Welcome
From Sharon Parsons Editor
I have been a magazine editor for many (many!) years, but I can honestly say that being at the helm of u3a Matters is a role like no other, simply because every day I find myself dipping curiously into a wealth of incredibly diverse subjects. As we’ve put this issue together, for example, I’ve found myself discussing family history with u3a genealogists; interviewing an enthusiastic member about the restoration of a much-loved windmill; talking to another about his long-ago adventure in a Borneo rainforest; and finding out how one talented lady creates miniature historic figures with painstaking accuracy. Meanwhile, my inbox is brimming with correspondence from both members and experts in their field, which touch on all sorts of topics. In recent weeks, I’ve been delighted to read one member’s memories of the 1966 World Cup Final; been inspired by a u3a food group’s discovery of traditional Ukrainian cuisine; noted expert tips on avoiding scams; and refl ected on a member’s essay about treasuring time. Needless to say, you can read all this and more in this issue. What truly resonates with me, though, is how much this eclectic mix of subjects reflects everything that u3a has to offer. Within the movement, there really is something for everyone, whether you want to learn something new, indulge a passion, or simply share experiences with others. I hope you agree – and, not least, enjoy the issue!
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EDITORIAL
Editor Sharon Parsons
Group sub-editor James Hundleby
Sub-editor Amy Beveridge
DESIGN
Art Editor, Yvey Bailey
Picture Editor, Jessica Marsh
PRODUCTION
Jane Easterman
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Connections
News and views to share what's been happening across u3a
Community
Waking the windmill
Dave Denman of Meopham u3a explains how the restoration of Meopham Windmill has brought the entire community together
Our beautiful Grade II* listed windmill stands at the very heart of Meopham village. It has been an integral part of the local landscape since it was built around 1820 – at that time it was one of about 400 working mills in Kent. Sadly, only 12 of these historic buildings have survived in the county today. Our mill is especially unusual because it is one of just a few six-sided hexagonal smock mills in the whole of the UK (so called because the distinctive tall tapering tower resembles a farmer’s smock). Back in 1959, Kent County Council took ownership of eight historic mills in the region, including Meopham. However, once it closed as a working mill in 1965, it fell into disrepair for many years until 2023, when its fortunes changed for the better. A major restoration programme, headed up by Kent County Council and expertly carried out by Suffolk Millwrights, not only brought the mill back to its former glory, but made it fully operational again. Along with the restored sweeps (sails), cap and black tower, it has all its preserved machinery, including three pairs of millstones. Last June, its magnificent sweeps turned for the first time, powered by wind alone, since 1929. It was a sight to behold. People here have always cared passionately about this iconic building. The Meopham Windmill Trust was established in 1969, and today I am one of five trustees – all of us, coincidentally, are members of the u3a! – who continue the work of preserving this community’s important heritage. It’s that connection with Meopham u3a that has really helped to bring the windmill to life again. We have 25 volunteers, most of whom are u3a members, and we step in to do everything from acting as guides to maintaining the lovely surrounding garden (last autumn we planted more than 2,500 spring bulbs, which will look fantastic as the new season arrives). Meopham Mill has also been a great inspiration for many of our u3a groups. The Local History group are naturally very enthusiastic about this historic gem, as are the How Things Work group, while the Painting & Drawing group’s artwork is on display here, and the Photography group’s creative images are regularly uploaded on the Mill’s Facebook page. On that note, we’re indebted to u3a members with great PR skills and technical know-how, who have been able to help with everything from a quarterly newsletter to publicity and social media. Last year, we opened Meopham Mill on Sunday afternoons from June to September, and welcomed more than 800 adults, along with 250 children from schools and local youth groups (the toy ‘rat trail’ is especially popular with youngsters!). All this takes quite a bit of organising when we’re restricted to just six people inside at a time, but everyone is always very patient and understanding. There is no charge – although donations are, of course, always welcome. This year, we’re planning to open earlier, in April, with an Easter Bunny Hunt, and have a number of events in the pipeline, so we think our visitor numbers will grow even more. We’re also full of ambition: the mill last produced flour in 1914, but it is a feasible possibility that it could do so again – imagine that! This endeavour has undoubtedly brought the community together – everyone is so proud of the mill, and we all want to look after it, not just for now, but for future generations. Not least, our u3a members’ hard work, enthusiasm and commitment have proved a fantastic way to promote the movement and everything it has to offer. It’s a win for everyone! not only brought the mill back to its former glory, but made it fully operational again. Along with the restored sweeps (sails), cap and black tower, it has all its preserved machinery, including three pairs of millstones. Last June, its magnificent sweeps turned for the first time, powered by wind alone, since 1929. It was a sight to behold. People here have always cared passionately about this iconic building. The Meopham Windmill Trust was established in 1969, and today I am one of five trustees – all of us, coincidentally, are members of the u3a! – who continue the work of preserving this community’s important heritage. It’s that connection with Meopham u3a that has really helped to bring the windmill to life again. We have 25 volunteers, most of whom are u3a members, and we step in to do everything from acting as guides to maintaining the lovely surrounding garden (last autumn we planted more than 2,500 spring bulbs, which will look fantastic as the new season arrives).
- To discover more about Meopham Mill, go to: meophamwindmill.org.uk
Recognition
We’ve done it again!
Following our recent success at the Memcom Awards (see Winter edition, u3a Matters), the magazine has now scooped another accolade at the highly regarded Association Excellence Awards 2025! u3a Matters won Silver for Publication of the Year (circulation over 14,000 ), which is fantastic – especially as we were up against some very big names in the publishing world! As always, we couldn’t produce this magazine without members’ invaluable input – from your news and events to your stories, opinions and great ideas. Thank you so much, and here’s to another year of success!
Sorry, Lin!
In our last issue, we published a photograph of Lin Jonas and the late Eric Midwinter with an incorrect caption. In it, we said she was a former chair, when in fact she was the CEO of the Third Age Trust between 1996 and 2016. We apologise for the error.
THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR
Looking forward
To shape the u3a for a robust future, chair Allan Walmsley encourages us all to look to the bigger picture.
As a new year begins, it’s a natural time for us all to take stock, look forward and consider plans – whether of a personal nature or in a much broader sense. In terms of the u3a, that is certainly the case. One of the questions the Trust Board has been considering in recent months is what u3a will look like in 10 years’ time. It’s not easy to visualise, and certainly not something that should be left to the Board alone, of course. All u3as understand their local context, and a future movement must empower volunteers and local u3as to respond to changing local demand. Another key consideration is what each component of the Trust – the Board, the staff team and Trust Volunteers, along with the Council – can do to ensure that, by the time we get towards 2036, the movement is engaging, sustainable, vibrant and relevant to our society. Promoting the u3a movement as the ideal place for older people to learn fresh skills and make new social connections is a major role for the Trust. This is the only body with a national reach, and promoting the u3a model externally is becoming ever more important. Supporting the ability of u3as to deliver their message locally is also key for the Trust. While many u3as demonstrate resilience and proficiency, others require and value support, advice and guidance. Perhaps, in years to come, the Trust can help to reduce much of the unnecessary administrative burdens on u3as, helping them to focus on what’s attractive to local members instead. Strengthening the scope of the movement is likely to be a third priority for the Trust. While u3as can offer a local range of activities to members, the breadth of experiences available within the movement is almost infinite. How can the Trust further widen opportunities for members by creating subject networks, as well as attractive regional and national events? How do we build a ‘u3a family’ that appeals to older people because it represents their views and reflects how they want to spend their lives? We really value all our members’ ideas and views, so let us know. And in the meantime, happy new year!
- Contact me directly at:
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Life lessons
WORDS OF WISDOM
Helen Paton of Edinburgh u3a shares
her life-affirming thought
BE CURIOUS
Facing outwards and staying interested in a wide range of topics keeps me from dwelling on negative issues. I ask questions, read widely and use the internet to find out more. I am also in three book groups that cover general fiction, crime fiction and non-fiction – all genres are so interesting.
STAY ENGAGED
For me, this includes being connected with people through groups and friendships; with events in the world via newspapers and documentaries; and with new technology by finding out how to use software or apps. It all helps to sustain friendships, keep my brain active and fill my days with purpose.
KEEP MOVING
The arrival of twin granddaughters has motivated my husband and me to keep moving through walking, doing yoga and lifting weights, so we can enjoy playing with our glorious grandgirls. Pushing a twin buggy and getting down to the floor and back up requires a lot of energy, flexibility and strong muscles. It’s worth it!
- What are your Words of Wisdom? Send your three short and sweet thoughts and why to:
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‘With my little ukulele...'
Every morning, 90-year-old Tony Crimlisk of Southport u3a goes into his home office to start work. “Work isn’t the right word for it really,” he laughs. “Everything I do is about music – that has been my lifelong passion, and I never tire of researching a song or recording music on my laptop.” A talented musician and composer, Tony enjoyed a successful career in music education – and he hasn’t stopped, now teaching older people to play the ukulele via his own YouTube channel, which he launched during lockdown. “It’s a really easy instrument to learn to play, which is probably why it’s so popular,” he says. With 920 worldwide subscribers to his twice-weekly videos, he has certainly struck a chord!
- To view Tony’s 228 videos, go to: youtube.com/@tonycrimlisk4720
Discover SiteWorks
Make the most of your u3a website with SiteWorks. Graham Tigg, a member of the volunteer team, explains
SiteWorks offers a managed website service used by well over 700 u3as to attract new members and inform current members. A team of Trust volunteers ensures your website content providers get prompt and personal support. Having a SiteWorks site means your u3a will be part of a community that amplifies your activities beyond just your own u3a. The SiteWorks team has developed the Oversights website (oversights.u3asite.uk) to provide a UK-wide activities overview based on the contents of u3a websites. At its heart, we have 27,000 interest groups to search. For example, there are 106 genealogy groups nationwide, with 14 in Scotland and 13 in the South West. A clickable word cloud shows the most popular groups. All results have a link to take you to the group’s page.
- To find out more, visit our website siteworks.u3a.org.uk or simply email us at
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History in miniature
Costume drama
Patricia Heed of Wellingborough u3a shares her fascinating pursuit – and the detailed research behind it...
My hobby is making scale models in period costume. I’ve always loved history and fashion – I worked in the film industry for a short time and had to look the part, so I used to make my own clothes, carefully copying the style of Dior and Chanel. In many ways, when it comes to my hobby, that attention to detail is exactly the same – just in miniature. Fashion through the ages is fascinating, and I do a lot of research to ensure that each costume I create for my models is absolutely accurate, right down to the (unseen) underwear. I also make sure the fabric, jewellery and decorative detail are to the correct 1/10 scale, which can be challenging: as an example, on my models, a regular sequin scales up to the comparative size of a CD! However, I’ve found sugar grains make reasonable diamonds, as well as tiny pearls when they are covered in nail varnish. My Duke of Buckingham figure has a budgie feather in his hat, which is just the right size! Charity shops are a valuable source of fabric: often garments have been washed several times and this breaks down the fibres so that they drape more correctly. Old t-shirts are a fantastic replacement for wool, and silk ties are always a good buy – they are cut on the bias and usually incorporate small prints, which are perfect. I can also print onto fabric, so I can cut and paste a print from the internet and reduce it in size. The figures I use are pre-loved Barbie and Ken dolls, which I also pick up in charity shops. They go through quite a procedure as I try to make them as lifelike as possible for the look of the period. For instance, I may shrink Barbie’s head (using acetone), remove her make-up and California tan, sandpaper down her bosom and shorten her legs with pruning shears. I even glue her lips together so she no longer has a mega-watt smile! I started creating these models about 20 years ago and have about 30 now, all displayed in three cabinets. Each figure can take over 10 hours to complete, but it is so satisfying to get it right. I’m a member of our social history group, and recently gave a talk about the Victorians, using my figures to demonstrate what they wore and why. I would love to go to costume galleries with someone who doesn’t mind kneeling down for 20 minutes to see exactly how a hem was made and wouldn’t be bored by my explanation of the fall-front trousers worn by gentlemen in the 19th century. Do get in touch if that appeals to you!
- To contact Patricia, email
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THE CROWN JEWELS
It’s fascinating to discover why a certain fashion became de rigueur – for example, the unmissable cod piece as worn by Henry VIII in the famous Holbein portrait. It is intentionally the focus of the picture and conveys that this is a powerful, virile man. However, this gentlemen’s item started as an absolute necessity. Hose – a pair of tights – were literally two separate legs, so something was required to cover the gap. As most men travelled by horse, a bit of padding was added. This became more elaborate with quilting and embroidery, and thus the codpiece (‘cod’ meaning ‘fake’) became universal. It also proved a useful place to keep loose change and valuables – hence the term ‘the crown jewels’ became associated with this part of the body.
Obituary
‘Who is that lovely man by the window?’
Former chair Keith Richards recalls the outstanding contribution that Ian Searle made to the organisation.
There was sad news from Cornwall of the death of Ian Searle, who chaired the Third Age Trust from 2009 to 2012. I first met him as a fledgling chair myself when visiting the county to talk about the Trust to West Country u3as. The meeting was held in a grim Methodist chapel. There was some hostility along the “What do we get for our capitation fee?” lines, when a voice was heard from the standing-room-only area by the window. It was perfectly articulating the radical national agenda foreseen by the founders, and doing so with great humour and friendliness. At the end, I asked the question above, and the answer was: “Ian Searle”. I asked him to join the Standing Committee for Education, and that was the start of nine years of distinguished service to the Third Age Trust, as an area representative for the South West u3as, vice-chair in 2007 and then chair. Ian brought a great deal of interesting and relevant experience to the movement. An Oxford graduate in French and Latin, he had a varied working life. He taught in schools, went to the Solomon Islands as a district education officer, and also worked in retail, at one time running the only grocery store in St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly. When he retired, he joined Carrick u3a, remaining a member to the end and serving as both secretary and chair. He was also instrumental in persuading u3as in the Cornish u3a forum to become members of the Trust. Ian’s achievements were many, but he was particularly proud of the major part he played in writing Time to Learn, a publication that became the definitive work on non-formal learning in the u3a. A copy was sent to every u3a and to many outside educational organisations. It was so well received that an update, More Time to Learn, was produced in 2014. Determined that u3a members who could no longer get to classes would still have access to learning opportunities, Ian promoted the creation and use of online courses, written and tutored by u3a members (contributing one himself on how to write short stories), as well as encouraging u3as to hold groups in residential homes. The presence of the u3a movement in the media was very important to him and he took every opportunity to spread the word, aware that the movement was at last becoming recognised as a significant force in the educational landscape. At the end of his life, Ian bravely battled against bad health and the deteriorating eyesight that had always plagued him. Confined to a tiny flat in a remote village, he wrote and wrote, producing a series of novels. A devoted neighbour tells me she left copies in many countries of the world as she travelled. His kindness and understanding were lovingly remembered at his funeral in October, where Seamus Heaney’s poem ‘Digging’ was read:
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests
I’ll dig with it.
Ian is survived by three daughters.
Summer Schools
School reports
Last year’s u3a Summer Schools proved as successful as ever. Here’s just a brief review – and those all-important dates for what’s in store this year.
North West
Last August, 130 u3a members from 65 different u3as spanning the length and breadth of the UK came together for the very popular North West Region Summer School. Hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University, the event ran from Tuesday to Friday and offered both residential and non-residential options. An impressive 85% of attendees chose the full residential experience, staying in student accommodation and immersing themselves fully in the week’s packed schedule of activities. Participants chose from eight diverse courses, some of which included exciting field trips. Evenings were just as lively, with a quiz night and two engaging guest speakers adding to the social buzz. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive – 98% of attendees rated it as good value for money. It was a fantastic week of learning, laughter and lasting connections.
Alan Hough, North West Summer School organiser.
- The North West u3a Summer School 2026 will be held from 11-15 August 2026 at Manchester Metropolitan University. Full details are available on the North West u3a website.
Northern Ireland
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Greenmount College in Antrim, the biannual u3a Summer School brought together members from across Northern Ireland. One standout was a guided tour of the Walled Garden, where members enjoyed the tranquil surroundings and learned about the garden’s rich history and horticultural significance. The programme featured a stellar line-up of speakers. Siobhan Casey, Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, delivered a powerful keynote address, sparking thoughtful conversations about ageing, community and empowerment. Attendees were also treated to a reading by Dr Tony Macaulay, renowned author, peacebuilder and broadcaster, who shared excerpts from his autobiographical work, weaving stories of resilience and hope. Professor Tess Maginess from Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) captivated the audience with a literary deep dive into the poetry of Seamus Heaney, offering fresh perspectives on the Nobel Prize winner’s work. Professor Alan Fitzsimmons, also from QUB, delivered a fascinating lecture on astronomy, opening minds to the wonders of the universe. From garden paths to galaxies, the Summer School at Greenmount College was once again an unforgettable few days of learning, discovery and camaraderie.
Adrianne Brown, chair of the NI Regional Executive Committee of u3as.
- Northern Ireland Summer Schools are biannual, so the next one will take place in 2027.
Yorkshire and the Humber
The YAHR u3a Summer School, held at the Hawkhills in Easingwold last August, proved another huge success, bringing together 130 delegates from across 10 of the 12 u3a regions and nations in the UK. With 10 stimulating courses on offer, there was something for everyone – from learning new subjects to sharing ideas and enjoying the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Evenings were just as enjoyable, featuring folk dancing, a lively quiz night and an entertaining after-dinner speaker. Delegates praised the beautiful venue, excellent food and opportunity to make new friends. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments including “An excellent Summer School, as always!”, “A wonderful venue – we were so well looked after”, and “The courses, food and company were all first-class.” A huge thank you to the tutors, the delegates and the YAHR Summer School Planning Team for making the event such a success. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year!
Pat Collard , council representative for YAHR.
- YAHR Summer School 2026 will run from 24-27 August at the Hawkhills Conference Centre.
South East
Judging by the thanks we received from members who attended the South East u3a Forum Summer School at the University of Chichester last September, it was a resounding success. Over 160 members – our largest attendance ever – enjoyed 12 courses, ranging from AI and philosophy to opera and Roman history, along with yoga, patchwork and walking. A great learning experience and enjoyable time was had by all, and our volunteer tutors were outstanding. With well-attended evening entertainment, members took in a quiz, a film and a brilliant talk. There was also an excellent production of Top Hat next door at Chichester Festival Theatre, which 105 members attended. For over 20 years, the University of Chichester has been our Summer School’s venue, and no wonder. The amenities, food and service are superb: nothing is too much trouble for the various teams, to whom we offer our sincerest thanks.
Linda Hugo-Vieten, South East Summer School team leader South East u3a.
- Forum Summer School will take place from 7-10 September 2026 at the University of Chichester.
London
London extended its break from organising a Summer School in 2025 but was keen to ensure that it offered its members some worthwhile alternatives. There were online talks early on, followed by a Gilbert and Sullivan Music Day in March, before we commenced our spring series of walks and gallery visits celebrating Women’s History Month. In April there was an AI Study Day focusing on its repercussions for society. With the warmer weather came over 20 more walks and gallery visits in the capital, all under the careful guidance of blue badge guides. After the summer break we arranged another 14 walks and visits, some of which concentrated on Black History Month, and in December we organised a Christmas concert featuring the Brandenburg Camino singers at the historic St Margaret Pattens Church in the City.
Patricia Gregory, London Region Events Committee
- This year’s fascinating London walks and visits are now being planned.
Climate Change Summer Programme
Thirty u3a members arrived at the University of Warwick from all across the UK for four days of immersive climate and environment learning. Most were members of Climate Matters Interest Group Online, but several newcomers from other u3as were also welcomed. We were delighted that current and past staff members of the University of Warwick gave their time to lead sessions, as well as two of our own members: Janet Palmer from Stratford u3a spoke on the Stratford Climate Hub, and David Dundas from Lichfield u3a talked about incinerating waste to produce energy. Our activities included a guided tour of Sherborne Waste Sorting Facility to discover what happens to the recycling we separate in our bins; a session on having conversations about the climate crisis; a guided plant walk around the university grounds; and a visit to a solar farm. We also enjoyed sharing ideas, watching climate-related films and spending time together in community. As an online group, this opportunity to bond with others who are also passionate about our planet felt really precious.
Eleanor Brooks, co-leader of IGO Climate Matters.
- Climate Matters Interest Group Online’s Summer Programmes are biannual. The next will be in 2027.
u3a in Scotland Summer School
This is a biannual event, and the next one will be at Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling, from 24-26 August 2026.
Anne Walsh, member of the u3a in Scotland Committee.
- For information on all this year’s Summer Schools, visit u3a.org.uk/summerschools
Going for it!
A marathon effort
Meet the runners supporting u3a at the TCS London Marathon.
Two determined runners are proudly stepping forward as part of Team u3a and taking on the incredible challenge of the TCS London Marathon – one of the world’s most iconic and inspiring races. It is very exciting as this is the first time we have had charity places within the event, and we’re delighted to introduce you to our runners:
Clive Anderson
Since retiring in June 2025, Clive Anderson, a member of Charnwood u3a, has seen firsthand – through his involvement with the u3a – just how powerful social engagement, activity and shared purpose can be when it comes to improving wellbeing. Clive started his training plan for the London Marathon in November 2025 – he is aiming to build up to five runs per week, with a total of around 30 miles. His routine combines short and long distances and speed sessions. Clive has completed several marathons before and never takes the experience for granted. Each training cycle, he says, is a powerful reminder of the discipline, determination and resilience required to reach the finish line. As many seasoned runners say: the 26 miles aren’t the hardest part – it is the final 185 yards that truly test you!
Sheryl Kenny
Taking on the marathon holds a special personal meaning for Sheryl. Her mum is a member of West Bridgford u3a and, after the sad loss of Sheryl’s father, the u3a became an important source of connection and comfort, offering her mum the chance to meet new people and try new activities. Sheryl is no stranger to long-distance running: she previously completed the Rob Burrow Marathon in Leeds in 2023, and the Edinburgh Marathon in 2024. She has been passionate about running for the past four years, and what began as a fitness challenge has grown into a significant part of her life: now Sheryl is ready to take on another milestone in her running journey.
- Support our runners. If you wish to support Clive and Sheryl, you can find links to their fundraising pages at u3a.org.uk/fundraising
The Festival is coming!
Now that we’re well into the new year, Festival 2026 is really starting to feel real, and the exciting programme is coming together brilliantly. We’re thrilled by the range of new activities and topics on offer – everything from belly dancing and Welsh workshops to visits to York Minster and hands-on music workshops. There truly will be something for everyone. Just a quick reminder of the essentials: the Festival runs from 1 to 3 July at the University of York.
- To stay up to date and get your tickets, keep an eye on the u3a website at u3a.org.uk/festival26
Discussion point
Activism – and the power of older voices.
We debate the topics that affect the u3a and wider society. Our CEO Iain Cassidy stresses the vital importance of speaking out.
Have you ever wondered who shapes the future of our communities? Or who speaks up for the causes that matter most? Activism isn’t just the preserve of the young — it’s a lifelong expression of care for the world we live in now and in the future. Older adults have just as much of a stake in society’s future as anyone else, and perhaps an even greater perspective on what’s worth standing up for. Across the country, many u3a members already lend their time, energy and voices to campaigns and causes that matter — from protecting local services and green spaces to championing fairness, inclusion and lifelong learning. But could we, as a movement, do more? The combined experience, insight and creativity within u3a is a force to be reckoned with. Consider the data: in the UK, older age groups consistently have higher rates of democratic participation – voter turnout among people aged 65 and over has been at least 20 percentage points higher than that of 18-24 year-olds. In the 2023/24 Community Life Survey, 10% of adults aged 65-74 reported engaging in some form of civic activism in the past year – the highest rate among age groups. Put simply, when older people come together to speak out, change happens – whether it’s through writing to decision-makers, joining demonstrations or mobilising local networks. Today’s challenges — from climate change to digital exclusion and the visibility of ageing itself — call for that same spirit of determination. At its heart, activism is about taking responsibility and refusing to accept that nothing can be done. And it can also be deeply fulfilling. Many people find that standing up for what matters brings renewed energy, connection and a strong sense of purpose: the feeling that we still have something vital to contribute and to gain from participating in civic life. As champions of curiosity, we in u3a are uniquely placed to model that active citizenship — to show that engagement doesn’t end with retirement, but rather it deepens. So, what do you think? When I wrote about the changing face of volunteering (Autumn 2025, u3a Matters), many of you responded with really interesting thoughts and ideas (there’s a selection included in Mailbox on p71 ). I’d love to keep the conversation going and hear more from our members. If we were to campaign as a movement on an issue that truly matters to us, what would it be? What causes or concerns do you feel deserve the collective voice of u3a? Do let us know!
- Please email
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Discussing disability
We’ve recently received some correspondence from members who are keen to ensure u3a is relevant and accessible to all, particularly to those who have disabilities. u3a is committed to inclusivity and is open to all, so we’re keen to cover this important subject in u3a Matters, and provide information that could be helpful to those concerned – whether that’s a regular look at aids, products and services that may make life easier; specialist holidays and events; and, not least, practical steps that u3as can put in place to ensure a welcoming community for all. Do let us know if there are topics you’d be interested to know more about, and we will do our best to help.
- Email:
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U3A FRIENDS EXTRA
Discover the benefits
Friends Extra is u3a’s exclusive discount scheme designed to help members enjoy great products and experiences for less. It’s free to join, easy to use and a lovely way to make your everyday spending go that little bit further. For instance, get 40% off a Smol essentials cleaning bundle, making those everyday chores a little easier. If you like trying new recipes, there’s 55% off your first Gousto box – a great chance to explore some new ingredients. To treat someone special with a flower delivery, Bloom & Wild are offering 25% off. And when you’re ready for a well- deserved break, take advantage of 8% off Hotels.com bookings. New offers appear all the time, so sign up, take a look and see what catches your eye!
- Join today! Simply subscribe to the u3a Friends newsletter at u3a.org. uk/u3a-friends. You will then receive a welcome email with a link to the Friends Extra website, where you can set up an account and get access to a wide range of discounts. If you’re already subscribed, you can sign up to Friends Extra via the link in the next newsletter.
INTEREST
GENEALOGY
Meet the family
Getting to grips with genealogy has never been easier thanks to advances in technology, so get ready to discover your ancestry...
Since the pandemic, genealogy has become one of the most popular interests in the UK. This is largely thanks to TV programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are? and the surge in online research resources. Aside from the fascination of piecing together the jigsaw of your family heritage, the task can be rewarding in ways that might not be fully appreciated initially. The process may unlock a deep sense of connection with past lives; learning about your cultural background and where your ancestors come from can provide a strong sense of identity; and, not least, your research may lead you to finding or reuniting with family members who are living now – wherever they may be in the world. The role you play in accurately researching your family tree now will also serve future generations well. Not least, the task may encourage you to record important facts that will provide those who come after you with valuable and illuminating insights about your life in the world today.
Getting youngsters involved
“One of the most notable developments in the world of genealogy is the growing interest among younger generations,” points out Stephen Dyer, the u3a’s Subject Adviser for Genealogy. “Thanks to the Who Do You Think You Are? effect, younger people are considering their family history much more than before, which is wonderful,” he continues. “The Society of Genealogists and the Family History Federation are keen to promote this interest, and I certainly encourage u3a family history groups to forge links with schools and youth clubs to inspire children further.”
BRANCH LINES
Noble bloodlines – usually connected to social status, land ownership and inheritance – have been recorded since the Middle Ages, and wealthy or noble families were more likely to record their family trees (it was often necessary to prove the right to rule) than the poor. It became easier to access the family trees of those lower down in the social strata with the establishment of church records, parish registers and the census (the first UK census was in 1841 ). Civil Registration was established in 1837, and since then all births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales are recorded: these often include the name and occupation of the father (and sometimes the mother or the deceased spouse), and are vital for tracing working-class generations in particular. However, the challenges for today’s genealogists include poorly kept records and the fact that illiteracy was widespread among the poor. Common names can make connections difficult as well, while regional dialects may change their spellings. People who have Irish ancestors may also face difficulties searching for records in Ireland, due in part to the country’s complex history (see Further help). “Let’s not forget, too, the issues faced by child migration – when, for instance, young children who were orphaned or neglected were sent to colonies in the British Empire,” points out Stephen. “Their authentic family history often just disappeared.”
- FURTHER HELP. u3a Subject Adviser Stephen Dyer has produced a series of useful genealogy guidance notes for individuals or family history groups. He also writes a monthly newsletter with the latest updates. This year, his much-requested new presentation – Irish Family History Research Studies – will also be available. For information on all of this, go to: u3a.org.uk/genealogy
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Five simple steps to uncovering your family’s past:
1. Start with the basics. Write down what you know (or think you know!) on a large sheet of paper. Any tangible documents or ephemera you may have – named photographs, letters, postcards, military service records, certificates and so on – can be invaluable for filling in gaps.
2. Ask the family. You may not have living elderly relatives around to talk to, but cousins, siblings and other distant family members could have valuable knowledge or information you don’t know (though see point 3 below). You might even find you can connect with people who have the same ancestral family name via social media sites such as Facebook.
3. Check for accuracy. Family folklore, especially those stories that have passed down a few generations, may not always be true or totally accurate, so follow up with your own research – such as looking at census records online (the National Archives provide a detailed guide on accessing these).
4. Delve into your DNA. Discovering your genetic heritage shows you where your ancestors originated from around the world. Indeed, it has been said that DNA testing is the best thing to hit genealogy since the invention of the census! It’s easy to do through sites such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA and MyHeritageDNA.
5. Manage expectations. Popular television programmes that uncover people’s heritage have a story arc, so there will always be something interesting for the subject to discover (and they also have a crack team of researchers on the case). But not every person’s dynasty is exciting or notable... be prepared for the fact that your ancestry may not be terribly thrilling!
‘Discovering the past can take over your life!’
Sara Morris is a member of Gilwern u3a.
“Before retiring I was a police detective, so I love investigating and chasing clues! Needless to say, I’ve spent many years researching my family tree and have gone back to about the mid-18th century: I’ve used Ancestry, which is a good starting point, but I always verify the site’s findings by then doing my own research, and I also make good use of FreeBMD [see Where to search]. Not least, I found talking to older members of my dad’s family to see what they knew was very helpful, although some family ‘rumours’ – such as us having Spanish ancestry – turned out not to be true! I belong to the Family & Social History group at Gilwern u3a, and we’re currently working on a fascinating project called Living Stones. The aim is to document many of the lives of the people who are buried at our church, St Elli, so that they are more than just a name with dates on a gravestone. We aim to find out as much as we can about them – through church records, the census and so on – and then our group leader, Linda Swanson, uploads their biographies and sometimes even photographs, obtained with permission from members, on to our u3a site. Living Stones makes these people – many of whom have strong family ties within our community – so ‘real’, and discovering their stories is enlightening and often very moving.”
Where to search
There are a number of resources that may help you:
1. Local libraries and record offices provide census data, church records and voting registers.
2. Government archives such as the General Register Office, the British Newspaper Archives and The National Archives at Kew are valuable resources.
3. Paid-for online sites such as Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk), Find my Past (findmypast.co.uk) and My Heritage (myheritage. com) are incredibly popular. Some offer free trials, but to delve deep you need to subscribe, and prices vary depending on what you sign up for. For example, a basic UK-focused plan may start at around £10.99 a month, while a detailed ‘package’ can be upwards of £200.
4. Free resources. Some ways of researching your family tree only cost your time. Ancestry resources can be accessed at local libraries; Family Search (familysearch.org) offers access to a wealth of historical records worldwide; and FreeBMD (freebmd.org.uk) provides details of births, marriages and deaths. AI has also come very much to the fore. Perplexity.ai – which Stephen Dyer recommends – is a fantastic free resource for genealogists, and the wealth of information it provides is extraordinary.
LIVING WELL
How to make simpler, better - and more enjoyable.
Wise up to fraud
Sir Peter Thornton KC provides essential guidelines to avoid becoming a victim of this distressing crime.
Fraud is now the most prevalent crime in the UK, accounting for over 40% of all crime in England and Wales. Losing money to a fraudster, and usually these days that means an invisible fraudster, is a very distressing experience. We are all capable of being exploited at a moment of weakness (or even, dare I say, a moment of greed). We all need to be on the lookout – not just for ourselves, but for others we care for who may be vulnerable. These steps will help:
How to avoid fraud
There are a few basic steps that we should take at all times:
Dos:
Passwords. Use strong passwords and different ones for bank accounts, financial organisations, credit cards and email accounts. Change passwords frequently. Use lower- and upper-case letters, numbers and punctuation.
Security. Install security software such as anti-virus for your computer. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA), sometimes called two-step verification, as an extra layer of security. Update software and apps frequently (updates will contain new security).
Screen lock. Secure your smartphone and tablet with a screen lock (not your bank PIN).
Back up data. Back up your most important data to an external hard drive or onto a cloud-based storage system.
Bank accounts. Check bank statements regularly (even daily if online) to look out for any unusual transactions. Notify the bank immediately of any.
Be aware. Be on the lookout for the possibility of fraud, in phone calls or messages through text, email or on websites.
Double-check. Check and double-check the possibility of fraud if you are in any doubt. Consult a trusted friend or relative. If you’re still in any doubt, just don’t do it.
Don’ts:
Passwords. Never choose passwords that are easy to guess like Pa55word!, or that use your name, family names, pet names or your date of birth.
Cold calls. Do not respond to any cold calls out of the blue, particularly those that offer you attractive opportunities to make money – for example, with pension funds (with offers
of a ‘free pension review’). If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Pension pots. Do not cash in pension pots without taking sound independent and regulated financial advice.
Door-to-door. Don’t buy goods or services, such as roofing, tiling or driveway repairs, from a seller who turns up out of the blue (unless you are sure about them). Don’t let a stranger into your house on an excuse.
Bank details. Do not give out bank details or any personal details that might lead to fraudsters getting into your accounts over the phone. (Unless you make the call to a guaranteed secure number – even then be cautious.)
Payments. Do not make a substantial payment to a bank account until you have double-checked with the payee.
Links in emails. Don’t respond to any unexpected and unusual emails. In particular, do not click on a link in the email: it may infect your computer with a virus and gain access to personal and banking details.
If you follow these tips, you will minimise the risk of loss.
If it happens to you...
If you think you may have been a victim of fraud, here’s what to do:
Keep a record. As soon as you suspect fraud, make a written record of all transactions and communications, with dates, times and names if known. This will be invaluable in the process of claiming redress.
Take advice. Contact your local Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 (citizensadvice.org.uk).
Report to the bank. Report any loss or unusual activity to your bank immediately. Do not delay. Report suspected fraud to the bank’s fraud number [on their website]. You can also call Stop Scams UK (stopscamsuk.org.uk) on 159, which will connect you safely to your bank.
Monitor your bank accounts regularly (every day if possible). Smartphone apps and online banking make this easy. Look out for unusual activity. Check unusual payments such as payments to insurance companies that on the face of it look legitimate and may not at first glance look like a scam. Keep a record of any calls, emails or other contact with your bank. Keep a record of the dates, times and content. You may need to look back over the details if there is a dispute over reimbursement.
Report to police. If you believe you are the victim of a crime, you should always report the offence to the police. Do not delay. Keep a record of your report. The police may give you a crime reference number, but in most cases you will be referred to Report Fraud, formerly known as Action Fraud [see below]. If the police have not done so already, Report Fraud will give you a police crime reference number when you report to them. The bank or insurance company may require it. If you have been defrauded and the bank has paid you back, you may be reluctant to report to the police. But if there is any uncertainty about recompense by the bank, you should report to the police. The bank may take you more seriously if you do.
Report to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk). This is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime (any computer-oriented crime). If you have suffered a scam and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the police and agencies such as the National Crime Agency will tell you to report to Report Fraud ( 0300 123 2040 ). In Scotland, you should report to Police Scotland directly, calling 101. Note: Report Fraud does not investigate cases. It receives reports of crime, assesses them and in some cases passes them on to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau and to the police for investigation.
A fine romance?
Lonely hearts and dating websites are popular. But there are fraudsters out there (mostly online and often invisible) trying to take older people for a ride, particularly those in the 65-74 age bracket. The fraudster will try and develop a loving, caring relationship with the older person, showing a kind and compassionate nature. If online, they may be pretending to be a person of a similar age, often with a fake profile and a fake picture. Fraudsters often appear charming and trustworthy. But they are manipulative and sometimes coercive. They will work on building up a level of trust, praising and complimenting you. Then they will ask for money, maybe just a loan (which will never be repaid), or outright cash, often for highly emotive, personal reasons, intended to tug at the heartstrings. The money may also be for a ‘cannot-fail investment’ or to support a business that will be ‘bound to succeed’. They will nearly always be false. CrimeStoppers suggests some of the telltale signs:
The relationship is progressed by the fraudster with undue haste.
They try to take the conversation off the dating website or social media platform on to a more private platform, such as WhatsApp.
The fraudster makes excuses why they can’t meet up or why they can’t video chat.
They claim to be working overseas in the military or in a medical profession.
When the fraudster asks for money – it’s for an emergency. They try to rush you.
They tell you to keep your relationship private and not tell anyone.
What to do:
1. Be wary of someone not prepared to speak on camera or face-to-face.
2. Don’t lend or give money to someone you have never or only recently met.
3. If you are tempted to help them, double-check if you can, e.g. when the money is said to be for medical care.
4. Confide in a trusted relative or friend before making important decisions about money or property with a ‘newfriend’.
- This feature is adapted from the chapter entitled ‘Scams’ in The Later Years: The simple guide to organising the rest of your life by Peter Thornton (Bedford Square Publishers, £16.99). This practical book provides clear advice on everything from managing money matters to pensions, wills and inheritance tax, along with health matters, coping with bereavement, and living safely and securely in the later years.
Recipes
Italian accents
Bring Mediterranean flavours to your table with these two delicious Italian-inspired chicken recipes.
The recipe I return to…
Sicilian spaghetti
Serves 2
Chicken, olives, sundried tomatoes, raisins and almonds combine to create this super simple dish that’s bursting with sunny Sicilian flavours. It has been created by Heathfield & District u3a member Lesley Negus, whose website, Thrifty Lesley (for fabulously frugal food), is packed with smart ways to cook well on a budget. “This dairy-free dish is a great way to use up cooked roast chicken and takes just half an hour to get on the table: any leftovers make a great lunch the following day as well,” Lesley says.
Ingredients
160g wholemeal spaghetti (or any pasta you prefer)
140g cooked chicken, chopped into walnut-sized pieces
20 black or green olives, stoned and chopped
50g raisins
60g flaked almonds, or whole nuts, chopped
60g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh basil leaves
Method
1. Put the spaghetti in a saucepan, then pour over boiling water from the kettle, add a little salt and simmer until it is cooked through but still has a little bite. Drain well, reserving a cup of the cooking water.
2. Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, olives, raisins, nuts and sun-dried tomatoes, then add the zest and juice of the lemon.
3. Tip into the saucepan of hot drained spaghetti and gently combine, so the mixture warms through. Add a little pasta water to loosen the mixture if necessary.
4. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin oil and fresh chopped basil leaves to finish, and serve with a crisp green salad.
Cook’s note:
If you want to cook the chicken from scratch, chop 180g raw chicken breasts into walnut-sized pieces, then cook in a pan until tender before adding to the rest of the mixture.
- For alternative ingredients and ideas to adapt this dish, along with more fantastic money saving recipes, go to: thriftylesley.com
Another one to try..
Chicken with capers, chillies and lemon
Serves 6
Cookery writer Beverley Jarvis from Ashford & Wye u3a suggests this delicious supper dish that’s big on flavour.
Ingredients
6 large chicken thighs, bone in, skin on, trimmed of excess skin
Zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus 2 lemons, sliced
60ml olive oil
2 tsp vegetable stock powder (i.e. Bouillon)
2 tsps runny honey
2 red chillies, de-seeded and chopped
2 sprigs rosemary, needles only, chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp drained capers, from a jar
150ml red wine
Freshly chopped parsley to serve
Method
1. Place the chicken in a single layer in a large non-metallic dish. Add grated zest and juice of one lemon with half the olive oil. Sprinkle the stock powder over the chicken, then add honey, chillies, rosemary, garlic and capers. Pour wine over the top.
2. Cover dish and set aside for two hours to marinate, or chill overnight in the fridge.
3. Pre-heat oven to 200°C, 180°C fan, gas mark 6. Pour remaining oil into a large oven-safe pan or shallow casserole and place over medium heat, until the oil is shimmering. Using a draining spoon, lift the chicken thighs from the marinade on to a plate, and blot with kitchen paper.
4. Add the chicken pieces to the pan in a single layer, and brown on all sides. Using tongs, transfer chicken to a plate. Remove pan from the heat and drain off the excess oil – you only need a smidgen remaining.
5. Arrange slices of lemon in a single layer in the base of the pan, then add the chicken in a single layer, skin side down, and pour over marinade. Return pan to the heat and bring just to simmering point, then transfer pan to oven and roast uncovered for 45 minutes, basting the chicken halfway through cooking.
6. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve accompanied by a bowl of steaming pasta.
Cook’s note:
This dish doesn’t require salt and pepper because of the salty capers
and chopped chillies.
STORIES TO SHARE
u3a members share their poignant, inspiring and illuminating memories and experiences.
Discovery
A lost world
Getting to know a remote rainforest community proved a unique privilege that George Munro of Tenbury Wells u3a has never forgotten.
I have led a life that has taken me across continents and given me experiences that even I sometimes look back on in amazement: in my time, I’ve been everything from a military parachutist to a scuba instructor, a yacht skipper and a part-time marine archaeologist, as well as a businessman. Being immersed in different countries and cultures goes back to my childhood. I was born in Sussex to an English father and an Armenian mother, and my father’s army career meant my childhood unfolded across Egypt, Libya, Cyprus and Malaya (now Malaysia). My siblings and I could all speak a number of languages as a result and were used to settling in very different places. I was never drawn to academia – adventure always called louder – and, after finishing school, I worked briefly as a cartoonist before joining the army. My military career, which spanned 12 years, took me across the Middle East, the Far East, Cyprus and Northern Ireland. One of my most profound experiences was in 1966 when, aged 21, I was dispatched for six months to the Borneo rainforest as a member of a Special Patrol Company. My role within a four man patrol was as a lead scout and linguist. Our brief was to carry out what was called Claret Operations – basically, they were cross-border incursions to gain intelligence about the then Indonesian enemy. We lived in a makeshift camp with hammocks slung between the trees – a Wessex helicopter would sometimes drop off food supplies. My artistic skills were put to good use as a map maker but, not least, being able to speak Malay meant I could communicate with the local people. These were the Punan Busan, a recently discovered nomadic tribe of just 120 people. They had every reason to be wary of outsiders, historically having endured the trauma of being hunted by Iban and Sarawak headhunters. Until the start of the Indonesian Confrontation, they had never seen white men before. Yet they welcomed us into their world, and we got to know a warm, generous community that was deeply connected to the land and to each other: they were such beautiful people. Members of the tribe became essential to our patrols, acting as guides to accompany us and ensure we got close to our objectives without being seen. Their knowledge of the jungle was impressive, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for putting their lives at risk to help us. When we weren’t out on patrol, we went to their village most days, and endeavoured to respect their way of life. The men bore intricate tattoos across their bodies, while the women’s were limited to forearms and lower legs. All had stretched earlobes, elongated by heavy brass rings – a striking symbol of tradition and identity. On occasion, the men would take us hunting for jungle pig or bear, and their hunting skills were extraordinary: they used blowpipes, which were crafted with precision and wielded with grace. We would trade them tobacco (everyone smoked – even the children), beads for necklaces and even machetes, which the men used as an everyday tool or for carving intricate shapes on their blowpipes. There were times when a journey to a destination would take too long on foot, so the Royal Navy ferried us as close as possible by helicopter. Sometimes our Punan guides would accompany us and it was, as you can imagine, an amazing experience for them to look down on the rainforest that was their home. Sadly, I don’t know what happened to the Punan Busan when the Indonesian Confrontation ended, but 60 years on, when I look at satellite images of the area we operated in, I can see that much of the rainforest has been decimated and replaced by oil palm plantations. I fear that this wonderful community is no more. In recent years, I have drawn on this extraordinary experience, and others, to write. My second book Salt and Flint (soon to be published) explores the life of a Mesolithic tribe: when I was writing it, I found myself transported back to the Borneo rainforest, recalling the life I had been so fortunate to experience among the people who lived there – I will never forget it.
George Munro’s well-received debut novel, Thalathah, is available on Amazon and in good book shops
It’s a goal!
Winning ticket
As this year marks 60 years since the historic World Cup Final, Dieter Shaw, a member of Beaconsfield u3a and Subject Adviser for Film Appreciation, recalls how he managed to see this legendary match.
In 1966, aged 26, I was working for a company in central London that imported and distributed a complete range of French- and German manufactured motion picture cameras as part of a worldwide network. The overseas offices were relatively small, which meant employees from each got to know one another with lots of travel and regular meetings. There would be nothing unusual about the occasional call for help with personal matters: perhaps helping a youngster to get work experience abroad, or assisting with hotel bookings or car rental. So I was not surprised when our German agents called the day before the World Cup Final, and I received a message that began: “We are coming in our own plane and have booked a landing slot at Heathrow for tomorrow morning. Could you pick the four of us up and take us to the match?” That I could do, although it somewhat derailed my weekend plans. But then my secretary completed the message: “And can you get four tickets for the match?” Not a chance! In those years there were, of course, no mobile phones and I was unable to contact the four visitors until they arrived at Heathrow and I collected them. It was decided that we would make our way to Wembley in the hope of buying tickets outside the stadium. As we got closer, a slow crawl tested everyone’s nerves to the limit, but at last Wembley Way beckoned with about 30 minutes to spare before kick-off. My passengers dived into the maelstrom while I attempted to park the car: it was pandemonium, with hundreds of fans from all nations hoping to get lucky at the 11th hour. My guests, as it turned out, were fortunate – they got the required tickets, and made their way inside. As the referee’s whistle blew to start the match, the volume increased and the area in front of the turnstiles emptied rapidly, until only two people remained: that was me and another gentleman whom I hoped beyond hope would be someone with a ticket to spare. We gingerly approached one another, and miraculously my ‘seller’ turned out to be exactly that: a man with just one ticket. Up close, I noticed he was wearing the typically drab attire of the communist countries. He carefully showed me the ticket, which had been overprinted with PRESS and asked for the sale price that was on it: £2 10s. I gave him the money, and he immediately disappeared, which was no surprise: anyone from a communist state selling work-related tickets for Western currency would be in real trouble. I made my way to the elevated press platform – and was presented with a glorious view across the pitch from the halfway flag: surely the best seat! Commentators from all over the world sat behind their individual microphones, and their voices ebbed and flowed across the airwaves in line with the excitement played out on the pitch. When England equalised at the end of normal time, the stadium exploded and the quite substantial commentator next to me jumped off his chair and tried to kiss me in his excitement. It was a day that I will never forget. My German background meant I was quite conflicted about the result, if I’m honest. Professional qualifications had allowed me to settle here and gain British nationality, so in many ways while I was very pleased that my adopted country had won... I was a little sad too! My German guests, of course, were not so happy. Although they were thrilled to have witnessed such an historic match, for a long time afterwards they would refer to Geoff Hurst’s controversial goal and constantly remind me: Das war aber kein Tor!: “That wasn’t a goal!”
Painful memories
Notes from the past
Carole Taylor, a member of Gloucester u3a, shares her very personal story – and reflects on how attitudes have thankfully changed.
I found the small notebook in a cardboard box while I was decluttering. It contained details of my short stay in a London mother and baby home in the 1960s when I was pregnant and unmarried. Along with the notebook came a lifetime of buried memories, some so painful that I could only allow myself to consider a few at a time. Unmarried motherhood in Britain at that time carried a strong social stigma. Having a baby while unwed was considered a sin of epic proportions: a shameful secret that would bring gossip and scandal, and had to be concealed at all costs. So, when aged 19 and single I discovered I was pregnant, my devastated parents threw me out of our family home in Sussex, upholding the unshakeable belief that preserving the family’s good name was more important than their daughter’s wellbeing. “She’ll survive,” I remember them saying heartlessly. There was a London charity called The Unmarried Mother and her Child, which arranged for me to work as a live-in nanny with a family in Hampshire during my pregnancy, and then go to a mother and baby home. Here, pregnant girls with nowhere else to go spent six weeks before and six weeks after their babies were born, after which their infants were taken away for adoption. I recall with affection the girls I met there. They were ordinary girls like me who had got themselves ‘into trouble’ and were paying the price. Those of us who ended up in that dismal place were treated spitefully simply because we’d had sex before marriage and become pregnant. I was engulfed by feelings of helplessness, shame and complete worthlessness. After a distraught phone call to the family I had worked for, I managed to escape after just a few days. Most girls had no choice but to stay. I gave birth to my daughter in a Portsmouth hospital, but there was still no avoiding adoption, and when she was six weeks old she was taken from me. We were reunited 30 years later: incredibly, she found me because I had put the address of the family who had helped me on her birth certificate. Traumatised after my experience in the mother and baby home, I scribbled down the basic facts for posterity. Then life took over and I forgot about that notebook, which survived several house moves across the UK. When it eventually surfaced half a century later, being an unmarried mother was no longer a disgrace, and few remembered – or understood – that generations of women were scarred for life by the cruel practice of forcing mothers to give up their babies for adoption. This is women’s history within living memory. It must never be forgotten.
Perfectly Imperfect: The Story of the Two Js by C J Taylor is a novel based on Carole’s experience as an unmarried mother. Published by Fuzzy Flamingo Publishing, and available on Amazon and Kindle.
- Do you have a story to tell us about your life? Send it to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mark your email: STORIES TO SHARE
Your good health
Keep mind, body and soul strong, active and happy with the latest news, expert tips and members' inspiration.
SIX smart ways to lose weight without dieting
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to ban all the treats in order to shift a few pounds. These science-backed tweaks to your diet and lifestyle can support a healthy weight naturally without any sense of deprivation, leaving you lighter, healthier and more energised.
1. Up your NEAT.
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy burned through everyday movements outside proper workouts, and is a key tool for weight management. Small tweaks can make a big difference: standing instead of sitting for a few hours can burn extra calories, as can walking while on the phone, carrying shopping and gardening. Tip: Try exercise snacking. “Lift your arms regularly throughout the day, stand and balance on one leg for 10 seconds, and, if you can, climb those stairs – it all counts,” suggests personal trainer Lavina Mehta MBE, author of The Feel Good Fix (Penguin).
2. Focus on fullness.
Protein and fibre are the nutrients with the strongest evidence for triggering the body’s ‘I’m full’ signals. “Protein is the most satiating of the three main macronutrients [the other two being carbohydrates and fats], meaning it makes us feel full,” explains registered nutritionist Emma Bardwell, author of The 30g Plan (Penguin). “Fibre-rich foods tend to be bulky, which physically fills the stomach. Fibre also slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach, keeping us fuller for longer and reducing snacking.” Tip: Build meals around protein and fibre. Breakfast could be oats with fruit, nuts and seeds; lunch might feature lentils, beans or chickpeas; and dinner could be meat, fish or plant proteins with plenty of vegetables.
3. Go to bed earlier.
Late nights don’t just reduce sleep, they also increase appetite. Research from King’s College London found sleep-deprived people consumed around 385 extra calories the next day. The reason is that when you’re tired, the body releases more hunger signalling hormones. Tip: Sleep medicine consultant Dr Alanna Hare’s top tip for ensuring you get your sleep needs met is to “keep regular bedtime and wake times”. On missed sleep days, choose healthy, filling meals and drink water to avoid fatigue-led snacking.
4.Eat at the table.
Scrolling, watching TV or reading while you eat makes it harder for your brain to notice when you’re full, encouraging you to overeat. Studies show that distracted eaters consume more at mealtimes and even at their next meal. Tip: Sit at the table, without screens, and pause between bites. It takes about 15-20 minutes for the brain to register fullness, so slowing down helps prevent overeating.
5. Reduce ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods – that is, those made with refined ingredients, additives and preservatives – make up more than half of the average UK adult’s calorie intake. Clinical trials from University College London show that swapping to minimally processed meals naturally reduces calorie intake and supports gradual weight loss. Home-cooked meals tend to be more satisfying and contain fewer of the refined ingredients that may encourage overeating. Tip: Batch cook and freeze meals so you always have something nutritious to hand on busy days. Also, don’t forget fast but healthy options such as omelettes, sardines on toast, fresh soup with bread or bean-based salads.
6. Watch liquid calories.
Drinks are a hidden source of calories because liquids don’t trigger fullness in the same way that solid food does. A can of fizzy drink contains around 140 calories and a glass of wine is similar. Sugary coffee-shop lattes can reach 300 or more. Tip: Choose smaller glasses or mugs. Only pour wine halfway up the glass, plus skip the syrups and creams in coffees. Try sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice, or unsweetened tea or coffee – all are easy swaps.
How to put on weight
Some people need to gain weight for health reasons – being underweight can weaken immunity, increase fracture risk and lead to nutrient deficiencies. To gain a few pounds, focus on good nutrient-dense, calorie rich foods: add full-fat dairy such as cream, butter and cheeses to meals, include healthier fats such as avocados, olive oil and nuts, and add small healthy snacks or smoothies to your day.
Ringing in your ears?
Everything you need to know about tinnitus – and how to future-proof your hearing.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus means hearing a sound when there’s no external source, but it’s highly individual, with sufferers both experiencing and responding to it differently. “It can sound like anything – ringing, buzzing or even music,” explains Ella Woodward, RNID* audiology adviser. “These can vary in pitch and intensity and be temporary or constant. “Almost all of us experience temporary tinnitus at some point in our lives – sometimes following loud noise. You might also notice a brief whistle if you’re run down.” According to the RNID, however, one in seven of us lives with more regular or persistent tinnitus. It can affect any age, but it becomes more common as we get older. One recent Apple study found that daily tinnitus is three times more likely in people over 55.
What causes it?
“Tinnitus has many causes, not all of them fully understood, but it’s thought to be linked to nerve activity in the hearing system and brain,” says Ella. “You’re more likely to have constant tinnitus if you have age-related hearing loss, but it can also be caused by loud noise exposure, which damages the hearing system. “Tinnitus can also be linked to health conditions, as well as earwax build-up and ear infections, but it’s rarely a sign of something more serious.”
What’s its impact?
For many, tinnitus is a quiet hum that doesn’t affect daily life. For others, it’s impossible to ignore. “Its impact can be genuinely life-altering,” says Patrick Morrison from Tinnitus UK. “Some people stop doing things they enjoy and withdraw. Others describe its traumatic impact as similar to grief.”
When to seek help
If you think you have tinnitus and it’s bothering you, get it checked. “A doctor can confirm whether what you’re experiencing is tinnitus,” says Patrick. “Sometimes it’s linked to hearing loss or blood pressure changes and treating these can help ease the symptoms.” However, if you experience tinnitus in one ear only, or it pulses with your heartbeat, don’t hesitate to see your GP urgently for further investigation. Regular hearing checks are also recommended.
How to manage it
Sadly, tinnitus has no cure, but there are many ways to manage it. “As tinnitus is more noticeable in quiet situations, gentle background noise – such as music, radio or environmental sounds such as rain, sea or birdsong – can help mask it,” suggests Patrick. “If you have hearing loss, wearing hearing aids can be very effective at reducing tinnitus perception.” De-stressing can also help. “A lot of research shows the positive benefits that relaxation and mindfulness practices can have on how people feel about having tinnitus,” points out Patrick. “If you’re struggling, your GP can refer you to a tinnitus specialist for counselling.”
How can I protect myself?
Limit prolonged exposure to loud sounds and keep your headphone volumes moderate (no more than 60% of maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes). If you’re around sustained loud noise – such as when you’re using petrol mowers or leaf blowers, or at loud concerts or sporting events – always wear ear protection.
- For more advice, visit: rnid.org.uk/ tinnitus and tinnitus.org.uk
health notes
News and views from the world of wellbeing
Make more of your pharmacist
You may have noticed pharmacies offering more services lately, but did you know pharmacists can also help you save money on things such as painkillers, cold and flu remedies or allergy tablets? “One of our core professional values is making healthcare accessible,” points out Ade Williams, a superintendent pharmacist. “For example, we can advise you on cheaper generic alternatives to branded medicines, explain the differences between the two, and help you choose what’s best for you.” Even small switches, like considering a supermarket own-brand over a brandname product, may help save you money.
Save a life
There are now 100,000 registered defibrillators across the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation. These devices – which deliver an electric shock to the heart – come with step-by-step instructions, so almost anyone can use them in a cardiac emergency. Want to know more? Take the BHF 15-minute RevivR CPR training on your phone or tablet.
- Visit bhf.org.ukfor details
Tune in to wellness
“Music lights up the reward centres in the brain, stimulates dopamine (your get-up-and-go chemical) and reduces your stress hormones,” explains Kate Rowe Ham, a health coach and author of The Longevity Solution (published on 12 February, Yellow Kite). “The right music can move you physically and emotionally, whether walking, stretching, lifting or just aiming to start the day feeling energised.” So, follow her advice to kickstart your day: play one favourite power song (that’s one that ‘gets you going’) first thing every morning – or whenever your energy dips – to harness its proven feel-good benefits.
Hug a pet to boost your mood
Snuggling up with a furry friend isn’t just comforting, it’s good for your nervous system too. Studies show that stroking or spending time with dogs, for example, can raise feel-good chemicals and lower stress hormones, while some research suggests it can even bring down heart rate and blood pressure. One recent review of 37 studies measuring what happens in both humans and animals during interactions reported ‘co-modulation’, meaning that when people relaxed, their pets often did as well.
good times
Make the most of life – great places to visit, new things to try, what to watch, read and enjoy.
Special places
The inside story
When is a house not just a house? When it’s a museum too!
Make yourself at home
Some of our most atmospheric museums offer an intriguing glimpse into the lives of those who lived and worked there.
Hampshire. Jane Austen’s House Museum.
Originally owned by distant relatives, Chawton Cottage in Alton was left to Jane’s brother Edward, who’d been adopted by the childless Knights, as part of their Chawton estate. In 1809, he offered the property to his widowed mother and sisters, Jane and Cassandra, as their permanent home. It was from here, during the last eight years of Jane’s life, that the venerated writer worked on all six of her novels – Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion – at her writing desk. The small museum has been open to the public since 1949, and visitors can see family furniture, letters from Jane to Cassandra, first editions of her novels, the Austen family tree and personal jewellery. Poignantly, Jane’s life at Chawton mirrored the genteel poverty, on the margins of great wealth, that she so often wrote about. janeaustens.house
Glasgow. The Tenement House.
To find a home exactly as its owner left it, in 1965, is quite something. To discover a time capsule from as long ago as 1911, when Agnes Toward first moved in with her widowed mother, is something else again. Mrs Toward was a successful dressmaker and her daughter a shorthand typist. They were independent, single women and their middle-class, Victorian flat at Buccleuch Street reflected their own efforts. They had a bathroom with a private bathtub and lavatory, a parlour, a bedroom and a kitchen, with a coal-fired range. The flat was lit by gaslight – and still is – and fixtures and fittings are mostly original. Agnes hoarded pretty much everything they had ever owned, from a WWII gas mask and ration book to lipsticks and perfumes. There are also cleaning products, small tins of hot chocolate and even a pot of homemade plum jam from the 1920s! nts.org.uk
Powys. The Judge’s Lodging.
It started in the 1530s with the murder of a judge in Rhayader, the venue for the Court of King’s Great Sessions (Assizes). Immediately the search was on for somewhere safer for the legal bigwigs and, in 1542, the tiny border town of Presteigne became the legal seat of Radnorshire for the next 400 years. There was a jail, a judge’s lodging house and a Shire Hall for trials. But by the 1820s the set-up was in disarray. In 1829 a new Shire Hall, Court of Justice and Judge’s Lodging building was opened, with the court below the judge’s accommodation. The kitchens, the servants’ sleeping quarters and the holding cells for prisoners were below stairs. In the 1990s the building needed rescuing yet again, and was restored to its Victorian grandeur with finds from the attics and the return of real fires, oil lamps and gas lighting. The Grade II listed building has been called the most remarkable survivor of all UK court buildings. judgeslodging.org.uk
Kent. Chartwell.
Wartime leader and British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill said of the home he bought in 1922 and lived in for 40 years: “A day without Chartwell is a day wasted.” It was here that he and his wife Clementine brought up their family, and where he wrote, painted and planned his gardens. The house is arranged as it was in the 1930s. The furniture and books are originals, and the wealth of historically significant items to see is immense. In the museum room is Churchill’s Nobel Prize in Literature medal, which he received in 1953, and his honorary citizenship of the United States. He was the first person to be given this honour, and it was presented over satellite by President John F Kennedy in 1963 in recognition of his WWII efforts. In the drawing room sits Claude Monet’s Charing Cross Bridge ( 1902) painting, a gift from his agent. A small number of unsmoked cigars, forever associated with his WWII image, are on display too. nationaltrust.org.uk
More to explore...
Step inside...
1 . Newlands House Gallery, located in a Georgian townhouse in the market town of Petworth, West Sussex, showcases modern and contemporary art from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, as well as Sussex’s own heritage. newlandshouse.gallery
2. Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, Suffolk, the birthplace of the great portrait and landscape painter Thomas Gainsborough, is a museum and a gallery. It holds one of the most important collections of his works and letters. gainsborough.org
3. The Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, London, is where the author lived from 1837 to 1839. Here he finished The Pickwick Papers, and wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. dickensmuseum.com
4. No 5 Vicar’s Hill, in Armagh, was built in 1772 as the Diocesan Registry to hold records for the Church of Ireland. Now a museum, its visitors can still see some Diocesan records, as well as ancient coins, gems and early Christian artefacts. admin@ armaghrobinsonlibrary.co.uk
Member’s story
Southport u3a’s Out & About group leader Jim Hay leads trips that take in the Beatles’ childhood homes.
On the popular Magical Mystery Tours in Liverpool, we take in key landmarks of the Beatles – not least the streets where they once lived. Members are always struck by the difference between the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Paul lived with his parents, Jim and Mary, and brother Mike at 20 Forthlin Road, a terraced council house in a working-class area. John, by contrast, lived most of his teenage years with his house-proud Aunt Mimi, at ‘Mendips’, a posher semi-detached home in one of the nicer areas of Liverpool. The National Trust, which owns both properties, calls Paul’s childhood home the “birthplace of the Beatles” because it was here that the group wrote the likes of I Saw Her Standing There, She Loves You and I Call Your Name. They had to get their neighbours’ permission to practise playing because of the noise they made! Our tours take in other Beatles’ landmarks too. We also go to the site of the former pub, The Empress, that has a huge mural of Ringo Starr on the side – it’s minutes from Ringo’s childhood home and it’s where his mother worked as a barmaid. At the end of the tour, we all have free entry to The Cavern, where live Beatles music is performed all day. To book a tour inside Lennon and McCartney’s childhood homes, go to: nationaltrust.org.uk
what’s on
Take a quick look at what to watch, visit and listen to now...
Film and TV critic Mark Adams of Chichester u3a recommends the following.
Big screen action
Wuthering Heights
This dramatic new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 gothic classic has been written and directed by Emerald Fennell. It features Hollywood star Margot Robbie and one-to-watch Jacob Elordi as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Fennell’s bold approach promises to give the story a sexy, psychological spin... Released On 13 February.
The Magic Faraway Tree
An adaptation of the Enid Blyton book series of the same name, this fantasy sees a modern family move to the remote British countryside and discover a magical tree from whence they are transported to fantastical lands. The large cast includes Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield and Nicola Coughlan. Released On 27 March.
ARMCHAIR CINEMA.
I Know Where I’m Going!
A lovely re-issue of the classic 1945 romantic comedy, starring Wendy Hiller as a young woman who travels to an island in the Hebrides to marry a wealthy older man. However, bad weather forces her to stop on the Isle of Mull, where she meets a navy officer on leave (Roger Livesey). Beautiful, funny and romantic. Recently Released Criterion Uhd And Blu-Ray.
Whispering Smith Hits London
Unseen for many decades, this 1952 cult Hammer noir makes its worldwide debut in a new 4K restoration. It follows an American detective (Richard Carlson) whose London holiday turns deadly when he’s drawn into a suspicious suicide case. Also features Herbert Lom and Greta Gynt. Recently Released Uhd And Blu-Ray.
Worth a listen
Dan Snow’s History Hit
Top historian Dan Snow investigates the how and why of history’s most defining moments. From the Colosseum of Ancient Rome to the tomb of Tutankhamun and the assassination of JFK, he heads around the globe to reveal some of the greatest stories from the past that help us understand the present. Available On Spotify, Apple, Bbc, Amazon.
Streaming now
Bridgerton: Season 4
Split into two parts, season 4 follows the titular clan’s second-eldest sibling, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), as he finally gets his own love story. He falls for the forthright Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) at Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade ball, but naturally there is a twist... Recently Premiered On Netflix. Part Two Premieres On 26.
How to get to Heaven from Belfast: Season 1
A new comedy series from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, starring Roísín Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan and Caoilfhionn Dunne. It is a story about friendship, memory and what happens when three friends head off on an Irish odyssey. Premieres In February On Netflix.
The Written Word
Whether you’re an avid bookworm or an ardent scribe, this page is for you
My Life In Books.
Steve Russell, a member of Maidstone u3a, shares his favourite reads.
Best childhood book: Shadow the Sheepdog by Enid Blyton, which my father read to me. Shadow and young Johnny become best friends as they grow up together on the farm. My father was raised on a farm and enhanced the tales. I gave my copy to my son to read to his children.
Favourite book of all time: Brown on Resolution by CS Forester. Brown was a young gunner on an elderly cruiser in 1914. That October, my great-uncle, 19, was a gunner on HMS Monmouth, an old cruiser sunk during the Battle of Coronel in the Pacific. I like to think it was about him.
Currently reading: Unfair Play by Sharron Davies is a non-fiction book about the callous indifference towards women in sport. I knew of our women denied Olympic medals because of East German doping. There is now a new sports battle against women. A scientifically rigorous book detailing the fightback.
- Tell us about your best childhood book, favourite book and current read. Send an email headed BOOKS to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The plot thickens
Peter Skyte, a member of North London u3a, tells us about his first novel, Allotment Plots.
“The idea for this novel came from some of the weird and wonderful stories I’ve heard about allotment life, and the rivalries and feuds that exist. Allotment Plots features seven characters, each harbouring a secret. As they connive and fork, the arable parables of peccadillos and scandals unfold. Each of the characters possesses one of the seven deadly sins as well... and there is the discovery of a dead body, to add to the usual allotment detritus. In terms of structure, I had the idea of interlocking short stories in the form of a round where the last story returns to the first: this was inspired by a book by an Austrian writer called Arthur Schnitzler. I deliberately left a number of loose ends in the book, on the basis that life itself is never neat and tidy. Some of these may be completed in the next book I’m writing called Burial Plots.” Allotment Plots by Peter Skyte is available on Amazon.
- We know many of you enjoy listening to books as well as reading them... so tell us about the audio books you’d especially recommend and why in no more than 30 words. Send your email to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and head it AUDIO BOOKS
Reading and writing...
Pictures and poetry have been inspiring these members recently... Belfast u3a’s Creative Writing group employs really interesting ways to get the creative juices flowing, as convenor Lena McCann explains: “We recently worked on a joint project called ‘The Vase’. Members were presented with a photograph of a vase – intended as inspiration for an evolving story. The first person set the scene with an opening short piece; this was then emailed to the next member of the group who added a piece, and so on. As each piece was added, the progressing story was emailed to the next person, and the story continued to its completion.” Members can read ‘The Vase’ on belfast.u3asite.uk Bushey u3a’s poetry group is led by Andrea Neidle. “Everyone contributes ideas for the programme and brings along poems to read,” she explains. “We’ve shared poetry by Shakespeare, Rabbie Burns, the war poets and Leonard Cohen, to name but a few, and topics have included Halloween, limericks and children’s poetry. “Recently we visited a local care home to read poetry to the residents and have been invited to return again soon, which is so encouraging!” To read Andrea’s blog, My Life in Poems, go to: andreaneidle.wordpress. com
live and learn
From workshops, initiatives and events to expert support, ideas and u3a group inspiration, you’ll find these essential highlights here.
Sharing cultures
Dishes to discover.
Sarah Lever tells us about Swansea u3a’s Foreign Fare group that brings international cuisine to its welcoming table. .
We started this group in lockdown as a place to share recipes and dishes from around the world, and we meet regularly. Recently, the cuisine we explored was that of Ukraine: Swansea is a City of Sanctuary and a number of Ukrainians live here. To give us a real insight into this country’s food, we contacted Sunflowers Wales (a nonprofit organisation that supports Ukrainians affected by Russia’s invasion), and were subsequently delighted to welcome Olena and her mother Larysa, along with their friend Tatiana, to give us an insight into their traditional cuisine. Olena explained that Ukrainian food culture is known for its warmth, generosity and deep connection to the land. Borscht is a soup rich in meat and vegetables and is so important to Ukrainian culture that it has been recognised by Unesco as part of the country’s national heritage. Varenyky – soft dumplings filled with potato, cheese or cherries – are among the nation’s favourite dishes, while cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and meat called holubtsi are often served at family celebrations. Kholodets, a jellied meat dish, remains a classic of the festive table, and no feast is complete without salo: this is salted or smoked pork fat. Ukrainians proudly call this dish a national treasure. These dishes are passed down through the family, and in most Ukrainian homes there is a handwritten recipe book that travels from one generation to the next, each time gaining something new in the recipe. Our group made several of the above dishes as well as beautiful beer bread and a wonderful chocolate cake. It was a pleasure to enjoy such delicious and unusual food with our new Ukrainian friends, and discover so much about their country’s culture and traditions – as well as share some of ours in the process.
diary dates
u3a runs a comprehensive online programme of diverse and informative talks and events, as well as offering activities such as creative competitions, challenges, opportunities to connect with members, and fun puzzles for members to get involved with.
STARTS: WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY, 10AM.
Mindfulness and meditation
We welcome back the popular six week, award-winning course in Mindfulness and Meditation led by members of Sheffield u3a’s Mindful Ageing Group. John Darwin, Mike Pupius and Ruth Lees will use ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ as a basis for these engaging, practical sessions. “These events bring positivity into my life” – Comment from a member.
MONDAY 2 MARCH, 2PM.
How AI can save you hours when researching your family history.
Steve Doyle (a member of Wokingham u3a) shows how, using simple nontechnical approaches, AI can be used to vastly increase the effectiveness of family history research.
*Also find tips in our feature on genealogy.
THURSDAY 26 MARCH, 2PM.
Deafness and beyond: the tribulation and triumph of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Emeritus Professor Chris Dowrick of Orrell Park & District u3a explores the life and music of Beethoven, delving into how deafness impacted the composer’s mental health and infl uenced his identity and creativity.
- For more events and to book those listed, go to: u3a.org.uk/events
Reporting back...
National Emergency Briefing
Brenda Ainsley, founder member of Climate Matters Online Interest Group, reports back on a groundbreaking event
aimed at providing a clear assessment of the climate.
On 27 November 2025 at Westminster Central Hall, 10 of the UK’s leading experts addressed an invite-only audience of some 1,250 politicians and leaders from the worlds of business, culture, faith, sport and media. This was the first-ever official National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature, intended to provide a clear, open and integrated assessment of the latest implications for health, food, national security and the economy. Both myself and Eleanor Brooks – a fellow member of Climate Matters – were honoured to represent u3a at the briefing, which focused especially on what the climate crisis will mean for ordinary people. Naturalist and presenter Chris Packham gave the powerful introductory address and pulled no punches: he stressed that we only have one planet, and must learn to either live in harmony with it – or continue on our path to the destruction of the natural world, including, of course, the human race. Led by Professor Mike Berners- Lee, the highly regarded speakers – all experts and academics in their field – spoke compellingly, giving a frank assessment of our current trajectory. But, encouragingly, they also shared a vision of a hopeful and more resilient future for all sectors of society, provided every citizen plays their part: such steps include pursuing a less wasteful lifestyle, driving down energy use and, not least, adopting a more plant-rich diet. The overall aim of this inaugural briefing was to put the climate and nature emergency firmly into the public arena, placing pressure on MPs to back legally binding, science led discussion on both mitigation and adaptation. This briefing was a dynamic start.”
- Go to: Nebriefing.org The Briefing is available to watch at youtube.com/@ nebriefing (a film of the event will also form the basis of a national campaign). For more details, visit u3a.org.uk and search Climate Change
Join our picture gallery!
The Still Got It Photography Project is inspired by u3a member Mike Longhurst’s photography initiative, Still Got It, which champions positive ageing. We’re asking u3a members to take and share photographs of activities at their u3a that capture the vibrant spirit of u3a members (with the permission of those involved, of course). A selection of submitted photos will then be featured in our online gallery to showcase the brilliant activities happening across the u3a movement. Visit the Learning Activities page for more information.
Here for you
Learning Activities
To participate in or contribute to our Learning Activities, please go to u3a.org.uk/ learning-activities
Find a u3a Speaker
The u3a Speaker database is full of members enthusiastic to share their knowledge. Visit u3a.org.uk/u3a-speakers.
Need help?
If you require assistance accessing any of the events or would like to set up a Learning Activity or give a talk, email
Experts on call
Sketching it out
Meet Jim Palmer, a member of
Cardiff u3a, and Subject Adviser
for Improv.
What does improv involve?
Improv is short for improvisation, and we perform little, light-hearted sketches that we make up entirely on the spot, with no script. We don’t have any scenery, costumes or props – it’s just two or more people standing up. Usually, there is some kind of prompt to start off with and we improvise a sketch from there. Now, it sounds very simple, but there’s more to it than you might imagine. A lot of the games involve random elements coming in, which can send the whole thing off in a completely different direction. That in itself can be extremely amusing.
Tell us about your improv background.
My wife Cher and I joined our local amateur theatre group at the Archway Theatre in Horley in 2012 soon after we retired. A young man called Ed Pithie, who we met while working on a play, was very keen on improv, and he started classes. I liked the sound of this because I love making people laugh. So I went along to the classes, and just fell in love with it almost immediately. I soon found myself performing improv on stage in front of an audience.
What do you do as the Improv Subject Adviser?
With Ed’s encouragement, I started an improv group in Horley u3a. During Covid-19, we went online using Zoom and I still run this online group today. After Cher and I moved to South Wales a couple of years ago, I suggested becoming the Subject Adviser for Improv, as there wasn’t one at that time, and was taken on board. At present there are only a few improv groups in u3a, so my main focus now is to spread the word and hopefully get some more groups started. Very recently, a couple of new improv groups have started – one in Monmouth and the other in Roding Valley. I’d love to hear from anyone interested, or who is doing something similar in their own u3a.
How does an improv group work?
There are two Improv groups in Cardiff u3a with nearly 50 members between them. Cher and I run one and the other is run by enthusiast Rob Morris. Workshops can be run in different ways, but what I do is start off with a high-energy warm-up game involving everybody. Then I focus on a particular aspect of improvising, such as characterisation, how to start scenes or narrative. Finally, we end the session with some actual scenes. Everyone can get up and have a go, which is what makes it so much fun.
Quick Q&A
Do you have a favourite improv activity?
I really enjoy Whose Line? You play a scene with lines of dialogue written on pieces of paper, which you don’t look at until you deliver the lines at random points in the scene. You then have to make sense of whatever it is you just said.
What are the benefits of doing improv?
I always say that the most important thing is to have a laugh. But I think it can help people in many ways, such as building confidence, working as a team, positivity, listening and supporting others. However you feel when you go to an improv class, by the end of it you will feel better.
- To contact Jim, or one of our many Subject Advisers, go to the Subject Adviser Directory, or go to u3a.org.uk/subjectadvice
Our u3a Subject Advisers are here to help and inspire you and your u3a – so do get in touch!
Within our organisation there are over 90 Subject Advisers who can offer valuable knowledge
and encouragement – whether you are looking for new ideas for your interest group, for tips to
start your own, or to find out more about a topic that interests you.
Subject Advisers Directory
Our u3a Subject Advisers are here to help and inspire you and your u3a – so do get in touch!.
Within our organisation there are over 90 Subject Advisers who can offer valuable knowledge and encouragement – whether you are looking for new ideas for your interest group, for tips to start your own, or to find out more about a topic that interests you.
ARTS
ART HISTORY & ART APPRECIATION Mike Carr
BOOK GROUPS Richard Peoples
SHAKESPEARE Moyra Summers
CREATIVE
CRAFTS Kelly Benton
CREATIVE WRITING Marcia Humphries
IMPROV Jim Palmer
PLAYREADING Vivien Paxford
STAGE PRODUCTION Andrew Ings
STORYTELLING Elaine Yates
HISTORY
ARCHAEOLOGY Maggy Simms
AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY Maria Chester
BRITISH HISTORY Ian McCannah
EGYPTOLOGY Neil Stevenson
GENEALOGY Stephen Dyer
GERMAN HISTORY Michael Austin
LIVING HISTORY Jo Livingston
LOCAL HISTORY Sandra Whitnell
MILITARY HISTORY Mike Fox
LANGUAGES
GERMAN Alastair Sharp
ITALIAN Tony Jones
LATIN Trevor Davies
SPANISH Sandra Dean
PORTUGUESE Geoffrey Phoenix
WELSH Cher Palmer
MUSIC
CLASSICAL MUSIC Paul Hambleton
CLASSIC ROCK & ROLL Martin Hellawell
FOLK MUSIC PLAYING Sarah Maidlow
GUITAR & OTHER INSTRUMENTS Peter Mate
HANDBELLS Hilary Holt
JAZZ APPRECIATION Howard Lawes
MUSIC PRODUCTION Ralph Nelson Tucker
PIANO Keith Jacobsen
RECORDER Val McCarroll
UKULELE Kenneth Cockburn
PASTIMES
AVIATION Donald Mobley
AMATEUR RADIO Paul Robinson
BACKGAMMON Jules Smith
BRIDGE Steve Carter
CANASTA & BOLIVIA Margaret Thompson
CHESS Rob Kruszynski, David Castle
CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS Henry Howarth
FASHION Ruth Lancashire
FOLK DANCE – BARN, ENGLISH Ian Ludbrook
MAGIC John Field
MAHJONG Martin Sharpe
QUIZZES Ian Matheson
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Sue Ronald
WINE APPRECIATION John Scottow
RESEARCH
RESEARCH Rodney Buckland
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Barry Claydon
ASTRONOMY & SPACE FLIGHT Martin Whillock FRAS
CANVA Roger Carter
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT John Baxter
GEOGRAPHY Jeff Armstrong
GEOLOGY Martin Eales
MATHS & STATS David Martin
MICROSCOPY Mike Gibson
SCIENCE Barbara Odell
SOCIOLOGY Lora White
SOCIAL SCIENCES
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS Pam Upton
PSYCHOLOGY Angela Raval
SPORT
BOATING Nick Hoskins
CROQUET Alan Rew
CROWN GREEN BOWLING Andy Cowan
CYCLING John Bower
PICKLEBALL David Pechey
PETANQUE Andrew Lloyd
RACKETBALL Terry Wassall
RUNNING Ashley Pinder
WALKING & WALKING SPORTS
KURLING Mac Mckechnie
NORDIC WALKING Pauline Lenney
WALKING Terry Dykes
Bernard Owen (Snowdonia, hill & mountain walking)
Jacky Carter (u3a Walking Exchange)
Avril Mountford (Scotland representative
Walking Exchange)
WALKING CRICKET Rob Rowberry (West Midlands)
John Smith-Warren (Yorkshire and surrounding areas)
WALKING FOOTBALL John MacKinnon
WALKING NETBALL Angela Bell
WALKING RUGBY Graham Truluck
THOUGHT
EXPLORING WORLD FAITHS Peter Rookes
PHILOSOPHY Shri Sharma
UK PARLIAMENT Kelvin Rushworth
US & UK POLITICS Paul Carter
WELLBEING
AGEING AND LIVING Jonathan Doherty
HEALTH MATTERS Richard Franklin
LAUGHTER YOGA Judith Walker
MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION Mike Pupius, John Darwin
TAI CHI & QI GONG Peter Karran
WELLBEING WITH NATURE Susan Collini
YOGA Patricia Hamilton
- To contact any Subject Advisers, go to u3a.org.uk/ learning/subjects. Each Adviser can be contacted using the contact form on their page.
MAILBOX
We love to hear from you, so please email your letters, including your name and u3a, with ‘Mailbox’ in the subject line to
It’s all uphill from here!
Our recent feature celebrating the UK’s historic streets reminded Tessa Hartog from Malvern u3a of a nail-biting drive!
Steep Hill in Lincoln, which featured in the Winter 2025 edition, brought back many memories for me. In the late 1960s, my husband and I were living with our two small children in rural Lincolnshire. We sometimes drove into Lincoln in our 1948 Ford Anglia: it had just four gears, including reverse, and we usually had to use a crank handle to start the engine. On one nerve-wracking occasion, we got stuck halfway up Steep Hill – my husband was driving and he’d run out of gears. He seriously considered turning the car around and reversing the rest of the way up, but thankfully did manage to get it moving forwards again, probably by means of double de-clutching. I sometimes think of the spectacle we might have made – this ancient Ford Anglia creeping backwards up that beautiful hill! I loved that car – and even passed my driving test in it. We originally bought it from a local farmer for £10. Four or five years later we sold it for the same price.
Remembering Eric
Following our tribute to u3a co-founder Eric Midwinter OBE in the Winter 2025 edition, many of you wrote in response. Here are just a few of your letters...
ERIC VISITED the original Prior Weston Primary School in the Barbican in London when I taught there in the mid-1970s. He was friends with the headteacher Henry Pluckrose, a leading educationalist of the time. They both shared the same vision for schools within the community and promoted a love for learning: Henry for the early stages, and Eric for lifelong learning, continuing into the third age. I remember Eric being so interested in the school, the children’s activities, the creativity, the art, music and drama, and – importantly – the organisation of the school day. Much of this was spent exploring the rich environments of the City, as well as school journeys around the country. We were often out more than in! Maybe the Prior Weston children of the 70s are now starting to join the u3a? I hope so!
Hilary Devonshire, Dulwich & District u3a
DURING THE 1990s, my wife and I, along with a couple of other care home owners, thought that there should be a recognised and necessary qualification for care home managers. We therefore set out to try and found the Institute of Community Care Management. However, we needed someone of worth to lead us. We were delighted when Eric volunteered to do so, giving of his time freely. He cared a great deal for the elderly and thought that they should be properly and expertly cared for. His input into our objective was superb, but unfortunately we lacked the financial resources to set the institute up and social services were not interested. We had to abandon the project, in spite of all the hard work that went into it. It is unbelievable that to this day there is no essential qualification for people to manage care homes.
Antony Pittaccio, Felixstowe u3a
THERE ARE A HANDFUL of people encountered in my long life (82 years so far) whose friendship I have treasured with great fondness. It was my privilege and pleasure to have known and relished the company of Eric Midwinter. We met through cricket in the early years of this century; I was serving as a judge of the Cricket Society Literary Award, an annual award for the best book on cricket in that year. Eric joined the award panel as the chair and proved to be ideal for the job. He loved the sport, but as a first-rate historian, he also understood cricket’s significance in the social life of this country and others. This was foremost in his writing about cricket and also football. Eric honoured me by asking me to read the text of his book The Cricketers’ Progress: Meadowland to Mumbai, published in 2010. I believe that I did offer some useful prepublication advice on the text and Eric was generous in his acknowledgement of this in the Sources and Acknowledgements section of the book. His remarks I value as one of the finest compliments received in my life (plenty of brickbats too!) and were typical of Eric’s recognition of and sensitivity to others. The article in u3a Matters pays full and appropriate recognition of Eric as co-founder of this influential movement and of his varied talents. I mourn his loss and remember him with pride as a friend and thoroughly good man.
Stephen de Winton, Dartford u3a
Constructing links
I am indulging my hobby of Meccano model building, and wonder if any other u3a members anywhere are also engaged in this activity? If so, might they like to correspond via email to show models they have made, ideas for mechanisms that they have, or perhaps discuss issues on collecting the parts?
Martyn Dowell, Southampton u3a
- If you’d like to get in touch with Martyn, send your email, headed ‘MECCANO’ to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and we’ll pass it on to him.
Prime time
Following Edward Davies’ letter in the Winter 2025 edition about listening to Journey into Space on the radio as a child, many of you recalled your favourite radio and TV dramas…
MY HUSBAND REMEMBERS all his family sitting around the table after their evening meal to listen to Journey into Space, never missing an episode. My sister and I clearly remember listening, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, to Toytown on the Children’s Hour radio programme, featuring Larry the Lamb, his friend Dennis the Dachshund with his German accent and way of speaking, and the grumpy old character Mr Growser. Later on, we would listen to Norman and Henry Bones, the Boy Detectives solving all sorts of crimes. Once, when staying at a hotel, I was reminiscing with a friend about this programme when a gentleman at a nearby table apologised for eavesdropping but was delighted at hearing our memories. He was very interested to learn from me that one of the boy detectives was voiced by the wonderful Carry On film actor Charles Hawtrey in his youth, as he had not known this before. Such lovely memories.
Beryl Cannell, Hawkwell Village u3a
MY MOST VIVID MEMORY is watching the series Victory at Sea on our newly acquired television. The first episode was broadcast in October 1952 when I was nine. This was an American NBC production on an epic scale using film footage from all participants in the war. I have rewatched episodes available on YouTube since and marvel at the sheer scale, technical skill and narrative brilliance, not to say the wonderfully evocative music of this production. While it celebrates the sacrifices made on a huge scale, it does rather overdo the postwar triumphalism over the evil aggressors. Patriotic stuff!
Ed Link, Cupar & District u3a
HOW MANY REMEMBER my favourite radio drama Dick Barton: Special Agent from 1949? It was on Monday to Friday evenings at 6.45pm, with the omnibus session on Saturday mornings. Dick Barton with his assistants Jock Anderson and ‘Snowy’ White caught villains of all kinds. A cliffhanger five nights a week – wonderful stuff!
Richard Pearson, Beverley u3a
Friends REUNITED?
I wonder whether the excellent u3a Matters could help in my attempt to locate some old friends who may be u3a members and read the magazine? Following the loss of my partner three years ago, I have thought a lot about people I’ve lost touch with, and I am keen to make contact with them again. I previously lived in Tamworth, Balsall Common and Coventry, and spent much of my career in sales and marketing, mostly with 3M Business Products Division. In particular, I knew a lady in Nottingham during the late 1960s (we were both teenagers then), when religion was our common factor, and later a couple who lived in Hemel Hempstead during the 1980s. I would be delighted to be reunited, so if you remember me from my old photograph, then please get in touch!
Cliff Bennett, Lichfield u3a
- Are you the old friends Cliff is looking for? If you’d like to contact him, send an email, headed REUNITED to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and we’ll pass it on to him.
Lest we forget
I enjoyed reading about the u3a events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in your Autumn 2025 edition, but the introduction - which mentions the commemorations were held to recognise the end of the Second World War - isn’t correct. The war ended on VJ Day, months later. A favourite uncle was serving with many others in Burma. Members of our army, air force and navy were fighting, and many dying, to truly bring the war to an end. I was tasked with explaining the meaning of VJ Day to children at a local event and found that their parents were more interested and uninformed about this historic event than their offspring.
Betty Allsworth, Isle of Sheppey u3a.
Time to volunteer?
In our Autumn 2025 issue, CEO Iain Cassidy asked the question: “Is volunteering changing?” Here are just a few of the letters and opinions received from u3a members...
Volunteering is always changing.
It does not exist in isolation: it is both shaped by and can influence its shifting social, economic and political environment. Experience within u3a and beyond suggests that most volunteering is not an aberration of later life. Rather, volunteers carry forward long-established commitment, often extending across multiple organisations and roles. Many u3a members also contribute widely to community life – for example, in youth work, sport, the arts, conservation or emergency response. This points to a shared, deeply-rooted ethos of service that transcends any single organisation. Concerns about volunteer recruitment should look beyond u3a to the broader question of whether society still nurtures a culture of collective responsibility that builds social capital. Motivation is complex. Altruism matters, but reciprocity offers a clearer lens: volunteering refl ects enlightened self-interest, recognising that individual wellbeing depends on strong communities. Within u3a, reciprocity is evident in the mutual exchange of effort, learning and fulfillment. More broadly, volunteers often act for future generations, sustaining environments and institutions they may never personally benefit from. The key issue is whether the values underpinning volunteering – mutuality, inclusion and shared responsibility – are being sustained or slowly eroded.
Alan Barr, Upper Eden u3a
Has the u3a considered forming some sort of relationship with Rotary, which has a strong brand in the UK and internationally? Rotary could benefit from increased membership and u3a would benefit from the volunteering and fundraising opportunities.
John Chapman, Tunbridge Wells u3a
I don’t think the u3a will remain a volunteer-run movement for the next 40 years or even the next 10. Later retirement, more caring duties, and less financial security and disposable income are upon us, with far less spare time or energy to volunteer. In my opinion, the words “financially secure”, “white”, “duty” and “guilt” in this article point to creeping left-wing ideology, which inevitably leads to excessive bureaucracy, enfeeblement or closure of organisations. The u3a will be forced to tap into philanthro-capitalism (the wealthy giving away their fortunes to wield influence and power). That’s the survival future I see for both medium and large trusts and charities.
Carole Alderman, Eastbourne
Central u3a
u3a members cannot just focus
inwards. Volunteering u3a support for the local community makes both stronger. Since Upper Eden u3a was launched four years ago, we have had to take into account the existence of other long-established community-based groups. Many of these local clubs are already working hard just to maintain their current members – and, not surprisingly, many of our u3a members already hold roles in these existing groups too. If a local club exists that is a good fit for a member’s requirements or interests, we direct members to it: only if demand exceeds capacity of that club, or if the focus is inappropriate, would we set up a new u3a interest group altogether. We have also encouraged local groups to speak at monthly meetings. Mountain Rescue, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the bowls club have all been welcome to speak and recruit. Most of our interest groups have strong links in the community, from dry stone walling projects to prostate awareness and crochet work with the local railway heritage team. These are all examples of u3a members volunteering their time and skills to support local activities. Our purpose must be to learn, laugh, live – and share!
Bill Sylvester, Upper Eden u3a
a problem shared
In our Winter edition, Peter explained that while he and his wife are keen members of their new u3a, they feel they are being taken advantage of and want to know how to refuse requests for help without causing offence. Here’s what you suggested...
THIS CAN BE A COMMON PROBLEM in retirement. Suddenly you have a lot of ‘spare’ time, and it’s very easy to take on all sorts of new commitments. I’m sure you’ll be familiar with ‘the more you do, the more they ask for’. One answer is to learn the art of saying no gracefully. Most people will not be offended if you say you’re really sorry, but you haven’t got the capacity to take on any more, or that you have other calls on your time at the moment. Try a more nuanced approach, such as ‘not now, but maybe later’, rather than an outright refusal. If it gets to the point where your commitments are becoming a pressure or causing stress, then you need to cut back and keep some time free for yourself. Remember that with all volunteering, you are the one providing the resource, and it should be done on your terms! Paul McCann, Basildon & Billericay u3a IT CAN BE SO INVIGORATING to get new members on board with fresh ideas and enthusiasm that people sometimes get a bit too keen to make the most of their energy and talents. I would suggest that if you are an ‘established member’ of a u3a and witness a similar situation when new members join (and perhaps you are guilty yourself!), you step up and offer to help – and encourage others to do the same. And maybe Peter and his wife could also have a word with their u3a’s chair? Anonymous IT SEEMS TO ME that the fundamental problem here is fear – fear of causing offence, or fear of rejection. Of course, this is unfounded because Peter is clearly valued, hence the demand for his services. Why would he be rejected? In fact, he is in a position of strength and it might be helpful to remember that the most powerful word in the English language is ‘no’. He can and should set boundaries as to what he is prepared and willing to do and what he is not. Otherwise, he sets himself up for resentment towards his situation and others. If anything, by standing up for himself he will be respected even more, not less. I’ve been in Peter’s position and found that explaining openly and honestly the reasons why I had to redefine my commitments and limit them were understood and accepted. The value I bring to the organisation I volunteer with was appreciated even more. The only thing to fear is the corrosive effect of resentment on your contribution, enjoyment and satisfaction. Recognising that can give you the courage to confront your own fear of upsetting others, or of rejection. Chris Smithers, East Suffolk u3a IN MY SMALL u3a, many of the members have so many other commitments (mine include caring for a very elderly parent and looking after my young grandchildren) that there just isn’t the time or energy to volunteer for very much at the moment, unfortunately. Many other members in the groups I attend are battling health issues and endless hospital appointments, so are in much the same boat. I wonder if Peter and his wife should aim to find out why others aren’t stepping up to the plate as much as they’d like before resentment sets in? I do hope something is resolved though – pro-active members who can offer so much are always needed and welcomed in our organisation! Anonymous Another dilemma... I n a previous issue, you published a dilemma from a gentleman who had fallen for a lady in his u3a and didn’t know whether or not to tell her. Well, I have the opposite problem! About a year ago, a widow joined the u3a I’ve happily belonged to for many years, and as we found ourselves attending many of the same interest groups, we became quite friendly. The problem is, she has become too friendly... and very clearly hopes for a lot more from me (this has been confirmed by her pal who has been very obviously attempting to play match-maker). I am a happy single man with a busy life, and I’m simply not interested in a romantic relationship – and even if I was, she isn’t really my type, I’m afraid. How do I deal with this without hurting her feelings? Tony (Name has been changed) How would you advise Tony? Send your thoughts to
Members pinboard
What have you been up to? Got an event to celebrate, news to share, or something to commemorate in your u3a world? We want to know about it!
Wheelie good fun
Fifteen members of the Burton-on- Trent u3a Social Cycling group had a holiday cycling the Wolds of Beverley, Yorkshire, in September 2025. The venture was named a ‘petal tour’, comprising a different ride each day, all starting from Beverley Minster. Every day’s destination was a pre-designated café, via the roads and cycleways of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It’s worth noting the respect cyclists receive from motorists in the Yorkshire Wolds, and the group are especially appreciative of the core members who worked tirelessly in planning routes, café stops and restaurant venues for evening socials.
Have a go!
Ely and District u3a hosted a Celebration Weekend for its 900 members in November. Organised by chair Steve Merrell and a working party, there was a lively programme of activities including bridge and pickleball competitions, and a well-attended quiz evening with over 100 participants. There were talks on history, crime fiction and medical matters from guest speakers and six very popular guided tours of Ely. Members also had opportunities to try needlecraft, photography, pickleball and ballroom dancing. What a weekend!
Welcome in
Cowbridge u3a held an open day as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. A beautiful day in November resulted in a fantastic turnout of local people who came to find out about the u3a. After a rousing opening by the town crier, visitors were invited to chat to members, sample a guitar lesson, try a game of bridge and play mahjong. Homemade cake proved popular while listening to entertainment from the Porthcawl Ukulele Bandits. A number of new members signed up too!
Quizzing champions
Six Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is not a recommended diet – it’s the name of the winning team at Burgess Hill u3a’s Christmas quiz. Held at the festively decked Woolpack, the quiz was the best attended yet. Consisting of three rounds of questions and two table quizzes, it was both challenging and entertaining. Margaret Carroll, who runs the u3a quiz group in Burgess Hill, seems to set tougher questions every year!
Funding boost
Belfast u3a is on a high this winter season. In its 25th year it has just received the brilliant news that the National Lottery Community Fund will support its efforts to tackle inequalities across the city through lifelong learning. A magnificent sum of £10,974 has been awarded to help Belfast u3a, currently with 1,191 members, grow and develop by expanding its activities. This will be particularly key in north and west Belfast, where membership is relatively low. The project will help to strengthen community connections for those older people at risk of loneliness, often resulting in poor health and wellbeing.
- Send brief details of your memorable event – and a good clear photograph – to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your email: PINBOARD
brain games
Crossword
This issue’s cryptic crossword has been created by Newport South East Wales u3a’s Cryptic Crossword group.
Across
Across
8. If wimpish, quit whisky and become mischievous (6)
9. Order meals out for a kindred spirit (8)
11. Said master is highly valued when caught unawares (9)
12. Shaver cut off this bird’s bill (5)
13. A slice of pavlova blew me away – so sweet! (7)
15. Fluttering European Petrel is stuffed (7)
17. Records alien for movie scene (7)
18. Lee raps Spooner’s backslide (7)
20. Woven medium calico is side-splitting (7)
23. Soft soap cloth (7)
25. We 3 kings + 100 = sorcery (5)
27. Determined to make net return on account’s debts (9)
29. Sterling Milliner (8)
30. The Edinburgh hairstyle? (6)
Down
1. Listen out for trimming (6)
2. Get assent for programme to find the right cricket ground (8)
3. Rats scuttle to King (4)
4. Stronger type for queen (6)
5. Obscure band (4)
6. Detergent lightning the French blind (6)
7. The gun dog lost the right to fetch (8)
10. Say “Yes” in a glass entrance (6)
14. During Sambas I cut a rug – Simple! (5)
16. Dance when Dot is removed from bikini (5)
17. Beauty aid essential during Covid pandemic? (8)
18. Payback for having a laugh during labour (6)
19. Locate outer part around broken pinion (8)
21. Bird’s game almost up over pastry (6)
22. Spin around north Latin country for a recital (6)
24. The tutorial, we hear, will decline (6)
26. Primarily from cow appears little friesian (4)
28. Complain about the fi sh (4)
- To submit a crossword, grids should be no bigger than 15 square. Email it to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject CROSSWORD SUBMISSION
Crossword SOLUTION
Across: 8. Impish. 9. Soulmate. 11.Surprised. 12. Razor. 13. Lovable.
15. Replete. 17. Filmset. 18. Relapse. 20. Comical. 23. Flannel. 25. Magic. 27. Tenacious. 29. Shilling. 30. Fringe.
Down: 1. Tinsel. 2. Approval. 3. Tsar. 4. Bolder. 5. Blur. 6. Dazzle. 7. Retrieve. 10. Assent. 14. Basic. 16. Polka. 17. Facemask. 18. Refund. 19. Pinpoint. 21. Magpie. 22. Litany. 24. Lessen. 26. Calf. 28. Carp.
- To submit a crossword, grids should be no bigger than 15 square. Email it to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject CROSSWORD SUBMISSION
Pitcherwits
Across
1. Her brag, at the end, is she can make a flavour plot (4,6)
6. Anagram, carrying little weight (4)
7. A bit of a panorama (and it’s not the answer!) (3)
8. The sort of skull that’s painless? (4)
9. Aver that bias could be rather harsh (8)
11. Stocked up in the rubbish bin? Tough! (6,2)
14. High point came round (4)
15. Throw a can back to the fool (3)
16. Full of trouble within, so chuck it up (4)
17. Enrols ape with a set of flyers (10)
Down
1. Associating with biscuits? (10)
2. How it all started (in theory) (3,4)
3. Ambusher? He’s out for the odd dance! (5)
4. Lessen nuisance value (out of boredom) (5)
5. Are these envious legumes? (5,5)
10. Ol’ blue eyes was a star in the making! (7)
12. Unite, in order to release (5)
13. Greetings from Hades is on to nothing! (5)
SOLUTIONS
Across: 1. Penny arcade. 5. Log book. 9. Rely. 10. Epic. 11. Might. 12. Atop. 13. Ibis. 14. Calm sea. 16. Mental lapse.
Down: 1. Power vacuum. 2. Nil. 3. Auk. 4. Exercisable. 6. Olympia. 7. Belgium. 8. One-time. 14. Con. 15. Asp.
- For more free Professor Rebus puzzles and book sales, visit pitcherwits.co.uk
Maths challenge
QUESTION 1
Bill thought of a four-digit number with increasing digits from left to right. The product of these digits was 420 and their sum was 19. What number did Bill think of?
QUESTION 2
I have 20 coins in my pocket, a mixture of 2p and 5p coins. If the 2p coins were 5p coins and vice versa, I would have 18p more. How many coins of each value do I have?
Maths challenge solution
Question 1
420 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 7, hence the four digits are either 2, 5, 6, 7 or 3, 4, 5, 7. 2 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 20 and 3 + 4 + 5 + 7 = 19, so the four-digit number was 3457.
Question 2
Pairs of 2p and 5p coins retain their 7p value. 2p coins increase in value by 3p. The 18p = 6 x 3p increase will be due to having six more 2p coins than 5p coins. I therefore have thirteen 2p coins and seven 5p coins.
- Problems and puzzles are posed weekly online by David Browning, Rod Marshall, Ian Stewart, Anne Stothers and u3a Maths & Stats Subject Adviser David Martin, and can be found at u3a.org.uk/maths
Bridge
From Michael Cleaver, of Lancaster & Morecambe u3a
Discovery play
Game All, Dealer North
North.
♠ J,9,8,7,6.
♥ 4.
♦ K,10,5,3.
♣ K,J,4.
Dealer. West.
♠ 10.
♥ K,Q,10,9,5.
♦ Q,1,7,4.
♣ A,10,3.
East.
♠ 4,3
♥ J,3,2.
♦ A,8,6.
♣ Q,9,7,5,2.
South.
♠ A,K,Q,5,2.
♥ A,8,7,6.
♦ 9,2.
♣ 8,6.
The AUCTION
South. 2 ♠. P.
West. 1 ♥. Pa. P.
North. P. 4♠.
East. 2 ♥.
The Play:
West leads K♥. Declarer should win A♥ and draw trumps,
finishing in her own hand. She continues with a diamond,
losing the king to East’s ace. Later South has to take the
correct view in clubs; this she does by playing low towards
dummy and putting on the king after West contributes ♣3.
In all South loses 2 diamonds and 1 club.
The Principle:
South could lose four tricks if she misguesses the clubs
and East has ♦A. There are scarcely enough high cards
missing for East to have both minor aces, thus it is
important to discover if East has ♦A so that declarer may
make the correct decision in the other suit. Many ‘guesses’
may be averted by this type of play.
Quiz league
READY FOR A CHALLENGE?
Do you enjoy quizzes and want more opportunities to
compete? Why not join fellow u3a quizzers competing in
the National Online Quiz league every Wednesday evening
– one of the toughest quiz leagues in the country!
- Contact Angela Bell (a member of East Suffolk u3a) for more details:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
INSIGHT
‘Time is a gift to be nurtured’
Giorgio Bugnatelli, a member of Upminster u3a, endeavours not to treat time as something to manage, but as a precious asset instead
I once heard a retired executive say: “I spent my life trading time for money and expertise, only to realise I’d need to trade all the money I had, just for a little more time.” It was said with a clarity that only comes in hindsight, the confession of someone who understood the terms of the deal only after it was complete. We all feel it. The missed school play for a client call. The hobby we’ll ‘get to someday’. We manage time with ruthless efficiency, obsessed with productivity hacks, yet often feel bankrupt of the very thing we’re trying to save. What I’ve come to understand is a shift in perspective: from treating time as a finite resource to be managed, to treating it as a precious asset to be nurtured. The research backs this up in ways that have changed how I approach my days. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest running studies on human happiness, has a clear conclusion: the biggest predictor of wellbeing isn’t wealth or fame. It’s the quality of our relationships. And those relationships aren’t built through grand gestures, but through what psychologists call ‘micromoments’ of connection. The five-minute chat when you get home, with the phone away. Having coffee with your partner and actually listening. A brief check-in that isn’t about deadlines. These moments are the compound interest of emotional capital. A single expensive holiday cannot compensate for a decade of breakfasts spent staring at a screen. I’ve started treating these moments with the same strategic logic I once reserved for work. I block 20 minutes for a walk after lunch – no podcasts, no calls. I guard 30 minutes on Tuesday evenings for calling a friend as fiercely as I would a meeting with my most important client. I admit this feels inefficient. The voice in my head, conditioned by a lifetime of productivity pressure, screams that this is wasted time. That’s the voice I’m learning to ignore. Another insight I’ve noted came from research on retirement. Many of us operate on a deferred life plan: ‘I’ll work hard now so I can really live later.’ But longitudinal studies show that retirees who simply replace work with leisure often struggle with loss of identity and purpose. The ones who thrive have been building what I call a ‘portfolio life’ long before finishing their careers. So, I’ve started a Curiosity List. Not a bucket list of destinations to consume, but a living document of things that genuinely intrigue me. What skill have I always wanted to learn? What local issue could I help solve? What conversation do I want to have with an old friend? This weekend, I’ll spend one hour on something from that list. Not because I have to, but because I’m curious. Time isn’t a river carrying us helplessly toward a waterfall. It’s the fertile ground we stand on each day. We can’t get more of it, but we can choose what we cultivate in it. I ask myself two questions each week: What is one ‘micro-moment’ of connection I can be more present for? And what is the first item on my Curiosity List? The answers are the first investments that truly matter.
- How do you make the most of your precious time now - or do you feel you should still be spending it more wisely? Email:
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