Here is the latest u3a news. Just scroll on down. For other news items, some great offers, non-u3a news and further information and advertisements please take a look at our new News Extra section
Our next Monthly Meeting - Thursday 15 October
Our next Monthly Meeting is on Thursday 15 October, when Terry Green will present 'Cashier no 3 to a life of crime!' He is a business author, customer-service expert and the voice behind “Cashier Number Three Please”—has turned to crime fiction. His debut thriller, Redline, described by critics as “high octane” launches the Jake Elderfield series, which draw on his extensive experience in automotive, retail, hospitality and queue-management businesses. It should be a very entertaining talk! This will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth at 10.30 am. Refreshments can be purchased before.
The schedule for our Monthly Meetings for 2026 is in our Monthly Meetings section - Monthly Meetings. Owing to the fact that The Ocean is having refurbishments done, the venue and dates of most of our meetings in 2026 have been altered. Until further notice, these meetings will be in Holy Trinity Church and a week later than originally planned. The committee apologises for any inconvenience caused but hopes you will be able to come along to these meetings as usual.
New members meetings - next meeting is on Tuesday 13 October
The date of the next meeting has changed and will now be on Tuesday 13 October starting at 10.30 am at The Wings Bar, 33-35 Imperial Road, Exmouth EX8 1DB. The venue does not charge the u3a for its facilities and so members are asked to purchase a drink from the bar on arrival. I look forward to meeting new members who wish to find our more about the groups, social hubs and trips that our volunteers offer in addition to the popular monthly meeting, as well as meeting other new members in an informal friendly setting.
Pippa Gibbs, New Members Co-ordinator
Our Social Outings
Our next trip is to Sheppy’s Cider Farm with Tour, Tasting and Ploughman’s Lunch on 22 October. Further details of all our social outings (including plans for our Christmas lunches in December) are in our Social Events section.
Our latest u3a Newsletter
Our latest u3a Newsletter (the September/October edition) was published on 28 August 2026. The public edition is in the Newsletter section. The members' edition was sent direct to members and is also in the members-only view of the Newsletter section on this website - members need to be logged in to see this.
Our latest u3a Groups List and latest Group news
Our latest u3a Groups List was sent direct to members on 30 August 2026 and members can also see this by logging in and clicking on the Groups List in the members view of the Newsletter section on this website. We try to ensure that any changes shown in it are reflected in the Groups list shown in the Groups section of this website. If Group Organisers need to change or update anything, please let us know via the Groups link in the Contact Us section. Recent news about groups is in the latest edition (September/October) of our newsletter - Newsletter
Latest Update on Exmouth Post Office from our MP
Members may be aware from the local news that the Post Office in the Magnolia Centre housed within T G Jones has had to close following the sudden decision by the owners of T G Jones to close their Exmouth branch. Many Exmouth residents are very worried about this as it means that there is the currently a lack of a Post Office in the town centre. Some residents have contacted our local MP, David Reed, about this. Sue Slater, Chair of Exmouth & District u3a, contacted our MP about this herself, and you can see his response if you click or tap on this link - letter from David Reed MP.
Offer of free grapes for wine or jam makers
We have received an offer of free grapes for u3a members - you need to be logged in to see this.
Devon u3a Big Quiz - 1.30 pm on Thursday 22 October in Honiton
Details of this are in this poster - click or tap on quiz poster.
Hospitality Day at Newton Abbot Races - 28th October
Details of this special offer are in our News Extra section - see News Extra
Online learning events
Did you know that there are plenty of free nationally-organised learning sessions which all u3a members can attend? Recent and forthcoming topics include:
- First light: the formation of the first stars, blackholes, and galaxies
- Darkness on the edge of town: Bruce Springsteen and the American dream
- On the threshold of a dream: music, imagination and the late 60s-early 70s
- Your guide to feeling connected in a digital world
- Keeping warm and cutting energy bills: Practical advice and support
- The u3a Essay Competition award ceremony 2026
- David Hockney as I knew him
- Art deco days
- Preparing for an AI world (four-week course)
- Laughter yoga
- Exploring world faiths
- The history of pirate radio
- Soulsville USA series - the history and legacy of Stax Records
- Melancholy as a creative force: Joni Mitchell's Blue album
For more details of these and many other events and to register for each event, please go to the national u3a learning events website - https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events
Research opportunites for u3a members
Details of three research opportunities are in our News Extra section:
- For people who find it hard to hear speech in noisy places, including hearing aid users
- For people who have been affected by fraud or deception by someone they knew or trusted, such as a partner, family member, friend, or professional.
- For those witnessing or hearing about other people falling (e.g. friends, family members, or others) can influence individuals’ own concerns about falling.
Our AGM held on Thursday 21 May 2026
Our AGM was held this year at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth on 21st May. An email was sent to all members on 13 April attaching the advance notifications about this. A further email was sent to all members on 12 May with all the other papers for the AGM. All of these papers are also in the Members-only view of the Documentation part of the About section on this website, together with the draft minutes of the AGM.
The officers and members of the committee who were elected to the new committee are shown in the About section., and there is a photo of the new Chair, Sue Slater, with the Exmouth Mayor Graham Deasy below. Also at the AGM, the annual subscription for 2027-28 was confirmed as remaining at £14 per person, the Treasurer's report and accounts for 2025-26 were approved, and the proposal to raise the maximum length of time an officer can serve from 3 to 5 years and proposal to raise the maximum total period of service of any trustee from 9 to 10 years were agreed.
Exmouth Mayor Graham Deasy with the new Chair of the u3a, Sue Slater, at the AGM
Our digital world - free technology support from AbilityNet
Several of the recent free Zoom sessions offered as part of the national u3a’s online learning events (see below) related to the important topics of online safety and digital voice which are issues members have raised in the past. The free resources on the AbilityNet website may be of interest to members - see https://abilitynet.org.uk/. Also there are a number of very useful videos on its YouTube channel - see https://www.youtube.com/@abilitynet/playlists
In addition, in partnership with BT Group, AbilityNet offers a free initiative to support people aged 55+ in Devon with digital skills covering everything from using smartphones and laptops to staying safe online and accessing essential services. They do this through free group and individual training sessions that offer practical support. If you are interested in this, please contact Neil Winter, Digital Skills Trainer, AbilityNet, telephone 0118 234 6746, or email neil.winter@abilitynet.org.uk
Latest news from the u3a nationally and u3a Matters magazine
You can read the latest news from the u3a nationally at The Third Age Trust's news page. The latest edition of its podcast is available at National u3a radio podcast. In addition you can sign up for the u3a National Newsletter for Friends of u3a at Sign-up for u3a national newsletter
u3a matters is the magazine of the national u3a published five times a year and posted direct to members’ homes. It features stories about members and u3a activities, plus celebrity interviews and features on technology, recipes, travel, competitions, and a lively and popular letters section. u3a matters is available to any u3a member. If you have not received your copy and wish to do so, please contact Membership so that your contact details can be added to the u3a matters database.
Here is the link to the latest edition of u3a matters magazine - https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters. This is shortened version of the hard copy magazine.
Latest news from u3as in the South West
The South West Region of u3a's has its own website at https://southwestregion.u3asite.uk/ . To see the latest news about u3a's across our region, see https://southwestregion.u3asite.uk/south-west-news/.
Our latest u3a documents
The minutes of the u3a committee meetings held up until the most recent meeting have been published, together with the AGM papers and various updated policy and associated documents. They are in the Documentation section on this website for members to see, and members need to be logged in to read these.