Anyone for Coffee

Feeling lonely, feeling blue? Then Elmbridge Friends is the place for you.

Sorry for the poor poetry, but the aim of this u3a group for single people is to enrich their life through enjoyable social gatherings where you could make new friends. “Some people think we are a dating site which we are definitely not,” says joint leader Diana Jarvis.

But Diana and her fellow joint leader Andy Spiers are trying to persuade more people who are on their own to actually come and dip their toes in the water. “If you are newly divorced or have been recently left alone through the death of a partner,” says Diana, ”it takes courage to go out and meet new people. When you have been dependent on someone for many years, it’s quite a culture shock to take control of your life again.”

When Friends started a couple of years ago, 180 people joined in a rush of enthusiasm, but not enough of them have followed through. Now Diana and Andy have scheduled regular coffee mornings held on the last day of each month from 9.30 to 11.30. The venue will alternate between Oatlands Chaser Weybridge and the Fairmile in Cobham. The next coffee morning will be on Saturday 31st May at Oatlands Chaser and then on Monday 30th June at the Fairmile. No bookings required, just turn up and enjoy yourself.

“We are hoping that these events will get us going again,” added Andy. “But we are open to ideas from our members.”

“We are determined to make this work,” says Diana. “It’s not easy for older people on their own to make new friends. But our group is a great starting point.”

Contact: Diana and Andy at Elmbridge Friends

Mark Dowdney