U3A's first lecture on 21 January

GEORGE NEWS - The University of the Third Age (U3A) is starting the new year with its first lecture on Friday 21 January presented by John Myburgh.

Titled Amazing grace, the lecture is divided into three parts.

Myburgh will first outline the story of the music of this classic song and its progression from a hymn to a Negro spiritual song and finally as the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and performed by many folk singers in the 1960s.

He then looks at the British slave trade across 250 years before finishing with the fascinating life of John Newton, the lyricist. Tea is at 10:00 and the lecture starts at 10:30.

At the general meeting on Wednesday 26 January, Doc Caldwell will present A voice from beyond the Wilderness - by George it's Oom Schalk Lourens! in the guise of Herman Charles Bosman. Caldwell will present two of the great writer's stories. This promises to be a very different lecture and one not be missed.

On Monday 31 January, International Affairs welcomes retired former SA ambassador, Natie de Swardt who will take over from Case Rijsdijk. De Swardt has been U3A's ambassador in many countries and has a wealth of stories to relate. So come along to this lecture that starts at 14:00.