Welcome to the U3A Moraira – Teulada website

If you are a member already or thinking about joining, this is the place to find out all about us.

We formed in 2008 and our membership is currently approximately 1500.

Our main aim is Learning through Sharing and our groups are set up and run by you, the members.

We currently have over 50 groups, so that means there is something for everyone but there is always support and help for anyone wanting to set up a new group. Just contact our Groups Coordinator for more information.

The header at the top of this page will list all the information you need. Please click on the “How to Join” button for information and to submit an online membership application form.

A big advantage to joining our U3A are the many trips organised by the Travel Group, a very hard working team who bring a diverse programme of both day trips and longer holidays. Click on the Travel button for a full list of current trips available.

Another great advantage to joining our U3A is the fantastic Discounts offered by local businesses. Again, just click on the Discounts button and explore all the available benefits.

We hold a monthly General meeting on the first Monday of the month. Come and meet other members including your current committee. Many Group leaders attend this meeting to explain a bit more about their groups. There is a business section where up to date reports are presented including our financial position. After the business we usually have a short presentation from local speakers covering many different subjects.

We have an active Social Events subcommittee who organise various events throughout the year, including our very popular Christmas dinner and dance.

We have something for everyone and you will find up-to-date news of activities on this website and within our monthly newsletter that is sent to all our members who have provided us with an email address. We hope you will enjoy your U3A experience!

What is The University of The Third Age?

U3A membership is not related to a specific age but to a phase in one’s life (the third age) which follows the second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility.

The University Of The Third Age began in France in 1972. From there, it spread to many other countries. The UK official website describes the U3A as “ . . . self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.”

The aim of the U3A groups which have been set up in Spain is similar although there is a greater emphasis on recreational and leisure activities.

We have no formal links with and are not part of the U3A movement in the UK.

Here in Spain, each U3A group is autonomous.

Membership is open to people of all nationalities. However, business is conducted in English.

The History of Moraira-Teulada U3A

The first U3A was founded in Toulouse in 1972 and its popularity quickly spread internationally.  The main concept was that people can try out activities and skills which interest them and to teach their skills to others.  The Third Age is generally regarded as the age of retirement and day time leisure, so is an ideal time to learn something new.

Although there were U3A’s already established in Calpe, Javea, Denia and Val De Pop, the Moraira Teulada area did not have one, and it was felt that it could be something which would greatly benefit local residents.  The creation of Moraira-Teulada U3A was due mainly to the determination of the late Pamela Kershaw, President of Moraira Ladies Luncheon Club, and Sylvia Tatnell Councillor for Social Services on Teulada Council.  The Council was very supportive of the idea, and on May 5th 2008 a public meeting was held in the theatre at La Senieta in order to gauge interest in the concept.  Both U3A’s of Calpe and Javea were also supportive and at the meeting not only did their Presidents attend, but also other key members of their committees to offer advice. Their very welcome assistance and advice continued well into the first year of Moraira-Teulada U3A and beyond.

Initially there was concern that no one would come to the public meeting, however more that 200 people came and many actually joined the “new” U3A there and then. In fact the doors had to be closed as there were so many people crammed in, a safety issue became a concern, and people turned away were promised that another meeting would be held within in a couple of weeks so that they “did not miss out” on anything. It was clear a Moraira U3A was very much needed.

Subsequently a Steering Committee was formed and the also many volunteered to become Group Leaders. The first official meeting was held in June 2008, although it quickly became clear that this was not going to big enough to hold everyone who wanted to join.  In November 2008 a permanent committee was elected at the first AGM, and many of the original Steering Committee stayed on.

The Steering Committee was formed with Don Roberts being the first acting President, Pamela Kershaw was Vice President. Margaret Roberts and Linda West were the first acting Secretary and deputy with Shirley Baehr becoming Group Coordinator, a post which she continued to hold until her untimely death. Others who were on the original Steering Committee were Ann Colclough, Brian Nicholls, Mike Lawson and Sue Smith. Sadly we have lost a few people, and others that we are unsure as to their whereabouts. These first Committee Meetings, held about every two weeks, were held in a stuffy upstairs room in Calle Dr Calatayud, and there the Steering Committee and then the Committee voted in at the AGM stayed until La Senieta was built. After the AGM Ann Colclough became the first President, a post she very ably held for 5 years, with Pamela Kershaw still the Vice President.

At the inaugural meeting 244 had joined the new association and quite a few people agreed to become Group Leaders with most preparing to start their respective groups after the summer. However Anne Rodger, who was going to run a Cookery/Entertaining at Home Group, said she would start immediately so became the very first group of Moraira U3A.

The first Web Master, Mike Lawson, though having no previous experience of building a Web site before joining the U3A, said he would have a go and very soon the Web Site was very active and interesting.  The Web site was updated several years ago and now looks very “professional”.

Jan Adams said she would start a Travel Group and who would have thought it would grow to the wonderful success that it is now, with not only day trips to places of interest and shopping! But also further afield. These trips are arranged by U3A members who had little or no experience of arranging travel, and judging by the popularity of the group, are thoroughly enjoyed by the members. 

The first Groups that were set up were as follows

Those groups that are underlined are still going strong but with different group leaders, and of course we now have many more with some groups expanding such as 5 Pétanque Groups now, and several Spanish Groups catering for different levels. Groups available for members to join, range from learning new skills to improving old ones.  

By the second Steering Group Meeting on 19th June the membership stood at 468, and it has continued to go from strength to strength and has grown to the numbers we have today in 2016, with the current membership standing at over 2000. Since July 2008 the monthly meetings have been held in Teulada on the first Monday of each month..

The Website has a Discount Page, which gives details of companies, individuals and organisations who are willing to give discounts on their services and products. The Website also contains information of Cultural events locally and as far afield as Valencia, all ably collated by excellent Coordinators.

To make the meetings a bit more interesting, most months there will be a Guest Speaker, and these have ranged from members themselves talking of their experiences and/or previous lives, to singers and dancers from both within and from outside the U3A. Also we have had the people from the British Consul, the local health centre, a retired barrister, a retired soldier who walked Hadrian’s Wall for Charity, and a member who cycled 12000 miles around Africa in aid of a children’s orphanage.

A Newsletter is produced each month and posted to all those with computers, and printed out for folk who do not have computer access. The Membership Secretary also sends out Enews and Bulletins of anything urgent or events that could affect the members’ lives.

A strong Social Committee organises events throughout the year. The first ever event held was at Font Santa to celebrate the Moraira-Teulada U3A’s first birthday, and took the form of a picnic at Font Santa with Michel and Yvon from Los Leones barbecuing Chicken, Sausages, Burgers and the then Cookery Group making salads and puddings. Marg Roberts fried 10 kilos of onions on a very hot day in May 2009. Music was arranged by a member, and the Choir (which was active then) was to sing. Over the years further picnics, fun days for various celebrations including the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees were then held at Font Santa, and then being ever more ambitious Dinner/Dances began at El Canor several years ago.

The Dining Out Group is also very popular, especially during the winter months when most of us are free of visitors.

Another Group with a huge flowing and notable success is the Art and History Lecture Group. This has been led since its inception by Brian Nicholls and Ceda Panajotovic. These Group Leaders, who give many of the talks, are also helped by Speakers and Lecturers from outside the U3A otherwise the workload would be too onerous.

There is something for everyone in the U3A and many people have said that while learning new skills and developing talents is fun, the best part of being a member is meeting so many diverse people and going on to make new friends.  As an added bonus there are countless stories of members needing help and being overwhelmed by the generosity and willingness of other members to assist them in any way, Rona Hurst is the coordinator for the Care group and always needs more offers of help, from driving to visiting members in need.

There are members from several nations, including Spanish, Finnish, Dutch, German and Danish, although meetings, lectures and groups are conducted in English.  All are very welcome and they take an active part in our U3A.  

The Moraira Teulada U3A is a relaxed and friendly organisation and there are plenty of activities for members from the youngest to the oldest in their 90’s. Applicants should not be in full time employment and that is really the only criteria.

In 2018 Moraira-Teulada U3A will celebrate its tenth Anniversary and I’m sure the association will continue to grow and thrive with new Committee Members taking it forward. The achievements reached so far are tremendous, coming from a couple of ladies who had an idea… the late Pamela Kershaw and ex-Councillor Sylvia Tatnell would be very proud.

Margaret Roberts                                                                                                             June 2016

updated April 2019      Dot Garrett

Reportage from the 5th anniversary celebration, 6th May 2013 (opens in new tab)