Click on a topic from the above list to find out more.
Click HERE for a Group Activities Chart which gives week, day and time
|
Many of you will recall the Aviation History Group was formed at the centenary year of the first manned flight by the Wright Brothers. It was planned to trace the history of aviation over the 100 years over just one year, but by popular appeal the group has now been extended and we are still going! The talks are designed to appeal to the non-technical. Subjects planned for the future include Flight Refuelling, Stealth Aircraft, the Airbus A380, The Cargolifter Airship project, Gliding, Executive Aircraft. If you would be prepared to present a talk on any of the above, or know of someone who can, please contact John Blunden In April the group made a visit to Duxford. Click HERE for pictures. In October the group visited Upavon. Click HERE for pictures. In March 2008 the group visited Farnboro'. click HERE for pictures. This a very popular group but new members are very welcome. We shall continue to meet every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Crown Centre in Devizes, starting promptly at 10.00 Contact John Blunden for further information. |
|
For anyone who ever looked up at the night sky and wished he/she knew (a little bit) more about our Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy, about the Moon and shooting stars, about the ‘Big Bang’ and its follow-up, and about many other fascinating things in the Universe, a U3A-Astronomy Group was started in September 2005. At the monthly meetings recent developments in the wide world of astronomy are discussed, such as new discoveries (planets outside the Solar System!), plans and projects, recent or forthcoming launches, upcoming events as eclipses, etc. Summaries of the topics dealt with so far remain available on this website. Click HERE for these summaries and some fascinating pictures from space. Henk Meijer(see the U3A-Newsletter for details about dates, address etc). |
|
The
Canasta group was formed in March 2008 and meets on the second and
fourth Wednesday of each month in Potterne. There are currently eleven players, but not all attend each session. We play partners so multiples of four is ideal; another player or two would be welcome to make up the numbers so please contact Barbara whose details appear in the bi-monthly newsletter.”
|
|
Drawing is a wonderful way of relaxing from worldly cares and it will enhance your enjoyment of the visual world. You will be gently introduced to the basic techniques of drawing in a supportive setting using inexpensive materials. Why not give it a try? No previous experience is necessary. You will be most welcome. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month in the Crown Room, Crown Centre between 2 and 4 pm. Please note there will be no meetings during July, August and September. For further information contact Roger Marsh |
|
Jan Campbell has been leading this group for over 2 years now and considers that a fresh approach with a new person would be a good idea. She will continue to help anyone who is interested for setting up equipment etc. Meetings are held at the Crown Room, Crown Centre, Devizes on the 4th Monday of the month at 10.30am. Monday 27th November Great Artists, Rembrant, Vermeer, Turner. Monday 18th December Uncovering the ambassadors by Holbein. Xmas Quiz. New members welcome. |
|
FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED Wednesday 2 July HEREFORD. River, History, Cathedral (Mappa Munday) shops etc. Leave Corn Exchange 0845, return leave 1700. Coach Price £10. Plenty to do. Seats available. please contact Jan. New Trip: Wednesday 13th August. Leave Corn Exchange at 0830. First visit to Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. Time for lunch or snack. before we pick up the coach to take us to Brunel's SS Great Britain for a two hour visitt, reteurn leave 1600. Total cost (provided numbers of more than 40) £14.50.. Enquiries to Jan. Please contact Jan Campbell for details and tickets for all these outings Organised Group Outings. Members and friends who attend these meetings do so entirely at their own risk, and no responsibility can be taken by the U3A for any mishaps. |
|
To all U3A Members with an interest in using Computers. Devizes U3A now has controlled access to the internet at the Nursteed Centre via a router which we have purchased and installed ourselves for general use at the Centre. The next meeting of the Computing Group will be held there on Tuesday 28rd October 2008 and this session will include a demonstration of how to make Christmas cards and then produce address labels for them! This session may also appeal to those who do not belong to the group in which event please contact either Kingsley Hunter or Jean Moss of the Computing Group. The computer group meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month 10.00-12.00 at the Nursteed Centre in Devizes. Click HERE for some of Rami's Caricatures. |
|
Some lovely pieces of work appeared as a result of concluding previous work entitled "The Building," some were wholly or partly based on own experiences which gave an extra edge to them. Others who had written on the topic "A Meeting" had a wide variety of ideas ranging from committee meeting, interviewing, a "one sided" conversation with an old friend, experiencing a prayer meeting and birthday cake making with disastrous results. The ten minute session produced some hilarity from finishing a story having been given the first two lines. We intend to produce booklets of as many as possible of these and other work written by the group. Click here for some samples! The programme for the next few months is as follows; The Creative Writing group is hosting a workshop for surrounding districts in June. Hopefully, members of the group were busy in April delving into rock pools to give them ideas for the April contribution which was entitled "The Rock Pool" Please try to keep to a minimum of 1000 words in order to time for all pieces to be read. There is no minimum! |
|
A new group hosted by Sally Hobbins and Anne Saywell. Please see the Newsletter for details. EMBROIDERY and CRAFT GROUP NEWS It will be two years in the month of November that the group came about following a passing comment at one of the Mah Jong Group meetings and to celebrate this the group has decided to present a display of some completed work and other work currently in progress accomplished during this period. Therefore, at the Coffee Morning in the Crown Centre – Crown Room arranged for Friday 28th November 2008 at 10.00 visitors and existing U3A members will be able to view the work which may help to encourage those who are not currently U3A members to join the organisation and offer their support and expertise to existing and new groups as they progress and are formulated. All U3A members have the opportunity to help the organisation to grow and a mention of the display to friends and acquaintances may help to interest others who have not really considered the possibilities and friendliness that the U3A has to offer. |
HistoryMargaret Martin has taken over the leadership of this group. The format will change slightly, different in so far as individual members will give talks on their own favorite topics. Continuing with Modern China Francis Chadwick |
Watercolour Painting GroupWater colour classes will still be held in the Crown Centre on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am - noon. There is not a leader at present but Beryl and Ann have agreed to act as "contacts" in the meantime. Should any member wish to lead this group a warm welcome and much support from a very friendly group awaits. Please give this class your support. The June Meeting was held in the garden of Brian Crook.
Robina will be out of action for the next few months.. |
|
This group is full at the moment and its members are really enjoying the cut and thrust of the game. However should anyone wish to start another Bridge Group there will be no objections! Meetings are in players' homes on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Contact Ann Farrar on the telephone number listed in the Newsletter for further information. |
|
Using Your Voice This is a follow-on course to the popular "FINDING YOUR VOICE" which ran from September 2004 to the end of January 2005. We are studying sight-reading, voice production and choral techniques. We have re-visited previous pieces and continued sight reading and aural exercises using well known rounds and tunes in two and three parts. Margaret Henry, who is running the course, has been a professional singer and is an experienced choral trainer. If you are interested please contact her via the web site's e-mail address in the panel below. All are welcome - male and female! The Group meets at Nursteed Centre, on the campus of Devizes School. There is car parking space, facilities for refreshment, and, of course, a piano. Please note the change of times - from now on. 2.30pm to 4.00 pm Selections of folk songs and songs from the shows will be the focus for the next few months. Continuing with sight-reading and part singing. New members always welcome. Click HERE for a brief report on their first concert held at the Nursteed Centre on Sunday 27th July. (click here) The Singing Teacher |
|
Contact Wendy Lansdown for the latest discussion topics. The group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10.00 to 12.00 noon. |
|
This Group meets at the home of Dilys Peacock on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2.30 pm During the past year we have been charting the development of styles of music from an historical perspective, moving from the technically intricate and florid music of the Baroque composers to, in later months, the clarity, order and balance of music from the Classical period. This culminated in a recorded concert in December which contained music, songs and carols from the Renaissance through to modern day composers. We have moved on to composers from the early years of Romanticism and their strong associations with other art forms, particularly literature and poetry. "The art of music above all other arts is the expression of the soul of a Nation" Ralph Vaughan Williams New members/ideas/suggestions are very welcome. |
Click on the picture above for more about the Wine Appreciation Group. |
"Wine is one of
the most civilised things in the world and one of the natural things that has
been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for
enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory
thing."
Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon. We are comprised of two groups who meet monthly on the third or fourth Wednesday of the month, from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Wines, they say, get better with age. This is definitely true. The older I get, the more I enjoy them! We have recently enjoyed wines from Italy and Portugal. May brings us wines from rural France and in June we explore the Americas. The world is our oyster when it comes to wines! (Does that make sense?) We find a glass of wine helps solve lots of problems but we have to do a lot of research to find the best wine for the purpose! |
|
This is not actually a "learning" group! We meet as a social group in order get to know other members of the Devizes Branch of the U3A. No preparation is necessary, no work is involved - just sheer enjoyment! The group is very popular and at present is fully subscribed, simply because numbers at restaurants or pubs have limitations of tables and space. The luncheon club is now being run by the members and Jean Springett is acting as temporary coordinator. Menus will be sent out to everyone each month. |
|
The U3A takes a block booking of 20 seats for the Devizes Wharf Theatre and these are sold on to members on a first come - first served basis. This local theatre is highly popular in the town and perform to a high standard. Look at www.wharftheatre.co.uk for full information on the Theatre. |
|
The group was formed initially to research the origins of the Grotto & Water gardens at Lacock Abbey for the National Trust. The archive held so many fascinating items of information that, on completion of the original study, we carried on with research into the life & times of the owners of the Abbey. We have compiled, and maintain, display books which are on show at the Abbey. Our research continues and new members would be most welcome. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Click HERE for more information about recent activities. |
Click HERE for a beginner's guide to Mah Jong A warm welcome awaits anyone who wishes to join us. Contact Janet Brown or Peter Morris (see Newsletter for details) Meet alternate Tuesdays 10.00 to noon. The Mahjongg group continues to thrive and grow in numbers of players and in their abilities to master the rules of the International Game. We are continuing to meet over the summer period although attendance does fluctuate with each session. We can still fill a few tables and get quite noisy with the "twittering sparrows" There is a possibility that we may have to open a waiting list for new members sometime before the end of the year. A telephone call to Peter Morris or Janet Brown will make any willing new players aware of available places.
|
The members of the Mah Jong group wish to thank Shirley Morris for the work she has undertaken in respect of the group over the last three years. Shirley has decided to relinquish her role as leader but will continue as an active member and we look forward to her company at future meetings. The leadership has been taken over as a joint venture between Janet Brown and Peter Morris and meetings will be held in their homes. (See the Newsletter for telephone numbers of Janet and Peter) The group recently enjoyed an evening gathering at the home of Ann and Peter Morris. The opportunity to discuss the finer points of the New International Mahjong Game without the distraction of "Punging" and "Konging" clarified our thoughts, aided by some tasy and varied foods. Ann and Peter showed us excellent hospitality proving to those partners who also attended that we are not completely Cracked up! We will be pleased to welcome any U3A member to the group and a telephone call to either leader will immediately establish the date and location of the next meeting. What is it? It can be a fast and furious game , but come along and see. Alternate Tuesdays 10.00 - noon. This group regularly meets for the friendly rivalry of this ancient game. From the skilled master through to the basic and beginner everyone is assured of a warm welcome. The foggy mornings of Autumn will be clearing, the watery sunshine filtering through. Perfectly timed for coming to this sociable group. We look forward to welcoming you. The Mah Jong group is now the proud owner of its own Mah Jong set. Purchased from the Museum of Asian Art in Bath, using funds accumulated over many years, the tiles are beautifully decorated with the faces depicting traditional style. Backed by bamboo, with a substantial weight and size, this set with its authentic oriental feel and ease of handling is making it a joy to use. An evening of fun and laughter intermingled with the serious side of playing the Oriental game of Mah Jong when group members and their partners celebrated Chinese New Year. Invited to wear fancy dress enhanced the evening and whilst eating a variety of Chinese food people talked about the history of the game with personal exploits during their time in the Orient. Scrumptious was the comment made by people who ate Barbara Crisp’s fortune cookies which contained Chinese Proverbs and Sayings. Barbara had also put together a quiz based upon various subjects on the evening’s theme. Janet and Ken Brown were given loud applause along with a huge thank you for all their work arranging the evening. Many decorations had been used to allow the house to be turned into what can only be described as an Oriental meeting place. |
|
The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month in the Crown Room at the Crown Centre in Devizes. 10.00 am to 1200 noon. Subscriptions £2.00 per session to cover room hire, refreshments, etc. Contact new leader John Barron for information. Ever felt you were not quite getting it together properly? Then this sketching group is for you! It has been run very successfully by Roger Marsh and Ann Easton for several years and they deserve our sincere thanks for their efforts. But changes are afoot! John Barron inherits the group and will try to help you get more out of your drawing. This is not for beginners it is for improvers who wish to better their existing efforts. Join us for our summer programme of sketching - outdoors! Yes, the wide open air where things grow and move and even make noises - it is quite surprising the things we can finds to sketch. Come along, you know you will enjoy it. Cost during the summer is only 20p - contact coordinator for further details. |
|
|
Aims: To promote the enjoyment of sketching and drawing. To develop sketching and drawing skills. To encourage creativity. To enhance the enjoyment of viewing art. To enhance, through drawing, enjoyment of the natural world. New members most welcome. -- We were all beginners once! Click HERE for some new samples of our work and some pictures of a group at work. |
|
|
The aim of this Group is to enable members to feel comfortable in a social situation using French. Mary Skippen has taken over the running of the group with her encouraging style to ensure that you will be kept in touch with the French language in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, together with the use of the BBC tapes. The Group meets on the second Friday of each month, between 10.00 and 12.00 at the leader's home. If you intend to join this group please contact Mary beforehand to see if there is an available place. |
|
This is a small informal group - usually 5 or 6 of us - who meet to read plays for enjoyment. Since our first meeting in January 2004 we have read quite a variety, old and new, funny and serious, whatever takes our fancy. Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" gave all of us a sparkling and witty thing to say! A record number of ten of us in July! We started with "An Ideal Husband" (Wilde) and enjoyed the wit and intrigue. We have just finished reading William Home's "After the Ball is Over", involving the clash of pro-hunt and anti-hunt personalities: quite a jolly play, despite the fact that two characters (one was drunk as a newt) crash to their deaths through the Duke's balcony. We are finishing Agather Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution" at the end of June - there's obviously going to be a twist at the end but those in the know, like Jean and Leslie are keeping quiet. Our next play is Michael Grayn's "Donkey Years" about a university reunion. We are concerned about the future of the Performing Arts Library here in Devizes now that the books are no longer on the public shelves. A letter has gone to County and the reply assures us that the service will continue as before, with browsing the collection in the store room by appointment. If you are interested in reading plays for enjoyment, do come along and join our small, informal group. Copies of the plays are provided. The Group meets at the home of Elaine Aydin on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 2 - 4 pm. (see Newsletter for details) |
|
Formed in 2003, our aims and objectives are to have fun, listen to all aspects of jazz and to hopefully learn something along the way. Improvisation and Syncopation For your Elation and Delectation! We are thriving, we are driving The neighbours away! (no - not really!) Our Latino gig was fun, and we dug out some unusual recordings - by people with whom one would not normally associate with Latin jazz. I wishes I had taken up the maracas rather than the triangle at junior school!. Our April gig had to be cancelled owing to an indisposition which Dr Jazz could not treat. he can have the blues, but not respiratory infections, it seems! Do bring along relevant CDs or cassettes to help us explore all aspects and offshoots of Jazz. Contact; Pauline St. John Osland (See panel below for e-mail contact) |
|
|
A very friendly group which meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Crown Centre, between 10.00 - 1200 noon Topics covered so far include a general history of Devizes - Religion - Education - canal and railway - some well-known people - some industries - some buildings. In January we had a fascinating talk about Avebury. It was so good we are going to invite Chris Penny, our speaker, again. Mr Trumper's talk on his birds egg collection was another extremely interesting talk. Phone Marlene for details |
|
Our Group was formed in 1996, two or three of the original members still attend and we have read a grand total of 92 titles. We mostly read contemporary works which keep us aware of what's around in the modern novel and is something we can share with younger generations. We particularly enjoy foreign novels in translation which gives us a different outlook on the world. At the monthly meeting everyone who wishes gives, in turn, their appreciation of that month's book. This is followed by coffee and open discussion when varied opinions make for an interesting and lively debate. Everyone is welcome to make suggestions for future reading and all our books are available in paperback and also from within the Wiltshire library service. One of the most quoted reasons for members being pleased to have joined the Group is that they are introduced to books that otherwise they would not have known about. The group is now full, but do ring Ann Williams if you are interested for the future. |
Look at www.watermill.org.uk for full information on the Theatre. The U3A takes block bookings for the Watermill Theatre and these are passed on to members. Check with Dilys Peacock for forthcoming attractions. |
"The Watermill theatre is a stunning converted mill situated in beautiful gardens beside the river Lambourn. The theatre seats 216 people and is one of only 49 producing theatres in the country. The Watermill's compact building makes the theatre experience extraordinarily intimate for both performers and audience. The theatre's reputation within the profession for producing quality work, attracts high calibre artists and production personnel, which in turn has created the opportunities for the work to tour and dazzle audiences all over the world."
|
|
Contact John Pounder for more information. 1st Tuesday of the month, 2 -4 pm in the Crown Centre, Devizes. Contact John Pounder for more information. 1st Tuesday of the month, 2 -4 pm in the Crown Centre, Devizes. Everyone is welcome to Gardeners' Question Time, where a panel of experienced gardeners will tackle your questions, usually submitted in advance, on a wide range of garden-related topics. The audience is encouraged to interact and share their experiences and knowledge. In the summer months the radio program format gives way to garden visits. |
|
This is a new group led by David Samuel, meeting on the 2nd Friday of the month at his home at 2.30 pm. (see Newsletter for details) Those attending will have chosen their favourite poem and will explain their choice as well as reading it aloud. Future poets will be chosen at each session. August - no meeting. Autumn meeting begins in September, to be arranged. |
|
This is a group tackling walks between 5 and 10 miles long although most of our walks are around the 6 to 8 mile mark. We couple this with some social activity which means a pub lunch about once a month (at the end of the walk) a summer garden party and a subsidised Christmas lunch following a short morning walk. Non walking partners are, of course, invited to these social occasions. In addition, we organise a short walking holiday in the spring. In May 2008 we extended the group as we felt the original group was growing too big. We now have a Thursday Group and a Friday Group, comprising 50 members at present but we still have room for a few more. Both groups meet at 09.20, prior to an 09.30 departure from the same meeting place each week. We also try to be environmentally friendly by having a car sharing scheme to and from the walk starting point. We
produce a four monthly programme giving details of the walks and social
occasions. Overall, the system works well and we jealously guard
the good spirit and bonhomie engendered within our two friendly groups.
If you wish to know more and would like to join this very vibrant and
successful group, please contact the Group Co-ordinator through the
usual channels.
For further details contact John Barron or see the Newsletter |
|
How many times have you wondered "How do they do that?"
The aim of the new U3A INDUSTRIAL AWARENESS GROUP is to find out how!
Wouldn't you like to know more? Contact John Barron. Further details in the next Newsletter.
|
|
The Canasta group was formed in March 2008 and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in Potterne. There are currently eleven players, but not all attend each session. We play partners so multiples of four is ideal; another player or two would be welcome to make up the numbers so please contact Barbara whose details appear in the bi-monthly newsletter. |
|
The Bus Pass Walkers group meets every Wednesday for walks of 3 to 4 miles, usually taking a bus to the start point and walking back to Devizes, usually for lunch in a local pub. We do go further afield, to Avebury for it's many walks, to Bath for the River and Kennet and Avon Canal and to Box for a longish walk near the portals of Brunel's famous tunnel. We are also walking on occasional Fridays visiting places of interest and museums, all by bus. New walkers are always welcome to join our regular group of 14 and we meet every Wednesday at 10.30am outside the Corn Exchange. Don't forget your bus pass! FUTURE EVENTS Fri Dec 5th. Bath Walk and Christmas Market. Bus leaves Devizes at 9.45 am. Please bring a packed lunch but there are plenty of places to eat if you wish. Buses back on the hour from the bus station. A two mile gentle towpath walk. Bring a guest if you wish. Fri Dec 12th EARLY START. Towpath walk to Avoncliff Aquaduct. EARLY bus leaves Devizes at 10am for Trowbridge, change for Bradford on Avon. Lunch at the Cross Guns/Cafe at the Aquaduct and walk back via the River Avon and Tithe Barn Farm Complex. Four gentle miles return. Bus times to follow, but longish day. Bring a guest if you wish. Please see the Newsletter or contact, Vicki Messam, the Group Leader for more details
|
| The Local
Geology Group meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month in the Crown Room.
Please see the Newsletter or contact the Group Leader for further information |
| French
Conversation 2. This is a new group which now meets on
the 4th Friday of each month at the group leaders home.
Please see the Newsletter for details |
|
This group meets on the second Monday of each month in group members homes. We choose a title for our writing and have a month to get our heads down and come up with something interesting. We need some more members, those who sometimes attend always seem to be away on holiday!! Retirement eh! WRITING FOR FUN GOES PICTORIAL! At our meeting yesterday the ideas came thick and fast: we have a new name, and new look and monthly themes, rather than titles. We are to be called SNAPSHOT STORIES. We’ll each choose a photo, picture or postcard to fit the theme of the month. We’ll write about the picture. This can be a factual account of the pictured subject or an imagined story or event illustrated by the picture. Themes will, in general, follow the seasons: ‘Autumn Tints’ for December, Christmas for January, New Year for February and so on. Watch the Newsletter for details as we shall be more specific by then – as the December theme shows |
 |
Visitors to this web site requiring further information please contact the Webmaster, Derek Henry. e-mail webster@devizesu3a.org.uk It is the policy of the Branch Committee not to display personal telephone numbers or home addresses. |
Would
you go walking with this fellow?
