Every month Norton Radstock u3a members enjoy listening to outside speakers who provide a wealth of interesting topics.

At the u3a meeting on 13th February at the Somer Centre, we look forward to the talk by Andy Green, a Committee Member and facilitator of the Psychology Group, who is also co-ordinator for the u3a Subject Groups, will have his subject Eminent Britons and their achievements ranging from breaking records, through inventions to medical discoveries.

The next day, on 14th February, at St John’s Church Hall, Midsomer Norton the u3a Committee have arranged a meeting of all its Subject Group Co-ordinates to provide an opportunity for them to meet to discuss their own groups progress and to share common issues.

One of the objectives of this meeting is to demonstrate to group leaders the new Third Age Trust communications system ‘Beacon’ which will be available to group leaders to enhance, facilitate and support their group activities. The meeting will be from 10 – 2pm and Colin Tincknell u3a Chairman has encouraged every group leader and potential group leader to attend. Subject Groups are a core part of u3a activities and the meeting will be an opportunity for the committee to express its thanks to all group leaders who work so hard for the benefit of our members.

Norton Radstock u3a is part of a UK organisation of 1000 groups with a membership of 400,000. Locally the group is also a member of the Northern Somerset u3a Network which provides opportunities for all Network group u3a members to meet together to share common concerns but also provides meetings and activities to include all members. The Northern Somerset Network has arranged a u3a Conference at Wells Town Hall on Friday, 24th March from 10am which will have two themes. The morning session will provide an opportunity for National Officers to speak about the UK work of the u3a and how this fits in with local groups. The CEO of the Third Age Trust the overarching body of the u3a movement will be sharing how the u3a movement could develop in the next few years.

The second theme of the conference will be climate change and how this is affecting wildlife in Somerset. Speakers will include the CEO of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the Butterfly Conservation Trust, and the RSPB. All adults should be concerned about the legacy we are leaving for our grandchildren and all u3a members and anyone interested in the u3a movement is encourage to attend this conference.