Please read on and 
stop sighing: we have to have them and they have to follow a certain format. Those people who have attended previous ones will know that I try to keep them brief, succinct and concise. Those people who have read this last sentence will know that all three adjectives are synonyms: that is to show you how quick it will be!
All the AGM papers have been sent out to you by email or snail mail. If you have not received them please contact a committee member prior to the AGM.
Membership renewals are due in the next 2 months. Please send cheque for £15 payable to Weston Turville U3A to Mary Duly or Brenda Spear. You can pay at the monthly meeting but last month there was a long queue. If for some reason you cannot pay in the next two months then tell us: we will not eject you out without telling you first … promise!
A joke: An old farmer’s dog goes missing and he’s inconsolable. His wife says “Why don’t you put an advert in the paper?” He does, but two weeks later the dog is still missing. “What did you put in the paper?” his wife asks. “Here boy” he replies.
The old ones are the best. U3A Motto – Ueteres optimos?
Mandi Simons
SPEAKER: Our speaker on 27th March is Ian Currie talking on Frosts, freezes and fairs.
HOLIDAYS: 
The Warners Holiday in Gunton Hall Coastal Village. Nr. Lowestoft, Suffolk Dates 22nd Sept 2014 for 7 nights – half board –plus outings has had a price drop to under £500 and more activities added. No single room supplement for first 10 people booking. Please contact Doreen Lister on 01296 612778 or email on doreenalister@tiscali.co.uk for information and reserving your place.
Names are still being taken for the trip to Hanover, Germany. Dates are 11th to 15th September, using British Airways, based in Hanover. To include accommodation, meals, tours appropriate to celebration etc. Cost approximately £600. Interested? Please contact Ceinwyne on 01296 613172 for information.
VISITING CHURCHES:
This group is under new management and they have arranged the first visit of 2014 for Wednesday 23rd April to St Nicholas, Great Kimble and All Saints Little Kimble. Provisional timings as follows: – Meet at 1:30p.m. Five Bells car park (rear of). Drivers may park at the Bernard Arms. Walk to St Nicholas for 2:00p.m. for look round and talk by Mr Roger Howgate. Walk to All Saints for 3:30 (rag pits and remains of old village on the way). There are no toilets at the churches. Then refreshments at 4:00 at ‘The Potting Shed’, Asket. Please advise your intention to come on this visit at our table at the March monthly meeting or contact Margaret Baynes or John Richardson on visitingchurches@wtu3a.org.uk
CHRISTMAS 2014.
The list for the Christmas meal at Halton House is full and a waiting list being held.
The lunch date is so far away that there is a good chance the waiting list will be used up by Christmas so do not be downhearted about it but if you haven’t already shown your interest I suggest you do so quickly. Full payment will start to be collected August/September and this will identify all those people who forgot they put their names down and have made other arrangements. Contact Carol Theobald for information.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS:
Covent Garden Opera House Tour. : Friday May 9th. A coach has now been arranged for the tour, Departure : Chandos Pub : 09.30am / Shops : 0940. Payment of £10.50 for Tour & £14.50 in respect of Coach is due as payment has to be made by April 1st. Contact Ceinwyne and/or Eileen for details.
NATTERING NEEDLES:
The first couple of meetings for this new group were so successful that the members decided they wish to meet twice a month. It is a social group who also does some knitting or sewing or something similar and if you haven’t got anything on the go but would like to attend for the tea and chat, you would also be welcome. The group meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Chapel Hall, Weston Turville, 2-4pm contact Pat Housego on 01296 613876 or natteringneedles@wtu3a.org.uk if you would like to attend. Knitters and crocheters always welcome to make things for the shoe boxes.
THE GREAT WAR REMEMBERED:
REMINDER: As part of The Weston Turville Village Fete on 21st June 2014 we plan to include an exhibition of The Great War (WW1) memorabilia hosted by the Historical Society and the U3A Local History Group. We are looking for suitable exhibits from U3A members (not necessarily related to Weston Turville) with a special emphasis on items that may be of interest to people of all ages. As well as militaria we would like to show how the war affected the lives of the residents of Weston Turville.
This was a time of social turmoil and significant changes in people working lives in the UK.
We are looking for any Medals, Ration books, Postcards, Family History etc. that reflect and bring to life this period of British history. Donated exhibits will be returned at the end of the day. If you have any suitable items, please contact Glynn White secretary@wtu3a.org.uk.
EXTREME VISITS:
There is still room for anyone wanting to have a go at driving a hovercraft. It is on dry land so no swimming required if you get it wrong! Please contact Adrian Randall Adrian@Randall.org.uk or Tel 0777 150 6055
SPECIAL OFFER FOR U3A MEMBERS:
The shoe shop Brantano Shoes is offering 25% off all its ‘comfort wear’ brands including Clarks, Reiker and Hush Puppy shoes on production of your U3A membership card but be quick the offer it expires 30th March.
FOR BUDDING TV STARS:
Mastermind wants people to apply to take part: if interested contact mastermind@bbc.co.uk
Another quiz show called Pressure Pad is also looking for teams of 5 to compete in a general knowledge quiz.
Contact pressurepad@12yard.com by 14th April if interested.
GLOBE THEATRE, London. We had an excellent trip to the Globe this month but I have to report that one of our members got undressed and flaunted her undies to the world at large. This was recorded by several members. Please see evidence:
Thanks to Virginia Young for agreeing to be part of the show on the day and to Mike Bean for the photos. There are more photos on the website.
FAMILY HISTORY: We have a small but enthusiastic group of researchers investigating their own family history. There is one member who is a bit of an expert, although she denies it, and between us we can help knock down some of those brick walls that everyone encounters when doing research of this type.
We meet in a private house where the biscuits are excellent. You are invited to attend this group either as a one off or on a regular basis. One member who attended emailed after to say ‘I have now completed my family tree so won’t be coming to your meetings. Please say a huge thank you to the ladies I met. You were all so helpful, particularly with the information on how to research information in Gibraltar. During my search I found someone who already had a family tree with the information I needed, in fact a lost cousin.’
Recently some of the members have been conducting research to assist with the ‘Great War Commemoration’ planned for June.
A laptop or tablet with internet access is helpful but not essential. So if you have not recorded your family history and named the persons in your old photo albums before it is too late, contact Mandi Simons and see if we can help (but to be honest we probably cannot name the people in your photo albums: we are not that good but we can help you record and research your family!).