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Whitchurch Living and Llandaff
Issue 38 May /June ‘16
At the heart of the community
Celebrating Summer
Vintage for Victory
New festival coming to Whitchurch
Roald Dahl 100
Celebrating Llandaff's greatest son
Your multi award-winning magazine for Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North
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Contents What’s on 3-4 News All the latest news 5 Community Hub 6 Letters 8 Fantastic Mr Dahl Llandaff's greatest son 14 Mike Young Legendary animator 18 Outdoor Living Inspirational ideas 23 Bishop of Llandaff School news 24 100 Years of Roald Dahl Local children tell us about their favourite books 27 Competition Win tickets to see Bryn Terfel in concert 28 Roald Dahl Trail Follow in the footsteps of the world's greatest storyteller 34 Yesterday Remembered 37 Pet Questions 38 Gardens Attracting wildlife 42 Summer Reading Local authors and their works 45 BGT's Jamie Raven 47 Summer baking Make the perfect Victoria Sponge Next Issue deadline: 27th June 2016 Published 15th July 2016 a: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 w: www.livingmags.co.uk e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or danielle@livingmags.co.uk 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. Rhiwbina Living is an independent, apolitical publication.
Winners at the 2014 UK Independent Magazine Awards 2
Sunday 5th June Llandaff Raft Race Entertainment for all the family from 11am, Llandaff Rowing Club Tuesday 7th June Whitchurch and Tongwynlais PACT Meeting Oakhouse, Hollybush Estate, Whitchurch, 7pm Tuesday 7th JuneWednesday 8th June Festival of Voice An Evening with Bryn Terfel Llandaff Cathedral, 7pm Sunday 26th June- Saturday 9th July
Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Festival Saturday 2nd July Rhiwbina Summer Festival Rhiwbina Village Saturday 9th July Whitchurch and Tongwynlais FĂŞte (as part of the Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Festival) Whitchurch Common Friday 15th July- Sunday 17th July Vintage for Victory Travel back in time for a vintage celebration, Whitchurch Library Gardens
Welcome / Croeso Our early summer issue is all about celebrations! As well as celebrating the fact that the sun suddenly seems to have made an appearance, we focus much of this issue on Roald Dahl, with this year being the centenary of his birth in our very own Llandaff. We chart his fascinating life story on page 8. Local children thoroughly enjoyed writing to us about their favourite Roald Dahl stories too. Their impressive work can be found on page 24. Finally, if you are interested in exploring the local Roald Dahl landmarks, you can find a trail on page 28. Continuing with the literary theme, we caught up with Mike Young in his Los Angeles studio. First finding fame as the creator of Superted, the Cardiff City-loving TV producer discusses his career to date. On page 42, several local authors describe how their love of writing has brought them success - so if you're looking for an inspirational summer read, take a look at their offerings. To make the most of the summer sun, we showcase a selection of products on page 18 to make the most of your outdoor living space, and if you fancy some company, Kevin Revell explains how to encourage wildlife to our gardens on page 38. If you fancy a trip back in time, head to our Yesterday Remembered feature on page 34 where memories from clubs in both Whitchurch and
Llandaff are fondly remembered. We were thrilled to be able to speak to Jamie Raven about his success on Britain's Got Talent last year and to learn more about his passion for magic. You can read our interview with him on page 45. With a competition to win tickets to see Bryn Terfel in concert at Llandaff Cathedral, and a recipe to make the perfect Victoria Sponge, this issue is a heady delight of literature, music, and all things celebratory of summer. We hope you enjoy the read as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Please support our advertisers as always and quote Whitchurch and Llandaff Living. Finally, we would like to dedicate this issue to celebrate the life of Peter Williams, who we featured in our Christmas edition, and who sadly passed away in February. Peter dedicated his life to the written word and so it seems fitting that this issue, full of stories and literature should be dedicated to his memory.
Danielle & Patric
news
Llandaff North Community Hub taking shape Work to start on new Llandaff North Lidl store Llandaff North Work on the new Llandaff North Lidl store will start in June. Confirmation of the store's arrival was made last November, following years of planning and legal wrangling. One resident told Living Magazines that they were looking forward to its arrival, despite some initial objections from other residents over the years.
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I would say that this store will be a welcome boost to the village.
Clean up for the Queen Whitchurch Members of the Whitchurch WI took part in the 'Clean for the Queen' campaign on Friday 4 March, when they cleared a large amount of rubbish from the two car parks in Whitchurch. Nine large bags of rubbish were collected and the car parks looked much better for it!
Artist’s impression of the new site
Llandaff North's former library set to become the new community hub Llandaff Work has begun on the new Llandaff North and Gabalfa Hub. Formerly known as Llandaff North Library, the building closed its doors in late April ahead of building work which will take place in May. The refurbished building, which will include a cafe, will lead to £144,000 worth of savings by bringing a range of services under one roof. The cost will be £1.2million. The hub will offer a large, modern library offering a full range of services including rhyme time and story time, as well as other activities to support literacy. It will also house a full advice and information service including housing and benefit advice, and services from partners including the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. There will also be flexible community space which can be used for social, learning and training activities for all sections of the community.
New Eglwys Newydd Women's Institute launches in Whitchurch
Lew picks up award Llandaff North Coffee shop owner Lewys Wootten recently picked up a community award for his contribution to Llandaff North. Councillors Dilwar Ali and Sue White handed Lewys of Lew’s Coffee Shop his award in April. "He helped so much with the Christmas lights," said one resident.
Councillor Dilwar Ali told Living Magazines: "The Council’s hubs programme aims to bring services together to meet the needs and priorities of the communities they serve, while making it easier and more convenient for its customers to engage with those services." While the library is closed, customers can use our other nearby branch libraries including Whitchurch, Canton, Ely and Caerau Hub or Central Library Hub in the city centre. The new Fairwater Community Hub, including library services, will also be opening next month. There will also be honesty book collections, with a selection of books for people to borrow, at Lew’s Coffee Shop on Station Road, Llandaff North and the Post Office on Gabalfa Avenue. During this time, customers can collect recycling and food bags from Premier College Stores on Colwinstone Street.
Whitchurch 100 Years after the first WI was founded in North Wales, a brand new Women’s Institute has been set up in Whitchurch and extends a warm welcome to potential new members.
Eglwys Newydd WI was established in January 2016 and meetings are held during the evening. They meet at 7pm on the second Tuesday of each month in The Methodist Church Hall on Kelston Road by the roundabout near Whitchurch Library. The WI aims to inspire and educate, and, as a brand new WI, they hope to develop Eglwys Newydd WI into everything their members want it to be. 3
news
Whitchurch Hospital closes its doors for the final time An exhibition marked the final week of Whitchurch Hospital as the 108 year old building closed its doors for the last time last month. End of an Era, Whitchurch Hospital was hosted by Whitchurch Hospital Historical Society. Former members of staff, patients and the public were invited to attend the event that explored its history stretching back to 1908. The items on show included a nurse’s uniform, a table cloth stitched by soldiers and staff at the hospital 99 years ago, an early 20th century wicker hospital trolley, and pictures of the hospital through the years. The hospital, which was known as Cardiff City Mental Hospital
during the First World War, was given to the military between 1915 and 1919. It later became known as the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital. More than 570 male and female psychiatric patients were moved to other institutions, as injured soldiers requiring orthopaedic treatment were treated.
Llandaff Society produce Impact of WWI Paper To begin the third year of WWI Centenary events, historian and author Janet Sully presented an illustrated lecture to launch The Llandaff Society’s latest Occasional Paper. The well researched monograph provides the first comprehensive survey of Llandaff ’s part in the Great War. Large numbers of Llandaff residents enlisted, the Llandaff parish magazine on March 1915, recording that 'it is noticeable on Sunday evening in the cathedral how many of our young men are on service.' 4
The publication includes many photographs and letters, as well as other historical artefacts. This special Centenary publication, produced to a high standard with full colour throughout, is priced at £7.00. Copies are available through The Llandaff Society or may be purchased from the Cathedral Shop.
Following on from the success of last year's event, the Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Festival will be returning to our villages this summer. The fortnight of events will run from Sunday 26th June, culminating in the fête on Whitchurch Common on Saturday 9th July. There will be a big programme of events for all ages over the two weeks, which are supported by local businesses, churches, schools, pubs and charities. Chairman Jonathan Morgan said about last year's festival: "We decided to join the Whitchurch and Tongwynlais festivals together, reflecting the closeness of the two villages."
2nd Llandaff Scout Group get major boost 2nd Llandaff Scout Group have received a major boost in their bid to buy their current home at Christchurch United Reformed Church. The scouting group was pledged a huge £50,000 donation by Admiral boss Henry Engelhardt and his wife Diane. The church closed in January after seeing a steep fall in congregation numbers. The closure has threatened the future of the scout group who use the building as their base. The group has appealed for donations and started carrying out odd jobs in an attempt to raise sufficient capital to buy the premises.
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editor@livingmags.co.uk danielle@livingmags.co.uk
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Roll up at Whitchurch Bowls Club
Whitchurch Bowls Club has been in existence since 1924. It is situated on Penlline Road just before the library roundabout. From its spartan beginnings, the Club has developed both its playing and social sides. Over recent years, a great deal of time and effort has been invested in the green which is generally acknowledged as one of the best playing surfaces in the area. The clubhouse contains the changing rooms and a large function room with its own bar. Over the playing season, there are a number of social evenings, often with professional entertainers. All members, social members and their families are welcome to attend the social functions. The Club has a number of qualified coaches
07772 081775 07974 022920
and during the season, May to late September, there are opportunities to take part in coaching sessions (5pm to 6pm on a Friday) and friendly, social bowling (6pm to 8pm every Friday and on Sunday afternoons 2pm to 5pm). Rinks are also available to members for practice and social bowling during week day afternoons and evenings. The Club is always keen to attract new members, particularly to the Ladies, Junior and Social Bowling Sections. Whatever your skill level, there will be a place for you. Bowls is a sport for everyone. For more information go to the website at www. whitchurchbowlsclub. co.uk or contact the Secretary: Tony Atherton on 07768925406. Alternatively pop along to the Club on a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon in May. Whitchurch Bowls Club offers both coaching and social bowling meaning everyone is welcome to the club - perfect for summer evenings!
We love to hear what's going on in the community, and so do our readers. Get in touch with your latest news
Llandaff residents visit The Clink Residents of Llandaff’s Pritchard Court were recently among the 46 guests invited to the presidential lunch of Cardiff and District Soroptimists International at the Clink Restaurant at Cardiff Prison. President Jane Percy thanked members for their support during the year and presented certificates of appreciation. Pritchard Court resident Rita Gwyn Jones told Living Magazines: “What a superb lunch it was, in sumptuous surroundings and with excellent service!” The charity helps suitable offenders break the cycle of crime by nurturing self-belief, workplace skills and offering nationallyrecognised qualifications.
Pentyrch Open Gardens Pentyrch Open Gardens will take place on Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July. With ample parking, homemade refreshments at the village hall and a large plant sale, there's lots to see and do.
St Alban's Concert Band
There can’t be many 120 year olds still entertaining the good people of our capital city, but that is just what the St Albans Concert Band are doing and indeed have been doing since 1896 when it was first formed in the Splott area of the city. The Concert Band currently rehearses in the church hall of Whitchurch Methodist Church, Merthyr Road, Whitchurch and is always on the lookout for new players who want to join a welcoming friendly band. If anyone is interested please contact Liz John on 029 20318298 or check out their website where there is more information. 5
letters
I'd like to put my paw down about this Last issue, we published a feature entitled '18 problems only dog owners would understand.' One of our readers got in touch to complain about it. Here's what they had to say on the matter:
Dear Editors After reading the '18 problems only dog owners would understand' in my March/April copy of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living, kindly obtained for me by my owner from the local Tesco, I felt I had to put pen to paper or pad to keyboard to be strictly accurate. The whole article is stereotypical and frankly offensive. Here's a list of my complaints, starting with 'The smell of a wet dog' and 'The whiff of dog food'. · There are plenty of people around Whitchurch, (I can’t speak for Llandaff as I rarely go there), who have issues with personal hygiene that are far worse than that of damp fur. Your readers may have noticed or been downwind of some of them. Soap and water are not expensive-do make an effort. · If you have a problem with the smell of dog food, I have two things to say - cheap food tends to smell so don’t buy it. And if food does smell, then that’s hardly the fault of the consumer - the provider is the one who should be in the dock. By the way, have you ever smelt your own breath after a night at the local followed by a takeaway? I wouldn’t recommend it. · Sticking with food for a moment, sad eyes are not a sign of wanting some of that revolting concoction you are eating but pity for the effect it’s going to 6
have on your rapidly expanding waistline. Going for walks is for your benefit not ours. If we didn’t force you to get off the sofa you’d be there permanently, slowly disappearing under a mountain of sweet wrappers, cans, pizza crusts, cigarette ends, bottles etc. As for the 'biggest, juiciest bone you’ve ever seen' - if you’re so keen on eating like a prehistoric savage, be my guest and get stuck in. · As for squirrels - well they are just plain annoying. They are like wasps - they don’t do anything of any benefit to anyone. Ok, they can look quite cute but have you noticed that they’re always fiddling with their nuts? That says it all. · No, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about the vet. If you had to have your temperature taken the same way as we do, I doubt if you’d be too eager to go and see your GP: “If you’d be so kind as to bend over - oops sorry I forgot to warm it up.” You get my drift. · If your house is covered with a layer of fur, try putting a bit more effort into the hoovering. The reason the hoover bulges with the weight of dog fur is because you’re too lazy to empty it. · I’m not going to lower the tone by commenting at length on the poo bag issue - do you ever run out of toilet paper? Of course you don’t, so make sure you keep a plentiful supply of the necessary
receptacles - it’s hardly rocket science is it? · Now as to barking, I will concede you may have a point. I personally rarely ever bark but when I do, it’s for a good reason. If I say so myself, I have a very impressive bark and one or two are generally enough. I can’t abide dogs who are so in love with the sound of their own voices that they constantly yap yap yap. But, dear readers, there are a lot of you who are equally guilty. I believe the collective noun for these people is 'politicians'. I saw a couple of written versions of this verbosity a few weeks ago. They came through the letterbox and featured a boyish looking fellow and a middle aged lady bragging about their achievements in Whitchurch and 'Cardiff North' wherever that is. Well forgive me for stating the obvious but isn’t that what they are paid very handsomely for? Imagine if everyone did that. You wouldn’t get through the front door. Well I think I’ll sign off now and hope I have redressed the balance. Why not have regular columns in this excellent periodical for dogs and perhaps cats to comment on the issues of the day? Birds of course can twitter or tweet but I doubt anyone would be particularly interested in anything they have to say.
Mollie the Dog
Stores4Floors recently opened its doors to the people of Whitchurch. Combining great service with high quality products, owners Ross Johnson and Rhys Gill can help transform your home, business or commercial premises “Coffee?” A deep voice travels down from the back of the new carpet shop that’s got the people of Whitchurch talking. Ross Johnson, former professional rugby player and local businessman is popping the kettle on for another customer. Headed by Ross and Wales forward Rhys Gill, the shop on Merthyr Road was officially opened earlier this year by Wales captain Sam Warburton. “Whitchurch has a proud rugby heritage and we like to think that we’re continuing that. I had to retire from professional rugby at Bristol due to an ankle injury. Rhys and I have a few properties between us and we’ve often dealt with flooring companies. We visited the original Stores 4 Floors shop looking for some carpet a few years back and we got talking to the owner who told us that he was selling the business. The next thing we knew, we’d bought the business and moved the store to the main road in Pontyclun. “The store really took off and from there, we have grown a steady and loyal client base. Apart from all the hard work, our success has come about thanks to sponsored feature
putting our customers first. We totally understand the challenges that choosing the right flooring brings and we do everything we can to make our customers’ experience here a great one.” All their quotes are done on a free, no-obligation basis and they work to fit around the customer’s schedule. “We’ll come out and measure up whenever it suits you best. We’ve got plenty of samples so if you want to take one with you, we’re more than happy. We realise that the lighting in our shop may well be very different to that at your home.” The store offers a wide range of flooring. “We do carpet, vinyl, wood, laminates as well as artificial grass, which has become our biggest seller.” Artificial grass has come a long way from the ‘butcher’s shop grass’ that was available 10 years ago. Customers really do need to head to the shop to try it for themselves. “We can transform your boggy lawn into an area that’s fully usable all year round. It all comes with a 9 year manufacturer warranty. We’ve had a section outside our shop in Pontyclun for the last few
years and it looks as good as the day we put it there. We are the
biggest distributor of artificial grass in South Wales which means that we have the buying power to buy in bulk and pass the savings on to our customers.” Whitchurch was chosen as the store’s latest outlet because of its great community spirit. “We offer a great service and very competitive prices. Best of all, we never pressurise anyone into buying anything that they don’t want or need. “Pop in and have a look around,” says Ross. “We’ll pop the kettle on for you.” A: 71a Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DD T: 02920 621833 W: www.stores4floors.com
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This year, the world will celebrate the 100th anniversary of perhaps Llandaff's greatest son. Some of his best loved work took root here in the heart of our village
A
rguably Llandaff ’s greatest son, Roald Dahl is still considered the world's best story-teller. One hundred years after his birth, his books have been translated into almost 50 languages and sold millions globally. Roald was born on 13th September 1916, at Villa Marie, Fairwater Road, Llandaff to Norwegian parents Harald and Sofie. Harald and Roald’s elder sister Astri died when Roald was just three years old, leaving Sofie to bring up her four children, as well as her two step-children. Roald was Sofie’s only son. Her love for her children was to leave a lasting impression on Roald. He would later write: “[My mother] was a rock, a real rock, always on your side whatever you’d done. It gave me the most tremendous feeling of security.” From the age of seven to nine, Roald attended Llandaff
Cathedral School. His time here was an unhappy one and he described his memories of school in his book Boy. Perhaps the most well-known anecdote to come out of his time there was the infamous ‘Great Mouse Plot of 1924’. Roald and four friends planted a dead mouse into a local sweetshop owner’s jar of gobstoppers. Roald had long had a grudge against Mrs Pratchett, who Roald described as ‘sour’. Mrs Pratchett exacted her revenge by getting Roald caned by the Headmaster of his school. She watched the punishment, laughing as she did. Roald loved his sweets. Sherbet Suckers were one of his favourites. He wrote that: “The sherbet fizzed in your mouth and if you knew how to do it, you could make white froth come out of your nostrils and pretend that you were throwing a fit.” It was perhaps this heady mixture of confectionery, comedy and cruelty that sowed the seeds of creativity in Roald’s mind that was to bloom in later years. Roald and his family moved across the Bristol Channel to Weston-super-Mare when he was
nine, where he attended boarding school. At the age of 18, rather than go to University, Roald set off to Newfoundland with the Public Schools Exploring Society. He then got a job working for the Shell oil company in present-day Tanzania, but at the age of 23, war broke out. Roald drove 600 miles to Nairobi, where he enlisted in the Royal Air Force. His height (he was 6’8) was a concern for the medical doctor but Roald was taken on as a pilot. He was assigned to No. 80 Squadron, flying Gloster Gladiators, the last biplane fighter aircraft used by the RAF. To his surprise, Roald found that combat training was not provided. Yet despite this, in September 1940, he was ordered to fly his Gladiator from Egypt to Libya and onto 80 Squadron’s forward airstrip, 30
Illustration by Chris O'Keefe
miles south of Mersa Matruh in Egypt. Approaching Mersa Matruh, Roald found himself running low on fuel and night was approaching. Worse still, he could not find the airstrip and was forced into an emergency landing in the desert. His wheels caught a rock, causing the aircraft to crash. Roald suffered a fractured skull and a broken nose which temporarily blinded him. He managed to drag himself away from the blazing wreckage and passed out before being rescued. By February 1941, Roald was fit for flying duties again. His squadron was now equipped with Hawker Hurricanes, which Roald flew into combat after only seven hours’ flying in one. After some very close scrapes over the skies of Greece, Roald was eventually discharged after suffering blackouts caused by his earlier crash. He was posted to Washington DC, and began writing about his adventures. His first published work appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. It has been reported that Dahl was acting in the capacity of intelligence gathering, passing on information to MI6. In 1946, Roald was finally discharged from the RAF, and with five aerial victories to his name, was considered a flying ace. His writing began to take off, Roald penning many short stories. His first story for children, The Gremlins, touched upon RAF fighter pilots’ claims that there were little monsters on their wings which they blamed for problems that cropped up. In addition to his children’s books, Roald was also crafting stories for adults. These were darker in tone, and became renowned for their macabre plots and twists. These stories were the basis for TV’s Tales of the Unexpected, which were screened throughout the 1980s. In 1953, in New York City, Dahl married the American actress Patricia Neal. They had five children – Olivia, Tessa, Theo, Ophelia, and Lucy but in November 1962, Olivia died of measles encephalitis at the age of seven. He was to later dedicate his book The BFG to her. Roald and Patricia divorced in
1983, Roald marrying Felicity Crosland in the same year. By now his stories had been bestsellers in many countries. Several
people
We have tears in our eyes As we wave our goodbyes We so loved being with you, we three. So please now and then Come and see us again, The Giraffe and the Pelly and me. From the memorial bench you can follow BFG footprints to Roald Dahl’s grave. In September 2009, a blue plaque was unveiled in Llandaff by his widow Felicity and his son Theo. The plaque commemorated the shop where ‘The Great Mouse Plot of 1924’ took place.
Roald Dahl 100 Events of them had already been turned into screenplays – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one example. Roald had also cowritten the script for ChittyChitty-Bang-Bang with Ken Hughes. A lot of Roald’s stories reflected his childhood memories, with adults commonly being portrayed as nasty and cruel. In 1990, Roald was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder, myelo-dysplastic anaemia. He wrote that year: “I have been feeling sleepy when I shouldn’t have been and I am without that lovely old bubbly energy that drives on to write books and drink gin and chase after girls.” Roald died on 23 November 1990, aged 74. He is buried in the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Missenden. Visitors to the church today can find the grave from the memorial bench under a tree in the centre of the graveyard. It is a short walk from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, which houses Roald's archive of letters, manuscripts and photographs. The bench carries the names of Roald Dahl’s five children and three stepchildren. The poem carved into the stone slabs around the base of the bench is taken from The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me:
Hay Festival 26 May 5 June 2016 The world famous Hay Festival of Literature will celebrate Roald Dahl 100 with a range of special Roald Dahl inspired events, including art installations created by Hereford College of Art, panel events and other Roald Dahl inspired activities. Quentin Blake: Inside Stories - National Museum of Wales, Cardiff 16 July - 20 November 2016 This exhibition gives a unique insight into the origins of some of Blake’s most characteristic and popular creations. The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl, Wales Millennium Centre 12th August - 14 January 2017 The tour features unique items from The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre archives. Plus there are interactive installations to spark the imagination - and even test your own powers of creativity.
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Vintage for 15TH - 16TH - 17TH JULY Victory WHITCHURCH LIBRARY GARDENS, CARDIFF
WHITCHURCH library gardens will be host to Whitchurch's first vintage to victory festival. here's what to expect
Mr B, the gentleman rhymer Mr.B began his Chap-Hop career in the summer of 2007 when he decided to bring elements of his previous incarnations (UK rapper, jump-up breaks producer, banjolele maverick and dandy) together and create a genre. ‘A Piece Of My Mind’, his first ditty was released in Japan on Second Royal Records and its accompanying video and UK tour dates alerted the rest of the world to this new musical form. Since then, he has travelled the world, sharing his beats, rhymes and manners, as well as his songs about cricket, pipe smoking, high society and interfering with livestock. His videos have garnered millions of views on YouTube and his media appearances have included rapping for Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight, playing live on BBC Radio One, on Radio Two and Sky Arts. He was also once the front page of the Wall Street Journal and was described by the Daily Mail as ‘controversial’.
spitfire
Sol Cinema
An audience of 8 adults are treated to red carpet, usherette service and popcorn for a unique cinematic experience. Sol Cinema's staff are experienced performers who add an exciting dimension to the experience. The Sol Cinema has been lavished with pride and style. They use an LED video projector showing short movies in plush surroundings. They also use a solar generator to store renewable energy from the sun.
This replica MKIX Spitfire has taken over 20 years to build and was completed in May 2010 using many genuine Spitfire parts and built from copies of the original drawings.
The original aircraft on which the reproduction is based was produced by Vickers Armstrong at their Castle Bromwich works in March 1944. It was equipped with a Merlin 66 engine and entered service on 5th July 1944 with 64 Fighter Squadron, bearing the Squadron letters 'SH' and identification letter 'B'. Having been thoroughly tested, it became the personal aeroplane of F/Lt. Anthony (Tony) Cooper who was at the time 'A' Flight Commander and Deputy Squadron Commander.
A warm welcome awaits you at Sol Cinema
www.vintageforvictory.co.uk
Calling all Over 50’s Keep Fit and Flexible with Rubicon Dance
Photograph taken by Sian Trenberth
After a recent successful taster session initiated by Julie Morgan, Rubicon will be running weekly dance sessions for over 50’s. Where? Whitchurch Community Centre When? Every Monday from 2.30-3.30pm (term time) Gentle exercise to music for £3.50 per session.
All over 50’s Welcome! Contact Sharon Teear:
Tel: 07868 258605 / 02920 491477
info@rubicaondance.co.uk / www.rubiconcdance.co.uk
HELP TO MAKE IT A GOLDEN HAPPY HOUR A charity that brings together older people through fun daytime singing and activity sessions across Wales want to find people who can spare some time each month to go along as GOLDEN VOLUNTEERS and support its work. Goldies Cymru runs its activity and sing and smile sessions during the day.
GOLDIES SESSIONS IN CARDIFF Every FIRST WEDNESDAY at 10.30 at Adamsdown Day Centre, Star Street Adamsdown. Every LAST FRIDAY at 11.00 at The Powerhouse, Roundwood, Llanederyn. Every FIRST MONDAY at 2.00 at The Ararat Baptist Church, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch. Every SECOND TUESDAY at 1.00 at The Beacon Centre, Harrison Drive, St Mellons. Every FIRST MONDAY at 1.45 at St Marks Church, 206 North Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff
GOLDIES SESSIONS IN LIBRARIES Every FIRST TUESDAY at 12.30 at Cardiff Central Library, The Hayes, Cardiff Every THURSDAY WEEKLY at 10.30 at Rhydpennau Library, Llandennis Road, Cardiff Every THIRD TUESDAY at 2.00 at Ely & Caerau Community Hub, Cowbridge Road West Every SECOND MONDAY at 10.30 at Rumney Hub, Llanstephan Rd, Rumney Every THIRD WEDNESDAY at 10.30 at Rhiwbina Library, Pen-y-Dre, Rhiwbina
TEL: 07796 714816 e-mail: rachel@goldiescymru.org.uk 42 CHARLES STREET | CARDIFF | CF10 2GE
“Making a difference to people’s lives”
“Gwneud gwahaniaeth i fywydau pobl”
05600 023937
enquiries@villagetech.co.uk
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t: 02920 624230 m: 07970 272812 e: huw@llewellyns.co.uk
From bedtime stories to big screen movies
Superted creator Mike Young has spent most of his life in animation in Hollywood where he works as an independent producer, taking on the giants of the industry His shows have been watched by millions of children across the world. The characters he's invented have played a huge role in the childhoods of many. Yet Mike Young is very much down to earth, rooted in good Welsh earth, and very proud of his local links. "I live in a place named Calabasas, which is at the far western end of LA. Whenever this is mentioned in the UK, people invariably respond with the phrase 'that’s where the Kardashians live….do you know them?' "In a similar vein, when I mention Whitchurch in my extended US soccer world, they always say 'Isn’t that where Gareth Bale comes from? Do you know him?' I always answer with 'Yes he’s a great mate of mine.' (I wish)" Home for the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning animation producer may now be The City of Angels, but Mike's Welsh upbringing gave him the belief
“
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Whenever I mention Whitchurch in my extended US soccer world, they always say 'Isn't that where Gareth Bale comes from?'. I always answer with 'Yes, he's a great friend of mine' (I wish!)
that anything is possible. "I am a Barry boy and my wife Liz is from Old Wallace Farm in Dyffryn so we know just about everyone there! I was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, in the same flat that my cousin Victor Spinetti was born in a decade or so earlier. My first memory was watching the miners walking up Marine Street with flaming torches singing 'Vote, vote, vote for Aneurin Bevan, Kick old Churchill up the… '(I had better finish there). We moved from Cwm to Barry when I was about six years old. To me, it was a bit like moving to Las Vegas - or so it seemed to me at the time. Victor was a huge influence on me and through him, I could see that anything was possible in life. Not only did he once take me as a late teenager for a night out with the Beatles, but he also cast the voices of Jon Pertwee, Melvyn Hayes, Derek Griffiths and Roy Kinnear in Superted for me. "My start in life in the valleys formed my political views that remain to this day and in US terms are well, well left of centre, leading to some feisty dinner conversations!" Before his life in the US, Mike trained as a TV producer in Wales, and was working as an advertising copywriter. "I had remarried and had inherited two children to add to my own two, the youngest of whom was three years old. Richard was a bit insecure and afraid of the dark, (this is an often
told story!) so I started telling him stories about a Teddy Bear who was also afraid of the dark - but when he whispered his secret magic word that only he (and now only Gareth Bale) knew, he turned into SuperTed. One day, when collecting Richard from play school, the teacher told me that he always retold them the story I had told him the previous evening. The teacher told me that the kids loved the stories and asked why I hadn't published them. The rest is history." In 1981, S4C enquired about making SuperTed into an animated series, but Mike decided to create Siriol Productions to produce the series himself. But in 1989, Mike was finding it difficult to sell his series to Hollywood executives without a local presence there so he sold the majority of his stakes in SuperTed and moved to LA. "Next to North Korea, the US is in its own way, the most insular country on Earth. The thought, back in the eighties of a network there commissioning a show from a studio in Wales was just not feasible. SuperTed had been sold as an acquisition to Disney, the first time that the esteemed organisation had ever bought an animation from an outside studio; but in order to get a new series made, we needed to work through an American studio. Hanna Barbara came on board and with them, we co-produced a US version of SuperTed followed
by Fantastic Max, Sleepy Kids and the motion picture Once Upon A Forest. I still have great friends from those days but creatively speaking, it was frankly like working in a factory. We decided to up sticks, move to LA and start our own studio. So off we went with our five kids, though two of them were still in college in the UK. "When I look back, I think I must have been crazy for doing it - the chance we took was enormous. We set ourselves up against companies such as Disney, Warner Bros, Viacom and a plethora of huge independent animation studios. We moved into the home that we still live in. The kids now won't let us think about moving, so twenty six years is the longest we have lived anywhere. We won a commission from ABC television for The Secret Garden, followed by The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, and through the years, have produced a who’s-who of animated shows including Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Clifford feature film for Warner Bros. Others include Zhu Zhu Pets, He-Man: Masters of the Universe, and Voltron. In Wales, we came back and produced Chloe’s Closet as well as Dive Olly Dive, both worldwide successes. There was also Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Hero 108." Mike's work is still ongoing: "We are currently producing Mariah Carey’s: All I Want For Christmas Is You for Universal Studios, as well as The Real Tooth Fairies, and Lalaloopsy (ask your kids!). We also own Kabillion, which is a multi-portal network which runs in over seventy-five million US homes on cable, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and others. Kids can freely watch shows whenever they choose." Mike's latest production is the animated feature film, Norm Of the North. The main character, Norm the polar bear, heads to New York to fight a tourism development of his homeland in the Arctic. Although the film didn't have a big budget, the film used the latest computer generated imagery (CGI) technology.
people
Mike with his family in LA Advocating for the independents, Mike told the press: "It's all well and good having Disney, Pixar, Universal and DreamWorks but fundamentally they go a certain route, but we can take more risks with what we do." The film got its Welsh première at the Market Hall cinema in Brynmawr, late last year. Despite all his successes in the world of animation, Mike's greatest achievements lie closer to his home. "Having a happy loving family in this day and age is my biggest success. I have kids who can build on the advantages that they have been given. My eleven grandchildren (ten of them, not counting the two month old!) have been back to Wales and love it there. They all identify with Wales and in anticipation of the
next question, yes - they have been completely brainwashed about Cardiff City! In terms of success with my work, the fact that my original creation SuperTed is so iconic, and so identified with Wales, I believe that anything else I've achieved pales beside that one." Mike's devotion to Cardiff City started when he was a youngster. "Since watching Trevor Ford playing for Cardiff against John Charles, who was then playing for Leeds United, I have been completely hooked on Cardiff City. I sponsor bits and pieces from time to time (you can see the latest caricatures around this page). They join the twelve others that adorn the Family Area at Cardiff City Stadium. I get to see less than a half a dozen games a season but I listen to them on the net and in our brief season in the Premiership, I was able to watch all the games. "I optioned the book 'The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw' and I am in the final stages of financially packaging it for production in the autumn. The live–action movie will star Sam Claflin as Robin Friday, Louis Tomlinson as Steve Death (both good footballers) and the rest of the casting is coming together."
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Bishop of Llandaff School Bishop of Llandaff has been a hive of activity over the last few months. Here are a few of their highlights Disneyland - Welsh style To celebrate St David’s Day on 1st March, a group of Year 7 students went to Disneyland Paris, where they saw Welsh choirs, vocalists and parades focusing around Wales. To finish the weekend they all watched the fireworks and laser display, which was projected on the castle in the main Disneyland Park. The video shown on the castle was all about spring and Wales, including the Welsh Dragon and daffodils for St David’s Day. The fireworks were all orientated around the colours of Wales: red, white and green. Even the teachers went on the rides, and got into the Welsh spirit by getting dragons painted on their faces. It was an amazing experience that everyone enjoyed. Shop of Horrors! In February, packed audiences enjoyed the school production of the hit Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. The production, which was the result of many months of hard work by the cast, crew and band, and an intense rehearsal schedule co-ordinated by Head of Performing Arts, Mrs Lloyd and teacher of Drama, Mr Smith, was acclaimed as “excellent” with “top performances from all.” Students from some of our feeder primary schools also enjoyed a special matinee performance which they thought was “great fun, very entertaining and professional.”
Washington DC In the February half term week, a group of Year 11 and Sixth Form students flew to Washington DC for an enrichment trip. During their time in the US capital, they visited iconic sites such as the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery – and even found some time to indulge their passion for shopping. Students described the visit as “an amazing experience” which they will “never forget.”
Rugby success September 2015 marked the start of the next stage in the development of rugby at the school. The appointment of the school’s first Rugby Officer has seen the number of students involved in rugby throughout the school increase significantly. This increase in participation has also included the introduction of our new girls’ rugby initiative, with over twenty players already taking part in regular training and inter-school competitions. Our new state of the art strength and conditioning suite has also been fully utilised by students through regular preschool training sessions and PE lessons. The efforts made by the players this year have been rewarded by Years 7, 8 and 9 winning their respective age group Cardiff Schools Rugby Union plate competitions; with the boys playing the finals at Cardiff Arms Park. The senior rugby squad have also enjoyed a very successful season, qualifying for the Blues region Division One play-offs by finishing in the top four in the region and reaching the Welsh Schools Rugby Union plate semi-final. Going for Gold! On 23rd February, former Bishop of Llandaff students Emily Cheer, Harriet Plow and Chris Procter went to St James’s Palace to be presented with their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award – personally by the Duke himself. The school has a strong tradition of achievement in this award going back many years, led by D of E co-ordinator, Mr Ward. Emily commented: “A good day was had by all, and I would highly recommend anyone who has started their Gold D of E to finish it, as the day at the palace makes all the mud, sweat and tears really worth it!”
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Our #1 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory My favourite Roald Dahl book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because it's fun, silly and fantastic. It is based on a child called Charlie Bucket and he finds a golden ticket, the last one to be found in a Wonka chocolate bar hidden under the shiny chocolate wrapper. My favourite part is when Violet gets fat like a blueberry but it's a huge one! Charlie deserves to win the prize of the Chocolate Factory and he does. He's caring, generous and he always puts his family first. All the other contestants who enter the competition don't deserve to win.
Alfie aged 9
Fantastic Mr Fox This book is one of my favourites. It's about a fox who steals chickens, ducks and turkeys to feed his family. The evil farmers don't like him and try to shoot him! But Mr Fox is very clever and has a brilliant plan. All the other animals help him to battle the three men (and they make up a funny song about them too!). I think it's a very exciting story, and a bit funny sometimes too. It is a bit sad too in places, like when the animals are starving and frightened. I'm glad it has a happy ending!
Dylan aged 5 24
kids
George's Marvellous Medicine This is a very funny book - it's completely crazy and that's why I really enjoyed reading it! We've all made potions and imagined what our fantastic mixtures might do to someone or something - George (in the story) just takes this idea one step further! He lives with his parents and his very crotchety grandmother on a small farm. The grandmother (a brilliant character with a mouth like a 'cat's bottom') is horrible to George and treats him like a slave. She is always ordering him around and calling him nasty names, until one day George decides not to put up with her anymore. He creates a 'medicine' out of all sorts of stuff he finds around the kitchen, farmyard and shed and feeds it, first to some of the farm animals, and then to grandma! The effects of the medicine on the different creatures is very funny and grandma definitely gets her comeuppance! A really fun, funny and exciting story - go on, give it a read!
William aged 9
Fantastic Mr Fox
The BFG,The Twits & Matilda Olivia aged 7
James and the Giant Peach I read the play script of this book again and again because the characters are so well made. The way that Dahl creates the horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge, is really clever because even though they have taken in James, who is an orphan, they are really, really mean to him. Although they are sisters, they are completely opposite in appearance but equally as horrible. Put it this way, when they are crushed to death by the peach rolling through their garden, it makes you want to cheer! They are so mean to James, you feel desperately sorry for him - no wonder he ends up being happy in the company of giant spiders, centipedes and other insects! I think that the way that Dahl plays with scale is mesmerising. They live within a giant peach bobbing in the middle of the ocean. The most memorable moment for me was when the peach is surrounded by a group of sharks who start attacking the peach flesh. The characters eventually escape by enlisting the help of the silk worm and passing seagulls to lift the peach from the water. This is a triumphant moment. When I read it most recently, I noticed that James the orphan was only four years old. I think that's why I liked Dahl's books when I was younger - they dealt with scary, awful things in a funny way.
I love this book because it's so funny. Boggis, Bunce and Bean are mean farmers have their own song which is repeated through the book. Nye aged 12 I've watched the film too and the song really gets into your head and makes you laugh whenever you hear it. Mr Fox is a smooth and clever character who tries his best for his family although things keep going wrong and get really dangerous. He is always really calm even though he nearly dies all of the time. I like it at the end when the mean farmers are still waiting for Mr Fox to come out from underground and the writer says, 'and so far as I know, they are still waiting'.
Ioan aged 9 25
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COMPETITION: Win tickets to see Bryn Terfel at Llandaff Cathedral Festival of Voice is delighted to present one of the most soughtafter international voices, Bryn Terfel, in an atmospheric concert at Llandaff Cathedral. Featuring the exciting, young chamber orchestra Sinfonia Cymru under the baton of Gareth Jones, this enchanting evening will see Bryn, with special guests Rebecca Evans and harpist Hannah Stone, perform some favourite music and arias. In the exquisite setting of this historic cathedral, the programme will include beautiful music by Bach, Handel and Mozart, including the intimate Brandenburg Concerto No.6. Welsh bass-baritone Bryn is known for his versatility as a concert performer with highlights including the opening ceremony of Wales Millennium Centre, BBC Last Night of the Proms and an
unforgettable gala concert with Andrea Bocelli in Central Park, New York. With two Grammy Awards and four Classical Brit Awards to his name, and as the recipient of Her Majesty the Queen’s Medal for Music, he is regarded as one of the world’s greatest singers. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living has teamed up with the Festival of Voice to bring you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the concert, that takes place on the evenings of
the 7th and 8th of June. All you need to do to enter the competition is answer this very simple question: With whom did Bryn Terfel sing with at a gala concert in New York? Answers by email to editor@ livingmags.co.uk or on a postcard to our address at the front of this magazine by May 30th at the latest.
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The
Roald Dahl Trail
Ty-Mynydd House & Lodge RADYR: The Dahl family lived here from 1917 to 1921 in what was then a large Victorian house on a 150 acre farm. Only the lodge remains - this is now a private house next to Maes yr Awel. Postcode: CF15 8AF
Catch the bus to Park Road or walk for 1.5 miles along Heol Isaf to its junction with Llantrisant Road, turn left then first left into Danescourt Way. From the Blethin Close bus stop, walk towards the church via the footway in front of the Radyr Court Inn.
St John's Church
DANESCOURT (formerly known as Radyr Chain): An impressive pink granite cross against the boundary wall marks the grave of Roald Dahl's half-sister Astri (d.1920); father Harald (18631921) and Sofie (d.1968). Postcode: CF5 2SH Walk along the Radyr Court Inn, turning right along Danescourt Way down to the roundabout. Turn left, passing the petrol station and head down Llantrisant Road (1.5 miles). Along this road, Roald Dahl's De Dion Bouton car crashed. Roald's nose was severed and had to be stitched back. After the junction with Gillian Road, turn right onto the public footpath. At its junction with Fairwater Road, cross the road and continue for 200 yards down Fairwater Road. Ty Gwyn (Villa Marie) will be on your right.
Ty Gwyn (Villa Marie)
FAIRWATER: Roald Dahl was born in this house on 13th September 1916. The Dahl family lived there from 1907 to 1917. The house was known then as 'Villa Marie'. Postcode: CF5 2LE Retrace your steps and bear right for half a mile on Fairwater Road to its junction with Cardiff Road. The site of the former Llandaff Cathedral School is on your left. Continue across into Heol y Pavin until you reach the Cathedral Green.
Public Transport
BUS: Take the Cardiff Bus No.63 (Mon-Sun) to Park Road, Radyr to start your walk OR TRAIN: (Mon-Sun) from Cardiff Central Station or Pontypridd to Radyr Station. Return to city centre via Bus Nos: 24,62,63,66 or Stagecoach 122 or 124 or Bus: 63 back to Radyr Station 28
OTHER PLACES: Norwegian Church - Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PA This church now overlooks the Inner Harbour but in Roald's time, was in its original location overlooking the southern entrance to Bute East Dock. The Dahl family worshipped here with others from the Norwegian community. Roald was baptised here.
Roald Dahl spent his early childhood in Llandaff and Radyr. The Llandaff Society and the Radyr and Morganstown Society are celebrating 100 years of the world's greatest story-teller by publishing this walking trail, linking places with which he was associated Llandaff Cathedral School
THE GREEN: Roald Dahl attended the Cathedral School from the age of seven. The Llandaff Cathedral School is now on the Cardiff Road/Western Avenue junction, but when he was a pupil, it was housed in a substantial stone building overlooking The Green. The site is now a close of houses known as 'The Cathedral Green'. Postcode: CF5 2EB Walk across The Green, past The Cross and the Bishop's Palace, turning right into High Street. 25 yards on your left is Mrs Pratchett's Sweet Shop.
Mrs Pratchett's Sweet Shop
HIGH STREET: The 'Great Wall' Chinese takeaway is the site of the sweet shop which features in Roald Dahl's story 'The Great Mouse Plot'. This was based on an incident that happened at his Preparatory School. Postcode: CF5 2DX Turn left into Chapel Street, left into Cardiff Road for 50 yards and cross Western Avenue. Walk along Palace Road past its junction with Howell's Crescent to the house that used to be Elm Tree House School.
Elm Tree School House
27 Palace Road: Roald Dahl sped to his Preparatory School on his tricycle via Howell's Crescent when living at Cumberland Lodge. The former school has now reverted to its previous use as a private house (please respect the occupants' privacy). Postcode: CF5 2AG Turn into Howell's Crescent with Cardiff Road and turn right. Cumberland Lodge is the second house on the right.
Cumberland Lodge
Cardiff Road: The Dahl family lived here after Harald died, from 1921 to 1929. The Lodge is now the Howell's School Nursery and Infants School. The trail ends here. Postcode: CF5 2YD All distances are approximate. Routes used are public footways. No responsibility can be taken for any accidents incurred by those following this trail.
Aadnesson & Dahl - Pier Head Chambers, 3 Bute Street (now Mermaid Quay) CF10 5BZ Harald Dahl moved to the UK in 1900, setting up a business with Ludwig Aadnesson in the then bustling Butetown as ship brokers. They imported timber in the form of pit props from Norway and exported coal. He moved to Llandaff in 1907.
The Roald Dahl Trail is published by The Llandaff Society and Radyr and Morganstown Association (both affiliated to Civic Trust Cymru). Copyright March 2016. Living Magazines is grateful to both in allowing us to publish this trail. 29
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An award winning, family firm,established for over 30 years We all have a favourite place to sit in our homes, whether it’s our seat at the dinner table, our spot on the sofa, or the plush chair in the living room. Unfortunately, for many of us, there comes a time in our life when our favourite chair no longer gives us the support we need. There are 3 main questions to ask yourself if you feel your favourite chair is no longer sufficient: 1. Are You Sitting Comfortably? If comfort is an issue when you are trying to sit and relax it could be a sign your chair is offering you insufficient support. 2. Do You Sit In Your Chair For Extended Periods? When your mobility needs change you can find yourself spending long periods of time in the same chair. If this is the case you need to ensure your chair is giving you the maximum support possible. 3. Do You Find It Difficult To Sit And Stand? Sitting and standing eventually becomes a problem for the majority of people, and it can cause individuals to find themselves restricted and dependent on help. A rise and recline chair can help you retain independence by easing your mobility. How A Rise And Recline Chair Can Help Rise and recline chairs give you support when and where you need it most. The right chair should support your entire back and neck, so you are sitting comfortably when you are in the chair for an extended period of time, and help you to sit and stand. • Rise – There will be a button located on the hand control which raises the whole chair upwards. When you are sitting the chair will ease you into a standing position, and when you want to sit you simply position yourself on the raised chair and press the button which will ease it down slowly. • Recline – The recline function allows you to get into more comfortable positions when you’re sitting so you can avoid soreness and pain. They also allow you to put your feet up and lie back, which can relieve pressure and allow you to rest without having to go to bed. At Recliner Chair Centre we have a wide range of premium quality and stylish rise and recline chairs that are ideal for any environment. We have been providing excellent mobility solutions in South Wales for over 30 years, and our dedicated and experienced team are always on hand to offer you impartial advice and fantastic products.
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In the heart of Whitchurch village, great tasting food, fantastic Coaltown coffee, fabulous home-baked cake and a warm and welcoming atmosphere
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At Sweet we are known for our delicious cakes and coffee but did you know that we also bake cakes to order? Whether it is for a birthday celebration, an anniversary or for work we can create a delicious cake just for you. Or for a special treat, why not enjoy an afternoon tea at Sweet with homemade sandwiches and scones as well as our scrummy cakes. Sweet are proud to serve coffee ethically sourced and roasted by the award winning Coaltown Coffee based in Ammanford, as well as supporting Cardiff businesses including Farmers Pantry, Brutons the Bakers and Llewellyn’s Gourmet Gelato. You can also book a tasty afternoon tea or for larger groups, Sweet also offers private hire so you can eat every cake in the company of friends and colleagues.
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From retail redundancy to home care hero
After 26 years of unsatisfying jobs, Cardiff’s Simon James has finally found his dream role After 26 years in a series of unsatisfying jobs in retail, 44-yearold Simon James has finally found his dream role – as a caregiver. The Cardiff man joined Home Instead Senior Care, the UK’s leading provider of home care for older people, in July 2014 after being made redundant from his job at the now-defunct video rental chain Blockbuster. Instead of doing stock-takes and working the till, Simon is now part of a frontline team of caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care in the city – looking after old and vulnerable people in their own homes. He said: “Being a caregiver is the best job in the world. It’s not like going to work. I don’t wake up thinking, ‘I have to go to work today’, I wake up thinking, ‘I’m going to see Charles today’. The feeling you get at the end of the day, of knowing you have made a difference to people’s lives, is incredible.” Despite having no previous experience in the care sector, he quickly found he was a natural at it and now says he would never consider doing anything else. He added: “I didn’t like working in retail and was never really fulfilled, but care wasn’t even on my radar at that point. I couldn’t imagine myself being in a care role. When I applied for the job with Home Instead I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it, but once I started I loved it.” As part of his caregiver duties, Simon helps older people like regular client Charles, a widower in his eighties. Simon acts as Charles’ ‘chief helper’ and, among other things, tidies his house, does Sponsored feature
his washing and prepares lunch with him. Most importantly, he’s able to spend quality time with him. “I didn’t realise you would spend so much time with someone or build such a strong relationship. I thought it was – you go in, cook a meal, tidy up, and then leave. But it’s a lot more than that, it’s about companionship and being there for someone.” he added. Simon has also discovered what a difference the right employer can make: “Working in care is not just about the job, it’s about who I am working for. Working at Home Instead, I know what good care should be. I am given the time to care – I don’t have to be busy all the time with tasks, and I can sit and talk with my clients.” His sterling efforts for those he cares for have not gone unnoticed with Simon recently becoming a regional winner for Home Instead’s national Caregiver of the Year Award - one of just five out of the 8,000 caregivers who work for the company. Owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Cardiff,Philip Batchelor said: “It was very quickly clear that Simon was a natural. His professional and kind manner is something we wish we could bottle and give to everyone. One of his clients even refers to him as a member of the ‘A Team’.” Simon added his advice for people considering a career in care: “I would say go for it, give it a try. You’ll see what it feels like when you make a positive difference to someone’s day.”
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bers m e m re ardiff s e i v a t C ys' s 1 2 t PeteraD s a f the Bo rat y d s i a o h r y A n t ch a a p Com ade, basedh, Whitchur Brigtist Churc Bap
t s 1 2 e h t h it
w n i g n i l l a F I was like a fish out of water. It was the start of the 1950s and my family had just moved out of the touchy-feely, happy-clappy atmosphere of the Rhondda Valley to the outskirts of Cardiff. What’s more, as the youngest member of Standard 4A, I had accidentally passed the scholarship a year earlier than most kids of my age and was having to leave my newly found friends to travel daily to some highfalutin county grammar school 15 miles away from home. But as time went on, help was at hand and to this day, well over 60 years hence, I thank my lucky stars for the Boys’ Brigade. As a kid called Len and I were idly kicking a football about on Whitchurch Common one evening, we fell in with the boys of the 21st Company who had their headquarters at Ararat Baptist Church, across the road. From then on, as I progressed through my early teens, there was never a dull moment, what with Drill Night on Fridays, Bible Class on Sunday mornings and a whole host of other activities to keep me busy on what seemed like every other day of the week. I quickly made it into the Company football XI and as a result, was soon cycling to every Cardiff Corporation public playing field that existed, from Caedelyn in the leafy suburbs of Rhiwbina, to The Marl in the heart 34
of Tiger Bay. I learned to play table tennis during Saturday night Company Club sessions, modelling myself on Johnny Leach, went on cross-country runs around Ely Racecourse and had regular PT sessions in the secondary modern gym – followed by seven-a-side football. I appeared in Battalion displays in City Hall, in front of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, carried the Company colours during parades around the city, went on BB courses of various kinds in places like Porthcawl and Hemel Hempstead, and amassed various certificates and badges (that I’ve still got!) for things like Wayfaring, Signalling, Scriptural Knowledge and Athletics. I Blanco-ed my hat, Brasso-ed my badges and polished my belt and shoes religiously every week and, for my pains, became a lance corporal and then a corporal. I also, more importantly, had a trial for the battalion football team at centre forward. Then there were special occasions, of course, like Company Camp on the Gower Coast – makeshift 1950s safety pin assisted sleeping bags atop strawfilled palliasses, French cricket, sardine and sand sandwiches, potted sports on the beach and naturally, the camp concert at the end of the week. Although the Boys’ Brigade dominated my life in those faroff days, there were other things that excited my interest like going up to the Festival of Britain with my dad, avidly reading about my hero Dan Dare, and being there at Ninian Park, along with 50,000 people, when Cardiff City beat
Leeds United to gain promotion to Division One. There was the radio – Dick Barton, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Much Binding in the Marsh, and of course, those crazy Goons. Len and I watched the last Cardiff tram, festooned with bunting, as it set off from Whitchurch Road to St. Mary’s Street; we regularly supported the Cardiff Dragons speedway team and were often to be seen in the front row of the Rialto, our local fleapit, to lap up the iconic films of the day. But I was beginning to sense that such an idyllic life could not last forever. Whereas I had once greeted the news about Gorgeous Gussie flaunting her lace-trimmed panties at Wimbledon back in 1949 with indifference, I must admit that Little Mo, the 17 yearold ladies champion in 1952, was now having a far from indifferent effect on me. And it was about this time that I found myself looking forward to Boys’ Brigade drill on a Friday, not because of my camaraderie between us lads, but because I might catch sight of Marcia Williams wearing her Girl’s Life Brigade uniform. More was to come, including the defining moment in my young life, when on the long journey back to South Wales, after hearing Billy Graham at Harringay Arena, I kissed a lovely Baptist girl called Yvette. But that’s a different story.
h
yesterday remembered
Music, scooters and Pyjama Parties Leigh Smith recalls
the heady days of Llandaff Youth Club in the 1960s I was on a recent visit to Llandaff when I came across the building works in full swing on the new Memorial Hall. The children from the nearby Cathedral school had been allowed to look at the work in progress, safely corralled by teachers and workmen. The old Hall had gone forever but it took me back on a trip down memory lane. I left Llandaff in 1963 to work and live in London where I have remained since. I had left school three years earlier and whilst attending College from 19601963, I joined Llandaff Youth Club in its early years. If my memory serves me correctly, we met in the Llandaff Institute but we were moved to the Memorial Hall. There were a lot of concerns from the community at that time and if we were to become a proper club, we would have to come under the auspices of the Cathedral Clergy. We were called (and this will make you smile), Llandaff Cathedral Young People's Society. We each had a membership card and had to pay subs weekly. We met on a Tuesday in the Memorial Hall and we were organised by the Rev Cound (sorry can’t remember his initials). We would have about 40–60 people attending each week and the Reverend would arrive at about half ten for a few words and a blessing; he would then see us safely out. A few of us had scooters or motorbikes and if the bus was missed, there would always be someone on hand to give a lift. Sometimes being such a small compact community, we could do
two or three shuttle runs! We were a typical youth club and very quickly purchased a small record player where we would all bring the latest records bought from Spillers record store in Cardiff. We would listen and watch our favourites climb up the charts and we would also practice dancing. This meant in particular that we'd do the Twist from 1960 and we actually had mini competitions. One club night, we had a never-to-be forgotten Pyjama Party. This was around the time of another new craze - Baby Doll Pyjamas and the girls were made to cover up very quickly! Of course, this was just before the Beatles. They arrived in late 1962 but nevertheless, there were still some great artists about. The Everly Brothers, Elvis, and Roy Orbison were still around, but we always made sure that we would play Moon River or the theme from a Summer Place when the Rev Cound came too close us. Eventually, we managed to persuade the Reverend that we should have a dance, with a real live band and on a Saturday. Yes, we would organise it, look after the finances, book the group, print 80 tickets, man the door, provide coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks and finish around 10.30pm. We started in the Institute but we were thrown out because of the noise the band made. After this, all the dances were held in the Memorial Hall. We only managed to have about three or four dances a year. What happened in later years, I know not, but in the early years, we had a ball. I can remember the name of the bands we booked - The Strangers from Llandaff North, and much later, Geoff and the G Men from Canton. The lead
guitarist with the Strangers played a wonderful rendition of 'Hall of the Mountain King' and Geoff and the G Men played Gerry Marsden's 'Why Do You Do What You Do To Me?', usually three times in an evening. We were supposed to finish at 11pm, to keep the noise down and limit the numbers to 80. We were also only allowed to invite people from Llandaff Youth Club to attend. Unfortunately, we all had friends all over and after news spread,
the Memorial Hall would be rammed to the roof. 130 people turned up and the noise coming from brand new Vox amplifiers was just too much for the locals. One claimed that his whole house shook. Suddenly the Saturday nights became more difficult to book. The Women's Institute were having a meeting or there was a rehearsal by the Operatic Society. As for me, I was now 19 years old and perhaps too old for the Youth Club but I was still on the social committee until I left in the summer of 1963.
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pets
Pet Questions Chris Troughton of Heath Vets answers your pet-related questions There have been reports of the so-called babesiosis, where dogs are at risks because of ticks. I’m not too sure on what dangers it poses to dogs and whether you could shed any light on it. Babesia is a blood parasite that causes severe anaemia which can be fatal. It is very difficult to treat. Dogs become infected by bites from one particular kind of tick called Dermacenter. In the UK, Dermacenter ticks used to be rare, but with the warmer wetter climate we seem to be having, it is spreading and has now been found in most parts of the UK – certainly in South Wales. Ticks are usually found in rough grassland. Traditionally, they were only a problem in early summer and autumn, but with the changing climate we now see tick activity all year round. Until recently, the Babesia parasite has only ever been seen in UK dogs after they have travelled in Europe. However in March, there was a report of several dogs in Essex that had never travelled abroad having been diagnosed with Babesia anaemia. This has prompted a careful search for the source, and infected Dermacenter ticks were identified in woodland where these dogs exercised. It is believed the ticks got the parasite from biting dogs which had travelled in Europe. Research is now ongoing to see if Dermacenter ticks elsewhere in the UK might be carrying Babesia as well, but so far none has been found. However, it is likely to be only a matter of time before this nasty disease does spread. So at the moment, the risk of your dog catching Babesia in South Wales is very small indeed, but I fear it
will become more of a problem. However, Lymes disease is also spread by ticks, so it is best to avoid ticks if possible. Some dogs seem to pick them up a lot, and you should always check your dog over carefully after walks in the country, paying particular attention to the face, legs, armpits and groin. If you do find a tick, DON’T just pull it off. You need to use a special tick-removing instrument to grip it properly and ensure the whole tick is removed (the jaws can break off and remain
in the skin, causing sores). There are now a number of very effective treatments for ticks that you can apply to your dog or give orally – talk to your vet to see what is best. I’ve recently started sending my dog to day care but the people there said that the kennel cough vaccine only covers one strain of the disease and so isn’t too effective. I wanted to ask an expert on whether this was correct or not as my little dog doesn’t particularly like having the nasal spray done. Kennel cough is a highly contagious cough illness that can be caused by a number of different infections; coughing is the main sign but sometimes only a runny nose and bit of snuffling is seen. It is rarely dangerous, although occasionally it can lead to more serious chest
infections and the severity of the cough can sometimes exacerbate other chest problems a patient already has – for example windpipe problems in miniature breeds. Some of the causes of kennel cough are covered by routine inoculations – for example, para-influenza virus. One of the other causes is Bordetella bacterium, and there is a nasal spray vaccine for this. So it is correct to say the kennel cough vaccine only covers one strain, and vaccination will not guarantee your dog is safe from the illness. However, it might protect him, so you have to make a judgement about whether it is better to leave your dog completely unprotected, or to do your best to protect him, but recognise that he might still catch it. It depends how much he hates the nasal spray! Why does my cat insist in eating grass? Is it normal or should I seek advice? Eating grass is quite a common behaviour for cats. Usually it does not signify any ill-health or deficiency. If fact some people recommend growing a seed-tray of grass for indoor cats to munch on! It might be providing some vitamins or dietary fibre. Quite often, cats will be sick after eating grass, and seem none the worse for it. However, if this happens any more than occasionally, it might be because your cat has a gastric problem and you should get him looked at.
Pets Questions page is sponsored by Heath Vets
a: 123 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina CF14 6UH t: 02920 621511 w: www.heathvets.co.uk 37
Gardens Local gardener Kevin Revell shows you how you can use shrubs to turn your garden into a haven for wildlife
M
any shrubs and flowering plants, by their very nature will attract wildlife, either bees and butterflies to pollinate the flowers, or birds and mammals to eat and distribute the berries and seeds. Even the ability of a plant to support a population of caterpillars or aphids can be construed as a good thing, if they in turn are predated by birds or ladybirds. It is pointless feeding the birds with seed and peanuts in the winter if we subsequently deny them their natural food in spring and summer by spraying our garden plants with toxic chemicals. Trees and large shrubs of some sort are the first plants to consider when planning a garden to attract wildlife. Birds love to observe an area from on high before they risk coming into the garden and the cover provided will give them confidence if a predator should come by. Fruit trees will offer a blizzard of blossom in spring and the benefit of fruit in late summer – both will help attract wildlife; even rotten fruit on an autumnal dew-covered lawn will help feed birds and butterflies and prepare them for winter. Some shrubs are particularly good for the purpose of attracting wildlife, either for continuity of flowering, copious
38
fruit production or the ability to withstand aphid attack and sustain a population of predators; the top ten are listed below.
Top Five Shrubs to Attract Wildlife
Lavandula angustifolia – Lavender Lavender is the best possible plant to attract bees - the more you plant, the more you will be rewarded with the hum of their industry from dawn to dusk, the flowers are long lasting and the fragrance will transport you off to sunny climes. There are several varieties which offer advantages over the straight species; ‘Hidcote’ and
‘Munstead’ are both compact forms with deep blue flowers. Earlier flowering French lavender is another plant ideal to attract bees characterised by stubby inflorescences of small flowers topped with longer ‘ears’. Although not ideal for a rainy British climate, it will do well in a sunny spot provided the drainage is good which can be achieved by the addition of coarse grit when planting. Heavy clay soils in a shaded position should be avoided. Lavender is an ideal plant for pots and containers and associates well with terracotta pots giving a suitably Mediterranean feel to a garden or patio. Cotoneaster horizontalis Herring Bone Cotoneaster A dual purpose plant in terms of wildlife, this is a common garden plant but one which is alive with bees in late spring that delight in the clusters of numerous small flowers. The resulting berries are highly ornamental in late summer and are well regarded by blackbirds and thrushes come the first frosts of autumn. Another benefit is the bright red autumn colour of the leaves which fall to reveal the herringbone tracery of branches.
gardens
If grown near a wall, it will appear to cling to the vertical surface and when well established, makes a fine nesting place for small birds such as hedge sparrows and wrens. Snails and spiders will also find places to hide within and while they are not everybody’s idea of attractive wildlife, they are vital to the survival of other species; we should not to be too choosy when evaluating our efforts to attract wildlife – it is all useful in the greater scheme of things, finding a balance is the tricky part that takes time and patience. Fuchsia spp. – Hardy Fuchsia Fuchsias are invaluable in the garden as they produce flowers over such a long period, from early summer until the first frosts, which in a mild winter, might be after Christmas. The large growing, small flowered varieties in particular, produce flowers in such profusion that there is never a moment when there is not a bee somewhere about the bush searching for a new source of nectar. Fuchsia magellanica makes a potentially large shrub up to 2m tall but can be controlled and revived by hard pruning in early spring. It is also a useful hedging plant in mild areas. Other smaller varieties such as the golden leaved ‘Genii’ or compact growing ‘Tom Thumb’ are more easily contained in pots and containers. Overbred double flowering forms more familiar in hanging baskets are best avoided, for although undoubtedly attractive, the infilling of the flower with additional petals makes it difficult for bees to access the nectar and pollen which is equally true of other plants such as roses.
Buddleia davidii – Butterfly Bush The clue is in the name – there is no shrub better suited to attract butterflies to the garden. The tiny tubular flowers are gathered together in a large inflorescence resembling an inflated wind sock at an airfield. Only butterflies and moths and bees with long proboscises can access the nectar and peak flowering time in July and August attracts butterflies from far and wide. Migratory Painted Ladies and Red Admirals seem to be particularly partial to this shrub which gains negative publicity for its ability to seed itself along railway lines and into the masonry of walls and chimneys. Named varieties such as ‘Black Knight’ and ‘Royal Red’ are better behaved with dark richly coloured flowers. These are large growing shrubs which can be maintained at 2m if cut back hard in spring, but for smaller modern gardens, the aptly named ‘Buzz Series’ with smaller flowers are more compact at 1m and are ideal for pots and containers.
Rosa rugosa – Hedging Rose It is said that roses are martyrs to aphid attack which may be true, but Rosa rugosa is a tough plant which is more than capable of withstanding the early plagues that seem to attack the soft new growth that can be disastrous to other roses around the garden. The fact that it always seems to have a few aphids makes it a magnet for ladybirds and other predatory insects. The glossy foliage is completely disease free and the superbly scented flowers can be white, pink or cerise. Try to avoid double flowered forms as bees are much more attracted to the simple flower arrangement which allows them access to the anthers and nectar. No dead-heading is required as a surprising feature of this rose is revealed after the flowers fade in late summer when fat, glossy red hips are produced, which persist well into autumn. An extremely prickly plant, it works well as a hedge and will withstand hard pruning to come back better than ever.
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CRAIG WILLIAMS MP Working hard for Cardiff North SS GERIES ACRO DROP-IN SUR TH ON CARDIFF NOR NINGS R O M SATURDAY PPOINTMENTS ONE-TO-ONE A ON FRIDAYS SURGERIES ‘SKYPE’ VIDEO THE WEEK THROUGHOUT
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Views from Westminster by Craig Williams MP It has been a busy time in Llandaff North and Whitchurch. Locally some of my work has included carrying out a survey with Whitchurch traders on security and hosting a meeting with South Wales Police regarding crime. I have also been impressed with the energy and enthusiasm by the 2nd Llandaff scout group to raise funds to save their Scout Hall and they have my full support. During the recent elections for the National Assembly, I was delighted to welcome Boris Johnson to Whitchurch high street. Boris took time to speak to everybody who he met on his walkabout and was happy to pose for photographs. People were delighted to chat, with many taking selfies. Boris also told me that he enjoyed his sandwich in the village. As the (then) Mayor of London, Boris also gave his support to the campaign calling for an elected Mayor in Cardiff. The process towards an elected Mayor has several stages. Firstly it requires a petition signed by 24,647 residents to trigger a referendum. That referendum allows every Cardiff resident to vote yes or no to a directly elected Mayor. There is a currently a cross-party campaign collecting signatures and there is more information at www.mayorforcardiff. wales Like Boris, I support this cross-party campaign as I believe that an elected Mayor would be directly answerable to Cardiff residents, leading to better decision-making. It would create a clear figurehead for the Welsh capital city when Cardiff competes on an international stage. In Westminster, I was delighted to secure an adjournment debate and used it to highlight a 2026 bid for the Commonwealth Games in Wales. There was support from across the chamber and I hope that this will start a bid. As well as the sporting legacy which a tournament such as this can bring, it has the potential to boost the economy of not just Cardiff, but the whole of Wales. Perhaps the most significant item this year for Cardiff has been the signing of the Cardiff City deal in March. This opens up funds of £1.2billion for south Wales, a large proportion of which will be spent on much needed transport infrastructure. Finally I’d like to remind Whitchurch & Llandaff Living readers of the European Referendum. This is an important decision for our country and, whatever your view, I hope that you vote on Thursday 23rd June 2016.
Craig Williams
With the promise of sunny, summer weather on its way, head out into the garden with one of these books from North Cardiff authors. From children's history to a Cornish romance, there's something for everyone here
Get ready for some
Summer Reading
A
lthough I was born and raised in Cardiff, I moved to Bristol to attend University, where I met my husband. After we had children, we decided to move to Rhiwbina. Although we didn’t know anyone in the area, our new neighbours were warm and welcoming. Our son joined the Rhiwbina Squirrels and we were soon part of a tight knit community, which is something we’d never experienced before. I’d been scribbling ideas for stories since I was a teenager but it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my eldest son that I wrote my first book. Ultimately I decided that although the book was great practice, it wasn’t good enough to publish, and it went back on the shelf where it still sits. I loved to read romance and always wanted to write in this genre. My old English teacher told me that
G
ardener Kevin Revell published his book, Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild several years ago. The main character, Jack Lightfoot, finds that he is able to alternate between his life as a suburban child and that of a variety of wild animals with
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writing creatively is often easier if you write what you know. I knew a lot about boxing as my brother had boxed when he was younger and my husband kick-boxed at a boxing gym in Bristol- so writing a sports romance seemed like the obvious choice. I never had any intention of ever publishing it, but I wrote a few chapters when I ran out of books to read (this was before I discovered Kindles and had books on tap!) and showed it to a friend. She loved it and encouraged me to publish it and let others read it. Things just took off from there. When I wrote my first book, selfpublishing was relatively new, but by the time I’d written my second, the Kindle KDP programme was already well established. Another debut author very kindly introduced me to her editor. After a little more research I found a wonderful cover designer and formatter and after working with them, my book started to take shape. I got in touch with a few book blogs to tell them about the book and they kindly posted a few teasers in the weeks leading up to the release. When The Hurricane was finally published, I only hoped to sell a few hundred copies, but people who’d seen the teasers read and recommended it to blogs which he is able to communicate. In doing so, he finds out about the harm that humanity is inflicting on the natural world. He has a number of adventures with a variety of creatures which enables him to learn of threats to the earth, air and water and ultimately ourselves. He treads
'I never had any intention of publishing my book'
Rebecca Prescott's book, The Hurricane featured in USA Today's Best Sellers List and led directly to a book deal
and friends and sales took off. A week later, it was the best-selling sports romance on Amazon and the following week, it hit the USA Today Best Sellers List. Shortly afterwards I signed with the Corvisiero Literary Agency in New York and having had a few publication offers, accepted a book deal from Hachette Publishing. Later that year, the book reached the final of the Debut Book Goodreads Reader’s Choice Awards. I think that the most difficult thing about it has been putting myself out there. For many years, writing was a very personal but anonymous hobby. Once you make the decision to publish, you open yourself and your writing up to the world. the path of the Celtic kings of myth and legend before the time of recorded history. Can one boy save the entire world?
'I remember sneaking out of school at lunchtimes for chips and gravy at Victoria Fish Bar' Laura Powell's latest book has already won Amazon's Rising Star Award and gained rave reviews from national newspapers
I
spent my early years in
Whitchurch. My parents and I moved to the Rhondda when I started primary school before returning to Rhiwbina when I was about 12; I went to Rhiwbina Primary for a term, then to Whitchurch High School until I was 18. My parent's house is around the corner from the Monico, so I have many happy memories of watching films in it when it was a glorious old cinema, of sneaking out of school at lunchtimes for chips and gravy at Victoria Fish Bar in Whitchurch - and also of spending hours in Whitchurch Library trying to revise for my GCSEs and A Levels but, instead, getting side tracked by leaflets for short story competitions and by creative writing magazines. I moved away from Cardiff when I was 18 - first to the University of Warwick and later to London where I completed an MA and built my journalism career
(today I'm a Commissioning Editor at the Daily Telegraph). I still return regularly to visit my family - my parents and maternal grandparents live in Rhiwbina and it's still the place I call home. My father brought home a big old PC from his workplace when I was about 10. I remember teaching myself how to type and tapping out a Christmas story about a girl who snuck out of her home and went to Cardiff City Centre for late night shopping. The story was essentially a list of the things she bought as Christmas presents for her family. But I loved building my own little world, controlling the characters, inhabiting it. So I carried on writing. When I was in sixth form at Whitchurch High School, I signed up to an online creative writing course. I was lucky enough to be taught by Rachel Trezise, who went on to win the Dylan Thomas Prize. She was very generous in her feedback about my terrible work. But I started seriously writing after that - I submitted a short story for Cambrensis Magazine that was published, I did a few creative writing modules at University of Warwick, I took a course at Faber & Faber publishing house and finally got an agent after writing the draft of a first novel set in Bridgend. Sadly it was deemed 'too bleak' by agents and was never published. But I kept writing and my second book attempt - The Unforgotten - was published on 17 March this year. It has been
L
iving Magazines editor Patric Morgan has self-published several Amazon best-sellers but Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Rising is the first in a commissioned series of Welsh children's history books. "I was out walking the dog one day when one of my co-writers Anthony Bunko phoned me and asked if I wanted to get involved in this new series. We met up with Ashley, the publisher and he took us through what he wanted. We signed on the dotted line there and then. "The books are designed to help children engage more, both with
a long old slog but I'm thrilled and so grateful that my book is finally on the table at the front of Waterstones - something that has long been my dream. The Unforgotten is a dark literary drama, set in the 1950s, with a bittersweet love story at its heart. Fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent has never left the sleepy Cornish fishing village where she was raised by her alcoholic single mother, Dolores. But when the London press pack descends on the village to report on a series of murders, everything changes. Betty is instantly smitten with Gallagher, a mysterious, older journalist who doesn't get on with the others. As the death toll rises, their friendship deepens but eventually each is forced to make a huge moral decision that shapes their own lives - and that of an innocent man - forever. The consequences of their decisions unravel over 50 years. reading, and with history. Our small country has such a huge history and we want to celebrate this with a good dollop of Welsh humour." The first book will be launched in early June at the Merthyr Rising Festival. The books are illustrated by Chris O'Keefe from Merthyr. 'We met at the Village Hotel, had a lime and soda and signed on the dotted line'
Patric Morgan is the lead writer behind a series of new children's books that recreates Welsh historical figures and events
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Paul Mason
John Cale
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Professor Brian Cox
Return of The Grumpy Old Women Wednesday 1 June Mercher 1 Mehefin
Sunday 9 October Sul 9 Hydref
Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra
An Intimate Evening with Justin Hayward Sunday 11 September Sul 11 Medi
John Wilson & The John Wilson Orchestra Wednesday 23 November Mercher 23 Tachwedd
Friday 3 June Gwener 3 Mehefin
Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 November Mawrth 15 & Mercher 16 Tachwedd
Saturday 25 June Sadwrn 25 Mehefin
Wednesday 15 June Mercher 15 Mehefin
Monday 6 June Llun 6 Mehefin
Petula Clark
The Art of illusion
Living Magazines talks to Britain's Got Talent runner-up Jamie Raven ahead of his Cardiff show
W
hen Simon Cowell announces the phrase ‘I now actually believe in magic!’, one has to turn to the magician that prompted him to say it. Step forward Jamie Raven, who with over 200 million views online is one of the most watched magicians in the world today. Jamie Raven first shot to prominence during last year’s Britain’s Got Talent show, charming both judges and audiences all the way to a runner-up spot. And this summer, he’s heading to Cardiff to wow Welsh crowds. “I went to university in Bath and we were always jumping on a train and heading to Cardiff for nights out. This will be the first time I’ve been back to do a proper show since then, so I’m really looking forward to it.” Jamie can chart his career right the way back to when he was a youngster: “My mum gave birth to me at the end of August. As a result, I was stuck between two school years. My mum had to decide whether to put me in a class full of older kids, or a class full of younger kids. She decided to put me in a class with the older kids. I was tiny and I got pushed around, especially on the football fields. I found that one of the ways to be accepted by my peers was to perform magic. It gave me a certain confidence that I’ve taken with me.” Jamie's natural curiosity about magic led him on a journey of discovery. “When I started out at the age of 10, there was no internet or YouTube. I had to read books and watch VHS tapes. There were two shops I used to visit in London where I would
get my props. I joined the Magic Circle at the age of 18 and that opened up a lot of learning opportunities from other magicians. “One of my first gigs was working in the corporate world where I’d literally have to approach tables, perform magic for them and leave my card. If they liked what they saw, they’d get in touch. It sounds horrendous and it was but it really gave me the confidence to approach groups of people. That confidence has stayed with me and stood me in good stead ever since.” But after 12 years of perfecting the art, Jamie felt that he had reached a ceiling. “I’d reached a point in my career where I thought I couldn’t go any further. Magic is best performed in a theatre and I’d been doing a lot of corporate work. I had considered Britain’s Got Talent for a few years but magicians never seemed to do very well. Then last year, a guy called Mat Franco won the American version of the show and that persuaded me that I should give it a go. “I vividly remember standing on the side of the stage, waiting to do my audition. For me, it was like standing on the edge of a cliff. If it went wrong, I could have potentially thrown away 11 years’ worth of career. If it went well, who knew where it would take me? I deliberately kept the audition lowkey. The last thing I wanted to was to mess up spectacularly and to be included in the part of the show where some of the less talented performers appear. For me, I was performing for just four people –
the judges. And although there were millions watching on TV, my focus was those four people.” Appearing on a live show had its dangers, but Jamie impressed everyone to come a close second to the eventual winner, Jules O'Dwyer and her dog Matisse. “My confidence comes from the fact that I’ve been doing magic for so long. It’s a bit like driving a car where things come to you subconsciously. I can never take too much for granted though as I like to bring an element of audience participation to my shows so there’s always that element of the unknown.” Jamie finished the year with a flourish, headlining the most successful magic show in the history of London’s West End with ‘The Illusionists’. “Some people like close-up work, some people like grand illusions. My Cardiff show will tick all the boxes so that everyone’s kept happy. You can come along and meet me afterwards too as we’re running a Meet and Greet.” Jamie will be appearing at St David’s Hall on Thursday 16th June. Tickets from the Box Office on 029 2087 8444 45
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Summer
Baking
Victoria Sponge Sweet Café and Bakery owner Sue Ryan shows you how to make the perfect summer teatime treat
Soft, fluffy sponge that melts in your mouth. Cool, velvety whipped cream and a tangy filling to take the edge off the sweetness. You could almost be back at your granny’s on a Sunday afternoon. One of the most popular cakes we sell in the coffee shop, it’s also really simple to make and it’ll taste miles better than anything you get in the supermarket.
Ingredients (for one 7” / 18cm cake
3 medium eggs 175gm/6oz 175gm/6oz 1 tablespoon 175gm/6oz 1 teaspoon
which serves 8 people)
(averaging about 60g in weight each) lightly beaten softened butter golden caster sugar milk plain flour baking powder
• Preheat your oven to 160°c fan/ 180°c conventional / gas 4. Butter the inside of two 7” / 18cm sandwich tins, and then line the base with circles of baking parchment. • Sift the flour and baking powder together and set aside. • Cream the butter and sugar together until it’s pale and fluffy. It’ll take a while and even if you’re using a stand mixer, this could take five minutes or more. But don’t worry as you can’t overbeat the mix at this stage. • Add the milk to the eggs, and then gradually, while still beating, add the egg and milk to the butter and sugar mix little by little. If the mix starts to curdle (looks like
scrambled eggs), then add a tablespoon of the flour, and it should come back together. • Once the egg has been incorporated, add the sifted flour and gently mix this in. • Divide the mixture equally between the two tins, and then gently smooth the surface level. • Bake in the centre of the oven for about 25 minutes (start checking after 22). When cooked, the sponges should be risen, golden and if you press the top of them lightly with your finger, they should spring back. • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then, gently run a knife around the inside of the tin, and carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely. • That’s the easy part. The hard part is choosing what filling to use. Traditionally, Queen Victoria insisted on Raspberry Jam and Cream. We really love Blueberry and Cream at Sweet. I find that as long as you use a really good quality fruity jam or curd, and some double cream (about 200ml), whipped with a little icing sugar, you can’t go far wrong. • Then finish by dusting with a little caster sugar. Serves 8
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