St Austell u3a November 2025 Newsletter
The clocks have gone back, the leaves are changing colour and falling, autumn has truly arrived. This is the perfect time to try a new group or to encourage friends to join St Austell u3a. We now have over 460 members and over 40 interest groups with more coming soon! (See below).
Christmas Event – A Date for your Diary
Our Christmas event is less than 4 weeks away on December 4th and preparations are well under way. Let’s get in the festive spirit and wear our Christmas jumpers on the day. If you could bring your own cup for “mulled wine” that would be most helpful. Doors will open at 9.30 am as usual and “the show” will start at 10.30 and should finish about 12.30. Please ensure that you arrive in plenty of time, and be prepared for some audience participation! Tea, Coffee Mince Pies & Mulled Wine will be served.
Speakers
Our November speaker on 6th November was a double bill! Steph Good from Neighbourhood Watch gave a talk about the charity. How and when it started and the roles it has today.
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Our next speaker on 6th November is a double bill! Mark Grey Chair of the Arts Centre Trustees, will give brief talk about the Arts Centre itself which will be followed by Steph Good from Neighbourhood Watch.
If you are interested in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch group where you live or would like more information. Please contact Steph:
Mark Grey Chair of the Arts Centre Trustees, gave brief talk about the Arts Centre. Its history and how it has evolved up to now and a preview of events coming soon.
Social Events
The Social Group crossed the Tamar (again!) on 22nd October for a trip to The House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey.
Everyone enjoyed seeing the glass blowing, marble runs, shop and lunch in the cafe. This was followed by a stop at the Endsleigh Garden Centre at Ivybridge.
Groups
Debating Group – The first meeting is on 19th November, more members welcome. CONTACT:
Italian Beginners – The first meeting is on 11th November. CONTACT:
These are new groups coming soon as follows:-
Pilates – Although a number of members have expressed an interest in a Pilates group, unfortunately it has not been possible to find a qualified teacher who is able to supervise the group so we are unable to proceed.
Travel/Holiday Group
The group have just returned from an 8 day tour of Puglia in Southern Italy. Thanks to Karen Scott, photos of the trip have been posted daily on our Social Media accounts.
Here are some of the group enjoying some Italian sun!
This is the last of many u3a trips to be organised by Roger Jones. Thank you Roger for making these trips so enjoyable for those who have joined you. For 2026 we need a volunteer to help organise future trips.
Knitting & Crochet
The group has now met for the fourth time and is establishing itself as a really warm and enjoyable social group with everyone sharing and swapping ideas.
The group will shortly be opening up to other hand sewing needle crafts as well as Knitting and Crochet. For instance cross-stitch, embroidery, hand patchwork anything hand sewing related, and will then be renamed “Knit, Stitch and Crochet”. CONTACT:
Theatre Group
Members of the Theatre Group attended the Arts Centre on Friday 24th October for “Posting Letters to the Moon”
A look back at an exchange of letters between Celia Johnson and Peter Fleming. The letters were read by their daughter Lucy Fleming and her husband Simon Williams, and gave an insight into a young mother’s life coping during the war and tell of Celia Johnson’s experience of filming with Noel Coward, David Lean and her thoughts while making the classic film Brief Encounter in 1945.
Happy Snappers
Kay Armstrong had the original idea for this group during Covid and has contiued to run the group since. The standard of photography from the group has been outstanding.
Each month the top 3 photos are added to their webpage. https://staustellu3a.org/happy-snappers
Kay will be pasing over the leadership to Alan Kimberley from January 2026.
Wine Appreciation
Their November wine tasting of “Wines for Christmas” was held at Ellis Wharton Wines in Indian Queens and was shared with some members of Newquay u3a. It was great to share an event with another u3a.
Short Walks
Unfortunately the short walk on Friday 24th October was cancelled due to the forecasted high winds.
The November walk is on the 28th November and will be a walk from Padstow of approx. 2 and a half miles which will take around one and a half hours.
Travellers’ Tales
Please note there is no group meeting in December.
Don’t forget to tell me of any interesting events your Group may have participated in and include photos whenever possible. I am sure all members would enjoy hearing about them in this newsletter.
If you are a Social Media user please follow St Austell u3a on:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/StAustellU3A
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staustell_u3a/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/@StAustellU3A
Please don’t forget to: Follow, Like, Share and Repost.
Chris Crane
