Dumfries branch of u3a celebrate its 30th anniversary
The Dumfries branch of the u3a is celebrating its official 30th anniversary Part of the international u3a movement, u3a is for those who are not working full time but who want to keep body and brain active by meeting new people, sharing interests with like-minded folk or, learning something new – as u3a's motto says, we are here to 'learn, laugh, live'. The Dumfries group is thriving with more than 250 members enjoying monthly events such as recent talks on the perils and pitfalls of opening your garden to the public, travels in Antarctica and the Threave Landscape Restoration Project. Members also enjoy access to almost 40 different interest groups meeting either monthly or fortnightly. For those who want to be active there are walking, kayaking, and table tennis groups. If you enjoy being creative then the art, photography, craft or sewing groups might be your thing. Or, you can stimulate the grey matter with learning and lively conversation in groups ranging from etymology and genealogy, to history and mahjong. There really is something for everyone and you can find out what is available on their website at dumfries.u3asite.uk. Many members hear about u3a through friends, like member Liz, who recently joined the ukulele group: 'Last year I bumped into a friend who told me about the ukulele group she had formed with u3a. It's a small group, and all at a similar stage in life, who just enjoy playing the instrument. 'We have a variety of playing styles and abilities, but all muddle in together and enjoy the afternoon. They do say as you get older it is good to do things, try new activities and socialise. U3a very much fits all of these criteria and I intend staying with it.' People join u3a for many reasons, but it's often the opportunity to meet new people that members enjoy. Bob joined recently after a bereavement: 'Since my close friend died, I've been a bit lost and needed some new stimulus. So, when the community link worker at my GP practice showed me the list of groups, I thought I would give it a go and I'm very pleased that I have. I've joined the Writing Together, Scrabble and Camera groups and everyone I've met has been friendly and made me feel very welcome.' Moving to Dumfries from Cheshire, where she had been a u3a member, Sally-Anne says: 'I knew very few people so found u3a again. I'm very grateful to be a member of the u3a and would encourage others to look into it.' U3a welcomes new members and, if you think u3a might be for you, you can attend up to two meetings before joining. If you would like to come along, please contact Kathleen Simpson, treasurer and membership secretary at treasurer2.u3adumfries@gmail.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Incredible drone footage shows moment dog is found after vanishing during walk
Incredible drone footage shows moment dog is found after vanishing during walk Roxie ran away when they encountered a couple with two large dogs, and was found by a drone pilot in the early hours of the morning Dramatic Drone Footage Of Lost Dog Scampering Across Dunes As Rescuers Close In A Welsh community was on tenterhooks when a beloved dog went missing on a seaside stroll. Five-year-old Roxie, the Jack Tzu vanished from view amongst dunes and despite hours searching, she remained missing. Owners Liz Richardson and her husband John were joined by local volunteers as the Anglesey online community waited hours for updates. By sheer chance, in the dead of night, Roxie's silhouette was caught on a drone camera equipped with thermal imaging showing her dashing through the Aberffraw's dunes. The nail-biting footage shows rabbits darting while Roxie runs through the dunes, all captured by drone operator Dafydd Edwards from Holyhead. Thanks to the footage she was safely retrieved and an overwhelmed Roxie was finally reunited with Liz. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here Dealing with the pain of losing another dog just two months prior to this incident, Liz expressed her relief saying: "I couldn't bear to lose another. Even when I heard Roxie had been found, I didn't dare believe it until I saw her. Then I couldn't stop hugging everyone, I was so grateful." The ordeal unfolded on Monday afternoon (June 16) as mother-in-law Margaret ventured out with Roxie and Lola, a Shih Tzu, for their routine walk. Setting off from Rhostrehwfa near Llangefni, Margaret opted for the stunning dune scenery of Aberffraw on the west coast of Anglesey, a favourite amongst dog walkers for its vast dunes leading up to the magnificent Traeth Mawr beach, reports North Wales Live. Article continues below However, when Margaret came across a couple with two large and friendly dogs, Roxie became scared. Roxie takes it easy back home in Rhostrehwfa after a hard day chasing rabbits (Image: Liz Richardson ) Liz, 52 said: "In a flash, she was gone. Poor Margaret spent an hour searching for her in a state of panic." Having no other option, Margaret rang home. Liz and John immediately got into their car to make the first of three trips to the dunes. After two hours they returned home to charge their phones so they could post an appeal on Facebook. "It set off a series of events that eventually led to Roxie being found," said Liz. "I still can't believe how many people wanted to help - we live in such a wonderful place here." Following advice from online followers, Liz and John went back to leave food and clothes with familiar scents in the area, hoping Roxie would be lured to safety. One spot was where she was last seen, another was near a cottage following a reported sighting. Joining the search was local man Richard Mulcahey. "He stayed with us the whole day," said Liz. "We didn't get home until 1.30am the next morning. He was incredible – I contacted him afterwards to say he was my hero!". Unbeknownst to Liz and John, discussions were taking place online and one of these led to Dafydd Edwards, a volunteer drone pilot with rescue charity Drone SAR For Lost Dogs (DSFLG) UK. With over 3,500 pilots and 3,000 ground search volunteers, it helps reunite around 750 dogs each year. With daylight dwindling, architectural designer Dafydd took to the skies over Aberffraw with his DJI Mavic 3T drone, equipped with a thermal camera that was picking up numerous heat signatures. He said: "I came across rabbits by the dozen and a darting fox, sending our hearts racing as we hoped we might be closing in on Roxie. "Flying at night with a thermal camera is much easier than searching during the day, when there are lots of people around and it's harder to differentiate objects." After draining two batteries, their initial hope began to wane. The wind had picked up, compelling Dafydd to fly the drone at a mere 10-15 metres. "The drone was on the edge of its capability," he admitted. Then, half an hour after returning to Rhostrehwfa, Liz received an exhilarating call. "Dafydd said he'd spotted her!" she said. "So we bombed out again." From left: Relieved owner Liz Richardson with volunteer searcher Richard Mulcahey and drone pilot Dafydd Edwards (Image: Liz Richardson ) Amidst the plethora of rabbits, locating a diminutive Jack Tzu – a hybrid of Shih Tzu and Jack Russell – was a challenge. Dafydd managed to identify one slightly larger heat signature and upon zooming in, it seemed to be a dog. He said: "It was pure luck. I kept tracking the dog but as soon as Liz and John arrived, the battery ran out again and I needed to make another change. I was worried I'd lost Roxie but luckily she was still in the same spot when the drone went back up." John and Richard were led to Roxie's hiding spot, with some invaluable advice from social media users. "We had a lot of advice from Facebook users, especially Gillian Metcalf," Liz expressed. "We were advised not to all shout Roxie's name in case she took fright. When John was closing in, he was calling out gently for Lola instead - the idea was that Roxie would be curious and feel she was missing out on something. It seemed to work - she was quickly back on a lead." Liz could barely contain her gratitude upon their reunion saying: "I could scarcely believe she was back and unharmed, I couldn't stop thanking everyone. I've been overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. In this day and age, you think there aren't many people willing to help for nothing, but this shows that's not true. I count myself so lucky to live here." Dafydd, frequently called upon to seek out lost pups said: "It's always very rewarding when you make a successful rescue." Article continues below In appreciation, Liz made a gesture of thanks to the Dog Search and Find group, contributing to DSFLG UK and registering herself as a volunteer searcher. As a token of appreciation and practical measure, she's also being gifted a dog tracker to prevent future escapades into rabbit-filled meadows with Roxie.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Roxie was feared lost by the seaside - until something 'wonderful' happened
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An island of dog lovers held its breath when a treasured pet went missing during a walk. Roxie, a five-year-old Jack Tzu, had scampered out of sight across dunes and hours of searching had drawn a blank. Her frantic owners, Liz Richardson and husband John, were joined by volunteers as Anglesey's social media community anxiously waited for news. In the early hours of the morning Roxie was spotted by 'pure luck' by a drone pilot using a thermal camera. Drone video of the rescue shows rabbits scattering in her wake as she ran across dunes at Aberffraw. Guided by drone pilot Dafydd Edwards from Holyhead, Roxie was picked off the common before being handed to her disbelieving owner. Only two months earlier, she'd put to sleep an older pet dog. 'I couldn't bear to lose another,' she said. 'Even when I heard Roxie had been found, I didn't dare believe it until I saw her. Then I couldn't stop hugging everyone, I was so grateful.' The drama began on Monday lunchtime (June 16) when mum-in-law Margaret took Roxie and Liz's other dog Lola, a Shih Tzu, out for their daily walk. From Rhostrehwfa, near Llangefni, she chose to drive to Aberffraw on Anglesey's west coast: its huge dune complex, leading to the spectacular beach of Traeth Mawr, is a popular spot for dog walking. But when Margaret encountered a couple with two large and affable dogs, Roxie took fright. 'In a flash, she was gone,' said Liz, 52, a nursing assistant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor. 'Poor Margaret spent an hour looking for her in a state of panic.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Admitting defeat, Margaret call home. Liz and John jumped into their car to make the first of three visits to the dunes. After two hours they returned home to recharge their phones so they could post an appeal on Facebook. 'It set in motion a chain of events that was to eventually lead to Roxie being found,' said Liz. 'I still can't believe how many people wanted to help - we live in such a wonderful place here.' (Image: Liz Richardson) Acting on advice from online followers, Liz and John returned to leave food and familiar-smelling clothes in the area in the hope Roxie would be drawn to safety. One location was where she was last, another was near a cottage following a reported sighting. Joining the search was local man Richard Mulcahey. 'He stayed with us the whole day,' said Liz. 'We didn't get home until 1.30am the next morning. He was incredible – I contacted him afterwards to say he was my hero!' Unknown to Liz and John, conversations were being had online and one of these was to lead to Dafydd Edwards, a volunteer drone pilot with rescue charity Drone SAR For Lost Dogs (DSFLG) UK. With more than 3,500 pilots and 3,000 ground search volunteers, it helps to reunite some 750 dogs each year. (Image: Planes & Drones/@dafyddwedwards) With light fading Dafydd, an architectural designer, headed to Aberffraw. He was flying a DJI Mavic 3T drone. Equipped with a thermal camera, it was throwing up numerous heat signatures. 'I came across rabbits by the dozen and a darting fox, sending our hearts racing as we hoped we might be closing in on Roxie,' he said. 'Flying at night with a thermal camera is much easier than searching during the day, when there are lots of people around and it's harder to differentiate objects.' (Image: Drew Buckley/NRW) After getting through two batteries, initial optimism was fading. By then the wind was blowing hard, forcing Dafydd to fly low at 10-15 metres. 'The drone was on the edge of its capability,' he said. Thirty minutes after arriving back in Rhostrehwfa, Liz got a call. 'Dafydd said he'd spotted her!' she said. 'So we bombed out again.' With so many rabbits around, finding a small dog like a Jack Tzu – a Shih Tzu crossed with a Jack Russell – was never going to be easy. Dafydd said he picked out one heat signature that seemed a little larger and, when he zoomed in, it appeared to be a dog. 'It was pure luck,' he said. 'I kept tracking the dog but as soon as Liz and John arrived, the battery ran out again and I needed to make another change. I was worried I'd lost Roxie but luckily she was still in the same spot when the drone went back up.' Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday (Image: Liz Richardson) John and Richard were guided to the location. 'We had a lot of advice from Facebook users, especially Gillian Metcalf,' said Liz. 'We were advised not to all shout Roxie's name in case she took fright. 'When John was closing in, he was calling out gently for Lola instead - the idea was that Roxie would be curious and feel she was missing out on something. It seemed to work - she was quickly back on a lead. 'I could scarcely believe she was back and unharmed, I couldn't stop thanking everyone. I've been overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. In this day and age, you think there aren't many people willing to help for nothing, but this shows that's not true. I count myself so lucky to live here.' Dafydd, who's called out once or twice a week to look for lost dogs, said the rescue had been a dramatic mix of 'persistence, adrenaline and pure happiness". 'It's always very rewarding when you make a successful rescue,' he added. Liz has since made a donation to DSFLG UK and has signed up at volunteer searcher. In return, she's being sent a dog tracker - to ensure little Roxie doesn't get up to more mischief in fields of rabbits. Find out what's happening near you
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Daily Mail
‘I was standing naked in the woods in Kent': What happened when I became one of Britain's six million naturists for a day
The situation was a little unusual. I was standing there naked in the woods in Kent with my spaniel Jessie on a lead and camouflage Crocs on my feet. 'Oh, she's just lovely,' an elderly (clothed) woman we'd bumped into said, as she cooed over the dog. I say 'we', because I was with 30 or so other naked blokes, most of them in their 70s, a good 40 years my senior. The woman and I exchanged pleasantries about Jessie. 'Yes, she does have a lovely face,' I agreed, and 'indeed, such a shiny tail' before I told her – hushed, gesturing towards the naked old boys – that, 'I'm not actually a naturist.' The woman, who until then had seemed not to notice my state of undress, smiled as though to say, 'If it quacks like a duck…' whereupon Jessie and I went the other way to catch up with The Naturist Ramblers Club. I really am not a naturist, but friends of mine point out that naturism has featured prominently in my writing. Five years before my walk in Kent, I spent a couple of days hanging out in Hull at England's second oldest naturist community, on official business for The Yorkshire Post. It was cold and rainy, but heartwarming. We spent time sitting inside the clubhouse naked on plastic chairs, drinking pints of John Smith's, talking about Brexit. A big part of naturism is about trying to desexualise nudity – though lots of naturists find it hard to pin down what it is about the practice that appeals to them. Bob, an old university lecturer I met on my ramble, told me, 'This is rampant nature worship.' To him, naturism is about being as close as possible to the nature spirits. Did I 'get it'? Not fully. But his enthusiasm was a delight. British Naturism, the UK's national representative body for naturists, which traces its origins to 1891, has around 10,000 members. While membership isn't soaring, casual naturists are on the rise. A 2022 survey reported that more than six million people in Britain occasionally get naked recreationally, up almost 12 per cent in 20 years. There is an interesting split between those practising naturism inside (at clubs like the one I went to in Hull) and outdoors in public. Part of this is that those who like being in public think they are visibly spreading the good word of the naked. But outdoor naturism is comparatively niche; there are far fewer members of The Naturist Ramblers Club – which I had to pay a £5 membership fee to join – than there are of British Naturism. Happily, my fee meant I was covered by its insurance policy in case somebody accused me of indecent exposure. While rare, the Naturist Ramblers told me that it does happen. (Although, actually, naturism doesn't constitute indecent exposure because that legal offence concerns deliberately exposing your genitals to somebody rather than simply being naked. Streaking is the opposite of naturism; the former is meant to cause offence, the latter hopes to cause none.) Frankly the whole outing, which lasted from the heat of the day to the cool of the evening, couldn't have been more 'decent'. As we walked, we spoke about gardening, and whenever we saw a notable flower we would gather to admire it. The responses of those few members of the public we encountered, other than the elderly spaniel fancier, were notably mild; their gazes remained at face level as they nodded stoic 'hello's. A lot of my new book, Uncommon Ground, is about the impact humans have on the countryside: how a discarded ham sandwich can cause swine fever or the chemicals in sun cream can destroy aquatic life. But access matters, too: going into the countryside and being able to do things that are an integral part of British identity, naturism included. I felt sorry for some of the men I met out walking who told me that they are not welcome at RSPB reserves – a blow for those naturist bird watchers. It was also sad to hear that there are just two regular female attendees on the club's jaunts in Kent. 'The trouble,' one of my new acquaintances explained, 'is that ladies aren't made to feel comfortable in the nude. One nasty comment from a member of the public and that's it.' We put our trousers back on in the same car park we'd undressed in and went to the pub. 'Would you come again?' one of the group asked. They meet at least half a dozen times a summer but I told him that, sadly, I was done with naturism. Still, I would tell the world they are good people and 'not perverts'. In researching my book, I came to love rural eccentricity. It is part of what makes the countryside: from ravers in the Welsh mountains to magic mushroom gatherers to naturists. They are all part of Britain's wild, kaleidoscopic soul and without them our country would be a much paler place.
