THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

From Leuven to Llanbadarn

THE annual sung Mass in the Welsh language in honour of Saint Padarn who brought Christianity to this area of Wales more than 1,500 years ago was celebrated in Llanbadarn Church on Saturday, 27 April, by F Allan Jones who had travelled from Leuven in Belgium.

He was ably assisted by Sandro Cairns of Aberystwyth who has been an altar server in the Catholic Parish of Aberystwyth for more than 30 years at St Winefride’s and also more recently at Welsh Martyrs church.

Fr Allan warmly welcomed the congregation and, basing his sermon on the Scripture Readings and on the life of Saint Padarn, he encouraged everyone to be supportive of one another and of the wider community.

It was particularly pleasing that the Mass was attended not only by Catholics, but also by several Church in Wales and Nonconformist ministers and friends who all share in Ceredigion’s rich Christian heritage.

Gweithgor Padarn Sant (St Padarn’s Working Group) and Y Cylch Catholig, who jointly organised the Mass, are very grateful to the vicar and parishioners of Llanbadarn Fawr for allowing them to use their beautiful church for this occasion, and also to Michelle Ellmore and staff of The Black Lion, Llanbadarn for the buffet which was enjoyed after the Mass. Pictured: Dr. Caroline Maybury, Ronald Keating (chair of Y Cylch Cathloig) Fr Allan Jones, CRIC and Sandro Cairns.

Rotary Club

‘MY life in television’ was the subject of a talk by Dinah Jones to the Rotary Club’s meeting in Easter week.

Dinah, from Cribyn, is an independent TV producer and director of a number of award-winning documentaries in both Welsh and English.

Among Silin’s recent productions was Lost for Words, a BBC Wales TV series which followed Beti George caring for her partner, former broadcaster and dementia patient David Parry-Jones. The series has been widely acclaimed as a “portrait of love, loss, and kindness”, and has helped to give home carers ‘a voice’.

Silin’s mission is to bring history and stories alive through exciting and popular documentaries, as exemplified by Ysbïwr yn y Teulu, which followed the late First Minister Rhodri Morgan’s quest into the story of his relative Professor Morgan Watkin, an academic and linguist who had been covertly involved in British espionage during World War One.

Another intriguing wartime documentary was Annie’s War, on the experiences of a Welsh nurse on the Western Front.

Ramblers

TO mark the seven years since the launch of the Wales Coast Path, Ramblers Cymru will be celebrating with a seven-day walking festival between 4 and 19 May, from north to south Wales, including hidden parts of the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire coast.

On 11 May, Aberystwyth Ramblers will be leading a peaceful seven-mile circular walk taking in coves, woodlands and wildlife with spectacular coastal views.

After a steep climb up from Cwmtydu on the coast path towards Llangrannog you’ll feel you’ve escaped all the hustle and bustle of life.

The scenery is breathtaking with views out to sea and over Ynys Lochtyn, a tidal island off the coast of Cardigan Bay.

The walk will then veer away from the coast through fields and then along a woodland track to a beautiful forest area with a steep drop on one side.

The walk will then continue back to the coast path and back to Cwmtydu, where participants of this walk will get together with other walkers for refreshments at Cwmtydu’s new bunkhouse, T? Cwch.

To join the walk meet 8.30am at the Leisure Centre or 9.30am at T? Cwch, Cwmtydu SN 355574 to register.

For more information contact Wyck at 01545 560499.

U3A

AT the meeting in April, Elgan Davies gave a colourful account of the history and use of the Old College via various statues.

He highlighted the commercial folly of the original building design as a hotel and the success of the university regarding fundraising.

Many anecdotes emerged, including the probably unsuccessful gender separation of students, and the vandalism of the new statue of the University Chancellor (then the Prince of Wales, later to be Edward V11).

The statue remains outside the Old College and is the only full-length statue of the monarch in the world.

The next meeting will be on 16 May at 2.30pm, in the Morlan Centre.

Roger Boyle will give a talk with the title of “Fast, clean, quiet public transport - why a Victorian innovation failed”.

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