Notices/Upcoming Events
Members’ Monthly Meeting
The next Members’ Monthly Meeting will be held on Thursday, 22nd October in the Assembly Room, North Street, CHICHESTER. Doors open at 1.15 p.m. and you are warmly invited to take refreshments after the talk in the adjacent Crush Bar.
A Beginning, a Muddle and an End
In her very popular talk, entertaining speaker Bobbie Darbyshire will draw on the experience of many well-known authors to reveal how the fictional world arrives in a novelist’s mind. What ever your reading preference, you can sit back, enjoy, and prepare for quite a few chuckles and laughs. And if you’ve ever tried creative writing yourself or been tempted to, expect to be inspired.
Winner of the 2008 fiction prize at the National Academy of Writing and the New Delta Review Creative Non-fiction Prize 2010, Bobbie is author of five novels. She has worked as a barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, cabinet minister’s private secretary, care assistant and volunteer adult-literacy teacher, as well as in social research and government policy. Bobbie lives in London and hosts a writers’ group.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2026
The dates for this year’s Christmas Lunches are December 10th and 15th. Look out for more information to follow shortly in the Bulletin and on the website.
From the Chair
I hope you will appreciate this short update from the Committee from time to time – a flavour of what we have been discussing and working on behind the scenes.
As ever, groups remain at the heart of Chichester U3A, and they have been taking up quite a bit of our attention. While it is wonderful that so many of our groups are thriving, we are very aware that some are full, which can be frustrating, particularly for newer members. The Groups Team is looking at ways of making it easier to register interest, identify where the demand is and – most importantly – encourage and support the creation of new groups.
We are also looking at how we welcome new members and make sure that they have a clear idea of what is available, how things work and how they can become involved. One of the great strengths of U3A is that it isn’t something provided for us – it is something we create together, with members sharing their interests, skills and enthusiasm.
Behind the scenes, we are also taking a look at some of our IT systems and website, to ensure they continue to meet our needs as the organisation grows and changes. The Committee has agreed to an independent scoping review as a sensible first step, so that we understand exactly what we need before deciding on further investment.
There is always plenty going on, but none of it happens without volunteers. Some give a great deal of time, others help with one small job occasionally – and both are equally valuable and welcome. So a huge thank you to everyone who contributes in whatever way they can.
Jacky Easton, Chair, Chichester U3A
A Message from your Membership Team
This is a gentle reminder that the subscription renewal process for 2027 is now well underway.
According to our current records, many of you have not yet made your payment. You can find safe, secure payment instructions in our emails sent during August.
If you aren’t sure if you’ve paid: Please take a quick look at your bank statement to see if a payment to us has been processed.
If you joined in June, July, or August 2026: Your membership is already valid until September 2027. No action is required!
Need a hand? We are here to help. You can use this link to contact the Membership Team or through our website or call us on 07490 654524 and leave a message.
Thank you for your continued support! Pete & Jeanne
Tea/Coffee Morning Tuesday, October 6, 10-12
Always on the First Tuesday of each month, so please mark your calendars!
Our Tea/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!
Groups Notices & Events
Motorhome and Campervan Group
If you own a motorhome, campervan, camper conversion, or simply have an interest in touring and travelling, why not join us for our next Motorhome and Campervan Group meeting at the monthly coffee morning at the Minerva? We will have a table set up to welcome you.
This informal gathering is an opportunity to meet fellow members, exchange ideas, share travel experiences, discuss campsites and aires, and find out more about future group activities. Seasoned traveller or new to motorhomes, you will be very welcome.
We will be meeting at the Minerva Café, Chichester Festival Theatre, on Tuesday 6 October from 10pm.
Come along for a coffee, a chat, and the chance to meet others who share an interest in life on the road.
Interested? Please contact the Group Organisers.
All Aboard the Good Ship Recorder!
Playing a musical instrument keeps the brain sharp and active. If fingers let you down, keys can be adapted. And playing in a group encourages the skills of listening and working together and is FUN!
The group is friendly, supportive and always welcoming to new players. Once a month a recorder professional comes to spur us on and advise as needed.
We meet weekly on Tuesdays 2-4pm in a large, comfortable ground floor lounge where I live on The Hornet, so no access problems. The 700 and 51 buses stop outside and there are two car parks 6-8mins walk away, one free for 3 hours. (Parking onsite is limited but may be possible).
Email here with some details and we’ll have a chat about a taster session.
An Afternoon with Monet the Impressionist
The Impressionist Art Group is showing the film “I Claude Monet” on Tuesday 6th Oct at the Friends Meeting Hall Priory Road Chichester from 2pm.
A £3 contribution to the hire of the hall is requested and there is free tea and coffee.
A World of Books
We currently have a vacancy – in an unusual book group where we nominate a country each month and then choose our own book to read; it can be fact, fiction, poetry, even a cookbook. It just needs to relate to the country of choice. We meet on the last Friday of each month (except August and December) at a member of the group’s house. If you are interested or would like to know more then please get in touch
Cryptic Crosswords
Do you enjoy solving cryptic crosswords, already know some of the tricks of the trade and would welcome the chance to do this with the support of others to improve your success rate? The U3A has vacancies in two groups. To find out more please join us during the next Coffee Morning on 6 October. We will have a designated table starting half way through at 11am. If you cannot make this, please register your interest here.
Backup to Edit your Bulletin!
From this autumn, your U3A Bulletin is now running to a regular schedule (last Friday of the month). So this is a good time to appeal for volunteers to assist with its publication from time to time.
Any editorial helpers need to be comfortable with “tech” – but not necessarily expert! We use WordPress to produce it and publish on the website, and the U3A’s “Beacon” system to email it to members – not too complex!
Along with checking emails to keep on top of contributions, the time requirement to collate and publish a Bulletin is approximately three hours. Urgent or special news items may occasionally require an interim Bulletin Update.
If you are interested, our editor, Steve Painter, would be pleased to train you and welcome you to the team. Contact him 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 this version is: https://www.u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/u3a-matters
The next bulletin is due out on October 30, so if you have an item to submit, please use this link.
Links to our Website
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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! 😒
If you wish to have some item of u3a news put in the Bulletin, please send a message via the usual channels. Likewise, if you have any suggestions to improve the Bulletin, or would like to join our team.
Best wishes,
Steve Painter
The Constitution of the Chichester U3A is available to view here, and its Terms of Use here.
Enquiries: If you wish to contact the Chichester U3A, please call 07490 654524 (and be prepared to leave a message if not answered), or contact the membership secretary.