If you have not seen this do watch it, the women involved are amazing and full of life and energy. “This Cutting Edge documentary meets six women with an average age of 80, who are determined to look fabulous, have fun and redefine old age.” Click on Read More to find the live link

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fabulous-fashionistas/videos/all/the-fashion-sisters ;

Free matinee showings and talks  from Sept 2013  to Jan 2014   click on the link to see the programme

BFI Seniors Programme1-2

Entitled Music of the Americas, this day is at the Bechstein Room of the Wigmore Hall, from 10 until 4.  Morning and afternoon coffee/tea is inclusive. Lunch can be taken at any of the several nearby eating houses, or you can bring your own sandwiches.  The outline programme for the day is

1000    Registration and coffee

1020    Introduction by our Chairman, Gwen Wright

1040    Paul Farren, Hackney U3A:  The sounds of Latin America

1130    Stan Freed, U3A in London:  Gershwin on the Concert Platform

1215                            Break for Lunch

1345    Karl Bettelheim, U3A in London: The Symphony in the USA in the 20^th century

1430                            Tea and biscuits

1445    Stan Clingman, U3A in London: The Great American Songbook 1920-1950

1535    Gwen Wright will lead Discussion and Summing Up

The Contributors

Gwen Wright is in her last year of office as London Region Trustee, and is Chairman of the London Region of U3A. She will chair the day and lead the concluding discussion.

Paul Farren’s background in Latin American music dates from hearing his first gramophone record – a Cuban rumba – at the age of 3. As well as amassing a huge collection of recorded material, Paul has also played the music on a variety of instruments, has helped to found such groups as Achalay, and has visited 8 Latin American countries, discovering the individual characteristics of their national music.

Stan Freed has coordinated music appreciation groups for U3A since time immemorial, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music.  His tastes are catholic, and embrace both serious and light music.  His presentation on Gershwin today discusses the more serious aspects of this great composer, focussing on his music for the concert hall.

Karl Bettelheim will explore a vast but relatively neglected topic by focusing on 2 American composers in depth and reviewing some others. He brings to his topic a lifelong love of music, and special interest in exploring new trends. A PhD in biological sciences, his wide experience includes spells in Austria, China, New Zealand and Australia. He currently tutors a U3A London class on the symphony in the 20^th Century.

Stan Clingman leads classes on music theatre for U3A in London. He describes his hobbies as listening to jazz and classical music, playing Mozart and Beethoven on the piano, collecting antiquarian books and maps, and American fiction. His presentation today will explore the stories and songs of the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter.

The Wigmore Hall is conveniently located near Bond Street tube station, and Freedom Passes rather than driving to the venue is strongly recommended. Parking is limited and expensive, and regretfully we cannot confirm disabled parking. The Bechstein room is located on the lower ground floor, and is accessible by lift.

An application form for this event, priced at £17 per head, follows this notice, and return of the form together with your cheque, will confirm your place. There are no tickets – simply turn up and register on the day.

 U3A LONDON REGION MUSIC STUDY DAY: THE SOUNDS OF AMERICA

                         WIGMORE HALL 22 MARCH 2014

                                       Application Form

I/we would like to come to this study day, and return this form together with my/our cheque (£17 per person) payable to London Region.

Name(s)…………………………………………………………………………………

Address………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………….

Telephone/email………………………………………………………………………

Your U3A………………………………………………………………………….

I understand this confirms my participation at the event; no further tickets will be issued.

Please return this form, together with your cheque, to Don Moore at 31 Lanherne House, 9 The Downs, Wimbledon SW20 8JG, or by email attachment to don.moore@blueyonder.co.uk (telephone 020 8946 3264 for urgent queries)

Important notes

*          If the event is fully subscribed when your form is returned, you will be      notified and placed on a waiting list. Your cheque will be returned if you are       ultimately unsuccessful.

*          If for any reason you are unable to attend, please notify Don Moore           immediately so that wait-listed members can be accommodated. A refund of         your fee cannot however be guaranteed.

This free history walk focuses on Quakers who were in business in the City from about 1660 to 1850.

Led by a Quaker, this walk explores the little known contribution Quakers have made to the business and commercial life of London and the United Kingdom.

We start at the Bank of England, and wander through Lombard Street, Gracechurch Street, Bishopsgate and finally along Worship Street to Bunhill Fields Burial Ground and Bunhill Quaker Meeting House.

A walk of about three miles, with frequent pauses [and a coffee stop] to hear about the people and places as we pass through.

After lunch at about 1345, your guide will take you to the Guildhall Clock Museum, where there are examples of a Quaker clockmaker’s work.

If you wish to stay for the visit to the Clock Museum, there are plenty of places to have lunch locally near Bunhill, or  bring your sandwiches to eat the in garden.  You would also be most welcome to join in a light, shared lunch with Bunhill Quakers, which starts at 1315.  We finish the walk at about 1530.

Please EMAIL   londonquakerwalk@gmail.com   to reserve your place.

Numbers are limited on each walk.