This is an article published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter....
We arrange four visits a year to places on behalf of all Hayling Island U3A members. You do not have to join the Visits 'group' to go on one of our trips. A small committee meets to consider places to visit that should have general appeal.
The visits usually take place in April, June/July, August/September and December. Once dates have been finalised and costs calculated the visits are published on the web site and displayed at the U3A monthly meetings. Bookings for visits are limited. We take bookings on a first-come first-served basis, but (because of issues we've had in the past) we do not recognise a booking until we've received your payment. That means we cannot start taking bookings until we have calculated the cost to members. Cheques are not cashed until nearer the date of the visit when various payments have to be made.
Visits are available for 50 members although if we have sufficient notice and the visits are over-subscribed we can book a 59 seater coach. If visits are under subscribed we reserve the right to offer places to members of other local U3A Groups in order to avoid making a loss. Naturally Hayling U3A members have priority.
The easiest way to book a place on a visit is to go to our U3A web site. Look under the heading ‘Events’ then select ‘Visits” and follow the instructions shown under 'Your bookings' at the end of the description. If 'Your bookings' doesn't appear it means we are still calculating the cost of the trip so can't yet take bookings. Members can also book visits at the monthly meetings. We'll have a table set up to take bookings for visits. Dates for the visits have been provided for all 2018 visits to enable members to plan ahead and avoid conflicting dates with other activities they may be planning. With this in mind members are asked to restrict their bookings to the next visit only rather than booking for several bookings in advance.
You can now make payment by bank transfer using the internet. You need to login to the members' area to see the bank account details. Click here to do that now.
Cheques can also be taken or sent to Debbie Wilsher. To see her address, click here to log in to the members' area.
Visits start times are usually 8:30am from HIADS returning between 5:30pm to 6:30pm depending on Traffic. Other pick-up points are: United Reform Church, Hollow Lane; Opposite Co-op / Tournerbury Lane; Bus Stop opposite New Cut, North of the Esso Garage.
We welcome suggestions for visits which should have wide appeal for members.
Visits arranged for 2018 ...
... are to The Globe Theatre, Borough Market, the Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern in April and Longleat Safari Park and House in June.
A special visit is planned for August. Our destination is Swanage where in addition to sightseeing it will be possible to go sailing on “Moonfleet” a 70 foot Gaff rigged cutter for two hours with the opportunity of some ‘hands on’ experience if desired. There will be two sessions available each taking 12 members. Alternatively you can take a trip to Corfe Castle via the Swanage Railway. The cost of these two activities is not included in the visit basic cost but what is included is dinner in Bournemouth at the Laguna Hotel. As you can see this will be a full day’s outing.
December will carry on what has become a tradition with a visit to a Christmas Market - in Bristol. This will be combined with a visit to Brunel’s “SS Great Britain”.