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Many thanks to everyone who supported the Shine Night Walk for Cancer Research. This took place in Cardiff on 7th October, when people met at Cardiff Castle to begin the 10k charity walk.
Rhian, Linda, Shirley, Kath, friends and family completed the walk in memory of Melissa Davis. A coffee morning was also held with family, friends and neighbours. This all helped to raise a total of £3,120 which is amazing.
Also thank you to all of Melissa’s friends and colleagues at RWP’s Bridgend centre who supported her throughout her illness and her family afterwards. Another thank you to all of Mark’s friends and colleagues at his firm, Brakes Ltd Bridgend, who helped Mark and Rhian throughout, and still support them. Both companies have been amazing. Thank you all for doing so much, it is all appreciated and thank you once again.
Marilyn, Terry Ankin and Family,
Tarrws Close
Julie, David, Lauren and children would like to thank everybody who attended Mike’s funeral. The support from friends and neighbours meant so much at this very difficult time. All the wonderful flowers and cards showed how much Mike was respected.
Many thanks,
Julie Lawrence
THURSDAY WALKERS
Thursday 15th December
Thursday 15th December. A walk around Cardiff Bay. About 6 miles. Please note that this is a morning start so that we can have a light lunch/cake at a coffee shop. Meet at the Village Hall at 10.00am. This is a chance for us to share a longer time for Christmas greetings and refreshments. Transport can be shared. Many thanks, Bert. Tel: 029 20594418
All are welcome but you participate at your own risk.
“The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield
What a lively discussion about this tale!
Synopsis
Everybody has a story.
Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once home to the March family. Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield’s past and its mysterious connection to the writer Vida Winter. Vida’s history is a tale of ghosts, governesses and gothic strangeness.
Fascinating, manipulative Isabelle; brutal, dangerous Charlie and the wild untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline.
What has Angelfield been hiding? What is the secret that strikes at the heart of Margaret’s own troubled life? And can both women ever confront the ghosts that haunt them?
Our Review
Well! Here are some of the comments in our discussion, we agreed that we would remember it was Halloween and that it was a FAIRY STORY.
Disturbing story beautifully told. Bizarre and unbelievable. Feat of construction of a huge cast of characters. Well crafted and descriptive. Didn’t enjoy. Love her writing. Descriptive and drew you in. Compelling with a fascinating twist. And so the debate went on ……
This is an example of the beauty of the language for me:
“Bones?” said Miss Winter. She was paper-white and there was an ocean in her eyes, vast enough to drown all my fury.
“Oh”, she said.
Oh. What richness of vibration a single syllable can contain. Fear. Despair, Sorrow and resignation. Relief of a dark, unconsoling kind. And grief, deep and ancient”.
Our score was a resounding 8. I think that can stand as a recommendation so how about giving The Thirteenth Tale a go and let The Page Turners know what you think.
Sylvia Harvey
VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP
Memorial Area Clean Up
The team were rained off on the Monday but reconvened on Thursday to get the memorial area cleaned up for Remembrance Sunday. This was made easier by the Vale road-sweeper with a considerate driver who accepted some Bara Brith that Glenys had made for Gareth ‘Sing Song’s’ birthday.
The seven troopers did a fine job, albeit under shop steward Big John’s disgust that all annual leave was cancelled for 2023. While working, news came through that Martin had been stabbed. Further investigation found that it was just a flu injection. The ‘Get Well’ card was cancelled!
The team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The group meet on the second Monday of the month and would welcome any additions. It’s worth coming along to meet some of the characters that you would read about in Mr Men books.
Next meeting will be at the Community Centre at 9.30am on Monday 12th December
LIVING WITH CANCERSTROLLERS
Spirits were not dampened by the autumn rainfall at Cosmeston; the colourful trees and lake views would brighten anyone’s day. The living with cancer strollers chatted happily as they made their way around puddles. Hot drinks for all at the end of the walk…not an ice cream in sight!
THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES
LLANILLTUD FAWR / LLANTWIT MAJOR
The name Llanilltud is made up of two elements – ‘llan’ and ‘Illtud’ (‘Illtyd’). The first element is an old Celtic word, which I will discuss in detail at a later date. Suffice to say at this stage that the meaning is ‘church’. The second element is the name of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. Illtud was a 5th/6th Century saint who established his monastery in this location. Holy men came to this early centre of learning from all over Britain and Europe to study and it is said that the Patron Saint of Wales, Dewi Sant himself studied there. So Llanilltud means ‘the church of Illtud’. The second word ‘Fawr’ is the mutated form of the adjective ‘mawr’ which conveys ‘large, big, major’ depending on the context. This adjective is used as part of the place-name to reflect its importance as a major centre of learning – or early university!
In English the Welsh name ‘Llanilltud’ has mutated to ‘Llantwit’. But how in the world could that happen? Down the centuries, in documents and manuscripts, the name of the saint has been written as Iltut, Iltuit, Yltwyt and so on. As far back as 1100 the name of the monastery appears as Llanitut, Llanntwyt, Llanulltut and many other versions, depending on the spelling abilities of the scribes! In 1431 the first two letters of the saint’s name seem to have been dropped and versions such as Lantwyt, Lantwytt, and Lantwit appear. So this explains the aberration (in my mind, at least!) ‘Llantwit’. The second word ‘major’ is explained above.
Y RHWS / RHOOSE
This name is very easily explained. ‘Rhws’ is derived from the Welsh noun ‘rhos’ meaning ‘moorland’ or ‘heathland’. Because it is a common noun, it is preceded by the definite article ‘y’ (the) in Welsh.
The English name ‘Rhoose’ is merely the Anglicized spelling of the Welsh name.
SAIN TATHAN / ST ATHAN
The name refers to the church of Saint Tathan – which is mistakenly written as ‘St Athan’ in English. In Welsh place-names, the word ‘saint’ is conveyed in various ways – ‘Sant, San, Sain’. In the case of Sain Tathan we see that ‘Sain’ is used.
PEN-MARC / PENMARK
The name Pen-Marc obviously consists of two elements. ‘Pen’ means ‘head, top, summit, end’ in Welsh – depending on the context. In this case it refers to the headland – the bluff overlooking the river Weycock – which is the location of the village. The second element ‘marc’ probably derives from the word ‘march’, meaning ‘stallion’ – though the final ‘h’ has been lost. It is not certain to what the stallion’s head refers – possibly to the shape of the headland – or to the location of various rituals or ceremonies involving a stallion’s head – or to something else long forgotten.
The English spelling uses a ‘k’ to convey the sound
of the final consonant. There is no ‘k’ in the Welsh alphabet – it is not required – because, unlike in English – the consonant ‘c’ is always hard. In English of course, it can be hard – as in ‘car’ or soft – as in ‘ceiling’. The rule seems to be – to make sure, use ‘k’ or even, in places, ‘ck’!
Next month: Llwyneliddon / St Lythan’s, Twynyrodyn, Llancarfan, Tresimwn / Bonvilston, Aberddawan / Aberthaw, Trebefered / Boverton.
Ann M. Jones
