Group News
SAILING GROUP
During the week 10th to 15th June, some 27 members of the Bosun Group u3a sailors braved the elements for some exhilarating sailing on the Norfolk Broads.
The weather seemed to be unsure whether it was meant to be Spring, Summer or Autumn; sometimes we had all seasons on the same day with very strong gusty and cool winds, heavy rain, hailstorms, limited sunshine, but great fun.
The boats we sailed are all classic wooden Broads yachts that are now owned and maintained by Hunters boatyard at Ludham. The boats do not have motors and rely solely on wind and paddle or oar power (with the occasional tow from our accompanying sailing/motorised Shrimper yacht when the 
wind dropped or was blocked by trees or waterside houses).
For the technically minded, the six yachts we sailed were balanced lug (no jib) or gunter rig (with jib) and ranged from 18' 10" to 22' 9" in length with sail areas from 190 sq ft to 358 sq ft. All are a joy to sail and, especially the faster ones, are quite a challenge in the restricted widths of the Broads and rivers. Nifty tacking and dodging the many motorised 'bath tub' type hire boats definitely hones the skills. The yacht designs date back mainly to the 1920s and 30s with the oldest, to 1908: this one was built in 1927, The other boats were built in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
Peoples Emergency Briefing
CLICK HERE for a summary of the meeting on 19th June when the film of the Peoples Emergency Briefing was shown, followed by a discussion.
If you would like to know more about any of the groups, please contact:
Africa Interest Group
Curious about Africa and African socio-political, cultural and current affairs facing today's Africa? Then we are the group for you. The topics are decided upon by the members' interests. We meet in our homes approximately every 6 weeks.
Beer appreciation group
We're a friendly new group for those that enjoy their ale. We meet monthly in a pub and walk an ale trail to other local pubs. We may expand to do beer festivals, brewery tours and other ale related activities.
Join us to see our events.
Gentle Yoga
This is a gentle hatha yoga class led by a British Wheel of Yoga qualified teacher. The class is inclusive and suitable for all levels, with a mix of breathing exercises, mindful movement and relaxation, all designed to mobilise, strengthen and stretch whilst focusing the mind so that you leave refreshed and energised. £12 drop-in price, or £10 per class for a course of 5 classes .
This group is held in the centre of Hertford.
Wings of Glory
Replay the battle in the air over Europe in WW1. This is a table top game using 1/144 scale replica model aircraft using a card based manoeuvre deck. Easy to learn the Basic Game. Games take about 20-25 minutes. All game materials will be provided. All welcome.
This group is held in the centre of Hertford
EXISTING GROUPS SEEKING MORE MEMBERS
Home isn’t where the H ’Arts is
If you are suffering from same four-walls boredom but love the arts, here’s an easy answer ... Join the H‘Arts group. Together, we agree a monthly list of lively art events, see them independently, and then come together to discuss them and arrange the next list.
Plays, music, films, dance, exhibitions, opera, TV : anything that’s stimulating and enjoyable. Horizons widen, gaps in experience disappear and longstanding grey-areas whiten, when you share your enjoyment and questioning with others. All you need to join is a healthy interest in the arts. There are no right opinions: or right types of people.
Officially, we meet second Thursday mornings in the Bengeo house of a member. But we’re flexible and in addition, price savvy. London theatre need not cost an arm and a leg.
AQUAFIT 2025
As the Fanshawe Pool and Gym is closed at present, we are no longer able to offer the facility of a pool for sole use together with instructor to our members. Negotiations are ongoing with regard to the future of Fanshawe and we will keep you informed of progress. Should a sponsor be found we will endeavour to retain a time for sole use as we have had in the past.
In the meantime we are still a social group who meet for coffee and get together to enjoy the facilities of Aquafit at other local pools in small groups.
Please contact Kathryn Pullinger or Annette Richardson for information
Annette Richardson
CROQUET GROUP - August 2024
Twenty-five of our croquet players enjoyed the annual Croquet Cream Tea in the pavilion at ASSC overlooking the bowls lawn last Friday afternoon. Members contributed scones, jam and cream plus a variety of cakes for us all to enjoy and the management provided cups of tea. The group has been split since having to move our regular Friday playing day to Wednesdays and Thursdays. Friends were able to sit in or outside enjoying meeting those players who play on the other day.
The weather was warm and sunny and the setting idyllic. We are delighted to have the cricket outfield to play on at Glaxo’s where there is space for seven full-size courts for which we have enough equipment. Since splitting the group, we are only using three courts so would welcome new members. Beginners are welcome. If we get use of the bowling green back from the moles, it makes for a perfect training surface. Come along and give the game a try. Contact Ann Neuff.
Wine Appreciation Group 1
Two forces dominate the rise and fall in popularity of wines: fashion and terroir. Fashion gives quick wins to almost any vintner canny enough to spot trends. But it is terroir – that elusive French word blending soil quality, climate, farming practice, grape type and habitat – that gives a wine its charm and uniqueness. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the world of rosé wines. Too often dismissed as ‘alsorans’ when judged against the classiest reds and whites, this is no longer the case, as members of Wine Appreciation Group 1 discovered to their delight at their June gathering.
We tasted and rated seven largely affordable rosés from some of Europe’s top vineyards, in a ‘guided tour’ by bon viveur David Collins. And there were some big surprises, not least the English Balfour 1503 Rosé, exclusive to Majestic, which illustrated how the terroir of the relatively new Kent vineyards can knock for six some of the highly-rated Old World rosés of Provence and Languedoc, regions of France that have seen a huge switch away from reds to produce some astounding rosés. There was an additional challenge at the gathering: to identify the ‘best’ three rosé wines to accompany our summer lunch on Sunday 28th July at Waterford village hall, which this year is on the simple theme of ‘Pink’ and, of course, scampi, prawn and salmon are perfect food accompaniments to the wines. Our chosen three were the Italian 11 Minutes Pasqua Rosé, English Balfour 1503 Rosé and Spanish Muga Rioja Rosada, all from Hertford’s Majestic.
The superb French Whispering Angel Rosé from Provence might have made the list but for the fact that, at £23.99, it was considered too expensive. If you would like to join us and learn more about wines generally in genial company and a casual atmosphere, we meet at 7.30pm on the fourth Thursday of every month at Waterford village hall, High Road, Waterford. Indeed, if you see this in time and would like to attend the summer lunch, let us know. For more information, contact: Mike Fagan or Ian Nash
Wine Appreciation Group 1
When two wine experts at a dinner party argue over whether Sicily or South Africa’s Western Cape produce the better wines, the only thing to do is explore the
range and taste them for yourself. This is exactly what happened to WAG 1 member AnneMarie Parker, who promptly turned the exercise into an intriguing and delightful talk and tasting for the August meeting. “Both are hot climates near mountains and near water and both have improved greatly in recent years,” she said. They are equidistant north and south of the equator and roughly the same size.
No doubt improved quality owes much to changes in production methods. Anne-Marie pointed out that where once Sicily was poor relation to Italy, it now leads the way, notably with grapes such as the Nero d’Avola, indigenous to Italy and a rising star in the “ferment”, used for the Sicilian Cardilla 2022, available from Lidl (£7.50).
Finding good Sici
lian wine in and around Hertford is, however, not easy; it seems we have not yet taken to them. “It was quite a search but they are there,” Anne-Marie told the group. Moreover, all wines she selected were affordable (£7-11.99) from Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose. In particularly, the Stemmari Passiata 2021 from Waitrose, blending Nero D’Avola and Syrah grapes, proved very impressive.
If the pursuit of fine affordable wines appeals to you, why not join us and learn more about wine generally in genial company and a casual atmosphere. We meet at 7.30pm on the fourth Thursday of every month at Waterford village hall, High Road, Waterford. For more information, contact: Mike Faganor Ian Nash
I have always wanted to go to the Horniman Museum, so when spaces became available on the Gardens Group outing, I signed up immediately.
I was not disappointed.
The Museum is a motley collection of ‘stuff’! Stuffed animals and birds, a dodo and a walrus in particular, displays from all over the world including a camel, (neither real nor stuffed!), vehicles, costumes and other oddities, plus a collection of musical instruments.
The gardens are delightful to wander around and take a seat to admire the view across London, but my favourite place was the Butterfly House. Surrounded by a hot house of tropical plants, butterflies of all shapes and sizes fly freely around one’s head. The colours are glorious, the wings fragile, as they move from flower to flower collecting nectar or land on plates of fruit to drink in the sweet juices.
Pure magic!
Thank you Gardens Group for a splendid day out.
See the photographs in the GALLERY
Liz Cooper