Pictured, from left, Margaret Orrell, David Aaronovitch, Anne Weyman, Helen Perkins and Islington u3a chair Paula Kahn

• ISLINGTON u3a marked its 10th anniversary with a celebratory talk by journalist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch, who gave the first monthly talk in November 2013.

David reminded the 170 members present that 10 years ago the United Kingdom was in the European Union, Russia wasn’t in the Crimea, Barack Obama was in the White House, Donald Trump was a joke, Boris Johnson was London mayor, Charles was a prince and Keir Starmer wasn’t in parliament.

Then with his usual wit and breadth of knowledge he analysed the many challenges that face us today.

In addition to welcoming David, Islington u3a chair, Paula Kahn thanked founding chair, Anne Weyman, and other members of the committee that set up Islington u3a.

Today there are nearly 800 members all of whom are no longer in full time work. We enjoy making friends while pursuing interests old and new.

There are 80 interest groups to choose from including table tennis, philosophy, walks short, medium and long, classic films, theatre, books.

In addition to monthly talks, there are pub lunches, visits to places of interest and coffee mornings. All for only £25 for a year’s membership.

Islington u3a is run by its members and we are all volunteers. Nobody gets paid. As we like to say, “it all depends on us”.

CHRIS BULFORD
Islington u3a.org