Our Speaker for Thursday 8th May 2025 is Kim James, speaking about “By Your Side”. The “By Your Side” project supports people in Thurrock, often elderly or vulnerable to settle home from hospital with the support of volunteers. The project has really made a difference, especially to those who may not always have family or friends around them to help them following their discharge from hospital.
The “By Your side” project receives referrals directly from practitioners working with individuals leaving Hospital. Due to the nature of our service, we are unable to take referrals from individuals related to a patient.
“By Your Side” can offer friendly face to face support for up to 6 weeks to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions, or helping to rearrange light furniture to accommodate walking frames or hospital equipment. Following the 6 weeks support, we can help connect people back into their local community or voluntary sector organisations. This project is also able to loan and install a temporary key safe for up to 30 days, or a permanent key safe if requested at an additional charge.
Our speaker for 12th June 2025 is Lindsey Barrell whose talk is called, 'Burlesque, Me and the WI’.
Lindsey does a fabulously funny and heart-warming talk that covers how she discovered burlesque, and then the WI, and brought the two worlds together. From empty nest to huge success, and via dance classes and craft sessions, Lindsey will take you on a journey that a lot of us can relate to. This is a humorous talk that illustrates how even the most diverse of topics can epitomise the Fun, Friendship and Education ethos of the WI.
SLH&D news
We continue to plan for the future so, in preparation for the 2025 AGM on Thursday 11th September, Motion and Nomination Forms will be available at Mays General Meeting. The Motion Forms (ideas for changes) must be returned by our General Meeting on Thursday 12th June and the Nomination (committee members for next year) Forms by Thursday 10th July 2025.
Our Treasurer, Paul Brice, is standing down this year. For our u3a to operate, we must have a Chair, Secretary and a Treasurer. If you are interested in being nominated for the Treasurer’s role, please speak to Paul who has agreed to support the new post holder for a transitionary period.
Holiday Sept 28th 2026
We are thinking of organizing this Holiday (Romantic Journeys of Yorkshire with Cooks Coaches ) for next year.
This is a 5-day trip taking in some of the beautiful scenery of Yorkshire .
- The trip includes a diesel train ride on the Settle and Carlisle railway , passing through spectacular scenery and crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct.
- A trip on the Wensleydale Railway which is an authentic heritage railway .
- A steam train ride along the Worth Valley. The railway has appeared in many films the most famous being The Railway Children.
- Other places included are Dent, Hawes, the historic town of Skipton, Bolton Abbey and Grassington. ( A charming market town with a cobbled square, shops, cafés, restaurants and hotels. It is also the location of the fictional Darrowby in All Creatures Great & Small, a popular TV series.)
The Hotel is - The Cedar Court Hotel Leeds/Bradford is situated just off Junction 26 of the M62 and is close to all the major hubs of West Yorkshire making it an ideal base for touring. It offers modern bedrooms, a fitness suite, and a bar/lounge area. All bedrooms are en-suite with television, tea/coffee-making facilities and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a lift.
The cost is £561pp for a twin or double and £661 for singles.
At the moment we just need names of those interested.
If there is enough interest we will go ahead with the booking.
A deposit of £50pp will be required at time of booking; the balance required 3 months before departure.
Please email Mel or Carol with your requests
Day Trip Whitstable 22nd July 2025
Why not join us for what promises to be a delightful day in this quaint seaside town. It is situated on the North coast of Kent, a few miles away from Herne Bay. Whitstable is glorious in Summer but equally as charming when the weather lets us down. It is immaculately designed for eating, sunbathing and general mooching around the town and harbour until your heart’s content. It's small and compact enough to enjoy it all. Its beach and Harbour are a delight, with trendy eateries and arts and craft stalls.
Whitstable is most famous of all for its Oysters, The Wheelers Oyster Bar serves these and many other seafood classics. There definitely isn't a shortage of restaurants, bars and coffee shops.
For those feeling really energetic you can visit Whitstable Castle, a quintessential English experience,
The Coach Pickup time will be: Lampits Hill 9:00, The Springhouse 09:10 and The Oak 09:20
This trip will be on sale at our May General meeting from Jean Jardine and Christine Gomm. Payment can be either by cash or cheque (Payee:SLH U3a) at £20.00 per head.
MJ The Musical Refunds
For anybody who are still owed the ticket costs of the original MJ The Musical show, which was cancelled, please let me know your bank details to enable the payment to be made from our bank Paul Brice Treasurer.
MJ MUSICAL. We finally made it to see the MJ Musical without any mishaps or cancellations. We had some of the best seats in the theatre and the show was definitely worth waiting for. Thank you to everyone who came and supported us.
Our next show is to see The Devil Wears Prada. If you have put your name on our reserved list and not yet confirmed that you would still like to see this show please do so and pay £65 as soon as possible.
If you do not confirm then we will assume you have changed your mind. Many thanks.