Aberystwyth

Ceredigion Museum

The Welsh Museums Festival has returned again this year and runs until Sunday, 1 November.

There are events happening in museums across Wales.

At Ceredigion Museum there will be three days of different events in addition to the usual displays and the recently opened Creative Mapping exhibition.

On Thursday, there will be a free talk by Michael Freeman on the subject of mapping Aberystwyth, a walk and talk around the town.

Aberystwyth was created as a new town by the English in 1277, but shrunk in size until about 1800 when the corporation planned a substantial extension to cope with the demands of tourism and industry.

The key maps for these two schemes have not survived, but they can be reconstructed from a study of surviving buildings.

The walk starts from Ceredigion Museum and will last about two hours. It is suitable for the able bodied.

If weather is poor, the talk will take place at the museum.

On Friday, 30 October, a free drop-in family art mapping workshop from 11am to 1pm is available.

There will be an opportunity to have a go at mono-printing for older children and adults, and handling collections and simple craft activities available for pre-school children.

The highlight gig Yng Ngheredigion of the festival for the museum is on Saturday night, 31 October, and coincides with Museums at Night. Through film, live music, and story, Yng Ngheredigion celebrates violinist Rafe Fitzpatrick’s connection with his native Ceredigion.

Alongside Yng Ngheredigion, there’ll be a special performance by Stevie Jones and Rafe as Sound of Yell. Based in Glasgow, where Rafe has settled, Sound of Yell’s debut album Broken Spectre was hailed as “wonderfully eccentric acoustic music”.

Bibliographical group

The group began its programme for 2015-16 with a meeting in the Council Chamber at the National Library on Tuesday, 20 October.

The speaker was Prof Keith Robbins, former vice-chancellor of Lampeter.

Prof Robbins had last spoken to the group nearly 20 years ago about his Bibliography of British History.

On this occasion his topic was Completing the Picture: Editing Volume IV of the History of Oxford University Press (1970-2004).

He began by explaining how he had come to be invited to edit the fin­al volume of this four-volume history, which is due to be published next year.

He then talked about the date range of the volume, the roles of the Executive Steering Committee and the editor, the selection of contributors, the nature of the sources available, and the design and structure of the volume.

The first part covers the development of the press between 1970 and 2004, including the relationship of the press to the University of Oxford and the decision to stop printing in Oxford.

The second part covers the different types of publications produced by Oxford University Press, including the controversial decision to stop publishing contemporary poetry.

The final part is about the operations of the press in different parts of the world, and the relationship between the headquarters in England and the branches elsewhere, particularly New York. After a discussion session, members moved to the Belle Vue Royal Hotel.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 17 November, when Bill Hines will speak on treasures of the Hugh Owen Library.

Cylch Cinio

Daeth nifer dda o’r aelodau ynghyd i’n cyfarfod mis Medi ym Mhlas Antaron Penparcau i dreulio noson yng nghwmni Geraint Lewis.

Bachgen o Ynysybwl yw Geraint a dysgodd Gymraeg pan oedd yn ddisgybl yn Ysgol Ramadeg y Bechgyn ym Mhontypridd.

Alun Jones, un o sylfaenwyr y Cylch Cinio hwn, oedd ei athro Cymraeg a’i ysbrydolwr ac adeg hynny roedd Geraint un o griw o fechgyn Pontypridd a fu yn Nhregaron am gyfnod er mwyn eu trochi mewn Cymraeg rhywiog cefngwlad.

Ers blynyddoedd bellach fe’i cysylltir yn bennaf â Cheredigion, lle mae pawb bellach yn cymryd ei Gymraeg rhugl yn gwbwl ganiataol.

Bu ef a’i briod Delyth yn rhedeg siop bentref Llangwyryfon am flynyddoedd a gwnaeth Geraint ei farc ym maes llyfrgellyddiaeth, diwylliant ac addysg a hynny ym mro’r Cardi. Mae’n awdur toreithiog ac mae ei gyfraniad i fywyd diwylliannol a chymunedol ac yn arbennig I’r Iaith Gymraeg yn bellgyrhaeddol.

Siaradodd Geraint am y Mynydd Bach ac aeth â ni am daith i nifer o gorneli difyr yr ardal wledig a diwylliedig hon. Bro’r “tai unos” oedd y Mynydd Bach ac mae’r ardal wedi gweld newid sylweddol wrth i’r tyddynnod bach gael eu llyncu, un wrth un, er mwyn creu unedau mwy. Mae yno draddodiad crefyddol dylanwadol iawn, ac mae tangnefedd Llynnoedd Eiddwen a Manod heddiw yn rhan o swyn y lle.

Mae yna hefyd rhai hanesion o densiynnau chwerw a wnaeth gyrraedd eu penllanw yn Rhyfel y Sais Bach gyda’r, canlyniad i dirfeddianwr esentrig a’i syniadau estron gwallgof i ymadael â’r ardal am byth. Diddorol iawn oedd clywed am bwysigrwydd hanesyddol dwfn Cwm Wyre fel ffin rhwng de a gogledd Cymru.

Diolchwyd iddo ar ran yr aelodau gan Dai Harries a fu’n gydweithiwr gyda Geraint yn y Cyngor Sir Dai Harries hefyd oedd enillydd y raffl.

Dymunwyd yn dda i Islwyn Hughes sydd erbyn hyn wedi derbyn triniaeth yn Ysbyty’r Brifysgol yng Nghaerdydd. Da gweld bod ein Cadeirydd John Lewis yntau yn gwella wedi llawdriniaeth yn Ysbyty Gobowen yn ddiweddar.

Nos Wener y 13eg yw dyddiad ein cyfarfod nesaf yng Nghlwb Golff Aberystwyth. Mae’n saff o fod yn noson lwcus. Ein gwestai ar y noson honno yw’r dyn tarw potel o Ddyffryn Aeron, Aneurin Davies, awdur y gyfrol ddifyr Bywyd wrth Ben-ôl Buwch. Croeso i aelodau newydd.

Choirs

There will be an opportunity to hear two very different choirs when they will share the stage at a concert on Friday, 6 November at 7.30pm at the Morlan Centre, for the benefit of the new local charity – Hospice at Home Aberystwyth Volunteers.

At home, Aberystwyth Volunteers Abergavenny (where the National Eisteddfod will be held in 2016) is the home of the choir Synergy and their style is close harmony singing, unaccompanied. Although they do not describe themselves as a ‘barbershop choir’, their conductor Martin Flory and his deputy Andrew Walker have medals in competitions for ‘barbershop singers’. Synergy were also awarded the best small male choir (under 40 voices) at Cornwall International Festival in 2011 and 2013.

They have sung in several major festivals including the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the Welsh Proms in Cardiff. Their program will include items by their soloist Jeni Lewis.

The other choir on the night, Aberystwyth Male Choir are very well known to readers of the Cambrian News, and this will be a special evening for the local male voice choir as it is expected that this will be their first public performance with their new conductor. Carol Davies is retiring after more than ten years at the helm. The accompanist will Elenid Thomas.

And to add to the diversity of the program, there will be a Children’s Choir from St Padarn School, Aberystwyth, singing under the leadership of the headmaster, Peter Leggett.

The evening is organized by Megan Jones on behalf of ‘Hospice at Home’, and there are tickets available for £5 from the Hospice Shop in Pier Street. President of the evening will be Professor Wynne Jones. The evening has been sponsored by Lagan Building Contractors and we wish to thank them for their generous sponsorship towards the event.

NHS Retirement Fellowship

Members met at the Waunfawr Community Hall on 12 October for their first formal meeting since June. In July a number of members and friends had enjoyed a trip to Derwen Garden Centre, Guilsfield and Coed y Dinas, and September saw them gathering at the National Library of Wales for a guided tour. Also in September, four members represented the group at the Welsh National Conference in Llandrindod.

The speaker for the afternoon was Medwyn Parry, the Aberystwyth group representative of Blood Bikes Wales. This is a registered charity which provides a free out-of-hours courier service using motor bikes, transporting urgent medical supplies for the NHS. It covers south, mid and NE Wales and is funded entirely by public donation and business sponsorship. As well as carrying e.g. blood and biological samples, it carries frozen breast milk from Birmingham and Bristol to Special Care Baby Units.

The first meeting in Aberystwyth was in February 2011, when a number of riders volunteered. All the riders must have advanced riding qualifications and are assessed yearly. They also have special training before handling biological goods.

Mr Parry gave an excellent illustrated presentation of the service they provide and brought along their bike named “Cheryl” after their first donor, which was much admired. He was also very pleased to announce that they were accepting delivery of a second bike the following day, purchased from money donated to them through fund-raising by Aberystwyth Lions.

The next meeting will be on 9 November when Barbara Walker will speak on “Early Commerce on the Dyfi”.

Cambrian Floral Society

ON Wednesday, 2 October, the society met at the Maesbangor Arms, Capel Bangor, for the annual dinner.

After dining, chairman John James entertained us with a demonstration during which he invited the audience to guess his theme for the evening.

This was correctly interpreted by Eira’s table as The Rainbow tune. At the end of the evening a few lucky members returned home with their winning colourful arrangements. The vote of thanks was given by Marian Weston who thanked everyone for their support during the past year, and to the staff of Maesbangor for a memorable meal.

Our next meeting is a workshop tutored by Alex of No 21.

This will take place at Bethel Chapel Vestry, Baker Street on Wednesday 4 November at 7pm. A list of requirements is available by phoning 07580 776302 or you can call in at Alex’s florist shop at No 21, Pier Street who will be only too pleased to help with any of your requirements for the evening.

All welcome.

Merched y Wawr

Mike Morgan o Felinfach, Swyddog Hyfforddi Cymorth Cyntaf a Glendid Bwyd yng Ngholeg Ceredigion, oedd ein siaradwr yng nghyfarfod mis Hydref ac fe’i cyflwynwyd gan ein llywydd, Dulcie James

Cawsom sgwrs difyr a hyderus gan un a fu’n wirfoddolwr i Wasanaeth Ambiwlans Sant Ioan am 50 mlynedd.

Roedd ganddo awgrymiadau ymarferol ar sut i ddelio á r problemau disymwth all ddod ar draws unrhyw un, megis tagu, llosgi, gwenwyno damweiniol, rhoi cusan bywyd a thrin diffibriliwr. Addysg ddefnyddiol yn wir.

Merched Pen y Graig oedd yng ngofal y te.

Stroke club

THE monthly lunch outing on the 14 October was to Poppies at the garden centre. 56 members made their way by coach and car on a lovely autumn day.

The chairman, John Lewis Jones, made us all welcome and called on Mair Roberts to say grace, which she delivered beautifully in Welsh and English. The excellent staff then served a splendid meal, followed by mouth-watering desserts and then tea and coffee.

The ever-popular 620 club numbers were then drawn, with many recipients to hand to take their cheques home with them. Mair and John then sorted the usual raffle with lots of interesting prizes to be had. The social secretary then told us that there were three birthdays to celebrate this month, so happy birthday was duly sung with gusto for the lucky three!

The chairman thanked all at Poppies for the lovely time we had spent there, and then it was time to go home after another successful club outing.

The next month’s lunch is at the town football club on 18 November at 12.30pm for 1pm.

Beekeepers association

The association was represented by Ann Ovens, Lynfa Davies, and David Lewis at the funeral last Friday at the crematorium of Pam Gregory, a former beekeeping inspector for Wales, joining many other people from the beekeeping community.

Over many years, Pam had assi­sted the association, giving talks at evening meetings and attending and helping at summer apiary visits.

She also did a good deal to promote beekeeping in a number of communities in Africa. This was reflected in the charity Bees Abroad being the recipient of donations made after the service in her memory.

Beekeepers in Ceredigion have had a very mixed season this year with a big reduction in the honey crop compared to 2014.

Thus, many of the horticultural shows have had a dearth of entries in the honey section.

However, the association’s Honey Show, which was held in the Waunfawr Community Hall on Wednesday, 24 October, bucked this trend with some 25 entries in the classes for light, medium and dark honeys, and a very good turnout of members who enjoyed a shared supper together which made the whole show, a very good social event.

The judge was master beekeeper Lynfa Davies who, after the judging, addressed the meeting. She said she had been impressed by the high standard of the entries, many of which she said would have done well in the Royal Welsh Show.

For the first time, she had not had to use grading glasses as all the entries were immediately apparent as being in the right class.

The first prizes in the light, medium, and dark honey classes went to Mr and Mrs Ackroyd, who won the Lloyn Perpetual Challenge Cup for the highest number of points won in the show.

Richard Spencer won first and second in the wax classes and the best exhibit in the show was Conrad Ford’s frame of honey suitable for extraction which, in a particularly difficult season, was a pleasure to see.

A number of members had brought with them samples of their honey for a tasting session and the winner with the best tasting sample in the show was a light honey from Roger Earlis, from Pontrhydfendigaid.

There is a lot of interest in beekeeping and the association will shortly be starting another beginners’ course which will run over the winter. This is again fully booked.

Information about the association and its activities is available from Ann Ovens on 01970 832359.

Cymdeithas yr Aelwyd

Nos Wener, 23 Hydref, cynhaliwyd Swper y Cynhaeaf yr Aelwyd.

Cafwyd gwasanaeth byr dan ofal y Parch Andrew Lenny ac yna siaradodd am y torreth o gyfeiriadau sydd yna yn y Beibl at ddiolch a’r anogaeth sydd yno inni ddiolch a chofio diolch.

Gallwn wneud hyn ar bedwar gris, dweud diolch, canu’n diolch, rhoi ein diolch a byw ein diolch.

Llywiwyd y noson gan ein llywydd, Terry Edwards, y cyfeilydd oedd Lionel Madden, addurnwyd y byrddau gan Eileen Price Jones a pharatowyd y danteithion bys a bawd gan y pwyllgor.

CANTM

The Association’s AGM was held on 15 October. Members also listened to a talk about Patagonia by new chairman, Dwynwen Belsey, and a slide show of the year’s varied events by Stan Nettle. Members meet again on 18 November for the annual lunch at the Talbot, Tregaron at 12.30pm. The speaker will be author Anthony Griffiths.