Some of our members are avid bloggers, and blog about the walks and other events that they go on. They are all here! Enjoy finding out what we have got up to in the past. We ve put in one or two older ones and hope that the library of blogs grows in the future.

• 2026 AGM
  The AGM was well attended and the business was completed in a, well, business like way. Minutes, chair' report and 25 4-25 accounts if you are interested afterwards we had a talk on Scams from Mandy Massam from Oxfordshire Age UK, notes of this will follow, and be in the Monthly Newsletter.
• Mesopotamia, Oxford 8th May 2026
  One of the great things about the walking group is that you get to see areas that you dont know ... personally I ve discovered the locale - both town and country and really enjoyed doing so. This walk was inspired by the book ‘Oxford Hidden Walks’ by Victoria Bentata Azaz - we followed, more… Read more: Mesopotamia, Oxford 8th May 2026
• Historic Churches visit Adderbury
  The group’s April visit was to St Mary’s Church in Adderbury. This is a really beautiful church full of history. We had an excellent guide, who explained the fascinating history of St Mary’s. The land that the church stands on was gifted in about 1015 by Aethelstan son of Ethelred the Unready who wrote to… Read more: Historic Churches visit Adderbury
• Scrabble
  We have had our March session of Scrabble. Two groups played, one of which had three players who between them scored over 500 points. Throughout the game there was keen competition to score as highly as possible and to finish first.  The highest scoring player was “pipped” at the post by a player who used… Read more: Scrabble
• Historic Churches goes to St Mary, Chipping Norton
  The 15th Feb was when we visited this amazing Church .... HUGE, and so bright and airy as it has a magnificent Clearstorey almost all the way round the Nave. It was on our radar as I d been to a Lumos Concert the previous month, and was blown away by the Building; clearly there… Read more: Historic Churches goes to St Mary, Chipping Norton
• Walking Group tours Oxford - 13 Feb 2026
• 21st Century Gardening - Speaker Meeting
  Tim Walker is a most distinguished, and entertaining speaker - his CV included running the Oxfordshire Botannical Garden for 27 years, and he now lectures at Sommerville College. Tim spoke of the changes that had happened in gardening and how we need to continue to evolve to meet the challenges of climate change - a… Read more: 21st Century Gardening - Speaker Meeting
• Historic Churches visit Bartlemas Chapel
  This was so differrent from our previous visit - the Russian Orthodox in New Marston! there, a highly decorated and ornate Church, home to a thriving congregation and commmunity. Here, though similarly sized, a plain building, lacking almost any ornamentation or focus for worship, and only used once a month for Evensong. We were met… Read more: Historic Churches visit Bartlemas Chapel
• Speaker Meeting - Wills and Powers of Attorney
  Our speaker was Anna Boucher, Senior associate from the Burnside Partnership who are based at Combe Mill - Anna had been headhunted by our Chair, Sue, who had asked if she'd do a talk for us. Anna chose to use our microphone "Rock Star" style (hand held) and she certainly proved to be a star,… Read more: Speaker Meeting - Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Three Months in the Life of the Photography Group
  This group has been running for almost two years, and the membership is fairly settled, with a waiting list of those hoping to join! If no-one leaves the group, which we feel is operating at optimum numbers, the only way to solve the waiting list issue will be for someone to step up and volunteer… Read more: Three Months in the Life of the Photography Group
• Historic Churches visit the Russian Orthodox Church New Marston
  We were welcomed by Fr Stephen Platt, the Priest, who generously gave of his time despite there just being 3 of us who made it to the Church - the day was wet, and the busses proved unreliable for one. Fr Stephen gave us an amazing talk on the history of the Church - the… Read more: Historic Churches visit the Russian Orthodox Church New Marston
• And soft, refreshing rain ....
  12 members of the walking group set out in damp weather from Yarnton, on Friday 12th December. We meandered around the Yarnton and Begbroke areas - along Gravel Pit Lane, past a playground, across Sandy Lane and around the Begbroke Science Park, then North to the Woodland and west parallel with Rowell Brook; over the… Read more: And soft, refreshing rain ....
• Bess - the Wife of Sir Walter Raleigh
  Our speakers meeting on the 4th December was Anna Beer, who's passion is about Bess, the Wife of the famous Sir Walter Raleigh. Who, I hear you say, and why .... but Anna had become enthusted during her research into the period and shared her enthusiasm with us in a most engaging talk, that took… Read more: Bess - the Wife of Sir Walter Raleigh
• Historic Churches visits Christchurch Cathedral, Nov. 2025
  We'd prebooked a group visit with the Cathedral - we 've done so annually for the past 2 years there are blogs for 2023 - and 2024 and this year our Guide was Steve, and we did the Architectural Tour. A bit of a misnomer really; while we looked at the Archiecture of the Cathedral,… Read more: Historic Churches visits Christchurch Cathedral, Nov. 2025
• Blenhiem Walk 28th November 2025
  It was a lovely morning for a walk, and as always the Blenheim Park provided a great place; we rendezvous'd at the Oxford Museum, and then strode out to Footpath Entrance (the Green Gate) to Blenhiem Footpath Entrance, opposite the Water Meadows, and so into Blenheim Park itself. We followed a circular path that skirted… Read more: Blenhiem Walk 28th November 2025
• Speakers Meeting, HEDGEROWS!
  The room was full for Jessica's talk - Jessica is from the charity "Wild Oxfordshire" and she knows her stuff about hedges .... mainly the ones that we see on the sides of the road and forming field bounaries, but which we may well take for granted as just "parts of the landscape". But they… Read more: Speakers Meeting, HEDGEROWS!
• Duns Tew, October 2025
  Duns Tew was on our "must visit" list, as when we visited Hampton Poyle, several years ago, we discovered that the Rector of Hampton Poyle, Richard Thomason, had gone on to St Mary, Duns Tew, where he had ended his days "hung in chains from the Tower" during the Reformation, due to his refusal to… Read more: Duns Tew, October 2025
• Historic Churches visit St Mary, Freeland
  We visited the relatively modern church of St Mary, Freeland on the 18th September 2025. The Church was consecrated in 1869, by Bishop Wilberforce, had initially 4 bells with 2 more added as recently as 2010 - there was surprise that at this - they willnot have been cheap, casting, and then installing them. Most… Read more: Historic Churches visit St Mary, Freeland
• A walk along the Thames from Eynsham
  Jackie led  the walk on Friday 12th September, and we started off in the Eynsham  Back Lan car park. Walking through Eynsham,  we walked down to the  River Thames which we crossed and then along the Thames Path for a mile so before re-crossing the Thames, and heading back to Eysham for coffee  (etc) David… Read more: A walk along the Thames from Eynsham
• The Historic Churches Group visit St Peter and St Paul, Deddington
  August 22nd saw us girding our loins and voyaging to distant Deddington - I think everyone drove, or shared lifts, and there were about 20 of us in total. Deddington, historically, has been a significant place - Bishop Odo, William the Conquerors step brother, was awarded the land around after the Conquest, and built a… Read more: The Historic Churches Group visit St Peter and St Paul, Deddington
• Annual Social ....
  We held this at our usual venue, St Hugh's, on the 8th August - it is a chance for our groups to showcase their work to our members and to others who who are interested in join and want to find out what the u3a is about. There was Tea (of course), and cake (of… Read more: Annual Social ....
• Photography Group - The Start
  On Friday 9th February 2024, after some informal conversations at the regular speaker meetings, a meeting was set up in the Woodstock Bowls Club, and it was felt that there was sufficient interest from those attending to add a Photography Group to the Woodstock & District u3a interest group portfolio. Meetings would be held monthly,… Read more: Photography Group - The Start
• Shorter Walk Group goes to Wytham Woods
  The shorter walks on 2nd May enjoyed an hour's walk in Wytham woods . We saw the bluebells but also numerous wild flowers along side the paths. We were struck by a profusion  of May blossom and also the amount of felling of ash due to ash due back. A notice on the logs promised young… Read more: Shorter Walk Group goes to Wytham Woods
• It's a wrap
  Our speaker in March was Robert Brewer, who spoke about his experiences as a "Supporting Artist" (SA) in the Film and TV world - "Extras" to you and me. Robert told us a bit about his previous life, then how he chanced upon an Ad. at his Local Library; invited to a photoshoot, and after… Read more: It's a wrap
• Walking Group, 28 Feb 25 - University Parks to Iffley
  All nine of us met at the Bevington road bus stop in Oxford on a cold and foggy Friday in February and walked through University Parks where we enjoyed a spectacular display of spring flowers. From there we crossed over to Mansfield Road and stopped to admire New College’s latest building - The Gradel Quadrangle.… Read more: Walking Group, 28 Feb 25 - University Parks to Iffley
• Combe Church visit
  The "Historic Churches" group visited St Lawrence, Combe on the 20th Feb. Linda, the Church Administrator and former Churchwarden was our Guide, welcoming us with (fresh) coffee, tea, biscuits - thank you! Linda told us much about the village, the Church, and their history since - before - the Doomsday book. The Village is formally… Read more: Combe Church visit
• Walking Group... St Valentine's Day 14 Feb 2025
  The walk started in Bladon but we rendezvoused on the S7 bus, some of us getting on in Kidlington, and others in Woodstock. Getting off at the White House in Bladon, then up to the Church, through the Church Yard, past Churchill's grave, and then to the Bladon and Worton Heath. The footpath there was… Read more: Walking Group... St Valentine's Day 14 Feb 2025
• Welcome to my World
  Was the enigmatic title of the talk on Thursday 6th Feb at St. Hughs in Woodstock. Our speaker, William French had, in fact, lived in several worlds - starkly contrasting; he lived with his family in Swanmere. Bucks, and when it came to leave school he decided to join the Royal Navy - his mother… Read more: Welcome to my World
• Historic Churches go to Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry - C. S. Lewis' Church
  Thursday 16th Jan and the Historic Churches Group went visited CS Lewis's Church .... it looks mediaeval, but was in fact only completed in 1849 - the Architect designed it to look ancient so it fitted in with the (still quite rural) landscape around it. There's plenty on the Church's own website - a video… Read more: Historic Churches go to Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry - C. S. Lewis' Church
• Walk around Farmoor Reservoir
  Our last walk of the year was around Farmoor Reservoir on Friday 27th December - its a bit of a trek to get there but once you are there, its a nice, level, flat 3 miles around the fully paved perimeter path, with the option of a shorter option via the causeway, which makes the… Read more: Walk around Farmoor Reservoir
• Christchurch Cathedral "Windows" Tour
  The Historic Churches group undertook its annual trip to Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford on the 19th December; there were 16 of us, and we met our guides Ann and Patrick, who split the group into two, and off we went. I was in Patrick's group, and we started with some windows in the North wall,… Read more: Christchurch Cathedral "Windows" Tour
• Kidlington Christmas Tree Festival
  Last year we entered a Christmas Tree in the Woodstock Methodist Church 's festival. The tree is making a second appearance at the Kidlington Festival and it's in great company. The Festival is on the 14th and 15th, full information here. Do pop in, there's live music and of course refreshments. Our tree will go… Read more: Kidlington Christmas Tree Festival
• 
  Our Speaker Meeting in December 24 was about Machu Picchu
  Our speaker was Gloria Camino, who spoke of the history, culture, significance, and beauty of Machu Picchu. Her talk was illustrated by many slides, many of them of her own but also historic images taken in 1911, and others too. Sue, our Chair, was away, so Terry introduced Gloria and gave the inevitable notices at… Read more: Our Speaker Meeting in December 24 was about Machu Picchu
• Walking Group - Woodstock to Long Hanborough
  It was a wet Friday morning when we Rendezvous'd at the Woodstock Museum; shall we walk or not?. Coffee (etc) in the Museum Cafe instead ... but the weather cleared and it became a glorious day; we walked .... pictures are worth a thousand words, so here are some ... and we finished at the… Read more: Walking Group - Woodstock to Long Hanborough
• Historic Churches visit Somerton
  This is probably the Church that inspired the Historic Churches Group! It was 2021, and the Young Christian Climate Network organised a walk from the G7, in St Ives, Cornwall, to the COP26 in Glasgow; it was a relay, and came though Oxford. Young at heart, I joined them in Oxford at the Station, and… Read more: Historic Churches visit Somerton
• Walk around Blenheim, Friday 22 November
  After a dodgey week, the weather turned out to be glorious (though cold - we all wrapped up well!). A select group, just 5 of us. We started at the Museum in Woodstock, along Chaucer Street and down the steps to the Green Gate into Blenheim Park. We stuck mainly to paved paths, but did… Read more: Walk around Blenheim, Friday 22 November
• Speaker Meeting Kinder and Kino
  Our speaker was Vivien Seiber, author of Kino and Kinder. Vivien spoke of the anti-Semitism that affected her family from the 19th Century right up to and including World War Two, with many illustrations and references to, for instance the November Pogrom - previously known as Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, How her… Read more: Speaker Meeting Kinder and Kino
• Historic Churches visit Christchurch Dec 23
  After a few “where’s the rendezvous” shenanigans, we met our Guide, Patrick just inside Tom’s Tower. We were there to see the Cathedral, that is hidden inside Christchurch College – but Patrick started by taking us to the Great Hall, introducing us en route to some stairs used in the Harry Potter films, the “Robert… Read more: Historic Churches visit Christchurch Dec 23
• Historic Churches visit St Mary the Virgin, Kirtlington
  We were met by our guide Margaret, a long term resident and worshipper at the Church, who with her Husband had done a great deal of research on the Church and its history, but also facilitated the most amazing programme of “Reordering” making the ancient, and beautiful building into a modern space for use by… Read more: Historic Churches visit St Mary the Virgin, Kirtlington
• Historic Churches Visit Bladon
  We went to Bladon Church - where Winston Churchill is buried, for a self guided visit; theres guides inside the Church, which were very helpful! The Church does, of course, contain much Churchill related stuff! In particular there is a fairly modern window in his memory - it is fascinating and we spent some time… Read more: Historic Churches Visit Bladon