Fairford and District U3A - General Meetings
We hold a general meeting for all members in the Palmer Hall on the first Tuesday of each month except August, when an outdoor event is arranged. The doors open at 2pm and the meeting starts at 2.30pm. Other meetings and visits are arranged from time to time; details will be included below.
Programme of Speakers and Visits
A report on each month's talk is published in the newsletter.
Date
Speaker
Subject
3 Jan 2012
 Ellie Target ‘Another Man’s Shoes’. The talk reconstructs an escape from a prisoner of war camp over the mountains to Sweden. This is illustrated with slides and costumes, and also includes one or two surprises…
7 Feb 2012 Ray Sturdy 'China’s Ancient and Modern Wonders' - An intriguing mixture of traditional and modern life, China has stunning scenery, vast rivers, bustling cities, many ornate royal palaces, and at Xian, the amazing Terracotta Warriors.
6 Mar 2012 Robert Skelt 'Bletchley Park' - We hear about some of the secret code cracking activities at Bletchley Park, including a demonstration on a virtual Enigma machine and the Morse Code used to send the messages.
3 April 2012 AGM and
John Higgs		 The AGM will be followed by John Higgs.
The Cuffley Airship. A story from the First World War - we hear about the first shooting down of a German airship raider over British soil. A brief history of “lighter than air” aircraft leads on to the events preceding the action, and the aftermath.
24 April 2012 Tuesday Visit to London Olympic Sites We are arranging a day trip to visit the London Olympic Sites on Tuesday 24th April 2012. The coach leaves Fairford at 8.30 am and returns around 8pm. In London, a Guide from “City and Village Tours” will join to show us the Olympic Sites. The cost will be £33 inclusive of lunch. Click on the booking form link for more information. Click on this website link for more information about the tour operator.

1 May 2012 George Eccleston Mary Queen of Scots, The Young Queen’ - Mary was still an infant when she became Queen and found herself in some difficult situations. We hear how she learned to deal with them - a different view of her history
6 June 2012 Wednesday John Fletcher The Solar System and Beyond. An amateur astronomer, John is well known for his Mount Tuffley Observatory, equipped with professional telescopic and recording instruments. He has dined with the Queen and also has a minor planet named after him.
This meeting has been moved to the Wednesday following the Jubilee bank holiday.

3 July 2012 Simon Trapnell Travels in the South American Rain Forest. Our speaker has travelled widely, following his interest in The Nature of Art Trust. We look at the common ground between art and science and between conservation and the artist.
7 Aug 2012 Pam Davey Treasure Hunt - with Clues around Fairford, followed by Tea at the Community Centre
4 Sept 2012 Marion Canning An Unusual Job For A Woman. We hear an amusing description of Life as a female Toastmaster
2 Oct 2012 Malcolm Delingpole The Elgin Marbles. Our speaker says “This was surely shoplifting on a grand scale!”
6 Nov 2012 Iain Willox All about Bagpipes - A demonstration and description of Bagpipes, Scottish and others. Our speaker is an eminent Pipe Major, founder of the Cheltenham Pipeband, and will be wearing traditional Highland Dress.
4 Dec 2012 Members A Christmas Miscellany - Suggestions please to Committee