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? See below for each activity:
Music, Art, Science, Exercise, Films, Bridge, Crafts, Discussion, Books, Gardening, History, Drama, Walking, Visits and holidays, U3A origins, Latest News, Art.

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.

Just in case you missed the last meeting… a quick update on Wooler U3A visits and events happening in the next few weeks

May 5 – U3A Coffee morning and book/dvd sale at the Cheviot Centre, 10-12am. Please bring any books or dvds you can spare to put into the sale which will raise funds for Wooler U3A.
 May 23 – a visit to Mindrum Garden, just over the border. The garden is being open for charity and is putting on a plant sale and refreshments from 2-5pm. Admission is £3.50 and we’re organising lifts so if you’re interested and need or can offer a lift, contact Margaret Kirby on 281669.
 June 5 – Alnwick’s first local drama festival which we’ve had a hand in helping to organise. The afternoon runs from 12-6pm and offers five short plays, including The Reiver’s Return, written and performed by several of our members, and two short talks. The talks include one on Flodden and one by Peter Arnold of the Northumbrian Language Society who is very knowledgeable about ‘wor tongue’ as well as being entertaining. The tickets cost £15 or £12 for over 60s and there is a free bus running which will pick up in Wooler at 10.45am and return at 6pm. There will be short breaks between the productions and you can choose whether you attend all or take a break for a cuppa! Tickets are available from The Playhouse and you should ring Frank Mansfield on 281219 if you want to book a place on the free bus.
 July 29 – The annual Andrew Leng lecture will be held at the Cheviot Centre at 2.30pm and the book Andrew will be discussing is Jane Eyre.
 August 12 – Ron and Jean French might be running another history trip , this time to Dilston Castle. It would be a day trip with lunch, a guided tour of the castle and afternoon tea. The cost would be £20, excluding lunch. Also there will be a talk about Dilston Castle by Frances Dickinson at the June 1 History Group meeting at 2.30pm in the Cheviot Centre. Frances will also guide our party around Dilston in August. Anyone wanting more information should contact Jean on 281073.
Other U3A events in the offing… include a trip to the Biscuit Factory organised by the art group. The region is organising another Science Day at the Centre for Life, Newcastle, on September 22 and the theme is medical science. Also during September and October there will be a Mini Medical Course at the Centre for Life on Wednesday afternoons for 6 weeks, one of which will form part of the Science Day. In addition, a science residential school is also being planned for next Easter. It is being run by Durham University and John Leiper has more information- tel:01890 840494
 

U3A Groups

A wide range of activities

Art Class
Leaders: Brenda Smith, Tel: 01668 283422 and Margaret Kirby, Tel: 01668 281669.
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
Leader:  Brenda Smith, Tel:01668 281422
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.

Reading for pleasure
Leader: Elaine Bales,: Tel:01668 281124
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 Group
Leader: Frank Mansfield Tel: 01668 281219
A friendly and informal group that plays from 2-5pm every Friday in the Cheviot Centre.

Craft Group
Leader: Jean French Tel: 01668 281073
Crafts of all kinds are covered with plenty of ‘hands-on’ practice as well talks. The group meets the fourth Monday of each month at 2.30pm in the Cheviot Centre.

Discussion Group
Leader: Roy Ancrum Tel: 01668 281421
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.

Play Reading
Leader: Roy Ancrum Tel: 01668 281421
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.
 

Table Tennis
Leader: Sue Maddox, Tel: 01668 282028
Enthusiasts of all abilities meet every Friday in the Glendale Hall from 10-12pm for singles and doubles matches.

Exercise
Leader: Liz Dickinson Tel: 01668 281856
Gentle keep fit exercise sessions to music held every Thursday at 10.30am in the Cheviot Centre.

Carpet Bowls
Leader Ray Wood, Tel: 01668 283919
Every Tuesday morning you can enjoy good company and improve your skill at carpet bowls in the Cheviot Centre 10-12pm

Cinema appreciation
Leader: Barbara Rattcliff Tel: 01668 281484
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.

Creative Writing
Leader: Helen Astley, Tel: 01668 281929
This new group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm in the Cheviot Centre.

Gardening
Sadly our gardening group is looking for a new organiser – any volunteers?

History Group
Co-ordinator: Marion Sinton Tel: 01668 281944
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 held the first Tuesday of each month in the Cheviot Centre at 2.30pm.

Music Group
Leader: Mary Roberts Tel: 01668 281100
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: Jim Clark Tel: 01668 281884
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 Group
Leader: 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 Group
This group is no longer meeting. Would anyone be willing to take over the role of leading or co-ordinating it?

Committee & Group Leaders

Who to contact

 John Leiper                              Tel: 01890 840494       Chairman
 Ray Wood                                Tel: 01668 283919       Vice Chairman/Carpet Bowls/Drama
 Barbara Rattcliff                        Tel: 01668 281484       Secretary / Film Group
 Frank Mansfield                          Tel: 01668 281219       Treasurer / Bridge
 Margaret Kirby                           Tel: 07837 138803       Visits Organiser 
 Jim Clark                                   Tel: 01668 281884       Desert Island Discs
 Roy Ancrum                               Tel: 01668 281421       Play Reading/ Discussion
 Liz Dickinson                              Tel: 01668 281856       Exercise/Table Tennis
 Margery Stephenson                  Tel: 01668 281356       Art Appreciation
 Brenda Smith                             Tel: 01668 283422       Painting / Art Appreciation
 Jane Bowen                             Tel: 01668 219653        Reading for Pleasure
 Jean French                              Tel: 01668 281073        Craft
 Jenny Pollock                           Tel: 01668  281219        Publicity / Walking
 Marion Sinton                           Tel: 01668 281944        Membership Secretary/ History
 Katherine Straughen                Tel: 01668 283113          Recorders
 Mary Roberts                            Tel: 01668 281100        Music
 Joyce Watts                             Tel: 01890 840494         Speaker Secretary

Walking
Organiser: 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 in leading a local walk. The dates are not fixed in stone yet, so contact Jenny to find out when the next walk is.

Getting 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.

Suggestions for visits are welcome—what would you like to see or do?
To find out more about what’s on offer, ring Margaret Kirby on 01668 281669