Two years ago, following a proposal in the u3a magazine, a small group met together to discuss whether to set up a Debating Group and, if so, what style and format it should take i.e. how formal, length of each presentation, how to manage a balance of views, the need for a voting procedure, frequency of meetings and so on.
We agreed that, above all else, it should be an enjoyable (not unnerving) experience! So it has proved – even with a changing/expanding membership.
We have debated a vast range of topics from the serious and contentious, e.g. Assisted Dying, A.I., the merits of a Universal Basic Income, social media - to the lighter, e.g. whether film or books are a better medium of expression, is retirement boring? (!), with many other areas of life’s quandaries between. The group meets monthly and subjects are chosen by the group for the following meeting.
We all clearly put work into researching the topic and also bring to bear our life experience of any areas of enquiry. So the meeting has become increasingly interactive and sociable.
We still meet at our Group leader’s home by kind invitation. We seem to welcome and absorb the comings and goings of old and new members easily and look forward to any new perspective shared.
It is certainly one of my favourite activities and a great example of the u3a ethos of reciprocal teaching and learning!

The group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 2 - 3.30pm in Kings Worthy.

To email the Group Leader click on the link with her name. To obtain the Group Leaders telephone number access the Telephone Directory.