Celebrating 25 Years as a vibrant part of the Tonbridge community

Group News

Latest Group News

Information received from groups will be listed here, most recent information first.

Hello from Johanna

NEW MEMBERS’ COFFEE MORNING

It was great to have the opportunity to get feedback from our new members, most of whom are now enjoying a wide range of activities. Some had been to the theatre or have signed up for future offerings. Everyone I spoke to has been able to join one or more groups. If you are experiencing any difficulty please let me know, whether you were at the meeting or not. It is the aim of all of us to offer fun,

friendship, and maybe even share a skill or knowledge.

As a result of conversations on that day, we may now have new offerings.

Before Covid there was a knitting group. It is proposed to reinstate this group. Another group that is very likely to go ahead is Listening and Reading Aloud for Pleasure.
There was a proposal to have a new Canasta group. Canasta is popular but, as always, days and times do not always fit in with some members’ current schedules therefore we need more groups.
Birdwatching for beginners & Garden birds has also been requested.
Do you want to improve your Italian? - We have a member, a native Italian speaker, who could guide an Italian Speakers Improvement group.
Are you a qualified Yoga teacher looking for a group to practise with?
A Reiki master willing to share knowledge for health and well-being?

If any of these are of interest or if you are able and willing to offer help set up a group I am happy to try to facilitate. It would be great if you got in touch with me to let me know your interests and what day and time would suit you.

Contact: groups@tonbridgeu3a.uk Johanna Kiernan - Group co-ordinator

Enjoy all that you do. We have the 25th Anniversary Lunch on 7th May. How exciting and worthwhile that we are still going strong after 25 years. More than 1250 members and over 80 Interest Groups! Thank you to all who contribute to the running of the organisation. Very many thanks to our very special Group Leaders.

Johanna

London Walks Group 9 - Leader Update

Thank you to Cathie Morris, who is relinquishing her role as leader after many

years. Penny Davies will be the new joint leader with Sue Treharne.

TRIPS UPDATE:

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have stepped forward so far! We really appreciate your support. We’d also love to encourage some of our male members to join - your help would be invaluable! Currently we have one male member, but we are hoping to arrange trips of interest to all members - he will feel outnumbered with too many females otherwise!

Please email: Sue Terry if you are interested in joining the team trips@tonbridgeu3a.uk

New groups

German Conversation group 3

more information to follow

Current groups

Play Reading

Second Thursday of each month at 10.00 am. (Please note now at Ann’s house)

8 May; 12 June.

Ann Blackmore

Reading Shakespeare

Every three months approximately. 10.00am

1 May

Joyce Graf

Poetry for Pleasure

The purpose of the Group is simply to enjoy reading poetry, without serious analysis. We choose a theme in advance and do our best to find poems which are relevant to it, usually reading two or three each. 10.00am on the third Thursday each month.

May - Own choice; June - Children.

Anne Kelly

Poetry for Pleasure 2

The purpose of this group is to read poetry that they enjoy on a theme chosen in advance of the monthly meeting, which is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m.

May is Birds; June is Childhood; July is Happiness; There is no meeting in August, and the theme for September is People.

Jennifer Hughes

Discovering Churches

Monday 12 May at 11:00 Lullingstone

Lorraine Davison and Lesley Hardwick.

Monday 9 June at 11.00am Halstead.

Beti Price

Galleries, Exhibitions and Museums

Friday 2 May - Wallace Collection for Grayson Perry “Delusions of Grandeur”

Please bring bus pass. Let Margaret know if you are coming.

Friday 6 June - National Gallery Sienna

Margaret Pavlidis (details in your Journal)

Ambling Group

On Tuesday 18 February, Wendy and Douglas Gardner led 9 members of the Tonbridge u3a Ambling Group on a walk from The Vauxhall Inn through fields and the beautiful grounds of Somerhill School in chilly but glorious sunshine. This walk had been cancelled 3 times because of unsuitable weather conditions so it was lovely to be able to get out and enjoy it at last!! The dog was also out for a walk with its owner and seemed rather keen to join us!!

Thanks to Tony Atkins for the photos.

If you would like to join us, please email Miriam on ambling@tonbridgeu3a.uk

London Walks Group 9 - 26 March 2025

Ten of us enjoyed a beautiful sunny day exploring the area around Trinity Buoy Wharf. We took the DLR to East India, walked through what is now a dedicated wildlife wetlands area which was formerly the dock, until we reached the River Thames.

Here we straddled the Meridian Line, studied the Virginia Settlers Monument before heading to TWB, walking through an area once known as London’s lost village. London’s only lighthouse is situated at the wharf – built to train lighthouse keepers and test lighting.

Michael Faraday spent many years here and there is a shed dedicated to him and his research. The Wharf houses Container City, many units converted into colourful offices and artists’ studios and embellished with pieces of kinetic artwork, unfortunately not working on the day we were there.

Also here is a tidal lunar clock and a couple of historic trade boats. We then walked along the River Lea to London City Island where we had lunch in the cafe at the English National Ballet school. Because the weather was so favourable we had a consensus to change the route for the afternoon, took the DLR from nearby Canning Town to North Greenwich and headed for the pier to wait for the Uber Thames Clipper for the 50-minute boat trip to Embankment.

From the feedback at the end, everyone went home very happy with the day’s outing.

Straddling the Meridian Line

A splendid view of Tower Bridge & The Shard

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