Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 343 December 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
The Committee wish all our members a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a peaceful and healthy NEW YEAR.
LAST REMINDER FOR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
All those members who have not renewed will be removed in the New Year.
Thank you to everyone who has renewed.
HOW TO RENEW
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.
MESSAGE FROM JANET DIBBLE
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 cannot 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.
DECEMBER PANTO - STILL TIME TO GET YOUR TICKETS
A reminder that your Drama Group is producing a panto for adults ‘Sleeping Beauty .... with a twist' and performances are MATINEE at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday 4th December and an
EVENING performance on Friday 5th December at 7.30 p.m. at Penmaenmawr Community
Centre. We have kept the tickets at the reasonable price of £6.50 to include a glass of
wine/juice served from 30 minutes prior to the performance. We look forward to your support
for this production; tickets are available from members of the cast and Pat Greenhill on
patty43@btinternet.com or 01492 516463.
DECEMBER SOCIAL MEETING
We are at Penmaenmawr Community Centre on Thursday 18th December at 2pm for the Christmas party and entertainment. Please bring a small plate of finger food. Hope to see all there joining in the fun.
TEA ROTA
18th December 2025 Committee
15th January 2026 Film and Theatre
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 January 2026 newsletter to
newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Monday 22nd December 2025.
FOR SALE: Brand New Slumberland double duvet 13.5 tog. £7. Polyester.
NEW cabin suitcases, 4 fitting into one. Lovely deep raspberry colour. £35 Combination locks on all.
Phone. Anthea 01492 5446836
GROUPS
AWAYDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
Monday 22nd December at 7.30 p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols at St Mary's in Conwy. As usual we will meet at Archway Fish and Chips at 6.05 p.m. (to allow for cheaper rate parking
BUT be aware Archway have not done their December rota so a little? mark over opening times) and then proceed to St Mary's. Please let me know if you are partaking of the F & C as numbers need to be booked
BOOK GROUP – Liz McGill 07891 497562 treasurerpenu3a@gmail.com
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 Wednesday 10-12 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 01492 516463 patty43@btinternet.com
DRESS REHEARSAL on SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2.00 to 5.00 p.m.
DRESS REHEARSAL on TUESDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2.00 to 5.00 p.m.
FILM and THEATRE GROUP – Janet Dibble 07733 415830
We will be meeting on Thursday 8th January 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
There will be no meeting in December. We will meet again on January 19th 2026 at 10am until 12 noon in Penmaenmawr Library. The subject will be "Irish Poets" New members are welcome. Hope you have a Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
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 244103
Meeting every Monday 2 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. Finishing the year with a
tournament on December 19th. Restarting January 10th.
UKELELE - Sue Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com
Wednesdays 10.15-12.00 noon fortnightly in The Split Willow Llanfairfechan.
Last session of 2025 on December 3rd. Playing for the residents of ‘The Gables’,
Penmaenmawr, at 2 p.m. on Monday 8th December.
WELSH CONVERSATION - Eleri Evans 07525 652399
Group meet on Thursdays 12.15 to 1.15pm at The Seagrass Restaurant Llanfairfechan.
WALKING GROUPS
SHORT WALK Pat Greenhill 01492 516463.
Wednesday 10th December meet 10.30 a.m. at car park for BRYN EURYN RHOS ON SEA. Walk of approx. two miles on clear paths with some undulation. Lunch at Wetherspoons in Colwyn Bay. Please remember your 'Details Card'.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984610959 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
Wednesday, 3rd December - Festive Walk & Meal
Meet at 9.15 under the Flyover, if car sharing, then drive to Llandudno (West Shore) & Park at the North Wales Golf Club's car park (LL30 2DZ) or on the road nearby. We will start the walk from the car park. The walk will be approx. 4 miles long, walking up to Haulfre Gardens on the Orme for a coffee stop, then returning down towards the Golf Club for lunch. No stiles. A steady ascent & descent. Great coastal views.
The Festive menu consists of 2 courses for £23 or 3 courses for £30. Our choices of menu have been sent to the venue. Please let one of the leaders know, asap, if you have ordered food but are unable to join us.
Leaders - Kay Preston - 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett - 07984 610959
Please note - all walkers must wear suitable footwear & clothing for the walks & always bring a drink with you.
New Year Day's Walk - Thursday, 1st January
N.B. Please note start time - of 10.30 a.m.
Meet under the Flyover if car sharing at 9.30am then drive to Llangefni, Anglesey & park in the Oriel Mon car park - LL77 7TQ. The walk will be approx. 7 miles, walking through the Llangefni Nature Reserve, along boardwalks, then walking along paths & tracks around Cefni Reservoir, through the forest, returning along the disused railway back to the cars. Flatish walk except for an uphill ascent near the end of the walk (sorry!). No stiles. May be mud. Please bring a drink & picnic lunch.
Leaders: Kay Preston - 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett - 07984 6109059
BUS/TRAIN WALKS
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 December 17th Newborough Anglesey.
A seven and half mile circular walk taking in fields, forests, beach and sand dunes.
Park on the small car park on the right-hand side on Church Street, Newborough to start the walk at 10 am.
Please bring snacks and drinks and a packed lunch. Please have appropriate footwear.
Walk leaders Eve Webster 07751499817 and Janet Dibble 07733415830.