Chairman, Colin Tincknell OBE in his report referred to the difficulties experienced in just keeping the u3a group in action during Covid with general meetings and subject groups taken place involving limited member numbers.

The financial implications which have arisen in this respect are reflected in the group finances. The group has continued to hold coffee mornings and speaker meetings, the latter which have been of a very high quality and really enjoyed by those who attended.

The Secretary, David Pearson in his report highlighted the efforts which had been made to ensure that meetings and group activities met national and Third Age Trust Covid requirements and had produced model risk assessments which had been put in place.

The u3a is proud that members safety, although challenging, has been paramount in the committee’s discussions. David outlined the various activities of the group during the period which apart from the general speaker meetings, many of the pre-pandemic subject groups which had been identified by members continued in some form.

David noted that the u3a is a self-help group and subject groups are led by members using their skills but also the skills and knowledge of the group itself. No u3a group leader receives any payment and groups are self-financing. The range of subject groups available is impressive and new groups are being formed all the time to meet members requests.

The treasurer, Rob Jamieson, introduced the Audited Group Annual Accounts which demonstrated the need for the u3a to address financial issues and Rob stated that certain measures had been taken in this respect by the committee. The projected 2022 loss in the current year would be addressed to some extent by the increase in membership fees which together with the accounts were subsequently unanimously approved.

A group of u3a members and guests visited Forde Abbey House and Gardens, near Chard on 27th April to view the magnificent spring flowers and the tulip extravaganza which involved the planting of 10,000 tulips providing a very impressive display over many weeks. A tour of the house itself is a must for visitors and rounded off a very enjoyable day.

Future visits are planned to varied places which include the internationally famous Mottisfont Rose gardens display, in Hampshire on 15th June and the annual visit to Bath Races which is always a very popular event.

The group are also looking forward to the Queen’s 70 years reign Celebration Tea Party on 13th June from 2 – 4 p.m. which will include entertainment and reflect the forty years anniversary of the formation of the u3a movement. The limited number of tickets available for this event are selling fast so members are encouraged to obtained theirs at the next Speaker Meeting on 9th May.

U3a membership enquires, and applications continue to be received and it is worth noting that whilst the Norton Radstock u3a is part of the family of 1,400 u3a in the UK with 450,00 members and supported by the National Organisation the Third Age Trust the local u3a is entirely self-governing, operationally independent and financed by members with no other income from other providers.

U3a membership is open to all in their third age which is defined not by a particular age but a period in life in which full time employment has ceased.

The self-help principle involves members forming interest groups covering a wide range of topics and activities by the members for the members. The u3a movement is non-religious and non-political.