Message from the Chair
Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the summer and looking forward to more u3a experiences this month as the new Courses and Activities programme swings into action. Welcome to all new members too. u3a’s motto is learn, laugh, live and there’s no better way [...]
Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the summer and looking forward to more u3a experiences this month as the new Courses and Activities programme swings into action. Welcome to all new members too. u3a’s motto is learn, laugh, live and there’s no better way to describe what Canterbury u3a is about – new interests, new challenges and new friends. Hopefully you will find that activities that bring members together and provide company will add positively to your day.
There are many people who still don’t know what u3a is. The notion of “university” is to reflect the provision of an opportunity to learn and study new things, not as students, but as members sharing knowledge and practice in friendly settings. This vision was launched by Eric Midwinter, one of the cofounders of the University of the Third Age, in 1981. “The starting point was the sense that older age should be looked on more positively, and obviously less negatively,” he said, according to the Saturday Times obituary (subscription required - alternative u3a news link) celebrating Eric’s life. Eric was passionate about promoting life-long learning through self-help groups. I have only just learnt that Eric also wrote more than a dozen books about many aspects of cricket; a game he absolutely loved.
Canterbury u3a is one of the oldest and largest u3as in this country and strives to live up to Eric’s ideals. We are indebted to the many members who lead courses, coming from a variety of backgrounds to share their experience and insight. We are learning amongst equals with no requirement for qualifications or finding ourselves compelled to study something. We are even encouraged and allowed to lead a course or activity, so do contact the courses team to discuss.
I hope you enjoy your u3a membership. Encourage your friends to join you. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Robin Terry
Show the chair's message in full
Important Dates and Notices
Please feel free to drop in at our regular monthly Joining Session. And bring a friend! Joining Sessions are an opportunity to meet other new members; meet Committee members; drink coffee; ask questions; and of course, become a u3a member, if you decide to! You can also renew your lapsed membership at a Joining Session if you need to.Joining Session: September 2025
Potential Course Leaders’ Workshop: September 2025
Details of this event are no longer available.
Our regular monthly meeting. All u3a Canterbury members are welcome. This month's guest speaker from the Kent Group of Advanced Motorists will speak about advanced driving of cars, bikes and disability motor scooters in the context of the Heirarchy of Road Users - "Many people do not know about the Hierarchy of Road Users although it has been in existence for over three years. The Hierarchy of Road Users places responsibility on the road users who can cause the greatest harm to others. This means that drivers of vehicles, particularly larger ones, have the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to more vulnerable users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, and motorcyclists..."Monthly Meeting: September 2025
Early Autumn Walk
An easy 4-mile Circular Walk from Bishopsbourne on 12 September.
This walk will start at 10.30 a.m. at the Tadpole Café, Frog Lane, Bishopsbourne (CT45HR). If driving there is parking available. In addition, bus 17 leaving at 10.05 from the Canterbury Bus Station stops at the top of Frog Lane. Additionally Ruth Adams can offer a lift to 3 people; please contact Ruth for pick up details.
Booking with the Walk Leader, Penny Stevens, is required:
Message from the Research Team
The next research group meeting will take place on Friday 19 September. For further details contact Ann Skingley.
Show all forthcoming events (next 30 days)
Outings
Thanks to all those who went on the Kent Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) outing in August - I didn't take any pictures this time but from the feedback those who went enjoyed themselves. If you are ever in Deal with an hour or so to spare at a weekend, I would definitely recommend it.
We're really sorry that we had to cancel the Tereza Joanne outing but unfortunately we didn't reach the minimum number of places required.
The final outing for the year will be a visit to see the London Lights, hear evensong in St Pauls and shop in Covent Garden plus a fish and chip lunch. It will be on Sunday 7th December and booking for seats will open in October. Cost will be £60 per member.
We will set off from Canterbury Bus Station at 11am and meet our Blue Badge Tour Guide for lunch at 1pm. Lunch is included in the price and will be in a fish & chips restaurant in London and includes a cheesecake dessert and a hot drink. Following lunch the coach will collects us and we will then transfer to St Paul's Cathedral for Choral Evensong at 3pm. Please note that it may be necessary to alter which Evensong we attend if the Abbey/Cathedral diary changes. We promise you that they are all very impressive and we will give you notice of any changes. Choral Evensong lasts for a blissful and music filled 45 minute after which we return to the coach. At 4pm as the sun sets on London let us dazzle you with our iconic landmarks and shop windows are dressed with glittering lights and the streets are lined with sparkling festive joy, as twinkling fairy lights cover the city. light displays. See London’s famous landmarks twinkling for Christmas and see the skyline shine against the dark wintery sky. See Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, The Strand and Aldwych, the modern beauty of the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the world-famous Christmas lights and extravagant Regent Street Lights. Throughout we are sure we will have an entertaining and erudite commentary from our Blue Badge Tour Guide. At 6pm we will stop for an hour to enjoy the street performers, cafes and shops at Covent Garden before heading for home at 7pm. Photos courtesy of Rose John
Show details of the outing Event webpage
A message from the Science Subject Coordinator
What do you want to know? I am thinking about putting together one or more health courses/talks for next year’s course programme. Can you tell me what health topics you would like to know more about? I was thinking about things like osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, or the different forms of dementia. But maybe you would prefer something more general like ‘Healthy Living’, how our bodies work, or how to negotiate the health and social care system. I look forward to hearing from you.
Helen Howard, Science (STEM) Coordinator,
“The U3A will never provide personal or general health advice during any of its activities. Any courses resulting from this enquiry would be of a general study nature. Participants should not expect to derive personal health advice from this study.”
Interest Sharing Groups
These groups are open to all current members. Please contact group leaders for information.
English Heritage: Visit to Walmer Castle on 19th September. Contact Steve Casey
Knit and Natter: Meet at the Dolphin Pub at 2 p.m. on 18 September. Contact: Norma Ratcliff
Coastal Bridge Group meets at Dunkirk Village Hall on Thursday afternoons. Contact: Anni Bignold
Canterbury Bridge Group meets at Littlebourne Village Hall on Friday afternoon. Contact: Jane Dennett
Photography: For details of meeting, date and place, contact Keith Kolsteren
Sustainable Living Group: Meet at the Chatterbox Café, 9 September at 10.30. Contact: Helen Howard
Green Fingers Gardening Group. Contact Chris Cayley
Green Fingers visit to Kenfield Hall, Petham CT4 on 15th September. Head Gardener talk included - £10 per person, paid individually (cards accepted). Followed by refreshments for those that wish at Chartham Garden Centre.
Cost £10 per head. Booking is required
Discussion Group on Current Affairs every Monday at 11 a.m. For venue details of the next meeting, contact Steve Casey.
Thank you for all your contributions, from a couple of sentences up to 250 words.
Keep them coming, as this is your News Bulletin.
Send them to Ursula Steiger
The copy date for September is Thursday 25 September.