Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 344 January 2026
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.
Apologies from the Newsletter Editor for the mistake last month. (If you spotted it!!)
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
ANNUAL QUIZ AND RAFFLE
2pm Saturday 24th January 2026 at The Gladstone Pub LL34 6PS ticket £2.50 Everyone welcome.
DRAMA GROUP
The Drama Group would like to thank members, friends, and others for their wonderful support for this year's panto 'Sleeping Beauty …… with a twist'. Apart from the success of the panto itself, we managed to raise, via the raffles, a fantastic £224.00 for our current charity Papyrus. Thanks also go to the cast, directors etc. and everyone who helped in any way.
be gladly accepted.
JEAN DEVEREAUX
It is with sadness we learn of the sudden passing of our member Jean Devereaux - she was a loyal supporter of the Thursday Social Meetings. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
JANUARY SOCIAL MEETING
We are at Penmaenmawr Community Centre on Thursday 15th January 2026 at 2pm when our speaker will be Jo Jones-Hayes talking about St David’s Hospice. This should be an interesting talk and we look forward to welcoming everyone.
TEA ROTA
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.
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Please send any information for inclusion in the February 2026 newsletter to newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Monday 26th January 2026.
TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to the winners of the end-of-year tournament, Ann Chamberlayne & Steve Parrish, and to the runners-up Jan Palmer and Derek Weaver.
GROUPS
AWAYDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
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 is on its winter shut down. We will start again on Tuesday 17th March 2026 providing the weather is acceptable. We play every Tuesday morning at 10am at the Croquet Club on Shore Road Llanfairfechan (next to Llanfairfechan Railway Station). We are a friendly group and after playing we have tea/coffee and biscuits. The cost is £6.00 per session. Please contact Sarah on 07962234857 or llancroquet@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us.
DRAMA - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 patty43@btinternet.com
Friday 20th January is our get together for lunch. Unfortunately, the Tynedale Hotel is not open that day so The Links in Llandudno has been suggested. There is plenty of parking. Please contact Pat 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com to confirm your attendance.
Arrangements for a play reading in February are ongoing - hopefully in Penmaenmawr library.
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.
Monday 23rd February for four nights - a break with Alpha Coaches (a change of coach involved after the initial pick up) to hotel near Fort William with trips to Loch Ness and Skye. Half Board costing £299.00 - this is a 'solo' holiday so no supplement for single use of rooms. More information on Alpha website. There MAY still be availability, but please contact Pat by Friday 2nd January to check for booking. Deposit of £50 required.
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
We meet 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
Alan Collins, who has led the Recorder Group for 16 years, is stepping down as leader as from January, 2026. There will be a meeting at Noddfa in early January for a discussion on the future of the group and we sincerely hope that it will continue under a new leader. The results of our discussions will be given to the Chairman and presented for the next newsletter.
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. Starting 2026 on January 10th.
UKELELE - Sue Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com Wednesdays 10.15-12.00 noon fortnightly in The Split Willow Llanfairfechan. Next Sessions January 14th and 28th.
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 14th January meet 10.30 a.m. in car park opposite The Plough PH in Old Colwyn for walk of approx. 2 miles mainly on the flat, taking in Fairy Glen and other delights of Old Colwyn. Bring a drink - lunch or snack at Gillian's cafe.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984610959 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
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
Wednesday, 4th February
Meet under the Flyover if car sharing at 9.30am then drive to Caffi Siabod, Betws y Coed (on the road towards Capel Curig) Sat Nav: LL24 0EL, for a 5.5-mile walk. Undulating paths & tracks. 3 or 4 stiles. Maybe mud. Lunch at the cafe about 1.30 p.m. Leaders: Kay Preston - 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett - 07984 610959
BUS/TRAIN WALKS
Wednesday, 28 January. Catch the 9.25am No 5 bus at Llandudno Junction flyover to
Felinheli. Fairly flat walk of 4-5 miles along coast path to Caernarfon. Picnic lunch. Leader: Maria Duda Tel: (01492) 879074
MEDIUM WALKS Eve Webster 07751499817 & Janet Dibble 07733415830
Wednesday January 21st on the Great Orme. It will be led by Sean Gavin and promises to be an interesting and informative walk.
The walk will begin from TYN Y COED ROAD on the Great Orme. Please park on the road leading off TY GWYN ROAD.
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.