THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

War Memorial Trust

THE latest round of grant applications were recently considered by the War Memorial trustees.

The trust helps sports clubs and organisations in the Aberystwyth area as well as supporting individual applicants under the age of 23 has been operating for over 40 years.

A varied collection of aspiring grantees included four groups and eight individuals.

Aberystwyth Swimming Club required funding to take their elite swimmers to the nearest 50m pool which is located in Swansea.

Aberystwyth Cricket Club were helped to form and support a new initiative with the creation of a ladies cricket team, as well as maintaining the development of young cricketers in the 9-aa age group.

The Aberystwyth Brass Band Ensemble had a grant for their forthcoming visit to our twin town of Kronberg.

A different group of youngsters were also in receipt of funding for that trip to Kronberg.

Under the banner of secondance, schools Penglais & Penweddig.

Rugby player Josh Hathaway was helped with his Scarlets child development.

Gymnast Owen Jac Roberts will compete on the national stage during the summer.

Swimmer Holley Alice Jones will continue her competitive programme with visits to a number of galas.

Musician, Eleanor Mathias will undertake more tuition during the summer.

Zoe Walsh will be extending her appreciation of work in Africa on her pursuit of veterinary status.

Glin Meredith will be helping young people in the Figian countryside.

The grants were presented and hosted by chairman Alun John and secretary/treasurer Anthony Evans.

Long-standing trustee W Wynne Hughes was acclaimed for his contribution as trust member and chairman on his retirement.

St David’s Church, Bath Street

SUNDAY, 14 July: 10.30am, Rev Ifan Roberts; 6pm, evening service communion with Rev Adrian Williams.

Beekeepers Association

THE last meeting took place on Friday, 28 June, and was the association’s annual social outing to the garden at Bwlch y Geuffordd, at Bronant.

Members were warmly welcomed by Mr and Mrs Acres to their garden, and with three acres of gardens to walk around, it proved to be a very enjoyable visit which concluded with tea and a chat with plenty to bee talk.

The next meeting of the association on Tuesday, 16 July, in the Waun Fawr Community Hall at 7pm, is a talk by Phil Springham on Swarm Control using the Taranov Method.

Further information on the association’s activities over the season are available from Ann Ovens, the secretary, on 01970 832359.

Gwerin Aber Folk

GWERIN Aber Folk took place on 3 July at Ceredigion Coliseum Museum.

The club welcomed a large number of visitors who were attending the Aberystwyth International Ceramics Festival and they brought along a musician.

The evening comprises of: percussive guitarist, George Nash who did an excellent set of three tunes; Heather with some poems from the current poet Laureate, Simon Armitage; ceramics visitor Abdullah came entertained with tunes played on a Rawap, a traditional Uyghur Chinese musical instrument originally from Kashgar in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, Western China; John Alderslade did a three-song set; another poem from Heather was followed by Mandy and Daniel, known collectively to many as Brenig; Keith on melodical; Heather (on ukulele) joined Keith and Brenig for a final set of sing-along songs which got everyone involved; Richard then concluded the evening with an acoustic song.

Do you enjoy most styles of folk and roots music? If so, why not join the next night on Wednesday, 17 July, in Ceredigion Coliseum Museum starting at 7.30pm - entrance free (doors open 7pm).

Aberystwyth and District Floral Society

GLENYS welcomed everyone to the evening.

A minute silence was held in respect of Lilian Hughes who was a faithful member and past chairman of the club, and a collection was held in her memory towards the British Heart Foundation.

The demonstrator for the evening was Jackie Lewis and title for the evening was Ladies Day (Ascot).

Her first display included a variety of greenery, tall leaves at the back, Spirea Bulmalda, Frosted Spruce and yew to contrast the colour to the hatand some Euonymus leaves and Peacock feathers to complete the arrangement.

Her second design used a cream hat, Contorted Willow, Hydrangea, some Rye and Cream Lisyanthus to create an all-round arrangement.

Her third design, titled ‘The Gold Cup’ included a sprayed Bird Bath Stand.

Her fourth design began was a Hamper Basket, decorated with a few pieces of dried fruit and raffia which contained a Bottle of Prosecco and glasses.

Her fifth design used pale Purple Aliums and red Gerberas.

The next meeting will be a workshop with Jacqui Cooper on 16 July.

For further information, contact Donald Morgan, president, at Blodau’r Bedol on 01974 202233 or [email protected].

Plascrug sports day

THE annual inter house sports day was held recently on the Vicarage Playing Fields.

The children competed in a range of team and individual events and the winning team was Asaph with Teilo in second place, Dewi third and Deiniol in fourth place. This year’s Victor Ludorum was won by Carter Norris. The Victrix Ludorum was shared between Taylor Hathaway and Erin Yabsley.

The individual winners were as follows - Sprints: Part-time Nursery Boys: 1 Tai-Alexander Davies, 2 Ethan Jones, 3 James Dengate; Girls: 1 Olivia Parkes, 2 Mia Thomas, 3 Evanna Graison; Full-time Nursery Boys: 1 Harrison Wright, 2 Olly Thomas, 3 Zane Kobani; Girls Race A: 1 Gabriella Olidan-Manlucttao, 2 Ella Allman, 3 Maria Zubair; Race B: 1 Skylar Coates, 2 Elowen Baudey-Parry, 3 Robyn Thompson; Reception TE Boys: 1 Henry Heley, 2 Dylan Jones, 3 Ralph Burke; Girls: 1 Nia Hinchcliffe, 2 Sika Frimpong, 3 Freya Lee-Harris; Reception CR Boys: 1 Casper Kucharczak, 2 Connor Edwards, 3 Finlay Lawson; Girls: 1 Ffion Brigham, 2 Ella Krawec, 3 Rokaya Mohamed; Year 1 KH Boys: 1 Caleb Jackson-Edwards, 2 Cassius Spencer, 3 Joshua Thomas; Girls: 1 Daisy Arms/Alanna-Rae Morris, 3 Mollie Mleczek; Year 1 AR Boys: 1 Dion Hunter-Cargill, 2 Yannis Tome, 3 Bowen Shanley; Girls: 1 Deborah Akpokodje, 2 Ffion Duncanson, 3 Phoebe Perry; Year 2 ARB Boys: 1 Luther Jones, 2 Stef Jonczyk, 3 Cory Standing; Girls: 1 Isla Johnson, 2 Sophia Tee, 3 Ava Abberton; Year 2 NT Boys: 1 Edward Duller, 2 Mayas Karkoubi, 3 Peyton James; Girls: 1 Imani Jones Newton, 2 Sienna Jones, 3 Grante Burlegaite; Year 3 Boys: 1 Oliver, 2 David Akpokodje, 3 Xavier Kobani; Girls: 1 Oluchi Okoro/Poppy Arms, 3 Chloe Campbell; Year 4 Boys: 1 Daniel, 2 Sol Watkins, 3 Zak Ernst; Girls: 1 Rhiannon Duncanson, 2 Fatimah Aal-Yhia, 3 Ruby Richards; Year 5 Boys: 1 Kai Tenner; 2 Evan Wells, 3 Tristan Warrender; Girls: 1 Anne-Marie Kobani, 2 Chisimidi Sopuluchukwu, 3 Erin Yabsley; Year 6 Boys: 1 Carter Norris, 2 Cayden Summers, 3 Daniel Warrender; Girls: 1 Taylor Hathaway, 2 AlbaMei Serra Thapa, 3 Tala Ismail. 800m - Year 5 Boys: 1 Daniel Warrender, 2 Oz Wilkins, 3 Dan Smith; Girls: 1 Erin Yabsley, 2 Anne-Marie Kobani, 3 Chisimidi Sopuluchukwu; Year 6 Boys: 1 Mackie Lawlor, 2 Sam Ormerod-Hitchin, 3 Misha FoxMaderson; Girls: 1 Abigail Valentine, 2 Elan Jones, 3 Mili Davies. Throwing - Year 3 Boys: 1 David Akpokodje, 2 Evan Pike, 3 Oliver Field; Girls: 1 Chloe Campbell, 2 Oluchi Okoro, 3 Fifi Feruglio; Year 4 Boys: 1 Yousef Badawa, 2 Theo Lucas, 3 Callen Prichard; Girls: 1 Hassini Bejgum, 2 Enya Landon, 3 Alana Shepherd/Seren Lloyd; Year 5 Boys: 1 Joe Wood, 2 Kai Tenner, 3 Finlay Marshall; Girls: 1 Anne Marie Kobani, 2 Macy Turner, 3 Erin Yabsley; Year 6 Boys: 1 Connor Yabsley, 2 Cayden Summers, 3 Billy Richards/Ben Field; Girls: 1 Isabelle Johnson, 2 Summer Essebbar, 3 Macy Morgan.

Long Jump - Year 3 Boys: 1 Oliver Field, 2 Sam Parry, 3 Ollie Williams; Girls: 1 Oluchi Okoro, 2 Eliza Purczynska, 3 Laura Purczynska; Year 4 Boys: 1 Liam Thomas, 2 Callen Prichard, 3 Daniel Dowse; Girls: 1 Rhiannon Duncanson, 2 Ruby Morel, 3 Sara Sallami; Year 5 Boys: 1 Evan Wells, 2 Steffan Du Parry, 3 Joe Wood; Girls: 1 Erin Yabsley, 2 Jazlin Van Son, 3 Calina Allen; Year 6 Boys: 1 Carter Norris, 2 Connor Yabsley, 3 Cayden Summers; Girls: 1 Taylor Hathaway, 2 Chloe Perry, 3 Kassia Walker-Penn.

High Jump - Year 3 Boys: 1 Xavier Kobani, 2 David Akpokodje, 3 Tomos Downing; Girls: 1 Chloe Campbell, 2 Eliza Purczynska, 3 Sarah Jones; Year 4 Boys: 1 Zak Ernst, 2 Mustafa Karkoubi, 3 Yousef Badawa; Girls: 1 Rhiannon Duncanson, 2 Kornelia Purczynska, 3 Annalisza Rees; Year 5 Boys: 1 Evan Wells, 2 Jo Wood, 3 Ioan Whall-Williams/Josh Jones Newton/Kai Tenner/Tristan Warrender/Anas Abdurrahman; Girls: 1 Chisimdi Sopuluchukwu, 2 Erin Yabsley, 3 Jazlin Van Son/ Calina Allen; Year 6 Boys: 1 Dylan Lloyd, 2 Carter Norris, 3 Tobenna Okoro; Girls: 1 Taylor Hathaway, 2 Chloe Perry, 3 Alba-Mei Serra Thapa.

Pictured:Steffan Davies, PE co-ordinator, presenting the trophies to the individual winners and Asaph House Captains Daniel Warrender and Martha Blair at the end of an excellent day’s competition.

Ramblers

IT was on a lovely sunny morning in late June that 46 Ramblers were picked up at 8am by coach from the leisure centre car park for their annual day trip.

This year’s trip was to the Brecon Beacons and the walks that were on offer to the Ramblers were all in the Crickhowell area.

Nineteen walkers chose the strenuous option of walking up the Sugarloaf Mountain starting from Glangrwyney and returning there by a different route. The leaders, David Billingsley and Bill Green took the walkers to the summit on an energetic nine-mile walk with an ascent of 1,800 feet, before returning through the Grwyney Fawr Valley and down to the River Usk. Dwynwen and Chris Belsey led the moderate option with 21 walkers taking to the hills and scaling Table Mountain or Crug Hywel with its Iron age Hill Fort on its summit and an ascent of 1,250 feet. Both walks had excellent visibility and the views of Pen y Fan, Blorange, Pen Cerrig Calch and the Llangattock Escarpment were breathtaking.

The flatter easier option was a delightful walk led by Roy Haynes along the River Usk in the Glanusk Estate before joining part of the Brecon and Monmouth Canal, allegedly one of the prettiest canals in Britain. Here again six walkers were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery, so green and verdant as they followed paths meandering along the river and the canal tow path. Both easier options allowed for some spare time in Crickhowell with the opportunity to explore this attractive town with its historical features and shops that are family businesses with their own unique stamp.

The day finished with a delicious buffet supper in the Elan Hotel in Rhayader en route to Aberystwyth.

Dave (01970 828815/07831 735208) will be leading a moderate grade 9.5-mile walk along the Wales Coast Path from Hells Mouth to Abersoch on Wednesday, 17 July. It is a particularly scenic bit of the coast path with views of Cardigan bay and St Tudwals Islands. Starting at Pwllheli bus station at 10.20am for the 10.30am service bus to Llanengan and returning from Abersoch to Pwllheli by bus around 4pm. There is also an 8.15am meet at Aberystwyth Leisure Centre car park for car sharing. No dogs please. Please contact leader if going.

A strenuous 11-mile walk on Saturday, 13 July, taking an unusual approach to the top of the Arans. They start in Cwm Dyniewyd, with its spectacular waterfall, and then head uphill to a grassy track on Darren Ddu. A tramp across rough moorland brings us to the final pull over Drysgol to Aran Fawddwy. They descend on a steep, grassy spur to Creiglyn Dyfi and then follow the outlet stream down. Meet at 10am in the car park in Dinas Mawddwy (SH858149) for a car share to Llanymawddwy or at 9am at Plascrug Leisure Centre. Please contact leader Jacky (01654 761561 or 07929 062412) if coming. No dogs please as this is sheep country.

On Sunday, 14 July, Aberystwyth Ramblers are walking within the parish of Trefeurig. Meet at leisure centre at 9.15am or Penrhyncoch Football club at 9.45am. This is a moderate grade circular walk of 6.5miles along country lanes, tracks and fields passing some disused mines and shafts. The route will pass Cwm Bwa to Tyn Gelli then a steep climb near the old school at Trefeurig, before heading towards Gellinebwen and Rhosgoch back to start point.

All welcome but please no dogs as we may encounter farm animals. Contact Alan on 01970 828854 or Glynne on 01970 625244.

Bibliographical group

ONCE again this year the Bibliographical Group’s annual outing was accompanied by hot sunshine.

The trip on Saturday, 29 June, was to the most natural destination for bibliophiles – the book town, HayonWye. After coffee at The Granary they made their way to The Story of Books, a dynamic working museum in Castle Street. They were welcomed by one of the staff, Graeme Hobbs, who told them about the various projects the museum is involved in, including an audio performance in Normandy as part of the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. He went on to show them the wide-range of beautiful private-press publications for sale in the museum, including a number of books printed at the Old Stile Press in Monmouthshire, which we visited last year.

Members were then free to explore the many bookshops for which Hay is internationally famous, before re-convening for a delicious lunch at The Swan. There was time after lunch to make some final purchases before leaving the sunshine in Hay and returning to Aberystwyth in the gathering mist.

The Bibliographical Group’s next programme of lectures will begin on Tuesday, 22 October, at 6.30pm, when Peter Jones, librarian of King’s College, Cambridge, will speak on Magic tricks, handy tips, healing charms: collecting experiments in the Middle Ages.

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

50+ Forum

AT the last meeting of the forum, Mark Williams, MP for Ceredigion from 2005 to 2017, spoke about his involvement with issues affecting older people since leaving Westminster.

He expressed his concern about care in the community but he did not mean the way services are delivered in people’s homes. His concern is for elderly people being looked after by relatives and other unpaid carers with inadequate support, who are saving the country thousands and thousands of pounds, together with others who have little or no help. He gave several examples that had been brought to his attention in the week before the meeting.

He said that there are thousands of care needs which need addressing but which have been neglected over the past three years because of our obsession with Brexit. He feels a point has been reached where enough is enough and that we must be bold. If we want a decent health service with good social care, we must pay for it. If taxes are cut, as many politicians propose, then services have to be cut. He thinks that if it were made clear on pay slips where the money was going, people would pay it.

He then talked about the crossparty group that he had chaired to try to save the Bodlondeb Care Home. There is a shortage of care home beds in the county and he thinks it important that Council care homes are kept open. The council argues that people want care in the home but when he was in Parliament lots of people asked him for care homes. The case for Bodlondeb was lost despite a great deal of support and he sees this as the thin end of the wedge.

He now chairs the North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care, which grew out of the Bodlondeb group. Its remit is to keep a watching eye on the County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board in relation to care for older people.

The forum for elderly care recently proposed a public meeting about the issue of care for older people in north Ceredigion and invited representatives from Hywel Dda and Ceredigion County Council. Hywel Dda accepted the invitation but representatives from Ceredigion County Council refused to come because it was a public meeting. Mark told how he was advised early on in his Parliamentary career never to turn down an invitation to address the public. He thinks it shameful that the Council has done this. It’s the job of Councillors to answer questions from the public about issues that affect them.

Since leaving Parliament, he has returned to teaching and regularly takes his class of 10 and 11-yearolds to a local care home to meet and talk with the residents. He is also involved in making Borth a dementia friendly community.

The meeting finished with a questions ranging from the cost of the proposed re-opening of the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway line, the rationale for the new station at Bow Street to the proposed closure of the hospital in Tregaron - as well as questions on the issues he had addressed. Mark’s conclusion was that it was all a question of priorities.

One member of the Forum summed it up: “Why can’t the professionals see the need, when we can.”

The next meeting of the Forum is at 2pm on Wednesday, 31 July, in the Morlan Centre, when it is hoped to have a speaker from the health board.

All welcome.

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