Fairford and District
University of the Third Age
Overview
Fairford U3A is a lively association, open to anyone over 50 who is not in full-time employment. University is used in its original sense of a group of people coming together to learn. We have no exams, but enjoy working, playing and learning together
In the Beginning
Fairford and District U3A began in late 1994 when Guen Taylor put a small insert in What's On in Fairford and Lechlade asking for anybody interested in starting a U3A in Fairford to contact her. There was a healthy response, and she set up a meeting of interested parties at the Poulton Village Hall in January 1995. About forty people turned up and volunteers were invited to form a steering committee. The first meeting of the Steering Committee was on February 13th and consisted of Guen Taylor, Chairman, Peter Maslin, General Co-ordinator, Mary Sharp, Treasurer, Eileen Ferguson, Membership Secretary, Roy Sharp, Programme Secretary and Joyce Deane, Newsletter Editor
Moving Forward
Prospective members were asked to offer their services as Group Leaders. The initial response was six, Barney Rowley for Beginners Bridge, Geoff Bishop for Walking with a Pub Lunch, Margaret Bishop for Intermediate Bridge, Humphrey Gillett for Poetry, Guen Taylor for Keep Fit and Dorothy Grobecker for Philosophy. Over five years later, Walking with a Pub Lunch, Intermediate Bridge, Poetry and Philosophy are still running successfully with the same Group Leaders. Beginners Bridge is still available when sufficient new members require it. The Keep Fit has expanded to two large groups at the Fairford Leisure Centre, Circuit Training and Active Lifestyle, both led by trained professionals. There are now over twenty six active groups and new groups are formed as demand warrants
When the Steering Committee met in March 1995, Joyce Deane was made Vice-Chairman and Evelyn Cumiskey joined as Secretary. Bill Moore was approached to produce a regular Newsletter and joined the committee as Editor. He produced the first 41 Newsletters to a very high standard. The first monthly speaker was June Lewis in April with a talk about the History of Fairford. Attention was turned to producing a Constitution, and preparations were put in hand for the Inaugural General Meeting which was held in July 1995
Forming a Committee
The main business of the inaugural meeting was to elect a Committee. Most of the Steering Committee retained the same positions but Ellen Millard became Programme Secretary to replace Roy Sharp and two new positions were established, namely Group Co-ordinator, Gina Richardson, and Hall Manager, Tony Taylor. A tea dance followed. Membership by this time had increased to 60, and there were ten active groups. The next AGM was held in May 1996. It was not until this meeting that the U3A constitution was finalised after consultation and presented to members for formal approval
Present and Future
Since then, Fairford and District U3A has expanded year by year and by Spring 2001 passed 200 members. None of the original Committee are still in office. Most of the present Committee Members have computers and are connected to the Internet which provides good communication links outside committee meetings
The group has completed its own Web site and has registered a domain name and plans to have links with the Fairford Town page and other local organisations. With increasing numbers, the group is playing a more active role in the local community and will be represented at this year's Fairford Festival. Since 1997 it has been a member of the Cotswold Link, consisting of 10 local Cotswold U3A groups. It also participated in the Cotswold Link Millennium Celebrations held on June 14th 2000 at Cheltenham Town Hall
U3A gives members an opportunity to keep their minds active, keep interests alive, develop new skills, explore new horizons, meet new people and share their skills and experience. We are still growing and branching.
