Letter from the Chair – January 2026

Dear Friends

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2026. I hope you all had a lovely time with family and friends over the Christmas period.

We passed the shortest day of the year in December and are now enjoying the joy of each day offering longer hours of sunlight, or at least day light. We have managed to mainly missed the first storm of 2026, Storm Goretti. Where do they get the names? What is the purpose of the names, as least Storm Goretti sounds sinister, but storm Amy sounds like your friend is popping over. We have even been lucky when it has come to snow, a very light touch for us. At one point I was the only person in my NENW friends group snow free.

2026 and another year of opportunities to take part in. I hope like me you are looking forward to the Teesdale U3A 2026 meetings, workshops and trips. Are you thinking you might manage another interest group, we have such a wide range with which to tempt you. Then there are the workshops held roughly once a month, I am testing my IT skills at the AI workshop in January. Do check out the 2026 workshops. Then in March, Saturday 21st, there is the quiz social event at the Glaxo Social Club, teams of 6 people, can you persuade others from your interest groups to form a team? Check out Sue Overton’s emails for further details.

I joined Annie Coulston at the January Coffee and Chat in Cotherstone. It was lovely catching up with everyone, I think we numbered about 14 people including Annie and I. What’s not to enjoy, good coffee/tea, cakes and news on what everyone has been doing or planning to do. Such a sociable and enjoyable hour and half.

Can I add my plea to Ian Royston’s message about not paying your 2026-7 membership before the 1st March. It helps us keep the finance books on track. We do however wish you to continue your membership with us and enjoy all that we offer, and how can you resist when we are even cheaper than last year, with an annual membership fee of just £16.

I am looking forward to the first monthly meeting of 2026, with a link to the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Hope to see you there and catch up with all that you have been doing.

Bye for now
Julie