Origins
In 2003 Paul Baron, responding to a request from Len Street for ideas on possible future projects for the Third Age Trust’s Standing Committee for Education (SCE), proposed the formation of a 'virtual' U3A for people who, for one reason or another, could not attend meetings of conventional local U3A groups. This was a proposal with great potential: there were bound to be many ex-U3A members and similar minded people who could not attend normal U3A meetings due to their isolated location or for health or other reasons. The Internet would make it possible for such people to contribute to and benefit from a Virtual University of the Third Age, or vU3A.
Progress
It sounded like a great idea but could it be brought to life? Paul approached Mike and Elaine Williams, a couple with backgrounds in Further Education, and enlisted their enthusiastic support. After several meetings and much correspondence, the three, together with Len Street, were able to put some flesh on the bare bones of the idea. Paul later commented: 'Looking back on it and reviewing the written record I can see it took a lot of original thought and discussion to get us pointed in the right direction. One thing we all agreed about though was that it had to be different from U3A Online Courses which already existed and were doing well. What we all wanted to recreate was something of the facilities and atmosphere of a typical U3A group – but on the Internet.'
First members
Paul then approached a long-time friend, John Wariner, in early 2004 with an invitation to join the team and promote the Virtual U3A on the Internet. The next member was Eric Meacock of Australia, whose involvement started with an item he came across on the Web requesting expressions of interest to join a pilot group to try to establish a virtual U3A. He had not previously been involved with U3A but was interested in online study and offered himself as a candidate. Thus someone from the opposite side of the globe joined the UK contingent of Paul, Len, John, Mike and Elaine in what was set to become a challenging project. A second Antipodean recruit, Lynda Finn from New Zealand, had much the same experience. Whilst looking for information on U3A in her area she saw the request for members to join a pioneer cyber-group and applied to join. After a brief e-mail correspondence with Elaine, she too was signed up. And it was a similar story with Joan Ritchie of the island of Mull in Scotland and Walter Sargaison from Hertfordshire. This group of pioneers now set to work, seeking to establish the viability of a vU3A by pursuing projects designed to be worked on collaboratively. It was to prove interesting to witness the success of these various experiments in bringing together a group of strangers from various parts of the world, a process which in some cases has led to lasting friendships. (For information about the individual projects, click here.)
The Third Age Trust
The outcomes of the pilot scheme were presented to The Third Age Trust, the national body of U3A, who responded enthusiastically and on 20th July 2005 the then Chairman of U3A, Keith Richards granted honorary membership of vU3A to Lynda Finn, Joan Ritchie, Walter Sargaison, John Wariner, and Eric Meacock. The Virtual U3A (vU3A) was on its way! On the 19th September 2006 whilst on a short family holiday in Switzerland, Elaine Williams passed away, taken unexpectedly from her family and friends.
The effect on the group was devastating as Elaine had, in a short time, endeared herself to everyone. She had been the calming, explaining voice, the encouraging laughter when things went awry and in very real terms, along with husband Mike, the core of what vU3A aspired to be.
The immediate response of the group, now informally nicknamed 'Windmillers', was that vU3A should continue as a living dedication to Elaine.
Move to become a U3A group
vU3A is now an independently run U3A group affiliated to The Third Age Trust just like any other.