Events which have taken place in the past can be found on the Archive page.
Ukulele Group Interview on Radio Woking
Tim Matthews, an independent reporter and broadcaster, with past links to the BBC, recently visited our Ukulele Group. He interviewed several members including the group leaders, keen to hear about our u3a, and the growing popularity of the ukulele. He also recorded snippets the group performing.
London Walk - 24th March 2026
On 24th March we had a dry day for 44 to walk around Old Mayfair ( the area between Piccadilly & Oxford Street). We were split into 2 groups who were lead by two very knowledgeable guides, Peter & Richard. An area renowned to be the homes of the rich and famous and we certainly saw a plethora of Blue Plaques. Amongst the names were Duke of Clarence who became William IV, Somerset Maugham, Clive of India, Handel, Jimi Hendrix and the Bee Gees.
We began at Green Park Tube Station.
Our first stop was Lang’s, founded by Peter Langan with Michael Caine in 1976 and used to be a celebrity hotspot for the likes of Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Taylor & Mick Jagger. It closed in 2020 but has been reopened as a ‘high-glam’ restaurant.
We then proceeded to Shepherd Market with a small collection of restaurants, shops and village atmosphere.
We continued on to Chesterfield Street which had the homes of several of the blue plaques including Beau Brummel, Anthony Eden, Caroline Norton(champion of women’s legal rights) and Maugham. At the end was where the Duke of Clarance had lived before becoming King. We ere told many stories of the inhabitants.
Next stop was in Berkeley Square, where we had to sing the famous song. It is often used now for public events. It does, however, have some of London’s oldest plane trees from around 1789. It was home to Oscar Wilde, Robert Clive and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. As well as the location of Annabel’s the famous nightclub that royalty frequented.
It was then onto Grosvenor Square which, unfortunately, was closed due to major renovations and will reopen in the summer. Overlooking it was the former American Embassy still with the ‘eagle has landed’ on its top floor but now an up market hotel.
We continued on to Mount Street Gardens and the catholic Farm Street Church which we visited the inside.
We walked past the house where the Bee Gees had lived, composed and recorded as well as the house in which Jimi Hendrix lived which now has the Hendrix-Handel Museum as Handel lived next door and his music was apparently an inspiration to Hendrix. Our last stop was by Claridges Hotel with its interesting facade and stunning pottery urns above the entrance. This is where the rich and famous are renowned to stay.
QUIZ GROUP February 2026
Yet another well-attended Quiz on 13th February. The theme was Love (I wonder why?) with rounds on literature, music, film, couples and love in general. Going into the last round, several teams could have won but congratulation go to Six of the Best who eventually came out on top.
We are hoping to hold the next quiz on Friday 27th March so if you are interested in taking part, please email quiz@wokingareau3a.co.uk
SUE HOLMES
Our New Lunch Group celebrates Christmas!
For its second outing our Lunches Group gathered at The Bird in Hand to have a lovely Christmas lunch. This time there were twenty-four of us and we all agreed that the food was
delicious and the company enjoyable, again with plenty of chat and laughter.
The group is a lovely mix of singles and couples, and everyone agrees it is a wonderful way to spend a few hours together. So, if you’d like to join us for good food and even better company, just drop a note to Barbara Nicholson, our Group Leader, at
lunches@wokingareau3a.co.uk.
To make sure our lunches fit smoothly alongside other group activities, we’ll now be meeting once a month — usually on the second Wednesday, or sometimes on a Thursday. We’ll be
alternating between venues in and around Woking, so there’ll be plenty of variety (and new menus to explore!). The next lunch is on Wednesday January 14th at the Latino restaurant in
Woking.
