U3A Groups
Index of groups: Please click on the group/subject title in the index to see the group summaries. There may also be a subsidiary page with further information.
Archaeology to Creative Writing
Archaeology
Talks are given on a wide range of archaeological subjects from prehistoric to industrial archaeology. We are fortunate to have a member who is a professional Archaeologist as well as several keen amateurs who give talks. Recent talks include the Ice Man, Castles and the Vikings. Some day and longer trips to sites of interest have been arranged for the group. No prior knowledge is required to join this flourishing and friendly group which meets at 10.30am on the third Friday of every month
Architecture
The group covers a wide range of architectural subjects, concerned not only with history and appearance but with the processes by which buildings are conceived and built. It has always had a particular, critical, interest in the standard of new buildings appearing in the locality. We meet at 2.00 on the first Tuesday of the month at LFMH.
Art
Art Beginners
This group is open to all ability levels and meets at LFMH on the morning of the second and the fourth Friday in the month.
Art Improvers
A diverse group which has taken on some quite tough assignments and has enjoyed working hard and improving skills. New members with any level of expertise are welcome.
Painting
Another group of varied abilities which draws, or paints in water colours.
Bird Watching
The group activities are aimed at all levels of birder from beginners to experts. We visit a wide range of sites in the immediate area and further afield.
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Book Lovers
The "Book-lovers" group meets regularly at the Library in Market Square. We very much enjoy sharing the discussion with younger people and it enriches our deliberations and comments on the books. The differing approaches to what we have read are always fascinating. We have read N. Hornby "How to be Good", B. Bainbridge "According to Queenie", A. Sebold "Lovely Bones". These are just a few examples of a good many more that the Library has provided.
Bowls
Short Mat Indoors
Meets at the Crag Bank Village Hall, Carnforth where it joins the local short-mat bowling group. The first Friday in each month is listed in the Diary but in fact the group at Crag Bank meets each Friday from 10.00-12.00 so members can bowl each week if they wish. The current cost is £2 per session and at present people can join regularly or on a more occasional basis.
Crown Green Bowls
Crown Green Bowls is played at the Bare Village Club Green. We have a green booked solely for the U3A members every Tuesday, throughout the season, which runs from May until October. The session starts at 10 o'clock and lasts to 12 o'clock, unless it rains.
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Bridge
The group meets at the Lancaster Bridge Club in Chapel Street on the first and third Thursday afternoons in the month. Beginners and others all welcome.
Calligraphy
The Calligraphy group meet on the first and third Monday of the month.
Cards and Crafts
This group, formed late in 2005, meets on the second Tuesday of the month at LFMH. Each session concentrates on a particular technique and involves making such things as Christmas decorations from florists ribbon and iris folding cards. The monthly newsletter gives details of any materials to be brought along to each session.
Classic Books
There are two Classic Books Groups (1 and 2) which meet in the homes of group members. The Classic Books groups read and discuss books and may watch their TV, theatre and cinema adaptations. Classic Books 1 does not have a specific day and time each month to meet - this is decided from meeting to meeting. Classic Books 2 meets on the fourth Thursday evening of the month although this is flexible.
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Computing
There are two groups dealing with computing. The Wednesday group provides presentations on a wide range of topics and assumes basic computing knowledge. The Friday workshop session allows any U3A member from beginner to advanced to drop in and get advice.
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Creative Writing
A group formed late in 2005 which involves members writing short stories and the group discussing them. It meets in the morning of the first Thursday in the month at LFMH.
Cryptic Crosswords
There are two groups meeting each month, a "Beginners" group for those wishing to learn more about crosswords and an "Improvers" group allowing members to practice their skills. The Beginners (first Friday of the month) concentrate on The Daily Telegraph and Observer (Everyman) crosswords. The Improvers (third Friday) take in the Times, Guardian and Independent. These are proving great fun - do give us a try.
Current Affairs to History
Current Affairs
This group tackles a wide range of current topics and tries to get a balanced view of options and possibilities. Topics are chosen to be topical rather than philosophical and the discussions are more oriented to balancing pros and cons of particular solutions. It meets in the afternoon of the second Thursday of the month at the Coordinators home.
Family History
This group meets at 2.00pm on the second Tuesday in each month to discuss sources of information and exchange ideas on all aspects of family history. The main aim is to help members undertake research into their own ancestry and, although there are some formal sessions, the accent is on participation and learning from each other. On occasions, we visit local libraries or Lancashire Records Office at Preston.
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Film Appreciation
From "Vertigo" to "Jean de Florette", "The Entertainer" to "Amelie", this group shows films of a variety of genres and aims to suit all tastes. The films, which are the choice of its members, range from classic films from the recent and more distant past. The group is open to all those who belong to Lancaster ands Morecambe U3A and new members are always welcome. We meet on the second Monday of each month at 1.30 pm from September to April each year in the Meeting Room at Lancaster Friends Meeting House.
Geology
The geology group formed in October 2008 and meets on the first Friday morning of each month in the Friends Meeting House, Lancaster. These generally take either the form of presentations or the occasional practical session. In addition to these meetings, we usually use the fifth Fridays that fall during the year (4 or 5) to take the opportunity of going out into the countryside on a 'field trip' - a location of geological interest. We are looking forward to more exciting topics and field trips during the coming months. All members are very welcome to come along and join us.
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History
This group studies any topics of historical interest either local or more general. It normally meets in the afternoon on the third Tuesday of each month at LFMH. We have borrowed DVDs from U3A Resources on topics as diverse as the history of the RNLI and the English Civil Wars. We have enjoyed talks by our members on "Sir Joseph Paxton, Victorian Genius", "An unusual National Service", Misericords, and Old Maps of Lancashire. We had a tour of the Judges Lodgings and City Museum. Members have also participated in sessions on "Our Living History" in which we shared our memories of Primary School. Read more
Languages to Philosophy
Languages More on Languages
French discusses current affairs, tackles various puzzles, plays scrabble and reads and translates a chosen novel. French Improvers has as a more formal approach. French Beginners for members new to the language. Read more
German requires some knowledge of the language but 'rustiness' should not deter prospective members. Meetings cover either German Translation or German Grammar & Vocabulary. There is also the German Conversation group offering an opportunity to practise German ready for your holiday. Read more
Latin is for beginners interested in reading Latin and also contains some history and literature.
Spanish: Intermediate Spanish is currently following the BBC text book and tapes. Games and role play are used to consolidate and extend the scope of the basic course. Advanced Spanish practice and improve their command of Spanish. Sessions open with informal discussions often based on members’ travels. It is a stimulating and demanding course. There is also a Beginners' Spanish. Read more
Italian Mainly for beginners and intermediate
Local Studies Research Group
Local Studies Research Group is a new group where members can share and discuss their ideas - and, also, get support from each other as they undertake their research. It might be a local history project or any subject with a local focus. Read more
Music
CD recitals
Meetings are held monthly to listen to CDs of classical music. Members from the group take turns to choose and introduce the music.
Concert
The aim of the group is to go, generally by coach, to concerts given by superb orchestras such as the Hallé, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic held at wonderful venues in Manchester and Liverpool as well as more locally.
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Exploring Music The major emphasis is upon music composed in the 20th Century. Lesser-known composers have been featured alongside those with major reputations figures. Where appropriate, simple musical analyses are used, and on occasion, jazz styles have been examined.
Jazz Appreciation
As its name suggests, this group seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of jazz music.
For the last year we have mainly been viewing the excellent documentary series produced in 2000 by the American film maker Ken Burns, but there have also been a couple of meetings, one on the convenor’s visit to New Orleans and one when members brought and played track loosely related to a Christmas theme.
In 2011 we aim to complete our viewing of the Ken Burns DVD Series and then, subject to members’ agreement to have a mixture of themed sessions and personal favourite presentations.
Outside of our regular monthly sessions we greatly enjoyed a trip to see the new Glen Miller Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall. We are currently planning a visit to the session by the Chris Barber Big Band at the Keswick Jazz Festival in May.
More on Music
Music Miscellany The group listens to a wide ranging selection of music. Along with themed selections; we also indulge in Matinees Musicales. More on Music
Opera
This group has meets to watch and listen to an Opera on DVD. Before viewing the opera a brief introduction is given to help members better understand and appreciate the performance. Some meetings involve visits to live opera performances in Manchester or Liverpool
More on Music
Singing
This group has recently been started and is led by a couple of professional musicians. Part singing is being introduced leading we hope to the group becoming a 3/4 part choir.
More on Music
Numbers and Shapes
This is a shared-learning group and is not a venture into higher mathematics. It is, however, an adventure into the magic of numbers and the world of shapes. This group hopes to provide learning with fun and requires only an elementary knowledge of arithmetic and geometry.
Philosophy
The group meets to discuss topics related to philosophy in the widest sense. Members prepare a short paper to introduce the topic and away the discussion goes – often exploring unexpected avenues!
Over the past year we have discussed, for example, the ethics of genetics, guilt, toleration, art and philosophy, truth and frankness, death and dying, the doctrine of the just war – to name but a few of the topics we have covered.
We use as a resource book A.C. Grayling’s “The Meaning of Things” which comprises a series of short chapters on philosophical topics members can draw on for inspiration. Sometimes, however, members introduce subjects of their own choice.
Photography to Yoga
Photography
This group usually meets at LFMH on the second Wednesday afternoon of the month. It is intended for anyone with an interest in photography, from complete beginners to the more experienced. Group members are now entirely digital camera users, prints can also be shown. The group largely relies on the sharing of members' experience and knowledge. A photographic topic is given each month as a guide to members. Please note that digital imaging is not covered by this group.
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Play Reading
There are two groups each meeting monthly. This group was started several years ago. It is held on the first Friday of the month in private homes. The choice of play to be read is often left to the co-ordinator but occasionally in the true 'self help'ethos of the U3A a member of the group will oblige and take over. How the play is chosen is an interesting exercise. There are limitations, which have led us down some avenues which we would otherwise not have trodden.
Firstly we have to consider the number of people who can be accommodated. Secondly we have to consider plays that have sufficient characters, so that everyone has a part to read, but not too many so that it cannot be cast. And, thirdly, we look for plays with more women than men (women are cast as men more believably than men as women!).
Then we hope for a good playwright. Once in a while we have picked a play by an unknown,on the first three criteria only, and have had an enjoyable afternoon, or maybe one filled with groans and laughter.
The plays are all in the Library Drama Catalogue so someone, sometime, has thought they had some merit. Comparing them gives us food for thought. Greeba Quine (group co-ordinator Playreading 1)
Poetry Reading
This relatively new group when members will read and discuss their favourite poems.
Science & Technology
This group meets twice a month and covers a very wide range of topics. Most sessions are based on talks by one of the group members. We try to make talks useful to a very wide range of people - non scientists as well as scientists - interested in getting a feel for the physical, chemical, biological and engineering sciences or understanding the history and workings of everyday technology. We have a wide range of expertise and interests so sessions vary in a fascinating way.
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Scrabble
This group meets during the Autumn, Winter and early Spring. Recently the location has been LFMH but ideally we would like to alternate between LFMH and a location in Morecambe. Members bring Scrabble sets and we have enough to set up a number of tables, so if you would like to join us you would be welcome. We play for enjoyment and company. (Dictionaries may be used!) Beginners are especially welcome.
Table Tennis
The Table Tennis group plays every Tuesday and Wednesday at the Barton Road Community Centre. The group is about equally men and women and of novices and more experienced players. New members are welcome even if you have never played before.
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Tea Dance
This is a new group organising afternoon tea dances at the Friends' Meeting House - Old Time dancing. There is no tuition but people should be able to remember or pick up sufficient to have some fun. Read the report on the Tea Dance.
Theatre
Out of Town Theatre: This group has restarted after a hiatus. It arranges visits to out of town theatres several times a year.
Local Theatre Visits
Several visits are arranged to local theatres each year. Full details are published in the monthly Newsletter several weeks before a production with a reminder in the respective month’s diary. A mailing list is also maintained so that advance notice of productions can be given. Please let the co-ordinators know your contact details (email addresses are particularly helpful). Tickets are reserved at group concessionary rates and members contact the appropriate box office to book and pay for their own tickets. We usually meet in the bar of the theatre before the performance for a coffee, glass or wine and a chat. Given prior notice, the co-ordinators are happy to arrange transport home after the performance for those who would otherwise have to travel home alone.
Walking
We have a wide variety of Walking Groups catering for all levels of ability. Most walks operate on a car sharing basis from a convenient meeting point where surplus cars can be left. Passengers are asked to contribute to the driver on a standard scale. Full details of all the Walks are given in the Monthly Diary together with contact details for the Leader of that walk.
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Wine Appreciation
This group aims to offer wine tasting evenings. Sessions are usually on a particular type of wine. Venues will vary and include both public places and members' homes.
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Words
This group meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the morning at LFMH. The avenues we explore include examining the meaning of words, changes in meaning, words that have been newly minted and words that have been discarded as well as borrowings from American and other foreign languages. We look at the origins of words, have a glance at grammar changes, examine the jargons inflicted upon us by politicians and their ilk or share our personal dislike or approval of recent language developments. This group runs for a few months and is then followed by a few months of Numbers and Shapes.
Yoga
Led by a qualified instructor