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.
The committee currently comprises 7 full members (with another 2 positions vacant), and 2 additional co-opted personnel. You are welcome to contact any of the committee members by following the links below to ask for information, discuss matters, or put forward suggestions.
If you, or someone you know of, has difficulty using the internet or email we can also be contacted by phone on 0300 301043. This number should also be used if you have a safeguarding concern. If your chosen committee member is unable to answer please leave a message with your contact details and they will get back to you.
| Committee | |
| Carol Carney | Chair and Cotswold Link |
| Vacant | Vice-Chair |
| Anne Pye | Business Secretary |
| Heather Whitehouse | Membership Secretary |
| Pauline Boughen | Groups Secretary |
| Mike Stringer | Beacon Administrator Treasurer |
| Co-opted Personnel | |
| Andy Whelan | Speaker Coordinator |
| Vacant | Newsletter Editor |
| Jim Christie | Webmaster |
| Mark Eardley | Vice-Webmaster |
Carol Carney
Chair
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.
Vacant
Vice-Chair
Awaiting input
Mike Stringer
Treasurer
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.
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.
Pauline Boughen
Groups Secretary
I moved to Pontshill near Ross-on-Wye 42 years ago (I still can't believe it) and worked for a successful textile and wallcoverings company until I had three children. After staying at home for a number of years, I went back to college and university to become an Occupational Therapist. I continued to work for the NHS, latterly working for over 20 years at Ross Community Hospital as their OT. I loved the community and my job but retired to spend more time with my growing grandchildren (now grown) and my poor husband, whom I hardly saw!
I joined the u3a to keep my brain busy, and now I coordinate a book group, am trying to learn Italian, and take part in the walking group. When not doing that, I fight with a 2/3-acre garden (garden currently winning), growing lots of fruit, vegetables, and flowers for the house, and enjoy going on lots of holidays while I can.
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!
Vacant
Outings Secretary
Awaiting input
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.
Vacant
Speaker and Publicity Secretary
Awaiting input
Co-opted Members
Jim Christie
Webmaster
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.
Mark Eardley
Vice-Webmaster
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.