The University of the Third Age (U3A) Carrick (From Boating Cornwall)

The University of the Third Age (U3A) Carrick

PERRANWELL VILLAGE HALL: At the meeting on August 4, Chris Varcoe, Mineral Services Manager for Imerys, gave an illustrated talk about the china clay industry. He started with William Cookworthy's discovery of china clay in Cornwall in 1746 through to the peak years of china clay production in the 1980s. Since then there has been a reduction in output because of cheaper sources in North America and Brazil, and the recent worldwide financial crisis has made things worse. Nevertheless, a lot of china clay is still being mined and refined in Cornwall and used for such things as paper, paint and ceramics. He stressed that increasing uses are being found for the waste materials brought up during mining and these are now widely used in road works and building. The main problem with these heavy materials is the cost of road haulage and some aggregates are now being transported by ship from Fowey. He discussed the firm’s progress in restoring the landscape after pits and tips become disused and in encouraging safe access by the public to the restored areas.

After questions, Ian Searle gave the vote of thanks Dean Evans gave a talk on September 1 about Passmore Edwards and his attempt to be elected as Liberal MP for Truro in 1868 (the year after the second big Parliamentary Reform Bill). Despite the widening of the franchise, he failed to get elected; the two previous Members of Parliament from powerful Cornish land-owning families were re-elected instead. Dean pointed out that the secret ballot was only introduced a few years later, and, prior to that, with public voting, the landowners could make sure that their tenants voted in the “right” way. The lecture was illustrated by pictures of old Truro and quotations from various newspapers. After questions, David Neale gave the vote of thanks.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Entries are still invited for the Barbara Scammell Memorial Poetry, Prose and Photographic competitions, which are open to all members. Rules and procedures for entry are on the website at www.u3acarrick.org.uk. Winners will be announced and prizes presented at the Truro meeting on December 14.

MONTHLY MEETINGS: Meetings at Perranwell are normally held at 10.30am on the first Wednesday of the month, at Falmouth at 10am on the third Wednesday of the month and at Truro in Truro Town Hall on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm. Meetings are open to anybody considering joining and no prior notice is needed. For membership enquiries contact membership secretary.

Perranwell Village Hall: October 6, Graham Simpson “Newquay Airport”; November 3, John Hick “The Tall Ships Race”; December 1, Christmas meeting.

Falmouth: September 15, Eric Irons “Railways”; October 20, Peter Robinson; November 17, Russell Holt; December 15, Alan Cox “Years in the Hardware Trade”.

Truro Town Hall: September 28, Maxine McCombie “Fencing;” October 26, new choir led by Liz Grant will give their first indoor performance, and Val Davidson’s Poetry Group will read poems. Following these performances a New Members’ “Meet and Greet” session will be held in the Hall starting at 3.45pm; December 14, Barbara Scammell Memorial Poetry, Prose and Photographic competition.

The next quiz will be in Richard Lander School Hall at 2pm on Thursday, October 28.

Group meetings - Music and Opera: September 17, trip to see “Gondoliers” at Minack Theatre.

The Garden Group outing will be to Duchy College, Rosewarne on August 20, 2pm.

The Chess Group will be meeting at Tony's on September 20, October 4, 11 and 25. Members will meet at George's on September 13 and 27 and October 18.

At the History Group meeting on September 21, Roger Radcliffe will speak on “The Search for the Lady Agnes”.

David Neale will talk to the Science Group on September 7 on the subject of "From Roam to UR - a history of mobile messaging". On October 5 Terry Smith will talk about "Electronics in the Cowshed" (a description of the evolution of cow management and milking systems) Tennis will continue to be weekly in Boscawen Park on Thursdays at 2pm.

The Table Tennis players meet in the Community Lounge at Richard Lander at 4pm each Monday and Thursday at 4pm.

Croquet is at Perranarworthal Cricket Ground, Wednesday mornings 10am.

The Photography Group first autumn meeting will be on September 28, looking at “Images of Summer”. A “What camera?” session will be held. Bring your camera plus manual, and be prepared to show others around it. Also bring some examples of results, preferably in electronic form. Meetings will be at Carnon Downs Village Hall Annexe at 9.30am on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

Rubber Bridge will be at 9.45am each Monday at the British Legion.

Duplicate Bridge will be at 7pm each Thursday at Epiphany House.

Whist is at 2pm on Fridays at the British Legion.

The Choir meet weekly on Wednesday afternoons at 2pm at Perranarworthal Church.

Members are in the process of exploring starting a second French Conversation Group and a Spanish Conversation Group.