It was good to see so many familiar faces and some new ones at the Bude Inner Wheel coffee morning at the Parkhouse Centre on October 16.

Delicious homemade cakes were served together with tea or coffee and there were stalls selling plants, books, jigsaws and toys together with the always popular raffle.

The coffee morning is held annually to raise funds towards the Christmas donations to local charities. Inner Wheel members are very grateful to the local community for their generosity in supporting this event.

Members of Bude & District U3A held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Parkhouse Centre, Bude, on Thursday, October 16.

The meeting was well attended and before the main business of the afternoon got under way, members and guests had a chance to mingle and visit the U3A activity groups display tables at the back of the hall.

Chairman for 2024/25, Jim Buck, welcomed everyone and after the notices were read and apologies recorded, the official proceedings began with acceptance of the 2024 AGM minutes. Next came the presentation of the chairman’s annual report. Jim thanked everyone who had helped him through the year.

“As we all know in U3A, you’re never too old to learn’, he said. He hoped that the year had been interesting and enjoyable for U3A members. ‘It has been fun and challenging to me,” he said.

He went on to mention the successful monthly coffee mornings and open monthly meetings, as well as last year’s Christmas lunch organised by Sheila Mahoney. Monthly meetings had been ‘solidly attended’ with talks covering a broad range of topics, from the local - Bude Sea Pool and The Castle – to Life in Earth, about life in the soil beneath our feet, and WWII codebreaking at St Erth.

Valerie Langdown was thanked for arranging the talks and a plea made for a volunteer to take over the role which she wishes to relinquish after six years in the position. There was appreciation too for Ian Dew and his work as groups coordinator, On a note of sadness, Jim paid tribute to a longtime member and Group Leader, Joan Rand, who recently passed away. Joan ran the ‘Sharing Music Group’ as well as being a part of the Singing for Fun Group.

“We will miss her enthusiasm and commitment,” he said.

Jim continued with praise for committee members – ‘the backbone of our U3A…who play key roles in making everything come together’: Robert Cole, Nick Faulks, Denise Weller, Mary Dobson, Ian Dew, Pam Williams, Kay Lillie, and Anna Crew.

There were also thanks to David Hyndman, U3A website manager, as well as to the many volunteers who help at monthly meetings.

This was Bude U3A’s 25th anniversary year and the celebration in July was remembered as an event “which epitomised the spirit of U3A, as members came together to make everything work. The spirit of volunteering for the benefit of everyone in U3A. is our core,” said Jim.

He added that membership numbers were sound and finances are solid. “For the edge of the world where we live, I think we do pretty well,” he concluded.

The report drew applause and was accepted by the members present. In the absence of treasurer, Robert Cole, the accounts for the year were presented and explained by Nick Faulks, the vice chairman. A ‘slight surplus’ was shown in the accounts which were voted on and accepted.

Officer and committee elections followed. Jim Buck and Robert Cole were re-elected as chairman and treasurer for 2025/26, and members of the committee (names listed above) were also all re-elected.

The official business concluded, a general knowledge quiz compiled by Wilf Diggle rounded off a successful afternoon, before everyone adjourned for refreshments and conversation.

Bude Surf Lifesaving Club is the topic for the open monthly meeting in November and the speaker is Mark Ward. Details on this event and all other Bude U3A activities and events, and how to join, can be found on the U3A website at: www.budeu3a.co.uk

On Saturday, October 11, Launceston and District Cats Protection held their annual autumn fayre in Kensey Vale Bowling Club.

A queue of eager customers formed in anticipation of what bargains might be found again this year. With tables in both rooms filled with all kinds of goods for sale at affordable prices, from books to craft, toys to plants, jewellery to bric-a-brac, Christmas items to accessories, cat goods to clothes, tombola to delicious home-made preserves, cakes, pasties and sausage rolls.

Special thanks to Kath at Crooklets Beach Cafe for generously donating a £25 voucher for the general raffle. Not forgetting our super Christmas hamper raffle packed with over £75 worth of goodies which will next be appearing at our Lifton Christmas Fair.

Grateful thanks also to Andy and Christine at Andy’s Antiques Rebourne for allowing us to display our banner outside of their shop.

We’re delighted to reveal that an incredible £1,260 was raised on the day, thanks to our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers who together helped make the day a fantastic success. You’re all superstars and we absolutely couldn’t do it without your support!

Every penny raised goes directly to our branch which means that we’re able to make a substantial difference in improving the lives of many cats and kittens in our care.

We look forward to seeing you next time.

Keep an eye out for future events listed on the website www.cats.org.uk/launceston or on Facebook Launceston-District-Cats-Protection-Branch

On October 16, the group held its meeting at the Central Methodist Church Hall Launceston, which was opened by the chairman John Ellacott, who welcomed members, giving thanks for their attendance.

A reminder to see Vera for next months coach trips and December 11 our Christmas Party with its Bring and Buy. A display will be put into St Marys Christmas Tree and Cribs Festival starting on Friday, November 28, which again will be a great town event.

John then introduced a return visit of Claire Robson from Wildmoor Flowers. Claire had brought a pumpkin she had prepared to arrange her flower display. Starting with a milk carton bottom to hold water and a ball of chicken wire put inside to hold her huge white Dahlia bloom around eight inches across was gradually surrounded by a very colourful selection of mixed blooms that she had started to grow on her Bodmin Moor Garden plots this year, despite a mixture of long dry or wet weather spells her plants had grown well, providing a good range for Clair’s arrangement’s for weddings and other displays. Cutting the stems to length the pumpkin display build slowly took on its attractive shape and stunning colour from her flower mixture, the dashing magenta-pink vibrant ‘Great Silence’ Dahlia being Clair’s favourite. Clair’s passion for wild flowers probably started at a young age in her Granny’s flower garden, which has now grown into her self taught arrangement skills for Cornish cut flowers through most of the year, being called for by her customers for floral display, weddings, anniversary’s and hand tied bouquets as required.

The finished display donated, was selected by Jenny from our range of draw prizes which John thanked Margaret Watson for gathering together. Thanks were given by John to Claire for another interesting floral demonstration for us to watch being constructed in her Pumpkin, along with her lively charm and perfection of what she gets up to through the year with her gardens of flowers.

At the September meeting members of Launceston Inner Wheel Club were joined by the President Amanda Hamley and Secretary Jane Duncan of Bude Inner Wheel Club. After a meal and short meeting held at Trethorne Golf Club members and guests enjoyed an evening making a teacup flower arrangement after a demonstration by club president Helen Bailey.

The arrangements were colourful and the members had great fun with their individual designs.

Helen said: “Members and guests had a wonderful evening and all went home with something lovely to very proud of, I wonder what they will be up to next month?”

If you wish to consider joining us please contact us by email at [email protected]

The ‘Coffee and Cake’ morning held in August raised £215 for Cornwall Air Ambulance, and on October 17 another Coffee and Cake morning was held and raised £250 for the Holsworthy Man Shed.

Both were well attended and thanks go to all who support these events.

St Pancras Church held their Harvest Festival service with Holy Communion on Sunday, September 28.

Rev Alison Hardy led the service, lessons were read by Mandy and Julia, and the Prayers of Intercession were said by Adam. Barbara Cole was the organist.

The non perishable good were given to the Food Bank, and the collection was for The Farming Community Network. Refreshments were served at the close of the service.