Category: News

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.

 

 

Until it Happens to You

Until it Happens to You

The UK was recently rocked when it was announced that the remains of Sarah Everard, who initially went missing on March 3, were found in Ashford, Kent. The 33 year old marketing executive had been walking from a friend’s home in Clapham to her own home in Brixton in South London when she was abducted.

Sarah Everard’s story started a nationwide, and now, global discourse regarding the safety of women. Beginning on Twitter in the UK, millions of women shared their experiences of worrying about their safety while walking home, encouraging a global discussion about the experiences almost every woman has had.

In an article published by The Guardian in the same week, it was found that 97% of young women 18-24 have experienced sexual harassment, with 80% of women of all ages noting they had been sexually harassed in a public space.

A poll by The Tab, which asked 14,000 students in Britain whether or not they had been groped in clubs, with the results showing that 91% of women who answered noting they had experienced sexual harassment and assault.

The issue wasn’t exclusive to women, however. Overall, 82% of University scholars, both male and female, told the Consent and Sexual Assault Survey that they had experienced groping, with 61% of men noting they had experienced groping. In the study, Cardiff University was found to be the second worst university in the UK for experiencing groping on a night out, with 95% of students saying they had experienced some form of sexual harassment.

Discussions around sexual harassment and sexual assault have been circulating for years, but following the case of Sarah Everard, it feels as though there has been a global resignation that it is an issue which can no longer be swept under the carpet.

Baroness Jenny Jones argued in the House of Lords last week that perhaps there should be a 6pm curfew for men. This comment has been heavily debated online, with many noting it would be unfair to stop men from leaving their homes at night. Many women have argued, however, that despite there not being a physical curfew in place for women, women have always been encouraged to stay indoors after dark, so as to not be in any danger.

Baroness Jenny Jones later clarified that her comments were not asking for serious policy proposal, but rather pointing out that London police had advised following the case of Sarah Everard that women “not go out alone”. She told LBC that it was a concern to her as it appeared that no one seemed to “bat an eyelid” at the assumption that women ought to change their actions in order to stay safe.

Of course, walking alone is dangerous for everyone regardless of their gender. However, as we’ve seen from various surveys, women feel they are in significantly more danger when walking home alone than men.

According to data from UN Women’s Sexual Harassment Report 2021, 71% of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, with this number rising to 86% among 18-24-year-olds. The MP Jess Phillips last week read the names of the women killed by men in the UK over the past 12 months. compiled by the Femicide Census; in 2020 and 2021, the list amounted to one woman every three days.

The discussion surrounding safety is one everyone should have, regardless of gender. But it’s important that we listen to the women who are expressing their concern, and we begin to change the way we address the safety of women. Men’s stories deserve a platform – but should not be used in order to diminish the stories of women; each story is valid.

Using hashtags such as #NotAllMen not only dismisses the lived experience of women and girls, but also seems as though it is invalidating the stories men have too. Why only bring up the statistics about male rape and harassment in order to counteract the stories being shared by women? Think about it – would you still share those statistics if women weren’t having this discussion? Stories from men who have faced similar experiences need to be addressed, in their own right, not as a way of invalidating stories from women; that isn’t fair to anyone.

Women and most men are aware that not all men are dangerous and not all men would do these horrible things. When we’re walking home (during the day, but especially at night) and the man behind us has been walking in the same direction for a long while, we don’t have the time to make sure he’s one of the good guys – it could cost us our lives.

We know it’s not all men, but the problem is, we don’t know which men.

The world needs to have this discussion. It may feel uncomfortable, but if we don’t have the discussion nothing will change. It’s also vital that men are part of this discussion. Men are able to tell their friends when their behaviour or the things they say are inappropriate and could stop further harassment or assault.

The discourse surrounding the safety of women is underway, and it’s important we all listen. Almost every woman has a story or an experience. A lot of men do, too. So let’s listen to them, and encourage change, so that the next generation don’t have their own stories.

by Tirion Davies

 

 

Making Steps Matter

MAKING STEPS MATTER

During the last year we were allowed and encouraged to walk. We kept fit (or in some cases got fit), often managing to greet people or make new friends at a safe distance and watched the seasons go by.

In Kenya, Florence walked 6 hours a day to collect water for her family as her previous water supply had dried up. She had managed to collect enough for cooking, and washing, until Christian Aid helped build an Earth Dam locally giving enough water for her family for her to water her crops. Rose, living elsewhere, still needs to walk to collect water with Coronavirus making this lack of reliable water more critical for the family for handwashing. Climate change for her is a matter of survival.

Every last drop is precious and this year Christian Aid’s challenge is: Together we STOP this climate crisis.

Our Local Challenge is to count our steps throughout the month of May. To keep on with our walking, whether around our neighbourhood or as far afield as the current restrictions allow. You may want to do this individually, with friends or family and get others to sponsor you for what you achieve to help women like Rose get an Earth Dam. You can set your own target, walk as far as you are able, but the challenge for those who are able is to reach 300,000 steps throughout the month.

Sponsorship can be set for a specified amount no matter how many steps are achieved. Forms are available in the Church Porch or can be picked up in Springfield Stores. Results and donations can be given to Rev Jon Ormrod or posted through the Church letter box (this will be emptied daily).

For more information contact me by email judebillingham@ yahoo.co.uk

 

 

Church News for April

News for April

Please allow me to start on a personal note. I have just watched the wonderful Mothering Sunday Service from St. Mary’s on Facebook. It was a most uplifting time for those who had joined in and it is a privilege to be a part of the wonderful family of our three churches. Diolch yn fawr

Now to Church News…

March 23rd was kept as a DAY OF RELECTION marking one year since the first “lockdown” in the country due to COVID-19. A year in which many have died, many have contracted the virus and recovered, and how thankful we are for the NHS who looked after their patients in the most difficult and worrying of circumstances. The Archbishop of Wales asked us to REFLECT, TO HAVE HOPE AND TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, this has to be done carefully, thoughtfully and hopefully as we come out of the many restrictions imposed on us to keep us safe during the darkest days of the Winter now coming to an end. A sure sign of this was the re-opening of our churches on March 21st, for Eucharistic worship, once again under strict conditions of hand cleansing, mask wearing, no singing, no loitering and keeping a social distance from each other. As before, attendance had to be booked in advance and seating allocated within the church, but it was good to be getting together. Mothering Sunday was an online service featuring the children of our Pebbles group and young musicians from Sully. Wonderful and a big THANK YOU. Also to hear Jon’s Mum reading from St Paul to the Colossians was truly amazing. Daffodils were freely available outside our churches to give to Mums, Grandmothers and Godmothers, as a token of the love we have for all they have done for us.

The Easter issue of the parish magazine “Connections” was printed and posted to all church members and included a Palm Cross in time for Palm Sunday and Holy Week (see Jon’s letter for details of services). We have had to suspend our usual practice of providing lilies in remembrance of loved ones this year, but we ask for names of loved ones to be remembered at the altar with a lit candle; names to the Church wardens please. We invite all who wish a family member or friend to submit their names, for you are all part of God’s family whether you are a church member or not. The churchyard cross will be decorated as last year, thanks to Mike, Sandra and Brian. The children from Wenvoe School are decorating pebbles to go around the base, and this together with the Easter Garden in the porch will make for an interesting visit.

During the month there has been work ongoing at St. Mary’s. You could not fail to notice the security tape barrier around the base of the tower. During the severe frost, mortar has been falling from the masonry. Steeplejacks have been up the tower to report on the likely cause and report on how to put things right. At long last after a battle with the Royal Mail we have finally been allocated a postcode for the church and the church hall. We needed this to get a BT landline into the church to assist in streaming our services on the internet. We have installed secure post boxes in the church hall porch and the church porch to receive mail and also for the community to use should they wish, to contact the church authorities. The notice boards in the porch have been refurbished with user friendly panels of cork, to make the insertion of drawing pins etc much easier, so no more damaged fingers, we hope.

The Church Hall together with the adjoining Wheelwrights Shop have been surveyed by our church architect and his report is awaited, with some trepidation, for we know it will not make welcome reading. However, work will be required to make it fit for purpose, so watch this space.

Easter Greetings to all. Continue to keep safe and look forward with hopefulness to better times ahead.

Parry Edwards

 

 

April’s Letter From Jon

 

April’s Letter From Jon

It is wonderful to be able to write to you all with some Good News. As Easter approaches, I am happy to report that now that the Welsh Government has moved from its instruction of Stay at Home to Stay Local that it has been decided that we can now re-open our churches in Wenvoe and St Lythans for public worship. This will be from the end of March onwards.

The format will have to be the same as we were operating under prior to the lockdown in December this will mean that the services will be as follows:

Sundays

9.30am Said Eucharist at St Mary’s, Wenvoe

10.30am Online Service

3.00pm Said Eucharist at St Bleddian’s, St Lythans

6.00pm Online Service

Wednesdays

10.00am Said Eucharist at St Mary’s, Wenvoe

Please note that all the services in church will need to be booked for in advance. You can do that by the following means:

For Services in St Lythans. Either email: howard.rees2020@yahoo.com or phone Howard on 07812 383298. For Services in Wenvoe. Either email: stmaryswenvoebookings@gmail.com or phone Carol on 029 2059 265

Please also note that you will still be required to socially distance and that you will have to wear a face mask and cleanse your hands.

There will also be some additional services during Holy Week and on Good Friday details of which can be found in the porches of the churches.

Easter is a time when we look forward to new life; for Christians it is a new life in Christ. It is the ultimate season of hope and joy. It is therefore with joy that I wish you all a Blessed and Happy Easter, and with a real sense of hope as we look forward to a new start of being in communion with one another.

 

Services for Holy Week and Easter

We hope that following the announcement of the Welsh Government we will be in a position to open our churches for public worship as from Sunday 21st March. If we are able to reopen, it is important to note that we will still be under Social Distancing Rules and people will be required to book in advance with places being limited. It is also unlikely we will be able to sing. But assuming we are able to open we HOPE to be able to offer the following services during Holy Week and Easter.

Sun 21st March – Passion Sunday

9.30am Said Eucharist at Wenvoe

10.30am Agape Service streamed online only

3.00pm Said Eucharist at St Lythans

6.00pm Said Eucharist at Sully also streamed online

Wed 24th March

10.00am Said Eucharist in Wenvoe

Thurs 25th March

10.00am Said Eucharist at Sully; also streamed online

Sun 28th March – Palm Sunday

9.30am Said Eucharist at Wenvoe

10.30am Agape Service streamed online only

3.00pm Said Eucharist at St Lythans

6.00pm Said Eucharist at Sully; also streamed online

Mon29th March – Monday in Holy Week

10.00am Morning Prayer streamed online only

Tues30th March – Tuesday in Holy Week

10.00am Morning Prayer streamed online only

Wed 31st March – Wednesday in Holy Week

10.00am Said Eucharist at Wenvoe possibly streamed online

Thurs 1st April – Maundy Thursday

10.00am Said Eucharist at Sully; also streamed online

7.00pm Agape Meal; streamed online only

Fri 2nd April – Good Friday

10.00am All Age Good Friday Worship streamed online only

1.00pm Good Friday Prayers at St Lythans

1.30pm-2.15pm Walk of Witness from St Lythans to Wenvoe streamed online

2.15pm Good Friday Meditations at Wenvoe and possibly streamed online

2.15pm Good Friday Meditations at Sully

Sun 4th April – Easter Day

6.45am Sunrise Service at Sully also streamed online

9.30am Said Eucharist at Wenvoe

10.30am Agape Service streamed online only

3.00pm Said Eucharist at St Lythans

6.00pm Said Eucharist at Sully also streamed online

Please note that ALL these services are subject to change. Services which are online only are noted. Services in the churches will be confirmed closer to the time via the Facebook page and newsletter and will need to be booked in advance.

With Blessings

Jon Ormrod

revjonormrod@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 

Village Hall Volunteers

A PLEA FROM THE VILLAGE HALL VOLUNTEERS

Over a period of a couple of weeks in lockdown, youngsters playing football in the carpark of the village hall caused damage to the central heating overflow pipe, guttering and two outside lights Unfortunately the broken glass, found when the playgroup arrived, had to be swept up before the children could be allowed in.

The hall was painted last summer to create a warm welcome to groups returning to use the facilities. The walls have now had to be washed because of footballs being kicked up against them. Our cleaner generously did this, without being asked.

The Covid situation means we have been unable too pen so there is no money coming in except from playgroup. The cost of the repairs and the possibility of having to install CCTV is a concern to us.

There is a sign in the carpark saying ‘No football’. The boys have been asked on a number of occasions not to play in the car park but have just ignored us. The police have been informed of the damage caused and are looking into it.

The hall is there for all in the village to enjoy and residents are very supportive of this facility. So we are asking the parents of these youngsters to help us by informing them to please not play football in the village hall carpark. Thank you.

 

 

1 … 67 68 69 70 71 … 124