THE latest community news from Barmouth

Art Group

ST JOHN’S Hall Gallery is pleased to be hosting, for the first time, an exhibition of art from the Mawddach Art Group, which will be open from Saturday, 12 August, to Saturday, 2 September. The exhibition is open every day except Mondays, 11am to 4.30pm.

The Mawddach Art Group has been meeting once a week for around 20 years. There are 14 members, all amateur, some with formal training, others self-taught.

All members are now over 60 years old. Art is a wonderful way of keeping the brain active and gives great satisfaction in retirement.

There are no restrictions, as such, when it comes to media.

“It depends on what you’re prepared to carry up the stairs to the school room above Christ Church! We all have one thing in common – we love to create – be it painting, drawing, collage, sculpture or photography,” says Ann Hickebottom, who organises the group’s exhibitions.

St John’s Hall Gallery was formerly a church hall. It was saved from redevelopment about five years ago, and it now has a secure future as a centre for the creative and enquiring mind in Barmouth. The building was bought by Harald Gassner, an art collector from Germany, and old friend of the artists in residence, Bernard Barnes and Reyna Rushton.

The gallery has guest exhibitions throughout the summer as well as a changing display of the exceptional work of Bernard Barnes and Reyna Rushton.

A must-see is the painting which occupies the whole of the north wall, ‘The Captives of the Cosmic Web’.

Bowling Club

JULY has been another excellent month for the club, even though the weather has not been too kind this season so far. Too much rain and not enough sunshine, which has been the case.

However, stalwart bowlers have been undeterred and enjoyed the various activities. Matches have been played, some having been postponed due to weather conditions but re-arranged, leaving the club’s calendar in tact.

On 15 July, the match Ladies v Gentlemen was played, and on this occasion the Gentlemen won.

On 22 July, was the Ladies Doubles Match, and this year Lorraine Viney and Pauline Owen were worthy winners.

The Wales v England game held on 29 July was won by Wales.

Congratulations to the Welsh team.

The green, although subjected to a larger than average rainfall, has been kept in very good condition, and appears to have stood up well, thanks to the green keepers and the club members who always provide their best efforts to keep the green in tip top condition, despite the vagaries of the British weather.

The club has been happy to receive visitors during the month, and is always ready to welcome new bowling enthusiasts. Club members are willing to help and give tuition to newcomers.

The Barmouth branch of the WI will take over the Green on Saturday, 4 August, for the annual event, the Netta Irvine Cup.

This match is for ladies only, but is always well-attended and provides an entertaining and enjoyable afternoon for all, players and spectators alike.

Race reminder

A NEW charity event for the Bloodwise charity is called The Caderman Triathlon and is set for Saturday, 5 August, start time 8am with the swim at Tywyn, then cycle to Dolgellau, followed by a run up Cader.

There are two options, the sprint distance or, the extreme half-ironman distance. You can get all the details of the swim, cycle and run event from the bloodwise site www.bloodwise.org.uk/event-challenges/do-triathlon/wales/caderman-0

You can enter individually or as a team of three. It will be a good competition with athletes who follow the series of challenges around the country taking part. Keep fit, raise awareness for a vital charity and help raise money with one good deed.

Integrated Network Consultation

A PERIOD of public consultation started on Wednesday 28 June and will continue for 12 weeks until Wednesday, 20 September 2017.

This will provide an opportunity to have your say on the proposals for the Integrated Network maps for walkers and cyclists in Gwynedd.

A consultation meeting will be held in Barmouth on 4 August, in Parlwr Mawr from 9.30am until 4pm.

WI

JACQUI, the president, welcomed everybody to the members meeting.

Apologies were taken and Meirion was sung unaccompanied.

Six members will be celebrating birthdays before our next meeting, these include one 60th & two 70th birthdays.

Minutes of the June meeting were read and signed. The county letter was read and dates and events noted, including the County Show in Tywyn on 23 August, where items of member’s craft work will be on show.

The Netta Cup bowls competition will be on Saturday, 5 August, let’s hope for some good weather!

Clipboards were available for members to put forward their names for various events taking place before the next meeting on 27 September, including Dining out at the Ship hotel, Dolgellau on 8 September.

The entertainment on the night was a Beetle Drive plus a table top sale of books etc.

They played five games amongst lots of noise and laughter with Joan Probert being the overall winner with over 200 points.

The refreshments enjoyed by the members, were prepared and served by committee members, who were thanked by Jacqui for their hard work.

The raffle was won by Val Vine.

Date of next meeting: 27 September, subject for the monthly competition will be a photo of Barmouth bridge.

Recycle event

BY popular request, another Rotary bric a brac sale is being held in the Dragon Theatre next Sunday.

Last year it was certainly true that many casual visitors to the event went away with something they had been meaning to buy for some time – but never got around to it.

A further wide variety of items has been collected together for you to peruse and make use of for a bargain price – so come along and pop in for 20 minutes or so (even if it’s just for cake and coffee) to see what you can find.

Just this one chance to grab a bargain.

The event will be held in the Arts room at Dragon Theatre on Sunday, 6 August, at 10am till 2pm.

Cakes, teas and coffees will be available.

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