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Category: News
February Letters
Graham Davies R I P
Pat and family would like to thank everyone for the kind messages sent to us after the death of Graham at home on 3 January 2022. We have been overwhelmed by all the flowers, cards, letters of sympathy and support that we as a family have received.
Pat Davies.
Ann, Darren, Claire & children would like to thank friends & neighbours for all cards, flowers and offers of help during their resent sad and sudden loss of Philip. Thank you all and God bless.
Ann Dwyer
Carbon Monoxide (The Silent Killer).
I write this letter with regards to the potential hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning due to defective appliances. I write out of genuine concern for people’s safety.
It’s that time of year when central heating boilers have been adjusted from providing twice a day hot water to providing all day heating thus having to work a lot harder. If there is a fault the winter months will find it but also, as my wife and I experienced, any faults can lead to more serious issues such as a build up of potentially lethal levels of CARBON MONOXIDE. You have seen the adverts for the ‘silent killer’ but when we were suffering all sorts of symptoms we did not put two and two together. Our boiler had been a stalwart for over 20yrs and reliable so ‘ why change it’. Despite the symptoms which didn’t exactly match the normal ie we had, tingling skin, redness of complexion; apart from not being able to get up in the mornings, and a long career in the fire service we just didn’t twig it, until, on starting to put the heating on all day at this time of year the penny finally dropped as one evening we both felt awful and I finally ‘twigged it’.
What an idiot. The rest is history, shut off boiler, got emergency gas out etc. My wife and I visited our Doctors for blood tests and both had levels of CO equivalent to a cigarette smoker but neither of us had ever smoked. So it appeared that our symptoms were a very slow poisoning process which went over months until the boiler’s weakness was finally exposed, (incidentally we had a CO alarm which was testing OK but we can only assume the levels through summer months with daily ventilation etc did not trigger the lower limit sensitivity of the device, although it was an old detector).
We changed boiler of course and now have an ANNUAL GAS SAFETY CHECK (approx. cost £50 to £100) depending on Gas Safe or OFTEC engineer, but it is worth every penny to protect yourself and loved ones. Of course it is not just old boilers that go wrong so as a matter of course have your boiler checked annually.
And install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm or Alarms in accordance with the relevant manufacturer’s instructions.
The principle of course applies to the checking of all fuel burning boilers / heaters etc. but the message is the same and is simple – Annual Gas Safety Check of Appliances and an appropriate provision of Carbon Monoxide Detectors for your property.
Of course an annual gas safety check doesn’t prevent subsequent leaks but combined with a suitable provision of Carbon Monoxide Detector it is very obvious that this protection improves the odds in favour of you and your loved ones.
When installing new appliances always use the relevant Gas Safe or Oftec Registered engineers to ensure the appliance’s safety from the outset.
Just to add some footnotes to this don’t forget that if you, or anybody you know, live in rented accommodation your Landlord has a legal duty to organise a competent engineer to carry out an annual safety check of any gas boiler in the premises.
You may also wish to check that any self-catering accommodation that you book for holiday breaks eg the very popular ‘air B& B’s’ have had appropriate safety checks carried out to relevant appliances.
St Lythans resident
Port Road History
PORT ROAD
Named Port Road because it connected Cardiff to the port at Aberthaw which existed long before a port was constructed in Barry
Port Road construction past the village © 1930
Port Road Nant Isaf junction © 1975
Port Road new junction to Wenvoe quarry© 1980
Village fete parade along Port Road on its way to Station Road playing fields © 1987
Port Road – start of Covid lockdown March 2020
Walk For Pia
WALK FOR PIA
Sadly in September of 2021, Pia Eaves lost her battle with Pancreatic cancer, despite being only 54 and an ultra-fit triathlete and fitness coach. Her husband Simon, daughters Rhiannon (21) and Emilia (18) and brother-in-law Kevin, are turning her loss into something positive to help others.
In homage to her love of Gavin & Stacey – watched whilst living in Dubai, to “stay Welsh” – the family (once of Orchard Close) are walking from the home of Gavin in Billericay to Barrybados, specifically Marcos, where Pia worked as a teenager.
Arriving on May 1st, to coincide with Pia’s birthday and wedding anniversary, the family welcome support for their 200 mile walk. Their journey can be followed on www.walkforpia.co.uk, and any donations are welcomed, with thanks.
Many thanks for your consideration,
Kevin Eaves Mobile: 07966861124
A Bright Little Town With A Very Dark Story
A BRIGHT LITTLE TOWN WITH A VERY DARK STORY
Hay on Wye is a historic market town in Breconshire which has become world-famous as a “town of books”. It is a pretty, busy place with small independent shops selling everything from high-end fashion to agricultural equipment and of course the 21 bookshops. There are at least six pubs and a range of good restaurants with Chapters recently added to the Michelin guide. It is a great day out being only an hour and twenty minutes from Wenvoe
We walked into Hay on a cold sunny day in January and learnt the story of the infamous “poisoner of Hay”, a chilling tale which I will tell you here. Herbert Rowse Armstrong was a solicitor and convicted murderer, the only solicitor in the history of the United Kingdom to have been hanged for murder. As a leading solicitor, he had a fine office in the centre of Hay and lived just outside the town in Cusop. He practised law from 1906 until his arrest on 31 December 1921 for the attempted murder of a professional rival by arsenic poisoning. He was later also charged with, and convicted of, the murder of his wife, the crime for which he was executed.
Herbert Amstrong was born in Plymouth and his family later moved to Liverpool. From school, he went to Cambridge where he read law. Once qualified he worked as a solicitor in England before he successfully applied for a vacancy in Hay-on-Wye in 1906. The next year he married an old sweetheart Katharine Friend, who was known as Kitty.
The legal practice thrived and the family moved into a large house where they brought up three children, two girls and a boy. On the outbreak of the First World War Herbert joined the army and served in France in the Royal Engineers, rising to the rank of Major. He was later awarded the Territorial Decoration, a medal for loyal and long service.
In May 1919, not long after Herbert had returned from the war, Kitty’s health deteriorated. She was seen by various doctors and spent some time in a mental asylum. Her symptoms were a bit of a mystery, but she became well enough to return home in January 1921. It was noted that her husband took good care of her and would sit by her bed reading to her. Sadly, exactly a month later on 22nd February
1921 she died. Her death certificate stated that she died of “gastritis, aggravated by heart disease and nephritis.”
Mrs Armstrong had an overbearing personality and was not popular in the village. Her husband on the other hand had a string of affairs while he was away during the war, and on his return, he would attend village dances on his own. If he had anything to do with the death of his wife, he did well to avoid suspicion.
However – Herbert Armstrong had a rival solicitor in Hay and the two lawyers were locked in a dispute over a property deal. A deposit on the sale had been paid to Armstrong but it seems that he had gambled it away. Oswald Martin, his adversary, put pressure on him to come up with the money and Armstrong invited him to come to tea to discuss things. On 26th October 1921, Martin arrived and was given a scone with his tea. When he arrived home, he was violently ill. Martin’s father-in-law was the chemist in Hay and he became suspicious and remembered selling Armstrong some arsenic for use as a weedkiller. The local doctor noted how the symptoms which Martin suffered from were like those of Kitty Armstrong.
It was subsequently discovered that a few weeks before the tea party, a box of chocolates had been anonymously sent to the Martins. Mrs Martin’s sister-in-law had eaten some and become violently ill. Fortunately, some chocolates remained and when examined some were found to have a small hole in the base. Dr Hincks contacted the Home Office and explained his suspicions about what had happened to Martin, and also voiced suspicions about Mrs Armstrong’s death. Samples of the chocolates and Martin’s urine were examined and found to contain arsenic, and the Home Office then passed the case to Scotland Yard. Armstrong was arrested on 31st December 1921 and was found to have a packet of arsenic in his pocket. He was charged with the intended murder of Oswald Martin. The body of Kitty Armstrong was exhumed and found to be riddled with arsenic. So in January 1922, Armstrong was also charged with the “wilful murder of his wife”. He strongly protested his innocence on both charges.
The trial was held in Hereford on 3rd April 1922 and the legal proceedings ended the following month. Armstrong was hanged on 31st May and the hangman said his last words were “Kitty I’m coomin to ye!”. Earlier that morning the prison governor asked him if he had anything to say to which he replied, “I am innocent of the crime for which I have been condemned to die.”
Over the years there has been much debate about the case, especially as arsenic was an ingredient in some medicines at the time. There is a view that this was a miscarriage of justice, and that Armstrong was wrongly convicted. If an innocent man was hanged, we can at least be grateful that in the UK the death penalty was abolished in 1964.
January 2022 200 Club Draw
News Update for February
The Inaugural Service of the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg took place on the afternoon of Sunday 6th February, with Bishop June presiding at St. Peter’s church in Dinas Powis, with the congregation made up from representatives of the nine churches present. The MA Lay Chair, Mr Howard Rees, was commissioned to lead the new charity forward, bringing the nine churches into one to support the mission and the ministry of the church. Then followed the Licencing of the Reader and the Clergy. The first meeting of the MAC (Ministry Area Council) will now meet with the representatives from each of the nine churches together with the MAC Treasurer, to discuss how the Local Church Councils will be formed. Here in Wenvoe, we will have a Joint Church Council as St. Bleddian’s church at St. Lythan’s have decided to join with us, as we lay plans for the years ahead.
St. Mary’s remains in the care of the Area Dean, Rev. Andrew James of Dinas Powis until a new Vicar is appointed for Wenvoe, St. Lythan’s and Sully. The advertisement has appeared in the press and on line and the applicants have been short listed for a selection panel on the 9th March. The successful applicant will then need to give three months notice where he/she is at the moment, so we should be able to see a new priest installed sometime in the summer. In the meantime, Kevin, our curate, has been ordained and celebrated his first Eucharist with us on Sunday 6th February. This means that we will see fewer visiting priests at our Sunday morning services as Kevin will lead us until the new Vicar is in post.
The Welsh Government COVID regulations have been relaxed and there is now no need to book for attendance at our worship on Sunday mornings. Gradually we are getting back to as near a normal pattern of worship as we can. Attendance numbers in church are improving and our “Pebbles” children group, recommenced following the Half Term break in the church hall, and were welcomed back into joining in the worship. Singing is now allowed, and we have welcomed a new organist, Gareth, to the team, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to sing the hymns that reflect the times of the year.
Good news on the tower, we can now close the appeal having reached our target figure of £61,000
It is with grateful thanks to the wonderful response to the Tower Appeal from our congregation and friends of St. Mary’s who have raised over £25,500 with contributions from the “Tucker stones for the Tower”, Funeral Offerings for two of our well respected church members, and many other most generous gifts from those who wish to see St. Mary’s kept in good repair for future generations. We are very thankful for the help from the grant aiding bodies, ie. The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, the Pantyfedwen Trust, the Welsh Church Act, the Garfield Weston Trust and Breedon Quarrying
We have a start date for the work on the tower with Taliesin Conservation for March 1st. Scaffolding will be in place with security fencing etc. There will still be full access to the paths in the churchyard, and the work is scheduled to last for 16 weeks, with completion in mid June. Work to remove the “snail creep” mortaring within the porch will be carried out at a later date as part of our general planning to improve the stonework of the fabric of the church. There should be no inconvenience in the use of the church during this time for Sunday services. The faculty for the “Church lighting Scheme” has been granted and we have a provisional start date of May 9th from the contractor as to when the work will begin. The cost of this work will be covered from the Ron Thomas Bequest made to the church and will be a lasting tribute to the great affection he and his wife had for the church during the time they lived in Wenvoe.
We continue to support the Barry Food Bank with items collected from the porch on Thursday mornings. The need for food and other items is greater than ever with the increasing cost of energy bills and foodstuffs in the shops, and again thanks to Jude Billingham, who organises this work, we are reaching out to those in greater need at this time.
H.M the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Plans are being made to celebrate this event with an open air service around the preaching cross in the churchyard, on Friday June 3rd with games for the children and a “bring your own picnic and chairs”. This is a community party to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and is open to all. More details to follow, and suggestions and offers of help would be appreciated.
Christian Aid Week
Begins on week commencing 15th May, and we are hopeful of having a house to house collection this year, as in previous years before COVID 19. More news of this event will be published in “What’s On” nearer the appeal week.
Lent 2022
The observance of the solemn season of Lent has not been finalised at the time of writing. Ash Wednesday on March 2nd marks the beginning of the observance for six weeks before Easter. Please refer to the notice board in the church porch for any further details.
Look forward to see you in church. You are all welcome
Parry Edwards
Huge Cycling Challenge
RIDE FOR JAYNE
We are taking on the huge challenge of cycling the length of Wales, 220 miles from Holyhead to the Vale of Glamorgan, to raise money for Cancer Research Wales in memory of our mum Jayne Fallas. Our mum was a kind, caring and warm person whose smile lit up every room she entered. She was a devoted mother and wife and a friend to all who met her.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She was very scared and nervous but she overcame this and beat the disease and we saw a level of strength, determination, courage and bravery which made us see our mum in a completely different light. We saw a side of mum which we didn’t realise she had. She was an absolute warrior taking all of the treatment they offered her and fighting through the hard days for the good days which were to follow. We cannot put into words how proud of our mum we are. That was undoubtedly the hardest thing she had ever faced and we as a family were there with her every step of the way but she had to walk the journey and goodness me she didn’t just walk the journey she flew through it showing the bravery and courage in her heart each and every day.
Sadly, after 4 years the cancer returned and our mum lost her battle with cancer. She passed away on the 6th of December 2021. This was and still is devastating for us as a family. However, as we know our mum would have wanted, we decided to celebrate her life and raise money in her name. We hope to carry on her legacy and ensure that this money will help and support individuals and their families with a similar story to ours.
There is a team of 20 of us taking part in this ‘Ride for Jayne’ We plan to have an event on the 31st of July at the finish line of our cycle. There will be raf-fles, food & drink as well as some more opportunities to donate to Cancer Research Wales. The finish line will be at St Cyres School in Penarth, we hope to see as many of you there as possible!
Thank you so much for your support!!
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/rideforjayne
You can follow our journey on instagram – @RideforJayne
The Ride For Jayne Team
Get Tough With The Fly-Tippers
. Time to get tough with the Fly-tippers
There were over 35,000 fly-tipping incidents in Wales last year and fly-tippers leave some pretty bizarre rubbish.
Fly tipping seems to be on the increase and the lanes around Wenvoe have recently witnessed the dumping of all manner of rubbish, including old mattresses, paint pots and even fridges. The widespread anger this practice generates seems to have little impact on the perpertrators One morbid litter bug dumped a coffin in the street in Redbridge, north-east London, along with a pile of tyres. Redbridge Council clean-up crews were relieved to discover that there was no body inside. Other bizarre examples have included a mattress hanging from a telegraph pole and live turtles left in a shoebox.
Fly tipping is not only a blight on our community but the environmental and financial costs are high. Every year clearing up after fly tipppers costs the Vale of Glamorgan Council about £20,000. Fly tipping is in fact a criminal offence. In the worse cases convictions in a crown court can result in unlimited fines and lengthy prison terms. The Vale of Glamorgan Council are in fact part of Fly-tipping Action Wales, a partnership initiative, sponsored by the Welsh Government and made up of 50 partners including the 22 local authorities in Wales, the national police and fire services, the National Farmers Union and others. As well as the recycling centres in Barry and Llandow, the Vale Council, like all local authorities in Wales, offer at a reasonable cost, a bulky item collection service.
You might be surprised to learn that over two-thirds of fly-tipping contains waste from people’s homes and often unscrupulous culprits are hired in good faith by members of the public to remove rubbish. But be warned! That cheap offer you found on social media might well be a scam! It’s so important to check with Natural Resources Wales that the person or company you are using is a registered waste carrier. If not and waste is identified as belonging to you, a heavy fine is the likely outcome. Incidentally, if you refuse to pay because you feel the problem was caused by the person you hired in good faith, think again. The matter will likely be taken to court and lead to an even higher fine. Incidentally, it is illegal to dump waste near any full bin. Apart from being unsightly this practice can be a health hazard, attracting rats etc.
A lot of charities like the British Heart Foundation are happy to collect donated items for free. One Cardiff based project set up by Cadwyn Housing Association, Nu Life Furniture upcycle unwanted household items, including furniture and white goods, to sell on to those who need them, at an extremely affordable price. If you live in Cardiff or surrounding areas and would like to donate your unwanted items to help people furnish their homes affordably, fill out the booking from on the Nu Life Furniture website: http://nulifefurniture.co.uk/donate. NuLife Furniture collections are free and the organisation is currently searching for the following priority items: fridges, fridge-freezers, wash machines, cookers, bed frames, mattresses, wardrobes, sofas, tables and chairs.
Shop a Tipper
It could be time for all of us to get tough with fly tippers. Fly-tipping fell by half in Wolverhampton after its council launched a “shop a tipper” campaign, where residents received a £100 gift voucher for information leading to a fine or successful prosecution. The council crushed two transit vans and two cars caught fly-tipping on CCTV. “We do not want fly-tipping in our city. If you don’t pay the fine, we will seize your vehicle and if you don’t come forward to claim it, it will be crushed,” said one councillor, Steve Evans.
You can check whether operators are licenced online at naturalresources.wales/checkWaste or by calling 03000 65 3000.
If you witness or see a case of fly-tipping you can report it online using a simple form on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website found at: https://forms.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/Flytipping