U3A in London Update – 20 May 2024

This information was published on: May 20, 2024

Additional volunteers for Emergency First Aid Training with WacArts.  We need aome extra members. (The only qualification in the ability to kneel on the floor – and get up!)  If you would like to help, or if you have already volunteered, please attend a training session at the Town Hall on either Friday 7th or Saturday 8th June at 10.00 – 4.00.  If you are available please send a message to Richard Sattin with your preferred date.  Thank you.

Monday Talk

This week Irene Kyffin (poet, dyslexia consultant and U3A coordinator) will give her first of two Monday talks this term on The Harlem Renaissance.

The timetables for the week

This update, The full timetable, the Town Hall room timetable and the Zoom timetable are available in the Common Room and on the corridor noticeboard.  

A Sub-Editor for our Weekly Update

Maureen Gurdham is planning a break soon and Jon, our sub-editor, may not be available. We need another person to volunteer to take over the publishing of the Update. It’s not difficult if you have some basic computer skills and you will be trained by Maureen and have lots of notice. Please contact Maureen if you would like to help.

SPECIAL NOTICES ABOUT CLASSES

From Christopher Dean

History of Europe: Italy from the Renaissance to Fascism on Tuesday 21st May at 11.40 in Room 2.21 and on Zoom This week will be the last in the series until 16th July when I will return for one further lecture this term. I will complete the series with three dates as part of the Summer Programme.

Do you know your way around Facebook?

We want to set up a Facebook site for our u3a to help with recruitment. If you’re a Facebook user or maybe a computer buff and would like to help, please contact Steve Barry.

OTHER NOTICES ABOUT CLASSES

From Ken Baldry European History

Wed May 22nd 11.40 – 12.40 (Room 2.21)
The next talk is Talk 138. Joseph Haydn, with music & 153 slides
The following week’s talk is 139. Pirates, with 94 slides

From Rachel Tyndall: Walks on Wednesdays:

On Wednesday 22nd we will walk the 5.5mile Stanmore Circular, starting and ending at Stanmore Underground at one end of the Jubilee line. We will meet at 2pm at the underground station. The 13.26 from Baker Street arrives at 14.55, the 13.31 at 2pm precisely.
Please let me know (email or text) by the evening of Tuesday 21st May if you intend to join me. Walks will be cancelled if the weather is bad: persistent rain or too much heat.

From Wally Howard

Film Classes Week Commencing Monday May 20th at 2 pm in Room 1.22

Monday 20th May
One of the finest documentaries: THE MINE WARS
In the spring of 1901 when the miners of West Virginia began organising a union their efforts sparked a fight that would escalate from a skirmish between capital and labour to the largest armed insurrection since the civil war.

Wednesday May 22nd. Directed by Sidney Lumet
A tour de force for Al Pacino: SERPICO
Serpico is based on the true story of a New York policeman who discovers that honesty is not expected to be part of his job. Al Pacino’s classic portrayal of Frank Serpico established him as one of today’s most versatile actors. 

Thursday May 23rd. Celebrating the life of Bernard Hill who has just died. 
THE BLACK STUFF.  Bernard Hill’s unforgettable role as Yosser Hughes in the Play for Today introduction to the series The Boys From The Black Stuff.   
Written by Alan Bleasdale and also starring Julie Walters.

From Yvonne Dove: Secular and Mythological Art

Room 1.33 at 11.40 on Thursday 23 May ‘This week we will be examining the lives and careers of the artist to Charles I, Oliver Cromwell and Charles II, Sir Peter Lely and his protege, Mary Beale. Lely’s works include Portrait of a Young Woman and Child as Venus and Cupid, The Windsor Beauties and Flagmen of Lowestoft. Beale’s works include Sketch of Bartholomew Beale and Portrait of Nell Gwynne.’

From Valerie Wilson Trower: Design History and Critical Studies.

The group at the Biba Exhibition at the Fashion and Textiles museum (see below).

NOTICES FROM OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS

From Barbara Stevens: The THIRD AGE TRUST is again showing some interesting talks on Zoom during this coming week:

Science Network Event Wednesday 22 May at 9.30am. A talk on AI by Ian Hawker, Suffolk u3a,  Also, Exploring Our AI-Enhanced Future: Promises and Preparations. Wednesday 22nd May at 3.30pm

Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners: 6 Session Course Thursdays 23rd, 30th May, 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th June at 10am
The tribulation and triumph of Ludwig van Beethoven. Thursday 23 May at 2pm.
Christopher Dowrick of Orrell Park & District u3a.

To make you smile

I now know how it will all end for me. One of my kids will switch off my life support to charge his phone.

According to unofficial sources, a new simplified income-tax form contains only four lines:

  1. What was your income for the year?
  2. What were your expenses?
  3. How much have you left?
  4. Send it in.

Readers’ Digest March 1945

Good wishes from 

Gilli Vafidis Monday talks and Zoom Queen
Gilli
Richard
Maureen