Most groups meet monthly. Any extra costs beyond the general membership fee (which you have paid!) are indicated - apart from a contribution of 25p. towards any refreshments provided. It is helpful, particularly for groups held in members' homes, if you inform the group leader in advance that you hope to attend a meeting. The group leaders are happy to supply further information to members who are interested.
The committee are always interested to receive suggestions for new groups and volunteers willing to convene them.
| Ambling | Lunch/Discussion |
| Digital Photography | Rambling |
| History & Development of English Language | Theatre |
| Literature | U3A Home Page |
| Local History | |
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Ambling Jo Griffin, Rod Ives.This group meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month (weather permitting) at 10 am in the South Molton car park. We enjoy less energetic walks than those undertaken by the Ramblers.
Autobiography Jonathan Edmonds
Art History Jonathan Edmunds
The Art History Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month from October to May at 10.30 am. The use of Information Technology enables us to view paintings in galleries across the world and to access information about the artists and their work.
Bird Watching and Natural History Sheila Farrant
The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month usually at 9.45 am at South Molton central car park where car sharing is arranged to the chosen site. Studies include flora, butterflies and other insects. Habitat includes estuary and dunes as well as moors and woodland. There is generally an optional pub lunch. If the weather is inclement we meet in my house, and watch birdsong videos or a DVD. New members are very welcome.
Croquet/Skittles Kathleen Hazler
Golf Croquet is played during the Summer months at the Old Rectory, South Molton on a Friday afternoon. The Skittles group meets at The Town Arms, South Molton during the winter months on Friday afternoon. Contact Kathleen for further details.
Digital Photography David White
The group meets at the Old Rectory, South Molton on Monday evenings.
French Conversation Margaret Ramsden
This group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 2.30 pm in member's homes, and we welcome everyone with some knowledge of French, however rusty. We try to talk as much as possible in French, but in order to increase confidence and familiarity we read and listen to French writers and speakers, revise grammar, and try to learn more about France and the French way of life.
Garden Visits Val Widgery
A programme of garden visits for the season is produced for the April meeting with details of dates, times and meeting places clearly marked. In the height of the season we generally meet twice a month on varying days and mostly for half-day trips.
History Derrica Hodgson
Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month at 2.30pm, starting in October at 15 Deans Park, South Molton. New members are very welcome.
History & Development of English Language Muriel Price
This group meets on the third Friday of the month at 10.00.
I.T. Support Group Elizabeth Mount
This group is for members who wish to develop computer skills or share useful tips with others. Support is given to beginners.
Literature Marjorie Parry
We meet on the first Monday of the month from 2.30 to 5 pm. It is more accurate to call ourselves a Book group than a Literary group. However in our discussions we do consider the social, cultural and economic background of the period in which the novel is set, as well as the characters and their influence on the narrative. The group is limited by the space available at Marjorie’s house and by the number of books available from the library in sufficient quantity. However with fewer members the discussion is more coherent than it would be with a larger number.
Local History Derrica Hodgson, Shirley Bray
There are about thirty members and we meet on the second Wednesday of the month. In winter months (October to April) we meet at the Methodist Hall at 10.00 - 10.30 am. for coffee, followed by a talk or slide show on various interesting local topics. For these six meetings members pay a subscription to cover the cost of the room hire and the speakers' charges. Because of increased costs we have agreed to pay £5 per annum. In addition we pay 50p. per meeting for coffee. Non-members who come infrequently can pay £1 per meeting. During the summer months we have six outings to places of interest, generally travelling by car. We usually have communal coffee or lunch on these occasions. We are pleased to welcome new members at any time and have a varied and interesting programme.
Lunch/Discussion Eva Hamilton
Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month at The Stag's Head, Filleigh at 11.30 am. for a discussion on current affairs and related subjects of moral and political nature. The group is small and everyone has a chance to bring a subject they would like to discuss with the rest of the group. People stay for lunch if they want to.
Music Appreciation Jonathan Edmunds
The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2pm. The venue can be found in the current newsletter. We remain a small group of loyal and friendly folk and would welcome any newcomers.
Painting Jean Nichol
If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Jean - telephone 01769 572527.
Patchwork and Quilting Chris Winsor
Members enjoyed the past year’s activities, making quilts and cushions which were raffled to benefit four youth organisations in South Molton. This year we aim to make small quilts for the Linus Project or other charities, as well as continuing our own personal work under the professional guidance of Julia and Ann of Step by Step Patchwork Centre. We meet on alternate Wednesday afternoons at 2 pm. Please come and join us.
Poetry and Play-Reading Jo Griffin
This group meets at Coleford House on the third Thursday at 2.30 pm. We read poetry of the member's choice one month, alternating with popular plays the other.
Rambling Jo Griffin
The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month (weather permitting) at 9.45 am in the South Molton carpark. Walks vary from 4 ½ to 7 miles and we take a packed lunch. It is hoped that some extra walks can be included; all details are in the newsletters. There is also an Ambling group for the less athletic.
Scrabble Lucy Aldridge
The Scrabble group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 12 Raleigh Park, South Molton from 2 to 5 pm. We have 12 members with an average of 10 attending. We are a happy group; we have some knowledgeable players, but the games are enjoyed by all, with many new words used. It is a popular group, so it is advisable to ring Lucy if you wish to attend and are not a "regular".
Sunday Lunch Margaret Walker
Meets at the Old Coaching Inn, South Molton every third Sunday of the month. We have ten members who regularly come, occasionally more when they bring visitors, and the standard of food at the Old Coaching Inn is consistently good. Members are asked to let Ruth Greaves know at the monthly meeting whether they will be coming that month and there is a request in the Newsletter for people not at the meeting to telephone her as soon as possible. This is because the venue is so busy and we need to reserve a table as early as possible. The third Sunday usually falls after the monthly Tuesday meeting at the Assembly Rooms, but occasionally it is a week later. It is a friendly occasion and gives a lift to those who normally eat alone and we offer a warm welcome to anyone wishing to join our little band. The best time to arrive is around 12.20 pm to avoid the rush.
Table Tennis Jean Nichol
The group meets every Wednesday at 4 pm at South Molton Community College Gymnasium. Please bring your own bats and appropriate footwear.
Theatre Anne Hastie
We are still combining with Barnstaple U3A and North Devon Coast U3A theatre groups to organise theatre visits to Barnstaple, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton and Bristol. In the past year we have been to over a dozen performances of ballet, opera, musicals and plays, from Shakespeare to contemporary plays. We always welcome suggestions from our supporters.
The 13 (Singing) Jonathan Edmunds
This is the provisional title given to the revived singing group (with apologies to Harry Christophers, founder of the Sixteen). The idea is that the group, meeting on the first and fourth Tuesday afternoons of the month, will sing a variety of secular and sacred works. The group will not prepare specifically for performance but will rejoice in the joy of singing. All members of U3A are encouraged to join in this co-operative venture if they feel that in any way they might enjoy letting themselves go vocally in a controlled way. It is hoped that whatever the balance of voices, interesting music will be sung.
The range of groups is wide. We trust that you will find one - or two or more - which you will enjoy, in which you have a chance to learn and to which, hopefully, you can contribute.