If you are no longer working full-time and are looking for new ways to learn new skills, hobbies and pastimes whilst making new friends, why not come along to the next meeting of the Didcot and District u3a and see what they are all about? Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 2.30pm at the Didcot Civic Hall in Brightwell Road OX11 7JN.
The ‘University of the Third Age’ – u3a – is a UK wide, co-operative movement of people who are no longer in full-time work who come together to either continue their education or take part in social and creative hobbies in a friendly and informal environment. The organisation was found in 1981 and currently has in excess of 430,000 members with over 1,000 local groups across the UK. The organisation’s motto is ‘Learn, Laugh, Live!’
The Didcot & District branch of u3a was established in January 2013 and now has over 300 members with more than 30 different interest groups, covering a diverse range of subjects from learning new languages, to creative and artistic pursuits, wine appreciating, walking and family history, plus many more. Visits to places of interest are also arranged and members have access to a full programme of study days arranged by the Thames Valley Network. Annual membership costs just £22 per year.
In addition to the interest groups, a Guest Speaker is invited to talk on an interesting topic with the afternoon meeting being rounded off with a cup of tea and a biscuit and the opportunity to chat to fellow members. The topics for the first half of 2023 are:
21 February - 'Where do novelists get their ideas from?’ with author Bobbie Darbyshire
21 March - 'Cheltenham Racing Heroes’ a talk by Peter Gill about famous jockeys living in and around Cheltenham
10 April - ‘Chrissie’s Owls’ talk from non-profit organisation committed to the care and conservation of Owls based in Oxfordshire
16 May - Annual General Meeting
20 June - ‘Oxfordshire on Canvass’ with Marie Louisa
So, if the New Year sees you wanting to enrich your leisure time, why not go along and give the Didcot & District u3a a go and ‘Learn, Laugh, Live!’
For further information please visit u3asites.org.uk/didcot.
