MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING – FEBRUARY 2025
MONTHLY MEETING
Our next monthly General Meeting for all u3a members is on Wed 19th February, 2025 at 2pm. As usual, this will be held in St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Merton Road, Slough SL1 1QW. The small car park at the rear of the church is available for those who have difficulties with mobility. Otherwise, we ask you to please park in one of the pay-and-display car parks nearby, or in Upton Court Park (free) about 10 minutes’ walk away.
Our guest speaker is Bernard Lockett with his Reflections of growing up in post war East London.
A personal consideration of what life was like in the 1950s in East London plus a social history review and consideration of society and conditions. A review too of later developments and changes as good or bad? Then to open up as a general discussion for similar experiences and thoughts of members.
AGM
Our AGM was held on 15th January and the following people remain in post on the Slough u3a committee: Peter Beesley (Treasurer and Membership Secretary), Eleanor Cryer, Christine Isles (Vice-Chair), Debbie Magnus-Watson (Secretary), Phil Magnus-Watson (Chair), Jenny Ward (Point of contact for Enquiries) and Peter Ward. Beverley Edwards resigned from the committee and her position as the groups co-ordinator, for personal reasons. The committee wish to thank her for her significant contribution over the years.
Other u3a members listed below have specific responsibilities and we are grateful for their help with the running of the u3a:
Joyce Amirahmadi produces our monthly newsletters that are then distributed by Peter Beesley and Christine Isles.
Suman Goel books the guest speakers for our monthly meetings.
Joyce Keegan, Sue Peach and their Outings team organise various trips throughout the year.
Joyce Jarman and her helpers organise refreshments at our monthly meetings.
The role of Groups Convenor is currently vacant as Beverley Edwards recently stepped down from this role. This is an administrative role that involves keeping in touch with all the group convenors (or leaders) and notifying convenors of new members for their groups. If you would like to know more about this role, please speak to a member of the committee.
GUEST SPEAKERS
At our monthly meetings we usually invite a guest speaker from outside of Slough to talk about a specific topic of their choice. However, it has been suggested that within our own u3a membership we may have potential guest speakers with specialist knowledge and interesting topics of their own that they may be happy to share with members. So if you feel that you would like to give a talk/presentation at one of our monthly meetings, please contact Suman or one of the committee.
Gardening GroupOn Dec 30th the gardening group took a walk in the arboretum of Langley Park, learning more about trees. On Jan 14th some of us were lucky enough to get tickets for a talk ‘The Winter Garden’’ by the owner of St Timothee’s in Pinkneys Green, which was very interesting. Her garden looked great and we enjoyed finding pockets of colour and form. |  |
OUTINGS
 The free tour of Eton College has been advertised for just 20 people. It's on Wednesday afternoon February 26th. | More OutingsOn Tuesday 25th March we are hoping to have another walk in London with Paul Barfield. Details for this will be sent out mid February.On Friday 11th April we have a coach trip to the Arundel Castle tulip festival.On Friday 9th May we have a coach trip to Petworth House National Trust. On Friday 13th June we have a coach trip to Salisbury.On Monday 7th July we have our summer seaside coach trip to Margate. |
The Drawing and Painting Group met this week to work on their oil painting skills. There was a choice of subjects such as still life, landscape and portrait. All of these paintings are ‘work in progress’ and we will come back to them at the next meeting in a couple of weeks. Watch this space |  |
Where did January go? Traditionally, we set our New Year resolutions at the beginning of the year but it’s not too late to start a new interest in 2025. Slough u3a offers many activities that we can join. to learn something new, to get better at skills we already have, meet new friends, to get fit etc. Here are some potential activities for you. If you are interested, Just email Jenny Ward on either enquiries@sloughu3a.com or info@sloughu3a.com
| Activity Club incl. Table Tennis | Fortnightly on Monday | French Intermediate | First Friday of each month at 2 pm | |
| Art Appreciation | Third Friday of each month | Gardening | Last Monday of the Month | |
| Badminton | Every Thursday | German Elementary | Alternate Fridays | |
| Book Club | Second Tuesday of each month | Local History | 3rd Monday of the month | |
| Bridge for Fun | Various days in the month | Lunch Club | 3rd or Last Thursday of the Month | |
| Create and Craft | Every Tuesday | Poetry in Action | 3rd Tuesday of the month | |
| Current Affairs | Monthly on 4th Wednesday | Ukulele | 2nd and 4th Wednesday in the month | |
| Drawing 2 | Alternate Thursdays | Walking | Second Wednesday of each month | |
| Everyday Philosophy | 2nd Friday 10.30 |
A reminder that the Activity Club meets every other Monday at the Slough Mencap, Horsemoor Green Community Centre, (Spitfire Close) Common Road, Langley, Slough, SL3 8JU with activities that include: Bridge, Scrabble and Table tennis. If nothing else come for the tea, coffee, biscuits and conversation. Suggestions for other activities that could be undertaken are welcome. The next meeting is on Monday the 17th of February from 10:30 to 12:30.