Monthly Talk: Museum without Walls
2025-01-15 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
PLEASE NOTE that due to problems with the heating system at the Church this event will take place at the FREE CHURCH HALL in Northway

Speaker: Judy Smith. Chair HGS Heritage Virtual Museum
The Virtual Museum was founded in 2018 when it became apparent that establishing a physical museum would be unfeasible due to cost and location challenges. In 2019, Judy Smith became Chair of the newly formed organisation.
With a deep passion for social history, Judy has worked with various organisations and charities, specialising in PR, communications, and marketing.
The museum benefits from a dedicated team of experienced volunteer archivists and researchers, along with Steve Morris—the visionary behind HGS List—whose dream was to create this extraordinary ‘Museum without Walls’.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this event, please register your interest in attending using the following form.

Monthly Talk: Gandhi vs Churchill: Triumph and Disaster at the End of the Raj
2025-02-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Alyth, North Western Reform Synagogue, London, Select, NW11 7EN, United Kingdom
Speaker: Peter Popham, Author
While Stalin and Hitler caused immense destruction, a modest Indian, defying Churchill, liberated the British Empire’s crown jewel without violence. Peter Popham will examine how Gandhi achieved this, and what his legacy is today. Why was Churchill, effective in war, powerless to stop him?
Peter Popham, based in London, developed a fascination with Gandhi while serving as The Independent’s India correspondent, which inspired his acclaimed novel India Be Damned, featuring Gandhi as a central character. He has also authored several other books, including the global bestseller The Lady and the Peacock.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

New Members Tea
2025-03-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Alyth, North Western Reform Synagogue, London, Select, NW11 7EN, United Kingdom
Are you new to HGS u3a or already a member? Join us for our New Members’ Tea at the NW Reform Synagogue, Alyth Gardens, NW11 7EN — a friendly gathering to meet fellow members, chat with Chair Carole Spiers and group organisers Tina Stanton and Malcolm Brahams, share your thoughts, and explore group sessions. This free event just needs you to book via the form below to help us with numbers!

Monthly Talk: Ecuador & Galapagos: In Search of the Blue Footed Booby
2025-03-17 03:00 - 16:00 | Alyth, North Western Reform Synagogue, London, Select, NW11 7EN, United Kingdom
Speaker: David Powers, Former BBC Journalist
Ecuador and the Galapagos are home to an astonishing variety of wildlife, including over 1,600 bird species. Keen traveller and photographer David Powers will present highlights from his recent visit, showcasing his stunning photographs of hummingbirds, spectacled bears, magnificent condors in flight, and more. One unforgettable moment was capturing the mating dance of blue-footed boobies on video. Though comical and ungainly on land, these birds transform during their elegant courtship ritual, making it a truly remarkable sight.
David Powers is a former BBC journalist who spent much of his career in Malawi and Japan. As Tokyo correspondent in the 1980s and 90s, he reported on Emperor Hirohito’s death, Japan’s bubble economy, and interviewed Mikhail Gorbachev. He also guided Michael Palin in Around the World in Eighty Days. After retiring early, he ran a translation agency with his late wife, authored over a dozen web development books, and created LinkedIn Learning video courses. A founder trustee of HGS U3A, David has managed its website since 2017.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

Monthly Talk: Good Nutrition for Older Adults
2025-05-21 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
How to improve your memory, reduce stress, anxiety and pain, increase your energy and improve your sleep
Speaker: Dr Marilyn Glenville, Nutritionist & Psychologist
Discover how good nutrition can transform your health and well-being. This talk will show you practical ways to enhance your memory, reduce stress, anxiety, and pain, boost energy levels, and improve sleep quality. Learn which foods and supplements can support cognitive function, emotional balance, and overall vitality as we age. Packed with actionable advice, this session is perfect for anyone looking to help themselves live healthier, more fulfilling lives naturally.
Dr. Marilyn Glenville PhD, the UK’s leading nutritionist in women’s health, is the author of Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s. A former President of the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of Medicine, she is a registered nutritionist, and psychologist.
With over 35 years of expertise, Dr. Glenville specialises in natural approaches to female hormone issues. Her practice, Glenville Nutrition, offers global consultations via Zoom and has clinics in Belgravia, London, and Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
A bestselling author of 17 books, translated into 20+ languages with over a million copies sold, she is a sought-after speaker and trusted media voice on women’s health.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

Monthly Talk: Suez—A Botched Operation Caused by a Botched Operation?
2025-06-19 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Antony Eden, a distinguished soldier and foreign secretary succeeded Churchill as the next Conservative Prime Minister. Yet he will be remembered for the abject diplomatic failure of Britain’s desire to retain control of the Suez Canal in 1956. He was a sick man at the height of the Suez crisis having suffered the consequences of botched surgery. In this talk, Alan will explain what went wrong with both the military and surgical operations and ask were they connected.
Alan Silman is Professor of Musculoskeletal Health and Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University. Prior to that he was Medical Director of the charity Arthritis Research UK. He has written over 750 research articles and published 10 books. He is passionate about communication of health and medical matters to lay audiences; and during the Covid-19 pandemic he hosted a public facing blog which reached 90 countries. In his spare time, he loves the theatre and directed his first play in 2024.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

Monthly Talk: Charlemagne—Warrior and Architect of Europe
2025-07-14 15:00 - 16:00
A formidable warrior and devout Christian king, Charlemagne expanded his empire, relentlessly fighting to unite lands and eradicate paganism. Crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in 801, his reign brought stability, earning him the title “Father of Europe”.
Despite being illiterate, he fostered a cultural and intellectual revival—the Carolingian Renaissance—establishing a renowned court, promoting education, and overseeing the creation of historical works and manuscripts. His legacy endures, inspiring myths and admiration for centuries.
This talk will be presented by Eleanor Levy, who earned a history degree from UCL after studying at The Open University. She spent 20 years at Regent’s College working with American undergraduates on their semester abroad program. Now an active member of HGS u3a, she runs three groups from home, combining presentations, tutorials, and field trips. Passionate about adult education, she finds it both rewarding and stimulating, appreciating the fresh perspectives participants bring to each session.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

2025 Annual General Meeting
2025-07-24 10:30 - 12:30 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Notice is hereby given that the 8th Annual General Meeting of HGS u3a will be held on Thursday 24 July at 10.30 am at the Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, North Square, NW11 7AG.
We need at least 10% of the members to attend to constitute a quorum. If the meeting is not quorate, matters on the Agenda will be discussed informally and recommendations can be made to the Trustees but no formal vote on a resolution can be held.
If you cannot attend in person, please use the Form of Proxy to attend and vote as you wish.
AGM Agenda

Apologies
Quorum check
To receive and approve the Minutes of the 2024 Annual General Meeting
Trustees’ Report
Treasurer’s Report together with the Independent Examiner’s Report
To receive the Annual Report and Financial Accounts for the year ending 31 May2025
Members’ Open Forum
AGM formally closed

The following documents are available prior to the AGM:

Minutes of the 2024 AGM
Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Account

Talk by Maurice (Maish) Collins
After the formal meeting please stay to hear one of Maurice (Maish) Collins’ highly entertaining talks. This time it’s entitled:
Grandma’s (and Grandpa’s) Labour-Saving Devices: A Hands-On Journey into the Past
Step back in time and explore the ingenious gadgets and tools that made life easier for our grandparents and great-grandparents. In this interactive session, you’ll have the chance to watch, see, touch, handle, and even guess the purpose of these fascinating items. A nostalgic and fun experience that brings history to life — full of surprises and stories from a bygone era!
To attend, please book your place via this link.

2025 Open Day
2025-09-11 10:30 - 12:30 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Discover the world of learning and friendship at HGS u3a. Come along and find out about the more than 60 activities we offer, including book groups, bridge, climate emergency, cycling, current affairs, history, monthly talks, music, table tennis, walking, social events, yoga, and unforgettable outings. All for a small annual subscription.

Monthly Talk: Staying Safe in Today’s World
2025-09-17 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Join a member of the local police team for a practical and informative session designed especially for older adults. The talk will cover how to stay safe at home, when out and about, and online.
Topics include how to spot and avoid common scams, fraud prevention, home security tips, personal safety, recognising and reporting suspicious behaviour, and basic online safety. You’ll also learn what to do in emergencies such as phone theft or identity fraud. This engaging session aims to boost your confidence and awareness, helping you feel safer and more secure in your everyday life.
Police Sergeant Ed Stokes has been a Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police Service for 18 years, having worked across London in a variety of roles. He is currently the Ward Sgt for Childs Hill and Garden Suburb.
Doors open at 2.30 pm for refreshments and socialising. To help us cater for this talk, please register your interest in attending using the following form:

New Members Meeting
2025-10-20 14:15 - 16:15
Are you new to HGS u3a or already a member? Join us for our New Members’ Meeting at the HGS Free Church, North Square, London NW11 7AG — a friendly gathering to meet fellow members, chat with Chair Carole Spiers and group organisers Tina Stanton and Malcolm Brahams, share your thoughts, and explore group sessions.
Use the following form to book your place:

Monthly Talk: Climate Change—What’s Next?
2025-10-23 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Climate change continues to accelerate, and while the solutions are clear—reducing fossil fuel use, eating less meat, and consuming less—progress remains insufficient. The vision of a low-carbon society with energy-efficient homes, renewable energy, and sustainable lifestyles has yet to be realized.
Addressing climate change requires strong national and international action, ensuring benefits are shared, especially with the Global South, and costs are borne by those who can afford them. Unfortunately, international agencies like COPs, the IPCC, and the UN are weakening, revealing the political realities at play. In this talk, the speaker will explore steps the UK can take to address climate change, with a focus on government policies.
Alan Morton has been a dedicated member of the Muswell Hill Sustainability Group and its community energy company, en10ergy Limited, for many years. With a background in museums of science and technology, he spent the majority of his career as Curator of Energy and Modern Physics at the Science Museum in London.
Use the following form to book your place:

Monthly Talk: George Gershwin—Bridging Jazz and Classical Genius
2025-11-17 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
George Gershwin (1898–1937) was a musical genius of the 20th century who seamlessly blended classical music with the rhythms of jazz. A prolific composer, conductor, and pianist, he created over 500 songs with his lyricist brother Ira, contributing to iconic films and musicals such as A Star is Born and An American in Paris.
His groundbreaking folk opera Porgy and Bess remains a cornerstone of American music. While celebrated for his popular hits, Gershwin sought recognition as a serious classical composer, a goal reflected in enduring works like Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F. This talk explores the life, music, and legacy of a composer who reshaped the sound of American culture.
Judith Kasriel is a music enthusiast, currently passionate about Gershwin, though her only formal qualification is an O-level in music. During lockdown, she began giving talks on composers like Bernstein, Shostakovich, and Gershwin, inspired by invitations from Belsize Park U3A.
Beyond music, she is active in HCS Choral Society, teaches English to Ukrainians, enjoys bridge, book club, skiing, and cherishes time with her 10 grandchildren.

Monthly Talk: Lost & Found—The Work of Christie's Restitution Department
2026-01-19 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Richard Aronowitz, Global Head of Restitution at Christie’s, will speak about his role as a 1933–1945 provenance and restitution expert, the background to the work of his department, and the difficult issues and challenges that he encounters in this important work, with reference to some of the most interesting cases of loss and recovery that he has been involved with over the last 20 years.
Richard began his career in the art world as a furniture porter at Bonhams in 1993, then joined Sotheby’s as an Impressionist & Modern Art specialist in 1997, before leaving to become Director of the Ben Uri Gallery in 2003. He rejoined Sotheby’s as European Head of Restitution in 2006, then moved to Christie’s in March 2022. Richard is the author of the novels Five Amber Beads, It’s Just the Beating of my Heart, An American Decade, and Night Comes Down, as well as a book of poetry, Life Lessons

New Members Tea
2026-02-12 14:30 - 16:30 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Please join us for our New Members Tea at the HGS Free Church in North Square, a friendly gathering to meet fellow members and chat to organisers and find out more about u3a events and activities. You are welcome to come even if you are not a new member.
To register for this event, please use the following form:

Monthly Talk: How Medical Advances Since 1890's Benefited One Patient
2026-02-25 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
In this talk, Gordon Rustin uses the remarkable medical history of one female cancer patient to show how she benefited from 21 lines of therapy. The patient’s story traces back through time to reveal how the diagnostic tools and treatments she experienced were discovered—a journey spanning 130 years of medical innovation, blending history with the excitement of modern advances.
Gordon Rustin takes the audience back in time to explore how the diagnostic tools and treatments the patient experienced were discovered, blending the history of medicine with the excitement of the extraordinary medical advances achieved over the past 130 years.
To help us cater for this talk, please register using the following form:

Monthly Talk: The Great Exhibition of 1851
2026-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
In London’s Hyde Park on 1st May 1851, a spectacular international exhibition was opened by Queen Victoria. It was the first World Trade Fair. The concept was extraordinarily ambitious—to bring together works from all over the world to display the great industrial and artistic achievements of mankind. Above all, it was intended to advance British manufacture and trading interests. It broke many records and lived on in the public imagination for decades. The talk charts the story of The Great Exhibition from its inception to its legacy.
Angela Cox is an art historian and independent lecturer. She was the first Head of Education at the National Portrait Gallery for ten years and a former Course Director of V&A Year Courses on the Fine and Decorative Arts. She specialises in British painting, most recently researching portraits of children painted in the 16th and 17th centuries. She has organised courses on aspects of British art at the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, Birkbeck College and elsewhere.
To help us cater for this event, please register using the following form:

Monthly Talk: "Americon" - What Is America Doing with Our Communication, Culture, and Commerce?
2026-05-18 15:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
What’s Happened? Why? — and What We Can Do? Talk and Short Film
Once upon a time Britain and America were “two nations divided by a common language”. But have we allowed ourselves to be coca-colonised to the point of no return? It started in our kitchens, extended to our communications, and inflitrated our language, shopping and politics. Should we fear Silicon (or Silly Con) Valley’s power? With our obsession for instant delivery and streaming, has the cookie finally crumbled or can we fight back?. In this witty, insightful session, Steven Fogel examines America’s cultural pull—what we gain and lose—and shows a short film to take you on a journey from nostalgia to shock—and perhaps hope.
Steven has been a keen US observer over many years. For many years he made monthly trips to the Atlantic as a US/UK law firm managing partner and then as adviser to investment and cultural organisations. After a career change from law, he chaired an investment management company. His trustee and board work has included London University, the Freud Museum, a dance company and musical artists agency. He has written textbooks and won gardening awards.
To help us cater for this event, please register using the following form:

And The Cello Came Too — A Story of Survival
2026-06-11 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Robin Lustig discusses his new book And The Cello Came Too, in which he tells the story of his German Jewish family, starting with his earliest ancestors in 14th century Nuremberg, taking in rabbis and scholars in the nineteenth century, their persecution under the Nazis and the family’s eventual rebirth after the Second World War.
Robin Lustig began his journalistic career with Reuters news agency, then spent twelve years at The Observer before joining the BBC in 1989. He presented The World Tonight on Radio 4 for more than twenty years and received the Charles Wheeler award for outstanding contribution to broadcast journalism in 2013. His first book, Is Anything Happening?, was published in 2017.
If you would like to attend this talk, please register using the following form:

Monthly Talk: A Beginning, a Muddle & an End—Where do Novelists Get their Ideas?
2026-06-17 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Drawing on the experience of many well-known authors, in an entertaining, informative talk, Bobbie Darbyshire will explain how, from a few sketchy initial ideas and the wide variety of inspirational sources available to us all, invention gradually stimulates more invention to produce a novel. Readers and non readers will gain new insight into the creative process that all of us express in some way, and aspiring writers in the audience will learn they need no special skills, just the desire to write and perseverance.
Winner of the 2008 Fiction Prize at the National Academy of Writing and the 2010 New Delta Review Creative Non-Fiction Prize, Bobbie is the author of five novels, including The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker and The Third Bus. Before becoming a writer full-time, her career was in social research and government policy, including a stint as a cabinet minister’s private secretary. She has also worked as barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, care assistant, and volunteer adult-literacy teacher, and she has been hosting a writer’s group for 25 years.
If you would like to attend this talk, please register using the following form:

AGM & Monthly Talk: Food and Nutrition to Optimise Healthy Ageing
2026-07-23 14:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Please join us for our Annual General Meeting followed by an engaging, down-to-earth talk, designed especially for an older audience. The formal notification, with the agenda, and resolutions to be voted on can be downloaded here. You must be a current member of HGS u3a to attend the AGM.
Please register your intention to attend the AGM through this link. If you cannot attend in person, please complete the Form of Proxy.
The business of the AGM will be conducted at 2.00 pm, followed by a break. The talk, which is also open to non-members, will begin at 3.00 pm.
The talk will explore how our eating habits have changed over time, the key food groups and nutrients that matter most as we age, and simple, practical choices that support both body and brain—plus we’ll bust a few common myths along the way. Expect clear takeaways, no fads, and plenty of ideas you can put into practice straight away.
Val Mowlam trained as a nurse and health visitor, working in Yorkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. She gained a BA in humanities with Open University She worked for 3 years with a continence and stoma care product company, leading clinical trials.
After 3 years in the role of HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator at St Stephens (now Chelsea and Westminster) and Westminster hospitals, she returned to community nursing, as Clinical Nurse Manager and Trust Manager in Oxfordshire
Leading up to retirement from the NHS she gained a degree in Nutritional Therapy and subsequently worked independently as a Nutritional Therapist combined with some lecturing and regulatory work in the field. She is now fully retired.

Monthly Talk: The Magic of Entertainment: Fun, Wonder and Surprise
2026-09-16 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Discover the enduring appeal of magic as a performing art in this lively and entertaining talk. Explore how magic has captivated audiences through the ages, remains popular in modern entertainment, and can also support learning, therapy and personal development. Expect insight, enjoyment and a little wonder along the way.
Harold Straker is an award-winning magician who has entertained audiences worldwide. A member of the prestigious Magic Circle for over 30 years, he was promoted to Associate of the Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star in recognition of his performing excellence.

New Members Tea
2026-10-05 14:30 - 16:30 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Please join us for our New Members Tea at the HGS Free Church in North Square, a friendly gathering to meet fellow members and chat to organisers and find out more about u3a events and activities. You are welcome to come even if you are not a new member.

Monthly Talk: How Artists Change Art History
2026-10-15 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
This engaging talk by Estelle Lovatt unlocks the ideas and creative methods behind some of the world’s greatest artworks. The talk explores how master artists reshaped art history—period after period, “ism” after “ism”—from the Renaissance to Contemporary Art. Expect Leonardo, Rembrandt, Manet, Picasso, Rothko and Tracey Emin, among others. It also looks at headline-grabbing modern moments: the 1969 moon landing, the unmade bed, the floating shark, and even a pile of bricks.
Estelle Lovatt FRSA is an art critic, broadcaster and engaging speaker, known for making art accessible, lively and thought-provoking. Trained as a painter, with a background in art history and exhibition curation, she brings expert insight to everything from cave art to Banksy. She has contributed across print, radio and television, including Channel 5, the BBC, ITN, Sky, Al Jazeera, CNN and LBC, and leads the Constable’s Hampstead walk tour.
Photo credit: Cristina Schek

Monthly Talk: Artificial Intelligence: Your Free, Expert Digital Assistant
2026-11-16 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Already in your life — and easier to use than you think
AI is already reshaping your world — and you’ve been using it longer than you think. Now, free tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini put extraordinary capability at your fingertips: planning holidays, solving household technical problems, for some, even optimising your energy bills. With a simple ‘prompt’, you can direct these tools like a personal expert. But this is just the beginning — AI agents working in teams will transform jobs, healthcare and education. Come and find out what that means for you and your family.
Robert Sprigge has always been on the side of people just trying to get on with their job — bridging the gap between technical specialists and everyone else. He gave some of the first public demonstrations of Ceefax, helped promote the early Web, and produced one of the first email newsletters, keenly read by Jack Schofield, tech editor of the Guardian.

Monthly Talk: Jan27
2027-01-18 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
TBA

Monthly Talk: Feb27
2027-02-23 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG

Monthly Talk: Whatever Happened to Our Language?
2027-03-17 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
Clichés, platitudes, absence of meaning and poor delivery in today’s spoken communication
Why is it that those involved in public speaking, particularly those whose job it is to present programmes on radio and television, as well as those taking part, tend to fall into patterns of largely meaningless language?
The talk looks at these patterns, notes how they reduce or dull our ability to effectively communicate, and suggests what we can do to improve things.
Roger Rose is a retired barrister whose professional career was spent mainly in the practice and teaching of drafting legislation. After a number of years at the English Bar he worked in Malawi, and then Kenya, where he became First Parliamentary Counsel.
He has also had a career in amateur and professional acting, and has given many talks locally. His other interests include singing, and birdwatching, for both of which he leads HGS u3a groups.

Monthly Talk: May27
2027-05-17 15:00 - 16:00

Monthly Talk: Jun27
2027-06-16 15:00 - 16:00 | HGS Free Church, North Square, London, NW11 7AG
