Sharing skills and going for gold at Southport Flower Show

For the third year in a row, Southport u3a members worked together to create a garden for the Southport Flower Show. This year they won a large gold medal for their beautiful garden that showed five eras of British garden design. Three members reflect on their roles and the skill sharing that helped the team take home the medal.

Lisa

I first became involved in the first Southport u3a garden in 2022. This year, I was Cookery Theatre Manager.

My role involved inviting and organising the u3a cookery theatre volunteers for all four days of the show. During the show I was on hand to help with any problems. I informed volunteers about their role, the health and safety requirements, and emergency procedures.

The benefits of volunteering at the Flower Show are very varied. It’s great to get involved and volunteer for a community event and to meet and work with other u3a members. I also enjoyed meeting celebrity chefs, most of whom are lovely.

By volunteering, you get a free ticket for the show, and there's a lot of social interaction with others. It involves long days and tired feet, but everyone gets a lot out of it. I really like the fact that others get a kick out of the experience. It’s really rewarding.

Bronwen

I first joined the u3a as I was recommended to do tai chi for my osteoporosis and found a local tai chi group. The first person I spoke to happened to run the gardening group. I’m obsessed with gardening and joined in a matter of weeks. Everyone is so enthusiastic and vibrant. I just enjoy every minute.

My role at the flower show involved painting the pavilion with two coats of paint. I also helped with watering every day after the plants had been put in, which we all had a turn at.

The first day I was working from 9am to 6pm, and it was windy and cold. But it was nice to be part of an achievable goal – something to work towards as a team.

It was great to meet members from across the Southport u3a, beyond just the gardening group. These are the kinds of new skills you only have time to learn once you’re retired.

Brian

I joined Southport u3a when I moved to Southport in 2018 after living in France for 20 years. When they said they needed a secretary, or they wouldn’t be allowed to run, I volunteered. I’m not on the committee anymore but I still do French conversation.

At the flower show, my involvement was making all the wood structures. I also helped with all the heavy work, lifting all the big stones. I’m lucky that I’m fit enough to do it and to have the skills to work with wood.

I really enjoyed being part of the process. I’m a social animal but tend to spend a lot of time by myself, so it was great to meet and work with new people and share skills. There were a couple of guys doing the brick work, and the guy from the garden across from us offered us his cement mixer. It was a fun project.

We had dinner last night to celebrate and I got to meet new friends. That’s what u3a’s all about really, isn’t it? Many people’s lives change when they stop working and they don’t know what to do with themselves, so what could be better? Sharing experiences, making new friends and learning new things. There’s so much on offer.