Category: Community Groups

Wye Valley

Wye Valley

At last, we have freedom to travel for our walks and to meet in increasing numbers. Four of us travelled to Goodrich Castle (English Heritage) in Herefordshire for a walk beside the river Wye.

The beginning of the walk was along the road to Kerne bridge, a beautiful old stone bridge with several arches. Despite the traffic on the road this stretch was spectacular as, we could see the outline of Goodrich Castle on the hill, a country house set back from the road and bright yellow fields of oil seed rape all with a backdrop of dramatic purple, grey heavy clouds and even though we knew we were in for a soaking of a different sort we soaked it up.

The country house, whose buildings are Grade I listed, was originally the refectory of the Augustinian, Flanesford Priory. Weakened by the Black Death the priory was one of the first to succumb at the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

At Kerne Bridge we descended to the footpath alongside the Wye and from the start we were accompanied by canoeists on the river, increasing in number as the day wore on. We spotted lots of swans on the river (some nesting) as well as mallards and two mandarin ducks.

The footpath was blocked by a fallen tree whose root ball seemed to be about 10ft high. Others had passed before us, so we were able to get around it. Walking through open fields we saw the usual symbol of spring, lambs aplenty but mostly in ‘gangs’ away from their ewes. Cows grazed with calves and we were lucky to see a calf suckling.

At Welsh Bicknor there is a flamboyant High Victorian Church and the youth hostel, a former rectory. The land is owned by the YHA and we noticed a couple of stylish, camouflaged glamping pods were being installed. We stopped here for lunch. A quick look around the outside of the church shows an amazing amount of decoration, including 3 arches in the porch besides the one above the door

We came upon a new memorial to a group of scientists who died when their aircraft caught fire 15,000ft above the Forest of Dean and plummeted to earth. It was on a return journey to RAF Defford, near Worcester, from South Wales. Alan Dower Blumlein, a driving force in the development of airborne radar, was one of the dead, along with other colleagues from EMI, the RAF and the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). They were working on H2S radar which was a cutting edge “Air to Surface” radar system that went on to help win WWII. The plane was carrying the highly secret cavity magnetron and Sir Bernard Lovell (who was later knighted for his work at Jodrell Bank and had given up his seat on the plane to another scientist) sifted through the wreckage on the night of the crash to retrieve it. He was affected by the tragedy for the rest of his life. Blumlein’s wife is quoted on the memorial ‘If you have to die, this is a beautiful place’. The sacrifice of the 11 men is also remembered by a memorial stained-glass window which was installed at Goodrich Castle chapel on the 50th anniversary of the crash.

Continuing our walk one of us looked back and spotted a deer where we had just been. As we stopped and watched lots more followed and began to graze. Later as we passed woodland, we saw another herd of deer. How lucky was that two herds of fallow deer in one day?

As we approached Symonds Yat, we passed the grave of a child in his 16th year who drowned while bathing in the river. At an outcrop of rock, we could see two separate birds sat on nests but so far away it was difficult to identify them. Symonds Yat Rock viewpoint is well known as one of the best places in the country to watch peregrine falcons, so maybe we saw one.

We left the river on a path to Coppet Hill, climbing back to Goodrich village and then up to the castle.

What a fabulous walk, apart from one (very heavy) shower the sun shone all day, the area is beautiful with lots of interest, both historic and natural. This stretch of the River Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Coppet Hill, is shaped a bit like an upside-down heart. Goodrich Castle is red sandstone, dates mainly from 13th century and is worth exploring but the café was still open for refreshment, so we had tea and cake in the spring sunshine whilst wondering what the traffic on the M4 was going to be like on a bank holiday Friday.

Walk 9 miles, level walk apart from the climb back to Goodrich Castle at the end.

 

 

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

OFF THE SHELF

“The Colour of Magic” by Terry Pratchett

 

(His first Discworld novel)

‘A fantastic book that is quite absurd and I really didn’t expect to like it at all, in fact I’m furious that I actually enjoyed it’.

Quote from a book club member

The Colour of Magic is set on a world sitting on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown). The main characters are an avaricious but inept wizard called Rincewind, who becomes completely beguiling as the story unravels, and a naive tourist called Two Flower, whose rather menacing luggage follows closely behind moving on hundreds of legs. There are dragons aplenty, who only exist if you believe in them. Many eccentric adventures occur which take twists and turns as the travellers are whisked ever nearer to THE EDGE of the planet.

Terry Pratchett takes the seriousness out of the usual fantasy genre and replaces it with a really wicked sense of humour. He creates a beautifully imagined world with wonderfully described characters. This is obviously an excellent place to start reading Pratchett’s novels as it gives the background history of the main characters. The action starts in Ahnk Morpork, a city that becomes firmly implanted in the memory.

This is perhaps the first book read by the group which has left us unsure who to recommend it to! We did all agree that it was terrifically written, and if you managed to persevere past the first three chapters it was all great fun.

An overall score of 7 was finally agreed

 

 

Happy Memory Books

“THE PAGE TURNERS BOOKS PROMPTING HAPPY MEMORIES”

Due to ongoing Welsh Government restrictions, Page Turners were not able to meet up. Instead, book club members were asked to reflect on a book that has a special place on their book shelf, or Kindle! A piece of music can often bring back happy and cheerful memories of a time, a place, or a person, and books can evoke similar feelings. The Page Turners were asked to nominate a book they had read that can provoke or prompt happy memories… Do you agree with these choices?

May and Nicola have both spent some time in Africa: May was a teacher in Botswana for 2 years and Nicola grew up in Zambia. They made the same choice of a series of books: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall. For May the books brought back memories of the cheerful, hospitable people in Botswana, the colourful birds, dusty roads, villages of rondavels and continuing blue skies and warm, sunny days. Nicola loved these books as they are so evocative of Africa. She believes Mma Ramotswe, the detective, epitomises a particular type of African woman with down to earth humour and pragmatism.

Babs selection was Angels And Demons by Dan Brown. This book evokes memories of several visits to Rome: Babs has had a number of fantastic holidays in Rome with some lovely people she has been lucky enough to know in her life. She loves the history, the many wonderful buildings, the atmosphere, the people and the food, all of which she is reminded of by this book.

Sandra chose a poem, Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. This poem reminds Sandra of when she first met Peter (her soon to be husband), a true Welsh man, who wanted to teach Sandra, an English lady, about Wales. Sandra was at College in Salisbury and at the play house there was a production of Under Milk Wood. Peter took Sandra to the production, possibly to impress her (Sandra maintains). This was one of their first outings together, which she enjoyed immensely. This poem brings back many good memories for Sandra.

Special memories for Sylvia are prompted by the 1967 TV adaptation of The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. This starred Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Kenneth More and Susan Hampshire. It was on for 26 episodes, and Sylvia can still remember the anticipation and the unfolding of the story. No catch up in those days!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling was Jenny’s choice. Jenny remembers many a happy hour spent reading out loud alternate chapters with her young 7 year old son, in a quiet little Greek taverna on a beach, the waves cooling their toes. Although it was a long time ago, the book makes her recall the sheer bliss of this time. And her son? He went on to collect and read the entire series!

Lynne chose The Magus by John Fowles. The Magus tells the story of Nicholas Urfe, a young British graduate who is teaching English on a small Greek island. It seemed an appropriate choice for reading after finishing my college finals, as my dreams for the future were to travel to sunnier climes. A friend and I, and The Magus, jetted off to Tenerife to await our results. This book reminds me of blissfully carefree, relaxing days under blue skies…away from the cares of the world!

Helen selected Arts of the Eskimo by Patrick Furneaux and Leo Rosshandler. While living in Canada in the early 1970’s, Helen and her husband were greatly enamoured of the Inuit’s traditions. She believes much can be learned about the dreams as well as the activities of a culture long rooted in its environment. Helen was given the Arts of the Eskimo book and in the following months she purchased four of their original works of art. These pictures still grace her walls today and the pictures and the book evoke many very happy memories.

Is there a book on your bookshelf that prompts a journey into a different time, space or place? I hope you enjoyed reading about our choices.

 

 

St Nicholas to Peterston-super-Ely

Footsteps

St Nicholas to Peterston-super-Ely

Escaping from Wenvoe, we parked in St Nicholas, near the church, and explored north to Peterston-super-Ely. I walked with 3 different households over a few days. As one of my companions said, ‘It’s so nice to have a view to the north after so long.’

The first outing took us west from the church, towards the school and a footpath alongside the school. Opposite the church was a fruit tree in full blossom – beautiful. The school has several large, raised beds, an outside classroom, a playing field and a small pond, with a plastic duck. A good fence surrounds the whole area, but we saw several rabbits ‘trespassing’.

Crossing a couple of fields to the west we were surrounded by one of the sounds of spring – ewes calling their bleating lambs – so young and tiny. We stayed clear of them and came to a track leading north through trees. At a junction we took a left to cross Cottrell Park golf course and entered woodland. This is delightful now bright yellow celandine, white wood anemones, pussy willows, violets – white and blue, primroses, and the first signs of bluebells all jostled for our attention. I gathered wild garlic for supper.

The lane joins a road at a babbling stream and leads to a Chapel in Peterston-super-Ely. It is worth exploring the graveyard  there are some interesting headstones, but the ground is uneven. Turning right at the T junction we walked across the bridge over the river Ely to follow the river. There are benches along the river, a good place to rest and have a snack. You can walk further into the village to explore the village and church but return to the footbridge over the river to Wyndham Park. A wide avenue of trees takes you uphill past lovely houses. Snakes head fritillaries were spotted on the roadside verge. You can walk around this estate to find the ‘Moroccan’ houses and street names reminiscent of Dyffryn gardens.

Near the top of the hill, on the right, the footpath passes between two houses. At the field, we walked away from the houses and through a gap in the hedge on the left to follow the righthand boundary of the next field, emerging at Homri where building work is taking place. The drive becomes a road and leads back to St Nicholas. If you have not seen it already look for the grave of the blacksmith in the churchyard. This route is 3 miles.

On the second outing we started the walk in the same way but on reaching Peterston-super-Ely we did not cross the river but entered the National Trust meadows (footpath on the left just before the river). After a short walk there is an orchard on the right with a living willow shelter. We could not resist stopping for elevenses in the morning sunshine.

Re-joining the footpath, we turned right after crossing a small stream to walk along the river. This area is Pendoylan Moors (the other side of the river being Peterston Moors) and in winter is a flood plain. We were surprised to find it dried out so early in the year and walked north until we came near the farm. As you walk here you need to look ahead for the next footpath sign and keep to that line, if you follow the river itself you will wind all over the place and walk a lot further. It was quiet here apart from the regular trains running past in the distance – we saw 2 goods trains with 21 carriages. We espied buzzards soaring overhead and clouds of house martins swooping down over the water. Retracing our steps to Peterston-super-Ely, we crossed the bridge to pick up the previous walk. – There is a Valeways leaflet describing a 7-mile route which travels further north and comes back to Peterston-super-Ely on the eastern side of the river.

A third outing involved leaving St Nicholas via the road on the eastern side of the church. Before reaching Homri there is a footpath on the right which takes you down the valley to the Natural Burial ground. There are way markers showing where the path goes. We explored the paths in the Natural burial ground, where there are lots of bluebells but no flowers yet, before returning via the same route and aiming for Peterston-super- Ely, reversing the route described in the first outing above.

We were walking through a wood and could hear a ewe calling loudly; was she hurt? But as we neared the edge of the wood, we could see a lamb in the wood with its mother and sibling on the path outside, but the lamb couldn’t find a way out. We tried to usher the lamb through the kissing gate, but it ran off in the opposite direction. We spent a while rounding it up again before it got trapped momentarily between the fence and a tree trunk; somehow it scrambled out but ran into the next gated field. After a few more minutes of its mother calling, (and us trying to round it up) it came to the gate and we opened it to let it through. Ewe ran off with her two lambs without a backward glance (and certainly no Thank you!), both lambs eagerly suckling when they stopped. This took quite a few minutes, and we were now ready for our lunch which we ate with a view to the north.

Sunshine helped make all these walks a joy and we saw our first butterfly of spring; a comma. A longer walk could be created by walking south to Tinkinswood and Dyffryn as described last month, or even extending the walk to Wenvoe. Walk 3-7 miles depending on route taken. Map 151

 

 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

OFF THE SHELF

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This month’s book was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Two stories are entwined into the main character of Kya, who grows up in the 50s in the marshes of North Carolina. Her mother walks out on her abusive, alcoholic father leaving her youngest child Kaya and her siblings in his care. One by one her siblings leave. There is a short period when her father tries to care for his young daughter, but he soon returns to his drinking and gambling, he abandons Kya leaving the seven-year-old to fend for herself in their remote shack. Ever resourceful, Kya becomes self-sufficient by growing her own vegetables and picking and selling mussels to local trader Jumpin’ and his wife who take her under their wing. Despised by the ‘respectable’ people of the nearest village where she is known as the filthy ‘marsh girl’ Kya keeps to herself and avoids going to school. Finding her mother’s water colours Kya paints the flora and fauna of her surroundings. Although illiterate Kya has become a knowledgeable naturalist. As a teenager she becomes friendly with Tate who teaches her to read and write. Kya goes on to write illustrated books on nature and becomes a popular writer. The second part of the story involves Chas a wealthy spoilt boy who takes advantage of her. The story ends with a surprising twist.

It’s difficult to believe that this brilliantly crafted story is the author’s first novel. It rapidly became a bestseller and is about to be made into a film. It transported us to a different place and time, and we were gripped by the poignant struggles and triumphs of this little girl. Most of us thought it was one of the best books we had read and gave it 9/10 points.

 

 

Footsteps

Dyffryn

A favourite walk is to Dyffryn as there are several routes that can be taken. Hopefully before long Dyffryn Gardens will open and refreshment can be taken there before returning home. The photo below is of the mid-week walkers a couple of years ago, everyone with a smile on their faces despite a thorough drenching.

The first and most straight-forward route is to walk along the road to Dyffryn via St Lythans, though the road is a bit busy for this to be truly relaxing. From the village you can go along Pound Lane and into Wenvoe woods, which emerges onto a track running from Burdon’s Hill to the St Lythans Rd. From here there is a footpath to 12th C St Lythans Church where you can explore the churchyard and spot the vent at the top of the tower which was an outlet for the oven where bread was baked.

Walking along the St Lythans – Dyffryn road you reach Dyffryn Gardens in about 1 mile. Returning along this road follow the brown tourist sign for the footpath to the St Lythans burial chamber, a megalithic dolmen built in the Neolithic period around 4000 BC. The dolmen has three upright stones and a capstone which is 3 metres wide and 4 metres long; all the stones are mudstone.

 

From the dolmen you travel to Maesyfelin (the mill field) farmhouse. The footpath passes between the house and some outbuildings and through a gate. Over a couple of stiles straight ahead (east), you will often encounter a herd of cows. Across a couple of fields with the Goldsland woods (private) on your right and you emerge onto a stony track. Remains from seven Neolithic humans have been excavated from a cave in these woods. It is thought the corpses had been placed there to decompose before being removed to sites such as Tinkinswood or St Lythans burial chambers. This seems to be the sole site in Britain where corpses were left to rot prior to placement in communal tombs.

On an open piece of land is the Bee Loud Glade with a noticeboard giving information about the ongoing work to attract pollinators. The rest of the open area had a good display of flowers last summer, including one of my favourites the tiny but gorgeous blue flax which can be used to produce linen or flax oil. The footpath runs along the southern edge of this area and into a small woodland, along the northern boundary of Wenvoe golf course, and back to Burdon’s Hill. Going south here leads to the Port Rd or turn left going up the track, almost always with some mud, and take the stile on the right back into Wenvoe woods, to retrace your steps to Walston Rd.

For a longer walk you can continue past Dyffryn Gardens along the road and take the footpath to 6000 -year-old, Tinkinswood burial chamber (through a field and over a stream to reach the chamber from the road). A larger dolmen than the one at St Lythans, the Tinkinswood site contained human remains and pottery dating to the early Bronze Age. It is a good place to stop for a while. Instead of returning to the road you can cross a field and a small holding. There is a large open field, with Dyffryn Gardens to the left which seems to have a sense of quiet peace. Eventually the path emerges beside the Nant river and you can walk through Dyffryn village, with a stream either side of the road and some lovely houses.

At the end of the village there is a footpath around a small farm, where there are llamas, sheep and other animals. This leads into Dyffryn Springs fishery where you skirt a lake and can spot waterfowl and heron. After this are Old Wallace and New Wallace farms, where you walk through the stable yard and can look across the valley towards Barry and the airport. After New Wallace the track becomes a road, leading to Goldsland farm and the golf course and eventually the Port Rd south of Wenvoe

Other variations allow diversions through the Wild Orchard and Coed Nant Bran, even taking in St Nicholas and/or the Downs. Whichever path you take you can rely on mud somewhere, the possibility of having to wade through an inch or so of water (or 3inches this winter) and the vagaries of the British weather. But you will also see some beautiful countryside, lots of history beneath your feet and around you, and plants and animals aplenty if you keep your eyes and ears open. Many of these paths cross farmland and it is important to keep to the footpaths, keep any dogs on a lead and leave nothing but footsteps. I hope you enjoy your rambling as much as I do.

Walk 5-8.5 miles depending on which route is taken. Map 151

 

 

American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins

OFF THE SHELF

“American Dirt”, by Jeanine Cummins

 

American Dirt is a 2020 novel by American author Jeanine Cummins, about the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an immigrant to US with her son. At the opening of Jeanine Cummins’s devastating and timely novel, bookshop owner Lydia and her eight-year-old son, Luca, are the only survivors of a targeted massacre by the Mexican cartel that dominates and terrorises their hometown of Acapulco. Sixteen of their relatives have been shot at a family barbecue, including Lydia’s husband and Luca’s father, a journalist who had been investigating and reporting on the drug traffickers.

What follows is the story of a mother’s desperate attempts to keep her son alive, away from the cartel whose influence stretches across Mexico and from whom she knows they will never be safe. It is through their ordeal that Cummins humanises the migrant crisis, delivering a powerful portrayal of the extraordinary lengths people will go to in order to save their loved ones. It is a moving portrait of maternal love and an unflinching description of the experiences of displaced people on the move.

As members we really enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written, had powerful descriptions throughout and the turn of events were easy to follow. Although these were menacing at times and difficult to read, we persevered and appreciated its honesty. The characters were powerful and the main characters Lydia and Luca extremely likeable. We would recommend this book and gave it a score of 9/10. Chris Munroe

 

 

Good Feelings Books

THE PAGE TURNERS

The Most Funny, Uplifting, Joyous, Happy Books

The lockdowns and government restrictions have led to a huge boost in the number of people reading. Readers have sought endless escapism from the unexciting, monotonous routines of day-to-day life in lockdown. As lockdown continued into March, Page Turners were unable to meet yet again. As an alternative Page Turners were asked to suggest their most funny, uplifting, joyous, happy book which left them with a feel good sensation….and would help What’s On readers get through these lockdown days…and beyond. Here are their suggestions…

Nicola’s choice of a feel good novel is a young person’s book by Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising Sequence. Nicola has read and re-read this adventure involving magic and incorporating myths numerous times; and she always loses herself in it!

Sandra selected a book which gave her the feel good factor from beginning to end, Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr. Sandra believes this book is filled with the pleasure of travel and she describes it as funny, perceptive and tender. Does anyone remember the experience of travelling somewhere?!

Jenny’s choice is Blott on the Landscape by Tom Sharpe. Jenny remembers this 70s novel for the sheer emotion of laughing out loud A LOT! Jenny describes Blott as simply a very fast moving farce with many an amusing quick-witted turn of phrase (some rude!). She has enjoyed revisiting it, having a good chortle and reminding herself of its downright ridiculous storyline!

Helen also chose a Tom Sharpe novel, Peterhouse Blue, a humorous and well observed book about life in a fictional college at Cambridge University. Helen maintains it is both acerbic and mocking of an elite educational institution; it is a story of hypocrisy and pomposity with a surprising twist at the end and Helen believes it is very much a “laugh out loud” novel.

May’s selection of a joyful book is Mary Berry’s, Fast Cakes. During lockdown, this book made her feel good: who wouldn’t feel good reading about and making lemon drizzle cake, shortbread, tacky gingerbread, brownies, drop scones…..do I need to write on?

A character in Lynne’s pick of a feel good book would have approved of May’s choice as she loved to eat and drink and party and enjoy life…..Bridget Jones, from the Helen Fielding’s books. Bridget Jones is a binge drinking, chain smoking publisher who tries (and fails) to keep her life in order. Her attempts to enjoy life end with her in some tight spots that most people can identify with….and laugh along with…

Sylvia selected the book that the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is based on, These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach. Enticed by advertisements for a luxury retirement home in India, a group of strangers leave England to begin a new life. Their experiences are hilarious and poignant and certainly provide readers with many uplifting, joyful moments.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan is Babs’s choice of a thoroughly heart warming and enjoyable read. The novel alternates between two main story lines and is a pleasant, sometimes humorous, easy read with interesting characters and a good ending.

Our final Page Turners selection of an uplifting read is from Jill who opted for two books by Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven. Jill really loved the characters and well drawn plots. The second one was a satisfying follow-up and gave an interesting description of the Cherokee Nation.

If the lockdown restrictions, or even the weather are keeping you indoors, why not try one of these books that Page Turners have enjoyed….?

 

 

Local Walking – Wenvoe

Footsteps

Wenvoe

The winter rain has turned most footpaths into quagmires and more of us than usual are walking them but there are places we can visit on firm ground. You are advised to wear good footwear – walking boots, wellies or sturdy shoes on all but the driest days as the lanes around our village can be muddy, wet (either streams or large puddles) and sometimes icy.

Once again, the golf course has been closed to players and we have been allowed to explore the extensive grounds, if we keep off the greens, fairways and bunkers and keep any dogs on a lead.

The first and easiest route, which is used by lots of people, is to walk along the main road past the garden centre and take the first turning – Burdons Hill. It is uphill with snowdrops under a hedge and a 3D aeroplane on the side of a garage. You will come to a junction turning right goes north past Burdons farm and it is worth going past the stone stile, for a quick visit to the Elizabethan orchard on the left, which offers views across farmland, but then retrace your steps to the junction.

At the junction you follow the good track alongside the golf course (left turn from the top of Burdons Hill) that leads down to the golf course road. When you arrive at this road, turn left to come back to the Port Rd and another left leads to Wenvoe.

For a slightly longer walk on grass, another option, is to go through the kissing gate straight ahead and enter the golf course, to walk around its boundary. Stay along the top edge of the golf course and you will find a footpath sign. Currently, you can avoid this and stay within the golf course. Follow the boundary of the golf course until you see an opening onto the road, turn left onto the road and you will come back to the Port Rd.

 

This short walk has lots to offer – excellent views across the golf course, snowdrops and lots of birds – people have seen a tree creeper, nuthatch, wren and green woodpecker as well as the usual cheery robins, tits, blackbirds, crows, buzzards and sparrows chattering in the hedges. If you venture across the golf course road as far as the lake on the golf course you might be lucky enough to spot frog spawn. And on the way back to the main road you can see the sole lamb, that appeared in January, in amongst the sheep.

My second suggestion is to do a linear walk to Michaelston-le-Pit. Cross the main road using the pedestrian bridge and walk along Station Rd. A footpath on the left has purple crocuses growing along it – there were cottages here at one time. Continuing, you pass Station Terrace where the railway station used to be and walk over the old railway bridge. This is an area which often has mud and standing water (several inches deep). Carry on, there are fields either side of the road and as it winds it becomes narrower, I walk quickly here in case any cars come by – there is nowhere to stand aside. There are lots of lambs in one of the fields.

When you reach the T-junction turn right to follow the road to Wrinstone Farm. At the farm turn left up a stony track, near the top you will have views of the Channel in winter. Follow the footpath signs to the right near the top of the hill and soon head downhill to join a tarmacked road. Turning right leads to Michaelston-le-Pit. You will pass Cwrt Yr Ala (a large house which once belonged to the Raleigh Family) and then a footpath on the right (noticeable because there is a sign telling you all the things you must not do) at Salmon Leaps which will bring you back to Wrinstone farm, It is lovely, but the path can be slippery and muddy.

Carry on along the road to enjoy the water cascading down the weirs and spot ducks and sometimes a heron. The raised village green is covered in purple crocuses now. Can you find the stone protruding from its wall which is a foothold for mounting a horse? Opposite, behind the telephone kiosk, is a covered well which at one time was the village’s only source of drinking water.

A few minutes later you will arrive at the grade I listed, church lychgate, a World War 1 memorial to local soldiers. Enter St Michael churchyard, to explore and maybe have a rest on one of the benches supplied, the Yew tree is impressive.

 

Leaving the churchyard retrace your steps to return to Wenvoe (maybe via the footpath at Salmons Leap if the weather is good).

Walk 2-7 miles depending on which route is taken. Map 151

 

 

Heroes and Heroines

“THE PAGE TURNERS”

HEROES AND HEROINES

Due to continued Covid restrictions, there was no opportunity for book club members to meet up in February. Instead the Page Turners were set the task to decide who is the greatest hero or heroine they have read about on their literary journeys. Will it be Hercule Poirot, from Agatha Christie’s crime novels; or Winston Smith, from 1984 by George Orwell; or a young heroine like Hermione Grainger, from the Harry Potter series?

Nicola’s greatest hero is Tate from Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Nicola appreciated the way Tate saw Kya as an individual in her own right. Unlike many others, who only saw her as ‘the marsh girl’ and made many assumptions about her, Tate understood Kya and recognised the value of her for who she was.

Lynne’s heroine is Eleanor Oliphant from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Eleanor is a social misfit with a traumatic past. She tries to deal with the loneliness and isolation she has lived with for many years; a theme many people will empathise with, having had to endure similar emotions during the pandemic lockdown restrictions. She manages to transform herself and live a fuller life, which makes her a heroine in Lynne’s eyes.

Helen’s selection is Maya Angelou who wrote seven volumes of autobiography, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Helen believes Maya speaks eloquently and frankly about her experiences of growing up in the 1930s Deep South. No detail is spared but also nothing is sensationalised past the point of the wonder with which her childlike eyes saw the world. Everything she experienced is tackled with honesty and confidence; what shines through is Angelou’s love and appreciation for the world as something wondrous, something to be grateful for even when it seems impossible. This makes Maya a genuine heroine in Helen’s opinion.

May’s choice of hero is Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus agrees to defend Tom, a black man, accused of raping a white woman, knowing that he will face local prejudice. He defends Tom against a lynch mob and in spite of the evidence, Tom is found guilty. May believes that Atticus is a hero for standing up for what is right, in spite of the risks involved.

Jill’s favourite book while growing up was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and her choice for the title of greatest heroine is Jo March, who she identified with strongly. Jill admired Jo’s vivid imagination, sense of adventure, fearlessness and deep love for her family. She was a true feminist and fought against the social restraints of her time, but in time she conquered her personal faults & became a happily fulfilled wife and mother.

Sylvia’s hero is an aloof and romantic hero, “a noble character at heart, albeit somewhat prideful”: Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Does this choice have anything to do with Mr Darcy, played by Colin Firth, emerging from a lake in the TV version…. ?!

Rafi Bukhara from the novel Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton was Babs choice. Following the deaths of close family members, Rafi heroically and lovingly guarded his young brother Basi during their 6 month journey from Syria. Subsequently, when his school in Somerset is under siege by two men armed with automatic weapons, despite already suffering with PTSD as a result of his earlier traumas, Rafi was the first to recognise the danger. He ensured the successful evacuation of the Junior School. Truly a hero of our times, claims Babs.

Sandra’s choice is Jane Eyre from the novel by Charlotte Bronte. Sandra considers Jane to be completely self-sufficient and capable of enduring solitude, loneliness and heartbreak. Jane always relied on herself for guidance and comfort and survives the disapproval and cruelty of others. She has true values and principles and will not sacrifice these no matter what the outcome: which is what all true heroines do.

Do you agree with the choices made by the Page Turners?

 

 

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