This group is interested in creative writing in its various forms. We agree, in advance, a topic for each meeting, and present our piece in whatever form we choose to the group at our meeting.

As I reflect back on my first year of being Group Leader of the Write and Rhyme group I cannot but help going back to when I first became aware of the existence of the u3a. I was in my late thirties and living in Sutton Coldfield when I joined a Short Story writing class organised by the Adult Education. It was there that I met people who had joined from a dis-banded u3a group and began to hear about the organisation that I am now a part of, in a very small way I must add! Some of those u3a members became friends that I kept in contact with for several years.

And so, it was following a family bereavement in 2023 that I felt I needed to do something ‘for me’ that I contacted the then leader of the Write and Rhyme group went along for a taster session and very soon joined up. I must admit I was content to simply ‘coast’ as one of the members of that group until returning in September of last year to learn the news that our Group Leader was about to have open heart surgery and was standing down as of that moment! Looking around I expected more established members to take on the role and when no one came forward agreed that I would become Group Leader. That day I went home in a state of shock, unsure as to exactly what was required of me.

It was probably the next day that I went into Wilfred House and met Jenny Lingham for the first time and got to know the names of other Committee members and knew that help would be there for me simply for the asking. It felt like a steep learning curve in those early days but over the months I came to realise that I was enjoying my new role and dusting off some old skills too. The group has had changes over the past academic year, we have said goodbye to some members but been able to welcome new ones, each of whom have brought a new element to the group. As far as my own role is concerned, I feel I am still developing as I grow into the big boots that were vacated by Ivor Kirby, and maybe that is how it should be – that my role and the group as a whole will bend and evolve while still keeping the core values of the u3a.

I cannot complete my reflections without acknowledging the support I have had from my group members and also from the Committee without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks to you all and may we look forward to the new academic year in September. To find out more, please contact me by clicking on my name, above, Ros Toon

Here’s a sample of work from one of our members:

All the members of the u3a
Know there aren't enough hours in the day.
To do all we'd wish, and wish we could try
This causes us many a heartfelt sigh.
But if you've an hour or so of your time,
You couldn't do better than try "Write and Rhyme".
We're a select little group, and we'd like to grow
You might discover latent talent you know!
We've attempted a Sonnet, Clerihew and Haiku,
Desert Island poems - that's just a few - 
We've written about "Yuletide", "our town" and "Football"
And lately our experience of "A brush with the Law".
You'll find us on Tuesdays, the first and the third,
In the "Friends" Meeting Room, sharing a word
At 2 of the clock is when we convene
The kettle will be on - you'll be glad you've been.
Honest!