General News
This page contains news of general U3A interest and announcements about our special interest groups.
CORONAVIRUS
Monthly meetings have now resumed and a new programme of meetings has been developed. The committee will continue to review the situation and communicate any changes to members via email/post/website. Please see the Monthly Meetings page for the latest situation.Special Interest Group meetings may continue or be cancelled at the discretion of group leaders. If a face to face meeting does go ahead all members should exercise due caution. If you do not feel well, have recently returned from a virus hotspot, or fear that you have been in close proximity to a carrier with the last week then please do not attend, follow the governments advice and avoid the risk of spreading the virus further.
We have set up a Facebook group page for members to access for interaction and advice during the crisis. To access the page you must be a member of our U3A. To join the group from Facebook enter "Welshpool & District U3A" into the search field, or follow the link :-
The website pages will be promptly updated for any changes to meetings and advice.
THE THIRD AGE TRUST (www.u3a.org.uk)
The latest 'newsletter' from National Office (available online).The AGM of the Third Age Trust is on Thursday 27th August 2020 at the East Midlands Conference Center, Nottingham commencing at 11.15am.
Members can access the U3A Annual Report and Accounts online via www.u3a.org.uk
Click on 'The Trust' after loading the www.u3a.org.uk page.
NEWS OF OUR INTEREST GROUPS
ALL INTEREST GROUPS
Would Group Leaders please remember to let the Webmaster know as soon as they have any changes to report (e.g change of name, venue etc.) so that they can be put on this website, as this is the only place such changes can appear between meetings. email: webmaster@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
Thank you
OUTINGS
Members are reminded that any member can propose an all-U3A outing
to any place they would like to go. However, that member would
need to organise the outing and invite others - announcements can
be made at monthly meetings and the details can be put on this
website.
On the subject of outings or visits made by individual groups in
cars, the Committee suggests that, if people want to share cars
and contribute to the costs, a figure of 20p a mile to be split
among all in the car, would be appropriate. Thus a round-trip
journey of 84 miles (e.g. Welshpool-Barmouth-Welshpool) would cost
£16.80 to be shared by all in the car.
NEWSLETTER
Please ensure that you have a copy of our latest Newsletter
(printed copy or emailed version to your email address). Contact
details for Group coordinators are only available from the
Newsletter or the Membership Secretary who can be contacted at
membership@welshpoolanddistrictu3a.org.uk
The pdf version which can be downloaded from this site contains NO
contact details. Newsletter link is located on top and bottom menu
bars.
TEA & COFFEE AT MONTHLY MEETINGS
Will those people who have put their names down to do the
teas/coffees please turn up at 9.30am, so that you can be well
prepared before the hordes arrive.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you cannot fulfill your rota commitment please ensure that you
contact a committee member AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that a
substitute can be found or see if you can find a substitute.
Please sign-up for one general meeting a year or the teas and
coffees will stop being served!
THE COMMITTEE
Click or hover on the committee member for a brief biography of them.
- Jill Smith, Chairperson Jill Smith – Chair I am the new Chair, married to Dave who does our u3a publicity. Between us we have six children and one grandchild. I have worked for companies such as EMI (records), Kodak, Coca-Cola, and TKMaxx. My last job before retirement was to start and run a small bespoke catering company. My interests are sewing in all its forms and designing patterns, crafts, dog walking especially on the beach, cooking, and meals out ideally trying different cuisines. I like to share my knowledge. Info@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Ian Thompson, Treasurer Ian Thompson - Treasurer I moved with wife Karin and Border terrier Scamp to live in Hope near Welshpool in 2016 after a protracted search for a change of residence. We had lived in a small village near Swindon beneath the Ridgeway for 19 years and reluctantly concluded that we needed to escape the sprawl of new development encroaching upon us. I am from West Cumberland originally, but to all intents and purposes left there to go to university in '69. My professional career was in local government, initially as a trainee accountant with Humberside County Council but after qualification moving to work for Northamptonshire, Berkshire and latterly Swindon Borough Council. Karin and I have three offspring (but none between us) and 5 grand-kids spread between Northampton, Oxford and Bristol so Welshpool's good communication links ticked one of the boxes when we were house-hunting. It's been a good move for us. Finally, I'm trying to learn to speak Cymraeg but my progress is best described as 'glacial'. Treasurer@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Vince Howells, Secratary Vincent Howells – Secretary 1949. The year the transistor was invented, a device that shaped the modern world we live in – for good or bad – and the year I was born. The transistor featured prominently in my life as I went on to work in the electronics industry for many years and saw the transition from the valve era to the transistor and computer age. Remarkably last year 1.15 trillion transistor-based components were produced and there are still not enough! As well as working in the electronics industry I spent the last 20 years of my working life in various Government roles in Wales including two years in Cardiff. Just to add a bit more work, I served 26 years as a magistrate in what was then known as the Montgomeryshire Bench. It was a real honour to be trusted by the community to undertake the duty and I never forgot when sentencing defendants, to what had life changing impacts on them and their families, that they still must be treated with fairness and consideration. However, retirement in 2015 did not see a slowing of pace with three adult children (you never think they grow up) and three grandchildren life still seems busy. Retirement has provided more time for various interests, Photography, Music and HI FI systems, railway history – mostly the steam age and electronics in the form of computers, of which several are distributed around my house all joined by a gigabit network and my own design of a mesh WI FI system with various network drives attached. My early interest in electronics has never gone away and as a 20 years old starting a career in electronics I could never have imagined the profound impact it would have had on all our lives. Secretary@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Sarah Lees, Membership Sec. Sarah Lees – Membership Secretary I am a very new member of U3a and I am enjoying the drawing group and the dog walking group so far. My working background was in the NHS with a variety of jobs including social transport and then invigilating once I retired. I moved to this area in 2021 from Ceredigion and enjoy the proximity of my two children and their families now numbering three grandsons, various dogs, cats and horses. My husband and I enjoy travelling, gardening, eating out and baking. (I bake he does quality control apparently!) I’m looking forward to meeting more members, possibly joining more groups and hearing from anyone with any queries about Welshpool and District u3a that I can share with the other committee members to resolve. Members@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Jill Smith, Groups Coordinator Jill Smith – Chair I am the new Chair, married to Dave who does our u3a publicity. Between us we have six children and one grandchild. I have worked for companies such as EMI (records), Kodak, Coca-Cola, and TKMaxx. My last job before retirement was to start and run a small bespoke catering company. My interests are sewing in all its forms and designing patterns, crafts, dog walking especially on the beach, cooking, and meals out ideally trying different cuisines. I like to share my knowledge. Groups@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Graham Moore, Programme Sec. Graham Moore – Programme Secretary I have been a resident of Welshpool since Christmas 1978, when I moved up here from Sussex where I was born. I have two grown up children who were both born in and grew up in the area. I worked for Powys Health Service for around ten years in their Engineering Department, before a change of direction in my career path when I became the County Street Lighting Engineer in early 1990. After some 9-10 years with Powys County Council, I moved over to a Consultancy Firm who was operating the Street Lighting Contract for Shropshire Council and I remain with them until I retired at the end of May 2019. I was involved with Welshpool Air Cadets for 14 years which I thoroughly enjoyed. Through this organisation I had the good fortune to travel to many RAF Stations around the UK and also one in Germany in around 2001. As a spin off from that role I have also been asked to be Parade Marshall for Welshpool Royal British Legion and Welshpool Town Council for the last 20 years or so, where you may have heard my tender voice bark out the Parade Commands for both the annual Remembrance Day Parades as well as the Mayor Sunday Parades. I have a number of interested which include my Family Tree, local history and a new one for me which is bird watching, which I am grateful to the U3A for presenting me with a nice friendly group to become involved with. In the coming years I hope to explore some of the other U3A Groups which we are lucky enough to enjoy in Welshpool. Speakers@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Phil Ranson, Website Manager Phil Ranson – Website Manager For the last three years I have looked after the website for the Welshpool u3a. I am 64 and retired six years ago after a long career as a finance professional in industry. For the last 18 years of my working life I was at Control Techniques in Newtown. I am married to Gail, who is also in our u3a, and have three grown up children. When I finished work I missed the social interaction and I have found the u3a excellent. I’m in the Dog Walking group and Wine Appreciation group and really enjoy them. I’ve also been a member of the Photography group and I lead the Astronomy group, which is currently not meeting due to lack of members - please get in touch if you are interested in joining the group. My wife and I enjoy travelling and particularly spend a lot of time in the Yorkshire Dales where we have a static caravan. Webmaster@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Brian Lyness, Newsletter Editor Brian Lyness – Newsletter Editor Originally from Northern Ireland my wife and I lived, worked and brought up our two sons in the Thames Valley area (Windsor, Crowthorne and Wokingham) from 1975 until 2012. I worked in IT and for the final 20 years of my work life I was freelance. On retirement we decided we wanted to move to a quieter area of the country and so we initially rented a house in Monmouthshire and then for a short period in Tenbury Wells, before moving to Welshpool in April 2014. We love living here, it is so good to get out of the rat race and back to the small town environment that was familiar to me growing up. We have two small grandchildren, living in London who we visit and help to look after quite often. My interests include gardening, volunteering with the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT), swimming, pilates (before my arthritic knees gave up on me), motoring and travelling. EditorWelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- David Smith, Publicity Officer Dave Smith – Publicity and Notice Boards Originally from West London I have a background in engineering sales primarily concerning the paper industry. Moved to Telford upon retirement and now living in Llanfair Caereinion. My interests now are pottery at the Mid Wales Art Centre, photography, dog walking and gardening I also go swimming regularly and attend Yoga classes. Publicity@WelshpoolAndDistrictU3A.org.uk
- Jacqui Thompson, Committee Member Jacqui Thompson – Membership (Deputy) Meeter and Greeter Married to Brian Thompson since 2001. I have two sons, one married and living in Germany with my two grandsons and one in Reading. Moved to Virginia in the US 2007-2016. Moved to Abermule (in hills not village) and subsequently joined Welshpool u3a in 2017. Like most of us who are in the u3a, I was looking to meet up with people and find new or continuing interests. Pre-March 2020 Welshpool was key to that and I am delighted that despite the pandemic, Welshpool seems not only to have survived, but now is flourishing with new groups and new group leaders. I look forward to contributing to the work of the committee and continuing as a group leader of a lovely drawing group.
- Maggie Townsend, Committee Member Maggie Townsend – Coffee Rota. I have lived in Welshpool since 1975, when my husband Chris became one of the partners in the Welshpool Medical Practice. We brought our three year old daughter with us and our son was born in Welshpool Hospital and became a Welshman! After a childcare break I resumed my nursing career. First as a Midwife in the hospital and local community and then I retrained in Health Visiting. I have loved living in Welshpool. Particularly during the last two years I have realised how privileged I am. The pandemic would have been so much more challenging away from our rural lifestyle. I discovered U3A a few years ago. I have enjoyed the monthly meetings very much, but it is the special interest groups which amaze me. There is so much talent among our members and they are so willing to share it. I have been a member of a number of groups and have learnt and continue to learn from the experts. I'm afraid I don't have any special skills to share, but am happy to serve on the committee to give something back.
- Peter Stelfox-Griffin, Contact for Notice Boards
Contact details for Committee members can be found in our newsletter.
Group Information
Group Programmes
- Bird Watching
- Digital Photography
- Dog Walking
- Everything Textiles
- Garden Group
- Local History
- Lunch Group
- Medieval History
- Psychology/NLP
- Strolling
- Walking
- Wine Appreciation
Affiliated to the
Third Age Trust
