THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Horticultural Society

JULY is the Aberystwyth Horticultural Society’s 50th anniversary year and it is turning out to be a very busy month for members of the Cardiganshire Horticultural Society.

The month started with the third of the society’s 50th anniversary year’s summer outings, on Tuesday, 3 July.

A party travelled to Shropshire and enjoyed a fantastic day out; visiting the renowned David Austin Roses centre near Albrighton, before returning to Shrewsbury to visit the award winning Bowbrook Community Allotments.

Last Tuesday evening saw a good turnout of members enjoying a very good summer’s evening garden party in the grounds of Llanerchaeron.

A good finger buffet was much enjoyed before the president and founder member of the society, John Corfield, gave a short address before cutting the 50th anniversary cake.

In his short address John did not look back, preferring to look to the present and the next 50 years, and paid tribute to those who were taking the society to new heights with the evening lectures, the summer outings and the longer four to five day trips.

The month concludes with the fourth outing of the season on Tuesday, 31 July, and is a contrasting summers day in rural Powys visiting David Austin’s daughters hardy plant nursery near Sarn and Cwm Weeg, a nearby garden which has been making a big name for itself in recent years.

The visit to Claire Austin’s Hardy Plant Nursery promises to be very special with Claire and her staff going out of their way to make CHS in its 50th anniversary year very welcome.

Places are still available and a warm welcome is extended to anyone interested in gardening and horticulture.

To join it and the remaining summer outing at the end of August to Plas Tan y Bwlch, more information can be obtained from the chairman, Jan Eldridge on 01970 828949, and from the society’s website.

Picture: Cardiganshire Horticultural Society president, John Corfield cutting the celebratory cake assisted by Jan Eldridge (chairman) and Kay Edwards (vice-chairman)

Inner Wheel Club

THE Inner Wheel Club of Aberystwyth held their Installation Dinner at Brynamlwg on Monday, 9 July.

Val Deaville kindly acted as Master of Ceremonies and, among her other duties, presented flowers to member Cynthia Whiting in recognition of her appointment as district 15 chairman this year.

The club is very proud that one of our members will hold this prestigious office.

This year the role of club president will be shared between Pat Sani and Christine Sutherns and Chris was presented with the chain of office by Cynthia Whiting.

After a very brief business meeting, members were reminded that from September, meetings will be held at Llety Parc Hotel 6.30pm for 7pm on the second Monday of the month.

Also mentioned was the Rotary Club BBQ on Sunday, 29 July, at which members join as partners to raise funds for charity.

Any help and donations will be gratefully received.

Bibliographical Group

THE group’s annual outing was a trip to Monmouthshire on Friday, 6 July.

After an excellent lunch at the Wye Valley Hotel in Tintern, they travelled to nearby Llandogo where the bus driver successfully negotiated the narrow drive to Catchmays Court, home of the Old Stile Press.

Founded in London in 1979, the press moved to Catchmays Court in 1986.

It is the most active private press in Wales, producing two or three books a year in beautiful limited editions.

The owners, Frances and Nicolas McDowall, state that they “look back to the great private presses of the past with respect and for inspiration, and try to carry their standards and their creative spirit forward into this new century”.

Following an introductory talk, Nicolas McDowall showed them the workshop where he prints the books and explained the techniques in more detail.

They were then free to explore the house, which is full of art work and books, including many publications of the Old Stile Press, as well as the sculpture garden.

Tea was provided on the terrace overlooking the River Wye, where our hosts showed us some of their books in more detail.

On departure they stopped briefly for a look at the ruins of Tintern Abbey.

The Bibliographical Group’s next programme of lectures will begin on Tuesday, 16 October, at 6.30pm, when Dr Nicolas Bell, librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge, will speak on The Welsh Martial: A Bibliographical Excursion with John Owen.

Any enquiries should be addressed to the secretary, Timothy Cutts, at the National Library.

Bridge Club

THE winners on Friday, 6 July, were John Holmes and Alan Stein.

Martin Page and Magda Corser were in joint second place with John Valentine and Dai Hayes.

On Sunday, 8 July, joint winners were John Holmes, having a good week, and Gabor Gelleri, and Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas.

Jean Harrison and Mair Jenkins were third.

In a committee meeting before the evening’s play, it was unanimously agreed that Betty Brookes be given Honorary Membership of the Aberystwyth Bridge Club in recognition of her exemplar long and good-humoured service to the club as Committee member, Committee official, director and scorer.

Needless to say, a very modest Betty was very pleased with this accolade.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club normally plays twice a week in Waunfawr Community Hall, starting at 6.45pm with Friday being the main evening.

For further information, please ring the club secretary on 01970 639229.

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

Aberystwyth & District Floral Society

ON 19 June, the floral society welcomed NAFAS demonstrator Pat Llewellyn from Ammanford with her wonderful demonstration of Summer Time and the Living is Easy.

From the very first design the title was well depicted with a wonderful choice of summer flowers.

Pat made use of Aqua Roses, Pink Gerberas, Purple Liatris, Pink Anthuriums and natural garden plant material arranged in a grey twig container that she had purchased on her travels around Holland.

Another small placement including pink garden roses completed the exhibit.

The second arrangement Pat chose a wonderful piece of driftwood on a stand and again added beautifully conditioned plant material from her garden, white Lillies, Alchemilla Mollis, White Dendrobium Orchids and Lemon Gerberas to accent the lemon in the Lillies.

A very tall glass container was used for her third arrangement to which she added very tall twigs with more beautiful garden plant material including Fatsia, Laurel, Bergenia leaves to create depth around the base.

For height Blue Delphiniums, Liatris and purple Stocks, deep pink Gerberas were added to one side and pink Anthuriums and Pink Aqua Roses colour were blocked on the other side.

The fourth arrangement was a horizontal design created using a large square container and using Aspidestra leaves, Cryptomeria Japonica, Deutzia and Hostas.

White Lillies followed the line along with lemon Gerberas, pink Gerberas on one side, pink Anthuriums in the centre and loops of green cane enclosed the space.

Pink Midelino butterflies completed the design.

The fifth design used a flat trug basket with Iris leaves, grasses, Shrimp plant, Alchemilla Mollis, Ferns with Sunflowers as the feature flowers and lilac stocks for perfume.

The vote of thanks to Pat was given by Donald Morgan, president.

The members competition was a parallel arrangement, results were: Beginners, 2nd Jane Walton, Improvers, 2nd Pat Edwards, Advanced, 1st Beti Wyn Davies, 2nd Donald Morgan, 3rd Jayne Solomon.

Pat Llewellyn congratulated all who took part.

The chair, Pat Jones, congratulated the members who had done very well in Aberystwyth Show and Lynne Lloyd wished good luck to Christine Gilbert who won the WI Brecon Cup recently and is through to the Royal Welsh Show.

A trip is being arranged by the club to the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30 September; please contact Donald Morgan for more details.

The next meeting is a workshop on 17 July, at 7.30pm at Llanfarian Village Hall, see the club’s Facebook page for details.

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