When I first joined U3A, it was in the hope of finding an organisation where I could meet people, fill my time and fill my mind. I had not long retired, and felt I would need something interesting and stimulating to fill those hours when I was previously working, associating with other people and using my brains. I have not been disappointed.

My next door neighbour, who suggested that I might enjoy U3A and explained what it was all about, told me that I could join classes to learn a variety of subjects, and also possibly teach as well. Since I was a teacher, but dealing with Special Needs in a Junior School, I felt I would have little to offer in that direction, but the chance to learn languages, painting, literature, history or music appreciation appealed to me. I went to the meeting at St Francis where I could sign on, but arrived too late for the courses I most fancied.. However, I joined the Choir and the Recorder Consort, and still belong to both.

After belonging to U3A for a year or so, I began a Family History Group, using the knowledge I had gained from researching my own family. Soon after that I was persuaded into joining the Committee as Course Organiser and started to find out how U3A is organised and financed, realising for the first time that each U3A paid a capitation sum for each member to a central body. I wondered why so much money was needed and how it was spent.

As a member of the Committee, I discovered I liked to be in the centre of things and as Course Organiser I got to know a good many of the members. I realised how valuable our tutors (or if you prefer it, Group Leaders) are to us all - giving up time, privacy and even money to benefit their students. They are certainly following the principles of U3A; that those who teach, learn and those who learn, teach.

As a Committee member, I attended my first Conference, in London. I realised how widespread and varied U3As are. U3As are autonomous, they run their own affairs, within certain limits, as they choose. Even in the field of organisation of Courses, there are nearly as many systems as there are U3As, although all had the same problem with finding volunteers to tutor, or lead groups. Some had to pay outsiders, or to make an arrangement with a locally based University to supply tutors, as happens in France, where U3A has quite a different slant. I also began to realise the value we get for our capitation payments.

Because U3A has Charitable status it has to have trustees to see that it follows the rules of the Charity Commission. These trustees are members of the National Executive Committee, or NEC, and have to sign to cover their duties and responsibilities. The NEC has several sub-committees concerning Finance, Development, IT, Travel and, most important in my view, Education.

The National Office, staffed by second-agers, does all the paper work to correlate and back up these sub-committees, as well as acting as a central point of contact for all members. The NEC does not control U3A and neither does the National Office (not the Head Office, as I have heard it called). All these people are there to support and assist the work of the U3As in their own area.

The Standing Committee for Education has set up support mechanisms to help Group Leaders: the Resource Centre, the magazine 'Sources', Start-up leaflets, Subject Networks and Learning Support, Summer Schools and Study days among others.

All these things cost money: rental for office space in Bromley, the salaries of our very few paid helpers, travel expenses for committee members from all over the country attending meetings, the U3A News, as well as postage and telephone calls take a great slice of our Capitation fund, but we get good value for our money. We have been lucky enough to get grants from the Lottery, the DfES, and other bodies to help us out.

After three years as Course Organiser, I became Chairman of Salisbury U3A, a post I feel honoured to have held. As such, I attended meetings at Regional level with U3As from South Hampshire, and was offered the opportunity to stand as representative of the Wessex area, which includes Dorset, on the NEC. I was elected at the next Conference, and served for three years, which ended last September.

The job entailed going to London for committee meetings, which varied in their length and interest, visiting new U3As to present their Membership Certificates and being given two other jobs which I have found most interesting.
I was asked to join, and later to chair, the advisory panel of the 'Sources' magazine. This magazine is sent out, as I am sure you know, free of charge three times a year. It carries accounts, written by U3A members, of their experiences in organising and interesting their Groups. It also has a leading article on one particular subject and news of what is going on - Summer Schools, Study Days, On-line studies and so on. David Ensor started 'Sources' off and we are still trying to maintain the high standard he set. One of the members of the Panel is Elizabeth Gibson , the Resource Centre organiser, so we hear about and publish news of additions to, and usage of, the material it contains.

As I had taken on co-ordination of the Genealogy Subject Network, I was asked to take over from Phill Babb as Co-ordinator of all the Subject Networks and this has been my main job over the past three years. Because Subject Networks were the main theme of the Manchester Conference, there has been increased interest and awareness of their role and an increase in the number of subjects covered. The Subject Network Co-ordinators do a tremendous job, making themselves available by phone, post or e-mail to help and support any Group Leader or anyone who is considering leading a Group, giving ideas on organisation, information on where to find material or just reassurance, encouragement and confidence. They may send out newsletters and organise Study Days; many have written Start-up Leaflets for beginner leaders and some teach at Summer School. Their work is financed by the capitation fund at no cost to Group Leaders. They are listed on page 23 of the current U3A News.

At present I am continuing working in these two areas, despite having left the NEC, but am handing on the Networks to Daphne Sirett later this year.

During these last three years, I have done a number of things I would never have thought I would do, certainly not after retirement. Being a schoolteacher, I don't have a problem with standing up and talking to large numbers, although talking to intelligent, knowledgeable adults is rather different to addressing Junior age children! I have chaired meetings, here, in London and as far away as Northallerton. I have led discussion groups and addressed all the members at Conference, the latter in a box affair with microphones, similar to that used by the American President. I have had my photograph in the U3A News and even appeared on the cover. I was even on television, though not discussing Lifelong Learning as I expected, but the IGI on the Web. I have met people from all over the country, sent out letters and newsletters and received many in return.

This is my personal experience of how I became involved in the workings of U3A and how much I have enjoyed it. It's hard to explain why I have found it so enjoyable as I don't enjoy early morning journeys to London or long meetings. I think it is the feeling of taking part in something worthwhile and valuable, helping to provide a source of interest, learning and discovery after working life is finished, being able to be useful and needed and the satisfaction of being involved.

The Theatre Discussion group was delighted when Joanna Read, the Playhouse Artistic Director, responded to its request for encouragement and information by offering to come to talk about the curent production, 'Waters of the Moon'.. She had wanted to direct this play for several years so was glad when her appointment to Salisbury had given her the opportunity. Casting was done in London and we understood her pleasure in being able to attract actors such as Isla Blair and Christopher Benjamin. We were given an insight into the complexity of directing, designing and performing. The Director may have the last word - subject to negotiation! - but by the first rehearsal each actor has investigated the character and postulated a background and history. It has to be credible to the performer even beyond the thinking of the writer. The part of Julius, the Austrian refugee, for example, needed to be taken further than the writer's concept. The audience has to believe in the action but is happy to accept most stage illusions such as polystyrene snow. The windows rising up out of sight proved more difficult to take.

Joanna's talk showed the depth of study and understanding that underlies her work and we could appreciate the significant influence her warmth and thoughtfulness have on the joint effort of the production. .

We are fortunate to have her in Salisbury. Our small group of Playhouse enthusiasts felt privileged to have the chance to hear and talk to her.

In the most recent copy of Geology Today there is a small paragraph about sundials, which mentions a Sundial Society. This promotes their growth in public places and lists Sundial Trails.
One very interesting sundial is in London opposite the Houses of Parliament. This consists of various different sorts of stone in flat rings with Arabic numbers arranged very like a clock-face. Standing with your feet on the footprints of one of the rings your shadow does the timing by falling on the appropriate sector of the dial. The web site is www.sundials.co.uk/~thames.htm

New members may not realise that all Salisbury U3As clubbed together and presented the City with a Sundial for their millennium gift. This was originally Phil Babb's idea which was taken forward by a committee to fruition. The sundial is in St. Thomas's Square up on the wall of a solicitor's office. The inscription, provided by U3A member Anne Boutel1, reads 'Tune speeds up until it is nothing therefore use it before it is gone.'