General Meetings

We now hold a General Meeting twice a month. These feature an invited speaker and cover a wide range of topics as you can see from the examples below. They are invariably well attended as our members know that they can look forward to an entertaining, as well as interesting, afternoon.

Members are free to come to any of the meetings. However, because attendances were approaching the capacity of the hall, it would be appreciated if you would ration yourselves to one meeting a month.

Current Programme

Contact	-
Date and Time	-	1st Thursday & 3rd Wednesday, 14:30
Meeting Place	-	Drake Hall, Amersham Community Centre

7th August:	Kate Bradford - Memories of the 20th Century Kate divides her time between tutoring in adult education, principally for the WEA, and giving talks to Clubs and Societies throughout the Thames Valley. She has a particular interest in recent history and all her fun 'interactive' talks take a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane.
20 August:	The work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Hearing Dogs for Deaf People were launched at the world famous Crufts Dog Show in 1982. In 1986 it became a registered charity and the first training centre was opened. In 1996 The Grange in Buckinghamshire was purchased and became the charity's Headquarters. To date more than 1,400 hearing dogs have been trained to alert deaf people to specific sounds, whether in the home, workplace or public buildings. This talk will illustrate the training and work of these exceptional dogs. We may be lucky enough to get a live demonstration, but this is not guaranteed!
4 September:	Eve Abe Ph.D. - Talk on Elephants With Bachelor and Master Degrees from Makerere and a doctorate from Cambridge, Dr Abe has over ten years of research and application in wildlife management. Her doctorate was on Behavioural Ecology of Elephant Survivors and her talk will be about elephants. She has a natural enthusiasm and generous nature and we will hear about these magnificent animals through African eyes.
17 September:	Louis Kopieczek - The Life of an Immigration Judge in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal Louis Kopieczek is an Immigration Judge sitting in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. He is based at Hatton Cross near Heathrow in a hearing centre that houses 26 immigration courts. He was called to the Bar in 1983 and for the majority of his practice specialised in criminal defence work. He appeared regularly at the Old Bailey and other criminal courts in the South of England. In 1996 he was appointed to sit as a Chairman of the Mental Health Review Tribunal, which he now sits on as part of his judicial duties. In 1999 he became a part-time Immigration Judge and was appointed full-time in 2002. His talk today will cover the work of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and the appeals process. He will give an explanation of the types of decisions that can be appealed against, including decisions by entry clearance officers at British embassies abroad. He will refer to the deportation of foreign nationals who have committed criminal offences and some of the problems that arise in that connection.
2 October:	Peter Mussett - Life in the Library Peter Mussett has worked in and around libraries for 40 years, the last 20 of which have been in Buckinghamshire. In the last few years he has been closely involved with the controversial decisions regarding library closures, reduced opening times etc., and securing funding for major developments in Bucks. His talk will be on the lighter side of life in the library and promises to be most enjoyable.
15 October:	Dr Audrey Hogarth – Iraq 1990 Dr Hogarth makes a welcome return visit to Chiltern U3A. Dr Hogarth and her husband visited Baghdad in February 1990 and not as originally planned in late July, had they not done so they would have been there when Iraq invaded Kuwait – and probably would have remained as guests of the then President for sometime! The Iraqis were embarrassingly hospitable throughout the visit – but they all had one thing in common; a healthy respect for the secret police – with whom Audrey had two personal brushes. Many of the slides may now be unique, and provide an exciting background to a happy visit to a very unhappy country.
6 November:	Gordon Casbeard and Tony Brown - A Touch of Glass This is a Victorian Magic Lantern Show which looks back on Victorian Times using an original Victorian Magic Lantern and original slides. An opportunity to sit back and look at a bygone age.
19 November:	Ted Sutton – The Mary Rose Ted Sutton is a member of the Mary Rose Information Group, an amateur marine archaeologist, and a keen yachtsman. The Mary Rose was Henry V111’s favourite flag ship and was the first English warship capable of firing a broadside. In this illustrated talk he will explain the original building of the Mary Rose, her loss, recovery and conservation. The Trust was successful in its application for a Heritage Lottery Award, and now boasts a new Museum.
4 December:	Dr Tony Maisey - Spare Parts A humorous look at modern medical technologies and a serious consideration to some of the problems regarding spare part surgery. Dr Maisey says he is a retired and tired general practitioner, always interested in talking and in the last few years found people interested in listening. Previously a sportsman but now accepting the ravages of time and plays from his armchair.
17 December:	Keith Baldwin – Christmas Entertainment Package Keith is a former Household Cavalry soldier, retired Senior Police Office, Micro light Aircraft Pilot and rambler! In a repertoire developed over a number of years, Keith has a fund of humorous anecdotes and stories. His Christmas Entertainment package should provide a happy and humorous start to the Festive Season.