More about this group …

Two new wine tasting groups are in the process of being established – one on the second Wednesday of each month from 4-6pm and the other on the second Thursday of the month between 7 and 9pm.

Depending on the amount of interest the groups are likely to consist of around ten members each and take place in members’ houses.

If you would like to join one of these groups please let the groups team know via this link HERE.

Our Table Tennis group meets at the Westgate Leisure Centre every Tuesday morning from 10.00–12.00, and we’re looking for new members to join in.

It’s a friendly, informal group that welcomes all abilities — from confident players to those who haven’t picked up a bat in years. It’s a great way to keep fit, have fun, and enjoy some lively games in good company.

There’s free parking, and you just pay at the reception desk on arrival – no need to let anyone know beforehand. Afterwards, many of us stay for a coffee and chat, which is all part of the fun and friendly spirit of the group.

Come along and see what it’s all about — everyone’s welcome!

Come and join our Short Tennis group at the Westgate Leisure Centre, where there are vacancies for new members!

We play every Wednesday from 2.00–4.00pm in a fun, friendly, and relaxed atmosphere. Short Tennis is easy to pick up, great exercise, and suitable for all abilities — whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new to the game. Rackets available.

There’s free parking, and you simply pay at the Westgate reception desk on entry – no need to book or let anyone know in advance. Enjoy a coffee and chat afterwards, making it a sociable and welcoming way to spend an afternoon.

Come along and give it a try — we’d love to see you!
If you have any questions, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

We’re pleased to announce a new Android Help Group, starting on Tuesday 20 January. Sessions will be held on the third Tuesday of every month, 2.00–3.00 pm, in the Upstairs Meeting Room at St Paul’s Church.

This is a drop-in help session – no regular commitment needed. Just come along whenever you’d like a bit of guidance with your Android phone or tablet. The group will be led by Barry Easton and Simon Sherrington, who’ll be on hand to answer questions, offer demonstrations, and help you get the best out of your device.

It’s the perfect chance to ask all those questions you’ve always wanted to – whether it’s how to tidy your home screen, use WhatsApp more confidently, manage photos, or explore those mysterious “settings”! You’ll find a friendly atmosphere, practical advice, and plenty of shared learning.

Everyone is welcome – just bring your device and your curiosity!
If you have any questions, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Local and National

Notices

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Group Leaders at Coffee Mornings

Please note that most Group Leaders will not be present at our coffee mornings. With over 100 active interest groups, it simply wouldn’t be possible for every leader to attend — and we don’t want to place extra demands on our volunteers, who already give up their time to run these groups.

At the coffee mornings, you’ll still be able to find out plenty about what’s on offer. The groups represented at breakout tables will have information available, and our friendly volunteers at the Groups Information Table will be happy to answer questions or take your details if you’d like to find out more about a group.

So even if the Group Leader themselves isn’t there, please do come along — have a chat, enjoy some coffee and company, and we’ll make sure your enquiry reaches the right person afterwards.Please note, that most Group Leaders will not be present at our coffee mornings — with over 100 active interest groups, it simply wouldn’t be possible for everyone to attend! The groups that are represented at breakout tables will have information available and friendly volunteers at the designated Groups Information Table will be on hand to help answer questions or take your details if you’d like to find out about a group.

So, even if a particular Group Leader isn’t there, you can still come along, have a chat, and we’ll make sure your enquiry reaches the right person afterwards.

Upcoming Events

u3a Quiz Night - Get Your Thinking Caps On!

We had an excellent turnout on 30 October for the reboot of our ever-popular Quiz Night — thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such an enjoyable evening!

The next Quiz Night will be held on Thursday 27 November, at the Jubilee Hall, New Park Centre, from 18.30 to 22.00.

This time, we’re making a few improvements, including a better sound system, speedier rounds and a quicker entry process. All entries must be made via the U3A website HERE, where you’ll also be able to select your meal option in advance.

Meal options (all served with chips):

Fish (GF available)
Chicken
Veggie burger
Sausage
Halloumi kebab

Prices (cash only, payable on the night):

Food & Quiz: £12.00
Quiz only: £2.00 per person

Please book your teams of six as soon as possible — numbers will be restricted this time to keep things running smoothly.

A few important notes:

The evening is run entirely by volunteers, so please help with setting up and clearing away tables and chairs.
Everyone must bring their own drinks, glasses, cutlery and crockery.
Please take all rubbish home with you at the end of the evening.

For general quiz enquiries, contact:
chiu3aquiz@hotmail.com
(Please note: entries will not be accepted by email — use the website link above.)

Members' Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street, Chichester, Thursday, 20th November at 2 p.m.

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm Nelson
Forty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

Malcolm was a Customs Officer working in many places in the UK, but mostly his career was based in London Port and Heathrow, however he also worked in St Petersburg, Malta and several airports in the EU. He has written two books about his career and he will be giving us insight into how Border Force Officers select people in the Green Channel who they think may be carrying prohibited substances in their luggage. What is it that gives them away? Why, sometimes, is there nobody in the Green Channel? Why do we feel that we're being watched? These and your own questions will be answered.

Monthly meetings are completely free, and tea and coffee will be served after the talk when you will have the chance to chat with friends.

Doors open from 1.15 p.m. ... no booking required.

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 2nd December, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Our Coffee Mornings are held in the Bar at the MINERVA THEATRE building, opposite the Chichester Festival Theatre. You can chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

Groups News & Notices

A new choice for wine tasters

Two new wine tasting groups are in the process of being established – one on the second Wednesday of each month from 4-6pm and the other on the second Thursday of the month between 7 and 9pm.

Depending on the amount of interest the groups are likely to consist of around ten members each and take place in members’ houses.

If you would like to join one of these groups please let the groups team know via this link HERE.

New Android Help Group

Everyone is welcome – just bring your device and your curiosity!
If you have any questions, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

Short Tennis – Wednesdays, 2.00–4.00pm

Come and join our Short Tennis group at the Westgate Leisure Centre, where there are vacancies for new members!

Come along and give it a try — we’d love to see you!
If you have any questions, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

Table Tennis – Tuesdays, 10.00am–12.00pm

Our Table Tennis group meets at the Westgate Leisure Centre every Tuesday morning from 10.00–12.00, and we’re looking for new members to join in.

Come along and see what it’s all about — everyone’s welcome!

Local and National

Local Events

The Spirit of Ukraine: Ukranian Cultural Festival - Saturday 15th November,
1.00-4.30pm at St. Paul's Church, Chichester

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Ukrainian culture at our festival with traditional music and dance, craft and more:

1.00 -2.00 Dessert Fair & Art Exhibition
2.00-3.30 Concert (Ukranian & English music)
3.30-4.30 Craft Fair & Folk Dance Workshop

Children’s corner all afternoon

All proceeds go to Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice

Presented by: The VOYLA Art Community Group

Oxford University Society (W. Sussex) & St Anne’s Society South

present a talk by BBC TV broadcaster, author and adventurer TRISTAN GOOLEY - “THE NATURAL NAVIGATOR”

11.00am, Friday 21st November 2025
Boxgrove Village Hall, The Street, Boxgrove, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EE

Tristan specialises in interpreting nature’s signs for use in our everyday lives. He has been called by BBC Radio the “Sherlock Holmes of Nature”. Tristan’s illustrated talk follows the publication of his new book and Sunday Times bestseller “The Hidden Seasons: A Calendar of Nature’s Clues and Signs”. This talk is a must for all nature lovers, walkers and cyclists.

Admission is by pre-booking and £12 per person, including refreshments, served from 10.30am. There is free parking at the hall and in the road outside. To book your places, please email Susan at ouswestsussex@gmail.com with names and numbers and she will give you bank account details for payment.

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 21 November, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

If you wish to unsubscribe from the Bulletin emails, please contact the membership secretary with subject “Unsubscribe from Bulletin”. This will not affect other email communications with the U3A. Please do NOT put the bulletin emails into spam! 😒

Please send a message via the usual channels if you wish to have some item of u3a news put in the Bulletin. Likewise, if you have suggestions as to how to improve the Bulletin or would like to join our team.
Best wishes, Miriam Knight

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. If you wish to discuss something then please call 07490 654524 (and be prepared to leave a message if not answered), or contact the membership secretary.

We’re desperately short of volunteers, especially to help run our social events. Without a few more helping hands, it will become increasingly difficult to keep these much-loved occasions going.

We’re therefore looking for a small group of people to form a Social Team — a friendly, informal group that meets once a month to plan and coordinate our main social gatherings.

What’s involved

Meet once a month to share ideas and plan upcoming events.
Organise three key events a year:
- Christmas Lunch
- Volunteers’ Thank You Tea
- Summer Event
Liaise with the Committee once a month and provide a short (bullet-point) update.

That’s it! You’ll have plenty of support from the committee, and no one is expected to take everything on. We’re looking for a team, so tasks can be shared according to interests — from booking a venue to welcoming guests on the day.

Why volunteer?

Being part of the Social Team is:

Fun and sociable – you’ll meet new people and help others enjoy themselves.
Rewarding – you’ll see the direct results of your efforts in smiling faces and lively gatherings.
Flexible – we’ll work around your availability and comfort level.
Valuable – you’ll be helping keep one of the most enjoyable parts of our u3a community alive.

If you’d like to find out more — with no obligation — please contact me at chair@chichesteru3a.org.uk. Even a small contribution of your time would make a big difference.

Thank you for considering it, and for all you do to make Chichester u3a the friendly, thriving group it is.

Warm regards,
Jacky Easton
Chair

Love reading and chatting about books? If there is sufficient interest, we would like to set up a new Fiction Book Group meeting on the 4th Tuesday of every month 2.00-4.00pm. The group will enjoy great stories, good company and a cuppa together – with a rota for providing tea, coffee and biscuits.

When: 4th Tuesday of every month
Where: St Pauls, Churchside, Chichester (free onsite parking)
Cost: £20 for a 10-month session (based on 12 members to cover room hire, payable in advance and non-refundable)

How it Works:
The group will decide together:

- Whether to focus on a genre like modern novels, classics, or mysteries
- Whether to choose from popular book list
- Or take turns selecting a book each month
- Who will lead the meetings – perhaps everyone you can take turns leading the discussion and posing questions?

Get Involved: the group will need one or two members to do the minimal admin, (maintaining the member list, sending payment details out every 10 months, managing the refreshments rota etc). Please let us know if you’re willing to help or would like to register in the new book group at groups@chichesteru3a.org.uk or via the Groups Team link HERE.

Do you enjoy making things with your hands, or would you like to try something new in a friendly, relaxed setting? Our new u3a Craft Group will start in January. It will meet in the Group Leader’s home in Parklands, Chichester (parking available and on bus route) every third Monday every month – 2.00-4.00pm for an afternoon of creativity and conversation.

Bring along your own project — knitting, crochet, embroidery, card-making, patchwork, or any other craft you enjoy — or come to be inspired by what others are doing. From sharing ideas and tips to learning new techniques, the emphasis is on enjoying the process rather than perfection! All ideas welcome.

All skill levels are very welcome — whether you’re an experienced crafter or an absolute beginner. Materials for small projects can be provided to get you started, and refreshments will be on hand to keep the creativity flowing.

If you like the sound of crafting, chatting, and good company, come and join us. There will be a breakout table at the next coffee morning if you’d like to meet the group leaders and ask any questions. If you would like to express your interest, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Local and National

Notices

Could You Help Keep Our Chichester u3a Social Events Thriving?

Dear Members,

We’re writing to you with a friendly plea. Our Chichester u3a is wonderfully active, with a warm and welcoming membership — but at the moment, we’re desperately short of volunteers, especially to help run our social events. Without a few more helping hands, it will become increasingly difficult to keep these much-loved occasions going.

We’re therefore looking for a small group of people to form a Social Team — a friendly, informal group that meets once a month to plan and coordinate our main social gatherings.

What’s involved

Meet once a month to share ideas and plan upcoming events.
Organise three key events a year:
- Christmas Lunch
- Volunteers’ Thank You Tea
- Summer Event
Liaise with the Committee once a month and provide a short (bullet-point) update.

Why volunteer?

Being part of the Social Team is:

Fun and sociable – you’ll meet new people and help others enjoy themselves.
Rewarding – you’ll see the direct results of your efforts in smiling faces and lively gatherings.
Flexible – we’ll work around your availability and comfort level.
Valuable – you’ll be helping keep one of the most enjoyable parts of our u3a community alive.

If you’d like to find out more — with no obligation — please contact me HERE via the website. Even a small contribution of your time would make a big difference.

Thank you for considering it, and for all you do to make Chichester u3a the friendly, thriving group it is.

Warm regards,
Jacky Easton
Chair

FYI

Contacting Group Leaders and the Groups Team

We know that many members enjoy exploring new u3a interest groups and usually get in touch directly with Group Leaders to find out more. However, if you have contacted a Group Leader and haven’t received a reply after a little while, please don’t hesitate to contact the Groups Team HERE.
They will be happy to follow up and help sort things out on your behalf.

Groups at Coffee Mornings

Please note, that most Group Leaders will not be present at our coffee mornings — with over 100 active interest groups, it simply wouldn’t be possible for everyone to attend! The groups that are represented at breakout tables will have information available and friendly volunteers at the designated Groups Information Table will be on hand to help answer questions or take your details if you’d like to find out about a group.

So, even if a particular Group Leader isn’t there, you can still come along, have a chat, and we’ll make sure your enquiry reaches the right person afterwards.

Upcoming Events

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

We hold our friendly and informal quiz evenings once a month, usually on the last Thursday of every month (except December) in the Jubilee Room at New Park Centre, New Park Road, Chichester. The quizzes will start at 7 pm. Please remember to bring a pen and notepad! There are varied subjects and something for everyone.

You do NOT have to order food but we will arrange for delivery from La Fish for those who want it. (Choice of Fish, chicken, burger, veggie and Chips).

There is a charge of £12 if you have a La Fish Meal (bring your own cutlery etc.) and £2 if you don’t. You can bring your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic refreshment.

Booking via the form HERE on our website is essential.

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th November, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

BREAKOUT TABLES:

new Wittering-based u3a group
new u3a Craft Group
British History Group

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

Members' Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street, Chichester, Thursday, 20th November at 2 p.m.

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm Nelson
Forty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

Monthly meetings are completely free, and tea and coffee will be served after the talk when you will have the chance to chat with friends.

Doors open from 1.15 p.m. ... no booking required.

Groups News & Notices

New Book Group starting January 2026

How it Works:
The group will decide together:

New Group - British History

Would you be interested in joining a new group that explores aspects of British history? Jay has offered to lead the group and she says 'To me British history is always a hobby now more than anything else, with a greater interest in the little things and add-ons that were not so important when learning. For example, research into estates, best buddies, dress etc. I had in mind to guide the group, with each individual choosing and enlarging on their chosen interest.'

However, how exactly the group runs, and what topics are covered, can be up for debate amongst those who show an interest in taking part. We will have a break-out table for this at the next coffee morning Tuesday 4 November, from 10.30 to 11.00am, but if you cannot be at this meeting, please let us know that you are interested via the Groups Team link HERE.

The new u3a Craft Group

New Wittering Group Taking Shape

Thank you to everyone who’s expressed interest in forming a new Wittering-based u3a group – it’s clear there’s a real appetite for more local activities, without always having to head into Chichester!

To start shaping what this new group could look like, there will be a breakout table at the next coffee morning on Tuesday, 4th November. This will be a chance to share ideas, suggest possible activities, and see how we can get things up and running.

If you can’t make it, don’t worry – we’ll send out an update afterwards so no one misses out on the plans.

It’s an exciting opportunity to help create something new right here in the Witterings, so do come along if you can and be part of the conversation!

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 7 November, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

We will have a break-out table for this at the next coffee morning Tuesday 4 November, from 10.30 to 11.00am, but if you cannot be there please let us know that you are interested via the Groups Team HERE.

If you can’t make it, don’t worry – we’ll send out an update afterwards so no one misses out on the plans.

It’s an exciting opportunity to help create something new right here in the Witterings, so do come along if you can and be part of the conversation!

Please get in touch with us at groups@chichesteru3a.org.uk or via the website HERE.

Over the past twelve months, Chichester U3A has been buzzing with new activities thanks to the enthusiasm of our members. We have been delighted to celebrate the successful launch of a wide variety of new groups, including French Improvers, Holiday Spanish, Writing for Fun 2, Impressionist Art, Chess, Wine Tasting 3, Pilates, and Latin. None of these would have been possible without members stepping forward to share their time and interests – so a big thank you to everyone involved!

The Groups Team is keen to support the creation of some brand-new groups. Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest in the new groups – Android Help, Craft, and Sketchbook Art. We’ve had an excellent response to all three, and it looks very likely that each group will now go ahead. If you've already responded, we'll be in touch soon with further details about meeting times and arrangements. If you would like to express your interest, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

Sketchbook Art Group: This group is designed especially for beginners. It won’t be a taught class, but members will be guided by internet-based lessons while exploring together. A sketchbook is a brilliant place to experiment, discover and play with different techniques – drawing, collage, and mixing materials to create beautiful mixed-media pages. The sessions will give you tools and confidence to try out new processes to help make your sketchbook dynamic and unique to you. If you’re looking for inspiration and a fun, creative way to develop your art, this might be just right for you.
Craft Group: A space for anyone who enjoys knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, or other textile crafts. Members can work on their own projects, swap tips, and learn from each other.
Android Help Group: Do you own an Android phone or tablet but sometimes feel baffled by its features? This group would be a friendly, practical place to share knowledge, learn new tricks, and solve problems together.

If any of these appeal to you – whether as a potential leader or simply as someone interested in joining – we’d love to hear from you. The Groups Team will guide and support anyone willing to help set up a new group, so you won’t be on your own.

Ideas and suggestions are always welcome too. Please get in touch with the Groups Team here if you’d like to be involved.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Local and National

Notices

Chichester u3a Magazine

I am just putting together material for a bumper year-end edition of the Chichester u3a magazine, and need your articles, stories, artwork; anything you would like to share with other members.

In particular, of course, group news: a round up of this year's activity in your group, what's happening next, any major events or incidents, and pictures. Lots of those.

The groups are the bedrock of our organisation and sharing what they have done is the main purpose of the Magazine.

Just contact me HERE, and if you want help with putting something together, I'll be happy to meet up with you at the coffee mornings or individually.

Thank you,

Penny Blackmore Smith

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 16th October at 2pm

Revd Colin Chambers:
"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

Colin Chambers, a former Lieutenant Commander in the South African Navy and ordained Christian minister, knew Nelson Mandela for eight years when President Mandela was imprisoned in the notorious prison on Robben Island, and in Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town. Colin gives reflections and insights from the years during which he was Chaplain to President Mandela and other Robben Island prisoners.

Doors open from 1.15 p.m., no booking required. You are warmly invited to stay after the talk when tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar.

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

You do NOT have to order food but we will arrange for delivery from La Fish for those who want it. (Choice of Fish, chicken, burger, veggie and Chips).

There is a charge of £12 if you have a La Fish Meal (bring your own cutlery etc.) and £2 if you don’t. You can bring your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic refreshment.

Booking via the form HERE on our website is essential.

Groups News & Notices

British History

Would you be interested in joining a new group that explores aspects of British history? It is suggested that members would be encouraged to research topics of particular interest to them and to share and discuss with others. However, how exactly the group runs, and what topics are covered, can be up for debate amongst those who show an interest in taking part. We will discuss how the group could run at the next coffee morning on Tuesday 4 November. If you cannot be there, please let us know that you are interested via the Groups Team HERE.

Update on New Groups –
Android Help, Craft, and Sketchbook Art

Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest in the new groups – Android Help, Craft, and Sketchbook Art. We’ve had an excellent response to all three, and it looks very likely that each group will now go ahead.

If you've already responded, we'll be in touch soon with further details about meeting times and arrangements. If you would like to express your interest, please contact the Groups Team HERE.

New Groups in the Witterings – Your Ideas Welcome!

A member who lives in the Witterings has suggested that it would be great to have a few U3A groups based in West Wittering, offering an alternative for those living south of Chichester who would prefer not to travel into the city for everything.

Ideas so far include something light and sociable – perhaps a short local stroll followed by coffee and chat, or even a book group meeting locally.

If this sounds appealing, or if you have other suggestions for groups or activities in the Witterings area, the Groups Team would love to hear from you. We’re happy to explore all ideas and see what could be set up.

Please get in touch with us via the website HERE.

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 24 October, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Local and National

Notices

From the Chair – Autumn Update

Hello everyone,

As the leaves start to turn and the evenings draw in, I hope this message finds you well and looking forward to the months ahead.

We’ve plenty to look forward to: The Social Groups also have events in their diary, Christmas lunches are already being planned and our ever-popular Quiz Night is back on the horizon - you’ll find all the details in the Bulletin and, as always, on our website – do take a look so you don’t miss out!

I’d like to thank all of you for the enthusiasm and energy you bring. It’s what keeps our u3a thriving and makes it such a welcoming community.

That brings me to an important point. Like all u3as, we rely entirely on members stepping up to help – whether by leading groups, volunteering at events, or lending a hand behind the scenes. At the moment, we have a shortage of group leaders and helpers. Without them, some activities simply can’t run. We know not everyone feels able to commit, but if you can share a little time or a skill, it really does make all the difference. Even small contributions keep the whole show on the road.

So, if you’ve ever thought about running a group (or co-running one with a friend), helping at an event, or joining the various teams in some way, now is the perfect time to give it a go. We promise it’s not only rewarding but fun – and there’s plenty of support if you’re unsure. Caroline, our vice chair, runs the volunteer’s bank and you can contact her HERE.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our monthly Coffee Morning – always a lovely chance to catch up.

With best wishes,
Jacky
Chair, Chichester u3a

A Message to Group Leaders

Thank you to all our group leaders; your energy and enthusiasm make our U3A what it is!

Please keep an eye on waiting lists — if there’s potential for a second group, let us know. We’ll support new leaders every step of the way.
If your group could grow in size, please contact us
Encourage members to consider leading new groups — they won’t be on their own!
Christian’s new Quiz starts in October — Please chat with your group about making up a team.
Promote your group via a coffee morning breakout table or the bulletin.

We’re here to help — so please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the website HERE.

— Jacky and the Groups Team

News from the Groups Team

Over the past twelve months, Chichester U3A has been buzzing with new activities thanks to the enthusiasm of our members. We have been delighted to celebrate the successful launch of a wide variety of new groups, including French Improvers, Holiday Spanish, Writing for Fun 2, Impressionist Art, Chess, Wine Tasting 3, Pilates, and Latin. None of these would have been possible without members stepping forward to share their time and interests – so a big thank you to everyone involved!

And now, we’re excited to look ahead. The Groups Team is keen to support the creation of some brand-new groups, and we need both leaders and interested members to get them off the ground:

Sketchbook Art Group: This group is designed especially for beginners. It won’t be a taught class, but members will be guided by internet-based lessons while exploring together. A sketchbook is a brilliant place to experiment, discover and play with different techniques – drawing, collage, and mixing materials to create beautiful mixed-media pages. The sessions will give you tools and confidence to try out new processes to help make your sketchbook dynamic and unique to you. If you’re looking for inspiration and a fun, creative way to develop your art, this might be just right for you.
Craft Group: A space for anyone who enjoys knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, or other textile crafts. Members can work on their own projects, swap tips, and learn from each other.
Android Help Group: Do you own an Android phone or tablet but sometimes feel baffled by its features? This group would be a friendly, practical place to share knowledge, learn new tricks, and solve problems together.

Ideas and suggestions are always welcome too. Please get in touch with the Groups Team here if you’d like to be involved.

2026 Subscription: Final Reminder

We still have just under one hundred members who are yet to renew their subscriptions for the coming year. Final reminders were sent out via email earlier this week, and at the end of the month we will be closing the memberships of those who have not paid, (unless we hear from you).

If you need: -
a) any assistance with the payment process or,
b) are not sure whether you have renewed already, or
c) are not receiving the reminder emails,

then please use this link to get in touch with the Membership Team or call us on 07490 654524.

Whatever the issue is, we can sort it out for you!

Upcoming Events

October Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 7th October, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 16th October at 2pm

Revd Colin Chambers:
"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

Doors open from 1.15 p.m., no booking required. You are warmly invited to stay after the talk when tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar.

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

You do NOT have to order food but we will arrange for delivery from La Fish for those who want it. (Choice of Fish, chicken, burger, veggie and Chips).

There is a charge of £12 if you have a La Fish Meal (bring your own cutlery etc.) and £2 if you don’t. You can bring your own alcoholic or non-alcoholic refreshment.

Booking via the form HERE on our website is essential.

Groups Notices

"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
— Betty Friedan

Bus Walks 2

We are a friendly group of keen/experienced walkers who catch a bus/train to a walk start point within a ten mile radius of Chichester.

Walks are approximately 5 miles and can be either linear or circular with the option of lunch afterwards. (Please note that the group walks at a faster pace)

Walks take place on the third Wednesday of each month.

Being in this group is a great way of meeting people, keeping active and exploring the area around Chichester.

Please get in touch via the Website if you would like to join us.

Tuesday Recorder Group

Sue and Chris came for a taster session recently and decided to stay.

They’ve joined the Tuesday Recorder Group and are finding it a very satisfying and enjoyable afternoon. Each is coming back to playing after a long break (40 years in one case!). They’ve been brushing up their rusty skills by doing some practice of scales and arpeggios at home, and realising that with a bit of time and focus they can still get a tune out of their descant, treble and tenor recorders. They’ve surprised themselves by being able to tackle the range of tuneful easier music programmed to help them feel at home in the group. They’re gaining confidence in how to tackle a piece of music to give themselves the best shot at success. And they’ve fitted comfortably into the group, which is mutually supportive.

We meet in a large ground floor lounge, so no access problems. Car parks at the Cattle Market and in Florence Road are 5-10mins walk away, and 51 & 700 buses pass the door.

So if you have at least two recorders from descant, treble, tenor & bass and a music stand, spare time on a Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm and would like to make some real music in the company of others (we play all sorts from medieval to modern), why not give us a whirl? You can borrow music to play at home and once a month a recorder professional comes along to add an extra dimension to our playing. You do need to be able to read music, keep to a beat, and know basic recorder fingerings because this isn’t a beginners group.

As you probably know, music-making is the best activity to keep the brain firing on all cylinders. And despite what you hear/read in the media, the recorder is a real musical instrument : played solo, or in recorder ensembles or recorder orchestras. Alive and well all over the world, all over this country, including West Sussex and Hampshire!

If this sounds like your kind of group, please think about a taster session.

Contact me by email using this link.

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 10th October, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Local and National

Notices

Schoolreaders Volunteers needed in Chichester

Schoolreaders is a national literacy charity. We find and match volunteers with local primary schools to support children in improving their reading and comprehension skills, as well as developing their confidence and social skills.
Schoolreaders has made strong connections with U3A groups in other regions, so we'd like to share some information about our organisation with your members to see who might be interested in our volunteering opportunities.
To make a difference to a child’s life chances by helping them make progress with their reading is such a rewarding experience for volunteers. We have two schools in Chichester who have registered with us and are awaiting to be matched with volunteers. One school is in Sidlesham and the other is in North Mundham. Both schools are looking for several volunteers to meet the high demand of struggling readers they have. They are keen to be matched with volunteers soon to help their pupils improve their reading skills over the coming academic year.

Our volunteers must be able to commit to at least an hour each week for a full year during term time (although holidays can of course be taken) and will undergo an Enhanced DBS check, which is organised and paid for by the school. Volunteers must have a good standard of written and spoken English, but we do not require any specific qualifications and we do not have any age restrictions on our volunteers as long as they are over 18.

Please visit https://www.schoolreaders.org/ more information about Schoolreaders and the work we do. If you have any questions, please do get in touch with Charlotte Foot via this link.

Groups meeting in the Festival Theatre cafe

Sometimes the theatre puts on special performances where they leave the doors to the auditorium open. These are generally marked as dementia friendly or relaxed performance. When this happens chat from groups in the cafe can be heard in the auditorium and can be distracting for the audience there. Could you please avoid these times when you arrange your meetings. It may also be worth avoiding matinee performances as the cafe gets very busy during the interval.

The new theatre brochure is out now and it indicates when these special performances are on (DF and RP).

Save the Date!

This year’s u3a Christmas lunches will take place at Restaurant 64 at Chichester College (as in previous years) on Wednesday 3 and Tuesday 9 December. They will start at 12 pm with a complimentary drink from the bar, followed by a three-course luncheon, including vegetarian options. More details coming.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 18th September at 2pm

“Horatio Nelson: Life and Loves” a talk by Dr James Taylor

During the talk we will discover the extraordinary life of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) through period paintings, drawings and prints. Nelson was a charismatic and complex character who met his premature death on the deck of HMS Victory on 21 October 1805 at the age of 47. Nelson was admired by his men afloat, but he was lampooned ashore for his relationship with Lady Emma Hamilton.

James is a former curator of pictures at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, an exhibition organiser, author and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Doors open from 1.15 p.m., no booking required. Tea and coffee will be served after the talk.

October Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 7th October, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

Groups Notices

"I’m not over the hill—I’m just enjoying the view from the top."

New French Group

French Intermediate: Would you be interested in joining a new group that aims to improve understanding and grammatical accuracy for those already having a reasonable French knowledge? This would comprise some focused conversation as well as using a textbook and/or magazine to work through exercises and translations.

The exact format, venue and frequency is still open for discussion. If you would like to register an interest, please let the Groups team know at Groups message link HERE.

MUSIC GROUP

We are a small friendly band of music lovers who like to spend monthly Wednesday mornings ( 10:30 - 12'ish ) relaxing,listening, discussing and learning about anything and everything about all genres of music, sometimes attached to unusual themes !
We have room and would welcome a few more members. In the last couple of years we have Mulled over Mahler ( with the help of Bernstein ) ; Caribbeaned with Calypso ; Found some Finnish composers ; Kickstarted with Klezmer ; Whirled with Woodwind ; Wondered about Women composers ; Surrendered to Shoshtakovich and sourced wordplay with Sondheim 1 Oh and had a Buzz with Brass !
So why not come along and give us a try ? Coffee, biscuits and music.....irresistible.
-Alf

If you're interested in joining, contact us using this link.

Local and National

Chichester u3a Magazine

Link to Chichester u3a Magazine

Next issue in preparation. Send your gems to Penny using this link.

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 26th September, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups' News
Local and National

Notices

Quiz Nights Return to New Park – Join the Fun!

If you love trivia, laughter, and a friendly evening out, mark your calendars – Quiz Evenings are back on the last Thursday of each month at the New Park Centre, Chichester!

The first quiz of the season will take place on Thursday, 30 October 2025 at 7:00 PM, and you’ll want to arrive with a pen, a notepad, and your wits about you!

Held in the cosy Jubilee Room, these popular monthly events will offer a relaxed yet lively atmosphere where teams and individuals can test their knowledge across a wide range of topics – from current affairs to classic pop culture, history, and everything in between. Why not enter a team from one of your u3a groups – maximum 6 per team– and let’s have some friendly rivalry and competition ?

A Community Favourite
Long a staple of the local social calendar, the tradition resumes after a brief break with renewed enthusiasm and some tasty additions.

Whether you're a seasoned quizzer or just looking for a new way to spend an evening, everyone is welcome. The event is informal and welcoming — for all u3a member teams and even solo participants keen to meet new people.

Booking Is Essential
Due to high demand and limited space, advance booking is a must. Don’t wait until the last minute — these events fill up fast — so book your place via this link on our website.

Food, Fun and Friendly Faces
While the quiz itself is the star of the evening, there’s an optional treat in store: La Fish, one of Chichester’s local favourites, is offering takeaway meals delivered to the venue. Choose from fish, chicken, burger, or veggie options — all served with chips, of course.

The cost? Just £12 if you opt for the meal, or a modest £2 if you're coming for the quiz only. Either way, it's a bargain evening out. Please note that payment is cash only, and if you’re having a meal, do bring your own cutlery. Drinks are BYO, alcoholic or otherwise.

See You There?
So, whether you're in it to win or just for the banter, come along to the New Park Centre and join in the fun. With brain teasers, good company, and even better chips, it promises to be a great night out.

And if you’ve ever fancied stepping into the spotlight, the organisers are always on the lookout for new Quiz Masters. It’s a fun way to get involved and try something new — and don’t worry, support is on hand if it’s your first time. For more information, contact the Quiz Organiser here.

See you on 30 October – and don’t forget your pen!

Chichester u3a Magazine and Bulletin

With around a thousand members in Chichester u3a, communication is key so we are trying out some changes to our communication platforms. One exciting change is that our Magazine will be coming out for the holidays IN PRINT! It will be an all-singing, all-dancing annual round-up with content as varied and colourful as our members. Deadline and other details will be announced shortly, so start contemplating your submissions now! If you're really keen, here's the submission link for the Magazine.

On the Bulletin front, Penny, our magazine editor, has agreed to do a monthly column with lively, informative and/or inspirational contributions from both the Members and the Groups to share with our own large membership and possibly beyond. Don't be shy - it’s all right to brag a little and great to inspire others. Here’s the link for the Bulletin.

Membership Renewal Time!

As per our email on 4th August, the subscription renewal process is underway for 2026.

Details of how to pay are available in the email and, of course, on our website.

If you have any issues at all, please contact the Membership Team, either via the website or by calling 07490 654524 and we will help you!

Just a reminder, if you joined our u3a in June/July/August this year, then your subscription runs until September 2026 already, so you will not receive my reminder emails.

Save the Date!

Upcoming Events

September Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 2nd September, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 18th September at 2pm

“Horatio Nelson: Life and Loves” a talk by Dr James Taylor

James is a former curator of pictures at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, an exhibition organiser, author and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Tea and coffee will be served after the talk.

Groups Notices

"I'm not old. I've just been young for a very long time."
--unknown

French Groups opportunities

French for Beginners: There are now vacancies in this class which has been running successfully for over a year. It is taught by an experienced French teacher, and is aimed at those who have very limited knowledge of French. It takes place weekly on Wednesday mornings. If interested please contact the group leader via Groups Message Link HERE.

French Intermediate: We are thinking of starting a new class that aims to improve understanding and grammatical accuracy for those already having a reasonable French knowledge. This would use a textbook and/or magazine to work through exercises and translations, and extend vocabulary. It will be organised on a structured, self-help basis, all learning from each other.
The exact format, venue and frequency is very much open for discussion. If you would like to register an interest, please let the Groups team know at Groups message link HERE.

New Social Group starting!

Update: MOTO2 group has now been renamed Social Team 1. The group will continue to run in the same successful format, with Christian Gaze remaining as its leader. MOTO1 will continue unchanged, providing its own programme of events and friendly social gatherings.

Social Team 1 is now full, but due to high demand, we are excited to announce the launch of Social Team 2. This new group will follow the same flexible model, offering a wide variety of events, outings, and social opportunities for all u3a members. Christian will be actively supporting the setup of Social Team 2 to ensure a strong start.

If you're interested in joining Social Team 2, please register your interest as soon as possible using this link.

History discussion group

The group discusses a variety of different subjects from political, social and local history in any period anywhere in the world

Topics are proposed by members and form the subject of the group discussions. Most sessions will involve two members volunteering to make short individual presentations on subjects of their own choosing, followed by discussion. In other sessions topics agreed at the previous meeting will be discussed without an introductory presentation.

The meetings will start on Monday 22nd September at 10am at Trents pub in South Street.. Fourth Mondays will be the regular meeting date.

If you are interested in joining, please let the Groups Team know using this link.

Play Reading Group

The Play Reading Group will re-start on Tuesday 16th September at the New Park Centre, at the new time of 14.45. We are keen to welcome new participants for the couple of remaining spaces.

Meetings will be held in September, October and November and the cost is £15. Plays chosen are Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and The Doctor’s Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw.

Anyone interested in joining should contact the Group leaders through the Chichester U3A website.

Groups News

Chichester u3a Recorder Group

There’s been a lot of talk in recent months about RECORDERS! Maybe you saw some of it on TV, heard some of it on the radio, read some of it in newspapers.

It seemed be spreading misinformation, if not downright disinformation! Recorders on the way out? Come off it - look around you : The Society of Recorder Players has 50 branches with 1500 members, there are large numbers of u3a recorder groups, students fill the recorder departments of colleges and conservatoires, and there are numerous amateur recorder orchestras and ensembles up and down the land, conducted by professional players.

You think nothing like that happens in Chichester? Well, then you haven’t been to concerts given by Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia or seen performances by the Parnassian Ensemble! Or know about the Wessex branch of The Society of Recorder Players. And what’s more, you’ve overlooked the Chichester u3a Recorder Group that has been around since 2007!

It’s true that successive governments have failed to sufficiently promote music in schools - it’s as important as sport, the arts & crafts and the great outdoors for the mental health of young people. But it’s also true that increasing numbers of folk in mid-life and later are wanting to resume playing or take up a musical instrument for the sheer pleasure of music-making in a group.

So - if you once played the recorder and would like to take it up again seriously, why not join the Recorder Group? It isn’t a beginners group, though there’s a very good teacher in Chichester if you want to learn - it’s best to get the basics from a professional!

You need to know how to play basic scales and arpeggios on at least two of these four recorders: descant, treble, tenor, bass. This is (a) because players like to swap instruments and not be restricted to one and (b) because the most interesting music is in four parts. You’ll need your own instruments and a music stand, of course.

And, yes, you’ll need a basic ability to read music (preferably treble & bass clefs), have a sense of rhythm and the ability to count and hold your line against others. Over time, you’ll learn more and have the pleasure of coordinating your playing with the rest of the group.

The group meets every Tuesday afternoon 2pm-4pm where I live on the Hornet. Buses 51 & 700 pass the door and there are two car parks under 10mins walk away (one is free for 3 hours). We play in a large lounge on the ground floor, so no access problems.

We meet every week so that members have maximum opportunities to improve. Whilst we take account of holidays and, of course, the unexpected etc, regular commitment is looked for and the group isn’t suited to casual or occasional attendance.

We play all kinds of music from early to modern in arrangements suited to the group. It’s all sight-reading and most of the time from parts. Players don’t take music away to practise because there’s some unreliability about that! You can, however, borrow music to play at home. And players are committed to improvement, so we do work hard at enjoying ourselves. Once a month we invite a local professional player along to conduct us.

If this sounds like your kind of group, please read more on the Groups page of the Chichester u3a website

https://www.chichesteru3a.org.uk/interest-groups/groups-by-day/entry/79

or contact me by email glrecorderensemble@mail.chichesteru3a.org.uk

U3A Non-Fiction Group

I joined the U3A Non-Fiction Group convened by Peter Le Touze, earlier this year. We've selected and discussed several books since then. The list includes The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn, and Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, two choices that have led me to reflect on the hazards and delights of the group's categorisation as 'Non-Fiction'.

The Salt Path, marketed as a true story, due to a piece of investigative journalism by The Observer Newspaper in early July, in now in the throes of serious controversy over its truthfulness. It is provoking not just debates over long-established autobiographical licence, but also on the ambiguous role played by the publishers, since their concerns lie in promoting sales rather than checking veracity. The Non-Fiction Group's take on it, held prior to the controversy now surrounding it, discussed serious doubts about the likelihood of it telling a straight story and the relationship between this slippage might have in creating a global best-seller.

In the case of Raising Hare, for me there is a totally different type of fascination around a best-seller. The book is testimony to the way in which the author's close observation of a hare, and her search for relevant sources to help her, exposes the inadequacies of previous accounts and assumed knowledge of the creature. Chloe Dalton is neither a scientist, a naturalist, or someone with previous knowledge of what she took on. Nevertheless her experiences challenge existing knowledge, and so challenge 'the facts'. She raises serious and urgent issues surrounding our (humankind's) relationship with the natural world. As she frames it in relation to her experience, 'the hare's needs set it at odds with human impulses'. I'm not questioning the veracity of her account. It is a wonderful and provoking read.

--Chloe Gerhardt

Local and National

Chichester u3a Magazine

Holiday Print Issue - see notice above!

If you've got a story to tell about your group's u3a activities or a notable achievement that you would like to publicise, please send me the details, with a picture, and I will get it into the bulletin.

I'll still be asking soon for longer pieces from group leaders and members for the Magazine. Don't be shy - there's an audience out there so tell the world. Whether you're a member or a group leader, it's time to get the creative juices flowing and start thinking about your contributions now!

Send your gems to Penny using this link.

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 13th September, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Upcoming Events

August Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 5th August, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Breakout Tables - see below for details:
Book Group 8
Chess Group

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Team!

There is no Monthly Meeting in August. The next one will be on 18 September

Groups Notices

"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." — Betty Friedan

Do you fancy joining a new Chess Group?

One of our members is thinking of starting a group for keen as well as beginner chess players, on the last Tuesday afternoon of each month at the Festival Theatre Café.

The plan is for those wanting to learn, improve or match their chess skills to come along for coffee and enjoy a game in the relaxed atmosphere of the Theatre café. If you are interested, please let the Groups Team know using this link so we can judge the level of interest.

BOOK GROUP 8

Book Group 8 meets on the first Tuesday morning of the month for 10 months of the year (September-June ). There is always a theme to link the year’s books. For 2025-2026 we are reading ‘Memorable Books’, 10 novels chosen by group members that they have found personally memorable.

Interested in joining? See Maureen Frost at the next coffee morning on August 5th.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the next edition!

The next bulletin is due out on 29th August, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

Reminder

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - Thursday 17th July at 2pm

“What makes people believe things that aren’t true? The (surprising) psychology of misinformation”
a talk by Dr Simon Clark

Simon will give us a fun and informative talk which explores how and why people are misled by misinformation, including some fascinating psychological studies old and new. Simon Clark is a cognitive psychologist who researches how people respond to misinformation. He is part of the internationally renowned ‘Technology & Democracy’ research lab at the University of Bristol, specialising in misinformation created using artificial intelligence.

Tea and coffee will be served after the talk.

You are receiving this email because you are a member of Chichester u3a. If you wish to unsubscribe from all u3a emails, please contact the membership secretary. Please do NOT put these emails into spam!

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National

Notices

Call for Volunteers

Do you have a couple of free hours a week? The Friends of Chichester hospital are currently recruiting volunteers to work in their shop at St Richard’s (cover needed for various days and times) and/or take the trolley around some of the wards of a morning (days help needed are Tuesday-Friday and hours are 8.45 - 12.00).

The work is fun and interesting and is a great way to get more involved in the local community. The Friends help raise money for equipment and resources for the hospital and also provides a valuable service to staff and patients. You can read more about the work of the Friends at https://www.friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk/

If you are interested or want to know more, please email admin@friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk

South East u3a Forum’s Summer School 2025

Monday 1st to Thursday 4th September 2025 at University of Chichester

Bookings are STILL Open but please hurry as now only six courses have spaces. To find out more about the courses and to book your space please visit https://southeastu3aforum.u3asite.uk/2025-2/

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 17th July at 2pm

“What makes people believe things that aren’t true? The (surprising) psychology of misinformation”
a talk by Dr Simon Clark

Tea and coffee will be served after the talk.

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 5th August, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Our Coffee Mornings are held in the Bar on the first floor of the MINERVA THEATRE building, opposite the Chichester Festival Theatre.
It's a great opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

"The secret to staying young? Lie about your age and avoid mirrors." — Sophia Loren

Play Reading Group

We are restarting in September, on the third Tuesday of the month ( 16th September). The third Tuesday in the afternoon at 2.45pm will be our slot for the first three plays.

Venue: New Park Centre, Chichester.

We welcome old and new members, but we must limit the numbers to max 20.

The plays we have chosen are: Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, and The Doctor's Dilemma by G B Shaw. In order for everyone to read a part we may have to share roles.

All these plays can be found on the website for Gutenberg, and we would ask you to download these plays before the meeting so you have your own copy. We will provide one or two copies, just in case.

We would also ask you to read the play before coming so you can get an idea of the plot and characters. Roles will be given on the day.

There will be a fee of £15 for the three plays for the hire of the hall.

To find out more, please contact the Group Organiser via the Groups message link HERE.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the next edition!

Groups Notices

The next bulletin is due out on 1st August, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

Please send a message via the usual channels if you wish to have some item of u3a news put in the Bulletin. Likewise, please get in touch if you have ideas on to how to improve the Bulletin, and especially if you would like to join our team!
Best wishes, Miriam Knight

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

July Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st July, 10am-12noon

Keeping u3a caffeinated today with coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon!

Coffee Mornings are held in the Bar at the MINERVA THEATRE building, opposite the Chichester Festival Theatre. You can chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

Summer Tea in the Bishop's Palace Gardens - also on Tuesday 1 July, 2.30-4.30 pm

Tea will be served from 3.00 till 4.30 p.m. and everyone must leave by 5.00 p.m. Bookings are closed, so you must have Tickets already.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups News
National and Regional

Notices

Tickets still available for our Summer Tea
in the Bishop's Palace Gardens -
Tuesday 1 July from 2.30-4.30 pm

A special Celebration Summer Tea, for Chichester U3A Members only, will be held in the marquee set up for the 950th Cathedral Celebrations in the private part of the Bishop’s Palace Gardens. Tea will be served from 3.00 till 4.30 p.m. and everyone must leave by 5.00 p.m. Tickets are £10 (this includes a donation to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund).

Booking information: Booking is now open and will close at 5 pm on 19 June. As there is a limit of 200 tickets, these will be allocated in the order applications are received and paid for. Please go to: https://www.chichesteru3a.org.uk Once your booking is confirmed you will need to pay at: https://www.chichesteru3a.org.uk/pay-u3a/

South East u3a Forum’s Summer School

The Forum’s summer school, held annually at the University of Chichester, is moving towards its closing stages with only 14 spaces left. They are spread across the following courses:

Italian – Intermediate
Mah Jong – Intermediate
Mathematics – People & Paradoxes
Patchwork - Beginners
Poetry – Australian poets
Yoga – Mat, Standing & Seated

Bookings are still trickling in, so grab a place quickly, if you are interested. You can find all the information you need to browse, take a look at the courses’ overviews, and make a decision on the Forum’s website; the link is - 2025 - South East u3a Forum

Contact us on - sebooksummerschool@gmail.com OR Phone: 07749 023766

Upcoming Events

July Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st July, 10am-12noon

Keeping u3a caffeinated today with coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator.

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 17th July at 2pm

“What makes people believe things that aren’t true? The (surprising) psychology of misinformation”
a talk by Dr Simon Clark

After the talk, free tea and coffee will be served.

Groups Notices

"My memory’s not what it used to be… but then again, neither is anything else."

U3A Ski Group

Following on from our successful trip in 2024, the U3A ski group is off to Italy in March 2026. We are going to Sestriere in Italy leaving on the 1^st March and returning on the 8^th. We will be staying in the Hotel Principi di Piemonte, half board with the following facilities;

Ski-in, ski-out on a blue run
10 minutes' walk to the lifts
15 minutes' walk to the centre of Sestriere
indoor pool
spa with sauna, steam room and Mediterranean bath

If anyone would like to join our group please contact Barry using this link.

Pilates Group

We have found a different day, time slot and venue to see if we can get a Pilates Group up and running. The new venue is St Michael’s Hall, Summersdale Road, PO19 6PN. The group will meet on a Thursday from 10-11am, starting from 11 September.

Pilates exercises are mainly functional movements, which will improve your strength and flexibility for everything you do in daily life. Pilates focuses on strengthening every muscle in the body, so that they work in harmony together creating a balanced body. Muscle imbalances cause postural issues which can cause pain and injury, so reducing muscle imbalance will mean less pain, injury, and improved posture. Class numbers are kept under 12 to ensure Taya, the instructor, can give you the best feedback and one to one support.If you’re keen to simultaneously improve your strength, flexibility, alignment and posture, then Pilates may well be for you.

It is recommended you bring a Pilates mat, towel and water. The cost will be £8.50 per session (paid in advance by bank transfer) for each six-week block, a total of £51 for the six week block. This is non refundable to ensure we cover the cost of the hall rental and the instructor.
These classes already run in Emsworth and Havant u3a and have proved very popular so don’t delay in registering your interest.
Please use this link to contact the group.

Once the group is up and running, a group administrator/facilitator will be needed. Please say if this is something you’d be interested in taking on, it’s really straightforward and there always someone happy to help you if you get stuck.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

If you've not yet read the Spring/Summer issue of our local u3a magazine, you can find it HERE
If you're feeling creative, you can use this link to send Penny your contributions for upcoming issues at any time!

The next bulletin is due out on 4th July, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

Please send a message via the usual channels if you wish to have some item of u3a news put in the Bulletin. Likewise, please get in touch if you have any contributions or ideas on to how to improve the Bulletin, and especially if you would like to join our team!
Best wishes, Miriam Knight

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups News
National and Regional

Notices

Welcome to Jacky Easton, our new Chair!

Message from Jacky:

I am delighted and honoured to take on the role of Chair and I look forward to working with you all in this new capacity. I step into this position after Jill Cook’s dedicated leadership and hard work during the past three years as Chair and I hope to continue her excellent work. I wish her well as she takes her place at the helm of her boat and wish her fair winds, calm waters and lots of sunshine. My thanks go to our colleagues on the Committee who have ‘retired’ from their posts, to those who have stayed on and, to those who have stepped forward to fill various roles.

This isn’t my first role on the committee—I have previously served as Secretary and I will continue as the Group’s Team Coordinator. We continue to be grateful for the support we receive from all members who contribute in so many ways. We are a self-help organisation and Chichester u3a would not exist without your active participation. I look forward to working alongside you all during the next twelve months.

Jacky Easton

Summer Tea in the Bishop's Palace Gardens -
Tuesday 1 July from 2.30-4.30 pm

Volunteers Needed!

We are seeking volunteers for Chichester u3a’s Monthly Speakers Team.

The team’s role is booking speakers, giving the introductions on the day and doing the associated admin for the Monthly Talks which are held in the Assembly Rooms (starting at 2pm, usually on the third Thursday of the month). The talks are open to all our members and are very popular but we do need more members for the Speakers Team to ensure we can cover when people are away and to keep the talks going next year.

If you have basic computer literacy and can do emailing you might be just the person we need and we’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to know more please email speakers@chichesteru3a.org.uk and someone will get back to you.

Chichester u3a Magazine

Upcoming Events

June Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 3rd June, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Scheduled breakout session for: Sociable Strollers

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator.

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 12th June at 2pm

“The History of RAF Tangmere” a talk by Joe Marsden

Joe will give us a short history of the famous Battle of Britain airfield at RAF Tangmere and an introduction to the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum showing some of the themes and exhibits.
Joe served in the RAF for 30 years, as a pilot on Vulcan and Canberra aircraft and as a Fighter Controller both in the UK and the Falkland Islands. Subsequently he worked for a company contracted to NATO and later as a consultant at NATO in Brussels. On retirement he volunteered as a manager at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum and is now with the National Coastwatch Institution (Gosport) as a Watchkeeper, Deputy Station Manager and Training Officer

After the talk, free tea and coffee will be served.

Groups Notices

"I’m at the age where my mind still thinks I’m 29, my humor suggests I’m 12, and my body keeps reminding me I’m not." – Unknown

Relaunch of the Local History Group

Sandra and Fenella have been running the popular Local History Group very successfully for the past three years but they both feel it is time for a refresh.

They have planned an event in June but September's visit to Arundel to hear the history of the river will be their last outing before the group is relaunched next year. We would love to hear from members interested in exploring the history and fascinating stories of the area within 10 miles radius of Chichester- especially those willing to form a small team to run the group.

Huge thanks must go to Sandra and Fenella for their wonderful dedication and enthusiasm. They are very happy to support and share their knowledge and materials with new volunteers to help the group get restarted. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us here.

APPEAL from the Short Tennis, Pickleball and Badminton groups – we need your help!

These groups have each attracted at least 20 registered members. However, we need more members in order to guarantee filling the courts each week (to allow for members who are on holiday, ill, injured, on grandchild duty or just away living life to the full!).

There is no commitment to attend every week – just come along when you fancy a game. The groups are great fun; the members are very friendly and welcoming. Please do consider giving them a trial – come along for a taster session – we have spare rackets available.

Please use this link to register an interest

Pickleball meets on Tuesday 1.00-3.00 at Westgate leisure Centre – pay on entry, free parking

Players hit a light plastic ball across a net which is similar in height to a tennis net using lightweight “paddles" roughly double the size of table tennis bats. The rules have been evolved to limit aggressive play and to encourage placement and tactics above strength and power. Pickleball’s unique selling point is that it can be learned in minutes without extensive coaching. It fosters mobility, fitness and good health, it can be competitive... but is always fun!

Short Tennis meets on Wednesday 2.00-4.00 at Westgate Leisure Centre – pay on entry, free parking

It’s a great game, excellent exercise, sociable and fun. It’s played on a badminton court with the net lowered. It’s played with a short tennis racket and sponge balls, in doubles format. The speed of the light sponge ball dies rapidly so unlike lawn tennis it is not a power game, and mixed abilities can all contribute and enjoy the fun of long rallies – it is very good exercise. Short tennis is kind on the joints – another reason to give it a go.

Badminton meets on Thursday 10.00-12.00 at Westgate Leisure Centre – pay on entry, free parking

It’s a social and welcoming group playing doubles only, rotating partners so you get to play with everyone and take a break (if needed), with players of varying ability, having fun even if you have not played for a while. You just need to have a basic badminton ability and an awareness of the rules. Keep fit, have fun, meet new people and enjoy a coffee in the leisure centre café afterwards!,

Adult Swimming Classes for all abilities

Message from Westgate Leisure Centre:

Mon 5-6pm Intermediates
Wed 5-6pm Intermediates
Thu 11am-12noon Beginners
Fri 6-7pm all 3 stages

Fees: £12.30 per one hour lesson which is £51.25 per month via DD with a £25 admin fee.

If anyone is interested, you can pop into the membership team office, which is to the right as you enter the Leisure Centre. We use the teaching and main pool for delivery and all teachers are fully qualified.
There’s a nice testimonial from one of our older swimmers at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/eaWestgate/videos/1595567684463022

Sociable Strollers

This is a new group, set up in response to several members asking for a gentle walking group that would provide an opportunity to get some gentle exercise and meet other, like minded people.

The group went for their first walk on 22 May around Bishop’s Palace Gardens and were blessed with glorious weather. One of the walkers said it was “a pleasant walk with very nice people” So why don’t you join us for our next walk, taking place on Monday 23 June, meeting at Chichester canal cafe at 11am.

We will also be hosting a table at the coffee morning on 3 June, feel free to drop by for a chat.

If you want to join the group, please send your details to Val here.

Flower Arranging Group

Is your garden blooming? Would you like to find new and original ways of arranging the flowers and plants you are producing sustainably?

We now have some spaces in our Flower Arranging Group which meets every 3rd Tuesday in the month at Donnington Parish Hall West Wing from 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m. We would love you to join our lively group.

If you want to join the group, please contact Patricia here.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 13th June, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
National and Regional

Notices

Chichester U3A 2025 AGM - 2.00 p.m. Thursday, 15th May 2025 to be held in the Assembly Room, The Council House, North Street, Chichester

Further to our recent notification you can access the Agenda for the forthcoming AGM, together with reports from the Chair and Treasurer, and the Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2025, on the Chichester U3A website, using the password you have already received. You will also find a Proxy Voting form if you are unable to attend in person. The Proxy Voting form contains the list of Nominees seeking election to join the Committee. This should be sent to the Secretary either by email or post by Wednesday, 14th May.

We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us to celebrate the success of our u3a, to thank those Committee members who are retiring, and to secure the Committee for the forthcoming year. Tea and coffee is served from 1.15 p.m. onwards and we need a good proportion of members to be able to endorse the proposals. After the business has concluded we are looking forward to hearing from our speaker ……. Paul Barwick who will recount the story of Nancy Wake who became one of WW2’s most wanted spies as a member of the SOE.

We look forward to seeing you on 15th May to support our u3a.

Summer Tea

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday 1 July from 2.30-4.30 pm.

A special Tea for Chichester U3A Members only, will be held in a Marquee set up for 950th Cathedral Celebrations in the private part of the Bishop’s Palace’s Gardens. Tickets are £10, including a donation to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. Booking information will be available in due course.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 15th May after the AGM at 2pm

Paul Barwick's Talk: The White Mouse Nancy Wake-A Truly Remarkable Spy

Nancy Wake was an Australian woman who became one of World War 2’s most wanted spies as a member of the Special Operations Executive, fighting against the Occupying German Forces. Her story is one of courage, bravery and commitment to the Allied cause.

Paul Barwick comes from Watford in Hertfordshire. He spent 34 years in the Police Service culminating in a role focused on National Security and Public safety, working with partner agencies within the intelligence community.

Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the AGM will start at 2pm.

"I’ve learned so much from my mistakes… I’m thinking of making a few more!" – Unknown

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

The Spring/Summer issue of our local u3a magazine is in preparation. Click HERE if you haven't yet read the previous issue, and you can use this link to send Penny your contributions for upcoming issues any time!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code>

The next bulletin is due out on 30th May, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

Chichester U3A 2025 AGM - 2.00 p.m. Thursday, 15th May 2025 to be held in the Assembly Room, The Council House, North Street, Chichester

We look forward to seeing you on 15th May to support our u3a.

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries: If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07490 654524, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
Other Events

Notices

Call for Volunteers

We have 3 teams who share a rota to serve tea and coffee at the Assembly Room for our Monthly Talks, on the third Thursday of each month (except August). One of these teams is hoping to find a replacement team to enable them to retire – they’ve been serving teas at the Assembly Room for
several years.
We are therefore looking for volunteers to create a team – the kitchen at the Assembly Room is small so four is the maximum team on each occasion, but more people in the team gives more flexibility to allow for holidays and other absences.
At the moment tea is served at 1.15pm before the talk at 2.00pm, but as from June we are going to
offer tea AFTER the talk at 3.15pm, as we believe that this would be more sociable for the attendees.
The new team would only be “on duty” 4 times a year at the most. Do you have any friends who
might like to form a team with you? You could join the “duty” team at the May or June meeting to
see what they do, or one of the current Tea Team leaders would show you round the Assembly
Room kitchen.
Please contact the Chair to offer your help.

Chichester u3a Magazine - Last call for contributions!

You responded wonderfully to my request for pieces to go in the last edition, so I am hoping you will again this time. I am looking for items about your u3a activities, and those not related to u3a. Places you have visited. Journeys. Amusing anecdotes. Notable events. Anything that you think could be of interest to, and you would like to share with, your fellow members. But no politics please.

And pictures, lots of pictures...

I would also like to hear any ideas you have about content - what would you like to read about?

Please contact me here.

Many thanks,
Penny Blackmore Smith

Our winter issue is well worth a read, so click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and send me your contributions for the next edition!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code>

Upcoming Events

May Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 6th May, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 15th May at 2pm

Paul Barwick's Talk: The White Mouse Nancy Wake-A Truly Remarkable Spy

Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the talk will start at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"I’m not aging—I’m just increasing in value like a rare vintage wine… that occasionally spills on itself..." – Unknown

Curry Club

Steve is proposing the creation of a curry club meeting once a month on a Thursday night to enjoy good food, meeting new members and hopefully good conversation. Venue at various local Asian & curry restaurants. Cost what you eat plus any drinks. Let us know HERE if you’re interested.

New Latin Group

Are you intrigued by Latin? Are you interested in grammar and vocabulary? Would you like to be able to translate Latin inscriptions and quotations? We will use textbooks, exercises and reading to learn. This group is aimed at beginners and rusty returners. The proposed format is fortnightly meetings in person, likely to be Thursday mornings, starting in late May, at the leader's house just outside Chichester. If you have not yet been in touch, come along on the 6th May coffee morning, or for more information, or to register your interest, please contact Helen Dignum via the Groups Team message link HERE.

Art Group

Do you fancy discovering the artist in you? There are places left on the Art Group’s next six-month course starting on Monday 12 May. The group meets on the second Monday of each month, 2-4 pm at New Park Centre’s Jubilee Hall. The classes are led by u3a members Hannah and Linda and, although structured, the aim is to explore your creative side and enjoy the process. Class members are of varying abilities and experience and look at different techniques together to experiment with drawing, painting and other media. There is no need to have any previous experience or to have attended the previous course. Contact the Group Organiser to find out more via the Groups message link HERE.

The Launch of MOTO 3

MOTO 1 and 2 are hugely popular groups that are for members who live on their own or whose partners are unable to accompany them to social events. Since the groups started, a wide variety of outings have been enjoyed by members, including meals in local restaurants, drop in coffee mornings, cinema and theatre trips, garden visits, walks, day trips by train and coach, to name but a few. All MOTO members are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions, and in doing so, have given much pleasure to other members and contributed to the success of MOTO. Communication between members is by WhatsApp allowing gatherings to be easily and quickly arranged.

Both groups are now full with over 70 members each, so MOTO 3 will be launched in May. This new group will initially run with links to MOTO 2, along similar lines, including communication via WhatsApp, and with assistance from the current MOTO group admins. To continue it will, however, need one or two of the new members to agree to take on the admin for this new group.

If you would like to join the new group, come along to the May coffee morning in the Minerva Theatre Bar & Grill on Tuesday, May 6th or click on the link here.

Short, social walks

Some of our members have asked for a group offering short, social walks around central Chichester where there would be the opportunity to get some gentle exercise and then have a cuppa afterwards. If this something that would be of interest, please register your interest HERE.

If there is enough interest we will set up the group which will then need a coordinator. If you are interested in this role please let us know when you register your interest in the group.

Sugar and Spice Society

We would like to create an exciting new group for people who are interested in the history and origins of cakes and their ingredients. From monks to the great pâtissiers of the world, cakes have been created using carefully sourced ingredients or more basic ones using whatever ingredients are to hand.

Come along to learn about the origins of and ingredients of ‘the cake of the month’ and with a cup of coffee taste it and talk about it.
It is intended to hold the group on the 4^th Wednesday of the month 10:30 to 12:30. £2 per person towards coffee and cake.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday 23^rd April, at the Leaders Home, but new members are still welcome.

Please email social@chichesteru3a.org.uk for more details if you would like to join us.

Groups News

MOTO2 Get Creative with Clay at Pottery Workshop

On Friday 11th April, 10 enthusiastic members of MOTO2 took part in a hands-on pottery training session at the New Park Centre. The workshop was led by Jo, a talented member of the Southern Ceramic Group, who guided the group through the process of creating decorative ceramic tiles and wall art.

Jo’s expertise and passion for ceramics shone through as she introduced us to a range of techniques, from shaping and carving to adding textures and patterns. With her patient guidance, members unleashed their creativity, producing a variety of unique and personal pieces. The room buzzed with laughter, concentration, and the occasional splash of slip!

Once completed, Jo carefully collected the creations to be professionally fired in her kiln — ensuring that each masterpiece will be preserved and ready to display.

The session was not only a chance to learn a new skill but also a great opportunity for members to bond, relax, and express themselves in a completely different medium. A huge thank you to Jo for her inspiration and to everyone who took part — we can’t wait to see the final results which may be available in time for the next u3a coffee morning!

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a winter magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the next edition!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code>

Groups Notices

The next bulletin is due out on 9th May, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

This is a member update providing Advance Notice on the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Charity No 1037027

Chichester U3A Annual General Meeting – Advance Notice

THIS ADVANCE NOTICE IS TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FORTHCOMING AGM AND TO PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A NOMINATION, AND ALSO HOW TO VOTE BY PROXY IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE AGM IN PERSON. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE DOCUMENT.

The AGM will be held on Thursday 15th May 2025 in the Assembly Room of The Council House, North Street, Chichester PO19 1LQ (1^stfloor) starting at 2pm.

Agenda

An agenda will be published on the website in due course, together with reports from the Chair and Treasurer and up-to-date Accounts.

Proposed change to the Constitution (the current Constitution can be found on the Website)

In order to manage the many changes that have taken place in the organisation over the last few years, the Committee propose the following alterations to the Constitution (in bold) which allow more members to be elected to the Committee and clarify their role as Trustees:

“that Item 6 (ii) and (iii) be amended to read as follows:

(ii) Committee: The Committee shall consist of not less than 5 and not more than 12 members, being:

(a) The Honorary Officers specified in the preceding clause.

(b) Not less than 1 and not more than 8 members elected at the Annual General Meeting, who shall hold office from the conclusion of the meeting.

(iii) The Committee may in addition to 6 (ii) appoint not more than 3 co-opted Members who shall have full voting rights and have tenure until the next AGM.

and that Item 7 read as follows:

7. Election of Officers/Committee Members

(i) The election of members of the Committee shall be held at the AGM of the U3A. (ii) The newly elected Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the AGM. The Officers and other voting members of the committee shall be Trustees of the Charity.

(iii) Officers and Committee Members shall serve a period of 1 year. Retiring Officers and Committee Members may stand for re-election provided that no one may hold a single specific office, as defined in 6(i), for more than 3 consecutive years without an intervening period of at least one year. The maximum total period of service of any trustee shall be 9 years in any combination of roles whether or not the periods are contiguous.”

Committee Elections

In accordance with our constitution, the Offices of Hon Chair, Hon Vice Chair and Hon Treasurer will all become vacant this year. Patricia Lock is willing to stand for the Office of Hon Secretary for a further year. Several members of the current committee have also indicated their intention to step down at the AGM. Members are warmly invited to put their name forward for any of these posts, or for a place on the committee using the nomination form which will shortly be available on the website under ‘2025 AGM’ together with the Minutes of the 2024 AGM. Nominations should be proposed and seconded by two fellow members of Chichester u3a, and returned either on-line to secretary@chichesteru3a.org.uk, or as a paper copy to The Secretary, U3A Chichester, Box 809, Mailboxes Etc., 26 The Hornet, Chichester, PO19 7BB, by Thursday, 1st May 2025.

Proxy Voting

Proxy voting forms will be available on the Website on 2nd May 2025, and will also be sent to members with no email address. If you plan to vote by proxy you will need to return the completed form by 14th May 2025 at the latest either by email to secretary@chichesteru3a.org.uk or by post to: The Secretary, Chichester U3A, Box 809, Mailboxes etc, 26 The Hornet, Chichester PO19 7BB

Agenda, Forms and Reports

The following forms are available on our website at this link: https://www.chichesteru3a.org.uk/agm-2025/
This page is for members only, so to get access you must use the Password sent to you by email.

Agenda
Minutes of the last AGM
Chair’s Annual Report
Annual Accounts and Treasurer's report
Nomination to join the Committee
Proxy Voting Form

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07490 654524, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

Chichester u3a Magazine

I'm just starting to put together the next edition of the CHI u3a magazine to be issued at the end of May.

You responded wonderfully to my request for pieces to go in the last edition, so I am hoping you will again this time. I am looking for items about your u3a activities, and those not related to u3a. Places you have visited. Journeys . Amusing anecdotes. Notable events. Anything that you think could be of interest to, and you would like to share with, your fellow members. But no politics please.

And pictures, lots of pictures...

I would also like to hear any ideas you have about content - what would you like to read about?

Please contact me here.

Many thanks,
Penny Blackmore Smith

Chichester District Council Consultation

I just wanted to reach out to make you aware of new plans put forward by the District Council to tackle growing antisocial behaviour in Chichester.

For context, over the last several months there has been a growing problem of aggressive and antisocial behaviour in and around Eastgate Square which you may be aware of. The behaviour shown by some of those involved has been nothing short of appalling, and the Police have had to step in a number of times to prevent this.

Because of the growing scale of the issue, after some discussion with District Council officers they have now agreed to begin work to put in a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around the City centre. The PSPO gives the Police additional powers to prevent alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour around the City centre.

The District Council have started a consultation on the proposed PSPO, which you can find online here: https://letstalk.chichester.gov.uk/chichesterpspo/participate.

The survey closes on Tuesday 22nd April, and I am told that, if successfully implemented, the PSPO will come into effect by June this year. If you can, I would strongly encourage you to encourage your neighbours & other relatives to fill out the survey, since a larger response will encourage the District Council to take appropriate steps.

Needless to say, a PSPO is not a 'silver bullet' to resolve unwanted behaviour in our City, but it will be a useful tool tackle it.

Received from

James Vivian
District Councillor for Chichester Central
Chichester District Council

Upcoming Events

May Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 6th May 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

"I’ve still got a full deck… I just shuffle slower now." – Unknown

MEMORABLE BOOKS

Book Group 8 meets on the first Tuesday morning of the month and we are looking for new members. Each year we choose 10 books that everyone reads for discussion and they usually follow a theme. This year we have chosen books which individual members have identified as memorable. This has revealed some interesting and diverse choices. The list is available for anyone interested in joining us. Get in touch via the Groups message link HERE.

Are you a recorder player?

The Recorder Group has places available for new members! Maybe you’ve played the recorder in the past and would like to take it up again or maybe you play a little already but would like more experience in a serious group.
If so, you’re invited to come along one Tuesday afternoon and have a taster session with us. Nothing at all scary, but you would need a music stand and your own recorders (at least two sizes). The music is provided and would be quite straightforward for you on your visit. The group is friendly and supportive and will make you very welcome. We are currently 9 players and there’s plenty of room for more. (As with any u3a group, people move on from time to time).
Because this isn’t a beginners’ group, you need to know recorder fingerings, be able to play basic scales and arpeggios from music, understand basic rhythms and be at home with simple tunes. We play music for SATB and sometimes larger instruments and it ranges from early to modern composers. Once a month a recorder professional comes along to help players make progress and takes us through more challenging music. Inbetween I lead the group and help with basic skills. (The group has been running for 17 years). - Our tame professional would be only too happy to give a private lesson to anyone who hasn’t picked up their recorder in years and is uncertain about their playing.
Because it’s a serious group, we meet weekly and regular attendance (as far as possible) is looked for - so it isn’t a drop-in group or one for casual attendance. Everyone is rather serious about their playing as well as enjoying it and making progress.
We meet where I live on The Hornet in Chichester - on two bus routes (51 & 700), with car parks 6-8mins walk away. (One is free for 3 hours). The weekly sessions are from 2pm to 4pm in a large lounge at ground level, so no stairs to negotiate.
Advice is available on how to spread your recorder wings if you want to play more or in bigger groups. You can also borrow music to play at home.
The Recorder Group is definitely for the enthusiast who wants to improve their playing with regular weekly opportunities. We play all sorts of music from early to present day: tuneful and enjoyable stuff!
Let me know if you’d like to come along one Tuesday afternoon for a taster session by using the Contact form here on the website.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jean Campbell

Latin for Beginners and Improvers

Are you intrigued by Latin? Are you interested in grammar and vocabulary? Would you like to be able to translate Latin inscriptions and quotations? Learning together can be more fun and accountable, so I am seeking a few members who would like to work through Wheelock’s Latin or the Cambridge Latin course or similar book to learn (or relearn) latin. A possible format might be of fortnightly meetings in person or online to suit members.

To register your interest or to find out more, come along to the May 6th Coffee Morning or if you cannot make that please contact Helen Dignum via the Groups Team.

Proposed Trip to Flanders

The Bognor u3a Group is testing the waters to see if there would be any interest in joining a group visiting Flanders and the WW1 battlefields etc. They have done this several times before and would need about 20+ people to show interest, then Iain Palot, the Bognor organiser, will talk to our guide.

To register your interest please contact Iain at lesgrionettes@yahoo.co.uk.

Final shout out for the new Pilates group

You’ll have seen in the last couple of newsletters that, in response to requests from members, we are trying to launch a new Pilates group. The group will run on a Wednesday afternoon from 4.30 - 5.30 at Fishbourne church hall at the cost of £8 per session (paid in advance by bank transfer) for each six week block, this is a very competitive price.
If you want to be added to the group, don’t delay, please register your interest HERE

Groups News

Chichester U3A MOTO2 Visits the Heart of Democracy

On April 2nd, members of Chichester U3A’s MOTO2 group embarked on a fascinating visit to the Houses of Parliament, immersing themselves in the history and grandeur of one of the UK’s most iconic institutions. The trip provided an unforgettable opportunity to explore the heart of British democracy and gain insights into the workings of government.

Our guided tour took us through the historic corridors of power, where we marveled at the architectural beauty and rich heritage of the building. From the splendor of Westminster Hall to the intricate details of St. Stephen’s Chapel, every corner told a story of the nation’s political past. A highlight of the visit was stepping into the House of Lords, where we observed the opulent red benches and learned about the chamber’s vital role in shaping legislation.

Following our tour, we had the privilege of meeting our local MP, Jess Brown-Fuller. Engaging and insightful, she shared her experiences as a Member of Parliament and discussed key issues affecting our community. The session provided a valuable chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and responsibilities faced by our elected representatives.

The day was both educational and inspiring, leaving us with a renewed appreciation for the democratic process. It was a wonderful experience for all who attended, reinforcing the importance of civic engagement and political awareness. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this visit such a success!

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 25th April, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Welcome to the site where you can view the documents relating to our 2025 AGM to be held at the Assembly Rooms on May 15 starting at 2 pm. Click on the links below to see the relevant documents:

Notice of meeting

Agenda for the meeting

Minutes of the 2024 AGM.

Chair's report

Annual accounts and Treasurer's report (updated 24/04)

Nomination form, to be used for nomination to the committee.

Proxy vote form - available 2nd May 2025. To be used to assign a proxy to vote on your behalf if you are unable to come to the meeting.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Upcoming Events

April Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st April, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 10th April at 2pm

Please note that the talk is one week earlier than usual to avoid Easter.

Talk: The Wildlife of Sussex

Speaker: Michael Blencowe

The diverse habitats of this southern county support a wide range of amazing species. Michael Blencowe takes you on a guided tour from the rockpools through the woodlands and up onto the South Downs and we’ll meet some amazing wildlife along the way.

Michael is a naturalist, author and event leader. Over the past 15 years he has helped thousands of people to explore, understand, appreciate and celebrate their amazing wildlife heritage. He continues this work as The Sussex Naturalist, leading a busy programme of guided wildlife walks, education courses, landowner surveys and talks across Sussex and beyond.

Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the talk will start at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"I don’t let aging bother me. I just let everyone else be bothered by how awesome I am at it." – Betty White

Pilates Group

In the last bulletin on 14 March, we announced a new Pilates Group. The group will meet at Fishbourne church hall on a Wednesday afternoon, 4.30 - 5.30 pm. The cost will be £8 per session, paid in advance by bank transfer for each six week block; this is a really competitive price.

There has been some interest but we need a few more to sign up to make the group viable. If you have any questions or want to sign up, please get in touch with us via the Groups message link HERE.

Bridge for Fun - Group 3

This relatively new bridge group is sociable and welcoming, helping improvers find their “bridge legs” and enjoy the game. You don’t need a partner for this Chicago bridge. We play in Donnington Hall on Mondays from 10am to 12noon including Bank Holidays if players wish. Currently the cost is £30 for 10 sessions, payable in advance. To register your interest, please let us know via the Groups message link HERE.

U3A Croquet Group

We have a few vacancies for this season’s Croquet Group. We play on the first and third Wednesday of the month from 10am to noon at the Fishbourne Centre, Fishbourne. Free parking available on site. Croquet is a sociable, outdoor pursuit which is open to all. No experience is necessary as tuition is given. There is a charge of £7 per session to cover hire of ground, equipment and tuition. If you are interested in learning a new skill, please apply via the Groups message link HERE on our website.

Sugar and Spice Society

Come along to learn about the origins of and ingredients of ‘the cake of the month’ and with a cup of coffee taste it and talk about it.

It is intended to hold the group on the 4^th Wednesday of the month 10:30 to 12:30. Venue TBC.

More details the coffee morning on Tuesday 1^st April 2025.

If you are interested make contact via the Group's webpage.

National & Regional

Regional u3a

South East u3a Forum’s Summer School 2025
Monday 1st September to Thursday 4th September 2025

Course list and details are now available – see below

Thursday 10th April - Bookings will go ‘live’ by mid-day.

The courses are now finalised. Below is the list of 13 courses we are offering in 2025 – please browse through them, so you are ready to choose your favourite in April:

AI – Artificial Intelligence
History - Roman
Italian - Intermediates
Latin for Roman Britian & Beyond
Mah Jong - Intermediates
Mathematics – People & Paradoxes
Memory, Perception & Thinking – how it normally works well but, can go wrong
‘Operatunity’ - Opera Appreciation
Patchwork - Beginners
Philosophy - Introduction
Poetry – Australian poets
Walking – A Coastal Delight
Yoga – Mat, Standing & Seated

The prices for 2025 summer school are as follows:

En-Suite Accommodation £405.00	Standard Accommodation £375.00
Non-Residential with dinner £240.00	Non-Residential no dinner £180.00

The residential prices include accommodation, all meals and refreshments offered at break times and a ‘Welcome’ drink on the first evening, with a ‘Farewell’ drink on the last evening, both prior to dinner.

General Information Summer School This is primarily a 4-day residential Summer School held at the University of Chichester, although, participants do have the option to be non-residential. Extra details about the choice of accommodation, costings and payment along with other relevant information can be found on the General Information sheet 2025.

To help you answer those questions that come to mind, please see FAQs - 2025 for more details as the answer maybe there. If not, please get in touch, ways to do this are at the end of this update.

Evening Entertainment There will also be entertainment on campus each evening, which is included in the pricing for summer school. If you would like to attend the theatre on the Tuesday evening, this comes at an extra cost – ticket price to be released when the theatre gets us know the group price for individuals. Those who are interested will be notified as soon as we have the relevant information. The evening meal will be at an earlier time for the theatre goers, to accommodate the performance start time of 7.30pm. See the programme of events each evening below:

• Monday – Quiz night – getting to know each other and having fun
• Tuesday – Film night on campus – a recent film OR
• Tuesday – Theatre visit Chichester Festival Theatre – “Top Hat” production
• Wednesday – Speaker – TBC

Please note: All links can be downloaded

Please see the Forum’s Contact Us page for enquiries, see below:

• Chair South East u3a Forum - David Ashton
• Enquiries – General Summer School - Martin Livesey - sesummerschool@gmail.com
• Bookings Summer School - Kevin Stock - sebooksummerschool@gmail.com

Please use email in the first instance, but if you do not have email, please contact us on - Phone: 07749 0233766

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a winter magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the next edition!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code> Chichester u3a Magazine December 2024

The next bulletin is due out on 11th April, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

Do you have Wordpress Experience?

If you do, and have a little spare time to help maintain our website then please contact our WebMaster.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 20th March at 2pm

Life is a Lottery - Story of Mary Russell Mitford

This is the story of Mary Russell Mitford (1787 – 1855) who became a successful author, dramatist, poet and renowned prolific letter writer. She is best remembered today for ‘Our Village’, a series of essays describing village life, written from her tiny workers cottage where Mary lived with her mother and father after he had recklessly gambled and spent his way through two large fortunes, and despite constant family struggles to deal her father's wayward behaviour, she still managed to achieve literary success and popularity.

Our speaker, Nigel Gossop, has been a book collector, researcher and keen writer for more than forty years. During his time working as a local authority arts-officer he organised several literature festivals that developed his interest in literature and fired an enthusiasm for learning about the lives and works of ‘forgotten’ and lesser-known authors.

Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the talk will start at 2pm.

April Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st April, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Our March Coffee Morning will be held in the Cafe, upstairs at the MINERVA THEATRE. The Minerva is the building across from the Chichester Festival Theatre.
It's a great opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

"You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old."
- George Burns

World of Books

We currently have a couple of vacancies in our group. We meet on the last Friday of each month at one of our member’s home, near Donnington Parish Hall. It’s a really interesting group where you get to read a variety of books of your own choice.

If you want to know more, get in touch via the Groups message link HERE or pop along to the April coffee morning where we’ll have a table.

Climate Change Group

The climate change group have a meeting on the 19th March to listen to a presentation on how to retrofit an old house with insulation and green energy. We will also be discussing a potential response to the latest government consultations in land use planning which have some really important implications for this part of the country re housing development, agriculture, the environment and climate change. Please email Colin to let him know if you intend to join the meeting which will be at 2pm to 4pm in the Friends Meeting House, Priory Road Chichester.

Pilates Anyone?

Join a new friendly Pilates Group for Chichester u3a members at Fishbourne church hall, a light and comfortable space in which to switch off from the outside world and focus on you. It will be on a Wednesday 4.30 - 5.30 pm. Pilates exercises are mainly functional movements, which will improve your strength and flexibility for everything you do in daily life. Pilates focuses on strengthening every muscle in the body, so that they work in harmony together creating a balanced body. Muscle imbalances cause postural issues which can cause pain and injury, so reducing muscle imbalance will mean less pain, injury, and improved posture. Class numbers are kept under 12 to ensure Taya, the instructor, can give you the best feedback and one to one support.
If you’re keen to simultaneously improve your strength, flexibility, alignment and posture, then Pilates may well be for you.
It is recommended you bring a Pilates mat, towel and water. There is free parking at this venue. The group will run throughout the year. The cost will be £8 per session (paid in advance by bank transfer) for each six-week block. This is non refundable to ensure we cover the cost of the hall rental and the instructor.
These classes already run in Emsworth and Havant u3a and have proved very popular so don’t delay in registering your interest with Val Johnston at the Groups Team HERE.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a winter magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the spring edition!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code> Chichester u3a Magazine December 2024

The next bulletin is due out on 28th March, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Upcoming Events

March Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th March, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Our March Coffee Morning will be held in the Brasserie, downstairs at the MINERVA THEATRE (rather than upstairs.) The Minerva is the building across from the Chichester Festival Theatre.
It's a great opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 20th March at 2pm

Life is a Lottery - Story of Mary Russell Mitford

Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the talk will start at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled." – Plutarch

Interested in Impressionism?

We are thinking of starting a new group looking at the lives and art of the Impressionists. This is likely to be held at a central Chichester location in the afternoon on the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the month.

If you would be interested in joining the group, please let us know via the Groups message link HERE.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-february-2025-screenreader-edition

Chichester u3a Magazine

Our local u3a winter magazine is well worth a read, click HERE if you haven't yet read it, and start thinking about your contributions for the spring edition!

<code>Magazine December 2024</code> Chichester u3a Magazine December 2024

The next bulletin is due out on 14th March, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB. You can reach the Membership Secretary either via this link (membership secretary) or by calling 07490 654524.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Volunteers needed to join our Social Events team

One of our Committee members is responsible for the overall organisation of several social events during the year, and we are looking for volunteers to join the team. You might like to get involved with one event and take over the complete “package”, or be involved working with others for an event. For annual events (not the Coffee Mornings or Monthly Talks) we contact the members with the relevant details, use very simple spreadsheets to store attendance information, and confirm numbers and catering arrangements with the relevant venue. If you like working in your own time at home and liaising with members via email, then this might be a suitable role for you. Of course, it might be more enjoyable for you to attend the function, but this is not essential.
The events and regular activities which Chichester u3a currently runs, and for which we are seeking volunteer help, are as follows:
The Monthly Coffee Mornings (10am, first Tuesday of each month, at the Minerva Theatre). We need to liaise with the CFT caterers, draw up rotas of volunteers to Meet & Greet and to man the New Members’ “Welcome” table, and to liaise with the caterers;
The Monthly Talks (2pm, third Thursday of each month, at the Assembly Rooms). We have a Speakers’ team which is responsible for booking speakers, but the Social Events team agrees dates with the venue and checks dates with our IT team and Tea/Coffee servers. We also keep a rota of Meeters & Greeters for each Talk.
Every year we hold a Thank You Tea at the Minerva for all our volunteers, so we need to agree a date with the venue and send email invitations to all those who support our activities.
We have now booked two dates at Chichester College’s Restaurant 64 for our Christmas lunches; we send out details at the end of September and organise menus and table plans for the College.
On 1 st July we have permission from the Diocese of Chichester to hold a Summer Tea at the Bishop’s private Garden. This is still very much in the early planning stages: we need to liaise with the Diocese to agree arrangements. We held a similar event two years ago which was attended by 200 of our members – maybe you were there and were pleased that you could enjoy your tea sheltered from the rain in the lovely marquee. We are hoping for sunnier weather in 2025!
If you would like to be involved in one, or more, of these events, please contact Jill HERE via our website.

u3a Summer School at the University of Chichester
1^st – 4^th September 2025

The South East Forum of the u3a holds an annual Summer School for our region in Chichester every year. The flyer is 2025 - South East u3a Forum and you might be interested to know that details of the subjects on offer will be announced on 12^th March, with booking opening on 10^th April. Several of the subjects get booked up very quickly, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the website to see what is available.

This Summer School has been attended by several of Chichester u3a’s members over the last few years, and their comments have been extremely positive. You have the opportunity to socialise with members from other u3as and to join a variety of interest groups. There is entertainment included every evening at no extra cost (except a visit to Chichester Festival Theatre, for which you will have to pay). Accommodation at the University is available, but of course you can attend as a “day student”.

The costs for 2025 are £375 for residential, day attendance with an evening meal is £240 and without the evening meal £180. This allows you to attend a maximum of three courses.

Coffee Morning

Please note change of venue for March.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 20th February at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Joanna Foat: Discover the Exciting Tales of the Lumberjills

Join Chichester U3A for a lively and interactive talk from author and popular speaker, Joanna Foat. She will share the fascinating stories of what life was like for the young women living in the forests in WW2 while serving in the Women's Timber Corps.

You can see a selection of photos from Joanna's book here in an article in the Guardian entitled, "Great bunch of fellers: the heroic wartime lumberjills – in pictures"

About the speaker: Joanna has published a history book, her first novel on the Lumberjills, and is currently writing her second novel. She has given over a hundred talks, written an exhibition which is touring the forests in the UK and been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, TV’s How We Won The War, Walking Wartime Britain, BBC South TV and Dan Snow’s History Hit Podcast among many others.

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th March, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

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Our March Coffee Morning will be held in the Brasserie, downstairs at the MINERVA THEATRE (rather than upstairs.) The Minerva is the building across from the Chichester Festival Theatre.
You can use this opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

PRACTICAL SCIENCE GROUP
(All things weird and wonderful..)

The Practical Science Group will host a table at the March Coffee Morning, if you'd like to stop by and find out about what they will be getting up to this spring.

RESISTANCE TRAINING CLASS

More members are needed to keep the numbers up for this class - held at Westgate Leisure Centre on Wednesdays at 13:55 - or it will close. This resistance training class uses primarily body weight and various equipment. We occasionally do a circuit, which includes a cardio element. Resistance training is vital for string muscles to support the skeleton and cardio helps to keep us fit and young. We always do a stretch out at the end, to relax the body and ease the mind. It's a full service for your body.

If you'd like to try it out, just come to the leisure centre next Wednesday and ask at the desk for the u3a class with Melissa.

National & Regional

National u3a

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-winter-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 28th February, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Generally, people don’t realise that recorder playing is alive and kicking all over the UK, not just in amateur groups but professionally. The Chichester u3a Recorder Group is for players who have played in the past and want to take it up again. If you only play one instrument but are ready and willing to take on a second, then you’re also welcome. But only playing one instrument restricts playing opportunities for everyone else.

We meet weekly and all the music is provided. Like all instruments, you need to spend time working to play well, but it’s a wind instrument that doesn’t require an embouchure and, if you develop problems with fingers, there are specialists who can add keys to your recorder to fit your situation.

The range of music available to play is boundless! In Tuesday Recorders we don’t sit around playing Greensleeves: we play everything from the C15th through to the Wallace & Gromit theme tune. There are many living composers and arrangers who produce wonderful music for us to play and enjoy. We’ve even had a little suite of music written specially for us: The Chichester Miniatures.

Sometimes we’ve performed at u3a coffee mornings and even once up at the Festival Theatre at a morning for Under-Fives. We’ve taken part three times in the Chichester Festival of Dance, Music and Speech and been awarded 90% or more by the adjudicator. So this is the kind of group you would join: keen players, ambitious, focussed on achievement. And if you want to spread your recorder wings wider, We can help you do that.

If you think it’s a group for you, you can come as a visitor for a session to see how you get on. It’s a friendly supportive group and we will make you feel at home.

2024 Review

It has been a very exciting year for the group, starting with a physics session at Chichester College in February. Members built a variety of simple electric motors powered by a 3v battery. We also tested a number of different cloud chambers that visualize radiation. We generated the alpha particles from radon gas, strontium 90 and thoriated welding rods. A shocking event occurred when 100,000 volts were passed through our newest member when we generated static electricity from a van de Graaff machine. All the action was recorded for a video on You Tube commissioned by the U3A. This can be seen going to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSN6VqfXq8I

As the weather improved, a botany field trip was led by Helen on Pagham beach, showing the amazing colour and diversity of plants in such a hostile environment. These varied from the naturalized curry plant to the pretty perennial sweet pea.

In mid-summer out came the ultraviolet lamps for our mothing mornings with coffee and French pastries. An amazing 73 specimens were identified, including 4 Hawk moths and some less welcome guests, three rather irritable hornets.

Later this month Dave is leading a session on magnetism including an exciting attempt to create a magnetic suspension of luminous particles.

Just over a year ago I had an idea for a group but the logistics of starting up a group, especially one that would need space, and necessitate the hiring of a hall, was a little daunting at first. But I needn’t have worried because we are blessed with an excellent Groups’ Team and the Facilitator allocated to me, couldn’t have been more helpful. Armed with the easy-to-read guidelines and the supported with a Break-out Table at a monthly Coffee Morning made starting the group very straightforward.

And so, the Flower Arranging Group started up in February of last year, and we now have a strong core of keen members. We vary our sessions so that we are able to express our own creativity and artistry, but we also spend some time looking at traditional shapes. There is a wealth of excellent tutorials on the internet and we usually start by using one as a focus, and then enjoy constructing our own displays using the blooms/greenery we have collected ready for the session, as well as sourcing interesting and unusual containers. We have found that it is amazing just how much material we can forage from gardens and hedgerows. We are always surprised that our arrangements look so different at the end of a session although we have shared the same focus. How wonderful to find a medium that allows each of us to express our own individuality while producing something that will give pleasure to other folk.

To date we have produced: Easter baskets, asymmetrical and symmetrical triangular displays, horizontal table decorations, loose displays of garden produce, themed creations related to the ‘Olympics’, Valentine’s Day and to ‘Sunshine and Holidays’, and are looking ahead to creating Autumn wreaths and Christmas table centres. We are also planning a charity session when we hope to share some of our work with the local hospice.

This U3A bridge group is one of the oldest bridge groups in Chichester and after many years is still continuing to thrive. One reason is that it has a very friendly atmosphere. Another is its location with easy free parking and a light, warm but airy room with good facilities. It also operates 51 weeks of the year, meeting up every Wednesday afternoon. One of our players recently said:

“Our Bridge sessions give me mental exercise but also the opportunity to meet socially with others and enjoy conversation and laughter! All very important to our mental health in the Third Age group!”

We favour a friendly atmosphere to the more formal and competitive approach of some other clubs. We play standard card English Acol, Chicago style so everyone who turns up gets to play.

On-Line Bridge is also available to those members unable to attend the village hall. If you are a U3A member and would like to take up this opportunity, please do get in touch.

Using Bridge Base Online (BBO), John Harris organises the weekly games on Wednesday and extra games on other days by email. Once you have an account for this program it is easy to use as all you do is click on the link you are sent. It has the advantage of built-in audio and visual links so you can virtually play as normal.

Vacancies: We currently have vacancies for table play at the hall. Anyone who is past the beginner stage is welcome to just turn up for a trial session. All you need is a current U3A membership and the ability to play without basic instruction.

This group is for anyone who enjoys word games over a coffee and chat, with players ranging from well experienced to fairly new beginners.
We look to assist everyone to improve their Scrabble skills, and learn all the strange but legitimate words that appear only ever in a game of Scrabble.
It’s fun for all who take part and so if it sounds like your idea of a good afternoon, then come join us.

The History Magpies group was formed in 2023, on the basis that the past is full of all sorts of different stories of interest to all sorts of people. After some experimentation, we have arrived at a plan for each meeting where two people each give a short presentation on an historical topic of their own choice.

The styles of presentation vary from a very short introduction of a topic, of perhaps 15 minutes, to more detailed talks of up to 45 minutes. In all cases, the style is very informal and interactive, leading to wider discussions in the group. It is not surprising that an awareness of historical events often reflects into a discussion of the world around us today and its multitude of problems.

The tea/coffee break also provides an interlude for further exchange!

Our topics have often focussed on the lives of individuals e.g. Thomas Cromwell, Karl Marx, Otto von Bismarck, Peter the Great, Hernan Cortez. We also heard about the strong female Egyptian pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut, and the queen of Castile, Joanna the Mad, who may not have been as mad as was claimed by her son, Charles I, who dispatched her to a secure convent. In more recent history we reflected on the unfortunate family of Tsar Nicholas II, and also looked at the impact made by Clement Attlee both during World War II and the subsequent development of education, the welfare state, and the birth of the NHS.

Considering other peoples and events from across the globe, we have been introduced to the Aboriginal people of Australia, the Witches of Salem, the Indian mutiny, the rise of Islam, the English Civil War, and the little-known role that Heligoland played in recent conflicts in the North Sea. Our members have collected information from many different sources – personal history and interests, books and magazines, TV and radio podcasts and documentaries, and, of course, the internet!

We feel that ‘History Magpies’ is an appropriate description of our group aiming to collect little gems of interest from wherever they may be hidden.

The dog walking group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

Over the last year we’ve been out and about to places such as Dell Quay, Kingley Vale, Halnaker, Petworth, Binderton and Itchenor to name just a few of our walks.

The walks are a great way for people and dogs to socialise and get a bit of exercise and fresh air too!

We cycle for pleasure, not endurance, though of course, we do get the benefit of a gentle workout. We like interesting scenery, avoiding busy roads as much as possible. We also consider socialising and companionship as important as the exercise, normally making at least one refreshment stop en-route and finishing at a lunch venue. The conversations are always stimulating.

A rising trend in recent years is for electric bikes, and we now have more riders on electric bikes than traditional ones. A medium pace is chosen to keep the group together (and comfortable).

We have 2 rides each month, though recently we seem to have been plagued by rain predicted on our chosen days, which has forced a cancelation… (though we still try to meet up for a rendezvous at the lunch venue anyway!)

We try to make our rides as varied as possible, and as well as our stock of local rides we sometimes use the train or cars to access more distant locations, giving us a range from Bournemouth and the New Forest to Brighton, or inland to Petersfield or Horsham.

We are a friendly group of keen/experienced walkers who catch a bus/train to a walk start point within a ten-mile radius of Chichester. Walks are approximately 5 miles and can be either linear or circular with the option of lunch afterwards.
Walks take place on the third Wednesday of each month.

N.B. This group walks at a faster pace that the other Bus Walk Group.

We try and alternate between coastal and inland routes. Walks are approximately 5 miles and finish with a lunch stop for those who want it. We try to walk where we can see native flora: wild daffodils, bluebells and orchids to add to enjoyment. We ask new members if there are places they would like to walk. In the last 6 months we have walked a circular route from Cocking via Heyshott, Chidham Circular, Pagham Harbour, from Singleton via the Trundle to West Dean and Pagham RSPB to Selsey.

Some of Our Favourites

The Poetry and Prose for Pleasure Group has been meeting for eleven years and we have a different subject for each meeting, however we always have the same subject for the final meeting of our U3A year. That subject is ‘Our Favourites’, and here are some of our favourites for you to look up.

A Windy Day by Anne Bronte.
I love this poem, the picture it gives and the feeling it evokes in me.

Bright Star by John Keats ... because this sonnet is a beautiful, romantic homage to his close friend Fanny Brawne, (as portrayed in the 2009 film 'Bright Star') and because he is forever part of Chichester sitting quietly on the bench at the end of East Street!

maggie and milly and molly and may by e.e. cummings - this poem has been a favourite for many years. Although simple it explores happiness, comfort, friendship, fear, and reflection

My summer’s wish - Meryl Tookaram – because it expresses the longing we all have for our loved ones.

Refugees by Brian Bilston – a challenging poem because it describes the state of our society more than somewhat.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost - this poem tackles the eternal question of the choices we make in life.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Chichester u3a Magazine

In case you missed it, you can find the latest Chi u3a news magazine by clicking here, or by going to the Chichester u3a website and clicking on the link on the home page.
It contains contributions and pictures of the activities of many of the groups as well as articles of interest by and to members.
The next edition will be coming out in a few months, so if you would like to contribute as an individual or a group please contact the editor Penny Blackmore Smith here and she will tell you what to do.

Coffee Morning

Please note change of venue for February and March.

Helping out at the Hospital

Do you have some spare time?

Do you have a couple of free hours a week? The Friends of Chichester hospital are currently recruiting volunteers to work in their shop at St. Richard’s and/or take the trolley around some of the wards. They also need admin help in the office, it would be helpful if are familiar with excel, but not essential. The work is fun and interesting and is a great way to get more involved in the local community. The Friends help raise money for equipment and resources for the hospital and also provides a valuable service to staff and patients. You can read more about the work of the Friends at https://www.friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk/

If you are interested or want to know more, please email admin@friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk

A Member needs help with her book

A member of the non-fiction book group has asked, and:

This is a very ‘big ask,’ as they say so annoyingly nowadays, but I urgently need help to complete—and hopefully publish the memoir I’ve written and rewritten countless times over the years, and being that I’m now ninety, I don’t have time to waste. However, any volunteer must be unshockable, because it’s not a fairy story!

If you would like to help, please respond here and we will put you in touch.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th February, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

For February and March our Coffee Mornings will be held in the Brasserie, downstairs at the MINERVA THEATRE (rather than upstairs.) The Minerva is the building across from the Chichester Festival Theatre.
You can use this opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 20th February at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Joanna Foat: Discover the Exciting Tales of the Lumberjills

Groups Notices

PROPOSED SPANISH FOR HOLIDAYS GROUP

If you just need enough to get by for your holidays then this may be the course for you. We are thinking of running a short 6 week course, which will cover the basics re ordering food, hotels, tickets etc. Classes will be weekly and run for two hours. If you are interested can you please contact the Groups Team here for further information.

RESISTANCE TRAINING CLASS

If you'd like to try it out, just come to the leisure centre next Wednesday and ask at the desk for the u3a class with Melissa.

National & Regional

National u3a

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-winter-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 14th February, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th February, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Our Coffee Mornings are held in the Bar on the first floor of the MINERVA THEATRE building, opposite the Chichester Festival Theatre.
You can use this opportunity to chat with our groups team and learn about current and new offerings, meet old friends and make new ones!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

Gym Membership Trial

Is your New Year Resolution to GET FIT?

If you promised yourself that you would like to get fit in 2025, we have negotiated the opportunity for you to have a free three-day trial at The Nuffield Health gym in Chichester Gate. The trial would include the gym, the 20m pool, sauna and steam room. Many Chichester U3A members already visit there regularly so you may see some familiar faces when you go.

If you are interested please contact Brin Lewis via the Groups Team for further information.

Creative Writing

Would you like to be part of a new creative writing group? The Writing for Fun group has proved so popular that it now has a waiting list and, if enough members are interested, a new group seems to be called for. Contact us if you would like to join a group that will help you to get in touch with your creative side and get your ideas down on paper. If you would like to lead the new group, even better. Our current Writing for Fun group leader is happy to help with start-up advice.
If you are interested please let Alison know via the Groups Team.

Proposed Coach Trip to London

Would you like to join us on a coach trip to South Kensington on Thursday 13th March 2025?
You can visit the Science Museum or the Natural History Museum or shop at Harrods.
The cost of the trip is £30 pp and we need a minimum of 20 people to run this trip. The trip is being run by Westrings Coaches of Chichester. You can download their brochure at westringscoaches.co.uk.
If you are interested, please ring Malcolm on 01243 773177 to book your seat.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-winter-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 31st January, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Call for Volunteers

Happy New Year everyone!

Our u3a needs a continual flow of volunteers and would struggle to carry on without it. In order to survive and thrive we need an enthusiastic committee with the skills to make it effective and efficient to run. In April we have a number of members that will come to the end of their 3-year term on the Chichester u3a committee.

In addition to being part of a friendly and supportive committee, there are lots of potential benefits to being a committee member. These include working with others to achieve a shared goal; developing new skills; making and deepening friendships; a sense of achievement; and, of course, enjoyment and having fun.

The committee meets once a month, 10.00-12.00, at The Old Court Room, North Street, Chichester followed by a friendly gathering and beverage in the The Old Cross pub.

For more details please CONTACT US HERE.

Treasurer Required

Under the terms of the constitution the current treasurer has to step down in May at the end of his 3 year tenure. We are seeking a volunteer to fill the role from May. Very basic IT literacy and a basic understanding of receipts and payments bookwork would be an advantage but full training and support would be given. If you feel able to support your U3A in this role please contact the Treasurer HERE for an initial discussion.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 7th January, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 16th January at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Speaker: Harry Sherrard

Harry delivers talks on motoring and historical topics that harness a lifetime’s interest and passion and are supported by intensive research. This talk will be about Goodwood.

Talk: History of Goodwood Circuit

The Goodwood Estate, the Dukes of Richmond and how RAF Westhampnett morphed from a Battle of Britain airfield into the Goodwood we know today.

Groups Notices

Proposed new Dining Group

Do you enjoy dining in good company?

As the current dining groups are all fully subscribed, we would like to gauge interest in a new one. Meals, (dinner, lunch or afternoon tea) would be arranged once a month at local restaurants with the aim of sampling good food whilst relaxing in good company, and sharing and exchanging ideas and life experiences.

Venues, dates and times will be discussed and agreed by group members with each member paying for their own food and drinks. If you are interested, please let us know by contacting the Groups Team.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-winter-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 17th January, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Our winter magazine is well worth a read, click on the image to read it!

Magazine December 2024

or download the pdf file.

If the links in the Magazine don't work for you please use the following instead:

To contact the Editor Click Here
To contact the Bridge for Fun Group Click Here

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
National u3a

Notices

Change of our u3a Phone Number

Please note that the u3a contact number has changed to 07490 654524

Our preferred method of contact is by email, but if you need to phone you can leave a message, including your name and phone number, and someone from the membership team will call you back.

Reminder Re: u3a Christmas Lunches
on 4 & 13 December

At Restaurant 64, located on the Ground Floor of Block B at Chichester College.
Please will you be sure to arrive by 12.15pm at the latest, as we must be seated by 12.30pm.
The College has a registration plate recognition system, so you will be asked for your registration number as you enter the Restaurant. Please make sure that you give the correct number, because otherwise you may incur a parking fine.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 3rd December, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 12th December at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Speaker: Nick Johnston-Jones with
"A Brief History of Heroism"

This talk is about how the concept of heroism has evolved over the centuries since its origins in Classical mythology. Looking at a range of heroic models in history and literature, Nick poses the question: do we now live in a post-heroic age?

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-winter-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 13th December, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Change of our u3a Phone Number

Please note that the u3a contact number has changed to 07490 654524

Our preferred method of contact is by email, but if you need to phone you can leave a message, including your name and phone number, and someone from the membership team will call you back.

A message from the Groups’ Team

If you’d like to join up with a few like-minded people to do something that is not currently on offer or the group you’d like to join is full, please read on . . .

The key principle of the U3A movement is that we do things together for ourselves and our members and the Groups’ Team is always on hand for every step of a new set up and beyond. You don’t need to have any experience of running things as the Groups’ Team will provide guidance and support, especially during the set-up phase of a new group. No-one else is going to step in and offer to do things – it’s up to us, and if we don’t do it, then it won’t happen!

So, if you have the beginnings of an idea, please talk to the Groups’ Team. A quick chat will let you see what is involved in relation to your specific suggestion and get the ball rolling! We can then test the waters and gauge interest via the bulletin.

To contact members of the Groups’ Team, please send an email to groups@chichesteru3a.org.uk

One of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Waterlooville u3a

Spaces are still available for the Waterlooville u3a Annual Lecture
at Cosham Baptist Church, Havant Road, Cosham PO6 2QZ

Sohail Husain will speak about the incredible journey of his parents, a German refugee and an Indian migrant, and the families left behind as told in his book, Beyond Beliefs: The incredible true story of a German refugee, an Indian migrant and the families left behind

Books will be on sale after the talk

Ticket Event – Wednesday 20 November 2024 – 2.00pm to 4.00pm

This ticketed event is ‘Free’ but please book. To book tickets contact Linda at: lindazika84@hotmail.com

Midhurst u3a

Midhurst u3a invites members to join their trip to
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

Mini coach trip - Wednesday 4^th December 2024 - £28

The Christmas market is said to be ‘The Best in Europe’. It’s renowned for its bustling atmosphere in the historic grounds featuring pretty wooden chalets displaying Christmas wares. The market is magical, lit with festive lights, the sound of Christmas carols and the aroma of mulled wine mixed with cinnamon.

There will be time for you to find a place for lunch or wander around the magnificent cathedral and explore over 1,000 years of history. Closer to the date, check the Cathedral website for Advent and Christmas services and listen to wonderful singing by an internationally acclaimed choir.

Date : Wednesday 4 December

Pick up - The Grange Car Park, Midhurst for 9.30 am departure

Arrive back at Midhurst about 4.00 pm

Contact Tricia Stephens for full information at triciastephens3@gmail.comor phone 01798342016. book tickets contact Linda at: lindazika84@hotmail.com

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 21st November at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: Journeys in Biology: DNA and the Genome Revolution

Our speaker will be Darren Gowers, who will take you on a tour down into the microscopic world of a cell and explore what makes them tick! We’ll look at the central importance of DNA (or RNA if you’re a virus!) and what a gene is. From here,
we’ll think about why understanding genes and genomes helps us investigate medicines. There will be opportunities to handle and explore some 3D-printed molecules, so you can see up close ho lumpy and bumpy the molecular world is. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion at the end.

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

Bridge for Fun Group 3

Have you taken some bridge classes but don’t feel confident enough to join an established bridge club?
Our relatively new group aims to be very sociable and welcoming, helping everyone to find their bridge “legs” and enjoy the game. You don’t need a partner. We meet at Donnington Hall on Mondays 10am to 12noon. The cost for the current 10 weeks term is £2.10 per session of Chicago bridge. To register your interest email groups@chichesteru3a.org.uk.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-autumn-2024-screenreader-edition

NOTE: A new issue has just been published, but it is not up on the national website yet.

The next bulletin is due out on 29th November, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
National u3a

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 5th November, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be three breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

Family History Group
Classic Literature Group
MOTO 2 Group.

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 21st November at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: Journeys in Biology: DNA and the Genome Revolution

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

MOTO 2

MOTO is a hugely popular group that is for members who live on their own or whose partners are unable to accompany them to social events. Since the group first started, a wide variety of outings have been enjoyed by members, including meals in local restaurants, drop in coffee mornings, cinema and theatre trips, garden visits, walks, day trips by train and coach, to name but a few. All MOTO members are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions, and in doing so, have given much pleasure to other members and contributed to the success of MOTO.

This group is now full with over 70 members, so MOTO 2 is now being launched. This new group will initially run with links and access to MOTO 1, along similar lines and with assistance from the current MOTO group leaders.

If you would like to join the new group, come along to the November coffee morning in the Minerva Theatre Bar & Grill on Tuesday 5th November or click on this link to register your interest.

Groups News

Climate Change Group

Adapting to Climate Change. Brief note on a fascinating public meeting.

The meeting, held in the Assembly Rooms on the 15^th Oct was very well attended and extremely interesting. U3A Chichester’s Climate Change Group (CCG) worked with Transition Chichester in organising the meeting.

The climate is changing and the meeting was focused on adaptation, preparing ourselves for what is coming. We cannot influence the climate however much we cut our emissions, the atmosphere is global, but we can ensure that we are as well prepared as possible for the impacts resulting from the changing climate. Inundation of coastal areas, flash floods from torrential rain, the need for improving our drainage systems and the crazy issue of new residential developments being approved on land which will surely be flooded, were recurring themes throughout. Helping nature to help us through biodiversity resilience, rewilding, regenerative agriculture, afforestation were all discussed.

But the presentations and discussions also emphasised the fact that the services of the councils are very finite and the public must accept responsibility for understanding the threats and how best they can contribute to the overall effort of adaptation.

As with most meetings, there is considerable follow-up, including responses to detailed questions which needed further research.

We were extremely grateful to the chairman and speakers for the time they gave us in illustrating the regional priorities of climate change adaptation and responding to the many questions and comments.

This was the second of a series of publicised meetings on Adaptation by the Transition Chichester Climate Change Group which will be held over the next 12 to 14 months and u3a members are very much encouraged to attend. Further details on these meetings can be found on the following link. https://www.transitionchichester.org/chichester-climate-change-group/

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-autumn-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 8th November, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Christmas Lunch 2024 at Chichester College

Wednesday 4^th December at 12:15 pm - 3:15 pm (13th December fully booked)

There are some places available for the lunch on Wednesday 4th December, but the 13th December is now fully booked and there is a waiting list.
A Welcome drink, three course lunch and coffee costs £32.00 per person, not including wine or other drinks with your meal. You can order these at your table. Each table can seat up to 8 people.

We have to give menu choices to the College by Friday 18 th October. You may book as individuals, couples or as a Group booking. If you are booking for your Group, it would be helpful to have one person making the bookings and payment. Please send an email using this LINK as soon as possible giving the names of the people you are booking for, together with their menu choices, which you can find HERE. You can find a list of allergens HERE.

Payment: We will contact you after we receive your booking choices to give you details of how to pay, by a bank transfer. Please note that this is the only method of payment. Please do NOT try to pay until we contact you.

There will be parking spaces at the College, including for disabled drivers, but both will be limited, so please consider car-sharing.

Renew Your Membership - Last Chance!

A number of our members have yet to renew their membership for 2024/25. The renewal payment was due by September 1st. Anybody who has not paid by the end of October will be removed from our active membership and will not be able to take part in any Chichester u3a activities. Please check your records to ensure that if you wish to stay, that your payment has in fact been made. Any doubts, please contact the Membership Team. See my recent emails or check the website HERE for details on how to pay.
Peter Robinson
Membership Team

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 24th October at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: “Tales of a Roving Reporter”

Our speaker will be Alun Jones.
Twenty years of weird, wonderful, and downright crazy stories, from nudists to royalty, dangerous animals, and nervous Bishops.Anything can happen and go wrong when there is a “Live Microphone” Enjoy anecdotes from the unfortunate experiences of a radio reporter and discover what really happens “On” and “Off Air

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood and Chichester Cathedral Choir
CHRISTMAS CONCERT

We have 20 tickets for the above concert on Tuesday 3^rd December at 19:30.
The tickets are £36.00 each, reduced from £40.00
Booking is open HERE ON OUR WEBSITE and will close on Monday 21^st October. You can book up to 4 tickets.
Please make your payment, using our pay u3a page, when you book your ticket. The Social Trip is the “Christmas Concert”.

‘Brimming with cherished carols and classic Christmas melodies, alongside some enchanting new arrangements, you’ll also have a chance to cast your vote for Chichester’s Favourite Christmas Song for an uplifting rendition of the winning number, complete with an audience sing-along!

This festive celebration promises to wrap you in the warm glow of holiday spirit.’

Groups Notices

Want to Research your Family History?

Our Family History Group are planning another series of informal meetings to guide you on how to start your family history research. The meetings start in January 2025 in Chichester. You can find out more in the “Interest Groups” section of the website.
Please contact the FH Group organiser for more information and indicate your interest as numbers are limited. We are also planning to have a table at the November Coffee Morning

PROMOTING FELPHAM BRIDGE GROUP (‘FBG’)

This notice is addressed mainly to those who already play ‘Bridge for Fun’ at one of our existing groups (at Boxgrove or Donnington) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Just in case you have the time and inclination to play more Bridge each week, please consider the following:
The FBG, our longest standing Bridge group, has always met at Felpham Memorial Hall on Wednesdays from the days when it was our only bridge group. Just now we are experiencing a slight decrease in numbers attending and are having to temporarily raise our attendance fee to £3 to cover the hire of the large Hall. For this reason, we are hoping to attract a few more regular playing members. Most of our FBG fraternity play at least two days each week. Those who play competitive Duplicate bridge elsewhere enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere at Felpham and play ‘for fun’ as a welcome change.
At FBG we play 4-card standard English Acol in the Chicago format. For anyone who has recently completed a beginner’s course, this is the perfect environment to mix with more experienced players who are only too pleased to encourage and inform new members. As we start from 1:15 onwards and play until 4:30pm with a short break for tea and biscuits (included), this means you get a lot of bridge for minimal expense and the whole experience is well worth the 20-minute drive. The venue is Felpham Memorial Hall, Vicarage Lane, Felpham. PO22 7DZ.
Please feel free to simply turn up any Wednesday for a trial visit and we hope you will enjoy it enough to come again. (Just bring £3 cash and a note of your U3A membership number, but keep your crib sheet out of sight!)
Clive Grinyer (FBG)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Proposed Classic Literature Group

Classic literature is quite simply the very best that has been written in English over the centuries. We will sample a ‘taster menu’ of landmark texts, from Shakespeare to the modern day, including classic American works. Each month an iconic author will be introduced and discussed, with recommendations for further reading. Suggestions from the group are also welcomed.

Nick Johnston-Jones, the leader of the proposed group, has 20 years’ experience teaching and publishing on literary topics, and is the author of 3 novels, none of them classics - yet!

Please click on this link to register your interest

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-autumn-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 25th October, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
National u3a

Notices

Christmas Lunches 2024 at Chichester College

Wednesday 4^th December and Friday 13^th December

We have again booked Chichester College for our Christmas lunches this year, and booking will open on Monday 30^th September and close on Friday 18^th October.

A Welcome drink, three course lunch and coffee costs £32.00 per person, not including wine or other drinks with your meal. You can order these at your table.

Please read carefully the booking instructions below.

This year we have 70 places available on both days, with tables of up to 8 people, for members only. We will be running a waiting list for members and if we don’t fill our spaces we will open up to members’ partners, even if not u3a members.

You can see the menu attached here, including allergens and dietary requirements.

We have to give menu choices to the College by Friday 18^th October, together with the payment **. You may book as individuals, couples or as a Group booking. If you are booking for your Group, it would be helpful to have one person making the bookings and payment. Please send an email as soon as possible with the day you wish to attend, the names of the people you are booking for, together with their menu choices. Please click here to connect to our contact form.

** Payment: We will contact you after we receive your booking choices to give you details of how to pay by a bank transfer through our website. Please note that this is the only method of payment. Please do NOT try to pay until we contact you.

There will be parking spaces at the College, including for disabled drivers, but both will be limited, so please consider car-sharing.

One of our members has very kindly offered to handle the bookings for the Christmas lunch this year, so all communications will be with her. We are most grateful to her for her time and commitment.

Look forward to seeing you nearer Christmas!

Jill
Chair, Chichester u3a

The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood and Chichester Cathedral Choir
CHRISTMAS CONCERT

We have 20 tickets for the above concert on Tuesday

3^rd December at 19:30.

The tickets are £36.00 each, reduced from £40.00

Booking opens on Saturday 28^th September and will close on

Monday 21^st October. Please make your payment when you book your ticket. (Look for "Christmas Concert" on our website to find the booking page. We will have a link to it in the next bulletin.)

This festive celebration promises to wrap you in the warm glow of holiday spirit.’

Your Holiday Newsletter Needs YOU!

Hello U3A members,

In the late autumn we are planning to reintroduce the Chichester U3A Quarterly Newsletter, so it's time to get those creative juices flowing.

Unlike the bulletin, the Newsletter will focus on what has been happening within the various local groups. So, lots of pics please, amusing anecdotes, notable achievements or not so notable ones: it will all be welcome!

This will be your chance, as an individual member, to share with us what interests you, from Mudlarking to MahJong, Sky Diving to Sewing, Bird Watching to Bridge. Tell us why and what, and about your favourite places, books, movies and music.

There will be regular features, competitions and national U3A news, but mostly it will be your magazine, and as well as contributions and photos, I would welcome ideas on what you would like to see in the publication.

So please get in touch, and you can message me HERE.

I look forward to hearing from you!
Penelope Blackmore Smith

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st October, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be two breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

MOTO 2
Beginners Greek

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 24th October at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: “Tales of a Roving Reporter”

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

World of Books 2

World Books 2 would welcome new members. We meet on the 2nd Friday each month from 10.15-12.15 hosted in member's homes, where there is sufficient space. Each month we travel to a different country, choosing our own books to read, fiction or non-fiction, then presenting a brief report to the group for discussion (we usually spend 10-15 mins on each book). We have travelled widely, including to Austria, Peru, France, India and Australia. We break for refreshments in the middle of the session. Click on this link to register your interest.

THE LAUNCH of MOTO 2

MOTO is a hugely popular group that is for members who live on their own or whose partners are unable to accompany them to social events. Since the group first started, a wide variety of outings have been enjoyed by members, including meals in local restaurants, drop in coffee mornings, cinema and theatre trips, garden visits, walks, day trips by train and coach, to name but a few. All MOTO members are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions, and in doing so, have given much pleasure to other members and contributed to the success of MOTO.

This group is now full with over 70 members, so MOTO 2 will be launched in October. This new group will initially run with links and access to MOTO 1, along similar lines and with assistance from the current MOTO group leaders.

If you would like to join the new group, come along to the October coffee morning in the Minerva Theatre Bar & Grill on Tuesday 1st October or click on this link to register your interest.

Ukelele

We are planning to have another try at starting a Ukulele Group at Chichester U3A. it could be a beginners group or a group for people who already have some ability or a group for both. The details of when and where the group will meet is open for discussion and depends on the size of the group.here are ukulele groups all over the country, singing and strumming chord accompaniment to popular songs from the 20’s to today. For beginners it’s inexpensive, a starter instrument and electronic tuner, are all you need. No music theory or scales to learn come along and you can play the ukulele in just a few lessons. Playing an instrument is both a mental and manual skill

click on this link to register your interest

The Art Group

Do you fancy discovering the artist in you? There are a couple of places left on the Art Group’s next six-month course starting on Monday 11 November. The group meets on the second Monday of each month, 2-4 pm at New Park Centre’s Jubilee Hall. The classes are led by u3a members Linda and Hannah and, although structured, the aim is to explore your creative side and enjoy the process. Class members are of varying abilities and experience and look at different techniques together to experiment with drawing, painting and collage. There is no need to have any previous experience or to have attended the previous course. Contact the Group Organiser to find out more

Please contact the Groups Team here.

Flower Arranging Group

Need to express your artistic side differently? Then why not join our Flower Arranging Group that meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the West Wing of Donnington Parish Hall from 2.00 - 4.00 p.m.
Each session we share ideas that reflect either the season or can be linked to a current theme/event. So far we have explored traditional shapes, but also some more contemporary arrangements, and created stunning Easter baskets, loose tied bouquets of Summer blooms and greenery straight from the garden, formal horizontal table centre pieces, button-holes, and creations related to “Valentines’ Day”, the Olympics” and “Sunshine and Holidays’’. We also enjoyed a visit to the Chichester Cathedral Flower Festival in June.

We start our sessions with a video tutorial and break for tea/coffee and biscuits part way through,

Our next session (15th October) will focus on producing Autumn wreaths using dried flowers, leaves, nuts and gourds. In November we will be donating our creations to a local hospice, and the December session will be centred on Christmas table decorations using fresh flowers and candles. We would love you to join us …. just come along or contact the group leader via the website for more information.

Click on this link to register your interest

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-autumn-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 11th October, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
National u3a

Notices

STOP PRESS: GOODWOOD HOUSE AFTERNOON TEA AND TOUR, SUNDAY 15^th SEPTEMBER

Due to a last-minute cancellation, there are two tickets available for the u3a visit to Goodwood House, with tea, at 2pm this Sunday, 15^th September.

If you would like to take up one or both places, you should email chair@chichesteru3a.org.uk as soon as possible. The tickets cost £34.00 each.

Are you handy with a teapot?

If so, and if you could spare an hour on a Thursday afternoon about once every two months, the Tea
Teams at the Monthly Talks at the Assembly Room would be very glad of your assistance.
We have two small teams who meet at about 1pm to start serving tea and coffee from 1.15pm till
1.45pm before the Talk begins at 2.00pm. The teams alternate each month so you would not be
required more than six times a year, at the absolute maximum.
Please contact the Chair at chair@chichesteru3a.org.uk if you can volunteer your time. Many thanks

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 19th September at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: Origins of Sayings Used in Everyday Language

Our speaker will be Madeleine Salvetti. Her talk is titled “Origins Behind Our Sayings Used in Everyday Language.” Madeleine taught for a number of years in Portsmouth and has also trained as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide – She is now involved with Viking Cruise ships. She is a founder member of Rowans Hospice and is currently involved with the QA Hospital League of Friends.

Most of us are unaware of the origin of phrases we use automatically – but do we know why we use these phrases: Flash in the pan? Cat got your tongue? Bite the bullet? Ever wondered where some of our sayings come from? A month after the talk, you will be more aware and curious.

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 1st October, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

MOTO 2

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Groups Notices

"The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."
--Albert Einstein

THE LAUNCH of MOTO 2

MOTO is a hugely popular group that is for members who live on their own or whose partners are unable to accompany them to social events. Since the group first started, a wide variety of outings have been enjoyed by members, including meals in local restaurants, drop in coffee mornings, cinema and theatre trips, garden visits, walks, day trips by train and coach, to name but a few. All MOTO members are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions, and in doing so, have given much pleasure to other members and contributed to the success of MOTO.

This group is now full with over 70 members, so MOTO 2 will be launched in October. This new group will initially run with links and access to MOTO 1, along similar lines and with assistance from the current MOTO group leaders.

If you would like to join the new group, come along to the October coffee morning in the Minerva Theatre Bar & Grill on Tuesday 1st October or click on this link to register your interest.

Ukelele

There are ukulele groups all over the country, singing and strumming chord accompaniment to popular songs from the 20’s to today. For beginners it’s inexpensive, a starter instrument and electronic tuner, are all you need. No music theory or scales to learn come along and you can play the ukulele in just a few lessons. Playing an instrument is both a mental and manual skill.

In the first instance please contact the Groups Team here.

Groups News

Climate Change Group (Notice from 24/08/24)

When a member of Chichester u3a joins an Interest Group or agrees to receive our fortnightly Bulletin, he/she is giving permission for his email address to be used for communication by the Group Leader and by the Bulletin/Newsletter team. Direct communication from a member to other members, unless they have agreed to this, is not permitted under GDPR.

We therefore use the Bulletin for all communications to members (apart from internal Group correspondence) and any member wishing to notify the membership as a whole should in the first instance contact the Bulletin team. If there is any doubt about a notice conforming with the GDPR requirements, the Committee (who are Trustees of the Chichester u3a) will make the final decision as to its publication in the Bulletin.

Colin McKenna (Leader of the Climate Change Group) would like members’ attention to be drawn to the following:

Chichester District Council consults on its proposals to address climate change once every 5 years. The Consultation is included in the District Council’s “Initiatives” magazine which was circulated to households in Chichester District in July. It is also available online at https://letstalk.chichester.gov.uk/climatechange/participate

Local politicians have indicated that the priority the Council give this issue will depend on the results of the consultation.

The Chichester u3a Climate Change Group have been pressing the District Council to consider more proposals

to reduce the impact of intense rainfall and other extreme weather by considering more proposals for capturing water flow before it runs quickly from hard surfaces (houses roads, buildings etc) into watercourses. So, for example, planting more trees, persuading more people to have porous surfaces in their gardens and persuading businesses and other users to reduce areas of impermeable hard standing are all proposals that help this effect. Such action would also reduce sewage overspills until the water companies invest in better drainage and sewerage infrastructure. There are proposals such as these in the consultation.

As you probably know, Chichester, Bognor, the Manhood peninsula, coastal areas bordering Chichester Harbour and the Lavant Valley are vulnerable to flooding. And the area is affected by all 3 types of flooding: coastal, river, and ground water. In addition it is affected by sea level rise, with the possibility of widespread inundation forecast later this century.

So while the Council’s proposals to reduce carbon emissions is important, unfortunately what can be done locally is a mere drop in the ocean compared to actions that governments can take at the international level. So we think the important priority for this area, now, is to ramp up measures to adapt Chichester and the wider area to the relentless pressure of more frequent extreme weather events rather than focusing, say, on the purchase by the Council of electric waste collection vehicles. However, sometimes the two initiatives (reducing carbon and adaptation) run together. To counteract extremely hot days of which more are likely in future summers, achieving better insulated homes will make our homes cooler. It will also, of course, reduce carbon emissions as well as making our homes warmer in the winter and saving us money in the long run. The Council has proposals in this area which it wants feedback on.

But the important thing before 30th September is to focus on what climate change proposals the Council should give more attention to by responding to the District Council’s consultation.

National & Regional

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 27th September, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

Message from the Groups Team

Groups are frequently started by just a few u3a members getting together for an informal chat about an interest they all share. Perhaps you’d like to join up with a few like-minded people to do something that is not currently on offer, but you feel apprehensive at the thought of suggesting a new group. The Groups Team is here to offer guidance, support and advice with every stage of a new set up.
We have many skilled and talented people in the u3a and some are willing to set up a group to share their skills and experience, but you don’t have to have any previous experience to help set up and organise a group. The term ‘Group Leader’ is just a name the u3a gives to anyone who volunteers to help organise a group. The key principle of the U3A movement is self-help – so basically, we do things together for ourselves and our members. No-one else is going to step in and offer to do things – it’s up to us, and if we don’t do it, then it won’t happen!
So, if you have the beginnings of an idea, please contact the Groups Team HERE, and a quick chat will let you see what is involved in relation to your specific suggestion and get the ball rolling!
We look forward to hearing from you - thank you

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 3rd September, 10am - 12 noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be three breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

20th Century Poetry
Crime Fiction Book Group
Wine Tasting Group.

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

U3a Quiz Evenings

We are having a break from Quiz evenings for a few months, but may start again in the New Year.
This depends on finding a central venue which will appeal to our quizzing members. If anyone has
any suggestions for a venue please contact social@chichesteru3a.org.uk.
In the meantime thank you for supporting our Quizzes over recent months, and we hope to see you
again soon.

Monthly Meeting on Thursday, 19th September at 2pm at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Talk: Origins of Sayings Used in Everyday Language

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."
--Albert Einstein

Astronomy for Beginners

We tried to start an Astronomy Group for Chichester u3a earlier this year but there wasn't anyone who could provide the necessary expertise in the subject. Happily Trevor Pitt at Bognor u3a will be starting the rerun of his Astronomy for Beginners course at North Bersted in September. This is loosely based on the GCSE course, just for interest with no tests or homework, and runs for 2 years. It is held on the second Monday of the month from 2pm-4pm at the Jubilee Hall, Chalcraft Lane, North Bersted PO21 5TU (free car park, nearest bus stop from Chichester is Royal Oak on the 700 route). Attendees pay £2 on the door, you would also need to join Bognor u3a as an Associate Member at £6.50 a year (you can attend one session without doing this to see what it’s like). Further details and contact link at Bognor u3a.

Tai Chi Group Needs Instructor!

Unfortunately the Tai Chi Group has had to close due to the fact that The Westgate Centre have been unable to secure a new tutor.

If anyone knows a Tai Chi Instructor who may be interested in teaching a group of u3a members independently from the Westgate Centre, please get in touch with Margaret HERE.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Group.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 13th September, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

•   Notices
•   Upcoming Events
•   Groups Notices
•   Groups News
•   Other Events

Notices

u3a Newsletter

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Penny Blackmore, who has agreed to take on the production of the u3a Newsletter. Dick Openshaw and Pamela Kemp will be supporting her in this publication. We thank them all for stepping up, and look forward to seeing the fruits of their new energy!!

Penny is asking members and group leaders to start thinking now about colourful content for this Newsletter. As it will be a digital-only publication, print being prohibitively expensive, that allows for lots of freedom in the amount of content content we can fit in so please let's get those creative juices flowing!
Think: group activity reports (maybe to entice new members, or simply to brag) - with lots of photos; poems; short stories; recipes; quizzes; artwork; jokes... you get the idea.

Penny is abroad for the next few weeks, but you can submit your content HERE at any time.

u3a Membership Renewals

Membership renewals are due on September 1st. An email was sent out on Wednesday explaining how to make your payment. For those of you not using email, a letter will be arriving shortly.

It is worth noting that our membership fees once again remain the same:
- £18 for a Full Individual and each Joint Member, or
- £14.00 for Associate Members who are currently Full Members at another regional u3a.

Please direct any questions or issues to the Membership Team, contact details are available on the website and in the above-mentioned email.

Upcoming Events

No Quiz and no Monthly Meeting in August.
The September Coffee Morning will be held on the 3rd and the Monthly Meeting will take place on
19 September 2024

September's speaker will be Madeleine Salvetti, who will discuss our use of language. Most of us are unaware of all the phrases we use automatically - but do we know why we use these phrases? She hopes that the month after the talk, people will be more aware and curious about their use of language.

Groups Notices

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
--Albert Einstein

BEGINNERS BASIC BRIDGE COURSE –
LAST 2 PLACES REMAINING

This will be the very last opportuntity to learn Bridge in such a condensed course. Donnington Parish Hall (West Wing) has been reserved on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (10am – 12 noon) for this ten-week course in the Autumn. The provisional start date is Tuesday 17 September (to be confirmed). The overall cost is about £60 which covers the cost of hiring the Hall and some basic equipment.

This compact course is based on a previously successful format requiring attendance for 2-hour sessions on both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for 10 weeks. The highly inconvenient schedule may well be a deterrent, but previous students who have made the necessary adjustments have found the sacrifice for just 10 weeks to be worthwhile. The last three classes have each taken over one of their course days to establish their own playing group which explains why we are now limited to Tuesday and Wednesday at this venue.

This 40-hour course will enable you to play proper Acol Bridge at a basic level even if you start with no experience of card play. Those with ‘faded’ knowledge of Whist or Bridge may also benefit from this experience as a ‘refresher’.

Please apply or seek further information via this link. Perhaps you know someone who is not yet a U3A member who might be interested and, of course, they would be especially welcome.

Book Group Vacancy

Book Group 8 is a small, friendly group with 2 vacancies.
We meet on the first Tuesday morning of the month for 10 months of the year, September-June. Every year we choose a theme which links the 10 books, but for 2024-5 we have taken a different approach by selecting 10 books from group members personal ‘memorable’ lists. The final list is as diverse as Turgenev, Grahame Greene, Mary Wesley and Bonnie Garmus.
If you are interested in joining us contact me, Mo Frost, here.

Groups News

Practical science: Mothing with French patisserie 8th August

At 9.15 we opened the moth trap to reveal some very unexpected guests in the form of some excitable hornets hoping to breakfast on our moths that were caught overnight in the UV trap. There were probably around 70 specimens in total. We identified about 22 species including four very fine Jersey Hawk moths. The largest specimen was a Poplar hawk. Many pretty species with interesting names were identified the furiest was the nut tree tussock one of the prettiest being the rosy footman. Photo ID proved invaluable in conjunction with our mothing books. After all the moths were released we settled down to coffee and some freshly baked pastries. In October Dave Widdup has lined up a series of interesting experiments on magnetism and paramagnetism .

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 30th August, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

Please send a message via the usual channels if you wish to have some item of u3a news put in the Bulletin. Likewise we'd love to hear from you if would like to join our team or if you have suggestions as to how to improve the Bulletin.
Best wishes, Miriam Knight

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Poem
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
Other Events

Poem

"u3a"

by Marilyn Burwell

What can I do now I am retired
As in my working life I’m no longer required
I’ve been employed since I was sixteen
Although I did manage to fit in a child or two in between
I feel washed up, not needed any more
Not knowing what life ahead has in store
I feel my life just stopping short
What can I do as a last resort
You can look after the grandkids, I hear my kids say
I suppose it’s like being in work but without any pay.
I love them all dearly but I need something for me
I don’t want to disappear, I need my identity
I want my own space I tell a friend one day
It was then that she told me of the U3A
I googled it, investigated, and went along
And immediately felt that I did belong
Now my days are full of activities and fun
Living my own life has now begun
I can choose from so many subjects
All within sound reasonable budgets

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 6th August, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

There will also be a Welcome to New Members Table!
If you're new to u3a, do stop by our table and we'll happily introduce you to some new friends.

No Quiz and no Monthly Meeting in August.
The September monthly meeting will take place on
19 September 2024
at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Groups Notices

"Ageing is inevitable, but acting your age is optional.
Why blend in when you can stand out?"

New Poetry Group

A new Poetry group has started that is looking at poets from the 20th Century, including Laurie Lee, W.H. Auden, Dylan Thomas & Seamus Heaney.

We meet in the Festival Theatre Cafe on the 4th Friday morning of the month from 10.15 - 12.15.

If you’d like to join our friendly group please contact the Groups Team here.

Book Group Vacancy

Groups News

AN INVITATION TO SOME SUMMERTIME MUSIC-MAKING!

The Recorder Group will be meeting on two Tuesday afternoons in August : 20th and 27th at its usual time of 2pm to 4pm. Because some players will be on holiday these sessions can be a bit different.
I would like to invite any u3a members who used to play recorder in the past and would like to see if they still can, to come along to one or both sessions and play some simple tuneful music just right for a summer’s day in the company of regular players.
This is a friendly, supportive group and will help you along if you’re at all uncertain.
We meet where I, as leader, live, which is on The Hornet. If you would like to come along, please reply to glrecorderensemble@mail.chichesteru3a.org.uk
Tell me about your playing background and what instruments you have and would like to try out. You will need to bring a music stand, of course, but I will provide the music. I look forward to hearing from you!

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 16th August, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
Other Events

Notices

Notice to Group Leaders Re: Venues

If your group is currently using a cafe and wants to expand or try somewhere a bit quieter, the Quaker Meeting House in Priory Park and St Pauls Church on Churchside are both reasonably priced venues in central Chichester.
There is also a list of tried and tested venues on Beacon to check out, and you may always contact the Groups Team for more information about any of these sites.

Volunteers needed at St. Richards

Do you have a couple of free hours a week? The Friends of Chichester hospital are currently recruiting volunteers to work in their shop at St Richard’s and/or take the trolley around some of the wards. The work is fun and interesting and is a great way to get more involved in the local community. The Friends help raise money for equipment and resources for the hospital and also provides a valuable service to staff and patients. You can read more about the work of the Friends at https://www.friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk/

If you are interested or want to know more, please email admin@friendsofchichesterhospitals.org.uk

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting - 18th July at 2pm
at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Our speaker will be Andrew Negus. His talk is titled “Southampton Water, Slaughter and Trade”
We shall find out what attracted the Romans, Saxons and Normans to each
build a Southampton. How it became so prosperous by the 14 th century that it encouraged ‘Pirates’ to loot and burn the town. We shall see how the now impoverished town adopts a completely new persona and so attracts Jane Austen and The Prince of Wales to stay. We will make a tour of the mediaeval town walls and see its vaults, towers, gates and the remains of the castle (with its magnificent loo). There will be friars, murderers and special bowls...

Andrew is a well-known local historian, and he tells of the history of Southampton water and it’s interesting and gory past. In his own words: "I am a retired history teacher, an around the world backpacker (twice), a Blue Badge guide for central southern England, and I aspire to be a local historian. I also keep chickens, bees and daughters."

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"Once you stop learning, you start dying."
--Albert Einstein

BEGINNERS BASIC BRIDGE COURSE
Places remaining

Have you taken Bridge classes but don’t feel confident enough to join an established Bridge club? This new group aims to be sociable and welcoming, helping improvers find their ‘bridge legs’ and enjoy the game.

Donnington Parish Hall (West Wing) has been reserved on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (10am – 12 noon) for this ten-week course in the Autumn. The actual start date, to be decided later will be between 3 September and 1 October.
This compact course is based on a previously successful format requiring attendance for 2-hour sessions on both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for 10 weeks. This highly inconvenient schedule has too often been a deterrent, but those who have made the necessary adjustments have found the sacrifice for just 10 weeks to be worthwhile. The last three classes have each taken over one of their course days to establish their own playing group which explains why we are now limited to Tuesday and Wednesday at this venue. This 40-hour course will enable you to play proper Acol Bridge at a basic level even if you start with no experience of card play. Those with ‘faded’ knowledge of Whist or Bridge may also benefit from this experience as a refresher.
Please apply or seek further information using this link. Perhaps you know someone who is not yet a U3A member who might be interested and, of course, they would be especially welcome.

Groups News

Practical Science Group

July Field Trip at Pagham

With the sun shining and the blue sea in front us ,eight members of the Practical science group set out along the shingle beach at Pagham sea front. The plants all seemed to respond to the fine weather with a colourful array of flowers all along the shingle in front of the beach houses . Most striking were large swathes of perennial sweet peas and the the architectural tufts of yellow flowered broom ,all seen at their best in the warm summer sun .Vipers bugloss (echium vulgare) were much in abundance along with purple toadflax. We noted an unusual variation due to a mutation that causes a flattening of their stems know as fasciation .Also present were a few of the very endangered species such as the annual small carnation, Petrorhagia nanteuilii commonly known as the childing pink. Botanists come from all over the country to see these rare plants on our southern shores.

Many leaves and seed heads were also carefully examined and discussed before we all sat down for lunch in a sheltered part of the beach . Particular thanks to Helen for sharing her very extensive botanical Knowledge with us all. Next month we will be looking at moths in our back gardens provided the warm weather continues.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/publications/u3a-matters-spring-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 2nd August, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
Other Events

Notices

TOUR OF GOODWOOD HOUSE - last chance!

Sunday, 15th September 2024

Following a most successful visit a couple of years ago, we have arranged a private guided tour of
Goodwood House at 2pm on Sunday, 15th September.
The tour begins at 2pm and will be followed by afternoon tea in the Ballroom.
The cost is £34.00 per person and numbers are limited to 30.
Please let us know when booking of any dietary requirements.

Please book here and follow the instructions for online payment. Please ensure that you use the
correct u3a reference on your payment (GOO). Any queries please contact the organiser here.
We look forward to seeing you.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 2nd July, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month

There will be three breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

Beacon Help
Current Affairs Discussion Group
World of Books Book Group

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

There will also be a Welcome to New Members Table!
If you're new to u3a, do stop by our table and we'll happily introduce you to some new friends.

Monthly Quiz Night - there are no quiz nights in July and August

Monthly Meeting - 18th July at 2pm
at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm.

Groups Notices

"Learning is the fountain of youth for the mind, so sip from its waters with a smile."

BEGINNERS BASIC BRIDGE COURSE
8 Places remaining

Bridge for Fun Group 3

The group will play social bridge (Chicago short form) and it is aimed at those wanting to improve and polish their game. You don’t need a partner. It will meet at Donnington Parish Hall on Monday mornings, 10-12. Depending on numbers the price should be no more than about £3.50 per session, (payable in non-refundable 10 week blocks in advance.)

We will next be meeting at Donnington Hall, Stockbridge Road on July 1^st at 10am and guests are very welcome to visit any session to observe our play and meet the current members. Anyone wanting further information can contact Barbara though this link.

Ski trip - Last call

Following our successful ski trip last year we are returning to Les Arc 2000 on the 1st to 8th March. The hotel is ski in ski out with wonderful food. We fly from Gatwick to Geneva. The cost for a single room is £1360. If you are interested in joining us please contact Barry Easton here.

Groups News

Art Group

Members of the new Art Group, above, were concentrating very hard on their still life. We started off looking at form and shading using pencils and have now begun to look at how to build up colour to create shape. The group is being taught by members Linda Brown and Hannah Strange and is, unbelievably, halfway through its first six month block. We are taking our new skills outside next month to sketch around the Festival Theatre site. New members can book in for the next six month block in September. You can register your interest here.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/publications/u3a-matters-spring-2024-screenreader-edition

The next bulletin is due out on 12th July, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

From time to time we also publicise events that we think are of general interest to Chichester u3a members.

Do check our fortnightly bulletin for up to date information

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

Visit to University of Chichester Art Gallery

Tuesday 16th July

All the places for the tour of the Art Gallery at the University of Chichester were booked within a few hours, and we have a waiting list. Due to the popularity of this event we will try to book a further tour in the autumn.

TOUR OF GOODWOOD HOUSE, FOLLOWED BY AFTERNOON TEA

Sunday, 15 th September 2024

Following a most successful visit a couple of years ago, we have arranged a private guided tour of
Goodwood House at 2pm on Sunday, 15th September.
The tour begins at 2pm and will be followed by afternoon tea in the Ballroom.
The cost is £34.00 per person and numbers are limited to 30.
Please let us know when booking of any dietary requirements.

We have to give Goodwood the final numbers in our group by the first week in July, so please make your booking as soon as possible.

Please book here and follow the instructions for online payment, ensuring that you use the
correct u3a event reference on your payment: GOO (our treasurer has a sense of humour).
If you have any queries you can contact the organiser here.
We look forward to seeing you.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 2nd July, 10am-12noon

Oliver at CFT - 15th July (reminder for those who already have reservations)

Trip to see the University of Chichester Art Collection - 16th July (reminder for those who already have reservations)

Monthly Meeting - 18th July at 2pm

Groups Notices

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

World of Books Group

Do you love to read? This book group is different to any other.
We pick a country then members will read a book about that country or by an author from that country; it can be fiction, fact, poetry or anything. We then meet on the last Friday of the month to discuss what we have read.
It’s a great group to be part of. We currently have a vacancy, so get in touch with the Groups Team if you want to know more, or visit our table at the July coffee morning.

Pickleball Group

Pickleball starts on Tuesday 18th June.
We are very lucky that an expert player has kindly volunteered to teach us on that first session.

Do come along and give it a try - no commitment:
Westgate Leisure Centre 2.00-4.00pm
£4.50 - please pay reception on entry
Bats provided
Free car parking

If you want to know more, please contact the Groups Team.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.
The link to the current issue of the magazine can be found HERE.

Other Events

DO MENTION THE WAR!

University of Chichester, Friday, 21st June at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: https://chichesterboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873644192

The next bulletin is due out on 28th June, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Groups News
Other Events

Notices

Visit to University of Chichester Art Gallery

Tuesday 16th July, 10.15am to 12.15pm

Integrating art with education, the University of Chichester Art Collection has, over the last
50 years, sourced figurative and abstract pieces, which are on display in various parts of the
University. We have arranged a special group visit to view some of these outstanding pieces,
led by the Special Collections Manager, along with a short tour of the University to learn
some of its history.
The walking tour is free for U3A members, takes about 2 hours, and does involve a number
of staircases, although lifts are available. Some of the tour will be outside, walking between
buildings. There will be a 20-minute stop for coffee on the campus.
This tour offers an interesting insight into our local University, and its links with the city.
Places are limited to 15, so please do book early if you’d like to see works from some of the
most important British artists of the twentieth century. The tour will take place at the Bishop
Otter campus of the University of Chichester. Full joining instructions will be provided after
booking. If required car parking can arranged at £1.90 per hour via the University.
Booking opens midday, 31 May, and closes midday, 14 June. Please book using this link.

If you have any queries please email the organiser here.

TOUR OF GOODWOOD HOUSE, FOLLOWED BY AFTERNOON TEA

Sunday, 15 th September 2024

South East u3a Forum Summer School 2024
Monday-Thursday, 2-5 September 2024

Everything is moving steadily forward with the launch of the first phase on Thursday 14^th March 2024 @ 10:00am via the SE u3a Forum’s website. You will be able to peruse the fourteen subjects on offer for Summer School 2024.

There are many new subjects, such as:

Art & Mythology, Photography, Crochet
Living History, Patchwork, Philosophy
Latin Remembered, Bridge, Politics
Illuminated Manuscripts and Science

Also, on the agenda are the returners: Cycling, Mah Jong and Mathematics

Please be patient, as no places can be reserved, prior to the initial booking date going ‘live’ on 11/04/24.

The costings for this year are:

Residential En-suite - £390
Residential Standard – £360
Non-Residential with dinner - £195
Non-residential no dinner - £140

There will also be entertainment on campus, each evening, which is included in the price. But, if you would like to attend the theatre on the Tuesday evening, this comes at an extra cost – ticket price unknown at present.

The next phase will be the Booking Information sheet and the Booking Form; they will be going ’live’ from Thursday 11^th April 2024 @ 10:00am; a date for your diary - just Google - se u3a forum and they will be accessible to download.

The Forum’s web address is - https://u3asites.org.uk/southeastu3aforum/contact

As we progress towards September more information will continue to be added, on a regular basis, to the Summer School webpage on the South East u3a Forum website.

Upcoming Events

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th June, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be three breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

20th Century Poetry
Crime Fiction Book Group
Wine Tasting Group.

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

Monthly Quiz Night - Thursday, 13th June, 2024 at 19:30
at The Chichester Inn, Westgate, Chichester

There is no charge for the quiz and a meal is optional. The Chichester Inn kitchen opens at 5.00pm and we expect diners to eat prior to the start of the quiz. The menu can be found here: the chichester inn menu.

Please book your place(s) here using this link. You can book up to 4 places.

As Members are arriving at different times in order to eat before the Quiz, we will no longer be allocating tables in advance. Please make up your teams of 4 in advance or wait to join a team on the evening. Booking is now open and will close on Monday, 10th June, or earlier if all the places are taken before that date.
Please contact us here if you have any queries.

Monthly Meeting - 13th June at 2pm
at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

Our speakerwill be Fran Sandham. A former editor of Rough Guides, Fran has written freelance for many newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph, the Observer and the Financial Times. His book Traversa: A solo walk across Africa received terrific reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and was serialised in the Sunday Times.

Fran took on the challenge of a lifetime by walking across Africa solo from coast to coast. His 3,500-mile walk from the Atlantic on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar was the first time on record anyone has crossed Africa solo entirely on foot by this route.

Tea and coffee will be served in the Crush Bar at the rear of the Assembly Room from 1:15 to 1:45pm and the meeting starts at 2pm. We are grateful to the team of volunteers who serve the refreshments.

Groups Notices

"We're not getting older, we're just becoming classic. Like fine wine, we improve with age... Cheers!"

New Poetry Group

Would you like to register your interest in a new Poetry group?
A new Poetry group is starting, and we will be looking at poets from the 20th Century including T.S. Eliot to Maya Angelou &
Theodore Roethke to Spike Milligan.

We will meet once a month, either in members’ homes or at St. Paul’s Parish Centre, Churchside,Chichester PO19 6FT

Day & time will be chosen to suit the majority. If you’d like to register your interest please
contact the Groups Team.

There will be a preliminary meeting at the 4th June coffee morning on a break out table starting at 10:40am.

New Short Story Book Group

Have you given up on book groups because the books are too long or perhaps you are looking for a different sort of book group?

Why not try a short story group instead? Short fiction is made to be shared! A short story can promote a more focused discussion and sometimes the best stories are short..

We will meet once a month at St Paul's Parish Centre, Churchside, Chichester PO19 6FT. Date and time will be chosen to suit the majority.

If you'd like to register your interest please contact the Groups Team.

Groups News

Practical Science | Share Something Brilliant Today | u3a UK

Our very own Science Group was featured in a new film series from national u3a, Share Something Brilliant Today, which showcases the skill sharing and friendships that take place within the u3a movement. This first film features John and Peter, who enjoy experimenting with science in Chichester u3a's Practical Science group. Share something brilliant today, join u3a - https://u3a.org.uk/join

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/publications/third-age-matters-february-2024-screenreader-edition.)

The next bulletin is due out on 14th June, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

The u3a Publications Team needs you!

We are still looking for members to help produce the annual Newsletter. It's creative, great fun and puts you at the heart of Chichester u3a. Whether your interest is in writing, interviewing and reporting (written, audio or video), photography, design, desktop publishing, or just brainstorming ideas, WE NEED YOU!

If you think you might be interested and want to learn more, please contact me for a chat by simply replying to this bulletin email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks, Miriam

Visit to Fort Nelson, Portsmouth

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Join us on a visit to this fascinating restored Victorian fortress. We will meet in the Visitor Centre Lobby at 10.30am.

Free entry
Café & Gift Shop
Parking Limited
Car-sharing recommended

Booking may be done on the website HERE

If you can offer car-sharing or would like a lift (there is no public transport to Fort Nelson) please put a note in the “Comment” box on the booking form.

If you have any queries please Contact the Chair

Fishbourne Literary Festival

16 June 2024 14.30 – 16.30

Fishbourne Literary Festival presents a special event with the author Conn Iggulden

Join him for a fascinating talk in St Peter and St Mary Church Hall, Fishbourne PO19 3XT
As part of the Festival of Chichester, St Peter and St Mary Church Hall will host an afternoon with one of the most acclaimed authors of historical fiction writing. He will talk about his new epic Nero, the first in an enthralling new trilogy about the tyrant of Rome.
Buy tickets online at www.fishbourneliteraryfestival.co.uk
Tickets: £15 for the event - includes refreshments of cake and tea

Groups Notices

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Mark Twain

New Scrabble Group

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Would you like to join a new Scrabble group? We are proposing to meet in the Festival Theatre café on the first Thursday of each month 3.30 – 5pm for a regular game of scrabble.

Do let us know if you are interested. Please contact Alison via the Groups Team.

Exciting New Group: Pickleball

Tuesdays 2.00-4.00pm, term time only
Westgate Leisure Centre
Starts Tuesday 18th June
£4.70 payable at Reception
Please register your interest using this link

NOTE: Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players or four players hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball with paddles over a 34-inch-high net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. Wikipedia

New Poetry Group

Would you like to register your interest in a new Poetry group?
Read more ……
A new Poetry group is starting. We will be looking at poets from the 20th Century including
T.S. Eliot to Maya Angelou & Theodore Roethke to Spike Milligan.

We will meet once a month either in members’ homes or at St. Paul’s Parish Centre, Churchside, Chichester PO19 6FT. Day & time will be chosen to suit the majority.
If you’d like to register your interest please contact the Groups Team.

There will be a preliminary meeting on a break out table at the Coffee Morning in the Minerva Theatre on June 7th from 10.40 am.

Bridge for Fun Group needs a mentor

We are looking for a skilled bridge player who might be prepared to give up two hours of their time on Mondays (including Bank Holidays) to act as a mentor to a new bridge group. Bridge for Fun 3 is held from 10am to 12noon at Donnington Hall, Stockbridge Road, Chichester. If you could mentor this group please leave a message for Barbara Howden Richards on 01243 926787, which is an ansaphone.

Bus Walks 2

We have set up a new walking group - Bus Walks 2 - meeting Monthly on the 3^rd Wednesday from 9:30 - 13:00.

These walks will be approximately five miles long and either circular or linear, starting at a bus stop in Chichester. There will be an option for lunch at the end. These will be faster paced walks.

This group currently has vacancies, so if you are interested, please contact the Groups Team.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (Here is the link to the current version.)

The next bulletin is due out on 31st May, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

Dear #FAM,

Your membership number is #MEMNO.

In this edition:

Notices
Upcoming Events
Groups Notices
Other Events

Notices

The u3a Communications Team
is forming now and needs your talents!

Chichester u3a provides a wonderful service to Third Agers in our area, and is truly an organisation to be proud of. With almost a thousand members, we should be able to find ample talent among us to expand our Communications Team. It would be wonderful to offer wider perspectives and employ creative thinking on how to add fresh content and special features; we need some lively reporting about groups’ activities, outings and events, and issues of interest and concern to our members.

While we have a small dedicated group of people behind the website and the bulletin, we need more in order to produce a newsletter/magazine of quality that will be informative, fun to read and a great calling card for potential new members.

So, we are urgently looking for members to join the Communications Team. It's great fun and puts you at the heart of Chichester u3a. Whether your interest is in writing, interviewing and reporting (written, audio or video), photography, design, desktop publishing, or just brainstorming ideas, WE NEED YOU!

If you think you might be interested, please contact me for a chat by simply replying to this bulletin email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks,
Miriam

Visit to Fort Nelson, Portsmouth

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Join us on a visit to this fascinating restored Victorian fortress. We will meet in the Visitor Centre Lobby at 10.30am.

Free entry
Café & Gift Shop
Parking Limited
Car-sharing recommended

Booking may be done on the website HERE

If you can offer car-sharing or would like a lift (there is no public transport to Fort Nelson) please put a note in the “Comment” box on the booking form.

If you have any queries please Contact the Chair

Tickets for National u3a Festival 24 available now

18-20 July 2024

Members can now book tickets for u3a Festival 24, which is taking place at the University of York from 18 to 20 July.

Margaret Fiddes, one of the organisers of the festival, says "So far take up is very strong and we are delighted that many hundreds of people are coming to join us in York for the largest ever gathering of u3a members in the movement’s history."

The taster programme and booking link can be found on the Festival page of the u3a website and if you have any questions, please email festival@u3a.org.uk.

Upcoming Events

Next Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 7th May, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

There will be two breakout tables at the coffee morning for these groups:

Book Group - Short Story - Fiction - please see below under Groups Notices for details
Jin Shin - Self Help. Jin Shin Acupressure is from Japan and is at least 4,000 years old. It is believed to be the origins of acupuncture, modern acupressure, reiki and more. You can learn to do this yourself (over clothing). Come along to the Coffee Morning to find out more about this new group.

GROUP LEADERS: If you would like to promote your group at a coffee morning, please contact the Groups Coordinator!

May Quiz Night - Thursday, 9th May, 2024 at 19:30
at The Chichester Inn, Westgate, Chichester

Please book your place(s) here using this link. You can book up to 4 places.

As Members are arriving at different times in order to eat before the Quiz, we will no longer be allocating tables in advance. Please make up your teams of 4 in advance or wait to join a team on the evening. Booking is now open and will close on Wednesday 8th May, or before if all the places are taken before that date.
Please email the Social Events Organiser if you have any queries.

Monthly Meeting & AGM - 16th May at 2pm
at the Assembly Rooms on North Street

The May Monthly Meeting will take place on 16th May 2024 at the Assembly Room. It will immediately follow the Annual General Meeting which will start at 2 pm. Tea and coffee will be served from 1.15 pm until 1.45 pm and the AGM will start at 2pm.

Our speaker for the monthly meeting will be Paul Whittle and his talk is titled “The Malta Story”

This a return visit for Paul, this time to tell the story of Malta, endlessly invaded over the centuries and one of the most bombed places on the planet. As Chichester is now twinned with Valletta this should be of interest to everyone.

Groups Notices

"The secret to ageing well?
Keep laughing, keep learning, and never underestimate
the power of a good nap."

Ski Group

U3A Ski group will be hitting the slopes again in 2025. We will be travelling to Les Arc 2000 between the 1st and 8th March departing from Gatwick. The cost of a single room will be £1360 and a shared room £1170 on a half board basis. If you are interested in joining us then please contact Barry via this link.

Recorder Group

Another little turnover of players has occurred in the Recorder Group and up to three places are available (max size 12).

It’s a group for the keen hobby recorder player! Not for beginners, though : you need to be familiar with recorder fingerings, basic scales and arpeggios, able to read music and follow a beat. You should have a music stand and preferably two recorders from descant, treble, tenor and bass in order to fit into the group. If you only have experience with one recorder but are willing to take up another, you could still join the group. Existing players play two or three sizes and like to swap around, so someone who only wants to play one size of recorder will unfortunately restrict the opportunities for the other players too much.

We play music from early to modern times and by a wide range of composers, which is all provided. The level is grade 3 to 4. There’s a lot of different music around for recorders to play - much more than is commonly imagined!

This is an improvers group, so regular attendance is hoped for : it isn’t suited to anyone likely to take lots of time out. A readiness to practise at home and prepare a short piece of music for the next meeting is also helpful. The group is friendly and supportive and will enable players to improve playing skills or take up a new instrument. There’s a small library of music to borrow and play at home.

A recorder professional comes once a month to conduct, to help players make progress by playing more challenging music and offer some professional input if they have any questions.

It’s always possible for a potential player to come along as a guest for one session and the leader will tailor the music accordingly. Include some details of your playing background in the contact form and then there can be a phone call to discuss the next step.

We meet on Tuesdays from 2pm-4pm (with a short break) every week unless we agree not to. We play in a large, well-ventilated ground floor lounge where the leader lives. No car parking, unfortunately, but the 51 and 700 bus routes stop outside. Otherwise it’s 6-8 mins walk from the Cattle Market car park or from Florence Road car park, where parking is free for 3 hours.

New Short Story Book Group

Have you given up on book groups because the books are too long or perhaps you are looking for a different sort of book group?

Why not try a short story group instead? Short fiction is made to be shared! A short story can promote a more focused discussion and sometimes the best stories are short..

We will meet once a month at St Paul's Parish Centre, Churchside, Chichester PO19 6FT. Date and time will be chosen to suit the majority.

If you'd like to register your interest please contact the Groups Team.

National u3a & Regional Events

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website -www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events like Festival 2024 (18th-20th July, at York), and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine (the link to the current version is:

https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/publications/third-age-matters-february-2024-screenreader-edition.)

The next bulletin is due out on 17th May, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link.

Links to our Website

Follow these links to see:

The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries If you wish to write to the Chichester U3A, then the correspondence address is: U3A Chichester, Box 809, MailboxesEtc., 26 The Hornet, CHICHESTER, PO19 7BB If there is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed then call 07460 109600, or contact the membership secretary.

we always need new volunteers either to extend our activities or to replace people who have stood down. Please check the Volunteers Page to see if you are able to help.

Reports of meetings

meeting at Chichester College October 2023

regular meeting October 2023

u3a article and video about Practical Science group meeting at Chichester College

To look at the reviews we have created for some of the books we have discussed please click on a book title

The Final Invention

Travels with Epicurus

Who are we now

The order of time

Elizabethans

to look at the list of books we have read please click here

or download the pdf file.

report of SDG meeting on Monday 27 February 2023

“Viewpoint” - Owen Rackham, Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS, Medical School

How fortunate we are in this group. We hear from a wide-ranging field of excellent speakers and the presentation from Owen Rackham on smORFs was no exception. Owen explained that his interest in discovering more about the natural workings of cells began when he worked locally for Langmeads, farmers who also grow and market lettuces. From this beginning, his study and research has led to his current affiliation with Southampton University and with The Alan Turing Institute.

Progress in computer science, has enabled research into the workings of our body cells, into our DNA, and into the workings of our genome. Owen’s consideration of the possible knowledge or lack of knowledge of his audience was clear, and through simplification and repetition of key points, I think that I now have a little understanding of smORFS. Genomes are hereditary; we all have the same set of genes but sequences might vary. Genomes give instructions; genes instruct on how to make proteins and proteins act within their environment as needed.

Computers have opened up a view of our genomes and the coding of DNA can be seen. Small ribosomes travel along genes, searching for start and stop codes. Large ribosomes connect when a start code is reached, and begin to combine amino acids to make a protein, stopping when a stop code is reached. These sections are called, “Open reading frames.” Previously, only “Large open reading frames,” have been studied, but new inroads into AI have created, “Ribosome profiling.” Now, all ribosome activity can be viewed and “Small open reading frames,” previously ignored, can be studied. Through this research, more proteins have been discovered. Tissue samples from different organs in the body have been explored, and so, proteins found in different locations can be identified.

It is hoped that this research will open avenues leading to new treatments for illness and disease.
This was an informative and fascinating presentation.

Photos and records from previous trips

At Prinsted in October we saw: cormorant, kestrel, moorhen, sparrows, blackbirds, magpies, crows, eagles, godwit, curlew, yellowhammer, oystercatcher and possibly a wigeon or two.

At Bosham in September we saw: Egret, Oystercatcher, Curlew, black tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Redshank, Swans and lots of gulls. The Turnstones in particular were a treat at the pier.

At Knepp in June, we saw the storks:

seen at Farlington marshes

Interesting features

an article about kingfishers

Upcoming meetings

Two presentations will be made, on Flooding, Ditches and Climate Change, Adapting to the Challenges, at the Friends House, Priory Rd. 7th February at 2pm. A voluntary contribution of £3 per person will be appreciated to cover room hire.

For more information see the meeting flyer.

Suggested Viewing - documentary videos

Big Oil V the World: BBC iPlayer, You Tube

Kiss the Ground: Netflix

TED, Alan Savory: TED or YouTube

An Inconvenient Truth: Al Gore, Amazon 2007

An Inconvenient Deception: Al Gore, Amazon 2017

Seaspiracy: BBC iPayer, YouTube

Interesting viewing on the internet

Carbon Capture and Storage https://www.brilliantplanet.com

Chichester District Council & climate change https://www.chichester.gov.uk/climatechange

Climate change predictions, right or wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zul0BuO8A

Climate targets. Are they now pointless? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pujOh4YaP7s

Emissions graphics on all countries https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-by-sector?country=~GBR

Methane challenge https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/energy/facts-about-methane

Nitrous oxide https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210603-nitrous-oxide-the-worlds-forgotten-greenhouse-gas

Ozone layer success V climate change FAILURE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FRgEclRXmU

Sir David Attenborough 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dunm6DF78j4

Surviving the coming decades https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SH9wIbjKyU

Transformations, energy, transport food etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj96nxtHdT

UK Electrical energy generation daily update http://www.energydashboard.co.uk/fourtyeight

More about this group …

Notices

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Group Leaders at Coffee Mornings

Upcoming Events

u3a Quiz Night - Get Your Thinking Caps On!

The next Quiz Night will be held on Thursday 27 November, at the Jubilee Hall, New Park Centre, from 18.30 to 22.00.

Members' Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street, Chichester, Thursday, 20th November at 2 p.m.

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm NelsonForty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 2nd December, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Groups News & Notices

A new choice for wine tasters

New Android Help Group

Short Tennis – Wednesdays, 2.00–4.00pm

Table Tennis – Tuesdays, 10.00am–12.00pm

Local and National

Local Events

The Spirit of Ukraine: Ukranian Cultural Festival - Saturday 15th November, 1.00-4.30pm at St. Paul's Church, Chichester

Oxford University Society (W. Sussex) & St Anne’s Society South

Admission is by pre-booking and £12 per person, including refreshments, served from 10.30am. There is free parking at the hall and in the road outside. To book your places, please email Susan at ouswestsussex@gmail.com with names and numbers and she will give you bank account details for payment.

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

Links to our Website

Notices

Could You Help Keep Our Chichester u3a Social Events Thriving?

FYI

Upcoming Events

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 4th November, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Members' Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street, Chichester, Thursday, 20th November at 2 p.m.

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm NelsonForty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

Groups News & Notices

New Book Group starting January 2026

New Group - British History

The new u3a Craft Group

New Wittering Group Taking Shape

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

Links to our Website

Notices

Chichester u3a Magazine

Upcoming Events

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 16th October at 2pm

Revd Colin Chambers:"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

Groups News & Notices

British History

Update on New Groups – Android Help, Craft, and Sketchbook Art

New Groups in the Witterings – Your Ideas Welcome!

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

Links to our Website

Notices

From the Chair – Autumn Update

A Message to Group Leaders

News from the Groups Team

2026 Subscription: Final Reminder

Upcoming Events

October Coffee Morning - Tuesday, 7th October, 10am-12noon

Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!

Monthly Meeting at the Assembly Rooms on North Street - 16th October at 2pm

Revd Colin Chambers:"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

October Quiz Evening - 30 October 2025 starting at 7:00 PM at New Park Centre

Groups Notices

"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." — Betty Friedan

Bus Walks 2

Tuesday Recorder Group

Local and National

National u3a

There is a wealth of information on the National u3a website - www.u3a.org.uk , including online groups, u3a Radio podcast, upcoming events, and the latest issue of Third Age Matters, the monthly national u3a magazine.

The link to the current version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions/u3a-matters-summer-2025-screenreader-edition

Links to our Website

Notices

Schoolreaders Volunteers needed in Chichester

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm Nelson
Forty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

The Spirit of Ukraine: Ukranian Cultural Festival - Saturday 15th November,
1.00-4.30pm at St. Paul's Church, Chichester

Speaker: Mr. Malcolm Nelson
Forty Years of Catching Smugglers - Why do I always feel so guilty?

Revd Colin Chambers:
"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

Update on New Groups –
Android Help, Craft, and Sketchbook Art

Revd Colin Chambers:
"Reflections on Nelson Mandela"

"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
— Betty Friedan

Booking Is Essential
Due to high demand and limited space, advance booking is a must. Don’t wait until the last minute — these events fill up fast — so book your place via this link on our website.

"I'm not old. I've just been young for a very long time."
--unknown

Breakout Tables - see below for details:
Book Group 8
Chess Group

“What makes people believe things that aren’t true? The (surprising) psychology of misinformation”
a talk by Dr Simon Clark

“What makes people believe things that aren’t true? The (surprising) psychology of misinformation”
a talk by Dr Simon Clark