Canoeing for all
During the summers of 2006 and 2007, a group of Wokingham U3A members met once a fortnight in the afternoon, for one and a half hours of gentle padding on the Thames. Each season also finished with a 3 hour round trip to the Bull at Sonning.
The 2006 season generally had excellent weather, but 2007 suffered from the heavy rainfall and floods, although only one afternoon had to be cancelled. The venue was the Wokingham Waterside Centre, Thames Valley Park Drive, Earley, where the A329M ends and curves into the Thames Valley Business Park. www.wokinghamwatersidecentre.com .
Each 1.5 hour session cost £6 per member and was paid directly to the centre to include equipment, buoyancy jackets, supervision and changing facilities. For safety, members avoided clothes which waterlog quickly such as jeans, and heavy boots. Shorts, T-shirts and plimsolls were a good choice.
At the end of the 2007 season, it was felt that a change would be needed if the group were to meet for a further year. Ideas raised were that tuiton in emergency procedures might be undertaken in a safe environment such as a swimming pool, and trips might be arranged that went further afield.
The previous co-ordinator, Paul Brooks, tel. 0118 979 2222, has decided to stand down, but would be happy to discuss ideas with any future volunteer co-ordinator