ONE IN A THOUSAND Bramhall University of the Third Age (U3A) is part of a national organisation. The U3A movement started 35 years ago and has grown steadily since. The U3A has now just exceeded 1000 groups and has nearly 400,000 members. Each group offers social and informal learning opportunities for retired and semi-retired people on a self-run basis without assessments or providing qualifications. Local U3As are supported by a National Office – the Third Age Trust. A U3A group was established in Cheadle Hulme in 2001. The suggestion for a group in Bramhall came from Cheadle Hulme members and the Bramhall group started in 2010. Others nearby groups have formed more recently in Poynton, Cheadle & Gatley and Wilmslow. Bramhall U3A has over 700 members and operates in a similar pattern to other groups across the country. There is a monthly meeting with a guest speaker that meets in the afternoon of the third Thursday of the month at the United Reformed Church on Robins Lane. There are some 50 activity groups covering areas such as crafts and skills (eg creative writing, knitting and photography), learning subjects (eg languages and science talks), physical activities (eg line dancing, pilates, table tennis and walking) and more social activities (eg canasta, singing for fun and wine tasting). These activities take place in either member’s homes or halls are hired. In addition there are monthly outings, regular theatre visits and holidays once or twice a year. A first in 2016 was the wine tasting group visit to the Loire valley in France.
You are very welcome to come for a taster session to find out if Bramhall U3A is for you and make some new friends. Contact Mike Hollingsworth on 0161 439 2865 or go to www.bramhallu3a.org.uk for more information.
50TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION Bramhall Art Society is holding its 50th Annual Exhibition at the Bramhall Village Club on Friday 31 March, Saturday 1 April and Sunday 2 April. Enjoy tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits in the small hall served from 10am to 4pm, the proceeds of which will be going to St Ann’s Hospice. On the Saturday morning there will be a free harp recital at 11am by Alice Kirwan. Cheshire Art Gallery in Bramhall Village will be sponsoring prizes for their favourite pictures. Do go along and view the work of the Society, where if you wish, you can also purchase original paintings, both framed and unframed.
Entrance is free and there is also free car parking at Bramhall Village Club, Lumb Lane, Bramhall SK7 1LR. The opening hours are Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
YOUNG RECORDER PLAYERS WANTED Stockport Recorder College is looking for young recorder players (10 to 18 years) to join us at Moorfield Primary School. Lyndhurst Ave, on Saturday mornings in term time from 9am to 12.30pm for excellent tuition at minimum cost. Come to make friends, socialise and enjoy making music together – any standard of player is welcome. For younger players (7 to 9 years) there is SRC Junior Recorders from 9am to 10.15am also on Saturdays at Moorfield Primary School – have fun learning to play the recorder from the beginning.
Or more details contact J Ormerod Tel: 0161 456 6157 or visit www.stockportrecordercollege.org.uk
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