Category: New Items for December 2025

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Report from the Hub December 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Report from the Hub

December 2025

OPENING HOURS

We are now open Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-day 10 am – 4 pm and Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.

Christmas Opening Hours: The Library will be closed on Wednesday 24 December. Reopening on Monday 5 January.

Cuppa with a Coppa – date to be advised.

New Books

Crime: Love Kills by David Jackson. A seriously creepy thriller.

Romance: A Nurse’s Secret by Donna Douglas. A heartbreaking story of love and forgiveness set in London’s East End in 1940.

Non-Fiction: The Graces by Breeze Barrington: The extraordinary untold lives of women at the Restoration Court.

Children’s: My Encyclopaedia of Very Important Animals. For little animal lovers who want to know everything.

Talk in the Hub

Investigating the Infestation,

Dr Cathryn Harvey

Friday 19 December, at 7.00pm

Discover the hidden enemy threatening HMS Victory. Deathwatch beetles – tiny insects with a chilling name are gnawing their way through Lord Nelson’s famous warship.

Cathryn reveals the science, history, and myths of these destructive creatures. Why are they so dangerous? How did they get their sinister reputation? And what is being done to protect one of Britain’s greatest naval icons?

Come along for a fascinating evening of history, science, and creepy crawlies!

Trip to the Hay Book Festival , May 2026

Get ready for our favourite outing of the year – a day trip to the world-famous Hay Festival of Literature & Ideas!

Join us for a day surrounded by books, creativity and conversation in the beautiful border town of Hay-on-Wye. Whether you love meeting your favourite authors, browsing the bookshops or simply soaking up the festival buzz with friends, this promises to be a fantastic day out.

Date to be confirmed (May 2026) – we’ll share details as soon as the Festival programme is released. Bus tickets around £30.00. Festival talks and events: once we confirm our travel date you will be able to book and pay for your chosen speakers and sessions online directly through the Hay Festival website.

Expressing your interest with us now gives you priority when seats are released – don’t miss out. To register your interest, please email us on: wenvoelibrary@outlook.com Let’s make this a memorable Hub adventure – books, laughter and a great day out with friends.

Get On Board at the Hub

Do you enjoy a bit of friendly competition, strategy, and plenty of laughs along the way? Join us at 1:30pm on Tuesday afternoons for Rummikub – the numbers tile game that mixes luck, quick thinking, and clever strategy or Scrabble – the timeless word game where a good vocabulary (and a touch of luck with the letters!) can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or a complete beginner, this is a chance to meet others, sharpen your skills, and simply enjoy some relaxed time together over a cuppa.

On behalf of the Volunteers and Management Team, we wish you Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year.

 

Top Of The Christmas Pops!

IT’S NUMBER ONE – IT’S TOP OF THE CHRISTMAS POPS!

By the time What’s On readers read this article Christmas music will have been everywhere for months. Many people will already be fed up with hearing Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, Lonely this Christmas by Mud, Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney and Queen’s Thank God its Christmas plus numerous others being continuously piped out of shop speakers. Some of you may love them in which case it’s probably not worth you reading further!! But go on….you may discover a few new faves for your Christmas playlist. I am going to share with readers some less well-known Christmas songs that you may want to explore as an antidote to the tried, possibly tired and tested Christmas ditties. But first a quick summary.

The Christmas chart number one has always been and continues to be a big event. In the 69 years the charts have been compiled you may be surprised to know that the word Christmas has only been in the title of the number one song 8 times. (9 if you include the word Xmas) The first time it was Dickie Valentine with his Christmas Alphabet in 1955 then Mud and Shakin Stevens. Five of the eight number ones were Band Aid (three times) and Wham the last two years with Last Christmas. It had taken Wham 39 years to get this song to Number one.

The first download number one was Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine after a fan led campaign to revive a 1992 single. Ladbaby hold the record for the most Christmas number ones five times from 2018 to 2022 although one, Sausage Rolls for Everyone, featured Ed Sheeran and Elton John. Whether you loved, hated or never heard their hits the good news is they donated all the profits to the Trussell Trust who oversee foodbanks throughout the country.

Has there been any Welsh involvement in Christmas Number ones I hear you ask? Well yes there has! There was Tom Jones in 1966 with The Green Green Grass of Home, Dave Edmunds with I Hear You Knocking in 1970 and 1985 when Shaky hit the top spot. That’s it as far as individual artists are concerned but Spencer Davis as part of the Spencer Davis group achieved the top spot with Keep on Runnin’ in 1965 followed in 1983 by Only You sung by the Flying Pickets whose lead singer Brian Hibbard was from Ebbw Vale. Of course, if you want to include John Peel’s festive 50 voted on by his listeners, Melys hit number one with Chinese Whispers in 2001.

Since our daughters were born over 40 years ago, the most played record has been an LP called Christmas Songs & Carols for Little Children by the Sunbury Junior Singers of the Salvation Army conducted by Joy Webb. Joy Webb was, and I am going off at a tangent here, a founding member of the Joy Strings who in the 1960’s had two minor hits in the charts with It’s an Open Secret and A Starry Night. All their performances had them dressed in Sally Army gear. The aforementioned LP has been played in our house each Christmas, admittedly sometimes only once!

So here are a few album ideas for an alternative Christmas sound track. I am forgetting Now’s The Christmas Album which has all the popular hits. The main contender has to be A Christmas Gift for You produced by Phil Spector. Amazing tracks by the Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love and the wonderfully titled Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. They rattle through some standards with that famous Wall of Sound. Bob B sings The Bells of St Mary. Quite appropriate for us here in Wenvoe don’t you think! The album was overlooked, as on the eve of its release President Kennedy was assassinated.

One of my favourite LPs is the Waterson’s Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy which includes Martin Carthy who this year at the age of 84 was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. The album cover states the record reminds “us of what we’ve lost since the flood of Victorian hymnals notably Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861) pushed out so many notable traditional melodies.” I appreciate unaccompanied singing is not everyone’s taste but give it a try!

I am going to pass over Elvis’ many attempts at Christmas songs LPs which are not to my taste. One album that is not in Jude’s fave list, although she is a big Bob Dylan fan, is his Christmas in the Heart album. She had the CD in her stocking one year and having played the first two tracks shouted out “that can go in the bin.” Santa was so upset! Sssh it’s still on our shelves!

Space is short, so here are a few other individual song suggestions – Steve Earle’s Christmas in Washington sung by Joan Baez, The Leisure Society’s The Last of the Melting Snow, Donovan’s Little Tin Soldier (what’s Christmas without a tin soldier and a ballerina falling in love!) and St Etienne’s I was born on Christmas Day.

My favourite Christmas song is Bing Crosby’s White Ch……. Only joking! My fave is a controversial choice and could result in my ostracisation (if that’s a word) from the village. IT IS, deep breath, the B side of John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) which is Yoko Ono’s Listen the Snow is Falling. Give it a listen! Happy Christmas pop pickers!!

Nigel Billingham

 

Feeling Festively Creative

Feeling festively creative? Why not try some easy edible Christmas gifts to give to family and friends.

Coconut Ice Squares

Ingredients

397g/14oz tin condensed milk

325g/11½oz icing sugar, sifted

350g/12oz desiccated coconut

pink food colouring paste

Method

  1. Line the base and sides of a 20cm/8in square baking tin with baking paper.
  2. Combine the condensed milk and icing sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Add the desiccated coconut and mix again until thoroughly combined. Weigh the mixture and divide in half. Spoon one half into the prepared tin and spread level using the back of a spoon. Press into a smooth, even layer.
  3. Add a tiny amount of pink food colouring paste to the remaining mixture in the bowl and mix again until evenly coloured. Press this pink mixture over the white coconut ice in a smooth layer. Cover and leave to firm up overnight.
  4. The next day, turn the mixture out onto a chopping board and cut into 40 small squares

Microwave Bourbon Biscuit Fudge

Ingredients

397g tin condensed milk

500g/1lb 2oz white chocolate, broken into pieces

20 bourbon cream biscuits, broken into pieces

Method

  1. Line a 20cm/8in square cake tin with a sheet of baking paper.
  2. Tip the condensed milk into a large microwavable bowl. Add the chocolate and microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring every minute until smooth.
  3. Stir in most of the broken biscuits then tip into the tin, levelling off with the back of a spoon. Crumble the remaining biscuits over the top.
  4. Leave to cool, then cover and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours; cut into 36 small cubes.

 

Ginger Chocolate Oat Bars

Ingredients

100g/3½oz butter

100g/3½oz jumbo oats

100g/3½oz rolled oats

450g/1lb dark chocolate, (72%)

150ml/5fl oz double cream

150g/5½oz dried cranberries

150g/5½oz dried cherries

150g/5½oz crystallised ginger, chopped

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a pan. Add both types of oats and cook for three minutes. Transfer to an oven dish that will fit in your fridge.
  2. Place a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Add the chocolate and cream to the bowl and leave to melt for 15 minutes without stirring. 3. Add the cranberries, cherries and ginger to the oats and stir.
  3. When the chocolate has fully melted, give it a little stir and then pour over the oats and fruit. Fold the chocolate in using a spoon and then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. When set, break into pieces by hand and serve.

 

Popcorn Bars

Ingredients

200g/7oz dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids),

broken into pieces

50g/1¾oz puffed rice cereal

40g/1½oz salted popcorn

50g/1¾oz dried cranberries, halved

50g/1¾oz large marshmallows, quartered

Method

  1. Line a 20cm/8in square baking tin with two layers of cling film.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.
  3. Put the rice cereal, popcorn, cranberries and marshmallows into a bowl and mix well.
  4. While the chocolate is still warm, quickly pour it onto the cereal mixture and stir with a spatula until everything is coated.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the lined baking tin and press down well. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to set for a minimum of 2 hours.

Turn out onto a board and cut into 20 squares

Christmas Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

250ml/9fl oz whipping cream
225g/8oz dark chocolate
55g/2oz unsalted butter, cubed and left to soften
unsweetened cocoa powder, to dust

Method

1. Chop the chocolate roughly. Pulse in the food
processor until it’s the consistency of
breadcrumbs.
2. Boil the cream. Turn on the food processor again
and pour the cream very slowly onto the
chocolate. It is a bit like making mayonnaise and
you should soon have a perfectly smooth
emulsion. If the mixture does split, process for a
couple more minutes and it usually does the trick.
Add the butter, bit by bit and beat until it has
been incorporated. Pour the mixture into a bowl
or tray and leave to cool for about 15 minutes in
the fridge. When it has set to the consistency of
butter icing, it is ready to be piped or spooned
into truffle sized bits.
3. Cool for at least two hours, then finish by rolling
in cocoa powder, coconut or chopped toasted
nuts.

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

The team had a special task today, cleaning around the memorial in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. We were chosen by Help the Aged to try and include some folk who find mixing difficult. Mr Williams (in the tabard) was felt most welcome, along with his carer, Dr Martins (yellow coat). All went swimmingly until a vehicle went past a little too fast. This resulted in Mr Williams chasing it as far as the pub to berate the driver. The carer said that his patient had been knocked over so many times it had left him a foot shorter and with a dislike of thoughtless motorists.

Team elder, Ieuan, will be laying a wreath on behalf of our group. Being a young lad at the outbreak of WWII, he has many memories of the shenanigans that went on in Wenvoe at that time and with a bit of persuasion could even give a talk on this. There may be lawyers involved if some of the families descendants are still around.

This band of good folk will meet on the 8th December to swap our prescriptions. It’s loads better than exchanging presents, as you never know what you’re going to get.

Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas, especially those who help us home after our meetings.

The Horse Was Absolutely Terrified

The Horse Was Absolutely Terrified

It seems that Bonfire night passed without any major incidents but 2 nights later a private party set off fireworks with a very loud bang less than 100m from a horse in his nearby field. The horse was absolutely terrified and went into flight mode. Of all the animals, horses are particularly sensitive, and their natural instinct is to flee. Not even the most desensitised and well-trained horse can always suppress that instinct. Herding the horse into his stable helped but he remained very distressed.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is working with a coalition of 18 organisations, to raise awareness of the impact of loud fireworks and is running a petition to the Government to reduce their maximum permitted noise level from 120db to 90db. The petition has reached well over the 100,000 signatures and will be considered for parliamentary debate. However the more signatures there are, the more likely it will be debated. Please add your signature to that petition at www.redwings.co.uk/fireworks and please consider animals whenever you choose to ignite fireworks.

New Wenvoe Author To Inspire Young Readers

NEW WENVOE AUTHOR TO INSPIRE YOUNG READERS

My name is Belinda Batey, I live in Wenvoe and I am a newly published author of children’s books, who is passionate about encouraging imagination and a love for reading among young learners.

I have recently gifted copies of my published children’s books, to Wenvoe Library and Gwenfo School, to support our children and local community.

These books are written to spark creativity, kindness, and curiosity in children, and I hope they will bring joy to your readers and our community alike.

The book titles are as follows:

The Tale of Charlie Corn Cob (age 3-10)

Ted and his Penny Farthing (age 3-10)

Mummy where’s my Dummy (age 3-5)

Scarlet the Snail and her Magic Home (age 3-10)

More detail about all of these books can been found on Amazon.

Christmas Crafts Well Underway

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

As I write this, Christmas crafts are well underway here at the playgroup.
The children have all settled well into Playgroup life this Autumn Term. Please visit our website
www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk to view our gallery of photographs.

We would like to thank all our volunteers in the community for their wonderful support this past year. A big thank you to our Management Committee for their fundraising efforts and Binky Bounce for raising much needed funds.

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Should you have a child who is aged 2 years and above, and wish to join the Playgroup, then please contact us: email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com or phone 07859 907976.

 

Advent 2025

ADVENT 2025

Following last year’s success, our Advent appeal will help others both locally and further afield through Christian Aid and the Vale Foodbank.

Christian Aid’s appeal for Christmas 2025 is for those living in crisis situations where they need emergency help urgently where they live or where they are fleeing from violence. Chance, a mother in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gave birth to her child as bombs were dropping in her village. She survived, but lost her home and all her possessions. In crisis she gained support from Christian Aid for shelter, clothing and food. In this way Chance and her child regained their lives and hope for the future.

A collection box will be available in the Church each Sunday in Advent for donations to the appeal. Envelopes are available for gift aid donations. Sealed envelopes with donations can also be given via the locked mailbox in the Church porch.

The Vale Foodbank supports local families in crisis and campaigns for change. Currently they are calling for an end to GP fees for letters that disabled people need to access appropriate housing. The campaign was sparked by a local man who had to live in his car for over a year. He was unable to work and to apply for suitable housing he needed a letter from his GP confirming his medical condition. However, the surgery demanded £40 for the letter – money he simply didn’t have.

During the Christmas period the Foodbank will continue to provide emergency food and Christmas parcels to help to bring festive cheer to people. Suggestions include tinned ham and salmon, Pringles, mince pies, sponge puddings, selection boxes and treats, fizzy pop, crisps and custard.

Jude Billingham

 

07516 112897 (for any enquiries)

December Church News

December Church News

Nadolig Llawen. A Happy Christmas to all readers from the congregation at St. Mary’s.

If you cannot make it to church, join us online …www.ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe.

A message from our treasurer Ray Harris:

“The 27th of September was a disastrous day for St. Mary’s, when the figure of Christ on the Rood screen was dislodged when the cross was being dusted; likely that the glue holding the figure in place had dried out. The wood carving, which is some 150 years old, crashed to the floor and was damaged and feared to be beyond repair.

Our church architect suggested we consult Steve Shackell, a retired French polisher and furniture restorer to seek his advice regarding a possible repair. Steve, took the figure, not only damaged by the fall but severely weakened internally by a historic wood worm infestation, to his workshop, saying it would be a “labour of love ”to repair and restore the carving.

The figure was returned to the church on Tuesday the 28th October fully repaired and restored. Steve’s report read “Every worm hole was injected with a solution of polish and thinners to consolidate the internal powdery, woodworm eaten timber enabling the repair. The arms and lower legs were glued to the main body. Two coats of woodworm killer were applied. Damaged areas were filled, and missing pieces were modelled in wax and coloured. Finally, the completed carving was waxed and polished.

What was Steve’s fee? Nothing. Steve has asked that we make a donation to the Medical Missionaries of Mary, an order of nuns who provide worldwide medical care. To get an overview of their dedicated work see the magazine placed at the font.

Members of the congregation have been making donations in thanks to Steve and to support the work of the Missionaries of Mary. For friends and those who are not regular attendees at our Sunday worship, donations can be made in cash or cheques (payable to MADM St Mary) via our secure post boxes at the church hall or church porch or to make a card donation use the card machine by the Font when in church.

The repair and restoration of the figure is truly amazing. It is darker than before due to the waxes used, so we thank Steve and his colleague for a church treasure now restored to its rightful place at the entrance to the chancel.

We also thank Ray for the speed in which he ensured a repair was possible.

There were a number of special services during the month of November. All Saints and All Souls on Sunday November 1st were joyful and uplifting and the remembrance of those loved ones we see no longer but remember with love; their names were read out during the Sunday afternoon service. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: For the first time the attendance in church was lower than in previous years, yet at the War Memorial the numbers, huddled under their umbrellas, was larger than last year. We were remembering those whose names are carved in stone at the War Memorial and 12 wreaths were laid in tribute. We thank the Vale of Glamorgan Brass Band for providing the music, and the bugler sounded the start and ending of the two minutes silence. A collection taken in church amounted to £300 and this has been forwarded to the Royal British Legion to aid them in their work with veterans of WWII. We also thank Mr Ray Harris for compiling the service booklets and for choosing the hymns sung during the service and the readers for reading with such clarity. The Head Girl and Boy from Gwenfo School offered the prayers with such confidence, despite their young age; it is to their generation to carry forward the message of Remembrance that Prince William spoke of when he delivered a video message to all schools on Armistice Day.

The Armistice was remembered when Vicar Lyndon and the Reader Emeritus met with pupils from Year 6 at Gwenfo School at the War Memorial, the Roll of Honour of names carved on the War Memorial was read out and two minutes silence was kept, as the Nation at large paused in tribute to remember the fallen.

Those who laid down their lives in all wars, are not forgotten and they will be remembered by few or by many in the years ahead – “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”

Fifty Years and Counting: During the morning service on Sunday 16th November Parry Edwards was congratulated on completing fifty years since his licencing in 1975. Archdeacon Mark of Margam was present to celebrate the Eucharist. This was a happy occasion with Parry’s family present with the congregation to pay tribute to his years of service to St. Mary’s. Parry spoke of how the church membership had changed during his readership in Wenvoe; there were few present who could have been in church when he preached his first sermon. The service followed with hospitality and friendship in the refurbished Church Hall. As Vicar Lyndon has written “50 years and counting…” who knows! My thanks to all who made it a memorable time which I will treasure.

God bless,

Parry

Tucker’s Final Victorian Reindeer Sale

TUCKER’S FINAL VICTORIAN REINDEER SALE

Mike and I would like to thank everyone who attended yesterday’s sale and made it such a success. Every reindeer was sold by lunchtime and orders placed for Mike to make in the next couple of weeks. Every scrap of cake sold, and the stall holders did a roaring trade. There was such a lovely atmosphere, and it was fabulous to see so many in Victorian costume – with a particular mention for Ebenezer Scrooge!

Our volunteers worked tirelessly, and we could never hold these events without them. We are extremely grateful to you all. Thanks also to Michelle and Julie for adding some lovely additions to the cake stall.

 

We had over 100 prizes in the raffle, thanks to the generosity of our ever-supportive community. We are always blown away by the way our supporters answer the call at our events like this.

The total raised so far for Wenvoe Wildlife Group stands at £1,406 and we could not have done it without each and every one of you. Thank you all so much.

Now mark the date for next year’s event which is still in the planning stage. On Sunday the 15th of November 2026 we will be keeping the Victorian theme and holding an Old Time Christmas Fair in the Community Centre. We will have games for children and adults alike with tombola and bran tubs too. There will be some craft stalls, the usual refreshments and you can have your fortune told if you dare!

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