u3a Penrith Monthly Meetings:-

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NOVEMBER MEETING

2.15pm Thursday, 20th November

at Penrith Players theatre

RUSSIA STARTS HERE - Howard Amos

Howard has a long association with Russia and its history

Having worked there as a journalist for several years, becoming editor of the Moscow Times. His first book, published this year, has been very well received and was nominated for the Pushkin prize. It is based on a series of interviews with a wide range of residents of Pskov, once a key area of Western Russia but now almost forgotten territory. Howard will offer a moving insight into life in this most significant country and will bring some copies of his books for any interested members to buy.

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OPEN DAY 2025

THURSDAY 27th NOVEMBER. 10am to 12am

at Penrith Rugby Club

Come along to the u3a Penrith and North Lakes Open Day. Learn everything you need to know about your u3a in this area. The latest news and events for all group activities. Information on the 50 plus groups from Ballroom to Writing for Pleasure. This includes Arts and Crafts, History, Languages, Literature, Music, Natural History, Sport, Walking and many more. With contacts for all the conveners available on the on the day and with new groups are being added all the time there is something for everyone. (Read full Article)

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CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT

2.15pm Thursday, 18th December at Penrith Rugby Club

Members of Penrith and North Lakes U3A

Once again, a range of our U3A groups will offer a wide variety ofentertainment for our pre-Christmas meeting at the Rugby Club and we will hope to provide refreshments for members afterwards. So, come along, ready to enjoy and appreciate a varied afternoon of music and dance provided by our hard-working friends.

Previous Monthly Meeting reports:-.

2025

ANNUAL OUTING Barrow Dock Museum JULY VISIT to BARROW DOCK MUSEUM and SWARTHMOOR HALL

Our annual July visit, with 50 members taking part, was this year to the Dock Museum in Barrow and to Swarthmoor Hall near Ulverston. We were particularly fortunate to have a beautiful day so that each venue looked at its best and we could particularly enjoy the gardens at Swarthmoor. We arrived in Barrow having followed the very pleasant coastal route from Ulverston, going through Bardsea and arriving in Barrow via Roe Island where we paused and enjoyed a short walk to look over the sea to nearby Piel Island. Josie Dunlop provided a most interesting guide to the area to listen to as we travelled along. The Dock Museum has been built over part of the do.  (Read Full Article)

JULY MONTHLY MEETING Report

MONKS, SHEPHERDS AND WOOL – Harry Hawkins

Harry Hawkins gave a most interesting and well-researched talk to members of Penrith and North Lakes U3A which was greatly enjoyed and appreciated. Many people's experience of History at school did not cover the 'Middle Ages' in much detail, so the talk offered a very helpful insight into this topic of great significance to the British economy for a long period. Trade in raw wool and in the production of cloth was a 'staple' and a source of much wealth. Some monasteries in the north of England, such as Fountains, Byland and Shap Abbeys with large tracts of grazing land, became very rich on their sales of wool, along with sheepskins and parchment. (Read Full Article)

June Monthly Meeting Report

THE RACE TO A GREENER FUTURE: BUT WHY IS MINING SUCH A TRICKY BUSINESS?

Phil Newall, convenor of our local U3A Geology group, gave an excellent talk to members of our local U3A group recently. Born and educated locally, he read Geology at Imperial college in London, because a lecturer and gained a further degree before going into mining as a consultant and forming his own company.  His experience was very much to the fore in this talk in which he explained the balance between those trying to mine important minerals to sustain our growing need for new sources of power allied with the aims of the movement to avoid further damage to the environment. Throughout, Phil maintained his characteristically positive, lively, ‘Can do’ approach. (Read Full Article)

LOCAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE: ‘CUMBRIA AID UKRAINE. (Read the Full Article)

APRIL MONTHLY MEETING: ALSTON TURNPIKE TRUSTS AND RELATED STORIES - Simon Danby (Read Article)

MARCH MONTHLY MEETING MEDITATION FOR A PEACEFUL MIND - Dave Stones (Read Article)

FEBRUARY MONTHLY MEETING SOUNDS LIKE CUMBRIA - Helen Millican (Read Article)

JANUARY MONTHLY MEETING 2025 WILD LIFE OF THE NORTH PENNINES - GUY BROOME ( Read Article)

2024

DECEMBER MONTHLY MEETING A GEOLOGIST’S VIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE - PAUL LOGAN(Read Article)

NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING THE COMING OF THE RAILWAY TO PENRITH (Read Article)

October. JOHN LAING, 1879 TO 1978: From Sebergham to Saudi Arabia. (Read Article)

September GREAT DANE MEETS MONGREL—Robin Acland (Read Article)

July. Annual Outing. Raby Castle (Read Article)

June Monthly Meeting / AGM. (Read Article)

May Monthly Meeting (Read Article)

April Monthly Meeting (Read Article)

Long Meg and Her Daughters. Paul Froddson. March 2024 (Read Article)

Going for Gold. Hartside Nursery February 2024 (Read Article)

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, a talk by RAYMOND WHITTAKER. January 2024. (Read Article)

2023

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT. December 2023. (Read Article)