Chairs Report
CHAIR'S REPORT FROM THE BULLETIN FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2023
This is my second year-end summary as Chair of the Rickmansworth and District u3a. It has been a very active 2023.
As we reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024, I want to thank the returning members of the Committee who have all agreed to serve for another term. I also want to thank those who lead Interest Groups and all those working voluntarily behind the scenes, whose knowledge, skills and efforts bring the Ru3a to life. Nothing in the Ru3a happens by chance: all of the meetings, events and activities are planned thoroughly and executed caringly. My thanks to all concerned.
The most encouraging aspect in 2023 was the reintroduction of visits, theatre outings and holidays, all of which are proving very popular. We began the year with two visits to the Houses of Parliament, courtesy of Frances Button and Alan Read and arranged through our local MP, Gagan Mohindra.
Thereafter, much thanks must go to Mike Grossmith for taking the initiative on group outings, together with the associated administrative burden. Courtesy of Mike, we have already had theatre outings to “Les Miserables” and “Jersey Boys” in the last quarter. Mike has also arranged trips in 2024 to “Cabaret”, “ABBA Voyage” in London and “The Mousetrap” at the Theatre Royal in Windsor.
Mike has also arranged a midweek holiday in Torquay in April which was very quickly fully subscribed.
Several Interest groups also arrange their own outings following their specific interest.
Thursday’s Monthly Meetings typically drew attendances between 60 and 80, peaking at 103 in March for Deborah Moggach’s highly entertaining “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – growing old disgracefully”. Talks in the last quarter of 2023 on “Agatha Christie – Queen of Crime”, “The Great Cannabis Con” and “Forty Years of Catching Smugglers” also drew large attendances.
We have already arranged a full programme of monthly talks for 2024. Unfortunately, the failure of the heating in the Church hall meant that we had to postpone the meeting on Thursday 11 January. We will rearrange the talk scheduled by former detective, Paul Barwick, “Georgi Markhov and the Poisoned Umbrella Murder” for later in the year. We expect the hall heating to be fully functioning by Thursday 8 February by when Graham Horn will present “An Heir and a Spare” which should be highly entertaining.
We held two quizzes in 2023. Both were extremely well organised, well attended and most enjoyable. We plan to hold two more quizzes in 2024.
Our Christmas Lunch, held again at the West Herts Golf Club, was an enjoyable occasion, with about 80 attendees, slightly fewer than last year. It included an entertaining raffle for which we thank members and local businesses for donating prizes.
Our u3a is driven entirely for its members by its members. We encourage members to step forward with new ideas and to lead new groups. If you have an idea or interest in a particular topic or activity which you think others would share, then please come forward. We welcome participation, support and feedback to help us deliver the range of activities that our members want.
I look forward to the year ahead with the Ru3a, one which I hope you will all enjoy and value. I wish you all a very healthy, enjoyable and successful 2024.
Andrew Hicks
Chair, Rickmansworth & District u3a