Category: News
September Letters
(The Editor
s are not responsible for opinions expressed, although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information. The editors reserve the right to protect the anonymity of anyone who wishes to contribute articles or letters for the magazine provided they are aware of the identity of any such person. )
I would like to thank family and friends for the many cards and flowers I received following Malcolm’s sudden death on 7th July their thoughts and messages were a great comfort.
A special thanks to our neighbours in Gwenfo Drive who have been a great support to us both since Malcolm’s stroke in 2017 and especially to me these past weeks.
Thanks also to Rev. Jon Ormrod for the caring way in which he conducted the funeral service at the Vale Crematorium on July 26th.
Mary Lucas
Wenvoe War Memorial
The news that the war memorial is now a listed structure, has prompted research into the backgrounds of the names of the men who are inscribed on the monolith.
Are there any living descendants of the families of these men in Wenvoe today.
Also from WW2 Peter Hughes is commemorated, is there any information regarding this man.
This information is being compiled by historypoints.org and will eventually be available at the war memorial by means of a QR code accessible by smart phones.
If you are able to help contact please on parrye1@btinternet.com
Parry Edwards
Request For Used Stamps
I would like to thank everyone for the magnificent response to my request for used stamps to send to the Donkey Sanctuary. I have been able to thank most people personally but yesterday (July 10th) I received another carrier bag of stamps which was handed to my grandson and I was unfortunately unable to speak to her. A big thank you to her, and everyone. Please continue to save these stamps to help this charity.
Margaret George Settlers, Grange Avenue
The London Marathon For Marie Curie
RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON FOR MARIE CURIE
Hello everyone!
I am incredibly lucky to be running the 2021 London Marathon for Marie Curie, a charity extremely close to my family’s heart. We lost my dad, Alun, to bowel cancer in 2008. At the time, I was only eight years old. Dad spent his final days at Marie Curie Holme Tower Hospice, Penarth, and Marie Curie were unbelievably supportive to dad and us during his illness. This support has remained ever-present in our family’s life in the twelve years since he passed.
Dad completed the 1985 London Marathon in an impressive 3 hours and 20 minutes, undoubtedly one of the best moments of his life. I feel so proud to be able to follow in his footsteps this year (although nowhere near as quickly), and to do it for Marie Curie.
The community of Wenvoe has been vital to our family. From Saturday morning football matches, meals at the Wenvoe Arms with Dad, the village shop giving me my first ever job, the school, the park, the community centre…. The past year has been very difficult for all charities, with normal fundraising efforts being halted due to the pandemic. Any donations to the fundraising page from the people of Wenvoe would be hugely, hugely appreciated, and will help frontline nurses provide care to cancer patients and their loved ones.
Donations can be made at the following website:- https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage? userUrl=HenryWaddon1&pageUrl=1
Alternatively, if donating to this website is difficult, you can contact me directly via the following contacts, and we can arrange to donate on your behalf:
henrywaddon@gmail.com 07860248977
Thank you so much for your support.
Henry Waddon
When is it time to say STOP?
Vale Communities Unite
Vale Communities Unite is a community group set up by local people in the Vale of Glamorgan during 2020. Its aim is to give residents a voice and to protect the local environment from unwanted development.
Wenvoe is fortunate to be protected as a conservation area. It is a beautiful village surrounded by green fields and wildlife.
As a Wenvoe resident you are safe in the knowledge the village around where you live will remain unchanged and most importantly largely undeveloped.
I moved back to my hometown of Barry in 2019. My parents followed shortly after and settled in Wenvoe. They love the Vale as I do, but I am saddened by the seemingly constant destruction of our green spaces. Planning applications approved without a thought for future generations.
Look back and remember the changes you have seen in the Vale in just the last 10 years or 5 years for that matter. How many more green wedge spaces must be lost before it’s time to say STOP?
On July 14th, 2021, VOG Council voted by 9 votes to 8 to approve the building of a Business Park on MODEL FARM a one-hundred-acre tenanted farm in Rhoose, the farm backs down onto Porthkerry Park. The owner of the land L & G has yet to disclose the name of the potential developer of this land. Leaving local communities speculating as to what type of development may soon be on their doorstep.
As a Wenvoe resident you are surrounded by farmland and maybe you would not be wrong in thinking it’s just one farm. What makes this one so special? But does one farm become two and then three? When will we be ready to say STOP and fight for our environment, to give our children and grandchildren the same opportunities as us? To grow up in an environment with fresh air and wildlife. Not the concrete jungles we are getting so familiar with.
This mixed farm has been cared for by four generations of the same family. They are set to lose their home and livelihoods and the destruction of our local area will be irreversible. Imagine your idyllic Porthkerri walk, and then look beyond to the fields in the distance, remember them now as they are soon to be demolished.
There was considerable local opposition to this planning application with over 1000 objections that covered a wide range of issues including:
Alternative local brown sites were not considered including the St Athan’s airfield owned by Welsh Government and currently unused.
The additional problems caused by traffic congestion and resulting pollution on a road system already struggling.
Without the M4 link through Pendoylan traffic will be routed through our villages instead. More damaged roads and unfilled potholes.
The flooding impact from rainwater which already causes problems in the winter at Porthkerri park. Concrete will not replace the natural drainage system of our farmlands and fields, and it must go somewhere.
The wealth of the natural wildlife on this mixed farm included bees, butterflies and other pollinators attracted by acres of wildflowers grown here for seed.
The threat to ancient woodland.
The presence of several endangered species on the farmland.
The importance of the need to produce food locally and to reduce food miles.
For more information and further details of the planned development please refer to our Facebook page – Vale Communities Unite Against the Planned Development at Model Farm.
July 200 Club Draw
September News Update
September News Update
It was with great sadness the news that the Rev. Jonathon Ormrod, our Priest in Charge, has decided to leave the parishes of Wenvoe with St. Lythan’s and Sully to take up a similar position at St. Martin’s church in Worle near Weston super Mare.
During his 7 years here he had endued himself as a wonderfully caring priest and a friend to all and we wish him and his family every blessing in his new post. Jon’s last service here will be on the 31st October.
We were able to be back in church on Sunday 1st August after a mammoth task of cleaning, and placing back things where they should be. We consider the church has never looked as good as it does at the present moment. The painting and plaster repairs have been most professionally carried out, and the standard of work from our craftsman, Mr Mike Mather, is to be commended. We opened the church on Saturday afternoons during August to let church members see for themselves, and this brought others in from the community to see how well cared for the church has been. The Saturday afternoon openings will continue in September to harvest time when the church will be decorated for the Festival.
The glass doors to the tower vestry have been taken away for re-glazing with hardened glass and the glass sculpture above is being investigated as to how we can illuminate it so that the colours in the glass features of the vine leaves and bunches of grapes, together with the Madonna and child, can be more clearly seen. This sculpture and doors, designed by the Penarth artist, Frank Roper, installed in 1981, deserves to be cherished, as his work is gaining the respect it deserves, and we have an excellent example of the “lost wax casting in aluminium” as a major feature in the church and one of our “treasures”
Recent research into listing of the church as grade 2* listing, made the church officers aware of the inclusion in J.Newman’s book “ The Buildings of South Wales”of our church building. In his opinion, “the wall monuments in the church are what makes the church worth visiting, three hanging monuments, outstanding in the county” He is referring to the two Thomas family monuments in the nave and the Peter Birt/ Jenner monument near the altar. The William Thomas monument of 1636 is almost of metropolitan quality and strongly influenced by Nicholas Stone (1587-1647). He was an English sculptor and architect. In 1619 he was appointed master mason to James 1 and in 1626 to Charles 1 He was responsible for many notable public buildings, including the Banqueting House in Whitehall, London
We have continued with the patterns of worship set under the guidelines of the Welsh Government and the Bench of Bishops. Recent discussions have taken place with the result that as from Sunday 21 August there was no need to book your seat in the church, and you can now sit in any pew, allowing for sensible spacing between worshippers. Masks are still required to be worn, and hand sanitising will continue. It is hoped that our “Pebbles” group will be able to meet from the 5th September in the Church Hall. Also at the same time a member of the congregation will be able to read the O.T. lesson and epistle from the Lectern. Hymn singing will also be introduced wearing masks. The celebration of the Harvest Festival will be on the 26th September at 9.30 am. and will be as in pre-Covid times, that is an All Age Service with the children taking part.
The Tower Appeal is being responded to in a number of ways. We need to raise £60,000 for the work required on the tower at St. Mary’s. You can donate in a number of ways, on line at http//StMappeal.com or alternatively drop a donation in the letter box in the church porch. Or donating your old IT equipment where Electric Amnesty will strip it down and we get 50% of the value of the raw materials recovered. For the youngsters join the “Everest Climb”, or support the Tucker family in their “Stones for the Tower” appeal. Thank you to those who have already donated to the appeal and to the continued support of the St. Mary’s 200 club. The work on the tower has been delayed until next Spring, while we raise the necessary funds and also the pointing of the stonework with lime mortar can only be applied in frost free conditions.
We continue to support the Vale Foodbank in Barry with deliveries made every Thursday from the collecting points in the churches at Sully and Wenvoe. This has been a difficult time for families during the school holidays so a special plea for support. Items currently in short supply include tinned potatoes, coffee, peanut butter, bars of soap and treats for children would be welcome.
The last eighteen months have been a very difficult time for everyone with the threat of Covid-19, and especially for places of worship. We have been fortunate that our faithful congregation has held firm in these troubled times, and despite many experiencing personal losses of loved ones during this time, the fellowship and caring qualities of the church has been wonderful to see and experience. Now we need to reassure everyone that a welcome awaits you at St. Mary’s, things are not quite as normal, as in pre Covid times but we are getting there
Sadly we have to announce the passing of two members of the congregation. Mr Gareth Davies and Mrs Muriel Andrews; both will be sadly missed and our prayers are with their families at this time.
Thank you for reading the church news. God Bless
Parry Edwards
VoG Walking Festival
Training For Settling In Canada
TRAINING FOR SETTLING IN CANADA
Ex-service men’s centre near Cardiff
For the second year in succession a number of ex-service men and their families are undergoing training at the British Legion Emigration Training Centre at Wenvoe Grange, near Cardiff. On completion of the course, which will last several weeks, they will be sent out to definite jobs on Canadian farms. Last year 38 families were trained and sent out, and reports received by the Legion show that 80 per cent of them have proved successful. An after-care organisation keeps in touch with them in their new life, and is able to offer advice and assistance which are of the greatest benefit to the newcomers in their unwonted surroundings. Many of them have not only discovered new interests in life but have been able to save considerable sums of money, which will serve to set them up in farms of their own when they have acquired the necessary experience.
The number of families undergoing training at Wenvoe at present is 15, consisting of 30 adults and 38 children, but it is hoped to increase the number to 20 families before the end of the month. The board and sleep at the Grange, a fine old mansion conveniently situated near the main road leading from Cardiff to Barry; and while of necessity the life is largely communal, every endeavour is made to preserve the family units as much as possible. Every family, for instance, has its own bedrooms, and opportunities are provided to enable them to live a normal family life so far as practicable.
The men are taught mixed farming on the farms in the neighbourhood. They leave the centre in the morning and return home for the midday meal, if within a convenient distance: otherwise they take their luncheon with them. Work is carried on until about 6 p.m. Women receive instruction in milking at an adjacent farm and in breadmaking at the centre. In the evening there are lectures on various branches of agriculture by the Glamorgan County Council instructors, and bootmaking, haircutting, and rough carpentry are taught. In addition to board, all at the centre receive pocket money during training. Children of school age attend the local council school.
Times 10 March 1931
It’s Not Just A Walk In The Park.
WENVOE FORUM
CONSIDERING TODAY AND TOMORROW
A breath of fresh air, it’s not just a walk in the park.
During the periods of lockdown we experienced over the past eighteen months we were only too delighted to get out of the house for one of the few permitted reasons and take a stroll round the village. A breath of fresh air to blow the cobwebs away! Fortunately one effect of lockdown was to reduce vehicle use and engine emissions considerably and for a while air pollution was reduced so the air was fresher. Now, however the pollution is returning.
The air around here looks good; we don’t see the smoky clouds or thick looking air of big cities in India and according to Air Quality Wales https://airquality.gov.wales/ the whole of Wales is in the green band. However the UK adopted EU standards on air pollution which, in the case of fine air particulates, allows 4 times as much as the World Health Organisation recommendations. In truth no levels of air pollution are safe, it’s more a matter of less harm and damage done might not be evident for some years, seemingly unproblematic air may be storing up problems for the future.
According to the Air Quality Wales website the 2 types of pollutants cause the biggest public health concern:
- Particulate matter (known as PM10 and PM2.5), that easily penetrate the lungs. They are created primarily by vehicle emissions, tyre and brake wear and industry and construction. These are so small that they are drawn down into the lungs and heart and can even enter the blood stream. They are implicated in a whole host of health conditions including kidney, liver and brain damage alongside the more obvious impact on the lungs and heart. Children are more at risk than adults because of their quicker breathing rates and more active lives, though anyone with additional conditions may be affected.
- Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Ozone. These are primarily created by road traffic, energy generation and industry. They particularly affect those with lung conditions.
Links are made between air pollution and cancer, cognitive decline in later life and according to Sustainable Wales (https://www.sustainablewales. org. uk/air-pollution)
“poor air quality contributes to brain-related health problems in children, including cognitive decline. One recent study found that exposure to air pollutants in very early life was linked to a worse change in IQ between the ages of 11 and 70.”
BUT… DON’T PANIC!
There are things we can all do to improve air quality in Wenvoe. Broadly, we need less vehicle use,
shorter times with running engines, remembering that though much less polluting, electric vehicles do contribute to air pollution. Next month we’ll suggest some strategies that we can all adopt. We can make a difference.
- This will also cut carbon emissions so we’ll be doing our bit for climate change and supporting VoG Project Zero at the same time.
The Forum is always open to fresh suggestions, creative ideas and especially to new members and contributors.
To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the Gwen Fo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1
You can also follow us on Twitter @ForumGwenfo. For information on our activities, link with us on social media:-
Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1/ and Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402
twitter @ForumGwenfo
For further information and updates, our new blog site is available at https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/
Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which from September will be held at 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join.
Tuckers Christmas Reindeer Sale
TUCKERS CHRISTMAS REINDEER SALE
This year’s Tuckers Christmas Reindeer Sale will be taking place on Saturday 20th November from 10am – 5pm at our home (in the garden) 29 Vennwood Close. Mike’s Christmas Garden Reindeers will be on sale along with some hand-crafted Christmas themed items from Wenvoe.