These are a few of the events which we have enjoyed in the past,
Woking Area u3a took the plunge and hired stalls
at St John’s and Byfleet summer fairs this year.
Our main purpose was to raise awareness of our local u3a, attract new members and develop publicity material. On the day volunteers handed out flyers including photographs of our activities and advertising our website and activity groups.
And, most importantly, our chatty rota of helpers proactively talked to those at the fairs – those already showing an interest and those who had not heard of the organisation.
Vital ingredients beyond our control were the weather and a large number of interested attendees – fortunately there was no rain and excellent numbers at the Byfleet parish day. St John’s fair, organised by the scouts, was dry but attendees were fewer and younger.
Our local MP (at the time – Jonathan Lord) did however spend considerable time at our St John’s stall speaking to our members.
Preparations before the fairs included decorating our stall with bunting, designing (and getting printed) a large poster plus flyers to hand out – all supported by our volunteers in smart u3a t-shirts.
One moment to savour was when one of our volunteers arrived and saw the bunting on display – and was so pleased because she had made it many years earlier!
We hope to attend different summer fairs next year, with a small group of team leaders organising the events and re-using some materials.”
Private guided walk ‘Old Westminster’ – Wednesday 4th September
Some 36 members joined the first of our new events – a walk round Old Westminster in early September. Luckily, the trains, Tubes and weather were behaving themselves and everyone gathered outside St James’s Park station to meet our guides Oliver and Simon.
The two groups set off in different directions for what was essentially a two-hour loop featuring the history and landmarks of an area central to politics and religion in the UK.
Oliver took group one over Birdcage Walk past steps leading to a former royal cockpit, into St James’ Park (a former plague pit and zoo) and Horse Guards Road to Whitehall and into Parliament Square to take in the view across the Thames and
along to Lambeth Palace. From there it was back through Smith Square, Cowley Street and the Dean’s Yard behind Westminster Abbey to the starting point.
Simon started the other way straight to Westminster Abbey and across to Dean’s Yard, Cowley Street, explaining the history and architecture of the Abbey and showed us the ancient candle-snuffers and oil lantern holders outside houses and gas street lights – the latter are still in use. He also showed us the otherwise-anonymous houses in Cowley Street that had been the scene of much behind-the-scenes plotting by political parties and, later, Harold Wilson’s hideaway home. Then it was on to Parliament over College Green stopping outside the Abbey – this group couldn’t cross the square because it was sealed off for a demonstration.
Both groups found their guides fascinating, humorous and very knowledgeable and the gentle two-hour flat stroll was easily accessible. Many members ended the walk with a pub lunch and are looking forward to a similar walk, possibly round the City,
next year.
Thanks to our guides, Christine for organising and everyone for helping to make it a splendid morning out.
