Cardiff Times May 2025
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You-kelele?!
byWyn Evans
The Times Radio Breakfast Show today has I’m fairly convinced that if I could listen back to reported on a news article that they really got our first couple of lessons my classmates and I some mileage out of; the fall in the numbers of must indeed have made some surprising if not school kids taking the recorder as their musical downright unpleasant eructations as we instrument of choice. It would be more in the struggled with breath control. With hindsight, I spirit of the article if I put “musical instrument” in can also see that if my child took recorder speech marks, since much fun was had at the lessons at school and never got any further expense of the poor little recorder. One than playing an octave scale, badly, it would correspondent said something like it was the be hard to regard the memory as amongst last resort of the unmusical child; another, that the greatest musical experiences of my life. At she never used to commit any actual breath into least, my child could have learnt to perform the the instrument, but simply moved her fingers notes in a song. I’m glad to admit that my own up and down over the holes. Apparently, the standards developed to such an extent that instruments of choice are these days the ukulele I was able to master “Yankee doodle”, “three and the guitar. blind mice”, and “the Skye boat song” more or less accurately. I can join in Times Radio’s friendly ribbing of primary school music lessons not just because However, having entered music through the some sixty-odd years ago I was one of those primer that was the recorder I was given the pupils simultaneously learning how to read option by my parents to take piano lessons, music and play the notes on a recorder but since mum had kept her mother’s upright piano because it was great fun. following her death. 6 CARDIFF TIMES
I think she wanted it to be used by at least one piano. I made the choice I have ever since of my sisters and I to justify the emotional costs regretted. I decided to put all my efforts into chess and give up on the piano. My parents of keeping the very old piano. Looking back, I should have learned the piano but kept on with advised me that I would regret not keeping up the recorder. This was the 1960s and there were with piano also. Did I listen? No, of course not. no record shops in every high street. Nor were They gave me the choice and didn’t force me to their way of thinking. Rather, they laid out the there digital outlets where one could call up alternatives and let me decide. I was keen to be one of 300 recordings of a piece of music and the next Bobby Fischer and spent every spare download it. Nor was there a YouTube where moment on my chess. By my twenties I had all one could stream shows and be awed by the facility shown by the performers. I think now that but lost my aptitude on the piano and was had I heard some of the great recorder music of evidently not on my way to being the next the Baroque period, JS Bach in particular, and Fischer. Yes, I wished I had listened to my parents and once even blamed them for trusting heard or seen it played it would have encourme enough to make the decision myself rather aged me to keep plugging away at it, alongthan insisting I do it their way. side the piano. See for example https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=4-LwbiQA-g8&ab_chanNowadays, as noted at the start, kids learn the nel=BrilliantClassics – if I’d known a recorder could be made to play music like this I’d never ukulele at school and I think this is a wonderful development. Kids cannot say they can’t have given it up. find interesting and challenging pieces to play. Here, for example is the Ukelele Orchestra of Instead, I moved on to the piano at about the same time as I started playing serious, club and Great Britain (a tongue in cheek name but boy can they play their music). Here, for example then county standard chess. I stuck with the piano until Grade 6 and the crunch point arrived they play and sing this “song about plagiarism; it wasn’t our own idea”: David Bowie’s “Life on when piano practice and chess practice were Mars”, threaded through with “my way”, “for in some competition the one with another. As far as I saw it, I was better at chess than I was once in my life”, “Born free”, and “Substitute”. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0ACEOat piano. Just as my parents had let me make Eq6w&ab_channel=UkuleleOrchestra) Any child the decision whether or not to stick with the recorder with or without also learning the piano, wondering what she can do with ukulele lessons they also let me decide whether or not, having can find hundreds of similar examples. News Flash, there’s no need to give up your ukes and chosen chess, I should also keep up with the recorders, they make fabulous music! CARDIFF-TIMES.CO.UK 7
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‘And Another Thing...’ The Bath Porcupines Sounds like an ice hockey team don’t it. However, the Current Mrs Nolan and I were having our usual weekend walk, this time along the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bathampton to Bath. En route and canalside is a smallholding with pigs, geese, chickens etc but on closer inspection something exotic was lurking in the undergrowth which turned out to be a pair of porcupines.
byVince Nolan
Alas my navigation skills were not up to scratch and so having turned onto the motorway and headed north rather than south, we approached the suburbs of Birmingham which is seldom a good idea at the best of times. Yes we have sat nav but it’s a man thing to find our way by the stars, landmarks, from memory etc. However, before you ladies get too smug about all this, following this incident, She Who Must Be Obeyed was due at her evening unarmed yoga class and unfortunately a motorway crash had meant road gridlock locally. Without the use of the aforementioned sat nav I took us on an hitherto untravelled and circuitous route along single track country lanes which emerged fifty metres from Yoga Central. This is why us blokes don’t really need sat nav……………….probably.
As you will all know, porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. An odd thing to see in Somerset. Anyway, a man goes to the cinema and notices what looks like a porcupine sitting next to him. “Are you a porcupine?” asks the man, surprised. “Yes.” “What are you doing at the pictures?” The porcupine says, “Well, I liked the book.” Believe it or not I lost Cirencester recently. Not easy to lose a vibrant market town in the Cotswolds (pop 20,000). Let me explain. We are regular visitors there but for a change and in view of road closures I decided to take the Nolan automobile on a different route. 10 CARDIFF TIMES
This sign on the big wheel at Mumbles Pier. You don’t often see SAFTEY WARNINGS and with a full stop in the headline too.
Staying with poor use of the English language, I have always flattered myself that I am reasonably well-spoken with a good vocab but I recently started to deliberately come across as thick as a plank to an older lady down the local pub. This particular lady is a decent soul and a friend of The Sainted Mother-in-Law. Let’s just say that she is not the sharpest knife in the box (the lady that is and not the SMIL). However, she could talk a glass eye to sleep with her “racy” camper van stories (again the lady and not the SMIL). Having told me all about her latest travel escapades I said to her: “Oh well, the world’s your lobster now then.” She corrected me and said “It’s oyster.” I said: “Is it?” Having got the reaction I wanted, every time I have seen her since I mess with words. Her: “See you later.” Me: “Defibrillator.” Me: “Just having a quiet relapse.” “It’s relax.” “Is it?” I said to her: “You want to illiterate him from your memory.” “It’s obliterate.” “Is it?” I went on: “Look at you, making fun of malapropisms from high up on your pedal stool.” Then: “I am an infernal optimist.” “It’s eternal.” “Is it?”. I finished this off with “I have started drinking decapitated Coffee.” She feels sorry for me now. How iconic (ironic). Let’s talk music. Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glen Miller (You know the one: “Pardon me boy is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo etc,”). This is an interesting song about a rail journey which was on time with nice staff and good food and which arrived where and when it was expected to. What a unique concept. Of course you will all know that Chattanooga is in Tennessee. Apparently the Chat thing is a Creek Indian word
meaning Rock Coming To A Point which as a member of St. Peter’s Rugby Club, (a.k.a. The Rocks), is doubly clever don’t ya think. Anyway, in 1835, the famed frontiersmen Jim Bowie and Davie Crockett were out hunting. Jim Bowie was wearing a brand new pair of rattlesnake boots he had made from serpents he had killed and skinned himself. It was his favourite pair of boots and a source of pride and joy. Early in the hunt, Bowie was attacked by a wildcat who ambushed him from behind a tree and amongst other things, ripped, clawed, and gnawed the rattlesnake boots to pieces. Deeply offended, Bowie vowed revenge and asked Crockett to help him locate the ferocious feline for the final kill. As they made their way through the thick forest, Crockett spotted a wildcat in a tree. As a devoted conservationist, he did not want unnecessary death or environmental destruction. To make sure that this particular wildcat was the target of the hunt, he called to his friend: “Pardon me, Bowie, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes?” Sorry. There is a particularly annoying lecherous individual who frequents our local alehouse. On his van is a sign which says: No tools left in this vehicle overnight. I wrote in dust underneath this, (apart from the owner). Hopefully it hasn’t washed off in the recent rain. Not doing the politics thing but is the famous Abba song “Thank you for the music” an early example of a Ta riff? Finally, having just read yet another story about the terrible effects of drinking beer, I have decided to give up reading.
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DAFFS IN THE CASTLE
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In The Words Of by Carl Marsh Arena on Wednesday, 21st May. Lastly, it’s with a… comedian! Rhys Darby—you’ll probably remember him from ‘Our Flag Means Death’ or as Murray Hewitt in the TV series Flight of the Conchords. Catch him on Tuesday, June 3rd, at the New Theatre, Cardiff. And no, he doesn’t have an album out! Album Reviews: Andrew Cushin’s ‘Love Is For Everyone’ - is a vibrant gem. Full of anthemic tracks, it delivers heartfelt storytelling and infectious hope. The album shines with indie-rock vigour. Heartfelt anthems like “New World Blazing” blend raw emotion and hope, cementing his growth as a captivating songwriter.
May 2025 Is it me, or is some sort of normality starting to come back? I hope you all had some sort of great Easter… I got away to Lanzarote with my daughter. It was a lovely break, yet the weather was a bit unpredictable. Still, I got to meet up with some old friends too and go to some attractions i’ve always wanted to visit and not done on previous trips. Also, I only found out that the editor of Cardiff Times was in Lanzarote for a day when I was there. We didn’t realise until we’d got back! This month’s interviews are more than usual… five, in fact! With a gig over the bridge, notably, Friday 16th May at Electric Bristol, and a new album out, I chatted to The Sherlocks lead singer, Kiaran Crook, about my favourite track on their latest record. I chatted with Andrew Cushin, a singer/songwriter I have been a huge fan of since he came onto the scene a few years back. It was even one of his first-ever interviews. He also has a new album out and a gig in Bristol at the Exchange on Saturday, May 31st. Then there’s Jon Allen performing (with the Lunar Kings) at Acapela in Pentyrch, just outside of Cardiff, on Friday, 16th May. And yes, he also has a new record out. Another musical act that’s somewhat of royalty amongst fans and an inspiration for other bands like Nirvana, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins… I chatted to the Pixies lead guitarist, Joey Santiago. And yep, new album, and touring Cardiff’s Utilita 14 CARDIFF TIMES
Jon Allen’s ‘Seven Dials’ is a masterful tapestry of 18th-century London’s gritty allure, weaving soulful melodies with evocative storytelling. His whisky-soaked voice and The Luna Kings’ tight instrumentation conjure a vivid underworld. Lyrically rich and sonically immersive, it’s a timeless triumph.
The Sherlocks ‘Everything Must Make Sense is an electrifying gut punch. Razor-sharp indie rock meets brainy lyrics, with anthemic bangers like “Bones” sparking pure euphoria. Bold, edgy, and fiercely intelligent, this album cements their fearless evolution in a blistering 50-minute thrill ride.
Take it easy, enjoy May, and if you have young kids… yay! Another half-term break! I’ll be back in June, Carl Marsh X - @InTheWordsOf_CM YouTube - InTheWordsOf
Interview with Andrew Cushin
Words by Carl Marsh
Carl Marsh
Carl Marsh
I’m not going to lie; you know I’ve been a big fan of yours from day one, and it’s been quality seeing you develop as an artist, so this second album [Love is For Everyone]… and don’t get me wrong, the last album was class. But this new one… I think it’s way better. I’ve listened to it about three or four times now!
They will! All the songs on the record stand out. Without going through the whole list, ‘Love is For Everyone’ and ‘New World Blazing’… both kick in just like the huge festival-sized tracks that they are. But for me, ‘Standing By My Side’ is a beautiful track, perhaps one of your best songs written this far, yet it stands alone on the album.
Andrew Cushin I think I went down a bit of a more… I feel like there are more headline-set songs now. I love the first album, and it was, you know, the first album, so it’s your baby, isn’t it? All of the songs on that record were written around the time my dad passed away. There are a lot of songs on there that are really about self-reflection and dealing with grief and all that. On the second album, I didn’t have that cross to bear any more because I said everything I wanted. So naturally, I was writing more upbeat stuff. I was trying to sing about more universal things. Everybody falls in love. Everyone falls out of love. There’s a lot of talk of love on the album. And then added to that, there was no point in the studio where I was like, this song needs to be stopped, and it needs to be slow because this is how I was feeling at the time. It was an opportunity to make something more upbeat and aimed at festivals. I listened to many ‘Catfish and the Bottlemen’ and ‘The Stereophonics’ around writing this album as they are quite guitar-heavy. I think it’s an album aimed at more headline shows, and I’m pleased you like it. I just hope everybody else does!
Andrew Cushin Mate, I agree; I think that’s the best song that I’ve ever written, to be truthfully honest. But I believe that in comparison to the first record, we had three or four moments where the album calmed down a little bit and went to that singer-songwriter, ‘This is an important song written by Andrew…’, whereas on ‘Love is For Everyone’, we’ve only got that one song. So, naturally, I think it gets a bit more attention because when you hear just the acoustic guitar, people will go: ‘Ah, this is the Andrew that I am aware of’. And I suppose it’ll be what they’ll associate with me, but because it only comes around once… it’s naturally, I think, going to be a little bit more of a head-turner.
To see Andrew Cushin, he’s at the Exchange Bristol on Saturday 31st May.
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Interview with Jon Allen
Words by Carl Marsh
Interview with Joey Santiago (Pixies)
Carl Marsh
Carl Marsh
‘Seven Dials, is your seventh album about to be released, and I hear that your inspiration came from when you visited somewhere in London?
I have always wanted to ask if the writing process changed at all during those first five albums, which came out yearly from ‘Come On Pilgrim’ in 1987 to ‘Trompe le Monde’ in 1991.
Jon Allen It was the Bow Street Museum, which is in Covent Garden. The old County courtroom was turned into a museum that basically had the police cells. And so all kinds of people were locked up in there. You’ve got people in the 19th century… you’ve got Oscar Wilde; all different types of people that ended up there. But it was where the first police force in Britain started. They were called the ‘Bow Street Runners’. So, they were the first professional police force. And, yeah, I was just at the museum and got my mind racing thinking about this being a great thematic point to start thinking about maybe making a record. The whole area of Seven Dials and Covent Garden is an exciting place, and it’s a bit different today, but back in the 18th century, it was a real hotbed of everything. I mean, it was kind of like the rich, the poor, the politicians, the musicians, you know, the prostitutes, the thieves. It was the perfect melting pot, basically, for stories. And, yeah, it still can be a bit of a sketchy place in London at times. So I thought, ‘You know? There’s a lot in this story that is relevant today. So yeah, it was a great way to frame the songs for this record. ‘Seven Dials’ is out now, and Jon Allen will be performing (with the Lunar Kings) at Acapela, Pentyrch, just outside of Cardiff, on Friday, 16th May.
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Joey Santiago Yeah, it’s basically the same. Obviously, for the first ones, ‘Trompe le Monde’, I mean, ‘Come On, Pilgrim’ and ‘Surfer Rosa’, I loved that as one album, or it’s all one thought. We were just starting out, practising and playing those songs live before recording them. So that’s different. From ‘Doolittle’ on, we would just keep practising and putting songs together in a rehearsal space and then banging them out. Carl Marsh Over the years, and even at the time, a lot was said about why you never did any music videos for the first couple of albums. And with music videos and MTV being a huge deal back then, is that something you guys regretted not doing? Joey Santiago Nah, nah, we didn’t regret that. We just didn’t think… we weren’t into it. And you know, you probably would have been able to tell if they had forced us to make a damn video at that time. [Laughter] Even now, it’s like, what’s the point now? It just seemed like a big waste of money. The Pixies will play at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday, May 21st. Few tickets remain.
Interview with Rhys Darby
Words by Carl Marsh
Carl Marsh It’s been 10 years or more since you last went on tour… so I’ve got two short—and hopefully—different questions: Why now? And why wait this long?
Interview with Kiaran Crook [The Sherlocks]
Carl Marsh I love the new album… but one track—’28’—is quite a standalone song compared to the rest. Was that intentional to mix things up a little for the listener?
Rhys Darby Kiaran Crook - The Sherlocks Yeah, and there’s kind of two answers to that. I think the I always like to write, not a slow song… we don’t have to call first one is that the TV and film industry I’ve been involved in it that. It doesn’t even have to be slow, but I want to write for the last 10 years in Hollywood has taken a bit of a dive. something that’s. I mean, if you look back at our albums, there Work is getting more scarce. A lot of that is because of the will always be probably a slower number. When we write an AI and the flux that we’re in right now. Shows are getting album, I’m definitely not one of these people who write 50 cancelled, left, right and centre, no matter how good they tunes, and even some people write like 100 songs for an are. It’s a scary turning point; we don’t know where we’re album, and that, to me, is crazy. I write the bare minimum. at. And the second thing was, ‘Hey, on that AI note: We [Laughs] So, if we aim for a 10-track album, I’ll write 13 songs, need to get more humans looking at humans and enjoying max! human activities while we’re still present. So I thought I’d write a stand-up show about that and get out there onto the Carl Marsh stage and prove that you know, the facets of humanity, the Isn’t that cutting it a bit thin and maybe putting more pressure physicality and all the weird shit I do, a robot won’t be able on making sure that 13 or so songs are absolute corkers? to emulate anytime soon. So that’s it. And I think the world really needs laughter right now, too. So that’s the third big Kiaran Crook - The Sherlocks bonus thing. I’m so looking forward to hitting the road. I’ve obviously got more tunes going off in the background, but they’re nowhere near a song at this point. They might actually Carl Marsh be a little riff. So I’ll just get together what I think are my 13 I’ve always wanted to ask you this question because best ideas… and with the last two albums, they haven’t even you played ‘Anton’ in the ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ been songs, thinking about it, just being ideas; maybe a verse movie. And then you also got to play the same ‘Anton’ in and a chorus, a melody kind of thing. But that’s been enough ‘Wellington Paranormal’. Yet, when it came to the TV series for the lads to say: ‘Yeah, okay’, and then we’ll just pick them of ‘What We Do in the Shadows’, did you get any uncredited and commit to them either way and work on them in the studio, cameo on it, as I can’t find any reference that you did? track by track. Rhys Darby But to get back to your original question: ‘28’. Yeah, that is a bit No, and I did question that, but it was because it was set of a standalone track, I suppose. And that just came together in America. Jermaine [Clement] was like, well, there’s one afternoon. I wrote it at home downstairs, and it literally no reason for your werewolf pack to be over in the along with all the songs (on the album) - just came at once, States because we were, like, the IT nerds in Wellington which is rare for me. I don’t really do that, but I just seemed to [Laughter], and then… so I kind of got it, even though here I know what I wanted from that tune [‘28’]. am Rhys Darby actually living in LA!. I was like, ‘Shouldn’t I be getting a part?’ But, yeah, it just didn’t make sense, and I ‘Everything Must Make Sense’ is out in May, and you can never got around to it. But I’m glad that show did so well. catch The Sherlocks on tour at Electric Bristol on Friday, 16th May 2025. Rhys Darby is calling at New Theatre, Cardiff, on Tuesday, 3rd June.
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Something in common?
by Natalie McCulloch
Have you ever woken up with backpain, a sore throat or an odd rash….or perhaps you’ve developed a urinary tract infection or found yourself struggling with constipation, indigestion or heartburn? In this moment, you know that you need to get some treatment but perhaps phoning the GP isn’t possible due to responsibilities and pressures of daily life which make the call, attending an appointment or getting to the surgery troublesome. Well, perhaps you need CAS in your life!
99% of pharmacies throughout Wales provide this confidential, free service which resulted in over 400,000 people using the service last year alone! Check out ‘111’ website to find your nearest participating pharmacy.
CAS, otherwise known as ‘The Common Ailments Scheme ’, is an incredible NHS funded scheme which empowers the patient to seek treatment for any of the 26 conditions covered, without the need for a GP appointment.
•Athletes Foot •Backache (acute) •Chickenpox •Cold sores •Conjunctivitis (bacterial) •Colic •Constipation •Dermatitis (dry skin) •Diarrhoea •Dry Eye •Hayfever •Haemorrhoids •Head Lice
How? Simply by popping into any of the participating pharmacies and having a quick consultation with a professional pharmacist who can devise the best plan of action for your individual situation – it’s as simple as that! And it’s completely FREE! A bit more about CAS… Since 2013, pharmacists in Wales have been empowered to offer information, advice and treatment free of charge without the need for a GP appointment. They can also signpost people to the most fitted healthcare professional, if need be, including physiotherapists, opticians, GPs and out-of-hours services. Its widely accessible, If you live in Cardiff or are registered to a Welsh GP, you are eligible to access the Common Ailments Service. Obviously, there are always the options of buying medication yourself and researching information on the internet but thanks to CAS you can get that extra reassurance of a professional ear through a short consultation with a pharmacist and FREE medication suited to your needs.
https://111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices/pharmacyfaq/ So, what type of things are covered? •Acne
•Impetigo •Indigestion •Ingrowing toenail •Nappy rash •Mouth Ulcers •Oral thrush •Ringworm •Scabies •Sore throat •Teething •Threadworm •Urinary tract infections •Vaginal thrush •Verruca
It is important to note that the GP surgery and A and E are still very much prominent pillars of our healthcare system which should be accessed when needed without hesitation. However, thanks to schemes like CAS, some minor conditions and concerns could be dealt with more efficiently by popping into a pharmacy, thus easing the pressure on GPs and A and E departments. So, in a world where life can get stressful enough – I personally think schemes like CAS should be celebrated as another welcomed progression in healthcare to make life a little more manageable for all! Log onto //www.wmic.wales.nhs.uk/common-ailments-service/ for more information!
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LANDSCAPES OF MY SOUL
A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND PLACE Part one
Born long ago and to remain an only child at midnight, on Midsummer’s Day, I grew up convinced my mother had brought the wrong baby home from the hospital in Llwynypia, in the Rhondda Valley. Surely I was a Princess? Possibly a Fairy Princess? My story books were full of them. They had long fair hair, wore medieval dresses with floor length sleeves, lived in towered castles in green forests, kept pet ravens and had incredible adventures. It would only be a matter of time, I decided, before it all came true. As it turned out she had not. I was ME – she had not brought the wrong baby home from hospital. And I have remained Me ever since. Books and cinema probably defined my moral universe at an early age, but the mass of millions of tons of Pennant sandstone, as old as time, in Gelli Mountain (Mynydd William Meyrick), Cefn Y Rhondda, Penrhys and Maindy Mountain, clearly delineated my physical existence. The Rhondda Valley, was my very own Manhattan. In the movies you could go up-town or down-town. 24 CARDIFF TIMES
by Sara John
From north of the Bronx to the tip of Battery Park in a Yellow cab or in the clattering dark of the subway. In the Rhondda Valley from Blaencwm, under the vigilant gaze of Pen-Pych, you could ride on a bus or a train down a gradual gradient to Porth. Porth, the gateway or the backdoor to the famous Valley, depending on whether you were coming or going, with its two black inky rivers carrying the black liquid satin of coal dust way down past Castell Coch at Taffs Well to Cardiff and the Bristol Channel. I pondered whether my real mother and father lived at Castell Coch? My daytime mother and father were surely caring for me, only, for the time being? Perhaps they were valued family retainers of the royal court. A bus journey, preferably sitting upstairs on the front seat next to the window, enabled me, secretly and silently, to peer into the windows of the hundreds of well-built regulation houses, the inhabitants benefitting from a series of later Victorian Housing Acts which decreed homes should have privies,
pantries, running water, ventilation and windows that opened and closed. The houses, were for the most part, constructed in terraces that came to define family housing in the South Wales valleys. Mirroring the preferred method of coal mining in those days with colliers and their butties working in very close proximity besides one another underground, they also lived in close proximity on the surface. The terraced houses too, were side by side, jammed together, in the hundreds of streets, more or less identical, running up and down the Valley. No escape from back garden to front street unless you were a blessed family living in a corner house. A corner house had another recreational advantage, the gable end; the huge, rendered, windowless, side of the house, the end of the terrace. The pine end, as it was known locally, on a warm summer evening became an upturned tennis court, it became - with the aid of a lump of colliery chalk - the wickets for a game of cricket while the same lump of chalk, come the colder weather, turned one wall into the goal of a football pitch. Solitary children could play by themselves if everyone else had gone home for their tea, or were visiting relatives or, worst of all, been whipped off by mam to go shopping at the Co-op. Not shopping, I used to think to myself, going queuing. There were also houses, villas, double fronted detached houses, railings, allotments, public gardens, parks and playing fields, all in glorious technicolour if the sun was shining, defined by the random aspect ratio of the Rhondda Transport bus window. If you looked straight ahead, and the driver and his bus were running late and rumbling down a hill, it was a little like an early version of cinemascope but long before The Robe was shown in the Workman’s Hall in Ton Pentre. A cinema which brought us the locals the latest from Hollywood for the mere cost of a ticket. Sixpence downstairs, one shilling upstairs, plus the price of a quarter of sweets was all it took. Perhaps an extra penny or two for the bus home, if it was a wet night. The background to this panorama through the bus window, behind the fronts of terraces, on both sides of the main road, was the undulating horizon line of the mountains. Later on in my life, away from the area, I called them hills, especially once I had seen the Alps, the Andes and the Appalachians. The valley narrowed in places so the walk from the mountain on the east, to the mountain on the west,
was but a short step, of course the steep sides of the valley still had to be negotiated. Always keeping in mind, you would have to cross both railway lines (expressly forbidden by railway law excepted at certain crossing places,) and the River Taf, in those days only fordable by the official infrequent bridge. Decades later, the opportunity arose to co-author a book on walks in the Rhondda, ‘Ten Terrific Walks’ for the Tourist Department within the then, local authority. There was immense pleasure for me, in re-discovering areas I had walked with my father and enjoying my husband’s interpretation, as co-author of what he saw, felt and thought on those treks. Best of all we researched and walked the old parish roads, which held sway long before any industrial development let alone revolution had arrived. On these walks flora, fauna, history, industrial archeology, all featured, combined with a detailed look at the present landscape along with relics of the past and glimpses of the future. During the hot summer days of the nineteen-fifties big boys, some bad boys, would venture into the river for a dare. They would be dragged down into the coal black slurry, preceding Dante’s horror in Aberfan by a generation. Any sore knees, grazes on legs or open wounds would, inevitably, fester after immersion in the filthy river, and that usually led to a dose of impetigo and the war paint cure of gentian violet. None of which was anything to compare with the wrath of mother, father, grandmother, the woman next door and all the assorted aunties and uncles, official or “bopas”, that children had in those days, who would scold, curse, threaten and beat the boy into a lifelong terror of rivers, pools, ponds, brooks and streams. And female relatives. As children we learnt how to behave by listening to parents and teachers, doing as they said in order to avoid any punishment that might be served out if their threats turned out to be real. Of course, older children laid down the legends which were closer to the reality of our existence than the distant and sometimes unfathomable reasons offered by grown-ups such as, “because I say so”, “because I am your mother”, “ice-cream, I’ll give you ice-cream”, “tomorrow, don’t talk”. The crimes of childhood continue, for me, to be actions to be avoided even today. These include; pulling off shoes without undoing the laces, drinking out of the bottle (although that is now mainstream in TV and movies and considered cool), starting a new one before an old one is finished (tin of shoe polish, CARDIFF-TIMES.CO.UK 25
toothpaste, boyfriend, box of toffees, story-telling), leaving food on your plate, leaving your coat on the floor with the sleeves inside out and, best of all, walking along the street in the pouring rain with one foot in the gutter. “You’ll come to a bad end my girl”. “You’ll come to want”. Older children offered calamitous warnings that were easier to comprehend, more direct and delivered dramatically and directly into your face. “Because you’ll die, and then your mother will kill you”, “They will take you to the hospital in a red blanket and you’ll catch scarlet fever and then you will die”, “If you fall in the brook, you’ll go down that tunnel into the river and you’ll drown, then you’ll die”. Three concepts dominated social intercourse (there was no other sort of intercourse) in the 1950’s. Firstly, the threshold of the home (y drothwy) was an important marker of hospitality, refusing to cross it was seen as bad manners, “no, he never came in”. Secondly, the hearth (yr aelwyd) with the fire always burning brightly had huge significance, predating even early history, “come and sit by here, near the fire”. Finally, the table (y bord), usually with a spotless embroidered tablecloth adeptly thrown over it and laid with the best china and food for visitors, was central to every home. There was little peace in the Valley in those days. Children sang as they played in the streets, colliery hooters blew to mark the start and end of shifts, steam trains shunted wagons of coal into and out of railway sidings, brass bands practiced, choirs rehearsed, operatic and dramatic societies performed ambitious productions such as, ‘The Belle of New York’, ‘The New Moon’, ‘The Duchess of Danzig’ and ‘Johnny Belinda’. I never remember miners singing on their way to or from work, except in John Ford’s film ‘How Green was my Valley’ but I may be wrong. The physical closeness of households living in adjacent homes ensured that there was little privacy. Everyone knew everything and generally from listening to woman talk as a child, it was clear that all aspects of appearance, actions, hospitality, child care, finances, home-making and sense of self-worth were carefully monitored, assessed and classified by female neighbours. A taxonomy worthy of a High Victorian naturalist. Later on in my life I understood better the social construction of gossip and how it informed society, especially female society, and what was expected of 26 CARDIFF TIMES
them. “Who does she think she is?”, mouthed behind a loosely held hand to the face. I learnt about the maintenance of defining the boundaries of behaviour. I learnt about the subsequent silence of gossip. However, it was much further on, when the narrow valley floor was no longer my playground, that I stopped pretending to be stupid, poor or frightened. I was thirty-nine years old and had decided to stay that age for the rest of my earthly life. Perhaps I managed at last, to achieve the ‘congruence’ that Eric Fromm wrote about in “Fear of Freedom’. He suggested that, our three selves are expressed as; who we think we are, who we actually are and who we would like to be. I was no longer willing to be described with reference to others, as Mr Jenkins’ little girl, “A’s wife, that girl from the corner house in Raven Hill. Personal congruence was more easily achieved for me when set targets, supported by the relevant evidence that had been reached, for instance, in education or in the workplace; respected outside agencies such as the “Appointments Department” in London. The latter had sent through the paperwork and the job offer was there in front of me; the sign on my office door confirmed it; companies with head offices in the USA said “come and talk to us”; publishers phoned to say, “yes, we’d like to publish”. I started a file marked, ‘Me’. By then, I lived in a detached house with garden all around. It was in the city of Llandaff, close to Cardiff, a leafy suburb with the Cathedral bells within hearing distance. I had no knowledge of my neighbours, their comings and goings, their ills and misfortunes, their births, deaths and weddings. And, they knew nothing about me. The terrain was flat, streets went in all directions, if you walked far enough south you would end up in the Bristol Channel. I was living on the bounty of the valleys in the City of Cardiff. Without the mineral wealth, sweat, expertise, suffering, deprivation and poverty of the valleys there would have been no such fine city. Going about my business in town, crossing wide boulevards, entering City Hall, visiting the Impressionists collection in the Museum, scoffing coffee and cakes in James Howells or in The Louis, shopping in the arcades, all these activities led me to believe that anything that I wanted to achieve could be just possible. No boundaries, no barriers. This was the capital city of Wales, after all. After work on a warm evening, we might, my husband and myself, walk to Llandaff Fields - to me the size of the Serengeti - crossing the footbridge
over the River Taff - to me the width of the Zambezi. The river by now had gathered all the waters of mid Glamorgan and rushed them down past Trehafod, Pontypridd, Treforest and Radyr and was hellbent on reaching the open sea and catching the tide to go across to Weston for a day trip. The once-black river was running clear and a Heron could sometimes be spotted because fish had returned. But I have taken the girl out of the Rhondda, perhaps too soon for this chapter.
top ridges. Local people knew where these cracks were and stayed well away as there were plenty of stories of sheep, dogs, drunks, courting couples, children, witches, horses and carts, and double decker buses on chapel outings all disappearing down a giant crack along the top ridge of the mountain! It all depended on who or what you believed, or how eager you were to show your companion the sun setting over the Red Cow quarry in the west.
Back in time and place, upstairs on the double-decker bus clearly marked Porth on the front, all the passengers were enveloped in cigarette smoke, like the finale of an amateur production of Jane Eyre. It was, naturally for those times ‘only’cigarette smoke: Players Weights, Capstan Full Strength and Woodbine. No half measures, no one was smoking De Reske or Black Cat. Years later at Art School small wonder Disque Bleu, Gauloise and Sobranies’ Black Russian could be so easily smoked, without even a throat tickle. Throughout a hot day, in memory there were only hot days always, the mountains turned from primary green in the early light to the colour of Kentucky’s Blue Grass as dusk fell. The outlines became blurred, the narrow side valleys unchanged in topography since the last iceage merged into the main mass of the mountains. There were dangers in walking the mountains at dusk however tempting the cooler evening air was. Especially for people from Away. Aeons ago, after the softened ice had sidled down to the Channel, the remaining rocks had moved and shifted. As they were settling themselves comfortably for the next million years, huge cracks had appeared along the
End of Part One [Part 2 will appear in next month’s issue.] CARDIFF-TIMES.CO.UK 27
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Photograph courtesy of Les Clark
The Magnificent Seven Part two
This month’s column is part two of The Magnificent Seven which features the Welsh boxers who have won the British heavyweight crown during their careers. Last month we looked at the first three boxers who accomplished this feat Jack Petersen, Tommy Farr and Johnny Williams. We now continue with the list starting with Joe Erskine. Joe Erskine Joe Erskine born was in Cardiff on the 26 January 1934 and had his first paid bout on the 9 March 1954 against Alf Price at the Victoria Hall, Hanley, Staffordshire. Erskine left the ring being victorious having scored a 2 round knockout over Price in a contest which was scheduled for 6 rounds. Erskine proved to be very active in the months which followed and was thus being given a great deal of praise from followers of boxing for his performances inside the ring. Erskine looked better and better in each outing and in contest number thirty on the 27 August 1956 contested the vacant British heavyweight title against former champion Johnny Williams. The crown had been left vacant following the retirement of Don Cockell. The bout between the two Welsh boxers was staged at the Maindy Stadium in Cardiff. The spectators were treated to an enjoyable contest. Erskine emerged victorious gaining a 15 round points decision to take the title. The future now looked bright for the new British champion. On the 17 September 1967 Erskine made the first defence of his British crown at the Harringay Arena, in London 30 CARDIFF TIMES
by Ralph Oates
Left Scott Gammer, right Micky Steeds
against Henry Cooper and retained the title with a 15 round points decision. The Welshman added the Commonwealth championship to his name on the 25 November 1957 when he outpointed holder Joe Bygraves over 15 rounds at the Grandby Halls in Leicester. Erskine challenged for the European title on the 21 February 1958 in Gothenburg, Sweden but the defending champion Ingemar Johansson proved too strong for him and retained the title by way of a stoppage in round 13 of 15. Another setback took place on the 3 June 1958 at the White City Stadium in London when he lost the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles to Brian London being knocked out in round 8 of a scheduled 15. Erskine had three attempts to regain the titles on the 17 November 1959 he met the then reigning British and Commonwealth heavyweight king Henry Cooper at Earls Court in London. Cooper had taken the championship from Brian London. The Welshman failed to regain the titles when he was halted in round 12 of 15. Erskine fought his way back into contention and on the 21 March 1961 he once again attempted to regain the titles from Henry Cooper at the Empire Pool, Wembley but failed in his bid when forced to retire in round 5 of a bout set for the duration of 15 rounds due to an eye injury. Erskine did not give up on his ambition of once again being the British and Commonwealth heavyweight king. On the 2 April 1962 Erskine went into the ring with the hope that he would this time leave the Ice Rink, Nottingham, with the titles. Henry Cooper was still the reigning
champion and would remain so. Erskine was duly stopped in the ninth stanza of a contest which was slatted for 15 rounds. This saw the end of the Welshman’s endeavours to become a champion for a second time. Erskine fought on and participated in his last contest on the 27 October 1964 against Billy Walker at the Empire Pool, Wembley in London which resulted in a 10 round points decision. During his career Joe Erskine participated in 54 contests, winning 54, losing 8 with 1 draw. Neville Meade Neville Meade was born on the 12 September 1948 in Jamaica and moved to the UK at a young age. He was brought up in Swansea where upon he eventually turned his attention to boxing. After having a successful amateur career Meade made his foray into the professional ranks. His paid debut took place on the 9 September 1974 at Grosvenor House Hotel, Mayfair, London against Tony Mikulski. It wasn’t an ideal start since Mead lost on a 6 round points decision. Mead showed in the fights which followed that despite his defeat to Mikulski he had promise. On the 29 March 1976 he crossed gloves with Tony Blackburn for the vacant Welsh heavyweight title, the venue for the contest being the Top Rank Suite, Swansea. Meade emerged victorious when he stopped Blackburn in round 4 of 10. After this success Meade had a further 10 bouts of which he won 3 and lost 7. This in all truth didn’t look too impressive. He made the first defence of his Welsh heavyweight crown on the 22 January 1980 against David Peace at the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly. Meade retained the championship when he stopped his challenger in round 2 of 10. In his next bout which took place on the 1 October 1980 he put his Welsh heavyweight title on the line against Winston Allen. The venue for this outing was the Top Rank Suite, Swansea. Meade kept the championship when he halted Allen in the second stanza in a contest set for the duration of 10 rounds. The Welshman engaged in two more winning bouts before his opportunity came to fight for the British heavyweight title. On the 12 October 1981 he stepped between the ropes at Aston Arena Leisure Centre in Birmingham to challenge the reigning British heavyweight title holder Gordon Ferris of Northern Ireland. It looked like a difficult task for Meade, but nothing could have been further from the truth. He won the crown by a first round knockout. It proved to be an easy night’s work for him. This was an amazing result, the fight was scheduled for 15 but Meade ensured the contest would not last that long. Two more bouts followed of which he won 1 and lost 2 before he defended his British and Welsh heavyweight titles against fellow Welshman
David Pearce. It was only fitting that the contest between two Welshmen be staged at St. Davids Hall in Cardiff. Meade had previously defeated Pearce on the 22 January 1980 when defending the Welsh heavyweight title. Pearce turned the tables on this occasion when he stopped Meade in round 9 of 15 to become the new British champion. Pearce duly relinquished the Welsh heavyweight title soon after. The Meade-Pearce contest was to some degree a historical event since it would be the last time that a British heavyweight title contest would be staged over the duration of 15 rounds. All future British title contests would be scheduled for 12. This was the last time that Meade would participate in a professional boxing ring, he later retired from the sport. During his career Neville Meade took part in 34 bouts which consisted of 20 victories, 13 defeats and 1 draw. David Pearce David Pearce nicknamed the Bomber was born on the 8 May 1959 in Newport, Monmouthshire. The hard punching Pearce had his first professional outing on the 15 November 1978. His debut proved successful when he stopped his opponent Osborne Taylor in the first stanza of 3. In the months which followed Pearce successfully pulled off a number of impressive wins. This came to an end in contest number 10 when he made his bid for the Welsh heavyweight title on the 22 January 1980. It appeared that Pearce had the ability to take the championship but that failed to happen. At the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly, his challenge came to an end when in a scheduled 10 bout he was stopped in 2 rounds. This was a setback there was no two ways about that. He had to recover from this defeat and get back to his winning ways. In his next contest at the St. Andrews Sporting Club in Glasgow he suf-fered another setback when he was disqualified in round 3 of a scheduled 8 against John Rafferty on the 26 January 1981. This was not good news for Pearce, he had now suffered two defeats on the bounce. However, Pearce got back on the winning trail on the 2 March 1981 when he outpointed his opponent Bonny McKenzie over 8 rounds at the National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London. In his third bout follow-ing the McKenzie victory he had what could be described as his best victory in the professional ranks on the 12 October 1981 when he stopped Dennis Andries in round 7 of 8 at the Bloomsbury Centre Hotel in London. Andries went on in due course to become the British light-heavyweight title holder and won the WBC world light-heavyweight crown on three separate occasions. The 22 September 1983 saw Pearce take the British and Welsh heavyweight titles CARDIFF-TIMES.CO.UK 31
from Neville Meade by way of a 9 round stoppage in a bout scheduled for 15 at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff. On the 30 March 1984 Pearce travelled to France and at the Palais des Sport made a valiant attempt to take the European crown from home fighter Lucien Rodriguez a very experienced fighter. A victory would have opened doors big time on the international front for Pearce; however, it was not to be. He gave it everything he had during the contest and was a true warrior in every sense of the word. However, he lost on a 12 round points decision. After this contest Pearce lost his boxing license due to a routine brain scan which revealed an abnormality. The decision left the Welshman devastated. He attempted to get the decision reversed but his attempts proved to be futile. He disappeared from the fight scene for a number of years until he took part in three unsanctioned bouts in the USA of which he won two and lost one. In his memory a statue of Pearce was erected near the River Usk. During his time in professional boxing David Pearce participated in 21 bouts of which he won 16, with 4 defeats and 1 draw. (This total does not include his 3 unsanctioned contests which he duly took part in.) Scott Gammer Scott Gammer was born on the 24 October 1976 in Pembroke. He made his debut in the profes-sional ranks on the 15 September 2002 against opponent Leighton Morgan at the Swansea Leisure Centre. It was a short night for Gammer since he stopped his man in the first round of 4. He put on an explosive performance which pleased the fans. Gammer had another early night in his second outing on the 26 October 2002 at the Leisure Centre in Maesteg against James Gilbert whom he knocked out in the first stanza of four. In his fifth bout after the Gilbert victory which took place on the 8 November 2003 Gammer faced Mindaugas Kulikauskas at the Recreation Centre in Bridgend. A win was expected for the hard punching Welshman, but a slight shock took place when after six rounds the bout was declared a draw. This was a little disappointing, but these things happen in boxing. In the months which followed Gammer won his next seven bouts looking every inch a fighter with genuine potential. Then on the 30 September 2005 he stepped in with former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Julius Francis. His recent bouts suggested that Francis was past his best but still he represented a good test for the Welshman. At the Showground in Carmarthen Gammer defeated Francis when he outpointed him over the duration of 32 CARDIFF TIMES
8 rounds. The big chance for Gammer to ascend to the British heavyweight title came on the 16 June 2006 at the Showground, Carmarthen when he confronted Mark Krence for the vacant crown (The championship had been relinquished by Matt Skelton). Gammer looked a good bet to take the title since he had previously defeated Krence by a stoppage in round 8 of 10 in a final eliminator for the title at the Octagon Centre in Sheffield on the 15 May 2005. Gammer repeated the win when he stopped Krence in round 9 of 12. It was a magic moment for Gammer He was the new heavyweight champion of Great Britain and the future looked good for him. In his next contest which took place on the 13 October 2006 Gammer put the title on the line against Micky Steeds. The pair had previously crossed gloves on the 18 February 2005 at the Hotel Metropole Sporting Club in Brighton where Gammer scored a 6 round points victory. The Welshman retained his crown outpointing Steeds over 12, the venue for the contest being Afan Lido in Port Talbot. On the 2 March 2007 Gammer put his crown on the line once again against the former British and Commonwealth heavyweight king Danny Williams at Neath Sports Centre, Neath. Williams was a threat of that there was no doubt, but it looked as if Gammer would be able to turn back the challenge of Williams. However, the challenger was very much on form and knocked out Gammer in round 9 of a scheduled 12. To say that the result was a disappointment for Gammer and the boxing fans in Wales would be an understatement. It was hoped that the Welshman would bounce back from this defeat but sadly he failed to do so. He was only able to win one of his last five bouts which indicated that it was all over for Gammer. He later retired from the sport. During his career Scott Gammer participated in 24 professional bouts in which he won 18 lost 5 with 1 draw. It is going to be interesting to see who will be the next boxer from Wales to win the British heavyweight championship. Is there one in the ranks who will eventually come through and punch his way to the title? And join the likes of Jack Petersen, Tommy Farr, Johnny Williams, Joe Erskine, Neville Meade, David Pearce and Scott Gammer. We can only wait and see.
Summer Nights at Caldicot Castle
Friday 1 August This summer will see Caldicot Castle join the ranks of other prestigious fortresses around the Razorlight, Jamie Webster and Public Order UK who play host to successful concert events, as Caldicot Castle launches Summer Nights at Saturday 2 August. Levellers, Pop Will Eat Itself, Rusty Shackle and Caldicot Castle in August! Dactyl Terra Headlined in its inaugural year by Razorlight, Sunday 3 August. Levellers, and Squeeze! The new outdoor Squeeze, Badly Drawn Boy music brand is hosted within the majestic landscape of the castle and nestled under the On Friday 1st August Merthyr’s Public Order will crystalline stars of the Welsh sky. open for Razorlight, and on Saturday 2 August Plus, the new music series pledges to give new Dactyl Terra will open for The Levellers and local and local talent slots on the lineup, as it opens boys, Rusty Shackle, will set the stage alight with their feel good folk rock. up the performance stage to the cream of burgeoning Welsh artists to support the To book visit: headline icons each night. https://myticket.co.uk/artists/caldicot-summer-nights Kicking off, the Summer Nights at Caldicot Castle: CARDIFF-TIMES.CO.UK 33
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Take off with Techniquest! Don’t miss the chance to discover some marvellous superheroes at Techniquest this month, along with a whole host of extra activities to set curious minds alight. The iconic centre in Cardiff Bay is bringing back the popular live science show ‘Superheroes’ to the Science Theatre, where presenters explore their very own superpowers. Watch in wonder as they turn Pyrex glass invisible before your eyes, control lightning using a Van der Graaf generator, and demonstrate the amazing power of laser vision. There’ll be hands-on ‘Rocket Science’ workshops in the KLA Lab too, suitable for ages 7 and over: find out how water and light behave in space, and what would happen to humans caught in the vacuum of space. In the Planetarium, visitors can find themselves travelling across the universe on a guided ‘Star Tour’, or watching the 360° film ‘We Are Aliens’, narrated by Harry Potter star Rupert Grint and asking the age old question, ‘is anyone out there?’!
Where else can you test your might on the hanging bars one minute, pilot an underwater ROV the next, then try to dock a digital spacecraft and get blown away by the hurricane wall to round it all off? And that’s just for starters: with more than 100 different hands on exhibits and experiences to explore, it’s a great way to spend quality time with family and friends of all ages.
Speaking of exhibits, the Science Discovery Centre’s smallest inhabitants have been on the move this spring: the Leafcutter Ants exhibit, which houses thousands of the insects in a great colony, has moved to the first floor Our World Zone from its previous spot in the Low Light Zone. Now, with greater visibility, you can marvel at the architecture of the colony in a brand new tank, watch them travel to and from their food chamber, and try to spot the elusive queen!
The ants’ new home is part of the general exhibition space at Techniquest, but remember that all of the extra activities - such as the live science shows, KLA Lab workshops and Planetarium presentations - have limited capacity, so make sure you add them to your entry ticket when you book ahead online at techniquest.org.
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CARDIFF TIMES 39
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40 CARDIFF TIMES
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