WHITCHURCH AND LLANDAFF
Living
At the heart of the community
An 1 ni Ye Is ver ar su s e! ary
Issue 3 Summer 08
Issue 6 Winter 2009
WHAT’S INSIDE Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Celebrates its 1st Birthday! WIN Tickets to Strictly Come Dancing Interview with Stan Stennett Christmas Gift Ideas History: The Glamorganshire Canal Kids’ Christmas Corner The Kitchen Garden Christmas Eve Buffet Cooking Ideas Puzzle Page Plus all the latest news from our area!
Merry Christmas!
The festive season is upon us. Celebrations are being held and people bustle around our colourful villages choosing gifts. Lights glow from the windows of our North Cardiff homes as we experience all that we love about this magical time of year. Enjoy your Christmas issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
Welcome 3, 4 News 5
Letters Letters to the Editors
5
Competition Win tickets to see Strictly Come Dancing!
8
Exclusive Interview Welsh entertainment legend Stan Stennett
13
School News Latest news of the proposals - how does it affect you?
16
History Steve Strange charts the rise and fall of the Glamorganshire Canal
20
The Kitchen Garden Grow your own food this Christmas with local gardener Fran Mullins
24
Christmas Gifts From your local area
29
Recipes Winter recipes for a Christmas Eve buffet
30
Crossword
31
Happy Birthday Whitchurch and Llandaff Living! Celebrating one year of your local publication
Welcome Croeso Whitchurch and Llandaff Living celebrates its first year anniversary this month, and what better way to do it than our fantastic Christmas issue? Once again, we bring you the very best in local features. We were honoured to speak to veteran entertainer of stage and screen Stan Stennett, a former Whitchurch resident. He tells us about his illustrious career, which spans over 50 years in showbiz. For our History feature, Steve Strange charts the tides of fortune of the Glamorganshire Canal. The canal, which cuts right through our villages, once served as the link between the coal field of the valleys, to the docks on the coast. Fran Mullins serves up another helping of the Kitchen Garden on page 20. With Christmas just around the corner, growing our own fruit and vegetables gives us the chance to serve up the freshest of food on the Christmas table this year, whilst also saving a penny or two. We showcase Christmas gift ideas from local traders on page 24 and have some fantastic show tickets to see Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals at the Wales Millennium Centre up for grabs. All the latest news from the area is highlighted, including the latest updates on the Whitchurch schools proposals, to keep you up to date on plans which will affect us all. Plus, a recent visit to Llandaff by a certain Doctor and his Tardis is reported! Lastly, please remember to support our loyal advertisers who help ensure that Whitchurch and Llandaff Living remains free of charge to pick up across our villages. Thank you to everyone for a successful year of publication and here’s to 2010!
Merry Christmas!
lle Patric and Danie
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way arising from the publication of this material. Every effort has been made to contact any copyright holders. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an independent, apolitical publication.
Editors/Advertising: Patric Morgan & Danielle Advertising booking and copy deadline for Dummett Address: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff Issue 7 - 8th February 2010. Issue 7 publication date - end February 2010. CF14 6AG Tel: 07772 081775 and 07974 022920 Email: editor@whitchurchandllandaffliving.co.uk Web: www.whitchurchandllandaffliving.co.uk
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 2
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is published 5 times a year. Front cover and above photograph of Castell Coch by Gale Jolly. See more of her work at www.flickr.com (user name gtj-45)
News
FALLEN REMEMBERED Despite grey skies, the rain held off at the eleventh hour on Wednesday 11th November when over 200 people gathered about Llandaff’s elegant granite and bronze memorial to the fallen. The Service of Remembrance was conducted by Canon Graham Holcombe when for the first time in many years, The Silence was marked by the sounding of The Last Post and The Reveille by a young trumpeter from the Cathedral School. Wreaths were laid by pupils of the Cathedral School and by the Llandaff Society.
DR WHO TRANSFORMS LLANDAFF VILLAGE GREEN
Llandaff village green was transformed this autumn as Dr Who and his Tardis landed WITH BILL FARNHAM near Llandaff Cathedral. Fans came to Llandaff from far and wide to The number of Neighbourhood Watch see the cameras roll for the eleventh Time groups in the Cardiff West area (which Lord, played this time by Matt Smith with includes Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff Scottish actor Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, his North) is continuing to grow. The latest flame-haired female assistant. groups to successfully launch in Whitchurch The familiar local scene was changed to are Heol-y-Forlan and Hollybush Estate. meet the needs of the storyline which Talks are ongoing with residents of Old involved the fictional English hamlet of Church Road, Foreland Road, Heol Gabriel Leadworth. A duck pond was installed in front and Park Avenue, Whitchurch, with a view of the Deanery and the impressive black and to setting up watches at these locations. white mansion designed by George Halliday Anyone interested in setting up a watch, became a country pub complete with inn-sign, please telephone 02920 527301 or email benches and tables. canton@crime.prevention.co.uk Next door was a fire station with gleaming red appliances, just like ‘Trumpton’ and a red PACT meetings are held bi-monthly in telephone box. On the other side of the pub Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North. was a village shop, a retirement home and Please check at your local library for dates The Old House on the corner of Heol Fair and locations. became a Post Office. During four days of filming in October some If you have any matters you would like to inconvenience to traffic and passers-by was discuss with the police in Whitchurch, don’t inevitable, but the BBC Wales production forget “Cuppa with a Copper” every team handled the situation with diplomacy Thursday at Whitchurch Police Station and the community firmly united in support of between 12 noon and 2pm, where police this prestigious series. officers, PCSOs and a Neighbourhood The new series starts in spring 2010. Watch representative will be in attendance.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The next meeting of the Cardiff West Neighbourhood Watch Association is on the 15th February 2010 at Fairwater Conservative Club, Ely Road, starting at 7pm. There will be a speaker and all Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators and their deputies are invited to attend. A shot of the new Doctor (left) as taken by a villager
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 3
News
VISIT TO NO.10 By Stephanie Wilkins, Chair of Friends of Hailey Park and Llandaff North Cardiff Residents’ Association
HISTORIC TEA PARTY The Friends of Insole Court Heritage Project recently staged a Victorian Tea party at the Grade II listed Insole Court. It took place on Saturday 21st November after authentic furniture and effects had been put in place by Yvonne Apsitis and her team of helpers from the flourishing 'Over 50s group' she established at the beginning of 2009.
BANKS CLEANUP
Stephanie and Julie meet Gordon and his wife
I was invited by Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan to attend a 'Community Heroes' reception at 10 Downing Street on the 16th October, in recognition of the community work I do. We sat in the House of Commons for a debate on Afghanistan, had a behind the scenes tour of Westminster (including the terrace and roof) and saw lots of MPs (unsurprisingly!). Unexpectedly, Julie had organised for me to be shown round the House of Lords by Baroness Gale of Blaenrhondda, including sitting in on a debate in the Lords which is rare when the House is sitting. We were shown around the Queen’s robing rooms and various Wales-related items of interest. 10 Downing Street seemed quite ordinary after the ornate Lords. I wasn't nervous at all and everybody was down to earth. I shook Gordon Brown's hand and he thanked me for all the work being done. We also met a couple from Ystrad Mynach who were doing work in their local park. Julie was a wonderful host and I have nothing but admiration for her down to earth attitude and hard work, having had just a glimpse of her schedule and commitment. Stephanie Wilkins
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A group of volunteers have begun a clean-up operation on the riverbanks of the River Taff in Llandaff. The recently formed Cardiff Rivers Group began their clean-up operation this autumn. Eight volunteers have spent two hours clearing rubbish from the banks of the river from below Llandaff weir. They collected two tonnes of waste that included bikes, trolleys, carpets, and bags of plastic bottles. Cardiff Rivers Group was formed earlier this year as part of Keep Wales Tidy’s ‘Tidy Towns’ project.
40TH ANNIVERSARY FOR LEAGUE OF FRIENDS The League of Friends of Whitchurch Hospital are celebrating their 40th anniversary. The League of Friends was formed to help patients, former patients and the staff of Whitchurch Hospital, and the relevant community settings in the whole of Cardiff and the Vale. The League provides furniture, entertainment and comfort to those at the Hospital and has donated over £300,000 in the last forty years.
Letters/ Competition
Letters to the Editors Dear Editors ‘Operation Bang’ has been a huge success across the area this year, with a force-wide reduction of 20% in calls to the Police. ‘Operation Bang’ is designed to reduce the amount of youngsters who use Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night as an excuse to become bothersome to local residents. This time of year has become a dreaded one for some. The success was achieved thanks to high-visibility policing operations and community cash-back funded activities for targeted groups during the late autumn period. Stuart Cozens South Wales Police
thought you might be interested in the history of the area’s famous brass band, now known as ‘The City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band’. The band is one of the oldest bands in Britain. It was formed at the end of the 18th century as a ‘Drum and Fife’ Band in Whitchurch, to help with recruitment at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. By 1850, it became a fullyfledged brass band, part of the 13th Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers Corporation and nearly 70 years later, in 1913, through the influence of the Managing Director of the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works, the Band took the name of ‘Whitchurch Brass Band’. Probably the most significant period in the Dear Editors band’s history began with the Over the weekend, I enjoyed appointment of T.J. Powell as reading a copy of Whitchurch Musical Director in 1920. Under his direction, the band and Llandaff Living and
We welcome your letters – keep them coming!
The band enjoy a rest
won many competitions, winning several Welsh titles as well as the coveted Championship Trophy at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. Because of its close association with the Tin Plate Works, the Band changed its name to ‘The Melingriffith Works Band’ in 1941.
We now have over 50 members. More information about the band can be found on our web site at www.cardiffbrass.com Dave Howard Chairman City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band WIN OPENING NIGHT TICKETS TO SEE THE STAGE SHOW!
Here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to be at the opening night of Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals when it hits the Wales Millennium Centre on 18th May 2010. World champion dancers from the smash hit BBC TV series take to the stage for their first UK theatre tour together and thanks to Whitchurch and Llandaff Living and the WMC, you can be there! The stage show will feature the stars and breathtaking show dances for which the Professionals have become famous. For your chance to win, simply answer the following: Who is the male host of Strictly Come Dancing? Answers on a postcard to our address (see inside front cover) or by email by January 31st 2010. Remember to include your name, address, email and telephone number. Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals, 18 – 22 May 2010 Tickets: £10 - £42.50 Tickets and information: 08700 402000 www.wmc.org.uk Strictly Come Dancing and its logo © BBC
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19th November - 2nd January
Whitchurch florist blossoms through the winter months Nicholas Ward Cardiff are celebrating their third Christmas in the village this year after establishing themselves as a premier florist in North Cardiff. Owner Nick Ward, told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living: “We’re delighted to be serving the people of Whitchurch and the locality for a third year. The people here are so friendly.”
Nick, who has a degree in Fine Art, applies his creative talents to his flowers with stunning effect in his Victorian-style shop: “I’ve been an accomplished florist for over ten years now and we moved our shop to Whitchurch in 2006. “In those three years, we have built up a large and loyal customer base. We have flowers for every occasion, specialising in wedding and civil partnerships, corporate events and parties, and sympathy. “Decorating our homes at Christmas with real foliage is something that most of us get excited about. We have a wide range of gift ideas here. And if you still can’t decide on
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that something special, what’s more satisfying than giving a beautiful bunch of flowers as a Christmas gift?” Nicholas Ward Cardiff, on Merthyr Road promises to deliver smiles all round this Christmas.
56 MERTHYR ROAD, WHITCHURCH, CARDIFF FREEPHONE: 0800 071 6244 TELEPHONE: 029 2061 5738
www.nicholaswardcardiff.com
Exclusive Interview
Cardiff’s King of Entertainment is still Flying High ‘All round entertainer’ is a term that’s perhaps overused these days. Yet former Whitchurch resident Stan Stennett MBE can rightly be justified to claim this title. We caught up with the man who is still performing after 50 years in showbiz Stan Stennett, star of stage and screen, pulls open one of the filing cabinets in his office. “Where do you want to start?” Well where do you start? The scrapbooks start at ‘early 1950s’ and span over half a century of showbiz. The pictures and flyers on the wall paint just part of the story of one of the finest all-round entertainers to come out of Wales. “I lost a lot of memorabilia when my house burnt down in 1999. It was then - stood looking at what was left of my house that made me think. The memories came drifting back to me on the smoke coming from the smouldering ruins of my home. The names. The faces. The laughter. All the things I had experienced throughout my long career.” Stan points to one of the posters on the wall. “Over here is a show I did with Morecambe and Wise.
They played second fiddle to me on that one. And this is another show I did - there’s Ronnie Corbett at the bottom of the billing there look.” An established career it is. And it all started when Stan was still a youngster. “It wasn’t long after leaving school before I had to start working. I had a job driving for Pickfords but by then I’d managed to get myself a part in an American group called the Modernaires. I would be up at 3am to do my deliveries for Pickfords and then perform in the evening with the band. If you wanted to get anywhere in those days, you had to put the hours in.” The outbreak of WWII saw Stan join the Royal Artillery on a driving course. He was then posted to Belgium where he transported troops. “After the demob, it took a while for the armed forces to get home where they belonged. As entertainers, we were sent all over the world to keep these people’s
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morale up. I was touring back then with people like Max Miller, Spike Milligan and Charlie Chester. “Eventually, the world settled into relative calm and I got a lot of work here in the UK. Back then, I was a solo comedian, using a trumpet and guitar. “There were a lot of big American performers coming over here who I worked with stars like Johnnie Ray, Chico Marx, James Cagney, the Deep River Boys and Billy Daniels, who became a very good friend of mine.” Stan seems almost embarrassed at the list of legendary names he’s worked with. “I’m sorry. It does sound awfully big headed doesn’t it, mentioning all these names but it’s not like that. It’s just the way it was. I didn’t ask for it to be that way.” Stan topped the bill in major theatres across the country in the 1950s and 1960s, performing with legendary
Exclusive Interview names such as Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Ronnie Corbett, Jimmy Young, Jon Pertwee and Joan Turner. “Eric Morecambe especially became a very good friend of mine. It was a friendship that lasted literally a lifetime for Eric - Eric and I had just completed a show in Tewkesbury when Eric collapsed and died. He was 58.” In the 1980s, Stan became a household name playing the part of Sid Hooper in TV’s Crossroads. “I played Sid for seven years. I had in fact been in Coronation Street previous to that. I was Hilda Ogden’s brother.” It was 1999 when Stan was woken one night by his wife Betty. “It had been the last night of our pantomime in Carmarthen and we had got home late. There had been a power cut earlier that night due to a storm and at about 4am, the power came back on with such a surge, that it burnt the box connector. Our house was badly destroyed and I slept outside on the drive on my own for three months in a caravan. I felt that I had to protect what was left of my home. “I had come to Rhiwbina back in 1960. The house was pretty new then and it is again now since its rebuild.” One can’t help but notice the model planes, pictures of Spitfires and warbirds on display in Stan’s office. “The planes? I’ve been flying for over 50 years”. Stan shows me a photo of him giving flying lessons. “This is Jeremy Bowen’s dad,” he says, “and I
Stan’s love of football has brought him many sporting friends. Here he is with football stars Stan Richards and Trevor Ford
remember taking Tommy Cooper up in my plane once. He’d collared me when he heard of my new hobby and asked me to fly him to London on business. He’d never been in a small aircraft before and we had many a laugh as he wasn’t sure what to expect. “It was a wonderful release to be up in the clouds away from the pressures of performing twice-nightly on stage.” Flying was a hobby that continued until very recently. What is also striking is that Stan continues to work now in his senior years in much the same way as he did at the start of his career. “I’m still producing and performing; still lugging equipment around the country in my van. I still feel that I still have something to give and so I keep on going.” Stan’s shows are still as popular as ever, especially with the older generation who remember the ‘good old times’. “Nostalgia plays a big part in people’s lives. When you’re young, you’re building memories and you don’t give it a second thought. Then there comes a time in everyone’s life - a point
where you start looking back at those memories. The shows I produce take people back to a time that they loved - they bring back memories of people, places and good times. “We have some wonderful audiences - they sing along and get involved. And it’s nice to know that I can help cheer these people up some who hardly ever get out of their houses. “When I perform, I imagine that I am speaking to just one person - and that person has been there all these years. You single them out. You make them feel special.” Stan still feels that he has lots to do. The shows, the charity events, the golf. “More recent work has seen me film with Lee Evans and Christopher Walken, but most of my work these days are the traditional shows that people seem to love.” Stan’s drive to keep people entertained and happy is recognised in the friends that he makes. He picks up a cigar case. The inscription on the side reads: “To a very good friend. From your pal Lonnie Donegan” PM
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Creative Kitchens and Bedrooms
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Come visit us this Christmas! Christmas Trees Nordman Firs, Fraser Firs and Norwegian Spruce. All trees are grown in Britain with the Fraser and Spruce grown in Wales. Prices start from £10 Christmas Poultry Order your free range Christmas poultry, Welsh Bronze free range turkeys, crowns, butterflies, capons, geese and ducks. Traditional Christmas Fayre (beef, pork, ham, sausages etc). Local Produce Enjoy a whole range of homemade and locally produced fruit, vegetables, cake, chutneys and preserves. After your shopping enjoy an excellent cup of coffee and a piece of homemade cake in the Antlers coffee shop which encompasses an excellent panoramic of Cardiff. Christmas Farm Shop Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5pm, Sat 9-5pm, Sun 11- 4pm, Christmas Eve 8- 4pm Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day Undercover Nativity Barn to include all the farm animals plus the resident reindeer Ruby, Rowenna and Robyn. Admission £1.50 November 28th - December 24th
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Hair and Beauty SHADES Hair and Beauty Artistic Colour Team & Precision Cutting Open late nights Thursday and Friday 6 Old Church Road, Whitchurch, CF14 1AE Telephone: 029 2061 3003
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Schools
Local schools reorganisation – the BIG debate
With the Council’s plans to shake up the local schools still being hotly debated, we spoke to various groups who are fighting to save their children’s education Rachel Squires of Save Eglwys Newydd
“
Insufficient school places are a worry. The projected numbers for primary school demand are hotly disputed. The Council admit that the proposed new English medium school would be severely overcrowded with temporary accommodation required for a period of 6 years (630 pupils in a school designed for 420). At Whitchurch High, there will be 90 less spaces in an already oversubscribed school. There is also the subject of sale of the school land. There will be land sold at all four school sites in Whitchurch. This could be as much as 8.15 acres of school land sold for development. Whitchurch already has a deficit of open space and more development will bring more pollution and more congestion. The playing fields are used by local sports teams and children need places to exercise in order to keep healthy.
Then of course, there’s the impact on education. Children could be spending their whole primary education in 7 portacabins situated on the high school playing field, away from their peers and school. For primary children, there will be overcrowding, years of disruption and loss of experienced staff negatively impacting on education. Whitchurch High will lose 25% of teaching staff with the result being less choice of courses on offer. Staff will inevitably be demotivated and experienced staff will seek more secure positions elsewhere. Two excellent primary schools will be lost and opportunities at Whitchurch High will be curtailed.
”
Jan Pycroft of Save Whitchurch Schools Consultation documents detailing Cardiff Council’s proposals for school reorganisation in Whitchurch have finally been given to parents. Despite the consultation period starting on 9th October, parents had to wait nearly two weeks for the Council to distribute letters and copies of the full consultation document on what was the last day before half term for many children. Consultation meetings at the affected schools started on 2nd November (first day back after half term). We posted leaflets through many doors in Whitchurch in an attempt to notify the community of the consultation period. It is
“
appalling that the Council has made such little effort to tell residents without children of the proposals.
”
Jonathan Morgan AM
“
The council's initial proposals a few years ago were based on falling birth-rate figures. The position has now changed. The birth-rate has been increasing year on year since 2002 and demand for local places will increase. Cardiff Council is on a crusade to downgrade successful schools, reduce parental choice and force children to attend schools that they otherwise might not have wanted to attend. I accept that some schools elsewhere in Cardiff are not as popular as those in my constituency, but you don't solve the problem of unpopular schools by reducing the capacity of popular ones. The problem will still exist. The position in relation to the high school is particularly worrying. The proposal to reduce their capacity from a 12 form entry to a 9 form entry school will mean that in future more than 600 pupils will not have the chance of benefiting from an education at Whitchurch. Furthermore a massive reduction in capacity will put at risk what they provide; the school has made great advances in recent years not just with an expanded curriculum but with sporting, artistic and musical opportunities.
”
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 13
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Cyril the Squirrel’s Kids Christmas Corner Make a Rudolph decoration What you'll need: • ¼ sheet of light brown craft foam • 2 glitter gold chenille sticks • 2 medium wiggle eyes • 1 red glitter pom pom • 6-8 inches of ribbon • White craft glue or hot glue gun • Scissors How to make it: 1. To make the head, cut 2 tear drop shapes from the craft foam.
2. To make the ears, cut a small oval, then cut it in half lengthwise. 3. Bend each chenille stick in half, then bend and twist them to form two antlers. 4. Glue the ears toward the top of the round end of one of the tear drop shapes. (Tip: Hot glue works much faster). 5. Glue antlers to the top of the same oval shape. 6. For the hanger, fold ribbon in half and glue the open ends together in between the two antlers. 7. Glue the second oval shape to the back of the first oval to create the back of the reindeer’s head. This sandwiches the ears, antlers and hanger inside the two tear drop shapes and gives the ornament a more finished look. 8. Glue on wiggle eyes.
9. Glue on red pom pom for nose at the pointed end of the tear drop. Allow to dry completely.
Spot the Differences! There are 10 differences between these 2 pictures of carollers. How many can you find?
Merry Christmas Everyone!
History
The Glamorganshire Canal The once mighty Glamorganshire Canal now exists mostly in history books. Steve Strange charts the rise and fall of the canal’s prominence, and explains where locals can go to catch up with our past
trains. Merthyr was the largest town in Wales in 1850. It was twice the size of its nearest rival Swansea, and greater than the combined populations of Swansea and Cardiff. Merthyr’s growth was brought about by the expansion of the iron industry- it was the industrial heart of Wales. In 1794 a canal was opened The four great ironworks – between Cardiff and Merthyr Dowlais, Penydarren, Plymouth Tydfil over the mountains of and Cyfartha were able to South Wales. This was transport their finished iron on a considered one of the Seven single barge nine feet wide and Wonders of the World at the time. Within 24.5 miles, it rose to 60 feet long. 24 tons of iron a height of 300 metres, requiring could be towed by one horse, needing only one man and a 49 locks. When the canal was boy to run it efficiently. Three opened in 1794, Cardiff had a population of just 4000. In 1798 round trips to Cardiff could be completed in a fortnight. the canal was extended one Previously this tonnage required mile seawards and included a sea lock. The total cost to build 48 horses, 12 men and 12 boys and would take significantly the canal was £103,600. longer. The hills and valleys Despite the railway boom of surrounding Merthyr were rich the 1840s and the opening of with limestone, iron ore and the Bute docks in Cardiff, the coal. The canal predominantly canal continued to flourish. The followed the route of the river Taff and was able to carry these Industrial Revolution, especially the coal boom in South Wales, raw materials and finished saw unprecedented growth of goods from the four Merthyr ironworks far more cheaply and trade on the canal. In 1858 at its economic peak the canal quickly than previous mule
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transported 466,983 tons of coal. Within a decade this had slowed considerably. The canal was a victim of its own success. The trade boom and subsequent congestion was the primary cause of its decline. Richard Crawshay, owner of the Cyfartha Ironworks, had the canal built to his ironworks in Merthyr. He then vigorously opposed all efforts by the Hills, Guests and Homfreys – owners of the other Merthyr ironworks on the eastern side of the valley – to extend the canal, or allow feeders to be built. This eventually led to the setting up of the Taff Vale Railway Company by the dissident ironmasters to transport their wares to Cardiff. By 1888 the canal was owned by Lord Bute. Lord Bute planned to use much of the canal on which to build a railway. Its economic life was effectively over, although sand dredgers and timber floats carried on using parts of the canal until 1942. Very little remains of the canal in Cardiff today. The exception is the Glamorganshire Canal Nature Reserve at Coryton,
History adjacent to junction 32 of the M4 some five miles from Cardiff Docks. The one kilometre stretch of the canal was lovingly restored in the 1960s. The restored canal section is the new jewel in the Forest Farm Country Park. The Country Park was established in 1992 by the Countryside Council for Wales. The Park contains a designated local nature reserve, a site of Special Scientific Interest (including the restored canal section) and an adjacent semi natural woodland, known as Longwood. The Nature Reserve is a popular location for ramblers, ornithologists, dog walkers and joggers. The spectacular kingfishers glimpsed frequently along the canal are perhaps the most enchanting of all the wildlife to be seen. Little grebe, dippers, snipe and water rail are among the varied birdlife to be found here. Along this beautiful and tranquil stretch of water can be seen the unique iron bridge, built here in 1851. It is unique because one turret is rounded, the other square. Sunny Bank River Bridge enabled the ropes from horse drawn barges to pass over the bridge without snagging. The bridge was built to allow overflow from the canal to pass into the Melingriffith feeder supplying the nearby iron works of the same name. Remnants of the canal can be traced throughout Cardiff today, although only this mile long section at Coryton remains intact. The popular Taff Trail cycle path, running alongside the River Taff as the canal once did, is now an energetic cycle route from Cardiff Bay to Brecon. The Taff Trail follows the old canal route in many places along its 27 mile length. The Taff, which once flowed black with coal, is now clean and rich in wildlife, including salmon and trout. The return of the fish attracts herons and cormorants to feed along the river banks.
The Glamorganshire Canal is widely credited as being the catalyst that sparked the huge growth of the City of Cardiff. This growth continues at pace today. Cardiff is officially Europe’s fastest growing capital city. Its population now dwarfs that of both Merthyr and Swansea. The restored section of the Glamorganshire Canal provides a wonderful example of what can be salvaged from industrial decay. The canal lock and unique bridge are a fascinating reminder of our recent past and rich industrial heritage. The canal contains an abundance of wildlife and is a superb advert for the current interest in restoring sections of long derelict canals. How the Cardiff Bay Development Company
must regret the filling in of large sections of the Glamorganshire Canal in the 1960s. The restored waterway would have been the ideal linking artery from the city centre to the now thriving Cardiff Bay.
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 17
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Serving the community for over 30 years O’Brien Lewis and James are pleased to announce that they have merged with the firm of Thomas Simon Solicitors. The merger means that we can offer all our clients, past present and future, a wide range of legal services with the personal service on which we have always prided ourselves. With Thomas Simon
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CONVEYANCING/REMORTGAGING HOME INFORMATION PACKS REPOSSESSIONS/HOUSING MATTERS LEASE EXTENSIONS/FREEHOLD PURCHASES EQUITY RELEASE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COMMERCIAL LITIGATION COMPANY LAW
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MP for Cardiff North
Julie Morgan 17 Plasnewydd Whitchurch Cardiff CF14 1NR Tel:
(Cardiff) 029 2062 4166 (London) 0207 219 6960
Fax: 029 2062 3661 Email: morganj@parliament.uk Or for more information, visit my website: www.juliemorgan.org
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Outdoors
The Kitchen Garden By Fran Mullins December Growing just a few herbs or vegetables can be a good way to shave a bit off the food bill which can be helpful in these tough economic times. The food will be wholesome and delicious and we will know exactly where it’s been. What’s more, the exercise keeps us healthy. The kitchen garden in December though, is not the most enticing of thoughts; it’s cold, it’s dark and it’s probably wet. Inside in the warm there are more tempting jobs such as stirring the Christmas pudding or decorating the tree, but December is the ideal time to start planning for the year ahead. The sun does sometimes shine even in December, and offers us the chance to raise our serotonin levels and carry on the winter digging. We may even be lucky enough to
have the company of a robin dashing down to pick up worms, shouting at us if we stop for a rest. As we dig we should ensure every inch of root from pernicious weeds such as bindweed and ground elder is removed or it will re-grow. We should try to incorporate as much compost as we can so that it can get to work ready for the spring. It always comes in handy! Covering the dug patches with plastic sheeting as we complete them helps to smother the weeds and keeps the soil warmer and drier so that we can get a head start in the spring. Old carpets were once the favourite for this job but the weeds grow on top anyway and it has also been discovered that nasty chemicals leech into the soil. As some of it rots down, other bits don’t and these are then heavy and horrible to remove. Whilst digging, we
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 20
should try to stand on planks or wooden boards to spread our weight and prevent the soil from compacting. Purpose-built beds about a metre wide are best as they can be reached from paths on either side. There is not a great deal to harvest this month; parsnips can be lifted when they are needed since they store well in the ground. Dig up only if prolonged wet weather threatens as they lose their flavour once harvested. Leeks too store well in the ground. Celery can be picked and then heeled into the soil as a temporary larder near the back door. Chard can be cut as needed. Brussels sprouts mature from the bottom of the stalk so harvest
Chard deals well with cold weather
Outdoors them this way. Move systematically from plant to plant taking a few from each. Check that brassicas such as purple sprouting broccoli are standing firm. Earthing them up reduces root rock and sometimes a stake will be necessary. Brassicas need protection from pigeons. Netting helps, but ensure enough headroom for growth and to prevent the weight of the pigeons forcing the netting down so that the tender tips peep through. Remove any yellowing leaves as they can harbour disease. It is a good time to plant any new fruit trees or bushes whilst life is dormant. Large congested clumps of rhubarb can be divided now. Check that there is both root and bud for the new plant.
January The first day of January is the time for New Year resolutions; perhaps ours could be to grow one extra herb or vegetable in our kitchen garden even if it’s only a pot of mint or some parsley. We would be helping ourselves and helping the planet by reducing food miles. Planning rotation for the vegetable patch is a worthwhile winter task. Moving things around reduces the build up of disease; it increases fertility and makes the soil easier to work. Traditionally, potatoes are grown on new ground as the tubers help to break up the soil. They are quite leafy, too, which helps to suppress weed growth. Brassicas will appreciate the lighter soil but are hungry plants so follow
them with the legumes. These have an amazing ability to take nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots. The following season we can then plant root vegetables in this nutrient rich soil. In days gone by January was always the “hungry gap”. Tiding over this meagre time was essential. Older generations selected varieties for their storage value and keeping qualities. In contrast, nowadays when choosing seeds, disease resistance is perhaps a more useful quality to look for. We’ll have plenty of company at the vegetable seed stand as, for the first time since the Second World War, people are growing more vegetables than flowers. Now is the time to prune fruit bushes. Prune back to a couple of buds from the main stems. Soft fruits need plenty of moisture whilst they are developing so make sure that there is lots of good quality compost around the base of the plants. Homemade compost is best since we can be sure of its origins. The kitchen bins provided by Cardiff Council are a great incentive to make our own compost. We can start forcing rhubarb now, by covering the crown. This provides shelter from the worst of the weather and, deprived of light, lovely pink stems are produced early on. These are more tender than those left in the open to fend for themselves. It’s still a little too early for much planting but, if we are missing something to nurture, broad beans can be started
Photographs courtesy of Francis Mullins
in pots for later planting out. Early sowings of carrots, radish, lettuce and spinach can be attempted in trays in a warm, light spot. Seed potatoes can be encouraged to sprout by placing upright in trays; egg boxes are ideal, somewhere light and frost-free. The little shoots will start to grow and if there are too many, which would produce a lighter crop, the excess can be rubbed off. At the same time it gives us the chance to spot any duds and throw them out.
February February can be even colder than January but the days will be getting longer. By now we should be reaching the end of our winter digging so that there is still time for the frosts to get to work breaking up the soil and killing the bugs. Autumn raspberries can be cut down to the ground and cuttings may be planted out to make new bushes. It’s not too late to plant fruit trees. There are many compact forms now grown on dwarfing rootstock especially for the smaller garden. Cordons and espaliers are also an option where space is short. Check that they are self-fertile like the wonderful “Victoria” plum. Otherwise we’ll need another tree that blossoms at the same time so that the bees can do their work and pollinate the flowers for us. Fruit buds will need netting from the birds. We can try some early crops. Prepare the seedbeds by raking the soil to a fine, level tilth, removing any large stones. Keep the soil warm and dry with polythene.
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 21
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Vera Wang for Wedgwood Love Knots Flutes, Set of 2, £44 John Lewis
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Recipes
Warm up with these Christmas Eve Buffet Winter Recipes Apple and Cinnamon Warmer Ingredients 10cm cinnamon stick 6 cloves 1 litre unsweetened apple juice 2 tbsp clear honey 25g raisins 1 small dessert apple 2 tbsp lemon juice Spray cream and cocoa to dust Method Tie the cinnamon stick and cloves in a small piece of muslin to make a spice bag. Mix the apple juice, honey and raisins together in a large saucepan. Add the spice bag and leave for 1 hour to allow the raisins to soften. Peel, core and cut the apple into four rings. Put the pan of juice over a low heat, add the apple rings and simmer (without letting the mixture boil) for 20 minutes or until the apples are just tender. Remove from the heat, discard the spice bag and stir in the lemon juice. Place an apple ring in each tumbler and pour in the hot drink - making sure you place a teaspoon into each tumbler first to absorb the heat and prevent the glass from cracking. Serve piping hot. Brandy can be added to give a festive kick!
Mulled Wine Ingredients 1 bottle of red wine 12 cloves 2 cinnamon sticks rind of 1 lemon 2 tbsp of sugar Method Put all ingredients in a large pan. Simmer over a medium heat until heated through.
Chestnut and Parsnip Soup Ingredients 2 kilos of sweet chestnuts 4 large parsnips 1 litre of chicken stock 1 tub of crème fraîche salt and pepper 1 tsp of cumin Method Rinse the chestnuts to get rid of any dirt, then boil them for about 20 minutes, until they are soft inside. Cut them in half with a sharp knife and scoop out the insides. Peel the parsnips, chop and boil them in most of the chicken stock. Add the chestnut pieces, crème fraîche, salt, pepper and cumin. Use an electric hand blender to make the soup smoother. Don't worry if there are still lumps in it - that will give the soup texture. If it is too thick, add some more of the chicken stock. Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes. Serve with warm bread and butter.
Cheese Straws Ingredients 120g softened butter 450g grated Cheddar cheese 250g plain flour 1 tsp salt Method Preheat the oven to 200ºC / Gas mark 6. Grease a baking tray. In a large bowl, cream the butter and cheese. Stir in the flour and salt; mix well. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1.25cm in thickness. Cut into 5cm strips and place on prepared baking tray 3 to 4cm apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 - 15 minutes, or until crisp.
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 29
Puzzle Page
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ACROSS 1. The red castle 5. The Channel’s port 7. Yellow zest 8. First or second day of the week? 10. Nose go quick 11. Shell-like 12. Boiled or fried? 13. Cricket ground shape 14. Eat in the past
15. Dream here 17. Taste with tongue 19. Open it 20. Top of the pack 22. Pirate’s favourite 23. Naughty but ______ 26. Take the high one 27. Out’s opposite 28. Green City 30. Italian Centurion 32. Famous in the Jungle 36. Score it
39. Slippery fish 41. Sunday dinner 42. Round fastener 45. Wander 47. Six-sided deciders 48. See-through 49. Traditional action DOWN 1. Cricket’s fold 2. Christmas glitter 3. Stylish 4. Sleep in the tree 5. Not the good apple 6. Moon’s madman 9. Mellow colour 16. Autumn fruit 17. French ‘a’ or ‘the’ 18. Atop strawberries 19. Hole tool 21. Comes last 23. Of the sea 24. Polar hat 25. Lion’s noise 27. Purple-like colour 29. Random 30. _____ the Bear 31. Put it in the pie
33. Stop at the light 34. Lift at one end 35. Mona’s surname 37. Orange stone 38. In addition 40. Baby sheep 41. Do nothing 43. None in the mouth 44. Adam’s lady 46. Elderly
A Merry Christmas to all our readers!
Answers on our website - www.whitchurchandllandaffliving.co.uk
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 30
One Year of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
Celebrating One Year of Your Local Publication Whitchurch and Llandaff Living has become an integral and respected part of the community since its launch in 2008. We wanted to take this opportunity to say Thank You for all your support, which has enabled the magazine to flourish
Launch Issue Nov ‘08
over the past year. We’re proud of the involvement of the community which has enabled it to be become a truly interactive publication, with the people of our village at its heart - a key objective when we set up the magazine. We have been privileged to interview the well-known names from the area who have succeeded in their field - Gerald Davies, Howard Jones, Gareth Bale and Stan Stennett to name a few; but we have also been thrilled to have published work by residents of the area -
Share in our success for 2010 The OFFICIAL magazine for Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North
those with a living, working knowledge of the village, both past and present. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is a true home-grown product. As we enter our second year, we will continue to provide a professional and well-loved platform for local traders to ‘set out their stall’. This was another of the magazine’s crucial aims - to support local business - something which became even more important as we entered a recession. We sincerely thank all our advertisers, past and present for helping us produce a magazine that everyone can enjoy, free of charge. We ask readers to reciprocate by using their services where possible. We would also like to thank the staff and
managers of the outlets we use to distribute. They have embraced the idea that this is a true community publication and we are grateful for letting them distribute our magazines on their busy premises. We are already planning for the year ahead, so if you have any ideas for features or stories, please get in touch. We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2010 and look forward to bringing you another year of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living!
Summer Issue ‘09
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Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 31