Ashbourne & District u3a

Ashbourne & District u3a Learn, laugh and live. U3A is for anyone past the point in life when work and / or family take up all of their waking hours.

We enjoy learning new things, having fun and leading fulfilling and stimulating lives. And you don't have to be retired to join!

The Crown Green Bowls players have had another lovely afternoons play again today. The setting of the Ashbourne Bowls Cl...
19/06/2026

The Crown Green Bowls players have had another lovely afternoons play again today. The setting of the Ashbourne Bowls Club on Wyaston Road has fantastic views reminding us of what a beautiful place we live in. And today we had bright sunshine again too! What a nice way of spending an afternoon.
So today 17 players, most of whom started last week, were joined by 8 members of the Bowls Club to help learn how to master the bias of the bowls. It’s interesting to note that the crown of the greens usually rises from 6-12 inches, which causes them to change direction and veer off into the gulley!
It was good to have two of our members helping to score for some of the games which will help when we start to get a bit more proficient.
Thanks again to Margaret Sutton and the Bowls Club members for all their invaluable help in making this the great success it has become. Long may it continue.
The group meets weekly and still has a few more spaces available, so if you are interested in joining us please contact us via the Ashbourne u3a website.

Natural History group went to Anglesey this week on their annual overnight trip and yet again were favoured with fabulou...
19/06/2026

Natural History group went to Anglesey this week on their annual overnight trip and yet again were favoured with fabulous weather. Highlights of the trip were the 30+ Curlew on the shore at RSPB Conwy on the way home, a unique to the UK Western Reef Heron and an Elder-Flowered Orchid that was new to us. Great meal in a private dining room on the evening we stayed, amongst great company. New members always welcome: https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/natural-history/

Thanks Doug, leader of the Cycling group, for today’s report, it looks as though you had a lovely day. ‘We cycled from A...
18/06/2026

Thanks Doug, leader of the Cycling group, for today’s report, it looks as though you had a lovely day.
‘We cycled from Ashbourne to the Knockerdown Inn for lunch. We were rerouted by a road closure on the way out but squeezed past the machine which was repairing potholes. My first aid kit was useful for repairing a pair of glasses. The picture was taken at Tissington Ford’.
If you are interested in joining the group for future rides, please contact Doug via the Ashbourne u3a website.

The hikers met at Over Haddon for Tuesday’s walk of almost 9 miles. After last month we were delighted that it was dry, ...
18/06/2026

The hikers met at Over Haddon for Tuesday’s walk of almost 9 miles. After last month we were delighted that it was dry, and although visibility was hazy to start, it improved throughout the day. We began by ascending over fields and stiles to the site of Magshaw mine, before descending and climbing again to the ruins of Magpie Mine where we stopped for a coffee break. From there we crossed more fields (and stiles) enjoying outstanding far reaching views and the ever present song of the skylarks, to Monyash. We by-passed the village by walking down Bagshaw Dale, where we joined beautiful and varied Lathkill Dale. The top end is grassy, but when we entered the dale properly the ground was rough and bouldery underfoot. We passed the cave from where in wetter weather the river, on this day flowing underground, will emerge, but after passing Cales Dale there was water flowing through the river bed. The dale is an SSSI as a protected limestone environment and the wildflowers and bird life were quite spectacular. We had lunch in a shady spot just off the main path. The track became easier and wider as we walked along it, and we met more walkers. After a short steep climb up a lane, passing Over Haddon church where Maurice Oldfield, former director of MI6 is buried, we arrived back at the car park.

The Bridge for Improvers Group may have been low in numbers today but the session worked perfectly. This was because the...
17/06/2026

The Bridge for Improvers Group may have been low in numbers today but the session worked perfectly. This was because the two experienced ‘coaches’ were able to give lots of time to help the players with less confidence.
https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/bridge-for-improvers/
During the session a really good discussion took place of what everyone had played in the game they’d just completed, and what the alternatives were. All this is done in a very supportive manner with lots of praise and smiles leading to growing confidence.
These are weekly sessions that have already lead to members of the Improvers group moving to the top level Bridge group. Nice work everyone.
If you are interested in joining the group please check them out on the Ashbourne u3a website and contact the leaders for further information.

The Woodcraft group are really producing some lovely pieces of work that are showing growing confidence in the skills th...
17/06/2026

The Woodcraft group are really producing some lovely pieces of work that are showing growing confidence in the skills they are developing. Yesterday four of the group were producing a range of pieces reflecting how long they have been in the group and their interests.
Group Leader Sheldon has been very pleased to see how some members have not only bought their own sets of chisels etc but are now producing items to present to friends and family. I think Jean would probably get lots of offers if she was about to sell her beautiful art deco style mirror edging. We’re looking forward to seeing the finished results.
For further information about the group please check out the Woodcraft page on the Ashbourne u3a website.

The Quiz group were very pleased to set a record attendance today with 27 of us pitting our wits against each other. htt...
16/06/2026

The Quiz group were very pleased to set a record attendance today with 27 of us pitting our wits against each other.

https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/quiz/

Question Master Peter is great at setting us a range of questions, some of which are manageable and others that make us want to tear our hair out!!
We always start with Current Affairs questions, in the middle we have a picture round and to finish we have a round that has a link between all the questions. Today the final round was that all the answers such as Merton and Essex were names of Oxbridge Colleges.
We very much enjoy our tea break with cuppas and cake plus chance to have a bit of a catch up.
We also amuse ourselves by choosing random team names and it was very appropriate today that the ‘Diamonds are forever’ team won as they were celebrating the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of our Science whizz Maureen.
If you’d like to join us for one of our Monthly Quizzes please check out the arrangements on the Ashbourne u3a website.

Our French Group Leader Vivien notes that ‘Yesterday we were a bit thin on the ground for our session, but those who cam...
16/06/2026

Our French Group Leader Vivien notes that ‘Yesterday we were a bit thin on the ground for our session, but those who came enjoyed themselves, working in pairs, playing alternatively (in French of course) an Estate Agent and a potential buyer of a property in France.
https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/french/
Members had been asked to find a name for their Estate Agent and to bring along a sign for their business. They had also been asked to bring to the meeting details of 3 properties in France in an area of their choice, by searching on a French property market website. So we had Estate Agents in Nice, Morzine, Aix-en-Provence, Bourges, Cahors and Brittany. Next session our theme will be The World Cup, and possibly sport in general!’.
If you are interested in joining the French group please contact Vivien via the Ashbourne u3a website to check if there are any spaces available.
Enjoy the World Cup everyone! ⚽️

Today the Kurling group were enjoying their weekly sessions that continue throughout the year. https://ashbourne.u3asite...
15/06/2026

Today the Kurling group were enjoying their weekly sessions that continue throughout the year.
https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/kurling/
Whilst numbers are slightly down in the summer months due to holidays the group really enjoy their weekly meet ups. And my word what an improvement they have made in the accuracy of their throws. 👏👏
When the group first started many of us found it difficult to get the ‘stones’ to go where we wanted them to. Now not only can the players do this much more regularly but they have also developed the skills of moving the other stones out of the way at the same time. Nice work everyone!
If you are interested in joining the group please contact group leader Phil to check if there are spaces available. There is a small charge for each session to cover the hire of Hognaston Village Hall.

The painting for Pleasure group were delighted to welcome two new members to the group today plus one who joined recentl...
15/06/2026

The painting for Pleasure group were delighted to welcome two new members to the group today plus one who joined recently.
https://ashbourne.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/art-painting-for-pleasure/
This is in part at least because they have moved into slightly larger premises which has enabled them to welcome new faces.
This is a very friendly group who produce some lovely pieces of work whilst enjoying a good chat plus a cuppa and cake at the same time. They work quite informally with no specific teaching but supporting each other to identify what works well and what else they could try.
Of particular interest today were the two recently produced pictures of hares, a giraffe and a piece of work to accompany a self produced poem.
If you are interested in joining the group please contact group leader Lynn, via the Ashbourne u3a website to see if any more places are available.

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DE61HG

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