Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 332 January 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
WISHING ALL U3A MEMBERS A VERY PEACEFUL AND HEALTHY 2025
The next social meeting will be on Thursday 16th January 2pm at Penmaenmawr Community Centre, the speaker will be Chris Lloyd from the Ogwen Mountain Rescue Service. Please come along and listen to what promises to be a very interesting talk.
TEA ROTA
| 16th January 2025 Canasta | 17th July 2025 Pickle Ball |
| 20th February 2025 Croquet | 15th August 2025 Poetry |
| 20th March 2025 Drama | 19th September 2025 Recorders |
| 17th April 2025 Film Group | 17th October 2025 Snooker |
| 15th May 2025 French | 21st November 2025 Sunday Lunches |
| 19th June 2025 Jazz Appreciation |
NEW YEAR QUIZ & RAFFLE
At the Gladstone Pub Dwygyfylchi.
2pm on Saturday 4th January 2025
Tickets £2.50 or pay on the door.
All proceeds to Cuddles.
Janet 07733415830
Email jmdibble@gmail.com
PANTO
Many thanks to those who supported the Drama Group in their recent panto – braving the particularly bad weather. A big thank you to the cast for their dedication and to all those who helped in any way. The two raffles raised a fantastic £144.00 for our current charity ‘Cuddles’.
MESSAGE FROM MARCUS BROWN
Ronald Brown, husband of Pen U3A member Margaret (d. 2020), passed away suddenly on the 6th December.
He had been showing incremental decline throughout the year. The funeral on the 20th December was attended by family, friends and former academic colleagues - he was professor of mathematics at Bangor for 30+ years. There is a memorial webpage on muchloved.com at: https://ronald-brown-1935-2024.muchloved.com/ with a link to the online video of the funeral service. Marcus Brown.
PLEA FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
If we are going to be able to continue as a u3a we urgently need more committee members. Not sure about offering and what it would involve? Have a chat with a committee member. It is YOUR u3a and needs an efficient committee to exist.
CHARITY NOMINATION FOR 2024 - 2025
Janet Dibble wishes to thank everyone for nominating Cuddles the Glan Clwyd Neonatal Charity for this year. She will be doing a monthly raffle at the Social Meetings and would be grateful of any unwanted gifts/ toiletries that could be used as raffle prizes.
GIFT AID
Gift Aid allows us to claim £2.50 for every member who pays at least £10 a year Income Tax. You do not have to disclose any financial information to us, we send only your name and postcode to HMRC.
This is a valuable income which helps to support events run for members. If you are happy for us to claim from HMRC please complete the Gift Aid Declaration which was attached to your email and send it to Liz treasurerpenu3a.com or Kay penu3amem@gmail.com
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.
With reference to the Tudor Dance Group article in the December Newsletter, Eleanor Lancaster has sent the following message “It turns out that Sandra isn’t the contact for Plas Mawr after all. It should be 03000 252239”.
DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
Please send any information for inclusion in the February newsletter to newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Monday 27th January 2025
NEWS FROM THE GROUPS
AWAYDAYS – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com
Wednesday 29th January (no walk as fifth one of the month) – meet at 11.00 a.m. at Bodafon Farm Llandudno for a tour of the Owls Trust set up. This will take around an hour and then lunch at the Brewers Fayre at approx. 12.30 p.m. There is no charge for the Owls tour but a donation would be very welcome.
Please let Pat know if you are attending, for one or both offerings.
BOARD GAMES – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com
Monday 6th January at 7.00 p.m. at the home of Jim and Angela Toogood 4 Daresbury Close Llandudno (01492 876901)
Everyone very welcome to these fun evenings but please let the host know in advance.
BOCCIA - Sue & Chris Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com
Due to lack of numbers it is not possible to continue this group at present.
If anyone else would like to take over as group leader, and perhaps make a change of time and venue, please get in touch.
BOOK GROUP – Liz McGill 07891 497562 newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com
Next meet January 9th.
BOWLS – Denise Sambrook 01492 622289 denise.sambrook45@btinternet.com.
Bowling will resume end March 2025.
BRIDGE – Chris Bryant 07845 181060 or chris.b15@outlook.com
Meet at The Split Willow, Penmaenmawr Rd, Llanfairfechan every Wednesday 10a.m. – noon. If you wish to join us, please get in touch with Chris.
CANASTA – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 patty43@btinternet.com
Saturday 18th January at 2.00 p.m. (please note later date due to other commitments) at the home of Pat Greenhill 5 Maes Madog Old Colwyn LL29 8LL (01492 516463). All welcome – we are a mixed bag of abilities, but please let the host know in advance if you are attending.
CROQUET – Sarah Andrew 07962 234857 sarahm.andrew.sa@gmail.com
The Croquet Lawns are resting for the winter so the group is suspended for a short time. We will start up again around the middle of March. Croquet is a great game most people can play. We are a jolly group who play a bit of croquet and have coffee, biscuits, and chat between 10am and 12noon on Tuesday mornings. Beginners are welcome. The cost is £6.00 per session green fee. If you are interested in coming along, please contact Sarah.
DRAMA - Nick Smith nicholasRNsmith@aol.com
This year’s panto was another success – watch the newsletter for information for the future.
FILM GROUP – Janet Dibble 07733 415830
The next meeting of the film club will be on Thursday 9th January at Coffee Vino in Craig Y Don at 1pm. Contact me via the WhatsApp group or email or mobile phone 07733 415830 Jmdibble@ gmail.com.
FRENCH – Valerie Evans 01492 622009
The French Group will meet on 9th and 23rd January.
HOLIDAYS – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com.
Trying to source a walking holiday.
JAZZ APPRECIATION - Mike Howard 01248 208914
Every Monday at the Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside 7.30.p.m. Traditional Jazz one week and Modern Jazz the next. For more details contact Mike.
NATIONAL TRUST VISITS – Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com
We will leave these visits now until the Spring.
PICKLE BALL – Eleri Evans 01248 680408 or 07525 652399 eleri.evans@btinternet.com
We meet once a week - every Thursday 10-12 in the Town Hall Llanfairfechan.
POETRY – Linda Rylance 01492 640386
The next meeting will be January 20th. The subject will be Family Life.
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 Monday 2 p.m. in the Penmaenmawr Community Centre Snooker room. Anyone interested please ring Mike.
SUNDAY LUNCHES – Linda Jackson 01492 548920
Sunday 12th January 2025 at Home from Home, Penrhyn Bay. MEAL TIME 1.00pm
Roasts £18.95, small £16.11 plus Menu. (Advised prices may increase). Please contact Judy Hughes on 01492 549861.
Sunday 9th February at The Station Hotel, Llandudno Junction. Meal Time 1pm.
One course £10.50, two courses £19.95 plus Menu. Please contact Jennie Bilton on 01492 533637.
TAI CHI KUNG – Yvonne Ede 07897 659830
I am pleased to inform you that Tai Chi classes will resume at the Community Centre in Penmaenmawr on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 11am.
TABLE TENNIS - Chris Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com.
Fridays 10.00a.m. – noon in the Community Centre, Penmaenmawr.
Restarting in the New Year on January 10th.
At the end-of year tournament on December 20th the winning doubles pair were Ruth Connolly & David Chamberlayne. Two pairs tied for second position: Jan Palmer & Steve Albinson and Ann Chamberlayne & Sue Foulkes. Following the spinning of a bat, Ann & Sue were declared runners-up.
THEATRE VISITS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com
FOR INFO (Pat away) Wednesday 5th February 7.00 p.m. Theatr Colwyn recording of NT Live ‘Macbeth’ with David Tennant.
Thursday 6th March 7.00 p.m. Theatr Colwyn NT Live ‘The Importance of being Ernest’ Tickets max £15.50.
UKELELE - Sue Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com
Wednesdays10.15 – noon fortnightly in the Split Willow Llanfairfechan.
January dates are 15th and 29th.
WELSH CONVERSATION - Eleri Evans 07525 652399
This group meet on Thursdays12.15 to 1.15 p.m. at The Seagrass Restaurant Llanfairfechan.
WALKING GROUPS
SHORT WALK Pat Greenhill (01492 516463)
Wednesday 8th January meet at 10.30 a.m. on the roadside outside the Fairy Glen PH in Capelulo. Walk of around 2 miles (bring a drink for the break). Snack type of eating at The Gladstone.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984 610989 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
BUS/TRAIN WALKS
Wednesday 22 January
Catch the train at Llandudno Junction Station at 10.25am to Roman Bridge for 5 mile walk back to Dolwyddelan via the castle. Picnic lunch. Leaders: Kay Preston - (01492)544559 and Jean Dorsett - 07984 610989.
MEDIUM WALKS Kay Preston 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett 07984 610989
Medium walk Wednesday January 15th 2025
Circular Walk of about 6 miles. Walk starts at 10am.Park in the carpark opposite The Plough Pub in Old Colwyn or on Station Road. The walk is up via the golf course to Lysfaen then circling round the village and back down into Old Colwyn. There is one stile near the brewery. The walk is a bit up and down over fields and lanes.
Please bring picnic lunch, snacks and drinks.
Walk leaders
Eve Webster 07751499817
Janet Dibble 07733415830
We don’t have anyone to lead the Medium Walk for Wednesday February 19th. If anyone would like to volunteer to lead then please get in touch with Janet or Eve. Thank you.