Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 13

WHITCHURCH AND LLANDAFF

Living

At the heart of the community

FR EE

Issue 13 June/July ‘11

WHAT’S INSIDE

Interview: Gwenno Saunders Cardiff North’s All-Stars

Then and Now: Merthyr Road Policing North Cardiff Memories of Cardiff North Pets’ Page

Readers’ Survey Local News Crossword

It’s the time of year for long balmy evenings, summer fêtes and dining al fresco.

Mix up a cool drink, put your feet up and lap up the summer sun.

Enjoy your free copy of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living

Welcome 3-5

News The latest news from the area

6, 7 Letters Letters to the Editors 8

12

16

23 25

27

Interview: Dancer, keyboard player and singer Gwenno Saunders

Welcome Croeso

Welcome to your early summer issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living - the official magazine for Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North.

Our magazines really have become part of the local communities Cardiff North that they serve. We can tell this by the amount of communication we All-Stars get from locals and from ex-pats on the other side of the world.

We look at some of We’ve had to double our letters page this issue to squeeze in some the big names to of the letters and emails that have been sent to us. come out of our area Musician Gwenno Saunders took time out of her busy schedule to speak to us about her career to date. From Llandaff North to Las Then and Now Vegas, Gwenno’s talents have kept audiences entertained the world The shops of over. Read Gwenno’s story on page 8.

Merthyr Road, And talking of talent, we take a look at some of the well-known Whitchurch names to have come out of our area. From Charlotte Church to Ioan Gruffudd and Baroness Grey-Thompson, North Cardiff has become Readers’ Survey a hotbed of expertise in many areas. Meet just a few of them on Win a £20 M&S page 12. voucher On page 16, we are once again delighted to publish extracts from Steve Nicholas’s book, Whitchurch and Llandaff North Through Pets’ Page Time. Our attentions this issue focus on the bustling shops of Local vet Chris Merthyr Road. Steve’s pictures show that, although physically Troughton different, Merthyr Road has always been the hub of the community answers your here. pet questions We’ve got our usual Pets’ Page, as well as a report from the RSPCA based in Whitchurch. Our local bobbies have also been in Policing North touch to tell us what they have been up to this spring. Plus we’ve got Cardiff lots of news, the popular crossword and even more memories of Meet your local Cardiff North. bobbies at Have a great summer. Enjoy the sun, support our advertisers and Whitchurch Police we’ll see you in July!

Station Editors

Patric and Danielle

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living & Rhiwbina Living Editors/Advertising: Patric Morgan & Danielle Dummett Address: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG Tel: 07772 081775 and 07974 022920 Email: editor@livingmags.co.uk Web: www.livingmags.co.uk

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 2

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way arising from the publication of this material. Every effort has been made to contact any copyright holders. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an independent, apolitical publication.

Advertising booking and copy deadline for Issue 14 11th July 2011. Issue 14 publication date - late July 2011.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is published 5 times a year.

Cover photograph by Cullen Loynton, aged 7

News PLANS FOR LOCAL PUB SPARKS OUTRAGE

Photograph courtesy of Steve Nicholas

Residents in Llandaff North have reacted with fury at plans to turn a historic pub into a block of flats.

The Cow and Snuffers in Llandaff North closed in 2010, but a planning application has been submitted to convert the building into seven flats.

The application follows several other closures of pubs in Cardiff. Jacqui Hooper, councillor for Llandaff North, said: “Residents are horrified. It’s a lovely building and it has a

lot of history behind it.”

Residents have criticised the plans on many issues.

The application requests permission to convert the interior of the building into two dwellings covering two floors.

They also include the redevelopment of the coach house to the side of the property. These will include a gym, a shower room and extra bedrooms.

Architects PJ Lee, which has drawn up the plans for the refurbishment, insists the character of the building will stay intact.

Formerly known as the Red Cow, the Cow and Snuffers was also said to have been visited by Benjamin Disraeli in the 1800s, with a bust of the former prime minister installed at the pub.

JULIE MORGAN TAKES SEAT IN SENEDD

After losing her seat in Parliament in the General Election last year, Julie Morgan has now taken her place in the Senedd as an Assembly Member.

Julie took the seat from the Conservative's Jonathan Morgan by 1,782 votes in April’s Assembly Elections.

This represented a 5.18% majority. The win came by way of a 9.77% swing from the Conservatives and the highest vote of any candidate in Wales.

One of Julie’s first priorities is to campaign against development of Llanishen Reservoir, which has already been drained in anticipation of the construction of 300 homes.

A public inquiry will take place in July.

LOCAL TRADERS FACING TOUGH TIMES

Traders in Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North are facing unprecedented hardship during the tough current economic climate.

Business rates in particular are affecting a lot of the independent shops that operate out of the villages.

And with national consumer spending at an all-time low, traders are finding turnover very slow.

One shopkeeper, who didn’t want to be named, told Living Magazines: “I’ve never known things be this bad before. I’m having to work extra hours just to try and bring business in and keep myself afloat. I’ve also had to lay off my cleaners who only cost £20 a week, but that’s how bad things have got. On top of that, business rates keep on climbing and our future looks very uncertain.”

But it’s not all been doom and gloom. There have been several shops who have bucked the trend and opened their doors to an enthusiastic public.

Traders are hoping that the summer sun will put a smile on the faces of the North Cardiff population, and to put them in the spending mood to help ease the crisis.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 3

News

LLANDAFF NORTH SAYS ‘NO’ TO WHEELIE BINS

SAM’S THE MAN AS HE’S NAMED WALES CAPTAIN

A recent consultation has revealed that nearly two thirds of residents in Llandaff North are strongly opposed to wheelie bins, after Cardiff Council announced that they would be introducing them.

Residents were incensed earlier this year to find that Cardiff Council had only initially consulted with a few streets about the scheme.

They were forced to carry out a wider consultation.

One of the biggest issues for residents has been storage of the bins. Stephanie Wilkins, chair of Llandaff North Residents Association said: “I just trust they will do a good job this time. The reason we were in this position is because of the fact they didn’t scrutinise the figures when they decided to roll it out in December.”

She added that she was pleased that the community had been listened to.

A Council spokesperson said: “The Council is currently considering the suggestions made with local ward members. No decision will be taken until all suggestions have been fully explored. As soon as a final position is established, residents will be informed of the outcome for their street.

“The Council remains committed to working with local communities.”

Former Whitchurch High School pupil, Sam Warburton has been selected to lead Wales against the Barbarians this June.

22-year old flanker Sam, who hails from Rhiwbina, was the surprise choice, but has had the complete backing from team-mates and coaching staff.

Sam told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living: “I’ve come a long way and I don’t want it all to go to my head. It still seems odd though. Ten years ago, there I was down the Arms Park with my little ticket, watching heroes like Martyn Williams playing. It still seems surreal at times. But I’m honoured to lead Wales out against the Barbarians.”

Sam is part of a new generation of players who have been entrusted to lead

by Wales coach Warren Gatland. A former Cardiff City trialist, Sam only decided to follow the rugby path when he was 16.

“I ended up taking a liking to rugby as I got older. It’s so intense - you really feel that you are part of a team. You can’t afford to be the weakest link - there are no places to hide. If you let the team down, you know it’s because of something you did or didn’t do.”

Sam captained the Wales U19s in 2007 and led them through a successful tournament. They beat

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 4

Photo courtesy of Cardiff Blues

Samoa and Argentina in the pool stages to reach the semifinal against New Zealand.

New Zealand beat Wales and Wales played Australia for third place.They were narrowly beaten again but earned a well-deserved fourth place in the IRB U19 World Rankings.

For the Barbarians game in June, Sam will be pitted against veteran flanker Martyn Williams. Sam has long been heralded as the successor to Martyn, but Martyn gave his support to the new captain.

“It will be strange facing Wales but it will be a great day for Sam. He deserves the captaincy.” he said.

There was also a surprise recall for Gavin Henson, who has not played for Wales since 2009.

The game, on June 4th, will take place at the Millennium Stadium.

“I remember the first time I played there, looking around while I was stood on the halfway line and I couldn't believe really that I'd made it – it was a dream come true.”

LLANDAFF HIGH STREET TO BE REVAMPED Llandaff’s High Street is set to undergo a major revamp to restore the road to its previous glory.

An announcement was made in March this year by Councillors Gareth Aubrey and Kirsty Davies to make the area more pleasant for both locals and tourists.

The Heritage Capital Budget for 2011-2012 hopes to fund the project but there are concerns that its budget will not stretch to cover total cost, estimated to between £125,000 and £180,000.

Local residents have long complained about the state of the road. The plans include dropping the kerbs to help elderly pedestrians. There is also a potential plan to open up views towards the Bishop’s Palace.

The plans have been met with enthusiasm from both retailers and residents.

THIRD LIVING MAGAZINE LAUNCHED IN DANESCOURT

Below: Llandaff High Street in its heyday in the 1920s.

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL ALL SHOOK UP

Llandaff Cathedral was rocking to the music of Elvis Presley back in March when his life and love of gospel music was commemorated as part of a tour by his Las Vegas backing group, The Imperials. The concert took place in partnership with the Morriston Orpheus Choir.

The show was part of a nationwide tour that was repeated in two other cathedrals in the UKCanterbury and Coventry. The tour was arranged by life-long Elvis fan, Carol Pugh, from Merthyr Tydfil, who runs the Elvis in Wales fan club.

The Imperials were Elvis’s

News

backing group for his 1969 and 1972 sell-out shows in Las Vegas. It was the first time that the group had visited Europe. The concert was a complete sell-out.

It is widely believed that Elvis took inspiration from the gospel music that was played to him as a child by his mother.

Residents of Danescourt received their first copies of Danescourt Living in early April as we launched our third title in our series.

Co-editor Patric Morgan said: “We’re always looking to get our magazines into more people’s hands. I actually started my publishing career when I was editor of the Danescourt News from 2004 to 2006. When we learnt that the Danescourt News had moved to the web, we felt it appropriate that we should continue to provide the residents there with their own magazine.”

Feedback on the launch issue was glowing, with residents being able to take advantage of its A5 size when commuting.

“It’s perfect for popping into my handbag and reading on the bus on the way into work.” said one resident.

The magazine is distributed free to 1,500 homes and businesses on the estate four times a year.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 5

Letters to the Editors

Letters

Living Magazines making the world a smaller place

Dear Editors The world is getting smaller and smaller.

I think at the last count there were about eight people who have been in touch because of your magazine! Here’s the list so far: 1. One in Normandy 2. One in Greece 3. One in New South Wales 4. Two in Llandaff North 5. Two from Melbourne originally from Llandaff North 6. And now an old schoolmate.

I also recently bumped into a couple whose parents were originally from Rhiwbina - the father, although some years younger than me (60ish) was also a compositor back in Cardiff.

They had friends visiting who were also from Rhiwbina to this pimple of a town on the back end of the world called Albany, Western Australia and they brought over a copy of the Whitchurch and Llandaff Magazine to show them. Hoping to catch up with them so that I can see the magazine!

Your publication is now resting 12,000 miles away from its source! How about that? Bet you wouldn't have thought that 2 or 3 years ago!

Tony George Albany Western Australia

Whitchurch, Llandaff North and RhiwbinaI’ve lived in all three and loved them all!

Dear Editors Having read your article on Melingriffith Boys (Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 12),I would like if I may, to correct a few of the statements made.

The Bailiff of Forest Farm from the early 1920s to the late 1930s was my grandfather, Mr Samual Troake, not Troakes, as stated in your article.

My father, Mr Danny Mead married Sophia Troake of Forest Farm in 1928 and the wedding reception was held at the farm itself.

My mother’s sister, Florence, married Mr Ivor Harris, who also worked on the farm. They lived in one of the farm cottages which has since been demolished.

Joffre Troake, my uncle, ran his milk business from the farm until moving to his dairy at Llandaff City. He was a well known milkman around both Llandaff and Whitchurch until the late 1950s.

Jim Troake, his brother, became the Bailiff of the Whitchurch Hospital Farm, “Llwyn Malt” at Tongwynlais.

Another brother, Sam, drove the overhead gantry crane in the Melingriffith Tinplate Works.

I was born in Tymawr Road Llandaff North and went to Hawthorn Road School as a child where I made so many friends that I still have today.

In 1939 we moved to

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 6

Melingriffith Boys History

Ken Hopkins was born at Forest Farm in 1930

One morning, I was watching lime into it, and the milking and then move stood too near the shed over the cow’s tail. Phil the hole. Inside lifted the tail the shed, Dad and I was at once built a long covered wooden seat with from My early memories head to toe in a hole cut brown as a four out in the midd watery mess. I year old are of le. That was our looked like a our two toilet. After a mon gingerbread man terraced cottages. th or so, he !

They had, would move it from memory, Phil carried me along and dig three bedroom back to my s, mother, who anot one living room her hole. stripped my and a rear clothes off and With no running scullery which wash would now be water to bathe, we had muck off me unde ed the called a kitchenet a long r the te. We had galvanised tin communal cold no bathroom, no bath which my wate running water parents would Luckily, the summ r pump. and no electricity fill with buckets . We relied on ers were of water heated warmer in those paraffin lamps up on the for light. days. open coal or wood On another occa Outside, there was a sion, Phil fires. went on his hors My father was communal hand good with his e and cart, to water-pump hands. He built collect some hay which was shar us goalposts ed by from the with nets for us barn. As he forke families – the Hopk three to play football d the hay ins, the and made a swin onto the cart, he Richards next door, g with rope disturbed a and a wooden courting couple.

Youngs who were and the swing seat, The girl the farmers. swinging from screamed, they In my family were the branch of a both jumped my mum, tree. The Youn down and ran my dad Ned, and gs had a off laughing. my two elder billiards or snoo Phil chased them brothers – Ron ker table in the who was ten and warned upstairs of their them not to tresp years older and barn! ass on the Bill my senior farm again. In In 1935, we move by eight years. my innocence, There was d to No.4, I Heol Booker, wondered what another brother, and the cottages it was all Teddy, who were demolish about. died aged ten ed. We thought while that our new coun undergoing surg Our outside toilet cil house ery at Cardiff , which was was quite posh at the very end Royal Infirmary. . We had a of the garden toilet, a bathroom was a sort of mob Phil Young work with hot and ile shed. It ed cold running wate had four whee father’s farm. They on my ls and four r, a gas told me cooker, electric handles, like a that, as a nose lighting and a rickshaw. My y youngster, I wireless with a father would dig would follow him battery that a large hole in everywhere. had to be char the garden, throw ged. a bag of

Pantmawr Road, Whitchurch where I spent my teenage years until I married. We then moved to Cambourne Avenue, Whitchurch.

After my demob from the forces, we later moved to our present address here in Rhiwbina. You could say that I more than qualify for Whitchurch, Llandaff and Rhiwbina Living!

Brian Mead Heol Mabon Rhiwbina Cardiff

Whitchurch and

Llandaff Living

Page 12

Dear Editors I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your publication.

I am always keen to pick up a copy and it seems that others are too as your magazines fly off your stands.

We have so much history and heritage in our area, and it is great to see this being celebrated instead of cast to the annals of ‘Forgottensville’.

Keep up the good work and thank you for all your hard work.

M Buckley Email, Llandaff North

Letters

Living Magazines on the World Wide Web!

Dear Editors I lived in Llandaff North since I was born in 1949. I moved out in 1972 when I got married and have lived in Caerphilly ever since. My cousin in Llantwit Major has just brought your publication to my notice and I find it very interesting.

I am however, unable to open the latest edition on my computer for some unknown reason. I would also like to view any of the previous editions that you have available. If I am able to subscribe to future issues can you tell me what I need to do.

Wayne Abrahams Caerphilly

Thank You Readers!

Dear Editors On behalf of the Rotary Club of Cardiff, may I thank all those readers of your magazine, who donated old garden tools for the Tools For Self Reliance project.

The tools are currently being repaired or refurbished in workshops in Crickhowell.

Once they are finished, they’ll be sent out to Tanzania and other African countries. If any other readers have any old or broken tools please contact Dafydd Thomas on Cardiff 20614242 or e-mail dafyddthomas1@googlemail. com.

Dafydd Thomas (on behalf of the Rotary Club of Cardiff)

Keep your letters coming!

Address on the inside front cover

Dear Editors.

My cousin has sent me two recent numbers of your magazine, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

The last number covered some memories of Forest Farm where my grand father Sam Troake had been manager (not Jeff Troakes as in the magazine). My father was called Joff Troake and was raised on the farm.

I would appreciate receiving the magazine directly. Is this possible?

Regards Robert Troake Cleeve, Slapton Kingsbridge Devon TQ7 2PT

Bin the Bags!

Dear Editors I am writing to you as I am becoming increasingly annoyed by the amount of charity bags that are being delivered to my address.

Whilst I understand the need to raise money for charity (I regularly donate to local charities), I am sure that other residents will know what I am talking about. I am concerned, not only about the number of charity bags that are being distributed, but the way in which they are being ‘delivered’.

The people who they entrust to deliver these bags are becoming more and more lazy. On my walks around the village, I am seeing bags

Editors’ Response We have a limited amount of back copies available for past issues. We try to get as many magazines into the hands of readers as possible. However, if there is a specific issue that you require, please contact us to see if we have a copy.

If you’d like to receive future issues of any of our magazines, you can send us a cheque for £5 (to cover UK postage costs) and we’ll send you out a copy as soon as we get our copies back from the printers.

Cheques need to be made payable to either of the editors, and posted to our address on the inside front cover of the magazine.

being left at the end of drives, sometimes even stuck in gates. I took a photo of one which was left on the steps to some flats. Clearly if an elderly person were to descend these stairs on a rainy day, they may not see the glossy bag and they could easily fall.

I’m hoping that this practice can be changed before there is an injury to one of us.

Mrs H Evans Email (Llandaff North)

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 7

Interview

Pulling s e p a h S

nno Pop headliner Gwe ritish Saunders fronts B ettes. ip P e h T p u o r g l ir g taf n la G r e m r o f e h t t Ye en t t o g r o f ’t n s a h il p pu s. t o o r f if d r a C h t r o her N

I

t’s certainly been a unique and creative career so far for Welsh pop musician Gwenno Saunders. A lead dancer in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance at the age of 17, a role in Pobol y Cwm, her own show on S4C and currently one half of The Pipettes, Gwenno has become one of Cardiff’s most talented exports.

Yet, her formative years were right here in North Cardiff.

Gwenno attended Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in Llandaff North, which to date, has provided the world with a glut of respected and well-known celebrities.

“North Cardiff is a little outside the city so it was quieter there than other parts of Cardiff. My favourite memories of the school are probably from break times -

corner shops and hanging out at the sandpit at the end of the playing field. As it was the only first language Welsh school in Cardiff at the time it meant that anyone who'd gone to a Welsh speaking primary school ended up there which made it incredibly diverse. There's also the fact that there seemed to be an influx of Welsh speakers who had moved from other areas of Wales for work, in the media or otherwise. It meant that a lot of pupils could take advantage of the fact they spoke good Welsh for work in TV and music. I think that’s why it’s produced so many talented and well-known personalities.”

Gwenno’s musical roots however, go back even further.

Her father, Tim Saunders is the noted Cornish poet and linguist.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 8

“My parents have had a huge influence on me with regards to music and the arts in general. My mum was a founding member of Cor Cochion Caerdydd, a socialist street choir who sing every Saturday in town. She still sings with them to this day. We always sang with her when we were young and went on antiapartheid marches and miner's pickets most weekends. My dad on the other hand always wrote poems and stories for us in Cornish when we were growing up. I can't count the amount of hours that he, Ani (my sister) and I made up really silly songs about traffic lights, toys and food!”

Gwenno’s appetite for music at a young age led her to Las Vegas when she became a cast member of Lord of the Dance at the age of just 17.

Photograph courtesy of Robert Attard

“Ani and I always did Irish dancing. I wasn't hugely interested in school at the time (being a typically rebellious teenage girl) and a chance to audition came up in Dublin. I went to Coleg Glan Hafren for two weeks and then I got the call to join and tour the world.

Don't get me wrong, I worked hard at it but it really was a wonderful opportunity, especially as Irish dancing had really been an underground thing up until that point. I had never imagined earning a living from it.

“I missed Wales a lot though.

I missed its sense of history.

Las Vegas has always demolished its own history which has been a shame I think. It really was just the complete opposite of what I'd known. It really is only one city in the US though, and I'm glad I experienced it. But three days in Vegas is enough, let alone two years!”

Lord of the Dance provided Gwenno with a big break, but ultimately, it gagged her creative streak. During her two years in Las Vegas, Gwenno’s yearning to create her own music brought about a new way of expressing herself - and also brought her back home to Cardiff.

“I left Lord Of The Dance when I was 19. I'd been thinking a lot about wanting to make music, encouraged by my dancing experiences and was looking for new ways of creative expression. I'd always absolutely adored music and singing, enjoyed playing the piano and violin as well as making up songs, so I moved back to Wales. I released a few EPs on Crai Records which is a part of Sain, and in that Photograph courtesy of Jonathan Luna

process I met people who knew the British pop girl group, The Pipettes. I went to see them play and purely by chance, they were looking for a singer.

I was touring with Riverdance at the time and wasn't sure which direction I should take with my music but the band were perfect - they made pop music as it should be. I joined them in April 2005. Ani, my sister then joined in 2008.

Their singles Pull Shapes, released in 2006, and Your Kisses are Wasted On Me, released in 2007, both did well in the UK, US and Asian singles charts.

“We’ve toured the world over the past six years, played some amazing shows and just recently released our second album Earth VS The Pipettes.

Who knows which direction the band will take next? I've always followed my nose when it comes to these things so I'm sure it'll become clear soon.”

Gwenno’s strong Celtic roots have given her a sense of free spirit. It’s also given her a passionate view of her own country that highlights a great lack of appreciation of life as society tumbles through the great technological revolution.

“I've been incredibly lucky to speak both Cornish and Welsh fluently. As well as doing the Irish dancing, I’ve developed an understanding of Irish history and music. These languages and cultures are so important to our sense of who

Interview

we are and what makes us different. It's part of the fabric of the British Isles and one that is important to celebrate and to keep alive. Society tries to evolve and move forward at an alarming rate and people's obsession with the idea of the future has almost become null and void with the information revolution. We've destroyed our planet and lost meaning and reason for our existence; it's worth remembering our forefathers, that connection with the earth, where we've come from, and with our own imaginations.”

Gwenno’s been looking to use these thoughts and her experiences in her latest project.

“I'm writing a solo album at the moment. It's just at the demo stage but I'm trying to pull all of my influences together- old worlds and new, into a coherent pop record. My aim is to keep on making music, keep on performing and creating.”

But the capital city of Wales has not left the woman who has never forgotten her North Cardiff roots.

“I don't get back often enough. I love Cardiff.”

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 9

LLANDAFF INSTITUTE ESTABLISHED 1866

A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB

Become a member of the exclusive Llandaff Institute and become part of its proud heritage.

Join us at exclusive ticketed events, cue up with friends in the beautiful Snooker Room, or simply relax in the Members’ Lounge at your leisure.

SNOOKER ROOM Our Tudor Room is also available to hire for parties for non-members.

CALL 02920 564706 to arrange a visit.

MEMBERS’ LOUNGE

Photographs © Llandaff Society 2010

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cARDIFF nORTH Celebs

s y o B e h T “MY WORK IS A PAID HOBBY”

Now one of Radio One’s prominent DJs, Huw Stephens cut his teeth as a teenager on Rookwood Radio at Rookwood Hospital. Son of prominent Welsh writer Meic Stephens, Huw landed the job at Radio One at the age of just 17. He even opened his A-level results live on air. “Ironically, I got a B, B and C for my grades” Huw told Living Magazines. Huw also appears on BBC Radio Wales.

“MY FIRST EVER JOB WAS ON POBOL Y CWM. FROM THEN ON, I WAS BITTEN”

Famous for such roles as Hornblower, and Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic Four, Ioan Gruffudd sat his GCSEs and A levels at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in Llandaff North. A natural musician, Ioan played the oboe for the South Wales Youth Orchestra for many years. He later landed a part in Pobol Y Cwm, filmed in the BBC studios in Llandaff, before breaking into his international role of Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in James Cameron’s multiaward winning blockbuster Titanic in 1997.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 12

Meet some of the big names who hail from North Cardiff

“I STILL SPEAK WELSH ABOUT FOUR TIMES A WEEK”

Long-time friend of Ioan Gruffudd, Matthew Rhys is now best known for his role of Kevin Walker in the hit TV series, Brothers and Sisters. Brought up in Whitchurch, Matthew now lives in West Hollywood, but still manages to speak Welsh ‘about four times a week’. In 2008, Matthew starred alongside Kiera Knightley and Sienna Miller in the critically-acclaimed Edge Of Love, playing the role of famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.

“A SUDDEN BOLT OF CREATIVE LIGHTNING”

Described by the Los Angeles Times as a ‘sudden bolt of creative lightning’, musician Ceiri Torjussen has scored and orchestrated on dozens of films including Hellboy, Terminator 3 and and The Day After Tomorrow.

The fluent Welsh speaker also attended Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and now lives in Los Angeles and has won numerous accolades.

all stars

Celebs

The Girls “WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I’D JUST SAT MY ‘O’ LEVELS AND THE CAREERS TEACHER TOLD ME HE COULD GET ME A NICE JOB ANSWERING PHONES”

Baroness Grey-Thompson OBE attended Birchgrove Primary School as a child, where she tried tried many sports including swimming, archery and horse riding.

She went on to win 11 Paralympic gold medals, took up a TV career, became the patron to many charities, was awarded an MBE, then an OBE and then a became a Dame Commander Order of the British Empire in 2005.

“CATRIN FINCH PLAYS THE HARP. WHEN SHE DOES, THE WORLD STOPS TURNING”

Cardiff North resident Catrin Finch has been described as the ‘Queen of Harps’.

Born in Ceredigion, and taking up the harp at the age of five, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2002. She received the Queen’s Award for the most outstanding student of the year.

She is the former Royal Harpist to Prince Charles, and has toured with world extensively, appearing on many TV and radio appearances. She has also worked with world-renowned composers John Rutter and Howard Goodall.

“I NEVER WANTED TO BE FAMOUS. I JUST WANTED TO SING”

The ultimate teenage star, Charlotte Church rose to fame as a classical singer before turning her attentions to the world of pop.

She has sung for the Pope, the Queen and Bill Clinton, hosted her own TV chat show, and was even once voted ‘Rear of the Year’. The Llandaff-born star has probably fulfilled many a young girl’s dream, and is now playing mum to two young children, fathered by Gavin Henson. Charlotte though just keeps on reinventing herself!

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 13

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copies of our magazines are produced each year, covering Whitchurch, Llanda, Llanda North, Rhiwbina and Danescourt. Advertising from just .25. Free advert design, free distribution, free editorial on our website. www.livingmags.co.uk

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Customer Comments

Then and Now

The Shop s of Mer thy r Roa d , W hitchu rch

In a recently published book, local historian Steve Nicholas charts the story of our local communities.

Excerpts from ‘Whitchurch and Llandaff North Through Time’ will continue to be serialised here throughout the year.

Whitchurch Village: The thatched shop in the left picture is JA Lewis, the drapers.

In the 1980s, it was Percy Thomas Florists Ltd and is presently Pizzeria Villagio, an Italian restaurant.

Crossroads: the junction between Penlline Road, Old Church Road and Merthyr Road c. 1900

A view of Whitchurch village, looking northwards through Merthyr Road

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 16

Then and Now

William Hill: Pictured here passing through Whitchurch village in 1904 is the last local courier, William Hill. The buildings in the background are now occupied by Coopers Cafe, New Empire Chinese Take-Away and the Cardiff Bed & Furniture Centre

Whitchurch village c.1960: Not much has changed in these two views apart from vehicle design

Whitchurch village scene, August 1974: Some of the shops pictured were Rediffusion, Boots the Chemist, LG Humphries Carpets, The Principality, Dewhursts Butchers and Forest Farm Dairy. Of these, only Boots and The Principality remain.

This captivating collection of 192 past and present images focuses on the land, streets and buildings in the communities of Whitchurch and Llandaff North, capturing the changes that have occurred in the last century.

Published by Amberley Publishing (www.amberleybooks.com), the book is also available from local book shops priced ÂŁ14.99

Whitchurch and Llanda Living Page 17

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Living Magazines News

What our advertisers say......

We have been advertising in both Rhiwbina Living and Whitchurch and Llandaff Living since their very first issues, and not a week goes by without someone saying that they have seen our advert in the magazines. We are pleased to be associated with such professional magazines and we can honestly say that it’s far better to be in the magazines than not!”

Paul Ballard, Serenade, (South Wales Echo’s Winner of ‘They’re the Business’ Award 2010), Rhiwbina I placed an advert in Rhiwbina Living in autumn this year to try to boost my food trade and was extremely impressed with the results. The advert generated a terrific amount of new trade through the door. It’s now very difficult to get a table in my restaurant on a Sunday afternoon!

I was so impressed that in the next quarter, I placed an advert in both the Whitchurch and Llandaff Living magazine as well as the Rhiwbina Living magazine for a second time.

I am looking forward to a bumper Christmas now!

Paul Beales, Landlord, The Butchers Arms Rhiwbina

As featured by:

We’ve been doing it since 2007, but going hyperlocal is quickly becoming the most effective way to get your business message into the hands of potential customers.

Whereas other larger publications spread themselves out over wide areas, we hit specific, welldefined geographical areas even down to the number of houses we deliver to!

Intended primarily for the communities of North Cardiff, we also promote your business through the world wide web, including social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

If you’re a business who needs some assistance in building brand awareness, why not promote to customers who are already on your doorstep through us? We even provide free design and free distribution on your behalf.

For more information, including details of our new third publication, visit www.livingmags.co.uk or call 07772 081775.

We decided to advertise in both editions of your publication in 2010 and were very pleased with the response it generated in terms of attracting new customer enquiries and comments received from our existing customers.

Your magazine is eagerly anticipated by its readers and most importantly read unlike other free publications.

Matt Trevett, Absolute Care (Wales)

Just a quick note to thank you for all of your valued time and support in helping us place our first advert with yourselves in your Whitchurch and Llandaff Living publication. The finished article looked great! Your operation runs very professionally, yet you still seem to find the time to give the customer the friendly and committed service they require which seems to be a rare commodity in these times! Thanks once again and keep up the good work, Alan Gadsby, Anglo Celtic Stone Ltd

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 21

Did you know that we also offer leaflet design, copywriting and PR services?

Call us on 07772 081775 for a friendly chat. www.livingmags.co.uk

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It is no secret that people are living longer. Indeed, continuing improvements in health care and better lifestyle often means that we could quite easily live until well into our eighties and nineties, whilst many more of us will reach the magic century of age.

However, longer life can also bring its own particular financial problems to deal with. Here at Watkin Davies in Whitchurch, we are well versed in later life issues and can offer you just the kind of guidance you need. Our specialist later life advisers have almost 40 years, collectively, of experience in advising clients.

Planning for the day when we could need the specialist care services needs to take place early. One only has to take a look at how care costs have risen in the last ten years, to see just how important this all is, as evidenced by the following facts: • In Wales, the average annual cost for a room in a nursing home is a staggering £30,628.

• 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 are likely to need long term care.

• If you have more than £22,000 in savings (including the value of your house if you own it) then you will have to pay the full cost of the fees.

Expert Dave Hayman specialises in providing long term care funding advice. He is able to help you to consider the options available to help pay for care and assist you in minimising the impact of long term care fees.

To complement this, we have our expert in this area, Paul Fielding. Paul is a long standing and respected Equity Release Adviser, who is able to assist clients in raising the necessary capital to help fund suitable Long Term Care arrangements.

For a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with one of our Advisers, please call us on 02920 626226 and ask to be put through. If our specialists are already engaged when you call, we will happily call you back.

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Readers’ Survey

Readers’ Survey

Since our launch in 2008, Whitchurch and Llandaff Living has been providing the people of North Cardiff with a regular and useful source of local information. But we’d like to do better. We’d like to know what we’re getting right, and what we can do to improve. This is YOUR magazine.

We’d be grateful if you could spend five or ten minutes filling in this questionnaire to let us know what you think about Whitchurch and Llandaff Living. We can accept photocopies if you don’t want to cut up this copy.

Please send completed forms to our usual address on the inside front cover.

Magazine

1. How would you rate the contents of the magazine?

Poor/Average/Good/ Very Good 2. How would you rate the layout of the magazine?

Poor/Average/Good/ Very Good 3. How well does Whitchurch and Llandaff Living keep you abreast with news of your local community?

Poorly/Average/Well/ Very Well

4. How do you rate the quality of writing in Whitchurch and Llandaff Living?

Poor/Average/Good/Very Good

5. Which is your favourite part of the magazine?

Advertising

1. Have you used any of our advertisers for their services? Yes/No If so, who and how many times?

Distribution

1. Where do normally pick up your copy of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living?

One of our stands/ Local shops/ A friend/colleague/ Other (please specify)

2. Do you keep past copies of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living? Yes/No

3. How many people in your household read Whitchurch and Llandaff Living?

Website

1. How would you rate our website on the following: Design: Poor/Average/Good/ Very Good Interest: Poor/Average/Good/ Very Good

Other

Further Comments Improvements:

Best bits:

Would you recommend Whitchurch and Llandaff Living to someone else?

Yes/No

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 23

Local Causes

In a new feature, we take a look at the work of the good work RSPCA Cardiff & District undertaken by local Branch charities in the area.

74 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, This issue: The RSPCA

Tel: 029 20521177

Cardiff. CF1 1DJ

Email: rspcabox.cardiff@hotmail.co.uk

This is an extremely busy time for the branch – and it’s likely to continue for a few months yet. At the moment we’ve got several mums and their litters of kittens looking for new homes. Whereas there are usually plenty of people looking for a kitten, we would like prospective adopters to consider the lovely mums when they are finally kitten free and neutered. Here are just a few: Opal is the oldest of our single mums at around 6 years old.

She has just had her 11th litter of kittens. She was a brilliant mum to all four kittens in her last litter and even adopted a little lone kitten into her brood.

Opal is a beautiful chocolate colour. She’s extremely affectionate, loves to curl up on a comfy lap and is good with children and possibly other cats.

She will be neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, flead, wormed and ready to enjoy some pampering of her own.

Nutmeg is around two years old and has recently given birth to three beautiful kittens. They have now all been reserved and can't wait to go to their new homes. Nutmeg was not the most maternal of cats and found having kittens a real inconvenience - she would much rather sit on her outdoor shelf and catch strokes from passers by.

She has been neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped and is desperate to have a space all to herself. Here are a few words from our cat socialiser: "Nutmeg has a lovely personality, she is so loving and extremely playful. She really deserves a perfect forever home, come and meet her today.”

This beautiful little cat goes by the name of Olivia. She gave birth to five gorgeous kittens and even adopted another little straggler.

Olivia is about 18 months old, so only a kitten herself. She is extremely affectionate and has been a terrific mum! She really deserves a very special home where she can have lots of TLC all to herself.

Olivia seems to get on quite well with other cats, she is also great with young children

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 24

because she is so laid back.

She has now been neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped and can't wait to find her new forever home and enjoy her kitten free life.

It is inevitable that we’ll get more mums and kittens in as the season progresses. So do please give us a call if you are considering a new pet.

We don’t have an animal centre in Cardiff - our cats are usually at private catteries or with fosterers – and we are always grateful for donations of pet food, especially kitten food - also towels, scratch posts, toys etc. Goods can be dropped at our Whitchurch office, or please call if you would like them collected.

RSPCA Cardiff & District Branch has now been based in Whitchurch for a couple of years and we are so grateful for the support we’ve received to date. Many people are unaware that, as a Branch of the RSPCA, we are an independent charity. We receive no financial support from the National Society – nor do we receive any government or Lottery funding. Therefore our work with local animals in need depends on the support of the community, by way of donations, legacies, fundraising etc.

During 2010 we rehomed over 350 unwanted or cruelty case animals. We helped hundreds of people struggling to pay emergency vet bills and helped hundreds more to neuter and microchip their pets. Without the support of the community we would be unable to do this, so we’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you!

Lynne Williams, Office Manager

Pets

Local Pets Can I Clean My Dog’s Sore Teeth?

My elderly mother has an old red setter who seems to be in a little pain with teeth. She tends to gulp her food down now instead of chewing it.

Am I able to clean the dog’s teeth myself?

Dental problems are incredibly common in older pets, so it’s quite likely that your diagnosis of oral pain is correct. However, it’s not likely that you will be able to improve her comfort by brushing her teeth alone, at this late stage. The most frequent cause of dental problems is a buildup of tartar on the teeth - this is a hard yellow-brown material which is stuck very firmly, and can only be removed by mechanical scraping.

Tartar causes gum inflammation and infection which damages the gum support to the teeth, eventually leading to loss of the teeth. Dogs can also get abscesses under their teeth, and caries (rotten teeth), so there are several possible reasons for your dog’s discomfort. The good news is that these problems can almost always be treated very successfully and it is really important that you get your mother’s dog to your vet as soon as possible.

Toothbrushing is a useful way of helping your dog’s teeth stay healthy.

Tartar starts off as soft plaque on the surface of the teeth, and this can be removed by brushing (and to a certain extent by chewing on hard or fibrous material).

Within 48 hours, plaque starts to harden into tartar which can’t be brushed off, so you need to brush the teeth every day. You should always use a pet toothpaste not a human one, as they taste better and are safe to swallow - it is difficult to get your dog to rinse & spit!

Basket Case?

Our Pets Page gives you the chance to put your questions to your local vet, Chris Troughton of the Heath Veterinary Group.

Drop us a line if you have a question for Chris to editor@livingmags.co.uk

I have a 9 year old tabby who we’ve had as a family pet for about 5 years. He was a rescue cat, and as such, he is very nervous. I have great difficulty in getting him into his carry basket when I need to visit the vets. Do you have any advice on how to calm my little moggy?

There is a very useful pheromone treatment called ‘Feliway’ which makes many cats more relaxed. You can spray it in the basket and on the blanket or towel you put in there (use one he already sleeps on in his bed, if possible, so he’s familiar with it) Feliway is available at your vets.

Try to remain calm and unstressed yourself when getting him in the basket, as cats are very sensitive to their owner’s feelings and will react accordingly. The top-opening cat baskets are far easier to use, but if yours opens at the end, one trick I find very helpful is to put the cat in backwards - bottom first. Once in the basket, some cats seem happier if they can see out, others are calmer if they are in the dark. You should be able to work out what your cat prefers.

To Be or Not to Be Brushed?

Insisting that he is groomed will not relieve his stress and anxiety if he dislikes it, but if he has a long coat, it is important it is brushed regularly to stop it matting.

Ideally, grooming needs to be started at a young age, and be done ‘little and often’; follow the grooming with a reward and make the whole experience pleasant for both of you.

The same principle applies to your fearful older cat - to get him to accept grooming, you need to build up his tolerance gradually.

Try one of the glove-brushes to start, and only do it for a very short time. Be calm and gentle and reward him afterwards with a favourite treat.

Gradually increase the time you are able to brush him, and try using an ordinary brush and comb. If you find knots in his coat, gently tease them out, or cut them with scissors - but be very careful as we regularly have to treat wounds created when cutting knots out.

I’ve heard that brushing my cat can help relieve stress and anxiety, but as soon as he sees the brush, he runs and hides. I’m worried that he may get knots in his fur.

Most cats certainly enjoy being stroked and it does help to relax them, but this enjoyment doesn’t always extend to being brushed!

Pets’ Page is sponsored by the Heath Veterinary Group

(029) 2062 1511

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 25

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH UPDATE

Policing North Cardiff

with Bill Farnham

I have met with residents of Blandon Way and Cwrt Eglwys Newydd/St Mary’s Court, and Tyn-y-Pwll Road, Whitchurch who are very keen to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group. I hope to finalise the launch dates for these watches as soon as I get firm details.

National Neighbourhood Watch Week 2011 is from the 18th to 25th June and I will be available to speak to anyone interested in setting up a watch at the following locations: Saturday 18th June - Whitchurch Library 10.30am -12.30pm; Wednesday 22nd June - The Tanyard, Queen Street, Tongwynlais 10am - 12 noon; Saturday 25th June George Thomas Hospice, Summer Fete in the grounds of Whitchurch Hospital.

We recently ran a meeting of the Cardiff West Neighbourhood Watch Association on 16th May at the Fairwater Conservative Club, Ely Road, Llandaff. The speaker was a member of the Community Payback Team and all Watch Co-ordinators and Watch members are invited to attend our next one.

The last PACT meeting for the Whitchurch and Tongwynlais area was held on the 24th May at the Community Centre, Old Church Road, Whitchurch.

Please call 02920 527301 if you are interested in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch.

Bill Farnham

Stuart Cozens, Paul Tebbutt and Emma Bowden January to March was a busy we maintained a high-visibility time of year for us. presence in the area.

The year started off with Pub Watch is an initiative some site visits to local that has drawn some interest addresses with a view to from local pubs. In all, 15 protecting people and licensed premises registered property. There is a large interest in the scheme, population of elderly residents working in conjunction with the in our area. We worked with Licensing Department at Trading Standards to advise Cardiff Bay Police Station. them of preventing distraction Engaging with the young burglaries following local population is another way of offences. helping form good We had a case of such a relationships with future distraction burglary on a 91generations. We held a Pizza year old resident. Five people and Pop event at Ainon have been arrested and bailed Baptist Church in regarding this particular Tongwynlais. We had around incident.

20 people attend, and we We recently ran a Crime discussed ASBO prevention Prevention Talk at the Ararat and engagement.

Church. Over 60 people As many of you will know, we attended. We had a larger run a Cuppa With A Copper attendance at our Asda Crime session every Thursday at our Prevention. Our display table police station in Whitchurch. attracted over 500 people and These are your chance to ask we received plenty of positive us any questions, or to bring feedback. Moreover, Asda any concerns to our attention. recorded no shoplifting that You can also contact keep up day! to speed with our We often work with local neighbourhood policing on our schools to combat truancy. As website, which can be found part of our on-going at www.ourbobby.com. The commitment, we contacted 10 site provides information on parents of truanting children neighbourhood policing, and from Whitchurch High School. will keep you informed about As part of our PACT our partnership work to tackle anti social behaviour, crime, priorities, we also mounted a speeding operation. This was and other problems.

If you have any issues you’d located at the Philog and over like to talk to us about, pop 500 vehicles were monitored into our station on Merthyr with a hand-held speed Road, Whitchurch or call us camera. 22 warning letters on 02920 527294. were sent out, even though

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 27

e Ca n a l h t y b n w o D

M

y Dad was Harman Williams, born at Melin House, Melingriffith, 5th August 1913.

He was one of a family of eleven children, born to Jennet Ann and David John Williams.

Grandad Williams was superintendent of the Melingriffith Tinplate Works and they all lived in a very large house (had to be with thirteen of them) and were locally referred to as Williams the Gate, because theirs was the only house that sported a gate. This was to differentiate them from the other Williams in the area.

Dad was the youngest but one of seven boys and he had four sisters. The boys were Harold, Harry, Charlie, Les, Cyril, Harman and David John, who was known as Jack. The girls were Nancy, Margaret, Ella and Betty. There had been another little girl called Nancy but she had died in infancy and when the next little girl was born, all the children said “We’ve got another Nancy” so Nancy she was called.

Harold enlisted on the 23rd August 1914 as a driver in the Army Service Corps, 2nd

Memories of Cardiff North

By Ann Sullivan

Division, 46th Company, 5th Brigade Cavalry Supply Column of the British Expeditionary Force. His diary is very interesting and I have a copy of it, having sent the original to the Imperial War Museum - I felt I had no right to keep it. I did try to trace some of my cousins (he had ten children apparently, none of whom I ever knew) but I did know he moved to Malpas in Gwent.

Considering that in the whole year the diary was written, he got no further than Marseilles and saw no military action, they all suffered appalling deprivation with regard to food and accommodation. They regularly slept on straw in barns and had little in the way of food. At one point, they had no facilities for bathe for months. In his diary, Harold refers to a man called Evan from The Mount going to hospital with diphtheria. There was also reference to Farringeson with tonsillitis and a chap from Porth called Burridge who was taken to hospital with pneumonia. The Red Cross man gave him little hope of his survival. This all happened in Marseilles.

It really is very sad indeed, but I have to say that Harold

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 28

was a survivor and had a sort of ‘Del Boy’ instinct for survival.

Things looked up for him when he was put on security on the docks giving him the opportunity to steal what he needed to survive.

Charlie joined the Royal Flying Corps - lucky to do so I imagine as you needed money to get in there.

This all contrasted to the idyllic childhoods they had experienced at Melingriffith learning to swim in the feeder which was so clean then, and swinging from ropes on the high branches of the trees in the Long Wood. Dad said they were like Tarzans swinging through the trees out over the canal, sometimes dropping from great heights when the ropes broke!

Cyril and Les were courting two sisters from the garage on Llantrisant Road so they had a boat which they rowed across the river and then walked across the fields to meet their sweethearts in Radyr, both of whom they eventually married.

My dad absolutely loved the canal all his life and when he was too frail to walk down there from Llancaiach Road where we eventually moved, I used to drive him down there on fine days and leave him

there for hours. He loved carving sticks in the most beautiful patterns and I am pleased to say I still have one of them, and a beautiful photograph of him doing the carving. This was taken by an amateur photographer who was down the canal one afternoon. Apparently the photograph was entered into a competition and won.

Dad could also make wooden whistles and he taught me how to throw ducks and drakes at the bottom of the weir with those lovely flat pebbles that collect there.

I have a delightful photograph of Dad when he was about ten or eleven years old sitting on the well opposite New Houses with all the other children in the area. The well is still there but now it’s descended into a pile of rubble so I doubt whether

many people know what it actually is. I feel it should have been preserved.

He said that on Fridays when the men at the tinplate works got paid the children would take buckets of spring water over to the men as they came out from work in summer months and usually they got some pennies for doing this.

They only did it on pay days though - how mercenary!

There were many horrific accidents at the works. I should imagine Health and Safety was a bit of a non-issue in those days. Cyril had his thumb pulled out completely by one of the machines which rolled the tinplate. He said he felt no pain in his hand at the time, only in his elbow when the sinew was pulled away.

Some people were actually pulled into the rollers and killed

Memories

and some had their feet sliced off by sheets of tinplate. I would imagine that if this sort of thing happened these days, they would be in for millions of pounds in compensation. But in those days you probably got nothing and lost your job and livelihood into the bargain.

Middle Lock

Do you have memories of times gone by in North Cardiff?

We’re looking to preserve our heritage for generations to come by publishing stories, pictures and memories of our area before it’s too late.

You can send in your stories to us by email or by post.

Contact details are on the inside front cover!

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 29

Crossword

Across 1.

4.

7.

underwater movie not a portrait? the end of alpha’s beginning 10. memorable 13. jealousy 14. great or remarkable 15. and onion 18. and veg 19. frog-like amphibian 21. by the law 23. contest to reach a certain point 24. foot ailment 26. skin darkening 27. heavy weight 29. cautious procedures 30. distribute with others 32. necessary 34. sailing boat

37. apply pressure 38. kick the proverbial 40. occurrence 42. not like 45. flea egg 46. nocturnal superhero 47. reduce in size

Down

1. commitment to do or not do something 2. legal proceedings for damages 3. cooking oil 4. very angry indeed 5. not happy at all 6. direct attention to the tip 8. creative expression 9. expression of enquiry 11. indoors

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 30

12. me as a pronoun 16. long-necked animal 17. notice for public display 18. compassion 20. notice of death 22. measurement around middle 25. provide with harness or equipment 28. brief record of facts 29. grip tightly 31. our sun is one 33. collection of songs or photos 35. slang for taxi 36. unpleasant smell 39. make an opening or incision 41. a doing word 43. a person of high rank

44. have information Last Issue’s Answers Across:

1 Liverpool; 5 panda; 9 zip; 10 mac; 11 aspirin; 12 gnu; 13 antisocial; 17 lay; 18 hum; 19 blend; 22 pop; 23 wit; 25 ring; 27 eyelash; 29 doughnut; 30 in; 31 ore; 34 bank; 38 waffle; 42 tiger; 43 telephone; 46 lapse; 47 envy

Down

1 length; 2 vacuum; 3 pizza; 4 oap; 5 piano; 6 Diana; 7 drip; 8 windy; 14 nut; 15 indigestion; 16 lamp; 19 underwear; 20 bib; 21 elf; 22 parsnip; 23 window; 24 fluff; 26 bruise; 28 ship; 32 pale; 33 cherry; 35 arch; 36 kiln; 37 alive; 38 wail; 39 flap; 40 stay; 41 flip; 44 pip; 45 egg; 48 no

O

nce upon a time.....As an English teacher, I once started the lesson by asking my students to write the first three lines of a story.

It was coming up to Hallowe’en and I thought it would be topical to focus our skills on writing horror. The school I was teaching in was an 19th century mansion house and the room we were in was particularly apt for our task at hand. We were at the very top of the house in what used to be the attic. The floorboards squeaked and the heavy wooden roof joists that ribbed the room were riddled with cobwebs and dark nooks. We shut the wooden shutters that hung on the windows for added effect.

Legend had it that the house used to be a convent. It was one stormy night, back in the late 1800s that one of the nuns, after having her illicit affair with a married man discovered, took a length of rope and hanged herself on the stairs leading up to the attic. And once a year, on the anniversary of her death, you can hear footsteps making their way up the stairs- and then stopping half way.

That’s what I told them anyway.

There was some truth in the story but it was always better to ‘add a little bit more spice’.

The students’ stories could be based anywhere and at any time, past, present or future. I gave them no more information than that and off they set. After three minutes of furious pen scribbling, I asked them to put their pens down. Looking a little bit confused, they put their pens down.

Starting at the back of the room, I asked them to read out the first four words of their story. It went something like this: “Once upon a time....”

“One day, I was...”

“One day, I was...”

“Once upon a time...”

“One day, I was...”

“Once upon a time...”

They soon got my point. As a writer, it was frustrating to see so much unoriginality in these kids’ heads.

Yet, how were they to know any different?

I’ve sat through many horror movies and have always failed to see why they are scary. Hollywood has a great tradition of churning out the same old rubbish when it comes to horror- a group of people (usually dopey American teenagers staying somewhere they shouldn’t be) getting bumped off by some figure from the past who wants to take revenge on blah blah blah.

The truly scary thing about these movies is that people continue to rent them, buy them and watch them when in fact, they all follow the same narrative pattern. And we all know that the baddie is always going to get it in the end.

Back in the room, as it were, the kids were realising that if they were going to grab the reader’s interest, they had to do it in the first few words of their story. We were about to move on to the next phase of the lesson when CLUNK- the lights went out. Slivers of daylight sliced through the shutters. Other than that, there was total darkness. Some of the girls screamed. Remembering that there was a torch in my top drawer, I fumbled around and switched it on.

I’d always wondered why it was there. Now I knew why.

I gathered the kids around.

Thinking on my feet, I thought it’d be fun to pass the torch around, to hold it under our chins to create a spooky face, and to tell each other ghost stories.

The kids really got in the spirit of things (pun intended) and the girls’ squealing was getting louder and louder. The torch passed to me and I started telling the kids about the day my grandfather drove past a friend of his. He was driving up Cemetery Lane in Barry, when up ahead he saw his old school friend, Billy Evans.

My grandad slowed as he approached Billy but Billy was acting

strange. For starters, he didn’t seem to notice the approaching car, and then he simply changed direction, and walked straight through the cemetery fence and disappeared behind a gravestone.

My grandad drove on but couldn’t see the gap that Billy would have just passed through.

When my grandad got home, the first thing he did was tell my grandmother about the strange experience he’d just had with Billy.

My nan, who was sat in her armchair reading the local newspaper, clasped her hand over her mouth.

She held out the newspaper on the page she was reading and showed it to my grandad.

He slumped into his chair in shock.

There in the paper was an obituary for his friend Billy Evans.

BAM! No sooner had I delivered the final, killer twist than the lights came back on in the classroom with a bang.

Everyone jumped including me. One girl was literally clinging to her friend and one boy had chewed his pen down to the nib.

At the end of the lesson, one of the more challenging pupils came up to me. She rolled up her sleeves to show me that the hairs on her arms were still stuck up in the air. She held out her hands - they were still shaking. She told me that she’d never forget that lesson. I told her that that was the power of stories.

For many of us, the fear of not knowing is the thing that gets to us most. For me, knowing how a predictable Hollywood film is going to pan out takes the fear out of the film. A good story throws in the unexpected. Which is why when I moved to a different school, and they turned my classroom into an office without consulting me, throwing all my resources in the skip (as well as offering my job to an unqualified teacher), I decided to leave teaching and set up Living Magazines instead.

The scary thing is, there are some stories you just couldn’t make up.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 31

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