Category: News

All This Sunshine!! It Makes You Think.

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

All This Sunshine!! It Makes You Think.

Have you seen leaflets like this recently dropping through letterboxes in Wenvoe. They are primarily about installing solar panels and batteries. Is yours maybe, hanging around waiting to be read properly or did you sign up immediately to the scheme. Don’t worry, it’s not a scam, at least I don’t think it’s a scam, it is all part of the attempt to make the UK “Carbon Zero” by 2050. What “Carbon Zero” actually means varies and there is a plethora of terms with slightly different meanings, but the main message is that we need to stop adding carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and remove some that is already there changing our climate and putting the way we live on earth at risk.

Local authorities in Wales have been charged with leading the way towards rapidly reducing carbon emissions and the scheme that is described in the leaflets is one of the tactics that is being used. I expect every house received the leaflet and it would be interesting to know what the initial take up is. The first task is to register for this scheme with no commitment to do anything further at this stage, a small dip of the pinkie into the whole business of changing the energy economy. So far so good and I’ve done that bit. By making it easier, and potentially cheaper through joining the scheme the aim is to encourage householders to invest in the future and step onto the path towards carbon zero. There is also an element of raising awareness, the first time you see such a scheme you may think “Very good but money is a bit tight just now” but it has crept on to your to do list and you may be more receptive next time. I’m an example of this. I’ve wanted to explore solar panels for my house for a while but needing to find a reliable supplier in a newish market is off-putting. This scheme offers local authority vetted suppliers.

The scheme seems to be based partly on the idea of economy of scale, by collecting together customers in a geographical area, companies carrying out the work are expected to be able to deliver more cheaply. Now it seems to me that such a scheme could work very well where there are rows of houses that are similar, as they are in the photo on the leaflet. Roofs facing in the same direction and all the same size will only need one set of planning calculations for several houses, a set of customers that could be described as “low hanging fruit”. However, look around Wenvoe, mostly the house next door is different, a lot of houses have several small bits of roof pointing in different directions many of which are too small for a straightforward array of solar panels.

Whilst any progress toward carbon reduction will be very welcome, I fear that this particular scheme won’t work as well for us as it might elsewhere.

I was very aware that in answering the questions to register with the Solar Together scheme, the information I was giving would be insufficient for any supplier to genuinely provide an estimate of the cost. I will be bearing that in mind when the next phase of the scheme kicks in.

However, it has crossed my mind that if, as I suspect, my house will need its own specially tailored survey and provision, which will be more expensive, there may still be an opportunity to achieve some benefit from economies of scale for solar energy scheme providers through joining together in a community collective purchase arrangement. Is anyone interested? Please e-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you are and we’ll see where it takes us.

To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the GwenFo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwen-fo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join

Talkin’ About 1960s Vinyl Records

Talkin’ About 1960s Vinyl Records

The overwhelming What’s On readers response to my article on 1960’s poetry – well three people said it was OK (none of which included my wife Jude) – I am delivering on my promise to take a meander through my 1960’s vinyl purchases most of which we still own. Before I go any further, I can hear the readers comments such as ‘I’ve never heard of ‘em’ or ‘They were rubbish.’ This is the idea of my article dear readers – open your mind and let it float downstream. I only kept a diary once in my life for a whole year -1965- which luckily included every record I purchased throughout the year.

In 1964/5 I had a Saturday job in a Stevenage shoe shop. A whole day’s pay was 19 shillings and 10 pence (just under £1). LPs on a decent label cost about 32/6d (about £1. 65p) so that’s why I bought mainly singles! Can you imagine now having to work a day and a half to buy an album. My early favourites were the Downliners Sect a raw rhythm and blues band – their most well-known single being Little Egypt but even that didn’t make the top 50 or the top 500 come to that. It opens with ‘she walks, she talks and crawls about on her belly like a reptile.’ Risque eh? Another two groups I was very excited about were The Primitives and Mal Ryder and the Spirits. The former were another heavy R&B group (now known as freakbeat) who issued three singles as did Mal. My excitement went into overdrive when Mal dropped the Spirits and joined the Primitives for one single. My Primitives singles which I regrettably sold to finance a long family trip are now selling for over £300 each. So, you see I had good taste after all! I later found out Mal was Welsh and became very big in Italy. Not many people know that- or want to I suppose. I liked the Pretty Things too being very envious of Phil May the lead singer’s hair. I did finally get hair like his but 20 years later. I’ve always been at least 20 years behind the times. I am thinking of getting an earring soon or a kaftan! Perhaps change that to 50 years!

But what about the Stones, Beatles, Manfred Mann, Hollies, Tamla Motown, Dusty, Cilla and Aretha et al I hear you shout. Well, my attitude then was I can hear them anytime so I will buy stuff I like that you just don’t hear anywhere. In January 1965 I was watching Juke Box Jury- everyone of a certain age did didn’t they? (If you are younger than about 55 ask your parents about JBJ). They played the Crusher by the Novas. It was voted a big miss, so I bought it. One of my friends said I heard that on JBJ I hoped I’d never hear it again! I did like the Stones too, but I only bought one EP. One of my best friends loved The Animals. NO Stu, do we really have to listen to their 20-minute version of Bo Diddley yet again!!

In September 1965 I started working full time, so I had a little more money. About then, and I have no idea how this epiphany came about, I started reading books about Malcolm X and Michael X and that led me to amongst others Phil Ochs. He was a mate of Bob Dylan and issued LPs called I ain’t marching anymore and All the news that’s fit to sing although I think his best album was Pleasures of the Harbor. I can only play these now if Jude is out! I did buy one LP on the Tamla Motown label – The Great March to Freedom: Dr Martin Luther King Speaks. When he was assassinated in April 1968 a few days later Nina Simone recorded Why? (The King of Love is Dead). I went straight out and bought it! When Nina first performed the song, it was over 20 minutes long but was edited to two sides of a 7 inch single. Considered one of the saddest songs ever written it can’t be listened to without shedding a tear. I can’t anyway.

I do need to return to Bob Dylan with a warning. Jude saw him at the Isle of Wight in 1969 so if you want to shorten your summer just mention it to her when you next see her! I am now a big fan of Bob since Jude and I met but that’s the 70s so beyond the scope of this article. While Jude was watching Dylan, I continued to listen to the sorely missed John Peel with his Perfumed Garden radio show. You didn’t like every track, but you knew sooner or later something would come up you liked. One night he played a tune he described as reminding him of two young girls skipping down a country lane with flowers in their hair. Years later Jude tracked it down for me – The ace and deuce of piping by John Doonan a Northumbrian piper! If you have not read Good Night and Good Riddance How 35 years of John Peel helped to shape modern life by David Cavanagh then do! On the subject of flowers, when I left the civil service after four years, I let it be known I would like an LP or two for my leaving pressie. I received Donovan’s (another fav) box set From a Flower to a Garden and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bookends.

I cannot finish without mentioning David Ackles. His first was absolutely amazing. Try the track Road to Cairo. He had big fans in the shape of Elvis Costello, Phil Collins and Elton John who dedicated his Tumbleweed Connection LP to Ackles.

For those readers who have Alexa in the house here’s your chance to hear some of ‘my’ 1965 purchases. Go on you know you want to! The Crusher (The Novas), Anytime (Riot Squad), You Said (Primitives), 500 miles (Bobby Bare), two Downliners Sect LP’s and their EP The Sect Sing Sick Songs, Here Comes the Night (Them), Why do they treat me like you do (The Freewheelers), Marianne Faithfull LP, Mr Pitiful (Otis Redding), Wolly Bully(Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs), the first Spencer Davis LP, Cara Mia EP (Jay and the Americans), Ian Whitcomb singles You Turn Me On and N N Nervous, Every Minute of Every Day, (Mal and the Primitives) Maria Elena (Los Indos Tabajares), Come on Rolling Stones (paid one shilling so obviously cut price!).

Nigel Billingham

Average Age Brought Down To 75

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Average Age Brought Down To 75

A small but robust team of four, turned out to clean up at the junction of Old Port Road and Walston Road. With the average age brought down to 75 with the young Martin in attendance, this was the lowest turnout since May 8th, 1945. The team in those days mainly consisted of Italian POWs. On the day Churchill announced the end of hostilities in Europe, the Italians, residing at Wenvoe Castle, feared they would be repatriated and absconded to open ice cream parlours and cafes, from Barry Island to North Treorchy. All but one disappeared that day. The other poor fellow left in a fright just as new year approached. A local lady dragged him into some bushes where to his surprise a branch swung back and knocked her wig off. He was last seen running up the Tumble towards Dover. (True)

Pétanque Returns To Wenvoe

PÉTANQUE RETURNS TO WENVOE

After several years of absence, pétanque is back in Wenvoe. The Vale Pétanque Club, affiliated to the Welsh Pétanque Association, has found its new home at the original pétanque playing area located at Wenvoe Playing Fields, Station Road East.

Our members have been playing in various teams competing in the Welsh Pétanque Association National Leagues and for national titles (men and women, singles, doubles and triples). Members have also represented Wales at international events in the UK (Home Nations and Celtic Challenge) and abroad at the World and European Championships (Juniors and men). We are always looking for the next Welsh champion!

Pétanque is a very easy sport to start and is accessible to children from the age of 6 years, adults of both sexes and disabled persons. Many of you will have played or seen the game while on holiday in France or picked-up boules in a Welsh pub for a friendly game.

At the Vale Pétanque Club, we will offer both sides of the game: the friendly, laid-back social game where the result is second to meeting with friends and spending a couple of hours of light exercise in good company, and the competitive matches where every point is fought for and winning is essential. Sessions for all ages and abilities will be organised and supervised by Welsh Pétanque Association qualified coaches.

We currently have 14 purpose-built and newly refurbished wheelchair accessible pétanque pistes open to members every day of the week and all year round. We are planning to hold some “Come and Try” sessions, the first of which will be 31st May from 1pm to 4pm, with all equipment provided. However, if you are passing through the playing fields and see some of us there, please do ask about the game.

Anyone interested can contact the Club by email at: Valepetanque25@gmail.com

J C Meggitt Story – Post Script

Articles of Interest

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MR J C MEGGITT –

POSTSCRIPT

In the three previous issues of What’s On, we learned how 28 year old Meggitt had come to Barry in 1884 at the start of the construction of the dock and set up a thriving timber supply business. He had involved himself in civic life and did many “good things” for the rapidly expanding town.

We further learned that after his retirement in the 1930s he undertook world wide journeys to over 35 countries and he wrote in depth of his experiences. His writings were published in booklet format by the Western Mail.

These booklets are being reproduced in PDF format to be uploaded onto the People’s Collection Wales website. However, should you wish to read the full text of his journals in advance of them being available thereon, please drop me a text message on 07532 222 381 and I’ll provide you with a copy.

This story is not quite over yet. Barry Library has acquired Meggitt’s scrap book cum photo album covering the period 1912 to 1918. And what a treasure trove it is! Amongst the many items of interest that have been preserved for posterity are:

  • Invitation to the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon 13th July 1911
  • Photographs of travels to Jerusalem, Cairo and Athens in 1912

  • Photographs of travels to Italy in 1913
  • Clippings from newspapers about Marconi’s early wireless transmissions (1908), the “Great War”, a railway accident at Shrewsbury and other topical items of interest
  • A number of family photographs
  • Photographs of Meggitt and Jones timber yard at Barry featuring women employed during the Great War
  • Photographs of Windsor Road Congregational Church Sunday School on their 25th anniversary in 1915
  • A ticket for a flight in an Avro Biplane 1919

 

And if all of that were not enough, we also have a copy of the history of Meggitt and Jones – Fifty Years – 1884 to 1934 in PDF format.

Tony Hodge

Highlight Of The Living With Cancer Walk

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

Highlight Of The Living With Cancer Walk

What was the highlight of the living with cancer walk at Cosmeston this month?

The bright blue sky?

The sparkling lakes?

The warming sunshine?

The endless chatter?

The ice creams?

No…..it was the sight of a family of voles in the water…a real treat

 

 

Hedgerows Are Invaluable

Hedgerows Are Invaluable

You can stand anywhere in the village with a view of the countryside, and you will see hedgerows. Along Port Road, Old Port Road and around the school as well. You could be forgiven for thinking they are common and unthreatened. Yet since 1950 the UK has lost 118,000 miles of hedgerow. This is what the Woodland Trust says:

Hedgerows are invaluable. Who doesn’t love seeing a hedgerow, brimming with blossom and alive with pollinators? Thousands of species depend on hedgerows for food, shelter and moving through the countryside. Hedgerows are also extremely beneficial for the land, reducing soil erosion and flooding, storing carbon, extending growing seasons, providing shade, sustaining pollinators and providing natural pest control. Over 500 plant species, 60 species of nesting birds, hundreds of invertebrates and almost all our native small mammal species depend on hedgerows. Many are ancient landmarks, some of the oldest and steadiest semi-natural features in our landscape.

The Wildlife Group, with the help of the Woodland Trust, WWG members and groups such as the Scouts, have planted new hedgerows which you can see on the Community Orchard, around the Goldsland Orchard, the Bee Loud Glade and Cae Ysbyty. These are increasingly full of fruit and berries such as Rowan, Damson, Guelder Rose (see photo), Hawthorn and Wayfaring Tree. But we need more if wildlife is to flourish so if you have sufficient land, a large garden, farm, smallholding or even allotment areas, consider planting a hedge. They cost little and in the right circumstances you can get free trees from the Woodland Trust.

May Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

May Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

On Thursday 1st May Wenvoe WI met for their AGM at 7.00pm in the Church Hall. The out-going president Mrs Jan Young welcomed members and our Glamorgan Federation Advisor, Mrs. Claire Atherton. The meeting commenced with the usual business as well as the annual financial statement, the secretary’s report and a closing statement and vote of thanks to the out-going Committee by the President. Finally, Mrs Atherton presided over the election of new officers for the forthcoming year.

These will be as follows:

Mrs Carol Charlson – President

Mrs Pamela Ewington – Secretary

Mrs Dedrie Smee – Treasurer

Committee members – Mrs Lyn Hull, Miss Ros Lock, Mrs Madeleine Rees and Mrs Brenda Webster.

Our open coffee morning was held on 1st May where £200 was raised for our charity for the year – Ty Hafan. On 4th July it is intended to visit Ty Hafan and tour the gardens.

Our next WI meeting is on 3rd June at 7.00pm in the Church Hall, when Mrs Anne Lush will speak about the ‘History of Cake and Cake Making’.

All tasters, visitors and potential new members are most welcome.

Jan Young

June Church News

June Church News

Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.

The weather forecasters have said recently that this year the month of May has been the sunniest and warmest and driest for many, many years. The rainfall has been light and soon there could be calls to use our precious water carefully to conserve supplies. The churchyard is looking lovely this year with the flowering hawthorns showing an abundance of bright red flowers outside the church porch. However, we are missing the large cherry tree in flower. It is now the site of a carving of a leaping salmon, carved from the trunk by our ever-resourceful Mike who looks after the grounds so wonderfully. We get many complements on how well kept both the church and surrounding grounds are, and St. Mary’s is a real treasure in our village. Shortly we shall be working on the roof to replace some slates that have slipped and also replacing the ridge tiles on the Transept roof. These minor defects were reported in the recent Quinquennial inspection with other works needed to maintain the church fabric in good condition.

VE80 celebrations took place in the church and village over the Early Spring Bank Holiday, more commonly known as the May Bank Holiday. The longest period of peace in our country, was celebrated with the same joy that marked the ending of WWII in Europe in 1945, with prayers and hymns in church on the Sunday, a time of reflection at midday on Thursday, followed by the pealing of the church bells in the evening and the lighting of the Beacon of Hope at the village War Memorial at 9.30pm.

The Village Plant show brought the proceedings to an end, and we have to thank both Glenys and Mike Tucker for how well they organised, with their many helpers, a day marked with lovely warm sunshine. Events like this that make our community such a good place to live, a chance to meet up with other Wenvonians to chat about current news and reminisce over past times.

We continue the VE80 theme with an afternoon concert by the Sian’s Singers on Sunday 8th June at 3.00pm at St. Mary’s Church which will include a singalong of WWII songs. Sian’s Singers are a very talented group, and we are pleased to host them at this time. There is no admission charge but donations to church funds will be welcome, and there will be refreshments in the Church Hall following the performance. All are most welcome as we once again remember with gratitude the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces and the members of the civilian population during the years of 1939 – 1945.

The other big event taking place as I write is the Christian Aid Appeal organised by Jude Billingham and her team of helpers. The climate crisis is ravaging the farms of indigenous communities in Guatemala; your financial support

will help fund vital tools and training so farmers can support their community to escape hunger. Many events took place in the village during the week of the 11th May, the results will be reported in next month’s news.

St. Bleddian’s Church update: Those of us with large gardens know how difficult it can be when the lawn needs mowing, the edges trimmed and the weather can often be against you, well imagine the problem of keeping the churchyard at St. Lythan’s in a pristine condition.

Thanks to volunteers from the Friends of St. Lythan’s the maintenance of the churchyard has seen the grass cut, and a general tidy up done in recent days. The church is not being used for regular worship and is used as a festival church to mark those times of the year when special services are held to commemorate the great days in the church’s calendar. So, a big thankyou to all who have helped while the search for a more permanent gardener is made.

We are so grateful for the regular donations to the Vale Food Bank which appear in the collecting boxes in the church porch week by week. Due to your generosity, we are able to take a considerable amount every Thursday morning, thanks to Jude and Nigel, to Barry, and the staff are so pleased that our contribution to those in need, comes each week on a regular basis.

The items most needed at present are tinned potatoes, rice puddings, tinned fruit, meat products and carrier bags. Thank you, thank you! Your gifts are most needed. Alternatively a cash contribution is also welcomed to save carrying heavy items to the collecting boxes. Please place in an envelope clearly marked “Food Bank”.

It is good to have an opportunity to share the St. Mary’s news with the community. You are all held in our Sunday prayers, and if you need advice and help on family matters, please contact Vicar Lyndon on 029 2280 6018 (confidential phone).

Every Blessing to all readers,

Parry

 

 

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