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
The Committee would like to wish all members a Very Happy and Healthy New Year.
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.
2019-20 Membership Renewals are now complete - non-renewers will be removed from our records in line with GDPR rules and will no longer receive newsletters or be eligible to attend group events. If you have renewed please remember to collect your new membership card from the welcome table and place it in your badge holder.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD BADGES TO MONTHLY MEETINGS. 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. New members will have a star sticker on their badges. 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 (who can be identified by their yellow name badges). 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' or the printed copy on the Noticeboard at monthly meetings.
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.
Would you like to be part of a French Conversation Group? If so please register your interest with Audrey on 01425 478071 or email her on asramble@m4me.co.uk
We would 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 life skill in a particular topic/subject that you could pass on to other members? Please talk to Audrey on 01425 478071 or email her on asramble@m4me.co.uk
We know that members would like to take part in more groups than we currently have available or possibly those groups that we have are already full however we need more detailed information in order to gauge interest. PLEASE send an email to Audrey stating what you would be interested in joining.
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.
Committee Vacancies - Some Committee Members will be stepping down from their posts at the April 2020 AGM so if you would (or might) be interested in helping now is the time to speak to Pete or other current committee members. Without willing Committee Members the existence of the club is at risk. The current committee would welcome extra help now so please come forward if you can help.
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. Thank you to those who have volunteered so far, we now have volunteers for February, March and April.
The latest, PROGRAMME LEAFLET can be found on the website (last updated 14.01.20). 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. If you spot anything that needs amending please let Hazel know.
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.
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.
The new Spring 2020 Walks programme is now available on the website - some printed copies will be available on the noticeboard at meetings.
WHIST - This new group is doing really well with some 16 U3A members and St Ives residents attending. Whist is a very social card game and The St Ives Country House Care Home, Horton Road, Ashley Heath are providing their very comfortable ground floor lounge with a dozen 4 chair tables, complimentary tea-coffee and free parking (use the Visitors Car Park please - on the left as you drive in the gates but if full go to the overflow which is down the turning on the right). Initial help, written instruction sheets and all necessary cards and score sheets will be provided. If interested in attending please contact Terry Smith on 01425 471880.
The MEN'S INTEREST GROUP provisional programme for 2020 is as follows:- February (21st or 28th) - Fordingbridge Cinema (The Joker or Official Secrets) and Dinner; March - Poole Greyhound Racing; April - Hall and Woodhouse Brewery Tour; May - Friends of the New Forest Airfields Museum; June - Etches Museum and Pub Lunch and Kimmeridge
The next SKITTLES evenings will be on Tuesday 28th and Friday 31st January 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.
Our next (non PUB) LUNCH will be on Friday 31st January at 12.30 pm. This lunch will be organised by Hazel to be held at Chianti Italian Restaurant in Ferndown (park in Tesco's). Their special lunch menu for a small pizza or pasta dish with salad is just £5.90 and was much enjoyed by those who attended the last one held back in July. Please let Hazel know by email if you wish to attend by Wednesday 29th Jan. We currently have 16 members coming. Our new Hosts for February onwards will be Ann Duckworth and Judith Purssell to whom we are very grateful for taking on this role.
PETANQUE otherwise known as Boule will resume on Monday 3rd February - 10.30am 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). Chris Chubb (chris@chubbfamily.net) 01202 425063 will provide equipment and instruction on how to play.
The WALK on Wednesday 5th February is 3 miles, led by Liz. Meet at Burbush car park, Map OL22 ref 201018 to walk around Dur Hill.
The speaker at the next meeting on 20th February will be former police officer Paul Stickler giving us (the jury) the story of The (historic) Green Bicycle Murder.
The WALK on Friday 21st February is 3 miles, led by Liz. Meet at Wilverley Plain car park, Map OL22 ref 254010 to walk around the inclosure on less frequently used paths.
Blandford U3A have invited us to join them on a coach trip to London on Monday 24th February when they intend to visit The British Museum's "Troy: myth and reality" winter exhibition although you are free to go elsewhere to other nearby museums or perhaps to the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery or just shopping in Knightsbridge. The coach will pick up from Blandfor at 8am (free parking in Tesco) and The Millstream Coach Park in Salisbury at 8.45am (All day Car Park £8.90). Leaving London at 4pm. Coach fare is £7.10 which includes a £1.50 tip for the driver, Troy exhibition is £10. If interested please contact Hazel who will pass on your details to the organiser (both home and mobile phone nos required please).
Verwood U3A Travel Group have asked if any of our members would like to go on trips where they still have some places available:- 3rd to 6th September 2020 - Kynren 2,000 years of Myth and Legend £339. Fuller details can be found on the Travel Section of their website w w w verwoodu3a.org.uk/travel.html
BOOK GROUP 4 which takes place on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2pm has space for a few more to attend. Please ring Mary Brindley on 01425 489710 if you would like to join.
In addition to Book Group 4 places are also available in Healthy Living, Craft and Photography Groups. If you are interested in joining any new group please contact the Host and if there is no place currently available ask to be put on a waiting list - if sufficient members wish to take part forming a new group may be viable.
There may also be places available with the Monday morning Table Tennis group. If you are a reasonably competent player and can resist the urge to 'spin' please contact Sylvia.
The 'HEALTHY LIVING' group hosted by Christine Rutherford takes place 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.
Did you know that singing is good for our general feeling of wellbeing and in particular our brain function - why not give it a try and 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.
The 'SINGING FOR FUN' group are trialling an additional session from 10.15-12 on the 2nd Wednesday of the month 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, if full there is an overflow down the turning on the right. The home are offering us free use of their lovely facilities with refreshments in exchange for their residents being able to attend. The first of these sessions was a great success with 12 members together with Peter who did a great job on the keyboards and was attended by around 14 residents and a few staff who joined in with some of the well known songs. Please contact June on 01425 472769.
3rd June 2020 - U3A Movement 40th Anniversary. Your thoughts on ways we should mark the occasion are invited - please email Pete with any ideas.
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.
We have a '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.
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.
Sorry, the we are not able launch your local email client. Please copy and paste this address - - into the To address box of your normal email & send the message from there.