Photo provided by Lynda Salter / Tom Conway (Jul 2024)
Photo provided by Lynda Salter / Tom Conway (Jul 2024)
Photo provided by Lynda Salter / Tom Conway (Jul 2024)
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Latest News
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New Indoor Climbing Group
Our new Indoor Climbing group is forming in time for some winter exercise indoors. Whether you are an experienced climber or a beginner, climbing can provide a great form of exercise and continue to challenge your skills as you get better.
If you are interested and want to find out more, please contact Peter West using the link shown.
16 October 2024
New Discovering Philosophy Group
A new discussion group is forming for non-experts who are interested in philosophy and wish to explore the subject together. Meeting once a month in SW19 from November onwards. If you are interested, please make contact with Clive Whichelow using the link shown.
15 October 2024
New Current Affairs Group
Re-named group Current Affairs 1 is up and running. Starting from November it will meet monthly on a Wednesday afternoon. This group currently has a waiting list. For any enquiries about this or other current affairs groups please contact Sue Mullen (Current Affairs & History Section Leader) using the link shown.
12 October 2024
October update for u3as
An update from Sam Mauger, CEO of the Third Age Trust.
10 October 2024
Visit to Neasden Temple
A guided visit to Neasden Temple has been arranged for 28th November 2024.
Europes first traditional Hindu temple, described by Time Out as one of London's Seven Wonders, is a masterpiece of traditional Hindu design.
See Events for more details and booking.
5 October 2024
Christmas Lunch 2024
This year’s Christmas Lunch on 6th December is heading back to an old favourite, The Wimbledon Club opposite All England Lawn Tennis.
Tickets are £45 per head.
See Events listing for more details and booking.
Please reply as soon as possible, at the latest by 1st November, if you want to come.
2 October 2024
Astronomy Back To Basics
Astronomy study day on 30 Nov 2024 at University of Greenwich / Royal Observatory Greenwich.
See Events for details.
21 September 2024
New Bridge Group
A new group ‘Bridge for Absolute Beginners’ has been formed.
If you are interested in joining this group, please go to the Group page for more information and Group Leader contact details using the link.
1 September 2024
New Sunday lunch dates
Sunday lunches are on again. Two new dates are in the events list.
29 August 2024
New Current Affairs group planned
This September it is hoped to launch a new current affairs group. If you are interested, please get in touch with Sue Mullen, Section Leader for Current Affairs & History through the link below. Once four or more prospective members have expressed an interest a meeting will be arranged where practicalities of day, time, meeting place and format will be sorted out.
23 July 2024
Several events added
Please check the events page, where several new events now appear
19 July 2024
London Region of u3as Autumn 2024 Events
The LRU3A Events Team has been busy organising a programme of events from September to December.
18 July 2024
History in Context Vacancies
Please contact the group leader if you are interested in joining this group as falling numbers means the group may have to close.
28 April 2024
Visits for May - Jul 2024
Guided visits have been arranged to The Royal Opera House, The Royal Courts of Justice & Spencer House.
See Events listing for more information and booking.
17 April 2024
London Region Summer Walks and Visits Programme 21May - 18Jul2024
Instead of the usual Summer School, this year London Region are offering an exciting programme of guided walks and visits to museums/galleries around central London. See Events page for more info & booking.
1 April 2024
New cycling group
A new cycling group (Cycling 2) has been formed.
See Our Groups entry for more information.
24 March 2024
AGM 2024 Documents available on Members' Documents Download page
Supporting documents are available for members to download. Only the Agenda will be available in printed form on the day. Members should log in before using the link.
7 March 2024
Behind the Seams of Strictly
Guided visit on 17April 2024 to DSI London for an in-depth understanding of the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into creating performance costumes featured on "Strictly Come Dancing," dance events, cruises, renowned West End shows, and high-profile films. See Events for more details and booking.
2 March 2024
AGM 2024
Merton u3a Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 20th March 2024, 12:00 to 14:30.
Venue: Trinity URC Church Hall, Mansel Road, SW19 4AA.
Please follow link for agenda.
2 March 2024
New Bridge Group
A new Bridge group (Bridge 3) has been formed. See Our Groups list entry for more details.
22 February 2024
Guided visit to World Heart Beat Academy on 25 Mar 2024
London’s new boutique concert hall with recording studio, which many famous classical and jazz musicians have already enjoyed. For more information and booking see Events page.
31 January 2024
Sunday Lunches
18 Feb 2024 at Diba, 87 The Broadway, Wimbledon
17 Mar 2024 at Giggling Squid, Wimbledon Village
29 January 2024
Guided visit to Apsley House on 29 Feb 2024
Designed and built between 1771-1778 for the 1st Baron Apsley by Robert Adam. It became famous as the home of the 1st Duke of Wellington.
See Events for more information & booking.
2 January 2024
London Region Zoom Talks Jan–Mar 2024
January 8th - Neville Lyons: Food for Thought
February 5th - Herbie Goldberg: Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829–1869)
March 4th - Terry Lloyd: The Shaping of Eastern Europe
27 November 2023
Committee & Sub-Committee Opportunities
There are some exciting opportunities for members who want to get more involved:
* Minutes Secretary for committee meetings (replacement from Mar 2024)
* Communications Coordinator (replacement from Mar 2024)
* Archivist to establish and then maintain archive records for Merton u3a (new position)
* Talks Organiser (replacement from Mar 2024)
* Events Organiser to set up and co-ordinate member-related events such as AGM (new position)
Please contact Sue Lovell-Greene if you are interested in any of these roles and would like to know more.
8 November 2023
Climate Change Group Special Speaker Event on 3 Jan 2024
Zoom talk about what action Merton Council is taking at a local level to mitigate the effects of climate change. To be given by Councillor Natasha Irons.
3 November 2023
Climate Change Group Vacancies
Zoom-only group is keen to recruit a few more members.
3 November 2023
Climate Change Group Special Speaker Event on 17 Jan 2024
Zoom talk about what happened at the COP28 international conference, and the consequences for all of us. To be given by Dr Jen Allen.
3 November 2023
October 2023 Newsletter
The latest newsletter is now available on the website.
18 October 2023
u3a Network Link Autumn Meeting on 12 Oct 2023
Zoom talks by:
Peter Clift, on u3a Radio
Margaret Fiddes, on the u3a Festival in York, July 2024
Ray Hardisty, on Public Relations Advisors
8 October 2023
Coffee Mornings for Oct & Nov 2023
Next coffee mornings are:
Thursday 19th October (11am - 1pm) at M&S coffee shop, Sainsbury Centre, Colliers Wood
Friday 17th November (11am - 1pm) at Elys, 3rd Floor Restaurant, Wimbledon
There will be no coffee morning in December.
4 October 2023
Christmas Lunch 2023
The 2023 lunch has been booked at Taste Restaurant, Merton College, for Friday the 8th of December. The cost will be £35.00 (inc VAT) per person and places are limited to 50. Please register by Friday 27th October.
4 October 2023
Visit to Royal College of Music Museum
& Wolfson Centre on 7 Nov 2023
The Royal College of Music Museum maintains one of the richest and most relevant
collections of music-related objects in the UK and Europe. Explore, hear and
interact with more than 500 years of music making in this beautiful building.
28 September 2023
Guided Visit to Leighton House - Art Museum and Historic House on 14 Dec 2023
Leighton House, located in Holland Park, is the former studio/house of renowned Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). It showcases an exceptional collection of art, (including Pre-Raphaelite works by Millais and Burne-Jones), throughout a unique suite of sumptuous interiors, including the magical Arab Hall.
28 September 2023
New Talk: Don Moore
A special event with an interview with Don Moore about his long history of giving time to u3a and his passion for music, especially Beethoven's
22 September 2023
Sunday Lunch - November 2023
The Alexandra pub in Wimbledon (opposite Elys) has been booked for 13:00 on 26th November 2023.
18 September 2023
London Region Online Talks October-December 2023
These popular talks will be hosted on Zoom from October to March from 5.30-6.30 pm on the first Monday of each month.
16 September 2023
Group Vacancies - September 2023
There are currently vacancies in the following groups:
Art and Design, Jazz Appreciation, Book Club 3, Bridge 1 (non-beginners), Bridge 2 (non-beginners) & Photography. See Group list for further details.
9 September 2023
Sunday Lunch - 22 October 2023
The Giggling Squid Wimbledon has been booked for Sunday lunch at 1pm on 22nd October.
29 August 2023
Sunday Lunch - Oct 2023
Cote Wimbledon has been booked for the Sunday lunch at 1pm on 1st October.
21 August 2023
July 2023 Newsletter
The Newsletter for July 2023 is on the website.
19 July 2023
July Group Vacancies
The following groups have vacancies: Table Tennis, Reading Short Stories, Knitting and Crochet, Music Club - Listen and Discuss, Bridge, Canasta and France Culture. Details of these activities and contact details for the group leaders are shown under the relevant group in Our Groups.
4 July 2023
Coffee Mornings in July & August
Dates are 11th July and 14th August. See Events for venue details.
4 July 2023
Visit to Central Methodist Hall
Inside tour of Central Methodist Hall, Westminster on 18th September 2023, followed by a 'Freedom Tour' outside, including historical information about various buildings, statues & monuments around Westminster. See Events for more details and booking.
8 June 2023
Groups with vacancies
These are some of the groups with vacancies:
Mondays: Golf Buddies (am), Poetry Appreciation (pm) & Mah Jong (pm); Tuesdays: A Year in History (am) & Cosmology (pm); Wednesdays: Table Tennis (am) & Patchwork and Quilting (pm); Thursdays: Book Club (am), Social Bridge (pm) & Speaking and Debating (pm); Fridays: French Cafe conversation (am) & Play Reading (pm)
7 June 2023
Merton u3a Posts
A new Chair, Vice Chair, Membership Secretary, Groups Co Ordinator, Newsletter Editor and Media Editor (new position) have been appointed along with deputies in most cases. A Visits Organiser is still sought.
7 June 2023
Vacancies at Interest Groups Online
There are vacancies for Armchair Travellers, British Cemeteries, Crime Corner and the Zentangle Club! To join, you must already be a paid-up member of Interest Groups Online. It costs £12 to for the year, which runs from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024.
7 June 2023
Surrey u3a Network Study Days
Surrey Network offers a series of fascinating study days at the Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon. The presentations start at 10.00, registration at 9.30. The talks are as follows:
15 September – An Utterly Incomplete History of Keyboards and Keyboard Music
20th October – Quarks, the Universe, and Everything
17th November – Rembrandt: from Fame to Poverty & Final Acclaim
7 June 2023
Group Leaders Lunch
This will take place on 29th September (venue and time to be announced). The plan is to look at ways to make the most of how groups operate and exchange ideas on best practice across the 80-plus groups in Merton u3a. Members should contact their group leaders with any thoughts or experiences they would like raised.
7 June 2023
Cycling Cortado Group
This group is now up and running and has room for a few more cyclists.
7 June 2023
Cycling Cortado
Cycling Cortado is now up and running but has room for a few more cyclists. Our latest ride took in Wimbledon Common, the Thames and Richmond Park. We meet every second Tuesday at Costa, near Raynes Park Station, 10.00. Our next ride is 30 May.
16 May 2023
'Modern Day Slavery' Talk
The talk will take place at Drake House on 12th May. See Events for details.
3 May 2023
Visit to AFC Wimbledon
A tour of AFC Wimbledon (The Dons) is to take place in August
1 May 2023
April 2023 Newsletter
The April 2023 Newsletter is available on the website.
26 April 2023
Get-Together Sunday Lunches
Two new Sunday Lunch dates: 28 May and 25 June 2023
9 April 2023
London Region Summer School
The details of the London Region Summer School (25-26 July 2023) are available on the London Region Website.
9 April 2023
AGM Minutes
The approved minutes of the 2022 AGM and the draft minutes of the 2023 AGM are on the website. (Accessible only to registered website members.)
31 March 2023
New 2023 Constitution
The AGM resolved to change our constitution. The new version is on the Further Details for Members page.
23 March 2023
Committee Meeting Minutes
Committee meeting minutes for January and March are now on the website.
18 March 2023
AGM Documents with 2022 Minutes
Minutes of the 2022 AGM added to the documents bundle. For the full set, follow the link on the Events page.
15 March 2023
New Visits
Three new visits have been added to the Events page; 8 June, 10 July and 3 November
15 March 2023
AGM Documents
The full set of documents for the AGM is now available to download. Visit the Events page and look for 22 March 2023.
14 March 2023
New Group: Cycling Cortado
For those not able to join the current cycling group, and for newcomers. It will focus on shorter rides on quiet roads and cycle paths, 15 - 20 miles with good coffee locations included. E-bikes, trikes and tandems welcomed!
10 March 2023
IT Buddies Launched. Can you help?
We need volunteers to help Merton members without access to the internet or email to get all the information they need on our activities and events. For more information, see 1 April on the Events Page.
6 March 2023
AGM 22 March
Fast approaching, save the date for the AGM. We look forward to seeing you there! Details on the Events page.
5 March 2023
New Group: Easier Driving
New ! Easier Driving Group to practice and improve skills and hopefully gain confidence in driving. First meeting 29 March. For more information go to :
28 February 2023
New Group: Music Discussion
New! Music Discussion Group. Discuss your own favourite music and gain insight from a professional pianist. Meetings proposed for last Tuesday of the month. Please contact the Group Leader for more information and for future dates. For more information go to :
28 February 2023
Opera Group Relaunch
The relaunch of the Opera Group, following its suspension during the Covid crisis, is scheduled for 29 March. For more information, click the adjacent link and look for 29 March.
26 February 2023
February Update
The February Update is on the website
15 February 2023
January Newsletter
The January Newsletter is on the website
29 January 2023
Upcoming Events
Information about talks, visits and other events is regularly added to the website. Further details can be found on the Events page.
6 January 2023
u3a 40th Anniversary Report
Read about our activities on the 40th Anniversary of u3a in the UK
21 September 2022
Committee Minutes
Committee Meeting minutes are on the website
2 September 2022
New pages on the website
You can view all the Group Leaders' contact details in a list, if you are a signed-in member. Groups, which have vacancies, are annotated in the right hand column of the table.
8 February 2022