May Notes



  Gwenfo School News May Notes


It has been a short but busy half term here at Gwenfo. Years 4, 5 and 6 thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks of swimming lessons at Barry Leisure Centre. Everyone has learnt something new or challenged themselves. We are so proud of them! Year 6 had a great trip to Crucial Crew where they had talks from essential services such as National Rail, Western Power, and the Fire Service. They learnt key ways to keep themselves safe in a variety of situations. In Years 5 and 6 we had two wonderful art afternoons where parents came, created art with their children and got to see art the classes had been creating over the half term. Thank you to all parents to came to support.

As a school we have begun our trips to the new library. We all had an introductory talk to explain how the library works and what we can do there. Since then, we have all had the chance to go and choose a book that we can keep for three weeks! Thank you to all at the library for helping our children discover and learn. They really enjoy choosing their books and experiencing the library.

As we go into our final half term, we say a fond farewell and thank you to our PGCE students. They have made a huge contribution to our school community, and we are so grateful for all they have done for our children and our school.

 



 

May 2022 News Update



May 2022 News Update


At long last we can report that work on the repointing of the tower and porch is now underway. The porch has already been completed and it is certainly an improvement on the previous cement mortar. This has all been removed and conservation lime mortar used for the repointing. Work on the tower will continue during the summer months for completion in the autumn, before the frosts set in.

The new lighting scheme has been installed and was trialled on the congregation on Sunday 15th May. Reactions were varied, but generally the new lighting is far superior to the old set up and is easily managed by means of a small keyboard, with pre-set combinations for us in our normal services and the occasional ones of baptism, weddings and funerals. All the light fittings are LED which will give us long life in use and are very economical. We were able to install this scheme due to the generous bequest made to St. Mary’s by the late Mr Ron Thomas, a former resident of Walston Road and a faithful worshipper at St. Mary’s.

The sound system has been checked over and closed circuit television has been installed, with a monitor screen in the transept. The unobtrusive camera is focused on the area of the nave in front of the Rood Screen and Lectern so that when sat in the transept the priest and readers can be seen. Over the years since the transept was built in 1991, people have often felt cut off from the main service as they could not see what was taking place. Now it is hoped that the TV monitor will help them be part of the service. A facility has also been built into the system allowing us to transmit recordings of our service on Facebook. However, no decision has been taken at the present moment.

During the time all this work has been taking place, we have not forgotten the need to provide toilet facilities/catering facilities in the church, and our church architect has been in discussions with the Diocesan Advisory Committee as to what form of extension they will support. We will await their decisions and will work on the advice they have to give as we attempt to bring the church building into a worshipping space fit for use in the 21st century. The question on what we do with the church hall remains on our wish list with regard to selling the site. The present kitchen/toilet facilities need updating and dampness of the building needs work to rectify it, but we continue to use it for church activities.


CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL

This year the appeal was launched in church on May 1st when Jude Billingham, the organiser for fund raising, gave a presentation during the morning service. This was followed on Saturday May 14th with a Coffee and Cake and Book event in the church hall. This brought a lot of people together and showed Jude and her team of helpers great support for the time they had spent preparing for this event. Appeal envelopes have been delivered to the streets in Wenvoe and Sully to raise money for this most

excellent cause to help those in Africa who are not as fortunate as we are. The results of the appeal will not be known until some time in June when all the results of the various activities taking place will be collated.


CHURCHES UNLOCKED JUNE 18th – 26th

This is a programme organised by the diocese to open 10 churches considered to be well worth visiting for their historic and artistic features. We will open St. Mary’s on Saturday 18th and Saturday 25th June between 2.00- 4.00 pm. So a date for your diaries. You will get a great welcome and a demo of our lighting system.


H.M. THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE FAMILY PICNIC

Details of Picnic


 

The appointment of our new priest has been made, but the official announcement has been delayed by reason of obtaining a visa from the Home Office. We know he is married and will be bringing his wife to live in the Rectory in Wenvoe. He is joining us from Canada and his name will be released at the appropriate time. In the meantime, we hold him and his family in our prayers. We will make them very welcome and who knows, we may even fly the Canadian flag from the flagpole on the tower.

See you at the picnic and you are welcome to our Sunday service.

Parry Edwards

 



 

Pachinko

OFF THE SHELF



  Pachinko By Min Jin Lee

Everyone in the group enjoyed this book. One member said it was one of the best books she had read.

A Korean woman, Sunja, is the thread that runs through this story of a Korean family from 1910 until 1989. Korea was occupied by Japan and many people went to Japan looking for a better life. However, they were met with hostility, poverty and discrimination. The characters are strong, well-written and believable. This is especially so of Sunja. Her dignity, respect, and love of family fuel her determination to succeed and survive in a culture that despises her and her minority origins. The descriptions of places and situations really made the story come alive. We had long discussions about the characters and why they did what they did. Ultimately, we thought that this story of immigrants trying to integrate into a foreign society is very pertinent to today’s world and attitudes to refugees.

We highly recommend Pachinko and scored it at 8.9 – which I would round up to 9!

Patricia Coulthard

 



 

A Substantial Contribution From The Tuckers

Wenvoe Wildlife Group



We are thrilled yet again to be receiving a substantial contribution from the Tuckers following their plant sale. This will be in excess of £800. Our thanks to everyone who manned the stands, attended on the day and spent money as well as donating raffle prizes and plants for the sale. Particular thanks to Mike and Glenys who made the whole event possible. Where would we be without them!

Dog walkers who visit the Upper Orchid Filed will have noted that the dog poo bin has been removed. When the bin was installed 10 years ago, the next nearest bin was in Grange Park. WWG members have emptied the bin ever since but as all other bins are emptied by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and bins are now also available at the corner of Walston Road, Vale of Glamorgan Council were approached to empty it. Even though payment was offered, VOGC was not prepared to help and the decision was made to remove it. We were happy to leave the bag dispenser. However, this has been abused by dog owners who have been placing filled bags in it and so this is also being removed.

Please help to keep this wildflower meadow tidy by taking your dog bags to the nearest bin and help ensure that we retain our Green Flag status. Thank you.

 



 

How Old Is That Meadow?


How old is that meadow?


Ever wondered how old that meadow is? A new method should give you an idea. Count the number of Creeping Buttercups with more than 5 petals in any hundred and multiply by 7. So if you find 2 buttercups in any hundred the age of the meadow is roughly 14 years.

The first challenge is to know your Creeping Buttercup. There tend to be 3 types of buttercup in our meadows. Bulbous Buttercups are quite uncommon in our parish but look behind the petals and if the sepals are folded back it is Bulbous. It is much more likely that you have either Meadow or Creeping Buttercups. Look online to see the differences but the easiest indicator is to see if there is a groove or furrow in the stalk leading to the flower. If there is you have Creeping Buttercup. Most buttercups have five petals but occasionally they will turn up with more than 5 and as these buttercups can spread by cloning, each new plant from these will also have over 5. Scientists have correlated the numbers with meadows whose age is known to confirm the formula.

Why not try this out with the children? All they have to do is check for a groove and then count the petals. Simple!

 



 

Councillor Russell Godfrey

 



UPDATE FROM YOUR VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCILLOR RUSSELL GODFREY


Firstly, I would like to thank all of you who voted for me in the recent election. I am humbled and very proud to be able to represent Wenvoe on your behalf in the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

I will ensure that Wenvoe community has a voice in the Vale of Glamorgan Council. I will also be holding monthly surgeries (details to follow).

To date, further to feedback from residents already received, I can confirm that I have written to the Officers responsible with regards to the following issues:

  1. Grass verges in Rectory Close
  2. Road surface at junction of Grange Close and junction at Walston Castle
  3. The cleaning of the drains at junction of Grange Close (Alun Cairns has also written to VOG about this)
  4. The public footpath from Quarrymen’s tribute to track to Whitehall Farm

 

If you have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss with regards to our community, my contact details are: Telephone:07927 588924 or Email

regodfrey@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

 



 

Family Jubilee Treasure Hunt



FAMILY JUBILEE TREASURE HUNT

June – August


The Family Jubilee Community Treasure Hunt is based on items to be found and discovered within the Wenvoe community area. It consists of photographs and questions for your whole family to seek the answers as they wander around the community during the summer months.

The questions sheets will be available from the afternoon of Saturday 4th June at the Community Centre and additional sheets will be available from the library hub.

The closing date of the competition will be in August, so there is plenty of time during the up and coming wonderful sunny days to explore the local surroundings and complete your answers.

 



 

Preparing For The Platinum Jubliee

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP




THE TEAM PREPARE FOR THE PLATINUM JUBLIEE


The memorial soldier overseeing the planting up of flower beds in red, white and blue for the Jubilee.

Greenmoor Nursery in St Brides, Wentloog, gave us a huge discount and some free plants when he realised the work the team does and the quite unbelievable age of the personnel. Always a pleasure to go there; the plants are reasonable and in great condition.

We hope that you will enjoy this splash of colour to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

 



 

Burying A Time Capsule

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

 



BURYING A TIME CAPSULE

The Environment Team


The Environment Group will meet again on the 13th June and part of their work will involve burying a time capsule to celebrate the Jubilee. Team member Gareth ‘sing song’ will bring along some photographic plates of him performing at the palace, on the birth of Her Majesty.

 



 

Jubilee Bake And Donate Competition



PLATINUM JUBILEE BAKE AND DONATE COMPETITION

Saturday 4th June


Why not get your apron out and your chef’s thinking cap on and enter the Bake and Donate competition?

Bake any cake and/or biscuits you like and bring them to the small room in the Community Centre between 10.00am and 11.00am on Saturday 4th June. Last entries must be in and registered by 11.00am so that judging can commence at 11.00am. There will be jubilee themed prizes for the winning adult and child in both cake and biscuit categories. Children’s age group is up to school year 6 and adult category is school year 7 and above.

We have two seasoned bakers as judges – Candice Shibani and Sandra Jones.

All entries will be kept for visitors to the 50’s themed afternoon to sample and marvel at (hence the Bake and Donate title). Come on, have a go! Show us what you can do!

 



 

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