Littleborough's University of the Third Age to celebrate third birthday

The U3A choir group

Littleborough’s University of the Third Age (U3A) is celebrating their third birthday on 25 September.

The Mayor and Mayoress will be attending the buffet lunch with performances from the creative writing and choir groups, plus a mystery singer.

Launched in 2014, Littleborough U3A was set up for retired and semi-retired people to unite and explore together. The group takes part in opportunities which enhance their lives through learning and discovering.

Treasurer Lis Kay said: “One of my neighbours went to a retirement show and saw a stand for the U3A. There was one in Todmorden, one in Oldham and a small one in Rochdale, so why not Littleborough? We had a stall at the Rush Bearing and we were gearing up a lot of interest.

“I didn’t think the Littleborough group would get as big as it did, but it’s brilliant. It changes lives for some people; it gives them somewhere to go and made loads of new friends and learn. Whitworth recently started up a U3A and I think Middleton are about to launch one. We hope to keep going with even more groups.”

At their very first meeting, the group enrolled 79 members, and launched 13 interest groups where members came together to speak French, Spanish or Italian, walk or study bird life, dance, sing, stitch, play bridge or meet for lunch or a trip to the theatre.

Today, the group boasts 238 members and 33 interest groups, including Latin, exercise and yoga, ‘happy healthy’, ukulele, philosophy, genealogy, Scrabble and Mahjong.