WE began the April 20 meeting of Crediton and District U3A with the Annual General Meeting which was succinct.  It was time to elect the top posts.

Following the resignation of  the chairman Richard Durant due to his relocating home, a new chair was elected.  U3A is pleased to advise this is Liz Ouldridge, who was previously the groups’ co-ordinator.

Ian Fenn has kindly agreed to be Vice Chair.

After six years as treasurer Keith Barker is stepping down. U3A would like to publicly acknowledge the professionalism Keith has exercised during this period of time, let alone the marvellously clear way he has presented the accounts to the team every month and on time.

Irene Madders has kindly taken on the post of treasurer.  We warmly welcome her to the team.

The Publicity Officer is Keith Barker and Assistant Publicity Officer is Sandra Ragalsky.

The new Groups Co-ordinator is Jo Penning.

Both Irene and Jo are new to the committee.

We are very pleased to welcome them and feel they will enhance the team no end.  However, we still need more committee members, so please join us - ask any committee member for more information.

The last two years have been a test for most U3A’s however Crediton has survived really well and even increased the membership by another 40 people bringing us up to nearly 300 members, so not just surviving but thriving.

We have been fortunate with our Speakers Officer Fenella Rundell being very creative by organising Presenters via Zoom which has meant we have been able to have people from all over the country; one advantage of Zoom at least!

Now we are back at the Boniface Centre we get the benefits of being able to carefully socialise to see our friends after so long.  At this meeting 55 came to hear Mr Ian Barclay talk about the BBC.

Within the talk were a few little quizzes about the topic.

Ian started by giving us a brief history of communication systems, from fire beacons, the pony express, the postal service to morse code and telegraphy.

However, “broadcasting” really only started in 1896 when Guglielmo Marconi took out a patent for wireless telegraphy. Marconi was also the first person to send signals across the Atlantic from Cornwall to Newfoundland. Early radio communication systems were used in WWI by pilots to communicate with their airfields, and after the war, some of these pilots took up broadcasting as a hobby.

Captain Eckersley started the first regular broadcasts in February 1922 from 2MT station at Writtle. His broadcasts were so popular that by the end of 1922, the BBC was formed from this initial station with the famous John Reith at the helm.

Reith always maintained that broadcasting should be a public service that aimed to enrich the intellectual and cultural life of the nation. “The Radio Times”, the first radio listings in the world, was launched in 1923.  Ian then went on to talk about television. John Logie Baird developed one of the earliest television systems, although this is not the one we use today. The first regular service in the UK started in 1936, however this was suspended during wartime.  Key postwar moments include the start of ITV in 1955. This coincided with the death of Grace Archer in “The Archers”. Something the BBC always said was coincidental!

In 1967, colour television arrived. Commercial radio also took off, starting with pirate radio stations like Radio Caroline, founded in 1964. Commercial radio was legalised in 1973 and in 1983, Radio Devon started broadcasting.  The BBC has diversified over the years with many radio stations and TV channels. Since 2007, we have had digital TV through BBC iPlayer allowing us to watch what we want when we want. Ian says today the BBC is under threat and needs our support more than ever.

The next meeting, on May 18, will include a talk by Martin Pailthorpe entitled: “Sanctuary, Survival and Sabotage”, a story of Nazi escapees.

Those attending are asked to wear face covering throughout the meeting.

Please also come warmly dressed as increased ventilation may well reduce the room temperature.

Sandra Ragalsky