CALDICOT & DISTRICT
November 2020 www.u3asites.org.uk/caldicot/home Reg Charity No. 1071447
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Thank you to Caldicot and District U3A Members and Committee. I can say that now because at the time of writing this report we have received over 350 renewals of membership. Given the months of lockdown and our inability to fully function as a U3A that is a huge endorsement for us not only from a financial perspective, but also in your commitment to our U3A and what we stand for.
A huge thank you also to our Committee and Officers who have been integral in planning our way through uncertain months so that we managed to keep going. Everyone is a Volunteer and has given up their time to keep us on track.
A special thanks goes to Angela Hodson-Hirst, our Membership Secretary and Newsletter Editor for her efficiency and resilience in getting our membership system ready and putting this publication out every month.
So what next? In this edition I would ask you to please take the time and read the Committee News section. In there you will find a report from our meetings with Convenors written by Vice Chair Linda Stewart. You will also find an advanced notice to all members of an AGM planned for January 2021. In that note there is an explanation of why and how we are obliged to have an AGM even in these difficult times so please read that and especially the Nomination of New Committee Members part. You will also see that the Committee has agreed that we need to make plans for the next 6 months no matter how uncertain that is. The priorities that we have identified are Finance, Public Relations, Our 25th Anniversary Celebrations and further developing our collaboration with Convenors and our Interest Groups. These priorities will be delivered by Sub Groups and have an identified lead person. The fundamental principle of these Sub Groups is to involve as many Convenors and members as possible. More detail of the work of these groups will follow in future editions of Committee News. However, the work related to the Interest Groups will be commencing asap and you will find a Rallying Call from Glenice Dallow the lead for that group in this edition. Again please read it and why not contact Glen with your ideas. Finally you have every right to question how on earth these initiatives can work if we cannot meet in our groups. That is a challenge but to begin to meet that challenge I have asked Angela (Newsletter Editor) and Ann Taylor-Heard (Website Manager) if we can utilise those media to the maximum. Essentially I want to substitute what were group sessions with articles and inputs into the Newsletter every month and also via Visual inputs on the Website of all aspects of the work of Interest Groups or members ideas.
As I have said previously this is the Members U3A and you have renewed your membership so we have to give you value for money. However to make it work we need your ideas and your inputs into this. So to start the ball rolling .... I was out walking earlier today and the colours of Autumn are astounding. So when you take Lockdown exercise, why not take some pictures of our wonderful countryside and we will put them on the website. All you need to do is to email them to me on: [email protected] I will then forward them to Ann, our website could be a riot of colour!
Please stay safe and well Rob Harry Chairman
COPY FOR THE NEWSLETTER
We welcome reports from all groups for inclusion in the Newsletter or forwarding to our website. Word doc is preferred with NO LIMIT TO HOW MANY WORDS and should be sent to: [email protected] or tel. 01291 424997 by midday on the 26th NOVEMBER 2020
Typed or handwritten notes should be submitted a few days earlier if possible. Angela Hodson-Hirst Editor
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS - TO BE RENEWED BY THE END OF DECEMBER
Despite the wording of Rule 5 (iv) of the Constitution the closure date for subscriptions has been extended to the end of DECEMBER from the normally required end of June date as recorded in the September Committee Minutes and as the AGM will not take place now until the New Year.
I would like to add that Should you change your address, telephone number or email address please inform me so that I can keep our records up to date.
Contact details: tel: 01291 424997 email: [email protected] Angela Hodson-Hirst Membership Secretary
LINK SECRETARY
I would ask that if you hear of any member(s) who reach their 80th, 90th, 100th birthdays, Golden, Diamond, Platinum Wedding Anniversaries or even Marriages between members to please contact me so that I can send a Congratulatory card.
Also, if you hear of any member, in your group, or their family who are in hospital, sick or any other reason I would be grateful if you would please inform me. [email protected] Tel: 01291 421484 Betty Waite
CARDS SENT
Pat Burrin sadly unable to continue membership through ill health. We wish her well. Betty Waite
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Heather Chappell, Myfanwy Bennett and Megan Kanneh who celebrate their 80th Birthday in November.
THANK YOU
Thank you all for the Golden Wedding Anniversary card sent to us on 29th August.
We look forward to meeting up with our walking group friends soon, and hope that you are all keeping safe and well. Dianne and Brian Cox
APOLOGY
Lesley Jones makes apology for misspelling John JEFFERY's surname and similarly to John MUSSELL in her article in October's Newsletter.
DOWN THE LINE by Pam Ayres
Down long-forgotten railway lines and over broken bridges Came the young men, From vanished stations with frilled eaves, past coal yards and sidings, Over points switched by signalmen unseen, They came from valleys green, From blackened cities mean, To battlefields obscene. We ruined tracks that run below, We saw them go, we saw them go, Over continents this was enacted, Don’t let them hear the song of the track, Young men from their loving homes extracted, The clickety clack, the clackety clack, Faces white and yellow, brown and black, They won’t come back. Believing that, one day, they would go back. Drawn like single threads to forge a cable, In haunted carriages I see them yet, From factories and shops, from farm and Khaki-clad, with kitbag, cigarette, stable, Through dim-lit panes they see me, far below, Football teams and banks and streets entire, I look into their eyes and watch them go. Through cuttings deep and scarred by summer They weren’t to know, as they travelled the lea, fire, The hideous scenes they were going to see Through tunnels dark, embankments steep, to The flame, the gas cloud drifting, pale, face the threat, In Ypres, the Somme and Passchendaele. To learn the ways of rifle and of bayonet To draw a last despairing breath, Hands which held the reins and steered the Man and beast in a dismal death. plough, Carved names that crumble soft away, Must carry out more bloody service now, In churches and on crosses grey, Make hard the heart and subjugate the will, At cenotaphs where poppies fall, To fire the bullet, stab and choke and kill, Embrace the life denied them all. For men, our country must more deeply delve, In hamlet soft, and city loud, Now some are fifty-six and some are twelve* I still the clamour of the crowd, You mothers on windswept platforms, crippled And mourn them from this heart of mine: by the gash of fear, The soldiers, sailors, airmen fine, Go home. The boys who travelled down the line. You aching sweetheart bent and crying for your young man, Go home. You have shared a last embrace. Hold it tenderly, remember it, safeguard and cherish it, For it must last a lifetime. And pity the straight-backed fathers, who weep alone.
*In April 1918, the Earl of Derby, Director of Recruiting, directed that the age of recruits could be raised to 56 “if the need arose.” Sidney Lewis was sent home in August 1916, one year after joining up. He had run away to enlist when 12 years and lied about his age. He was sent to the Somme and fought on the front for 6 weeks. His mother then discovered where he had gone and sent his birth certificate to the War Office and demanded his return.
COMMITTEE NEWS
REPORT ON CONVENORS QUESTIONNAIRE
This report has been compiled from the analysis of the Convenors Questionnaires.
The aim of the Committee in August/September was to re-engage with our Interest Groups via their Convenors/Representatives, following a long period of isolation due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Another aim was to ascertain whether our Interest Groups could be re-started. We discovered that the majority of our groups could not be facilitated in their present venues because the Covid restrictions/regulations did not make it viable to re-start.
We also discussed alternative venues but new rules brought in by the Welsh Assembly Government prevented this happening.
FINANCIAL
Our first priority was to re-start our Interest Groups if possible and the finances were an aside. However it came to light during this analysis that the costs for each group for the venue averaged £2,000 annually, and when the monthly meeting and committee meeting costs were added to this, the annual spend rose to £9,000 plus. We discovered that there was only one formal agreement in place with the venues meaning that there was no agreement with the other four. This, of course, means that we have no negotiating power and explains why, as an organisation, we were not formally informed when venues closed down or their decisions to remain closed. Going forward, it is imperative that we have formal agreements in place with all venues we use. An annual spend of £9,000 is not to be laughed at. As one venue put it, it beats putting on Jumble Sales to raise money. These venues, after 9 months of no income, are in a more precarious situation than us.
MEMBER ACTIVITY
The figures for membership activity are based on averages provided by the Convenors. They can be skewed as some Members belong to several different groups resulting in multiple attendances per week/month. However we have almost 500 members and each member who attends a session is benefiting in many ways e.g. meeting with other people.
The annual figure for member visits is in excess of 17,300 which includes monthly meetings, walkers, etc. The number of members in each Interest Group is very good and some groups actually have too many members for one convenor. It would be easy to forget that we have four thriving walking groups that involve 100 members each week in healthy and mindful activity. If we put the above information into context Caldicot and District U3A is the principal provider to older people in our community.
COMMUNICATION
What has been revealed, by the data collected, is that if you are contactable via email you stand a higher chance of receiving information 75% of groups pass on information at their sessions and 25% at general meetings. Obviously during lockdown there are no meetings/sessions and therefore many members have fallen through the cracks. This is also true of the collection of subscriptions and membership renewal forms where again the majority are collected at sessions.
This entire system has been tested during lockdown and we therefore put some relevant questions on the Members Questionnaire regarding this.
SESSION DELIVERY
The data regarding session delivery was very pleasing in that it shows that 85% of groups deliver their sessions either by convenor or other members. This is proof that we are a self help and self learning U3A. We cater for most tastes and offer a range of ways to participate. Our Interest Groups and the experiences we gain from them are part of our life-long learning and not a narrow academic process. Learning in this U3A IS FUN!
WHERE NEXT
The majority of data gathered establishes that when we are open we do a lot of things well. Our range of groups has great variety and our delivery methods show a good mix of learning, participation and experiences.
We have found out that if we grow in membership some of our venues will not be suitable but there are alternatives.
We are also aware of the relative costs of hiring venues and the lack of formal arrangements with these venues. This may affect future decisions if membership dips and costs increase.
Lockdown has also unearthed some great initiatives e.g. Zoom, Bridge online but also deficiencies in communication with our members especially those members without access to a computer/Email. In the future ensuring that every member is kept informed is essential especially if another lockdown is implemented.
SUB COMMITTEES
The Committee has agreed that because of the uncertainty of future periods of lockdown, we should put together a 6 month plan within which there is scope to meet face to face ,but also, if necessary, share information online.
To do so we have established 4 working sub committees that are each charged with specific priority Areas that will be crucial either in the short term or in 6 months time. Each of the Groups will have an identified lead person and be assisted by other committee members, convenors, treasurers and members. The 4 identified priority areas and lead persons are.
Finance: Tony Hodson- Hirst Public Relations: Linda Stewart 25th Celebrations: Pam Caines Interest Groups: Glenice Dallow
More information regarding the specifics of the work being undertaken by these groups will become available in future Committee news. However the Interest Groups remit is beginning very soon as we need to communicate, develop, and deliver our plans to members asap.
MEMBERS QUESTIONNAIRE
The Committee is aware of some of the technical glitches and problems that have arisen especially for the online or interactive form. At the time of writing, the deadline for forms to be returned has not been reached. However when that date has been reached, depending on the % of returns that we receive, a decision will be made on whether we need to extend the date to December. Linda Stewart
UKULELE
On the 13th October, social distancing in a members garden, seven members of the Ukulele Group had a fun afternoon catching up anf playing some new and old music. Elaine Yeomans
6TH ZOOM DIGITAL COMPETITION
THEME: BRIDGES
1st – Ann Taylor-Heard 2nd – Jim Fenton
3rd – Malcolm Tait Joint 3rd - John Mussell
SCRABBLE
I thought it might be of interest to mention a few of the 22 new SCRABBLE words which were added to the official dictionary in 2019:
ANTIFA anti fascist organisation
BAE sweetheart or lover
BLUD friend
BARQUINI swimming costume covering the whole body, apart from the face, hands and feet
HENCH fit and muscular
MANSPLAINING of a man explaining something to a woman in a condescending way
OK okay
EW expression of disgust.
It is very sad that the Group cannot meet at the moment but I hope that everyone has found someone to play with either at home or on the internet. I play with my son, but he usually has one or more bonus words and wins the game. I still enjoy it though! Glynis Croft Convenor
LIVING LEVELS
The Brinker celebrates the role of ordinary people in the creation of the Level’s landscape.
In the Level’s own unique ingo a ‘brinker’ is a person who owns land on one side of a reen, wall or pill and is responsible for its maintenance. Traditionally, a brinker would use a scythe to clear vegetation to keep waterways open and prevent flooding. Both men and women are listed as brinkers in the Court of Sewers records, held at Gwent Archives.
Our figure is inspired by Anne Williams(died 1723), who owned land next to Monk’s Ditch in Whitson and Clift Reen in Goldcliff.
The sculpture stands approximately 2.5m high and is built on a steel framework using steamed white and brown willow to provide colour and texture. Two nesting sites are built into the sculpture’s pockets on either side. She stands alongside one of the reens at Magor Marsh Nature Reserve, resting on her scythe.
Extract taken from Living Levels website: https://livinglevels.squarespace.com
STRAGGLERS WALK A FEW WEEKS AGO AROUND MAGOR MARSH.
Picture submitted by Jenny King
REMEMBER WHEN
2020 is the year that Caldicot & District U3A activities came to a halt as our Interest groups could not meet and for members to enjoy having a chat with friends and members of their groups, have a cuppa and celebrate the 25th Anniversary.
But did this stop Caldicot & District U3A?? NO!! Your Officers, Committee and members have been active maintaining the success of our U3A. There have also been various methods of keeping contact by some of the groups. You will have seen the Committee News in the Newsletters, our successful meetings with Convenors, although we appreciate that there not all of our members have internet access and measures have been and will continue to be addressed for these members. All members are important to us. We do know that you are out there and interested in Caldicot & District U3A by the number of you who have renewed your membership. Thank you.
I have many happy memories of my years with Caldicot & District U3A. There is one meeting, among many that I remember. Our speaker Secretary had booked a gentleman making violins, I confess that I did not think this would interest me but what a surprise I had – it was one of the most amazing and interesting meetings I have attended. That is looking back, which introduces the Theme of Remember When? which will be significant in future issues of our Newsletter, and now, looking forward I would love to see the wonderful family of musicians, the Kanneh-Masons performing in one of our meetings. I am fortunate to have enjoyed spending time on our walks with Megan Kanneh, a U3A member and their Grandmother.
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN! WE WANT YOU TO TAKE UP MY CHALLENGE AND SEND YOUR IDEAS/PHOTOS INTO ANGELA HODSON-HIRST FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS OVER THE COMING MONTHS/YEARS. ALSO SEND TO ANN TAYLOR-HEARD SO SHE CAN PUT YOUR IDEAS/PHOTOS ON OUR WEBSITE.
Remember that the website is our shop window therefore we must use it as a glimpse back, our present and future to continue as a celebration of our success.
You will notice that various sub-groups have been formed to maintain contact with members, show the many skills we have and keep this U3A the success it has been for the last 25 years and look forward to the next 25 successful years.
As Group Co-ordinator I will be contacting Convenors with thoughts of various projects that could be done socially distant and listening to all the ideas you have and hope your members will be interested in sharing their thoughts and ideas about keeping U3A successful and letting us know the things you had done during this period.
I look forward to hearing from you all, you will find my telephone number on the back of the Newsletter, also members of our Committee should you wish to contact any of them. Take care and stay safe. Glenice Dallow Group Co-ordinator
REMEMBER WHEN......
Our Short Mat Bowls team in 2018 won the inaugural Severn Challenge Cup competition, as well as the Monmouthshire County league for the third year in succession. Started six years ago, the group finished nowhere in the league at the end of the first season, second in the second season, then four successes in a row. 2019 saw us win the Severn Challenge Cup for a second time and were hoping to retain it again this year but... maybe next. We are all keen to get back to our bowling and hopefully regaining our winning streak at the Monmouthshire Triples which we were unable to complete this year, we were at the start of the Lockdown holding onto to second place behind Usk, a question of watch this space !! Helen Wormald
SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY
Unfortunately it appears that the above group will be unable to meet for the remainder of this year and probably well into 2021 due to Covid 19. We have therefore decided that we will endeavour to run monthly meetings with guest speakers using Zoom in the New Year. In order to proceed we require members emails if not issued to Angela Hodson-Hirst to be sent to [email protected].
We would welcome members from any of the other groups who may be interested to join us in this venture.
For further information please contact Bob Whitehead on Tel. 422232 or email as above or Bill Croft email [email protected] Bob Whitehead Convenor
Merrick's Pharmacy & Active Vitality have been plotting to fundraise for The Cornfield Project and take the family fun run online over the festive period!
You can walk/run/skip your distance any time in December - you must finish in The Cornfield, submit a selfie of you, your time & distance...make sure you're wearing a festive outfit!!
Prizes for best outfit, best time and much, much more.....lots of fun to be had
All proceeds go to The Cornfield Project - let's show our appreciation for all the hard work that our volunteers put in all year round
GARDENING GROUP
As you know from last month's Newsletter gardening has adopted two plots in the Cornfield Project in Portskewett. The idea is to plant and maintain these plots as a way of keeping interest in our group.
Friday 23rd October we started to clear and plant one of these areas.
Pauline Marx, Sheila Fieldhouse, Glenice and Adrian Dallow and myself have made a start with some perennials and then in the Spring we will need to plant spring flowers and any bedding needed.
This is where we need your help to keep the garden maintained.
We also have a small area that needs some attention as well. This one could be used as a veg come herb area as there are some herbs already there. We had good weather and a lot of banter which helped the day go well, very enjoyable, maybe there are some of you would like to join us in this endeavour. Because of these troubled times we have to find other ways of keeping our group going, with this project we can.
Hopefully by Spring we will have a colourful garden from the work done.
If you are interested in giving us a hand please ring Pauline Marx on 07544671870 or myself Betty Waite on 01291 421484. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you. Betty Waite
HISTORY
CALDICOT CASTLE AND THE COBB FAMILY
In 1885 Joseph Richard Cobb bought Caldicot Castle. He came from a family of merchant bankers.
In 1856 he married Emily Catherine Powys de Winton. They had six children, one of whom was Geoffrey Edward Wheatley.
The Castle had been uninhabited for over 300 years and was little more than a farmyard. He restored the gatehouse to make living accommodation for his family. By thus time Geoffrey Wheatley was 25.
In 1897 Geoffrey wrote a book 'The Story of Caldicot Castle'. It was printed privately.
In 1892 Geoffrey bought the Foudroyant, once the flagship of Nelson, for £6000. After some restoration, a crew of 6 was employed and a number of boys taken on for training. The ship sailed round the coastal resorts until in 1897 she reached Blackpool. The ship met its end in 1897 after a storm and was sold to a salvage company. Geoffrey then purchased HMS Trincomalee, which was never meant to sail. She was later re-named Training Ship Foudroyant.
In 1897 Joseph died. Geoffrey inherited the castle, but he spent most of his time on the ship at Falmouth. Meantime restoration work began on the castle. The housekeeper, lived there as did Ann Adams, "devoted nurse and friend of the family of J R Cobb and G E Wheatley Cobb", as it says on her grave. She was buried in the family plot at St Mary's.
In 1908 Geoffrey took on the Implacable to prevent it being scrapped. The boys were trained in signalling, sailing, oarsmanship and mechanics. In 1921 Geoffrey married Anna Jesup Beach in St James' in London. They had met in Madeira in 1913. Anna pursued him relentlessly determined to marry him. But Geoffrey spent most of his time in Falmouth so she moved her house lock, stock and barrel. She was 53 and he was 63. There are several reasons why Geoffrey agreed to marry. He needed her money. Perhaps it was a cover for his relationship with a painter called Henry Scott Tuke, who was best man at his wedding. Tuke used many of the boys as nude models for his paintings described as 'homoerotica' The mind boggles about what was going on in the Foudroyant, apart from the painting! Geoffrey showed no inclination to spend more time with his wife. He seemed to be content with rowing across the bay each afternoon, enjoying his cuppa and rowing back again! This unusual domestic arrangement showed that Anna had no alternative but to accept it. We shall never know how she really felt.
Anna sold her house in Falmouth and moved to the castle. She had electricity installed and entertained a lot. She also bought The Homestead from the Croppers, but had it demolished in 1937. Geoffrey Wheatley died on 3 April 1931. Thousands attended his funeral in Caldicot when he was buried at St Mary's. Anna restored the Lychgate in his memory. In 1932 she gave the Foudroyant to the Society for Nautical Research.
The war hardly affected her. Alterations were made to the castle to make it more comfortable. She attended St Mary's regularly. She would arrive late and march down to the front to sit directly beneath the pulpit. At first she walked to church but later she suffered from curvature of the spine so she would use Cyril Washbourne to drive her. As she grew older her health deteriorated and she died on 24 September 1943. She was buried at St Mary's with her husband where her name on the grave is Ann not Anna. The castle was then passed to Geoffrey, Geoffrey Wheatley's nephew. He tried to run the castle as a guest house. The Women's Timber Corps stayed there briefly in 1946. They described the owner as a handsome man, looking like Douglas Fairbanks. He married Barbara, a girl from the village and there was a son Ian born in 1950. He continued to improve the castle and he decided to let out furnished accommodation to young married couples and charge a nominal rent. The castle is a Grade 1 listed building and is owned by Monmouthshire County Council. Sheila Ford, Convenor
CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
Each month Kay Flatten, a member of the Science and Natural History Group, will present snippets of Climate Reality facts from the Climate Reality Project she trained with in July.
In 2006, Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore got the world talking about climate change with the Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth.
It was just the beginning of a climate revolution. Later that year, he founded what would become The Climate Reality Project to move the conversation forward and turn awareness into action all across the Earth.
Today, as Climate Reality, we’re a diverse group of passionate individuals who’ve come together to solve the greatest challenge of our time. We are activists, cultural leaders, organizers, scientists, and storytellers committed to building a sustainable future together.
TRUTH IN TEN
“Blue Marble” photo of Earth from NASA’s Apollo 17 mission, taken as the crew was travelling toward the moon, December 7, 1972
This is the first picture of the earth fully illuminated that any of us ever saw. It was taken on the last of the Apollo missions and it changed the way that humanity thought about our common home. It reminds us that we are all connected and that our actions have an impact on our planet.
The sun shining over Earth’s horizon through the two lowermost layers of the atmosphere: the troposphere and the stratosphere. Photo taken from the International Space Station.
The sky is not a vast and limitless expanse the way it appears to us as we stand on the ground and look up.
In reality, there is just a thin shell of atmosphere surrounding the planet.
Kay Flatten
THE DRAGON WALK Part 2 – Offa’s Dyke Path Over the years I have read a number of blogs about people undertaking long distance trails and they seem to follow a series of rules. As we walked round Wales I formulated my own: 1. Always follow the designated path Yes but that’s not always the best way to go. I consider the official route to be more of a concept than a dotted line to follow. I don’t mind taking liberties with the path if I can see a way that is easier, safer or just more fun; as long as the Trail isn’t compromised. 2. Taking a boat across an estuary is allowed if there is a scheduled ferry service This doesn’t apply to us as there are no ferries.
3. Walk it in strict order Except that isn’t what we have done. We have skipped sections (to return to later) and generally walked clockwise but, where it is more convenient (or when the bus doesn’t stop), we have walked anti-clockwise. 4. It’s a journey not a race All of this happened many years ago so I have forgotten a lot of the details. Fortunately many of the walks were written up in the Lower Wye Ramblers newsletter and I have taken a lot of what follows from that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 28 May – 3 June 2007: Prestatyn to Porth-y-Waen The overall plan for this venture was to have a week away to cover north Wales and then a series of weekends to complete the Path. To begin our walk on Offa’s Dyke we had a week away in May/June 2007 staying at the Clywd Gate Motel near Ruthin. 28 May 2007 - Prestatyn to Tremeirchion: 9.6 miles (15.5 km) +717m -510m
Collecting pebbles from the beach The Start of Offa’s Dyke It is a tradition when walking Offa’s Dyke that a pebble is taken from the beach at the start; it is carried to the end and thrown into the sea. However, due to an oversight, when we arrived at Prestatyn the tide was in and hardly a pebble was to be seen. But we all found something suitable, anything from a stone to a shell, then set off through the town towards the distant hills. Leaving Prestatyn there was a steep hill which led into the countryside for the first time. The path took us around Dyserth, through Rhualt and on to Tremeirchion where the bus was waiting to take the weary walkers back to the hotel.
The following day, and on days 4 and 5, I was unable to walk because of my knees. I have now completed the missing sections but it was 8 years later. I will write about these walks when I get to them chronologically. While everyone else was out walking I had nice views from our hotel room.
30 May 2007 - Moel Arthur to Clwyd Gate Motel: 6.8 miles (10.9 km) +507m -555m From the car park below Moel Arthur we climbed a steep hill. We then followed the track to Moel Famau and the Jubilee Tower.
Moel Arthur The Jubilee Tower After a brief stop in the cold and drizzle we continued over Foel Fenlli and finished the walk at the hotel. 3 June 2007 - Craignant to Porth-y-Waen 9.3 miles (14.9 km) +208m -395m Part of this day was actually on the Dyke. The path took us over farmland, through woodland and past the old Oswestry racecourse where there is a two headed horse, one facing towards England and the other Wales. The day ended with a steep climb up Moelydd and then down to the end of the week’s walking at Porth-y-Waen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15-16 September 2007: Porth-y-Waen to Montgomery The second leg along Offa’s Dyke was arranged for the weekend of 15/16 September. Twenty three were booked into the Dragon Hotel, Montgomery with one other in a nearby B&B. The good news is that I now had walking poles and was able to walk every day. 15 September 2007 - Porth-y-Waen to Buttington: 13.1 miles (21.1km) +284m -358m The bus picked us up from the hotel and drove the 20 miles to where we had finished in May. With the exception of the first 2 miles that took us up and down Llanmynach Hill, the day was relatively flat, following the line of Offa’s Dyke towards the River Severn and then sharing the footpath with the Severn Way to Buttington. About an hour before we were due to arrive in Buttington, the driver of the bus was telephoned and told not to collect the thirsty walkers until they had a chance to wet dry throats at the local pub. Hopes were dashed when, on arrival, we found that the Green Dragon had already closed for the afternoon! 16 September 2007 - Buttington to Montgomery: 9.3 miles (15.0km) +518m -474m This day’s walking followed very closely the line of the dyke up to Beacon Ring, an Iron Age hill fort, down to Kingswood and on to Montgomery. Offa’s Dyke is about a mile east of Montgomery so when we came to the end of the official walk there was an uphill walk back to the town. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 25-27 April 2008: Montgomery to Knighton Unfortunately I don’t have the LWR Newsletter for this weekend’s walks so it will have to be from memory. Once again we all met up on Friday afternoon at the Dragon Hotel in Montgomery ready for the weekend’s walks.
26 April 2008 - Montgomery to Newcastle: 10.5 miles (16.9km) +407m -294m From the hotel we had a downhill walk along the road to meet the path. We then had the longest, straightest and flattest walk I have ever done. It was nearly 3 miles long following the Dyke until we were just north of Cwm. Then for the next 7½ miles it was a series of ups and downs until we finally arrived in Newcastle. This is known locally as The Switchbacks. 27 April 2007 - Newcastle to Knighton: 7.2 miles (11.6km) +454m -484m The following day continued on the same theme and although it was 3 miles shorter than Saturday’s walk there was more ascent and decent. The walk ended at the Offa’s Dyke Visitor Centre in Knighton which was closed so we couldn’t use the facilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 26-28 September 2008: Knighton to Newchurch As Dorothy was booked on a yoga day we were unable to walk on the Saturday. Little did we think at the time that seven years later we would be walking on our own from Knighton to Kington in order to complete Offa’s Dyke. The remainder of the party met up on Friday and stayed at the Radnorshire Arms in Presteign, the 16th century home of John Bradshaw, the first signatory to the death warrant of Charles I. 28 September 2008 - Kington to Newchurch: 8.3 miles (13.3km) +439m -437m Sunday dawned another bright day as the group travelled to Kington to complete the eight miles to Newchurch. This day’s walking again started with a long steady climb out of the town past Hergest Croft Gardens on to Hergest Ridge, an open common with sheep and wild ponies. The going was exhilarating on springy turf with views to the Shropshire Hills and the Black Mountains before dropping down into Gladestry and a welcome stop at the Royal Oak! There then followed a long steady climb through farmland to Disgwylfa Hill and the final drop down to the village of Newchurch. The weekend was completed with afternoon tea at the hotel before making the journey home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15-17 May 2009: Newchurch to Pandy Over the weekend of 15 to 17 May twenty two of us met up in Pandy for the next leg of Offa’s Dyke. Most of us were staying at the Park Hotel with others at local B&Bs. Although the weather forecast was not too good for the weekend, we were all optimistic that we would have two days of good walking. 16 May 2009 - Newchurch to Hay Bluff: 10.3 miles (16.6km) +554m -358m We all gathered outside the Park Hotel at 8am to be taken to Newchurch which was where we had ended the previous weekend. The walking was relatively easy and as we crossed the bridge into Hay-on-Wye, memories flooded back as we saw signs for the Wye Resting in Hay-on-Wye Valley Walk After passing through Hay the walking became more difficult as we approached Hay Bluff. The wind got up and it started to rain. Was this a portent of the day to come?
We had made good time and arrived at the base of Hay Bluff early. Unfortunately this meant that we had to wait for the mini buses in the cold wind and rain. Fortunaely, they arrived early and took us back to Pandy via the Gospel Pass. When we got back to the hotel I was greeted with a surprise birthday cake, as I had passed 60 two days earlier.
My birthday cake I think this is supposed to be me 17 May 2009 - Hay Bluff to Pandy: 12.9 miles (20.8km) +656m -972m This morning the weather forecast was even worse and it rained all through breakfast but when we boarded the mini bus the rain had abated and there were some clear patches of sky overhead.
Waiting to climb Hay Bluff The first part of the walk was up Hay Bluff which wasn’t as bad as some of us had feared. It only took about 45 minutes. From the trig point we walked on for a short distance until we reached the highest point of the ridge (700m) where we had a coffee stop. After a few minutes it started to rain so we all packed up and continued the walk along Hatterall Ridge. Then the rain got heavier and the wind, which was in our faces, got stronger. Our pace was quite fast over the path which had been paved with stone slabs but we slowed down later as we reached boggier sections of the path. As there was no shelter we kept on going and didn’t have lunch until about 3pm after 4 hours and 9 miles of ridge walking. In all this time we had only lost just over 100m of height. We found some shelter down the side of the ridge and the rain abated for a time. Lunch did not take long as we were getting very cold. We headed on and finally started to lose some height and came out of the wet and cold cloud. The final hour of the walk was quite pleasant as we were out of the rain and the sun came out which meant that when we returned to the hotel at about 4:30pm at least our outer clothes were dry. The final act of the weekend was the mandatory cream tea, with a piece of birthday cake, which was most welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 25-27 September 2009: Pandy to Monmouth The weekend of 25 to 27 September heralded Leg 6 of the Offa’s Dyke walk and the final hotel stay of this epic journey. As last time most stayed in the Park Hotel in Pandy with a few stragglers in the Lancaster down the road. On Friday night we all met up for a meal in the hotel but for a few there were other distractions for some in the form of a male stripper next door! Luckily the music ended at 11:30pm so we all managed a good night’s sleep.
26 September 2009 - Pandy to Llanvihangel-Ystem-Llewern: 10.4 miles (16.7km) +317m -398m This was an unusual start because we walked down the road from the hotel to meet with the others at the official start. It was a very nice day for September and it was suggested that perhaps we should repeat our last walk over Hatterrall Ridge to see what we missed last time because of the weather. However, sanity prevailed and we set off in a westerly direction towards our goal of Monmouth. In comparison with previous legs this was relatively easy with the undulating landscape taking us through Llangattock Lingoed and Caggle Street to White Castle where we had a long lunch in the sun. After lunch our walk passed through the village of Llantilo Crossenny, through the apple orchards of Penrhos Farm to Llanvihangel-Ystem-Llawern where buses were waiting to take us back to Pandy. In the evening, which had no distractions, we ate in the hotel and a presentation was made to our leader and his wife for all the work they had done to make the walks a success. 27 September 2009 - Llanvihangel-Ystem-Llewern to Monmouth: 6.1 miles (9.8km) +148m -181m Today we all had to drive to Monmouth where we expected to park by the river but as there was a regatta we had to go to a nearby field. The buses picked us up at the Leisure Centre to take us to the start of the day’s walk. This walk was even easier than Saturday’s and we had a leisurely 6 miles through Kings Wood and on to Monmouth where we stopped for a cream tea. It was then just a short walk to the cars and home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22-23 May 2010: Monmouth to Sedbury Cliffs 22 May 2010 - Monmouth to Brockweir: 9.6 miles (15.5km) +713m -661m 23 May 2010 - Brockweir to Sedbury Cliffs: 8.4 miles (13.5km) +463m -516m There is nothing written specifically about these two walks but my memory of them is that it was very hot and the last few miles to Sedbury were endless. We were so late getting to Sedbury Cliffs that, once we had thrown our pebbles collected from the beach in Prestatyn, we had to arrange a car shuttle to get us to the Ferry Inn in time for lunch and presentation of certificates. Of course what we didn’t realise at the time was that at the point where we came down the hill in Tutshill towards Chepstow and then turned left to Sedbury we were at the end of the Dragon Walk. The remaining 1.9 miles were being walked just to complete the Offa’s Dyke. In the August 2010 edition of Lower Wye Rambler, an article was written which summarised the whole Offa’s Dyke experience. The Lower Wye Ramblers completed the entire Offa’s Dyke Walk on Sunday 23 May 2010 – after three years of walking. The group started the 177 mile, North to South walk on 27 May 2007, passing hills, valleys, and finished at Sedbury Cliffs on 23 May 2010. With all of our detours we probably walked a total of 190 miles. [Not me because I missed 4 sections – to be walked a lot later] In all 32 ramblers walked all or part of Offa’s Dyke, peaking at 27 on one of the legs. The group had an age range of 49 to 81 years – making them possibly the largest and oldest group (average age just over 65 years) ever to undertake the walk.
The Offa’s Dyke path runs through the most beautiful, deserted countryside. It took us through
the rugged Clwydian Range, down to the stunning beauty of the Welsh borders and on to the Wye Valley. There were many challenging ascents but they gave everyone a real sense of achievement. The 27oC heat made the final stretch quite a struggle, but throughout the three years there was terrific group solidarity. We managed to find some absolutely delightful places to stay, returning for later legs where possible; the social aspect was a fundamental constituent of the walk. We hired coaches throughout, which proved to be relatively inexpensive, to get us to and from the walks. The sight of the coach waiting for us in the distance at the end of a long day’s walk is a memory which will stick with all the participants. The path is well signposted from end to end. You hardly need a map, guide or compass. In fact, one of our members insisted on using a South to North guidebook and kept getting us lost! Completing the walk involved 11,000 vehicle miles, 380 hotel nights and contributed around £20,000 to the Offa’s Dyke economy: what brilliant value for money! Now we had completed Offa’s Dyke, we needed another challenge and our leader once again stepped up to the mark and offered to organise walks along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. Lucky for us this became part of the Wales Coast Path!
Distance walked so far: 135.7 miles - 906.6 miles to go. Next – The Pembrokeshire Coast Path Maurice Turner Member of the Strollers walking group
THE NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION (NPC)
The NPC’s main objective is to promote the welfare and interests of all pensioners, as a way of securing dignity, respect and financial security in retirement. The NPC organises rallies and lobbies of MPs, leads delegations to parliament and makes submissions to government on policies affecting older people.
NPC Wales is aware of the growing problem facing older people in accessing services that they need which has been heightened by the Covid- 19 crisis, with many services now only accessible online.
NPC Wales wants to ask older people in Wales about their experiences in using and accessing these services and also what is needed to support older people to get online.
We would be grateful to hear your views by taking part in our survey. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and your responses will be confidential. www.npcwales.org/campaigns NPC Wales Digital inclusion/exclusion survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/K8YGZB7
NPC Wales public transport survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/K865BBZ
OVER 75s TV LICENCE
BBC to consult NPC after over 75s free licence summit with new Director General Tim Davie.
The BBC will meet with the National Pensioners Convention to better understand issues around a raft of concerns affecting the UK’s oldest and most vulnerable.
NPC will continue to brief the BBC on our views on the state pension, universal entitlements, the threshold for pension credit and diversity and inclusion.
The BBC has also agreed to discuss the impact of loneliness, isolation and increasing ageism with the NPC, the UK’s largest campaigning organisation run for and by older people.
The news follows an initial meeting between BBC Director General Tim Davie, BBC Director, Policy Clare Sumner, and NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt, who made a case for reinstatement of free TV licences for all over 75s, while outlining the financial hardships many currently face.
Jan Shortt commented, “The meeting with the BBC was robust on both sides – there are still approximately 1.4 million over 75s who have not paid their licence, because they are perhaps financially struggling to do so. However, we welcome the BBC’s willingness to continue a dialogue with us, particularly on the poverty, isolation and loneliness faced by so many older people.”
“The NPC has always believed the free TV licence is part of a wider package of universal entitlements and concessions for older people that should be the responsibility of the government and not the BBC. As part of new campaign to save all concessions for older people – from the free bus pass to the heating allowance, as well as the need to raise the pension credit threshold - the NPC will now be writing to the government and all MP’s as a matter of urgency.
“In the meantime, we look forward to meeting with BBC on major issues of deep concern to both organisations.”
SCAMS
The NPC are sharing just some of the latest scams with regards to TV Licensing, Test & Trace and COVID-19. Please be ever vigilant and see the below information.
As of this week TV Licensing have started sending letters to anyone aged over 75 asking them to either pay for their TV licence or apply for a free one. The letter TV Licensing sends will include your licence number, your title and your last name and they will only ask you to pay using the following options:
By post using the address TV Licensing, PO Box 578, Darlington DL98 1AN Online at tvl.co.uk/75pay or tvl.co.uk/75apply Over the phone on 0300 790 6151
If you are contacted and asked to pay for your TV licence using a different phone number, a different website or by posting your details to a different address, this is a scam. TV Licensing will not come to your doorstep to collect the licence fee if you are over 75, so anyone who claims to do so is also a scammer. If you’re unsure about anything, you can call TV Licensing on 0300 303 9695 to speak with someone who can help.
Some people are receiving texts offering a free TV licence for a year. They ask you to text your bank details back to them in order to get the free licence. Please don’t respond to this text, it is a scam and you have the potential to lose your money and your identity.
Emails claiming you owe money to the TVLA and to go online to pay it. Some emails also state you could go to court if you don’t pay.
Letters supposedly from Television Licensing Authority (TVLA) saying your details need updating because there is something wrong. They ask you to go online and put your personal details in. Again this is a scam.
COVID-19: anyone offering cheap sanitiser, masks or purporting to have test equipment is likely to be a scam. In some cases, the sanitiser has been known to cause damage to the skin. Do not pay for test equipment. The NHS or your GP will offer it free.
NHS Test & Trace – the original scam on this was shut down by the Fraud Action Line. However, it is operating from another phone number and will text you asking for payment, The NHS will never ask you to pay. Report to Fraud Action Line on 0300 123 2040
As time passes, we are likely to see more scams around the TV licence issue, so please make sure by just making a phone call that whatever you have received is legitimate. TVLA will always use the last part of your post code along with your TV licence number in any communication they have with you.
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS DOWN
1. Sent iced tea as a lure, essentially (7) 2. Essential to claw back capital only (5) 5. Loose ends (5) 3. Keeps making chess move (7) 8. Exercises authority over regulations (5) 4. Audibly rely on part of a swimming pool (6) 9. Hang on a minute, sounds like animal feet (5) 5. Elephant part makes a strong case (5) 10. Found in any long fabric (5) 6. Inactivity in finer tiara (7) 11. Flown in the wind like hawks (5) 7. Delivers vessels (5) 12. Time out corner (6) 8. Jolly pirate emblem (5) 14. Keep bees in Western Somoa, endless 13. Show some America bar ethics (7) cereal grass (6) 15. Distorted cross section of peril (7) 18. Take a chance first off, it's a stroll (5) 16. Online search for brute in Gulliver's 20. Sounds like a way in to worship (5) Travels (5) 22. Quick rhyming music, who's who in short (5) 17. Official battle hideaway (6) 23. Musical passage contains main trombone (5) 18. Part of a leg currently in progress (5) 24. All involved in veto talk (5) 19. Throw out complex pelicans, essentially (5) 25. Provokes with sharp points (7) 21. Find praise in next oldest (5)
Last month’s solution
STANDARD CROSSWORD
ACROSS DOWN
1. Gem (5) 1. Jests (5) 4. Shade of yellow 2. Male witch or tinged with orange demon (7) (7) 3. Source of 8. Symmetrically illumination (5) arranged (7) 4. Remuneration (6) 9. Pouch (3) 5. Surreptitious (7) 10. Two-wheeled 6. Hazards (5) vehicle (7) 7. Type of power 11. Publish (5) (7) 12. Patisserie (6) 12. Very rich vein of 14. Syntactic precious ore (7) category (6) 13. Made smaller 17. Wanderer (5) (7) 19. Stone pillar (7) 15. Vagrant (7) 22. Mesh (3) 16. Prohibit (6) 23. Floorshow (7) 18. Slogan (5) 24. Stayed clear 20. Planet (5) October’s solution from (7) 21. Praise (5) 25. Groups of cattle (5)
LET’S DO SUDOKU! October’s Sudoku solution
Solutions next month
CALDICOT & DISTRICT U3A
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