Penmaenmawr & District u3a
Newsletter No 352 August 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
MESSAGE FROM JANET DIBBLE
The nominated Charity for 2025/2026 is PAPYRUS UK. This Charity helps with the prevention of young suicide. They have an ongoing emergency appeal to help keep their life saving helpline open throughout the night. I am hoping to raise money to help keep open HOPELINE247 for young people who are in crisis during the darkest hours.
If anyone has any unwanted gifts or items that can be used for raffle prizes they will always be gladly accepted.
OBITUARIES
ALLAN COLLINS
It is with great sadness we report the sudden passing of Allan Collins. Allan was the leader and prominent player in our very well established and highly regarded Recorder Group. He ran the group with huge motivation and skill for many years until stepping down recently. His enthusiasm and playing will be missed as well as his involvement in other groups. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
MARGARET FOWDEN
Margaret suffered a severe stroke recently which resulted in her death on 7th July. She had been an enthusiastic member of the country dancing and other groups in the past and her smile and twinkling eyes will certainly be missed. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
WALKING HISTORY TREASURE HUNT
To make the Drama Group more sociable, we are organising different events. Our skittles evening was a success and now we are offering a WALKING HISTORY TREASURE HUNT IN BANGOR. Our numbers are limited but we can open it up to a few members who are not currently involved with the group. It's on TUESDAY 1st September starting at 1.30 p.m. culminating with food, possibly alfresco, dependent upon weather. Meet at the second free car park (on the right-hand side of the road near to the petrol station) past the Nelson PH on the left in Bangor.
The charge will be a mere £1 and to BOOK YOUR PLACE (necessary as limited spaces) and/or find out more please contact Pat on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com. It's all about fun but stretching the brain at the same time.
DRAMA GROUP
A date for diaries - the panto will be staged on the afternoon of Thursday 3rd December and the evening of Friday 4th December - we'd love to see you there.
By the way we are always looking for new members for our friendly group, which includes social events as well as drama productions. Contact Pat on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com.
WALKING HOLIDAY
Wednesday 7th October for four nights on a dinner bed and breakfast basis staying at the Hand Hotel in Llangollen. The cost for twins (no doubles) is £380 per person - there is a possibility of a single at £420 per person. A £10 non-returnable deposit is required on booking and the balance payable 14 days prior to start of holiday. Contact Pat on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com for information or booking please.
NEW WALKING GROUP
As from the 1st May the former “Friendly Ramblers” will be joining up with Pen u3a. We walk every Sunday, weather permitting. The walks start at 10.30 am. We offer a variety of walks, long and short and of different levels to try and suit everyone. Sometimes we visit a National Trust Venue or an Open Gardens Event instead.
We never know until a few days before what walk/activity we will be doing so we keep in contact with members via email and a WhatsApp group. Please get in touch with Eve or Janet to join the WhatsApp group. Can everyone make sure that you are a paid member of Pen u3a. As with all the walking groups we are always looking for new walks and for people to offer to help lead a walk or suggest places to go each Sunday.
PENMAENMAWR QUARRY TRIP
The last of the ever-popular coach trips up the quarry for this season, with Ron WatsonJones as the expert guide has been arranged for the evening of Wednesday 12 August.
Tickets are £15 per person, and can be purchased via Eventbrite link:
Penmaenmawr Museum Quarry Coach Trip Tickets, Wednesday, August 12 • 6:15 PM - 8:45 PM | Eventbrite
Tickets can also be purchased at our museum shop, Cynefin, at 1 Oxford Arcade, Penmaenmawr.
WEBSITE
Do you have any photos of our u3a events?
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 September 2026 newsletter to newsletterpenu3a@gmail.com by Tuesday 25th August 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.
GROUPS
AWAYDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
BOOK GROUP – Liz McGill 07891 497562 treasurerpenu3a@gmail.com
The Book Group will have a break over the summer. Our next meeting will be Thursday
September 10th 2pm at The Gladstone, Dwygyfylchi. At this meeting we will discuss both The Night Circus and The Secrets of Flowers. Plenty of reading to occupy us over July and August.
BOWLS – Denise Sambrook 01492 622289 denise.sambrook45@btinternet.com.
Bowls have a full complement of members now but if you would like your name on the waiting list please contact Denise.
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
We meet at Llanfairfechan Croquet Club, West Shore, LL33 0BP at 10am every Tuesday. We are a friendly, fun group and absolute beginners are most welcome. We play some easy croquet and have tea/coffee and biscuits. The cost is £6 per person green fee. Contact Sarah on 07962234857 or sarahm.andrew.sa@gmail.com or just turn up.
DRAMA - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463 patty43@btinternet.com
To make the group more sociable we are now offering a walking history treasure hunt in Bangor on TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - details in main body of newsletter. Those who put their names down at the Skittles session have already got a place.
We hope to start rehearsals for the panto mid-October – yes, a script is in the process of being written and we need everyone to take part – please.
FILM and THEATRE GROUP – Janet Dibble 07733 415830
We will keep in contact via the WhatsApp group over the summer. Anyone wanting to join our WhatsApp group please get in touch with Janet Dibble 07733415830.
HOLIDAYS - Pat Greenhill 01492 516463
Wednesday 7th October for four nights on a dinner bed and breakfast basis staying at the Hand Hotel in Llangollen. The cost for twins (no doubles) is £380 per person - there is a possibility of a single at £420 per person. A £10 non-returnable deposit is required on booking and the balance payable 14 days prior to start of holiday. Contact Pat on 01492 516463 or patty43@btinternet.com for information or booking please.
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
There will be no meeting in August and we will resume again on Monday 21st September when the theme will be Animals (Mammals).
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.
TABLE TENNIS - Chris Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com.
Fridays 10-12noon in the Community Centre, Penmaenmawr.
Summer break – see the September Newsletter for a restart date.
The Table Tennis group end-of-season tournament on July 17th was won by Marion Gash and Graham Argent who beat Anna Tucker and Steve Albinson in the final. (see photos below)
UKELELE - Sue Wensley 01248 680637 or cdwensley.u3a@btinternet.com
Wednesdays 10.15-12.00 noon fortnightly in The Split Willow Llanfairfechan.
On July 22nd the Ukelele Group entertained the residents of Llys y Coed residential home in Llanfairfechan.
We played 16 songs, and the residents enjoyed singing along.
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.
Apologies but NO WALK this month due to unforeseen circumstances. Up and running again in September.
PUB GRUB WALKS Jean Dorsett 07984610959 & Kay Preston 01492 544558
Wednesday, 5th August
Meet under the Flyover at 9.15am if car-sharing, then drive towards Denbigh & a mile from the Denbigh roundabout - out towards Ruthin, park in the Brookhouse Mill car park - Sat Nav:
LL26 4RD. The walk will be an undulating walk of about 5 miles, over meadows & tracks. There are 6 stone stiles & a wobbly wooden fence (Pics attached). Lovely countryside views. May be mud. May be cattle/sheep in fields. The number of walkers/diners is strictly restricted to 20 - so please book your place as soon as possible. We are able to choose our meal on the day. We will have a private room upstairs in the pub.
Leaders: Kay Preston - 01492 544558 & Jean Dorsett - 07984510959
Wednesday, 2nd September - WALKER'S ANNUAL MEETING
If car sharing - meet at 9.20 a.m. under the Flyover. Then drive to the White Lion Pub, Llanelian, Old Colwyn - Sat Nav: LL29 8YA, for a 5 mile walk on paths & tracks. Undulating with stiles. There will be a meeting after lunch to discuss future walks in 2027. If you are joining us for the walk &/or the meeting, could you please let one of the leaders know so we know numbers before 28th August. Further details to follow.
Leaders: Jean Dorsett - 07984610959 & Kay Preston - 01492 544558
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 26th August.
Catch the 10am No 19 bus at Llandudno Junction flyover to Trefriw for a flat walk of about 4 miles to Llanrwst across the Conwy Valley via the "cob" and riverbank. Return by train. Picnic lunch etc. Leader: Maria Duda Tel: (01492) 879074.
MEDIUM WALKS Eve Webster 07751499817 & Janet Dibble 07733415830 Wednesday 19th August 10am start.
Janet and Eve will lead an approx. 6 mile walk starting at the carpark on Aberforeshore Rd in Caernarvon. We will go along the coastal path then across fields and along lanes, there are a couple of stiles to navigate. We then go past Fron Goch Garden Centre and return to Caernarvon on the footpath next to the railway line.
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear and bring a picnic, snacks and water.
Directions for start point.
On reaching Caernarvon continue along the A487 signposted Portmadoc, go past Tesco on the right, when you reach the roundabout go straight on then turn right and right again down Coed Helen Road to reach the coastal road and carpark on the left.
The walk starts at 10am. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear and bring a picnic, snacks and water.