U3A in London – Update 24 October 2022

This information was published on: October 24, 2022

Timetable for week 24 October

Copies of the full timetable, the Town Hall room timetable and the Zoom timetable are available in the Office and on our website.

For the Monday Morning talk this week we welcome Olivia and Walter Merricks who will be talking to us about the Donor Conception Network.

From Stephen Barry

Our Open Day on Tuesday 18th October was a great success. A considerable number of new members signed up on the day.  Others who looked around on Tuesday joined on the following day – and people are still joining. There was a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the Town Hall which played a part in the day’s success.   

The sub-committee who organised the event wishes to thank all those who worked so hard by helping on the day. Some members gave ‘taster’ sessions of their classes, others volunteered to ‘meet and greet’ visitors, give introductory talks about U3A in London, or guide visitors around the building.

There was, moreover, the sterling work of the office team who were kept busy throughout the day dealing with all the paperwork involved in signing up the steady stream of new members.

If you were involved on Tuesday in whatever capacity, your views on how such an event could be improved in the future are welcomed.

Minutes of the last Executive Committee meeting

These are available from our Company secretary, Hazelanne Lewis.

From Wally Howard

All film classes take place in Room 1.22 as usual. 

Monday October 24th at 2 pm.  BREATHLESS.  A Bout De Soufflé – a Jean Luc Godard Film with Jean Seberg, Jean Paul Belmondo.  From an original treatment by Francois Truffaut – a tribute To Jean Luc Godard who died last month.  “As inspiring, innovative spare, jagged and cool as the day I first saw it”.  

The film debut spearheaded the French New Wave of film making recognised as one of the most stylish and influential movements in cinema.  

Wednesday October 26th at 11 30 am

PETITE MAMAN.   A new film from Celine Sciamma – Winner BAFTA award.  “Superb…..Simple,elegant and very moving”.

A favourite at the Berlin Film Festival 2021 Sciamma’s new masterwork examines childhood, memory and loss with a typically delicate touch, elegantly woven together in an enchanting and moving depiction of love and acceptance

Wednesday October 26th at 2pm

A RAISIN IN THE SUN with Sidney Poitier.  “One of the most powerful films to grace the 1961 screen “ A Raisin In The Sun is from the play by Lorraine Hansberry, a drama celebrating the human spirit .It takes the strength and integrity of this African American family to battle against generations of prejudice to try to achieve their piece of the American dream

Thursday October 27th  at 11 30 am

RESTISTANCE At TULE LAKE.  A Potent Piece Of History. This film tells the long suppressed story of 12000 Japanese Americans who dared to resist the US government’s program of mass incarceration during World War 2. Branded as disloyal and imprisoned they continued to protest in the face of militarised violence and thousands renounced their U.S citizenship.

Thursday October 27th at 2 pm

CROWN HEIGHTS Based on a true story, the film shows that compassion and persistence can lead to hope and justice. An important movie not to be missed. What would you do for Justice?

From Caroline White

The Social Anthropology class is cancelled on Tuesday 25th October. Apologies for any disappointment.

From Peggy Wylie

The beginners’ Spanish class which started at the beginning of term on Thursdays at 12.50 has proved very popular.  I have had to say that it is now full and a waiting list is in operation.

News about WiFi connection

We have had problems with a weak signal in some of our rooms and we have arranged with WacArts that we have access to their (stronger) network. We will be trying it out next week and if it is an improvement we will be letting you have the link.

A Reminder

that Pizza Express in Belsize Park are giving a 10% discount to our members if you show them your lanyard as proof of membership.  We have been in touch with all local eateries and shops suggesting that if they were to offer a discount to our members (on production of their membership card) it would probably increase their custom.  It would also give our members somewhere to go between classes to socialize and eat and drink together, now that sadly, we have lost our own cafeteria.

This could be the first of many!  Please tell your own favourite watering hole what Pizza Express are offering and ask whether they will do the same.

From Ken Baldry

EUROPEAN HISTORY Wed 11.40 – 12.40 (Room 2.21). This week is some washing-up at the end of the fascinating 15th Century – covering: Iberia, Italy & the Habsburgs at the turn of the 15th-16th Centuries, 84 slides. The following week, we revisit Scandinavia from 1470 – 1533, including the breaking of the Kalmar Union & then Kings Henry VII & VIII of England: 1500 – 1521, 88 slides

To make you smile

We don’t seem to have had much to smile about lately, but here’s something that Maurice Silverman found on his computer:
TEACHER: Why are you late?
STUDENT: The class started before I got here.
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell ‘crocodile?’
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L’
TEACHER: No, that’s wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it’s H to O.
TEACHER: Winnie, name one thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I’m closer to the ground than you are.
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand?
TEACHER: Now, Simon , tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON : No sir, I don’t have to, my Mum is a good cook.
TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s.. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It’s the same dog.
TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

 

Best wishes from