Tag: Latest Posts – July

New posts for July 2019

York Minster Tour Guide

 

Everyone was welcomed to our June meeting by President Madeleine.

On this occasion our speaker was Mike Stillings. Mike has been a tour guide at York Minster for eight years. York Minster dates back to the fourth century and is one of the largest cathedrals of its type in England and Northern Europe. Henry VIII’s religious revolution was to have a great impact and the people of York felt the impact more than most. Mike told us some very interesting facts and stories about the connection between York Minster and Henry VIII. The talk was accompanied by some wonderful slides – some were of some beautiful stained glass windows. Mike mentioned and told us about the Bell Founders Window and the Tree of Jesse Window. The Tree of Jesse Window is a fourteenth century window in the Nave at York Minster. We all thoroughly enjoyed the presentation that Mike had given us.

After refreshments we moved on to WI business. Final plans were made for our Charity Tea on Friday, 14th June at Wenvoe Community Centre from 3-5pm. Names were collected for various events in the near future including The Link Meeting at Dinas Powis on Monday, 24th June and the trip to Radyr Garden Centre on Monday, 22nd July at 10.30am, returning at 2.30pm from Radyr.

Next month’s meeting is to be held on Thursday, 4th July at Wenvoe Church Hall at 7pm when Viv Truran will be telling us about her “Humorous Holiday Stories”. Visitors can be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

 

 

Cofiwch Dryweryn. Please.

Since the vandalism of the ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ mural near Aberystwyth earlier this year, I’ve noticed ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ signs reminiscent of the original appearing all over Wales – and all over the world, too. It feels like a nation coming together and showing that even if you try to silence us, we will continue to tell our story so that history won’t repeat itself.

But what’s the importance of ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’?

‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ means ‘Remember Tryweryn’ in Welsh and is in reference to the drowning of the Welsh village Capel Celyn (the valley was Cwm Tryweryn) in 1965.

During the mid-1950s, it was announced by the Liverpool Daily Post that they intended to flood the village of Capel Celyn in order to use it as a reservoir for Liverpool. The 67 Welsh-speakers living in the village of Capel Celyn were blindsided by the news and were stripped of their choice to save their village.

The Capel Celyn Defence Committee was set up, in addition to the Liverpool branch of the Tryweryn Defence Committee. On November 7th, 1956 the Committee sent representatives, including the president of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans, to address Liverpool City Council. The three were escorted from the chamber, and Gwynfor Evans was shouted down. They were fighting for a chance to save their village, because an English city deemed many in Wales becoming homeless as a reasonable sacrifice for their water. The only thing is, Liverpool wasn’t the place having to make the sacrifice.

Capel Celyn wasn’t the first time Liverpool had decided they could use Wales to their disposal. Eighty years prior to the drowning of Capel Celyn, Liverpool had used Llanddwyn as a reservoir, later becoming Llyn Llanddwyn as it is today.

In January 1957, Liverpool began its attempts through the parliamentary system. Obtaining authority through an Act of Parliament meant Liverpool City Council managed to avoid the need for consent from Welsh planning authorities. Wales were silenced and refused the right to argue to save Capel Celyn. Wales wouldn’t earn a Senedd for decades, and the lack of devolution in 1957 meant Parliament in England could do what they wanted to Wales. 36 MPs alone were in Parliament on behalf of Wales, but their numbers were too low, and their opposition seemed futile.

Eight years after the fight had begun, the residents of Capel Celyn were forced out as the flooding drew near. Alun Ffred Jones, who was 15 at the time of the flooding said of the opening ceremony for Llyn Celyn, “These people had drowned this village and driven people from their homes, and they were suddenly arriving to have a tea party”. The displeasure shown by the residents of Capel Celyn at the time has been consistent since the drowning in 1965.

The drowning of Capel Celyn is unforgettable because it was almost reminiscent of the treatment by the Welsh people under English rule centuries earlier. By working around giving Wales the opportunity to fight the drowning in any legal way, Liverpool twisted Wales’ arm behind its back and made it obey. The Welsh were second-class citizens following the betrayal of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282, and the ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ mural is so honoured because it reminds Wales that history can repeat itself unless we find a way of fighting back.

The continuous vandalization of the ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ mural has incredibly backfired, with many flocking to the site quickly to repaint and later rebuild the wall. A wall behind the original site has since been painted ‘fe godwn ni eto’ (‘we will rise again’). Dozens of ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ murals have been appearing all over the world. Through Wales, some in England, even in America and Spain. The resilience of the Welsh people is sensational, and it will forever make me proud to call Cymru my home. ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ is a symbol that Wales won’t lie back and accept oppression.

The drowning of the Tryweryn valley in 1965 sparked so much anger throughout Wales that it aided in the revolution and evolution of the Welsh language, to a point where Cardiff Council is now being urged to only open Welsh language schools in the years to come. The fact that Wales was so easily stepped upon caused a want for more power in Wales, and today devolution is an ever-changing improvement in Wales, with powers slowly but surely moving back to where they belong – the Welsh people’s grasps.

‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ isn’t meant to be a middle-finger to every English person, it’s meant to be a symbol of power to the Welsh people. To remember that we deserve more than the insult that occurred with Capel Celyn. To remember that a fair democracy should mean that Wales earns a voice within Britain, and that next time it’s not overlooked.

Cofiwch Dryweryn. Please.

By Tirion Davies

Eggs Benedict

2 large or beef tomatoes, sliced horizontally

1tsp white wine vinegar

4 large eggs

2 seeded bagels, sliced in half

4 good slices of good quality roast ham

4 heaped tbsp. hollandaise sauce

50g rocket

Heat the grill to high, season the cut sides of the tomatoes and grill for 3 – 4 mins. keep warm. To poach the eggs, bring a deep pan of water to the boil, add the vinegar. Crack one egg, carefully into a ramekin or teacup, don’t break the yoke. Turn the heat down a little, swirl the water to create a whirlpool and gently pour the egg into the centre of the whirlpool to create a round shape. cook for 2 – 3 mins then remove with a slotted spoon to a warm plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs. Meanwhile, toast the bagels and top each with a slice of ham. When all the eggs are done, add a tomato to each bagel, a poached egg and a spoonful of hollandaise sauce. serve with a handful of rocket on top.

NOTE; If you have an egg poaching pan use that instead, but it’s not the same rustic look.

 

 

Wild Mushroom Tartlets

Wild Mushroom Tartlets

375g block of all butter puff pastry

flour for dusting

25g butter

300g mixed wild mushrooms or just one type, cleaned and sliced

25g parmesan, finely grated

small handful of parsley leaves, chopped

2 med garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 egg beaten

Roll the pastry out on a floured surface and cut 4 rectangles about 15cm x 10cm. Leave to chill on a lined baking tray in the fridge. Heat the oven 180C. Heat a large frying until hot, add the butter and fry the mushrooms for about 5 mins until there is no liquid left in the pan. [DON’T BURN THE BUTTER], keep moving the mushrooms around. Season, then take pan off the heat and mix the parmesan, parsley and garlic with the mushrooms. Score a 1cm border around the edge of each pastry base, then spoon the mixture into each tartlet. Brush the edge with the beaten egg, then bake for about 20 mins until puffed up and golden. Serve while hot from the oven.

 

 

 

June School News

 

As always, time seems to be flying! At the time of writing, we now have only 4 and a half weeks left until the Summer break!

Our Christian value this half term is: RESPECT Show Respect to Everyone 1 Peter 2:17

Our pupils have been engaging in some wonderful activities; Year 6, accompanied by Miss Starke, Mrs Gordon and Mrs Briscombe, enjoyed a super day at the Hay Book Festival.

The Reception class have thoroughly enjoyed their Music and Movement sessions on a Thursday afternoon and Year 5 have worked so well together as a team to complete physical challenges – during Forces Fitness Sessions.

Several of our pupils enjoyed celebrating Eid with their families and told us, in such excellent detail, about the lovely experiences they had enjoyed.

We celebrated our own Gwenfo Book Day last Friday (14th June); the children were able to come into school as a favourite character or in their pyjamas. It was truly lovely to observe the older and younger children sharing books and stories together.

Due to the inclement weather, our sports day had to be postponed; we are now keeping our fingers crossed that the sun will shine on our reserve date of July 1st!

You will probably have noticed that we are having building work done in school; this is to complete our complement of super Foundation Phase classrooms. The plan is that it will be completed in time for when the children return to school in September!

Our netballers are currently “on tour” in Kent. They are playing at two different venues and we send them all our good wishes. Thanks really must go to Mrs Plevey and family, Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Morris for giving so freely and generously of their time in accompanying the team.

Year 6 are currently having cycling proficiency sessions and Year 4, swimming lessons. Swimming lessons are undertaken in a fortnightly block.

So as we head into our final few weeks of term, we will be very busy, including with transition activities and hopefully, enjoying some lovely sunshine too!

 

 

All About The Wenvoe Playgroup

Wenvoe Playgroup started back in 1969 here at the Village Hall in Wenvoe.

In 1974/5 Playgroup moved for a short time to the Cricket Pavilion (no longer standing) whilst the hall was re-built by local residents. The New Village Hall as it stands today was designed and built with Playgroup very much in mind.

Again in 1996 when the roof slid on the Village Hall (due to the lack of bracing to hold the roof trusses) the hall was immediately closed and deemed unsafe. Whilst the Management Committee of the hall were fundraising for coffers and seeking grants to fix the roof, the Playgroup moved to the Church Hall.

Over the years the Village Hall has been known for many celebrations and various classes; however its one main purpose for the last 50 years has been ‘The Home of Playgroup’

We are thrilled that over the years, many residents who care about the community we live in, have come together to support and keep the Playgroup open successfully for a remarkable 50 years, WOW!

Many Parents past and present have contributed to Playgroup’s success with their fundraising efforts and serving on the Management Committee whom we would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to. However, as Parents come and go over the years, there is a set of Parents who came and stayed behind the scenes. A BIG THANK YOU must go to Lisa and Darren who have been friends of Playgroup for many years, supporting silently in the background. Lisa supporting annual raffles, fayres and fundraising events, and Darren who volunteers to manage our website, putting up with late night emails to change documents at short notice. We (especially me) are grateful to you for all your help throughout the years and we hope that Playgroup will be around for another 50 years (however, I don’t think I will be).

My History:- The Village Hall has been a big part of my life, with 25 years to date spent on The Management Committee of the hall. In 2008 the Playgroup was under threat of closure, and without the rent for the hall, my thought was that we would lose the hall. Fearing losing our Village Hall to become a block of flats or houses, I came to run the Playgroup with a future vision of wrap around care. Although the School was unable to obtain a Nursery (as the Vale said they had no money) as soon as the new housing development was underway, a friend mentioned the S106 payments and I supported the previous Head Teacher of Gwenfo School to request that a Nursery be built. Obviously, Playgroup numbers fell dramatically, back to similar numbers that we had back in 2008. After 5 years of love of, and the generous support from everyone at Playgroup (and friends and residents), we are now thriving once more. My plan took 11 years to come to fruition and I would like to thank all those who believed in me. I have completed everything I set out to do as a Registered Leader and now it’s the feeling of what’s next.

Big thanks to the staff, friends, parents and everyone around me who supported my vision and helped achieve it. I couldn’t have done it without your love and support. When people ask me if I enjoy my job, my answer is always,’ it’s not a job, it’s a way of life.’

From this year 2019, Wenvoe Playgroup is changing its structure and will be known as Wenvoe Playgroup CIO. Again, moving with the times to make the Playgroup stronger and hopefully continue for many years to come.

I am now no longer the Registered Person; I am now proud to be part of a fantastic team to a vision I once had. Onwards and Upwards.

Love and thanks to everyone who has supported me in my venture

Sandra xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

The Playgroup is fully booked for the morning sessions from September this year until July 2020. However, we do have a few afternoon spaces left and pick up for lunch from Gwenfo Nursery School.

I would recommend if you are thinking of joining us from September 2020 to email us and put your Child’s name on the waiting list as we expect to go from strength to strength.

Also, if you wish to add to our waiting list, if someone changes their mind in the coming school year, again email us and we can keep you up-to-date.

At this time, we are looking to support Gwenfo School with Breakfast Club for reception age children. Breakfast club is for children aged 2 years and 4 months to age 4 years and 11 months at this time. However, hopefully from September it will be available for those up to 5 years inclusive. Breakfast club for reception will cost £5 per morning available Monday to Friday 8 am with transition onto Gwenfo Reception for 8:50am. Spaces will be limited.

Contact us on 02920597494 or email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com for further information. Our website is www.wenvoeplaygroup. co.uk. For further information, please read our Statement of Purpose.

 

 

Sebastian Barry -Days Without End

Sebastian Barry -Days Without End

The novel is narrated by Thomas McNulty, an Irish emigrant who flees to Canada and then America to escape the Great Famine. In America he befriends John Cole and the two form a close relationship, working first, as young boys, cross-dressing entertainers and then enlisting in the army and taking part in both the Indian Wars and the American Civil War. Having fled terrible hardships, they find these days to be vivid and filled with wonder, despite the horrors they both see and take part in. Their lives are further enriched when a young Indian girl crosses their path and becomes their family bringing the possibility of lasting happiness if only they can survive. Moving from the plains of the West to Tennessee, Barry’s book is full of atmosphere and language. An intensely moving story of two men and their path through life. A story of the most fateful years in America history. Nearly every page dotted with unique descriptions that raise ordinary things into the extraordinary eg A herd of buffaloes stampeding towards them is like “a big boil of black molasses in a skillet, surging up”; soldiers digging trenches “sweat like window glass in the winter”; and dusk is “God pulling a ragged black cloth slowly across his handiwork”. It is a commanding and unforgettable read. It is brutal and bloody but it is also beautiful.

Every member of the group felt that the book was a difficult read at first because of the way the prose was presented by the narrator but once this was overcome found it a fairly good read. There is a need to be prepared for the vivid, horrendous pictures that are presented through the graphic prose. This would probably prevent some members recommending the book. It scored an 8.

After our discussion we were treated to wonderful homemade shortbread and delicious chocolate cake from Helen our hostess for the evening.

 

 

New Quilting Group

WENVOE QUILTERS

We are a group of ladies who are passionate about Patchwork, Quilting, Crochet, Knitting and much more.

We meet on a Monday 9.30am – 3.30pm. Why not pop along and have a look at what we are making and maybe join us.

We meet at Wenvoe Community Centre. Alternatively, telephone Linda Edwards – 02920 593679

 

 

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