Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Golf practice group. Golf Practice - driving range, putting green Back to Groups Page Golf practice Venue : Sherfield Oaks Golf Course , Windmoor Lane, Sherfield, RG27 0HB. Date / Time : 1st Wednesday of the month Group 1 - 10-11.30 Group 2 - 11- 12.30 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Keen to practice your golf swing or putting? This group offers an ideal opportunity to practice in a lovely setting. We have two small golf practice groups that each last 1.5 hours. Members will have access to the driving range and putting green followed by tea and coffee in the club house to discuss the session's highs and lows. The golf course will provide unlimited balls and for those that don't want to bring their own drivers and putters, they will provide clubs.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Excursions and holidays group. Do you like travelling? The members of our Excursions and holidays group make many visits to places of interest, including gardens and stately homes, concerts and shows. We have been busy in 2025, members enjoyed … A Mystery Trip which culminated in a lovely meal A visit to Gun Wharf in Portsmouth, we went up the Spinnaker Tower & had a boat trip around the harbour A trip to the Royal Albert Hall for a concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Saw a West End Production of Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at The Swan Theatre in High Wycombe A trip to Wembley Park to see Starlight Express Salisbury Cathedral Flower Festival Marvelled at the reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Goring-by-Sea and then went on to Worthing Holiday in Italy Back to Groups Page Excursions and holidays Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Please click on the link below Excursions and Holidays

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Croquet group. There are five weekly sessions. You may join one or more groups depending upon demand. A session leader looks after their group and everyone, beginner or more experienced, is welcome to participate in playing hard and enjoying the atmosphere and friendly banter. The sessions are well attended, so have fun. Play is from March through to the end of September. Back to Groups Page Croquet Venue : Thorneycroft Bowls and Basingstoke Croquet Club , St Andrew's Road, RG22 6PT Click here for website Dates : Monday, Tuesday Times : Mondays 3 x 2 ½ hour sessions Tuesdays 2 x 2 ½ hour sessions Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings There are five weekly sessions. You may join one or more groups depending upon demand. A session leader looks after their group and everyone, beginner or more experienced, is welcome to participate in playing hard and enjoying the atmosphere and friendly banter. The sessions are well attended, so have fun. Play is from March through to the end of September.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Theatre Group group. Back to Groups Page Theatre Group Venue: Will be production led, but may be in Basingstoke, Reading, Newbury (Watermill), Southampton, Woking or London Post production discussion venues to be arranged. Times: Based on production availability Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings This is a group for all theatre lovers. Visiting several theatre productions every year, the group will convene shortly after seeing the play to discuss the production, the story, the actors, the sets etc. It's always fun to go with more people and hear other people's views. The group uses a secure app to encourage communication, discussion, and ideas. Members wishing to go to other productions, may also use it to find others interested in joining them. Booking and travel arrangements are the responsibility of members, although in the future, we may introduce block booking arrangements. We also encourage car sharing to help those with transport issues. Current production visits planned: The Nightmare Room Haymarket 21-23 May 2026 Murder Before Evensong Watermill Theatre Newbury 25 Sept -14 Nov. 2026 The location for post theatre trip meetings, will be confirmed nearer the time.

A social organisation for anyone in or around Basingstoke who has retired, is semi-retired or has never worked and who would like to make new friends with similar interests in the local area. The U3A motto is Learn, Laugh, Live.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Mahjong group. Beginners are very welcome. No previous knowledge of the game is required, the rudiments can be picked up quite quickly and we aim to have you playing on your own by the end of your first session. Back to Groups Page Mahjong Venue: Christ Church , Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT Click here for website Date: 1st and 3rd Monday Time: 14:00 - 16:30 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Beginners are very welcome. No previous knowledge of the game is required, the rudiments can be picked up quite quickly and we aim to have you playing on your own by the end of your first session.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Badminton group. We play badminton, mainly doubles, for exercise and enjoyment. Not played for a long time? All abilities are welcome. Don’t have a racquet? No problem - we have a spare you can use, so come along for some activity and enjoyment! Back to Groups Page Badminton * This Group has a waiting list for new members at present * Venue : Everest Community Academy, Oxford Way, RG24 9UP Click here for website Date: Every Friday Time : 15:00 - 17:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings We play badminton, mainly doubles, for exercise and enjoyment. Not played for a long time? All abilities are welcome. Don’t have a racquet? No problem - we have a spare you can use, so come along for some activity and enjoyment!

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Art appreciation group. Artists of all abilities are welcome. This is a popular group and membership continues to grow, with places still available. Back to Groups Page Art appreciation Art Appreciation 1: Venue : Christ Church , Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT Click here for website Date : 3rd Wednesday of the month Time : 14:00 - 16:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Have you ever looked at an artwork and wondered about its meaning, about the artist, the context or the techniques involved? If so, then you’ll enjoy the Art Appreciation group. No expert artistic knowledge is assumed or necessary - just a liking and interest in art in its many and varied forms. Presentations by group members are appreciated and enjoyed. Everyone’s opinion and contribution is valued in this friendly, informal, and enthusiastic group. The group aims to provide opportunities to socialise, discuss and learn from each other. We warmly welcome new members.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Rose Gardening group. A friendly and informal group for anyone who enjoys roses, gardens, coffee and good company. Back to Groups Page Rose Gardening Venue: Members house close to town centre When: 3rd Tuesday of the month Time: 1pm - 3pm Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings A friendly and informal group for anyone who enjoys roses, gardens, coffee and good company. This group is for beginners and experienced gardeners alike — no expertise required, just enthusiasm and curiosity. Together we will share ideas and experiences, discuss seasonal rose care, troubleshoot problems, visit gardens and flower shows, and enjoy learning from each other in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Meetings may include: • informal chats over coffee • looking at roses in bloom • seasonal tips and practical advice • sharing successes and challenges • occasional garden visits and outings. Not experts — just passionate about roses!

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Pilates group. Pilates is a wonderful exercise to improve balance and strength. Back to Groups Page Pilates Group 1 Venue : Brookvale Community Centre Date : Every Monday afternoon Time : 4pm to 5pm Group 2 Venue : Monk Sherborne Village Hall Date : Every Thursday morning Time : 10:45 to 11:45 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Pilates is a wonderful exercise to improve balance and strength. Our classes will be taught by Jo a fully trained Pilates instructor and is suitable for all abilities. Chair and mat Pilates will be taught simultaneously . Places for the group are booked 6 sessions at a time at an additional cost to the u3a membership.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a French group. All French groups meet approximately 35 times over the year. To ensure progression, regular attendance is strongly recommended. Back to Groups Page French * Advanced Group has a waiting list for new members at present * Venues, Dates, Times: See details of day, time and location of each of the groups in the text to the left Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings All French groups meet approximately 35 times over the year. To ensure progression, regular attendance is strongly recommended. Level 1 French Beginners Group leader: Sheila Milner Weekly Tuesday 10.00 -11.30 St Leonard’s centre. Oakley Starting date: Early October The Beginners group is aimed at members who have some knowledge of French, having learnt it at school or through some other form of learning and who would like to refresh and improve their language skills. It is NOT intended for complete beginners. We shall be using Façon de Parler book 1 starting in the autumn term. Level 2 French Improvers Group leader: Liliane White Weekly Tuesday 10.00-12.00 St Leonard’s centre. Oakley Starting date: to be confirmed The group is for people who have completed at least 1 year in the Beginners’ group or who were already in the French Improvers group and wish to improve their confidence in the language. We shall be continuing with Façon de Parler book 2 fifth edition ( starting from 14 ème unité). Some homework is set every week and members expected to attend regularly. The class is friendly and informal and the aim is to be able to converse using fairly simple French and to boost people’s confidence in doing so. Members are expected to be proactive and step in when Liliane is away. French Conversation Group. Group Leader: Jo Head. Weekly: Tuesday 10.00 to 11.45 This group has been running successfully for several years on a weekly basis. Depending on what members want, we often continue through school holidays. Normally we meet fortnightly on Zoom and fortnightly in a member's house. Sometimes for a change we go to Waitrose. We currently have 10 regular members. New members are very welcome. We discuss anything that comes into our heads. Nothing is pre-planned, although sometimes members show printed material that they think will be of interest to the group. When we meet on Zoom we have two forty minute sessions with a 20 minute break in between. When we meet face to face we have coffee and biscuits about half way through the session. We are a very friendly group. We enjoy meeting and chatting in French. The only requirement is the ability to understand and speak in French to a reasonable level. We all make mistakes- it doesn't matter. Level 3 French Intermediate Group leader: Mark Judd Weekly meetings term time Monday 10.00-12.00 St Leonard’s centre. Oakley. Starting: Mid to late September. The Intermediate Group is informal and a self-help group. It is best suited to people with a fair knowledge of French and interest in French culture and life who wish to consolidate their knowledge and read, write and converse in the language. It is expected that members will attend regularly. Current activities. The format is flexible and collaborative and the atmosphere relaxed. Session themes can be chosen and led by any in the group. Short stories and literary texts at intermediate level are regular favourites to read, translate and discuss together. Newspaper or magazine articles and podcasts are also used to stimulate discussion in French. The aim is to converse in French as much as possible – but with plenty of breaks – and to share common interests in all aspects of French life and culture. There is no formal teaching of grammar but the group are always happy to discuss and help each other with finer language points as they arise, but with access to a French teacher and speaker as necessary. Level 4 French Advanced Group leader: Liliane White Weekly meetings term time Monday 10.00-12.00 St Leonard’s centre. Oakley. Starting: Mid to late September The Advanced Group, taken by Liliane, who is French, is for people with a good knowledge of French who wish to read, write and converse in the language as well as learn about current events in France. There are currently 20 members in the group and regular attendance is important. Current activities Liliane sends the group reading material via email midweek. It is usually based on current affairs or famous French people / places / events and is accompanied by questions for the group to prepare ahead of each meeting. The meetings themselves consist of general conversation between the members, discussion of current world and French news, presentations as well as guided reading and occasionally some grammar points. The group members are encouraged to be proactive and to take it in turn to present topics which interest them as well as to step in when Liliane is absent.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Walking football group. Walking Football is at a more gentle pace, but it’s good exercise, very social and guaranteed to make you smile.    Back to Groups Page Walking football Venue : Everest Community Academy, Oxford Way, RG24 9UP Click here for website Date: First and Third Thursday Time : 17:00 - 18:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings Fun and exercise. This very friendly group has male and female members from 60 to 90. It doesn’t matter if you are not David Beckham or Lucy Bronze and haven’t dribbled a ball in years, if at all! Everybody is welcome. Walking Football is at a more gentle pace, but it’s good exercise, very social and guaranteed to make you smile. · We meet on the first and third Thursdays in the month for an hour’s play. · We use a sports hall with 5-a-side goals · We pick the teams on the day, depending on the number of people attending · We do not have people playing for the full hour, but play for 20 minutes or so and then take a break. Key rules of Walking Football: · No running or jogging, with or without the ball · Low impact tackling only · No offsides · The ball must not be kicked or deflected by any outfield player, or thrown (by the goalkeeper), above head height · A player can only kick the ball three times before another player must touch it To contact the leader of the Walking Football group, please send an email to: enquiries@basingstokeu3a.org