Welcome
Cathy Beardes, Chair
Welcome to the u3a in Ludlow.
We are one of more than 1000 UK-wide u3a charities affiliated to the Third Age Trust that provide the opportunity for those no longer in full-time work to come together and learn for fun. It is all voluntary, friendly, low-cost and open to all.
u3a members draw upon their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other for pleasure; learning is its own reward.
What does being a member of the u3a in Ludlow offer?
* Being part of an organisation with over 600 members
* Access to around 60 different local interest groups
* Opportunity to join nationwide on-line groups.
* Monthly meetings open to all members
* Regular local newsletters and updates
* Five issues a year of the national u3a Newsletter
Events and News
Monthly Meetings
Monthly meetings take place on the last Monday of each month. There are no meetings in July, August and December, and the May meeting takes place a week earlier due to the bank holiday. Meetings are held in the Assembly Rooms and start with coffee and tea at 10:30 in Oscars. The meeting itself starts at 11:00 in the auditorium.
30th June 2025
Burying Valuables and Valuable Burials – Exploring Metalwork from Bronze Age Britain
Dr Matthew Knight
Matthew is Senior Curator of Prehistory at the National Museum of Scotland, responsible for the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age collections. He is particularly fascinated by how and why prehistoric communities buries material culture, particularly metalwork.
This talk will explore some of the spectacular – and sometimes rather ordinary – metalwork burials across Britain and what they can tell us about Bronze Age communities.
Burying Valuables and Valuable Burials – Exploring Metalwork from Bronze Age Britain
Dr Matthew Knight
Matthew is Senior Curator of Prehistory at the National Museum of Scotland, responsible for the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age collections. He is particularly fascinated by how and why prehistoric communities buries material culture, particularly metalwork.
This talk will explore some of the spectacular – and sometimes rather ordinary – metalwork burials across Britain and what they can tell us about Bronze Age communities.
Get Involved Around Ludlow
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Ludlow Repair Cafe Not a fan of the throw-away society? Then a Repair Café is for you! People have been repairing for a long time either driven by finances or simply by enjoying the challenge of trying to fix something. If you need something repaired, or you'd like to know how you can volunteer go to Get Involved tab on the Information Centre page. |
Ludlow Parish Path Partnership (P3) Ludlow P3 is a volunteer group maintaining footpaths in the area, with training and equipment provided by Shropshire Outdoor Partnership Team. If you'd like to know how you can volunteer or just get more details, go to Get Involved tab on the Information Centre page. |
Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival Volunteers are at the heart of the organisation and LMFDF need your help! For more information about this and other opportunities to help the community go to the Get Involved tab on the Information Centre page. |
u3a in Ludlow News
Meet the u3a in Ludlow Save the Date: Tuesday 12th August We are planning a morning in Oscars, with free tea or coffee, to promote the wide variety of our Interest Groups to the members that don’t know what they get up to and to the wider public to let them know what a great organisation the u3a in Ludlow is. Come along between 10.30 and 12.30 on 12th August. June 2025  Cathy Beardes, Chair
A New Chair for Ludlow u3a
Cathy Beardes has taken over as Chair of u3a in Ludlow from Jan Haines who retired from the post after serving for 3 years. Cathy paid tribute to the tireless work of Jan Haines who presided over an expanding membership and is looking forward to a well earned rest. Cathy is widely known in the u3a having served on the committee as Interest Group Advisor and previously Newsletter Editor. She is also coordinator for a number of groups, including Art Together and Scrabble. Not one to be overawed by a challenge Cathy commented how keen she was to get started, and welcomed those who have volunteered to support, or be part of the new committee. Cathy will retain her role as Interest Group Coordinator, with the support from volunteers. April 2025 
Gallery Page Launched The Website now has a Gallery Page featuring photographs of groups in action, with photos taken by members of the u3a in Ludlow Photography group. In response to a request from the national u3a Communications team to update their library of photographs for use in promoting the u3a, the Photography Group have arranged to visit a number of groups and found members enthusiastic to take part. Together with a similar exercise last year 9 groups have so far been snapped with more planned. Contact [email protected] for more information. April 2025 Ukulele Group
Members of the Ukulele Group at Hagley Pace
(Photograph courtesy of Shauna Delaney)
Residents at Hagley Place were treated to Christmas entertainment by the Ludlow u3a Ukulele Group. The group was formed only a few months ago, but has already give performances in Market Square and now at Hagley. December 2024 Welcome to our 2000th Member
Jan Haines (left), Chair of U3A in Ludlow welcomes Maureen Furness, our first and Alison O'Grady (right), our latest members.
(Photograph by Alan Harvey)
In September, Alison O'Grady became the 2000th member of the u3a in Ludlow. Formed in 1997 the u3a in Ludlow has grown steadily to over 650 regular members and and to mark the occasion of our 2000th member, our first member, Maureen Furness, was invited to join Jan Haines, Chair, and Alison on stage at the monthly meeting on 27th October. "It was wonderful to reach this milestone, and to meet both Alison and Maureen," Jan Haines, Chair, said after the event. October 2024 |
Would you like to help steer the u3a in Ludlow? We have vacancy for the post of Secretary following a recent departure. The role involves arranging 3 - 4 committee meetings over the year, taking and writing up the minutes, and ensuring information held by The Charity Commission is current. If you feel you have what it takes, then contact Cathy Beardes, the Chair for an informal chat, or come along to the next committee meeting. May 2025 
Ukulele group Come along to the Ludlow Brewery early evening on 15th June to support and watch the amazing Ukulele group perform a range of your favourite melodies. June 2025 
The New Committee
Both Sue Curthoys (secretary) and Pad Doble resigned from the committee after several years of service, giving opportunity for others to step-up whilst also looking at how we might work better. With this in mind Carien Gilbert takes on a new role of New Member Liaison whilst Ian Barge becomes Vice Chair, freeing Cathy (Chair) from these tasks. Alison O'Grady has taken on the role of Secretary whilst the former Chair, Jan Haines has agreed to stay on the committee in her the role of u3a Shropshire Network Liaison.. All other committee members remain the same, although a number are now supported by non-committee volunteers. The full committee can be found on the Committee & Contact Page. April 2025 
Learn to Live
u3a are delighted to have launched a new report, 'Learn to Live: A blueprint for better health and wellbeing' which shines a light on the u3a non-formal learning model and the benefits for promoting and maintaining happy, healthy lives. Non-formal learning is a crucial tool for strengthening community resilience and reducing the impact of social isolation and loneliness, especially in the wake of the pandemic. This report draws attention to the immense value of a low-cost, non-formal learning model in promoting health and well-being in later life. This report calls for greater recognition and targeted resources to enable access for all communities. Investing in non-formal learning must be a priority for the current government and a critical issue for public health More details can be found in the u3a National and Regional News tab of the Information Centre page. Feb 2025 Quiz
15 teams took part in the u3a quiz at the Assembly Rooms
Members of the u3a tested themselves in a fiendishly difficult quiz at the November Monthly Meeting. Questions required knowledge of the Shropshire County Park Superintendent in 1946 and the names of the children in Narnia books. 15 teams battled it out to win this year's competition, but it was "Scrabbling Around" that proved victorious. Congratulations to them and well done to all who took part. November 2024 u3a in Ludlow Success at Ludlow Market
The u3a in Ludlow at The Mayor's Market in September
The u3a in Ludlow showcased it's work and activities at the Mayor's Market on Thursday 5th September, and again in Castle Square on Friday 27th September. In addition to raising awareness of the u3a, the events led to 38 new members signing up on-the-day, and a further 29 throughout the promotional campaign. From the conversations had it was clear many people had not heard of the u3a and were enthused by what they saw and heard. A special thanks all those that took part, and to the newly formed Ukulele group who performed at the event on 27th. September 2024 |
u3a in Ludlow is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1072055
Headline photograph by Stuart Knight, u3a in Ludlow Photography Group
