Join us and other carers for a safe and confidential café where you can share experiences and information over a free coffee and cake. Our friendly team will also be on hand to give helpful advice and support.
Llys Herbert care home, Lisvane Goldies Cymru sing-a-long
Last Wednesday of each month, 10.30am -11.30am
Join us for a sing-along with Sue Thomas & the Goldies to sing a variety of songs you know and love in a fun and friendly environment, to bring joy and laughter and get to meet new people. Everyone is welcome.
Sixth Form OPENEVENING
THURSDAY,16THOCTOBER4.15PM
Excellence, opportunity, and family: discover Sixth Form life at Wales’ leading independent Catholic school.
St John’s College Sixth Form Centre, Eastern Business Park. CF3 5EA
“North Pembs rocks.”
by Wyn Evans
Mynachlog-Ddu, a little village in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park is at the centre of this month’s memories. Full disclosure: over the course of eighty years, my family lived in a farm and a Baptist Manse there; a non-working farm was our home for four years; and my grand-father, Thomas Mathias Griffiths, was the Minister at Bethel Baptist Chapel, where my grand-parents were buried. I have a less salubrious reason for remembering the Baptist chapel fondly. It was the place where, along with Aled, the scion of the village shop (‘siop y Cnwc’), I had my first ever alcoholic drinkscans of Mackesons. The shop was on the village crossroads and I’m quite certain that Aled and I paid for the cans, they certainly didn’t fall off the back of the shelf! But we would carry our cans twenty yards down the road towards the chapel and step down into the baptismal pool (it was free of water, holy or otherwise, we weren’t twp!) where we would hide from the view of passing cars, taste our Mackesons and wonder what all the fuss was about with alcohol.
We lived for four years on a farm called Blaencleddau, which means the source of the (Eastern) Cleddau, which joins the sea at Milford Haven.
And it was a generous source; it shared its waters with the half mile-long rutted track from the ‘B’ road to the farm. This meant that there were deep reservoiresque pools of the Eastern Cleddau that had to be sailed in our old Morris Traveller (you know the ones, they had wood all along the sides and back doors) just to get out into the world. It was a quite magical daily commute – we would sail through ponds of the Cleddau from the farm, look down the waun (where we would occasionally cut turves of peat and let them dry out for use in the Rayburn. I think this may now be illegal?), all the while being able to see Milford Haven in the distance.
It’s not often you can say that oil supertankers dock at the end of your garden stream.
All that’s if you turn left coming through the ponds and out of Blaencleddau. If you were to turn right from the farm, you’d be on the Crymych road. We used to hike up the wonderful Foel Drygarn(1) This is three Bronze Age burial cairns sitting within an Iron Age hill fort which in turn shows evidence of over 200 hut platforms. There are differing difficulty routes to run, cycle and even wheelchair up the Preseli hills and Foel Drygarn is the perfect starter peak. It is a pleasant walk, not too steep, and the view from the top, down to Trefdraeth (Newport), across to FoelCwmCerwyn (the highest point on the range, at 1760 ft) is worth every last step.
Foeldrygarn itself is ringed by the banks of a hillfort. But its most striking features are the three huge piles of stones – cairns – that give the summit its name, which translates as ‘three cairns hill’. The three cairns, at 1,190ft above sea level, command wonderful views. The many stones that form the landmark were collected and piled on the hilltop by the Bronze Age inhabitants of the north of Pembrokeshire, between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago. (2”The burials were probably constructed as memorials, ever-present reminders to the people living on lower slopes of important forebears.”) But blow those ‘important forebears’, for my sisters and me the great joy
of Foeldrygarn was running down it jumping over the blueberries (which we called wimberries) leaping over the gorse and raising the dead with our shouts.
Then, across to the craggy, jagged outcrops of Carn Menyn. Its greatest claim to fame is that its dolerite rock is the ‘bluestone’ that was used to build the inner ring of Stonehenge, 280 km (175 miles) to the east of the Preseli hills. More than 60 large bluestones were used in the construction but how they arrived at Stonehenge is not the purpose of this little overview.
Really, I could write about Pembrokeshire till the cows come home. But as well as recalling some happy memories, my purpose here was to introduce readers who may never have travelled away from Pembrokesire coach path’s beaches to venture northwards into the Preseli hills, base yourselves in MynachlogDdu and enjoy this treasure that is on our doorsteps. (Full Disclosure number 2: I am not employed by the Pembs Tourist Board!)
There’s nothing quite like Cardiff on a matchday; the streets buzzing, the anthem echoing, and a nation coming together creating a sea of red shirts through the streets of the Welsh Capital.
This November, the 2025 Quilter Nations Series brings four unmissable fixtures to Principality Stadium, the beating heart of Welsh rugby.
Be part of the action as Wales take on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa in a month packed with world-class international rugby.
Tickets are on sale now, starting from just £13.50 for U18s and students, and £27 for adults, making the magic of matchday more accessible than ever.
A day at Principality Stadium is more than 80 minutes of rugby. It’s an all-day celebration in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. Arrive early to soak up the energy as Cardiff comes alive with live music, street food, fan zones, and an unmistakable matchday buzz that only Welsh rugby can deliver.
Bring the whole family, with dedicated
alcohol-free zones, entertainment for younger fans, and half-price tickets for U18s making it easy to get everyone involved.
Here’s what’s in store this November:
•9 November – Wales v Argentina
•15 November – Wales v Japan
•22 November – Wales v New Zealand
•29 November – Wales v South Africa
These aren’t just international matches. They’re historic battles between rugby’s biggest names. From Argentina’s power to Japan’s pace, the legendary All Blacks, and the reigning world champion Springboks – these matches bring a true test of character, skill, and Welsh spirit.
Wales captain Dewi Lake, who led the side in Japan this summer, said:
“Cardiff comes alive on match day and Principality Stadium is awesome - it’s been talked about and discussed for years as the best stadium on earth. The fans create an electric atmosphere. There’s no better place to play and we can’t wait to experience that this November”.
Home is where the Calon is. Cymru am byth.
‘And Another Thing...’ Seagulls don’t like Stilton
by Vince Nolan
Be fair, an odd title even for me. Let me explain. I have said before that we adopted three crows: Russell; Cheryl and Joe who we feed with leftovers most days. They land on the roof opposite Chateau Nolan and make enough noise to announce that the restaurant ought to be open for them. However, there is now an interloper. A young seagull has started to join them by trying to blend in with them on the roof. Now I am no expert but really, he ain’t no master of disguise.
I have become increasingly annoyed with this and since gulls are a protected species, there is not much I can do about it but, recently, fate played a hand. I found some out of date Stilton cheese at the back of the fridge and cut it up into bird size chunks and took it out to the garden. As per usual the gull was in first and voraciously consumed much cheese. However, he then started to retch in gull style and spat the blue stuff out and flew off. Clearly it did not agree with his sensitive taste buds. Whilst we have no plans to keep serving Stilton to our feathered friends, it’s not a bad idea. Oh and the crows loved it.
In the early 1970s in the US, researchers discovered that a certain enzyme in a specific breed of seagull chick granted dolphins that ate them a dramatically increased lifespan.
Hoping that this could be made viable for humans, the local university started extensive testing. Unfortunately, the breed of gulls wasn’t native to the area around their laboratory so they sent a research assistant up the coast to gather additional specimens. On his way back with a truckload of the tiny birds, he accidentally struck a cougar in the road. Unfortunately for him, it was (at the time) the state animal and harming one was a felony. The poor guy was charged with transporting young gulls across a state lion for immortal porpoises.
As I pen this article the Current Mrs Nolan and I are looking forward to a well-earned week away in sunny Skiathos. In order to help ourselves to become “beach ready” we went to Penarth.
As you can see, the storm clouds gathered pretty quickly and we just avoided a soaking. I hope this was not an omen. Been a while since we were Greek bound and so I brushed up on our basic daily greetings. This is where AI does not help. It gave me this: “You can say Χρόνια Πολλά for general celebrations.” You might be able to say that AI but I would not know where to start. Yamas usually covers most things.
All of which reminded me of the story of an Athens local who took a pair of his trousers to a tailor. The tailor took the pants and held them
watching content when it causes distress or advent of buds or earphones seems to be for
Still on the above subject a mate told me about
anybody has a spare set of cabled earphones and strangle the offender with them. Maybe not.
MORE WAYS TO PLAY IN CARDIFF
Whether it’s with friends or with family, discover a world of fun for all ages this school holiday. Book holiday activities at better.org.uk/cardiff
In The Words Of by Carl
Marsh
October 2025
Is it Halloween yet? This year, I will be in Oslo for Halloween, although I’m not sure if they actually celebrate it in Norway!! Still, I have a quirky restaurant booked for my daughter and me. If you are also heading off on your travels for half term, and if you have kids, enjoy. If you’re not heading anywhere for October, then at least you know the clocks go back an hour, so the sleep appreciation of that hour always stays with me for weeks.
Interviews
After last month’s UK exclusive with Whoopi Goldberg, this month’s offerings have kept me busy; I have five for you. It will be easier if I just list each one with a brief intro about what I talked to them about!!
Pale Waves [Heather Baron-Gracie]: Ahead of Pale Waves’ latest tour, Heather Baron-Gracie reflects with me on overlooked lyrical depth, the band’s distinctive happy-sad balance, and why their live shows aim to uplift as much as they confront.
Graham Nash: Graham discusses his extraordinary career, the unfinished reconciliation with David Crosby, and why focusing on the positive memories allows the music — and their friendship — to remain alive in spirit.
John Illsley: Former Dire Straits bassist John Illsley recalls the band’s rise, the sacrifices of fame, and why his forthcoming Monmouth talk will revisit extraordinary times with honesty, perspective, and humour.
The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: I chatted to James Haskell and Alex Payne [no: Mike Tindall], who bring The Good, The Bad & The Rugby to Cardiff, offering behind-the-scenes stories, candid reflections, and plenty of live laughter rooted in their shared love of rugby.
Paul Zerdin: Ahead of his October Monmouth show, Paul talks about Baby’s new “influencer” status, the
long process of creating puppets, and why originality still drives his comedy.
Restaurant Review: Ivy Asia
Cardiff’s Ivy Asia - as the PR email states - “marks the Moon Festival with a special afternoon tea and limited-edition cocktails, blending indulgent flavours, seasonal touches, and the restaurant’s trademark theatrical presentation”.
This isn’t my first visit to Ivy Asia, and if I am being frank, it’s one of only a select few of Cardiff’s eateries that I am happy to pay to visit outside of any review. This time, I happily accepted the invitation to the afternoon tea and sampled a “few” savoury bites. I wanted to try the limited-edition cocktails, but having no designated driver stopped that!! I could write about the many things I ate, but I don’t have the space here. All I can say is that Moon Festival offerings run until 24th October and start from £33.95, so get yourself along. I hope it won’t be that far away for my next time here.
Thank you for reading this page and my interviews. I often type late into the night, primarily due to my other work commitments, but I hope you all get some humour or learn something new from anyone I chat with.
Until next month…
Carl Marsh YouTube InTheWordsOf Twitter @InTheWordsOf_CM
Interview
Ahead of bringing The Good, The Bad & The Rugby to Cardiff, James Haskell and Alex Payne share stories, laughs, and a behind-the-scenes look at the podcast’s live tour with me, before the show on Friday, 31st October at the New Theatre.
Carl Marsh
James, how do you pick tour stories that spark the most laughs?
James Haskell
Do you know what? I think what I’ve learned about audiences is that you never know which one will get them the most. Some consistent stories people enjoy are universally funny, which you know will get a laugh. But there are others that, you know… I mean, most of my earliest experiences are speaking at dinners, and obviously, when I did stand up and stuff, you just never knew what people would enjoy. It’s a story. You also know it’s a clear story, but it’s nice to add new stuff to its end, where it wraps up quite nicely.
Carl Marsh
Do you have a story that comes to mind that you’ve added to over the years?
James Haskell
There’s a story… [Laughs] I won’t talk about it now, but I’ve talked about Mike’s wedding that I went to, which is kind of where it started four years ago, and now we’re poles apart. And there are also kinds of stories that I think would be funny, but I’m not sure how I would get there, so I write them out. I’ve sat down a couple of times with a comedy writer, a very, very smart guy, and we go and refine them and stuff. I think the audience’s intelligence does matter for some audiences as well. Very rarely do stories flow unless you fiddle with them a bit.
Marsh
How does touring fuel your wildest rugby “what if” scenarios?
Alex Payne
I think that’s possibly overthinking what we do. We are just three idiots in a cupboard having an absolute barrel of laughs, typically at each other’s expense. We do genuinely love touring. It is very, very, very good fun. This is our third or fourth. And it is precisely what you would imagine: plenty of spats, arguments, and an unbelievable amount of laughs, usually about six to nine points on Mike’s driving license. [Laughter] James rarely gets out of second gear, so he’s less of an issue. But it’s motorway service sandwiches, it’s far too much to drink. It’s pretty, pretty disposable hotels. So it’s that kind of expense. I don’t think we think too deeply about it to fuel the “what ifs”. It’s just a really, really fun few days for us, and hopefully that comes through for the audience as well.
Carl Marsh
Alex, what’s your secret to balancing any mayhem in live shows, not so much from the audience, mainly between Mike and James?
Alex Payne
I’m still trying to work that out. I’m very much still in the ‘What the hell is going on?’ category. To answer the question, really, is that the secret of our podcast, I think, is the relationship between the three of us. We are three very different individuals, but we are three legs of a barstool. It doesn’t work unless all three of us are there, that type of thing.
The Good, The Bad & The Rugby - New Theatre, Cardiff, 31st October 2025.
Carl
Interview: John Illsley [Dire Straits]
Words by Carl Marsh
You’re coming to Monmouth very soon to give a talk - and play music - from your Dire Straits years and your solo work. How is that going to be? Many people will have bought your autobiography a few years back — will you be talking about things that weren’t in the book? I know you’ll also be performing, but what about the talking side of things?
John Illsley: Well, there’ll definitely be references to the autobiography — of course, that’s inevitable. The book was really about the early days: how I first got into music, how the band came together, how we developed over the years, and then all the touring. And with that comes the inevitable ups and downs of being in a successful rock band. It’s not all joy — there’s a lot of hard work, long tours, late nights, and the pain of missing your family and children. You really do sacrifice quite a lot to keep going.
In some ways, you either have to stay on the train while it’s moving or get off. For me, I hung on, and that’s why I’m still here talking about it now. What we’ll be doing in October and November is reliving some of those extraordinary times. They were very different days compared to now. Everything today is dominated by social media — back in the late ‘70s, there was none of that. You had to make a vinyl album and then tour it.
Those early years separated the men from the boys, if you like. Either you stuck with it, or you didn’t. Luckily, we sold a few records early on, which meant better equipment, bigger venues, and that momentum carried us forward. But it also meant dealing with a lot of changes very quickly.
John Illsley will perform hits from his Dire Straits years and solo career, along with stories from his career, at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth on October 25th, 2025.
Interview: Graham Nash
Looking back on your incredible career, do you have any regrets or mistakes?
Graham Nash: Life is full of choices. Do you do this, or do you do that? One of my deepest regrets is about the last couple of years of my relationship with David [Crosby]. We had started to reconnect toward the end of his life, though of course, we didn’t know how close that end was.
He left me a voicemail saying he wanted to talk. I called back and said, “Why should we talk? You seem to dislike me and have said awful things about me.” Then he sent another voicemail apologising for some of the things he’d said.
So, I arranged a FaceTime call because I wanted to look him in the eye while we talked. I set it up for two o’clock my time in New York, which was eleven in California. I waited, and I waited — but he never came. Two days later, he was gone.
That’s heartbreaking. Was there at least some closure for you in his apology?
Graham Nash: Yes, very much so. The fact that he was willing meant a lot. But honestly, what mattered more than anything was the music we made together. Nothing else in our lives was more important.
David and I had a magical blend. I recently watched a BBC video from the early ’70s where we sang acoustically together. It’s beautiful. When I think about David now, I only focus on the good times — the music, the friendship, the joy we shared. Because if I dwell on the bad moments, I spiral into depression. Choosing to remember the positive is how I keep him with me.
Discussing his time in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and before that in the Hollies, this is an evening of songs and stories from over 60 years!! New Theatre, Cardiff on Thursday, 9th October 2025.
Interview: Paul Zerdin
Words by Carl Marsh
You’ve said Baby is now an “influencer” in the new show. Has he tried sponsoring any tour snacks or gadgets yet?
Paul Zerdin: He hasn’t, though my social media team is looking into it. As crazy as it sounds, it’s actually kind of normal in the TikTok world. We’re exploring possible endorsements, and it feels obvious Baby should front some kind of product. Years ago, when I was doing kids’ TV, I had Sam sponsored by a clothing company. We got free clothes, which was nice. I also remember a random company sending me a T-shirt that said “Justice for Gingers.” It made me laugh, so I wore it, and they sent me more. So endorsements aren’t new to me, but we’ve never properly explored that whole world. Now I’m keen to.
If you could create a puppet based on a fan suggestion, what wild idea might make your UK shows?
Paul Zerdin: The thing with new characters is they take years to get right. My bodyguard character and my Urban Fox both took about five years each to develop. They’re completely different from Sam, Baby, and the Old Man, and I love that contrast. The bodyguard, for example, is American — I do a kind of cliché deep-voiced accent for him, and it works, but it took time to refine.
I do get suggestions from fans online, though I’ve not fully used any of them yet. I’ve thought a lot about AI, Siri, Alexa — that whole world. In fact, I once toyed with an Alexa puppet: imagine the little black speaker with eyes, suddenly talking back at me. I’ve also played with the idea of a talking microphone. But then I remembered other ventriloquists, like Ray Alan, have done versions of that. Everything’s been tried in some way. So I’m always pushing myself to find something really out of the box.
Catch Paul Zerdin: Jaw Drop at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, Friday, October 3rd, 2025, for a night of sharp wit, quick improvisation, and unforgettable puppetry.
Interview: Heather Baron-Gracie [Pale Waves]
On your new album, Smitten, are there overlooked references in your lyrics that deserve more discussion?
Heather: That’s a good one. Honestly, I feel like the good interviewers usually get it. I’ve had a real mix of experiences over the years. Some interviews go deep and connect with what I was trying to say, which is great. But then others ask, “Would you rather have a taco or a burrito?” I’m just sitting there thinking, Oh my God.
Thankfully, this isn’t one of those conversations — and it never is with you. But yes, some people just miss the point entirely. The good interviewers usually cover what I wanted to say with the record. They dig deep. The others? Sometimes the questions are so off that I can’t even give an answer. That’s when I just want to close the conversation.
Do you consciously transform personal pain into empowerment for fans at live shows?
Heather: I think so, yes. Even though some of our lyrics are pretty dark and often depressing, we’ve always played with that “happy-sad” balance. We wrap heavy, emotional lyrics inside upbeat, anthemic tracks. Glasgow is a good example of that.
I’ve always loved it when artists do this — The Cure did it brilliantly. You’re singing about heartbreak or loss, but the music carries you somewhere bigger, almost euphoric. That’s something we wanted to bring into Smitten as well.
For us, it’s really important that people have a good time at our shows. We don’t want the atmosphere to feel like everyone’s just standing there crying. They can if they want to, of course — but there’ll be a fun drumbeat pushing it all forward.
Catch Pale Waves live at Tramshed, Cardiff on Friday, 17th October 2025.
Strong relationships with families are central to the Nestlings ethos. Parents are encouraged to be actively involvedintheirchild’slearningjourneythroughregular updates,opencommunication,familyandcharityevents. Thispartnershipensuresthatchildrenreceiveconsistent supportbothathomeandinthenursery.
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At both Nestlings Nurseries in Cardiff, every child is welcomedintoasafe,caring,andstimulatingenvironment designed to support their growth and development. The nurseries place strong emphasis on creating homely atmospheres where children feel secure, valued, and encouragedtoexploretheworldaroundthem.
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CARL GIZZI Part two by Ralph Oates
After his victory over Rocky Campbell, Carl Gizzi took which looked on the surface to be a risky contest against Giuseppe Ros on the 14 October 1967.
The Welshman travelled to Italy to meet Ros at Treviso, Veneto. This was Gizzi’s first contest abroad. Ros had been defeated by Gizzi on the 17 April 1967, and this was his chance to gain revenge over his former conqueror.
Since losing to Gizzi, Ros had fought twice gaining two victories bringing his resume up to 20 bouts; with 18 wins and 2 defeats. He was on form and really wanted to send Gizzi back to the UK with a loss on his record.
The Italian fans gave their man every encouragement but once again the Welshman proved to be the better boxer and won with an 8-round points decision.
The next opponent to lock horns with Gizzi was Hubert Hilton from the USA. They met at the Afan Lido Sports Centre in Aberavon on the 28 November 1967. Hilton had a resume of 25 bouts: consisting of 17 wins, 6 defeats with 2 drawn. Hilton had met a number of quality boxers during his time inside the ring, and this looked to be a tricky customer. However Gizzi boxed his way to a 10-round points decision.
The Welshman was back in action on the 19 February 1968 at the National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London. The opponent standing in the opposite corner was Lloyd Walford who came with a record of 29 bouts: with 15 wins, 11 defeats, and 3 drawn. The pair were no strangers to each other, far from it.
This was their third meeting inside the ring. The two boxers had exchanged punches for the first time on the 7 September 1964, and the second on the 2 November 1964, both won by Gizzi by way of a six-round points decision. The Welshman unsurprisingly secured another victory, winning an eight-round points decision over Walford.
On the 22 April 1968 Gizzi laced up the gloves once again to face Billy Gray, this was no easy assignment. Gray entered with a record of 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw from 21 bouts. The fight went the full 10-rounds of which Gizzi fought intelligently, using a good left jab to gain the points decision.
On the 27 November 1968, Gizzi had what was his most important contest to date. The fight was a final eliminator for the British heavyweight title, staged at the Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff. The winner would meet Henry Cooper for the British & Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
Image courtesy of Derek Rowe
Jack O'Halloran and Carl Gizzi exchange punches.
Bodell was an experienced ring man who came with a resume of 56 bouts: winning 47, with 9 defeats. It was clear that Gizzi would have to be at his very best to get the victory. On 13 June 1967 at Molineaux Gardens, Wolverhampton, Bodell challenged Cooper for the titles but was defeated in round 2 of 15 by Cooper’s left hook.
The Bodell-Gizzi encounter proved to be disappointing when the Welshman was stopped with a cut eye in round 2 of a scheduled 12. The outcome wasn’t very conclusive so it appeared the two would meet again down the line sometime in the future.
It was off to France next for Gizzi who on the 5 May 1969 met Bernard Thebault, who had a record of 16 fights, with 15 wins, and 1 defeat.
At the Palais des Sports in Paris, this contest looked risky for the Welshman however, he stopped his opponent in round 4 of 10.
On 7 July 1969, Gizzi faced Jack O’Halloran of the USA at the World Sporting Club in London. The American boxer previously fought in the UK, losing an 8-round decision to Joe Bugner on 15 April 1969 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
O’Halloran had a record which consisted of 21 bouts: with 16 victories, 4 defeats, and 1 draw. The general consensus was that Gizzi possessed the requisite skills to secure victory. The contest lasted all 10 rounds, and at the conclusion, Gizzi was defeated on points. This was a setback for Gizzi without a doubt, but he had to learn from this and come back stronger. Boxing is like life, full of ups and downs.
The big moment for Gizzi finally came when he was matched for the vacant British heavyweight crown which had been relinquished by Henry Cooper.
He was to meet former foe Jack Bodell at the Ice Rink in Nottingham on the 13 October 1969. This was not just
an opportunity to win the domestic crown but a chance to revenge a previous loss to Bodell. This was going to be a tough fight for Gizzi, Bodell had now amassed a record of 61 bouts: with 52 wins, and 9 defeats. After 15 hard fought rounds, Bodell was declared the victor on points. This was a somewhat historical, since Bodell became the first boxer with the southpaw stance to win the British heavyweight crown. While it was a great night for Bodell it was clearly a disappointing one for Gizzi, who had to push on with his career and put this defeat behind him.
South Africa was Gizzi’s next port of call on the 28 February 1970, at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg.
Gizzi was to cross gloves with home fighter Jimmy Richards who had a record of 9 bouts: with 7 wins, and 2 drawn. This looked like a contest where Gizzi seemed more than capable of taking the win, when considering the modest resume of his opponent. After 10-rounds of boxing Ellis was given the decision on points.
On 10 April 1970, Gizzi once more prepared for travel and journeyed to Italy to face Mario Baruzzi—a competitor with an undefeated record in 15 matches—at the Palazzetto dello Sport Roma. There was no getting away from the fact that the Welshman was up against it in this contest. Truthfully it didn’t look likely that Gizzi would be the first to beat the Italian fighter and win this bout. The contest was set for 10-rounds but Gizzi was stopped in round 4.
Charlie White was the next man to face Gizzi on the 2 December 1970. After four defeats on the bounce The Welshman badly need to get a win on his record. At the Premier Sporting Club, Kensington in London Gizzi outboxed his opponent to gain an 8-round points victory. White entered the ring to face Gizzi with a resume of 17 contests: 9 wins, and 8 defeats.
At that moment in time the golden boy of British boxing was Joe Bugner who was capturing all the headlines in the press, much was expected of this fighter. This was the man Gizzi was next to confront and truthfully it looked as if the Welsh boxer would lose this encounter. Bugner entered the ring with a resume of 32 bouts: consisting of 30 wins, and 2 defeats. On the 19 January 1971, the bell sounded to start the 10-round contest at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. Gizzi gave his best however Bugner proved to be the better man on the night and was given the points decision when the fight ended. Bugner won the British, European, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles and later competed against Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight championship on 30 June 1975, losing by a points decision after 15 rounds.
On 28 April 1971, Gizzi faced Northern Ireland’s Danny McAlinden - an action-oriented boxer at the Cresta Stadium in Solihull, West Midlands. McAlinden had fought on 18 occasions: winning 15 times, losing 1 and
drawing 2. The bout went the full 10-rounds of which McAlinden was given the verdict. McAlinden would duly add to the pages of British boxing when he went on to become the first Irish boxer to win the British & Commonwealth heavyweight titles. There was no way to sugar coat the fact that Gizzi was not in the greatest of places career wise. However, he once again went into action on the 22 September 1971 at the Midlands Sporting Club, Solihull in the West Midlands, his opponent was Richard Dunn who held a boxing resume which read 18 fights: 14 wins with 4 defeats. It could be said that Gizzi needed a win like a thirsty man needed water. The fight went 8-rounds, and the Welshman was on the wrong side of the points decision. Dunn later won the British, European, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, and also competed against Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight championship. He lost that match when he was stopped in the round 5 of 15 on 24 May 1976.
There now seemed very few options open for Gizzi. He looked as if boxing wise he had come to the end of the road.
However he still held the Welsh heavyweight crown which he defended on the 11 October 1971, the venue being the National Sporting Club, Piccadilly in London.
The opponent was the very capable Dennis Avoth who was armed with a slate of 31 fights: consisting of 16 victories, 12 defeats and 3 draws. The contest lasted all 10-rounds, after which the title changed holders and Avoth became the Welsh heavyweight champion.
There now was nowhere left for Gizzi to go, and he later retired from the sport he served so well.
During his professional career Gizzi participated in 42 contests: winning 31 and losing 12.
He sadly passed away on the 27 April 2025 at the age of 80 years, 11 months and 13 days.
Image courtesy of Derek Rowe
Joe Bugner defeated Gizzi
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Poverty is trauma: The legacy of Austerity still affects Cardiff’s mental
health
•Poverty in Cardiff is driving a silent mental health crisis, with trauma caused by chronic stress, poor housing, food insecurity, and low-paid work.
•Austerity-era cuts to local services, especially mental health and youth provision, continue to harm the most vulnerable communities.
•Children in deprived areas are suffering long-term mental health impacts, with schools now serving as de facto frontline crisis support.
•True recovery must come through structural change: political will, justicefocused policy, community investment and not just individual therapy.
There is a crisis creeping across the Welsh capital, silent in sound but thunderous in impact.
While glass towers rise above Cardiff’s centre and planners obsess over regeneration and retail, entire communities are falling apart just a few miles away.
The invisible epidemic is not only one of economic
despair but psychological destruction. Poverty in Cardiff is becoming a public health emergency — and its symptoms are written not just on bank statements, but on brains.
In some of the city’s poorest wards — Ely, Adamsdown, Splott, Butetown — families are navigating a daily terrain of financial strain, housing insecurity and food shortage. The impact of this is not simply a social problem. It is a neurological one.
Psychologists have long pointed to the link between chronic stress and changes in brain structure.
Living in persistent poverty keeps the body in survival mode. Stress hormones like cortisol flood the bloodstream. The amygdala, the brain’s threat response centre, becomes overactive. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for planning, reasoning and regulating emotions — begins to shrink in function. This is not conjecture. It is proven neurobiology.
But while this truth is now widely accepted in academic journals and conference halls, it is being ignored on the ground. Cardiff is a tale of two cities. One of booming investment, new developments and affluent students. The other of shuttered youth centres, overstretched food banks, and parents choosing between heating and eating.
Behind the rising mental illness statistics is a broken social contract. A generation of young people in the capital are growing up inside what can only be described as state-induced trauma. For them, poverty is not just a struggle. It is an emotional wound that never gets to heal.
Teachers in some Cardiff schools now act as unofficial therapists. Headteachers report children coming to school without breakfast, unable to concentrate, scared, distracted, emotionally volatile. Some children are showing signs of trauma typically seen in war zones — hypervigilance, disassociation, bedwetting, aggression or shutdown.
In one primary school in the inner city, a teacher shared that she routinely brings extra lunch for the pupils she knows will go without. And still, she says, the CAMHS waiting list is six months long or more.
What we are seeing is not a wave of individual breakdowns but a collective mental health emergency caused by systemic deprivation. It did not start this year. Let us be clear, this all started with austerity.
More than a decade of cuts to local services across Wales has stripped away the vital protections that once softened the blow of poverty. Youth centres were closed. Family support workers disappeared. Community mental health teams were disbanded or centralised. The result is predictable: by the time someone accesses help, they are often already in crisis.
And work, that supposed ladder out of poverty, offers no guarantee of wellbeing. In fact, in Cardiff, more than half of those living in poverty are in working households. The rise of zero-hours contracts, gig economy delivery jobs and low-paid service work means employment no longer provides the security it once did. Instead, it introduces a new kind of anxiety — the anxiety of not knowing when the next shift will be, or whether this month’s rent will be possible at all.
Among the most impacted are single parents, unpaid carers, and disabled residents. For them, the Universal Credit system functions not as a safety net but as a trapdoor. The built-in delays and benefit sanctions only deepen psychological distress. Numerous reports from advice agencies and charities confirm the same: people are experiencing spirals of anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation triggered directly by the design of the welfare system.
Nowhere is the impact more visible than in the city’s
housing crisis. Poor-quality homes, mould, overcrowding, temporary accommodation and homelessness are all rising. In Cardiff, families are being placed in emergency B&Bs with no cooking facilities. Others are stuck on long waiting lists for social housing that may never materialise. Shelter Cymru has warned of a mental health ticking time bomb as a result.
It should not need saying, but here we are: if you do not have a safe, secure and stable home, your mind cannot rest. And if your mind cannot rest, it cannot recover.
We need to abandon the fantasy that resilience alone will save us. No amount of mindfulness or motivational posters will protect a person from the mental toll of poverty. These are not mindset issues. These are material conditions. The root cause of the mental health crisis in Cardiff is not individual failure but collective neglect.
Recovery must be holistic and political. It must be structural, and with joined up thinking. It must be urgent.
We need trauma-informed, community-based mental health services in every deprived ward, not centralised teams too far to reach. We need to properly fund schools, youth clubs, and community centres so that children have safe spaces to process and play. We need to pay social workers, mental health nurses and frontline staff what they deserve and keep them in the jobs they love.
But even these steps, essential as they are, will not be enough if we do not tackle the core issue: poverty itself.
We need a truly liveable minimum income. Secure jobs with real protections. Affordable housing with dignity. A benefits system that heals, not harms. And we need to stop designing policy based on some fantasy of economic productivity and instead build systems around wellbeing and human dignity.
Cardiff can lead the way. It has the creativity, the community spirit, and the will. What it lacks is the political courage to stand up and say: enough.
This is not a charity appeal. It is a demand for justice. Mental illness is not an unfortunate side effect of poverty. It is the cost of policies that keep people poor. If we want to take mental health seriously, we must first take poverty seriously.
Because the mind cannot heal while the stomach is empty, the roof is leaking, and the future looks like a locked door.
The cost of doing nothing is already being paid. In prescriptions. In lost productivity. In child referrals. In adult breakdowns. In deaths.
We must stop pretending that this is normal. It is not. It is political violence. It is social abandonment. And it is preventable.
Poverty is trauma. And trauma untreated becomes illness. The path to healing begins with truth.
Cardiff must look in the mirror, and then work together to change what it sees.
Mental Health First Aider | Pluralistic Counsellor | Clinical Psychotherapist | Consultant Medical Hypnotherapist | Mindfulness Teacher
Author | Journalist | Broadcaster
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Olympian Jamie Baulch Joins Calon Cymru
Fostering as Ambassador
Calon Cymru Fostering proudly announces celebrated Welsh Olympian Jamie Baulch as its newest Ambassador, marking a powerful and emotional new chapter in its mission to support and expand foster care across Wales.
This summer, Jamie spent a heartwarming and deeply moving day with a group of dedicated foster carers from the Calon Cymru Fostering family. The session provided a safe and supportive space in which carers shared their personal journeys, recounting the highs and lows, moments of joy and challenges faced along the way. Above all they demonstrated their unwavering commitment to giving children and young people the stable, nurturing homes they deserve. Jamie, in turn, opened up about his own life experiences, connecting profoundly with the group. The emotion was palpable, “many a tear was shed” as stories and insights were shared.
“Listening to these incredible carers today has been truly humbling,” said Jamie Baulch. “The love, resilience, and commitment they show every single day is extraordinary. I’m honoured to be welcomed into the Calon Cymru family. We need more people in Wales to come forward and join this life-changing journey as foster carers.”
Calon Cymru Fostering is committed to building a sense of family, support, and belonging among carers and children alike. Their strong community ethos, that
“Calon is one big family”, is lived and breathed by every team member and carer they work with.
Sharon Cavaliere, Director of Calon Cymru Fostering, shared: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Jamie into our Calon family. His passion, empathy, and personal story align so closely with our values. This partnership will help shine a light on the urgent need for foster carers across Wales and inspire others to take that first step.”
With the number of children needing safe, loving homes continuing to rise, the call for more foster carers in Wales is more pressing than ever. Calon Cymru Fostering offers extensive training, personalised support, and a deeply connected community for anyone ready to make a difference.
If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time to take that first step. Join Jamie and the Calon Cymru Fostering family in transforming lives across Wales. Whether you’re single, in a partnership, retired, or simply have space in your heart and home, you could be the difference a child needs.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup” …
…as the saying goes, or, in other words, you must make looking after yourself a key priority in life before you start giving to others.
This is a concept so many of us know, yet so many of us struggle to implement into our busy lives where work life, family life, social life and just daily life, can sometimes become a barrier to being kind to ourselves.
According to statistics 1 in 4 people in the UK are thought to experience a mental health problem yet only 1 in 8 are receiving treatment with perceived stigma being cited as a main barrier to accessing services.
On 10 October, the World Federation for Mental Health raises awareness for World Mental Health Day. This year the theme highlights the importance of people being able to protect your mental healthwhatever you’re going through with the key message that “Everyone deserves good mental health”.
So, ask yourself, how do you look after yours?
Self-care is important for mental health, and Laura Llewellyn from Cardiff actively promotes it in the city.
The business, ‘Damsels in De stress” offers a wide range of holistic, affordable treatments from aromatherapy, to hot stone massage and her
by Natalie McCulloch
most popular treatment, Reiki. Her clientele at her Wood Street house (city centre) and Rhiwbina clinics, include city workers, overseas students and professional footballers. Her aim is to keep growing the business to keep up with demand and to help as many people as possible to relax and feel rejuvenated in order to be the best version of themselves.
Laura highlighted that “We live in such a busy world these days and it really is vital that we all take time out for ourselves. We need rejuvenation, relaxation and time to heal from the daily demands of modern life. Taking time to relax and receive holistic healing helps people feel their best and avoid burnout.”
Not a Damsel? Don’t despair! Despite their name, Damsels in Destress is for everyone, male and female, stressed or calm, they are dedicated to providing therapeutic experiences through education, empowerment and presence. Laura is excited to welcome you whatever your circumstance or gender.
Laura became a holistic therapist after discovering Transcendental Meditation at 17, a practice that profoundly influenced her life. The Beatles travelled to India in the 1960s to also learn the practice, seeking peace of mind and a break from celebrity life.
Laura tells Cardiff Times “I felt so grounded, relaxed and in tune with nature, it inspired me to train as a holistic therapist and allowed me to finally find my forte in life. I love making people feel good and watching their stresses and strains dissolve when they relax with me. I have worked at two five-star health spas and as my skills and expertise grew, I eventually started my own business. Starting Damsels in Destress really is the best thing I have ever done. I love my work and love people.”
To celebrate World Mental Health Day and to help promote making self-care a priority, Laura would like to offer Cardiff Times Readers an exclusive discount code, simply enter ‘Destress20’ when booking a treatment at one of Laura’s clinics and try it for yourself!
If you do this, please give us a shout out on social media to let us know which treatments worked for you!
Although taking personal responsibility for mental health is important, one key message is always “YOU ARE NOT ALONE”. World Mental Health Day is a great opportunity for us to come together to talk about mental health and show everyone that they matter. Talking is good for your mental health. And talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation isn’t always easy. By sharing tips on what works for you - we can start to break through barriers. A great way to start a conversation and share your experience is through therapeutic treatment you’ve enjoyed and benefitted from!
To take Laura up on her offer of 20% off, or to find out more information about Damsels in Destress, please phone: 07817 001937 or log onto www.damselsindestress.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Instagram!
A final word…Take care of yourself!
If you are concerned that you are developing a mental health problem, seek the advice and support of your GP as a matter of priority.
Call 999 or go to A&E and ask for the contact of the nearest crisis resolution team if the matter is urgent. These are teams of mental health care professionals who work with people in severe distress.
Whatever you’re going through, Samaritans will face it with you. They’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call for free on 116 123
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. Call the CALM helpline on 0800 58 58 58 or message via WhatsApp or webchat - They are open from 5pm until midnight 365 days a year and it’s free to contact.
For Clinical Psychotherapy & Counselling Services contact: Alchemy Life Therapy. Free 15-minute telephone consultations are available on request. Website: www.alchemylifetherapy.com
There are plenty of resources online at: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/wales www.111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/m/article/ mentalhealthservices
In a busy world, where demands are high, perhaps the most important thing you can do today is to Take care of yourself!
* Broken Glass
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