The Pendinas Bugle
The Pendinas Bugle is our newsletter, designed and produced entirely by members of our group.
We have been contacted by people from Scotland, Australia and now America, this latest story will show how reading web pages can put you in contact with other people, I will publish as soon as possible, 25/02/2010 thanks for your patience.
Sunday August 24 2008
Found this wonderful web site the other day, basically its for elderly people who have pets and are going into Hospital or Respite care and are worried about whose going to look after their pets, its called THE CINNAMON TRUST and its well worth a visit, see our USEFUL LINKS.
Breaking News 5 July 2008
Our photo shows The Tabernacle in Mill Street after a fire ripped through it on Friday night, Saturday morning the 4th and 5th of July 2008. Photo by a group member.
AWARDS FOR ALL WALES
11th june 2008 we have just received an award of £1600 from the above, we would like to thank them very much for this generous gesture, we will be having a presentation at our hall on June 18th.
Grants in 2009
Thanks to the Lady Grace Jane Trust for their Grant and to the Trust House Charitable
Foundation both were very welcome.
LONDON MARATHON 2008
Well done to Mathew Harrison (son of one of our members) for completeing the London marathon in a very respectable time and for raising the sum of £1800.00.
He was running for "Crossroads, Ceredigion" a caring organization here in Wales, it's rumored his Mother is going to run next year.
LONDON MARATHON 2009
Well done again to Mathew Harrison for completeing the London marathon in a time of 4hrs 17 mins, this time he was chased by his Mother, Christine, who completed the course in 5hrs 10mins. Well done both of you. Christine raised £2142 which is being shared between Bowel Cancer and MS charities
and here she is our Marathon Runner with the local Constabulary.
Cardiff half-marathon 18 October 2009
On 18th October Christine ran another marathon, although only half a one this time, she ran a fine time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, raising money this time for the Beacon of Hope, an Aberystwyth, Ceredigion based charity.
LONDON MARATHON 2010
She's done it again, Christine again completed the London Marathon this year with a resectable time of 5hrs 20mins, this year she was running for THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION, in aid of THE CEREDIGION HEART NURSE'S APPEAL
Thank you to all who sponsored her.
Back to London
on 9th July 2008 Christine one of our carers is off to Buckingham Palace to attend the Queens tea party.
Our Club would like to thank the Staff of Jessops, Aberystwyth Lab Store, for their help and understanding. A nice shop with pleasant staff who where very helpful, thank you very much.
28 May 2008 News from Pembroke
Just heard from Glenys, she was the lady who first set up our group, but unfortunately when we had to source the group on our own it was to far to travel from Pembrokeshire to Aberystwyth just for two hours one day a week, so reluctantly we had to say farewell to Glenys. We do miss you and it was good to hear that your new Group in Pembroke Dock is up and running well, thanks for the photo's sorry I can not enlarge them.
Stories and Memories...
'A Bus Driver's son, is a happy one' - A tale from Birmingham by Mr J M Smith (AUDIO)
'Dads War' - A tale by Fred Davies Read PDF
I was a Fireman on King George V
for all you Railway Buffs, one of our members, "Fred" had the privalige to be a Fireman on this Famous old Steam Train, (6000. King George V) we are hoping to have his story in Audio and Video very shortly.
March 2009. at last the long awaited story
The experience of a Fireman on British Rail in 1959
This week I was a relief Fireman detailed to cover holidays, the shift I was on was going to work the 3.25 Birkenhead to Paddington. I signed on at 6.30 at Banbury and made my way to the station to await my train, to my surprise it was King George V complete with large brass bell on the front.I relieved the Wolverhampton fireman and climbed onto the footplate, after checking the fire the water the coal and the steam gauges we were ready to go. With the King you have to fire first in the four corners and then down the middle, our first stop was Biscester, then a bit more firing before we got to Princes Risborough, more firing to High Wycombe and next stop Paddington where we arrived at 8.35.we were then relieved by an Old Oak Common set and we made our way to the cabin for a quick cup of tea.We then went to platform 4 to pick up and work the 9.05 stopping train to Didcot, we were relieved at Didcot and had 45 minutes break before working the Fratton Parcels Train back to Banbury, we arrived in Banbury at 1.45am after being relieved we walked back to the engine shed and signed off, that was my experience of being a fireman on the3.25 Birkenhead to Paddington on King George V.
Fred Davies
Norma's Story...........A short true story by Norma one of our Members
Mornington Round was born in March 1895. Just before his second wedding anniversary in 1921 he had pneumonia and was given a few hours to live. After the crisis point he began to recover. Wrapped in a blanket he sat at the bottom of the garden on a lovely sunny day and painted the picture of pansies.
He had a love of radio and via his homemade crystal set he heard the first BBC broadcast from 2LO. In reply to their request for listeners to write in if they had heard the broadcast, he replied. In return they sent headphones, which are now in the BBC sound archive Museum.
With my Uncle they drove trams and after my Uncle went to Whitstable to open the East Kent Car Co my Father joined the Midland Red Bus Co and took the first bus out of Harts Hill Garage in Brierley Hill. This required a round walk of ten miles to do his shift. During the second world war he ran an armed guard unit in the village with one gun and no ammunition. He also was an auxiliary fireman on fire watch duty. Due to ill health he had to leave the Buses and worked for the Revo Electric Co packing cookers and irons for destinations all over the world. He retired in the 1960's and survived to the late 1970’s. Although very ill during his retirement years he continued with his art work.
He fathered four children. An eldest daughter who is artistic and a dress maker. Sadly his second daughter died two weeks after the birth of his third child, a son. This son won several awards for drawings and slogans during the war even wining an award from Winston Churchill. His last child was another daughter. Although born late in his life he was the apple of her eye. He gave his children love, understanding and moral support. Money he had none but it never came into his children's love, respect and devotion. He was the best friend anyone could have.
The headphones he was given 
The pansies he painted in the garden
Dad is the Conductor and Uncle Newton the Driver.
Back again 16 August 2008
Just spent a few days in Bronglais Hospital Aberysywyth, wired up to a drip with gall stones, wonderful treatment on Owain Glyndwr Ward but back to the story, I had this given to me from the club
what a bunch of jokers they are, a fine bunch of mates.
Grants in 2009
Below is a photo of some of the group receiving two cheques, one from Lady Grace James Memorial Fund and the other from Trust House Charitable Foundation, our thanks to both Organisations.
Death of one of our members
Amiee Boyle sadly passed away on Friday 9th October 2009.
Amiee had been a loyal member of our group and will be greatly missed. She always came with a smile on her face and was willing to try new skills, even with her disability she gave it 100 per cent. Our thoughts go out to her family at this sad time, We will not forget her, but keep her in our memories. God Bless.
Funeral to be held on Friday 23rd October 2009 at Aberystwyth Crematorium at 2.15pm
A Cats Tale
My name is Liberty Bellemont, I was found in a hole at the side of the road on American Independance Day , July 4th 2004 in the Village of Cross Inn which is in Wales.
The Vet who checked me over thought I was Approximately four weeks old, so my Birthday would be 1st June 2004. My Mom had Milk Fever and couldn't look after me, or my siblings. She wandered away followed by my Brother, I stayed where I was and a Man suddenly heard me.
My Mom died several days latter having been taken in by the owners Wife at the local Garage. My Brother got accidentally run over some-time later by a Mechanic at the garage. The couple who found me are very nice, the Man holds me and squeezes my Tummy, which I like, and when I go to bed he always finds me a treat! The Lady loves and adores me, and is always kissing me and making a fuss, but I show her I am independent and don't take kindly to being made into a Sissy Cat. I do reward her most days (she tells me I'm a good boy!) when I bring a mouse or a bird into her house, but really she is squeamish. I live with Twin Havana Cats, the boy is Tregaron and the Girl is Bethania, they are "stuck up". they also have a Rabbit called Trefenter who's Blind, not much fun, so I ignore him. Tregaron is a wimp and Bethania is scared of everything and runs to the Lady who always takes her side and then says "it's Girl Power". When no one is looking I get my own back by biting their legs. They won't let me have anything of my own, and where ever I sit they will run and pinch the spot.But I don't care I take myself off across the fields at the rear of my Home. I have to come back when it's dark. The Man calls me and I hide in the Greenhouse the Stable or the Boat House. it's mean but it's more fun when it's dark. I like it when Next Dogs Dog Owners go out, they lock the Dog in, so I go and sit outside their Lounge Door and make him Bark.
I will tell you about myself, I'm Ginger and White and the Lady says I'm a Chocolate Box Pussy Cat and Pretty as a Picture. Urgh!!! I used to travel a lot in the Car, but when the Man works here I don't go in it unless he takes me to the Vets. I like it when I see an opportunity to lie on the Ladies Bed. The Lady has two Dolls Houses and I can get into the largest one, but I always get told off. I know how the Video works, but the last time I fiddled with it I got my foot stuck in the Tape Socket and when I tried to free it my Claws pulled the Video off its stand, it sailed half way across the room, did she go "Ape"? so now I'm leaving it alone. The Man tells me my Photo's are on the Inter-Net, I don't know what all the fuss is all about, I know I'm Beautiful, Wonderful and very very Clever.
Signing Off
Bellemont x
NHS Journal 2009
an extract from the above
World stroke day
An Aberystwyth stroke survivor has been sharing his story and inspiring others recovering from a stroke, not just on World Stroke Day but for the last 11 years.
Fred Davies, aged 71, from Penparcau, felt his whole life turned on its head when he suffered a stroke 10 years ago. But despite losing the feeling in his right hand and requiring a splint in his right leg, the former University chef regained his abilities and confidence and continues to live life to the full.
Mr Davies said: “Having a stroke doesn’t have to be the end of your life. You can empower yourself and gain support from professionals and other people who have gone through the same thing.
“Just a year after my stroke, I managed to go on a holiday of a lifetime to Las Vegas, something I couldn’t have imagined doing at first. For me, music has been the best therapy. I have continued to sing with Aberystwyth Male Voice Choir and that has meant a lot to me.”
Mr Davies shared his experience at a town centre event organised by Hywel Dda Health Board to mark World Stroke Day recently. Shoppers were able to speak to Mr Davies and other stroke survivors and healthcare professionals, as well as to get their blood pressure and weight measured free of charge.
Occupational Therapist at Bronglais General Hospital Moya Neale said: “It was fantastic having Mr Davies and other patients along on the day as they were able to share their direct experience with shoppers. We had a great reaction from the public and were able to remind people of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and keeping a regular check on their blood pressure.”
But helping others is not something Mr Davies does just once a year. For 11 years now he has been a volunteer at Leri Day Hospital, helping other people who have had a stroke with their eating. He is also a driving force behind Penparcau Progressive Action Group, which provides support and activities for people in the area who have suffered a stroke or are living with a learning disability. The group runs every Wednesday in the hall opposite the church and all are welcome.
Leri Ward Sister Jackie Quinn said: “Mr Davies is an inspiration to us all and we greatly appreciate all that he does for the ward and our patients. As a stroke survivor he brings great comfort to those who are just coming to terms with what has happened to them.”
If you suspect someone has suffered a stroke, act FAST:
F ace – has their face fallen on one side, can they smile?
A rms – can they lift both arms and keep them there?
S peech – is their speech slurred
T ime – time to call 999
For more information, visit www.wales.nhs.uk/actfast
The Holiday Section...
A holiday in Brittany, France
We found this website, www.ineedaholidaytoo.com by chance on the internet. We have a wheelchair dependant son, so to find accommodation with hoists and suitable transport sounded great. All bookings etc were made by phone (freephone number).
Carl and Jaqcui (the owners) picked us up from Brest Airport in a minibus with a wheelchair lift (obviously there was a charge for this). It took 1 hour 20 mins to get to the apartment which was very spacious with 2 bedrooms, very large bathroom and open-plan kitchen-diner-sitting room. TV with satellite and computer with internet access. There was wine, fruit juice, beer and milk in the fridge and tea, coffee and biscuits. Very welcoming!
The village with 2 mini markets, butchers etc was a 10 minute walk. We had a very good time and would highly recommend it.
For contact information, please visit the Useful Links section.
