The Elderberries (The u3a Singers)
2026-01-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-26 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-02 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-09 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-02 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Thomas Clarkson Centre, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3JT
The u3a Singers are a friendly, informal group with over 40 members, we sing a wide variety of music, usually in four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass).
No Audition is necessary, and you don’t need to read music, as we will help you.
New members are very welcome, why not join us and enjoy the health benefits of singing.
For further information please email the group organiser (log in to get their details)
Concerts are held twice each year at All Saints Church.
This term’s fees are £20, to cover hire of the hall and new music (subsequent terms may be less).

Philosophy for All Group 1
2026-01-26 09:45 - 12:00, 2026-02-23 09:45 - 12:00
The group has been discussing issues in philosophy for over two years.
Some members have followed Bryan Magee’s excellent The Story of Philosophy. However, this book does not cover the most recent phase of the English language and European philosophy, so the newly constituted group is starting to explore these recent ideas and hoping to find a book that will help us with focus and detail. Our own ideas are always in view.
This group is full – but there is space in Philosophy Group 2.

Science and Society
2026-02-04 13:45 - 15:45, 2026-03-04 13:45 - 15:45
This group for anyone interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Talks are given by our members, with the occasional ‘outside’ speaker, and so we encourage anyone in the group to offer a talk, you don’t have to be an expert to make a presentation. If a topic takes your fancy, and you are prepared to do some research, you will produce something we can all enjoy. Come along, learn more, make friends and have an interesting afternoon.
2025
3rd Sept – Maths in Sport
1st Oct – Farming at Elvedon
5th Nov – How did the Giraffe influence the first human heart transplant
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
2026
7th Jan – Concorde
4th Feb – Submarines
The group is currently full, contact Email Greg Eaborn if you would like to go on the waiting list, or if you are interested in presenting talks.

Government and Politics
2026-02-10 11:00 - 12:30
We are a lively and participative group with members offering to lead discussions on a range of issues.
From our pre-Referendum start in 2016, our lively and participative group has discussed a wide range of policy issues and the current and future Government and political implications arising.
In recent times, we have extended our discussions of international issues such as Ukraine and Israel/Palestine, focussed on the Economy and Defence, and held annual meetings with West Suffolk Council. We are due to discuss Identity cards and the NHS.
We aim to report a summary to the wider u3a membership through the newsletter and continue to circulate opinion pieces within the group.

Wine Appreciation
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00
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.
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.

Current Affairs
2026-02-16 14:00 - 16:00
Passion, argument, disagreements (politely), differences of opinion, fun and most of all laughter.
These are a few of the ways we express ourselves in discussing the issues of the day when we meet for a couple of hours each month. This is democracy at its local level, agreeing to disagree, debating the topics of the day and learning from opposite points of view.
As well as current news we often make time to introduce larger topics e.g., climate change, constitutional issues and world news that affects us all.
We are open to new members.

Philosophy for All Group 2
2026-02-19 14:00 - 16:00
The philosophy groups focus on the turning points in Western Philosophy from its rise in Ancient Greece to the Present Day. We also work on the assumption that there are branches of philosophy and we try to think about these in turn. We have recently started to think about comparing Western and Eastern philosophy. We use a variety of books. One recent book we have used is: Life – A User’s Manual: Life Advice from the Great Philosophers, by Julian Baggini, Penguin, 2020. The current group text book is 50 Philosophy Classics, Tom Butler-Bowden, NB Publishing, 2022. Prospective members should buy this book.
We have space for more members.
For more details please contact Peter the group leader.

Photography
2026-02-19 14:30 - 16:30
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 holidays 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.
New members with any level of experience are welcome.
There is a small cost to each member to cover the cost of the room hire at £10 per 3-month term (£3.33/month).
Browse through a selection of our members photos with our newly created viewing platform
Plus a field trip once a month – usually the first Thursday of the month. Please contact the Group Leader for details.
New members are welcome to come along and check us out at at no cost.
