VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Members will have noticed that some groups get going at the first meeting, others take a while and others fade away. The long term success of a group is usually due to members sharing the jobs rather than relying on one person. For example, members of the walking groups take it in turn to be the walk leader.

The more volunteers we have, the greater the range of activities we can offer. We have a number of interests, all of which are popular, that need your assistance. We need help with trips, excursions, events and short breaks.

Help is also needed for Transport and Industrial History and Village and Town Walks with a Guide. We would like to restart the Daytime Social Group which was very popular for many years, possibly in a different format.

Can you help? If so, please contact William Armitage, 01462 643537, armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk.

 

A NEW GROUP

As LALG a voluntary self-help organisation any member is entitled to suggest or start a new group or a second one if the existing one is full. If you have an idea for a new group contact William  Armitage.

Assistance and support is always available to get it going. After three to four meetings the group would be expected to run their own activities.

The New Group Team:
William Armitage: 01462 643537, armitagewiliam@hotmail.co.uk ​and Jane Webb: 01462 339338.

Contact publicity@lalg.org.uk​​​ to seek help for a new or an existing group on promotion or publicity. For anything else, including finding a venue, please contact William Armitage

 

NEW GROUP SUGGESTIONS

 

AFTERNOON FLOWER ARRANGING GROUP

Tuesday 12 February,  2.30pm Venue: Broadway Hotel, café area to the right as you enter. Come to this first meeting and help  us to decide our activities for 2019. No need to book, just turn up.

 

ALL THINGS VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN or THE HEALTHY EATING GROUP?

We have LALG members wanting this group to get established.

If you feel you can help please contact William.

William Armitage 01462 643537; armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk

 

ARTS and DESIGN

If you would like to help to establish the Arts and Design group please contact William Armitage 01462 643537, armitagewiliam@hotmail.co.uk

CITY BREAKS

LALG members were asked in a survey what visits they would like and City Breaks were equal first with visits to the seaside. Last year members organised a city break to Portsmouth which was fully booked.

We would like to start in early summer, with breaks in Britain at first, and a maximum of three nights according to what members want.  Would you like to help plan a trip?  We could use a travel agent to book the accommodation, such as On Your Travels in Station Road, who offer a discount to LALG members. Please get in touch if you would consider helping this project to start up or if you are interested in the visits.  Suggested places to visit include Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Cardiff, Brighton, Edinburgh, London and Belfast.

 

ITALIAN CONVERSATION 3

We have two Italian conversation groups which are full. Do we need a third one? If interested please leave your details at David’s Bookshop or email William Armitage, armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk. Please state preference for daytime or evening, along with suitable and unsuitable times.

 

LANGUAGES

Those interested in languages not already available in LALG met too late for a November report. To check what happened see the December newsletter, website or contact William.​armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk

 

LONDON WALKS

It has been proposed that LALG set up a London Walks Group that sits somewhere between the London Villages Group and the occasional London walks of the Long Distance Walkers. Thus we would undertake walks of 7-8 miles, hopefully taking in locations of cultural and historical interest, and with stops for appropriate nourishment, all within the Greater London area. The walks would probably be on a Saturday in order to benefit from cheaper Travelcard fares and no restriction on rail travel times.
At the moment, this is very much at the planning stage, and no dates or walks have been chosen. Those interested should contact Peter Briercliffe on 01462 637349 or email pbriercliffe@hotmail.com

 

MEN IN SHEDS

Men’s sheds are community spaces for like-minded people to connect, converse, create and gain a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. The activities are often similar to those carried out in garden sheds, but for groups of men to share together – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to share and practise skills and knowledge, enjoy making and mending, whilst at the same time making social connections and friendship building (see mensheds.org.uk for more information).

The shed will be whatever members want it to be and the group is currently looking for a venue. This could be an empty office, unit, Portakabin, warehouse, garage or outbuilding but it needs to be able to store the tools and equipment needed for the group’s activities, which might include woodworking, electronics, small engineering projects, repairing, restoring and recycling/converting scrap into useful objects or even use the space for model railways and other hobbies.

In December, seven members of the Men in Sheds group visited Redbourne Repair Shed, which has been up and running for 3 years, to see how a fully functioning Men’s Shed is run and how it was set up.

See panel to the right with details of the next meeting.

If you feel you would like to become involved in the Men In Sheds project or if you can suggest a possible venue for a ’shed’ in Letchworth, please contact either of the group contacts.Astrid Hansen 01462 337991; William Armitage 01462 643537

 

NATURE-BASED EXPRESSIVE ART GROUP

This is a form of meditation whereby natural material is being used to encourage freedom of selfexpression. Either Tuesdays or Wednesdays between 1.00pm-3.00pm fortnightly. Please contact me with your preference: Irmtraut@btopenworld.com. Venue: my garden in Hitchin which offers enough space for 6 people. Visits are at members’ own risk.

 

PLAY READING GROUP 3

New play-reading group. Just-for-fun reading of plays old and new, dramatic and comic.
Please contact Pat Baskerville 01462 623959 for venue and more information.

 

POLISH CULTURE, TRADITIONS AND LANGUAGE
A product of its geography, Polish culture and traditions has its origins in the culture of the West Slavs and over time has been profoundly influenced by its interweaving ties with the Germanic, Hungarian, Latinate, Byzantine and Ottoman worlds.
The group could investigate dance, festivals, traditions, etiquette, food and family, as well as conversational Polish, and perhaps we could hold a Polish evening.

 

PUDDING CLUB

For anyone who loves puddings. The group could meet in each other’s homes and sample puddings they have made or visit pubs and restaurants with an excellent pudding menu, or buy puddings from specialist makers and eat them at home. The official Pudding Club started in 1985 in the Cotswold village of Mickleton and is still going strong.  There’s more to puddings than sticky toffee pudding and custard.
 

SECOND SOCIAL SEWING GROUP?

Could be run on similar lines to the first Sewing Group, which is full. Members could meet in each other’s houses or use a room such as Mrs Howard Hall. We could bring any sewing project with us, exchange tips and have a relaxing time

Deadline for expressing an  interest: Tuesday 5 February

 

SKETCHING IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
The group is designed to cater for all those with a love of the English countryside and who would like to try out their sketching and watercolour skills. Walking will be kept to a minimum and should be accessible to everyone.
Sketching in the countryside can open up a new world and is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. If you are interested please contact William or leave your details with David’s Bookshop on 01462 684631.

 

SOCIAL BREAKFAST CLUB

The group has decided to restart in the Spring and may include an optional walk before breakfast.

 

SOCIAL RUNNING

Is anybody interested in a running group? This could take place either during the midweek (day or evening, depending on work schedules) or on a Saturday morning – or both.

Routes, mileage and pace to be decided by all those interested. Contact me if you would like me to arrange a meeting with anybody else who may be interested. 

Acting Group Contact: Steve Green 07710 542803; tosh1966@hotmail.com

 

THEATRE GROUP

Wednesday 19 September, 10.30am Broadway Gallery, The Arcade, Letchworth We will discuss productions and explore small experimental groups as well as the more established ones. Also we will visit in a small group locally and further afield, including London and Cambridge live theatre. If you are unable to attend or would prefer an evening meeting please leave your contact details at David’s Bookshop.

 

UKULELE - ADVANCED If you already play and would like a more advanced group please leave your details at David’s Bookshop or contact William.

Acting Group Contact: William Armitage 01462 643537; armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk or leave your details at David’s Bookshop.

 

VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN GROUP

How did you get  on in Veganuary? Maybe now you’re considering ways to reduce your consumption of animal products? Whether that would be for ethical, health or budget reasons, this group should interest you.  Group members could bring along recipes to share and swap tips.  Please email Lara if you are interested in this new group. lara.mitchell@me.com

 

VILLAGE AND TOWN WALKS WITH A GUIDE

In September members learnt about the history of Weston Village from the village historian Richard Clements.

We would like to continue these walks so help is needed to arrange regular visits to other towns and villages in the area. We have a list of potential walk leaders/guides so you don’t have to start from scratch!

Please contact William with offers to get the group going, or for more information.

William Armitage 01462 643537; armitagewilliam@hotmail.co.uk

 

WALKING MEDITATION ON SUNDAYS

Meet at Westmill Lane, Hitchin (where Burford Way and Swinbourne Avenue meet) at 11.00am. This is a drop-in group and will be for roughly an hour. Contact: Irmtraut@btopenworld.com.

 

WOMEN'S STUDIES

The role of women in the 21st century. The group could look at any topic that may be relevant to women, visiting interesting events and venues, and maybe looking at women in history and issues which particularly affect women in everyday life.