Melbourne Area Derby

Return to Melbourne Area Derby u3a

Melbourne Area Derby u3a Groups

Art Appreciation     

Meets Monthly on Wednesday afternoon
Venue Melbourne Assembly Rooms - map
Normally starts 13:30 to 15:00
Details Art Appreciation meetings are held monthly on a Wednesday afternoon (1.30-3pm) at Melbourne Assembly Rooms. £2 per person, including tea or coffee, to pay for the room hire. Sessions usually last one and a half hours. Topics for discussion to date have included American photography, German Expressionism, the Pre-Raphaelites, Joseph Wright, and Marcel Duchamp and conceptual art. We are currently exploring the 'isms' from Realism to Conceptualism. Anyone can volunteer to give a talk; we have had some lively discussions! We have also arranged trips to art galleries, including Nottingham Contemporary, Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Barber Institute.

Art trip to Cambridge     

Meets One off visit with overnight stay June 19th
Venue 
Details A visit to Murray Edwards College, Cambridge to see a unique collection of women’s art. Overnight stay at the College.

Book Club     

Meets 2nd Thursday / month
Venue Thomas Cook Memorial Hall - map
Normally starts 11:30 to 13:30
Details We are Book Group 1. We meet from 11.30-1.00 on the second Thursday of each month (no meeting August) and read one book per month. Some recent choices have included- The Wanderers Rules of Civility The Miniaturist Someone I used to Know Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine This group is currently full. You are welcome to join the waiting list or start another book group. Contact the Groups coordinator for more details.

Book Group 2     

Meets Last Tuesday monthly 5.30pm
Venue Various by agreement
Normally starts 17:30 to 19:00
Details The group is very informal, meeting monthly in each-other's homes to discuss the book chosen at the previous meeting. We read a full range of fiction, non-fiction, new releases and classics revisited. This group is currently full. You are welcome to join the waiting list or start another book group. Contact the Group coordinator for more details.

Bowls     

Meets Last Wednesday of the Month
Venue Kings Newton Bowls Club - map
Normally starts 13:30 to 12:30
Details The group meets monthly on the last Wednesday in the month from March to October at 1.30pm (pending weather and green conditions) at Kings Newton Bowls Club on Pack Horse Road, Melbourne. No experience required. We are booked in for a 2 hour slot and there is a charge of £3 for the session, including tea/coffee.

Bridge     

Meets Every Monday throughout the year
Venue Melbourne Sporting Park MSP - map
Normally starts 14:00 to 16:00
Details Bridge sessions take place in the Melbourne Sporting Partnership pavilion, Cockshut Lane. Melbourne from 2.00 till 4.00 every Monday. We play rubber bridge, each session is suitable for beginners, improvers and experienced players. We change partners and opponents regularly to vary the games and help less experienced players. These sessions are very informal and great fun. Each session costs £2 per person towards the room hire. Come and join us.

Coffee Mornings     

Meets Ad hoc
Venue Will be confirmed by email
Normally starts 10:30 to 11:30
Details Occasional ad-hoc coffee mornings

COMMITTEE     

Meets 3rd Thursday every other month
Venue Will be confirmed by email
Normally starts 14:00 to 16:00
Details The executive committee meets monthly to agree/monitor priorities and to ensure that MADu3a meets statutory and other requirements.

COMMITTEE - Data sub-committee     

Meets Ad-hoc
Venue Various by agreement
Details This sub-group deals with the policy and practise relating to the data and communications infrastructure for the u3a. In particular the Beacon membership database, the local u3a website, data storage and management, phones and social media platforms.

COMMITTEE events sub-committee     

Meets Ad-Hoc
Venue Various by agreement
Details This sub-committee plans MADu3 non-group activities (eg monthly meetings, social events and taster sessions). It reports to the main Committee.

COMMITTEE Finance SubCommittee     

Meets Ad-hoc
Venue Various by agreement
Details 

Crafting     

Meets 2nd Thursday of the month
Venue Thomas Cook Memorial Hall - map
Normally starts 13:30 to 15:30
Details Cost £4 per session which includes room hire, refreshments and materials. No Meeting August

Current Affairs     

Meets 3rd Friday monthly
Venue Local pub confirmed by email
Normally starts 14:00 to 15:30
Details The group usually meets on the third Friday of the month in the afternoon, 2pm to 3.30pm in a local pub. The first part of the afternoon focuses on a particular topic, which members may like to read about in advance; then we have the opportunity to discuss any burning issues of the day. The meeting is very informal; members suggest topics for discussion and have the opportunity to lead on an issue. We steer clear of Party Politics, respecting everyone's views but focusing on evidence. Previous topics discussed have included HS2, NHS, House of Lords, the US elections, the environment and climate change, crime and justice, local government and the Commonwealth.

Family History     

Meets Monthly on the 2nd Wed
Venue Melbourne Royal British Legion - map
Normally starts 14:00 to 16:00
Details Our Family History group will be meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of every month 2pm - 4pm in Melbourne Royal British Legion. Members enjoy sharing their family history stories and helping each other break down research 'brick walls' in a friendly and welcoming environment.

French Dance and music     

Meets Last Thursday / month
Venue Thomas Cook Memorial Hall - map
Normally starts 14:00 to 16:00
Details Hi We meet in Thomas Cook memorial Hall. There is a small charge of £2 to cover room costs and tea/coffee and biscuits. Dances we learn are schotishes, bourrees, waltzes, mazurkas, gavottes and Breton dances. Steve plays melodeon (button accordion) and Peter plays fiddle so there is lovely live music to dance to. Some dances are couples dances but don't worry if you haven't got a partner - one will be found! The Breton dances are usually done in lines or circles and no partners are needed. Come along and give it a go. Diana

Friday Book Group     

Meets Monthly on the last Friday of the month
Venue Members' homes
Normally starts 16:30 to 00:00
Details A range of novels, classic and modern, biographies, short stories and poetry will be read and discussed.

Garden Visiting     

Meets ad-hoc
Venue Various by agreement
Details A seasonal group visiting gardens opening for the NGS and similar organisations as well as arboreta, botanic gardens and horticultural events. The majority of the visits will be made to locations within 30 - 40 minutes drive of Melbourne, with the possibility of the occasional day trip further afield. Group members are involved in planning the programme of visits. Car sharing will be encouraged.

German Conversation     

Meets Wednesday morning
Venue Members' homes
Normally starts 10:00 to 11:00
Details The group will meet weekly with a view to practise and improve their german conversation.

Grow Your Own     

Meets ad hoc
Venue Will be confirmed by email
Details We are a collaborative gardening group that comes together on an allotment, as weather and enthusiasm permits, to grow fruit and veg. Community, shared effort and enjoyment of the outdoors will be the key motivators. No dig is the current philosophy, but that doesn't mean no work. No free lunch.....

History     

Meets Monthly, every second Friday
Venue Melbourne Assembly Rooms - map
Normally starts 15:00 to 16:00
Details The theme for the next few months is the Romans in Britain.

Members' Monthly Meeting     

Meets First Thursday afternoon every month
Venue Melbourne Assembly Rooms - map
Details A monthly all member meeting either with an invited speaker or a social event.

Photography Step-by-Step     

Meets 1st Wednesday of the Month 1330hrs
Venue Various by agreement
Normally starts 13:30 to 16:00
Details “PHOTOGRAPHY STEP-BY-STEP“ A peer supported self-learning group for budding photographers. The emphasis is on starting from the absolute basics; through camera operation and picture taking principles. The programme builds progressively week-on-week, towards a goal of taking more rewarding photographs. Each group member will follow a weekly on-line programme of lessons supported, as appropriate, by handouts from the group co-ordinator and advice from peers. Monthly meetings will offer group members time to share and discuss both their photographs and their learning insights.

Pickleball     

Meets Monthly on a Thursday afternoon
Venue Melbourne Assembly Rooms - map
Normally starts 14:00 to 15:30
Details This game for four players (two pairs) is best described a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis; it is played indoors on a badminton court with a tennis height net, paddle-bats and light plastic balls. This new group costs between £3 and £4 per session, depending on numbers.

Poetry Appreciation     

Meets 1st Monday of the month at 2.30pm for 3pm
Venue Members' homes
Normally starts 14:30 to 16:30
Details Members bring poems related to a topic, such as Christmas and hope for the New Year, or present a poet of their choice, such as W.B.Yeats and Walter de la Mare. The group has also looked at a methodology for appreciating a poem.

Poetry Appreciation 2     

Meets Monthly on the 1st Wed afternoon of the month
Venue Members' homes
Normally starts 13:30 to 15:30
Details Members bring poems related to a topic, such as Christmas and hope for the New Year, or present a poet of their choice, such as W.B.Yeats and Walter de la Mare.

Road Cycling     

Meets Weekly, Tuesday morning
Venue Various by agreement
Normally starts 10:00 to 12:00
Details This group is for experienced road cyclists. Currently it goes out each Tuesday at 10am for 2 hours or so (including a café stop), starting at either Melbourne or Breedon. Routes are all on road and average 11 or 12 mph – a pace suitable for regular cyclists on modern road bikes. In future, it is hoped that mixed terrain routes will be organised, such as on the Cloud Trail; making these rides more suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes.

Scrabble     

Meets Monthly, fourth Tuesday
Venue Thomas Cook Memorial Hall - map
Normally starts 13:30 to 15:30
Details Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Thomas Cook Hall, Melbourne.

Short Breaks     

Meets ad hoc
Venue 
Details Short Break group, with a view to joining at least one holiday each year, either to Europe or within the UK. We will join existing tours with reputable companies and members will book themselves on to the tours so that no money is involved between u3a and the members. However, you can book safe in the knowledge that other members will also be joining the trip so that you will not be alone. Single travellers can be matched up with each other if they wish in order to save paying the single supplement. The first trip will be in April 2023 to the Netherlands to see the tulips at Keukenhof. Other trips will be decided on among the members.Occasional meetings will be held to discuss each trip and allow members to get to know each other.

Short walking group     

Meets AD HOC
Venue 
Details For people who want an easy walk of about 3 miles at a slightly slower pace with only a few easy stiles. We aim to enjoy the countryside in all seasons bearing in mind conditions underfoot.

Small Tasks As Required (STAR)     

Meets As required
Venue 
Details STAR is a list of members who are willing to help out with small tasks on an ad hoc basis, eg making tea, putting out chairs, welcoming members, contributing to the newsletter and website, etc. Any member is welcome to add their name to the list.

Swarkestone Nursery Visit     

Meets May 15th 2024, 3pm
Venue Various by agreement
Normally starts 15:00 to 17:00
Details Fancy some tips on planting up a basket? We have booked a visit to Swarkestone Nursery in May. We will receive a short talk about the setting up of this family business before a tour of the nursery and a demonstration of how to plant a hanging basket or container. Refreshments will be provided. There is no cost for the visit. Members to organise their own transport but car shares may be available. Places are limited so if you would like to go please contact Sue on madu3agroup@gmail.com.

Walking     

Meets 2-3 times / month
Venue Various by agreement
Normally starts 10:00 to 12:00
Details We aim to schedule two to three walks a month. The length and difficulty of the walks varies as does the day they take place. This flexibility suits the group and we have regular planning meetings so that group members can be involved. Most walks are in the morning and in the local area. We have had a few walks further afield - a couple up in the Peak District and one around the National Arboretum. We walk at a leisurely pace and usually stop at a pub or cafe for refreshments en route or at the end of the walk. The day we walk is flexible but we walk mainly in the morning. We also support walks organised in neighbouring areas and the local monthly walk organised by the Melbourne Footpath’s Group. New members always welcome. Sharon and Frances

Walking Netball     

Meets Second and fourth Monday morning
Venue Melbourne Sporting Park MSP - map
Normally starts 11:30 to 12:30
Details A fun and friendly group. No experience required and no running allowed. We play outside with the aim of improving fitness, coordination and balance. £2.00 per session attended to cover hire of court. Please note that suitable clothing and footwear should be worn. Activity undertaken at own risk.

Whist     

Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month
Venue Thomas Cook Memorial Hall - map
Normally starts 19:00 to 21:00
Details The Whist Drive will follow the rules of Progressive Whist. Each person will play with a partner. If they lose they remain on the same table but split. The winning pair move. The winning man moves down 4, 3, 2, 1 and the winning woman moves up 1, 2, 3 …. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits available half way through and a prize is awarded for the man and woman with the highest score at the end. **This group is currently full; please consider joining the waiting list in case places become available or another group is set up**

White Peak Distillery visit     

Meets Tuesday 23rd April 2024
Venue 
Normally starts 11:00 to 00:00
Details A private tour which will include being guided through the whisky making process at the first whisky distillery in the Peak District. You'll also see the still used to make gin and rum, followed by a guided tasting of craft spirits. Places are limited.

Wine Appreciation     

Meets Ad hoc
Venue Melbourne venue will be confirmed by email
Normally starts 20:00 to 22:00
Details A new group meeting occasionally in public venues and members' homes. Costs shared.