A coach load of University of the Third Age members from Abergavenny travelled to London recently for a visit to the Globe Theatre.

The group arrived early to allow time for a walk across the Millennium Bridge or a quick visit to the Tate Modern.

At the Globe, a medieval costume demonstration was brought to life by a brilliant guide while other exhibits from Shakespeare’s time were self-guided.

After lunch the main tour was led by another outstanding guide who showed how the Globe Theatre design brought audience and actors into often intimate contact. In the tiny restored Roses Theatre not far away U3A members speculated on whether some very well known lines in the Bard’s plays made subtle reference to local issues like the stink of London sewers and the beastly noise from the nearby bear fighting pit.

The first monthly meeting of 2017 on Friday January 27 featured Phil Baker, Community Relations Manager with Costains, talking about the dualling of the Heads of the Valley road through the Clydach Gorge.

A civil engineer by profession, Phil studied at Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr, then the Polytechnic of Wales.

There was also news of the special interest groups and other activities of the U3A.

At the next monthly meeting on February 24 Liz Pitman will talk on ‘The Parish that Disappeared’.

Guests and prospective new members are welcome at this and other meetings. Nearly all take place at the Pen y Pound Stadium clubhouse which has ample free parking, level access and a bar for social occasions.

Two new special interest groups started recently and are proving popular with members. The Quizzles group meets on the second Friday of the month and offers team competition in a general knowledge quiz and various puzzles. The Boules group meets every Monday at Llanfoist village hall piste, starting at 12.30pm.

For further information please see the website: u3asites.org.uk/abergavenny or ring Jenny Farnol on 01873 830264.