At the Truro Meeting on October 27, James Tresidder spoke about his family and their “Passion for plants”. His great, great, great grandfather founded the horticultural firm in Truro in the middle of the 19th century.

One branch of the family opened nurseries in South Wales and several members of the family had horticultural businesses in Australia, but their main base remained in Truro. In the earlier part of the last century they were one of the biggest employers in Cornwall, with satellite nurseries in Devon. They were responsible for landscaping and planting many big gardens in the South West and in the rest of the country. Because of their Australian connection they specialised in introducing tree ferns and other plants from that part of the world. Competition from supermarkets and a severe winter that destroyed much of their stock forced the closure of the Truro business about 30 years ago, but recently James Tresidder (a "sixth generation Tresidder") has started a nursery near St Austell and hopes to carry on in the family tradition.

His talk was illustrated by a DVD and a Powerpoint presentation, which was enjoyed by a large audience.

At the Perranwell on November 4, Barry Champion, who recently retired from his job as Head Gardner at Trelissick, talked about his gardening career. He concentrated on his years at Trelissick, and explained how the job there had changed with the large increase in visitors each year and the growing burden of Health and Safety regulations. He had some interesting anecdotes about visits from the royal family and other celebrities. He told how he had been involved with a police operation to catch drug smugglers in a yacht on the Fal. It was a most interesting talk and there were a number of questions afterwards. Val Le Sage gave the vote of thanks.

A quiz was held at Richard Lander School on October 29. At the last moment it was discovered that the piano had been removed from the community lounge. The caretakers kindly arranged for a grand piano to be moved into the hall. It was perhaps fortunate that this happened because 50 people from U3A Kerrier and U3A Carrick turned up, and it would have been a bit crowded in the community lounge.

Questions were provided by Bill Brown and Janice Lobb. After tea break, Mollie Potter played songs from the shows for members to identify. This was as usual the high point in the afternoon, and when she got to the Hippopotamus' Song the audience joined in. There were nine "tables" with about six people on each table, and the final scores were very close. The people on the winning table each had a Mars bar as a prize. Kerrier friends thanked members for the invitation and the meeting finished with one more chorus of "Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud".

Events - Perranwell Village Hall: December 2, Christmas concert, 10am. The concert will be followed by Christmas wine and mince pies. January 6, Des Prouse, 10.30am, “Goonhilly’s Technical Past and Possible Future”.

Falmouth St Mary’s Hall: November 18, 10am, Russell Holt, “Irish Oddities”. December 16, 10am, Peter Robinson, “Walking Wainwright’s coast to coast”.

Truro Town Hall: November 24, 2pm, Robert Sleeman, "A Dark Knight Revisited" – armour from the time of the Civil War. December 15, 2pm, Barbara Scammell Poetry, Prose and Photographic Competition results and present prizes will be announced. January 26, 2pm, Annie Moore, “the new Cornwall Unitary Authority. February 23, 2pm, Ros Cox (Right Worshipful Mayor of Truro) “My Year as Mayor”.

There will be another Len Skade Memorial Concert at Truro School Chapel on Saturday, November 21, 7.30pm. Paul Comeau's teenage (and very talented) son Benjamin will perform piano and organ music by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Gershwin, as well as some jazz pieces. Tickets £5 available from Tony Herring (01872 273678) or at the door.

New Year’s Lunch will be on January 20 at the Royal Duchy Hotel, Falmouth.

Science Group: Royal British Legion, 2.15pm, December 1, Duncan Tribute “Amateur Radio”. Chess venues: Tony’s, November 9, 16th and 23rd; Mike’s November 30. History Group: Tuesday, November 17, Max Braga “How I Survived the Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong; Childhood Experiences of World War 2 in the Far East”. Art History: Thursday, December 3, 10am, to discuss J M W Turner, Conservative Club, Lemon Street, Truro. Table Tennis: Community Lounge, Richard Lander, 4pm each Monday and Thursday; December 17 Christmas Lunch at The County Arms and then a tea party at Richard Lander (to thank the school staff for their help). Photography Group: will continue meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays at Carnon Downs Village Hall at 9.30am; Truro Poetry and Playreading: rehearsal for Christmas concert sketch, November 27. Garden Group: Perranwell Village Hall West Room, 10.30am on Wednesday, November 25 “Garden Quiz and Seed Swap.”

There is a possibility of an Allotment Group being formed. An opportunity has arisen to construct a U3A allotment site at Bissoe due to a very kind donation. There is a virgin pasture field that has good parking, water and can be ploughed prior to occupation, details will be discussed at the site meeting in December, or contact Dave Crawford or the Group Activities Co-ordinator.

Rubber Bridge will start at 9.45am till noon each Monday morning at British Legion. Duplicate Bridge is at 7pm each Thursday evening at Epiphany House.