NOELA is both an anagram of the word ALONE and anacronym standing for No One Ever Left Alone.
The aim of the group is to provide a social life for people who, for whatever reason, are without partners but have shared interests in various activities. Some activities/interests may only be shared by two or three people but the group provides an opportunity for each person to get out and 'make comment to another known person' about what they are actually seeing or doing ... they do not have to go on their own, and then go home on their own, and not have someone to share the experience with.
The group was formed in 1986 and, although it has its roots at Trinity, word soon spread to other Woking churches and, being true Methodists, we were delighted to welcome other people as well. We are an informal group, but we do have a small committee who prepare a varied programme on a two monthly basis. We meet on the last Saturday of each month to review and discuss events planned for the coming month.
To give you a taste of the things we get up to: Every Spring we hold an anniversary pot-luck supper, in the summer we have a barbecue and to end the year a New Year's Eve Party. In fact we find that eating together is always popular; for smaller numbers it can take the form of a Chinese take-away or perhaps a Sunday roast or afternoon tea. It has also been known for the pub lunchers to provide a 'Good Pub Food Guide'! We also enjoy going to the theatre, cinema and concerts and try to support the local amateur productions as well.
Our visits to places of interest have taken us to the Royal Mint, Windsor Castle (before and after the fire), Buckingham Palace, the Thames Barrier, and Finchcocks Musical Museum. We can also prove that the poppies are all hand-made, as we assembled some when we went to the Poppy Factory in Richmond. During 2000 we also took advantage of visits to Lambeth Palace, Horse Guards' Parade (and viewed the parade ground from the window used by the royal family at Trooping the Colour) and the Custom House (home to VAT men). Of course we had to go to the Dome, and the London Eye is on our 'must do' list.
Mostly during the summer months we enjoy visiting gardens that are open through the National Gardens Scheme, and we also go for walks in the countryside - strolls for the less active and long walks for the more energetic. We also provide our own amusement by way of Scrabble or games, video or music evenings.
You will appreciate that this is simply a brief insight into what we do, so if you feel that this is your need do come along to one of our monthly meetings to find out more.