Newsletter, May 2019

Our next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday May 15th with a by Hugh Granger talk titled “I’m not really old, it’s those tablets”. As usual, we meet at 2 pm in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Merton Road, Slough SL1 1QW.

image002.jpgHugh will talk to us about the more positive aspects of the ageing process. Entitled “I’m not old it’s those tablets” he promises to both amuse and enlighten us.

Future U3A general meetings at St Andrew’s: –

  • June 19th – Life as an Army Musician
  • July 17th – Natural Dye and Hand Spinning
  • August 21st – Change Your Thoughts and you Change Your World

Entry to our general meetings is free to members as well as to first-time visitors.

Slough U3A welcomes retired and semi-retired people – those in their “third age” – who are interested in participating in any of our activities or groups.

U3A Groups

Slough U3A has sprouted a Gardening Group! Hosted by Liz Jones, a keen horticulturalist, its first green shoots appeared in April and from now on they plan to meet regularly to share tips, ideas, and swap plants. Contact Liz Jones lizajones49@gmail.com if you want to know more. They plan to visit Frogmore House on May 28th, after that the next meeting will be on 1st July.

Also hosted by Liz Jones, a charity Plant Sale at 196 Langley Road SL3 7EE on Saturday 25th May from 2 to 4 pm; all proceeds to Save the Children. Please bring a friend! Many of the items on sale have been grown by Liz herself but if you have any surplus seedlings or cuttings, she is happy to take them as donations.

Yvonne Marks has started a an out-and-about Drawing and Sketching Group which will meet to sketch in interesting locations around Slough and Windsor. Next meeting will be on 23rd May at Dorney Rowing Lake. This is a joint activity with Windsor U3A. Contact Yvonne yvemarks88@gmail.com to find out more.

U3A outings in 2019

Please note that these are only open to U3A members.

What’s on around Slough?

Slough 50plus Forum meets on the third Thursday of each month at 1:30 pm, in Kingsway United Reformed Church, Church Street SL1 1SZ.

Get Creative Festival Week – 11 to 19 May. Get Creative is a national festival celebrating creativity in all its forms. Slough Libraries We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in leading 2 hour sessions demonstrating their own creative talents during the week of 11-18 May. It can be anything from cookery to knitting to painting, in fact almost anything! Contact Libraries.CultureVolunteering@slough.gov.uk to get further details.

Slough Fun Run. The family fun 5K is coming back this summer on 23 June at 10am in beautiful Upton Court Park, all abilities and ages are encouraged to walk, jog or run. Alongside the race there will be live performances, free taster activities delivered by local sports clubs and refreshments will be available as Slough Rugby Football Club, who will be opening their club house doors to provide refreshments. Entries are £5 for adults, family ticket £12. Click here to enter.

An invitation to the launch of new Slough Accessibility Guide! On Tuesday 14th May at 10.00 in The Curve. Do you spend hours planning a trip out? The Guide is all about taking the chance out of going out. It’s for anyone who needs to know more about accessibility. It includes over 200 venues in Slough. You can check out everything from parking to hearing loops, walking distances and accessible toilets.

Slough Horticultural Show on Saturday 17th August 2019 in Lascelles Park promises to be bigger and better than ever! This year, the theme of the show is “A past remembered” focusing on the outbreak of WW2, the Home Front and Dig for Victory – with the emergence of Slough as a major contributor to the war effort. More information here.

Slough in Bloom – The free competition, which has been running for 25 years, is organised by a group of professional horticulturists and amateur gardeners. Slough in Bloom encourages residents and businesses to create displays of plants and  flowers in the front of their premises with the aim of enhancing Slough for all who live and work here. Entries are open until 15 June. Click here for entry form (also available at libraries).

Practical Gardening Workshop Wednesday, 8 May 2019 at 8 pm at The Stoke Poges School with Franzi Cheeseman, Head Gardener at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens. With tips on how to keep your plants looking good in a garden, a window box or a patio pot. More information from Franzi.Cheeseman@chilternandsouthbucks.gov.uk.

Fundraising Quiz Night for Thames Hospice – Friday 7th June – 7pm for 7.30pm start at Arbour Park Sports Stadium in Stoke Road. Ticket Price: £15 to include a fish and chip supper (alternative available). Tickets available from E. Sargeant  & Son, mark.clements@funeralpartners.co.uk or 07880382769.

Ladies Fun Fashion Evening at Pinewood Nurseries on 9th May. Everyone is welcome to this fun evening with Fashion and good food set in our beautiful nursery – to raise money for Fulmer School. Cocktails, fashion and dancing afterwards. Ticket  £10 includes Fashion Show, a glass of fizz and a plate of food by Andre. Email liz@pinewoodnurseries.co.uk or pop into the farm shop to reserve your ticket. Pinewood Nurseries, Wexham Street, SL3 6NB

Guided tours of the historic heart of Eton College, featuring many of the Foundation buildings and objects from the College Collections. These run from 5 April to 30 August 2019 on Friday afternoons. £10 per person, under 16s free. Individuals and small groups of family and friends are welcome on these scheduled tours. Click here for more information.

Opportunity to visit the Moat Garden in Windsor Castle on Friday, 7th June. This exclusive evening offers guests the rare opportunity to be guided round the private garden of the official residence of the Castle Governor, exploring its terraces and walkways including the Lavender Walk. Limited spaces available, funds raised go to the Children’s Hospice. For tickets mail: jessicas@alexanderdevine.org.

Here are some National Garden Scheme open garden events coming up soon. Some gardens require pre-booking. All proceeds from entry fees are donated to charity: –

  • Higher Denham Gardens – At least 6 gardens will open in 2019 in the delightful Misbourne chalk stream valley on June 30th in the afternoon. All gardens are different – large, small, new and mature – something for everyone!
  • Bowers Farm, Coleshill, Bucks – An established 5 acre garden that has undergone significant renovation over the past 5-6 yrs with trees, perennials, annuals and bulbs. Opening on June 27th afternoon

U3A National & Regional Events

There are a wide range of study days and Summer Schools available nearby, open to U3A members only. For a complete list, click on one of these links: National events & Thames Valley & Surrey & London. Here are a few of them:

  • 20th June – Renaissance Treasures at the National Gallery
  • 30th August – The work of William Morris – Visit to Kelmscott Manor.
  • 22nd October – Ukulele Day –held at Benson Parish Hall.

U3A Principles and Membership

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Slough U3A is a co-operative of older people, generally who are fully or part retired. Our members enjoy and share educational, creative and leisure activities. We are proud to be a dynamic group; we have built up a range of activities and groups enabling our members to learn new things and enjoy active retired life. New activities are starting all the time.

We welcome new members.

Membership of Slough U3A is £18 per annum (individual), £34 (couple), giving unlimited access to our groups and activities. If you join now, membership is valid until 31 August 2019. Subscription monies are used to pay for meeting costs, subscription to our quarterly magazine “Third Age Matters”, insurance etc.

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