March 2025 Main Meeting

Minutes of the Main Meeting 12th March, St Martin’s Hall, beginning at 10am.

Marilyn King (acting chair for this meeting) welcomed all to the meeting, new guest Gaby Klinger, and guest, Val Perry.

Alison Currah & Peter King were thanked as the ‘greeters’ and the usual safety and fire regulations were given with the assistance of Pauline Trehane. Rod Pritchard was thanked for carrying out the Fire Safety check each month

Chair

In the absence of a Chair, Marilyn introduced Peter King as joint acting Chair for this meeting.  Peter introduced himself as a member of long standing, since 1994, who led the Astronomy Group. Joined the Committee in 2000 and quickly became Chairman. As a double-act with Marilyn, he announced that currently our u3a was acting under ‘recycled’ Chairmen whilst actively looking for a new Chair. He hoped the meeting would be enjoyed by all.

Marilyn reminded members that subscriptions are now due. £17 per annum to be paid to Membership Secretary, Angie Cadman.

Many thanks were given to Alison Currah and Dot Dunning for the production of the new u3a Programme of Events & Speaker 2025-26.

Space is required to store our u3a Noticeboards and any offers would be gratefully received.

Events

The recent Beetle Drive held on 22nd February was a great success. Photos are currently on our website.

Tickets on sale this month:

Swedish Night with Abba Disco, Swedish supper – Saturday 15th March, £10. Only two tickets remain.

Tour of the Recycling Centre, Bodmin, 10th April, – now Full.

Guided Tour of the Plymouth Aquarium,  May 12th, Own transport. Café for lunch. £8.  7 tickets remain

Theatre Royal Plymouth to see ‘Only Fools and Horses’, May 22nd – 1 ticket remains.

Theatre Royal Plymouth – ‘Calamity Jane’, July 17th, Own transport. Tickets £40

Groups News

Poetry Group:  Iris Ward announced that the group would now meet on the 1st Monday of each month.

Garden Safari Group: Paula Roy announced a trip to Antony Woodland, Tuesday 18th March. Those attending should meet in the Woodland Car Park (not the main house car park) at 10.20am. Price of entry will vary, depending on numbers attending, so please bring change. Price will be £20, or £12.50. Lunch afterwards at the Finnygook Inn, who require menu choices beforehand. Anyone unsure of the directions, meet Paula in St. Martin’s Car Park @ 9.45am on the morning of the trip.

Community News

March 26th – 29th, The Tudor Players present ‘The Ladykillers’, in Looe Guildhall Chamber. £10 per ticket, only available online with QR code available on flyers, or Noticeboard. Cash Bar available.

Saturday 22nd March, Community meal, 12 noon – 2.00pm. £5 to include Soup, Roll, Pudding and drink.

Cinema by the Sea, Community Hub. Wednesday 19th, 7.00pm for 7.30pm – Film: ‘Small Things Like These’.

Sharon Cotton introduced a new concept for a Community Hub in West Looe, ‘Ebron Studios’. Planning permission is currently being sought for a Community Hub supporting a variety of artists from all mediums, studios, housing for the Looe Shedders, plus a central area for people to socialise, engage, and connect. Also hosting gallery events. Leaflets made available for members to support the planning application with barcode: PA25/00471

AOB

There was no AOB.

Raffle

Thanks were given to Jackie Fletcher who stood in for Sue Bird, and organised the raffle prizes this month. The raffle was then drawn.

Next Month’s Speaker: Stephen Lay – ‘The Darker Side of Mining’.

Following coffee, the speaker, Prof. Kevin Channer, conducted an interactive court case, ‘Guilty of Manslaughter?’

The meeting concluded at 12 noon.