12th May -Behind the Scenes at the BBC Television Centre – Monthly Meeting
Behind the Scenes at the BBC Television Centre in the 1970s – Jenny Mallin Jenny speaks of her work in different BBC departments, on news programmes, the Generation Game, Mastermind and Top of the Pops.
Doors open at Richard Mayo Centre at 1.30. Charge £1.00 members £1.50 for guests. Talks start at 2.00 followed by Tea/Coffee and Biscuits .
14th May- Petworth House – Away Day Visit
Visit to Petworth House Petworth is a grand 17th century house with one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. Built in the Baroque style in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in 1870 by architect Anthony Salvin, increasing its splendid state rooms to display wealth, taste and royal connections to rival Versailles. There are intricate wood carvings by the AngloDutch wood carver Grinling Gibbons, as shown in the image on p7 (Charles Latham, 1847-1912, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons). In contrast to all this splendour are extensive kitchens and servants’ quarters, which can be visited before walking round the grounds, designed by Capability Brown.
There is also a café. We leave Kingston and stop briefly in Petworth town for coffee (not included in the price), before driving to Petworth House for our house tours. After this you are free to explore the rest of the house or head back to reception to book one of the free tours featured that day. We leave at 3.30pm to return home.
Date: Wednesday, 14 May Meeting Time/Place: Coach leaves:
● 9am Kingston (Rose Theatre)
● 9.15am Surbiton (opposite Waitrose)
Cost: Entry is free to National Trust (NT) and Royal Oak (RO) members. National Art Fund passes are not accepted.
For coach and guided tour: ● NT and RO members: £28.39 ● For non-members: £45.89 Accessibility: The coach will drop us off at the entrance which has level access, although some walking will be required.
We’ll visit only the ground-floor rooms.
To join us, please fill in the form in the centre of this newsletter and send it with your cheque, made payable to Kingston u3a GAS, to Jacqui Hine: jacqui@hine.org.uk, 020 8549 1924 (07754 705994 – morning of visit only). Please book early to ensure the visit goes ahead. Please keep this page for reference.
2nd June – Talk on Sue Ryder by Joanna Bogle – Monthly Meeting
Sue Ryder founded care homes, originally to help survivors of the concentration camps, the disabled and those in need of long-term care, whom she brought to Britain. But this is only part of a life of service driven by a commitment to care for those in need at home and abroad.
Doors open at Richard Mayo Centre at 1.30. Charge £1.00 members £1.50 for guests. Talks start at 2.00 followed by Tea/Coffee and Biscuits .
3rd June The Mikado at the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse in Walton – Away Day
Visit: The Mikado. The Walton and Weybridge Operatic Society is performing The Mikado in June at the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse in Walton and we have been offered, for free, the opportunity to learn more about the works of Gilbert & Sullivan and their connection with Richard D’Oyle Carte, and to watch part of the rehearsal.
Richard was a prolific producer who lived in Weybridge in the 1800s in a residence that is now known as the D’Oyle Carte Island. He was an agent for artists such as Oscar Wilde, founded the Savoy Theatre in London and is known mostly for bringing Gilbert & Sullivan together and producing their main works. We’ll learn more about this relationship and the evening will finish with a chance to watch part of one of the final dress rehearsals of The Mikado.
Note: This is a u3a evening visit. Please book as soon as possible.
Time: Be at the playhouse by 7pm.
Date: Tuesday,3 June. Place: Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Hurst Grove, Hepworth Way.
Walton KT12 1AU Timetable: 7.15-8pm: Talk Break 8.15-9pm: Dress rehearsal Travel:
● Organise your own transport by car to arrive at the playhouse by 7pm.
● 5.35pm: Meet at Cromwell Road Bus Station in Kingston, stand A3, bus stop 54469, to catch the 461 bus towards Addlestone. Get off at Hepworth Way, stop D. It is a short walk to the playhouse from there.
Cost: Free but you must book a place. If you wish to go, please complete the booking form in the centre of the newsletter and send it to Pamela Townsend (no cheque required). Pamela Townsend: 07789 397635
Note: Performances of The Mikado: Tuesday, 10-Saturday, 14 June. Evening performances 7.30-10pm. Saturday matinée 14 June, 2.30-5pm. For more information, see: www.cecilhepworthplayhouse.co.uk
7th July – Mariannne North, Victorian Traveller 1830-1890 – Monthly Meeting
7 Jul Marianne North, Victorian Traveller, 1830-1890 – Dr Judith Hill Marianne North travelled round the world twice and painted over 800 pictures of plants in their natural settings. She paid for a gallery in Kew Gardens to exhibit her work and contributed to our knowledge of botany
Doors open at Richard Mayo Centre at 1.30. Charge £1.00 members £1.50 for guests. Talks start at 2.00 followed by Tea/Coffee and Biscuits .
14th July – Eel Pie Island Museum and the Great Nymph Fountain
Visit: Eel Pie Island Museum and the Great Nymph Fountain Did you enjoy the music scene on Eel Pie Island in the 1960s? This visit takes us to Twickenham and to the Eel Pie Island Museum to revisit the 1960s pop scene, followed by a short walk to the Great Nymph Fountain, with a chance to picnic in the beautiful grounds of York House.
Michele Whitby, a resident on the Island, has researched and collected loads of information on the music scene, boat-building industry and the lives of other creative residents. She opened a small museum in 2018 opposite the Civic Centre in Twickenham, (not on the Island as it is private for most of the year).
We start with a 45-minute presentation – Suburb Less Ordinary – about the history of the Island in the 60s, followed by a 45-minute guided tour of the small museum.
Tea or coffee will be provided.
Afterwards, following the river for a few minutes towards Richmond, we’ll enter the back of York House gardens to view the famous fountain with its lovely marble statues in elegant poses, and have the chance to picnic in its grounds.
Date: Monday, 14 July Meeting Time/Place:
● 10.15am outside Richmond Station to catch the R68, R70 or 490 bus to Twickenham
● 10.50am at the Museum, 1-3 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 3AB.
The 281 bus from Tolworth, Surbiton or Kingston stops nearby. Alight at the Heath Street stop (T), carry on walking ahead in the same direction as the bus. Don’t turn left at the junction but keep straight on.
Cost: £12.40 (includes tea/coffee) Accessibility: The Museum is all on one level, on the ground floor.
If you would like to join us, please complete the application form in the centre of this newsletter and, together with your cheque made out to Kingston u3a GAS, send it to Pamela Crisp: pamelacrisp50@hotmail.com 07846 722278
4th August – Robert Keable, the Utterly Immoral WW1 Chaplain – Monthly Meeting
4 Aug Robert Keable, the Utterly Immoral WW1 Chaplain – Simon Keable-Elliott Simon talks about Robert Keable’s life and his scandalous WW1 novel, Simon Called Peter, including its impact and reception.
Doors open at Richard Mayo Centre at 1.30. Charge £1.00 members £1.50 for guests. Talks start at 2.00 followed by Tea/Coffee and Biscuits .
Surrey Network Study Days
Study Days 2025
Friday May 16th 2025 – The Asian Century?
Presented by Steve Bird
Friday June 20th 2025 – NHS: The Next 10 Years
Presented by Dr Catherine Heffernan, Director of Health Improvement at Southwest London Integrated Care Board
Friday September 19th 2025 – Study day on Vulcan & Concorde Aircraft
Presented by Guy Bartlett, Aviation Historian
Friday October 17th 2025 – Study day on Hampton Court planned
Friday November 21st 2025 – Study day UK Industry planned
Friday February 20th 2026 – Study day on National Gardens Scheme planned
Friday March 20th 2026 – Study day on Climate Change planned
Friday April 17th 2026 – Study day on Medieval History planned
Friday May 15th 2026 – Study day on Lies & Statistics planned
Friday June 19th 2026 – Study day on Theatre planned