Chairs Update AGM 2026
It has been my privilege to lead our u3a for the last 3 years but this is my final Chair report, as my tenure in the post has to end after 3 years service.
I have served on the committee for over 7 years, as vice Chair for 4 of those and the latterly as your Chair. I said when our u3a was established that, in time , when my family and work commitments were less, that I would be prepared to take a key role and I kept this promise.
My hope when I came into post was that we could give us a bit of a refresh, liven us up after the covid years! And bring some new ideas. As I look back, I am proud to say that I think we have achieved in all three elements. In this past year, we have had a lot of fun. At the monthly core meetings we have travelled around the world with factual snippets from countries many of us have never visited. We were gifted a much better joke book ( I never did find out who the Secret Santa was ) but we’ve laughed, groaned (and at times been bemused by the Americanisms! )
We have enjoyed successful and well supported social events. We thank John for a great quiz night and Jacky and her team of bookies, for the race night and we took a new approach to the Christmas party.
Some of the groups had a renaissance. Games gave birth to mah-jong, and Going Places went out more! Our group leaders are VITAL to the success of our u3a and I thank them for their commitment. We took them (almost all ) out earlier this month and had a very enjoyable afternoon. It was great to see everyone and the buzz around the table exemplified, why these people are the strength and backbone of our organisation.
But please remember that the ethos of our u3a is that everyone takes a part in contributing to the running of the groups in some way. Recruitment of new members is key to the continuation of our u3a. It is a national challenge throughout u3a for a number of reasons but significantly, the rise in State Pension age to 68, is having an impact, as people are not getting to retire till much later.
We have had 11 new members over the past 12 months. If you know anyone who is about to retire , or has said they are wanting to join but haven’t taken that first step and would enjoy what we have to offer. Do encourage them, bring them along.
Inevitably, due the age demographic of our group, we have lost a few members this year through declining health and relocation to be near families or to care supported living but we have received Thankyou’s, for the fun, friendship and memories that being part of CG&D u3a has brought to their lives in their retirement years.
Going forward our current numbers are at 163. This has remained generally steady since covid and we are still one of the larger groups locally. The finance report was sent out ahead of the AGM . We have a healthy bank balance. Social events are self funding and we have raised on average £30 each for the 11 different nominated charities as a result of our monthly meeting raffle throughout the year.
I want to thank the 2025/6 committee ( indeed all those who have served on the committee during my whole tenure) for their enthusiasm, fun and their willing engagement with the tasks we cover, which keeps our u3a running. Particular thanks go to Jacky who has been on the committee since we were created and has been the Membership Secretary for the whole of that time.
Barbara Hancock, Margaret Daniels and Sally Gittins, have decided not to continue on the committee. I thank them for their years of service, They have been our reception and event catering team, so I know they will be very much missed going forward. Pauline Pedersen has also decided not to continue.
My thanks go too, to those members who help with the chairs, in the kitchen and at events. You are the quiet “do-ers”, who beaver away in the background. Your efforts and contributions have not gone unnoticed.
I leave the committee in good hands and the group in a strong position to continue into our 15th year. Thank you for trusting me to lead us for the past 3 years.
Ruth Hubble Chair.
New 2026/27 Committee
| CHAIR | Vacant |
| VICE CHAIR | Vacant |
| SECRETARY (Web Manager / Newsletter Editor) | Sue Winwood |
| TREASURER | Janette Ascott |
| MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY | Jacky Nolan |
| GROUPS COORDINATOR | Hilda Burnett |
| SPEAKER ORGANISER | Sue Hurst |
| REFRESHMENTS | Margaret Thompson |
| FACILITIES | Paul Richards |
| Maureen McMullen | |
| Trudie Cooper | |
| Jeanette Burrows | |
| Piers Cockroft |
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The u3a ethos
The u3a is not a service-provider. It is a mutual aid organisation to which everyone is expected to contribute. Its success depends on the willingness of members to volunteer and help out in whatever way they can by:
- starting new groups
- giving talks
- assisting in the running of a group
- participating actively in the groups they join
- becoming a committee member
- doing other tasks to assist the smooth running of the Cheswick Green & District u3a.