Wantage & Grove

DIARY OF EVENTS FOR 2024

See Notice Board on WELCOME page for late changes to this programme.
All Meetings start at 2pm in Grove Parish Church Hall unless stated otherwise.

For more information on activities etc within individual GROUPS, click on the relevant GROUP heading below


Dates for your Diary
Meetings
Tue Mar 19th 2 pm Speaker: Vivien Sieber KINO AND KINDER
My Jewish grandmother ran the family cinema in Vienna until it was stolen by the Nazis in 1938.
She escaped to London, a penniless refugee, and cared for girls saved on the Kindertransport, in
Tynemouth and Windermere. My father was interned on the Isle of Man and Canada and the first enemy alien to serve in the Royal Navy and intelligence. The girls’ descriptions of leaving their families and adjusting to life in a new country are heartrending. The fates of the family left in Vienna in 1938 is reconstructed.
Thu Mar 21st GROUP LEADERS MEETING
11:00 - 12:00
Location: St John's Room, Grove Parish Church
Tue Apr 2nd 2 pm Speaker: Jeff Evans. THE GOLDEN AGE OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISION
Some people will remember the earliest TV stars such as Muffin the Mule and Andy Pandy; others
will recall with great fondness series such as Crackerjack, Ivor the Engine, Thunderbirds, The
Magic Roundabout and the rather spooky The Singing Ringing Tree. This talk features them all, and much more besides. IN GROVE PARISH HALL and ZOOM
Mon Apr 8th COMMITTEE meeting
14:00 - 16:00
Tue Apr 16th 2 pm Speaker: Emma Teesdale. REDUCING THE RISK
Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse Oxfordshire launched an initiative in April 2023 called ‘Reducing the Risk Domestic Abuse Friends'. This initiative is seeing Emma, our Community and Friends Officer, getting out and about, engaging and empowering local communities in raising awareness of domestic abuse and the support that is available to those in need, by becoming a Domestic Abuse (DA) Friend. In Grove Parish Hall
Tue May 7th 2 pm Speaker Gloria Camino MACHU PICCHU
Gloria Camino was born in Cusco, Peru. She worked at the “Instituto Nacional de Cultura” (INC) in
Cusco, an institution similar to the National Trust and English Heritage in the UK. Her talk on Machu Picchu includes its origin, urban planning and design, its connection with astronomy and Inca religion systems, and a hypothesis as to its purpose after its discovery. In Grove Parish Hall
Tue May 21st 2 pm Speaker: Coleshill NT AUXILIERS AT COLESHILL
The story of the WW2 Auxiliers, how they got to Coleshill, what they experienced while here, and what would have happened to them had the Nazis invaded. The Coleshill National Trust site has a replica underground bunker which would have housed members of a British Resistance. In Grove Parish Hall
Tue Jun 4th 2 pm Speaker: June Grunwald 10 AIDS TO ENABLE
June is a member of Wantage & Grove U3A and is group leader for Walking Group A. June will demonstrate some simple aids which might help us all to continue to live independently and safely. She worked at the Oxfordshire Independent Living Centre for a number of years. The centre showcased equipment and provided information to help people with a wide range of disabilities to live more
independently. In Grove Parish Hall
Tue Jun 18th 2 pm Speaker: David Coates HOW WE DEVELOP OUR SCIENTIFIC IDEAS
Science learning begins with curiosity. Observations and questions can create a climate of discovery – key to scientific learning. Children entering school already have substantial knowledge of the natural world, which can be built on to develop their understanding of scientific concepts. This
talk examines how scientific concepts develop over time. In Grove Parish Hall
Social Events
Fri Apr 19th 10.30 am. Coffee Morning. Down to Earth Community Cafe, The Old Stables, Stirlings Close, Wantage.
All welcome to an informal monthly get-together, though newer members are particularly invited
so they can find out more about what the U3A has to offer.
Workshops
Tue Apr 30th TECHNICAL WORKSHOP
14:00 - 15:30
Location: Grove Parish Hall
Another opportunity to rehearse getting onto the various U3A online platforms. We'll learn how to access the website, how to log into Facebook, and how to examine the shared online calendar.
Art
Mon Apr 1st 10 am at St. John's Room, Grove Parish Church
We meet in the small hall at the church. New members of any level of ability are very welcome to join us. We often suggest themes but members may choose to do their own thing.
Group leader: Pauline Walters
Art Appreciation
Tue Mar 26th 14:00 - 15:30
Location: Members' homes
A group which meets to discuss matters related to art and its practice.
Group leader: Pauline Gibson
Tue Apr 23rd 14:00 - 15:30
Location: Members' homes
A group which meets to discuss matters related to art and its practice.
Group leader: Pauline Gibson
Cribbage
Wed Mar 20th Wed 20/03/2024 14:00 - 16:00
Meets in members’ homes at 2:00pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
A group for cribbage enthusiasts of all stripes.
Contact Esme Marino for details.
Wed Apr 3rd 14:00 - 16:00
Meets in members’ homes at 2:00pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
A group for cribbage enthusiasts of all stripes.
Contact Esme Marino for details.
Wed Apr 17th 14:00 - 16:00
Meets in members’ homes at 2:00pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
A group for cribbage enthusiasts of all stripes.
Contact Esme Marino for details.
Film Club
Tue Apr 9th 1.30 for 2 pm Parish Hall of St. John's Church.
Organised by Hazel, the film club meets on the second Tuesday of each month. £2 covers cost of watching film and cup of tea. Cabaret
Tue May 14th 1.30 for 2 pm Parish Hall of St. John's Church.
Organised by Hazel, the film club meets on the second Tuesday of each month. £2 covers cost of watching film and cup of tea. Slum Dog Millonaire
Tue Jun 11th 1.30 for 2 pm Parish Hall of St. John's Church.
Organised by Hazel, the film club meets on the second Tuesday of each month. £2 covers cost of watching film and cup of tea. The Great Escape
Tue Jul 9th 1.30 for 2 pm Parish Hall of St. John's Church.
Organised by Hazel, the film club meets on the second Tuesday of each month. £2 covers cost of watching film and cup of tea. The Lost King
French Conversation
Thu Mar 28th 10.30 am.
Leader: Susan Wheare.
Check location of meeting with Susan.
Thu Apr 11th 10.30 am.
Check location with Susan Wheare.
Thu Apr 25th 10.30 am.
Check location with Susan Wheare.
Gardeners
Thu Apr 4th Community Garden, Wantage led by Hazel Townesend
Thu May 2nd The Old Rectory, Farnborough led by Linda Thompson
Thu Jun 6th Worton Garden Cassington/Yarnton led by Caroline Dunstan and Jan Day
Thu Jul 4th Rousham Park led by Rosana Stein
Thu Aug 1st Harlington Avenue – garden of Lyn Toms
Thu Sep 5th Chandler’s Close – gardens of Pat Humphries and Rosana Stein
Thu Oct 3rd Location: tba
Thu Nov 7th Planning meeting for 2025.
Genealogy
Mon Apr 8th 10:00 - 11:30
Location: St John's Room, Grove Parish Church
We discuss family history tools, tips and techniques to aid members in their investigations. New members are always welcome - join by visiting the GENEALOGY group on the WAGU3A Facebook page. Revelations and family secrets. Room hire is £15 annually per member, or bring along £1.50 to each meeting you attend.
Group leader: Brian Denton
Family history research - recent progress.
Literature
Wed Apr 3rd 10 am at Linda's flat.
Group leader: Linda Thompson.
We are not a book group. We take a different topic each month, an author, genre or poetic theme, for group discussion.
Modern Philosophy Issues
Thu Apr 11th 10:00 - 11:30
Location: Members' houses
We may not have the answers to all of life's knotty problems, but we certainly have fun in trying to unravel selected topics in a friendly and informal discus
Music Makers
Wed Mar 27th 2 pm at Grove Village Hall.
Group Leaders: Pauline and Andrew.

We meet throughout the year on alternate Wednesday afternoons. An easy way to remember which Wednesday is that it's always Green Bin week. There is a subscription of £1.50 to pay for
the rental of the hall, refreshments, and music sheets.

Music Makers aims to get aspiring amateurs doing just that - making Music! We have abilities from beginners upwards. Most of us can't read music, although some of us can. Players of various instruments have joined us - ukulele, guitar, flute, recorder, harmonica, Q-chord, concertina, various pieces of percussion and some singers. We play music that our group members want to play - mainly a mixture of classic pop, folk, traditional tunes and songs - but we're open to trying
anything. The main idea is to try and improve our playing, and have fun doing it.

New members are welcome to join us with instruments suited to our acoustic mix i.e. not too loud. Electronic or amplified instruments are fine so long as their volume can be turned down to a suitable level.
Wed Apr 10th 2 pm at Grove Village Hall
Group Leaders: Pauline and Andrew.

We meet throughout the year on alternate Wednesday afternoons at 2pm in Grove Village Hall. An easy way to remember which Wednesday is that it's always Green Bin week. There is a subscription of £1.50 to pay for the rental of the hall, refreshments, and music sheets.

Music Makers aims to get aspiring amateurs doing just that - making Music! We have abilities from beginners upwards. Most of us can't read music, although some of us can. Players of various instruments have joined us - ukulele, guitar, flute, recorder, harmonica, Q-chord, concertina, various pieces of percussion and some singers. We play music that our group members want to play - mainly a mixture of classic pop, folk, traditional tunes and songs - but we're open to trying anything. The main idea is to try and improve our playing, and have fun doing it.

New members are welcome to join us with instruments suited to our acoustic mix i.e. not too loud. Electronic or amplified instruments are fine so long as their volume can be turned down to a suitable level.
Wed Apr 24th 2 pm at Grove Village Hall.
Group Leaders: Pauline and Andrew.
We meet throughout the year on alternate Wednesday afternoons at 2pm in Grove Village Hall. An easy way to remember which Wednesday is that it's always Green Bin week. There is a subscription of £1.50 to pay for the rental of the hall, refreshments, and music sheets.

Music Makers aims to get aspiring amateurs doing just that - making Music! We have abilities from beginners upwards. Most of us can't read music, although some of us can. Players of various instruments have joined us - ukulele, guitar, flute, recorder, harmonica, Q-chord, concertina, various pieces of percussion and some singers. We play music that our group members want to play - mainly a mixture of classic pop, folk, traditional tunes and songs - but we're open to trying
anything. The main idea is to try and improve our playing, and have fun doing it.

New members are welcome to join us with instruments suited to our acoustic mix i.e. not too loud. Electronic or amplified instruments are fine so long as their volume can be turned down to a suitable level.
Play Reading
Mon Apr 15th 10 am at Maude House, Wantage.
Leader: David Cossins.
Members take turns to acquire a set of scripts to cover all aspects of drama: comedy, suspense, etc. We pay £1 a session to cover script hire.
Refreshments are normally available at the venue.
Play Watching
Fri Mar 29th 14:30 - 16:30
The group leader/coordinator is Ann Chadwick supported by Linda Thompson.
The aim is to watch and discuss plays streamed into members’ homes and visit theatres for live production. Theatres we may visit include The Watermill, and Oxford Playhouse.
Theatre tickets will be booked by the Group Leader. Payment for these will have to be handed over before booking takes place. There will be a £2.00 payment for streaming meeting to cover costs.
The first meeting will be at Linda's home on 1 March at 14.30 when we will be watching
"The Corn is Green" National Theatre, London
Emlyn Williams’ 1938 play is a kind of Billy Elliot of the Valleys: the old-fashioned but hugely entertaining and affecting story of of a Welsh miner’s son who escapes his class-bound home town with the help of a bold schoolteacher.
Poets and their Poetry
Wed Mar 20th 10 am We are a small group who enjoy reading poems and discussing them.
Wed Apr 17th 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Members' homes
We are a small group who enjoy reading poems and discussing them.
Leader: Valerie Francis.
Pub Lunches
Thu Apr 11th 12:15 - 14:15
Meet for a pub lunch with other members of the U3A.
Jennifer will circulate details of the venue, details for booking and the menu, when they are known.
Group Co-ordinators: Jennifer & Brian Denton
Pub Quiz (Thurs)
Thu Mar 21st Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new member.
Thu Mar 28th 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new members.
Thu Apr 4th 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Thu Apr 11th Thu 11/04/2024 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new members.
Thu Apr 18th 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Thu Apr 25th 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Shoulder, 38 Wallingford Street OX12 8AX
The Pub Quiz group meets every Thursday evening at The Shoulder in Wallingford Street for a quiz which begins at 8.30pm.
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Pub Quiz (Tues)
Tue Mar 26th 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Bell at Grove (The Bell, Main Street, Grove, Wantage, England, OX12 7JT)
The Pub Quiz group meets every other Tuesday evening at the Bell in Grove at 8.30pm
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Tue Apr 9th 20:30 - 22:30 
Location: The Bell at Grove (The Bell, Main Street, Grove, Wantage, England, OX12 7JT)
The Pub Quiz group meets every other Tuesday evening at the Bell in Grove at 8.30pm
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Tue Apr 23rd 20:30 - 22:30
Location: The Bell at Grove (The Bell, Main Street, Grove, Wantage, England, OX12 7JT)
The Pub Quiz group meets every other Tuesday evening at the Bell in Grove at 8.30pm
There is currently space for new members.
Group leader: Margaret Jones
Science
Mon Mar 25th Mon 25/03/2024 10:00 - 11:30
Location: St John's Room, Grove Parish Church, Main Street, Grove OX12 7LQ
The SCIENCE group meets on the fourth Monday of every month in the St John's room at Grove Parish Church. We have an informal discussion on matters which interest the group as a whole.
Members contribute to the cost of hire of the room paying either £15 annually, or bringing £1.50 with them to the meetings which they attend.
Mon Apr 22nd 10:00 - 11:30
Location: St John's Room, Grove Parish Church, Main Street, Grove OX12 7LQ
The SCIENCE group meets on the fourth Monday of every month in the St John's room at Grove Parish Church. We have an informal discussion on matters which interest the group as a whole.
Members contribute to the cost of hire of the room paying either £15 annually, or bringing £1.50 with them to the meetings which they attend.
Scrabble
Fri Mar 22nd 14:00 - 15:00
Location: Linda's house
We use dictionaries which include new words adopted into our developing language. We play both Scrabble and Upwords, another word building game. New players are welcome, but if you wish to join us, please let Linda know beforehand as space is limited.
Group leader: Linda Thompson
Fri Apr 26th 2 pm at Linda's house.
Group leader: Linda Thompson.
We use dictionaries which include new words adopted into our developing language. We play both Scrabble and Upwords, another word building game. New players are welcome, but if you wish to join us, please let Linda know beforehand, as space is limited.
Walking A
Sat Mar 23rd Leader: Malcolm Gomm
Route: Ardington and the Hendreds.
Sat Apr 27th Leader: Val and Rowan
Route: From Chilton to Upton and back.
Sat May 25th Leader: David Coates
Route: tba
Sat Jun 22nd Leader: Sue Bailey
Route: Culham, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon.
Sat Jul 27th Leader: tba
Route: tba
Sat Aug 24th Leader: tba
Route: tba
Sat Sep 28th Leader: tba
Route: tba
Sat Oct 26th Leader: Andrew and Ann Gregory.
Route: tba
Writing for fun
Fri Apr 19th Location: At members' houses
Members are welcome to write up to 500 words of prose, or write a poem on one or two topics to bring to the next meeting.
New members are always welcome.
Group leader: Jenny James
'Star' or 'Weddings'