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 on the blue links to be taken straight to our website.

A new group is calling all nature lovers!

If you love natural history and would enjoy learning more (or even sharing your knowledge), then this new u3a group is definitely for you.
Launching in the new year, ‘Nature Watch’ will meet initially at 10.30 am on the second Monday of every month. Outings will involve a gentle two-hour walk in and around Petersfield, looking at (and hopefully identifying!) different organisms.
If you are interested, please contact Duncan Wright.

Dates for your Diary

2.30 pm – Monday 9 November
AGM ‘with a difference’
Your attendance is welcome and vital, as we need at least 80 members present to have a quorum. Following member feedback, we've refreshed the format to include more time for questions, updates on upcoming events, and showcasing some groups’ activities. The AGM will be held at the Petersfield Community Centre and will be followed by an opportunity to mingle with other members and enjoy tea and cake.
Please see the u3a website for AGM details, including the agenda and nomination form, if you wish to nominate someone to join the Management Committee.
We look forward to seeing you there!

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2.00 pm – Tuesday 17 November
Health Matters – Microplastics: What and where they are, and why they matter Professor Fay Couceiro, Professor of Environmental Pollution at the University of Portsmouth, leads the University's Microplastics Research Group, which aims to establish the impacts of microplastics on the environment and human health. Plastic breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastics, creating a new, widespread environmental challenge. These particles are now found almost everywhere, from the deepest oceans and remote mountain regions to the food we eat and the air we breathe. Professor Couceiro will explore why these tiny particles have become a global concern, what scientists currently know about their impacts, and the practical steps individuals, industry, and society can take to reduce pollution and limit exposure.

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2.30 pm – Wednesday 18 November
Arts and Heritage – Rocking Surrey: A History of Suburban Rock ´n´ Roll
Neil Mach, an internationally recognised author, journalist and music-industry podcaster, uncovers surprising connections between Rock 'n' Roll and Surrey. The leafy suburb has been home to the world’s greatest musicians, from punk rock legends to progressive rock heroes; the three 'greatest' blues guitarists in the world came from the county, and supergroups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones made Surrey their home. This talk will make audiences laugh and reminisce about the 'Golden Years of Rock 'n' Roll'.

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2.00 pm – Tuesday 24 November
Science and Technology – Evolution in Action
This talk by Dr Phil Madgwick has been postponed until 23 March 2027. Despite the short notice, we are trying to find a replacement speaker for 24 November. Please check the website and the next edition of Connect (20 November) for updates on whether this has been achieved or not.

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10.00 am to 12.00 pm – Wednesday 25 November
Welcomers Coffee Morning – All new and existing members are invited to join us for the next bi-monthly coffee morning to be held at Petersfield Community Centre. Please come along and meet fellow members, get help with any IT issues, meet members of the Committee and make new friends – all while enjoying a drink and unlimited biscuits!

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Outing – Wednesday 3 February 2027
Visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition at the British Museum, London
We have been allocated 30 tickets for this exhibition. This is the maximum that any group is allowed, so please note we will not be able to buy any extra. The tickets have been organised into three tranches: 10 for 12.30, 10 for 12.40 and 10 for 12.50.
We have arranged for the coach to leave the Petersfield Festival Hall Car Park at 9.30 am. We will leave London at 4 pm. It is hoped that these timings will allow not only for London traffic but also for any queuing time at the exhibition and give us free time at the Museum.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Tapestry before you go, visit the website, which has a lot of information.
The cost for this trip is £59 per person; this covers the exhibition tickets, the cost of the coach and a gratuity for the driver.
To book this visit, you need to complete the booking form.

Around and About

Have Your Say

‘Connect’ always welcomes news and feedback from Petersfield u3a members via The Editor.
To ensure that the e-newsletter is easy and enjoyable to read and the style is consistent, the copy is likely to be edited.
The next issue of ‘Connect’ will be emailed to you on Friday 20 November, with a copy deadline for all contributions on Monday, 16 November. November.