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.
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If you are a member and wish to resubscribe to the Newsletters please log-in to this site.
Latest News
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1. Nomination for Executive Committee of u3a Bury St Edmunds 2022
All u3a members are eligible. No previous experience needed: simply enthusiasm, a wish to see our u3a grow and thrive, and ability to contribute to discussion!
Nominations must be received by Monday September 5th
Please click here for the nomination form, note to access the form you will need to log-in first: Documents | u3a Bury St Edmunds2. u3a 40th Anniversary – Events Click here for more details
3. Science and Society – restarting September 7th. Talk will be A Brief History of Numbers, by Rick Shepperson. Please email group leader, Graeme for more details Science & Philosophy | u3a Bury St Edmunds
4. New Workshop – Getting Started on the Internet. September 26th
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.
Open to all members Please email Martin martins@cix.co.uk5. Trips – Booking Peckover House & Peterborough Cathedral on September 15th is fully booked. If you would like to go on the waiting list please email Pat. Click for details
6. 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 Edmunds7. Latest Newsletter July 2022
8. Learn more about our New Interest Groups:
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Medical Dogs
Tue 20th September 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Venue: The Apex
Speaker: Norma Howell
Medical Detection Dogs is a charity that trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease with the aim of developing faster, more efficient and less invasive diagnostics that lead to better patient outcomes.They are at the forefront of the research into the fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and bacterial infections. Their bio Detection Dogs are trained to find the odour of those diseases in samples such as urine, breath and sweat and whose work has the potential to benefit millions.
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Coffee Morning for All Members – postponed. New Date to be confirmed.
In 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 Featured Trip

Peckover House and Peterborough Cathedral
Thu 15 Sep @ 8:30 am – 5:45 pm
Now fully booked. If you would like to go on the waiting list please email Pat.
Peckover House is a secret gem, an oasis hidden away in an urban environment. A classic Georgian merchant’s town house, it was lived in by the Peckover banking family for 150 years. The Peckovers were staunch Quakers which meant they had a very simple lifestyle – yet at the same time they ran a successful private bank. Both facets of their life can be seen as you wander through the house and gardens.
Peterborough Abbey, which became a Cathedral in 1541, has been the centre of national and international events for over 900 years. It has been an influential medieval monastery and a royal burial place, survived major damage during the Civil War and enjoyed a period of restoration and rediscovery of its Anglo-Saxon origins in the 19th Century. The Highlights Tour will introduce you to these stories and more as you explore the building with a knowledgeable guide.
For this outing we are visiting two very different locations.
- We will start at Peckover House where we will arrive around 10.30 am in time to explore the gardens and have refreshments in one of the cafes close by in Wisbech.
- Once the morning public tour is over the guide will give us a short introductory talk and then our whole group will be allowed in together to explore the house for 45 minutes before the next public tour starts.
- We will then board the coach for Peterborough where we will be dropped off by 2 pm latest near the Cathedral to explore the Precinct or take further refreshments.
- At 3 pm we will meet at the Cathedral for their Highlights Tour lasting approximately 1 hr.Departure from Bury: 8.30 am from Ram Meadow Car Park
- Arrival at Peckover 10.30 am approx
- Entry to House: 12 noon
- Departure from Peckover: by 1pm
- Arrival at Peterborough: by 2pm
- Cathedral Tour: 3pm
- Depart Peterborough 4.15pm
- Arrival back at Bury: 5.45 pm latest
Cost
National Trust Members £26 per person
Non National Trust £36 per personBooking is now open – please send your application direct to Pat (details on booking form)
There are two different prices for this outing one for National Trust members and one for non national trust members. Please ensure you complete the correct part of the booking form and make the right payment.
There are only 30 places available, confirmed on receipt of payment. u3a MEMBERS ONLY.
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