Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 16

WHITCHURCH AND LLANDAFF

Living

At the heart of the community

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Issue 16 Dec ‘11 / Jan ’12

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Welcome

Welcome Croeso 3-4

News

5

Letters Letters to the Editors

8

Memories Pamela Dungey remembers the 1950s

12

Frozen in Time The Story of Captain Scott

16

Through Time Local Landmarks: Then and Now

19

Business in Focus Local business

21

Readers’ Room From the pens of local readers

24

Winter’s Walk Blow away those Christmas cobwebs

26

Gardening Seasons Your gardens through winter

31

Backlash Musings of the editor

Welcome to your winter edition of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living.

It’s been a funny old year. It only seems like yesterday that the first flakes of snow were falling for what turned out to be the white Christmas of 2010. And here we are again- Christmas is on the horizon. No snow so far. Fingers crossed it’ll stay at bay this year!

We’ve put together this Christmas issue after completing a very busy schedule.

Our magazines have really become part of the fabric of the community - so much so, that we’ve been inundated with articles, features and stories.

In this issue, we hear from resident Pamela Dungey, who recalls Llandaff North as it was in the 1950s. Its sense of community is apparent, and it’s credit to the people of Llandaff North that it still holds this way of life close to its heart.

100 years ago this month, Captain Scott and his four colleagues were heading south. Their infamous voyage had set off from Cardiff Docks six months earlier.

We retell the story of the expedition on page 12.

In the last of our Now and Then series, we take a last look at some of the photos that make up Steve Nicholas’s book - Whitchurch and Llandaff North Through Time. We’d like to thank Steve for letting us reproduce the fascinating collection of photos and words.

Our Reader’s Room has also proved very popular. This issue, it’s the turn of Eric Fletcher to put pen to paper. His story is on page 21.

If you’re feeling like you need to stretch your legs this Christmas, there’s a winter walk on page 24. And local resident Kevin Revell talks us through gardening throughout this cold season.

That just leaves it to us to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2012.

See you in the spring!

Patric and Danielle

Whitchurch and Llandaff 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

Editors

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 17 Friday 3rd February 2012.

Issue 17 publication date - late February. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is published 5 times a year.

CARDIFF IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED After nine months of filming in and around Cardiff, actor Matt Smith, who plays Dr Who, has publicly recommended Cardiff as a place to visit.

Smith is reported as saying: “Many of our scenes are shot in quarries, a lot of forests and in famous castles, so we get to take the Tardis on a grand sightseeing tour of Wales.

“There are plenty of things to do if you come to visit Cardiff, but a must is probably to go and watch one of the Six Nations rugby games.

“I like the way the Welsh are so passionate about their sport and on a Saturday when the rugby is on, Cardiff becomes rugby orientated in a way that not many cities are.”

Matt was recently spotted

BBC CONSIDERS LEAVING LLANDAFF

filming this year’s Dr Who Christmas Special in nearby Rhiwbina. Filming took place in November.

The show will be broadcast at teatime on Christmas Day.

WHITCHURCH HIGH’S SPORTS CREDENTIALS RECOGNISED BY THE PRIME MINISTER Whitchurch High School was recently lauded by Prime Minister David Cameron for its production of several world-class sportsmen.

The Prime Minister described the string of rugby, football and cycling stars who have come through the ranks at Whitchurch High School as “impressive” – and said whatever they were drinking, he wanted some.

Among Whitchurch’s latest heroes are Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton, international footballer Gareth Bale and Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist, Geraint Thomas.

Mr Cameron told MPs in the House of Commons: “I have to say that is a very impressive list of sports personalities who have attended this school.

“I do not know what they put in the water, but I think we would probably all like to have some.

“I certainly join my honourable friend in congratulating such an excellent school.”

His praise for Whitchurch High

NEWS

School was prompted by the Conservative MP for Cardiff North, Jonathan Evans, at Prime Minister’s Questions in early November.

Sam Warburton told Living Magazines: “I was playing rugby at primary school. I was always good at sprinting so the Head put me on the wing in Year 5 rugby. I didn’t have a clue what to do to be honest, so I stood there for a while until someone gave me the ball.

“At the age of 16, I represented South Wales in the shotput and came second in the Welsh Championships.

I’ve done all sorts – cricket, discus, high jump, running and athletics!”

A recent review could see BBC Wales relocate from its current base in Llandaff.

BBC Wales Director, Rhodri Talfan Davies recently emailed the 1,200 staff at the building, outlining three main options that the organisation is facing. Two of those options involve moving from Broadcasting House, which has been home to BBC Wales for the last 45 years.

Problems with the building’s outof-date IT infrastructure has been quoted as the main problem facing the BBC. The email read: “Although the property element of the review is restricted to Cardiff, this study will provide us with an opportunity to look afresh at the way we do things right across BBC Wales: how we use technology and what we might be able to do to make the ways we work simpler and more effective.”

Sources from within the BBC have told Living Magazines that management may want to relocate to new headquarters at a site next to Roath Lock, possibly in conjunction with Welsh language broadcaster S4C, which in future will be funded from the licence fee.

Recent cuts made to ITV Wales also means that the current building is under-occupied.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 3

I

FOREST FRIENDS NEW YEAR WALK

NEWS CROSSING CALLED FOR BY LOCALS There have been calls from residents in Llandaff North to install a pedestrian crossing on Station Road.

Both school-children and commuters alike have to cross the road near the Cow and Snuffers.

Local residents believe that speeding cars, and the sheer volume of traffic passing through Llandaff North, particularly at rush hour, can possibly lead to an accident.

Some residents have approached the Council about the possibility of installing a crossing. Officers from the council have responded by saying that they will look at the possibility, before coming to a conclusion.

Overindulged this Christmas? New Year’s resolution to get fit? What better way to blow away those Christmas cobwebs with a winter walk through the countryside.

Join the Friends of Forest Farm and Friends of Hailey Park on Sunday 15 January 2012, (10.30-13.00) for a walk.

Find out about the heritage and natural history of this area in north Cardiff.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Dogs are welcome too. Meet at the Melingriffith Water Lift Engine, Ty Mawr Road. The distance is 5km and the event is free.

DESCENDANTS OF DOCKS MAGNATE RETURN TO HISTORIC HOUSE IN CORYTON Two descendants of a Cardiff shipping magnate have recently returned to the former family home in Coryton.

John and James Cory, great grandsons of Sir Herbert Cory, visited the new owners of Coryton House, which is now an independent school for children with autism.

Pupils of the school presented the pair with a Cory family tree which they had spent weeks putting together in the weeks leading up to the guests arriving.

John Cory and Son helped shape the city of Cardiff when the city was at the height of its coal-exporting fame. Sir Herbert, son of John Cory, built Coryton House in 1900, when Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 4

Cardiff was exporting 10m tonnes of coal every year.

Following Sir Herbert’s death in 1933 the house, off Pendwyallt Road, Coryton, was used as the civil defence headquarters for Cardiff.

INSOLE COURT TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS REFURBISHMENT Insole Court in Llandaff has been awarded £165,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to prepare restoration plans.

If the plans are approved, the the mansion will receive a further £1.9m to carry out the changes.

The chairman of the trust, Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, said it was "splendid news" which allowed architects to be instructed on the plans.

The proposals must be submitted by the end of January, with the total cost nearing £4m.

Sir Norman said there would be much consultation with interested groups, such as local residents and Cadw, the Welsh historical monuments body.

If approved, the restoration could be given the go-ahead by the end of 2012.

HELP NEEDED 2nd Llandaff Beavers and Scouts are currently looking for a Leader and an Assistant to help out with the group’s activities.

“We need someone to be a coBeaver Leader and someone as an Assistant. We meet Tuesdays 6.30pm to 7.30pm, for ages 6-8, boys and girls. Our Scout Hall is on the corner of Belle Vue Crescent and Hazelhurst Road in Llandaff North. It is an eventful programme full of fun, in need of someone to take on some of the work load if not be a leader and co-run the events. Training is given by the Scout Association, so come use your skills and learn some new ones.” Please call Margaret Horne on 029 2056 4295.

Remembering Jack Petersen

LETTERS

Dear Editors After reading the very interesting article on Jack Petersen (Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Autumn 2011), I remembered taking the photograph (opposite) of Jack,

his wife and mother in Newton, Porthcawl in 1938 or 1939. I was 11 or 12 years of age.

The camera I had in those days was a ‘Baby Brownie’, and took photos 1.5 x 2.5 inches. I have had the original blown up for publication in your magazine, but this may mean that the quality is not so good.

I thought it might be of interest to your readers. I remember being somewhat in awe of Jack at the time, as I knew that he was famous, although I knew very little about boxing at the time.

Dear Editors We recently visited the village of Llandaff (or is it Llandaf? We saw

two spellings!) and picked up a copy of your magazine from outside the local shop there. It was the first time we have visited the area, as it was highly recommended to me by a friend.

We wanted to congratulate the

H Paterson Bishops Close Whitchurch Cardiff

Jack Petersen, his wife and his mother photographed by one of our readers in Porthcawl during the 1930s

residents of the area - we have nothing like this in the States and we’re very jealous! As well as the hugely impressive history of the village, we were also taken by the cosyness of it all- the little shops, the coffee shops and the pubs. One such pub (we forget the name) is supposedly frequented by famous rugby players. We didn’t see any when

we visited, and we don’t know much about the game over here but it we did impress family and friends when we got back.

We would highly recommend the village to our other American friends, and travelers.

D & H Aguiar Monmouth New Jersey U SA

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 5

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Llandaff North: My Memories

by Pamela Dungey

I was raised in Belle Vue Crescent, and to me, Llandaff North will always be my family home even these many years since I long since moved away.

I was one of four children - Angela, Christine, me (Pamela) and the only boy, John. My parents were Ron and Rosemary Dungey. We had a wonderful childhood. Llandaff North had so many characters that I look back on fondly.

We lived next door to Mr and Mrs Brann. They were an elderly couple who kept their garden immaculate.

They didn't appreciate four rowdy children throwing their ball over their garden several times a day be-heading their glorious rose bushes!

Mr and Mrs Hewitt lived next door to them. They were a lovely couple.

Mrs Hewitt always gave me a cuddle. Mr and Mrs Harris - they were lovely too, as too were Mr and Mrs Medford who lived a few doors down the other way. Mr Medford would always give us apples from his allotment and vegetables too when he was feeling generous. A few doors down from them were Mr and Mrs Marshall. Their daughter Sally was our friend, and she had an older brother Dean, who we always thought was a bit of a hunk.

Across from us was Hawthorn Junior School, so we only had to fall out of bed in the morning to go to school. As we got older, we went to Glantaf High, or at least, my sisters Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 8

did. We had great days at Glantaf.

The teachers were lovely, some stricter than others, but on the whole they were great. Christine, Ann Baldwin and I often used to sing together in assembly because we had our own group back then. But after two years of me attending Glantaf, it turned into a Welsh School so I was moved to Whitchurch High School which I hated.

Our house backed onto a lane which connected us to Hazelhurst Road. Our best friend Ann Baldwin lived there along with many of her family members, who became our surrogate aunties too. Her mum and dad were wonderful. Her mum was the most amazing cook - the smells that came from her kitchen were fabulous and we always tried to arrive at Annie's when we knew her mum was baking. This was the best thing about Llandaff North - it was a real community, everybody knew everybody else. There was Auntie Dolly, a tiny little white haired old lady who cooked lovely welsh cakes; Auntie Ruth and Uncle Elwin he used to balance all us kids on his hands.

We spent so many

summers on the top of his garden shed. We would come down at the end of the day black from the dirt, but my mum never complained.

She just piled us all one by one into the bath. I can remember that we were so many, that dad converted a room downstairs into a bathroom so the bathroom upstairs could be converted into a bedroom for my older sister.

There were Don and Pat Marsh.

They had a daughter Judith and also a son David. I had a secret crush on David when I was about 8.

The Parker family lived next to them.

I can remember them being burgled because it had been snowing and the burglar dropped things across our garden in the snow.

Along by them were the Chard family and just around the corner were the Mr and Mrs Rockey with daughters Karen and Jane, we were always in and out of each others homes. We all knew each other so well, everybody knew everybody.

Memories Every Saturday morning at 10:30, I would go and meet my gran who caught the train from Radyr down to the station. I loved meeting her. We would always go to Cartrights the newsagents. Gran would buy me a bag of sweets from there, and then go to Lynne's fruit Bowl for some fruit and veg. I loved meeting gran off the train - the smell of the station was great, and I can remember the excitement I always felt when I would run hell for leather into her arms.

Every Sunday morning, we would all go to Christchurch United Reformed Church at the end of Belle Vue Crescent. It was run by Mr and Mrs Simmonds. These were the most inspirational couple that you could ever wish to meet, and to this day I continue to respect them.

Sadly Derek passed away some years ago, but Joan still runs Christchurch. At Christchurch, Mrs Simmonds got together a group of girls. There were six of us in all: Sally Marshall, Judith Marlowe, Alison Hembury, Ann Baldwin, Christine my sister and myself and we sang together for years. Without fail, every Christmas we would put of a Nativity play for the community and one year we even joined with Whitchurch Methodist for their production of Peter Pan and sang in the interval.

We loved our days at Christchurch, and each one of us had our grounding for our faith in God instilled in us by Mr and Mrs Simmonds. Recently there was a tribute evening to Joan, and we girls reformed one last time to sing for Joan. It was weird that after not singing together for 30 years, we seemed to pick up where we left off, and remembered all our parts like it was yesterday. I think that this was because we loved it so much.

I loved the shops in Llandaff North.

I loved to go and buy paraffin with my father from Gardners the Bicycle shop. It always smelt lovely in there a mixture of wonderful new things.

Then there was Basil Hughes the Chemist. He always knew what to give you if you were ill. The doctor’s surgery was on the end of Belle Vue

and was run by Dr Cann Jones. He always seemed to be a huge man to me and scared me a lot. My mother worked for a few years in George Masons. This was great because if at Easter time any eggs got broken, she was allowed to bring home broken chocolate. I can remember having a nasty accident in school once too, and I was taken to the shop by the Headmaster. They sat me in a chair in the shop whilst I waited for my mother to finish her shift to take me home. The other women in the shop just went to the sweet counter and surrounded me with sweets. It was great!

On a Saturday morning we would take our 2p pocket money and go to Harris's which was down Ty Mawr Road. The gentleman there had the patience of Job. He would wait whilst we prevaricated over how to spend our tuppences! They made home made ice lollies there.

Llandaff North was a real community - everybody knew everybody else, and when your back was against the wall, we all helped each other. Bereavement in small communities are felt particularly hard, and the hardest time for me and I believe for the community when I was a child was when my friend Ann and her sister Jane lost both of their parents within an incredibly short space of time.

To this day that time has stayed with me. The community was shaken to its core when this happened and I think that it touched everybody's lives at that time.

Hailey Park played a huge role in my life. I spent so many hours over the park. Mum never worried about us kids - she always knew that we were in the park, and those days you didn't have to worry like you do now. We did things that I would never let my own children do now. We had a rope swing that went out over a set of rocks that we called the Monkey rocks. We

spent hours swinging on that swing, right out over the river Taff! I would spend hours watching Llandaff North Rugby Club practising their games. I can remember when Phil Bennett came to talent scout, everybody was so excited. I even got his autograph.

We would love it in May when the blossom would cover the trees by the tennis courts. We would go and swing hard on the branches so the blossom would fall onto us. We would pretend that we were brides walking down the aisle and that it was confetti........how simple those days were. We were the kids who picked rose petals and put it into bottles of water and tried to sell it as perfume door to door!

“

Every Christmas we would go carol singing with Mrs Simmonds around Llandaff North and Whitchurch, but sometimes on our own just to raise money so that we could buy mum and dad something nice. They worked so hard to give us what they could, it was our way of showing them how much we loved them.

We didn't have much back then, but what we had made us happy.

So you see, many happy memories of Llandaff North. I loved it there, the people, the community, the schools, the park, the church, the shops..............everything.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 9

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Frozen In Time 100 year ago this month, a group of British explorers were nearing the South Pole. Having set out from Cardiff Docks six months earlier, their ill-fated expedition was to go down in history as one of the bravest, and tragic of all explorations. Here is the story of the doomed journey to the coldest place on earth.

On November 12, 1912 an Antarctic search party discovered its objective - the tent of Captain Robert Scott and his two companions half buried in the snow.

Inside, they found the body of Captain Scott wedged between those of his fellow explorers, the flaps of his sleeping bag thrown back, his coat open. His companions - Lieut. Henry Bowers and Dr. Edward Wilson, lay covered in their sleeping bags as if dozing. They had been dead for eight months. They were the last members of a five-man team returning to their home base from the Pole.

The march south had begun on 1 November 1911 - a caravan of mixed transport groups (motors, dogs, horses), with loaded sledges, travelling at different rates, all designed to support a final group of four men who would make a dash for the Pole. Scott had earlier outlined Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 12

his plans for the southern journey to the entire shore party, without being specific about precise roles – no one knew who would form the final polar team.

The southbound party steadily reduced in size as successive support teams turned back. By 4th January 1912, the last two four-man groups had reached 87° 34’S. Scott announced his decision: five men (Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans) would go forward, the other three (Teddy Evans, William Lashly and Tom Crean) would return.

The chosen group marched on, reaching the Pole on 17 January 1912, only to find that Norwegian explorer Amundsen had preceded them by five weeks. Scott's anguish is indicated in his diary: "The worst has happened. All the day dreams must go. Great God! This is an awful place".

The two expeditions had employed entirely different strategies.

Amundsen relied on dogs to haul his men and supplies over the frozen Antarctic wasteland. Scott's British team distrusted the use of dogs preferring horses. These had soon died from the extreme conditions, and it was left for the men themselves to haul the sledges to the Pole and back. It was to be the downfall of the group, who were to come face-to-face with the worst of the Antarctic.

Leaving Ca rdiff Docks

History The deflated party began the 800mile (1,300 km) return journey on 19 January.

"I'm afraid the return journey is going to be dreadfully tiring and monotonous", wrote Scott on the next day.

However, the party made good progress despite poor weather, and had completed the Polar Plateau stage of their journey, approximately 300 miles (500 km), by 7 February. In the following days, as the party made the 100-mile (160 km) descent of the Beardmore Glacier, the physical condition of Edgar Evans, which Scott had noted with concern as early as 23 January, declined sharply. A fall on 4 February had left Evans "dull and incapable", and on 17 February, after a further fall, he died near the glacier foot.

With 400 miles (670 km) still to travel across the Ross Ice Shelf, the party's prospects steadily worsened as, with deteriorating weather, frostbite, snow blindness, hunger and exhaustion, they struggled northward.

On 16 March, Oates, whose condition was aggravated by an old war-wound to the extent that he was barely able to walk.

Scott wrote: “Friday, March 16 or Saturday 17 Lost track of dates, but think the last correct. Tragedy all along the line. At lunch, the day before yesterday, poor Titus [Lawrence] Oates said he couldn't go on; he proposed we should leave him in his sleepingbag. That we could not do, and we induced him to come on, on the afternoon march. In spite of its awful nature for him he struggled on and we made a few miles. At night he was worse and we knew the end had come.

“Should this be found I want these facts recorded. Oates' last thoughts were of his mother, but immediately before he took pride in thinking that his regiment would be pleased with the bold way in which he met his death. We can testify to his bravery.

He has borne intense suffering for weeks without complaint, and to the very last was able and willing to discuss outside subjects. He did not

Lawrence Oates - would not - give up hope till the very end. He was a brave soul. This was the end. He slept through the night before last, hoping not to wake; but he woke in the morning yesterday. It was blowing a blizzard.

He said, 'I am just going outside and may be some time.' He went out into the blizzard and we have not seen him since.”

After walking a further 20 miles, the three remaining men made their final camp on 19 March, 11 miles (18 km) short of One Ton Depot, but 24 miles (38 km) beyond the original intended location of the depot. The next day a fierce blizzard prevented their making any progress. During the next nine days, as their supplies ran out, with frozen fingers, little light, and storms still raging outside the tent, Scott wrote his final words, although he gave up his diary after 23 March, save for a final entry on 29 March, with its concluding words:

"Last entry. For God's sake look after our people". He left letters to Wilson's mother, Bowers' mother, a string of notables including his former commander Sir George Egerton, his own mother and his wife. His signed off with these words: “We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.”

Scott is presumed to have died on 29 March 1912, possibly a day later.

Scott writes in his diary Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 13

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Changing Landmarks of North Cardiff

In the last of our extracts from ‘Whitchurch and Llandaff North Through Time’, local historian Steve Nicholas charts the story of our local communities through pictures and words.

Keeper’s Cottage at the Lock

Lock 43 on the Glamorganshire Canal was between Whitchurch and Tongwynlais. The area is now part of the Glamorgan Canal and Forest Farm Nature Reserve

Sunnybank Houses Sunnybanks is believed to have been built by the owners of the Melingriffith Tinplate Works for the workers and their families. Remains of the houses can still be seen alongside the canal at the Glamorgan Canal Nature Reserve

Lock Keeper’s Cottage

Located at Lock 42, Llwynymellt, on the Glamorgan Canal Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 16

Then and Now

On the Canal A canal maintenance barge is hijacked by local kids near the Black Bridge, Llandaff North c.1940. This area was known as Primrose Hill in the late 1800s

The Canal

The Glamorgan Canal and the Melingriffith Works is shown here.

This section of the canal no longer exists and is now Ty Mawr Road

Melingriffith Tinplate Works

The works seem to have been in operation since the mid-1750s and were situated near an ancient corn mill. The works were totally powered by water which was taken from the River Taff at Radyr Weir along a feeder canal to the works 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 Llandaff Living Page 17

Valid until 31st January 2012

Valid until 31st January 2012

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 19

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m o o R ’ s r e d a Re pens of readers

Stories from the Pick and Mix

by Eric Fletcher

I don’t know how many there are. A couple of dozen; maybe thousands. I have no idea. You can’t count things you can’t see; things you cannot hear or feel. Possibly there’s one sitting next to you as you’re reading this; maybe one standing behind you as you load your shopping into your car outside Tesco. We need a name for these unseen, unseeing mystery beings.

The best I can come up with is the inbetweeners. Try as you might, there are no references to them on Google; no mention in even the most comprehensive of dictionaries.

How do I know of their existence? I was at school with one, one who became, and presumably still is an in-betweener. His name was John but everyone with the exception of his mother called him Jack.

He was never what you’d call a Jack of all Trades, but he did become the master of one, if you can call a life of crime a trade.

It all began at the ‘Pick and Mix’ in Woolies. Jack and I would stroll towards the display, all innocent like. I was the look-out man, keeping an eye on the shop assistants while Jack filled his pockets with toffee creams, sherbet lemons, Turkish Delight - anything that was going. I suppose I was as guilty as him, an accessory I think it’s called but we were only nine or ten, just a bit of fun, a laugh.

It was about that time that Jack’s family moved house. He went to a new school so we saw less of each other. We’d meet up occasionally, perhaps share a can or two of coke. After A levels, I went away to Uni, so didn’t see Jack for, oh could have been four years, maybe more. I remember I did meet him once outside the football ground, but to be honest, he wasn’t the same Jack I’d known at school. Ok, we all change, grow up, our lives go in different directions, but Jack’s seemed to have carried on as before except he’d progressed, if progressed is the right word, from stealing sweets from Woolies, to running a black market operation, dealing in the latest ‘must have’ trainers and designer tee shirts. I asked where he got them. ”Fell off the back of a lorry, didn’t they?” he replied. Anything not tied down was fair game to Jack.

A few times my father would cut out pieces from the Echo about Jack. Usually

under a heading such as LOCAL BOY MUGS ELDERLY SHOPPER. Another one I recall was OLD AGE PENSIONERS SAVINGS STOLEN. LOCAL MAN ARRESTED. We did meet once more.

Wasn’t planned to be honest. Our lives had gone in totally different directions. We had nothing in common any longer. But I must tell you the strange story.

Jack told me at what would turn out to be our last meeting. He reckoned he was ambling down the road making his way towards the park. He’d pinched one of those long French loaves and a couple of bananas from outside the deli. When all of a sudden, (and this is where I began to have serious doubts about Jack’s mental state) he was adamant that there was a strong smell of burning and standing in front of him was the Devil.

According to Jack, this Devil looked him straight in the eyes and said ”I’ve been keeping a watch on you and you are just the man I need - an apprentice to help me in hell.” Jack took a few steps backwards, the Devil’s hot breath was scorching his face, and shouted: “No way! I’m getting out of here!” He dropped the bananas and tore the French loaf in two, holding the two pieces of bread in front of him in the shape of a cross. Jack strode towards the Devil, who, covering his eyes, backed away. The Devil had only taken a few steps when he bumped into a road sign. He turned around, screamed an almighty yell of anguish. It was a cross roads sign. I almost felt sorry for the Devil. There he was, unable to move backwards because of the cross on the road sign or forwards because Jack had lain the bread in the shape of a crucifix on the road just out of his reach. Believe it or not, it’s up to you, but that’s the story as Jack told it.

As I said that was the last time I saw Jack. A few months later, he was dead. I seem to remember it was a day or two before the New Year. He came out of his local pub, possibly for a smoke and stumbled into the path of a speeding taxi.

The paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. I went to his funeral, after all, our mothers had been friends and I think our dads would sometimes meet up at the football. Didn’t recognise anyone. Looked

like an ‘away day’ for the local Mafia. You know - closely cropped hair, tattoos and sunglasses. All it needed was a couple of violin cases. Now I don’t know how long it takes from being a corpse at the side of the road to arriving outside the Pearly Gates, but no doubt Jack was very surprised to find himself surrounded by fluffy white clouds and celestial music.

Anyway Saint Peter said ”Hello Jack. We were expecting you.”

“Well it’s a total surprise to me. Who do say you are?” replied Jack.

“You don’t know? Didn’t they teach you anything in R.E. lessons? I’m Saint Peter.

I’m in charge of the gates…..”

“Oh I know. Pete. Like a bouncer outside the Pig and Whistle club in town.” Jack interrupted. Saint Peter looked puzzled.

He reaching out to make sure the gates were secure, and replied. ”Two things you need to know Jack. The first is – don’t address me as Pete. I’m Saint Peter, never Pete, never mate and certainly never butty. Only ever Saint Peter.

Got that?”

“And the second?” Jack asked.

“Well I’m afraid we’ve had a meeting and the committee decided, unanimously I may add, that we don’t want you here.

You’re too disruptive, a real danger. We don’t do crime up here. Sorry Jack but you’ll just have to go back down. You could try the Devil. I’ve heard he’ll take anybody.”

So Jack, or at least Jack’s soul, arrives back on terra firma. Guess who’s there to meet him? Yes . That’s right. The Devil. ”Before you ask Jack I don’t want you any more. I was stuck up against that road sign for hours, couldn’t move until a stray dog ran off with your broken loaf and that was after he’d cocked his leg up against my cloak. I’m afraid you’re destined to spend eternity as an in-betweener.

“What’s one of those?” Jack shouted. Too late. The Devil had vanished. All that was left was burn marks on the road.

Now I don’t know if this story has a moral but if any of your children or grandchildren start hanging around the ‘Pick and Mix’ display, take note. Beware - they may be on the road to becoming an in-betweener.

Eric Fletcher

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 21

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Walking

A Winter’s Walk is located.

Start point: Caerphilly Mountain Bus stop on A469 shortly after junction with B4263 From your starting point at the bus stop, head back up the A469. You will cross over a small road junction, and after this, cross the A469. This road is usually pretty busy, but hopefully, everyone will be dozing in front of the TV but please do take care crossing the road.

Once you have crossed the road, you will pick up the Ridgeway Path which will lead you onto Caerphilly Mountain. You can tell that you are on the path because there will be two large stones and a wooden marker post labeled with Caerphilly Common. Heading up the path, you will come to a fork in the path.

To the right is the Ridgeway Path but you should ignore this one and continue heading up the path to the point that announces the arrival to the peak of Caerphilly Mountain.

At the top, you will see two path on your right hand side. You will need to take the one that goes diagonally to the right and drops down into a dip. It will meet up with several other paths. You will need to take the one that heads more or less straight on. It will make its way up the other side, and you will soon reach the B4263, which is where the Mountain Snack Bar Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 24

Head right and take the road to the junction of the A469. You will need to cross back over the road (it’s the one you crossed earlier so please take care!).

Almost directly opposite, you will make out a semblance of a road. This will head around to the left but wheels back around to the right. You will need to head down here, and pass a bungalow. The road then becomes a path. You can tell that you’re on the right track as the path runs parallel with a line of pylons. Before long, the path bends left under the pylons and you will come to a metal stile and gate.

Head over the stile and then over to the left. You will see a stile sat on its own.

Head to this and then look directly ahead. You will see another stile there in the fence. Head to this but don’t cross it.

Instead, turn right and follow the fence to the corner of the field. There will be a gate which leads to the field next to it.

Turn diagonally right to another stile, which will give you a perfect view of Craig-yr-Allt. Make a line for the barn ahead of you, over two stiles and you’ll pop out in a lane. Head over the footbridge and stile – this will take you into a field. Head left, where you will see another stile. The Black Cock Inn will be directly ahead of you. Make for the corner of the field that runs adjacent to

the Black Cock, over the stile there and then a footbridge. This will lead you into the car park of the Inn. There is a small road opposite the Black Cock. Take this road and it will lead you down the side of the valley. You will come across a set of gates that are the entrance to Uplands. Opposite these gates is a footpath sign. If you look closely, you will see a stile which is set slightly back from the road. Head over this stile, and then diagonally right down to another stile. Cross this, then head straight across the field towards a group of houses. You will come across yet another stile, which once crossed, will lead you to the road where the houses are located. Turn right and head down to the junction in the road. You will see a sunken lane on your left (usually covered in mud). Follow this up the hill and when the path comes to a fork, take the left track. Head up this track and then the right at the next fork. Continue uphill to the ridge. The path will make a sharp turn, and will descend again. If you’d like to head to the summit, it’s 100 metres up the ridge on the left. The views are lovely up there.

Time to head back to where you started. Follow the path that leads down the ridge. It will continue around to the left. The path will lead you past a large white house on your left. The path will eventually lead you to the bus stop on

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 25

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Page 26

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