We have been offered group rates for a guided tour of the museum in Lee-on-the-Solent. There's a lot to see including: the huge "Princess Anne" channel car ferry; military hovercraft; and the hovercraft used by James Bond. There are more details here.

The plan is to leave Hayling at 10 and get back before 4.

Cost of admission and the tour is £7.50 which includes tea and biscuits on arrival. As the museum is relatively close by we will arrange car shares to the museum (members of the walking group will already be familiar with the approach). Drivers can't charge passengers, but we suggest a contribution of £3 might be appropriate. As the museum will collect payments on the day, there's no need for a formal booking process.

However, we need at least 10 people in the party. It looks like we'll make that easily from initial discussions with some regulars on previous visits. If you'd like to go, please let the visits team know specifying whether you need or can offer transport to the museum. The team will allocate drivers and passengers closer to the time.

The team would also like to know your eating preferences. There's a simple café at the museum. Alternatively, we could arrange a late lunch on the way back at, for example, Cams Mill.

Regarding accessibility the museum says:

8 out 12 displays are wheelchair accessible and have easy access. The other 4 have a few steps with handrails which most guests usually manage to access. In terms of distance from car park. We can accommodate some parking inside the museum which will then place people with limited mobility within close proximity to all exhibits.

If you need more information, please contact the museum directly.

Playing from 1pm so arrive from 12.30.

Christmas mix I suppose

Acoustic is requested although I think others used some amplification last year

A chance to try out The Ferryboat, which changed hands this summer.

We will arrange car shares from Hayling to West Marden.

Park safely near to the Victoria Inn, West Marden, (they would like to ensure space is left in the pub car park for older regulars), postcode PO18 9EN, grid reference SU772136.

We will start walking when everyone is ready, and 10 a.m. at the latest.

The walk goes west to Finchdean then north over Chalton Down to Chalton. We drop sharply to the railway then return southwards and eastwards to West Marden.

The total distance is 8.7 miles.

There could be some wet and muddy patches after heavy rain.

Late lunch has been booked for 2 p.m.at the Victoria Inn.

Note: the .gpx shows a longer version of the walk which also takes in Ladyholt.

This is the planned route...

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Open mic evening at The Legion. Eight songs as The D'Ukes plus solo opportunities.

More details nearer the time

In this newsletter:

• News
• Dates for your diary
• Groups open day update
• Open day quiz

(more…)

In this newsletter:

• Dates for your diary
• News
• The amazing Sarah Shaw and "Isobelle"
• Open day in pictures
• Short story
• Quizzes

(more…)

In this newsletter:

• Dates for your diary
• Updates
• Group reports
• Short story
• Quizzes

(more…)

In this newsletter:

• For your information
• Dates for your diary
• News
• Words
• Puzzles
• Short story

(more…)

In this newsletter:

• Dates for your diary
• News
• Hayling Island u3a AGM
• Waterside patient participation group
• Puzzles
• What the butler saw
• Useless fun facts

(more…)

The business part of the AGM should not take long - last year it took a quarter of an hour.

After that, we'll have a sing-song with the D'Ukes of Hayling ukulele group.

Here are the papers for the AGM. We won't be going over them in detail at the meeting...

Agenda for the AGM

of Hayling Island u3a on Thursday September 17^th 2026 at 2pm at the Hayling Island Community Centre:

• Apologies
• Minutes of previous meeting
• Matters arising
• Chair report
• Treasurer report
• Appointment of officers
• AOB
• Date of next meeting

Minutes of the Hayling Island u3a AGM

held at the Hayling Island Community Centre, at 2pm on 18^th September 2025.

1. Minutes of the previous AGM were proposed and signed.
2. Matters arising - None
3. Chair report - Once again, we have had a busy year, that has led to new members and several new interest groups. Our publicity campaign in the Hayling Herald brings visitors to our monthly meetings, many of whom join having enjoyed the talks that we offer on a variety of subjects.
   The monthly newsletters are helping to keep our members up to date on our many events, but more importantly showcase the activities of our interest groups. The feedback we have had has been excellent. The newsletter can only be of interest to our members with the right content and we must thank the group leaders for providing us with their articles to embellish the pages!
   Every year we ask you all to consider volunteering to help on the Committee. For you to enjoy the many activities that the Hayling u3a supports, there are several people working in the background to make it all possible.
   Many of the current officers have served numerous years on the committee. It is unfair to expect the same people to continue doing this work and indeed bringing in ‘new blood’ can only bring new ideas for the organisation to thrive and develop.
There are currently 558 members in our u3a. I find it hard to believe that there are not a few people with some time to help on the committee other than the current 10.
   Since my newsletter in August, we have had two people come forward with the view of helping but we are still looking for ‘new’ blood to develop the organisation further and to allow some of the committee to retire. The committee are a friendly bunch so why not come to one of meetings to see what we do.
   I can confirm that Hayling u3a will not need to close now as we have sufficient officers to continue.
   Finally I would like to thank the committee, the webmaster, the group leaders and our great tea monitors for their work and dedication to the cause!
4. Treasurer report - The financial table was shown on the screen which gave a breakdown of the monies. The £15 subscription will remain.
5. Election and appointment of officers
   • Chair - Julie Taylor
   • Vice chair - Peter Haskell
   • Secretary - Trevor Brash
   • Treasurer - Bob Hornby
   • Membership secretary - Peter Haskell
   • Speaker secretary - Peter Smith
   • Group coordinator - Bridget Docwra
   • Publicity - Alan and Fiona Bartlett
   • A.O.B. None

Meeting closed at 2.15pm

Date of next AGM will be Thursday 17th September 2026

Treasurer's report

Below is a summary of the fiscal status of our u3a.

The Accounts have been Audited for fiscal year ending March 2026 and are ready to be “returned” to the Charity Commission.

HIU3A has 4 accounts

• Main Account
• Business Interest Account (BIA), which is used as our reserve account
• Project Account: kept open by a £10 float
• Square transaction account

HIU3A opened a Square Account to enable contactless payments by card, thus giving our members all the various payment options for example ‘Subscription’ and ‘Visits’ by Cash, Cheque, BACS transfer, Contactless card and online. These options have been well received by our members and we have had good feedback on how easy the ‘Square’ system is to use. The preferred payment option for any financial transaction the Treasurers and Membership Secretaries point of view is by Square (Contactless) via a card reader/phone or the internet, so long as you put your name on the transaction because I cannot track it via your Credit/Debit card number/information. Yes, we do pay a small percentage of the transaction to Square but for ease of payment and refunds it is worth every penny. Cheques can only be deposited via the Post Office or travel to TSB Chichester. Amazingly, I was never informed that the TSB is now part of Santander!

As of the 31^st March 2026 HIU3A fiscal figures are as follows:

• Main Account = £11,326
• Business Reserve = £7,983
• Projects = £10
• Petty Cash = £195

General

It is very important that if you still pay Income Tax and more of us are doing so, that you declare ‘Gift Aid’ for your membership donation (fee), because HIU3A, is a declared Charity and can recover 25p in the Pound for this simple act. Last year we recovered £1,126.

The highest expenditure has been the u3a HQ Levy and TAM Magazine which was £4,180 (last year £4,057). This levy also covers 3^rd Party Insurance cover for the Members when on u3a visits or u3a business.

If you have any queries, you can contact the HIU3A Treasurer at treasurer@haylingU3A.org.

Accounts 1^st April 2025 to 31^st March 2026

Open the accounts in a separate tab so you can zoom into them.

Nomination for election of officers and committee

We are looking for nominations for the following positions:

• Membership secretary
• Newsletter editor
• Publicity
• Group co-ordinator

Please submit your nomination together with your name as proposer and another member's name as seconder to chair@haylingu3a.org.

The committee is aware that some members are reluctant to put themselves forward because of commitments to family and holidays which might prevent them from fulfilling the role to their satisfaction. The committee has decided to allow joint/shared nominations to ensure a more continuous representation of the office.

To find out more about what a role entails, please contact chair@haylingu3a.org or the relevant committee member.

THIS WALK SCHEDULED FOR 4TH SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

This is a repeat of our successful walk on 7th August using the new ferry from Sparkes Marina to East Head, which is scheduled to run on Fridays and weekends through the summer. Single fare £8. Cash is accepted but card payments are preferred.

It carries 11 passengers at a time. The first ferry of the day leaves at 9 a.m. and then every 50 minutes.

This walk is therefore limited to 11 members and we plan to arrive at the marina at 8.45 to give us a fighting chance to all get on the first ferry.

Sparkes Marina now charges £14.50 per day for parking but it should be possible to park free at the top of Wittering Road or on Earnley Road. You could also park in our drive at 12A Coronation Road or along the road which does not have yellow lines. drive.

There are no public toilets available at Sparkes Marina.

We will take the ferry to East Head from Sparkes Marina at 9 a.m. then walk 9.5 miles off East Head by the side of Chichester Harbour to Fishbourne.

There are public toilets at the Beach car park at West Wittering (about 200 meters off route) then at Itchenor (4 miles into the walk). We could have a drinks stop around 11 a.m. at the Quarterdeck at Itchenor or walk an extra 2.5 miles to stop around noon at the cafe at Chichester Marina.

Lunch will be arranged at the Bulls Head in Fishbourne at 2p.m.and we return to Hayling on the 700 bus then the 30/31.

This is the planned route:

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A thought-provoking exploration of how our online presence outlives us. In an age where digital footprints are permanent, this talk delves into the emotional, ethical, and practical aspects of managing our virtual selves after death.

From social media accounts, emails, photos to digital assets, the talk offers insights on preserving, protecting, and shaping the memories we leave behind in the digital world. Whether you’re planning for your own legacy or handling a loved one’s digital remains, this talk is a guide to navigating the evolving landscape of our online afterlife.

Paul Day is a retired IT Specialist who is passionate about helping people take control of their digital lives - now and for the future. He is a member of Chandlers Ford u3a, and currently their Treasurer.

Entrance costs £2 to cover hall hire, and tea/coffe which will be served at the start of the meeting.

A speaker from Co-op Estate Planning provide some insight about the following areas...

Protecting your home and savings - For many people, one of the biggest worries as they grow old is being able to give their family a helping hand and make sure that when they die, what they have worked all their life for goes to the people they love the most. Care fees can have a significant effect on this, and we’ll explain how it works and what steps you can take to protect your estate.

Inheritance tax - “Only two things in life are certain… death and taxes”. We can’t help with the former, but when it comes to Inheritance Tax, we can help explain how people can be impacted, and some simple steps to take that may reduce the burden.

‘Sideways disinheritance’ and blended families - Re-marriage of a surviving spouse can inadvertently result in the new husband/wife inheriting everything, whilst the children from the first marriage get nothing. And with blended families being commonplace today, it’s never been more important to take steps to ensure your chosen beneficiaries inherit. We’ll explain how.

Lasting Powers of Attorney - No one wants to think about what will happen if they become unable to make decisions themselves through illness, an accident or old age. However, thinking about this now and planning ahead will remove the burden from your family and help reduce the stress and cost to your family at a very difficult time.

Entrance costs £2 to cover hall hire, and tea/coffe which will be served at the start of the meeting.

This engaging and informative one-hour presentation combines fascinating personal experiences with practical road safety advice.

Rob Heard MBE enjoyed a 30-year career in the police service, spending 27 years in Roads Policing. During that time, he rode with the Special Escort Group, escorting members of the Royal Family, Heads of State, visiting dignitaries, and major sporting events, including the Olympic Torch Relay and the London 2012 Olympics.

Drawing on these unique experiences, Rob explains how his policing career led to a lifelong passion for improving road safety. He will share how he went on to establish the Older Drivers Forum, now recognised nationally for its work in supporting mature and older drivers to remain safe, confident, and independent for as long as possible.

The talk explores the changing demographics of the UK's driving population, the challenges facing older drivers, and the importance of helping people stay mobile safely rather than simply encouraging them to stop driving. Rob also discusses the vital role that good eyesight plays in safe driving, explains the current legal vision standards, and shares why regular eye examinations are one of the simplest yet most effective ways of reducing road risk.

Packed with real-life stories, practical advice, humour, and thought provoking insights, Driving Safely for Longer is suitable for drivers of all ages, their families, and anyone with an interest in road safety and healthy ageing.

Entrance costs £2 to cover hall hire, and tea/coffe which will be served at the start of the meeting.

We will organise shares to leave Hayling around 9 a.m. The car park is behind the Selborne Arms at grid reference SU742335, postcode GU34 3JT, where there are toilets.

Please note that the part of the car park with the toilets is still free but this section is often full. The section behind is the car park for the Gilbert White house and there is a car parking fee of £4 for 3 hours.

Alternative free parking may be available further along the High Street in a layby in front of the church or along Gracious Street.

We will start the walk when everyone is ready, and 10.00 at the latest.

We start by going eastwards out of the village on the south side of the stream as far as Oakhanger. The route then goes northwards and westwards through Binswood before meeting the Hangers Way for the return to Selborne along the pretty Long Lythe, arriving in Selborne behind the church.

The distance is 7.1 miles with 400 feet of ascent.

The route is normally dry underfoot at this time of year. However there may be some mud in one or two places if we have a lot more rain shortly before the walk.

We plan to use The Selborne Arms for lunch - please let Shona know if you intend to stay for lunch.

This is the planned route...

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The Hayling Island u3a Summer newsletter is now online. Click/tap here to see it. You can use the same link to see past issues of the newsletter.

You will have to log in to see the newsletter. Note that you can log in without a password, just use the 'Log in without a password' button at the top of the log in page.

The first page of the newsletter explains how you can read it on different devices. It also provides a link so you can see the newsletter in its printed version.

Every member gets access to the online version of the newsletter. We will shortly distribute printed copies to those who have opted to receive one.

Julie Taylor
Chair of Hayling Island u3a

We used Nigel Powell's coach to take us to Bletchley Park on 25th August 2026. This was Hayling U3A's first visit there since 2017.

It was fascinating to hear the story of how the German and Japanese wartime codes were broken and how this contributed significantly to Allied victory in World War Two.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect is that the 9000 or so people who worked at Bletchley Park, having signed the Official Secrets Act, prevented their exploits becoming publicly known for a quarter of a century!

In a change to our usual way of doing things, we all parked at Langstone Quays Hotel and boarded the coach there. This significantly reduced the cost. It was a long day and some of us joined with members of the Meals Out group in a lasagne supper when we got back to the hotel.

Unfortunately the visit was undersubscribed, with only 22 Hayling U3A members making the trip. Our link-up with Havant U3A meant that we were able to attract 4 of their members to join us on the visit.

Hayling U3A members are invited again to join Havant U3A on a visit.

The coach leaves Market Parade, Havant (opposite Iceland) at 9 a.m. and arrives back there at 6 p.m.

Use this hyperlink to find more details:-

https://havant.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/day-trips/

Meet at the Barley Mow at 9.35 and catch 31 bus at 9.43 to Havant. Catch 37 bus at 10.15 to Hazelton Way / Briar Copse, arriving at 10.55.

This is a 3.9 mile walk with 150 feet of height gain and no stiles. We go across Hazelton Common then head southwards through an attractive avenue of trees called Sheepwash Road. We skirt Waterlooville Golf Club then pick up a bridleway which crosses the A3 (M) onto Park Lane. We then turn southwards and get a view of the construction site at the new reservoir before entering Staunton Park.

The route is hardcore underfoot throughout. However there may be puddles in one or two places if we have a lot of rain shortly before the walk.

We catch the 20 bus from Silkstead Avenue (every 20 minutes) back to Havant (17 minutes' journey).

There are various options for lunch in Havant if we want, before catching the 30 or 31 back to Hayling.

This is the planned route...

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Meet at West Town car park for car share to Chichester Marina, leaving at 9.15.

Park at Chichester Marina visitors' car park, postcode PO20 7BX, grid ref. SU835010 for walk start at 10 a.m. The car park charges are now (July 2026) £1 for 2 hours and £3,70 for 3 hours.

There are toilets available in the Marina cafe after about half a mile, but we may not have time to stop for a coffee if we are going to get back to the cars inside 2 hours.

We will walk on tarmac or other hard surfaces around the Marina and past Birdham Pool and Birdham Church.

The total distance is 3.6 miles with minimal height gain and no stiles.

We can go back to The Crate at Bosham or the Bosham Inn for lunch.

This is the planned route...

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This walk was first offered in December 2025.

We plan to organise car shares in advance, so will not meet at West Town Car Park.

Park in the public car park at Hampshire Farm Meadows in Westbourne (free, no toilets), postcode PO10 7GE, grid reference SU752074 for walk start at 10 a.m.

The walk goes northwards through a housing estate then into Hollybank Woods and continues into Stansted Park. There is the possibility of a stop for coffee and toilets at the garden centre (approx. 3 miles into the walk). We turn eastwards, crossing into West Sussex, and continue, climbing very gradually, to Racton Monument.

We drop to the B road up to West Marden and Compton - after a little way we pick up a side road to Aldsworth. Here we take a footpath which leads us to the edge of Westbourne, and we rejoin the cars after a short walk through the Farm Meadows.

Virtually the whole route is on hardcore tracks or tarmac road. If we have a wet summer, there are a few very short muddy stretches in Stansted Park and two short paths towards the end of the walk, one in Aldsworth and the other in Westbourne. Neither of the paths near the end showed signs of being difficult to negotiate in winter, but they could be bypassed without much effort if they did.

The total distance will be 7.1 miles, with around 400 feet of ascent.

We drive into Westbourne for lunch at the Stag's Head, booked for 1.30.

This is the planned route:

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7.7 miles, 750 feet of ascent.

More details to follow

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Postponed. Next date is 6th October

Please make a purchase - a drink and/or a meal ticket.

Come along and give us your ideas for what we can do better or at least differently, tell us walks you'd like to try, or do again.

All offers to lead walks gratefully received - we can help with any aspects that look daunting.

The meeting ends at 12 but some of us stay for carvery lunch.