Waltham Forest u3a: Events

Events

Waltham Forest U3A holds regular monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at the Methodist Church Hall, Winchester Road, Highams Park, E4 9JP. We start promptly at 2pm, doors are open from 1.30pm. Access is only directly from Winchester Road. It is step-free and buses 212 & W16 stop almost outside the building.

Please note that if there is no-one in the Hub who can monitor people entering, the main doors are normally closed shortly after meetings have started. This is in order to maintain security. But if you have been delayed and you find them shut, please just press the bell on the column outside the door. This sounds within the building and someone will come and welcome you in. N.B. Leaving the building through these doors is easy at at any time.

Download the membership form from this live link or go to the CONTACT page for more information.

Dates for your Diary
April 2024
Wed Apr 24th	Meeting	Gardening Group: We will visit Kew Gardens. We will meet at Walthamstow Central at 10.00 am at the top of the escalator to travel there. I will need to keep everyone together until we reach the entrance, as I have to show the form to the desk listing names. I have reached my maximum of 20.
Thu Apr 25th	Meeting	Book Group 1: The next meeting is on Thursday, 25 April, from 1.45 pm to 3.45 pm and the book to be discussed is Night Waking by Sarah Moss.
Fri Apr 26th	Outing	Ten Pin Bowling (at Romford) The last Friday in the month starting at 11.00 am at Namco Funscape Romford, 1st floor. The Brewery, Romford RM1 1AU. Unlimited bowling for 2 hours plus tea/coffee for £7 each, it’s great fun. Contact Howard Mather for more information.
Mon Apr 29th	Meeting	Classics Group continue their examination of the Twelve Caesars. This session will cover Nero and find out whether he really 'fiddled while Rome burned'. Then we'll turn to the extraordinary 'Year of 4 Emperors' namely 69AD. One noble member has agreed to take on the three who reigned in quick succession within that one year: Galba, Otho and Vitellius. If we get through all this, we'll maybe have time to move on to Vespasian, who managed to stick around for a lot longer. If not we'll save him for next time, along with his successors, Titus and Domitian.
Tue Apr 30th	Other	Eastern Dining – Roy Emmett leads a shared group with Redbridge and is relaunching on Tuesday, 30th April, with a meal at 7.00 pm at Caraway, 53 Cranbrook Road, IG2 6HA. This is two minutes from Gants Hill station as you walk back towards Ilford. Your attendance should be confirmed no later than the previous day with Roy
May 2024
Wed May 1st	Meeting	Remarkable Women 1 will be turning the spotlight on women who are (or were) "Not just a pretty face". In other words women in history (or nowadays) generally agreed to be exquisite or glamorous, but who are or were so much more than that as well. This may expose value judgements on what constitutes 'beauty' but achievement should be self-evident...
Wed May 1st	Other	Music in the Village At 7.30 pm at St. Michael & All Angels, Northcote Road, E17 6PQ. Baroque cantatas, sonatas and more. Music by Telemann, Fasch, Bach and Roderick Williams. £6 for seniors, but feel free to pay more if you wish.
Fri May 3rd	Other	Waltham Forest Music Society Recital by the Ormonde Ensemble on Friday, 3 May, at 7.30 pm. The programme includes Mozart’s Quintet for Winds and pieces by Poulenc, & Faure. At All Saints Church, Highams Park E4 9QZ. Members £10, non members £15.
Tue May 7th	Meeting	Cinema Visits These take place on the first Tuesday of the month in the afternoon. Hania Franek will inform those on the mailing list which film she intends to go to. If you wish to be added to the list, contact Hania.
Tue May 7th	Meeting	Poetry Group: The subject will be teachers/mentors.
Thu May 9th	Meeting	Book Group 2: The next meeting will be on Thursday, 9 May, at 1.00 pm. The book will be The Witches of Manningtree by R.D. Blackmore.
Sat May 11th	Other	Free Talks “All the Single Ladies” at the Old Church Hall, opposite Chingford Cemetery. 10.30 to 12 noon. The talk will be on Dorothy Sayers.
Tue May 14th	Meeting	Epping Forest Walk The next walk will be on Tuesday, 14 May. We will meet at 1.30 pm at Leytonstone High Road Overground Station. We will walk though Reservoir Wood ending at Wanstead Underground station. There is no regular membership of this group. Please just turn up. The walk will be led by Ruth, Andy and Val as Alan will be unavailable. The walks last about one and a half hours, and are approx. 3 miles long. Members should be fit enough to walk at a reasonable pace and to tackle some slopes. Suitable (waterproof) footwear should be worn.
Wed May 15th	Meeting	Film Club will be watching 'Loving Vincent' (2017). An unusual, experimental animated film about the life of Vincent van Gogh, using the same style and techniques of the artist's paintings. Each of its 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, created using the same methods of van Gogh, by a team of 125 artists from around the globe. Will be showing in Walthamstow. PLEASE NOTE that this is not the same film about Vincent Van Gogh that we saw a year or so ago, which was a conventional drama.
Wed May 15th	Meeting	Bird Watching: At Rye Meads RSPB Reserve on Wednesday, 15th May, meeting at 11.00 a.m. in the Car Park (parking charges apply for non RSPB members). Rye Meads RSPB Reserve, Rye Road, Hoddeson, Ware SG12 8JS. Group members are usually able to offer lifts but please note that Rye House Station is 400 yards away from the Reserve with trains from Liverpool Street. Please get in touch with Chris Farnes for more details.
Thu May 16th	Meeting	Committee Meeting at Winchester Road at 10am. Any Member of WFu3a is very welcome to observe a committee meeting and/or to receive a copy of the Minutes afterwards. Just contact Jane Harrington for more details.
Sat May 18th	Other	London Forest Choir LFC will perform Bach’s B Minor Mass accompanied by McCarthy’s Baroque Band on Saturday, 18 May, at 7.30 pm at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, The Green E4 7ES. Tickets £18 in advance, £20 on the door.
Tue May 21st	Meeting	Our 2024 AGM. Supporting documents for this will be with you shortly. Please contact a member of the Committee if you have not received them by 30th April. In addition to the normal business, we shall be asking for your support for a motion to reduce the grace period for renewing membership to the standard period of 6 weeks. And after the AGM (which usually only takes 15-20 minutes!) there will be a talk by Gary Matthews on Easton Lodge, whose gardens are an idyllic haven (Historic England, Grade II registered) and have been partially restored to their former glory by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Fri May 24th →Sat May 25th	Other	Local Drama The Starlighters theatre company present Love is in the Air, a show that takes a look at many aspects of love with well known songs both poignant and funny on Friday, 24 May, at 7.30 pm and Saturday, 25 May, at 2.30 pm at Waltham Forest Community Hub, 18a Orford Road, Walthamstow, E17 9LN. Tickets: Adults £10, Concessions £5 available from www.ticketlab.co.uk/events/wfchub
Sat May 25th	Outing	Roots And Shoots Coach Trip Roots and Shoots is a Walthamstow based gardening club. A coach trip is being organised to Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire on Saturday, 25 May. There may still be some spare places on the coach. The cost is £30, (£20 for the coach, £10 garden entry). Coach picks up from Forest Road at the bus stop where Homebase used to be at 9.10am. Please contact Barbara Humm if you would like to come. Barbara will have a waiting list, although obviously Roots and Shoots members will take priority. Waterperry has many attractions, including a nice cafe, shop, museum as well as the lovely gardens.
Wed May 29th	Outing	Barbara is planning to lead an outing to the Horniman Museum today as she has heard that they have redesigned their gardens. Meet at Walthamstow Central at 10am. She has found that the best way is to travel to Brixton on the Victoria Line and then get a bus which stops right outside the museum. Let her know if you would like to join her.
June 2024
Wed Jun 5th	Outing	Coach Trip to Bury St. Edmunds Wednesday, 5th June, Cost £18, including driver’s tip. Pick up 9am from The Larkswood Harvester, New Road Chingford E4 9EY. This trip is FULLY BOOKED BUT there is a waiting list so please contact Val or Joy if you would like to join it. And of course they need to know if you can no longer come, which frees up a place. Val is at lordval99@btinternet.com or mob 07806 093533 and Joy is at jjpankhurst@btinternet.com or mob 07952142232 Bury St. Edmunds is a town in Suffolk best known for its Abbey and Cathedral. People came from all over England on pilgrimage to visit the Shrine of St. Edmund. The Abbey Gardens are on the site of a Benedictine abbey, one of the most powerful monasteries in England. 20,000 plants are bedded out for summer displays. There is a bustling market on Wednesdays, dating back to before William the Conqueror. The 60 stalls include fresh locally sourced produce as well as clothing, pottery and plants.
Sat Jun 8th	Other	Free Talks “All the Single Ladies” at the Old Church Hall, opposite Chingford Cemetery. 10.30 to 12 noon. The talk will be on HFM Prescott
Tue Jun 18th	Meeting	Mike Barbakoff will be giving a talk on the World War II history of Bletchley Park.
Wed Jun 19th	Meeting	Film Club will be viewing Elvira Madigan. A beautiful Swedish film about a true story love affair between circus performer Elvira Madigan and army officer Sixten Sparre, both of whom have run away from their lives. Also famous for the musical soundtrack from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, which became known as 'Elvira Madigan' because of its association with the film. Venue of this showing is to be decided.
Fri Jun 21st	Outing	Visit to Copped Hall: Please note change of date. The visit will be at around 1.00 pm. The total cost for a visit of at least 20 people is £300, (£15 per head) but the more people who come, the less each person will have to pay. There is no public transport to Copped Hall, which is off the Epping Road, so we will need to have enough car drivers willing to offer lifts to those without cars. We will have a guided tour of the house and garden, plus refreshments. The gardens are on a slope, and there are stairs in the mansion, so visitors need to be fairly mobile.
July 2024
Tue Jul 9th	Outing	Coach Trip to RHS Wisley: Pick up time 9.00 am at the Larkswood Harvester, 175 New Road E4 9EY. Departure time tba. Price £18 to include driver’s tip. Payment when booking please. Cheques payable to Waltham Forest u3a. We are able to have free entrance to Wisley as our u3a is affiliated to the RHS. It is the historical home of the Royal Horticultural Society, and one of the world’s great gardens. It spans 200 acres and attracts a million visitors annually. Whether you are an avid gardener or not, there is much to see. It boasts some of the largest plant collections, and is a wonderful day out. For more information contact Joy or Val.

Dates for your Diary
Meetings
Wed Apr 24th	Gardening Group: We will visit Kew Gardens. We will meet at Walthamstow Central at 10.00 am at the top of the escalator to travel there. I will need to keep everyone together until we reach the entrance, as I have to show the form to the desk listing names. I have reached my maximum of 20.
Thu Apr 25th	Book Group 1: The next meeting is on Thursday, 25 April, from 1.45 pm to 3.45 pm and the book to be discussed is Night Waking by Sarah Moss.
Mon Apr 29th	Classics Group continue their examination of the Twelve Caesars. This session will cover Nero and find out whether he really 'fiddled while Rome burned'. Then we'll turn to the extraordinary 'Year of 4 Emperors' namely 69AD. One noble member has agreed to take on the three who reigned in quick succession within that one year: Galba, Otho and Vitellius. If we get through all this, we'll maybe have time to move on to Vespasian, who managed to stick around for a lot longer. If not we'll save him for next time, along with his successors, Titus and Domitian.
Wed May 1st	Remarkable Women 1 will be turning the spotlight on women who are (or were) "Not just a pretty face". In other words women in history (or nowadays) generally agreed to be exquisite or glamorous, but who are or were so much more than that as well. This may expose value judgements on what constitutes 'beauty' but achievement should be self-evident...
Tue May 7th	Cinema Visits These take place on the first Tuesday of the month in the afternoon. Hania Franek will inform those on the mailing list which film she intends to go to. If you wish to be added to the list, contact Hania.
Tue May 7th	Poetry Group: The subject will be teachers/mentors.
Thu May 9th	Book Group 2: The next meeting will be on Thursday, 9 May, at 1.00 pm. The book will be The Witches of Manningtree by R.D. Blackmore.
Tue May 14th	Epping Forest Walk The next walk will be on Tuesday, 14 May. We will meet at 1.30 pm at Leytonstone High Road Overground Station. We will walk though Reservoir Wood ending at Wanstead Underground station. There is no regular membership of this group. Please just turn up. The walk will be led by Ruth, Andy and Val as Alan will be unavailable. The walks last about one and a half hours, and are approx. 3 miles long. Members should be fit enough to walk at a reasonable pace and to tackle some slopes. Suitable (waterproof) footwear should be worn.
Wed May 15th	Film Club will be watching 'Loving Vincent' (2017). An unusual, experimental animated film about the life of Vincent van Gogh, using the same style and techniques of the artist's paintings. Each of its 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, created using the same methods of van Gogh, by a team of 125 artists from around the globe. Will be showing in Walthamstow. PLEASE NOTE that this is not the same film about Vincent Van Gogh that we saw a year or so ago, which was a conventional drama.
Wed May 15th	Bird Watching: At Rye Meads RSPB Reserve on Wednesday, 15th May, meeting at 11.00 a.m. in the Car Park (parking charges apply for non RSPB members). Rye Meads RSPB Reserve, Rye Road, Hoddeson, Ware SG12 8JS. Group members are usually able to offer lifts but please note that Rye House Station is 400 yards away from the Reserve with trains from Liverpool Street. Please get in touch with Chris Farnes for more details.
Thu May 16th	Committee Meeting at Winchester Road at 10am. Any Member of WFu3a is very welcome to observe a committee meeting and/or to receive a copy of the Minutes afterwards. Just contact Jane Harrington for more details.
Tue May 21st	Our 2024 AGM. Supporting documents for this will be with you shortly. Please contact a member of the Committee if you have not received them by 30th April. In addition to the normal business, we shall be asking for your support for a motion to reduce the grace period for renewing membership to the standard period of 6 weeks. And after the AGM (which usually only takes 15-20 minutes!) there will be a talk by Gary Matthews on Easton Lodge, whose gardens are an idyllic haven (Historic England, Grade II registered) and have been partially restored to their former glory by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Tue Jun 18th	Mike Barbakoff will be giving a talk on the World War II history of Bletchley Park.
Wed Jun 19th	Film Club will be viewing Elvira Madigan. A beautiful Swedish film about a true story love affair between circus performer Elvira Madigan and army officer Sixten Sparre, both of whom have run away from their lives. Also famous for the musical soundtrack from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, which became known as 'Elvira Madigan' because of its association with the film. Venue of this showing is to be decided.
Outings
Fri Apr 26th	Ten Pin Bowling (at Romford) The last Friday in the month starting at 11.00 am at Namco Funscape Romford, 1st floor. The Brewery, Romford RM1 1AU. Unlimited bowling for 2 hours plus tea/coffee for £7 each, it’s great fun. Contact Howard Mather for more information.
Sat May 25th	Roots And Shoots Coach Trip Roots and Shoots is a Walthamstow based gardening club. A coach trip is being organised to Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire on Saturday, 25 May. There may still be some spare places on the coach. The cost is £30, (£20 for the coach, £10 garden entry). Coach picks up from Forest Road at the bus stop where Homebase used to be at 9.10am. Please contact Barbara Humm if you would like to come. Barbara will have a waiting list, although obviously Roots and Shoots members will take priority. Waterperry has many attractions, including a nice cafe, shop, museum as well as the lovely gardens.
Wed May 29th	Barbara is planning to lead an outing to the Horniman Museum today as she has heard that they have redesigned their gardens. Meet at Walthamstow Central at 10am. She has found that the best way is to travel to Brixton on the Victoria Line and then get a bus which stops right outside the museum. Let her know if you would like to join her.
Wed Jun 5th	Coach Trip to Bury St. Edmunds Wednesday, 5th June, Cost £18, including driver’s tip. Pick up 9am from The Larkswood Harvester, New Road Chingford E4 9EY. This trip is FULLY BOOKED BUT there is a waiting list so please contact Val or Joy if you would like to join it. And of course they need to know if you can no longer come, which frees up a place. Val is at lordval99@btinternet.com or mob 07806 093533 and Joy is at jjpankhurst@btinternet.com or mob 07952142232 Bury St. Edmunds is a town in Suffolk best known for its Abbey and Cathedral. People came from all over England on pilgrimage to visit the Shrine of St. Edmund. The Abbey Gardens are on the site of a Benedictine abbey, one of the most powerful monasteries in England. 20,000 plants are bedded out for summer displays. There is a bustling market on Wednesdays, dating back to before William the Conqueror. The 60 stalls include fresh locally sourced produce as well as clothing, pottery and plants.
Fri Jun 21st	Visit to Copped Hall: Please note change of date. The visit will be at around 1.00 pm. The total cost for a visit of at least 20 people is £300, (£15 per head) but the more people who come, the less each person will have to pay. There is no public transport to Copped Hall, which is off the Epping Road, so we will need to have enough car drivers willing to offer lifts to those without cars. We will have a guided tour of the house and garden, plus refreshments. The gardens are on a slope, and there are stairs in the mansion, so visitors need to be fairly mobile.
Tue Jul 9th	Coach Trip to RHS Wisley: Pick up time 9.00 am at the Larkswood Harvester, 175 New Road E4 9EY. Departure time tba. Price £18 to include driver’s tip. Payment when booking please. Cheques payable to Waltham Forest u3a. We are able to have free entrance to Wisley as our u3a is affiliated to the RHS. It is the historical home of the Royal Horticultural Society, and one of the world’s great gardens. It spans 200 acres and attracts a million visitors annually. Whether you are an avid gardener or not, there is much to see. It boasts some of the largest plant collections, and is a wonderful day out. For more information contact Joy or Val.
Other Events
Tue Apr 30th	Eastern Dining – Roy Emmett leads a shared group with Redbridge and is relaunching on Tuesday, 30th April, with a meal at 7.00 pm at Caraway, 53 Cranbrook Road, IG2 6HA. This is two minutes from Gants Hill station as you walk back towards Ilford. Your attendance should be confirmed no later than the previous day with Roy
Wed May 1st	Music in the Village At 7.30 pm at St. Michael & All Angels, Northcote Road, E17 6PQ. Baroque cantatas, sonatas and more. Music by Telemann, Fasch, Bach and Roderick Williams. £6 for seniors, but feel free to pay more if you wish.
Fri May 3rd	Waltham Forest Music Society Recital by the Ormonde Ensemble on Friday, 3 May, at 7.30 pm. The programme includes Mozart’s Quintet for Winds and pieces by Poulenc, & Faure. At All Saints Church, Highams Park E4 9QZ. Members £10, non members £15.
Sat May 11th	Free Talks “All the Single Ladies” at the Old Church Hall, opposite Chingford Cemetery. 10.30 to 12 noon. The talk will be on Dorothy Sayers.
Sat May 18th	London Forest Choir LFC will perform Bach’s B Minor Mass accompanied by McCarthy’s Baroque Band on Saturday, 18 May, at 7.30 pm at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, The Green E4 7ES. Tickets £18 in advance, £20 on the door.
Fri May 24th →Sat May 25th	Local Drama The Starlighters theatre company present Love is in the Air, a show that takes a look at many aspects of love with well known songs both poignant and funny on Friday, 24 May, at 7.30 pm and Saturday, 25 May, at 2.30 pm at Waltham Forest Community Hub, 18a Orford Road, Walthamstow, E17 9LN. Tickets: Adults £10, Concessions £5 available from www.ticketlab.co.uk/events/wfchub
Sat Jun 8th	Free Talks “All the Single Ladies” at the Old Church Hall, opposite Chingford Cemetery. 10.30 to 12 noon. The talk will be on HFM Prescott