News

An important article relating to the future of the Radyr & Morganstown Library was featured on the front page of the March 2010 edition of Radyr Chain. In case anyone did not see the Chain, or has mislaid their copy, it has been place here: New Library for R&M.

A reply slip for your comments was included in the Chain, however comments via email are also welcomed. Please click on the link at the end of the article. (Note that only one reply will be recorded per household).

If you would like to join in the wider discussion on this topic, there is an active Soapbox thread on this site.

Julie Morgan (then MP for Cardiff North) officially opened the new wing of Dan Y Bryn Cheshire on Tuesday 16th February. Invited guests from staff, residents, volunteers and the fund raising committee attended this event. Christine Moore, Capital Fund Raiser, led the guests on a conducted tour of the new development. Pupils of Bryn Deri School were presented with a certificate acknowleging their fund raising efforts with a Readathon in aid of the new development.

Auditions – The Festival Queen 2010 was Eimer Rees and her attendants were Lara Watson and Erin Howard-Cook. There were 10 eager applicants for the position of Festival Queen 2010 at the Auditions held at the Guide Centre.

This statement has been issued at the request of the Council Parks Department.

Cardiff Council has discovered an outbreak of Phytophthora Ramorum at the Mound Field Motte site in Morganstown and will now be working to destroy the infected vegetation. Phytophthora Ramorum – known as Sudden Oak Death – is a fungal infection and has been found on rhododendron in the small woodland area around the motte. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has been informed and under its instructions the Council now has to remove and destroy all affected vegetation to limit the chance of the disease spreading.

Phytophthora spores spread through water, including airborne droplets which can be carried on animals, and through infected water in soil. The Mound Field site is extremely waterlogged and there are no footpaths. The area will now need to be fenced off before any works take place to ensure that there is no public access to the infected area. All vegetation will then need to be removed from around the mound and burnt in accordance with the destruction notice issued by FERA (the Food and Environment Research Agency), an agency of DEFRA. As the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, consent has been obtained from CADW for this work to begin.

A second fenced off area in the north western corner of the field will need to be created for the burning to take place. Due to this area being close to an adult-sized football pitch, use of this pitch will be suspended while the burning operations are in progress until at least the end of the year, subject to ground conditions. This burning is also expected to take until at least the end of 2009. The fencing will need to be retained on the main site to exclude public access until it has been declared free of the disease, which could take between three and five years.

The infection was detected when the rhododendrons on the site were routinely tested as part of the process of preparing the Conservation Management Plan for the Mound field Motte site in early November. This outbreak does not appear to be linked to a similar recent infection at Parc Cefn Onn.

Old Church Rooms win first prize for Cardiff in Bloom 2009!

At Radyr Golf Club, and around Wales, 6,000 golfers teed off at 10 am on Saturday 10 October to the accompaniment of guns being fired from castles around the Principality. The Tenovus Challenge Day was a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest number of golfers to tee off together. The Friends of Tenovus extend many thanks to the Rev. Christine Colton and Colin Evans, former Assistant Chief Constable of Wales, who kindly agreed to be the independent witnesses of the event. Grateful thanks also go to David Cargill for recording the necessary photographic evidence. The event will raise a very large sum for the Charity programmes and many thanks go to all who participated.

For the first time, the Parish of Radyr will take part in National Open Churches Day in Wales on 19 September, by inviting the people of Cardiff and beyond to come inside and explore its hidden treasures.

And the Parish has some surprising little gems to discover!! One of its churches, St John’s in Danescourt, lies almost hidden in the middle of a modern housing estate and shopping centre, but within its walls are clues to Cardiff’s past. Not many people know that St John’s is built on the site of an ancient wayside shrine that is believed to have given Radyr its name. Its churchyard has a 1000 year old yew tree, one of the oldest in Wales, and is also the place where the parents of Roald Dahl, born in Radyr, were buried..

This historic country church has survived the march of time, civil war soldiers and modern urban planning, and today provides a spiritual respite from the madness of modern life, and is home to a thriving community.

Its sister church, Christ Church, in Radyr is also hosting a number of events throughout the day but the message is the same- “come and enjoy the buildings, the atmosphere, and what an asset we have” .

“We have never done this before” says the Parish Rector, Jenny Wigley, “but we would love people to come and see what a church is all about. The buildings are precious and important, with lots of features to interest everyone. But they are also fascinating because they follow an ancient design, every feature is significant. And of course, we want to have fun – so, between the two churches of St John’s and Christ Church, Radyr, we have organised a series of events to help everyone enjoy and be part of the community on their doorstep. We have something for everyone – music, children’s activities and Welsh cakes!”

The BBC will be interviewing Jim Cowan, one of the Parish organisers, live on BBC ‘Good Morning Wales’ on Saturday morning at 7.50am to find out more about what the Parish is doing. So have a listen at that time.

The events will run at both churches from 10am-5pm. Entry is free.

On Monday 14th September, at 2.30pm, a Blue Plaque will be unveiled on the site of the Sweetshop frequented by the young Roald Dahl.

The Sweetshop was immortalised as the home of the hideous Mrs Pratchett and scene of the Great Mouse Plot, in his autobiography, Boy. Here the young Dahl and his accomplices hid a dead mouse in a jar of gobstoppers, to scare the creepy confectioner – with terrifying consequences.

The Llandaff Society, Roald’s wife, Liccy and members of the Dahl family will be at 11 High Street, Llandaff, Cardiff, where Roald’s son, Theo Dahl, will unveil the plaque commemorating the life, work and birth in Llandaff, of ‘The World’s Number One Storyteller’. Then, excerpts from The Great Mouse Plot will be re-enacted to set the scene, and provide entertainment for the many Roald Dahl fans invited from local schools.

Events will begin at 2.30pm, at 11 High Street, Llandaff, with a news conference, followed by the unveiling ceremony.

For further details, please contact Geoffrey Barton-Greenwood on 029 20 563181

Why not have a clear out of your shed, your garage or your house. Get rid of all those things you’ve put aside for later, but in truth you’ll never use.

But wait … don’t bin it and send it to landfill … there’s someone out there who wants just what you’ve got. Advertise it on Cardiff-Freecycle.

Freecycle is the worldwide network made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Their goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process.

You can find local groups across the country at www.uk.freecycle.org, but our local group is atwww.freecycle.org/group/UK/Wales/Cardiff.

Once you’ve signed up everything is done by email via Yahoo Groups, but you can opt to get just a daily digest or none at all (just reviewing posts via a webpage). Also if you don’t want to reveal your email, you can open a Yahoo or Hotmail email account just for Freecycle.

Click to join cardifffreecycle

 local residents completed the Annual Charity Walk from Cardiff Castle on Sunday 27th June. Walking through Bute Park along the Taff Trail the group  ended their walk at Christ church for a strawberry tea. The weather was hot and the trail was busy with Sunday walkers and cyclists. 

Tenovus Pictures

View this gallery on Flickr

The R&M Association are proposing to support Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice in 2010. Contact has been made with the Chairman of Ty Hafan and he will attend the Festival Committee meeting on the 7th July.

For more information about Ty Hafan, see their website at http://www.tyhafan.org/

Consideration of the charity for 2011 will be given at that meeting.

Leonard Cheshire Disability launched Readability 2009-10 at Techniquest on Monday 22nd June. Readability enables primary schools to promote literacy, joint fund raising and disability awareness to primary school children. It is based upon key skills 1 with activity books for fun reading. The campaign will start in October 2009.

If you are interested please contact Christine Moore at Dan y Bryn or go to the webpage – www.LCDisability.org/Readability

Work has started on major redevelopment at Dan y Bryn Cheshire Home.

The project includes rebuilding the existing home to provide more modern facilities for all the service users. The work will not be completed until 2011. A funding committee has been set up to help raise funds for specific areas of this project and we will be keeping the community aware of events and fund raising activities over the next year. The management are aware that the initial work has caused some inconvenience to both residents at the home and the local community.

Taffs Well Quarry Open Day June 10 2009 invitation.

On Tuesday, 28th April Cardiff Council installed the first of 15 new hanging baskets that are bound to make Station Road, Radyr a talking point in the whole of Cardiff.

Following on from the Neighbouhood Renewal Scheme that upgraded the shopping area in 2007, we were asked whether we would like some hanging baskets installed as well. The standard baskets used in the City and elsewhere were unsuitable for the geography of the buildings in Station Road so it was suggested we might design something unique for the area.

Step forward our local artist, Keith John. He said he could design a series of 3-D models, each depicting a creature from the Taff Trail. Mark Tozer of the Council’s Parks Services agreed; the shopkeepers liked the idea as well. It has taken a while to get the design principles sorted out but the first one is here. Others will follow in time, namely a kingfisher, rook, swift, cormorant, magpie, goldfinch, owl, mallard, buzzard, fox, salmon, badger, bat, squirrel and rabbit!

Manufacture and installation is being organised by the Council Parks Service, but Keith will be individually painting every one. The Council will also be installing an automatic watering system for most of the baskets and ensure they are tested regularly for safety.

The first one is on view above the new greengrocers, who has provided the contents of the hanging basket. Come and have a look at it – and watch out for new creatures as they appear.

At the AGM of the R&M Association on 20th April, Cyril Williams was elected as the new chairman. Nick Hawkins, who had been acting chairman since the sudden death of Garry Newbould (the former chairman), in January, resumed his post as vice-chairman. Other members of the Association Executive remained the same. (See the association website for details).

Cyril Williams said he was delighted to be elected chairman and was looking forward to taking an active role in the forthcoming May Festival.

That ever resourceful Swansea company Fluellen, brings the Neil Simon’s classic American comedy THE ODD COUPLE to the Radyr and Morganstown Festival on Wednesday 6th May at 7.30.

Fluellen are the resident company at Swansea’s Grand Theatre and will have performed the Odd Couple at the Grand before going out on tour. The Odd Couple stars Kevin Johns as Oscar and Adrian Metcalfe as Felix.

Divorced from his wife, Oscar consoles himself by living in the happy-go-lucky chaos with which he thrives. In the middle of one of his boozy weekly poker sessions comes Felix, separated from his wife and – so he says – suicidal. Oscar, feeling sorry for him, invites him to stay. But Felix`s fastidiousness is soon at odds with Oscar`s natural slobishness and all comic hell is let loose.

Fluellen appear both on the main stage and in the Arts Wing at the Grand Theatre, and Arts Wing productions are in the round. This is an opportunity to get really close to the action.

The Odd Couple is at Morganstown Village Hall on Wednesday, 6th May at 7.30. For information and tickets ( £8, £7, and £4) phone 2084 2561 and 2084 3176.

Radyr and Morganstown Women’s Institute have been an integral part of village life for over 50 years and it is to mark our 50th Anniversary that we aim to contribute a substantial sum of money to help with the redevelopment of the Dan-y-Bryn Cheshire Home. To this end we are holding a Spring Market on Saturday, 4th April, 2009 at the Old Church Rooms. The event will be opened at 11am by the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales, Mr Rhodri Morgan.

We are in the process of organising a considerable range of stalls and activities which will include HOME MADE CAKES, HOMEMADE PRODUCE, PLANTS, BOOKS, FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS, BRIC A BRAC, CRAFTS, TOYS, BOTTLE STALL, SCARF STALL AND RAFFLE. In addition we are arranging various activities for children such as decorating Easter Eggs and making Easter Bonnets.

We shall also be selling food to be consumed e.g. bacon rolls, sandwiches and cakes, plus teas, coffees and cold drinks will also be available.

The success of this venture naturally depends on the efforts of the members of the Institute, who, at this very moment, are busily preparing items for the many stalls but we also need lots of customers to attend the Market and spend their money! We therefore ask you to tell your family and friends that this event is one NOT to be missed and we invite you all to join us on Saturday, 4th April at 11am at the Old Church Rooms. You will not be disappointed and we promise you all a few hours of fun whilst making a worthwhile and lasting contribution to the Dan-y-Bryn Cheshire Home. We are relying on your generosity to make this a successful and profitable venture.

SEE YOU ON 4TH APRIL!

Each Saturday morning a large group of children and adults have been meeting to learn and make costumes made out of recycled materials. The Workshop is free to children who wish to learn, make and take part in the Carnival Parade taking place on Saturday 2nd May as part of the Festival celebrations.

The Parade will be lead by a drum band, dance group and others dressed in costumes depicting Mabanogion – Myths and Legends. Come and join us at 10am at the Old Church Rooms, Park Road, Radyr each Saturday morning for creating costumes, dance and drumming.

We had 12 girls who attended the auditions for Festival Queen this year. The photo to the right shows the 12 applicants.

The Festival Queen has been appointed along with her attendants. This will be announced in the Festival Programme.