Visit to the Bradford Sock Company and lunch at Bradford College Tuesday 2 June

We meet at the Interchange entrance at 10.15 am and walk along Thornton Road to the Bradford Sock Factory. The Bradford Sock Company is based in one of Bradford's oldest surviving mills in West Yorkshire that was once owned by Sir Titus Salt, and dedicated to the manufacture of quality socks with the most up-to-date machines. They design and make a few dozen pairs of each colour combination, then move onto a different design. Our tour should last about an hour.

Then we walk up to Bradford College (about 10 minutes) for a lunch at The Grove, cooked by the students. Some u3a members will remember regular visits to the college for lunch – the food is still as exciting and perfectly presented. The cost is £12 for a three course lunch – and well worth the price. It is a limited menu, which changes every week. If you have special dietary requirements you need to tell us when booking. Places for the tour and lunch must be booked; contact Jean Blackburn

Visit to Leeds Minster Friday 19 June 2026

Members are invited to attend an organ recital, followed by a guided tour of Leeds Minster on Friday 19 June. The recital commences at 1.00 pm and lasts until 1.45 pm. The guided tour will follow at 2.00 pm, with a small fee of £5. The organ is a renowned Harrison & Harrison pipe organ with historic components dating back to 1713. A church is recorded on the site in the 7th century but the present structure is a Gothic Revival completed in 1841.

Both the X6 and 72 buses depart from Bradford Interchange and terminate in Leeds Bus Station. Members who wish to go directly to The Minster should meet at 12.30 pm in Leeds Bus Station, near Greggs. The 72 bus departs from Bradford Interchange at 11.22 am and arrives in Leeds at 12.25 pm. The X6 departs from Bradford Interchange at 11.40 am and arrives in Leeds at 12.25 pm.

Anyone who would like an early lunch in Leeds, possibly at John Lewis, can also meet in Leeds Bus Station at 11.20 am. The 72 bus leaves Bradford Interchange at 10.12 am and arrives in Leeds at 11.15 am. The X6 leaves Bradford Interchange at 10.33 am and arrives in Leeds at 11.19 am.

Anyone interested in joining the outing please contact Christine Agar.

Annual Coach Visit, Doddington Hall 24th June

This year’s coach visit is to Doddington Hall and Gardens near Lincoln. This beautiful Elizabethan Hall, dating from 1600 and renovated in 1749, has never been sold or cleared out. It has stayed in the family for 400 years, resulting in a fascinating collection of furniture, paintings, ceramics, textiles, weaponry and household objects. It also has a variety of gardens, including an Elizabethan garden, a kitchen garden and a wild garden, plus extensive parkland. The gardens have ramp access to avoid steps. We have a free-flow tour of the house. There are no lifts to the upper floors, but on the ground floor a virtual tour of the upper floors is provided for those who cannot manage the stairs.

The journey from Bradford through the farm lands of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will be a lovely contrast to last year’s visit to the hilly northwest, but no less interesting. Doddington Hall caters for a range of dietary preferences and needs with two cafes and a tearoom for coffee and lunch. There is a farm shop, clothing shop and home store to look around before we leave. The coach will pick up at Saltaire tram shed, Shipley Costa coffee, and Bradford Nelson Street. (Plus North Park road if there is enough demand for this). We return by about 6.30pm. We have made the cost as low as possible based on the coach cost and the hall entry fee.

The trip is going ahead and there are some places still available. Places are allocated on a first paid basis. After the booking is confirmed and you have to cancel, refunds will be made if there is a replacement. The trip is open to all Bradford u3a members (who have priority booking until 24 March), Westnet members and friends of u3a members. So please do encourage a friend to come and find out what Bradford u3a can do. We feel confident that this will be a fascinating place to visit and that Shipley Coaches will provide the excellent service which they gave last year.

Please fill in the Visit Application Form attached to the March newsletter and send to Jean Blackburn. Payment by cheque (payable to Bradford u3a) or bank transfer: Bradford u3a, sort code 20.11.88, Account 33077551, reference DH + your initial and surname. Inform Jean Blackburn of the date of your payment. To book without any IT hassle, or for queries, contact Jean at the u3a monthly talk on Wednesday 15 April, so you can discuss any access needs and book/pay there if you wish.

Hepworth Gallery. Wakefield, Wednesday 19 August.

A chance to see the latest exhibitions at the widely acclaimed gallery. We shall be travelling by train. It is hoped to complete the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle at a later date with visits to the Henry Moore Gallery and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. More information to follow. To register interest for the Hepworth Gallery contact Jean Blackburn.