Wooler U3A...
Wooler U3A We’re a group of people from all walks of life who enjoy getting together to share interests, activities and good company. We organise a wide range of groups covering activities including, rambling, bridge, history, drama and music, which meet weekly or monthly. Wooler U3A is an independently run group but it is also part of a wider network of U3A groups across the county and throughout the UK. It is open to all adults who are not in full-time jobs—there is no minimum or maximum age. In addition to the regular groups and activities, Wooler arranges events and outings to the theatre, gardens, art galleries and museums as well as occasionally organising holidays. If you live in Wooler or visit often and fancy joining in, then why not drop into one of the groups or give Marion Sinton a call on 01668 281944
Want to find out more? Click on the links below for each activity Art Art Class Whether you are an absolute beginner or already have some skill, you’re welcome to join in this group which meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 2.30pm in the Cheviot Centre Art Appreciation Leaders: Margery Stephenson, Tel: 281356 As well as illustrated talks, the group visits galleries and exhibitions. It meets on the third Thursday of every month in the Cheviot Centre at 2.30pm Books Reading for pleasure Get together with fellow bookworms and discuss a novel or other literary work chosen by members. Members take turns at suggesting books. Meetings are held in the Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Place, at 2.30pm on the third Monday of each month
Bridge Bridge Group A friendly and informal group that plays from 2-5pm every Friday in the Cheviot Centre Crafts Craft Group Leader: Jean French Crafts of all kinds are covered with plenty of ‘hands-on’ practice as well talks. The group meets the fourth Friday of each month at 2.30pm in the Cheviot centre. Discussion Discussion Group For those who enjoy a good debate , this group meets at various venues on the third Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm. ring Roy for details. Drama Play Reading Shakespeare, Goldsmith, Wilde, Shaw, Alan Bennett and many more have been given an airing by group members who also vary the play readings with their own creative writing sessions. The group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 10am at Mount Pleasant, Ramsey’s Lane. Exercise Table Tennis Enthusiasts of all abilities meet every Friday in the Glendale Hall from 10-12pm for singles and doubles matches. ExerciseLeader: Liz Dickinson Gentle keep fit exercise sessions to music held every Thursday at 10.30am in the Cheviot Centre Films Cinema appreciation A new group that runs monthly film shows in the Glendale Hall on the first Friday of the month at 7.30pm. It’s open to all, including non U3A members and is free – though a donation of two pounds is requested to help pay for the hire of the hall and equipment. GardeningSadly our gardening group is looking for a new organiser – any volunteers? History History Group Travel through the ages with this group as it looks at a wide range of topics from the historical viewpoint. Members are encouraged to join in and give talks. Meetings are eld the first Tuesday of each month in the Cheviot Centre at 2.30pm.
Music Music Group Ken and friends explore an extensive range of classical music on tape and disc on the first Monday of each month in the Cheviot Centre at 2. 30pm. Desert Island Discs Leader: Dorothy Ruddick-Paylor Group members choose their favourite music and say why they would want them on their desert island. Castaways meet in the Cheviot Centre on the first Thursday of each month at 2.30pm Recorder GroupLeader: Katherine Straughan Tel: 01668 283113 A popular new group that has been learning to play from scratch and meets once a week on Monday mornings at 10.30am for an hour. Science Science Group Leader: David Morrison
WalkingOrganiser: Jenny Pollock, Tel 01668 281219 This is a new group that meets monthly and aims to cover walks of four to eight miles. We’re still working out the format, but the idea is that each walker takes a turn n leading a local walk. The dates are not fixed in stone yet, so contact Jenny to find out when the next walk is. Visits and holidaysGetting out and about with the U3A Over recent years Wooler U3A has arranged a variety of trips, events and holidays. Groups have been to concerts at the Sage in Gateshead, to the theatre in Newcastle and to visit art galleries, the Scottish parliament and Roslyn chapel in Edinburgh. We organised a group holiday in Italy and are open to ideas about future trips abroad. If there’s enough interest, there will be a Rhine cruise in 2008. Suggestions for visits are welcome—what would you like to see or do? To find out more about what’s on offer, ring Elaine Bales on 01668 281124 News sectionLatest news December 2007: Snap to it…John Leiper is planning to start a course of photography sessions to help members improve their picture taking technique. Keep an eye on our website and noticeboard in the Cheviot Centre ( opposite the centre manager’s office) Vive la France…We’ve been struggling to find someone to lead a French conversation course, so we’ve decided to go DIY and run one ourselves based on a past BBC series. Initially it will have a limited number of sessions until we see how it goes. It will probably start early next year. So, mes amis, get in touch with John Leiper on 01890 840494 if you’d like to give it a go. Sign up for the arts As we only hold general meetings bi monthly, it’s often been difficult to organise visits to the theatre at short notice. Visits organiser Elaine Bales has come up with a way round this. If you’re interested in theatre, dance, concerts or opera you can sign up to our arts circle and if there’s a production we’re thinking of going to we’ll get in touch and see if you want to join us. Contact Elaine on 01668 281124 for more details. What is the U3A? U3A stands for University of the Third Age. The first U3As were set up in France and based around summer schools for retired people. The UK groups, which started appearing in the early 1980s, moved more towards a self-help model providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly setting.U3A’s are learning co-operatives, which draw upon the knowledge and experience of their own members to organise and provide a variety of interest groups. The U3A approach is learning for pleasure – be it science, history, crafts or a game of bridge. There are no qualifications or certificates to be gained and no exams or assessments. Each U3A is a member of the Third Age Trust, the representative body of U3As in the UK. The Third Age Trust provides educational and administrative support to U3As and is funded largely through annual subscriptions from member U3As. |
