Category: News

The Mercy Ship Fund Raising

 

The first major fund raising event held in Wenvoe to help raise money for Helen Ormrod's work on the Mercy Ship in Africa was held in May, when Johnny Tudor and Olwen Rees gave us a musical tale of their lives in showbiz. This was reported in the June edition of the What’s On , and was a very successful evening, and a hard act to follow. But I think all who attended our second event on Saturday 23rd June will agree that we achieved another "Double Whammy".

This time, we were entertained – and enlightened – in the most interesting way, by Derek Brockway and Nicola Smith, both of BBC1 Wales fame. The ‘Weatherman Walking’ gave us a fascinating insight in to the mysteries of meteorology, as he had become fascinated by the weather since a child. (As he said, all the British talk about the weather, especially the Welsh!). He served the Met Office in various places from Cardiff Airport to the Falklands, where he did some vital work for the Army, RAF and Navy. As the islands are so remote and very barren and windy, conditions are hard, but he managed to take some lovely photographs of the wildlife there. My favourite was the 3 penguins, all lined up for a photo shoot, just for Derek! (Attenborough, eat your heart out!).

Derek did a special Forecast for Wenvoe for the week ahead, which he assured us would be sunny, hot and "toasty", and said there is a strong possibility that this summer will be very dry (bad news for all you gardeners).

After the interval (for refreshments and raffle!) , we were introduced to Nicola Smith, the BBC1 news reader, whom half the audience knew already as "one of us". Nicola recalled how she and her twin sister Sian, lived in Orchard Close, Wenvoe with their parents for many years, and spent happy hours with their grandmother, Mrs Margaret Barton, whom lived in Walston Road. Many of us remember her fondly as a lovely, jolly, kindly, sociable lady who was a staunch member of the Choir at St Mary's Church.

Nicola was married and christened in St Mary's Church, and a rranged for her own two children, Isobel(7) and Will(5) to be christened there too. (Husband George was babysitting on 23rd so Nicola could talk to us, so "Thank you, George"!). Nicola said she was pleased to be asked to talk to her home village- and in aid of such a good cause.

Nicola described her career rise, and loves her job as it is so varied, no 2 days are ever the same and we now feel we can appreciate more all the hard work which goes in to the outside broadcasts and interviews, often in very inclement weather, for long hours, which only results in 2 minutes of screen time! She showed us photos of the inside of her car boot – stacked with wellington boots, hiking boots, macs, a sleeping bag, change of clothes (and maybe a snow shovel from November on?).

Both talks were humourous. Light-hearted and very entertaining, but also educational with food for thought. We are extremely grateful to both Derek and Nicola for giving so freely of their precious leisure time, and we know that Helen Ormrod joins us in

thanking all who supported this Event, including Tony Williams, who helped us with the venue at the Community Centre, Cath and Andy who ran the bar so well, the Church Social Committee, and donors of the raffle prizes.

Diolch yn Fawr i chi!!

 

 

Establishing the Watch in new housing areas

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators met on July 14 and items from the discussions included:

Establishing the Watch in new housing areas. – Much progress has been made in this area with new Co-ordinators coming forward.

• The Grange has 3 Co-ordinators with a Watch notice on a lamp post at the entry to the estate.

• St Lythan’s Park has 1 Co-ordinator and a notice on a lamp post at the entry to the estate.

• Cambrian Park has 2 Co-ordinators and a notice on a lamp post at the entry to the estate.

 

We have produced postcard-sized notices which Co-ordinators can use to introduce themselves to their nearby residents.

As more houses are built in these areas, we will need more Co-ordinators. If you are interested in helping to deter crime in your locality, and would consider becoming a Co-ordinator, please contact our Secretary/Treasurer Jacky Gauci on 07876 207843 or jacky.gauci47@gmail.com

Crime in Wenvoe – In general Wenvoe is only affected by low level crime such as stealing of shrubs, manhole covers and incidents of fly tipping. We should all be aware of suspicious activity and, if seen, inform our local Co-ordinator or the police on 101.

We were made aware of a serious incident when a high value car was stolen from a drive after the thieves had broken into the house at night and taken the car keys. The advice here is to place car keys in a safe place at night – perhaps in the bedroom.

Data Protection Act – We noted the introduction of the Regulations governed by this Act and are taking action to ensure the Watch complies.

Alan French

 

 

WENVOE VILLAGE SHOW

Have you ever been to a show and thought “mine are as good as that”? Well why not try your hand at entering our Village Show? The maximum number of entries per person in any ONE category is two. Previously entered items are acceptable if they previously failed to win a prize. You will find further details in the Library. Look out for more information on the Village Show in the August ‘What’s On’.

Schedule

Fruit & Vegetable – best examples of:

1. Apples – 3 cookers

2. Apples – 3 eaters

3. Tomatoes (standard size)- 3 same type

4. Tomatoes (cherry) – 3 same type

5. 5. Beetroot – three

6. Carrots – three

7. Onions – three

8. Potatoes – three

9. Runner bean – three

10. Chillies – three

11. Any other vegetable – One (unless smaller than a medium sized onion then 3 items should be submitted for judging)

 

Vegetables – whoppers

12. Runner bean – longest

13. Cucumber – longest

14. Marrow – biggest

15. Onion – largest

16. Potato – largest

17. Misshapen vegetable – funniest shape- a caption must also be provided.

 

Culinary

18. 4 Scones

19. 6 Welsh cakes

20. Fruit Cake (own recipe)

21. Quiche – own choice

22. Victoria jam sponge

23. Lemon Drizzle Cake

24. Bread (Handmade

25. Bread (Machine made)

26. Fruit Jam/jelly

27. Marmalade

28. Chutney (any type)

29. Eggs (home produced) – 3 matched

30. Homemade soft drink.

31. Homemade alcoholic drink

 

Craft

32. Tied bunch of flowers from your garden

33. Handwriting (adult) 50 words from a novel

34. Fabric/needlecraft

35. Wool. e.g. Knitting, crochet, felted etc.

36. Painting/Drawing

37. Papercraft

38. A wooden craft item.

39. Any other craft item.

 

Photography – unmounted and no larger than 7” x 5”. Do not write on reverse side please.

40. Local scenes

41. A two legged friend

42. The sea

43. The colour red

 

Children’s Section – all items MUST be produced by the child. Age categories are under 7 & 8-13,

44. Home baked – favourite cake.

45. Home baked – favourite biscuits.

46. Drawing or painting of an animal.

47. Handwriting – an extract from my favourite storybook (about 25 words).

48. Craft – mixed media

49. Photographs – "My best picture taken in the last year". (The child must have taken the picture.)

50. Pre-school child – Piece of art or craft.

 

Limerick

51. The limerick – first line must be: ‘the last time I got on a bus 

 

Entry for the Wenvoe Village Show is limited to residents of the Wenvoe Community (Wenvoe, Twyn-y-Odyn, St Lythans, Dyffryn) and children who attend the village school. Anyone who has regular connections with a village organisation but resides outside the community boundary and would like to submit an entry should contact the organisers.

If you have any thoughts, ideas and suggestions about this year’s event or would like to help out organising the Show, do not hesitate to contact us at the library.

 

 

The “Ideal Summer Body”!

 

As the idea of a ‘summer body’ becomes more and more relevant, so does the idea of the ‘ideal summer body’. I’ve struggled a lot with how I look, and the size of clothing I wear doesn’t count as ‘plus-sized’ but neither does it count as ‘the ideal body’. I stand in that weird, medium section – otherwise known as size 12 wearers – where because of the size of clothing I wear, I count as the middle ground no one wishes to be in.

Because the world, and fashion magazines put such an importance on looking ‘perfect’, telling everyone my clothing size as I just did is a big step for me. Because I’ve always had the impression that a size 12 is ‘too big’. Stupid, really isn’t it? I always feel happy when I fit into a size 10 easily. And then I always feel guilty, because I’m not really that size. But why should I feel guilty? Why have I created this idea in my head that a size 12 is less than ideal? According to reports, the average dress size of a UK woman in 2017 was a size 16. But my question isn’t only why do I feel ‘fat’ for being a size 12, but also – why do sizes have such an importance in my brain? And why does what clothing size I am make me judge myself, when I tell everyone else they’re stupid for thinking too much of theirs?

I had a conversation with one of my best friends recently, where we were talking about our clothing sizes. The two of us wear about the same size, and when we opened up the conversation to the rest of the people around us, I was surprised when a ‘skinny’ friend of mine said she wears size 12 trousers. And I suddenly hated that I put a certain expectation on the size of clothing I wear. But I also realised that, by talking about your clothing size with the people you admire around you, you become more aware that the size of clothes you wear means absolutely nothing. Honestly. It may sound hypocritical of me, after my rant in the last paragraph, but really – it doesn’t actually mean anything.

So many people all over the internet have tried jeans or dresses from different shops. All of those clothes might have said the same size, but it doesn’t mean that all of the similar items of clothing fit the person trying them on in the same way as the one before. A size 12 from H&M actually usually equates to a size 8/10 everywhere else if you’re trying on their jeans (trust me). We’ve put such an importance on the size of clothing we wear, believing that the person processing your order behind the counter at Primark is judging you for buying a certain size, but nobody cares, really. Have you ever told a friend, “oh I wear a size 12” and they’ve turned and said “it’s time to lose some weight, hon”? If you have I would advise you run as far away as possible, because from my experience they’ve just looked at me as if to say “am I supposed to act like you’re a beached whale or something?” I’ve always found that I care more about my own size than I do anyone else’s. Someone else telling me they’re a size 12 and acting ashamed always makes me angry; so why don’t I feel the same way about myself?

The model and ‘The Good Place’ actress Jameela Jamil started a campaign recently called ‘I Weigh’. After seeing a post on the social media platform Instagram, where someone had posted a series of photos of the Kardashians and had included how much each of them weigh, comparing them with one another, Jameela Jamil decided to speak up. To some extent, I suppose that’s what’s affected me in the past. The idea that you see celebrities who’ve ‘gained SO much weight!!!’ but who truly just look healthier affect the way you think of your own body. Jameela Jamil herself had experienced body shaming, which is why she created the ‘I Weigh’ campaign, encouraging women and men all over the world to post a photo of themselves with reasons for why they are who they are. I was part of the campaign fairly early on, too, with my own post on Instagram. The campaign is about the importance of more than what the scale says; of having more substance than the numbers you see. The campaign is about removing the grasp sizing and weight has over all men and women, due to what we see in the media, and more about valuing yourself for what you’re worth, and what makes you, you.

I’m going to continue to support this campaign for as long as I can, because I know first-hand the significance a stupid number has over a person. This summer, I’m not about a ‘beach body’ and more about giving the beach whatever body I have, and trying my very best to be confident in that body. This is the body I’ve been dealt, so this is the body I’m going to try to love.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair

 

Huge thanks go to all of you lovely people who came along on the day and made the Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair on 18 May such a roaring success. The weather could not have been better and this was especially good news for the Vale Cider Company and Tricycle Treats Ice Cream who were working flat out all day. All of the traders did well and thoroughly enjoyed chatting with their customers. The proceeds of the raffle (and some of the Village Gardeners plant sale), which came to a whopping £421, was donated to the very deserving Wenvoe Wildlife Group. Their table was busy all day and the free saplings and wildflower seed packs were very much appreciated, as was the information that was passed on during the day.

Tables are now almost all allocated for the Wenvoe Christmas Craft Fair which takes place this year on Sunday 18 November. Save the date and start your Christmas ( I’ll wash my mouth out with soap for saying the C word in June) shopping with a day of hand crafted and unique items in a friendly, festive atmosphere. We will be delighted to see you.

If you have any queries please contact the organisers, Glenys and Mike Tucker, at pukkatucker @gmail.com or on tel. 07922109721

 

 

IS THAT REALLY THE BANK OR THE POLICE?

 

IS THAT REALLY THE BANK OR THE POLICE?

We know fraudsters are going round impersonating the police and your bank. Never trust any claims you hear which involve you sharing personal information, disclosing bank details, or making payments.

 Be extremely wary of unsolicited calls from your bank or the police.

 End the call, and call back from a different number. If not possible, wait at least a minute before calling back.

 Call the number found on your bank card, or the police on 101.

 Check with friends or family. Don’t trust claims by cold callers.

 Never share your PIN with anyone.

 Never hand over money, bank cards or make purchases following an unexpected call.

 

REMEMBER

Your bank or the police will never ask for your PIN, bank card, or for you to withdraw money or buy items on their behalf.

 

 

 

Telephone Scam Warning

 

South Wales Police urge all members of the public to be alert to a recent telephone scam that has started to become widely used Nationally and locally.

The Scam involves a person telephoning the victim claiming that they are a Police Officer and that there has been a suspicious transaction on their bank account.

They urge the victim to withdraw all the money from their accounts as they claim the bank accounts are not safe and to box them up for a courier to collect so that the Police can keep it safe for them.

They often give the telephone number ‘161’ to ring should the victim encounter any problems.

When the victim rings this number they are reassured that the officer is genuine.

A number of victims locally have become a victim of this type of crime and have lost substantial amounts of money. South Wales Police state that No officer will ever contact an individual asking them to withdraw money and send it them for safekeeping.

The Public are urged to be aware of this SCAM and not to respond but report the matter to South Wales Police using the Non Emergency No 101 or if somebody turns up at your door to ring the Emergency Number 999

 

 

Mercy Ship Funding Event

ONE AMAZING EVENING

About 80 people (mainly villagers, but a few friends from Sully, Miskin and Swansea too), attended the Community Centre one wet Friday evening on 25th May for an Evening of Entertainment by John and Olwen Griffiths (better known in Media circles as Johnny Tudor and Olwen Rees).

We soon forgot the rain as we heard some very interesting tales of life in showbiz, a wee bit of gossip here and there. with tales of extravagant parties, doomed romances, glitz and glamour. These stories from both John and Olwen were interspersed with songs. duets, fancy footwork by Johnny, whose tap dancing is as good as ever, and a beautiful rendering of Eli Jenkins' Prayer from Under Milk Wood, by Olwen, which brought a lump to the throat.

90 minutes had flown by, so the interval was later than planned. The very tasty cheese buffet was much appreciated, and Nick Cook, our expert Sommelier, was kept busy at the Bar.

Helen Ormrod had made the trip from London especially to thank the Parishes for supporting her in raising funds for her to join the Mercy Ship, which she did in the interval. Helen also invited us to view the Mercy Ship Display in the ante-room, and said how much she is looking forward to going on a 4 month adventure which will be very hard work, in difficult circumstances., but SO rewarding , for the medics and even lifechanging for the patients.

Johnny Tudor had already said he was happy to do an encore, so he sang more songs after the interval, inviting the audience to join in – which they did with gusto. (Fortunately, our grannies had taught us all those old songs which of course were before our time!). The atmosphere was so warm and convivial that we were sad to see it end, but over £700 was raised, towards this very worthwhile cause.

Rev Jon, Mrs Sheonagh and Miss Helen Ormrod would like to thank everyone who supported the evening, the Social Committee of St Mary's Church, especially Nick Cook, those who donated Raffle Prizes, Mr Tony Williams for his generous co-operation, and , most of all, Mr and Mrs John Griffiths, who gave their time and talent so willingly.

DIOLCH YN FAWR IN CHI!!

V.Roberts

 

 

1 … 98 99 100 101 102 … 117