A week in the life of a u3a member

A member of three u3as in the West Midlands, Geoff keeps busy with a jam-packed schedule of strumming, singing and sports. Here, he breaks down his week.

Geoff (left) and Group Leader Stan at Stone u3a Ukulele Group

I’m a 78-year-old widower; my wife died 15 years ago, and I decided I needed to meet new friends and get out in the world.

I loved music and had bought a guitar to get me though my wife’s illness after she had passed away, so I joined Stone u3a guitar group. I had met my present partner by now and she wanted to join a badminton group, so she joined Cheadle u3a. I decided that I would like to play also but didn’t want to join the same group, so I joined Stoke South, but then Cheadle were short of players, so I joined them also.

Whilst playing with Cheadle Badmington group I was asked would I like to play walking hockey, so I agreed and played that too.

Whilst playing with Stone guitar group I was chatting with some of the members who played with the ukulele group, so I joined them. Cheadle also ran a ukulele group, so I joined that one as well, along with their guitar group.

Pickleball has recently been introduced to Cheadle, so guess what - I joined that too!

Now I am no longer a lonely widower sitting at home wondering what to do with myself.

My timetable is:

Monday
10:00 - Pickleball with Cheadle
1:30 - Guitar with Cheadle

Tuesday
09:00 - Badminton with Cheadle
01:30 - Badminton with Stoke South

Wednesday
10:30 - Guitar with Stone

Thursday
10:00 - Strum & sing (alternate weeks)
14:00 - Ukulele with Stone

Friday
13:00 - Pickleball with Cheadle

Saturday
10:00 - Walking Hockey

I don’t have Sunday free as I play with a non u3a ukulele group.

With the ukulele groups we go to residential homes to entertain the residents also Church events and pensioners parties, giving pleasure to others and sharing our music.

I’m very lucky to have such thriving groups in my area!