The article below is the latest in Limebrook u3a chairman Brian Harris' series "my u3a journey".

In it, Howard Corlett speaks to Brian about his life as an active member of the u3a.

For the last 20 years of my working life, I was a freelance translator. Being self-employed I worked when the work came in and with no holiday pay or sick pay from an employer and this kept me active over many evenings, weekends and throughout the working day, turning important legal and financial documents and translations for business around with tight deadlines.

I could have worked on; however, I was more than ready to retire. Fortunately, my financial adviser confirmed that I did have enough income and money to make the step, so that solved part of my decision-making process. The second part, however, was how would I fill my time?

Photography has always been my main hobby, and although I had been an active member of Maldon Camera Club, that alone would not fill the free time that retirement would bring.

Phil Watkins is the chairman of the Maldon Camera Club and early in 2019 he asked if I would like to give a talk to the Limebrook u3a photography group. At their March meeting at the West Maldon Community Centre (WMCC), I gave a talk using my own photographs on the subject of the Isle of Man - where I was born.

Graham Churchill and the members enjoyed the talk and they invited me to their next field visit to Beeleigh Falls. I had not heard of the u3a, and was interested to learn more.

On a sunny day in July, I joined the group and got to meet a lot of people who shared my interest in photography. While spending time taking photographs, it became obvious that I had found something special and I decided to join Limebrook.

The people in the photography group are very friendly. It is a social group of members with varying experience of photography and is very different from camera clubs.

The chairman, Brian Harris, spent a lot of the trip to Beeleigh answering my questions about the u3a and of all of the other interests and activities open to members.

At one of the monthly meetings where we have guest speakers talking on a wide range of topics, a request was made for new volunteers to join the committee. I believe it is important to contribute and help run organisations, so I joined the committee.

During the pandemic, I had to sharpen my pencils and take on the role of minutes secretary. After a period, Christine Steel stood down as secretary, and I took on that important role and continued to take the minutes.

The concern about filling my time in retirement completely vanished. As well as the photography group, the list of my activities has increased to include history. As well as outside speakers who present on a wide range of subjects, we also have presentations by the members.

Last year I gave a talk about my father's experiences as a prisoner of war. With the research and images collected over the years, it provided something very personal to me, and provoked questions and a better understanding of what happened in those days, over 75 years ago.

Scrabble appeals to my love of words, and we meet each week to test and improve our skills. There is lots of laughter and it is a great experience sharing with my new-found friends.

Each month the walking group plans a trip, and it is good to be out and about with interesting people and we always end up in a café or pub for something to eat and a natter.

For people on their own, it is difficult to fill the weekends. The weekend companions group arranges trips out to places of interest, coffee mornings, meals out and activities during the week.

To complement my photography, I attend the Photoshop meetings where we learn how to improve our images and pick up new ideas and skills using computer software.

Having experienced so many new opportunities at Limebrook, it was easy for me to take on another role as an interest group leader. A 10-pin bowling group was proposed, and I took on the role of setting up and arranging the meetings. This is not an onerous task as I just send out an email once a month. We have 20 members of varying abilities and it is a really enjoyable and social activity with competition not being the main objective.

There is an interest group for all tastes and activities. Otherwise, you can set up a new group with the help of the committee. I have met so many friendly and interesting people who share common interests.

I have been so lucky to find a gem like Limebrook u3a.

If you would like to learn more about us, please contact membership secretary Tim Stubbings on 01621 855158 or email Brian at [email protected].

Limebrook u3a's next monthly meeting is on Friday, 11 February and members will be joined by Ray Clark, who will talk about what really happened on Radio Caroline.

Guests who would like to attend are encouraged to contact Tim or Brian using the details above.