CHAIR’S CORNER
(COPIED FROM THE MAY 2026 NEWSLETTER)
It was wonderful for me to be back at the Spotlight for our April meeting and I was really delighted that so many of you gave me a wonderful welcome back. I was also most pleased that the audience all joined with me to thank the Committee for all their work in keeping our u3a running so smoothly.
As I had anticipated, last month’s speaker, Lindsey Barrell, gave us a very entertaining talk about her experiences of Burlesque and the Women’s Institute. And all in Burlesque costume!
April also saw our first quiz of the year. Sadly, I couldn’t be there as I had another short stay in hospital, but I hear that it went very well and was most enjoyable. Thanks once again to John Mills, our Quizmaster.
Our main meeting at the Spotlight this month on Monday 11th May takes us back over 60 years as Martin Orkin will be telling us about Beatlemania in the fab 1960s from Love Me Do to Day Tripper and We Can Work it Out
Never has any other band come anywhere near the success the Beatles had. In just 3 years, from 1962 to 1965- the band released 9 consecutive number-one UK singles, plus many other high-charting hits. They also released 6 LPs. How many can you remember? Join us for a trip down memory lane next Monday.
Later in the month we have our Interest Afternoon on Friday 22nd May. Our speaker, Nan Millette, will be telling us about Hand Hooked Rugs and she will be bringing along some of her rugs to show us. I am intrigued to see whether they will bear any resemblance to the rugs my father used to craft in the austere post-war years, long before the days of fitted carpets– how I appreciated being able to step onto a warm rag rug rather than cold lino when I got out of bed on a winter’s morning.
As usual. it will be at the Barclay Hall, Hoddesdon starting with drinks and cakes and the chance to have a chat with fellow members from 1.30pm then Nan will start her talk at 2pm.. Tickets are available on the door priced £3– do come along.
I hope to see as many of you as possible at our Main meeting on Monday 11th May and/or at our Interest Afternoon on Friday 22nd May.
Glynis Evans,
Chair
Learn, Laugh, Live
Newsletter/Social Media/Website
If your Group has enjoyed a good meeting or outing, please send a report (two or three sentences is fine) with a photo if possible, to Alan Cole for the Newsletter, to Lesley Robinson for social media and to John Mills for the website.
Text & photos to Alan & John should be sent as attachments please.
THIRD AGE TRUST ONLINE NEWSLETTERS
Dear Members,
Our National Office, the Third Age Trust ("TAT") issues monthly online newsletters full of great ideas on how to stay connected and involved. The TAT has asked committees to encourage members to sign up for the newsletter, which can be accessed from the link below
Either click on the link (or type the website name into your address bar) and then scroll down to the foot of the main page. Under the heading Quick Links there is a heading "Newsletter Signup". Click on this and you are taken to a page where you can input your details and receive the newsletter.
I hope you find this helpful.
Glynis Evans, Chair
GOLF GROUP SUGGESTION
We were recently contacted by Nine Iron Golf, based at the Springtime Nurseries site in Crews Hill and, subsequently, paid a visit. It is an indoor golf simulator set-up which allows you to effectively play at a huge number of worldwide courses. There are levels of membership but a casual round (for a group of up to 4) for an hour is priced at £30pp off peak (12pm to 4pm). The ex-professional golfer running it (Craig Kearney) will be doing breakfast sessions too, working with the next door café. Personal coaching sessions are also available. Monthly membership at £99 buys you 5 hours of play per month on the simulators. Clubs are also available to hire.
Whilst this is a good idea for autumn/winter months, it might be an idea to combine it with outdoor play in better weather conditions (using Wormley Par 3 course perhaps or Cheshunt Golf Course)
.
Please contact me if you are interested in this proposal for a, not very serious golfing group, which can be tailored to people’s diaries and is therefore not at a fixed date and time.
Tim Robinson (Treasurer)
Their website address is https://www.nineirongolf.co.uk
ONLINE LEARNING EVENTS WITH THE u3a
There are always plenty of online learning events to book. The website to look at is:
www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events
There are new events each month.
u3a Online Learning Events
There is so much more for you to enjoy with your LVu3a membership!
The calendar is full of exciting online talks for u3a members to enjoy. Here’s a taster of what's available in April. To see the full list of upcoming events that you can join online see www.learning@u3a.org.uk , navigate the site & discover many events; workshops & talks available at no extra cost.
April 2026 events included:-
The British airmen of the First World War
Tuesday 7 April at 10am Jim Butler of the Shuttleworth Collection discusses pilots, training, and life in the First World War skies
Adventures in science with u3a
Friday 10 April at 2pm Join Nick Doll to hear all about the thrills and spills of four years in the Chichester u3a practical science group.
The magic of magic squares
Friday 17 April at 2pm Alison Eves reveals an intriguing link between a 16th century Durer etching and a 20th century carving on the Sagrada Familia.
Oi! Mind Yer Language!
Thursday 30 April at 2pm Discover the delights and secrets of our English language including children's language development; dictionaries and new words; surnames and place names.
Why not join the u3a online community: Interest Groups Online (IGO)
Looking to meet fellow u3a members who share your interests? Or want to discover something new? The online community Interest Groups Online (IGO) is full of exciting groups. There is something for everyone. Join IGO today to share your passions and find new ones.
Explore www.u3a.org.uk for all the above and more!
Our Lea Valley u3a Facebook page has been updated and is now up and running. We are hoping to reach the wider public in our area who may be viewing our page. Anyone can view the page but only the Administrator can add posts.
However, if you are a Facebook user you can ‘like’ the posts and comment on them! We would encourage positive comments to our posts to enhance our profile on Facebook. Posts will be added regularly but please do let Lesley Robinson know by email with any posts you would like added.
Particularly, Group Leaders with information on events etc or a post following an event which will help to advertise and promote our u3a. Names or personal information will not be added, to ensure privacy.
Click on the button to go to our page:-
u3a FRIENDS COMMUNITY
We are delighted to announce a new range of services to those who sign-up to receive the u3a Friends newsletter.
u3a Friends Extra is a benefits website developed exclusively for members of the u3a Friends newsletter community. The website provides access to a wide range of offers, discounts and additional services. Friends Extra is completely free to access. Anyone signed up to the u3a Friends newsletter can now also make savings on well-known brands, shopping, travel, days out and more. Offers and services on Friends Extra include:
✓ Health and wellbeing
✓ Shopping savings on major brands and retail discounts
✓ Travel and holidays
✓ Leisure offers, like family days out, trips to the cinema and theatre
✓ Insurance offers on car, travel and medical insurance
✓ Access to financial advice and a legal helpline.
It also currently offers a 25% off the price of English Heritage membership:-
To become a ‘Friend’, simply sign up to receive the Friends Newsletter on the u3a website via the link below.
Each issue of the Friends Newsletter will include a link to the Friends Extra benefits website and highlight one of the offers. This is just one element of the u3a Friends newsletter, which brings together stories from local u3a groups, learning opportunities and news of upcoming events to highlight the fun and learning within the u3a community.
u3a Friends Newsletter shares news from u3as, national learning opportunities and access to u3a Friends Extra, a wide range of offers, discounts and services.
Go to the u3a website, and sign up via the "Get Involved" tab
KEEPING UP WITH OUR NEWS:
KNIT & NATTER
Our Knit & Natter group, which opened early in 2023, has been very successful. We have all made lots of new friends, had lots of tea, coffee and biscuits and lots of laughs! We have all learnt new skills and shared our tips with everyone. We have recently made knitted and crochet squares which have been sewn together to make blankets which have gone to the hospice department at Princes Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.
These were done with the Dobbs Weir Crafty Cuppa group who also meet at the hall and knit and natter too!
Gill Fowke
NEEDLE FELTING
In another crafty note, one of our members would be interested in starting a Needle Felting group. Needle felting is a creative craft that involves sculpting shapes and figures using wool and special felting needles.
If you are interested please contact Glynis Evans (Chair)
SECRETARY'S TABLE
It’s always good to chat with you when stopping to read our notice boards in the foyer of the Spotlight at our main monthly meetings. The boards are updated each month so it’s always worth having a read to keep abreast of dates and events. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
SEE WHAT OUR u3a CAN OFFER YOU
One of our members, John Astin, produced another excellent video in December 2019 showing what happens at Lea Valley u3a. Sadly John passed away in March 2021.
The video includes comments from a few members who explain what joining us has meant to them, and an insight into what some of our groups get up to.
It is available to watch on YouTube. To view, please click on the link below:
East of England Region of U3As
The East of England region comprises the six counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The website can be viewed via the following link:-
https://eastofengland.u3asite.uk
"Regional News Bulletins" are published each month containing details of this month’s events and presentations both regionally and nationally. The latest edition can be viewed by going to their website. then click on the "Publications" link at the top of the Home page.
Group Sharing Agreement
This arrangement includes 4 local u3as, namely Cheshunt, Hertford, Waltham Abbey, and Lea Valley.
The idea behind this is that where any of the u3as in the agreement have groups that are keen to increase their numbers, they can open the group to members of other u3a's and you will be allowed to attend those groups without having to join the other u3a. Conversely, where we have groups that are struggling with low numbers, they can participate and open themselves up to members of the other u3as.
It is very important to note is that members of our u3a can’t just see a group in another u3a newsletter and go along and join it. Only those groups which are struggling to be viable and which have agreed to open up to members from other participating u3as can be approached.
1) Cheshunt
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Cheshunt u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
https://cheshunt.u3asite.uk/cheshunt-sharing-groups/
2) Hertford & District
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Hertford & District u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
3) Waltham Abbey
Please click on the link to go to the relevant page on Waltham Abbey u3a's Group Sharing page on their website:
https://walthamabbey.u3asite.uk/waltham-abbey-group-sharing/
The groups at Lea Valley U3A which have agreed to open up their groups to the other u3a's in this arrangement (as at March 2022) can be found by opening this link:
Group Sharing Lea Valley u3a
If you have a query about the scheme, please contact me.
Glynis Evans, Chair
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN READ IN LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Can you spare an hour or two a week to listen to children read in a local primary school? Schoolreaders is looking for more volunteers in Hertfordshire to carry out this important role. Reading time for many children at home and at school is often insufficient and one in four children are now leaving primary school unable to read to the required standard.
Please visit the website www.schoolreaders.org to join or call 01234 924111 for further information, or click on this link:
Broxbourne Arts Forum ("BArts")
Lea Valley u3a is affiliated to BArts, and one of our members is present at a table in the bar area at all monthly meetings, with leaflets and information.
BArts offers activities and events which are not usually provided by the Borough of Broxbourne's Leisure and Entertainments programme.
It also represents the arts interests of individuals and member groups and negotiates with the Borough, so that the arts community may enjoy greater recognition and leisure facilities on a par with the provision for sports.
For more information either come to the table at our main meetings or visit the BArts website at:
On the website you will find current and previous editions of the "Broadsheet" which contains information on all forthcoming events.
Lea Valley Discussion Group
This local society, founded in 1976, meets on Monday evenings usually twice a month at the Methodist Church Hall, Middlefield Road, Hoddesdon.
For more information and contact details please click on the link below: