Registered Charity Number 1184366
🌿 The Story of Balsall Common u3a
Back in 2006, local resident Anne Santos had a wonderful idea — that a u3a group would be a real asset to the retired community of Balsall Common. With help from her neighbour Peter Westlake, she reached out to the Dorridge u3a team to learn more about how it all worked.
Soon after, Anne joined forces with Peter Driffield, Aileen Driffield, Gill Westlake, and Peter Westlake to become the founding members of what was then called The University of the Third Age. Notices went up around the village, and in October 2006, 13 people came along to the very first meeting — a humble but enthusiastic start!
Membership cost just £10, which gave the fledgling group £130 to begin its first year. With the blessing of the priest at The Blessed Robert Grissold Catholic Church, the group found a welcoming place to meet and set about building something special for the community.
The first committee meeting took place on 24th April 2007, with Anne Santos as Chair alongside Sheila Burdett, Peter Westlake, Peter Driffield, Godfrey Cheshire, Martin Richards, and Kevin McGovern. Word quickly spread, and before long, meetings had moved to the Village Hall to accommodate the growing numbers.
By 2011, membership had grown to 220, and by 2017, over 300 members were gathering at St Peter’s Hall. Today, Balsall Common u3a is thriving, with around 400 members and more than 40 Interest Groups — making it one of the most vibrant u3as in the West Midlands and the second largest in the Solihull area!
🌼 Our Early Days
One of the very first groups was the Ramblers — initially just a one-mile walk to a local pub (with a well-earned drink at the end!). It soon became one of our most popular activities, with two rambles a month covering around five miles each.
The success of the Ramblers inspired the launch of more groups — Luncheon, Social History, Philosophy, and Bridge among the first. Within six months, we had started our monthly Speaker Programme, which still forms the heart of our Core Meetings today.
💻 Growing and Evolving
In 2010, member Peter Calver created the group’s first website at Anne’s request, helping to connect members and share updates more easily. The site has since evolved, with Robert Zhilmor taking over its development in 2022.
Our newsletter also has its own proud history. First published in 2012 as The Balsall Common u3a Newsletter by Peter Calver, it was later renamed The Sentinel by Len Tomnie, who brought a fresh new look and style. Today, Will Heard keeps the tradition alive as our current editor of the monthly publication.
👥 Our Leadership
Since those early days, Balsall Common u3a has benefited from a line of dedicated Chairs who’ve each brought their own energy and ideas:
Anne Santos (Founding Chair, 2006–2011)
- Mary Dawson (2011–2015)
- Jim Melville (2015–2021)
- Matthew Stephens (2021–2025)
- Juliet Hancox (2025–present)
Thanks to their hard work — and the enthusiasm of our members — Balsall Common u3a continues to go from strength to strength.