MEMBERS of the Crediton & District branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A) celebrated their first birthday at the Boniface Centre in Crediton on October 19.

Chairman, Jane Innes welcomed everyone and introduced Crediton Mayor Cllr Frank Letch, and Tiverton U3A members David and Jill Mitchell, and John and Pat Smith who supported the Crediton group and were instrumental in setting up the first meeting.

The guest speaker for the event was Angela White who talked about Chinese Festivals.

During the year members have learnt a variety of new skills associated with running a charitable organisation. These have included minute taking, setting-up membership spreadsheets, arranging speakers for monthly meetings, booking halls, operating a website, designing posters and leaflets and keeping the finances in order.

The U3A website has proved very popular with almost 6,000 hits and is also used by other organisations to spread the word about their events.

During the year the group organised a number of social events including a bring and share lunch in June, a Ceilidh in Sandford and a Christmas lunch which will be held at the Waie Inn on December 8.

In one short year the Crediton group has gone from zero members to 208. There are 20 interest groups covering a variety of topics such as history, spanish, philosophy, computer group and pub lunches and there are plans for three new groups in January, to include crafts and life-drawing.

Jane thanked all the members for being so patient with the Steering Group in the setting up of paperwork for the new groups, to the volunteer organisers of the groups and to the "micro volunteers" who make tea and do the photocopying.

The monthly meetings with speakers have been informative. Members were impressed by Alan Woolley’s talk "The Future of Air Power," they found the talk about the work of Medicins san Frontiers by Mary Houldsworth very emotive and Bishop Sarah’s talk on Spirituality and Health memorable.

The Crediton group has joined in with other U3A groups in the area and some members enjoyed a history study day at Okehampton, a hearing loss day in Torquay and a Theatre study group in North Devon.

Crediton U3A has been approached by three researchers to help with their research into health, wellbeing and holidays in older life. A television company has also shown an interest in the group and would like to interview people who are active in older life with learning at the heart of their lives.

The group is currently looking into the possibility of signing up for the U3A magazine and another goal is to set-up a regular newsletter.

The finances of the Crediton group are healthy and the committee is willing to stand again. There are offers of members wishing to join the committee and new members are always welcome to join the group - the annual membership fee will remain at £12.

For more information visit the website: www.u3asites.org.uk/crediton/events or go along to a meeting, held on the third Wednesday of the month, at 10am at the Boniface Centre, Crediton.