Printed by J & P Davison, 3 James Place, Treforest, Pontypridd CF37 1SQ Tel. 01443 400585

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGCEREMONY

Christmas arrived early in Radyr and Morganstown on the 7thDecember with the erection of three large trees, all lit with decorativelights. Bryn Deri School choir sang around the tree in the Granny Parkat Morganstown whilst the Festival Queen, Grace Morgan and herattendants April Spiteri and Cerys Howard-Cook were ready to switchon the lights. The choir and audience gave a count down from 10 to1 for the tree to be illuminated. Meanwhile, Park Road Primary Schoolwere singing their special carols around the newly-sited tree at RadyrSidings. The Festival King, Daniel McKerlich was on duty here toswitch on the lights, which came on and went off … on dear! It tooktwo expert electricians to sort out the problem over the next few daysbut they succeeded in lighting the tree. It was time to reconvene at thethird tree in Windsor Gardens. Here the joint choirs sang to theaccompaniment of the City of Cardiff Brass Band and the FestivalQueen carried out her duties to switch on the last of the tree lights.

continued on page 5

Ten years ago on St. David’s Day 2003,Mark and Rachel Bridges openedBridges Veterinary Surgery at Pugh’sGarden Centre in Morganstown.

The brand new surgery with fully equipped,air conditioned consulting and operatingfacilities with gleaming equipment wastestament of what the very best, smallanimal, vet practices should offer.

Mark and Rachel have had years ofexperience in different practices and wantedto take the best from all and provide theirclients with outstanding care and asupportive, friendly service. The success isshown in the large growth of the practice.

Many clients have been with the practicesince those early days and the team haveseen many puppies and kittens growing oldgracefully. They have shared terribly sadtimes with you and great happiness whenmeeting your new little bundles of fluff.

The practice has also grown in terms of staff- a close-knit team who share the valuesthat Mark and Rachel felt so strongly about

when setting up. A second vet wasemployed to cater for the growingpopularity of the practice as well asadditional nursing staff. The nurses all havea wealth of knowledge and are happy togive advice, answer questions or help outwith your pet.

Mark has recently studied for andachieved a general practitionersCertificate in VeterinaryOphthalmology, which means thepractice will be able to accept referralsfrom other practices for anyophthalmology (eye) cases. He is alsoqualified in acupuncture and can usethis to help on some of his patients.

They have a websitewww.bridgesvets.co.uk and you can‘like’ their page on Facebook, ‘BridgesVeterinary Surgery’, or you could evenpop in and say Hi.

For the future, the practice will continueto provide the same high level ofservice. New, effective techniques andequipment will be purchased, learnedand applied.

Above all, Bridges Vets will continue toprovide their animal patients with thebest in kind, professional and

committed care and try their very best tokeep their clients happy.

Mark, Rachel and the team would like tothank all of their clients for their continuedsupport and look forward to seeing you forthe next ten years.

BRIDGES VETERINARYSURGERY

RADYR CHAINFree to every home in Radyr and Morganstown

Number 204 February 2013

We are sure you know already, but we are delighted to repeat hear thatDavid Cargill, one of our Vice Presidents and a former Chairman of theAssociation, was awarded the British Empire Medal in this year’sQueen’s New Years Honours List. The citation was “For services to thecommunity in Radyr and Morganstown” – which just about sums it up.David has, of course, personally led the running of the May Festival forover 25 years. This year is his 26th. In 2002, the Festival changedformally to supporting a Charity and many thousands of pounds havenow been raised, not counting the considerable sums that have beenraised by our local organisations over those 25 years. Apart from hiswork with the Association, David has been closely linked with manyother R&M organisations, notably the Tennis and Golf Clubs, as wellas having served as a Magistrate. The award is thoroughly deserved.

We were bound to mentionDavid first but another Radyrresident – Keith Griffin – wasawarded the OBE on the sameoccasion in recognition for hisservices to music in Wales.

Keith may not be as well known to local residents but he is one of theleading musical administrators in the UK, having spent a 40-year careerproviding invaluable support, advice, practical help and planning to ahost of musical organisations – from community brass bands to thevisit of Pope John Paul II to Wales in 1982. He founded the WelshAmateur Music Federation (later to become Ty Cerdd) as well as theNational Youth Brass Band in 1982, followed soon after by the NationalChoir, National Jazz and National Youth Wind Band organisations.

We send our heartiest congratulations to them both.

NEW YEARSHONOURS

Following on from the very successful50th anniversary concert in 2011,Christchurch again played host to VolanteProductions to raise funds for Danybryn.An audience of around eighty peoplewere entertained with a first half of Operafrom Fidelio, La Traviata, Don Carlos,Lakmé, Carmen and more closing the Actwith a call to refreshments with “Now tothe banquet we press” from Gilbert &Sullivan’s The Sorcerer.

The second half opened as the first halfhad closed with another Gilbert & Sullivan“Now for the Pirates Lair” from Pirates ofPenzance and continued with songs fromCarousel, The Secret Garden, Beauty andthe Beast, Oklahoma, Cats and closing

with “Down Once More” fromPhantom of the Opera.

Many thanks to VolanteProductions and the WelshNational Opera and to thevolunteer team who arranged allthe refreshments and tidied theChurch in readiness for evensongfor a very entertaining afternoon,raising over £380. for DanybrynActivities.

Derek BatemanVolunteer Co-ordinator, DanybrynTelephone20842237/07738329525Email: Derek.bateman@LCDisability.org

VOLANTE PRODUCTIONS CONCERT ON 18 NOVEMBER ATCHRISTCHURCH, RADYR

David Doidge - Pianist, Fiona Harrison - Soprano Simon Crosby Buttle - Tenor, Neda Bizzarri - Mezzo

Julian Boyce - Baritone

During the recent snowfall olderresidents were very grateful for thehelp offered by their neighbours.Paths cleared and essential shoppingbrought to their door.

The community spirit is alive and wellin Radyr and Morganstown.

EDITORIAL

Letters, articles, reports and other contributions are invited and should be submitted byMarch 15th. Submissions may be subject to editing at the Editor’s discretion.The views expressed in the Radyr Chain are not necessarily those of the Editors.Editor - Mary & Robert Pearce, 1 Windsor Grove, Radyr. 2084 2615E-Mail address - Chain@radyr.org.ukWhat’s On - Mary Pearce, 1 Windsor Grove, Radyr. 2084 2615Advertising - Jerry Bray, 41 Hazel Tree Close, Radyr. 2084 3387E-Mail address - jerrybraychain@tiscali.co.ukHon. Treasurer - Ellis Jenkins, (to whom donations may be sent; they will begratefully acknowledged) 62 Windsor Avenue, Radyr, CF15 8BYDistribution - Chris Wills, 1 Llwyn Drysgol, Radyr. 2084 2197

COMING EVENTS

N.B. Details of all coming events can be found inthe Diary section of the website

www.Radyr.org.uk

February3 FAMILY FUN CHURCH Children of all

ages, with accompanying adult(s), are invited to join us in our new venture.Every first Sunday afternoon of the monthfor fun, craft, Bible story and song, plus refreshments. From 4pm to 5.15pm at Radyr Methodist Church 4.00pm

4 R&M ASSOCIATION GENERALMEETING, OCR. Chris Partridge, Keep Wales Tidy's Tidy Towns Project Officer for Cardiff, will be talking about his work. All Welcome. 7.30pm

13-16 Radyr Parish Music Group presents Oklahoma! A colourful and exciting staging of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical with its memorable songs and characters. Presented at the Bishop of Llandaff High School. Tickets £10 (£8 concs Wed & Thu) from Maggie Roberts (029 2084 2995) or Sue Thomas (029 2031 0894) 7.30pm

13 Dyffryn & The National Trust Geraldine Donovan will give a talk on the current position of Dyffryn and the National Trust together with an update on the future development of the gardens at Dyffryn.Radyr, Morganstown & District GardeningClub in the New School Rooms, Christchurch starting at 19.30 and followed by coffee/tea and chat. All are welcome. For more information please contact Richard Gregory (029 20842084).

7.30pm14 NSPCC Lunch at Radyr Golf Club

An informal lunch featuring amusing light-hearted reminiscences from the chairmanof the Tommy Cooper Society with soup & sandwiches, dessert & coffee. Tickets £10 from Jan Doody (20842478) - available January 2013. 12.00

21 Coffee Morning for Danybryn. Coffee Morning in aid of Dan-y-Bryn Cheshire Home at Radyr Golf Club. Stalls, etc.Tickets £2.00 from 20842733 or pay at door. 10.30am

25 Cuppa with a Copper. Radyr Library, ParkRoad: come and have tea with your Neighbourhood Policing Team and talk about the issues that matter most to you. 11am - 1pm. 11.00am

26 Festival Meeting. Old church Rooms - meeting for Festival 2013. 7.30pm

www.radyr.org.uk is…a one-stopshop for local information 3

27 PACT OCR - All Welcome. Come and meet your local Councillor and police officer. 7.00pm

27 MERCHED Y WAWR, RADUR NOSON YDYSGWYR. Eglwys Methodistiaid, Radur.

7.30pmMarch3 FAMILY FUN CHURCH. Children of all

ages, with accompanying adult(s), are invited to join us in our new venture: FAMILY FUN CHURCH. Every first Sunday afternoon of the month for fun, craft, Bible story and song, plus refreshments. From 4pm to 5.15pm at Radyr Methodist Church 4.00pm

13 Propagating Fuchsias. An illustrated talk by John Jackson on the Fuchsia together with demonstration, advice and tips on propagation. Radyr, Morganstown & District Gardening Club in the New School Rooms, Christchurch starting at 19.30 and followed by coffee/tea and chat. All are welcome. For more information please contact Richard Gregory (029 20842084). 7.30pm

15 Tenovus Beetle Drive. Old Church RoomsRadyr. Bar. Raffle. Please Tel. 20842193 for tickets. All are welcome 7.30pm

25 Cuppa with a Copper.Radyr Library, Park Road: come and have tea with your Neighbourhood Policing Team and talk about the issues that matter most to you. 11am - 1pm. 11.00am

RADYR FOOD FOR THOUGHTVenue: The New School Rooms,

Heol Isaf, RadyrTime: Tuesdays 12.15-2pm

Membership Fee: £20.00. Lunch £6.50.

Winter Programme 20138th January – A Grand-daughter’s pilgrimage

to China Jacqui James15th January – A funny thing happened on

the way to the theatre Philip Davies22nd January – A Presentation

Mike Baker29th January – The story of Kyffin Williams

Margaret Benedict5th February – Trip

Cookery demonstration and luncheon atLlanerch Vineyard

12th February – Floriade 2002 & the DutchBulbfields Sheena Crossley19th February – Half Term

26th February – Natures Little Helpers Nigel Harris

5th March – Trip – Ludlow & Berrington Hall12th March – A Boathouse Guide

Sheila Lowe

Telephone Numbers 2084 2461/2055 2610

New Term Starts 19th March, 2013

RADYR SCOUT POST 2012This year’s Christmas Scout Post wasagain a successful fund raiser for thegroup.

I wish to thank the staff of thefollowing local businesses for theirefforts in selling scout post stampsthis year:

Vintage Gem, Station Road

Pugh’s Garden Centre,Morganstown

Pzazz Hair Designers, CastleCourt

Radyr Library, Park Road.

Thanks also to our Leaders,volunteers, parents and theyoungsters who helped sell stamps,sort and deliver post.

Scout Post is organised by theCardiff and Vale Scouts for thecollection and delivery of Christmasgreetings in the Cardiff and Valearea. The collection and delivery ofpost is organised by local area scoutsand voluntary organisations in areaswhere there is no scout group.

During this year’s Scout Post ourteam handled around 60,000 cardsin the scout hall.

Finally, I would like to thank theresidents of Radyr andMorganstown for supporting theirlocal scout group by purchasingstamps locally.

We look forward to your continuedsupport again next Christmas. JBT

FOR SALETravel cot (Mothercare) in caseQuilt - blankets - sleepingbag

18-30 months£10.00

Telephone: 029 2084 3103

www.radyr.org.uk is…a photo-archive for our local community 5

CHRISTMAS TREELIGHTING CEREMONY

from back cover

Station Road was closed to vehiculartraffic and the stalls were now inposition. The crowds were filling theroad where there were stalls, shops, abarbecue, hot soup and mulled wine tosample. Chris Dale was the disc jockeyfor the night and he made sure that allthe Christmas songs were heard by all! Itwas time for Santa to arrive and theswitching on of the street illuminations.We had our own local celebrity, JasonMohammad of BBC Wales to throw theswitch and light up Station Roadshopping centre. Again it was only witha co-ordinated count-down that it allworked. Santa was inundated withyoungsters anxious to tell him their wishfor Christmas. He sat in his sleigh withhis helper giving out satsumas to eachrecipient. The weather was cold andblustery, we had already nearly lost themarquee in Windsor Gardens theprevious evening and it was a job tokeep the gazebos down on the ground.The music blasted out, the crowd visitedthe shops and cast an eye over the many

gifts on all the stalls, bought theirburgers and sampled the mulled win,making the shopping centre a picture toremember. This is our Communityshopping centre. When it comes alivelike this, don’t we wish it could last allyear! The mini Christmas trees situatedover the shops helped to create theChristmas scene.

The shopkeepers held a Christmaswindow competition, which this yearwas won by Nicky’s Sandwich Shop,second was Headway, closely followedby Excel Hair Salon in Morganstown.Many photographs were taken andappear on the village websitewww.radyr.org.uk. It’s thanks to effortsof the shopkeepers, the CommunityCouncil and the Association that thisevent took place and a meeting hasalready taken place to consider theplusses and minuses in the planning fornext year.

As we mentioned above, there is a newsite at Lychgate Gardens, Radyr Sidingsfor the Christmas tree. Sadly, we havelost the use of the “Community plot” atthe entrance to the estate andnegotiations resulted in the newCommunity area being established.

Taylor Wimpey agreed to dig the hole forthe tree and just in time for Christmas,agreement was reached with the localauthority in creating a public powersupply. The Community Councilpurchased a new set of lights (LED –which consume less power) and havealready noted that an extended set oflights will be required next year. Theconnection of power to this new areawill now be developed as a focal pointfor future Community events, especiallyin the May Festival.

Cyfarfod Ionawr yr ail, 2013Estynnwyd croeso i bawb ar ddechrau’rflwyddyn gan Carys Tudor Williams (yllywydd) ac roedd yn braf iawn cael aelodnewydd arall atom, Sandra Price, sy wedisymud o Nantgaredig i fyw yn Llanishen.Anfonwyd ein cofion a’n dymuniadau da atIona Jones. Cadeiriwyd y noson gan EirlysDavies a diolchodd hi i Carys Tudor Williams,Eleri Jones (ysgrifenyddes) a Rose Jones(trysorydd) am drefnu dathliad Nadolig morarbennig ym mwyty ffresh a chyngerdd ynNeuadd Alun Hoddinott ym mis Rhagfyr.

Apeliodd Shirley Williams (Swyddog Datblygu’r Dde Ddwyrain)am fagiau o bob math, mewn unrhyw gyflwr, fydd yn cael eutrosglwyddo i Gymorth Cristnogol. Ailgylchir y rhai salaf agwerthir y gweddill yn ystod yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol.

Gwaith cywrain Sandra RoseRoedd Dan Lewis yn deiliwr yn Hen Dfl Gwyn ar Daf, bob amser ânodwydd yn lapel ei siwr, pwt o bensil yn ei boced ac yn gweithioyn ystafell ffrynt y tfl. Ei wyres, Sandra Rose, oedd yn rhannu eithrysorau tecstilau gydag aelodau Cangen Merched y Wawr BroRadur ar yr ail o Ionawr eleni. Ymysg y trysorau oedd Sandra wedidod gyda hi roedd siwt fach melfed ddu roedd ei thad-cu wedi eiwneud 58 mlynedd yn ôl ar gyfer bedydd ei brawd. Dangoswydsiwmper a wnaeth Sandra o wlân un ddafad gyfan a’r lliwiaunaturiol yn ganlyniad i ferwi cennin Pedr gwywedig, dail poethion achroen winwns. Mae’n hoff iawn o ddeunydd ffelt ac o sgidie. Maeei phedair wyres yn lwcus iawn i gael mam-gu i lunio trysorauteuluol o esgidiau bach cain iddyn nhw. Rhodd arbennig ar briodasei mab a’i merch oedd albwm o waith llaw eu mam a chofnodir pobtaith dramor drwy luniadu albwm/llyfr lloffion pwrpasol o leoeddhyfryd fel Fflorens, Gwlad Groeg, Barcelona a Phrâg.

Cadwodd Sandra Rose ei thrysor pennaf tan yn olaf sef llyfr mawr gyflwynwyd iddi gan ei chyd-weithwyr yn y Gyfadran yn Ysgol Cwm Rhymni ar achlysur ei hymddeoliad, ar ôl ugainmlynedd yno fel athrawes tecstilau. Cysylltwyd â chyn-ddisgyblion oedd wedi astudio’r cwrsLefel A, anfonwyd darn o ddefnydd calico atyn nhw a chais i ddylunio unrhyw beth ynymwneud â RHOSYN. Doedd dim angen i Sandra ddarllen negeseuon yr un ohonyn nhw –roedd y darnau calico gorffenedig yn mynegi personoliaeth a dawn yr unigolyn.

Wrth ddiolch i Sandra Rose mynegodd Nia Jones (is-gadeirydd y gangen) ei syndod atgywreinrwydd y llyfr oedd yn dweud y cwbl am ein gwestai. Noson ysbrydoledig i ddechrau’rflwyddyn.

Y cyfarfod nesaNos Fercher, Chwefror 27ain mae Shirley Williams yn trefnu bod nifer o ddysgwyr yn ymunogydag aelodau’r gangen. Bydd cyfle i gael sgwrs fer gyda nifer ohonyn nhw ac yna bydd rhai oaelodau Merched y Wawr yn siarad am ‘Fy Hoff ___’.

MERCHED Y WAWR, CANGEN BRO RADUR

LLUN: [o’r chwith i’r dde]Nia Jones, Eleri Jones, Shirley Williams, Rose Jones, Sandra Rose (gydachasgliad o’i thrysorau tecstilau) Eirlys Davies a Carys Tudor Williams.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTJohn and Maureen Hombal and familywould like to thank our many friends andacquaintances for the letters and cards ofcondolence received following the sad lossof our daughter Sara. It has been quiteoverwhelming and a great comfort to knowthat so many of you were thinking of us atthis very difficult time.

In particular, we are very grateful to Dr.David Jones and the Radyr District NursingTeam for the care and kindness to Sara andthe support they gave us over those finalweeks. Thank you also to Rev. CanonJenny Wigley and Rev. Bill Barlow whoconducted the Funeral Service atChristchurch.

www.radyr.org.uk is…a window on our local history 7

News from Radyrlibrary

We hope you all had a wonderfulChristmas and new year and are nowlooking forward to what 2013 has tooffer. In the library we look back on agreat December raising money for theNSPCC with sales of quizzes and hand-knitted scarves, a raffle and, of course,Anne and Jen’s coffee afternoon. Intotal you raised £195. and we wouldlike to thank everyone for theirsupport. Special thanks to the WI forall their help particularly with thecoffee afternoon. Thank you, too, forall the cards, kind thoughts and giftsthat were given to us over Christmas.

We are now looking forward to lots oflibrary events in 2013, with NationalStorytelling month at the end ofJanuary. What better way to spend awinter’s evening than by borrowing abook from the library and reading ortelling a story.

National library day is on 9th Februaryand so we are hoping all those of youwho have been thinking of joining thelibrary will come along on that day anddo so. Just bring one item of i.d., adriving licence, bill or even a bank cardand we will sort out the rest. Onceyou have your library card, all theresources of Cardiff libraries areavailable to you, books, e-books, e-audio books, computer use and on-lineresources (including free access to thefamily history sites Ancestry and Findmy Past and access to Driving TheoryTest Pro for all learner drivers). We arehoping to have coffee and biscuitsavailable on that morning so comealong and celebrate libraries with us.

There are so many on-line resourcesand wonderful ways to use your library

card that we are holding a specialintroduction to “What else can you dowith your library card” on Friday, 22ndFebruary at 10.30am. Places are verylimited so booking is essential, but ifwe get enough enquiries we will runmore sessions.

Our monthly reading group, the RadyrBreakaways, is going well and wouldbe delighted to welcome new readers.We meet at 6pm on a Monday night todiscuss a book over coffee and biscuits.

Our weekly story and rhyme times arealso going well, as is the Amser Stori,the Welsh/Bilingual story and rhymetime and with a wonderful selection ofpicture and board books it is a greatway for you and your under 5 to havean enjoyable morning or afternoon,with some books to take home tocontinue the reading at home.

Many people are using our automatedmachine to borrow and return theirbooks. Unfortunately, although youcan pay fines to the machine, it doesnot give change. You should get anon-screen reminder and receipt askingyou to go to the counter to collect yourchange. Please do so, as it helps uskeep our finances straight. Manypeople are also discovering that theycan avoid fines altogether byregistering their email address andthen getting email reminders justbefore their books are due back. Thenit is easy to just go on-line and renewthem all.

Please come and enjoy the new titlesthat are being added to stock everyweek. We look forward to seeing youagain the library soon.

Happy spring reading,Caroline, Jen and Anne at RadyrLibrary

A VISIT FROM A FAMILIAR FACE?

Danny Laverty of Cwrt Tymynydd, a regular user of the 33 bus, is now aresident of Barclay Court Residential Home, 104 Cathedral Road, as theresult of a fall. Many people have asked after him and I am sure he wouldappreciate a visit from a familiar face. His friendly chat was alwayswelcome amongst his fellow travellers.

Also, as many people will know, Wyn Jack passed away recently. She hadmoved into residential care in the London area close to her family. Wynwill be missed by many for her involvement in so many good causes.

Sue Thomas

CHAIN COOKERYCORNER

Butternut Squash,Ginger, Chickpea and

Ginger Soup

This is delicious, warming andnutritious! Rather a lot ofingredients but well worth it. Theend result is a richly flavoured soupto which the chickpeas are added,which give a different texture. Anyleftover will freeze. Serves 6/8

1 large white onion peeled and sliced1 large leek washed and thinly slices2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped1” [3cm} fresh root ginger peeledand chopped [Keep a root of freshginger in the freezer, use whenneeded]2oz (50g) butter or oil1/2 flat tspn turmericApprox. 1lb 4oz (600g) butternutsquash peeled, deseeded, roughlychoppedApprox. 34fl.oz (1litre) chicken, hamor vegetable stock1x14oz (400g) can chickpeas,drained and well rinsed underrunning water7fl.oz (200ml) low fat cream orcrème fraicheBlack pepper and saltFreshly ground nutmeg2oz (50g) coarsely grated tastyCheddar cheese31/2 oz(100ml) sour cream andchives to garnish

Melt butter in large panAdd onion, leek, garlic and gingerSauté over a low heat with lid onStir occasionally until all softAdd turmeric, squash and half stockCook over low heat until squash iscookedEither mash with potato masher ortip into blender and return to panAdd remaining stock, cream,chickpeas, salt and pepper to tasteBring to boil, then summer for fifteenminutesAdd grated nutmeg to tasteStir in cheeseServe in hot bowls with a dollop ofcreamSnip a few chives over the top

AMP

www.radyr.org.uk is…a place for you to air your views on local matters 9

boys, some even younger than Moses,working as door boys. The practiceseems to have been to give the childenough candles to light his shift on hisfirst day and to reduce the candles one ata time until he spent his entire shift intotal darkness. Within hours of theexplosion the mines inspectors were onthe scene. The more important person inthis case was the assistant to theinspector, a Mr. William Galloway, whoseresearch proved that mines withrelatively low concentrations of gascould become dangerous when the drycoal dust became explosive. Herecommended the watering of drymines, a practice which when adoptedsaved many hundreds if not thousandsof lives.

SPITOONBy chance, Bethlehem Chapel inGwaelod had celebrated its 140thanniversary a few weeks before theunveiling of the plaque. At one point thespeaker showed what looked like a brassvase about eighteen inches high andproudly announced that it was a spittoonused in the chapel. In 1875, many of theworking men of the village would havebeen “chapel” and would havefrequented Bethlehem. While I had beenaware of spittoons in pubs and workingmen’s clubs, it had never crossed mymind that miners would need to bring upcoal dust even during a religious service.Disasters and lung disease caused bydust were the real price of coal.

THE REAL PRICE OFCOAL

On the 6th December, one hundred andthirty seven years to the day, a plaquewas unveiled in Gwaelod y Garth VillageHall as a memorial to the twenty threemen and boys killed or injured in the LanMine Disaster.

Councillor David Suthers representedboth the Radyr community and themining industry at the dedicationceremony. David is a retired chief fueltechnologist in the coal industry. He ispictured with Tyrone Sullivan, the mancredited with saving and reopening theTower colliery after it was closed by theNCB.

Twelve were killed outright in the Landisaster and a further four died of theirinjuries, while seven of the injuredsurvived. The youngest of those killedwas Moses Llewellyn, a twelve year oldfrom Morganstown, while anotherLlewellyn, listed as from Radyr –probably Morganstown – almostcertainly a relative, was injured.

By 1875, Morganstown was growinginto a large village, considerablyoutstripping Radyr and most of itsoccupants worked in the iron smelting,brick making and mining industries or onthe Taff Vale Railway.

In the nineteenth century whileMorganstown was a dormitory village,Gwaelod was a busy industrial one withmining, brick making and the smelting ofiron all taking place at its very heart. Itwas said of Gwaelod that you could digin any cellar and you would strike coal.

Due to the saucer shape of the SouthWales coalfield, coal is very close to thesurface in Gwaelod and the easiest wayof access is by a “drift” or incline into theside of the mountain. The entrance tothe Lan mine can still be seen in theundergrowth as you enter the village ofGwaelod, near to the Old Drift Garagewhich occupies the yard of the Lancolliery.

On the day of the explosion, one ofworkers, Evan Davies, was having a restand a pipe of tobacco. At the time menwere allowed to smoke in most areas ofthe mine; this is not thought to havecaused the explosion but the use of anaked candle in one of the lamps.

Several sad stories were related in court,one relating to the lad Moses Llewellyn.Moses was a door boy, opening andclosing doors to allow coal drams to passthrough. He had apparently got boredwith waiting and gone off to play hideand seek. There are many stories of

RADYR, MORGANSTOWN &DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB

With, at long last, a drier spell of weather andsome cold, clear crisp days it should spur uson to get out in the garden and undertakesome of that long overdue tidying up. I amsure that I have said this before, but one ofthe encouraging things about this time of theyear is that the garden is starting to show apromise of things to come. The snowdropsare starting to flower, bulbs are poking theirnoses through the ground and many shrubsare showing signs of new growth, meaningthat we should be thinking about springplanting and seed sowing for summerflowers and vegetables.

The Gardening Club spring programmestarted with a very informative talk by Dr.Tim Rich, Curator of the Herbarium at theNational Museum of Wales on the subject ofDNA Barcoding of the Welsh Flora. Dr. Richdiscussed the project undertaken by theUniversity of Wales at Aberystwyth, with theinvolvement of the Museum and many otherbodies, to establish a DNA based data baseof all known Welsh Flora (in the order of1500 species). The project is a world first andwe were privileged to hear about it and thepotential for development.

Dates for your diary:13th February

Dyffryn and The National Trust - GeraldineDonovan. Geraldine has spoken to the

Gardening Club on previous occasions onDevelopments at Dyffryn. On this occasion

she will give us an updateOn the position with regard to the National

Trust and future developments of thegardens.

13th MarchPropagating Fuchsias John Jackson

Mr. Jackson will share his enthusiasm forFuchsias and discuss and Demonstrate

methods of propagation

10th AprilHow I became a Garden Designer Jane

Grehan. Following the AGM Jane Grehanwill tell us what inspired her to take

Up garden designing and how this hasdeveloped into a full time occupation

Meetings are open to all and take place onthe second Wednesday of each month fromSeptember to April (with the exception ofDecember) with illustrated talks anddemonstrations. Some speakers bringexamples of the plants they talk about andothers bring plants for sale.

All meetings (apart from visits) are at theNew School Rooms (adjacent toChristchurch), Heol Isaf, starting at 7.30pmand are followed by refreshments.

We hope that there is something foreveryone and look forward to meeting you.

Please see Village Notice Boards and RadyrWebsite (www.radyr.org.uk) for programmedetails and any changes or contact ourChairman – Richard Gregory (2084 2084).

David Suthers and Tyrone o'Sullivan at theLan Memorial event.

Drift entrance. Photo by Reg Malpasssome years ago.

FAREWELL FROM BETTY &HAROLD JOHNSTON

www.radyr.org.uk is…a record of the work of our Community Council 11

RADYR’S ANSWER TOSTARBUCKS –

TOAST!Today I am reviewing a new businessbecause for a few months now I havebeen mentioning that Radyr needssomewhere for ‘my generation’ to relax.I even wrote to coffee # 1 (a café chain)but now my wishes have been granted!‘Toast’ has opened in Radyr and when Ipopped in for a snoop around I found apleasant, warm coffee shop. It had agood variety of simple delights includingtoasted sandwiches, creamy hotchocolate and a selection of browniesand muffins!

Everything is well priced and the portionsare generous. It is the only place I knowof that sells cheap J20’s (for those whodon’t know that is a fruit juice drink).

The only thing missing (in my point ofview) is some of my fresh sponge cakes– although I may be biased because ofmy ‘snackery’ business!

The hot chocolate I drank was blissfullywarm and dad’s coffee was good quality.We shared a rack of toast with fresh jamsand honey.

The staff are helpful and friendly withamazing customer service. Its location isperfect for me because I can walk to thecafé and buy myself a magazine tobrowse. It would be a good meetingplace after a day in town (as seen in myfirst article) to be picked up by myparents when I’m feeling lazy.

I think its brilliant that this place hasopened to fill a gap in the market, sodon’t let this shop bite the ‘crust’.

Matthew Walker [aged 13]

REMEMBRANCE DAY11TH NOVEMBER 2012.

The Royal British Legion, the charitythat benefits from the RemembranceDay collections is most grateful to allthose commercial premises andcollectors who cover Radyr andMorganstown to make poppiesavailable to all who wish to wearone, together with those who makegenerous donations to cover the costof the wreaths that are laid eachyear.

The total amount collected this yearamounted to £3528.72. made up of£2666.72. from poppy sales and£862.00 for wreaths.

Roy Scott

After 42 years of living in Llwyn Drysgoland following a fall by Betty last summerand other health issues, Betty and HaroldJohnston left Radyr at short notice. Atthe grand old age of 92 they are nowsafely living together and being wellcared for in Shire Hall, Dumballs Road;amusingly only a stones throw fromHarold’s old factory office.

Betty was a keen and enthusiasticresident and enjoyed her involvementwith various community groupsincluding the Women’s Institute, theGarden Society, Radyr Golf Club andChrist Church and was well known forher cake decorating skills, needleworkand singing with the BBC Wales Choir.

Harold was a member of Cardiff AthleticClub for many years and an avidsupporter of the Cardiff and Welshteams. He enjoyed the occasional gameof golf after retirement which was thenreplaced by weekly games of snookerwith friends at Radyr Golf Club. Hisother passion was solving crosswords.

Sadly, their quick departure did not allowthem to say farewell in person to all theirneighbours and friends in Radyr and Iwould like to take this opportunity to sayCheerio on their behalf and to thankthose in the community who have beenso supportive of Betty and Harold overrecent years.

Peter Johnston (Son)

THE RADYR & MORGANSTOWNASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERALMEETING

Monday, 22nd April, 20137.30pm

Old Church Rooms

All residents of Radyr & Morganstownare eligible to be members of the

Association and are invited to attend theAGM.

Hear what’s going on. Join in.Help to make your community

a better place to live in.

There will be a report on Associationactivities and an election of Officers and

Committee.Refreshments will be served after the

meeting.

All posts are open for election.Nominations for Office should be sent

by 21st April to the Secretary, NickHawkins, 7 Station Road, Radyr

(2084 2561 or rma@radyr.org.uk)

MARILYN MONROE &RICHARD BURTON TO

APPEAR AT MAY FESTIVAL

Well almost! The Arts events in theFestival have now been finalised andFluellen Theatre Company will open theiranxiously awaited production of TheLate Marilyn Monroe at MorganstownVillage Hall before a national tour. It isgood to welcome Fluellen back to theFestival after a short break. They havebrought many highly praisedproductions to Morganstown, includingThe Odd Couple, The Corn is Green andUnder Milk Wood.

Professor Chris Williams of SwanseaUniversity had an unexpected hit on hishands when he edited The Diaries ofRichard Burton. We are delighted toannounce that he will give the LiteraryLecture on this runaway best seller.

On the music front, two old friendsreturn. The main concert will be givenby that excellent choir Cantemus withorchestra and organ in the programmeMainly Mozart. Cantemus last appearedin the 2011 Festival.

Finally, the lunchtime concert will begiven by Dennis O’Neill’s WelshAcademy of Voice, a kind of finishingschool for singers destined for the verytop of their profession.

www.morganstown.org.uk is…a one-stopshop for local information12

When we lived in Hong Kong, I used to befired up by a slogan on the HKTelecom vanswhich read: "What can be imagined, can beachieved."

I think this exhortation must have been ringingin my ears when I resolved to bring 10 greatrainforest tree stumps to Europe and presentthem as a 'ghost forest'.

It all began when a scientist, Andrew Mitchell,told me a rainforest the size of a football pitch isbeing destroyed every four seconds. This seemeda horrifying statistic.

When rainforests are gone, they are gone, andthis is happening on our watch.

The consequences of worldwide deforestationare, of course, well documented: the wholesaledestruction of our rainforests not only destroysanimals and plant life and the loss of the homesand livelihoods of indigenous peoples but itunbalances our climate.

Indeed it was no less than the Government'sChief Scientific Officer, Sir David King, whodeclared that climate change was a greater threatto humanity than terrorism.

As a mother of three, I reckoned my childrenwould have every right to turn round in years tocome and say: "You knew but you did nothing".It struck me that I could perhaps use my art as ameans to illustrate the crisis which futuregenerations will inherit.

My concept was to bring a series of hugestumps from a commercially logged, primaryrainforest and present them as a 'ghost forest' inthe centre of London.

People could then see, touch, and smell forthemselves the mighty beasts we are destroyingevery few seconds; the absence of the trunks inthe 'ghost forest' would act as a metaphor for

the loss of the planet's 'lungs'.It was a crazy idea demanding an epic amount

of military-style logistics, sweat, tears and familysacrifice. Our two boys were in the middle ofexams but everyone in the family agreed tosupport me. It was not always easy but,astonishingly, no-one wavered - even during themoments of frankly dark despair.

I began to seek out loggers who might co-operate while, at the same time, I approached theGreater London Authority and the Mayor ofLondon to request a site for the installation. Tomy astonishment Trafalgar Square was offered. Itcould not have been a better stage for the treestumps: at 169 feet (about 50 metres), Nelson'sColumn is the approximate height the treeswould have grown to in the forest.

After months of intense search I finally found acompany of Lebanese loggers in western Ghanawho were willing to meet me. It was deep in theSuhuma forest where I first saw the massive andmajestic denya lying by the roadside, its root ballspanned nearly 30 feet. I knew immediately thatif I could somehow haul this magnificent greatbeast to the feet of Nelson's Column it would beelectrifying.

The roots looked like the nerve endings of theplanet and, if we could preserve them intact, allthe way to Europe, then I felt this would be apowerful symbol for man's wholesale destructionof our precious resources.

In the past 50 years, Ghana has lost 90 percent of its virgin rainforest but now, determinedto retain its remaining forests, Ghana operatessustainable logging under strictly-controlledregulations.

The Lebanese were understandably nervous,fearing they would be seen as the 'evil' loggers. I

explained that the stumps were intended assymbols of all rainforest trees in the world but, asthey were from Ghana they would carry apowerful message of optimism for other countriesto follow its policy of responsible forestry.

Each tree in Ghana's primary rainforest isnumbered; only a few in any one concession canbe logged, and each felling is witnessed byofficials. When logging is complete, eachconcession must lie undisturbed for 40 years. As aresult, the forest canopy is retained, the youngsaplings regenerate naturally, leading to a thickerforest, and the timber industry continues.

After three trips to Suhuma and weeks of nail-biting negotiations with the loggers and theGhanaian authorities, I secured ten stumps: sevenhad naturally fallen in storms with their rootsexposed and three were stumps fromcommercially logged trees

The next problem was transport there were noshipping containers in the world big enough tohold them.

And how would I transport the wide loads over350km, from the forest to Takoradi, the port inGhana (along dirt tracks in the middle of therainy season)? And once in the UK, how could Iget the tree stumps through customs andtransported into Trafalgar Square? In the event,the stumps had to be washed free of earth by theTakoradi fire brigade before being lashed onto thedecks of two ships bound for Tilbury Docks inEast London.

The carbon footprint of the project was ofcourse uppermost in my mind, but I felt its impactwould outweigh the spend'. (Looking back, Ithink it was more than justified. According to onemedia report, over 173m people saw or heardabout the "Ghost Forest" during its exhibition inTrafalgar Square in one week alone).

We offset the project's carbon footprint byinvesting in more energy-efficient stoves forGhanaian households, which in turn leads tofewer trees being needed for fuel.

After an extraordinary week in TrafalgarSquare, the Ghost Forest was then transported toCopenhagen where it was exhibited outside theDanish Parliament during the United Nations

Happy haunting groundAfter a mammoth journey from west Africa via London, Copenhagen andOxford, ten "ghostly" rainforest trees reach their final destination. ArtistAngela Palmer tells the story of Ghost Forest

The great denya is swunginto positionPhoto: Carl Stringer

www.radyr.org.uk is…a one-stopshop for local information 13

Climate Change conference, which was attendedby more than 11,000 delegates. The rainforest'ambassadors' then moved to the lawn of theMuseum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers inOxford where they were seen by hundreds ofthousands over the past two years.

Visitors to the trees included Kofi Annan, theformer Secretary General of the United Nations,and a group of schoolgirls from an inner cityLondon school at the suggestion of America'sFirst Lady, Michelle Obama. (Mrs Obama waspresented with a piece of the denya which is nowin the White House).

it was in Oxford the Ghost Forest first came tothe attention of Dr Rosie Plummer, director of theNational Botanic Garden of Wales. After readingabout the installation in Oxford Today magazine,Dr Plummer wrote and asked me if the Gardencould offer a permanent home for the trees.Several national bodies had made similarapproaches but as soon as I visited the visionaryNational Botanic Garden in the breathtakingCarmarthenshire hills I knew it was right. DrPlummer emerged above all the other candidatesas the perfect custodian: she is passionate aboutthe rainforest and displays huge energy,dynamism and vibrancy.

We agreed the trees should be placed on thegrass outside Norman Foster's futuristic Great

Glasshouse facing towards the 'Woods of theWorld' plantation; as the mighty Africanrainforest trees slowly degenerate over severalgenerations the new growth over the valleywould emerge.

The film recording the Ghost Forest's journeyfrom deep in the Suhuma forest to Tilbury Docks,Trafalgar Square, Copenhagen, Oxford and theirfinal pilgrimage to Wales will be shown inside theGreat Glasshouse for all the visitingschoolchildren - and adults - and the educationalprogramme around the trees, embracing arts,science and literature, will be sustained, I know,with a real energy and enthusiasm.

The Garden is also planning long-termecological monitoring of the trees as they arenaturally colonised in their Welsh habitat.

The day after we agreed on the trees' futurehome, Dr Plummer wrote: "From the instant thatthe Oxford magazine with Ghost Forest coverlanded through my letter box over a year ago, Ihave tingled with the possibility of drawing ithere to support our mutual ambitions."

The trees duly left Oxford at the end of July,and proceeded westwards in majestic style withflashing vehicle escorts to their permanent home(see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19047874). This part of the project was fundedby the Waterloo Foundation as part of its support

for rainforest charity, Size of Wales. The Size ofWales project aims to bring everyone in Walestogether to help sustain an area of tropical forestthe size of Wales as part of a national response toclimate change. it is the brainchild of HeatherStevens who was one of the first supporters ofthe Ghost Forest. http://www.sizeofwales.org.uk/

The trees look like magnificent sculpturalbeasts in their new home, against the backdropof the Great Glasshouse. I must confess to beingquite choked up as my old friend, the 300-year-old, 20-ton denya was put into position for thelast time, joined by the nine other very specialtrees which have made such an extraordinaryjourney since they arrived on the ship from Africainto Tilbury Docks in East London in 2009.

During the installation in Wales I wasapproached by a wonderful elderly man who hasfollowed the trees since their exhibition inTrafalgar Square. He said he wants his ashesscattered amongst them, and that certainly setme off. But as Dr Plummer said, this new home isanother beginning for the Ghost Forest, so pleasestand by for news of these 'ambassadors' inWales where I dearly hope they continue toinform and inspire people of all ages andbackgrounds for generations to come.

We are indebted to the National Botanic Gardenof Wales for their permission to print this article.ED.

Garden Director Rosie Plummer and artist Angela Palmer flanked by Lowri Jenkins and Hannah Scrase ofSize Wales

Artist Angela Palmer with former SecretaryGeneral on the United Nations Kofi Annan

Ghost Forest at the Museumof Natural History and thePitt Rivers in Oxford

www.radyr.org.uk is…a one-stopshop for local information 19

Christmas atBryn Deri

The dark nights of winter saw the childrenof Bryn Deri enjoying a wide range offestivals of light to brighten their days. Itbegan with a performance of the story ofRama and Sita brought to us by IndiaDance Wales to celebrate the festival ofDiwali and the beautifully created divalamps, lit and displayed around the school.

Following the performance, childrenparticipated in workshops and were giventhe opportunity to learn a little more aboutthe festival, try traditional costumes andlearn classical dance movements. BonfireNight followed shortly which wascelebrated with a successful Spooks andSparkles Disco arranged by our PTA.

The Christmas preparations got off to anearly start with the Annual PTA ChristmasFayre which was a huge success – FatherChristmas himself made a visit to Bryn Deri– much to the excitement of all the

children! This was an exciting event whichbrought the whole school communitytogether and brought out that good ol’Christmas spirit!

Christmas at Bryn Deri really was a magicaltime with staff and pupils eagerlyrehearsing for their Christmasperformances and the sound of children’svoices singing throughout the school! Thelighting of the Christmas tree inMorganstown and Radyr was a highlightof the Christmas Festivities. Bryn Derichildren had rehearsed well and performeda repertoire of Christmas carols beautifully!

Christmas at school provided a wonderfulopportunity to celebrate and to take thetime to reflect on the Christmas storywhich was so beautifully performed by ourvery youngest pupils in our Nursery,Reception, Class One and Class Two.Important messages were deliveredthrough our KS2 performance ‘Home forChristmas’ helping us to reflect on how wecan all spread a little Christmas Spirit in ourbusy modern lives. I think everyone whoattended the production will agree it was atruly professional performance

demonstrating the wealth of talent thatexists in Bryn Deri.

The final week at school was filled withtraditional Christmas celebrations such as avisit to the pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’,party food, dancing and a visit from Santahimself for our younger pupils. FoundationPhase children sang a selection ofChristmas songs for Santa and wererewarded by a small gift to mark thebeginning of the Christmas holidays!

The children, staff and governors of BrynDeri Primary would like to wish everyone inRadyr and Morganstown a Happy NewYear with good health and success in 2013!

FALLS IN THEELDERLY

LOW BACK PAINIn mid December a man came to myclinic with acute back pain which startedwhen he was putting up the Christmastree. A classic twisting and pulling injurywhile adjusting the tree stump into thetree holder on his hands and knees!However, following advice, painkillers,exercises and mobilisations, he was painfree by Christmas day and able to eat hisdinner with the fizz, bang and firecoming from the drinks, crackers andChristmas pud rather than any painfulback sensations!

Low back pain is extremely common.80% of the population will experiencelow back pain at some point in their lives;however, following the guidelines willhelp to speed up recovery and preventrecurrence.

Low back pain treatments:• Use painkillers wisely – too many andyou may be “spaced out”, too few andyou may be “frozen with pain”

• Keep moving – movement will help todecrease muscle spasm

• Seek information and advice fromyour GP/Physiotherapist/Osteopath orother healthcare professional. The BackCare Book is free and a good source ofinformation. Please contact me if youwould like a copy

• There are three main treatmentoptions for acute low back pain:

Manual therapy – a course of ninespinal mobilisation or manipulationsessions over a twelve week period

Exercise class – a set of eightstructured classes over twelve weeksincorporating stretches, strengthen-ing exercises and body awareness/posture

Acupuncture – a course of tenacupuncture needling sessions over atwelve week period

A quick guide to prevent recurrence:• Keep active – a variety of exercises will

help to maintain strength andflexibility

• Watch your posture and backalignment when lifting/carrying

• Avoid sitting for long periods of time –office workers beware … stand,stretch and walk at lunchtime!

• Look after yourself and your mentalhealth – stress can cause tensionespecially in the muscles across theshoulders and into the neck

• Monitor your capabilities – if you dolittle or no exercise then you may findyourself in trouble if you suddenly lift

huge boxes or rush into doing someheavy manual labour!

Please see your GP if you have: disablingpain which does not change withmovement; pain following direct traumato your body (i.e. fall from a height or caraccident) or problems with your bladderor bowel.

A Back Care Booklet is available free ofcharge (P&P not included) please emailor phone me. The information given inthe article follows the National Institutefor Health and Clinical Excellenceguidelines see: www.nice.org.uk

Glamorgan and Gwent Physiotherapy isnow based at Radyr Golf Club. Pleasefeel free to contact me if you would likeany help, information or treatment.

Clare Rayner BSc [Hons] MCSP

Telephone 0755 199 1773Email: clare@gngphysio.co.uk

www.gngphysio.co.uk

Happy New Year! The CommunityCouncil was delighted to be able toincrease the Christmas street lights inStation Road this year. We willcontinue to fund these lights, alongwith the three big trees, as they havebeen a great success and are animportant part of the community’sChristmas celebrations. We werealso extremely pleased to fund theelectrical supply to the Christmas treeat Radyr Sidings and our thanks go tothe staff at Taylor Wimpey andCardiff Council who helped makethis happen. None of the Christmascelebrations, the trees and their lightsand the Christmas Fair could takeplace without the many generousvolunteers who give so much of theirtime, often out of doors in cold andwet weather. Thank you!R&MCC is working with the schoolsin R&M on several projects. New

www.radyr.org.uk is…a place for you to air your views on local matters 15

Radyr & Morganstown Community CouncilCyngor Cymuned Radur a Threforgan

notice boards will be put up at Radyrand Bryn Deri Primary Schoolsshortly. They will include R&MCCinformation and notices ofcommunity events and we thankboth schools for agreeing to this.Councillors have run bird and batbox-making events at the primaryschools and the youth club whichhave been great fun for all. We arealso planning to fund an R&MFestival literary competition this year. The Community Council hassubmitted a response to the latestconsultation in Cardiff’s LocalDevelopment Plan. You can see allthe documents on the website but docontact the Clerk if you would likemore information. Wecommissioned a transport surveywhich provided evidence to supportour concern that the local transportnetwork cannot support a large

housing and retaildevelopment andthat there are few, if any, solutions tothe bottle necks of Llandaff and HeolIsaf. There will be anotherconsultation in the autumn and wewill continue to work hard torepresent R&M in this very importantplan for our future.

We were very pleased to donatesome very small maracas to RadyrLibrary for use by little children!

Helena FoxClerk to R&MCC

The Old Church Rooms, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8DF

Tel. 029 2084 2213

Email : clerk@radyr.org.uk

Radyr & District Good Neighbour SchemeCwrt Brynteg residents Mal and IrisGreen celebrated their DiamondWedding Anniversary on Boxing Day.However, members of Meet for Lunch,Radyr’s lunch club for the young atheart, recognised this momentousanniversary at their Christmas lunch. CCRod McKerlich presented the couplewith flowers and a bottle of champagneto mark this very special event.

Meet for Lunch is overseen by Radyr &District Good Neighbour Scheme; welove to celebrate special occasions and inthe past have helped local residentscelebrate special birthdays for agesbetween 50 (volunteers) and 104. Ourbirthday party is always very special andlast year we combined it with acelebration for the Queen’s DiamondJubi8lee. Good neighbours alsocelebrated the Jubilee with a sell-outafternoon tea attended by the LordMayor with entertainment by studentsfrom the Royal College of Music andDrama.

Apart from one part-time employee, allof the events are possible due to a

wonderful team of dedicated volunteers.If your New Year’s resolution is to dosome voluntary work why not join us asa volunteer and help someone in yourcommunity – just one hour per month isall it takes to be a Good Neighbourvolunteer.

Would you like some company duringthese dark winter days? Come and joinone of our very social groups –Wednesday morning in the MethodistChurch Hall we have a coffee morning,no fund raising just a friendly chat and acuppa or Friday Lunch Club in the OldChurch Rooms (places must be bookedon a Thursday) two-course hot meal£4.00. Please contact us.

Radyr Good Neighbours is funded, in themain, by Cardiff County Council;support for special events comes fromRadyr & Morganstown CommunityCouncil and grateful clients occasionallymake small donations which can beenlarged by signing a Gift Aid form. Wehave also been fortunate in the past toreceive small, one-off grants from localorganisations and in 2011, were thenominated charity for Radyr &Morganstown Festival Week. Apartfrom continuing to recruit morevolunteers our biggest challenge isfunding as the grant from CardiffCouncil has not increased for over ten

years. [We are aware that manyorganisations provide grants and one-offfunding for charitable projects.However, most of these stipulate norunning costs. We need the funding forjust that. This charity is a project initself!] If you are able to help us as avolunteer or have any ideas how we canraise some extra funds or would like tojoin one of our groups, please contactthe scheme. Emailradyrgoodneighbours@hotmail.co.uk ortelephone 2084 2404. Volunteering withGood Neighbours is not onerous; justone hour per month could make adifference to the life of a senior memberof the community.

www.radyr.org.uk is…a record of the work of our Community Council 17

Update fromRadyr PrimarySchoolThe community of Radyr PrimarySchool enjoyed another busy termprior to the Christmas breakculminating in a Christmas Fortnightcomprising seven Christmasconcerts, pantomimes, parties andcarol singing for parents and pupilsalike.

The term saw the school finalise its‘Vision Cloud’ which was created bythe pupils, staff, parents andgoverning body. The cloud school to build bird and bat boxes

with our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils.The boxes have now been installedalong our nature trail and thanks totechnology and Mr. Diment, we arelooking forward to filming a birdnesting in the near future.

True to their word, the inspectorateEstyn revisited the school and wasvery impressed with the progress wehad made against each of theirrecommendations. Impressed alsowere the Healthy Schools Walesassessors who judged our schoolworthy of its third Health SchoolLeaf following a fabulouspresentation and tour hosted by oureco-council.

To ensure our pupils remain safe onthe roads, Year 6 completed theirsafe cycling course and Year 2completed the Kerbcraft course andwere delighted to be visited by‘Roadie’ who drove into assembly tocongratulate the children.

The Cardiff Cross CountryChampionships were held inDecember and we were delighted tobe in first place for both the boysand the girls U11 teams. It was afabulous effort by all of our runnerswho despite the cold and muddyconditions, gave their all andthoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

Our choir were busy in the run-upto the festive season, signing carolsto raise money for the RNIB at IKEAin Cardiff. The children raised justover £150. for the charity.

highlights the words which werementioned most by stakeholders orto put it another way, the wordsdeemed most pertinent whendescribing a vision for the school.

Our first harvest from the newallotments provided our cookeryclub with a range of organicproduce from which they created adelicious potato salad and vegetablesoup. The support of our parents,Mrs. Mouncher and Mr. Coley alongwith help from past pupil KatrinaDavies have ensured that all of ourchildren exercised their greenfingers.

Our caretaker, Mr. Thomas, held anamnesty for pop bottles which herecycled to create a fabulous ‘PopBottle Greenhouse’ which we hopewill widen our range of products inthe spring.

Local representatives from theCommunity Council also visited

RADYR DRAMASOCIETY’S NEW

SEASON FOR 2013

The new year sees us lookingforward to our new productionsfor 2013. As usual, we shall beperforming two plays, the first ofwhich will be on the 25th-27thApril at Morganstown Village Hall.This will be the society’s fiftiethproduction and a milestone tocelebrate!

The play is “We’ll Always haveParis” by Jill Hyem, who haswritten a number of drama seriesfor television.

This is the story of three retiredEnglishwomen, who are old schoolfriends. They meet up in Pariswhere two of the ladies are alreadyliving. There follows a lighthearted comedy where the threereminisce and become involved ineach other’s lives once again.

We would like to wish all our loyalsupporters a Happy New Year andlook forward to seeing them inApril.

Don’t forget that new membersare always welcome to secure thefuture of our society.

We were glad of the ChristmasBreak but keen to return to school tosee what the Spring Term has instore.

www.radyr.org.uk is…a photo-archive for our local community 21

Letters…

11 January, 2013.

Dear Editors,

My husband, Sean, was involved in aserious cycling accident on BrynDerwen hill on the 31st December,2012. Three separate motorists andone pedestrian stopped to assist him.They provided a blanket, coat, rang anambulance and also contacted me tolet me know what had happened.They reassured Sean and all waitedwith him until the ambulanceeventually arrived 45 minutes later. Inthe heat of the moment, we only gotthe name of Phil Hems but would liketo thank the other three people forbeing such good Samaritans. Youknow who you are!

Sean suffered concussion, cut his rightpalm and displaced his clavicle. He isnow recovering from an operation onhis shoulder and is doing well.However, it is without doubt that thecycle helmet saved his life. The mainimpact was over his temporal lobe andit cracked in three places, but it did itsjob wonderfully well.

We hope this letter encourageseveryone to wear a safety helmetwhen cycling.

Lyn Twamley

The Latin definition of acupuncture:Acus – needle puncture – penetrate

Acupuncture is a method of treatingcertain disorders by inserting needlesinto various parts of the body. Itoriginated in China where it has anelaborate theoretical and somewhatmystical basis. Recently it has beende-mystified by a number of WesternHealth Professionals, who havereinterpreted it in terms of modernanatomy, physiology and pathology.So today there exists two schools ofacupuncture – traditional and modern(called dry needling).

The principal differences can besummarized:

TraditionalFollows rules laid down in the past

Based on pre-scientific ideasMystical and practical

Appeals to Westerners interested inMysticism

ModernMostly ignores the old rules

Based on modern anatomy andphysiology

No element of Mysticism

The main advantage of the modernapproach, so far as Western healthprofessionals are concerned, is that itcan be easily assimilated into the restof medical training without the needfor years of training in the oldtraditional ways of learning a fewhundred meridians and points. Also ithas given rise to some new forms oftreatment, such as periostealacupuncture (into the heel directly),that did not form part of thetraditional system.

Acupuncture for Foot ConditionsAcupuncture is not a complete systemof medicine but rather a therapeutictool that can be used by a wide rangeof health professionals that includespodiatrists. It is best viewed as anadjunct to the existing range oftreatments rather than a separatespeciality. Its main advantages arethat it works in some disorders forwhich there is little or no effectivetreatment and that, in competenthands, is safe and particularly good

for musculo-skeletal and painful footdisorders. These are the areassupported by most of the scientificresearch into acupuncture.In my extensive experience and withina recent paper for the Master’sDegree in Podiatry (currently beingpublished) I have shown that it can beuseful in treating a number ofdisorders that include Plantar Faciitis,Hallux Limitus and Rigidus,Metatarsalgia, Morton’s Neuroma,Digital neuritis, ankle and kneeinstability, Restless Leg syndrome,Intermittent claudication, Cramps,painful scars, Osteoarthritis and othernon-specific aching foot conditions.

How Acupuncture WorksSome of the theories are:1. Neurological – the pain gate

theory (similar to the effects whenusing a TENS device)

2. Humeral – seratonin, endorphinsand other neurotransmitters

3. Bioelectric – reduced electricalresistance at skin acupuncturepoints

4. Placebo Effect – commonly toutedby sceptics

Most of the research has dealt with itsanalgesic effect in the nervoussystem. Anyone who has seen ortried the insertion of an acupunctureneedle will have seen the surroundingred ring of histamine release that thiscan cause in the skin. Thisdemonstrates an ability to alter localchemical and neurotransmittersubstances at the skin level. Toachieve lasting pain relief a course ofacupuncture treatment isrecommended.

If you would like to find out moreabout acupuncture for foot problemsor would like to try Auricular (ear)acupuncture therapies for all otherhealth conditions, I am available atEnerchi, Heol Isaf, Radyr on Tuesdayor Thursday 95-7.30pm) or I canprovide home visits at other times.Please contact: Tracy Gill MScPodiatry, IHBC Masters, FSSCh,MBChA.

Tel. 07850 019804 or 20887 421.

What is Acupuncture?

Radyr NSPCCinvites you to a

Luncheon(soup/sandwiches, dessert, coffee)

Tommy Cooper‘Son of Caerphilly’A talk by Chris Bleach,Chairman of the Tommy CooperSociety

to be held at

Radyr Golf Club

Thursday 14th

February 2013

12 noon for 12.30pm

Tickets: £10

(Available from: 029 2084 2478)

Rhifau cofrestru elusen NSPCC: 216401 a SC037717. NSPCC registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717.

www.radyr.org.uk is…a window on our local history 23

Rotary inRadyrA Happy New Year from CardiffWest Rotary Club.

Before looking forward to what 2013brings for the club we must first lookback at the end of the last year. Allof our members would like to thankall the people who gave sogenerously to our collections of food,toys and toiletries. We hope that anycharitable collections we carry out in2013 will be just as successful.

At the start of 2013, we have anumber of events already beingorganised. After last year’s incrediblyenjoyable murder mystery event weare all looking forward to “MurderOnboard” at Radyr Golf Club on 8thFebruary and hopefully some of youwill join us. Once again we areorganising our St. David’s DayConcert at Christ Church, Radyr on1st March. Also we’ll be selling

tickets on 26th to 28th April at Asdain Leckwith for a trolley dash.

This time last year we told you aboutan important milestone for Rotaryand our partners in the Global PolioEradication Initiative. PolioEradication is Rotary International’stop priority and in January 2012 aftera year with no new polio cases, Indiawas removed from the list ofendemic countries, leaving justPakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.These countries are the only threeremaining where polio is endemic,down from 125 countries whenRotary began its End Polio Nowcampaign in the 1980s. And in2012, there were 222 cases of polioworldwide, down from 627 in 2011.

But the campaign still has a way togo. In order to be declared polio-free, India must have no new casesfor a further twelve months.Rotarians in Great Britain and Irelandraise funds and awareness, withsome travelling to India to help atNational Immunisation Days. In

early December in Radyr, ourmembers were raising money byselling purple crocus pins, which isthe emblem of Polio Eradication.Hopefully with your continuedsupport, Cardiff West Rotary Clubcan play its part in global PolioEradication.

Further details are on our websitewww.

cardiffwestrotaryclub.wordpress.comas are our club evenings or you canemail sec.cardiffwestrotary@gmail.com

for further details.Follow us on twitter @CardiffWestRota

PLAZA SUITEBY NEIL SIMON

REVIEW OF RADYR DRAMA SOCIETY’SPRODUCTION – 22ND NOVEMBER 2012.

In their latest production Radyr DramaSociety stages two-thirds of NeilSimon’s 1960s trilogy of New York lifeas played out in one hotel room, thePlaza Suite of the title. Despite beingstages on the same set and directed bythe same producer (Pauline Watson),these were two very differentproductions: the one a study of thedecline and fall of a long marriage(twenty-three years, twenty-four? –Karen, the wife [Sarah Jones] cannotremember), the other the chaotic start toa new marriage when the bride-to-behas an attack of nerves and barricadesherself in the bathroom refusing to comeout, much to the consternation of herparents (Roger Page and Julia Hallinan).Each piece was self-contained with itsown curtain-call, so I shall considerthem separately.

The first act, Visitor from Mamaroneck,finds Karen Nash, wife of self-madebusinessman Sam (Brian Willis), seekingto reinvigorate their marriage bychecking in to the same room that thetwo used on their honeymoon. But the

attempt to reconnect with her husband isdoomed: he is having an affair with hissecretary (Katherine Greville) and ispreoccupied with work. Karen cuts apathetic figure: she cannot rememberhow long she has been married, how oldshe is and is probably wrong about thenumber of the hotel room. Her plans fora champagne and flowers celebration fallflat as Sam bitterly complains that it isinterrupting his work. Why did she haveto arrange to have the house paintedthat weekend? Simon’s writing is sharpand the two leads, who must carryvirtually all the dialogue, delivered it withthe sparkle and pace that the rapidchanges of mood demanded. SarahJones was by turns romantic andbickering, forgiving and frustrated, whileBrian Willis was irascible, resigned, yetsuddenly vivacious when his secretaryturned up.

If the first act was a wry comedy of words,the second, by complete contrast, was afarce. Roger Page as father of the brideraged as his daughter refused to emergefrom the bathroom, ruing the exactnumber of dollars he had expended on thewedding and blaming his wife for thepresent situation. Like a volcano, he roseand subsided, banging the door, wielding achair, clambering out of the window (onthe seventh floor!) to crawl along the ledgeto the bathroom window which turned out

to be locked as well, to re-emerge theworse for a rainstorm and all-too-accuratepigeons. Meanwhile, his wife, similarlydistraught, imagined she was having aheart-attack from all the to-do, but wastotally devastated when she laddered herstockings. Julia Hallinan and Roger Pageclearly relished the over-the-top parts andhad the audience in stitches.

Although each of the two items was inessence a two-hander, credit must go tothe minor characters who all gave solidsupport. Martin Jeeves as the waiter andKatherine Greville as the secretary wereentirely convincing and a particularmention must go to Simon Timms whoplayed the bellhop in the first act and thegroom in the second. Sophia Griffithswas suitably radiant as the bride.

The two acts were very different anddirector Pauline Watson realised bothadmirably. The first is very reliant on thedialogue, but at no time was the actionstatic; in the second the franticmovement around the stage wascarefully managed. The build quality ofthe set was given a severe testing in ActTwo, but as ever Dave Burgess’construction was rock solid as well aslooking the part. Lighting, sound andwardrobe all contributed to a particularlyenjoyable production. This reviewerlooks forward to the next in April 2013.