Retford U3A were looking forward to a great programme over the next few months, but the Coronavirus has curtailed their immediate plans to hold their monthly general meetings, and those of the bulk of the interest groups.
Their Retford branch of the U3A is ten years old this year, and they hope to celebrate later in the year.
Retford U3A now have 40 or so interest groups. When the U3A started, the aim was for people of retirement age to meet and share experiences, which would impart knowledge and help keep their minds and bodies active. To this end, Retford have three walking groups and have recently started a dance group. These groups are in addition to several craft groups; ‘knit and natter’, ‘patchwork and quilting’, and the ‘general craft’ group. At this time of year, you will not be surprised that the gardening group is very popular. One of the original groups set up ten years ago is the architecture group. Over the years they have visited important historical buildings and sites. History plays a big part in Retford’s U3A, with local, family and military history all proving popular.
If you have just moved into the area, or recently retired, have a look at the Retford U3A website. On there with a bit of button pushing, you should be able to find information on the interest groups available. As an organisation they welcome visitors to most interest groups, but you need to check first, to see if that is possible.
Please remember the U3A is a national organisation with over 1,000 branches in the UK. The ethos of the U3A, is very simple. Members try to keep themselves active in body and mind, learning from each other, with shared knowledge and experiences. If you want to know more about the Retford U3A, have a look at the comprehensive web site, or contact the membership secretary, Paul Bacon, at membership@retford-u3a.org.uk or on 01427 880502 for more details.