MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN – Inga Martin 

Welcome to our new u3a season. I hope you were able to enjoy the summer break, despite droughts, heatwaves and red weather warnings. Who would have thought that things would get so extreme? Even our intrepid Walking Group had to take an unplanned pause in July.

The Speakers Committee have put together a list of talks for the next 18 meetings, which we hope members will find enjoyable and interesting. As usual, we have tried to cover a wide range of subjects – art, history, literature, medicine, and community activities, with at least one musical interlude. As for science and nature, we have:  the evolution of all life on earth, caring for our planet, and garden birds. I hope you approve.

New Membership Secretary - After many years of dedicated – and very much appreciated – service, Liz Jones has stepped down from the post, and our new Membership Secretary is Pauline Simpson. Liz will remain a member of the Management Committee.

Outings & Events – The first event under this banner took place on 17th July, when eleven of us went walking with Alpacas. I had no idea that this is an activity available to the paying public, but I am very glad to have been introduced to it. I found the experience really uplifting – both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.  A report from Beverley, who arranged the visit, is included in the newsletter, as are updates from our SIG leaders.

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                      MONDAY TALKS IN DEAN COURT COMMUNITY CENTRE, PINNOCKS WAY, BOTLEY

SCHEDULE OF TALKS FOR  2026-2027

14^th September: “Town Twinning: A Tale of Twin Cities” by Jan Marshall

The practice of town twinning is aimed at fostering international friendships and cultural exchange. Oxford is officially twinned with seven cities globally: Leiden, Netherlands; Bonn, Germany; Grenoble, France; Padua, Italy; Wrocław, Poland; León, Nicaragua; and Ramallah, Palestine.

Jan’s presentation will include a brief history of town twinning, with the earliest examples. This is followed by a whistle-stop tour of Oxford’s international links and information about each of the city partners. 

28^th September: “Sutton Hoo: The Burial of an Anglo-Saxon King” by Dr Jennifer Foster

Sutton Hoo is the site of a most remarkable archaeological discovery – a royal burial chamber full of the most extraordinary treasures. Each object in the chamber tells a story and reveals something about the person they accompanied into the afterlife.

Sutton Hoo is a very popular destination for visitors, and the 1939 excavation of the mounds at the site was the subject of a 2021 feature film, “The Dig”.

Our speaker, Dr Jennifer Foster, is an Archaeologist at the University of Reading, specialising in artefact identification. She will explain the history and significance of many of the Sutton Hoo treasures, which are now in the British Museum. 

12^th October: “Botley Pantry: 17 years of Reducing Food Waste in West Oxford” by Riki Therivel

Botley Pantry is part of a wide-ranging network of organisations involved in the redistribution of surplus food for the benefit of the local community. Their focus is on three social challenges: young people in need of support; members of the community living in food poverty (they do not means-test, believing that everyone should be able to access the food they need); and surplus food ending up in landfill.

The speaker, Riki Therivel, is a Visiting Professor at Oxford Brookes University, specialising in environmental and social impact assessments.

26^th October: “The Ridgeway: One of the Oldest Trackways in Europe” by John Tyler

The Ridgeway can claim to be one of the oldest trackways in Europe stretching nearly 90 miles from Ivinghoe to Avebury. This talk offers a blister free walk along this ancient pathway, describing both its prehistory and the wildlife that supports it today.

9^th November: “The Thames Valley: Past, Present and Future” by Jim Donahue

Jim Donahue, an American who moved to the UK as an adult, has written several books about the Thames Valley. He highlights the many positive aspects of the area – its rich and fascinating history, its vibrant community life, and the beauty of its countryside. However, he also gives an insight into the many challenges faced by local communities in recent years.

23^rd November: “Caring for our Planet: How we can make a Difference” by Chris Church

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NEW MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

After many years of dedicated – and very much appreciated – service, Liz Jones has stepped down from the post, and our new Membership Secretary is Pauline Simpson. Pauline is a member of the Management Committee.

HEALTH & SAFETY

 We aim to provide and maintain safe and healthy conditions and environments for all members, including during meetings, visits and outings, and other events. To help us achieve this we have introduced two changes:

Emergency Contacts - The membership application form this year asks members for details of an emergency contact (name and number), to be used in case a member should be involved in an accident or other incident in connection with a u3a activity.

Signing In at Meetings – On arrival members will be asked to mark their name on a list, to ensure that we have full details of attendees. (Fire Safety Regulations)

Our twice-monthly meetings are an important part of what we do, but so are our SIGs, which members with an interest in particular subjects or activities can join. These Groups are led and run by their members.

More information about the SIGs, including recent activities and photographs, is available in the 'Groups' section on this website.

BRIDGE                                                                                     Contact:  Liz Jones (01865 202227)

 
This is a long established group of Bridge players of intermediate level. There are 8 or 9 regular players, within a total membership of 11. Their meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Learning and developing their bidding and playing skills are important to the members, but there is also a valuable social aspect. Members take turns to host meetings in their homes and there is always a pause for tea. The Group would be pleased to welcome potential new members. 

CHURCHES AND PUBS                                                           Contact Lis Froggatt (01865 249828)

 
Lis writes: “Each first Friday of the month the Churches and Pubs group meet at 11.30 at a church for a guided tour and lunch afterwards locally, where £5 is collected from each person to donate to the church.  There is an expectation that members will arrange visits, for which much assistance is offered.  Let me know if you would like to join”.

CINEMA GROUP                                                                       Contact:  Inga Martin (07785 955238)

We meet at 12 noon at Tumbling Bay Café (at the back of WOCA) in Botley Road. Our normal meeting date is the second Tuesday of the month, but that is subject to change. At the moment we decide what topic we would like to watch, e.g. favourite male actor or favourite female actress.  Recent themes have been ‘royalty’, ‘the sea’, and ‘jewels’.  We chat about the movies we have seen over a lovely lunch.  If you would like to join us, please contact me.

DISCOVERING MUSIC                                                                      Contact: John Grimshaw (01865 861949)

 
John writes: “This friendly and sociable group meets in members’ homes during the third week of each month at 2.15pm.  The host introduces and plays recordings of their own choice, of broadly classical music, usually on CD or DVD.  Thus, we have made many delightful musical discoveries, have learnt much, and we freely express our reactions.  We often finish with something of lighter mood”. The Group currently has no vacancies.

GARDENING GROUP       New Members always welcome              Contact:  Mary Gregory (01865 865887)

The Gardening Group had two enjoyable outings during the summer: One was a tour of Rhodes House gardens with Head Gardener Neil Wigfield; the other a visit to Mill Barn in Chalgrove. At Rhodes House they were shown the results of a massive building project of underground office and residential accommodation and garden alterations to fit in with this; a traditional long border, designed specifically to be viewed by passers-by looking through the wrought iron gates on Parks Road; and another border incorporating the surviving wall from the northern defences of Oxford during the Civil War of the 17^th century.

The venue of the second outing, Mill Barn at Chalgrove, is described by Group leader Mary Gregory as “a delightful garden, modest size, with many comfortable corners for sitting and enjoying the myriad of fruit trees, roses and herbaceous plants”.

mary@nandmg.me.uk
 

LUNCH CLUB                                                                           Contact:  Beverley Birmingham 07799 413110 

Beverley writes: “I am pleased to say we are a group of 16 and still enjoy going out for lunch. Not everyone comes every time, so we always have a mixed bunch.

Due to Easter and bank holidays, we had a gap during early summer, but managed to have a meal in early July at the refurbished King's Arms in Sandford.

Although we pre ordered the meals were very slow to come out but were nice when we finally received them … still plenty of time to sit and chat.

We start again in September, venue to be decided, then October & November. December will be the Christmas meal again.

Although we are technically full it is always worth asking if there is a space.

READING GROUP                                                                    Contact:  Lis Froggatt (01865 249828)

SCRABBLE                                                                               Contact:  Margery Dent (01865 862534)

Margery writes: “The Scrabble Group meet locally on the third Monday of each month, from 2 to 5 pm. For further information, please contact me”.

  

WALKING GROUP                                                                   Contact: Alex Brown (07581 538518)
 

Report from Alex

The walking group will be restarting regular walks on Friday 11 September, with a walk along the Farmoor Reservoir countryside walk and lunch at the Waterside Cafe.

 Since my report in the Spring Newsletter, we continued to meet regularly until the very hot weather forced us to cancel both walks planned for July.  Most of our walks have been quite local to West Oxford, with a few a bit further afield, and I am trying to alternate shorter, accessible walks with longer ones up to about 5 miles. 

Our numbers vary each time, only partly depending on the weather!  Our biggest group, fourteen people, was for one of our longer walks from Cumnor, down to the edge of Farmoor reservoir and back up to Cumnor for lunch at The Vine.  That was on a lovely sunny day in April, and we were lucky to see a kestrel hovering close to us beside the reservoir. In contrast, our smallest group was five people walking from Woodstock to Blenheim Park, on a blustery day in March.  Other walks have included a circular walk between the churches in Begbroke and Bladon; one through Chilswell Valley and the Hinksey Heights nature reserve; and shorter ones in Eynsham and Iffley.

Thames Valley Network                           Contact: Alex Brown (07581 538518)

TVN organises some meetings, mainly online, that are open to any local u3a members. The next Zoom event is scheduled for Wednesday 16th September, when Andrew Baker will give a talk entitled ‘China: The Red Dragon Awakes’.

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u3a FESTIVAL 2026 (1^st to 3^rd July)

Our own member, Sue Peskett, attended the event. This is her report:

Last February I heard that the National u3a was holding a three-day festival on the University of York campus. Looking at the provisional programme of events there was much to interest me, and in addition York was where I raised my children. So, I could not resist the temptation to learn; combined with a nostalgic visit to a city and friends I once knew.

I was allocated accommodation at the University, which was convenient as well as being very comfortable; breakfast was included and other meals were within easy reach on the campus.

What really amazed me were the range and depth of over 50 activities listed in the programme. There was something for everyone and more. It would be impossible to list everything, but here are a few: choirs to join; jazz and ukulele sessions; craft workshops; yoga, tai chi and many other exercise classes; outdoor sports and guided walks. I was spoilt for choice.

The organisation behind all this was superb. Luckily there were plenty of volunteers around to direct me to where I should be and prevent me from getting lost. I was concerned about going to the festival on my own, but I met so many friendly and chatty people in a similar situation I was never on my own.

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OTHER INFORMATION

u3a getaways is a programme of bespoke holidays exclusively for u3a members and friends.

This Autumn members have the chance to join Appreciating Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon from 12 to 15 October 2026 – an opportunity to explore the Bard's life and works in his home town.
 

 

This is part of a varied programme of holiday destinations, itineraries and interests.

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