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- Disappearance of Amy and Amelia
13 October 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Our speaker, aviation historian Jim Barnes, looks at women in the story of flying and how they made world news and brought about innovation. From Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart to the Red Arrows, women achieved many firsts in the air and in engineering. As to their disappearance: one, we know where she disappeared but... - AGM and the Brinks-Mat Robbery
10 November 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
This meeting will be our AGM and will be held in the Christian Centre and online via Zoom. The Brinks-Mat talk will follow. Speaker Ian Brown started as a beat constable in the Lake District and rose to become Detective Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. His 30-year career involved the Krays, the Sweeney, armed robberies,... - A Royal Christmas
8 December 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Siobhan Clarke is a guide lecturer for Historic Royal Palaces based at Hampton Court Palace. She describes how our Christmas rituals evolved from Christian liturgy, pagan rites and the influence of the monarchy. She explores Christmas at court from the middle ages to the present day and how the royals have influenced our own celebrations,... - The Haida People
12 January 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Dorking & District u3a’s own Geoff Saunders speaks from personal experience of the Haida People of North America, whose history precedes the arrival of European settlers by thousands of years. The Haida are one of Canada’s First Nations whose home centred on a group of islands off the coast of British Columbia, close to the... - Toy Train to the Clouds
9 February 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Climbing 7,000ft up through tea estates to the Raj-era hill station of Darjeeling, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a triumph of civil engineering. Opened in 1881 it was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999. Many of the trains are still hauled by the British-built steam locomotives dating back to 1892. Paul Whittle’s talk... - Doctor at Sea
9 March 2.30pm – Christian Centre
Speaker Dr Bob Cruthers - Life as a Chelsea Pensioner
13 April 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Brian Cumming’s talk will provide a unique insight into what it’s like living at the world-renowned Royal Hospital Chelsea, the retirement and nursing home for about 300 veterans of the British Army. The Royal Hospital was built in 1682 on the command of King Charles II and under the direction of the architect Sir Christopher... - Behind the scenes at Wimbledon
11 May 2.30pm – Christian Centre
Speaker Alan Chalmers spent 40 years at Wimbledon’s Centre Court as the All England Club’s steward with special responsibility for looking after the seating arrangements and security of the competitors, their guests and assorted VIP guests, his first being Frank Sinatra. He has many anecdotes from 1976 onwards. - Royal Jubilees
8 June 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Travel journalist and cruise ship speaker Graeme Payne explores how royal jubilee celebrations have evolved from a celebration of the monarch to jubilation by the people. - Brides, Booty and Battles
13 July 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Historian and former Mastermind contestant Helen Poole describes the difficult relationship between England’s Tudor monarchs and the Spanish crown. - Dining with History
12 October 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
Former BBC broadcaster Jessica Thurtell looks at changes through the ages in the way we eat. - The Cinque Ports
9 November 2.30pm – Christian Centre (and Zoom)
The Cinque Ports were a confederation that provided naval service to the king in medieval times in return for tax and other privileges. They were not so much a navy as an important source of ships when needed, providing essential maritime expertise to the king when such knowledge was limited. Their pre-eminence in medieval times...