LATEST FROM LIMEBROOK u3a

The Garden Chat Group took 10 members to Beth Chatto's Garden near Colchester.

Chris Stringer says: "It turned out to be a beautiful day. We met in the tearoom and had a coffee and a chat before going around the garden in groups, meeting back for a late lunch in the tearoom again.

"The gardens were beautiful but not manicured, it is a wonderful setting. The dry garden has evolved since the 1990s and has plenty of colour in it, so different from Hyde Hall.

"We finished the day browsing the plants in the shop where we made a few purchases. Thanks go to Meryl Rawlings for arranging this wonderful day out."

Howard Corlett's 10 pin bowlers report that sometimes there are no personal bests to record. Sometimes there are no Turkeys scored. Sometimes you wonder whether there will be anything special happen.

Then you get three people – Rose Staines, Val Shepherd and Brian Box – who end a game with exactly the same score. Each reached a total of 97. What are the chances of that happening?

Our second wine group have agreed a new name for themselves, 'The Winers'. They also agreed that the coordinator role would be shared with members taking turns to organise their meetings.

At their last meeting they all brought some nibbles and we were also treated to some delicious homemade cakes. This month's wine was Spanish. This was also the first time that they tasted just four bottles of wine instead of six and this worked well and felt less rushed.

Liz Jones' photograph at St John's Monestary

Graham Churchill's Photographers met at the United Reform Church in Maldon where they enjoyed a couple of slide shows. The first was the entries for the March competition and the second was of members' photographs taken on their visit to St John the Baptist Monastery at Tolleshunt Knights.

Deborah Wilson arranges the Bridge Group, with their meetings being held at the West Maldon Community Centre. They play social bridge which takes place in a friendly atmosphere with shared learning as members develop their understanding of this "mind sport."

The Shakespeare Group are currently reading King John, which is one of Shakespeare's least performed plays. Liz Jones says it was actually the first to be filmed in a silent version made in 1899.Their next play to be read will be Romeo and Juliet and they are looking forward to seeing some live performances as part of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival in July and August where the plays are staged in the open air in college grounds.

At our AGM, Howard Corlett the Chairman, was unanimously re-elected and reported on another very successful year. Unfortunately, Limebrook u3a is unable accept new members as we are currently fully subscribed.