Burgess Hill

Welcome to your new weekly newsletter

Burgess Hill Number 15 • 19 April 2024

Agreement with HH and HHD u3a Groups
Just a reminder that Burgess Hill members can attend one or two Haywards Heath and Hurst, Hassocks and Ditchling u3a groups without paying a membership subscription to that u3a.
Links to peruse their websites:
www.haywardsheathu3a.org.uk
https://u3asites.org.uk/hhd/welcome

Spanish for Beginners
The first of our Spanish for Beginners groups has held its first meeting and we are now looking for a suitable location for a second group. It isn’t too late to join if this is a subject that interests you. Please contact David Grigg for more information, 07941 017 760

Exploring your ancestors and creating your Family Tree - for beginners
Their next meeting is on Monday 20 May, 2.15pm to 4.15pm, at the Cherry Tree Centre. There is room for more beginners. If you are interested please contact Peter Mitchell on 01444 236 848.

History of Architecture Group
An outing to the Milestones Living Museum, Basingstoke by coach on Wednesday 14 August. The cost is £45.00 which includes the cost of the coach and a reduced entry fee. The Museum is made up of a network of streets crafted to show Hampshire in past times, from Victorian through to the 1930s to later. Also, there is a selection of vintage vehicles, including Fire Engines. There are two pick-up points, Northlands Avenue HH and Civic Way BH.
For more information and to book a place/s contact Jane Reid on 01444 450 748 or mail@janereid5362.plus.com.

Burgess Hill u3a facebook page
Not a member? Then please sign up to this private group and use it to communicate with other members and groups.

Gardening Group One
Members of Garden Group spent a couple of hours this week wandering the amazing gardens at The Old Vicarage at Washington home of Lady Walters. Accompanied by Brian, the main gardener, who guided us to the various areas of interest and there were many, and also answered our questions on varying topics about plants and gardening hints. Coffee and cake were enjoyed in the conservatory which looked out onto a mass of narcissi and tulips shining in the sunlight.

London Walks Group
On a mainly dry Tuesday in March a group of 27, the largest ever, undertook a roughly circular walk from Warren Street underground station to London St Pancras, with the walk ending in Tavistock Square. This walk was nicknamed The Square Route as there were several garden squares included, together with numerous ‘Blue Plaques’, various ‘Bloomsbury Group’ mentions, and the odd church. This was a flat walk with the only incline being stepping off and onto pavements!!!
The photographers within the group went their own way while the rest of the group was split into two separate groups, enabling the walk leaders to lead and disseminate points of interest information to smaller groups. For the first time the walk leaders undertook two different walks a shorter one of 3 and a bit miles as well as a longer one of 5+ miles.
The groups exited Warren Street underground station and made their way via Grafton Way to the first square - Fitzroy Square. The groups then continued down Fitzroy Street making their way to the now closed Pollock’s Toy Museum. The walk continued to Chenies Street where The Eisenhower Centre and Rangers Memorial are located. A little further on was Colville Place, a lovely little residential haven of a walkway with each dwelling having numerous plant pots, providing colour, across the front of their houses.

Continuing, the walk past two ‘Bloomsbury Group’ pubs Fitzroy Tavern and The Wheatsheaf. The next square – Bedford Square was soon upon the groups. Following a short walk past St George’s Church Bloomsbury the groups reached Bloomsbury Square. The entrance to the Kingsway Tram Subway was the next port of call, it was at this point that the shorter route went their own way. The longer route carried on to Red Lion Square and Conway Hall then a slightly longer stroll to Doughty Street, which houses the Dickens Museum. Doughty Street merges into Mecklenburgh Street/Square, from there the group past Coram’s Fields, which is next to Brunswick square which contains, amongst other POIs, the statue of Thomas Coram (the creator of the London Foundling Hospital) and the Foundling Museum. Queen’s Square was the next one reached which includes at its southwest corner the St George the Martyr church. At this point the shorter walking group had re-joined the longer group. It was only a short stroll to Russell Square which includes one of only thirteen left, Cabman’s Shelter. Then into the grounds of UCL passing Senate House, Brunei Gallery, Petrie Museum and the unusual ‘auto-icon’ of Jeremy Bentham. The final two squares on the route were Gordon Square and Tavistock Square, where the walk ended, which was only a short walk back to St Pancras railway station.

The next London Walk is planned for Tuesday 21 May 2024, this is a linear walk, from St Pancras railway station to Camden. The group undertakes a London Walk each month, weather and trains permitting, taking in the historical aspect of our capital city. The walks consist of around 4 miles in distance, normally from a railway/tube station to either the same or another, with periodic stops to talk about the points of interest on the route and a break for lunch/drink.
For more information contact Dave Fletch on dpf1954@hotmail.co.uk