Category: New Items for August 2026

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July Events

 

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

July Events

On July 2nd we were joined by Neil and Carolyn from the NHS Stay Steady team. They gave us a very interesting and informative talk about the risks of falling, along with many of the possible causes of falls and easy ways to prevent them, in particular simple exercises that can be done at home to improve muscle strength and flexibility.

We don’t have an official meeting in August but have arranged a visit to the BBC Cymru Studios in Cardiff.

In September we are looking forward to our local historian Steve Jones telling us about the History of Wenvoe.

Visitors are always welcome to our meetings. Please ring 07881853032 for further details.

Carol Charlson (President)

“There are Rivers in the Sky ” by Elif Shafak

 

“There are Rivers in the Sky ” by Elif Shafak

Many of our group were eager to read this book because we had enjoyed the author’s previous novels. We had high expectations and were keen to see how this story would compare ……. and for the majority of us, it did not disappoint.

There are Rivers in the Sky is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel that weaves together multiple timelines and characters with great skill The story follows the lives of three people: Arthur Smith from 1840, Narin, a Yazidi girl in 2014 and Zaleekah, a modern Turkish/English girl who are linked by a single raindrop and by rivers. These two things become a symbol of how water connects people through generations and memories.

The book explores many different themes, and the author raises several important topics: who do ancient artefacts in museums belong to?, problems of damming large rivers and the horrific treatment of the Yazidi people by different dominant groups, amongst other questions.

The whole group enjoyed Elif Shafak’s beautiful and descriptive writing; something she has excelled in with her previous novels. Her characters are memorable and Shafak’s clever writing brings all the stories together; her vivid language is a joy to read. Some descriptions of events can make uncomfortable reading, but the majority of the group felt that these events contributed to the clever intertwining of the characters and their lives. If you don’t enjoy storylines moving between different timelines and characters, this may not be for you.

The majority of our group thought this book was outstanding and said that the story and the characters will stay with them for a long time. When rating the book, most gave it scores between 8 and10 out of 10 and almost all would recommend the novel to others to read.

Pontsticill & Fan y Big

Pontsticill & Fan y Big

Pontsticill

We parked at small carpark near the Pontsticill reservoir on what promised to be quite a warm day. Crossing the reservoir bridge signs warned that it is dangerous to swim here. Groups were gathering to spend their day on the water. Shade from trees made the climb to the Dolygaer Activity Centre comfortable. The centre boasts archery, a zipwire, and bushcraft as well as water activity lessons. It was tempting to stop at the cafe for a morning drink but far too early on our walk to contemplate, so we left the campers to their breakfast.

Having done the bulk of the climbing for the day, it was announced that we were having lunch in an area of hillocks where we could shelter from the strong wind and look at the magnificent views of the Brecon Beacons – and take note of presents left by sheep who obviously favour this area. It was an extremely early lunch, 11.30a.m. might be a Wenvoe walkers’ record! The views were indeed fabulous, including the Pen y Fan range and with the keen wind the speedy passage of cloud shadows across the nearer hills was mesmerising.

Somewhere around here a plane crashed. Because of the terrain, unpredictable weather and historical use as a military training ground it is one of dozens of aircraft crash sites mainly dating from World War II.

Continuing we took a route roughly parallel with the Beacons Way and the views grew in scope from the Black Mountain in the west across the Pen Y Fan range and over to the Black Mountains – Skirrid and Sugarloaf. At one point, Talybont reservoir could be seen clearly.

The walk was across a large moor with large conical dents several feet deep, sink holes we wondered. Not the site of plane crashes as the layout of the land would look different. The only water was a small foetid tarn.

A steep descent lead us down to the valley taking us towards Pontsticill. As we reached the road, we noted that both footpath markers were horizontal on the floor. It was a lot warmer in the valley, and we found a pink flower growing in profusion on a wet slope beside the path, several of us climbed down to take a closer look. It was bog pimpernel.

During the walk we had seen foxglove spires standing tall, a large furry brown caterpillar, and larks galore rising from the grass as we passed and soaring high above. The only stiles on the walk were saved for the very end of the walk. Recrossing the reservoir bridge, there were plenty of canoeists and paddle boarders enjoying the water.

Walk 8 miles 1100ft Map OL12

 

Fan y Big

We were promised a stiff climb, great views and no stiles! We parked near Torpantau station (Brecon steam railway) and set off along the road. An excellent path to the top of Fan y Big has large stones laid, and they are arranged to enable rain to run off with gullies at regular intervals. To preserve the precious peat bog large rolls of wool wrapped in ropes and pinned in place by wooden stakes are spread across the upper areas of the mountain. A mammoth task but brilliant enterprise keeping those of us that love the mountains to a restricted area whilst looking after Nature.

This was higher than the Pontsticill walk and as well as the Brecon Beacons view, we could see the Gower peninsula, Swansea Bay and flat lands to the north. Amazingly the ground for a long stretch was sandstone pavement, probably evidence of the sea being here in the past!

Lunch was at another excellent location, some of us descended a few feet to get out of the wind and sit looking down a valley. Walking towards the summit of Fan y Big we took a vote on whether to visit the busy summit, and we went for it. A challenge was put out ‘who’s going to go on the diving board?’ One person who is known for suffering from vertigo (me) walked straight to it and was soon followed by one other brave soul. The secret is to not look down!

A kite, larks and other small birds which moved so quickly we did not identify them peppered the sky. The return downhill was a lot quicker than the climb. The track through the valley leading to Torpantau Rd was littered with large stones so we kept looking for the smoother areas as by this time we were footsore.

Walk 8 miles 1300ft Map OL12

Both walks started near the Barn tea rooms, where we retired for refreshments. Most people had tea but a couple of us shared scones with jam and cream and one person chose ice-cream – all of it delicious.

Another Successful Year

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

Another Successful Year

Another successful year as we are awarded 7 Green Flags, just over 3% of all the Community Awards in Wales. Sites involved are the Upper Orchid Field, Community Orchard, Elizabethan Orchard, Wild Orchard, Welsh Orchard, Bee Loud Glade, Goldsland Orchard and Watercress beds. Our thanks to all the members who have worked so hard to get the sites in tip-top condition, the site owners and all residents who support the group.

We have widened the paths around the Upper Orchid Field and created some new ones. Whilst this makes for easier walking it also provides an opportunity for wildflowers that prefer shorter grass to flourish. Our project with the School creating a vegetable and herb garden for the Nursery children has gone well with Radish, Spinach and Peas harvested and the children really enjoyed digging up potatoes.

Patience Is What’s Needed

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Patience Is What’s Needed

Gardens are over blown now. So many seed heads forming and you can’t catch up with the dead heading. To keep these plants flowering until late Autumn, we must give them the attention they need. Carry on providing feed for the annuals but don’t feed the roses or it will weaken them for next year. Watering these last few years has become more of a chore, not helped by the fact that we have forgotten what happened the previous year, when we charged into garden centres to snap up the new lovely looking plants grown in heated greenhouses which never last a tomato season when you put them in cold ground at the end of March. Then we do the same this year. Patience is what’s needed. Wait for May and buy drought tolerant plants such as pelargoniums and bedding begonias. Pots create more work but look great. If you’re buying clay or ceramic pots paint the inside or line with plastic, this will help with moisture retention. The best way to sort this is to put the plant in any plastic pot then slip this into your posh container, then when you need to change the plant it’s so much easier. Hydrangeas suffer badly during hot weather so a shady spot is where they will do their best.

On the allotments at Twyn yr Odyn the folk are looking weary from carrying countless containers of water to their plots. For some it has been so frustrating with some plants in flower but no fertilisation taking place; this might be weather related but is more likely to be the lack of pollinators. Ladybirds are also in short supply, and it’s been left to the ants to sort out the black fly. One of those cycling types who wear Lycra said that a training ride on a summer evening a few years ago would leave him with an overdose of protein due to the number of flies he would swallow. Nowadays he has to take supplements.

While being taught how to garden a long time ago I was introduced to the No Dig Gardening concept. If you’re willing to put the effort in at the beginning and you can make yourself some compost over the coming years, then this is a good way of saving a lot of effort. You will need to purchase some organic matter to start, along with some cardboard and you’re on the way. The benefits to the soil structure and the yields you can expect will make this worthwhile. YouTube have fantastic videos on the whole process. Just save some cardboard and go for it.

The Village Show is on 29th August. Please enter something to keep this show going.

Take care and happy gardening

 

Wenvoe Community Choir

WENVOE COMMUNITY CHOIR

If you happen to be walking past the Library/Hub on a Monday evening you may well hear the sound of Wenvoe Community Choir from 7.00 – 8.30pm.

We have such a good time learning arrangements of familiar songs, finding new music to sing and laughing so much as we try to get them right

Do you love to sing? Do you love to laugh? Then you are the person for us. There are no auditions; all that’s needed is enthusiasm. Everyone is welcome, whatever age or gender

If you think this might be for you, just drop in on a Monday evening from October 5th for a sing!

£3 weekly subscription; first session free.

 

She Threw Herself Off The Hollywood Sign

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

McCONKEY’S CHIMES AND THE ACTRESS WHO THREW HERSELF OFF THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN

Ring the bell at the McConkey residence in Greave Close and you’ll hear the familiar refrain of ‘Davy, Davy Crockett’ from Bill Hayes’s 1956 hit ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’. Brian McConkey, an accomplished local musician himself, has always loved the song which featured in the Disneyland miniseries released in 1954. Walt Disney Productions launched a massive marketing campaign in the UK in 1955 to publicise the film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and to make British youth “Crockett conscious”. Brian and thousands of other baby boomers were hooked.

Brian’s interest in links with America stretches to his Scottish family history, which includes a significant story of McConkey emigration there. One of the earliest documented arrivals was Samuel McConkey (originally Machanochie in Scotland). He emigrated from Dumfries, Scotland in 1750 with his three sons. Samuel McConkey gained historical prominence by owning McConkey’s Ferry Inn in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This site is historically famous as the place General George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776, paving the way for ultimate American victory in the Revolutionary War.

Welsh influence across the pond has been significant. While Davy Crockett was one of the defenders killed at the Alamo in 1836, according to Bill Groneman’s 1990 book, Alamo Defenders, one of the others who perished there was the Welshman Lewis Johnson. Interestingly there is a small hamlet in Navarro County Texas called Barry, one of four in the USA, while ten different states have a place called Cardiff. Welsh influence stretches back to folklore tales that Prince Madoc discovered America when he sailed across the Atlantic in 1170, well before Columbus did so in 1492. At least 16 of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence were of Welsh descent, including William Floyd and Francis Lewis. Eight of America’s Presidents are also known to have had Welsh roots, including Abraham Lincoln whose great-great-grandfather, John Morris, was a farmer near Conwy.

Wales of course, has had its fair share of cultural influences across the Atlantic. Dylan Thomas, who died in New York on 9th November 1953, is still celebrated by literary societies there today. Actress Bette Davis had Welsh family, and hosting a press conference in Cardiff in 1975, she talked about her roots there and said goodbye to her guests with a glowing ‘nos da’. Interestingly she always claimed that her inspiration was a young Welsh actress originally born in Port Talbot, called Peg Entwhistle. Perhaps her story inspired Anthony Hopkins and Michael Sheen, both with a high profile in the US and also from the town.

Peg Entwhistle was born Millicent Lilian Entwistle in February 1908. Peg’s parents emigrated to America when she was young. Peg’s acting talent led her to success on stage, eventually on Broadway, performing in ten plays, one of which ran for 232 performances. She followed that with a stint in Los Angeles, during which she starred with Humphrey Bogarde in ‘Mad House’. Her time in Los Angeles led to her one film role as a supporting actress in ‘13 Women’. Sadly, this was not released until a month after her death on 18th September 1932. It’s not clear exactly why she famously threw herself off the ‘H’ on the Hollywood sign. She was not forgotten though. Half a dozen songs including Lana Del Rey’s song ‘Lust for Life’ and even a musical Goodnight September, have referenced her life and tragic end.

One imagines Welsh influences in the United States will remain significant. Perhaps some Americans have even matched the McConkeys and have a doorbell chime based on tunes by Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Bonnie Tyler or the Manic Street Preachers.

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