Our back-story

Bolton u3a was started in 1991 by a mature student as a project for a course she was taking in adult education. The group met once a month at Brownlow Fold School. As her project came to an end Bolton u3a was taken over by Hilary Candler who had recently retired from Bolton Community College. 

It wasn’t easy; there were no funds, nor regular meeting rooms but there was lots of enthusiasm! Hilary invited/persuaded friends and past colleagues to come along and negotiated the use of a room at Clarence Street Community Centre.

On 4 th October, 1991 Betty Kay, a retired English teacher, started the first group, the Literature group, with about eight members; it soon expanded to 25 members. Betty continued to lead the group until 2009 when she took a back seat and friends took over.

Early groups included a walking group, a music group and a group for outings – Greenhalgh’s, Warburton’s and Kelloggs’ were visited.

The first AGM was held on 15 th October 1991 and a committee was formed, with Hilary Candler as the first Chair.

For more on the background of the u3a movement, click here

Bolton U3A is a Registered Charity Number 1140495