Torrevieja u3a Groups Update
September 2026
GROUPS UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2026
| Welcome back everyone - I trust you all enjoyed your summer break and are now raring to make the most of our many and varied group activities, events and outings. New ideas/groups – A great response resulting in 5 new groups, see details below. And, the most important item on my agenda for September! U3A DISCOVERY FAIR - See it. Try it. Talk about it. Next Monday, 28th September, at the CMO from 10:30 to 12:30 hours. We now have 28 of our great groups attending and lots of activities for members and visitors to explore, ask questions about and even take part in on the day. |
| Spanish Conversation - Beginners: Maureen has taken on yet another beginners group running from 4th September to 9th October. Although the course is already underway you can contact Maureen to go on the Waiting List for her next course. Contract details are on the website: torreviejau3a.org |
| Let's Speak Spanish: A beginners/improvers conversation course from 6th October to mid-December. The Flyer was sent out on 15th September so you’ll have to be very quick to secure one of the 14 places. Please note the change of start date. Contact details are on the website: torreviejau3a.org |
| Basic Computer and Mobile Phone Skills: Two of our members, Jill & Jim, have spent their whole working lives in the IT industry and have volunteered to host an IT Skills session at the CMO on Tuesday 20th October 2026. The aim of this initial session is to find out what members would like help with and the sort of technical issues they struggle with. A Flyer will go out in the next few days with further details. |
How to... Workshops: Peter Holbrook is a Mechanical Engineer and a serial renovator with his own home workshop! He has volunteered to give his time, knowledge and expertise to help and teach members how to improve and build on their home maintenance and renovation skills. Individual topic workshops will be held on the last Wednesday of each month starting in October. Peter will have a table at the Discovery Fair with information about planned topics and to answer your questions. A Flyer will be sent out early in October with detailed information about the How To … topics, the first Workshop, and how to join up. Hobby Hub: A brand new style of arts & crafts group where members will be able to share their passion, knowledge and creativity. The CMO is likely to be the venue – we are just waiting for confirmation of date/day/time then an information Flyer will be sent out. |
GROUP NEWS Garden Club: The first Open Garden morning in June was a huge success. 30+ members attended and enjoyed wandering around the two gardens with welcoming refreshments while chatting about gardens and plants. Many members were impressed with the sheer variety of plants that could be grown in Torrevieja, from runner beans, paw-paw, mangetout and dahlias to the usual Spanish produce of tomatoes, onions and peppers. Attendees were most complimentary about the gardens and the ‘Open Garden’ idea so the Club will look at doing this again. See below future meeting dates for your diaries – contact details for the Club are on the u3a website: torreviejau3a.org |
| 29th September 10.00 at the Los Angeles Bar, Torrevieja. Just turn up, no need to book. Garden Blogger and Spanish garden expert JAMES MCALLISTER will be talking (and laughing!) about DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING A SPANISH GARDEN. James, who has been gardening in Spain for 17 years and before that in the UK, will be happy to answer questions after his talk. 27th October PUBLIC GARDEN VISIT – Guardamar 24th November PRIVATE GARDEN VISIT – Container garden near Los Angeles Bar, Torrevieja. |
| NEW GROUP LEADERS NEEDED URGENTLY Petanca Group – Wednesday: If this group is to continue it needs a new group leader. It would be feasible for 2 or 3 members to share the organisation of the weekly meetings as long as one person is the ‘named’ group leader for contact purposes. If you are interested in running this group please email Michelle: u3agroupsliaison@gmail.com Pickleball Group – Friday: Our thanks to Paul Horton for successfully setting up and running this group for the past 12 months. Paul is also a key musician for the Morris Dancers and has regretfully decided that two groups take up a little too much of his time. Paul has offered his help with the transition of this group to another group leader. If you are interested in running this group please email Michelle: u3agroupsliaison@gmail.com CHANGE OF VENUE Canasta Group: This group started up again, after the summer break, on 13th September at their new venue the La Vida Sunset Bar, Av. Antonio Quesada, 03170 Quesada. Details about the Canasta Group, which meets weekly on Thursdays, 10:30 to 12:30 hours, can be found on the u3a website: torreviejau3a.org. New members will be made very welcome and don’t worry if you have never played before the regular players will love to teach you to enjoy this fun game. Samba Canasta: This group run by Harm and Yolanda, meets on Friday afternoons at their new venue - Ole Ole Spanish food and drinks, Lomas De, C.C La Ronda, Cabo Roig. The aim is to get the required number of Samba's, Canasta's and/or Bolovia's while enjoying some banter and giving lots of help and encouragement to new players. |
RECENT ACTIVITIES Walk & Talk Group - unfortunately ‘rain stopped play’ on 19th September but I’m sure the sun will shine ontheir next outing on 17th October. Ramblers - the first ramble of the new season, on 5th September, along the Torrevieja seafront and pier was attended by 18 keen ramblers. |
| Petanca Group – Sunday: 20th September saw 23 members enjoying the first meeting for this group at their new venue – the public pistes in Los Altos. Contact details for joining the group and directions are on the website: torreviejau3a.org. |
| OTHER INFORMATION Astronomy: Shahid Saleem who had planned to do a Pop-Up Astronomy session earlier in the year has sent information about his two latest books that can be downloaded as free PDFs from his website. If any members are interested in this email Michelle for further information: u3agroupsliaison@gmail.com Ceramics/Pottery: I have received an email from Luis Moreno Ferrandez who has a ceramics studio in Elche. The cost is €35/40 for 2.5 hours and includes materials, firings, glazing plus a drink and appetizers. If anyone is interested either individually or with a few friends please email Michelle for details: u3agroupsliaison@gmail.com |
| FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OUR GROUPS & ACTIVITIES click on the Groups tab of our website: torreviejau3a.org Scroll down the groups page and click on any of the groups that interest you to see all the information and the group leaders' contact details. OR you can email Michelle Johnson at: u3agroupsliaison@gmail.com We love to hear about your group activities so please send me a few words and photos, with the permission of your members, to include in the groups' updates. Michelle |
