THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog

Cymdeithas Archeoleg

THE last talk on the society’s 2017 calendar was by Ken Brassil on Charles Darwin and his north Wales connections.

Charles Darwin is regarded as the most famous biologists of all time – well-known for his book, On the origin of the species by means of natural selection, published in 1859.

A controversial thesis at the time due to religious opposition, it was prior to his voyage to the Galapagos Islands on HMS Beagle that he visited north Wales on a scientific mission.

He had spent some time on holiday on a few occasions with his family at Abergele on the coast, not far from his prominent family’s home near Shrewsbury.

He also holidayed in Barmouth on a few occasions.

His grandfather Erasmus Darwin was a reputed scientist who mastered skills in various scientific fields, including geology, chemistry, physics, biology and meteorology.

When he was 22 years old he joined his Geology tutor at Cambridge – Adam Sedgewick – on the annual geology field trip to the areas around Llangollen, Dyffryn Clwyd, Rhuthun and Llanelwy.

So here we have Darwin gaining his education in Geology from the leading scholar on the subject, giving him the knowledge he needed as part of his Theory of Evolution.

During this field trip Sedgwick labelled the oldest rock found as Cambrian – a term now locked in the geological time-line.

The area of Cefnmeiriadog near Llanelwy they studied the caves there and discovered the bones and a tooth of a rhinoceros and in later years other scientists found remains of Neanderthals at Ogof Bontnewydd nearby.

Of course in Darwin’s days dating of finds would be rather sketchy but he was inspired by the possibility of dating via Geology which gave him the background of part of his research in the Galapagos.

He also visited Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia which enabled him to study the theory of glaciation and he continued his tour, after Sedgwick departed for Anglesey, via Cnicht, the Moelwyns and the Rhiniogs.

It was when he reached Barmouth that he received the letter from Captain Fitzroy of the Beagle that his destiny became mapped out.

The first talk of the society’s 2018 programme will be on Thursday, 18 January, at 7pm for 7.30pm at the Day Centre, Y Ganolfan.

The guest speaker is Marian Gwyn who will speak on Sugar and Slavery and the Penrhyn Estate.

The talk will be in English.

Tea and coffee at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Services

HOLY Cross - Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Fr Shaji Punnati.

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

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.

Carmel - Rev Iwan Wyn Gruffydd, 10am.

Bethesda - Rhian Williams, 10am.

Bowydd - Dennis Davies.

Library

AT the library next Monday between 10am and 1pm a representative of the Citizens Advice Bureau will be available to discuss any relevant topic one might have and also there between 10.30 and 4pm a Health and Wellbeing Event is planned which will include various information stalls

Clwb Cerdded

TAITH nesaf aelodau Clwb Cerdded Stiniog fydd dydd Sul nesaf i Graig Goch a Gamallt a gofynnir iddynt fod ger Ty Gorsaf am 9yb; mae dillad addas, esgidiau cryf a phecyn o fwyd yn hanfodol.

Chair

COUNCILLOR Annwen Daniels has been elected chair of the Board of Governors at Tanygrisiau School.

Permission

LAND Regarding permission to move on with the purchase of land at Penbryn, Cae Baltic from Gwynedd Council it appears that there is a development within the boundary, and the town council is to ask Gwynedd Council to give a definite definition of its boundary before the documents are signed.

Clwb Merched

CAFWYD noson o farddoniaeth yn Clwb Merched Nos Fawrth gan Gwilym Price, Tanygrisiau yn adrodd englynion o waith Hedd Wyn, Ioan Brothen, Elwyn Edwards a Robert John Tanrallt.

Rhannwyd y gynulleidfa i edrych faint o’r hen gerddi oeddynt yn gofio a cafwyd noson hwyliog a llengar.

Gwesteion y te oedd Mair ac Eirlys ac enillwyd y raffl gan Mair, rhoddedig gan Medwen.

Challenges

THE town council has been informed that Gwynedd Council will face serious challenges during the next three years but no more information has been released on the matter at present.

Siop Siarad

THE area’s social group for Welsh learners and speakers monthly meeting will be held at 11am at the Bridge Cafe on 27 January, and all learners and fluent Welsh speakers are invited to come along for an informal chat over a cup of coffee.

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