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Newsletter Summer 2017
“I'm gonna give you a reason
Why you should clap your hands and jump for joy
There's something we can believe in
Now that the rain is gone we're gonna dance on a rainbow
It's time to celebrate
Come on and celebrate”
The song, "Celebrate" was the soundtrack to the 2012 musical
drama film Sparkle and is the last song recorded by Whitney
Houston before she died on 11 February 2012.
This time last year we were celebrating Valeways’ 20th
anniversary, and as this current Newsletter is compiled, we are
reminded
that the Wales Coast Path, the world’s first uninterrupted path
along a national coast, celebrates its fifth birthday!
Emyr Roberts, Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales, said
that the Wales Coast Path makes the most of the fantastic
natural
resource.
“It boosts our rural and urban economies through tourism,
improves health and wellbeing by getting people out
walking, and connects people to the fantastic nature that lives
along our magnificent coastline. The first five
years have given us a great start, and there is a lot more that
we can do and we’ll be working hard to try and get
even more people to take advantage of this wonderful natural
resource.”
We, in Valeways know very well about the beauty of the Vale and
have been actively promoting the same sentiments for the last
21 years!
The beauty of the Coast Path is celebrated in this very
appealing
painting by Brian Jones from the Baruc Art Group, exhibited
at
Travellers Gallery, Broad Street, Barry, depicting Barry Island
at the
height of the summer season. It seems to encourage us, if not
to
venture into the sea at least to make the most of what this part
of
the Vale has to offer.
Celebrating Twenty-One Years of Walking in the Vale
VALEWAYS Yn dathlu un mlynedd a’r hugain o gerdded yn y Fro
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We also hope that our new Summer Walks Programme provides many
tempting coastal walks for us to enjoy. Look out for walks
at Llantwit, (Coffee Shop Strollers) Coast and Country (11
July), Seven Counties View (30 July). Those of us who choose an
inland
walk such as a visit to ‘Ancient Burial Chambers (19 September)
or a ‘Walk with dinosaurs’ (16 July) the coast, its beauty,
geology,
myths and history is never far away.
The words displayed on the front of the Wales Millennium Centre
‘IN THESE STONES HORIZONS SING’ penned by the poet,
Gwyneth Lewis, seem so appropriate when we discuss the virtues
of the Vale coastline.
In 2012 Gwyneth Lewis was the crowned bard at the National
Eisteddfod held in the Vale of Glamorgan. Gwyneth has a further
connection with the Vale as she was successful when the Urdd
National Eisteddfod visited Barry. She also received her
doctorate for her work on Iolo Morganwg.
The Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival is firmly established on
the Vale calendar and its success is reflected in the extension
of
this year’s festival to almost a week of walking! This year, for
the first time the Walking Festival ran for six days, giving
everyone
ample opportunities to engage with the Vale’s rich history while
enjoying the countryside. Just over 400 walkers took part over
6
days and 28 walks. Many thanks to all who attended, from places
as far afield as Bristol, Shropshire and even Australia! Also a
huge ‘Thank you’ to our Walk Leaders for providing such an
interesting and varied selection of walks.
Valeways is very grateful also to the Vale of Glamorgan Council
and Barry Town Council for their generous donations.
Val Warlow receiving cheque from Barry Town Mayor Cllr. Nic
Hodges
Barry featured prominently in the Walking Festival Programme,
from a stroll through History taking in Barry Castle and the
Roman
settlement at the Knap to a family walk through the Millwood.
Barry Island hosted the launch of the Festival followed by a
circular
walk around some of the Island’s features. The Island also
provided the backdrop to the ‘Sundowners Walk’ (Walk 28) to bring
the
six day celebration to a fitting end.
The walk through Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery (Walk 24) had a special
significance as it was led by the newly elected Barry Town
Mayor, Councillor Nic Hodges, complete with his wealth of
knowledge and anecdotes – and his mayoral chain of office! At the
end
of the walk refreshments were laid on at the Merthyr Dyfan
Chapel.
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The ‘Stroll Through History’ (Walk 12), came to an abrupt end at
the Old Harbour when watching a car being slowly engulfed by
the relentless tide became a spectator sport! Thanks to Rebecca
for this photo.
This is a timely reminder of the centennial events in 2012
commemorating the sinking of the Titanic. We also note that in
2012
the television drama, ‘Casualty’ came to Cardiff!
Additional horsepower photographed by Patrick Davies on the
Millennium Heritage Trail Walk.
The well-known professional darts player John Thomas "Jocky"
Wilson died in 2012.
Volunteer Co-ordinator’s Report
The Spring months seem to have flown by with Valeways Volunteers
working hard to plan and check the 28 walks for the Walking
Festival and clear the routes where required. One minute the
festival seemed to be a long way off and then it was upon us.
We
made use of one of the Barry Beach Huts to promote the festival
plus advertising. Thank you to Carolyn, who is still dealing
with
the paperwork, all our volunteers and finally to Derek Brockway
who seemed to be able to organise some great weather for us!
During April we had help from several groups of volunteers from
Cardiff and the Vale College, the Princes Trust, Cowbridge
Scouts
and staff from a Cardiff Call Centre who helped with various
projects including a litter pick on Sully Island, and repairing a
section
of the coast path at Lavernock Point.
We also had a few outings with additional excitement including
encountering a man who had lit a fire within the Tinkinswood
burial chamber and a sighting of Immigration Control in action
in Sully.
We have forthcoming events to prepare for and look forward to
including the Friends and supporters of
Valeways Launch Walk on Saturday July 15th, the Vale Show on
Wednesday 9 August and the Amelia
Trust Harvest Festival on Saturday 9th September.
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“Looking forward to this year’s Vale Show?” Photo by Patrick
Davies
In 2012 Russia eventually lifts the ban on the imports of
British beef and lamb following concerns over the BSE outbreak.
Thursday 13th July sees the launch of the first of a series of a
new Coffee Shop Strollers walks to support people and their
families
with secondary breast cancer. This is a gentle walk with ample
opportunities to chat, to stroll, to have a drink, to meet people
and
to share experiences. This walk is offered as part of the
Valeways Walking Programme. For further information contact the
Valeways office or email the walk leader Lynne at
[email protected]
Rebecca Exley—Volunteer Coordinator
Lynne and Jenny enjoying the sun at Cosmeston during their Walk
Leader
training course.
Rebecca could have done with the services of the Jamaican
athletes on her
Walk and Clear programme as they, with some help from Usain
Bolt, succeeded in a ‘clean sweep’ of the sprints at the 2012
London Olympics.
“Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there”…
“Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend” was recorded by many
artists including Andy Williams, who died
25 September 2012.
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Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity FAMILY FUN WALK 2017
Sunday 17th September 11am from the Norwegian Church, Cardiff
Bay
Help support children and families at the Noah’s Ark Children’s
Hospital for Wales by entering our 3k or 10k walk along Cardiff
Bay
Barrage. Fancy dress is optional and the route is suitable for
buggies, wheelchairs and dogs. Join Team Noah’s Ark and help
sup-
port the 73,000 children needing specialist and life-saving
treatment at the Children’s Hospital for Wales each year.
Registration
costs £5 per person and includes a free t-shirt and bottle of
water. Minimum sponsorship: £40 per person.
Visit www.noahsarkcharity.org/familyfunwalk or call 029 2184
7310 to book your place.
Appropriately enough, according to statistics from the Met
Office, 2012 was recorded as the second wettest year on record
in
the UK! The total rainfall during the year was 1,330.7mm
(52.4in), just 6.6mm short of the record set in 2000.
“ One small step for man, one giant leap…” *
John Treby has organised a special walk in Symonds Yat on
Thursday 27th July. The walk starts at 10:00am. Meet at kiosk at
Yat Rock car park GL16 7NZ. Fee payable. For directions please
contact John on 07791 138002 or by email – [email protected] Lunch
will be taken at the White Horse Inn, Staunton, half way round.
This lovely 9 mile walk starts at Yat Rock and then drops
down into the Wye Valley before climbing again through open
countryside to the village of Staunton. After lunch it is an easy
walk
through broad leaf woodland to return to the starting point.
*Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, died 5th
August 2012.
At the recent Sully Painting Group Summer Exhibition two ardent
supporters of Valeways exhibited their artistic talents.
Kathryn
Vinnicombe is a Barry Coffee Shop Stroller while John Treby is a
Walk Leader and leads many walks to places further afield (see
above). Despite their different styles both reflect the
atmosphere of a late Summer’s evening possibly preparing us for
those two
walks – ‘End of Summer’ walk on 27 August and the ‘Start of
Autumn’ walk on 24 September.
‘Distant Shore’, an oil painting (detail) by John Treby
mailto:[email protected]
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‘Al Fresco’, a watercolour by Kathryn Vinnicombe
In May 2012 a version of ‘The Scream’ by Edvard Munch became the
most expensive painting sold at auction. It sold for £74
million!
Currently the most expensive painting sold (unless John Treby or
Kathryn Vinnicombe had a late sale!) is Paul Gaugin’s ‘Nafea
Faa ipoipo’ (When Will You Marry?’) sold recently for £200
million!
Whilst on the subject of marriage…
In future, Cosmeston Coffee Shop Strollers might be in for some
surprises as they wind their way around the lake as permission
has been granted to allow civil marriages and wedding events to
be conducted at the converted barns in the medieval village.
Unfortunately this comes too late for Natalie Portman and her
Black Swan co-star Benjamin Millepied. According to ‘Cosmeston’
…
sorry, Cosmopolitan, Natalie was said to have had difficulty in
choosing between Paris, California and Israel as a venue for
their
wedding in 2012. Cosmopolitan adds. “And we think we have
problems, eh?”
Further down the coast on the Wales Coast Path, we come to The
Captain's Wife Public House, Sully which was a house originally
owned by a captain. Legend has it that when his wife died, her
body was kept in a box that was mistaken for treasure and
stolen!
…. and we think we have problems, eh?
And finally……
