness and rhythms. All put into context by a few chosen anecdotes about Peter’s recent visit. The second part will be an esoteric selection from Peter’s collection, with jazz tracks from lesser-known modern artists as well as some on the fringes of the jazz scene.
Thu Jul 4th	Outing	A visit to Fort Nelson to the north of Portsmouth. This is a guided tour commencing at 1400 hrs and lasting just over 1 hour. Refreshments available before and after. Many of us will have been there before but a guided tour adds so much more to our knowledge of the fort and the many many weapons that it contains. Cost £5, contact Barry Baker on 02392 570604 or barrgeo@yahoo.com. Transport by car sharing.
Sat Jul 6th	Trips and Outings	Sturminster Newton, Boogie Woogie Festival. A day trip with Grey’s Coaches. If you are a jazz, blues, swing or boogie woogie fan, or, would just like a fun day out in the beautiful setting of this small market town, then this is the trip for you. Cost £23.00pp to be paid at the Grey’s office in town. There are several local pick up points prior to leaving Petersfield at 10.00am arriving back about 8.00pm. This trip will be advertised in Grey’s summer programme at the end of April. However, U3A members are invited to book their required tickets in advance.
Sat Jul 6th	2019 Trips Programme	Sturminster Newton, Boogie Woogie Festival. A day trip with Grey’s Coaches. If you are a jazz, blues, swing or boogie woogie fan, or, would just like a fun day out in the beautiful setting of this small market town, then this is the trip for you. Cost £23.00pp to be paid at the Grey’s office in town. There are several local pick up points prior to leaving Petersfield at 10.00am arriving back about 8.00pm. This trip will be advertised in Grey’s summer programme at the end of April. However, U3A members are invited to book their required tickets in advance.
Mon Jul 8th	Meeting	Madeleine Salvetti on “The Planning of D Day Landing & Creation of the Overlord Embroidery”. This talk covers the planning of the D Day landing and the strategy, and what a huge exercise it was involving many facets which came together like a jigsaw. The Overlord Embroidery tells the story of the build up of the landing,and the involvement of civilian and military personnel.
Wed Jul 10th	Arts and Heritage	ELTHAM PALACE AND GARDENS SOLD OUT Eltham Palace is an intriguing place, some of you may have seen some of it on a recent Antiques Road Show. The original palace was given to Edward II in 1305 by the Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek and was used as a royal residence from the 14th to the 16th century. It is said that the incident which inspired Edward III’s foundation of the Order of the Garter took place here. Henry VIII grew up here and it was here in 1499 that he met and impressed the scholar, Erasmus. introduced to him by Thomas More. It has had a very varied history, much of it falling into disrepair until the 1930s when Stephen and Virginia Courtauld acquired the lease of the palace site and restored the Great Hall, while building an elaborate home internally in the Art Deco style. I think our trip in July promises to be a very good Summer's Day Out. Details can be found in the booking form, (see Arts& Heritage page), which should be completed and returned to me with your cheque. The cost of the trip is £32 per head, however, if you are an English Heritage Member, or have a National Art Fund pass, you would only need to pay £20 to cover the cost of the coach and Driver’s gratuity. Joan Shepley Arts and Heritage Group
Wed Jul 17th	Arts and Heritage	Andy Skinner on “Chalk Figures in England”. Some years ago Andy did some geophysical work on the Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex, this started a fascination with the incredible world of chalk cut figures in down land. These embrace such fascinating themes, on identity to religious expressions and even poking fun at the famous.
Tue Jul 23rd	Outing	A visit to Farnborough Aerodrome to FAST (Farnborough Air Services Trust) with a tour of the museum in the morning, followed by a tour of the wind tunnels in the afternoon. This is an all day trip with alternatives for lunch and really exciting for anyone with an interest in aircraft and flight. Cost £25, details from Keith Hopper 01730 267758. Car transport with sharing to be organized, with arrival by 0945hrs for welcoming tea / coffee finishing the afternoon at 1630 hrs. For details of the Museum go to www.airsciences.org.uk Trenchard House, home of the F.A.S.T. Museum, is the earliest building on the historic Farnborough site. Built in 1907 by the Royal Engineers as the H.Q. of the Army Balloon School, it is one of the oldest aviation related buildings in the country. It is widely believed that over time, no other location in the World has contributed so much to the development of Aeronautical Science as the R.A.E. at Farnborough. In the middle of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment site, there are three historically important listed buildings not open to the General Public. These contain five wind tunnels, all of which played a central role in the development of aviation for decades. The FAST Museum can now offer tours of two of the tunnels. Further details: http://www.airsciences.org.uk
September 2019
Mon Sep 9th	Meeting	Malcolm Nelson on “40 years of Catching Smugglers-Part 2 –You're Nicked” Malcolm gave us a fascinating talk in 2018 and it was requested by many members that he return again, so here we go with Part 2. Drugs having been found, now show the concealments with real life stories behind the pictures.
Tue Sep 10th	Family History 2	Chris Lightfoot: writing up your family history Bringing your family history to life. Getting started - uncovering the stories but who wants to know? How to make it interesting and avoid boring people.
Wed Sep 18th	Arts and Heritage	Mark Watts on “The History of Winchester Prison”. There has been a jail in Winchester since the 13th century at Jewry St (now a pub). The present one built in 1849 in the “Classical Victorian Radial Design”, covers 6 acres of land and has stood punishment, hangings and rehabilitation. Mark joined Winchester Prison in 1988 and retired in 2017 as Head of Security, so will be well qualified to unveil it’s secrets, both dark and humorous.
Tue Sep 24th	Science and Technology	Prof. Barnagi - "The Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Support for Health in an Ageing Population". To be confirmed.
October 2019
Tue Oct 8th	Family History 2	Topic: On-Line Parish Clerks The origin and development of OPC projects, including Hampshire; and how they can help our own research
Mon Oct 14th	Meeting	Malcolm Wells with “So far so good”. Malcolm has been recommended as a Speaker with a presentation both informative and humorous. It covers his life as an army musician for 24 years, 15 years working with Canine Partners and lastly an insight into the experience of receiving the MBE at Buckingham Palace.
Wed Oct 16th	Arts and Heritage	Alexandra Loske on "Chinoiserie. Alexandra returns once again, this time to talk about the decorations every grand home in mid 18th century had, inspired by the Far East, predominantly China. This lecture (always beautifully illustrated) will explain the origins, with particular focus on various East India Companies around the year 1600.
Tue Oct 22nd	Science and Technology	Keith Betton - "Hampshire's Special Birds".
November 2019
Mon Nov 11th	Meeting	Colin van Geffen on “Lawrence before and after Arabia” The legend of Lawrence of Arabia is well documented, but what of his life before the Desert War? Described as one of the most influential Englishmen of the 20th century, but he wasn’t even English! There are many myths, but the truth is far more fascinating.
Tue Nov 12th	Family History 2	Topic: Ireland and Irish records, using Genuki records Format tba
Wed Nov 20th	Arts and Heritage	Ryan Watts on “People and Archeology of Petersfield Heath”. Ryan studied at Exeter University with a keen interest in Prehistoric people of Britain. He now works as Learning & Community Engagement Officer at Petersfield Museum & hopes to expand the museum’s reach to schools, colleges and special interest groups. His talk will cover the Prehistoric Petersfield exploring those who lived here 4000 years ago. There have been exciting discoveries on the Heath over the last 4 years and Ryan will talk about the first people to live here, as well as about the artefacts & monuments left behind.
Tue Nov 26th	Science and Technology	The Battle of Britain - the making of the movie, with Phil Holt.
December 2019
Tue Dec 10th	Family History 2	Mince pies again Format tba
January 2020
Tue Jan 28th	Science and Technology	Prof. McGeehan of Portsmouth University - "Plastic Eating Bacteria / Enzymes".
March 2020
Tue Mar 24th	Science and Technology	Controlling 911 with Phil Holt

Dates for your Diary
Meetings
Mon Jul 8th	Madeleine Salvetti on “The Planning of D Day Landing & Creation of the Overlord Embroidery”. This talk covers the planning of the D Day landing and the strategy, and what a huge exercise it was involving many facets which came together like a jigsaw. The Overlord Embroidery tells the story of the build up of the landing,and the involvement of civilian and military personnel.
Mon Sep 9th	Malcolm Nelson on “40 years of Catching Smugglers-Part 2 –You're Nicked” Malcolm gave us a fascinating talk in 2018 and it was requested by many members that he return again, so here we go with Part 2. Drugs having been found, now show the concealments with real life stories behind the pictures.
Mon Oct 14th	Malcolm Wells with “So far so good”. Malcolm has been recommended as a Speaker with a presentation both informative and humorous. It covers his life as an army musician for 24 years, 15 years working with Canine Partners and lastly an insight into the experience of receiving the MBE at Buckingham Palace.
Mon Nov 11th	Colin van Geffen on “Lawrence before and after Arabia” The legend of Lawrence of Arabia is well documented, but what of his life before the Desert War? Described as one of the most influential Englishmen of the 20th century, but he wasn’t even English! There are many myths, but the truth is far more fascinating.
Outings
Thu Jul 4th	A visit to Fort Nelson to the north of Portsmouth. This is a guided tour commencing at 1400 hrs and lasting just over 1 hour. Refreshments available before and after. Many of us will have been there before but a guided tour adds so much more to our knowledge of the fort and the many many weapons that it contains. Cost £5, contact Barry Baker on 02392 570604 or barrgeo@yahoo.com. Transport by car sharing.
Tue Jul 23rd	A visit to Farnborough Aerodrome to FAST (Farnborough Air Services Trust) with a tour of the museum in the morning, followed by a tour of the wind tunnels in the afternoon. This is an all day trip with alternatives for lunch and really exciting for anyone with an interest in aircraft and flight. Cost £25, details from Keith Hopper 01730 267758. Car transport with sharing to be organized, with arrival by 0945hrs for welcoming tea / coffee finishing the afternoon at 1630 hrs. For details of the Museum go to www.airsciences.org.uk Trenchard House, home of the F.A.S.T. Museum, is the earliest building on the historic Farnborough site. Built in 1907 by the Royal Engineers as the H.Q. of the Army Balloon School, it is one of the oldest aviation related buildings in the country. It is widely believed that over time, no other location in the World has contributed so much to the development of Aeronautical Science as the R.A.E. at Farnborough. In the middle of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment site, there are three historically important listed buildings not open to the General Public. These contain five wind tunnels, all of which played a central role in the development of aviation for decades. The FAST Museum can now offer tours of two of the tunnels. Further details: http://www.airsciences.org.uk
Trips and Outings
Sat Jul 6th	Sturminster Newton, Boogie Woogie Festival. A day trip with Grey’s Coaches. If you are a jazz, blues, swing or boogie woogie fan, or, would just like a fun day out in the beautiful setting of this small market town, then this is the trip for you. Cost £23.00pp to be paid at the Grey’s office in town. There are several local pick up points prior to leaving Petersfield at 10.00am arriving back about 8.00pm. This trip will be advertised in Grey’s summer programme at the end of April. However, U3A members are invited to book their required tickets in advance.
Arts and Heritage
Wed Jul 10th	ELTHAM PALACE AND GARDENS SOLD OUT Eltham Palace is an intriguing place, some of you may have seen some of it on a recent Antiques Road Show. The original palace was given to Edward II in 1305 by the Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek and was used as a royal residence from the 14th to the 16th century. It is said that the incident which inspired Edward III’s foundation of the Order of the Garter took place here. Henry VIII grew up here and it was here in 1499 that he met and impressed the scholar, Erasmus. introduced to him by Thomas More. It has had a very varied history, much of it falling into disrepair until the 1930s when Stephen and Virginia Courtauld acquired the lease of the palace site and restored the Great Hall, while building an elaborate home internally in the Art Deco style. I think our trip in July promises to be a very good Summer's Day Out. Details can be found in the booking form, (see Arts& Heritage page), which should be completed and returned to me with your cheque. The cost of the trip is £32 per head, however, if you are an English Heritage Member, or have a National Art Fund pass, you would only need to pay £20 to cover the cost of the coach and Driver’s gratuity. Joan Shepley Arts and Heritage Group
Wed Jul 17th	Andy Skinner on “Chalk Figures in England”. Some years ago Andy did some geophysical work on the Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex, this started a fascination with the incredible world of chalk cut figures in down land. These embrace such fascinating themes, on identity to religious expressions and even poking fun at the famous.
Wed Sep 18th	Mark Watts on “The History of Winchester Prison”. There has been a jail in Winchester since the 13th century at Jewry St (now a pub). The present one built in 1849 in the “Classical Victorian Radial Design”, covers 6 acres of land and has stood punishment, hangings and rehabilitation. Mark joined Winchester Prison in 1988 and retired in 2017 as Head of Security, so will be well qualified to unveil it’s secrets, both dark and humorous.
Wed Oct 16th	Alexandra Loske on "Chinoiserie. Alexandra returns once again, this time to talk about the decorations every grand home in mid 18th century had, inspired by the Far East, predominantly China. This lecture (always beautifully illustrated) will explain the origins, with particular focus on various East India Companies around the year 1600.
Wed Nov 20th	Ryan Watts on “People and Archeology of Petersfield Heath”. Ryan studied at Exeter University with a keen interest in Prehistoric people of Britain. He now works as Learning & Community Engagement Officer at Petersfield Museum & hopes to expand the museum’s reach to schools, colleges and special interest groups. His talk will cover the Prehistoric Petersfield exploring those who lived here 4000 years ago. There have been exciting discoveries on the Heath over the last 4 years and Ryan will talk about the first people to live here, as well as about the artefacts & monuments left behind.
Jazz Appreciation
Wed Jul 3rd	Peter’s Two-Part Thing – Peter Lindon A session of two halves! The first part will be an introduction to Cuban music – with its colourfulness and rhythms. All put into context by a few chosen anecdotes about Peter’s recent visit. The second part will be an esoteric selection from Peter’s collection, with jazz tracks from lesser-known modern artists as well as some on the fringes of the jazz scene.
Science and Technology
Tue Jun 25th	A presentation on "The Age of Anxiety” with Sara Langston of Southern Health NHS. The title has a deliberate ambiguity. We live in an age where anxiety and worry at different levels seem to affect us all, irrespective of age. There are also specific issues which are related to older people and this talk addresses topics such as how to identify signs of anxiety, how common symptoms are and how they are generated. Information will be given on how to access support as well as tips for managing worry – both your own and others’. Stress affects us physically and mentally and Sara will also talk about the work of her unit and the way we may be entering an age where there is a greater freedom to talk about mental health.
Tue Sep 24th	Prof. Barnagi - "The Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Support for Health in an Ageing Population". To be confirmed.
Tue Oct 22nd	Keith Betton - "Hampshire's Special Birds".
Tue Nov 26th	The Battle of Britain - the making of the movie, with Phil Holt.
Tue Jan 28th 2020	Prof. McGeehan of Portsmouth University - "Plastic Eating Bacteria / Enzymes".
Tue Mar 24th 2020	Controlling 911 with Phil Holt
Family History 2
Tue Sep 10th	Chris Lightfoot: writing up your family history Bringing your family history to life. Getting started - uncovering the stories but who wants to know? How to make it interesting and avoid boring people.
Tue Oct 8th	Topic: On-Line Parish Clerks The origin and development of OPC projects, including Hampshire; and how they can help our own research
Tue Nov 12th	Topic: Ireland and Irish records, using Genuki records Format tba
Tue Dec 10th	Mince pies again Format tba
2019 Trips Programme
Sat Jul 6th	Sturminster Newton, Boogie Woogie Festival. A day trip with Grey’s Coaches. If you are a jazz, blues, swing or boogie woogie fan, or, would just like a fun day out in the beautiful setting of this small market town, then this is the trip for you. Cost £23.00pp to be paid at the Grey’s office in town. There are several local pick up points prior to leaving Petersfield at 10.00am arriving back about 8.00pm. This trip will be advertised in Grey’s summer programme at the end of April. However, U3A members are invited to book their required tickets in advance.