Enjoy the u3a Experience
learn ~ laugh ~ live
Welcome to Duns & District u3a
u3a members come from all walks of life. We are busy staying active, making new friends and learning together. There is no upper age limit – and no lower limit either, although our members are likely to be retired or semi-retired.
- Come to a monthly open meeting in the Volunteer Hall on the second Tuesday of each month to socialise with other members and hear speakers on a wide range of interesting topics
- Join as many of our interest groups as you like – ranging from tap dancing to modern languages, to arts and crafts, book groups and opera appreciation – to name just a few
There is so much to do – and if you can’t find what you are looking for in our programme, why not see if there are other people with a similar interest who would like to join you in a new group. All our group leaders and committee members are volunteers – sharing a love of learning and a zest for life!
Would you like to join our u3a? Go to our Membership page to download your enrolment form.
Coming Soon
Please join us at our next Open Meeting at the Volunteer Hall Duns on Tues Jan 13th. Non members are really welcome and there will be teas and coffee available from 10 am. Hope to see you there!
Our speaker this month will be well known Duns resident John McEwan who has provided the notes below.
The McEwens of Marchmont – 1912-87″.
Bio: “John McEwen, born at Marchmont, lives nearby at Polwarth with his wife Rachel, a teacher, and two sons; their two daughters have already left home. He is an actor and playwright, and the founder and director of DunsPlayFest, the annual festival of new drama which takes place at the beginning of May in Duns.”
Summary: “An account of an ordinary family living in extraordinary circumstances, namely Marchmont House, the magnificent 18th-century Berwickshire mansion significantly remodelled in the early 1900s by Robert Lorimer. Among much service to the community, there was glamour and there were good times, but the forces of history impinged on the idyll. War and despair wreaked a certain havoc. The story of a family in a house cannot help being, also, a short history of the 20th century.”
Pictures: my great grandfather Robert Finnie McEwen who bought and, with Lorimer, transformed Marchmont; a view of the house; a portrait of my great uncle Jim whose death at the Battle of the Somme was a blow from which the family took ages to recover; my parents, Robin and Brigid.
Have you been struggling sometimes to hear our speakers in Open Meetings?
We have been working behind the scenes with Heart for Duns to improve things for you.
Firstly we have decided we will stongly encourage all our speakers to use the clip on microphones.
A Heart for Duns have agreed to provide a member of staff each session to help our speakers be comfortable doing this.
They will also leave printed instructions at every session.
We will use the two hand held microphones at question times so everyone can hear the questions from the audience.
There is a hearing loop in the hall so if your hearing aid has a T switch please do feel free to use it. If it doesn’t there are four units you may borrow and use either with an ear clip provided or with your own jack style headphones. Just ask any committee member.
Above all please, please tell us if you are struggling.
We really want to make sure everyone has the best possible access to our marvellous talks.
Discover Our Interest Groups
Our programme could keep you busy all week long…
Mornings
Walking Netball, Country dancing or Tap dancing?
A weekly activity to keep you fit and healthy
Join our Geology or walking groups for regular meetings and field trips
Learn more about the historical and contemporary issues in the Middle East
Afternoons
Learn a new language
We offer groups studying French and Italian
Improve your Bridge
Learn a new handicraft or study opera, literature, music or poetry
Evenings
Get yourself down to Berwickshire High School on a Thursday evening and discover what all the excitement is about the wonderful game of Pickleball!
Join now!
u3a
We’re all volunteers working hard to bring you a range of exciting opportunities locally.
Duns and District u3a 