It’s January 2020, 20 years since the Millennium. I remember watching the fireworks over Retford, when standing in my back garden. But 20 years, where has it gone? How many of you have kept to your New Year Resolutions made last January? I tried but as I don’t smoke I suppose the odd ‘tipple’ doesn’t matter.
Good news if you are thinking about joining Retford’s U3A. We start collecting new membership fees from now, and you still only pay the £15.00. This will give you membership until April 2021, so not a two-for-one, more a fifteen-for-one. Seriously though, this is a really good deal.
At our recent committee meeting we discussed how to encourage members who come to the monthly general meeting at the Well Baptist Church, to pop upstairs to see what some of the interest groups are displaying. You will see samples of craft work, whether it be quilting, knitting or lacework. The Gardening Group always have information as do the combined Walking Groups. Information is also usually available for Family and Military History, with examples of research on how to trace your family tree (sometimes as far back as the mid 1700s) and information on forthcoming trips and talks with the Military History Group.
It maybe you already have friends who come along to U3A and are members of an interest group. The committee, at a recent meeting, issued an open invitation for non members to visit as guests, any of the interest groups where we know you would be made welcome.
Our general meetings, at The Well Baptist Church in Retford, take place on the fourth Thursday of each month. Usually people start arriving around 1.00pm and the formal meeting starts around 1.30pm. In the upstairs room of The Well, you will find representatives of some of the interest groups, and a trip up the stairs is always useful.
Please remember the U3A is a national organisation with over 1,000 branches in the UK. The ethos of the U3A, which stands for The University of the Third Age, is very simple. We try to keep ourselves active in body and mind, learning from each other, with shared knowledge and experiences. If you want to know more about the Retford U3A, have a look at the comprehensive website, or contact the Membership Secretary, Paul Bacon at membership@retford-u3a.org.uk. or by telephone on 01427 880502 for more details.
Roy Evans