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In this Issue ………..

News from the Groups 2 - 9

David’s Quiz 8

Social & Membership 10

Contact List 11

Groups Timetable 12

( Date of entries for next

newsletter THURSDAY 23rd

April ) See page 11

SWANLEY AND DISTRICT

Newsletter

No 87 April 2020

Hello everyone,

The sun is shining, the spring flowers are blossoming and here

we are in a most peculiar, slightly unreal situation. When

normally we would be out and about looking forward to enjoying

the warmer weather and meeting friends, we are confined to

barracks!

We have to make the best of things and keep busy as much as

we can. I have great plans to clear my wardrobes, empty untidy

drawers, sort the garage, etc. Boring though, so after all that

activity I plan to watch all those boxed sets my sons keep buying

me. Some were bought more than eight years ago and I have

never got around to seeing them. 24, a ‘must see’ apparently;

Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, Robert de Niro, Humphrey Bogart

and John Wayne films. What a treat in store! A glass of wine,

some chocolates and life will seem ok!

Then there’s all the phone calls to friends around the country that

somehow get put off, or remembered in the middle of the night

and vowed to do the next day. Now I will have time to catch up

with everyone.

If you haven’t already done so you can sign up to the u3a newsletter with news of groups around

the country and on the site members are being asked to keep a diary on personal thoughts and

reflections as an important living history record. If you are interested go to diary@u3a.org.uk

If Leaders wish to carry on with remote interest groups you will find technical help with Zoom or

other chat apps. Perhaps a painting or photo competition or a photo of the day? A rotating phone

tree could help to check up on members who aren’t in good health, who need shopping or just a

chat. If you know of someone without computer access to the newsletter, perhaps a copy could

be printed off and put through their letter box?? Just some suggestions which I am sure you

have already thought of, so apologies if I sound patronising. I don’t mean to be!

Peter is producing the newsletter every month and I know members are sending articles in, so

thank you for that. In May our wonderful editor is producing a special newsletter; something to

look forward to.

If you are alone it’s sometimes hard to keep spirits up, but we are all old and wise enough to

know this will pass, as all things do. The important thing is to obey the Government directives, to

stay healthy and tell younger people to for goodness sake, distance themselves! We will meet

again, hopefully in a few months and enjoy living, laughing and learning again. Keep safe.

Sandra Treloar

Group News

During these strange and difficult days, how can our study/interest group members stay in touch

with each other? Clearly, our usual meetings cannot take place at the present time. Perhaps the

use of email communication can help us? The Creative Writing group has already developed an

online method of sharing written work and delivering feedback (Well done, Penny!). The London

History group has similar plans for a shared project to be undertaken in our own homes. Can your

group find a way for members to stay connected? With some creativity, imagination and email

technology much can be achieved. In order to combat the feeling of isolation, let’s see what we

can do! John Baker

For a laugh look out for me in this issue !

Charity No T1155593

Learn, Laugh and Live!

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News from the Groups

Gardening Group

It was with great gusto and with a spring in my step I organised this year’s Gardening Group

planning meeting. The hall was booked, key pick up arranged, even talked my wife Anne into

baking some of her delicious cakes. Contacted my members and invited them along with new

ideas for the new year. I even managed to get hold of the latest National Garden Scheme book

covering Kent !

The meeting went very well, we decided on where we would go throughout the year and getting

excited at the prospect of seeing this year’s plants and gardens. We thoroughly enjoyed Anne’s

cakes all washed down with tea and coffee.

So we all made our merry way home safe in the knowledge everything

was in hand for another fantastic year. Then, oh dear, Boris came into

view, keep away from each other only two can meet up together and

thus our plans were all ended.

But never mind, we all have our own gardens and it’s Spring, it’s sowing

time and of course time to enjoy some lovely flowers ! Hopefully our

plans for a few months time may still be okay !

Been trying to raise this in my potting shed, hopefully it works

Peter Cudd

Art & Craft Group

At the February meeting the group made these delightful cards.

( Photo courtesy of Pat Buss )

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Antiques and collectables

At a recent meeting the group once again found some lovely things to show and

talk about.

Tim started us off with an old print of Rougemont Castle in Exeter.

The original engraving was done in 1772, and depicts the Norman

Gatehouse to the castle, which was built in 1068 following the

rebellion against William the Conquerer. Around the time of this

engraving, all the castle buildings were demolished to make way for a

new court building. The gatehouse remained, and is still there today.

Tim also brought along a silver groat which is

around 700 years old. It depicts Edward III (1327-77) who appeared on the

groat from 1351. The edges of the coin have been ‘nibbled’ for the precious

silver. The monetary value when minted was 4 silver pence.

John speaks some German and has obtained some letters from

the war years which he has begun to translate. One of them,

dated May 1946 is a poignant message from a young woman

called Paula Mikesch, from Austria, to her father Gunter, who was

in a prisoner of war camp. She sends him best wishes from the

family, thanking him for his recent correspondence but expresses

her concern that he had not received any of the post they had

sent to him. Paula hopes that he will stay healthy and that he will

be back home with them before too long. The letter is stamped by the official censor.

Anna cared for an old gentleman until his recent death at the age of 95. He

had no surviving relatives, lived in the same house for many years and was

a bit of a hoarder. Anna is currently sorting through all his possessions and

thousands of records. Today she brought along a 1970s mirror featuring

Snoopy the beagle belonging to Charlie Brown, from Charles M Schulz

cartoon Peanuts. The cartoon first appeared in the USA in 1948 and was

syndicated to many newspapers across the world. Snoopy was present

from 1950 and was a good natured and loyal dog, prone to imagining a

fantasy life – for example, in combat against the Red Baron. He was often

accompanied by a small yellow bird called Woodstock. Snoopy was a

popular icon in America, and the Apollo 10 lunar module was named after him, with Charlie Brown

as the command module.

The Chinese willow pattern clearly influenced the blue and white Staffordshire

meat plate owned by Penny. The plate has the traditional pavilion, willow tree,

and water garden, and refers to the love story of the daughter of the

mandarin who fell in love with a poor man. Her father locked her in a tower to

prevent her running away but she is rescued by her lover and escapes by

boat.

Dave brought along several beer Stein (stone) that he had collected on

travels abroad. These drinking vessels originated in the 14th century in

Germany and were originally made of stoneware. Later, wood, glass and

ceramic Steins were made. They traditionally have pewter lids with

thumb levers which were thought to prevent diseased flies from falling

in. The decorations on the Stein often depicted scenes of life or

geographic locations. They were usually made to contain half a litre or a

whole litre of beer. Dave has a Stein from the Black Forest in Germany

and another from Prague which depicts the skyline of the city. They are very decorative and are

still popular tourist pieces, particularly around the time of the annual Oktoberfest.

Gill Baker

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Birdwatching - from the Birds Point of View ?? -Perhaps!

Report March 2020 Elmley NNR Elmley, Isle of Sheppey

On Wednesday 18th March there was consternation amongst the many species of the bird

community; both residents and seasonal migrants enjoying the estuary facilities. Apart from the

hustle and bustle of nest building; laying of eggs; weed dabbling; grub hunting; worm

pulling and the normal fracas over nothing at all really! It was otherwise very quiet

and empty – due to an unusual lack of the sub-species of homo sapiens

commonly known as Twitchers! What on Earth is going on! Was the big

question on the Bird communities #twitter-feed? Nothing like this had been

experienced before in the Annals of Birdlore!

Not even in the ancient #primordial-tweets passed down through the generations by

#starling-kind – keepers of the sounds emitted by #human-kinda-twitchy as the subspecies was

referred to in the birding community. There had been a little downward blip in the year

180000000.002005 when an event called Avian Flu slightly panicked our habitual observers.

Except for Dino-Doom-Day around the year 120000000.00 ( around 60 million

years ago in # kinda-twitchy terms ) when it went very quiet indeed due to

the disappearance of our larger #too-heavy-to-fly -cousins.

News was also spreading on #twitter-feed that this lack of humans was also

being noted on all wetland sanctuaries and nature reserves ( human-speak )

as those areas which the bird community enjoyed were called. All the #human-wooden

hides were empty! None were anywhere to be found in them. They all looked barren and

forlorn. Unfortunately our human observers are experiencing a pandemic of covid-19

which is very harmful to them and have been ordered to stay at home by their chief ‘Duck’

who is now staying at his home in a place called ‘Downing’ ( worrying term for us in the bird

community! ) Street. Rumours are that he has closed his Parleyment for Easter to

stay at home and eat ‘Easter Eggs’ -- Shock -Horror ! He does, however, speak to

the people of the country daily on what humans call a ‘goggle-box’ ( this may be

some type of binoculars that they normally watch us bird-kind with ); we are

uncertain about this at present.

They have some very brave humans ( in the NHS ) who are working non-stop day

and night caring for all those who are sick. Others are trying their best to find a cure. We of the

birding community wish them all the very best and are sending all humans our very best tweets

via the bird communities #twitter-feed. We do hope our message gets through to you and we

wish you well and keep safe. Please come back to visit us when your crisis has been overcome.

Finally, please get this message to your chief ‘Duck’ in the large land to the west with the strange

name of Donald. “Please stop your silly tweets they are interfering with our bird communities

#twitter-feed. We’ve been tweeting for millions of your years and we know what we are tweeting

about! Keep Safe and get through this - The Birds

(Assisted by Tony Scale)

Dining Group

Due to the latest Coronavirus precautions, there are presently no Dining Club

events booked or planned until further notice.

We hope that, when U3A is next able to meet, Peter Mitchell will be well enough to join us but he

is presently in hospital being treated for an ongoing condition. We all wish him well.

Janet Hamling

Ladders are being made wider these days due to climate change !!!

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Book Group

Please note: Libraries closed on Friday 20th March and all loans are being set to

June so if you are in isolation and currently have a library book on loan don’t worry about fines.

This month the Book Group read Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine set in Ullaness on

Scotland’s west coast.Three intersecting stories are woven together from the legend of Ulla, a

Norsewoman in the time of the Vikings, to Ellen a housemaid in Victorian times, and today’s

heroine Liberty Snow. Liberty, known as Libby, is an archaeologist who is organising an

archaeological dig but is also personally involved with the area. Her grandmother passed on tales

of love, betrayal and loss, but the more Libby learns at Ullaness the more twisted the threads

become.

The Sturrock family, or rather the sons and heirs to the Sturrock title figure strongly in the

ongoing story. Bodies are discovered, of archaeological interest and of a more recent time.

At times it was difficult to figure out the time scale of the various tales and there were a few loose

ends too. The group were divided on this book, some hadn’t been able to finish it, some had

persevered but were undecided and others loved it. That’s how it goes!

And now we are in lockdown and will not be meeting for the foreseeable future. We do have a

book to read this month so have something to while away the lonely hours.

Linda Herlihy

Creative Writing

Odds

I really don’t know how I came to be here. One minute I was warm and

comfortable, well supported and enjoying plenty of exercise. Different excursions every day. Some

quieter than others. Once I even got a little damp but soon dried off and didn’t become too

smelly.

I did get a bit itchy for a while. Something prickly picked up along the way perhaps. It took some

finding. Became rather caught up but after turning inside out, there it was and promptly went in

the bin.

I think I might be a favourite. I am quite colourful. A random pattern of warm autumn colours. A

little more expensive than the ordinary ones. And my top is state of the art. No slipping for me!

Once in place, you can guarantee I am there for the duration.

So how come I am on my own in darkness? Occasionally some light filters through but not for

long. I’ve been here for a week. It is getting quite claustrophobic. Usually I am with friends but

very unsure of the strangers that surround me now. They don’t look the same as me and their

colours are quite garish. And they have unfamiliar appendages which tangle round me when too

close. Oh dear. This is very worrying.

I wonder what happened after that last excursion. It was a bit of a rush. I think someone was

rather careless. No one can hear me in here. I’m getting pushed more and more to the side. I can

only hope someone will realise their mistake and rescue me.

I feel quite odd. This has never happened before and it is really quite disconcerting. I am helpless

on my own. No one will want me like this. Oh well, I’ll try to keep calm, sit tight and take deep

breaths. Curl up a little to avoid being nudged further. Try not to think about being redundant.

Suddenly I’m dazzled by the light and voices outside. The strangers are pushing and shoving,

knocking me against the side. The light becomes brighter and the strangers are disappearing. I

unravel in anticipation. Hold my breath.

I’m pinched a bit and hoisted up. Never mind, it’s worth getting out of the darkness. Fresh air is

wonderful. I stretch and smile broadly. Then I feel a familiar warmth and texture. My top is

reassuringly rolled together. I’ve been found - reunited. No longer an odd sock.

Delma Gould

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Voices

Voices are heard in a different way

With restrictions on gatherings as of yesterday

But with internet, media, video, phone

We keep in close contact; we don’t feel alone

Voices of authority, firmness and sense

The government guides us, the outcome immense

We hope folk will heed this and take their advice

Otherwise many may well pay the price

Voices of madness, stupidity and greed

Selfish, self-centred, purchases way over need

Rebellion and obstruction will only look bad

For those who conform, it seems very sad

Voices of panic, frustration and fear

The NHS frontline, a tense atmosphere

But gratitude, recognition, respect and huge thanks

Is daily transmitted to those in the ranks

Voices of children on enforced break from schools

With stressed parents looking to set the ground rules

No study continues for cancelled exams

Take care on the internet, avoid nasty scams

Voices of weariness, loneliness, despair

The elderly confined to their favourite chair

But neighbours and friends are rallying round

Deliveries, messages, all of them sound

Voices are singing from windows and doors

To keep cheerful in spirit, a break from the chores

Sofa singing, keep fit and topical jokes

Something for everyone, even a hoax

Voices of kindness as the inevitable sets in

We’re in this together, soon we will win

So keep cheerful and active, creative and calm

Our island is battered but we’ll weather the storm

Delma Gould

While we are unable to meet, our creative writers will still be writing and sharing work via email.

We hope to print one of our stories in the newsletter each month for you to enjoy.

Penny Collins

Walking groups

In view of the present coronavirus situation I have decided to suspend our walks until

further notice. I regret having to do this as I enjoy the walks and the company, however, many of

our members are in a vulnerable group (over 70 etc) and while going on walks may, in itself be a

healthy thing to do, I think our walking group would fall foul of government advice on social

distancing. I would like to encourage you to continue walking on an independent basis and hope

we can get things going again later in the year.

Clive Rayner

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History Of London

Senate House and Bloomsbury

Members of the London History group recently travelled to Senate House, part of the University of

London. We visited a small exhibition called “Childhood in Dickensian London”. The year 2020

marks the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death. Using

materials taken mostly from the Senate House library, the

exhibition tells the story of children’s lives in 19th century

London. It also explores the role Dickens played in seeking to

introduce improvements. The displays included numerous books,

pamphlets, documents, pictures, illustrations and first edition

copies of his much loved novels. Also on display was the

author’s walking stick which he used on his journeys around

town. The exhibition was a reminder that two hundred years ago

life could be very harsh for many children on the streets of our capital city.

Senate House is a tall, imposing white building which dominates this part of Bloomsbury. It was

constructed in the Art Deco style in the 1930’s. During World War 2 it became the headquarters of

the Ministry of Information. It was also the inspiration for the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s

“1984”. We walked through Russell Square (built 1800) and Queen Square

(built 1708-20). The former has an interesting statue of the 5th Duke of Bedford

which reflects his interest in agriculture. The latter has a statue of Queen

Charlotte, wife of George III. It is thought that the nearby Queens Larder pub

derives its name from the cellar where she stored food for her

husband while he resided here for medical treatment.

Brunswick Square (built 1795-1802) is named after Caroline of

Brunswick, wife of the Prince Regent. It is adjacent to Coram’s

Field, a park which adults may only enter if accompanied by a

child! Sir Thomas Coram established his “hospital for the

maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young

children” here in 1739. The original building has disappeared,

but the Foundling Museum tells the story. It was poignant to see the tokens

(coins, jewellery, embroidery) left by mothers who hoped, one

day, to return and collect their children.

Our day concluded with a walk through Tavistock Square before finding our

train back to Swanley. The “Childhood in Dickensian London” exhibition is open

until 20th June. Entry is free. (Please note: this was true at the time of writing!

However, you can see the exhibition on-line at www.senate houselibrary.ac.uk)

John Baker

Table Tennis, Petanque and Croquet

As you may have heard I have reluctantly cancelled Table Tennis till further notice.

Likewise, we will delay starting Petanque and Croquet, I hope to start both in April, restrictions

permitting. If you want to play any of these please make sure I have your contact details email or

mobile. Chins up everyone we came through the war we can beat this.

Bill Hammond

I was in Tesco’s recently, and went to the checkout and asked the girl

“ Have you got any loo roll ?” She said “ No.”

So I walked back to the Gents with my trousers round my ankles !!!

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Quiz

As all my quiz nights have to be cancelled for the time being I'm going to try to keep

the interest in quizzing going by offering you 20 questions each month.

Celebrations for Mother's Day may have been a bit more muted this year so I've

made 'Mothers' the theme for this month.

1.Which mother appears in the title of a popular pantomime?

2.Which actor played a man dominated by his mother in the TV sitcom 'Sorry'?

3.Which mother-linked football club plays at Fir Park?

4.Who was Liza Minnelli's ill-fated mother?

5.What kind of cake was traditionally given by daughters to their mothers on Mothering Sunday?

6.What mother-related substance connected with shellfish is used to make jewelry and craft

goods?

7.Which pop group sang about 'Mamma Mia' in 1975?

8.Whose mummy, found in 1923, has been admired by millions of people around the world?

9.What did Old Mother Hubbard go to her cupboard for?

10.Which mother-linked sitcom included the characters Gunner/Bombardier 'Gloria' Beaumont and

Battery Sergeant-Major Williams?

And now for some harder questions to test you. Unlike on my quiz nights you can Google the

answers or 'phone a friend'.

11.Which comedian's catchphrases included 'Can you hear me mother?'

12.Who released an album called 'Atom Heart Mother'?

13.Who in 1991 promised 'the mother of all battles'?

14.Which mother featured in the title of a play by Bertolt Brecht?

15.Which mother's controversial attitude to her children was exposed in the book and film

'Mommie Dearest'?

16.Which actress is mother of Carrie Fisher?

17.Who was the mother of Helen of Troy?

18.Who is the celebrity mother of Apple and Moses?

19.Who had a hit in 1972 with the song 'Mother and child reunion'?

20.What was the mummy's name in the 1999 film 'The Mummy'?

Happy quizzing everyone. All the answers will be given in next month's newsletter.

David Collins

Poetry Appreciation

For anyone interested in poetry our Poetry Appreciation group are looking for three

poems this month, one on Spring, one on Something Bad and one on Something

Good or Cheerful. If you would like to do the same, share your poems with your partner or

housemate.

We will try to print a Poem of the Month in each newsletter. This month's poem is:

Happiness by Carl Sandburg.

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness.

And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men.

They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them

And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines river

And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer

and an accordian.

Penny Collins

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Rugby Appreciation Group & Walking Rugby

Like every other activity the six nations has yet to be finished and for our local

rugby team Swanley the season has finished early.

Walking Rugby will recommence on the Village Green Crockenhill at some time in the future.

Alan Hayward / John Baker

Photography

The photography group went on another photo shoot at the beginning of March (before

the lockdown). This time it was to Camden and the Regents Canal to Kings Cross.

Camden was laid out as a residential district from 1791 and originally part of the manor of Kentish

Town and the parish of St Pancras. It became an important location during the early development

of the railways, which reinforced its position on the London canal network. The area's industrial

economic base has been replaced by service industries such as retail, tourism and entertainment.

The area now hosts street markets and music venues that are strongly associated with alternative

culture.

Our Walk started from Camden Town underground station on Camden High St and went past the

Electric Ballroom which had been a night club since the 1950s and a weekend market had been

operating here for at least 24 years but closed at short notice in 2015.

Inverness Street Market just off the High Street is a small century-old food street market that

once had many stalls selling fresh produce and foodstuffs, unlike the other markets and is the

oldest market in the area. In 1974 a small weekly crafts market that operated every Sunday near

Camden Lock developed into a large complex of markets. The traditional market started losing

stalls once local supermarkets opened and by mid-2013 all the original stalls had gone, being

replaced by stalls similar to those of the other markets, including fast food but not produce.

Our next stop was Buck Street Market: 'The Camden Market' an outdoor market focusing on

clothes. There is no formal or legal definition of Camden Market; the Buck Street Market's sign

read 'The Camden Market'. A few stallholders designed their own wares, while at the weekend

these designs were more likely to be found in the Electric Ballroom market. It closed at the end of

Sept 2019 to renovate the tube station but a new Buck Street market using old shipping container

has just open in March 2020.

We then crossed the Regent Canal to what is now the main markets of Camden Lock. The original

markets used to be along side the canal but this area is now being redeveloped.

The markets have wonderful names such as Horse Tunnel market and Stables market. The food

markets must cater for every taste possible.

Having explored the markets and trying one of the food outlets we continued on our journey this

time along the Regent Canal. We passed the many locks until we reached St Pancras Lock & Basin

with its traditional canal lock cottages and Gasholder Park where the old gasholders have been

transformed into a park and apartments. Next to this used to be the railways Coal Drop Yards a

large complex of sidings which has now be transformed into a shopping complex and on the other

side of the canal the Camley Street Nature Reserve, just before Kings Cross there is the London

floating book barge. Our walk ended at the Battlebridge Basin next to Kings Cross Station where

you will find the London Canal Museum.

We cannot put on a slideshow of our photos at present but you can still see them on our Swanley

U3A Website under the tabs Brick Lane and Camden Town.

Alan Hayward

A grandma and a grandpa are going out for their daily health walk and

grandma can’t decide.

“ I don’t know Joe, should I wear my bra do you think ?”

He says, “ Yeah, Rosie, you better, it’s quite muddy out.”

- 10 -

Social

As you know the Finders Keepers trip has been postponed to Friday 9th

October . Hopefully we will be able to have a U3A meeting before then to check if you can all still

come.

It will be something to look forward to.

Our Ashdown Forest trip has also been postponed to a date to be confirmed at the beginning of

September. Our cheques have not been cashed so we will be able to cancel if we are still being

advised not to travel in groups.

If the situation improves sufficiently by late summer Dave and I will try to organise another

Village Walk with a bit of History thrown in.

Meanwhile enjoy your gardens and walking in open spaces.

Penny Collins

Membership

Membership for 2020-2021

Our Membership Year runs from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021

Due to monthly meetings being suspended, as a result of the pandemic regulations, membership

cards are not being issued at present until the restrictions are lifted and meetings can be held

normally.

Meanwhile, please do not post any cheques to me as I am unable to bank them at present and

unable to send any membership cards by post.

Hopefully in a few months time activities will begin to return to normal.

With best wishes to all members and keep safe

Tony Scale

Membership Secretary

As we approach the anniversary of one of the most important dates in our history I thought it

would be a nice to see if any of our senior members have recollections of the day. Ideally I would

like any photographs ( or copies ) together with any written recollections of the day. This doesn’t

have to be long just a few words of what your recollections are of the day.

I will then collate the information and produce a celebration of the day in the May newsletter.

If you are on the internet please email me your contributions to pfjc@btinternet.com.

Thank you.

Can YOU help me for my last

newsletter next month ?

Peter

- 11 -

Newsletter

The closing date for my last newsletter will be Thursday 23rd April, I will need an

extra day to sort out what I hope will be a bumper edition for you to enjoy.

Please send articles and pictures to pfjc@btinternet.com or text to 07732 804042,

thank you.

Quick public information plea ....

Contact Details

Chairman Sandra Treloar sandratreloar04@btinternet.com

Vice Chairman David Collins dacollins53@hotmail.com

Business Secretary Carol Willingham carolw8920@gmail.com

Social/Outings Coordinator Penny Collins pennycollins@hotmail.com 01322 669724

Membership Tony Scale tscale001@gmail.com

Linda Herlihy linda.herlihy@talktalk.net 01322 664287

Group Co-ordinators John Baker johnbaker52@talktalk.net

David Collins dacollins53@hotmail.co.uk

Website - https://u3asites.org.uk/swanley

The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are of a general nature and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Swanley and District U3A or any part of the University of the Third Age unless specifically stated. All rights reserved, any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

- 12 -

Groups Timetable

Group Leader Group meets

Antiques and Collectables John and Gill Baker 3rd Tuesday morning

Art & Craft Penny Collins 4th Tuesday afternoon

Art Appreciation Margaret Austin 1st Monday morning

Art & Painting Outdoors Gill Baker As notified

Bird Watching Roger Bryan 3rd Wednesday morning

Book Group Linda Herlihy 2nd Tuesday afternoon

Chess Terry Bennett 4th Wednesday morning

Computer Paul Brenchley 4th Thursday afternoon

Creative Writing Penny Collins 1st Thursday morning

Croquet Bill Hammond As notified

Dining Peter Mitchell As advertised

Family History Susan Polden Last Monday of month in morning

Fishing Mike Axford 2nd Wednesday

Food Appreciation Anne Cudd 3rd Thursday afternoon

Gardening Peter Cudd 4th Wednesday afternoon

History Modern Jackie Griffiths Monthly as advertised

History of London 1 John Baker 2nd Thursday morning

History of London 2 John Baker 4th Thursday morning

Let's Speak French Barbara Ramsay Wednesday mornings forthnightly

MOTO (Members On their Own) Sue Neville As advertised

Music Making Mark Fittock Every Tuesday morning

Petanque Bill Hammond As notified

Photography Alan Hayward 2nd Friday afternoon

Play Reading Penny Collins 3rd Friday morning

Poetry Appreciation Penny Collins 3rd Wednesday morning

Quiz Team David Collins As advertised

Rugby Appreciation Alan Hayward As advertised

Singing Group Sue Scott 3rd Tuesday afternoon

Spanish Leigh Aldrich As advertised

Table Tennis Bill Hammond 1st and 3rd Friday afternoon

Theatre Appreciation Madeline McCubbin As advertised

Wednesday Walking Clive Rayner 2nd Wednesday morning

Friday Walking Clive Rayner 4th Friday morning

Wine and Dine Santha Blankley As advertised

Wine Tasting Bob Brickell 4th Wednesday evening

For contact details of group leaders please contact John Baker

johnbaker52@talktalk.net or David Collins 01322 669724

or dacollins53@hotmail.co.uk