The U3A Story
The Short History of the U3A Movement
In 2009 the Third Age Trust commissioned Francis Beckett, Editor of the U3A News, and prize-winning educational journalist and author, to write this short history. The publication of '500 Beacons', a fuller account of the growth of the movement by Eric Midwinter, had met with acclaim, but there had been developments since 2004. In any case, it was felt that a shorter narrative would be useful, especially for the newer members and, indeed, for other individual readers.
As, expected, Francis Beckett has done a thoroughly professional job and produced an extrememly readable, entertaining account which takes us right up to date as far as the Conference in September. 2009. Although the author acknowledges '500 Beacons' as one source on which he has drawn, he has had a close personal contact with us for many years now and has proved a valuable and reliable friend to the movement generally. His research for the text takes it well beyond a rehashing of Eric Midwinter's work.
Further copies are available from the National Office at the price of £2.50 per copy. This includes postage and packing.