Like Stuart my working background was in education – first as a primary school teacher and latterly as an ICT Consultant for my Local Authority.
We moved to Sandbach from Manchester in September 2019. The plan was to spend the winter months sorting out our new home so that we’d be free to explore Sandbach once the weather improved. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a stop to those plans but at least I had somewhere new to explore on my daily walks!  Fortunately, we joined u3a during those winter months and membership of online u3a groups has proved invaluable during lockdowns as has my love of all things quilting.When an appeal went out for new trustee committee members last year I knew that I would have the time to give and I’m very much aware that you get far more from volunteering than you are asked to give.  Being new to u3a I didn’t anticipate taking on the Vice-Chair role but having had experience as a trustee of a small educational charity was happy to do so. The role is an interesting one. Aside from acting as deputy and critical friend to the Chair there are also opportunities to join working groups, I’m currently in a group looking at the development of our IT usage and attend regional and national meetings.

I’m writing this shortly after the roadmap to easing lockdown was announced and it’s obvious that there will be a lot to consider for both individual members and our committee but I sincerely hope it means that our personal plans to get to know our new environment will finally come to fruition. It will be good to have u3a membership as part of that plan!