Category: New Items for May 2026

Latest post for the current month

Hiking And Biking With Richard Trevithick Part 2

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

HIKING AND BIKING WITH RICHARD TREVITHICK Part 2

Merthyr Tydfil, being naturally blessed with iron ore, limestone and trees to make charcoal (later to be replaced with actual coal) was one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution in the mid 1700s. It was not, however, blessed with suitable transport links, in its early days, to export its products. In last month’s article I discussed the building of the canal and the “plateway” that eased that problem.

Today the track bed constructed for the plateway provides the route for the National Cycle Route 477 – the Trevithick Trail – as it runs independently from the Taff Trail (NCR 8) for some 6 miles from a point near Pont y Gwaith to Merthyr Tydfil. And for the sake of completeness I would briefly reiterate (long story short) that Richard Trevithick was a Cornish mechanical engineer, who in 1804, successfully converted an otherwise static high pressure steam engine into a locomotive capable of hauling a 10 tonne load along the otherwise horse powered tramway from Penydarren to Abercynon, and thereby winning a 500 guinea wager for its promoter (namely Samuel Homfray).

The image above shows two adjacent stone sleepers with the chiselled recesses to accommodate the fixings that constrained the L shaped “plates” for the 4 foot 2 inches gauge “plateway”

In passing I would introduce you to the Grade II Listed Pont y Gwaith (Bridge of the Works). This hump back bridge spans the River Taff near to the works in question. These were the very first iron smelting works in the area and date from the 1580s.

Pont-y-Gwaith

Near that bridge the Trevithick Trail parts company with the Taff Trail and runs along the east bank of the River Taff. It passes through the settlements of Merthyr Vale, Troedyrhiw and Pentrebach before terminating near the Merthyr Tydfil railway station.

At Merthyr Vale an information board reveals that in the now green valley below was situated the Merthyr Vale colliery which began producing coal in 1875, after the six years it took to sink the two mine shafts. In the 1890s over 2000 people were employed with those underground working at a depth of some 550 feet. As with other mines in the vicinity, it was seriously affected by the miners’ strikes of the 1980s after which it never fully recovered and the pit was closed in 1989.

Troedyrhiw can best be described as a typical valleys town that in its heyday housed the families of hundreds of locally employed miners. It was notable in that there were three soccer teams – no fewer than seven of its players achieved fame in their day by going on to play for league teams in England and in two cases for Wales.

The Trail then passes to the north east side of Pentrebach and looks down on the village and much industrial, business and leisure development. It then crosses the A4060 dual carriageway on a spectacular cable stayed footbridge cum cycle way. This bridge carries two large panels which depict a stylisation of Trevithick’s locomotive.

Footbridge-cum-cycleway at Pentrebach which carries the Trevithick Trail over the A4060 on its final leg into Merthyr Tydfil.

From this point, most of the actual line of the original “plateway” to the Pen y Darren ironworks is lost to subsequent developments. But what is now described as the Trevithick Trail continues for a further mile and a half to finish at Merthyr Tydfil train station.

 

Tony Hodge

“An Equal Music ” By Vikram Seth

 

“An Equal Music ” By Vikram Seth

He was a student in Vienna ten years ago, his name is Michael. He is a violinist who was in love with Julia, a pianist. Their paths separated; she got married to someone else and after ten years she enters into the life of Michael once again. It’s a story of Michael and his music quartet, and it’s a story of Michael and Julia and their love.

If you are a music lover, then this book will be for you; Seth talks about so much music throughout – there’s Bach and Schubert and Beethoven and Mozart and their musical pieces in great detail.

If you aren’t a music lover, you can just enjoy Seth’s poetic prose and his descriptions of London, Vienna and Venice. This is a moving story of two musicians who love to make music and love. There is always a constant threat of loss which maintains the book’s melancholy. They feel it. They make music from it. They move forward together and alone, but joined forever by their music.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of this novel is the way in which it manages to convey music through language. One Page Turner loved the way Seth writes about music and the way he integrates music into the lives of the characters (all professional musicians).

The book is very informative about music and quartets and about Bach and many other composers. Some felt the music descriptions were tedious and difficult to understand. Others thought Michael was not a likeable character, especially regarding his obsession with Julia. Ultimately this is a love story, a tragedy, a loving tribute to chamber music and insights into the world of performance and maybe a book for classical music lovers.

Scores ranged from 5 to 8, with an overall average of 6.

A Simple Low Calorie Spring Meal

May is the month of promise and the sweet beginnings of summer.”

A simple and low calorie spring meal that uses the season’s finest ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes followed by a quick and easy dessert with pastry case and jam base, delicious served with custard!

Asparagus And New Potato Frittata

Ingredients

200g new potatoes
100g asparagus tips
1tbsp olive oil
1 onion chopped
6 eggs beaten
40g cheddar cheese grated

Method

Heat the grill to high. Put the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, cook for 4-5 mins until nearly tender, then add the asparagus for a final 1 min. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in an ovenproof frying pan and add the onion. Cook for about 8 mins until softened.
Mix the eggs with half the cheese in a jug and season well. Pour over the onion in the pan, then scatter over the asparagus and potatoes. Top with the remaining cheese and put under the grill for 5 mins or until golden and cooked through.
Cut into wedges and serve from the pan with salad

Easy Cornflake Tart

Ingredients

320g ready rolled shortcrust pastry
Plain flour to dust
50g butter
125g golden syrup
25g light brown soft sugar
100g cornflakes
125g strawberry or raspberry jam

Method

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Unroll the pastry and briefly roll out on a lightly floured work surface until it’s large enough to fit a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin.
Use the rolling pin to lift the pastry over the tin, then press into the corners and sides so the excess pastry hangs over the rim. Trim this away, leaving just a small amount of excess hanging over the rim.
Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans or uncooked rice. Bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans, then bake for another 5-10 mins until just golden.
Remove from the oven and trim any excess pastry from the edges using a knife.
Heat the butter, syrup and sugar in a small pan with
a pinch of salt, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Fold in the cornflakes to coat in the butter mixture.
Spoon the jam into the cooked pastry base, then level the surface. Tip the cornflake mixture over the jam and gently press down until all of the jam is covered with a layer of the mixture.
Return the tart to the oven and bake for another 5 mins until the cornflakes are golden and toasted.
Leave to cool until just warm before slicing and serving with custard.

 

 

May Church News

May Church News

Greetings from the congregation at St. Mary’s to the wider community of Wenvoe and St. Lythans. Join us online at ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe

It is official, we are now in British Summer Time; the dark days of winter are over and the delights of spring are with us. The lighter evenings really do compensate for the darker mornings, and the gardens are awake to the strengthening warmth of the sun.

By the time you read the Church News we shall be approaching the first of the Bank Holidays, a time for relaxation and a chance to enjoy the delights of the countryside. We notice again how well kept our church grounds are and how the paths are always swept in readiness for the Sunday service. Thank you Mike, for all your hard work here and for all you do in the village.

David, our new curate, is settling into our routine and has been persuaded to share his background with us.

‘David trained for ministry in London at St Augustine’s College of Theology. At the end of training, he moved to Llandaff, where his wife Kate is now Canon Precentor of the Cathedral. In February, David was ordained Deacon by Bishop Mary at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wenvoe. He is greatly enjoying serving his Curacy with us and at St John the Baptist, Sully. David will be ordained Priest at Llandaff Cathedral in June.

Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, David has spent most of his working life in Lo ndon and Southeast England. David’s background is in managing technology initiatives for defence and public sector organisations, but he is now passing on his knowledge, working as a teacher of Computer Science and Mathematics in Caerphilly. He is a keen cook, loves theatre, and occasionally dabbles in drawing and painting. He and Kate have three grown-up children, and one small ill-disciplined dog.’

Thank you, David. We look forward to your ordination in June at Llandaff Cathedral.

We remain in the great 50 days of Easter and will soon be celebrating the feast of Pentecost, often known as the birthday of the Christian Church, when the Holy Spirit came as flames of fire on the disciples’ heads and they were able to hear everyone speaking in their own language. The power of the Holy Spirit is not to be underestimated in the life of a Christian man, woman or child. The darker days are made lighter, despair can be turned into hope, and loneliness into companionship. There is a welcome for all at our services, and we look forward to welcoming you.

SAFE CHURCH: The Church in Wales is committed to fostering an environment where everyone is able to worship and participate in the life of the church in safety. SAFEGUARDING is everyone’s responsibility and is part of our core faith and an integral feature of Christian life in our churches. A healthy Christian community is one which ensures and nurtures the wellbeing of all. Safeguarding needs to be embedded in all aspects of the life and ministry of the Church and safeguarding training is available at the Church in Wales for all members who have the care and protection of children, young people and adults at risk in a practical and informed manner.

A Prayer for all who Safeguard others

Lord God, you have called us to be a part of the family of your church and to use our gifts to encourage and build one another up in love. Help each one of us to play our part in creating a safe and caring church where every one of your children, from the youngest to the oldest, may flourish as they are respected and valued. Keep us ever watchful, so that we may continually build a holy fellowship in the image of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Mary’s in Wenvoe is such a place where all are welcomed into a safe and caring community. If it is not SAFE, then it is NOT church.

QUIZ NIGHT: Following the success of the October Quiz Night, the JCC discussed holding a fundraising event in the spring. There will be a Spring Quiz Night on Saturday the 9th of May at 7.30pm. Planning is well advanced. Alun Jones has agreed to be the scorer. Jude Billingham is organising the raffle, so please put the word out and email Jude if you wish to donate a prize. Tickets are on sale (£5), at Sunday morning services during the month. Tickets are limited due to the size of the Church Hall, and last year the demand was great – so book early for a very enjoyable evening.

FOOD BANK: Many thanks for the many Easter eggs donated to the Foodbank. In February 248 vouchers were processed, which included feeding 423 adults and 108 children. This is a rise of 26%. Some of the reasons for this include benefits for the unemployed especially for those with children, falling behind the rise of the cost of living, delays in receiving benefits, and, although the cost of living on some items has slowed down, the cost of food remains high. The standout group of those coming for help are families with 3 or more children. The most needed items this month include, cereals, jam, coffee, tinned potatoes and carrots, microwaveable pasta, squash and meat products.

Please continue to support the Food Bank. Donations can be left in the boxes in the church porch, which are regularly emptied. Alternatively you can leave a cash donation in the secure post box in the porch and also at the church hall. Thank you.

CHRISTIAN AID 2026: Please see page 9.

Looking back, the glorious celebration of Holy Week and Easter day was a thoughtful and inspiring week of prayer and remembrance of Jesus’s last days on earth, leading to His glorious resurrection. Every blessing to you in this post-Easter times.

Parry

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

OFF THE SHELF

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

This month’s book is a compelling psychological thriller that initially drew us in. We felt that the opening half of the novel was particularly strong and well-written. Alicia Berenson’s silence, following the shocking murder of her husband, is a powerful narrative hook, and the gradual uncovering of her past through diary entries is both effective and absorbing.

Theo Faber, the psychotherapist determined to treat Alicia, is an engaging narrator at first. His professional curiosity and persistence appear believable, and the clinical setting of The Grove adds an intriguing backdrop. However, as the story progresses, some of the psychological elements begin to stretch credibility—particularly in relation to boundaries within the therapeutic relationship. Theo’s level of personal involvement with Alicia, and the lack of oversight from colleagues, raised ethical questions that are difficult to ignore.

The novel’s twist ending, while clearly designed to be shocking, felt abrupt and somewhat far-fetched. Rather than a satisfying culmination of the psychological tension, the final revelation relied heavily on coincidence and narrative sleight of hand, which left us questioning its plausibility.

Overall, we rated this as an engaging and well-written thriller that excels in its first half but loses some of its credibility towards the end. It was let down by an implausible conclusion and ethical concerns within the storyline.

Rating: 7/10

Typical British Weather – A Myth Or Reality?

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

TYPICAL BRITISH WEATHER
– A MYTH OR REALITY?

This piece for Wenvoe What’s On is being written on a glorious sunny day in April, but we wonder how long it will last. The phrase “typical British weather” is so familiar that it has become almost meaningless. It usually brings to mind grey skies, light drizzle, and a general sense of dampness that never quite goes away. But in spring, this label becomes far more complicated. One moment, the sun is shining brightly, and the next, you are caught in a sudden downpour without an umbrella. This raises an interesting question: is British weather truly predictable in its unpredictability, or is the stereotype exaggerated?

Spring, which lasts until June in the UK, is perhaps the best example of weather inconsistency. Unlike winter, which is reliably cold, or summer, which at least aims for warmth, spring seems unable to make up its mind. A single day in May can contain sunshine, rain, wind, and even the occasional hailstorm. This constant changeability is why many people joke about experiencing “four seasons in one day.” You can be sure, however, that on any sunny day in May Pugh’s Garden Centre will be under siege.

Part of this unpredictability comes from the UK’s geographical position. Sitting between the Atlantic Ocean and mainland Europe, the country is influenced by multiple weather systems. Warm air can drift up from the south, while cooler, wetter air arrives from the west. When these systems collide, the result is rapid and often unexpected changes in weather conditions. This helps explain why forecasts can sometimes feel unreliable, even with modern technology.

However, the phrase “typical British weather” is not entirely false. Rain plays a significant role in the UK’s climate, particularly in the west, where cities like Cardiff are known for frequent rainfall, especially during spring, as the Atlantic brings wet weather in from the West. Yet, what people often overlook is the variety within this pattern. British rain is rarely extreme; it is more often light, steady, and short-lived. It is not the dramatic storms seen in other parts of the world, but rather a persistent drizzle that can come and go throughout the day.

Interestingly, spring also brings some of the most pleasant weather of the year. As temperatures rise and daylight hours lengthen, there are moments of genuine warmth and brightness. Parks fill with people, Wenvoe orchid field flourishes, and there is a noticeable lift in mood. These sunny intervals, however, are often brief, which makes them feel more valuable. The contrast between rain and sunshine is what gives spring in Wales its unique character.

Humour plays a big role in how people perceive the weather. Complaining about it is almost a national pastime, and it often serves as a form of small talk. People often greet each other with a phrase like “lovely day today”, and the unpredictability becomes something to laugh about rather than just endure.

In conclusion, “typical British weather” is both a myth and a reality. While the constant rain and gloom are somewhat exaggerated, the unpredictability is very real, especially in spring. It is this ever-changing nature that defines the British climate more than anything else. Rather than being dull or monotonous, the weather is dynamic and, at times, surprisingly enjoyable. Perhaps the stereotype endures because, in its own chaotic way, it captures something true: in Britain, you should always be prepared for anything.

 

The Tennis Season Is on Its Way!

Spring is in the air and the tennis season is on its way! While Wimbledon may not start until July, the tennis world really begins to get going from April.

We’re excited to once again be starting our weekly sessions at the newly refurbished courts at Wenvoe sports field and we invite you to come and enjoy tennis and all the physical and mental wellbeing benefits that come with it. If you would like to try it, please join us on a Tuesday evening. No playing experience is needed, and we’ll soon get you playing and enjoying this lifelong sport. If you’ve any questions or concerns, please speak to Pete on 07891 828019

  • Tuesday Evenings start 5pm – First one Tues 7th April 2026
  • Open sessions. Join us at any time after 5pm
  • Ideal for beginners or improvers age 16+ – you can borrow equipment
  • The focus is on the enjoyment and the social and mental benefits of playing tennis

Public Booking

The Wenvoe sports field tennis courts are available to book all year round.
£4.50 per hour per court (£2.25 30 mins if you prefer)
Scan the QR code to book online and receive your access code. You’ll need to create an account

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/WenvoePark/Booking/BookByDate#?date=2026-04-01&role=guest

Simple self-service facility

Please note that equipment is not provided for public bookings

 

Additional Options

Annual passes available from £39. Can be used by any family member within the same house-hold. Scan the QR code to sign-up and obtain your annual pass.

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/tenniswalesinthepark/Membership/Join

FREE family court bookings on Sunday afternoons from 3pm (Bring your own equipment)

Annual pass for 12 months for students with a valid .ac.uk email address £19.

 

Christian Aid Week 2026

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2026

Where Hardship means Hunger….Urban Farmers can Grow Hope.

 

Christian Aid is an international charity, founded by churches in Britain and Ireland more than 80 years ago. We work in partnership with a network of churches, organisations and people of all faiths and none. Together, we deliver vital programmes of work and raise awareness and funds to help drive lasting change.

Christian Aid week comes around annually; it is our opportunity to make a change for others within 7 days. In 2025 we raised the fantastic sum of £3,775.26 locally (including Gift Aid), which went towards the total for the UK of £4.5 million.

This year the focus is Kenya and in particular Nairobi. The city has an estimated population of 5.3 million of which 7 out of 10 live in debt, and 60% live in settlements. The housing in the settlements is basic, often one room with few services and little space between them. It is in one such settlement we find ‘Beacon of Hope’.

Beacon of Hope was established in 2022 to provide health services especially for those with HIV and Aids. Since then, they have provided Day Care for children, schools and help for young people seeking employment. The main concern has always been the level of poverty with poor health and high levels of malnourishment. The response has been the creation of the project ‘urban farmers can grow hope’. This project experimented and created methods of growing food in any small piece of land available, including growing in containers, horizontal screening with hanging pots, planting on roofs etc. Costs are kept low by making organic fertilisers from what is available, collecting water, using weather resistant seeds and quick growing food items. From providing food and, where possible, selling any excess, life has improved for many.

In one such settlement we find Fridah; her husband died suddenly and she found herself without support and unable to feed her family. From the centre she gained support and care, gained skills in growing her own food and eventually selling her own produce and those of others. She learnt to take on the responsibilities her husband had previously and is now more able to care for her children and looking to the future with confidence.

We have 7 days this year from 10th – 16th May to raise funds to support such groups as Beacon of Hope and the partners they work with throughout the world.

In Wenvoe we plan to:

  • Distribute donation envelopes throughout the village, with information on how you can donate
  • Hold the coffee morning event ‘Cake, Cake and More Cake’ on 16th May from 10.00am – 12.30pm, in the Church Hall (see advert)
  • Hold an assembly in Gwenfo CiW Primary School and a ‘Silent Disco!’ on 15th May (see advert)

If you have any questions, please get in touch on 07516112897, or email judebillingham@ ya-hoo.co.uk.
Many thanks,
Jude Billingham

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