THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Beekeepers Association

Last Tuesday evening, 45 people – beekeepers and their partners –enjoyed a wonderful evening in the Waunfawr Community Hall at the Aberystwyth Beekeepers Association’s Annual Honey Show.

The guests were Frank Gellatly, the regional bee inspector for Wales, and Karen Smith, the seasonal inspector for North Ceredigion.

There were a good number of entries in many of the classes, despite a relatively mediocre summer for bees. The show was very quickly set out from 6pm and the judges, John and Susan Wildig from Waunfawr, set to their work.

Whilst judging was taking place everyone else took part in the Annual Honey Tasting competition with members having brought samples of their honey for assessment. Once completed, everyone enjoyed a bring and share buffet, before the judges verdicts were pronounced.

John Wildig addressing the gathering paid tribute to the success of the association in all its activities. He added that when he first became involved in the honey show back in the 1980s when it was a very tiny affair and held in the small and long since demolished Llanbadarn Fawr Community Association Hall.

He went on to say that the quality of the exhibits in this year’s show had been particularly high, making the judging quite difficult and very subjective. The best in show award went to Richard Spencer with his frame of honey suitable for extraction, and he also had the best tasting honey in the show. The Loyn Perpetual Cup for the most points awarded in the various classes went to Tracy Harper who was warmly congratulated for her efforts, particularly as she had only taken up the craft some two years ago! The best Bee Photograph was from Phil Springham.

The evening ended with the awarding of certificates to Kath Kearle, Tracy Harper and Dale Brown who had all successfully passed the Welsh Beekeepers Association’s Basic Beekeeping Examination during the season.

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is a national charity which raises funds for those in need throughout the world irrespective of race, creed or religion and at the recent Aberystwyth Christian Aid AGM held at St Paul’s Methodist Centre, the retiring chairman Rev Andrew Loat of St Padarn’s, welcomed representatives from churches in the Aberystwyth area, and reports were received of the local work undertaken last year and plans made for the coming year.

In her report of recent activities the treasurer Anita Owen stated that over £475 had been donated in the recent street collection and that the Bread and Cheese Lunch held by St Winfried’s had raised over £170.

These monthly Bread and Cheese frugal lunches provide both an opportunity to meet together and raise funds for the work of Christian Aid throughout the year; during the last year raising over £2,300.

Some concern was expressed at the meeting that representatives were not present from all the churches in Aberystwyth and all agreed that it was vital to let congregations know of the important work undertaken by Christian Aid worldwide.

Looking to the future, the incoming chairman Arnold Smith brought samples of the Christian Aid Christmas cards which will be available to purchase at the forthcoming Bread and Cheese Lunches.

The November one will be held at Bethel Chapel in Baker Street, and hosted by members of St Michael’s and St Mair’s churches on Monday, November from noon to 1.30pm.

Stroke Club

For the October lunch outing, 47 members travelled to the Golf Club at Capel Bangor. The chairman, Ann Evans greeted members and said ‘grace’.

Social secretary Audrey was not present due to unforeseen circumstances.

Jean and Alma visited all the tables to sell the raffle tickets for the prizes amassing on the table and a truly splendid meal was served and really enjoyed by all. The 765 club members were drawn and the lists and cheques made out. The newest member of the committee, Lynda was lucky to have had two numbers out, a great way to welcome her to the meetings.

After mouth-watering sweets were eaten, the chairman called all to the notice that a few people were having birthdays this month, in particular the secretary who has reached a landmark date!

The raffle took place and it was a long session to distribute all the wonderful gifts that the members had donated.

The last item was to tell that the next venue in November is at a new place in Tregaron, with details to follow. The chairman thanked the staff for the meal and service and then it was into the cars and coach for the homeward journey.

Cymdeithas yr Aelwyd

Nos Wener, 20 Hydref, tro’r Aelwyd oedd hi i ddathlu tri chan mlwyddiant geni William Williams Pantycelyn, gyda’r noson yng ngofal Lionel Madden.

Williams yw emynydd mwyaf Cymru, yn awdur dros 800 o emynau, a gwelir fod 10 y cant o emynau Caneuon Ffydd wedi eu cyfansoddi ganddo. Roedd ganddo ddau brif destun, sef cariad Iesu Grist a phererindod y Cristion yn y byd, ac mae’r geiriau ’fi’ a ’myfi’ yn rhedeg drwy ei emynau.

Canodd yr aelodau rai o emynau Williams i gyfeiliant Delyth Evans, a chafwyd cyfraniadau gan Lona Jones ac Eleri Davies.

Cenir y rhan fwyaf o emynau Williams ar donau a gyfansoddwyd wedi dyddiau’r emynydd, ac i gloi’r noson canwyd Pererin Wyf ar y dôn Americanaidd Amazing Grace.

Morlan Centre

A public education event will take place in the Morlan Centre, Aberystwyth, on Wednesday, 1 November.

The occasion is the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. The guest speaker will be Dr Bernard Regan, whose book The Balfour Declaration – Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine is about to be published.

Light refreshments will be served in the foyer at 7.30pm – £1. Entry to the talk, which will start at 8pm, will be free. There will be a question and answer session after Dr Regan’s talk. Donations will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Beach cleaning

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help clean two popular beaches in north Ceredigion this weekend.

The Surfers Against Sewage Autumn Beach Clean Series is set to take place at Aberystwyth South Beach and Borth Beach this weekend.

The Aberystwyth beach clean will start at The Hut, on South Beach, at 12pm on Saturday, 28 October.

Meanwhile, the Borth beach clean starts at the RNLI lifeboat station at 12pm on Sunday, 29 October.

And local beach cleaner Chris Woodfield is calling on people to lend a hand.

He said: “Each autumn we brace ourselves against the inevitable mass accumulation of plastic pollution upon our beaches.

“The combined effects of the sheer volume of plastic entering our oceans each day, the ever strengthening North Atlantic hurricane season and the end of seasonal beach clean operations lead to a perfect storm of plastic pollution on our beaches.

“Far from being summer only spaces, our coastal communities enjoy and rely upon their beaches 365 days a year.”

For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/AberystwythBeachBuddies/

Cambrian Floral Society

OCTOBER has proved to be a very busy month during which the society held a Cymanfa Ganu on Sunday, 1 October.

Côr y Gen (NLW) performed choral items which were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

The conductor was Vernon Maher with Bryan Jones at the organ.

The president for the evening was Rev Kevin Davies who gave an address in his usual humourous way.

The chosen charity for this evening was Aberystwyth branch of Blood Bikes Wales who carry out vital urgent work in the area and their representative gave a short insight to the work that they so loyally carry out on a voluntary basis.

The chairman, John James, thanked everyone who attended and contributed to making the evening a very enjoyable one.

To follow the society was asked to stage a Flower Festival to mark the 150th anniversary of St Mair’s Welsh Church, Grays Inn Road.

Members, under the guidance of John James transformed the church into the ‘Wheel of Life’ theme with magnificent floral arrangements throughout the church.

The next meeting is a demonstration by Margaret Carter, and please note that this will take place in the afternoon at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 1 November, at Bethel Chapel Vestry, Baker Street.

The group has decided to hold the winter programme of events in the afternoon and they welcome old and new members to join.

All members of the society wish the hardworking and dedicated chairman, John James, a speedy and full recovery after his recent illness and hospitalisation - brysiwch wella John.

Plascrug Bridge Club

RESULTS from 10 October: 1 Doreen Anthony and Dylan Raw-Rees; 2 John Holmes and Alan Stein; 3 Elenid Thomas and Margaret James.

Results from 17 October: 1 Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 2 Mair Jenkins and Jacqui Roberts; 3 John Holmes and Alan Stein.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club

RESULTS from Friday, 22 September: 1 Keith Bellamy and Dai Hayes; 2 Martin Page and Magda Corser; 3 Elenid Thomas and Margaret James.

Friday, 29 September: 1 Elenid Thomas and Andrew Loat; 2 Dai Hayes and Keith Bellamy/Herbie Rowley and Doreen Anthony; 4 Jeff Thomas and Alan Stein.

Sunday, 1 October: 1 Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 2 Jean Harrison and Mair Jenkins; 3 Yuan Shen and Kathy Maio.

Friday, 6 October: 1 Margaret Ellis and Ken Thomas; 2 Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones; 3 Doreen Anthony and Herbie Rowley.

Sunday, 8 October: 1 Mike Tedd and Yuan Shen; 2 Margaret James and Pat Roe/Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas.

Friday, 13 October: 1 Margaret James and Mike Jones; 2 Sue Sherman and Pamela Woodhouse; 3 Ian Finlay and Herbie Rowley.

Sunday, 15 October: 1 Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 2 Robert Havard and Jeff Thomas; 3 Betty Brookes and Margaret James.

Eglwys Efengylaidd

DDYDD Sadwrn, 30 Medi, cynhaliwyd Cyfarfod Diolch i nodi hanner canmlwyddiant sefydlu Eglwys Efengylaidd Aberystwyth, sy’n cwrdd yn Saron, Llanbadarn Fawr.

Cychwynnodd yr Eglwys ar 1 Hydref 1967, gyda’r bwriad o ddwyn tystiolaeth i’r efengyl feiblaidd sydd wedi bod yn rhan mor werthfawr o fywyd Cymru dros y canrifoedd.

Gordon Macdonald oedd ei gweinidog cyntaf, a chynhelid oedfaon yn y YWCA yn Rhodfa’r Gogledd i ddechrau.

Wrth iddi dyfu daeth angen am adeilad mwy, ac yn 1974 symudwyd i Aelwyd yr Urdd yn Ffordd Llanbadarn.

Wedi gweinidogaethu’n ffyddlon am 30 mlynedd, ymddeolodd Gordon yn 1997, a daeth Ifan Mason Davies, Goginan, yn weinidog yn ei le.

Pan werthwyd yr Aelwyd yn 2001, symudodd yr Eglwys i Saron, gyda chydweithrediad caredig swyddogion y capel hwnnw.

Ymddeolodd Ifan yn 2005, a gwahoddwyd Derrick Adams i fod yn weinidog.

Bu farw Gordon ym mis Mawrth eleni.

Daeth cynulleidfa luosog ynghyd i’r Cyfarfod Diolch, a gynhaliwyd yng Nghapel Alfred Place.

Gwynn Williams (Caerdydd), sydd wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â’r Eglwys ers y dyddiau cynnar, oedd y pregethwr gwadd, a chafwyd cyfraniadau gwerthfawr hefyd gan Ifan Mason Davies, John Ifor Jones, a Keith Lewis.

Roedd yn dda medru croesawu llawer o aelodau teulu, cyn-fyfyrwyr, ac eraill sydd wedi bod â pherthynas agos â’r Eglwys ar hyd y blynyddoedd.

I ddathlu pen-blwydd yr Eglwys yn 25 oed, cyflwynwyd plât i Gordon a’i wraig Rina a’r geiriau hyn arno: ‘Hyd yma y cynorthwyodd yr Arglwydd nyni’ (1 Samuel 7:12).

Wrth i’r Eglwys gyrraedd ei hanner canmlwyddiant yn awr, ei gweddi yw y bydd yr Arglwydd yn ei chynorthwyo a’i bendithio eto yn y dyfodol.

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