HISTORY

THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD: MARY PICKFORD

Mary Pickford (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) enjoyed a career that spanned five decades. A movie pioneer, she co-founded PickfordFairbanks Studios and United Artists. Furthermore, she was one of the thirtysix founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

During her career, Mary Pickford was known as “America’s Sweetheart”, “The Girl with the Curls”, and the “Queen of Movies”. One of the earliest stars to receive a billing under her own name, Mary enjoyed great popularity in the silent movie era of the 1910s and 1920s. She retired from movie acting in 1933. An astute businesswoman, she switched her focus to life behind the camera.

Mary Pickford married three times. First, to Owen Moore, a silent film actor, and an alcoholic. Second, and most famously, to Douglas Fairbanks. Their ‘marriage of the century’ took place on March 28th, 1920, after a secret relationship. Later, the couple was referred to as the ‘King and Queen of Hollywood’. And third to actor and band leader Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, star of the highly acclaimed 1927 movie Wings. Hannah Howe, author of Tula, a novel about an actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

https://hannah-howe.com

The Society Of The Ancient Britons

On 9th May 1895 the Ancient Briton Club at Newton Nottage celebrated 124 years with a membership of 160. The following year it ceased.

The Charitable Society of the Ancient Britons was formed in London on St David’s Day 1715. A Welsh based society; its principal aim was to assist impoverished Welsh children living in London. Eventually its philanthropic aims grew, as did its influence. The Newton Nottage Club formed in 1771 initially met at the Old Red House, Newton before transferring to The Jolly Sailor. Membership was by subscription and its aims now were to care for the sick and infirm of the district and provide a pension for the aged. The last balance sheet of 1895 shows that pensioners received £91 during the year, whilst £116 18s 4d was paid as sick benefit.

Every September, a procession would take place to honour the patron saint of the parish, St John the Baptist. Regaled in red sashes and carrying the emblem of a trade on top of a long staff, they would march from Nottage to Newton, attend a service in St John’s church and proceed to the Jolly Sailor for the annual dinner. The photo shows billhooks representing agriculture, which were donated to the museum in 2006.

Ceri Joseph

WHAT A SENSIBLE CHAP…AND RESPONSIBLE

We’re almost at the end of January as I write this, with winter having returned, at least temporarily to nip at the early daffs in my garden.

The economy still gives some cause for concern yet there seems to be some optimism in certain sectors and inflation seemingly reaching, hopefully, a plateau. That said, the Christmas bills are about to land and a great many are having to re-evaluate their spending plans going forward.

Employers in many areas of work are still trying to recruit and tradesmen are still busy but we received a call from someone earlier this week that wanted to discuss income protection. His job is safe for now, however the employer had made noises about cutbacks possibly having to be made if costs continued at their current levels for too much longer, especially on heating for the factory building.

Being sensible, the Client called and told me this and whilst possibly having no job was an issue, so too was the prospect of illness having a bearing on the family finances, particularly the fairly large mortgage he and his wife arranged back in the summer of 2022. The fear of not being able to pay the mortgage is a real challenge to them, especially as there is no immediate State help any more, as there once was.

Protection of this nature underpins everything that we all do when spending is involved and to have your major bills covered in the event of the unexpected makes life so much easier. Some people either don’t take this type of cover seriously enough or they believe it could be too expensive, which is not the case (depending on what you need, of course but obtaining a quote costs nothing at all except a little of your time).

Paying for cover to cover your main bills is a far better option than doing nothing, then finding yourself unable to pay any bills when you don’t have an income. Some employers provide shortterm help for illness but more can’t afford to, so it’s over to you take board yourself as the self-employed have to.

Give us a call on 01656 782545 or 07768 418308 and totally without any obligation we’ll get you the quotes you need – so what have you got to lose? It could be the best, even the most sensible call you make today.

PAUL FIELDING Dragon

01656 782545 / 07768 418308

MY DOCTOR COULD HAVE STRANGLED ME WITH HIS STETHOSCOPE!

Over the last 40 years I’ve met all manner of people across a myriad of professions, and I still have difficulty understanding why some wish to shun a financial advisor in favour of doing their own thing. We spend years learning our trade and skills so it’s a pity not to be able to share our knowledge and experiences. It’s the ones that get away, or the ones we fail that I find frustrating, like the man who wouldn’t buy life assurance as he said, ‘God would provide’, Well with all due respect I’ve yet to see any cheques from God!

Then there are the clients who trawl the internet for the ‘best mortgage deal’ thinking they’re going to save some fees, when in fact they’ll spend the next six weeks on the telephone pulling their hair out and eventually needing counselling after head butting their computer screens.

The last time I went to see my GP, I Googled my symptoms to find a possible solution, and when I told him my findings, I thought he was going to strangle me with his stethoscope, so it doesn’t pay to be a clever dick and it probably costs more. We often get asked if we’re expensive and I like to say reassuringly so but ignorance costs more, tongue in cheek of course. There are many examples of clients who don’t want to take advice on their investment portfolios and stick to what they have because the inertia of doing nothing is the easy option. Change is often difficult to achieve, but maybe once you’ve added up the cost of all those sleepless nights it would be cheaper and more beneficial to entrust your investments to a financial advisor.

So next time you need a financial advisor don’t Google for a cheap life assurance plan, pension, investment or mortgage go and see your local IFA. You know it makes sense!

Philip Vaughan is a Director at Abacus Assurance Financial Services Ltd, Porthcawl 01656 772222

What To Do When Someone Close To Me Dies

If a family member has died but you cannot find a will, you should make sure you have checked thoroughly:

• Search the house and any paperwork.

• Contact any solicitors or other professional advisers you know they used.

• Consider searching the National Will Register, which may provide a record if a solicitor holds her will.

• Ask their bank in case they have the will.

• Consider searching at the Probate Registry in case they have the will in safe-keeping.

• Ask any other family or friends who you think might know. If you still can’t find a Will, you may need to assume that it doesn’t exist and that person died ‘intestate’. If so, you can apply to the Probate Registry for a ‘Grant of Letters of Administration’ or ask your solicitor to do this on your behalf. If you do locate a Will, you will need to ascertain who are appointed as the executors, this gives them authority to deal with the estate by collecting in all assets, applying for Grant of Probate, selling or transferring Property/Land and distributing the assets in accordance with the Will.

It will also be the executors who notify the beneficiaries of their entitlement to the estate. The Will may specifically detail who is entitled to what personal items (Jewellery, Panting etc) however often it may say ‘All personal chattels to be distributed between my children equally.’ Or it may be silent on this issue altogether and this is when problems normally arise particularly if these have sentimental value. It can help to have everything valued (some items may already have been valued as part of the process of working out any inheritance tax payable). After all, there is little point arguing over who gets something if it isn’t worth more to you than it could be sold for.

You might then be able to work out a system for sharing the other items out. For example, you might take it in turns to each pick something you want or you could ‘auction’ the items among yourselves, with the winning bidder for each item agreeing to accept a proportionately smaller share of any cash. Once agreement has been reached, then the remaining estate can be distributed in accordance with the Will once the monies and assets have been called in, and debts from the estate paid.

SWANSEA | MUMBLES

01792 65 00 00

The Challenges Of Administering An Estate

If you are named as an executor in someone’s will, you could be faced with a complicated process in order to administer the estate in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. Depending on the size of the estate, you may need to obtain a grant of probate which is a legal document that’s sometimes needed to access bank accounts, sell assets and settle debts after someone has died.

The process involves identifying all of the deceased’s assets and all of their liabilities to determine the value of their estate, verifying who is entitled to inherit what from the estate, and submitting an Inheritance Tax return to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) where applicable. After this, an application is made to the Probate Registry for the grant of representation which is a document confirming who has the legal authority to administer the estate.

Only after this can the executor begin selling the deceased’s assets, settling their liabilities, paying the final expenses and taxes. Also, estate accounts must be prepared for all payments into and out of the estate, showing the balance left for distribution to the beneficiaries. Only then can the beneficiaries have their share of the estate, if there are no complicating factors such as challenges to the distribution.

Dealing with an estate is a challenging process which often comes at a difficult time. Not only does an executor have to administer the estate, they also have to manage the beneficiaries’ expectations. If you are an executor, you have the option of instructing a solicitor to deal with the probate process for you. At Red Kite, we have a designated probate team who will take control of the entire procedure for you and remove the stress and anxiety involved.

MADELINE RAND

Red Kite Law LLP

01656 782070

Deadline date for the March issue is:

WEDNESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

Cefn Cribwr Gardening Club

“February is a month of small but powerful things! Catkins, snowdrops, aconites, crocus and primroses, all resist snow, ice and wind to blaze with jewel like intensity, there’s something hopeful and brave about them.” (Monty Don)

If these plants can feel spring just around the corner then so can we!

Time to prune (lovely).

The simplest rule for clematis is “if it flowers before June do not prune” just tidy it up. Clematis with large flowers should be cut back by about a third and late flowering ones to about 9 inches from the ground leaving two healthy buds, easy! Use sharp secateurs when pruning roses, cut just above a bud or leaf, any bud will do.

Plant rhubarb this month, choose a bright open position, dig a deep hole, incorporating lots of lovely compost, plant them with the buds level with the soil and wait patiently while they establish themselves for two years before picking (its worth the wait!)

Did you know the name rhubarb comes from the Latin word “Rhababarum” which means root of the barbarians. The Romans reckoned that anyone that ate rhubarb was a barbarian (guess that makes me a barbarian then – I love it!)

Chris Early

Laleston Gardening Club

February is here and we are in sight of spring, but cautiously I suggest tasks for us gardeners to do, as it is also a month that often brings snow. Weather permitting it is good to spike our waterlogged lawns to help with drainage. As snowdrops finish flowering they can be split and replanted to increase your stocks. Veg plots and containers can be prepared ready to sow vegetable seeds under glass. More tender veg can now be sown in greenhouses and propagators. Remember to plan ahead, sow smaller quantities to avoid gluts of produce and give yourself opportunity to sow in batches for a continuous supply. Winter flowering shrubs can be pruned when flowering is over and now is the time to prune wisteria should you have some.

We at Laleston Gardening Club are already actively working on sewing seeds and ordering plugs for our Annual Plant Sale on the 13th May 2023. This year we will have our usual wide variety of plants to sell, but with slightly reduced quantities. We have made a group decision to slightly reduce the quantities of plants grown this year as effort and labour intensity required to nurture the quantities we have grown in the past has become unsustainable. We hope to still supply our loyal supporters and look forward to seeing you all in 2023. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for events, our website too, there are many events planned in another busy year.

Susan Ford

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