Category: News

November Events

November is always a time for remembrance, beginning with the Commemoration of All Souls which was held at St. Mary’s on November 5th at 6.00 pm. This coincided with that other celebration of remembrance, the fireworks for the unfortunate Guy Fawkes, and the church felt it was under siege, as the night sky was brilliantly illuminated with the aerial display of rockets and maroons.

The following Sunday the traditional service for REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY was held, beginning at 10.00 am in church. As in previous years the church was full, and with the Scouts and their banners being paraded, it was once again a opportunity to pay our respects and to honour those who lost their lives in the two world wars and other conflicts since the ending of WWII. This year the emphasis was on the Battle of Passchendaele which is described as the bloodiest and muddiest of battles and “Eternal Rain, everlasting mud. Hell on earth” is how it is remembered, by those who were fortunate to have survived and came home to tell the tale. This was a community service with representatives of organisations in the village taking part. The loose money on the collection plates amounted to £211 and will be donated to the work of the Royal British Legion in supporting the Armed Forces Community, including serving men and women, veterans and their families. Following on from the service the congregation headed by the choir assembled at the War Memorial in good time for the two minute silence and laying of the wreaths on behalf of the church, the Community Council, the Tuesday group, The Scouts and Wenvoe School. The Roll of Honour was read by the Chairman of the Wenvoe Community Council and The Vale of Glamorgan Brass band was in attendance. As on previous years the loud speakers provided by the Community Council was a great help with the proceedings. A big thank you to all who ensured with the smooth running of the arrangements in church and at the War Memorial, not forgetting the tea and coffee that was available in the Church Hall following the services.

The Christmas Chattery – Held in the Church Hall on Thursday November 9th attracted a good crowd of people all enjoying the opportunity to meet up for a “catch up” on things, which all meant that the financial result was a whopping £301.35 for the church building fund. Photographs of the proceedings will be published in the December issue of “Connections” the joint parish magazine, available in church on the first Sunday of December. Congratulations to the Social Committee for a great result.

The Parish Songs of Praise featuring the top six hymns as voted by congregations of the Ministry Area took place in St John the Baptist church in Sully on Sunday October 29th and the top six hymns were…..Love Divine, How Great thou Art, Cwm Phondda, Dear Lord and Saviour of Mankind, I the Lord of Sea and Sky, Eternal Father Strong to save which shared sixth place with Thine be the Glory.

Christmas Cards giving all the details of the Christmas Services will delivered to all homes in the early weeks of December. A reminder that the Community Carol Service will be at 7.00pm on Wednesday the 13th December in St. Mary’s Church followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Community Centre.

Christmas Greetings and Blessings to all readers

Parry Edwards

 

 

Always On

Growing up in a time where the internet and danger is available at the touch of your fingertips is an interesting life. In some ways, some would argue I was lucky, considering technology was around when I was very young, although the tablets and smartphones did not become available to me until I was around 10 years old. These days, I am constantly seeing articles branding parents as ‘unfit’ for allowing their children to have tablets from the age of three.

I love my phone. I know it sounds so ‘millennial’, but it’s true. I think it’s so fascinating that you can do anything from a computer on a small screen without much effort. But I’m not one to argue that it’s only young people who are addicted to their devices. My tadcu loves his computers and since I can remember, has loved playing with them, uploading images from his much-loved camera, or sending funny memes he’s seen online to the family via email; he bought an iPad within the past year or so and so far, without fail he has been the first to find you an answer on the internet using it. My parents, (who both work in IT, so obviously!) enjoy using their tablets and phones and my Mam in particular has a deep love for her Kindle which I don’t think we’ll ever be able to compete with! My brother, just like me, loves his tech, because it’s just so easy for him to read his seventeenth book of the week (okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but he reads a lot) on his Kindle or phone via app.

It doesn’t make me any less capable of speaking to people in real life. But, I suppose you must be careful because a screen gives you a false sense of confidence which is unexplainable to anyone who’s never used a computer. It’s the ability to often submit an online comment which is controversial or wrong, but because it’s anonymous, it’s this sense that no one will ever know. I’m aware of this – more than some of my peers possibly. Because I write these articles – either for my own online blog, or for the What’s On, but they’re always sent via email or put up online. But I’m always careful. And I always make sure that whatever I say online is my own opinion – and one I’d have no problem reiterating in real life.

That’s the biggest issue I have. The fact that what you see online is almost never what the full picture is. That ‘Instagram models’ make you feel inadequate because of the visage they try to convey online which never truly matches up to their own personalities or looks. I’ve never hidden the fact I’ve had body positivity issues, but surely filtering your photos into oblivion makes them all the more fake and gives the wrong sense of your true body? I’m lucky that I was slightly older joining social networking sites like Instagram (mainly because when I was very young, none of it was around – I mean, Facebook was, because Facebook’s always been, just… there) because I can only imagine what young girls think about themselves now. I’m still rather impressionable, but at almost eighteen, I have the knowledge that these images are created to give a certain image, but if I was still nine and looking at a girl without any bones on her body, I might think of it as being somewhat normal. And maybe I’d try to copy those kinds of images.

I’m not saying these women – or men – should stop posting pictures of themselves. We all try to look good, but my argument is that they shouldn’t be editing their photos so heavily, because if you still caption it ‘mirror selfie!’ but look alien because your waist is the size of a pinkie finger, it becomes more cartoon-like, and young girls and boys start believing that’s what they ought to look like. But I also don’t think that every one of every age should be on social media. And at age three, I think it’s odd for you to be able to use an iPhone, but not be able to speak. I know it’s hard to say that, because the world is filled to the brim with new technology, but maybe there’s a point when technology should be a treat for very young children, not a normality.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

Welcome New Residents

 

There are many newer residents in the village especially from the recent developments at Cambrian Park, St Lythans Park and The Grange. To introduce these residents to the facilities available in the village the Community Council and Neighbourhood Watch held a welcome event on the evening of November 3.

Twenty of the organisations active in the village displayed material about their activities and members from a number of them were present to talk to visitors. About 3 dozen newer residents came during the evening and some useful contacts were made. Tea, coffee and light snacks were available.

Some Community Councillors and Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators were present during the evening and helped with the general organisation as well as talking with residents. We would like to thank them and the organisations who took part, for making the evening a success. There were a number of complimentary comments from visitors which was very encouraging.

Colin Thomas, Chairman Community Council

Alan French, Chairman Neighbourhood Watch

 

 

PROBUS (2) CLUB, BARRY

NEW TO WENVOE

PROBUS (2) CLUB, BARRY

We have recently moved our venue to Wenvoe Golf Club for our fortnightly meetings. The Club is for former professionals and businessmen to associate in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Normally at our meetings, we have a speaker followed by lunch.

During the summer months we vary our social programme by including our partners and friends at a dinner and our lunches. We also arrange skittle matches and a coach trip.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact our President, John Evans, on 02920 513976.

 

 

Welcome Evening for New Residents

 

The Community Council and Neighbourhood Watch will be hosting a Welcome Evening for the residents of the new estates in the village and anybody else who is new to the community, on Friday 3rd November at the Community Centre from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

There will be displays and literature about the variety of organisations active in the village. These will range from physical activities such as Dancing, Tai Chi, Karate or Yoga to activities with talks such as Tuesday Group, Leisure Group, Women’s Institute and History Group, or activities with a more outdoor flavour such as Allotments Group and Wildlife Group.

There will be no charge and light refreshments will be available.

If you are a recent resident to the village – or have lived here longer and wish to brush up on your information – please call in during the evening to find out about the many organisations and activities in your village. You should find something to interest residents of all ages.

 

 

WENVOE CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR

 

Sunday 26th November 2017

10 am – 4pm. Wenvoe Community Centre

The Second Annual Wenvoe Christmas Craft Fair is only weeks away and we are getting very excited! We have a lovely selection of crafts on offer and the Village Gardener will be on hand with something to warm you up on his stall. When you’ve shopped don’t drop! Head over to the refreshments area and enjoy a break with a choice of hot and cold drinks, home made cakes and some warm savoury items. We have been so lucky to have received generous prizes from some of our lovely neighbours and friends and these include a stylish designer shoulder bag, a delicious large Christmas Hamper basket, a homemade, fully iced and decorated Christmas cake, a basket of luxurious beauty products, a confectionary basket, a bottle of Whisky, a ‘Frozen’ doll, 2 bottles of wine (red and white), jewellery, a beautiful vintage evening clutch bag and lots more. Make sure you get a handful of tickets – it would be madness not to! The proceeds from this years raffle will be donated to ‘Rally for Romeo – New legs and new life’, profits from the refreshments will be donated to St Mary’s Church Building Fund and a donation will also be made to the Village Hall Committee to help with the cost of building maintenance. We have had such wonderful support for our past fairs – please come and support us again and help swell the donations to these worthy Wenvoe Charities. We are delighted to have so many Wenvoe Crafters on board so come and see us. We would really love to see you and bring your friends and family.

For more information contact the organisers, Glenys and Mike Tucker on 07922109721, email pukkatucker@gmail.com or take a look at our event page on

 

 

Mad World – Gun Control

Mad World

I have witnessed many horrible events happen in my lifetime, and as an aware young person living in today’s society, being kept from the horrors of the world is impossible. I follow the news. I am on most social media platforms. I have watched as tragedies occur, and seen them happen time and time again.

Recently, there was yet another mass shooting in America. And yet, the gun control laws held in the US has not wavered. American gun control laws have caused the death of millions upon millions of people in the US – perhaps a quarter of these statistics have been relevant to my lifetime. Think of that. In almost eighteen years, the news headlines have continuously had to revaluate situations as ‘The worst mass shooting in modern American history’. As the number of shootings increase, the many who have died grow with it.

Gun controls need to be tighter – I cannot stress this enough. By owning a gun, you have the potential to take a life. If you have a gun you need to stop simply saying ‘they wouldn’t give a gun to someone dangerous’ because everyone who owns a gun in America has the potential to be dangerous. You just don’t act on the potential. But someone does. Someone always does.

My point is that nothing changes. Americans still have guns. People’s reactions don’t change. A woman whose family member had been murdered in the Las Vegas shooting had said she did not want to change gun laws. How? How could you witness first hand a mass shooting and have a family member die and still see no problem with the war on gun control? More and more people buy guns in America every day. You can buy guns in supermarkets there.

Yes, I understand that these might be America’s problems, but you can’t deny that universal tragedies cause pain and suffering to more and more people every single day. Everyone is a part of that. Universally, we are more and more connected with America through our media and our global alliance. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents and even sons and daughters are lost because someone decides they have the right to take a life. Telling us to not think too much about it is the same as telling us we’re heartless if we follow your instructions. Because these people could be us. Although they are across the Atlantic, they should still be important to Britain.

Why must children – the future of our world – die and yet nothing changes. The Sandy Hook shooting happened and dozens of children were killed. But even that didn’t stop the Americans from continuing to sell guns. If anything, the number of people with guns increased. It’s remarkable to me how a ‘travel ban’ on 6 Muslim-majority nations can pass through the US Congress but even after so many have died at the hands of Americans, the Congress cannot remove the laws that are in place in regards to guns.

This isn’t Britain’s battle to face. But equally, it feels like some Americans don’t see it as their own battle. But it is. Because if there isn’t a change soon, there won’t be any Americans left to fight gun law. There won’t be any Americans left. It should be a Universal problem because maybe someone from Britain can describe to an American just how dangerous and ignorant they are if they do not fight gun control.

We shouldn’t be afraid to live our lives – American or British. Speaking as a British citizen, if you are American and you don’t understand why there needs to be tighter gun controls, or even none, please educate yourselves on the stories of those who have died at the hands of guns. Read about those involved in the Pulse Orlando shootings, or the Virginia Tech shootings, or the Binghamton shootings or both of the Fort Hood shootings or even the Texas and Columbine shootings. Look at their photos and read their stories. Read about Claire Wilson James, or Noah Pozner or Isaiah Shoels or Stanley Almodovar III and Lisa Romero-Muiz.

Then try and tell me why civilians ought to have guns.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

Co-ordinators Meeting Report

 

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators met on October 11 and items from the discussions included:

We have worked with the Community Council in planning and organising the Welcome Evening for newer residents to the village. These residents are mainly in the three developments in the village: The Grange, St Lythams Park and Cambrian Park. We strongly encourage them to join Wenvoe Neighbourhood Watch. More details can be obtained from our Secretary Jackie Gauci, tel 2132 8539

The “First Responders” scheme mentioned in the Watch report in the August edition of What’s On has just started in the Vale. Co-ordinators from Wenvoe have yet to be included.

We received information about the Strong Communities Grants available through the Vale Council. Over £600,000 can be bid over the next 3 years for projects large or small, which strengthen local communities. We decided that we were not in a position at the moment to make a bid.

Some of our Co-ordinators are applying to join the Ringmaster system operated by the Safer Vale Partnership. This sends e-mail messages about possible criminal activities in parts of the Vale, such as a number of burglaries or current scams. We can then advise Wenvoe residents if necessary.

We heard about individuals seen stealing water from a water company pipe. This was reported to the police for action. We also heard about youngsters climbing onto the roof of the Community Centre, often at weekends. This was reported to Councillors for action.

The electricity supply to outlying parts of Wenvoe is sometimes interrupted causing problems for vulnerable people whose sole energy supply might be electricity. We were told that there is a system for priority reconnection. Residents who feel this might apply to them can ask to register on 0800 0328301.

Alan French

 

 

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