Fairford and District U3A began in late 1994 when Guen Taylor put a small insert in What’s On magazine asking for anyone interested in starting a U3A in Fairford to contact her. There was a good response, and a public meeting was arranged in Poulton Village Hall on February 8th 1995. About forty people turned up and volunteers were invited to form a steering committee. The first committee consisted of Peter Maslin, Roy and Mary Sharp, Eileen Ferguson and Joyce Deane, plus Guen Taylor as Chairman. Prospective members were asked to offer their services as Group Leaders. The initial response was six, Barney Rowley for Beginners’ Bridge, Geoff Bishop for Walking with a Pub Lunch, Margaret Bishop for Intermediate Bridge, Humphrey Gillett for Poetry, Guen Taylor for Keep Fit and Dorothy Grobecker for Philosophy.
It was agreed that the group would include Lechlade and surrounding villages, and the name would be Fairford and District U3A. Attention was turned to producing a Constitution, and preparations were made for the Inaugural General Meeting which was held in July 1995. Membership by this time had increased to 60, and there were 10 active Groups. Since then, Fairford and District U3A has expanded year by year, and grown into the active and thriving organisation it is today. Many of the original founders have passed on, but their vision of a friendly and sociable organisation with groups of like-minded people sharing and enjoying common interests, has been fully realised.
Margaret Bishop
Updated 12th December 2019