Month: May 2025

Brecon & Llanthony Priory

Brecon 

This was a delightful walk, we parked north of Brecon and took a footpath through the cathedral grounds. The mixed woodland (oak, beech, hazel and alder trees) of Priory Groves borders the river Honddu, and is about a mile long. Birds sang, the river tinkled, the scent of bluebells hung in the air and the sun shone through the branches as we strode along, heavenly.

We emerged into open farmland where the Pen y Fan range came into view dominating the skyline. Heifers showed interest in us and a local farmer drove towards us apparently to check that the two dogs were under control. Unsurprising, as the next field had a bull and cows with their calves. As we travelled northwest a few footpaths proved a challenge but the many spring lambs in varying shades were entertaining and the views fabulous. At the northernmost point of the walk a missing footbridge across the river Honddu forced us to retrace about 1 kilometre to take an alternative route. So, we stopped for lunch on the edge of a field trying to avoid nettles and thorns as we sat.

We took a road west until we were beside the iron age, Pen-y-crug fort, where we climbed a footpath to the top of the fort. We had superb 360o views of Pen y Fan and other hills of the Brecon Beacons and of Brecon lying to the south-east.

A wide grass path led us down into Brecon near Maen-du well. The dogs paddled in muddy water before a brief foray into a clear stream and the humans looked at the stone building around the well. An excellent day’s walking rounded off with a drink in the sunshine at the pub in Libanus.

Walk 7.25m 1125ft. Map OL12

Llanthony Priory

Another beautiful walk, this time in the Black mountains above Llanthony Priory. As we set off, we realised we were sharing the mountain with a few other people! Lots of cars were parked in a field, with a marquee, a police presence and a ‘Finish

Line’. Longtown Mountain Rescue were holding their annual fund raiser with 850 participants! As we climbed, we saw few people, as luckily, our route differed from the event.

Our surroundings were a pastoral idyll, with lush grass, trees in full leaf and ewes with their lambs. The climb was demanding, and we all took breaks to look at the tiny people and vehicles below and to gaze at the beautiful valleys and hills around us. The call of a cuckoo echoed up the valley and we were all reminded of days gone by when we regularly heard it. The Mountain Rescue helicopter flew up and down the Ewyas valley doing circuits until it eventually landed in a field near the priory just as we reached the ridge of the mountain and Offa’s Dyke path.

We were doing our route anticlockwise, and the event participants were going in the opposite direction. We reckoned they were walking further than us and gave way whenever necessary. There was a feeling of spaciousness along the ridge as the Black Mountains spread away from us. This area is spectacularly beautiful, and we enjoyed superb views with a light breeze and sunshine all day long.

As we turned to start our descent, we looked for a moment at the cairn where we had laid a stone in memory of a fellow walker. It was lunchtime and we took ourselves a good distance off the main path to relax. Everyone started to divert off the path towards us, obviously assuming we were part of the event, even though there was no visible path. One woman asked, ‘Is that real?’ referring to a white horse that was stood stationary behind us, staring at the people. Perhaps she was from Milton Keynes?

Hang gliders took off from the mountain opposite and rode the thermals to come over Offa’s Dyke. We joked that maybe they could give us a lift down the mountain. Now we had a steep descent, the path was clear as bracken had been cut back. Stone markers pointed us to Capel y Ffin as we descended and hawthorn trees heavy with white blossom dotted the hillside, but I had to keep my eye on the path or risk vertigo.

Arriving at the road that runs along the Vale of Ewyas we discovered that the road to Capel y Ffin was closed to all but walkers due to a landslide. We headed towards Llanthony enjoying the warm afternoon and the beauty of the valley.

Jams were inevitable as Llanthony traffic met other vehicles on the narrow road, but we had a cunning plan and headed for the Crown at Pantygelli where the refreshments were excellent.

Walk 7.3m 1300ft. Map OL13

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

Wenvoe Wildlife Group

An Incredibly Successful Plant Sale

After an incredibly successful Plant Sale run by Glenys and Mike Tucker, the Group benefited from a donation of £2,132. Our thanks to all who supported the event, bought raffle tickets or plants and other produce, donated takings from their tables or just had a cup of tea. This helps to ensure we have sufficient funds to purchase benches, plant trees, refurbish noticeboards and sponsor youth workshops and school projects. We are most grateful.

Most people will have heard that vandals burned down the noticeboard/bee hotel on the Community Orchard. We shall be replacing it, but this will take a few months of planning and design. Meanwhile we shall be installing a smaller noticeboard near the planters, thanks to Martin Thomas.

Green Flag judging took place in May, and the judge was shown round by Sue Hoddell and Nicola Harmer. Fingers crossed for a good result.

The second Junior Wildlife Workshop takes place on 8th June. These tend to be heavily oversubscribed but a third will be planned for August.

If you are walking around the Orchid field meadow you might notice that a small area has been cleared of bracken. Please help us by stamping on and pulling any bracken you see at the side of the path. Even better come and help our small team next month. Thank you.

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid Week

 

Sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference: every year, people in Wales and all around the UK come up with all kinds of fundraising activities to support Christian Aid. The appeal gives us seven days to make a difference to people in the most vul-nerable countries around the world.

Our global neighbours are also amazing at transform-ing their lives. This is Aline’s story. Aline Nibogora is 35 and lives in Burundi. She was married young and when she was 14, she gave birth to the first of her six children. Her husband was violent and beat her regularly – one day it got so bad, she fled.

“He would often jeer that he would kill me and bury me without anyone knowing,” Aline said.

Forced to leave her children behind, Aline wandered the streets trying to stay close by, asking anyone for a place to sleep.

“Those who showed me kindness would let me stay for two or three days, but it was difficult,” she ex-plained. “People would insult me and treat me with contempt. They forgot I was a human being. It filled me with sorrow.”

In a patriarchal society where men dominate in al-most every aspect, life is particularly challenging for women. They’ve been conditioned to be dependent on and dominated by men. But Aline found the strength and determination to push back against the injustices she was facing. Every gift, every action helps transforms lives; sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference. Aline went to a three-day community workshop where Christian Aid-funded trainers taught people about village savings and loans associations.

“I came out of it with amazing knowledge and skills. During the training, I stayed focussed and was deter-mined to not miss out on anything at all. I really liked the teachers’ methodology; they restored in me a sense of hope and energy to take on initiatives. From then on, I started working hard, so I would not be dependent on anyone.”

With a small start-up loan, Aline began trading avo-cados and peanuts locally; then used her profits to buy a bicycle to transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield. She is now a grocery whole-saler; she’s been reunited with three of her sons and lives on her own plot of land in a village in Kayogo-ro, in Makamba Province. She is planning to expand the business and is building a home for her family – she hopes she’ll one day have all her children with her.

“I bought some solar panels,” Aline added. “We now have electricity and the children are able to see to do their homework in the evenings. It’s true there’s a shortage of food at the moment, so there’s no lack of problems, but I’m doing what I can to get by, before we are able to harvest. I enjoy spending time with my children, who are my favourite people in the world”.

Aline is also now the chairperson of her own village savings and loan association and has helped 25 other families. She finds it important to be able to give

back and train others for the further development of the community as well as her country. Aline says the support of Christian Aid has made the whole commu-nity feel comforted and empowered. They feel they are not alone in their initiatives. Without your support we could not go further,

“You empowered us by changing our living condi-tions. Before, we couldn’t see opportunities around us. Now we can see positive and significant changes in our lives”.

This Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe

This year in Wenvoe we are busy planning money raising activities to continue to support the work of Christian Aid. We invite you to take part and to en-joy the week with us.

Our activities include:

  • Distributing ‘Delivery Only envelopes’ throughout the village giving details of how you can contribute to the appeal
  • On Wednesday 15th Assembly at Gwenfo school
  • On Wednesday 15th a ‘Clothes Swap’ (girls and women only) from 7pm at Alison’s home at 52 Wal-ston Road, where you can take pre loved items of clothing to donate or swap with others. No charge, but donations welcomed! Fizz and nibbles included!
  • On Friday 17th Big Brekkie and non-uniform Day at Gwenfo school
  • On Saturday 18th ‘Cake, Cake and More Cake’: in the Church Hall, Port Road from 10 – 12 30. No charge for refreshments, but donations welcomed, and, there will be a cake stall for take aways from one slice to whole cakes!

 

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham:

 

Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe – 12-18 May 2024.

 

Tucker’s Ve80 Wartime Plant Sale

TUCKER’S VE80 WARTIME PLANT SALE

On Saturday 10th May we held the Tucker’s VE80 plant sale in and around the Church Hall. Whenever we hold a sale there is always a worry that attendance will be low or the weather won’t be good. We are always well supported by our community, but this time you blew us away! The sun came out and so did all of you. We were so pleased to see you all and were especially pleased to see so many in wartime costume. The total raised for Wenvoe Wildlife Group now stands at £2,122. This was raised from the sale of the plants (many of which were so kindly donated), the raffle, Gareth’s pre-owned garden and sports equipment table, the wildlife table, wartime food, profit from the cakes, takings for drinks, the silent auction for the Spitfire in Flight painting and from Joyce Hoy’s succulents and cacti sales.

Heartfelt thanks go to everyone who donated a raffle prize, to Phyllis, Pam and Sian who donated some wartime food items for sale to add to mine, to everyone who donated equipment and plants, to all our fabulous volunteers who make it all possible, to Brenda for her fabulous accordion playing, to our wonderful ‘spiv’ Tony and last, but certainly not least, to all of you. Mike and I are so very grateful to you all.

 

Happy Mayday

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

HAPPY MAYDAY

This time of year does seem to be a time for looking forward. Spring, in this part of the world, is definitely here; the trees are well greened up , plants poking their heads up and I am pleased to say the hops in my garden have started their vigorous growth and are looking good and worth a photo even if you can’t see the bright green leaves and dramatic red stalks. It’s a time of year when most days I go out and “persuade” them to wind themselves around the hop twine so that they grow where I want them to, not where they want to go. Fortunately, once they’ve got the idea it’s not a daily task. Sian tells me we now have 17 hop growers in the village signed up to giving their hops to make the beer known as Taff Temptress; the 2024 brew was exceptionally fine. So here we are again looking forward.

In the Islands of Britain, Mayday or Calan Mai or Beltane was the marking of life becoming a little easier for a while. The cows for example were turned out to graze with less work for the farmer. It is a time of traditional celebrations, many of which are now sadly disappearing. You may still come across a Morris Side, who dance in the dawn of Mayday, beer in hand, if you happen to be up and about at 5am! More seldom still do you come across a May Queen or children dancing round the maypole on a sunny afternoon. However as old traditions fade new ones arise and we look forward to the Tuckers Plant Sale. This year it’s a special VE day celebration marking 80 years since Victory in Europe and the thankful celebrations and hope for a peaceful future.

It has always been the Wenvoe Forum’s ambition to get the community to think about the future and the impact that each of our actions has on the future. We have been involved in a few initiatives that have tried to get people thinking and we have supported others to take positive action and run a few small projects and activities ourselves. What we have been less successful in is drawing new members and new voices into the forum. We hope to address that now with a new little project “Wenvoe Wonderings” (or maybe we’ll find a better name). This is to be a podcast of Wenvoe voices. The idea is to hear from people of all sorts chatting about matters of interest or importance to them. One of the farmers might talk about the changes they have seen over the last 30 years and the plans for future change. A recently arrived family might talk about the difficulties of starting a new school. Longstanding residents who no longer live in the village might let us know what they feel they have lost and gained from moving elsewhere. Each podcast would be 20-25 minutes.

If you would like to help with creating the PodCast, learn about informal interviewing, recording and editing sound files, and especially if you already have those skills, please let us know e.mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com. OR if you have something you would like to say to everyone else in the village then similarly, please e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you

To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the GwenFo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwen-fo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join

The Life And Times Of Mr J C Meggitt – Part 3

Articles of Interest

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MR J C MEGGITT – Part 3

In Parts 1 and 2 we read about John Claxton Meggitt’s timber trading business and his retirement at the age of 70 after which he undertook numerous world travels during which he visited over 35 countries. He recorded his “Impressions” of these and of the people he encountered along the way in a number of “letters” to the Western Mail that were subsequently published in hardback booklet format. Here are more summaries of some of those impressions.

Shanghai (1935) Over several days he was accompanied by expatriate missionaries and a former acquaintance from Barry, Leslie Pardoe, who with his wife had lived there for more than 20 years and worked as the head of the local Highways Department (he was the son of J C Pardoe who was the first surveyor to Barry UDC). In his report he wrote that he “passed through many miles of native streets and surroundings of all kinds, and was also brought into close contact with other aspects of life in the city”

To say the least, he was not impressed with what he witnessed “How I wish I could speak enthusiastically about these three million people in Shanghai” He describes the deplorable overcrowding, the utter filth in housing and shops and the high prevalence of disease and degradation. “It is one of the open sores of the Far East”.

Japan (1935) From the squalor of Shanghai he cruised to Japan, which gave him pleasure and delight. “A most charming place for a good long holiday”. He noted, somewhat at variance to what we now know, that the country’s principal industry is the manufacture of silk!

Trans Siberia Railway (1935). Every Monday morning the “train-de-luxe” would depart from Vladivostok to commence an almost 3500 mile journey “across one of the coldest, bleakest, and most neglected countries in the world” to terminate in Moscow. He travelled in a “most excellent train” and describes the luxuries therein. Such contrasts with his descriptions of ordinary trains: crowded with “peasants”; seats of bare wood; devoid of any type of comforts; held up in sidings as the deluxe trains passed. Did the ordinary people not think “all of that was at variance with the Communistic theories advocated throughout Russia?”

Poland and Germany (1935). He continued his train journeys for another 1500 miles from Moscow through Poland and Germany, and ultimately back to Britain. At that time, Poland had only been re-established as a nation since the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Of Poland, he writes “There seemed to be a brightness and cheerfulness of disposition that was absent in Russia” and he found nothing that was other than delightful. A stark contrast with Russia. “I formed the opinion (of Poland) …….. will have a great future … and prove to be a steadying influence in Europe”.

 

The 1935 journal concludes with his impressions of the prominent people (one of whom he was personally acquainted with – Herr Hitler) he met whilst spending three days in Berlin. They came over as being resentful about the treatment that was meted out to them after 1919, the loss of their armed services, the loss of parts of Germany to neighbouring countries, the loss of their colonies. The list went on. He wrote that he did not hesitate to tell those he met that Germany “had a bad record …. being the most warlike nation in Europe”. He remonstrated with them about the events of 30th June 1934 “The Night of the Long Knives” “when, under the leadership of Herr Hitler, up to 80 leading statesmen and civilians …… were shot in cold blood”. He was informed that he didn’t understand the difficulties that Germany faced.

“The persistent persecutions of the Jews (nor the attitude to the Christian Church) was not forgotten in our discussions. Everyone to whom I spoke protested that Germany wanted peace … on an equal status with other nations”. Nothing less was acceptable. In conclusion, he pondered: “who can tell whether Germany intends to take her revenge on France? It is not possible to remain many hours in Berlin without being aware that efforts are being made to strengthen her position”.

South America and West Indies (1938) This 20,000 mile round tour was undertaken onboard the SS Reina del Pacifico down the east coast of South America, around Cape Horn to return along the west coast, through the Panama Canal and the West Indies. His deviation to Robinson Crusoe Island was written about in Part 2.

South America, South & West Africa (1939) Yet another escape from the northern hemisphere winter aboard the SS Viceroy of India. He travelled to Tristan da Cunha (dreary, desolate, lonesome), St Helena (the best known of all the solitary islands), Cape Town (the greatest thrill of all the cruise, totally unexpected and in no way rehearsed), Rio de Janeiro (attractiveness beyond praise … palatial public buildings, open spaces, many miles of views of inlets of the ocean, the mountains, the foliage and the ever commanding presence of the statue of Christ the Redeemer can only be inadequately described)

On October 4th 1948, the Western Mail published a tribute to mark his 90th birthday which was celebrated with a family party. “As straight as a guardsman, though a little hesitant owing to failing sight, Mr Meggitt, now the doyen of Cardiff businessmen, is physically well and mentally alert, but a confidant prevailed upon him to cancel a sea reservation to New Zealand”. That article concluded with tributes to his many years of public and church service.

Research on ancestry.com reveals that he died on 18th April 1950; his life was truly well lived.

Tony Hodge

“Frank and Red ” by Matt Coyne

OFF THE SHELF

“Frank and Red ” by Matt Coyne

Our book club absolutely loved ‘Frank and Red’! It quickly became a favourite for many of us – with one member even saying it’s now one of their all-time top reads. We were all swept up by the imagination and humour that runs through the story and touched by its emotional depth.

The book is a heart-warming, often laugh-out-loud tale of an unlikely friendship between grumpy, reclusive Frank and kind-hearted young Red. Red is such a beautifully drawn character—curious, caring, and completely unforgettable. His warmth shines through and helps draw out empathy and change in everyone around him. Watching the characters slowly develop and open up was one of the most rewarding parts of the read.

We loved how the story made us both laugh and cry. It’s rare to find a book that delivers such humour while also tugging at the heartstrings. One member said: “It was one of the best books I’ve ever read – I’m recommending it to everyone!”

While a few of us found the ending a little far-fetched, it didn’t take away from the overall magic and joy of the book. It left us feeling uplifted, hopeful, and grateful for the small connections that can make a big difference.

A touching, funny, and imaginative story about empathy, friendship, and finding light in unexpected places. A solid 9/10 from our group – and one we’ll be recommending for a long time!

May Church News

 

May Church News

Greetings from the congregation of St. Mary’s, eager to welcome new faces to join them in worship at 9.30am on Sunday morning. Gone are the days when we could number the faithful for three services on Sundays, with extra chairs placed out in the aisle for the Sung Eucharist service. The earlier service at 8.00am also had a strong attendance and to cap it all Evensong at 6.00pm with the adult church choir was a meaningful end to the day. Many things have contributed to a decline in attendance numbers over the years. Despite all that has gone before, St. Mary’s door is still open, the bells ring out the call to worship, a welcome is given to all, and the church looks better now, than it has for many a year.

In recent weeks we had the church building and grounds inspected for the “Quinquennial” inspection. This takes place roughly every five years by a qualified architect to examine and report on any defects found within the structure which needs remedial action. This work maintains the building fit for purpose and takes into account any health and safety issues discovered. This responsibility is for the church council and officers under the direction of the Parish Priest, to ensure that our insurers are content that all is well and maintained to the highest standards for an ancient building to function safely. In addition the heating system, the lighting system, the lightning conductor and the church clock have to be checked to make sure that the building in our care is handed on for future generations to worship in. The raising of money to fund the maintenance is reliant on fund raising, (weekly or monthly giving, the 200 Club donations and legacies) and it is a constant battle to cover the everyday expenses, and our church treasurer does a superb job in keeping us in the “black” . so we appreciate any help to keep us solvent.

This Eastertide at St. Mary’s, we had ceremonies for Palm Sunday with a procession into the church from the church hall complete with donkey (two. in fact. called Vest and Knickers), kindly brought by Emily and Mathew from Vishwell Farm. This was the beginning of Holy Week and led up to the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day. These days are the most important and meaningful days of the Christian Year, and there would be no church without the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Alleluia Christ is Risen, Yea He is Risen indeed.

Easter Sunday – the day of Resurrection. A full church awaited the arrival of the new light, kindled at an earlier service at St Lythans for the lighting of the PASCAL candle at St. Mary’s. Sitting in the darkened church with the Spring sunshine streaming through the stained-glass windows, glowing like so many jewels, heightened the expectation of Resurrection of light coming into a dark world. With the candle placed on its stand in the chancel, the church lights blazed on and the organ played the great Easter hymn “Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia”. The service included a renewal of our

Baptism vows with a sprinkling of water from the font, much to the amusement of the younger members of the congregation. So, we go forward into the 50 days of Easter in the company of the risen Jesus, renewed and empowered to carrying his teaching to all who will listen, bringing the truth of His presence in the world…..Alleluia, alleluia Christ is risen.

Support for the Vale Food Bank continues with weekly collections from the items left in the church porch. In addition, the donations of chocolate Easter Eggs was most welcome, plus the cash given in place of food items is always well received by the Food Bank staff to purchase groceries to cover any shortfall. Thank you for the contributions, and to Jude and Nigel who work so hard to get the offerings to Barry.

We will be supporting the Christian Aid Appeal events (see page 5) including Cake, Cake and More Cake. We hope to see you all on Saturday 17th May at the Church Hall from 10.00am-12.00 midday.

St. Mary’s Church is joining in the Commemoration of VE80 Day. During the morning service on Sunday 4th May there will be suitable prayers and a period of silent meditation in thanksgiving for the longest period of peace in the country while acknowledging the great sacrifice made by so many in the armed forces and the civilian population during the conflict.

Every blessing to all who read the church news.

Parry Edwards

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