Bulletin for October 2025
All events and activities can be found on our website.
Follow the link here: https://elmbridge.u3asite.uk/
Di's Days Out
Hever Castle at Christmas Monday 15th December
Trip ref HC
Dating back to the 14th century, Hever Castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I.
Today, much of what you see is the result of the remarkable efforts of William Waldorf Astor, who used his fortune to restore and extend the Castle in the early 20th century. The Astor Suite is dedicated to its more recent history, showcasing pictures and memorabilia relating to the Astor family and the Edwardian period.
Our visit starts with a delicious two course Christmas lunch in the restaurant. Then we make our own way through the gardens to the castle itself where we will experience beautifully decorated rooms, welcoming log fires and twinkling Christmas trees. At 4pm the Christmas lights in the gardens will be switched on for us to stroll around and enjoy - there are a couple of shops to visit as well.
Accessibility: there are a few steps down and up in order to arrive at the entrance to the castle. The ground floor is all on one level. The first floor is only accessible by a narrow spiral staircase with a handrail. The garden paths are mainly level.
Cost: £52 to include 2 course lunch, tea/coffee, entry to castle and tip for driver. Trip ref HC
Coach timings are, roughly, leave Xcel Leisure Centre at 11.15am, return there around 7pm.
HOW TO BOOK FOR A DI’S DAY OUT
To enquire about a place on a trip please email Di at daysout@elmbridgeu3a.org
You can find the “how to book” instructions” at
Virtual Day Trips
If you are less able to get out and about but are still interested in exploring new places or revisiting locations you have not investigated for a while, you may be interested in viewing Virtual Day Trips. These are free short films, with accompanying activities produced by Whistlestop Arts. Check them out and do let us know what you think.
Monthly talk on 1st October
Anne Fletcher discovered the astonishing story of her great-great-great uncle, Joseph Jobson Jagger, whilst researching her family history. Hear about the man who worked in the mills of Victorian Bradford but went on to break the bank at Monte Carlo.
Meetings are held at Claygate Village Hall, Church Road, Claygate, Esher, KT10 0JP. Doors open 1.30 pm, talks start at 2 pm and admission is £1. Booking is not required.
Elmbridge u3a Secretary required
Your u3a committee is urgently seeking a member willing to become our secretary. After 10 years of brilliant service in this role, Meg James is retiring. The role is critical, our constitution requires we fill this post, but not onerous by any means. We have a wonderful friendly committee group.
If you would like to join us, and help Elmbridge u3a, please contact Nigel for further information. Thank you.
Nigel Cudby: telephone 079310 42905 or email chair@elmbridgeu3a.org
Claygate's first fully staged opera!
Tenuto Opera is a group of talented, classically trained singers who love to bring quality performances to local audiences.
Butterfly and Bat will delight audiences with abridged versions of Puccini's tragic opera Madame Butterfly (sung in Italian) in the first half, and Johann Strauss II's comic opera Die Fledermaus (sung in English) after the interval. Both will be narrated in English and entertain all ages with 'the best bits' of both much-loved operas!
Rachel Jones, both a performer and an Elmbridge u3a member, has kindly arranged that Eu3a members can receive a 20% reduction on ticket prices for any of the three nights of the performance taking place o 17, 18 and 19 October. To book tickets go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/kttenuto
Volunteers needed
Five or six times a year we hold New Members Meetings. You may have attended one of them.
At these events, more experienced members host tables of four or five new members, discuss what the new members want from our u3a, and suggest how they might achieve it. They also note the new members' concerns and pass the information back to the Committee for further action.
To be a host, you don't have to be an expert in all our activities, just someone who is happy to help others derive the benefits that so many of us get from our u3a membership.
The New Members Meetings last for about two hours, usually on a mid-week afternoon, and often at the Riverhouse Barn in Walton-on-Thames.
If you feel you can spare this time, just once or twice in a year, please e-mail the New Members' Secretary, Peter Andrew, at newmembers@elmbridgeu3a.org
Roots and Futures - two day event 28/29 October
In partnership with the Riverhouse Barn, we are proud to present a two-day event offering a range of different talks and activities. It will be officially opened by the deputy mayor, Councillor Judy Sarsby, at 10.15 am on 28 October.
28 October - official opening followed by:
10.30 - 11.30 Connecting with your Roots: Exploring Family History presented by Sue Turner, the Chair of West Surrey Family History Society. £2 - Booking required.
12.00 - 13.00 Entertaining Troops: Stories from the Theatres of War presented by Pete Allen, Director, RC Sherriff Trust. £2 - Booking required.
14.00 - 16.30 Untold Stories - a combined session comprising:
14.00 - 14.30 Walton Charity presented by Rob Mills, CEO and Nina Malyon, Manager Walton & Hersham Foodbank.
15.00 - 16.30 Widows of the Ice - a book talk on the stories of the women connected to Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition, presented by Anne Fletcher, Author and Historian.
£5 for combined session - booking required.
29 October
10.30 - 13.00 Artificial Intelligence - what is it good for? An introduction to generative AI presented by Alan Freeland, u3a Artificial Intelligence Network Lead.
Free but booking required. Book soon - places filling fast.
14.00 - 16.30 Meet Elmbridge u3a - a friendly, open drop-in session. No booking required.
Places are limited on each of the bookable sessions. Book at https://www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/talks
Membership Renewal Time Again!
Elmbridge u3a membership runs from January to December each year, and from October onwards we start the renewal process.
You will be receiving the next issue of the Elmbridge u3a magazine at the beginning of October. If you are due to renew your membership you will receive a green renewal form with the magazine. This form confirms your details and asks you to renew by logging on to the member portal if you can, or you can pay by BACs or cheque. If you get a white form – this just means that you have already paid for next year, so no action is needed.
Membership fees for 2026 remain at the bargain price of £14.00 per person. It would be a big help to us if you could process your renewal during October – ideally when you receive the magazine and renewal form – then you can forget all about it for another year!
If you have any queries about membership, please get in touch.
Sue Warren members@elmbridgeu3a.org