READING & WRITING:
Reading Group - Falmouth:
Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 10.00 -12 noon. The meetings will alternate between different members’ houses. Please contact Shirley Clark (01872) 865071 for venue details.
Creative Writing - Falmouth:
Our group is going from strength to strength. We now have 15 members, all with a variety of backgrounds and much talent! We were sad to lose Lily Grose who died just before Christmas.
Sheila Bracewell, Di Coffey and Maria Nelson-Langford have been prize-winners in past Competitions and Di has been successful in being published in the spring showcase of poetryspace.co.uk. We are also very fortunate to have amongst us Moira Andrew, a past judge, and established poet and author with 87 publications to her credit, who gives us encouragement and the benefit of her experience. We choose a topic to write about - prose or poetry - for each month and it’s amazing how diverse and interesting our contributions are.
We meet in the roomy residents’ lounge at Bay Court (at 10.30 am on the 4th Tuesday of each month, bar holidays) and would give a warm welcome to any aspiring or established writers in the area who would like to join our friendly group. Phone me at (01326) 618981 if you would like more information. June Moore
Creative Writing - Truro:
The leadership of the Creative Writing - Truro group (2nd Tuesday in the month at 2.00pm) has now been taken on by Gerry Blaxall (01209) 820271, gblaxall@hotmail.com Best wishes to all contributors! Jo Grande
Mostly Playreading:
Under the leadership of Elizabeth Burr. This group will meet at her home at 2.00pm on the first and third Fridays of each month. Please contact Elizabeth for further information (01872) 241869.
Poetry - Truro:
The meetings take place at Val Davidson's home at 10.30am on a Friday about once a month. For more information contact Val at (01872) 247546.
Poetry & Playreading - Falmouth:
Unfortunately our group leader, Marjorie Roach, is currently in hospital with a fractured femur so for the time being we are organizing the meetings between ourselves and continue to meet regularly in members' homes. The group is however full at present.
In Marjorie’s absence please contact either Ann Salter on (01326) 312708 or June Harris on (01872) 862092.
Reading 1 - Truro:
Owzat! 100 and not out!
Ours was the first reading group in U3A Carrick, which started in 2004 and in April we shall be reading and discussing our 100th book. Quite an achievement! Apart from me, only two of our founding members are still there,
Patricia Dennis and Molly Dussek
Molly has generously hosted our meetings each month from the very beginning – an equally impressive achievement and one for which all members, past and present, are grateful. Most members stay years so turnover is infrequent, but at present we would welcome two more: see below how to contact me if you are interested.
Edith Pascoe & Brenda Burgess - - - - Valerie Bruce & Mary Jarvis
We meet on the last Wednesday of every month from 2.00 -4.00 pm; in December each member chooses one book for our yearly reading list: the variety of choice leads to some lively, and always interesting, discussions!
Thank you to all those who have contributed to our meetings to date – and long may they continue.
Nancy Kinnison (01872) 222326
Reading 2 - Truro:
The group is led by Eileen Tozer and meets on the third Monday at 2.00pm. Contact Eileen for any further information and location on (01872) 240378.
New - Play Reading Group - Perranwell:
Thank you everyone for your interest in this new group. Unfortunately, there is no one time that will suit all so although my decision on when to meet will work for most, there will be one or two disappointments, my apologies if that applies to you.
Our meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. Start time 2.00pm and end at 4:30, or the end of the play we are reading, if earlier.
Mark & Christine Breach (01872) 862063 or (07816) 358348.
2012 BARBARA SCAMMELL POETRY & PROSE COMPETITION - PRIZEGIVING:
Saturday, 15th December, was the date of the annual prize-giving, the venue this year being the lovely Residents' Lounge, at Bay Court, Cliff Road, Falmouth TR11 4NP. Led by June Moore, The Falmouth Creative Writing Group hosted this event, with reviews or entries and some readings offered by Dr Mark Crees, their appointed judicator.
Jo Grande - First Prizewinner for the Prose, reads her entry to the audience:
"Perspicacity" by Jo Grande
"What is perspicacity?"
Joel looked up from the computer,
"Spell it, " he said.
"P-E-R-S-P-I-C….the long word struggled out slowly, as the younger boy wrote it out at the top of the page in an exercise book.
"Sweat," said Joel, stopping his brother mid-flow.
"But it says that an astronaut needs it to do his job, and cope with emergencies."
"Everybody sweats in a real emergency…. That's what it is, I promise you." Joel switched off his mind, and focussed on the game he was playing on the computer.
Tobias remained doubtful. It just didn't fit, and he wanted to get it right. Tobias at ten was a perfectionist. He looked at his older brother, and knew that no more assistance would be forthcoming from that direction.
"Mum," he shouted, "what's perspicacity?"
There was silence in the kitchen. She must be out in the garden doing something. He could look the word up on the computer if Joel wasn't stuck on it. He gave a great sigh. Life was tough, especially when you'd got homework to do on a Saturday, and nobody else cared. "Perspica City", he scribbled on his rough note book. Now there's a thought. It could be some place out in space, or an Alien football team. They would wear special shatterproof Perspex headgear, and have a specially balanced Perspex football, so it could move in straight lines through space. It would have to be lighted inside to make it visible too. He imagined stars being kicked around in space.
Tobias began to scribble in his notebook. Words tumbled into a story, and homework was temporarily set aside.
The mantel clock ticked unobtrusively in the quiet room. Tobias was intent on the words that poured out on the page, while his brother shot down alien space craft on the computer screen, with a faint "phut, phut" sound, as each exploded and fell. Books lay piled and undisturbed on the table around them. Somewhere outside this complete, harmonious space, a door banged. Brisk footsteps penetrated the stillness and silent activity at the table. The dining room door was flung open.
"Busy, are we?" Mum stood there. She had a tray of drinks and biscuits.
"Bother." Tobias' irritation exploded in a blot of biro ink on his notebook, which immediately transferred to his hands, and the front of his T-shirt, as he smeared them there.
"Oh dear," said Mum. "A bad moment. Sorry to interrupt, Great minds at work."
Joel's eyes had not moved from the screen, but he was "tutting" through his teeth, and burbling to himself,
"I could make a better one of these…."
Mum put down the refreshments without another word. Just as she was about to leave Tobias looked up.
"Mum." She stopped.
"Yes?"
"What's perspicacity?"
Mum frowned, and thought for a minute.
"It's sort of like a very clear vision." Tobias liked that. It fitted in very nicely with his space story. But she continued.
"It means you have used all your knowledge wisely, and have a deep understanding on which to build your ideas, and make judgements. It means you have insight., shrewdness, and reliable judgement." This was getting too much.
"You sound like an encyclopaedia Mum", Joel observed.
Tobias was busy scribbling and making notes in his book.
"That's just perfect," he said. "Now I can do the whole story of Perspica City".
Mum looked a bit doubtful.
"Is this all homework?" She accused.
"Yes, yes," said Tobias eagerly, "I'm just doing a bit extra."
She smiled, understanding perfectly where he was coming from… he was just like his father.
"Just like I told you," said Joel as she left the room.
"It means sweat."
First Prize for the Poetry section was awarded to Di Coffey, with Edith Pascoe awarded as Runner up:
"Dubliner" by Di Coffey
I remember you
in The Wells pub.
A bearded man,
duffle-coated, tall,
intelligent blue eyes,
voice rich, dark as Guinness.
Our first night,
listening to you
reading James Joyce.
Your Hampstead garret
untidy, strewn with books.
Me, longing for your touch.
Confessing my virginity
while enfolded in your arms.
The warmth of your body
exploring mine.
Tender love-making
by a compassionate man.
Awaking, shy in
your bed. Uncertain.
Loss of your respect?
Now to be discarded?
But desire burns in your eyes
and I soar sublime.
Fifty-one years later,
broken by MS,
you reach for my breast,
whisper I’m dying. Don’t be sad
You’re asking for the moon my darling.
And I never did promise to obey.
Maria Nelson-Langford, Runner up reading her Prose entry
June Moore (01326) 618981 for further information on the Falmouth Creative Writing Group
For all activities, please check our Google Calendar to confirm dates, times and location
Groups Coordinator - Jon Skelton (01872) 865316