Bury St Edmunds
University of the Third
Age
Study Groups
|
||||
Bury St Edmunds
|
||||
University of the Third
Age
|
||||
Study Groups |
||||
General enquiries can be made to the Study Groups' Liaison Officer or by requesting a Study Groups Programme.
In most cases, group membership is free but members can agree to defray modest expenses for the use of premises, specialist tuition, transport, etc.
A variety of courses of fixed duration are also available. Currently these are Care on the Road, Deciphering old manuscripts and Heraldry. Up-to-date details can be obtained from the Study Groups’ Officer or contacting the office.
Anyone wishing to join a Study Group will be asked to provide proof of U3A membership.
Click on a description to see details of these study groups:
©2005 J F Hughes
Art Appreciation
Peter Dunster. Second Monday mornings, monthly each term.
History and appreciation of art from the Renaissance to the present day.Art of the Renaissance
David Dougan.. Fourth Wednesday morning.
Art and artists of this Magical periodChildren's Book Illustrations
Marjorie Smith. Second Tuesday afternoons.
Discussion about artists and their workPainting and Drawing
Michael Akehurst / Jayne Gilbert. Weekly, Tuesdays 2.00 - 4.15, 10 week terms, Sept-Dec and Jan-April.
All ability levels are welcomed to this friendly self-help group.Patchwork
Marjorie Smith.. Third Thursday mornings.
We create a patchwork quilt by hand working from "The Civil War Diary Quilt".Patchwork Bags
Marjorie Smith. Second Wednesday mornings.
Design and Make your own bags.Sketching
Hilary Spoun.. Second and fourth Thursday mornings.
Sketching and drawing.
© Matt. Daily Telegraph
Current Affairs
David Dougan. Second and fourth Tuesday afternoons..
Discussing issues of the day..
© 2006 Dick Bruna
Book Club 1
Eileen Collins. Third Monday of each month, 10.00 am - 11.30 am.
Members select books to be read and discussed for shared enjoyment and exchange of viewpoints.Book Club 2
Irene Plant. Second Monday of each month. 9.45 to 11.45 am..
The club meets to discuss modern novels and other books chosen by members.Classic Films
Charles Smith. Two separate groups, meeting on the third Wednesday or Thursday each month at 2.00 pm
Members introduce films, giving some background information. The films are then watched and discussed by the group.Play Reading
Gerry Creagh-Brown. First and fourth Thursday mornings each month.
A complete play script is read at each meeting. Plays cover a wide range, both modern and period.Poetry Reading
Alan Boadle. Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons, 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm.
We agree a programme of themes and each member finds related poems. We read and discuss our choicesShakespeare and His contemporaries
Albert Baker. 10 am on first and third Fridays.
To read and study the works of Shakespeare and the plays of those authors who were his contemporaries. We receive and discuss occasional papers on these subjects presented by members.Theatre Group
Terry Taylor. Meetings are usually in the afternoons
Meet as necessary to plan theatre visits and to discuss shows seen.
Bird Watching
Jackie Frost. First Wednesday morning.
The group visits interesting bird habitats around Bury, aiming to improve bird identification skills, through both sight and sound. Also studying birds’ relationship to their environment.Bird Watching Too
Heulwen Stewart. Mornings, second and fourth Tuesday each month. Two or three hours with occasional full day meetings. Meetings are always out of doors, sometimes involving shared car journeys and there is always some walking.Field Studies
Geoff Heathcote. Alternate Tuesday mornings from 10.00 am.
Local "nature walks" if weather is relatively fine. Otherwise, indoor studies of natural history specimens - anything from bugloss or beetles to boleti!.Gardens I
Daphne Swatman. Monthly, second Wednesday.
Winter – talks by gardeners, usually with slides. Spring, Summer and Autumn – visits to gardens of all ages and sizes.Gardens II
Beryl Duncan. Monthly, first Wednesday afternoons at 2.00 pm.
We study all aspects of gardening.. Lectures and slide shows in winter, garden visits in summer.Walking with a Purpose
John Baines. First and third Monday mornings, starting at 10.00 am for 2 – 3 hours.
Four-mile to six-mile walks, planned by group members, to look at different natural environments and places of historic and architectural interest.
Bridge for Improvers
Anne Bailey / Ann Taylor. Alternate Tuesday mornings 9.30 am – 12 noon. Tutor John Woolmore.
Meetings are in three parts - a lesson - coffee break - play.Mah Jong
Jeff Paine. Thursdays pm. Frequency by arrangement
A five-week introduction to the game of Mah Jong, and Mah Jong for Addicts- five weeks on instruction and play.
Austerity Britain 1945 - 1955
David Dougan. Second and fourth Tuesday mornings
Living with ration books and other restrictions.Ancient Civilisations
Geoff Heathcote. Alternate Thursday afternoons from 2.15 pm.
Polynesia and the conquest ot the Pacific - but we range widely in subject matter.Ancient Egypt
Geoff Heathcote. Alternate Tuesday afternoons from 2.15 pm..
Life in Ancient Egypt - mummies, mystery and magic. A study based on books and videos. Comparisons with other civilisations.England in the 18th Century
David Dougan. Alternate Wednesday afternoons.
From glorious revolution to industrial revolution.The Enlightenment
Gerald Curry. Mondays 2 - 4 pm, fortnightly
A study of a formative period in European intellectual life and development and its impact in England, France and America.Family History
Pat Carroll. Third Wednesday mornings.
Researching Family History – what records are available, and where, and why they were created.The History of Late Medieval Suffolk - 13th to 15 Centuries
Bryant Maitland. Wednesday mornings.
People, places and daily life.Suffolk Churches and Villages
Sue Simpson Monthly, first Thursday morning.
The group visits a church and/or a village each month to absorb some of the local history, architecture, helaldry and points of interest.The Victorians
Morris Sewter. Tuesday mornings, approximately every 3/4 weeks.
Study of all aspects of 19th century history, including art, science, politics, music and literature, concentrating on matters affecting the British Empire. Group members choose and present topics.
French for Starters
Peter Dunster. Weekly. Friday mornings in term time. 10.15 am to 12 noon.
A two year course for beginners using "Voilá!" as a basic textbook plus BBC videos. The course is mainly oral, but some grammar is included.French Onwards
Michael Coulon. Mondays 2 pm.
Intermediate French. Learn to write and hold a simple conversation. Written homework is corrected and explained.Advanced French Discussion
Michael Coulon
Le groupe se réunit le lundi après-midi chaque quinzaine. L’anglais est exclus des discussions et le niveau du français est assez élevé. L’objectif est que chaque participant devienne capable de discuter de la majorité des sujets en français.French Advanced
Avryl Harniman. Friday mornings during term time, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Conversational French on a variety of topics, articles on shared interests, particularly travel + videos, books, music, etc.Beginner's German
Marion Lettau. Weekly on a Monday from 10 am to 12 noon.
The textbook we use is "Deutsch Plus".German Conversation
Rosemary Booth. Weekly, Thursday mornings at 10.00 am.
Mostly conversation but members do bring books/articles which we read and translate. We listen to CDs occasionally.Italian
Grazia Evans. Weekly, Tuesday mornings, 10.00 am – 12 noon.
Conversation and study of Italian history and culture. Introduction to important Italian authors, both historical and contemporary.Beginners’ Spanish
Sheila Jennings. Weekly, Mondays, 10.00 am – 12 noon.
We use the BBC video "Talk Spanish" and Michael Thomas' tapes "Spanish" to learn pronunciation and practise basic scentances.Spanish
Jean Turner. Weekly, Mondays, 10.00 am.
Initially 10 weeks, beginning in October.. For those who have already some knowledge of the language.
Church Music
Jean Turner. Monthly, first Friday morning, 10 am
The development of church music from its earliest times. All members do some research.Music Matters
Margaret Needham. Monthly, first Wednesday morning.
A light-hearted look at serious music. This year the music will be largely French.Jazz and Popular Music
Charles Smith. Second and fourth Tuesday mornings of each month Autumn and Spring terms. 10.00 am
To study the history and development of Jazz and Popular Music and their linkage. Meetings are themed around particular composers or musical styles..Opera
Alan Budd. Monthly, usually fourth Thursday, 10.00 am – 12 noon.
Group members are interested but not necessarily expert in opera. Individuals introduce a topic each month, usually an opera with a DVD. We also study history of opera up to the 20th century.Playing Music for Pleasure
Marilyn Catlow. Weekly wednesday mornings..
An introduction to recorder consort playing.U3A Choir
John Catlow.
A new group specially aimed at the older voice.
Philosophy
Michael Hammond.. Monthly, third Friday 2 - 4 pm
Thoughtful study and lively discussion of a text.
Astronomy
Murray Rae. First Tuesday in the month, 2 pm.
Self learning group meets to discuss and topics selected by group members.Cosmology
Brian Sheard. Meetings by agreement.
We work through books chosen br members. A scientific or engineering background esssential.Science and Society
Brian Sheard. Monthly, last Tuesday morning, 10.00 for 10.30 am.
The group loooks at topics in science and technology, either from an historical perspective or to review current knowledge and issues. Typically a member of the gruop provides a talk and discussion follows.Science in Cambridge
John Wilkin.. Usually Monday evenings in term time. Approx. 20 p.a.
Using car-sharing, members attend public lectures in Cambridge covering recent developments in pure and applied Science.
Travel
Frances Lewis. Monthly, first Monday 2.15 pm – 4.15 pm.
Group members, and others, exchange information on places visited and travel topics. Group travel visits, with various cultural aspects, are arranged for the UK. Members join together to visit foreign destinations.
Updated 15 September 2008
