In the Isle of Wight with the LTM Friends I take a trip organised by the London Transport Museum Friends to the Isle of Wight. The trip is in late February 2022 on a beautiful, sunny, day.

I have an early start to get to Waterloo where I collect my ticket for the train. We travel down the South West mainline to our first stop at Woking.

After leaving Working we head south from Woking Junction. Our route is through Guildford, Haslemere, Petersfield, under the South Downs and on towards Portsmouth.

We leave the train when we reach Portsmouth and Southsea station. You can get details of South Western Railway services here.

The party crosses the road and heads for the ‘Hoverbus’ stop. The bus takes us to the Hover Travel terminus for our rapid journey across the Solent to Ryde.

The ‘flight’ takes about 10 minutes, getting on and off seems to take longer!

On the Island Line:

Unfortunately our flight is late so we miss the train we’d planned to take from Ryde Esplanade station. Ryde Esplanade station is at the landward end of Ryde Pier. Trains travel to Ryde Pierhead where they meet the Wight Link ferries from Portsmouth Harbour.

Our journey to Shanklin shows how well the Island Line Class 484 stock runs. These new trains have been converted by Vivarail from London Underground D Stock trains.

Talking to a driver I hear that, if you didn’t know the stock was a conversion from the Underground, you’d think they were built for the Island Line.

We leave the train at Ryde, St Johns Road, and travel to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet. After a soup and Ploughman’s lunch we have a guided tour around the site and spend time in the museum.

Many thanks to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for hosting us on a day when there is no steam running.

We leave Havenstreet for our journey back to Ryde and the Hovercraft on our journey home.

The London Transport Museum Friends, Mike Kay and the team at ATTC for organising such a great day; they also deserve special thanks for organising such beautiful weather.

The London Transport Museum Friends support the London Transport Museum. They are based in Covent Garden and also operate the ‘Depot’ in Acton.

Find out more about the museum here.

Members of the LTM Friends enjoy free admission to the Museum, discounts, early booking for the brilliant Hidden London tours and more. Interested? Click here to find out more.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.

Steam Railway is licensed from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2022

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Welcome to the Exhibition of Paintings (3) brought to you by the Farnham u3a Painting 1 group.

This is the third online Exhibition by the members of the Farnham u3a Painting Groups. The exhibition is of project work by Painting 1 over the past year. Painting 1 is the only group in this exhibition because this project only involves their members.

In the podcast (at the top) Gloria Stock describes the three phases of the project. The pictures in the gallery (below) show you the results of the group’s work towards the three phases.

The Artists hope that you enjoy the pictures that they have painted. Although the project started in September 2019 many of these pictures have been painted since the end of March. We hope that you’ll find the three different phases of the project very interesting.

The Farnham U3A has three painting groups, because they are self led, with members who have a variety of skills, the members benefit from the skills of each other.

The three groups welcome new members, no matter their ability, and normally meet every two weeks. At the current time physical meetings, at the Maltings, are suspended.

You can find full details and contact information for the groups on the Farnham u3a website by clicking here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the art gallery:

You can find the Farnham u3a site here.

There are over 70 different groups, some are academic (literature, languages and history) and  others (painting, photography and computing) have a practical or creative focus. Others that are sporty, purely recreational or social; there is something for everyone.

Farnham u3a has  members with a rich pool of knowledge and talent who, in keeping with the ethos of the Third Age Trust, are willing to contribute their time.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for the Farnham u3a Painting Groups.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a Painting Groups – 2020

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Welcome to Message in a Bottle (4), the a store for the material in the third Flotsam and Jetsam e-Newsletter from Farnham U3A.

It doesn’t matter if you deleted the e-Newsletter – the important bits are here!

Your editors ‘phoned Ann Vickers to find out how she is coping with the lockdown. She’s been keeping busy as you’ll hear – listen using the media player above.

Our wonderful spring has continued and the arrival of recent rain has really perked everything up in our gardens and parks. Those able to take a walk for our daily exercise will have noticed how polite 95% of the community has become with a ‘thank you’ to those who step aside and a cheery ‘good morning’ to people they’ve never seen before. At the shops people stand back to let us reach onto the shelves. Let’s hope that this is a lasting benefit.

Last time we asked whether you’d brave a DIY haircut during the lockdown – here’s the answer.  25% of respondents would brave the scissors – no doubt believing that any damage will have grown out by the time they see their hairdresser; 44% were fence-sitters opting to ‘wait and see’; whilst 31% remembered Sampson.  Thank you to everyone who participated in our straw poll.

For those willing to take the plunge the most important tip is to use small scissors and trim small sections a time. YouTube is full of video tutorials, but sadly the models are half your editors age and twice as glamorous.  The Telegraph offers this video and The Independent this one.

This group has maintained contact through a monthly newsletter which is distributed through Beacon about the time the group would have met. The aim is to provide updates (where appropriate), to inform and entertain.  Members have also contributed content which has broadened the range of topics was covered in the second edition.  A copy of the April newsletter can be found here.

There are a great many Art talks, virtual Gallery tours, and clips available on-line. Information about these are regularly sent to group members.

Just before lockdown on 5th March the group attended a concert of chamber music by Handel, Telemann and Bach at the Purcell Room. Sadly, the rest of their programme is likely to be cancelled but members will be kept posted.

The websites of their regular orchestras are offering music, either from their archives or recorded at home. One of their favourites is the OAE with informative content about their instruments as well as performances. You can listen here. The baroque spoons video is particularly entertaining – look at the date…. and they love this one from the orchestra of the Royal Opera House – click here.

Group members are regularly receiving relevant clips and links and for others there is the BBC Sounds.  This may be a good time to try a free online digital music library like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music or ask a family member with a subscription to add you onto their account. [Editor tip – now’s the time to spoil yourself with a good quality portable Bluetooth speaker]

Various clips, and interesting pieces by Alan Little on Mingus/Pre-war Blues/Great piano players, have been sent to group members. It’s very easy to search Jazz music on your BBC sounds app or on line digital music service provider.

Group members have received their scheduled session content by email and been invited to comment on the chapters they would have studied during the classes.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is offering free online events through Zoom. There is their Tuesday drinks-themed quiz plus their varietal tastings on Thursdays.  If you are seriously interested you can also access online their well-regarded industry training courses here.

We bring you more clips from around the world. Showcasing the vastness of the USA the first two come from the Yosemite National Park in California’s stunning Sierra Nevada mountains then over to the Grand Canyon

We found a video of the Arundel Castle Tulip Festival here.. You will also find some other videos to help you in the garden.

This year’s Chelsea Flower Show has been cancelled so the RHS is making plans for a virtual Chelsea. There will be online events during the week of 19th to 23rd May on the RHS website and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We’ll bring you more details in the next issue. You can also find out more at.

One recent scam warns that your television licence is going to expire and unless you click the link, you’ll have no service. Don’t! Another tells PayPal users that there is a problem with their account. Again – don’t click the link.

Remember – don’t be panicked into doing something.  Check your records and if you really do have to make contact enter the details in your browser rather than clicking the link. Also if it sounds too good to be true it usually is – report anything suspicious to Action Fraud online or phone 0300 123 2040

If you need help with anything contact those you can trust or the Farnham & Villages Coronavirus Helpline on 01252 745446 (Monday-Friday from           9 am-6 pm) or email to [email protected]

We’re all having to learn new skills with technology, hopefully we can help. Please don’t let it get to you like it got to Joe!

Surrey County libraries have extended their collection of e-books and e-audiobooks. Available to all Surrey library members – more here

The Zoom Guide below has helped members connect. Feel free to read it and circulate it to others. The guide was updated on 23rd April 2020.

Zoom instructions 20200423

Tip for joining an online meeting: please sort out the software and your computer / tablet / ‘phone before the meeting. This is because the meeting host can’t tutor you during the meeting!

The Town Council, along with the Maltings and the Farnham Herald, has produced a useful fact-sheet full of help and advice for residents of Farnham and villages which is worth printing.  Click here.

The Farnham U3A site is found at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Please use this material to help you through the lock-down.

Posted by The MrT Podcast Studio for Farnham U3A – 2020

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Steam Dreams 20th Anniversary follows a special steam train journey from London to Yeovil Junction on 17th December 2019. 350 passengers joined the train for the journey. The LMS locomotive the Duchess of Sutherland hauled the train. The route ran from Victoria Station to Yeovil Junction, stopping at Woking, Salisbury and Sherborne on the way.

The original train, on 16th December 1999, ran from Waterloo Station in London to Salisbury.

At Salisbury the passengers attended a ‘cake cutting’ ceremony on the platform. The Duchess of Sutherland took the opportunity to refill her tanks with water.

We then rejoined the train and continued our journey to Sherborne. Most of the passengers left the train in Sherborne so that they could visit the town. Many also attended a special Carol Service in Sherborne Abbey.

The rest of the passengers continued on the journey to Yeovil Junction. We were lucky that the earlier wet weather had cleared up. We were treated to a lovely sunset as our engine and train were serviced. The Duchess of Sutherland was turned on the turntable – a splendid sight.

The train then returned to London, stopping at Sherborne and Salisbury to pick up the returning passengers.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the photograph gallery:

To visit the Steam Dreams website to find out more about the Day Trips and Holidays please click here.

The Royal Windsor Steam Express is a scheduled steam train service running from London to Windsor and Eton Riverside station. It runs on selected dates from June 2nd to September 8th 2020. It is a great introduction to steam train travel! Find out more at.

The Sunset Steam Express is an evening train. It runs on selected dates from June 2nd to September 8th 2020. It takes a circular route from London, through the Surrey Hills and then returns to London. A great opportunity for an enjoyable evening out. Find out more at.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

AKM Music has licensed Steam Railway for use as the theme and incidental music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and The Steam Dreams Rail Co. 2020

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Please note: Disused Stations was missed from the talk on the London Underground as we ran out of time. A number of members said they would like to hear it so I have recorded this podcast. This material will be to the other parts of the talk when they are posted.

Tim Davies tells us about the London Underground’s Disused Stations in this short talk. He tells us that the first to close was King William Street. This was the original ‘City’ terminus of the City and South London Railway. King William Street station lasted 9 years and 3 months before closing in 1900.

A total of twenty three stations have closed over the years. Some have gone on to have interesting lives after closure.

Down Street station on the Piccadilly line was close to two other stations.  As a result of this, and because Mayfair is a wealthy area the station was very quiet.

During the Second World War the station housed the Railway  Executive. Winston Churchill stayed here during the Blitz.

Another quiet station was Aldwych, it probably should never have been built. Artefacts from London Museums were stored on the Eastern platform during the war. Londoners sheltered from the bombs on the western platform.

The Jubilee line has disused platforms at Charing Cross. The platforms are often used for filming – the sequence in Skyfall is an example.

At Euston there are tunnels to connect the two original Underground stations. Competing companies built the stations. The rebuild of the station for the Victoria line resulted in closure of the tunnels in 1962.

Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk to open the gallery.

Please click this link to visit the London Transport Museum website.

Click this link for details of the Hidden London tours.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

AKM Music has licensed Media Magazine for use as the title music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham U3A History Group 2019

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The Dean Forest Railway – the Friendly Forest Line – runs for four and a half miles between Lydney Junction and Parkend. It passes through beautiful woodland and countryside and reflects the relaxing pace of a country branch line in the early Twentieth Century.

The line covers part of the route of the Severn and Wye railway. It was originally a tramway established in 1810 to transport minerals to the River Severn. The Severn and Wye railway eventually extended to Lydbrook, Cinderford and Coleford.

The station at Lydbrook Junction gave a connection to the Ross and Monmouth railway enabling iron or to be transported to the iron works at Ebbw Vale and Dowlais.

Passenger services started on 23 September 1875 with two trains a day between Lydney and Lydbrook. By 1879 the service had reduced to one train a day. Passenger services north of Lydney Town were discontinued on 6th July 1929. Lower Lydbrook had closed earlier, in 1903.

Services continued south of Lydney Town until the night of 25th October 1960 when two barges collided,  in thick fog, with the bridge over the River Severn. One exploded and the other caught fire causing significant damage to the bridge – it never re-opened.

To find out more about this disaster click here.

The Prairie Tank locomotive used for our journey was built in 1928 at the Great Western works in Swindon. No. 5541 was withdrawn from service with British Railways in 1962 and sent to be scrapped. The Dean Forest Line rescued the locomotive and it was back in steam in 1975.

You can get more information about the Dean Forest Railway here.

Full size copies of the photographs are available from Flickr, Facebook and some through Instagram.

Click on a thumbnail to open the gallery.

You can also listen to the podcast using iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify or Stitcher.

The theme music Steam Railway is used under licence from AKM Music and the incidental music, Chill Electronic-Sunrise Expedition, is used with permission of Joseph McDade who both created and performed the music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2018

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The Grand Prix de Farnham took place in October 2018 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Mike Hawthorn  winning the Formula 1 World Championship.

On 19 October 1958 the Moroccan Grand Prix was held on a circuit near Casablanca. This was the only time that Morocco has hosted a world championship Grand Prix.

Mike Hawthorn driving a Ferrari was in pole position but the race was won by Stirling Moss driving a Vanwall with Mike Hawthorn in second place. Mike’s second place secured him the world championship by one point making him the first British Formula One champion ever.

Having become Formula One world champion the Farnham Flyer, as he was known, retired from motor racing.

John Michael Hawthorn had come a long way since his birth on 10 April 1929 in Mexborough in what was then the West Riding of Yorkshire.

At the age of two his parents had moved to open the Tourist Trophy garage in Farnham, the town where Mike remained for the rest of his life.

The people of Farnham celebrated with cars from Mike Hawthorn’s era driving through the centre of town on a wet Sunday afternoon.

The event was organised by the Friends of Mike Hawthorn and the website for the event is at Mike Hawthorn GP de Farnham where you’ll find lots of information about the day.

The organisers would like to thank the the owners and drivers of the 86 cars that took part, the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, the Jaguar Drivers Club, the Hedgehogs and the Hants and Berks Motor Club for providing marshalls. Thanks also go to the Unity Support Riders for their help and to Zara and the team at Farnham Maltings.

Full size copies of the photographs are available from Flickr, Facebook and some through Instagram.

Click on a thumbnail to open the gallery.

The music Fast Lanes is used under licence from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2018

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