THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Probus Club

WHEN Stuart Richards left Aberystwyth to go to university, he never imagined he would end up as an army chaplain, with tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The talk he gave at the last meeting of Aberystwyth Probus was entitled ‘From the Thames Valley to the upper Gereshk Valley’, reflecting the journey he made from studying in London and Oxford, through ordination into a parish in Reading, and eventually on to Helmand province with the Army.

The Army Chaplaincy was keen to gain the services of an experienced priest like Stuart, who soon found himself undergoing the officer selection and training processes. Although army chaplains are not armed, like other specialists in the army such as doctors and nurses, they have to undergo sufficient basic military training that they can fit in with the work of the unit to which they are assigned.

In the early 20th century, army chaplains had something of a reputation for being cheerleaders for war, and 179 of them were killed in the trenches of the First World War. This is not the case in the 21st century, where chaplains like Stuart, although well-versed in the elements of the Just War tradition, see their main role as providing spiritual, moral and pastoral care to the soldiers and their families.

In a war zone soldiers find themselves in an abnormal world, and it is through chaplain-led activities such as Christmas carol services that they can be reminded that there is still a normal world out there. Despite the inevitable compromises and ambiguities inherent in his role, Stuart is glad that he has been involved in such a rewarding ministry.

His experiences certainly made for a most interesting talk.

A different aspect of military life is the subject of the club’s next speaker, at 11am on Wednesday, 27 March in Waunfawr Community Hall.

The club secretary, John Andrews, will give an account of his life as a submariner during the Cold War. Everyone is welcome and further details can be obtained from John on 01970 358095.

Lions Club

A VERY productive monthly business meeting began with a presentation by Martine Grainger on the work being done by the Live-Ability Charity. She informed the club that Plas Lluest, the residential establishment for adults with learning disabilities near Waunfawr, was the local outlet for this charity.

In the past, Aberystwyth Lions have been involved in many ways from hands-on work converting rooms for extra accommodation to day trips for the residents. Members were keen to renew their contact with the home and their activities.

Requests for help resulted in the club awarding £100 to the Care Society (Shop Mobility Service) and negotiations are ongoing to provide a specialist chair for Meurig ward (oncology), Bronglais Hospital.

The sum of £250 is being given to the Machynlleth Children’s Charity to fund out-of-school clubs and activities during school holidays. And £200 is being sent to an eight-year old girl living abroad suffering from leukaemia, to purchase medication.

Aberystwyth Lions have for many years supported the Lions Sight Savers initiative. It was agreed to send £250 to them, to help children in India suffering from sight problems.

Lynne Morris, Llanddeiniol YFC, is going to Patagonia as a representative of the Urdd to teach Welsh to the children in various schools. The club has offered her £250 to help with her expenses to achieve this great opportunity for experience overseas.

Members were told that £500 was collected by them on behalf of Marie Curie in Morrisons and a representative will be speaking at next month’s meeting. In a joint venture with Dr Sion James, Tregaron, Aberystwyth Lions are launching ‘Message in a Bottle’. This is a free service to the community where a list of medication is kept, usually in the fridge, in a small container provided by the Lions. This enables emergency services to quickly find what a patient is taking if they are unable to tell them themselves. All surgeries and relevant agencies will have details soon as the project is to be launched next month.

On the social side the members and their families thoroughly enjoyed this year’s panto. The visit was arranged by Aled Rowlands.

President Mike Taylor presented David Ebenezer with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. This is the highest award a club can give to a member for long and sustained support in the activities of the club.

Preparations are still ongoing for the Summer Concert on 14 June in the Great Hall with the Rhys Taylor Big Band featuring Shân Cothi. Proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and Amser Justin Time Pancreatic Cancer Wales Charity.

This month Aberystwyth Lions Club is celebrating its 44th Charter (birthday) and members are looking forward to gathering in the Marine Hotel on Saturday, 30 March, with friends and guests to mark the occasion.

50+ Forum

AT THE end of February, members of the Aberystwyth 50+ Forum enjoyed their first outing of the year: afternoon tea in Llety Park Hotel. In addition to the raffle prizes, winning members were also given bunches of daffodils provided by Morrisons and Tesco, in anticipation of St David’s Day.

Over 25 members sat down to sandwiches, cakes and scones. The forum was founded in 2005, to provide information and give a voice to those over 50 on issues that affect their wellbeing.

Meetings are held every two months, usually on the last Wednesday of the month, in the Morlan Centre, at 2pm. Trips and outings are held in the intervening months.

The next meeting, the AGM, will be on Thursday, 28 March, at 2pm in the Morlan Centre.

The speaker will be Helena Herklots, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales. She will be talking about her work with and for older people. Please note the change of day from Wednesday to Thursday for this meeting. All over-50s are very welcome.

If you would like to join the forum or need more information, contact Mair Benjamin on 01970 615854 for details.

Holy Trinity Church

THERE are now nine very committed youngsters singing at the Children’s Choir practices at 4pm on Fridays.

David Cooper, who leads the choir, is delighted with the progress they have been making since the January restart, and by the enjoyment that they have been getting from the weekly practices.

The choir was offered an afternoon off on St David’s Day as it was part of the school half term but the children had other ideas and eight of them turned up for choir practice as usual!

Mothering Sunday this year falls on Sunday, 31 March, and the children will be making a special contribution to the 11am Mothering Sunday Service by singing Michael Hurd’s Jonah Man Jazz, a very enjoyable piece for children which recounts the Old Testament story of Jonah and the Whale.

Michael Hurd’s music includes some narration of the story and this will be undertaken by the children of the Holy Trinity Sunday Club, making the service even more special. David is augmenting the small adult Holy Trinity choir and they will be singing the Rutter Gaelic Blessing in the service.

A warm welcome is extended to all to this special service especially to families with young children.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club

FRIDAY, 22 February: 1, Gabor Gelleri and John Holmes; 2, Sue Sherman and Pam Woodhouse; 3, Mike Jones and Alan Stein.

Sunday, 10 February: 1, Yuan Shen and Mike Tedd; 2, Gabor Gelleri and John Holmes; 3, Mike Jones and Alan Stein.

Friday, 1 March: Joint 1, Andrew Loat and Joyce Blair/Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones; 2, Sue Sherman and Margaret Ellis.

Sunday, 3 March: 1, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas; 2, Sue Sherman and Margaret Ellis; 3, Alan Stein and Mike Jones.

Friday, 10 March: 1, Jean Harrison and Mair Jenkins; 2, Andrew Loat and Jeff Thomas; 3, Mike Jones and Alan Stein.

Plascrug Bridge Club

12 FEBRUARY: 1, Betty Brookes and Mike Jones; 2, Margaret Ellis and Sue Sherman; 3, Agnes McKenzie and Mary Jones.

19 February: 1, Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 2, Mair Jenkins and Jacqui Roberts; 3, Doreen Anthony and Dylan Raw-Rees.

26 February: 1, John Holmes and Alan Stein; 2, Betty Brookes and Mike Jones; 3, Pamela Woodhouse and Margaret James

5 March: 1, Pamela Woodhouse and Margaret James; 2, Alan Stein and John Holmes; 3, Joyce Blair and Jean Harrison.

12 March: 1, Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 2, Sue Sherman and Lynda Crawford; 3, Mary Jones and Agnes McKenzie.

Parkinson UK

AT the monthly meeting at Neuadd y Waun, the chairman welcomed the members. Anerin Hughes, the well-known actor, has agreed to open the coffee morning in April.

The Tai Chi class is going well; they have had four lessons so far.

The weekend trip to Llandudno will most probably cost £230.

The speaker was Ray Williams, who used to be a vet in Gloucester, but has retired to Cilcennin. Last year he organised the Wales, Ohio visit to Aberaeron, a week’s events to celebrate 200 years of the emigration of people from Cardiganshire in the 19th century to Ohio. He was responsible for organising the concert on the square in Aberaeron last June.

Ray went to Aberaeron County School and used to milk cows 100 yards from TyGlyn Aeron at Blaenconell Organic Farm. He spoke to Herberts the vet in Aberaeron, who asked him what he wanted to do, and they advised him to be a vet and he went to Brunel University as a biologist and played rugby in London.

At the end of his course he had a job in a Vets in Malbury and when he left, the firm had grown from 17 vets to 35. He had to deal with an Elephant, and got information from the circus in Longleat, he found dealing with Parrots awkward, as Male and Females were so alike and difficult to decide. He looked after all sorts of animals.

When he retired he bought the old home and came back to Cilcennin, and is very busy in the village apart from organising the Cymru Ohio events with his friend Arwel Jones and organised 18 events in the week and has been very busy for 10 years since returning home.

Liz Nichol thanked Ray for a very interesting talk.

Names were taken for the Bochia games in Bala in April.

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