The Post • Around the clubs 19 Kingsbridge Estuary - An introduction By ANITA DUNSTER PUBLICITy OFFICER FOR KINGSBRIDGE ESTUARy U3A A
recent article written in a national newspaper, highlighted the value of and rise in the membership in the
University of the Third Age. (U3A). In a bid to make this rather lofty title
less intimidating, I, as publicity officer for Kingsbridge Estuary U3A, would like to tell you about us. An international organisation of over 30 years standing, the UK now has 985 U3A’s with a membership of 400,000 retired and semi-retired people. A recent survey within the National U3A, estimated that 1 in 9 members had suffered from loneliness prior to joining and had since made much needed friendships. Each U3A creates its own
selection of interest groups. Informal gatherings provide opportunities for sharing knowledge on topics of interest to the individual, with no curriculum or pressure involved. Often this gives rise to car sharing visits, to local places relevant to the subject. KEU3A have been in existence since 2011 and
has grown from a small, dedicated pioneering group to a membership (£15 pa) which now stands at over 400. Around 100 of us meet on the 4th Friday of each month at the Kingsbridge Methodist Hall for a general get-together from
10.am. News of upcoming group meetings and
various outings is given out followed by coffee and biscuits and chance to chat. At 11.00am a guest speaker is introduced, whose topics are many and varied and always interesting – sometimes things you didn’t even know you wanted to know about!! The talk is usually accompanied by slides and the meeting finishes at noon. The cost for all this is just £1. Groups vary from Antiques to Lunch Bunch
(excuse to eat out!) Languages to Wine Appreciation and there are currently over 30 to choose from, with more in the pipeline. Our most recent speaker was Stewart Henchy
who retired from his post as Assistant Curator/ Manager of the Services, Temperate and Hardy Display Section at Kew in 2012, after 40 years there. Stewart indeed gave us a “Snapshot of Royal
Informal
gatherings provide opportunities for sharing knowledge
Botanical Gardens Kew” and took us from a map of the Manor of Richmond, circa 1620 through its many transitions to the present day layout. We saw slides of Kew Palace, which had been the ‘nursery’ for many royal children until it became the final home for the King George Third, as his mental state worsened. Fortunately, this lovely building was saved for the nation despite threats to knock it down after his death.
Wondrous structures abound in the grounds
of Kew. We were shown the famed Palm House, designed by Darius Burton, whilst it was cleared of all planting, during its restoration in 1989. The Temperate House too was restored in 1999 and is even now being re-done. There followed more snapshots, the Pagoda, the extraordinarily-shaped Alpine House, glass sculptures by Sir Henry Moore, the Treetop Walkway, art in the Marianne North Gallery and Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art and the Willow Sculptor at work. So much information in the space of 50
minutes – Q&A’s then time for thanks and the meeting ended. Our next speaker is Barbara Butcher on
Charles Rennie Macintosh on April 22nd. If you think you may enjoy U3A, come along and try us out. You will be welcome.
To join Kingsbridge Estuary U3A, please contact Judy Tyler, Membership Secretary, on 01548 842217.
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