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Barmouth News - 6th March, 2009


Where future events and specific information are mentioned, these are highlighted for easy reference.

Gwyl Dewi Sant


Cylch meithrin y Bermo yn dathlu dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant

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If you would be interested in joining a social and support group for deaf and hard of hearing people you are invited to contact Matt and Amanda Harris. You can email Matt at enquiries@barmouth-brig.co.uk or you can leave your name and contact details at the Communities First office in Station Road and they will be passed on. The aim is to create a group that brings together people who can share experiences, identify needs and access services and information that will improve their quality of life. If you are a hearing person who wishes to understand life from a non hearing perspective you too will be welcomed. If you have skills such as an ability to teach sign language please get in contact. There is a clear need for such a group and the possibilities are great.

Cooking easy

Can’t cook, don’t cook, but would like to? Do you want your kids to eat good, simple, inexpensive food? Do you want really quick, easy things to eat that won’t cost much. Do you want some free sessions? Then call into Communities First and book a place on the free series of demonstrations and hands on try outs. Childcare is offered free and so is transport. The sessions will be provided in the catering section of Dolgellau college. Timed to let parents fit around school times the sessions are from 11am till 2-30pm each Thursday for seven weeks from March 19th. For anyone who wants to help their kids to grow up healthy these sessions are ideal, it doesn’t matter if you cant cook now this is really practical and user friendly, give it a go.

Literary and Debating Society

On 26th February at the Lit & Deb meeting the Chairman Betty O’Dell introduced the speaker for the evening, Mr Lee Calderwood, herbalist practitioner and former helicopter pilot, who had served in the Royal Air force for twenty years before moving to North Wales. He undertook a five year degree course with the University of Wales in Cardiff, qualifying with a B.Sc.Hons, consequently opening a Herbal Medicine Practice on the Lleyn Peninsular with several surgeries around the area. Many of the herbs, come from the family farm, which is also on the Lleyn. His talk consisted of a comprehensive history charting the practice of herbal medicine from the 6th century to the present day, together with a description of the many plants used and of their properties. Discussion and comment was encouraged throughout, enthusiastically taken up by members, making for a lively and informal session that continued through tea. Altogether a most enjoyable and informative evening.

The subject for the next meeting, on March 5th is “The Red Dean”. An intriguing title attracted an almost maximum attendance to the Parlwr Mawr of the Community Centre, Barmouth on Thursday, March 5th -and members were not disappointed when the Rev. Bob Hughes displayed his mastery of his subject, "The Red Dean". Bob Hughes is now retired, but he had been Vicar of Harlech and neighbouring parishes from 1994 to 1999. He discovered during that time that there were still quite a few elderly people in Harlech who remembered the "Red Dean", who used to go on holiday to Harlech and whose house there, which he had inherited from an aunt, is still owned by members of his family.

Who, then, was the "Red Dean"? His name was Hewlett Johnson, and he was born into a wealthy Manchester family in 1874. His mother was a deeply religious lady and the determination to become a church missionary gradually formed in Hewlett as he became an adult. He first trained and qualified as a mechanical engineer under the influence of his family's business and then as a civil engineer so that he could be even more useful on the missionary field. In the meanwhile he had married Mary Taylor, who also came from a well-to-do family and who also had the ambition to work as a missionary. However, when Hewlett had finished his training he was again interviewed by the Church Missionary Society and he was now found to be far too liberal and left-wing in his opinions and they would not accept him. He was then ordained and appointed Curate to a large Manchester C. of E. church in Dunham Massey. He was so successful there that when his vicar died he was appointed to succeed him. However, his competence and success meant that he was soon invited to be Dean of Manchester Cathedral. There both he and Mary were innovative and imaginative in their work and were very happy. But this happiness was to be shattered when Mary died of breast cancer. Hewlett was devastated. Archbishop Temple, who was a big friend of Hewlett, decided that he needed a complete change and invited him leave Manchester to be Dean of Canterbury and Hewlett duly moved there two months after his Mary's death. The year was 1931.

At that time Canterbury Cathedral, for all its importance in the life of the C. of E., was very run down and a far cry from what Hewlett had been used to in Manchester. However, he set to with enthusiasm. He gathered a brilliant team around him and appointed a great Headmaster to the King's School and soon both the Cathedral and its school were transformed. In 1938 he married Noel Edwards, a relative of whom he had taken care when she was a child. This caused quite a bit of comment both because of their blood relationship and because of the great age difference between them. However, they were very happy and Noel bore him two children. Hewlett continued as Dean of Canterbury Cathedral until 1963; then, at the age of 89 he retired and he died in 1966.

In all these years he was a very enthusiastic supporter of the communist revolution in Russia. He became convinced that Russia had discovered the way for the future of human society -and he ardently preached this message wherever and whenever he could. He travelled to Russia, China, Cuba, The United States, Canada, Spain and many other places to "spread the word". He was befriended by communist Heads of State and loved to mingle with them. Thus he earned the title "The Red Dean". MIS were very concerned about him and yet he was given extra petrol coupons during the war because of his ability to rouse the troops and because of his friendship with Montgomery. He never seemed to waver from his communist convictions -though his understanding of Marxism was not very profound.

To be Dean of Canterbury Cathedral and a Marxist at the same time makes him a fascinating case study -and this was how he was presented by the Rev. Bob Hughes. His talk was thoroughly enjoyed and after some searching questions and illuminating answers a grateful vote of thanks was offered by Mr. Derek Gladstone. Finally, the President of the Society, Mrs. Rachel Cleaver, reminded the gathering of the Annual Dinner to be held on Thursday, March 12th and of the Annual General Meeting which will be held on the following Thursday, March 19th and which will bring the Society's programme to an end for the '08-'09 season.

Young road users evening

Barmouth Emergency Services will hold a special event for young road users on May 7th, from 6pm 'till 9pm in Barmouth Fire Station. You may be a young driver, the friend or partner of a young driver. If you want to get an understanding of what can happen when driving, drinking and speed get mixed together this event will answer all your questions and many more. Many small hatchbacks are not as strong or crash proof as you may think, the combined services want to show what really happens when things go wrong and even more importantly to show how to get the best from your car and always arrive in one piece. If you want to take part call Kath Lake Bullen on 07768556307 and give her your contact details, spaces are limited. Those who took part in the last session, two years ago, are all driving without having had any accidents, a big saving on insurance premiums.

Dog fouling

One issue seems to get mentioned more to Councillors and public agencies than any other, that is dog fouling. The problem has become so acute that Cyngor Gwynedd has appointed a team of wardens who will target identified problem areas. Whilst the prime aim is to educate owners of the anti social effect of not cleaning up after their pets they are also empowered to issue on the spot fines. If members of the public are aware of specific areas where a problem exists or a particular time of day when fouling occurs they can contact the warden service via the Gwynedd Council helpline or mention it to the P.C.S.O or police officers. Those who feel there are insufficient dog waste bins should be aware that it is now permissible to put bags of waste in the regular street bins as well as the dedicated “Dog” bins. Beach wardens will also have the power to issue fixed penalties as will the Harbour Master.

Gymdeithas Gymraeg

Noson ddifyr iawn oedd dathliad Gwyl Dewi y Gymdeithas, yn Hendre Coed Isaf ar nos Fercher 4 Mawrth. Croesawyd pawb gan y llwydd John Williams, ac ar ol y cinio flasus, ef hefyd a gyflwynodd Neville hughes un o aelodau’r grwp poblogaidd Hogiau Llandegai. Bu’n disgrifio sut i’r grwp ddechrau yn y pumdegau a mynd ymlaen i ddiddori am ddeugainmlynedd ar hyd Cymru. Mae Neville yn gymeriad hapus iawn, a chafwyd hwyl yn gwrando arno,a mwynhau’r caneuon. Diolchoddy llywydd i Neville a’i wraig Angharad am ddod atom, ac i’r gwesty am y gwasanaeth a’r cinio. Cyfarfod olaf y tymor fydd y cyfarfod blynyddol ar nos Fercher 1 Ebrill, dewch i roi syniadau am rhaglen y tymor nesaf.

Passover

As Easter approaches the Rev Tony Stone will be visiting Elim Church in Park Road on Saturday 14th March at 7pm when he will talk about preparing for Easter andexplaining the significance of the Passover meal. The event is open to anyone who has an interest.

Barmouth Bowling Club

On Saturday the 21st March at 1.45pm the Barmouth Bowling Club will be holding its first General meeting of the 2009 season. This year we are introducing a junior team age group 9 -15, so if any parents with children are interested in joining the club please come along you will be made most welcome, also we are starting a disabled team, so provided you are mobile please come along, training will be given to all new members. In the evening the members will be having their first pre-season club dinner at St. David’s Golf Club. For more information contact Bill Gaskill on 0134.1 280500 Railway Walks In the series of Wainwrights Walks on BBC2 Julia Bradbury will be featuring the Barmouth viaduct in the programme on Monday 16th March at 8pm.

Batala Bermo and beyond

A major event, the fourth Batala Encontro will be hosted in Barmouth by Batala Bermo. Covering three days in May from the 15th to the 17th performers will be coming from Paris, Nantes, Brazilia, La Rochelle, Washington D.C., Liverpool, Portsmouth, Lancaster and Bangor. The sponsors of the event are Arriva. More information is to be found on the www.batalabermo.org.uk site or by calling 07717097243. This is a world-class event, a real coup for the Barmouth band and recognition of the standing of the group internationally.

U3A March Meeting

The Barmouth U3A will be meeting for its’ next monthly gathering, in the Arts Room of the Dragon Theatre on Tuesday 17th. March. The meeting will start at 2.00pm, and conclude at approximately 4.00pm. This month’s speaker is Danny Jones, who will give a presentation on jazz. It will be a collection of thoughts and reflections on the subject, ranging from its’ history to a short live performance by Barmouth Music Workshop. As usual, the meeting will start with a cup of tea and an opportunity to meet others. It is not only open to members, but also to anyone who may be interested in joining, or simply in seeing what activities the organisation is involved in.

Looking for funding for arts/cultural projects?

The Cultureuro Seminar at Bangor University on Monday 23 March is a way to learn about the funding opportunities available to the cultural sector. This half day seminar will provide detailed information on the Culture Programme, the latest programmes for education, training, young people, the environment, research & development programmes, Structural Funds, and possible new opportunities for rural areas from changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budgets. As the UK's official Cultural Contact Point, EUCLID has the very latest news on the programmes for 2009-2013.For more information, including prices, to book a place please visit www.euclid.info or email mailto:info@euclid.info

Dragon Theatre

The theatre are on a mission to raise £4k by the end of March. They have devised a number of events that will have wide appeal and that will hopefully generate the funds. Two very different offerings on Saturday March 21st are: during the day, an enterprise workshop exhibition, the results of three project workshops in jewellery, big art and photography are put on display. Entry by donation. There will be a raffle to win one of the photographs, it runs from 10-30 am till 3-30pm. Then in the evening, at 7-30 in the Arts Room, “ What Bees Know” is Eric Maddern - storyteller, singer-songwriter and author, who is touring Wales by foot, bicycle and horseback. He uses the story of the bee to look at the world in extraordinary times and weaves a web of tales, songs, poetry and prophecy. This will only cost £5 each and the bar will be open. Later in the month on the 28th there will be an auction during the day and a line-dancing event in the evening. Information on all events is available from the Dragon Theatre on 01341 281697.

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