The monthly Coffee Morning of Sarum U3A was held in our usual venue of St Francis Church Hall on Wednesday 17 May.

Each of our 280 members receives a monthly Newsletter either at the meeting, or by email prior to the meeting or by post following the meeting.  This month it contained information about the following group meetings:- Book Club outing; Croquet; Playhouse Discussion; Strollers; Town and Country Inns; Science Forum; Botany; Architecture and Archaeology.  Visits to Windsor Castle and also to Waddesdon Manor were also publicised.

Groups for the coming year were in course of arrangement and members were told of the schedule for applying.

The morning's speaker was The Rev Dr Tim McQuiban, Principal of Sarum College which presently welcomes 125 students (half of them women) to the Wren designed house at 19 The Close.

Dr McQuiban's talk covered the three theological colleges which have been established there over the centuries and he acknowledged the contribution made by 3 men in particular: Bishop Gilbert Burnett; Bishop Walter Kerr Hamilton and the Architect William Butterfield.  He stressed the present ecumenical nature of Sarum College and the way in which the buildings played an important part in spiritual growth and also the way in which the college tried to be at the heart of the local community.  The evolution both of the college and its buildings continues and in the future will house the Royal School of Church Music.   Dr McQuiban finished his talk by quoting a poem by George Herbert who was a local poet and clergyman.  Mary Compton gave the vote of thanks.

The meeting closed with an interesting thumbnail sketch, given by Jean Lunnon, of the life of George Herbert, a contemporary of Shakespeare and a poet's poet, who spent 3 years of his life serving the parishioners of Lower Bemerton.

The next meeting is on 21 June at our usual venue when the speaker will be John Hook, Clerk to a High Court Judge. 

New members are always given a warm welcome and information on membership can be obtained by phoning 01722 322570