News From The Clubs

Westbury u3a

This month, Westbury u3a members were amused and intrigued by an hour-long talk from Martin Lloyd on Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies.

Martin worked for HM Immigration Service for 24 years. His stories today told of the attempted assassination of Emperor Napoleon III (Bonaparte’s nephew), the capture of a spy, and how a passport sadly caused a death! His books can be bought online; I’m sure they will be worth reading, if his talk is anything to go by.

Our next meeting is by local historian Robin Coles, topic to be decided.

We meet at 2pm on the second Tuesday of each month in Westbury URC Hall, off Hospital Road. £3 entry.

Please enter by the disabled ramp. New members welcome!

By Chris Crosby, Westbury u3a

Westbury Walkers

Westbury Walk on Sunday 9th March

Twelve walkers met on a bright and sunny early spring day to walk eight miles from Norton St Philip, led by Judy Hosegood. They set off along the lane and admired the 13th-century dovecote just visible between the still winter trees. It was part of a medieval grange which belonged to Hinton Priory, established after 1232.

They continued west up the track, listening to the skylarks, and onto the hamlet of Hassage before going through a recently planted wood to Faulkland, admiring primroses and celandines along the way, which were glorious in the sunshine. After a picnic lunch on the picture-perfect village green, complete with stocks, they walked south east across fields and were lucky to see a red kite flying low over them, hunting for food.

They returned to Norton St Philip with sweeping views towards the Wiltshire hills and the Westbury White Horse.

Report by Judy Hosegood.

The next meeting of the Westbury Walkers will be on Sunday 13th April in the Westbury/West Ashton area. In May, the group will be travelling to mid Wales for a walking weekend in the Elan Valley.

For more information, please email Paddy at westbury.walkers.uk@gmail.com

Picture: Westbury walkers – Norton St Philip, Faulkland March 2025