Bishop Auckland

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Bishop Auckland u3a Groups

Android IT     

Meets 2022
Details The formal training is now finished. Members are now directed to the Living with Technology webpage to continue self-study as necessary.

Apple Devices     

Meets 
Details 

Art & Architecture     

Meets Announced at the monthly meetings
Details This group does not meet regularly but arranges lectures,talks, films and gallery visits. The group also arranges study visits to places of interest and once a year there is a residential visit to a city or area of particular interest, in which case the group would normally travel by coach be away for a few days in which case hotel accommodation is arranged by the Group Leaders.

Badminton     

Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the Month
Normally starts 13:00 to 14:00
Details 

Bridge     

Meets Every Friday.
Normally starts 09:45 to 12:00
Details The Bridge Group has 32 members, with an average of 20 attending each session. We meet at Bishop Auckland Golf Club. The Group was formed in September 2011 and formal lessons were given until Summer 2015. Although formal lessons have finished, the Group is continuing as a learning group, with revision lessons and lessons on new techniques. The group also has Deal and Play sessions with one of these sessions each month being scored. The Group continues to welcome the participation of any U3A member. New starters can be helped to learn bridge by sitting in on lessons and play sessions and making use of the collection of books and DVDs. In addition, the Group has a number of experienced Bridge players who are happy to assist both existing and new members. We are fortunate that Bishop Auckland Bridge Club has kindly allowed us to use their bridge equipment (boards, cards, stationery and table tops) for a nominal fee. Although we are learning how to play duplicate bridge we are not forgetting that we are playing for fun and that bridge has a strong social element.

Card & Board Games     

Meets 1st Thursday of the month
Normally starts 13:00 to 15:00
Details Indoor Games starting Thursday, 6th June

Computing     

Meets Ongoing
Details Online IT-related videos and self-study material to enable members to pick and choose what they want/need to learn and take responsibility for their own learning. Help is on hand if needed.

Contingency     

Meets 
Details To hold the o/s balance following group account adjustments

Current Affairs     

Meets The fourth Monday of the month (pm)
Normally starts 14:00 to 16:00
Details The Group meets to discuss issues arising from current affairs. The meetings are informal but structured. There is a small charge to cover the cost of refreshments. New members will be welcomed.

Drawing and Painting     

Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month 1pm to 3pm
Details 

French     

Meets 
Details 

Friends and Flowers Group     

Meets Irregular programme - see calendar or website
Details The Garden Visits group aims to visit a number of different gardens each year, primarily during the spring and summer months. Sometimes these visits include optional talks or garden tours by a senior member of the gardening staff at the property. Fairly local outings within the county are generally reached by car-sharing but for longer trips we use a coach. Sometimes the garden we visit is part of a larger estate that includes a property or other feature of historical or architectural significance. In that case the visit is offered to members of those groups and we all go together. The outings are relaxed and enjoyable with enough time allowed for members to enjoy the café on offer as well as time to spend in the nursery or gift shop where these are on site. The members choose where they want to go each year. For 2023 we have scheduled one visit a month from March through to September plus an early evening visit to a Christmas garden in December. 2023 dates for NGS/Village garden open days are not yet available but will be announced soon. Plant Fair venues and dates have been sent to members. Members of this group attend as many or as few of the garden visits as they wish. Like all u3a groups we are self-funding so the cost of each visit is paid by the member who is going on the trip. Members receive regular updates via email as well as access to the website information. They are also invited to the annual planning meeting. Currently information is being gathered from members (and members of some of our other u3a groups) regarding the 2022 planned visits to establish likely numbers. Please contact Pam if you have not received a copy of the form. These will be used to plan venue itineraries and to get accurate venue and transport costs. Information on this page will be updated accordingly so please check back on this page for regular updates. New members are very welcome.

History     

Meets 2nd Friday
Details This is one of the largest groups but one that is still able to welcome new members. Monthly meeting have a speaker focusing on the broad subject but where possible the group is focused on local history. Some trips away are arranged, usually by coach.

Italian     

Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday monthly
Normally starts 13:30 to 15:30
Details We are a small group working at an intermediate level. We welcome new members but they would need to have a basic knowledge of Italian language and grammar.

Photography     

Meets 3rd Thursday Monthly
Details Photography group for all to enjoy and Improve their photography knowledge and skills

Poetry     

Meets Wednesday morning
Details This group meets to suit the members and so it is recommended that you check with the group leader for the next meeting dates

Reading     

Meets 2nd Monday
Normally starts 10:30 to 11:40
Details Please contact group leaders or visit our website for further information.

Science,Engineering,Technology     

Meets Irregular
Details Science Engineering and Technology (SET) This is a group that will visit related facilities of interest and be open to any ideas for talks or educational opportunities within this broad remit. The group leader(s) will coordinate the timetable with members responsible for arranging the visits.

Spanish     

Meets 
Details New group

String Band     

Meets 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month
Normally starts 10:00 to 12:00
Details Playing guitars, bass, mandolin, ukulele and other acoustic instruments such as flute, harmonica and kazoo. We are a group for those who enjoy pop/rock, country and folk music. Everything from Abba to Cole Porter, Led Zeppelin to Simon and Garfunkel, Fairport Convention to The Kinks - you name it we'll play it!

Sunday Lunch     

Meets 3rd Sunday of the month 12 for 12.30
Details Members take turns and volunteer to organise a sit-down Sunday Lunch at a local eatery.

Ten Pin Bowling     

Meets 1st Wednesday
Normally starts 10:00 to 12:30
Details Bowling, companionship, laughter, competition, tea and/or coffee - anything missing? Why not join us for a fun morning? 10.00 for 10.30 prompt start

Ten Pin Bowling (2)     

Meets 4th Thursday Monthly
Normally starts 10:00 to 12:30
Details Bowling, companionship, laughter, competition, tea and/or coffee - anything missing? Why not join us for a fun morning? Ten pin bowling group meeting at 10.00 for 10.30 prompt start

Theatre Visits     

Meets Notified in slides and at monthly meetings
Details Visits usually include transport. We aim to attend all genres of productions . Visits are mainly to Theatre Royal Newcastle, sometimes to Sunderland Empire and at Christmas to Keswick for their annual production at The Theatre by the Lake.

Walking (2-4 miles)     

Meets 2nd Thursday of the month weather permitting
Normally starts 10:15 to 12:30
Details A stroll generally in the countryside with limited gradients and stiles. Walks are led by the members taking turns and are usually not too far away. Full details are provided ahead of the walk and many include points of interest which will be covered by the walk leader. 10.30 Prompt start

Walking (4-6 Miles)     

Meets Last Tuesday Monthly
Normally starts 10:15 to 14:30
Details This group walks between 4 and 6 miles usually on the last Tuesday of each month. If you wish to join a walk but are not yet a member then please contact the Group Leader so that you can receive details of late changes especially weather related.

Walking (6 - 8 Miles)     

Meets Second Thursday of each Month.
Normally starts 10:00 to 15:00
Details The Group normally meets at 10.00 for a 10:30 start in the summer and at 9.45 for 10:00 in the winter. Full details of each walk are available each month at the U3A General Meeting and on the group web page.

Walking Cricket     

Meets Wednesday - check with Leader
Details 

Walking Holidays     

Meets As arranged
Details A Group for those interested in strolling/walking holidays of a few days - varying distances and always flexible.

Welcoming     

Meets 
Details 

Windows IT     

Meets 2023
Details The formal training is now finished. Members are now directed to the Living with Technology webpage to continue self-study as necessary.