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HENLEY U3A is about active participation and social interaction, offering companionship through lunches, coffee mornings and talks.

The series of Henley U3A general interest and art history talks continues, with a variety of topics to be covered.

Non-members of retirement age are welcome to come along at a cost of £2 each on entry.

Members of the group’s committee will be available if anyone is interested in membership, which costs £15 a year.

Talks take place in the parish hall of Sacred Heart Church in Vicarage Road and start at 2pm prompt. Parking access is off Walton Avenue, Henley.

After the summer break, talks will resume as follows:

Tuesday, October 3: “Stanley Spencer”. A strange, quirky genius whose work prompts debate and controversy.

Tuesday, November 7: “Graham Sutherland, Ivon Hitchens and John Piper”.

Three major British artists of the 20th century whose work and importance is often overlooked in the present day.

Tuesday, December 5: “Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Jacob Epstein, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth”. Four great British sculptors of the 20th century.

General interest talks are as follows:

Wednesday, September 13, “The legend of the White Mouse” by Paul Barwick.

Nancy Wake was one of the most decorated allied services personnel of the Second World War for her incredible courage and strength working for the Special Operations Executive, under threat of torture and death at the hands of the Gestapo.

Wednesday, October 11: “Eva Braun, victim or contriver” by Melanie Gibson-Barton.

Having first met Adolf Hitler as a 17-year-old photographer’s assistant, Braun became absorbed in the Nazi regime and became a long-time companion and briefly the dictator’s wife.

Melanie will highlight Braun’s involvement in the Nazi inner social circle.

Wednesday, November 8: “The Venetian connection” by Paul Whittle. Venetian power and influence extended over much of the Mediterranean for many hundreds of years.

Spread over 118 small islands, Venice is an extraordinary masterpiece of architecture and since 1987 has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more information, visit u3asites.org.uk/henley-on-thames/welcome