Event Reports and Photographs: 2012

Visit to San Javier Spanish Air Force Base, 16 January 2012

The first event on the Travel and Social Diary for 2012 was a visit to The San Javier Spanish Air Force Base We were greeted at the gate by PR personnel and escorted to a lecture room where we were shown a very interesting film about the work and training which takes place during the five years an Officer attends the base. A question and answer session followed where some of the points made in the film were discussed. One of the points which surprised most people is that a trainee has to be able to fly solo after only 25 hours of training. After this we were taken to a hangar on the edge of the apron where we were allowed to look inside the cockpits of two of the aircraft used on the base either for training or for the prestigious Eagle Patrol Aerobatics Team. Here we were supplied with an Engineer who answered the many questions put to him. Training flights took off and landed whilst we were there. Each flight came over the base and individual aircraft peeled off and landed separately. Thanks must go to one of our members, Alison Contreras, who helped immensely with this visit by putting her fluent Spanish to good use and negotiating with the Air Force Officer in charge to arrange the date and time for the visit.

Patronal Festival - December 2011

Torrevieja U3A were invited to walk in the annual Torrevieja Patronal Festival which takes place in December. Four of our members joined the long procession and presented flowers and gifts of food at the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in the main Town Square. It was an honour to be invited to take part in this procession celebrating the town’s patron. We will have more notice for the 2012 feast day and ask members to make a diary note for next December so that we can have a larger representation if at all possible.

The procession wound around Torrevieja from the “White Cathedral” all the way to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the main town square. The main colour theme for the flowers was white and we went along with the scheme but added a touch of blue and yellow in order to show our Association’s colours. All the flowers were presented to the priests at the church and they were later built into a huge display which adorned the church doors for several days after the ceremony.

The Art Appreciation Group visit Murcia - October 2011

October 22 saw the Art Appreciation Group on a trip to Murcia in order to visit the Cathedral, The Casino, and the Museo Ramón Gaya. Helen Fuller did all the hard work in planning the trip, travel arrangements, and organised our entry times. Most of us met at the Railway Station in San Isidro so as to take the train into Murcia and avoid the difficulty of parking etc. At only €4.30 for a return ticket it was well worth it and made for a much more sociable journey. Helen had arranged for free time in the Cathedral followed by a guided walk around the Museo Ramón Gaya. Alison Contreras, a member of our Group, did a super job with her simultaneous translation as we went from room to room in the museum, and kept us all informed of what each room was about. Following lunch in a nearby restaurant we visited the extremely well appointed Casino and were able to have a leisurely tour of the various rooms despite the restaurants being completely laid out for wedding celebrations taking place the same day. After so much walking, a few of us opted for a taxi back to the railway station for the ride home after what had been an enjoyable and informative day.

Camino de las Ventanas and Salt Creek - October 2011


Saturday 29 October saw the Walking Group tackling the Camino de las Ventanas and Salt Creek walk above Crevillente. It was fairly tough going as may be seen from the following photographs, but all returned safely. The walk was made even more interesting by the inclement weather and what appeared as snow! We are reliably informed however that this is a phenomenon of the Creek and is actually salt deposits. The walk was led on this occasion by Barbara and Geoffrey Etheridge-Deane.

Moors and Christians Festival, Crevillente - October 2011

The members of the U3A were officially invited to the Moors and Christian Festival in Crevillente on 1st October 2011. It was a spectacular affair as may be expected in this part of Spain with a large procession which went on into the hours of darkness. One of our members, Chris Davidson, organized the visit and also took part in the parade as he is a member of one of the groups. He later gave a talk at our Monthly Meeting wearing his spectacular costume. We had a number of photographs of the event submitted and thanks to those who sent them in. A selection is shown below.

Social Group Visit to Orihuela - October 2011

The beautiful ceilings in the Baroque Church

Summer Barbecue June 2011

Summer Barbecue June 2011

Our first U3A BBQ was organised by the Social Team of Sheila Rolt and Barbara Hill, as the first of our two 5 year anniversary celebrations. What a party!! Well over 100 people turned up. Jenni and the team at Casa La Pedrera certainly pulled out all the stops and arranged a veritable feast with plenty for everyone. The musicians certainly added to the atmosphere singing everything from Folk, Country & Western and through all those unforgettable hits of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Feet were tapping, people joining in singing, and then the dancing started around the poolside. The sunset didn't disappoint either. A fantastic sight over the lake and everyone stood to watch the last dying rays drop behind the mountain. What a sight!! Then, as the stars came out the music tempo changed and we had a Barn Dance session complete with instruction. This was a surprise that the musicians had kept up their sleeve. What a laugh! I think it will take me a while to get over that high speed version of "Strip the Willow" I was "forced" to take part in!! There have already been requests for a U3A Barn Dance. Food for thought!!

Bob Hill