THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Friends of Bronglais

THE coffee morning held recently raised the sum of £1,399.88, the greater part of which was presented to Dr Elin Jones towards the Chemotherapy Unit, Leri Ward.

Waunfawr Hall was filled to capacity and the generosity of the public was reflected in the sum of £394 taken at the door.

The occasion was enjoyed by all the Friends and their guests and the hard work of the volunteers was much appreciated.

The event was opened by MP Ben Lake who spoke earnestly about the on-going public consultation regarding the future of Bronglais Hospital, urging everyone to record their views on the different proposals.

St John volunteers

A BUSY week of volunteering during Volunteers Week for members of Aberystwyth Town Division culminated in presentation of recognition certificates as a thank you for their time, commitment and dedication.

Volunteers Week is used by volunteers for St John Aberystwyth to highlight key activities and members and how they contribute to the local community through being a first aider.

In the last two weeks, members have attended multiple sporting events, the Eisteddfod yr Urdd and a charity event totalling five days and one night of providing volunteer first aid services to participants and spectators of the various events.

Two members, Tommy and Marion, were notified by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action that they were due to receive a high commendation for their volunteering with St John.

The division will soon be starting up a Badger Sett which is a St John group for youngsters aged five to 10 years old, offering first aid training to the younger members of the community.

Divisional officer, Gemma Atherton said “this is an exciting time for us and we are so pleased to be able to offer a youth opportunity to younger children. We have a successful cadet and adult provision and this will really complement what we already offer”.

Cambrian Floral Society

THE demonstration on Wednesday, 6 June, was entitled ‘Take another Two’.

Marian Weston introduced the two ‘home grown’ demonstrators for the evening, Pat Edwards and David Birchall.

They both commenced with a colourful design each and after these were completed, Marian treated all to a splendid strawberry tea.

This was prepared and served by Anne Bates, Mae Cullum and Ann Watson.

During this break Pat demonstrated an additional design before she and David proceeded with their final arrangements for the evening.

Sylvia Greenleaf gave the vote of thanks and she thanked all who had so readily assisted during the evening.

Such excellent teamwork made events like this such a success.

Before the raffle was drawn, the chairman, John James took names for the forthcoming garden visit on 4 July, and more details can be obtained by phoning 01970 890223.

They don’t meet in August but this year we shall be holding a special event, details of which will be announced later.

Schools contest

ON 13 and 14 June, scores of children from 35 schools across Wales took over the Arts Centre in Aberystwyth for two days of keen competition.

It was the national round of Darllen Dros Gymru, the Welsh Books Council’s Welsh-language books competition for primary schools in Wales.

Pupils were competing for a number of prestigious awards by discussing books and performing short dramatic presentations based on titles they had read.

The competition for Years 3 and 4 took place on Wednesday, 13 June, and Ysgol Llannon, Carmarthenshire, were named as national champions, taking home the Dr Dewi Davies Award. Ysgol y Gelli, Gwynedd, came second and Ysgol Cerrigydrudion, Conwy took third place.

On Thursday, 14 June, it was the turn of Years 5 and 6 to compete and Ysgol Edern, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, emerged victorious, taking home the Dr Dewi Davies Award. Ysgol Sant Baruc, Glamorgan, were in second place and Ysgol Melin Gruffydd, Cardiff and Ysgol Rhydaman, Carmarthenshire in joint third position.

Bridge Club

WINNERS on 15 June were Mike Jones and Keith Bellamy. Dai Hayes and John Valentine were second and Margaret James and Pat Roe third.

Board 1 was a shocker! Three N/S pairs overbid to 4 Spades, finding East to have AQ108 and a small spade over declarer’s KJ and four small spades. One pair went down by 6 tricks with the other two pairs getting some points for ‘only’ going down by 4 tricks!

Martin Page and Mike Jones were the winners on the 17 June, with Gabor Galleri and John Holmes coming second and Pat Roe and Margaret James 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, please ring the club secretary on 01970 639229.

For beginners’ lessons, contact Elenid Thomas on 01970 828765.

NHS Retirement Fellowship

AT the meeting in the Waunfawr Community Centre on 14 May, Colin Laker, curator of Newtown Museum, gave a talk on the social reformer and industrialist, Robert Owen, who died in 1858.

Christine Sutherns gave the vote of thanks.

Robot

SPACE scientists at Aberystwyth University, working on the European Space Agency/Roscosmos ExoMars mission which is due to land on Mars in 2021, have built a full size replica of the rover.

The size of a small car, the Aberystwyth ExoMars Rover will be unveiled at the Old College on Friday, 29 June, as part of the University’s celebration of UK Robotics Week.

Built by Stephen Fearn and Dr Matt Gunn from the Department of Physics, the Aberystwyth replica is a full-scale interactive model of the ExoMars rover that will be tasked with finding signs of life on Mars.

Dr Helen Miles from the Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth University has been instrumental in designing many of Aberystwyth’s ExoMars outreach activities.

Dr Miles has also created a virtual reality version of the ExoMars rover that is being used by scientists involved with building the mission’s actual rover.

Dr Miles said: “At Aberystwyth University, we have a passion for science and we love to talk about the exciting things we are involved with. It’s difficult to explain to people what the ExoMars rover will look like and how it will work, especially since there isn’t a complete version ready yet. To help us show everyone what we are part of, we have built a full-scale interactive model so that people will be able to learn about what the rover will see and do, and how it will explore Mars.”

Elderly care

THE North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care held another well-attended and lively open meeting on Thursday, 21 June.

Those present were read a letter in support of the aims of the Forum from Lord Elystan Morgan who, as guest of honour, was unable to attend a get-together held on 15 June, at Plas Antaron.

The purpose of the event on the 15th was to reflect on the campaign to save Bodlondeb and to say thank you to Plas Antaron’s proprietors for hosting the ‘Save Bodlondeb’ meetings free of charge

The wishes of all present were that Lord Elystan Morgan be thanked for his continued support and that he makes a speedy recovery.

Addressing the meeting, the newly elected chair of the Ceredigion Association for the Blind, Gillian Hopkins spoke about some of the challenges faced by the visually impaired including: access to services, the future of the North Road Eye Clinic, changes to Social Services staff arrangements and the potential risk of injury posed by advertising boards placed outside town centre businesses.

Forum chair Mark Williams thanked Mrs Hopkins for coming to speak to the meeting and it was agreed that the Forum would contact the relevant bodies for an up to date appraisal of the issues raised.

The next meeting is scheduled for 26 July, at the Aberystwyth Town Council Offices in Baker Street at 7pm, all welcome.

Peace protest

ON 20 June, 45 peace campaigners from across the UK locked on to the railings outside Parliament.

Supported by another nearly 50 activists, many of them singing, highlight the fact that the UK is refusing to enter into multi-lateral talks to begin the urgent process of eliminating nuclear weapons.

Four peace campaigners from Aberystwyth’s Côr Gobaith were among the protesters.

They were pleased to meet with Ceredigion MP Ben Lake who was among a small number of MPs who took time out from the Parliamentary debate to show their support for the protest.

Esquel Twinning

IN conjunction with the exhibition of Sir Kyffin Williams’s work in the National Library of Wales, AEPPA, the Aberystwyth-Esquel Twinning Association, has organised an event to highlight the artist’s connection with Welsh Patagonia.

The event will take place on Saturday, 7 July, from 1.30pm till 5pm.

It will include an introductory talk and a guided tour of the exhibition, including storage areas, with poetry readings by Dr Hywel Griffiths. Lunch (at 12.30pm) in Caffi Pen Dinas and light refreshments (at 3pm) will be provided. Admission is free but contributions to the National Library’s scheme ‘Framing the Future’ will be welcome.

Attendance is by advance registration, since the National Library needs to know the numbers and names of those who attend. In order to register for a place or for further details contact the AEPPA treasurer, Roger Mills, on 01970 828521 no later than Thursday, 5 July.

Advancing Aberystwyth

ADVANCING Aberystwyth have announced that they will be bringing an ice rink to Aberystwyth this Christmas. The attraction will be the first of its kind in this part of the country with the aim being to attract many new visitors to the town over the festive period. The attraction will be held at the grounds of Aberystwyth Castle and will run from the beginning of December through to the New Year.

As part of their summer events programme, they’re bringing an outdoor cinema screen to Aberystwyth Castle as well as a bonus screening on Aberystwyth Beach. Each event will also include additional entertainment before the film. So take blanket or a chair and join them for some family fun under the stars.

The first film, The Goonies, is on Friday, 29 June at 6.30pm and Beauty and the Beast is on Friday, 27 July at the same time.

Stroke Club

MEMBERS gathered at the town’s football club on 23 May for the monthly lunch outing, followed by the AGM. After the usual splendid meal and raffle, they had the treasurer’s report and the work of the excellent social secretaries tireless efforts throughout the past 12 months was noted. Members then voted the committee to stand as now for the coming year, and all were happy to do so.

This year the annual holiday was to be a week based at The Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford, an inland place instead of the usual seaside one. The venue was picked by Fred for a change.

Members were blessed with a week of glorious sunny weather, the hotel was very good, and the food and staff great, with every one enjoyed the break.

The first day was to find out what Hereford had to offer. It was market day and very busy but interesting. Ther was a day trip to Cheltenham, on the hottest day, but they survived. Next day a long journey on roads bordered with apple orchards to the delightful town of Ledbury. Driver Aled took them to Ludlow the next day; it was market day again with lots of interesting stalls and plenty of cafes to enjoy.

On Thursday they had a quick trip to the Wye Vale Garden Centre. After they dined each evening, some members went into the lounge and played card games and had friendly quizzes arranged by Lyn which were much enjoyed. Many thanks were given to Aled, who did a great job with the wheelchairs and mobility scooters and to Audrey for organising the holiday.

Wildlife Trust

MONTHLY evening meetings of the North Ceredigion Section of the Wild Life Trust South and West Wales, came to an end in mid-May with the section AGM.

After the usual reports on what had been a very successful year for an active section, the committee for the coming year was elected. A number of interesting short presentations from members brought the evening to a successful close. At the subsequent first committee meeting of the new section year, changes of officers were agreed. The principal one was the retirement from the position of secretary of Dave Purdon with Naomi Davis taking over. Fiona Corke, John Wildig and Moira Convery continue as chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer.

Over the summer months there is a regular programme of field meetings in association with the Aberystwyth Botanical Society and more information on these and the forthcoming programme of monthly evening meetings which restart in October, is available from Naomi Davis.

Merched y Wawr

DDYDD Llun, 18 Mehefin, aeth aelodau ar eu trip dirgel blynyddol, ac er mai cymylog oedd y tywydd roedd criw hwyliog ar y bws yn edrych ymlaen am drip diddorol.

Teithiom tua’r de trwy Aberaeron gan gyrraedd Ffostrasol lle ymunodd Jon Meirion Jones yr hanesydd lleol â ni. Ef oedd ein tywysydd am y diwrnod.

Hyfryd oedd cael hanes yr ardaloedd tra’n teithio. Cyrhaeddom Llandysul ac yng Ngwesty’r Porth roedd cinio ysgafn yn ein disgwyl, yn cael ei weini gan ddwy Gymraes ifanc serchog.

Nôl i’r bws a cael hanes T Llew Jones, bardd a hoff nofelydd plant Cymru. Clywsom fel roedd yn teithio ar y trên i’r ysgol, pasio’r cae criced lle bu’n meithrin ei ddawn fel cricedwr, clywed am ei ddiddordeb yn pysgota a chwarae gwyddbwyll. Arhosom yn Pentrecwrt i weld cartref ei famgu, dynes a ddylanwadodd arno pan yn ifanc trwy ei dawn o ddweud stori. Gwelsom y lle arferai’r sipsiwn wersylla a gweld englyn godidog y diweddar Dic Jones ar wal y ty:

Rhythmau’r iaith yw y muriau hen. - a chwedl,

A chân yw pob llechen,

Cartre’ Llew, crud deor llên

A thy mabolaeth awen.

Teithiom ymlaen i Drefach i’r Amgueddfa Wlân, lle cawsom ein tywys o amgylch gan Non a Ceri; gwelsom sut roedd y peiriannau’n gweithio a hanes y ffatri pan oedd yn ei hanterth, gweld y siôl fagu, y dillad brethyn a wisgwyd yn y gorffennol. Diddorol oedd clywed am y wlanen goch arferai fod ymhob cartref i wella sawl anhwylder.

Roeddem yn ffodus i weld yr arddangosfa enfawr o’r pabiau coch a oedd wedi eu gwneud allan o wlân i gofio am y milwyr cafodd eu lladd yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf.

Yn olaf teithiom i Eglwys Llangynllo ac yno i’n croesawu roedd y Parch Gareth Reed a arferai fyw yn Aberystwyth. Roedd yr eglwys mewn mangre godidog, a chawsom hanes manwl am yr eglwys gan y warden presennol. I orffen y trip aros yn Nhafarn Ffostrasol am bryd o fwyd a chlonc. Diolchodd Eluned Richards ar ran y gangen i’r swyddogion Megan, Carwen a Nonna am drip ardderchog i orffen blwyddyn lwyddiannus arall.

Bydd ein tymor newydd yn dechrau ar 17 Medi ac mae croeso i aelodau newydd ymuno â ni yn festri Capel y Morfa am 7.30yh.

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