THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Choral society

THE society held a social fundraising coffee morning in the Waunfawr Community Hall on Saturday, 16 November, with the usual range of stalls.

This was very well supported and organiser, Liz Kelly, was able to inform the choir, during the break in last Tuesday evening’s rehearsal, that over £450 had been raised for the society’s funds, which will be used to offset some of the considerable expenditure involved in staging a full-scale concert with professional orchestra, soloists and conductor.

Recent Tuesday evening rehearsals in the Old Hall, Old College, for the forthcoming Christmas concert on Saturday, 14 December, have been particularly well attended.

With the choir really beginning to produce the sounds that conductor David Russell Hulme is looking for, in both the Faure Requiem and the Finzi In Terra Pax, in addition he introduced the choir to a piece by Rutter As the Bridegroom to his Chosen, thus ensuring that concert goers in the area can look forward to a really memorable concert in just under a month’s time.

The choir will be joined by two soloists for the concert, the soprano Jeni Bern and the baritone, Wyn Pencarreg.

Further information on the society and its forthcoming Christmas concert is available from the chairperson, June Wilson, on 07852 188184.

Cyngerdd carolau

BYDD Côr ABC yn cynnal ei cyngerdd carolau blynyddol yn seiliedig ar draddodiad yr ?yl Naw Llith a Charolau nos Sul, 8 Rhagfyr am 8yh yn Eglwys Padarn Sant, Llanbadarn Fawr.

Mae’r côr yn estyn gwahoddiad i drigolion Aberystwyth a’r cylch ymuno i ddathlu’r Nadolig gyda rhaglen o garolau traddodiadol a cherddoriaeth yr Adfent.

Bydd cyfle hefyd i’r gynulleidfa ymuno â’r côr i ganu carol neu ddwy ac i fwynhau pwnsh poeth a mins peis ar ôl y cyngerdd.

Bydd mynediad am ddim, gyda chasgliad er budd Hosbis Dydd HAHAV.

Cambrian Floral Society

ON Friday, 15 November, there was a very well attended audience to see John James give a demonstration entitled ‘My Love of Music’.

He was introduced by the secretary, Marian Weston, who said that John had another string to his bow, that in his youth he had been a violin player.

The demonstration started with an arrangement in wire using large white and orange lilies with sheets of music running through the design. The second design was within a magnificent piece of driftwood comprising long stems of ivy and a terracotta shade of roses. The mood for this arrangement was dancing and a figurine of a dancing pair was used as an accessory. For his third design he used a large metal treble clef as an accessory to his all white theme, using white lilies, chrysanthemums and dianthus.

For his fourth design, which was arranged in a large pinholder, a harp was surrounded by yellow roses (as daffodils are not available just yet), and large blooms of white chrysanthemums.

To conclude his demonstration he brought out a treasured possession handed down from his late mother, a 100-year-old violin, which she played as a young girl in an orchestra. Following in her footsteps John also played this violin in the school orchestra.

The asymmetric design was in John’s favourite autumnal colours, using copper beech, orange gladioli, orange and red gerbera, bronze and yellow chrysanthemums and included in the arrangement was the violin’s bow.

The tea hostesses for the evening were Pat Edwards and Sylvia Morgan. Ann Bates gave the vote of thanks.

The next event is a Christmas demonstration by Jan Lawrence of Welshpool. The demonstration will take place on Friday, 6 December at Llanbadarn church hall, 7pm for 7.30pm.

Admission is £10 to include seasonal refreshments.

Ramblers

THE ramble on 7 December is a delightful moderately strenuous walk around the Caban Coch Reservoir in the Elan Valley.

Starting at the visitor centre, it will pass the Nant-y Gro Dam, used to test explosives for the Dam Busters during the Second World War before ascending up to Ty’n y Pant.

The walk will carry on past the pretty Dolymynach Reservoir to Llanerch Cawr.

There is then a further ascent through Coed Lan Fraith and Coed Aberelen before descending near Nantgwyllt Church and returning to the visitor centre on a tarmac path alongside the Caban Coch Reservoir.

There are some lovely views and refreshments will be available at the end of the walk in the visitor centre.

The walk is seven miles long with two areas of ascent and commences at the visitor centre in the Elan Valley, SN928646 at 10.15am.

Meet at Plascrug Leisure Centre at 9am. If you intend joining this walk please contact the leaders, Chris and Dwynwen, on 01970 820166; no dogs are allowed on this walk except assistance dogs.

NHS Retirement Fellowship

ON 11 November, Jean Napier gave an engaging talk on Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli).

Just two miles by one mile off the tip of the Ll?n Peninsula, this island is surrounded by caves and gets all the weather. There is a boat service. Of the 20 times Jean attempted to get to the island, 19 were not possible. People stopped living there when there were not enough men to man the rowing boats. A migratory stop for birds, nowadays the visitors are mainly birdwatchers. Shearwaters take over the rabbit burrows, emerging only at night to avoid predatory gulls. Last year the regular colony of seals suffered as a result of the ‘Beast from the East’. In the Abbey ruins the medieval bones of pilgrims regularly appear and are reburied in Aberdaron Church. A vote of thanks was given by Margaret Evans.

Members will meet on Friday, 6 December for their annual lunch at the Richmond Hotel.

St David’s Church

SUNDAY, 8 December: Rev Eifion Roberts at 10am; no evening service.

North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care

THE November meeting of the North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care took place on 21 November at Aberystwyth Town Council offices.

The meeting was chaired by vice-chair Lisa Francis and was addressed by Peter Skitt, Hywel Dda University Health Board county director for Ceredigion. Mr Skitt gave an outline of how in future, more community-based care, is to be delivered through a series of integrated care centres, such as the new one in Aberaeron and the one opening soon in Cardigan. He was also able to offer reassurance regarding the future of the Cylch Caron Extra Care Housing project in Tregaron. Mr Skitt informed the forum that a new developer had been found and he expressed his confidence in the scheme being completed within three years. On other matters, forum members expressed an uncertainty as to how the new Porth Gofal scheme for requesting community services operates and it was decided that the forum contact Hywel Dda and the county council for information as to how to explain and promote the new scheme.

Dr Lucy Gough, chair of The Friends of Jasper House, was able to provide positive reports on the progress of the campaign to keep the home open.

The next meeting will be on 16 January 2020, at 7pm in Aberystwyth Town Council offices.

Beekeepers Association

THE November meeting took place on 19 November in the Waunfawr Community Hall.

Over 30 members were present to hear a talk by Richard Spencer on bees wax.

All present enjoyed a very informative and interesting talk covering things such as how bees produce wax and use it for the storage of their honey crop, and rearing brood in the hive.

After his talk there was a short demonstration of the cutting and packaging of that most sought-after delicacy honeycomb.

The final meeting for 2019 will be the Christmas social and quiz on Tuesday, 17 December at 7pm at Waunfawr Community Hall.

All beekeepers and people interested in taking up the craft are welcome.

Further information on the association can be obtained from Ann Ovens, the secretary, on 01970 832359.

U3A

AT the meeting in November, Milly Jackdaw entertained members and guests with combined storytelling, music, poetry and songs to give a stimulating performance to the imagination.

Milly included the legend of Taliesin, the chief bard in the courts of at least three kings of Britain, believed to have lived between the year 534 and 599 and associated with the book of Taliesin, a text from the 10th century containing his poems.

Refreshments were then offered and an announcement of the next meeting at the Morlan Centre on 19 December at 2.30pm with the title ‘A Solstice Celebration’ featuring U3A member groups who will entertain members and guests.

Seasonal refreshments will also be available. All welcome.

Cymdeithas yr Aelwyd

NOS Wener, 22 Tachwedd, roedd hi’n noson oer a gwlyb ond i aelodau’r Aelwyd bu’n noson o fwynhad pur yng nghwmni Bois y Rhedyn o Llanddewi Brefi.

Roedd y Bois yn eu hwyliau wrth iddynt forio canu nifer o ganeuon adnabyddus i gyfeiliant Delyth Lloyd Jones.

Cyflwynwyd ambell sgets ddoniol gafodd y gynulleidfa’n chwerthin nes eu bod yn wan ac yn eu dyblau – fydd mathemateg byth yr un peth eto!

Cadeirydd y noson oedd Gwynfor Jones, gafodd ei dynnau mewn i un o’r caneuon hwyliog ond methodd a chanu nodyn oherwydd ei fod yn chwerthin gymaint.

Nos Wener, 29 Tachwedd, Delyth Fletcher oedd ein cadeirydd a chroesawodd Morfudd Bevan Jones, prif guradur celf Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.

Testun sgwrs Morfudd oedd gweithiau’r artist John Elwyn o fewn casgliadau’r llyfrgell. Cartref plentyndod yr arlunydd oedd Melin Wlân Elwyn yn Adpar a gwelir dylanwad yr ardal honno ar ei weithiau. Dangosodd Morfudd hefyd sut y dylanwadodd artistiaid fel Picasso arno wrth iddo feistroli arddulliau gwahanol.

Gelwir John Elwyn yn artist Dyfed a llwyddodd i ddehongli tirlun Ceredigion a’r de-orllewin fel y gwnaeth Kyffin Williams yn y gogledd-orllewin.

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