May 2018 - 10th Anniversary Event
The celebrations on 4th May of our 10th Anniversary started with a brief programme of ‘Songs from the Musicals’ by the Singing Group with the new Kazoo section providing an alternative to 76 trombones!
This was followed by the Convener of the Wine Group Olive Haughan giving us details of the various wines, which were provided on the tables for the toast.
Then it was time for our very first Chairman and Secretary, Marion Wade and Jean Reynolds, to cut the cake, made by Wendy and Tony Harrison. This was achieved with a ‘ceremonial sword’ provided by the Military History Group.
Our Chairman Tony Harrison then proposed a toast to our U3A and we all sang ‘Happy Birthday’. “It doesn’t seem possible that 10 years have passed since that first meeting and good that five members of the original Steering Committee were able to be present: Marion Wade (Chairman), Jean Reynolds (Secretary), Ian Crabbe (Treasurer), Peter Sollars (Monthly Speaker Coordinator^ and yours truly (Membership Secretary). Four of us, of course, are still active members, whilst Ian moved away to a new life on the other side of Hampshire. My abiding memory of those days is walking the pavements of Horndean and nearer parts of Cowplain posting leaflets, membership forms, and early newsletters, because of course we didn’t have any money for postage until we had members! I was of course fit in those days!!”
Fun and games was the order of the day next, with representatives of the various Groups acting as jockeys in ‘Horse Racing’. This was followed by ‘Bowl A Pancake’ game. Jane Tull did an excellent job of commentator, organiser and MC.
Our first Treasurer, Ian Crabbe, who returned to us for the day from his new home in Chandlers Ford, judged the cake competition. Ian later presented the winner, Sue Dobson, with her certificate. Tony personally vouched for the fact that, as well as looking very pretty, the winning cake was very tasty indeed!
Many Groups provided wonderful displays for us all to look at whilst we finished our wine and enjoyed tea and cake. It was lovely to see what other Groups are doing.
Tony Harrison
Chairman