Social Groups

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: 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: Jane Dobson

Meetings: 2nd Friday & 4th Friday, 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm

Drillmans Arms, 34 Gloucester Road, Stratton, Cirencester

Cribbage is a card game for 2, 3 or 4 players (when 4  are playing, they play in pairs). All that is needed is a pack of cards and a peg board for scoring.

Cribbage is a fun ga me and relatively easy to learn and we play in a relaxed, congenial atmosphere, with plenty of social chat and laughter

The pub does not charge us for the use of the room, so the only thing we ask is that everyone buys a drink. The pub provides the cards and peg boards. There is parking in the streets around but not directly outside the pub. 

Group Contact: Anne Vardy

Meeting:   2nd Tuesday of the month. 2.00pm - 3.15pm 

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 café 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 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 Contacts :  Jenny Collyer, Communications Officer

Reyn Hauff, Groups Coordinator 

Meetings : As and when required.

Venues : Various 

Helping Hands is a new Group for Cirencester u3a. All Members are invited to join, regardless of age, mobility, and interests.

Whenever our u3a, or a Group within our u3a, is planning an event or activity, and volunteers are needed on the day (e.g. to put up gazebos, to move chairs around, to make refreshments, to welcome visitors or whatever) the Group Contacts will send out a request to all Helping Hands members with details of what’s needed, to see who might be able to help, and in what way. 

There’s no pressure. It’ll be up to you what you do and when you do it.

If we can all do just a bit to help then it makes it so much easier for those organising things.

In the future we hope to have a regular, perhaps annual, social event for all members of Helping Hands.

Group Contact: Brenda Lissimore

Meetings: Alternate Thursdays, 2.30 – 4.30 pm

Venue: The Waterloo. 

Group Contact:  Jenny Collyer

Meeting:  2.00pm Third Wednesday of the month

Venue:  Watermoor Hall

The Members On Their Own Group (known as MOTO) group provides social activities for Cirencester u3a members who live alone - and we’re thriving!

We have several regular events, including a Monthly Meeting with an activity. This is a great opportunity to meet friends, old and new, have some fun, and find out about upcoming MOTO gatherings!

In addition, there are regular meet-ups for coffee and chat, or a meal, walks around Cirencester Park, and days out to a local place of interest when car sharing is organised. In addition, our WhatsApp group provides opportunities for members to organise other activities on a short notice basis.

Any U3A member who lives alone is welcome to join us. We are a diverse and lively group, and hopefully provide something for everyone!

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 Contacts: Karen Hawley / Liz Souter

Meetings: 2nd and 4th Wednesday 09.30 - 11.30

Venue: Watermoor Church Hall, GL7 1NE (Next to Holy Trinity Church)

Rummikub is a game that is played with tiles, like scrabble, but with numbers instead of letters. The aim of the game is to create runs and matching groups in order to use up your tiles before anyone else.  It then becomes more interesting as you learn how to manipulate the tiles that have already been laid (whilst following the provided rules) which means your grey cells are given a thorough workout!

Refreshments are on hand when players are ready for a break.

The group is open to all standards of play, including beginners for whom instruction can be given.

We organise the group into tables of 4 and try to rotate members so that we meet different players at each new session.

Please contact Groups Coordinator or Group Contacts for further information.

Group Contact:  Sue Slack

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

Supper Club is a great way to meet new friends, especially if you are new to Cirencester, recently retired, or find yourself on your own.

The group’s aim is to encourage convivial conversation with good food in members’ homes.  Therefore, all members are expected to participate in groups at least 2 or3 times a year and host at least once.  Each group of 6 to 8 is different each month.  Everyone bringing the course they have been asked to supply, Starter or Dessert.  The host supplies the main course, but you would not be expected to host until you have got used to us!  You also need to bring a bottle of your choice, usually wine but a soft drink if you prefer.

Importantly, you must be able to host at least 6 people and be prepared to travel to venues independently often outside Cirencester

Members on their own can easily be teamed with a lady or gentleman when it’s their turn to host, so you never have to do it alone, unless you want to!  

We also arrange ‘Drinks Evenings’ from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in different member’s homes and a couple of pub lunches each year.  These events are an addition to Supper Club.

So, if Supper Club appeals to you or you have any queries whatsoever, please contact Sue Slack for more information. 

In short, it is a relaxed convivial group where the company is equal to a very enjoyable meal.

Group Contact:  Nikki Cox

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:  Nick Howkins

Meetings:  1st Wednesday in the month 6:30 for 7pm

Venue:  St Peter's Church Hall

This friendly group meets on the first Wednesday of each month to explore the world of wine in a light hearted way.

Group Contactr:  Sally Wood

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

Venue:  At a member's home

We talk and share about the experience of ageing - the challenges as well as the triumphs. 

 At the end of each session we choose the theme for the next session. Some examples of topics we have enjoyed talking about are Internalised Ageism, Finding Purpose beyond Paid Employment, Loneliness and Life Balance.

By listening carefully to each other we feel encouraged to share the reality of our experiences of getting older and we start to recognise the universal themes that resound in all our lives.