Dates for your Diary
Participation in any event listed here is open to the whole SWHerts u3a membership, although places may be limited on some trips.
Please contact the relevant organiser to check availability.
July
Mon 13 General meeting at Stanborough Centre: Speaker: Trevor Baker “Fake or Fortune – The Henderson Legacy’. (The original Speaker, Paul Isherwood has cancelled due to a bereavement).
Wed 15 Coach Trips 1: Watercress Railway Line, Hampshire (SOLD OUT)
Mon 27 Rescheduled Picnic in the Park, Watford Town Cricket Club
August
Mon 10 General meeting at Stanborough Centre: Speaker: Graham Harrison (SunJester): “The Fabulous 50’s“
Mon 17 The Rat Pack Tribute Night, Royal Oak, Abbots Langley (SOLD OUT)
Wed 19 Coach Trips 1: Three Rivers Lunch Cruise (Itchen, Hamble, and Test) from Southampton
(Tickets on sale Today)
September
Mon 14 General meeting at Stanborough Centre: Speaker: Sarah Burgess “Energy Advice for Members”
Wed 16 Coach Trips 1: Southsea/Portsmouth. (Tickets on Sale August)
Wed 23 Afternoon Tea with Sparkle, Stanborough Centre
October
Mon 12 General meeting at Stanborough Centre: Speaker: Gary Powell. “Dark Secrets of London Squares”
Sat 3-10 TFA holiday to Albania
Wed 21 Coach Trips 1: Ightham Moat Kent NT. (Tickets on Sale September)
SWHerts u3a holds regular Monthly General Meetings on the second Monday of each month, from 10.00 am to 12:00 noon, at The Stanborough Centre, 609 St Albans Rd, Watford WD25 9JL.
Doors open for members at 9.15am. Please do not enter before then.
Next month’s meeting will be on Monday 10th August 2026
PEARL & DEAN CONTACTS
To advertise an event or place any information in the ‘Pearl & Dean’ projected on-screen notices at a General Meeting, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,uk or contact Roy Adcock.
SOCIAL EVENTS BILLBOARD Carol Stanton This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rat Pack Tribute Night, with Three Course Meal on Monday 17th August, at The Royal Oak pub, Abbots Langley, from 6pm to 10.30pm.
Cost: £30 pp. Tickets available today from the Social Events Team.
Garden Group: Coach Trip to RHS Hyde Hall, Tuesday 7th July Today we will be selling our remaining tickets for our coach trip to RHS Hyde Hall.
The tickets cost £19, which covers the cost of the coach. Entry to the garden is free as the group is an affiliated member of the RHS. This is exceptionally good value when compared to self-drive and entry on the day. Departs at 9.30 am Stanborough Centre, St Albans Road, Garston. Returns approx. 6 pm. Contact for tickets: Anne Cox (01923 679333) email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
South West Herts u3a Social Events
Calendar of forthcoming Events for 2026
Monday July 27th Rescheduled Picnic in the Park
Watford Town Cricket Club Grounds, Horseshoe Lane, Garston, Watford WD25 7HH
Your Social Events Team have organised a FREE OF CHARGE ‘Bring and Share’ Picnic In The Park on Monday July 27th 2026 between 11.00-14.00
at the exclusive venue of Watford Town Cricket Club’s Ground, Woodside Playing Fields, Horseshoe Lane WD25 7HH.
It is hoped that this will form the basis of an annual get-together for members in future years. The venue has its own subsidised bar which will be available to us and most importantly easy access to a large car park. The venue boasts a large flat lawn area adjacent to the clubhouse along with picnic tables and umbrellas for those who don’t wish to picnic on the grass. Tea and coffee will also be available. There will be a Morris Dancing Demonstration at 12 noon along with fun team games. While Free Entry is the order of the day The Social Events Team would be grateful if members intending to be there would sign the provided attendance form at the Social Events table available at forthcoming General Meetings so that they can gauge numbers for reasons of Health & Safety.
Monday August 17th Rat Pack Tribute Night
The Royal Oak, Kitters Green, Abbots Langley, WD5 0ET
Wednesday September 23rd Afternoon Tea with Sparkle
The Stanborough Centre, 609 St Albans Road, Garston, Watford, WD25 9JL
Monday November 2nd ‘Freddie Mercury Tribute Night
The Royal Oak, Kitters Green, Abbots Langley, WD5 0ET
Monday December 14th Christmas Lunch
Blue Check Restaurant. 144-146 High Street, Bushey, WD23 3DH
COACH TRIPS 1
Coach Trips 1: Leader: Roger Frost (01923 465739)
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday 15th July . Watercress Railway line Alton Hampshire: SOLD OUT
Wednesday 19th August : Three Rivers Lunch Cruise, Southampton Water.
Travel to Southampton and embark on a cruise that combines a Harbour Tour enjoying the lively sights of Southampton Port along with the cruise ships, when in dock, as well as visiting the other local waterways.
These include the Hamble,
historic home of yacht building and the Itchen which leads you into the Test.
Depart at 9.15 am from Stanborough Centre, St Albans Road, Garston. Return
approx. 6.30 pm. Tickets for coach, lunch and 3 hour cruise is £50.
Fish & chips with mushy peas, bread & butter plus hot drink are all included in the
ticket price. Vegan & Vegetarian options available by pre-order.
LONDON WALKS
These gentle walks are open to all members. Pre-booking is not usually required unless the walk includes admission to a Museum or Gallery.
TRIPS FURTHER AFIELD
Trips Further Afield: Leader: Mike Findley (07804 651 620)
Albania 3rd October 2026
Our fully-featured one week Albanian holiday is still on sale. Take-up has been good and the holiday will definitely go ahead. Included is a full tour of this enigmatic country accompanied throughout by a guide, almost all meals,
4* hotels, UK transfers, and many sites of historical and scenic interest. Price from £1,469. There is a single room supplement of £199. A unique opportunity to see somewhere different.
Contact Yvonne MacLeod.
NB Those who are still making up their minds about coming must decide by July 13th General Meeting as roomscannot be held indefinitely.
Christmas Markets trip to Nuremberg starting 30th November 2026
The 4-night trip has been finalized. This is a “no-frills” break including flights and hotel only, using lastinute.com.
Apart from the Christmas Market and the quaint city, there are an enormous number of historical sites, both ancient and more modern, to visit.
Original costs were £287 per person for a shared room, £392 for a single, plus luggage, transfers, meals, local transport, entrance fees, etc.
With the dynamic world situation, costs for new bookers will be determined at the time of booking.
Contact Tina Glendinning.
North Wales 17th May 2027
A 4-night coach holiday to North Wales has been organised for May next year.
Staying half board at an excellent hotel in Caernarfon. Excursions every day. An exciting programme.
From £725 pp. Advance information at the July meeting.
Bookings being taken from September.
Reminder—Riviera Travel Partnership scheme with the Third Age Trust.
Members who take holidays with Riviera Travel can earn commission for our u3a. In 2022, we received £675 from Riviera for holidays booked by our members. Claiming the commission is easy. When booking a holiday, members should say they are SWH u3a members and ask for commission to be paid. Riviera Travel will pay the commission to the TAT who then notify our Treasurer and transfer it into our SWH Bank Account
As Sergei would say — “Simples”