Seaford Scene August 2019

u3a news
august 2019
As we head into high summer and the
holiday season U3A members have fewer
opportunities to meet at U3A organized
events, but the possibility of better
weather enables friendships which have
started at U3A to embark on different tacks. Seaford
has the wonderful bonus of the seafront where a walk
and a sit for refreshments with friends can be as good
as any more sophisticated entertainment.
The U3A is very aware that one of its important
functions is social interaction. Loneliness can be a major
problem nowadays as families disperse and younger
people have so many calls on their time. Alleviation of
loneliness makes for better health, mental and physical,
particularly in those who have retired from work and
therefore miss the stimulus of daily contact. The U3A
seeks to provide a fun version of lifelong learning
where people can mix and get to know each other.
The monthly Coffee Morning will continue over the
summer and the next one is on 21st August between
10 am and 12 noon, when members and nonmembers
are all welcome at the Con Club, Crouch
Lane, Seaford for coffee or tea and light refreshments.
The cost is only £2 so if you are a visitor interested in
the U3A come along and meet some friendly faces.
Members will have already received the annual
prospectus giving information about the courses which
are on offer over the next few months. There was an
opportunity at the open meeting in July for members
and non-members to talk to the various organisers
and in August, having paid their
modest annual subscription, they can
sign up to the course or courses of
their choice. Many start in September
but some start after Christmas. The
monthly pub lunch, for members only,
will also continue over the summer.
In June several members enjoyed
an outing to Michelham Priory near
Hailsham, having been inspired to
visit by a talk given at the Downs Leisure Centre
beforehand. This is an interesting building.It was
founded as an Augustinian priory in 1229 and
continued until it was partially destroyed in the
Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537. It then became
part of Anne of Cleves’ divorce settlement which
made her one of the richest women in England. Later
in the 1500s it was bought by Herbert Pelham, whose
ancestors fought off the French invaders at The Buckle
at Seaford, but he was bankrupted by his building
works. Between 1601 and 1896 it belonged to the
Sackvilles of Knole. It had been restored, damaged
by fire, made a home for evacuees and a base for
Canadian troops in WWII before being rescued
by a Mrs Hotblack who donated it to the Sussex
Archaeological Society in whose safe care it remains.
A fascinating story with tales also of ghosts to inspire
a further more scary visit! The photo above shows the
priory gatehouse.
In July there was also a visit to the Chelsea Physic
Garden with a guided tour of this walled garden beside
the Thames set up in 1673 by the Worshipful Society
of Apothecaries to house medicinal and healing plants.
It now houses nearly 5,000 varieties of plants and
forms an oasis of green in the busy streets.
For more information about Seaford U3A and
also about its linked organisations, Sussex U3A
Network (SUN) and SE U3A Region see the website
www.u3asites.org.uk/seaford. To find out about
membership check this website, ring 01323 899572
or come along to a coffee morning and
have a chat.
Sarah Davey
Photo: Michelham Priory near Hailsham.
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