Conveynor for the timetable and contact details of all speakers is Kevin Reed/Jones.

If you need to contact Kevin please click on this link Events Secretary which will open a form. Please enter your name and enter your information required.

Format

The U3A Monthly Meetings are held at the Festival Drayton Centre on the 3rd Thursday of the month starting at 2pm. We arrange for a guest speaker each month (except July, August and December) to entertain us on a variety of subjects.
All members are welcome to come along to all the meetings at no charge.
Complimentary refreshments will be available after the meeting with a donation if you are able.

Please encourage all your friends and family to come and have a free meeting and refreshment.
The Interest Group Pages can be selected from the main menu above which provide more details of their Programmes.

Upcoming Event speakers/2026 - Attendance is free for u3a members; visitors will be charged £2.00

May 21st.          Sprits of Sheldon Hospital

June 18th.        Heroes of the Sky (RAF in WW2)

July 16th           BBC light Music

Sept  17th.        AGM

Oct 15th.           A Policeman's Lot

Nov. 19th.          TBA

Previous Events - 2026

April 16th   Little Ukulele, Big Tour      

(April should have been JFK and Marilyn Monroe but this has been CANCELLED)

Mar  19th.         Horatio Nelson

20 November 2025 - Great American Songbook - Roger Browne is a professional raconteur, writer, director and pianist. Roger presents several talks on various aspects of American popular music from the early part of the twentieth century. In this presentation, he focuses on the history, roots, and influences of “The Great American Songbook”, the lives and fascinating backs stories of the composers, lyricists and publishers who created this iconic genre during the first half of the Twentieth Century. He discusses the influence of Jewish Immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe to New York, who went on to form what became known as Tin Pan Alley. The talk covers the roots such as: blues, music hall. ragtime, operetta, variety shows, minstrel music, jazz, classical music. Expect hilarious anecdotes, incredible facts, and superb piano playing.

16 October 2025 - Ford Hall Farm - The talk, delivered by Charlotte Hollins. The story of Fordhall Farm is one of resilience, innovation and purpose. Key points covered in the talk included:-

Origins and early history, the farm is located just outside Market Drayton, and has long been part of the local agricultural landscape. The tenant-farmer family, the Hollins, have been farming it for several generations. The farm was an early adopter of organic/few-chemical farming practices under the late Arthur Hollins, who ceased using artificial chemicals on the land many decades ago.

Threat of development - at one point the farm was under threat of being sold for development. In response, in 2005/2006 a campaign was launched to raise funds via community shares (c.£50 each) to establish community ownership of the freehold. This resulted in the formation of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative (FCLI), a community-benefit society owning the land on behalf of its members.

The talk emphasised the structure: the FCLI owns the freehold land; the farm business (run by Ben & Charlotte Hollins) operates as the working tenant farmer business. The model allows the community to engage with and benefit from the land, while professional farming is carried out sustainably. The farm has been chemical-free for over 70 years and keeps livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs) on extensive grazing systems. The mission is not just about producing food, but restoring the connection between “hearts, minds and the soil” and showing that small-scale farming connected to local community can be viable for generations.

The farm also serves an educational and social purpose: it hosts school visits, volunteer projects, youth work, community gardening, and supports well-being initiatives (e.g., tackling isolation and loneliness through nature connection). The farm is open to the public with free entry, trails, educational events, and a farm shop and café. It aims to be inclusive and provide access for all, in addition to its farming role.

Challenges and future vision - The talk addressed challenges such as balancing commercial viability with community mission, maintaining sustainable practices, and ensuring long-term land stewardship. The future vision is about continuing to integrate farming, community engagement, nature, education and well-being in a holistic way. It illustrates a successful model of community land ownership in the UK, especially for farmland. It highlights how farming can be done sustainably, with lower inputs, connected to local communities and ecological health. It communicates the idea that farmland can serve multiple functions: food production, education, social well-being, nature conservation and community ownership.

18 September- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Paying of subs, new members, and a talk

17 July 2025 - Shot at Dawn- Between 1914 and 1920, more than 3,000 British soldiers were sentenced to death by courts-martial for desertion, cowardice, striking an officer, disobedience, falling asleep on duty or casting away arms. However, only 346 were actually executed with 37 of these having committed capital crimes such as murder. The remaining 309 become the centrepiece of the Talk.

From investigations, there were some selected examples of some of the soldiers and it was explained how the events unfolded that lead to the Courts Marshall and the unyielding application of the law. The talk finished by explaining how these tragic men were finally pardoned after 90 years of disgrace to their families. The stories untold !

19 June 2025 - An hour of comedy, magic and songs

15 May 2020 - A Life on the Ocean Waves

17 April 2025 - The Millers Tale : Tom Jones

20 March 2025 - Strange meetings : A Writer and Author

20 February 2025 - Mary's Meals : Charity providing meals to the needy - The Work of Mary’s Meals - The speaker described how the organisation now provides meals to over 2 million children each day in some of the world’s poorest countries, including Malawi, Zambia, Liberia, Kenya, South Sudan, Haiti, India, and beyond.

It was emphasised that the meals are always served in schools, which means that not only are children fed, but they are also encouraged to attend classes — helping to break the cycle of poverty through education. The meals are locally sourced and prepared by community volunteers, creating a sense of ownership and sustainability.

January 16 2025 - Ellesmere Heron Watch - Ellesmere Heron Watch - we had a captivating presentation conducted by their dedicated volunteers. Through the use of advanced video cameras and telescopes, we gained an intimate view of the fascinating lives of herons, observing directly into their nests. We saw breath taking footage of herons as their chicks hatch and grow, alongside insights into parental care. The Ellesmere Heron project is open to the public every day and free of charge, inviting both children and adults to engage with this unique experience, utilise the telescopes, and pose any questions they may have. The project team look forward to welcoming you to this enlightening event that promises to inspire and educate.

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