These and earlier versions can also be found on our Publications page

Draft Minutes of AGM 2nd September 2019

Annual Accounts 2018-2019 up to 31st July 2019

Membership application forms for 2019-2020 were distributed early with the summer edition of Update, and can be downloaded from the membership page of this website.

If you have not completed your membership renewal for this coming year please do so now

Any further questions should be addressed to the Membership Secretary – John Trueman (contact details on the Committee page).

Thank you

Pilates 8 has six takers so far for the new term starting in Sept 2019. We can have up to 12 participants, so we have space for some new members! 

Pilates 8 meets at the Baptist Church Upper Hall in Saffron Walden on Tuesday mornings from 11.30am – 12.30pm.  

This is a gentle class suitable for beginners and those who are returning to exercise.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss joining the group. You can do this by coming along to the AGM and signing-up session on 2nd September. Or by contacting our co-ordinator Chris Kerrison –  01799 516 586 – briankerrison599@btinternet.com  

Meryl, the tutor, will have some info. for you about suitable clothing and mats, and has a confidential health questionnaire for each participant to fill in prior to joining the class.

There is the possibility of forming another class on Tuesday afternoons or Thursdays during the day. So if this group’s class time does not suit you, please get in touch anyway, via Chris or by talking to the tutor at the signing-up session on 2nd September. We look forward to seeing both returning class members and new faces.

Click here to visit our Pilates page.

In addition to our biannual Update Magazine we are now circulating a briefer and more up-to-date Newsletter to members mainly by email and also on this website, to keep everyone informed about what’s going on.

Click on the link below to download our latest Newsletters:

Saffron Walden U3A Newsletter July 2019

This newsletter has been emailed to all our members for whom we have email addresses.  If you have not received an email copy then please  email Ann Treglown – ann.treglown@gmail.com

Due to unforeseen circumstances our speaker has been forced to withdraw on 16 September.  However, there will still be an Open Meeting, the Committee is busy organising an alternative.  Please still come along.

Book early for this year’s Christmas Tea, to be held at the Bowling Club in Abbey Lane on Monday 16th December at 3:00 pm. The cost is £10 per head, so contact Jim Dwyer on 07531 115 160 or jim_dwyer@btinternet.com

Our caterer will be providing everything that you’d expect from a Christmas Tea – so come along and enjoy.

This Natural History outing is not an official U3A outing but any U3A member would be most welcome.

Re-Wilding – Visit to Knepp Castle Estate – Friday September 20th 2019

You may have read about Re-Wilding – converting a large area of countryside into a self-regulating habitat dominated by large grazing animals. In other words, creating a habitat as close as possible to that in which our ancestors lived about 7000 years ago.

The leading light is in this work is Isabella Tree – the author of “Wilding” – which describes the hugely successful re-wilding project at Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex.

If you wish to know more about the Knepp re-wilding project visit their website: https://knepp.co.uk/

At the request of the Saffron Walden U3A Natural History Group I have booked a visit to Knepp for Friday 20th September – depart SW 9.30 arrive back 19.30

Continue Reading →

Please note that this is not a U3A activity but we thought that it might be of interest to our members

“As we get older our bodies start to slow down and muscles start to lose their strength and stability. At JustGym we are here to help you keep fit and healthy.
A dedicated member of staff will be on hand to help with any questions you may have, demonstrate equipment, offer tips on exercises and show you ways to get started on your fitness journey.”

Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3pm at JustGym, Shire hill, Saffron Walden, CB11 3AQ   01799 510 766 or info@just-gym.com
£6 per visit or £25 unlimited monthly membership.

Continue Reading →

Group Co-ordinator: Jenny Capon – 07812 128 767 – email jacapon@ntlworld.com

The group will meet at Jenny’s house in Saffron Walden and begin on Thursday April 18th, from 1.30 – 3.30pm and fortnightly thereafter.

Slow Folk is a group pitched at hesitant beginners. This is a gentle way into playing folk music with others, by ear or with dots. There is a list of about 150 folk instruments on Wiki, ranging from accordion to zhaleika. Some of these could present a challenge when playing folk music from the British Isles but, if we can achieve an harmonious result, bring on that dingulator and ravanahatha!

Experimentation will never be ruled out but the emphasis is definitely on supporting beginners to play comfortably in a group, using a collection of traditional tunes that satisfies all abilities and tastes.

The usual choice of British/Irish folk instruments comes from a much shorter list than Wiki’s, including fiddle, flute, tin whistle, concertina, guitar, mandolin, pipes and bodhrán. If you have any of these, or a similar acoustic instrument, and can play a few notes and/or chords, hold a simple beat and want to have fun exploring the tunes while playing with others, Slow Folk is for you!

For more information please contact Jenny Capon on 07812 128 767 or email jacapon@ntlworld.com

Exciting news!

Our new Gym Fit class has started and we already have 2 classes on a Friday at JUST GYM, Westbrook House, Shirehill. Saffron Walden.  These sessions are currently full from members seeing the details on the website or responding from the information passed on by group coordinators, although spaces might well become available. But another session on a Wednesday morning might be possible in the future.

The class will be taken by Andrea, who is qualified in fitness for older people, and there will be opportunities in the future to use gym equipment if you’d like to. The class is in a large room with mats on the floor and any equipment needed for the class is provided. 

You do not have to be a member of the Gym to attend, this is a class dedicated to U3A members. Fees are £4 per session, pay as you go, direct to the gym.

I have visited the gym and spoken to Andrea, who showed me around, and I believe this is an exciting opportunity for U3A members to have excellent Keep Fit training. All the staff are very friendly and have extensive knowledge – and understanding of possible physical limitations – you are encouraged to have a free assessment before beginning the sessions.

If you are interested in joining this group, or would like more information, please contact :

Mary Curtis     maryfcurtis@live.co.uk    01799 524 784      07708 588 732

5 March 2019