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Dorridge U3A was formed in 1990 and met regularly at the Methodist Church.
For about 10 years the membership remained fairly small, too low to form Activity Groups. Members met twice a month and enjoyed a varied programme of in-house presentations and trips. The trips were normally linked into a recent talk and retained an educational link.
Then by 2001 the membership had grown to 60 members who were able to form some Activity Groups.
In 2002, after further expansion, Dorridge U3A had outgrown its meeting place and moved to Dorridge Village Hall, where meetings continue to be held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. Members agreed to raise the membership ceiling to 150 and membership continued to grow until that limit was reached.
A membership waiting list was then started and by October 2006 this stood at 41, and it was agreed to review the way ahead.
In early 2007 the executive of Dorridge U3A called a meeting of the members, at which it was decided to form a second Branch, to be known as the Wednesday Branch and steps were taken to call a meeting of all interested persons. Some 50 new members of U3A were recruited and an enthusiastic new Branch of Dorridge U3A was formed.
Membership of the new branch continued to grow and was over 100 by December 2007. Both Branches continue to thrive, with combined membership quickly reaching 300.
In 2009 members agreed to remove the branch separation and combine them once more, with a gradual increase in the membership limit. But to spread and accommodate the increasing numbers it was agreed that members were entitled to attend only two out of the four monthly general meetings, in addition to participating in any of the various Activity Groups.
Since then there was a period when the membership ceiling was restricted to 400. However, because of the popularity of the branch and the increasing waiting list it was agreed to proceed without a membership ceiling.