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Alison Hepburn from Glasgow Street Aid.
Alison gave an excellent talk on the work of Glasgow Street Aid, Glasgow's only medical and welfare street team. When immediate medical or welfare assistance is required, particularly at night and at weekends, the team are there providing on-scene care and making sure there is appropriate follow on care. This pre-hospital charity is entirely staffed by volunteers and is not funded by the NHS or local government.
Neil Hannah on "The Prince, the Pretender and the ensuing Panic".
Neil gave an excellent and very well received talk about Bonnie Prince Charlie, his landing in Scotland and march on London and (spoiler alert) ...........ultimate failure.
Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance
Volunteer, Andy Stewart, from Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) spoke about their work saving lives across Scotland every day. Operating two helicopters, SCAA can be airborne within five minutes of receiving an emergency call and can reach 90% of Scotland’s population within 25 minutes. Working in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, SCAA is an integral part of Scotland’s front-line emergency response network, responding to trauma incidents and medical emergencies across the country.
https://www.scaa.org.uk/
Dr Richard Petty on "Designed treatments for the once Untreatable".
Science Group Member, Richard Petty, developed a special interest and expertise in the muscular dystrophies and motor neurone diseases. His talk will addressed the huge advances in how diagnosis is made in these fields, and how this has led to treatments unimaginable when he first developed an interest as a junior doctor.
Sally Magnusson and "Music in then Dark"
In 2023 Bearsden and Milngavie u3a had the pleasure of hosting author, broadcast journalist and TV presenter Sally Magnusson being interviewed by journalist Anne Balfour. The occasion was the launch of Sally’s new book, “Music in the Dark”.
Professor Mandy MacLean spoke on "Drug Discovery and Sex Matters".
Prof MacLean discussed her academic research career and why she was inspired to study pharmacology as well as her public engagement activities (for which she received an MBE). She also discussed her research into pulmonary arterial hypertension and the influence of male and female sex and oestrogens on this disease and explained why she champions the study of both males and females in all levels of research and how she chaired a working group that led to a new UK governmental UKRI/Medical Research Council policy being implemented in 2022.
Prof MacLean discussed her academic research career and why she was inspired to study pharmacology as well as her public engagement activities (for which she received an MBE). She also discussed her research into pulmonary arterial hypertension and the influence of male and female sex and oestrogens on this disease and explained why she champions the study of both males and females in all levels of research and how she chaired a working group that led to a new UK governmental UKRI/Medical Research Council policy being implemented in 2022.
Susan Morrison
For members interested in following up the lively January talk on Witches by Susan Morrison, Lucy Worsley has a series on witch hunts where she looks in depth at those in North Berwick available to down load on BBC iPlayer
Please click Witches or copy and paste the following into your browser:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0bvhk3w/lucy-worsley-investigates-series-1-1-the-witch-hunts
Diarmid MacArthur
Diarmid MacArthur on "Life in Crime". A well received talk from successful novelist Diarmid; for further information please click Diarmid or go to https://www.sparsilebooks.com/diarmid-macarthur. if you are thinking of starting your first novel, or simply enjoy being creative in your writing please SEE ABOVE notice on Creative Writing.
Bearsden Roman Bath House
A very enjoyable afternoon was spent by a Group at the Bath House enlivened by a very knowledgeable speaker.
Bernard Lockett
"An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan". More information can be found at:
https://gsopera.tv/programs/introducing-gsoperatv
Professor Bruce Peter
Professor Bruce Peter's talk on "Glasgow's Amazing Cinemas" was well received and the Glasgow School of Art website hosts an interesting synopsis of his work as well as links to the various books and publications by him.
Professor Geoff Bailey
Following the well received talk by Professor Geoff Bailey on “Hadrian's Wall”. there have been requests for further information about him and his work. He has published numerous articles many of which can be found on the Falkirk Local History website by clicking Geoff Bailey or copying and pasting https://falkirklocalhistory.club/?s=geoff+bailey into your browser. In addition there are several interesting videos available on YouTube; search for Geoff Bailey but be aware there are several people with the same name including another Professor archaeologist.
Devil's Porridge Museum
Outings Group visit to the Devil's Porridge Museum near Gretna.
This museum tells the story of HM Factory Gretna the greatest munitions factory on earth in World War 1 & explore the new World War 2 exhibition.
In addition further information on this museum can be found by copying and pasting into your browser https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/.
Luke Wake
Monthly Meeting. Speaker Luke Wake spoke about the latest developments at "RSPB Loch Lomond”. Luke's talk covered all elements of the site’s history, partnerships, designations and what this means for the Loch Lomond reserve. We heard about plans to develop new visitor facilities and improve habitats for wildlife..
Luke was appointed Warden in Autumn 2022, bringing a long-standing love of birds and wildlife to the role plus experience gained across the UK, including at Sutton Fen & Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk, The Isle of Oronsay, Fen Drayton Lakes, Wolves Woods & Flatford Mill in Suffolk.
Alec Fraser
Tue Mar 21st Monthly Meeting. Speaker Alec Fraser on "Aspiration Guadeloupe: An Imposter in the World
of Ocean Racing".
Alec Fraser is skipper of the Classe Mini “Stiuireadair”. A leisure sailor for more than 10 years, during the
lockdown of winter 20/21, Alec passed the time obsessively following the Vendee Globe single-handed
round-the-world race. “Realistic or not at age 64, I got to thinking I rather fancy a bit of that if it’s not
already too late. With time on my hands, I started working up a project to try my hand in Classe Mini, the
first rung of the offshore and ocean racing ladder. But by the end of 2021, I had found a boat and was
preparing for the forthcoming season in Atlantic France with the aspiration of qualifying for the Mini
single-handed Trans-Atlantic yacht race”. Qualification is still a work in progress. We will hear about the
challenges Alec has faced, the people who have helped, and some of his adventures in qualifying races, as
he attempts to become one of the oldest competitors to participate in this prestigious race.
Click Mini Transat for details of this 4,050 nautical miles, single handed race in a boat less than 6.50m in
length. Come along to find out WHY Alec wants to do this!
Antonine Walk
John and Janet Holland led a walk along the route of the Antonine Wall through Bearsden on Thursday
11th May, starting at 10.30 am from the Roman bathhouse at Bearsden Cross. It's a circular walk. We
propose leading a short version of the walk as well, for those who do not want to climb Castlehill. The walk
went west along the site of the Wall, through the Thorn and Castlehill areas of Bearsden.
Dr Julien Le Kernec
University of Glasgow (UoG) - Preventing the progression of frailty with omega-3 supplements
Following the very well received presentation by Dr Julien Le Kernec he has very kindly provided a copy of
the presentation and this can be accessed by clicking Living with Ageing.
Following the talk, the students Maha, Abdul, and Nathan from UoG studying the beneficial effects of
Omega-3 fatty acids on muscle function are asking if you are interested in taking part in the studies. If you
would like more information on any of the studies, please use the emails below to contact Maha, Abdul and
Nathan directly and your participation would be most welcome. Copy and paste the email addresses given
below to contact the students.
Comparing Krill and Fish oil (Maha) - cams-fishkrill@glasgow.ac.uk
Home-based resistance exercise (Abdulrahman) - koreastudy@glasgow.ac.uk
Muscle-building response (Nathan) - kiplingstudy@glasgow.ac.uk
Note for vegetarians/vegans, there are algae supplements that are alternatives to krill/fish oil. However,
these alternative supplements are not part of these 3 studies.
Other talks and visits - click here