Mawrth 2005 March
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THIS MONTHS EDITION IS SPONSORED BY P. & J. V. JONES - FLORISTS AND FRUITERERS
A week, as they say is a long time in politics! On 11th. February 10 local schools including our local school, Carrog School were given the shock news that they were to close in 2006. This news was said to be ‘confidential’ and ‘not to be disclosed until the 15th.’, when there would be a press announcement. Not surprisingly the Press were aware almost immediately and the news very rapidly spread around our community. The reactions that have been reported to us ranged from disgust to outrage and disbelief that such a proposal can have even been contemplated without consultation or understanding of the essential part the school plays in community life.
Public reaction though, has been amazing with literally dozens of letters and calls being made to Councillors, MP’s and Assembly Members. Your editors even toiled over the production of a special edition of “Y Bont” which would publicise the fight even further and be an opportunity to gather everyone’s views. It was very obvious not just parents, pupils and teachers were concerned but every section of our community - as one letter writer put it to Denbighshire’s Chief Executive ‘closing our school will take the heart out of our very rural community - and out of us also’.
The County Council met to consider the proposals at their meeting on 22nd February, a meeting which was marked by a mass protest from all the communities threatened. In the face of this opposition the council has, for the time being, withdrawn it’s proposals, a decision which we welcome, so at least for the time being Carrog School, and other rural schools will continue to provide the excellent community education for which they are renowned.
However, this is not the end, it is only the beginning of the end. There will still be a fight into the future and we shall have to stay vigilant on two fronts. Firstly, this will be an issue to be raised again and secondly it is only one of the ways in which central and local government continue to erode rural life. We have published all the letters received in support of the School even though the threat has temporarily subsided.
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For 9 years there has been a collection bottle on the bar in the Grouse used for various appeals, it has never been touched in that time.
Since Boxing Day it has been used to collect funds for the Carrog Tsunami appeal and had accumulated an estimated £150.
On the evening of Thursday 17th of February it was stolen from the bar and the remains of the bottle and some loose change were found on the Ty Nant Road. A male person who was camping in the village has since been arrested
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The junior children thoroughly enjoyed a visit to Aberdunna Limestone Quarry which had been sponsored by Llangollen Rotary Club. During their day they had a complete tour of the quarry workings, gained hands-on experience of crushing different types of rock and went fossil hunting. One highlight of the day was the chance to sit in the bucket of an enormous JCB rock shovel!
The children have many events planned for the year and all of them will be taking part in the Carrog Tsunami Disaster Fund Concert on Friday 4th. March. At the moment they are filling milk bottles with 1p, 2p, and 5p coins for this cause so if you have any of these to spare please pass them on to the children.
The After School Club has received a grant of £1,564 from the New Opportunities Fund which will be used to purchase more equipment for club use. Dawn Boydell and Sue Hilton are also busy organising craft activities for children attending the club which meets every day other than Thursday.
The PTA Attic Sale was well supported and raised the sum of £118.
And for all of us (of all ages!) who keep losing things, Molly Bourne wrote the poem on the next page whilst searching for the string that she had lost while completing her model.
STRING! A poem by Molly Bourne
It’s a terrible thing when you can’t find
your string,
It leaves you all of a dither,
When you want to tie bows it’s right under
your nose,
But you’re running hither and thither.
It’s a terrible thing when you can’t find
your string,
It leaves you all bothered and hot!
You look red from all sides when your string
goes and hides,
It should be your string that’s tied in a knot!!!
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Individual contributions have now topped the £100 mark but we now have the Variety Show organised by Carrog School and the children are also collecting 1p, 2p and 5p pieces, so if you have any loose change weighing you down the School would be delighted to take the weight off you.
Please remember that although the UK appeal has closed, we are collecting money to be targeted at one particular school and there are many which have still been unable to reopen through lack of funds.
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Members of the Sunday School were eager to help the victims of the Tsunami tragedy, therefore a sponsored bike ride was held on Sunday morning January 30th from the village of Bryneglwys to Carrog. A total of £163.74 was collected, and all members wish to thank everyone who contributed. Well done children!
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Many thanks to the Carnival Committee who have contributed £300 to the Village Hall.
The Coffee morning run by Mrs. R. D. Jones raised £140.55p and the Village Hall Lottery has now contributed £1,000.
The AGM is to be held on 25th April 2005 at 7.00 pm
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Jac Dolben born 25 January 6lbs 12ozs.
Heidi Alice Legge born 7 February 8lbs 8ozs.
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For more information see ‘Out and About in Denbighshire 2005’ -free from libraries.
Friday 25th March
Llangollen History Trail. 10 am - 4 pm 6 miles.
Join us on the first guided walk of the newly opened Llangollen History Trail. Follow the route through Llangollen’s spectacular countryside and explore the history of the area. Meet, Llantysilio Green. SJ198433. 3
Wednesday 30th March
Historic Corwen 11 am - 3 pm 5 miles.
Explore Corwen’s countryside discovering tales of the past. Visit Pen y Pigyn and Caer Drewyn Iron Age Hillfort. Meet, main car park in Corwen. SJ079436. 2.
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Defective Security System
A new security system installed at a Carrog Farm is proving effective despite commissioning problems.
The system, unfortunately, is over sensitive and as a result identifies passing pedestrians as intruders. This has resulted in attacks upon several people.
Every effort is being made to rectify the fault, but in the meantime the operators suggest that a handful of corn thrown at the system or the showing of a packet of PAXO stuffing will turn the system off for long enough for a safe passage to be made.
Quacking Security Co.
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18th March 2005 - Carrog Village Hall - 7.00 pm.
A Public Meeting has been called by the Community Council regarding the application by Mental Health Care UK Ltd to gain hospital status for St Davids. Members of the Company, our AM and MP and County Councillors have been asked to attend.
It is however, most important that all members of local communities attend if they are concerned about this matter.
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Carrog children arriving at Dolgellau for the Urdd Eisteddfod in 1961.
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I’ve really got rid of the last of my lambs this month just in time for the new ones to arrive. Although I have to admit they weren’t the best bunch I’ve ever sold it was very embarrassing when every buyer in the auction looked at them, grimaced, and then promptly moved down the aisle to check out the other pens. Dic ‘auctioneer’ finally sold them for a reasonable price and I was glad to make my exit.
With my new shed only requiring the doors to complete it I decided to try and sort out the mud bath which used to be my back yard. I got the two Arwels in (Dolben and Davies) and promptly started to excavate the site. Arwel ‘bach’ carried the soil away to the Felin where everything went well until the heavens opened and Arwel’s trailer started to turn the field into a bog - still you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
I had my first lamb of the season the other Sunday morning. Unfortunately it was dead, actually it wasn’t just dead it was absolutely rotten. Even after washing my hands several times I could still smell the lamb on them later that evening. After a jab of penicillin the ewe looked none the worse for her ordeal. In fact she looked quite relieved she wasn’t going to have to rear a lamb this year.
All the ewes have had their ‘heptovac’ injection, in readiness for lambing and as usual I managed to inject myself at the same time. At least I know I wont contract lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, tetanus, brany, blackleg or clostridial metritis this year.
The ewes have been split into their various groups for lambing time with the twins and poorest ones being housed and the stronger singles being outside. If the weather holds I hope to lamb the majority of the girls outside, however, I have a nagging suspicion that when the lambing gets into full swing the weather will turn nasty on me.
The bullocks are busy eating me out of house and home and are looking very well on it. They’re certainly keeping my wheelbarrow in full employment. Although I haven’t got round to telling them we will be parting company in the very near future.
Gareth Llan.
© Copyright Gareth Bryan - 2005.
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Happy Birthday David, from all at Carrog School - “You can do it now!”
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League
Carrog 1 - Ysbyty Ifan 5
Llandrillo B 4 - Carrog
2
Corwen C 5 - Carrog 1
Carrog 0 - Cerrig A 6
Team Knockout (2nd Round)
Corris B 225 points - Carrog 245 points
Carrog winning by 20 points go through to the semi final.
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1st - Tina Wombwell £20
2nd - Edwin Davies £10
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BROADBAND HAS ARRIVED!
Broadband services are now available to computer users in Carrog and Parc.
Details can be found at www.bt.com/bt-broadband/.
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All letters must be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.
Opinions expressed in letters submitted for publication in “Y Bont” are purely those of the authors but the editors reserve the right to edit or not to publish letters submitted.
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Llansantffraid Over Sixty Club
Dear Sir,
At a meeting of the above club on February 17th the members expressed their dismay at the reported intention to close Carrog Primary School and they wish to protest most strongly against this happening.
As a club we have enjoyed being part of the new generations in the village by being included in numerous activities and all the entertainment given by the pupils of the school on St David’s day, at Christmas and on many other occasions. Closing the school will take the heart out of our very rural community - and out of us also.
Please explore all possible ways for Denbighshire County Council to keep open our school in Carrog for the foreseeable future.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of our members,
Mrs Gladys Jones, (Secretary).
Copy to Karen Sinclair, AM.
Rhianon Hughes, Leader
of Denbighshire County Council.
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Big isn’t always better. Those of us who have chosen to live in small rural villages can testify to that.
We recognise that there may be additional costs associated with our choice and we also appreciate that we do not have access to many services that are available in larger towns.
However this doesn’t result in a reduction in our Council Tax, and to pay over £80 a month Council Tax for two bin bags a week appears a bit excessive! Nevertheless we are very willing to continue contributing to the County and Police budgets.
But then THEY decide to consult on closing our school. OK - we accept that there must be a minimum size for all things but in Carrog School we offer 40 pupils the opportunity of a first class primary education .
As a Governor of the school I recognise that we must continually review what we provide and take steps to meet the needs of our pupils and their parents.
PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH YOUR SUPPORT and CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR, YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER and YOUR MP.
Their contact addresses are in this edition of “Y Bont”. We will only succeed if we can mobilize all possible sources of support.
Please Help.
Community Councillor David Jones
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Ysgol Carrog lives to fight another day.
I am absolutely delighted at the decision taken on Tuesday 22 February by the Leader of the Cabinet, Rhiannon Hughes, to throw out the proposal to close Ysgol Carrog. I have also been amazed and delighted at the outspoken and overwhelming support that has been shown for the school over the past couple of weeks.
Thank you to everyone!
But... (there’s always a but, isn’t there!), we must remember that the decision is only a reprieve - the proposal to close small rural schools will come up again. In preparation for this, the Board of Governors will be working with staff, parents, and members of the community to put together plans to ensure the short-, medium- and long-term future of the school - and the community within which it operates.
Facing the threat of closure has been frightening, but has turned into a hugely positive experience - we have discovered (as individuals, as parents, and as a community) just how much Ysgol Carrog means to us all. It is now important that we harness and focus this positive energy to ensure that we are ready for the next round and that Ysgol Carrog lives to fight another day.
Dr Sarah Smith.
Chair of the Board of Governors of Ysgol Carrog.
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The day I left Ysgol Carrog.
That day was full of sadness. Not a happy face to be seen, the whole of Year 6 had faces like it was there worst day of their lives. I was really upset. Taking pictures of friends I might not see again. Everybody signing my jumper and giving me hugs.
The hardest part of that day was saying goodbye to the staff. Especially Aunty Jan, she has always been there for me ever since I was in nursery. She helped me with my problems and was always kind to me. Next, Mrs Jones. She was such a good teacher. When I entered the Urdd she would help me with my welsh. Mrs Lebbon was always kind and thoughtful and she always made me do my best in everything that I did. I didn’t think I could leave Ysgol Carrog, I was walking through the gates home and I looked back and saw my primary school. I had a tear in my eye; I tried not to let it out.
I have to go past Ysgol Carrog every day and even now I still I have a tear in my eye. I miss the children, the staff and I miss taking part in things. Most of all I miss all my friends.
Everytime we have a teacher training day or something I go and see them. I wish that Ysgol Carrog was a secondary school. I hate my new school, I just want to be back in Ysgol Carrog with my old friends and the staff.
Thank you Ysgol Carrog for giving me the best days of my lives!!
By Samantha Scott
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