2pm The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Avenue, Rustington BN16 3HB
Entrance FREE to Arun East u3a members. Please bring your membership card. Guests £2
Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
We start with refreshments and u3a notices at 2pm followed by the speaker at 2:30pm.
You will have the opportunity to meet other members and sign up for Arun East u3a activities and events.
SIGNING IN
It is important that you sign in with your membership number.
Guests will need to provide full contact details.
2025
15 October – Jude Hayland – There are No Rules
From commercial magazine short story writer to full length novelist, Jude will share her experiences over a wealth of years to encourage others to write.
19 November – Geofrey Mead – Resorting to the Coast – Aspects of Holiday History
To many of us holiday history is linked to our childhood memories of a coastal visit, whether it is of a caravan on a windswept clifftop, a B&B in a large resort or a posh hotel on a glittering seafront. Somewhere in that memory comes a stroll on the pier, a battle with a deck chair or a round of golf (9 hole or crazy) a charabanc trip or a paddle steamer along the coast. This talk looks at how the seaside replaced the inland spas as a destination, how we reached these distant spots and how the facilities and entertainments, hotels and piers developed there and changed over time.
17 December – Christmas Party (Members only)
2026
January 21st IAN FRIEL – Lost Ships Found
This talk focuses on researching the historical evidence of four shipwrecks, two warships from the 15th century, a Dutch merchant ship from 1631 and a British passenger liner from the 1850s. The first three derive from archaeological projects that Ian has been involved with and the last one from research that Ian undertook for one of his books.
February 18th IAN EVEREST – Women’s Land Army – Cinderellas of the Fields
Often referred to as the Cinderella’s of the Field, Ian will explain how he first became interested in the Women’s Land Army and how it led to many years of research and collecting hundreds of photos of the girls and women working on the farms. The talk will look at its history – how it started, its role during two world wars and its recognition in more recent times. A wide range of photographs will show the women at work and look at the huge contribution they made to feeding the country in times of war.
March18th IAN GLEDHILL – From Oklahoma to Phantom of the Opera – The Modern Musical
This talk looks at the development of the modern musical after the Second World War. It begins with the ground-breaking Oklahoma of 1943 and goes through to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running Phantom of the Opera – one of the most successful shows in the history of theatre. On the way there will be plenty of musical examples to enjoy.
April 15th KATHRIN LEAVER_FIELDING – Forever Young: Nutrition for Healthy Aging
We all want to live forever, but the aim is to live well as we age, and different life stages require different nutrition requirements – what teenagers need to eat is very different to what men and women over 50 require for good health.
So, what does that look like on our plates? What foods support healthy bones, what should we be eating for heart health – and to boost our memory? BANT-registered nutritional therapist Kathrin will discuss foods for healthy ageing, including how lessons from the Blue Zones apply in Rustington and why it’s never too late to introduce healthy habits. If you’d like to find out more about how we can change how we feel through the foods we eat, whatever our age, come along!
May 20th WILLIAM AVENELL – What is a view? What makes a view so special?
This talk selects some of the iconic views of West Sussex and explores their geographical origins, their historical significance, their artistic value and other factors that make them so popular. Delivered with some humour and local knowledge.
June 17th COMMUNITY SAFETY & WELLBEING – West Sussex C.C. – Online Fraud: How to avoid being Scammed and what to do if you are
More than ever before, we have been relying on technology to enable us to work, learn and connect with each other. Inevitably, criminals have exploited and used our increased digital lives to their advantage. This has resulted in a rise in scams including: telephone, phishing and text scams which have all become an increased concern in West Sussex. Not only is there the financial impact on victims but the emotional impact can be even more significant.
To help raise awareness of these types of scams, this talk will provide you with the knowledge on how to spot them, and what to do if you or your family become a victim of online fraud.
July 15th ARUN EAST u3a AGM (Members only)
August 19th GUY BARTLETT – History of The Red Arrows
Red Arrow pilots are amongst the most highly-qualified and experienced within the RAF.
During the display season the Red Arrows perform between 75-85 air displays and more then 100 fly-pasts. Each pilot is hand-picked and only a very few will be given the privilege of representing the RAF both in the UK and abroad.
Guy Bartlett is an aviation historian who has given presentations to numerous groups, including French Air Traffic Controllers, Officers at RAF Brize Norton and the Royal Aeronautical Society. Join him, as he shares some of the Red Arrows’ history with you.
September 16th GILL WALBY – Jenny Wren to R.N.
This talk will cover a little of the history of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and also the changes experienced when the WRNS were fully integrated into the RN.
Gill will describe her own training and postings to various UK and foreign bases.
October 21st STEVE WEBSTER – A Day in the Life of a Ranger
Since volunteering at the age of 14, all Steve Webster wanted to do was to work in conservation.
His talk describes his passage into the industry and explores the many different roles he has had during a 40- year career with local authorities, Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB. Illustrated with many of his own photographs and punctuated with anecdotes and humorous happenings, he explains just how varied being a Countryside Ranger and conservationist can be.
Highs, lows and how he became one in a million are all topics Steve will share.
November 18th PETE ALLEN – The Morse Code: Deciphering Britain’s Favourite Detective
Has there ever been a more perfect tragic hero than Inspector Morse?
Someone who, as his creator Colin Dexter noted, was somewhat of a loner by temperament…though never wholly happy when alone, was usually slightly more miserable when with other people, probably down to the knowledge that he was smarter than everyone else in the room. This talk, a companion piece to ‘Watching the Detectives’ explores the world of Morse from his first appearance in literature to his investigations on-screen, stage and radio.
December – u3a XMAS SOCIAL