Welcome to Bury St Edmunds u3a
If you are no longer in full-time employment and have some time to spare, u3a is the organisation that will give you the chance to develop existing interests and explore new ones, while making new friends.
Our members run more than 50 Interest Groups – ranging across the creative, the educational, the physical and the social. From Walking to Wine Appreciation, Art to Antiques, Politics to Philosophy, Science to Shakespeare, Bridge to Current Affairs … the list goes on. The Groups are self-chosen and run by the members themselves.
In addition, we offer a monthly programme of talks at The Apex, as well as visits and social events throughout the year.
We are a friendly group of people who want to keep active, learning and socialising. Come and join us!
We welcome (but do not insist upon!) contributions from all. If you have some specialised knowledge, please do not keep it to yourself, but join and contribute to one of our groups. Or start a group of your own.
Applying for membership of the u3a in Bury St Edmunds
How to Join the u3a
There is no waiting list so if you follow the instructions on the registration form and submit it together with payment your membership card will be sent to you.
Resubscribe?
If you are a member and wish to resubscribe to the Newsletters please log-in to this site.
Latest News
-
1. u3a 40th Anniversary – Events Click here for more details2. Open to all u3a Members – A Chance to See Shakespeare’s Richard III
The RSC production is at Stratford Upon Avon – 29th September
The performance is a Matinee and we will be leaving Ram Meadow at 08:00 for a performance start at 13:15. The cost is £65 which includes coach travel and theatre ticket. Tickets are on a first come basis. If interested please contact Mary Blasby at mandmblasby@gmail.com3. New Workshop – Getting Started on the Internet. July 4th 2-4pm.
This new workshop will start with the basics and and then we will spend one-to-one with you and your laptop or iPad helping you practice to become more confident using the Internet, and including becoming familiar with our own u3a in Bury St Edmunds website.
Now fully booked, however if you’d like to put your name down for the next workshop, probably to be held in the Autumn, Please email Jennifer news@u3aburystedmunds.co.uk4. Bookings to Burghley House – July 12th
Now fully booked. If you would like to go on the waiting list please email Pat. Click for details5. Choir Group
Calling for new members, the u3a Choir is a friendly, informal group that sings a wide variety of music – auditions not required. Music | u3a Bury St Edmunds6. Elizabethan History – Read the Group Review here
7. Latest Newsletter May 2022
8. Learn more about our New Interest Groups:
-
Above the Law
Tue 19th July 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Venue: The Apex
Speaker: Adrian Bleese
Suffolk Helicopter Policing by Adrian Bleese
After the RAF, Adrian Bleese began working for Suffolk Constabulary and spent twelve years flying police helicopters.
In Above The Law he recounts the most intriguing, challenging, amusing and downright baffling episodes in his career working for Suffolk Constabulary and the National Police Air Service.
Rescuing lost walkers, chasing cars down narrow country lanes, searching for a rural cannabis factory and disrupting an illegal forest rave… they’re all in a day’s work.
It’s a side of policing that most of us never see, and he describes it with real compassion as he lives his dream job, indulging his love of flying, the English landscape and helping people. More than anything, it’s a story about hope.This promises to be an entertaining and intriguing event.
-
1. NEW Members Coffee Morning – next date to be confirmed
An opportunity for folk who have recently joined to come to an informal coffee meeting with members of our Committee who will be happy to chat and answer any questions.
Please email to secretary@u3aburystedmunds.co.uk to enquire
2. Coffee Morning for All Members – Monday July 18th
10.30 – 12 noon at the Thomas Clarkson CentreIn view of the interest expressed by members in having a ‘normal’ coffee morning open to all, the Committee have agreed to experiment with hiring a local venue and making refreshments ourselves, on a different day to the Lecture.
This would literally be a drop in event: open to all members and especially of course new members, for whom it’s an opportunity to meet others and – well, socialise, with a cup of tea and biscuit. It could be a good place also for potential new groups to arrange to meet.
We particularly invite Group Leaders/Co-ordinators to attend to chat to Committee Members about the Guildhall event planned on September 21st.
1. If this takes off It would be good to get a Refreshment Team together– ie making the tea and coffee on a rota basis!
2. Similarly we have invented a role of New Member Buddy: we one volunteer so far, it would be great to get more: the role is simply to be available to talk to new/recent/potential members, making them feel welcome of course, and filling them in on u3a activities.
Please let Liz know by emailing her to secretary@u3aburystedmunds.co.uk if you might be interested in joining either of these teams.
Accessibility of Thomas Clarkson
Free car park, two disability places (non-reservable). The venue is ground floor with good accessibility. Next nearest car park is Cattle Market or Waitrose.
Next Lecture Date
ABOVE THE LAW
Speaker: Adrian Bleese
Tue 19 Jul @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Suffolk Helicopter Policing by Adrian Bleese
After the RAF, Adrian Bleese began working for Suffolk Constabulary and spent twelve years flying police helicopters.
In Above The Law he recounts the most intriguing, challenging, amusing and downright baffling episodes in his career working for Suffolk Constabulary and the National Police Air Service.
Rescuing lost walkers, chasing cars down narrow country lanes, searching for a rural cannabis factory and disrupting an illegal forest rave… they’re all in a day’s work.
It’s a side of policing that most of us never see, and he describes it with real compassion as he lives his dream job, indulging his love of flying, the English landscape and helping people. More than anything, it’s a story about hope.
“I have been incredibly privileged to get to see the things I saw, do the things I did and get to know the people I was lucky enough to fly alongside. This book allows me to share my perspective on the world we flew over and the work we did and also to show people a little of what went on, a little of the work done every day by people up and down the country to keep them safe. When I moved to East Anglia it was to Bury St Edmunds that I came. I’ve not yet managed to live there and I love where I live on the Suffolk coast but Bury has a real place in my heart”.
This promises to be an entertaining and intriguing event
Next Featured Trip
Educational Trip to Burghley House£34.00
Tue 12 Jul @ 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Burghley House is one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the sixteenth century and a magnificent example of the great Elizabethan ‘prodigy’ houses. Conceived by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth 1, between 1555 and 1587, it is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the first Elizabethan age. With its dramatic skyline and towering obelisk clock tower, it was built to impress and the State Rooms on the first floor are awe-inspiring. During the 17th and 18th Centuries, John 5th Earl of Exeter and Brownlow, the 9th Earl travelled to the cultural centres of Europe returning with an enormous collection of art and furniture.
Burghley House is set in a 300 acre deer park landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, it is one of the finest examples of his work and includes a meandering 28 acre lake and the elegantly designed Lion Bridge. The tranquil Sculpture Garden is home to a collection of contemporary sculptures amongst diverse plantings, sweeping wildflowers and hidden paths. The Garden of Surprises is a visual and sensory experience inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology and classical civilisations.
Our visit will start with a 90-minute guided tour of the house and then you have time to explore the gardens. Refreshments can be obtained from the Orangery Restaurant, The Garden Café or takeaway from the Garden.
- Departure from Bury: 8.00 am from Ram Meadow Car Park
- Guided tour starts 10.00 am
- Departure from Burghley House: 3.30 pm
- Arrival back at Bury: Around 5.30 pm
- Cost: £34 per person
Please note: There are only 30 places available. MEMBERS ONLY.
To download the booking form please click here: Burghley House Booking Form
New Study Groups
We have recently added new study groups, to explore what’s on offer click the name of the group you are interested in
