Note: All meetings will be held in Maldon Town Hall.
Commencing at 2.00 pm. Price £1.50. All U3A members welcome.
For coach trips the price includes coach, entrance fee and driver gratuity.
Pick up points West Maldon Community Centre and Danbury to be confirmed.
Further information from Mary Burd 01621 843020 email: maryburd43@yahoo.co.uk
and Alfred Couldrey 01245 226259
OLYMPIC VILLAGE TRIP, LONDON – 22 MARCH 2010
What a wonderful day we all had! Victoria our Blue Badge guide was really excellent.
She was a mine of information pointing out to us all the interesting landmarks and buildings.
We passed the modern sculpture of the Railway Tree known as “Rhubarb Corner” in Stratford
where we stopped for coffee and biscuits at “Ye Olde Black Bull”. We then continued
our tour to see the very impressive Olympic Stadium which will hold 80,000 spectators.
We
also saw the Velodrome for cycling which is shaped like a “Pringle”
The BMX site together with the Aquatics centre.
After crossing over Hackney Marshes we ended back at Stratford where the beef lunch served
again at the Olde Black Bull at Stratford which was well presented with slick service. We then
boarded the coach for the afternoon session and were driven along Green Street in East
Ham where the shops were mainly Asian featuring the most beautiful Indian sari material
following on to pass by the West Ham Football Stadium. Travelled through the Royal
Docklands viewing the Excel centre where events of boxing, judo, weightlifting, wrestling,
table tennis and taekwondo will take place and the Dome which will host badminton and gymnastics.
We crossed the Thames on the Woolwich free ferry to the Royal Artillery establishment
where the rifle shooting is to be held in 2012. Victoria our guide had an amazing and
interesting knowledge of the Historic buildings in the area much of which has no
special connection with the Olympic Games, nevertheless it made for an enjoyable afternoon.
The ongoing construction work prohibited any close examination of the venues but
a viewing tower overlooking part of the site, enabled photos of the skeletons of the main
arena the velodrome and the swimming pool to be taken.
The World TV and news reporters will be working 24-7 to bring news of events to
all time zones.
My opinion is the success of the Games, apart form the medals we hope to win,
will be the long term sporting facilities provided and the thousands of jobs created.
Write up by Sandy Lucas and Harry Allpress.
Members at Woolwich Arsenal
Olympic Stadium
Velodrome for Cycling
Aquatics Centre
Olympic Village
Olympic Logo
Added to this wonderful day out we were privileged to have Harry with us who had actually
attended the 1948 London Olympics in London with his son. Thank you Mary for organizing this thoroughly enjoyable day out.