Leisure

What do we do?

We are a friendly social group bonding over a Radio 4 programme woven into British culture for 75 years and which continues in popularity.

There are an abundance of storylines and topics discussed in our coffee morning style format. We laugh, speculate about plot lines and characters. We share our experiences where themes from the programme overlap our lived experience.  Our group meets in members’ homes as we take it in turn to host and lead a 30-minute focused discussion.

The group is now full.  A waiting list will be maintained.

What do we do?

We are a friendly mixed ability group with about 40 people attending each week. We can accommodate a few more people and you do not need to bring a partner as you will always get a game.

There is no charge but you are encouraged to buy a drink from The Apex Coffee Shop.

What do we do?

Canasta originated in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1939.

Initially, you make melds of 3 cards of the same value which you build on to make a Canasta (7 cards). Cards have different values according to their face value. The purpose of the game is to reach 5,000 points. The more points you score, the more card values you need to put in an initial meld – in other words, you are handicapped. This is what makes the game interesting.

I have a copy of the Canasta card game that we would follow because I know that there are several different ways to play.

This group is currently full.

What do we do?

Canasta originated in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1939.

Initially, you make melds of 3 cards of the same value which you build on to make a Canasta (7 cards). Cards have different values according to their face value. The purpose of the game is to reach 5,000 points. The more points you score, the more card values you need to put in an initial meld – in other words, you are handicapped. This is what makes the game interesting.

I have a copy of the Canasta card game that we would follow because I know that there are several different ways to play.

Beginners are always welcome.

What do we do?

The chess group is for people of all abilities; from absolute beginners to Russian 12 year olds!
We’re a friendly bunch who don’t take chess too seriously. Instruction/guidance provided if required.
Boards and pieces provided. No fees.
Why not come along and check us out? Just turn up if that suits you.

What do we do?

Meet up, have a coffee, play several hands of crib (cards and boards provided), have lunch and then go home.
Games can comprise of 2, 3 or 4 players.

We are a convivial group of people who enjoy playing Crib, with life stories to tell/ exchange.
The morning starts with coffee before playing groups sort themselves out, arranging in tables of 3 or 4 players.
Play is much fun and very lively, interrupted only by ample lunch served in quality and quantity.
Never had a dull session yet.

This group is now full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please email the Group Leader.

What do we do?

An oversubscription of this popular interest group triggered the creation of this new Cribbage: Tuesday group.

Although now at a different venue, we follow a similar format.  organising into groups of 2,3 or 4 to play rounds of cribbage over good food with friendly people.  Boards are provided.  All are welcome whether novice or veteran. The group is currently fully subscribed, please contact the group organiser to be added to a waiting list.

What do we do?

We are a group exploring and developing our skills in Cryptic Crosswords. Solving abilities in the group range from the novice to more experienced solvers. Each month we cover:

• A briefing on and then practice at cryptic clues of Clue Type of the Month. We have been following the sequence of the U3A Cryptic Crossword subject adviser Henry Howarth’s online course and book Learn How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords: A Course for Beginners and have now completed our tour of the main types of clue. Tutorial and practice material we collect is available to all members.
• Solving/reviewing a  set of Cryptic Crosswords of the Month together. A link to them is sent a few weeks beforehand so members can have a go on their own before the meeting. These in difficulty from the Guardian Quick Cryptic series, through the Times Quick Cryptics to Mainstream 15×15 puzzles.
• Tackling a selection of Clues of the Month collected from recently published crosswords.
• Practice at setting clues with three Words of the Month.

The group is led by John Moody, an experienced cryptic crossword solver, blogger and compiler. John is a Times Crossword Championship semi-finalist, leader of the crossword blogging site Times for The Times and founding compiler and editor of the Weekend Quick Cryptic Crossword series. New members of any level of solving ability are always welcome.

Please contact the group organiser if you would like to join us.

What do we do?

This is a very sociable group which meets every month.

Ordinarily, you work in a small team. No prizes. No losers. Just light-hearted sociable fun with 10 rounds of quickfire questions and answers.

98% of all questions are answered by someone so don’t be shy; come and check us out.

If you’ve got the answers to most of the questions and you’ve had fun then I’ve done my job.

The quiz format has been changed somewhat, so you should see some improvements, it’s still all fairly light-hearted fun!

Please be sure to allow time to buy a drink before we start at 10am.

What do we do?

We are a group of people who enjoy socialising and eating!

We meet on the 4^th Tuesday of each month at 12.00 at a previously agreed venue for lunch. The venue for the following meeting is decided by those present giving everyone a chance to participate and introduce us to new places. It is planned that venues will be in Bury and surrounding areas not too far out of town.

The group is now full, there is a wait list in operation, please contact Mavis to be added.

Alternatively, you could start a new Lunch Group. See here for more information: https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/running-a-group/.

What do we do?

A second Lunch Group has been set up for people who enjoy socialising and eating!
We plan to visit venues in Bury St Edmunds and its surrounding areas, not too far out of town. We may car share to some venues.
The venue for the following meeting is decided by those present – giving everyone a chance to participate and introduce us to new places.
For each meeting you will be required to let the organiser, Jill Pearce, know whether or not you will attend by the Friday before the lunch. Please log into the website to see Jill’s contact details.
The group is limited to 12 members and is now full, with a waiting list in operation. Please contact Jill if you would like to be added to the list.
Alternatively, you could start a new Lunch Group. See here for more information: https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/running-a-group/.

What do we do?

A five-week introductory course followed by play and further instruction.

Preferred minimum number four players and maximum number eight players.

Any member of the u3a is welcome to attend subject to the above restrictions.

What do we do?

Open to all levels of experience. The desire to improve your photography skills could range from the desire to capture memories through to learning more artistic or creative techniques.

Are you interested to learn along side each other or have an interest in a particular form of photography, whether it be for your holiday snaps, or landscape, portrait, family occasions, animals, pets, wildlife, insects, buildings, objects, flowers, street, sport, black & white, macro, or just to feel more confident taking photos?

Come along regardless of the type of camera you have whether it is on your mobile phone, instant, bridge or SLR camera.

There is no expectation that anyone is an expert who has to teach the others, the philosophy behind u3a is that we learn from each other – and preferably have fun too.

Each month a photo theme and technical topic selection will be based as far as possible on members’ suggestions. For example: Shutter speed as technical topic and photo theme ‘fill the frame with colour’

Our aim is to be an inclusive group and encourage shared learning.
New members with any level of experience are welcome and should contact Mary Proctor.

Browse through a selection of our member’s photos here member’s photos

What do we do?

There’s not really any organising to do. We turn up with our boards and word books and get on with it!

What do we do?

Due to ongoing popular demand, a third Wine Appreciation Interest Group has started.

This group is capped at 10 due to it being hosted at a member’s home and to allow everyone to be involved and participate in the discussions during the tastings.

We will sample 6 wines each month, with group members taking it in turn to select, research and bring the wine for the monthly tasting.

Members will each bring their own tasting glasses, and all costs are shared with a cap of £12 per head each month to cover the cost of the wines.

This group has just one remaining place available. Please contact the group organiser if you’d like to join, after which a waiting list will be established.

What do we do?

Due to popular demand a second Wine Appreciation Interest Group has started.

We have capped the group at 12-13 to allow everyone to be involved and contribute in the discussions during the tastings.

We sample wines from the primary styles of wine to the more unusual from the top wine producing countries to the lesser known from around the world.

We sample 6-7 wines each month. We take turns to volunteer (if they want) to research and bring the wine one month and guidance on groups of wine to sample can be provided.

All costs are shared, and we each pay £12 per head covering the cost of wines.

This group is now full. Please contact the group organiser if you’d like to be added to the waiting list.

What do we do?

The u3a Wine Appreciation Society has now been running for 10 years.

Our objective is to take a not too serious look at the world of wine by keeping up to date with all new trends and products available on the market; discussing Grape varieties and new trends often with blind tastings.

The group now has considerable experience in buying and tasting and all members are welcome to front a session should they wish.

We normally taste and discuss 7 – 9 wines and conduct regular “blind” tastings all of which are a lot of fun.

Membership needs to be restricted to 30. The group is at present oversubscribed and there is a waiting list. Inquiries from new members would always be welcome. Please contact me directly, Bob.

Tasting glasses and tasting sheets are provided. A kitchen is available for the supply of water.

All costs are shared and the average “fee” will be £12 per head, this covers the cost of wines and of course the room hire and parking charge, this is presided over by our treasurer working in conjunction with the u3a in Bury.

In the past, we have organised a group visit to a local vineyard and this is something we hope to repeat.

Future plans hope to include Food, Cheese, and Wine pairings.

Membership needs to be restricted to 30. The group is at present oversubscribed and there is a waiting list. Inquiries from new members would always be welcome. Please contact me directly, Bob.

Read about our latest tasting and evaluation session here