Powis Castle, near Welshpool, close to the Welsh border, the seat of the Earl of Powis, was built by the Welsh for Welsh princes – unlike Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech which were built by the English to suppress the Welsh.
The original castle was built in the 13th century by Welsh Prince Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn and transformed into a grand residence in the 1530’s by Edward Gray, Lord of Powis. In 1578 it was leased to Sir Edward Herbert who bought the castle in 1587 and it remained in the Herbert family until 1952, when it was bequeathed to the National Trust, but the family retained the right to live in part of the castle.
The castle’s Clive Museum contains many precious Indian objects brought back from India by Henrietta Herbert who married Edward Clive in 1784. Edward’s father was Robert Clive ‘Clive of India’ and Henrietta and Edward and their daughters lived with him in Madras whilst he was Governor there in 1798.
The northern gate (originally the main entrance) is flanked by two figures – two statues installed in niches between the columns – King Edgar the Peaceful – and King Offa of Mercia – who built Offa’s Dyke along the English/Welsh border ostensibly ‘to divide Wales from Offa’s kingdom of Mercia’.
Every castle has its ghosts and Powis is no exception. In 1780 an elderly lady arrived looking for work spinning hemp and flax. The earl was away in London, but the steward offered her employment – mischievously installing her in a room known to be haunted. However, instead of being terrified, the old lady befriended the man in the gold-laced suit and he led her through the castle to find a hidden chest and key. The old lady presented the treasure to the earl on his return and was rewarded with lodging for the rest of her years. As well as the golden-clad man, you may encounter a woman in a mob-cap, a lady in black sitting by the fire in the Duke’s Room – where people have also experienced being touched by invisible hands – a child dressed in green in the Clive Museum – and sometimes the ballroom resounds with the eerie notes of ghostly piano music.
Published in the April edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
Sunsets are always magical but sunsets on water take on a special brilliance as the rays of the setting sun dance upon the waves, and the golden globe disappears slowly into the sea beyond the horizon.
The sun’s mild and mellow light spreads sunbeams across the waves, sunlight lingering and deepening as twilight creeps in, softly lengthening shadows and bathing the land in darkness.
The setting sun paints the clouds with glorious light, creating shades of scarlet, crimson and tangerine in patterns across the sky as the purple of dusk descends on the shimmering sand.
Sunsets have inspired many writers, poets and musicians, the coalescing colours and shapes, the ever-changing patterns in the sky are mesmerising, like a symphony getting louder and brighter, then fading away into darkness.
“There is nothing more musical than a sunset.” Claude Debussy
“Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies…” Paulo Coelho
Published in the March edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
The largest natural lake in Wales, fed by the River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy) which has its source on the slopes of Dduallt (Black Hill) in the mountains of Snowdonia.
It is thought that the lake was once much larger and extended much further north (over Bala town) and south to Llanuwchllyn – and probably previously flowed west into Cardigan Bay, whereas now the River Dee flows north east through it, then along the Welsh border, around Chester and eventually into the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay.
Formed by glaciers, the lake is home to a rare whitefish called the Gwyniad, a relic of the last Ice Age, and a very rare mollusc Myxas Glutinosa – the Glutinous snail. In the summer it’s calm surface and shallow edges are ideal for watersports and kayaks, canoes and paddleboards pepper the surface.
The Bala Railway, built on a section of the former Ruabon to Barmouth GWR route (closed in 1965) runs along the south east shore from Bala to Llanuwchllyn (the village above the lake). The railway has 3 steam locomotives, 2 of which were rescued from Welsh slate quarries. The 2 ft narrow gauge steam trains trundle along the tracks providing stunning views of the lake and glimpses of the surrounding mountains – Arenig Fawr, Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy.
Llyn Tegid translates as ‘Lake of Serenity’ and it certainly lives up to its name. Even in winter, when the lake overflows appropriating the car park and lakeside pathways, the scenery is stunningly beautiful, with windblown waves caressing the trees and bushes at the edges of the lake.
According to legend, the lake has its own monster – ‘Teggie’ haunts the underwater palaces of King Tegid and his wife, the white witch, Ceridwen, legendary mother of the famous Welsh bard Taliesin who was Celtic mythology’s ‘Chief of Bards’. He served in the court of several mythic kings including King Arthur where his powers of poetry and prophecy were highly regarded. Sometimes, on moonlight nights, it is said that the towers and turrets of King Tegid’s castle can be glimpsed beneath the waves.
Published in the February edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ that inspired Keats to write his poem ‘To Autumn’.
Leaves turning from green to gold to auburn, watery sunshine filtering through gnarled branches with crooked fingers, stretching towards the light; eiderdown clouds in quilted patterns sending sunbeams spotlighting acorns underfoot.
King Quercus, standing tall, golden oak leaves fluttering down, alongside the copper beech, Queen Fagus, in all her autumn glory; bright red rowan berries adorning the mountain ash eagerly sought after by the birds that remain with us when their cousins fly south for the winter. The robin, perched at the top of the hawthorn tree, resplendent in his winter red breasted waistcoat sings songs of summers to come.
The red berries of arum lilies and strings of bryony beads decorate hedgerows fluffy with aptly named old man’s beard.
Toadstools love the damp autumn days and often appear overnight like magic, inspiring stories of fairies and elves tiptoeing at tea parties and dancing in fairy rings.
This year is a ‘mast year’ for acorns – every few years some species of trees and shrubs produce a bumper crop of seeds or nuts – guaranteeing that there will be some left over after the badgers, squirrels, mice and birds have eaten their fill – to germinate and grow into baby trees. Smaller crops in other years give the tree chance to recover energy and also regulate the population of the animals and birds that feed on the nuts.
Published in the December 2022 edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
As an elected director of Midcounties Co-operative, the largest independent co-op in the UK, I am honoured to be invited to talk to you today about ethical leadership – and how co-ops in the UK worked together with co-ops in India during Covid.
In India there is an organisation called SEWA the self employed women’s association which was formed to help support women without regular employment. SEWA is a co-operative federation that works with 106 women’s co-ops, enabling them to provide a sustainable livelihood for female workers.
In 2021, UK Co-operatives collectively raised £100,000 which was donated to SEWA and which they used to provide essential basic supplies through their female networks, including masks and paracetamol, and critical supplies including oxygen. Established in 1972 SEWA currently has 1.8 million members, across 18 states.
During the crisis period 4,000 household health kits were prepared by the Indian co-operatives that form part of SEWA. These included masks made by an artisan co-operative and soap and immune boosters produced by a health co-operative, distributed across eight states across India. Crucially they also provided lifesaving information about the symptoms and spread of Covid to families in rural and low income urban areas – to dispel myths and provide accurate health information.
The support from UK retail societies is also helping seven Indian co-operatives to restart their businesses, buying raw materials and re-establishing market links. SEWA also used this substantial donation as a bargaining tool to leverage support from corporate donors, securing additional funds for women farmers and a catering co-operative in this way.
The emergency response was co-ordinated by Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative College, and Co-op Press who worked together as part of the International Working Group to collect and co-ordinate the donations from The Co-op Group, and the independent retail co-ops. At the time I was the elected Chair of Co-op Press which publishes Co-op News – a magazine telling the stories of co-ops across the world.
In the UK, there are over 7000 registered co-ops owned by 17 million individual members which contribute over £34 bn a year to the British economy.
I’m sure many people at this conference know more about the co-operative movement in India than me, but I do know that it plays a crucial role in the agricultural sector, banking and housing and employs many people.
I also wanted to say a few words about co-ops and how they are different from corporate businesses:
The co-operative movement was founded in the UK by the Rochdale Pioneers to provide an affordable alternative to poor quality and adulterated food and provisions, members bought shares which entitled them to share in profits. Unlike corporate companies, each member had one vote, regardless of the number of shares they bought and profits were shared according to purchases. The more you buy, the more dividend you receive and everyone has an equal say – one member one vote. Unlike corporate companies, shares do not increase in value and you can only sell shares back to the co-op. Co-operatives today are run according to the same principles and the same values of democracy, openness, equality and social responsibility. Profits are reinvested, paid as a dividend to members and are used to help local community organisations.
As well as selling popular brand names, retail co-ops support local producers so you can buy local meat and vegetables, and locally made pork pies and cakes in your local store.
Co-ops also support Fairtrade – paying a fair price for things like coffee, tea, cocoa, wine and bananas – ensuring the small communities that supply these commodities get a fair amount for their products and their families have a decent standard of living – preventing profiteering businesses from taking advantage of their circumstances.
I always remember a speech by the CEO at a Co-op Group AGM in Manchester. Steve Murrells held up a bottle of Malbec wine from Argentina and he said: “This isn’t just a bottle of red wine, it’s a bottle of organic Fair Trade red wine, made from grapes grown on a farm in North West Argentina.” He then showed photos of the farm and the vineyard – and then he showed more pictures of a water tank supplying clean water and a local school which the co-op helped to build – and the foundations for a health centre which the co-op was supporting and he said: “When you sip this wine you can not only savour the Argentinian grapes but also think of the clean water and the education and healthcare that this bottle of wine has provided for the farmers that produced it – and their families.”
I am passionate about co-operatives and the way they work together and share best practice and I shop there because you can always find an endless selection of ethically sourced, honestly labelled, locally produced goods, giving you reassurance that the food you put on the table is some of the best you can buy, grown carefully, by producers who are paid properly for their work.
27th September 2022
Montcalm Royal London House Hotel
Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1DX
The magic is back – Blackberry Fair was amazing again – wonderful people, incredible music – and so many smiles – it was like we had all been saving them up for 3 years – since the last street festival here.
This living, breathing celebration of music, song, dance, poetry and street theatre, stretched from Green End to the Bull Ring, and on – up to the Black Bear and beyond – and attracted more visitors than ever – enjoying local food, real ale, mouth-watering sweets, freshly-baked cakes, and real sausages and beef burgers – all accompanied by street music wherever you went in this normally tranquil, market town.
Whitchurch’s unique street carnival inspires, fires the imagination, screams innovation, young and old are all captivated, drawn into the spirit of creativity and sustainability – all shared by bands from far and near – the Old Time Sailors, Cosmic Rays, The Odd Bods, music from every genre – including the hypnotic, mesmerising music from Zuma – with its exotic, tantalising, foot-tapping beats.
The crew, and all the volunteers were dressed up alongside the musicians and Morris dancers – there were magicians and wizards, mad hatters and giants – and plenty of pirates – Theodora the Witch and Harbinder the elephant, and all the characters that followed the raven and the unicorn as the Carnival of Hope wound its way through the town, gathering at St. Alkmund’s church at the end of the afternoon.
Thank you Steve and your army of volunteers for another amazing festival of music and mayhem, light and laughter, sunshine and smiles and all the characters, singers, dancers, artists and musicians who made the day so special.
Published in the November edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
In the 1860s, the Cambrian Railways Company was based at Oswestry station and ran over 300 miles of track, east, west and south. Their building complex included a large engineering works making engines, carriages and wagons. The building still stands but the trains have gone – the passenger services ended in 1966 and the engine sheds now have other uses.
Happily, heritage trains still run from Oswestry station which is the home of Cambrian Heritage Railways. Trains run by volunteers travel along the 1.5 miles of track to Weston Wharf (home of the Stonehouse Brewery) and back. A short stretch of track has also been reinstated between Llynclys and Pant and a station halt has been completed at Pen y Garreg Lane.
In September Cambrian Heritage Railways hosted a special day out. We boarded the train at Oswestry station and rattled along the tracks to Weston Wharf. Sitting in one of the old carriages, visions of Victorian children boarding the train to Barmouth with buckets and spades came to mind. And I could almost imagine Poirot sitting opposite me looking out of the old sliding down windows as trees and hedges, and old walls slide past – past the church, the overgrown headstones leaning against ancient railings, then slowing down into the Weston Wharf yard with the relics of goods trains and the engine shed.
There we met the volunteer stationmaster (reminiscent of the Fat Controller of Thomas the Tank Engine days) who told us about the days of the goods trains – the railway used to transport coal from a local colliery at Morda – then an entrepreneur discovered there was clay under the coal and set up Sweeney Brickworks so the trains then carried bricks. And quarry trains ran from Blodwel Quarry in the Tanat Valley until 1988.
A heritage bus arrived to take us to Llynclys South station where we enjoyed an excellent cup of tea in the buffet in a restored carriage.
Then we climbed aboard a brake van to travel to Pen y Garreg Lane and back. The track was overgrown, adorned with autumn’s bounty – elderberries, blackberries, rosehips and rowanberries, and brambles and traveller’s joy climbing with gay abandon over fences and trees and hedges.
Then we travelled back to Lynclys and clambered aboard the old bus back to Weston Wharf, enjoyed lunch and delicious cakes in the station buffet, then caught the train back to Oswestry.
A fabulous day out!
Thanks to all the members and volunteers – if you would like to join them – find out more www.cambrianrailways.com
Published in the October edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
Old Oswestry is one of Britain’s most impressive Iron Age hillforts, a unique ancient monument of national importance and a valuable ecological habitat.
From around 800 BC until the Roman invasion in 43 AD it was an important stronghold where people lived, worked and traded. In the early 9th century, it became part of the route of Wat’s Dyke, a 60 km bank and ditch, similar to Offa’s Dyke which divided the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Mercia from the Welsh kingdoms to the west. Wat’s Dyke stretches approximately 40 miles from Basingwerk Abbey to Maesbury incorporating the hillfort in its length.
It is traditionally believed that the Battle of Maserfield was fought near here in AD 642 when the Pagan Kings – Penda, Eowa and Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon along with Prince Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn beat the invading Christians under King Oswald of Northumbria. Oswald was killed in the battle and later became venerated as a saint. His body was dismembered, and legend tells of a raven carrying an arm to an ash tree – Oswald’s Tree – attributed with miracles – and a spring called Oswald’s well where the arm fell from the tree – the springwater is believed to have healing properties.
The Normans built Oswestry Castle and founded the town on the lowlands to the south of the hillfort. The Welsh name Croesoswallt means ‘Oswald’s Cross’ but the Middle English name Oswaldestroe translates as ‘Oswald’s Tree’.
It is a mythical place, known in Welsh as Caer Ogyrfan, meaning ‘City of Gogyrfan’, referring to the father of Guinevere in Arthurian legend – it is said to have been the birthplace of Queen Guinevere – Gwenhwyfar in Welsh Literature – and Prince Cynddylan is said to be the last descendant of King Arthur to reign in the Welsh Marches.
The imposing ancient hill fort dominates the skyline on the fringe of the market town of Oswestry and the summit gives panoramic views across North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.
Published in the September edition of the Whitchurch Gossip
Today’s Treasures – John Golder’s 90th Birthday Skydive – a lovely story
John had been caring for his partner, Iris, who was suffering from dementia, and one afternoon she fell whilst trying to get out of bed. He phoned for help but, after waiting two hours for an ambulance that didn’t arrive, he picked her up himself and put her back in bed. About two hours later, he developed chest pains so he phoned for a carer to look after Iris and then another ambulance, which turned up in about ten minutes.
Whilst John was in hospital, Iris couldn’t understand where he had gone and spent the next three days searching the house for him night and day, and the poor lady who had been given the job of caring for her had no sleep at all. So, it was decided to take Iris into care and, after several days recovering in hospital, John arrived home to an empty house.
John realised he could no longer care for iris but was very upset, so when Julie, his PA, arrived she was very concerned about him and thought that going out for lunch might cheer him up – she suggested the Sky Dive Café on Prees Airfield.
John had been thinking about raising some money for the RAFA who had taken great care of his son who is an ex RAF Halton apprentice and it occurred to him that a ninety-year-old doing a tandem sky dive should raise a bit of cash.
John and Julie duly arrived at the Sky Dive Café. Julie ordered the food – and John signed up for a sky dive! He then discovered that, because of his age, he had to have a doctor’s certificate. So, he took the certificate to his doctor – who would not sign it. As it turned out, he was quite right as within another couple of days John had another heart attack. This one was serious and involved a dash to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital through red lights with a lot of siren wailing and blue flashing lights. John was then taken to the Cardiac Hospital in Stoke, where, after several x-rays and various scans, the Surgeon said: “You have a serious heart problem, we can treat you with medication or we can operate. If we operate, there’s a 50:50 chance you will not survive.”
John’s reply was: “Operate – I will survive because you will see I do.” The surgeon’s response was: “I wish I was as confident as you.” As the surgeon left, one of the nurses came up to John and asked if he was OK and John said: “I’m just a bit fed up because I had planned to do a tandem sky dive and that will not now be possible.” When John explained what it was for and why, the nurse said: “That’s OK, I will do it for you”. Her name is Julie Symms. As they chatted, two more nurses joined them and, on learning what Julie had said, they both volunteered to jump as well. They are nurses Victoria Williams and Katie Newbon.
John says: “Obviously someone thought I was not going to survive the operation as they sent a Padre to talk to me. This gentleman was The Rev Nimilote Rokotoro (Roko). He had served ten years in the Royal Engineers, having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He did nothing to save my soul, but we did have a good laugh – and, when I told him about the nurses and what they had proposed, his immediate reaction was: ‘I will jump for you as well’. So now, I have three nurses and a reverend, all prepared to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft for the RAFA and RAF Benevolent Fund.”
Powis Castle, near Welshpool, close to the Welsh border, the seat of the Earl of Powis, was built by the Welsh for Welsh princes – unlike Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech which were built by the English to suppress the Welsh.
