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 next meeting is on Thursday 21st February. The speaker will be Gale Gould talking about 'The Hampshire Wonder and other tales from history'.
The current leaflet can be found on the website or printed copies are available at monthly meetings or from Greyfriars literature display.
All contact details for Group Leaders and Committee Members can be found on the Current Leaflet.
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.
The Membership Application Form for Sept 2018 to Aug 2019 is available on the website. Printed copies will be available at the monthly meeting. This form is longer than previously due to the new GDPR rules on privacy - please complete it in full.
We are urgently seeking someone to take on the vital role of Club Secretary which will become vacant in April. We also need to fill the post of Speaker Secretary and an additional committee vacancy which could incorporate Publicity. If you think you would like to be more involved in the club please do come and talk to one of the Committee.
The next Walk will be at 10am on Monday 18th February from Pottern Park car park. A gentle walk through the lesser known parts of Moors Valley to the Visitor Centre for coffee before returning. Led by Christine.
The following walk will be on Thursday 7th March at 10.00 am from Burley Forestry Commission car park opposite the cricket pitch. Map OL22 ref 21402. This will take us around Burley and Castle Hill for approximately 4.5 miles along gravel tracks and moorland and over 2 stiles. Some steep climbs and may be slippery.
The full Spring walks programme is now on the website.
Our next pub lunch will be on Friday 22nd February at 12.30 pm. This will be held at The Amberwood, Walkford, BH23 5RQ (2 courses for £11.50). 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 Tuesday 19th at the latest) as they must know numbers in advance to ensure there is a place.
The next Skittles evenings will be on Tuesday 26th February and Friday 1st March 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.
The Mens Group Programme for the first 6 months of 2019 is taking shape. The next event is on 28th Feb with a visit to Winchester Science Museum and Planetarium. In March there will be a trip to R.N.Gosport Submarine Museum. April - Milestones Museum, Basingstoke. May - The Ghurkas/Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester. June - Lunch at The Inn on the Furlong. If you are interested in any of these please contact Roger.
The New Forest and Beyond Group are planing to visit the Hinton Admiral Estate gardens on Sunday 12th May when they will be open for charity. Hinton Admiral is the Estate and Ancestral home of the Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick family. The house is Grade I listed but not open to the public. The walled gardens to the north of the house and the wall to the terrace in front of the gardens of the house are both Grade II listed and are open to the public by arrangement and certainly worth a visit. If interested please contact Jo.
RMDS SHOW - EVITA - THURSDAY 18th APRIL. Would you like to go to see this show at Ringwood School as part of a small group? If so please let Hazel know by Thursday 28th February and she will get tickets (cost £12).
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 was to have been on Thursday 13 June but HAS BEEN POSTPONED and a new date will be advised. Lunch can be booked and car sharing is recommended. Contact Jo if interested.
Thanks to Maggie, Lesley, Deirdre and Sandra for representing us at the new format Greyfriars Challenge Quiz on Monday 28th January where 20 teams took part. We didn't win but a most enjoyable time was had by all.
Are you interested in day trips, short breaks and/or longer holiday with the Travel Group? Judith is keen to hear from members who wish to take part and in particular to get a feel for what places you would like to visit. Please email her on judith144@btinternet.com or ring 01202 890833.
Unfortunately we no longer have a Spanish group as no-one has come forward to lead either group. If anyone would like to take on this role please contact Audrey Salter.
There has also been interest in a French group but we need a Leader to come forward. If anyone would like to take on this role please contact Audrey Salter.
Interest has been expressed by several people regarding a Theatre Group - to do so we will need a Group Leader - please talk to Audrey Salter if you think you might like to do this.
'Singing for Fun' group is back in full swing with some new tunes 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.
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. In particular we are thinking about what to do in July 2019 when we again won't be able to use Greyfriars - would you like to have a speaker again in Trinity, have a Summer Party (if so any ideas on where) or perhaps a group outing such as a Coach trip or Poole Harbour boat trip. We'd love to hear from you.
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.
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.
Please also read the
RINGWOOD U3A CODE OF CONDUCT
Ringwood U3A strives to be a friendly and welcoming organisation, available to all who are no longer in full time employment. Our main aim is that our members enjoy the experience of being a member. We do realise, however, that problems sometimes occur and, whilst we do not want to control every potential difficulty with a raft of rules, we have prepared the following statements to cover any situation that may arise.
If any member or prospective member's behaviour or presentation causes distress or offence to other members, the Committee have the right to ask for that behaviour or presentation to change. If this change does not take place the Committee will have the right to rescind or refuse membership to that individual. In order to maintain our informal and friendly atmosphere, we would strive to deal with problems of such nature in a quiet and discreet fashion. If a member feels that certain behaviour is detrimental to our organisation or themselves, please raise the issue with a member of the Committee.
Pete Jackson
Chair
June 2018
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