Woodcarving

Pauline Blackmore on an amazing interest group in Stafford U3A

Stafford U3A Wood Carving group put on a small display of their achievements recently and welcomed nearby Mawdesley & District U3A Woodcarving Group.

Bob Hanlon has been the Leader of the Stafford U3A Woodcarving Group ever since he started it 300 meetings ago.

Bob initially came across the U3A at an Open Day in 2012, and was persuaded to join, by the then Chairman, Gerry Robinson. Bob was already an experienced woodcarver, and offered to start the group. With his help and guidance, many people (25 members currently, have been able to produce work to a standard that they didn’t know they could achieve.

Having visited them a couple of times , I know that, like all U3A groups they are a friendly bunch, who enjoy a cup of tea and a chat.

One member JOHN DOBRIC, was recovering from having a stroke,is wife looked for an activity that would help him keep active and after finding the Stafford U3A had a Woodcarving Group , he decided to try it – ‘We all get on so well’ he said, ‘have a chat and a bit of a laugh’.

Hilary Grew (pictured on front) showed the second only carving, an ammonite, which took him about three months of Wednesday afternoons.

Hilary, a retired accountant, was already in a painting group, but was looking for something different. He said, "It’s meeting different people, the sociability because you never know what you can do , until you try. I am so pleased with the standards which I have achieved”.

The display tables showed what wonderful achievements so many people had made, many starting as novices.

Barbara Jones, a newer member (pictured) showed me her first carving, the Tree Of Life.

This is such a good example of U3A , a Group of people coming together in friendly and sociable surroundings to help each other and share their knowledge.