George Fairweather, Author at Seaham Harbour U3A

Social groups update 2025

George Fairweather — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:54:23 +0000

August 2025 monthly meeting

Well done to all those members who were able to attend the coffee morning today. We had a splendid turnout, the refreshments were excellent, George did a great job with the pictures from the past and the conversation was bountiful! All in all, a lovely morning!

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February Stroll

George Fairweather — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 13:08:31 +0000

February’s Stroll

Our Stroll in lovely sunshine, started at the Cenotaph and ended at

North Beach Cafe for coffee, tea and a chat. Wonderful!

The glass pickers were out in force on North Beach.

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February Walk

George Fairweather — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:59:49 +0000

Our February walk began in Barnes Park, Sunderland and was led by Mike Bacon.

Mike led us through the park, then the park extension before we made our way into Silksworth Park and completed our circle with refreshments at the Barnes Hotel.

Mike had done a lot of research on the history of both parks and gave us a lot of very interesting information en route.

The weather was most kind to us and our thanks go to Mike for leading us on such a pleasant walk.

Alan S

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Christmas Dinner at the Vermont

George Fairweather — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:14:04 +0000

Wine Tasting Group’s Christmas Dinner at the Vermont

We left from Dow House and were transported by coach to the Vermont, Newcastle. The coach was very roomy and comfortable, with Christmas music wafting through the air, it certainly added to the occasion.

We arrived at the Vermont on time and were ushered into a nice lounge with very comfortable sofas (I thought, this is a good start). After a brief rest a waitress ushered us into the dining room and we sat down with a sense of anticipation for the first course to arrive, when it did arrive the food was good. The rest of the food was tasty, for those who ordered the roast, it was served with one of the biggest Yorkshire Puddings I have ever seen and it was delicious!

The service was a little slow between courses but it gave us time to chat and enjoy little sips of the wine. There was lots of laughter and talking, it got a little louder as the evening progressed, but its Christmas. I looked around the room and no-one seemed to mind as they were all enjoying themselves.

The evening went all too quickly, 9.30 arrived and it was time to get on our warm comfortable coach (it was cold outside) and the driver was most helpful, he ferried us to our home addresses.

The company we used was Seaham Coaches, based at Westlea. The driver said they have a 27-seater coach, which could be useful in future.

We all had a wonderful fun evening, enjoying one another’s company, it was a perfect start to the festive season.

Thank you, Gordon.

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Photography Group’s Christmas Party

George Fairweather — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:38:02 +0000

Photography Group’s Christmas Party

Here we are, ten of us enjoying our Christmas lunch at East Durham Garden Centre.

It was a cold rainy day but the company and the meal were great.

Anne S

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Theatre Group December Visit

George Fairweather — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:23:56 +0000

Theatre Group December Visit

8 members of the Theatre group had an enjoyable evening on Friday the 1st December.

We met at the Sunderland Empire to see a performance of Sister Act.

What a lovely night we had.

The show went off without a hitch & the artists were great, dancing & singing the night away.

Marian A

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Committee Trustee Seaham Harbour u3a 2023/24

George Fairweather — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 11:25:25 +0000

Chairman	Malcolm W
Vice Chairman Beacon Administrator	Gordon A
Secretary	Marion A
Treasurer	Mike B
Website Administrator	George F
Membership	Joan T with Jean M
Group Coordinator	Lynn D
Speaker Secretary	Mabel H
Correspondence Secretary	Alan S
Meet & Greeters	Margaret N, Lynn D, Doreen F
Refreshments Buyer	Barbara C
Trustee (without portfolio)	Mike M

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A Visit to Donnison School

George Fairweather — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 08:57:53 +0000

On Friday evening, which was dark and damp, 23 of us spent an evening in flickering candlelight, in the historical Donnison School, an appropriate setting for the enactment of the story of Mary Ann Cotton, mass- murderer of the East Durham area.

The actors played their parts enthusiastically, with great humour, and the accompanying slides and storytelling told the horrific story of this sweet, hard-working young woman, who moved around the region, killing whoever appeared to interfere with her ambitions, not least most of her own children.

We lapped it up- everyone likes a good horror story, and this one had the advantage of being true!

Well done the volunteers!

Carol A

Images of Mary Ann Cotton, borrowed from Search Engines.

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Art Visit to Beningbrough Hall, Yorkshire.

George Fairweather — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 08:34:21 +0000

Beningbrough Hall is a National Trust property near York. It is a delightful house with wonderful gardens.

Seventeen of our members visited the art exhibition, “Inspired by Italy,” which displays the work of Kate Somerville, a Yorkshire based black and white photographer and Giovanni Batista, an 18th Century Italian artist. The exhibition highlights the Italian influence on the architecture of the House.

Andy Sturgeon who designed the new Mediterranean garden at Beninbrough Hall, pictured standing infront of the Hall

Gardener at Beninbrough Hall, with wheelbarrow fully of colourful flowers.

A new Mediterranean garden, designed by Andy Sturgeon, his photograph is above, is in the early stages of development. This new garden will also have an Italian influence, in keeping with the House.

We were extremely lucky with the weather, thunder and rain forecast, but we had warmth and sunshine, delightful.

We took advantage of the weather, strolling through the garden, admiring the beautiful south-facing herbaceous beds with their vivid and varied planting.

Certainly, worth another visit soon.

September 2023

Carol A

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September Walk

George Fairweather — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 11:26:20 +0000

18 hardy walkers set off on our September walk, a Penshaw Monument Circular led by Joan Fowler.

Setting off from Herrington Country Park and climbing the hill to the Monument, a stop here to adjust to the altitude, then downhill towards Offerton, then left onto the Long Lonnen down to the disused railway track, a pleasant tree lined area heading towards Penshaw.

On reaching our path to the monument we climbed to the base of the hill then down to our finish.

Thank you, Joan, for leading our walk which was enjoyed by all.

Bob C

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