Next Meeting at Beechwood Hall
We meet on the third Monday of each month at 2 pm at Beechwood Hall
End of Tarragon Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0NG
You are welcome to join us to find out more about Maidstone Invicta U3A
20th May 2024
Monthly speaker and AGM
The AGM will start at 2pm sharp, followed by the speaker at 2.30pm.
Bobbie Darbyshire, A Beginning, a Muddle and an End, Where do Novelists get Their Ideas?
In an entertaining, informative talk, Bobbie will explain how the complex world of character , location, plot and subplot arrives in a writer's mind. She is author of five novels and has won prestigious awards for fiction. She lives in London and hosts a writer's group.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
17/06/24 Valerie Cullen, The Lifecycle of the Bee and Products of the Hive
This will be a short presentation about the life cycle of the bee, followed by talking and showing examples of products she has made from the wax and honey including soap, lip balm, creams, candles, wax flowers and food. Honey provided by local bee keepers. Information sheets available for interested participants and honey cake with your tea and coffee. Honey and candle products to purchase
15/07/24 Susan Flipping, The Walls Have Tongues - Graffiti in Medieval Churches
As part of a nationwide project to record the graffiti, I’ve personally surveyed dozens of churches over eight years, climbing towers rich in pigeon poo, crawling around dusty pews and lying prone to examine strange marks at church mouse level. By recording everything, we hope to make sense of the mix of religious belief, folklore and terror that drove our ancestors. This talk looks at some of the most fascinating graffiti, considers what our forebears may have wanted to say and tells you how to find these mysterious markings yourself.
19/08/24 Simon Waterfield, The Tolpuddle Martyrs
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six agricultural labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, England, who, in 1834, were convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. They were arrested on charges under an obscure act during a labour dispute over cut wages. This is the story of the famous martyrs as told through the eyes of George Loveless one of the so called leaders. Listen to him telling the background to the case, his transportation, and what happened after.
16/09/24 Jane Scotchmer, Parks and Pulhamite, A Scenic Revolution
My talk highlights some of the first parks designed by visionaries who combined elements of 18th century landscape gardens with new Victorian passions for planting, glass houses, recreational sports etc.. It then goes on to show how these new parks led to a great demand for landscaping materials, including not easily available stone. This, in turn, created huge opportunities for three generations of the Pulham family who used their skills in stone modelling and plasterwork to create “Pulhamite cement”
21/10/24 Martin Lloyd, Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies
Thrill to a dramatic account of how a group of assassins brought about a change in passport regulations, how the unmasking of a spy caused a change in passport design and how, for one man, the passport itself became a killer.
08/11/24 Nick Oram Spitfire Pilots, Legends of the Air
Nick will speak about some of the less famous, but still important, Spitfire pilots who flew the iconic fighter. He covers not only the Battle of Britain era but also exploits from later in the war, drawing on his book Spitfire Pilots, Legends of the Air. His talk contains recordings from some of the veterans, allowing the audience to hear first-hand accounts of the exploits of Spitfire pilots as they saw action during the Battle of Britain and in air campaigns against the German and Italian air forces in North Africa and and Europe.
PREVIOUS EVENTS (2024)
15th April 2024
Christoph Bull, Myths and Legends of Gravesham and Dartford
A fully illustrated talk with loads of good stories. Enjoy the many myths and legends that cover this area of Kent - many almost forgotten now, but the talk brings them back to life.
18th March 2024
Imogen Corrigan, The Bayeux Tapestry
There is far more to be discovered about the Bayeux Tapestry than could ever be covered in one lecture. Who made it where and why are the most frequently asked questions - although they might also be seen as least important beside the information the tapestry itself offers us. It is not just a narrative of the most famous battle in English history, but also of the build up to it. It is a moral story showing that good cannot come to those who break their word.
PREVIOUS EVENTS (2023)
16th January 2023 The Griffin, Horse and Harp-
The Earl of Darnley at Cobham Hall and their Irish Connection. By Christoph Bull
John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley (1687–1728), was descended from a prominent Devon family via a cadet branch which had settled in County Meath, Ireland. Following his marriage in 1713 to Theodosia Hyde, 10th Baroness Clifton (of Leighton Bromswold), a descendant of Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox, also 3rd Earl of Darnley, he was in 1725 created Earl of Darnley (a reference to his ancestors the Stewarts of Darnley of Cobham) in the Peerage of Ireland. He was the son of Thomas Bligh, the son of John Bligh of Plymouth (son of William Bligh, a prosperous Plymouth merchant), a Commissioner of Customs and Excise despatched to Ireland in search of forfeited estates.
Christoph will tell us about the families’ progress from Ireland to Cobham and how their fortunes waxed and waned in the process.
20th February 2023 Sharon Wright
Sharon is an author, journalist and playwright who enjoys talking about true-life stories almost as much as writing them. In a long career she has written for everyone from Take a Break to The Guardian, The Lady to the New York Post. She has popped up on Woman’s Hour and as a Daily Express columnist. Now a best-selling nonfiction author she spends her days hiding in libraries, emerging only for a cup of tea and to write up startling discoveries in her books. She really enjoys giving talks because she meets lovely people and has a good time.
Before Cathy met Heathcliff, before Jane Eyre met Mr Rochester, Maria Branwell met Mr Brontë. She married him and their real Regency love story rivals any Brontë novel. Maria gave us Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, the most gifted literary siblings the world has ever known… then vanished from history for 200 years. Who was the missing mother of genius? Sharon shares her quest across the West Country and native West Riding to unearth Maria’s remarkable, untold life story for her bestselling biography, ‘Mother of the Brontës’.
20th March 2023
"The Amazing World of Magic"
John was admitted as a solicitor in 1976 and has practised law ever since. However, his main passion in life is magic and he has been performing as a magician for almost 50 years. He is a member of the world-famous Magic Circle and within that club has been elevated to the rank of Associate Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star. This accreditation is only held by about 350 magicians worldwide. He has raised thousands of pounds for charities with his talks on magic and his magical performances. Do not miss an opportunity to see him perform.
17th April 2023
Simon Waterfield – The Agincourt Archer
Simon is a teller of short stories mainly of a historical nature. After a brush with prostate cancer, he developed two talks on the subject and wrote a book about it.
A Fourteenth Century Archer tells his story. What was it like being recruited into the army?
Listen to him telling his story about his trip from Derbyshire to meet his Lords troops at Porchester Castle, his sailing to France, and his life in France culminating in the famous battle. What was it like to come home, a wealthy but changed man?
15th May 2023
10th Anniversary Party and AGM
Our next monthly meeting will be a significant one as it will embody our AGM, followed by a celebrity speaker, and a celebration of miu3a’s 10th anniversary.
With such a full programme we shall start a little earlier with the proceedings of the AGM commencing at 1:30pm sharp.
At approximately 2:00 pm our guest speaker, The Right Honorable Ann Widdecombe, will take the stage to talk about some of the many interesting things she has been engaged in during a very active life and take questions. Ann needs little introduction as she was our MP for many years but her talk will not be a political one.
After Ann’s talk, we shall have a short celebration of 10th years of miu3a, starting with our Member No.1 cutting the celebration cake and ending with toast to the future of miu3a aided by a glass of fizz. Soft drinks and tea and coffee will also be available. Please be aware that the cake will be regular cake and may contain sugar, gluten, dairy and nuts.
19th June 2023
From Farm to Jungle in Colombia by Jane Scotchmer
Jane is a keen traveller and amateur photographer who went to Colombia to do voluntary work and then to tour some of the country. She describes her work as a farmworker on a mountain farm and then takes you on a tour of some of the country.
She starts in the city of Medellin, once known as the murder capital of the world, and then takes you to the coffee zone, Caribbean coast, jungle and mountainous heartlands.
17th July 2023
KSS Air Ambulance
Who We Are
We are Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), and we fight every day to save lives. We are Team KSS, a close-knit team of dedicated, skilled, sector-leading experts with an incredible level of expertise. We are passionate about what we do which drives us to always deliver our very best.
We’re driven by our purpose of saving lives and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients. Last year alone we responded to over 3,200 incidents. We are fearless and tireless in fighting to save every life.
Our charity headquarters and forward operating base are located at Rochester Airport, with our aircraft hangared and maintained at Redhill Aerodrome. When the call comes, we can reach any part of Kent, Surrey or Sussex in under 30 minutes.
As we burst into A&E I called out ‘My son is four. Flown in by Air Ambulance. Where is he?’
Chris Laker
We were rushed over to a resus bed. As the curtain was pulled back, Alden said, ‘My butt hurts.’ I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight. He had a broken pelvis and horribly bruised legs. Though in a lot of pain, he was alive and being terribly brave.
Unbelievably, Alden’s legs weren’t broken. The only explanation is that he was so young at the time, so his bones were still growing and more flexible. This, and the fact that he was cushioned by another body, of course.
Even though he was hurt, oddly I consider it one of the best days of my life, because Alden is still with us. There is no way he’d be alive if it wasn’t for Sue, Dr Harriet, Dr Malcolm, and Paramedic Dean who kept him safe, when we couldn’t.
You hear people say they’d do anything for their family, but Sue really did. Alden was lucky in many ways, but it is thanks to KSS and Sue that he’s still here to tell the tale.
18th September 2023
Christoph Bull - The Good, the Bad and The Ugly; 160 Amusing Years of Kent Public Libraries
You might think that public library history is as dry as dust - think again. This talk will astonish you with stories about a service we take for granted and know little about. Anything but quiet!
16th October 2023
John Griffiths Colby – Staff Nurse Emily Connell's Autograph Book
Our speaker on 16/10/23 is John Griffiths Colby, talking about 'Staff Nurse Emily Connell's Autograph Book', which promises to be a very interesting topic.
“Emily Connell was a remarkable woman; hailing from Bootle and having enrolled in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in 1908, she was appointed as Staff Nurse at 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff when war broke out in 1914.
As well as serving there throughout the First World War, she kept an autograph book in which her patients drew and wrote messages.
This is the story of her own highs and lows and struggles with the system. It is also the story of the remarkable work the TFNS did with Shell Shock sufferers and sheds light on some of the soldiers who left their incredible pictures and anecdotes in her book.”
20th November 2023
Sue Shaw - Tanzania Revealed
This talk is about an unexpected trip, the wildlife and how this trip changed her life. Sue doesn't want to give the surprise away, so you will have to come along to hear the exciting details in person.
Sue is a popular presenter and storyteller who has spoken at events around the country. She is also an instructor for speakers and an Ambassador for Heart of Kent Hospice.
