Outing News - Day Trips

  ​(Please note that outings are open to U3A members only.)

Planned Outings

We have another delight in store with our 11th September outing to Beaulieu, arranged by Pat Micklewright and Sandra Chandnani, full details and application form are in the August newsletter.   This is a trip that should not be missed so do not delay returning your application form.

There will not be an outing in October as the short break to Bath and Bristol will be taking place that month.  Please save the 20th November in your diaries for our Christmas lights outing to Kew Gardens, further details and application form will be in the September newsletter.

Outing Reports

On 6th August we left Tunbridge Wells in sunshine and had a good journey down to Manston.  On arrival at the Hurricane and Spitfire Museum, we were greeted by Matt and given a very informative talk on the Spitfire and the many other exhibits on display, allowing time to revisit the exhibition at our leisure and have lunch.   Then over to RAF Manston History Museum, the displays included a number of aircraft, biplanes, jets and helicopters, along with many exhibits showing how Manston operated from 1916 up to the closure of the RAF base in 1996.  On our journey home, a visit was very kindly arranged by Rosemary to Reculver, this is the area used in the testing of WW2 bouncing bombs.  Along the shore are the ruins of a 12th century church, its two towers dominating he skyline.   Our thanks to Stella, Rosemary and Pat for arranging a very pleasant and informative day out and to our driver Mark, who had to negotiate several unexpected detours on the journey. Report by Val Apps and photos by Stella Westrup and Colin West.​

On 10th July we had our trip to Hatfield House , which was another beautiful house, the childhood home of Elizabeth 1st , the weather was good and the smooth coach journey there and back was unusual for the M25 , arriving both early and arriving back earlier than expected. Well done Sheila Austin and Sylvia Joyce who organised this super outing.  A full report and photos will be in the August newsletter.

In June we had our trip to Polesden Lacey, which was absolutely delightful with lots of Royal Connections from abroad and this country. Many thanks to Robby Holmes and Lynne Monckton who arranged the visit to this gem of a house and garden. Our journey was smooth thanks to bus driver Paul and we arrived exactly at 10.45 am as planned!  There were two guided tours of the beautiful house and both guides were excellent and amusing. The weather was perfect after the previous day being very wet and we were able to explore the immaculate gardens with an optional guided walk in the afternoon. Once again, the garden guides were informative and interesting with stories about the family and their ‘celebrity’ guests. There was plenty of free time to look around the rest of the house, have coffee and lunch before catching the bus home. 


​These are some photos from the outings to Polesden Lacey, Windsor, Bletchley Park and Saint Hill