What’s On & What’s New
Hot News
You are looking at our new website, which became live on 9 January 2023.
We would welcome any constructive suggestions for improvement, and any topical material that can be incorporated.
Would group facilitators please send short descriptions of their groups to Mary or Alison if they have not done so already, as many groups listed do not yet have these.
Contact:
Groups Secretary: Felicity Renshaw on martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com
or Web Manager: Alison Bleasdale on webmaru3a@gmail.com.
Monthly Meetings
Monthly Meetings are normally held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm at Martock Parish Hall, Church Street Martock TA12 6JL. Visitors are welcome at the meetings. Upcoming meetings are:
2024
10 January Low Maintenance Gardening. The Gold Club (Speaker from Brimsmore Garden Centre to be advised). At this meeting a date for their discount evening should be set and discount bulb vouchers should be available.
14 February Lesley Isaac, Chair of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) for Martock & South Petherton Surgery — ‘What is a PPG? Developments within the Surgery and GP Urgent Assessment Service’
13 March Much More than Merely Matchstick Men – The Profound Art of L S Lowry. Richard Kay.
Followed by a short Special General Meeting (during the tea break) to give members the opportunity to confirm Chris Atkins as Chair. The formal agenda will be sent shortly.
10 April Impressions of Berlin in 1963. Ian Munro, who is our current auditor, shares photos and first-hand experiences.
8 May Our Divided Brain. Caroline Brown, retired Psychologist and Lecturer, gives insight into the way our brains work.
12 June Keep Bees Without Fuss or Chemicals. Joe Bleasdale will talk about his experiences of 45 years of beekeeping in Hampshire and Somerset.
10 July A talk on breast cancer and prostate cancer by Claire Wainright of Cancer Research UK.
No meeting in August.
11 September The History of Martock. Fergus Dowding.
9 October How To Catch Flu, a talk by Greg Atkins
13 November Cecil Sharp, folk music collector – his life and work, a talk by David Sutcliffe.
11 December Christmas party
2025
8 January Brimsmore Garden Centre: Gardening Folklore
12 February Caroline Newark: Obsession, Betrayal & Revenge: a medieval murder mystery about the death of Edward II in Berkely Castle.
12 March Richard Kay: From Here to the Horizon: Landscape Painting from 1500 to the present day.
9 April Ann French: Forty Years On: A Career in Textile Conservation
Members of Martock & District u3a are also welcome to attend meetings arranged by other local Avalon u3a groups (Chard & Ilminster, Somerton, Crewkerne and Camelot u3as). For details of their meetings please look at their websites.
Groups Outings
The theatre group is planning a visit to see An Audience with Lucy Worsley on Jane Austin at Westlands at 7.30 on Sunday 27 April with dinner at Westlands beforehand.
This show is a long way ahead but if we do not book now, we will be unable to get reasonable seats. Half the seats are booked up already but there are still plenty of good central seats. We do hope some of you will feel able to commit so early.
Following her sold-out Agatha Christie tour, acclaimed historian Lucy Worsley leads us into the life of one of English literature’s most cherished figures. For these live, beautifully-illustrated talks, Lucy invites audiences to step into the world of Jane Austen, the beloved author of timeless classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion. Through the houses, places and possessions which mattered to her, Lucy takes a fascinating look at what home meant to Jane and to the women like her who populate her novels. Austen famously lived a ‘life without incident’, but with new research and insights Lucy reveals a passionate woman who fought for her freedom. A woman who, far from being a lonely spinster, in fact had at least five marriage prospects, but in the end refused to settle for anything less than Mr Darcy. “It is a truth universally acknowledged” that this is an event not to be missed!
If you are interested, please contact Alison Bleasdale on alisonrbleasdale@gmail.com.
New Groups Starting
Proposed Music Appreciation Group
This new group was proposed in March 2024 and has several members interested. They propose listening to recorded music, mainly classical but also a variety of different musical styles. If you are interested please contact the Groups Secretary : martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com
Proposed Conversational French Group
We have waited months (or more) to find a way of creating a French Group (Sue has one running but it is full). I am thrilled to tell you that Philip Booth is happy to organise a Conversational French Group for us, which will take the form of a chosen subject for each meeting, allowing members to revise common words on the subject they might be unsure of. We would love to hear from you if this might be of interest, then we can call a meeting to discuss the where and when that these meetings might be held. Please contact the Groups Secretary : martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com
New World/Circle Dance Group:
Mona Mace, who acts as the facilitator, has started this new group in Sepember 2023.
Dancing in a circle is an ancient tradition common to many cultures; marking special occasions, the seasons and creating a sense of community and wellbeing. The dances I share come principally from the folk traditions of Eastern Europe; also new dances choreographed to world music of all kinds. Dances can be energetic and lively, or gentle and reflective. Each dance is taught, there is no audience and everyone is welcome. Come on your own or with a friend, no partner needed. The new dance group meets at Ash Village Hall, 2pm to 3.30pm on 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month. Next dates are 11 December and January 15 and 29. The cost is £3. If you are interested, please contact the Groups Secretary : martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com
Proposed Modern Board Gaming Group:
We have received the following proposal from Adrian Sutton, who will act as the facilitator.
Are you interested in joining a Martock U3A Board Gaming Group?
Modern board games such as Carcassonne, Alhambra, Ticket to Ride, Catan, King and Queen Domino and many others are great fun to play and are very different to older games such as Monopoly and Cluedo.
Modern board games:
• Time limited – unlike Monopoly that could go on for hours or even days!
– as the games finish when all the playing pieces are used or when a specified score is reached
• Suitable for complete beginners and those who have played before
• For 2-6 players, individual players and teams, depending on the game
• Good for mental stimulation, using maths, spatial awareness and other faculties when playing
• Can be co-operative or played as an individual and sometimes can be very competitive
• Most of all they are FUN to play!
• The down side is you may get hooked and end up buying lots of games for yourself
Adrain would like to set up a Martock U3A Board-Gaming Group, initially at Adrian & Alison’s house in Martock but with an option to move to a bigger venue if lots of people want to play. If you would be interested in joining a Modern Board Gaming Group, please ring Adrian or Alison direct on 07555 033027/07759 481310 or contact the Groups Secretary : martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com.
New groups are always welcome. If you have an idea for a new group please contact the Groups Secretary : martocku3agroupssec1@gmail.com
Newsletter
Have you got any news for the monthly Newsletter or anything that you would like to pass on to or ask of our members? Contributions are welcome, please contact the Chair, Chris Atkins: martocku3achair24@gmail.com
MahJong
New members needed. The group is looking for new members to join this friendly group and play a non competitive game. The group needs at least four members for each meeting. If you are interested, please contact the Groups Secretary.
Newsletters
u3a Newsletter
The u3a Trust has a monthly newsletter and it is interesting to see the news from them and other u3a’s in the country. To view the latest u3a Newsletter click on this link.