Local Interest Community News Events Diddordebau Ileol Newyddion Cymunedol Digwyddiadau FREE Sibrydion (Priceless) Cymunedol Feb–Mar 2019 Issue 62 Photo: Mark Kendall – photo of Betty Crowther in Ynys Maengwyn Delivered free to homes in villages: Pick up a copy in: Arthog, Penmaenpool, Fairbourne, Friog, Llwyngwril, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Rhoslefain, Llanegryn, Llanelltyd, Bontddu, Corris, Tywyn, Pennal, Aberdyfi, Dinas Abergynolwyn, Taicynhaeaf. Mawddwy, Bala, Harlech, Dyffryn (Volunteers also deliver in: Dinas Mawddwy, Tywyn, Ardudwy, Llanbedr Dyffryn Ardudwy, Harlech, Bala, Brithdir, Talybont) Ready to get moving? Ask us for a FREE property valuation Dolgellau – 01341 422 278 Barmouth – 01341 280 527 Machynlleth – 01654 702 571 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] TRUSTED, LOCALLY & ONLINE www.walterlloydjones.co.uk When you think about selling your home please contact Welsh Property Services. ‘A big thank you to you both from the bottom of my heart, I so appreciate your care, your professionalism, your support, your kindness, your dogged persistence….I could go on! Amazing’ Ann. Dec 18 ‘Thank you for all the help you have given us at this potentially traumatic time. When people say moving house is stress- ful, I will tell them to go to Welsh property Services. You two ladies have been wonderful, caring thoughtful and helpful’ Val. Dec 18 Please give Jo or Jules a call for a free no obligation valuation. We promise to live up to the testimonials above. 01654 710500 2 Sibrydion Sibrydion A life saver Cymunedol I wish a Happy New Year to all of our readers, advertisers and contributors. I hope that 2019 will bring all you hope for to you and yours. I will have the results of the Calendar photographic competition for the next issue. I had anticipated getting it all selected and ready before Christmas, but time was not on my side. It will be ready to start to sell when the Tourist Season kicks off, so please bear with me. Thank you so much to all the readers who so kindly entered their photos. I’m so grateful for your entries. I also realised (and was mortified) that I had missed out a very important group, who need support too, so I will add First Responders to the list of organisations to receive a share of the profits from the calendar. The First Responders are volunteers who try to cover the villages to be available in Debbie Ashton, the event of an emergency where someone has suffered a Heart attack or Editor Cardiac Arrest. They are alerted by the ambulance service after a 999 call, and can make the difference between someone living or dying. The number of volunteers is quite low. There was no one to send to an emergency, which Please note the occurred on New Year’s Eve in Llwyngwril. Luckily a neighbour was present submission and was able to give CPR, which saved a life. That neighbour did what a deadline for content First Responder is trained to do. So a big THANK YOU to Daniel Jones and his in your diary –and partner Sam Melia. supply in good time. Many thanks. If ANYONE feels they are able to volunteer to be a First Responder, it would be invaluable to your community, particularly in Llwyngwril, where we have just one. Please consider volunteering. You have full training and support. Please contact Alan Wilde, in Fairbourne on 01341 250012. Next issue Debbie Ashton – 01341 250884 or [email protected] DEADLINE 10 March Why should YOUR business be in Sibrydion? • Articles, • Advertising, • Events, • Competitions Local (which make great residents’ YOUR advertising too) homes and Sibrydion business Local Interest businesses Diddordebau Ileol Community News Cymunedol Newyddion Cymunedol Events Digwyddiadau FREE Sibrydion (Priceless) Cymunedol Feb–Mar 2019 Issue 62 The vital link to your potential clients in Meirionnydd, south Snowdonia. Advertising Rates (premium = pages 2-5, corresponding back pages & back cover) 1/8 page – £30 / £35 1/6 page – £36 / £45 Contact Debbie Ashton 1/4 page – £50 / £60 1/3 page – £65 / £80 01341 250884 Photo: XXXXXXXX Delivered free to homes in villages: Arthog, Penmaenpool, Fairbourne, Friog, Llwyngwril, Pick up a copy in: 1/2 page – £85 / £100 2/3 page – £130 / £150 [email protected] Rhoslefain, Llanegryn, Llanelltyd, Bontddu, Corris, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Abergynolwyn, Taicynhaeaf. Tywyn, Pennal, Aberdyfi, Dinas (Volunteers also deliver in: Dinas Mawddwy, Tywyn, Mawddwy, Bala, Harlech, Dyffryn Full page – £150 / £185 Back page – £250 Dyffryn Ardudwy, Harlech, Bala, Brithdir, Talybont) Ardudwy, Llanbedr Sibrydion 3 Join us, Singing into Spring! your first session is Come and sing with friendly local singing FREE groups, your first session is FREE ! in Dolgellau in Barmouth in Llanbedr with Swnion, Saturday with Singin’ Wimmin in with Cambrian Coast Singing Workshops every Parlwr Mawr at The Dragon Community Choir in the month with guest teachers. Theatre on Thursdays in newly refurbished Village Details: Hazel 01341 280329 term time at 7.30pm. Hall, every Monday in [email protected] Details from Ann 01341 247382. term time at 7.30pm. [email protected] Details from Ann 01341 247382. in Llwyngwril [email protected] with Singwril on 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month in Criccieth from 7-9pm at Y Ganolfan. with Lleisiau’r Byd / £3/session, including tea World Voices in the and cake! More details from Jerusalem Hall Vestry on [email protected], Wednesdays at 7.30pm. 07815574477 and ‘Singwril’ Details from David 07840 957853. on Facebook. [email protected] Home visits for your convenience Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Put your feet in my hands Carron Roberts Nail care SAC Dip Corns & calluses Qualified & insured Ingrowing toe nails Friendly & reliable Verrucas Full CRB check Competitive rates Diabetic foot health Also Eve & Weekends Athletes foot All equipment sterile Fungal infections Thickened toe nails Based in Dolgellau Cracked heels For appointments call 07909 866287 4 Sibrydion Exciting times for education in Bala Important steps have been taken as part of the £10.27 million community school scheme in Bala. Bethan Emyr Jones has been appointed as the Councillor Gareth Thomas, Gwynedd Council’s strategic head of the 3-18 year old school by the Cabinet Member for Education added: “The Bala Shadow Governing Body of the new school, having area has waited for some time for this significant started her new post in January this year. The scheme and the major investment of over £10 school bringing together primary and secondary million into children’s education in the area. This school pupils in the town of Bala, which will open to will greatly improve the learning environment for pupils in September 2019. the children of the area with additional resources and facilities ensuring that pupils are taught Mrs Jones was previously Head of the Cysgod y on a modern site that offers a suitable learning Foel Federation, which includes Ysgol Ffridd y Llyn environment for the 21st century. and Ysgol Bro Tryweryn in the Penllyn area. During her first months in post, her work will focus on “I’m very pleased that Bethan Emyr Jones has been appointing staff for the new school. appointed as the school’s headteacher. Bethan has years of experience as a headtaecher in the Bethan Emyr Jones said: “It’s an exciting period, Penllyn area and she has also worked as adviser and I’m delighted to have been appointed as the with the GwE education consortium, sharing her school’s headteacher. During the first few months, expertise with staff across the region. I’m sure that the focus will be on interviewing and appointing this background will stand her in good stead as staff for September 2019. I look forward to she leads the development of the new community developing a new school and providing education school that will officially open to the area’s pupils in of the highest standard to the area’s pupils. September.” “I want to create a school that puts children first, The school’s Shadow Governing Body has also that respects and extends all individuals to their recently chosen a name for the school. This follows full potential, a school where pupils enjoy learning. the process of inviting proposals from the schools This in turn will help to develop young people who in the catchment area, and after consideration, the have principles; that are enterprising and ambitious Shadow Governing Body decided that the name of and always give their best. the school will be Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn. “As a community school, our intention is to ensure Gwion Lynch, Chair of the School’s Shadow Governing that the building offers something for everyone. Board said: “I would like to congratulate Bethan Emyr In fact, in the new year the school hall will be used on her appointment as head of Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn as a cinema, and we hope this will ensure that the and I look forward to working with her. area’s residents will see the school as an important resource for the whole community.” Sibrydion 5 This is not another breast cancer survival story… But it is a story of the amazing organisation that helped me to survive having cancer. Debbie Ashton (who we all know and love and has been a great support over the last few years) has was saying Pen Y Bron – bron being the Welsh been nagging me to tell this story so more people word for breast). I got online and looked through in North Wales can learn about and hopefully their website. I then rang them and it was like access this organisation, so here goes… being warmly embraced. The woman I spoke to In February 2016 I received a letter, inviting me to was so nice and calming, so very different from my come for a routine breast screen (mammogram).