Month: December 2025

Report from the Hub December 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

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

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

Report from the Hub

December 2025

OPENING HOURS

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

Christmas Opening Hours: The Library will be closed on Wednesday 24 December. Reopening on Monday 5 January.

Cuppa with a Coppa – date to be advised.

New Books

Crime: Love Kills by David Jackson. A seriously creepy thriller.

Romance: A Nurse’s Secret by Donna Douglas. A heartbreaking story of love and forgiveness set in London’s East End in 1940.

Non-Fiction: The Graces by Breeze Barrington: The extraordinary untold lives of women at the Restoration Court.

Children’s: My Encyclopaedia of Very Important Animals. For little animal lovers who want to know everything.

Talk in the Hub

Investigating the Infestation,

Dr Cathryn Harvey

Friday 19 December, at 7.00pm

Discover the hidden enemy threatening HMS Victory. Deathwatch beetles – tiny insects with a chilling name are gnawing their way through Lord Nelson’s famous warship.

Cathryn reveals the science, history, and myths of these destructive creatures. Why are they so dangerous? How did they get their sinister reputation? And what is being done to protect one of Britain’s greatest naval icons?

Come along for a fascinating evening of history, science, and creepy crawlies!

Trip to the Hay Book Festival , May 2026

Get ready for our favourite outing of the year – a day trip to the world-famous Hay Festival of Literature & Ideas!

Join us for a day surrounded by books, creativity and conversation in the beautiful border town of Hay-on-Wye. Whether you love meeting your favourite authors, browsing the bookshops or simply soaking up the festival buzz with friends, this promises to be a fantastic day out.

Date to be confirmed (May 2026) – we’ll share details as soon as the Festival programme is released. Bus tickets around £30.00. Festival talks and events: once we confirm our travel date you will be able to book and pay for your chosen speakers and sessions online directly through the Hay Festival website.

Expressing your interest with us now gives you priority when seats are released – don’t miss out. To register your interest, please email us on: wenvoelibrary@outlook.com Let’s make this a memorable Hub adventure – books, laughter and a great day out with friends.

Get On Board at the Hub

Do you enjoy a bit of friendly competition, strategy, and plenty of laughs along the way? Join us at 1:30pm on Tuesday afternoons for Rummikub – the numbers tile game that mixes luck, quick thinking, and clever strategy or Scrabble – the timeless word game where a good vocabulary (and a touch of luck with the letters!) can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or a complete beginner, this is a chance to meet others, sharpen your skills, and simply enjoy some relaxed time together over a cuppa.

On behalf of the Volunteers and Management Team, we wish you Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year.

 

Top Of The Christmas Pops!

IT’S NUMBER ONE – IT’S TOP OF THE CHRISTMAS POPS!

By the time What’s On readers read this article Christmas music will have been everywhere for months. Many people will already be fed up with hearing Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, Lonely this Christmas by Mud, Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney and Queen’s Thank God its Christmas plus numerous others being continuously piped out of shop speakers. Some of you may love them in which case it’s probably not worth you reading further!! But go on….you may discover a few new faves for your Christmas playlist. I am going to share with readers some less well-known Christmas songs that you may want to explore as an antidote to the tried, possibly tired and tested Christmas ditties. But first a quick summary.

The Christmas chart number one has always been and continues to be a big event. In the 69 years the charts have been compiled you may be surprised to know that the word Christmas has only been in the title of the number one song 8 times. (9 if you include the word Xmas) The first time it was Dickie Valentine with his Christmas Alphabet in 1955 then Mud and Shakin Stevens. Five of the eight number ones were Band Aid (three times) and Wham the last two years with Last Christmas. It had taken Wham 39 years to get this song to Number one.

The first download number one was Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine after a fan led campaign to revive a 1992 single. Ladbaby hold the record for the most Christmas number ones five times from 2018 to 2022 although one, Sausage Rolls for Everyone, featured Ed Sheeran and Elton John. Whether you loved, hated or never heard their hits the good news is they donated all the profits to the Trussell Trust who oversee foodbanks throughout the country.

Has there been any Welsh involvement in Christmas Number ones I hear you ask? Well yes there has! There was Tom Jones in 1966 with The Green Green Grass of Home, Dave Edmunds with I Hear You Knocking in 1970 and 1985 when Shaky hit the top spot. That’s it as far as individual artists are concerned but Spencer Davis as part of the Spencer Davis group achieved the top spot with Keep on Runnin’ in 1965 followed in 1983 by Only You sung by the Flying Pickets whose lead singer Brian Hibbard was from Ebbw Vale. Of course, if you want to include John Peel’s festive 50 voted on by his listeners, Melys hit number one with Chinese Whispers in 2001.

Since our daughters were born over 40 years ago, the most played record has been an LP called Christmas Songs & Carols for Little Children by the Sunbury Junior Singers of the Salvation Army conducted by Joy Webb. Joy Webb was, and I am going off at a tangent here, a founding member of the Joy Strings who in the 1960’s had two minor hits in the charts with It’s an Open Secret and A Starry Night. All their performances had them dressed in Sally Army gear. The aforementioned LP has been played in our house each Christmas, admittedly sometimes only once!

So here are a few album ideas for an alternative Christmas sound track. I am forgetting Now’s The Christmas Album which has all the popular hits. The main contender has to be A Christmas Gift for You produced by Phil Spector. Amazing tracks by the Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love and the wonderfully titled Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. They rattle through some standards with that famous Wall of Sound. Bob B sings The Bells of St Mary. Quite appropriate for us here in Wenvoe don’t you think! The album was overlooked, as on the eve of its release President Kennedy was assassinated.

One of my favourite LPs is the Waterson’s Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy which includes Martin Carthy who this year at the age of 84 was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. The album cover states the record reminds “us of what we’ve lost since the flood of Victorian hymnals notably Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861) pushed out so many notable traditional melodies.” I appreciate unaccompanied singing is not everyone’s taste but give it a try!

I am going to pass over Elvis’ many attempts at Christmas songs LPs which are not to my taste. One album that is not in Jude’s fave list, although she is a big Bob Dylan fan, is his Christmas in the Heart album. She had the CD in her stocking one year and having played the first two tracks shouted out “that can go in the bin.” Santa was so upset! Sssh it’s still on our shelves!

Space is short, so here are a few other individual song suggestions – Steve Earle’s Christmas in Washington sung by Joan Baez, The Leisure Society’s The Last of the Melting Snow, Donovan’s Little Tin Soldier (what’s Christmas without a tin soldier and a ballerina falling in love!) and St Etienne’s I was born on Christmas Day.

My favourite Christmas song is Bing Crosby’s White Ch……. Only joking! My fave is a controversial choice and could result in my ostracisation (if that’s a word) from the village. IT IS, deep breath, the B side of John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) which is Yoko Ono’s Listen the Snow is Falling. Give it a listen! Happy Christmas pop pickers!!

Nigel Billingham

 

Feeling Festively Creative

Feeling festively creative? Why not try some easy edible Christmas gifts to give to family and friends.

Coconut Ice Squares

Ingredients

397g/14oz tin condensed milk

325g/11½oz icing sugar, sifted

350g/12oz desiccated coconut

pink food colouring paste

Method

  1. Line the base and sides of a 20cm/8in square baking tin with baking paper.
  2. Combine the condensed milk and icing sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Add the desiccated coconut and mix again until thoroughly combined. Weigh the mixture and divide in half. Spoon one half into the prepared tin and spread level using the back of a spoon. Press into a smooth, even layer.
  3. Add a tiny amount of pink food colouring paste to the remaining mixture in the bowl and mix again until evenly coloured. Press this pink mixture over the white coconut ice in a smooth layer. Cover and leave to firm up overnight.
  4. The next day, turn the mixture out onto a chopping board and cut into 40 small squares

Microwave Bourbon Biscuit Fudge

Ingredients

397g tin condensed milk

500g/1lb 2oz white chocolate, broken into pieces

20 bourbon cream biscuits, broken into pieces

Method

  1. Line a 20cm/8in square cake tin with a sheet of baking paper.
  2. Tip the condensed milk into a large microwavable bowl. Add the chocolate and microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring every minute until smooth.
  3. Stir in most of the broken biscuits then tip into the tin, levelling off with the back of a spoon. Crumble the remaining biscuits over the top.
  4. Leave to cool, then cover and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours; cut into 36 small cubes.

 

Ginger Chocolate Oat Bars

Ingredients

100g/3½oz butter

100g/3½oz jumbo oats

100g/3½oz rolled oats

450g/1lb dark chocolate, (72%)

150ml/5fl oz double cream

150g/5½oz dried cranberries

150g/5½oz dried cherries

150g/5½oz crystallised ginger, chopped

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a pan. Add both types of oats and cook for three minutes. Transfer to an oven dish that will fit in your fridge.
  2. Place a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Add the chocolate and cream to the bowl and leave to melt for 15 minutes without stirring. 3. Add the cranberries, cherries and ginger to the oats and stir.
  3. When the chocolate has fully melted, give it a little stir and then pour over the oats and fruit. Fold the chocolate in using a spoon and then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. When set, break into pieces by hand and serve.

 

Popcorn Bars

Ingredients

200g/7oz dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids),

broken into pieces

50g/1¾oz puffed rice cereal

40g/1½oz salted popcorn

50g/1¾oz dried cranberries, halved

50g/1¾oz large marshmallows, quartered

Method

  1. Line a 20cm/8in square baking tin with two layers of cling film.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.
  3. Put the rice cereal, popcorn, cranberries and marshmallows into a bowl and mix well.
  4. While the chocolate is still warm, quickly pour it onto the cereal mixture and stir with a spatula until everything is coated.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the lined baking tin and press down well. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to set for a minimum of 2 hours.

Turn out onto a board and cut into 20 squares

Christmas Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

250ml/9fl oz whipping cream
225g/8oz dark chocolate
55g/2oz unsalted butter, cubed and left to soften
unsweetened cocoa powder, to dust

Method

1. Chop the chocolate roughly. Pulse in the food
processor until it’s the consistency of
breadcrumbs.
2. Boil the cream. Turn on the food processor again
and pour the cream very slowly onto the
chocolate. It is a bit like making mayonnaise and
you should soon have a perfectly smooth
emulsion. If the mixture does split, process for a
couple more minutes and it usually does the trick.
Add the butter, bit by bit and beat until it has
been incorporated. Pour the mixture into a bowl
or tray and leave to cool for about 15 minutes in
the fridge. When it has set to the consistency of
butter icing, it is ready to be piped or spooned
into truffle sized bits.
3. Cool for at least two hours, then finish by rolling
in cocoa powder, coconut or chopped toasted
nuts.

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Chosen By ‘Help the Aged’

The team had a special task today, cleaning around the memorial in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. We were chosen by Help the Aged to try and include some folk who find mixing difficult. Mr Williams (in the tabard) was felt most welcome, along with his carer, Dr Martins (yellow coat). All went swimmingly until a vehicle went past a little too fast. This resulted in Mr Williams chasing it as far as the pub to berate the driver. The carer said that his patient had been knocked over so many times it had left him a foot shorter and with a dislike of thoughtless motorists.

Team elder, Ieuan, will be laying a wreath on behalf of our group. Being a young lad at the outbreak of WWII, he has many memories of the shenanigans that went on in Wenvoe at that time and with a bit of persuasion could even give a talk on this. There may be lawyers involved if some of the families descendants are still around.

This band of good folk will meet on the 8th December to swap our prescriptions. It’s loads better than exchanging presents, as you never know what you’re going to get.

Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas, especially those who help us home after our meetings.

The Horse Was Absolutely Terrified

The Horse Was Absolutely Terrified

It seems that Bonfire night passed without any major incidents but 2 nights later a private party set off fireworks with a very loud bang less than 100m from a horse in his nearby field. The horse was absolutely terrified and went into flight mode. Of all the animals, horses are particularly sensitive, and their natural instinct is to flee. Not even the most desensitised and well-trained horse can always suppress that instinct. Herding the horse into his stable helped but he remained very distressed.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is working with a coalition of 18 organisations, to raise awareness of the impact of loud fireworks and is running a petition to the Government to reduce their maximum permitted noise level from 120db to 90db. The petition has reached well over the 100,000 signatures and will be considered for parliamentary debate. However the more signatures there are, the more likely it will be debated. Please add your signature to that petition at www.redwings.co.uk/fireworks and please consider animals whenever you choose to ignite fireworks.

New Wenvoe Author To Inspire Young Readers

NEW WENVOE AUTHOR TO INSPIRE YOUNG READERS

My name is Belinda Batey, I live in Wenvoe and I am a newly published author of children’s books, who is passionate about encouraging imagination and a love for reading among young learners.

I have recently gifted copies of my published children’s books, to Wenvoe Library and Gwenfo School, to support our children and local community.

These books are written to spark creativity, kindness, and curiosity in children, and I hope they will bring joy to your readers and our community alike.

The book titles are as follows:

The Tale of Charlie Corn Cob (age 3-10)

Ted and his Penny Farthing (age 3-10)

Mummy where’s my Dummy (age 3-5)

Scarlet the Snail and her Magic Home (age 3-10)

More detail about all of these books can been found on Amazon.

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