Chairman's welcome

Hello and welcome to Alton u3a. You will find details of more than sixty groups that we are offering this year, with ‘Candles, Cosmetics, Craft’, Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners, Vinyl Record Club, History of Alton, Fitsteps Fun Dancing, and Line Dancing for Beginners as new groups. I’m glad to say that the bulk of last year’s programme also continues. Please do take the time to find groups that interest you. We welcome feedback on what you find either helpful or difficult so we can continue to improve the programme in the future.

Alton u3a is well established and respected in the town and surrounding area, and indeed we are very fortunate to have facilities such as the Community Centre which allow us to continue and grow, expanding the opportunities for our interests and social gatherings. The significant increase in groups offered this year reflects the size and expanding interests of our membership, which now numbers well over 600, some 50% higher than when my father was Chairman!

The numbers reflect the huge amount of effort that so many volunteers put in to deliver quality special interest groups, without which, and your active involvement in them, we would have nothing. So I’d like to thank everyone who has given their time in the creation and running of groups. To make their effort truly worthwhile, be sure you take advantage by signing up for a few groups.

I look forward to seeing you through the coming year. Alan Robb