Month: April 2025

Christian Aid Is 80

CHRISTIAN AID IS 80

 

Christian Aid is 80 this year. It all started after World War II when people were coming to terms with losing loved ones or supporting those who were injured. The country was financially in a difficult position and rationing was still widespread. Even so, a group of people recognised the need of others, especially the millions around the world who were homeless and rootless. It was here that Christian Aid was born. In that first-year people raised £26,000, equivalent to 1 million pounds in today’s money.

Since then, Christian Aid has responded to many emergencies, and their work has expanded. The organisation works with partner agencies in many countries who share their values and aims, and gives help to all people regardless of age, faith, gender, nationality or race. Staff and volunteers at home and abroad have Hope. “We believe in the unstoppable power of Hope and that with Hope Change is possible”. Hope is central to this year’s challenge, describing achievements, needs, and ‘Hopes’ of people in rural communities in Guatemala.

In Central American Guatemala has the largest population of 17.6 million. It has an indigenous population of 43%. 55% live in poverty. 1 in 2 are malnourished. Human rights defenders are often criminalised.

Within a small community in the Alta Verapaz area, in the Northern Central Area of Guatemala we find Aurelia living in a community suffering from drought and land exploitation. The water hole nearby has dried up and they have to walk 3 miles there and back twice a day. What crops they managed to grow failed in such dry conditions. Congcoop a partner with Christian Aid has undertaken work with residents in the locality. It is here Aurelia gained ‘Hope’. She undertook various training including, knowledge and skills in agriculture working against climate change, chocolate making, and pricing and marketing skills to enable her to sell her goods. She shared this knowledge within her community and together they also learnt of solar hydration and water collection.

To raise money for similar projects during Christian Aid week (11th – 18th May.), we will be:

  • distributing donation envelopes
  • undertaking sponsored silences challenging adults, and children in Gwenvo school (look out for adults undertaking their ‘silences’ in the library on Monday 12th May)
  • leading the assembly in school explaining to the children what they are raising money for, and,
  • holding the annual ‘Cake, Cake, and Cake’ event in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May from 10.00am until 12.00 midday. Coffee/tea and cakes to eat or to purchase to take away.

 

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham

 

April Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

April Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

 

Wenvoe WI met for their monthly meeting on Thursday 3rd April. The speaker on that occasion was Mrs Brenda Webster – a professional piano accordionist. Brenda gave us a history of the accordion, which originated in France and Italy in the mid nineteenth century. The instrument underwent many modifications in both shape and function before the final production of today’s modern instrument. Brenda gave us a delightful demonstration and soon had us all singing along to her skilful playing.

The next meeting of Wenvoe WI will take place on Thursday 1st May, at 7.00pm in the Church Hall. This will be the annual AGM when we will welcome Mrs Claire Atherton our WI Advisor. Mrs Atherton will preside over the inauguration of the new Committee for 25/26, as well as conduct a ballot for the next President.

Mrs Janet Young has decided to step down from the role of President and Committee member, as also has Mrs Jean Woodman from the Committee. Both have served Wenvoe WI since the revival of our meetings after Covid.

There is a special date for the diary: on 1st May from 10.00am until 12 noon, Wenvoe WI is holding an open Coffee Morning. Entry charge is £3 to include a hot drink and a cake. There will be a tombola stall and a raffle. Much of the proceeds will be donated to Ty Hafan – our charity for this year. All are ensured of a warm welcome.

We wish all readers and villagers a Happy Easter.

Jan Young (President)

The National Trust

THE NATIONAL TRUST

Many readers of Wenvoe What’s On will be members of the National Trust, one of the great institutions of the United Kingdom, or they will know something about it. The National Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter, and Hardwicke Rawnsley. These visionaries sought to combat the rapid industrialization and urbanization that threatened Britain’s green spaces and historic sites. The founders believed in protecting areas of natural beauty and historic interest for future generations, a principle that remains at the core of the Trust’s work today.

The National Trust owns almost 250,000 hectares of land, 780 miles of coast, more than 200 historic houses, 41 castles and chapels, 47 industrial monuments and mills, the sites of factories and mines, 9 lighthouses, 56 villages, 39 public houses, and 25 medieval barns. The historic houses and castles are particularly worth visiting, and luckily, we have one of them near Wenvoe, Dyffryn Gardens. It is a pleasant cross-country walk from Wenvoe, going up Burdons Hill and across the golf course on the public footpath to reach Dyffryn Gardens where you can visit the café on arrival for refreshments. Or you can arrive by car with a picnic to enjoy the delightful gardens. There is limited access to the house on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is also a shop and second-hand bookshop.

All National Trust properties offer the chance to explore, many are open all year round and give a good opportunity for exercise, including ever-popular dog walking! Many visitors like to arrive at a National Trust property mid-morning to enjoy a coffee before touring the house and gardens. These properties invariably have a good café or restaurant offering a selection of fine homemade foods for lunch, and all proceeds go towards restoring the buildings.

We recently went to visit the last castle to be built in England, a National Trust property called Castle Drago which is 16 miles west of Exeter. It was built between 1910 and 1930 for the owner of the Home and Colonial stores. He had it built as a family home for his wife and three sons, but you have guessed it, by the time it was built his sons had left home. It looks modern and although built a hundred years ago it was one of the first private buildings to have central heating, a telephone exchange and its own electricity supply provided by a water-powered generator in the river below the castle. It is well worth a visit.

With over 5.7 million members and thousands of volunteers, the National Trust is one of the largest membership organizations in the UK. Its properties attract millions of visitors annually, offering educational programs, family-friendly activities, and community initiatives that help people connect with history and nature.

You must pay to visit the National Trust properties and as an example entry to Dyffryn Gardens will be £26 for a couple or £32 for a family with three children. If this seems steep compare it with the cost for two adults to visit Longleat which is £90. Members have free entry. Annual membership of the NT appeals particularly to retired couples who have more time. The cost is £160 for a joint adult membership, which may seem expensive but if you were to visit ten properties in a year it would work out at only £16 for each visit. The National Trust is a great organisation why not start with a visit to Dyffryn Gardens where spring flowers are in bloom.

 

March Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

March Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

Wenvoe WI met on Thursday 6th March at 7pm in the Church Hall. On this occasion the Speaker was Joyce Hoy, a resident of the village and a member of our WI.

Joyce had recently returned from Alaska and regaled us with details of her precarious journey, as well as sharing some beautiful slides of the wildlife she saw – most of which were quite different from the birds and animals resident in our shores and countryside. Also during her trip she experienced close up encounters with moose, wolves and bears.

Our meeting concluded with the usual business and a cuppa. Our next meeting will be on 3rd April at 7pm in the Church hall, when Mrs Brenda Webster will demonstrate and explain the intricacies of playing the piano accordion. Any visitors and potential new members are assured of a good welcome.

On Thursday 1st May Wenvoe WI intend to hold an open coffee morning. Entry will be £3, to include a cuppa and a slice of cake. A proportion of the proceeds will be donated to our Charity for this coming year – Ty Hafan.

Jan Young ( President)

March Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

  WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

March Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

Wenvoe WI met on Thursday 6th March at 7pm in the Church Hall. On this occasion the Speaker was Joyce Hoy, a resident of the village and a member of our WI.

Joyce had recently returned from Alaska and regaled us with details of her precarious journey, as well as sharing some beautiful slides of the wildlife she saw – most of which were quite different from the birds and animals resident in our shores and countryside. Also during her trip she experienced close up encounters with moose, wolves and bears.

Our meeting concluded with the usual business and a cuppa. Our next meeting will be on 3rd April at 7pm in the Church hall, when Mrs Brenda Webster will demonstrate and explain the intricacies of playing the piano accordion. Any visitors and potential new members are assured of a good welcome.

On Thursday 1st May Wenvoe WI intend to hold an open coffee morning. Entry will be £3, to include a cuppa and a slice of cake. A proportion of the proceeds will be donated to our Charity for this coming year – Ty Hafan.

Jan Young ( President)

Celebration of Wenvoe Scouting

 

Celebration of Wenvoe Scouting and Review of Last 12 Months
7pm Tuesday 1st April Wenvoe Community Centre

g https://www.scouts.org.uk/ or email me for a chat.

Waiting list contact

1stwenvoe.join@penarthanddistrict.org.uk

 

Community members, scout parents, family and carers are invited to join us in the Hall to learn more about the fun that our young people enjoy during meetings and activities. We have had a thriving group thanks to the adult volunteers, who support the group.

We do however need more volunteers both to work with the young people and to act as Trustees to support the group, overseeing the group’s governance and finance. Trustee meetings are once per term and last about 2 hours plus an AGM. Meetings last about 2 hours and are held in the evenings. Working with the youngsters is fun and is very rewarding. There is easy on-line training. Leaders training is mainly on-line and forms part of recognised Youth Training. Sadly due to increased other commitments our current Cub Leaders have to stand down and we will have to suspend Cubs after Easter until we have re-placements. Would you be prepared to try and help? Come and meet us and find out. More information on the website https://www.scouts.org.uk/ or contact me for a chat.

Barry Scout Fete Saturday 5 July. Save the date for this exciting event. We run a popular Smash the China Stall. If you have any crockery you wish to dispose of please let me know.

 

Jane Fenton-May

Chair 1st Wenvoe Scouts jfm@fenton-may.org

 

Lliw Reservoir & Nuppend, Alvington

Lliw Reservoir

After a longish drive, more of us than usual, arrived at the lower Lliw reservoir, and were happy to see a café. The café has a handy leaflet describing local footpaths and points of interest.

The reservoir was built in 1867, following an 1859 cholera epidemic which gripped Swansea. The advent of clean water halved mortality rates in two years and Swansea was declared the third healthiest town in the UK. Nearly 30 years later the Upper Lliw reservoir was built, as the lower reservoir had always leaked. After over 100 years, in 1979, the dam for the lower reservoir was completely rebuilt so that the two combined now supply water across South Wales.

We walked across the dam and alongside the western side of the lower reservoir on a good tarmac path. At the head of the reservoir where an otter sculpture enthralled us, we crossed the River Lliw to continue north along the river, still on a good track, to arrive eventually at the Upper reservoir.

At an abandoned quarry a kite soared out and over us, so majestic. We watched a while as it dipped and soared at speed, soon out of sight. A gate at the Upper Lliw had a mechanism which took 5 padlocks, each with its own security code and able to release the lock – clever. Interesting, Victorian, metal and stone structures decorate the Upper Lliw, and wind turbines provide a modern backdrop.

Now we crossed the Upper dam and headed out onto wide open upland commons via a woodland. Even though it was the end of winter, we were surprised and pleased to find it relatively dry underfoot, though the moorland looked more like a desert than grassland. We found the first frog spawn of the year, including some tadpoles, in a brackish puddle with reedy grass. We also found a stone which marked the Gower Way – a long way from the Gower we thought! But the Gower way has 50 of these marker stones and extends from Penlle’r Castell to Rhosilli – a 56Km route. Up here the views are extensive as there are no trees. We spread out as we walked at our individual speeds, coming back together when we found rocks beside a path providing an ideal lunch stop.

The return involved a steepish descent through brown bracken which the children amongst us seemed to thoroughly enjoy whilst some of us were more tentative. We met the Cwm Ysgiath walk covering the lower Lliw reservoir and south, returning via Felindre. Now we followed a small section of our outward journey before returning on the eastern side of the Lower Lliw reservoir.

Back at the car park we looked at pieces of metal which looked like giant bath plugs but are valves which controlled the flow of water to Swansea from the reservoir.

This was a super walk with good paths and quite wild in places; as well as kites we saw corvids, larks and a couple of grebes. Tea and ice-cream in the café finished it off nicely. [Walk 7.5m 850ft. MapOS165]

Nuppend, Alvington

At Alvington, between Chepstow and the Forest of Dean, in England, we walked through Nuppend. The footpath went through a field with several tractors. The driver nearest us said ‘if you wait a few minutes, I will create a path for you to walk across’ How nice was that? We were happy to cross the few ditches to access the flattened path that stretched right across the field.

At Beanhill a sward of grass was full of bright daisies and crocuses. On farmland we stopped for a brief conversation, crossed a stream to a road, then found a courier had delivered a parcel to the top of the drive – possibly a box of wine but we resisted any inclination to check!

As we entered woodland. the footpath was devastated by the removal of trees felled by storm Darragh and forest thinning prioritising broadleaved trees. The going was heavy, but persevering, we came to a high wall (a bridge?) which we realised was originally a dam. We descended to the stream and climbed to a ridge covered in rhododendron and laurel bushes. After struggling to find the footpath we dropped onto it and things became easier.

The walk passed through woodland with many sweet chestnuts. We saw a shed full of calves, a handsome white-faced ram with ewes and palomino horses. Snowdrops, primroses, yellow comfrey, comfrey and coltsfoot were all spotted. At one point a basketball hoop stood at the side of the road, the traffic here must be very light.

The return route passed places with strange names: Rough Raging, Hanging wood, Upper and Lower Bargain wood, West Hunger Hill. The day was rounded off with drinks in a local hostelry, [Walk 7m 1040ft. Map OL14]

The Life And Times Of Mr J C Meggitt – Part 2

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MR J C MEGGITT – Part 2

In Part I, we learned how the 28 year old John Claxton Meggitt came from Wolverhampton and established a thriving timber supply business in Barry. Initially this was to supply the timber needed for “false works” in the construction of the Barry Dock and Railway, and subsequently for the construction of the “boom town” that naturally ensued. They also engaged in the business of supplying pit props to the coal mines.

With his brother-in-law, his business became Meggitt and Jones, then subsequently Meggitt and Price. Meggitt was not only a successful business man, but he became very active in both his adopted community and nationally in many spheres of public life. Here are some of those activities:

  • Bristol Channel Timber Importers Association – President
  • Public Administration – Alderman, Glamorgan County Council
  • Barry Local Health Board – Member
  • Barry Urban District Council (Successor to the above) – Its first Chairman
  • Windsor Road Congregational Church, Barry – one of the founders and Superintendent of the Sunday School. Nationally, he was Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales in the late 1920s

 

In addition, together with his wife, he provided Barry’s first hospital, and if all of the above were not enough he was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Glamorgan for nearly 40 years!

As we have read in previous articles, J C Meggitt became quite wealthy from his involvement in the timber trade. At the age of 70 in 1928, he handed over day-to-day control of the company and set about travelling the world for the next decade. We are fortunate in having detailed accounts of his several voyages. He wrote these as a series of letters to the Western Mail which were subsequently published in booklet format. In these he records how he travelled by sea and rail (on the Tran Siberia railway) to visit and record his impressions of some 35 counties. In the 1931 volume he mentions that his travelling companion was Sir T P Thomas, in the other volumes no companion is mentioned.

Copies of these booklets were presented by Sue Culbertson to the Barry Library and are presently being digitized for posterity on the “Peoples’ Collection Wales” website. Ms Culbertson’s great aunt Doris Gooding (her maternal grandmother’s sister) was head housekeeper to the Meggitt family.

The octavo booklets are as follows:

  • “Impressions of a World Tour” – December 1930 to April 1931”
  • “Japan, Across Siberia, Russia and Germany” – 1935 (including impressions along the way of Yugoslavia; Suez Canal; Aden; Singapore, Ceylon; China and Hong Kong”.
  • “South America (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina), “Robinson Crusoe” Island (ie Juan Fernández Island), West Indies” – 1938”.
  • “South America, South Africa and the West Coast of Africa”– January to March 1939”.

 

As well as the “touristy” aspects of what he witnessed, being a businessman at heart, he delved deeply into, and commented on the commercial and political environs where he was to stay for any length of time. Thus, these booklets are full of insights into the local economy and the lives of the local populations.

I cannot hope to do any sort of justice to the overall scope of the content of the many places he visited, instead I will provide a few of examples of the topics he covered in depth to give you an insight.

In Australia and New Zealand (1931) he pondered on whether British car manufacturers should produce vehicles better suited to local conditions, and drunkenness and the control of drinking establishments.

In Cape Town (February 1939) he wondered whether the former German Colony of South West Africa should be returned to Germany (No, because of the abysmal treatment they had previously meted out to the indigenous population)

From Valparaiso in Chile (1938) he took an excursion of some 345miles to the Juan Fernandez Islands. It was here from 1704 to 1709 that the Scottish seaman Alexander Selkirk voluntarily exiled himself. Based on the experiences he narrated to Daniel Defoe the novel “Robinson Crusoe” was written in 1719.

The pictures were taken in Chile: at a fox farm and a local mode of transport.

This series will continue with further notes about South America and his impressions of China, Japan, the Tran Siberia railway, Poland and Germany in the mid 1930s together with events surrounding his 90th birthday in 1947.

Tony Hodge

 

Celebrate Easter with lamb in a different but very
easy way…….
Less time cooking and more time to enjoy

Lamb Pasta Melt

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tsp dried oregano

500g pack lamb mince

400g tin chopped tomatoes

140g pitted black olives

200g frozen spinach (about 7 cubes), defrosted

30g pack dill, thick stems removed, and leaves chopped

250g farfalle or preferred pasta shape

1 ball half-fat mozzarella, drained and finely torn

Method

  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 mins over a medium heat. Add in the oregano and lamb, turn the heat up to high and cook for a further 5 mins.
  • Stir in the chopped tomatoes, olives, spinach and dill. Season well and cook for 5 mins until the lamb is cooked through.
  • Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the farfalle for 10-12 mins, until tender. Drain.
  • Preheat the grill to medium-high. Stir the meat mixture into the drained pasta and spoon into a 1.5ltr ovenproof dish. Top with the mozzarella and cook under the preheated grill for 4-5 mins, until golden and bubbling.

Mini Egg Cheesecake

Mini Egg Cheesecake

This mini egg cheesecake is a no bake recipe, so dead simple but needs a few hours to set or ideally overnight in fridge.

Ingredients

For the base

250g/9oz chocolate digestive biscuits

80g/2¾oz unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for

greasing

For the filling

680g/1lb 8oz full-fat cream cheese, at room

temperature

90g/3¼oz icing sugar

1½ tsp vanilla bean paste or maple syrup is a good

substitute

320ml/11fl oz double cream

320g/11½oz sugar-coated chocolate mini eggs,

roughly chopped, plus extra to decorate.

Method

  1. To make the base, line the bottom of a 20cm/8in
    springform or loose-bottomed cake tin with baking
    paper and lightly grease the sides.
    2. Add the biscuits to a food processor and blend
    to a fine crumb texture. Alternatively, add them to a
    food bag, seal and bash with a rolling pin. Pour the biscuits into a bowl and stir in the melted butter.
  2. Tip the biscuit mixture into the tin and use the
    back of a spoon to press down firmly and evenly.
    Place the tin in the fridge to chill.
    4. To make the filling, place the cream cheese,
    icing sugar, vanilla and half of the double cream in a
    large bowl and beat until smooth and thick. Stir in
    the chopped chocolate eggs.
    5. In a separate bowl, whip the rest of the double
    cream until it forms stiff peaks. Fold this into the
    cream cheese mixture.
    6. Pour the filling into the tin and level the top.
    Leave to chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours or
    overnight.
    When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from
    the tin.
1 2 3