Newsletter May 2024
MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING – MAY 2024
Our next monthly General Meeting for all u3a members is on 15TH MAY, 2024 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 Clive Woodward
TITLE OF TALK From the Forties to the Noughties
From the Forties to the Noughties is a poetry performance with a dash of music, amusing stories and anecdotes taking the audience on a journey through the decades.
Funny, serious, moving and reflective the performance will include a wide range of poetry from well- known pieces to lesser- known poems all with the aim to make you smile, reflect and be amazed by the power of poetry.
Tony Hepworth will sing a few songs and Clive will add a few stories and anecdotes as life as an actor and as a person experiencing life during most of these decades.
OUTINGS
Our outings are very popular and with half year membership for Slough u3a now only £7 (till 31st August), joining the u3a means you can go on any or all of the outings without paying any surcharges. You can see the trips listed below and there is another to come.
Just a reminder that our outings are open to members of Slough u3a or W&D Ramblers. Non-members are able to join for one trip with a 20% surcharge to cover costs.
OUTINGS – Trip to Eyes on the Spies – Sue Peach
A bright sunny day in April saw 21 u3a members visit London to join an *Eyes on the Spies* walking tour. The tour was led by Paul Barfield, who members may remember gave a very interesting talk last year about the Russian Poisonings. This tour took us around the Green Park, Pall Mall and St James area of London uncovering the pubs, bars, hotels and secret meeting places with links to famous ( and infamous) spies from the 1930s to the present day. Paul was an engaging and informative tour leader with a wealth of knowledge and we all learnt a great deal on this entertaining and thought provoking tour Paul can be contacted paul@barfiedcapitaltours.com should you wish to take one of these highly recommended tours independently.
MORE OUTINGS Blenheim Palace. We are currently taking bookings and payment for the Blenheim Palace coach trip on Friday 24th May. Cost is £40 for members and £48 for non-members. There are currently 19 places available. The coach will leave Upton Court Park at 9am and return from Blenheim Palace at 4pm
Runnymede Boat trip and afternoon tea. We will send out the booking form for the Runnymede boat trip and afternoon tea on Wednesday 1st May. The cost is £32 per person for members or non-members. The boat will sail at 2.45pm on Monday 10th June and return to Runnymede at 4.45pm. There is free parking at Runnymede boat yard. As this is a joint trip with Windsor & District ramblers there is an optional walk beforehand from the National Trust car park opposite the boat yard starting at 12 noon of 4 miles and will be back about 2pm. The boat will take 40 people. Gluten free options are available upon request. There is also a bar on board the boat.
Brighton coach trip. Brighton is Friday 5th July. The coach is booked and will cost £20 for members and £24 for non-members. The coach will leave Upton Court Park at 8.45 and return from Brighton at 5pm. The coach has 55 seats. No more information on that yet. See note above about joining the u3a for £7 (till 31st August) to avoid surcharges and attend as many trips as you like.
The Gardening Group at Langley Park
A lovely afternoon for the Gardening Group visiting Langley Park. A spectacular display of rhododendrons and azaleas for the group to admire. Great photo under the tree with the sun shining on all those colourful fallen blooms.
AN INVITATION
On Monday 20th May at St. Laurence’s Church, Upton at 2pm, Naomi Hudson from the Arbib Education Trust (that is made up of The Langley Academy, The Langley Academy Primary and The Langley Heritage Primary Schools) will be speaking to the u3a Local History group and you are invited to join the group that afternoon, even if you are not a member of the Local History group. The Trust is a Museum Learning Trust which means they have their own museum collection.
Naomi is currently looking for interested parties from the older age brackets within our community to take part in an intergenerational project with students from The Langley Heritage Primary School. She will be bringing along some of the museum collection as a starting point to see if there are interested individuals that will work with the students in June and July to create an exhibition.
All of you are welcome to attend but if you are planning to come along, please let Christine Isles know so we know how many teas and coffees to serve. Christine is the u3a Local History Convenor and can be contacted via email christineisles@outlook.com or phone 07758 239 860.
A POSSIBLE NEW ACTIVITY GROUP-SINGING FOR FUN AND ENJOYMENT
To date around 10 people have expressed an interest in joining a Singing for Fun singing group. However, in order for this to go forward we need someone to take on the role of Convenor who will be able to lead the group and find a suitable venue to meet. If you could take on this role, please contact Jenny Ward who is co-ordinating any responses or speak to a member of the u3a committee. Alternatively, there are a number of well-established choirs in the local area that will welcome new members.