FREE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FOR LLANGOED, GLANRAFON AND PENMON ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019
A STOP/START AFFAIR... Clwb Ifanc Ffermwyr Llangoed Young Here’s the latest issue of The Farmers Club: every Puffin, full of interesting odds Monday, 7.30pm-9.00pm, and ends...enjoy it! in Neuadd Bentref Summer this year really has Llanddona Village Hall (yr been a stop/start affair: just Hen Ysgol) (not Llangoed). when it looks as if it’s under Telephone Emily Roberts way it puts on the brakes and on 01248 810424 for more it’s back to sweatshirts and information. vests. There have been plus Llangoed WI: the first points, though: gardens and Wednesday of the month at wild areas are seas of 2.00pm, Llangoed Village colourful blossom. Hall; see also page 2.
As always, The Puffin says a 20 April 2019: these two photgraphs will bring back memories of the daily Zumba: every big 'thank you' for the help Wednesday, 6.30pm- that it receives from its many school run for some of you (me included), not to mention school trips to places like Rhyl and Chester. T Jones & Sons had a smart fleet of oldish 7.30pm, Llangoed Village friends and supporters, (today they’d be called vintage) coaches, including this one. She was spotted Hall. sponsors and donors, in the Victoria Hotel’s car park in Menai Bridge, looking as if she’d just come anonymous or otherwise, Whist group: alternate without whom it wouldn’t Thursdays, 1.30pm- survive. These include Red 3.00pm, Pont y Brenin Boat Ice Cream Parlour, the Community Hub. Bull Hotel, Janet Bell Gallery, Seiriol Men’s Shed: for Bishopsgate House Hotel, men aged 18-108: the Tavern on the Bay, Echo chance to meet and chat. Beach, Spar, Beaumaris, and Every Thursday at McColl’s, Llangoed, to name 10.00am, Pont y Brenin just a few...apologies to Community Hub. anybody whose name isn’t mentioned; our anonymous Bingo: the third Friday of supporters will know who the month at 7.00pm, Pont they are! y Brenin Community Hub.
Llanddona:
WHAT’S HAPPENING out of the bodyshop. She’s a Crossley SD42, dating from 1949, with a body Neuadd Bentref WHERE by Gurney Nutting, and was derelict by late 1969. Several of the Jones fleet Llanddona Village Hall:
Here’s our quarterly round-up have been preserved, including two Bedford OBs – we used to call them opened in style on 13 July Flying Bananas for obvious reasons – which are now in Belgium. (A Perrott) 2019 in its smart new of what’s on in the locality. It doesn’t cover everything premises, yr Hen Ysgol; that’s on, so if you think that see page 5 for the story and photographs. an event is missing and should be mentioned, do let Anglesey & Caernarfon us know, please; our contact Dog Club: will meet in due details and submission course on Wednesdays in deadlines are always given Neuadd Bentref Llanddona on page 8. Village Hall (yr Hen Ysgol)
Llangoed: at 8.00pm; this will probably be sometime in Clwb Garddio Llangoed the autumn. If you would Gardening Club: the third like to join, or would like Monday of the month at more information, contact 7.30pm, Llangoed Village Andrew Perrott at Hall; see also page 2. [email protected].
Knitting Club: the third 2 May 2019: the ubiquitous Lloyds Bank horse was caught on a flying In the meantime, the Monday of the month at (galloping?) visit to Llanddona, and appeared to be enjoying the spectacular monthly dog walk (towards Pont y Brenin Community evening sky. The weather might have been a bit lacklustre this year, but the the end of each month) is hub, 2.00pm-3.00pm. some of the clouds and sunsets have been really spectacular. (A Perrott) still taking place.
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Llanddona Book Antiques & collectors’ Reading Club: is taking a fair: the third Sunday of rest at the moment; if the month 10.00am- anybody would like to 4.00pm, at the Canolfan resurrect it please e-mail Beaumaris Leisure Centre; The Puffin at puffinpages refreshments are @gmail.com and we’ll available. Contact pass the message on. morganfairs@ hotmail.com or telephone Village Knit Club: every 07516 277794 for Monday at the Owain information/bookings. Glyndŵr pub at 7.00pm. For more information
contact Meg Marsden on LLANGOED WI 07913 223435. May: at the meeting on 1 May, Llanddona Sandcastle we visited the Anglesey Competition: Monday 26 Archives in Llangefni. We August 2018 (Bank Holiday were warmly welcomed with Monday), Llanddona a talk on the work of the beach: starts at 2.00pm, Archive Office, and shown with judging at 3.00pm. how to search for the history Please note that dogs are of our home and family. not permitted on Refreshments were provided. Llanddona beach between 1 May and 30 September We are very happy to state each year. that Llangoed WI came second in the points gained CANCELLATION! for our entries in the All Llanddona and Anglesey WI Show in May. Beaumaris Horse and
Pony Show: owing to the The winners of the outbreak of equine influenza, the Committee made the competition were (1st) Stephanie Dummzer, (2nd) Beti difficult decision at a recent meeting to cancel the show Brimecombe and (3rd) Miriam Hughes. scheduled to take place on Saturday 24 August 2018. Visit June: at the meeting on 5 June, summer trips were discussed. the Llanddona/ Beaumaris Horse & Pony Show Facebook We attended a Garden Party at Plas Newydd: we had a great page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/llanddona tea and a lot of fun playing croquet! beaumaris-horse-pony-show/400266890032055) for st more information. If you have any cups, trophies or shields The winners of the competition were (1 ) Anne Lindley, that need to be returned please contact Miriam Williams on (2nd)Geraldine Hedderick and (3rd) Margaret Charles. [email protected] or July: at the meeting on 3 July telephone 07733 176004 2019, our speaker, Gwennan to make arrangements for Davies, gave us a very their collection. interesting illustrated talk on Next year will mark the the Mysteries of Welsh Show’s 50th Anniversary, Water, followed by a Q&A; so make sure that you there were lots of questions. note the date, 29 August The winners of the 2020, in your diary! st competition were (1 ) Beaumaris: Christine Linford, (2nd) Jean Whitehead and (3rd) Sue Pioneers Walking Group: Poole. every Wednesday, 2.00pm at the Canolfan Iorwerth The next meeting will take Rowlands Centre, Steeple place on 4 September; our Lane. Telephone Howard speaker will be Anita
Jackson on 01248 810050 Congratulations! Martin and Eirian Owen at their wedding, which took place Summer, on Candle Alchemy for more information. at Tros yr Afon, Llangoed on 8 June 2019...from all of the family (B Thomas) and what it involves.
Beaumaris Film Night: the first Thursday of the month at Meetings: meetings begin at 2.00pm on the first Wednesday 7.30pm at the Canolfan Beaumaris Leisure Centre. of each month in Llangoed Village Hall. We are a lively group Telephone 01248 811200 or e-mail enquiries@ of mixed ages, so, ladies, do feel welcome to join us. canolfanbeaumaris. org.uk for more information. (Anne Lindley) What will be showing during up to the end of 2019? Make a
note in your diary: CLWB GARDDIO LLANGOED GARDENING CLUB 5 September: Stan & Ollie 7 November: Sometimes 3 October: If Beale Street Always Never The dry weather has been a challenge for gardeners this Could Talk 5 December: Rocketman month, with constant watering of pot plants on patios and occasionally having to give the hydrangeas a good bucketful Table top sale: the first Sunday of the month, 10.00am- of water to revive them as they do not like dry conditions. 4.00pm, at the Canolfan Beaumaris Leisure Centre; refreshments are available. Telephone 01248 811200 or e- We are now into our summer break from Clwb Garddio mail [email protected] for more Llangoed Gardening Club, however, and are finding lots to do information. in the garden, besides watering, as there is a lot of cutting
The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 2 OF 8 www.poblseiriol.co.uk/newsletters/ down to do, with many perennials having finished flowering; arwain at adferiad dramatig ym mhoblogaeth y gwiwerod coch. summer bedding plants need dead-heading, particularly Mae Menter Môn hefyd wedi helpu i ailsefydlu dyfrgwn yn petunias, which are sticky and messy. afonydd a gwlypdiroedd Ynys Môn, sy’n gynefinoedd arbennig o dda. The last meeting of the Club in the Village Hall was in April when we held our annual plant sale and had a good social Cyflwynwyd y Minc Americanaidd i Brydain yn y 1920au ar evening with a quiz. Our May visit to Treborth Botanical gyfer ffermio ffwr – ond bu i nifer ddianc i’r gwyllt. Maent wedi Garden was enjoyable and interesting. Shaun Russell gave a cael eu beio am leihau poblogaethau o gornchwiglod a llygod talk and tour of the glasshouses; Shaun is a knowledgeable y dŵr yn sylweddol. Mae prosiect Llygoden y Dŵr a lansiwyd and entertaining plantsman with a passion for Treborth. We gan Menter Môn ar yr ynys sawl blwyddyn yn ôl i fynd i’r afael learned all about the future plans for Treborth, and wish them â’r broblem wedi derbyn rhagor o gyllid yn ddiweddar. Bydd yr well. arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio i dracio a thrapio mincod, tra bydd gwirfoddolwyr yn cael eu recriwtio a’u hyfforddi i fonitro Plas yn Rhiw gardens and house on the Llŷn Peninsula were a glannau afon lle mae mincod a bywyd gwyllt arall yn byw. delight to visit in June, with lovely weather for strolling around and sitting outside at the café with a coffee and cake. July saw Mae mynd i’r afael â rhywogaethau planhigion goresgynnol yn some members go to Llanidan Hall, which was participating in frwydr barhaus ar yr Ynys. Cyflwynwyd Jac y Neidiwr the NGS Open Garden Scheme. (impatiens glandulifera) i Brydain yn 1839 ac ers hynny mae
Jac y Neidiwr/Himalayan Balsam growing Jac y Neidiwr/Himalayan Balsam pulled up and Adi and Rebecca discussing what work is needed vigorously (D Phillipps) left to die away from the soil (D Phillipps) (D Phillipps)
Our next meeting in Llangoed Village Hall will be on Monday wedi dianc a chytrefu sawl glan afon a llawer o dir llaith. Mae’n 16 September when we will have Stroma Pallett from Castle tyfu mewn clystyrau dwys sy’n atal twf llystyfiant brodorol. Gardens in Beaumaris talking about unusual plants. Julie Wrth iddo farw yn yr hydref mae’n gadael glannau afon heb Williamson will be with us on 21 October; she is a soil expert, lystyfiant ac yn agored i erydiad. so get your questions ready for her! We look forward to Mae Menter Môn wedi bod yn gweithio ag asiantaethau eraill welcoming old and new members back again in the autumn. ar raglen difodiad ers 2004 ac mae’r canlyniadau yn amlwg. Y For more information please ring Ann Donlan, Secretary on ffyrdd gorau o gael gwared ar Jac y Neidiwr yw drwy eu tynnu 07919 031403 or Jean Whitehead, Chairman, on 01248 â llaw a’u strimio. Lle bo ardal ddwys o Jac y Neidiwr, strimio 490813. yw’r dewis gorau ac mae tynnu â llaw yn ddelfrydol yn yr
(Keith Whitehead) ardaloedd llai hygyrch. Mae gan hadau Jac y Neidiwr fywyd o ddwy flynedd yn y pridd felly bydd angen eu tynnu fwy nag
unwaith. CWLWM SEIRIOL: RHYWOGAETHAU ESTRON Mae prosiect Cwlwm Seiriol angen eich help chi i gael gwared GORESGYNNOL/INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES ar y Jac y Neidiwr sy’n tyfu ar hyd glannau Afon Brenin yn Rhywogaethau Estron Goresgynnol: mae Rhywogaethau Llangoed ac amryw o leoedd eraill yn Ward Seiriol. Mae nifer Estron Goresgynnol (INNS) yn broblem mewn amgylcheddau o sesiynau’n cael eu trefnu ar hyn o bryd a bydd y wybodaeth naturiol oherwydd eu bod yn fygythiad i fywyd gwyllt brodorol. ynglŷn ag amseroedd a lleoedd yn cael ei chyhoeddi ar Mae’r INNSs hyn yn achosi niwed i fywyd gwyllt brodorol mewn dudalen Facebook Cwlwm Seiriol ac ar hysbysfyrddau lleol. sawl ffordd. Pan fo rhywogaeth newydd ac ymosodol yn cael Os ydych yn awyddus i gael gwybod mwy, cysylltwch â ni ei chyflwyno i’r ecosystem, efallai nad oes iddi ysglyfaethwyr drwy anfon e-bost at [email protected] neu neu reolwyr naturiol. Gall rhywogaethau goresgynnol hefyd ffonio 01248 725710. altro helaethder neu amrywiaeth rhywogaethau sy’n gynefin pwysig ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt brodorol. Invasive Non-native Species: Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) are a problem in the natural environment because they Mae Menter Môn, partner arweiniol prosiect Cwlwm Seiriol, pose a threat to native wildlife. These INNSs cause harm to wedi chwarae rôl flaenllaw mewn llawer o brosiectau native wildlife in many ways. When a new and aggressive cadwraeth ar yr Ynys dros yr 20 mlynedd ddiwethaf. species is introduced into an ecosystem, it may not have any Ysgogodd y prosiect Gwiwer Goch tuag at ddiwedd y 1990au. natural predators or controls. Invasive species can also alter Y wiwer goch yw un o’r mamaliaid brodorol sydd fwyaf mewn the abundance or diversity of species that are important perygl yn y DU. Mae wedi dirywio’n ddramatig dros y ganrif habitat for native wildlife. ddiwethaf o ganlyniad i golli cynefin llydanddail a dylanwad gwiwerod llwyd, sy’n cario firws angheuol i wiwerod coch. Yn Menter Môn, the lead partner in the Cwlwm Seiriol project, has 2015, datganwyd bod Ynys Môn yn "rhydd rhag gwiwerod played a leading role in many conservation projects on the llwyd" ar ôl difa’r anifeiliaid i ddiogelu gwiwerod coch brodorol Island over the past 20 years. It instigated the red squirrel yr ynys. Mae cael gwared ar wiwerod llwyd o Ynys Môn wedi project towards the end of the 1990s. The red squirrel is one
[email protected] 3 OF 8 The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 of the most endangered native mammals in the UK. It has moment to gasp before the jets fanned out and blasted past declined dramatically over the past century as a result of loss right over our heads! of broadleaf habitat and the influence of grey squirrels, which Almost as spectacular, I think, are the aerial displays provided carry a virus that is fatal to red squirrels. In 2015, Anglesey by 'parties' of wild swifts (apus apus) which can be seen every was declared "grey squirrel free" after the animals were culled summer over Beaumaris, Menai Bridge and other towns and to protect the island’s native red squirrels. The eradication of villages in North Wales. These amazing migrant birds arrive grey squirrels from Anglesey has heralded the dramatic from southern Africa in May to breed and are gone again by recovery of the red squirrel population. Menter Môn has also early August. Their fleeting visits, such a symbol of summer, helped to re-establish otters in Anglesey’s rivers and wetlands, are packed with activity, but we are privileged to see them only which are particularly good habitats. from time to time – as they fly high above us, dark silhouettes The American mink was introduced into Britain in the 1920s in a clear sky, or as they speed past us at much lower levels, for fur farming – but many escaped into the wild. They have between buildings, in a group or party, screaming their high- been blamed for decimating populations of lapwings and water pitched call as they approach their nest-sites. These are the voles. The water vole project launched by Menter Môn on the Black Arrows! island a number of years ago to tackle the problem has Swifts are 16-17cm long, have a wingspan of 42-48cm and received further funding recently. The money will be used to weigh 36-50g. They are a dark, sooty brown all over, but often track and trap minks, while volunteers will be recruited and look black against the sky. If you get a good look, you might trained to monitor riverbanks where mink and other wildlife see their pale throat. The wings are long and narrow, with a live. tail that is slightly forked. They have a piercing, screaming call, Tackling invasive plant species is an ongoing battle on the but they aren’t noisy at the nest. They are remarkable for Island. Himalayan Balsam (impatiens glandulifera) was feeding, drinking, sleeping and even mating in the air.
Swift (apus apus): 16-17cm long; Swallow (hirundo rustica): 17-19cm House martin (delichon urbicum): Sand martin: (riparia riparia): 12cm sooty-brown apart from a pale long; steel blue upperparts and a 13cm long; steel-blue above with a long; brown above, white below throat; forked tail, but not as reddish-brown forehead, chin and white rump and white underparts; it with a narrow brown band on the pronounced as that of the swallow throat; distinctive forked tail has a more 'fluttery' flight than the breast; the smallest of these similar- (via RSPB) (via RSPB) swallow (via RSPB) looking birds (via RSPB) introduced to Britain in 1839 and has since escaped and Swifts spend more time in flight than any other species, rarely colonised many riverbanks and damp ground. It grows in touching down except when coming to their nest sites. If they dense stands which suppress the growth of native vegetation. are grounded, though, they are sometimes unable to take to As it dies down in the autumn it leaves riverbanks bare of the air again and need careful help to become airborne again. vegetation and liable to erosion. Sadly, these fantastic birds are in trouble. In the UK, the Swift Menter Môn has been working with other agencies on an population fell by 51% between 1995 and 2015, with a decline eradication programme since 2004 with noticeable results. in Wales of 69%. With the greenfinch, the swift is now included
Pulling up by hand and strimming are the best methods for on the UK’s Red List of birds that require urgent conservation removing Himalayan balsam. When there is a dense area of action. The reasons for this steep decline are complex, but balsam, strimming is the preferred option with hand pulling include changes to the swift’s food supply in the UK and ideal in the more inaccessible areas. Himalayan balsam seeds Africa. There has been much in the news recently about the drastic drop in insect populations. Equally important is the loss have a life of two years in the soil so repeat pulls are necessary. of available nest sites. Their natural tree, cave and cliff nest The Cwlwm Seiriol project needs your help to remove the sites are rare in the UK, so for many centuries swifts have Himalayan Balsam growing along the banks of the River depended almost exclusively on buildings. Brenin in Llangoed and various other places in the Seiriol Ward. A number of sessions are currently being organised and Typically they use sites high up under the eaves, in ventilators the information regarding times and places will be made and other available cavities. They pair for life and tend to known through the Cwlwm Seiriol Facebook page and on local return to the same nest sites year after year. Many have been notice boards. losing these nest-sites, however, due to improved maintenance of properties and changes in building If you’re interested in finding out please contact us by e- regulations. In addition, modern building methods have mailing [email protected] or telephoning provided fewer new alternatives. 01248 725710. Action is now being taken to try and save our swifts. Artificial (Delyth Phillipps) nest boxes are being installed by volunteers, and as an
integral part of new buildings; there’s more information on the Swift Conservation website. Thanks to willing hosts, since NATURE NOTES: OUR SWIFTS ARE IN CRISIS 2014 the North Wales Wildlife Trust has helped to put up more I wonder how many readers remember the Red Arrows than 300 swift boxes on houses, schools, community buildings coming to Beaumaris? Their sudden low-level arrival out of the and health centres, chapels, cafés, theatres and university Nant Ffrancon was so spectacular that spectators just had a buildings. They are also protecting threatened sites and
The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 4 OF 8 www.facebook.com/groups/llangoed monitoring swift activity and site was secured from the numbers. Many new nest- Welsh Government’s Rural boxes are now being used, Community Development but it may take several years Fund (RCDF) in 2017, and before the swifts adopt them. the purchase was finally completed in August 2018. If you would like to help in any way, contact the North The renovation works were Wales the North Wales funded mainly by the Isle of Wildlife Trust by telephone Anglesey Charitable Trust (01248 351541) or via the and the National Lottery Trust’s website. Community Fund. The scale of the renovation work was Swift Conservation: keeping not apparent until work the skies alive The old Village Hall in January 2018, when it was still in use... https://swift-conservation. started, and additional works, org/ including upgrading the power supply and heating North Wales Wildlife Trust: system were funded by a Wildlife Conservation: A swift grant from the National Grid recovery and from the sale of the old https://www.northwales Village Hall in December wildlifetrust.org.uk/our- 2018. A grant from the projects/swift-conservation Garfield Weston Foundation -conservation-project paid for works to make the (Roz Hattey) building accessible for all abilities. Additional grant aid
and donations from local
NEUADD BENTREF suppliers have been used for ...and the new Village Hall in April 2019...what a difference! decorating materials, fittings LLANDDONA VILLAGE and furniture, and local ALL THE RAND H : G volunteers were busy OPENING, 13 JULY 2019 cleaning and decorating as Five years after closing its soon as the building works doors to pupils, Llanddona’s finished. old primary school has taken The Grand Opening was on a new lease of life as marked by a parade led by Neuadd Bentref Llanddona Beaumaris Brass Band, Village Hall. The Grand starting at the old Village Hall, Opening took place on next door to the Owain Saturday 13 July 2019, a Glyndŵr pub, and finishing at successful and impressive yr Hen Ysgol where there event that was attended by was a ceremonial cutting of Beaumaris Brass Band leading the procession from the old to the new! over two hundred people. the ribbon by former pupils of Here’s the story in a yr Hen Ysgol. nutshell...the former primary Neuadd Bentref Llanddona school, yr Hen Ysgol, has Village Hall been undergoing renovation http://llanddonavillagehall. works since being bought by co.uk the community last year. https://www.facebook.com/ Although the closure in 2014 llanddonavillagehall/ was a huge blow to the (Jean Matthews) village, it has presented a more cost-effective opportunity to get better POPPY CARDS: facilities for the community, COMMEMORATING THOSE being a larger building with Such a gathering...the Grand Opening was certainly well-attended... LOST IN THE SECOND off-road parking and a playground and field that are WORLD WAR ideal for community events. Last year we put out Poppy The old village hall was in a Cards for all the men on the dilapidated condition, and the Llangoed War Memorial who Village Hall Committee had were lost in the Great War. been fundraising since 2011 We also put out Poppy Cards to rebuild on the same site for the men lost in the until the village school closed. Second World War, 1939- The Committee met Isle of 1945. This year it will be 80 Anglesey CC, which agreed years since the outbreak of not to put the building up for the Second World War and sale on the open market to we hope to remember them
give the group chance to find The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Ben, with Joshua, Oliver, Thomas, again, and are asking for your the funds to buy the building. Chloë, Amy and Ayisha; all were pupils at yr Hen Ysgol when it closed in help: do any of The Puffin’s Eventually funding to buy the 2014 (A Perrott) readers know anything more
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about the men listed below? Mildenhall in England. He
Llangoed: and his father owned their own aeroplane, a de Leading Aircraftman John Havilland D.H.80A Puss Jones, RAF, whose address Moth; during the war he flew was Coedwig Terrace, rocket-launched fighters (they Llangoed. He attended were launched from CAM Beaumaris Grammar School ships, but usually had to ditch and died in Indonesia in June in the sea), and achieved the 1945, aged 29. What was his first 'kill' by a rocket-launched profession before fighter. One account says volunteering with the RAF? that his Hawker Hurricane Was he a skilled engineer? crashed on the beach at Driver Owen Roberts, Royal Llanddona. He is not on the
Army Service Corps, was Llanddona War Memorial. brought up in Llangoed, and Hair-raising, to say the least...a Hawker Hurricane IA being launched from a Does anybody know or CAM ship at Greenock, Scotland (Imperial War Museum) married Myfanwy from remember anything about this Llanddona. He died in May incident? It seems to have 1940, aged 28, and is buried been cloaked in secrecy. in Llangoed churchyard CAM ships: CAM (catapult where he has the typical aircraft merchant) ships were Commonwealth War Graves World War II-era British Commission (CWGC) white merchant ships used in headstone. He is on neither convoys as an emergency the Llangoed nor Llanddona stop-gap until sufficient escort War Memorials. What was his carriers became available. In address in Llangoed? total, there were nine combat Llanddona: launches: nine German
Cpl Robert Roberts, Royal aircraft were destroyed (four Focke-Wulf Fw200 Condors, Artillery, who died on 30 May one by Lt Everett, four 1940 at Dunkirk, aged 38. Heinkels and a Junkers The son of John and Grace 28 October 2018: the spectacular and poignant cascade of thousands of Ju88), one damaged and Roberts, possibly of Ysgubor knitted and crocheted poppies at St Eleth's Church, Amlwch (A Perrott) three chased away. Eight Ddegwm, he was married to Hurricanes ditched in the sea Jane from Menai Bridge and and only one pilot was lost. they had several children. If it’s the same man, I have Please help! These men may been told that he actually have been a family member served with the Royal or somebody your parents or Engineers and volunteered grandparents talked about. for a 'Mission Impossible'. I Contact me on 01248 490594 was told also that he would or e-mail balaklava54@ have been the best man for hotmail.co.uk. such a job. (Bridget Geoghegan) He died on the beach at
Dunkirk and is buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery in 'AUNTIE ANNIE': 100 Belgium, just over the border YEARS OLD LAST MONTH! from Dunkirk. He is on the
Llanddona War memorial, but 22 July 2019: 'Auntie Annie' chatting about her life with Will, her nephew, Last month, The Puffin’s is not on that for Menai and the The Puffin’s Editorial Team, at Haulfre, Llangoed (A Perrott) Editorial Team went to visit Bridge. Does anybody know Annie Davies at Haulfre in anything more about this Llangoed. Known and loved man? I believe that he may as 'Auntie Annie', she have family still in the area. celebrated her centenary on 27 July with a grand party at Lt Robert William Hanmer Llangoed Village Hall, with Everett DSO RNVR, buried family, friends, staff from in Llanddona churchyard with Haulfre and people from the a CWGC white headstone. village. He was born in Australia, and was a bit of an adventurer; he Annie was born in Penmon won the Grand National once on 27 July 1919, just after the (1929, on Gregalach), and end of the Great War of the Irish Grand National 1914-1918. She started (1934, on Poolgowran). The school at Penmon Church following year, he and Jimmy School, and moved to Melrose were second on Llangoed when she was six
handicap in the Melbourne During the Second World War Annie Davies was a welder at Saunders Roe, years old. Owen Williams, Centenary Air Race from Fryars, and did all of the aluminium welding on the UK’s first aluminium- one of the Editorial Team, Melbourne, Australia, to alloy motor torpedo boat, P1602 (A Perrott) has known Annie for years;
The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 6 OF 8 www.facebook.com/groups/llanddona the two families had lived across the road from one another for vegetation comprises a mixture of acid- and lime-tolerant some years. plants in close association, often as a complex mosaic with tussocks of low ericaceous shrubs such as heather, bell What is Annie’s secret of living to 100? Working hard, keeping heather (erica cinerea) or western gorse interspersed with in good health and helping others. Annie 'did for herself' at such lime-loving plants as the common rockrose home until she was 95, when she had a nasty fall – all the way (helianthemum nummularium) and thyme (thymus praecox). downstairs – which put her in hospital for a while. Quite by This juxtaposition of calcicole (lime-loving) and calcifuge (lime- chance her nephew, Will, had called round earlier than usual hating) plants appears to be related to thin deposits of drift or and had found her, which was very lucky. wind blown silt (loess) partially masking the underlying What a difference the war made to the lives of a lot of women! limestone rock, but the balance is a delicate one in which management by grazing and burning has also played a role. Annie trained as a welder, and was a welder for ten years at the Saunders Roe factory at Fryars, just outside Beaumaris, The heath is accompanied by a small area of sheeps fescue starting during the war. At 23 years old she went to Cardiff (festuca ovina), meadow oat-grass (avenula pratensis), with her friend to train for six weeks, living in lodgings while grassland of the dicranum scoparium subcommunity and she was there. They were told by their landlady that 'we had to patches of sheep fescue, carline thistle(carlina vulgaris) and take you in, but we didn’t want you'! grassland of the crested hair-grass (koeleria macrantha) subcommunity. Associated She was asked whether species include quaking she’d like to train as a welder grass (briza media), glaucous and said 'yes' without sedge (carex flacca) and knowing what was involved, spring squill (scilla verna). and became an aluminium Fringing areas of scrub welder, no mean feat for a provide sheltered conditions trained engineer let alone a for grazing stock and nest for a novice with only a few sites for birds. weeks’ training! A part of the training was the submission Rare species include wild of test samples of welding to onion (allium vineale), make sure that it was done to columbine (aquilegia the correct standard. vulgaris), mountain everlasting (antennaria She was asked whether dioica), small scabious she’d like to train as a welder (scabiosa columbaria), and said 'yes' without fragrant orchid (gymnadenia knowing what was involved, Ashworth’s rustic moth (xestia ashworthii) is a localised species, occurring conopsea), autumn lady’s- and became an aluminium only in the mountainous regions of North Wales, where it inhabits slate and tresses (spiranthese spiralis) welder, no mean feat for a limestone hills; its wingspan is 35-40mm (via https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/ species/) and pale flax (linum bienne). trained engineer, let alone a novice with only a few weeks’ training! A part of the training The site also supports a diverse range of invertebrates, was the submission of test samples of welding to make sure including molluscs and a number of uncommon insects, such that it was done to the correct standard. as the weevil (otiorhynchus desertus) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), Ashworth’s rustic moth (xestia ashworthii) She went on to become an aluminium welder – 'Annie the (lepidoptera, noctuidae) and the fly cnemacantha muscaria Welder' – starting on aircraft work and progressing to the first (diptera, lauxaniidae). British aluminium-alloy MTB (motor torpedo boat), P1602, on which she did all of the aluminium welding. On completion, The management regime for the land is based on the following P1602 travelled from Fryars to Menai Bridge pier with a host of principles: the heathland was once much more extensive and workers, including Annie, on board; they had to return by bus. has suffered from neglect through a lack of grazing. In much of She loved welding, and worked on buses at the factory after the site where heathland remains, active intervention is the war. required to halt natural succession to scrub by the use of
Annie loves living at Haulfre, enjoys her family, many of whom grazing. Before this can occur considerable scrub clearance needs to be undertaken. live nearby. She’s living life to the full, likes people, talking to them and helping them, keeping busy all the while. Her Subsequent to scrub clearance some vegetation burning may message to the young is...live happily, work hard and help be required to initially remove litter and then burn off scrub others. We hope that Annie enjoyed our chat with her as much regrowth. Burning has been an important tool in management as we did, and we wish her all the very best for the future. of heaths, but wholesale or over-frequent burning will
(Andrew Perrott, John Briggs, Owen Williams) impoverish the invertebrate fauna. Controlled patch burns may
be used to maintain sward suitable for grazing animals, but no more than 25% of the site should be burnt in any one year.
LLANGOED: MARIANDYRYS NATURE RESERVE Grassland is a product of grazing. Abandonment of the
Managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT), eastern area has led to scrub invasion and coarse grass Llangoed’s very own Wildlife Trust reserve is to be found at development. Scrub clearance using mechanical methods the top of Glanrafon Hill, and is of special interest for its (tractor-mounted flail or brushcutter) around the edges of the grassland and heathland communities. existing grassland will seek to increase its extent. In areas inaccessible to mechanical clearance, such as along the cliff It occupies a south-facing escarpment on carboniferous faces, the patches of grassland may be increased through limestone which forms a prominent feature in the landscape of cutting by hand. To halt the re-establishment of scrub a south-east Anglesey and encompasses a small disused suitable grazing regime needs to be established. Rabbits can quarry. contribute to the maintenance of grassland vegetation, but the
Mariandyrys supports a rare example of heather (calluna assistance of larger animals is required to penetrate coarse vegetation. vulgaris), western gorse (ulex gallii),and heath of the salad burnet sanguisorba minor sub-community. This remarkable In order of preference the recommended livestock employed
[email protected] 7 OF 8 The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 to graze the heathland and HMS Thetis (N25) was a grassland are ponies and Group 1 T-class submarine cattle. which served under two names. The reserve is a registered common (rights of estover), Under her first identity, HMS used by local people for Thetis, she commenced sea recreation. Interpretation is trials on 4 March 1939, aimed primarily at this group sinking during trials on 1 June through the discrete use of 1939 with the loss of 99 lives. on-site panel(s) and/or She was built by Cammell leaflets and information on Laird at its Birkenhead yard, the NWWT’s website, as can and launched on 29 June a detailed map of how to find 1938. After completion, trials it.
eventually started in Liverpool If you have not yet had the My grandfather, Andrew Wasem, in front of the beached HMS Thetis at Bay. As well as her normal Traeth Bychan, where she was grounded on 3 September 1939 (A Perrott) chance to visit this wonderful complement of 59 men she site then please do so! The views are extraordinary! The was carrying technical observers from Cammell Laird and NWWT is always looking for volunteers and new members to other naval personnel, a total of 103 men. During trials, an help our wonderful Mariandyrys and its many other reserves to unfortunate combination of circumstances caused her bow to flourish. If you have any interest please contact us via our sink to the seabed 150' (46m) below the surface. Although her website. stern remained on the surface, only four men escaped before the rest were overcome by carbon dioxide poisoning caused North Wales Wildlife Trust https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/ by the crowded conditions, the increased atmospheric pressure and a delay of 20 hours before the evacuation (Chris Wynne, Prif Rheolwr Gwarchodfeydd/Senior Reserves started. Manager, Joanne Hurley, Membership Recruitment) She was salvaged, repaired and recommissioned as HMS
Thunderbolt, serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean HMS THETIS AND HER CONNECTION WITH ANGLESEY theatres until she was lost with all hands on 14 March 1943.
th This makes her one of the few military vessels to have been 3 September 2019 will mark the 70 anniversary of the lost twice with their crews in their service history. declaration of war on Germany by the UK and France, a war that lasted almost exactly six years. (Andrew Perrott)
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
THE EDITORIAL TEAM GENERAL INFORMATION AND PUBLICATION DATES
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SOME USEFUL CONTACTS
Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 917 7650 Post Office: customer helpline 0345 611 2970 Beaumaris Health Centre 01248 810818 McColl’s, Llangoed 01248 490056 Beaumaris Leisure Centre 01248 811200 Spar, Beaumaris 01248 810326 Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water: National Gas Emergency Service 0800 111 999 water services and emergencies 0800 052 0130 NHS (NHS Direct closed in 2014): sewerage services and emergencies 0800 085 3968 for non-emergency medical help 111 reporting a leak 0800 281 432 Police: non-emergency 111 Electricity (SP Energy Networks): Police Community Support Officer: information about power cuts 0800 001 5400 Teleri Jones 07814 646320 Floodline 0345 988 1188 RSPCA 01407 720743 Isle of Anglesey County Council: 01248 750057 Samaritans: Beaumaris library 01248 810659 English language 116123 Children’s Services 01248 752722 Welsh language 0808 164 0123 missed waste collections 01248 752860 Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital 01248 384384
The Puffin ISSUE 28 AUGUST 2019 8 OF 8 Printed by Gwasg y Bwthyn, 01286 672018