May your memories be a blessing

It is with great sadness that we find ourselves writing this article. Our friend and long-term contributor, Michael James, recently passed away and Mark and I felt it was only fitting that we show respect for Michael and his family by publishing a tribute to him which we hope can do justice to what an incredible man he was. To say that Michael lived a full and interesting life would be a severe understatement. He was born and grew up in the Rhondda Valley and after leaving Grammar School, was drafted into the RAF for two years, serving as an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Barnwood in Gloucester. Upon leaving the RAF, he found a job in Cardiff working for the Council, which meant travelling two hours a day on the train, and which is where he met his wife, Elizabeth. They settled in Cardiff in 1976 and as a family joined Albany Road Baptist Church, which proceeded to play a huge role in Michael’s life.

Michael wrote his very first article for Cardiff Times in May 2014, and continued to write regularly for us, with his most recent article in last month’s issue, a poignant and inspiring read entitled ‘A Reminder That Help And Hope Is All Around Us’.

His first article was entitled ‘You Must Be Mad’, and was the general response he got when he told people that he was undertaking a sponsored trek in the Himalayas. There may be some truth in their honest initial reaction as it is a serious challenge for anyone, especially for me. For those of you who don’t know me, I am not the Bear Grills type of person, although we do have something in common, we both have a great faith in God but that’s where the similarities end. Bear is the ex SAS, all action super hero and I am an unfit, over weight 75yr.old, (check out the photo) with arthritic knees and possibly suffering from an old age crisis. Then why am I doing this! I am doing it to raise awareness, support and, yes money, for the two Christian Charities I work with as a volunteer.

This excerpt touches on Michael’s charity work, with the two charities in particular he worked with being the Rainbow of Hope, and The Leprosy Mission, both of which were close to his heart. The sponsored trek in the Himalayas mentioned earlier enabled Michael to actually visit the Leprosy Mission in Nepal and visit some of the patients who would be directly benefitting from his fundraising. The Rainbow of Hope is an organisation that works to support the Homeless and Disadvantaged on the streets of Cardiff. It is run by a small group of unpaid staff at its office/shop/drop-in centre in Broadway and by volunteers

from local churches in Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys who go out every night of the year providing, food, hot drinks and clothing. It was clear to us from Michael’s very fi rst article that his Faith was extremely important to him, and this shines through in many of his articles. As well as the two charities mentioned earlier, he also promoted many others through his articles over the years. Here is a brief summary of the many worthy causes Michael championed. ‘Cardiff People First’, part of a national organisation which promotes the need for us to see the person (people) fi rst and only then recognise the person’s disability. This charity was mentioned in an article entitled ‘My Mate Steve’, where Michael describes the work his friend Steve does for Cardiff People First, and how he has gained enough confi dence to be able to tell has gained enough confi dence to be able to tell others how diffi cult life can be for him. others how diffi cult life can be for him.

‘Tools with a Mission’ (aka TWAM), is a Christian ‘Tools with a Mission’ (aka TWAM), is a Christian Charity that collects a variety of unwanted tools Charity that collects a variety of unwanted tools to support development work in Africa and to support development work in Africa and other parts of the world. The people of these other parts of the world. The people of these countries will often have few skills, little countries will often have few skills, little chance of employment and therefore no chance of employment and therefore no means of earning a living. A switch from the means of earning a living. A switch from the inevitable dependency upon outside aid inevitable dependency upon outside aid towards self-suffi ciency is impossible towards self-suffi ciency is impossible without help. TWAM exists to provide that help. CHOMP is a free, fun and friendly club, operating in the school holidays to provide various activities, games, craft work and a FREE, hot and healthy meal each day. It is aimed at but not exclusively for, primary school children who normally benefi t from free school meals or for those parents or guardians who just fi nd school holidays a bit of a struggle to provide fi nancially for their children.

‘Hope in Mental Health’, supported by Albany Road Baptist Church, provides bags of toiletries which are then delivered to the Mental Health Crisis Unit at Llandough Hospital for distribution to patients. These toiletry bags are hand made by the ladies in the group from donated materials and each bag contains, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, a comb and deodorant.

We thought it appropriate to include below some of the activities Michael’s I am a member at Albany Road Baptist Church. Our Church is open to all and as you enter the Sanctuary you will see a banner proclaiming ‘Everyone Welcome’ as indeed you are. The Church partners with and supports the three primary schools in the area, helping in their school assemblies and with reading classes. As well as an Open Door policy at the church, each morning between 10.00am and 1.00pm you are very welcome to come in for a chat over tea and coffee. The Church’s Pram and Pushchair group meets every Tuesday afternoon and provides welcome support for Mums and Dads, Carers and Grandparents to meet and socialise together while providing a safe environment for their babies, toddlers and pre-school children. The older folk are catered for as well, with a Monday Club folk are catered for as well, with a Monday Club and Luncheon Club, a Tuesday Coffee Group and Luncheon Club, a Tuesday Coffee Group (Bible Study) and a Knit, Stitch and Sew class. (Bible Study) and a Knit, Stitch and Sew class. On Wednesday evenings there is an Art Class. On Wednesday evenings there is an Art Class. Thursday morning is an opportunity for Coffee, Thursday morning is an opportunity for Coffee, Cake and Conversation, and on Friday Cake and Conversation, and on Friday lunchtime (once a month) is a great lunchtime (once a month) is a great chance to share in a fi sh and chip meal. Twice a month, on Sunday afternoons we hold a special Causeway service, for those with physical and/or mental health disabilities and their families and carers. Yes, there is a lot going on to help and support everyone and to let them know that they are loved. One of Michael’s proudest achievements was when, in 2014, at the age of 75, he undertook a ‘Trek of Hope’, in the Himalayas, to raise awareness of and funding for, the work of the two Christian charities he worked with, The Leprosy Mission and worked with, The Leprosy Mission and the ‘Rainbow of Hope’. On returning from the ‘Rainbow of Hope’. On returning from the trek, he became a ‘Local Volunteer the trek, he became a ‘Local Volunteer Speaker for TLM’ and spoke about his trek Speaker for TLM’ and spoke about his trek to many of the Chapels and Churches and to many of the Chapels and Churches and many secular organisations in South Wales. As a result of his trek, Michael decided to self-publish a book detailing the many trials and tribulations he went through before and during his trek, to try to raise even more money for his two charities. We are proud money for his two charities. We are proud to say we have a copy of the book, entitled to say we have a copy of the book, entitled ‘You Must Be Mad’, and would whole ‘You Must Be Mad’, and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone as it is heartedly recommend it to anyone as it is truly inspirational. truly inspirational. Michael really was a selfl ess, kind and Michael really was a selfl ess, kind and thoughtful person who always put the thoughtful person who always put the needs of others fi rst. Our lives are richer needs of others fi rst. Our lives are richer from knowing Michael, and to end this from knowing Michael, and to end this tribute we think an appropriate quote from tribute we think an appropriate quote from one of his articles is perfect: “May your memories be a blessing.”

PUBLISHER Cardiff Times

EDITOR

Louise Denning 07903 947594

FEATURES EDITOR

Mark Denning 07758 247194

SALES & MARKETING

Beth beth@cardiff-times.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Wyn Evans, Vince Nolan, Sara John, Molly Dutton, Carl Marsh, Jen Abell, Michael Fogg, Kellie Williams, Natalie McCulloch, Ralph Oates

EDITORIAL 029 2046 3028 ADVERTISING 07903 947594 EMAIL info@cardiff-times.co.uk WEB www.cardiff-times.co.uk

Welcome

Hi All, and welcome to our July issue.

Summer officially arrived last month, and we finally had some decent weather to enjoy. With more and more places opening up with restrictions easing, it was great to get out with the children and visit some different places in Cardiff.

We celebrated a number of birthdays last month, not least Mark’s, who reached a significant milestone (halfway between 40 and 60!) and our auntie’s, and we definitely won’t be revealing how old she is ! Both were celebrated with our family on separate days and a fantastic time was had by all.

We are very proud of our niece who achieved some excellent A Level results, given the challenges she has faced this year with the pandemic and schooling. She is now looking forward to going to university in September, where we’re sure she will thrive.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of one of our contributors, and good friend, Michael James. Michael wrote his first article for the magazine in 2014, and was a regularly contributor and supporter for over seven years. Mark and I thought it only fitting that we write a tribute article to him, which you can read on pages 4 and 5. His contribution to the community, Albany Road Baptist Church where he was an active member, various charities and groups was immense, and he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. Our deepest condolences to Michael’s wife and family.

Please continue to stay safe everyone, and until next month, happy reading.

Louise & Mark

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