The University of the Third Age (U3A) Atlantic Seaboard branch celebrated the end of a successful year at the club’s final meeting of 2017 in Camps Bay earlier this month.
U3A committee member, Norman Levy, said the idea for the organisation originated in Toulon, France, in 1970.
“It was started by the professor of sociology at the university. He felt that there were a lot of retired people in the town who he needed to do something for. He ran classes and gave lectures.”
Out of this grew the U3A who decided to start their own organisation and invite speakers. From their it spread to other countries. The Atlantic Seaboard U3A is one of a number of branches in Cape Town.
Mr Levy said once a year they host a forum where all the branches get together.
He encouraged new members to come to the club’s monthly meetings, which take place on the second Thursday of every month.
“We invite speakers, who are usually someone of note around the town.”
The club has about 60 regular members, and they said it is a great way to meet new people. The first meeting of 2018 will take place in February at the St Peter’s Anglican Church Hall in Camps Bay.
He thanked members at the meeting for making 2017 a successful year. Some of the highlights included talks from Selwyn Davidowiz, who is an award-winning tour guide and Dave Steward, executive director of the FW De Klerk Foundation.
The last U3A meeting of the year also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Companions entertainment group who were the special guests.
Companions member Isolde Stegmann, from Rondebosch, said the group was originally formed by like-minded musicians. The Companions go around to old ages homes to entertain the residents and was started by pianist Lonny Jordan.
“That’s what we’ve been doing for 25 years and we’ve now grown into three different groups.”
But she said their members are ageing and they need new people to join the group.
She said the group were also looking for a choreographer, stage manager, accountant and somebody who sews costumes. “Anybody that is sitting around looking for something to do, we need them,” said Ms Stegmann.
