A cheque for the Wallich

Co-presidents Linda (left) and Glenys (right)
presenting the cheque

 

The Wallich charity was presented with a cheque for £600 at the February meeting. Many thanks to all members for helping to raise this

Pleidleisiau adduned / Gerddi’r Santes Fair: y lle cyfrinach

Cyfarfod Chwefror 2024

Addunedau canlyniadau pleidleisio:

Materion Iechyd Deintyddol ‒ 22 pleidlais
Effeithiau tai gwael ‒ 26 pleidlais
Dywedwch ‘na’ wrth gamblo – 9 pleidlais
Gwella canlyniadau i fenywod ym maes cyfiawnder troseddol ‒ 14 pleidlais

Cyflwyniad ‒ Gerddi’r Santes Fair: y lle cyfrinach   

cyflwynir gan Zoe Pearce a Sheila Austin

 

Yn 2016 penderfynodd WI yr Eglwys Newydd gynnal ymgyrch leol i lanhau ac adfer y Gerddi sydd wedi’u hesgeuluso’n druenus i’r cyhoedd. Yn 2017 dechreuodd gwaith gwirfoddol.

 

Mae’r fynedfa i’r ardd gyferbyn â thafarn y Fox and Hounds yn Old Church Road. Mae'r Fox and Hounds yn gefnogwyr selog, a gallwch barcio yn eu maes parcio.

 

Mae Zoe, Sheila, a llawer o aelodau eraill o WI yr Eglwys Newydd yn amlwg yn gweld y gwaith yng Ngerddi'r Santes Fair yn werth mawr ac yn werth chweil.

Am adroddiad manwl o'r cyflwynir hon gweler y post ar wahân.

Cyfeiriad E-bost: santmarysgardens@gmail.com
Facebook: Cyfeillion Gerddi’r Santes Fair@oldchurchgarden
Gwefan: www.friendsofstmarysgardens.wales
Gwybodaeth hanesyddol amhrisiadwy ar-lein www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/stmarysgarden: trysorfa o wybodaeth am Erddi’r Santes Fair a holl Barciau Caerdydd a mannau agored gan yr ymchwilwyr Anne ac Andy Bell.

 

Gerddi’r Santes Fair: y lle cyfrinach

(English)

Gerddi’r Santes Fair: y lle cyfrinach

cyflwynir gan Zoe Pearce a Sheila Austin

Nodwedd ganolog y Gerddi yw amlinelliad o weddillion hen Eglwys y Santes Fair a wasanaethodd y gymuned o’r 1500au o leiaf, cyfnod y Tuduriaid. Bryd hynny, adeiladwyd capel ar y safle, o bosibl yn lle un hŷn. Rhoddodd yr enw i'r ardal: Eglwys Newydd, neu Whitchurch (Eglwys Wen yn Saesneg), oherwydd ei bod yn cael ei golchi â chalch. Er i fân newidiadau gael eu gwneud dros y canrifoedd, arhosodd siâp y capel yr un peth yn y bôn. Mae paentiad dienw o’r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn cael ei gadw yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru, sy’n rhoi syniad o sut olwg oedd ar yr eglwys.

O’r 1500au hyd at y chwyldro diwydiannol yn y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, roedd yr Eglwys Newydd yn bentrefan ffermio gwasgaredig gyda phoblogaeth rhy fach i gymhwyso fel plwyf gyda’i ficer ei hun. Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf oedd ei heglwys blwyf a bu’n rhaid i’r bobl leol fynd yno ar gyfer bedyddiadau, priodasau ac angladdau, ac i dderbyn offeren adeg y Nadolig, y Pasg a gwyliau mawr eraill. Ar y Suliau cyffredin deuai offeiriad allan o Landaf i’r Santes Fair i gynnal yr Offeren Sul gorfodol. Fel hyn yr oedd yn Gapel o Esmwythder, gan achub y bobl leol o’r pellter hir i Landaf. Yn 1616 cafodd y plwyfolion fwy o esmwythder pan drwyddedwyd y Capel ar gyfer bedyddiadau, priodasau ac angladdau a thrwyddedwyd y fynwent ar gyfer claddedigaethau.

Plannwyd ywen—a elwir hefyd yn Goeden y Fynwent—yn y Santes Fair. Un ywen yw'r goeden hynaf yn y fynwent ac, fe gredir, yng Ngogledd Caerdydd. Mae'n edrych yn waeth o ran traul yn dilyn canrif o esgeulustod ond y gobaith yw y gellir adfer ei iechyd a gall fyw, fel y gall coed yw ei wneud, am lawer mwy o ganrifoedd.

Ar ddechrau’r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg newidiodd datblygiad Gwaith Tunplat Melin Gruffydd a diwydiannau eraill newidiodd yr Eglwys Newydd o fod yn anheddiad amaethyddol bach i fod yn un diwydiannol. Achosodd gweithwyr a oedd yn dod i mewn a'u teuluoedd ffrwydrad yn y boblogaeth a roddodd bwysau cynyddol ar yr eglwys. Mae’r cerrig beddau Fictoraidd niferus yn y fynwent yn gofnod cymdeithasol hynod ddiddorol o’r cyfnod. Ceir cofebion i deuluoedd pwysig lleol megis y Bookers, y bu tair cenhedlaeth ohonynt yn rheoli Gweithfeydd Melin Gruffydd ac yn ddyngarwyr lleol adnabyddus.

Mae yna griw teimladwy o gerrig beddi i’r teulu Lewis, oedd yn wleidyddion ac yn dirfeddianwyr mawr yng Ngogledd Caerdydd. Mae'r fynwent hefyd yn rhoi darlun byw o'r bobl fwy cyffredin, gan gofnodi eu proffesiynau a'u crefftau a rhoi cipolwg ar eu bywydau personol. Dim ond y grwpiau cymdeithasol hynny sy'n rhy dlawd i fforddio carreg fedd sydd ar goll.

Oherwydd twf ei phoblogaeth, ym 1845 dyrchafwyd Eglwys Newydd yn blwyf yn ei rhinwedd ei hun gyda'i ficer preswyl ei hun. Nid oedd Eglwys y Santes Fair bellach yn Gapel o esmwythder ond yn Eglwys Blwyf gwbl weithredol. Fodd bynnag, dim ond am ddeugain mlynedd fer y parhaodd y dyddiau gogoniant hyn. Erbyn hyn roedd y fynwent yn orlawn o gerrig beddi a theimlwyd bod adeilad yr eglwys yn rhy fach. Trydydd ficer Eglwys Newydd, y Parch J.T. Clarke oedd gwneud ei genhadaeth i gaffael safle newydd ar gyfer eglwys fodern gyda lle i 400. Ym 1885 cysegrwyd eglwys newydd y Santes Fair yn Heol Penlline. Yn sydyn ar ôl canrifoedd yng nghanol y pentref roedd hen Eglwys y Santes Fair wedi cael ei diwrnod a chafodd ei gadael yn llythrennol, heb seremoni. Roedd yn ddiwedd cyfnod hir pan oedd y safle hwn wedi bod o bwysigrwydd canolog i'r Eglwys Newydd.

Yna cafodd yr eglwys ei hesgeuluso a dadfeiliodd. Erbyn 1904 roedd Hen Eglwys y Santes Fair yn cael ei hystyried yn beryglus felly cafodd ei thynnu i lawr. Hyd at 1967 roedd y mieri yn cael eu clirio o'r beddau yn flynyddol a'u llosgi ar y safle, ond yna daeth hynny i ben hyd yn oed - er mawr ofid i'r rhai oedd â theulu wedi'u claddu yno. Roedd y fynwent gaeedig bellach wedi dod yn broblem anhydawdd. Dilynodd 70 mlynedd o ffraeo rhwng yr Eglwys yng Nghymru ac awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn â phwy ddylai gymryd cyfrifoldeb a beth ddylid ei wneud gyda’r tir. Yna cyflwynodd datrysiad gweledigaethol ddylai fod wedi sicrhau bod y safle hwn yn parhau i fod yn ased i'r Eglwys Newydd am byth.

Ym 1972 daeth Llywodraeth Edward Heath i fodolaeth gynllun a adnabyddir yn boblogaidd fel “Operation Eyesore” gyda’r nod o roi grantiau i ‘wella ymddangosiad tir esgeuluso a diolwg mewn ardaloedd a gynorthwyir, i gael gwared ar ddolur llygad lleol ac i greu swyddi ychwanegol yn yr ardaloedd hynny. '

Oherwydd y nifer llethol o geisiadau ledled y DU fe gaeodd y Llywodraeth y cynllun bron cyn gynted ag yr agorodd. Fodd bynnag, roedd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerdydd wedi gweithredu'n gyflym a chael eu troed yn y drws. Ym mis Gorffennaf 1972 derbyniasant grant o £14,500 i gymryd y fynwent adfeiliedig oddi ar ddwylo’r Eglwys yng Nghymru a’i throi’n Fan Agored Cyhoeddus. Aelod iau o'r Adran Cynllunio Parciau, Richard Coleman, gafodd y dasg. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r hyn sy’n hysbys am greu Gerddi’r Santes Fair yn 1972-1974 gan Richard Coleman, yn dod oddi wrth Terry Davies, garddwr o fri a Hen Ddyn Mawr Barciau Caerdydd.

Cyn i Richard gael symud carreg unigol yn y fynwent roedd Cyngor Plwyf yr Eglwys Newydd yn mynnu bod yn rhaid cofnodi lleoliad a thestun pob carreg fedd. Rhagarweiniad pwysig arall oedd casglu gweddillion dros 1,000 o gyrff a'u hail-gladdu gyda defodau dyledus i ffwrdd o safle arfaethedig y Gerddi Cyhoeddus. Nawr gallai Richard symud ymlaen gyda'i gynllun ar gyfer y Gerddi.

Bu'n rhaid cael gwared ar yr holl goed o'r fynwent, ar wahân i'r ywen o'r ail ganrif ar bymtheg ac ywen Fictoraidd, gan eu bod wedi mynd yn afiach ar ôl bron i ganrif o esgeulustod. Adnewyddwyd y waliau dymchwel gyda cherrig cyfatebol a symudwyd y cerrig beddau, ar wahân i'r rhai mwyaf amlwg, i leinio'r waliau. Defnyddiwyd eraill i baratoi cynllun  diddorol Richard i lwybr ac amlinelliad yr eglwys yr oedd wedi penderfynu’n ddadleuol ei gadw.

Gyda’r dasg enfawr o gael y strwythur sylfaenol yn ei le wedi’i chyflawni, symudodd Richard ymlaen at y plannu – a mynd i drafferth gyda’i benaethiaid ynghylch cost ei ofynion manwl. Credir na fu erioed ffynhonnell ddŵr yng Ngerddi’r Santes Fair felly efallai mai dyna pam yr oedd plannu helaeth Richard wedi gadael planhigion gwely allan ac yn cynnwys 28 math o rug, llwyni a choed sbesimen.

Roedd yr hen fynedfa i'r fynwent wedi'i gosod yn lle agoriad newydd yn Old Church Road ac roedd Richard eisiau porth priodol. Dywedodd Terry Davies:
‘ Edrychodd Richard ar amryw o Lych Gates. Cynlluniodd un ar gyfer SMG a chyflogwyd contractwr i'w adeiladu. Cafodd ei feirniadu am giatiau siglo bar y salŵn oherwydd eu bod yn cael eu hatafaelu ar unwaith gan blant lleol fel offer chwarae a’r colfachau’n cael eu torri’n rheolaidd er gwaethaf ymdrechion Peiriannydd y Ddinas i osod colfachau cryfach a chryfach.’

Cafodd hwyl y plant ei gwtogi yn y pen draw trwy osod gatiau metel.
Yn olaf, penodwyd ceidwad parc/garddwr llawn amser gyda chwt yng nghornel de orllewin y Gerddi. Cafodd y Parc ei agor yn swyddogol i'r cyhoedd dim ond dwy flynedd ar ôl derbyn Grant dolur llygad y Llywodraeth. Yn ddiweddarach y flwyddyn honno enillodd y Wobr Gyntaf mewn Cystadleuaeth Cymru yn ei Blodau. Am ddegawd byr parhaodd y Gerddi yn nodwedd arwyddocaol o'r Eglwys Newydd.

Yn yr 1980au, o dan Margaret Thatcher, daeth y Polisi Tendro Cystadleuol Gorfodol i mewn a oedd yn blaenoriaethu cynildeb dros bopeth arall. Y toriad cyntaf a wnaed gan Adran Parciau Caerdydd oedd Ceidwad Parc Gerddi’r Santes Fair. Wedi hynny arhosodd y Gerddi gyda'i llwyni a'i choed ifanc egsotig yn ddigyffwrdd. Mewn ailadrodd rhyfeddol o hanes, cafodd ei esgeuluso a'i anghofio i raddau helaeth eto, gyda llawer o drigolion yn anymwybodol eu bod hyd yn oed yn cael mynd ar y safle.

Er gwaethaf anawsterau, rhaid canmol llwyddiannau Gwirfoddolwyr y Santes Fair. Maen nhw’n cael eu cofnodi’n rheolaidd fel rhai sy’n cyflawni’r nifer fwyaf o oriau gwirfoddoli o blith unrhyw grŵp gwirfoddol ym Mharciau Caerdydd. Llwyddodd hyn, ynghyd â’r dros £6,000 a godwyd gan y Cyfeillion, i berswadio’r Adran Parciau o’r diwedd i neilltuo un o’u Ceidwaid ifanc gorau fel Ceidwad rheolaidd i’r Gerddi, ac felly 2023 oedd y flwyddyn fwyaf llwyddiannus hyd yma. Mewn cydweithrediad â Rhodri’r Ceidwad mae gan y gwirfoddolwyr gynllun clir ar gyfer cynnydd mawr yn 2024 tuag at adfer y Gerddi yn adnodd y gall yr Eglwys Newydd fod yn falch ohono. Dywedodd Zoe ei bod wedi mwynhau cymdeithas a hwyl anfesuradwy yn y Gerddi ac nad oeddent erioed wedi methu â bod yn hudolus iddi.

Yn anffodus, unwaith eto, mae toriadau llym arfaethedig mewn gwariant cyhoeddus yn fygythiad i gynlluniau ac i ddyfodol y Gerddi drwy dorri ar nifer y ceidwaid. Rhaid i Geidwad fod yn bresennol er mwyn cynnal gweithgorau neu gynnal diwrnodau agored, ac mae angen cyfarwyddyd proffesiynol.

Cyfeiriad E-bost: santmarysgardens@gmail.com
Facebook: Cyfeillion Gerddi’r Santes Fair@oldchurchgarden
Gwefan: www.friendsofstmarysgardens.wales
Gwybodaeth hanesyddol amhrisiadwy ar-lein www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/stmarysgarden: trysorfa o wybodaeth am Erddi’r Santes Fair a holl Barciau Caerdydd a mannau agored gan yr ymchwilwyr Anne ac Andy Bell.

St Mary's Gardens, Whitchurch

(Cymraeg)

St Mary's Gardens, Whitchurch

The central feature of the Gardens is the outline of the remains of old St Mary’s Church which served the community from at least the 1500’s, the time of the Tudors. At that time, a chapel was built on the site, possibly replacing an older one. It gave the area its name: Eglwys Newydd (New Church in Welsh), or Whitchurch (White Church in English), because it was lime washed. Although minor alterations were made over the centuries the shape of the chapel remained basically the same. There is an anonymous nineteenth century painting, currently housed in The National Museum of Wales, that gives an idea of what the church looked like.

From the 1500’s until the Industrial revolution in the nineteenth century, Whitchurch was a scattered farming hamlet with a population too small to qualify as a parish with its own vicar. Llandaff Cathedral was its Parish Church and the local people had to go there for baptisms, weddings and funerals, and to receive mass at Christmas, Easter and other major festivals. On ordinary Sundays a priest came out from Llandaff to St Mary’s to conduct the obligatory Sunday Mass. In this way it was a Chapel of Ease, saving the local people from the long distance to Llandaff. In 1616 the parishioners were given greater ease when the Chapel was licensed for christenings, marriages and funerals and the churchyard was licensed for burials. 

Yew—also called the Churchyard Tree—was planted at St Mary’s. One yew is the oldest tree in the churchyard and, it is believed, in North Cardiff. It looks the worse for wear following a century of neglect but it is hoped that its health can be restored and it can live, as yew trees can do, for many more centuries.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century development of the Melingriffiths Tinplate Works and other industries changed Whitchurch from a small agricultural settlement to an industrial one. Incoming workers and their families caused a population explosion which placed ever-increasing demands on the church. The numerous Victorian gravestones in the churchyard are a fascinating social record of the time. There are memorials to the local important families such as the Bookers, three generations of whom managed the Melingriffiths Works and were well known local philanthropists.

There is a poignant group of gravestones to the Lewis family, who were politicians and major landowners in North Cardiff. The graveyard also gives a vivid picture of the more ordinary people, recording their professions and trades and giving glimpses into their personal lives. Only those social groups too poor to afford a gravestone are missing.

Because of its population growth, in 1845 Whitchurch was promoted to a parish in its own right with its own resident vicar. St Mary’s was no longer a humble Chapel of Ease but a fully functioning Parish Church. However these glory days lasted a brief forty years. By now the churchyard was crowded with gravestones and the church building was felt to be too small. The third vicar of Whitchurch, the Reverend J.T. Clarke made it his mission to acquire a new site for a modern church which would seat 400. In 1885 the new St Mary’s in Penlline Road was consecrated. Suddenly after centuries at the heart of the village the old St Mary’s had had its day and was abandoned literally, without ceremony. It was the end of a long era during which this site had been of central importance to Whitchurch.

The church then became neglected and decayed. By 1904 Old St Mary’s Church was considered dangerous so it was pulled down. Until 1967 the brambles were cleared from the graves annually and burnt on the site, but then even that came to an end – to the distress of those who had family buried there. The closed churchyard had now become what seemed an insoluble problem. There followed 70 years of wrangling between the Church-in-Wales and local authorities as to who should take responsibility and what should be done with the land. Then a visionary solution presented itself which should have ensured this site remained an asset to Whitchurch forever.

In 1972  Edward Heath’s Government brought into being a scheme known popularly as “Operation Eyesore” with the aims of giving grants to ‘improve the appearance of neglected and unsightly land in assisted areas, to remove local eyesores and to create additional jobs in those areas.’

Because of the overwhelming number of applications throughout the U.K. the Government closed the scheme almost as soon as it opened. However Cardiff County Borough Council had acted swiftly and got their foot in the door. In July 1972 they received a grant of £14,500 to take the derelict churchyard off the hands of the Church-in-Wales and turn it into a Public Open Space. A junior member of the Parks Planning Department, Richard Coleman, was given the task. Most of what is known about the 1972‒1974 creation of St Mary’s Gardens by Richard Coleman, comes from Terry Davies, a distinguished horticulturist and Grand Old Man of Cardiff Parks.

Before Richard was allowed to move a single stone in the churchyard Whitchurch Parish Council stipulated that the location and text of every gravestone had to be recorded. A further important preliminary was the gathering of the remains of over 1,000 bodies and their re-internment with due rites away from the proposed site of the Public Gardens. Now Richard could move on with his plan for the Gardens.  

All the trees from the churchyard, apart from the seventeenth century yew and a Victorian yew, had to be removed as they had become diseased after nearly a century of neglect. The collapsing walls were renovated with matching stone and the gravestones, apart from the most prominent, were moved to line the walls. Others were used to pave Richard’s intriguing path design and the outline of the church which he had controversially decided to retain.

With the enormous task of getting the basic structure in place achieved, Richard moved on to the planting ‒ and ran into trouble with his bosses over the cost of his exacting requirements. It is believed that there has never been a source of water in St Mary’s Gardens so perhaps that is why Richard’s extensive planting left out bedding plants and consisted of 28 types of heathers, shrubs and specimen trees.

The old entrance to the churchyard had been replaced with a new opening made in Old Church Road and Richard wanted an appropriate gateway. Terry Davies said:
‘Richard looked at various Lych Gates. He designed one for SMG and a contractor was engaged to build it. He was criticised for the saloon bar swing-gates because they were immediately seized by local children as play equipment and the hinges regularly broken despite the City Engineer's efforts in installing stronger and stronger, hinges.’

The children’s fun was eventually curtailed by the installation of metal gates.
Finally a full-time park-keeper/gardener was appointed with a hut in the south west corner of the Gardens. The Park was officially opened to the public only two years after receiving the Government Eyesore Grant. Later that year it won First Prize in a Wales in Bloom Competition. For a brief decade the Gardens remained a significant feature of Whitchurch.

In the 1980’s, under Margaret Thatcher, the Compulsory Competitive Tendering Policy came in which prioritised economy over everything else. The first cut made by Cardiff Parks’ Department was the St Mary’s Gardens’ Park Keeper. Thereafter the Gardens with its shrubs and young exotic trees remained untended. In an extraordinary repetition of history, it again became neglected and largely forgotten, with many residents unaware they were even allowed on to the site.

Despite difficulties, the achievements of the St Mary’s Volunteers must be applauded. They are regularly recorded as carrying out the most volunteer hours of any Cardiff Parks’ volunteer group. This, along with the over £6,000 fundraised by the Friends, finally persuaded the Parks Department to allocate one of their finest young Rangers as a regular Ranger for the Gardens, and 2023 was therefore the most successful year to date. In collaboration with Rhodri the Ranger the volunteers have a clear plan for major progress in 2024 towards restoring the Gardens to a resource of which Whitchurch can be proud. Zoe said that she had enjoyed immeasurable fellowship and fun in the Gardens and they had never failed to be  magical for her.

Sadly, once again, proposed drastic cuts in public spending are posing a threat to plans and to the Gardens’ future by cutting the number of rangers. A Ranger must be present in order to carry out working parties or hold open days, and professional direction is needed.

Resolution votes / St Mary’s Gardens: the secret place

February 2024 meeting

Resolution voting results:

Dental Health Matters ‒ 22 votes

Impacts of poor housing ‒ 26 votes

Say ‘no’ to gambling ‒ 9 votes

Improving outcomes for women in criminal justice ‒ 14 votes

Talk ‒ St Mary’s Gardens: the secret place            

presented by Zoe Pearce & Sheila Austin

 

In 2016 Whitchurch WI decided to mount a local campaign to get the pitifully neglected St Mary's Gardens cleaned up and restored for the public. In 2017 voluntary work began.

 

The entrance to the garden is opposite the Fox and Hounds pub in Old Church Road. The Fox and Hounds are staunch supporters, and you can park in their car park.

 

Zoe, Sheila, and many other members of Whitchurch WI clearly find the work at St Mary's Gardens worthwhile and rewarding. 

For a detailed report of this talk please see the separate post.

 

Email Address:
saintmarysgardens@gmail.com

Facebook: Friends of St Mary’s
Gardens@oldchurchgarden

Website: www.friendsofstmarysgardens.wales

Invaluable online historical information www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/stmarysgarden: a treasury of information about St Mary’s Gardens and all Cardiff Parks and open spaces by researchers Anne and Andy Bell.

Newsletter 179 – February 2024

WELCOME! Today is a busy one. Firstly, the presentation of the cheque to the Wallich Centre. This is followed by two of our members, Zoe Pearce and Sheila Austin, with a presentation about St Mary’s Gardens – The Secret Place. Then voting on the W.I. Resolutions (see below). There is also a sale of your unwanted gifts to raise money for our charities this year.
 
YNYS HIR TRIP – 9th April 2024

You can now pay for this online if you prefer.  Here are the details:

    Payment of £15 – by Monday, 11th March.
    Payee name: Whitchurch Women's Institute
    Sort code: 309890
    Account number: 17814568
    Reference: Ynys Hir Trip

Liz (Treasurer) is also happy to accept payment by cheque or cash at both the February and March meetings.

FASHION SHOWS

Just bringing your attention to two forthcoming fashion shows. Each is on for three days. One is at Norton House, Mumbles 7 – 9th May, and the second is at Heronston Hotel, Bridgend  15 – 17th May.  If you are interested in going please see the details in the last edition of the Glamorgan Newsletter and apply through our Treasurer.

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING – 18th March 2024

Are you interested in being our representative at the above meeting?

Following Council business, the morning speaker is Louise Fleet, Lord Lieutenant for West Glamorgan. The afternoon speaker is Sue Kent. Sue is an award-winning presenter for BBC2 Gardener’s World, an RHS Ambassador for disability and an RHS and Gardener’s World Live garden design medal winner.

Venue:  Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, but you must say by 23rd February if you wish to attend.

Do you know about … URGENT PRIMARY CARE CENTRES (UPCC)

Same day, timed, face-to-face urgent GP appointments are available to book Monday – Friday at a UPCC
Conditions seen include new coughs, chest infection, tonsillitis, rashes, skin infections, back/joint pain, ear ache and more.

There are a number of Urgent Primary Care Centres in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. UPCCs were introduced to improve access to same day care for patients with a range of urgent non-complex conditions. Patients may be booked into a UPCC by their GP practice, or redirected by NHS 111 Wales or the Emergency Unit where they will be assessed and appropriately managed within eight hours.

GROUPS: Dates for your diaries          
Book Group:  Wednesday 14th Feb 2024 at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara – followed by lunch.
Poetry and Prose: Monday 19th Feb 2024 at 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat
Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 25th February 2024 at 1pm at Whitchurch Golf Club. It’s a Carvery.
Family History: Thursday 29th Feb 2024 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road
Craft Group: this will not be meeting this month.
The Bus Pass Group – re-starting when the weather is better!     

NEXT MEETING:    

Monday 11th March 2024 at 2pm.         
Subject:  Keep on Moving              
Speaker:  Chris Seaman

See whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com for our activities, photos and reports from previous meetings.    
 

2024  Shortlisted resolutions:

Dental Health Matters

There is a chronic shortage of NHS Dentists and people are suffering health issues as a result. The NFWI calls on the Government to increase investment in the training and retention of dentists and to review the current inadequate NHS contracts in order to ensure everyone can access an NHS dentist wherever they live.

Impacts of poor housing conditions

Poor housing can have a deleterious effect on human health and wellbeing, safety and quality of life, and can disproportionately affect the most vulnerable groups in society.
The NFWI calls on the UK Government to boost housing standards and regulations, increase funding for housing renovations, increase the supply of affordable and secure housing and strengthen collaboration with local authorities, housing associations and other relevant stakeholders to develop strategies that address local housing challenges.

Say ‘no’ to gambling advertising

Harm caused by excessive gambling is a global problem. Some countries are already addressing this by banning advertising. The NFWI calls on members, the government, regulators, the NHS, educationalists, and gambling charities to work together towards achieving a complete ban on gambling advertising. This will reduce gambling harm, save the NHS money, protect family relationships, and decrease the number of suicides – around 400 per annum at present.

Improving Outcomes for Women in the Criminal Justice System

There is an urgent need to radically reform decision-making in respect of women in the criminal justice system and in particular, pregnant women and women with children. We urge cross-government collaboration to deliver on the 2018 female offender strategy by setting goals, robust governance, and performance measures to reduce the number of women who have committed non-violent offences from being imprisoned.   

A cheque for Alzheimers's Society Cymru

Elanor Wyatt, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, was delighted to accept a donation for £600 from Whitchurch WI.  The cheque presentation was made by Glenys Care, President, and Sheila Austin, Committee Member, at the February Committee Meeting.

 

Glamorgan Newsletter snippets — Volume 15, issue 1

Glamorgan Federation of Women’s Institutes
January/February 2024

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING 18 March 2024
The Annual Council meeting will be held at the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot on the 18 March 2024.
The morning speaker is The Lord Lieutenant for West Glamorgan, Louise Fleet.
The afternoon speaker is Sue Kent. Sue is an award-winning presenter for BBC2 Gardener’s World, an RHS Ambassador for disability and an RHS and Gardener’s World Live garden design medal winner. Sue is a regular on our screens since joining Gardeners world as a presenter on BBC2 in 2021. She first appeared on our screens during lockdown in 2020 as a guest, presenting from her beautiful garden in South Wales.

GLAMORGAN EXPERIENCE 4/5 April 2024
It is with regret that the above event has had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. Those members who have applied will have their deposits returned to them.

DIARY DATES

Annual Council Meeting | £12 |Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot | Monday 18 March 2024 | Closing date: 23 February 2024

Bluebell Spring Lunch | £23 | Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl | Wednesday 20 March 2024
Closing date: 1 March 2024

Rosebowl & Brecon Cup 2024 | Blanco’s Hotel, Port Talbot | Thursday 18 April 2024 | Closing date: 1 March 2024

Rosebowl & Brecon Cup Afternoon Tea | £15 | Blanco’s Hotel, Port Talbot | Thursday 18 April 2024 | Closing date: 1 March 2024

Darts Competition | £55 per team | Pencoed Social Club | Saturday 20 April 2024
Closing date: 30 March 2024

Late Spring Circular walk around Penarth | Saturday 11 May 2024
Closing date: 30 April 2024

Fashion Show | £25 or £28 | Norton House, Mumbles | Tuesday 7 May 2024, Wednesday 8 May 2024, Thursday 9 May 2024 | Closing date: 19 April 2024

Fashion Show | £23 | Heronston Hotel, Bridgend | Wednesday 15 May, Thursday 16 May 2024, Friday 17 May 2024 | Closing date: 30 April 2024

Court & Castle Holiday | £199 | Windsor & Hampton Court Palace | Friday 19-20 July 2024 | Closing date: 23 February 2024