The next monthly U3A meeting will be held at St Andrew’s Methodist Church Hall, Merton Road, Slough, SL1 1QW, on Wednesday April 19th from 2-4pm. Entry to the meeting is free to members as well as to first-time visitors.
At our April meeting, Squadron Leader Garry Garretts will tell us about “The Berlin Airlift (by someone who was there!)”. Garry trained as a bomber pilot during WWII and continued in the RAF for some years afterwards. The Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 – 12 May 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. The Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies’ access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. Aircrews from the allied Air Forces flew over 200,000 flights in one year, providing more than 2 million tons of food and fuel over the 15-month duration of the blockade.
Upcoming meetings: –
- Wednesday May 17th – Ian Jones – “40 Years of Bomb Disposal – Still 10 Fingers”
- Wednesday June 21st – a representative of Groundwork South will talk about the Iver Environment Centre.
- Wednesday July 19th – David Hunt talks about the work of the National Trust
Slough University of the Third Age welcomes retired and semi-retired people – those in their “third age” – who are interested in participating in any of our activities or groups.
U3A Notices and Groups
Outings
If you enjoyed our coach trip to Bletchley Park, you may be interested to know that the film “Imitation Game” will be screening at the Curve in Slough on Wednesday 19 April at 7:45
We are booking now for the following trips: –
- Thursday 15th June – a free, private guided tour of The Mere, in Upton Court
- Monday 19th June – Coach trip Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire
Date for your diary – Thursday 13th July – Private visit to Dorneywood House in Burnham, country home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Pilates
The first meeting of our new weekly Pilates group will be held on Thursday 27th April at 1pm at Manor Park Community Centre, Villiers Road, Slough, SL2 1NP. These sessions, and entrance to the Community Centre, are free to Slough U3A members – paid for by Active Slough. Free parking is available
Slough U3A Member Julie Ramsey is hosting a musical extravaganza, entitled “Young at Heart”, a selection of popular songs, show tunes and other musical numbers, on Saturday 29th April at 7pm at St Laurence Church, Upton Court Road, Slough. The show features Julie, her family and friends, including Slough’s Herschel Stars Choir, plus refreshments and a raffle. Entrance is free but donations invited for Julie’s two nominated charities – Macmillan Nurses and the St Laurence Church Lighting Fund. Free parking available at nearby Upton Court Park, in Upton Court Road.
Mixed Activity sessions (Table tennis, darts, scrabble and beginners’ bridge) are scheduled for 20th April, 4th May and 18th May. Come to the Mencap Centre, in Common Road, Langley at 10:30 for a try-out.
Drawing Group – the original group had become oversubscribed, and so we have been able to start second drawing group, which will meet on alternate Thursday mornings. Contact Veronica if you wish to join!
What’s on around Slough?
Slough Older Peoples’ Forum meets monthly at Kingsway United Reformed Church, Church Street Slough SL1 1SZ. Meetings start at 1:30 pm
- 20th April – Falls prevention with an Occupational Therapist, plus the RVS Befriending Service
- 18th May – Healthwatch plus other information and advice services
Forthcoming events at The Curve Slough’s new community centre & library.
- Blackamoores in Tudor England by Onyeka Nubia – Tuesday 18th April 6.30pm-8pm. Learn about the untold story of people of African descent who lived and worked throughout England – not as slaves but as members of society.
- Author talk with SJ Parris Friday 28 April 2-3pm Parris is an author and journalist, and she will be talking about her work and research in writing the book series, of which Prophecy is the second title.
- Family History sources with Berkshire Record Office Wed 10 May at 2pm
Nightingale Bridge Club runs drop-in Bridge sessions twice a week. You are welcome anytime – a partner will be found for you! There is a £5 charge to cover costs.
- Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm at Holy Redeemer Church, Wexham Rd., Slough. SL2 5QR.
- Monday morning from 10:00 at St. Mary the Virgin Church, The Green, Datchet, Berkshire, SL3 9JW,
FREE TV licences – The BBC’s TV Licensing Department would like to publicise that concessions are available. If you are over 75 years old, or if someone in your household is, you’re entitled to a free TV Licence. If you, or someone in your household, are sight impaired, you are entitled to a 50% reduction on your licence. To find out more, please call: 0300-790-6073 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk
Slough Cooperative Film Society moves into Spring with a program of 7 fascinating films starting on 11th April. The season will include “Moonlight”, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, as well as “A United Kingdom”, and “Manchester by the Sea”. All showings are on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm in Datchet Village Hall.
New monthly Carers Drop-In Sessions — come into Starbucks in Slough High Street and meet Carrie at Slough Carers Support’s monthly drop-in sessions, providing plenty of help and advice. http://sloughcarerssupport.co.uk/. Next Drop-In Sessions i on Mon 8th May, at 12 noon
Slough Foodbank Quiz Night on Saturday 20th May 7.30pm – St Andrew’s Church Hall, Roger’s Lane, Stoke Poges, SL2 4LN. Tickets £10 per person includes a light supper. To enter a team, call 01753 550303
Basic Computer Skills Drop-in sessions – Thursdays from 10am Services at Chalvey Community Centre, The Green, Chalvey, Slough, SL1 2SP. For more information please telephone 01753 552271.
The AGM of Friends of Slough Canal will be held on Saturday 6th May 2017, at St Paul’s Church in Stoke Road starting at 10:30 am. Our guest speaker is botanist Chris Chadwell who will talk about the plants on the Slough Arm, some of which migrated as a consequence of canal activity.
Signature a Cappella Singers are holding a Grand Spring Jumble Sale on Sat 22nd April, 12.30 – 3.30pm in Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margarets Close. Interested in joining the chorus? We would love to meet you. For details, visit our website www.signaturesingers.com
Middle Thames Archaeological and Historical Society meets once a month at St Andrew’s Church Centre, Roger’s Lane, Stoke Poges, SL2 4LN. Next meeting on Fri 12 May 2017, 7:30pm: with a talk on Chesham by Colin Oakes. This pretty village is full of history and enchanting stories; come along and hear some of them.
Falls Free 4Life – Free strength and balance classes, led by an experienced physiotherapist, for anyone aged 60 or over living in Slough. Classes are currently running in the following locations: Tuesday at Langley Pavilion, Thursday at Chalvey Community Centre and Thursday at Upton Lea community centre, Call 01753 373 585 / 0800 2461239
Thames Valley History Festival – 12 to 28 May. Further information and tickets available from The Visitors’ Centre Windsor Station shortly.
Slough U3A 