THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

London Marathon

AN Aberystwyth couple laced up their trainers for the London Marathon to raise funds for the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Rhydian Davies and Kellie Ward were inspired to join Team RNIB for the event as they have first-hand knowledge of the effects that sight loss can have on an individual and their family.

Members of Kellie’s family have Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, a degenerative disease, which has affected both male and female members of her family. Only last Christmas, the family endured another blow when Kellie’s first cousin, in her twenties, lost her sight in a matter of weeks.

Kellie said: “We both love running and joining Team RNIB seemed like the perfect fit – whilst giving back to a charity close to our hearts.

“The atmosphere at these events is amazing. You really get a buzz from the crowds and it definitely keeps you going, even when you don’t think you can run any further.”

Rhydian added: “The services and support RNIB provides are vital to help families deal with how life changing losing your sight can be.

“There may be a time in the future where my partner and I will need support for one of our own children. I want to help fight the division that there is currently between the blind, partially sighted and sighted people and try make life easier for those affected by sight loss.”

Kate Wilson, RNIB fundraising manager for Wales, said: “We’re delighted Rhydian and Kellie have chosen to take on the Virgin Money London Marathon in support of RNIB.

“The money they raise will enable us to continue to help people living with sight loss to face the future with confidence and live independently, so please dig deep and support Rhydian and Kellie’s fundraising efforts.”

To help Rhydian and Kellie reach their fundraising target of £2,000, donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rhydian-davies6

Choral Society

MEMBERS are all geared up for their very busy week of extra practices before their concert next Saturday night in the Great Hall, Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

For over a dozen of them this will be their second busy week of choral singing in succession, as they were singing in the University Singers last Saturday evening.

Their efforts there contributed to a very large audience enjoying a truly memorable performance, under the baton of David Russell Hulme, of Karl Jenkins’s very challenging Cantata Memoria for the children of Aberfan.

The main work which the society will be performing this Saturday, 28 April, at 8pm in the Great Hall is a complete contrast.

Antonin Dvorák’s Stabat Mater is technically challenging for the performers and immensely beautiful and passionate in its intensity.

Dvorak turned to writing the work after a period of great personal tragedy.

Dvorák’s setting of the Stabat Mater is very personal, focusing almost exclusively on the act of grieving as a path to the comfort of paradise and has 10 movements that in one sense form a giant symphony and in another a giant arch.

With four excellent professional soloists – soprano Sally Harrison, mezzo soprano Angharad Lyddon, tenor David Webb and bass Sion Goronwy – a confident Choir and the Sinfonia Cambrensis Orchestra, all under the baton of David Russell Hulme, music lovers in the area can look forward to another wonderful concert.

Eisteddfod Calan Mai

AR ddydd Mercher, 2 Mai, cynhelir yr eisteddfod yn y Morlan, i gychwyn am 4.30yp.

Hon fydd chweched penblwydd yr eisteddfod ac i ddathlu mae yna sawl cystadleuaeth newydd.

Eisteddfod leol yw hon, yn gyfyngedig i dalgylch Ysgol Penweddig. Mae yn yr ardal ddwsinau o gantorion, llefarwyr a beirdd a gobaith y pwyllgor trefnu yw y byddant yn ymateb i’r sialens eleni eto drwy gymryd rhan yn yr eisteddfod mewn rhyw fodd neu’i gilydd.

Wrth gwrs mae mwy i eisteddfod na chystadlu ar y llwyfan. Llawer wedi ceisio yn yr adran gelf a ffotograffiaeth, felly dewch draw ar y diwrnod i weld yr ymdrechion i gyd.

Eleni y tri beirniad wrth y llyw fydd Delyth Morgan Phillips ar yr adran gerddoriaeth. Garry Owen fydd yn ofal yr adran lefaru a llên a Gareth Owen fydd yn beirniadu’r adran gelf.

Cyfeilydd y dydd fydd Lona Phillips, sydd wedi bod yn ymwneud hyn ers y cychwyn.

Am fanylion llawn, codwch gopi o’r rhaglen yn y siopau lleol neu ewch i wefan www.steddfota.org

Bridge Club

THE club played in the Celtic Pairs Simultaneous on Friday, 13 April.

There was an excellent eight-table turnout, with players ranging from beginners to international players.

The winners were Alan Stein and John Holmes (15th overall), with Keith Bellamy and Nigel Symons Jones second (fourth overall) and Mike Tedd and Tony Radcliff third (94th overall).

Dai Hayes and John Valentine were the only pair in the whole competition to bid and make a 7NT grand slam.

Winners on Sunday, 15 April, were Doreen Anthony and Ian Finlay, with Betty Brookes and Margaret James second and Joyce Blair and Jacqui Roberts third.

There was a possible but difficult to reach slam on Board 22, with Margaret, celebrating her birthday, and club stalwart Betty making all 13 tricks following a friendly lead and good ‘card-reading’.

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

CANTM

THE Ceredigion Association of National Trust members’ annual five-day holiday to Dorset was a great success thanks to the organisation and skills of Colin and Gillian.

Forthcoming events are as follows: Tuesday, 1 May, 2pm, May Day tea and cake at Llanerchaeron with guest speaker Dr Mark Baker on Gwrych Castle.

Tuesday, 22 May, visit to Denbigh Castle and Gwrych Castle.

Friday, 29 June, summer garden party at Gillian’s House, Llys-Wen, Bryn Eglur, Llanfarian.

Feel free to join the organisation which supports the National Trust by contacting membership secretary Gillian on 01970 627943.

Stroke Club

ON 18 April, 43 members travelled to Ffostrasol for their monthly lunch outing.

In the absence of Jean, the raffle tickets were handed out by Judith, aided by Alma.

The chairman greeted everyone and then lunch was served, followed by tea and coffee.

The 750 club draw names were read out and the cheques written.

The table at the side was covered with lots of lovely gifts for the raffle and were duly handed out to the winning numbers.

The chairman gave members updates on the health of some of their fellow members, then Ann thanked the staff for a delightful meal.

The social secretary reminded everyone of the holiday week and also stated that the AGM will be held on 23 May at Aberystwyth Town Football Club.

Harness Racing

THE Kids Club Pace will be staged at the Ceredigion Harness Racing Festival on Saturday, 7 July.

The event is staged at Tan y Castell Farm, Rhydyfelin.

The first full race of the day is scheduled for 1pm, so the Kids Pace will likely be at around noon.

They will have a more specific time nearer the date.

The Kids Club has been founded for the 2018 Harness Racing Season to try and get the younger generation interested in the sport and away from their iPads, phones and Xboxes.

Jockeys can be aged from four to 14 years, with ponies 12hh or under.

The kids can choose between sulky racing or saddle.

There is a points system over the series for an overall winner, but all kids competing will receive a club hoodie, gift bag, rosette and pony accessories.

The prize for the top points scorer in the series is £200 in vouchers.

Various prizes have been kindly donated for the winners of each leg, many of which are passes for days out at attractions in the local areas.

The whole series will be commentated on by the BHRC’s new Junior Commentator Stephen Lees who is 12 years old and a budding race caller.

There will even be prizes at the end of the series for the Best Six Legs, Commentators Choice and Most Annoying Parent!

Rotary Club

PAST-PRESIDENT John Harries was the speaker at this week’s meeting.

His illustrated talk was ‘Reflections on Sri Lanka’ where he had visited recently.

Situated north of the equator and south of India in the Indian Ocean it is smaller than Ireland but with a population of 22 million.

Landscapes range from rainforests and plains to highlands and sandy beaches.

The country, then known as Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948 and became Sri Lanka in 1972.

On Boxing Day 2004 the island was hit by a tsunami leaving 340,000 dead.

The years from 1983 to 2009 mark the civil war between the government and the Tamil Tigers who sought to create an independent state in the north- and east of the country.

An unrelated conflict is currently taking place further south near Kandy.

It involves the Buddist Sinhalese majority and the Islamic minority.

For such a small country, Sri Lanka is blessed with eight Unesco World Heritage Sites many of them ancient Buddhist ruins.

The speaker, in his tour had visited some of these, taken excellent photographs which added to the interest.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is probably Sri Lanka’s most dramatic sight.

The 660 foot high black volcanic rock once carried a palace built AD 477-495.

Its remains can be viewed after a climb up 2,500 steps.

Dambulla is a rock cave temple which is filled with magnificent carved images of Buddha

Abhayagiri Monastery a Buddhist temple built fourth century BC is situated in the ancient capital Anuradhapura. Its architecture is incredible, 720 metres high, it used 90 million bricks in its construction.

The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy (itself a world heritage site) was a most sacred place claimed to be a place where one of Buddha’s teeth was housed ‘he who holds the Buddha’s tooth holds the governance of the country’.

Other facets of the country which impressed John was the incredible friendliness of the people, always smiling despite it being a relatively poor country. Compared with parts of India, it was a very clean country with roads continually being swept. All school children wore a white uniform provided free by the government – education was very important which showed in the country’s 92 per cent literacy.

Tea was an important export- the tea pickers were always women.

The industry was started by an Englishman-Scotsman James Taylor (1835-1892) aided by a Mr Lipton.

Volley ball is the national sport though cricket is the most popular comes a close second with pitches in the most unlikely places as well as well-appointed test grounds.

Club president Martin Davies thanked John for his excellent presentation of what is a fascinating country.

Cambrian Floral Society

THE workshop by Nicola Harries on Wednesday, 4 April, attracted a very good number of participants and was enjoyed by both existing and newer members.

Chairman, John James welcomed Nicola and thanked the society for their good wishes which he received during his recent indisposition.

Nicola, in her usual jovial way, demonstrated a modern spring arrangement for us to follow, which included daffodils, irises and pussy willow.

No container was used as the floral foam was wrapped initially in cellophane and on completion was wrapped in hessian and tied with ribbon.

Everyone agreed that it had been a very enjoyable evening and fun to learn something new.

On Wednesday, 2 May, there will be a demonstration entitled ‘Take Two’ at Bethel Chapel Vestry, Baker Street, at 7pm.

All welcome.

Merched y Wawr

HWB i’r Galon a’r Gymuned: Cafodd aelodau Merched y Wawr Aberystwyth eu cyfareddu nos Lun, 16 Ebrill, wrth glywed am y ddarpariaeth newydd sydd ar gael ar gyfer Cymuned Penparcau.

Ers pum mlynedd bu gwirfoddolwyr ac aelodau’r Fforwm Cymunedol yn cynllunio’r Hwb sy’n ganolfan elusen wirfoddol.

Erbyn hyn mae’n weithredol ac yn datblygu gweithgareddau a chyfleusterau er lles pobl o bob oed.

Cawsom ein croesawu yn yr Hwb gan Bryn Jones, y cydlynydd a Dylan Jones, cadeirydd yr elusen.

Arianwyd y cynllun gan nifer o gyrff megis Cyngor Tref Aberystwyth, Llywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa’r Loteri ymysg eraill, a bellach mae’n ganolfan sy’n destun edmygedd gan lawer, megis aelodau Cynulliad Cymru a llywodraeth San Steffan.

Ers ei agor mae wedi codi gorwelion pobl leol o bob oed a rhoi balchder i ieuenctid yn eu cymuned.

Trefnir profiadau newydd mewn cysylltiad â Chanolfan y Celfyddydau, y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol a Phrosiect Pendinas sy’n adnodd amgylcheddol ac hanesyddol pwysig yn y gymuned.

Braf oedd deall bod datblygu Celf a Diwylliant yn rhan o’r amcanion hir dymor.

Eisoes trefnwyd gweithgareddau yno adeg gwyliau’r Nadolig, Y Pasg a Gwyl Ddewi ac mae brwdfrydedd mawr ynghlyn ag atgyfodi’r carnifal.

Arweinydd cydwybodol y gwirfoddolwyr yn yr Hwb yw Rhian Jones a braf oedd cael paned yn ei chwmni yng nghaffi Gwenallt - enw addas iawn o gofio’i gysylltiad â Phenparcau.

Yng ngeiriau Gwenallt mae’r Hwb yn ‘rhyw ddedwydd lonydd le’ ac yn nwylo aelodau’r bwrdd brwdfrydig mae’r argoelion yn un ffafriol a chadarnhaol er mwyn gwella bywyd y gymuned.

Postcard Club

FOLLOWING the Aberystwyth Postcard Club’s spring bring and buy meeting, the club members will be invited to browse the collection of historic postcards of the county at the Ceredigion Museum in Terrace Road on Tuesday, 1 May, at 2pm.

A vast number of photographic images of local people and scenes in the form of viewcards have been collected and catalogued over many years by the museum, many depicting places now lost and changed during the last century. New members welcome.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]