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u3a rewind

Share your memories, stories and photographs from your younger years. 

u3a rewind is a project that will create a unique archive of everyday cultural history, capturing the defining experiences and memories of u3a members.

Do you remember dancing to rock and roll, discovering a favourite band through pirate radio? What was the first single you bought and what was your most memorable live performance?

Tell us about the music, subcultures and communities that shaped your youth to be part of this archive. It will be shared with the Museum of Youth Culture to ensure that the stories of today's older generations become part of the wider story of Britain's youth culture.

How to take part

  • Write down your memories – of the concerts, dances, songs, fashions, records, radio stations that defined your youth.
  • Submit photographs that help tell your story – perhaps of yourself, an outfit, a concert, a favourite record, memorabilia or a place connected to your musical memories.
  • Suggest a song for the u3a Rewind playlist and tell us why it matters to you. This could be a defining song of your youth, or just one that means a lot to you. 

    u3a rewind playlist

    Songs that defined the youths of u3a members and staff. Listen on Spotify or YouTube.

    Learning packs

    We have created three learning packs to help you delve into the past and discuss the music, film and culture that defined the early lives of twentieth century teenagers and young adults.

    Each pack covers several different music genres and associated subcultures and features video resources, playlists of songs and discussion questions.

    Each is available to download as PDF with links to videos and songs, or as plain text documents for printing and sharing.

    People and a car on a street in the sixties

    From brylcreem to bowlcuts

    Teddy boys, mods and rockers, and the Swinging Sixties.

    Rock band on stage performing

    Flared, feathered and fabulous

    Hippies, seventies rock, northern soul and disco.

    Punk band from the seventies in front of a graffitied wall

    From anarchy to eyeliner

    Punk, rude boys, New Romantics and goths.

    Printable versions:


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