Welcome to Ringwood U3A, which was formed in 2012. We are a friendly club with some 200 members and more than 20 interest groups. Please take a look around the site to discover what we can offer to those who are no longer in full time employment. New members are always warmly welcomed.
Monthly meetings take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 2-4pm at Greyfriars. Please click the 'Meetings' button for more information.
All groups are organised and led by members with most taking place in members' own homes so that they are small and friendly. Full members may join as many interest groups as they wish at no extra charge unless the group has to hire a room when there will be a small additional cost.
Please click the 'Group Info' button to see details of all groups. If you would like to know more or after joining wish to join a particular group please contact the Group Leader - contact details are on the Group Info pages.
Please contact any of the Committee Members for general information.
Latest news
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ADOPTED OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP CARD BADGES, IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD TO THE NEXT MEETING. This initiative has been introduced in response to a members'suggestion left in our Suggestion Box. The new badge holders have both 'clip' and 'pin' forms of attachment that our membership cards will fit into. Please bring your card to the meeting and you will be given a badge holder which you can wear at subsequent meetings to avoid having to write out a name badge every time and thus speed up the queue at the door. Visitors will be given a temporary badge so members will be able to identify them easily and make them feel welcome by using their name.
We still urgently need to recruit someone to take on the key role of SPEAKER SECRETARY. Speakers have been booked for the year ahead but the role also involves liaising with the speakers before, on the day and after the talk so a candidate is urgently sort. Hazel is more than happy to give any help required until the new person is established. If you would like to be more involved in the club in this or another role either now or in the future, please do come and talk to Pete or any of the Committee.
June Edwards and Barbara Colman have kindly agreed to continue to look after the meeting refreshments however they need the help of at least 2-3 others each time. We have a sign up sheet located on the Welcome Desk so if you are able please volunteer to assist. Anne Mason will be helping in June but needs another please.
The Club is reliant on willing volunteers to serve not only on the Committee but also to be HOSTS of interest groups. With a group membership of over 200 leading to some existing groups being oversubscribed we are keen to encourage the formation of new groups. Being a Host does not need to be onerous, it can simply be an admin role or perhaps one of providing a room in your home as a meeting place (groups requiring to use meeting rooms should be self funding although start up costs can be met by agreement of the Committee). If you have an interest in a specific topic please contact Audrey to discuss how we can help facilitate a new group with your help. Members have indicated that they would be interested in joining Spanish, French and Theatre Groups but we need HOSTS to take these forward.
We would also like to look at the possibility of short (perhaps 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks) courses on specific topics - perhaps you have an interest or skill in a particular topic/subject that you could pass on to other members? Please talk to Audrey
The latest, post AGM, programme leaflet can be found on the website (last updated 14.05.19). Printed copies will be available at monthly meetings and also from Greyfriars literature display although the latter may not always be the latest version.
Contact details for Group Hosts and Committee Members can be found on the Current Leaflet.
You may have noticed that we have a new 'button' on our website for 'Web Links' - if you click on this you will find links to Greyfriars Community Centre, the National U3A and also to the new Ringwood Community Network which we have joined as an Associate Member. The purpose of this network, set up by Ringwood Rotary, is to establish better communication between the various local organisations and charities in order to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Ringwood so please check it out to find a diary of events to attend and organisation who are looking for volunteers.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CARDS. The U3A have produced small 'credit card size' cards which fit easily into a purse or wallet to provide essential details in case members are taken ill at an event, particularly if on a walk or on a trip away from Ringwood. The idea is that you write your name, who to contact with a phone number and any medications, conditions or allergies on the card and keep it with you. If needs be someone can then find the card and have the appropriate information. Please pick up a card and fill it in then pop it in your purse/wallet - that way someone will be able to help you if necessary. Cards will be available from the Welcome Desk at monthly meetings or from Group Hosts.
Our June speaker we will have Tony Stafford former Yeoman Warden (Beefeater) at the Tower of London for 20 years giving us his talk on 'The Sex Lives of Kings' !
On Thursday 18th July our usual meeting room will not be available due to the Summer Show at Greyfriars. We are therefore organising an afternoon 'mystery tour' outing in a luxurious coach stopping at the Laguna Hotel in Bournemouth for afternoon tea at the significantly subsidised cost of £5 per person. Tickets are strictly limited to filling a 53 seater coach. Confirming numbers is essential as soon as possible with a deadline of the end of June so please buy your ticket from Jenny Jackson at the meeting on 16th May or email/phone Pete to confirm your interest. Allocation of tickets will be on a first come, first served basis with a waiting list over and above the first 53 (37 signed up as at 17 May). Pick Up for the coach will be from the bus stop opposite Greyfriars and the Memorial Garden.
On Sunday 19th May an Art Study Day "Beyond The Impressionists" is being organised by Xch U3A at The Village Hotel (opposite Bmth Hosp). From 10.15am to 4.15pm including refreshments and lunch £34 - free parking. If interested please email Hazel who will forward full details.
The next Skittles evenings will be on Friday 24th and Tuesday 28th May at 7.30pm at The Three Legged Cross Pub in Ringwood Road, Three Legged Cross BH21 6RE. If there are insufficient responses, one of the evenings will be cancelled, so if people are interested in coming they will need to say whether they can make both or just one of the dates. The choice of prices is £8.50 with a basket meal (chicken, cod, sausages, fishcake or mushrooms served with chips or salad) or £5.50 without. Please contact Peter Knight. These evenings are open to members and non members, but places must be booked in advance. Please let Peter Knight know what date or dates you can make and your meal choice on knight@lapalmera.co.uk.
The next event on the Mens Group Programme is a trip to The Ghurkhas/Royal Green Jackets Military Museums, Winchester on 30th May. In June there will be a Lunch at The Inn on the Furlong. If you are interested in either of these please contact Roger.
Our next pub lunch will be on Friday 31st May at 12.30 pm. This will be held at The Owls Nest, 196 Christchurch Road, West Parley, Ferndown BH22 8BS. Remember this is open to members and non members, so if you are thinking of joining Ringwood U3A why not give it a try, but PLEASE contact Margaret and Maureen beforehand (by Wednesday 29th at the latest) as they must know numbers in advance to ensure there is sufficient allocated seating. Lunchers who attend without booking in may have to sit elsewhere. Please order and pay for your own food and drink at the bar.
The walk on Monday 3rd June will be 4 miles covering Downton and Barford Park. Meet outside the Co-Op in The Borough, Downton at 10.00 am. Explorer Map 130 ref 175215, Postcode SP5 3LY (park in the street). This is a flat riverside walk with the possibility to extend to visit The Moot (Created in the early 18th century out of the ruins of a substantial 12th century earthwork castle). Led by Christine
New Forest and Beyond Group are planning a trip with guided tour of the beautiful Grade II listed 1793 'Cottage Ornee', Houghton Lodge and grounds on the river Test near Stockbridge. This will now take place on Thursday 4th July. Lunch can be booked and car sharing is recommended. Contact Jo if interested.
Also on the 4th July at 7pm the Men's Group will be going to a talk entitled "Flying the Vulcan " at Ringwood Library after which they we will be visiting a local hostelry to sample their wares. If you are interested in joining them please contact Roger.
Good news if you would like to take part in a Book Group but thought they were all full - thanks to Mary Brindley we now have a 4th group who will meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2pm. If interested please contact Mary on 01425 489710 or marybrindley1126@gmail.com
'Singing for Fun' group continues at Greyfriars from 1pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. All members are welcome to join - no audition required! Men would be particularly welcome to bolster up the deeper tones! Feel free to just turn up on the day for a 'taster' session. A small charge per 'term' is made to cover room hire and refreshment costs. If interested please contact June.
Unfortunately our Bridge Group is unable to continue at present however anyone who still wishes to play Bridge within a Ringwood U3A Group is asked to please register their interest by contacting Audrey Salter along with any thoughts, ideas or suggestions they may have for continuing the group, particularly if you would be willing to Lead or simply provide a venue for the group.
Judith has advised that unfortunately both our Art History and also Travel Groups will be taking a break.
New photos of group activities are always welcome for the website so if you can take a nice picture when you are part of a group or event please do (having first established that everyone is happy to have their picture published) and email them to Hazel.
Please remember that we have a RED Suggestion Box at our Monthly Meetings. We would love to hear any of your ideas. We'd love to hear from you either by a note left in the box or of course direct to a Committee Member by email.
Don't forget to look at the Members' Only Page (Noticeboard) on our website which gives members the opportunity to publicise non-U3A events that they have a keen interest in or to invite others to join them for something particular like a cinema trip or garden visit etc. It will not be used for 'selling' items. If you would like something posted to the Noticeboard please email full details to Hazel via the contacts page. Inclusion will be at the discretion of the Committee.
If you have a mobility issue, either short or long term, that is preventing you from coming to the monthly meetings or attending a group please contact a member of the Committee to see if we can find a local member who could provide a lift.
How to join
If you are no longer in, or looking for full time employment you may join Ringwood U3A by downloading a membership form using this link or by emailing our Chairman, Pete Jackson.
When you have completed the form you may take it, and your £24 membership fee, to the Thursday monthly meeting.
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