Happy Wanderers Walk Orton Waterville

January 2020

Eleven members of the Happy Wanderers took part in the first outing of the new decade. We began at The Windmill, Orton Waterville a very nice pub that most if not all of us had not been to before.

After a short downhill we took a path which went alongside a golf course, across the Nene Valley heritage railway and along the perimeter of Ferry Meadows. Along this stretch we passed two bird hides, saw lot of boats moored on the river Nene and walked alongside the high fast flowing river.

After crossing the river we walked along a higher path as far as Milton Bridge. It was during this part of our walk that we saw a bluebell walk signposted and although too wet at present it should make for an enjoyable visit in the springtime.

Re-crossing the river we made our way through Ferry Meadows and then beside the railway until we returned to our starting point. We were looked after very well at The Windmill and expect that we will re-visit in the future.

We are a friendly group and are always give a warm welcome new members joining us.

Steve

Aviation Group

RAF Digby Visit 29th November 2019

It was a chilly morning when the group met our guide in the car park of the Sports Stadium opposite RAF Digby. We entered the base and proceeded to the Lima Sector Operations Room.

This has been restored to it's former war time role, with lots of the original equipment and is housed in a semi sunk building, built in WW2 and can withstand a gas attack. Once inside we saw the large plotting table from which our fighter aircraft were being directed during the war.

Our guide explained the history of RAF Digby, opened on 28th March 1918 as the very first RAF Base. Then in WW2, WAAF's would sit around the plotting table receiving incoming aircraft information from the Chain Home Radar system. This Radar was only facing out to sea so it lost tracking of the aircraft once they had crossed the coast. The plotters would then receive information from the Royal Observer Corps on the aircraft inland. They could scramble aircraft to intercept the enemy and they would issue air raid warnings to the public.

We then explored the many rooms each one devote to different aspects of the station. Many famous people have served at RAF Digby including Guy Gibson and Bomber Harris. In 1941 the Royal Canadian Air Force flew from RAF Digby and the station stood Down in 1945. It is now home to the Joint Service Signals Organisation.

After the visit we drove to The Red Lion pub in Digby village for a excellent lunch and a chat to conclude a very interesting visit. Visitors are welcome to RAF Digby, every Sunday during the summer, for a free guided tour of the museum, see their website for details.

U3A Aviation Group Christmas Meal

Monday 20th January saw members of the Aviation Group meet at The Thatched Cottage in Sutterton for our annual Christmas Meal.

We had very enjoyable meals from an excellent and varied menu. A drink or two with plenty of chat and discussion on this year's visits.

Once again, we look forward to 2020 with varied and interesting outings covering the field of aviation.

Peter Crossgrill

U3A Garden Group Christmas Meal

The 13th January saw several members of the Garden Group gather at The Thatched Cottage in Sutterton for our annual Christmas Meal.

We had very enjoyable meals from an excellent and varied menu. A drink or two and the conversation soon got around to some of our 2019 outings and this year’s forthcoming visits.

Once again, we look forward to 2020 with a varied content of outings and visits to members gardens furthering our shared interest.

Peter Crossgrill

The Alternate Garden Group

Trip to Breezy Knees – yes honestly!

The Alternate Garden Group are organising another coach trip to a garden of interest and opening the visit to all U3A members whether garden group members or not.

The website describes the gardens as: 20 acres bursting with colour and no, I don’t know where the name comes from either.

VENUE: Breezy Knees Gardens, Warthill, Yorkshire

DATE: June 16

TRAVEL: travel by A&P coaches as last year with pick ups at Broadgate Car Park on Westlode St, in Spalding at 8.30am and earlier at Gosberton and Surfleet. There will be a comfort break on the way. We plan to leave at 4.30pm and should be back in Spalding at 6.30pm – very much subject to traffic of course.

COST: £20 for coach and entrance

Disabled access: Most of the main areas of the gardens are accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with paths made of either tarmac or firm cycle path material – the two exceptions being the Cottage Garden, with a narrow bark path, and the Rock Garden, with a winding soft gravel path. Some peripheral and newer areas, such as the Conifer Garden, the lake and arboretum and the May Blossom Walk, can only be accessed over grass.

Nursery: a chance to buy from over 1500 varieties of perennials which you can see growing in the gardens. The coach has plenty of luggage space for plants.

There’s a café of course but plenty of seating for a picnic

There will be a list at the U3A March meeting and the monthly meetings thereafter to collect names and money. If interested please contact Sheila Field via the Contact Page if you’ve fur-ther questions or want to book a place but won’t be at a U3A meeting.

https://www.breezyknees.co.uk/ for more information and pictures.

Rosemary McClements and Heather Girdlestone

Photography Groups

The Two photo groups decided to have a joint get together after Christmas so on 29th Jan 33 members and some partners descended on the Bluebell Inn for lunch. If the noise of chatter was anything to go by then everyone had to great time. We welcomed four new members this year and three attended the meal, they were made very welcome.

Our thanks to member Steve Fields for organising the lunch, to our hosts for putting a fabulous Carvery and to all the members for making the day so enjoyable.

Margaret Crossgrill.

Group Leader

Evening Dining February 2020.....Kirton Cottage

Many thanks to our new members, Kathryn and Richard Livermore, who, having been thrown in at the deep end, arranged our meal at the charming Kirton Cottage Restaurant, in Kirton.

We were warmly welcomed on arrival and shown upstairs to a quaint bar where we were able to catch up with friends with a drink or two. The restaurant was very cosy and they can only accommodate a limited number of diners. So it made it very friendly!

The chef was a star, the food was really delicious, served on an array of very pretty

vintage china crockery. Downside was, I believe, with the portions that were served, where the chef was clearly doing his best at expanding our waistlines. I will look forward to booking a table there with a smaller number of friends very soon. This was our inaugural visit and hopefully will not be our last!

Sylvia Bush - Group Leader

New Members

We welcome 13 new members to Spalding U3A, who have joined us since 1st December 2019.

Margaret Alcock, Jane Brigginshaw, Valerie Bristowe, Christine Clark, Grace Preston, George & Judy Crowford, Dorothy Dickinson, Viv Dyble, Ronnie Laird, Jackie & Phil Smith, and a returning member Joan Pybus.

Farewell

Since our last newsletter 3 people have sadly passed away. Val Soderberg, Jill Dodd and Brian Smetham.

Our condolences go to their family and friends. We will miss them.

MARCH

Protect new shoots from slugs

Plant onion sets and early potatoes

Plant summer flowering bulbs

Top dress containers with fresh compost

Hoe and mulch to deter weeds

Inspect ponds, remove heaters if possible and feed fish

APRIL

Keep weeding

Protect fruit blossom from late frosts

Tie in climbing plants and roses

Sow hardy annuals and herbs outdoors

Feed shrubs and roses

Inspect lawns, repair bare patches and mow as required

MAY

Watch out for late frosts, protect plants as necessary

Plant out summer bedding plants towards the end of the month

Keep the hoe going to control weeds

Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days

Mow lawns regularly