May June News
Visit to Honeypot House
Barbara Forster recently organised a Lymington u3a trip to Honeypot House in Blackfield. It was a great success - Pam Collins, who was on the trip, says, "Well what a lovely way to spend a morning. All down to Barbara and Honeypot, which is a wonderful charity providing respite care for young chidren"
About Honeypot - https://www.honeypot.org.uk/
Honeypot was founded on 13 April 1992 by Lisa Nelson Stratton to realise a childhood dream of helping children who had not enjoyed the childhood advantages she had. The charity was initially set up for the relief of children who were handicapped, ill, or otherwise in need, by providing holidays in residential homes. The first house was Honeypot Hampshire in The New Forest, which opened its doors in 1996.
In the early 2000s it became clear that a particular group of children - young carers who had largely remained under the radar - were desperately in need of support and Honeypot has specialised in this group ever since, while also supporting non-carers whose circumstances place their wellbeing at risk. Honeypot now supports over 3,000 children each year.
Two New Trips
Two outings that are open to all Lymington u3a members have been organised by the Garden Appreciation Group.
30th June - Evening visit to Lyburn Cheese Farm - MORE INFORMATION
9th July - Abbotsbury Swannery and Gardens - MORE INFORMATION
More about Interest Groups with Vacancies
Since the post below, we have had an update that there are spaces in the following groups ...... Current Affairs 3, Scrabble, Armchair Travel, Art Appreciation 1, Music Appreciation, Anglo Saxon History and Reading.
Easy Line Dancing and Cribbage are in formation at the moment.
If you are interested in any of the above, please email Tim and Sue Norris and we will put you in contact with the person who coordinates the group.
Interest Groups with Vacancies
We have several new groups that are being set up and have spaces. They are Shakespeare 2 (meeting on 3rd Monday of the month at 10.00am) and Music Appreciation (meeting for first time in Solento Lounge on Tuesday 12th May at 3.00pm). Anglo Saxon and Norman History is full and we hope to get Easy Line Dancing and Cribbage going in the next month.
Other groups with spaces are French (Advanced) Language and Culture, French Intermediate, Military History 1, Current Affairs 1, Local Interests Group, Spanish Intermediate, Petanque, Book Club 3, Easy Line Dancing (experienced members only), Mahjong 2, Philosophy, Science and Technology, Food and Friends.
French Chat in the Cafe, Golf, Walking and Lunch groups always have spaces.
If you are interested in any of the above, please Send a message to Tim and Sue Norris and we can put you in contact with the person who coordinates the group.
May - June Newsletter
This paper printed version of the Newsletter is posted to Lymington u3a members who do not have an email account. click HERE to view or download a PDF version.
March April News
CPR and Defibrillator Training
Only 1 in 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital will survive.
Would you know what to do if someone close to you had a cardiac arrest?
Lymington u3a is offering 20 members the chance to be trained to do CPR and to learn how to use a defibrillator. Our trainers will be from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
FIND OUT MORE and BOOK YOUR PLACE
New Groups
Anglo Saxon/Norman History - has been set up and is immediately full
Shakespeare 2 - has been set up should be runninbg soon (see website groups page)
Music Appreciation - Some interest and should be set up by beginning of May
Line Dancing 2- to be sorted out in May / lots of interest Cribbage - lots of interest, also to be sorted out in May.
u3a Festival 2026
All tickets for the The u3a Festival 2026 have now been sold and booking is closed
SCAMS and Crime Prevention Advice
Following our March monthly talk about SCAMS and Fraud Prevention the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have sent various resources to share with you. Just click on the highlighted title of each of these to read more or to download a printable PDF version.
Fraud Safeguarding Advice and Support Information
This 6 page leaflet explains how to get your money back, how to prevent fraud and lists various sources of support with details of how to contact them.
The Little Book of BIG Scams
This 60 page booklet, which was published in 2023, describes various types of fraud (there seems to be rather a lot of them!).
There is also a free audio version available at: Stream The Little Book Of Big Scams from Metropolitan Police
Crime Prevention Bulletin
In addition, the Crime Prevention team send a monthly newsletter. Click on the heading above to read the most recent version. If you would like to sign up for a copy, please email: cpahampshire@hampshire.police.uk
All members also have the opportunity to sign up for Hampshire Alert. Once registered, you will receive emails direct to your inbox and will know it is from a trusted source. Hampshire Alert is used to send out weekly fraud alerts, and local neighbourhood policing teams share information about local crimes, community events, and “Have Your Say” which provides an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of policing locally: Home Page - Hampshire Alert
South East u3a Forum Summer School
The Summer School will be from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th September. Held in the University of Chichester.
MORE INFORMATION
u3a Online Learning Events
Every month there are a wide range of topics covered in free u3a online events that take place via Zoom. In April you may join up to 14 of these ranging from 'The Magic of Magic Squares', through 'AI and Geopolitics', to 'Oi Mind Your Language"
Every month there are a wide range of topics covered in free u3a online events that take place via Zoom. In April you may join up to 14 of these ranging from 'The Magic of Magic Squares', through 'AI and Geopolitics', to 'Oi Mind Your Language"
Just click on this link to find out more and book a place: Online Learning Events
Overground and Underground Questers trip to Southampton
Given the much increased cost of coach hire and the difficulty we have had in getting enough member interest to fill a coach this was the second of our organised Bus Pass Outings.
Our u3a party set off from Lymington aboard the No.6 Bluestar bus on a sunny Saturday morning heading to the meeting with our tour guides at Southampon Bargate. Our journey of exploration
took us through open air and underground chambers as our guides uncovered some of the stories, surprises, and characters that have shaped Southampton, including places not otherwise open to the public. We were told that only one city in England (York) has a greater length of preserved medieval walls than Southampton. We worked our way around the historic walls that were built with stone from the Isle of Wight, and were told stories about some of the medieval buildings and famous people who have lived in and visited Southampton over the centuries. The tour ranged from vaults for the King's wine to communal latrines together with the origin (perhaps apocryphal) of some now common expressions. On the way doors were unlocked to allow us to venture underground into some of the town ancient vaults and discover further about the city’s history.
New Interest Groups
There are some new groups that we are hoping to get off the ground, based on interests expressed by members. What each one will entail, the date it might occur etc is yet to be decided. If there is enough initial interest then the next stage will be to convene a meeting to sort out those important details.
If you are interested in any of the following, please come back to us at:
groups@lymingtonu3a.org
Easy Line Dancing
Cribbage
Shakespeare
Anglo Saxon/Norman History
Music Appreciation
Annual General Meeting 2026
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Lymington u3a will take place in St Thomas' Church Hall, at 2.00pm on Wednesday 1st April 2026.
After the AGM, approx 2.30pm, there will be a u3a speaker talk lasting about 1 hour. PC 27625 Stephen WALKER, PCSO Harris, and a colleague from the safeguarding team, Penelope Mason, will be talking to us about Scams and how to avoid them.
IMPORTANT - AGM - Documentation and voting details
Please read the AGM documentation that can be found by following the link below:
AGM Annual reports and accounts
If you can not attend the AGM meeting please vote on-line and appoint the chairman as your proxy give your proxy by following the link below:
Voting Form
Note: if you vote on-line and still attend the AGM meeting please inform the committee member on the door.
Basic Digital Skills Course
4 March
The Adult Education Office at Lymington Community Centre has set up another Digital Skills Basics course for those of you who wish to become more confident about using your smart phone or tablet. The tutor Simon presented the courses we ran last year and is very good.
The courses will run at the Community Centre on a Wednesday over 5 weeks for 2.5 hrs and cost £125 with a maximum of 6 students in each class. They class will run from 13.00 to 15.30.
Paper Newsletter: March - April
This paper printed version of the Lymington u3a Newsletter is posted to Lymington u3a members who do not have an email account. click HERE to view or download a PDF version.
January February News
u3a Friends Newsletter - February
19 February 2026
Click HERE to read the national u3a Friends Newsletter for February
New Members Meeting
15 February 2026
The next New Members Meeting will be held:
1.30pm, Friday 27th February, In St Thomas Curch Hall
These inormal meeting are intended as an introduction to Lymington u3a and an opportunity for Members who have recently joined to find out more; and to talk to committee members and some Interest Group leaders
Update on Groups and Vacancies
3 February 2026
There are now vacancies in the Philosophy Group and the Scence and Technology Group. All information on Group Vacancies is HERE
New Forest Heat Project
9 January 2026
During the questions and discussion following our monthly talk this week the New Forest Heat Project was mentioned. This Project, which is funded by New Forest District Council, offers free Home visits for Thermal Imaging Surveys and Energy Advice, using Trained Volunteers. The Survey will show you where the heat is leaking out from your home, and they will give advice with cost effective solutions. For more information contact Jon Holland on 0750 774103.
Basic Digital Skills Course
7 January 2026
The Adult Education Office at Lymington Community Centre has set up 2 new Basic Digital Skills courses for those of you who wish to become more confident about using your smart phone or tablet. The tutor Simon presented the courses we ran last year and is very good.
The courses will run at the Community Centre on a Wednesday over 5 weeks for 2.5 hrs and cost £125 with a maximum of 6 students in each class. They plan to run two classes concurrently - one course will run from 09.30 to 12.00 and the other from 13.00 to 15.30.
If you are interested, you should contact the Community Centre office at once:
Go in to their office near Reception at the Community Centre, or
Phone them on 01590 679457' or
Email them at lymington@brock.ac.uk
Update on Groups and Vacancies
7 January 2026
There are vacancies for more members to join in two recently started Goups: Book Club 3 and French Advanced: Language and Culture. All information on Group Vacancies is HERE
u3a Matters - National Magazine: Winter 2025/6
The online version of u3a Matters magazine winter edition is available HERE
Paper Newsletter: January - February 2026
This paper printed version of the Lymington u3a Newsletter is posted to Lymington u3a members who do not have an email account. click HERE to view or download a PDF version.
November December News
Paper Newsletter: January - February 2026
18 Dec 2025
This paper printed version of the Newsletter is posted to Lymington u3a members who do not have an email account. click HERE to view or download a PDF version.
Update on Groups and Vacancies
17 Dec 2025
There are now 50 active Lymington u3a Inerest Groups, with vacancies in 18 Groups for new members to join. Two new Groups have recently started: Book Club 3 and French Advanced: Language and Culture. All information on Group Vacancies is HERE
AI - 2B or not 2B : Talk Slides
15 Dec 2025
Several members who attended our monthly talk about Artificial Intelligence (6th November) have asked if the talk slides could be made available. A copy is now available to read or download from this link: AI-2B or not 2B slides
Local Interest Group Outing
3rd Dec 2025
The Local Interest Group visited the New Forest Airfields Memorial at the site of the former Holmsley Airfield on 3rd December. The visit was led by Christine who had researched the subject thoroughly and presented a fascinating account of those who served during the Second World War and the repurposing of the airfield buildings after the war to house local homeless people. It was a challenge to get there due to closed roads and a postcode error, but five made it and enjoyed tea at the Old Station Tea Rooms afterwards. More information is available at the Friends of the New Forest Airfields website https://fonfa.co.uk/airfields-memorial/
Meeting Changes in 2026
1st Nov 2025
From January 2026 the day of the month and venue will be changing for our monthly meetings. The meeting days for coffee mornings will also be changing. Click on link below for full details:
Meeting Day Changes in 2026
November - December Newsletter
1st Nov 2025
The paper printed version of our November - December Newsletter has been posted to members who are not online. If you wish to read or download a copy, a PDF version is available here:
November - December Newsletter
September - October News
Bath Trip Cancelled
7 Oct 2025
Last year our intended coach trip to visit Bath at the time of the Xmas market had to be cancelled at the last minute because of Storm Darragh. We promised that we would run a similar coach outing the following year. This year the intended 2025 coach trip to Bath was planned, a coach booking reservation was made and the trip has been advertised to Lymington u3a members, Unfortunately the response from members has been very poor with not enough people signing up to make the trip financially viable. This is disappointing and it is hard to say why the same trip was fully booked in 2024 before it was cancelled, but this year there is not enough interest to make such a trip economically viable. This follows the proposed outing to Brighton earlier this year being similarly cancelled because of a lack of interest.
Vitamin D
30 Sept 2025
If you attended our September monthly talk you will remember that Lymington u3a member, Brian Curwain, gave us a talk about Vitamin D. There could be no doubt about the interest shown by those at the meeting because there were more questions (by a wide margin) following the talk than I can remember from any other monthly talk that I have attended. At the end of the session we promised that we would make a short summary note of Brian's talk available to both the audience and other Lymimgton u3a members who had missed it. An email with a link to this note, which you may read, print or download has been sent today to our members
Lymington u3a Rolling News
28 Sept 2025
You can't have failed to have noticed that 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be' in the world of communication. Writing letters, sending postcards or even making a 'phone call are all being replaced with texts, messaging, WhatsApp and social media. For the young among us even sending an email is rather old fashioned.
For a long time Lymington u3a produced a two-monthly Newsletter for our members that could be collected at one of our monthly meetings. During Covid lockdown this went online, with a paper version being sent to members who are not online. It has continued in this form. The disadvantage of a publication every two months is that some of the news is rather 'old news' even for those of us who do not feel it is essential to walk around holding a 'phone in order to instantly receive the latest tweet, X or message from 'Truth Social'.
We are, therefore, experimenting with updating the delivery of Lymington u3a News. You will be able to see the latest news - like this by clicking on NEWS on the website Home Page. There will also continue to be a two-monthly paper Newsletter posted to members who are not online, and this will be available on the website to read or download for those who prefer an A4 document. We will also continue to send an email to you every two months to let you know that the next Newsletter has been published - or just as a reminder to look at the website NEWS page to catch up on what has been posted.
Committee Meeting
24 Sept 2025
Lymington u3a charity trustees met today at one of their quarterly meetings. The resignion of Adrian Palmer as Vice Chaiman was noted. Various things were decided, including two forthcoming social events. There is a rolling programme for reviewing and if necessary updating adopted policies and the Lymington u3a Disciplinary Procedure was considered at this meeting. Committee members also adopted a Code of Conduct for Lymington u3a, having discovered that we have the Disciplinary Procedure policy that refers to this hitherto non-existent document. Until now the Third Age Matters (TAM) magazine has been distributed free of charge to those members who have opted to receive it, but the cost of postage has risen considerably and from next year there will be an annual £5 charge for TAM.
Christmas Lunch - 1st December
21 Sept 2025
Peter and Pat Bloe, who are kindly organising our Christmas lunch again on Monday 1st December at South Lawn Hotel, Milford on Sea. They need to know who wants to attend and also if there is someone with whom you would like to sit.
Please do not delay in applying as we have to inform the hotel of the numbers.
The cost of £39.35 per head (which includes tips and coffee with a mince pie) should be paid by 17th November at the latest.
To pay with your credit card please click HERE .
To make your menu choices, please click on this link HERE and complete the simple form. Here is the full menu for you to think about:
Starters:
- Roasted sweet potato, carrot and cumin soup with coriander oil and croutons
- Smoked chalk stream trout and crayfish rillette with fennel, cucumber and creme fraiche
- Hamhock and venison chorizo terrine with root piccalilli and mustard dressing
Main courses all served with seasonal vegetables:
- Roast British turkey with traditional accompaniments and roast potatoes
- Braised Hampshire beef steak cooked with red wine,mushrooms and pancetta horseradish mash
- Fillet of bass with shellfish chowder and crushed parsley potato
- Truffled mushroom, leek and Brie strudel with roast new potatoes and chive butter sauce
Desserts:
- Baked vanilla cheesecake with salted caramel and pecan sauce and Christmas pudding ice cream
- Chocolate and Amaretto profiteroles
- Glazed lemon and mandarin tart with clotted Chantilly cream
Lets Go Digital Course
20 Sept 2025
A 'lets Go Digital' Course has been arranged to replace the one that was intended to be run by Solent Mind, but was cancelled because the funding was withdrawn. Our Treasurer has managed to arrange for a similar six week course (for five people) to be run in October with the same tutor and five of our members have signed up to attend.
New Lymington u3a emails
20 Sept 2025
Lymington u3a now has a Google Workspace account provided to us with no charge because we are an eligible charity. Mostly this will just alter the way our data is kept securely within an account belonging to Lymington u3a rather than to any specific officer of the organisation. For the most part this will have no effect on our members or groups. We shall, however, be changing the email addresses we use from personal ones such lymingtonu3a.chairman@gmail.com to ones such as chair@lymingtonu3a.org based on our domain name. The good news is that all of the existing email addresses that you might have in your email contacts lists for our committee members will continue to work as now.
All personal information about u3a members will continue to be kept on the Beacon System maintained by the national u3a Trust, with access restricted to that required by specific officers in order to carry out their roles.
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