Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 355 November 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
Membership Renewal is now due. For those who have not renewed already, the following options are available:
The membership fee is £10.00. This covers our membership year from 1st September to 31st August. If you have paid your full fee for this year to another u3a branch, your membership fee to Penmaenmawr u3a is £6.00. Membership fees are reduced to £5 for new members joining from April onwards.
RENEWALS
Payment by BACS, Sort Code: 20-51-23. Account number 60030910. As reference, please give the full name of everyone you are paying for. Please email the membership secretary, penu3amem@gmail.com with any changes to your details.
Online via https://penmaenmawru3a.org.uk/join%20us/ Follow the links. You will need to register for access to the members portal with your unique membership number. See top of email.
Cheques are still accepted. Post to Membership Secretary, Angorfa, Chapel Street, Penmaenmawr, LL34 6PA. Please write your name and address on the back of the cheque. Make cheques payable to Penmaenmawr & District U3A.
The free monthly newsletter will be emailed to you. It is also possible to read or download the newsletter (reducing printing cost) from the website: www.penmaenmawru3a.org.uk. Alternatively, you can have copies sent by post. The cost for 12 issues will be £13.50 to cover the postage costs. Please send a cheque, made payable to Penmaenmawr & District u3a, with details of your name and address, to penu3a@gmail.com or contact Liz 07891 497562.
MESSAGE FROM JANET DIBBLE
I am writing to thank everyone for their effort and time; donated money and gave raffle prizes to raise the grand total of £2,260 for the chosen charity Papyrus UK.
Unfortunately, in September Papyrus UK went into administration and closed down the phone lines. So, the money that was raised over the past 12 months will go to a similar Charity, Suicide Prevention UK (SPUK) who are also a National Charity run by volunteers to offer a listening ear to help people in what could be their darkest hour.
NEW CHARITY FOR 2026/27
At the AGM in October the new charity voted in was Maggie’s offering support to those living with cancer, their relatives and friends - this is situated in the grounds of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, People can just drop in or attend groups run specifically for those suffering from particular types of cancer.
The Bring and Buy stall at the AGM raised £44.40 for this cause.
Early in 2027 it is hoped that a group of up to 15 members will be able to visit their premises, when more information about their activities will be available.
IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO ‘THAT TIME OF THE YEAR'
With Christmas not too far away we are once again offering the opportunity to place a personal message/greeting in the December newsletter, thereby saving you the cost of Christmas cards, postage and the sheer hassle.
Messages and donations should be sent/given to Janet Dibble please by latest 20th November - with many thanks.
PANTO
Tickets are now available for our latest panto ‘Red Riding Hood’ to be held at 2.00 p.m. on
THURSDAY 3rd December and 7.30 p.m. on FRIDAY 4th December. Entrance is still only £6.50 to include a glass of wine/soft drink. Last year the matinee was particularly popular, so get your tickets from members of the cast or Pat on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
PRINTING FOR GROUPS
We have now purchased an eco-tank printer. This is a new type of printer that is now on the market. The purchase cost was a fraction of the annual rental of the old machine. It does not use cartridges. Ink comes in bottles which are emptied into tanks. This will give us considerable savings in future.
It has been decided that as Liz and Alan McGill are our Tech Team, managing the web site etc. they will carry out printing now for all Pen u3a groups, including drama. Ruth Connolly will continue to take responsibility for producing and distributing the newsletter.
Any Group leader, or event organiser, needing to print material can send it to penu3a@gmail.com or contact Liz 07891 497562.
SOCIAL MEETING 19th NOVEMBER
The speaker at this meeting will be Emma Joyce talking about Venue Cymru Theatre History and experiences.
TEA ROTA
| November Film & Theatre | December Committee |
| January Jazz Appreciation | February Pickleball |
WEBSITE
If you have a photograph of members enjoying an event or activity organised by our u3a please email them to penweb33@gmail.com to be used on our website. These files are often too large to appear in the newsletter but the website gives us more flexibility. Thank you, Alan, and Liz McGill.
NEWSLETTER
Please send any information for inclusion in the November 2026 newsletter to newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Wednesday 25th November 2026
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.
ALL GOODS BELOW NEW AND NEVER USED
RUSSELL HOBBS 700w Sandwich Maker
Boxed. Stainless steel/Black. £20
SLUMBERDOWN DUVET 13.3 TOG. £7.50
SMART DESIGNER SUITCASES - 3 different sizes fit into 1 larger.
Beautiful fabric and nice internal fittings. All with combination locks
Light maroon̈ colour. £30
Interested to view phone Anthea: 01492 544683
GROUPS
AWAYDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
Friday 20th November at 7.30 p.m. 'Good Things' a comedy produced by Llanfairfechan Players at the Town Hall Llanfairfechan - tickets £12 - please contact me to go on list for tickets - we hope to arrange to eat beforehand (probably Fairy Glen in Capelulo) - numbers needed for that of course.
Advance notice of the CAROL SERVICE in St Mary's Church Conwy - this year it's MONDAY 21st December. As usual we will indulge ourselves at Archway Fish and Chip cafe - meeting there at 6.00 p.m. Please let me know if you intend to eat, as the numbers need to be booked (patty43@btinternet.com).
BOOK GROUP – Liz McGill 07891 497562 treasurerpenu3a@gmail.com
Our next meeting will be Thursday 26th November 2pm at The Gladstone, Dwygyfylchi. We will be talking about Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things”. All welcome.
BOWLS – Denise Sambrook 01492 622289 denise.sambrook45@btinternet.com. Bowls has finished for the 2026 season now and will resume in Spring 2027.
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 has closed for the season now. We will start again on approximately Tuesday 16th March 2027 at 10am depending on the weather. We play at Llanfairfechan Croquet Club right next to Llanfairfechan Railway Station. We are a friendly group and croquet turns out to be a highly amusing sport! We play for about one and a half hours and have tea/coffee and biscuits.
Come along and give it a try. The cost is £6.00 green fee. Sarah Andrew 07962234857 or llancroquet@gmail.com
DRAMA - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 patty43@btinternet.com
Everyone involved in the latest panto - a reminder that rehearsals take place at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays plus Sunday 29th November.
FILM and THEATRE GROUP – Janet Dibble 07733 415830
This will continue via our WhatsApp group. Anyone wanting to join please message Janet Dibble 07733415830 or email me jmdibble@gmail.com
HOLIDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
Holiday with Alfa Coaches to Torquay for four nights from 8th February 2027, based on dinner bed and breakfast. - cost £299.00. This is one of their solo tours, so all rooms are for single occupancy without supplement.
At the time of writing there were a few rooms left, albeit we have already taken up about half the coach!!! Please contact Pat to book, accompanied by £25.00 for the deposit.
JAZZ APPRECIATION - Mike Howard 01248 208914 or 07881591415
Every Monday at the Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside 7.30pm. 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. Pickleball is a very popular, energetic, and fun sport, consequently we are now up to capacity. There is a waiting list and if anyone should leave then Eleri will be in touch. However, if anyone wanted to start another group, they would be very welcome and Eleri would be happy to speak to them about this.
POETRY READING – Pauline Stacey 01492 621243
Our next meeting will be on Monday 16th November at 10am until noon in Penmaenmawr Library. The theme this month will be "War and Peace". New members are welcome. Please note: Every member contributes £1. 50 at each meeting they attend and this pays towards the hire of the library. There is no break for coffee but you are welcome to bring a flask.
RECORDERS – enquiries Penrecorders@hotmail.com
Meet 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 2-4pm at Noddfa Retreat Centre.
SNOOKER – Mike Round 01492 244103
Meeting every Monday2pm 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.
N.B. There will be no class on Tuesday 3rd November
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 10.15-12.00 noon fortnightly in The Split Willow Llanfairfechan.
WELSH CONVERSATION - Eleri Evans 07525 652399
Group meet on Thursdays12.15-1.15pm at The Seagrass Restaurant Llanfairfechan.
WALKING GROUPS
SHORT WALK Pat Greenhill 01492 516463.
Wednesday 11th November meet 10.30 a.m. on roadside nearest to Dr's Surgery on main road Glan Conwy for a walk of 2/3 miles with some inclines. Probably eat at Snowdonia Nurseries.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984610959 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
Wednesday 4th November
Please meet under the Flyover if car sharing at 9.15 a.m., then drive to St Asaph & park in The Plough car park where we will have lunch - Sat Nav: LL17 0LU. The walk will be 3.5 miles long, walking along the riverbank, across fields & tracks. Maybe sheep/cattle. 3 or 4 stiles. Mostly flat, a little uneven ground. There is a choice of menu - please see Kay for the Menu & a £10 Deposit is needed a week before please.
Leaders - Jean Dorsett - 07984510959 & Kay Preston - 01492 544558
Wednesday 2nd December & Festive Meal
Please meet for the walk & park near The Lifeboat Sation, Llandudno - nearer the Little Orme (Sat Nav: LL30 3AA). We will walk up towards Penrhynside; Further details to follow. After the walk, we will drive to Llandudno, & park at the Gwesty Links Hotel - Sat Nav: LL30 1PN.
The Menu is attached (Please note that we have had a reduction in the Gwesty Links price). 2 courses will be £22.95 & 3 courses £27.95 A £10 Deposit is needed + your choice of menu before 22nd November.
Leaders - Kay Preston - 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett - 07984510959
Please note - that Jean & Kay have been Co-ordinators for the Pub/Grub Walking Group for 7/8 years. Would anyone else like to take the role over? We feel it is time for someone new to take this lovely group on its journey from 2027. If interested please contact one of us.
BUS/TRAIN WALKS Maria Duda Tel: (01492) 879074
Wednesday 25th November - be at the bus stop at Llandudno Junction/Conwy Flyover by 9.40 a.m. to catch the No. 5 to Conwy Hospital, thereafter walking to skirt Conwy Mountain, onwards over the Sychnant Pass and eventually to Dwygyfylchi and catch the No. 5 back. Distance 4/5 miles.
MEDIUM WALKS Eve Webster 07751499817 & Janet Dibble 07733415830
The walk for October was cancelled due to bad weather so we will try again on the 18th November.
The medium walk for November will be a circular walk from the train station at Dolwyddelan. We will walk by the railway line then up through forest and moorland. Across the A470 and past Roman Bridge Station. We then go up to a farm and over to Dolwyddelan Castle and back into Dolwyddelan. There are stiles and gates and there will be boggy areas and mud. The walk maybe shortened or adapted depending on the weather.
Walk leaders Eve 07751499817
Janet 07733415830
Please have suitable footwear and clothing and bring snacks and drinks and a picnic lunch. Walk starts at 10am