THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Rotary Club

GERAINT Roberts of the Vale of Rheidol Railway gave the Club an interesting illustrated outline of the history and the ongoing development of the railway which had become a major and widely known tourist attraction, contributing sustantially to the local economy.

s he explained, the origin of the railway was based on the movement of freight, including the transportation of mineral ore from the mines to Aberystwyth harbour .

Parliamentary approval for the construction of the line was granted in 1897. It was completed by 1901 but suffered a setback when the first train was derailed, on its inaugural trip. Also, the promoters’ early ambition to extend the line to Aberaeron failed to achieve sufficient funding. The narrow gauge line, along the Rheidol valley from Devil’s Bridge, was opened for passengers and freight in 1902; it was later taken over by the Cambrian Railways which owned the standard gauge lines to Oswestry, Shrewsbury and along the Cambrian Coast. The ‘Cambrian’ in turn became part of the Great Western Railway, and after nationalisation of railways in 1948 the Vale of Rheidol was the one narrow gauge service run by British Railways. From 1968 it remained the only steam-operated service on the network.

When the state-owned service decided to sell the line, it was taken over by Peter Rampton, who has died very recently, and due to his efforts, investment, and enthusiasm, the line had seen a revival. A number of steam locomotives had been bought for restoration, and there were plans to house the collection in a museum at Aberystwyth. A number of engines, some of which had come from South Africa and America, were currently undergoing restoration.

Old photographs shown by Geraint illustrated how the Aberystwyth terminus had been relocated several times. The original station was on land which is now the Football Ground car park - with a branch along the river to the harbour quay. It was later moved to a site adjacent to the main station; then to the platforms formerly used by the Carmarthen line which closed in 1965. The latest development was the opening of a new station which, along with the carriages, reflected the traditional GWR colour scheme of chocolate and cream (with engines painted dark green). More recent photographs illustrated well the scenic attraction of the line, and its huge appeal.

Ramblers

ON Saturday, 17 August, there will be an eightmile walk of great variety exploring the stunning landscape lying between the Mawddach Estuary and the Cadair Idris range, offering superb views and hidden gems.

The route follows the Afon Arthog up a narrow wooded gorge past waterfalls, then heads to Cregennan Lakes.

It continues along a wide upland valley, then descends to follow the River Gwynant down an attractive wooded valley to the Mawddach Trail. Moderately strenuous.

Meet at 8.30am at Plascrug Leisure Centre or 10am in the Snowdonia National Park Authority car park, Arthog (grid reference SH 640148). Enquiries to Timothy Cutts (01970 617506) or Haydn Foulkes (01970 828889). No dogs please.

John (01970 832525) will be leading a moderately graded six-mile walk on Sunday, 18 August, for Aberystwyth Ramblers from the Maes yr Awel Play Area in Ponterwyd (grid reference SN 751808).

The main car sharing meet is at 10am in the Plascrug Leisure Centre car park.

The route takes in the George Borrow Hotel, the dramatically situated Parson’s Bridge in the Rheidol Gorge then climbs up to the Myherin moorland ridge which it then follows before the descent back to the start.

No dogs please.

Gwerin Aber Folk

ON 7 August at Ceredigion Coliseum Museum, it was expected to be a little special as they were giving over half of the evening to young local musician George Nash who was launching his first ever CD, Shades of Colour.

Visitors from Shrewsbury, amongst other places, joined local club members, making for a very well attended evening, the museum being quite comfortably full.

The evening started with songs by Brenig, Ben Maxted, Keith, visitors Paul and Angela (Angela’s Sunset) and John Alderslade.

This was followed by the first of two longer sets by George Nash. They normally hear George playing purely acoustically, but this evening he treated them to playing that was immaculate, exciting and sensitive.

His percussive style was supported by the very controlled and clever use of electronic devices that gave the impression that they were listening to a trio rather than a solo artist.

After a short break, Sue Butler (visiting from Shrewsbury) played and sung with audience participation and was followed by Jon Bell on concertina.

Visitors Paul and Angela, now accompanied by Angela’s brother performed more songs.

Then, over to George again.

More really skillful playing entertained until 10pm.

George played many of the tunes from his CD, plus a couple he has lined up for the next one!

The audience was full of praise and applause and inevitably, George was asked to play an encore.

Daniel Laws (acting as MC) said: “George’s performance was top drawer”.

George won the Young Musician of Dyfed in 2017 and they all wondered where George’s skills and enthusiasm would be taking him in later years as he goes through life.

Do you enjoy most styles of folk and roots music? If so, why not join the next night on Wednesday, 21 August, Ceredigion Coliseum Museum starting at 7.30pm - entrance free (doors open 7pm).

Visitors from Esquel

THREE members of the Asociacion Galesa de Esquel paid an official visit to Aberystwyth last week to mark the 10th anniversary of the twinning between the two towns.

During their visit, Silvia Williams (president of the association), Cristina Jones (secretary) and Ivor Roberts (treasurer), accompanied by Sra Silvia Jones, were received in the town hall, where they were given a very warm welcome by the mayor, Mari Turner, the clerk to the council, Gweneira Raw-Rees, and several councillors.

The mayor emphasised the importance of twinning links and expressed her delight at plans to strengthen and develop those links with Esquel.

She then presented the visitors with the town shield and a print showing the various landmarks of Aberystwyth (see photo).

Sra Williams thanked Mari and all present for their cordial welcome and their gifts and in return presented the town council with a silver tray, engraved with a message of friendship from the town council of Esquel, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the twinning charter.

Sra Cristina Jones then presented Stephen Tooth, chair of AEPPA, with a love spoon carved in Esquel incorporating a sample of local Mapuche weaving.

Later in the week, members of CPPAE/AEPPA entertained the visitors to a dinner in Tafarn y Maes, Capel Bangor, where all three languages Welsh, Spanish and English - were spoken.

The Esquelenses subsequently made their way to Llanrwst, where they were to attend the National Eisteddfod.

Beekeepers’ Association

THE last meeting of the association took place on the afternoon of Sunday, 4 August, and continued the association’s policy of organising a diverse programme of meetings for its members.

Twenty beekeepers were in the Waunfawr Community Hall for a meeting on the subject of insect pollinators. It was lead by a very knowledgeable and competent young entomologist George Riley who began the meeting with a power point presentation on the subject. After about half an hour, the party travelled down to the Penglais campus of the university where a small area of grassland near the sports centre has been sown with plants of value to pollinating insects, and all were surprised by the number of different insects found.

The meeting concluded with a return to the community hall for tea and cakes and a summing up session by George on the value of recording the different pollinating insects seen over the season.

Three association members have recently been in the news. Kathleen Keirle and Tracy Harper, both newcomers to the craft, recently passed the BBKA Module 3 exam and were presented with their certificates at the July meeting. Tracy Harper also won several prestigious awards at the recent centenary Royal Welsh Show, winning the: WBKA Challenge Trophy, awarded to the exhibitor gaining the highest number of points in the combined open and closed classes; The WBKA Honey Challenge trophy, awarded to the best display of hive products suitable for a shop window; The H J Evans Perpetual Challenge Trophy; and a RWAS Silver Diploma awarded by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society to the exhibitor gaining the highest number of points is all sections of the honey show. Rarely does a single competitor win all three of these awards in the same year, and it shows the tremendous skill and commitment Tracy has brought to beekeeping.

Last but by no means least, the association’s master beekeeper, Lynfa Davies, has recently been awarded a National Diploma in Beekeeping. This Diploma has been in existence for 70 years and only 90 have been awarded. Lynfa is only the second Welsh beekeeper to receive it.

More information on the association’s activities over the coming autumn and winter is available from Ann Ovens, the secretary, on 01970 832359.

National Trust

THE Ceredigion Association of National Trust members programme for the remainder of 2019 includes a variety of interesting events commencing with a visit to Croft Castle and Berrington Hall on Sunday, 8 September.

On Friday, 27 September, they have the pleasure of welcoming author M R Hall, an award winning screenwriter and crime novelist to a literary lunch at The Falcondale Hotel, Lampeter.

Other functions include the AGM on Thursday, 17 October, annual lunch at the Marine Hotel on 13 November and a celebration of Christmas on Monday, 2 December at Ysbyty Cynfyn Church near Ponterwyd.

Please check out the new website as members and also those wishing to join the association.

St David’s Church, Bath Street

SUNDAY, 18 August: 10.30am, Beti Wyn Holmes. No evening service.

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