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Activity Groups
Art Appreciation Group
Group co-ordinator: Judith Johnston and Andy Simmonds
Time: 2nd Wednesdays each month, 2pm - 4pm. No meeting in December.
Place: Members' houses or visits, see newsletter.
We are a small, popular, friendly group who enjoy viewing and discussing paintings. whether classical masters, impressionists, more modern art or one particular sector. We have visted the Wallace Collection, Tate Britain and The National Gallery in London, and we went to the 2018 Royal Academy 250th Summer Exhibition in Piccadilly. We have also been to The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge (twice), the Christchurch Museum in Ipswich and The Dulwich Picture Gallery, as well as many of the other galleries and art houses throughout the home counties and the south of England. We have studied most of the Masters of European art of the last 100 years, the outstanding women painters, and the impressionists.
We are currently watching a series of lectures on the pictures in the National Gallery in London.
Astronomy Group
Group co-ordinator: Malcolm Case
Time: 4th Monday each month at 7:30pm - 9:30pm.
Place: Chigboro Fishing Club, Chigborough Road, Heybridge CM9 4RE
The group covers a wide range of topics including the Solar System, the stars and their galaxies, and man’s exploration of the heavens. We generally have a short presentation which is followed by a discussion on the subject and during the winter months, we usually manage to observe, through members’ telescopes, the stars and planets. All members of the U3A are very welcome at the meetings.
For information on past events, click here.
Aviation Group
Group co-ordinator: Chris Samson
Time: Last Friday each month at 11am.
Place: Woodham Mortimer Village Hall, Post Office Rd, Woodham Mortimer, CM9 6SY
Programme for 2024:
26th January: At last! The showing of the Tom Cruise film 'Maverick' from the Top Gun series
23th February: An illustrated talk by our own Joe Marshall on the amazing airmen and women who formed the backbone of the Air Transport Auxiliary -ATA, collecting Britain’s war planes from the factories and delivering them to the operational squadrons throughout WW2. Click here to see a clip of a Spitfire flying inverted.
21st March: Visit to the Brooklands Museum. Details and transport arrangements TBA
26th April: Talk by Andy Strange: "RAF 'Special Duties' Service and SOE".
26th May (Sunday): Visit to the 'Wings and Wheels' show at Stow Maries Aerodrome.
21st June: A 'Show and Tell' meeting. Bring items of aviation interest and relate their story.
24th July (Wednesday): Visit to the Norfolk and Suffolk air museum at Flixton, Suffolk
30th August: Zoom event.
27th September: Talk on a Hurricane forced landing at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome.
25th October: Talk on the history of RFC Goldhanger.
22nd November: Talk on 'Operation Exodus & Dodge'
20th December: Aviation-related quiz followed by lunch at Stowe Maries Airmen's Mess.
All things aviation-related are catered for, whether your interest be early aircraft, modern fighters, airliners, space flight, model aircraft or some other aspect. Speakers and videos will be arranged throughout the year with the possibility of trips to places of interest such as museums etc.
Suggestions for subject matter are always welcome!
Bird Watching Group
Group co-ordinator: Peter Gaywood & Mike Bagshaw.
Time: 10am unless stated otherwise.
Place: Various - see below
We have a regular group of birdwatchers who meet on a monthly basis to spend approximately two hours on a “watch”. We visit many different venues in Essex using our own/shared cars.
Experience is useful, but not essential; also, a pair of binoculars would be an advantage.
Programme for 2024:
All rendezvous times are 10am unless otherwise stated.
January: No meeting
3rd February: Abberton Reservoir - Meet in the car park.
3rd March: Cudmore Grove, Mersea - Meet in the car park.
7th April: Blue House Farm, North Fambridge - Meet in the car park.
4th May: Fingringhoe Reserve - Meet in visitor centre car park.
1st June: Minsmere Reserve - Meet at 11am in the visitor centre car park at 11 am.
7th July: Tollesbury - Meet in Woodrolfe Road car park.
August: No meeting.
7th September: Maldon promenade - Meet by Rossi's ice cream kiosk.
6th October: Heybridge Basin - Meet in the car park.
2nd November: Walton on the Naze - Meet in visitor centre car park.
1st December: Hanningfield Reservoir - Meet in the the visitor centre car park.
Bridge Group
Group co-ordinator: Gill Cory.
Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 9.30am to 12.15pm.
Place: West Maldon Community Centre - main hall.
No partner necessary – we make up tables according to numbers there. We do not teach from scratch so do come having knowledge of bidding etc. We are of all abilities and like to discuss the hands. Informal and friendly – you even get a cup of tea!
Canasta Group
Group co-ordinator: Iris Slaney.
Time: Alternate Fridays at 2pm - 4pm. See the calendar in the newsletter.
Place: West Maldon Community Centre (Linton room).
We are a friendly group and play in pairs at tables of 4 people. You do not need a partner as pairs are randomly selected at the meeting. We play a form of Canasta called Boliva and use 3 packs of cards. We may have space so please contact me for further details. We are willing to teach anyone who would like to join us and learn the game.
Cribbage Group
Group co-ordinator: Pat Clements.
Time: 4th Friday 2 - 4pm
Place: Members' houses
Most of us have played before and we are certainly not experts. Our group is full at the moment but we are willing to put your name on a waiting list.
Croquet Group
Group co-ordinators: Shirley and Geoff Macro.
Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm. The season starts in mid-April and runs until the first week in October.
Place: Hatfield Peverel Bowling Club, The Keith Bigden Memorial Ground, Wickham Bishops Road, Hatfield Peverel CM3 2JL.
We play with the kind permission of Maldon Croquet Club ('MCC')
It is a game of strategy and skill; men and women play on equal terms, and people of all ages and abilities can compete.
The cost is £7.00 which includes the use of all equipment and refreshments at the end of play. Please arrive promptly so you can select a mallet and be ready to start on time. If the weather is wet, we do not normally play.
Please note that flat-soled footwear with closed toes (no sandals) should be worn.
Discussion Group
Group co-ordinator: Pat Jones.
Time: 2nd Mondays at 2pm - 4pm.
Place: Members' houses.
We are a friendly and informal group where there is room for agreement and disagreement, laughter and serious views and anything is up for discussion.
We welcome new members.
Engineering and Inventions
Group co-ordinator: Tony Groves.
Time: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 2pm - 4pm.
Place: My house in Danbury.
Each meeting, we watch 3 half-hour talks: one on the design of buildings and bridges, one on inventions that had major impacts on subsequent history, and the last on structural failures that changed the rules.
Film Group
Group co-ordinator: Shirley Macro.
Time & place: Zoom on the last Wednesday each month at 7:30pm
Each month, we choose two films that are available on free-to-view channels to watch individually. At the meeting, we discuss the films and give them a score between 0 and 10.
French Conversation Group
Group co-ordinator: Ann Lester.
Time: 2nd & 4th Thursday each month at 2pm
Place: Member's house in Tolleshunt Knights.
We are a friendly group all keen to converse in and improve our French. We usually begin by talking about where we have been and what we have done since our last meeting. We then read and translate an article or two from a French magazine, often accompanied by a recording of the article by native speakers. Help is always on hand as I am an ex French teacher.
Garden Group
Group co-ordinator: Theresa Byles and Kris Taylor.
Time: 2nd Tuesday each month at 10am.
Place: West Maldon Community Centre.
The main purpose of this group is to visit local gardens of note, and larger national gardens further afield. That means that sometimes the whole of a Tuesday might be needed and we shall probably not meet in the community centre very often.
Tuesday 12th March: Visit to Blunts Hall in Witham.
Thursday 21st March: Visit to RHS Wisley (coach sharing with the Aviation Group).
Friday 26th April: Visit to Bucklers Farmhouse, Coggeshall.
Tuesday 14th May: Afternoon visit to Furzlea, Danbury.
Tuesday 18th June: Afternoon visit to Blunts Hall, Witham
Tuesday 9th July: Afternoon visit to Keeway, Creeksea, near Burnham.
Wednesday 24th July: Visit to Bressingham Gardens, Norfolk.
Tuesday 30th July: Afternoon visit to Kamala, Hawkswell.
Geology Group
Group co-ordinator: Sylvia Cousins.
Time: 3rd Wednesday each month at 2pm.
Place: Various.
We enjoy a varied programme of visits to local museums, visiting speakers and film. None of us is an expert and our levels of knowledge vary widely, but everyone is keen to know more and with such a wide-ranging subject, there is something for everyone.
German Conversation Group
Group co-ordinator: Howard Broadbridge.
Time: Alternate Tuesdays each month at 2 - 4pm. See the calendar in the newsletter
Place: Members' houses.
We will be looking into written material e.g. magazines etc, together with as much German conversation as possible. The main objective is to improve simple conversational German – and have some fun in doing so.
Handicrafts Group
Group co-ordinators: Marian Manning and Brenda Heal.
Time: 2nd Monday each month at 10am - 12 noon, except August.
Place: Cold Norton Village Hall, Cherry Blossom Lane, Cold Norton
A small group who have an interest in Crafts and Handicrafts. We meet regularly in a very light, warm but airy pleasant room in the Cold Norton Village Hall. Members bring their own projects to do, and any help will almost certainly be available from some of our very experienced members. New members will be very welcome.
History - Royal history
Group co-ordinator: Kathy Goff
Time: 2nd Thursday each month at 10am.
Place: West Maldon Community Centre.
We are a very friendly group who meet monthly. We will be moving on to discuss society and culture in the reign of Queen Victoria, both in the UK and worldwide. Do come and join us.
History - Local and General Group
Group co-ordinators: Sylvia Cousins and Kathy Goff.
Time: 4th Monday each month at 2pm. No meeting in December.
Place: Maldon Town Hall - see the monthly newletter for details.
Price: £2.00 per session but could be more for some speakers
The group meets throughout the year to hear speakers and presentations on various historical subjects from a local and general perspective. This is interspersed with visits to museums and places of interest either by coach or car share.
All members are welcome – come along and share an enjoyment of history.
For information on past events, click here.
`Just Jazz Group
Group co-ordinators: David Coombes and Peter Condon.
Time: 3rd Monday each month at 7:30pm from Spring to Autumn.
Place: Maldon Little Ship Club in the downstairs room.
We play mainly "TRAD", but if anyone has something that they want to share with the group then bring it along on CD or memory stick. Please itemise the tracks you want to listen to as this helps us to plan the evening. There is a bar available and the evenings are very enjoyable.
London Walks
Group co-ordinator: Julie Lake.
Time: 3rd Tuesday each month starting at mid-morning.
The walks are in central London, accompanied by a professional guide provided by the company 'London Walks'.
The cost of the walk will be £10, payable in advance, with your own arranged transport to London, and refreshments being additional.
Each walk will have a theme, as set out below. Note that the guides require a minimum of 18 people.
Tuesday 16th July: 'Past the Palace'.
Tuesday 20th August: 'Inside Covent Garden'.
Tuesday 17th September: 'The Unknown East End'. (£11)
Tuesday 15th October: 'A Soho Saunter'.
Tuesday 19th November: 'The Old Palace Quarter'.
Tuesday 17th December: 'Eating Christmas'.
Luncheon Group
Group co-ordinator:
2nd Wednesday: Joan Cummins ('Meet and Eat')
Place & time: 12:15 for 12:30pm at various venues
The Group keeps to a limited membership and visits a different ‘fine dining’ restaurant or bistro pub each month. Every member takes a turn in organising the venue, the details being decided the month beforehand.
MahJong Group
Group co-ordinator: Mags Pell
Time: Alternate Fridays each month at 2 - 4pm. See the calendar in the newsletter.
Place: West Maldon Community Centre - Linton room.
We meet alternate Friday afternoons for an enjoyable two hours. We are now a group of fifteen members, more always welcome.
Maritime Group
Group co-ordinator: Malcolm Case
Time: 1st Monday each month at 10am - 12 noon autumn to spring. In the summer, we usually go on outings.
Place: The Blackwater Sailing Club, Basin Road, Heybridge CM9 4SD.
During autumn to spring we generally have illustrated talks at The Blackwater Sailing Club on subjects with a Maritime interest, such as sailing around the world by yacht, the role of the Merchant Navy in times of peace and conflict, information on specific ships, both Merchant and Royal, amongst many other interesting nautical topics. During the summer months the group generally visits places of Maritime interest.
All members of the U3A are very welcome at the meetings.
2024
Monday 1st January – no meeting – bank holiday.
Monday 5th February – talk by Gordon Davies on 'Brunel’s SS Great Eastern'.
Monday 4th March – Talk by Raj Kehal of the Port of London Authority, who will talk about the History of the PLA over the years from their beginning up to the present day, including the industries, wharves, docks etc within the Port limits, type of trade and volume.
Monday 1st April – no meeting – bank holiday.
Monday 6th May – no meeting – bank holiday.
Monday 3rd June – Talk by Malcolm & Rosemary Case on the Irrawaddy river in Myanmar, from its source to the Andaman Sea.
Monday 1st July – Talk by Linda Cook on the History of the RNLI. Beginning with a brief description of the founding of the RNLI and some of its developments along the way. Followed by its work today centring around the Southend lifeboats and the work that they do, moving on to examples of rescues around the coast , focusing on the Tower lifeboat station in London. Finally, some information about the training given to crew members and the facilities at Poole.
Monday 5th August – Trip to Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge.
Monday 2nd September – Trip to Chatham Dockyard for a tour of the dockyard including the Ropery, Submarine and various other exhibits.
Monday 7th October – Talk by Gordon Davies on the Emigration 1850 style to Australasia.
Monday 4th November – Talk over Zoom by Roger Butler, with a colourful introduction to all aspects of Waterway Heritage. Roger will include fascinating engineering and architecture, historic boats, and plenty of unusual landmarks. He will also weave in some archive images as well as important contemporary features such as the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland. Aspects include grand warehouses and quirky cottages, tall lock flights and sweeping aqueducts, deep tunnels and a vast array of bridges and even tiny bollards. Many such buildings and structures still reflect the work of the original distinctive canal companies, including of course, the famous Roses and Castles canal boat artwork.
Monday 2nd December – Talk by Julie Hobby and Padre Ruth on the work of the Seafarers Centre, Tilbury. The talk will cover all aspects of their work for seafarers and will include details on how your donations to the centre are used. The talk will be followed by some Christmas cheer, nibbles and discussion on our 2025 programme.
All meetings start at 10:00 am on the first Monday of the month.
Click here for information on past events.
Music Appreciation Group
Group co-ordinator: tba
Time: 4th Thursday each month at 2 - 4pm.
Place: Members' houses.
Mostly classical, some jazz, sometimes a musical, other times – comedy. Short extracts, the full works, popular and obscure, and always members’ choices. Discussions – animated and often provocative. This is a very friendly group with an average attendance of eight or nine. Oh yes, and always a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Padel Tennis Group
Group co-ordinator: Ken Hazell
Time: Every Wednesday at 2:30 - 4pm.
Place: Go Padel, Maldon CM9 5UR (off Park Drive, behind Park Drive Health Club)
Padel is a cross between tennis and squash, designed to be suitable for older people. All equipment is provided. We play social doubles on covered outdoor courts.
Petanque (Boule) Group
Group co-ordinators: Jack Veash and Geoff Macro
Time: Thursday afternoons at 2pm. from 11th April to autumn.
Place: Petanque terrain, Promenade Park.
It's very easy to learn the basics of Petanque and complete novices will be up and running in a short space of time. Before you know it, you will be pointing and shooting and getting that first win under your belt.
We play on the Petanque terrain opposite the Marine Lake at the Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon Essex CM9 5JQ. No charge is made to play but of course you must be a member of the Maldon & District u3a (or of another u3a in our cluster group).
Car parking is available at the park, but please note that Maldon District Council make a charge.
We will be able to loan you some boules to get you started to see if you like it, but you will need to purchase some of your own to play regularly. We play only if the weather is dry. The season runs from April and takes a break once the colder weather arrives, usually in November.
For pictures of past events, click here.
Photography Group
Group co-ordinator: Tony Groves
Time & Place: Zoom on the 3rd Wednesday each month at 7:30pm.
Share your photographs with other members. This is for everyone who has a camera or smartphone. It's not a competition nor only for expert photographers. Each month we will choose a topic and you can send up to six photos to me. I will host a Zoom meeting so we can all see and chat about them. I will then put them on this website.
Click here to see this month's subject and pictures from previous months.
Poetry Group
Group co-ordinator: Jo Robson
Time: 1st Thursday each month at 2pm - 4pm.
Place: Members' houses, or a hall if numbers require it.
We are a like-minded group who enjoy reading poetry. We have found, by dedicating ourselves to just one poet or occasionally two each session, that we learn a lot about the actual poet, and this has proved very interesting to us all. We do, however, sometimes have a theme to follow up and are always flexible and open to new ideas.
Reading Group
Group co-ordinator: Patrick Forsyth.
Time: 4th Friday each month at 2pm - 4pm.
Place: Members' houses.
We meet monthly to discuss the current book which could be a novel, classic or modern, biography, travel, diaries etc. Our reading list is compiled from members' suggestions and most of our books come from Maldon library, which gives us a great service. We may also choose a theme and each member reads something connected to it, and once a year each person brings a book of their choice and we have a lucky dip.
Rummikub Group
Co-ordinator: Janice Martin
Time: 1st and 3rd Thursdays each month at 10am - 12 noon.
Place: Plantation Hall, Heybridge.
We are a very friendly group. This easy-to-learn game uses numbered tiles to make runs and sets, similar in some ways to Rummy. Come and join us - you will be made very welcome.
Russian Conversation
Co-ordinator: Irina Vahonina
Time: to be decided.
Place: members' homes.
I am Russian and I also speak Polish, so I am also able to teach that. The emphasis is on conversational language - beginners are welcome.
If you would like to expand your knowledge of foreign languages, please contact me for more information.
Sing For Pleasure Group
Group co-ordinator: Sue Garnham
Time: 2nd & 4th Fridays each month at 10am - 12 noon.
Place: Plantation Hall, Heybridge.
We enjoy singing a variety of songs and rounds. The group is led by two of our members. Visitors and new members are always welcome, but please telephone the co-ordinator to check there is room in the group.
Strollers Sunday & Tuesday Groups
Co-ordinator: Malcolm Case
Time: 3rd Sunday and 4th Tuesday meeting at 10:00am for 10:30am start.
Place: Various - see the monthly newsletter for details.
The walks are around 4 to 5 miles at a steady pace which cover many different locations. The main format is to start the walk at a pub, have a circular walk, which lasts approximately 2 hours, then arrive back at the pub for lunch. Members are asked to provide walks throughout the year, this way we find we have different leaders and new locations.
Tenpin Bowling Groups
Group co-ordinator: David Arnold; Deputies: Alan Buck (Wednesdays), David Coombes (Thursdays)
Time: Every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:45am - 12 noon.
Place: Maldon Heights Bowling Lanes, Maldon.
All those who come along know that the actual bowling is just an excuse to get out, have some fun, meet a lot of nice people, make new friends and have a little exercise. The scores are not important – there are no teams, leagues or tables! It’s all very friendly and there are no inquests at the end of each game.
We meet every Wednesday and Thursday morning at 09.45 at Madison Heights. You choose which you prefer. In total between 30 to 50 of us play each week.
At present two hours bowling costs £8 but this includes shoe hire and a cup of tea or coffee plus a biscuit.
Theatre Outings Group
Group co-ordinators: Rosemary Case and Sheila Childs.
Time: Various.
Place: Various.
This group organises theatre visits to London by coach throughout the year to a variety of shows. All visits are open to all members and are very popular and usually oversubscribed. We advise members, who have requested it, by email as soon as tickets are put on hold. If you wish to be added to this list, please contact Rosemary Case by email.
Wine Groups
Wine Group 1 has now closed.
Wine Group Two
Group co-ordinator: Graham Boswell
Time: 4th Wednesday each month.
Place: Members' houses.
Members take it in turns at our monthly meetings to do a presentation. These have been wide ranging and very varied, but always interesting and informative, and of course, with plenty of tasting. We look forward to more of the same in the coming year.
Wine Group Three
Group co-ordinator: Mary Burd
Time: 4th Thursday each month.
Place: Members' houses.
This group was formed in 2013. Members take it in turns to host and do a presentation on wines of their choice.
During 2019, apart from our monthly meetings, we took a party together with other U3A members to the Champagne and Alsace Regions in France for a six day holiday with numerous wine tastings and a coach stacked full of wine purchases for our return!
Wine Group Four
Group co-ordinator: Ann Goody
Time: 4th Tuesday each month at 7:30pm.
Place: Members' houses.
This wine group started in mid-2014 due to demand that could not be satisfied by the other three wine groups. However, it too is full. We take a less formal approach than the first three groups. We meet in members’ houses and the host(s) decides what form the meeting will take. Suffice to say we drink, and talk about, a lot of wine; an endlessly fascinating subject worthy of serious study.
Writing for Fun Group
Group co-ordinator: Pete Norman. Contact: Patrick Forsyth
Time: 4th Wednesday each month at 1 - 4pm.
Place: Members' houses.
We are a small but dedicated group of writers who enjoy creative work of many kinds. The most frequently produced is the short story: perhaps humour, mystery, ghost, historic etc. of about 1000 words, this being a suitable size to allow each person to read aloud at our meeting. We also write non-fiction, autobiography, poetry and plays.
Each year we choose a new programme of titles, each of which can be widely interpreted, as its aim is to encourage and inspire, rather than to constrict in any way. The writing is composed at home and brought to our monthly meeting, where each member in turn reads his/her writing aloud. There are never two pieces remotely alike and all are much enjoyed. Each one is commented on by fellow writers, with suggestions, if necessary, for enhancement. This year we will also continue to explore methods for publication and, some of us, more ambitious projects such as writing a full book.