Ilkley & District u3a appeals for younger members

Monday, 1 December 2025 12:05

Richard Bell with some of his new team of u3a trustees

Ilkley & District u3a held its Annual General Meeting at the Clarke Foley Community Hub on Saturday 22nd November and it was reported that the average age of the membership is creeping up towards the upper 70s.

The group has over 2,100 members and attracts new sign-ups almost daily, over 300 have joined in 2025.

The Chairman of the Ilkley & District u3a has issued an appeal for younger members of the organisation to take on active roles within it. Richard Bell said:

“We’re pursuing people aged 60 to 65, our new trustees are under the age of 75 and two are under 65”.

This is important, he said, because:

“the essence of the u3a is a self-help, self-learning society and you need a constant throughput of people who are prepared to share ideas”

He added that if people can’t find what they were looking for, or if existing groups were over-subscribed, they can set up a group themselves withlthe help of a team of supportive Trustees.

Richard is staying on for another year as Chairman of Trustees whilst David Eadon, John Blewitt, Nikki Falconer and Margaret McCabe are continuing in the same or different roles. A farewell was said to outgoing post-holders Jacqui Wellbrook, Catherine Pulle, Jean Smith and Heather Dunlop Jones. Four new Trustees were elected: Debs Allis, Evelyn Gregory, Carol Oswin-Bateman and Caroline Walker.

Following the formal report of the AGM a very entertaining talk was given by Marilyn Shalks, a volunteer at Manchester Central Library Archives, on the magic of Musicals. Marilyn took us on a rollicking run-through of musicals history illustrated with clips of some of the most famous from West Side Story, Calamity Jane, Oliver and many more. Her passion for the format was obvious and, despite no one taking up her invitation to dance along, it was clear that the audience relished the talk.

For more information about joining the u3a visit their website ilkleyu3a.org or follow them on social media.

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