7 minute read
A Final Thought
community A Final Thought…
You can teach an old dog new tricks – all about Bromley u3a
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by SANDY BODEN & ALAN DAVIS
If you are retired, think you know everything worth knowing and have no desire to learn anything new then read no further. If, on the other hand, you are no longer working full time, but feel you are ready to learn new things, develop new interests and meet new people, then the u3a could be for you.
So what is the u3a? The initials stand for university of the third age and it is unfortunate that the first word puts many people off. They imagine an educational institution with lofty academic aspirations, homework, exams and expectations of diligent study. University in this context, however, is used in the sense of the original Latin word referring to a number of people associated into one body, society, company or community. U3a members are a community of people who enjoy getting together because they share an interest in developing a new skill, or perhaps enhancing their existing ones, and the term third age just refers to people who are retired, or semi-retired, and there is no defined lower age for membership. The u3a is a UK-wide collection of 1000+ charities, each run by its members, for its members
Bromley u3a was founded in 1990 and now boasts well over 1,000 members and more than 70 interest groups ranging from Rambling, Keep fit, Golf and Table Tennis through to Bridge, Watercolour Painting, Gardening and a range of Modern Languages at all levels. In addition, there are large monthly meetings where visiting specialist speakers come to give talks on subjects as diverse as Modernising Money to Making Sense of the Weather. You can check out the whole range of groups on offer on our website: https://u3abromley.org.uk, and make a membership application if you decide to join, for a modest yearly fee of only £20. For some groups there may also be a small payment per session to cover room/equipment hire. The motto of the u3a is Learn, Laugh, Live and although the emphasis is on learning, members also value the social side of meetings. In our 2020 30th Anniversary Booklet, member Cliff Broughton wrote: “We have found U3A to be a really great self-help organisation where one can continue to enjoy companionship with like-minded people from all walks of life. A true ‘university’ of continued learning and participation beyond retirement, and we are truly grateful to all those volunteers who give up their time to promote and run u3a Bromley”. In the same booklet, member Jim Wharton wrote: “I have enjoyed the Golf, Science, French and Philosophy groups. I strongly believe in the u3a and advise friends, both retired and especially those about to retire, of the value of membership as a means of keeping one’s mind active and of meeting new people.” Research has proved the benefits of maintaining an active social life and what better way to meet people than to get involved in the running of a group, or even the branch? And if there’s no group offering the subject you want, why not start one yourself, you don’t have to be an expert. U3a Bromley will help and support you and you can draw on the u3a’s wealth of national resources and specialist central subject advisors too.
To find out more, contact membershipsecretary@ u3abromley.org.uk During the pandemic many of our groups kept going using online methods, but most have now returned to meeting face-to-face. If you are no longer mobile or temporarily incapacitated there is a national version called Trust u3a which meets online. Their web address is: https://u3asites.org.uk/trustu3a/welcome For retired Orpington residents or those working part-time who are interested in joining, there is also a group. For more information email membersadmin@ u3aorpington.org.uk or call 07732 005819.
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