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
Please note that whilst every effort is made to keep this page and indeed the whole of the website current there may from time to time be a delay in updating the information provided.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL for September 2019 to August 2020. Forms are available to download from the website or can be collected at the monthly meetings. If possible we would ask that you take one home and complete it in full (both sides) and then return it at the October Meeting when we will process them along with your payments. Postal renewals can be sent to Pete Jackson. Renewal is also possible with payment by online banking using your name as a reference, however the Treasurer must be informed and the form scanned and emailed to the Membership Secretary. All renewals should be completed by November.
Thank you to everyone who has adopted our new MEMBERSHIP CARD BADGES. The new badge holders have both 'clip' and 'pin' forms of attachment that our membership cards will fit into. Please place your card in the badge holder and wear it at future meetings to avoid having to write out a name badge every time - this should 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. Please note that all attendees at Monthly Meetings should still sign in at the Welcome Desk.
Please could all members make a point of introducing themselves to our VISITORS, tell them about our groups and help to make them feel welcome. If you would be prepared to volunteer to be a 'buddy' for new members please contact Pete or Hazel.
Could you recognise all your Committee Members? Why not take a look at the 'WHO'S WHO' on the website under 'Documents'.
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
If you would like to be more involved in the club in any role either now or in the future, please do come and talk to Pete or any of the Committee.
June Edwards and Barbara Colman continue to look after the meeting REFRESHMENTS however they need the help of at least one other each time. We have a sign up sheet located on the Welcome Desk so if you are able please volunteer to assist. Thanks go to Judy Thomas and Chris Pentelow who helped at the September meeting. We currently have no volunteers for the October meeting.
The latest, PROGRAMME LEAFLET can be found on the website (last updated 17.09.19). Printed copies will be available at monthly meetings and also from The Gateway or Greyfriars literature display although the latter may not always be the latest version. On occasion a speaker may have had to cancel and a replacement arranged, in these circumstances the information on an older programme may be out of date.
CONTACT DETAILS for Group Hosts and Committee Members can be found on the Current Leaflet which can be viewed or downloaded from this website. You can also email Group Hosts via the Groups button.
Many thanks and congratulations to Mary, Janet, Christine and Jenny on the 'Welcome Table' at the September meeting, who did an amazing job of processing some 80 attendees many of whom renewed their membership. If you have renewed please collect your new membership cards at the October meeting.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ICE) 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. Then, if needs be, someone can 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.
We have a new group 'HEALTHY LIVING' which will be hosted by Christine Rutherford in her home from 2-4pm on the 1st Thursday of the month. This will be a very informal gathering to explore and discuss ways of improving our lifestyle choices with hopefully some input and participation from all attending. Please contact Christine if interested in taking part.
PETANQUE - Monday mornings at 10am and we have bookings for the 30th September and then 10.30am from 7th October at Avon Heath Country Park (the only cost being parking which is £1.50 per hour so car sharing would be a good idea, although an annual parking permit can be purchased for £30 which is an option). Watch this space for further dates in October. Chris Chubb (chris@chubbfamily.net) 01202 425063 will provide equipment and instruction on how to play.
WHIST - We are looking for members who would interested in playing Whist with a view to starting a new Group, hosted by Terry Smith. Whilst is a very social card game and The St Ives Country House Care Home, Horton Road, Ashley Heath has kindly offered us the use of their very comfortable (and underused) ground floor lounge with a dozen 4 chair tables and tea-coffee facilities and free parking (use the Visitors Car Park please - on the left as you drive in the gates). The plan is to run a couple of 'taster' sessions at 2pm the next being on 2nd October. Initial help, written instruction sheets and all necessary cards and score sheets will be provided. If interested in attending please contact Terry on 01425 471880.
The WALK on Wed 25th Sept is 3.5 miles 'Town to Ringwood Forest' led by Ros. Meet at Ringwood Library to take the Castleman Trail into Ringwood Forest.
Our next PUB LUNCH will be on Friday 27th September at 12.30 pm. This will be held at The Horns, West Parley, BH22 8SS. 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 25th 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 (Smugglers Hill and Vales Moor) on Friday 4th October will be 3 miles led by Ros. Meet at Smugglers Road car park, Burley Street (Map OL22 ref 188040). Some steep climbs.
The next Skittles evenings will be on Tuesday 15th and Friday 18th October 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.
If you are interested in BRIDGE you may like to know that a new 32 week structured training course will be taking place at Greyfriars, starting on the Tuesday 10th September, teaching at 1.45pm, following registration at 1.30pm - the class should finish at approx 4.15pm. The first 5 weeks are designed for those with no previous knowledge of bridge, starting at week 6 on 15th October for those that have a basic idea but no formal learning or need a refresher. Anyone is welcome to dip in and out of lessons on particular topics. The cost is £5 per lesson, not payable if you don't attend. Please phone Philip Tripp for more details and to register your interest. Phone -01202 379297 Mobile -07455 075 993 email - pjtripp@uwclub.net The Lesson Plan can be viewed on our website. If those wishing to learn how to play take part then we may have sufficient members in the future to be able to restart a U3A Group.
The MENS GROUP meeting on 11th October will be a visit to the Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth to see a live improv show by The Black Cherry Co at 7.30pm cost £10. Please contact Roger if interested.
The 'SINGING FOR FUN' group are trialling an additional session from 10-12 on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (hopefully commencing on 9th October) at The St. Ives Country House Care Home (Horton Road, off the Ashley Heath roundabout - park in the Visitors car park to the left of the entrance or get the 9.45am No 38 bus from Meeting House Lane). The home are offering us free use of their lovely facilities with refreshments in exchange for their residents being able to join in. If interested please contact June on 01425 472769.
The SPEAKER at our 17th October meeting will be fellow club member, Jenny Bluck, who will be telling us about her experiences in Russia with the Trefoil in 2018.
The NEW FOREST and BEYOND group have arranged a coach trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday 22nd October. Once there you can spend the time as you wish whether its to see the Mary Rose, any of the ships, the museum or the shopping centre. The coach will leave from Meeting House Lane in Ringwood at 10am and Portsmouth at 4pm. The cost of travel will be £15pp, cheques payable to 'Ringwood U3A' please. We do still have seats available on the 49 seater coach. This outing is open to non-members. Please contact Jo on josephinebarratt@hotmail.com ASAP if you would like to go.
The SPEAKER at our 21st November meeting will be Prof. Anne Anderson who will talk on Rene Lalique: Master of Art Nouveau Jewellery and Art Deco Glass.
The MENS GROUP event on 22nd November will be a visit to the Bovington Tank Museum. Please contact Roger if interested.
On 12th December the MENS GROUP will be having a Bumper pre Christmas Lunch at The Inn on the Furlong. Mains at £17.95 2 Courses £22.50 3 Courses £27.00 smaller courses are available. Please contact Roger if interested.
The 19th December 'Members' Meeting will include entertainment by 'Chapter and Verse' performing 'Christmas Crackers', refreshments with Christmas Cake baked by Christine Rutherford and Mince Pies by Jacqueline Johnson, a festive quiz, a raffle in aid of local charity 'The Stable Home Family Trust' and a Christmas themed singalong.
Would anyone be interested in going to see 'MOTOWN THE MUSICAL' at the Mayflower in Southampton on Wed 9th (Matinee at 2pm). The seats start at £27.50 although this drops by £5 for groups of 10 or more). (6 interested as at 19th Sept) Contact Hazel asap.
Would anyone be interested in going to London to see the Tutankhamun Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery? It runs from 2nd Nov until 3rd May between 10am and 4.30pm with half hourly slots. The entrance charge is £21. If sufficient interest we may be able to arrange a coach or possibly share the trip with another U3A. If not then a small group could travel by National Express. If we do arrange a coach then you could just use it to go to London for the day and visit the museums etc. (only 2 interested as at 19th Sept but still hopeful!) Please contact Hazel asap.
The ART Group that now meets in the Group Room at Trinity Church from 10-12pm on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month is in need of some new members. No artistic flair is required just a desire to dabble (although some tuition/help is available if wanted). Why not pop along to see what the group gets up to and have a chat over a coffee.
We really could do with a few more members to come along to our 'SINGING FOR FUN' group which is held in 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.
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.
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.
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.
U3A 2020 DIARIES are now available to order from the U3A National Office website h t t p s / w w w.u3a.org.uk/resources/shop/merchandise/at £3.25 each.
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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