Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 30 Autumn 2014

WHITCHURCH AND LLANDAFF

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Living

Issue 30 Oct/Nov 2014

The leaves frost-crisp’d, break from the trees And fall

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contents

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Welcome Croeso

News Letters John Illsley Insole Court rence Bermuda Confels Wandering Sou Watch Neighbourhood Recipes Column

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Autumn in the villages is perhaps the most IUM LISTINGS FREE AND PREM N OUR delightful season of the year. We’re guessing that AVAILABLE O it comes down to the fact that everyone is busying RY themselves preparing for the oncoming winter.

ONLINE DIRECTO Rounds the houses, where chimneys smoke and the warm waft of casseroles drifts down the lanes, one gets a sense of preparation too. The garden furniture is packed away for another year, the seasoned logs are stacked under the leans lp local finding ways to he over n, ai ag ce tos and the lights glow on sy bu We’ve been site attracts nisations. Our web thought it was from the windows. ga or d an es ss ne si e bu sitors a month so w With all that in 10,000 individual vi eated an online directory to help cr mind, we’ve got some nd each about time that we e’ve optimised it (a W . ve ha e w delightful stories and features to keep you occupied So s. gs. er our advertis the Google rankin up t ge lp he to while the autumn storms rage outside. g) by visiting individual listin or premium listing stering. ee fr On page 9, we had the great honour and privilege ur yo d ad n ca gi You mags.co.uk and re ng vi .li w of speaking to co-founder and bassist of Dire Straits, w w at te si our web John Illsley, who is coming to Cardiff in October. On page 13, we’ve got the latest news from Insole Court.

And on page 16, we hear from Brian Mead, whose story is both remarkable and true!

There’s a spooky autumn ghost story on page ardiff 21 and Bill Farnham gives us a round-up of the ad, Rhiwbina, C Ro h c a tb n Pa 2 A: 22 Neighbourhood Watch in our area on page 23. Local CF14 6AG vet Chris Troughton answers your pet questions on 022920 081775 / 07974 2 77 07 T: page 25 and on page 29, there are some warming soup mags.co.uk E: editor@living recipes to welcome you home after a hard day’s work. ags.co.uk W: www.livingm Lastly, on page 31, Misery-Guts-In-Chief, Patric publisher of the contents, the ing e the accuracyfor any way arisrigh sur in r en tte to ma de y ma an t en s be s, or Morgan reminisces about autumns gone by. contact any. copy ors or omission to err While every effortanha de for ty ma bili en nsi be po s res on ha cept y of this material. Every effort endent, apolitical publicati ac ot nn ca Believe it or not, next stop is winter. blication d Llandaff Living is an indep from the puitch an e for holders. Wh urch d copy deadlin See you then! n a g n ki o o b g rtisin 14.

Patric and Danielle (editors) Adve 7th November 20 th 2014. y a id Fr 31 e Issu 24 te - November

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RESIDENTS SAY NO TO FLOODLIT SPORTS GROUND A petition of more than 100 signatories has been drawn in opposition to plans to build a new floodlit sports pitch in the grounds of Howell’s School

NEW BUS SERVICE FOR WHITCHURCH AND NORTH CARDIFF

A new bus service is set to begin in North Cardiff next month – after residents protested at recent cuts.

Cardiff Bus is now set to trial a new route between Whitchurch, Pantmawr, Rhiwbina, Heath and the University Hospital of Wales from Sunday, September 28.

The route will be called the 21A. Passengers were angered earlier this year when the Welsh Government cut funding for local bus services.

After much protest, the funding cuts were partially overturned when Cardiff Bus, and a number of other operators, took the Welsh Government to court.

Cynthia Ogbonna, managing director of Cardiff Bus, said: “The changes demonstrate our commitment to providing a high-quality bus service to the citizens of Cardiff and surrounding areas.

“It is hoped that these revisions will further enhance the reliability of our service to the benefit of our customers.”

Cardiff Bus plans to revise other services after assessing recent customer feedback.

news

PRITCHARD COURT REMEMBERS WAR DEAD

The residents of Pritchard Court in Llandaff recently held a Great War Commemoration Service.

Residents, families and friends enjoyed singing the choruses of songs from the First World War – Pack Up Your Troubles, Keep The Home Fires Burning and a few Welsh songs were among the repertoire.

Facts regarding the war had been researched and were read out at the service, as well as the reasons for singing each of the songs.

There was also an exhibition of war memorabilia, including medals, flags, posters and photos.

The residents had been

MISSING DAHL CHAPTER PUBLISHED A missing chapter from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been published for the first time – half a century after it was cut from the final version.

The missing chapter was originally intended to be the fifth in the novel by the Llandaff-born author Roald Dahl. The missing chapter contains new characters that weren’t included in the final publication.

In the new chapter, characters named Tommy Troutbeck and Wilbur Rice are introduced but

rehearsing for many weeks. Refreshments were served and everyone said that it had been a most enjoyable evening.

A substantial amount was raised for The British Legion and Help for Heroes.

soon get into difficulty when they ignore Willy Wonka’s warnings and ride railway wagons carrying fudge to The Pounding and Cutting Room.

The news comes ahead of the release next week of a new book on the story behind the muchloved children’s novel by writer Lucy Mangan, Inside Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first edition.

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news

NORTH CARDIFF IS A GOOD PLACE TO GROW OLD: OLDER PEOPLE’S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, has told Living Magazines that North Cardiff is a great place to grow old.

North Cardiff boasts a large number of older people in the city. She told Living Magazines: “As the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, my role is to stand up and speak out for older people across Wales and to drive the change needed to make Wales a good place to grow older, not just for some but for everyone.

“When I took up post in 2012, I made a commitment to visit communities across Wales as part of my Engagement Roadshow, to meet and speak with older people and hear firsthand about the issues that matter to most to them, ensuring that their voices drive my work.

“North Cardiff has a large number of older people, with the suburbs of Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Llandaff having

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the highest proportion of older people in the city. I have met with hundreds of older people in these communities over the past two years, at meetings of the Cardiff branch of Unison Retired Members, meetings of the Cardiff and District Rhondda Society, which meets regularly at the Ararat Church in Whitchurch, and information events and gardening clubs run

by Cardiff Institute for the Blind and RNIB Cymru.”

She added that she has made an ‘Engagement Toolkit’ available for concerned older residents.

“One of the key concerns that older people from North Cardiff have shared with me is the impact that changes or reductions to essential community services and facilities, such as local bus routes and public toilets. Even in these difficult financial times, it is important not to lose sight of the vital role that services like these can play in helping people to get out and about.”

For a copy of the Engagement Toolkit or to arrange for the Commissioner’s Engagement Roadshow to visit to your group or organisation, call 02920 445030 or visit www. olderpeoplewales. com

CANNABIS FACTORY FOUND AT HOSPITAL Police were called to Whitchurch Hospital in August after a secret cannabis drugs factory was discovered in a disused section

NEW CLUB PRESIDENT The Whitchurch-based Rotary Club of Cardiff Breakfast recently installed Tongwynlais resident Pauline Owen as its President for the next twelve months. Pauline, a former teacher, has already served one term as President, in 2006-7, so she is well prepared to take on the role. Her first event was the Club’s involvement in the Whitchurch Festival, where the Club organised the “Spot the Mistake in the Shop Window” competition, and had a Tombola and Lucky Dip stall at the Fete to promote and support two charities, ShelterBox and School in a Bag. One of the Club’s ongoing community activities is the care of the Rotary Garden in the grounds of Whitchurch Library.

The garden was created to mark 100 years of Rotary in 2006, in association with Cardiff County Council and the many local businesses and organisations who sponsored tiles in the path.

Members of the Club regularly inspect the garden and carry out any maintenance needed.

The Club meets every Wednesday morning at 7.30am in the Whitchurch Golf Club.

Visitors are always welcome.

More information about the Club can be found at www.cardifbreakfastrotary.org

If you’d like to get in touch, you can find our address on the inside front cover.

Alternatively, you can email us at editor@livingmags.co.uk

letters

PEREGRINE FALCON SEEN IN LLANDAFF It may be of interest to your readers that for the first time ever, I spotted a peregrine falcon in Llandaff, in early September.

I noticed it perched on the spire of Llandaff Cathedral and it stayed for most of the day.

RICHARD SNOOK JACKSON Llandaff

THE FRANCIS LEWIS MYTH CONTINUES The item on pages 8 and 9 of Issue 29 of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living raises once more the report that Francis Lewis – who did indeed sign the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 – was born in Llandaff.

This claim has surfaced at regular intervals for many years and appears to have originated in an entry in the American Dictionary of Biography, 1888 edition, which had been contributed by Lewis’s great, great granddaughter, Julia Delafield. It seems likely that she confused the DIOCESE of Llandaff – which at that time included what is now the Diocese of Monmouth (its cathedral is St Woolos in Newport) – with the PARISH of Llandaff. She might also have been confused by the spelling of certain Welsh place names.

As a former Cathedral Archivist at Llandaff I have searched in vain for any documentary evidence supporting any connection between Francis Lewis, Reverend father or signatory son, and Llandaff.

The American biographical entry in question states that Francis Lewis was the son of

THANKS TO HERO

The peregrine falcon at Llandaff Cathedral the Reverend Francis Lewis, Rector of Llandaff, and his wife Amy Pettingal, the daughter of the Reverend Dr. Pettingal of Carnarvon. ‘Rector of Llandaff ’ was not a post that existed as, at that date, the livings of both Llandaff and Whitchurch were in the care of the two Vicars Choral of the Cathedral, Francis Davies and Thomas Andrews who are both well documented.

Llandaff ’s baptismal registers do not go back as far as 1713, so we cannot establish that a Francis Lewis was born or baptised at Llandaff from that source. However, nowhere in the Cathedral records, which are more extensive than the Parish registers and start nearly two centuries earlier, does the name of the Reverend Francis Lewis appear.

The late David Williams, Professor of Welsh History at Aberystwyth University, made a study of the supposed Francis Lewis connection with Llandaff and published what can be considered as a definitive statement on the matter. He was quite adamant that the reference to Llandaff was wrong and that at least some of the confusion came about in the recording and translating of place names. He suggested that a Francis Pettingale was vicar of St.Gwynllyw of Newport on Usk (St.Woolos). Pettingale

I’d like to thank the lady who picked me up off the floor when I fell outside the Post Office last month! No-one else stopped so thank you for getting me back to my feet! You are my hero - and just to let you know that it was only my pride that was hurt!

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supposedly died in 1726.

Prof. Williams also suggests in his paper that there is a misreading of Llanaravon in the Monmouthshire Parish of Llanfrechfa as Carnarvon which would have been much more recognisable even in America!

It also transpires that Pettingale had at least two sons and two daughters who figure quite prominently in Newport’s local affairs.

It is just Francis Lewis’s place of birth that is in debate, a matter which needs to be clarified once and for all. If you have a proven source which might substantiate the claim that Francis Lewis was a son of Llandaff I am sure that both Church and local society would be delighted to hear of it so that this American connection might act as an additional attraction to our trans-Atlantic visitors.

NEVIL JAMES Email Editor’s Response Many thanks for pointing this out Nevil. Whilst we try to cross-check historical facts when putting our features together, we can’t always guarantee accuracy.

We welcome your through response and invite anyone who has any further information on the matter to contact us.

Editors 5

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Co-founder and bassist of Dire Straits, John Illsley, talks exclusively to Living Magazines Cardiff about Dire Straits, his solo career and his forth-coming visit to Cardiff 120 million albums sold. A clutch of BRIT, MTV and Grammy Awards. Even a ceremonial plaque installed to commemorate the location that his band performed their first live gig.

To co-founder and bassist of Dire Straits, John Illsley, it’s all in day’s work. But for John, who will be visiting Cardiff next month to promote his new album ‘Testing the Water’, becoming a rock legend wasn’t particularly on his agenda as a youngster.

“A lot of stuff happens subconsciously when you’re at that age. We led a simple country life in the Midlands when I was a child. I got sent away to school at the age of 13 and got interested in art and music by a very stimulating art teacher.

Looking back, that connection was significant to what I’ve done and that I still am doing with my career.”

It was in 1977 that Dire Straits was formed by John, brothers Mark and David Knopfler, and drummer Pick Withers, who gave the band their name. They recorded a five-song demo tape that included their future hit single ‘Sultans of Swing’. They took the tape to DJ Charlie Gillett who had a radio show on BBC Radio London. The band were simply after advice from the DJ but he liked the music so much, that he played ‘Sultans of Swing’ on his show. Barely two months later, Dire Straits signed a recording contract with Phonogram Records.

The group’s first album, Dire Straits, was not particularly well received but the band began to tour as the openers for Talking Heads after ‘Sultans of Swing’ finally started to climb the UK charts. This led to a United States recording contract with Warner Bros. Records; by the end of 1978, Dire Straits had released their self-titled debut worldwide.

“There were a few moments during my time with Dire Straits where we thought ‘Hang on – we’ve made it big’ – times such as making it to Number One in the United States, which was a big thing.” says John, “But like any situation that you find yourself in, and without taking anything away from it, it all becomes very ‘normalised’, if that’s the right way to describe it. We didn’t set out to become rock stars.”

After several successful albums, ‘Brothers in Arms’ entered the UK Albums Chart in May 1985.

It was to cement the band’s position as true global superstars.

It charted at Number 1 and spent a total of 228 weeks in the charts.

It went on to become the bestselling album of 1985 in the UK. “We had no common desire to become rock stars as such – we were a bunch of strong musicians who wrote music for ourselves.

It was the icing on the cake that people enjoyed what we were doing.”

Dire Straits packed up their instruments in 1987 for a muchdeserved rest. While singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler busied himself with his solo work, John

too started penning his own music. He released his second solo album ‘Glass’ in 1988 and has gone on to release several more.

His latest, ‘Testing the Water’, is perhaps his most profound, composed at a time when John was facing a huge personal battle.

“Several of the tracks – ‘Darling Heart’ and ‘Railway Tracks’ were written in hospital while I was dealing with leukaemia. If you listen to some of the tracks, the lyrics reflect my state of mind at the time. When you’re faced with the prospect of dying, it really does have a profound effect on you – you realise that importance of some things and not of others.

The only way I can describe it is feeling very ‘grubby’ on the inside as the chemo gets to work inside you. Facing cancer is often coined as a ‘battle’. I didn’t physically feel that I was battling but it was strange knowing that there really was a battle going on inside me, albeit on a microscopic level. I was deeply touched by my friends and family who were there to support me.”

John brings his new album and some much-loved Dire Straits work to Cardiff when he plays St. David’s Hall on October 7th.

“I haven’t been to Cardiff since the 1970s when I had friends in university there. I’m really looking forward to it – I’ve heard there’s been a lot of money thrown at it. I’m hoping I’ll recognise some of it!”

John Illsley and His Band visit St David’s Hall on Tuesday 7th October.

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Win Tickets To See the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Would you like to experience the thrill of a live classical concert in one of Europe’s best acoustic concert halls?

We’ve teamed up with Cardiff’s St David’s Hall to offer one of our readers a pair of top price tickets to experience the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra as they take to the stage of the National Concert Hall of Wales this November in what is sure to be one of the highlight concerts of the International Concert Series.

Conductor Andris Nelsons returns to Cardiff with a Beethoven concert, hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed Beethoven cycle with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra last spring.

The Eroica Symphony changed music forever, its power and majesty arising not only out of Beethoven’s humanitarian ideals but also out of the catastrophic circumstances of his own impending deafness.

Hear it alongside the highly dramatic Overture, The Creatures of Prometheus from his only full length ballet and the most beloved of all Romantic piano concertos,

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St David’s Hall has a feast of delights this autumn - from award-winning musical artists to British baking at its best.

Schumann Piano Concerto, with highly acclaimed soloist Stephen Hough.

“Andris Nelsons’ interpretation of the Eroica Symphony hit every mark.

Its musical contours were stunningly shaped and presented… Nelsons gave us a superbly judged Funeral March that, full of lamentation and a fugato section of wrenching emotional darkness.” (BIRMINGHAM EVENING POST) For a chance to win the tickets, simply answer the question below: Who will be conducting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra?

A B C

Vladimir Ashkenazy Andris Nelsons Valery Polyansky

Email your answer to: sdhpress@cardiff.gov.uk with your answer before 1st November.

For more information on the International Concert Series or events at St David’s Hall visit the website at www.stdavidshallcardiff. co.uk or telephone the box office on 02920878444. Tickets for International Concert Series concerts start at just £5.

St David’s Hall is all set to bring a packed programme of live events to the heart of the city this autumn. The National Concert Hall of Wales has such a great choice of entertainment on offer – with

everything from rock, classical, jazz, blues opera and folk to comedy, drag and burlesque – plenty to make the lengthening nights something to look forward to.

Award-winning artists such as virtuosos trumpet player Alison Balsom (5 October), the Queen of musical theatre Elaine Paige (9 October), influential blues guitarist John Mayall (22 October) and Steve Hackett of Genesis (30 October) all grace the stage in October. The prestigious International Concert series begins a brand new season with a rousing concert from the Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Natalia Lomeiko under the baton of conductor Valery Polyansky on 8 October.

There’s an opportunity to relive the Broadway glamour and toe-tapping tunes of Gershwin in Crazy for Gershwin on 15 October and Dire Straits’ John Illsey brings a concert of the band’s classic hits as well as material from his new album on 7 October and The Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood demonstrated the Best of British Baking live on 8 November. Meanwhile, you can indulge your sense of the fabulous and risqué world of cabaret with two concerts Viva la Drag on 10 October and An Evening of Burlesque on 23 October.

Visit their website www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk to see the full programme of events.

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NICOLA BENEDETTI Llun/Photo: Simon Fowler

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NATALIA LOMEIKO

The Friends of Insole Court wish to acknowledge the support given by Llandaff’s enterprising traders to the 2014 Community Picnics Hern & Crabtree, John Williams, Norton, and Cardiff Homes; The Heathcock, The Maltsters, The Butcher’s Arms; Llandaff Pharmacy (Caring for you to help you care for yourself); Hair House (We give your hair splendour, whatever your gender), Hair Flair; Stewart Greenberg (Keeping you on sight for life); Mint Green Dress Agency (Be green with your pre-loved clothes and make extra cash); Garlands (For those special gifts and a good cup of coffee); The Great Wall and The Summer Palace; Cathedral Cleaners; K2 Coffee House, Jaspers, La Nouba, Gusto Emporio and Spar.

WAUNGRON ROAD Llandaff also has the ‘Insole Shops’: Coffee House, Italian Delicatessen, Beauty Parlour, Hairdresser, Convenience Food Store and a choice of estate agents. All this with no parking charges!

As many readers of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living will be aware, Insole Court - originally the home of the Insole coal exporting dynasty – has been in local authority hands since 1932, when it was acquired to enable Western Avenue to be built through its parkland. As Friends of Insole Court, we have campaigned for a quarter of a century for its survival and improvement for the benefit of the community.

In 2010, this struggle culminated in an invitation from Cardiff Council to create a community-based charity to restore the Court and take over its management from the Council.

We formed The Insole Court Trust in 2011. Under the chairmanship of Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, the Trustees have worked in partnership with Cardiff Council to raise over £3.5m from lottery and other sources. At the time of filing this copy, we are all waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the starting date for the chosen contractor to begin the renewal work. We will announce the decision at www.insolecourt.com (choose ‘Insole Court House and Gardens’ and then ‘Insole Court Trust’) when we know details.

Meanwhile, our fundraising continues. The Trustees continue to approach grant-awarding bodies, while we on the Friends’ Committee are working with the Llandaff Society and The Insole Estate Residents’ Association, to raise community funds to assist the Trust when it takes over management once the restoration work is completed, sometime in 2015.

We envisage that this will be a continuing role, but in the short term we have adopted the target of raising £12,000 as our contribution to the capital programme. This is

Insole Court Latest News

the estimated cost of restoring the clock tower on the roof of the Victorian stable-block destined to become the hub of community activities when the restoration is completed. All profits from our activities are therefore being routed into a Clock Tower Fund and some £7,000 has been achieved since April of this year.

On July 15th we inaugurated ‘GLO-AUR’, a 17-mile challenge walk in memory of the 114 miners who died in James Insole’s pit at Cymmer (Porth) on July 15th 1856 – the first disaster on the coalfield to take more than one hundred lives. ‘Glo-Aur’ (Coal to Gold) refers to the title of Dr Richard Watson’s study of the Insoles, ‘Rhondda Coal, Cardiff Gold’.

Some fifty-five people – mostly year 9 pupils from Cantonian High School and Ysgol Gyfun Cymer marched from the memorial in the village of Cymmer to a dedicated grove of acers near the clock tower at Insole Court. Each walker carried a piece of coal along a route overflowingly packed with landmarks from the industrial revolution. They were guided by experienced leaders from the Cardiff Ramblers Association to whom our thanks are due. On arrival, the coals were deposited in the memorial grove and walkers received a golden token acknowledging their effort. The community made a splendid response with the total of their sponsorship nearing £3,000.

There is of course more to this than mere fundraising. We intend it to become an annual pilgrimage that will never allow us to forget the debt Cardiff owes to the men women and children without whose muscle, blood and pain, the vision and energy of the Victorian merchant classes would have been in vain. We hope other schools will join the march in 2015.

SUMMER SUNDAY PICNICS These free community events in our beautiful Grade II* listed gardens have become an essential part of Llandaff ’s August holiday season. They are significant fundraising events, largely thanks to sponsorship by some twenty-four shopkeepers and small businesses, both in Llandaff ’s buzzing High Street and in the ‘Insole Shops’ at Waungron Road (built on what was once Insole parkland).

If you haven’t been to one of our Summer Picnics, do watch out for our publicity next July. Admission is free and all you have to do is bring your family or friends, a picnic (and hopefully some loose change!); lay a blanket on the ground and enjoy the band, the storytellers, sometimes a clown, good company and (nearly always) the sunshine.

This year, our hitherto proud tradition of ‘never getting rained off ’ was broken on August 10th by the whiplash of hurricane Bertha’s tail, but on August 24th our Bank Holiday ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ went ahead with music from Symphonic Brass as planned and the net result was a contribution to the Clock Tower fund just short of £2,000!

CHRISTMAS MARKET COACH TRIP TO BATH - JUST £16 (INCLUDING RAFFLE)

We intend to fill a 49-seater coach on Tuesday 2nd December to visit Bath where as well as the open Christmas Market, there are more museums per square mile than most cities in the world. It will set out from Llandaff at 9.30am and from Bath at 6.00pm.

Full details from A. Jenkins on 029 20 569712 or emaileajenkinsno1@hotmail.com 13

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Sun damage – check your skin after the long hot summer After one of the hottest summers on record we are all now getting ready for the cold weather to set in, but it is also the time when many people will also be aware of changes to the appearance of their skin because of their time in the sun.

The sun has a major impact on the skin and can cause: • premature skin ageing • benign skin growths • skin cancers Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun accounts for most signs of premature skin ageing.

Skin texture changes caused

by UV exposure include the development of coarse and fine wrinkles caused by thinning of the skin and loss of skin elasticity. Pores also appear more

sponsored feature prominent and skin can look and feel rough and uneven.

Blood vessels appear more visible especially on the nose and cheeks due to thinning of the skin.

Skin colour changes caused by sun exposure are common. The most noticeable sun-induced pigment change is brown spots (solar lentigos). Those with very fair skin are particularly prone to freckles. Large freckles, also known as age spots or liver spots, can be seen on the backs of the hands, chest, shoulders, arms, and upper back. UV exposure can also cause small white scarlike areas on the legs, backs of the hands, and arms as well as red areas on the sides of the neck.

Moles are usually seen in sunexposed areas. Although it is normal to acquire new moles from childhood through young adulthood, their formation is stimulated by the sun. Most moles are normal however atypical moles serve as an indicator that the person with these types of moles may be prone to developing melanoma,

a type of skin cancer.

Pre-cancerous skin changes include red, scaly lesions especially on the face, ears and backs of Dr. Maria Gonzalez the hands called actinic keratoses. Actinic keratoses are considered to be premalignant lesions because a small number of these lesions may transform into skin cancers.

Most of the changes described can be treated, reversing some of the damage done. However the best course of action is to always protect your skin from excessive sun exposure. If you notice any change to your skin you should consult a dermatologist immediately.

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How I Guarded Churchill and Eisenhower: My Story As Cardiff hosted for the NATO Summit this autumn, Rhiwbina’s Brian Mead recalls the fascinating weeks he spent in Bermuda in 1953, guarding the Bermuda Conference.

There, among others, he met Sir Winston Churchill, President Eisenhower and Sir Anthony Eden.

We flew to Bermuda on a Constellation aircraft on Sunday 29th November 1953. Compared to the converted bomber that flew us out from the UK, this was luxury.

Hamilton Barracks itself was a very strange place. It struck me more like a Beau Guest Fort, filled with ghosts of soldiers long past. The walls of the barrack rooms were scarred with bayonet-carved messages, often poetry, some over a hundred years old. The men in my room walked around for hours trying to find the oldest. Some were very beautifully done by men of many different regiments. One carved in the 1800s stated that he had been there for five years.

Shades of the Welch Brigade in India!

The barracks were in a good state of repair and very clean with the walls of the barrack rooms white-washed. The grounds were laid out with trees and shrubs with flowers full of colours, which made the place seem very cool in the heat of the day.

Before I had chance to settle in, I was told that with two other Corporals plus a guard, that I was 16

going to the Mid Ocean Club on the other side of the island where Sir Winston Churchill and Mr Anthony Eden were going to stay.

Upon reaching the Mid Ocean Club, we took over the men’s locker rooms for the Duty Officer, Guard Command and the NCOs on security duties. The clubhouse had been emptied of guests, only the staff remaining.

The Clubhouse itself was guarded by the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF), the roof by the Royal Marines, while the gates and perimeter were shared by a guard from the Bermuda Rifles. These territorials, like their British counterparts, came from all walks of life.

Security at the clubhouse was very tight and incidents were many and various. On one occasion, the Marines on the roof spotted a frogman swimming into the private beach. He was caught coming out of the water and turned out to be a French photographer.

On another occasion, the clubhouse had a power cut. At the time, I was standing at the door of the Conference Room on duty when all the lights went out. In the best traditions of American cinema, the FBI agent on duty with me whipped out his gun and shouted “Nobody move!” Back came the British response of “Put that bloody thing away and grow up.” The power was restored within about two minutes and the agent spent the rest of his duty angrily puffing on his cigar and refusing to speak to us. Over the next few

days, he became the butt of our jokes, not being helped by the fact that although being six foot in height, he was out of condition with a large beer pot belly.

Corporal Lightfoot on duty at the main gates had his problems too but of a different kind. He was accosted by a film crew led by a female correspondent who turned out to be Miss Jinx Falkenburg, an American ex movie star. By the time I had arrived, Corporal Lightfoot had persuaded her that she could not get in and instead gave her a dialogue on how a certain American president had his roots in Wrexham. Heaven knows what the American movie-goers thought of it all when it was shown. I thought it was hilarious!

Part of my duty was to escort VIPs who wished to walk around the grounds of the clubhouse or swim from the private beach. In doing so, it was nearly always my task to escort Sir Anthony Eden, then Foreign Minister.

To come into close contact with someone like Sir Anthony Eden was a memorable experience and one which I shall never forget.

On being told to meet him in the hotel foyer, I found him to be waiting there for me. When I reported to him, he smiled at me and said “Good morning Corporal. I understand that you are to look after me. Shall we go down to the beach where I have my bathers?” His remarks immediately put me at ease, for here was a man six foot tall, very fit for his age, and as it turned out, was a far better swimmer

people

than myself! It was just as well that I had to sit on the beach and watch him!

I do not know what I expected to feel meeting him for the first time, for I had read and seen so much about him in the media of the day. But what I did find, was a kind and surprisingly gentle man who was more interested in my welfare than of his own.

The feeling of holding him in awe, he quickly dispelled, so that within a few minutes, I was relaxed in his company. During these walks, he encouraged me to chat about every topic of the day, but as they say, to be a good conversationalist, one also has to be a good listener. I knew that to listen to someone such as he was a chance of a lifetime.

Having read and heard so much of Winston Churchill since my youth, it was only natural that my expectations on meeting the man was of someone larger than life.

What I saw came as a shock, not only to myself but to everyone else waiting his arrival at the Mid Ocean Club.

He came through the entrance supported on either arm by two men. An exhausted little old fat man who was obviously partially paralysed from head to foot on his left side. He shuffled, rather than walked, and after murmuring greetings to those introduced to him, he was quietly assisted to the lift, followed by an embarrassing silence as we watched him leave.

History can now tell us that at the beginning of 1953, Winston Churchill had suffered a massive heart attack. This, at the time, was withheld from the press and public so as not to endanger the Bermuda Talks, which were postponed until the November.

Sir Winston, being the first to arrive in Bermuda, went to the airport to greet the rest of the Heads of State and the Guard of Honour was provided by the 1st RWF. Lieutenant Tim Davies, who took part, described in a letter to me that a problem arose when trying to get through red tape in order to fly ‘Billy’ the goat mascot. Sir Winston was approached on the subject and his apparent reply was “Fumigate the goat and fly it.”

My preconceived ideas as how Heads of State would conduct themselves at such a meeting were quickly dispelled on the first day with President Eisenhower flying off the handle and storming out of the conference room; in the days to come, we were sharply reminded that this was one man who operated on a very short fuse.

Today, the public are used to seeing massive security operations for Heads of State.

For the Americans however, even in the early 1950s, this was the norm.

This was typical with President Eisenhower, giving me my first experience of a security motorcade. This consisted of two large American cars in the leads, filled with FBI men, followed by the Presidential Car with President Eisenhower sitting on the rear seat surrounded by bodyguards. The rear was brought up by two more cars filled with FBI men. One of the highlights of the day was to watch the motorcade move off, taking Eisenhower back to the US Air Force base at the end of a session of talks.

The cars would draw up to the front door of the Mid Ocean Club. They were then surrounded

by FBI men facing outwards.

When Eisenhower was installed in the car, a signal was given by the FBI officer in charge. The bodyguards would board their cars, which being open-topped, meant that they would swing their legs over the doors in true American flamboyant manner, instead of opening the doors and getting in. The British staff were so amused by this show that we would mutter in chorus “Prepare to Mount – Mount!” Then with their lights flashing and sirens blowing, the whole shebang would move off.

In marked contrast, whenever Winston Churchill left the Mid Ocean Club, he would move quietly and leave with his one bodyguard and valet, the car gently moving off leaving a trail of expensive cigar smoke.

The sense of occasion for those eight days as far as we of the Royal Welch Fusiliers were concerned, absorbed us every minute of its passing. It made our duties demanding, but they also gave us the knowledge that his was a little bit of history in the making.

We of the 1st Bn. RWF played our part.

This is an abridged version of Brian’s story. The full version can be found at our website at www.livingmags.co.uk

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Wandering

souls They say that as the cool autumn winds begin to stir the fallen leaves in the village, that the lost souls start searching for places to shelter away for the winter.

Of course, spirits don’t feel the cold. Not in the way that you or I do, but some of these lost souls still think that they’re alive. They have fallen asleep and never woken. Not in our world anyway.

Yet their instinct is to seek warmth as the autumn chills blow - and to find themselves a place of rest for the winter ahead.

And so goes the old tale of Bwthyn Berry, the old cottage that once stood on Rhiwbina Hill. It is said that the cottage was never a happy place to live in, even from the year it was built. Legend has it that it was constructed on the site of a shallow grave. Builders came across two skeletons when they were digging for foundations back in the 1800s. The builders simply dug them out and cast them away with the rest of the earth that they had excavated.

The autumn of 1875 began early by all accounts. It had been a short but hot summer. But by late August, the breezes that swept the Wenallt had cooled.

Mr and Mrs Llewellyn, the new proud owners of Bwthyn Berry had moved into their new abode in early July. Within two months, both of them had been struck down by a series of unfortunate

incidents. Firstly, Mr Llewellyn, who kept a pony in a small barn to the back of the cottage, was found dead in the hay, late at night. The story goes that Mrs Llewellyn, who found him, ran screaming down Rhiwbina Hill to fetch help. It is said that her screams could be heard three miles away. Mrs Llewellyn never made it to the small collection of cottages at the bottom of the hill.

She was found by the side of the road the following morning, her body ravaged by deep scratches.

No-one was sure whether her screams were because she was distraught about her husband or because she was fighting off someone.

Or some thing.

The cottage lay empty for a few years before a local farmer whose house had been destroyed by a roof fire, rented the house and lived in it while his farm house was being rebuilt several miles away. He lived alone for most of the time he was there. Four months later, on a cold winter’s day, he was found hanged from a beam in the kitchen.

No-one is quite sure why he took his own life, but the last time he had visited the local beer house, he had got himself very uncharacteristically drunk and mumbled about two soldiers in a dark corner of his house.

The cottage lay empty again until the Willcocks family finally

* This story is fictional so don’t go looking for the cottage!

bought the cottage just over a year later. Records show that the family moved into the house in May, but by October, they had fled, leaving the cottage empty for the last time. It burned mysteriously down two years later.

It has been said that not long after, that two long-haired men dressed in tunics, chestplates and wielding heavy swords were spotted by a local horse rider early one autumn night. The two soldiers were heading up the path to another local cottage.

The men disappeared behind a large tree but never appeared out the other side. The horse rider was too scared to visit the cottage to warn of the visitors.

A few weeks later, he himself saw dark shadows lurking in his garden before he went to bed one night.

Rumour has it that the two soldiers continue to roam the village in autumn, looking for somewhere to shelter during the winter months. Even as recent as 1998, there were reports of dark shapes down the bottom of gardens in the village.

One woman claims that she once climbed the ladder into her attic, only to be met with two pale faces sat in the corner, looking back at her.

So keep your eyes peeled when you pop your bins out at night you never know who’s watching.

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News in the Community NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH With Bill Farnham Neighbourhood Watch continues to be very busy with activities occurring on a regular basis.

For those of you who are not sure what an Operation Perception is all about, I will explain. This is an event organised by South Wales Police who ‘target’ an area and bring in quite a large team of PCSOs and usually two or three Police Officers to cover the chosen area and carry out door to door enquiries asking residents for their views on the level of crime in their area.

I accompany one of the teams and talk to the residents regarding Neighbourhood Watch and ask if they are interested in setting up a watch in their road/ street. I will take their details and arrange to follow this up and arrange a meeting of the residents, myself and South Wales Police. I also make sure that after I have had a brief chat with them to explain about Neighbourhood Watch; the teams that I cannot be with have a supply of our information leaflets which explain about Neighbourhood Watch and which they hand to the residents.

All the responses from the residents are then collected and analysed by South Wales Police and all queries are then followed up.

Since the last issue, I have attended an Operation Perception together with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team in Danescourt. It was very successful and I met the Chairman of the Danescourt

Residents Association. I then watch in the road he is living in, attended another Operation in Fairwater. This one should be Perception with the local up and running very soon.

Neighbourhood Policing Team Our next General Meeting in Whitchurch with us working will be on Tuesday 30th in conjunction with the Civil September, 2014 and will be Enforcement Officers regarding held in the upstairs lounge of parking in the village which the Whitchurch Rugby Club, was very interesting. I launched Samuels Crescent (bottom of a new Neighbourhood Watch Velindre Road) starting at 7pm. group in Gwaelod-y-Garth with National Personnel Safety Day the coordinator hoping to bring this year is on 6th October and other roads in the area on board.

I am arranging for a supply of On the 3rd August, the South posters and leaflets to be sent.

Wales Police held their Open If anyone is interested in setting Day event at St Fagans Castle. up a Neighbourhood Watch Our table was very busy indeed group please contact your local for the whole day and as a Neighbourhood Policing Team result of this I will be launching or contact our office on 02920 another new watch in Gwaelod527301. y-Garth very soon. I have relaunched two watches recently which had The All Round At Home Computer Service ‘fallen by the wayside’, one in Fairwater and  Repairs one in Penylan  Upgrades and both are  New System Builds now up and running. I am  Virus Removal very grateful  Broadband Installs to the two  Tuition people who  Wired / Wireless Home Networks have stepped in and taken on the role of All Work Carried Out In Your Own Home coordinator.

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Pet problems CHRIS TROUGHTON OF HEATH VETS ANSWERS YOUR PET-RELATED QUESTIONS

IF YOU HAVE ANY PET-RELATED QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE CHRIS TO ANSWER, PLEASE EMAIL US AT EDITOR@LIVINGMAGS.CO.UK AND WE’LL PASS THEM ON.

provide several litter trays in different parts of the house. Shut the windows and draw all the curtains so that flashes are not seen, and play music with a strong rhythmic beat to mask the bangs. Remain calm yourself, as if you are anxious about your cats’ fear, they will be made worse.

Is it safe to feed dogs human food? I only ask as when I leave my dog to be looked after by my parents, I know he’s fed things like crisps and bacon but only as treats. Is it a case of ‘everything in moderation’ or should I tell my parents to cut it out entirely?

I recently acquired two kittens who are now 6 months old. With the onset of autumn coming, I’m worried about them at a time of anti-social events such as Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night. My friend tells me that you can buy some kind of spray that calms them down. Is it safe and legal to use?

When cats rub their chins and faces on objects or people, they are rubbing a pheromone scent onto them which tells the cat in future that he’s in a safe ‘home’ place and can therefore relax.

A synthetic version of this pheromone called ‘Feliway’ is available and it helps cats deal with stressful situations such as visitors, arrival of a new baby or other pet, or unwelcome incursions by a neighbouring cat. Loud noises outside can be frightening for cats, so using Feliway from the middle of October onwards (ie. well before the expected problem) may help to reduce their fear.

There are several ways of using Feliway, but the most useful for this situation will be a room diffuser, which plugs into an electric socket in the home and fills the room with the pheromone (which you can’t detect). Another product worth using is Zylkene, which is a milk-derived substance which has a mild calming effect; it is totally safe, non-addictive and easy to give. You need to give it from a few days before the event. Feliway and Zylkene are available at your vets.

There are several other things you can do to reduce the cats’ anxiety: obviously, keep them indoors after dusk when you expect ‘trouble’ – remember to Page is sponsored by Heath Vets 02920 621511

Most food that people eat is not harmful to dogs, with the exception of grapes (and raisins and sultanas) and chocolate, so feeding titbits of crisps or bacon or biscuits is not likely to be harmful unless your dog has a particular sensitivity.

However, the high salt levels in many human snacks could be a problem if your dog has heart problems, and of course the extra calories might be a problem with his weight. However, sharing treats is an important part of the way that some people relate to pets (and grandchildren!) and asking your parents not to share might be very hard for them.

‘Everything in moderation’ is the right answer.

Is it true that having a male dog ‘done’ makes them calmer? One of my neighbours has a young poodle who I swear has come straight from hell! I was hoping to suggest the procedure to my neighbour!

The short answer is ‘No!’. Castration has a number of effects on a male dog’s behaviour, for example, a reduced tendency to roam, a reduced sense of status leading to less likelihood of challenging the owner’s authority, and reduced territorial and intermale aggression. However, it does not calm them down, although many people think it does because castration is often done in late adolescence or early adult life, when the dog is naturally maturing and becoming calmer.

25

THEY SAID IT WOULD NEVER WORK!!!!

When Rhiwbina saw the launch of the Garden Village Garage people said things like" We're not sure, that won't work, it's a waste of time" Now, some four years later the business has gone from strength to strength and has now opened a new facility in Whitchurch, opposite the Plough.

Now, the two high street outlets, Rhiwbina and Whitchurch offer an alternative to the historical motoring service, which is generally considered to be a bit of a chore. Offering early morning collection and return delivery from home or local workplace and a clean car on return. Award winning service too, that has been recognised by the independently operated Good Garage Scheme three of the last four years. The female friendly team offer a warm welcome that is non threatening, transparent and a refreshing change from the historically male dominated environment. The communication style too is open and transparent reporting all maters via video through the quick and easy use of email. You get the information needed to make any decisions, quickly, jargon free straight to your mobile, tablet or PC, wherever you want it, better still its all for free!!!

Customers have returned year after year appreciating the ease of use. Time is precious and the thought of hanging around all day, using valued leave or rushing around early morning can be a stress that we can all do without, after all, life can be busy enough.

I have personally used the garage and would highly recommend Matthew, Heather and their team, they were both courteous and professional and with the use of email their reporting of everything was open and clear, there was no red face around the costings either as all was explained before my car came back home.

The service is great for busy people, young mums or for those who appreciate the simple ease of use. Just call in off the hight street, email or call using the free phone number, they even pay for your call Patric - The Editor

Mot testing, car servicing and repair facilities are primarily what is on offer, however all matters for the modern motorist are available and all costings are approved with the client before any work is undertaken.

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Using a wood burner can lower heating costs of the average family household by ÂŁ400 a year. Wood burning stoves are highly efficient, running at up to 87% efficiency compared with up to 25% for a traditional open coal fire.

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We offer a bespoke design and fitting service for all types of log burners by trained professionals to ensure that everything runs smoothly from start to finish. Why not visit our in-store bathroom displays when you visit and chat to us about the design service that we offer. We even have all our own qualified team of carpenters, electricians, and plumbers on standby to help create your dream room!

Living Life Unit 7, Freemans Parc, Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8TW Telephone: 029 2023 1300 | Online at www.livinglifecardiff.co.uk

Living Life

bespoke bedrooms, bathrooms & log burners

After a long day at work, head in from the cold to a warming bowl of autumn with these delightful soup recipes

EDITOR’S PICK 

Pea and Herb Soup with Basil Oil 30g butter 6 spring onions, chopped 1 celery stick, finely chopped 375g frozen peas 700ml vegetable stock 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped 1 tbsp snipped fresh chives 35g rocket leaves 2 tbsp crème fraîche salt and pepper bread to serve Basil Oil 30g bunch of fresh basil 200 ml olive oil 1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and celery, cover and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Add the peas and stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cover and leave to cool for 20 minutes.

2. To make the basil oil, remove the stems from the basil and discard. Place the leaves in a food processor with half the oil and blend to a purée. Add the remaining oil and blend again.

Transfer to a small bowl.

3. Add the dill, chives and rocket to the soup.

Blend with a hand-held blender until smooth.

Stir in the crème fraîche. If you are serving the soup warm, heat through gently without boiling, then season to taste.

4. Ladle into four warmed bowls and drizzle with the basil oil. Serve immediately. Can be served cold too - chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before seasoning and serving.

Butternut squash soup with chilli & crème fraîche 1 butternut squash, about 1kg, peeled and deseeded 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 onions, diced 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 2 mild red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped 850ml hot vegetable stock 4 tbsp crème fraîche, plus more to serve

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1½in across.

Place into a large roasting tin with half the olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes, turning once during cooking, until they are golden and soft.

2. While the squash cooks, melt the butter with the remaining oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, garlic and ¾ of the chilli. Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are soft.

3. Add the squash to the pan, add the stock and the crème fraîche, then blitz with a stick blender until smooth. For an extra silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches.

4. Return everything to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste. Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli. Serve with warm crusty bread.

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Column PATRIC MORGAN

BACK TO SCHOOL, AUTUMN NIGHTS AND A BROKEN MUG

Back To School These are the words that would be splashed all over the windows of Woolworths on the very first day of the summer holidays.

It wasn’t the thing any kid would want to see on a sunny July day. Oh no.

There were six weeks of pure bliss ahead. Back to school could wait until the far-off land of September.

As the weeks went by of course, the weeks ahead would diminish.

Halfway through, you’d think to yourself that you only had three weeks left. Then two. Then only one. Those last three weeks were the long slide down back into the mire of stuffy classrooms and homework.

The night before the first day back was the worst - typically a Sunday night, trudging home through the lanes after another insipid but calming Evensong.

There was the golden underfoot crunch of the fallen leaves that we had spend summer with, to take our minds off school as we made our way home. But the thought of school darkened our evenings.

“What did you do?” would be the first question you’d have to answer on your first day back.

“Erm. Nothing.”

Out came the pencil case with its obligatory batch of new pens.

None of them worked and when you eventually did find one that did, you’d forgotten how to write anyway. Is that all it took to wipe your mind of the ability to write?

Six weeks?

Still, teacher would give you a tantalising glimmer of hope: “What’s the heading Miss?”

“Christmas Term.”

Christmas Term? The leaves have only just started tumbling from the trees. How is she already thinking about Christmas?

But she’d be right. Technically speaking anyway. It was Christmas

Term. In between, there were the delights of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night to look forward to.

Eventually, you’d get back into the routine of school and it wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be. That’s until the homework started stacking up. Most of the time, it was pretty pointless.

‘Answer the ten questions on page 13 of the text book’ or ‘do some research about Shakespeare’. Do some research? How were you supposed to do that? We had no internet to cut and paste from back then. We’d have to ask our family what they knew instead.

“He was that writer guy wasn’t he?” Dad would say. “Get yourself down the library.” would be Mum’s answer. Sigh. That was too much like hard work.

The nights would get darker a lot earlier and soon the shops down the road would start stocking up on Hallowe’en paraphernalia.

Slumped against the warmly-lit shop windows, you’d find some snotty-nosed kids, freezing their scruffy pants off and asking a ‘Penny for the guy’. Their ‘guy’ would more often than not, be a few old clothes stuffed together with rags and a filled plastic Tesco bag for a head. I would always be disappointed if they had failed to attach any kind of feet to the guy.

Who were they out to impress?

No-one, clearly. For them, it was all about the money. We did have a few kids knock on our door one cold autumn evening. They were

asking for newspapers for some strange reason. The following day, the nearby tyre depot went up in flames. Kids eh?

And when Hallowe’en itself came round, there was more mischief to be had. We had a Hallowe’en party in the house once. This was to avoid us getting egged by the other kids out on the streets.

I bought a green-coloured light bulb for the ‘big light’ that hung from the ceiling. A few cousins came around and we did the whole bobbing apple and musical statues thing (very scary). But after they went home, we thought we’d scare a few passers-by. To achieve this, we leant out of an upstairs bedroom window and threw mugs of water onto them (pulling our heads back in as soon as the water left our mugs so as not to be seen) as they walked past the house.

Sadly, it all ended in disaster as the handle of one of our mugs (it was a SuperTed one) snapped off, hurtling the mug out onto the pavement, where it smashed into a thousand pieces.

The guy who we had hoped to spook, simply looked up at us with no expression in his face whatsoever. His dog, who had been sniffing the old sycamore tree outside our house, simply cocked his leg and put the mug beyond any hope of rescue.

And that was the end of our Hallowe’en party.

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