NEWS for ...
Petersfield u3a members

Welcome to our latest e-newsletter, giving a quick summary of what’s happening within Petersfield u3a. To find out more, click the blue links to visit our website.

If you’ve decided that you’d like to improve your fitness level and would welcome some encouragement, then the Energise Me presentation at the Community Centre on Tuesday 21 January at 2pm is not to be missed.

Exercise helps prevent and manage long-term health conditions. The key is finding a way to be active that is right for each of us.

A team of experts will not only be outlining what physical activity opportunities are available in and around Petersfield but also asking what classes we feel are missing from the local area.

And to kickstart our good intentions, there will even be a mini exercise session (probably chair-based)!

Dates for your Diary

Other open meetings (also featuring guest speakers) coming up at the Community Centre over the next few weeks are:

Tuesday 28 January at 2pm: Challenges and progress in finding biotechnological solutions to plastic pollution

Also at the Centre will be the first coffee morning of 2025, welcoming all members on Wednesday 29 January (10am-12.30pm).

Monday 10 February at 2.30pm: Women, the home front and the Spanish flu

Tuesday 18 February at 2pm: Ultra-processed foods

Around & About

• Malcolm Muggeridge and John Charnock-Wilson, Science & Technology joint organisers for many years, have decided it’s time to pass on the baton.
  The group meets once a month (except July, August and September) and speakers are already in place for the first half of 2025.
  To find out more – incidentally, Malcolm and John promise a leisurely handover! – please contact muggeridge.malcolm@gmail.com or charnockwilson@gmail.com.
  
• Jazz Appreciation continues to go from strength to strength.
  Last year’s programme included two live concerts staged exclusively for members.
  Starting 2025 on a high note, the group will be showing two documentary films (one focussing on traditional jazz in London in the 1960s/70s and the other shot at the 1958 Newport Rhode Island Jazz Festival).
  There are vacancies in the group. If you’re interested, please contact the convenor for an invitation to a taster session at the Community Centre on Wednesday 29 January at 2.30pm.
  
• New Management Committee member Titian Fleming has taken over from Lynn Battersby-Vogt as Speakers Secretary for Monday open meetings.
  While Lynn has put the 2025 programme in place, Titian (supported by Anne Downing) has already started to focus on 2026!
  If you have any suggestions for speakers, please email titianfleming@gmail.com.

Have Your Say

If you’d like to spread the word about your group, then ‘Connect’ is here for you. Simply drop a note to u3aeditorconnect@gmail.com.

Earlier this month, we reported that Family History Group 2 would welcome new members at their first meeting of 2025.

“We are pleased to report that we had four enquiries: one member was an absolute beginner and the others had some previous experience but needed to refresh their skills,” wrote convenor Frances Lake.

“We hope they enjoyed the meeting and will decide to join us on a regular basis.

“And a special thank you to Russ Stephens for sparing the time to come to our January meeting, ensuring everyone could connect to the WiFi at the Community Centre. We really appreciated his help.”

The next issue of ‘Connect’ will be emailed to you on Saturday 1 February, with a copy deadline for all contributions of Tuesday 28 January.