Chair: Carole Spiers
Vice-chairs: Malcolm Brahams & Tina Stanton
Secretary: Mayah Weinberg
Treasurer: Simon Freeman
Membership: Lorraine Wilder
Webmaster: David Powers
For membership inquiries, please contact membership@hgsu3a.uk.
Meet The Trustees
Carole Spiers was elected as a trustee in August 2023 after having co-opted during the previous year. She took over as Chair of HGS u3a upon election.
Carole’s credibility is rooted in 25 years success as CEO of a leading UK Stress Management Consultancy, currently working with equal success both in the UK and the Gulf. She is a well-respected authority on building resilience and improving health and wellbeing, a BBC guest-broadcaster and author of Show Stress Who’s Boss!
Carole is also Chair of a stress and mental health charity (International Stress Management Association), an international motivational speaker and is regularly called upon by the national press and media for comment. She is the proud founder of International Stress Awareness Week.
Carole moved into HGS in 2022 and joined u3a immediately marking a new enriching journey in her life. She enjoys the resounding buzz of activities and camaraderie within the group. Her energy and commitment serve as a testament to her unwavering belief in the value of u3a, propelling her to lead the group with passion and purpose. Contact: chair@hgsu3a.uk.
Malcolm Brahams was elected as a trustee in July 2021. As one of the two Groups Organisers with Tina Stanton he helps groups find premises, assists group leaders in the establishment and running of their groups and refers members to the groups in which they are interested. He was a founder member of HGS U3A and leads the Current Affairs and Play Reading groups. He is a keen member of the Photography in London, Wine Tasting and French Conversation groups and also makes amateur videos. A retired solicitor, he was a partner in several West End firms specialising in property law. He was until recently a Council Member of the Medico-Legal Society and continues to edit their website. Contact: groupsorg@hgsu3a.uk.
Simon Freeman was elected as a trustee in August 2023. He became Treasurer in August 2022 and was co-opted as Trustee in May 2023.
Simon retired in 2022 from an online law publishing business that he co-founded over 25 years ago, having practised as a barrister and then as a solicitor variously in private practice and industry. The business was sold to a plc and for several years, until he started working part-time, he was the divisional director of the three information businesses forming the division. He was a trustee of World Jewish Relief and served on its finance committee for many years, and he has been the trustee of three other charities.
Simon is a member of the Shakespeare Fridays Group, Wednesday Crosswords and the Science, Nature & Technology Groups among others. Contact: treasurer@hgsu3a.uk.
David Powers has been involved in the running of HGS u3a since its inauguration in 2017 and was first elected a Trustee at the Annual General Meeting in July 2018. He is responsible for the website and printed publicity material, as well as the distribution of the monthly Newsletter. He runs the Thames Path and Other Walks group. David spent most of his professional career as a BBC radio and TV journalist, and was based in Tokyo for nine years, where he was Michael Palin’s guide to the city in Around the World in Eighty Days. After leaving the BBC, he devoted his time to writing books and creating video training courses about website development. David is a member of the Beacon Documentation and Training Team helping support other u3as throughout the country. Since the first lockdown, he’s become a passionate runner, and you can often see him zipping through Big Wood and across the Heath Extension, and as a regular participant in Hampstead Heath Parkrun. Contact: website@hgsu3a.uk.
Tina Stanton was re-elected as a Trustee in July 2021 and is currently acting as Joint Groups Organiser along with Malcolm Brahams. She was a founder member of HGS u3a originally acting as Secretary. She is the Group Leader for HGS u3a Evening Book Group which is now in its third year. Tina worked for the Royal College of Nursing for 25 years working with nurses on their continuing professional development. She is a volunteer with Hampstead Garden Suburb Community Library and Healthwatch Barnet. She enjoys Pilates, walking on the Heath Extension with her West Highland terrier and helping to look after her grandchildren. Contact: groupsorg@hgsu3a.uk.
Mayah Weinberg, HGS u3a Secretary, was elected in July 2021, and re-elected in August 2023. She keeps a record of discussions and decisions taken by Trustees at their meetings. She was responsible for interpreting members’ responses to the surveys held in 2017 and 2021. Her background was in editing and, more recently, as a Hansard reporter in the House of Commons. She retired in early 2017 and joined HGS u3a at its launch. Contact: secretary@hgsu3a.uk.
Lorraine Wilder was elected as a Trustee in July 2024. She became Membership Secretary in January 2024 and was co-opted as a Trustee two months later.
She has had a rich and varied career: working in a university research unit for 10 years; in the travel industry also for 10 years; as a mental health hospital manager for many years; and many other diverse jobs, during which time she entered adult education, starting with a foundation course followed by three science degrees, receiving a distinction for her MSc.
Lorraine is a passionate advocate for adult education, she is also a committed gardener and garden historian. Her own garden is biodiverse and pesticide free and has been open for the National Garden Scheme several times, and also for various charities including the North London Hospice.