Interest Groups
Grantown on Spey u3a currently has 10 interest groups.
If you would like to join any of these groups, please email the contact for the group who can give you more information on when and where the next meeting is taking place.
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
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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: Sarah Jane Dupon 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 Sarah Jane 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. |
Local Cinema - in addition to the Cinema and Theatre Group, you can also look out for more local opportunities to see a film at the Grantown Community Cinema. 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 (https://grantowncinema.co.uk/)
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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. Meets every fortnight 2pm at Wheatley Hall. First meeting of the new season is Monday 2nd October. |
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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 August– October 2023 Wednesday 2nd August - Moorland walk 10.00 – 12.00 Wednesday 6th September - Fungi Ramble 10.00 – 12.00 October - 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. The first meeting of the new season is on Thursday 12th October. |
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Book Group
Contact: Mary-Ann Connolly books@grantownu3a.org Readers in the group meet on the last Thursday of each month at 2.30pm 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: Ann Hadley german@grantownu3a.org 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. The first meeting of the autumn season is on Monday 9th October. We then meet in members’ homes on alternate Monday mornings at 10.00am. |
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Italian Speakers
Contact: Ken Walker italian@grantownu3a.org A new group for those who want to learn a few words and phrases for a holiday in Italy and for Italian speakers who need to brush up on their linguistic skills. The Group will meet two or three times a month on Wednesday mornings in members’ homes when the emphasis will be on learning together. The first meeting is on Wednesday 25th October. |
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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.
The singers will meet fortnightly at 2.30pm on Friday afternoons in the Wheatley Hall, Grantown. The new season begins on Friday 6th October. The group leader is Annie Mitchell. Contact Elspeth Sage singing@grantownu3a.org |
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Gardeners
Contact - Linda Coe gardens@grantownu3a.org 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. |
