u3a members' highlights of 2023

u3a members share their highlights of 2023 - from Coronation teas to reading Classic Greek plays.

Linda, Interest Groups Online

My u3a highlight has definitely been discovering u3a Interest Groups Online. I've joined Spanish, meditation & mindfulness and a Jane Austen book group.

There are so many groups on offer to suit all interests.

Find out more on the Interest Groups Online page of the u3a website.

Christine, Mawdesley u3a

Our u3a thrives on cooperation and mutual respect and the Coronation Afternoon Tea, which was the highlight of the Spring, epitomises that spirit. Our thanks go to Joan and Kay for coming up with the idea and to all members who made it such a huge success, especially the gentlemen who served the tea and Prosecco, Beryl for organising the table decorations and Audrey for her stunning Coronation cakes.

The whole event ran like a well oiled machine. It would be impossible to thank everyone by name, but special thanks go to Stuart and Pat who worked tirelessly all afternoon, up to their elbows in hot water, when the dishwasher let us down.

Lynda, Mill Hill u3a

We have a wonderful Outings and Travel Group, who have organised some amazing trips this year, including to Scotland, Northumberland and Norfolk. If I have to pin my highlight down to one thing, it has to be the Kynren in Bishop Auckland.

Very few people have heard of this, but it is an outstanding pageant of English history, running for approximately six Saturdays in the summer, with a cast of 1,000. I realise I am so lucky to have such an active and enterprising group in my u3a.

Helen, Canterbury u3a

Dear friends, in Canterbury u3a we have a small but keen Classical Greek group. Although it is difficult for us, we tackle texts in the original
Greek, working through it slowly but surely.

Over 2023 we have been doing ‘Medea’ by Euripides. I was very inspired by reading this work in its original language.

I decided to go to Siracusa in Sicily to see it in the open air ancient Greek Theatre built in the 5th century BC. Then I noticed there was a production of Medea going on in London. So I went to that one too, in April.

I would never have been so inspired to go to these productions were it not for group leader Virginia and our group in Canterbury u3a.