THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

Floral Society

THE Mercia & North Wales Area team won a silver medal at the RHS London Orchid and Plant Show last week.

Donald Morgan of Blodau’r Bedol florist, Llanrhystud, and Jayne Solomon – both from Aberystwyth and District Floral Society – dedicated their exhibit, Colour Our World, to area chairman Kevin Gunnell, who passed away last Wednesday and was a fantastic ambassador for NAFAS.

Donald also added that Kevin was very supportive and gave guidance to many demonstrators and judges within the area and that his loss will be felt throughout the Mercia and north Wales area

The team also used the new bio-degradeable­ floral foam from Oasis that is yet to be officially launched.

Both Donald and Jayne thanked Aberystwyth Floral Society for a donation towards the cost, G&G Designs for embroidery clothing, Ffion Lewis for creating the slate signs, Oasis and Country Baskets for sundries, and to Mercia and North Wales Area of NAFAS for their support.

MS Society Cymru

THE society is holding an information café on 23 April at the National Library of Wales from 1.30pm to 4pm.

People living with and affected by multiple sclerosis are invited to come along and meet the MS Cymru team and hear about the charity’s activities in Ceredigion.

There will be information about MS and the MS Cymru project which is supporting people with MS with benefits, accessing health and care services and grant applications.

Choral Society

WITH the society’s spring concert getting ever nearer, there was no break over Easter for choristers of the Aberystwyth Choral Society, although a change in rehearsal room to St Paul’s Methodist Centre was needed when the university was closed for the Easter vacation.

The week before the concert on 28 April will be very busy for the choristers, with the normal Tuesday evening practice in the Old Hall, Old College, and a further rehearsal there the following night.

On the evening of Friday, 27 April, the choir will be staged in the Great Hall followed by a further rehearsal there.

The final rehearsal with soloists and orchestra will be on the afternoon of Saturday, 28 April, with the performance itself starting at 8pm.

The four professional soloists joining the choir for what should be a wonderful performance of the Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and the Dvorak Stabat Mater are: Sally Harrison, soprano; Angharad Lyddon, mezzo soprano; David Webb, tenor; and Sion Goronwy, bass.

Choir, soloists and the Sinfonia Cambrensis Orchestra will be under the baton of David Russell Hulme.

Welsh learners

A FESTIVAL for Welsh learners will take place at the National Library of Wales.

Ar Lafar will take place on Saturday, 21 April, between 10.30am and 4pm as part of the national festival, and a painting workshop in the style of Kyffin Williams will be among the highlights.

Learners of all levels and their families will be able to enjoy a host of activities at the library including guided tours, art and craft workshops, a treasure hunt and a show by theatre company Mewn Cymeriad (In Character).

There will also be opportunities for learners and their families to socialise, using their Welsh in a fun and welcoming atmosphere, and enjoying the national treasures that can be found at the library.

The festival is free, and the result of a partnership between the National Centre for Learning Welsh, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales and the National Library of Wales.

Parkinson’s UK

THE chairman welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting of the group at the rugby club.

He offered a special welcome to Gwen Day who is now a resident in Bryntirion, Tregaron. Liz Nicol had made a special effort to pick her up and bring her to the meeting.

The chairman reported that Barbara Standing had been admitted to hospital and Paul her husband had gone to Abermad for respite. Also, Gwen Davies had been transferred to a home in Pembrokeshire.

The chairman presented cheques to the value of £120 in memory of George Lewis, Ystumtuen, who had recently passed away.

The coffee morning is to be held at Waunfawr Community Hall on Saturday, 21 April, and will be opened by Ben Lake MP.

Arrangements for the stalls were discussed.

The speaker at the last meeting was Rachel Hedge.

Rachel has been a house steward at Llanerchaeron for the last five years. Before that she worked for Tudor Merchant House in Tenby.

Rachel gave a talk all about the National Trust while giving a history of Llanerchaeron.

Liz Nicol thanked Rachel for the interesting talk. The raffle was won by Hefin.

On Wednesday, 11 April, Zena Evans, Anthony Evans, Lena Williams and Hefin Jones went up to Bala to play boccia in games organised by Parkinson’s Mid & North Wales in what was the first organised boccia games.

There were 19 teams of four with three of any team playing each other. After keen competition, the Aber team ended on top of their group and were through to the semi-final.

As it happens the next meeting of the group will see members playing boccia at the rugby club on Monday, 23 April, when the Aber team will be able to coach the rest.

Bridge club

THE resumption of bridge following Easter saw two decisive wins in the Friday and Sunday evening sessions.

On Friday, 6 April, the winners were Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones with 76 per cent. Dai Hayes and Dylan Raw-Rees were second and Herbie Rowley, and Brian Thomas equal third with John Holmes and Alan Stein.

Keith and Mike were the only ones to bid and make a slam.

On Sunday, 8 April, winners were Mair Jenkins and Jean Harrison with 69 per cent, with Pat Roe and Margaret James second and Elenid Thomas and Pamela Woodhouse coming third. Both the latter pairs bid 6 Hearts.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club plays twice a week in Waunfawr Community Hall, starting at 6.45pm, with Friday being the main evening. Visitors are welcome.

For further information about the club, please ring the club secretary on 01970 639229.

Cylch Cinio

DAETH nifer dda o aelodau ynghyd ar nos Wener, 13 Ebrill, i fwynhau noson gymdeithasol yng Ngwesty’r Richmond.

Braf oedd cael croesawi cyn aelod sef Jeremy Turner, cyfarwyddwr a chynhyrchydd theatr ac yn gyfarwyddwr artistig ar Gwmni Theatr Arad Goch.

Brodor o Aberdar yw Jeremy, ond erbyn hyn mae wedi llwyr ymgartrefi yn Aberystwyth.

Mae Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch wedi bod yn creu a cyflwyno theatr yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg i cynulleidfaoedd yng Nghymru ers 1989. Erbyn hyn mae cartref Arad Goch yng nghanol tref Aberystwyth mewn hen gapel sydd wedi cael ei trawsffurfio ac yn darparu adnoddau gwych i’r gymuned.

Mae’n amlwg fod Jeremy yn berson brwdfrydig iawn. Fe aeth a’r aelodau ar daith wrth adrodd hanes a gweithgareddau y cwmni drwy ddangos lluniau a fideo.

Yn ogystal â perfformio yng Nghymru, mae cydweithio yn rhyngwladol a theithio dramor yn elfen bwysig iawn o’i waith.

Mae perfformiadau wedi bod mewn gwyliau a theatrau yn Rwsia, De Corea, Tiwnisia, Ffrainc a Chatalonia, Iwerddon Denmarc, Unol Daleithiau, Canada a Singapore.

Mae darparu gwasanaeth i blant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru yn bwysig iawn a braf oedd clywed bod y cwmni yn perfformio neu darparu cyfleoedd cyfranogol i tua 25,000 o bobl bob blwyddyn.

Yn ddiweddar roedd Jeremy yn gyfrifol am Wyl Hen Linell Bell yn Aberystwyth a gafodd ei seilio ar chwedl Cantre’r Gwaelod.

Profodd i fod yn ddigwyddiad hynod o lwyddiannus. Braf oedd gweld bod y gymuned yn rhan allweddol o’r wyl. Bu ambell aelod o’r Cylch yn gwirfoddoli adeg yr wyl.

Dymunodd y cadeirydd benblwydd hapus arbennig i ddau aelod o’r Cylch, sef Cynog Dafis a Rees Thomas.

Anfonodd holl aelodau y Cylch Cinio eu cofion cynnes at Wynne Mel sydd yn Ysbyty Treforus ar hyn o bryd a hefyd i’r Cyng Gareth Davies.

Talwyd y diolchiadau gan Cynog Dafis a cyfeiriodd at y gwaith gwych roedd Jeremy Turner yn ei wneud yn Arad Goch. Nid peth hawdd yw codi arian y dyddiau yma a mae angen sgiliau arbennig. Vaughan Griffiths oedd enillydd y raffl ar y noson.

Bydd y Cylch Cinio yn cwrdd mis nesaf yn Clwb Rygbi Aberystwyth. Siaradwr gwadd i’w drefnu. Croeso i aelodau hen a newydd.

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