Monday afternoon found a packed hall ready and waiting to listen to Surrinder

Sandham-Bains deliver her talk entitled ‘The Dalai Lama Trek’.

Surrinder talked about her journey from Dharamsala, the Kingdom of Gaddi, the Dhauladhar Mountains and ending with a visit to the Taj Mahal. Surrinder was born in India, coming to Britain when she was just two years old, and hearing her father describe their home in India, which overlooked the Himalayas.

Speaking fluent Punjabi, Surrinder was keen to see her country of birth and also to raise money for the Forever Friends Cancer Appeal at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. 22 people made up the group, aged from 20 – 70 years of age. They travelled with Global Adventures, who organised all the details of the trip and provided porters and mules to carry the tents, water and all that would be needed for the 67km trek, which would be completed in five days. Accompanying slides gave a real impression of the hardships and the very rocky and difficult trail that was negotiated, but were set off by pictures of the surrounding countryside and especially the mountains. The weather varied from the oppressive heat of Delhi to the freezing temperatures and altitude headaches at the height of the trek, some 3,500 feet above sea level. At the end of the trek, the group returned to Delhi and undertook a trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Surrinder raised almost £3,500 for this very worthwhile local charity and a total of £50,000 was raised by the group.

Some news from three of the 36 clubs. Bluebell Readers’ meeting on fourth Tuesday is a small, friendly group which meets at a member’s home. Although the group is full at the moment, new members will always be considered, as membership often changes throughout the year. Chess group has around eight members and is run in conjunction with Wells U3A. Meeting at the Rocky Mountain Nursery Café on second and fourth Thursdays, both experienced and new players are welcome. Craft and Knit and Natter are a small group of ladies who enjoy crafts. This group is also full at the moment, but anyone interested is encouraged to get in touch as vacancies often become available.

If you would like to know more about U3A and any of the group/club activities, please telephone: 01761 479606.

Ginny Edwards