February Notes

 

  Gwenfo School News February Notes


We have had a lovely half term at Gwenfo exploring our topics and learning a lot. Our action for happiness for February was Direction. We have been learning how to set achievable goals, challenging ourselves to do something a bit difficult. This has fitted in well with our value of Perseverance.

We have welcomed our new set of student teachers this month. We are so glad to have them and hope they enjoy their time with us.

For Children’s Mental Health Week, we had a virtual visit from Matt Lewis and Luke. They helped us think about all the ways we can look after our mental health, from exercise to being present. Across Key Stage 2 we have been thinking about being kind to each other. We used the example of a heart which we crumpled up. No matter how much we smooth it out, the heart is never going to be the same. Just as saying sorry does not fix unkind words or actions.

Years 3 and 4 had a fantastic engagement day for their topic. They planted seeds, made scarecrows, and wrote spring poetry. Year 6 went for a walk around the village to look for examples of positive and negative human behaviour. They were delighted to see the new library building open.

After our half term break, we look forward to celebrating Eisteddfod. Each class is currently preparing a song and working on stories, artwork, and poems to celebrate the best of Wales. For the week of St Da-vid’s Day, we will be doing carousels of activities such as sewing and cooking.

 



 

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

 



 

February Book Choices


Snap by Belinda Bauer

On a stifling summer’s day, eleven-year-old Jack and his two sisters sit in their broken-down car, waiting for their mother to come back and rescue them. ‘Jack’s in charge,’ she said. ‘I won’t be long.’

But she doesn’t come back. She never comes back. And life as the children know it is changed for ever.

Three years later, mum-to-be Catherine wakes to find a knife beside her bed, and a note that says: I could have killed you.

Meanwhile Jack is still in charge of his sisters, of supporting them all, of making sure nobody knows they’re alone in the house, and – quite suddenly – of finding out the truth about what happened to his mother.

 


But the truth can be a dangerous thing …

A taut, suspenseful new novel from award-winning thriller author Belinda Bauer in which a woman being menaced by a knife-wielding home invader is connected to a string of burglaries in a quaint bedroom community, and the brutal murder that left three children motherless three years before.

The group scored an average of 7 for this quirky and well written thriller. Overall, it was described as an easy, enjoyable read.

There were a number of threads which initially some found quite confusing but it was interesting to see how these all came together at the end. Good descriptions of characters and environments in the story although there were also a number of unrealistic situations. A number of the group would recommend it to others to read

 



 

Cold Comfort Farm

OFF THE SHELF


 

  Book Review for Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons


The plot is simplistic and was written as a comedy about rural life in the 1920s. When it was first published in 1932 it was not without its critics, but it did sell very well. Flora Poste, the main character, was orphaned at 19 when her parents were both carried off by the 1919 Spanish flu epidemic, and she was left penniless. Her only option is to throw herself on the charity of her remote Sussex relatives, the Starkadders who live in Cold Comfort Farm. This desolate and ominous place is full of miserable, brooding, and overpowering characters, where even the animals are all full of gloom. Big Business the dominant bull, reigns over a hopeless herd of Jersey cows, ridiculously named: Graceless, Pointless, Aimless, and Feckless. They do all add to some memorable, comical, and bizarre accounts, such as the references to the cow with three legs, which reminded one group member of the cleverly written Monty Python sketches. Cousin Amos preaching hellfire and damnation to the congregation of the Church of the Quivering Brethren is another such high point in the book.

As the rustic mayhem unfolds, Miss Poste, who is a modern bossy-boots, decides that it’s her mission to bring a “higher common sense” to the lives of her relatives.

There were divided opinions on the book as some felt that there were too many questions left unanswered, the ending was too simplistic and there was a condescending pitch that the Starkadders’ lives needed ‘mending’. Generally, a well-liked book and the group scored it 7 out of 10.

 



 

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.

 



 

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

 



 

Sorrento Chicken


Sorrento Chicken

3 tbsp olive oil

2 onions thinly sliced

100g streaky bacon, diced

2 cloves garlic crushed

8 chicken thighs

2tbsp of plain flour

1tsp plain or smoked paprika

300ml chicken stock [cube]

400g can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

400g can chopped tomatoes

1 thyme sprig, leaves only, finely chopped

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and bacon and fry for about 7 mins until golden. Add the garlic for the final minute of cooking. Remove everything and set aside. Toss the chicken in the flour. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, add the paprika and chicken and fry over a medium heat until evenly browned all over. Return the onions, bacon, and garlic to the pan. Add the stock, beans, tomatoes, thyme and seasoning. Bring to the boil, turn down, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until the chicken is tender. Remove the lid and cook over a medium heat for about 10 mins until the sauce is thickened. Serve with freshly cooked garlic bread and a selection of green vegetables

 



 

Jaffa Drizzle Cake


Jaffa Drizzle Cake

140g butter, softened

200g SRF

11/2 tsp baking powder

200g golden caster sugar

3 large eggs

6 tbsp whole milk

finely grated zest 1 large orange

Topping

3tbsp orange juice

50g golden caster sugar

50g dark chocolate

Heat oven to 180C fan. Butter and line the base of a 1.2 litre loaf tin. Put all the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat for about 3-4 mins until light and fluffy. Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the top. Bake for about 40 – 50 mins until golden brown and firm to touch, Check with a skewer. Heat the orange juice and sugar gently in a small pan until dissolved. When the cake is cooked, remove from the oven, pierce with a skewer and spoon over the orange mix. Leave to cool in the tin, then remove to cool completely on a wire rack. Break up the chocolate and melt in a bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave. Drizzle over the cake and leave to set.

 



 

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