News from u3a Luton

Our 70 groups have continued to meet monthly, fortnightly or weekly, and we are excited to be looking forward to our 30th Anniversary celebrations, which will take place on Saturday, 18th April 2026 at Christchurch, Bushmead, Luton from 10am - 4pm to which you are all invited to come and see what we are about. We will be publicising more details nearer to the time but are pleased to announce that the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire has agreed to join us to cut our anniversary cake.

In the meantime, we continue to meet at Venue 360 on the last Monday of each month (except December -please check website for details, www.luton.u3asite.uk ) and have had some diverse and interesting presentations. These include a talk about our local Whitbread Family and their successful brewery which gave employment to many Lutonians over many years. We had an amazing account of Alexander Litvinenko, the spy who solved his own murder. It was clever detective work, how two teapots were found, which were laced with Polonium-210 (the chemical which led to his death ), in two different hotels. I was intrigued as to how more people were not killed with the poison, traces of which were left everywhere by the two murderers as they travelled within London. It was a fascinating and sad tale of how lying, dying in his hospital bed, Alexander was able to help detectives solve the case. We also had Suzi Clark talking to us about giving up her job to care for her Dad, which she illustrated with her playing the guitar and singing a song along the way.

After quite a break from organising trips, members enjoyed a day out in Windsor by coach. Some of us alighted at Maidenhead, and enjoyed a cruise into Windsor on a perfect early Autumnal day, with time to enjoy lunch and a mooch around the shops before returning home. Those who continued to Windsor with the coach, were fortunate to arrive in time for Trooping of the Colour parading through the town. We hope our TripsRUs Committee with be able to offer another trip in the coming months.

Some of you may have encountered our Marketing Team as we set up a table at Inspire, Summer Fetes, and now Christmas Tree Festivals and Bazaars. If you wish to learn more how u3a Luton can benefit you in your life and read all about us, please do look us up at www.luton.u3asite.uk or we have a voicemail telephone number 01582 803923. We would love to meet you, and you will be made most welcome.

Carole Chamberlain, Vice-Chair, u3a Luton