u3a

Milford On Sea

Local Explorers

Status:Active, full but can join waiting list
Contact:
Group email: Local Explorers group
When: Monthly on Wednesday mornings
4th Wednesday
Venue: Meetings and Site Visits
Cost: There may be extra costs for tour guides or entry to venues and of course if we have a lunch

Summer BBQ, prepared for rain! ->->

Summer BBQ

Liz and Derek kindly hosted a BBQ in their back garden. we were lucky with the weather - just a tiny shower. Everyone made delicious contributions to the feast and Nigel gave us a rendition of his latest 'Albert' monologue and another interesting AI generated poem relevant to the occasion.

Tour of Winchester College

In July 2025 we had a guided tour of Winchester College (“Manners Makyth Man”) - Founded in 1382, Winchester College has the longest continuous history of any English School and still occupies its medieval buildings in the centre of the city. William of Wykeham, who rose to become Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England, was a true visionary with a desire to provide the best possible education to those who would go on to serve society, valued not by birth right but by personal qualities and achievements. Click here to view a detailed description of our visit written by Judith

Coffee at Wykeham Arms
Morning Coffee at Wykeham Arms
Winchester College Scholars Dining Room
Winchester College Scholars Dining Room
Main Organ College Chapel

Tour of Lower Winchester

On our trip to Winchester In March 2025 we had a guided tour of the lower part of the city. We walked from Abbey Gardens along the River Itchen and explored the area around Wolvesey Castle. This is the first of several trips we will make to Winchester during the coming months.

Wolvesey Castle is an historic ruin standing near Winchester Cathedral, originally built as a residence for the Bishops of Winchester. 

Wolvesey Castle

About Local Explorers

The Local Explorers group was formerly known as Villages 1 (started in January 2015). The name was changed in September 2021 - to better reflect our current visits and wish to explore further afield.

Our aim is to research and explore local Villages and other places of note, defining points of interest such as location, history and buildings in preparation for a visit. One month being a research meeting of our subject area and the following month a field trip, Members of this group take it in turns to act as leader for each chosen venue. The times / days of visits may occasionally vary.

In 2025 our main focus is the City of Winchester. After the initial research meeting we will be undertaking a number of visits to the city. Our plans for 2025 are shown in the table below.

Members should be prepared to attend the research meetings as well as the site visits.

This group is currently full, but there may be availability in other Villages groups. If you like this subject, then please contact our Groups Support Team.

2025 DatesVENUE/LOCATION/VISITOrganiser
Wednesday 22 JanuaryMeetingNigel & Wendy
Wednesday 26 FebruaryResearch meeting Ray'sJim & Angela
Wednesday 26 MarchWinchester Guided TourJim & Angela
Wednesday 30 AprilWinchester Cathedral Guided Tour - cancelledSue & Martin
Wednesday 28 MayMeeting Ray's - research - The Hospital of St CrossLiz & Derek
Wednesday 25 JuneThe Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble PovertyLiz & Derek
Wednesday 23 JulyWinchester College private tourNigel / Wendy & Judith
Wednesday 27 AugustBBQLiz & Derek
Wednesday 24 SeptemberMeeting at Ray’s to discuss future visitsNigel
Wednesday 22 October TBC
Wednesday 26 NovemberChristmas Lunch, White Hart & Light House being discussed as possible venuesJim & Angela
Wednesday 24 DecemberNo meeting

For our October 2024 meeting we visited the Romsey Signal Box working museum.

Romsey Signal Box working museum

Our u3a activities are risk assessed. If you take part in any group activity you must read the risk assessment.

Members taking part in physical activities are reminded that they do so at their own risk.

You must be a member of Milford on Sea u3a to join this group.

Local Explorers group having an interactive training session in how to administer CPR and use a defibrillator.

Defibrillator Training – January 2024
Our group having an interactive training session in how to administer CPR and use a defibrillator. This was given by Community First Responder volunteers through the South Central Ambulance Service. Members were shown when and how CPR is urgently required, followed by the use of a defibrillator, with the help of adult and child manikins. It was a very thorough and thought provoking demonstration

Tyneham village

in April 2024 our group visited Tyneham Village and the nearby Etches Collection

Tyneham Village
Towards the end of 1943 the War Cabinet decided to evacuate the whole of the Tyneham valley so that it could be used as an army training ground in preparation for D-Day. The residents were never to return.
The buildings are roofless apart from the church and the school house. These two buildings are museums. The schoolhouse has a recreation of a classroom from the 1930s and includes the poignant named coat pegs of the pupils.

Etches Collection
A unique, modern museum of amazing fossils - the marine life of Jurassic Dorset. The skull of a giant pliosaur (Giant Sea Monster) is on display

Visit to The Etches Collection, Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset

Groups listed alphabetically