E & E News April 2025
Retired to Inspired
Hi Everyone,
Spring has arrived !!! with a mixed bag of weather. At the beginning of the day the birds are singing their little hearts out trying to find a mate, and letting us know the warmer weather and longer daylight days are on the way. I am very lucky a company of blue tits have moved in and are starting to nest. They are the best example of a co-operative that I know and so the next few weeks will be very interesting. Wonderful !! nature always shows us how to reflect on how wonderful the simple life is.
The social committee are pleased to announce a reduction in the ticket price for Moulin Rouge from £65.00 to £52.50 which is great, we have only four tickets still available.
The New Members Coffee Morning was quite a success, 51 people including some Committee Members turned up. I am very happy that a few gentlemen were amongst the New Members. Good to see that the dynamic of men versus women has started to increase. Otherwise, we could be a WI!!!!!
The Committee are holding a Group Leaders Afternoon Tea on 30th April 2025 2.00pm – 4.00pm, venue The Station, Stoneleigh. Please contact Libby to be included. This will be by invitation only. This invitation is a thank you to all of our wonderful Group Leaders who take on the major task of organising Members so that they can enjoy various pursuits. Thank you to all 120plus at the last count. What would we do without you. I am personally looking forward to meeting you all.
We have Open House on 12th May, 10.00am – 12.00noon. Here we hope that people can learn about the u3a activities and events. Nearer the time Libby Curzon will be letting you know the programme for the morning events.
We now have a Committee Group listed on our interest groups page. Hopefully this will give Members an insight into the workings of the Committee and to see that it's not a scary place to be but a lot of fun, and then you have to work (YIKES, REALLY, I DIDN’T KNOW THAT – WORK).
Have a wonderful April and enjoy all the wonderful Spring blossom and longer days of daylight. Take care of one another.
Kindest regards. Sybi – Chair Epsom and Ewell u3a
"Do you worry about Climate Change yet also sometimes feel a bit helpless about what you can do about it?
Then join this discussion group to better understand the science and the solutions that are unique to each of us depending on our individual circumstances.
We all come across books and news stories about this topic and some of these could form the basis of our discussions and sharing of reference materials.
This could help us structure our discussions as selected by the group. The discussion will be conducted in a manner that allows everyone's views to be listened to in order to help us all improve our understanding.
This Climate Conversations group is expected to start in April or May. The initial idea is that we will meet 10.30am-12.30 on the 2nd Monday of every month but could extend this to also meet on the 4th Monday if that is what people want.
We can meet at the facilities offered FREE to the U3A
Lower Mill Apartments, Kingston Road, Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 2DQ
If you would like to know more about joining this group, please contact William Ward on willjward@gmail.com who will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
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| Friday 4th April | Normal Session |
| Thursday 1st May | Singing Group performing at St Barnabas Church Epsom 2-3pm to the Sunny Bank Trust group for adults with learning disabilities and their carers with our keyboard player Keith and his musicians. |
| Friday 2nd May | Normal Session |
| Friday 23rd May | Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the end of WW2 with our Pianist Pauline. |
| Friday 6th June | Our 12th Birthday. Members’ favourite songs. |
| Friday 20th June | Hits from the 70s. |
| Friday 4th July | Normal Session |
| Friday 18th July | Last Session, we return to the “Music Hall” with our Ukulele Group, singing along to all those songs from yesteryear. |
Jenny Sparrow - Group Leader
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The following events are available for members to book via the Events Page on the website. We have a choice of coach trips, walk and talk tours and ticket only theatre events.
| Wednesday April 23rd | Silk & Sapphire - Coach Trip | £60.00 per person |
| Thursday April 24th | Moulin Rouge - Ticket only theatre | £52.50 per person |
| Monday May 19th | National Theatre - Walk and Talk | £14.50 per person |
| Wednesday June 25th | Canterbury Cathedral - Coach Trip | £46.00 per person |
| Thursday June 26th | Quadrophenia - Ticket only theatre | £40.00 per person |
| Wednesday July 9th | Royal Albert Hall - Walk and Talk | £15.00 per person |
| Thursday September 11th | Starlight Express - Ticket only theatre | £40.00 per person |
| Tuesday December 9th | Christmas Carol Goes Wrong - Ticket only theatre | £55.00 per person |
Late availability
contact: epsomu3asocial@gmail.com
We have received a late cancellation from a member who booked a seat for the theatre trip Comedy About Spies on Wednesday May 7th but cannot now attend. Please speak to a member of the social committee if you would like to purchase this ticket. £39.50pp
Groups At A Glance!
This is a page for groups to advertise for new members or new start-ups looking for fellow interests. Contact Libby Curzon, Group Coordinator at epsomu3agroups@gmail.com to get your group listed. You can find out more about the groups and make direct contact through our NEW website Groups page. This has improved filter facilities and a search box so take a look! Or simply use the link shown for each group listed here.
GROUPS – SEEKING NEW MEMBERS!
CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS – a NEW group just starting up. See their separate advert. CONTACT Will Ward via the website
CHESS GROUP - We meet every Tuesday at 10 am till 12pm in the Wellbeing Day Centre in Sefton Road, West Ewell. We are a small friendly group who enjoy playing chess for fun. All levels welcome.
CONTACT Vivienne McNeil via the website
CRIME FICTION 2 – NEW start up - Our current Crime Fiction group has proved very popular with a waiting list so we are starting an additional group. Please contact Libby via the link if you would like to be added to the list.
CONTACT via the website.
CYCLING – WUSSIES WHEELERS – NEW start up - Aim is a gentle cycling group - no lycra needed! For those needing more confidence or experience on a bike, but who enjoy a gentle meander - mainly off road - with a coffee shop or pub at the end. Electric bikes & experienced riders welcome for a leisurely cycle.
Contact Libby & Michele via the link to be added to the list. CONTACT via the website.
EXPLORING LONDON 6 - A rare opportunity to join one of our popular Exploring London Groups! Group 6 meets on the 2nd Friday of each month, starting at Waterloo Station at 10:30 a.m. It has a few vacancies. CONTACT Mala or Joan
We have two Flower Arranging groups that meet on different days of the month. Both would like more members.
FLOWER ARRANGING 1 - The 4th Friday group meet at Stoneleigh Library. As we have to pay for the room hire, members contribute approximately £1.50 for each month.
CONTACT Mala (Flower Arranging 1)
FLOWER ARRANGING 2 - The 3rd Tuesday group, that also meets in Stoneleigh Library would like more members too. CONTACT Ann (Flower Arranging 2)
ITALIAN CONVERSATION INTERMEDIATE - We meet once a month on Monday afternoons at Bourne Hall. We would welcome anyone who wants to have a go at conversation at an intermediate level.
CONTACT Peta Hargreaves
NEEDLECRAFT - We meet mid-month and work on our individual projects using several different techniques: crochet, knitting, tapestry, cross stitch etc. We’re really a U3A version of Chat and Knit groups! Meetings are 2-4pm at a member’s home in Chessington.
CONTACT Marian Morrison
POETRY - This poetry appreciation group runs on the last Friday of each month between 3-5pm. This is a fairly new group and has room for more members. CONTACT Helen Lewis
New Group Ideas!
If you are interested in meeting members with similar interests but there’s no current group or vacancy, please email Sally at epsomu3agroups@gmail.com and we will see if we can start a new group. Here are some for starters!
GERMAN TUITION – Two of our members are seeking face to face tuition in German and would be grateful to hear from anyone who can provide this or put them in contact with a possible tutor. They would be happy to share the cost of a fee for a group of two, or to join an existing small group. They are not beginners but would admit they are a little bit south of Intermediate. Contact Phil Pavey for details.
WEEKEND SERENDIPITY – So many groups run during the week that it would be great to have a weekend meet up. It could cover anything... a walk, church visit, museum, lunch... on either a Saturday or Sunday. Suggestion by Carol Miller.
CRIBBAGE – new start up is looking for members
RUMMIKUB – new start up is looking for members
For any of these ideas please register your interest with Libby, Group Coordinator and Sally by email to epsomu3agroups@gmail.com and we will pass on your details.
NEW GROUPS REQUESTED AT LOWER MILLS (Birchgrove)
We run several popular groups at this retirement village in Ewell Village. Their neighbourhood general manager Emma, is keen to offer more! This is a great opportunity! The groups would be open to u3a members and residents.
Would you be keen to start one up? Venue is free of charge! There is free parking. A small charge for refreshments. They are interested in setting up new groups for scrabble / drawing / history. CONTACT Libby by email to epsomu3agroups@gmail.com
COME & MEET US AT THE GROUP INFO TABLE
at the Bourne Hall monthly speaker talk on April 7
The group meets for a walk (usually around 3 miles) on the last Friday of the month on a route which links to history. We have done London walks such as following the remaining Roman walls of the City, the course of the Great Fire, rural walks along stretches of Roman Stane Street. Members are welcome to devise and lead walks as well as the Group Leader and this happened for the first time in February, when we followed the Thames from London Bridge to Canary Wharf (see pictures) via Tower Bridge, St Katherine’s Dock seeing warehouses, Thames barges, the statues of St John of Wapping Charity School and the Prospect of Whitby Pub, ending with lunch at the free Docklands Museum.
Our next walks are ‘historic Brighton’ in March, the Pilgrims’ Way from Wotton to Dorking in April and the Regent’s Canal area in May. We would welcome several more members.
If you like rambles and history this could be for you. Email Phil
Think of Jane Austen films and dancing cotillions and quadrilles! Don’t worry though – we start with some easy country dances of the era and build up to these more intricate forms of the dance.
Please contact Libby for further details.
Main Hall, All Saints Church, Fulford Road, Ewell KT19 9QZ
1.30pm-3.30pm - £4 per person
The group now meet fortnightly.
Upcoming dates are: April 9th, April 23rd, May 7th and May 21st.
Our Coffee Club, run by Rosie and Sue, have arranged their next few meetings.
Roots Café 10.00am, Epsom Methodist Church
Monday April 28th Wednesday 21st May Monday 16th Jun
Please remember to contact Sue if you have never attended before in order that she and Rosie can welcome you.
Garden visiting group - trip to Leonardslee
This month our group took our first full day out of the year to the Horsham area on a visit to Leonardslee, a woodland and lakeside home of many intriguing statues, wallabies and early spring bulbs, some of which were very shy & didn't want to appear.
The garden is very accommodating for those who cannot manage slopes, they ran a buggy to the lakeside & back so we could all visit at our own pace. The staff were also keen to explain the history of the garden & the wallaby residents. After lunch we found ourselves mesmerised by the Dolls House display & resolved that a return visit should definitely be scheduled.
This month the hybrid group members went to St Paul's for the first Luxmaralis illumination of the interior of the cathedral. It was designed to highlight the history of the cathedral in a moving light show accompanied by music.
It was completely gripping & suitably awe inspiring. Every corner we turned there was yet another fascinating depiction on the cathedral walls, ceiling & up into the dome.
We found that settling down somewhere to watch was very rewarding, and discovered it difficult to leave at the end of our visit.
Many photos and videos were taken by all.
Sandra led our March Walk which was on the hottest day of the year so far. We started at Victoria with coffee in Wetherspoons before setting off in glorious sunshine towards the Wellington Arch and Apsley House to learn about the history of the various monuments for the fallen heroes of the World Wars. Some members decided to go to the top of the Wellington Arch to see the views while the rest of us found some benches to sit in the sunshine and chat. The Bomber Commander monument is impressive by its scale and detail and Sandra explained that the design of the roof incorporates sections of aluminium recovered from a Handley Page Halifax III bomber which was shot down over Belgium on the night of May 12th 1944. We then walked across to Clarence House and finished at Admiralty Arch.
