Seaford U3A News

Seaford U3A does not stand alone! It is part of an international movement which began in France in 1973 at the University of Toulouse under the guidance of Professor Pierre Vellas. The model adopted in France is that each U3A is linked to a local university to partake of the academic life and teaching available. This model is followed in many other countries, including most European ones, but not in Britain. There are even U3As in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, with an online U3A in Russia, linked to universities.

When the U3A movement reached Britain in 1981 it was taken up by three founder members, but it was and is radically different to the French model, being and exhibitions. By 2019 Seaford U3A had over 400

based on self-help. Although there is a national coordinating body, The Third Age Trust, each branch is self-governing, self-financing and there is no connection with universities. In 2016 the British U3A movement started its 1,000th branch and there are now over 400,000 members nationally.

The British model was copied in Australia, Cyprus, Dominica, New Zealand and South Africa. In Australia it was started in 1984 and by 2013 there were 250 U3As with 85,000 members. In Canada there are U3As in Ontario and in the USA there is a similar organisation called Lifelong Learning Institutes.

Lewes had a U3A branch earlier than Seaford and two of the four founder members of Seaford U3A started off in 1986 being members of Lewes. In April 1989 they organised an inaugural meeting in Seaford and 25 people joined immediately. A steering group was set up, some courses organised and a General Meeting was held in December 1989 when the number of members rose to 60. There were ten courses organised in the first year entitled Power in British Society, Modern Communications, Science in the Community, 20th-century Literature, French conversation (beginners and intermediate), German, Listening to Music, Introduction to Music and Recorder Playing. For a small new branch this was an amazing range of interests, and the members responded with enthusiasm. From the beginning Seaford U3A was joining with other local U3As to hold workshops and Study Days. By the second year Seaford U3A had 108 members and eighteen courses. The photograph above shows a patchwork wall hanging made at one of the early courses and now hanging in the committee room at Seaford Museum. The different events increased. Guided walks were introduced from the beginning; there was a newsletter; the U3A Orchestra started and is now a very popular part of the U3A; Seaford Handbell Ringers started as a five-week U3A course; the monthly Coffee Morning was introduced, as was the monthly Tea Party and Downs Talks. There were increasingly ambitious outings to places of interest

also a contributor to the Sussex U3A Network (SUN), members and was going strong.

In the present difficult times it is encouraging to look back and see how the U3A has grown nationally and in Seaford. We can take inspiration from that and seek to continue its successes.

For more information about Seaford U3A and also about its linked organisations, Sussex U3A Network (SUN) and SE U3A Region see the website www.u3asites.org.uk/seaford. To find out about membership email seafordu3a@gmail.com sending your postal address for a welcome pack.

NOV ISSUE DEADLINE: wEDNESDAy 7th OctObEr

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