I cannot believe another year has almost gone for our u3a and here we are facing another AGM. It seems no time since the last one. However, as the old saying goes, “the older you get the quicker time passes.” In my case it is certainly true.

I think we have had a good year overall with some very successful monthly meetings, thanks to Mabel for finding a variety of speakers to entertain us. It is not an easy job.

The interest groups that we have continue to meet and thanks must go to the group leaders. However, there is always a place for more groups. If anyone has any suggestions for new groups, please let me know or any of the Trustees who make up the committee. Even better if you are interested in leading a new group. The group activities are part of the lifeblood of u3a. The more groups we have the more we can offer to members and make it worthwhile attending.

This year we sadly lost 2 members who worked hard for SH u3a. Sarah Gurney who was a Trustee and ran the Gardening Group. Also, Enid Willis who ran the Theatre Group for many years. Margaret Ridley and Doreen Cole, also passed away. We remember them all and think of their families.

On your behalf I would like to thank 2 of the Trustees, Marian Atkinson, and Mike Bacon. They are respectively Secretary and Treasurer. Without their hard work and dedication our u3a could not function. You also have a full committee of Trustees who meet every month and freely give up their time to work for your u3a. Some have to retire from the committee at the AGM so if you are interested in joining the committee speak to myself or Marian for further details. We meet on the last Friday of the month at 10am in Dalton le Dale hall.

This year we have also had some very successive outside activities. In particular there was our social evening at the Masonic Hall to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles 111. He even made a brief appearance!!!

Then there was our very successful weekend visit to Scotland. Thanks to Gordon for organising that. There were others too and we must not forget those who organise any visit apart from our usual monthly meetings. It takes a lot of time and effort from them for you to have a successful visit.

We have managed to recruit some new members this year but any organisation like the u3a constantly needs new ones to refresh it. If you know of anyone who might be interested bring them along to a monthly meeting so that they can see for themselves what goes on.

Do not forget that we will be celebrating the u3a nationally on Saturday, 23rd September as part of the u3a week. We will be looking for volunteers to help man our stall in Byron Place between 1oam and 3pm.

Thank you once again for your friendship and support as we look forward to another successful year.

Malcolm Wilkinson

Chairman

If you are like me, you will probably wonder where the time has gone and here, we are preparing to have another AGM for our u3a, I often think about the old saying. “The older you are, the quicker time goes.”

It has been great to get back to some sort of normality for our monthly meetings.  I must thank Mabel Hepplewhite for arranging such a variety of speakers for these meetings.  I know this is not an easy task and every year she comes up with a varied programme of speakers and entertainment.

Unfortunately, we have only been managing to get about 50% of the members to attend monthly meetings.  Please encourage any member you know to come back and join us again. We miss them.

At the recent committee meeting Joan Temple agreed to try and compile attendance numbers for the various interest groups.  It will be interesting to see how the two figures compare.  Thank you, Joan, as groups coordinator.

Your u3a was very lucky that Marian Atkinson agreed to become Business Secretary.  She keeps detailed records of the Trustee meetings as well as updating our Constitution and some of the policies that we must have in place.  On your behalf I want to publicly thank Marian for her efforts and commitment.

I am also very grateful to Gordon Ayre, the Vice Chair, who has successfully chaired the monthly Trustees’ meetings – not always an easy task, believe me.  Gordon is also a fount of knowledge when it comes to giving us advice as well as promoting the use of Beacon, the new operating system.

Mike Bacon, our Treasurer, has done a sterling job looking after the accounts and updating the Trustees at every meeting.  Thank you, Mike.

Seaham Harbour u3a has about 120 members.  Thanks must go to Carole and George Fairweather for looking after the membership records and updating the Trustees every month.

I would also like to thank the Trustees on the committee who give up their time every month to attend meetings.  Also, to those members who have attended with a view to joining the committee or taking on new roles.

Any organisation like the u3a is dependent on new members joining and new activities for its members.  Please encourage any friends to come along to a meeting and see what a friendly bunch we are.  Also, if you have any suggestions for new groups, please speak to one of the Trustees about it.

We need Seaham Harbour u3a to have a healthy future because it is so important to all of us.

Finally, heartfelt thanks from me to you for supporting me as your Chair through these recent, difficult times.  It has been a privilege.

Malcolm Wilkinson