Gorffennaf 2004 July
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In an age where we have grown used to very little running to schedule, and projects going wildly over budget, the contractors who carried out the repairs to the bridge are to be congratulated on both the quality of their stone work am the speed of repair. The original road closure was estimated at three weeks but the repairs were completed in four days, probably due to their innovative use of a ‘cherry picker’ hoist which meant no time was wasted in erecting scaffolding.
If only we could motivate the County Council to act as quickly regarding the road signs showing where Carrog begins and ends. This is especially important now that we have twinned with Plouyé. Perhaps our new Councillors, community and county will assist?
On the subject of who reads “Y Bont” we have some very positive feedback from several politicians but in terms of the things we have campaigned for, to benefit the local community, response has been: speed limit on the A5 through Llidiart y Parc - three letters in support. Village signs showing where Carrog is - no support or opposition. Reducing the weight limit on the bridge - ditto. Housing in the village - ditto. You all have the chance to use “Y Bont” as an influence to benefit the Community and express your opinions. How do we expect, as a community, to be taken seriously by politicians if no opinions, positive or negative, are expressed by people in the Community. Send contribu tions by e-mail to editor: ybont.deevalley.com or telephone 430397, 430625 or 430558.
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Pupils in Carrog School were asked to write stories about local places and legends.
Lauren Bourne chose to write this story about how Nant y Morwynion (Ladies Brook) came to be called so:
“Long, long ago, In the times of knights and dragons, there did live a fair lord, by the name of Dewi. Now, Lord Dewi, he was a widower, but he didn’t live alone. He lived with three fair maids, who answered to the names of Moli, Holi and Poli.
These maids had served Dewi’s father and his father before, so as you have probably gathered, they were quite old! Dewi’s hobby was hunting, and out hunting he was one dark night when a storm, blew up! “OH” said Moll, “Let’s prepare a fine meal”. “OH” said Holi, “let’s brush the floor”. “OH” said Poli, “let’s polish the windows”.
So, they got to their jobs, when Holi let out a scream... “Aaaaaaah, dwr, water, HELP”. The two girls followed with childish SCREAMS. Poli flung open the door and let in a wave of water. The three girls were thrown against the wall and killed. On that sorrowful day, the mansion crumbled into the now rushing stream. They say it is still there now. And that’s the story of Nant y Morwynion.”
Lauren
Bourne.
Year 6. Ysgol Carrog
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The junior pupils enjoyed a visit to Theatr Clwyd to see a production of The Mabinogion and took part in a drama workshop.
Molly Bourne and Roman Whitehall represented the school in the County Road Safety conference in the Faenol Fawr.
As part of the Gwyl Glyndwr festival Carrog School were joined by Glyndyfrdwy School for a session with the environmental artist Tim Pugh. They were shown slides of Tim’s work in Wales and Tasmania and then all the children created their own work using natural materials found in the school grounds.
As part of the History project K.S.2 pupils visited Caer Gai near Bala and were given an interesting talk by Bill Matthews.
Welcome to Imogen Cussack who has joined the nursery and will be full time in September.
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Everyone knows that the word ‘glas’ means the word ‘blue’ in English but when it appears in a place or house name it invariably means ‘green’ i.e., Glasfryn, also in the word ‘glaswellt’ meaning grass or more from literally ‘green straw’. ‘Glas’ can also mean ‘silver’ or ‘grey’, ‘gleision’.
According to the definition in the dictionary the word or name ‘Glesni’ means ‘blueness’ or ‘verdure’ which translates back into Welsh as ‘gwyrddlesni’, yet again including the colour ‘green’. In Gaelic the word is ‘glass’ which always means ‘green’.
The word ‘glas’ in Welsh can also be used to describe something or someone who is young, new or immature e.g., the first week for new students in College is described as ‘Wythnos y Glas’, ‘Fresher’s Week’.
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Work on Carrog Bridge proceeding with the aid of the ‘cherry picker’. The picture also reveals the original bed of the roadway and the immense thickness of tarmacadam which has built up over the years.
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Marion and Cyril Brown cut their cake at the party held for them in the Village Hall to celebrate 60 years of married bliss.
Many thanks to them for sponsoring this edition of “Y Bont”.
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At the AGM held on Monday 21st June 2004 the following officers were appointed:
Chairman - Ian Lebbon
Vice Chairman - Paul Fisher
Treasurer - Cohn Roberts
Assistant Treasurer - Jayne Davies
Secretary - Janice Sheasby
Assistant Secretary - Valmai Webb
Booking Secretary - Janice Sheasby
Assistant Booking Secretary - Janet Jones.
Matters discussed, relating to the building, included the replacement of the kitchen window which has rotted. New chairs which can be stacked on a trolley, curtains for windows and doors and a better canopy for the patio area.
Other matters raised were our pricing policy re hire of the Village Hall and the forthcoming charity auction. A very detailed Treasurers Report revealed that on 31St March 2003 the Village Hall accounts held £1,748 and on 1st April this year there was a total of £2,689. The increase included £500 left to the Village Hall by Mrs Fanning.
Next meeting Monday 16th August 2004 at 7.00pm.
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An open meeting for all residents of Carrog and LLidiart y Parc will be held in the Autumn to elect a committee and to consider the following rules for the Association:
1. Membership of the Association is open to all residents of Carrog and Llidiart Y Parc free of charge.
2. All members shall have the right to enjoy and benefit from any activities or visits involving Carrog and Plouyé.
3. The Association shall be a not for profit organisation and all funds shall be used for the benefit of the Association and its members.
4. Any funds shall be administered by duly elected officers consisting of a chairman, secretary, treasurer and committee, but all members shall have the right to attend meetings and to vote.
In the meantime Jayne Davies has agrees to act as Treasurer and look after the £200 left over from the Twinning Hog Roast.
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Mr and Mrs Bill Farr £20.00
Nia Roberts £10.00
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A final reminder the Carnival/Summer Fayre will be held on the 14th August.
There will be stalls, miniature train, bouncy castle, the vegetable and flower show and much more.
This years Queen is Angaharad Roberts attended by Lauren Bourne, Molly Westbury, Elishia Nash and Page Boy Oliver Knight.
The Rev. Bethan Scotford will carry out the crowning. The procession will start from Carrog Station at 1.30 p.m. for the crowning at 2.00 p.m.
In the evening there will be a bar and refreshments and Salsa Music with an instructor who will teach the steps to the dances.
Please support this event as all the profit is donated to Village Charities.
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Garden Opening / Tibetan Refugee Children
Max and Betty Gibbs held a very successful garden open day to raise funds for for Tibetan Refugee Children. Although the day was rather wet, a total of £814 was raised which will enable the continued support of two children and a contribution to an SOS Tibetan Children’s Refugee Village in Nepal.
This has been an annual event which is not only well worth supporting but gives us all a chance to see the truly remarkable gardens which Max and Betty have created with plants and designs from all parts of the world.
They both send their thanks to all who came to the gardens but particularly to those who contributed their assistance and support in raffle gifts and goods to sell.
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The times of service are now available in the Grouse, at the Caravan Site and on the Church Notice Board.
The May Fayre Coffee Evening at Greenacres raised £489.00. Many thanks to all that supported the event.
The Health and Beauty Evening was well attended with over 60 people. Many thanks to those who gave their time and expertise to make the evening such a success. In excess of £350 was raised.
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Chronic backache, severe sunburn and a bad case of humour loss all added up to another shearing in the Llan. For a few days I spent my time wrestling with sheep, endevouring to remove their jackets without losing any of my fingers. When you watch the professionals it looks easy. However, if you watch me you realise how hard it is.
The rain came at long last although it was a case of too little too late for me and now I wish it would dry up and let me get on with the harvest. We had a few problems this month when David Blair’s bullocks decided to swim the river and introduce themselves to mine. We spent a morning trying to get them home but they didn’t seem keen to go. At one point four of them vaulted the fence into Ty Mawr and the rest decided they couldn’t be bothered jumping and took the more direct route straight through my fence onto the road oh, how I laughed! Fortunately we got them back into the field without too much trouble. However, they still would not cross the river back to Pen y Bont. I was just about to admit defeat when Paul Fisher arrived on the scene. I don’t know what he said to them but they promptly turned tail and dived into the river and swam home taking one of my bullocks with them (once again I take one step forward and one back).
Having found a few lambs maggoting last week, I decided I’d better dip. The chemical used is marvellous stuff, it kills ticks, keds, lice, scab and the poor sod using it if they’re not careful. So dressed like an astronaut I dipped the ewes and lambs which should protect them for a while and give me peace of mind if I ever do get to the harvest and can’t get round them.
Oh, incidentally the shed is still not finished!
Gareth
Llan.
© Gareth Bryan - 2004
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Walling is not confined to the east end of the village.
We note substantial wall restoration that has recently been built in west Carrog. Our compliments to the stonemason who has recently completed a wall outside Glasfryn.
Rumours that the laying of every stone was contemplated at length and accompanied by a cup of tea and/or a bottle of lager have not been substantiated.
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Cynwyd Bowling Club
Will be holding a social evening
on Friday 23rd July at Neuadd Carrog at 7.00 p.m.
Tickets are £5 adult
and £3.00 for children inclusive of entertainment
and buffet.
“Y Bont” Benefit Bash
Come and celebrate our first birthday in Village Hall, Carrog, on Saturday
2nd October when there will be a Hot Pot supper and an evening of entertainment.
Charity Auction
This will be held on Saturday 16th October 2004 at 1.00 p.m. with viewing
form 11.00 a.m.
As previously stated all profits will go to the
Village Hall and Carrog Church so if you have any items you no longer use
lease let Paul Fisher know on 430 397 or any member of the Parochial Church
Council or Village Hall Committee.
Also if you are willing to assist prior to and/or on the day of the
auction the organisers would be very grateful.
The County Council are running a play scheme during the summer at the Neuadd every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon 1.30 to 3.30 from 20 July to 19 August at the Village Hall.
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Anyone wishing to publish a short congratulatory message regarding the achievements of students may do so at the cost of £1. Messages should arrive with the editors no later than 20th July.
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Pictured together with their student teacher from Italy are the Year Six pupils who leave at the end of this term. Back row from left: Isobell Cardwell, Erica Brossa, Angaharad Roberts and Lauren Bourne, Front: Sean Allan and Gus Shaw. We wish all of them well for the future.
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Opinions expressed in letters submitted to “Y Bont” are purely those of the writers, but the editors reserve the right to edit letters submitted.
Dear Editor,
A Village is for life not just for Christmas.
Carrog is a small welsh village situated in the Dee Valley, a beautiful place
to be, or so it has been described recently. A village that has been here
and supported a community since Owain Glyndwr first locked up an invader in
Carchardy.
The little village has a thriving pub, a fantastic village hail, a successful
school, three active places of worship. Until recently it had a general
store and post office, a beating heart in the community, but sadly this heart
has stopped, the shop is no more.
The pub thrives in summer time, but what about winter? Visitors are rare
and local trade is limited. Carrog isn’t so popular when the days draw in.
The school has sufficient pupils at the moment to keep it going and has
the right staff doing an excellent job. But what are the predictions for the
next few years? There is limited space for young blood in Carrog to keep the
School going.
There is talk of building new properties on Cae’r Efail, this will bring
new life to the village, a shot in the arm which it needs to keep or attract
new population and discourage outward migration. Promise for the future maybe?
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have 11 more families in the village. By the
law of averages, that would be 22 more adults and 22 more children. The school
would welcome the possibility of having 22 potential pupils. That would keep
it going, and guarantee the high standard of education supplied.
What if the General store and Post office had 11 more families to serve?
Would the doors still be closed? What if the church and chapels had a few
more bodies in their congregation? Would they then be at risk of following
the same fate as Carchardy? What if the pub had more regulars during the winter
months, would the winter be such a threat? What of Neuadd 2000? A hub in the
community waiting to stretched to its full potential.
But why build new properties and ruin a beautiful meadow to keep the village
going when we already have the housing stock? Why build new when the existing
can be taken away by the auctioneers gavel, when do you stop building to
replace? Will Carrog town centre be a sign of enough?
There are 11 cottages in Carrog that used to be family homes, 11 more families
contributing to the community, 11 more families feeding the school, shop,
pub and hall. Where are these cottages now? They now form part of someone
else’s
suburbia, they are now part of someone else’s community, but they are
still here. Empty and bar ren to the community, they have become holiday homes.
Busy usually at Christmas and a few other select weekends during the year.
These homes are quietly engulfing our community. Would Carrog be such an
attractive place with no school, no pub, no hall, no community spirit, just
a faceless vil1e with the occasional “Good moming” as someone greets somebody
who lives here somewhere, sometimes. A challenge for our assembly halt, slow
down, legislate, discourage this erosion of community. Not just on our behalf
but on behalf of all the other communities UK wide that are suffering in this
way.
We await your lead.
Name and address supplied.
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Dear Editor
Carrog somewhere to retire to ...
If the main attraction of Carrog is that of somewhere to retire to, then for once in my life I am not late... in fact I am about 30 years early (more if the government raises the retirement age!).
I first visited Carrog 3 years ago when my dad bought a house here and fell in love with the beauty and tranquillity immediately. He moved into Tawelfa and I have visited many times since: the usual “catch up with family” weekend visits, Christmases and New Year, and a couple of one week holidays. The visits became more frequent and various things occurred concerning family that made me realise that it was time I moved back to Wales; after all I was in danger of having lived in a foreign country (England) for longer than time spent in my homeland! Fate was at work whilst I was thinking all this, as a suitable job was advertised in Wrexham which I applied for and was successful in getting. This meant I had to find somewhere to live. However I also had to make my house in Sheffield habitable for other people before leaving... I had only lived in it for 4 years so there were one or two outstanding jobs e.g., a new kitchen, replastering and decorating. This meant the last couple of months were spent doing DIY, not really leaving me any time to find a place to live in Wales.
So Dad offered his spare room (on a temporary basis he keeps telling me) whilst I look for a house to buy. (Am I really too old to be living with a parent? They all do it on Eastenders...). The problem is now I really like living in Carrog, yes, it is “very quiet” (if you don’t consider the sound of birds, sheep, cows, school children, events in the village hall, church bells, steam train, etc.). I would say peaceful; I can go walking and cycling in stunning countryside straight from the house; it has a pub that serves a decent pint of Guinness and excellent food; people are friendly; and the drive to work only takes 10 minutes longer than in Sheffield, but is 15 miles further. The only disappointment is the closure of the village shop. Sheffield is a wonderful city and I really enjoyed living there for 10 years, but I felt worn out by city life and spent a lot of time escaping to the Peak District or coming to Wales for weekends. Carrog has much more appeal as a place to live after a hard day’s work.
Ruth Price.
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© All material is Copyright of “Y Bont” unless otherwise indicated at the end of the article
© All material is Copyright of “Y Bont” unless otherwise indicated at the end of the article