Nervously navigating from Tier to Tier each day, it seems that members of Woodstock & District University of the Third Age (U3A) continue to show considerable ingenuity and application in pursuing their varied interests. Monthly Speaker Meetings are now online. An illustrated talk on 5th January about stars and stargazing by astro-photographer Mary McIntyre is followed (on 2nd February) by a biographical study of Hardit Singh – a Balliol graduate and WWI fighter pilot – while 2nd March promises an account of growing up in post-WWII East London by Jeff Rozelaar. On a more rural theme, on 2nd April, Christine Cox will reveal the Verney family and Claydon House. Non-members are welcome to virtually attend meetings, courtesy of Zoom. Visit the Woodstock U3A website to access a free link to the talk.
As always, the bulk of activities take place in the 20-plus Interest Groups of the Branch. Those doughty recorder players continue to provide the rest of us with recipes and household hints in the intervals of their daily practice. Still on the musical front, I sadly missed December’s ‘Ukulele Day’, organised by the U3A Thames Valley Network (TVN). And, on 20th January TVN is scheduled to offer online advice on improving the composition of your photographs. Check u3atvnetwork.org.uk.
Finally, for your calendars and diaries, if all goes well, Wednesday 2nd June 2021 should see the first-ever ‘National U3A Day’: watch this space!
Chris Sladen, January 2021