THE latest community news from Aberystwyth.

Rotary Club

THE club gave a warm welcome to the speaker, Huw Watkins, project director of the Aberystwyth Innova-tion and Enterprise Campus, a joint venture which has been developed with support from the University, BBSRC and the European Union.The primary aim of AIEC is to support a community of ambitious, collaborative companies to bring new products to market in the agricultural technology, food and drink and biotechnology sectors. The new £40.5m development represents an investment of global significance in this field and will provide for 7,500 square metres of space on the Gogerddan site, utilising the extensive experience of University scientists in IBERS and the Institutes of Geography and Earth Sciences and Maths, Physics and Computer Science. It will provide a focus to drive forward collaboration, entrepreneurship and job creation through bringing new products and services to market in the food and agriculture sectors. IBERS at Aberystwyth already has a world-wide reputation in these fields, with 358 staff, 1,600+ students and annual research income of £20m, £8m of which already comes through industrial collaboration. It is ideally placed to ensure maxi-mum benefit from this initiative. Its existing Seed Biobank will be upgraded as part of the initiative, safeguarding its future and improving access to its resources. Huw mentioned that 65 per cent of oat-based products in the UK market are derived from seeds developed in Aberystwyth. Projects which have already been identified for AIEC will focus, amongst others, on the development of functional food (for animals and humans), improving food shelf life, reducing food waste and personalised nutrition to cope with specific needs.Planning for AIEC is now well advanced: the company itself has been formally established, main contractors for its buildings have been chosen, and architectural design completed, subject to any planning issues which may be identified over the next few weeks. Building is due to start in August 2017, extending to April 2019 if all goes to plan.In discussion, members raised the possible implications of Brexit for the development and the question of improving the road access from the Gogerddan crossroads. It was acknowledged that Brexit posed some risks to the project if EU funding could not be accounted for promptly, while the impact of increased traffic on the minor road to Penrhyncoch would need to be carefully factored in to the propos-als.

Gateway Club

AN evening of playing darts was held at the Min-y-ddol Pavilion, Penparcau on the evening of 16 March. Member Carlos Thompson received a prize certificate for the highest score and as overall winner, the Reg Reynolds Trophy. A prize certificate was also presented to Linda Mort who won the magnetic darts competition. Runner-up prize certificates were also given to David Baker and Ruth Davies.

Many thanks to the Min-y-ddol Pavilion staff for making it an enjoyable evening for all.

Stroke Club

WHAT a grand day the club had on 15 March for the monthly luncheon outing.The sun shone all day on the way to the golf club in Cardigan where 54 members greeted them then said grace in both Welsh and English before sitting down.Jean and Judith organised the raffle with some interesting prizes to be won and the 650 club numbers were drawn and the cheques made out, with Roland, one of our champion ticket sellers having eight cheques to hand to the lucky people in and around town.After tea and coffee were served and the prize winners gathered their trophies, the chairman thanked the club and the staff for their excellent food and service.

Ceredigion Art Society

THE meeting of Cymdeithas Celf Ceredigion Art Society on Friday, 24 February, at St Anne’s Church hall, was well attended. The meeting was opened by chairperson Margaret Worrall who gave a warm welcome to new members and six visitors. They were not disappointed by the guest speaker Peter Lord, sculptor and art historian, best known for his books and television programs about the history of Welsh art. Peter last visited the society in November 2009. This time they welcomed him back for his talk ‘Welsh Faces’ ‘portraiture in Wales 1730-1850. Art historians concentrated on painters who had been academically trained and as recently as 1950, the general consensus was that there was no visual art worth seeing in Wales. By comparing images of the period, and juxtaposing work of Academically trained, self taught artists and artisans (who may have painted pub signs, and advertising as a profession). Peter showed how the images not only highlight the difference between the social divide of the sitters, but the style and technique of the artist. He further stressed how highly collectable this folk art has become, particularly in America, and is changing hands at auction for high prices. There is an urgent need for a museum dedicated to this type of folk art. He closed by encouraging all to go home and search the attics. The vote of thanks was given by Catherine Hughes. The next meeting will be on 31 March at 7.30pm, at the school of art.

NHS Retirement Fellowship

FELLOWSHIP members met on 13 March at Waunfawr Hall for their monthly meeting.They were pleased to welcome Celia Gardner as the guest who spoke on her experiences as a young army wife in Singapore, which she described as a leap into the unknown as it was her husband’s and her first posting.Her husband had joined the Royal Army Medical Corps when he was called up for National Service and on starting decided to extend his service to three years which promoted him from Lieutenant to Captain in two weeks, the advantage being he was entitled to quarters for his family and more pay. He then opted for a posting in Singapore. By this time their first child was born and Celia refused the long sea passage she was expected to take and managed to get a flight on a turbo-prop Britannia aircraft which was not without its problems, the journey finally arriving 30 hours late.Celia obviously had very happy memories of the full and happy life they led there until their departure in 1963. At the end of the three years her husband opted for a regular service commission and they enjoyed many different postings both home and abroad until he left the RAMC at the age of 55 and came to Aberystwyth where he worked at Bronglais Hospital as a Consultant until he retired.Celia had brought some of the beautiful objects she had acquired during her stay to show members and also photograph albums of the happy life they enjoyed there with their children. Celia was thanked by Dianne Bishton for her most interesting and eloquent talk and those members who had also visited Singapore enjoyed sharing memories.The next meeting will be the AGM on 10 April.

University

ABERYSTWYTH Innovation and Enterprise Campus Ltd was honoured to support the annual St David’s Day in London Celebration at Guildhall, London on 28 February.Dr Timothy Brain OBE, chairman of AIEC Ltd, addressed the assembled guests about Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus’ proposed offer of a range of world leading facilities and expertise to support innovation.The Wales in London Annual St David’s Day Celebration, which began in 1904,is an opportunity for Welsh men and women who live and work in London to come together to celebrate the best of what Wales has to offer. The speakers were the Rt Hon Lord Judge, former Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, and Guto Harri, MD External Communications Liberty Global.The event coincided with the 125th anniversary of Aberystwyth University’s Old Students Association (OSA), which is one of the oldest alumni associations of its kind in the world, with over 9,000 members scattered across more than 150 different countries.

U3A

ON Thursday, 16 March, Aberystwyth U3A held their AGM, which was efficiently completed in time to hold a locally compiled general knowledge quiz. Many prizes were awarded to the successful contestants, and tea and cakes concluded this successful afternoon.The next meeting of this branch will be held on Thursday, 20 April, when Kim Williams will talk about ‘The Osprey Project’. As usual this meeting will be held at Morlan at 2.30pm, and a very warm welcome is extended to all.