Kingston U3A will be celebrating its silver jubilee, or twenty fifth anniversary, in 2016 and we will be marking the achievement in various ways.

A small subcommittee has been set up and is open to suggestions. Please send them to Richard Hawkins and think how any groups you are in can mark this. We are thinking initially of a tea party, a posh lunch, a boat trip, a walk round Richmond Park, possibly planting a silver birch somewhere in the borough.

We plan an Autumn Fair, open to the public, showcasing the work of all the groups. Book groups could plan a display of colourful covers of books they have read, with discussion questions attached, poetry groups could offer readings throughout the day, art and craft groups can show their work, singing and dancing groups could perform. Bridge, Scrabble and Mah Jong groups can demonstrate their skills, theatre groups could offer a display of programmes of shows they have attended. We ought to show the range of outings and holidays we organise.

Think silver, think twenty five! Get planning!

This year’s U3A national conference and AGM takes place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on 26 and 27 August.

Open to all members, it will be a two-day mixture of workshops, discussions and opportunities to network with fellow U3A members from all over the country and promises to be great fun as well. There’s even an opportunity to learn of life on Mars and post apocalyptic civilisation.

The AGM itself, for which there is no charge, takes place on the last day, Thursday 27 August while the full residential cost from Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 August is £190. To register for the conference pack which will contain full details, go to www.u3a.org.uk

Ever heard of these or seen some already?  “TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages”.  These are really worth a look, not to say several.  The speakers are not only leading authorities in their fields but great speakers.  1900 + titles cover a huge range of topics which you can look at individually but  are also gathered into playlists around linked topics. If you happen to have Netflix you see lots there to.  Radio 4 Extra have also been linking up with TED talks.

http://www.ted.com/talks

Caernarfon Castle

Day 1 We depart in our private executive coach and en route to our hotel we visit the National Memorial Arboretum near Litchfield. On arrival in Caernarfon we check in at the 3* Celtic Royal Hotel for a four night stay on half-board basis.

Day 2 in the morning we meet our Blue Badge Guide who will accompany us throughout the day. First we visit Caernarfon Castle. Begun in 1283 as the definitive chapter in Edward I’s conquest of Wales, Caernarfon was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government and royal palace. We then visit the National Trust’s Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens. Associated with the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo, Plas Newydd is a beautiful 18th Century Country House with spectacular views across the Menai Strait to Snowdonia.

Portmeirion

Day 3 we visit, with our guide, Portmeirion and in the afternoon enjoy a scenic excursion on the Festiniog Narrow Gauge Railway from Minffordd Station to Blaenau Festiniog. We continue to the LLechwedd Slate Caverns where you may choose to embark on the Victorian Mine Tour (there are 61 steps to climb down and 70 steps to climb up again). The tour involves a ride on the steepest cable railway in Britain before we all hear about the life of a Victorian family at work in the mines. The entrance fee for the Victorian Mine Tour is not included in the Tour price.

Day 4 brings us to the NT property at Bodnant Gardens. Featuring huge Italianate terraces and offering stunning views across to Snowdonia, this is one of the world’s most spectacular gardens. In the afternoon we have a guided tour of Conwy Castle. Completed in 1287 and one of Edward I’s chain of Welsh fortresses, Conwy Castle is a gritty, dark stoned fortress which has the rare ability to evoke an authentic medieval atmosphere. In the afternoon you may also choose to visit the NT’s Aberconwy House dating from the 14th Century.

Day 5, after checking out of our hotel, we visit the award winning Compton Verney art gallery. Located in the setting of a grade 1 listed Robert Adam mansion, Compton Verney contains an outstanding collection of British, Neopolitan, Germanic and Chinese paintings.

Cost: £ 410.00 pp sharing a twin room

£ 75.00 deposit – non- refundable, payable with booking

£ 99.00 single room supplement

£ 16.00 insurance – upper age limit: 85 years

For a detailed booking form please complete the enclosed application form and send it with a stamped self- addressed envelope (not too small please) to:

Gisela Zürcher-Feiß, 37, The Byeways, Surbiton KT5 8HT – Tel 8399 4990

The Castles Historic House etc. application

The Architecture Group do guided walks in the Spring and Summer for  U3A members who would like to book a place even if you are not a permanent member of that Group. Several ran very successfully last year and the new list of walks for 2015 is now available.

There are two opportunities to do each walk in March and April and this will continue in later months if the demand is there.  All walks start at 10.15  – venues will be notified to those who book in. To Book a Place please contact Stephen van Dulken  on     svandulken@hotmail.com or on 07854 453109

New Dates  2015

March 16th or 23rd             King’s Cross  – British Library the Railway Stations, St Martins School of Art and other New Developments in the area.

April 27th or May 5th        Kensington    – Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrods and other mainly 19th century buildings.

May 18th                                    Islington       – mainly  Regency Houses.

June 29th                                 East End       – Geffrye Museum down to Spitalfields via Columbia Road taking in Brick Lane and the Huguenot Streets