19th November 2009
The November Open meeting took place at the Parkhouse Centre on Thursday the l9th of November. Chairman Sylvia Henry welcomed members and guests. Members were reminded of forthcoming events such as the Christmas Lunch and the last day to place their bookings. Committee is discussing the possibility of purchasing its own laptop. Roseland U3A are organising a trip to Wales. New theatre brochures have finally arrived for the spring 2010 season. A new group is forming for video films made from our old films, and all the information on the above was on the table at the rear of the hall for members to look at after the end of the Meeting.
Hilary read off a list of our speakers and their subjects for 2010. Sylvia then welcomed and introduced our Guest Speaker, Mrs. Lynne Gould whose presentation was entitled ''Daphne du Maurier's Cornwall”. Whilst employed at the Tourist Centre at Fowey one question was always being asked by the visitors. Where was Mandalay and how could they find it? Mrs. Gould decided to do some research on Fowey's favourite author and from her findings we traveled with her from Hampstead to Fowey where the du Maurier family moved to their favourite holiday place, buying a derelict boat house and builders' yard and turning it into a beautiful home called Ferryside where Daphne du Maurier's first book was written entitled ''The Loving Spirit”. Her marriage to Major Browning and honeymoon at Frenchman's Creek: her finding and long battle to lease Menabilly House from whence came ''The Kings General” and her husband's posting to Egypt where she wrote ''Rebecca''.
From Daphne du Maurier's Cornwall came her wonderful books, filled with the history of the region. She combined fact with fiction which enthralled a world-wide audience. Her son Christopher and his family still live in Fowey.
After a lively question and answer session Iwan Davies thanked Mrs. Gould for her wonderful presentation and the meeting then adjourned for tea and biscuits.
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