Good day out to London

A punctual start and traffic free journey saw the shoppers being dropped off at The Westfield Centre at 10.35am with the rest of us reaching the RAF Museum at 11.20am. With so much to see it was a quick loo stop and into the hangers. The collection housed in the RAF Museum was amazing. B27's, Mustangs, Spitfires, Helicopters, Jets, war history, all presented in huge hangars and in a way you can get up to close. The information with each exhibit was detailed without being excessive. The aircraft display's go from world war 1 right up to the present day, including the Euro fighter Typhoon. The sheer scale/number of aircraft on display was amazing and there were a number of aircraft present that most people would not have seen before including German & American planes from WW2 – our three hours went far too quickly then it was back on the coach to the Westfield centre for our tours of the BBC. Traffic was just a little heavier but we made it with 10 minutes to spare.

We met up with the shoppers and to my amazement after 5 hours in the huge shopping complex no-one was laden down with parcels!

With no time to rest our weary legs, split in two groups, we were off on our BBC tour with two very informative and amusing guides though both obviously very sad that the building would be closing at the end of the week. The tour gave us a behind-the-scenes look at retired sets such as those of Blue Peter and Match of The Day (sat on the couch that had accommodated Gary Lineker and David Beckham) We visited Studio 8 (it only costs £35,000.00 a day to hire!) which has seen many household productions including The Old Grey Whistle Test, Top Gear, Fawlty Towers and The Good Life. One of us had a go at reporting the weather, two tried reading the news and another three played that very old game ‘Spot The Tune’. All in all a good 90 minutes at this iconic TV studio, home of so many of the nations favourite programmes over the years and full of nostalgia and stories.

A good driver and an easy journey completed a tiring but enjoyable day.

Chris

February 2013

AWAYS DAYS

Chris Farleigh 8086 2882

Forthcoming Visits

Visit RAF Museum Hendon

Opened in 1972 by Her Majesty the Queen and situated on the historic site of Hendon's London Aerodrome in Colindale, our North London Museum is London’s only attraction to house over 100 aircraft from around the world including some very early aircraft designs through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft.

With free admission plus free interactive and fun activities, including our 3D Cinema (located in Milestones of Flight) and our emotive and uplifting sound and light show Our Finest Hour (located in our Battle of Britain Hall), our London museum offers an entertaining and educational day out for all the family - just 30 minutes from central London.

Plus Tour the BBC Television Studios,Wood Ln 4pm

18^th February £25.00

The coach will leave Totton at 8.30am arriving back approx 8.15pm

(For those not wishing to visit RAF Hendon, the coach will be dropping people at The Westfield Shopping Complex first then going on to Hendon. The coach will be back at 3pm and will park at the Westfield Centre until 6.15pm. The BBC television centre is right opposite the Shopping centre.)

Tours of

Sandhurst Military College

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum

Date now the 11^th March cost £27.50

The coach will leave Totton at 9.20am arriving home approx 6pm

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided at both Sandhurst and FAST

Blandford Fashion Museum 1pm

Thursday 25^th April £12.00 including a cream tea

Leaving Totton at 11.50am arriving back approx 5.30pm

ANYONE FANCY A FEW DAYS AT

THE MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, OAKHAMPTON, DEVON

10^th – 13^th OCTOBER

It is a craft and sports hotel set on the edge of Dartmoor

Prices include breakfast, lunch, and dinner and use of all sports & craft facilities

You can do pottery, glass painting & engraving, woodwork, design tee-shirts, frame pictures, silk painting, try your hand at archery, air pistol shooting, rifle shooting, bowls, tennis, curling, golf, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling the list is endless. Look up their website for further information

For 2 people sharing the cost would be £205.00 per person with a discount if paid in full one calendar month before start date

Check out their web site www.manorhousehotel.co.uk/

Cancellation

Julie has been informed that due to the imminent closure of the recycling unit and the loss of 60 employee’s jobs it would be inappropriate for the U3A tour to go ahead. So the visit is now regretfully cancelled.