Limebrook u3a has been expanding its Interest Groups to enable members to be active in as many ways as possible, as Chairman Brian Harris writes.

Jo Madge now organises two Walking Groups as the numbers had grown to a level that was making lunch arrangements too difficult. This month, they did a circular route in Maldon, taking in Beeleigh Falls, the canal and the opportunity to see Kingfisher cottage.

Our Book Groups have been very successful. Booklovers are reading The Giver of Star by Jojo Moyes. Cover2cover are reading The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell. The recently formed Fact & Fiction Group's 'Book of the Month' is Nellie Last's War written by Richard Broad and Suzie Fleming. Due to demand, a fourth group is being formed.

Maureen Leatherdale coordinates the Weekend Companions, a group of people who are on their own and wish to have activities at the weekend. This month they enjoyed lunch at the White Horse Pub in Maldon. Chris Payne arranges lunches and coffee mornings for the Weekenders, our original group aimed at members on their own. As we move in to spring, they will arrange trips and outings to places of interest.

Graham Churchill and the Photography Group had 25 members at its meeting at the Maldon United Reformed Church Hall where Phil Watkins of the Maldon Camera Club reviewed the photographs submitted by members that appeared on our 2023 calendar. He gave his reasons why he chose each individual photo and how he thought some of the images may have been improved by some minor adjustments.

Before & after: Drag the white slider left & right to see how Brian Harris manipulated his original image using Photoshop.

The February competition winners were Jess Patient for the 'standard version' and Brian Harris for the 'Photoshopped version'. The subject was 'Bridges'.

Jess Patient won the Photography group's February competition in the 'standard version' category. (Photo: Limebrook u3a)

The Shakespeare Group is investigating East Anglian theatres for Matinee Performances. Liz Jones has found the Mercury Theatre in Colchester is producing Pericles and Macbeth in the coming months. As well as attending live events, they are currently reading A Midsummer Night's Dream.

To stretch members' vocabulary, the Scrabble Group meets each week to do battle with words - and enjoy a cup of tea with biscuits.

Mike Stringer's History Group has arranged to venture to Harwich for the day and hope to include a visit to the Electric Palace Cinema. There are many places of interest to see and, over lunch, there will be time for members to catch up with friends, both old and new.

There are over 400,000 members in various u3a groups throughout the country. We are fortunate to have four in the Maldon and Heybridge area. If you would like to learn more about the opportunities for people who are no longer in full time employment, please visit our website.

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