Aylesbury Vale U3A

Welcome to Aylesbury Vale u3a

Welcome to Aylesbury Vale U3A website. Here you will find the latest news about membership, regular meetings and the groups that are run from our U3A. We have a regular monthly meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of each month currently using Zoom because of the lockdown. When this is lifted we will revert to meeting at The Bowls Centre at Stoke Mandeville Stadium where we can find out what’s going on in the various groups, meet up with friends, as well as hear informative and entertaining talks by a variety of speakers. The 3rd Tuesday of alternate months we have a coffee morning, also through Zoom. When the lockdown is lifted it will revert to the Watermead Inn where we can get together in a more informal way and chat over cups of tea or coffee. We pride ourselves on being a very friendly group of people who like to come together to learn something new whilst making new friends and learning new skills. So if this sounds like you – do get in touch.

membership@avu3a.org.uk

We are holding our regular Monthly Meeting using Zoom until the situation changes.

Some groups continue in various ways or are making contributions to this website.

Please contact the group leader for the latest information

Our Spring 2021 Newsletter is now available

HS2 and its impact on the Chilterns

Our speaker, Keith Hoffmeister of the Chiltern Society has kindly allowed us to make a recording of his talk available to our members. To access the recording you will need the password recently circulated to all members in an email. Please do not share this password with non-members. The recording will remain on line for a couple of weeks. You will be well informed (and probably angry!) after watching this. Watch

WHICH? Scam Alert Service

WHICH are offering a free scam alert service which will provide you with up to date information about any known current scams. You can either look at the website occasionally or sign up to get the latest information sent directly to your mailbox (you can unsubscribe at any time) Have a look at their website

Thames Valley Network Courses

20th April - ''Archaeological Figures, myths, legends or mistakes and lies?'
7th May - The Sweetest Thing - a history of sugar
14th May - The History of Gardening Pt 1 (£1)
21st May - The History of Gardening Pt 2 (£1)
30th Jun - 'Sweet Thames' - The Thames and its Boats (£3) - repeat

Full Details and Applications

National On-Line Courses

All FREE on-line via Zoom

13th Apr - 4th May - The Story of Motown(4 weeks)
15th Apr - Maths on the Back of an envelope
21st Apr Maths on the back of an Envelope
22nd April - Discovering Japan
29th Apr - Maths Activities and Games

Full details and Applications

Mirthy on-line talks

MirthyTalks are offering a FREE talk every Thursday which is open to U3A members to join in. They also offer talks for a small fee(£2.99)

The talks are viewed from the comfort and safety of your own home, so click on the link below to register for the talk – there will be a live Q&A with the speaker and a chance to interact with other attendees by typing comments in a chat box.

After registering for an event, you will receive an email containing a link to attend the talk. Talks are between 30 mins and 45 mins long

Full Details & Registration

FREE

15th Apr 4.00 pm - Food of the Gods - A History of our love affair with Chocolate
22nd Apr 4.00 pm - London's Theatreland
29th Apr 4.00 pm - A Policeman's Lot

Charged (£2.99)

10th Apr 11.00 am - Parks and Gardens of Flanders
13th Apr 4.00 pm - Endangered Wildlife and Conservation
14th Apr 11.00 am - History and Mystery of Hypnosis
17th Apr 11.00 am - Cascades Gardens: From Jungle to Paradise
20th Apr 4.00 pm - The Legacy of Antoni Gaudi
21st Apr 11.00 am - Murder, Sex and Mayhem in English Churches
27th Apr 4.00 pm - Witness to History : Hong Kong
28th Apr 11.00 am - What's in a Name? The Origins & Meanings of Surnames
30th Apr 4.00 pm - 'The Skylark's Secret' by Fiona Valpy - Book Club Event

u3a Radio

You can listen to a series of podcasts ranging over a wide variety of subjects which are designed to be of interest to us

Bus Passes

Although you may not have used it recently - have you checked your bus pass?

You may find that it ran out on your last birthday.

You can renew online.

or ringing the automated telephone service

01296 873 011.

What’s New?

Quizzes

Every Thursday Mike McCabe contributes a new Quiz on a variety of subjects - the answers follow one week later. Try them yourselves and get family and friends involved

Quizzes

Sounds of the 50s/60s/70s

New presentations appear regularly.

Sounds of 50s/60s/70s

For Amusement

Includes:- some amusing candidates for safety awards, suggestions for maintaing a level of insanity in old age, some politically incorrect adverts of old, some more cartoons and another collection of amusing videos selected by Chiltern U3A

For Amusement

Art & Craft

Examples of work being done by our painting and art and craft groups

Art & Craft

Old Aylesbury

Contributions from Ron Adams , Pat Baker and Richard Clark showing the Aylesbury of the past

Watermead Aerial Photo

Phil Toler responded to our requests for pictures of Aylesbury with this photo. It was taken in August 2018 of Watermead village. In the foreground are the two lakes with the larger one on the right suffering a blue-green algae bloom which can be compared with the clear smaller lake on the left. Phil says that is the only time this has happened in the 26 years he has lived here.

Background information
Cyanobacteria or ‘blue-green algae’, a type of blooming algae, can produce toxins. These toxins can kill wild animals, livestock and pets. They can also harm people, producing rashes after skin contact and illnesses if swallowed.
Algal blooms block sunlight from reaching other plants in the water. They also use up oxygen in the water at night which can suffocate fish and other creatures. Oxygen is also used up when the bloom decays.

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