The next Speaker Meeting will be at 11 am on Thursday 9th June at the Scout & Guide HQ, when David Hearne will speak to us about Sir William Brown.

We are holding an Open Day on Saturday 23 October in the Scout & Guide HQ.  It will be open from 10.30 to 3.30 and will showcase groups and other activities that our u3a has to offer its members. We have over 80 interest Groups ranging from Aerobics right through to Zumba.  Indoors or out, active or leisurely, doing or… Read More »

Most Groups have now restarted following on from the times of  lockdown, tiers and  social isolation during 2020 and the first half of 2021. If you are a Group Leader of a Group without a Group Author, please check your Group Page and contact the Web Team as to any updates your Group Page you require to bring… Read More »

With some Groups restarting in September, your Web Manager had a notion to try out something completely new.  I was seeking a non-techie subject that I’d never before studied.  Spotting a new series of 7 introductory talks being organised by Tim Miles of the Philosophy Group, I thought this might well fit the bill, took the plunge and… Read More »

In Person Speaker Meetings are back! The plan is to hold all Speaker Meetings at Aughton Village Hall as part of New Horizons, starting at 11.15 am. The first of these will take place on Thursday 19th August, when author Carolyn Kirby will speak about the background to her new book, When We Fall, a gripping 2nd World War thriller which was chosen by the Times… Read More »

Another request for research volunteers has been received: I have been approached by Liverpool University Biomechanics Laboratory who are looking for volunteers to take part in a research project investigating the effect of ageing on leg muscle strength.  Please see more information on the Research Poster. Our u3a have taken part in a previous project at the Biomechanics… Read More »

Our June Speaker Meeting, featuring the Fool’s Gold duo, was live on Zoom on Thursday 3 June… click the poster for the full size version Fool’s Gold – Dark Light This Zoom Meeting was very much enjoyed by the members who attended.  To find out more about Fool’s Gold, and future u3a talks and events, see the Speaker… Read More »

Keep an eye on this website for the latest u3a news – check out the links displayed in sidebar of this Front Page or the items on the News Page. The brand new Restart Page will also increasingly keep you informed as Groups and other activities get underway again over the next few months. Refer to  your email for past and… Read More »

Thank you to all those who have supported our Zoom Speaker Meetings so far. The talks have been hugely enjoyable, entertaining and informative, so if you haven’t zoomed in already, why not give it a try? The next one will take place on Thursday 6th May at 11 am, when John Whittles will join us to speak about Mason Bees. Click… Read More »

We are part of the North West Region of u3as,  all 100 plus of them.  From time to time the regional committee organises events and projects for their membership.  “My Street” is the latest one with an aim of fostering local and regional involvement, pride and awareness – a sense of place to present to the outside world. … Read More »

The first meeting took place via Zoom at 11 am on 4th February when Julia Clayton  provided us with a fascinating talk on the topic of What did the Spartans do for us?  Details of this and future Speaker Meetings already arranged for 2021, including how to sign up to attend, can be viewed on Pam Ball’s Speaker Meeting webpage. If not familiar with joining in… Read More »

Although the Earth/Geology Group is currently suspended locally, the National u3a is putting on free Geology talks that members can attend via Zoom. Full details and booking are available on the online events page of the National u3a website. There are a couple of relevant topics in March.  They are repeats of very popular talks earlier in the year. … Read More »

The latest enews was sent out by the enews Editor to all members with an email address on Monday 28 December. If you have not received it, check your Spam folder. If not there, check with the Membership Team that they have your correct details on record If you missed the enews deadline, and have some U3A content you would like to publicise… Read More »

If you have set up an email address for the first time (or you have changed your email address), please don’t forget that you can logon to update your u3a Beacon details for yourself.  Or  if you need it to be added, changed or checked for you on your Beacon membership record, contact the Membership Team. It is… Read More »

The most recent enews came out on Monday 30th November (last Monday of the month). If you missed the deadline and want items posted in the December enews, please send them to the enews Editor In the meantime, if you want u3a information posted on the website, contact the Web Team. The Third Age Trust also has a… Read More »

John and Joan, Leaders of the Bridge Group, have sent the Web Team some very interesting news about what the Group has been doing to keep going during Lockdown. What an active and adaptable Group!   During the lockdown, we have been in touch with all the group members with a regular email contact as well as by… Read More »

A new virtual group – Science during Lockdown – has been specially set up for these strange times.  It features a Daily Science Snippet, Science Jokes and Cartoons, Illusions, online Science Quizzes that any member can try out and links to Coronavirus articles.

Many of our favourite activities and interests have been curtailed due to social isolation.  But here are some ideas how can keep your participation alive. National Theatre at Home Watch top-notch online shows for free. Productions are shown every Thursday at 7pm and are then available for 7 days. ‘Local’ Theatre Spot On is Lancashire’s touring theatre network. They are… Read More »

Following a meeting of the Management Committee and Trustees, all Aughton & Ormskirk U3A face-to-face activities are suspended with effect from 17 March 2020, until further notice. This government guidance on coronavirus includes ongoing and changing information about how to protect yourself or check if you need medical help, and provides advice about social distancing, staying at home and travel… Read More »

Short Courses – (1) Learn to Play Bridge; and (2)  Improve Your Bridge The Bridge Group will run a 10-week course starting in March for members who would like to learn how to play Bridge or to return to playing after a break from the game. We plan to follow this up in the Autumn with a course… Read More »

Check out the Digital Photography Group Page (and the Group Posts that follow it) for details of the first meeting this year and exhibitions of the excellent photos taken in past years.

English Medieval Cathedrals of the South and South-east Commencing Tuesday 28 January, for this fourth series of Church History we move to medieval cathedrals in the south-eastern extremity of England, interspersed with two visits to more-local medieval sites. The 1st talk is on Canterbury Cathedral – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and mother church of the… Read More »

The new Marketing Manager at West Lancs Leisure Services will be our Guest Visitor at Horizons on Thursday 9th January.  He is hoping to generate interest in specific U3A activities at Park Pool, Nye Bevan Pool and Burscough Sports Centre and wants to talk to members about their preferred sport.   He is in contact with the other five… Read More »

Age UK Lancashire is launching a brand new service in West Lancashire for people living with mild to moderate dementia. Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) is a 12 weekly programme designed for people living with mild to moderate dementia and is the only non-drug treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to improve cognition,… Read More »

Come along to the Film Appreciation Group, Monday morning, 28th October to see: The Guernsey Literary Meat and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018). This is an historical romantic drama based on the book of the same name. In the aftermath of WW2, a writer forms an unexpected relationship with the residents of Guernsey. The film has wartime pathos,… Read More »

Have you seen or used the Guillotine that usually resides in the Scout & Guide HQ?  It has disappeared in the last few weeks.  It’s quite a large one so not easily missed or hidden from view.  Contact the Secretary  if you have any ideas on where it might be lurking.

The Local History Group returns to Indoor Meetings in October!

Come to the Sunday Social on Sunday 22nd for Songs from the U3A Choir, Refreshments and Prize Bingo.

If you missed this Year’s AGM, you can read Reports from the past Chair and Hon Sec via the links in  the AGM 2019 webpage.  You can also browse for full details  such as the Agenda and Minutes. (Also find out more about all the hard work done by the various Committees and Subcommitees year-round to keep our… Read More »

So come along to the Gardening Group. Click or tap on any picture to run the gallery as a colourful slide show.

WOW! ~ hasn’t the last two years gone quickly, as your Chairman, as I realise I will very soon pass the reins of office onto my successor. In accordance with our Constitution the maximum period of tenure as Chairman is two years.

For our next Speaker Meetings, on Thursday 6th June, we will welcome local resident, writer and photographer, Peter Rimmer,  who will present a talk on Morecambe Bay. 

After having a peek at Dee’s career in the recent magazine we are eager to know more, so she has agreed to bring along some pictorial exhibits of her musical life including a short video. We are making this an excuse to have a fun day without keyboards just cakes, chat and bubbly. We realise that other U3A… Read More »

In December, we received a message from Sur Watkinson: The Jazz Appreciation Group held its last event on Friday evening 14 December with a superb performance by the Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band.  Group numbers for regular meetings have fallen to single figures and our mainstay, Keith Lamb, has retired to spend more time with his family. … Read More »

Alan Starkie has issued a message asking for volunteers.  Alan is to be found most Thursdays at Horizons at the Digital Camera / Computer Table in the far corner of the Aughton Room in the Scout & Guide HQ.  He also is a Helper at Computer Advice on Mondays. There are vacancies on the Finance and Resources Sub-Committee.… Read More »

A message from the current Magazine Distribution Organiser, Peter Trigwell: Many rumours are flying about the U3A at the moment with a view to what is happening with the magazine distribution.  Let me try and answer some of them.  The next Distribution date is the 28th February, and nothing will change at this time, magazines can still be collected… Read More »

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is currently much in the news!  We have a Working Party delving into possible implications for an organisation such as Aughton & Ormskirk U3A. The Working Party has published a Privacy Policy. More documents providing advice and some new or adapted forms are in the pipeline. In the meantime, if you have any… Read More »