Janet Blunden - Chair

I Have lived in Brackley since 1994. I retired in 2015 after  having careers in Environmental Health and the Registration Service completing my working life as the Superintendent Registrar for Northamptonshire County Council. I now volunteer for the South Northants Volunteer Bureaus’s car service

I joined Brackley U3A in January 2022 as I had more spare time as  my 4 grandchildren were all at school

I am a member of the following groups- Canasta ,Afternoon Tea & Chat, Walking Rounders in the summer, Line and Traditional Dancing, Pétanque/Bowls,Pickleball,National Trust,Travel and Cinema. I also attend the monthly Coffee Morning and Quiz 

Whilst being on the Committee I have been the Blue Sash Team Co- ordinator as I felt this was an important role ensuring all new members felt welcomed . I am now the Chairman of this web based organisation and look forward to the challenges and fulfilment this role will bring 

Colin Gillies - Vice Chairman

Born in Glasgow but brought up and educated and married in Broughty Ferry the posh seaside part of Dundee.
Moved to Brackley from Marlborough as so many others seem to do to be near our daughter and grandchildren in 2010.when I retired. I had spent my total career in sales within the building and diy industry holding several senior sales positions with well known names ie Crown paints Crown Wallcoverings Bradstone and Superglass.
Joined U3A in Brackley when it started and taken part in many of the activities I lead one of the Bridge groups which I joined as a total novice and am shortly to be involved in the running of the monthly quiz.
Away from U3A I am a member of Brackley Rotary Club and was President in 2018
Apart from Bridge my only other interests are playing golf and going horseracing.

Elaine Yates – Membership Secretary

Elaine moved to Brackley 8 years ago having lived mostly in Hertfordshire where she brought up her 3 children.

Most of her working life was in finance and for the 15 years previous to retiring she worked as a medical secretary.

She is quite active in Brackley U3A, attending several groups including singing, dancing, family history, lace and, of course, the always interesting and entertaining speaker meetings. 

Her parents enjoyed being members of a U3A so Elaine had always intended to join when she retired and she is now enjoying being Membership Secretary of Brackley U3A. 

Conrad Dower - Business Secretary.

Born in Yorkshire, I have lived in Derbyshire and Worcestershire before moving to Adstone in Northamptonshire 45 years ago.  Before my retirement, I was trained at Rolls Royce and have worked in the automotive parts industry and for a supermarket group (ASDA) before, finally, working at Argos as Distribution Engineering /Project Manager and have been responsible for 11 of their large ‘sheds’ (Distribution Centres) you may have seen somewhere in the UK.  I am Chairman of my Village Parish and the Village Hall Committee.  I am also an active Member of the Rotary Club of Towcester where I have been President and where I am currently the Treasurer.
I enjoy walking, gardening, ‘not to active’ sports, reading, wine tasting, holidays and following the activities/ development of my 4 teenage grandchildren.
I joined U3A two years ago and I am happy to take an active role in running the organization.

John  Moore – Speaker Organise

John I was born in Manchester but moved around the UK firstly with my father’s job and then my own career as an Accountant. I ran my own practice in North West London before officially retiring in 2013, though I still manage a small number of clients. I married Sheila in 1999 and after 20 years in Ealing, West London, where I joined U3A, even becoming their Chairman for two years, we both knew we wanted to move away from the congestion of London. We discovered Brackley, following someone’s suggestion, and knew it was the place for us and we moved here in 2019. After joining U3A here Terry asked me to become Speaker Organiser. My interests are table tennis, reading and walking and enjoying watching our grandchildren grow up.

Mike Shepherd – Treasurer

Mike took over from Ken Smith in August 2023

Alison Williams - Groups Coordinator

I moved to Brackley in 2019 after 5 years in Somerset, having spent over 30 years in Sunbury On Thames before that. We moved, like a lot of Brackley folk, to be closer to our children and grandchildren.
My career was spent in the pharmaceutical market research industry, spending 23 years with the same company in the role of analysis manager. I joined u3a last year. Having moved to Brackley just before lockdown, I knew it would be a great opportunity to meet new people and wasn’t it just! I’ve joined quite a number of groups, which have all been welcoming, friendly and fun. I’ve learnt how to play canasta, I test the grey cells with the quiz, study Shakespeare, have coffee (and afternoon tea), listen to talks about interesting people from history and am shortly to start Tai Chi. In addition to looking after the grandchildren, my life in retirement is wonderfully busy.

Kathy Hodges - Secretary

Kathy has lived in Hinton in the Hedges for approximately 30 years with her husband Paul. She has two sons, one of whom lives in Brackley with her two very entertaining grandsons, who expect her to be a football forward, a rugby scrum half, Martina Navratilova and a table tennis ace all in one day. The only one she can claim to be moderately proficient at is table tennis as a result of being a member of the lovely U3A Table Tennis group since its inception. She also belongs to the Science and Technology group (despite being a Luddite), and the Walking and Scrabble groups. Kathy is a volunteer driver with the SNVB taking local residents to hospital, GP and other assorted appointments. She has recently become the Minutes Secretary for the very civilised Committee where no-one talks over each other and there is often cake.

Diane Bushell - Publicity

Diane joined u3a in 2022, having moved to Brackley in October 2021.  I moved to be near my grandchildren and help with childcare.  I soon found I missed my social circle and joining u3a really helped in meeting new people and taking on new interests.  

Mike Kirkham – Webmaster

Mike was born in Blackpool, moved to Oldham when he was 12 where he later met Helen, his wife, when they were both in the 6th form. He has a degree in Astronomy from UCL and in Telecoms from University of Essex. He started a long career in Telecommunication Software in 1974 in Essex, retiring in 2010 in Oxfordshire. Interests include tinkering with and mending Android phones and Windows PCs, playing badminton, table tennis, canasta and generally frolicking at traditional dance. He enjoys maintaining the U3A website as this keeps his “hand in” as closely as he would like these days. Mike has been Brackley u3a Webmaster since November 2018

Gill Zachar - Blue Sash Team - Meeters and Greeters

I am from Maidenhead in Berkshire. I spent 10 years working in Madrid Spain as PA to the Finance Director of Rio Tinto Zinc. I meet my American husband when he was in the US Air Force stationed near Madrid. We spent three years in Georgia USA and returned to RAF Upper Heyford until he retired. I have lived in Brackley since 1979 and my children went to school here. I have worked in many varied roles, including having my own business at one time. I was a founding member of Brackley U3A along with Ian and Ken, having originally been a member of Towcester U3A. I love to travel the world but always consider Brackley to be my home town. I now have one of the Blue Sash Team, Meeters and Greeters roles.

June Addison - New Member liaison

I have lived in and around Brackley most of my life, prior to retiring worked in Buckingham as a retail manager. Besides being a charity volunteer I joined the U3a in 2023 signing up for tai chi, family history and afternoon tea groups. Besides my other interests of gardening, painting and having fun with our 5 grandchildren, I have found my involvement in the U3a has certainly helped with my transition into retirement and lots of new friendships.