Category: General Interest Articles
Articles of general interest on no particular subject
A Different Snowdon Adventure
A DIFFERENT SNOWDON ADVENTURE
As a Physiotherapist, I had the privilege of working with some pretty remarkable people over the years and one particular individual came to mind last year, when a number of local residents shared their outdoor adventures. Henry was a gentleman with cerebral palsy resulting in considerable physical disabilities and he had been wheelchair dependent all his life. It was always a joy to visit him and listen to his stories and dreams. One day, he shared his lifelong dream of being on the summit of Wales’ highest mountain, Snowdon… I don’t think Henry had any concept of what might be involved to achieve this in relation to the organisation that would be involved in relation to his wheelchair, equipment, people power, transport, accommodation, let alone the height of the mountain and what that meant in reality and also any possible implications from the weather..
At the time Henry was 60 and required adapted wheelchair seating in order to accommodate his physical needs. The idea of him being able to access Snowdon was truly a dream for him but it sparked something in me to see if I could help him achieve that dream. I didn’t even consider him accessing the mountain by the train as that was not something that I would ever do. Climbing a mountain to me, meant just that – physically getting to the top.
My first challenge was to find someone who was mad/brave enough to contemplate such an undertaking with me and after asking a few people, I did manage to secure the support of a friend, big Chris, who at the time was undertaking his Mountain Leadership qualification but interestingly, had never been up Snowdon! We therefore did a recce visit and decided that the Pyg track should / could be possible to do with a wheelchair; and would also provide a suitable challenge worth fundraising for! (We also agreed then that, if necessary, Henry could descend the mountain via the train!)
Pyg Track
We knew that we would need a team who were trained in lifting (today known as moving and handling) and approached the South Wales Fire Service who offered fantastic support! We not only ended up with six volunteer firemen, but they also offered to loan us their big red fire service bus to transport the team to and from North Wales!
I approached the Department of Rehab and Engineering at Rookwood Hospital who kindly made and donated a specially-made wheelchair for the trip. Although not offering the ultimate comfort for Henry, it did have the facility to add ‘carry bars’ (making the wheelchair a bit like a sedan chair), for when the chair couldn’t be ‘pushed’ along the path.
Henry lived at the top of the Rhondda Valley and I remember on one of the trips back from a wheelchair fitting, he looked up at The Bwlch and mused whether being at the summit of Snowdon would be similar to being on top of The Bwlch (which I’m not sure that Henry had ever been at the top of either). I gently replied, “Not really!”, having experienced Snowdon in all its glories of rain, wind, sleet, snow and whiteouts as well as very occasional sunshine!
The team eventually consisted of about 22 of us in all including the 6 firemen, 6 members of Treherbert rugby youth team, big Chris and two of the youngsters he worked with, myself and a couple of climbers Chris knew, as we thought we might need to support Henry and the wheelchair with ropes along some of the scarier points of the track, as well as 3 other women. We did indeed make good use of the ropes when at one point, concentration waned or tiredness won or feet slipped on the rock and the wheelchair tipped! Luckily, Henry was safely secured by a lap belt and the ropes saved the wheelchair from toppling further!
Typical Section of Pyg Track
A pretty scary moment!! Out of all of us, only 4 had previously been up Snowdon so it was a real adventure and opportunity for most of the group. We had booked the Dinorwig bunk house for Friday and Saturday night and although had thought long and hard about how we would support Henry up the mountain, had given no thought to getting Henry in his wheelchair down the steep track to the bunkhouse in the pitch dark when we arrived! The adventure very nearly ended before it had even begun!
Amazingly, the Saturday dawned bright and clear and in fact remained so all day offering the most incredible views all the way to the summit! Henry was wrapped in a down sleeping bag to keep him warm before being secured in his chair, because although we all got pretty hot climbing and manoeuvring the wheelchair (and actually carrying it where necessary), Henry was of course stationary in the chair and therefore could potentially have got very very cold being unable to move. The whole team took it in turns to push and carry the chair giving everyone a chance to actually take part but also allowing much needed recovery times. It was quite strange to me, used to working with people with a disability, that at the rest points, no-one actually considered that Henry couldn’t appreciate the views unless his chair was turned to face them, whilst everyone else spread out along the path and rocks enjoying cups of tea, sandwiches and the incredible views – Snowdonia at its best! All the way up we were subject to some interested and varied comments from fellow intrepid climbers and when we finally made the summit, an enormous crowd had gathered to wait for and cheer Henry!
Henry did indeed come down the mountain on the train while most of us walked down alongside the railway track and all met in the pub in Llanberis where more than a few pints of beer were imbibed to celebrate resulting in a far more interesting descent of the track to the bunkhouse in the dark as very few of us were sure footed at that point! (There were of course other tales of that evening but perhaps not printable here!)
Nicola Harmer
Covid Article Stirs Many Memories
JANUARY’S FRONT PAGE ARTICLE STIRS MANY MEMORIES
January’s front page article about the smallpox epidemic in South Wales brought back memories for me. I had just started grammar school and after school, the whole of our family trooped to the doctor’s surgery, joining the queue to get our smallpox vaccinations. When we finished, we went to Ely to look at caravans for our summer holiday. I did not feel very well (probably needed food) and felt the whole thing was a bit of a drag.
My mother was a nurse, working 3 nights a week at Lansdowne Hospital, which was an isolation hospital. As she worked with infectious diseases, she was selected to be sent to the smallpox hospital in the Valleys if the disease took off. My parents must have been worried as I was the eldest of 4 children. How would Dad cope without her? But there was no hesitation; nursing was a vocation, and she was willing to play her part. Just like the hundreds of medics in today’s NHS who are working so hard to help people suffering from Covid-19.
I remember her explaining to us children that she may have to go away for a while and would not be able to come home. As we all know, the vaccination programme worked, halting the progress of smallpox in South Wales and our family escaped the ordeal of separation. Until I read the What’s On article this was all a dim and distant memory to me. Hopefully that will also happen with Covid-19 in due course
Annie Bennett
Memories Of Wenvoe In 1950
Echoes From The Past!
ECHOES FROM THE PAST!
“The street crowd surged—but
where to go?
The bar? The concert? Movies?
No!
Old Influenza’s locked the door to
Pleasure Land.
Oh what a bore!”
Edna Groff Diehl, 1918
“The toothpaste didn’t taste right— Spanish Flu!
The bath soap burned my eyes—Spanish Flu!
My beard seemed to have grown pretty fast and tough overnight—
Spanish Flu!”
Anonymous – Winnipeg Tribune, 1918
Gunner Ivor John Hiley, the son of a Barry butcher, survived three years fighting in France during the Great War. He had arrived at Newport railway station, on leave from the Royal Field Artillery and walked the eight miles (13km) home to Pontypool by midnight. By the morning he was already showing signs of flu and died within days on December 16, just a month after Armistice Day. His wife and young daughter had already succumbed to the deadly ‘Spanish flu’ pandemic. In Wales the official death toll was 8,750; globally over 50 million died.
The Vale of Glamorgan suffered less than other parts of Wales. Only 78 people died in Barry, the second lowest death rate in Wales. Things were bad in Cardiff where the worst of the epidemic started in October. Doctors were struggling to cope and some schools were 
closed. It appeared worse in the poorer and the more overcrowded parts of Cardiff. South Cardiff – which included the docks – had the highest death rate – 29.9 per 1,000. Army labour corps were drafted in to dig graves. There were reports of bodies being transported in carts from the docks. Delirious with fever, one man fell to his death from his bedroom window.
Unlike today, the epidemic did not affect the older generation quite as much. Of the deaths in the city, 44% involved younger adults, aged 25 to 45. It is thought that older people had possibly gained more immunity as a result of a similar pandemic in 1889.
Responses to the 1918-19 pandemic were also familiar. Precautionary leaflets were issued with advice including urging people to avoid sneezing and coughing, to boil handkerchiefs and take to bed in a well-ventilated room. Every effort was made to stop people gathering together. Schools and cinemas were closed but just like today some people ignored the pleas. Social distancing proved difficult in the Welsh mining communities where the sense of neighbourliness and community spirit was strong. One physician, Dr Jenkins, lamented the ‘well intentional but ill-advised custom of neighbourly inter-visitation between the occupants of infected and unaffected houses’. There was also the habit of spitting ‘still prevalent in most communities’- a by-product of working with coal.
As today, some people failed to understand the situation or heed warnings. In March 1919, Aberavon Council ordered the closing of premises of Messrs. Gibbons because a room above their shop, sufficient in size for 18 people and with no through ventilation, had been used by 170 people to hold a séance!
The1919 pandemic eventually waned and gloom was replaced with a spirit of optimism. Gradually things returned to normal and economic prosperity resumed. Encouragingly perhaps, the next decade is often remembered as the ‘Jazz Age’ or the ‘Roaring Twenties.’ Of course we also have one massive advantage today – several effective vaccines!
Repair And Reuse Initiative For Wenvoe
REPAIR AND REUSE INITIATIVE FOR WENVOE
The Community Council has spent some time researching an inspirational project called Repair Café Wales.
We would like to share the philosophy of this project with you all and ask for your help in working towards something similar in Wenvoe
This is an extract from a document describing Repair Café Wales
“Repair cafes are events run by volunteers who fix peoples household items for free and teach the owner of the item how to repair their item as the fix is being undertaken. Over the last 30 months Repair Café Wales has
- Helped open and support 30 repair cafes across Wales, several of which include other environmental sharing events. Since March we have had 21 requests for new repair cafes in communities across Wales
- Welcomed 12,363 visitors to our repair cafes
- Recruited 455 active volunteers across Wales
- Saved local councils £50,904 in fixed items diverted from landfill over the last 18 months
- Built a recognised digital presence with over 6,000 social media followers
- Created a starter kit with 40+ documents to help a community start and successfully run a repair café
Over the last 18 months we have diverted approximately 16.5 tonnes of waste from landfill. Whilst we reduce waste, we also upskill people through repair to help build community resilience, we create a safe space to help people with loneliness, isolation and mental health issues and we help change people’s relationship with the items they own to better understand them, bring longevity to the item’s life and tackle our throw away society”
This is indeed a project for our current times.
To progress this we need a CHAMPION. An individual (or Individuals) who could set this on the road so that we can have such a facility in Wenvoe. We need someone with imagination, drive and initiative who could develop and lead a team of residents to support this initiative
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP? Plenty of support will be available.
Please contact any of the editors if you are interested.
Wenvoe Advent Windows
WENVOE ADVENT WINDOWS
At the time of writing we are just over half way to lighting up all of the Wenvoe Advent Windows. There have been so many different subjects and ways of decorating windows that have all been a surprise to those of us viewing each lighting up. We have seen Santa Clauses, Snowmen, Kings, Nativities, Stars, Festive Fireplaces, Christmas Trees, Planets, Skating Penguins, a view of Wenvoe, tributes to a loved pet and even a visit from the Grinch, fortunately he didn’t steal our Christmas!
A huge Thank You to all the amazing efforts of those who used their time, imagination and skills to provide us with so much fun and a purpose to get out and have a walk whatever the weather.
We have had comments about what people want to do next year with further ideas and ways of improving what has already been achieved. While we have not made any plans for next year it would be good to have any comments from those who have decorated a window or those who have enjoyed viewing.
We now look forward to seeing the remaining windows unfold especially the last one the children from Wenvoe School are providing in the Church yard on Christmas Eve.
Jude Billingham
judebillingham@yahoo.co.uk – for your comments
Man Be Kind
Man Be Kind
Our beautiful world is crying, with man’s cruelty going on!
Slaughtering God’s creatures, Elephant and Rhinos soon be gone,
Many wildlife creatures here from the start,
Who walked the lands, who swam the seas, soon many to depart!
Ships that sail the Oceans, dumping rubbish in the sea,
Plastic bags choking sea creatures,
Whose habitat once was free!
Our magnificent flying creatures whose songs we heard a lot,
So colourful and mesmerising, doing things that man could not,
They spared their wings and then take flight high above the earth,
Their nests in Rainforests now destroyed that once held generation’s birds!
Pollution heating up the earth, ozone layer breaking down,
Wildfires taking over, burning all down to the ground!
Nature’s country habitats all taken, dear creatures needing help,
As they flee to survive their fear so strongly felt!
The Earth and nature’s had enough and now is fighting back,
World leaders must be carers, to get all back on track,
The Universe is powerful, many planets to explore,
But mankind MUST be kinder, as they too could go before.
Maureen Richards 2020
Vaccines To The Rescue …..Once Again!
VACCINES TO THE RESCUE …..ONCE AGAIN!
On 13 January 1962 Shuka Mia arrived in Cardiff on a train from Birmingham. He’d flown into Britain the day before on a plane from Pakistan, where a smallpox epidemic had claimed hundreds of lives that winter. On arrival in the city centre, the traveller – and the virus – made their way through the centre of Cardiff to the place where he’d arranged to stay. Though he carried a vaccination certificate, he brought the deadly virus to Wales. The disease he was carrying was one of the most horrific known to man. Although it has now been eradicated, in 1962 it was still rife in many parts of the world. A day after he arrived at the Calcutta Restaurant in Bridge Street, a GP was called to see Shuka Mia who was in bed upstairs. The doctor suspected smallpox. The patient was taken to the Lansdowne isolation hospital, where specialist Dr John Pathy saw him the next morning and confirmed the diagnosis. As the news broke that smallpox was in the city, a desperate search began for anyone who may have been in contact with the carrier.
Shuka Mia was sent to the top of a mountain above the Rhondda where he was shut away from the outside world. All that remains of the Penrhys smallpox hospital on its windswept hilltop are the high walls which surrounded it. But during the crisis of 1962, 12 patients were isolated there as doctors fought to control the outbreak.
The reaction of the authorities was strikingly familiar to that today. In Cardiff a huge operation was mounted to trace contacts and to vaccinate anyone who might have been in contact with Shuka Mia – either in the city or on the train that brought him to Wales. But thousands of people demanded vaccination and sometimes tempers flared. Over the next few weeks, 900,000 people in Wales were vaccinated against smallpox. Extra supplies of vaccine were brought in from as far away as Argentina.
The quick and decisive action of the authorities seemed to work. No one in Cardiff or the Vale became ill and for more than a month it seemed the smallpox scare was over. Then, out of the blue, a consultant at East Glamorgan Hospital Dr Robert Hodkinson became seriously ill. He was the only doctor in the hospital who decided not to get vaccinated and he died. It turned out he contracted small pox through a woman in the Rhondda he had treated, who died in childbirth. Other members of her family were also fatally affected. It was and still is a mystery how a heavily pregnant woman in Maerdy in Ferndale, way up in the Rhondda, got it from Cardiff. Six people died in the Rhondda and smallpox was about to be declared as over when days later 12 more people were inexplicably found to have contracted small pox and died in Glanrhyd hospital in Bridgend.
There is of course a strong link to this story and the development of Covid 19 vaccines today. The technique of variolation or deliberately infecting a patient with a mild dose of smallpox in the expectation that it would provide protection from a more severe infection had been used in China, India and Turkey long before Edward Jenner started his clinical trials in 1796. Jenner’s though was the first successful scientific attempt to control an infectious disease (small pox) by the deliberate use of vaccination. Jenner is rightly praised for his pioneering science. He also deserves recognition for his advancement of the idea that vaccination should be free at the point of delivery and available to everyone. Jenner considered himself the ‘Vaccine Clerk to the World’ arguing that ‘the Sciences are never at war.’ He realised that the eradication of small pox would, as in the case of Covid 19, require a global response. Finally, what of Shuka Mia? Well possibly as a result of already having been vaccinated, he survived small pox and returned home to his family.
