Newsletter July 2024
MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING – JULY 2024
Our next monthly General Meeting for all u3a members is on 17 JULY, 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 speaker is John Thesiger He will be giving us a talk entitled “Ernest Thesiger: a Gay Actor in Hollywood.” Ernest was John’s great-uncle and was awarded the CBE. He rebelled against his family, was seriously wounded in WW1 and then was a successful actor who advanced the cause of gay liberation, and the new era he did not live to see.
A portrait sketch of Ernest by the famous artist John Singer Sargent.
A possible new group – Italian conversation
Mary Stevens speaks Italian and is happy to start and lead an Italian conversation group. You are not expected to be fluent-just keen to learn. If you are interested in joining this proposed group, please contact Mary by email pmstevens3@gmail.com or call her mobile phone number: 07804 047 371
OUTINGS
On Friday 5th July we have a coach trip to Brighton. The coach leaves Upton Court Park at 8.45am. There is plenty of free parking. Please be there by 8.30 for a 8.45 departure. Cost is £20 for members and £24 for non members. There is lots to do in Brighton. We also offer an optional walk of 4.5miles or 7.5 miles. Please bring your bus pass for a bus journey back into town. The coach leaves Brighton at 5pm for the journey home. There will be a comfort break on the journey to Brighton after about one hour.
Contact Joyce at keeganjoyce@yahoo.co.uk for more information.
MORE OUTINGS
Heritage boat trip on the Grand Union Canal. This is Thursday 22nd August in a restored canal boat. You hear all about the restoration with refreshments and afterwards enjoy a trip on the canal boat. Cost is £25 and only 6 places remaining. There is no booking form for this. Contact Joyce keeganjoyce@yahoo.co.uk to book a place on a first come first served basis. Meet at Rickmansworth Aquadrome at 9.20am with free parking.
Chartwell National Trust. We have a 55 seater coach booked for a trip to Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill. The trip is Friday September 27th leaving Upton Court Park at 8.45 and returning from Chartwell at 4pm National Trust members are free to visit the house and grounds with a valid membership card. Non member group fee is £18. The coach will cost in the region of £18-19 depending on numbers The booking form will be emailed out the second week of July.
Runnymede Outing. A walk followed by a boat trip and afternoon tea.
u3a Bank Transfers
If you pay for any u3a activity such as outings by bank transfer, please would you email our Treasurer, Peter Beesley redlionbass@aol.com to let him know that you have made the payment and also tell him what the payment is for.
Chrissie Gaines brought two owls along with her to the June meeting – Acorn is a 21 year old tawny owl and Nellie is a barn owl about 13 years old.
New Groups Co-ordinator required for Slough u3a
Slough u3a would like to recruit a new Groups Co-ordinator, whose role is to set up new interest groups, liaise with group leaders and ensure everyone is kept informed.
This person would need some organisational skills and be able to use technology for sending emails and collecting data. Their role includes the setting up and supporting of new groups and providing support and advice to group leaders.
A complete role description of the Groups Co-ordinator, as identified by national u3a can be found on this link.
Role Description – Groups Co-ordinator
If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact Beverley Edwards, the current Groups Co-ordinator. She can be contacted initially via email on groups@sloughu3a.com or by mobile phone: 07703 520 280.