Our Groups

Central to the success of all U3As is its groups. We have an ever increasing range of these, all led by our members. For more detail about contacts and venues please see Groups at a Glance and What's on.

Cinema

Usually visits to the Customs House, South Shields, are arranged. A light lunch is available at the venue.

Meets: The day varies, depending on the programme.
Group Leader(s): Norma Robins
Contact Phone: 0191 416 4498

Family History

Information & support for drawing up one's family tree, together with tips on how to access Sunderland Central Library's Local Studies area and other channels of information.

Meets: 4th Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm
Group Leader(s): Susan Quayle
Contact Phone: 0191 548 8139

History

Focuses mainly on local history with occasional forays further afield. Subjects have included both "Pubs in Sunderland" & "The Temperance Movement in Sunderland"! There has been a talk on "Women in the Western Wagon Trains". Visits are also arranged e.g. Bede's World, Raby Castle & Washington Old Hall (pictured).

Meets: 2nd Thursday of the month at 11.00am.
Group Leader(s): Linda Thompson
Contact Phone: 0191 549 5693

Looking at Art

Visits galleries in the Northeast (& possibly abroad!) and spends time studying the artists whose work we will be seeing at our next gallery visit as well as the history of art in general.

Meets: 3rd Thursday of the month at 10.30am
Group Leader(s): Sheila Humby, Carla Singh & Marion Whyte.
Contact Phone: Sheila: 0191 548 2259; Carla: 0191 528 4860; Marion Whyte: 0191 584 2480

Looking at Buildings

Studies the history of architecture & looks at buildings relevant to the period. Town & city walks are also a feature of this group, as are pub lunches. The visits are to a wide variety of buildings & places such as St Mary's Seaham (a Saxon church of the 7C), Ashbrooke, Sunderland (city walk), Crook Hall, Durham, Castle Bolton (pictured) and the Black Sheep Brewery, Masham, N.Yorks.

Meets: 4th Wednesday of the month (am or all day)
Group Leader(s): Marion Whyte
Contact Phone: 0191 584 2480

Lunch Group

This group visits various pubs and restaurants in the area. At Christmas there is a special event. Every effort is made to cater for those members who have specific dietary requirements.

Meets: 1st Wednesday of each month, time & venue to be notified.
Group Leader(s): Norma Robins
Contact Phone: 0191 416 4498

Music Appreciation

The monthly programme is devised by the group. The aim is enjoyment & sharing in each other's particular area of interest. The group has been introduced to Elgar, the Russian composers, Mozart, "Chicago" & opera, the first movement form.

Meets: 4th Friday of the month at 10.00am
Group Leader(s): Joyce Hoeseason
Contact Phone: 0191 548 6041

Poetry Group

Usually each meeting has a theme e.g. "love", in February & other seasonal themes, birds, gypsies, animals, the sonnet form. Members bring along 2 poems of their own choice to share with the group. As well, the members research the lives of the poets whose work they have chosen.

Meets: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10.15am
Group Leader(s): June Frater
Contact Phone: 0191 565 8779

Reading Group

For those who love reading and talking about books. Each month the Sunderland Library Service supplies the book to be read. These cover a wide range including, "White Cargo" by Felicity Kendall, "Seeing Double" by Patrick Wilmot, "The Sea" by John Banville, "The Ivy Chronicles" by Karen Quinn.

Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month at 2.00pm
Group Leader(s): Rose Marshall
Contact Phone: 0191 528 1468

Travel Group

This group combines travel talks with trips away, both home & abroad. There have been presentations by members on "China & the Middle Kingdom", "Majorca", "An Iberian Adventure" and the trips have included Paris, the bulb fields & Amsterdam, as well as 2 Scottish "Turkey & tinsel" weekends.

Meets: 4th Thursday of each month at 10.15am
Group Leader(s): Bob Younger
Contact Phone: 0191 549 0984

Walking Group

The walks are arranged in various parts of the area. They average 3 - 4 miles, usually ending up in a pub for lunch and only take place in reasonable weather - there are no martyrs here!

Meets: 2nd Wednesday of each month - weather permitting.
Group Leader(s): Bob Younger
Contact Phone: 0191 549 0984

Other Groups

We are fortunate to be invited to groups which take place in:

The Swan Street Centre,
Swan Street
Southwick
SR5 1DZ

Country Dancing: 1st Wednesday at 10.00am; Contact: Janet Chalmers (0191 528 2937)
Keep Mobile: 1st, 3rd & 4th Fridays of each month at 10.45am; Contact: Sheila Humby (0191 548 2259)

…and…

The Raich Carter Sport Centre
Commercial Road,
Hendon,
SR2 8PD

Swimming: 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Mondays of each month at 2.00pm (not Bank Holidays); Contact: Mary du Mughn (0191 523 6605)

For further details, please see What's On.