I joined the u3a in March 2020 and attended one meeting at the Metropole Hotel where I agreed to try to set up a bridge interest group.

I live in Builth Wells in a bungalow overlooking the golf course. I have lived there for 44 years and for much of that time my two main hobbies have been golf and bridge. I am President of Builth Wells Golf Club and still play when the weather permits, but when my wife died in March 2019 my whole life seemed to have been stood on its head and I did not know at all what I wanted to do.

About a year later, my long time golfing partner John Walker, invited me to a u3a Sunday Lunch Group at the Greyhound Hotel. That led me to attend my first full U3A meeting at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells where I was introduced to Nick Talbott who agreed to put a notice about bridge on our website – which he did. Sadly we then had the Covid shutdown and any chance of forming a new interest group disappeared. Well things have now changed and I have had the “green light” to try again.

I have just finished reading Eric Midwinter’s article in the February “Third Age Matters”. He expresses his concern that u3a was becoming a service to third-agers rather than a self-help organisation. He reminds us that the duty of a member is quite clear in the constitution to

play our part as active members of learning circles and involve ourselves fully in the sustenance of the u3a. Well joining a bridge group for beginners would seem to be an excellent fit for everything Eric was saying.

We have a membership of over 250 in Llandrindod u3a. Probably half of you do not play cards at all but that still leaves over 100 members who do play cards but do not yet play bridge. If you enjoy playing other card games you will almost certainly enjoy playing bridge. It is played all over the world and is widely regarded as one of the best card games ever.

So, what do you need? Just a liking for card games and a willingness to learn something new. Very u3a. How many do I need to get a group started? Well, 16-20 people would be good. So, please come forward with your name, phone number and email address and lets get started!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Email: roger@u3a-llandrindod.org.uk

Tel: 01982 553727 / 07875 933620