To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of u3a, we'll be coordinating a series of exciting events that you and your u3a can take part in.
u3a 40th Anniversary Quilt
The quilt was revealed at an event in the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester on the 17th June.
The quilt is now on display at the Blanket Hall in Witney where u3a members and the public can visit and view the 40th Anniversary quilt. The Blanket Hall is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 until 17:00 hours. If there is a large group of you planning on visiting - please do book in advance. The cafe on site is interestingly called The Pie Shop, offering fine coffee, beers and ciders and excellent pies https://www.blankethall.co.uk/
An article on the Quilt appeared in the July issue of the Patchwork and Quilting magazine.
u3a Science Network virtual meetings in 2022
The three short virtual meetings in April, August and October 2021 were very well attended. In u3a’s 40th Anniversary year, we planned 3 virtual meetings,the last to take place in October. The July meeting was designated as the Anniversary meeting, see below.
July meeting - 26th July
A science-based learning event with 3 presentations took place on the 26th July. Presentations were made on Blowing Hot and Cold in the 1980s, The Carbon Imperative and Human Colonisation of Space.
October meeting - 27th October
A third virtual meeting is scheduled on the 27th October. Presentations will be made on Body clocks & Circadian Rhythms, Fracking Shale for Gas & Oil, Smoke, Soot and Steam
Please book your place https://u3asciencenetwork22.eventbrite.co.uk/.
40th Dance Exercise – Wednesday 21st September
Please join u3a members online and celebrate our 40th Anniversary, be one of 40 participants spending 40 mins dance exercising to music from 40 years ago! It is also part of u3a week too!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/40th-anniversary-40-minutes-of-dance-exercise-tickets-395032421607
Online Bridge Tournament - 17th to 25th September
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary and u3a day, Bridge players are invited to join the online Bridge tournament. Play either online or face to face, duplicate or Chicago. Interestingly, there are 40 points in a pack of cards and it’s our 40th Anniversary!
This is planned to take place during the week 17 to 25 September 2022 on the day that suits your Bridge Group.
Ideas and suggestions would be welcome, including ways in which you would like to arrange games and matches locally.
If you prefer to make your own arrangements, perhaps you could challenge other Groups in your Region or across regional lines to a competition?
The celebration and invitation is open to the whole community of u3a Bridge players and we look forward to welcoming you.
To register your individual, pair or group’s interest, please contact the Steve Carter, Bridge Subject Adviser https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/subjects/bridge
One Foot in the Future - September /October 2022
The aim of this project is to engage older people from across the UK in telling real or imagined stories about older people who are taking positive steps to make a better future for themselves and others. Members were asked to provide ideas which could then be translated into short plays and a large number have been received. Starting in February, a selection will be turned into short plays and recorded as videos. One at least should be produced live this year and, in 2023, hopefully at the Edinburgh Fringe and a London theatre.
As with u3a Week, we believe these events will help to challenge negative perceptions of older adults and bring together everyone in the community to learn about the contribution u3a makes to the quality of life for older people.
Celebrating u3a Week - 17 to 25 September 2022
u3a Week is an opportunity to celebrate our activities, our contribution to the local community, the innovative ways members had responded to the restrictions under lockdown and to share plans about the future delivery of our u3a programme. It’s exciting to know that from now on, every year, there will be a day dedicated to learning, staying active and having fun by people no longer in full-time work We believe this day can help to challenge negative perceptions of older adults and bring together everyone in the community to learn about the contribution u3a makes to the quality of life for older people. Please let us know what your u3a is planning
If you want to find out more about organising u3a week and what other u3as are planning, please visit our u3a Day pages.
u3a at the RI 31 October
Join us at the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street, London for an afternoon of science talks on Monday 31st October. You can attend in person or online. Please note there are two ticket types and costs available.
The following talks are included in the afternoon programme.
Mark Sumner: Electric motors and the future of our energy
On 3 September 1821, Michael Faraday invented the electric motor at the Royal Institution. It revolutionised the world and 200 years later, they are still in use today. Discover how the electric motor helped us develop technology and where will it lead when it comes to much-needed renewable energy.
Rebecca Smethurst: Supermassive blackholes
When we think of black holes, we often think of them as endless hoovers, sucking up anything around them. The reality is, it’s very difficult to grow a black hole and to get matter close enough to that point of no return. Most matter will happily orbit a black hole. Just like the Earth orbits the Sun, the Sun orbits a supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way over 4 million times more massive than the Sun itself.
Dan Plane: Dazzling demonstrations
We’ll end the day by celebrating 40 years of U3A events, and the first event at the Ri in 3 years, the only way we know how. Join our Head of Demonstrations for 30 minutes of spectacular science demonstrations covering the world of chemistry. Expect lots of colours, chemicals and the occasional bang.
Please find the link to book a place.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/u3a-explores-science-at-the-ri-tickets-404634311117
Regional celebrations
If u3as plan regional celebrations, this will create a much greater impact and will attract the attention of press and media. An interesting idea was suggested at a recent regional gathering, that of a town or city Ring Walk so watch this space. The path round Greater London is 70 miles long!