Longridge u3a celebrate 10 years of friendship and learning

Pat from Longridge u3a discusses a recent milestone for their u3a.

On a sunny Saturday morning in May, excitement filled the air as members of our local u3a gathered at the Civic Hall in Longridge to celebrate our 10-year anniversary and showcase the diverse range of groups that make up the organisation. This milestone event was made possible by the vision of our founder, Barbara, who sought to combat loneliness and isolation among older individuals.

Months of planning came together seamlessly as visitors were greeted with an array of displays representing the various groups that form the cornerstone of our u3a community—from arts and crafts to photography, languages, books and discussion, history, geography, and many more. Performances by the ukulele, circle dancing, and walking groups delighted the audience, while other groups provided engaging demonstrations and quizzes. Refreshments, including a well-received delicious soup, previously featured in TAM Magazine, were served by our dedicated kitchen volunteers.

Our esteemed guests added to the celebratory atmosphere, with our special guest of honour cutting the anniversary cake and taking the time to converse with group convenors and members. They expressed admiration for our organisation's dedication to lifelong learning, emphasising that education does not stop when we leave school and applauding u3a's role in bringing people together as a community.

To accommodate the anticipated growth in membership, we encouraged visitors to sign up for a newly created list of approximately 25 additional groups, doubling our current numbers. This initiative has generated considerable interest, with some groups already accumulating enough participants to begin activities. The introduction of these new groups will in turn drive membership growth and provide a broader range of opportunities for our community.

As the day drew to a close, we knew that we had been part of something truly special - a celebration not only of a milestone anniversary but also of the bonds of friendship and community that make our u3a organisation so special. As Barbara so eloquently stated in her thank-you letter to members, "Oh what a day," and indeed, what a memorable day it was!