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Bridge Group:
Co-ordinator Jill MacCormick
Meetings: Alternate Thursdays, 2.00-5.00pm at The Waterloo. ^Top
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Canasta
Co-ordinator Margery Dunsby
Meets Mondays alternate weeks. ^Top
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Computer Users
Co-ordinator Maurice Goodwin
Meetings: First Monday, 2.30pm. Ashcroft Centre
The usual format is to share any problems or difficulties we have experienced
over the last month and offer advice and possible solutions - if we have any.
In addition we regularly take a look at a particular topic, perhaps
demonstrating software that may be new to some.
Do get in touch if you are thinking of joining. ^Top
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Country Dancing
Co-ordinators Ron & Betty Hale
The country dancing group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, September to
December, January to May, from 10.00am-12.00noon in the Ashcroft Room at the
Ashcroft Centre.
We are a friendly group with a relaxed attitude to dancing and we welcome new
members. Our dances are selected to suit the 'older generation' and are likely
to tax the 'grey matter' rather than the agility.
You are welcome to come along to any meeting and watch to see 'if it is for
you'. ^Top
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Creative Crafts
Co-ordinator Chris Rodgers
Meetings: Fourth Wednesday, 2.00 pm ^Top
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Creative Writing
1
Co-ordinator Elizabeth Miles
Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm
This is a relaxed and friendly group. At each meeting the next title is chosen,
by mutual consent . Members read their work in turn and then there is general
discussion, followed by the essential cup of tea.
The group is fully subscribed at the moment but we would be happy to start a
waiting list. ^Top
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Family History
Co-ordinator Jenny Smith
Meetings: Group 1 - Third Friday, 10.00am to 12noon Jenny’s house
Group 2 - Third Friday, 2.30pm to 4.30pm Jenny’s house
Our co-ordinator is a very experienced researcher and she has a book on nearly
every aspect of research - hence the venue. Group members are actively
researching their ancestry and share their successes (and failures). Tips on
new resources, particularly what is available ‘on-line’ are passed
on.
We always enjoy hearing stories about individual ancestors that are of special
interest.
The group has a large number of members so there is, unfortunately, a waiting
list. If you are interested, however, do let Jenny know. ^Top
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French
Conversation
Co-ordinator Jill Brown
This group meets on the 3rd Wednesday each month and is for those who already
have elementary French, but who would like to be able talk more confidently.
Each month we prepare (homework!) and discuss a topic, or we listen to a French
guest, or read a short story or play. We aim to improve our understanding of
each other’s French; we question each other; we listen to each other.
It is rather strenuous! English is permitted over the cup of tea! ^Top
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Garden Group
Co-ordinator Ann Hardie
Dates and venues vary – ^Top
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Geology
Co-ordinator Mike Purton
Meetings are held on 4th Friday, 10.00am till noon at The Ashcroft Centre.
Geology is so much more than the study of rocks and fossils. We have
discovered:-
What is below
the crust of the Earth.
What causes
volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
The age of
Earth and its rock layers.
How dating
can be done from fossils and minerals.
The movements
of the continents over millions of years.
Plate
techtonics.
The effects
of weathering on the landscape.
We have
practical sessions with specimens to look at, talks illustrated by slides, and
Open University videos.
The most
recent sessions were outdoors, looking at the varied rocks to be found in
Cirencester streets, on buildings, shop fronts and the Norman Arch.
A very varied
programme which we all enjoy, and apparently there is still so much to
learn. ^Top
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German
Co-ordinator Joan Oakeshott
Meetings are held every Tuesday morning. The members of the group have all
learnt German in the past but are pretty rusty but want to revive the language
they once knew. We do some limited conversation, watch TV, listen to CDs and
use some of the BBC language programmes. ^Top
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History
Co-ordinator Rosemary Osborne.
Meetings are held each 2nd Monday of the month 10.00 - 12.00
One of the first groups established in Cirencester, its first topic was the
350th anniversary of the Royalist attack on the town.
Normally a subject is chosen for research and discussion. Not surprisingly the
Roman occupation features, as does the growth of the town from the Wool Trade.
Topics are, however, wide-ranging and include far-away places such as India and
China. Most recent discussion has been on the suppression of the monasteries by
Henry VIII with its consequent loss of buildings and other treasures.
On occasion, members choose a famous person, building, garden or painting of
special interest, among them Wellington and Nelson, the Silk Route and the
history of coinage.
There is capacity for several more members so if you are interested, please
contact us. ^Top
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History of
Art/Exploring Art
Co-ordinator Brenda Wilson
Meetings are every 3rd Thursday.
The group meet to consider works of art from the perspective of their
historical context. We base our discussions with the who - why - when - where
questions about a piece of work or artist, school or movement. We are
wide-ranging in our choices and all members contribute something to each
month's topic. We make occasional trips to collections and exhibitions and
these are often linked to a selected discussion topic. We use texts, slides and
a projector in our work and share our varying levels of expertise in preparing
contributions.
No previous knowledge of art history is necessary and all contributions are
warmly welcomed within the group. ^Top
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Inn
and Out Group
Co-ordinator Elizabeth Miles
Meetings: Second Friday, 12.00 noon. Location varies
This is a group for walkers who also enjoy a good pub lunch. Members meet at a
pub for lunch and then, perhaps in smaller groups, do a gentle walk around the
area. During the walk there is opportunity for socialising with others with
similar interests such as natural history, photography etc. ^Top
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Literature Group
(Book Club)
Group 1. Co-ordinator Marion Stephenson
Meetings: Fourth Thursday 2.15 pm
Group 2. Co-ordinator Donald Hollins
Meetings: First Thursday 2.00 – 4.00pm
Group 3. Co-ordinator Liz Dancer. Meeting at members homes 1st Wednesday of the
month at 2.15
Books discussed have included Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd, Officers and
Gentlemen by Evelyn Waugh, A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, England Made Me
by Graham Greene and Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively.
These and the many other chosen books have produced much lively and valuable
discussion at meetings.
^Top
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Mah Jong
Co-ordinator Sheila Cordell
Meetings: 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 2.30 – 4.30 pm at The Waterloo. ^Top
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Music Group
Co-ordinator Tony Moody
Meetings: Fourth Wednesday 2.30pm in the lounge at Barclay Court.
Members meet to listen to a wide range of classical music. It is a chance to
share almost two hours every month listening in a very relaxed, friendly and
informal environment to programmes of music created by the members.
The music is selected in one of three ways:
Each member
brings a piece to introduce with a time limit of 10 minutes
Individual
members create a full programme of music linked by a common theme.
One longer
work is selected to be played in full with any remaining time given over to
members’ choices
If you are
interested, please contact me for further details. ^Top
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Natural History
Co-ordinator Dinah Wise
Meetings: First Tuesday 2.00 pm at the Ashcroft Centre. ^Top
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Petanque (French
boules)
Co-ordinator Brian Cooper
Meetings: Every Monday, 10.00 am at St, Michael's Park. ^Top
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Painting
Co-ordinator Brenda Wilson
We meet on the 1stand 3rd Mondays from 2pm – 4pm at
the Waterloo Community Room. A council car park is available nearby.
All you need to join our group is enthusiasm for painting and drawing. We
run on a self help basis and welcome complete beginners.
There is no actual tuition available but everyone is keen to give advice (when
asked).
The cost is £1 per session which includes a delicious cup of tea and a
Kit-Kat. ^Top
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Photographic
Group
Co-ordinator Peter Landless
Meetings: First Friday 2.00pm Meadow Road Community Centre.
The photography group takes the form of a structured series of meetings
covering basic digital photography. We aim to get through a course of lectures
each year and start again the following year.
We meet from October to June and will be covering everything from exposure and
composition to printing and manipulation in photoshop or similar software. The
course is suitable for users of compact digital cameras as well as the more
expensive single lens reflex cameras, and it aims to be very practical.
The course is fully booked for 2011-12 ^Top
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Play Reading
& Drama Group 1
Co-ordinator Betty Sorrell
Meetings: 2nd Wednesday, 10.00am – 12noon at The Waterloo ^Top
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Play Reading
& Drama Group 2
Co-ordinator Betty Sorrell
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday, 10.00am - 12noon at the Waterloo ^Top
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Poetry Reading
Co-ordinator Robin McWhinney
This group does exactly what its name suggests, we read poetry. The monthly
meeting (in the afternoon on the fourth Thursday of the month) is held at the
house of one generous member of the group, who willingly moves all her chairs
into her sitting room to accommodate the eleven of us.
The format of the meeting is that we each read aloud a poem on a set theme
(either a topic e.g. ‘Spring’ or a specific poet) the reading
being followed by general discussion.
Sometimes one member will prepare a short presentation on a favourite poet;
these occasions have always been very illuminating.
Re-reading the above, I realise that I have made the group sound rather boring,
but I can assure you that our debates have sometimes proved to be very lively!
We certainly do not always agree.
As I have already said, our hostess moves ALL her chairs into her
sitting room for our meetings, so at present the group is at maximum capacity.
However, feel free to contact me should you wish to be put on our waiting
list. ^Top
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Recorder Group
Co-ordinator Peter Stephenson
Meetings: Second Monday at 7.30 pm and 4th Monday at 3.00 p.m. If you can read
music and used to play a recorder, or wish to do so, please join us to make
music together. ^Top
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Scrabble
Co-ordinator Pam Wallis
Meetings: Second Thursday. ^Top
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Singing
Co-ordinators Joy Carter and Sue Poulton
Meetings: Third Thursday of the month, 2.00 pm at the St Lawrence Church,
Countess Lilias Road, Cirencester 2 - 3.30 pm. ^Top
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Spanish
Intermediate
Co-ordinator Maureen Folliard.
This small group meets each Monday and is for people who already have some
knowledge of Spanish. We work together to make language learning fun by using
lots of different activities. These include watching Spanish DVDs and TV
programmes, playing language games, listening to CDs and podcasts, using
Internet resources and talking and reading in contexts relevant for people
visiting Spanish speaking countries. We also use an intermediate level
textbook.
If you are interested in joining our group, please contact me.
^Top
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Tai-Chi
Co-ordinator Tom Kolb
Meetings: First Tuesday 10.55am at the Ashcroft Centre
TAI-CHI is a chinese system of co-ordinated gentle exercise particularly
suitable for promoting health in older people. It is not stressful or violent,
and improves mental as well as physical health.
In our class, we go through a series of gentle exercise known as Quigong to
improve strength of the muscles and mobility of the joints. We then do standing
meditation exercises to promote stamina.
The main part of the session is devoted to true Tai-Chi which is the system of
gentle co-ordinated movements that you see performed by Chinese in many
situations.
Finally, we cool down with some exercises taken from chinese medicine to
promote longevity.
We are constrained in class numbers by the size of the hall to
12-15 members. However, at present we do have a few places available, and you
are welcome to contact - Tom Kolb at Cirencester U3A if you are interested, and
would like more information. ^Top
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Theatre Group
Co-ordinator Penelope Wreford
Around 9 or 10 visits a year are offered to theatres in Malvern, Bristol, Bath.
Oxford, et. We look for good quality drama and comedy productions with the
emphasis on straight plays rather than musicals, ballet or opera. Travel is by
coach from Cirencester. ^Top
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Walking Group
Co-ordinator Marion Carruthers.
Start points vary; see Newsletter for details
The Walking Group meets on the first Friday of every month throughout the year.
Each member takes a turn to find a walk of between 4 1/2 - 6 miles usually
within a 20 mile radius of Cirencester, starting/ending at a pub where we stop
for lunch after walking. The walks generally take approx 2 1/2 hours but this
depends on the terrain.
We initially meet at the Rugby Club at 9.20am before sorting out car sharing
and driving to the arranged start point. We currently have a full membership of
41. Numbers are limited by the pubs' lunchtime facilities and 25-30 is the
usual maximum for a walk. Ages range from fifties to early eighties so
reasonable fitness, the ability to climb hills and stiles and a friendly
disposition are all you need. ^Top
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