ART OUT OF DOORS
Mary Whiteford -
Weekly, Thursdays 10.30 -
Meets at different venues throughout
the summer. This pleasant summer activity is for members interested in sketching
or painting. A break for a picnic lunch allows would-
ASTRONOMY
Ronald Crawford -
Weekly, Wednesdays 2.30 -
Venue: Athelstaneford
and Haddington.
Ronald plans to recommence this group late autumn 2008. Contact him for more details.
BRIDGE GROUPS
BASIC BRIDGE I
Marian Chambers -
Weekly,
Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Lammerview House, Main St., Gullane
A relaxed and friendly
approach to bridge -
BASIC BRIDGE II
Jane de Busk -
Fortnightly, Wednesdays 2.00 -
Venue: Gullane
Maximum number
8. Waiting list: contact Jane
BRIDGE FOR IMPROVERS
Nigel Booth -
Weekly, Thursdays 2.00 -
If
you have played Bridge for years or have been attending lessons for beginners and
are ready to move on, this may be the group for you. We attempt to improve our bidding
and play in a relaxed atmosphere by using a variety of hand evaluation methods and
improving our knowledge of playing techniques. This is a fun group for folk who want
to play better Bridge.
New Members welcome
BIOLOGY AS THOUGH LIFE MATTERS
Ulrich Loening -
Monthly, 2nd Mondays 3.00
-
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington
Maximum number 20
BOOKWORMS
Kath Rose -
Monthly, Tuesdays 10.30
-
Venue: Members' homes
Members draw up a list of books for the year and the
members each agree to introduce one which is then open for discussion. Books chosen
vary widely and include classics as well as modern fiction, travel and biography.
CEILIDH DANCING AND MORE
Sheila Sergeant 01620 825127
Weekly, Tuesdays 11.30 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington (Alistair Grant Hall)
This group will begin in the
autumn and continue during the winter months. All you will need to bring are comfortable/soft
shoes for dancing in. No previous experience is necessary. Come along to benefit
from the exercise, have some fun in good company and enjoy the music.
COMPUTER GROUPS
APPLE MAC USERS
David Elder -
Monthly, 2nd
Fridays afternoons
Gives members an opportunity of learning how to tackle a variety
of tasks on Macs and use their Macs for digital photography etc as well as solving
any problems they may have encountered. Now that East Lothian U3A has a data projector
meetings are normally held where things can be demonstrated easily.
COMPUTING FOR BEGINNERS
MONDAY GROUP
Margaret Gordon, 01620 842363 (agordon@tollymore.fsnet.co.uk)
2nd
and 4th Mondays , 10.30 -
WEDNESDAY GROUP: 2
Helen Robertson, 01620 810611 (Helen.moorfoot@talktalk.net)
2nd
and 4th Wednesdays , 10.30 -
Venue: Various
Maximum
number 6
FIRST RESORT HELPERS GROUP
Margaret Gordon 01620 842363 (agordon@tollymore.fsnet.co.uk)
This
group was formed in 2007 to provide individual help to U3A members in their own homes
when required.
List of helpers and more information on request.
PC PALS
PCP 1: Kath Rose, 01875 811578 (kathleen_rose1@yahoo.co.uk)
1st Tuesday of the month, 10.30 -
PCP 2: Margaret Gordon 01620 842363 (agordon@tollymore.fsnet.co.uk)
2nd Monday of the month, 10.30 -
Venue: Various
Members of these groups have either been in the Beginners Group or feel they are
now reasonably confident and competent on the PC. They meet once a month to talk
over any PC issues that have arisen for them. This may be a difficulty, a discovery,
a useful tip, a query, a piece of advice etc. – almost anything to do with computing.
The host/hostess usually demonstrates something on their computer.
Special sessions
on a particular topic may be arranged at a member’s request.
PC USERS SUPPORT GROUP
Margaret Gordon 01620 842363 (agordon@tollymore.fsnet.co.uk)
The
aim of this group is to provide contact and mutual self-
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Liz Strachan -
Monthly, last Tuesdays 2.30 – 4.00
September -
Venue: Pencaitland
Members read and discuss a wide range of literary
novels published mainly, though not exclusively, in the last twenty years. Books
are chosen with the aim of stimulating thought and debate as well as entertainment.
The group reads and discusses one book a month.
Maximum number 14
Waiting list: contact
Liz
CREATIVE WRITING
Monica Rushforth -
Monthly, Mondays 2.15 -
Maximum
number 8
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Christine Meacock -
Monthly, Wednesdays 3.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Richard Morton -
Monthly, Mondays
2.00 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington
Now that many of us are
using digital cameras there are a lot of new skills needed if we are to make the
most of what digital technology has to offer. This group meets to explore the taking,
downloading, viewing, printing, cataloguing and storing digital images.
EXPLORING PHILOSOPHY
Liz Reid -
Monthly, last Tuesday 2.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington
FOLK MUSIC
Robert Russel 01620 860702
This group will play and sing folk music from
Scotland and around the world. If you would like to have some relaxing fun creating
music with others on your flute, fiddle, whistle, guitar, percussion drums, clarsach,
bodhran, chanter,etc or with your voice, (or just come and listen), then phone Robert
who is arranging a first meeting early autumn 2008.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Marie-
Fortnightly, Wednesdays 10.30 -
Venue: Members’ homes
Maximum number 10
GARDENING
Nicola McNeill -
Fortnightly, Mondays 10.30 -
Venue: Various
The group enjoy visiting each others gardens where we hear
the history of the garden and try to solve any problems. Over coffee we have garden
related discussions. Cuttings or plants may be available. Other visits may be guided
tours of public/private gardens or nurseries. We have an annual plant swap.
Maximum
number 20. Waiting list: contact Nicola
GEOLOGY
David McAdam -
1st and/or 3rd Tuesdays am and/or pm late January
-
Venue: North Berwick, Bridge Centre Haddington, and field trips
Geology
is 'the science which deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth'.
How, when and what are the questions the group is asking. The answers come by way
of illustrated talks, videos and guided museum visits in the winter months, but mainly
by short field trips in the summer months to places of particular geological interest
in and beyond East Lothian.
Costs: Possible costs for visits/field trips
Maximum number
25
JAZZ APPRECIATION
Glen Gibb -
Every four weeks, Tuesday afternoons October
-
Venue: Spott
The Jazz group is studying the history of this important music,
from its roots in the fields and towns of the Southern states of North America, with
its early prominence based in New Orleans, up to the present day. It is hoped to
cover all aspects from ragtime, the swing era, bebop, the Avant Garde and the improvised
music of today. It will pose the question 'What is Jazz?' which has been asked ever
since the music left New Orleans and will explore the highways and byways en route
with interesting diversions and amusements, all with good music and discussion and
with enough variety to hopefully satisfy all (musical) tastes.
LOOKING AT PAINTINGS
Janette Redmond -
Twice
monthly 1st and 3rd Thursdays am and/or pm October -
This group learns about
artists and their work through looking at paintings in permanent collections, exhibitions,
slides and videos.
Costs: Travel and some entry fees
LUNCH CLUB
Margaret Spencer -
Monthly on consecutive weekdays.
Venue: various
The
Lunch Club has been running since 1999. Between fifteen and twenty members turn up
once a month at various venues within East Lothian to participate in good food and
good company.
MAH JONG
Sheelagh Stone-
Twice monthly, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
Venue:
Members’ homes
Maximum number 12
MATTERS MUSICAL
Philip Taylor -
Monthly, Thursday afternoons
Venue: Whittingehame
and performance venues
Meets on eight to ten occasions during autumn and spring to
discuss classical works (operas, symphonies, concertos, etc.) that are being performed
in Haddington or Edinburgh. Group visits are arranged as and when thought helpful.
The topics for discussion are suggested by the members. Normally meetings are illustrated
by piano, CD or video and take the form of an informed but informal talk prepared
and presented by the leader. Enlightened and informal discussion is the hallmark
of our approach. Refreshments provided.
Maximum number 15
Costs: Visits to performances
plus travel
MUSEUM VISITS
Margaret Gordon -
Monthly, 2nd Thursdays am and/or pm February
-
Suggestions from group members for museums, galleries and places of interest
to visit are listed. Volunteers then take turns to arrange one visit each per year,
collecting all the information required and organising a guide to take our group
if possible. A programme is arranged for the year.
Costs: Entry fees if applicable
and travel
NEEDLEWORK/CRAFTWORK
May Bowie -
Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue:
Longniddry Community Centre
Members share their interest in needle and craft work
and are hopeful of attracting members with new skills to share with us. Before Christmas
we tend to concentrate on making cards, small gifts and some decorations. We would
also encourage anyone who has a skill to come and demonstrate this to us.
Maximum number 12
OPERA
Estelle Morton -
& Anne Rarity -
Monthly, Fridays 2.00 – 4.00
Venue: Bridge Centre &
‘Cinema Sands’
PARLIAMO ITALIANO
Rosemary Brannan -
Fortnightly,
Thursdays 2.30 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington
PHOTO FORUM
Richard Morton -
Monthly, Mondays 2.00
-
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington
An opportunity to view and
discuss photographs and photographic techniques and look at some of the more advanced
procedures used in both digital and conventional photography.
PLAY READING
Cindy Thomson -
Weekly, Tuesday, 5.00 -
Venue: South Cottage, Gilmerton House, North Berwick (near Athelstaneford)
Enjoy
reading and discussing your favourite plays, poetry and books, and exploring other
texts in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Maximum number 7
RECORDER PLAYING
Nicola Bolton -
Fortnightly, Fridays 3.00 -
Venue:
Members’ homes
For beginners through to moderately competent players of descant,
treble and tenor recorders. Ability to read music at a simple level helpful.
Maximum
number 10
RELAXATION AND MEDITATION
Marilyn McNeill. -
Monthly, last Tuesday 4.00
– 4.45
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington
READING SHAKESPEARE
Elizabeth Lockwood -
Fortnightly, Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Various, members’ homes, usually Haddington
SCOTTISH GENEALOGY RESEARCH
Rosemary Bigwood -
Venue: Members’ homes and outside visits
Members of the group
are encouraged to discover not only their own ancestry but to build up knowledge
of their communities and those in which their families lived in the past – what they
did and where they lived. The year’s programme is planned round the particular interests
of members. Discussions and shared practical experience in undertaking research expand
horizons and help is always at hand when solving ancestral problems, dealing with
Old Scots handwriting or understanding Scots law. Visits to archives and libraries
open new doors to opportunities available.
Maximum number 12
SCOTTISH HISTORY
Mona Lewis McLeod -
Fortnightly, Mondays 10.00 -
Venue: Pencaitland
Since 1999 the Scottish History group has been
looking at the social development of Scotland in the wider context of British and
European History. Areas studied have included Scots Abroad, The Borders and Edinburgh
and the Lothians in the Eighteenth Century -
This group may finish at the end of 2008.
Rosemary Brannan -
Fortnightly, Fridays
A new walking group which offers less demanding routes than the Wednesday Walkers.
Walks are 3 to 5 miles on easy terrain. First outing on 14th November.
SINGING FOR FUN
Estelle Morton -
SPANISH CONVERSATION
Sue Robinson, 01620 822248
Fortnightly, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays afternoon
Venue: members’ homes
There is no teaching element to this group. It is purely for
conversation. New members, who have a reasonable grasp of Spanish, are welcome.
WALKING WEDNESDAYS
Ken Stirling -
Weekly, Wednesdays
The Group, founded
in l999, celebrated its 300th walk in the Autumn of 2008. Programmes of walks in
the Lothians, Borders, and Fife, of from 6 to 10 miles, moderately demanding, with
few steep gradients, are drawn up three times a year. Occasional overseas walking
holidays in Switzerland and Mallorca have been arranged. A trip to Jersey is planned
for 2010. A number of members take it in turn to lead walks, but there is no pressure
to do so. Others prefer to be led! Walkers assemble normally at 9.00 a.m. in Haddington
or, occasionally, in East Linton. There is no waiting list at present.
WINE CLUB
John and Elspeth Baird -