FESTIVAL 2005 and Jessica’s diary

The 18th Radyr and Morganstown Festival finished in grand style on Sunday 15th May with the Cymanfa Ganu. Gareth Davison led a large congregation in their favourite hymns, supported by Brian Evans (organ), the Cambrensis Brass Ensemble and the Bryn Deri School Choir. It had been a hectic, but enjoyable time with 39 events tightly packed in over the two week period. In the words of the Festival Queen, Jessica Evans, “The Festival fortnight was filled with lots of fun events.” Many of those events were specially organised for children and young people.

The Festival commenced on Saturday 30th April at Ty Gwyn Farm with the Gymkhana, organised for the 14th year by Val Allen. Jessica’s diary reads, “I and my two Princesses, Molly Ellerman and Georgina Johnson judged and presented a cup to the winner of the fancy dress competition.” As a gesture to Val Allen the Festival committee awarded the ‘Ken Innes Bowl’ to her and Tom, for all their hard work over many years.

In the evening, the Cardiff Male Voice Choir entertained a large audience to some excellent renditions across a wide spectrum of music. Look out for the name of Jordan Davies, boy soloist, who in most people’s opinion is ‘going places’! Jessica enjoyed the concert “a selection of lovely songs,” whilst Molly said “the conductor thought the concert was the next day but luckily he checked the programme and it was Saturday. We were all glad about that.”

The Boule Tournament on the Sunday has been likened to a ‘mediaeval jousting match’ with 16 senior and 3 junior teams spread out across the Comprehensive School hockey pitch. A small village of tents and picnic gazebos provided an area for refreshments for the gathering crowd. No wind, no rain and one of the best views in Radyr added to enjoyment of the day. Radyr & Morganstown/St Philbert Twinning Fellowship provided the logistical support for the event. Previous boule experience was not required. It must be one of the easiest games to play and bears a remarkable resemblance to marbles. The 16 teams entering for the ‘Mike Tarr Trophy’ were soon whittled down to a thrilling final between ‘Ten of them’ (a Tenovus team) – confusing for the progressively well oiled scoring crew, and ‘Equipe Vitel’. The winners were ‘Equipe Vitel.’ The presence of Monsieur Vitel, looking and sounding remarkably like a Frenchman may have been a key factor!

3 Junior teams competed in a league table and the final placings were – ‘The Green Chillies,’ second – ‘The Gunners’ and third – ‘Rhiwbina Riots.’ A new junior trophy is being presented next year. All proceeds of the day are being donated to the Festival Charity, Tenovus.

The Community Council church service and reception was well attended by representatives of local organisations and political leaders of our ward. Ann Pash of Tenovus introduced the work of the Charity and was delighted that the Festival committee had chosen Tenovus this year.

Bank Holiday Monday was cool and the clouds began to form – the maypole was erected in Windsor Gardens and fingers were crossed.

At 2 O’clock the crowds began to gather at Windsor Gardens for the Crowning Ceremony. The weather improved a little and the sun was trying to shine. In the words of Jessica, “My favourite event was the Crowning Ceremony where the Maypole dancers from Bryn Deri School, folk dancers from Radyr Primary, Stagecoach and Radyr Comprehensive School pupils performed and made it a really enjoyable afternoon. I then went on to the Danybryn Cheshire Home to visit the residents, tea with the WI and then on to Children’s Tea Party at Morganstown Village Hall.” Princess Molly was impressed by the Maypole dancers performing the Weave dance although she remarked “that they did get a little mixed up around the maypole! It’s thanks to Derek Cox for coaching them so well in the all the dances.

Many more events took place throughout the first week, including a barbecue, discos, storytime and the Good Neighbours Tea Party on the Wednesday afternoon. Jessica especially enjoyed this event, “The Good Neighbours Tea Party was really fun and I helped to pick the raffle tickets and give the prizes out”. The Bryn Deri School choir, including Princess Georgina, performed in front of a very attentive audience. Jim Goodwin, one of the Wardens of Radyr Woods provided an excellent walk and talk in the evening, showing the development and restorative work done in the wooded area alongside Radyr Sidings. Meanwhile the guides and brownies were throwing the dice to create their beetles at the Beetle Drive whilst Allan Cook introduced Dr R Alun Evans to a well supported Welsh Evening at the Old Church Rooms.

Unfortunately two events had to be cancelled. The first was the 5 a side football Competition on the new Muga at Morganstown. The contractors had failed to deliver this new facility in time for this event. It has been postponed to a future date. Watch this space!

The first week finished with a Charity Coffee Morning and a Grand Festival Concert in Christ church. Jessica and her princess were in attendance presenting the artists with a bouquet of flowers. “I went to a concert in the church called “From Milan to Manhatten”. I thought Helen Field and Jeremy Huw Williams were amazing singers.” What about that ‘Toreador Song’! And ‘We’ll Gather Lilacs’! A truly superb evening of beautiful music, well performed!

The start of the second week – phew! We return to Ty Gwyn Farm for the Dog Show. Over 30 dogs and their owners competed in 9 classes of events. Jessica and her princesses helped out, “the show was great fun and dogs were so cute!”

The Radyr Parish Music Group performed ‘Best of British’ in the evening, a selection of songs from many British musicals. Jessica thought it was one of her favourites “because it was hysterical. The Wonder Bra lady was so funny. I also thought that the man who sang ‘Want some Madeira me dear’ was funny too.”

Sunday brought out the footballers – 450 in total! The under 9’s competed in the morning in a knockout event – Radyr Rangers winning the title. In the afternoon the older group battled it out for the silverware. Meanwhile members of the Association and Tenovus were cooking nearly 500 burgers, sausages and bacon for the hungry hoards.

On Tuesday, for the second year the Boule Tournament between the pupils, parents and staff from Radyr Primary and Bryn Deri Schools was at the Comprehensive School. As a tribute to the versatility of the game, the double booking of the hockey pitch did not interfere with the keen return match to decide which school would take away the winners cup, and who would take the, only slightly, smaller runners up award.

A suitable stretch of grass and cinder path was selected for the 6 children’s teams, who were soon deeply involved in the nuances of boule throwing and point scoring. The Twinning Fellowship provided referees. Both schools fielded a parents and teacher side. At times the contest was noisy and boisterous, but what can you expect from grown ups! The juniors demonstrated a remarkable insight into the game and this bodes well for the future of the main event. Everyone was a winner but Radyr Primary took the winners cup by 2-1. Bryn Deri parents took the winners trophy and the teachers from Radyr Primary were winners. The Trophies will reside with the schools until the return match next year.

In the evening the History Society were hosts to a large gathering outside City Hall for the walk around the City. Their guide Dennis Morgan gave a conducted tour of the historic and interesting places within our Capital City, which is celebrating its 100th year.

The Festival Queen and her Princesses were guests of honour at the Festival Theatre with its final production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. This was performed by a Swansea based drama company, ‘Fluellen’. The audience were thoroughly entertained with a solid Shakespearian experience. This performance, organised by Allan Cook and sponsored by the Arts Council.

Nick Holmes, as Quiz Master kept the full house at the New School Rooms with the teams seriously brain storming the questions, which ranged from science to geography and general knowledge. The winners were the Community Council, now we know what they get up to on a Thurday night!

The Coffee Morning in the Library was ably hosted by Phillip Lee.Unfortunately Caroline Noall, our librarian, was unable to attend due to family commitments. The Library are hosting an exhibition of photographs of ‘old Cardiff’.

Imaging 2000, our local Photographic Society gave a pictorial display by digital projection of events throughout the year, including this year’s Festival..so far, on video film highlights from ‘The Sorcerer’, ‘Festival Opera Concert’ and ‘The Cemetery Club’ performed by Radyr Drama Group in 2004. Jessica liked the underwater pictures best! They were very pleased to be presented with framed portrait photographs. Unfortunately the “Beat the Parents” evening at the new Sports Hall had to be cancelled due to insufficient entries. This sounded an exciting event and I think young people around the village have missed a great opportunity to use this new facility in a fun environment.

The last Saturday..a double phew! Whilst the Tennis Club opened their doors to all budding tennis players the Association and helpers were erecting marquees and tables for the Festival Carnival. It had to be ready for 1pm for arrival of the Festival Queen and Derek Brockway of BBC Wales. Chris Gray in his black convertible Mercedes arrived at Morganstown Village Hall to drive the Festival Queen and her enterage around the village. Jessica’s diary says, “It was the Festival Carnival day and we rode around the village in an open top car, then to the Carnival where we opened the fete with Derek Brockway.”

The large crowd were well entertained with the Cardiff Ladies Morris Dancers, including Derek the dancer, Ballet, the Pop School and plenty of music created by courtesy of the Baptist Church and by Neil Cargill. The stalls were busy, the bar and the barbecue were kept fully occupied. Inside the hall the NSPCC were making teas and providing cakes for the punters. The winners and all entries to the Children’s Colouring Competition were on display alongside the excellent exhibition by Imaging 2000 of their Photographic Competition, won this year by Mick Sullivan, the Festival Photographer. The winners of the Colouring Competition were: Radyr Primary – Catherine Liguz, Laura Green, Rhianne Smith, Vishnu Suresh and Ioan Phillips. Bry Deri School – Lauren Philpin, James Ponsford and Lewis Richards. A number children received merit awards – Jessica Gelder, Jack Sheppard, Katy Smith, Katie Whelan, James Cargill and Isobel Eddy. We had one entry from Park Road Nursery School, Sophie Thomas

Keith John, local artist and resident, provided the original drawings for this competition and held a public exhibition of his works in the Radyr library.

Back to Jessica’s diary for the evening event, “It was the Band Concert. I thought it was excellent and we were asked to draw the winning tickets for the Festival Draw, it was really fun!” The Radyr & Morganstown Melingriffiths Brass Band were joined by the Radyr Comprehensive School Big Band for this event.

Chairman of the Association, Nick Hawkins presented a ‘big cheque’ to Richard Walker, Chief Executive of Tenovus.

Sunday morning, the sun shone, the wind changed direction and the poor ducks in the River Taff were blown up stream. Eventually one or two appeared and thankfully the winning number was 27 (my favourite number!!) It took some time to rescue the ducks but we hope that they are now all safe and well!

We are now back where we started, at the Cymanfa Ganu with the church resounding to ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Guide Me O thy Great Redeemer’ and the sweet echoes of the choir. Jessica ends her diary, “I made a little speech at the Cymanf Ganu to thank Bob and Maggie Roberts for all their help through the Festival”. I had such a good time being Festival Queen and I will never forget it.”

A truly fine way to round off a very successful Festival in providing fellowship and friendship around the village and financial support to many charities. Our Festival Charity, Tenovus has raised £2500 with the help of our Festival activities. A good job done by all!

Thanks to our sponsors, Amersham plc, Arts Council for Wales, Cardiff County Council, McCarthy & Stone, Pughs Garden Centre, our village shops, Derek Brockway, Mick Sullivan, our Festival Photographer, Nick Hawkins and members of R & M Association, helpers and of course, to residents of Radyr and Morganstown, old and new.