Monthly Meetings

Our monthly meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm in the Bourne End Community Centre. These are free for members, and as well as a talk by an invited speaker include complimentary refreshments and updates on other activities at our u3a. 

Our Meetings

 SPEAKERS MEETINGS 2026

All Meetings start at 2.00pm in the Bourne End Community Centre

 27TH January 2026

Unlocking the Conclave: a key to understanding the election of the 
first American pope
 Following on from her earlier talk about working as a journalist in 
the Vatican under the three previous popes, Philippa Hitchen returns 
to shed light on the election of the first U.S.-born successor to Saint 
Peter.
Find out more about what happened when the cardinals gathered 
behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel to elect a new leader. 
Discover details about the new Pope Leo XIV, why the cardinals chose
him, and what are the major challenges he faces over the coming 
years.

24th FEBRUARY 2026
Desert Island Flicks 3: Last Star Standing
Now in his 89th year, Sir Anthony Hopkins is the only British actor of 
his generation to be still prolific in international film and television.
In the third of his illustrated film talks for Bourne End U3A, Little 
Marlow author Quentin Falk, who wrote an authorised biography of 
Hopkins, will trace the star’s remarkable seven-decade career via 
eight clips including two Oscar-winning performances, in The Silence 
of the Lambs and The Father.

24th MARCH 2026
Christine Keeler & the Profumo Affair
Following on from his talk last year our Speaker for March is Richard 
Anderson. War Minister John Profumo caused a political sensation 
by resigning from the Government on 6th June 1963. In a dramatic 
letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Profumo admitted that he lied to the
commons about his association with red-haired model Christine 
Keeler. “I have come to realise that, by this deception, I have been 
guilty of a grave, misdemeanour”.

28th APRIL 2026
Our Speaker today Jon Woodhouse, his talk is The Saxophone, and 
my life as an Army Musician
Jon joined the Army as a Musician at the age of sixteen, he served in 
her Majesty’s Lifeguards Band for 25 years. During his time Jon has 
Clarinet and Bass Clarinet and saxophone. He has participated in 
concert tours across Europe, America and Japan. He retired from the
Army in 1999 and will talk about his experiences, and the people he 
met during his long career.

26th MAY 2026
Our Speaker today is Duncan who will talk about his attempted 
World Record Morris Dance. The current World Record is 146.25 
miles. He will be dancing from Hampton Court to Abingdon and back
to Trafalgar Square along the Thames path. It should take 7 days and 
he will cover 200 miles. The attempt is all about raising money for 
local charities in the Thames Valley area.