Offa Community News Offa Community Council Dragonsong—the new Glee-style choir for young people
Aled lewis evans writes about life in Wrexham
Meet the New staff at Bellevue Park
History: Peter Walker Brewer
Winter 2012
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NEWS Dragonsong Dragonsong is a new, Glee-style choir for young people aged between 13 and 18 from across the County of Wrexham. There are no auditions to become part of Dragonsong. If you love singing, turn up and do your best then you’re in! Rehearsals are from 6.30pm to 8.00pm every Tuesday in school term time. There’s time for a drink and a chat as well as plenty of singing! Rehearsals are usually held at Central Station in Wrexham.
Find out more at www.dragonsong.org.uk A Magical Museum Meander There is a Festive Museum Trail to get all the family in the holiday spirit at Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives. www.wrexham.gov.uk/ heritage Saturday 1st December to Saturday 22nd December . Contact Wrexham Heritage Service on 01978 297460 or email museum@wrexham.gov.uk.
Residents groups Offa Community Council have several active residents groups in the area discussing issues raised by residents and keeping you informed of upcoming developments. If you would like an opportunity to meet your local council representatives and local police and have the chance to feed back any concerns please come along to your local meeting listed on our website. If you have any further questions or are uncertain which is your local group visit our website at www.offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk or contact Debbie French on 01978 312236, email loch@offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk for further information. Offa Community Council, Upper Floor, Parciau Community Centre, Bellevue Road, Wrexham LL13 7NH. 01978 291562
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NEWS Offa Citizen of the Year Award Do you know someone living locally who has gone that extra mile to help the local community?
Celebration Concert Victoria park residents are holding a Christmas Celebration Concert in All Saints Church Poyser Street on Wednesday 19th December 7.30pm with The Wrexham Salvation Army Songsters providing entertainment. Tickets £7 available from Barbara 262035, Ivy 351996 and Wendy 357623.
Every year the Community Council presents its Citizen of the Year Award to a person living in the Offa Community who has made a special contribution to the lives of local residents through volunteering with Carols in the Park local community groups. There will be a carol service in If you would like to nominate someone Bellevue Park hosted by Bradley living in the Offa Community for the Road Evangelical Baptist Church Offa Citizen of the Year Award 2012 at 4pm on Sunday the 16th of please put your nomination in writing December. The service will take to the Clerk of the Council, Parciau place at the bandstand and everyCommunity Centre, Bellevue Road, one is welcome. Wrexham LL13 7NH. In addition for 2012 the Community Council is awarding an Offa Young Person of the Year Award. This is to be awarded to a young person living within the Offa Community deserving of special recognition. Nominations can be made in writing to the above address. All nominations will need to be received by Friday 14th December 2012.
Christmas Tree Recycling Thursday 10th January Recycle your tree. Drop off (anytime from week before) at the bottom car park off Bellevue Rd 9am – 12pm. Free
www.offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk Visit the Offa Community Council website where you can find out the latest news and events for your area and also find information on residents’ groups, meetings and useful links.
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events Christmas Carol Concert Saturday 1st December. Christmas Carol Concert at St Giles Parish Church, Wrexham Featuring: Rhos Male Voice Choir; Deborah Parry Edwards; Aled Wyn Davies; Wrexham Citadel Band. Venue: St Giles Parish Church, Wrexham. Time: 7.30pm. Tickets £15 includes seasonal refreshment. Contact Nightingale House Hospice on 01978 314 292 or email laura.parry@nightingalehouse.co.uk. Victorian Christmas Market Thursday 13th December 12 noon to 8pm. Wrexham’s annual Christmas market, set in the most picturesque part of the town centre, will see over 70 stalls in Church Street and St Giles’ churchyard, overflowing with goods such as hand made wooden toys, candles, jewellery, books by local authors, cards, crafts, all sorts of gifts, Christmas decorations, freshly cut trees, pottery and lots of local produce, including cakes, pies, chocolates, hot-from-the-griddle Welshcakes, beer, cider, preserves and sauces. For more information contact Claire Luckock on 01978292538 or email claire.luckock@wrexham.gov.uk. Art n Decs Saturday 15th December 10.30am-2.30pm. Try your hand at making your own gorgeous traditional Christmas decorations and discover some of the stories behind them. Suitable for children of all ages. At Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives. Contact Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives museum@wrexham.gov.uk or ring 01978 297460.
Carols in the Park There will be a carol service in Bellevue Park hosted by Bradley Road Evangelical Baptist Church at 4pm on Sunday the 16th of December. The service will take place at the bandstand and everyone is welcome. Carols Around the Christmas Tree / Late Night Shopping
Thursday 20th December. Browse the Museum shop for last minute unique gifts and cards. Indulge in a tasty coffee or treat at the Bwtri Café. Finish off the evening with a spot of carol singing around the Museum’s Christmas tree. Carol singing: 7-7:30pm at Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives 5:00pm-7:30pm. Carols at 7:00-7:30pm. Contact Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives museum@wrexham.gov.uk or call 01978 297460.
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Bellevue Park New Staff Bellevue has two new members of staff, John Whittaker and Alasdair Thomson. John's job title is Senior Parks and Countryside Officer which means he has responsibility for all the parks in north Wrexham including Alyn Waters, Moss Valley, Minera, Nant Mill, and Acton, as well as Bellevue. Johns work base is split between Alyn Waters and Bellevue. John has a wide experience of country park management having worked in previously in Oldham, Huddersfield, Ipswich and Warrington. Alasdair is an experienced park ranger having worked for the Council as a ranger at Nant Mill, Alyn Waters and Ty Mawr Country Parks. Alasdair will spend the first part of the week based at Ty Mawr Country Park and the second half of the week based at Bellevue, where he
will be involved in the day to day running of the park, with particular responsibility for the park events.
Park news The gardeners have been doing the all important winter maintenance for the bowling greens, to ensure that they are in good condition for the new season. All the hedges have been cut around the park, and the winter flower beds have been planted up, and leaves cleared in what is a very busy time of year for the gardeners.
Bulb planting Last November thousands of bulbs were planted in the park by local school children. 3000 Snowdrop bulbs were planted alongside the path next to Ruthin Road, helping to create what should be a beautiful winter display in forthcoming winters. The children worked very hard and the park staff are very grateful for their help. www.offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk
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History Wrexham is extremely fortunate to have so many trees and green areas within the boundaries of the town. This is especially true at this time of year when the leaves are beginning to turn and present a beautiful splash of colour. It is a pity that Ruthin Road from Victoria Road to Ruabon Road is so packed with traffic as it is a beautiful avenue of trees. On one side it has Belle Vue Park and on the other the area which was once the New Burial Ground opened in 1784 when the burial ground surrounding the parish church was full. It was used as a Garden of Rest and later as a park when the grave stones were moved to the perimeter of the area. The land is now used by the Victoria CP School as a play area. There is a seldom used walkway between the play ground and the road with a beautiful canopy of trees. A short distance down this path from Victoria Road is a very impressive memorial. It is one of the few memorials left in situ and is topped with a beautiful urn. The memorial is to Peter Walker of Coed-y-Glyn who died in 1882 and his first wife, Agnes, who died in 1864 aged 40 and their children, Mary Jane died 1862 aged 1 year and 5 months, their son, William Carlow, died
Peter Walker Brewer
1865 when he was 7 and Agnes who died in 1871 also aged 7. The memorial tells a tragic tale. Also recorded is the death of Peter Walker's second wife Jessie Crawford. Peter Walker was a member of a Scottish brewing family. His father established a successful brewery in Liverpool and aged 17 Peter came to Wrexham to work at the Cambrian Brewery sited between Chapel Street and the river Gwenfro. Having undertaken his training he returned to Liverpool. By 1840 he was back in Wrexham and lived in Coed-y-Glyn. He bought the small Willow Brewery
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by Gareth Vaughan Williams in 1860 and it rapidly developed to become the largest brewery in the town. He became a borough councillor and was elected mayor in 1866 and again in 1867. He was disappointed when not elected for a third term and moved his business interests to Burton upon Trent developing a great brewery there. He continued to live in Coed-y-Glyn until his death. The Willow Brewery closed in 1883 after his death, and the site bought by Wrexham Borough Council for their main depot, workshops, stables, offices, electricity generator, public baths and laundry. He played an active and generous part in the life of Wrexham particularly St Giles Church. In 1867 he gave the church a new pulpit and he contributed ÂŁ1000 towards building the new National School, a very fine
building, at the top of Madeira Hill. He paid for the bridge crossing the Gwenfro at Salop Road, the Willow Bridge, and there is a plaque on the bridge recording his generosity. His brother Andrew Barclay Walker founded the Walker Art Gallery in Wrexham. The National School was extended and is now St Giles Primary School (left).
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GEIRIAU
(WORDS)
AR Y STRYD (ON THE STREET)
AR Y STRYD Aled Lewis Evans (Oriau mân bore Nadolig )
There are plenty of signs that Christmas is on the way and for this edition I've invited Aled Lewis Evans a local poet who not only writes in Welsh but has also written many poems in English. When I received this poem, Ar y Stryd, he also sent me an English version and it gives me great pleasure to share these two unpublished poems with you. Aled is a poet who has his finger on the pulse when he writes about life in Wrexham, his home town .
Mae dy Eni ar strydoedd Wrecsam heno yn y gwlybaniaeth ar Bradley Road, yn y tawelwch ger Ysbyty Maelor nad yw byth yn cysgu. Mae Geni yn y gwynt, yn maglu un ifanc ar ei drac unig i'r nos. Mae dy Eni ar strydoedd Wrecsam heno yn yr heddwch wedi rhuthr di-stop a'r cwest am rialtwch, fel pe bai pob diddanwch ar derfynu eu cytundeb â'r byd. Distawrwydd beichiog, braf wedi storom ein trefnu a'n trimins. Mae dy Eni ar strydoedd Wrecsam heno yn eu hanwes am bererin hwyrol o Eglwys y Plwyf a fu yn'n croesawu Gŵyl. Fe feddalir y caletaf â negeseuon y noswyl hon, yn ymddiheuriadau mab a merch y tu ôl i lenni cydwybod y flwyddyn sydd ar gloi. Daw rhyw gariad I deyrnasu ennyd ar ein byw. Ac yn yr amrwd, yn sisial hyfryd tawel awel bore bach y Nadolig
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Liz Williams ON THE STREET. Your birth is on the streets of Wrexham in the moisture of Bradley Road, in the solitude by the Maelor Hospital that never sleeps, in the tripping of young person's lonely track into the night.
Christmas Crafts and mince pies Saturday 1st December Festive Crafts and Cheer at the Bowls pavilion 10.30am - 2pm.
Your birth is on the streets of Wrexham tonight in the peace after the never-ending rush as if every entertainment was about to sign off from the world. Pregnant peace reigns after the storm of our organising and trimmings.
Tuesdays in Hightown Ti a Fi Playgroup. Free. 12.30-2.30pm Hightown Community Centre. Your birth is on the streets of Wrexham tonight Youth Club in its embrace for the late night pilgrim 5.30pm in Luke O ‘ from the Parish Church. Connor House The hardest are melted by the messages of this eve, Slimming World in apologies between girl and boy 7.30pm at Hightown behind curtains of conscience Community Centre. as the year is now fast closing. A certain love reigns for a moment over our lives. Basic, in the silent refreshing breeze of the early hours of Christmas, I recall the birth of my Redeemer. Diolch o galon i ti Aled am dy gyfraniad i'r rhifyn hwn ac am gyfansoddi cerdd mor gyfoes a pherthnasol i ni ddarllenwyr y cylchgrawn hwn ar gyfer ein hardal yn y dref ar y ffin. Thank you Aled for your contribution to this edition by composing a poem so relevant to the magazine of our community within the town. Liz Williams
Bellevue Park Opening Times November - March 7am - 5.30pm. Email your news and stories for inclusion in our magazine or for our website to Webmaster @offacommunity council.gov.uk.
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news All change at Ysgol Clywedog It has been a very busy first half term at Ysgol Clywedog. The new Headteacher Martin Hulland has recently appointed a new Deputy Headteacher. Amanda Harrison will be joining the school from Ysgol Y Grango in January 2013. In addition, Mr. Brent Evans is the new Chair of Governors and a clear action plan has been put in place to ensure that all of the students at Ysgol Clywedog achieve their full potential. The school has a new motto, "Being the best we can be" and our 4 key words are, "standards, respect, achievement and care." Our recent Open Evening was a major success and we had a record number of visitors through the door. The Annual Governors Meeting with parents will take place in the School Library on Thursday 29th November 2012 at 6pm. Mr Hulland, Mrs Harrison and Mr Evans will be available for questions at this event. As always, members of the local community are welcome to visit our school at any time. We are always grateful for any feedback and constantly looking for volunteer help from the local community. Have a look at our new look website if you have a moment. www.clywedog.org.uk.
Christmas Weekend at Erddig Saturday, 24 November Craft and food chalets / stalls, meet Santa in his grotto, live music and much more. The perfect way to get the Christmas experience, from listening to beautiful choral carols, enjoying hot roasted chestnuts, meeting the special man himself (Tickets for Santa £5). The whole property will be decorated and alive with Christmas spirit for you to enjoy with live music and performances. Members free, £3.50 admission, children under 16 free.
RAFFLES CLUB LUNCH CLUB Come along and join us for a two course lunch at The RAFA Club Ruthin Rd Open to all over 50's. Hot lunch and pudding with tea & coffee to finish. £3.50 per person To book your place please contact Debbie French on 01978 312236 leaving your name contact number and the amount of diners. We hope you can join us !
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Friends of Bellevue Park In July the Friends of Bellevue held a Party around the bandstand for veterans and their families to celebrate The Diamond Jubilee. This was a lovely day and was well attended. Wall Street Crash provided the entertainment and The Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham attended along with Ian Lucas MP and his wife Nora, who along with our organist Jean Williams led a singalong. Picture below. In September Victoria Park Residents held a Concert by Rhos Male Voice Choir in All Saints Church to celebrate the Centenary of the Church this was a complete sell out and we presented the Vicar Matthew Burns with a cheque for ÂŁ500 made up of proceeds from concert and a contribution from residents association.
The Friends of Bellevue are a group who work for the benefit of the park and it's users. The group meets regularly with park staff, fundraise and hold events. The group is open to anyone with any interest in the park whether you are a dog walker, local resident or have an interest in nature. Friends will resume after Christmas on the first Friday 11am in February in bowls club. New members are very welcome. Contact Barbara Jones 262035.
Bellevue Park Opening Times April - October 7am - 9pm; November - March 7am - 5.30pm. Magazine edited and published by Jane Redfern Jones. Send items for insertion to webmaster@offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk or post to the address on page 2.
Offa Pensioners Christmas Party The annual pensioners Christmas party will again take place on Saturday 8th December at the Parciau Community Centre in Bellevue Park between 1pm and 3pm. The party is organised and funded by Offa Community Council and is a free event open to all pensioners living in the Offa Community. A buffet is provided, raffle prizes and games, Xmas carols and a visit by the Mayor and Mayoress. This is a ticket only event. To get your free ticket please contact Debbie French Community Development Officer on 01978 312236 or email: loch@offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk.
Offa Community Council Contact Us: Karen Benfield, Clerk to the Council: 01978 291562
clerk@offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk
www.offacommunitycouncil.gov.uk