Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 67

News | People | Features | History | Lifestyle 

Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 67 

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 

Robin Horsfall 

From boy soldier to 

SAS veteran - the 

former paratrooper 

tells how he 

has overcome 

adversity. 

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 Plough 

Nigel Lewis takes 

a look back into 

Whitchurch's 

unknown past - this 

time taking a look at 

the village's popular 

landmark 

Coastal Walks 

Take time out 

from the rush of 

modern life and 

soothe the soul 

with walks along 

our wonderful 

coastline. 

Late Summer deadline: 

13th August 2023 

Published late August 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. 

The summer months are all 

about being free and easy and 

feeling good. The days and 

nights are longer, and the warm 

weather allows us to go out and 

explore the world around us. 

But sometimes, it's not that 

straightforward. In a world where 

we can often feel alone and 

detached from others, despite 

the cheery weather, Tim Riley 

outlines the benefits of signing 

with others. 

We've also got a great feature 

about stoicism. This philosophy 

is designed to help you live 

your best possible life by 

maximising positive emotions, 

reducing negative emotions, and 

helping you hone your virtues of 

character. 

If retail therapy is more your 

thing, we've handpicked 

essential travel items to pack for 

your holidays this year and we've 

also singled out some books to 

take with you. 

The seaside is one place we 

love to spend our time during 

the warmer months and we've 

shortlisted some wonderful 

coastal walks to enjoy. 

If you're of a certain age, you 

may remember the SAS raid 

on the Iranian Embassy in 1980. 

Watched by millions on TV, 

the army's elite were sent in to 

rescue hostages that were being 

held at gunpoint. It was a defining 

moment in British history. Robin 

Horsfall was one of the troops 

that stormed the building that 

Bank Holiday Monday evening. 

The SAS veteran now lives just 

outside north Cardiff. His life story 

so far is like something out of a 

novel. We spoke to him about his 

extraordinary experiences. 

While we are on the subject 

of the military, Whitchurch 

War Memorial was recently 

rededicated to commemorate 

those who gave their lives for our 

freedom. Ceri Stennett outlines 

the importance of the memorial, 

both for the present, and for 

generations to come. 

Nigel Lewis returns with more 

wonderfully detailed history of 

our local area. The Plough on 

Merthyr Road is perhaps one of 

the most well-known landmarks 

in Whitchurch. Nigel's research 

into the back story of the pub 

tells a tale of innovation, robbery, 

and mystery. 

There's more history to discover 

throughout our local area as we 

take a look at Roman Wales. 

The area was a great source of 

mineral wealth when the Romans 

landed here in 48AD and they 

made themselves very much 

at home. Evidence of their time 

spent here can still be explored 

today; we show you where. 

We've also got plenty of other 

features to whet your appetite 

for a great summer so enjoy the 

lovely weather and we'll see you 

in our next issue! 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@WhitchurchandLlandaffLiving 

www.facebook.com/ 

whitchurchandllandaffliving

news 

Recycling trials 

could extend to 

other areas 

Llandaff Pound celebrates first year 

of activities and innovation 

Llandaff Pound has celebrated its 

first year of supporting individuals 

and groups from the local 

community. 

The innovative Centre for Older 

People, run by Llandaff 50+ 

volunteers, now hosts popular 

activities such as Tai Chi, talks and 

art. A recent survey of users of The 

Pound has shown that 76% were 

very positive about the benefits of 

The Pound to themselves and the 

community, and 24% were positive. 

The development of The 

Pound has coincided with the 

development of Cardiff as an Age 

Friendly City. The number of citizens 

in Cardiff aged 65-84 is set to rise 

by 44% during the next 20 years. 

The number over 85 is expected to 

double. 

‘The World Health Organisation 

Global Network of Age Friendly 

Cities’ was established in 2010 with 

the common vision of ‘making their 

community a great place to grow 

older’. Cardiff is now a member 

and Cardiff Council will shortly 

be publishing its first-year annual 

report that will be publicly available. 

It will feature much of the progress 

at The Pound that has been made 

in the first year. 

Nicola Pitman from Cardiff Council 

said: 

"The Pound is a great example of 

age-friendly good practice and I 

am very grateful to the members 

that have given us support during 

our Caring for Carers consultation 

by distributing our newsletters and 

attending events. It is so fantastic to 

see the work that is going on at The 

Pound to help older people stay 

active, get support from each other, 

and stay so connected to the local 

Community." 

Llandaff 50+ was first formed in 

2008 and has gone from strength to 

strength over the following fifteen 

years. When the opportunity arose 

from Cardiff Council to convert 

a derelict toilet block next to a 

medieval castle in the very centre 

of the village, Llandaff 50+ couldn’t 

refuse it. 

Planning and fundraising began 

in 2016 and with the support of 

Downs Merrifield Architect and A&N 

Lewis builders, work on the building 

began in February 2020 - the same 

month as the pandemic hit the UK. 

The builders toiled through a 

very difficult time until the building 

was ready to use and, once socialdistancing 

rules allowed, it opened 

with a flourish on 23rd June 2022. 

Following a successful first year, 

Llandaff 50+ is now looking to 

start up more activity groups at 

The Pound. It is hoped that a Craft 

Group will begin in the autumn and 

possibly a Music Group, as well as 

a group about Welsh Culture and 

conversation. These groups will also 

be run by volunteers, so everyone 

interested in taking part is asked to 

contact Llandaff 50+ for a chat. 

The Pound initiative is now very 

much putting Llandaff on the map, 

and their doors are always welcome 

for more volunteers. 

Contact info@llandaff50plus.com to 

find out more about this innovative 

project. 

A recycling trial - which has seen 

10,000 homes across Cardiff 

separate their recyclable waste 

at the kerbside - has proven so 

effective that the Council is looking 

to buy 9 additional specially 

designed trucks to collect glass 

separately so the scheme can be 

rolled out across the city. 

Residents, including those in 

Llandaff, who took part in the 

recycling pilot, were given reusable 

red and blue sacks to separate 

their recycling into, with paper and 

cardboard going into red sacks, 

and plastic, tin and metals into blue 

sacks. Residents in the trial areas 

were already using a separate 

container for glass jars and bottles. 

The results, when compared with 

the rest of the city where residents 

put all recyclables into green 

plastic bags, were startling. The 

contamination rate - items that are 

put out for recycling but cannot be 

recycled - reduced from 30% to 

approximately 6%. 

Over a 3-year period, the new 

three-bag recycling collection 

system could be rolled out to other 

residents across the city. 

Cannabis farm 

closed down 

A cannabis farm that was operating 

in Whitchurch has been closed 

down by police. 

South Wales Police has seized £5 

million worth of drugs and found six 

large cannabis factories in Cardiff 

as part of their Op Sceptre Team. 

Three other cannabis farms were 

found in Roath and two in Cathays. 

3

news 

Calls for more 

'Tree Guardian's 

to help Cardiff's 

trees 

Local tennis courts could benefit from 

major citywide investment plans 

An army of willing volunteers 

has planted more than 50,000 

new trees in Cardiff in the past 

two years as part of the ‘Coed 

Caerdydd' mass tree-planting 

programme in the city. 

The council-led project, 

which aims to support 

biodiversity and increase 

tree canopy coverage in the 

city from 18.9% to 25%, was 

launched in 2021. 

But pushing on from this 

success, Cardiff Council are 

asking more residents to join 

their team of existing ‘Tree 

Guardians'. The aim is to help 

provide water for the new 

trees, and also look after the 

thousands that line the city's 

streets. 

Coed Caerdydd Project 

Manager Chris Engel said: 

"You can generally spot 

when a tree is dehydrated by 

looking at its leaves - if they're 

starting to wilt, their leaves are 

yellowing, or they're losing 

leaves, then that's a sure sign 

they need some water. 

"Trees will always benefit 

from a drop of water every 

day - the larger ones we've 

planted need more - but really 

anything will help, especially 

early in the morning or in the 

evening once the temperature 

has dropped." 

4 

A popular tennis scheme that has 

boosted the number of people 

taking up the sport in the Heath 

area of Cardiff could be rolled out 

to six other parks across the city, 

including Llandaff Fields. 

Tennis Wales, the governing body 

for tennis in Wales, has approached 

Cardiff Council with a plan that 

could see £750,000 invested in 29 

of the city's tennis courts. 

Should the plan be agreed, local 

residents could possibly benefit 

from affordable and free tennis 

programmes, and activities run by 

local coaches. 

The plan was being considered 

by the Council at the end of June. 

Tennis Wales say that they would 

manage, operate, and maintain the 

courts for a minimum of ten years. 

They would also look to invest 

Investiture 

Service 

St John Ambulance Cymru held 

its Commemoration, Rededication 

and Investiture Service in Llandaff 

Cathedral in June. 

The Priory for Wales of the Most 

Venerable Order of the Hospital of 

St John of Jerusalem is the Welsh 

branch of the Most Venerable Order 

of the Hospital of Saint John of 

Jerusalem, which traces its origins 

back to the Knights Hospitallers in the 

Middle Ages. 

The Annual Investiture Service 

acknowledged those who have 

supported St John Ambulance 

Cymru and their local communities. 

Dr Dale Cartwright, CStJ DL was 

promoted to Commander of the 

Order, being presented by the Grand 

Prior, His Royal Highness The Duke of 

Gloucester. 

financially into the long-term 

security of park tennis courts, 

resurfacing, repainting, and 

repairing existing facilities. 

There would be plans to introduce 

online booking software so local 

people can find a court, book, 

and pay online and this would be 

backed up by installing gate access 

technology at the courts. The aim is 

to provide a safe place to play and 

minimise misuse of the courts. 

Cabinet Member for Sports, Parks 

and Culture, Cllr Jennifer Burke, 

said: 

"Tennis Wales's investment at 

Heath Park has converted a site 

that was in poor condition with very 

limited tennis activity into a vibrant, 

tennis hub...it's very exciting to think 

this could be rolled out across the 

city." 

Friends of Hailey 

Park Pilgrimage 

Members of Friends of Hailey Park 

took part in a sponsored pilgrimage 

in June to help raise funds to fight 

development of the Green Flag 

award winning Park. 

The pilgrimage took place from 

Llandaff Cathedral to Penrhys, a 

walk of just over 20 miles. 

The group is currently seeking 

legal action to prevent a sewage 

pumping station being built on the 

park. A Judicial Review took place at 

the end of June. 

The group says that the sewage 

pumping station project threatens 

Hermit Wood SINC (Site of Interest 

for Nature Conservation) which is on 

the opposite bank of the river Taff 

from the Hailey Park, in addition to 

other green spaces on the route of 

the pilgrimage.

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 

The Boss 

My name is Atticus, I’m a Goldfinch 

and this is my story. 

I’ve lived all my life in the old oak 

tree on the Coryton line. To humans, 

he was just another oak tree but 

to us birds, and the bats who lived 

there, he was ‘The Boss’. 

He was a pedunculate, a common 

oak, which ‘takes 300 years to grow, 

300 years to live and 300 years 

to die’. The Boss was about 100 

years old, in the prime of his youth 

and truly magnificent. Even before 

global warming, nobody in their 

right mind would bring any harm 

to such a fine living specimen and 

example of everything that’s good 

about God’s world. 

The Boss provided safety and 

shelter for a murder of Crows, an 

unkindness of Ravens, a parliament 

of Rooks and a conventicle of 

Magpies. The clattering of Jackdaws 

spent their days down in the village 

but returned home every night to 

roost. 

Throughout the summer, the 

cauldron of bats that lived with us 

could be seen flying together from 

dusk onwards as they set out to 

catch their suppers. 

The Boss knew all of us since we 

were eggs, and all our families for 

generations and, night after night, 

he regaled us with stories of how 

life had been ‘back in the good old 

days’. 

We felt safe in his boughs. 

There were other trees, Ash and 

Sycamore, but none felt like our 

mighty Oak. 

The Boss was everything to us 

and he had time for us all. We built 

our nests in The Boss, raised our 

chicks, sheltered from the worst of 

storms and he provided the bugs 

we needed to feed our young, all 

hidden in the ivy he allowed to grow 

around his magnificent form. 

The Boss stood overlooking our 

village for almost 100 years. He 

was older than most of the human 

inhabitants, and he felt he knew all 

of them as for so long he’d watched 

them going about their daily lives. 

He’d seen the worst of winters and 

the best of summers. Most years he 

saw snow settling on the mountain, 

the twinkle of the pretty Christmas 

lights from the village and the first 

Swallows arriving for summer. He’d 

seen the Prairie tank steam engine, 

the old late night railway specials 

from Ninian Park, today’s diesel 

trains and he couldn’t wait for the 

new electric powered trains. 

Life went on day after day, as it 

always had until, one incredible 

night in mid-June. 

Everyone spent that evening just 

like any other. The sun had set and 

the chicks were tucked up in their 

nests. Tod the Fox wandered past 

on his way to search for food for his 

cubs. 

Roland the Rat made his way over 

the weeds that engulf the railway 

track and under the ancient Hedera 

helix covered bridge, neglected 

for years, but somehow made 

charming by the hanging ivy fronds 

which hit the trains as they pass 

under. 

Then, it happened. A gang of 

humans arrived, loud and brightly 

coloured, hauling their machines. 

The still of the urban country night 

was shattered by the sound and 

feel of death and destruction. 

Sub-contractors were carrying 

out orders to raze to the ground 

anything and everything ‘within 

8–10 metres of the track’. 

The thunderous noise of the 

murderous chainsaws terrified us 

all. Those who could fly, us birds 

and the bats, took to the wing and 

flew for our lives, no option but to 

leave behind us our families and 

loved ones. 

Humans on the bridge pleaded 

for the Boss’s life. The evidence of 

bats living in his mighty boughs was 

briefly discussed, and dismissed, by 

his assailants. 

The Boss would not have wanted 

us to try to describe his pain and 

suffering as humans ripped him 

apart, but he would have wanted us 

to pose questions. 

He stood for 100 years, regal and 

serene, and reasonably expected 

to do so for the next 800 years. 

Humans decided to upgrade 

the track for electric trains, and 

The Boss became a ‘fire hazard’, 

because cost-saving dictated an 

unsightly overhead cable system 

rather than a single track-level live 

rail. ‘Health and safety’ masks costsaving 

as the real issue. 

Trees are the largest plants on 

earth and they provide more than 

just oxygen to humans. They 

ensure the stability of the soil that 

other plants grow in, and provide 

shelter and food for animals and 

us birds, and help control weather 

patterns through natural aspiration. 

Therefore, trees mean life, literally, 

for all of us, not just humans. 

Human research shows that 

old oaks will increase their C02 

absorption by up to a third to meet 

the increasing C02 levels. 

The Boss can’t because he’s dead; 

humans killed him and that’s just 

not right. 

To quote the other Atticus Finch, in 

To Kill a Mockingbird, ‘the one thing 

that doesn’t abide by majority rule is 

a person’s conscience’. 

Albert Ross, Cardiff 

5

THERE’S 

A NEW 

THAI IN 

TOWN 

Luscious Thai 

curries, sizzling 

stir fries, vegan 

dishes and more 

29 - 33 The Hayes, 

Cardiff, CF10 1GA 

029 2002 499 

www.gigglingsquid.com 

@gigglingsquid

Inspired by Thailand’s abundance of natural ingredients, Giggling Squid 

offers Thai classics to be enjoyed in a beautiful setting in Cardiff 

Thai restaurant where she fell in 

love with hospitality and dreamt 

of opening her own place with a 

unique approach. 

Pranee says: 

“I wanted to create a different Thai 

vibe, not like the rest of the Thai 

restaurants full of carved wood like 

a temple. I wanted to set my own 

trend and not just follow what other 

people had done." 

Get ready for a Thai feast for your 

eyes and palate as Giggling Squid 

finally brought its bright floral 

interiors and bold flavours to Cardiff 

on June 12th in St David's. 

Giggling Squid is all about bold 

flavours and exotic ingredients, 

cooked by expert Thai chefs and 

shared with warmth and generosity. 

At its heart lies the spirit of Thai 

mealtimes – lively, informal with a 

feast of dishes to share with friends 

and family. 

Founded by husband-and-wife 

team, Andy and Pranee, in a tiny 

fisherman’s cottage in Brighton, 

Giggling Squid was inspired by 

Pranee’s food memories of growing 

up in Thailand. Her passion for fresh, 

exotic ingredients comes from 

visiting food markets as a child and 

being awed by stacks of vibrant 

spices, herbs and vegetables and 

barrels of live seafood. 

When Pranee moved to the 

UK to study, she waitressed at a 

This is a sponsored feature 

With its unique décor of vibrant 

colours, cosy banquettes and 

stunning lighting inspired by 

Thailand’s abundance of ingredients 

from the sea and land, Giggling 

Squid is as much known for its 

gorgeous interiors as its food, 

offering a feast for the eyes as well 

as the taste buds. 

Twenty years have passed since 

Andy and Pranee opened their 

first restaurant, but their original 

Thai tapas are still a hit. Alongside 

old favourites, new dishes are 

always being created and there’s 

something for everyone on the 

lunch and dinner menus including 

luscious curries, stir fries and 

vegan options, served alongside an 

extensive list of cocktails, bubbles, 

and exotic spirits. 

And the question they always get 

asked – Giggling Squid was the 

nickname for one of their three kids! 

A: 29-33 The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 

1GA 

W: www.gigglingsquid.com

SING 

In a world where we can often feel alone, isolated, and detached from 

society, Tim Riley outlines the benefits of singing with others 

Do you like to sing a bit of opera in 

the bath? Are you the sort of person 

who turns up the radio in the car 

and sings along at the top of your 

voice? Or perhaps you love the idea 

of singing, but are simply too afraid 

to open your mouth and have a go? 

One thing is for sure - you don’t 

need to sing like the late, great Tina 

Turner to enjoy the sense of fun, 

camaraderie and well-being that 

comes from singing in a choir. 

Singing Is Good For Us 

I think most of us already 

instinctively know that music 

making and singing is good for us 

- after all, people have been doing 

it for thousands of years. However, 

in recent years, there has been a lot 

of scientific research that has been 

quantifying the benefits of music 

making and more specifically, the 

benefits of singing in choirs. 

Jacques Launay, a Postdoctoral 

Researcher in Experimental 

Psychology at the University of 

8 

Oxford has this to say: 

“Music has been used in different 

cultures throughout history in many 

healing rituals, and is already used 

as a therapy in our own culture. 

Song is a powerful therapy indeed.” 

He then went on to sum up some 

of the broader findings of research 

conducted with choirs: 

“Regular choir members reported 

that learning new songs is 

cognitively stimulating and helps 

their memory, and it has been 

shown that singing can help those 

suffering from dementia, too. The 

satisfaction of performing together, 

even without an audience, is likely 

to be associated with activation of 

the brain’s reward system, including 

the dopamine pathway, which 

keeps people coming back for 

more.” 

Singing Helps Our Brains 

Jacques Launay isn’t alone in these 

findings. Sarah Wilson, a clinical 

neuropsychologist at the University 

of Melbourne conducted MRI 

scans on people as they sang and 

reached the following conclusions: 

“When we sing, large parts of our 

brain ‘light up’ with activity. There is 

a singing network in the brain which 

is quite broadly distributed. When 

we speak, the hemisphere of the 

brain dealing with language lights 

up, as we might expect. 

"When we sing, however, both 

sides of the brain spark into 

life. We also see involvement 

of the emotion networks of the 

brain. Regions that control the 

movements we need to produce 

sounds and articulation also light 

up.” 

Singing Releases Feel Good 

Hormones 

Baishali Mukherjee, an officer for the 

World Federation of Music Therapy 

is able to sum up quite nicely what 

the likely benefits of singing are 

going to be: 

“Endorphins are related to an

overall lifted feeling of happiness, 

it gives a feeling of euphoria so it’s 

all associated with a reduction in 

stress. In any situation whether it is 

under stress or with any physical 

ailments, illness, psychological 

deprivation, music has the potential 

to affect our body and mind.” 

Singing Releases Stress 

A study in 2017 showed that singing 

can help reduce stress levels. The 

study took samples of saliva before 

and after the participants sang. It 

showed that levels of cortisol, the 

hormone that is produced as part 

of the body's stress response, were 

lower after they had belted out a 

great tune. This was found to be 

true whether the participant was 

singing alone or as part of a larger 

group. 

The only time cortisol levels went 

up was when the participants were 

performing to a large crowd. 

Another direct benefit was 

improved lung function. Because of 

the improved supply of oxygen via 

the lungs, singers often experience 

improved moods and greater social 

connection with their peers. 

A Personal View 

Speaking personally and as a 

musician who has been singing and 

conducting choirs for more than 

thirty years, I know that running a 

choir is one of the most joyful and 

least stressful parts of my work. 

The coming together of people. 

The control of breathing, the 

emotional uplift of the music and 

the camaraderie of being with 

others with a common purpose - 

Stephen Moore, Head of Music, 

Llandaff Cathedral leads a 

masterclass with Insole Court 

you don't have to be a scientist to 

know that’s going to be good for 

you on every level! 

Every rehearsal leaves me feeling 

elated and I know that my choristers 

feel the same way. And the good 

news is that you don’t even need 

to be a strong singer to get all the 

benefits. Indeed, I suspect that 

people that make music for fun 

(and not a living) have the most 

joyful and carefree experience. 

How To Get Involved 

If you’re interested in joining a choir, 

here are a few questions to ask 

yourself: 

● What sort of music would you like 

to sing? Pop or Classical? 

● Can you read music or are you 

starting from scratch? 

● Would you enjoy singing in other 

languages (not just Welsh, many 

Singing improves our moods 

choirs embrace a lot of different 

languages and cultures)? 

● How do you feel about 

movement - do you fancy a bit of 

choreography? 

● Would you prefer to go with a 

friend? 

Local Choirs 

wellbeing 

Wales has a rich tradition of choral 

singing. More specifically, if you 

live in the West and North of 

Cardiff, there are many excellent 

opportunities to sing with 

community groups. 

For instance, if you enjoy church 

music, Llandaff Cathedral has a 

community chorus (as well as their 

main choir) aimed at the wider 

community and not just singing 

experts. 

Then there’s Gabalfa Community 

Chorus, Roath Community Chorus, 

The Ardwyn Singers, Rock Choir, 

and the charity Tenovus runs Sing 

With Us. 

The Insole Court Children's 

Choir will also be relaunching in 

September, aimed at primary school 

children aged six and upwards. 

The choir is led by Anna Williams, a 

hugely experienced music teacher. 

For the adults, the Insole Court 

Community Choir has been singing 

since the house reopened six year 

ago. With over 50 members, this 

prize-winning choir welcomes 

people of all musical abilities. You 

don't need to be able to read music 

to take part (although they do 

provide music and assistance in the 

form of backing tracks) and there's 

also no audition. 

Do your research and find out what 

suits you best. Before you know 

it, you won't just be singing in the 

shower! 

9

SUMMER SALE 

20% off 

all SS23 

lines with this advert Summer ‘23 

now in-store! 

Independent Boutique in Rhiwbina 

Find us in Rhiwbina village 

Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews 

9-11 Lon Fach 

Rhiwbeina 

CF14 6DY 

www.calonrhiwbeina.com 

tel: 07929 239012 

email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

Music making is best done with friends! 

At Primo Piano, we offer group piano lessons for children from 5yrs in our music school at 

Insole Court, Llandaff. We are currently planning beginner’s sessions starting in after the school 

holidays. 

We believe that the best way for children to become good musicians is learning in a small group. 

Group lessons are often considerably cheaper than private lessons (and siblings receive a further 

20% discount on fees). But the real value of group lessons lies in the fact that music making is 

by its very nature a group activity. All of our students benefit musically and personally, from the 

experience of playing and interacting with others every week. 

With more than 200 children learning in this way, we are able to make sure that children are 

always in the most suitable group and learning at a rate and level appropriate to them. We also 

make full use of technology with simple online practice updates containing links to videos of 

absolutely everything we do. 

Enrol for a FREE introductory piano lesson now! 

www.primoschoolofmusic.com (O29) 2002 4948

Rockpooling 

Rockpools can last only a few hours but within each one, you can find 

a multitude of interesting creatures, all waiting for the tide to return 

Beadlet anemone 

A common sea anemone found 

on rocky shores around all 

coasts of the British Isles, the 

beadlet anemone displays up to 

192 tentacles, all arranged in six 

circles. They use these tentacles 

to sting and catch passing prey 

like crabs, shrimp and small fish. 

When the water recedes, 

the anemone retracts these 

tentacles and the anemone 

ends up looking like red or 

orange blob around two inches 

wide. 

They can be spotted all year 

round in rockpools and along 

the rocky shore. 

Green shore crab 

Commonly found around the 

UK, the green shore crab is 

usually green in colour but can 

sometimes be orange or red-ish 

in colour. If you spot one with an 

orange blob on its stomach, it'll 

be a female carrying its fertilised 

eggs for safekeeping. 

You can also recognise the 

green shore crab by the fact that 

it has five upturned spikes on 

each side of its upper shell and 

three rounded lobes between its 

eyes. 

Bladderwrack 

This type of seaweed is found on the 

coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic 

Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 

It was the original source of iodine, 

discovered in 1811, and was used 

extensively to treat swelling of the thyroid 

glands related to iodine deficiency. It is 

especially common on sheltered shores. 

Dog whelk 

They may look pretty but dog whelks are 

predatory sea snails. Wave action tends to 

confine this carnivorous marine gastropod 

to more sheltered shores. 

To feed, it uses a modified tooth to bore 

holes in the shells of prey. An organ on its 

foot secretes a shell-softening chemical, 

which it releases into the hole, paralysing 

the shell's contents, which it then sucks 

out. 

Common periwinkle 

This small, edible sea snail looks 

similar to its land-based cousin 

but primarily feeds on algae on 

rocky ledges. 

Also known as winkles, they 

have been an important food 

source for humans with evidence 

of this happening in Scotland 

dating back to 7,500 BC. 

They are commonly harvested 

in baskets at low tide, and its 

meat is high in protein, omega-3 

fatty acids and low in fat. They 

are considered a delicacy in 

African and Asian cuisines. 

12

outdoors 

Common goby 

The common goby can be found along most of the UK's 

coastline; in fact, it can be found anywhere from the Baltic 

Sea to the western Mediterranean. 

You'll find these little fish in estuaries, saltmarshes, along 

the coastline and in intertidal pools. They do prefer open 

water areas that are muddy or sandy, but can often be 

found in dense vegetation. Because of their colour, they 

can often blend in with the mud or sand beneath them. 

They grow to about 6cm long and you can distinguish 

them from other species by the fact that its nape and 

throat are completely scaleless. They have large eyes that 

are positioned on the sides of their heads. 

Common starfish 

The common starfish has five arms 

and usually grows to between 10– 

30cm across. 

It is dioecious, meaning that each 

individual is either male or female. In 

the spring, the females release their 

eggs into the sea. A moderate sized 

starfish is estimated to be able to 

produce 2.5 million eggs. 

They eat by opening up shellfish, 

inserting a part of their stomach into 

the shellfish, digesting its contents, 

and then returning its stomach back to 

its body. They can live for up to seven 

or eight years. 

Common limpet 

These small cone-like structures 

clamp onto the rocks and wait for 

the tide to return. 

When it does, they release 

themselves and get on the move, 

eating algae with their tongue - the 

world’s strongest known biological 

structure as it needs to constantly 

scrape algae from the tough rocks. 

Its tongue contains hundred of rows 

of sharp teeth that are known to be 

stronger than steel. 

Brown shrimp 

Also known as the common 

shrimp, this crustacean can be 

found on all coastlines in the UK. 

often lurking in estuaries and 

shallow waters. 

Adults typically measure 1-2 

inches long, with large antennae 

They can also change colour to 

better match their surroundings 

using special cells called 

chromatophores. Usually brown 

to blend in with the sand, if they 

are threatened by predators, 

they bury themselves in the 

sand. During the day, they remain 

buried in the sand to escape 

predatory birds and fish, with only 

their antennae protruding. 

13

THE MAZDA ELECTRIFIED 

SUV RANGE 

C RA F T E D I N J A PA N 

Choose between the compact and stylish Mazda CX-30, the award winning 

Mazda CX-5, the unique all-electric Mazda MX-30, or the all-new rangetopping 

Mazda CX-60. Every Mazda Electrified SUV features our distinctive 

Kodo design language, an immersive driving experience and quality Japanese 

craftsmanship throughout. Experience the Mazda Electrified SUV range for 

yourself at Victoria Park Mazda 

VICTORIA PARK MAZDA 

CARDIFF | HADFIELD ROAD, CARDIFF | TEL. 029 22744434 | 

WWW.VICTORIAPARKMAZDA.CO.UK 

Models Shown: Mazda CX-5 2.0 165ps 2WD Homura OTR £36,145, model shown features Soul Red Crystal (£820). Mazda CX-60 327ps AWD Homura Auto, OTR from £48,170, model shown features 

optional Soul Red Crystal paint (£900). Mazda CX-30 186ps 2WD Exclusive-Line OTR £29,025, model shown features Soul Red Crystal (£810). Mazda MX-30 145ps Exclusive-Line Auto OTR £33,150, model 

shown features Ceramic White with Dark Grey side panels and Black roof (£1,500). 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 publishing. 

mazda.co.uk 

D R I V E T O G E T H E R

THE MAZDA MX-5 

REDISCOVER THE ICON. 

The Mazda MX-5 is the most awarded roadster in the world with its timeless design 

of flowing lines, precise handling, great cornering and a lot of driving pleasure. 

Rediscover a true icon and experience the next generation of a legendary drive with 

the Mazda MX-5. 

VICTORIA PARK MAZDA 

CARDIFF | HADFIELD ROAD, CARDIFF CF11 8AQ | TEL. 029 22744434 | 

WWW.VICTORIAPARKMAZDA.CO.UK 

Model shown: Mazda MX-5 132ps Prime-Line, OTR from £25,825. Model shown features optional Soul Red Crystal paint (£810). 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 publishing. 

mazda.co.uk 

D R I V E T O G E T H E R

Para. 

mercenary. 

sas. 

sniper. 

bodyguard. 

SAS veteran Robin Horsfall has overcome adversity time and time 

again. His life story so far is like something out of a novel. 

"I'll have a bowl of porridge please." 

It's early summer. In a small cafe, 

just outside of north Cardiff, Robin 

Horsfall is ordering breakfast. 

Among the chatter of the 

cafe, most are unaware of the 

extraordinary life of the man with 

the moustache sat quietly in the 

corner. 

"Until the age of seven, I had 

no father figure in my life," says 

Robin. "There was a gap in my 

development because there was 

no one there to put me straight or 

tell me how to behave. As a result, 

I grew up lacking confidence and 

became vulnerable to bullies." 

Robin was born in Surrey and 

following a divorce from his birth 

father, Robin's mother Hazel 

married what was to become 

Robin's step-dad. 

"He adopted me and gave me 

his name Horsfall. He had no 

experience of bringing up children 

and could get violent with the 

frustration of my behaviour." 

Robin's broken family life 

impacted heavily on his education, 

and as a result, he developed a 

resentment to authority. 

"Nobody asked me if I wanted 

to go to school. I tried hard there 

but I was always put down by the 

teachers. My voice was silenced." 

With his home life falling apart at 

the age of 15, Robin decided to join 

the Army as a boy soldier. 

"I'll always remember having to 

walk across a trainasium as part of 

our Para training in 1973. I was 16 

years old. A trainasium is essentially 

two steel poles arranged almost 

symmetrically 60ft up in the air. 

My job was to walk across them 

but the thing is, there's a six inch 

high scaffold clamp on each bar 

in the middle so you can't just run 

across and get it over with quickly. 

You have to stay in control, adjust 

midway, and continue over. 

"I got halfway and froze with fear. 

My trainer, a man by the name of 

Mick Lee, came up the other side 

and walked out to meet me. He 

actually held my hands and walked 

backwards across the bars until we 

got to the other side. Then he told 

me to do it again alone. Which I did. 

It was the first time someone had 

shown me what true leadership 

was. 

"Joining the Army was my decision 

to let them have authority over 

me. I quickly became unhappy 

with failure. The only way for me to 

hold my head up was to excel - to 

be faster, fitter, and quicker than 

anyone else. I learned to stand up 

for myself." 

Despite bullying by his peers and 

colleagues in the forces, Robin 

became a full member of the 

Parachute Regiment in 1974 and 

served three tours of Northern 

Ireland as part of Operation Banner. 

In January 1979, Robin passed 

selection for the SAS at his second 

attempt. 

"SAS selection is nothing like it's 

depicted on TV. There's none of 

this shouting or criticism. Parts of 

the training took place here in the 

mountains of South Wales." 

On 30th April 1980, a group of six 

armed men stormed the Iranian 

embassy on Prince's Gate in South 

Kensington, London. The gunmen 

took 26 people hostage, including 

embassy staff, several visitors, 

and a police officer who had been 

guarding the embassy. 

Within 48 hours, the SAS had been 

dispatched and had set up camp in 

the adjacent building. 

"We were there next door for 

16 Images: ©Crown & Robin Horsfall

most of the siege. No one knew we 

were there. We camped down in 

a surgeon's office and I remember 

lying on the floor, fully kitted up, 

looking at the primitive-looking 

tools hanging up." 

By the sixth day, the terrorists' 

patience had worn thin. They 

executed one of their hostages and 

dumped his dead body on the steps 

of the embassy. They told police 

negotiators that they were going to 

kill the rest of the hostages, one at a 

time, over the next few hours. 

"The police finally handed over 

control to our guys and we all got 

into our assault positions," says 

Robin. 

To distract the gunmen, the SAS 

detonated a huge explosion to blow 

out the skylight on the embassy 

roof. As the world's media watched, 

SAS troops then blew out one of the 

windows at the front of the building. 

"I entered on the ground floor at 

the rear of the building. We could 

hear the commotion going on when 

the first blasts went off." 

The deadly raid lasted just 17 

minutes. Five terrorists were killed 

and one was captured. 

"We'd formed a human chain down 

the staircase to get the hostages 

out. We wanted to get them out 

as quickly as we could and we 

also wanted to get out of there 

ourselves. 

"Then suddenly, someone 

shouted 'He's a terrorist!' and when 

we looked, there was this guy 

stumbling down the stairs with a 

grenade in his hand. 

"It was only as he came clear at the 

bottom of the stairs that myself and 

two other guys opened fire. There 

was no warning shouted. He had a 

grenade. We shot him." 

The raid had brought the SAS into 

the public domain for the first time. 

"At that point, we were 

the world's most famous 

anonymous people." 

The following year, Robin 

married Heather and in 

1982, during Operation 

Sandy Wanderer, Robin 

discovered a measles 

epidemic in the Bedouin 

population of Oman. 

"We got some vaccines 

to them and saved a lot of 

lives, especially children." 

Later that year, Robin was 

heading to the Falkland 

Islands for what seemed like a 

suicide mission to destroy assets 

of the Argentinian Air Force. It was 

the first time since WW2 that the 

SAS were involved in large-scale 

conflict. 

"I remember having to leave my 

pregnant wife and not knowing if I 

was coming back. That was hard." 

By 1984, and with a growing family, 

Robin decided to leave the Army. 

"I bought myself out. I'd had 

enough. By 1986, I was bodyguard 

to Dodi Al-Fayed in London. I also 

qualified Black Belt in Karate. 

"I then moved on to become a 

'contract soldier' in Sri Lanka. I was 

only there a few months but I soon 

realised I'd made a mistake. There 

was a lot of genocide, torture and 

media control going on, so I left." 

In 1991, as the medical officer for 

a Gold mine in Guyana, Robin built 

a medical facility from leftover 

materials and as a Registered 

Emergency Medical Technician, he 

trained the staff there. In only four 

months, he'd completed his task, 

saving several lives along the way. 

"Throughout the late 80s, I 

was bodyguard to leaders and 

politicians and by the early 1990s, I 

was teaching karate professionally 

in London. I set up my own karate 

school there before retiring in 2012. 

"I broke my neck so that wasn't 

good. My son now runs the school 

so we've kept it in the family." 

Yearning to assuage his creative 

streak, Robin completed an English 

Literature with Creative Writing 

degree at Surrey University in 2013. 

"I was the only older man there so 

it took the students a long time to 

accept me." 

Robin has since written a number 

of books, and continues to write. 

"It helped me through when I was 

diagnosed with bladder cancer 

in 2018. The treatment was grim 

and although I never tried suicide, 

I did consider it an option - that's 

how low I felt." Robin now gives 

inspirational talks about his life, and 

recently raised £1,200 for charity at 

a talk held at Abercwmboi RFC. 

These days, he resides in the 

South Wales mountains near where 

he started his SAS training in the 

late 1970s. 

"It's so quiet where we live. I've 

got time to reflect, to think, and 

to write. You're never alone either 

- the community is so helpful. 

The mountains have been my 

playground so I feel at home here." 

www.robinhorsfall.co.uk 

people 

Jungle warfare training is designed 

to push recruits' mental and physical 

fortitude to the absolute limit 

Watched by the world's media, the SAS storm the Iranian Embassy in May 1980 

17

Welcome to 

Llys Herbert, 

Lisvane, 

Cardiff 

Llys Herbert care home, opening Monday 

3rd July on the outskirts of Lisvane, will 

provide high quality care to its residents in 

luxurious and comfortable surroundings. 

Hair and beauty salon 

Café 

Cinema and bar 

Trusted to care. 

Marketing suite now open 

029 2168 2158 

careuk.com/llys-herbert 

Scan to register your interest.

Company Registration No: 12246095 

COMPLETE BATHROOM & KITCHEN REFURBISHMENTS 

Supply & fitting of kitchen units, sanitary ware, tiling, 

electrical, plumbing, decorating - the whole package! 

• CRB checked • Fully Insured • Free quotations • 

• All household maintenance • Plumbing • Painting and decoration • 

Wet rooms • Fences • Roof repairs • Ramps • Grab rails • 

Mobility home adaptations • Garden paths • Driveways • Gutter clearances 

Our aim is to ensure that everyone has a home that is safe, secure and appropriate to their needs 

Office number: Rachael Wall 029 2252 0126 Out of hours: Phil Wall 07904 384409 

www.wall2wallhomemaintenance.co.uk info@wall2wallhomemaintenance.co.uk 

Serving your 

local community 

CARDIFF BED & 

FURNITURE CENTRE 

Your local furniture store 

Beds • Sofas • Dining Sets •Home Delivery 

NEW IN-STORE! 

Available in fabric and leather 

47 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DB 

02920 615719 info@cardiffbedcentre.co.uk 

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm 

www.cardiffbedcentre.co.uk

the plough 

One of Whitchurch's well-known landmarks has a curious history. 

Nigel Lewis explains where the pub got is name and lots more 

By Nigel Lewis 

A pub has been on this prominent 

corner of Whitchurch village for 

over 170 years. 

The sketch above shows 

the Plough, one of our most 

recognisable pubs, with patrons 

sitting outside. It wasn’t always like 

that though. 

In the 1840s, a blacksmith called 

Reuben Lewis was living with 

his wife and family in a newlyconstructed 

house on the corner, 

with his smithy off (old) Church 

Road. It was very prominent and 

busy, shoeing horses and making 

and repairing metal items for the 

local farmers. 

Reuben was something of an 

inventor too. A newspaper article 

of 1848, reported that Reuben had 

invented a ‘novel plough’ and had 

demonstrated it on a field behind 

Whitchurch Common, to great local 

interest. 

Over the next few years, Reuben 

won numerous prizes for his 

plough; he even exhibited it at the 

20 

Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 

1851 and won a prize! 

It's no surprise then that after 

that, we find him living in a pub, 

called ‘The Plough’, almost certainly 

named after his invention. Local 

expert Terry has suggested that 

Reuben actually displayed his 

plough over the front door of the 

pub, to entice customers in! 

Why a pub you might wonder? 

Reuben had probably been 

brewing his own beer all the years 

previously; blacksmithing being 

a strenuous and thirsty job. And 

providing beer to his customers too, 

whilst they were waiting. 

Business was obviously booming 

for Reuben and he was advertising 

for staff to work in the smithy; the 

word was getting around about his 

entrepreneurial talents. He built five 

cottages behind the pub (perhaps 

for his workers or local folk) and in 

all likelihood, moved the smithy and 

forge into the lane behind. 

The five cottages are still there, 

but today form part of the pub 

restaurant and kitchen. 

I guess that it was a common 

occurrence back then of pubs 

falling foul of the licensing laws, 

and in March 1856, the Cardiff and 

Merthyr Guardian reported that: 

‘Reuben Lewis, beer-housekeeper 

of Whitchurch, was charged with 

keeping his house open for the sale 

of intoxicating liquors in prohibited 

hours on Sunday 10th of February. 

This was a third offence and the 

defendant was fined 20 shillings, 

with seven shillings and sixpence 

costs’. 

Until the middle of the last century, 

you couldn’t drink in a pub in Wales 

on a Sunday, unless you were a 

‘bona-fide’ traveller. Lots of locals 

over the years tried to blag their 

way out of the ‘Sunday drinking’ 

rules, protesting that they were not 

locals (the local bobbies always 

knew differently of course!). 

Reuben continued with his 

inventing/blacksmithing and 

won another award in 1858 for his 

plough from the Bath and West of 

England Society. By 1860, he was 

advising that the premises now had 

Sketch: Nigel Lewis

steam power to meet the increased 

demand for his ploughs, harrows, 

drags (whatever they were!), 

scarifiers, clod crushers (ditto) and 

the like. 

However, Reuben’s story as a 

successful businessman didn’t 

last. This was a time when 

mechanisation and technology was 

advancing rapidly, and probably, 

Reuben just couldn’t keep pace. He 

was threatened with bankruptcy, all 

culminating with a sale-by-auction 

in 1864. The lots included the pub, 

brewhouse, blacksmith’s shop, 

foundry and the five cottages. That 

seems like everything. 

What happened to Reuben’s wife 

and family? I hope that they stuck 

with him. 

After Reuben’s time, the Plough 

was taken over by a man called 

William Williams (his nickname was 

‘Bill Twice’). 

As a postscript, there was another 

newspaper article of September 

1866 (two years after Reuben’s 

bankruptcy). The report states: 

‘John Phillips, a gentleman with a 

penal servitude caste of features(!) 

was charged with stealing money 

from an old man named Reuben 

Lewis’. 

It seems that Reuben, travelling 

back from Canton turned into 

the Rollers Arms in Llandaff Yard, 

and fell asleep in the pub toilet. 

Whilst asleep, John Phillips robbed 

Reuben of 25 shillings and ran away. 

The wife of the pub landlord 

and her son were witnesses to 

the crime. He was spotted behind 

Whitchurch Cricket Club outside the Plough in 1970 

the Town Hall in Cardiff and was 

arrested whilst trying to escape 

again. The Bench committed John 

Phillips for trial, noting that he 

had previously been convicted of 

highway robbery and nine times of 

minor offences. 

I wonder what happened to John 

Phillips or Reuben after that? I 

bet that Reuben didn’t get his 25 

shillings back though. 

Over the years (and without 

Reuben and the smithy), the 

Plough expanded to take in the 

adjacent shop. There’s an old 

photograph taken from the tower 

of St Mary’s Church of the Plough 

having expanded into the adjacent 

property (the one with the higher 

history 

roof). Another photograph of similar 

vintage shows the Plough with 

huge advertisements for Bass beer. 

Through two world wars, the 

Plough served beer for a number 

of different brewers, and no doubt, 

fell foul on numerous occasions for 

licensing offences. Does anyone 

know of tales from those times? 

In the course of time, SA Brains 

acquired the Plough and recently 

added a restaurant and outdoor 

seating, developing the pub that we 

see today. 

Nigel Lewis is a member of AWEN@ 

thelibrary (awen.cymru@gmail.com) 

The Plough in 1909 

Images: Steve Nicholas 

21

The Art of Stoicism 

Stoicism is a philosophy that maximises positive emotions, reduces 

negative emotions, and helps individuals to hone their characters 

Control the controlables 

As we travel through our daily lives, 

there are things that will happen that 

will be out of our control. 

No matter how much we moan 

about them and expend energy 

cursing them, these things will never 

change because they are beyond 

the realms of our control. We cannot 

control the weather, other people, 

and world events, for example. 

When we are able to accept that 

fact, and instead turn our energies 

and focus onto the things that we are 

able to control - that's when you can 

become happier. You'll also be able 

to claw back the time and energy 

that you spent cursing the things that 

you couldn't change, and put them 

to better use. 

22 

Journal 

Reflecting on the day that has 

passed and learning from it is 

one aspect of journalling that 

provides us with wisdom and 

introspection. 

Its power lies in the repeated 

diligence and concentration 

required to complete a daily 

journal. It builds routine into 

your life, which makes you feel 

secure, but it also helps build 

self-discipline. 

Repeating this long-term 

will also allow you to reflect 

on patterns of mistakes and 

bad influences that you make 

throughout life, and to adjust 

your ways accordingly. Learning 

lessons is part of your selfdevelopment 

and these are 

best learnt by going through 

them yourself. 

Practise adversity 

Being comfortable in your life 

can often lead to a feeling of 

entrapment in that you worry 

about if and when it's going to 

be taken away from you. 

Fear and worry often lie in the 

unknown - and the uncertainty 

that life brings. 

This brings us then to the 

notion of practising adversity. 

Take time once a month to 

live without the luxuries and 

trappings that we have in life 

and then ask ourselves if this is 

really what we are afraid of. 

This removes the fear and 

anxiety that comes from the 

uncertainties of life.

Change perceptions 

When problems in life arise, 

as they invariably do, we often 

catastrophise and think the 

worst. 

What we often miss is the 

opportunities to benefit from 

these problems. These can 

come in the form of learning, 

so for example, we have the 

opportunity to learn patience and 

understanding if we are dealing 

with an unruly child. 

Turning obstacles into 

opportunity and it's down to you 

to change your perception of the 

'problem' into one of opportunity. 

wellbeing 

Be humble 

There are many in the world who 

overestimate their importance in other 

people's existence. 

Of course, we retain our importance 

in other people's lives - family, friends 

and so forth. But by retaining a humble 

quality, you will never have to fear 

falling from a great height. Being a good 

person and doing the right thing in 

every moment will ease your mind and 

make life better for everyone. 

Take a bird's eye view 

Stepping away from ourselves and 

looking at things 'from above' can 

help us realise how much time 

we worry about things that are 

probably out of our control. 

When man first started exploring 

space, one of their overriding 

comments was how small and 

insignificant Earth looked from 

space. The astronomer Carl Sagan 

famously pointed out that 'To my 

mind, there is perhaps no better 

demonstration of the folly of 

human conceits than this distant 

image of our tiny world.' 

When we look up at the stars, we 

realise that our worries can often 

carry us away to dark places. Don't let your imagination become your 

information. Try and gain a higher perspective. 

Making the most of the moment 

Treating everything that happens to us in 

life with equality means that we learn to 

embrace the opportunities presented to us 

in challenges in the same way that we can 

enjoy the happier moments in life. 

Making the most of what we do have 

instead of wasting time and energy moaning 

about the things we don't have frees you up 

to enjoy your life. There is a famous quote 

that says that if a man is not happy for the 

cup of coffee he has in the morning, he 

won't be happy for the luxury yacht that he 

treats himself to. 

How will you be 

remembered? 

Ask yourself this - if you were to leave 

this life right now, is this how people 

will remember you for the rest of their 

lives? 

Asking yourself this question alerts 

you to the fact that you have to live 

in the moment, and to be the best 

version of yourself in every moment. 

Mortality will come to us all and none 

of us know when. Remembering this 

morbid fact will serves to remind us to 

make the most of each moment and 

each day. 

Prepare for adversity 

One stark fact of life is that it's 

never fair. Setbacks, large and 

small, are part and parcel of our 

existence. 

Planning for things that can 

go wrong works on both an 

emotional and practical level. It 

prepares our minds so that when 

things do invariably go wrong, 

we've anticipated it and can 

swing into action. 

On a practical level, it also gives 

us a chance to have a backup 

plan that we can implement 

immediately, leaving us feeling 

calmer and more in control. 

23

1 

2 

3 

4 

from plane to pool 

1. Face mist 

Hydrating natural water 

mist infused with the 21 

minerals of the Dead Sea. 

This multi-purpose mist is 

ideal for re-mineralising the 

skin, using in place or toner 

or misting over make up for 

extra glow and hydration 

throughout the day. 

2. Sleep mask 

Manta sleep masks 

perfectly cover and 

conform to your eyes to 

block 100% of light, even in 

broad daylight. You always 

get deep, uninterrupted 

sleep, putting zero pressure 

on your eyes, and allowing 

you to sleep anywhere. 

3. All-natural 

sunscreen 

Protect yourself and your 

family with this waterless 

solid, organic, Iberian 

strength, SPF 50, vegan 

sunscreen that protects 

against UVA, UVB radiation, 

wind and pollution. 

4. Cabin case 

With a design that packs a 

punch, this polycarbonate 

suitcase is strong, light 

on its feet and wheels 

like a dream. Beautifully 

packaged, this cabinsize 

case nests inside the 

medium and large versions 

for easy storage. 

hollandandbarrett.com 

mantasleep.uk 

botanivie.co.uk 

antler.co.uk 

24

5 

6 

summer 

7 

5. Wireless charger 

This power bank features a 

built-in magnetic back that 

allows it to securely attach 

to your phone, making it 

easy to charge your device 

wirelessly on the go. This 

lightweight device is perfect 

for your pocket or your bag, 

wherever you go. 

6. Pool float 

If there's ever anything 

you needed in life, it's an 

orange Spritz Pool Float 

with an orange slice pillow. 

Whether you're taking it to 

the beach or to the pool, 

you can while away lazy, 

sunshiney hours in comfort 

and style. 

7. Kindle for kids 

Feed your little ones' 

imaginations with this 

pink Kindle Kids Edition 

e-reader. With 8GB of 

storage space, you can 

store up to 6000 books, 

giving you the room you 

need for all the children's 

literary classics. 

8 

8. Women's hat 

Whether you’re sunbathing 

on the beach or strolling 

through cobblestone 

streets, Jacquemus' 'Ficiu' 

hat will suit all holiday plans. 

Woven from beige raffia, it 

has a low brim to shield the 

eyes and is finished with an 

embroidered logo patch. 

amazon.co.uk stone-and-mason.com amazon.co.uk 

net-a-porter.com 

25

Down the canal 

If you're needing a calming, relaxing break without the 

hassle of international flights and long queues, a barging 

holiday could be just the thing you need this summer 

Canal barging 

The waterways that criss-cross 

the UK reflect a time when the 

country relied on canals rather 

than the road for transportation. 

The Industrial Revolution 

shaped most of the waterways 

that we can now discover for 

our own enjoyment. Gone are 

the working barges, laden with 

coal and timber. These days, it's 

pleasure boats that quietly ply 

the miles of water. 

The beauty of a boating holiday 

lies in the fact that there is so 

much to explore at your own 

pace. No queuing at airports, no 

long transfers and definitely no 

jetlag! 

But there are also other 

benefits that are not perhaps 

so visible on the surface. 

Connecting with nature in such 

an intimate way can leave a 

positive and lasting legacy on 

our well-being. Boating can help 

you collect new moments that 

you can cherish forever. 

26 

It slows your world down 

In a world of 'everything now', we 

crave and devour so much that is 

instantaneous and disposable. 

This is especially true when it 

comes to our daily lives and it's only 

when we take breaks from all hustle 

and bustle that we realise how fastpaced 

our world has become. 

Taking a break on a canal boat 

physically forces us to slow things 

down. With a top speed of 4 or 5 

miles an hour, you're not going to 

get anywhere fast. Nor are you tied 

to schedules that dictate your day. 

And because of the slow nature 

of boating, we are more inclined 

to appreciate both the time and 

space that we have around us as we 

meander through miles of endless 

countryside. 

On many of the waterways, you'll 

often have the river or canal to 

yourself. Now and then, you'll 

come across another boat but 

because the waterway world is a 

lot slower, you'll have plenty of time 

to navigate your way past them. 

Everything gives you time to think, 

reflect, and to consider each action 

you take.

The views 

Gorgeous valleys, endless 

meadows, and slow-rolling 

countryside. These are the 

sort of views you're likely to 

experience when you're out on 

a canal. 

Waking up in a different place 

every day means that no two 

days are the same. And it's not 

only the views from the river 

that you can savour. The best 

part about boating is that you 

can park up and go for a good ol' 

explore. 

And if your idea of a great view 

is an ice cold beer or a glass of 

white, you can also stop off at 

many of the riverside pubs that 

dot the banks of the waterways. 

holidays 

Visit new places 

With hundreds of miles of the UK's rivers 

to explore, the possibilities of new places 

to discover are almost endless. 

The best part about it is that you 

can literally create your own holiday 

adventure. You have the freedom to 

choose which location you want to stop 

at and discover. You create your own 

itinerary, you create your own schedule, 

and you create new memories that can 

last a lifetime. 

Historical landmarks 

Many of the UK's canals were built during the country's great Industrial 

Revolution. Many of the waterways included revolutionary feats of 

engineering and world-firsts. Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on 

the Llangollen Canal, now a world heritage site, has been described as ‘a 

masterpiece of creative genius’. 

The 18-arched stone and cast iron structure was completed in 1805, 

having taken ten years to design and build. It stands at 12 feet (3.7 

metres) wide and is the longest 

aqueduct in Great Britain 

as well as the highest canal 

aqueduct in the world. 

Not too far away, the Chirk 

Aqueduct, also designed by 

Telford a few years prior, was 

briefly the tallest navigable one 

ever built, and it now is Grade 

II listed in both England and 

Wales as it spans the border of 

the two countries. 

Holidays for all 

There are over 100 hire firms 

operating on UK's waterway 

systems, giving you a vast choice of 

both locations and boats for hire. 

Whether it's a romantic boat for 

two on the Monmouthshire and 

Brecon Canal or a larger cruiser for 

you and your friends on the Norfolk 

Broads, the sheer variety of boating 

holidays is as wide as the Thames. 

From busy city waterways to rural 

bliss, there's simply a holiday for 

everyone on a canal. 

The boats that are available to 

hire these days are a real home-from-home too. Many feature showers, 

flushing toilets, central heating, full-sized cookers and fridges, microwaves, 

TVs, DVD and CD players. 

Ditch the car 

Our over-reliance on our cars 

means we often never take in 

the scenery that we are passing 

through. 

Exploring the country via the 

waterways provides you with a 

chance to fully appreciate our 

surroundings while on the move. 

Meet the wildlife 

The varied habitats that you'll come across 

will gift you sightings of creatures both 

above the river, on the riverbanks and in the 

water. 

Expect bird sightings along the riverbanks, 

ranging from ducks and kingfishers to 

larger species such as swans and herons. If 

you're lucky, you may even spot otters and 

water voles. Butterflies and dragonflies are 

also common during the summer months. 

27

outdoors 

PENARTH CLIFFTOP 

Considered an easy 

route, you can start at 

Penarth Pier, along the 

promenade and head up 

the hill westwards. This 

will take you up onto 

the cliffs that overlook 

Penarth beach and on 

towards Lavernock and 

The Bendricks. 

There are also some 

quiet meadows behind 

- perfect for summer 

evening strolls. 

COASTALwalks 

After the scorch and burn of a hot summer's 

day, head to the coast to cool off and chill 

out. Here are our hand-picked favourites. 

NASH POINT 

You can park your car at the small 

car park (pay and display) before 

heading off down the path that 

leads to the lighthouse. 

On summer evenings, you'll be 

rewarded with gorgeous views 

across the Bristol Channel - all 

the way to Somerset and down to 

Devon. 

If you want to venture further 

on, there is a cliff top walk that 

includes a few steep steps. 

There is also a small cafe at the 

lighthouse, which is open during 

the daytime. 

LLANTWIT MAJOR 

You'll follow the Col-huw River on 

the way down to the coastal path. 

The beach has some patches of 

sand but mostly pebble, and is 

backed by ancient cliffs, where you 

may find a fossil or two. Views from 

the beach extend to Minehead and 

Exmoor and there is also a small car 

park available. 

SKER BEACH 

Sker Beach is the most 

westerly of Porthcawl's 

beaches and can only be 

reached by walking from 

Rest Bay or the Kenfig 

National Nature Reserve. 

It is a mostly flat and 

sandy beach, one that's 

used mostly by the locals, 

meaning that it is one of 

the quieter beaches in the 

area. As such, there are 

no amenities there. 

GOWER 

Further afield, the coastal path at the Gower takes in the 

whole range of our fabulous coastline, from wide golden 

beaches and dramatic cliffs to saltmarsh and sand dunes. 

The path itself acts as a section of the 870-mile Welsh 

Coast Path but even small sections are perfect for an 

evening walk. The beach at Rhossili is three miles long 

and Cefn Bryn 

and Rhossili 

Down rise above 

the inland hills 

to soar over 

the coastline, 

affording 

you fantastic 

views towards 

Pembrokeshire 

and Devon. 

29

nature 

As Cardiff's Coed Caerdydd project takes root in the city, here are 

some of the amazing things you probably didn't know about trees 

Carbon dioxide removal 

Trees are often referred to as 'the lungs of 

the planet' and for very good reason - they 

absorb and store huge amounts of carbon 

dioxide - almost one-third of the carbon 

dioxide released from burning fossil fuels 

every year. That's around 2.6 billion tonnes! 

The entire woodland ecosystem plays an 

important role in locking up this carbon 

for centuries. They are the ultimate carbon 

capture and storage machines. 

Wildlife 

In the UK alone, oak trees support over 

30 different types of mammals, while the 

common hawthorn can support up to 300 

different types of insects. The RSPB also 

say that more than 500 invertebrates feed 

on birch trees. And that's even before you 

begin to count the huge number of birds 

that use the trees for their homes and 

food sources. The UK has lost 13% of our 

native species abundance since 1970, 

leading to a loss of wildlife. 

The underground 

'internet' 

Sometimes referred to as the 

wood wide web, trees are able 

to communicate with each other 

using a huge underground 

network of fungi. 

Technically known as the 

‘mycorrhizal’ network, the trees 

and the fungi work with each 

other to share nutrients and even 

messages with each other via the 

network. 

If one tree is under attack from 

insects, it can warn other trees 

in the network about the attack, 

and they can then adjust their 

defences accordingly. 

Mycorrhizal plants are often 

more resistant to diseases since 

the shared information via the 

network allows trees to trigger 

their immunity defence. 

Trees speak to each other 

Trees may seem like inanimate objects but they do in fact communicate 

with each other. Scientists have proven that some trees send airborne 

chemical signals to each other to warn them of a possible insect attack. 

These airborne signals can even convey information outside the plant 

kingdom. Some have been shown to attract predators and parasites that 

kill the insects that are attacking the tree. A 2013 study found that apple 

trees that were under attack by caterpillars released chemicals that 

attracted caterpillar-eating birds. 

30

They help our mental 

health 

It's likely that a walk through a forest 

of trees will make you feel better - and 

there's a scientific reason for that. 

Trees emit phytoncides to ward off 

potential threats. When we inhale these, 

it reduces our cortisol levels (the stress 

hormone) and boosts our immune 

system. This helps us deal with stress in 

calmer and more productive ways. 

They help stop 

flooding 

Many of our mature trees consume 

vast quantities of water, which 

comes in handy for low-lying areas 

that are prone to heavy downpours 

or persistent rain. 

A single mature oak is able to 

transpire more than 40,000 gallons 

of water in a year—meaning, that's 

how much flows from its roots to 

its leaves, which release water as 

vapour back into the air. 

Trees can grow very old 

The oldest individual tree in the world is thought to be in the United States, 

where a Great Basin bristlecone pine in California's White Mountains has 

been aged at more than 5,000 years old. 

Trees can live anywhere from less than 100 years to more than a few 

thousand years depending on the species. Ancient trees, meaning that 

they have passed maturity and entered the third and final stage of their 

lifespan, are a vital part of the UK environment. 

Trees are good for 

the soil 

Soil is essential to life on earth. 

Some species of trees provide 

habitat for bacteria and fungi 

in their root structure. These 

organisms perform nitrogen 

fixation, which is a significant 

factor in soil fertility. 

Trees also recycle important 

nutrients by drawing them up 

from the deeper layers of the 

ground and bringing them up to 

the surface. The decomposition 

of leaf and plant litter also form 

soil organic matter. 

Tree canopies can also trap 

varying amounts of nutrients 

from the atmosphere, a source 

of free fertilizer which is washed 

from the leaves to the soil by the 

rain. 

31

Kitchens by Living Life 

High quality kitchen 

planning and installation 

With over 30 years experience, we can transform your kitchen 

into the heart of your home. We offer you the very best in 

German and UK-branded bespoke kitchens. 

Building work | Extensions | Loft Conversions | Bathroom Renovations | Log Burners 

Contact us today for a home survey – 02920 231300 

Visit our showroom @ Unit 7, Freemans Parc, Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8EQ 

www.livinglifecardiff.co.uk 

Exceptional home care visits from exceptional carers 

Most people needing care would prefer to stay in their 

home. Our home care visiting service is individually 

tailored to help people retain their independence and 

stay safely in their own homes, connected to friends, 

relatives and with their pets in familiar surroundings. 

We select excellent caregivers with the right mix of skills, 

experience and a true caring nature, so that they can 

provide consistently superior home care. 

We can help from one hour each week to several 

hours a day for as long as you need us to help with: 

Companion & Social Care 

Personal Care 

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care 

Post-Hospital Stay Care 

Palliative 

End of Life Care 

CHOOSEYOUR 

C A R E 

GIV E R 

Find out more about how a Visiting Angel can help 

Call: 029 2252 0401 

www.visiting-angels.co.uk/cardiff I cardiff@visiting-angels.co.uk 

148x105mm VA Need an Angel Ad Burton-on-Trent.indd 1 28/09/2020 13:05

How much of life are 

you missing out on? 

We use as many senses as possible to fully enjoy an experience – we see and feel the sun, smell and 

taste the BBQ. But can you hear the sound of the ocean, the buzzing of the bees, or your loved ones’ 

laughter in the garden? What other sounds of the season are you missing out on? 

Our ears capture sounds but it’s our brain that actually 

understands them. Oticon Own is based on BrainHearing 

philosophy to support the way your brain makes sense of sound. 

Each and every one of us is different. We all have different lives 

filled with different interests, styles and needs. This is just as true 

when it comes to finding the right hearing aids. So why do we 

often neglect our hearing health? 

Oticon Own is made to meet any of those needs - offering you 

best-in-class custom hearing aids made to fit your ear shape as 

well as your lifestyle - customised entirely for you. It can change 

your world. 

Because yes, your hearing is important. 

Hear the joys of the seasons 

We offer FREE demonstrations and FREE trials of the latest hearing aids, 

allowing us to evaluate how better quality hearing can help improve your life 

CALL US NOW ON 02920 250121 or email us at vineyhearingcardiff@mail.net 

02920 250121 

66 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch 

Cardiff CF14 1DJ 

www.vineyhearingcare.co.uk

Keeping their 

memories alive 

This summer sees the rededication of Whitchurch's well-known 

war memorial. Ceri Stennett explains why the memorial is 

important to the village - and for generations to come 

A special event at Whitchurch's 

Library Park and Gardens held this 

summer have commemorated the 

lives lost during two World Wars. 

The rededication of the Parish War 

Memorial took place one hundred 

years to the weekend after the 

original ceremony in 1923. 

It was just four years after the 

formal end to the Great War, 

that several thousand people 

packed the park and gardens, with 

hundreds more outside of the gates 

watching on as the Earl of Plymouth 

34 

unveiled the monument of the 

brooding soldier, assisted by Sir J. 

Herbert Cory MP. The memorial was 

dedicated by the Bishop of Llandaff, 

Joshua Pritchard Hughes. 

Council members and other local 

dignitaries were on hand to assist in 

the original dedication one century 

ago, along with church leaders, 

ex-servicemen, the Whitchurch Boy 

Scouts, the Melingriffith Cadets, and 

the band of the Glamorgan Royal 

Garrison Artillery. 

The names of 116 of the fallen 

were listed on two sides of the 

monument, together with the 

inscription: 'In Proud & Honoured 

Memory of the men of Whitchurch 

who laid down their lives in the 

Great War, 1914-19. Semper Fidelis 

(Always Faithful).' 

Following both World Wars, 

there are now some 280 names 

on the memorial, covering service 

and sacrifice across the globe, 

on land, sea and air. A century on, 

the time had come to rededicate 

the memorial for the Whitchurch

citizens of tomorrow. 

A working group was set up at 

the start of this year, including 

Father John Davis of St. Mary’s 

Church, Whitchurch, with others 

representing the Royal British 

Legion, the Earl Haig Club, AWEN at 

the library, Council representatives, 

service personnel, and schools. 

Father John said: 

“In these current times of war in 

Ukraine, the importance of a place 

of remembrance within each local 

community needs to be recognised. 

The very real, local, and tragic 

cost of war, paid for with the lives 

of those who made the ultimate 

sacrifice for our freedom, should 

never be forgotten.” 

He added: 

“Our Whitchurch War Memorial not 

only reminds us of the tragic human 

cost of wars past, but for 100 years 

it has stood as a powerful reminder 

of the hopes and aspirations of 

those who fought so bravely for the 

peace they entrusted to our care. 

My prayer for the future is that we 

learn from the lessons of the past, 

and pursue peace always as the 

hallmark of our community, our city 

and our country.” 

Local historian and AWEN trustee, 

Ceri Stennett added: 

“Whilst I was researching and 

writing the book on the First World 

War casualties from the Whitchurch 

Parish with colleague Gwyn 

Prescott ('In Proud & Honoured 

Memory') in 2018, I realised that the 

centenary of the monument would 

be with us in 2023 and felt it was 

important that the date was marked 

accordingly." 

November 2021 saw the 

publication of ‘In Proud & Honoured 

Memory 2’, compiled by Ceri 

Stennett, and was a follow-up to 

the 2018 publication. 

While researching 'In Proud & 

Honoured Memory 2' Ceri found 

a further 103 casualties who 

had connections to the area. 

Neighbouring areas covered 

people 

are Llandaff North, Birchgrove, 

Rhiwbina and Tongwynlais, which 

were also included in the first 

volume. 

From sixteen-year-old Merchant 

Navy Cadet, Emrys Williams, to 

seventy-five-year-old Civilian Air 

Raid casualty, Elizabeth Gilbert, all 

their stories are told in the book. 

During Ceri’s research for his 

books, the original order of service 

for the Memorial's dedication 

was found and much of that was 

incorporated into the 2023 version. 

Members of AWEN at the library 

were on hand to help host 

the event. The Tongwynlais 

Temperance Band also played, with 

students from Whitchurch High 

School also participating in the 

service. 

Many ex-servicemen from the 

Royal British Legion, the Earl 

Haig Club in Penlline Road, and 

further afield, made the journey 

to the event. One of them was 

Derek Porter, a descendant of 

Military Medal winner, Stephen 

Porter, who died of wounds in 1918 

and is named on the memorial. 

Stephen lived on Caerphilly Road, 

Birchgrove, just before the First 

World War. Derek laid a laurel 

wreath on the memorial together 

with a member of 30F (City of 

Llandaff) Air Cadets. 

The organisers hope that the 

recent rededication of the memorial 

will renew the recognition of those 

who made the ultimate sacrifice in 

two World Wars. 

The Memorial was first unveiled in 1923 

Further information about the 

memorial and books, you can 

contact Ceri Stennett on 07848 

109901 or email: 

ceristennett@gmail.com 

35

Roman 

Wales 

South Wales was a great source of mineral wealth and when the 

Romans landed here in 48AD, they made themselves at home 

Cardiff 

Cardiff Roman Fort was a significant 

military installation established by 

the Romans in the 1st century AD. 

Located in present-day Cardiff, it 

played a crucial role in protecting the 

Roman frontier and controlling the 

local tribes. 

The fort covered an expansive 

area and housed soldiers and 

their families. Excavations have 

revealed impressive structures 

such as barracks, granaries, and 

a commanding officer's house. 

The fort's strategic position along 

the River Taff and its proximity to 

important trade routes made it an 

essential hub for Roman influence. 

Cardiff Castle today stands on this 

Roman fort that was begun in AD55. 

36 

Caerleon 

Established in the 1st century 

AD, Isca Augusta served 

as a major Roman fortress 

and regional administrative 

hub. It was one of only three 

permanent fortresses in Roman 

Britain, the others being in York 

and Chester. 

The remains on view at 

Caerleon provide visitors with a 

vivid picture of life in secondcentury 

Roman Britain. The site 

includes the most complete 

amphitheatre in Britain, fortress 

baths, and the only remains of 

a Roman Legionary Barracks on 

view anywhere in Europe. 

The remains of a Roman 

harbour were also uncovered in 

Caerleon in August 2011. 

Neath 

The remains of a 1st century 

Roman auxiliary fort known as 

Nidum stands on the west bank 

of the River Neath. The remains 

of two gateways can also be 

seen, as well as the line of a 

rampart wall. 

It is estimated that the fort 

could hold up to 1,000 men 

and horses and was likely built 

during the first phase of Roman 

advance into Wales. The fort 

was most likely abandoned not 

long after it had been built and 

a large number of artefacts have 

been found over recent years. 

The remains of the southwestern 

gateway is preserved 

behind railings beside the Neath 

Abbey Road, and the southeastern 

gateway is situated 

at the corner of Roman Way 

beside the railway embankment. 

Image: Cedwyn Davies

outdoors 

Penydarren 

Built in the late 1st century 

AD, Penydarren Roman Fort 

served as a crucial defensive 

outpost along the Roman road 

connecting Cardiff to Brecon. 

The fort protected the nearby 

ironworks, which played a 

vital role in the production of 

iron for the Roman Empire. 

Excavations at Penydarren have 

revealed the remains of stone 

buildings, granaries, and a 

commanding officer's house. The 

fort's strategic location and its 

association with the iron industry 

highlight its economic and 

military importance. 

Image: Jaggery 

Barry 

Situated at the Knap, overlooking the 

Bristol Channel, the monument consists 

of the remains of a Roman rectangular 

courtyard building dating to the 2nd or 

3rd centuries AD. 

Excavated in 1980-81 by the 

Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological 

Trust, the interior was found to have 

a cobbled floor, on which was a thick 

layer of debris containing building 

stones and Roman tiles. 

Caerwent 

Established in about 75–80 

AD, Caerwent served as a 

settlement of the Silures, 

a native tribe who became 

Romanised following the 

conquest of Britain. The site 

was a busy one, complete 

with public baths, all 

spread out in a typically 

well-ordered Roman grid. 

Known as Venta Silurium, 

this Roman town that was 

created for the Silures by the Romans, stretches to 44 acres, much 

of it enclosed within 2nd century walls. 

Large sections of the Roman town walls are still in place, rising up to 

16ft high in places. Excavated houses, forum-basilica and a Romano- 

British temple also remain. 

At its height, the town would have been home to 3,000 inhabitants and 

there is no evidence that there was any military present on the site. 

Image: Chris Andrews 

Loughor 

The Roman Auxiliary Fort was built 

around 75 AD to guard the lowest 

crossing of the River Loughor. 

Its location provided good visibility 

across the region and enabled it to 

support the Roman naval units that 

were operating in the Bristol Channel. 

The site wasn't fully recognised as a 

Roman garrison fort until as late as 

1969. 

Its Roman name was Letocetum, 

taken from the Celtic name for the 

River Loughor. In translation, it read as 

'shining water'. 

Gelligaer 

The fort at Gelligaer occupies a 

position on a long broad ridge 

between the Taff and Rhymney 

valleys. At the time, it would have 

commanded an extensive view 

of the woodlands that existed 

then. It was one of a line of forts 

that existed between Brecon and 

Cardiff and although no masonry 

is visible today, the defences can 

still be seen as a broad bank. 

The site is listed as a scheduled 

ancient monument and was first 

excavated in 1894. 

Llanwern 

Recent excavations at a site in Llanwern 

uncovered a Roman complex that 

included several stone-founded Roman 

buildings, terraced into the hillside. 

Many finds were recovered during the 

excavation, including Roman pottery, 

animal bone, ceramic building material, 

tiles, brooches, and coins. A large number 

of spring heads were discovered and 

a well-made Roman road leads up the 

slope from the valley floor to the site. 

The buildings appears to date from the 

2nd to the 4th centuries AD. 

Image: Philip Halling 

Image: Jeremy Bolwell 

37

THE PICNIC 

A basket of joy. 

An afternoon of dreams. 

A rolled up blanket opened 

And spread like warm butter 

On the parched earth. 

Thin sarnies 

And melted Penguins 

Soft berries 

And bashed up scotch eggs 

Wrapped in foil 

And love. 

Warmed water 

A platoon of ants 

And buzzy things 

And mozzies 

And crawly things. 

Sandwich crusts 

And Penguin wrappers 

Mushed up berries 

And half-eaten eggs 

Still wrapped in foil 

And love. 

We return home 

Through whispering meadows 

And wandering lanes 

Sleepy and happy 

To our bedtime rest. 

David James 

Whitchurch 

Seasonal 

Poems 

NOW DOES SUMMER 

Now does summer in all its glory reign 

The season brought more fine by the herald that is spring 

Its cloak of green that to winter did so restrain 

And its warming breezes that of coming joys did sing, 

In a field of so new a life to stand there proud 

With golden rays its glory path to light 

And creatures all their voices to trumpet and to sound out loud 

That it may make their echoes wide and bright, 

So then do blooms and blossoms on countless boughs to swathe 

Their fragrance to float wherever air may flow 

To meadows, hedgerows and many a garden to bathe 

And further life to touch and there to onward grow; 

The summer is of greatness in many forms to take 

That nature in its span of time is ever more to make. 

David Morris 

Llandaff North 

NEXT LIFE, YEAH? 

We dreamed together, apart 

Of a summer's day at the beach. 

Just us. Doing normal things. 

Watching the slow dance of the colours. 

The creams, the blues, the pinks. 

But we never existed. 

And our outcrop stays empty. 

Alec Harvey 

Cardiff 

38

poetry 

Poems penned by the local community 

NO-MOW SUMMER 

A polite suburban no-no. 

Old mowers on go-slow. 

Pianissimo. 

The bowling green no longer 

"Comme il faut," 

For longer is the educated, 

Rated, stated - the hype of stripes old hat - 

"Status Quo." 

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow. 

Be a bumble bee impresario 

Apropos 

An insect's mojo 

Apropos 

The sward's proposal for 

A norm of swarms, 

And wingey thing that 

Sting, 

Unsung - 

And throng. 

Let the shearers reappear. 

Let the meadow overthrow 

Slick Sunday - bracered blades. 

Let the scythe arrive. 

Let the buttercups and yellow vetches 

Thrive. Accolades! 

Let the trove of nature's giving 

Salve and save forlorn lawns shorn. 

And so, "Bravissimo," 

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow. 

Nigel Phillips 

Whitchurch 

BARRY HARBOUR 

IN JULY 

I saunter past the Ship Inn 

And the boat which is now a 

flowerbed 

Sporting a magical kaleidoscope 

of colour. 

The wrecked boats in the harbour 

Have yet to be removed yet I 

sense their ghosts 

As people try to restrain excited 

dogs 

On this warm summer's day by 

the seaside 

As I watch a tanker and seagulls 

glide. 

It is low tide on Barry Harbour; 

The sun paints the placid estuary 

silver 

And the Quantock Hills are 

perfectly clear 

As my shadow lingers at my side. 

I travel to the water's edge 

Where half-hearted waves sizzle 

on the shore 

Then I wander past the grey 

harbour wall 

Which unlike myself, has not 

aged at all. 

Guy Fletcher 

Pantmawr 

Rhiwbina 

39

Life. It’s rarely child’s play. 

At Harding Evans, our trusted team of 

experienced solicitors are here to help 

you with any legal support you may 

need, in the good times and the bad. 

Contact us today... 

13 Merthyr Road 

Whitchurch, CF14 1DA 

029 2267 6818 

hello@hevans.com 

hardingevans.com 

Your lawyers, for life.

ooks 

LOVE UNTOLD 

Ruth Jones is best known for her 

outstanding and award-winning 

television writing, most notably BBC 

One's Gavin and Stacey. 

Her debut novel Never Greener, 

chosen as WH Smith's Fiction Book 

of the Year 2018, was nominated for 

Debut of the Year at the British Book 

Awards. 

Love Untold is her latest book - 

meet Grace, Alys, Elin and Beca - a 

family you'll come to know, and to 

love. 

This is a story about mothers 

and daughters: the love inherent 

in that bond and the heartache 

that miscommunication can bring. 

More than anything, it's about the 

importance of being true to oneself. 

It's been described as '...heartfelt, 

joyful, brave, utterly compelling' 

and '...beautifully warm and totally 

absorbing.' 

SUMMERbooks 

If you're looking for engaging books to read 

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

selection for this season 

THE LOST RAINFORESTS OF 

BRITAIN 

Tracing the unexpected remnants 

and legacy of the temperate 

rainforests of Britain's past, this 

revelatory book by the author of 

Who Owns England? travels from 

the Western Highlands to Cornwall 

in pursuit of these neglected 

ecosystems. 

IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER 

The first in a spicy and unforgettable romcom 

duology from #1 New York Times 

bestseller and Tiktok favourite Tessa Bailey, 

in which Hollywood 'It Girl' Piper Bellinger is 

cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to 

a small Pacific Northwest beach town where 

she butts heads with the big, bearded sea 

captain Brendan, who thinks she doesn’t 

belong. 

OFF THE BEATEN 

TRACK 

Discover the 

countryside and 

coast in this guide 

to spectacular 

drives and offbeat 

adventures by 

camper van, 

motorhome, 

kayak and paddle 

board, bike and 

on foot, around 

the mountains 

and coastlines 

of England and 

Wales. 

SUMMER AT THE CORNISH 

BEACH CAFE 

Thirty-year-old Jessie is 

broken-hearted after being 

jilted at the altar. Humiliated 

and certain she will never 

trust anyone again, she runs 

away to Indigo Cove, the 

little seaside village on the 

Cornish coast where she 

spent so many childhood 

summers, to bury her head 

in the sand. Except, on her 

first night, fate has other 

ideas and Jessie finds 

herself face to face with tall 

and brooding Ashton, the 

first guy she ever loved. 

41

Magpie 

Over a cup of tea in his garden, Thomas Llewellyn rues a life full of mistakes as he 

faces his own mortality. Is he too late to put things right? 

How can you make up for a lifetime 

of wrongs when you've got so little 

time left to put things right? 

Tom Llewellyn pondered this 

problem as he sat in the small 

garden at the back of his house. 

Summer had arrived early this year. 

It was just as well as it would be his 

last and he knew it. 

He reached for the cup of tea 

that his daughter Louise had put 

next to him five minutes previously. 

The sun was strong but the 

parasol protected Tom from its 

overbearing heat. Tom liked the 

shade, especially when there was a 

cooling breeze. It reminded him of 

the holidays he took to Spain with 

the family in the mid-80s. When life 

was good. 

Tom sipped his tea. And thought 

some more. 

His life, up until this point, and on 

the surface of things, had been 

pretty routine. He'd left school 

back in the late 70s and started a 

mechanic apprenticeship at the 

local bus station at the age of 14. 

By the age of 21, he was driving 

the buses on the local route. And 

it was there, driving the 63, that he 

first met his wife Kath, who boarded 

his bus at the Monico cinema one 

Wednesday night; she was all jet 

black hair and white dress. 

Tom and Kath spent the early 

part of their lives doing what 

was expected of them. They got 

married at St Mary's Church on a 

sunny Saturday in May 1981. It was 

a modest affair. Thomas borrowed 

his Dad's suit as his wages didn't 

stretch far enough for one of his 

own. The reception included jam 

sandwiches and cakes baked by 

Kath's mum. The guests spoke 

42 

about the cakes for weeks after. 

The newly-wed couple bought 

their first house, a bungalow, which 

they named The Nest, with money 

given to them by Kath's parents. 

Tom often felt indebted to them for 

giving them the money. He had no 

choice but to take it. He had none of 

his own. 

The bungalow had three 

bedrooms and a modern kitchen. 

Kath was sold on the idea that she 

could do the washing in the new 

washing machine in the kitchen. 

Tom was proud of his new shed, 

where he started collecting garden 

tools. 

Their first child came along in 1983. 

Another followed two years later. It 

wasn't long after that that Thomas 

started putting a few bob on the 

gee-gees. 

At first, it was a small flutter on the 

horses down at the local bookies. 

His friend Jim worked there and on 

one sunny June afternoon, Tom won 

£100 on a horse called Pica Pica. 

Feeling flush, he bought his wife 

some new Tupperware. She was 

thrilled. He'd finally come good. 

"They gave us a pay rise in work," 

he'd said. It was the first lie of many. 

Still on the high from his win, Tom 

took the remainder of his money 

and went back to see Jim. 

"Any tips?" he'd asked Jim at the 

desk. 

Jim wrote a name on a small piece 

of paper, turned it around, and slid it 

to Thomas. 

With a stubby pencil, he'd written 

down the word 'Magpie'; an outside 

shot on the 3.40 at Doncaster. 

Thomas walked out of the betting 

shop half an hour later with £300 in 

cash. He treated himself to a few 

pints in the Three Bells on the way 

home. Kath had his tea ready but 

all Thomas could do when he got 

home was slump drunkenly into his 

favourite armchair. 

Kath brought his food in on a 

tray. But Tom was already asleep. 

Without hesitation, Kath tipped the 

cooked dinner all over his head. 

He jolted upright as he was rudely 

woken. 

"How do you like that?" Kath had 

snapped. Tom curled his tongue 

around the side of his mouth to 

lick off some of the gravy that was 

slowly sliding down his cheek. He 

smacked his lips together to get a 

good taste of it and looked up at 

her. 

"Thank you, petal. Could do with a 

bit more salt and pepper though," 

he replied. 

It was in that moment that Kath 

realised that Thomas William 

Llewellyn wasn't the caring, doting 

man she'd exchanged rings with on 

a sunny Saturday afternoon in May 

1981. She retired to the kitchen, lit a 

cigarette and sat at the table. 

Over the next half hour, she 

wondered what had become of 

him. The new Tupperware pots that 

sat on the table were just a token 

gesture. A pathetic attempt to make 

it look like he cared. 

Kath chewed her thumbnail. She 

couldn't go on living like this. Things 

were getting worse. Within a few 

years, the kids would have fledged 

and everything would be stripped 

bare, she thought. It would just be 

the two of them again, without the 

distraction of bringing up children 

to cover over the cracks. 

Six long empty years later, a month 

after their second child left home,

Kath packed a suitcase and walked 

out on him forever. 

High in a tree, the rustle of a bird 

at the end of the garden brought 

Tom back to his cup of tea in the 

sunshine. A flash of black and white 

told him it was the magpie that had 

seemed to have made its home 

there for the last 20 years. 

Tom looked down at his hands. He 

studied them closely. Now mottled 

with age spots and wrinkles, they'd 

got him through a lot. Then he 

studied his wedding ring. The one 

that had bonded him to Kath all 

those years ago. Its lustre may had 

faded but his love for her had never 

dimmed, despite her leaving. When 

she passed, he only found out from 

the man on the bus stop. 

"I never deserved her," Tom 

muttered. With his right hand, he 

wrenched the ring off his finger and 

threw it down the full length of the 

garden, where is disappeared into 

the uncut grass. 

Louise appeared at the back door. 

"You ok Dad?" 

"Yes. I'm fine," he replied as his 

daughter took a seat next to him. 

Tom took another sip of his tea, 

hoping she hadn't seen what he 

had done. 

"I let you down. I wasn't there for 

you," he said. 

Louise looked at him, confused. 

"What? When?" 

"In life." 

"Course you were there for us! You 

worked all the hours God sent you 

to keep a roof over our heads. Of 

course you were there for us." 

Tom stared ahead. He knew in his 

heart this was true, but there was 

more to being a father than just 

working and getting the money in. 

"I wasn't there for you when you 

were getting bullied in school. I let 

your mother deal with it." 

"She was the feisty one though. It 

was probably best left to her." 

"That's no excuse. I should have 

spoken up too. I was scared 

myself. I should have put my fear 

to one side and been there for 

you. To make you feel that at least 

someone was fighting your corner. 

That at least someone was there to 

protect you. That's what fathers are 

supposed to do, right?" 

Louise looked out into the garden. 

He had a point. He would often say 

that he'd be there for her but when 

it came to the test, he was found 

wanting. 

"I was never brave enough. Not like 

your mother." 

"She was fearless," replied Louise. 

Tom looked at his daughter. 

"No. Not fearless. That suggests 

she had no fear to begin with. She 

was just as scared as I was. She just 

put that to one side and stuck up 

for you. She did it frightened." 

"Hey Dad. What is all this about? 

Stop beating yourself up. It's all in 

the past now." 

"I know. But I was never there. I was 

always wondering where the next 

win would come from. The next 

lucky horse." 

Louise took the cup of tea from 

her father's hand and placed it on 

the garden table. Then she faced 

him and took his hands in hers. 

She smiled. 

"Dad. Do you remember when I 

was 12 and I went on a school trip to 

Paris?" 

"Yes. You brought me back a 

French beret," said Dad, chuckling. 

Then his face dropped. "But I wasn't 

there to pick you up when the 

coach got back late at night. See? I 

wasn't there for you." 

"No. You weren't there. You weren't 

there because you were working in 

that pub." 

"Oh, God yes. I wasn't there long 

mind. I got caught throwing back a 

few shorts to keep me going on the 

late shifts. Sticky fingers." 

"The reason you were working in 

the pub was because you weren't 

earning enough on the buses to 

keep us all going." 

"True," Tom nodded. "They were 

long nights up that pub, I tell you. I'd 

finish at midnight and be up again 

at 5am to head to the bus yard," 

pondered Tom. 

"Yes. That's right. I remember 

seeing you come home one night, 

drop your wage packet into the 

ceramic chicken that we used to 

have on the dining room table, and 

then disappear straight back out 

to start your pub shift. You worked 

hard, Dad." 

Tom nodded, the memories 

coming back to him in dribs and 

drabs. 

"If it wasn't for you Dad," continued 

Louise, "I wouldn't have afforded my 

school trip. And if I hadn't gone to 

Paris, I wouldn't have fallen in love 

with the language and I wouldn't be 

loving my translator job right now." 

Tom smiled. This was true. He 

looked at Louise proudly. 

"So I did have a few good points?" 

he asked. "One at least?" 

"You gave me life, Dad. A chance 

to experience this world. That was 

your gift. That's all you needed to 

do. I figured out the rest. No one is 

perfect. And you didn't need to be." 

Louise placed her father's hands 

short story 

back into his lap. He was smiling an 

awkward smile. 

"As I was getting older," said Tom, "I 

realised that I was fast running out 

of time to fix all the wrongs I'd done 

in life. And then, when I got this 

diagnosis last month, I realised my 

life had been one long failure." 

"Failure is part of life. Failure is 

part of learning. Failure is part of 

success. You had to fail to win." 

A loud chattering from the magpie 

in the tree disrupted their moment 

together. The magpie fluttered 

down onto the lawn at the far end 

of the garden. They both looked at 

it. 

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" said Louise. 

"Yes. They mate for life apparently," 

said Tom. 

The magpie pecked at the ground 

where Tom's wedding ring had 

landed. 

"Erm! Can you fetch me a biscuit 

to finish off my cuppa?" asked Tom 

abruptly. 

"What would you like?" 

"Just get me whatever's there." Tom 

cast an eye to see what the magpie 

was doing. 

Thankfully, Louise stood and 

stepped into the house just as the 

magpie lifted its head. There, in 

its beak was Tom's wedding ring, 

gleaming in the summer sunshine. 

"Shoo! Shoo!" Tom tried to usher 

the bird away but the magpie stood 

there defiantly, looking directly at 

him. And then, without warning, it 

hopped across the lawn straight to 

Tom. 

"I can't find the Hob Nobs Dad. 

Do you want me to open the 

digestives?" called Louise from the 

kitchen. 

"Keep looking for the Hob Nobs, 

love. They're in there somewhere," 

replied Tom, tracking the magpie all 

the way to his feet. 

The magpie stopped and cocked 

its head to the side, looking at Tom. 

His wedding ring was still in her 

beak and for a moment, Tom was 

captivated. 

He cast his eyes over this beautiful 

creature. Up close, its black 

plumage had taken on an more 

colourful hue; there was a purplishblue 

iridescent sheen to her wing 

feathers and behind, there was 

even a green gloss to her tail. 

"You?" said Tom quietly. 

The bird lowered its head and 

dropped Tom's ring at his feet. Tom 

leaned forward and picked it up. 

"Thank you, petal," said Tom. 

"Thank you." 

43

Providing full tree, grounds 

and estate maintenance and 

landscaping services. 

We’re very proud of what we do for our clients and like most 

people who work in nature we spend a lot of time on our 

knees in one way or another. This is always humbling. 

Now, whether you call it humility or respect or admiration 

for nature, if you’re looking to work with a company that 

cares about these things TR33 could be what you’re after. 

For a free no obligation quote please contact 

0800 298 3686 I info@tr33.co.uk 

www.tr33.co.uk 

at Brook House, Brook Road 

House Clearances 

2nd 

time around 

2nd Time Around 

House Clearance 

Specialists Ltd 

We provide a professional and 

friendly service for full or part 

clearance, attics to cellars 

We also offer the following services: 

• Reports for probate purposes 

• Valuations & advice on selling at auction 

• Auction service 

• Cleaning service 

• Sympathetic handling of deceased’s estates 

• Small removals & deliveries 

• Rubbish removal 

• Recycling 

We comply with current legislation; we are waste 

management registered and have public liability insurance 

House Clearance Specialists 

www.houseclearancecardiff.com 

T: 02920 692704 M: 07563 208618 / 07715 622406 

E: Jan Richards: Jan2ndtimearound@outlook.com 

Harry Groves: Harry2ndtimearound@hotmail.com 

Kim Bowden: kim2ndtimearound@hotmail.com 

W: www.houseclearancecardiff.com 

The Whitchurch Clinic 

Chiropractic ● Sports Massage ● Physiotherapy 

10% OFF 

your next 

chiropractic visit 

with this voucher 

for both new and 

existing patients 

For help with relief from 

● Back and neck pain 

● Arthritis 

● Frozen Shoulder 

● TMJ 

● Headaches 

● Sciatica 

● Migraines 

● Plantar Fasciitis 

● Sports Injuries 

● Muscle Spasm 

2 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DG 

02920 617700 www.thewhitchurchclinic.co.uk

Specialist Glaziers with over 35 Years Experience 

Repairs & Renewals 

Experts in the repair of windows, doors and conservatories 

uPVC Products 

We offer a full range of quality replacement uPVC products 

Mirrors & Processed Glass 

Supply of mirrors, double-glazed units & toughened glass 

Secondary Glazing 

A less costly option to reduce noise & heat loss 

029 2048 6797 

contact@wrightglass.co.uk www.wrightglass.co.uk 

Rated 4.9/5 over 179 reviews (Jun 2023)

summer 

soups 

Soups aren't just for the colder months. Here are some refreshing and 

delicious soups that are perfect for the summer season 

Pea and mint 

soup 

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 

6 spring onions, chopped 

2 cloves garlic, 1 sliced and 1 halved 

750ml vegetable stock 

700g frozen peas 

a small bunch of mint, leaves picked 

and shredded 

100ml single cream, plus a drizzle 

4-8 slices ciabatta 

150g ricotta 

1 lemon, skin removed and juiced 

handful pea shoots 

☐ Heat the oil in a stock pot over a 

medium-high heat and fry the spring 

onions and sliced garlic for a few 

minutes until they are soft. Add in 

the stock and peas, and bring the 

mixture to a simmer. Cook for 6-8 

minutes or until the peas are tender. 

☐ Add the majority of the mint, and 

blend with a stick blender until it's 

smooth. Add in the cream and blend 

again until the mixture is creamy. You 

can run the mixture through a sieve 

at this point if you'd like a smoother 

texture. Warm the mixture through 

on the hob. 

☐ Toast the ciabatta, then rub both 

sides with the halved garlic clove. 

Whip the ricotta in a bowl with the 

lemon zest, a squeeze of juice and 

some seasoning. Spoon over the 

ciabatta. 

☐ Divide the soup between the 

bowls, drizzle with a little more 

cream and olive oil, and scatter with 

pea shoots. Serve with the ciabatta. 

46

Watermelon 

gazpacho 

500g watermelon flesh, roughly 

chopped, plus a little extra finely 

chopped to garnish 

2 vine tomatoes, roughly chopped 

¼ small red onion, roughly chopped 

¼ cucumber, roughly chopped, plus 

a little extra finely chopped to garnish 

½ red pepper, roughly chopped 

1 garlic clove 

¼ red chilli, deseeded 

40g stale white bread 

1 tbsp red wine vinegar 

1½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus 

extra to drizzle 

☐ Put all the ingredients into a 

blender and blend until it's smooth. 

Thin the mixture out by adding an 

ice cube and blending again if this is 

required. 

☐ Season the mixture with salt, 

cover, then put it in the fridge to chill 

overnight. 

Celery soup 

2 tbsp olive oil 

300g celery, sliced, with strings 

removed 

1 garlic clove, peeled 

200g potatoes, peeled and cut into 

chunks 

500ml vegetable stock 

100ml milk 

crusty bread, to serve 

spring onions, chopped 

☐ Heat the oil in a large saucepan 

over a medium heat. 

☐ Add the celery, garlic and potatoes 

and coat them all in the oil. Add a 

food 

☐ Divide the mixture among bowls 

or glasses and garnish with extra 

watermelon and cucumber. 

☐ Finish with a grind of black pepper 

and a drizzle of oil. 

splash of water and a pinch of salt and 

cook, stirring regularly for 15 minutes. 

Add more water if the vegetables 

begin to stick to the base of the 

saucepan. 

☐ Pour in the vegetable stock and 

bring the mixture to the boil. Then 

turn the heat down and simmer for 20 

minutes further, or until the potatoes 

are falling apart and the celery is soft. 

☐ Blend the entire mixture in a 

blender, then add in the milk and 

blend again. Adjust the seasoning to 

taste and sprinkle the chopped spring 

onions on top. 

☐ Serve the soup with warm crusty 

bread. 

Cucumber & mint 

gazpacho 

1 cucumber, halved lengthways and roughly chopped 

1 yellow pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped 

150ml pot fat-free natural yogurt 

2 tbsp white wine vinegar 

1 small avocado, chopped 

2 crushed garlic cloves 

small bunch of chopped spring onions 

small bunch of chopped mint 

snipped chives 

☐ Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender 

(reserving half the yogurt and mint) and blitz until the 

mixture is smooth. Add a drop of vinegar and season to 

taste. If you require the consistency to be thinner, add a 

splash of water. 

☐ Chill the mixture for a few hours and then serve with 

the remaining yogurt and mint, adding a few snipped 

chives. 

47 

47

www.cardiffwindows.com

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 67

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?