Group News
Sidcup and District U3A
Ramblers Group 1 • Leader Annette Jansen
On what must have been one of the hottest days of summer, seven of us set off from Camer Country Park, Meopham. We walked through lush countryside for about an hour until we reached the Bowling Alley near Luddesdown. A mass of colour greeted us and dense fields of red and pink poppies took our breath away. It was a walk of flowers; the hedgerows were full of many varieties of wild flowers in every colour imaginable. We had a lunch stop at “The Ship” in Cobham where we had a two course lunch and a drink for the princely sum of £5! We set off again through Cobham Church and then over beautifully manicured orchards of apple and pear trees. After crossing the railway, we literally plunged into a huge field of shoulder high rapeseed; the path had disappeared and we had to fight our way through. After another mile or so, we were back to the start. We had walked about 6½ miles and seen Kent at its best. Next month we shall be walking from Eastbourne along part of the South Downs Way including Birling Gap and Beachy Head. New members are always welcome to join us.
Gloria Exeter
Ramblers Group 2 • Leaders Pat & Alf Cracknell
For the June ramble we did a coastal walk from Hastings to Bexhill. This was a lovely walk alongside the beach for 5 miles and we had sun all day with a cool breeze. On arriving at Bexhill we had lunch at Di Paolo’s which is a well known Italian family in that part of the world. Needless to say, we had to have the fresh fish which is caught locally. As the weather was so good, some of us stayed on until later soaking up the sun.
We travelled by train from Orpington making use of the half price fare for groups of 4 people.
Gay, Shirley and Doreen
Bird Watching • Leaders Gay Braybrook & José Steward
For our June outing we went to the Bough Beech Reservoir - it was a glorious hot sunny day! Swallows and blue tits had nests in the barn and both were very busy feeding their young and, whilst we were having our lunch, they were skimming over our heads. We also saw some sparrows nesting, jackdaws fighting crows, a cuckoo singing, crested grebes and mallards with babies, wagtails - both the grey and pied - and a cormorant in a tree with his wings open (which was quite an awesome sight). Around the reservoir there were also nesting swans, many herons, tufted ducks, greylag geese, moorhens, coots, house martins, a buzzard circling overhead, swifts, one ringed plover - a very pretty wader - and a common tern diving for fish; this gains considerable height and then dives very fast and skims the water. All in all it was a most enjoyable day.
For anyone interested in updating or buying new binoculars or a telescope, Woods and Partner, West Hill, Dartford have a 20% discount on all equipment until the end of summer. The current owner will be retiring and wishes to deplete his stock.
Gay & José
Local History Group 3 • Leader Pam Kirk
Visit to Metropolitan Police Museum, West Brompton, on 9th June 2010.
Thirteen members, together with one visitor from Australia, enjoyed visiting this collection of Metropolitan memorabilia covering 180 years of the London police service. The area of the museum is small, and, therefore, the collection on display at any one time is restricted; it simply represents the vast number of items held in store. Our visit was greatly enhanced by the curator who guided us around the museum. On show was a selection of uniforms and equipment, including examples of the outfits worn by women police officers that celebrated ninety years of this branch of the service. Also available is a family history facility for past serving members of the Metropolitan Police.
Eric & Frances Percival
A photograph taken during this trip can be found on the Gallery page.
Webmaster
On what must have been one of the hottest days of summer, seven of us set off from Camer Country Park, Meopham. We walked through lush countryside for about an hour until we reached the Bowling Alley near Luddesdown. A mass of colour greeted us and dense fields of red and pink poppies took our breath away. It was a walk of flowers; the hedgerows were full of many varieties of wild flowers in every colour imaginable. We had a lunch stop at “The Ship” in Cobham where we had a two course lunch and a drink for the princely sum of £5! We set off again through Cobham Church and then over beautifully manicured orchards of apple and pear trees. After crossing the railway, we literally plunged into a huge field of shoulder high rapeseed; the path had disappeared and we had to fight our way through. After another mile or so, we were back to the start. We had walked about 6½ miles and seen Kent at its best. Next month we shall be walking from Eastbourne along part of the South Downs Way including Birling Gap and Beachy Head. New members are always welcome to join us.
Gloria Exeter
Ramblers Group 2 • Leaders Pat & Alf Cracknell
For the June ramble we did a coastal walk from Hastings to Bexhill. This was a lovely walk alongside the beach for 5 miles and we had sun all day with a cool breeze. On arriving at Bexhill we had lunch at Di Paolo’s which is a well known Italian family in that part of the world. Needless to say, we had to have the fresh fish which is caught locally. As the weather was so good, some of us stayed on until later soaking up the sun.
We travelled by train from Orpington making use of the half price fare for groups of 4 people.
Gay, Shirley and Doreen
Bird Watching • Leaders Gay Braybrook & José Steward
For our June outing we went to the Bough Beech Reservoir - it was a glorious hot sunny day! Swallows and blue tits had nests in the barn and both were very busy feeding their young and, whilst we were having our lunch, they were skimming over our heads. We also saw some sparrows nesting, jackdaws fighting crows, a cuckoo singing, crested grebes and mallards with babies, wagtails - both the grey and pied - and a cormorant in a tree with his wings open (which was quite an awesome sight). Around the reservoir there were also nesting swans, many herons, tufted ducks, greylag geese, moorhens, coots, house martins, a buzzard circling overhead, swifts, one ringed plover - a very pretty wader - and a common tern diving for fish; this gains considerable height and then dives very fast and skims the water. All in all it was a most enjoyable day.
For anyone interested in updating or buying new binoculars or a telescope, Woods and Partner, West Hill, Dartford have a 20% discount on all equipment until the end of summer. The current owner will be retiring and wishes to deplete his stock.
Gay & José
Local History Group 3 • Leader Pam Kirk
Visit to Metropolitan Police Museum, West Brompton, on 9th June 2010.
Thirteen members, together with one visitor from Australia, enjoyed visiting this collection of Metropolitan memorabilia covering 180 years of the London police service. The area of the museum is small, and, therefore, the collection on display at any one time is restricted; it simply represents the vast number of items held in store. Our visit was greatly enhanced by the curator who guided us around the museum. On show was a selection of uniforms and equipment, including examples of the outfits worn by women police officers that celebrated ninety years of this branch of the service. Also available is a family history facility for past serving members of the Metropolitan Police.
Eric & Frances Percival
A photograph taken during this trip can be found on the Gallery page.
Webmaster