Wenvoe Library Book Appeal

Since our last report in What’s On there have been delays, mainly due to the holiday period, which have resulted in our timetable slipping. We now expect to take over provision of the library service in mid-July.

Volunteers are continuing to be at the library alongside the member of the Vale Council library staff. If you are using the library please remember that it is still wholly a Vale Council service and it will not become a full Community Library until all the legal formalities are completed.


 

FRIENDS OF WENVOE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
APPEAL FOR BOOKS

By the time you read this article the village library may have been transferred to the newly formed Wenvoe Community Library. Despite being given a start up lump sum by the Vale of Glamorgan Council the new library management will still need to raise funds to cover ongoing running costs.
Accordingly we have formed “The Friends of Wenvoe Library” for this purpose. Our initial activity is to run a second hand book sale several times a year. Our first day will be:

Saturday 3rd September 2016 from 10am to 1pm in the small room at the Community Centre.

Anyone who buys a book will become a friend of the library and will receive a free cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit. There is no entrance fee.
We need your support in two ways,

1. Please come and see if you can find a book you want
2. Whilst we have a small stock of books, we need more books.
If you have any books of any sort which you don’t want please let us know and we will collect them at your convenience.

WE NEED AS MANY BOOKS AS WE CAN COLLECT.

If you have collected any books for us but forgotten to call us, please bring along any donated books on the day.
Thank you for your support

Sylvia Harvey Tel: 02920592261
Mike Harvey Tel: 02920594329

IN THE ARENA

A Free Curry Night for Men!
Wenvoe Arms – 7.30pm Thursday July 21st

Blokes are invited for a curry and what’s better is Vale Village Church are going to pay for it! In The Arena is a chance to get together with your mates, meet new ones, eat food, have a drink and listen to an incredible speaker. Gerrit Bantjes is a brilliant communicator. He has been a paratrooper in the British Army and fitness coach to Cardiff Rugby Club, as well as being a loving husband and dad. But most importantly for this event, he brings not just compelling wisdom and stories – but also compassion and an understanding that whether we are young or old, single or married, fulfilled in life or desperate for change – we can gain practical help on our journey together.

Come along and hear his inspirational story. Tickets are free but book in advance so we can ensure there is enough curry and poppadoms!

Call Gary Smith or email him on gary@igniteme.org

Wallflowers

Sow wallflower seeds in the next few weeks ready for a display next spring. Wallflowers germinate readily if sown thinly into shallow drills in a wellprepared seed bed. Make sure the soil is moist just below the surface. You can expect the seedlings to show in a few weeks. If necessary irrigate the ground afterwards, taking care not to disturb the seedlings which you want to grow into stocky, wellbranched plants.

In October the young wallflowers will be ready to plant out where they are to flower. The “Persian Carpet” variety which I’ve grown several times is a mixture of warm shades and has full perfume. Recently a stunning photo of Bodnant Garden’s enormous laburnum tunnel appeared in some newspapers. Years ago most gardens boasted a laburnum but they’re not so popular these days. It may well be that we have become more aware that laburnum seeds are poisonous, although the best variety – Laburnum x watereri Vossii is almost sterile, so seeds are not produced.

Tomato Care.

Greenhouse tomato plants should be growing fast by now. If raised as single-stem cordons they will need supporting canes or twine. Tie the delicate young plants to their supports using soft jute string. When you pinch out any side shoots, take care not to bruise the stems. Feed with a general fertiliser such as Miracle Gro All Purpose until the first trusses begin to flower, then switch to a high potash feed such as Tomorite. Bush varieties are better for growing outside but don’t put out protected plants unless the weather is warm. Tomatoes can be killed by the lightest frost. 

Parish News

ST. MARY’S PARISH CHURCH NEWS

 

CHURCH HALL FOR SALE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

A recent special meeting of the PCC was convened to discuss how St. Mary’s church could be made to fit the changing nature of the church. How we use it for worship and to what other uses the building could accommodate church activities in the future. Over a hundred years ago, the building we use today was greatly changed, and has been a wonderful resource in the village for so many memorable events. The Church Hall or the Reading Room, as so many of the older village people will recall was originally set up by the Jenner family to help with the education of the men folk in the village. It was used in the evenings as a recreational room with a piano and games etc. Then gradually the building became known as the Church Hall and was eventually gifted to St Mary’s Church for our use. Over the years, much has been done to improve the building, including a disabled toilet and a new kitchen and heating system, but now it needs more work and under the guidance of Jon, our priest, it was felt that the time was ripe to sell the building for residential use and use the proceeds of the sale to build an extension to the west end of the church, where we could bring the “Pebbles “ group into the church. Other plans will include toilets, kitchen and a meeting room together with much needed accessible storage space within the tower. These are the plans for the future, and much discussion will take place before we see any definite plans of what is possible when considering any alternation to our 12th century listed building.

Messy Church turned out to Messy Sports in the grounds of the village school on Saturday July 2nd The weather was wet in the morning but cleared up in the afternoon when some 70 mums, dads and their children turned up to a programme of outdoor activities including a water game with plenty of water and liquid soap. The afternoon closed with hotdogs etc around the camp fire, prayers and singing. A great occasion, well planned and thanks go to all who organised this time of fun with parents and others who have the welfare and care of the children at heart.

The Church in Wales has recently produced a document called the Church in Wales Safeguarding Policy and this has been on the agenda of a recent PCC meeting. It was wholeheartedly adopted and Mrs Jen Ford is our safeguarding officer for the parish. This policy sets out the way forward to keep our young children, teenagers and all vulnerable people safe when faced with any abuse in their lives, and can only be commended for all who call themselves Christians.

The Parish Magazine is being relaunched as from September. Our present editor Mr Byron Williams feels it is time he gave up the responsibility of the quarterly magazine, so it has been decided that we take this opportunity to combine our magazine with the Parish of Sully. It will now become a monthly magazine and will be on sale in our two churches on the first Sunday of each month at a price of 50p per copy. This is another way of bringing the activities of all our parishes together so that we can be more aware of what is going on within our part of the Ministry Area. I have agreed to be the co-ordinator of the Wenvoe contribution and if we are to establish a meaningful Wenvoe connection I will need to have contributions from our different sections within St Mary’s and to publicise the events we are planning during the year. It remains the intention of the PCC to circularise the whole of the parish at Christmas and Easter, details of our services to celebrate these great events in the life of the church in Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s

The Scarecrow Festival is planned for the weekend of the 24th September, which will also be our Harvest Festival. Last year’s event was a great success with many amusing entries to be seen and judged. This year we want it to be bigger and better, so thinking caps on and bring your entry along, and join in the fun. It is not the winning but entering that matters. Good luck.

The Barn Dance planned for the Autumn has been postponed to the Spring of 2017 due to a number of reasons. However, we look forward to this fund raising family event, the proceeds being split between the fund for Romeo and St.Mary’s Building fund.

Lastly our “Pebbles Group” enjoyed a super picnic and sports at Porthkerry Park on Sunday the 17th July as they wrapped up a terrific year’s activities, Sunday by Sunday in term time. The group has seen a steady growth in Mums and Dads bringing their children to take part in craft activities featuring the gospel message for the day. Once again many thanks go to their organiser Mrs Alison Williams for the time she and her helpers put in to bring our children too knowledge of all the Bible stories and prayers and songs.

 

With every blessing     Parry Edwards

Gwenfo Primary School

We can’t believe that it is nearly half term… and how quickly the time is going! We have had a very busy first half summer term :

Year 4 thoroughly enjoyed their swimming sessions and all did very well indeed. Years 1, 3 and 5 have all led worship on a Friday morning; it is always such a special time for the children when their family members are invited to join us for their assemblies.

As part of Year 1 and 2’s Mini Zoo topic, 2 shepherds visited school, with their sheep! A wonderful time was had by all – and the children unanimously decided to adopt a sheep! It won’t be living in school (you will be glad to hear!) but nevertheless, close links will be established!

We were very proud of our netball teams for playing so well in the recent Irene Butcher netball tournament. A massive thank you must go to Mrs Plevey for the time she freely gives to coach netball and organise matches.

Years 2 to 6 have recently sat the national numeracy and literacy tests; we are extremely proud of the sensible and calm way in which they all approached the tests.

We enjoyed a wonderful assembly, led by our visitor, Steve Harris, in which the children were treated to a little magic as well. It is always fascinating to watch!

Before we know it, we will be back for the last half term, which promises to be busy, action packed and fun!