The new Bridport & District U3A group was launched yesterday (14/1/2010) with a promise from the Mayor Martin Ray.
More than 100 people attended the meeting at the Christian Fellowship hall in Bridport and the Mayor told them: “I look forward to working with you all and playing an active part in the development of this group. The turnout today means you have made a brilliant start.”
Many people signed up for the interest groups that will be run under the auspices of the U3A, including reading, bird watching walks, family history, philosophy and meditation and relaxation.
Steering committee chair Jan Kelly said: “The attendance was fantastic. So many people turned up that we ran out of membership forms and had to dash to the print shop and get more photo-copied.”
The new group covers Bridport, Beaminster and surrounding villages.
For more information phone Bob Wells on 01308 863347
About Bridport & District U3A group
- The launch is a comeback for the U3A organisation in Bridport. There used to be a group in the town but in folded some years ago
- U3A stands for University of the 3rd Age
- It is a national organisation. Bridport is the 101st group in the South West region
- For people who want to join there is no age limit, no qualifications are needed, no course fees and no exams to be passed. It is a chance to meet people with similar interests, develop new skills and make new friends
- Most members, however, are in the age range 60 to 70 years
- Monthly meetings will take place on the 4th Tuesday of every month in Bridport at 2.00pm, starting with the first meeting on February 23. Venue to be confirmed.
- Speaker at the first meeting will be Professor Clive Kennedy, former chairman of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, on river pollution. Other topics in the next few months include Dorset country houses, Jane Austen, roman roads in West Dorset, butterflies and moths
- We'd love to hear from more people who might want to join and hear their ideas for setting up new interest groups. Are there people who feel they can lead such a group. Groups generally are not large and meet in people's homes
- Membership fee to join Bridport & District U3A is £12 a year. But you can attend up to 3 meetings of a group to see if you like it before having to pay the membership fee.