St Austell u3a November 2024 Newsletter
I start this newsletter with the sad news that Joan Mitchell our oldest member who had celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Tuesday 5th November. Joan had been a member of St Austell u3a for many years and she will be sadly missed by those of us who knew her.
Joan’s funeral will be held at 13.30 on Tuesday 3rd December at Glynn Valley Crematorium, Bodmin, all are welcome.
Committee
We still urgently need to recruit an Assistant Treasurer to help Heather Lovegrove. You do not need to be a qualified accountant, just good with numbers. Please contact:
Christmas Party
Our Christmas Party will be held on Thursday December 5th at the Arts Centre. Doors will NOT open until 9.30 am (Please do not arrive early). Free mince pies and non-alcoholic mulled wine will be served until 10.15.
The “show” will commence at 10.30 with a full program of “acts” until 12.45. Full details are also attached and can also be viewed HERE.
NB There will be no facilities to take any payments for Trips, PPC’s etc on this day.
2025 Membership Renewals 9th January
We would normally hold our membership renewal day on the first Thursday of the month in lieu of a speaker. Next year this would fall on the 2nd January. The Committee has therefore decided that we will move this on a week to the 9th January.
Despite a significant increase in our rent at the Arts Centre and the general inflationary costs which affect us all, the Committee has decided to freeze the 2025 membership at £20.00 for the year. I hope you feel this is excellent value.
However, we have also decided that it will be necessary to make an additional small charge to those members who wish to receive a physical copy of the TAM magazine. (It is available free of charge to read on-line. https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters/screen-reader-editions)
Please remember that BACS is the most efficient and cost effective method of payment. Further details will follow.
Speakers
Our November Speaker was Karen Butfield from Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Karen gave us a great insight into the operation and logistics of this vital service which we are so lucky to have here in Cornwall.
We have received a lovely thank you letter from Cornwall Hospice Care thanking us for the £266.07 donation following their talk in October which I have also attached with this email, or it can be viewed HERE.
As above, there is no Speaker on December 5th as we will be holding our Christmas Party.
Groups
Unfortunately, the Drama Group and the Poetry Group have both ceased due to lack of support.
Social Group
The Social Groups latest event open to all members was a Nautical Evening with entertainment by The Press Gang.
Theatre Group
Thirty Three members of the Theatre Group had a backstage tour of The Hall for Cornwall followed by a cream tea!
Short Walks
The next walk is on 22nd November and is around Padstow. For details contact:
Painting for Pleasure
This group has been busy producing artwork themed on Autumn, Kitchen still life, Pots and Bottles and Fireworks.
They enjoy working from a different topic every month and are a cheerful enthusiastic bunch of artists. More examples of their work can be seen on the website HERE.
Traveller’s Tales
The next meeting will be on Friday 6th December when Maryanne Thomas will be giving a talk about the Elephants of Namibia.
Travel Group
The group all enjoyed their trip to Montenegro in October.
Next year’s trip will be to Puglia, one of my personal favourite places in Italy.
Other Event Information
Members of Lostwithiel u3a Photography Group are taking part in an exhibition in Lambs Gallery, Lostwithiel from December 16th to 22nd featuring photographs and paintings.
Cornwall branch of the Classical Association has been recently launched. It as an online forum to begin with but eventually it is hoped to host in person events. The inaugural lecture is a free online format with Professor Edith Hall talking about Medea. They are looking to reach as many people in Cornwall as possible who may have an interest on the classical world.
Please see the link for more details: https://linktr.ee/cornwallclassicalassociation
Please do tell me of interesting events your Group may have participated in, I am sure all members would enjoy hearing about them in this newsletter.
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Best Wishes
Chris Crane
