Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 342 November 2025
Registered Charity No: 1037437
Website: www.penmaenmawru3a.org.uk
Chair: Brian Bollington penu3a@gmail.com
Secretary: Eleanor Lancaster penu3a@gmail.com
Treasurer: Liz McGill treasurerpenu3a.@gmail.com
Membership Secretary: Kay McManus penu3amem@gmail.com
Newsletter: Ruth Connolly Newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME
Membership of Penmaenmawr & District u3a will be £10 per person for the year. If you are already a member of another u3a this will be reduced to £6 per person.
Option One (preferred please).
Pay your subscription by BACS.
Account name: Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Sort Code: 20 - 51 - 23
Account Number: 60030910
Use your FULL NAME as the reference.
Then, very importantly, email Kay McManus penu3amem@gmail.com letting her know you have paid online and notify her of any changes to your details.
Option Two
Post your cheque (payable to PENMAENMAWR & DISTRICT u3a) with your FULL NAME and ADDRESS on the back of your cheque to Kay McManus. Her address is Angorfa, Chapel Street, Penmaenmawr, LL34 6PA. Please note we are not accepting cash.
For those not on email paperwork will be posted out to you.
Brand new members can join using our membership form which is available on the website (see above). Alternatively come along to a social meeting (3rd Thursday of the month) where we can help you.
JIM TOOGOOD (Deceased)
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Jim Toogood - as a member of Pen u3a he was involved in several groups but more recently with Board Games. His quick mind and enthusiasm made it a joy to play alongside him. Our thoughts are with his widow Angela at this time. There will be a Pure Cremation.
MESSAGE FROM JANET DIBBLE (retired Senior Staff Nurse and now a volunteer fundraiser for the Cuddles Charity).
On behalf of Cuddles the Charity that supports Glan Clwyd’s Neonatal Unit, I would like to thank everyone who has donated time, money and effort into raising a final total of £2680 for the Unit. I am liaising with the staff on the Unit and we will decide what equipment the money is going to be spent on.
The nominated charity for 2025/2026 is PAPYRUS UK. Charity number 1070896.
This charity helps with the prevention of young suicide and they believe no young person should ever have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide.
PAPYRUS UK have an ongoing emergency appeal to help keep their life saving helpline open throughout the night because hope can’t always wait until the morning.
With u3a members support, I am hoping to raise money during the next 12 months to help keep open their life saving HOPELINE247 for the young people who are in crisis during their darkest hours.
So, if anyone has any unwanted gifts or items that can be used for raffle prizes they will always be gladly accepted.
THE 2025 CHRISTMAS PANTO
It is Panto time again - the Drama Group's latest panto is 'Sleeping Beauty' written by Pauline Stacey. Performances will be held on THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER this one a MATINEE, with an EVENING performance on FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER. We have managed to keep the tickets at the very reasonable price of £6.50 (to include a glass of wine/juice) and they can be obtained from Pat Greenhill (01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com) or other members of the Drama Group. We very much look forward to the usual great support we have received in previous years.
NOVEMBER SOCIAL MEETING
We are at Penmaenmawr Community Centre on Thursday 20th November at 2pm for the monthly social meeting. Our speaker will be Stuart Hayter enlightening us on “Hidden Anglesey.” Hope to see you then.
TEA ROTA
| 20th November 2025 Table Tennis/Ukelele | 15th January 2026 Film and Theatre |
| 18th December 2025 Committee | 19th February 2026 Welsh Conversation |
| 19th March 2026 Book Group | |
| 16th April 2026 Committee |
A ‘THINKING OF YOU’ CARD
If you know of anyone who is ill, in hospital, bereaved, or celebrating a special anniversary please contact Chris Bryant on 01492 592335 or 07845 181060. She will send them a card on behalf of the u3a.
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER
Please send any information for inclusion in the December newsletter to newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Monday 24th November 2025.
FOR SALE: NEW cabin suitcases, 4 fitting into one. Lovely deep raspberry colour. £40. Combination locks on all.
Phone. Anthea 01492 5446836
GROUPS
BOOK GROUP – Liz McGill 07891 497562 treasurerpenu3a@gmail.com
Next meet will be Thursday 27th November at 2pm Coffee V in Craig Y Don. We have been reading Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale". There are regularly 8 to 9 members who attend this group which is about the most the venue could accommodate. Get in touch if you would like to be added to our waiting list. In the meantime, you can see what we are reading by looking on the website. Details of all the books are there.
BOWLS – Denise Sambrook 01492 622289 denise.sambrook45@btinternet.com.
Bowling finished at the end of September and will resume in Spring 2026.
BRIDGE – Chris Bryant 07845 181060 or chris.b15@outlook.com
Meet at The Split Willow, Penmaenmawr Rd, Llanfairfechan every Wednesday10-12 noon. If you wish to join us, please get in touch with Chris.
CROQUET – Sarah Andrew 07962 234857 sarahm.andrew.sa@gmail.com
Croquet will carry on every Tuesday until the end of December dependent on the weather. We meet from 10am to 12noon. Please call Sarah on 07962234857 if you are interested.
DRAMA - Pat Greenhill (patty43@btinternet.com)
Rehearsals continue EVERY Tuesday and Friday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. with Dress Rehearsals same time, same place, on Sunday 30th November and Tuesday 2nd December - these will be for three hours.
FILM and THEATRE GROUP – Janet Dibble 07733 415830
We will be meeting on Thursday 27th November at 1 pm at Coffee V in Craig y Don. Everyone is welcome. Please message me if you want to join our WhatsApp group.
HOLIDAYS – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com.
There is a suggestion of a holiday taking in the Carnaval Solnosa - a town in Catalonia - see the internet for details. The dates for the Carnaval are 12th to 18th February 2026. Transport would be by train, probably to Barcelona via Paris. It would be hoped that a night or two could be organised in Paris with some time in Barcelona or ??? As accommodation is key, could anyone of an independent nature who is interested contact Pat please on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com.
JAZZ APPRECIATION - Mike Howard 01248 208914 or 07881591415
Every Monday at the Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside 7.30.p.m. Traditional Jazz one week and Modern Jazz the next. A contribution is expected. Great atmosphere and wood-fired pizzas available.
Also- the first Tuesday in the month- Modern and Mainstream Jazz at The Gladstone pub Dwygyfylchi. Free admission. For more details contact Mike
PICKLE BALL – Eleri Evans 01248 680408 or 07525 652399 eleri.evans@btinternet.com
We meet once a week - every Thursday 10-12noon in the Town Hall Llanfairfechan.
POETRY READING – Pauline Stacey 01492 621243
Next meeting is at 10am on Monday 17th November in Penmaenmawr Library on the poems of Simon Armitage and John Cooper Clarke. New members are welcome.
RECORDERS - Alan Collins 01492 660511
Recorder Group meet at Noddfa Retreat Centre the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. They welcome new players.
SNOOKER – Mike Round 01492 660658
Meeting every Monday2 p.m. in the Penmaenmawr Community Centre Snooker room. Anyone interested please ring Mike.
TAI CHI KUNG – Yvonne Ede 07897 659830
Tuesdays 10.45 – 11.45am at the Community Centre in Penmaenmawr.
TABLE TENNIS - Chris Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com.
Fridays 10-12noon in the Community Centre, Penmaenmawr.
UKELELE - Sue Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com
Wednesdays 10.15-1200 noon fortnightly in The Split Willow Llanfairfechan.
WELSH CONVERSATION - Eleri Evans 07525 652399
Group meet on Thursdays12.15 to 1.15pm at The Seagrass Restaurant Llanfairfechan.
WALKING GROUPS
SHORT WALK Pat Greenhill 01492 516463.
Meet 10.15 a.m. (PLEASE NOTE EARLIER TIME) on Wednesday 12th November for initial car parking in the area close to the bus stop at Abergwyngregyn - then car sharing to the upper paying car park. Walk of some three miles with gradual ascent; take a drink for when you are admiring the cascading water! Snack lunch at Caffi Hen Felin. Please remember your 'Details Card'.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984610959 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
| Wednesday 5th November Meet under the Llandudno Junction Flyover at 9.10 a.m. if car sharing, then drive to Rhewl, near Ruthin, (Sat Nav: LL15 1UL). Park near the Drovers Arms, on the road. We will be walking a 5-mile circular route around Lady Baggot's Drive. An undulating walk on tracks, through fields & woodland paths - some uneven ground. There may be mud & there may be cattle in one field. A couple of stiles. Afterwards, driving to 'The Lodge' in Llanrhaedr, (Sat Nav - LL16 4NL). Their car park is at the back of the cafe. Your choice of menu has already been sent to The Lodge. If you are unable to join us, please let Kay or Jean know asap. |
Wednesday 3rd December - Pub/Grub Walk + Walker's Festive Lunch
We will be having our Festive lunch after the walk (details to be sent later) which starts from The North Wales Golf Club. Park in their car park or on the road nearby - Sat Nav - LL30 2DZ.
The Festive meal menu is attached. You may choose 2 courses for £23 or 3 courses for £30. Please let either Jean or Kay know your choice of menu before 24th November. No deposit is needed.
Please note - all walkers must wear suitable footwear & clothing for the walks & always bring a drink with you.
BUS/TRAIN WALKS
Wednesday 26 November
Catch 9.45am No 5 bus at Llandudno Junction flyover to Llanfairfechan for approx. 4-mile flat walk around coastal reserves. No stiles. Picnic lunch. Leader: Maria Duda Tel: 01492 879074.
Wednesday, 24 December
NO WALK
MEDIUM WALKS Eve Webster 07751499817 & Janet Dibble 07733415830
It is a condition of our insurance that all participants of walks are equipped with walking boots or shoes together with adequate clothing. Please also carry “in case of emergency” contact details.
Wednesday 19th November
Meet at the boating lake on West Shore. Walk starts at 10am. We will be walking around the Great Orme to the old Gunnery Sites. Sean is our walk leader and will be giving us some interesting facts and history of the area.
The walk is about 4 1/2 miles on the road and on footpaths, there are no stiles.
Please have appropriate footwear and clothing and bring snacks, drinks and picnic lunch.
Walk leader is Sean Gavin 07834456057.
Walker’s Christmas Lunch Menu
Wednesday 3rd December
North Wales Golf Club
MENU
STARTERS
Soup of the Day & Bread roll
Classic Prawn Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce
Chicken, Liver & Brandy Pate with Red Onion Chutney & Brioche
Tomato Bruschetta with Basil Pesto
MAIN COURSE
Roast Turkey served with Pigs in Blankets, Stuffing, Roast Potatoes & Gravy
Roast Sirloin of Beef served with Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Potatoes & Gravy
Pan seared Salmon served with Leek & Pea Risotto with Dill Oil
Roasted Cauliflower glazed with Welsh Rarebit served with tender stem Broccoli & Roast Potatoes
All our mains are served with seasonal vegetables
DESSERTS
Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce
Chocolate Panna Cotta with Honeycomb
Lemon Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries
Welsh Cheese & Crackers with Chutney