Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 56

News | People | Features | Competitions | Lifestyle
Whitchurch &
Llandaff Living
At the heart of the community
Issue 56 Winter 19/20

2
Inside this issue
Bethan Elfyn
talks about her
time at BBC
Llandaff and how
Welsh music
took over the
world
Tasker Watkins
Discover the
incredible life
story of one of
Llandaff's most
remarkable men
Winter
Wonderland
Head outdoors
this winter and
discover the real
beauty of this
season
The Joy of Giving
10 ways to make
alternative
giving a joy this
Christmas
Spring deadline:
22nd February 2020
Published 6th March 2020
a: 222 Pantbach Road,
Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG
t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920
w: www.livingmags.co.uk
e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or
danielle@livingmags.co.uk
Distribution: 6,000 copies of Whitchurch and
Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and
public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and
Llandaff North five times a year.
While every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the contents,
the publisher cannot accept any
responsibility for errors or omissions,
or for any matter in any way arising
from the publication of this material.
Every effort has been made to
contact any copyright holders.
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an
independent, apolitical publication.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the express
written permission of the publishers.
Welcome / Croeso
The excitement of the winter
season is upon us and our
villages, homes and shops are
glowing with warm colour. This
issue is packed with festive
treats, but as the Winter issue, it
will take us through until Spring.
We have therefore themed many
of our features around winter and
the uniqueness of this beautiful
season, with a sub-theme
around sustainability and the
planet.
The magazine has always
celebrated the characters and
stories from our villages. One
such character is Major Sir Tasker
Watkins VC. A blue plaque was
recently unveiled in Llandaff to
honour him, so we present a
brief glimpse into the life of this
remarkable man.
Radio producer Bethan Elfyn
has recently made the move
from the BBC Llandaff studios to
the new city centre building. She
speaks of her career in radio and
what the future holds for both
the corporation and her work.
We often look to hunker down
at this time of year but we've
put together a great feature that
will entice you to wrap up warm
and step outside your front door
to the Winter Wonderland that
awaits you.
With the focus on the
sustainability theme, if you're
looking to reduce your own
negative impact on the
environment, we present several
ways you can achieve this -
including over Christmas when
traditionally we create a lot of
waste.
With this in mind and for
those who want to give a gift
a little differently, we highlight
alternative ways to show your
appreciation for loved ones.
What’s on
Wreath Making
Thursday 12th December 10am
Whitchurch Library
Book at the Library. £8 for wreaths, £4
for table decorations. Instructions and
materials provided.
Cardiff Viva! Vegan Festival
Saturday 22nd February 10.30am
Cardiff City Hall
A huge variety of stalls, plus outdoor
hot food vans and gazebos selling all
Food is an important part of
the season but it can also be a
time of excess and waste. We've
got some recipes that will help
reduce that waste by making the
most of your leftovers.
There is a heart-warming short
story, kindly written by Alice
Morgan. The story won the
South Wales Echo Christmas
Short Story competition a few
years ago and reminds us to be
grateful for everything we have
this Christmas.
As we turn to welcome in
not only a new year, but a
new decade, we highlight a
psychological model that can
help you effect change.
So, as we say goodbye to
what's gone, let's think about
where we want to be.
Happy new decade.
Danielle and Patric
Editors
@WhitchurchandLlandaffLiving
www.facebook.com/
whitchurchandllandaffliving
manner of tasty treats.
Carol Singing
Saturday 21st December 4-5pm
Whitchurch Library
Carol Singing and mince pies,
accompanied by M10 band.
Six Nations 2020
Saturday 1st February
Principality Stadium
Wales start the defence of their title
against Italy.

Blue plaque unveiled in Llandaff to
honour Llandaff war hero
Photo: Alun Salisbury
A blue plaque has been unveiled in
Llandaff to honour one of its most
revered citizens.
The plaque to Major Sir Tasker
Watkins VC was unveiled by Geoffrey
Barton-Greenwood, Chairman of the
Llandaff Society.
Geoffrey delivered a speech to
those present, honouring Sir Tasker
Watkins, who was both a war hero
and a luminary in the legal system:
"After war service, he set up his
family’s home here at ‘St Andrew’s
in Llandaff, whilst studying for
the Bar. It was a field in which he
excelled and during an impressive
legal career, he rose to become
Deputy Lord Chief Justice. He was
also an accomplished sportsman,
especially on the rugby field, playing
for the Army, Cardiff and Glamorgan
Wanderers, finally becoming the
Residents of both Whitchurch and
Llandaff North have raised concerns
about groups of 'hoodies', who are
terrorising the areas.
One woman from Whitchurch, who
wanted to remain anonymous, told
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living.
"It seems to have been getting
worse over the last few months. The
gangs usually consist of a group of
teenage boys, sometimes on bikes,
and always wearing hoodies to
protect their identity.
"I was passing through the Philog in
my car last night quite late at night.
I was sat at a junction and heard an
almighty crash, like a window had
been broken. A few seconds later,
four teenage boys went running past
my car and down a side street."
Other residents have complained
on social media that groups are
first Life President of the WRU.
An imposing statue of Sir Tasker
already stands at the entrance to the
Principality Stadium in Cardiff but
we now honour him here in Llandaff,
where he was resident at other
addresses for the rest of his life, until
he died in 2007 aged 88 years."
Geoffrey also introduced Tasker's
daughter, Lady Mair Griffith Williams,
who was present at the unveiling.
"As a babe in arms, together with
her late mother Eirwen, Lady Mair
was taken to Buckingham Palace
where Sir Tasker was decorated with
the VC by King George VI, on 8th
March 1945. I was delighted to invite
her to unveil the Blue plaque as a
lasting memorial to her late father;
a great Welshman, who loved this
place!" added Geoffrey.
'Hoodies' terrorising local villages
making the areas unpleasant to live
in.
"I posted photos of one group to
social media a few days ago but
was told that I had to take it down
to protect their identities," said one
man, who also wanted to remain
anonymous. "Where are the parents
of these kids? Surely they must
know that their teenage sons are out
late at night? It's not fair that we have
to put up with this," she added.
news
Whitchurch
roadworks put
on hold for
Christmas
Plans to upgrade gas pipes in
Whitchurch have been put on
hold until after the Christmas
period.
Traders were concerned that
the planned works on Merthyr
Road would affect one of their
busiest times of year. MP Anna
McMorrin raised the concerns
with Wales & West Utilities, who
are due to carry out the essential
upgrade.
The company responded by
revising their plans for the works
on Merthyr Road, which will now
take place in January instead.
Wales and West Utilities'
programme controller for Cardiff,
Adam Smith told the media:
“We will be working in the
Merthyr Road area of Whitchurch
to upgrade the gas network. We
know working on roads like these
is not ideal, but this £725,000
investment is essential to keep
the gas flowing to heat homes
and power businesses in the
area. It will also ensure that the
gas network is fit for the future
and can play its part in delivering
reliable and affordable green
energy.
"After feedback from the local
community, we have re-planned
our work to keep disruption to
local people and businesses
to a minimum. Between now
and Christmas, we will be
working on residential streets
in the area, and work on The
Philog and Merthyr Road will be
rescheduled after Christmas."
The work is due to take around
five months to complete. Traders
felt the impact of roadworks last
year when the new pedestrian
crossings were installed at
the crossroads near St Mary's
Church.
3

news
Plasdŵr traffic
Areas of North Cardiff are likely
to feel the effects of construction
work on the Plasdŵr development
until the summer of 2020.
Danescourt, Llandaff, Fairwater
and Radyr have all been affected
by the work around Heol Isaf.
Construction workers are working
to widen the road for a bus lane
and a cycleway. Drainage work is
also taking place and permanent
traffic lights have been installed.
Resident Marie Charles told
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living:
"It's been going on so long now. It
feels like it's never going to end."
New speed limit
A new speed limit and a pedestrian
crossing are being planned by
Cardiff Council for Caewal Road.
The plans include a toucan
crossing and 30mph speed limit at
the western end of Caewal Road
by March 2020. It will be sited at the
junction on Western Avenue.
It is hoped that the new plans
will prevent accidents and make
the route safer, especially for
vulnerable residents. The current
speed limit is 40mph.
Parking plans
Cardiff Council are currently
proposing new parking plans
to help ease parking issues in
Whitchurch and Llandaff North.
Draft proposals put forward would
see residents paying for a parking
permit while yellow lines and pay
and display parking facilities would
be installed on streets in the areas.
Residents have been up in arms
at some motorists' parking, which
have been blocking pavements
and even emergency vehicles.
The proposals for the controlled
parking are still in their early stages.
4
Medieval building
found under
Llandaff toilets
Archaeologists have discovered what
they consider a 'high status' medieval
building under former public toilets
in Llandaff. The location of the site
next to the 13th century Old Bishop's
Castle suggests that an important
person would have lived there.
The discovery was made during
a community dig which started in
September. A fireplace, chequered
ceramic floor tiles, animal bones and
old horse shoes were also uncovered
during the dig. Archaeologists have
dated the medieval building to about
1450.
The dig involved more than
200 schoolchildren and 35 other
volunteers. They were supervised
by archaeologists Dr Tim Young
of GeoArch and Louise Mumford,
Archivist of The Cathedral School.
Conservatives candidate Mia Rees
was recently elected to Cardiff
Council after winning the Whitchurch
and Tongwynlais by-election with
36% of the vote.
The result means the Conservatives
have held onto the seat, with 1,544
votes. The by-election was triggered
following the death of Timothy Davies.
Llandaff 50+ and Llandaff Society
volunteers also worked throughout
the event.
Lead archaeologist Dr Tim Young
told the media:
"This was a surprise to find a high
status building. It includes a Bath
Stone fire surround which was
imported from the Bath area and
it is not really known as a stone in
Llandaff.
"It had always been assumed that
the area was the pound before that so
the discovery of a medieval dwelling
on the site was quite unexpected," he
added.
BBC Wales staff begin their move from
Llandaff to Cardiff city centre
Staff at BBC Wales have begun
moving to their new home in Cardiff
city centre.
Around 1,000 members of staff are
due to migrate to the new city centre
building over the next few months.
The move will bring an end to more
than 50 years of broadcasting from
the Llandaff site.
The new 150,000 sq ft building,
which is around half the size of its
current site, was first announced
in 2015. It's designed to reduce
operating costs and provide
BBC Wales with a future-proof,
contemporary environment equipped
with cutting-edge technology.
The new headquarters is spread over
five floors, with a rooftop garden that
can double up as a shooting location.
On the ground floor, there are three
TV studios and an additional flexible
space, which is adjacent to the
studios and next to an open atrium
area. The public will be invited into
the centre for a range of tours, and
community and learning activities.
The Llandaff site is set to be
converted into housing after the staff
have completed the move. In 2014,
it was confirmed that Broadcasting
House and Ty Oldfield would be
demolished and turned into 400
residential units. Broadcasting House
was officially opened by Princess
Margaret on St David's Day in 1967.
Conservatives win local by-election
Mia said:
"I love where I live and I want to be
part of making it even better. Most of
the issues which frustrate residents
can be improved and I'm determined
to make that happen.
"The main areas I will focus on
include tackling parking issues and
traffic concerns."

Your letters
WE
letters
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We love to hear what you've been up to
so send us your letters and photos!
We'll do our best to print them all.
editor@livingmags.co.uk
Police history
I formerly served in both Cardiff
City Police and South Wales
Constabulary. Whilst the City
Police had responsibility for most
of the city, this did not extend
to Whitchurch and other areas
in north-west Cardiff. That same
area was provided with cover by
the Glamorganshire Fire Brigade
with a station near Velindre
Hospital.
At some point, the City Police
took over those areas before
all forces in South Wales were
amalgamated to form the South
Wales Police, which occurred
during 1969.
I made a plaque some years
ago, showing badges of the
Glamorgan Force. These are:
1. Officer's cap badge
2. Helmet plate
3. Belt buckle insignia
4. Dragon collar badges
The Fox
I glance out of my window
view a fox scurrying down the
street
setting off my outside light
under neon and an orange-grey
sky
Cats will retreat under cars
and wise birds will rise in the early
morn
in order to survive the chorus at
dawn.
I admire the creature's golden
beauty
far more awe-inspiring to me
than the fireworks on New Year's
Eve.
It roams alone, untamed, raw, free,
as transient as a dream
but its appearance a pleasant
surprise
yet never again to be seen by my
eyes
Guy Fletcher
Rhiwbina
Your readers may find this of
interest. I also have a similar
plaque showing the badges
of the four forces involved
in that amalgamation, from
Cardiff, Glamorgan, Merthyr and
Swansea.
David Prichard
Rumney
Cardiff
Why is our park
neglected?
Through the medium of your
magazine, I would like to complain
about the state that one of our
local parks has been left in.
Over the last few years, Gabalfa
Park, situated between College
Road and Aberporth Road, has
been very much neglected by
the local Council. Your readers
may remember that the park
was featured in Crimewatch five
years ago, following the sexual
assault on a teenager by a group
of boys. Since then, the park has
deteriorated rapidly. Its equipment
has been either vandalised or
taken away yet despite concerns
put forward to the Council, the
state of the park seems to get
worse by the month.
When I passed through there last
month, there was shattered glass,
lots of litter strewn around the
place and the place looks as if it's
in a state of permanent disrepair.
I feel sorry both for the children
who are now unable to use it and
the parents of little ones who have
one less place to take them.
Added to all of this, the lighting is
almost non-existent which renders
the park essentially unusable as
soon as it gets dark.
I understand that there are more
important things in the world that
need attending to right now but
it does sadden me to see a local
facility like this disappear before
our eyes.
Lucy Wheeler
Llandaff North
5

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kids
Dear
Santa
Santa Claus
Lapland
North Pole
Dear Santa
Dear Santa
I’m looking
forward to
Christmas Day
this year. I hope
it snows!
I think I'm on the Good List
because I’ve been helping
out at school and at home
throughout the year.
Please can you bring me Our
Generation School set?
Have my elves, Charlie and
Cheeky, been good helpers
this year?
Jenna aged 8
This year, I'm looking forward
to the presents I will get.
I think that I'm on the Good List,
because I have been good at laying
the table.
Please can you
bring me fancy
dress costumes,
Captain America,
Hulk and Black Panther
as well as more
Transformers.
Have a safe travel and
I hope you are ready.
Giacomo
aged 6
Dear Santa
I look forward to my elf Timmy coming
back in December and also seeing my
family and opening my presents.
I think I'm on your Good List because
I've been playing with my sister.
I would like an LOL doll, Hatchimals,
Descendants dolls, a doll of Mary
Poppins, a sewing kit, a Harry Potter
colouring and activity book, and a
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
book.
Please put me on the Good List!
Rosie aged 8
Dear Santa
I am looking forward to meeting all
of my family and opening all of my
presents this Christmas.
I think that I am on the Good List
because I always try my hardest, look
out for others and care for people.
Please can you bring me LOLs and
a tablet.
Thank you for the presents I have
had in previous years.
Holly aged 8

Dear Santa
I am looking forward to opening presents
and seeing my family this Christmas. I'm
also excited about Chippy my elf coming
back to stay because I love finding her in
funny places and talking to her.
My Mummy thinks that I'm on the Good
List as I look after my little brother and
make him laugh, and I am kind to my
friends.
I really want an iPod for Christmas because
you can chat to friends and play games
on it. I would also like the
Descendants dolls.
I hope you and all the
elves are having fun
getting ready
for Christmas.
Evie
aged 8
Dear Santa
I am looking forward to spending time
with my family this Christmas.
I'd like to think that I'm on the
Good List because I am kind and
helpful.
For Christmas, I'd like a litter
picker, a chin-up bar and a
skateboard.
Thank you for my Christmas
presents.
Molly aged 9
Dear Santa
I am looking forward to opening
my presents, seeing my family and
going to the fun house at Winter
Wonderland.
I think I'm on your Good List as
I have been good and I am kind to
everybody but sometimes I have
been naughty.
For Christmas, I'd like Hot Wheels
and Space Lego.
I love you Santa.
I hope you have a
great day. I wish I
could see you in
Lapland again.
Eddie aged 5
Dear Santa
I'm looking forward
to Christmas because
you bring me
presents.
I think I am on the
Good List because
sometimes I’m a
good boy. I’ve been good today!
I’d like a planet calendar for
Christmas please.
You're the best because you
give presents to all of us.
Charlie aged 6
Dear Santa
I'm looking forward to seeing the
presents under the Christmas tree.
I think I'm on the Good List
because I like giving Mummy
cuddles and being a good friend to
my friends.
For Christmas, I'd like a new kitten,
and a Robux card.‍‍
Thank you for
bringing our
presents every year
and your beard is
beautiful .
Dear Santa
I'm looking forward to visiting
Uncle Ed in London this Christmas.
I think I'm on the Good List
because I like helping people. For
Christmas, I'd like a new kitten and
a glowpad.
Please can you keep me on the
Good List Santa
and I like your beard.
Ava aged 8
Dear Santa
Sophia aged 8
I’m looking forward to Christmas dinner with
my family.
I think I’m just on the Good List because I’m
better at rugby and listening.
This year, I’d like Minecraft LEGO and Nerf
guns.
Watch out for our new
puppy when you come
down the chimney- she
likes to chew things!
Seb aged 9

How can you help your teen manage their stress?
by Rebecca Salter of Kip McGrath Cardiff West
Having to cope with some level of
anxiety and stress is a normal part
of dealing with everyday life. We
need to develop coping strategies
throughout our lives. However,
there is a difference between
positive stress that motivates a
young person to work hard and the
debilitating and crushing worry
that leaves some children unable
to function.
Good sleep
Teenagers need 9 ¼ hours sleep
a night - something they often
don’t get! This can be due to
using games consoles, YouTube
or smartphones until late into the
night. Screen time before bed
delays the release of melatonin and
makes falling asleep more difficult.
So, our teens are trying to function
on less sleep than they need and
yet are still expected to learn every
day. As exam pressure is piled on,
young people become exhausted
and unable to cope with school
work. A regular sleep routine and
controlled use of screens can really
help and the earlier this can be
established the better!
Study routines
Good study routines, set up from as
early as possible in their school life,
can really help your teenager when
school and exam stress begins in
earnest in years 10 and 11. It is never
too early to start to build in specific
times for homework and breaks for
rest and play. A regular routine is
calming and makes workload seem
more manageable. It also allows for
your child to complete homework
as they receive it, rather than let
it pile up. Then, they feel more in
control of their work and are calmer,
less anxious, more confident
students.
Lead the way yourself
Children look to the adults in
their lives as examples when
dealing with difficult situations. If
you are finding that stress is hard
to manage, your children could
create learned behaviours from
observation. As a parent you are
doing such an important job but
never forget that it is okay to have
time out just for YOU. Don’t feel
guilty. You need a balanced life so
that you can show your children
how to lead one themselves.
Don’t leave it too late to get them
help - if you think your child could
benefit from extra support, trust
your instincts as a parent. No-one
knows your child better than you.
Call today if you would like a free
assessment and to see how we can
help your child gain the confidence
and study skills they need.
A: Unit 3, Hollybush Estate, Coryton
Cardiff CF14 7DS
T: 02920 628568
W: kipmcgrath.co.uk/cardiff-west
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Radio DJ and producer Bethan Elfyn talks about her career to date -
and how the BBC's move from Llandaff has reinvigorated her work
If there's one person who knows
what's what and who's who in
Welsh music, it's Bethan Elfyn. She's
just made the move from the BBC's
Llandaff studios to their new city
centre building - and she's loving
her new home:
"Look at this!" she says, offering
the view from the floor-to-ceiling
windows. "You can see all over the
city and down to Penarth! Isn't it
great?"
Bethan is excited with her new
working home and the possibilities
of collaboration and opportunities
it can bring. Her reputation for
championing new Welsh music
goes before her, but it all could
have been so very different, had
it not been for a trip across the
English Channel back in the 1990s.
"I grew up in Newtown in mid
Wales. It was a rural upbringing and
it was quite late in life that I fell in
love with the music scene."
During her time in Sixth Form,
Bethan had gone to France to work.
"I went there to learn French but
I had to do a cleaning job while I
was there to pay my way. None of
the people there spoke English
so it was a really excellent way
of learning the language. I had
to communicate through sign
language for the first few weeks
until I was able to start talking about
bed sheets in French!” she says.
12
"While I was there, I met two guys
from Belfast and they introduced
me to punk music. Whereas my pop
compilation from Woolworths in
Newtown had been Lenny Kravitz
and all the chart hits of the time, I
remember hearing this punk music
and it transformed everything for
me. It was a real revelation."
The moment would be the start of
a love relationship with music that
would change her life.
"These two guys were from an
urban background on the streets
of Belfast and it was such an
awakening. I remember coming
back to Sixth Form a different
person."
For a girl that had grown up around
farmer's discos and barn dances,
her new found passion was to divert
Bethan's life trajectory forever.
"I still wanted to explore academia
but my reasons were now different.
Suddenly I wanted to experience
music and concerts."
Before she even arrived in
Cardiff to start a degree in English
Literature, Bethan was writing and
blogging for music publications.
"I wrote to Spillers record shop
to try and get a Saturday job there
and everything about moving to
Cardiff was suddenly all about
the music scene. It just coincided
with everything that was going on
with the Welsh music scene too.
I remember going to Eisteddfods
and seeing early incarnations of
people like Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
- I was watching them in Clwb Ifor
Bach before any of us were even
old enough to be there."
Bethan's arrival in Cardiff was
perfectly synchronised with what
became known as Cool Cymru,
the Welsh cultural movement that
centred around music, independent
film and other artistic endeavours
by young Welsh figures prior to, and
during the new millennium. The
movement was highlighted in 1999
when the BBC announced that year
as the 'Year of Cool Cymru'.
During the 1990s, Wales enjoyed
a period of prominence from some
of its sports stars like Joe Calzaghe
and Ryan Giggs on the world stage.
In Wales itself, the construction of
the Millennium Stadium and the
regeneration of Cardiff Bay added to
the country's reputation. But it was
music that perhaps had the greatest
impact on Welsh fortunes, with
the likes of Super Furry Animals
and Catatonia incorporating Welsh
language into their repertoire.
For Bethan, it was like arriving at a
gold rush.
"Moving to university here when
all the bands were doing well was
incredible. There was a concert
down at Cardiff Bay called the Big
Noise Festival, headlined by Paul
Photo © Hannah Tottle

Weller. The stage was floating on
the water and all the big Welsh
bands at that time were on the
line up. Being in Cardiff around
that time, being at the heart of it
and going out to all the clubs, my
studies probably suffered. But it was
so exciting to be part of it."
Bethan spent her university years
interviewing bands, writing for
music publications and helping
behind the scenes at festivals.
"I recognised that I wanted to go
into music journalism and I got a
job at Radio Cymru as a general
reporter. I had to move up to Bangor
for that so I suddenly had to uproot
from Cardiff. It was a great time for
me though because I learnt my
trade producing radio shows tucked
away in a small room. I organised
loads of sessions and I got to know
the music scene up there. I also
received a lot of training in news
and documentary making.
"I was a day-to-day reporter
but also worked as a late-night
producer. I was there for two years."
It was while Bethan was at Bangor
in 1999 that she got the gig of her
life. Along with Whitchurch's Huw
Stephens, she was chosen to front
BBC Radio One's exclusive new
music show for Wales, the Session
in Wales, presenting the late-night
show on BBC Radio One.
"Huw was in Cardiff then and we’d
only met twice at gigs. He was still
at school at this point and he was
also piloting for Radio One. Up until
then, he used to create these mini
reports for me at Radio Cymru but
then we landed the Radio One job
together."
Broadcasting from the Llandaff
studio, Huw and Bethan's show
lasted until 2010.
"The world opened up for us
both by working for such a big
brand. I travelled the world making
documentaries and hosting and
DJing at festivals. Huw and I would
find ourselves compèring huge
festivals like the Reading Festival -
and none of this came naturally to
us.
"Being Welsh, we were always a
little bit shy, especially at the live
shows. When we first started, we
suddenly found ourselves in front
of 20,000 heavy metal fans. You can
imagine the things that were going
through our heads. There was one
occasion when I was introducing
the Reading Festival headliner
– while facing the crazy crowd,
someone came on stage and tried
to wrestle the microphone from
me. I was still mid-sentence when I
realised it was the headliner, eager
to start - It was Ian Brown!
"We hosted the very first Radio
One Big Weekend in Swansea.
There were 60,000 people there.
Being new to it all, we did that thing
where you think the microphone
is never going to be loud enough
and we shouted a lot! It was surreal
walking around the portacabins
backstage and working with people
like Beyoncé and Will Young and
I kept asking myself the question
'Erm. And I'm here because?..."
Despite her contemporaries
including the likes of Sarah Cox,
Zoe Ball, Jamie Theakston and Chris
Moyles, Bethan was never fully
convinced that she was there on
merit.
"I look back at the photos of some
of the Christmas parties we had
and I still wonder how I ended up
there. I think they call it Imposter
Syndrome. There was one time I
was at Buckingham Palace talking
to Tony Blair who was the Prime
Minister at the time and wondering
how a girl from mid Wales had
ended up here. Thankfully there
were a few Celts from other nations
working in similar roles to me at the
station and that helped."
Bethan's deep-rooted Welsh
heritage has helped forge a unique
place within the broadcasting
sphere.
"As Welsh people, most of us are
not born into privilege. We're often
told to get a job and get on with life.
In the past, our role models have
been mainly sports people. And
when you have a country that’s so
small, you become a lot fiercer on
identity.
"I think there’s more going on in the
Cardiff music scene now than there
was 20 years ago though. We don’t
see it as much now but it’s more
prolific than it was back then. That
can only be a good thing."
Bethan still hosts her own show
on BBC Radio Wales while juggling
a producer and project manager
role in production, both in radio and
outside the studio.
"For the last five years, I've been
running the music project Horizons,
which is a joint initiative between
BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts
Council for Wales to promote new
Welsh music. We mentor artists and
arrange festivals.
"I've also recently been nominated
to the Cardiff Music Board, which
is the new Council strategy to
instigate more musical discussion
around the city. It’s all very exciting."
The move from the Llandaff
studios to the city centre has also
given Bethan a fresh outlook on her
interview
work.
"It’s an incredible new lease of life
to be working in the centre of town.
Saying that, I did enjoy Llandaff - it's
a beautiful village. I'd sometimes
head into the High Street and the
parks around the area are so lovely."
But Bethan is keen to look at the
positive side of the move:
"Some have found it hard to leave
Llandaff; there’s a lot of history in
those corridors and studios and a
lot of fond memories. But I’m not
nostalgic about moving because
it’s about the work you do and the
people you represent."
With BBC Wales starting its new
chapter in the city centre, Bethan's
future is still up for grabs.
"For the last few years, I’ve been
bringing up two little ones and any
level of ambition has been put on
hold while I deal with kids' parties
and gymnastics. If I didn’t have kids,
I’d probably have said that my next
step would be to travel the world
or write a book or something. But
having two kids, my main ambition
in life is now to get to Friday,” she
laughs.
"I have achieved some memorable
things in the last 20 years though.
From making documentaries
around the world to meeting
musical heroes and household
radio names, it’s been an incredible
era. Perhaps the one memory that
stands out was a DJ set I did in a
deserted skiing resort in Australia.
And yes, you heard that correctly -
in Australia – on Mount Buller. Nick
Cave had curated a festival and he’d
just finished his set. A friend and I
were DJing in the village square and
we saw a crowd of people coming
down the mountain after watching
Nick Cave’s show and flooding the
old skiing square where we were
playing. We had a tiny little stage
and everyone simply came to us
and danced all night under the
stars. Magical!
"It was one of those moments
where once again, I asked myself
the question 'What am I doing
here?'"
Bethan's aim has always been
to support new Welsh music,
broadcasting it side by side with
the latest exciting new bands and
producers from around the world.
Breathing life into the Welsh music
industry is something that Bethan
continues to do to this very day.
So when Wales’s next artists make
their mark on the world, be sure
that Bethan has had a hand in their
rise to fame somewhere along the
line.
13

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The
Joy of
Giving
Christmas is a time of
giving. Spread a little
joy this Christmas with a
few alternative ideas
65 1. BAKE FOR A
NEIGHBOUR
Maintaining neighbourly relationships can be
helped with kind and unexpected touches. Baking
a cake is an ideal way to bestow the festive spirit on
your neighbours.
6 2. GIFT A STRANGER
Happiness is often found in selfless acts. Prepare a
parcel for a stranger and leave it on their doorstep
on Christmas Eve. Alternatively, there are websites
where you can swap gifts with complete strangers
across the world.
5 3. DONATE TO A FOODBANK
Amid all the excess of Christmas, there are those who
struggle to even obtain the basics. There are plenty of
Foodbanks in and around Cardiff and some of these dropoff
points can be found towards the exits of supermarkets.
Foodbanks often need tinned fruit, long-life fruit juice, UHT
milk, rice pudding and tinned vegetables.
6 4. SPEND TIME WITH
LONELY NEIGHBOURS
Loneliness can be difficult to cope with at any time
of the year, but for some, the added expectation of
festive cheer and togetherness can be too much.
Clear your diary and spend some time with lonely
neighbours - you may be the only person they see
over the festive season.
16

feature
5 5. SHOP WORKERS
Retail can be a difficult time for its workers and
customers can often be difficult and demanding.
You can make all the difference to a workers' day
with the simple act of smiling. If a worker provides
great service, seek out a manager or a comments
card and pass on some good feedback.
8 6. BUY A HOT DRINK FOR
A HOMELESS PERSON
Winter can be very unforgiving for those on the
streets and a hot drink will warm them both
physically and emotionally.
65 7. STICK POST-IT NOTES IN
PUBLIC PLACES
You never know when someone just needs to hear the right
words or when they're having a rough day. You can easily
get a message of hope across to strangers at Christmas by
leaving inspirational messages on post-it notes in public
places. Keep them short and simple and very positive. It is
the season of goodwill after all!
65 8. DONATE TO ANIMAL
SHELTERS
Animals deserve a Christmas too and for those down at the
animal shelters, it can often be a lonely time. Even if you
don't donate food or toys, making a financial donation will
be just as welcome.
5 9. DONATE TOYS TO A
WOMEN'S REFUGE
There are plenty of children who will go without
this Christmas and some of those will be spending
the season in a women's refuge. Families often flee
from their homes to escape abuse, leaving behind
their possessions and friends. Pick up a few items
when you are out doing your Christmas shopping
and drop them to your local women's refuge
centre, where they will be most welcomed.
6 10. TAKE TREATS INTO WORK
Working at Christmas can be a chore so why not lighten
the mood by taking in some festive treats to keep those
spirits up? It doesn't have to be anything fancy - even just a
few biscuits or cakes will do.
If you find that you've been given too many boxes of
chocolates for Christmas, these can always be shared with
colleagues.
17

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feature
Winter
Traditions
The Winter is a time of tradition and
familiarity yet we rarely often stop to
ask about their origins. Here are the
backgrounds to a few of our known
and less well-known customs
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scots word
for the last day of the year
and is synonymous with the
celebration of the New Year
(Gregorian calendar) in the
Scottish manner.
There are many customs
and traditions, both national
and local, associated with
Hogmanay. The most common
national custom is the practice
of first-footing, which starts
immediately after midnight.
This involves being the first
person to cross the threshold
of a friend or neighbour's house
and often involves the giving
of symbolic gifts such as coal,
shortbread, whisky and fruit
cake, which is supposed to bring
different kinds of luck to the
householder.
It is tradition that a dark-haired
man should be the first-foot and
it can go on for many hours after
midnight.
There are also
many local
customs in
Scotland such as
fireball swinging -
balls of fire swung
around on chains.
Twelfth Night
Wassailing in an orchard
Also known as Epiphany Eve,
and celebrated on January 5th,
Twelfth Night celebrates the last
night of the Christmas period.
Food and drink were
traditionally a main feature of
Twelfth Night and in some areas
of the UK, people would go out
to orchards and 'wassail'. This
ancient custom involved singing
to the trees to encourage a good
harvest for the forthcoming year.
A popular Twelfth Night tradition
was to have a bean and pea
hidden inside a Twelfth Night
cake; the man who found the
bean in his slice of cake became
King for the night while the lady
who found a pea in her slice
of cake became Queen for the
night.
Mari Lwyd
The Mari Lwyd is an ancient
Welsh custom which used to be
widespread but now survives
only in a few places, whereas
in other locations it is usually a
revival of a dormant custom.
Mari Lwyd means 'grey mare',
and she takes the form of a
decorated horse-skull on a
pole operated by a man in a
white sheet. The Mari would
be paraded around the district
in return for refreshment as a
house-visiting custom. A feature
of the event was the singing
battle between the visiting party
and householders, followed by
the visitors being invited in for
cake.
The custom was first recorded
in 1800.
A contemporary Mari Lwyd

Burns Night
Burns Night is annually
celebrated in Scotland on
or around January 25th. It
commemorates the life of the
poet Robert Burns, who was
born on January 25th 1759.
The day also celebrates Burns'
contribution to Scottish culture.
His best known work is Auld Lang
Syne.
Many people and organisations
hold a Burns Supper on or
around Burns Night. Everyone
enjoys a hearty feast (which
includes haggis, neeps and
tatties, rounded off with drams of
whisky). Some of Burns’ poems
and songs are recited, and
tributes are made to the great
Bard.
St Dwynwen’s Day
St Dwynwen’s Day is celebrated in
Wales on 25th January.
St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint
of lovers, which makes her the Welsh
equivalent of St Valentine. Dwynwen
is believed to have been a daughter of
King Brychan Brycheiniog, who lived in
the 5th century.
People exchange cards and gifts, take
time out and have special meals with
loved ones.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the
day before Lent starts on
Ash Wednesday.
The name Shrove
comes from the old
middle English word
'Shriven' meaning to
go to confession to say
sorry for the wrong
things you've done.
Lent always starts on a
Wednesday, so people
went to confessions
on the day before. This
became known as Shriven Tuesday and then Shrove Tuesday.
The other name for this day, Pancake Day, comes from the old English
custom of using up all the fattening ingredients in the house before Lent,
so that people were ready to fast. The fattening ingredients that most
people had in their houses in those days were eggs and milk.
Kissing Friday
Kissing Friday is no longer a popular
tradition in the UK but until the mid-
20th century, on this day a schoolboy
could kiss a girl without fear of a slap
or a telling off.
If the boys wanted to the kiss the
girls, they had to catch them. Some
boys would tie ropes across the
street and the girls would have to
pay for passage past the rope with a
kiss. Others would simply chase the
girls until they caught them.
Boxing Day
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the Christian
holy day of prayer and fasting.
As it is the first day of Lent,
Christians begin Ash Wednesday by
marking a Lenten calendar, praying
a Lenten daily devotional, and
abstaining from a luxury that they
will not partake of until Eastertide
arrives.
Ashes are ceremonially placed
on the heads of Christians on
Ash Wednesday, either by being
sprinkled over their heads or more
often, by being marked on their
foreheads as a visible cross.
Leap Year
In the Gregorian calendar, the
standard calendar in most of
the world, most years that are
multiples of four are leap years.
In each leap year, such as 2020,
the month of February has 29
days instead of 28. Adding one
extra day in the calendar every
four years compensates for the
fact that a period of 365 days is
shorter than a tropical year by
almost 6 hours.
In Ireland and Britain, it is
a tradition that women may
propose marriage only in leap
years. A person born on February
29th may be called a 'leapling' or
a 'leaper'.

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have an
eco christmas
The planet may not be at the top of
your Christmas list but it does need
your help. Here are a few ways to make
your Christmas more eco-friendly
Christmas cards
Around 1.5 billion Christmas cards
are thrown away by UK households
each year. Bearing in mind that
Christmas cards were first sent in
1840, that's a lot of trees that have
been sacrificed over those 150
years!
If you still want to send traditional
greetings, choose cards that are
sustainably resourced or made
from recycled card. Many large
retailers have stopped using glitter
on their cards because it's so hard
to recycle - making the conscious
choice to avoid glitter will help.
Try and deliver your cards in
person and if you'd like to cut down
on your carbon footprint further,
you may want to consider sending
e-cards instead. Seeded cards are
also available. Plant your cards after
they are used and watch plants
grow from them months later!
Brown parcel
paper
Lots of gift wrappings contain
varying degrees of plastic,
rendering it unrecyclable. This of
course, all goes straight in the bin
once it's discarded. Opt for the
more eco-friendly (and elegant!)
alternative of wrapping your gifts in
recycled brown paper and string.
Not only does it look more stylish,
but it can be recycled once finished
with.
Use your own trees
Up to 8 million Christmas trees are
bought every December in the UK
and that's potentially a lot of waste
once Christmas has gone.
If you usually buy real trees for
outside displays, consider using
any trees that are already there.
Indoors, you can either purchase
large plants (like yucca for instance)
if you don't already have them and
decorate those. It'll help with your
impact on the environment.
Recycle your tree
'Real' Christmas trees are
recyclable and can be shredded
into chippings which are then
used locally in parks or woodland
areas.
You can often get your tree
recycled by the local Council, who
can let you know where and when
to take your tree. Some Councils
also offer collections. Check your
local authority website or give
them a call for more information.

feature
Go rustic
With the current drive to ditch the plastic, it's a great
excuse to bring a more Nordic, rustic Christmas into
your home. Creating a woodland theme can be done
by adding forest finds, handmade decorations and
soft, cosy fabrics.
Your living room is likely to be the place where
you hibernate for most of Christmas and this can be
adorned with pine cone garlands and twigs from
the garden. Adding foliage and holly boughs around
the room can also add to the festive feel. Add cosy
cushions and throws to keep you warm. By creating a
woodland indoors, not only are you making your very
own Winter Wonderland, you're reducing the amount
of plastic and waste.
Vegan food choices
Veganism has really taken off in the last few years. There are several
reasons why people have turned vegan and saving the environment is
one of the main ones. The meat industry's environmental impact is huge.
It contributes to land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, acid rain,
coral reef degeneration and deforestation.
There is now a wealth of vegan food options available, meaning that you
don't have to go without gorgeous food at Christmas. In fact, creating an
entirely plant-based Christmas dinner has never been easier. As well as
your traditional nut roasts, there are countless meat alternatives for those
who can't bear to go without their meaty dishes. And for desserts, there'll
be no need to serve up fruit salad as many supermarket shelves are full of
luxurious and ethically-sound yumminess.
Let's face it - it'll save you going through the traditional Christmas
discussion about how boring and tasteless turkey is this year.
Share transport
We often think of Christmas as a
busy time and this is often best
illustrated when our roads are
clogged up with traffic.
Ask if your neighbours need a
lift to do their shopping or even
arrange a lift rota with friends over
the Christmas period.
You can make Christmas travel
greener by using public transport
where possible and if you are
shopping online, try and arrange
for bulk deliveries to cut down on
delivery van runs.
Gift sustainably
There are plenty of outlets where
you can source sustainable
gifts. From ethical and fair trade
to organic and recycled goods,
every little really does help the
environment.
You may even want to go down
the route of buying alternative gifts
such as adopting an endangered
animal or donating to ethical
charities. These are the type of gifts
that keep on giving and benefit
those in need.
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Flooring the
Competition
Carpet Castle in
Caerphilly are celebrating
45 years in South Wales
Carpet Castle in Caerphilly
have become one of the
region’s biggest success
stories by selling brand name
carpets at
bargainbasement
prices.
As this family
business
continues
to grow, we
caught up
with director
Andrew
Graham to talk about the
secret of their success.
So how are you able to sell the
same carpets as the big national
chains at these incredible prices?
People in South Wales love a
bargain and by keeping our costs
low and being really selective with
our buying, we’re able to beat the
competition virtually every time.
We buy only in full truck loads,
direct from the best manufacturers
across the UK and Europe, and we
have a very large storage facility
in Caerphilly, so when we find
a bargain, we can buy massive
quantities. When we do a deal, it’s
quite common that we’ll clear out
an entire factory. Just last week, a
manufacturer contacted us about
an oversupply issue, so we took 400
room-size pieces off their hands and
these were top brands - the sort of
stuff that would fetch £30 a square
metre normally and we’ll be selling
Sponsored feature
them at about £10 a square metre.
How have you expanded the
business?
Honestly, when you get the prices
and the service levels right, the
customers just seem to find you.
Word of mouth is the best form of
advertising. Like I said, we don’t like
to waste money on anything and
that includes expensive advertising
campaigns!
How have things changed in the
industry over the last few years?
We’ve noticed that our customers
have responded really well to the
improvements we’ve made to our
service levels. We have an amazing
team in-store, a really lovely group
and they go out of their way to help
people. We deliver within 24 hours,
measure up free of charge and
even dispose of the customers’ old
carpets. The team will always do
their best to help every customer
save money. We’ve also worked
really hard to ensure 100% stock
availability on all our best-sellers.
How has the internet impacted the
business?
The transactional side of things
hasn’t been affected at all, but the
visibility stuff has, so we’ve built
up our online presence in terms of
SEO and PPC. However, the biggest
factor has been the online customer
reviews. Many of our customers
leave reviews on Facebook, Google,
Trustpilot and other portals and
we’re really lucky to have received
hundreds of five star ratings and
lovely reviews. These days it’s really
important to engage with social
media and I think the transparency is
appreciated by potential customers.
The business is entering its 50th
year. How did it begin?
It actually began as a DIY discount
centre in the 1970s. My Dad started
it with his own savings and an
incredible work ethic. He really
built it up from nothing. Today it has
obviously grown into something
a lot bigger but the central ethos
of incredible value for money and
down-to-earth service is just as
present now as it was when he
began all those years ago. We
actually still have customers who
remember it opening. They have
trusted us for almost half a century
and that’s something we’re really
proud of.
What do you think the future holds
for Carpet Castle?
Hopefully we’ll keep growing. Every
year we take on more staff, expand
our product ranges and look for
new growth areas - like our amazing
artificial grass business. We will
always look at new ways that we
can disrupt the marketplace and
offer better value for money for the
customer.
Andrew Graham is a director at
Carpet Castle
Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly
029 20884951
www.carpetcastlecaerphilly.co.uk
Wales' biggest independent
carpet showroom

2
1
3
4
Gorgeous
gifts
1. Steepletone Mini 2.Floral body
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This compact mini This rich nourishing
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CD, MP3 & Aux-in aroma. Enriched
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with vitamins A, B
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28
3. Robert Welch
Nest Candelabrum
Five Arm, Stainless
Steel £190
Made from high
quality 18/10
stainless steel,
this hand-finished
candelabrum
comes with a mirror
finish and is gift
boxed.
Leekes
Put a smile on the faces of loved ones this
Christmas with our hand-picked
collection of thoughtful gifts
4. Handmade
embroidered
pouch £6.99
Handmade in India
using beautiful
embroidered fabric
with contrasting
piping and tassel,
this vibrant pouch is
perfect for holding
your make up
essentials.
Oxfam
5. Sleepy Sheep
Hot Water Bottle
Cover £22.50
Hand-knitted,
sheep themed hot
water bottle cover.
With buttoned flap
opening. Made
from 100% wool in
Nepal. Suitable for
a standard 2 litre
sized water bottle.
ethicalshop.org
6. Skog scented
candles £29
The fragrance will
scent a mid-sized
room for up to 45
hours, and the
painted glass votive
glows colourfully
when lit. Wash and
re-use the glass
votives for tealights
when finished.
www.trouva.com

5
6
7
9
8
11 12
10
7. Men's vegan
leather watch by
CHPO £49.99
With a black dial,
dark vegan brown
leather, this watch
is boxed in eco
friendly packaging.
Designed in
Sweden, made
for everyone,
everywhere.
wearthlondon.co.uk
8. Railway Poster
Art Calendar £9.99
Featuring a
delightful selection
of vintage artwork
from the National
Railway Museum,
this sustainably
sourced 2020
wall calendar will
delight any seaside
enthusiast.
ethicalsuperstore.com
9. Emerald Green
& Gold Zip Around
Vegan Purse £38
This stylish marble
inspired design is
the work of Swiss
artist Elisabeth
Fredriksson. The
purse has 12 card
compartments with
a central zipper
pocket.
ethical.market
10. Vegan snack
bag £5
A washable vegan
leather snack
pouch with a roll
top and popper
fastener, perfect for
snacks on the go.
It feels like paper
but it's incredibly
robust and is also
machine-washable
up to 60 degrees!
thewisehouse.co.uk
11. Reusable water
bottle from £25
Gifting a friend this
gorgeous water
bottle from S'well
is a great step
towards reducing
our planet's reliance
on plastic. Keeps
beverages cold for
24 hours or hot for 12
hours.
John Lewis
12. Plastic free razor
kit £26.99
Say goodbye to
disposable plastic
razors and poor
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this eco-friendly
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29

On a rainy November day in 2009, a bronze
statue was unveiled in Cardiff.
Among the umbrellas and dignitaries that
were present on that day was Lady Mair
Griffith-Williams.
She was there to honour her father, who had once
been described as the Greatest Living Welshman - and
with good reason.
The statue was that of Major Sir Tasker Watkins VC
GBE DL. He was a war hero, a Lord Justice of Appeal
and Deputy Lord Chief Justice. And if that wasn't
enough, he would go on to become a household
name throughout Welsh rugby when he took over the
presidency of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Many thousands who pass this statue on their way to
watch Wales play will be unaware of the incredible
life story of the man who spent a large part of his
life living in Llandaff. Born in Nelson in November
1918, Tasker won a scholarship to Pontypridd
Boys' Grammar School. In 1931 he moved with
his parents to Dagenham and attended school in
Romford. Here, he would captain the cricket and
football teams and also play rugby.
After the outbreak of war, he served in the ranks
from October 1939 until May 1941, when he was
granted an emergency commission as a second
lieutenant, the Welch Regiment, which formed
part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division.
By 1944, Tasker had risen to the position of
lieutenant, and in June of that year, he, along
with the rest of his division, was posted to France.
They arrived a few weeks after the famous D Day
Landings, and saw action throughout the summer
months.
By mid-August, Tasker was commanding a
battalion and was ordered to attack objectives
near the railway at Barfour. Their first task was to
cross open cornfields which were full of booby
traps. As dusk fell, the company came under
heavy fire. Tasker immediately led his group on
an assault against a German machine gun post.
Not only did they clear the machine gun post, but
went on to clear a second. Tasker was suddenly
faced with a German who was armed with an antitank
gun. Tasker attempted to fire on the German with
his Sten gun but the gun jammed. As the German took

aim at the Welshman, Tasker threw his Sten gun in the
German's face, took out his pistol and shot him before
the German had time to respond.
By now, Tasker's group had been reduced to just
30 men and were coming under fire from a German
counter-attack that was 50 men strong. Undeterred,
Tasker led a bayonet charge against the Germans,
which resulted in the almost complete annihilation of
the German group.
But the group was far from safe. In almost total
darkness, Tasker led his group around the enemy's
flank position upon which they had advanced. They
were spotted and Tasker was challenged by a German.
Tasker ordered his men to scatter and then charged the
German post and wiped them out. He was then able to
lead his men silently back to headquarters.
Tasker rarely spoke of the incident, save for one
comment he made about it years later, when he said
that 'I just got so totally bloody angry.'
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that
day. His citation read:
"On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France,
Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous
machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields
set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant
Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining
men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping
them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of
the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after
he had personally charged and silenced an enemy
machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety.
His superb leadership not only saved his men, but
decisively influenced the course of the battle."
In a 2001 Telegraph interview, Tasker said:
"You must believe me when I say it was just another
day in the life of a soldier. I did what needed doing to
help colleagues and friends, just as others looked out
for me during the fighting that summer... I didn't wake
up the next day a better or braver person, just different.
I'd seen more killing and death in 24 hours − indeed
been part of that terrible process − than is right for
anybody. From that point onwards, I have tried to take a
more caring view of my fellow human beings, and that,
of course, always includes your opponent, whether it
be in war, sport, or just life generally."
Tasker was only one of two Welsh soldiers to earn a
Victoria Cross during the Second World War.
As life began to return to normal following the war,
Tasker was called to the bar to become a member
of Middle Temple in 1948. He became a Queen's
Counsel in 1965, and in 1966, served as Counsel to the
Tribunal on the inquiry into the Aberfan disaster, which
happened a few miles from his birthplace.
He prosecuted in a number of cases involving Welsh
extremists, including the Free Wales Army trial in 1969.
The group had plotted to attack Caernarfon Castle
and assassinate Prince Charles during his investiture.
He also led the inquiry into Farleigh Mental Hospital,
Somerset, making recommendations over the handling
of violent patients by nurses.
In 1971 he was appointed a Judge of the High Court
in Family Division, and became regarded as one of the
most widely respected on the circuit. In 1988, he was
appointed Deputy Chief Justice of England by Lord
Lane, Lord Chief Justice at the time.
Tasker sat with Lord Lane on the case that removed
the 'offensive and anachronistic' idea that a man living
with his wife could not be convicted of her rape. He
recommended a posthumous pardon for Derek Bentley
of the infamous 'let him have it' murder case. Bentley
history
was wrongfully convicted of murdering a policeman
and was hanged in 1953, aged 19.
Tasker's work didn't go unnoticed. He became an
honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in
1992 and was made a freeman of the City of Cardiff
in 2004. He had also been made a privy counsellor in
1980 and awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order
of the British Empire in 1990.
But he wasn't done yet. In 1993, Tasker took on the
role of the 46th president of the Welsh Rugby Union. At
that time, Welsh rugby was in turmoil and renowned for
its infighting and fractious nature.
As a former outside-half for Glamorgan Wanderers
and Cardiff RFC, Tasker oversaw the transition of the
game from its amateur status to its professional one.
His presidency also ushered in the regional clubs that
exist today. By the time he stepped down in 2004, he
had become the second longest running president in
the WRU's history.
Admired by the players and management alike, the
Welsh team coach Graham Henry often pinned a
copy of Tasker's Victoria Cross citation in the players'
changing room before Six Nations matches.
Tasker was also President of Glamorgan Wanderers,
and patron from 1968 until his death. He could often be
found enjoying half a pint in the club's bar,
Tasker fell at his home in Llandaff in August 2007 and
was taken to the University Hospital Wales, Heath. He
died there on 9th September 2007. He was 88. The
Welsh national team wore black armbands in tribute to
him for their opening game in the Rugby World Cup.
His funeral was held at Llandaff Cathedral on 15th
September, and he was later cremated at Thornhill
Crematorium.
It was in 2009 that a statue of Tasker was unveiled
outside what was then known as the Millennium
Stadium.
Lord Judge, head of the judiciary in England and
Wales, told onlookers that he had learned a great deal
from Sir Tasker, paying tribute to his understanding and
sensitivity.
“When I first met Sir Tasker, he was already a man of
gargantuan achievement,” he said.
“He had a sensitivity, an understanding and a depth
of insight into human beings and how they worked. It’s
humbling for us all to be here beneath his statue.”
Tasker's humility and humanity, is perhaps, a lesson to
us all.
The plaque at the base of Tasker's statue
31

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Whitchurch & Llandaff
Through Time
In our historical series, Steve Nicholas takes a look at life in Whitchurch
and Llandaff North in bygone eras. In this issue, he features some
then and now photos of some local viewpoints
Glamorgan Canal near the Melingriffith, now Ty Mawr Road, Whitchurch Construction of the canal started in 1790
and it ran from the coalfields of Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Docks. Today, limited traces of the canal remain, about
one half being covered by the A470 Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil trunk road, which was constructed in the 1970s. The
section from Tongwynlais to the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works at Whitchurch has been retained in water and was
used for fishing, but is now the Glamorganshire Canal local nature reserve. In addition, there are a few bridges and
locks that still remain.
Whitchurch Police Station The station on Bishop's Road was built in 1908 and demolished in 2003. Housing
developers acquired the land and in 2007, they built eighteen apartments there called Bishops Gate.
34

history
Bishops Road, Whitchurch Bishops Road stretches all the way from the main shopping area on Merthyr Road,
down to the top of Llandaff North. The scene pictured is opposite where the old Police Station used to be and is
now home to several small businesses. The site is also now home to the Bishops Road Medical Centre.
Whitchurch Library shops The roundabout continues to host shops and is also home to Whitchurch Library. The
Whitchurch Serviceman Statue stands outside the library, overlooking the shops. Whitchurch Methodist Church is
also located here and has been expanded several times in the last century.
The Melingriffith Tinplate Works and Glamorganshire
Canal on Ty Mawr Road, Whitchurch Founded
sometime before 1750, it was the largest tin-plate
works in the world by the end of the 18th century. The
eleven rolling mills were situated at a lower level than
the other parts of the works in order to take advantage
of the fall of the water.
The Melingriffith Brass Band of the works was one of
the best known music ensembles in South Wales in the
late 19th and early 20th century and still perform today.
Steve Nicholas was born in
Llandaff North and has published
several photographic books about
Whitchurch and Llandaff North.
He also runs a website which is
full of historical information about
the area and lots of photos. You
can find more at
www.whitchurchandllandaff.co.uk
35

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pets
Your pet
questions
answered
Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. He’s here to answer all your pet
questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line
I understand that poinsettias
are harmful to pets at Christmas
but I was recently told that
cyclamen are also toxic. Is this
true and are there any other
festive plants that I should look
out for?
Poinsettias and cyclamen are
indeed toxic to dogs, usually
causing mild stomach upsets.
However, they are not the only
risks and many of the seasonal
plants we bring indoors at
Christmas are also toxic to
varying degrees. This includes
mistletoe, holly, cotoneaster,
pyracantha and solanum
('Christmas cherry') berries,
hellebores ('Christmas rose') and
daffodils. Lilies are very toxic
to cats, causing kidney failure.
There are many other toxic
plants you might bring into the
house but they aren’t common
at Christmas. In addition to the
plants mentioned, you should
be aware that the pips and
seeds from fruit (eg. apples,
apricots) contain small amounts
of cyanide and ingestion of
sufficient quantities can cause
poisoning.
While discussing Christmas
poisoning, please do remember
that raisins, sultanas and grapes
can also be very toxic, so be
careful that your dog gets no
mince pies or Christmas cake.
My dog has been suffering from
arthritis for the last two years
and after reading about how
CBD oil has helped humans, is
there any research for similar
use of CBD oil in relieving pain
in dogs?
CBD oil seems to be the latest
‘fad’! It is touted as a panacea for
all the ills of man (and woman)
and now is being picked up
by the pet industry. However,
there is precious little scientific
evidence for the claims made for
it in people, and absolutely none
for its use in animals. Therefore,
my advice would be to keep
clear of it for the present. If it
truly does have good effects,
there will be clinical trials
published in due course and we
will be able to recommend it
with confidence.
While out on a walk a few
weeks back, we met a dog
walker who told me that her
dog was recovering from a
bout of mange. My dog came
into very minimal contact with
her dog. Whenever my dog
starts scratching, I can’t tell if
I’m over-thinking the fact that
my dog has caught mange. Is it
contagious and what do I need
to know about it?
The mange that you are referring
to is a very itchy condition which
is caused by a parasitic mite that
burrows in the skin. People can
get a similar problem (scabies)
but the human version does
not infect dogs, and vice versa -
though dogs and foxes do share
the same infection. It is highly
contagious but most dogs are
infected by contact with objects
that infected foxes have rubbed
against – they are itchy too.
Spread between dogs requires
some close contact for the mites
to move to the new host.
I think it’s unlikely that your
dog will have contracted mange
from the brief meeting you had,
as transmission requires close
contact. In addition, if the other
dog was 'recovering from a
bout of mange', he presumably
had been treated. Treatment is
usually very effective at killing
the adult mites in the skin
so patients are generally not
contagious once treatment has
been given.
The new-generation flea and
tick treatments being prescribed
by vets nowadays are also very
effective against mange, so if
you are concerned, make sure
you use one of these for routine
parasite control.
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gardening
How gre
your ga
We all love our gardens but with the current climate crisis dominating the
headlines, Kevin Revell looks at the choices we face in our own homes
Concern has been raised in the
last few months regarding the
impact of garden centres on the
environment in relation to plastics
in the environment, the destruction
of peat bogs for the manufacture of
compost, and biosecurity.
Of course there are two sides
to every story and although the
garden retail sector is not perfect,
great strides have been made in
the last few years to address these
issues. Even if the environmentally
friendly alternatives are not always
taken up by the general public with
any great enthusiasm, the choice is
there.
Before the rise of garden centres in
the 1960s, plants could only be sold
bare root or as hessian wrapped
root balls in autumn to early spring.
The invention of the plastic pot
enabled plants to be grown and
sold on the large scale we see
today. However, these pots cannot
be returned to the growers because
of the fear of spreading disease and
also because of cost effectiveness
and transport issues. A few keen
gardeners reuse them for growing
their own plants or hoard them in
the shed but overall, they end up in
landfill having been thrown out with
the rubbish. As the current debate
about plastic has shown, it will take
many centuries for this material
to break down and even then, it is
38
still a hazard in the form of microplastics
which enter the food chain.
We are all familiar with green bags
and recycling; Cardiff Council has a
good record for recovering a high
percentage of recyclable waste
from our refuse so why can’t plant
pots go out in the green bags? After
all, they usually bear the familiar
three arrowed recycling symbol
imprinted on their base.
The fact that most of the pots
are black means that they are not
recognised by the mechanised
process to separate out
the various recycling
streams and so are not
collected. They can
always be donated
to schools and clubs,
while it is perfectly
possible for us to take
our own waste to the
Council depot at Lamby
Way where a large skip
is filled with plastic bread crates,
patio furniture and guttering. It is
only the home collection service
that seems to be affected. All in
all, this is not a very satisfactory
situation.
The British garden retail industry
has come together on this issue
however and you may have noticed
that the black pots are now being
replaced by taupe ones which
can be washed and put out with
By next year,
black pots will
largely be a
thing of the
past
the recycling along with cans and
bottles. By next year, black pots
will largely be a thing of the past.
Mission accomplished? Well not
quite because it seems that all the
plastic that we are dutifully sending
for recycling far exceeds our
capacity to recycle it.
It was formally sent to China
and the Far East where it was
often burned or dumped so not
surprisingly, this arrangement has
come to an end. It now accumulates
on former airfields awaiting political
decisions on investment
in recycling processes.
Peat bogs are sites
of scientific interest
and support a wide
range of wildlife.
They take centuries
to build up but are
destroyed by peat
extraction in decades.
Peat-free alternatives
have long been available, are
more sustainable, are increasingly
recommended by TV gardeners
and the gardening press, but public
uptake has been relatively poor.
There is currently nothing available
to substitute the thick plastic bag
in which we buy our compost. They
can at least be reused; I use them
to bag up rubble and
garden waste
before taking

en is
rden?
it to the tip and they are often used
on allotments to smother weeds
under a layer of bark or gravel.
They can also be used to contain
homemade garden compost when
the bin is emptied. Eventually that
plastic ends up in the environment,
however.
There was once an initiative to
supply dry compost which could be
re-hydrated at home. This type of
material might work in a paper bag,
but consumer interest was low at
the time; perhaps its time will come.
Compostable plastic would seem
to be the future, but this material
is fraught with difficulties and may
only decompose at temperatures
available in an industrial-sized heap
or may not be robust enough to
contain the compost for any length
of time. Clearly more research in
this area is needed.
Another stick with which to beat
the garden retail industry has been
the movement of plants around
the world with the high likelihood
of inadvertently importing pests
and diseases with the plants.
Government agencies such as
DEFRA, the department for food
and rural affairs and border control
customs checks, have robust
systems in place but it is only a
matter of time
before something
unwanted
comes through, in
addition to the
occasional foreign snail
or earthworm. It could be
argued that the UK has plenty of
successful plant nurseries so why
bother importing plants at all?
Traditionally garden centres
were reliant on Dutch suppliers to
provide relatively cheap plants but
with increased transport costs and
the current Euro/Pound exchange
rate, the differentials have become
eroded. The ongoing possibility
of Brexit has further muddied the
waters but the plant passport
system in place should enable
traceability and drive out the cheap
plants of unknown origin being sold.
There is also an established trade
in specimen plants from Spain
and Italy but with diseases such
as Xylella spreading up through
Europe, olive trees are no longer
being imported by reputable
companies for fear of this disease
entering the UK, where it is likely to
affect several native trees.
Of course, this then creates
a demand that will be met by
disreputable operators and sold
off in cheap shops and from the
backs of lorries. Perhaps we should
leave such plants growing in the
Mediterranean as they seldom do
less well in rainy Wales.
Discerning customers are advised
to ask about the origin of their
plants and favour home grown
produce wherever possible.
39

DIRTY DRIVEWAY,
DECK, PATIO OR
PAVING?
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house, from time to time your
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DON 1 T LEAVE YOUR FUTURE TO CHANCE.
MAKE A LASTING
POWER OF ATTORNEY
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows you to appoint
someone to make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity either physically or
mentally in the future, this person would be known as your Attorney.
Why do I need an LPA?
By planning ahead and putting an LPA in place, you can have the peace of mind that
somebody is always looking out for your best interests. Whether that's a family member
or a close friend, . this person will make important decisions on your behalf if you are no
longer able to do so.
How do I arrange one?
To arrange your free consultation call us on 02922 676818 quoting 'LM01W' or simply
pop in to cliat to one of our experienced team.
02922 676818 I 13 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch I info@hevans.com I hardingevans.com
f

outdoors
Winter Wonderland
Winter doesn't have to be a time of staying indoors. Nature offers a
wealth of experiences that can shake off the winter blues. Here are a
few creative ideas that the whole family can enjoy together
Collect items for a
Christmas wreath
Creating your own Christmas
wreath will have so much more
meaning if you've collected all
the items yourself. Collect some
evergreen clippings, and some
fresh moss or grass that you can
add if necessary.
You may also want to collect
pine cones and berries that will
add colour to your wreath.
Add all of these to a wire frame
once you get home. There are
online tutorials and local classes
that can help you create your
own Christmas wreath.
Go on a scavenger hunt
We often associate winter with quiet
times in the forest but they are still full of
wonderful things to discover.
Create a list of things that you'd like
to come across on your walk - frozen
cobwebs, an evergreen tree, pine cones
perhaps. You may want to add certain
birds or animals to your hunt. If there are
things that you can take home with you,
put them into a scrap book when you get
back.
Track the animals
If you want to turn detective
when it's snowed, you can find
out who's been out and about
in the forest by tracking the
animals' footprints.
Do some research online before
heading out to find out what the
different footprints look like. You
can then take a printout with you
so you can identify any that you
come across straight away.
Footprints will come in all
shapes and sizes and also at
different parts of the day. Fresh
footprints will be more defined,
especially if snow is still falling
when footprints could be
covered back up.
If you haven't been lucky
enough to have snow, seek out
muddy areas at a riverside where
animals may have been taking a
drink.
Make animal dens
Animals are often left to the mercy of the elements at this time of year and
are often looking for cosy places in which to snuggle.
Have a think about what kind of animal you'd like to build a shelter for and
make a plan about how you'll create it. Choose a place that's out of the
wind so that it won't get blown over. You can create a small shelter using
sticks or stones. Other pieces that you can find in the forest can also be
used but remember not to go disturbing any shelters that already exist.
It may be worth popping back a few weeks later to see if any of the forest
animals used or are using your shelter.
42

Make yourself a den
If a den's good enough for the animals, it's good
enough for you.
The first thing you'll need to do is find a solid
foundation to work with. Ideally, you're looking
for a strong-looking tree with lots of lumps and
bumps that you can utilise.
Find some large branches and wedge them
up against your tree. Aim to give yourself a
horizontal branch that you can then rest smaller
branches on to form your walls. Pack them
tightly to give them strength and then fill the
gaps with smaller branches and leaves.
Blow frozen bubbles
Blowing bubbles doesn't have
to be just a summer activity. In
fact, blowing bubbles in very
cold weather can be much more
interesting.
The temperature will need to be
below freezing and it also helps if
your bubble solution is very cold
to begin with. Blow the bubbles as
high as you can to give them the
best chance of freezing before they
hit the ground.
Listen to nature's orchestra
Taking the family out into the forest isn't just about what you will see. The
sounds of the forest are just as impressive but these are often missed
because we aren't listening for them.
Anyone who walks in the countryside will know the skylark’s song. Often
inconspicuous on the ground, it is easy to see when in its distinctive song
flight. Winter is also the best time to listen out for the sound of foxes due
to their three to six day mating period which takes place during winter. If
you head out on an early morning walk, it's possible that you may hear a
tawny owl. Despite them being nocturnal birds, they are at their noisiest in
December. The chances of them being heard in daylight on a Christmas
family countryside outing are particularly high, most especially near dawn
and dusk.
Grey squirrels can often be heard on winter walks too. Chattering, rasping
and barking are all examples from the grey squirrel's vocabulary who
become particularly noisy when alarmed or angry.
Go on a Christmas hunt
Forests can be magical in winter,
and there's an extra bit of sparkle
at Christmas when the weather
gets cold.
Before you head out into the
woods, make a list of Christmassy
things you'd expect to see in the
forest - a robin maybe or what
about some holly? Look out for
mistletoe or even some ivy.
If the weather is snowy, look out
for snowflakes and icicles and
tick off everything on your list
when you spot them.
43

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House Clearances
2nd
time around
2nd Time Around
specialise in
house clearance
We provide a professional and
friendly service for full or part
clearance, attics to cellars.
We also offer the following services:
• Reports for probate purposes
• Valuations & advice on selling at auction
• Auction service
• Cleaning service
• Sympathetic handling of deceased’s estates
• Small removals & deliveries, nationwide
• Rubbish removal
• Recycling
We comply with current legislation; we are waste
management registered and have public liability insurance.
House Clearance Specialists
www.houseclearancecardiff.com
Contact: Jan Richards
T: 02920 692704 M: 07715 622406
E: janrichards4@hotmail.co.uk
W: www.houseclearancecardiff.com
Millennium
Blinds Wales
Plantation shutters
British made by Luxaflex
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* Stained Glass
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* Glass/mirrors of all
types cut to size
* uPVC New
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For a free quotation by a reliable,
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free to get in touch
UPVC WINDOWS AND
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Unit 3 Western Business Centre, Robert St, Ely, Cardiff , CF5 5AS
(formerly of Western Avenue, Llandaff)
02920 566694

Make
The
Change
As a new decade dawns, we present a psychological model that
can help you make positive changes in your life - and keep them
Precontemplation
This is the first stage of the model. In this stage, people do
not intend to take action in the foreseeable future (defined
as within the next six months). People are often unaware
that their behaviour is problematic or produces negative
consequences. They also often underestimate the benefits
of changing behaviour and place too much emphasis on
the cons of changing behaviour. They are often not aware
of these processes.
If you are in this stage, begin by asking yourself some
questions. Have you ever tried to change this behaviour in
the past? How do you recognise that you want to change?
What would have to happen for you to consider changing
your behaviour?
Contemplation
During this stage, you will start to become aware
of the benefits of making a positive change. Bear in
mind that many people never make it past this stage.
Generally, if you are considering making the change
within the next six months, you are at this stage. Ask
yourself some important questions:
Why do you want to change? Is there anything
preventing you from changing? What are some of
the things that could help you make this change?
You may still feel ambivalent towards making the
change but the fact that you are contemplating is a
step in the right direction.
Others can help you at this stage by encouraging
you to work at reducing the cons of changing your
behaviour and emphasising the pros. Learn from
those who have already made changes.
46 This feature is based on The Stages of Change Model, developed by Prochaska and DiClemente in the 1980s

feature
Preparation
If you are ready to start taking action within the next
30 days, you are at the preparation stage. You may
have even started making small changes to your life.
Gather as much information about ways to help
you change. Look at various techniques and seek
outside resources and help. Don't be tempted to
start making the big change yet as you may be
under-prepared and this is where others often
fail. The first week of the New Year is where many
people start and fail their resolutions because
they haven't given their aims enough thought or
preparation.
Take time to refresh your reasons and motivations
for wanting to make the change.
Action
During this stage, you will take direct action towards
your change. If you are looking to lose weight, you will
start your new diet or cut back on snacks. If you are
looking to quit smoking, you will start cutting down
your daily intake. These steps are, of course, integral
to making the change but skipping the previous steps
could end up with your attempts to change being
abandoned.
Set yourself mini goals to achieve and reward
yourself when you reach them. Keep the bigger
picture in mind but remember that you can't reach
your ultimate goal without hard work and dedication.
Positive reinforcement from outside sources is helpful
and if you have prepared thoroughly, you will have
those to help you in place already.
Maintenance
The maintenance stage involves awareness of
successfully avoiding former bad habits and keeping
up new ones.
There will naturally be times when you feel like you
are doing well and equally, there will be times when
you feel that you are making no progress at all. What's
important to remember is that one mistake doesn't
mean that you are back to square one. Start a new day
with new vigour. Relapses, as you will discover, are
part and parcel of the maintenance stage. But they are
not fatal - you simply start again.
Relapse
In any behaviour change, relapses are a common
occurrence. Feelings of failure, disappointment and
frustration all occur when experiencing a relapse - and these
are normal feelings. It doesn't mean that you have failed.
To overcome a relapse, it's worth taking another look at
your motivations and identifying what triggers led to the
relapse in the first place. Try and figure out what barriers
are stopping you from achieving your goal and make
adjustments to remove them from your life, or strategies to
deal with, or overcome them. Resolutions fail when there
aren't proper preparations or actions. Understanding all of
the stages will give you the best chance of succeeding.
47

Rhys Gosling
Plumbing & Heating Ltd
boiler repair/install • all basic plumbing & gas • bathrooms specialist
www.rhysgosling.plumbing
07740 871469
f''I Right
I I 1:.me
Quality Care In Your Home
Quality care in your own home
from hourly visits to Live-in
Our local team of friendly reliable
carers specialise in assisting people
who may need a helping hand with
day-to-day tasks in their own home.
Areas covered:
Cardiff and Newport
•
02920 794050
• Companionship
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Medicine reminders
• Holiday and respite cover
• Help with washing, dressing and
personal care
• Transport and errands
• Post-operative support
• Managed live-in 24/7 hour care
as an alternative to a care home
@) www.rightathomeuk.eo.uk/cardiff-and-newport

Viney Hearing Care
Introducing Micro-suction
THE SAFEST WAY TO CLEAN YOUR EARS
Viney Hearing Care is now the first hearing centre to offer
Micro-Suction, the SAFEST way to remove wax. No more ear
syringing necessary, there is no longer any need to pump
water into the ear to remove wax. It is performed under direct
vision using a microscope using gentle suction and
instruments to clean the ears. The ear canal is narrow and
curved and can become blocked with wax, skin, debris from
infection and foreign objects. This can cause your hearing to
become dull and the quickest relief is micro-suction.
If you are having problems and dull hearing, itchy ears
or a blocked feeling, it could be wax blocking your ears.
Come and have a FREE ear health check to determine
if wax is the problem. We will use a fibre optic camera to
view and assess the condition of the
canal and the ear drum. If we find
that the ears are blocked with
wax, micro-suction is the
safest way to remove it.
FREE
Microsuction &
Ear Health Check Day
Friday 31st January
(usually £45)
Call now! Limited spaces!
02920 250121
FREE hearing
tests and advice
with the latest
diagnostic
equipment
FREE
demonstrations
of the newest
hearing
technology
FREE lifetime
aftercare service
Micro-suction
wax removal,
the safest way to
remove wax
Service, repair
and calibration of
ANY hearing aid
Video Otoscopy
- fibre optic
camera to show
the condition of
the ear
Speech analysis -
testing how well
your hearing aids
allow you to hear
speech
66 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DJ
02920 250121 vineyhearingcare.co.uk

Lovely
Leftovers
Christmas is often a time of excess but there's no need to let all that lovely food
go to waste. Use up your leftovers with these delicious recipes
Turkey and
ham pie
400g plain flour, plus extra for
dusting
pinch of salt
65g chilled butter
160g frozen butter
45g butter
2 large leeks, washed and sliced
1 orange, juiced and finely grated
zest only
50ml medium sherry
3 tbsp plain flour
500ml chicken stock
1 heaped tsp wholegrain
mustard
600g leftover turkey meat, cut
into bite-sized pieces
250g cooked ham, cut into bitesized
pieces
2 tbsp chopped tarragon
200ml single cream
1 free-range egg, beaten for egg
wash
salt and white pepper
☐ To make the pastry, mix the flour
and salt together in a bowl. Using
your fingertips, rub in the chilled
butter and add enough cold water
to form a dough (about 150-180ml).
☐ Dust your work surface with flour
and roll your dough into a rectangle.
Grate 60g of the frozen butter over
50
the bottom two
thirds of the dough.
Fold down the top
third and then fold
up the top third as
if folding a letter.
Turn by 90 degrees
and roll out
again. Repeat this
process, adding
the remaining
frozen butter and
fold as before. Rest
in the fridge for
30 minutes before
using.
☐ For your filling,
melt the butter in
a large frying pan
over a medium heat and add the
leeks to the pan, along with the
orange juice, zest and sherry. Cover
and cook gently for 6 minutes,
stirring occasionally until the leeks
are just tender. Remove the lid
and increase the heat, until the
liquid has nearly all gone. Sprinkle
the flour over the leeks and stir to
mix. Gradually stir in the stock and
simmer for about 5 minutes until
the sauce has thickened slightly.
Add the mustard, the turkey and
the ham and stir. Finally add the
tarragon and cream. Season to taste
with a little white pepper and salt.
☐ Preheat your oven to 200C/180C
Fan/Gas 6. Pour the pie filling and
sauce into a 1.2-1.5 litre/2-2½ pint
pie dish and allow to cool. .
☐ Roll out the pastry on a lightly
floured work surface to about 5mm
thick. Cut a 2cm/¾in strip of pastry.
Brush the rim of the pie dish with
egg, then place the pastry strip
onto the rim and brush it with more
egg.
☐ To make the pie lid, cut the
remaining pastry a little larger than
the dish and lift it into place (use
the rolling pin to help you). Make a
steam hole to expose the funnel (if
using). Press the edges to seal then
trim away any excess. Re-roll any
trimmings and use them to make
decorations. Brush the pastry with
egg wash, arrange any decorations
on top of the pie and brush these
with egg too.
☐ Bake for 35-40 minutes until the
pastry is risen and golden-brown.
Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Boxing Day Soup
food
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 medium potatoes, about 350g, peeled and chunked
1 tbsp curry paste
1.2l vegetable stock
550g leftover roasted or boiled vegetables, such as Brussels
sprouts, carrots, parsnips and squash, roughly chopped
natural yogurt or crème fraîche, to serve
Sprout
colcannon
1kg floury potatoes (King Edwards
or Maris Piper)
8 smoked streaky bacon rashers,
chopped
50g butter
6 spring onions, finely sliced
5 tbsp milk
250g Brussels sprouts, trimmed or
cooked
☐ Cut the potatoes and boil in
salted water. Simmer for 15-20
minutes until the potatoes are
completely tender. Drain and set
aside, covered.
☐ Heat a large non-stick
frying pan until hot and add
the chopped bacon. Fry over
a medium heat for about 5
minutes until crispy and golden.
☐ Remove with a slotted spoon
and drain on kitchen paper.
☐ Finely slice the sprouts. Return
the frying pan to the heat, add
a little of the butter, then add
the sprouts and stir-fry for 5-6
minutes until they are tender
and just beginning to crisp up at
the edges. Add the spring onions
and stir-fry for 1 minute.
☐ Return the bacon to the pan
and stir well. Remove the pan
from the heat.
☐ Add the remaining butter
and the milk to the potatoes
and mash until smooth. Season
well. Fold in the bacon, sprout
and spring onion mixture. Serve
immediately.
☐ Fry the onion in a large saucepan for 5 minutes until
browned. Stir in the celery and fry for 5 minutes, then tip in
the potatoes and fry for a further 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
☐ Stir in the curry paste, cooking for a minute or so, then pour
in the stock. Bring to the boil and stir well. Lower the heat,
cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are
tender.
☐ Tip the leftover veg into the pan and warm through for a
few minutes and then blend in a food blender. Add water if
you need to think it needs it and season well.
☐ Serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt or crème fraîche
on top.
Christmas
pudding
brownies
150g unsalted butter at room
temperature, plus extra for greasing
250g dark chocolate (70% cocoa
solids), broken into small chunks
3 medium eggs
150g granulated sugar
1 tsp flaky sea salt
4 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp plain flour
300g leftover cooked Christmas
pudding, crumbled
☐ Preheat oven to 180C/Gas Mark
4. Grease and line a 30cm x 20cm
baking tin with baking parchment.
☐ Melt the chocolate and butter
in a large heatproof bowl set over
a pan of barely simmering water.
Remove from the heat and set
aside.
☐ Whisk the eggs, sugar and salt
in another bowl, before beating
into the chocolate mixture. Sift
over the cocoa and flour, folding
through with all but a handful of
the Christmas pudding, until just
combined.
☐ Pour the brownie mix into the
prepared tin, spread out and scatter
the rest of the Christmas pudding
on top, pressing it in gently.
☐ Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until
a crust has formed on top. Cool
completely in the tin before slicing
and serve while still warm.
51

Providing full tree, grounds
and estate maintenance and
landscaping services.
We’re very proud of what we do for our clients and like most
people who work in nature we spend a lot of time on our
knees in one way or another. This is always humbling.
Now, whether you call it humility or respect or admiration
for nature, if you’re looking to work with a company that
cares about these things TR33 could be what you’re after.
For a free no obligation quote please contact
0800 298 3686 I info@tr33.co.uk
www.tr33.co.uk
Calling all Over 60s
Keep Fit and Flexible
with Rubicon Dance
Come along and enjoy gentle exercise to music
The weekly dance sessions will focus on mobility, flexibility,
balance, posture, strength and stamina. Providing a social
way to stay fit, be creative and have lots of fun!!
Venue: Whitchurch Community Centre (Car park available on Tyn-Y Pwll Rd )
‘Stepping Stones’ Monday 12.30-1.30 : A slower paced seated session
‘Step it Up’ Monday 1.30-2.30: A faster paced half seated, half standing session
Photograph taken by Sian Trenberth
Tel: 07868 258605 / 02920 491477
info@rubicaondance.co.uk / www.rubiconcdance.co.uk
PRW Construction are a family run business with
over 32 years of experience within the building
and construction industry, references available.
Our company is a progressive family run
business, offering a variety of building and
maintenance services. We recognise the
importance of planning and control in the
execution of building projects, whilst using
a great deal of creativity and innovation in
successfully managing projects to your timescales
and your costs.
Contact us for your free quotation
Andrew 07718 621716
Rachael 07753 293444
Office 02920 842333
www.prwconstruction.co.uk
enquiries@prwconstruction.co.uk
Some of the services we offer:
• House extensions
• House
refurbishments
• Luxury bathrooms
• Design and
architectural
services
• Full structural
design services
• Building repairs
• Garage conversions
• Roof repairs
• Plumbing and
heating
• Painting and
decoration
• Electrical works
• Patio & garden
works

JOHANN STRAUSS
GALA
05.01.20
ANTON & ERIN
Dance Those Magical Movies
26.01.20
THE CLASSIC
ROCK SHOW
22.01.20
SANDI TOKSVIG
National Trevor
09.01.20
I’M SORRY
I HAVEN’T A CLUE
06.01.20
DAVID BADDIEL
Trolls: Not the Dolls
25.01.20
BETH HART
War in My Mind
12.02.20
FASCINATING
AÏDA
15.02.20
ZOG
11am, 2pm & 4.30pm
17.02.20 - 18.02.20
PSYCHIC SALLY
10 Years and Counting
26.02.20
RUSH & HARTSON
Welsh Football Legends in Conversation
13.01.20
JOHNNY CASH ROADSHOW
The Man in Black Tour
16.01.20

Starlight
A short Christmas story
by Alice Morgan
If you were stood outside a
particular church in the early hours
of Christmas morning, when the
black sky was interwoven with stars
and the winter wind was breathing
down the back of your scarf, you
may have heard the triumphant
sound of an organ emitting through
the old, stone walls. You may have
heard the voices of a choir as they
harmonised those beautiful notes
of the traditional Christmas hymns
written so long ago; the light from
the huge arched windows casting a
glow over where you stood on the
cold pavement. And saints of times
past watching over you from the
stained glass.
The final hymn was sung and the
people were leaving Midnight Mass,
exchanging Christmas greetings.
Peter, a tall man with black hair
brushing over his eyes, carried his
little girl on his shoulders, her red
coat buttoned up to the top and
a bobble hat bouncing along with
every step her father took. Walking
a few paces behind them were his
wife Iris, a slim lady with long dark
hair that fell around her shoulders
and draped over the head of their
sleeping baby boy in her arms.
‘I’m going to have a really big car
for Christmas, Daddy,’ the little girl
said as she held onto her father’s
hair.
‘Are you, love?’
‘Yep. Father Christmas is bringing
me one.’
‘Wish he’d bring me one.’
‘I’ll ask for one for you, Dad. He
won’t mind.’
Peter smiled to himself as he lifted
little Molly from his shoulders and
put her into her car seat. Iris was
shifting baby Leo uncomfortably
from arm to arm as she attempted
to place him in his car seat next to
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short story
Molly until Peter took him from her
and tucked him in safely. Iris smiled
gratefully and slipped into the
passenger seat.
‘Pete, can we put the heating
on? It’s freezing!’ she said as
she toggled with the buttons.
In approval of her mother’s
suggestion, Molly shivered
overdramatically and Iris turned
and winked at her. Peter climbed
into the driver’s seat, adjusting
the heating so that warm air blew
onto their faces and demisted the
windscreen. He rubbed his hands
together quickly to try and thaw
out the icicles that felt as though
they were attached to his fingers.
Iris wrapped her hands up in her
scarf while Molly pretended to be a
dragon, watching her breath float in
front of her before it disappeared.
‘Do you know where I think we
should go? Where no one else at all
will be on Christmas morning?’ Iris
asked Molly.
Molly shook her head while Peter
looked on curiously.
‘The beach,’ Iris whispered
excitedly. ‘We can have the whole
place to ourselves and see the
stars.’
‘Yeah!’ Molly replied.
Peter sighed to himself as he knew
this was an argument he would not
win. Turning the keys in the ignition,
he put the car into gear and pulled
away.
‘You’re crazy,’ he told his wife,
smiling as he remembered this was
the reason he had fallen in love with
her.
And so they drove to Barry Island,
abandoned as everyone else was
either awaiting Santa or playing
him. Peter took Molly out of the car
while Iris stayed behind so as not
to disturb ‘her sleeping lump of
Leo.’ Molly held her father’s hand
as they walked to the east end of
the promenade and ran down onto
the sand together. The only light
upon the beach was thrown upon
them from the stars above and the
moonlight that shone on the sea.
Molly ran away squealing while her
father chased her and suddenly
stopped when she came to the
edge of the water, the tide trying
to catch her little black shoes with
its liquid fingers. Peter scooped her
up, adamant that he wouldn’t let
the crafty sea steal his little girl and
ran around with her as she laughed
uncontrollably and threw her head
backwards.
‘Daddy?’
‘Yes, precious?’
‘Where do the stars live?’
‘In the sky. They look after you in
the dark.’
‘Do they look after me when I’m
sleeping then?’
‘Yep. So one day, if I’m not here,
you won’t have to be scared ‘cos
they’ll be watching you, see? And if
you have nightmares, the stars will
rummage through your head and
pull all the bad dreams out, just like
I do.’
Molly found this an extremely
funny thing for a star to do and
she wriggled out of her father’s
arms and ran ahead of him, all the
way to the west end, laughing and
screaming. Suddenly she stopped
and turned to him. Her face was
very serious.
‘Dad? When are you not gonna be
here?’
‘Never. Never, ever. I’m always
going to be here.’
Molly grinned and ran back to her
father’s open arms.
‘Good,’ she said, ‘I’d miss you very
much if you weren’t here.’ She
squeezed his face between her
chubby little hands and put her
face against his; her big blue eyes
staring at him without blinking.
Peter smiled and gave her a kiss.
‘Come on you, it’s too cold to
stay out here. Let’s get you home
and cosy, shall we?’ he said as she
nodded and nuzzled her head into
his neck.
He carried her back to the car
and drove his little family home to
their small terraced house. They
had left the hallway light on and
the warm glow invited them inside.
From Molly’s bedroom window,
she could see a small star shining
in, looking after her. After Iris and
Peter had changed the children into
their pyjamas, they arranged their
Christmas presents around the tree,
sneaking some up to the bedroom
to put in the children’s stockings.
Safe in the knowledge the children
would be truly happy to receive just
what they wanted in the morning,
they cuddled up next to their small
coal fire.
Unlike the children, they would be
not truly happy because of what
they received. But because of what
they already had.
Read more of Alice's work at
www.alicemariarose.com
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