Groups

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Leigh Estuary U3A has over 40 Interest Groups which are listed below. Please click on the group you are interested in joining and send a message to the Group Contact by clicking on the link or find out more details by clicking on the News & Events that some groups have set up.  Most Groups welcome non-members for one trial visit by prior appointment and if you wish to continue attending it is a simple matter of enrolling with Leigh Estuary U3A.
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(Occasionally we get asked if we have specific guidelines for members to adopt around Covid-19 and precautions to take.  We believe individuals and groups can make those decisions for themselves and our advice is to follow the guidelines given by the Government and any guidance given by the central u3a Trust.)
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GET A QUICK OVERVIEW AND DOWNLOAD A TIMETABLE OF OUR MONTHLY GROUP MEETINGS ON THE “LINKS & DOWNLOAD” PAGE; YOU’LL FIND IT UNDER THE GROUP ACTIVITIES TIMETABLE TAB.
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GROUP LEADERS CAN ACCESS THEIR GROUP LEADER PORTAL HERE

If listed as ‘Please register your interest by contacting me’ at the top of the individual group page, do not hesitate to do so. Your name will be put on a waiting list and we will try and get another group started as soon as there are enough members interested.

Poetry

A new Poetry Reading group is being set up, or should we say being resurrected.    Rosemary has kindly offered to get this old group back up and running meeting at her home.   Intrigued and want to find out more then please contact Rosemary, Group Leader, to express your interest or ask questions.

Proposed new groups are listed at the top. If you have an idea for a new group, would like to start a new group, or have any group queries please contact me, Sally Dickinson (Group Coordinator)

Contact Me

Art for Pleasure
 Group Contact: Rowan
 Venue: Leigh Community Centre
 Meets: First Friday each Month 1.30 -3.30pm
 Status: Spaces available. Please contact Rowan     Contact Me

Art for Pleasure is a relaxed friendly meeting for anyone who is interested in coming together to paint and draw using a variety of suitable materials. We improve our skills and knowledge through discussion, books, handouts etc.

Each meeting has a ‘theme’ which members can interpret in their own way.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

New members are very welcome
The group is suitable all levels of ability
The ‘themes’ are merely to provide some ideas
Members ideas and input is valued
Please contact me if you need more information or wish to join our group.

Book Group
Group Contact: Mary
Meets: 4th Thursday of each month 10.00 am
Venue: TruLeigh Scrumptious (opposite Leigh Library)
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                 Contact Me

We are a small friendly group and we like to read a variety of books, ranging from classics to biographies to thrillers -- in fact anything goes! We take it in turns to come up with a list of books and decide between us which one we are going to read next, which seems to work well.

 

 

 

Bridge
Group Contact: David White                                                                News & Events
Meets: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 2 - 4 pm  (We try to play each week and days can vary)
Venue: Private House
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                         Contact Me

Why play Bridge? Well in the words of the novelist W. Somerset Maugham “Bridge is the most entertaining and intelligent card game the wit of man has so far devised”.

As a social game, bridge is unparalleled and a great way to meet new people. Bridge is good for the mind – a mental workout that stimulates both halves of the brain in equal measure. Playing bridge develops both logical and lateral thinking, it helps short and long term memory among many benefits.

At the start of 2018, we were able to get a Bridge for Beginners group underway. After two years of learning and playing, the group acknowledge they are far from complete but decided they are no longer beginners so a name change to "Bridge for Improvers" might better describe where they are.  If you want to join please contact the Group Leader to check level reached and see if it might fit with your standard of play.  Beginners are also welcomed.

Canasta 1
Group Contact:  Marion Stimson
Meets: 1st Thursday each month 7.30 pm
Venue: Private House
Status: This group is currently full. Please register your interest by contacting me                Contact Me

Leigh Estuary U3A Canasta Group has been going strong since November 2017 and meet at a members home on the first Thursday of the month. We have 12 members and we usually get 8-12 members attending. It is a very friendly group and although we did start with 2 or three beginners and a few who hadn't played for some time, everyone is of a reasonable ability now.

Bearing in mind that usually Canasta is played in fours, we do sometimes have to adapt to three-handed Canasta!

Of course we do have varying rules of Canasta within the group which is interesting but we ask that everyone plays the same as the majority and the people we have taught.

Canasta for Improvers
Group Contact: Lynne Daughtrey
Meets:  Every Tuesday (except 1st Tuesday in every month) from 2:00 to around 4:30pm
Venue: Private House
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                          Contact Me

Already play canasta and looking to improve then contact me using button above to see if spaces.

Church Visits
Group Contact: Margaret Tothill               News & Events
Meets: Various Days
Venue: Various
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                                 Contact Me

VISITING ESSEX CHURCHES GROUP

This group is for people who are interested in church architecture, history and comparative religions. Members share organising the visits to places of worship. The group has visited many Essex churches of a variety of Christian denominations. We have also visited two synagogues, a mosque and a Sikh gurdwara along with Hindu and Buddhist temples.

We vary the days we visit.
Computer
Group Contact: Marija Seager
Meets: By arrangement
Venue: By arrangement
Status: Need help with your computer, a specific programme or maybe just need guidance to use email then please get in touch                      Contact Me

If you need help with your computer or tablet then please get in touch using link above and we will see what we can arrange.  We will not be able to sort every problem out but we will help where we can.
Ravenshead U3A have kindly shared their useful computer guides. Click on the *Computer Help Guides* link here.
Contemporary Novels
Group Contact: Frances Devereaux (temporary leader)
Meets: 2nd Wednesday each month 10 - 11.00 am
Venue: Leigh Community Centre
Status:     Currently full, but please ask to be put on a waiting list   Contact Me

We focus Current reading on novels post 2000 and we try to keep it wide ranging.
Each member contributes by nominating a novel they recommend to be read over the following month. During the monthly discussion meeting, we loosely follow recommended reading book club questions.

 

Country Walks
Group Contact: Dave Rixon                                                    News & Events
Meets: Various days
Venue: Variable venues
Status: Currently on hold      Contact Me

We have decided to change our group name from vigorous walking to Country Walks as this better reflects what we do.

Apart from the name change everything else remains the same.

Click on News & Events above for details of our walks.

This group has proved very popular with members wanting to get out and exercise and although the group is currently full with some 50 members, if you are interested please let Dave know using the button above and he will add your name to the waiting list.  Then again, maybe time to start another walking group - if you want to get another group going do shout.

Craft
Group Contacts: Pat Lytheer and Amanda Archard                               News & Events
Meets: 2nd Tuesday each Month 1.45 - 3.45 pm
Venue: Leigh Community Centre
Status: Please register your interest by contacting us                     Contact Us

The Craft Group is a very friendly, informal group which welcomes members with an interest in any craft, whatever their level of ability.

In keeping with the spirit of the U3A, we are all willing to share our skills with each other. Although we generally work on our own individual projects, which include knitting, crochet, quilting, card making, embroidery etc, we also, on occasion, try a new skill as a group, led by one of our own members. Member-led sessions to date have covered Chicken Scratch, Quilting, Iris Folding, Gift bags and boxes. Some of our members' recent work can be seen in 'News and Events' above.

We meet at Leigh Community Centre, from 1.45 - 3.45 pm on the second Tuesday of the month. To enjoy a sociable afternoon and maybe feel inspired to try a new skill, please contact the Group Organisers via  the link above.

Cryptic Crosswords
Group Contact: Pat Wickham
Meets: 3rd Monday each month 3 - 4 pm
Venue: Various, see below
Status: Spaces available, please get in touch with the Group Contact                 Contact Me

The Cryptic Crossword group aims to support members to improve their skills at completing Cryptic Crossword clues (i.e. those which are not just straight definitions).
Both those with existing skills and those who want to learn how to do crosswords of this type are welcome to join the group.

Group members bring along crosswords they are working on and blank crossword grids are provided for those who are beginning to learn.

More experienced members of the group support new learners.

We also have general discussion on the different types of clues and how they can be solved
Members are invited to nominate a Clue of the Month which they have found particularly clever, challenging or amusing!

The venue for the meetings is generally at cafes in the Leigh area. At present it is at the TruLeigh Scrumptious, (opposite Leigh Library), Broadway West.

Your Group Contact will e-mail members each month to confirm the meeting date and venue.

Please check with Pat before attending.

Days Out by Coach
Group Contact: Moira Sweet 01702 710337                                                News & Events
Meets: Various Days
Venue: Various
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                               Contact Me

The title says it all!

The group will enjoy bi-monthly(ish) visits to interesting venues using scheduled coach trips from local coach companies. Destinations will be within approximately two hours journey time.

I will be using Cooks Coaches for transport on all excursions, all their vehicles are air conditioned with a toilet. The pick-up points will be Chalkwell, Leigh Elms and Thames Drive, although if sufficient demand for other pick-ups these could be added.

I will also be using two companies with guides, Greatdays (www.greatdays.co.uk) and City and Village Tours (www.cityandvillagetours.com). Both companies have very good websites, so do take a look.

Please note: Payment arrangements:  I will be taking a non-refundable deposit of £5 per person at the time of booking, with the balance being due about six weeks before departure.  I will also limit each trip to a maximum of 40 people, and I will only do about six trips a year

Although the group is full, I do keep a waiting list and in the event numbers are down on any trip I do make contact to try and ensure our coach is full.  So if interested in Days Out then please do make contact using the link above.

 

Dessert First Lunch Group
Group Contact: Trevor Matthews                                                                          News & Events
Meets: Various on a Sunday
Venue: Various
Status:  Please contact Trevor if interested                                      Contact Me

This second Sunday Lunch group got off to a start with lunch at the Southchurch Park Dining Rooms.  Some wonderful home cooking that was enjoyed by everyone.  Plans for 2020 were also discussed and organised.

February's lunch will be on Sunday 16th February at The Trading Rooms pub on corner of Crowstone Road and London Road for 12:30.  Contact Trevor for more details.

This group does exactly what it says so if you want to enjoy lunch on a Sunday along with friends then please contact Trevor who will keep you informed of where and when.

East London
 Group Contact: John Walters                                                                                 News & Events
 Meets:  2nd Tuesday of the month 2.00 – 3.45 pm
 Venue: Various
 Status: Although currently full, please register your interest by contacting me                                           Contact Me

Members of the group are now organising the sessions. Our objectives are explore and discuss people and their occupations, history events and locations that make up the area East of London. We do not restrict ourselves by looking at London’s East End only but will be exploring South East and North East districts as well as London’s sprawl into Essex.

Family History
Group Contact:  David Shakespear                                                  Contact Me
Meets: 3rd Tuesday each month 10 – 12 noon
Venue:    Venue will be Leigh Community Centre
Status:  Group restarting in February 23    – if you wish to register your interest please get in touch

This group is for everyone who is interested in family history matters in all its many facets. It is not solely for research into ancestry but covers any matter which is related, however loosely, to family history generally.

If you have a family history matter/mystery that you would like the group to research for you please get in touch with the group contact mentioned above.

Fashion & Fabrics
Group Contact: Joan Murphy                 News & Events
Meets: 4th Friday of the month 2.30 pm
Venue: A member's home and alternate 'awaydays'
Status: Full but please register your interest.               Contact Me

Fashion comes quite high on the list of interests of lots of women, with this in mind we could see the need for another group dedicated to inspiring and furthering our knowledge. Meetings are taking place on the 4th Friday of every month. Alternate months 'AT HOME', an hostess from the group members at 2.30 pm to discuss future events. The other alternate months we will endeavour to have an' AWAYDAY' to anything fashion related that catches our eye.

This promises to be a valuable and informative time for us which will hopefully enable us all to make the most of ourselves and not fall into the trap of 'looking old'.

Fabulous Fashions
Group Contact: Heather Tetchner                                                                        News & Events
Meets: Varies
Venue: Private House and out and about
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                                        Contact Me

If interested in finding our more about any of our planned trips then please contact Heather using link above.

  • Mary Quant at the V&A Museum date to be confirmed
  • ‘Out of the Blue’: 50 Years of Designers' Guild £15.50 or less if 9+ members attend – Wednesday April 5th 
  • 10th June meeting at Jenny’s house.  Contact me for address.
  • We are planning a "Behind the Seams" Tour in June/July to see what goes on and how they create those wonderful outfits for Strictly Come Dancing.  If interested then contact Heather using button above to check on availability etc.

For details of past trips please see our News & Events page

Guitar Group
Group Contact: Jim Jennett                                                                       News & Events
Meets: 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of the month 9:30am - 12:00 noon
Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Eastbourne Grove, SS0 0QF
Status: Spaces available. Please contact me                                                                      Contact Me

The group's initial meeting was on the 17th October 2019 and is being well supported.

The group mainly comprises members who have no previous experience of the guitar although a few have been playing for many years.

The intention is to gradually learn the basics of playing melodies and simple chords to reach a reasonable standard and have fun doing it. There are a few spaces available so, if you are interested, please contact Jim using the above "contact me" link for further details.

Local History
Group Contact: Tony Bullock, Jim Sanctuary and Tricia Thomas     News & Events
Meets: 2nd Thursday each month 2 - 4 pm
Venue: The Stables, Leigh Road Baptist Church
Status: Group is currently full                                                                Contact Us

Local History has been meeting again since the Autumn.  Our members have been very pleased to get together again.

January meeting was a presentation by Jim on the houses on Leigh Hill followed by tea and biscuits.

Some meetings we have a speaker, other times we do research amongst ourselves. We have visited various local places.

This Group started when Leigh Estuary U3A began and has been very successful.

We meet on the second Thursday at Leigh Road Baptist Church.

Local Walks 1
Group Contact: Victor Beadle                                                                               News & Events
Meets: 1st Wednesday in the month 10 - 12 am
Venue: Various
Spaces: This group is full at the moment                                                                  Contact Me

When Liz Simmons sadly gave up her role as GC of this group, after an illness, the members got together and decided that they wanted the group to continue but in a slightly different way.

Although I am Group Contact, the members run the group themselves, taking turns to organise and contact the other group members. This has been working extremely well and everybody seems quite happy with the arrangement.

We have also extended our range of walks by going out as far as Danbury and Rettendon, very adventurous for us, but the tea cakes were good. The tea cakes are mandatory, of course, but only after we've finished the walk, usually a maximum of three miles.

Our latest walk was around Rochford via Stambridge Mills and alongside the river Roche (see photo). As we came back, we met the proprietor of our coffee stop who turned tail and rushed back into the shop to put the kettle on.

We are full at the moment but join the waiting list anyway.

Victor

London Visits 1
Group Contact:   Allison Llewellyn
Meets:   Various
Venue:   Various
Status: Currently full                                   Contact Me
The City

The London Visits Group travel by train to London and then may take a tube or bus to the selected venue.

Although currently full, if you are interested in joining the group then let Allison know and she will put you onto a waiting list.  If you have questions or just want further information then please contact Allison.

 

 

 

London Visits 2
Group Contact: Lorna Reeve                                      News & Events
Meets: Various
Venue: Various
Status: Currently full but please register your interest by contacting me                         Contact Me

The group organises monthly trips by train to London. The group uses tubes, buses or short walks to get to the various locations.  Contact Lorna for further details of any trips or with ideas of where you might want to visit.

Upcoming trips:
Lunch Group 1
Group Contact: Judy 01702 713748                                                                News & Events
Meets: Last Wednesday on alternate months 12.30 pm
Venue: Various eating establishments
Status: There are currently no spaces available in this group. Please contact me for any other information.     Contact Me

The main aim of the group is to ‘do what it says on the tin’.

Although we had to stop eating out during Lockdown, we are slowly getting back into the routine and seem to average around 25 members at each lunch.  It is becoming increasingly difficult to find new restaurants who can cope with the numbers successfully so for now we have had to close our list to new members.

Maths for Fun
Group Contact: David White
Meets: 3rd Monday of the month 10 - 12 am
Venue: Private House
Status: Spaces available. Please contact me.                                                        Contact Me

I can hear you questioning yourselves … how can maths ever be fun?

But did you know that the writers of The Simpsons included numerous high-brow maths references in the show, on account of how many of the main writing staff had a detailed knowledge of maths.

Think about that … the most popular TV show in history, an animated comedy, had a writing staff packed with maths experts. The fact that mathematicians are behind the most successful comedy in history does somewhat annihilate the stereotypical view that maths, and by extension mathematicians, are no fun, or "humourless".

So, if you can see past the stereotype, if you like exercising your brain, if you enjoy figuring things round and round till the penny drops; then join us for some fun solving and discussing of mathematical, logic and other puzzles.

News at 10:30am
Group Contact: John
 Venue: Truleigh Scrumptious, Broadway West, Leigh
 Meets: First Monday each Month 10:30am
 Status: Spaces available. Please contact John     Contact Me

A current affairs group for everybody to discuss, deliberate, consider, moot or address the issues of the day. It is quite delightful. A great way to start each month.

If you love to chat about things going on then please get in touch, look forward to meeting you.

Pétanque on a Wednesday
Group Contact: Pamela Walters                                  News & Events
 Venue: Whitehall Bowling Club, Clatterfield Gardens, Westcliff
 Meets: Every Wednesday 09:45 - 11:45am
 Status: Please register your interest                           Contact Me

We have a great time and there is help on hand if needed. Boules are provided.

This is only a small group and, whilst currently full, please register your interest with Pamela if you like the idea of joining as soon as vacancies arise.

We do play on an outdoor rink and play every week, weather permitting, we aim to keep meeting throughout the Winter months and you can always warm up with a coffee in the Club House.

Please note that after playing on a couple of occasions you are required to join and pay membership to the Whitehall Bowls club, where we play.  This currently costs £20 per annum and is in addition to the weekly fee.

Pétanque on a Thursday
Group Contact: Victor Beadle                                                                  News & Events
 Venue: Whitehall Bowling Club, Clatterfield Gardens, Westcliff
 Meets: Meets:  every Thursday 10-12pm 12 -2pm (except for the third)
 Status: Please register your interest                           Contact Me

We now have this Thursday group up and running.

If interested then please contact Victor using the button above.

Please note that after playing on a couple of occasions you are required to join and pay membership to the Whitehall Bowls club, where we play.  This currently costs £20 per annum and is in addition to the weekly fee.

Philosophy
Group Contact: Derek
Meets: 4th Friday of the month 10.30 - 12.00
Venue: TruLeigh Scrumptious Cafe, Leigh
Status: Spaces available.  Please contact Derek                                     Contact Me

This group has been going for several years now.

We started an OU syllabus more recently.

If this interests you then please get in touch.

Photography
Group Contact: David White                            News & Events
Meets: 2nd Friday in the month 10 - 12 noon
Venue: Leigh Community Centre (LCC) or out-and-about
Status: We have vacancies                     Contact Me

   (Photo submitted by Ruth in the 'Black and White' category. Click on photo for larger image.)

We are a small group of keen photographers of varying experience and equipment. Our informal monthly sessions include a mixture of external 'shoots' and internal meetings when we review our efforts, cover technical issues and sometimes just chat (strictly relevant subjects, of course). You can view some of previous shoots via the "News & Events" button above.  We meet at Leigh Community Centre alternating each month with field trips.

We also have a closed (i.e. private) Facebook page (administered by Graham) where members can post pictures. Please get in touch via FB to join and request to join the group (open only to members of the Photography group)

We welcome new members of all levels of ability (and kit including phones) and we do have spaces so if you wish to join us, please get in touch using the "contact me" button above.

Our next meeting is on Friday 13th October when we will review the photographs taken at Prittlewell priory and those under the 'Anticipation' heading, considering why people never smiled in old photos, looking back at some early photos at the start of our photographic journeys and looking at have and how we might have improved (or not maybe!) and looking forward to our November location shoot.

Physics for All
 Group Contact: Steve Scroggs
 Meets:  1st Monday of each month @ 10:30am
 Venue:  Private House
 Status: Spaces available, please contact Steve                                       Contact Me

 

This group now covers these areas of the sciences; physics, environmental science, astronomy and planetary science.  Please get in touch if you are interested

 

Play Reading 1
Group Contact: Sue Wright 01702 831711
Meets: 4th Monday in the month 2.00 - 5.00 pm
Venue: Private house
Status: Our group, limited by space to 9, is currently full. – please see note below.                            Contact Me

We do what it says on the tin!

Since we began in June 2013 we have read a variety of plays, some suggested by members, some well known, occasionally favourites of mine. We started with J. B . Priestley's " Dangerous Corner", then Agatha Christie's, " The Mousetrap". Several of us had never seen it. "Ten Times Table", an Alan Ayckbourne was next, then Rattigan's "French Without Tears", and Paul Doust's "Cold Comfort Farm". Rather more serious was Wesker's "Chicken Soup and Barley". Then for Christmas a one act version of "Scrooge the Miser", an excellent read and time for festive goodies. "Darling Buds of May" by H. E. Bates was a fun afternoon and my favourite last week was Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings".

Variety is definitely the spice of our lives!

Our group, limited by space to 9, is currently full.

 

We do need someone to read the male roles as we only have 2 males in our group. Please get in touch if interested by using the 'Contact Me' link above.

Play Reading 2

Group Contact: Solveig Doyle
Meets: 4th Tuesday in the month 2.00 - 4.00 pm
Venue: Private house
Status: Spaces available.  Please contact Solveig              Contact Me

Recent readings have included plays by Henrik Ibsen, Tom Stoppard, Neil Simon and Caryl Churchill. There is usually a lot of laughter even when reading tragedies.

Unfortunately we do not have vacancies at the moment, but this may change in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quirky History
Group Contact: Rosemary Paterson
Meets: 1st Wednesday each month 2.30 - 4.30 pm
Venue: Private house
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me on 01702 711611

For those with an inquisitive mind. You hear something, or read something, and you wonder why it is. It intrigued you to the extent that you want to find out more. You look it up on the Internet, or look it up in a book, perhaps in the library. One thing leads to another and suddenly you come across some obscure fact or event of a historical nature, probably not the sort of thing you would read in a conventional history book. It's "Quirky History" and you want to share it with someone. And that's exactly what we do in the group. Meeting during the afternoon on the first Wednesday of the month in the informal setting of the home of one of the group, we talk, we discuss, and we share, the topics we have discovered.

You might like to join us just to see and hear how it all works out. You might like to make it a monthly commitment!

Quiz
Group Contact: David White
Meets: 2nd Monday of the Month 2 - 4 pm
Venue: The Stables, Leigh Road Baptist Church, Leigh
Status: Places available. Please contact me                                         Contact Me

We meet on the ground floor room of the Stables at the rear of Leigh Road Baptist Church; accessed via Chalkwell Park Drive at south end close to Leigh Road.

If you love the challenge of a quiz then join us on the second Monday of each month for a fun session of questions and answers. Don’t worry, you are not left to answer questions alone as we play in teams, mixing the teams for each session. Members volunteer to set the quiz and we share that load throughout the year. Whoever is setting the quiz, sets the format for that session so we get a variety of ideas coming through. This is not University Challenge and we keep it at that fun level.

It is a great way to meet new people at the same time as learning something new (or maybe a reminder of something you have forgotten).

We currently have spaces so please get in touch and join in the fun.

Sketching and Portrait Painting
Group Contacts: Mick Miley and Derek Booth
Meets: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month - 2:00 - 4:00pm
Venue: Leigh Community Centre
Status: Please register your interest by contacting us                                  Contact Me

This group originated as separate Sketching and Portrait groups.  If you are interested in joining, you can draw or paint whatever you wish.  There is no fixed criteria; it’s just about enjoying what you do!!
We meet at Leigh Community Centre on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month with ad hoc outings occasionally arranged.
There are currently some spaces available on the group, please get in touch if you would like to come along.
Spanish Beginners
Group Contact: Corinne
Meets: Tuesdays once a fortnight on Zoom:  2.00 - 4.00 pm
Venue: Zoom so at your home!
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                Contact Me

Spanish for beginners is for those who have some knowledge of the language but want to learn to speak and write useful Spanish. We are a fun group who support one another and would welcome a few new members. At present we meet on Zoom once a fortnight.

It would be nice to have a member assist Corinne with the group.  If anyone would be willing to help out then please contact Corinne or alternatively contact the Groups Co-ordinator, thank you.

 

 

 

 

Something on a Sunday
Group Contact: Trevor Matthews
Meets: Aiming for 3rd Sunday in month but special events may dictate otherwise
Venue: Various
Status:  Please contact Trevor if interested                                    Contact Me
We will meet up on the 3rd Sunday of the Month unless a concert or event dictates otherwise so it may vary but not too often.
This group got underway on Sunday 16th December 2019 at a very short notice with a visit to the film Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire at the Palace Theatre Westcliff.
January 2020 - subject to weather we may take a walk along the seafront and a pub lunch to discuss future events - ideas circulating so far include a restaurant meal one month, concert in the park, a film, take the train to London and explore the city of London when it’s quieter, or maybe a day out in the Essex countryside.  But nothing is set in stone so please get in touch if interested and if you want a say in future events then get along to the January meeting.

Table Tennis - Monday
Group Contact: Linda Baker and Val Davies
Meets: Fortnightly on Monday Mornings
Venue: MegaCentre Rayleigh Weir
Status: Currently Full but operating a waiting list    Contact Me

This new group starting at the end of September has attracted a lot of interest and already has a waiting list.

If you would like to register your interest, please contact Linda and Val using the 'Contact Me' button above.

 

Table Tennis - Wednesday
Group Contact: Sheena Schmidtchen or Liz Cooper
Meets: Every Wednesday morning
Venue: Megacentre Rayleigh
Status: Please register your interest by contacting me                    Contact Me

We must emphasise that you do not have to be a good table tennis player to join. The emphasis will be very much upon enjoying the game, having some fun whilst at the same time having some regular exercise and keeping active.

If you are interested or would like to know more then please contact Sheena or Liz.

Table Tennis - Friday
Group Contact: Marilyn Abraham - 01702 712230                                            News & Events
Meets: Every Friday morning
Venue: Rayleigh MegaCentre
Status: Currently full but please register your interest by contacting me                                       Contact Me

We must emphasise that you do not have to be a good table tennis player to join. The emphasis will be very much upon enjoying the game, having some fun whilst at the same time having some regular exercise and keeping active.

Although currently full, we do keep a list of members wanting to join and accept them in order of registration once a space becomes available.  To register your name on the waiting list please use the 'Contact Me' link above.

If you would like to know more then please contact Marilyn.

Tap Dancing
Group Contact: Laura O'Connor and Maire Berry
Meets: We meet on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 1:30 - 3:00pm
Venue: Southend and District Reform Synagogue, 851 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9SZ
Status: Spaces available if you wish to join us                                                                                         Contact Us

Please contact us for more information.

No previous experience of tap dancing is necessary. Meetings fall on second and fourth Friday of every month.

We currently have spaces so please get in touch if you want to join in the fun.

Theatre
Group Contact: Trevor Mathews                                                        News & Events
Meets: Various days and times
Venue: Various
Status: Spaces available. Please contact me                                      Contact Me

I am hoping to get this group back into full gear now that Lockdown restrictions have been removed.  Keep watching for news.  Trevor.

Ticket Conditions

When indicating interest in a show, payment by the deadline will guarantee you a ticket. Please include a stamped addressed envelope with your cheque.

Please note that all tickets booked and paid for are your responsibility to sell in the event that you can no longer attend. I will of course direct any enquiries in your direction.

See our News & Events page for details of future trips planned.  A few details of trips in near future are included below.

Forthcoming Trips:

(contact Trevor to get your interest booked in early):

 

 

 

 

Travel
Group Contact: Lorna Reeve                                                       News & Events
Meets: Various
Venue: Various
Status: Spaces in the group available. Please contact me                                  Contact Me

If you'd like to join the group to be kept informed of any future trips, then please contact me.

Lorna

Ukulele
Group Contact: Marion Collins 01702 476831                                         News & Events
Meets: 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month 2:30 - 4 pm
Venue: Iveagh Hall, Leigh Road
Status: Please contact me if interested, we do have spaces                             Contact Me
detail of the body and the keyboard of a red soprano ukulele

Our aim is to learn simple chords to accompany popular songs.

This group comprises a mixture of abilities ranging from well seasoned musicians to complete novices. We meet twice a month for a session that is guaranteed to be fun and always very uplifting to the spirits. As Plato said “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Music, especially that of a ukulele, can be very uplifting so if you want to raise your spirits come and join us.

We occasionally put on performances for local events such as the celebration of 400 years at the Dutch Cottage (Canvey), to performing at Nazareth House (Southend), and for the Home Sweet Home Care Group in Leigh.

Contact Marion if you are a beginner, want more experience, or are just after more information.

Notation for the music we play can be downloaded via links you will find by clicking on from links on the 'News & Events' page.