U3A Denia

President: Richard Millington

Born in Birmingham as a young man I joined British Leyland, where I developed a love of the motor industry, which was then my lifelong career for over forty years. Lucky to have lived and worked in various amazing places throughout the world and experience working with foreign governments, companies, military units, organizations and especially some amazing people in many varied cultures and languages. Had some great and varied interesting experiences during my career and now retired since 2020 Looking forward to representing U3A as its president and helping the organization thrive and hopefully get back to some kind of normal following the pandemic. I would like U3A to become even more European in nature, and hopefully enroll lots of different nationalities into our group. Happily married to the vice president Cazzie for almost 50 years we have two grown up children and a granddaughter, who luckily also live here in Spain.

Vice President: Cazzie Millington

A native of Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire after leaving school I worked as a police officer for several years. When I married Richard and moved to the Midlands I qualified as a florist, and subsequently ran my own industrial floristry business. We left the UK in 1990 and have lived mostly in the various countries within the Middle East, as avid golfers we worked with the European Tour golf organization and organized on course score boards along with arranging accommodation and transport for 14 years for professional golfer’s, caddies, managers and the general entourage that accompanies professional golf events. We also lived in Papua New Guinea for a while which was an amazing experience. Having traveled the world, I consider myself very lucky to have experienced many different cultures and people. Married to Richard for almost 50 years with two grown up children and a granddaughter, who also live here in Spain. We originally experienced Spain for the first time in 1994 and have loved this area ever since, now happily retired since 2010 I am also very into music with the Ukulele group I run called the Jukes of El Verger, and I have also recently started the U3A Denia guitar group. Looking forward to meeting lots of U3A members old and new, and helping out whenever possible

Secretary: Denise Brown

I'm Scottish, Glasgow born and bred and a very proud Scot. Throughout my career in Social Services, firstly in Glasgow and all over Strathclyde and thereafter Edinburgh, I advocated, managed and developed strategy and services for older people in the community, hospital and nursing homes along with older people and adults suffering with their mental health. I lived between Glasgow and Edinburgh until I decided that there must be more to life, retrained as a massage and aromatherapist and left Scotland at the age of 50 to live between Málaga in Spain and the Aude in South of France . Living permanently in France , I set up 3 businesses, receiving agreement from the Prefecture to make French soaps, establish a beauty and massage/aromatherapy business and open a village shop selling all my home made products. Art was always a passion and sold my art in my shop. I was part of the older community and supported their village library services and their choir 7 years ago I moved to Denia and focussed on my art having my first exhibition in Denia just after COVID. I continue as an artist, take commissions and sell my art here in Costa Blanca. I have also trained in Art History and Art Therapy. Throughout my life I have had a passion for making life better for older people, including redesigning services and helping with empowerment and rehabilitation to increase our value and contribution in society

Treasurer: Paul Paterson

I moved to Spain from England in 2019, just in time for the Covid pandemic. I had never heard of Denia but discovered it by accident whilst driving home after living for a short time in Malaga. Even though there was a Gota Fría at the time, I knew straight away Denia was where I wanted to be! I have worked for a non-profit organisation before which was a registered charity. It was a school that was fundraising with events to raise money for the betterment of the pupils. The last projects I worked on was building a tennis court and buying a school bus. I looked after the finances. I have also worked as membership secretary for a private tennis club, essentially making sure the members paid their subscriptions. I looked after the accounts. My career was in business management, and the companies I was involved in were in the heavy industry sector. I am now keeping myself busy here in Denia with the U3A when I volunteered myself as treasurer after the previous person resigned in 2024. I also work as a volunteer with a group of mostly ex-pats helping the poor people who lost everything in the DANA in Valencia in October 2024, delivering donated furniture and domestic electrical goods which have been donated by the generous people of the Marina Alta region.

Membership secretary: Tara Anderson

I was born in the USA, Salt Lake City, Utah to be exact. I grew up in Portland, Oregon, which was a miserable rainy place. I left for University to sunny California with high hopes. I achieved my Bachelors of Engineering degree from Santa Clara University in California and set off to change the world. After achieving my degree, I began my career in ASIC design ( semiconductor design) and then eventually found my “place” selling semiconductors for Intel across the world, mainly Japan, China and the Western USA. While working my ass off, traveling the world I was able to have 2 wonderful boys, Quincy and Miles who have followed their mothers passion of science, Quincy in Mechanical Engineering and Miles in Medicine. With both my boys on their way, I chose to leave my country to pursue a better life of retirement in Spain. I found Denia 6 years ago and am in love with the city, the landscape, the people, food and culture. I spend my days, making new friends, playing tennis, pickleball ( new rage in USA), volunteering and taking care of my 3 cats, 2 from California and 1 street cat who adopted me and 1 dog, A delightful shelter dog I named Sami from A.P.A.D. Furthermore, I am lucky to have found a wonderful partner, a British bloke, who has enjoyed living and working here in the Costa Blanca for over 27 years. Overall, I hope you welcome my Americanism, and I strive to bring the U3A fresh, new ideas and use my engineering talents to benefit all of us at the U3A. Let’s do this

Travel Leader: Ginny Whitehead

Retiring early, I came to Dénia in 2004 and joined our U3A in 2006 when I started a Cookery Group, which ran for several years. For my sins, I’ve also had various stints over the last 18 years as Secretary, Groups’ Coordinator and Ex-Officio. Joining the Travel Group at its inception in 2007, I’ve organised and taken trips ever since. In 2019, I took over as Travel Leader and re-joined the Committee as an Ex-Officio. I’m also the Pilates Group Leader. I’m a passionate supporter of the U3A, with its aim of promoting friendship and activities for the enjoyment and personal fulfilment of its members.

Webmaster: Philip Johnson

I'm from the North of England from a little village near Doncaster. I was lucky enough to go to the grammar school in a nearby town and thence to Manchester University where I studied physics. I then started work at the nuclear physics laboratory at Daresbury where I worked in particle physics, nuclear physics, electronic circuit design and software development. I then moved to Torbay where I worked on missile radar systems, GPS receivers and mobile phone base stations. Finally I moved to the southeast working on 3G, 4G and 5G mobile phone base stations. Finally, at 68 I was persuaded to retire to Dénia to return to living near the sea and enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine. Soon after getting here I joined the U3A and was press ganged onto the committee when most of its member left. The rest is history.

Groups coordinator: Christine Whitelock

I’m a South London girl, born and brought up South West London/Surrey border. Started work for ICI in London in the 60s. Most of my career in the legal field, secretarial and legal assistant. Later training to teach English as a second language. Many interests. History, all kinds of music, Drama, Astrology, Self Help/Positive thinking, Literature, paint a bit, draw a bit, write a lot. I encountered Denia in the 70s, holidaying in Javea in 1977 and visiting the Monday Market here! Bought a holiday home with my 1st husband which I live in now. Belonged to and eventually President of the Castle Theatre group in Denia for many years. Trod the boards, produced and directed, made costumes, prompted, painted and helped build stage sets. Taught English to Spanish adults in Denia when I first came to live here in the early 2000s. Escuela Mediterranea in Calle Diana which no longer exists. Not because of me! I was Vice President to 3 past Presidents of the U3A Denia a few years ago and have been involved with the Alternative Thinking group, previously Positive Thinking which Kathy Reynolds and I ran since 2006. Later it became part of the many U3A groups we now enjoy. I’m an Aquarian which means I love people and groups. Making friends is just the best.