Wantage & Grove

Toes

TRIPS, OUTINGS AND EVENTS. Recent items of interest from the Wantage and Grove u3a please visit our Events Page for future activities - we are a busy group!

February 2024 Walking Group visit to art works around Abingdon
On a sunny bright day the Saturday walking group walked around Abingdon to look at a variety of art installations. Quite a few were based on the history and industry of Abingdon.

November 2023 Visit to the Natural History Museum
In November 14 U3A members visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. We had an hour’s tour by an extremely enthusiastic guide, Chris Jarvis, who was able to give us a colourful history of some of the exhibits. Thankfully, the weather was kind to us after Storm Ciaran, so all in all a very interesting and enjoyable visit.

October 2023 Holiday to Wales
Thirty one of us went on holiday to Caernarfon and had a great time. Unfortunately only thirty of us can back as Derek went into Bangor hospital with a broken hip after a fall from his scooter. (He is back here now and making a good recovery) We visited beautiful and interesting places, had a great Barnes driver and experienced a named storm getting wet and wind blown. Many thanks to Malcolm who organised it all, (not the storm though).

October 2023 Gardener's group visit to Aston
Gardeners' Group enjoyed their visit to Aston. As you can see from the group picture a good time was had by all! Smiles down to a good lunch in Aston cafe just before!

October 2023 Saturday A walking group : Letcombe Regis and Childrey
A last minute change of walk as our planned leader Keith developed foot problems. We enjoyed a sunny walk to Letcombe Regis and Childrey. We saw a hare, lots of kites and deer. We enjoyed our traditional "pork pie" stop on Childrey village green.

September 2023 Saturday A walking group at Faringdon Folly
Thanks to Ann and Andrew for leading our walk in September. We set off by bus to Faringdon and walked along some lovely paths to Littleworth and then to Faringdon Folly. Most of us stopped for a pint in a local pub and a cake from the bakers before catching the bus back to Wantage.

August 2023 Saturday A walking group at Combe Gibbett
Thanks to Alan for leading our walk. We set out from Ham and after a steep climb, reached the outstanding views from Combe Gibbett. After a steep descent we made our way back in time for an enjoyable and well-deserved drink at the Crown and Anchor.

August 2023 Afternoon Tea
Our thanks to Hazel for organising an enjoyable afternoon tea at Milletts.

July 2023 Saturday A walking group from East Hagbourne
Thanks to June for leading our walk. We set out from East Hagbourne and visited St. Andrew's Church. We then walked along the old railway line to Upton. After visiting the church in Upton we walked along Coffin Way to Blewbury. Despite the rain we enjoyed our "pork pie" stop sheltered by trees on the green before setting off back to East Hagbourne.

June 2023 Saturday A walking group at Ashbury
Thanks to David and Diane for leading our walk in June. We walked the Ashbury Circular walk, which took us past Wayland Smithy. We then walked down to Ashdown Woods and had our "pork pie" stop overlooking Ashdown House. Glorious weather with wildflower meadows to walk through.

May 2023 Saturday A walking group at Snelsmore Common
Thanks to Pauline and Jill who led our May walk from Snelsmore Common. A lovely walk across common, through woods, a "pork pie" stop by a stream and then up to Donnington Castle and back.

25 March 2023 Saturday A walking group at Cumnor
Our thanks to Rowan and Val for leading our first walk of the season. Despite the blustery wind, mud and very large puddles we enjoyed our walk through woodland, across fields and along the Thames. We saw our first brimstone butterflies of the year. Also some Canandian geese, greylag geese and snow geese. June Grunwald

24 September 2022 Circular walk to Ardington Stones
Our thanks to Alan for leading the September walk. We walked from Holy Trinity Church to the Millennium Wood in Ardington where we stopped to look at the stones and for our pork pie stop. We walked back along the canal and also took a little detour to the new community woodland and exercise equipment at Kingsgrove. Flora was successful on the sit up bench.
June Grunwald

22nd September 2022 Visit to The Witney Blanket Hall
6 of us travelled over to Witney recently to view the u3a 40th Anniversary Quilt which is currently being exhibited beautifully in the Grand Hall, upstairs in the Museum part of the lovely 18c building (there is a lift). The building has been open for 7 years, restored sympathetically, to create the showroom for present-day blankets produced at nearby Filkins, and more, but also as a Museum, Café and Pie shop.

We had a warm welcome and the Grand Hall to ourselves, after a brief introduction to the history of the Witney wool industry and the building’s history. Important trade deals made Witney well-known in the early 18th century in the then New World. The point blankets that local home-working master weavers produced under The Company of Witney Blanket Weavers were traded there, for beaver skins as well as sold by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Many blankets were turned into hooded capes or loose coats by North American Indians. The words Point and Witney for blankets, became almost synonymous apparently.

However, back to the Quilt. It has been hung opposite a large window, beautifully displayed. No published photograph so far seen by me, demonstrates the sheer beauty of the u3a 40th Anniversary Quilt. It took my breath away! The actual squares are works of art and of artistry with a needle, illustrating many forms of needlework. They demonstrate the breadth of u3a activities and group fields of study or discussions. Personally, I will go back to quietly contemplate the finer details in so many of those squares. The admission was free! The café service was cheerful, freshly made scones or cakes & pastries and individual, special teas an option. We had a table reserved for us, with a view of the courtyard and outside displays in the sunshine. The pie shop smelt very interesting, especially when one batch was cooling! In all, it was well worth the trip.
Valerie Francis

u3a Holiday to Torquay 2022
In the first week of September 26 members, a couple with friends, travelled to Torquay for a short break. After an afternoon in Teignmouth, we arrived at the Livermead Cliff hotel situated right by the sea, where we were made very welcome by hotel staff throughout our stay. The hotel was comfortable and the food was superb! We enjoyed a steam train ride to Dartmouth, and visited Totnes, Dartmoor, Plymouth and Burnham-on-Sea. Several people enjoyed a boat trip to Brixham on our free day.

Despite rather gloomy weather forecasts, we enjoyed plenty of sunshine until the last day, when the rain finally arrived!

The holiday was organised by Vera Kastner, to whom we expressed our appreciation, and we are all looking forward to the next one.
Linda Thompson

Unveiling of the u3a Quilt 8th August 2022

It was a privilege to be part of the afternoon at the Witney Blanket Hall. The quilt is stunning, the Hall is a treasure and the afternoon ended with champagne and cake! Nothing not to like really. The 40 designs were picked from more than 50 entries by a panel of judges including Stuart Hillard (a u3a member, quilter and contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee.) I have a booklet if anyone would like to borrow which tells you who did which and why.

The quilt is on display from 10th August for members, like me, who are unable to join Val's visit in September. Do check the Blanket Hall's times of opening though. The cake was made by a member of Susie Berry's u3a, a work of art in itself and tasted good too.
Lyn Toms

Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.