Lea
Valley u3a
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Interest Groups online
Interest
Groups Online (abbreviated as IGO) is an online u3a community that gives you
the opportunity to join groups, talks and courses from the comfort of your
home.
Why not pay it a visit? Click on this link:-
Interest Groups online
If you know anyone who might benefit, please pass the information on.
An Exploring London Group outing
Walk
around the Royal Parks.
Hoddesdon Heritage Weekend
Good Friday Nature Walk
Hertford Heath
Our National Office, the Third Age Trust ("TAT") issues monthly online newsletters full of great ideas on how to stay connected and involved. The TAT has asked committees to encourage members to sign up for the newsletter, which can be accessed from the link below:
Either click on the link (or type the website name into your address bar) and then scroll down to the foot of the main page. Under the heading Quick Links there is a heading "Newsletter Signup". Click on this and you are taken to a page where you can input your details and receive the newsletter.
I hope you find this helpful.
Glynis Evans, Chair
| Committee
members and volunteers had a busy couple of days at the end of April,
manning a publicity stand in a prime spot just inside Morrisons’ store
in Hoddesdon, and the Love Hoddesdon Midsummer
Festival in June. We will be repeating our efforts at other venues in the borough, including Tescos at Brookfield on 4th January 2025, between 10 am and 4pm. If you are able to spend an hour or so with us at the stand please contact a member of the committee, or just pop along on the day, and say hello! |  |
Our monthly Newsletter has been produced as
a downloadable (pdf) file, which should be compatible with any
computer. It contains the "Chair Corner" message, details on some forthcoming events and other information about Groups etc.
To view the latest editions please "click" on the link:-
Therefore members need to refer either to the version emailed to you, or the paper versions available at main meetings, as those versions do contain the personal contact information.
Alternatively anyone (members and non-members) can use the club's email system to make contact with us - please refer to the top of the left hand margin of this page, and go to the 'CONTACTS' page, and the email address is in the margin.
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We
are delighted to say that plans are well underway to restore catering
in the bar and café area at the Spotlight, so our members can once more
have lunch there before our main meetings.
Until this is finally resolved, I am glad to say that pizza (whole or by the slice) will be available, as well as a selection of sandwiches.
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LVu3a’s 20th FUN QUIZ – Mon 28th April 2025 1:30pm Our next quiz will take place on 28th April, at our usual venue (St
Augustine’s Parish Centre, Broxbourne).
Tickets will go on sale at our
January main meeting. As before the ticket prices are £2 for LVU3A members
and £2.50 for non-members, including tea and cake.
In order that we can set out the hall for the attendees and cater appropriately, tickets must be
purchased (or reserved) in advance; they will not be available on the door.
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Full details are shown on the poster below.
Please note, the capacity of the bar area is limited to 150, and we are only allowed to sell this number of tickets, so be quick!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
See below details of planned LVu3a and Broxbourne Arts Forum events taking place in December 2024 through to January 2025:-
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AFTERNOON TEA GARDEN PARTY
Over
30
members enjoyed a wonderful afternoon on 30th of August, when our
Chair, Glynis, generously opened her garden and invited members
along.The sun shone and the prosecco and tea flowed
to accompany a sumptuous tea of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam
and various cakes. Everyone was very complementary and agreed it had been a
good opportunity to meet and chat with other members. The event was
quintessentially what an English summer garden party should be!
Many thanks
to Glynis for opening her garden and to her Grandson, Oakley, for doing a grand
job of keeping the teapots filled and to Marion and Val for all their hard
work!
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VISIT TO MONA’S MAGICAL GARDEN
A group of us, led by Dennis Bruce, enjoyed an extremely interesting afternoon in Highgate in early September. Dennis began our visit with a short, guided walk from Highgate tube station with some fascinating facts and information.
Our host, Mona Abboud, was very enthusiastic in talking to us about her amazing garden and particularly her National Collection of the Corokia, a genus of three species of evergreen shrubs endemic to New Zealand. Mona began her creation from a blank canvas in 2000. It is now an award-winning garden and has been voted ‘Best Back Garden’ by the London Society.
We enjoyed meandering through the different areas with Mona as our entertaining guide. The emphasis of the garden is on texture, shapes and contrasting foliage colour. Mona was keen to answer questions, of which we had plenty! It certainly is a wonderfully different ‘back garden’.
Many thanks to Dennis for arranging this delightful visit. The website for Mona’s Garden is https://monasgarden.co.uk
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EXPLORING LONDON 5 EVENT
On Friday 22nd November 26 members of the Exploring London
Group 5 enjoyed a visit to Middle Temple in London for a guided tour and lunch.
We were met by our guide Marian who was extremely
knowledgeable about Middle Temple, its history and current practices.
Marian gave us so much fascinating information about the
development of the Middle Temple from the12th century to the granting of the
land in perpetuity in 1608/9 and then on to the current day, that it would be
impossible to summarise here.
After our tour of the outside of the site (on a very cold
day) we went into the Great Hall complex where Marian talked about the rooms,
the customs and the development of the buildings.
Our two-course lunch was served in the magnificent Great
Hall itself.
One of our group members summarised Middle Temple well when
she said, “what a remarkably quiet, calm, self-contained little world it is, so
full of secrets and history”!
Many thanks to Linda Williams for organising this
interesting visit.
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Sherrie
McDaid the Mayor of Broxbourne stopped to chat with Glynis, Tim and
Lesley at the LVu3a publicity table at St Augustine Church’s
Summer Fair on Saturday 13th July.
She showed a keen
interest in what we had to say about our u3a and was impressed with all
the information displayed on our publicity boards.
On our arrival at the impressive Water House, now home to the Gallery, we were given a short introductory talk on William Morris’ background and life before exploring the Galleries at our leisure. Arranged by theme, the galleries feature an internationally renowned collection of artworks and personal items connected with William Morris. The Gallery displays the world’s largest collection of Morris’s works, as well a collection of works by his contemporaries, including the Pre-Raphaelite artists. Following our visit, it was lovely to wander around the Gallery’s attractive gardens in the August sunshine.
There are always plenty of interesting online learning events free to join to be found at:
Here are just a few:
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Taking revenge: Artemisia Gentileschi’s Quest for Justice
- Help Us Remember with the War Memorials Register
- Laughter Yoga with Judith
- Vaccines
- London 2012 – A Games Maker’s Story
- Expert tips and Essential Apps for Effortless Online Living
- Secrets of the Human Brain: Talk Six: Your Spinal Cord
- Celestial marvels: Demystifying the Cosmos
- Darkness on the Edge of Town: Bruce Springsteen and the American dream
.
We are delighted to announce a new range of services to those who sign-up to receive the u3a Friends newsletter.
u3a
Friends Extra is a benefits website developed exclusively for members
of the u3a Friends newsletter community. The website provides access to
a wide range of offers, discounts and additional services. Friends
Extra is completely free to access. Anyone signed up to the u3a Friends
newsletter can now also make savings on well-known brands, shopping,
travel, days out and more. Offers and services on Friends Extra include:
✓ Health and wellbeing
✓ Shopping savings on major brands and retail discounts
✓ Travel and holidays
✓ Leisure offers, like family days out, trips to the cinema and theatre
✓ Insurance offers on car, travel and medical insurance
✓ Access to financial advice and a legal helpline.
It also currently offers a 25% off the price of English Hertitage membership:-
"Looking for a fun day out with family and friends? Members
of u3a Friends Extra can enjoy 25% off* annual membership at English
Heritage - giving you unlimited access to England’s most stunning
historical places, including Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire (pictured.) This offer
is exclusively for members of u3a Friends Extra - join the scheme now at www.u3a.org.uk .
*Terms and conditions apply. Offers not in conjunction with any
other offer. Only valid on new memberships paying by Annual Direct Debit.
Accompanying children must be under 18 and within the family group. Offers
subject to change without notice. u3a Friends Extra is managed and run on
behalf of u3a by Parliament Hill Ltd."
To become a ‘Friend’, simply sign up to receive the Friends Newsletter on the u3a website via the link below.
Each issue of the Friends Newsletter will include a link to the Friends
Extra benefits website and highlight one of the offers. This is just
one element of the u3a Friends newsletter, which brings together
stories from local u3a groups, learning opportunities and news of
upcoming events to highlight the fun and learning within the u3a
community.
u3a Friends Newsletter shares news from u3as, national
learning opportunities and access to u3a Friends Extra, a wide range of offers,
discounts and services.
Go to the u3a website, and sign up via the "Get Involved" tab:
www.u3a.org.uk
KEEP UP WITH OUR NEWS
 | Our
Knit & Natter group, which opened early in 2023, has been very
successful. We have all made lots of new friends, had lots of tea,
coffee and biscuits and lots of laughs! We have all learnt new skills and shared our tips with everyone. We have recently made knitted and crochet squares which have been sewn together to make blankets which have gone to the hospice department at Princes Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. These were done with the Dobbs Weir Crafty Cuppa group who also meet at the hall and knit and natter too! Gill Fowke |
 | On another crafty note, one of our members would be interested in starting a Needle Felting group. Needle felting is a creative craft that involves sculpting shapes and figures using wool and special felting needles. If you are interested please contact Glynis Evans (Chair) Click on heading to see more ideas. |
 | SECRETARY'S TABLE It’s always good to chat with you when stopping to read our notice boards in the foyer of the Spotlight at our main monthly meetings. The boards are updated each month so it’s always worth having a read to keep abreast of dates and events. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. |
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CHAIR’S CORNER
(COPIED FROM THE DECEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER)
In no time at all we are at the end of the year, and so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025.
I am delighted that the Spotlight have been able to increase the number of guests we can have at our Christmas Social in the bar on Monday 9th December to 150, so we have a handful of tickets left at a cost of £3. If you haven’t got yours yet, please get in touch with our Secretary Lesley Robinson.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have Rupert Dickens as our speaker on Monday 13th January, telling us about the art of album covers.
Next year to make a better spacing of events, we are moving our Interest Afternoons to the end of the month. Martin Benson will be talking about Healthy Eating on Friday 24th January – particularly useful for anyone who over-indulges in the forthcoming festive season!
All the best.
Chair
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SHAKESPEARE GROUP
HISTORY GROUP
Monday 9th December, Main Meeting - Christmas Social in the Spotlight Bar. No speaker. See article further up this page.
Monday 13th January 2024, Main Meeting - Speaker - Rupert Dickens - "Off The Record". Album cover art.
Friday 24th January, Interest Afternoon - Barclay Hall, Hoddesdon at 2pm. Speaker, our member, Martin Benson - "Healthy Eating" - Are we really what we eat? Tickets £3 on the door, includes tea and cake.
Monday 9th December, Main Meeting - Speaker - Helen Fry - "The London Cage". A secret interrogation centre in WW2.
Friday 28th February, Interest Afternoon - Barclay Hall, Hoddesdon at 2pm. Speaker, our Chair, Glynis Evans - "Rye House" - More than just a train station, a pub, or a plot. Find out more about thislocal listed building and its surroundings. Tickets £3 on the door, includes tea and cake.
Monday 10th March, Main Meeting - Speaker - Bobbie Darbyshire - "A Beginning, a Muddle and an End". Where do authors get their ideas from?
Friday 28th March, Interest Afternoon - Barclay Hall, Hoddesdon at 2pm. Speaker Jo Livingstone - "Memory Boxes and Time Capsules" - Why collections of objects have been assembled, how they are used, and what memories and hopes they contain. Tickets £3 on the door, includes tea and cake.
Monday 28th April 2025 , Fun Quiz (Parish Centre, St Augustines Church, Broxbourne) - See article further up this page.
SEE WHAT OUR u3a CAN OFFER YOU
One of our members, John Astin, produced another excellent video in December 2019 showing what happens at Lea Valley u3a. Sadly John passed away in March 2021.
The video includes comments from a few members who explain what joining us has meant to them, and an insight into what some of our groups get up to.
It is available to watch on YouTube.To view, please click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ECUfIJ7nn8
Playreading Group
.
Come along to our group on the first and third Thurdays monthly at 2pm to enjoy the world of theatre. Click on the poster for more information:-
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East of England Region of U3As
The East of England region comprises the six counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The website can be viewed via the following link:-
https://u3asites.org.uk/east-of-england/home
"Regional News Bulletins" are published each month containing details of this month’s events and presentations both regionally and nationally. The latest edition can be viewed by going to their website. then click on the "Publications" link at the top of the Home page.
Group Sharing Agreement
The idea behind this is that where any of the other 6 u3as have groups that are keen to increase their numbers, they can open the group to members of LVU3A, and you will be allowed to attend those groups without having to join the other u3a. Conversely, where we have groups that are struggling with low numbers, they can participate and open themselves up to members of the other 6 u3as.
It is very important to note is that members of our u3a can’t just see a group in another u3a newsletter and go along and join it. Only those groups which are struggling to be viable and which have agreed to open up to members from other participating u3as can be approached.
1) Broxbourne
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Broxbourne u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
https://broxbourne.u3asite.uk/broxbourne-groups-open-for-sharing
2) Buntingford
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Buntingford u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
Please note this link is currently in draft form awaiting updating, and does
NOT show the Buntingford groups that are in this scheme:
https://buntingford.u3asite.uk/buntingford-u3a-shared-groups/
3) Cheshunt
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Cheshunt u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
https://cheshunt.u3asite.uk/cheshunt-sharing-groups/
4) Hertford & District
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Hertford & District u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
5) Waltham Abbey
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Waltham Abbey u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
6) Ware
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Ware u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
https://u3asites.org.uk/ware/page/111056
The groups at Lea Valley U3A which have agreed to open up their groups to the other u3a's in this arrangement (as at March 2022) can be found by opening this link:
LVu3a Group Sharing
If you have a query about the scheme, please contact me.
Lea Valley u3a's Constitution
Under the recommendation of the Third Age Trust, many u3as amended their constitutions to facilitate new methods of voting and holding AGM's and SGM's (Special General Meetings) etc both during and after the pandemic, to ensure that they could operated legally without breaking any of their own 'rules'. Lea Valley u3a's constitution was updated in August 2021. It can be viewed by clicking on the link below:-
Lea Valley u3a's Privacy Policy
Lea Valley u3a treats members' privacy rights seriously. The policy document in the link below sets out how we will deal with your ‘personal information’, that is information that could identify, or is related to the identity of, any Lea Valley u3a individual member.
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Disputes (Complaints, Discipline and Grievances)
You can view these by clicking on the links below:-
Complaints Procedure
Disciplinary Procedure
Grievance Procedure
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN READ IN LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Please visit the website www.schoolreaders.org to join or call 01234 924111 for further information, or click on this link:
BArts offers activities and events which are not usually provided by the Borough of Broxbourne's Leisure and Entertainments programme.
www.broxbournearts.org.uk
Lea Valley Discussion Group
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