Interest  Groups

To contact our Group Co-ordinator - Andy Hellyer 
Click here

There are approximately forty groups meeting regularly, each led by a group leader, usually in members' houses or local halls. Wherever possible new members are welcome to join any groups of their choice; however where the meeting place is in a member's home there will be a restriction on numbers.  We are always keen to expand our range of interests and strongly invite members to suggest and set up new groups. At present these are the topics we cover:

For more detail, see our Activities & Programmes pages or contact the relevant group leader.

            The Arts                                                    
            Languages
            History
            Practical
            Specialist Subjects                                       
            Games
            Activity Groups
            Social Groups


The Arts

Art: meets in a local hall for two hours, three times a month, when members follow a course of painting, drawing and pastels under the guidance of an experienced amateur artist.  Group Leader - Veronica Rushworth-Lund. Email to the following link click here


Music: meets once a month to listen to and discuss music.  To contact the
group leader click here

Reading:
there are two groups meeting monthly to select and then read a book for discussion.  
To contact reading group1 click here
To contact reading group2 click here

Photography: there are two groups meeting monthly to plan topics for all to photograph for review and discussion at the next meeting. A third group meets weekly to learn Photoshop CS to manipulate their photographs. This group also carries out photographic projects to enable them to learn to use their digital cameras.
To contact photo group 1 click here
To contact photo group 2 click here
To contact photo group 3 click here

Guitar: our group has settled into a foursome who meet once a week, where we exchange ideas and attempt to further our knowledge not only of the guitar but also the ukulele.  We would welcome others, whatever their standard.  An instrument would, of course, be useful. This group combines with Anton U3A.  To contact the
group leader click here

Singing:   The group has re-formed and new members (of any standard!) are actively sought.  Accompanied by piano, we sing for fun, meeting twice monthly in Rookwood School. To contact the group leader, Jean Owens, please telephone the number in the groups list issued with each Newsletter or contact the Groups Coordinator click here
 

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Languages

French: Two groups, a new group for beginners and a group for the more advanced French speaker. 
To contact the beginners' group leader click here
T
o contact the advanced group leader  click here

German: 
meeting once a fortnight to help each other improve our written and spoken German.  We are a group of mixed abilities, but we benefit from having two members with excellent German language skills.  New members are always very welcome. To contact the group leader click here

Italian Conversation: 
meeting weekly in a member's house, this small, mixed-ability group concentrates on conversation rather than grammar. New members are actively sought, but the group is not suitable for complete beginners, although anyone is welcome to give it a try. click here

Spanish Conversation: 
meeting more or less weekly in members' houses, our group's aim is simply to enable the language to be enjoyed in an informal manner. No particular attention is given to grammar but solely to exercise putting facts and even ideas across to each other. The atmosphere is invariably light-hearted and mutually helpful. While a beginner may feel perplexed, no special standard is needed. There is of course a limit to how many can usefully enjoy taking part in a meeting but we are always delighted to welcome anyone to come along once to have a taste. To contact the
group leader click here

Spanish for beginners: to find out more about this recently introduced group which meets fortnightly contact the group leader click here

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History

History 1: Group currently disbanded.

History 2: The group runs on self-help lines, with each member taking a turn to lead on monthly topics.  We pick a theme, which we plan to change every few months. Currently History Group 2 is fully subscribed.
T
o contact the group leader  click here

Local History: meeting monthly in a member’s house, we learn all about the history of Andover from approximately AD 900 onwards, from our very good teacher John Spall. To contact the group leader click here

History of Art: meeting monthly in a member's house, we choose which artists we wish to study. We all research the artist and view a selection of pictures; the discussions are usually very lively and informative. To contact the
group leader click here

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Practical

Craft: meeting monthly, Not meeting at present

Gardens:
guided tours of gardens, with the gardener or plantsman. Visiting gardens not usually open to the public. Plant swapping and knowledge sharing. A programme of visits is shown on the programme page.  To contact the
group leader click here


Creative Writing:  meeting monthly in a member’s house, we tend to read extracts from what we have produced during the month, in order to hear feedback from the other members.
To contact the group leader click here

Bus Pass:  two members have led trips in the past but both are now too busy with other commitments to be able to continue.  Perhaps a 'car-less' group could resurrect the idea?  Help is available for a new prospective leader.
To contact the previous group leader
click here

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Specialist Subjects


Genealogy:
meeting monthly to exchange news, views, ideas and helpful suggestions on researching our family trees and histories.  New members are always welcome and will find plenty of help and advice. To contact the group leader click here

Read Out Loud:
this group records readings for visually impaired people . To contact the
group leader click here

Handywoman:
meeting monthly, this group aims to show our lady members how to do various technical tasks and acquire the knowledge and confidence to tackle them.To contact the group leader click here

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Games

Bridge (Social):  meeting weekly, except in August, to play in the comfort and relaxed atmosphere of members' homes.  To contact the group leader click here
or as an additional contact click here

Bridge (Rubber):
meets Monday afternoons weekly. To contact the group leader click here

Mah-jong:
catering for everyone from complete beginners to those who have played the game before.  Tuition will be available in a small group for beginners.  All are welcome to join a very sociable group and will find a warm welcome awaiting them.
To contact the
group leader click here

Scrabble:  we meet Alt Wednesdays, and have reached a fair level of competence.  At the moment the group is over-subscribed but we think that a second group could well be set up.  If anyone is willing to host it, some of us would be happy to help get it going.
To contact the group leader click here.

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Activity Groups

Golf:
a new group recently formed. To contact the group leader click here

Nature: once a month, on differing days of the week, this group sets off to study nature in all its aspects from seashore to downland, forest to nature reserves.  To contact the group leader click here

Strollers 1:
meeting on two Thursdays a month.  We aim to keep the strolls between 3 & 5 miles (approximately 2hrs).  We end each stroll with a pub lunch (optional). You can see the programme for this group on the programme page. To contact the group leader click here  

Strollers 2: meeting twice a month on a Tuesday.  We aim to stroll for 1½ hours, covering on average about 3 miles, usually within a 10-mile radius of Andover, before finishing with a pub lunch, which is optional. You can see the programme for this groups on the programme page. To contact the group  leader click here 

Walkers 1 & 2:  each meeting two Thursdays a month.  Walks are of 5-6 miles (2-2½hrs) and usually (although not always) within a 15-mile radius of Andover.  We end each walk with a pub lunch (optional). You can see programmes for both groups on the programme page
To contact the
group 1 leader click here
To contact the group 2 leader click here 

Tuesday Walkers:
meeting weekly, walking 6-9 miles.  To contact the group leader click here.

Weekend Walkers:  meeting once a month, on a Saturday, walking between 5 & 7 miles (approximately 2½hrs).  We end each walk with a pub lunch (optional), which is usually ordered before the walk so it is ready when we return. To contact the group leader click here

Quester:
there are four groups devoted to finding places to visit neither easily accessed, nor normally open to the public. These visits are monthly but not on a set day.  
To contact the
group 1 leader click here
To contact the group 2 leader click here
To contact the group 3 leader click here
To contact the group 4 leader click here

History of the Villages: meeting monthly, exploring the history of the different villages surrounding Andover.  Usually led by a local historian from the village. We enjoy lunch together afterwards. A detailed programme is shown on the programme page.  To contact the group leader click here

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Social Groups

Sunday Lunch: This group will meet monthly, visiting pubs and restaurants chosen by group members to have a friendly chat together.   To contact the group leader click here

Coffee Morning: This venture is held in a local restaurant. All members welcome.   To contact the
group leader click here

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