Month: July 2025

What’s On Volunteers Wanted

What’s On VOLUNTEERS WANTED

To join the What’s On magazine team. 

 

Wenvoe What’s On has been published since 1988, with the aim of providing information, news, and entertainment for the people of Wenvoe. Contributions come from a number of people in the village, but we would like to have more. About 600 copies are printed and distributed each month by a network of volunteers. Costs are covered by advertising.

We need help from people with various skills:

  • Desktop publishing
  • Layout design
  • Proof reading
  • Distribution
  • Advertising
  • Finance
  • General information technology
  • and last, but not least, enthusiasm and team working.

This kind of volunteering is well suited to those doing Duke of Edinburgh, or Welsh Baccalaureate, as well as those of us who have a bit more time on our hands.

If you are interested in joining us, or just finding out what we do, please contact Dickon Oliver (07979 474 809) or Annie Bennett (07754 072826). Alternatively write to wenvoewhatson@gmail.com.

Thursday Walkers Celebration

 

THURSDAY WALKERS

– CELEBRATION –

Wenvoe walking group began about 30 years ago when Doreen Searchfield and Mary Rees said, in the Wenvoe Arms upper room, that they would like to walk around the village but didn’t know where to go. Bert Bates and John Custance took up the challenge and started local walks.

The monthly Thursday walks and longer Saturday walks then become the norm. Bert and Gwyn Bates, John and Jacky Custance and Ian Moody were the main organisers.

Following Bert’s recent decision to hang up his Thursday afternoon boots, current and past Thursday walkers assembled at the Wenvoe Arms upper room once more to say ‘Thank you’ for all the chat, walks and fun.

Thanks to Joyce for organising the evening, Jenny at the Wenvoe Arms for supplying a delicious hot and cold buffet, all the walkers for the friendship and stories, and of course, Bert and Gwyn for all the happy memories.

 

Where To Rock This August

WHERE TO ROCK THIS AUGUST

…..and some interesting stuff about the artists hitting the capital this month.

We are fortunate to live near a city that frequently hosts the biggest names in rock and pop music. 2024 saw the likes of Taylor Swift and the mighty Bruce Springsteen. This year the city has among others, already welcomed Stevie Wonder, the Stereophonics, Sting and Oasis. However, the fun is far from over. Tom Jones can be seen twice at Cooper’s Field on 20th August and then at Cardiff Castle on 21st August. But who else is rocking the city?

Will Smith, the celebrated Hollywood star known for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Men in Black, is performing in his other guise of noted rapper Live at Bute Park on Monday 25th August. The show is supported by disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

Will is known for being able to solve Rubik’s Cube in less than one minute, a feat he performed in one of his movies. In 2005 he achieved a Guinness World Record for attending three red carpet events in Manchester, Birmingham and London in just 12 hours. The first hip-hop star to be nominated for an Oscar, he was then famously banned from them for 10 years, after slapping comic Chris Rock at the ceremony in 2022.

 Catfish and the Bottlemen, the Welsh indie rock band from Llandudno, announced their first big stadium show for 1st August at the Principality Stadium. Hugely successful since 2016, that year they won ‘British Break Through Act’ at the Brits and their 2nd album ‘Ride’ reached Number 1 in the UK album charts.

The band’s name originates from lead vocalist Van McCann’s earliest musical memory: an Australian street busker he encountered in Sydney, known as Catfish the Bottleman. The busker earned the nickname “Catfish” due to his distinctive, spiky beard and ‘Bottleman’ because he played beer bottles strung to a wire.

 Midge Ure’s ‘Live Under the Stars’ show is at the Tiger Yard, Cardiff Bay on 16th August. Ure is known for his success in 70s and 80s bands such as Thin Lizzy, Visage, and Ultravox. Most famously, in 1984 he co-wrote and produced the Band Aid charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ Selling 3.7 million copies, it became the second biggest selling single in UK chart history. Ure who co-organised the Band Aid and Live Aid events with Bob Geldof also serves as an ambassador for Save the Children.

Ure’s stage name, Midge, (real name James) is a phonetic reversal of Jim. When he was presented with the OBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2005, Ure wore a black kilt with matching black shirt, jacket, socks and a silver tie, to pick up his honour. ‘The Queen said something about it. I can’t remember what, but I think it was a gracious comment rather than ‘What on earth are you wearing.’

 Basement Jaxx are Live at Cardiff Castle on Sunday, 24 August. The English electronic music duo, consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, emerged in the underground house scene of the mid-1990s. They have had international chart success and won Best Dance Act at both the 2002 and 2004 BRIT Awards.

In the past, Buxton’s father did not let him watch Top of the Pops and played his children Austrian and Japanese music instead. ‘He was always very proud that we didn’t watch Top of the Pops. He thought that made me hungry and want it more’ he said.

 

July Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,

Gary, Carl and Leanne Davies and family would
like to thank all friends and family for their
magnificent support, messages and cards since the
passing of our beautiful, loving, caring and
thoughtful wife and mother, Nichola Davies. Nichola
was our world and meant everything to us and was
loved by so many people, especially for her
wonderful smile.
Thank you also to all who helped with the
‘celebration of her life’ on May the 22nd and to the
many, many friends and family who attended on the
day and made it a very special day. RIP my
wonderful wife.

 

ELY CORRIES SKITTLE TEAM

I really enjoyed Nigel’s article in the June
edition – Talkin’ about 1960s Vinyl Records. I’ve
never been knowledgeable about music myself but
do recall spending my allowance or early earnings
on singles and even an LP or two. The line that
brought back memories for me was this: “You didn’t
like every track, but you knew sooner or later
something would come up you liked.”
In this age of digital playlists and “skip”
capabilities (much easier than lifting the needle and
looking for the next groove), I sometimes forget the
value of listening to something that is not to my taste
and practising the patience, and hope, for something
I will like. Thank you, Nigel, for the memories and
the reminder.


Chris Hutchison-Hounsell

Summer Sunshine?

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

Summer Sunshine?

 

Summer sunshine? There was no sun anywhere to be seen in the sky above Cosmeston for the latest stroll. Instead, heavy rain poured down for the entire walk.

To lift the spirits, plenty of orchids were to be spotted in the fields. Well done to the hardy walkers who braved the conditions.

Thanks to Jan and Lynda for stepping in to lead.

 

Wenvoe’s Favourite Tree

Wenvoe’s Favourite Tree

Regular sightings of one or more Polecats on the wildlife cameras near the village has now confirmed that we have an established population of this rare and elusive mammal. It was once heavily persecuted and was on the verge of extinction. They were declared as vermin during Elizabeth I’s reign and the word was used to describe a vagabond.

By 1915 it was just hanging on in mid Wales and some border counties. However, it is now protected by law and making a comeback but there were only 896 confirmed sightings for the whole of the UK during 2024. Interestingly, there are no records in the last 5 years for Cardiff and Wenvoe – until now!! Most will be familiar with ferrets, but these are the domesticated version of the Polecat.

Polecats have a long history in mythology and folklore. Associated with the God Dionysus of wine, fertility and revelry fame but also the Norse Goddess Freya representing love, fertility and beauty and often depicted alongside her. They were valued by farmers and villagers for their pest control abilities, keeping down populations of rats and mice but also for their fur which was particularly warm and durable. Great to know that not only do we have a species coming back from the brink, but they can be really useful to us in helping to control our rodent population.

Operating For Over 50 Years

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

The Playgroup has been operating from the Village Hall for over 50 Years. We are registered both as a Charity and with Care Inspectorate Wales to care for 30 Children at any one-time from the age of 2 years. We open from 9am until 1pm Monday to Friday and on Wednesday and Thursday we offer care until 3:15pm. Wrap around care for those attending Gwenfo Nursery School

We collect nursery age children from the Early Risers breakfast club at 08:50am and bring them across to Playgroup. We then take children across to afternoon nursery class for 1pm where they attend until 3:30pm. This allows care from 07:50am until 3:30pm Monday to Friday. Great for working families.

We collect children daily at 11:20am from Gwenfo Nursery and on into our lunch club until 1pm. On Wednesday and Thursday children may stay until 3:15pm. Ideal for those working part-time!

30 Hour Funded Childcare Offer Children from Cardiff and The Vale are benefitting from this offer. 12.5 hours are used for LEA Nursery and 17.5 hours per week can be allocated to time with us here at Playgroup. This offer is for children the term after their 3rd Birthday. To find out more, please visit our website:

www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

Tax Free Childcare: We accept payment via the Government’s Tax Free Childcare. Currently, many families use this method to pay fees for all ages, or use alongside the 30 Hour Childcare Offer to top up extra hours and/or transition fees. Families set up a Tax-Free Childcare account and for example; every £8 the family pay in; Welsh Government pay in £2. For further information go to www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare.

Further information can be found on our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk along with photos of our group in the gallery.

Our Statement of purpose and Admissions Policy & Procedure can be found in ‘DOCUMENTS’ on our website, which may be useful for times and prices. However; if you want to know more, please email or phone. All contacts are on our website.

Should you wish to be added to our list for 2025 or 2026 please email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com.

We are holding an open morning on Wednesday 3rd September, from 09:15am to 11:15am. Please come along and view our group. We look forward to meeting you

We would like to thank all those who volunteer to keep the Playgroup operating successfully and wish you all a lovely summer break. We close on Friday 18th July, until our open morning on Wednesday 3rd September

 

Report from the Hub July 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Report from the Hub

July 2025

JULY 2025 IN OUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY / HUB

NEW OPENING HOURS

We are now open Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-day 10 am – 4 pm and Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.

Winners of Spring Raffle were D Hooper (ticket no. 55) and J Vaughan (ticket no. 27)

New Books

Wild Seed by Octavia E Butler

It begins when two immortals meet in an African forest.

Southern Man by Greg Iles

A music festival turns into a mass shooting in Mississippi,

Final Traitor by Andy McDermott

The mission comes first – you are a desirable asset. Betrayal is punished by death.

Bees and Honey by Steve Merishall and Rachel de Thoniple

A practical guide to caring for bees and using honey.

Summer Reading Challenge 2025

The Hub is launching the Summer Reading Challenge as it has done each summer. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the summer holidays, ensuring they are ready for a great start to the new term in the autumn. Children set a reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy. Children can sign up at the Wenvoe Hub from 10th July and it’s FREE to take part.

All Primary School and Nursery children are invited to take up the Challenge.

This year’s Challenge is called Story Garden, and it is all about inspiring children to explore the connection between storytelling and nature.

From nature spotting to outdoor activities there is something for everyone. The children will be encouraged to create their own Story Garden from what they see in the natural world around them.

The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge will be launched in the Wenvoe Hub on Thursday 10th July; the day the school has their visit. Each child signs up to read at least 6 books over the summer holiday. They can be anything they enjoy: comic books, picture books, nonfiction and fiction. After every two books read, there is a reward and then by the end of the summer holidays a special certificate and a med-al. There are 3 rewards to collect and then finally the medal if six books have been read.

Last year our children did well. Sixty-eight from Nursery right through to Year 6 in Primary School, signed up and of these, at least fifty read at least two books. Seventeen children completed the challenge

and a further six were Super Readers. These were children who read more than six books. They received a special reward to celebrate their achievement. Let’s hope we can do even better this year. So, let’s get Reading!

Review – Buzzing with Knowledge: A Brilliant Talk Wraps Up the Season of Talks at the Hub

Our latest season of Talks at the Hub ended on a real high, thanks to an utterly fascinating session from Professor Robert Pickard. With wit, warmth, and a deep wealth of knowledge, he captivated our audience with The Wonderful Thing about Bees.

Professor Pickard, Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology at Cardiff University and President of both the Cardiff Beekeepers Association and the UK Central Association of Beekeepers, brought the world of honeybees to life with insights drawn from his own research and that of others.

We discovered that bees have been buzzing around for over 120 million years, evolving alongside flowering plants. Even more surprisingly, they share round 60% of their DNA with humans. It was mind-blowing to learn that MRI scans have even been taken of bee brains to understand how these tiny creatures process information and further medical research.

Among the many nuggets of knowledge that we absorbed:

  • Bees can’t see red, but they do see ultraviolet, allowing them to detect dazzling petal patterns invisible to us
  • Bees make collective decisions when swarming—scouting, dancing, debating, and reaching a consensus in a process that resembles political caucusing.
  • They can even be taught tricks—and, amazingly, some are believed to keep pet flies to clean their mandibles!

 

Professor Pickard also shed light on lesser known facts: the use of tiny “skirts” for queen bees to pre-vent egg laying to control disease, and their exceptional sense of smell, enabling them to identify flowers by scent alone. We also heard about the famous waggle dance, translated by Nobel Prize winner Karl von Frisch, and how modern researchers have developed bee robots to replicate the dance to communicate with real bees.

It wasn’t just science—it was storytelling at its finest, leaving us all buzzing with new appreciation for our winged friends. Bees, it turns out, aren’t just brilliant pollinators. They’re complex, intelligent, and endlessly fascinating.

Heulwen Davies

 

 

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