There was another good turnout at St.Martin’s Hall for what was the last meeting of 2022 as next month is our very popular Christmas lunch.
Greeted by the Chair, Alison Currah, members were informed about the new, and hopefully improved, arrangements for the AGM, in February, next year. As well as the traditional Mayoral update on all matters pertaining to Looe Council, the Committee had decided to invite Looe Harbourmaster, Tina Hicks to speak to the members about Looe Harbour Commissioners plans for the next year and beyond. The Chair explained that questions from the members may be submitted beforehand to both speakers and these, after careful vetting to adhere to the non-political ethos of the Third Age Trust, would be passed on to the speakers so that they might have time to prepare their answers. In the past it had been felt by some members that questions asked on the day had not always been answered sufficiently well. Alison explained that members had printed slips of paper upon which they could write their questions or these could also be submitted by email to chair@looeu3a.org. Members would have another opportunity to do this at the meeting in January.
Next, the Chair raised the issue of parking which had caused problems the month before with some disappointed members having to go home as there simply wasn’t room to park. She thanked committee member Chris Barwell for being the ‘car park attendant’, helping members to park ‘tidily’ and asked those present for any volunteer non-committee members to help with that next time. She also encouraged members to car share.
New members were told about the TAM magazine, copies of which were available to read, and the Chair commended committee member Yvonne Toms for appearing in the current issue (a full-page spread) talking about her time spent as a housemaid in Buckingham Palace.
In Events, the Chair explained that the Jazz night was sold out but a few tickets were still available for the coach to the Tavistock Dickensian evening, Friday December 2nd and the Christmas Lunch on Wednesday December 14th. For next March, tickets could be pre-ordered for ‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Final details for the Garden Safari were shared in Groups News, regarding their trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan to see the Christmas Lights and the Christmas Afternoon Tea at Cafe Fleur, Liskeard.
The Chair reminded members in Community News about the upcoming Remembrance Service at Looe War Memorial on Sunday 13th and assured them that a wreath would be laid on behalf of Looe & District u3a. She then told the members about Cinema by the Sea’s next film showing, a Christmas Market at St. Martin’s Hall, a Christmas Concert at Lanreath Church in December and Looe Community Pantomime, ‘Babes in the Wood’ in January.
Before introducing the morning’s speaker, raffle and coffee break, the Chair informed members that in January, the speaker would be a representative from Cornwall County Council, speaking about what happens to our recycling once it has been collected.
Following the break, Looe & District u3a members were enthralled by a most engaging speaker, John Lowe. John had stood in at the last minute for Brian Fernley who was to speak about the role of RAF Exeter during the Battle of Britain but he, unfortunately, had gone down with Covid. However, speaking on a similar topic, John told the story of ‘The Boys’; the tale of a RAF Hampden bomber which crashed on Hameldown Tor, Dartmoor, in March 1941 and John’s determined search for facts about the four airmen and how they lost their lives. John’s delivery of this fascinating tale was such that you could have heard a pin drop in the hall and after the talk which lasted for over an hour, members were visibly moved and impressed by the poignant story. The Chair reflected, in her thanks, what an appropriate talk it had been for the time of Remembrance.
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