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, simply click onto the blue links to be taken straight to our website.

Ever wondered what help is available from the Citizens Advice office in Petersfield?
Then here’s your chance to find out.
On Tuesday 16 September at 2pm speaker Ellie Hayward will be at Petersfield Community Centre to outline the many topics handled by the local Citizens Advice team. These range from benefits to consumer issues and from housing to energy and even parking at Queen Alexandra Hospital!
As usual, questions will be welcome. If you can’t be at the talk, though, you can visit the office at Petersfield Library (2^nd floor) or call 0808 278 7901.

And there’s more …

After learning about Citizens Advice, u3a members will also be able to find out about Local Treasures.
Lou Bushell will be giving a short presentation on the work of this local home services organisation, with a particular focus on its companionship service.

Dates for your Diary

As summer draws to an end, the bi-monthly coffee mornings at Petersfield Community Centre are set to resume. New and existing members are all welcome to come along for a cuppa and chat on Wednesday 24 September from 10am to 12 noon.
Meanwhile, there’s just a few days to wait until the Community Centre opens its doors once again to the usual varied programme of talks available to all Petersfield u3a members.

Monday 8 September at 2.30pm
My Great Aunt Constance

Wednesday 17 September at 2.30pm
Whitchurch Silk Mill

Tuesday 23 September at 2pm
Yellow-legged (previously known as Asian) hornets

Around & About

• Looking forward to getting together after the summer break is Family History 2.
  The group will be meeting in the Exhibition Room at Petersfield Community Centre on Wednesday 10 September at 10am. The topic for the day will be ‘How Artificial Intelligence can help you with your research’.
  Any members interested in family history – no matter at what level – would be welcome.
  
• The inaugural meeting of Churches & Pubs will see members venture into West Sussex on Thursday 2 October.
  The group will visit two churches in the village of Cocking before heading to The Blue Bell, a local community-owned pub, for lunch.
  Spaces are limited to 20, with pre-booking for lunch essential.
  
• Any Petersfield member with mild or moderate hearing loss is invited to join a free online lip-reading class.
  Using Zoom, the sessions will be held every Friday from 10am to 10:40am and are open to u3a members from all over the country.
  To find out more, please email ajedens@btinternet.com.

Time to Renew

Membership Secretary Sandy Stephens would like to thank all members who have renewed their 2025/26 u3a membership so far.
“I’m particularly grateful to everyone who added their membership number to the payment reference,” said Sandy. “It really speeds up the checking process.”
If you do not have a Standing Order in place this month, please remember to pay by bank transfer by the end of September.

Have Your Say

“Many thanks for this newsletter. I’m relatively new to Petersfield and am really enjoying your u3a programme and meeting new friends.” Paula N.

‘Connect’ always welcomes news and feedback from Petersfield u3a members via editorconnect@petersfieldu3a.org.uk.

To make sure the e-newsletter is easy and interesting to read – and the style is consistent – copy is likely to be edited. The original version of any submission (plus photographs) can be posted on the relevant page on our website and easily accessed from ‘Connect’ via a link.

The next issue of ‘Connect’ will be emailed to you on Friday 19 September, with a copy deadline for all contributions of Monday 15 September.