Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 66

News | People | Features | History | Lifestyle 

Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 66 

Your multi award-winning community magazine

Inside this issue 

Welcome / Croeso 

Seasonal 

Poems 

Seasonal poetry 

to reflect the time 

of year from local 

poets and authors 

Clean rivers 

Cardiff's rivers are 

under threat from 

pollution - here's 

how we can help 

save them 

Distribution: 6,000 copies of Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and 

public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and 

Llandaff North. 

2 

The Crossroads 

Nigel Lewis takes 

a look back into 

Whitchurch's 

unknown past 

- starting with 

the history of the 

crossroads 

Atlas Express 

Steve Nicholas 

takes us back 

to the 1980s to 

remind of Atlas 

Express - once 

a common 

sight around 

Whitchurch 

Early Summer deadline: 

23rd June 2023 

Published late June 2023 

a: 222 Pantbach Road, 

Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG 

t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 

w: www.livingmags.co.uk 

e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or 

danielle@livingmags.co.uk 

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. 

No part of this publication may be 

reproduced without the express 

written permission of the publishers. 

Welcome to your latest issue of 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living. 

It seems that the warmer 

weather took its time getting 

to us this year but it's been 

worth the wait. Spring and early 

summer are times of great hope. 

With Spring on our minds, we've 

got some wonderful poems for 

you. Our collection of seasonal 

poems in our Winter issue was so 

popular that we've had to make 

room for all the Spring poems we 

received. 

And with warmer weather on its 

way, we've hand-picked some 

super spots in South Wales to 

picnic. 

In our history feature this issue, 

we look at the life story of Tom 

Cole. Tom was born in Llandaff 

and went on to become one of 

the world's best racing drivers 

during the late 1940s and early 

1950s. 

Nigel Lewis also takes us 

on a journey back in time to 

the crossroads located at the 

junction of the Merthyr Road and 

Ty’n-y-Pwll Road. The area has a 

rich history - who knew that the 

area was once just farms and 

cottages? 

In more recent times, you may 

well remember the lorries of 

Atlas Express that would trundle 

around the area. The business 

was based on what it now Ty 

Mawr Road and local historian 

Steve Nicholas has provided us 

with some wonderfully nostalgic 

photographs. Do you recognise 

anyone? 

Back in the present day, we've 

also brought you some advice 

to help you through your day; 

there's a feature about the 

benefits of sleep and there are 

also some breathing techniques 

that can help calm you and 

soothe you when things get 

tough. 

And if you want to get the 

most out of life, we've also put 

together some popular bucket 

list ideas - new experiences to 

enhance your life and make you 

feel alive again. 

This time of year is perfect to 

start growing your own food 

and we've got some great ideas 

for growing your own fruit and 

vegetables. It can certainly help 

in the current cost of living crisis. 

Looking ahead to the Summer, 

it's the Women's Football World 

Cup in July and although Wales 

won't be there this year, we take 

a look at the great strides that 

the sport is making both on and 

off the pitch in recent times. 

And if that's not enough, 

there's also a short story from 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living's 

co-editor Patric Morgan. 

We're already working on our 

next issue of our magazines 

and if you have a local story of 

interest that you'd like to share 

with the community, please feel 

free to get in touch. 

See you then! 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@WhitchurchandLlandaffLiving 

www.facebook.com/ 

whitchurchandllandaffliving

New Bishop 

of Llandaff 

appointed 

news 

Photo: Seth Whales 

Cardiff Bus announce price 

changes and new ticket structures 

Ticket prices on Cardiff Bus were 

increased in early April, their first 

increase for four years. 

In a statement, Cardiff Bus said: 

"From Sunday 9th April 2023, we 

are having to take the very difficult 

decision to increase our fares. This 

will be the first time any of our fares 

have changed in over 4 years. They 

were last changed in March 2019. In 

The Vulcan rises 

Work on the reconstruction of a 

famous Cardiff pub at St Fagans 

National Museum of History is nearing 

completion. 

Work on the pub, which was once 

located on Adam Street, started in 

2020 after it was dismantled in 2012. 

Work is set to be completed by the 

end of this year with the building 

being opened to the public in 2024. 

A campaign was created to save the 

Vulcan when it was threatened with 

demolition in 2009. A decision was 

finally made to move the Vulcan to St 

Fagans museum due to his historic 

nature. 

The pub has been restored back 

to its 1915 settings, at which time, it 

had undergone a refurbishment. The 

company that made the tiles that 

were used on the front of the building 

in 1914 is still in existence and was 

commissioned to remake the tiles 

using the original moulds. 

The museum is now deciding on 

how the Vulcan Hotel will be run and 

there are also plans to sell beer from 

the pub. 

The Vulcan opened its doors in 1853 

and its name was inspired by the 

ironworks that was situated next door. 

this time, we have seen costs increase 

to a level where we are now in a 

position that we have no option but to 

increase fares." 

Several types of tickets have been 

withdrawn altogether, and others 

have been replaced by new but 

similar schemes. Bus users can sign 

up to the Cardiff Bus newsletter to get 

the latest information. 

Councillors feed 

back mixed 

reactions to 

recycling trials 

Local councillors were able to share 

feedback about the recent recycling 

trials to a Council meeting in March. 

The scheme, that has been trialling 

in Llandaff since October, calls for 

residents to separate out different 

types of recycling into different bags, 

before putting them out for collection 

by the Council. 

Councillor Jayne Cowan, highlighted 

confusion around the new system, 

especially among some of her 

village's elderly residents. 

"We are a dementia-friendly city with 

lots of older people, particularly in my 

ward of Rhiwbina and in lots of other 

wards and I think that we do need a 

solution to sort that out." 

Other councillors pointed out the 

positive aspects of the scheme, 

including the increase in awareness 

of recycling, especially in local 

schools. Cardiff Council has reported 

an increase in recycling rates thanks 

to the scheme, which is currently at 

62.5%. 

One of the first women to become 

a priest in Wales has been 

appointed the next Bishop of 

Llandaff. 

The Rt Revd Mary Stallard, the 

former Assistant Bishop in Bangor, 

was elected Bishop of Llandaff by 

the Electoral College of the Church 

in Wales early in 2023. 

Bishop Mary secured the 

necessary two-thirds majority vote 

on the second day of the Electoral 

College's meeting at Llandaff 

Cathedral. 

The announcement of the 

cathedral's new bishop was made 

at the west door of the Cathedral by 

the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew 

John. 

He told the expectant crowd: 

“Bishop Mary has served the 

Diocese of Bangor with enormous 

energy, faithfulness and joy. It is 

a huge privilege for us now to be 

able to pass her to the Diocese of 

Llandaff where we know she will 

bring all of the gifts that she has 

shown us. We are so delighted for 

her.” 

Bishop Mary added: “It is a real 

privilege to receive this new call 

which I will do my very best to live 

up to faithfully.” 

Llandaff railway 

station work 

resumes 

Refurbishment work to replace a 

canopy for railway passengers at 

Llandaff station resumed in April, 

three years after the work initially 

started. Work was cut short at the 

start of the pandemic, leaving 

passengers with little space to sit 

while waiting for trains. 

The refurbishment is expected to 

be completed by June. 

3

news 

Organists play 

for 24 hours 

at Llandaff 

Cathedral 

More north Cardiff areas to 

become wildflower meadows 

The tenth anniversary of 

Llandaff Cathedral's Nicholson 

organ was celebrated in March 

with a marathon event that 

lasted one whole day. 

Twenty-two organists played 

a repertoire of non-stop music 

on the organ for 24 hours, 

which included film scores 

in addition to famous organ 

works. 

The organ was the first 

wholly new cathedral organ 

built in the UK since Coventry 

Cathedral’s in the 1960s. The 

event showcased the full 

capabilities of the instrument, 

which has 4,870 pipes, 80 

stops, and four manuals. 

Concert-goers, who camped 

out on sleeping bags on the 

heated floor were treated to 

'Breakfast with Bach' and other 

musical treats. Quieter music 

was played overnight so as not 

to disrupt the campers, as well 

as neighbours, who can hear 

the organ from their homes. 

Several of the organists took 

part on a pay-to-play basis so 

that they could experience the 

organ, which along with other 

contributions, helped grow 

the 'Celebrate 10' funds for the 

cathedral. 

The event ended with music 

from an 80-strong choir drawn 

from all the cathedral’s choir. 

4 

Additional locations of Cardiff’s 

green spaces are set to become 

wildflower meadows, which will 

provide important sources of food 

and habitat for pollinators like bees 

and butterflies. 

An extra 110 hectares of naturefriendly 

green space has been 

allocated by Cardiff Council. 

The areas will not be mown until 

September, allowing wild plants 

and flowers to grow and bloom 

naturally. 

The proposals will see 197.7 

hectares in total, an area the 

equivalent in size of 439 football 

pitches, that will be left untouched 

by council mowers. This is an 

increase of 125% compared to last 

year. 

Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks 

and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: 

Villagers restore 

historic tollhouse 

Residents in Tongwynlais have 

restored the shell of a historic 

tollhouse that was demolished more 

than 70 years ago. 

The volunteers spent more than a 

year restoring the original building 

that was among hundreds used 

to collect money from travellers 

during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

The rebuild is the first step towards 

creating a local history trail. 

The Tongwynlais Historical Society, 

who has been spearheading the 

project, said: 

"Our volunteers have been fantastic. 

They are a special bunch and without 

them this project would not have got 

off the ground." 

The remains of the tollhouse are 

on the original path of the Pentyrch- 

Melingriffith tramroad. 

“Nature is in crisis globally and this 

significant increase in the amount 

of green space which is not mown 

until September is one way that we 

can provide valuable support to 

the nature on our doorstep here in 

Cardiff." 

The new more nature friendly 

spaces will be at Whitchurch 

Common North (Whitchurch/ 

Tongwynlais), Heol y Gors Open 

Space (Whitchurch/Tongwynlais) 

Tongwynlais Recreation Ground 

(Whitchurch/Tongwynlais), 

Gwynlais Open Space (Whitchurch/ 

Tongwynlais), Rosedale Open 

Space (Fairwater), and Bellfields 

Open Space (Fairwater). 

Signage at the new sites will 

explain the benefits of rewilding the 

areas. 

Residents clean 

up river rubbish 

The Llandaff North Residents' 

Association, Friends of Hailey 

Park and YGC Rebel Mams joined 

residents in helping to clean the 

banks of the River Taff in February. 

The groups spent days cleaning 

the section of the Taff located in 

Hailey Park after it became littered 

with plastic, sanitary towels, panty 

liners, and toilet wipes as water 

levels receded. 

Welsh Water said that there are 

multiple ways that litter ends up in 

the rivers, which snag on trees and 

remain there when the river levels 

drop. 

Some residents were concerned 

that the litter may have come about 

through the deliberate discharge 

of wastewater - a combination of 

water and sewage - into the river.

letters 

Your letters 

WE 

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

We love to hear what you've been up to 

so send us your letters and photos! 

We'll do our best to print them all. 

editor@livingmags.co.uk 

Sewage Plant 

Advice 

In your last issue, there was an 

article about Llandaff North 

residents' intention to protest 

against the proposed sewage 

plant to be built in Hailey Park. 

My advice is to save you time 

and money, because the Council 

will not listen. They have already 

ruined one beauty spot in 

Whitchurch (Lady Coryton Field) 

and they intend to turn another 

(The Northern Meadows) into a 

concrete jungle. 

They ride roughshod over the 

locals wishes and don't give two 

hoots about public opinion. 

They are in fact an autocracy. So 

much for democracy! 

JC Bird 


What a change! 

I'm a former Llandaff girl but have 

lived in London now for many 

years. 

I recently visited family in the 

area and was gobsmacked by 

the fact that everything looks so 

different now. The high street still 

looks fairly similar although the 

place seems a lot smaller than I 

remember. 

We took a drive out to 

Llantrisant and I couldn't believe 

my eyes - gone was the BBC 

building and in its stead - homes 

were going up. 

Further on, past Danescourt, 

it was totally unrecognisable. 

Housing estates galore! I 

remember feeling the same way 

when Danescourt was built back 

in the 80s! We all moaned about 

it then but now we're used to 

having it there! 

I appreciate that things change 

and that life moves on but 

sometimes, it all happens so fast 

that it leaves your head in a spin! 

Donna Henry 

Wimbledon 

Woollen Mills 

If you were asked to produce a list 

of the old industries in the parish, 

you’d probably include the tin 

works at Melingriffith, the College 

Ironworks behind Whitchurch 

Common or perhaps the industries 

in Llandaff North and Tongwynlais 

associated with the canal and the 

railways. 

How many, I wonder would 

include the woollen mills in Ty’ny-Parc 

Road near The Mason's 

Arms? 

According to the Tithe Map of 

1841, there was a small hamlet 

of houses and cottages along 

Ty’n-y-Parc Road and around the 

stream, Nant-Waedlyd. There 

was a detached farmhouse (later 

to become Ty’n-y-Parc), a farm 

on the north side of the road 

(Glanynant) and Elm Cottage on 

the south side (later Elm Farm). 

Around these houses were a few 

small cottages and an early pub. 

One of the local landowners at 

the time was John Homphray, 

who owned land at Tyn-y-Parc. By 

1869, the Cardiff Times newspaper 

reported that John Homphray 

was said ‘to have decided upon 

building a woollen factory on 

his own land in Whitchurch 

which, when completed will 

give employment to 60-80 men, 

women and children.’ 

Eleven years later, the 1880 

OS map shows that the hamlet 

had expanded with two woollen 

factories and a row of semidetached 

workers' cottages 

(probably single-storey) fronting 

the main road, called Tyn-y-Parc 

Row. Further buildings nearer 

the stream look more substantial 

and might have been managers' 

houses, offices or stores. None of 

this survives today. 

What happened to the families 

of woollen weavers and spinners; 

the Powells, the Wildes or the 

Morgans? What about Philip 

Norton with his two children and 

five step-children? Did they move 

away, or did they simply find 

alternative employment, more 

suited to the changing times? 

Are you part of one of these 

families? Or do you have any 

information to help grow the lost 

history of this part of our local 

village? 

We’d love to hear from you! 

Nigel Lewis 

awen.cymru@gmail.com 

If you have anything you’d like our readers to know about, drop us a line at 

editor@livingmags.co.uk or by letter to 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff 

CF14 6AG. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter 

5

out & about 

sarnies in 

the sun 

The great British tradition of packing a basket with food and heading out 

for a picnic has arrived. Here are our favourite local spots 

Porthkerry Park 

Southerndown 

A firm favourite for both locals and 

visitors, Southerndown beach is 

situated on the Glamorgan Heritage 

Coast, not too far from Bridgend. 

The beach is mostly sand, 

especially at low tide but its real 

beauty lies in its rugged rocks, rich 

in fossils, where there are plenty of 

places to down bags and set up a 

picnic. 

There are plenty of rockpools 

at low tide to keep the kids 

entertained and if you fancy 

stretching your legs after you've 

eaten, there are plenty of green 

fields you can discover on the cliff 

tops. 

6 

This hidden gem in Barry boasts 220 

acres of woods and meadowland. 

Enclosed in a sheltered valley that 

leads to a pebbled beach, there 

are also nature trails to explore and 

dedicated picnic sites to enjoy at 

your leisure. 

Porthkerry Viaduct, one of the 

features of the park, was first 

opened in 1897 to carry the Vale of 

Glamorgan Railway. 

And if you're a plane spotter, you'll 

be delighted to know that the park 

is not too far from Cardiff Airport - 

you'll be able to see the comings 

and goings of Wales's busiest 

airport. 

Photo: Roy Parkhouse 

Dare Country Park 

You've got over 500 acres of green 

countryside to discover in the 

mountains northwest of the Cynon 

Valley. 

The park was the first country park 

in England and Wales to be created 

from land previously utilised by 

industry. Now fully regenerated, 

the park teems with wildlife and 

woodland. The flowery grassland, 

heath, bracken slopes, crags and 

scree, upland bog, moorland, 

woodland, coal spoil, stream and 

lakes all provide habitat for wildlife. 

It is here that you can take time out 

to enjoy your picnic.

Photo: Mick Lobb 

Cyfartha Park 

Covering 65 hectares, Cyfartha Park 

sits proudly in a prominent position 

overlooking Merthyr Tydfil and is 

the historic site of the Cyfartha 

Ironworks. 

The park is one of the main 

attractions in Merthyr and is often 

used for large-scale events. The 

park also includes a lake, ponds, 

gardens, play areas for the children, 

and even a recently restored ice 

house that was once used to keep 

the nearby castle cool during the 

summer months. 

Penllergare Valley 

Woods 

This 'forgotten' Victorian paradise 

with lakes, waterfalls, terraces, 

panoramic views and exotic trees is 

being slowly brought back to life by 

Penllergare Trust, who have been 

doing so for the last twenty years. 

Situated a short distance 

from Junction 47 of the M4 

near Swansea, the estate was 

previously the home of the 

renowned horticulturist, pioneering 

photographer, and astronomer, John 

Dillwyn Llewelyn. 

The site consists of over a hundred 

hectares of mixed woodland and 

includes two lakes and seven miles 

of peaceful woodland walks. You'll 

also find a spectacular waterfall 

on the River Llan which meanders 

through the estate. 

There is a community-run shop 

and a car park, plus informal picnic 

sites along the paths, where you 

can eat among the wildlife. 

Margam Park 

Margam Park is a Grade I listed 

garden and landscape, where 

you can surround yourself with 

gorgeous trees, shrubs and flowers. 

The Community Orchard and 

Meadow is located within the 

historic walled kitchen gardens 

and sees existing apple and pear 

trees being restored. New planting 

is also being undertaken including 

perennial herbs and vegetables. 

Photo: Steve Rigg 

Clyne Park, Swansea 

Clyne Gardens contain possibly the 

finest collection of rhododendrons 

in Wales. The gardens were 

established by Admiral Algernon 

Walker-Heneage-Vivian who 

owned them from 1921 until his 

death in 1952. 

The Admiral sponsored overseas 

plant collecting expeditions in his 

time and many of the garden's 

rhododendrons still bear their 

original collector's numbers. His 

influence can also be felt in the 

landscaping features throughout 

the gardens, which include a 

Japanese Bridge, the Admiral's 

Tower, and the Gazebo. 

There are meandering paths that 

take you through a wooded valley 

alongside a fast running stream 

with small waterfalls and there are 

also picnic areas where you can 

relax in the spring sunshine. 

Roath Park 

Opened in 1894, Roath Park was 

one of Cardiff's first public parks. 

It still retains its charm though, 

drawing people from all over South 

Wales to experience its famous lake 

and botanical gardens. 

North of the lake are some 

wildflower areas which includes 

paths cutting through it. To the 

south, you'll find the conservatory 

and its surrounding gardens, where 

you'll find plenty of space to enjoy 

a picnic. 

Merthyr Mawr 

Merthyr Mawr Warren National 

Nature Reserve to give it its official 

name, is situated near Bridgend 

and is home to the Big Dipper, the 

highest sand dune in Wales. 

The dune itself formed on top 

of a limestone ridge and you can 

enjoy spectacular views from the 

top. There's an abundance of other 

smaller dunes where you can lay 

out a picnic blanket but it's not all 

sand. 

You'll also find nature trails and 

coastal paths that take you to the 

beach. 

Photo: Nick Smith 

Rest Bay 

Located between Port Talbot 

and Ogmore, Rest Bay beach 

offers visitors spacious sands and 

gorgeous views over the Bristol 

Channel. 

A new water sports centre has 

opened there and it looks out over 

the Blue Bay beach. It's the ideal 

spot to spend a few hours in the 

sunshine, eating your nibbles and 

watching both sea-shy paddlers 

and watersports professionals alike. 

And if your picnic's not enough, 

the beach has several ice-cream 

parlours along the promenade 

where you can get yourself a 

cooling treat. 

Photo: Roger Davies 

7

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Scan to register your interest.

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How clean are our rivers? 

Cardiff's rivers are complex ecosystems, supporting a wide range of 

natural wildlife. But are they under threat from pollution? 

Sitting on a riverbank and watching 

the water drift by is one of 

summer's treats. But no matter how 

clean a river might look, pollution is 

an ever-present threat. 

Much has appeared in the press 

recently about the condition of the 

UK's rivers and here in Wales, the 

story is a very similar one. River 

pollution has become a talking 

point, both in government, and at 

local level. 

There is of course, physical 

pollution that can be seen from 

the river bank - the plastic bags, 

the crisp packets - even the odd 

shopping trolley. Much of this litter 

makes its way out to sea and here 

in Cardiff, there are various groups 

that clear out this litter before it 

gets there. 

The sad thing is that much of this 

litter is often dumped there on 

purpose. Other litter can find its way 

into the river after being blown out 

of bins or landfill sites. 

Perhaps the more worrying aspect 

of river pollution though is the stuff 

we can't see - the chemicals, the 

pollutants, and the sewage. There 

10 

are several sources of this unseen 

river pollution, including industrial 

and agricultural activities, domestic 

sewage, and improper waste 

disposal. Factories may discharge 

chemicals into rivers, farms may 

use fertilisers and pesticides that 

can run off into nearby rivers, and 

households may dump waste into 

rivers. 

The effects of river pollution can 

be devastating. Polluted rivers can 

harm the plants and animals that 

live in and around them, leading 

to declines in biodiversity. They 

can also cause health problems 

for people who rely on the river 

for drinking water and fishing. 

Swimmers are at particular 

risk when untreated sewage 

is discharged into rivers. The 

contaminated water puts them at 

risk of gastrointestinal illnesses 

which can cause diarrhoea and 

vomiting. Respiratory conditions, as 

well as skin, ear, and eye infections 

are also possible. 

Looking after our rivers will not 

only help look after us now, but for 

generations to come. 

What's the current 

situation? 

Welsh Water recently released 

its data on sewer overflow 

performance across its assets 

in Wales and England for 2022. 

The figures showed that overall, 

there was a 12% reduction in the 

total number of sewer overflow 

discharges compared to 2021. They 

also showed a 25% reduction in total 

spill duration. 

Welsh Water was the first UK water 

company to attain over 99% of 

sewer overflows being monitored, 

but even so, taking a closer look at 

the figures, it shows that this doesn't 

tell the full picture, particularly at a 

local level. 

Sewage was dumped into the 

River Taff for more than 9,500 hours 

last year. The figures released by 

Welsh Water shows that the River 

Taff is the sixth-most-polluted river 

in Wales with an average of three 

sewage dumps every day in 2022. 

The sheer scale of sewage dumps 

by water companies across the 

UK soon became hard to ignore.

Figures for 2022 showed raw 

sewage was pumped into rivers and 

seas for 1.75m hours last year - an 

average of 825 times per day. 

It's no wonder then that in recent 

months, the plight of our rivers has 

been placed in the spotlight. And it 

doesn't make for easy reading. 

What is being done? 

climate 

For its part, the Welsh government 

is already taking action to look 

after our rivers. One of the key 

initiatives to clean rivers in Wales 

is the implementation of the Water 

Framework Directive (WFD), a 

European Union regulation that 

sets standards for water quality and 

requires member states to develop 

management plans to improve the 

condition of water bodies. The WFD 

has led to the development of river 

basin management plans in Wales, 

which aim to reduce pollution, 

improve water quality, and restore 

damaged habitats. 

In addition to the WFD, various 

organisations in Wales work to 

protect and clean rivers. The 

Rivers Trust Cymru, for example, 

is a charity that works to improve 

the health of Welsh rivers through 

habitat restoration, pollution 

reduction, and community 

engagement. The Welsh 

government also provides funding 

and support for river cleanup 

projects through its Natural 

Resources Wales agency. 

Individuals and communities 

in Wales can also play a role 

in keeping rivers clean by 

reducing their own pollution, 

properly disposing of waste, and 

volunteering for local river clean-up 

efforts. 

Efforts to clean rivers in Wales 

Local wildlife such as kingfishers are 

at risk due to river pollution 

are important for protecting the 

environment, wildlife, and human 

health, as well as supporting the 

economy and cultural heritage of 

the city and the country as a whole. 

The Cardiff Rivers Group is one 

such voluntary organisation that 

regularly carries out river-cleaning 

activities. In March, their volunteers 

cleared the riverbank and the 

islands below Llandaff weir and 

removed 77 bags of waste in total. 

The group said much of that waste 

was 'sewage-related debris' caught 

up in trees. These includes things 

like sanitary towels and wet wipes. 

What more can we do? 

Much of the action that can be 

taken needs to be undertaken by 

the water companies. 

But we can also play our 

part in looking after our rivers. 

When it comes to our individual 

responsibility, we can all do our bit 

to help. 

We can play our part in keeping our 

rivers clean from pollution 

Making sure that waste is disposed 

of properly, whether it be through 

recycling, composting, or waste 

disposal is one way to start making 

a difference. Avoid littering and 

dispose of waste in designated 

waste bins. 

We can also use water wisely, 

reducing our water usage whenever 

possible. Ultimately, this reduces 

the amount of wastewater that ends 

up in rivers. Fix leaky taps, take 

shorter showers, and avoid overwatering 

your lawn. 

Avoiding single-use plastic items 

like straws, bags, and bottles can 

also help as these often end up 

in our rivers. Plastic pollution is a 

major problem in rivers and oceans 

worldwide. 

Gardeners should also minimise 

the use of chemicals they use, 

such as fertilisers, pesticides, and 

herbicides as these can harm 

aquatic life and pollute rivers. 

On a more collective level, 

supporting local conservation 

efforts by volunteering, donating, 

or even participating in community 

events can help protect and 

preserve the rivers and the 

surrounding environment. 

Educating others about the 

importance of clean rivers and 

the impact of pollution on aquatic 

life and the environment can 

help tip the balance. This can be 

done through public awareness 

campaigns, educational schemes, 

and community outreach. 

While we can do what's within 

our control on an individual basis, 

it falls to our authorities and water 

companies to take the main 

responsibility for keeping our rivers 

clean. Holding them accountable 

for their policies and actions 

therefore is a powerful and positive 

way to help protect our rivers. 

11

MAZDA CX-60 WINS BEST PLUG-IN 

HYBRID IN SCOTLAND 

Launched just three months ago the Mazda 

CX-60 is already winning fans and awards 

across the UK with the Association of Scottish 

Motoring Writers (ASMW) crowning 

it Best Plug-In Hybrid 2022 at the annual 

Scottish Car of the Year Awards. 

The ASMW is made up from 15 motoring 

writers from across Scotland who vote for 

cars they have driven in Scotland over the 

past 12 months and their relevance to 

Scottish consumers. The Mazda CX-60 was 

a late entry, only going on sale in September, 

but wow’d the panels of judges enough to 

take the hotly contested category win. 

With prices starting at £45,420 on-the-road, 

the all-new Mazda CX-60 has expanded 

Mazda’s award-winning SUV range, joining 

the UK line-up above the ever-popular 

2022 Mazda CX-5. The new flagship SUV 

is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid technology 

powertrain, which combines a Skyactiv-G 

2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 

129kW electric motor and a 17.8kWh highcapacity 

battery. 

This combination of engine and motor 

delivers a total system output of 327ps and 

an abundant torque output of 500Nm – 

making it the most powerful road car Mazda 

has ever produced. Mazda’s first PHEV 

also displays outstanding environmental 

credentials with WLTP combined fuel 

consumption of 188mpg and WLTP 

combined CO2 emissions of only 33g/km. 

The Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv PHEV offers 

39.15 miles of combined electric motorpowered 

driving with the vehicle running 

at 62mph or less, while the performance of 

the combined drivetrain delivers a 0-62mph 

performance of just 5.8 seconds. 

Demonstrating Mazda’s commitment to 

a multi-solution approach to sustainable 

mobility and the principal of the right solution 

at the right time, the Mazda CX-60 meets the 

growing needs of the segment by combining 

strong environmental performance with the 

driving pleasure inherent in every Mazda. 

The all-new Mazda CX-60 PHEV represents 

everything that Mazda has built into its DNA 

over the last 100 years, from outstanding 

exterior and interior design to the finest 

Japanese craftsmanship, plus the latest 

innovations in human-centric technologies 

and world-leading powertrains. 

The all-new Mazda CX-60 is the first of 

two new models from the company’s Large 

Product group to be introduced throughout 

Europe during the next two years, with the 

second being the three-row Mazda CX-80. 

In addition, joining the 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv 

PHEV drivetrain in the CX-60 line-up at a 

later date will be two brand new Mazda 

engines that have been developed using 

the ‘right sizing’ concept which calls for 

optimised displacement for improved fuel 

and power efficiency. 

The new generation straight-six 3.0-litre 

e-Skyactiv X petrol and 3.3-litre e-Skyactiv 

D diesel engines, which feature M Hybrid 

Boost – Mazda’s 48V mild hybrid system – 

combine high output with excellent fuel 

economy and emissions performance, they 

will join the CX-60 range in the future. Both 

powerplants are mated to the same eightspeed 

automatic transmission and i-Activ 

All-Wheel Drive system as the PHEV, but the 

e-Skyactiv D diesel unit and the e-Skyactiv 

X petrol engine have also been developed 

to be equipped with rear-wheel drive only. 

ASMW President Jack McKeown said: 

“Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid model is the 

seriously impressive CX-60. The premium 

SUV has a stylish shape, a beautiful interior 

– and the ability to travel nearly 40 miles on 

battery power. Our members particularly 

liked its driving dynamics and classy cabin.” 

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda UK Managing 

Director commented; “The Mazda CX-60 

has seen tremendous sales success across 

Europe since its launch in September and 

it is great to have the car recognised by the 

Association of Scottish Motoring Writers as 

their choice for Plug-In Hybrid of the year 

so soon after the car’s launch. Mazda has 

always been a popular brand in Scotland 

with market share at 2.3 percent vs 1.6 

percent for the whole of the UK and I feel 

confident that, with this recognition, the car 

will be a popular choice with our Scottish 

customers.”

ALL-NEW MAZDA CX-60 

PLUG-IN HYBRID 

AVAILABLE FOR £549 PER MONTH 

7.4% APR* REPRESENTATIVE OVER 4 YEARS 

Created by our Takumi craftsmen, the all-new Mazda CX-60 showcases the 

refined elegance of our KODO design language woven into the toughness of 

an SUV. Carefully curated materials like real maple wood, high-quality leather, 

Japanese textiles and chrome details are combined in perfect harmony in a 

car completely designed around its driver. If this is how we craft the details, 

imagine how it feels to drive the all-new Mazda CX-60. Crafted in Japan. 

SEARCH: VICTORIA PARK MAZDA 

Model 

All-new Mazda CX-60 327ps AWD Homura Auto 

Mazda Personal Contract Purchase Representative Example 

Monthly Payment £549 Total Amount Payable £57,722 

On The Road Price inc Metallic Paint £49,070 Fixed Rate of Interest 3.82% 

Mazda Deposit Contribution £1,000 No of monthly payments 48 

Customer Deposit £9,391 Duration of Agreement 49 months 

Amount of Credit £38,530 Annual Mileage 9,000 

Interest Charges £8,802 Excess Mileage Charge per mile 7.5p 

Optional Final Payment £20,979 % APR 7.4% APR* Representative 

Retail sales only, subject to availability for vehicles ordered between 20.12.22 and 31.03.23, registered by 30.06.2023 at participating dealers. T&C apply. *7.4% APR Mazda Personal Contract Purchase 

available on all new Mazda CX-60 PHEV models. Finance subject to status, 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. Channel Islands and Isle of Man excluded. 

Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. 

Model shown: Mazda CX-60 327ps AWD Homura Auto, OTR from £48,170. Model shown features optional Soul Red Crystal paint (£900). OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months’ road 

fund licence, first registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years’ European roadside assistance. Test drives subject to applicant status and availability. Details correct at time of going to print. 

Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. 

Victoria Park Motor Company Limited, trading as Victoria Park Mazda is a credit broker not a lender for this financial promotion. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers 

and may receive a commission from them for the introduction. If you have any questions about commission please speak to the dealer. 

DRIVE TOGETHER

the 

racer 

Tom Cole leaves the Ferrari 

factory in Modena in his 

Ferrari 340 MM, restyled 

in North American racing 

colours in May 1953 

Llandaff's Tom Cole lived life on the edge until one day in 1953, 

his luck ran out and he became a Le Mans legend 

On a hot summer's day in 1972, 

Luigi Chinetti dropped into the 

driver's seat of his Cadillac Eldorado 

and turned the ignition key. 

The car cranked into life and 

slowly rumbled out of the town of 

Le Mans, making its way onto the 

dusty roads that led out into the 

French countryside. 

After stopping off at Auburge du 

Rallye for some lunch, Chinetti and 

his passenger, a man named Jim 

Ibold, got back into the Cadillac 

and made their way to Le Mans 

Cimettiere De L'Ouest, a sprawling 

cemetery a short distance away. 

Chinetti parked his car at the 

entrance to the cemetery and the 

pair got out. They silently walked 

the paths that criss-crossed the 

cemetery to a large tombstone that 

sat on the far side. 

When they arrived at the 

tombstone, the pair stood in silence 

in the early summer sun. The 

granite stone of the tombstone 

had lost its shine so Chinetti looked 

around and found a bowl of water 

14 

nearby. Taking the handkerchief 

from his pocket, he dipped one end 

into the bowl and wiped the grime 

off the stone. When it was clean 

of dirt, Chinetti took the dry end of 

his handkerchief and polished the 

stone to give it a lustre. Then he 

took a step back to make sure he’d 

done a good job. 

His workmanship was spotless, 

much like his driving skills that 

had kept him out of harm’s way for 

decades. 

Chinetti and his friend Ibold stood 

and looked at the tombstone for 

a short while before they headed 

back to the car. 

The tombstone, now clear of dirt, 

read 'In Loving Memory of Tom 

Cole. Killed while driving in the 24 

hours motor race at Le Mans June 

14th 1953'. 

The life of Thomas Lionel Howard 

Cole, Jr. may have come to an 

abrupt end at the side of a road 

in northern France but his story 

started right here in north Cardiff. 

Born on 11 th June 1922, Cole 

contracted polio in childhood, and 

although largely recovering from 

the illness, it left him with minor 

disabilities for the rest of his life. 

In late August 1939, just before 

the outbreak of World War II, Tom 

and his family arrived in New York 

aboard the French liner Normandie. 

The 1940 United States Federal 

Census page, compiled in April 

1940, shows the Cole family to be 

guests at the Hotel Pierre in New 

York City. 

Cole attended Harvard for a year, 

before serving in the US Merchant 

Marine after the United States 

entered World War II. He worked 

as a crew member of the USS Esso 

Aruba and USS Esso Bayonne in 

1943 and later drove an ambulance 

for the American Field Service. 

At the end of the war, Cole 

became interested in racing sports 

cars, something he could do, 

despite the minor disabilities from 

his childhood polio. 

Splitting his time between the UK 

and the US, Cole took part in hill

climbs and speed trials as a way 

of gaining experience behind the 

wheel. He also got involved with 

the US East Coast racing scene, 

working his way into the Frick- 

Tappet racing team by tagging 

along during the race seasons. 

Being totally new to sports car 

racing, Cole had to make up for 

his lack of technical ability with his 

enthusiasm for his new love. But 

in 1949, Cole's father, Thomas Sr. 

(who owned the Clifton Steamship 

Corporation) shipped over his son's 

Jaguar and a HRG 1500 to the 

United States, to take part in the 

1949 Bridgehampton Sports Car 

Races. 

Bridgehampton was renowned 

as a fearsome course, requiring 

the utmost skill from the drivers. 

Held on public roads, the course 

ran counterclockwise on an 

approximately 3-mile rectangle. 

Bridgehampton founder Bruce 

Stevenson recalled that: 

"Tommy Cole was well known to 

all as a gentleman... charmingly 

forgetful of his passport, his wallet, 

his helmet and the unimportant 

details of daily life. But in a thrilling 

exhibition of driving skill, he piloted 

the Jaguar to second place using 

only one hand on the controls—the 

other was occupied holding the 

battery in position!" 

Cole's ability and potential soon 

outstripped the specifications of his 

two cars and in pursuit of a faster 

race car, he asked Bill Frick of the 

Frick-Tappet racing team whether 

a 5.4 litre Cadillac engine would fit 

into his Jaguar. After taking some 

measurements, Frick told Cole that 

this wasn't possible but undeterred, 

Cole got another car - an Allard 

J2- shipped over to the States. Thus 

the Cadillac-Allard J2, or Cad- 

Allard, was born. The car fused a 

lightweight chassis and modern 

suspension system with the large 

Cadillac powerplant, and it would 

go on to achieve considerable 

international success. Cole is 

credited with the car's creation. 

Cole would also go on to take 

the Allard to two outright wins at 

Bridgehampton - in 1950 and 1951. 

He would also take part in Le Mans 

for the first time in 1950, finishing 

third in the prestigious 24 hour race. 

In 1951, Cole was due to take part 

in the 1951 Buenos Aires Grand Prix 

but having damaged his Cad-Allard 

in a crash, he was offered a Chrysler 

Hemi powered Allard in which to 

race. Cole struggled with the car, 

especially the engine's massive 

torque. Transmission problems 

during practise sessions and the 

race itself meant that Cole did not 

finish the race. Ironically, first place 

was taken by John Fitch, who had 

taken Cole's Allard to repair and 

raced it himself. 

But Cole's Argentinian adventures 

didn't end there. A short while later, 

Cole was a sole passenger in a light 

plane that crashed in the jungle. 

The only survival tools that the pilot 

had on him was a .45 handgun and 

a knife. The pair were missing for 

two weeks and survived by eating 

snakes. They were eventually 

found by natives and returned to 

civilisation in Brazil. 

In the summer of 1952, Cole 

launched his European racing 

campaign at Le Mans in a Ferrari 

belonging to his co-driver Pierre 

'Pagnibon' Boncompagni. Cole 

brought the Ferrari back to the UK 

that summer. 

Pagnibon was a French driver, 

perhaps best remembered for 

winning the 1951 Tour de France 

Automobile, one of the world's 

oldest motorsport events. His 

success during the 1952 season had 

caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari, 

who offered Pagnibon an entry to 

the 24 Hours of Le Mans under the 

official Scuderia Ferrari banner. 

Pagnibon entered his car to the 

race with Cole as a second driver, 

but retired with electrical issues. 

The remainder of the 1952 season 

saw mixed fortunes for Pagnibon 

but returned in 1953 with a Ferrari 

340 MM. 

In this car, Pagnibon won the 

Rallye Soleil-Cannes, an eight-day 

road rally across France. He also 

drove it to second place in the 

Coupes de Vitesse, and won the 3 

Hours of Algeria. 

Tom Cole too was having success 

during the first half of 1953, coming 

fourth in the Mille Miglia in April, 

despite having never driven 

The Cadillac-Allard J2 in which Cole finished 

third at the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans 

history 

the 1,000 mile course before, 

and finishing second place at 

Silverstone in May. 

On June 7th, both Pagnibon and 

Cole were competing in the 12 

Hours of Hyères race, which took 

place in heavy rain. Pagnibon had 

been leading the race and had just 

set the race record when on the 

34th lap, he lost control of his car 

on a high-speed bend. The car hit 

a telegraph pole and overturned, 

killing Pagnibon instantly. 

Cole won the race but had lost 

his Le Mans co-driver, and was 

understandably heart-broken. 

A week later, Cole started his 

Le Mans this time with Italian- 

American driver Luigi Chinetti. 

Chinetti had competed in every Le 

Mans race held from 1932 but this 

was to be his last. 

Cole started the race strongly, the 

car peaking at third place during the 

first three hours. As the race headed 

into the night, Cole dropped down 

the field into sixth place. 

As morning broke the next day, 

fog had shrouded many parts of 

the track. Just after 6.14am, Cole 

was attempting to catch Peter 

Whitehead at Maison Blanche, who 

was in fifth place. Manoeuvring to 

pass a slower car, Cole lost control 

of his Ferrari, cutting a turn too 

close. The car dropped into a ditch 

demolishing a shed, but as it exited 

the ditch at speed, the car pivoted 

and threw Cole clear. He was killed 

instantly on impact with the ground. 

Cole had previously stated that 

if he was ever killed during a race, 

he wanted to be buried near the 

track. In accordance with his wishes, 

he was buried in Le Mans West 

Cemetery where nearly 20 years 

later, Luigi Chinetti would drive 

his Cadillac Eldorado to pay his 

respects. 

15

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ATLAS EXPRESS 

Atlas Express was once a familiar sight in and around Whitchurch and 

Llandaff. Steve Nicholas provides us with memories of the business 

Martin Wyatt and colleague 

Photo shoot in the Brecon Beacons 

The snow of 1983 

Vehicle at the depot 

Phil, Lawrence, and Les 

18 

Photos courtesy of Martin Wyatt (Werpy)

memories 

Atlas Express staff 

Billy Trigg at the depot 

1980s snow 

The depot and yard 

Martin Wyatt (Werpy) 

Steve Nicholas was born in Llandaff North 

and has published several photographic 

books about Whitchurch and Llandaff 

North. 

He also runs a website which is full of 

historical information about the area and 

lots of photos. You can find more at 

www.whitchurchandllandaff.co.uk 

19

Calming breath 

Breathing is something we tend to do without thinking but these 

calming techniques can help relieve anxiety and stress 

Abdominal v Chest 

There are two types of breathing - 

diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing 

and thoracic (chest) breathing. 

Diaphragmatic is the more 

beneficial method as it engages your 

diaphragm and allowing your lungs 

to drive air through your nose and 

mouth more effectively. This usually 

occurs subconsciously when we 

sleep. 

Thoracic breathing involves shorter, 

sharper breaths that come mainly 

from the chest. It's often used when 

we are anxious or in a heightened 

state of stress due to our instinctive 

fight-or-flight reactions. Because it's 

only intended for short-term use, 

more long-term use can lead to 

dizzy spells and light-headedness. 

20 

Alternate-Nostril 

Breathing 

This yoga-based method has 

been proven to reduce blood 

pressure, improve motor 

functions skills, and improve 

memory. 

The reason that it's so effective 

is because it forces us to focus 

solely on our breathing. Using 

your thumb, gently close off one 

nostril at a time and take in a full 

breath, before exhaling it. Then 

try with the opposite nostril. 

Repeat the process up to ten 

times in one go. If you start to 

feel light-headed at any time, 

release the blocked off nostril 

and breathe normally until you 

have readjusted. It's best to be 

seated for this technique. 

Belly Breathing 

Utilising your diaphragm can 

alleviate anxiety and stress. Also 

known as 'belly breathing', this 

method can be used three or 

four times a day to bring about 

calm. 

Find a comfortable, quiet place 

where you can sit or lie down. 

Place one hand on your belly 

and the other on your chest. 

Relax as much as you can and 

then breathe in deeply through 

your nose. Drive the air down 

into your belly, so that your 

hand on your belly moves, but 

the hand on your chest remains 

relatively still.

Box Breathing 

Possibly one of the easiest 

breathing techniques out there, 

box breathing, sometimes 

referred to as square breathing, 

can be done sitting or lying 

down, or sitting upright with a 

straight back. 

Exhale to the count of four, 

emptying your lungs of air and 

then count another four. Inhale 

deeply through your nose for 

another count to four and then 

hold the air in your lungs for 

another count to four. 

Repeat the process again by 

exhaling to the count of four. 

wellbeing 

4-7-8 Breathing 

This method is slightly more 

complicated but acts well to calm the 

nervous system. 

Best practised seated with a straight 

back, push the tip of your tongue to the 

top of your mouth behind your top front 

teeth. Exhale completely through your 

mouth and then inhale through your 

nose to the count of four. Hold the air 

there to the count of seven and exhale 

to the count of eight. 

Lion’s Breath 

Another deep breathing technique 

that draws on our primal instincts, 

the Lion's Breath technique can 

help alleviate body stress, as well 

as pin-pointing stress within the 

facial area. 

This technique is best carried out 

in a sitting position on the floor. 

Lean forward slightly with your 

hands on your knees. 

Spread your fingers as wide as 

they will go. Inhale deeply through 

your nose and then open your 

mouth wide. Stick your tongue out 

and point it down towards the floor. 

Exhale deeply, pushing the air out 

as hard as you can. As you do this, 

make an 'aaaah' sound from deep within. Recover by breathing normally 

for a few moments before repeating again up to eight times. 

Resonance Breathing 

Resonance breathing is a more relaxed 

way of controlling your breathing, and is 

best done lying down. 

Unlike other techniques, the aim is not 

to fill or empty your lungs to capacity 

but to achieve a gentler and conscious 

approach over a longer period of time. 

Inhale to the count of six but not to the 

point where your lungs are full. Then 

exhale gently for another count of six, 

making sure that you don't completely 

empty your lungs. Do this for ten minutes. 

Pursed-Lip Breathing 

Pursed lip breathing can increase the 

amount of oxygen entering the body 

and help get the diaphragm working 

more effectively because it keeps the 

airways open for longer than normal. 

It forces us to take longer and more 

intentional breaths and has been 

proven to be effective in people with 

lung conditions. 

Starting in a sitting position, breathe 

in deeply through your nose before 

exhaling deeply through pursed lips, 

as if you were blowing a long kiss to 

someone across the room. 

Mindfulness Breathing 

Mindfulness and its associated 

meditation techniques fit 

naturally into range of breathing 

techniques because it focuses 

on the awareness of the breath. 

There are various ways of doing 

this in a mindful way and most 

of them use a cue, either verbal 

or in your mind. Breathing in 

as you say (or think) the word 

'inhale' and conversely 'exhale' 

as you breathe out, it forces 

us to become mindful of what 

we are doing in that moment. It 

helps restore brain function by 

switching off from stressful or 

negative thoughts. 

21

feature 

Bucket 

List 

The last few years have helped change our outlook on life. 

Creating a bucket list can add purpose and excitement to our lives. 

Here are some of the most popular items on people's lists 

Travel the world 

If anything's going to open your 

eyes to the world and give you 

new experiences, it's travel. 

Moving yourself out of your 

comfort zone can be a daunting 

experience but travel will reward 

you in ways that you never 

thought possible. 

Preparation is the key and 

you'll first want to set yourself 

a budget that will allow you 

to visit the places on your list. 

Next, make sure that all your 

travel documents are in order. 

Vaccinations will also need 

to be up-to-date and if you're 

wanting peace of mind, book 

your travel way in advance. It's 

worth planning your journey 

and researching the areas 

that you want to visit to avoid 

any unexpected fees or travel 

problems. 

Travelling light will help you 

in the long run so only take 

essentials to save you the hassle 

of lugging heavy luggage. 

22 

Jump out of a plane 

If you want to experience what it's 

like to freefall to earth, a skydive is 

the only way to do it. 

A tandem skydive is the safest way 

to do this and many professional 

companies around the UK offer 

the experience. A tandem jump 

means that you will be attached to 

a professional instructor so you'll 

be in safe hands. You'll also need to 

pass some basic medical advisories 

in order to go ahead with the jump, 

especially if you suffer from asthma. 

This is because you'll be subject to 

colder air that has slightly reduced 

oxygen levels. Your skydiving 

company will take you through this 

before they will consider you for 

jumping. 

There are often various packages 

available that will allow you to 

jump higher - the higher your jump, 

the more freefall time you will get 

before the parachute is deployed. 

After the rush of freefall flight, you 

then get several minutes of a gentle 

parachute ride to your landing spot. 

You will be instructed on how to 

land safely, and how to avoid getting 

a sprained ankle on landing. 

If the thought of actually jumping 

out of a moving plane is too much 

for you, there are several indoor 

skydiving venues in the UK, which 

allows you to experience the rush 

and excitement of a 120mph freefall 

in a vertical wind tunnel.

Run a marathon 

Running over 26 miles in one go 

takes training, preparation, and 

dedication - but therein lies the 

challenge. 

Completing a marathon is not 

something that can be done on 

a whim so getting the miles in 

months in advance will help get 

your body used to enduring long 

periods of running. 

You'll then need to start a 

specific marathon training 

regime in the months leading up 

to your chosen marathon. 

It's also worth starting small 

and building slowly. Running a 

few shorter races—5Ks, 10Ks, or 

even a half marathon—is a great 

way to prepare physically and 

mentally for a first full marathon. 

Do stand up comedy 

Perhaps one thing that's likely to terrify 

anyone is the thought of standing in front 

of an expectant crowd and facing the 

challenge of making them laugh. 

The best place to start is an open 

mic session, which are usually held in 

clubs and pubs. It's best to write a script 

beforehand to work, even if you are 

confident, because it will help with the 

your flow, structure, and timing. 

Start your own business 

If you've ever fancied yourself as a bit of an entrepreneur, you'd think 

that with the current cost of living crisis and our economic woes, that this 

would be the worst time to set up a business. 

But as the sands shift, this is the time when opportunities that weren't 

previously there suddenly present themselves. And your business 

needn't be a sprawling multi-million pound enterprise - you can start 

right here at home. 

The first thing you need to 

ask yourself is whether you 

can offer a solution to people's 

problems. Is there a skill you 

have or do you have experience 

and knowledge that people will 

pay for? Whether it's helping 

people with their finances or 

childcare, or even dog walking, 

the possibilities are endless. 

Start small and slowly build up 

a client base. 

Write a book 

There's a saying that we've all got a 

book in us. And while it's true that we've 

all got a story to tell, very few of us 

take the time to get our stories down in 

words. 

Writing a book takes imagination, 

patience, and tenacity. Whether it's a 

novel, a collection of short stories, or 

even a business book, writing your own 

book will reward you on so many levels. 

Start by deciding what sort of book 

you'd like to write. Who would be your 

ideal audience? What would be its 

purpose? 

Gather all your ideas in one place and 

create an outline before getting to work on the chapters. You can either 

self-publish or approach traditional publishers with your book idea. 

See the Northern Lights 

The best places to see the 

celestial ballet are in any of 

the Scandinavian countries 

of Norway, Sweden, and 

Denmark. Spring and autumn 

generally provide more stable 

weather conditions and milder 

temperatures. 

Volunteer 

If you want to crank up your feelgood 

factor, the most effective way 

to achieve it is to volunteer for a good 

cause. 

Making a positive difference to 

people's lives makes the world a 

better place but it can also improve 

your self-esteem, confidence, and 

general well-being. You may also 

develop new skills 

23

1 

2 

3 

4 

here comes the sun 

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24

wellbeing 

5 

6 

7 

8 

5. Liberty water bottle 

100% leakproof, this 

advanced double-walled 

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cold for up to 24 hours and 

hot for up to 12 hours. It also 

includes an antimicrobial 

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microbes by up to 99.99%. 

6. Wooden lounger 

Pure relaxation with a touch 

of luxury - this garden 

lounger is made of sturdy 

acacia wood, and thanks to 

its beautifully curved shape, 

offers a gentle rocking 

motion. It's also equipped 

with a thickly padded pillow 

for extra comfort. 

7. Beach bag 

Whether you’re heading 

to the beach or for a 

springtime picnic, this David 

Jones Orange Beach Bag 

makes a delightful addition 

to your day out. Features a 

striking, colourful design on 

handles and plenty of room 

for your goodies. 

8. Women's hat 

Bucket hats have become 

a 'must have' during the 

summer months and this 

one features a frayed hem 

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25

Gorau Chwarae 

Cyd Chwarae 

This summer sees the Women's Football World Cup take place 

down under and while Wales won't be there this year, Welsh 

women's football is making great strides both on and off the pitch 

Despite Wales not featuring in this 

year's World Cup, women's football 

in Wales has been steadily growing 

in popularity and success over the 

past few years. 

Interest in the sport was piqued 

last summer when England's 

Lionesses claimed the Euro crown 

by whipping Germany 2-1 in the 

final in July. The success, following 

on from a jubilant summer season 

of Jubilee celebrations, sparked a 

nationwide hunger for the female 

version of the sport. 

Women's football in Wales has 

a relatively short history. The first 

recorded match was played in 

1895 between North and South 

Wales, but the game did not gain 

widespread popularity until much 

later. In the 1960s and 1970s, there 

were only a few women's football 

teams in the country, and the sport 

26 

wasn't taken seriously. 

It wasn't until the 1990s that 

women's football began to gain 

more attention and support in 

Wales. In 1993, the Welsh Football 

Association (FAW) formed the first 

national team, and in 1996, the 

Welsh Premier Women's League 

was established. 

The early years of the league 

were difficult, with only a handful 

of teams playing and little funding 

available. However, over time, 

the league has grown in size and 

quality, and the national team has 

become more competitive. 

The Welsh national team, 

nicknamed the Dragons, has made 

significant strides in international 

competition over the past few years. 

One of the key players for the 

Welsh national team has been Jess 

Fishlock, a standout player for many 

years who has played for various 

teams around the world, including 

Seattle Reign FC and Olympique 

Lyonnais. 

Like many of other kits found in 

Wales, the national team's primary 

kit has long been all-red. The crest 

of the FAW features a rampant 

(facing forward) Welsh Dragon on 

a white shield. From 1920 onwards, 

the shield was surrounded by a red 

border, and the letters 'FAW' were 

added in 1926. 

In 1951, the badge was redesigned, 

adding in a green border with 11 

daffodils to represent the players. 

A motto was also added: Gorau 

Chwarae Cyd Chwarae (The best 

play is team play). The message is 

woven into the chest of every Wales 

shirt and it aims to unite Welsh 

players and their fans under a single 

banner.

The badge stayed largely 

untouched until 2010, when the 

shield was changed to feature 

rounded sides and the motto 

banner was changed from white 

to red and green. The dragon also 

changed from rampant to rampant 

regardant (where the dragon's body 

is facing forward but its head facing 

backwards, as if looking over its 

shoulder). The motto was removed 

again in 2019, following another 

major redesign of the badge, which 

saw the top of the shield flattened 

and the sides changed not to 

curve outwards; the green border 

was also thinned and the daffodils 

removed. 

The Welsh Premier Women's 

League, now known as the Adran 

Premier, is the top-tier women's 

football league in Wales. As of 2022, 

the league is ranked 41st overall 

by the UEFA Women's association 

club coefficients. This is the way 

in which seedings and ratings are 

established using algorithms. 

The league was established in 

2009 and operates on a system 

of promotion and relegation, with 

the bottom team at the end of 

the season being relegated to the 

Welsh Premier Women's League 

North or South, depending on their 

location. 

The league is becoming 

increasingly competitive and 

professional. In recent years, more 

teams have been investing in 

facilities and coaching, and the 

league is attracting more talented 

players from Wales and also around 

the world. 

Some of the most successful 

teams in the league include 

Swansea City Ladies, Cardiff City 

Ladies, and Abergavenny Women. 

Swansea City Ladies have won the 

Young players are becoming 

increasingly inspired by watching 

their grown-up counterparts play 

Top photo: Ailura 

Jess Fishlock playing for Wales in 2015 

league six times, while Cardiff City 

Ladies have won it twice. 

In August 2021, the league 

announced a rebranding initiative, 

changing the name from 'Welsh 

Premier Women's League' to 'Adran 

Premier', adopting the Welsh word 

adran (division). The rebranding is 

claimed as an effort to remove the 

word 'Women's' from the league 

name to achieve better parity with 

the men's game. 

Despite the progress made in 

recent years, women's football in 

Wales still faces several challenges. 

One of the biggest challenges is 

funding. Many teams and players 

struggle to secure the resources 

they need to compete at a high 

level. The FAW has taken steps to 

address this issue, but more needs 

to be done. 

Another challenge is the lack of 

exposure and media coverage 

for women's football. The sport 

does not receive the same level of 

attention as men's football, which 

sport 

can make it difficult for teams and 

players to gain recognition and 

support. 

However, there are also many 

opportunities for women's football 

in Wales. The increasing popularity 

of the sport globally means 

that there is a growing fanbase 

and potential for commercial 

opportunities. Additionally, the 

success of the national team and 

the growing professionalism of the 

Adran Premier are helping to raise 

the profile of women's football in 

the country. 

In October 2021, the FAW released 

its women and girls’ strategy for 

2021-2026, with a mission to create 

the best environment, support 

structures and opportunities to 

accelerate the growth of women’s 

football, to make it reach its full 

potential. 

In recent years, Welsh women's 

football has witnessed a 50% 

increase in participation, with 

over 10,000 female players now 

registered. Yet the goal is to double 

that number and have 20,000 

women and girls playing football 

by 2026. By ensuring every girl 

has the opportunity to be involved 

in football, the FAW is aiming to 

work with partners across Wales to 

guarantee the female game has the 

platform to reach its potential. 

FAW CEO Noel Mooney said at the 

launch of the strategy: 

"Women’s football is the fastest 

growing sport across Europe and 

the biggest area of growth in Welsh 

football. 

“We have set an ambitious target 

in order for us to ensure the game 

reaches its full potential; we are 

investing more as a percentage 

of our turnover into our women’s 

programme than any other nation." 

27

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How do you clean your ears? 

In my years of being a Hearing 

Audiologist, I have been told many 

stories about what people clean 

their ears with - from the everyday 

cotton swabs to pens, paperclips, 

hair grips, glasses arms, and car 

keys. I’m sure nearly everyone is 

guilty of sticking something in their 

ears they are not supposed to so I’m 

going to explain why the old wives 

tale ‘nothing smaller than your 

elbow’ is so true. 

Our ears are designed by nature 

to be both self-cleaning and selfprotecting 

and that’s why by using 

the wrong cleaning methods, you 

risk causing injury to the ears, 

damaging your hearing, or even 

cause infections. 

Earwax (also called cerumen) is 

necessary for the ear’s self-cleaning 

mechanism to work properly. 

Earwax is manufactured by glands 

in the skin of the outer ear canal, the 

hole through which sound travels to 

the eardrum. Earwax serves several 

important functions. It coats the skin 

of the ear canal, repelling water and 

helping to protect it against injury 

and infection. It also helps to keep 

the skin inside the ears from getting 

dry and itchy. 

In addition, earwax traps dust and 

germs, keeping them from reaching 

the eardrum. Usually, you don’t 

need to do anything to help this 

natural cleaning process unless you 

suffer from an impaction that may 

have to be removed. 

Trying to forcibly remove the ear’s 

protective wax layer or stop an itch 

can damage the delicate skin of the 

ear canal or puncture (put a hole 

in) the eardrum. This can increase 

your risk of infection and lead to a 

permanent hearing loss needing 

either surgery or a hearing aid to 

correct the impairment. So it is 

best to leave the inside of your ear 

alone and not disturb its natural 

environment. This means no cotton 

swabs, no fingers and certainly no 

sharp objects! 

The ear canal is narrow and 

curved, consequently some 

people are susceptible to getting 

blockages of wax, skin, foreign 

objects, debris from infection. If a 

blockage is present, you may notice 

your hearing seems, dull, there may 

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your ears may feel full become 

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This is a sponsored feature

the 

crossroads 

Much of the history of Whitchurch is known to locals. But what 

about the unknowns? Nigel Lewis takes an in-depth look 

By Nigel Lewis 

How many of us know the history 

of Whitchurch? Many would know 

something of the local stories, and 

a few might have explored their 

family histories, discovering a little 

of the history of our village along 

the way. 

I’m guessing though, that very few 

have had the opportunity to explore 

our local history in depth, relying 

instead on the well-known books by 

Edgar Chappell and Hilary Thomas, 

and of course the wonderful old 

photographs collected by Steve 

Nicholas. 

At Whitchurch Library, AWEN run 

a lively Reminiscence Group once 

a month (new members always 

welcome) where we share, swap 

and explore our village history. 

Over the past few years, we’ve 

discovered so much, and realised 

we’re only just scratching the 

surface! 

Over the COVID lockdown, I had an 

opportunity to explore some of the 

30 

history, and started writing a weekly 

blog on Facebook, grandly titled 

‘101 Things You Probably Didn’t 

Know About Whitchurch’. 

I wanted to include the whole 

of the ancient parish, so the 

blogs needed to include not just 

the Whitchurch Village that we 

know today, but also Rhiwbina, 

Tongwynlais, Llandaff North, and 

Birchgrove. 

Using the local reference books, 

documents provided by the 

Reminiscence Group and the COVID 

internet-only reference points, it 

soon became clear that the project 

could easily spiral out of control and 

end up as ‘1001 Things’ instead! 

So, where to start? I’d already 

discovered that the oldest tree in 

the village is the ancient yew in Old 

St Mary’s Gardens which started 

growing about 1641 (a year before 

the English Civil War started). 

Where next? In the census of 

1841, I’d found references to ‘The 

Crossroads, Whitchurch’. Where 

might this be? 

It seems that the Crossroads were a 

very important spot, located at the 

junction of the Merthyr Road and 

Ty’n-y-Pwll Road, where the library 

now stands. Back then, there was 

only one building at the crossroads, 

a pair of very small, and very old 

thatched cottages, surrounded by 

fields. 

The sketch opposite shows an 

aerial view of how the crossroads 

might have looked in 1841 with the 

cottages, and Ty’n-y-Pwll Farm just 

a few hundred metres away. The 

crossroads were clearly ancient, 

and would have looked no different 

hundreds of years earlier. 

The roads would have been dusty 

tracks, stone-finished (probably 

with lots of ruts and potholes), no 

pavements or kerbs, and the grass 

verges and hedges would have 

been only roughly trimmed, with 

occasional gated openings into the 

fields. Ancient Elm and Oak trees 

would have been growing in the 

hedgerows. 

The crossroads formed the

oundaries of at least three farms, 

Pentwyn, Ty-Clyd and Glannant, 

and the individual fields mostly 

had names. Where the library now 

stands was a Ty-Clyd field called 

‘the Ten Acres Cross Road Field’. 

Many of the others had Welsh 

names. 

It’s hard to visualise what the 

crossroads would have looked like 

then, and there were only two roads 

crossing. There was so little, can 

you work out what’s missing? 

The site of the two thatched 

cottages is now Coffi Lab (Jennifer's 

Gown Shop as was). 

The sketch on the left shows how 

the old cottages might have looked 

like back then. 

In one of the cottages lived the 

Richards family. At the time of the 

1861 census, William Richards 

was 75 years old and he was living 

with his wife Anne and daughter 

Margaret. 

William noted that he was a retired 

Chelsea Pensioner. He was old 

enough to have fought against 

Napoleon in the Peninsular Wars, or 

even at the Battle of Waterloo. Does 

anyone know about the military 

record of William? We’d love to hear. 

To add to the fascination of our 

local history, in the same census 

of 1861, there was another Chelsea 

Pensioner family living in the village. 

In Lower Village (we’re not quite 

sure where), William Badger, aged 

52 (from Worcester), was living with 

A view of the crossroads in 2008 

his wife and seven children. 

This William was too young to 

have fought alongside William 

Richards, but it is intriguing to learn 

about his children. His first three, 

John, George and James were all 

born in Gibraltar. The next, William 

was born in the West Indies, and 

the next, Joseph in North America. 

The youngest two children, 

Elizabeth and Caroline were born 

in Gloucestershire and Durham. It 

would seem that William Badger 

took his wife and family with him 

wherever he was stationed around 

the empire. 

history 

By 1871, William Badger had left 

the area, but his oldest son John 

was married with his own 2-yearold 

son, living in Sunnybanks. By 

1881, John had left the area too and 

was living near his parents in Roath. 

As a lovely postscript, following 

the blog, a member of Badger 

family sent us a photograph of a 

family heirloom; a brass snuffbox 

inscribed with the Badger name. 

Another jigsaw piece to explore 

another time. 

Nigel Lewis is a member of AWEN@ 

thelibrary (awen.cymru@gmail.com) 

31

the power of sleep 

The lengthening days can tempt 

us to stay up late and get up early. 

Yet sleep is vital for the health of our 

minds and bodies 

Heart health 

A recent study in the US showed that 

short sleepers had a 25% greater risk 

of having poor cardiovascular health. 

Those with obstructed sleep apnea 

experienced a more than 200% 

greater chance of poor heart health 

than those who slept longer. 

Although poor sleep doesn't 

directly cause heart disease, it does 

increase our chances of poor life 

decisions (diet, lifestyle etc) that can 

affect our long-term health and our 

mortality. It is for that reason, sleep is 

now being added to the list of other 

heart-healthy factors, such as diet 

and exercise by medical experts. 

32 

Improved moods 

The short-term effect of 

not getting enough sleep is 

irritability and less patience. This 

can have a negative effect on 

our day-to-day routines and also 

our relationships with colleagues 

and loved ones. 

On a long-term scale, sleep 

deprivation can lead to 

depression, anxiety, and mental 

distress. This in turn, adds to 

stress levels, creating a negative 

cycle of emotions and feelings. 

Getting a good amount of sleep 

will restore your energy levels, 

allowing you to get up in the 

morning and get through the 

day. Prioritising sleep is often the 

first step in taking back control of 

your life. 

Blood sugar levels 

Insulin is the hormone that helps 

sugar (glucose) into our cells, 

which they use for energy. Your 

body's insulin levels are kept in 

check while you sleep. Even lack 

of sleep over one night increases 

insulin resistance, which can in 

turn increase blood sugar levels. 

This is because blood sugar 

levels surge while you sleep, 

usually around 4am to 8am for 

a healthy person with a normal 

sleep schedule. Insulin deals 

with this surge by telling muscle, 

fat, and liver cells to absorb the 

glucose from the blood, keeping 

your sugar levels normal. 

Getting less than seven hours 

of sleep at night means that you 

are at an increased risk for Type 2 

diabetes.

Mental ability 

Getting enough quality sleep is 

believed to help with memory 

function and cognitive thinking. 

The reason for this is because it 

allows the brain to grow, reorder 

itself, restructure if necessary, 

and create neural connections. 

Memories are also developed 

during the sleep process. 

Medium-term lack of sleep, even 

as little as one week, will start 

to affect your physical abilities, 

including your response reflex. 

Everyday actions such as driving, 

can therefore become riskier 

with the less sleep you have. 

Immune system restoration 

Studies over many decades have shown 

that sleep contributes both to the 

protection from illness, and to the recovery 

of it if we do get ill. This is because your 

body has two levels of immunity: the innate 

and the acquired immune systems. 

The innate system is your first line of 

defence, seeking out anything that doesn't 

belong in your body and destroying it. 

Your acquired immune system is more 

advanced in that it recognises pathogens 

(the baddies) and specifically targets 

them for destruction. Not only that, but it 

remembers them for the next time they try 

and invade. This ‘immunological memory' 

is the reason why you don't get viruses like 

chicken pox more than once. 

Sleep restores your immune system to 

optimal levels to help protect you. 

health 

Stress levels 

Stress and sleep are two uneasy 

bedfellows which are closely linked and 

have a knock-on effect on each other. 

Lack of sleep can increase levels of 

agitation but it also has an effect at 

a cellular level - poor sleep quality 

and sleep deprivation are thought to 

influence stress-related parameters, 

including our cortisol levels. Cortisol is 

released by our bodies when we are 

stressed and sleep can help balance it. 

Skin replenishing 

While we sleep, our body naturally 

replenishes our skin's moisture levels. Any 

excess hydration is mostly processed for 

removal. 

Collagen is also crucial for keeping your 

skin plump and smooth. During sleep, 

your body generates collagen to help 

keep your skin tight and elasticated. 

Collagen production while you sleep also 

provides benefits to your hair and nails, 

giving them strength and shine. 

Getting your beauty sleep really is a 

thing! 

Weight loss 

Sleep is often the last thing that comes 

to mind when you're looking to lose 

weight. But getting a good night's 

sleep is crucial to weight loss and it's 

all down to a bit of chemistry. 

As we sleep, our bodies naturally 

produces more of an appetite 

suppressor called leptin, reducing 

production of the appetite stimulant 

ghrelin at the same time. Lack of sleep 

reverses this - increasing production of 

ghrelin while leptin decreases. Makes 

sense to stay in bed now, doesn't it? 

Live longer 

In 2018, researchers found that 

those who slept between seven 

to eight and a half hours (but not 

less than seven hours or more 

than nine hours) could expect to 

have one to three more years of 

longer, healthier lives. 

This is most likely down to the 

relationship between sleep and 

other bodily processes that are 

affected during sleep. 

Oversleeping (more than 

9 hours in a 24 hour period) 

regularly can also have a 

detrimental effect on your health. 

33

gardens 

Grow your own 

Growing your own food can be a fun and rewarding experience and 

it doesn't require a lot of space or expertise either. Here are some fruit 

and vegetables that you can grow over the next few months 

Peppers 

Peppers are best grown in a greenhouse 

if you have one but they can be planted 

outdoors, providing that they are in a 

sunny spot, sheltered from any wind. 

Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours 

of sunlight a day, and make sure the soil is 

well-drained. 

If you're starting from seeds, sow them 

indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost 

date. Keep the soil moist and warm. 

Tomatoes 

Tomatoes are one of the most popular 

foods you can grow at home, mainly 

because they are so simple to nurture. All 

you need is a seed tray, an 18-inch pot, a 

bag of tomato compost and some tomato 

seeds. 

May is an ideal time to plant tomatoes as 

the frosts will have passed and the earth 

will have had time to warm. Placing them 

in the sunniest spot you have will give you 

the best chance of a bumper crop. 

Melon 

One of summer's greatest 

pleasures is biting into a juicy 

slice of cool melon on a searing 

hot day. 

Watermelons need plenty of 

heat to grow to full size and 

because they also need a good 

amount of time, you'll need to 

start the process as early as you 

can. 

Provide ongoing support for 

the plants as watermelon vines 

can become heavy. You can 

use trellises, stakes, or cages to 

support the vines and you'll also 

need to water them regularly as 

they grow. 

You can harvest the 

watermelons when they are 

ripe. You can tell when a water 

melon is ready to be harvested 

as it should sound hollow when 

tapped and have a dull surface. 

Cucumber 

Cucumbers are climbing plants and as such, they will need support when 

growing, either in a greenhouse, or in a sunny spot outdoors. Greenhouse 

cucumbers tend to fruit earlier than their garden counterparts and if you 

want to grow them outdoors, choose a warm, sheltered, sunny site with 

fertile soil. Remove any weeds and dig in two bucketfuls of well-rotted 

organic matter before planting. 

There are many varieties that you can choose from, the smaller ones 

producing more crop more quickly than the larger versions. 

34

Greens 

There are plenty of choices 

when it comes to growing 

greens. From kale and cabbage, 

there are also greens more 

suited to summer such as rocket 

or spinach. 

Greens can be harvested 

when the leaves are young and 

tender. Pick the outer leaves 

first, leaving the inner leaves to 

continue growing. Most greens 

can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season. 

Peas 

Peas are one of the easier vegetables 

to grow. They prefer full sunlight and 

you will need to make a trench about 

two inches deep. Sow the seeds about 

two inches apart, and cover them with 

soil. Space the rows about 18-24 inches 

apart. 

Peas will need support as they grow. 

Use a trellis, stakes, or netting to keep 

the plants off the ground and help them 

climb. 

Corn 

Corn prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Choose a 

location in your garden that gets full sun and has good air circulation. 

When it comes to planting, corn should be planted in rows with a 

spacing of 30-36 inches between rows and 8-12 inches between plants. 

Plant the corn seeds 1-2 inches deep in the soil. Water consistently to 

encourage deep root growth. You will know when your corn is ready for 

harvest when the kernels are plump and the husks are brown and dry. 

Sweet potatoes 

Growing sweet potatoes requires 

a warm climate, well-drained soil, 

and good dollops of sunlight. 

Sweet potato slips are small 

rooted sections of sweet potato 

vine and you can either buy these 

from your local garden centre, 

or you can grow your own by 

placing a sweet potato in a jar of 

water until it sprouts roots and 

shoots. Plant the slips in wellprepared 

soil, spacing them 12-18 

inches apart and burying them 

up to the first set of leaves. 

Water your sweet potato plants 

regularly, especially during dry 

periods in the summer but avoid 

over-watering them. Fertilise with 

a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 

weeks. 

Your potatoes will be ready to 

harvest when the leaves turn 

yellow and begin to wither. 

35

THE RETURN 

Lulled by winter chill 

and light curtailed, 

we don't recall the toll 

of quick befrilling slug and snail 

But now the thug of trail 

-and toilreturns 

(The tell-tale spiral, unshod shell; 

a 'keely' early caught) 

A cull is mooted; 

brutal! 

Perhaps a shoot; 

disputed! 

Called by daffodils 

and camomile, 

- and lone-consoling rain- 

The gardeners' spring travails 

begin 

In earnest 

(gastropods are versatile) 

As inestimable mouths 

avail themselves of our morale, 

and all our summer plans 

annul. 

Nigel Phillips 


36 

Seasonal 

Poems 

OUR FALLEN FRIEND 

For decades rooted in our celtic soul 

Listening to secret woodland whispers 

Watching generations wander through the bluebells 

We wondered at your might 

But still you stood 

Remained our constant 

Strong, unyielding 

Where children elfin like, their laughter crisp, their boots deep in 

your leaves 

Would peep and hide beneath your trunk 

And gaze upwards toward 

Your twisted branches 

Reaching to the sky 

There you remained 

Your age unknown 

A landmark, a forever place 

Unchanged by time 

Unmoved by storms 

You stood steadfast 

Sheltering us 

Sharing the hope that we can face the Winds of time, can still endure 

Until today 

When you lie fallen 

I catch my breath 

I weep for you 

My fallen Wenallt friend 

And all who shared your wonder 

Claire Erasmus 

Rhiwbina

poetry 

Poems penned by the local community 

BLUEBELLS BOWED THEIR HEADS 

I walked here, in ‘Fforest Ganol’ Woods, 

Before much of life had happened to me. 

Normally, hand in hand, with a teenage love 

Branches tangled above our careless heads 

Trying not to tread on the ringing Bluebell carpet 

That grew there then, and still does today, 

A perfect illustration of Wordsworth’s line 

‘Splendour in the grass. Glory in the flower’ 

And how nothing could, and can ever, regain 

The mindless moments of our younger times 

When all we sought was simple sweetness 

On the cusp between ‘Innocence and Experience’ 

Moving from childhood ‘crush’, carrying her books 

To proper passion growing, like a loving bruise 

For all to see. Mindful maturity. Or its beginnings. 

And in this Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Of a Springtime place, we strolled arm in arm 

Hopeful and harmless. ‘Love’s young dream’ 

Scheming and plotting our Saturday night 

At ‘The Monico Cinema’. Eating sweets 

And unwrapping our hearts. But beginning 

To feel the chill winds of changes coming, 

As ticking Trickster time toyed with us, 

And our perfect rhyme became blank verse 

As terse chronology and hour-glass sand 

Dictated to us, ever more insistently, 

And eventually, as night follows day 

Took me away to where new flowers bloomed 

In flat, Cambridge meadows, as yet unseen. 

To stretch, in Summer grass, with brand new lovers. 

While, in the familiar fields 

Beneath old our familiar trees 

Bluebells bowed their heads 

And returned, at last, to earth. 

HERE IN THIS 

GARDEN 

Here in this garden the pleasant 

sunlight rays 

Fall on blooms that hang from 

ancient wall 

And gently flow into a coloured 

maze 

There scents to creatures reach 

that heed its call, 

How I like them I am when within 

your gaze 

As under your charm I quickly fall 

And voices turn into a murmured 

haze 

So great it does my soul enthrall, 

And so it has been for many days 

As do I walk from hall to hall 

Though would I for you presence 

praise 

And wish of your time so ever 

small, 

So do I miss thee that my heart 

does ache 

And would I willingly your hand 

to take. 

David W Morris 

Llandaff North 

Roger Stennett 

37

ooks 

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY 

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your 

average woman. In fact, Elizabeth 

Zott would be the first to point out 

that there is no such thing. 

But it's the early 1960s and her 

all-male team at Hastings Research 

Institute take a very unscientific view 

of equality. Forced to resign, she 

reluctantly signs on as the host of a 

cooking show, Supper at Six. But her 

revolutionary approach to cooking, 

fuelled by scientific and rational 

commentary, grabs the attention of a 

nation. 

Soon, a legion of overlooked 

housewives find themselves daring 

to change the status quo. One 

molecule at a time. 

This multi-million copy best-seller is 

the Winner of the Goodreads Choice 

Best Debut Novel Award and has 

been read on BBC Radio 4's Book at 

Bedtime. 

SPRINGbooks 

If you're looking for engaging books to read 

while you sit in the sun, here's our handpicked 

selection for this season 

BLOOM 

A beautifully written, incredibly 

original and wickedly funny novel 

for listeners of 10 and older - 

Bloom is for everyone who has 

ever felt like they didn’t fit in and 

for anyone who has ever wanted a 

little more colour and wildness in 

their lives 

BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT 

A summer in Greece for three best friends 

ends in the unthinkable when only two return 

home in this new novel from Ella Berman. 

'Before We Were Innocent takes a scenario 

we’ve seen in news reports—young women 

abroad falsely accused of a horrific crime—and 

gives it all the nuance and empathy that the 

media never bothered with...a haunting and 

dazzling page-turner.' Laura Hankin 

OTHERLANDS 

From Ice Age 

Alaska to the 

birthplace 

of humanity, 

palaeobiologist 

Thomas Halliday 

takes his readers 

on a dazzling 

tour of deep 

time to witness 

astounding 

ancient 

landscapes 

from all seven 

continents 

around the globe. 

THE LILAC GIRLS OF 

RAVENSBRÜCK 

New York socialite Caroline 

Ferriday has her hands full 

with her post at the French 

consulate and a new love on 

the horizon. But Caroline's 

world is forever changed 

when Hitler's army invades 

Poland in September 1939- 

and then sets its sights on 

France. 

Rich with historical detail 

and riveting to the end, 

Lilac Girls weaves the 

lives of three astonishing 

women into a story of 

extraordinary moral power. 

38

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Os oes angen cymorth neu ragor o 

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Commission from public funds. Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn 

gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd Cyhoeddus.

A Beautiful Mess 

When Lauren makes a routine visit to see her mother at the care home, little does 

she know that the turn of events that unfold will reveal a shocking family secret 

"I want to go home now. Can you 

take me home?" 

"You know I can't take you home 

Mam. Why don't you come away 

from that window and have a cup 

of tea? I'll get the nice man to make 

one for you." 

"He'll be here soon." 

"Who?" 

Mam never answered. She just 

continued to peer out of the 

second-floor window, down on to 

the car park below. Lauren had long 

given up trying to get her mother 

to sit still. Ever since she'd arrived 

at Springmeadows Nursing Home 

two years ago, Mam had taken to 

standing at the window for hours on 

end. 

Endlessly waiting. 

Lauren shifted to get comfy on 

Mam's bed and reopened the TV 

Weekly she'd been reading. Mam 

finally turned from the window but 

as soon as her gaze had broken 

away from the slow evening scene 

outside, there was a growl of an 

engine and a squeak of car brakes. 

Mam spun around quickly and 

darted back to the vista. 

"Damn. It not him," she quipped. 

“He said he'd come for me soon." 

"So you keep saying, Mam. There's 

no Emmerdale tonight, by the way. 

There's football on instead." 

Mam gave up, shuffled across the 

wooden floor and lowered herself 

slowly into her little-used arm chair. 

"Bloody football. That's all there 

ever is on telly. Stupid bloody 

game." 

"Dad used to love it." 

"Tell me about it," said Mam. "That's 

all I ever heard about. That's one 

thing I don't miss." 

"Football?" asked Lauren. 

"The constant conversations about 

it. Like I was bloody interested! 

Anyway. He'll be here soon. It's 

been a lonely six years." 

Lauren looked up from the TV 

listings. 

"Dad died seven years ago, Mam." 

Mam looked a little confused and 

then looked down at her crinkled 

fingers in her lap. Lauren laid the 

magazine on the bed and stood up. 

"I'm going to get you a cup of tea 

before I go. Richard will be picking 

me up soon." 

40 

__ 

Lauren made her way to the kitchen 

down the corridor, where she found 

Pete, the nurse. He had a kind face 

and a chapel-grey voice that would 

wrap its arms around you and give 

you a big squeezy hug when you 

needed it most. 

"Am I able to get Mam a cup of 

tea?" asked Lauren. 

"Yes, of course. Do you want one?" 

"I've got time for a last cup of tea 

with her. A quick one though. I need 

to be going soon. It's getting late." 

Lauren paused for a moment, 

looking concerned. 

"What are we going to do about 

Mam?" 

Pete set about making two cups of 

tea while they spoke. 

"What do you mean?" 

"About the fact that she's always at 

the window. Waiting." 

"I know. Nothing seems to have 

changed since the last time we 

spoke about it. I think it's just one of 

those things." 

"Are you able to get her some 

different books from the library 

downstairs? I think she's lost the 

plot. She's reading too much of 

that Mills & Boon rubbish. She 

used to love a good ol' Catherine 

Cookson book before she got into 

that saccharine happily-ever after 

nonsense. Or maybe they've got 

some Agatha Christie down there? 

A good old murder mystery might 

distract her from standing at the 

window all day." 

"I'll take a look for you." 

"Do you think it's dementia?" 

"I'm not so sure. It doesn't really fit 

with dementia. We found her at the 

window the other night and it took 

us a while to get her back to bed." 

"Who is she waiting for? Has she 

ever said?" 

"No idea. Whenever a car or van 

pulls up outside, she's there at the 

window," said Pete. 

"You won't let her wander off 

will you? Knowing her, she's 

probably met some fancy man on 

the internet. I don't want any old 

stranger turning up and taking her 

away." 

"I wouldn't worry. I don't think 

she even knows what the internet 

is. And our security is top notch. 

It's like Fort Knox down there. We 

don't let anyone in and we don't let 

anyone out unless we say so!" 

Pete finished making the two cups 

of tea and held them out to Lauren. 

"Here you go." 

__ 

"I've got a cup of tea here for you." 

Lauren found Mam back at the 

window. 

"I never asked for one," Mam 

snapped without dropping her gaze. 

Lauren sighed. She couldn't win. 

She placed the two cups of tea 

down on the bedside table and 

resumed her place on the bed. 

"I've asked Pete to get you some 

new books from the library," she 

said, picking up one of Mam's Mills 

& Boon books. She looked it over, 

almost with disgust. 

"I'm enjoying the ones I've got, 

thank you." 

"They're not healthy for you. 

They're not real life." 

"They take me back to my happy 

days," said Mam. Lauren took a 

look at the man on the front cover. 

The illustration of the man, shirt 

unbuttoned to the waist, stood over 

a pretty woman, looking helplessly 

up at him. Lauren couldn't imagine 

Dad in such dashing pose. Lauren 

read the title out aloud. 

"A Beautiful Mess." 

Mam peered out of the window. 

"It was a beautiful mess," said Mam. 

"I just fell in love," she muttered. 

"So you keep telling us." 

"I didn't mean to fall in love. It just 

happened." 

"Happens to us all," Lauren sighed. 

"We never existed in the real 

world," said Mam. There was a slight 

smile on her face. Her mind was 

miles away. 

"We'd go for walks. Long, endless 

walks. And then we'd stop and kiss. 

And those kisses - boy - the world 

would melt away. It'd just be us and 

the stars." 

"You said Dad was a rubbish kisser." 

Mam turned and looked at Lauren. 

"I'm not taking about your father." 

Lauren's head jolted back slightly. 

"I don't think Dad would have been 

happy with that, Mam." 

Mam smiled.

"He had no idea." 

As Mam looked longingly out of 

the window once more, Lauren 

scooped up the books and quietly 

slipped them into her tote bag and 

stood up. 

"I need to get going. Richard's on 

his way - he's waiting to go golfing. 

I'll come and see you tomorrow." 

Mam turned around with a wry 

smile on her face. Then she 

returned her eyes to the 

disappearing day outside. 

__ 

It was just a short walk for Lauren 

from the main entrance of the 

nursing home to Richard's car, 

where he sat waiting. Lauren 

stopped and looked up at Mam's 

window. She was there - of course 

she was there - and she gave a little 

wave. 

The evenings were getting 

noticeably brighter now. The deep 

blue hue that saturated the car park 

comforted Lauren. Warmer, longer, 

and easier days were on their way. 

A blackbird hopped up on to the 

picket fence and let out a short 

flute-like song. It quickly glanced 

at Lauren and then dashed off into 

the nearby bushes. Lauren inhaled 

a chestful of the clean spring air, 

thanked the blackbird for his song, 

and got into her husband's car. 

__ 

At first, Lauren couldn't figure out 

which phone was ringing. She lifted 

her head off her pillow and caught 

sight of her mobile phone buzzing 

on her bedside table. She reached 

over and groggily answered. 

"Hi. Lauren. It's Pete. I'm so sorry 

to bother you. Can you come to the 

home?" 

"What's happened?" 

"I'd rather tell you face to face." 

"Pete. I can't do suspense. Just tell 

me now. What's happened?" 

Pete paused. "She's gone." 

"What do you mean gone? Gone 

where? Who took her?" 

"No. I mean she's gone. She's 

passed." 

Lauren couldn't compute the 

words that she'd just heard. 

"Dead?" 

"I'm so, so sorry," said Pete. 

There was a pause as Lauren tried 

to articulate the thoughts that were 

thumping around her head. 

"Are you still there?" asked Pete. 

"Yes. Erm...just thinking 

practicalities. Richard's been 

drinking." She looked at him snoring, 

oblivious to the awful news. 

"Shall I come pick you up?" asked 

Pete. "You're not too far away." 

Lauren thought for a moment. 

"Erm. No. It's ok. I'll wait until first 

light. I'll get a taxi down. There's 

nothing I can do by being there. 

Thank you." 

"They'll have taken her by then." 

Lauren sighed. She thought back 

to the wave she'd got from the 

window just a few hours earlier. 

"That's ok." 

__ 

Lauren was sat on Mam's bed. She 

could hear the blackbird's morning 

song outside and the room was 

quiet and still. 

Pete was stood in the doorway. His 

cheery face looked sullen. 

"I just can't believe it," said Lauren, 

clutching Mam's cardigan. 

"We can't either. Are you ok?" 

"I'm not sure." 

"Sorry. Stupid question. Take as 

long as you want. There's no rush. 

I'll be in the room next door if you 

need me." 

"Thank you." 

Pete turned but stopped. 

"Oh. She was clutching this when 

we found her. We thought you'd 

want it back for the family album." 

Pete gently waved a thin, long strip 

of black and white photo booth 

photos at her. 

"Thanks." 

"I'll just pop it down here." Pete 

leaned forward and placed the 

photographs on Mam's bedside 

table. Lauren stood and went to the 

window, where Mam has spent so 

many hours. She tried to imagine 

the things that Mam would have 

been thinking. 

There was a sudden squeak of 

car brakes and Lauren instinctively 

looked down. The postman got out 

of his van and went around to the 

back to open his doors. Though it 

felt like it, life hadn’t stopped. 

Lauren came away from the 

window and looked down at the 

book on the bedside table. A 

contraband Mills & Boon special. 

She picked it up and scrunched up 

her mouth at it. 

"So he never came after all? Even 

imaginary men are a let-down." 

She put the book back down and 

looked around the room. There was 

a vase of plastic flowers; a bottle 

of unopened face cream; the TV 

Weekly, still open on the previous 

day's listings, and with Mam's 

favourite shows circled. 

Lauren slumped onto the bed. She 

picked up Mam's pillow and put her 

face in it. She took a long inhale and 

then placed the pillow back. Then 

short story 

she picked up the photo that Pete 

had placed there. She held it up to 

her face. 

Her eyebrows dropped. The corner 

of her mouth skewed. And then she 

let out an audible gasp. 

She put her hand to her mouth for 

a few moments. Then looked for 

Pete. 

"Pete!" she called out. There was 

no immediate answer. 

"Peter!" Pete appeared in the 

doorway. 

"You ok?" 

Lauren held the strip of photos up 

to show him. 

"Who is this man?" 

"Your father, isn't it?" 

Lauren looked at the photo again. 

"No. Absolutely not!" 

Pete moved in closer. 

"Well who is it?" he asked. 

"That's what I'm asking you!" 

Pete sat on the bed next to Lauren 

and together, they sat in silence, 

studying the photos. 

The strip contained three photo 

booth photos. Mum was clearly 

sitting on this man's lap and in 

the first photo, they were staring 

directly into the camera together. 

The second photo, Mam was 

looking adoringly at the stranger 

who was still smiling at the camera. 

And in the final one, they were 

kissing. A moment in time, captured 

forever. 

"She looks so happy," murmured 

Pete. 

"Almost too happy," said Lauren. 

She had never seen her mother 

look so happy and radiant. Never 

seen her so content. So in love. 

And there was a look in Mam's eye. 

Lauren recognised it instantly. It 

was the same look she herself had 

when she had fallen in love with 

someone she shouldn't have. 

"Did you read the note?" 

"What note?" 

Pete pointed at a piece of paper 

that was lying next to the Mills & 

Boon book. 

She took it and unfolded it. It was 

unmistakably Mam's writing. Lauren 

recognised the beautiful swirls and 

elegant lines. And for once, it was 

written with total clarity, like she 

used to, back in the day. 

Lauren read out what was written: 

"He's here! He's here! He's finally 

here!" 

Lauren sat in silence for a few 

moments and glanced at the photo. 

Then she turned to Pete. 

"So he was real," she said quietly. 

"And he did come for her." 

By Patric Morgan 

41

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A Spring 

outdoors 

In Your Step 

With the arrival of the warmer weather, here's a short walk around 

Caerphilly Mountain to clear your head and stretch your legs 

Head to the back of the car 

park where you will find a 

forest track. The waymarkers 

will lead you up the hill and when 

you reach a T-junction, head left 

towards Mynydd Rudry. You will 

continue up through the forest and 

eventually arrive on the edge of 

Rudry Common. 

There is a path to the right of the 

woodland. Head up this path – it 

will take you across the common 

and up to the car park. Pass 

through the car park, crossing the 

road and heading up the hill and 

up the old road. Keep on going, 

passing Caerphilly Woodlands and 

remembering to close the gate in 

the road. You will see ancient beech 

trees here. 

Make your way to Cefn Onn Farm 

and twenty metres or so after the 

farm, turn right at the bridleway 

crossroads to join the Rhymney 

Valley Ridgeway Walk. Follow the 

track, turning right at the waymarker 

and then turn left at the next 

one. The path takes you around a 

limestone quarry. Continue into the 

wood of beech trees, looking out 

for an old lime kiln. The final gate 

you will come to will take you past 

the derelict Blaen Nofydd Farm and 

on to the main road. 

Carefully cross the road to Pant 

y Gollen and look out for the 

signposted bridleway. You will see 

the Travellers Rest pub across the 

road. Take care crossing the road if 

you decide to take a rest here. 

Continue on the bridleway, passing 

Cefn Carnau Fach as far as the 

finger post. Follow the direction for 

Rhiwbina, passing through the golf 

course but staying on the track. 

Exit the track when it dips to the 

left near the Private Access sign. 

Head straight ahead, along the 

perimeter of the golf course and 

on into the wood. You will enter a 

small wooded valley via a gate and 

footbridge. 

When you reach the bridle gate, 

head right up the steep hill and 

follow the waymarked route until 

you reach the pedestrian access 

gates. Should you need to take a 

break, the Black Cock Inn is well 

signposted from here. 

Turn right from the pub along 

Black Brook Road up to the 

entrance to Tyn y Coed Cae House. 

Follow the track until you turn left 

through a series of gates and where 

you reach the road. 

Continue up the hill until you reach 

a cleared track on the common. 

The track runs alongside the road 

and will bring you to the junction 

with Watford Road. Cars can come 

along here at speed so please look 

out for traffic. 

Cross over the road and pass 

through the two rocks and you will 

now find yourself on Caerphilly 

Common. Take an immediate right 

and the path will take you up to 

another path on the left that will 

lead to the summit. From here, you 

will be afforded fabulous views in 

all directions. Continue on the ridge 

towards the snack bar. The path 

leads from the rear of the car park 

behind the Caerphilly Common 

sign. 

Keep left but beware of the quarry 

edge. The route is marked and 

soon the path heads into woodland. 

The path soon drops down into a 

wooded valley. 

The path eventually joins forestry 

tracks but stay on the main track 

leading downhill. You will pass 

through the gateway and pass a 

red-bricked house on the way to 

Wern Ddu. 

Join the minor road and head 

straight on, passing a house with 

wagon wheel gates, over a railway 

bridge and passing a timber yard. 

A narrow lane will open up onto 

the road junction so take care here. 

Head over the main road and turn 

right towards Rudry. Continue to 

the end of the pavement and you 

will find yourself back at Caerphilly 

Woodlands car park. 

43

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T: 02920 692704 M: 07715 622406 

E: janrichards4@hotmail.co.uk 

W: www.houseclearancecardiff.com 

Sponsored feature 

The Whitchurch Clinic 

celebrates 10 years of 

award-winning service 

The Whitchurch Clinic, located in the heart of 

Whitchurch village, has recently celebrated 10 years 

of business. The award-winning clinic first opened 

its doors in 2013, and has gone on to become a firm 

favourite in Cardiff. 

Clinic Director 

Andrea Howell told 

Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living: 

"We're proud to be 

celebrating 10 years of 

The Whitchurch Clinic 

and helping people in 

the local community. 

We wanted to extend 

a huge thank you 

to those who have 

supported the clinic 

through the years." 

From small 

beginnings as a sole 

chiropractor, the clinic 

now welcomes a 

wide range of practitioners including sports massage, 

mental health practitioners, medical consultants, 

chiropody and audiology. 

The team celebrated 10 years with a happy gettogether 

at the clinic on Merthyr Road. They are also 

pledging its ongoing support to a national charity, in 

memory of Andrea's uncle Trefor. 

"Our 2023 charity raffle supports Parkinson's UK as 

our chosen charity this year. Tickets can be purchased 

at the clinic or online (check our social media for the 

charity Paypal page). Prizes include an Overnight VW 

Camper Stay, a one-hour sports massage, a pamper 

hamper, a make-up makeover, plus lots more goodies 

that will bring a smile to your face," added Andrea. 

Become a 

published author 

● Coaching 

● Book editing 

● Ghostwriting 

● Memoirs 

● Business books 

● Novels 

www.patricmorgan.com 

07772 081775 

A: 2 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DG 

T: 02920 617700 

W: www.thewhitchurchclinic.co.uk

King 

of 

the 

grill 

BBQ season is upon us. Time to dig out the barby, don the chef's apron, 

throw on the charcoal, and fire up a feast for friends and family 

BBQ Sticky 

Sausage Kebabs 

with Lemon 

Potatoes 

300g new potatoes 

6 pork sausages, cut in half 

1 small red onion, cut into 12 pieces 

1 red pepper, cut into 12 pieces 

6 streaky bacon rashers, cut in half 

6 rosemary sprigs (with all but the top leaves 

removed) 

smoky barbecue marinade 

1 tbsp olive oil 

a knob of butter 

zest and juice of ½ lemon 

a handful of fresh parsley leaves, chopped 

☐ Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and 

cook the new potatoes for 15 minutes or until 

they are tender. 

☐ Meanwhile, thread the halves of the 

sausages, onion, pepper and bacon onto 

rosemary sprigs and brush with smoky 

barbecue marinade. 

☐ Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan (or light/ 

preheat the barbecue) and cook or barbecue 

for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the 

sausages are cooked through and the veg is 

chargrilled. 

☐ When the potatoes are cooked, drain and 

crush with a fork. 

☐ Stir in butter, seasoning, the lemon zest and 

juice, and a handful of fresh parsley. 

☐ Serve the kebabs with the lemon potatoes 

and condiments of your choice. 

46

BBQ 

Aubergines 

3 large (about 1kg) aubergines 

100ml olive oil 

For the chermoula 

3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 

2 tsp ground cumin 

2 tsp ground coriander 

1½ tsp sweet paprika 

Good pinch of saffron strands 

2 tsp harissa paste 

1 tbsp lemon juice 

20g fresh coriander leaves, plus extra 

to garnish 

20g fresh mint leaves 

120ml extra-virgin olive oil 

☐ Cut the aubergines lengthways into 

1cm-thick slices. Sprinkle with salt, 

layer in a colander and set aside to 

drain for 40 minutes. 

☐ Meanwhile, make the chermoula. 

Put the garlic, spices, harissa, lemon 

juice, herbs and 4 tablespoons of oil 

into a processor with a pinch of salt. 

Blend to a paste and stir in enough of 

the remaining oil to make a sauce. 

☐ Preheat your barbecue in the 

usual way until it reaches the correct 

temperature. Bear in mind that you 

may have to adjust the cooking time 

slightly depending on how hot your 

barbecue is or how near the heat 

source the food is placed. 

☐ Pat the aubergines dry with kitchen 

paper. In batches, brush with oil and 

food 

barbecue over a medium heat for 5-6 

minutes each side, until golden. Wrap 

your cooked slices in foil to retain their 

heat while you cook the remaining 

slices. 

☐ Place the aubergine slices on 

a serving dish, drizzle with the 

chermoula and sprinkle with the 

coriander leaves to garnish. 

Ginger & 

honey chicken 

wings 

24 chicken wings 

5 spring onions 

1 fresh red chilli 

5 tablespoons honey 

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

2 cm piece of ginger 

5 sprigs of fresh thyme 

ginger and honey marinade 

☐ Clean, trim, and finely slice the 

spring onions and chilli. Place them in 

a bowl along with the honey and the 

soy sauce. Peel the ginger and then 

grate into the mix. Add in the thyme 

leaves and mix thoroughly. 

☐ Place the chicken wings into 

a wide but shallow dish. Brush the 

marinade over the wings, cover and 

place in the fridge. Leave for 24 hours 

to marinade. 

☐ Cook the wings on a hot barbecue 

or griddle pan for 15 to 20 minutes, 

or until dark and the juices run 

clear, turning often. If cooking on a 

griddle, finish the wings in the oven 

at 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4 for 10 to 15 

minutes to make sure they’re cooked 

through. 

47 

47

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 66

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