JANUARY Website
Thameside Wallingford
www.thamesidewallingfordu3a.org
January Newsletter
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Notes from the Chair
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and enjoyed the New Year celebrations. However there is one treat left and that is our Celebration Lunch on Friday 30th January at Badgemore Golf Club in Henley. If you have been before then you will know what a lovely venue this is and how good the food is. There are still some places left: more details are in a separate section below.
The last trip of the year was the musical event organised by Ken to the Albert Hall for Christmas carols. More trips are planned but at the moment the trips committee are having a well-deserved break. As soon as trips are available to book they will be advertised in the newsletter.
A full programme of speaker meetings has been planned and details are available on the web site; the January speaker is Bertie Pierce and the topic is Punch and Judy. This promises to be interesting so once again we are anticipating a full house.
That’s all I have to say this month - nice and short for once. Keep safe and well and I hope you all have a very happy and healthy 2026.
Best Wishes
Ian Shipton
Chair
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Vacancies
Outings sub-committee
Due to one of our members leaving the area, we have a vacancy for a member to help with organising our monthly outings. If you feel you could help, then please email the outings subcommittee.
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Upcoming Events
Celebration Lunch Friday 30th January 2026. Bookings close on 5th January. For those who haven’t booked yet please go to the Booking form.
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Next Coffee Morning will be the 9th January (note a week later than usual).
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Next Speaker Meeting – 21st of January – Bertie Pearce: Punch and Judy -A Subversive symbol from Commedia Dell’Arte to the Present Day.
Next Outing – Wednesday 25th March: South Kensington Museums.
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New Members
We welcome five new members this month
From Wallingford, Kay Ashton and Anne Powell; from Woodcote, Celia Bourne; from Cholsey, Ruth Newcombe; and from Benson, Mary Pinckney.
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Coffee Morning
First Friday every month – Wallingford Methodist Church St Leonard's Square OX10 0AS
This month will be put back a week 9th January, 10:30am until midday
Penny Legg & Christine Ferguson.
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Next month will be 6th February, 10:30am until midday
Elizabeth Glover & Charmaine Anderson.
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If you want to join the serving rota then please contact Pam Johnstone via the contact page.
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Groups
We currently have a new group proposed, Conversational Italian.
If you’re interested in the proposed group, please contact Yvonne Griffiths. For up-to-date information on the groups see the calendar page on the website.
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If you want to join or form a group, then please contact Yvonne via contact page on the website.
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Speaker Meetings
Third Wednesday 2:00 pm every month at St Mary's Church Wallingford.
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21st Jan – Bertie Pearce: Punch and Judy -A Subversive symbol from Commedia Dell’Arte to the Present Day.
Mr Punch – the most famous puppet character of all time. His comic irreverence gave “Punch” magazine its title. His anarchic vitality has inspired opera, ballet and punk rock and his enduring popularity has seen his likeness on goods ranging from Victorian silverware to computer video games. Appearing in England in 1662, Punch is descended from the Italian Clown Pulcinella of the 15th Century Commedia Dell’Arte tradition. Even today This Lord of Misrule uses his slapstick to dispense with oppressive authority, be it politicians, political correctness or the devil, while proclaiming his notorious refrain; “That’s the way to do it!”
Following Speaker Meeting – 18th of February – Lizzy Rowe: John Piper
More on speaker meetings can be found on our speakers' webpage.
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Outings
South Kensington Museums - Wednesday 25 March 2026
This outing follows two suggestions from the Outings Survey (Victoria & Albert Museum; plus Science and Natural History Museums). It also addresses two reasons given for members not going on trips: it is not on a Thursday, and the cost of outings.
The three principal museums in South Kensington have wide ranging collections
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My favourite part of The Victoria and Albert Museum is the Cast Courts with a vast gallery of monumental plaster casts ranging in size from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine’s effigy through Michelangelo’s David to Trajan’s Column from Rome (in two parts).
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The Natural History Museum isn’t just species that were once alive; I hope to spend time looking again at the minerals and geological specimens.
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There is a new Space Gallery in the Science Museum. Personally I hope the previous display is still there featuring rockets & engines with memorable names from the 60’s & 70’s.
There are other attractions within a mile of the Science Museum e.g. Albert Memorial, Kensington Palace (charge applies), the nearer parts of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park plus shops (e.g. Harrods). The three museums have cafes with others nearby around South Kensington tube station, about 300 yards away.
The 49-seat coach (with WC) will cost £24 per person. Entry to all three museums is free, but they have three different policies for advance booking of entry times; I will manage this when we have final numbers. We will leave Wallingford and Crowmarsh at 09:15 and leave the museums for home at 17:00.
To book please email the following FIVE points of Booking information to Peter Wood on Outings2@thamesidewallingfordu3a.org with "SouthKenSurname" in the Subject.
1. My/our Name(s)
2. My phone number(s) & email address
3. Reserve for me .... place(s) @ £24.00 per person
4. Pick me up from ... Wallingford Museum or ... Crowmarsh Church
5. Name, relationship and phone number of an emergency contact on that day.
DO NOT PAY YET. You will be asked to pay using online bank transfer or cheque when you are offered a place.
More information about our outings can be found on the outings webpage.
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Contact any of the below via our contact page
Committee 2025/26
Chairman – Ian Shipton
Deputy Chairman – Ken Johnstone
Treasurer – Tony Fenner
Secretary – Hilly Bailey
Meeting Minutes – Jane Milne
Membership Secretary – Charmaine Anderson
Database Administrator – Malcolm Brooks
Thames Valley Network Rep – Neil Kelly
Newsletter Collator – Bob Ferguson
Communications including Newsletter - Ian Shipton & Malcolm Brooks
Calendar & Website – Sarah Robinson
Co-opted member – Anna Gordon
Coordinators:
Groups Co-ordinator – Yvonne Griffiths
Speakers Co-ordinator – Jane Tuckett
Outings Co-ordinator – Ken Johnstone
Coffee Mornings Rota – Pam Johnstone
Speaker Refreshments – Richard & Ros Steptoe
Accessibility & Inclusivity – Jane Milne
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The Third Age Trust
is the national representative body for the u3a in the UK. Here is their website
Sign up for the u3a National Newsletter for news and stories from across the u3a movement.
u3a members can join a wide range of online talks, workshops and courses for free with their membership
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Thames Valley Network
We are one of 38 branches within the Thames Valley Network (TVN).
If you would like to receive information directly from TVN with details of Study Days & Workshops, please email events_info@u3atvnetwork.org.uk
TVN Study Days:
Study days are on Zoom and need to be booked on TVN website.
The next study day is Art on the London Underground – Thursday 15th January 2026 at 10:30
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