The u3a Francophile group seeks to explore the bond between the British and French using whatever means possible, in English. New members welcome so if you’d like to join us please contact the group using the link above. 130 presentations done so far, with more still to come!

Upcoming Programme

Sept 18 - Bayeux Tapestry – If you are unable to visit the British Museum, this presentation will introduce you to its provenance, history and narrative function. The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidery, not a tapestry

Oct 18 - When was Calais English? The Pale of Calais was under English control for over 200 years. The pale was an enclave and parliamentary borough of England across the Strait of Dover from 1347 to 1558. It was the last vestige of King Edward III's gains after the Battle of Crecy (1346) and the Treaty of Bretigny (1360).

Nov 20 What happened after Waterloo? Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate and to surrender to the British. The French forces that were not directly involved in the Battle of Waterloo slowly retreated to Paris to gain better surrender terms

Dec 11 Papillon book and film – This is a classic historical adventure French novel that was made into a 1973 film in English.
Papillon was a wrongly convicted murderer who was transported to French Guiana, whose story is based upon the 1969 autobiography of the French convict Henri Charriere.

Two characters who feature in the Papillon film of 1973