Have you ever had the urge to write
A memoir? A short story?
A novel? A poem?
Then this is the group for you. You don’t need to be an experienced writer or worry about how your work will be received. We’re a friendly and encouraging group and any comments will be constructive and helpful. A theme or format for the next meeting is agreed on but it is only a suggestion. Members can write whatever they like.
We usually meet on the first Thursday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at the home of one of the group members. Because of this we can only accommodate a limited number and, unfortunately, for the time being we have reached our limit. However, please do contact our group leader (Irene Airton) and ask her to add your name to our waiting list. If enough people join that list, we’ll be able to start up a second group! In the meantime, why not take a look at some of our recent stories and poems to get a flavour of what we do.
You may enjoy reading ...
- Queen MegOf course, the whole country is still in shock and mourning over our two national tragedies: the death of the much-loved Prince William, Kate and their three children in that appalling plane crash as they were returning from their annual skiing holiday. And then the King’s fatal heart attack when he heard the news. But… Read more: Queen Meg
- The Year without a SummerThe latest copy of The Times, dated 13 July 1816, lay open on the dining table of the Villa Diodot, a pleasantly palatial mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva. Mary and Shelley had decided to visit Lord Byron there a few days ago, and had taken the opportunity to do so on a morning… Read more: The Year without a Summer
- The HomecomingThe sea was still that day with little wind to drive our ship forwards. We were two hours into the afternoon watch, when there was a shout from atop the mainmast. ‘On the starboard quarter.’ I could see Captain Jonah Grimes screw up that old, gnarled face of his as her peered through his telescope. ‘That’s… Read more: The Homecoming
- The VisitIn the Year of our Lord 1535, two men travel the length and breadth of the county of Southampton visiting religious establishments at the command of Thomas Cromwell, the Principal Secretary to the King and Vicar-General. Dr Thomas Legh and John ap Rice are charged with investigating the fifteen monasteries in the county ... Read More
- Atticus“Privet dedushka.” My grandson Atticus, the little blighter must have been at War and Peace again. But, as ever, a pleasure to see him despite the ridiculous name. “It could have been a lot worse, Titus Pomponius Atticus” he once explained. Atticus is good at explaining, especially as he knows better which he has for… Read more: Atticus
- An unwelcome strangerI suspect that I am being stalked by an irritating old man. I don’t often come face-to-face with him, but I know he is infesting the house, touching and disturbing my things, especially my clothes, not to mention my glasses. We have a strict rule that the upstairs glasses are never allowed to come downstairs… Read more: An unwelcome stranger
- FurnitureThey say that walls have ears. There is more to it than that. Look around your home, those inanimate objects, are they really what they seem, dull and lifeless, mere decorations. Ah, but could you be mistaken? Could they be observing you going about your daily life? They can’t possibly have feelings, that mirror cannot… Read more: Furniture
- Finding the Key to Lost MemoriesThe impulse to enter the room was irresistible. He gripped the smooth metal handle, but it would not budge. If only he could remember where he found the key last time. He ran his hand along the top of the doorframe, his fingers gathering a film of dust, the only reward for his endeavour. A… Read more: Finding the Key to Lost Memories
- Christmas GoodwillIt was a damp, cold night in December – not one to be out in unless you really had nowhere to go. Walking down the high street in a small Wiltshire town was a lone figure. He walked as not someone who had popped out to get a bottle of milk and a loaf of… Read more: Christmas Goodwill
National Successes
Sarah Wood came second out of 525 entries in the National u3a Short story competition 2025 with her story "Finding the Key to Lost Memories".
Two members of our Group were regional finalists in the u3a Creative Writing Competition 2021 but were just pipped to the post in the final; we were the only u3a to have two entries reach the final - a great achievement! You can read their stories from the following links: