May brings with it several reasons to celebrate – two Bank Holidays, National Smile Month, Eurovision, and the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower, which is expected to peak on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May. This celestial event ties in perfectly with Retford u3a’s guest speaker this month, James Ince, who will be speaking at the General Meeting on Wednesday 22nd May about Astronomy and the Night Sky.
Most have likely spent time gazing at the stars, trying to distinguish constellations and planets, catch a glimpse of a shooting star, or even track the Hubble Space Station as it orbits the Earth. Occasionally, the night sky dazzles with remarkable brilliance, offering a rare and beautiful view of the Universe – even with the naked eye. James’ talk is expected to be a fascinating insight into the mysteries above and may inspire many to explore astronomy further. Visitors are welcome to attend the General Meeting to learn more about Retford u3a before choosing to become a member.
This month’s spotlight is on the Patchwork and Quilting group. While quilting dates back to the time of the Pharaohs, Retford u3a’s group was founded in 2016 and now has 28 members, skilfully led by Dawn Madine. The creative potential of patchwork is endless, as shown by the beautiful pieces made by the group, many of which become treasured heirlooms.
The group is also actively involved in the Linus Project UK, creating quilts to offer comfort, warmth and a sense of security to children who are sick, disabled, disadvantaged or distressed. They have also donated quilts to local care homes, playgroups and special schools.
Although the group’s focus is quilting, several members also have experience in embroidery (hand and machine), appliqué and dressmaking, and are happy to share their skills. New members are always welcome. Anyone interested in joining is invited to visit and see what the group does – contact Dawn via the u3a website to arrange.
Retford u3a will soon celebrate its 15th anniversary with a special event on Wednesday 18th June at the West Retford Hotel. Members are invited to enjoy live music from Simply Swing Band, along with Pimm’s, strawberries and cream, a raffle, and a best hat or buttonhole competition. Tickets are priced at £18.00.
Looking ahead to autumn, members will attend a fully booked performance of Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Midnight Bell at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham on Saturday 6th September. This promises to be a highly entertaining evening.
To find out more about Retford u3a and how to join, visit retford.u3asite.uk. Only u3a members may take part in the activities mentioned.