Beccles u3a marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration at The Hive attended by both long-standing and new members.

The mayor of Beccles opened the proceedings, followed by speeches from Peter and Susan Shannon, the founding chair and business secretary of Beccles u3a.

They reflected on the organisation's history and the contributions of its members.

Beccles u3a celebrates 10 years of learning, laughter and activity Beccles u3a celebrated 10 years of learning, laughter and activity (Image: Supplied) Pippa Holliday, the current chair, acknowledged the work of Graham Jermyn, who led the organisation through the pandemic, and thanked the present committee for their efforts in organising the day.

The morning session featured Jane Hoggar, known as the Bluebell Girl, as the speaker.

She delivered a talk on the origins and history of cabaret in Paris, interspersed with anecdotes, songs, dance, and comedy.

One of the newest special interest groups, the Scottish Country Dancing group, also performed.

Colin Hill - Mayor of Beccles and Peter Shannon Colin Hill, Mayor of Beccles, and Peter Shannon (Image: Supplied) In the afternoon, the Creative Writing and Singing for Fun groups took the stage, before The Lowestoft Longshore Men entertained with sea shanties from around the world.

Beccles u3a has been providing its members with a variety of activities over the last decade.

These include monthly speaker meetings in the Public Hall, regular outings to notable places, and about 60 special interest groups.

The groups are chosen and run by the members themselves, covering a wide range of subjects for both learning and staying active.

With more than 700 members registered this year, Beccles u3a is part of a network of more than 1,000 u3a local organisations across the UK.

The Mayor opened the ceremony The Mayor opened the ceremony (Image: Supplied) These organisations offer their members a platform to learn, socialise, and stay active.

The u3a, which stands for the University of the Third Age, is a UK-wide movement that provides opportunities for those no longer in full-time work to come together and learn for pleasure.

For more information about u3a, visit the UK website.