The latest community news from around Aberystwyth

Sparkles Hoop Troupe fund-raiser

FUNDRAISERS have hulahooped up Aberystwyth’s Constitution Hill to raise funds for the Stand Up To Cancer research charity. Former Aberystwyth student Ellie Pilott, who is part of the Sparkles Hoop Troupe, hula-hooped with other members of the troupe and were aiming to raise at least £200. The fundraising event took place on Saturday, 22 October, the day after the troop performed at Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s Aberation. Ellie said: “I am doing this for my lovely mum and everyone else I have ever known who has battled this disease. Please dig deep.” Ellie, who is also known as Mama Hoops, co-founded the troupe, which is based in Cardiff. Anyone who would like to donate to the fundraising effort can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Elliecopter-Pilott

Cylch Cinio

JOHN Hughes oedd y siaradwr gwadd yng nghyfarfod mis Hydref o’r Cylch Cinio a gynhaliwyd yn y Clwb Rygbi ar nos Wener, 14 Hydref. Brodor o Gwyddelwern yw John yn wrei-ddiol, ond mae wedi ymgartrefu bellach gyda’i deulu yn Aberystwyth. Soniodd am ei waith fel aelod o staff Dysgu Bro ym Mhenparcau, canolfan sy’n darparu addysg i oedolion yn y gymdeithas ac am y manteision posibl i aelodau’r Cylch Cinio o safbwynt hyfforddiant mewn agweddau o dechnoleg. Ond, prif gynnwys ei sgwrs oedd ei ddiddordeb ysol yn Rwsia a’i phobl. Bu’n byw a gweithio yno am bum mlynedd ac yno y cyfarfu â’i wraig sydd erbyn hyn wedi setlo yn Aberystwyth ac yn dysgu Cymraeg. Cyflwynodd i ni ffordd o fyw pobol gyffre-din Rwsia, eu hagweddau, eu bwyd a’u diod a’u cartrefi a’u harferion o ddydd i ddydd. Lluniodd lun gwahanol iawn o’r ddelwedd o Rwsia a gyflwynir i ni yn barhaus ar y cyfryngau, sy’n codi cwestiwn mawr am wrthrychedd ein gwasanaethau newyddion. Diolchwyd iddo gan Hywel Wyn Jones, Llanrhystud ac enillydd y raffl oedd Wynne Melville Jones, Llanfihangel Genau’r Glyn. Bydd cyfarfod nesa’r Cylch Cinio yn ngwesty Llety Parc ar 11 Tachwedd a bydd croeso mawr i newydd ddyfodiaid.

Bibliographical Group

THE new programme of the Bibliographical Group began on Tuesday, 18 October with a lecture in the Octagon at St Paul’s Methodist Centre by Dr Karen Attar, Rare Books Librarian at the Senate House Library of the University of London. Dr Attar is the editor of the newly-published third edition of the Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The first edition of the Directory, published in 1985 by what was then the Library Associa-tion, was edited by Dr Moelwyn Williams, former Keeper of Printed Books at the National Library of Wales.Dr Attar’s paper gave a brief overview of special collections in the UK during the 20 years since the publication of the second edition of the Directory in 1997, and trends in special collections over that time. Collections have been bought and sold, institutions have closed or been merged, and collections not included in the first two editions have come to light. The speaker also provided an inside story of what it was like gathering information for the third edition, collating a vast number of responses from all corners of the British Isles, ranging from large collections in national and university libraries to 350 books on cement and concrete held in the library of the Concrete Society. No-one in the audience envied Dr Attar’s task of sending repeated reminders to libraries which had not responded, or the twelve-hour days she had worked during her Christmas holiday to prepare the book for publication. She concluded with her vision for the Directory to become a fully searchable online data-base, but stated that the fourth edition would not be edited by her!After the meeting, the group entertained the speaker to a well-deserved dinner at the Marine Hotel. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 15 November at 6.30pm in the National Library, when Prof David Wulstan will speak on Confronting the Messy MSS of Handel’s Messiah.

Rotary Club

THIS week’s guest at the club was Jane Thorogood who spoke of her role as volunteer co-ordinator of Aberystwyth Parkrun and Events Director of Junior Parkrun in Wales.

Since her first (very reluctant) Parkrun at the insistence of a family member, Jane has become an enthusiastic participant and has taken part in over 130 runs. Adults run over a 5 kilometre course and juniors (aged 4-14) over 2 kilometres. Participation in the runs has been increasing steadily over recent years (a 57 per cent increase in Junior runners in the UK last year).Last weekend, over 120,000 Parkruns were organised world-wide, with almost 2 million participants, assisted by more than 200,000 volunteers. In Aberystwyth, the Parkruns (for those aged over 14) are held at 9am each Saturday starting at the entrance to Plascrug park (the green gates near the bus station), followed by a hearty breakfast in the Rugby Club for all involved. Aberystwyth was the third Junior Parkrun to be established in Wales and its events begin at 9am each Sunday from the children’s play-ground in Plascrug. Last week, over 100 took part in the adult run and 30 in the Junior.Entry is free for all runners. It helps the organisers if runners register in advance on Parkrun.uk as this ensures that you turn up with a bar code which enables your time to be recorded on the website. Special coloured wristbands are given to those who take part in a number of runs equivalent to half marathons, marathons and ultra marathons, while distinctive t-shirts are given to those who help as volunteers at 25, 50 or 100 events.

The Parkrun team at Aberystwyth is always looking to increase participation in the runs, from eager enthusiasts to those looking for a fun way to increase their fitness. They hope to develop first aid training opportunities, set up permanent course markers and increase and purchase a gazebo with first aid equipment and wet weather gear.

Bridge Club

FRIDAY, 14 October: 1 Keith Bellamy and Par Roe; 2 Dai Hayes and John Valentine; 3 Jo Davies and Pamela Woodhouse.

Sunday, 16 October: 1 Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 2 Jean Harrison and Mair Jenkins; 3 Doreen Anthony and Betty Brookes.