Monthly Notices May
These are the notes from our AGM Meeting held on Monday 11th May 2026. The meeting was followed by a talk from Dr Stephen Goss all about "A Study in Sherlock: The Secrets Behind the Detective"
Hillingdon u3a's Annual General Meeting
Our Seretary Gaynor, opened the AGM meeting and handed over to Judy who welcomed all the members to this month's special meeting and gave us all the usual safety announcements and reminded the members of the meeting place in the event of an emergency.
May AGM Meeting - Chairman's Report:
I am happy to report that this has been another successful year for Hillingdon u3a and our numbers for this year are remaining at a good number with a fair number of new members joining throughout the year. Althogh some interest groups have closed others have started resulting in about 80 groups running, and some have managed to survive with a management group instead of a single group leader. If it works why not!
Congratulations to the Buzz team for editing the new form of magazine which appears to be very successful. We have had a variety of speakers at the monthly meetings at the Winston Churchill hall and I wish to thank all those who help, arranging the speakers. also the refreshments, the raffle and ensuring the safety of members at the meetings. I would also like to thank all the members who work to ensure social events are a regular occurrence – all be it for limited numbers, and visits to a variety of interesting places, including theatres and concerts.
I have purposefully not mentioned names in this report as there are too many and I don’t want to miss anyone. Many of these activities would not have taken place without the hard work of the members in fact it is thanks to everyone as well, as without you we wouldn’t have much to do! Many thanks to all the committee for their support during the past year , your help has been invaluable. Also thanks to 2 members who are leaving the committee Alan Ginman and Pam Smith. I personally want to thank Pam Smith who has been a member longer than most and Secretary of this committee for almost as long. She has decided to become an ordinary member of u3a . Please accept this small gift from the Committee and we wish you well.
The only other person I wish to mention is Tony , our IT man who you see at the front of the stage every month filming the meeting for zoom ,etc., I don’t think we would be able to continue without his expertise.
Judy Peddie
Chair Hu3a
Introduction Speech from our New Chairman, Pauline Rees:
Hello Everyone,
Firstly, I would like to thank you all for placing your trust in me as Chair for the next three years. I’m not entirely sure whether to feel honoured or slightly nervous, but if I’m honest, it’s mostly honoured. It really is a privilege, especially in this special year as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hillingdon u3a.
As I take up this role, I’m very mindful of the strong example set by my predecessors. From our very first Chairman, Rev David Jenkins, through to Alan Mellors, Rosemary Noyes, Pat McAlpine, Ann Lines, and most recently Judy Peddie. I’m stepping into a position shaped by dedication, care, and a great deal of hard work. Those are big shoes to fill, but I will do my very best to do them justice and try not to trip over along the way.
This anniversary is a wonderful reminder of how far the organisation has come. Since joining in February 2023, I’ve been struck by how friendly, welcoming, and inclusive this community is. That spirit is something truly special and something well worth preserving as we continue to grow.
We’ve already seen some positive changes. The monthly Buzz keeps us better connected, our move into social media—yes, even Instagram—has brought us firmly into the modern age, and the introduction of TryBooking has made organising trips far simpler (and perhaps a little less nerve-wracking than waiting to see if your name is drawn from a hat!). While it may cost a little more, at least you know you’re actually going on the trip rather than just hoping for the best. Individually these may seem like small steps, but together they make a real difference for all members.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what we can achieve together. My aim is simple: to build on what is already working well, to listen to your ideas, and to ensure Hillingdon u3a remains the friendly, active, and welcoming community we all value. I will also be encouraging some of you to consider joining the committee because having a range of skills and perspectives helps us continue to develop and support our many groups and activities.
Thank you again for your support, especially in our 25th year with you being present at our celebrations next month, it genuinely means a great deal. I promise I will do my very best in the role… though I may still ask you to be a little gentle with your new Chair!
Pauline Rees
Chairman 2026/27
Above is a photo of the new committee with Chair Pauline Rees, taken at the AGM where this magnificent tablecloth, celebrating Hillingdon u3a's silver anniversary and created by April Hollands and her Crafters Group, was unveiled for the first time.
The official minutes of the AGM meeting are now available to view on the AGM Information page which is in the Documents tab. Gaynor closed the AGM at 10:20 and Pauline introduced and ran the raffle. This was followed by the coffee break.
After the break, Alan introduced Dr Stephen Goss who told us all about ""A Study in Sherlock: The Secrets Behind the Detective"
Pauline closed the meeting at 12:00pm.
Adele advised the members that she will lead the post meeting 'Coffee and Chat’ group meeting today and those who want to join her, to meet outside the hall as usual. She also mentioned that even though next month is the 25th Anniversary and the meeting will be a little longer than normal, she will still lead a post meeting 'Coffee and Chat'.
Hu3a 25th Anniversary
Just a reminder to everyone that our Silver Anniversary is next month on the 8th June, It will be from 10am to 1pm ish and will be a fun session with our groups taking the lead. So thanks to all those who have offered help. We'll have some VIP speakers to introduce the event, free coffee and cake and a free raffle.
It's also worth mentioning that there is a webpage dedicated to the list of all the Anniversary activities. Just click on the big image on the Home page.