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Would group facilitators please send short descriptions of their groups to Felicity 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:
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.
19 March Open Day for Martock & District u3a. 2.00- 400 in Martock Parish Hall. Come and find out about various groups you could join.
9 April Ann French: Forty Years On: A Career in Textile Conservation
14 May — Richard Salter ’A Potted History of Quakers in England’
11 June — Megan Haldane ‘Cybercrime’
9 July — Peter Isaacson ‘Medical Detection Dogs’
August — no meeting
10 September — Fergus Dowding ‘Industry in Martock’
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
Theatre group planned visits:
27 April at 7.30: An Audience with Lucy Worsley on Jane Austin at Westlands with dinner at Westlands beforehand.
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!
8 October at 2.30: An Evening with Mary Beard with dinner at Westlands beforehand.
Step into the world of Ancient Rome with renowned historian Mary Beard as she uncovers the stories that history forgot. In this captivating live event, Mary Beard takes you beyond the well-worn paths of emperors and battles, revealing the rich and complex lives of those often left out of the history books. From the gritty reality of a gladiator’s life in the arena to the tumultuous final days of the Roman Republic, Mary rewrites popular narratives, casting fresh light on what we think we know. With the the release of Gladiator 2, there’s never been a better time to dive deeper into the world of Ancient Rome’s most iconic figures. But this isn’t just about the past—Mary draws thought-provoking connections between Roman politics and today’s world. What can we learn from the rise and fall of the Roman Republic, and how might it resonate with the political landscapes we navigate today? Don’t miss the chance to ask your own questions as Mary Beard unpacks the history that shaped one of the greatest empires of all time. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this evening promises to be a spectacular journey through time, leaving you with fresh insights into both ancient and modern worlds.
If you are interested, please contact Alison Bleasdale on alisonrbleasdale@gmail.com.
Newsletters
We send out a monthly Newsletter. To read the latest or previous Newsletters click on the links below:
2025 January February March April .
2024 February March April May June July September October November December
2023 December November October September July June May April March February January
2022 December November October September August July
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
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.