THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Light Up The Night

ALMOST 200 people have taken part in a five-mile walk around Aberystwyth to raise money for cancer charity Tenovus.

As the sun was setting on the promenade, 183 people lined up outside the Old College for the start of the very first Light Up The Night event to be held in the town.

Dressed in neon, with fairy lights and glow sticks, the walkers could be seen even as the stars came out, snaking their way to the harbour, along the Ystwyth Trail, around Blaendolau playing fields and back to the Old College.

Ex-Aberystwyth student Josh Stacey organised the event, which took place on Saturday, 2 June and included entertainment from the Aberystwyth-based Tenovus choir, a Walkers Wall for participants to write messages in memory of a loved one, and the opportunity to light a candle.

Everyone who took part in the walk, which started just after 9pm, enjoyed some food and a hot drink upon finishing.

This year is special for Tenovus Cancer Care as the charity celebrates its 75th anniversary, and Josh wanted to mark the occasion in his former university town by organising this walk.

Speaking after the event, he said: “The support we received has been incredible.”

“Thank you so much to everyone who took part, whether as a volunteer or as a walker.

“We had 183 people sign up for the event, with some travelling from England to take part.

“From ticket sales alone, we’ve raised £1,624.43!

“Lots of walkers had dressed up in their brightest clothing and wearing lots of glow accessories to help Light Up The Night, and it’s great to see people really enjoyed the event.”

The charity does a lot of work in Aberystwyth, from funding research at Aberystwyth University to providing support for anyone dealing with cancer through the Sing with Us choir and mobile support unit, as well as confidential support through the cancer support line and callback service.

The charity has also recently introduced an ACTivate Your Life course to provide practical emotional support for those who have been aff­ected by cancer.

To find out more about Tenovus Cancer Care, visit tenovuscancercare.org.uk

Ceredigion Association of National Trust Members

CANTM had an enjoyable day trip on 22 May to Denbigh and its castle, followed by a guided tour of Gwrych Castle with Dr Mark Baker.

Not to be missed on Friday, 29 June, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm is the group’s Annual Garden Party at Gillian’s home for afternoon tea.

Sunday, 9 September, is the next day trip which will be a visit to ERDDIG.

Both friends and non-members are welcome to join by phoning Gillian on 01970 627943.

Côr Meibion Aberystwyth

IT’S pretty unusual for a St David’s Day concert to be held in June but this is what happened on Friday, 8 June.

The artists, band, choirs and audience all returned to the Great Hall to present the concert which had to be postponed because of the atrocious weather in early March.

Côr Meibion shared the stage with Aberystwyth Silver Band, Tenovus Choir and Meibion y Mynydd and started the choral part of the concert with three items: A Llawenwch Cenwch, Glyn Rhosyn and Yfory.

Besides the items performed by the band and the individual choirs, the whole ensemble came together for some popular songs, including Delilah and Blueberry Hill, under the baton of band conductor Geraint Evans who was making his last appearance with the silver band.

The artists for the concert were Shân Cothi and the saxophonist and clarinetist Rhys Taylor, who both delighted the audience with their artistry and versatility.

The compère for the evening was actor Aneurin Hughes who has in the past been both a member and conductor of Côr Meibion and Aberystwyth Silver Band.

The concert was organised by Aberystwyth Lions Club in support of Blood Bikes Wales and other local charities.

Cylch Cinio

ROEDD y gwr gwadd yn ein cyfarfod mis Mehefin yng Ngwesty’r Richmond yn llais ac yn wyneb cyfarwydd iawn i bob un aelod.

Roedd ef ei hun yn gyn-aelod ac yn un o sylfaenwyr y Cylch Cinio.

Er hynny, fe gafodd John Meredith gyflwyniad llawn gan ein cadeirydd, John Davies, gan gyfeiro ato fel un o fois y Bont, yn y cyfnod pan oedd Pontrhydfendigaid fel llawer o gymunedau Ceredigion, i bob pwrpas, yn hunan gynhaliol.

Fel gohebydd y BBC yn yr ardal y bydd llawer yn meddwl am John Meredith ac yn wir fe wnaeth ei farc yn y swydd honno ond roedd llawer o’r aelodau yn gyfarwydd ag ef flynyddoedd cyn hynny ac yntau yn ddisgybl yn Ysgol Uwchradd Tregaron ac yntau fel llawer o fois y Bont wedi ei drwytho yn y gêm bêl-droed ac yn chwarewr medrus ei hun ac yn gymeriad cymdeithasol hwyliog a phoblogaidd.

Mae John bellach wedi ymgartrefu ym Mlaenpennal, yn hen gartref Tegwen ei briod ac mae ei ddiddordeb mewn defaid wedi ei feithrin a’i ddatblygu yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, fel yn wir ei ddileit mewn hen dractorau.

Mae e hefyd yn flaenor yng Nghapel Blaenpennal ac yn chwarae rhan amlwg ym mywyd y gymdeithas.

Cyhoeddwyd ei hunangofiant, Yr Hwn Ydwyf, gan y Lolfa yn 2012 ac mae’r teitl wedi ei gymryd o gyfweliad enwocaf John, a hynny yn fyw o densiwn cyfrif pleidleisiau Sir Gâr adeg Refferendwm y Cynulliad 1997 pan y datgelodd John mewn iaith gyfrin cyn y cyhoeddiad swyddogol bod y frwydr fawr wedi ei hennill gan bleidleiswyr Sir Gâr.

Mewn sgwrs ddifyr iawn cawson ddetholiad o brofiadau John yn ei waith fel Gohebydd y Gorfforaeth.

Llawer iawn ohonynt yn ddifyr a doniol iawn a chawsom ail-fyw rhai o’r cyfweliadau ar dâp.

Un o’r doniolaf oedd clip teledu o’r ymgais i ail-osod cerflun y Frenhines Fictoria ar adeilad yn Stryd y Popty yn Aberystwyth.

Roedd John a’i ddyn camera yno i gofnodi’r digwyddiad hanesyddol.

Wedi gwario miloedd ar y gwaith adfer roedd y peiriannau yn eu lle i osod y Frenhines ar astell ar gornel yr adeilad fe ddigwyddodd yr annisgwyl. Gwahanwyd pen y Frenhines oddi wrth ei chorff.

Dienyddiwyd Victoria y prynhawn hwnnw yn Aberystwyth ac mae cofnod o’r digwyddiad anffodus ar gadw i’r genedl, diolch i John.

Talwyd y diolchiadau gan Tegwyn Lewis, Rhosgoch.

Croesawyd dau aelod yn ôl i’r gorlan: y Gyng Gareth Davies, Llanbadarn Fawr a Wynne Melville Jones, Llanfihangel Genau’r Glyn, y ddau wedi bod yn derbyn triniaeth mewn ysbytai, yn ogystal â Roy James sydd wedi colli rhai cyfarfodydd yn ddiweddar yn sgil cyfrifoldebau teuluol. Enillwyd y raffl gan Wynne Melville Jones.

Mae blwyddyn arall wedi hedfan a chyhoeddwyd bod ein trip dirgel blynyddol eleni ar nos Wener, 13 Gorffennaf, a bydd y bws yn ein tywys rhywle i odre’r sir.

Mae’n argoeli at fod yn noson dda arall.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club

JOHN Holmes and Alan Stein were the winners of the club’s heat of the Worldwide Bridge Simultaneous held on 1 June.

They were 169th out of the 3,534 pairs from 28 countries that took part.

Runners up in the club were Dai Hayes and John Valentine.

Magda Corser and Martin Page were third, but were the second placed Aberystwyth pair in the overall rankings.

The winners on 3 June were Pat Roe and Margaret James, with John Holmes and Gabor Galleri second and Margaret Ellis and Vicky Edwards third.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club normally plays twice a week in Waunfawr Community Hall, starting at 6.45pm with Friday being the main evening. Visitors are welcome. For further information, call the club secretary on 01970 639229. For beginners’ lessons, contact Elenid Thomas on 01970 828765.

U3A

THE TALK in May at the Morlan Centre in Aberystwyth was given by Mark Cole who spoke about the history of the Dyfed shire horses, the ‘Equine Dick Whittington’ and ‘Celt, the Queen’s Welsh Drum Horse’.

Mark was born in Pembrokeshire and studied at Aberystwyth University.

He worked for Mark Williams MP and was elected Ceredigion county councillor 2004/17.

He was mayor of Cardigan aged 26 in 2009/10 and chair of Ceredigion County Council aged 29 in 2012/13.

He has been managing the family Dyfed Shire Horse Farm since 2014 and has had an interest spending time researching family heritage.

The next meeting at the Morlan Centre on Thursday, 21 June, at 2pm will be a talk by Rhiannon Evans. The subject is Legends in Jewellery/Chwedlau mewn Gemwaith.

The talk will be given in Welsh with English translation.

Parkinson’s UK

FOR A change, the group went to visit the museum in Terrace Road for their meeting last month, where they were greeted by Carris Canham, the curator, who gave them tales from the Coliseum.

Hefin thanked the curator and then all the members went to the new café in the old Boots building for tea and cakes.

The next meeting is the annual trip on Thursday, 21 June; a visit to the Three Cocks garden centre at Brecon, and in the afternoon Hay on Wye.

The bus leaves the rugby club at 9.30am.

Contact Hefin on 01970 615177 for details.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]