Visits to Kew Gardens GAS Visit: Monday, 22 April Booking for this trip is now closed. As it was oversubscribed, it is important that you let Hazel Burr know if you cannot go so that your ticket can be offered to someone on the waiting list. Thank you. Contact Hazel Burr: 07817 264959, hazelbee46@yahoo.co.uk Group Visits As we mentioned in the February newsletter, there will be some tickets available for Kew Gardens which we shall offer to groups. The full details and the application form will be in May’s newsletter. Please note that this offer is limited to one ticket/visit per person. If you have already been allocated a place on the GAS visit to Kew Gardens on 22 April,
GAS Visit to Eltham Palace There are still places available on this visit on Thursday, 16 May. You can find full details of this trip and the application form in the February newsletter, which we sent out at the beginning of the month. If you are interested, please fill in the form in the newsletter and send it off to Jacqui Hine as soon as you can. Please note: There is a risk of the trip being cancelled if we do not have enough members to fill the coach. Jacqui Hine: 020 8549 1924, jacqui@hine.org.uk
Use this link to go to the Third Age Trust and book a place on any of the talks listed below :-
London Region Summer Walks and Visits Programme, from 21st May 21st to 18th July, 2024:
Instead of the usual Summer School, this year we are offering an exciting programme of guided walks and visits to museums/galleries around central London. Click on this link to view the online Programme which includes information about each event, plus a direct link to the relevant online Booking Form: Each event, which is for u3a members only, is priced at just £10 per person (no refunds). Online booking is highly recommended to avoid delay and disappointment in booking confirmation. |
Surrey Network: Study Days Study days have been arranged in the coming months. Time: 10am-4pm (registration and login begin at 9.30am) Dates: See programme details below. Place: You can attend in person at the Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon or join online via Zoom. Cost (including tea/coffee biscuits): £12 for members and £15 for guests attending in person. Attendees should bring their own packed lunch. £5 for those attending via Zoom.
Programme • Europe at War: Putin’s War in Ukraine and the British Commitment – Fri, 15 Mar
• Earth’s Atmosphere: Our Life Support System – Fri, 19 Apr
• The Jazz Age and Beyond with Talks, Film, Demonstrations and Musical Finale – Fri, 17 May
This information is also available on Surrey Network’s website.
Use the link below for more information and booking
u3a Festival 2024: 18-20 July u3a’s first national festival will run over three days at the University of York. There’ll be a wide variety of activities, talks, sporting events, musical entertainment and workshops. The organisers are keen to strengthen their musical offering so, if any of Kingston u3a’s singers or musicians would like to participate, please email festival@u3a.org.uk. You can find more details about events, accommodation (Airbnb, guest houses and hotels), costs and regular updates about this on the national festival’s website.
u3a members can join a wide range of online talks, workshops and courses for free with their membership!
Most of these opportunities are presented by members themselves; sharing their knowledge or skills with others across the movement. We also have a wide range of talks on offer from well-known speakers and organisations, plus in-person events at venues like the Royal Institution.
All of these events can be booked below via Eventbrite. At the time of booking, please ensure that you can attend and if you later find that you’re unable to, please cancel your place through Eventbrite to avoid others missing out unnecessarily. All events are for u3a members only.
If you are considering offering a talk or workshop please get in touch at learning@u3a.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
Our online events are hosted on Zoom. We have some ‘How to Guides‘ for using Zoom if you are unfamiliar with the platform. Don’t forget u3a also runs many projects, initiatives and competitions available for all members to get involved in too
March/April
Link to these events https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events
Be prepared to scroll down as they are trying to get you to subscribe before showing you details of all events but they are there!
•Aviation Network Meeting: Time is Money, Concorde was Prestige – 10am Tue, 5 Mar
- • Artificial Intelligence News – 3.30pm Thu 7 Mar
- • Exploring World Faiths: Women in Faith – 10am Mon,11 Mar
- • An Introduction to Influencing and Social Change (Online) – 10am Wed,13 Mar
- • Using AI to Fight Climate Change – 10am Tue,19 March
- • John Snow and the Hunt for the Source of Cholera in Victorian London – 10am Wed,20 Mar
- • Secrets of the Human Brain Talk Three: Brain and Behaviour – 2pmWed, 27 Mar
- • Introduction to Cryptic Crosswords – 10am Thu,28 Mar
- • Suffering and Hope in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina – 2pm Thu,28 Mar
- • From Pleasure Gardens to Theme Parks – 2pm Fri,5 Apr
- • Electing the President in 2024: an Update – 2pm Tue,9 Apr
- • Live Cookery Demonstration: Spring Recipes – 10.30am Thu,11 Apr
- • Live Cookery Demonstration: More Spring Recipes – 10.30am Thu,18 Apr
- • The Climate Crisis – and Some Solutions – 10am Fri,19 Apr
Successful New Years Quiz
Our first Monthly meeting was on January 8th and as tradition dictates was a Quiz! Lots of you did join us and serious competition began. Dingbats with an Animal Theme, Whose eyes are these? Name this building in Kingston Borough from an interesting photo(?) embarrassing how many you nearly knew but couldn’t quite name. There was close competition not to win as usual but we have crowned the winners and await their version of a quiz for next year.
P.S. many thanks to this years organisers who were a cross section of keen quizzers previously unknown to each other who provided us all with lots of fun in a very well organised event.
Surrey Network: Study Days
Study days have been arranged in the coming months.
Time: 10am-4pm (registration and login begin at 9.30am)
Dates: See programme details below.
Place: You can attend in person at the Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon or join online via Zoom.
Cost (including tea/coffee biscuits): £12 for members and £15 for guests attending in person. Attendees should bring their own packed lunch. £5 for those attending via Zoom.
Programme
2024
- A Day on the Train: A Railway Journey, Railway Adventures and Cultural History of Railways – Fri, 16 Feb
- Europe at War: Putin’s War in Ukraine and the British Commitment – Fri, 15 Mar
- Earth’s Atmosphere: Our Life Support System – Fri, 19 Apr
- The Jazz Age and Beyond with Talks, Film, Demonstrations and Musical Finale – Fri, 17 May
January 2024 | ||
Mon Jan 8th | Other | Neville Lyons: Food for Thought: Click on link to flyer for details Talks Jan-Mar 2024 |
Mon Jan 15th | Meeting | Mobility Scooters: Design Age Institute at the Royal College of Art is working with Supersmith to champion the design of a revolutionary new type of Mobility Scooter.
Supersmith is seeking people who have previous experience of mobility scooters, or are considering purchasing one in the next 6-12 months, to take part in a workshop with the team at the RCA in Battersea on Monday 15th January 2024. Supersmith has developed a product which self-levels adapting to the terrain as you drive over it. The product is at prototype stage and the team needs your feedback on what you like/dislike about it and what you value in similar products. Find out how to get involved below! What you can expect from the experience: It will be a 1 hour session (at a time of your choosing between 10am – 3pm); Participants will receive a £30 voucher from John Lewis; The event will be held at The Royal College of Art Rausing Research Building, 15 Parkgate Road, Battersea, London, SW11 4NL. If you would like to be involved please fill out the below short participation form by Wednesday 17th December here: Scooter Registration |
February 2024 | ||
Mon Feb 5th | Other | Herbie Goldberg, Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Click on link to flyer for details Talks Jan-Mar 2024 |
March 2024 | ||
Mon Mar 4th | Other | Terry Lloyd, The Shaping of Eastern Europe: Click on link to flyer for details Talks Jan-Mar 2024 |
Christmas Day Lunch At Hawkers Brasserie
The Double Tree by Hilton
Skerne Rd
Kingston upon Thames KT2 5FJ
Cost £89.95
Drinks fro 1.15 p.m. Eat 2.00 p.m
Contact Lesley Hodges lesleyhodge12@gmail.com or 07768643663
Lifts will be arranged if required!
Glenmore House, with its late Georgian architecture and splendid décor, is associated with the local Freemasons and their Masonic events. It provides an excellent venue for our u3a Christmas lunch:
● Starter: parsnip soup with crème fraîche and nutmeg
● Glenmore sorbet to clear your palate.
● Main: roast turkey with all the traditional accompaniments
● Dessert: apple and blackberry crumble with vanilla pod custard
We’ll be serenaded by our very own Kingston u3a Singers who have agreed to sing for us. They have been performing together for many years and their repertoire ranges from classical to folk. (Please see p2 for more information about them.)
Time/Date: From 12.30pm onwards for a prompt 1pm start, Thursday, 7 December
Location: Glenmore House, 6 The Crescent (off Claremont Road), Surbiton KT6 4BN.
It is only a short walk from Surbiton station. Glenmore House also has free parking for those who wish to drive there.
Cost: £37.90 for a three course Christmas lunch, including gratuities and a small donation to the choir’s funds. (Drinks are not included but will be available from the bar.)
If you wish to join us, please fill in the booking form in the centre of this newsletter, stating clearly if you have special dietary requirements. The chef will try and serve you a suitable alternative. Please book early. If you are joining us, please keep this page for reference. Jacqui Hine jacqui@hine.org.uk 020 8549 1
Are you up for a challenge?
The Transport for London Corporate Archives have secured external funding for the
digitisation of the Minute Books of the meetings of the London General Omnibus
Company (L.G.O.C.) from 1855 to 1933. During these years, the L.G.O.C. became the
largest bus company in London, eventually forming part of the London Passenger
Transport Board in 1933.
A team of U3A volunteers has been working on the transcription and indexing of these
Minute Books. We now need extra volunteers to fulfil our ambition of making all the
transcriptions freely available online by the bicentenary of the first London Omnibus in
2029.
So, if you want to challenge yourself with deciphering Victorian handwriting, have an
interest in social history or are just passionate about buses, now is your chance to take
part in an interesting project.
For further details please contact Jo Walters at jo.walters.slp@gmail.com
November Monday 6 th 17.30-18.30 Log on from 17.00 Alan Freeland: Atatürk–The Greatest Nation Builder of Modern Times As first President of Turkey 1923-28, Atatürk transformed the decaying Ottoman Empire into the modern country of Turkey. In so doing he had to win a civil war and successfully take on the might of the victorious allies in the first world war. A democrat at heart but an autocrat by pragmatism, his approach was a role model for countries seeking to overthrow imperialism and has scary echoes in today’s leaders. He was also a world leader in enfranchisement of women and also in education. He is the only person to have a UNESCO Centenary year – Justified on the grounds that Ataturk was an eminent personality who worked for international understanding, co-operation, and peace and is as an example for future generations.
Use Link below to book into the Tallk
December Monday 4 th 17.30-18.30 Log on from 17.00 Jo Livingston: Write it down! We enjoy reading letters and diaries from the past but someone has to write them in the first place. This talk looks at personal writing from the famous (e.g. Pepys, Jane Austen…) and not so famous (Anne Lister, George Canning and family…) and explores why they were written, whether they were intended to survive and what chance or design has allowed us or prevented us from reading them. It also looks at Mass Observation and a general encouragement to write for your descendants. Jo is a member of Bexley u3a and has given many talks about London and a variety of other subjects to most London U3As, and recently also to other groups across the UK, thanks to Zoom. In an earlier life she was a librarian and later taught basic IT skills to adults who’d missed out on it at work. She is the u3a Subject Adviser for Living History (life stories, oral histories).
Use the link below to book in
https://u3alondonregion.wufoo.com/forms/zip5qpa11dz4kz/
Sustainable September Kingston Council is organising an interesting series of events in September to highlight the community activity taking place across the borough to help protect the environment and create a greener town for everyone. Events include a photography competition, several local walks and bike rides, a repair café, tidying up our environment, a vegan market and arts and crafts. For some events you’ll need to book a space, but they’ll all be free to attend.
For full details, please see: https://www.kingston.gov.uk/climate-change/sustainable-september-2023
Surrey Network: Study Days Study days have been arranged in the coming months and you can now register.
Time: 10am-4pm (registration and login begin at 9.30am) Dates: See programme details below. Place: You can attend in person at the Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon or join online via Zoom. Cost (including tea/coffee biscuits): £12 for members and £15 for guests attending in person. Attendees should bring their own packed lunch. £5 for those attending via Zoom.
Programme
Fri Sep 15th | An Utterly Incomplete History of Keyboards & Keyboard Music Presented by Steven Devine Places will be available in the hall or for on-line viewing and booking will open in May |
Fri Oct 20th | Quarks, the Universe, and Everything Professor Philip Harris, University of Sussex Places will be available in the hall or for on-line viewing and booking will open in May |
Fri Nov 17th | Rembrandt – From Fame to Poverty & Final Acclaim Presented by Colin Wiggins Places will be available in the hall or for on-line viewing and booking will open in May |