In this edition:
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
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/
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
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!
Upcoming Events
June Coffee Morning – Tuesday, 3rd June, 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!
Scheduled breakout session for: Sociable Strollers
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:
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:
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, 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.