A warm welcome ..
Welcome to the Upper Thames and Ridgeway National Trust Association (UTRNTA).
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The UTRNTA is the local Supporter Group for the National Trust, covering parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire not catered for by surrounding Associations.
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We attract members from a wide area centred on Cirencester, Lechlade and Highworth.
In addition to your existing membership of the National Trust we offer events such as:
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​Local talks on a wide variety of topics
Day-trips to NT Properties and other places of interest
An annual spring holiday
​The talks take place in the winter months and are held in Cirencester, Lechlade and Highworth. The outings are in the warmer months, and are typically day-trips by coach to NT sites which are further away. The holiday in 2023 was based in Sheffield and included five National Trust sites in that area.
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​Some of our funds are donated to the National Trust to help in their work locally.
Our upcoming Events
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NEXT TALK
2025
Saturday November 15th
​Cirencester
Stewart Smith
Minster Lovell, Lord Lovell and the Chartists
Old Duffer's talk
I Was a Minster Boy.
The story of my village where three became one
Meeting a Saint,The Cat the Rat and Lovel the Dog and that Chartist bloke Feargus O’Conner.
The AGM will follow the talk​
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UTRNTA: new season ticket starting Autumn 2025/26 for talks
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Introducing the new UTRNTA season ticket for the next series of winter talks. The cost is £20 per person. In other words, you get 6 talks for the price of 4. The plan is that each season ticket will be numbered so that all we need to record on arrival is your number. Hopefully, this should reduce queueing and make things easier. The season ticket is only available to members, but members and guests will be welcome at all talks as before.
There are several ways to purchase the season ticket. The preferred method is via BACS transfer direct to the UTRNTA account. If you do this, please send an email (dave@davang.co.uk) to let me know who you are, etc. Other methods include payment by cheque payable to UTRNTA and sent to Dave Richardson, 34 Reeds, Cricklade, Swindon SN6 6JF, cash, and contactless card. Initially, I will send an email to allow you to print out a paper version of the season ticket. This will be replaced with a card version when you arrive for your first talk.
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2026
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Wednesday 14th January
Highworth
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Dr Richard Fisher
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'Three Choirs and a Reformation: English Cathedrals under the Tudors'
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In this illustrated talk Dr Richard Fisher explains how the nineteen cathedrals of medieval England were administered and funded, including their curious division into two very distinct organisational groups. Henry VIII is infamous for his dissolution of the monasteries, but not so well known for creating six new dioceses, bishops and their requisite cathedrals from abbeys spared destruction. Yet which did he choose to save and why? Using examples from the west of England, focusing on the cathedrals at Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester, the story is told of how our cathedrals have developed
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Wednesday 11th February
Cirencester
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Wayne Gregory
Hidden Arabia
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Friday 11th March
Lechlade
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Bill King
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The Magic and Mysteryof Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller was a highly successful Band Leader during the Swing era and by 1940 had become a major star of Radio broadcasting , records and sheet music sales and had starred in two motion pictures. When the USA entered WW2 Glenn volunteered and became an officer in the US Army Air Force. He led and directed the US Air Force Band and toured the military training camps to entertain the young airmen and women.
In 1944 Glenn brought the band to Britain to raise morale among the the US air units. The band broadcast over the BBC Radio, played concerts at numerous venues and toured US air bases. As the allies advanced through Europe it was decided to move the band from the UK to Paris. In December 1944 Glenn was a passenger in a small aircraft which took off to fly to Paris. The aircraft never arrived and Glenn was posted as ‘missing’. No trace of the aircraft has ever been found. The legacy of Glenn Miller lives on in his music.’
Thursday 16th April
Highworth
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Jennifer Cowling
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Those Extraordinary Things We Say
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Are you the kind of person (as I am) who happily uses phrases such as a turn up for the book, cupboard love, being taken to the cleaners, sod’s law, having a whale of a time or tickled pink in your everyday conversation oblivious to the fact that many of your listeners have no idea what you’re talking about?? Why is our language so strange and difficult to analyse at times? What are its origins? A light-hearted look at English figures of speech and how we use them.
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Wednesday 7th October
Cirencester
2 30pm
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Medical Dectection Dogs
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more information later
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Saturday 21st November
LECHLADE
2 30pm
please note the venue
Dr Gillian White
Henry V111 and the Field of the Cloth of Gold
In June 1520 the king of France and the king of England met in a field outside Calais to celebrate peace. The celebrations that accompanied this meeting were so magnificent and luxurious that they have become known as The Field of Cloth of Gold. The diplomatic negotiations were ultimately worthless but for Henry VIII and François I it was a chance to compete for honour and glory and no expense was to be spared in the competition to be top dog. This talk explores the reason for their meeting, the extravagant celebrations themselves, and the aftermath of this magnificent yet futile event.
The AGM will follow the talk
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FUTURE TALKS
OUTINGS
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2025​​
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Avebury News!
There is an interesting sculpture exhibition in the gardens until mid October​
Avebury might be partially open at Christmas and decorated
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​Monday December 1st
2 15pm
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​CHRISTMAS​​​
Afternoon tea
Tea/Coffee​ scone and cream
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COME AMD HAVE A CHAT WITH FRIENDS​
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Stanton Fitzwarren Hotel
SN6 7SD
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£7 50
​This venue was much enjoyed at the last coffee morning and it was suggested by some of our members as an ideal place and simple menu to enjoy a pre Christmas get together.
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limited numbers
Booking essential
Please contact the organiser
Jean Templeman vjtpaleo@gmail.com
07958551735
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Please pay by BACS if possible using the sort code 60-05-41, account number 24586269
using the reference
Your surnameXmastea
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2026
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New Year Lunch
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Wednesday 4th February 2026
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Blunsdon House Hotel
12 noon for sit down at 12.30.
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The menu is a choice of two mains , two desserts plus tea/coffee and a welcome drink.
BHH have kept the cost of food and wine the same as last year, your committee have decided to do the same, so the price will be £40.00 per member. Please fill in the form below using letters A to H indicating your choices, and return it to Joan Craigie
Payment can be made either by cheque, payable to UTRNTA or BACS. Sort code
60 05 41 account 24586269 with Lunch plus your surname as a reference. Closing date is Saturday 4th January 2026.
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A Beef Bourguignon, Mashed Potato and seasonal veg
B Rosemary roast chicken supreme, Dauphinoise potato
C Bread and Butter pudding with Custard
D Chocolate torte
Welcome Drink
E Red wine
F White wine
G Still Elderflower
H Sparkling Elderflower
Please let me know if you have any dietary requirments Joan Craigie 01793 762622
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HOLIDAY
7th – 11th June 2026
Shropshire
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The Holiday for June 2026 is based at the Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa, Shrewsbury. This 4 star hotel, set within the walls of a stunning 18th-century manor house, is in 15 acres of landscaped grounds, including ornamental lake. Located just four miles from the historic town of Shrewsbury.
The proposed itinerary is:
Sunday 7th: Stop en route at Gloucester Services on M5
Monday 8th: Cross the famous Pontcysyllte (yes, that’s the correct spelling but don’t ask me how to pronounce it) Aqueduct in a chartered narrow boat
Tuesday 9th: Spend a day in historic Chester
Wednesday 10th: Visit Powys Castle, maybe Chirk Castle and/or The Dingle Garden
Thursday 11th: Return home via Cadbury World
Note: This list is provisional and could change depending on availability.
We will use Barnes Coaches, with pick-up points in Shrivenham, Highworth and Cirencester.
The cost of the holiday depends on factors such as the number of people travelling, the number of single rooms required, entry fees to some sites, etc., but is likely to be about £600 per person with a £172 singles supplement. The exact figure will be calculated on a per-person basis once we know how many people are on the holiday.
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New programme of courses released by Heritage and Rural Skills Centre
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Painting, blacksmithing, block printing, traditional lime plastering, leaded stain glass, pargeting, wood carving, lettercutting in stone or wood, landscape oil painting, making a willow bird feeder, glass painting, textures weaving, working in silver ..... these courses are on offer at the Heritage and Rural skills centre here in our area in Coleshill. Lasting one or two days these are EXTREMELY popular So if you are interested contact the national trust or 01793762209
pargeting, plaster or mortar applied to a wall typically with an ornamental pattern
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