U3A, one of the best thing ever to come out of France - U3A came to UK in 1982.  Before U3A, clubs for senior citizens were somewhere lonely old folk went for a chat, a cup of tea, and to be entertained, usually by the younger generation.  And then came U3A with its vision of life long learning, of sharing interests and knowledge, and suddenly retirement became something to look forward to not to dread. 

The first Université du Troisième Age was founded in Toulouse in 1972.  It was based on where committees of local retired people negotiating with a University for the use of their facilities and expertise, including teaching time, of University academics.  An International Colloquium was held in Toulouse the following year and an international association of U3A (AIUTA) was set up.

U3A was first established in the U.K. in 1982, although not along such academic lines as in France and emphasising the abilities of local retirees.  The first such local U3As were launched in Cambridge, Sutton Coldfield, Yeovil, Stevenage and Harpenden.

U3A to Looe 1991
 

U3A came to Looe in 1991 thanks to the foresight and determination of David Baker who, before retiring to Looe, had been involved in U3A in Colchester.  An introductory meeting, Chaired by the then Mayor, Sid Gardner, was held on a wet and windy night in the coffee lounge at the Guildhall on January 16^t" 1991.  "David's quiet sincerity and belief in the concept soon transmitted itself to those present" (Cornish Times).  The first formal meeting of Looe and District U3A was at the Portbyhan Hotel on January 29^th 1991 with around 28 members with David Baker as the first Chairman, Terry Walsh as Treasurer and Carol Harriott, secretary.  The early meetings were at various venues, the Porthbyan Hotel, Nomansland and even “Hillcrest".  Elsie Graham took over as Chairman, when David became ill, a position she was to hold for 5 years. 

The first Newsletter (edited by Anne Spooner for the first 8 years) was priced at 10p.  By then there were ten groups ranging from Yoga to German, and Bridge to Meteorology.  The first annual meeting (January 20^th 1992) saw David's "stalwart work being recognised by granting him, and his wife, Iris, becoming Honorary Members.  The annual subscription was £2 plus "Tea and monthly meetings" at 50p per person ". 

The 1st Anniversary

left to right

Elsie Graham, Douglas Tamblin, Pam Greenwood, Ann Hessenford, Colin Shore. Mary Aves, Bill Wren

The first Walking Group

 left to right

Mary Shore (neeEliot), Eileen Annereaux, kneeling?, Moreen Goldsworthy, Jason Haywood?, Betty Haywood, Jeannie Oliver, Colin Shore, Ann Croker, Barbara Elson, ?, Sid Gardner

The first French Group

left to right:

Mary Shore, Joy Tamblin, David Baker, Louise Amslake, Muriel Adams, Ida Clark

Scottish Dancing (not U3A - but many U3A members)

left to right:

Jeannie Oliver, Audrey Allen, Vashti Trudeau,   

& Moreen Goldsworthy

1993

 

Membership had topped 100 and meetings became established at 10.00am on the second Wednesday of the month at St Martin's Church Hall, Looe.  By now there were 17 group activities, with new groups ranging from Garden Gossip to Calligraphy.  Subscriptions had increased to £4 but the newsletter was free and there was no longer a charge for meetings or tea. 

1994

Members took part in "The World's Biggest Coffee Morning" serving 170 cups of coffee and raising £340 for the McMillan Appeal.  A Boules group was started by David Baker  when a new boules piste was established at Hannafore in readiness for a visit by a group of French senior citizens from Quiberon (twinned with Looe).

  Boules

David Baker, ?, Colin Shore, ?, Ruby Alliker, Eve Lefley, ?, ?, Steve Steadman, Ray ..

1995

In 1995 Elsie Graham resigned as and a special tribute was paid to her "unstinting work dedicated to building the U3A over the years.  Subscriptions rose to £5.  A 50p per head charge was also introduced for group meetings to cover the expenses of Group Leaders. 

"The Still Useful Group" was founded under the joint Chairmanship of David Baker and David Proffit - its aim, to encourage the entertainment of the Looe and District U3A by its own members, something they still do to the present day.  Their first performance was at the 1995 Christmas party.  There was now 23 Groups and Membership had grown substantially.  As the venue, St Martin's Hall, was limited to 100 (mainly for insurance purposes) it was decided that membership should be limited to 150 and so the first waiting list was introduced.

Honorary Membership presented to Elsie Graham

Certificate created by Mary Woollard and presented by Griff Jones (Chairman) with Deirdre Croker (Secy.)

One of the excellent "faith" lunches (Members supply the "afters"!!!)

Penny Orford & Norma Edmondson

1995/1996 Griff Jones - Chairman

June saw U3A again involved in Looe Buccaneer Week with the Still Useful Group presenting a commemoration and Elizabethan Variety Show "Meet Sir Francis Drake" in the Guildhall.  At Christmas The Still Useful Group, now led By David Proffit, with his wife Christine in charge of costumes, produced their first pantomime "Cinderwelly"

The Pedal Club

Sheila Haskin, Fiona ?, Griff Jones, Audrey Allan, Cecil ?, Pam Smithy, Joseph Ambrosoni, David Baker

"Cinderwelly"

 by the Still Useful Group

 Organised by David & Christine Proffit

1997/8 - Griff Jones - Chairman - and the birth of Looe Valley U3A

The number of groups had grown to 27 and a new membership ceiling of 180 had been reached and the waiting list reached 40.  It was obvious that drastic action was needed and in June that year Looe Valley U3A  was launched with 41 members and Freda Murray in the Chair.  That year also saw U3A enter Looe Carnival for the first time and taking the first of many prizes with their Edwardian Street Scene, thanks to the wardrobe skills of Christine Proffit.  In September the Still Useful Group staged a play reading of Dylan Thomas's "Under Milkwood" and in December produced yet another show written and directed by Christine and David Proffit "Poor but Honest."

1998/9 Peter Kendrick - Chairman

January 1998 saw both Looe U3A Groups combined for a dinner at the Hannafore Point Hotel.  In July members took the biscuit with their entry "Teatime Assortment" winning first prize and the cup at Looe Carnival thanks to the ingenuity of Eileen Richmond and David Proffit

1999/2000 Beth Crossland Taylor - Chairman

Looe and District U3A became affiliated to the National Federation following the disbanding of the Cornish Federation. 

2000/2001 Kay Kettle - Chairman

To celebrate the Millennium the two Looe U3A's formed a Joint Social Committee to organize an Old Time Musical Hall at Looe Bay Holiday Camp with over 100 members and guests entering into the spirit of the occasion by wearing Victorian costume.  That year also saw the two groups combine for a Quiz Night - to become an annual event, and a Race Evening.  Looe and District U3A marked the millennium with a stone seat – although the weather prevented installation until the summer of 2001.  That year the Summer Lunch was attended by over 100 members and once again SUG came up trumps at the Christmas lunch with an hilarious sketch "Speeches and Cream" produced by Deirdre Croker. 

Some of the "Victorians"

Penny Orford, Margret Bale, Irene Sculthorpe, Sybil Marshall, Eve Lefley, Rosemary Leach, Moreen Goldsworthy

On right   Peter King & friend

The U3A Millenium seat on Wooldown

The "erectors"  (with others)

                              Peter King                                  and                            Derek Kettle           

But not enough room for even a few of the U3A in 2001!!!

2001/2 - Ann Kendrick - Chairman

January 2001 saw the 10^th anniversary with a dinner at the Hannafore Point Hotel attended by 11 founder members including, including David Baker, and attended by 80 current members with guests from Looe Valley U3A and the U3A of Plymouth.  Looe and District U3A take both first prize and cup for best entry in Looe Carnival with their entry "The Red Barrows" the inspiration of Derek Steeden, while SUG  performed "Little Red Whittington" at the Christmas lunch.

The 10th Anniversary with some of the original members

Colin & Mary Shore, ?, Audrey Allen, Iris & David Baker, Sybil Marshall, Ruby Allicker, Moreen Goldsworthy, Margaret & Sid Gardner

2002/3 Peter King - Chairman

Subscriptions rose to £7.50.  The Jubilee Street Party, organized by the Joint Social Committee at Looe Bay Holiday Camp was a roaring success bringing back memories of the street parties of the 50.'s.  Christmas saw SUG proving that they too could produce a "cats" musical "Cats Follies", at the Christmas lunch.

Some of the Jubilee Party

2003/4  Iris Ward - Chairman

Looe and District U3A made front page of the "U3A News" when they took first prize and Cup for best entry with their spectacular 30ft long "Puff the Cornish Dragon" created and constructed by Derek Steeden.  SUG again provided the entertainment at the Christmas Lunch with a Christmas Anthology - a collection of verse, carols and drama again produced by Deidre Croker. 

2004/5 Don Tarling - Chairman

This year included a Caribbean Evening complete with steel band organized by the joint committee and again attended by over 100 members.  It was one of three events organized by the Joint Committee the others being the joint Quiz Night and a race evening.  Looe and District again took first prize at Looe Carnival, this time with "Octo Plus" a giant octopus designed by Eileen Richmond and Christine Proffit.  The September meeting saw ladies in large hats, men in boaters.  Side shows stalls, not forgetting the refreshment tent, as members held a garden party in glorious weather in the grounds of St Martin's Church Hall.  The Christmas lunch saw SUG again in good form when they presented "Cinders' Sisters" their own version of Cinderella, set in a castle in Looe.

2005/6 Eileen Richmond - Chairman

Subscriptions rose to £8.50.  October saw Looe and District and Looe Valley join for a Barn Dance organized by the Joint Social Committee at Looe Bay Holiday Park.. SUG again entertained members at the Christmas lunch held for the first time at Looe Bay Holiday Park, with an Old Tyme Musical Hall - a real Edwardian Christmas. 

Boules is still thriving and is now every Friday afternoon during the summer

Jim Ward, Joseph Ambrosoni, 'Polly' Kettle, David Baker & Kay Kettle, Queenie Shearman

 2006/7  Anna Bourchier - Chairman

The 15^th anniversary dinner was held at the Old Sail Loft.  The total membership of both Looe U3A groups was now over 250.  Looe and District took first prize and the cup for best walking group at Looe Carnival with their entry "Transport of Delights" thanks to the genius of Eileen Richmond and Christine Proffit, supported by their chief constructor, Nic Hobbs.

After editing the Newsletter for five years, Dawn Channings resigned in 2006 and Eileen Richmond and Kay Kettle stepped into the breach introduing a new format and producing their first newsletter in September that year. 

2007/8  Jim Ward - Chairman

U3A UK celebrated its 25^th anniversary.  The wide diversity of the interests of members of Looe and District U3A were on display at a Hobbies and Activities morning at the August meeting, which revealed just how much talent there is within U3A. 

2008/9  Iris Ward - Chairman

Getting 2008 off to a happy start, SUG brought London to Looe, in song verse and sketch set amid a realistic London scene painted by Daphne Dann and Eileen Richmond The annual dinner was held at Hannafore Point Hotel.  The Carnival 1^st prize again went to Looe & District, aided by Looe Valley, with their balloons – “Up and Away with U3A”

2009/10  Rosemary Robinson - Chairman

The year was heralded in by Iris Ward's production of 'Cornish Sinbad' - a story of 'rags to riches' set in a variety of Cornish venues. This was performed by the newly formed TATs (Third Age Thespians) group - formerly the Still Useful Group. The annual dinner was held at Looe Golf Club in very wintery conditions and was attended by 46 members. Subscriptions rose to £11.00 per annum. The Quiz Night (a joint effort by both Looe groups) had a record attendance and resulted in our group winning the trophy.

The Midsummer BBQ held on the Wooldown was delightful. After the previous two years of heavy rain which resulted in it being cancelled, this year the weather was hot with clear blue skies.

Our Summer lunch was very successful this year despite the weather, but an excellent tombola and 'horse-racing' in the marquee provided the entertainment prior to lunch, the excellent food being produced by our new Gorgeous Grub Group.  

The carnival entry this year was 'Re-cycled YoUth3A' and featured several of our members representing cans, loo rolls, bottles, newspapers, re-cycling centres which resulted in a second prize being awarded in our section.

Left to right: Kate Whittington, Rosemary Robinson, Jackie Fletcher, Mary Rees, Rose Souch & Eileen Richmond

Left to right: Ann Godfrey, Paula Freeman-Sanderson, Dot Dunning & Daphne Dan

For the second year running, and our thanks to Peter Williams on both occasions, we beat our great rivals, the Looe Valley group, and won the Inter-club Skittles event

 Our new Logo, shown below, was designed by Betty Philp and was selected from a number of suggestions and designs. Its simplicity in portraying the essence of Looe was a key factor in the committees final choice.

Our Christmas lunch, held in December was attended by a bumper number of members, - 96 in all, and we were entertained one again by the TATs group performing 'Starstruck', a tribute to stars of yesteryear.

2010/11  Dot Dunning - Chairman

This being the 20th anniversary year of the Looe & District U3A - it was decided to celebrate it in style throughout the year with a '20's theme for many of our social events.

During February and March we were given a fantastic opportunity, sponsored by the 'Hall for Cornwall', to take part in a playwriting course, 'Anyone Can Write'. This was led by a professional playwriter over a period of six weeks, and ten intrepids put their minds and pens to paper and each produced an individual play lasting ten minutes (much to the surprise of themselves!). This led to an enjoyable evening of our plays being read by four professional actors with a Director and was attended by approximately 35 members from both groups.

The culmination of this event was with one of our plays, 'Hell Hath No Fury', written by Rosemary Robinson, being performed on stage at the Hall for Cornwall. What an accolade. Well done Rosemary!

May - 2010 saw our annual Quiz Night (or our Fish & Chip evening as some prefer to call it) Approximately 65 people attended this very popular event and after a hard fought battle, the shield was retained for the second year running by our group. Congratulations to the winning team 'The Usual Suspects' pictured below

 

 

 

 

Our 'Celestial Bodies', from left to right - Mercury and Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto, Mars, Sun, Earth, Moon, Neptune & Venus

 

 

The Looe Piccy Tree made it first outing in the Looe Carnival on 31st July 2010. Three of the Looe & District U3A were involved in the workshops to create the colourful creation - our Logo was proudly displayed

 

 

Looe Piccy tree 2010

 

 

 

Looe & District U3A Logo

 

 

 From left: Well done to Cheryl Wiseman, Pat Hobbs & Sue Bird (designer) & Dawn Channings

 

 

Our Summer Lunch on 11th August, 2010 was given a 1920's Garden Party Theme as part of our 20's season to commemorate our 20th anniversary year. After the business meeting, the founder of the Looe & District U3A - David Baker, was joined by the current Chairman - Dot Dunning and four other founder members in unveiling a commemoration plaque placed in the foyer of St. Martins Community Hall.

 

 

The commemoration plaque was unveiled by David Baker - founder of the Looe & District U3A in January 1991. He was joined by four other founder members: From left to right Moreen Goldsworthy, Pam Greenwood, David Baker, Sybil Marshall and Ruby Alliker

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairmen Past & Present: Dot Dunning & David Baker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A light hearted garden party theme, with many of the members in appropriate dress followed with outdoor activities

 

and a sumptuous lunch which has been prepared by our Georgeous Grub Group

 

 

Much fun being had by our 1920's Belles

 

   

 

 

Skittles Evening -2nd October, 2010

The Looe Valley U3A who, after a hard-fought battle, re-gained the trophy after a two year wait. The Looe and District members hung on by their finger nails, but to no avail. They had to concede that the best team won!