THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog

Remembrance Sunday

DESPITE a rather wintry morning there was a good turnout for the Blaenau Ffestiniog Remembrance Sunday services.

There was the traditional service at St David’s Church taken by Rev Hilary Savage followed by a march to the Memorial Hospital led by Parade Marshal Gary Williams.

There, Rev Savage was assisted in the service by John and Ann Morgan and Maxine Evans, the secretary of local branch of Royal British Legion and also present were the Royal Oakeley Silver Band whose Cerys Jones sounded the Last Post and after two minutes silence she also sounded the Reveille.

It was followed by the Exhortation in Welsh and English by Owen Lloyd Jones and Major Steve Richardson, the Kohima Epitaph, and the wreath laying ceremony by members of different local organisations, clubs,veterans and many more.

The standard bearers were Glyn Daniels, Royal British Legion; Emyr Williams, RNA; and Michael Jennings, RWF.

This service was followed with anther short service and wreath laying at the Rhiw Memorial.

Services

Bethel, Ffestiniog: Rev Anita Ephraim.

Carmel: United churches service at 10am with Eifion Jones, Ffestiniog.

Manod Orthodox: Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed by Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

St David’s: Morning service at 11am.

St Michael’s: Morning service at 9.30am.

St Mary Magdalene: Mass at 11am with Fr Shaji Punnati.

Holy Cross: Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Fr Shaji Punnati.

Gallery

THE Maenofferen Gallery hosts an exhibition of a variety of the craft work by the author and artist Remy Dean and admission is free during the library’s opening hours.

Working together

CWMNI Bro is a partnership of the local community, social public and private sectors, co-operating and sharing the same vision, to identify, inspire and foster ambition in the area’s residents and to inspire social and economic regeneration.

According to its representatives Ceri Cunnington and Selwyn Williams, they believe in building on community enterprise and the recent public and private sector investment to create a truly sustainable social and economic development plan.

There are already 12 social businesses in the area, and there is no where else in Wales with as many.

One solution for the community is to do things for themselves and work together.

It is hoped to bring all the plans, organisations and businesses that operate in the best interest of the area, to work together so that no-one will be competing for the same grants and to create a community through technology.

Elected

COUNCILLORS Mark Thomas and Glyn Daniels have been elected onto all the local town council committees.

Gorlan

CYNHALIWYD cyfarfod Cymdeithas y Gorlan yng Nghapel Carmel nos Lun, 6 Tachwedd.

Llywydd y noson oedd Ceinwen Humphreys a chroesawyd y gwr gwadd Dafydd Roberts i ddangos sleidiau difyr ac addysgiadol ar ‘Blaenau Ddoe a Heddiw’.

Hefyd, cafwyd lluniau pwrpasol ar Gwmorthin ynghyd â chwis am yr ardal a Gareth Tudor Jones oedd y technegydd.

Mwynhawyd y noson yn fawr a thalwyd diolchiadau cynnes iawn gan Eifion Lewis.

Bydd y cyfarfod nesaf yn Festri Bowydd am 7yh ar 4 Rhagfyr pryd ddisgwylir Lliaws Cain i ddiddanu.

Planning

THE town council has no objection for the change of use of land as extension to existing power station site at Tanygrisiau, for the erection of a storage/workshop building, formation of hard standing area and the re-siting of the security fence.

There was no objection to both the applications for a change of use of part of existing workshop at Bronant, Dorvil Street to a dwelling nor to demolish former a Gwynedd Council depot at Ffestiniog and the erection of three 2/3 storey affordable local occupancy dwellings.

As for the outline application with all matters reserved to erect seven detached single storey dwellings for the elderly with associated developments on the former Gwylfa Chapel site, Manod there was no objection but the council felt there should be some stone work to the front of the housing to blend with the area.

Advice

A REPRESENTATIVE of Citizens Advice Bureau will be at the library between 10am and 1pm on Mondays ready to give relevant advice where needed and no appointments are needed to attend.

Cymdeithas Archaeoleg Bro Ffestiniog

STEFFAN ab Owain was the guest speaker at the recent meeting of the society when he gave a talk on vernacular architecture.

The talk was in Welsh but thanks to Glyn, who provided simultaneous translation, all present enjoyed a thoroughly interesting and informative evening.

Local historian Steffan has over the years studied the various building styles that have been used for houses over the last five centuries. Starting with the round houses of the Iron Age he took members on a photographic tour of various building methods and constructions.

One of the more well-known shown was ‘Stiniog’s own Ty Uncorn built in 1825 which is a square house divided into four dwellings all using a single central chimney.

One still exists today and is occupied whilst a second has long since been demolished.

He then moved on to long-houses in which the occupants lived at one end and their animals at the other.

Ty Hyll on the A5 is believed to be part of a phenomenon called Tai Unnos – built in a day to claim the right to the house and surrounding land. There is some discussion regarding Ty Hyll (Ugly House) as to whether it is a 15th century build or constructed by workers building the A5 London to Holyhead road.

Something we take for granted these days is the door and window lintel – nowadays pre-fab in concrete mostly

However, in earlier times things were a little different. Arched stone construction was an alternative method used before the available supply of slate blocks. Some dwellings used whatever was available which resulted in huge stone/shale pieces being put in place. Illustrations of various window designs were shown including examples of dodging window tax!

All in all a thoroughly eye opening presentation.

The next talk of the society’s autumn season will be on Thursday, 16 November at 7pm at the Day Centre, Y Ganolfan,

The guest speaker for the evening will be Dr Jane Kenney.

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