Providing opportunities for people who are retired from full-time employment in Skipton and neighbouring areas

Monday – Groups

Updated July 2024

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Birdwatching (1)

Group Leader - Jacqui Eames Fortnightly Monday 10.00 am - 12.00 5/10/26 - 14/12/26 (no session 9/11/26) and 11/1/27 - 22/3/27 (no session 15/2/27). Bolton Abbey Village Hall Group has indoor meetings at Bolton Abbey Village Hall every fortnight, mostly with presentations from speakers with accompanying pictures. Contributions are made by expert members, external experts and photographers. Outdoor meetings are mostly at RSPB reserves so a good idea to join. You'll also need binoculars and group members are generous in sharing their spotting skills and telescopes! Nearby trips are by car share (passengers contribute 10p a mile for petrol and we leave Skipton at 8.30 as a rule) but we also run several coach trips further afield which are great days out albeit more expensive. We start and end the Autumn programme with a welcome meeting. New members are welcome to this long established and popular group. Venue surcharge £5 autumn and spring. Podcast - copy and paste this link into your browser address field: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nwmX4ixJbtrcJZWO2pOja?si=e19b2e25a1e74999

Book Group Fiction A (1)

Group Leader - Chris Bowley Monthly Monday 4.00 - 5.00 pm Start date 14.9.26. Members' homes. We are a friendly and welcoming group of enthusiastic fiction readers who enjoy discovering new books and sharing thoughts with others. Together we choose what to read, aiming to explore a wide variety of genres, authors and styles that we might not otherwise encounter. We meet once a month on Mondays to discuss the books we've chosen, talking about the characters, plot, themes and our individual likes and dislikes. Our conversations are stimulating and often develop into wider discussions, enriched by the diverse experiences and perspectives of fellow u3a members. Anyone in the group for whom it is convenient and is happy to help with hosting a meeting is welcome to do so, but there is no expectation or requirement; we are grateful to those who do. We keep in touch through WhatsApp, making it easy to stay updated on meeting details, book choices and anything that comes up in between sessions. Venue surcharge £0.

Book Group Fiction B (1)

Group Leader - Linda Hoole Monthly Monday 6.15 - 7.15 pm 12/10/2026 to 12/7/2027 (Introductory meeting: Thursday 3/9.26, 17.45, upstairs Skipton Library). Meetings take place on the second Monday of the month, with alternative arrangements if this is a bank holiday. We meet in local pubs, with lift sharing encouraged. Our favourite venue has been the Old Swan in Gargrave. Members negotiate the book choice from a list provided by Skipton Library. All members should be comfortable being in a WhatsApp group which will be used for reminders and recommendations of other books and authors- no pictures of pets or grandchildren! Venue surcharge £0.

Four Great Female Artists (1)

Group Leader -Linda Hoole Fortnightly Monday 5.30 - 7.30 Four sessions 26/10/26, 9/11/26, 23/11/26 and 7/12/26. Bradley Village Hall We will be exploring the very different lives and art of four great female artists: Artemisia Gentileschi, Angelica Kauffman, Mary Cassatt and Frida Kahlo. Refreshments will be available. There is ample parking at the Hall; members are encouraged to lift share via the WhatsApp Group. Venue surcharge - £5.

Geology Walks (1)

Group Leader - Diane Killock Fortnightly Monday 10.00 am - 12.00 8/3/27 - 20/9/27 Please come along and join us on our friendly Monday morning walks, mostly following geology trails of up to 4 miles with a focus on the fascinating geology of Yorkshire. The walks are offered and led by Group leaders but please note we are not experts, just keen to share our knowledge and learn from each other. Walk details will be circulated the week before and will include date, time, meeting place, walk length and geology features. Venue surcharge - £0.

Indoor Games 26-27 (1)

Group Leader - Alan Newall Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 5/10/2026 - 7/12/2026 and 11/1/2027 - 16/3/2027 Three Links Club The Indoor games Group provides an opportunity for members to meet socially, during the dreary winter months, and to enjoy some FRIENDLY competition. The group meets weekly at The Three Links Club, where a wide range of games are available, including dominoes, scrabble, draughts/chess, Mah Yong, various card games and several board games. Members are very welcome to bring in their own games to try out. We play purely for FUN - no prizes or trophies. Refreshments are available during the afternoon from the Club Bar. Venue surcharge - £10 autumn and spring.

Italian continuers (1)

Group Leader - Sylva Vorstman Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 5/10/26 - 14/12/26 (no session 2/11/26) and 11/1/27 - 22/3/27 (no session 15/2/27). Quaker Meeting House For students with a reasonable level of fluency. We spend time chatting in Italian. We do listen and complete comprehension exercises that can be prepared at home. We cover a wide range of topics, focused on Italy and also some advanced grammar or translation. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and £10 spring.

Literary Lives (1)

Group Leaders - David Turner and Judith Barras. Fortnightly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 28/9/26 - 14/12/26 (no session 26/10/26) and 4/1/27 - 1/3/27 St Stephen's Church Hall, Skipton A series of illustrated talks on the lives of literary figures from the 18th, 19th and 20th century by Judith Barras, David Turner and guest presenters. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and spring.

Music theory & improvisation (1)

Group Leader - Chris Brown Fortnightly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 14/9/26 - 23/11/26 and 11/1/27 - 22/3/27 Draughton Village Hall This is a theoretical and practical creative music course supported by piano. We will explore how to develop your music ideas, come up with creative musical phrases and fit them into a musical framework – the start of improvisation and song composition. You will prepare your own musical ideas, (on your instrument or sing them out loud), and then transfer these ideas to piano, explore, harmonize and then develop them into improvisation and possibly a song melody. This course is aimed at musical instrument players with some experience/competency of chords, scales and arpeggios. Any instrument will be fine. In preparation for the above, we will also work on well known pop and jazz songs, playing from memory/by ear without music and a mix of musical theory with practical demonstration, harmony and chord progressions. Venue surcharge - £10 autumn and winter.

MusicalTheatre:Great Composers (1)

Group Leader - Judith Barras Fortnightly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 5 sessions autumn - 5/10/26, 19/10/26, 9/11/26, 23/11/26, 7/12/26 St Stephen's Church Hall Each session will look in detail at the life and music of one composer: Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Extensive use will be made of video clips of some of their greatest music and to demonstrate influences on their work and their distinctive styles. Venue Surcharge - £5.

Pickleball (1)

Group Leader - Jaqui Fenwick Weekly Monday 12.30 - 1.45 pm Start date 2026 September 28th end date Nov 30th Start date 2027 January 4th end date March 8th Sandylands Sports Centre Come and try Pickleball. Pickleball is played on a court with the same dimensions as Badminton. It is played by two pairs, using pickleball paddles and a pickle ball over a central net. Members will need to bring their own Pickleball paddles Venue Surcharge - £20 autumn and spring

Racketball (1)

Group Leader - Mike Valiant Weekly Monday 9.30 - 10.50 am 7/9/2026 - 30/8/2027. Sandylands Sports Centre Played on the squash courts at Sandylands, Skipton. Clothing as for indoor sports with non-marking shoes. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Game details: Singles. 2 games played to 11 points with 2 points clear. Players rotate between opponents and courts. Rackets and balls provided. Fees - £5 on a “pay per play” basis. Payable by cash. Venue surcharge - £0.

Recorder Continuers (1)

Group Leader - Jenny Crook Weekly Monday 3.00 - 5.00 pm 28/9/26 - 7/12/26 (except 26/10/26) and 4/1/27 - 15/3/27 (except 8/2/27) St Andrew's Church Primary Room We are an informal, supportive, self-help group (no tutor), and members have a varied amount of musical knowledge. We play all sorts of 2, 3 and 4 part music. Ideally you should have some previous basic experience, but if in doubt please contact me to check the standard needed. Requirements: recorder and portable music stand. Additional costs: allow £10 for music. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and spring.

Recorder Ensemble (1)

Group Leader - Susan Farmery Weekly Monday 1.30 - 2.45 pm 28/9/26 - 7/12/26 (except 26/10/26) and 4/1/27 - 15/3/27 (except 8/2/27) St Andrew's Church Primary Room Four or five part music will be played on descant, treble, tenor and bass recorders, with the addition of sopranino and contrabass as required. Music from different genres will be played, from early music to contemporary repertoire. It is an asset if members can sight read and play more than one instrument. The group usually plays at the u3a carol service in one of the Skipton churches. You will need recorders and a portable music stand. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and spring. Podcast - copy and paste the following link into your web browser address: https://open.spotify.com/episode/77jFhXiPSsPYJp7EufFOlQ?si=4543e959a1874216

Science and technology disc (1)

Group Leader - Ian Blomfield Weekly Monday 10.15 am - 12.15 pm 21/9/26 - 30/11/26 and 4/1/27 - 15/3/27 St Stephen's Church Hall Weekly discussion of current scientific topics that are of special interest to group members. No scientific or technical expertise is required to join. However, If you have expertise in a particular area, you will be most welcome to give a presentation. Documents for discussion are posted on our website each week: https://cravenst971700904.wordpress.com so access to the internet is required. Meetings are held in a hybrid in-person/Zoom format. We have internet access and a large screen at the venue so that participants and articles can be displayed to all. Venue surcharge - £10 spring and £15 autumn. Podcast - copy and paste the following link into your web browser address: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wLvrthKX94BCr3fbgzelN?si=549e9607719a4876

Stretching / Yoga (1)

Group Leader - Sandra Dixon Weekly Monday 10.00 - 11.00 am 12/10/2026 - 14/12/2026 and 4/1/27 to 8/3/27 St Andrew's Church Hall Exercise to improve balance and flexibility. You should to be able to sit down on your heels and do a shoulder stand to do the positions correctly. Please wear comfortable clothing, bring a mat and bottle of water. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and £10 spring.

Tenpin Bowling (1)

Group Leader - Gail Matthews Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 14/9/26 - 11/12/26 and 11/1/27 - 25/4/27 Matrix Superbowl We play 2 games per week. Just for fun! The cost for 2 games is £6 or £7 per week. Venue surcharge - £0.

Woodturning 1 (1)

Group Leader - Doug Hirst Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 05/10/2026 - 07/12/2026 and 04/01/2027 - 22/03/2027 Group leader's home (Skipton) A mixed ability class. Beginners will learn basic techniques. Returners will undertake more ambitious projects. N.B. This course involves moving machinery and sharp tools, so there are health and safety issues, which will be covered. There will be some exposure to dust, so it may not be advisable for those with breathing difficulties. Physical strength is not required, so it is suitable for anyone. Persons with health problems such as postural hypotension MUST inform the Group Leader. Additional cost <£5 for cost of materials, wood. Venue surcharge - £0. Programme podcast. Copy and paste this into your browser address https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CBdEprwN1Gy7C3k9V4zSh?si=bd0ae91bc99f4dc3

Woodturning 2 (1)

Group Leader - Doug Hirst Weekly Monday 5.00 - 7.00 pm 05/10/2026 - 07/12/2026 and 04/01/2027 - 22/03/2027 Group leader's home (Skipton) Mixed ability class. Beginners will learn basic techniques. Returners will undertake more ambitious projects. N.B. This course involves moving machinery and sharp tools, so there are health and safety issues, which will be covered. There will be some exposure to dust, so it may not be advisable for those with breathing difficulties. Physical strength is not required, so it is suitable for anyone. Persons with health problems such as postural hypotension MUST inform the Group Leader. Additional cost <£5 for cost of materials, wood. Venue surcharge - £0. Programme podcast. Copy and paste this into your browser address https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CBdEprwN1Gy7C3k9V4zSh?si=bd0ae91bc99f4dc3

Woodturning in Summer 2026 (1)

Group Leader - Doug Hirst Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm Summer 2027 - dates to be announced in Spring 2027 and will probably run from June to August. Carleton Woodturning This group will be held in a woodturning club in Carleton. There will be 10 sessions with a set of medium level projects This course is aimed at those with a bit of experience in woodturning but will not be too challenging. It is not the best environment for beginners as time for individual supervision is limited. NB access to the premises involves rough terrain and a steep staircase. There are no toilet or kitchen facilities in the building or the village so members must bring their own refreshments. There is an additional cost for materials. Venue surcharge - £20.

Woodturning in Summer 2027 (1)

Group Leader - Doug Hirst Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm Summer 2027 - dates to be announced in Spring 2027 and will probably run from June to August. Carleton Woodturning This group will be held in a woodturning club in Carleton. There will be 10 sessions with a set of medium level projects This course is aimed at those with a bit of experience in woodturning but will not be too challenging. It is not the best environment for beginners as time for individual supervision is limited. NB access to the premises involves rough terrain and a steep staircase. There are no toilet or kitchen facilities in the building or the village so members must bring their own refreshments. There is an additional cost for materials. Venue surcharge - £20. Programme podcast. Copy and paste this into your browser address https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CBdEprwN1Gy7C3k9V4zSh?si=bd0ae91bc99f4dc3

Z Indoor Games 26-27 (1)

Group Leader - Alan Newall Weekly Monday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 5/10/2026 - 7/12/2026 and 11/1/2027 - 16/3/2027 Three Links Club The Indoor games Group provides an opportunity for members to meet socially, during the dreary winter months, and to enjoy some FRIENDLY competition. The group meets weekly at The Three Links Club, where a wide range of games are available, including dominoes, scrabble, draughts/chess, Mah Yong, various card games and several board games. Members are very welcome to bring in their own games to try out. We play purely for FUN - no prizes or trophies. Refreshments are available during the afternoon from the Club Bar. Venue surcharge - £10 autumn and spring.

Z Racketball (1)

Group Leader - Mike Valiant Weekly Monday 9.30 - 10.50 am 7/9/2026 - 30/8/2027. Sandylands Sports Centre Played on the squash courts at Sandylands, Skipton. Clothing as for indoor sports with non-marking shoes. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Game details: Singles. 2 games played to 11 points with 2 points clear. Players rotate between opponents and courts. Rackets and balls provided. Fees - £5 on a “pay per play” basis. Payable by cash. Venue surcharge - £0.