The Chair
Introducing the new Chair
I am Mark Sutcliffe and I have been a member of the Swanland u3a for a period of roughly 2 years. My wife, Janet, and I moved to the area two and a half years ago to be closer to family who live in Swanland and also to be closer to amenities now we are getting a bit older.
Previously we lived in a small village in North Yorkshire which we moved to from the Wirral on our initial retirement. I continued to work full time for 5 years or so at York Minster but inevitably that also came to an end I now only work very part time. I had been a police officer for over 30 years and my wife a teacher.
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Moving when in later life does create certain challenges as we leave behind established social connections, friends new and old and familiar surroundings. It can all seem a bit daunting and indeed a sense of solitude and loneliness can creep in and on occasions become overwhelming. I experienced some of this when first retired and this strongly motivated me to join u3a as I saw this as an opportunity to meet people and to actively engage and become involved in the running of the organisation. I strongly believe in the U3A movement and, coupled with my desire to do all I can to help those who do feel alone, lonely or to some degree lacking in purpose, I put myself forward to serve as the Chair.
During my career as a manager in the police and later when working at York Minster I gained experience chairing meetings in many diverse professional and multi-agency settings. Skills I acquired which I believe are transferable to assist me in the u3a role.
My undertaking to Swanland u3a and especially the membership is to do what I can to reach out to those who can benefit from the opportunities on offer, to find ways to increase the membership and reduce the loneliness that can affect older people.
Outgoing Chair's report 2026
A Swanland Swansong
It’s hard to believe that it was 2 years ago that I decided to take the plunge and volunteer to take over the role of Chair of Swanland u3a. The previous Chair, John Munson had given notice that he was stepping down but was really struggling to find a successor. I had really admired the energy and imagination that John had brought to the role and I was grateful for all the positives I had gained from membership since retirement, so conscience got the better of me and I gave myself a good talking to: “Well, time to stop just being on the receiving end – time to step up.” So I did and here we are, 2 years having sped by and I am now handing over the reins to your new Chairman.
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It will be with mixed emotions: I have really enjoyed getting to know lots more members than I did and I have really appreciated the work that convenors, officers, refreshment teams, sound teams, projections teams, chairs teams and meeters and greeters put in. But, and there is always a but, isn’t there, I have been disappointed that our membership seems to have hit a brick wall. We do get new members and they are enthusiastic and get involved really well, but there just aren’t enough of them! We also struggle more and more to get volunteers to do anything – we lost some large, active groups last year because convenors were stepping down and no-one would step up, either individually or to share the role.It isn’t just Swanland u3a – other u3as are having the same problems, as are many voluntary organisations. I hope that it’s just a phase. I suspect that a number of members would really enjoy getting more involved but worry about their own capabilities. My message to them is there isn’t a right or wrong way to do any of these roles – just bring your own approach and I guarantee you’ll enjoy it and other members will value it.
Inevitably u3as are going to change as time goes on. They are dynamic organisations and must change to be outward-looking and to develop. Swanland u3a celebrates 30 years of existence this year and our event day on 7 May and our September 3 celebration (and cake!) day will celebrate that. I’m sure the u3a of 2026 looks quite different in many ways to that of 1996 and that is a good thing because it means that those people who began the whole thing created a firm foundation to be built on. I’m looking forward to many more years of membership – though it’s unlikely to be another 30 – and seeing how we all, the members, develop and change it. Let’s shake ourselves up and let’s not be complacent. It may be a cliché but use it or lose it!
Alison Peck