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RHIWBINA
Living
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Issue 28 Autumn 2014
The leaves frost-crisp’d, break from the trees And fall
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contents 3 5 8 13 16 21 25 27 29 30 31
News Letters ars Juboraj’s 25 Ye Collabro rence Bermuda Confe Wales Older People in Pets’ Page l Canton Chape ls Wandering Sou Recipes Column
Autumn in the village is perhaps the most STORY THAT A E V A H U O Y DO delightful season of the year. We’re guessing that ARE WITH H S TO E IK L ’D U it comes down to the fact that everyone is busying YO themselves preparing for the oncoming winter. OUR READERS? Rounds the houses too, where chimneys smoke and and the warm waft of casseroles drifts down the We often get letters king as lanes, one gets a sense of preparation too. The emails from people ws a ne garden furniture if they can submit en ev is packed away for or e story, a featur another year, the recipes. ched seasoned logs are Since we first laun , stacked under the leans our magazines in 2007 elcomed tos and the lights glow d we’ve more than w e probably publishe to e’v w d an s er ad from the windows. re te greatly such work from el that they contribu mmunity fe e W . With all that in mind, em th of ds hundre l as the co we’ve got some delightful stories and features to keep the interest of our magazines, as wel u feel would be of yo ve something that you occupied while the autumn storms rage outside. ha via u yo if So it. ir sp free to get in touch el fe se ea pl s, er On page 8, we join in the celebrations with one ad interest to our re below. of Rhiwbina’s favourite landmarks - the Juboraj, our contact details which celebrates its 25th birthday this year. On page 13, we speak exclusively to this year’s Britain’s Got Talent winners, Collabro. And on page 16, we hear from Rhiwbina’s Brian Mead, whose story is both remarkable and true! , Cardiff Local vet Chris Troughton answers your pet questions Road, Rhiwbina h c a tb n Pa 2 22 A: on page 25 while Keith Flynn OBE, returns to our CF14 6AG pages with a brief history of Canton Chapel, which 022920 081775 / 07974 2 77 07 T: used to serve the worshippers of North Cardiff. There’s o.uk r@livingmags.c a spooky autumn tale on page 29 and on page 30, there E: edito k .u o ags.c W: www.livingm are some warming soup recipes to welcome you home , the publisher y of the contents any way arising sure the accurac in r en tte to ma de y ma an en for or be s after a hard day’s work. issions, made to contact any copyright While every effortanha for errors or om ty bili en nsi be po s res ha y effort pt ical publication. cannot acce material. Eveisryan Believe it or not, next stop is winter. independent, apolit blication ofdthis ng Livi aff from the puitch nd Lla an h e for holders. Wh urc d copy deadlin See you then! n a g n ki o o b g rtisin 14. Patric and Danielle (editors) Adve 24th October 20 14. y a id Fr 29 e su Is ber 20 ion date - Novem Issue 29 publicat 2 ar. ye a ished 4 times Rhiwbina Living
is publ
NEW PRIEST ARRIVES AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH All Saints Church has recently welcomed Father Peter Mortimer as their new priest for their church
NEW CARDIFF BUS SERVICE FOR RHIWBINA AND NORTH CARDIFF
A new bus service is set to begin in North Cardiff next month – after residents protested at recent cuts. Cardiff Bus is now set trial a new route between Whitchurch, Pantmawr, Rhiwbina, Heath and the University Hospital of Wales from Sunday, September 28. The route will be called the 21A. Passengers were angered earlier this year when the Welsh Government cut funding for local bus services. After much protest, the funding cuts were partially overturned when Cardiff Bus, and a number of other operators, took the Welsh Government to court. Cynthia Ogbonna, managing director of Cardiff Bus, said: “The changes demonstrate our commitment to providing a high-quality bus service to the citizens of Cardiff and surrounding areas. “It is hoped that these revisions will further enhance the reliability of our service to the benefit of our customers.” Cardiff Bus plans to revise other services after assessing recent customer feedback.
news
ON GUARD! FENCING COMES TO RHIWBINA
Fencing is now available to residents of Rhiwbina thanks to the relocation of Whitchurch Fencing Club to Rhiwbina Memorial Hall. The modern Olympic sport of fencing is a mentally demanding yet fun exercise that is great for boosting your body’s health and fitness. It develops the arm and leg muscles, as well as helping to improve reflexes and flexibility. The weapon used at Whitchurch Fencing Club is the epée, the modern descendant of the rapier, which was a duelling weapon. In epée fencing, as with traditional duels, hits are made to any part of the body. Fencing épée requires finesse, accuracy, and speed, rather than
RHIWBINA RALLIES ROUND Donations came flooding in to a Rhiwbina charity shop after the theft of a designer bag last month. A thief nabbed a Mulberry bag worth £100 from the Tenovus shop on Heol y Deri on Saturday 9th August. Tenovus Retail Area Manager Sue Hayes said that the bag could have funded three hours of counselling for cancer sufferers. After the story was picked up by local news outlets, two local businesses have each offered £100 in donations. Sue Hayes told the media:
strength, and so it an ideal sport for both sexes. Whitchurch Fencing Club began in Whitchurch Adult Centre in the 60s, and moved to Rhiwbina Memorial Hall in April this year. Learn to Fence The club offers a six-week beginners’ course, designed to introduce the novice to the basics of sword fencing, and to enable him/her to take part in club fencing at the end of the course. (Next course starting Tuesday 16th September) Full protective clothing and masks are provided by the club. More at: www. whitchurchfencing.co.uk/ learn2fence.htm
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received following this story, not just from the local community but the messages we’ve had on social media have been extremely heart-warming too. “We were so grateful when two local businesses, Tree Control and Haus Cardiff said that they would both be donating £100 to cover the cost of the bag and Cllr Jayne Cowan, who helped get the word out initially. She has also agreed to a fundraising coffee morning for us.” Jayne Cowan reiterated the gratitude of the charity, adding: “Rhiwbina is a very special community. It really does rally around in times of trouble.” 3
news
NEW BOOK CLUB A children’s book club for 5-7 year olds now takes place on the first Saturday of every month at Rhiwbina Library from 10am-11am. For more information, email Danielle on: Daniellebookclub2014@outlook.com
LLANISHEN FACH PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘EXCELS’
Llanishen Fach Primary School is a ‘Good’ school with ‘Excellent’ prospects for improvements according to a recent Estyn report. The Headteacher, Mrs Sarah Coombes, is acknowledged as providing ‘outstanding leadership’. The school is deemed to be ‘Excellent’ in six areas including: leadership and management, learning experiences, learning environment and most significantly, improving quality. In all the other areas inspected by ESTYN, including teaching, care support and guidance and partnership working, the report measured the school as being ‘Good’. The report highlighted the good standard of teaching, with excellent prospects for improvement, across the school, which ensures that pupils are, and will continue to be motivated and actively engaged in their learning. ESTYN also noted that there are rigorous processes in place for regularly assessing and tracking pupils’ progress and standards with reading and writing being identified as having improved considerably over time. The caring ethos, through which pupils are encouraged to develop tolerance, respect and understanding for each other, was recognised and celebrated by the inspection team. Headteacher Mrs Sarah Coombes said: “We are absolutely delighted with the report which reflects the dedication of our teaching 4
and Leadership Team and of the governing body. This report provides us with the encouragement and determination to continue to move the school forward in the knowledge that we are providing the very best start for all our pupils.” Responding to the report findings, the Governing Body said: “The Governors at Llanishen Fach Primary School are extremely pleased with the results and outcomes of our 2014 Estyn inspection. No less than nine judgements of good and six of excellent are really outstanding. “It is perceived by some that the inspection follows a short intensive period of activity in preparation for the inspectors, however in reality the results have been measured by some very hard work and innovation over the past four years. “We are all very proud to be associated with the school and the professionalism of the staff that has been recognised by the Inspection report.” They added: “We are delighted to have the inspector’s reassurance that our pupils are ‘very proud of their school’ and are ‘motivated and actively engaged’ in our ‘rich and varied programme’. We are particularly pleased too with their positive recognition of the ‘caring ethos’ and the ‘positive emphasis on inclusion’ within the ‘vibrant community’.
NEW CLUB PRESIDENT The Whitchurch-based Rotary Club of Cardiff Breakfast recently installed Tongwynlais resident Pauline Owen as its President for the next twelve months. Pauline, a former teacher, has already served one term as President, in 2006-7, so she is well prepared to take on the role. Her first event was the Club’s involvement in the Whitchurch Festival, where the Club organised the “Spot the Mistake in the Shop Window” competition, and had a Tombola and Lucky Dip stall at the Fete to promote and support two charities, ShelterBox and School in a Bag. One of the Club’s ongoing community activities is the care of the Rotary garden in the grounds of Whitchurch Library. The garden was created to mark 100 years of Rotary in 2006, in association with Cardiff County Council and the many local businesses and organisations who sponsored tiles in the path. Members of the Club regularly inspect the garden and carry out any maintenance needed. The Club meets every Wednesday morning at 7.30am in the Whitchurch Golf Club. Visitors are always welcome. More information about the Club can be found at www.cardifbreakfastrotary.org
If you’d like to get in touch, you can find our address on the inside front cover. Alternatively, you can email us at editor@livingmags.co.uk
WHERE’S OUR SQUIRREL?
letters
My wife and I have been avid readers of your magazines for many years. We always look forward to receiving it through our letterbox as it signals the start of a new season! However, we have been worried about the disappearance of a certain little furry fellow. I refer of course to the little squirrel who used to grace your front cover - he’s gone!! Our grandchildren used to look out for him (they were the first one to notice that he was no longer there!). Are there any plans to reintroduce him? MR & MRS RICHARDS RHIWBINA
MY TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE IN RHIWBINA My story goes back 74 years to 1940. War had been declared in September 1939. I was 8 years old when the bombing started. My parents decided that we should be evacuated for our safety, so myself and my older brother, who was 11 years old, were put on a train along with other children. We didn’t know where we were going but we ended up in Rhiwbina. I was placed with a couple called Mrs and Mrs MacDonald who lived at 7 Porthamal Gardens. My brother was placed with Mr and Mrs Andrews who lived at No.8. I can’t remember how long I was with Mr and Mrs MacDonald, but after that, I did go to live in a big house at the foot of the Wenallt. I think her
EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Thanks for getting in touch. We were wondering if anyone would notice! Over the years, we have tried to develop the magazine into a more professional publication for two reasons: firstly, for reader enjoyment. There’s nothing worse than reading a magazine that’s been put together in a sloppy way. Secondly, we owe it to our advertisers to produce a slicklooking publication to give their adverts the best chance of being seen. The good news is that we haven’t dropped the squirrel entirely - we couldn’t bring ourselves to do it so we hide him somewhere on one of the inside pages instead! name was Mrs Lloyd. On the 5th July this year, I came with my daughter and son-inlaw for a few weeks’ holiday in Port Eynon. On the way there, my son-in-law made a detour to Rhiwbina to see where I lived for a while. One of the landmarks I looked for was the cinema. I remember it being at the crossroads but we found no cinema so we gave up. On our journey home, we decided to try again. I asked a man who was walking by if he knew where Rhiwbina Gardens were. I thought that was the name of the road that I had lived on. He’d never heard of them so I then mentioned the cinema. He told us that it is no longer there, but that it is now a block of red flats. No wonder we couldn’t find it! We looked again, and bingo! – found Porthamal Gardens, which I realised, was what I had been looking for. We took a walk up it and saw the two houses. There were a few children
WHY ARE OUR VILLAGERS SO SHY?
I watch with dismay as other suburbs in Cardiff (I’m thinking of Whitchurch in particular) thrive while Rhiwbina remains quiet and subdued. It was only recently as June that an application for a wine bar was shot down and this month we hear of another Rhiwbina shop closing its doors. Why can’t we inject some spirit and life into our village? It’s not all about cupcakes and Earl Grey tea. Some of us would like a bit more than that! DEBORAH HILL PANTMAWR RHIWBINA
playing and one of the little girls asked “Are you looking for someone? Can I help?” I told her that I had found what I was looking for. She then said “Are you going to buy Jeff ’s house?” (Jeff ’s house being No.7). I told her that I wasn’t but that I had lived there a long time ago when I was an evacuee. We explained what an evacuee was and she then told me that Jeff was 95 but had sadly died. We took a few photos of both houses. I have sent some to my brother. He is 85 now. I also looked at the Primary School that I had attended. I don’t quite remember it being so big. MARION RAMAGE (aged 83) Brentwood 5
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or over 25 years, the Juboraj restaurant has been at the heart of the village, both physically and in people’s lives. 2014 saw the Juboraj host its 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner. The dinner was attended by invited guests made up
of locals and regulars of The Juboraj, some of who have been enjoying meals there for the full 25 years since it opened in 1989. Over those 25 years, the Juboraj has enjoyed accolades such as Best Indian Restaurant in Wales at the British Curry Awards, on more than one occasion, as well as numerous other awards over the years. In fact, only last year, the Juboraj Group played a big part as a founder of the Asian Food Awards which was
launched in Juboraj Cardiff Bay with the ceremony in Cardiff ’s City Hall. Being part of the organising team meant, of course, they could not win, but that in itself shows how far the Juboraj has come in the last 25 years. During the years they’ve had many celebrity guests dining with them - Tom Jones, Prime Minister John Major and Ruth Jones to name but a few. The 25th Celebration night was no exception with Wales and Cardiff Blues upcoming star Rhys Patchell attending, and the Juboraj’s and Rhiwbina’s very own superstar of the rugby world, Cardiff Blues, Wales International and British and Irish Lions winning Captain, Sam
Warburton sitting down for another dinner in his favourite restaurant. Most importantly, it was a celebration for the regulars of the Juboraj, the people of Rhiwbina and Cardiff who have made the Juboraj the continued success it is. This meal was for them as a big thank you from Ana Miah and the staff at not only Juboraj Rhiwbina, but from the other four Juboraj restaurants throughout Cardiff.
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The Britain’s Got Talent Winners are coming to Cardiff they speak exclusively to Living Magazines
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This time last year, I had just started work in a petrol station. I was a sales assistant and shelf-stacker.” says Michael Auger, one-fifth of Britain’s Got Talent Winners, Collabro. “I’ve always loved musical theatre and had been for a few auditions in the West End late last year. I was lucky enough to be narrowed down to the final two for a Christmas show there but sadly lost out to someone else. It was at that point that I decided that really wanted to go for it.” It was in June this year that Michael, along with Richard, Jamie, Matt and Tom took the coveted Britain’s Got Talent crown, pulling in 26.5% of the votes. “Life has changed so much for us. We’re still in a whirlwind. As we’ve not known each other that long, we’re still finding things out about each other, never mind learning about the music industry itself! We’re picked up in cabs and whisked away to an exciting new adventure every day and we love it!” Working as a group (the name Collabro is shortened from the word ‘collaborative’ in case you hadn’t guessed!) has proved a real recipe for success. “The good thing is that there are five of us, so we always have a vote and someone’s always going to win.” Matt explains. “Everyone’s happy in the end.” “You put five guys who are sort of performers in a small sense in their own right together and you’re likely to have friction. But we’re now in a place where we get on really, really well and we’ve grown really close.” adds Jamie. Collabro formed in January 2014. With the boys working as a labourer (Richard), a finance assistant for the NHS (Jamie), a petrol station sales assistant (Michael), a kitchen
salesman (Matt) and Tom working in a Japanese restaurant, it was Matt and Jamie who spearheaded the project. “Matt and Jamie already knew each other another and decided that they wanted to try and do something as a group.” says Michael. “So they spread the word on social media to find three additional singers to complete the band’s line-up. I auditioned and this time, I was successful! It just goes to show that social media is a powerful thing!” he says. “Our audition was back in February and the live shows weren’t until May. In between that time, Britain’s Got Talent allocated every act a researcher. They were there if we had any questions and to guide us in the preparations for the live shows. We had lots of dress rehearsals so when it finally came to the live shows, we all knew what we were doing. There was a great family feel to the show, especially towards the end – we all wanted each other to do well.” Since winning the show, the boys have signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Music. Their debut album will be launched later in July and they’ve recently announced that they will
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How I Guarded Churchill and Eisenhower: My Story As Cardiff hosted for the NATO Summit this autumn, Rhiwbina’s Brian Mead recalls the fascinating weeks he spent in Bermuda in 1953, guarding the Bermuda Conference. There, among others, he met Sir Winston Churchill, President Eisenhower and Sir Anthony Eden. We flew to Bermuda on a Constellation aircraft on Sunday 29th November 1953. Compared to the converted bomber that flew us out from the UK, this was luxury. Hamilton Barracks itself was a very strange place. It struck me more like a Beau Guest Fort, filled with ghosts of soldiers long past. The walls of the barrack rooms were scarred with bayonet-carved messages, often poetry, some over a hundred years old. The men in my room walked around for hours trying to find the oldest. Some were very beautifully done by men of many different regiments. One carved in the 1800s stated that he had been there for five years. Shades of the Welch Brigade in India! The barracks were in a good state of repair and very clean with the walls of the barrack rooms white-washed. The grounds were laid out with trees and shrubs with flowers full of colours, which made the place seem very cool in the heat of the day. Before I had chance to settle in, I was told that with two other Corporals plus a guard, that I was 16
going to the Mid Ocean Club on the other side of the island where Sir Winston Churchill and Mr Anthony Eden were going to stay. Upon reaching the Mid Ocean Club, we took over the men’s locker rooms for the Duty Officer, Guard Command and the NCOs on security duties. The clubhouse had been emptied of guests, only the staff remaining. The Clubhouse itself was guarded by the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF), the roof by the Royal Marines, while the gates and perimeter were shared by a guard from the Bermuda Rifles. These territorials, like their British counterparts, came from all walks of life. Security at the clubhouse was very tight and incidents were many and various. On one occasion, the Marines on the roof spotted a frogman swimming into the private beach. He was caught coming out of the water and turned out to be a French photographer. On another occasion, the clubhouse had a power cut. At the time, I was standing at the door of the Conference Room on duty when all the lights went out. In the best traditions of American cinema, the FBI agent on duty with me whipped out his gun and shouted “Nobody move!” Back came the British response of “Put that bloody thing away and grow up.” The power was restored within about two minutes and the agent spent the rest of his duty angrily puffing on his cigar and refusing to speak to us. Over the next few
days, he became the butt of our jokes, not being helped by the fact that although being six foot in height, he was out of condition with a large beer pot belly. Corporal Lightfoot on duty at the main gates had his problems too but of a different kind. He was accosted by a film crew led by a female correspondent who turned out to be Miss Jinx Falkenburg, an American ex movie star. By the time I had arrived, Corporal Lightfoot had persuaded her that she could not get in and instead gave her a dialogue on how a certain American president had his roots in Wrexham. Heaven knows what the American movie-goers thought of it all when it was shown. I thought it was hilarious! Part of my duty was to escort VIPs who wished to walk around the grounds of the clubhouse or swim from the private beach. In doing so, it was nearly always my task to escort Sir Anthony Eden, then Foreign Minister. To come into close contact with someone like Sir Anthony Eden was a memorable experience and one which I shall never forget. On being told to meet him in the hotel foyer, I found him to be waiting there for me. When I reported to him, he smiled at me and said “Good morning Corporal. I understand that you are to look after me. Shall we go down to the beach where I have my bathers?” His remarks immediately put me at ease, for here was a man six foot tall, very fit for his age, and as it turned out, was a far better swimmer
people
than myself! It was just as well that I had to sit on the beach and watch him! I do not know what I expected to feel meeting him for the first time, for I had read and seen so much about him in the media of the day. But what I did find, was a kind and surprisingly gentle man who was more interested in my welfare than of his own. The feeling of holding him in awe, he quickly dispelled, so that within a few minutes, I was relaxed in his company. During these walks, he encouraged me to chat about every topic of the day, but as they say, to be a good conversationalist, one also has to be a good listener. I knew that to listen to someone such as he was a chance of a lifetime. Having read and heard so much of Winston Churchill since my youth, it was only natural that my expectations on meeting the man was of someone larger than life. What I saw came as a shock, not only to myself but to everyone else waiting his arrival at the Mid Ocean Club. He came through the entrance supported on either arm by two men. An exhausted little old fat man who was obviously partially paralysed from head to foot on his left side. He shuffled, rather than walked, and after murmuring greetings to those introduced to him, he was quietly assisted to the lift, followed by an embarrassing silence as we watched him leave. History can now tell us that at the beginning of 1953, Winston Churchill had suffered a massive heart attack. This, at the time, was withheld from the press and public so as not to endanger the Bermuda Talks, which were postponed until the November.
Sir Winston, being the first to arrive in Bermuda, went to the airport to greet the rest of the Heads of State and the Guard of Honour was provided by the 1st RWF. Lieutenant Tim Davies, who took part, described in a letter to me that a problem arose when trying to get through red tape in order to fly ‘Billy’ the goat mascot. Sir Winston was approached on the subject and his apparent reply was “Fumigate the goat and fly it.” My preconceived ideas as how Heads of State would conduct themselves at such a meeting were quickly dispelled on the first day with President Eisenhower flying off the handle and storming out of the conference room; in the days to come, we were sharply reminded that this was one man who operated on a very short fuse. Today, the public are used to seeing massive security operations for Heads of State. For the Americans however, even in the early 1950s, this was the norm. This was typical with President Eisenhower, giving me my first experience of a security motorcade. This consisted of two large American cars in the leads, filled with FBI men, followed by the Presidential Car with President Eisenhower sitting on the rear seat surrounded by bodyguards. The rear was brought up by two more cars filled with FBI men. One of the highlights of the day was to watch the motorcade move off, taking Eisenhower back to the US Air Force base at the end of a session of talks. The cars would draw up to the front door of the Mid Ocean Club. They were then surrounded
by FBI men facing outwards. When Eisenhower was installed in the car, a signal was given by the FBI officer in charge. The bodyguards would board their cars, which being open-topped, meant that they would swing their legs over the doors in true American flamboyant manner, instead of opening the doors and getting in. The British staff were so amused by this show that we would mutter in chorus “Prepare to Mount – Mount!” Then with their lights flashing and sirens blowing, the whole shebang would move off. In marked contrast, whenever Winston Churchill left the Mid Ocean Club, he would move quietly and leave with his one bodyguard and valet, the car gently moving off leaving a trail of expensive cigar smoke. The sense of occasion for those eight days as far as we of the Royal Welch Fusiliers were concerned, absorbed us every minute of its passing. It made our duties demanding, but they also gave us the knowledge that his was a little bit of history in the making. We of the 1st Bn. RWF played our part. This is an abridged version of Brian’s story. The full version can be found at our website at www.livingmags.co.uk
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News in the Community SARAH ROCHIRA Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
A
s the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, my role is to stand up and speak out for older people across Wales and to drive the change needed to make Wales a good place to grow older, not just for some but for everyone. As Commissioner, I also provide a wide range of help and support to older people and their families through my dedicated Enquiries and Support Team. When I took up post in 2012, I made a commitment to visit communities across Wales as part of my Engagement Roadshow, to meet and speak with older people and hear first-hand about the issues that matter to most to them, ensuring that their voices drive my work. North Cardiff has a large number of older people, with the suburbs of Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Llandaff having the highest proportion of older people in the city. I have met with hundreds of older people in these communities over the past two years, at meetings of the Cardiff branch of Unison Retired Members, meetings of the Cardiff and District Rhondda Society,
which meets regularly at the provides a wide range of practical Ararat Church in Whitchurch, information to help older people and information events and to engage with their Local gardening clubs run by Cardiff Authorities, including what Institute for the Blind and RNIB older people should expect from Cymru. in terms of engagement and One of the key concerns consultation when changes to that older people from North essential services are proposed Cardiff have shared with me and how they can get fully is the impact that changes involved in these processes. It or reductions to essential also provides a range of other community services and practical resources, including facilities, such as local bus routes a set of key questions and and public toilets. Even in these checklist for older people to use difficult financial times, it is throughout the engagement important not to lose sight of the process, a sample letter to Local vital role that services like these Authorities and a comprehensive can play in helping people to directory of contacts who may get out and about, stay engaged be able to provide vital help and with their local communities and support. maintain their independence. Older people’s voices must be Many older people from the area at the heart of any decisions that have also told me that they do will result in changes to essential not know how to engage with the services and, as Commissioner, I council when proposals are made want to ensure that older people to reduce or bring to an end the across Wales have the knowledge, essential community services resources and support to have they rely upon, services often the strongest voice possible. described as ‘lifelines’, something For a copy of the Engagement that often leaves them feeling Toolkit, to find out more about powerless. They feel that there the Commissioner’s work, or to are insufficient opportunities to arrange for the Commissioner’s express their views and that their Engagement Roadshow to visit to concerns are often overlooked. your group or organisation, call This is something that I hear 02920 445030 or visit consistently from older people www.olderpeoplewales.com across Wales, which is why I CLEANING 07968 have published SERVICES 807889 an Engagement Toolkit for Children gone back to school Older People, and house needing to get to help them back in tip top shape? to make their We are a small, fast-growing and local voices heard cleaning company with happy clients in and influence Whitchurch, Llandaff and Rhiwbina. and challenge We’ll clean your house as if it the decisions was our own! Give us a call. made in their OFFICE • DOMESTIC • LETTINGS communities. The Toolkit liz@lcsclean.co.uk
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Pet problems CHRIS TROUGHTON OF HEATH VETS ANSWERS YOUR PET-RELATED QUESTIONS
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provide several litter trays in different parts of the house. Shut the windows and draw all the curtains so that flashes are not seen, and play music with a strong rhythmic beat to mask the bangs. Remain calm yourself, as if you are anxious about your cats’ fear, they will be made worse.
Is it safe to feed dogs human food? I only ask as when I leave my dog to be looked after by my parents, I know he’s fed things like crisps and bacon but only as treats. Is it a case of ‘everything in moderation’ or should I tell my parents to cut it out entirely?
I recently acquired two kittens who are now 6 months old. With the onset of autumn coming, I’m worried about them at a time of anti-social events such as Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night. My friend tells me that you can buy some kind of spray that calms them down. Is it safe and legal to use?
When cats rub their chins and faces on objects or people, they are rubbing a pheromone scent onto them which tells the cat in future that he’s in a safe ‘home’ place and can therefore relax. A synthetic version of this pheromone called ‘Feliway’ is available and it helps cats deal with stressful situations such as visitors, arrival of a new baby or other pet, or unwelcome incursions by a neighbouring cat. Loud noises outside can be frightening for cats, so using Feliway from the middle of October onwards (ie. well before the expected problem) may help to reduce their fear. There are several ways of using Feliway, but the most useful for this situation will be a room diffuser, which plugs into an electric socket in the home and fills the room with the pheromone (which you can’t detect). Another product worth using is Zylkene, which is a milk-derived substance which has a mild calming effect; it is totally safe, non-addictive and easy to give. You need to give it from a few days before the event. Feliway and Zylkene are available at your vets. There are several other things you can do to reduce the cats’ anxiety: obviously, keep them indoors after dusk when you expect ‘trouble’ – remember to Page is sponsored by Heath Vets 02920 621511
Most food that people eat is not harmful to dogs, with the exception of grapes (and raisins and sultanas) and chocolate, so feeding titbits of crisps or bacon or biscuits is not likely to be harmful unless your dog has a particular sensitivity. However, the high salt levels in many human snacks could be a problem if your dog has heart problems, and of course the extra calories might be a problem with his weight. However, sharing treats is an important part of the way that some people relate to pets (and grandchildren!) and asking your parents not to share might be very hard for them. ‘Everything in moderation’ is the right answer.
Is it true that having a male dog ‘done’ makes them calmer? One of my neighbours has a young poodle who I swear has come straight from hell! I was hoping to suggest the procedure to my neighbour! The short answer is ‘No!’. Castration has a number of effects on a male dog’s behaviour, for example, a reduced tendency to roam, a reduced sense of status leading to less likelihood of challenging the owner’s authority, and reduced territorial and intermale aggression. However, it does not calm them down, although many people think it does because castration is often done in late adolescence or early adult life, when the dog is naturally maturing and becoming calmer.
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CANTON CHAPEL A Brief History
1
852 was a remarkably wet year with rainfall breaking previous records in all parts of the country and Cardiff had its fair share. So it was, that on the evening of Thursday 30th September, a number of members of Tabernacl Welsh Baptist Church braved the weather and made their way to the Church in the Hayes, where an important meeting of the congregation had been called ‘to discuss a proposal’. It was a suggestion that had been made at a previous Church meeting by William Owen, a Deacon of the Church, who had received a request from the few Church members who lived in Canton and Llandaff, some five miles away from the city centre. This was not an unreasonable request since the time taken to travel from Llandaff to Cardiff city centre and back by pony and trap on the unmade roads was considerable. Owen was determined to resolve the problem. At the meeting on the evening of September 30th, as members waited in anticipation of what was to be expected to be a discussion of an event of momentous change, the Minister, Reverend David Jones, opened the meeting with prayer and proposed that a chapel be built in Canton ‘...value £300 or thereabouts.’ During the autumn and winter of 1852, final work was carried out in the chapel and plans for the establishment of the new Baptist Church and the inaugural services were discussed. It was expected that the building would be completed by the middle of May 1853. It was at the end of April that year that the building was completed. It had taken
eight months and was virtually paid for by the end of May. A remarkable achievement. In 1821, gas street lighting was replacing oil lamps, although the improvement didn’t reach the main thoroughfares of Canton until 1870. Within 20 years of the building of Canton Chapel, the urban structure of Canton that is familiar today would have been easily recognisable , although in 1853, Llandaff Road was still a largely underdeveloped country road. Concerns were expressed that the somewhat isolated position of the new chapel would affect the hoped-for attendance. The concerns melted away in the hot sun of the 25th May when the Chapel filled and remained so for two days. On both days, ponies and traps lined the length of Llandaff Road from Penhill to Cowbridge Road. By 1882, the same year that the Cardiff Coal Exchange had opened (and could boast 20 millionaires among its members!), the members of Canton Chapel still had to grapple with financial problems that had seemed to settle on them. By 1883, there was some talk of closing the Church but at the eleventh hour, the intervention of Mrs Martha Williams of Pembroke House in Conway Road, saved the situation. Around the same time, it was proposed ‘to have a service in English’, partly as a fact that members were beginning to leave for the Hope English Baptist Church. By the 1900s, the chapel was
always full on Sundays and active during the weeks. But by the 1960s, many churches were finding it increasingly difficult to fill not only their pews, but their pulpits, a situation exacerbated by the falling number of men and women training for priesthood. By the 1990s, it had become clear that the uniting of Canton Chapel and the New Trinity Chapel was possible. It was to be called Canton Uniting Church and the new building was opened on Cowbridge Road in 2000. The decision to dispose of Canton Chapel was endorsed by the Trustees but before the building was advertised for sale, the treasurer of the Church was approached by the chairman of the Cardiff Chinese Christian Church, who asked “Is it true that you have a church building for sale?” Thus 140 years after it had opened for worship in Welsh, Canton Chapel began to proclaim the Christian message in Mandarin and Cantonese. Adapted from ‘Canton Chapel’ by Keith Flynn OBE
The Canton Uniting Church 27
story
Wandering
souls They say that as the cool autumn winds begin to stir the fallen leaves in the village, that the lost souls start searching for places to shelter away for the winter. Of course, spirits don’t feel the cold. Not in the way that you or I do, but some of these lost souls still think that they’re alive. They have fallen asleep and never woken. Not in our world anyway. Yet their instinct is to seek warmth as the autumn chills blow - and to find themselves a place of rest for the winter ahead. And so goes the old tale of Bwthyn Berry, the old cottage that once stood on Rhiwbina Hill. It is said that the cottage was never a happy place to live in, even from the year it was built. Legend has it that it was constructed on the site of a shallow grave. Builders came across two skeletons when they were digging for foundations back in the 1800s. The builders simply dug them out and cast them away with the rest of the earth that they had excavated. The autumn of 1875 began early by all accounts. It had been a short but hot summer. But by late August, the breezes that swept the Wenallt had cooled. Mr and Mrs Llewellyn, the new proud owners of Bwthyn Berry had moved into their new abode in early July. Within two months, both of them had been struck down by a series of unfortunate
incidents. Firstly, Mr Llewellyn, who kept a pony in a small barn to the back of the cottage, was found dead in the hay, late at night. The story goes that Mrs Llewellyn, who found him, ran screaming down Rhiwbina Hill to fetch help. It is said that her screams could be heard three miles away. Mrs Llewellyn never made it to the small collection of cottages at the bottom of the hill. She was found by the side of the road the following morning, her body ravaged by deep scratches. No-one was sure whether her screams were because she was distraught about her husband or because she was fighting off someone. Or some thing. The cottage lay empty for a few years before a local farmer whose house had been destroyed by a roof fire, rented the house and lived in it while his farm house was being rebuilt several miles away. He lived alone for most of the time he was there. Four months later, on a cold winter’s day, he was found hanged from a beam in the kitchen. No-one is quite sure why he took his own life, but the last time he had visited the local beer house, he had got himself very uncharacteristically drunk and mumbled about two soldiers in a dark corner of his house. The cottage lay empty again until the Willcocks family finally
* This story is fictional so don’t go looking for the cottage!
bought the cottage just over a year later. Records show that the family moved into the house in May, but by October, they had fled, leaving the cottage empty for the last time. It burned mysteriously down two years later. It has been said that not long after, that two long-haired men dressed in tunics, chestplates and wielding heavy swords were spotted by a local horse rider early one autumn night. The two soldiers were heading up the path to another local cottage. The men disappeared behind a large tree but never appeared out the other side. The horse rider was too scared to visit the cottage to warn of the visitors. A few weeks later, he himself saw dark shadows lurking in his garden before he went to bed one night. Rumour has it that the two soldiers continue to roam the village in autumn, looking for somewhere to shelter during the winter months. Even as recent as 1998, there were reports of dark shapes down the bottom of gardens in the village. One woman claims that she once climbed the ladder into her attic, only to be met with two pale faces sat in the corner, looking back at her. So keep your eyes peeled when you pop your bins out at night you never know who’s watching. 29
After a long day at work, head in from the cold to a warming bowl of autumn with these delightful soup recipes
EDITOR’S PICK
Pea and Herb Soup with Basil Oil 30g butter 6 spring onions, chopped 1 celery stick, finely chopped 375g frozen peas 700ml vegetable stock 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped 1 tbsp snipped fresh chives 35g rocket leaves 2 tbsp crème fraîche salt and pepper bread to serve Basil Oil 30g bunch of fresh basil 200 ml olive oil 1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and celery, cover and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Add the peas and stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cover and leave to cool for 20 minutes. 2. To make the basil oil, remove the stems from the basil and discard. Place the leaves in a food processor with half the oil and blend to a purée. Add the remaining oil and blend again. Transfer to a small bowl. 3. Add the dill, chives and rocket to the soup. Blend with a hand-held blender until smooth. Stir in the crème fraîche. If you are serving the soup warm, heat through gently without boiling, then season to taste. 4. Ladle into four warmed bowls and drizzle with the basil oil. Serve immediately. Can be served cold too - chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before seasoning and serving. 30
Butternut squash soup with chilli & crème fraîche 1 butternut squash, about 1kg, peeled and deseeded 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 onions, diced 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 2 mild red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped 850ml hot vegetable stock 4 tbsp crème fraîche, plus more to serve
1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1½in across. Place into a large roasting tin with half the olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes, turning once during cooking, until they are golden and soft. 2. While the squash cooks, melt the butter with the remaining oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, garlic and ¾ of the chilli. Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are soft. 3. Add the squash to the pan, add the stock and the crème fraîche, then blitz with a stick blender until smooth. For an extra silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches. 4. Return everything to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste. Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli. Serve with warm crusty bread.
Column PATRIC MORGAN
BACK TO SCHOOL, AUTUMN NIGHTS AND A BROKEN MUG
Back To School These are the words that would be splashed all over the windows of Woolworths on the very first day of the summer holidays. It wasn’t the thing any kid would want to see on a sunny July day. Oh no. There were six weeks of pure bliss ahead. Back to school could wait until the far-off land of September. As the weeks went by of course, the weeks ahead would diminish. Halfway through, you’d think to yourself that you only had three weeks left. Then two. Then only one. Those last three weeks were the long slide down back into the mire of stuffy classrooms and homework. The night before the first day back was the worst - typically a Sunday night, trudging home through the lanes after another insipid but calming Evensong. There was the golden underfoot crunch of the fallen leaves that we had spend summer with, to take our minds off school as we made our way home. But the thought of school darkened our evenings. “What did you do?” would be the first question you’d have to answer on your first day back. “Erm. Nothing.” Out came the pencil case with its obligatory batch of new pens. None of them worked and when you eventually did find one that did, you’d forgotten how to write anyway. Is that all it took to wipe your mind of the ability to write? Six weeks? Still, teacher would give you a tantalising glimmer of hope: “What’s the heading Miss?” “Christmas Term.” Christmas Term? The leaves have only just started tumbling from the trees. How is she already thinking about Christmas? But she’d be right. Technically speaking anyway. It was Christmas
Term. In between, there were the delights of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night to look forward to. Eventually, you’d get back into the routine of school and it wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be. That’s until the homework started stacking up. Most of the time, it was pretty pointless. ‘Answer the ten questions on page 13 of the text book’ or ‘do some research about Shakespeare’. Do some research? How were you supposed to do that? We had no internet to cut and paste from back then. We’d have to ask our family what they knew instead. “He was that writer guy wasn’t he?” Dad would say. “Get yourself down the library.” would be Mum’s answer. Sigh. That was too much like hard work. The nights would get darker a lot earlier and soon the shops down the road would start stocking up on Hallowe’en paraphernalia. Slumped against the warmly-lit shop windows, you’d find some snotty-nosed kids, freezing their scruffy pants off and asking a ‘Penny for the guy’. Their ‘guy’ would more often than not, be a few old clothes stuffed together with rags and a filled plastic Tesco bag for a head. I would always be disappointed if they had failed to attach any kind of feet to the guy. Who were they out to impress? No-one, clearly. For them, it was all about the money. We did have a few kids knock on our door one cold autumn evening. They were
asking for newspapers for some strange reason. The following day, the nearby tyre depot went up in flames. Kids eh? And when Hallowe’en itself came round, there was more mischief to be had. We had a Hallowe’en party in the house once. This was to avoid us getting egged by the other kids out on the streets. I bought a green-coloured light bulb for the ‘big light’ that hung from the ceiling. A few cousins came around and we did the whole bobbing apple and musical statues thing (very scary). But after they went home, we thought we’d scare a few passers-by. To achieve this, we leant out of an upstairs bedroom window and threw mugs of water onto them (pulling our heads back in as soon as the water left our mugs so as not to be seen) as they walked past the house. Sadly, it all ended in disaster as the handle of one of our mugs (it was a SuperTed one) snapped off, hurtling the mug out onto the pavement, where it smashed into a thousand pieces. The guy who we had hoped to spook, simply looked up at us with no expression in his face whatsoever. His dog, who had been sniffing the old sycamore tree outside our house, simply cocked his leg and put the mug beyond any hope of rescue. And that was the end of our Hallowe’en party. 31
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