THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Choral society

Choristers are currently enjoying their long summer break before rehearsals get under way in September in the Old Hall, Old College for this year’s Christmas Concert.

This will be in December in the Great Hall, under the baton of David Russell Hulme.

However, behind the scenes preparations for the concert are now well under way and the society will be performing a work by John Rutter and two works by the French Composer Gabriel Faure. The Rutter work is his Magnificat, which was first performed in 1990 and is a setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat for Soprano Soloist, mixed chorus and orchestra.

The larger of the two works by Faure, is his Cantique de Jean Racine, a sacred choral composition based on a Latin hymn from the service of Matins. Faure composed it at the age of 19 for mixed choir and orchestra.

The second piece is his short but very popular Pavane for orchestra and mixed chorus. In recent months the deaths of a number of former choristers have occurred and sadly at the end of July, the death was announced of another –Huw Powell. Huw was a stalwart early member of the tenor section, singing with the choir for a good number of years.

Holy Trinity

In an exciting development, the new children’s choir at Holy Trinity Church, has been asked by the production company behind the BBC’s BAFTA-nominated Show Me What You’re Made Of to play host to the participants of a forthcoming episode of the series.

As such, the choir is hoping that more local children will join the choir for its rehearsals on 3 and 10 August in order to welcome the visitors and help them experience learning some music in a choral setting.

Everyone will be warmly welcomed, so if your children would like to participate, get in touch with the choir by emailing [email protected]

RWFCA of the Royal Welsh

JULY’S meeting was well attended, and as this was the last meeting before the summer break an air of holiday fever seemed to pervade the meeting.

A minutes silence was observed at the start of the meeting to mark the passing of Margaret Evans (wife of the late Maelor Evans).

The meeting went through the normal business agenda fairly quickly and moved swiftly onto a number of items under AOB.

Firstly, they discussed the issue of ‘deafness’ caused by military service, a discussion about having it diagnosed via NHS was both full and frank and then the issue of making a ‘claim’ against the MOD was also discussed.

Members went away with information to ponder over the summer months.

Second item was a brass ‘War Memorial’ plaque from Llancynfelin.

This was brought to the meeting’s attention by Duncan Sykes, although the plaque had been stored away it had now had some water damage to the lacquer finish and needed some TLC and re-lacquering.

The plaque has names on it from the antecedent regiments of the Royal Welsh who paid the ultimate sacrifice in WW1.

Branch secretary Paul Hinge said he would make enquiries of both the Council and Regimental Headquarters to ascertain what could be done.

Final item under AOB was the announcement by RHQ that there would be a trip to France next year to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the D Day Landings (SWB); the Battle for the liberation of Evrecy (RWF) and the Battle for Falaise Gap (Welch Regt) dates for this were to centre around mid July, since the meeting, dates are now confirmed as being 15 to 18 July 2019.

The meeting finished in good order at 8.55pm when members retired to the bar for refreshments.

Bridge Club

WINNERS in the ninth round of the Club Championship played on 20 July, were Dai Hayes and John Valentine, with Mair Jenkins and Jean Harrison second and Mike Jones and Keith Bellamy third.

With one round to play, Dai and John are in the lead, with Margaret James and Pat Roe second and Pamela Woodhouse and Sue Sherman third.

On board 2, two north/south pairs bid and made 5 Clubs doubled.

But this did not score as well as two east/west pairs choosing the wrong option of bidding on to 5 Diamonds, which was doubled and failed to make.

Winners on Sunday, 22 July, were Mike Jones and John Holmes, with Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse second and Roger Boyle and Sue Sherman third.

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.

Headway meeting

ON MONDAY, 2 July, the Ceredigion branch of the Acquired Brain Injury association Headway held its monthly drop-in in the Tesco Community Room.

Those present included Lynda, Ffion, Grace, Andy and Mischa. Most arrived about 3pm but the drop-in is from 2pm to 4pm.

New Headway magazines were distributed and a new poster advertising the group including a list of up-and-coming events.

Lynda had attended a meeting about the future of Bronglais Hospital and Hywel Dda’s plans.

She gave a verbal report expressing concern about the future of services at Bronglais (it appears that they are under threat again!).

This led on to a discussion on experiences people had had in Bronglais.

All were encouraged to contribute to the consultation process. Lynda distributed a few copies of the response form and it was noted that responses could also be made online.

Future drop-ins and events include: Monday, 6 August, chips and ice cream on Aberystwyth’s promenade; Monday, 3 September, meet Christine Leonard, Ceredigion Neuro Therapist; Monday, 1 October, meet Disability Rights Service for talk and advice.

Meetings are in the Community Room, Tesco, Aberystwyth. Contact 07881 347544 or headway.ceredig [email protected]

Stroke club

THE CLUB’S monthly outing on 18 July was to the Riverside Café and Farm Shop.

The coach took most of the members and car drivers were on hand to ferry folk down to the café, as the coach was unable to turn around in the car park.

The few hardy ones walked down and back.

Members were greeted by Ann, their chairman, and said it was very good to see her after her time away.

Judith and Jean did the rounds with the raffle tickets for after the meal.

Lunch was served followed by large sweets.

The first of the new session 750 club took place with lots of cheques to hand out to members present.

While tea and coffee were handed round, Ann and Jean sorted out the many raffle prizes.

The excellent social secretary, Audrey, then told of the Turkey/ Tinsel weekend in Llandudno in December, and to inform her if anyone wished to join them.

They they all departed to the coach for the journey back to town, past all the very dry fields and rivers very low.

The next lunch is on 22 August at Llwyngwaun Manor, near Newport, Pembrokeshire.

Ramblers’ group

TEN HARDY walkers joined leaders Haydn Foulkes and Timothy Cutts on Saturday, 21 July, on a Pumlumon circular walk starting from the car park at Eisteddfa Gurig (SN798841).

The group of 12 set off past farm buildings following a track uphill that brought them to the edge of a plantation called Y Garn, from where they turned right and crossed broad Pen y Drawsallt for one-and-a-half miles to Pumlumon Fawr (752m/2,467ft, SN789869).

Generally, the weather was cooler than on many days during the past two months with the sun and clouds interchanging during the walk.

During a break by the cairns on Pumlumon Fawr mist set in and the temperature cooled down enough to make some of the walkers want to put on an extra layer of clothes.

Views were quite good and the mountains Cader Idris, the Arans and the Brecon Beacons could be seen in the distance, but not the Peak District which can be seen on the clearest of days.

Another walker and two fell runners were met at the peak.

After continuing east following a fence for over a kilometre the group then veered left to negotiate a way down to Llyn Llygad Rheidol.

There was no discernible path to this lake on the steep heather clad slopes and much care had to be taken.

In places, walkers descended on their backsides as the safest option.

Having reached Llyn Llygad Rheidol safely, the route went past this lake and along a bridle path to Nant y Moch Reservoir near they stopped for lunch.

Nant y Moch Reservoir’s water level was very low after months of dry weather and it was said that the remains of buildings that stood there before the creation of the reservoir can be seen.

After lunch the group continued on a road for one-and-a-half miles before taking a track on the left that led to Y Garn forest.

The entrance into the forest is not marked but the leaders knew where to find it due to the recce they had done a fortnight earlier.

The green path through the forest is a gradual ascent all the way.

During a break the walkers found bilberries in the forest.

Less welcome were the midges.

On coming out of Y Garn forest the group descended the track ahead to Eisteddfa Gurig to finish this enjoyable and, at times, challenging walk in Pumlumon.

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