News
LATEST U3A NEWS |
SLEAFORD U3A NEWS | MARCH MEMBERS MEETING - ***PLEASE NOTE THE DATE!*** |
Subject: | "Tales from a Beefeater" - How do you get to be one? Where does the name come from? What do they do daily? |
Speaker: | Keith Hanson - Former Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London |
Date: | ***Friday, 22nd March 2023*** (to avoid Good Friday clash) |
Time: | 1.30pm for 2.00pm |
Details: | Refreshments are served before and after the main presentation, and there are opportunities to meet Committee Members and Group Leaders, and catch up with one and all! |
Venue: | LEASINGHAM VILLAGE HALL, CHAPEL LANE, LEASINGHAM, NG34 8LB |
Directions: | Leasingham Village Hall Directions [NB: Some other online maps only show the centre of the postcode area and not the actual hall location] |
Further Details: | Dates for Future Members Meeting are shown on the EVENTS Page. |
SLEAFORD U3A NEWS | U3A OPEN DAY |
Venue: | The Source, Southgate, Sleaford |
Date: | Saturday, 11th May 2024 |
Time: | 1100-1500 (Set-up from 1000). |
Details: | The May Open Day 2924 will enable both existing and prospective members to come along and chat with u3a volunteers about the benefits of u3a Membership and check out the range of activities, visits, meetings and social events that are planned across the wide range of Activity Groups, Visits and Social Events on offer at Sleaford u3a. [Exact Details to be confirmed shortly]. |
Contact: | Please contact the Vice Chair for further information. |
CURRENT GROUP NEWS |
GROUP NEWS | SHORTER WALKS | |
Next Meeting: | Friday, 15th March 2024 - March’s Walk is approximately 5 miles, meeting at St Peter’s Church, Church Lane, North Rauceby at 9.45am for a 10.00am start. There is parking outside the church, but please all park on the same side of the road to allow larger vehicles and tractors to get through. | |
Future Meetings: | April’s Walk is on Friday 19th April, approximately 5 miles, meeting at 9.45 am for a 10.00 am start at Hanworth Country Park, Potter Hanworth, where there is plenty of parking. | May’s Walk is on Friday 17th May, approximately 5 miles, from Sleaford to Rauceby and back. Meeting at 9.45 am for a 10.00 am start, the starting point will be confirmed later. |
For More Information: | Please see the Shorter Walks Group page and Calendar or contact the Shorter Walks Group Leader. |
GROUP NEWS | BRITISH HISTORY |
Next Meeting: | Monday, 25th March 2024 - Starting in March, the next series of 2 or 3 meetings will include presentations about the War with the Japanese in Burma 1942-1945 involving the 14th Army (whose Soldiers bitterly called the 'Forgotten' Army), Orde Wingate’s Chindit expeditions, and their partnership with the American-led Chinese Nationalist army. Bill Slim, commander of the 14th Army, is now regarded as the finest of Britain's WWII generals, who changed his Anglo-Indian troops from a defeated rabble into masters of jungle warfare. |
Future Meetings: | Subjects for discussion will include the Spanish Armada, and the 19th Century Poor Law, amongst others. |
New Members: | This popular group is currently full, with a waiting list for membership. |
For More Information: | Please see the British History Group page and Calendar or contact the British History Group Leader. |
GROUP NEWS | GARDENING |
Next Meeting: | Monday, 8th April 2024 - "Irises" - Speaker: Fern Harden, Chelsea exhibitor and official artist for the Iris Society |
Later Meetings -2024: | Subjects planned for meetings in 2024 include "Beekeeping" on Monday, 3rd June 2024; "Gardening in a Changed Climate" on Monday, 7th October 2024; "Weeds and a Weed-free Garden" on Monday, 4th November 2024; and the Annual Pantomine and Quiz on Monday 2nd December 2024. |
Planned Visits - 2024: | Two visits and a Garden Party are already planned for 2024, including a visit by coach to Geoff Hamilton's Barnsdale Gardens on Tuesday, 7th May 2024; the Annual Ann Foster Garden Party on Monday, 1st July 2024; and a visit to Peter Harris's Garden, on Northgate, Sleaford, on Monday, 2nd September 2024. |
Group Update: | The Gardening Group usually meets at 2.00pm-4.00pm on the First Monday of each month at Ruskington Methodist Chapel, Church Lane, Ruskington, NG34 9DX, unless changed for a visit or Bank Holiday. The cost to members is £3.00 per session, to cover hall and speaker costs. Additionally, the Group circulates a monthly Gardening Group newsletter, and organises visits to sites of interest to Gardeners during the year. |
For More Information: | Please see the Gardening Group page and the Calendar or contact the Gardening Group Leader fore more information about future meetings and visits. New Members are welcome. |
GROUP NEWS | BIRDERS |
Next Meeting: | Tuesday, 9th April 2024 - Still to be Confirmed, but it is hoped to be able to arrange a guided visit to less well known areas on the National Trust’s Clumber Park Estate. |
Last Meeting: | On Tuesday, 12th March 2024, a good number of Birders Group Members braved the early rain to visit RSPB Frampton Marsh and were rewarded with excellent views of Avocets feeding close by the hides, along with a range of other waders, ducks and geese, and a number of other birds in flight, including Marsh Harrier, Heron, Curlew, and Golden Plover. There were large flocks of Brent Geese across the reserve, preparing for their northerly migration, but also rarer birds: Yellow Legs, and a sole Green Winged Teal, a rare visitor from America. The two Brians - Brian, our Group Leader and Brian, the RSPB volunteer provided fantastic help to the group members, most of whom join the visits to watch and enjoy the birds and gradually learn what’s what from the experts. From the cafe viewing area, there was also a lot of interest in the Greater Spotted Fruit Scones, and other sweet and savoury treats, and when after lunch the weather cleared a little, some members also took a short walk around the reserve to view some of the birds away from the visitor centre, but more, to burn off some of the cake calories. |
New Members: | The Birders Group welcomes new members with any level of knowledge, including beginners and those attending just to enjoy a stroll with a sociable group, to enjoy the fresh air, and learn about the birds at the location visited. There are always opportunities to discuss and photograph the birds on view, and to improve bird identification with the help of other group members. Car sharing is usually available to enable any member to join Birders Group visits. |
For More Information: | Please see the Birders Group page and Calendar or contact the Birders Group Leader. |
GROUP NEWS | BELLRINGING (SC) |
Short Course Update: | A Bellringing Short Course for Beginners was planned for March, but insufficient numbers applied to join. This short course may be rescheduled in the future, if sufficient numbers are interested. |
For More Information: | Please see the Bellringing (SC) Group page and Calendar and contact the Bellringing Group Leader to express an interest in future courses. |
GROUP NEWS | CONTACTING GROUP LEADERS AND JOINING INTEREST GROUPS | |
Information: | Each Group has an Information Page on the Sleaford u3a Website, which can be accessed from the GROUPS page. | |
Meeting Days: | The Days on which Groups meet can be viewed on the GROUPS Page and on individual Group information pages. | Group Meetings are also shown in the CALENDAR. |
Joining Groups and Other Information: | Sleaford u3a Members can access further Group Information, the Group Leaders' Contact Information and join Groups online (where enabled) via the MEMBERS PORTAL (u3a Membership and Portal Registration Required). | Current and Prospective Sleaford u3a Members can also contact any Group Leader via the Group Information pages or via the CONTACT page Enquiry Form with any requests for information or on how to join any Group. |
OTHER NEWS |
U3A THIRD AGE TRUST NEWS | U3A RADIO PODCASTS (MONTHLY) |
News Update: | The u3a Radio Podcast features u3a activities and interesting interviews with u3a Groups and Members around the country. Podcasts are released on the 17th or each month. |
Visit: | u3a Radio Podcasts List (on YouTube) |
NEWS FAQs |
WEBSITE NEWS CONTRIBUTIONS: | Any News, or content updates for Groups or Other Pages on this website should be sent to the Webmaster. |
NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS: | Any contributions for the regular Members Newsletter or Email Bulletins should be sent to the Newsletter Editor. |
EARLIER NEWS: | Any older news items are now archived in News - Archive pages, accessed via the links on this page. |
IMAGES: | Additional Images may be accessed below (if available) |