Category: News

A Wenvoe Forum

A WENVOE FORUM

Considering Today and Tomorrow

Please can you help?

Following a call out issued at the beginning of March a small group of like-minded people have met on Zoom to create a think tank or forum to bring together the ideas and aspirations of the village.

We have lived through a sometimes strange and troubling year or more, with the path through to an acceptable existence alongside Covid still a bit un-clear and a pressing future need for a rebuilt and changed economy that takes account of climate change and environmental issues. However, throughout all, the Wenvoe community has proved itself caring, resourceful and in good spirit and well up to the job of helping to create that future in a very positive way.

The future belongs to all of us and particularly to the younger residents, families, children and young people who will be living with the consequences of plans, decisions and actions taken now for the rest of their lives. It’s important that everyone feels able to have a say in shaping the plan.

A “Considering Today and Tomorrow” may sound a little grand, but be assured a grand plan is usually made up of lots of small actions.

So how can you contribute your ideas and help to see them come to life.

1.The group would be delighted to have a few more individual members so that it is more representative of the whole community. If you are a family with children, a young person, the owner of a local business or any resident of the village, with an hour to spare every 3 weeks or so the please contact us –

e-mail:  gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

2.The forum is keen to build on the very strong community groups and networks that already exist. We don’t want to duplicate what is already happening but to plug any gaps. Sharing information and ideas is the key. Individual members of the forum could link directly with your group or you could put forward a representative. Please make contact via e-mail gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

3.We have already discussed lots of ideas and would love to know whether you think we are on the right track.

We have created a very short 2 minute on line survey – please fill it in there:-

4.We want to hear from people of all ages so several members of the household can each complete their own survey.

 

We want to hear your ideas too, please send them to gareth.stone1@btinternet.com

Thank you, we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Teacher Adventures: School Trips

Teacher Adventures: School Trips

“Would you like to accompany 30 children to Madagascar on their French language trip?” asked the French teacher at the school I was working at in Kenya.

“Oui, merci,” I replied, rapidly recalling my GCSE francais! The French teacher assigned to the trip was ill, so fortunately for me, I was drafted in as a last minute replacement.

Two weeks later, 30 very excited students gathered at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, for the flight to the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. The trip was an opportunity for the students to practise their French (both Malagasy and French are both official languages of Madagascar) and to experience a different culture and way of life. Madagascan culture is renowned for its colourful fusion of influences drawn from seafaring Borneans and Bantu Africans, Arabic and Tamil traders, and French colonisation (unlike the British colonisation in Kenya).

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 250 miles off the coast of East Africa. Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country and the nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world) and numerous smaller peripheral islands. We were to be based in a hotel on the east coast of the island. Days were planned to include French lessons in the morning, followed by a swim and snorkelling in the Indian Ocean or swimming pool; excursions were organised for the afternoons to allow the students to experience some of the historical, cultural and artistic attractions of the island.

The students loved visiting the capital, Antananarivo, known locally (and considerably simpler) as Tana. They had the opportunity to admire the beautiful colonial architecture in the old Haute-Ville area of the city, visit one of the art galleries and museums and to spend their money in the open air market stalls at Analakely. Other trips were planned to see the truly alien landscapes of the limestone karsts in north western Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and the Avenue of the Baobabs, where 25 baobab trees over 100 feet tall are strung out along the Tsiribihina dirt road.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the trip was the visit to see the lemurs. As a result of the island’s isolation from neighbouring continents, Madagascar is home to various plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Approximately 90% of all plant and animal species found in Madagascar are endemic. There are many bizarre and wonderful creatures to be seen on the island, but lemurs are the creature most closely associated with Madagascar. The students, and staff, were thrilled to find and see these charismatic primates in the forest and their saucer shaped eyes were peculiar, but strangely endearing. All agreed they were an amazing, very special sight.

 

Near the end of our week’s stay, our idyllic routine was severely interrupted. In Madagascar, the combination of south eastern trade winds and north western monsoons produces a hot rainy season with frequently destructive cyclones. Unfortunately, tropical cyclone Kamisy coincided with our visit. Kamisy was considered the worst tropical cyclone to affect northern Madagascar since 1911 and winds reached up to 105 mph. Throughout Madagascar, a total of 68 casualties were reported, and 7000 buildings were destroyed, including 1020 schools and 450 hospitals. Following the storm, emergency food and medical supplies were supplied to the nation from French rescue missions.

For our Nairobi students, a cyclone was a novel, and frightening experience. Confined to the hotel they could watch from the windows of their rooms as the trunks of trees were blown to 45 degrees, as the sea was whipped up to a frenzy, as the sand billowed uncontrollably along the beach and as the swimming pool water was thrown against the dining room windows. Lights flashed on and off as the electricity supply was interrupted and hotel staff were unable to arrive at or leave the hotel as roads were covered with fallen trees.

We were confined to the hotel for the final 2 days of our trip. We could not travel across the island as roads were blocked. The pool was out of bounds due to damage caused by the cyclone and the landscape in the gardens of the hotel had changed completely: debris from trees was scattered everywhere and some trees swayed perilously after the storm.

A change of programme was necessary. French lessons continued in the morning and in the afternoons it was my responsibility to provide entertainment…..Fortunately I had packed some dance tapes and spent the afternoons teaching an assortment of dance routines to very eager, enthusiastic and excitable students, who soon forgot they should have been enjoying the delights of Madagascar! The high spot was, remember this, FLASHDANCE…the routine was repeated innumerable times, in pairs, in trios, in fours, as a mass dance….all that was missing were the leotards and leg warmers!

After 2 days we were allowed to leave the hotel to travel to the airport. We could see the destruction caused by the cyclone as we travelled through the countryside: buildings destroyed, houses without roofs, vegetation uprooted. It was a gloomy, depressing sight. We had some wonderful memories of Madagascar, but also realised that the people who lived on this beautiful island sometimes had to endure, at times, some very unforgiving, harsh conditions.

 

 

Union Flag At Half Mast

News for May

The flying of the Union Flag at half mast, on the church tower, was a signal that we were joining in with the country, on hearing the sad news of the death of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. In church, prayers were offered for HM the Queen at the loss of a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and we also included in our prayers the loss of loved ones all over the country to the ravages of COVID-19, at whose passing, funerals were held under strict covid rules. May they all rest in peace and rise in glory.

The church has been open for Eucharistic worship on Sundays and Wednesdays, under the strict covid rules, where places have to be booked in advance, and bookings often exceed the numbers allowed. It is hoped that the next Government announcement on May 17th will allow a greater relaxation of the rules and some kind of a NEW normality can be introduced, so we wait to hear.

THE TOWER.- Mention was made in last month’s “What’s On” of the security tape placed around the base of the tower to prevent public access, as the mortar infill was falling due to the severe frosts we have had in the month. Steeplejacks were engaged to scale the tower and report on the condition of the fabric; their report is very worrying. There is extensive degradation of the mortar infilling of the stones and the church architect was made aware of the report. The repair work must be put in hand as quickly as possible, using lime mortar which can only be applied in frost free conditions. This will mean scaffolding around the tower, and once tenders have been received, the work carried out before the winter is upon us. At the present moment our Building Fund, is limited as we have already accepted estimates for the redecoration of the interior of the nave and chancel ceiling. This work will take place during the early part of May and the church will have to be closed for all worship, due to the scaffolding erected etc. within the building. We will not know the costs involved for the tower repairs, until the tendering process has been completed, faculties have been applied for, and grants may well have to be sought to carry out the work. A public appeal is also being considered as this unexpected work is beyond the finances of the church. We acknowledge with thanks how church members have responded to maintain St Mary’s during the past year, the contributions made to the building fund by the 200 club over the years has funded the normal maintenance work needed on a Grade II* building. We appeal to all who value the presence of the village church, to respond in some way to keep the church building in good and fair condition. Any contribution you are able to make will be most welcome and gratefully received.

As a sign that church worship is returning, a wedding is planned to take place in May,

This will be the first wedding for over a year. The number of guests is limited, and of course receptions cannot take place in doors. Jon has a number of other weddings planned during the year, which have all been postponed due to the covid rules. Baptisms cannot be held at present, but as the covid situation improves, relaxation of the present rules could well be relaxed, as we strive to make the NEW normal the way ahead.

The annual Church Vestry Meeting has taken place on ZOOM with all officers and members of the PCC voted into office for the remainder of the year. This will be the last PCC meeting in the parish of St. Mary in Wenvoe. As from January 1st 2022 the PCC will be reformed as the Devolved Church Council (DCC) when we become a part of the NEW MINISTRY AREA of “de Morgannwg” bringing together nine churches merging as one grouping, whose mission is to bring the love of Christ to our communities. This will mean a change of status as a self governing parish. It is over 900 years since parishes were formed following the Norman Conquest, and when we merge we will be parishioners in the wider Ministry Area. This will entail a new Electoral Roll of church membership, a bringing together of all the individual church finances. For this year it is a work in progress, with Zoom meetings taking place with representatives of the nine churches trying to find a common ground within the ministry area.

The Christian Aid Appeal

“Making Steps Matter”

This year’s Cristian aid appeal was launched in church on the 4th Sunday of Easter, in readiness for our LOCAL CHALLENGE of counting and sponsoring the many steps we take during the day in our normal lives. Sponsorship forms can be collected from the church porch or Springfield Stores , Donations and results can be given to Rev. Jon Ormrod or posted through the church letter box. So let’s get walking and giving.

We continue to support the Barry Food Bank with collections from the church porches of Wenvoe and Sully churches on Thursday mornings. The need for food banks is greater than ever and contributions can be left in the church porches during the week. All food items gratefully received, especially requests for tinned potatoes, 100gram jars of coffee, treats for children, men’s toiletries, and tinned meats. Many thanks to all who donate on a regular basis.

Keep well, God Bless

Parry Edwards

 

 

The Weird And Wonderful World Of Democracy

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF DEMOCRACY

When you rock up at the community centre to cast your vote in the Senedd Cymru elections, you might come across people exercising their right to vote for the very first time. Not everyone welcomed the idea of extending the vote to 16 year olds, but the Welsh Government hope that this move will encourage young people to engage with the political process. An estimated 33,000 foreign nationals can now also take part provided they meet certain legal and residency requirements. Our politicians of course, will be looking to attract voters both old and new. All told they will spend more than £1 million, encouraging us to turn out and especially to vote for them.

Things have moved on quite a bit since democracy first got going in 5th century Athens, when women, slaves and foreigners were excluded. We took some time to catch on to the idea of democracy. Until the Reform Act of 1832 certain ‘rotten boroughs’ in the pockets of rich landowners, elected two Members of Parliament even though there were few or even no actual voters. Dunwich in Suffolk, which as a result of coastal erosion had almost fallen into the sea and Old Sarum in Wiltshire, which consisted of two or three houses, were classic examples. This situation was even more absurd when you consider that until 1832 new industrial towns like Manchester with a population of 60,000, did not have a single MP.

In the rare event there was a properly contested election those who could afford to stand came up with some cunning plans to make sure voters turned up and voted for them and it wasn’t just in Britain. In 1758, George Washington, then a young candidate for the Virginia House of Burgesses, bought a huge round of drinks on Election Day. Washington spent his entire campaign budget — £50 — on 160 gallons of liquor served to 391 voters. The custom of buying votes with booze was perhaps not surprisingly a British tradition imported to the American colonies. In Wales we had one of the finest examples. A celebrated contest took place in Carmarthenshire in 1802 between James Hamlyn Williams and William Paxton. The election was said to have cost Paxton a total of £15,000. This included 11,070 breakfasts, 36,901 dinners, 25,275 gallons of ale, 11,068 bottles of spirits, 8,879 bottles of porter, 460 of sherry, 509 of cider and gallons of milk punch. The contest became known as ‘Lecsiwn Fawr’ (the Great Election). In spite of these efforts, Paxton was defeated and spent two years settling his debts! Things are a bit different today and in some US states such as Utah, buying any alcoholic beverages on the day of the election is actually prohibited. Indiana recently abolished this rule, but they have their own interesting take on elections where the sheriff is called to haul you out of the voting booth if you take too long – reckoned to be a maximum of three minutes.

A record $14 million was spent by the candidates during the 2020 US presidential election campaign. In the UK the spending limit for each candidate standing for election as an MP is £8,700 plus 6p per registered parliamentary elector. The current Senedd Cymru elections will cost our politicians a pretty penny. In 2016 even the Monster Raving Loony Party spent £8,808! This may not have gone down well if it was in Ohio where they have a clause that prohibits idiots from voting — no, really. It reads, “No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.” Some US voters recently went so far as to suggest that this clause should apply to presidential elections as well!

 

 

 

Diamond Wedding Anniversary

 

April Letters

(The Editor

Pen+ink

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. )

 

 

 

We would like to thank all friends and neighbours for the good wishes, cards, flowers and gifts on the occasion of our Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Because of lockdown, what we thought would be ‘just another day’ turned out to be something special.

Our mystery – A lovely card came through the door, envelope written in gold but they forgot to sign it.

Thank you

Joyce & Eric White

 

 

 

Parkinson’s Disease Appeal

PARKINSON’S DISEASE APPEAL

Many Wenvoe residents will remember Helen and David Blessley and their contributions to village life. They moved to live in Penarth but still maintain village connections. Helen, being a superb cook, wrote a column called ‘Helen’s Kitchen’ for the magazine for over 15 years. This appeal has been written by their son-in-law, Marc Dunmore. 

The first thing we would like to say about David (Sarah’ s Dad, my father-in-law) or as I like to call him, Mr B, is that he is funny, strong, determined and not one to complain about anything. He is 78 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease around 25 years ago.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. Some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects. Mr B struggles to move, he struggles to eat, struggles to remember, he struggles to speak clearly and sleep is uncomfortable and disrupted. He has a hospital bed, walking frames, inflatable cushions and 2 wheelchairs to try and help. The alarms sound every 3 hours to remind Helen (Sarah’s Mum, my mother-in-law) to give his medication every 3 hours to deal with these symptoms but although the medication is supposed to help it can cause confusion and hallucinations. Parkinson’s Disease gets worse over time and at the moment there is no cure.

Helen is Mr B’s wife and main caregiver. She plays an integral part in his health, helping him to get the right treatments and help that he needs. As a result, he has been able to maintain the best possible lifestyle in the circumstances. However, this disease is not easy for anyone involved with the person living with it, whether family members or caregivers.

Not only do we want to help fundraise for Parkinson’s UK to help find a cure but also to provide funding for the local side of Parkinson’s. Our local Parkinson’s support group has been a lifeline for both Helen and Mr B. Not only can these groups introduce you to other families with Parkinson’s but can provide wonderful assistance for families like ours with information and events to help support everyone involved.

Mr B faces many challenges every day and we wanted to experience our own challenges. Over the course of the year Sarah will be virtually running Lands end to John O Groats (874 miles) culminating in both of us running the London Marathon and then…when one marathon isn’t enough, we will be running the Newport marathon a couple of weeks

later. The training for all this will most definitely be a challenge to fit in alongside dodging Covid, home schooling and working. However, when put into context with the challenges that Mr B and others like him face seems humble.

As you may be aware we have in the past run a few marathons between us so we wanted to make this one different and demanding. We did enquire about pushing Mr B round the London Marathon course in his wheelchair; however, this is not able to happen. So, instead Mr B will be joining us in his wheelchair, pushed by us, on some of our training runs around Cardiff. I’m sure there will be hard days for us both when the effort of running seems too much but we will take a leaf out of Mr B’s book and be strong, determined and try not to complain (not much anyway!!).

Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me, and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Parkinson’s UK. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please donate to this fantastic cause! We really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.

Donations can be made via https:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/marcdunmore. Once on the page you can click “donate” and then there are easy step by step instructions.

 

 

Research On Remembrance In Wales

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH ON REMEMBRANCE IN WALES

Dear Wenvoe Community Library,

I read about your library from the https://libraries.wales/ website, and I hope you would not mind me asking for your help for my research. I know the importance of libraries in local communities, even if the current pandemic context makes your work and social sharing more difficult.

I am a French PhD student in history and psychology at Swansea University and I am involved in a project with a Welsh and a French research team to study the memory of disasters. We developed an online questionnaire to gain a better understanding of memory and oblivion processes involved when we are to remember past disasters. Our main goal is to progress in the understanding of individual and collective responses to these events. More broadly, this study aims to make an important contribution to ongoing scientific debates on the management of communities and territories affected by one or several disasters.

We are currently struggling to make our study known and we need more volunteers participating to be able to draw relevant conclusions.

I would like to ask for the help of your library in distributing our questionnaire, for instance by adding information about our study in your newsletter if you have one, or via your library network. Our objective is to gather the answers from a large public living in Wales, no matter the age or the background. Your help in sharing our questionnaire would also be a great opportunity for us to inform Welsh communities about our scientific interests.

A detailed call for volunteers was also published by Swansea University on its website (swan.ac/gas), and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/SwanseaUni/status/1354806627447181316). I also gave a short interview that you can find on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/lucrece.heux.1).

We wish to communicate our results to the volunteers who participated once our study will be finalised. If you are interested, we can also work with you to inform the visitors of your library about the conclusions we will be able to draw. The link to take part in the study is: https://survey.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/formSV_cMiOQgpbmi33U9f.

I remain entirely at your disposal if you have any further questions. Thank you for your attention,

Lucrèce Heux,

Doctoral Student/ Myfyriwr Doethuriaeth,

Swansea University/ Prifysgol Abertawe.

 

 

Animals Out of  Control

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Animals Out of  Control

We have had a report of a dog being exercised off the lead in the area of St Andrews Road and Burdons Hill. The owner does not appear to be in full control and the dog is reported to have aggressively fought with other dogs.

There is also a report of a horse being ridden in the same area with the rider not appearing to be in full control of the horse.

We suggest residents take extra care when walking in these areas.

 

 

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