Every month, Dukeries u3a hosts a visiting speaker and Cathy McAteer’s talk on Russia at September’s General Meeting was inspirational. Her deep, insightful, knowledge of the country, its history, and its many and varied cultures showed a passion and enthusiasm for her subject which was certainly infectious. Her comments about Russia today under the dictatorship of Putin were timely, and reminded us all that Russia itself is not the enemy of the West. It is the country that produced Peter the Great, Rachmaninov, Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Tchaikovsky, Rudolf Nureyev and Vladimir Ashkenazy, the country holding some of the world’s greatest cultural artefacts, such as the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theatre.
In fact, u3a as a whole is ‘inspiration’. Whether it is helping people to write more imaginatively, giving people the courage to play the ukulele on stage in front of a live audience, encouraging to learn a new game or skill, such as Bridge or Mahjong, or facilitating keeping fit with Soft Tennis or Bowling, it is all here, on demand, under our noses. This month, for example, the History Group has taken a guided tour of Newark and its castle, while some members attended a free concert in Southwell Minster, enjoying a Barber’s Shop Quartet and some Scott Joplin Ragtime music. The Ramblers walked from Gunthorpe Bridge to RAF Newton; the Photography Group produced some stunning images of nature and wildlife, and, inspired by u3a member Beryl, a Christmas collection has begun for the Orphans of Fuertventura.
The u3a Group of the Month is the Creative Writing Group which, in the nine years it has been running, has produced two extremely professional collections of writing, the profits from which have been donated to the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. They cover a huge range of topics, from writing about themselves and their lives to fiction, to poetry, to factual accounts, to persuasive writing, to description – all with the aim of making them more confident – and competent – writers. The group currently has vacancies, so, if you would like to join them, or just find out whether writing is for you, then please contact the Group leader, Mike, on 07821 653727.
The u3a movement is a good way to make new friends and socialise or learn something new. Dukeries u3a is open to all adults irrespective of employment status. Annual membership costs £20.00 up to 31st March 2025 and includes access to all activities and interest groups. To find out more please go along to up to two of their meetings, on the third Monday of each month, at 12.30pm to 3.00pm for £1.00 to cover refreshments. For further information see https://u3a sites.org.uk/dukeries/home or call 07756 436177.