Ross-0n-Wye and District u3a is a registered charity (No. 1022620). Members are elected annually to a management committee to act as our Trustees. Meet the current team: Management Committee 2023-24.
The full committee currently comprises 8 full members and four additional co-opted personnel. You are welcome to contact any of the committee members to ask for information, discuss matters, or put forward suggestions.
| Committee | |
| William Lyons | Chair and Cotswold Link |
| Mark Eardley | Vice-Chair |
| Anne Pye | Business Secretary |
| Heather Whitehouse | Membership Secretary |
| Carol Carney | Groups Secretary |
| Mike Stringer | Beacon Administrator |
| Jane Pendlebury | Outings Secretary |
| Co-opted Personnel | |
| Jacqui Ramsey | Newsletter Editor |
| Jim Christie | Webmaster |
| Catherine Silver | Speaker & Publicity Secretary |
William Lyons
Chair
William joined Ross & District u3a in 2023 and since joining has become a member of the Ancient and Medieval, and Modern World History groups, and also had the somewhat unexpected honour of being made Chair.
I was born and bred in Hove, now formally the city of Brighton & Hove, but have lived in and around Ross on Wye since 1976 when my then employers, the British Steel Corporation, transferred my office from central London to South Wales. Let us just say that my late wife and I decided that Herefordshire and Ross, in particular, offered a more pleasant quality of life than Newport!
I left BSC in 1984 but remained in the Steel industry for a few more years, running my own metal building and tube stockholding company, before becoming involved in various business entities including being Herefordshire Manager for the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Chairman of a Hereford based Web development company.
Mark Eardley
Vice-hair
Mark is a member of the u3a Gardening, Genealogy, Geology & Landscape, and Pub Walking groups.
His career started as a qualified agronomist, working in the crop protection industry for 11 years in Wales, Lincolnshire, and then the Cotswolds. Changes in agricultural policy in 1992 caused a contraction of the industry, seeing a career move to Holme Lacy College where he managed the built environment, evolving into capital development, and health & safety with the Pershore Group of Colleges.
After 14 years he moved to Stroud College to manage the total redevelopment of the College, and then to The University of Bristol to work in the Capital Development Team managing major development projects within the faculties of medicine, veterinary science, and arts.
Vacant
Treasurer
Awaiting input
Heather Whitehouse
Membership Secretary
I moved to Ross-on-Wye with my husband in July 2022 after many years in North Worcestershire where we raised our family and commuted to Birmingham. We wanted a small town in a more rural location and a community we could get involved with. Ross hasn't disappointed and we joined u3a to meet people and build a new life. We have been made to feel very welcome so when I was asked about becoming membership secretary it felt right.
Carol Carney
Groups Secretary
I moved to Ross-on-Wye from Oxfordshire in October 2017.
I worked full-time for large multinationals for the majority of my career but phased my retirement over a number of years. First by working part-time in a small school and then for Citizens Advice until I retired completely in October 2023.
In the main, I am now kept busy with my garden and veg patch, the ongoing 'renovation' of our home, the U3a and some volunteering locally in the NHS.
Anne Pye
Business Secretary
Anne is originally from Leeds, completed a languages degree at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and has worked in several industries, mainly in HR, before becoming a primary school teacher. She has spent over thirty years living on the outskirts of Ross-on-Wye.
Since retiring from teaching, she has taken up Reformer Pilates and, on joining u3a, has joined the Walking Group, Book Club 2, and more recently, Photography 3.
When not involved in any of these activities, she can be found gardening, looking after her cats and seven Guinea fowl, often reading or holidaying somewhere new and exciting!
Jane Pendlebury
Outings Secretary
Jane refers to herself as a “Northern girl” coming from Lancashire, whilst here, Ross-on-Wye, is definitely home. She and her husband and son relocated here in 2002 in search of a warmer and less damp climate and love it.
She has broad working experience in working within the private, public and voluntary sectors as well as serving on other Committees, which she hopes will assist her in her role on the u3a Committee.
Belonging to u3a has been and is a wonderful experience, she says, as she has met many people and made new friends, as well as the challenge of stimulating her mind.
Mike Stringer
Beacon Administrator
Mike is a (mainly) retired accountant who grew up near Abergavenny but spent most of his career working in and around London.
He moved to Pontshill with his wife, Maggie, when he gave up full-time employment in 2013.
He joined u3a in October 2024 and is a member of the Spanish, Science, and Pub Walking groups. He is a keen glider pilot and will be found flying his glider or instructing at Black Mountains Gliding Club at Talgarth whenever he can.
Co-opted Members
Jim Christie
Webmaster
Following my retirement from the RAF in 2010, I joined Ross & District u3a as a member of the German Conversation group and later as the group coordinator. I was our u3a Chair from 2020-2023 and am now the webmaster. My interests are many and varied and include photography with Photo Group 2, aka the Waterpump Shutterbugs.
Jacqui Ramsey
Newsletter Editor
Awaiting input
Catherine Silver
Speaker and Publicity Secretary
I have been a U3A member since March 2023. I wanted to join a book group and a beginners bridge group. The U3A supplied both in a more than satisfactory way.
I was brought up in Enfield. My working life was in nursing and for the last 20+ years district nursing.
My interests are gardening, yoga, Bridge, walking our dog and looking after my little colony of feral cats.
I responded to the chairman’s call for a volunteer for the speaker secretary role which I took on in August 2023 along with publicity. Keeping me more than busy but no complaints.