We hear from Interest Groups Online member Andrew about why he loves IGO.
"I have been a member of IGO since October 2022, when I joined the 19th Century British Social History group. Since then I joined the 20th Century Life group, which unfortunately has closed now, Quizzoomers, Military History, What Are You Reading and very recently, the World History group.
I also joined a couple of other groups, but regrettably I had to step away from those as I found I was committing myself to do presentations for some of the other groups and it’s consuming a great deal of my time! Perhaps when I stop agreeing to make presentations, I may be able to go back to those groups I have stepped away from, temporarily, I hope.
Having said that though, I thoroughly enjoy the research as, you may have deduced, I am fascinated by History and carrying out the research really expands your knowledge, fulfilling the Learn part of the u3a motto.
The Laugh part comes from taking part in all those groups with many like-minded people who bring a great deal of joy as in all of them we have a good laugh! I’m someone who was badly affected by lockdown during the pandemic and being able to continue with u3a activities via Zoom has, quite frankly, been a lifesaver for me.
This is the all too important other part of the u3a motto – Live! I am a member of both Long Eaton and District u3a and Beeston u3a.
The photo is actually a screenshot as I appear on Zoom. I use a number of my own photos as backgrounds and keep some of my various colleagues amused by ringing the changes from a pretty wide range that I have accumulated over the years! This background is a National Trust property close to where I live and which my late wife and I loved to visit – Calke Abbey in Derbyshire."
Andrew M, IGO member