In this edition:
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!
Our Coffee Mornings are held in the Bar on the first floor of the MINERVA THEATRE building, opposite the Chichester Festival Theatre. 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 talk will start at 2pm. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Please email social@chichesteru3a.org.uk for more details if you would like to join us. 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! 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! The next bulletin is due out on 9th May, so if you have an item to submit, you may use this link. 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 ideas on to how to improve the Bulletin, and especially if you would like to join our team! The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Upcoming Events
May Coffee Morning – Tuesday, 6th May, 10am-12noon
Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!
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!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
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
New Latin Group
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
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
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
It is intended to hold the group on the 4th Wednesday of the month 10:30 to 12:30. £2 per person towards coffee and cake.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday 23rd April, at the Leaders Home, but new members are still welcome. Groups News
MOTO2 Get Creative with Clay at Pottery Workshop
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
Groups Notices
Links to our Website
Best wishes, Miriam Knight
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.