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

People and Places Groups

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History Happens (70038/People and Places)

This is a series of lively talks, fortnightly, designed for our members who enjoy talks on historical topics that cover unfamiliar ground and untold histories . . . that take them to unexplored realms and unusual corners . . . that open up new vistas. On a broad range of topics - ancient to modern - with a range of excellent speakers. From social and cultural history to people, events and politics - such as the birth of geology, the course of the year 1922, Easter Island (Rapanui) and its history, William Blake, and so much more. Plenty to entertain and stimulate. 7/1/2026 to 18/3/2026 Surcharge

Book Group - Non-fiction (70784/People and Places)

The only requirement for this group is to have read the book! Meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. Members can choose books in advance from a list provided by Skipton Library which will be emailed before the first meeting. Everyone is responsible for collecting from and returning their book to the library by the due date. There is no requirement to be a member of the library. The venue may vary, using local pubs to meet. Ideally, everyone should be happy to be a member of a WhatsApp group which will be used for reminders and recommendations about books and authors - no pictures of pets, holidays or grandchildren! 1/10/2025 to 1/7/2026 Surcharge £0.00

Book Group Fiction B (70788/People and Places)

Meetings take place on the second Monday of the month, with alternative arrangements if this is a bank holiday. This is an informal group where the only requirement is to have read the book! Members can choose from a list of books provided by Skipton Library which will be emailed in advance of the first monthly meeting Members will need to collect a copy of the book from the library and are responsible for returning it by the due date. The venue may vary, using local pubs to meet. All members should be comfortable with being in a WhatsApp group which will be used for reminders and recommendations of other books and authors- no pictures of pets or grandchildren! 1/9/2025 to 8/7/2026 Surcharge £0.00

Geography Forum (70810/People and Places)

Talks, mainly by members of the Forum, on Geography, History, People and Places 1/10/2025 to 10/12/2025 break 29/10/2025 7/1/2026 to 18/3/2026 break 18/02/2026 Surcharge £5.00

  • Meets: Wednesday Weekly Autumn Spring
    Venue: St Stephens Church Hall Skipton
  • Leader(s): Raymond Bartlett, Jonathan Hauxwell, Nigel Holden, Laurie Prowse
  • Contact: Click here to contact the Group Leader
Japan: A history in five talks (70824/People and Places)

This highly compressed history of Japan begins with the ancient gods and cherry blossom and ends with a journey on the bullet train past Mount Fuji. The dominant theme is Japan’s clash and fusion with the Western world since the mid-16th century. The talks will entail considerable cross-referencing between different periods of Japanese history. Hence, this is NOT a course for dipping in and out of. Priority of place will therefore be granted to those members who to the best of their knowledge can commit themselves to attending all five talks. 8/10/2025 to 10/12/2025 Surcharge £5.00

Literary Lives (70825/People and Places)

Illustrated talks on the lives of literary figures by Judith Barras, David Turner and guest presenters, covering writers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. 29/9/2025 to 15/12/2025 12/1/2026 to 16/3/2026 Surcharge £5.00

Politics Discussion Group (70845/People and Places)

The Politics Discussion Group meets weekly to discuss current political events. We also consider the background to political decisions, and the processes of government (in the UK and elsewhere). Group members will bring to bear their wide-ranging experience(s), reading and viewing to try to get a better understanding of what’s going on and where it might lead. Occasionally, a member of the group may offer a more formal input to inform and focus our discussions. The group is not intended to be a forum for political knockabout from entrenched positions, (although members will clearly have, and express, their own views), but rather an educational experience from which we emerge having learned something new or questioning our previous assumptions. 25/9/2025 to 4/12/2025 15/1/2026 to 26/3/2026 Surcharge £10.00

Book Group Fiction A (72881/People and Places)

Meetings take place on the second Monday of the month, with alternative arrangements if this is a bank holiday. This is an informal group where the only requirement is to have read the book! Members can choose from a list of books provided by Skipton Library which will be emailed in advance of the first monthly meeting Members will need to collect a copy of the book from the library and are responsible for returning it by the due date. The venue may vary, using local pubs to meet. All members should be comfortable with being in a WhatsApp group which will be used for reminders and recommendations of other books and authors- no pictures of pets or grandchildren! 1/9/2025 to 8/7/2026 Surcharge £0.00

History Extra (74450/People and Places)

An extra History course. Five weekly talks on various things historical. - informative, stimulating, and thought-provoking. From the wonders of early collectors and their eccentricities, via the Frankish empire of the 8th century, to the bosses of the Iron Curtain countries. Speakers will include Jane Houlton and Nigel Holden. This course is intended as a priority to enrol those members who were not able to attend the ongoing History Happens course, and will repeat talks give on previous u3a courses. Surcharge £5.00