Social Events

Saturday 14th December 2024. Christmas Lunch

The Christmas lunch at Willesley Park Golf Club went off very well, despite the club asking us to bring the time forward by half an hour at very short notice. Fortunately everybody seemed to get the message and turn up on time. All 96 of us. That is an all-time record for Ashby u3a and yet another sign of how popular our u3a has become. There was a slight delay between the starter and main course, but we found out later that the head chef had to be rushed to hospital. We have not heard anymore, but hopefully he is fine now. Despite that everything went pretty well and I hope everyone had a great time. Thank you to Glenys for all the hard work organising it all, and to all the staff at the golf club for putting on the lunch.

Friday 1st September 2023. Ashby Bowls Club social evening

There was a great turnout for the bowls night which was postponed from July. The 17 members who attended enjoyed the evening and our great hosts showed lots of patience with the novices. Many of us stayed for a drink afterwards chatting to the bowls members who I think enjoyed our company and the weather behaved itself.

The Bowls Club Committee appeared to be especially pleased that there were so many u3a members joining in and who took the time to stay afterwards since the bar takings, and our participation in the cash prize games, contributed to their nominated charity STEPS.

All in all a good evening.

Saturday 29th July 2023.

It was intended to hold a Bowls Evening at Ashby Bowls Club this month put unfortunately it had to be cancelled/postponed due to a shortage of members signing up for it, seemingly due to holidays and such. It may be arranged for later in the year.

Also in the planning stage is a possible Archery evening. Keep an eye out for further details.

Thursday 26th January 2023. Burns Supper

70 people arrived at Willesley Park Golf Club for this year's Burns Supper. Don Jarram was there again this year to entertain us with the bagpipes whilst we socialised before taking our places. The evening commenced with Bill parading the haggis around the room accompanied by Don and his pipes. Bill then gave "The Address to the Haggis" - "Great chieftain o' the Puddin-race...", ritually cutting it open with a dirk during the third verse. This was followed by the Selkirk Grace. The Haggis was then paraded back round the room and out to the kitchen to be served up.

The meal started with the traditional Scotch Broth before the Haggis neeps and tatties arrived (some opted for chicken or a vegetarian option) which was followed by Cranachan, a dessert of oats, cream and raspberries (and possibly a little whisky). All very lovely and served nicely by the staff at the Golf Club.

After the excellent meal, Don played a selection of well known Scottish tunes which had us all singing and clapping along, Chairman Tony gave us a potted history of Rabbie, and our resident poet laureate, Colin Woodland, gave the "Address to the Lassies" with a hilarious poem of his own composition.

Bill was in fine voice as he sang one of Burns' many songs and recited the tale of "The Wee Timorous Beastie"

The evening closed, of course, with us all singing Auld Lang Syne after being reminded that one doesn't hold hands until the second verse. We are getting better, a few more this year knew the words to verse two!

Another excellent evening with lovely food, great entertainment and plenty of good company. Thank you to Bill and Avril, Tony, Colin and all the staff at the Golf Club.

Thursday 8th December 2022. Christmas lunch

It was good to have some sense of normality back again for Christmas as lunch at the Golf Club went ahead with little or no worries of pandemics. It was good to see many new members amongst the 69 who were able to attend and the conversations were flowing along with the drink well before we all sat down to another excellent 3 course meal ably cooked and served by the staff at the club. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, although 1 or 2 couples weren't on the tables that they had hoped for. We'll try better next time to get everyone seated at the tables of their choice.

Friday 29th July 2022. Bowls Evening

On Friday we had our first social evening since Burns Night in January. Fourteen members were invited to Ashby Bowls Club on the Bath Grounds to try their hand at bowls. The club members welcomed them and supported them, giving some advice and training. The evening ended with drinks and chip butties in the club house. A good time was had by all.

Thursday 27th January 2022. Burns Supper

After having to miss out last year, 58 people sat down to the traditional 3 course supper of Scotch broth, Haggis and Cranachan, although not all were brave enough to eat the Haggis and so chickened out (pun intended).

The evening was nearly a disaster when our piper was taken ill, but a replacement piper, Don Jarram, stepped in at very short notice and did a wonderful job of entertaining us throughout the evening. After the haggis was piped around the room, Bill Wilson gave the address to the haggis before ritually cutting it open with the Toast to the Haggis followed by The Selkirk Grace.

After an excellent meal, Colin Woodland gave the Address to the Lassies with one of his inimitable poems. Bill and Chairman Tony Smith did their now traditional double-act of a recital in Scots dialect followed by the English translation.

The evening closed of course with Auld Lang Syne with us all standing in one large circle around the room. Some of us even knew the words to the second verse!

Thursday 9th December 2021. Christmas lunch

The Christmas Lunch went ahead as planned on the 9th Dec at Willesley Park Golf Club. Lynne and her staff did an excellent job, as in previous years, to serve wonderful food to all 76 members who attended. I hope you all had a good time if you were there.

Friday 6th August 2021. Bowls Evening

Report to follow

Friday 24th January 2020. Burns Supper

Although it was a day early, 56 members gathered at the Golf Club for our second Burns Supper and very good it was too. Andy and his bagpipes were there to serenade us with a selection of Scottish tunes and airs, some more familiar to Sassenachs than others.

We all sat down to a starter of Scotch Broth before the Haggis was piped into and around the room. Bill then gave us the 'Address to a Haggis' before ritually cutting it open. This was followed by the Toast to the Haggis before we sat down to tuck into the Haggis with the traditional Neeps and Tatties, followed by Cranachan for dessert.

Wine flowed, everyone had a good time, Barbara was presented with a birthday cake accompanied by the usual tune from the throng and finally we all stood for a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne, although some of us need to practise the second verse before next year!

An excellent evening.

Thursday 12th December 2019. Christmas Lunch

Despite the awful weather we have been having lately, 63 members made it to Willeseley Park Golf Club for our Christmas Lunch. As usual, the Club provided an excellent combination of venue, good service and great food. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Friday 26th July 2019. Bowls evening

On an evening that threatened rain, 16 of us tried our hand at Bowls, at Ashby Bowls Club on the Bath Grounds. The Club made us feel very welcome; they were patient with our efforts, teaching us the rules of the games and telling us how to improve our performance. We had a varied amount of success and judging by my group a lot of laughter. After playing we retired to the clubhouse for a well earned drink. A very good evening. If anyone is interested, the Bowls club will start next April with free coaching, I have details of this, so just contact me and I can pass on the details.

Friday 5th July 2019. Barn Dance

We held our barn dance this year at Blackfordby Village Hall, which gave us a bit more room for dancing------and dance we did ! The band were once again excellent, encouraging even the most reluctant dancers of us on to the floor. However the mistakes we were making, not knowing our left from our right, not being able to count in single figures, caused a lot of laughter and hilarity. And in some dances how some of us became separated from our partners is still a mystery. You cannot call us expert dancers!!! But it was FUN A good time was had by all, and on a rather warm evening, the bar was just what was required for a nice cooling drink

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