THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Bridge Club results

20 SEPTEMBER: 1, Margaret James and Pat Roe; 2, Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones; 3, Margaret Hathaway and Jeff Thomas.

22 September: 1, Pat Roe and Margaret James; joint 2, Jean Harrison and Mair Jenkins/Alan Stein and Mike Jones.

27 September: 1, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas; 2, Sue Sherman and Mike Jones; 3, Andrew Loat and Stephen Loat.

7 October: 1, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas; 2, Dai Hayes and Alan Stein; 3, Keith Bellamy and Gill Howells.

If you would like to learn to play Bridge or would like to have refresher lessons, contact Jeff Thomas: 01970 828765.

Ramblers

THE Aberystwyth Ramblers will be led on a moderate grade B walk of 7.5 miles from Tonfanau to Llwyngwril on Saturday, 19 October.

The meeting place in Aberystwyth will be the railway station at 8.20am to catch the 8.30am train to Dyfi Junction (ticket required to Tonfanau), where they will catch the Cambrian coast railway line to beyond Tywyn and then get off at the request stop of Tonfanau.

The walk will then go inland towards a stop at the pretty village of Llanegryn, taking in views of the Cambrian coast and of Snowdonia on the way.

After a break for lunch, the walk will descend with further views over Cardigan Bay to rejoin the Cambrian coast line train at the request stop of Llwyngwril in the afternoon.

The return journey will be by train to Machynlleth and then by train or bus back to Aberystwyth.

Please bring your bus pass for concessions if you have one.

No dogs on this walk please, with the exception of assistance trained dogs.

For further information contact the walk leader, David, on 01970 871057.

The Ramblers will be meeting on Saturday, 26 October, at 10.30am at Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre in the top car park (grid reference SN 718813). Card payment is required for parking.

Alternatively those who wish may meet up at Plascrug Leisure Centre at 10am.

Sue 07534889768 will be leading this moderate walk down the valley along forest tracks and a green lane to Goginan before a steep ascent and return to Nantyarian along the ridge track above Cwm Brwyno.

No dogs please (except registered assistance dogs by arrangement).

U3A

ON 19 September, the longstanding ex-curator of Ceredigion Museum Michael Freeman gave a historical talk on ‘Keeping the family alive, women in the 18th and 19th century Wales’.

Old postcards were screened for the audience to view the style of clothing of the time and many interesting facts were mentioned including the reference to Megan Lloyd George, a Welsh politician who became first female MP for a Welsh constituency.

Much emphasis was put on women’s work during that period with depictions of ladies tending to the fields, also crops and baskets of peat are seen being sold at nearby markets.

The men often travelled further away for their work, commonly in the mining or shipping industry.

The talk was very entertaining and the recording can be heard on the U3A web page plus information about other events and interest groups.

Further information cards and photos etc can be obtained from https//sublimewales.wordpress. com/ Michael Freeman’s web page.

On Thursday, 17 October, at 2.30pm at the Morlan, there is a return visit by Jennifer Cairns who will give a talk entitled ‘Old land and traditional spirits’: a celebration of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire ghost stories.

There is an annual subscription to join, but just £2 for a trial visit.

Rotary club

‘WILD life conflicts’ was the subject of Charlie Falzon’s talk at the last meeting of Aberystwyth Rotary Club.

Charlie, a former teacher, originally from Malta and currently living at Tre’r-ddôl, had worked on a project in India with forest managers and contributed to workshops on tiger management and conservation.

India is the home of 50 per cent of the world’s tiger population. However, the tiger population in natural habitats in Asia was under threat and had decreased by over 90 per cent over the last decade; there were now more Bengal tigers in captivity in the USA than living in the wild in India.

Poaching and illegal trading in wildlife products was a serious problem; animal parts were being sold at enormous prices. One of many aspects of this trade was that tiger bone is used as a component in some Chinese medicines.

Charlie gave some fascinating facts about tigers, including their breeding habits – usually one male would mate with three or four females. The average tiger weighed around 280 kilos and could leap a length of some 10 metres. They were fiercely protective of their territory, and can account for deaths and injury to humans. Tiger stripes are distinguishing features like human fingerprints, and can be used to facilitate camera trapping and detect evidence of illegal poaching and trading.

At the last meeting, Cynthia Whiting was awarded a Paul Harris Rotary Fellowship in recognition of her work with the Inner Wheel ladies’ organisation over many years, and of her support and fundraising activities for charitable organisations including ‘Blood Bikes’ and ‘Polio Plus’.

St David’s Church, Bath Street

SUNDAY, 20 October: Major Ray Hobbins am and pm.

Cambrian Floral Society

NEW programme, new venue, and new members - an encouraging start to the winter schedule of events.

Friday, 20 September, was their introductory social evening at the new venue, the church hall, Llanbadarn Fawr.

Before the evening got under way, the chairman, John James, presented all present with a copy of the audited accounts for the year.

Other matters relating to the future programme were also discussed.

After this short meeting, they were entertained to a demonstration by Ann Bates and Sue Ellis.

It was so encouraging to see how these two ladies had progressed during the year and had built up the confidence to demonstrate to an audience.

To follow, they had the opportunity to mix and enjoy refreshments that had been donated by Marian Weston.

To conclude the evening John James gave a short demonstration, and as usual, enthralled his audience by the ease by which he could create two very different designs in such a short space of time. All arrangements were raffled at the end of the evening.

The next meeting will be a workshop by Alex.

This will take place on Friday, 18 October, at 7pm at Llanbadarn Church Hall.

Further details and a worksheet can be obtained by phoning 890223 or direct from Alex at his shop in Chalybeate Street.

Parkinson UK

THE chairman welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of the Aberystwyth Parkinson Group at Waunfawr Community Hall.

It was almost the largest crowd to attend their monthly meetings with five members attending for their first meeting with Dawn McCinnes, from the Parkinson group.

The chairman referred to the loss of vicechair Judith Southgate from Aberaeron. Many members had attended her funeral at Llanerchaeron Church and some had gone to the crematorium in Aberystwyth afterwards. The members stood to honour Judith.

Shirley Sayer was nominated to replace her. A collection was made in memory of Judith.

The meeting started with the usual 20 minutes exercise.

The coffee clonc has now changed to the second Wednesday of the month from 10.30am until noon. It is going very well and is wel-attended.

They have decided to hold another one on the first Wednesday of the month, with it been a business meeting and the second Wednesday the Clonc one.

The members were glad to see their picture with Elin Jones AM in the Cambrian News last week. They had met her because everyone was worried about the recruitment of a Parkinson nurse, since Bethan had retired a year ago and nothing had happened.

The new Tai Chi classes in the Morlan on Wednesday afternoon is a massive success and a good crowd turn up every week.

The trip on the Devil’s Bridge train in August had been a great success. Sara Benton, who does the chocolate in the café, brought her equipment over to the woodland café to demonstrate her skills in producing the chocolate. The meeting on the Monday was well-attended, because the speaker was Dr Phil Jones the Parkinson specialist.

Many members feared Dr Jones was unable to attend owing to pressure of work, but with the problems arising with the retirement of Bethan the Parkinson nurse, it was not a surprise.

The members, although disappointed, were very relieved because Amanda Clair, who is the daughter of Peter and Michelle Clair worked with Dr Acanyeti and Fedrico and they had told her that they would like to meet the Parkinson group as they were lecturers in computer studies as the universities and wanted to research the Parkinson disease.

They discussed social activities, monitor heart rate, gather movements after medication and neuroscience.

Although it was only at the last moment that the meeting had been arranged, everybody agreed that it had been wonderful.

It was agreed to invite the two speakers back to the first meeting in January 2020.

The speaker on 28 October will be Erwyd Howells, who will talk about life as a shepherd.

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