Welcome to Ashfield U3A










THIS PAGE:     U3A Benefits / Newsletters / Announcements / Ashfield U3A History / Recent Updates / Past Events


WHAT BENEFITS CAN JOINING THE U3A BRING TO YOU?
Are you a 'Baby Boomer'? Can you remember extra classes in school and cod liver oil capsules? Did you wear net underskirts or luminous socks? Are you the generation, educated after the 1944 Education Act, who have coped with the swinging sixties and the peace-loving seventies; flower-power; men on the moon; the Cuba Crisis; computers and the Internet? Have you managed the vagaries of Microsoft Windows and got lost with your Sat. Nav.? Are you now, in retirement, looking for the next challenge or, at the very least, something interesting to do with your time?

Ashfield U3A (University of the Third Age) is a self-help group aimed at providing life-long opportunities for those who are generally over 50 (though there are no age constraints) and no longer in full-time employment. Ashfield U3A meets once a month for a general meeting with topic or speaker, but the real strength of the organisation lies in the interest groups which are small, run by members and allow people with a common interest to meet together with the aim of learning from each other. At present, interest groups include such topics as:

20th Century Singers, 50s / 60s / 70s Music, Art, Badminton, Beading, Board Games, Book Group, Bridge, Cake Decorating, Cake Tasting, Canasta, Cardcraft, Classical Music, Craft, Discussion, Dolls House & Miniatures, Dressmaking, DVD Group, Entertainments Unlimited, Family History, French for Beginners, Gardening & Garden Visits, Holidays, Horticulture, International Dining, Knit & Natter, Kurling, Breakfast, Litter Picking, Lunch Group, Mah Jong, Miscellany, Movement to Music, National Trust Visits, Pickleball, Poetry, Pop Pickers, Practical Philosophy, Scrabble, Sunday Lunch Group, Sugarcraft, Theatre Visits, Threads & Fibres, Table Tennis, Ukulele, Walking Groups, Weekenders, Wine Appreciation & Yoga. Future groups may include any topic that a few members wish to pursue.

Interest Groups are often started because of the interest of one or two members. They will arrange a short meeting at their home or other venue and invite others who may be interested. The interest group decides how, when and where they will meet and how large the group will be. Some, such as outings groups, may not meet formally at all. Some may wish to pay a teacher; others will pursue their interests as a group, learning from each other without an 'expert' or tutor. The co-ordinator of a group does not have to be an expert, but will ensure that meetings happen and that group members are kept informed.




NEWSLETTERS:      Please use this section for all fullscreen newsletters.



2024 Newsletters


2023 Newsletters


2022 Newsletters






ANNOUNCEMENTS:


New Groups:

PLEASE NOTE:

Before starting a group, you should inform the Groups Co-ordinator from whom a form must be obtained to give details of your group. This should be filled out and returned as soon as possible to allow a page to be inserted on the website for your new group. This will enable your group members to see the group on the website and allow potential new U3A members to see what is on offer.

Please do not cut out the website by going straight to the Newsletter Editor. This is to ensure that both website and newsletter represent the same group information. Thank you for your co-operation.


Car Parking:

PLEASE NOTE:

Morrisons have removed their parking meters and there is now a maximum of 3 hours parking.
Aldi restrict parking to 90 minutes for customers only.

We believe that there is also parking available as follows:-

Hodgkinson Road/Festival Hall car park: £1.50 for 4 hours.
Lindleys Lane and Sherwood Street: there is some free street parking.
Kingsway Park: plenty of free parking but a fairly long walk.

Please adhere to parking signs in the Ashwood Car Park, this is because of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations. Please also leave the Speakers parking space free. The entrance road to the car park at the rear of the Ashwood building must be kept clear as this access is required for emergency vehicles.

Please remember that we are not allowed to park in the car park of the Health and Well-being Centre next to the Ashwood Centre.

Posted on behalf of the Committee


Emergency First Aid:

We are pleased to announce that the following members have now attended an Emergency First Aid Course paid for by Ashfield U3A. They have all qualified and now, not only will Thursday meetings be covered, but the groups to which they belong may also benefit if required.

Helena Selby
Colleen Green
Barbara Ives
Hilda Riley
Sue Taylor
Wendy Walker



Walking in Nottinghamshire:

This is a website which lists dozens of walks which can be downloaded and printed free of charge. Go to the 'walking in notts' site.


Group Co-ordinators:

May we respectfully remind you that, from time to time, you should ensure that all members of your group prove their membership of Ashfield U3A (or another Neighbourhood Group U3A) by showing you an up-to-date membership card. This is most important from an insurance aspect, as one member who is not covered by TAT insurance could invalidate the insurance for the rest of the group.


Illness / Bereaved:

Do you know of anyone in Ashfield U3A who is seriously ill or has just lost a loved one? We would like to send out a card on behalf of Ashfield U3A. Please contact either Carole Seymour on 01623-489785 or Rita Lomas on 01623-480338, or send an email to Carole or Rita.


Ravenshead Community Transport:

Ashfield U3A has now registered with the Ravenshead Community Minibus Scheme, and as such, we will receive 10% discount on all our bookings. Any group within Ashfield U3A is entitled to use this facility, which is in addition to the Kirkby 'Our Centre' minibus.


Ashfield U3A 10th Anniversary at Goosedale, Papplewick on 1st July, 2016:

Ashfield U3A formally celebrated its 10th anniversary at Goosedale in Papplewick, Notts., with entertainment from Ravenshead Swing Band. The Am Dram group also gave a short sketch Some photographs are shown below.







Ashfield U3A 10th Anniversary celebration on 24th March, 2016:



Ashfield U3A celebrated its 10th anniversary at the March monthly meeting held at the Ashwood Centre, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Around 170 of its 300 plus members were in attendance and enjoyed a glass of Champagne together with smoked salmon and cream cheese crostinis. Soft drinks were also served as an alternative.



After announcements, an anniversary cake was cut by its first chairman, Barrie Jackson, and shared with those present.



All five chairmen to date are pictured with the cake - from left to right, Barrie Jackson (first chairman), Lynne Jackson (fourth chairman), Maxine Rose (second chairman), Ron Britton (third chairman) and Trish Tootell (fifth chairman). A formal dinner was held in July at Goosedale in Papplewick, Notts., with entertainment from Ravenshead Swing Band.





Ashfield U3A Groups Display & Fashion Show - March 2023 photographs are shown below.






HISTORY OF ASHFIELD U3A:
Mansfield and District U3A was so successful that, six years after it was formed, it found itself in the position of looking for ways of dealing with the large number of people wishing to join. As a result, and to meet the demand, Ashfield U3A was set up in March 2006.

The Ashwood Centre - 
venue for the monthly meetings


After the first meeting at Sherwood Court, it was obvious that there was not going to be room for expansion and so the committee decided that it would be prudent to seek out a new venue. As from May 2006, Ashfield U3A held its main meetings at Bentinck Miners' Welfare, Sutton Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where it continued to do so until September 2007, when it became obvious that another venue had to be sought, owing to its ever increasing numbers.




Since October 2007, meetings are held in The Ashwood Centre, Portland Street, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. This premises can house a significant increase in membership, is light and airy and has the advantage of being central to the town whilst on one level. It is also just off the main bus routes through Kirkby and can cater for around forty cars, while overspill parking is available in several car parks which are only a few minutes away.



The Ashwood Centre also has a number of other rooms which are available for hire to interest groups, at low cost.

If you would like more information about Ashfield U3A or about how to join, please telephone the Chair, Wendy Walker on 01623-757858 or the Membership Secretary, Ann Smithson on 01623-428585.

Or email U3A Enquiries

Alternatively, request information from the Membership Secretary by filling in the electronic form.







RECENT SITE UPDATES:
  • 25-02-2024 - Miscellany Group
  • 25-02-2024 - Reading Group
  • 25-02-2024 - February newsletter [flipbook format]
  • 22-01-2024 - Membership fee changes and downloadable forms [see Membership page]
  • 22-01-2024 - January newsletter [flipbook format]
  • 03-01-2024 - Walking Group 'C' Strollers
  • 01-01-2024 - Art Group
  • 21-11-2023 - Tradesmen details form [added to downloadable documents on Committee page]
  • 11-11-2023 - November newsletter [flipbook format]
  • 08-11-2023 - Reading Group
  • 30-10-2023 - October newsletter [flipbook format]
  • 28-10-2023 - October newsletter currently unavailable [flipbook format] - problems
  • 28-10-2023 - Miscellany Group
  • 01-10-2023 - Philosophy Group [New Group]
  • 01-10-2023 - Miscellany Group



SOME PAST EVENTS WITH WRITE-UP & PHOTOGRAPHS: