New and old members of Dukeries u3a are continuing to enjoy meeting in their outdoor and indoor activity groups. Unfortunately, inclement weather caused the Ramblers to change from their planned walks to ones closer to home in Clumber Park and by the River Maun. However, they were still able to appreciate the sight of autumn colours beginning to appear.
The Whatsapp Walking Group had sunny weather on their walk around Vicar Water, Clipstone. This group is ideal for those who enjoy a stroll locally in good company. The Tuesday and Sunday lunch clubs were welcomed at visits to Forest Lodge, Edwinstowe and at The Devonshire, Langwith. The Creative Writing Group held their first meeting since the lockdowns began when they were encouraged to create a piece of prose or poetry to describe a painting of a jaguar.
The Rummikubs and Scrabble Groups are grateful to Ollerton House and South Forest for allowing them to use their premises for their meetings. The Rummikubs Group has doubled in numbers and now has around 25 members. Meanwhile, the Ukulele Group have been enjoying their get-togethers so much that they have decided to increase them by an extra half hour.
The Allsorts and Gardening Group were up early on the day of Ollerton and Boughton Town Council’s Scarecrow Competition, making sure their entry looked its best. Although they did not receive a prize, much fun was had by all in taking part. The group also visited Hollybeck Nurseries for winter pot ideas and then met at Sharon’s to put their ideas into practice. A visit further afield to Kew Gardens is planned for next May.
In November, members were fascinated to hear Paul Stafford’s illustrated talk about his visit to North Korea. The next monthly meeting will be the members’ Christmas Party at Jubilee Hall, Wellow Road, Ollerton on Monday 20th December at 1.00pm, when entertainment will be provided by the Dukeries u3a Ukulele Group. After this, the following monthly meeting where prospective members can go along will be on Monday 17th January 2022 when the speaker will be Lisa Dean, Pet Detective, who will tell members about her successes in reuniting lost pets with their owners.
Now winter nights are here, their Chairperson, Leslye, is re-starting her Tuesday evening Zoom quizzes.
She will hold Zoom help nights for those members who have not used this online platform before. There are more activities that Dukeries u3a provide. These can be found on their website, www.u3asites.org.uk/dukeries/welcome, where the list of next year’s speakers is also available.
Dukeries u3a members follow the u3a motto ‘Learn, Laugh, Live’ and believe that ‘Now is the time to make the most of your life’. Despite the recent restrictions, they have been successful in increasing their membership. They now have 138 members drawn from Ollerton, Edwinstowe and the surrounding villages and are open to anyone aged over 50 who is not in full time employment.
To find out more about them and what they offer please see www.u3asites.org.uk/dukeries/welcome to contact Wendy their membership manager. Alternatively, contact their chairperson, Leslye, on 07756 436177 or du3achair2020@gmail.com.