Fetcham U3A

Portsmouth Trip
2022-09-21 08:45 UTC | Trip to Portsmouth
Wednesday 21 September 2022

CANCELLED!

Peak District Short Break
2022-09-04 09:00 - 2022-09-07 17:00 | Trip to Portsmouth
4 Day Trip to the Peak District

Chatsworth House

£419pp in a twin/double (£70 Single supplement)

Itinerary

DAY 1 – TRAVEL TO YOUR HOTEL

DAY 2 – CHATSWORTHIn the morning, we visit Chatsworth, the family home of the Dukes of Devonshire. Our visit starts with a 90-minute private guided tour that includes the magnificent Painted Hall, regal State Rooms and beautiful Sculpture Gallery. There’s free time to explore the extensive gardens including the historic Cascade, the Victorian rock garden and the maze.

DAY 3 – CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE, CROMFORD MILL AND CROMFORD CANAL BOAT TRIPStep back in time today with a visit to Crich Tramway Village. Trams from the on-site National Tramway Museum run through the period village and out to the countryside along a mile-long track. Your ticket includes unlimited rides and entry to the museum. In the afternoon, we travel the short distance to Cromford Mills, the centrepiece of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Developed by Richard Arkwright in 1771, Cromford Mill itself was the first water-powered cotton spinning mill and the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. Next we take a two-hour return boat trip on the Cromford Canal with a guided commentary.

DAY 4 – BAKEWELL AND RETURN HOMEAfter breakfast, we make our way to the market town of Bakewell. The combination of independent shops, cafes, and its location on the River Wye, makes Bakewell a hugely popular destination. It’s also famous for the Bakewell Pudding, the result of a cook misunderstanding a recipe in the 19th century. After some free time, we make our way home.

Please contact Brenda at bmkeddie@talktalk.net

Tel: 01372 457076 or 07816 256682

Crich Tramway Museum

Ramsgate Tunnels Trip
2022-07-07 09:00 - 17:00 | Trip to Kent
Thursday, 7 July 2022

Visit to Shell Grotto in Margate, Lunch and Ramsgate Tunnels

Hidden underground, the magnificent Shell Grotto of Margate held its secrets of the past, until it was discovered in 1835. Approximately 4.6 million shells line the walls, ceilings, an altar, and a dome that opens to the sky. The entire grotto is covered in symmetrically-balanced and geometric shell work. However, nobody knows why or when this grand work of art was built, or by whom.

Access to the Grotto includes two sets of stairs. The Grotto’s floor is uneven in places and has a slight camber. We regret it is not suitable for wheelchairs or those with reduced mobility.

Ramsgate Tunnel Tours are 1.25 kilometres (0.78 mile) and will last for approximately 1 hour 30 mins. You will be accompanied by a guide throughout your tour. Sensible footwear is strongly recommended as the ground can be uneven (flat shoes, boots). Flip-flops and thin sandals are not recommended. High heels are not permitted. The tunnels are a constant temperature of around 11 degrees Celsius; they may appear cold in summer but warm in winter. We are currently unable to accommodate mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams and buggies.

Sissinghurst Trip
2022-06-15 09:00 - 17:00 | Trip to Kent
Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Visit to Sissinghurst, Kent and Lunch

We are organising a visit to Sissinghurst Castle Garden, followed by lunch at a pub in Sissinghurst.

There are many changes of levels, steps and slopes around the garden, please take care and be aware that the visit may not be suitable for those Members that are less mobile.

Cost £40pp

To include two-course lunch and coach. If you are not a member of the National Trust, then there will be an extra charge of £15.00 for the entry fee. We will leave at 9:15 am from Lower Shott and be back about 5:15pm.

So, to book a place, complete the BOOKING FORM, also selecting your chosen courses for the meal and return it to Mary Barter, Homefield, Fortyfoot Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8RP. Any queries, by email, to either Anna: annabyrne49@yahoo.com or Mary: mbarter@email.com

Monet’s Garden - CANCELLED!
2022-05-13 00:00 - 2022-05-17 23:59 | Holiday to Rouen over 3 nights
Monet’s Garden, Honfleur, Bayeux13 May 2022 for 3 NightsWe have agreed a deal with Mistral holidays, who have experience with U3As, to take a coach on their trip to stay in Rouen for 3 nights from 13 May 2022. We will visit Monet’s Garden at Giverny, have a trip to Honfleur and also visit the Bayeux Tapestry. We will have our own guide.Please note we have been advised that, at each of the destinations, there will be a fair amount of walking involved.

Watts Gallery - Artists Village
2022-05-03 10:30 | Watts Gallery
Tuesday 3 May 2022

Come and join Brenda on a visit to Artists Village and have a tour of ‘Limnerslease’, The Arts and Crafts Home.

The group rate for entrance to the village is £11, with an added £6 for the tour making a total of £17.00

The Tour will be at 10.30am. If we have too many people for one tour, then we will be split into two groups. You will be able also to explore the village, look around the galleries, visit the shop and the Tea Room, which is very good, for coffee/cake/or light lunch.

The Chapel, which is in the lane leading down to the Village, can be visited separately on the way out. This is well worth seeing.

We will be using our own transport, so if you are willing to drive and take extra people in your car then please let me know. If you wish to have a lift, please also let me know. It is a very easy journey, situated just past Guildford on the A3.

Please contact Brenda at bmkeddie@talktalk.net

Tel: 01372 457076 or 07816 256682 Before 5 April to let me know if you are interested.

Devon's Rivers, Railways and Relics
2021-09-24 00:00 - 2021-09-28 23:59 | Holiday to Devon over 4 nights
This is a proposed Holiday waiting for sufficient interested Members before being booked.

Based in Torquay, this tour features a ride on the Dartmouth Steam Railway, and a cruise on the River Dart. The tour also includes visits to Kents Cavern and Bygones, and a day out to Dartmoor and Plymouth.

There is also the possibility of stops at Exeter Cathedral on the outward journey and a castle on the return.

Ellen Terry Museum and Kent & East Sussex Railway
2021-08-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Ellen Terry Museum and Kent & East Sussex Railway, Smallhythe Place, Tenterden,, TN30 7NG
Trip to Kent and East SussexHaving had to cancel this trip more than once we now have a firm date of 15th August and the cost was fixed at £90 per person which remains valid.If you cancelled because of changed dates or would like to join us please let me know as we have a number of vacancies.I have made it far enough off to hopefully avoid any changes in dates by the government.

We will to go to the Ellen Terry Museum in Tenterden followed by a lunch on the Kent and East Sussex Railway running from Northiam. I have reserved a Pullman carriage which has 30 seats.

There is an option to go on to Bodiam Castle but that might make it a long day. Both Bodiam and the Ellen Terry are National Trust so for NT members the cost is just the train and the coach to get there.The train fare, meal (which I have experienced as very good in the past) and coach is £90 per head.Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in going.

London Walks
2019-07-05 00:00 - 23:59
I have put together a series of London Walks which other members of U3A may enjoy. All of these walks have been carried out over the last two years by Exploring London Group 6.Walking is the only way to get to explore London and it is cheap and good for the environment. Each walk is typically 3 to 4 miles long and has an average of two to three hour “walking” time. Allowing for visits to the sites of interest on the route and the essential coffee and lunch breaks, one should allow a whole day to complete each walk.To reduce costs, we always travel “off-peak” leaving Leatherhead station on the 09.26 train. Three or four travellers can still travel for the price of two provided you travel together all day. The start of the majority of walks can be access either on foot from Waterloo or Victoria or by bus using a Concessionary Travel Pass. Travel to the walks listed below in bold is best undertaken by the London Underground due to the lengthy journey time from the Main Line stations. All the places of interest currently have free admission access.All these walks are suitable with young children with the exception of the “Jack the Ripper” walk which is best undertaken at night. I would highly recommend the Docklands Walk and the Great Fire of London walk for young children as the walks terminate with a visit to one of the Museum of London great museums which are now certainly some of the best places in Britain for children. The following are Walks which may be viewed or downloaded in PDF format.

A Walk in the Royal ParksBloomsburyDocklands walkDulwichGreenwich Walk ( Via River Clipper )Hampstead WalkJack The Ripper WalkKensingtonMayfairRegents CanalRegents Park & MaryleboneRichmondRochesterSouthbank to Tower BridgeThe Great Fire of LondonThe Inns of Court WalkThe Royal Hospital ChelseaWestminsterWimbledon Village

Visit to Dungeness Nuclear Power Station
2019-07-05 00:00 - 23:59
Our visit on July 5 was to Dungeness Nuclear Power Station.

21 intrepid, suitably dressed, according to the strict rules of the Station, boarded the Haines coach at 7.45 a.m. at Lower Shott for this very eventful drive to Dungeness, which due to a rather severe accident on route meant that our driver Tony had to take the “scenic route” of bumpy and narrow roads before we finally arrived at our destination, just a little bit later than had been planned. But thanks to John, the organiser, all was well.

On arrival we were taken into the safety area where we were told what would happen next. We were all kitted out in a bright orange jacket, a pair of goggles, a hard hat fitted with ear defenders and a radio to enable us to hear what our guide was telling us about. After proving who we were with our I.D. cards, the next test was to walk through the scanning machine. Unfortunately, those who have Titanium knees caused some concern, but soon we were through to the next step. The level of security was tremendous, and our guide was superb. What we learnt in those one and a half hours was excellent.

After our visit was over, our trusty driver took us to the Hythe and Dymchurch steam train for our next epic journey of 1 hour 40 minutes to Hythe. The carriages were so low down and so tiny we all had to turn sideways to board successfully. What a great ride with the steam whistle blowing.

Our final destination was our late lunch at the fish restaurant, pre booked, where we tasted some of the finest fish and chips known to mankind.

Well satisfied and a wee bit weary we boarded our trusty coach and made it safely back to Bookham in record time.

Thanks must go to our Vice Chairman John Edgcumbe for such a wonderful day out, full of excitement, adventure, education and fun.

Thanks JOHN

Summer Picnic
2019-07-01 00:00 - 23:59
Our Summer Event was the very successful Summer Picnic on the July 1 at the Bookham Scout Centre. Wow, what a hot day!

A marquee was supplied with open sides to enable us to keep out of the sun, others sheltered under the large oak trees.

The food was served in the very cool area of the hall. Tables were decorated with lovely blue/white cloths. Plates and cutlery were supplied, so all we had to do was help ourselves to all the goodies, sit with our friends at a table and listen to the fabulous, Anchor Pub Ukulele band, which included one of our members. I will leave it to you all to spot which one.

The band was great and funny and we could sing along with all the tunes that we knew. What a wonderful afternoon. Thanks to the organisers.

Theatre Trip
2019-06-21 00:00 - 23:59
On June 21 members had the privilege to watch Matthew Bourne’s ballet Cinderella by Prokofiev at the Woking theatre. Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

Beautiful music and marvellous ballet enjoyed by all. Some of our more senior members have now decided to take up ballet lessons!!!!
