Bradford u3a

Bradford u3a Bradford u3a is a charitable organisation run by volunteers, by members for members, for people who are retired or part time retired.

Having a wide ranging social, interests. languages and events programme to enjoy old interests and learn new ones. View and download our new publicity flyer from this link.https://u3asites.org.uk/files/b/bradford/docs/flyera5v-4210809.pdf

Nine u3a members visited the Bill Bailey 'Extraordinary Portraits' exhibition at The Loading Bay in Bradford. Having en...
03/05/2026

Nine u3a members visited the Bill Bailey 'Extraordinary Portraits' exhibition at The Loading Bay in Bradford. Having enjoyed watching the series on television it was good to see the portraits in real life - and they are impressive and beautifully displayed. There was lots of discussion about the merits of each painting but I think one came out as the overall favourite. If you want to know which, go along and see the pictures.
Entrance is free but you are advised to book as some sessions sell out. The exhibition goes on until 26 July.
https://bradford2025.co.uk/event/extraordinary-portraits-with-bill-bailey
Thanks to Jean for this report.

Fourteen u3a members visited Thornton this week. First stop was the 'Plenty' cafe at South Square for a lovely lunch an...
01/05/2026

Fourteen u3a members visited Thornton this week. First stop was the 'Plenty' cafe at South Square for a lovely lunch and a quick look at the gallery. Then we went to the Bronte Birthplace for a guided tour, given by Mark, who told us so much about the house, the Brontes and Thornton. As a bonus he told us about Queen Camilla's visit last year to open the museum and how very relaxed and personable she was. We got to see the three bedrooms which are now available to book on AirB&B. If you have not been to the house yet, it is well worth a visit.
Thanks to Jean for this report.

24/04/2026

Current Issues group
The Debate over Reparations for Slavery
For centuries the slave trade was practised and slaves were kept by the colonial powers of Europe. Then in British lands slavery ended in 1833, in America it was 1865. But after all these years, is there an outstanding bill for those countries to settle? Surely not, many people say: the hurt which this outrage caused died with the victims. Yet many campaigners insist the debt is real because its after-effects are deeply rooted in modern society: forcibly breaking up slave families, the habit of physical violence, the ban on schooling for slaves, the extraction of wealth from bonded labour and its transmission to rich investors in Europe and America, the poisoning of race relations, the rooted attitudes of white superiority. These problems did not die with the victims – they have come down the generations to us.
But who should get reparations? What form should they take? How should they be calculated?
Is Development Aid not enough? Can reparations be justified when the 'guilty' countries still have problems of their own? Western campaigners and third world governments insist that justice must be done.
Thanks to John.

24/04/2026

Political History
S c a n d a l s
Politics is rife with scandal. In liberal democracies it is open; in dictatorships hidden. It has resonance because the ones involved are prominent and often powerful people. Of course, their enemies enjoy their discomfiture; large sums might be involved – or possibly crimes; national security may be at stake, there could be blackmail, burglary, bankruptcies, suicides, high-profile trials and low skulduggery. The press have a field day.
Political scandals usually rest on the twin pillars of s*x and money. How to get both and how they are abused. Here are a few names: Profumo, Epstein, Marconi 1912, the Pentagon papers, Monica Lewinsky, the Robert Maxwell pensions case, Mandelson (three times over), John Major's 'friendship' with Edwina Currie and so on. But some scandals do not fit the pattern: Dreyfus had nothing to do with money or s*x, nor did Watergate. Nixon just liked power – and sought to keep it.
So look out for the next one. If I might adapt an old saying: “Scandals are like streeetcars: there'll be another along any minute!”
Thanks to John.

HISTORY GROUPHO CHI MINH, Part IIHo was born in 1890 during Vietnam's experience as a French colony. His early life was...
21/04/2026

HISTORY GROUP
HO CHI MINH, Part II

Ho was born in 1890 during Vietnam's experience as a French colony. His early life was very unsettled with constant travelling, odd jobs, time in gaol and living under endless pseudonyms.
By 1945 he had emerged as leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement. Ho provided political leadership for the guerilla campaign against the French. After nine years of jungle warfare their efforts succeeded and the French withdrew.
At first he was friendly to the USA and expected its support as a leader of an anti-colonialist struggle but his communist politics at the height of the cold war, made this impossible. A shaky agreement was made at Geneva in 1954 providing for a temporary division of the country pending elections. America merely 'noted' it, rather than signing up. Next came phase 2 of the guerilla war, this time against the US-backed Catholic regime in the southern half of Vietnam (termed 'South Vietnam' by the Americans) and after 1965 against American ground forces direct. This was fought along with North Vietnam's allies in the south, the Viet Cong.
Ho never lived to see victory – he died in 1969 - and it took another six years before his forces won and Vietnam could be re-unified.
Thanks to John.

15/04/2026

At the 15 April meeting of the u3a Archaeology & Geology group Martin Owen gave a talk on Iron Age Hilltop and Promontory Forts in Wales. Whether it was really correct to call these ‘forts’ was one of the matters he discussed. Martin’s talk was illustrated with amazing site photographs. Our Iron Age ancestors could certainly pick locations with deeply impressive views. Group member Margaret Bromley is arranging a visit to York later in the year to see the Melsonby Hoard of Iron Age metalwork.
Thanks to Derek for this.

13/04/2026

The Ides of April (yes, really). A predictably enjoyable Beginners Latin Group meeting at the City Vaults this morning. A short Latin translation dealing with the selection of candidates for Pompeian elections. Seemingly you could support a candidate that you couldn’t actually trust. Elizabeth set us a surprise test, which naturally surprised everyone! A good time was had by all.
Thanks to Derek for this.

History groupRefugees from the Spanish Civil warRefugees from the Spanish civil war totalled hundreds of thousands with ...
10/04/2026

History group
Refugees from the Spanish Civil war

Refugees from the Spanish civil war totalled hundreds of thousands with 500,000 fleeing to France during the 1939 'Retirada' (retreat). Many were Republican supporters, politicians or intellectuals escaping persecution by Franco's forces. Whilst some found refuge in Mexico, others were interned in French camps, worked in forced labour companies or faced N**i imprisonment. Many Basque children were evacuated to Britain.

The Theatre group visited Leeds Playhouse for Andrea Levy's 'Small Island', an innovative production with brilliant acti...
02/04/2026

The Theatre group visited Leeds Playhouse for Andrea Levy's 'Small Island', an innovative production with brilliant acting. It was quite shocking to look back at the prejudice and language of the time.
Sadly, we were let down again by the Playhouse Kitchen as the 'food had not been delivered' so lunch options were extremely limited.

In March Book Group 3 discussed Philip Roth's 'Everyman'. Most of the group had enjoyed the book. It certainly gave us a...
31/03/2026

In March Book Group 3 discussed Philip Roth's 'Everyman'. Most of the group had enjoyed the book. It certainly gave us an interesting discussion. As death approaches Everyman reflects on his life and confronts the inevitability of death. Philip Roth is a superb writer and made an ordinary man's life fascinating. Our next book is Caryl Philip's 'A Distant Shore'.
Thanks to Jean for this feedback.

We had a very successful visit to York Gallery. The exhibition was 'Making Waves - The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints'...
31/03/2026

We had a very successful visit to York Gallery. The exhibition was 'Making Waves - The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints'. There was a large collection of exquisite prints including an original 'The Great Wave' by Hokusai. There were also some beautifully embroidered kimonos. We all had a chance to print our own 'great wave' to bring home. A highlight of the day was the gorgeous Japanese lunch we had in the gallery cafe. The exhibition runs until 30 August 2026.
Thanks to Jean for organising this day out, and sending the report.

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