Groups by Alphabetical Order

Group Contact: Sue Dennis & Karin Strickland

Meetings: Weekly on Thursdays, 11.00am to 1.00pm.

Venue: St Lawrence Church Hall, Countess Lilias Road, Chesterton.

Since we started our Art Group three years ago, our membership has steadily grown to 20 very active and interested 'artists' who like to paint, draw and enjoy a coffee together (our weekly membership fee of £3 covers hall hire, refreshments and workshops). St Lawrence Church Hall is spacious and light and has a parking area with additional parking and a community shop in the road outside. Some members have very little experience, while others have much wider experience, but whatever their level they enjoy sharing knowledge and the opportunity to create art with a group of like-minded people.

Group Contact: Nigel Wardell

Meetings: 2:30pm - 4pm Thursday of the first full week of each month

Venue: Cirencester Baptist Church

The group started in June 2023 and will operate on the basis of self-learning and knowledge sharing.  It is intended that, at each meeting, one or two members describe an aspect of Art History / Art Appreciation.  These may be talks or presentations about a piece of art, genre, an artist, a period or whatever the members decide.  The talks or presentations might be based on a member’s individual research, a television programme, a visit to a gallery, a newspaper article, etc.

If you are interested in joining our group, please contact the co-ordinator. 

Group Contacts: Celia and Martin Moule

Meetings: 2nd or 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6.30 to around 9.30pm - from 12th September 2023.

Venue: Short term - Members' Homes by arrangement.  As numbers build we hope to move to a village hall.

The Board Game Group focus is on learning new games, but a variety of games, both new and old, are played. There will be a charge of approx. £2 per person to build up funds to cover the future cost of Hall hire. 

Group Contact:  Sheila O'Sullivan

Meeting:   11am-12pm ne Monday in the month to suit members' diaries

Venue:  A member's home

The host chooses the book for the next month.

Group Contact: Tony Natt.   

Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Venue: A variety of outdoor locations.

Beginners and garden birdwatchers are very welcome. The only requirements are footwear and clothing to cope with local weather on the day plus a pair of binoculars. Contact the co-ordinator for a programme of intended times and locations.

Group Contact: Keith Dancer.

Meetings: Twice weekly.

Thursdays 2.00-4.00pm in St Lawrence Church Hall. We play leisurely Rubber Bridge each week.
Fridays 1.50-4:50pm in St Lawrence Church Hall. We play Duplicate Bridge each week.

We are a keen group of players with a good standard of Bridge and beginners are encouraged to join in on Thursdays where the atmosphere is more relaxed as well as stimulating and you do not need to bring a partner.

On Friday you are expected to have a partner but those without can usually be paired with someone.

Members are asked to contribute £12.00 every 3 months for Thursday sessions and £25 every 3 months for Friday sessions. This covers the hire of the rooms and refreshments.

New members are welcome to join either session

Each year a beginner's class is available during the winter months. 

Group Contact: Maurice Goodwin

Meetings: 1st Monday, 2.00pm.

Venue: 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.  

Group Contact: Sheila Laycock

Meetings: Second and fourth Mondays of the month, from 2.00-4.00 pm

Venue: The Ashcroft Room, 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'

Group Contact: Chris Rodgers

Meetings: At the Waterloo on the 4th Tuesday of the month, 2.00 - 4.00 pm. There will be no meeting in August and December. 

Group Contact: Jim Viney

Rides: Every Friday. 10.00 start. 

Starting Point: The Parish Church in the Marketplace

The weekly ride is usually 20-25 miles with a coffee stop midway. We are a sociable group and generally use quiet lanes so we can talk together as we ride.  

The route is issued by the preceding Wednesday and if weather conditions are adverse on the day we normally retire to Keith's for a coffee.

New members are welcome as are electric bicycles.

Group Contact: Anne Vardy

Meeting:   2pm - 3pm Second Thursday of the month. This is a Winter group, meeting from September to March. 

Venue:  Waterloo Room

At the monthly meeting members take it in turn to introduce a topic, giving the pros and cons. A discussion then follows. 

We occasionally meet at a cafe after the discussion for tea and/or cake.

We're getting good at putting the world to rights and understanding other points of view. 

You will be warmly welcomed if you would like to join this group. Please contact the group leader, Anne Vardy.

Group Contact: Jill Lang

Meetings:  4th Friday, 10.00am 

Venue: The Ashcroft Centre.

Recent topics included Ancient Maps, Iceland and Svalbard, Geopolitics of the Middle East, Wildfires, Venice.

Recent field trips included Gloucester in Stone and Cotswold Scenery. Future topics will include Water Supply and Weather Systems.

Group Contact: Karen Taylor

Meetings:  Second Wednesday of the month 2:30 - 4pm

Venue:  Wesley Room, Ashcroft Church

Group Contact:  Anne Vardy

Meetings:  Meet 2nd Friday, 2.00 to 4.00pm

Venue:  The Waterloo Communiy Room. 

Upcoming films:  The King's Speech, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Ladies in Lavender, Darkest Hour, The Imitation Game, Hidden Figures, Billy Elliot, Mama Mia.

Group Contact: Ana Gifford-Nash

Meetings: 3rd Wednesday each month, 2:30 to 4:30

Venue: The Waterloo.

 This group 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!

Group contact:   Debbie Exton

Meeting:   Every 2nd Thursday afternoon

Venue: Member's Home

Group Contactr: Ann Hardie

Meetings:  1st Monday in every month;

The Garden Group meets in members'  gardens from April to September. 

The meetings are held on the first Monday in the month (unless it falls on a Bank Holiday) in the morning from 10.00am to 12 noon and in then afternoon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.   

Members can choose which time suits them best.

Group Contact: Suzanne Bottomley

Meeting:  2:30pm every second Thursday

Venue: Local Cirencester cafe 

For members who wish to improve their conversation in a relaxed and friendly group.

Weekly Golf

Group Contact: Ian Crawford

Meetings: Twice weekly, Monday and Thursday afternoons

Venue: Oaksey Golf Course.  

Occasionally, additional games are organised at other courses in the area.

Players of all standards are welcome.  All you will need are your own clubs.

Are any members interested in joining a group to think, discuss, talk and practice growing your own - fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants?

Topics to think about might include: High impact low input gardening, no dig beds, food security, the effectiveness of different ways to create our own compost, perennial vegetables, are we adaptive gardeners? Carbon capture gardening, what is the new usual in our gardens? Is a closed system in a garden possible?

If this might be of interest to you, please email me and we can then ar- range to meet and agree the way for-

ward. cashysmith0@gmail.com (Please note it is a ZERO in the address after my name)

Group Contact:  A Webley

Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month

Venue:  Members' homes

This is to be an interactive group, with several members each researching aspects of a particular period of history for presentation to and discussion by the group each meeting.  

Group Contact:   Shan Graebe

Venue:  Member's home

We are a small group of people who are planning to meet together fortnightly to talk Italian in relaxed surroundings. We had an inaugural meeting in December.

The frequency, venue, format of such meetings is being arranged to accommodate as many as possible.

Group Contact:  Liz Applegate. 

Meetings: 2nd & 4th Thursdays in the month.

Venue: Members Homes in rotation.

We are a small group as home meetings limit the size. We take turns to lead and turns to host.

We use a tried and tested 'Italianissimo' course to learn basic grammar to reinforce our learning. Homework efforts are shared each week. Our resources are varied – games, stories with audio, crosswords etc.

Actually conversing in this self-help group is the hardest part. But we choose a topic each week so we can prepare new vocabulary and phrases and then try to use them!

If a fluent Italian speaker could ‘drop in’ occasionally for conversation they would be made very welcome!

Group Contact: Maggi Brown

Meetings:  Weekly, 10am Tuesday

Venue:  Zoom

Group Contacts: Carol Smith and Bonnie Green. 

Meetings: October to April. 3rd Monday of the month.

Venue: Daglingworth Village Hall, 1:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Parking available

Do come along to try this entertaining way to spend an afternoon during the colder months. 

Kurling is similar to Curling but without the ice!  It just needs a smooth floor and it does NOT include vigorous brush sweeping.  We have 2 sets of Kurling Kit and we play in teams. 

It can be very competitive in a good way as it’s a great deal of fun and we have many laughs.

Group Contact:  Jackie Natt

Meetings: See below.

Salve !

The aim is to learn some Latin just for the fun of it and to get to know how the Romans lived.

There are three groups - Intermediates, Improvers Beginners.

Intermediates meet two Mondays a month, Improvers meet two Tuesdays a month and Beginners meet as agreed. 

Literature 1

Group Contact: Caroline Young

Meetings:  4th Thursday afternoon at 2.15pm.   

Venue: Members Homes

Literature 3

Co-ordinator: Liz Dancer

Meetings: 1st Wednesday afternoon of each month

Venue: Members homes, though it is not compulsory that you host.

We aim to challenge ourselves by trying many genres and have read classics such as Dante's Inferno, Virgil and Beowolf. We have a liking for literature which is either set against and informs us of history or of current issues in this country and abroad. We tend to fit in the Booker prize winner some time in the year.

If you feel that you would like to join us, please contact Liz Dancer.

Group Contact: Brenda Lissimore

Meetings: Alternate Thursdays, 2.30 – 4.30 pm

Venue: The Waterloo. 

Group Contact: Douglas Butler

Meetings: Third Wednesday in the month, 10 am

Venue:  Daglingworth Village Hall

Monthly meetings feature talks on a wide variety of topics related to military history. In addition to the regular meetings there will be opportunities to take part in organised trips to significant historic sites.

The programme of talks 2024 - 2025 can be found HERE.

Group Contact:  Ruth Sanders

Meeting:  2pm to 3:30pm third Wednesday of the month

Venue:  Watermoor Church Hall

This group is for Members who find themselves  On Their Own for whatever reason and would like to make new friends and take part in fun activities.

The activities will be organised by individual members of the group. 

Anyone can organise and share an activity, anything from going to the cinema, museum, exhibitions, festivals, local theatre, open gardens, as well as for coffee, drinks, lunch, dinner, any local events and much more.

Group Contact:  Cate Luck

Meetings: 4th Wednesday 2:30p.m.

Venue: The Waterloo.

We have a theme and everyone is encouraged to bring along some appropriate cds.

It's a good opportunity to have almost two hours of listening and sharing in a very relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere to a varied selection of all types of music chosen by members. 

Group Contact: Jane Miller

Meetings: 1st Wednesday in the month 9.45-12.00

Venue: The Waterloo

We read a variety of plays to hopefully suit all tastes; everyone has a chance to take a part and make suggestions for new plays for future months.

If you are a U3A member and would like to join us, please contact the Co-ordinator; you will be made very welcome! 

Group Contact:  Peter Chambers

Meetings:

Group 1 Monday morning 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m

Group 2 Thursday morning 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m.

Group 3 Tuesday morning 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m 

Venue:  St. Michael's Park.

We play all year round and in all weathers. Players should arrive at least 10 minutes before the start time stated above for a prompt start of play at 10am. We usually play 3 timed games of about 35 minutes each game. We run occasional internal competitions and also play competitive home and away matches in the Cotswold League during summer months. We have 5 lanes available and are limited to a maximum of 30 players on any one of the sessions.
We are a friendly and welcoming group and if you want to come and have a go, please either visit during one of our sessions for a chat or ring the Co-ordinator above. If you do not own a set of boules of your own, a set can be borrowed until you obtain your own set, with prior arrangement with the Co-ordinator. 

Group Contact  Dennis Peters

Meetings: 4th Thursday of month.

Venue: Normally in members Houses.

A group for those who are in any way interested in railways, from their history through to the present day (and beyond). Members' interests include railway technology, operations and economics and include the impact of railways on the social and economic affairs of nations.

In the summer months we try to fit in trips. These typically include outings to preserved railways, railway museums, and places of particular interest from a railway architectural/historical point of view. We also take occasional trips on lines of interest, Crossrail is high on the list.

Group Contacts:  Nigel and Janet Wardell.

We meet on one Tuesday per month, in each other's houses.

This group started in May 2017. This is a “self-learn and share” group. Members research aspects of, or recount their experiences of, Scandinavia. We usually cover two topics at each meeting; these have embraced travel, language, music, food, film, art, mythology, traditions, geography, culture, history; which we then discuss. We explore aspects of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and the other Nordic countries: Iceland, Finland and the Faeroes. Group activities also include watching Scandinavian films, listening to Nordic music and tasting typical food.

We welcome enquiries from anyone with an interest in Scandinavia, although our group is limited by the size of our living rooms!

Group Contact:  Maureen Folliard.

This small group meets each Monday from 10.00am - 12.00 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. 

Group Contacts:  Sally & Vedant Wood.

Meetings: 2nd and 4th Mondays 2-4pm.

This is for people with some knowledge of Spanish. We use different methods of learning to accommodate people with a range of ability. Sessions are relaxed and we try to make learning fun and help each other. 

Group Contact: Pauline Phillips.

Meetings: 2nd Monday at 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm 

Venue: St Lawrence Hall.

The meetings take the form of general support, discussion and displaying current projects. Help will be given to new and less experienced quilters, whilst it is also an opportunity for sharing amongst the more confident quilters.

Group Contact:  Sue Slack

Meetings: We meet on the 15th of the month, usually at 7 p.m.

The Supper Group is a great way to meet new people and catch up with old friends, whilst enjoying an evening with food, wine and conversation.
Each group of diners consists of 6 to 8 people - singles and couples. People take it in turn to host the supper at their home, and the members are rearranged each month to provide a mix of hosts and guests.

This is how it works:- The host provides the main course, tea or coffee and perhaps a welcome drink with some nibbles.

Other members bring a starter or dessert as their contribution to the meal.

If there are more than 6 members participating, then the others provide cheese and biscuits.
Everyone brings along wine and / or soft drinks to be shared at the table.

The aim is to enjoy the evening, and not spend all day in the kitchen! Sometimes in the summer or around Christmas, we hold "all comers" bring-and-share outdoor suppers, lunches or barbeques.

Group Contact:  Terry Gavan

Meeting:  Wednesday afternoons 2:30 – 4:00

Venue: Ashcroft Centre, the Ashcroft room. 

We are a mixed bunch of ages and skill levels, but all of us enjoy the game.  It’s not a case of winning or losing but applauding all the goods shots in-between.  And groaning at the lucky shots like clipping the edge of the net to win the point.

We play singles or doubles depending on the number attending but we do have 2 tables.

The room we book means we have to make a small charge of £2 for the session.

Group Contact:  Cacilda Warriner

Around 4 to 6 visits a year are offered to theatres in Malvern, Bristol, Bath. Oxford, etc. 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.

Group Contact: Andrew McKechnie.

Meetings: Fortnightly by arrangement, Thursdays 2pm to 3.30pm

Interested in playing the Ukulele? This is your opportunity! The group is open to beginners and to more experienced players, all you need is enthusiasm and a ukulele. If the group is very popular we will look for a bigger room as our aim is to eventually widen the group to include other instruments.

Group Contact:  Ros Suter. 

Meets every Thursday at 10:30 for an hour's game.

Venues: Weekly meeting at Cirencester Leisure Centre sports hall from the 10.30 to 11.30 There is no need to be a member of the Leisure Centre, just say you are with the U3A.

Even at walking speed, it is an exhilarating and competitive game, and lots of fun. The group often enjoy some well-earned refreshment afterwards.

Group Contacts: Jennifer Crawford and Diane Stallabrass.

Meet new friends, keep active and enjoy the lovely Cotswold countryside with Walking Group 1. The group meets on the 1st Friday of each month for a walk of about 5 miles, followed by a Pub Lunch. Walks are usually within a 15 mile radius of Cirencester and we meet at Cirencester Rugby Club at 9.20am in order to share cars as much as possible. The vehicular entrance is on The Whiteway and from here follow the track round to park and meet by the Clubhouse.

New members will be made very welcome. You need to be reasonably fit, have walking boots and waterproofs, bring your walking pole if you use one, and a drink for the mid-morning break.

Information on current walks, and how to reserve a place on a walk, can be found in the printed copy of the Cirencester U3A Newsletter which is distributed to members. Members take turns to lead walks and arrange the lunchtime venue throughout the year. Meals and snacks are pre-ordered at the pub before the start of the walk.

Members will find contact details for the individual leaders or contact person of the group included in our bimonthly newsletter. 

Group Contact: Frank Lindsley

Purpose of the group: To provide a more taxing walk than that offered by the Short Walk Group. Where possible a brief resume will be provided to help members assess whether a walk is suitable for them.

We meet at the Cirencester Rugby Club Car Park at 10.00 on the third Thursday of every month. Please meet and park just inside the gateway from The Whiteway.

Group Contact: Frank Lindsley

We are a friendly, chatty group who take gentle walks of 2 to 3 miles, enjoying conversation and taking in the countryside around us. We try to find circular walks, generally flat and starting and ending at a pub or café for lunch.

We meet at the Cirencester Rugby Club Car Park at 10.15 on the last Thursday of every month. Please meet and park just inside the gateway from The Whiteway.

Group Contactr:  Sally Wood

Meetings:  10am to 12:30pm second and fourth Wednesday in the month

Venue:  At a member's home

Group Contact: Ann Webley.

Meetings: Second Wednesday of each month at 2.30 - 4.00pm

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.