What U3A Members do

This page features selected members of theAughton & Ormskirk U3A....the most recent first

• John Blamires
• Alex McMinn
• Chris Proctor
• Sheila Rudd
• Alan Worthington

10. John Blamires

Sitting in pride of place in John Blamires John Blamires’ Ormskirk home are six superb dining chairs which he designed and made himself. They have been a ‘work in progress’ for a lengthy amount of time as the 65 yearold first promised to make them when he became engaged to Beth, to whom he has been married for almost 40 years

" I didn't start making the chairs then. Other things sort of got in the way, like work and family, but retirement a couple of years ago finally spurred me on to honour my promise." It is obvious that Beth is as thrilled with the end product as her husband is and their beautiful lines, crafted in beech, would be the envy of home owners for miles around. John’s hugely talented hands - he is a skilled woodworker,, metalworker and jewellery designer - have been inherited from generations of family members who earned their living in the field of engineering.

" My love of fine working comes from my father who made model railway engines," added John, whose last teaching post was in the Design and Technology faculty at Edge Hill College in Ormskirk, prompting a move to this area for the family almost 20 years ago. Yorkshire-born in Cleckheaton, John met Bolton born Beth, at a ballroom dancing session at Billy Martin’s in Liverpool. Now more than 40 years later they continue their love of ballroom dancing with the local U3A group. John has been the capable organiser for some months.

Since retiring he has also been an active member of the painting group and both of them love photography. John was a busy man before retirement but, like lots of us, now says he wonders how he found the time to work! He is a dedicated volunteer at the West Lancs Light Railway in Hesketh Bank and also sings with the Haydock Male Voice Choir.

But it is his passion for wood and fine objects that have forged the major challenges both in his p r o f e s s i o n a l teaching days and the marginally slower pace of life that has enabled him to take out his precious tools again. " When I retired I did miss the interaction with the students but many new friendships have d e v e l o p e d through U3A."

The next project is going apace ~ a pair of beech bedside chests, with one completed and the next not far off. A list has emerged that now includes a storage chest for the Blamires’ lounge and a set of coffee tables.

John's beautiful chairs have already been profiled in last November’s edition of the Good Woodworking magazine, complete with his drawings and photographs as the design was transformed into what are likely to become family heirlooms. Active grandchildren permitting, of course!

March 2008

9. Founder Chairman - Alex McMinn

IT is just as well Alex McMinn didn't plan a lazing around kind of retirement. The reality is that he is now ‘working' longer hours than in his paid employment and not content with being one of the original driving forces behind one of the country's most successful U3A groups - our very own Aughton and Ormskirk one - he has now landed a major voluntary role in the organisation.

The current chairman of trustees of the local group, Alex's recent appointment to the National Committee of U3A involves him being the Trustee responsible for the North West - a region stretching from Carlisle to Staffordshire and Derbyshire - with no less than 73 U3A groups and five regional committees.

Additionally he will have an educational remit to nationally develop " shared learning" research, linking local groups to universities, museums, archivists and research centres and - wait for it, there's more - because of his background in international medical education he has been charged with representing the National Executive body on the Council of the International Association of Universities of the Third Age based in Paris. This is an organisation currently working with more than 30 countries and in official relations with the UN Education Social and Cultural Organisation.

I feel quite exhausted just typing up this information for our local membership and even Alex, a sprightly 74 year old, is a little concerned about the workload being manageable. " It is fair to say that the roles I have agreed to take on - and I do so with total commitment - should probably be done by a professional paid person but the organisation is just not in a position to fund someone.

" Yes, it means many, many long meetings and the sort of travelling distances that may prove daunting, but I really believe that U3A is good for individuals and for the community.

" Life-long learning wards off things like depression and evidence already shows that membership produces much happier people. The health and well-being of older people is a real passion for me and I hope that this stage of ‘moving on' in my life will prove beneficial to many other people."

Our Founding Chairman four years ago, Alex promises to be on the local scene as much as possible and some of the local links he retains are as chairman of the West Lancs Older People's Partnership Board and as a Director of West Lancs Council of Voluntary Services.

He will also continue to engage in the Development of Healthier Ageing programmes as a member of Central Lancashire's Primary Health Care Trust's Planning and Commissioning Strategy Committee.

We wish him well in his new endeavours with the knowledge that his wife Kath will undoubtedly continue to give him her support and carry on her own commitment for U3A too.

2008

Behind the scenes - Chris Proctor

Chris Procter has never been allowed to forget the comment she made when the newly launched local group of U3A decided on a weekly coffee morning instead of just monthly.

" It was a rainy morning and I said ‘It will never take off.' We opened the Scout HQ door and people were queuing up outside," chuckled Chris, who has been the hardworking organiser of the Thursday Horizon sessions for nearly two years. Undoubtedly, now one of the growing group's most successful events, and a major fundraiser – income from the coffee mornings is expected to top £2,000 this year – its smooth running is down to the commitment of Chris and her team of helpers. The rota now tops around 50 U3A members, and so far only two of them are men! When she took over from another busy member, Wendy Wilkinson, the facility was taking around £30 a time. Now it has shot up around £70 to £80 every week and on speaker Thursdays, the £100 has been passed several times, that's 200 people paying 50p a go for coffee, tea and biscuits – the cheapest cuppa around.

Chris was a widow when she joined the group, and having spent a long time caring for a sick husband, found her social life and associates had dwindled somewhat.

" Like a lot of other people who are members, I have found U3A a wonderful place to make new friends, re-establish old acquaintances in the district and take on the challenge of trying new things, already I have enjoyed the gardening group and theatre visits, am on the social committee and tackled handbell- ringing, keep fit and canasta. I have also joined holidays and outings, and the companionship has been wonderful."

7. Alan Worthington

Alan Worthington's Saturdays have been mapped out since he was a young boy – rugby, rugby and yet more rugby.

A passionate rugby union participant since his school days, his enthusiasm has never waned and even now in his official retirement years he sets off pretty well every Saturday during the season to watch a game.

But his eye isn't always on the players or the ball these days but on the very important overseer of the match in hand – the referee. For Alan is now one of the top assessors of rugby referees in the North of England watching referees in the North 1 League which keeps him in the north but does involve referees from all over the country.

"The aim is to make sure that today's young up and coming referees are keeping up a good, consistent standard, whatever situation may arise during play. I make copious notes throughout the match and at the end hold a debrief with the referee and go through some of the comments I have jotted down" .

"Within two days a report is sent off to the Rugby Football Union and generally I feel that standards are being kept at a high level. If there is a problem it usually means that the referee being assessed threatens any promotion chances,'' says Alan a past president of the Liverpool Rugby Union Referees' Society.

The hard-working joint editor of U3A's very polished newsletter with Sue Watkinson – he maintains high standards in rugby union himself and wouldn't dream of turning up in anything less than his official blazer and tie, and crisp white shirt.

"Rugby union is unique I think in that the players do have great respect still for referees and there is rarely any swearing or dissent. The old fashioned disciplines still apply."

The former deputy headmaster at Ormskirk Grammar School until his retirement in 1995, Alan is a mathematician, having gained his degree at King's College, London.

Born in Preston he has remained a Lancashire Lad and has lived in Aughton for many years with his wife, Ann; they have three children and three grandchildren. An early recruit to the local U3A – he is member number 10 – he admits it was difficult to avoid getting very involved with helping to run it and agreed that as he is pretty nifty on a computer and able to work things out space wise, he took on the pressured role of editor he happily shares with Sue. " I am doing a job that I enjoy doing and am happy that the end product meets with the approval of our many members."

Sheila Rudd

Sheila has been busy selling next year's U3A diaries at Horizons sessions but her own engagement list for 2007 is looking pretty sparse.

For the 63 year old chartered librarian is abandoning the usual cold and damp days of February for the warmer climes of a village thousands of miles away in Tanzania, to take on one of the biggest challenges of her life. The international development charity, VSO – Voluntary Service Overseas – have welcomed her offer to share her many skills and experiences with staff and students at Katoke Teachers' College , 20 miles from the nearest large town of Bukoba in the north west of the country.

"I have pledged a 12 months commitment but the chances are I will stay for two years," said Sheila, as she started making firm plans for her departure in the New Year.

Until her retirement in 2003, she spent a number of years managing the libraries at Ormskirk and Wrightington Hospitals and prior to that was at Edge Hill College, experience that will stand her in good stead for the task ahead of setting up a library at her new base.

" I know there is very little in the way of library facilities in Katoke at the moment and I will be passing on my skills to the teacher training staff so that they will be able to run it when I return to England," said Sheila, who will be paid a local wage by the college. Her travel expenses and accommodation are paid for by VSO, but she will have to buy food and other items out of her small salary.

" Friends and family have obviously commented on how brave I am but I have wanted to do something like this for a while. I have no dependents and I am reasonably fit and healthy so it is the perfect time to give something back, especially when the community I will be living in is so poor." "

Sheila, who will have language training in Kiswahili, admits she will miss her usual home comforts, her garden, family and friends – especially those in U3A -, and her latest passion for golf.

" We enjoy a lot of freedom here and I feel safe even going on long walks on my own but I am not sure how restrictive it will be in my new home."

Sheila, who is a widow, has already made contact with volunteers in the area and will be taking her laptop to stay in touch by e-mail.

We all wish you well Sheila and look forward to hearing your news.

2006