The Bandstand Sunday Social Group is starting up again, running from April to September. For more information click on the Groups link at the top of this page.

March 2026 newsletter

Welcome to the launch of our new electronic format, we hope members enjoy its colourful layout and find the content interesting and informative. This re-designed version includes the usual Chairman’s Report, up-to-date news around our u3a, special features, events, social occasions, a list of current groups and helpful resources. Thank you to everyone who generously contributed.'

To read or download your copy of the Newsletter click the following link March 2026 Newsletter Issue 85(Amended)

New Singing Group - Singing for Joy

We are delighted to announce the formation of a Henley u3a singing group. The group will be led by Colette Ashby, a vocalist who already leads another ensemble in Henley. The group’s u3a convenor is Darius Halpern. Terry Kenyon and Pam Lincoln are helping to set up the group.

All u3a members are welcome to join. There is no need to be able to read music and there are no auditions. The emphasis is on enthusiasm and enjoyment of singing. We shall be singing a range of songs including numbers from musicals, popular songs (50s to 80s), war time songs and more.

Our first full meeting takes place at Christchurch Centre from 11.00 until 12.00 on Friday, 27 February and then meetings will continue at the same time on the fourth Friday morning of each month. If you are interested in joining, please contact Darius Halpern.

Changes to the Bridges Group

After almost 2 years of exploring bridges from the most primitive stepping stones to the marvels of Roman engineering and today's impressive art forms the group held its final meeting on 5^th February.

At our inaugural meeting we had an architect who took us through the different designs and construction of bridges and to wrap the group up we have a bridge designer who will talk about all the factors which have to be considered before a bridge is built - location, geography, environment, land ownership, design, cost etc.  Each member of the group did several presentations on bridges & acquaducts which delved into not only design but history, politics and economics; bridges in film and art (Canaletto, Monet, Hockney, Stephen Wiltshire) and art in bridges.   We so enjoyed meeting as a group and decided to move on from bridges to effective leaders throughout history.

NEWS FROM THE U3A OPERA GROUP

Several members of the Opera group enjoyed the whole of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle (with champagne and refreshments) over 5 days in late October 2025.  They watched a performance of the Bayreuth 1983 production which celebrated the centenary Wagner’s  death.  Staged and directed by Harry Kupfer and conducted by Daniel Barenboim, the cast included John Tomlinson as Wotan, Anne Evans as Brunnhilde, Siegfried Jerusalem as Siegfried  and Graham Clarke as Mime.

Wagner’s ‘The Ring Cycle’ is a monumental series of four operas: Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.   Completed in 1874 the cycle is based on Germanic and Norse myths and legends and explores themes of power, greed and redemption.  It is known for its complex orchestration and uses ‘leitmotifs’ or melodies linked to specific characters or ideas.

Some of those who came were unfamiliar with Wagner and approached the prospect of 16 hours of opera with some trepidation.   Afterwards said they had been completely bowled over by the way the complete cycle builds the emotion and the story through its music.