There was a really good turnout for our Open Day from new people wishing to learn about the u3a and to sign up. A lot of current members also attended interested in finding out about other groups and to hear from the group leaders themselves who made a great contribution to the success of the day.
The Antiques and Collectables table was memorable for its display of wooden shoe stretchers (how useful), snuff boxes and other fascinating objects. There was a display of rather excellent photographs from the Photography Group (you don’t have to be good at all to attend the group, but you can learn a lot). The Textiles Group displayed samples and the Bridge players kept playing throughout the afternoon.
Photography group
Bridge Group
The newly formed Line Dancing Group gave a short display of a couple of dances they had learned and were very happy at the end of it to have made no (well hardly any) mistakes. Alan Hamilton and The Galliard Band provided musical entertainment throughout the afternoon with recorder music from the last 700 years. I never knew recorders could be so huge. Alan would like to start a u3a recorder group if you’re interested please contact him via the web team webmaster@risboroughu3a.org.uk.
Line dancing group demo
The Galliard recorder group
Twenty-one Group Leaders and their helpers attended, and all make a great effort to make the day go well. Members of the committee did a good job keeping the teas and coffees flowing.
Some people signed up on the day and new membership forms are still coming in to Elspeth, the Membership Secretary. We should soon have a good idea of how many new members the Open Day attracted.
A new French group will be starting soon. It will be for those who are somewhere between beginners and intermediate stage. Please contact Maggie Forbes at social@risboroughu3a.org.uk if you’re interested.