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A top television producer has described how he looked on in horror as a trapeze artist plunged helplessly to her death in the big top at an Aberystwyth circus. The tragedy is one of a collection of memories of David Lloyds childhood in the 1940s and 50s in his autobiography Tales of an Aber Lad . David was a teenager in the Bertram Mills audience in May 1958 when 31-year-old Frances Duncan fell 25 feet, head first, after a defective rope became loose around her ankle. David says, In my young life, I had never felt so frozen with shock and horror. I had seen her plummet and hit the ground and it was terrible. She lay there in the sawdust, her body shaking violently but the band struck up a tune and the clowns came on and distracted us as Frances was taken away to the North Road Hospital.
Other recollections include a quack German doctor who made patients bathe naked beneath Constitution Hill and an outbreak of typhoid fever, caused by local ice cream, which threatened to wreck the resorts post-war tourist trade. The author, now living in semi-retirement in Aberystwyth, remembers the glory days of the old Coliseum Cinema, presided over by its formidable owner Mrs Gale, the Grand Dame of picture palaces. David says, If there was romance on the Coliseum screen it was nothing compared to the passion in the back row of the stalls. The activities there are said to have been so intense that the entire row from Seat 1 to Seat 25 had developed a treacherous lean.
Reminiscences include news of the first television signal, picked up from a Midlands transmitter in 1950. The reception was said to have been better at night, when there was less traffic on Trefechan Bridge. Similarly early wireless (radio) signals were believed to have been affected by bad weather around Pen Dinas. A world that has long since disappeared was enlivened by the (Air Raid) Wardens Dramatic Society with producer Wilf Jones, the popular seasonal pantomimes of Peggy Royston and Shirley Twiddy, and dainty teas at DW Teviotdale in North Parade. David turns back the clock to remember the big freeze of 1947, sweets becoming ration coupon free in 1953 and the terrors of the gas machine at the Portland Street dentists. He remembers the November Fair with Ronnie Taylors Boxing Booth and the town girls who were thrown around on the waltzer, hiding their stockings and suspenders from blasts of cold air. Milk poured into jugs from churns carried by horse and cart was supplemented by doorstep deliveries from the likes of Mister Lister the green grocer and the eagerly awaited Corona man. Bread, coal, meat and fish were also delivered direct in those days, while itinerants brought candles and clothes pegs. Then there were visits to the traditional shops of Hodges, Bradleys, Daniel Thomas and Albert Davies. The Gwalia Motor Company boasted that it provided a reliable motor car that could cover any distance.
David recalls the launch of the Eagle comic, the wonders of the first radiograms, rides on Crosville buses, houses with no central heating, beatings in school and being ordered to inhale fumes from the Gas Works as a cure for whooping cough. Aber is said to have been awash with tea rooms, coal merchants, iron mongers, dressmakers and tailors. Personalities abounded, including businessman John Potts who wore his trilby like an American gangster. Seilo Chapels organist Charles Clements was described by no less than Sir Henry Wood as the finest accompanist in Europe.
Born in the Caradoc Road maternity home in 1940, David Lloyd is the son of the late Gilbert Lloyd, manager of the old David Roberts Brewery in Trefechan. For many years David was producer/director of award-winning programmes for HTV Wales in Cardiff, where he became Head of Features and Head of Community Programmes. Another distinguished Aber Lad, the acclaimed author Herbert Williams, says in his foreword that Davids tales are told with humour, dexterity and lightness of touch that makes for easy and rewarding reading. They are accompanied by a diversity of photographs which will surprise and even astonish readers.
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Wales pancreatic cancer charity, Amser Justin Time, today (Wednesday 15th July) made a ground-breaking announcement at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, having raised sufficient money in their first year of operation to fund a Specialist Pancreatic Nurse for one day a week. The charity, which is headed by Welsh opera, TV and radio star Shn Cothi, in memory of her husband, Tigertailz glam-rock star, Justin Smith, marked the announcement with a special performance from Only Men Aloud. The launch had a fantastic response as crowds of patients, medical staff and hospital visitors filled the Main Concourse of the University Hospital of Wales at lunchtime today to hear Shn Cothi make the announcement, followed by a heartrending rendition of Angels from the nations favourite contemporary male choir Only Men Aloud. For those patients unable to attend, the launch was also broadcast live on Hospital Radio. The performance marked the ground-breaking announcement that in the 12 months since the charity was launched, Amser Justin Time has raised over 60,000 and will now use part of these funds to fund a Specialist Pancreatic Nurse for one day a week for two years. Following the launch Shn and Only Men Aloud visited some of the hospitals wards including the C2 ward where Shns late-husband Justin had himself been a patient. The choir gave an impromptu performance on the ward, which sparked one patient to comment Im definitely going to get better now. Specialist Pancreatic Nurse Nicki Jardine will be funded by the charity and will divide her time between the University Hospital of Wales and the Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Nicki said This is a remarkable achievement for the charity. I feel privileged to be the first nurse to be funded by Amser Justin Time, such an innovative charity that is so devoted to the cause. On a day to day basis I witness first-hand patients and their families dealing with pancreatic cancer and can honestly say that this charity is making a real difference, so a big thank you to Shn and the Amser Justin Time team. The charity was founded by Welsh opera star and TV personality, Shn Cothi in memory of her husband, the talented TV director and editor and glam-rock star, Justin Smith (aka Tigertailz Pepsi Tate), who sadly lost his battle against pancreatic cancer in 2007. Shn said When we launched Amser Justin Time last year with an epic horse-ride from North to South Wales, we met so many people along the way who gave us such a heartwarming welcome and so many kind donations, I bet theyre wondering what happened to the money I donated to Amser Justin Time? Well, heres the result...a Specialist Pancreatic Nurse!. Shn expressed the importance of employing a Specialist Pancreatic Nurse Im so proud to be able to tell all the people that supported us that their money will allow us to provide essential care for patients and their families. Its vital they have someone they can talk to who is specially trained, supportive and can ease the difficulty of dealing with this particularly aggressive from of cancer. We hope that with more donations we will be able to fund more nurses around Wales. Given Shns celebrity status as a singer, actress and TV personality the charitys fundraising events have had the support of some of Wales biggest celebrities including Bryn Terfel, who joined Shn to record the downloadable track I Believe. Shn continued to explain Its incredible that weve managed to raise this amount of money without having a full-time team in place or even an office. This is the first time for the charity to spend a single penny of the money raised, which is why its so important for us to mark this occasion. Celebrating the announcement at the University Hospital of Wales were Only Men Aloud, stepping straight off the plane from performing in America, who gave an impromptu and heartrending rendition of Angels. Only Men Aloud's Music Director and Founder, Tim Rhys-Evans, said We are immensely proud to be supporting Amser Justin Time as one of the choirs chosen charities. Having worked and performed with Shn for many years its amazing to see how one special Welsh lady can inspire a whole nation and achieve such incredible results. Mr Malcolm Puntis, a former Consultant Surgeon & Senior Lecturer for the Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust, and a Specialist in Pancreatic Surgery who treated Justin Smith, said Justin was such an inspiration. Its outstanding to see all the fund-raising being put to tangible use providing extra care for pancreatic cancer patients and their relatives. It is a rare and fortunate thing for a charity to have so little overheads to be able to action front-line funding such as this so soon. It would be greater still if the Welsh Assembly Government were to match the funding raised by Amser Justin Time. Mr Puntis, who has lent his support and expertise freely to Amser Justin Time acting as Mentor for the charity, continued We are also continuing to develop a comprehensive website to be used as an information resource about pancreatic cancer and to raise public awareness about this cruel disease. We hope the website will become a universal resource for all those affected by pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the UK with approximately 20 new patients diagnosed each day. The rate of pancreatic cancer is slightly higher in Wales at 14.2 per 100,000 people compared with 12.7 per 100,000 people for the UK as a whole. Nurse Director of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust Sue Gregory said We are grateful to Amser Justin Time for their involvement. A specialist nurse will improve the care we provide to pancreatic cancer patients, as well as providing much needed support for their relatives. For more information on the charity, please visit www.amserjustintime.org For donations, please visit www.justgiving.com/amser
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Final Date For Submissions Three Days Away
With three days to go till the closing date for submissions for this years Left Coast Eisteddfod we would like to remind readers that internationally renowned photographer Glyn Davies will be judging the Visual Image Competition. For more information about Glyn follow this LINK . For a selection of breathtaking images which Glyn recently uploaded to Americymru check out the slideshow below.
If you are planning to submit an entry there is still time. Indeed if you are an Americymru member and you have already uploaded photos to the site you can simply copy the image location in a new group discussion on the Groups page and you are all done. The rules and everything else you need to enter can be found on this page:- Left Coast Eisteddfod Visual Image Competition . Please take the time to read the rules carefully before entering . Any queries shoud be directed to americymru@gmail.com . There is a first prize of $100 for the Visual Image Competition. The same applies to our other online competitions all of which are open for submissions till July 31st.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our contestants the very best of luck in the various competitions. Winners will be announced at the Eisteddfod at 4 p.m.on Friday August 21st.
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Choir of the World The Pavarotti Trophy
Simply the most prestigious choir competition in the world.....last night the winning choirs from the five major choral competitions of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod sang in the Grand Final with The Westminster Chorus , California, USA being crowned winners and the Choir of the World. The Barbershop Choir were awarded the famous Pavarotti Trophy, named for the great Italian tenor who competed on the Eisteddfod stage in 1955 when his choir from Modena won the Men's Choir competition. In 2005 Luciano Pavarotti added his name to the Choir of the World competition.
The Westminster Chorus - California - USA- Choir of the world winner - Barbershop Choir Winners
The Westminster Chorus - California - USA- Choir of the world winner - Barbershop Choir Winners
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http://www.prlog.org/10279560-chris-needs-premier-at-left-coast-eisteddfod.html
Once Upon a Time in Goginan is a lively and entertaining account of the village which lies in the hills above Aberystwyth. It includes hilarious and touching anecdotes about the unforgettable local characters, the frequenting of chapels and pubs, the development of the local football league, the effects of the war, and the Boys Own-style adventures which the author experienced during an idyllic childhood in Goginan.
Author Ceiriog Gwynne Evans says: The idea of writing a book of this sort has been gnawing at me for years. Eventually someone told me to get on with it or shut up about it!
He was inspired to write the book when, on a trip back to Goginan from his present home in Trowbridge, he stopped at Nant-yr-Arian and took in the view of the Melindr Valley. As the memories flooded back, I saw in my minds eye a vibrant rural community which lived, laboured and died in this lovely valley. I decided there and then that I would try to perpetuate the memory of these folk by gathering as much information as I could about some of the individuals who contributed to the fabric of society.
One anecdote concerns the local division of the Home Guard. I well remember the first recruitment meeting of these elderly personnel. They were a motley crew; most of them were in working clothes, cloth cap or trilby hat and overalls, carrying an interesting variety of weapons. One or two had double-barrelled shotguns but most were armed with walking sticks, umbrellas or pick axe handles; some of the agricultural fraternity came armed with hoes while the more aggressive types brought pitchforks, some still caked with manure!
The authors family played a central role in many of the villages activities. His relatives included a formidable aunt, Marie, who lived over a hundred years. What was the secret of her longevity? A bottle of whisky a week and one Guinness a day.
The author hopes that his book will encourage people from other rural communities to stir up reminiscences of their own localities and write them down before they are lost in the mists of time.
Once Upon a Time in Goginan also traces the history of the village since the time of the Celts and the Romans, examining developments in education, farming, religion and mining. The book features historical photographs of Goginan as well as the authors own illustrations.
Ceiriog Gwynne Evans was born in Goginan and educated in local schools and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He spent his working life teaching and lecturing in and around the London area. He retired in 1990 and moved with his American wife, Cecele, to Trowbridge in Wiltshire.
The author will be signing copies of Once Upon a Time in Goginan on 18 July between 12 and 3pm at Waterstones, 27 Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth.
