Interest Groups
Grantown on Spey u3a currently has 9 interest groups. If you would like to join any of these groups, please email the group leader who can give you more information on when and where the next meeting is for their group.
We always welcome new ideas - if you would like to set up a group of your own, or if you have an unfulfilled longing for more information on a topic not currently covered, please email Sue - membership@grantownu3a.org
Please note that some interest groups do not meet during the summer months but will be starting up again in September.
Just contact the Group Leader to find out when this will be.
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Art Club
Contact: Suzi Wilson suzi@grantownu3a.org We are happy to welcome people who are complete beginners or experienced artists. We have members interested in botanical drawing, still life, landscape, illustration.....If you want a new challenge and have paints standing idle, dust them off and join us. We are non-judgemental and very supportive of each others efforts. During the summer we meet outdoors and in autumn & winter indoors at the Grant Arms (10am - lunchtime, with a break for tea & coffee) Dates for 2023-24 Summer sessions 2023 (outdoors) : 15 May, 12 June, 10 July, 14 August, 11 September 2023 (second session): 2 October, 17 October (please note this is a Tuesday as the room is not available on the Monday), 30 October, 13 November, 27 November, 11 December 2024 (first session): 8 January, 22 January, 5 February, 19 February, 4 March, 18 March, 1 April, 15 April |
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Cinema & Theatre
Contact: Janet Gould cinema@grantownu3a.org This an informal group who get together for visits to a wide range of events, mainly at Eden Court. We aim as far as possible to attend daytime events travelling by bus (using our Saltire cards), but sometimes will share cars. If you see something you would like to attend, contact Janet using the email link above, who will circulate details. This group does not depend on numbers: if two people have company for an event, that's a success. Contact: Janet Gould 01479 258205 |
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The French Speakers Group
Contact: Ann Hadley french@grantownu3a.org This is a mixed ability group focused on promoting conversational skills. In support of this, a piece of French text is normally issued prior to the meeting in order to provide a topic for discussion. This allows members to make as much or as little preparation as they wish depending upon their individual levels of confidence. Topics have included: family roots; roads recently travelled; family artefacts; aspirations for the coming summer - Past; Present; and Future. Meets every fortnight 2pm at Wheatley Hall. |
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Natural History
Contact: Sue Sykes nathistory@grantownu3a.org A friendly group of like-minded enthusiasts and beginners, who may have some particular interest or simply want to know more about the natural history of the area, and enjoy our stunning scenery. Usually we meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month and where one of the group is knowledgeable, they will take the lead - where we all feel the need to know more, an expert is found. We always welcome newcomers. In the worst of the weather meetings may be in members’ homes or held on Zoom. Trips last year included locally along the River Spey at Grantown and to Dell Woods at Nethybridge as well as further afield to Burghead and Findhorn. There are also occasional “special species” outings which could encompass bats, badgers or woodcock. Programme for April – September 2023 Wednesday 5th April Early morning grouse lek (near Lochindorb) 6.00am start Wednesday 3rd May Loch an Eileen walk 10.00 – 12.30 Wednesday 7th June Twin flowers and orchids walks (Anagach and near Street of Kincardine) 10.00 – 12.00 Wednesday 5th July Dragonflies (Abernethy) 10.00 – 12.00 Wednesday 2nd August Fungi (Anagach or Dell Woods) 10.00 – 12.00 September The red deer rut. Place and time to be advised. All day from 10.00am |
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Poetry Reading
Contact: Elspeth Sage poetry@grantownu3a.org Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month in members’ homes or in the Wheatley Hall (at St Columba’s Church), Grantown as circumstances dictate. Members select poems to read aloud to the group and there is always tea or coffee, cake and chat. Some recent subjects have been: poems by national poets; memories; Irish poems and funny verse - but the possibilities are endless! Meets 10.30pm in members homes on the third Thursday of each month. |
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Book Group
Contact: Mary-Ann Connolly books@grantownu3a.org Readers in the group meet on the first Thursday of each month at 2pm in members’ homes and follow the discussion with tea, cakes and chat, however dates vary to suit the diaries of the members of the group. Some of our previous choices have been: The fascinating glimpse into life in China: “Mao’s Last Dancer” by Lee Cunxin; “Selective Memory” by Katherine Whitehorn; Michelle Obama’s inspiring autobiography “Becoming;” Sue Gee’s encounters with twelve writers entitled “Just You and the Page” and “Our Wild Farming Life,” Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer’s very readable account of their Adventures on a Scottish Highland Croft. But we range widely and enjoy ourselves hugely! |
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The German Speakers Group
Contact: Jackie Wilson german@grantownu3a.org The first meeting of the autumn season is on Monday 10th October. We then meet in the Boat of Garten Community Hall on alternate Monday afternoons at 2.00pm. This is a mixed ability group focused on promoting conversational skills. In support of this, a piece of German text is normally issued prior to the meeting in order to provide a topic for discussion. This allows members to make as much or as little preparation as they wish depending upon their individual levels of confidence. Topics have included: family roots; roads recently travelled; family artefacts; aspirations for the coming summer - Past; Present; and Future. |
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Dance
Contact: Mary-Ann Connolly dance@grantownu3a.org The new Dance Group is holding a “Taster Session” on Tuesday 25 April at 10.30am in the British Legon, Grantown – this will be a trial class just to see how it goes. Wear comfy clothes. Should this be successful then the Group will meet weekly for an hour on Tuesdays at 10.30am starting in October when the u3a session gets going after the summer break. It will be held in the British Legion and afterwards in the café next door and sessions will be suitable for everyone – no matter what their age. Gentle exercise to music based on dance techniques. Suitable for ladies and gents. You will do a warmup using a chair, centre work, sometimes in pairs and learn a simple combination. No jetes, pirouettes, Argentine tango, or hip hop! Just pleasant fun. |
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Singing for FunThe emphasis is on singing for the sheer pleasure of singing and for the good of our own well-being. All those wanting to sing are welcome – whether complete novices, or experienced and talented; or quite simply just wanting to join in and possibly remember choirs in your past.
Next dates are - 17 March, 31 March - Wheatley Hall 2.30pm After this, the group will stop for the usual summer break restarting in October. The new Group Leader is Annie Mitchell Contact Elspeth Sage singing@grantownu3a.org |
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Gardeners
This new group will meet in members’ homes and gardens at 2.30pm on the first Tuesday during May – September for Tea and Gardening Chat; to share ideas and experiences and perhaps plants, cuttings and seeds. In September dates and times will be reviewed. From time to time a member may suggest and arrange a topic for discussion, a speaker, or a visit to a garden and this will be shared by email with other members of the Group. The group particularly wants to encourage any gardener to come along and see if they would like to join in. Prospective new members of the group can email gardens@grantownu3a.org or contact the membership Secretary, Sue Sykes |
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Guitar
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Film – we hope that u3a members will support the YM where the Community Cinema is showing some really good films each month. Details of these are in our members’ monthly Newsletters or can be obtained from the YM in Grantown.
