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NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Members
The Committee welcomes both old and new Members to the Penkridge Phoenix Club! Our goal is to boost well-being, build friendships, and to make sure everyone feels included.
We plan to do this by offering a wide variety of activities, social evenings, and excursions for mainly the over 50’s who reside in the Penkridge area
If you know someone who might enjoy becoming a Phoenix Member, feel free to bring them along to one of our monthly coffee mornings. They will be very welcome. New Members can join at any time throughout the year.
The Committee would like to say a special thank you to the Members who always making sure that everything runs smoothly at the coffee mornings, from setting up the tables and chairs, serving refreshments and our meet and greeters on the door. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and your help is very much appreciated.
We would also like to recognise Ann Barlow (Art Club), Mr. and Mrs. Green (Walking Club), Paul Waterfield (Badminton Club), and Val Corbett (Cuppa Club) for organising their fantastic club activities.
There are a minimum of one planned event or excursion ever month in 2025. In February, Paul Birch from the Down Inn will entertain us at the PMH with a Buddy Holly tribute and a 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll evening. In October, comedian Doug Parker will return to give us plenty of laughs. We also have several coach excursions planned, including a mystery trip with Sunday lunch. A wine tasting and tour at Halfpenny Green Vineyard with a Cream Tea. There is also a nostalgic steam railway journey through the Cotswolds countryside.
The Committee has purchased a Shuffleboard game to replace the Kurling equipment that has been used for many, many years. The game will be easier for event organisers to assemble ready to play. The first game of Shuffleboard will be held on Friday 24th January at the PMH. Tickets will be available at the December and January coffee mornings. The cost of a ticket is £7. Bring your own food and drinks. Participants to arrive at 6.45 to sign in.
We hope you will enjoy the 2025 program, and we look forward to seeing you at our coffee mornings, held on the second Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m.
Anna Evans – Editor
Members enjoying an evening with Lola Lamour at Penkridge Peace Memorial Hall 15.11.24.
A FEW WORDS FROM YOUR NEW CHAIRPERSON
Although it came as a bit of a surprise, I was incredibly pleased to take over as your new Chairperson at the coffee morning and meeting in November and hope the confidence you have shown in me will not be misplaced. I will try to maintain the standards set by my predecessors, which will be no easy task. I take over the role from Ve Jackson, who had taken on the Chair several years ago and had done many years before that serving on the Committee. We thank Ve for her hard work over all those years.
Tony Richards decided it was time for him to give up the role of Club President, where we had enjoyed his trademark amicable good humour and common sense, and we will miss him. However, he was succeeded by Linda Savage, who has been involved with the Committee since before records began! We thank Tony for his unstinting service over many years and welcome the benefit of Linda’s experience and continued input.
This will be reinforced by the inclusion on the new Committee of two of Linda’s daughters, Trish Hugill and Chris Hewitt, and we welcome them both. They replaced Fred George and John Woollett, who had both played an active role in Committee affairs and Club activities over many years, and we thank them for their contribution. Completing these changes to the Committee, we are grateful to Diane Causer for taking on the position of Vice Chair, an often under-estimated but invaluable job, which I am sure she will fill with her usual efficiency and good humour.
Margaret Edwards, Margaret Kirkland and Elizabeth Rosenfeld, provide continuity on the Committee and Anna Evans as Secretary and Val Corbett as Treasurer continue to keep track of the Committee’s admin and activities and the Club’s pennies!
We will continue much as before but are also aware that circumstances around us change and new challenges emerge. While still maintaining the objectives of the club, we may need to respond to these changing pressures and challenges by adapting and modifying the way we do things to remain operating in the most effective and efficient ways.
We do not pretend to have a monopoly on good ideas and any club member is more than welcome to come forward with any suggestions for activities and events, and ways we could improve how we organise and arrange them.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Mike Smith – Chairperson
KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST PHOENIX NEWS AND EVENTS
We aim is to keep ALL Members informed of what is happening at Penkridge Phoenix Club.
A Newsletter is produced in June and December and emailed to those of you who have provided an email address. For those Members without an email address, a paper copy is available at the June and December coffee mornings. You can also check out the Phoenix website for the latest info.
Whilst Newsletters and emails are a great way for sharing information, the Phoenix website has the most current and detailed information about the Club’s Activities and Events.
Members at the monthly Coffee Morning
MONTHLY COFFEE CLUB
The monthly coffee mornings are held on the 2nd Thursday in the month at 10.30am at the Peace Memorial Hall.
Why not Join us at the coffee Morning. Members can sign up for forthcoming events and have a catch-up with other Members and friends over tea and coffee and plan the excursions and events they would like to participate in. The Committee reports back to Members on the business of the Club. (see attached calendar for dates)
PHOENIX ACTIVITES CLUBS
Art Club
The Art Club meet at the Haling Dene Centre every Thursday from 10.00 to 12 noon. You will have to bring along your own painting supplies. A weekly fee is payable to cover the cost of room hire and refreshments. Contact Ann Barlow for further information and to reserve your place.
Badminton Club
Whether a seasoned armature or want to try something different, come along to the Badminton Club for an exciting afternoon every Thursday at the Penkridge Leisure Centre from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. A fee is payable to cover the cost of the court hire. Contact Paul Waterfield for more information.
Walking Club
Walkers meet up at the pre-arranged starting points at 10.30am prompt. Contact the walk organiser Derek Green for further information.
Cuppa Club
Come along to the Haling Dene Centre on the last Wednesday of the month from 2pm – 4pm. Relax over a cuppa and home-made cakes whilst chatting with friends, enjoy a game of cards or dominoes. Build a jigsaw or choose your next book swap. The activities are endless. Contact Val for further information.
Phoenix Art Club
2025 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Click on the file below to view and print:-
- 2025 Calendar of Event
- Contact Details for Committee Members
- Phoenix Activities Club
- Monthly Coffee Club
Short Break to Ilfracombe 10.05.2025.
The short break to Ilfracombe is now fully Booked. Mike Smith will contact Members (who have paid their deposit) by email to confirm itinerary and balance payment etc in the near furute.