THE latest community news from Aberystwyth.

Rotary Club

THE university pro-vice chancellor Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan spoke to members on New Life for the Old College. The college opened in October 1872 against the odds in the building built as an hotel by Thomas Savin, a railway entrepreneur in 1864.

Dr Llwyd Morgan gave an over-view of the repurposing of the Old College into a vibrant heritage and cultural centre. Plans include the creation of four distinct spaces inside the building to showcase an Events and Cultural exhibition, a Space and Science centre, a University Museum and a creative enterprise facility. The Science centre will include a planetarium - the first in Wales.A Welsh art exhibition, in conjunction with the National Library of Wales, will be staged each summer.The aim is to complete the re-furbishment in time for the 150th anniversary of the college in 2022. The estimated cost is £22m and a bid for £10m has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund, a decision is expected in April of the this year.The speaker was warmly thanked by Rtn Dr Hywel Davies for his presentation and wished the project every success.

Cambrian Floral society

THE society celebrated St David’s Day by holding a cawl a chennin pedr evening which was organised by Marian Weston. The evening commenced with a short workshop using daffodils, asparagus, and a split apricot to create a contemporary design. As the daffodil workshop got under way with everyone concentrating on their designs; Marian, Eluned and Eirlys Evans prepared the tables for the supper. Soon they all sat down to enjoy the cawl, accompanied by the traditional bread and cheese, which had been prepared by Marian, and bara brith and Welsh cakes which had been prepared by Eluned. Sylvia Greenleaf thanked the team for their hard work in preparing for such an enjoyable and successful evening. Marian also thanked everyone for the splendid team spirit shown by all the members in taking over the kitchen duties at the end of the evening.The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 6 April, at 7pm at Bethel chapel Vestry, Baker Street. The demonstrator for the evening will be Pixie Harcourt.

Political leadership

A LEADING Aberystwyth University academic and head of the department of International Politics is to deliver his inaugural lecture on the highly topical subject of political leadership and responsibility in an increasingly unpredictable and uncertain world.The lecture, by Prof Richard Beardsworth, takes place at the Main Hall at the Department of International Politics at 6.30pm on Tuesday, 4 April. It will be preceded by a drinks reception from 6pm.

Choral Society

THE Society’s performance of Sir Michael Tippet’s A Child of Our Time, and the Ralph Vaughan Williams‘s setting for Chorus and Orchestra of the Walt Whitman text Toward the Unknown Region, is now less than a month away and the four soloists for the A Child of Our Time, have been announced as: the Soprano, Stacey Wheeler; the Mezzo-Soprano, Gaynor Keeble; the Tenor, Robyn Lyn; and the Bass, Njabbula Madlala. The performance in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre will be at 8pm on Saturday, 22 April, and tickets are now available from the Chairman June Williams and the Arts Centre Box Office.

Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos

CHILDREN and staff at Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos have been celebrating after successfully completing the ‘Learning with Autism’ primary school programme. They are the first school in Ceredigion to complete the programme, and be presented with a certificate of achievement. The certificate arrived in time for the school to start celebrating World Autism Awareness Week (27 March – 2 April).‘Learning with Autism’ is a programme that has been developed by the Welsh Local Government Association to raise awareness of autism (ASD) in schools. Raising awareness about autism has the power to change lives: the lives of children with an ASD, and the lives of those around them. It encourages understanding, tolerance and respect, so that together everyone can reach their full potential.Jamie James (Additional Learning Needs Specialist, HLTA) who works with all children across the school said: “All of our children worked hard, and have shown how understanding they are. They enjoyed the adventure comic-strip featuring positive role models for children, and all completed an online pledge, leading to an Autism Superhero Certificate”.The certificate of achievement was presented to the school at a whole school celebration assembly on Thursday afternoon. Nic Pugh (teacher – Enfys ASD Resource Base) said: “The certificate has been awarded in recognition of the hard work and commitment of all children and staff at the school. Our children and staff demonstrate on a daily basis that being helpful, kind and understanding is the key to being a truly inclusive school.”

Aberystwyth Girl Guides

TEN-year-old Courtney Chandler, member of 10th Aberystwyth Girl Guide pictured with her grandfather Barry Jones of Capel Bangor. The Guide Unit will be holding a sponsored silence on Wednesday, 29 March, and Courtney has asked for her sponsorship to be donated to Motor Neurone Disease Association as her grandfather, formerly a gravedigger of Aberystwyth and surrounding area for 50 years, is suffering from this incurable terminal illness.