The AGM of the Llandrindod Wells and District u3a (University of the Third Age) held at the March meeting, was attended by more than 110 of the 255 members. 

The new committee, made up of both experienced and new committee members, was unanimously voted in. 

Thanks were given to the retiring chair, Roger Cumberland and programme secretary, Nick Talbott.

The u3a continues to grow and thrive with well attended monthly meetings, held in the Metropole Hotel. 

There are 22 active Interest Groups which meet at various venues to pursue their interests, which cover a widely diverse range of subjects. 

The AGM was followed by an entertaining and interesting talk which took the form of an interview/conversation between Kathy Bigg, a successful local author and Lynzie Fitzpatrick – business manager of Honno Press, based in Aberystwyth.

Honno is the longest running independently run UK feminist press, specialising in publishing award winning work from Women in Wales.

The discussion gave a fascinating insight into Kathy’s early journey into writing which started when she enrolled on an eight-week lifelong learning course on short story writing hosted by The Wyeside in Builth Wells, provided by Aberystwyth University. Over the following year she enrolled on further courses covering script writing, poetry and, eventually, novel writing. This was achieved all after she had turned 60. Her experiences are an object lesson in perseverance, skill development and new learning, on the road to getting her first and then second, very different novels published. 

In many ways Kathy embodies the principles and ambitions of u3a in lifelong learning.

The talk included two readings from Kathy’s published books “The Luck” written in 2019 – 2020, published by Honno Press in 2022 and “Scrap”.

Her second novel “Scrap” was published in June 2023 and was Welsh Books Council book of the month for July. She was also Welsh Libraries Author of The Month for July 2023.

From the questions which followed it was clear many of the audience had already read with pleasure her works to date and are looking forward to the next publication with anticipation.

The next u3a meeting is on April 8 2024. 

Visitors and new members are most welcome.

All information can be found on the Llandrindod Wells and District u3a website.

u3a is a UK-wide movement of more than 1000 charities that create the opportunity for members to come together to share skills and learn for fun. Their impact is about using their voice to make a difference and influence change, locally and nationally, beyond the work they do in their u3as.