May 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to the May newsletter. This month we begin with a lovely painting by Pat Trotter called May’s new Brood:
New Constitution
By now you will hopefully have all received and read the email about the New Constitution. We are starting to get feedback which is good so hopefully it will all be ready for the AGM in August.
If you can’t find the email you can access the documents on this page.
Vacancies!
We have three vacancies coming up soon. Eileen (secretary), Tom (beacon admin) and Diana (speakers secretary) are standing down so we do need someone to fill their shoes. These roles are not particularly onerous so if you would like to help out and keep the well oiled wheels of our u3a running please let us know.
In addition we could do with some help managing the website. You don’t need any experience full training will be provided and your help will ease the load on the committee.
Ash Village Fete
Coming up soon is Ash Village Fete, on Saturday 20th June, which is an ideal opportunity for Ash u3a to put ourselves out there and show what we have to offer to the rest of our retired folk in Ash.
All our groups are given the opportunity to display their wares, say something about themselves; it is a showcase for everything Ash u3a is about. It also proves an ideal time for those already members to get together, socialise and also admire the works of the rest of the groups.
If you’ve got any bright ideas to enhance our stall, or would like to be part of this enjoyable day and help by manning the stall for an hour, (or even help set up/take down) please contact our Publicity Officer Meg on publicity@ashu3a.org.uk or call her on 01252 690901.
If you can’t do that then please do still come along on the day and support us. It’s on from 12 until 4pm on the field next to the Ash Centre.
Curry at the Curzon
The Thursday Lunchers spend their lunchtime on a Thursday having a curry in the Curzon
Doors and Windows
This month’s theme from the photography group was doors and windows.
Stepping out
Two perambulations from the Healthy Walkers. Both led by Jim:
Peper Harow, Shakleford and Eashing
Philip Larkin
Anne from Poetry for Pleasure says:
Philip Larkin (1922-1985) spent most of his life as the chief librarian at Hull University. He is remembered for his pessimistic but humorous observations using everyday speech to explore themes of death, loneliness and suburban life. He is known as ‘England’s other Poet Laureate’ – he declined the official title in 1984 but remains a much-loved English poet. He never married and was often described as reclusive and cynical, particularly in his later years. He was a keen jazz critic for The Daily Telegraph (1961–1971).
The Trees (1974) by Philip Larkin
The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.
Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too.
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.
Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
Rowhill Nature Reserve – The Bluebells
The amblers once more met at Rowhills this time in the sunshine and walking the wrong way round to see the bluebells
See the flowers and various people
And now the Ramblers
In ideal conditions the Ash u3a Ramblers assembled at the Abinger Roughs car park for an exploration of the North Downs AONB.
Read the story and see the pictures
Healthy Walking Again!
The last walk of April saw the healthy walkers head off to Broadwater Country Park
Scams!
46 members attended the monthly meeting in April where Tom Gardner, an Ash u3a member, gave an excellent guide to the scam Industry, with plenty of tips to help u3a members avoid being scammed. He backed up his talk with some clear powerpoint slides and distributed handouts giving information and contacts.
The May monthly meeting should be excellent with a talk about the Bayeux Tapestries. Details here.
Safeguarding
Hopefully something we will only ever have to deal with very rarely but safeguarding is a topic we should all be aware of – not just Group Leaders.
Your committee has updated and reviewed our safeguarding policy. It would be most appreciated of you could take the time to look at the documents.
And Finally…
Found in the archives:
Who was there at the beginning?