To join Southend U3A's keen Walkers, call

Marian Rule on 01702 337921

Bumping into firemen in the middle of Hockley Woods!

Eleven members met at the Hockley Woods car park in bright sunny weather. The walk took us south through the centre of the woods then out in the open next to freshly ploughed fields. Unlike on our last walk in Paglesham, we encountered very little wild life, but instead we met a number of firemen who were checking an area of the woodland that had been on fire. It was apparently still burning underground, lthough they had thoroughly doused the area with water. We moved on with all speed, climbing up a path to the west side of the wood and emerging into Woodlands Road. We followed the road for a short distance entering the wood again and making our way back to the car park.

Garden of delights at Warley

The Walking Group's latest walk, pictured above, was to Miss Wilmot's Garden at Warley.

We walked through and admired the thousands of daffodils there. This was more of a stroll.

Usually we walk between four and five miles locally. We have between 10 and 15 keen

walkers but would always welcome new members.

London guided walk uncovers historic treasures 

In October, a small group of us went to London for a guided walk conducted by David Williams, which

was very much enjoyed. He took us on An Introduction to the City and gave us some fascinating facts

about places that most of us have just walked past and not noticed. We saw lovely little City gardens

in church ruins, St Olave's Church, where Samuel Pepys was buried, St Catherine's Church, with two

main aisles and two main entrances side by side, and St Margaret's, beautifully decorated ready for

a Harvest Festival service. Building work being carried out has given up many Roman secrets. Just as

we were passing one, a skull had been found by Museum of London archaeologists. The group also

stopped at  the monument to the abolition of slavery unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We even

had  an interesting fact about information on the inside of red telephone boxes. In the left-hand picture,

we are outside Fenchurch Street Station, planning our route. In the other picture we are at St

Andrew's Church.

U3A Walk to Canewdon,  November, 2008 

This walk was one of the best attended walks so far, and one of the most successful.

It was a bright sunny morning when we walked through the village and to the Church

where John told us some of the stories about the Witches of Canewdon. We then

walked across fields and farms until we reached Great Stambridge, coming out

beside The Royal Oak.  We then walked back beside more fields until we returned

to the village of Canewdon.  It was a longer walk than usual, but very enjoyable.

Members of the Walking Group are pictured during their February outing. They

set off from the John Burrows sports ground at Thundersley and carried on

to Belfairs Woods via Great Wood. For details of walks, or to join,

call Marian Rule on 01702 337921.

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