Dyserth Times Issue 126 - Jun-Jul 2023

Dyserth Times is a not-for-profit community magazine

published by Peter J Robinson solely for the benefit of the communities of Dyserth & Cwm

Email: dyserthtimeseditor@gmail.com

Articles are published on the understanding that they are the original work of the contributor and the publisher reserves all rights on behalf of the authors.

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The cover photo is a real frog in our garden, posing on an ornamental one

This year’s Scarecrow Competition will run throughout July, the theme will be:-

MONSTERS or ROBOTS

from TV, Movies or Books

The voting this year will be online through a link that will be made available at the end of July.

The prize for the best scarecrow will be £25, provided by Dyserth Times.

Once your scarecrow is in position please put a photo on the Dyserth Times Facebook page and Email or message me via Facebook with the title of your scarecrow and the location.

If you don’t use Facebook please send me a photo by Email dyserthtimeseditor@gmail.com or pete@dyserth.com

Trying to Trace Some Photos of Dyserth

Some of you will remember the late Lucy & Ronald Davies who published two books on Dyserth in the 1990s. Lucy also took many photographs around Dyserth and elsewhere in the 1980s and 90s.

Several years ago, Lucy gave a large collection of her slides to David Richards of Dyserth Field Club and following David’s death in 2019 these were passed on to me by his family.

There are eight boxes, numbered 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, each containing two to three hundred slides. Box 6 is missing.

These eight boxes only contain a few images of Dyserth so I suspect that the missing box No.6 may have photographs of the village; I know she had a lot of them.

Possibly she gave her Dyserth collection to someone else, or maybe David Richards lent or gave them to someone.

If anyone does have these slides, I would be very grateful if I could borrow them for scanning, possibly for my website.

Pete Robinson, www.dyserth.com

pete@dyserth.com

It’s online - go to issuu.com and search for Dyserth Times.

Peter J Robinson

Dyserth Community Council Cynghor Cymunedol Dyserth

Reported Criminal Offences in Dyserth:

The following criminal offences have been reported to the North Wales Police; that have occurred within the Community Council area:

3 x Anti social behaviour / 1 x Burglary / 2 x Criminal damage / 1 x Other crime / 3 x Violence

Dyserth Community Garden:

The Community Garden project has been recently completed in the area between the Pavilion (Bowling Club) and the children s play area. The project was put out for tender and was completed by G J Landscapes of Dyserth.

A number of wooden bench seats and a wheelchair accessible picnic table have been installed – which were purchased from Meifod Timber in Denbigh. A number of evergreens and other plants have been planted – which will appear and grow during the year. The Council will hold an official opening during the school summer months and also unveil a bilingual plaque. The opening details will be advertised in due course.

Attendance at Council Meeting - Representatives from Arriva Buses Wales:

The Chair of Council Councillor Andy Hughes welcomed four representatives from Arriva Buses Wales who appeared virtually at a meeting of the Community Council.

The Clerk to the Council provided a chronology of events since 2016, which included previous discussions with Arriva Buses Wales, an exhibition which provided maps and initial drawings from Denbighshire County Council to alleviate traffic congestion in the High Street. During the previous discussions with the then Manager at Arriva Buses in Rhyl, it was agreed that once County Highways had completed works in the High Street, consideration would be given for the return of buses travelling through the High Street. The Clerk confirmed, that phase one had been completed, whereby the County are presently drawing plans for phase two.

The Arriva Buses representatives advised, that they had visited Dyserth during the morning period of the evening Council meeting. It was stated, that traffic congestion was in place whereby a number of minutes lapsed before the traffic flowed freely. These additional minutes would have an effect on the remainder of the bus time table with the vehicle not reaching its destination at the appointed time.

Councillors expressed a number of views which included:

• A high portion of elderly residents reside in the lower part of Dyserth. These residents are unable to walk from the traffic lights up a hill to reach the shops and doctor’s surgery

• Other buses travel through the High Street without any concern

• Arriva Buses are regularly seen parked up in laybys, as they are ahead of schedule

• Seeked that bus services numbered 35 and 36 are re-instated on a trial bases, with just a few traveling through the High Street each day

The Arriva Buses Representatives referred to the current bus services that are subsidised by the Welsh Government. This is to cease in July. The 20mph speed reduction will be in force from September, which will further the delay in services. Arriva Buses as well as other Companies will be reviewing the services across Wales.

County Councillor David Williams:

County Councillor David Williams advised Members in relation to the following:

(1) Concerns with a planned road closure in the Cwm Road area, Dyserth, in particular, there appeared to be no viable alternative route to access the A5151 Road. The alternative route direction signage was reviewed to alleviate concerns

(2) Request for traffic travelling from the A55 at Junction 31 through Trelawnyd and Dyserth to be signposted to a junction in St. Asaph; the County have approached the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency seeking their observations

(3) Further concerns in relation to an overgrown hedge on the B5119 on Waterfall Road. Whilst this had been reported previously the County Street Scene had

advised that the hedge cutting had been placed on the work schedule; the work had not been completed. A further request has been made to Denbighshire. Councillor Allan Pennington stated his concerns with the number of pot holes in this area of road

(4) Concern that a dog which had been missing for two days had fallen down a mineshaft near Allt Y Graig. The dog was safely rescued by the Fire Service. The mine shaft was apparently not covered; the County have asked the landowners agent to make safe

(5) Councillor Williams recollected Members to previous discussions in relation to the provision of traffic lights / roundabout at the junction to the Thorncliffe business. The area would not reach the criteria for both traffic lights or a roundabout; the section of road is a 40mph and would be too costly.

Dyserth Councillors discussed the following with Councillor Williams:

(1) Concern with speeding traffic in the area of Weavers Lane to Maes Glas. Councillor Williams advised that the area of Maes Glas will be covered by the new Wales 20mph speed limit. Residents should report alleged speeding to the Police directly

(2) Concern expressed with proposals for the waste and other household collections to be changed to a four week period. Councillor Williams advised that should Councillors and residents be concerned they could either make contact with Councillor Williams, or with the County Council direct

(3) Concern received from resident in relation to the disruption of bus services during work being carried out by Scottish Power – from the area of Cwm Road travelling towards Ffordd Ffrainc – and the bus stop.

Footpath Concerns:

The following footpath concerns have been reported to Denbighshire Rights of Way:

1) Entrance to a public footpath in the Tre Castell area. The entrance area was partially inaccessible due to cattle feed. This has been reported to the County Footpath Officer previously

(2) Dangerous and open shaft in the area of the Dyserth to Prestatyn walkway. Urgent request to make the area safe

(3) Public footpath and steps between Pen Rhaeadr, Bryn y Felin and the Waterfall shop are in a terrible state. It is mainly mud, leaves and weeds and is potentially a serious slip hazard. The whole length requires a serious clean up. This is a well used thoroughfare, a registered footpath and requires urgent attention. The Clerk advised that following the report to Denbighshire a telephone call had been received from Denbighshire Countryside Services, who stated the following: An inspection would be carried out by a Footpath Officer. The County grass cut during three occasions a year, the County do not carry our clearance of leaves / mud on rural footpaths.

Planning Applications:

The following applications have been commented upon by the Community Council:

(1) Application number: 42/2022/1000 – for the erection of single storey extension

including covered patio to rear, alterations to roof including dormer extension to rear to provide additional living accommodation in roof space, insertion of rooflights and associated works, at Inglewood, Ffordd Trelawnyd, Dyserth

(2) Application number: 42/2023/0189 – for erection of a single storey extension to rear of dwelling and associated works, at 9, Parc Bron Deg, Dyserth.

Planning Decisions:

No planning decisions received from Denbighshire Planning Department.

Let’s Play Out Scheme:

Due to the success of the one evening a week Let’s Play Out Sessions, the Council agreed a further financial commitment of £4,566.00 to ensure the scheme continues for a further twelve months from April 2023 to March 2024. The scheme is provided by the Accessible Play Co-ordinator at Denbighshire Education and Children’s Service.

Planting of Saplings:

The Dyserth Environmental group kindly applied on behalf of the Dyserth Community Council to the Woodland Trust for saplings – and were pleased to receive 420 at no cost. The saplings were planted in March with Councillor David Parry thanking Denbighshire County Council Countryside Services for the loan of tools, GLS Garden Services and members of the local community who attended to assist with the planting.

Applications for Financial Support and Donations:

The Community Council provided the following financial assistance: £300.00 - Wales Air Ambulance (annual grant) / £300.00 - Llangollen Eisteddfod (annual grant)

R. Phillip Parry, Clerk & Financial Officer to Dyserth Community Council

Tel: 01352 720547

E-mail: clerk@dyserthcouncil.wales Web Site: www.dyserthcouncil.wales

Bombs dropped near Dyserth

From dyserth.com archives (not on my website)

Cecil Jones, Constable No. 34 Wednesday 4th September 1940

“

At about 3.15 a.m. bombs were dropped in the district by an enemy aircraft. Owing to the darkness it was not known at first where they had fallen and the electric lights had failed. Made a search of the Dyserth, Cwm and Rhuddlan districts but did not find bombs or damage.

In company of Sergeant Hughes, Constable Humphreys and Special Constable Jones made a search and found that the bombs had been dropped in fields between Rhuddlan and St Asaph but they had been dropped in fields without doing any serious damage.

Returned back to my Station at 9 a.m.

Engaged at the Police Station between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Engaged on ARP duties and patrolled Dyserth, Meliden and Cwm districts during the evening paying special attention to the blackout.”

(he finally returned home to Dyserth Police Station at midnight, as he seemed to have done on most days)

Horeb United Reformed Church - Eglwys Unedig Diwygiedig Horeb

An update from Allan Morgan

The continuing story of how Horeb has moved 'back towards its 'new normal'.

Son of Food Co-op - Well, as I have reported since the very start of this venture, the 'Usual Suspects' continue to turn up - so we must be doing something right.

BUT - a reminder for readers; this is not in any way a 'closed shop' - it is open to all on Wednesdays (10.00 to 12.00. Tea / coffee / biscuits / cakes (occasionally) are provided; the cost being covered by donation.

A relaxing time in good company with tea/coffee made to order and if it doesn't suitwe'll show you where the Lincat is.

Community Lunches - Six months in (I think I miscalculated in March) - we're still up and running although the cooker problems did make things a little difficult. However, that's all behind us - our thanks to the help and patience of the Community Council. Please remember this is a Community Event.

Offers of help or any suggestions of changes particularly if they lead to improvements will be very gratefully received.

Horeb went to the Egg Races. (For the first time?)

Horeb has been on the High Street in Upper Dyserth for many years but when we took the Church Sign down recently for refurbishment questions were asked by those passing by 'Are you closing down?' - and when we replied with a 'Certainly not!' - they were clearly surprised.

Our member, Mrs. Michelle Morris decided to do something about this and she targeted the May Day Duck Races as somewhere it would be good for Horeb to be seen. So, she braved the journey to the badlands of Lower Dyserth and ran a stall at the May Day Egg races. Her aim was to let folk know what we do i.e. to promote Horeb but primarily I suppose show those she met that there is still life at Horeb Chapel. It was a terrific success, a constant stream of folk at the stall throughout; lots of entries to the tombola with gifts for everyone and a lot of interest. Job well done - thank you Michelle

Dave Wilson's Flower Stall - He's back, and as usual it's well worth a visit Dave's Flower Stall, which he runs at this time of year is ready and open for business again. All proceeds go towards Horeb Church funds. So, find your way to Glanrafon down Pandy Lane and take a look; many of Dave's plants are not at all 'ordinary' so bring take plenty of cash / a cheque book and be prepared to be carrying more than you came with on the way home.

So what is back to Normal Thankfully, life at Horeb is returning to near normal:-

• We hold Services every week [Sundays (10.30 to 11.30)] and enjoy social time with tea/coffee and biscuits afterwards.

• The weekly Service is available 'live' to all on Zoom on a Sunday morning and available on Facebook from Sunday afternoon.

DETAILS Zoom (meeting id 923 732 5176 password 3fHEG9)

- on Facebook (Horeb United Reformed Church Zoom Services, Dyserth) at any time

• We are continuing, for our members who are still unable to attend for Sunday Worship or manage Zoom, to send by e-mail, CONTACT. Issued every week, this is a brief Service in print produced by Rev. Colin Richards whose 'thoughts' are well worth a read. Colin, despite his deteriorating eyesight has just sent his latest contribution to me for forwarding to the CONTACT group and it's worth recording that this is Number 100.

• In addition to CONTACT; recipients are kept up to date by a copy of the notices which are later read out at the start of the Service on Sunday Morning. If anyone reading this update wishes to receive CONTACT and the Notices (including any of the back numbers) e-mail me on allandavidmorgan@gmail.com.

Ongoing 'still missing'

The Village quiz - is still at the top of my list of things to get on with. Unfortunately, dealing with this has been complicated by the illness of a close family member and all this has all become embroiled in my daughters' led plans for a family holiday to celebrate several major birthdays and anniversaries which have happened or will happen in what remains of 2023. BUT my apologies - it will happen - not just yet.

Ongoing issues

Building Maintenance Refurbishing the porch

This has been completed; it is now watertight, damp free and the final coat of paint is due to be added this week.

Finances Sadly this is always on the back of our minds. The Hiring of Paterson Hall and other space in Horeb is a major source of income which has still to return to a pre-Covid level and with the increase in fuel costs it is increasingly difficult to balance what hirers can afford to pay and what we need to charge to cover our costslet alone gain some 'income'.

BUT - if anyone needs to hire some space for a club or event The Paterson Hall is still available for Hiring for several hours during the week. Indeed if anyone reading has a need or knows anyone who wishes to Hire a space, they should contact Barbara Tebbutt on 01745 570793 or me on 01745 570364.

Aware that we, in many ways, are battling for the survival of Horeb, the Elders and Members, remain determined to continue to work hard and to do our best to keep Horeb Chapel alive and well.

Finally, as usual, you know where we are, you know we will be open for worship at 10.30 a.m. every Sunday.

So, I'll sign off wishing all the best as we enjoy the oncoming Bank Holidays and, if you are thinking about joining us for worship one Sunday,

You will be very welcome.

Allan Morgan (Horeb Elder)

We are still doing so very well at our shop thanks to all for your donations and purchases. We have now dragged ourselves into the 21st century and acquired a card machine (So no more journeys to the ATM at the Spar for cash).

Before Easter, we ran three successful Sunday openings specialising in vintage books and other vintage items. This required a great deal of sorting and organising with Gill Morgan doing most of the heavy lifting, both physically and metaphorically! Look out for more new events in the future.

Special thanks also to the volunteers who arranged the Easter raffle and Tombola at the Waterfall gardens, bringing in more much needed funds.......You know who you are!

Don’t forget to bring in your used printer ink cartridges to be recycled and boost funds even more.

Dog owners can collect free “clean up” bags for their pooches; these are given to the shop by Denbighshire County Council and a small donation would be appreciated towards the N.S.P.C.C.

There is also a donation box for the “Love North Wales Community Support” foodbank, so please bring along a tin or a packet if you can. An increasing number of people are reliant on this help, and we have all noticed the steep rise in food prices recently.

Whatever you need, we’ve probably got it in stock, so call in and have a look around; you’ll be amazed at what you can find.

Cathie Cornish

Women’s Institute (WI) Sefydliad y Merched (SyM)

At the April meeting our speaker was Sue from the Book of You [and also our Vice President]. She shared the contents of the Prestatyn Community Book, a digital memory book containing photographs, text, videos and music. The Book was developed by a small group of local residents meeting to share photographs and memories of Prestatyn over the years. The Prestatyn Community Book [along with other Community Books] can be found on line at www.bookofyou.co.uk

At the May meeting we held a Plant Sale thanks to a good deal of hard work by our green fingered member Josie. Jacquie also gave a demonstration that showed members how to create a floral display. We are very lucky to have such talented Committee members.

Members held a special event on 22nd April. We held a Crafting Jamboree at Seabank Drive Community Centre. We had for sale: hand crafted items, fabrics/wool, crafting books, dress/knitting patterns, preloved items and, of course, cakes. All those attending had a great time and those ‘crafty’ members who had their own goods for sale had a profitable afternoon.

Members were reminded of the benefits of regularly checking The WI national website for all the information from the national organisation as well as gardening tips, crafting ideas and recipes.

On The WI page members will also find information about current national campaigns e.g.:

• Thinking Differently; Autistic and ADHD Women and Girls [the campaign to raise awareness and to take action to improve the diagnosis process],

• Food Matters [Reducing food waste and tackling food poverty]

• SOS for Honeybees [Raising awareness of the plight of honeybees].

On 25th May our delegate went down to Cardiff to vote on behalf of Dyserth [and 7 other Institutes] on this year’s resolution ‘Clean rivers for people and wildlife’. The WI website outlines more about this resolution.

Dyserth W.I. continues to offer fun and friendship to any woman living in and around Dyserth including Trelawnyd, Rhyl, Rhuddlan and Prestatyn. We meet at 7.00 p.m. on the second Friday of every month [except August]

If you want to keep up with our activities, then find us on Facebook. Just type in Dyserth WI to see pictures and articles about past events and outings.

If you are interested in joining Dyserth WI or want to find out more please contact our President, Linda on reesowen.lro@gmail.com or our new secretary on hughesann059@gmail.com

ve all seen it as we drive along the A55 coast road towards Bangor, Holyhead or Anglesey. In later life, he

It is of course Puffin Island; a magnificent reserve for nature and a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) with the opportunity to view a plethora of wildlife without even touching the rocky shoreline. The closest one can get to the island is obviously by boat; and this is easily arranged via one of the organised trips which leave regularly from Beaumaris pier.

The trips run for approximately 90 minutes and take in much of the coastline along the South-eastern Menai Straits which makes for a very pleasant ride; especially if there is a running commentary aboard whereby much of the area’s history is divulged and it is even more enjoyable if the sea is calm!

As you head out from the pier towards Penmon point, with its Priory and old Limestone quarries visible near the beach, two large, tall houses appear standing proud opposite Puffin Island: The old Pilot and Lighthouse keeper’s homes, now holiday lets.

You will notice the upturned hull of the “Hoveringham 2” ... A 160ft long sand dredger which sank just east of Beaumaris in 1971; its hull standing out like a small barren isle which is now a popular location for weary Cormorants drying their wings and Sandwich Terns taking a breather in between Sand-eel fishing sorties.

Once close to at the Island itself, the smell of guano, heavily “scented” with oily fish fills the air, and the marvellous cacophony of thousands of seabirds is more than apparent. These are mainly Cormorants, Shag, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, as well as dozens of Gulls and Kittiwakes. Sometimes Eiders, the fastest flying duck in the UK can be seen in small flotillas, the drakes looking so striking in their black,

Trwyn Du Lighthouse and Puffin Island from Penmon Point - PJR

white and green plumage. Also look out for Black Guillemots with their handsome black plumage and striking white wing bars and bright red legs.

Always a pleasure to see is a healthy population of Grey Seals who gather at the Eastern side of the island, the UK holding 40% of the world’s population of these creatures, and of course, the nation’s favourite, the Puffins.

Once extinct here due to an infestation of Rats that had devastated the bird population, eating the eggs and chicks of breeding birds, there are now in the region of 8 pairs of Puffins nesting on the island after the area was cleared of the Rats in 1998.

These charismatic little birds are only here to breed and once their single chick or “Puffling” has become old enough to leave during August, it ventures out of the burrow which has been its home for 45 days and hurls itself into the sea below.

Unable to fly at this point, it then floats and swims out to sea; a little later the adults swim off and their late summer moult begins. The birds will swim and fish throughout the winter sometimes diving as deep as 60 metres below the surface to

catch their food comprising mainly of Sand-eels. They will venture far out to sea; it is believed that they even travel as far as the Irish coast before the following Spring sees them returning to the island to breed.

A wonderful way to spend a couple of hours and a real treat for the kids; getting as close as you are ever likely to get to these creatures, highly recommended indeed with the best time to visit May to late July. Dave Parry.

From Dyserth.com archives

Quoted from a Festival of Wales brochure, 1958

“About 1900 a branch line for goods and passengers was opened from Prestatyn to Dyserth, originally planned to continue to Trelawnyd, but it was discontinued for passenger traffic in 1930 and no longer does the “motor-train” (similar in appearance to a modern Diesel train), bring its quota of summer visitors.

The “train-bach” would wait for late passengers and even stop between stations to pick up people as they scampered across fields. It was a truly rural railway.

Once daily, coal, cement and loads of feeding stuffs and fertilizers are still brought in by goods train, returning with Lime Works products and drums of hydrated lime for export.

Thousands of tons of limestone are taken yearly by 10-ton diesel lorries to the Flintshire and Lancashire Steel and Iron Works.”

In fact the railway opened for freight on 1st September 1869.

After calls for a passenger service – a petition in 1896 received between three and four thousand signatures - the first regular passenger “Railmotor” service commenced on Monday 28th August 1905. The passenger service was withdrawn in 1930. - PJR

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Mindfulness!!

If, in the past, you have read my contribution to this lovely community magazine, you will be aware that I have a very real penchant for observational humour. This month is no exception.

My title of ‘Mindfulness’ comes from an experience I had in Rhuddlan recently. I was attending the Rhuddlan Historical Society (which has wonderful speakers and is well worth joining).

I have a current Disabled Blue Badge and I parked in the Rhuddlan Community Hall car park disabled space - thinking the talk was in that hall. I was wrong. It was in the chapel further up Parliament Street. A senior gentleman who was ‘guarding’ the carpark came and asked me if I was attending the Mindfulness group in the hall? When I revealed the terrible truth that I was going to the historical society he told me in no uncertain terms that I must vacate that parking space as it was dedicated to the mindfulness group.

I duly cooperated and moved my car some distance away meaning I had a very painful walk to get to the history group. I have to admit that I was chuckling through my pain when I considered the word ‘mindfulness’. I felt I just had to see what it meant. I am no doubt going to be criticised for what I am about to say but it seems the word is all about self – reducing one’s own stress, finding happiness through meditation and I particularly loved –“ a technique you can learn which involves noticing what's happening in the present moment, without judgement”.

I wonder if it involves anyone else’s happiness? Dare I suggest that community groups such as History societies, U3As, and even our own DTMCG allow us to think of others rather than seeking peace for ourselves. I feel sure Tai Chi and Yoga are very efficacious but the alternative might be in looking after others.

Our Tuesday Morning Community Group relaxes in the Summer but we have an occasional trip organised. This year it is to be a visit to a truly Welsh Yoghurt factory set in the Welsh hills and holding a very special niche in the market. It is The Llaeth y Llan, Village Dairy Farm at Tal Y Bryn, St Asaph LL16 5DR.

I am writing this prior to our group visit so I must explain that my wife and I made an advance visit to check a few things like the location, accessibility and amenities etcetera. The directors are warm and hospitable. If you are lucky enough to have Satnav it works perfectly and the site is easy to locate. One final point (and perhaps very topically relevant) the very modern ‘factory/farm’ was actually opened by our new King when he was Prince of Wales!

We have an exciting new programme of speakers for our new 2023-2024 Autumn/ Spring season so See you next October on the 3rd at Dyserth Community Centre, Cwm Road, Dyserth. LL18 8BD

Michael Corfe Secretary DTMCG

01745 585110