Rhiwbina Living Issue 54 │ Spring 2022

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Rhiwbina Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 54 Spring '22 

CRAFTED IN 

RHIWBINA 

CRAFTED IN 

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

a: 222 Pantbach Road, 

Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG 

t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 

w: www.livingmags.co.uk 

e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or 

danielle@livingmags.co.uk 

Distribution: 6,000 copies of Rhiwbina Living are 

personally delivered by us to every house in the 

Rhiwbina ward four times a year in line with the 

seasons. We also distribute to local shops 

2 

Inside this issue 

Location, 

Location 

A look at the local 

locations used 

in TV shows and 

films that are 

seen throughout 

the world 

A Calm Home 

Creative and 

inexpensive ways 

to bring peace and 

serenity to your 

home life 

Jack Jones 

A look at the 

colourful life of 

the Rhiwbina 

author, novelist, 

and playwright, 

Jack Jones 

The Ferret 

Read the 

fascinating and 

mysterious story 

that links Cardiff 

to an Australian 

beach - as well as 

hidden treasure! 

Summer deadline: 

15th July 2022 

Published late July 2022 

While every effort has been made to 

ensure the accuracy of the contents, 

the publisher cannot accept any 

responsibility for errors or omissions, 

or for any matter in any way arising 

from the publication of this material. 

Every effort has been made to 

contact any copyright holders. 

Rhiwbina Living is an independent, 

apolitical publication. No part of this 

publication may be reproduced 

without the express written 

permission of the publishers. 

Welcome / Croeso 

Spring has finally 

arrived and we 

welcome warmer 

weather with our first 

publication of the 

year. Time to throw 

open the windows 

and doors and let 

the fresh spring air 

revitalise us. 

The sunnier climes 

invite us to spend 

more outdoor time 

with our families. 

With that in mind, 

we've put together a few ideas 

for some quality family fun. 

While you're out and about, 

you might recognise some of 

the locations you visit from the 

shows that you've seen on TV. 

We've compiled a list of some 

of the places that have featured 

in big-name shows, including 

many that are right here on our 

doorstep. If nature is more of 

your thing, we've also created 

a guide to some of the flowers 

you're likely to see at this time 

of year. Spring is a truly magical 

time! 

While rebirth and growth 

blooms and flourishes all around 

us, now is a great time to devote 

some time to growing your own 

food. With living costs going 

up and up, we give you the 

basics on how to create your 

own vegetable plot - and which 

vegetables to grow. 

Our gardens are our own 

little spaces away from the 

world. Whether you share that 

space with friends, family or 

even yourself, we'll show you 

everything you need to create a 

mini sanctuary for yourself. 

The same goes for indoors. After 

the hectic upheaval of the last 

few years, we'll show you how 

you can introduce calmness and 

serenity into your home. 

Taking a look back in time, 

we've got several historical 

features that relate to our local 

area. Historian John Wake charts 

the life of Rhiwbina's Jack Jones, 

who did so much for the literary 

scene in Wales. Born in Merthyr, 

Jack's work has been read, 

performed, and watched, all over 

the world. 

John Wake has also contributed 

to our story of deception, 

fraud and hidden treasure that 

contributes to our feature about 

the SS Ferret. 

The ship sailed from Scotland 

to Australia, via Cardiff, and the 

story's character list reads like 

something you'd find in a movie. 

But the story is a true one, 

and one which leaves several 

questions unanswered. 

And while the world currently 

wobbles into unknown territory, 

we visit relics of worrying times 

from the past. Several reminders 

of the Cold War are dotted 

around north Cardiff - many of 

them wouldn't even be noticed 

by passers-by. 

Finally, we're treated to a short 

story from local author, Geraldine 

Seymour. It's a tale of suburban 

sabotage - one to enjoy with a 

cup of tea and ten minutes to 

yourself. 

Here at Living Magazines, we're 

thrilled to be entering our 15th 

year of publication. When we first 

launched in 2007, we had no idea 

about where they would take us. 

We've been blessed to receive 

wonderful support, both from our 

readers, and our advertisers. 

Without our advertisers, we 

wouldn't be able to provide 

you with the publication that 

you've got in your hands now 

so it's down to us to make sure 

that we repay that support. 

Without our local businesses, 

our communities would suffer 

so please shop local where and 

when you can. 

See you in early summer! 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@RhiwbinaLiving 

www.facebook.com/rhiwbinaliving 

@livingmagazinescardiff

A law to change the speed limit 

across Wales is coming next year 

news 

Pop-up 

recycling facility 

opens in North 

Cardiff 

A new law, set to come into force in 

2023, will see most 30mph speed 

limits in Wales reduced to 20mph. 

The Welsh Government is looking 

to set the national default speed 

limit on residential roads and busy 

pedestrian streets to 20mph, in 

order to make roads safer for 

pedestrians, cyclists, and children. 

Plans drawn up by the Welsh 

Government show that the new limit 

will apply to all roads where street 

lights are not more than 200 yards 

apart. These are typically found 

in residential and built-up areas, 

where the current speed limits are 

30mph. The plans include some 

exceptions, and councils will retain 

the power to keep the 30mph limit 

on certain roads if required. 

Pilot schemes for the new lower 

speed limits have been running in 

Wales for several months, including 

here in north Cardiff. The local 

scheme covers the areas of Llandaff 

North, Whitchurch and Tongwynlais, 

Rhiwbina and Heath wards. 

Mark Drakeford told the Senedd 

Tributes paid 

to Rhiwbina's 

'Hobbsy' 

Tributes were paid in January to 

much-loved rugby coach and 

stalwart Dave Hobbs, after a 

year-long fight with cancer. 

Dave originally joined Rhiwbina 

Squirrels as an under-13s coach, 

but became an integral part of 

the club over the years. 

A club spokesman said: 

"Dave's contribution to Rhiwbina 

RFC was immeasurable and his 

contribution to life immense. 

We'll miss you so much Dave." 

in 2019 that the default speed 

in Wales should be 20mph. A 

taskforce was created to assess 

the viability of the scheme, which 

presented the Welsh Government 

with its recommendations. 

Enforcement of the speed limits will 

be the responsibility of the police. 

Cardiff Council's cabinet member 

Caro Wilde said: 

"As a council, we have been 

installing 20mph areas across the 

city, south of the A48, for a number 

of years now. 

"Slowing vehicle speeds in 

residential areas is a positive step 

forward for our local communities 

and is supported by the majority 

of residents. Research clearly 

shows that reducing vehicle 

speeds in residential areas does 

reduce the number and severity 

of road collisions, provides better 

opportunities for residents to 

walk and cycle, makes our streets 

healthier and improves the 

environment for everyone." 

Llanishen reservoir 

work started 

Work has started on a two-storey 

visitor centre that will form part 

of the regeneration of Llanishen 

Reservoir. 

The hub will be located at the 

northern end of the reservoir, and 

will provide visitors with spectacular 

views across both reservoirs. The 

two-storey building will feature 

changing rooms, facilities for watersports 

use, meeting and training 

rooms and a café with panoramic 

views across the reservoirs. It is 

planned to open in 2023. 

A new recycling centre has opened 

in the car park of Cardiff's former 

tax office in Llanishen. 

The first pop-up recycling 

facility of its kind opened in early 

March. The site had previously 

been purchased from HMRC by 

Cardiff Council and the Welsh 

Government. 

Popular items, such as garden 

waste, wood, metal, hard plastic, 

textiles, batteries, and small 

electrical items will be initially 

accepted at the facility. 

It's located in the car park on 

the south side of the site and will 

initially open only on Saturdays 

from 9am-3pm for eight weeks. 

Whitchurch 

Fire Station 

training tower 

demolished 

One of Whitchurch's well-known 

landmarks has been demolished. 

The training tower at Whitchurch 

Fire Station was knocked down in 

January to make room for a new 

training tower. 

The original tower was built in 

1955, but was razed to the ground 

after suffering structural problems. 

A new Crofton training tower is 

to be built in its place, providing 

the Fire Service with a new USAR 

(Urban Search and Rescue) base. 

It will include three bays for storing 

appliances, an office, meeting 

spaces and mess facilities. 

The planning application for the 

demolition of the tower submitted 

to Cardiff Council was granted 

planning permission in July 2021. 

3

news 

Rhiwbina 

Civic Society 

announces 

Spring 

programme 

Rhiwbina's panto season returns to 

the village after a two year absence 

Image: Harley Jones 

Rhiwbina Civic Society 

has announced its Spring 

programme of events as life in 

the village begins to return to 

normal following the pandemic. 

The society meets each third 

Tuesday evening of the month 

at 7.30 pm with a presentation 

on a topic, usually of local 

interest. Currently, they meet on 

Zoom but they hope to return 

to face-to-face meetings at 

Canolfan Beulah in the near 

future. 

The future programme is as 

follows: 

17 May: Pengam Airport - The 

very early days of aviation in 

Cardiff – Mario Greening. 

21 June: An Edwardian 

Maid – A day in the life of the 

housemaids and footmen in a 

big house – Debra John 

Date to be confirmed: 

Nantgarw China Works and 

Museum. 

Recent talks have included: 

Richard Burton, Welsh Choirs, 

the Royal National Lifeboat 

Institution (RNLI) at Penarth, 

Ruperra Castle (pictured) and 

Cardiff rugby fans. 

Everybody is welcome. 

For more information, 

please see their website 

rhiwbinacivicsociety.org They 

can also be found on Facebook 

or you can call 07811 509490. 

New bins in 

Parc-y-Pentre 

Several new bins have been 

installed in Parc-y-Pentre. 

New sturdier bins have 

replaced the previous bins, 

which often blew inside out, 

leaving litter strewn across the 

floor. 

4 

Rhiwbina's long-awaited pantomime 

season is officially back after a 

popular community play was 

performed to audiences after an 

absence of two years. 

Murder In The Wenallt was 

originally planned for early 2020 but 

preparations were cut short due to 

the national lockdown. Two years 

later, and with restrictions easing, the 

cast were finally able to put on the 

charity-supporting performance. 

The show saw the return of many 

recognisable local faces to the 

stage, including West End star Peter 

Karrie, who played the role of the 

Phantom of the Opera in London. The 

panto was set in Rhiwbina, providing 

ongoing references and jokes about 

the local area and its people. 

The show's director, Anthea Parker, 

told Rhiwbina Living: 

"We all needed a laugh and this 

panto was packed with awful jokes 

and fairy tale characters, sent to cheer 

up the people of Rhiwbina!" 

Proceeds of the show will once again 

go to Tenovus Cancer Care. 

Land plans could see Greenhill 

School relocated 

Greenhill Special School could be 

relocated under possible plans put 

forward to Cardiff Council as part of 

their Local Development Plan. 

The 3.8 hectares of land around 

the school that currently caters for 

students with special educational 

needs, could be converted into 

residential properties. 

Further proposals for a 164-hectare 

plot of land in the green belt 

north of Rhiwbina has also been 

submitted for consideration. Plans 

to build on the land, north of the 

M4, has come under fire from 

residents who insist that the Green 

Belt area should not be built on. 

Cardiff Council estimates that 

the city will need between 19,000 

and 30,500 new homes in the 

next 15 years to house its growing 

population. 

In 2017, Greenhill School was 

awarded a prestigious National 

Association of Advisors for 

Computers in Education’s ICT mark 

for its innovative use of technology. 

The Council considered the 

proposals for Greenhill School late 

last year. Various options for how 

Cardiff will manage housing over 

the next 15 years have been put 

forward for consideration, including 

one plan that will see over 2,000 

homes built in a year. 

The results and the assessment 

of which candidate sites could 

form part of the replacement Local 

Development Plan will be published 

in the autumn.

letters 

Your letters 

WE 

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

We love to hear what you've been up to 

so send us your letters and photos! 

We'll do our best to print them all. 

editor@livingmags.co.uk 

Percy's Dilemma 

To raise money for Tŷ Hafan 

Children's Hospice in Sully, 

Rhiwbina resident Geraldine 

Seymour has written and 

published a children's book. 

The book contains two delightful 

stories, with beautiful colour 

illustrations. Percy's Dilemma 

and The Cosmeston Secret are 

both are set in the Penarth area. 

The first story is about Percy the 

Penarth pigeon and the second, 

about the woodland elves in 

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. 

The age range is 4 to 7 years, 

although older children have 

enjoyed the stories. 

It is priced at £9.99 with £3 per 

copy donated to the charity. 

Geraldine has lived in Rhiwbina 

for 50 years and has two sons 

who attended Llanishen Fach 

Primary and Whitchurch High 

Schools. 

Copies of the book can be 

obtained from Cath at Siop Sero, 

3B Beulah Road, Rhiwbina. CF14 

6LT (cash only sales please). 

The books are also available 

from Frank by emailing: seymour. 

associates@virgin.net 

Frank Seymour 


Frozen (Amelia) 

A little girl sings “Let it go” 

She’s hiding feet beneath the 

snow. 

She smiles and sings 

While hearts break 

I wonder what will be her fate. 

In makeshift shelter 

Applauds break out 

They hide the thunder 

Of shells that hit the ground 

Her song drowns out that awful 

sound. 

The tiny person 

Cannot understand 

The devastation to her land 

Her voice as clear as a bell 

Distracts one moment in this hell. 

Her future unsafe, unsure 

No escape through Russia’s door 

Food and water in short supply 

The city doomed; about to die 

Will her song end 

I watch, I cry. 

Cheryl O'Brien 


Cardiff Council 

planting trees? 

They're chopping 

them down 

elsewhere! 

I have just seen the last issue of 

Rhiwbina Living and two pieces 

drew my attention. 

The first story says that the 

Cardiff Council are going to plant a 

zillion trees, which they say are ‘an 

essential component of our urban 

ecosystems.’ 

Great. 

But this is barmy because the 

Council also intend to chop 

down 600 trees in the Northern 

Meadows. It beggars belief! 

Additionally, in your article about 

winter walks, you are quoting 

distances in kilometres. I did not 

know that the mile had been 

discarded. Perhaps it is part of 

a subtle propaganda plot to get 

revenge for Brexit. Miles please 

not km! 

Jeffrey Bird 

Email 

If you have anything you’d like our readers to know about, drop us a line at 

editor@livingmags.co.uk or by letter to 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff 

CF14 6AG. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter 

5

VICTORIA PARK MAZDA 

CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SALES 

SUCCESS IN CARDIFF 

Left to right: Gareth Jones, VPM Managing Director, Tony Marshall, VPM Director, Jeremy Thomson, MMUK Managing Director, 

Peter Marshall VPM Marketing Director, Laura Brailey, MMUK Head of Retail Operations Sales 

• THIS YEAR MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY FOR 

MAZDA’S SECOND LONGEST-RUNNING DEALERSHIP. 

• VICTORIA PARK MAZDA WAS NAMED TWICE AS 

OVERALL ‘DEALER OF THE YEAR’ ACROSS THE UK. 

• FAMILY-RUN DEALERSHIP PRAISED FOR OUTSTANDING 

SALES AND AFTERSALES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. 

In a year that saw the first Mazda vehicles 

roll off the Hofu Plant No.1 production 

line, Mazda welcomed Victoria Park Mazda 

to its UK dealer network. Now marking its 

40th Anniversary, the Welsh dealership has 

received a commemorative plaque to celebrate 

the significant milestone. 

Established as a Mazda dealership since 

1982, Victoria Park Mazda is one of Mazda’s 

longest-serving dealerships across the 

UK and has built a reputation for delivering 

first-class customer service in Cardiff. Currently 

located on Hadfield Road, Cardiff, the 

family-run business was named as the UK’s 

top Mazda dealership as ‘Dealer of the Year’ 

in 1989 and 1992, and has since further cemented 

its first-class customer service with 

the dealership’s five-star Feefo rating, as voted 

by real customers. 

Presenting the commemorative plaque, Jeremy 

Thomson, Managing Director at Mazda 

UK, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be at 

Victoria Park Mazda and to recognise the 

hard work, dedication and commitment 

demonstrated by Tony Marshall and the 

team over the last four decades. The industry 

has significantly changed in the last 40 years, 

but with the focused team at Victoria Park 

Mazda combined with the exciting Mazda 

vehicles on offer, the dealership has been an 

integral part of our success in the UK.” 

Accepting the award, Peter Marshall, Marketing 

Director at Victoria Park Mazda, com- 

Victoria Park Mazda, Hadfield Road, Cardiff CF11 8AQ 

02920 600269 www.victoriapark-mazda.co.uk

mented “Our core principle of providing our 

customers with an exceptional customer 

experience with transparent communication 

throughout the entire customer journey has 

always resonated with our customers and 

are key values which we still hold true today. 

We are very proud to celebrate 40 years of 

being part of the Mazda brand and serving 

the local community.” 

Adding, “Having originally opened the dealership 

on Cowbridge Road East in the Victoria 

Park area in 1982, then later moving to 

Bessemer Road and now our current stateof-the-art 

dealership on Hadfield Road, we 

have witnessed the dealership grow from 

strength-to-strength with our expanding volume 

of sales, growing servicing facility and 

genuine parts centre, but above all, our increasing 

loyal customer base. In fact, one of 

our most loyal customers has purchased 26 

Mazda vehicles since we opened 40 years 

ago, which is a true reflection of the consistently 

great service customers can expect at 

Victoria Park Mazda.” 

He continued, “Many of our team have 

worked at Victoria Park Mazda for a number 

of years – I have personally worked full-time 

at the dealership for 28 years and Gareth 

Jones, our Managing Director has been with 

us for the last 33 years, which is a real testament 

to our business and the values my 

father instilled when building Victoria Park 

Mazda 40 years ago. We are proud to be 

part of the Mazda family and we are excited 

for the arrival of the next major evolution of 

Mazda vehicles to come. We look forward to 

seeing what the next 40 years holds.” 

For more information on Mazda’s award-winning 

range or Victoria Park Mazda, visit the 

showroom on Hadfield Road, call on 02920 

600 269 or visit www.mazda.co.uk/dealer/ 

victoria-park-mazda/home/. 


02920 600269 www.victoriapark-mazda.co.uk

EMMA 

Emma Kaler is an actor and model and this Spring, she'll be 

taking on competitors from all over the country in the Miss Wales 

competition. We talk to the Rhiwbina woman about her work 

The month of May will see 

one of Rhiwbina's finest take 

on challengers from all over 

Wales in one of the country’s most 

prestigious competitions. 

Emma Kaler is a Rhiwbina girl 

through and through but will be 

looking for more national acclaim 

this spring when she graces the 

stage at this year's Miss Wales 

competition. 

"I have lived in the same house 

in Rhiwbina my whole life. My 

childhood friends, venues and 

experiences all happened in this 

beautiful village that I feel lucky to 

call home. 

"Some of my more favourite 

memories of mine include playing 

in Parc-y-Pentre with friends after 

attending Rhiwbeina Primary 

School, going to a local dance class 

every week in the Scout Hall, and 

when I was older, walking through 

8 

the park on winter mornings to 

buy coffee from the local village 

shops. I've also enjoyed singing in 

the Rhiwbina Summer and Winter 

festivals." 

For Emma, Rhiwbina always has 

been and always will be a place to 

call home, even though her life is 

now becoming more cosmopolitan, 

especially given her blossoming 

acting career. 

"Although I now spend my time 

living between London and Cardiff, 

I have always been, and always will, 

remain a home bird. It’s comforting 

knowing I can always return and 

the same people, buildings and 

community remain." 

But Emma has high aims this 

spring. She's through to the Finals of 

the Miss Wales competition, which 

will be held in May, and is hoping to 

count on the support of her village 

to help her win. 

"The Miss Wales competition was 

something that was discussed with 

my friends many times when we 

were growing up. It was viewed as 

I have 

mixed 

heritage 

and believe 

representation 

matters

a classic event in which local ladies 

could participate. I graduated from 

Drama School in 2021 and thought 

now was the perfect time to enter. 

"I have mixed heritage (Indian and 

Welsh) and believe representation 

matters - especially in the beauty 

and media industry. Growing up, 

I believe it is important to have 

exposure to others who look like 

you and can represent you. I think 

it’s wonderful how Cardiff has such 

a diverse and multicultural society 

which should be celebrated." 

Over the years, the competition 

has adapted to meet the needs of 

more modern thinking, something 

that Emma has fully embraced. 

"My Miss Wales experience 

so far has allowed me to grow 

in confidence, self-belief and 

empathy. The goal of the 

competition is to become a strong 

and driven spokeswoman, raising 

money for chosen charities and 

to help young women believe in 

themselves." 

Emma hopes that whatever the 

outcome in May, she can become 

an inspiration to future generations 

of young women. 

"As a young woman I believe it is 

important to have confidence in 

yourself and form your own identity. 

Women are now being encouraged 

to step up and strive for their goals 

more than ever. There is something 

special about women supporting 

women. Miss Wales represents all 

this!" 

This year's competition takes 

place on Sunday 8th May in the 

Riverfront, Newport. The event has 

been running since the 1950s and in 

recent years has grown to become 

more popular than ever with around 

1,000 women registering an interest 

in the competition each year. It has 

raised over £750,000 for charity 

since 2004. 

"I’m looking forward to the final 

primarily because it’s time for all the 

ladies to unite and support each 

other. It will of course be stressful 

but the important thing for me is 

to have fun, enjoy the experience 

and know that I have done my best. 

Anything else will be a bonus." 

From a personal perspective, 

Emma is looking to learn more 

about herself from the competition: 

"I’m viewing the competition as a 

launchpad into working in activism 

and media as I am incredibly 

passionate about women’s rights. 

As an actor, I am encouraged to 

empathise with different characters, 

which allows me to relate easily to 

others and want to encourage them 

to become confident and believe in 

themselves." 

Emma has made appearances 

in Pobol y Cwm, The Tuckers and 

even in the forthcoming Tom Hardy 

film, Havoc, which is due out later 

this year. Her positive take on the 

subject of women's empowerment 

is part of the new way of thinking 

around the beauty industry. 

"I understand the controversy 

surrounding the objectification of 

women in pageants throughout 

history; however, in recent years 

this has changed and I would 

encourage people to investigate 

what pageants stand for and aspire 

to represent in today’s society. Miss 

Wales specifically focuses on public 

speaking, charity work and female 

strength and empowerment." 

The competition won't be the 

first time that Emma has made the 

national headlines. Back in 2018, 

Emma was crowned the winner 

of a Meghan Markle lookalike 

competition on TV. 

She made it to the final three of 

the competition and appeared on 

the ITV show Lorraine. Entrants 

were put through their paces on 

‘royal’ tasks in London, such as 

selfie-taking, the art of waving, and 

photoshoots. 

The vote was put to the public and 

a week later, TV film crews and a 

Prince Harry lookalike turned up at 

Emma's Rhiwbina home to surprise 

her and award her with the title, live 

on morning TV. 

"The Meghan Markle competition 

opened my eyes to the world of 

television and broadcasting. It 

was a wonderful time which I feel 

privileged to have experienced. I 

met truly lovely people and was 

able to be involved in all aspects of 

publicity at a relatively young age." 

Away from the current 

competition, Emma is also 

people 

Emma wins the Meghan Markle lookalike competition on live TV 

spreading her wings in other areas 

of broadcasting: 

"In addition to the pageant world, I 

am also a trained actor. I graduated 

in 2021 and am now finding my 

feet in the chaotic but wonderfully 

exciting world of the performing 

industry, both in front of the camera 

and working behind the scenes." 

as a young 

woman 

i believe it is 

important 

to have 

confidence 

in yourself 

And away from the hustle and 

bustle of her career, Emma unwinds 

by making the most of the quieter 

side of life. 

"I enjoy the simple things when 

I’m home - including long walks, 

making music, reading, movie 

nights, and spending time with 

friends." 

Rhiwbina residents can support 

Emma in her quest to become Miss 

Wales by voting for her in the public 

vote. To Vote for Emma, text WELSH 

EMMA to 64343 (£1 per text, closing 

date 7th May). 

"I would like to give a special thank 

yous to my competition sponsors 

- Kat, owner of Kats Claws in 

Llanishen, and also Mr. Miah at the 

Juboraj restaurant in Rhiwbina. I'm 

very grateful for their support." 

9

hiwbina Living 55_Layout 1 21/04/2022 09:12 Page 1 

DIRTY DANCING 

IN CONCERT 

26.05.22 

QUEEN MACHINE SYMPHONIC 

feat. Kerry Ellis 

18.09.22 

CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA 

Echo 

01.06.22 

LEA SALONGA 

Dream Again 

21.06.22 

WELSH 

PROMS 

09.07.22 - 16.07.22 

FASTLOVE 

Everything She Wants 

17.06.22 

SANDI TOKSVIG 

Next Slide Please... 

16.05.22 

NEIL WARNOCK 

Are You With Me? 

06.09.22 

PAUL MERTON’S 

IMPRO CHUMS 

24.05.22 

DAVID 

SEDARIS 

02.08.22 

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND 

That’s What I Heard 

20.05.22 

DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE 

I Wanna Be Yours 

10.06.22

FULL OF 

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to perfection and served 

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Juboraj Rhiwbina has been serving up 

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a takeaway or delivery, we put all this 

experience into every dish. 

SPECIAL LUNCH MENU* 

12-2pm ONLY £9.95 for two courses 

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AVAILABLE 

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ONLINE ORDERING AND RESERVATIONS 

*Terms and conditions apply with some limitations 

to the menu. See website for details. 

www.juborajrhiwbina.com 

ORDER ONLINE 

OR CALL 029 2062 8894 

11 Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina 

CF14 6HA | 029 2062 8894

Creating 

Calm at Home 

The last few years have been 

incredibly tough. If you're still 

reeling, here are a few ideas to 

introduce calm into your home 

Declutter 

In an ideal world, your home should 

be your sanctuary, a place to retreat 

from the world when things get 

tough. Life is busy and before we 

know it, we're knee deep in things 

that we don't necessarily need in our 

lives. 

Taking the time to declutter your 

home will also help calm your mind. 

Even if it's 10-15 minutes a day, the 

compound effect will make you 

feel like you have more physical 

and emotional space. Ask yourself 

whether you need, want, or love the 

things that you have, and if none of 

these fit those categories, remove 

them from your house. 

12 

Keep surfaces clear 

In the business of the daily 

hustle and bustle, it's so easy 

and tempting to use empty 

surfaces as temporary, or 

sometimes, permanent storage. 

This not only makes a mess 

of our home but also disrupts 

our thinking processes, even if 

subconsciously. 

Keeping flat surfaces clear is 

an instant way to introduce calm 

to your home. Keeping on top 

of unopened mail is another 

way to keep surface clutter to a 

minimum and also provide you 

with more of a feeling of control. 

Clear up any dirty food or 

crumbs and only leave out what 

you need or enjoy looking at. 

Pack the rest away or bin it if it's 

not needed. 

Create a calm space 

If you have the space to do so 

in your home, carve out a space 

for yourself, free from clutter 

and the trappings of day-to-day 

life. 

Give yourself permission to 

create a small sanctuary for 

yourself. It should be a place 

where you can rest, nap, write, 

listen to music or even practise 

yoga or meditation. 

Make other family members 

aware that this is your calm 

space, and that it needs to be 

respected. Keep a comfortable 

blanket there that you can 

snuggle into.

Make your home work 

Decor and furniture work best 

for you when it's set up to allow 

yourself to live comfortably, and 

to make the most of family time, 

relaxation, and stillness. 

For instance, if you like to listen 

to music while you cook, add a 

simple radio to the kitchen. If you 

like to talk with others while you 

cook, take some comfy chairs 

into the kitchen so that you can 

talk while you cook. 

Keep everything as simple as 

you can. It will help calm your 

mind and leave you feeling less 

cluttered and overwhelmed. 

Use storage 

We all keep 'stuff'; some of us keep more 

than we actually need. Our cupboards are 

often stored with things that we're never 

going to use again and these things take 

up valuable storage space that could be 

used to store other, more useful things. Just 

because it's out of sight and out of mind, 

doesn't mean that you won't need to sort it 

one day. 

Set aside some dedicated time to clear 

your storage areas of things that you are 

never going to use again. You can then 

utilise this space to clear your surfaces and 

store the things that you do actually need 

and use. 

To successfully move away things so that 

they are hidden from view, you can look to 

keep coats in a closet, or plates and mugs 

in a cupboard instead of open shelving. 

home 

Embrace space 

Creating space at home will make you 

feel like you can breathe more easily. 

The space may look odd at first and it 

can be tempting to fill the space with 

something else. But space is needed 

as much as anything else. View space 

as part of the furniture, as part of the 

decor, as part of your home. 

If you're able to spend time sitting in 

this space, the better. It'll soothe your 

busy mind. 

Purge bad mojo 

A home can collect bad memories as 

well as good ones, and hanging onto bad 

karma isn't going to make you feel any 

better. 

Removing all reminders of negative 

experiences has a cleansing effect, and 

can also help with emotional healing. 

Seek out anything that takes you back to 

times that weren't so good and bin them 

or give them away. If they stay, they'll be 

constant reminders, even subconsciously, 

ruining the serenity at home that you are 

seeking. 

Show the things you love 

You have the ability to create a home 

that reminds you of all the things in 

life that you are grateful for. Displaying 

pictures of happy memories or loved 

ones isn't vain - it's a reminder to 

yourself that happy times do exist - 

and that you are blessed. Express who 

you are through items of homeware, 

whether it's a piece of artwork, a 

trinket, statement pieces or a larger 

piece of accessory. 

Doing this in combination with 

removing unwanted clutter will make 

them stand out and shine. 

Add natural elements 

There is possibly nothing more 

soothing than a touch of nature. 

Introducing the calm stillness 

of nature into your home not 

only makes you feel calmer 

emotionally, but it also filters 

and cleanses the air that we are 

breathing at home. 

Most home plants are fairly lowmaintenance 

but if even if that's 

too much, you could also bring 

branches, fresh flowers, leaves, 

seashells, rocks, or cones inside 

and put them on display for a 

calming, natural presence. 

13

Introducing Our New 

Associate Solicitor: 

Hannah Thomas 

We are pleased to announce 

the appointment of our 

new Associate Solicitor, Hannah 

Thomas. During her first week 

at Harding Evans, we spoke 

to Hannah about her career, 

her favourite elements of their her estate. 

role, and why she chose to join 

Harding Evans. 

Can you tell us a bit about 

yourself? 

My career in law began in 2013 

when I started my training contract 

at Thomas Simon Solicitors, 

qualifying two years later. On 

qualifying in 2015, I remained at 

the firm, which is now called Ince, 

working my way through the ranks 

until I left to join Harding Evans. 

I have joined the firm as an 

properly. 

Associate Solicitor within the Wills & 

Probate department, helping clients 

to put their affairs in order. 

Is there a particular area 

of Wills & Probate law that 

you specialise in? 

I can assist clients and deal with 

all issues relating to Wills, LPAs, 

Probate (taxable and non-taxable), 

and Court of Protection applications. 

If you would like assistance with preparing 

What is your favourite 

> your hardingevans.com 

Will, please call our 

element of your role? 

experienced What and advice friendly would team you to find out 

> 

how 

hello@hevans.com 

we can help you. 

give to people who have 

The most enjoyable element of the Call not us on got 02922 a Will 676818 / Lasting 

role is being able to get to know Email my us Power at info@hevans.com 

of Attorney place? 

clients and to make a difference to 

Sponsored feature 

With recent events making many of us anxious and 

uncertain about the future, lawyers have seen a sharp 

increase in the number of people wanting to put their 

affairs in order over the last few months. 

Laura Selby, Head of Wills & Probate at Harding Evans 

Solicitors, explains why it is so important to plan for the future 

their lives. to I aim avoid to any hopefully unnecessary make complications It is really further important down to the have line. a 

a sensitive and emotional process properly drafted and up to date 

slightly less distressing. 

Will, ensuring your estate is dealt 

with in accordance with your latest 

Can you tell us why you wishes. It will provide peace of mind 

were you attracted to the knowing that the ownership of your 

personal and business assets are 

role at Harding Evans? 

protected. Your Will can include 

important decisions such as who 

Harding Evans has a very good 

should look after your children and 

reputation in Newport, an area 

their inheritance in the event of your 

where I previously lived. At my 

death. 

previous firm, I was based in a small 

office in Rhiwbina and I enjoyed As we can 

Without 

see from the 

a Will, 

recent 

your 

case 

estate 

of Clitheroe 

will 

v 

Bond [2020] be distributed EWHC 1185 (Ch), according not only is to it the 

working in such an environment, a 

important intestacy to ensure rules the Will which is validly do executed, not provide but 

similar location and environment to 

it is also for important cohabitees to prove or you step-relationships. 

have full mental 

that of Harding Evans’s Cardiff office. capacity. In terms of a Lasting Power of 

I contacted Harding Evans when I 

Attorney, again this is something 

was looking for a new role and was In this case, the daughter of the deceased 

of paramount importance. 

particularly interested in working succeeded in in establishing that two Wills made by 

Having an LPA (Lasting Power of 

the Whitchurch office as I was used her late mother in 2010 and 2013 were both invalid. 

Attorney) allows you to appoint 

to working in the area. 

The Court found that, following the death of her 

other daughter, the people the mother you had trust been the suffering most to from 

Furthermore, I was impressed by 

a complex make grief disorder important that decisions impaired her on capacity your 

the firm’s development plans that 

to make behalf. a Will. While Having she had an cognitive LPA can function help and to 

were comprehensively explained was intellectually 

limit suffering 

sound, it 

for 

was 

loved 

found that 

ones 

she 

if 

had 

you 

during the interview process. experienced “insane delusions” that “poisoned her 

become mentally incapacitated 

mind” against the daughter she excluded from her 

Will, causing 

and 

her 

can 

to 

avoid 

make allegations 

them having 

for which 

to 

there 

Are you living locally? 

was no rational make basis. an application In circumstances to the where Court there 

could be of any protection doubt as to a to person’s get access mental to capacity, your 

I do live locally to the Whitchurch we recommend assets obtaining and finances a medical which report. can be a 

office. I know the area well as I have very lengthy and expensive process. 

worked in the area prior to my role Most commonly, It is worth when pointing clients show out some that form without of 

at Harding Evans. 

memory loss, possibly as a result of dementia, this 

an LPA, decisions regarding your 

makes us consider their capacity and we will give the 

care will be left in the hands of 

most appropriate advice. The case of Clitheroe v 

What do you enjoy doing strangers. 

Although it is not a pleasant thing to think about, it 

is important to ensure you have a properly 

prepared Will in place. Having a professionally 

drafted Will in place provides peace of mind that 

your estate should be dealt with in accordance with 

your wishes and is likely to make the process far 

easier for those you leave behind when you die. 

Yet, there are reports that surprisingly around 

60 per cent of the adult UK population do not 

have a Will, which effectively means they will be 

allowing ancient laws to determine who receives 

Making a Will is often not the long, complicated and 

expensive process that people often imagine it to 

be. Many people have put it off during lockdown, 

thinking it would not be possible while social 

distancing. At Harding Evans, in accordance with 

Government guidelines, we have been operating 

throughout lockdown. Our offices are now open to 

the public with measures in place to reduce the risk 

of spreading the virus. 

If you are currently unable to leave your property, 

we also offer telephone appointments, video calls 

and witnessing of Wills, even via your front window 

if required! There are strict rules regarding the 

witnessing of Wills to ensure they are executed 

Unfortunately, challenges to Wills appear to be on 

the rise, so it is more important than ever to obtain 

legal advice when preparing your Will, to avoid 

lengthy and costly disputes after your death. 

when you’re not in work? 

When I’m not at work, most of my 

time is taken up being a Mum to 

my two wonderful children. My 

daughter is called Lila and is five 

years old, and my son Jude is three. 

Bond is a firm reminder that other health conditions 

may exist which may not give rise to memory loss 

but could still mean that they may be lacking 

capacity. It is recommended to keep records of the 

will instructions taken; these records may also help 

to protect your estate in the event of a challenge. 

> 13 Merthyr Rd, 

Cardiff CF14 1DA 

> 02922 676818

feature 

Location, 

Location 

Cardiff has become an international destination for many filmmakers. 

We take a look at some of the big screen moments that 

have used our city's wonderful locations 

A Discovery of Witches 

First aired in 2018, A Discovery 

of Witches is a fantasy romance 

based on novel of the 'All Souls' 

trilogy, which was written by 

Deborah Harkness. 

The show revolves around a 

character called Diana Bishop, 

a reluctant historian/witch 

who discovers a bewitched 

manuscript. 

In Season 1, Cardiff Market 

doubled up as the Oxford food 

market where Diana shops for 

fresh food. Filming took place in 

the early hours of the morning 

but several people who weren't 

paid Supporting Actors did 

wander into shot. 

Insole Court in Llandaff was 

another filming location and can 

be seen in Seasons 1 and 2. Its 

dark and brooding disposition 

was considered a perfect 

backdrop for a vampire's lair. 

Much of the production was 

filmed at Bad Wolf Studios, 

considered the premier filming 

facility in Cardiff. 

16 

Sherlock 

This mystery crime drama, based 

on the famous detective stories by 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, started out 

life in 2010. 

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch 

as Sherlock Holmes and Martin 

Freeman as Doctor John Watson, 

the series is set in the present day, 

with the one-off special features 

resembling the original Holmes 

stories set during Victorian times. 

Sherlock has been filmed in many 

locations across Cardiff, including 

Cardiff University and Cardiff 

National Museum. The hallways 

inside the Cardiff University main 

building are the hallways used to 

represent Sherlock’s 'mind palace' 

in the show. 

Cardiff was chosen for filming as 

it was less expensive than London. 

Cardiff Castle was also used, as 

well as some exterior shots at 

Cardiff Bay. Charles Street was 

decorated with Christmas lights for 

one episode and extra filming was 

also undertaken at the film studios 

at Upper Boat. 

Dr Who 

When Dr Who first hit British TV 

screens in 1963, it became an 

overnight success. It was the 

show's reboot in 2005 though that 

gave it a new lease of life and a 

new army of followers. 

Cardiff has since become 

synonymous with the show, with 

many north Cardiff locations used, 

including Llandaff Cathedral, 

Lydstep Flats, St Fagans, and 

even a Christmas special filmed in 

the centre of Rhiwbina's Garden 

Village.

Gavin and Stacey 

Synonymous with the seaside 

town of Barry, Gavin and Stacey 

has gone on to become one 

of the most popular sitcoms in 

British TV history. A Radio Times 

poll in 2019 placed the show as 

the 17th-greatest British sitcom. 

Cardiff itself was used for 

several filming locations, 

including the Capitol Shopping 

Centre, Manor Parc Hotel, Cardiff 

Gate Services, Cardiff Central 

train station, Wales Millennium 

Centre and Marks and Spencer at 

Culverhouse Cross. 

Alison Steadman, who played 

Pam in the series, recalled that 

the cast stayed at the Park Plaza 

hotel for each of the three series 

that were produced. 

"It became a bit of a second 

home to us," she said. 

His Dark Materials 

The BBC's adaptation of the trilogy 

of novels by Philip Pullman was first 

announced back in 2015, but it wasn't 

until November 2019 that we got to 

see the show. 

Much of the show was filmed at 

Wolf Studios at Cardiff Bay but areas 

of Plasturton Gardens in Pontcanna 

were also used, as well as a digitallyenhanced 

Cardiff University. 

In My Skin 

This British comedy drama television series premièred on BBC Three 

in October 2018. The series was initially ordered as a short film for BBC 

Wales, but this later acted as the pilot episode after BBC ordered In My 

Skin as a full series. 

Producers were keen to use Welsh actors in the show to 'bring the 

characters to life'. Locations around Cardiff were also used to give the 

series authenticity. Gabalfa 

featured in the production, 

as well as scenes shot in 

Rhiwbina's Parc-y-Pentre. 

Cardiff High School and 

Cardiff Royal Infirmary also 

made appearances. 

The coming-of-age show 

was penned by Cardiff's 

Kayleigh Llewellyn. In My 

Skin was loosely based 

around her upbringing in the 

city. 

War of the Worlds 

The 2019 remake of War of the Worlds was broadcast to over 50 countries 

worldwide. The star-studded line-up included Gabriel Byrne and Downton 

Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern, and 

featured a variety of Cardiff-based 

locations. 

Permission was given for the Siambr in 

the Senedd to be used for two days of 

filming in the first series, where actors 

wearing military fatigues were spotted 

during production. The show was given 

the green light for a third series in 

August 2021, with filming continuing 

around South Wales. 

Havoc 

This upcoming British- 

American action thriller film 

was written and directed by 

Welsh screenwriter Gareth 

Evans and stars Tom Hardy 

and Forest Whitaker. It's 

due to be screened on 

Netflix and Cardiff was used 

predominately as a filming 

location. 

Greyfriars Place (pictured) is 

one location to look out for 

when the movie is released 

later this year. 

28 Weeks Later 

Way back in 2002, director Danny 

Boyle put out the horror film 

28 Days Later, based around a 

highly-contagious virus breaking 

out in the UK. 

A sequel was premièred in 

2007, in which Robert Carlyle's 

character Don tries to protect 

himself and his family from the 

infected. 

Scenes intended to be shot at 

Wembley Stadium, which were 

then undergoing final stages of 

construction, were filmed instead 

at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. 

The seats and pitch were altered 

digitally in post-production to 

give it a neglected look. 

17

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1A - 1B Heol-Y-Deri, Rhiwbina, CF14 6HA

Home buying with a 

helping hand 

Nicola Wicks of Northwood speaks to Leon Pisani and 

Steven Pyne of Mortgage Advice Bureau North Cardiff 

on how the best mortgage advisors can help you find 

your dream home in Rhiwbina and North Cardiff 

What advice would you 

give first-time buyers or 

homemovers looking in 

the area? 

It is always important to be ready. 

If you are a home mover, you need 

to have your house valued, on the 

market and ideally sold subject 

to contract. As there are so many 

buyers out there, a vendor is not 

going to accept an offer from you if 

your house is not sold and you are 

not in a proceedable position - so 

if you're serious about moving get 

a professional estate agent such as 

Northwood to come out to give you 

a fair and honest valuation. 

If you’re a first-time buyer, then it is 

incredibly important to ensure you 

have an ‘Agreement in Principle’ 

or an ‘AIP’. This is essentially a 

certificate from a lender that 

evidences you are proceedable, 

the loan amount requested is 

affordable and you have passed 

a soft credit check. This generally 

means that the lender will accept 

a full application from a client, 

subject to an acceptable valuation 

of the property you wish to 

purchase. 

The common misconception is 

that applying for an Agreement In 

Principle will have a detrimental 

effect on a client’s credit file. 

However, most lenders now will 

only carry out a ‘soft check’, which 

will not have any impact on your 

credit file at all. Having an AIP will 

ensure you can begin making offers 

on properties right away and puts 

you in the best possible position. 

Sponsored feature 

Leon Pisani 

Is it a good time for 

current homeowners 

and landlords to remortgage? 

We have spent a lot of time during 

the last 12-months arranging remortgages 

for clients who wish to 

raise funds for home improvements 

or simply looking to secure a lower 

rate and achieve a lower monthly 

payment. There really has never 

been a better time to do this given 

how low interest rates currently 

are and we have saved our clients 

thousands of pounds this year. This 

applies to both homeowners and 

landlords. 

Steven Pyne 

What are the advantages 

of using a trusted broker 

such as Mortgage Advice 

Bureau North Cardiff? 

Both myself and my colleague 

Steve have both worked and 

lived in North Cardiff for a number 

of years, we know the market 

extremely well and our local 

knowledge of the area has been a 

huge help to our clients. We also 

both come from an estate agency 

background and so have a real 

understanding of the whole house 

buying process from making the 

offer to getting the keys. 

As part of the Mortgage Advice 

Bureau network, we have access 

to over 99 lenders and a number 

of exclusive rates. We can arrange 

purchase, re-mortgage and buy 

to let applications, as well as any 

insurances that may be needed 

upon moving in. We also charge no 

fees for an initial consultation, and 

this can be done over the phone or 

face to face. 

Finally, we pride ourselves on 

managing the customer journey 

and speed of service. We keep in 

regular contact with our clients 

until exchange of contracts and 

are there to offer advice whenever 

needed. 

Ready to start your 

moving journey in 2022? 

Get in touch with Leon or Steven 

for the latest mortgage advice or 

Nicola at Northwood for the best 

local insights or a free market 

appraisal. 

nicolawicks@northwooduk.com 

1A & 1B Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina, 

Cardiff, CF14 6HA 

02920 521400 

www.northwooduk.com

Family 

Fun 

With the warmer weather 

comes the chance to 

head outdoors with the 

family and have some fun 

65 1. BIKE RIDES 

A good few hours can be spent on bikes with the 

family and if you want to make new memories, 

try packing them all up in the car and heading 

somewhere new. Plan your trip in advance to make 

sure it all goes smoothly. 

6 2. HAVE A PICNIC 

Sometimes, there's nothing better than taking 

some time out for a family picnic. Why not head out 

early doors with some croissants, fruit, and coffee 

and make it a breakfast affair? There'll be less of 

the annoying insects out during this time of year 

too. 

5 3. MAKE ICE LOLLIES 

Grab yourself a set of ice lolly moulds and clear out some 

room in your freezer. Kids will love making ice lollies and 

these can easily be made with whole fruit, purées, juice 

and yogurt on a warm spring day. As well as the fun and 

satisfaction of creating them, they'll also be getting in their 

one of their five a day! 

6 4. TAKE WILDLIFE SNAPS 

You can literally spend hours in the fresh, clean 

air, seeking out and taking wildlife photos with the 

family. Most of us have cameras on our phones so 

it's quite possible that each family member can 

have access to a camera and become a sharp 

shooter. 

Take a packed lunch with you and plenty of water 

and compare photos when you get back home. 

20

kids 

5 5. GO STAR SPOTTING 

You don't need to be an expert but it might be 

worth swotting up on the basics before you head 

out so that you know what you're looking at. 

Kids love late night adventures and it'll provide 

you with the perfect excuse to spend more time 

with them. Check out your local dark sky areas for 

maximum viewing benefits. 

65 6. TREASURE HUNT 

The beauty of a treasure hunt is that you can adapt 

its difficulty to match your children's skill levels. 

Whether it's a simple hunt in the garden, or a more 

advanced map-reading task, there will be a great 

sense of achievement for completing it. 

6 7. GO PADDLING 

We are lucky that we live within the reach of our wonderful 

coastline. The great expanse of a beach offers the whole 

family the chance to give themselves some space, both 

physically and emotionally. Paddling allows you and your 

kids to connect with nature and the shallow water will give 

you considerably less stress than if you were to take the 

kids to a public swimming pool. 

8 8. FEED THE DUCKS 

Contrary to popular belief, bread should not be the 

main food you can provide for ducks. It's not particularly 

nutritious and can harm their health. Instead, provide them 

with sweetcorn, which they love. You can also give them 

lettuce, oats or even peas. Scatter the food on the water 

to keep the ducks away from possible predators. Always 

supervise children when feeding ducks. 

65 9. TIDY THE GARDEN 

Spend the day together as a family AND get your 

garden tidied - all in one go! 

Kids love the feeling of being useful and helpful, 

especially during the early years so arm them with 

a pair of protective gloves and wellies and task 

them with small but safe jobs that they can do, 

such as easy weeding or raking up dead leaves. 

Older children can be trusted to plant bulbs or 

even create and tend to their own mini garden. 

These projects can last all year round. 

6 10. CHALK DRAWINGS 

A cheap and cheerful way to spend a few hours outdoors 

is to grab some giant chalks and a spare bit of pavement or 

driveway (your own preferably). Whether your kids want to 

draw pictures, practise writing their names or even working 

out some mathematics, you can enjoy your time with 

them, safe in the knowledge that it can all be cleaned off 

naturally afterwards. 

21

The Garden Village Garage 

Looking forward to Spring at our 

5 rated Garage 

in the village. 

Please remember that we still 

look after our Jaguar customers, 

hopefully offering a better 

service than the main dealer. 

We also continue to buy cars for 

cash just as before . 

Happy Motoring until next time! 

Heather & Chris 

The Garden Village Garage has 

been at the heart of Rhiwbina 

village since 2012. 

Last year was a difficult year 

for us as we faced many new 

challenges when we went 

under new management. We 

have completely restructured 

our business and look forward 

to new growth in the coming 

months. 

As we reflect over this time, and 

watch the new shoots of spring 

appear around the community, 

we are grateful to all of you 

who have supported us as we 

continue to offer the best service 

to our local customers. 

2022 will be a time of 

rejuvenation for all of us. The 

pandemic is slowly burning itself 

out, and a new spring is upon us. 

It’s a time of new beginnings, but 

just like spring can be depended 

on to end even the darkest 

winter, we can still be depended 

on as your local community 

garage. 

No matter what your motoring 

needs, whether it just be air in 

your tyres, an MOT, service, or 

vehicle repairs, The Garden 

Village Garage is here on hand 

to help you! Call us today on 

0333 121 2012 or drop into the 

office for a chat next time you’re 

Service / MOT / Repair 

Collection & Delivery 

Call us free 

0333 121 2012 

Visit online 

www.GardenVillageGarage.co.uk 

or in person 

227 Pantbach Road, 

Rhiwbina CF14 6AE

St Mellons Nurseries 

Home Delivery Service 

We are a local, family-run flower nursery who grow a wide range of spring and summer bedding plants and 

hanging baskets on site and supply both residential and local businesses around Newport and Cardiff. 

We are again offering our delivery service for our spring and summer bedding, vegetable, pot and perennial 

plants. You can also pre-order your summer hanging baskets, hanging flower pouches and ready-filled oak 

barrels for delivery from mid-May onwards. Through June we also offer an on site planting service where we 

fill and replace any existing pots and containers with summer flowering plants to keep your garden blooming. 

You can find out more about our products and services on our facebook page ‘St. Mellons Nurseries’. 

For our spring and/or summer price lists please email your enquiries to us at Beganfarm@hotmail.com 

For those who do not have email access please call Robb on 07532 303531. 

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SPRING: AN ANTHOLOGY FOR THE 

CHANGING SEASONS 

It is a time of awakening. In our fields, 

hedgerows and woodlands, our 

beaches, cities and parks, an almost 

imperceptible shift soon becomes a 

riot of sound and colour: winter ends, 

and life surges forth once more. 

Whether in town or country, we all 

share in this natural rhythm, in the joy 

and anticipation of the changing year. 

In prose and poetry both old and 

new, Spring mirrors the unfolding of 

the season, inviting us to see what's 

around us with new eyes. Featuring 

original writing by Rob Cowen, 

Miriam Darlington and Stephen Moss, 

classic extracts from the work of 

George Orwell, Clare Leighton and H. 

E. Bates, and fresh new voices from 

across the UK, this is an original and 

inspiring collection of nature writing 

that brings the British springtime to 

life in all its vivid glory. 

SPRINGbooks 

Grab a fresh coffee, take a seat in the 

sunshine, and lose yourself in one of our 

hand-picked books for spring 

books 

THIS MUCH IS TRUE 

Award-winning actor and creator 

of a myriad of memorable 

characters, Miriam Margolyes is a 

British national treasure. 

At the age of 80, she has decided 

to tell her extraordinary life story - 

and it's far richer and stranger than 

any part she's played. 

THE FOUR WINDS 

Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found 

the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home 

and a livelihood on a farm on the Great 

Plains. But when drought threatens all she 

and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is 

shattered to the winds. 

The Four Winds is a story of love, family, 

unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope that's 

both powerful and compelling. 

AND AWAY... 

Bursting with the 

unique comic 

imagination 

that makes him 

such a beloved 

entertainer, 

Bob Mortimer’s 

memoir recalls 

his numerous 

misadventures, 

yet also reflects 

on the death of 

his father and his 

own diagnosis 

with a serious 

heart condition. 

12 RULES FOR LIFE 

In this book, acclaimed 

clinical psychologist Jordan 

Peterson provides twelve 

practical principles for how 

to live a meaningful life, 

from setting your house 

in order before criticising 

others to comparing 

yourself to who you were 

yesterday, not someone 

else today. Happiness is a 

pointless goal, he shows 

us. Instead we must search 

for meaning, not for its 

own sake, but as a defence 

against the suffering that is 

intrinsic to our existence. 

25

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The official fuel consumption fi gures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mazda3 range: Combined 46.3 (6.1) - 56.5 (5.0). CO 2 emissions 

(g/km) 140 - 114. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO 2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical 

procedures. These figures may not reflect real-life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations 

in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. All fi gures quoted are derived from the latest WLTP test cycle. Retail sales only, subject to availability for vehicles registered 

between 20.12.21 and 31.03.22 at participating dealers. T&C apply. *4.9% APR Mazda Personal Contract Purchase available on all new Mazda3 models. Finance subject 

to status, 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. Model shown: Mazda3 186ps GT Sport Tech Edition, OTR from £29,255. Model 

shown features optional Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint (£810). OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months’ road fund licence, first registration fee, 3 

year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years’ European roadside assistance. °Test drives subject to applicant status and availability. Details correct at time of going to print. 

Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. Victoria Park Motor Company Limited, trading as Victoria Park Mazda is a credit broker not a lender 

for this financial promotion. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers and may receive a commission from them for the 

introduction. If you have any questions about commission please speak to the dealer.

BEAUTIFUL IS ON THE HORIZON 

THE MAZDA SUV RANGE 

4 YEARS 4.9% APR* 

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The official fuel consumption fi gures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mazda CX-30 and Mazda CX-5 ranges: Combined 35.3 (8.0) - 50.4 (5.6). The official 

energy consumption fi gures in (kWh/100km) for the all-new Mazda MX-30 range: Combined 19. CO 2 emissions (g/km) 182 – 0. Figures shown are for 

comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO 2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real-life driving results, which will depend upon a 

number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. All figures quoted are derived from the latest WLTP test cycle. Retail sales only, subject 

to availability for vehicles registered between 20/12/2021 to 31/03/2022 at participating dealers. T&C apply. *4.9% APR Mazda Personal Contract Purchase available on all new Mazda models. Finance subject 

to status, 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. Models shown: Mazda CX-5 165ps 2WD GT Sport, OTR from £33,645, Mazda CX-30 186ps 2WD GT Sport Tech, OTR from 

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Plug-In Vehicle Grant is not applicable for Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Car shown Mazda MX-30 145ps GT Sport Tech Auto does not qualify for the grant. °Test drives subject to applicant status and 

availability. Details correct at time of going to print. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. Victoria Park Motor Company Limited, trading as Victoria Park Mazda is a credit 

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Whether you want 

to spend time with 

friends, loved-ones, 

or on your own, 

your garden can 

become the place 

to retreat to 

Spring 

Sanctuary 

Firepit 

Very much like an indoor log fire, 

a fire pit provides the practical 

elements of light and warmth. But 

it does so much more than that. It 

becomes a focal point that brings 

everyone together or if you're on 

your own, it provides a evening-long 

companion. The sound of a small 

crackling fire can help bring calm 

to the garden - and it smells pretty 

good too! 

28 

Bean bag 

A giant bean bag can be the perfect 

place to sit back and watch the 

afternoon slowly turn to dusk. 

Choose a heavy duty, waterproof 

bag that will last you through 

until autumn. Some bags are also 

available with memory foam fillings. 

Hanging Chair 

Nothing feels quite as calming as 

relaxing in a hanging chair. The 

sensation of floating above the 

ground is not one that's easily 

experienced in day-to-day life. 

Most hanging chairs come with a 

hanging frame whereas others will 

need to be secured to something 

solid to take the weight. 

Cushions are often included to 

make your hanging chair time a 

magical one. 

Dining set 

If you enjoy the company of friends 

or family, a dining set is a place to 

eat, talk and chill. 

Al fresco dining needn't be 

expensive either. Even a simple set 

of table and chairs will allow you 

and yours to enjoy a meal together. 

A survey of over 8,000 British 

adults found that connecting 

with others through social eating 

has one of the highest positive 

associations with well-being.

outdoors 

Bar cart 

Traditionally the toast of 1970s 

drinks parties, the bar trolley has 

undergone a bit of a revival in 

the last few years. It's the perfect 

companion for you and your friends 

- the bar cart is a simple trolley that 

can hold all your drinks close by. 

Safer than carrying trays, you can 

load up your cart with everything 

you need. Throw in an ice bucket 

and you're set up for the day! 

Lounger 

The quintessential place to relax 

and enjoy the calm of the warm 

spring sunshine. 

Manufacturers have tended to 

move away from the flimsy white 

plastic of yesteryear. Invest in some 

high-quality wooden pieces that will 

serve you year on year. 

Hammock 

Inexpensive, easy to store, and so 

relaxing - the simple hammock is 

the perfect place to quietly while 

away a spring afternoon. 

Hammocks vary from the simple 

versions that can be tied between 

two sturdy places, to those that 

come with strong frames that can 

be packed away when not in use. 

Hammocks keep you off the floor 

(and away from creepy crawlies) 

and its swaying motion can often 

send you to sleep. You can even get 

double hammocks if you're in the 

mood for sharing. 

Wind chimes 

The gentle notes of a wind chime 

can help tap into your inner calm. 

Choose a set that give off delicate 

sounds. This will help soothe your 

busy mind and won't upset your 

neighbours too much either. 

Spinners 

If you're more of a visual person, a 

wind-powered garden spinner can 

help catch your eye and gently take 

your mind away from your daily 

troubles. 

These gorgeous kinetic sculptures 

catch the lightest of breezes and 

spiral around in a mesmerising, 

almost hypnotic fashion. 

Place them so that they are facing 

the prevailing wind head-on. Many 

also include solar-powered lights, 

that charge throughout the day, and 

illuminate at dusk. Pick one that's 

weather-resistant and will last all 

year round. 

29

Jack Jones 

Author Jack Jones CBE is renowned and revered in literary circles. 

Historian John Wake takes a look back over the writer's colourful 

past - and the legacy that he leaves for readers today 

If you happened to be walking 

through Rhiwbina village during the 

1960s, you may have seen a whitehaired, 

elderly gentleman shuffling 

from Pen-y-Dre to Beulah Road. He 

would have been on his way to the 

Butcher's Arms - his local. You may 

have shouted to him, 'Hello Jack', 

but it is doubtful you would have 

got an answer other than an 'umph'. 

Jack was known to be a little 

'grumpy' in his old age and could 

be very acerbic in conversation. He 

would be at his most gruff if you had 

the gall to sit on his seat by the bar. 

One lady recalled that one evening, 

she went to the Butcher's Arms with 

her husband, who innocently sat in 

'the seat' and ordered a couple of 

drinks. The place went a little quiet 

when Jack arrived. Jack Jones went 

up to the man and told him: 'That's 

my seat'. 

The man, quite shocked, got to his 

feet, not wanting any altercation in 

front of his wife. They left the snug 

and carrying their drinks, went to 

another bar in the pub. 

Jack's achievements were second 

to none in literary circles in Wales. 

He was the author of sixteen novels, 

several plays and the consultant 

scriptwriter for surely the greatest of 

Paul Robeson movies, Proud Valley. 

The most acclaimed of his classic 

novels were Rhondda Roundabout, 

(1934), Off to Philadelphia in the 

30 

Morning (1947) and River Out of Eden 

(1951). 

Staunchly Welsh, a patriot and a 

fighter for workers' rights, it's easy to 

see how his early life's experiences 

influenced his life politics. 

He was born in 1884 in Merthyr 

Tydfil. It was one of the largest 

towns in Wales at the time and 

the most brutal for the working 

classes. Iron Masters dominated 

the industrial scene, cruel in their 

treatment of workers and their 

families. 

The mines of the area gave coal 

to the world, but little of the profits 

went to the men at the coal face; 

they endured torturous long days 

deep underground, including 

children too. 

Jack's father was a coal miner so 

he understood the hell that was the 

life of a coal miner's family during 

the latter years of the Victorian 20th 

century. At the age of twelve, Jack 

joined his father down the mines. 

There was a spark though, of what 

was to come during those years. 

He not only watched theatre, he 

acted in it. Local amateurs in the 

scene assisted Jack and promoted 

his 'little plays'. He did just five years 

down the mines with his father 

before leaving and joining the army. 

Jack's first posting of his regiment, 

the Militia Battalion Welsh, was in 

South Africa. He hated it so much 

that he deserted. The Military Police 

got hold of him and he was sent to 

India. His life at the front line in the 

English Army came to an end and 

the much-hardened Jack Jones 

returned to Wales and once again, 

went to work down the coal mines. 

Jack got married in 1908 and had 

five children with his wife Laura, 

although sadly two of their sons 

died at a young age. In 1914, Jack 

was sent to the WW1 front lines in 

both France and Belgium. He, like 

many others, received debilitating 

wounds caused by artillery shrapnel 

and was invalided home. He took 

up employment as a recruitment 

officer in Merthyr. 

Jack's deep resentment of the 

savage 'capitalist' system saw him 

start to stand up for his fellows 

against the iron and coal owners. 

Miners were dying every day; 

many families were put out onto 

the streets and this made Jack 

very angry. He wanted to put his 

educational abilities to good use. 

He was a master of the English 

language and this potent force was 

needed within the miner's lodges. 

In 1920, Jack joined the 

Communist Party, which was at the 

time, a real agitator against injustice 

and a force for promoting workers' 

rights. He attended rallies in the 

north of England and spoke to 

large crowds in the furtherance of

communism. 

He became the Honorary 

Secretary of his local lodge and 

it did not stop there. In 1923, he 

was appointed full-time secretary 

of the Blaengarw branch of the 

Miner’s Union, moving his wife and 

family to live in Bridgend, before 

settling in Cardiff after the General 

Strike. It was at this time that he 

was also active also in play writing 

and actually won a Manchester 

competition. 

His book Black Parade was turned 

into a stage play in London but 

was postponed, yet the book was 

published. It was a hard hitting 

look at Merthyr in the 1880s, 

portraying the unemployment, 

the poverty, the violence, the rich 

getting richer and the poor getting 

poorer. Merthyr was portrayed in 

an inglorious light. The book was 

declared an outstanding narrative 

and its success was down to Jack's 

first hand plight of the working 

man - the miners. The book is still 

available to purchase to this day. 

In October 1936, the BBC 

broadcast its version of the play 

Black Parade as part of a radio 

series, causing major controversy. 

There were protests about its 

content from Merthyr dignitaries 

and other establishment 

organisations. Jack knew when 

to keep quiet and said nothing 

about the subject when asked. 

Looking at Jack's pedigree, he 

would certainly have known life in 

the Rhondda and Merthyr as well 

as anyone, - perhaps a little better. 

The BBC decided to drop the 

heading 'Merthyr' and substitute it 

with a generalised term, basing the 

play in any of the mining areas of 

England and Wales. The vociferous 

protests did not stop and the play 

was pulled from the air. Jack again 

said nothing when asked about the 

decision. His fame had grown even 

more, and one press man said, 'If 

silence is golden then Jack Jones is 

the gold standard'. 

To those who knew him, Jack was 

a contrary man. He knew the type of 

society he wanted, which brought 

him to switch political party loyalties 

on several occasions. He had joined 

the Labour Party and actually spoke 

at a Ramsey McDonald rally in 

Aberafon. He then jumped ship to 

join the Liberal Party, which fitted 

more closely with his political ideals 

at the time. 

Jack was employed by the Liberal 

Party and he travelled the United 

Kingdom selling their cause at 

major meetings and political 

hustings. This employment was 

on the advice of their leader at the 

time, David Lloyd-George. He had 

attended at one of Jack's meetings 

and was impressed with his 

speeches. Jack stood for the Liberal 

Party at the General Election of 

1929, in direct opposition to Labour. 

He spoke to street gatherings and 

hustings and was becoming a huge 

thorn in Labour's flesh. He finished 

second, with a creditable 28% of the 

polling. 

During these decades, Jack's 

thoughts were well documented 

in many of his plays aimed at 

the London audiences and his 

foes - the rich. His play, Rhondda 

Roundabout ran in the Globe 

Theatre, London, which made Jack 

a famous name in his adopted city 

of Cardiff. In fact, Cardiff's Lord 

Mayor, in the June of 1939, joined 

Jack and others on an official visit to 

London to see the play. 

The drama was a series of 

vignettes of valley life and 

extremely disrespectful to the 

managing establishment and 

highlighting the perseverance, 

honesty and dogged stubbornness 

of the miners and their quest for 

worker's rights. One line from the 

show drew wide applause from 

the audience when one character 

said, 'that in war the capitalists from 

London would be glad to re-open 

the disused pits as air raid shelters 

for themselves'. This was 1930s 

London. In 1940, Jack appeared in 

the movie The Proud Valley with 

Paul Robeson, a movie that Jack 

had helped write. 

Jack's books were being churned 

out at an amazing rate. This 

amazing skill took him to the 

United States of America on several 

occasions, undertaking lecture 

tours. He was also to undertake 

the same skills to the battlefronts 

during WW2. 

Unbelievably, Jack once more 

changed his political allegiance 

to another party. He had tried 

Communist, Labour, Liberal but the 

next change was surely the most 

controversial. Joining and support 

for the Oswald Mosley's black shirts 

during the 1930s would have been 

the strangest twist in any a storyline 

but that's exactly what he did. He 

stayed within that political family for 

many years. In 1945, he supported 

the far right candidate Sir James 

Grigg at the General Election. 

It was his book Land of My Fathers 

that really brought him to the 

general public's attention. The 

'play' version ran in London to great 

acclaim. 

His classic novel, Off to 

Philadelphia in the Morning is about 

the collier's working life in the 

1880s/90s south Wales valleys. The 

book intertwines the story of Joseph 

Parry, the composer. Parry was a 

miner during his early years but 

his love of music and his struggle 

to succeed finally overcame to 

become one of, if not the greatest, 

of all Welsh composers. Myfanwy is 

perhaps his best known work. The 

South African national anthem is 

based on Parry's work. 

Every Cardiffian should read 

River Out of Eden. It is a masterful 

depiction of the city's growth 

from village to city, from the 

industrial explosion to WW2. Jack 

is supremely ingenious as the 

narrative follows just one family 

and the generational struggles 

from Irish immigrant to richness. 

Each follow different paths but 

the most seductive reason for 

reading this book is to study the 

streets and suburbs of Cardiff prior 

and during the early half of the 

twentieth century. We visit the rich 

man's world of expensive shopping 

and private clubs, then follow in 

the footsteps of pimps and their 

prostitutes. It is probably one of the 

finest depictions of Cardiff's history 

within a novel that there ever has 

been, or perhaps ever will be. 

When he was observed back in 

the 1960s, on his own, shuffling 

his way to the Butcher's Arms, 

Rhiwbina, young locals watching 

had little knowledge of the 

incredible life story of Jack Jones. 

I remember him well. I was one of 

those who shouted ‘Hi Jack’ as he 

walked past me in the village. He 

would smile and ‘umph’. If only I had 

known then what I know now, about 

his incredible life, I may have asked 

for an autograph, or even a ‘snap’, 

I'd like to think that he would have 

agreed to one. 

I would also like to think that my 

words here have been able to do 

this wonderful and complex man 

justice. 

John Wake 

people 

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the 

Ferret 

Deception, fraud - and hidden treasure in a north Cardiff wood. 

This is the story of the SS Ferret and its mysterious crew, a story 

that has gone down in infamy on both sides of the world 

Lying silently in the sands of a South 

Australian beach lies the wreck of 

the iron screw steamship, the SS 

Ferret. 

To the locals, it's a well-known 

landmark, one that every so often 

reveals itself from its veil of shifting 

sands. Its rusty remains lie at the 

base of the northern end of the 

beach, and its silence keeps a 

baffling secret - a secret that's 

never been explained for over 100 

years. 

The story begins on a cold 

autumnal day in 1880, when a small 

group of men approached the office 

of the Ferret's owners in Greenock 

Dock, Scotland. The men were 

looking to charter the Ferret and to 

take it on a pleasure cruise in the 

Mediterranean. The ship had been 

fitted out as a passenger vessel and 

seemed perfect for the men's plans. 

The owners of the Ferret would 

have been pleased with their new 

clients - the group's leader was 

a man that went by the name of 

Smith. He boasted of great financial 

credentials, and told the ship's 

owners that the cruise was for 

his wife, who was unwell. He also 

alluded to the fact that he was a 

relative of the late First Lord of the 

Admiralty. What the owners didn't 

know was that Smith was nothing 

of the sort. In fact, his name was 

Henderson, and he was about to 

lead the ship and its crew on one of 

maritime's greatest mysteries. 

A six-month lease was agreed, 

34 

and bills for the first month's charter 

was paid with notes that were later 

found to be worthless. Henderson 

had been operating a fraudulent 

London shipbroking office named 

Henderson & Co. to support the 

scam. 

Officers and crew were hurriedly 

recruited with two men by the 

name of Walker and Carlyon 

appointed Purser and Chief Officer 

respectively. The role of Sailing 

Master was given to a man named 

Watkins and a man called Griffin 

was named Chief Engineer. 

Provisions were also loaded onto 

the ship - 'stores, plates and coal' 

worth £1,400 were loaded, as well 

as £500 worth of premium wine. 

These were paid with bills that 

would later be found to be also 

worthless. 

The Ferret finally set sail. The 

pilot that took the ship out to sea, 

reported that the ship was full of 

cheer and jollity, which raised the 

suspicions of the ship's owners. 

It was a steamer of considerable 

speed, and after leaving Greenock, 

it sailed to Cardiff. 

In Cardiff around this time, was 

a mysterious man, believed to be 

Spanish, who was staying at the 

Cardiff Arms Hotel. In the following 

days, he became acquainted with 

the captain of the Ferret, and when 

she left purportedly for Marseilles, 

he sailed with her as supercargo, a 

representative of the ship's owner 

on board the merchant ship, and 

responsible for overseeing the 

cargo and its sale. 

Henderson's wife also boarded 

at Cardiff before the Ferret sailed 

through the Straits of Gibraltar, 

looking for all the world like it was 

heading for its Mediterranean 

cruise. That night, the crew made 

sure that their 'All Well' lights were 

seen by the shore stations. 

But that's when the story took an 

unusual twist. 

At some point during the small 

hours, the lights were put out, and 

under the cover of darkness, the 

ship silently passed back through 

the Straits. The aim was to give 

the appearance that the ship had 

foundered with all hands lost 

somewhere in the Mediterranean 

Sea. 

The ship headed out into the 

Atlantic, where Henderson revealed 

to his crew that he was a colonel in 

the United States Cavalry. He told 

them that he needed to destroy all 

traces of his identity. He went on to 

tell them that he owned the ship 

and was entitled to do with it as he 

pleased. 

He made it clear that he was 

incredibly wealthy, and that anyone 

who did not cooperate with the 

plan would be shot on the spot. 

He gave direct instruction for the 

ship's appearance to be radically 

overhauled. The wheelhouse and 

chartroom were dismantled and 

rebuilt on the aft-deck; the black 

funnel was changed to yellow; the

ship's lifeboats were changed from 

blue to white; and crucially, the 

ship was renamed Bantam, taking 

the name of another ship of similar 

tonnage on the Lloyd's Register. 

Shipping documentation was 

forged to support the false name. 

Any identifying objects on the ship 

were either thrown overboard or 

used as fuel in the ship's coal-fired 

engines. 

He made 

it clear that 

anyone who did 

not cooperate 

with the plan 

would be shot 

on the spot 

The crew were instructed to 

say that the ship had sailed 

from Singapore if questioned by 

authorities. The ship next sailed to 

the Cape Verde Islands and then to 

Santos, Brazil, where it arrived on 

Boxing Day 1880. 

The crew took on a consignment 

cargo of coffee destined for 

Marseilles. Henderson then sailed 

for Cape Town, where Watkins 

disembarked, changing the ship's 

name for the second time en route, 

this time to the name India. On 

arrival at Cape Town, he sold the 

coffee for £13,000. He then sailed 

for Port Phillip in Victoria, Australia 

via Mauritius and Albany, Western 

Australia arriving at Victoria in April 

1881. Henderson told Australian port 

authorities that he had come from 

Bermuda. 

Back in Scotland, the ship's 

owners were becoming 

increasingly concerned about the 

disappearance of the ship. They 

advertised the disappearance, and 

sought help locating it. 

By chance, an observant wharf 

policeman on duty at Queenscliff, 

Constable James Davidson, who 

had recently arrived from Scotland, 

was at his post as the newly-named 

India steamed past him. 

At the time, he happened to be 

reading a copy of The Scotsman 

newspaper which included an 

article taken from the Glasgow 

Evening Citizen and which described 

the mysterious disappearance of 

the Ferret from the Clyde. 

Seeing that the India fitted the 

description well, Davidson decided 

to take a closer look. He noticed 

certain unusual behaviours coming 

from the ship, and noted that 

it had broken a number of port 

regulations. 

His suspicions raised, he kept it 

under observation and alerted his 

superiors. Customs officials seized 

the ship, and the faint appearance 

of another vessel's name under the 

lettering 'India' soon confirmed the 

hoax. 

Henderson and his accomplices 

tried to escape but were soon 

apprehended, charged, and 

brought to trial by jury in Melbourne 

before Justice Williams. Henderson, 

and his two main cronies were each 

charged with conspiracy on the 

high seas, attempt to defraud the 

ship's owners, and customs and 

other maritime offences, including 

changing the name and official 

number of a ship. Chief Engineer 

Griffin, who had been recruited in 

Glasgow, provided much of the 

evidence that convicted the three. 

Watkins, the Sailing Master, had 

left the ship in Cape Town after 

which a sailor called Wright had 

taken over the sailing duties. The 

three defendants fabricated a story 

that Watkins had led a Peruvian 

arms smuggling racket, and that 

he told them to attempt to sell the 

ship. The court rejected the story 

and found the three men guilty. 

But that's not where the story 

ends. A long time later, a letter 

landed on the desk of Cardiff's 

Head Constable. The letter, 

apparently written by a prisoner in 

Spain, requested the help to find 

treasure 'of considerable amount' 

that had been buried in Cardiff. 

The Head Constable dismissed the 

letter as a hoax. The letter was also 

shown to a borough magistrate, 

who came to a different conclusion. 

Correspondence with the 

prisoners was initiated, and before 

long, the prisoner admitted that 

he was at one time the private 

secretary of a Spanish nobleman 

who entrusted him with property 

to a considerable amount to be 

conveyed to England. He came 

to London with it, but from the 

start, he evidently intended to 

appropriate the property to his own 

use. He left London, went to Bristol, 

and stayed for some time at a hotel 

there. He then came to Cardiff and 

stayed for a still longer period at the 

Cardiff Arms Hotel. 

During his stay there, his friends 

in Madrid informed him that his 

employer had discovered his 

duplicity, and agents were sent 

to England to arrest him. Fearing 

SS Ferret in 1910 

history 

capture, he deposited the valuable 

treasure that he had been entrusted 

with in a secret place, not far from 

Cardiff, and then left in a steamer 

bound for Marseilles, but was 

landed on the coast of Spain. He 

was discovered by the agents of the 

nobleman, arrested, and tried at 

Madrid for feloniously disposing of 

property entrusted to him by his 

master, and sentenced to a long 

term of imprisonment in one of the 

carceras in Madrid. 

It was noted during the months 

that followed, that three men were 

spotted digging in various parts of 

a wood in the north of Cardiff. The 

men could not speak English well 

and were said to be of Spanish 

extraction. It is believed nothing was 

found at that time. 

As for the Ferret, in 1904, it was 

called into action to assist with a 

stricken Norwegian barque that 

went under the name of Ethel. 

The Ethel had run onto a South 

Australian beach and the Ferret was 

the first ship on hand to rescue its 

crew and passengers. The beach 

was later named Ethel Beach. 

As fate would have it, the Ferret 

itself was wrecked too in November 

1920 after running onto a beach 

during a storm. All 21 crew were 

rescued after walking 3 miles 

overland from where the ship had 

foundered - on Ethel Beach. 

The treasure, if it exists, has never 

been found. 

The mystery of the treasure has 

been written into a ghost story 

centred on Cardiff, by Rhiwbina 

author, John F Wake, entitled 

‘The Madding of Eli McNamara’. 

35

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The Glassmith Wales are transforming local homes with their stunning splashbacks. 

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We provide a 

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Having worked installing bespoke 

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Glass splashbacks are incredibly 

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when surveyed and installed 

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Starting off surveying and installing 

myself, I now employ a small team, 

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Our glass splashbacks are often 

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Bunker 

Mentality 

In a quiet corner of Llandaff, there 

sits a small, unassuming structure, 

barely noticed by the outside world. 

The Llandaff Sub-Control Centre 

is a single storey, windowless affair, 

that to the untrained eye, looks 

like some sort of nondescript utility 

building. Yet inside its doors lie 

secrets of our nation's role in the 

Cold War. 

In recognition of this, Cadw has 

recently awarded the unusual 

building with a Grade II listed 

status, acknowledging the site as 

a sobering reminder of how close 

Wales came to nuclear annihilation 

in the twentieth century. 

The Sub-Control Centre building 

sits on the outer edge of the 

beautiful, terraced gardens of 

Insole Court. The Victorian mansion 

was used during the Second World 

War as a hub for the emergency 

services responding to the Cardiff 

Blitz. 

In the years following the war, 

tensions mounted between the 

former allies and in 1948, the Civil 

Defence Corps was revived across 

the UK, leading Cardiff County 

Borough Council to make plans for 

a possible Third World War. 

Nuclear weapons had been 

invented and used by the USA in 

1945 and in 1949, the Soviet Union 

produced its first atom bomb, 

followed by Britain in 1952. 

With these developments, 

38 

A small, nondescript building in Llandaff was recently awarded 

protection status for its role in our nation's history. Here's why. 

tensions continued to rise and 

during 1953, Cardiff’s city surveyor, 

EC Roberts, built a Civil Defence 

Control Centre on Allensbank Road, 

next to what was once a crucial 

location for the city’s water supply. 

He also built two Sub-Control 

Centres in the east and west of the 

city, at Cyncoed and Llandaff. 

The Llandaff Sub-Control Centre 

is the only one of these buildings to 

have survived. Inside the bunker are 

the remains of ventilation systems, 

electricity generators and steel 

bunk beds in separate rooms for 

male and female CDC members. 

The large control centre, message 

room and liaison officers’ room 

are linked by messenger hatches 

and the officers’ room had hidden 

emergency escape hatches leading 

outside. 

Although sturdy, the building is 

clearly a product of the early Cold 

War and could not have hoped 

to withstand a hydrogen bomb 

falling on Cardiff. Preparedness for 

war was the focus of the CDC but 

its members responded to other 

emergencies, including floods and 

even the Aberfan disaster. 

Even after the CDC was disbanded 

in 1968, volunteers continued to 

look after the building and store 

emergency supplies there until the 

end of the Cold War in the early 

1990s. It was reported in 2013 that 

the Llandaff Society group was 

looking into turning the Vaughan 

Avenue building into a Cold War 

museum. Due to ongoing vandalism 

and damage from the elements, 

this idea never came to fruition. 

After the Grade II listing, Dr 

Christopher Thomas, Listed Building 

Officer at Cadw, said: 

“Since 1945 the nuclear threat 

has shaped world history — but it 

has also been an important part of 

Wales’s past, as evidenced by the 

Llandaff Sub-control Centre. The 

building’s existence shows how 

seriously the people of post-war 

Wales took this threat, and how 

they planned to survive it. 

“We are so pleased to be able to 

list this remarkable building, which 

is now protected as a rare example 

of civil defence planning — built for 

a war which was greatly feared but 

thankfully never came. Plus, it offers 

a poignant monument to the mostly 

forgotten volunteers of the Civil 

Defence Corps in the Cold War.” 

The substation joins the ranks 

of other hidden reminders of our 

past, dotted around north Cardiff. 

Up until fairly recently, Coryton 

roundabout was home to the Cardiff 

War Room, one of 13 Regional 

War Rooms built in 1952 to house 

the regional administration for 

Wales in the event of a devastating 

nuclear attack on Whitehall making 

central government impossible. 

The building was of the standard

Regional War Room design with 

one floor above ground and one 

floor underground. 

It remained operational until 

approximately 1958 when the 

network of Regional War Rooms 

was replaced by the Regional Seats 

of Government. The old war room 

was retained as a training centre 

for RSG personnel until 1965 when 

it was reactivated as the Cardiff 

Corporation Main Control Centre. 

With the formation of South 

Glamorgan County in 1974, it was 

reactivated as the South Glamorgan 

County Control and later, the South 

Glamorgan Emergency Centre, 

remaining in use until the end of the 

Cold War in 1991. Following that, the 

building was abandoned. Once the 

ventilation plant was switched off, 

the bunker deteriorated quickly. 

A landmark that is still familiar for 

most residents of north Cardiff is 

the telecommunications mast that 

overlooks the area from its position 

on Wenallt Hill. Beneath the ground 

it stands on is another reminder of 

our Cold War past. 

Originally it was to become a 

The building's 

existence shows 

how seriously 

the people of 

post-war wales 

took this threat 

War Room for Wales, taking over 

from Coryton but this idea was 

abandoned in the late 1970s. 

The former Anti Aircraft Operations 

Room instead became the main 

BT war headquarters for Wales. 

The distinctive curved glass 

galleries were stripped out, and 

new dormitories, air conditioning, 

canteen etc., were installed in the 

1970s but the work was abandoned 

before completion and the bunker 

is now disused although the 

adjacent BT radio site remains in 

service. 

Up until not too long ago, it was 

an area for urban exploration as an 

interesting site, but the contents 

have since been burnt - not by 

urban explorers but by the vandals 

that frequent the site. 

Further afield in Llanishen was the 

Llanishen Royal Observatory Corps 

(ROC) Post, which opened in 1966 

and closed in 1991. The Pentyrch 

Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Post, 

opened in 1961 and closed in 1968. 

Nearer the city centre, few people 

realise that within the walls of the 

castle are tunnels – tunnels which 

came into their own as air-raid 

shelters during the Second World 

War. 

It was estimated that more than 

1,800 people could take shelter 

within the walls and when the sirens 

sounded, people who lived and 

worked in the city would rush to the 

shelters. Special ramps were built 

so that people could gain access 

into the walls quickly. Research has 

revealed there were dormitories 

with bunks, kitchens, toilets and 

first aid posts concealed within the 

walls. 

Shelter use ceased in December 

1944 and shortly after the war, 

the ramps were removed and the 

external wall openings sealed up. 

Following the death of the 4th 

Marquess in 1947, the castle came 

into the hands of the City Council 

and was opened to the public, 

though the shelters remained 

closed until 2011. 

The substation sits 

in a quiet corner of 

Llandaff's Insole Court 

What was the 

Cold War? 

history 

The Cold War was a period 

of geopolitical tension 

between the United States 

and the Soviet Union and their 

respective allies, the Western 

Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. 

The period began following 

World War II and is generally 

considered to have ended in 

the 1990s. 

There was no large-scale 

fighting between the two 

superpowers. Instead, they 

both took sides in major 

regional conflicts and tended 

to be based around the 

struggle for ideological and 

geopolitical struggles. 

Nuclear war was a constant 

threat, and the 'war' 

was played out through 

espionage, sporting rivalries, 

technological advances and 

psychological warfare. 

39

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Did you know that untreated hearing 

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Even if you are noticing some of these 

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a hearing test or a hearing aid due to the 

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Our ears collect sound, but it’s the brain 

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If deteriorating hearing is not treated, 

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Auditory deprivation can happen when 

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outdoors 

Spring is a time of colour and beauty. Here's a guide to some of the 

more common flowers that you'll spot in the wild this spring 

Bluebells 

Enchanting and iconic, bluebells 

are a sure way to know that 

spring is here. 

They actually spend most of 

their time underground as bulbs, 

usually breaking the surface and 

flowering in great numbers from 

April onwards. 

The flowers are traditionally 

deep violet-blue in colour, the 

familiar bell shape comprising 

of six petals and up-turned tips. 

Some varieties can be white or 

pink. 

They can be found in 

woodland, in fields and also in 

hedgerows. 

Forget-me-nots 

Forget-me-not flowers grow on tall, 

hairy stems which can reach up to 2 feet 

in height. Its pretty, five-petalled, blue 

blooms with yellow centres flourish from 

May through to October. 

If spotted in the wild, it's most likely to be 

the perennial variety that spreads easily, 

freely self-seeding to grow and bloom in 

the shady spots where the tiny seeds may 

fall. 

Foxglove 

Easily recognisable and wellknown 

across the UK, the 

foxglove usually comes in shades 

of pink but white varieties are 

not uncommon. Darker-coloured 

spots can be found towards the 

lower end of the tubes. 

These plants produce a spike 

of flowers between June and 

September and can grow up 

to 2 metres in height. A single 

foxglove can produce over a 

million seeds. 

They can be found in heathland, 

woodland edges and gardens 

and are a valuable source of 

nectar for bees. The species 

has evolved to be especially 

attractive to long-tongued bees. 

The flowers attracts the bee, 

while the lower lip of the flower 

allows the insect to land before 

climbing up the tube, increasing 

the chance of pollination. 

Wild hyacinth 

Found in late spring, wild hyacinths 

produce loose spikes of stunning white 

and violet-blue, star-shaped flowers on top 

of tall stems. 

Known for attracting bees, its eyecatching 

look also lingers throughout the 

spring season due to its durability. They'll 

often be found growing in large drifts in 

woodlands and areas with long grass. 

42

What's that flower? 

Cowslip 

You'll find these gorgeous clusters of drooping 

fragrant yellow flowers growing on dry, grassy 

banks and in pasture. In fact, its name comes 

from the word 'cow-slop', which will give you 

some indication of where it likes to thrive and 

flourish. 

The cowslip is a cousin of the primrose, 

displaying egg-yolk-yellow flowers that are 

clustered together at the ends of its vertical, 

green stems. The plant suffered during the 

1930s-1980s, due to farming techniques, but is 

now making a welcome comeback. 

Common dog violet 

The most familiar wild violet, the 

common dog-violet can be spotted in 

a variety of habitats from woodland to 

grassland, hedgerows to pastures. 

They have distinctive bluish-purple 

petals, leafy stems and heart-shaped 

leaves, and unlike the similarlooking 

sweet violet, it's unscented. 

Its name derives from this lack of 

scent - the word 'dog', like the word 

'horse', is a common English prefix for 

distinguishing an inferior species from 

its superior relative. 

They flower from April through to 

June. 

Orchids 

Wild orchids grow in a range of 

habitats and each variety has its 

own habitat preference. As such, 

they can flower at slightly different 

times of the year. 

Orchids can be found in damp 

grassland, open woods, scrub and 

fens as well as spoil-tips, railway 

embankments and old quarries. 

They tend to start flowering around 

April, with May being the busiest 

month for flowering. 

Red campion 

Red campion is a fairly tall plant 

(they can grow up to 1 metre!) 

that flowers distinctive pink-red 

in colour. The five petals are 

fused at their base to form a tube 

surrounded by a purple-brown 

protective cover. The five petals 

are deeply notched and almost 

divided into two; its leaves and 

stems are hairy. 

They can be found within 

shaded woodland areas, as 

well as hedgerows, in fields and 

ditches and on roadside verges. 

They start to flower just as the 

bluebells are fading, providing 

another beautiful blanket of 

colour in our countryside. 

43

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GEARING UP 

YOUR GARDEN 

With many of us spending more time at home in the past two years than ever before, we are becoming even 

more focused on creating our own perfect environment at home. 

TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN AND YOUR LIFESTYLE 

At Eden we are passionate about helping people love their gardens, 

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Suitable for year-round use, a garden room can make an ideal 

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gym, personal yoga studio, reading room, music practise room, home 

cinema… the list goes on! 

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admire your work. 

GARDEN STORAGE - NOT A ‘WANT’ BUT A ‘NEED’ 

Whether used as a lawn mower garage, garden toolbox or storage 

space for pillows, your garden shed provides the protection you need. 

The humble garden shed has undergone several reinventions in recent 

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Gardening can be one of the most rewarding hobbies; by taking seeds 

and watching them bloom, you can enjoy the fruits of your labour – 

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The routine of tending to 

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gardens 

Spring Vegetables 

In a time when food prices are on the rise, dedicating an area of your 

garden to growing your own food could be beneficial. Here are a few 

ideas on how to get started, and what vegetables to grow 

Don't start too early 

Tempting as it may be to get stuck 

in, sowing too early could mean that 

your crop is at risk of being harmed or 

destroyed by frost. Find out the rough 

date of when you can expect the last frost 

of the year. If you do find yourself caught 

out with a sudden temperature drop, 

you can always protect your crops with 

newspaper, old sheets or frost blankets. 

Just remember to remove them the 

following day. 

Sowing your veg 

There’s still time to sow vegetables such 

as aubergines, tomatoes, sweetcorn, 

cucumbers, and courgettes. 

You can always give your vegetable 

garden a kick start if you feel that you're 

too late to sow, by purchasing baby plants. 

You'll need to gradually expose these to 

outdoor conditions throughout the spring 

season. 

Spring is a good time if you’re planting 

in pots or on your windowsill. Lettuce and 

tomatoes do particularly well. 

Feed, nourish and protect 

Your vegetables will be growing quickly during the spring months so 

always keep them hydrated, either with a hose or by sitting them in a tray 

of water. If you have any plants in pots, these can be fed once a week with 

liquid feed. 

You'll also want to think about preparing your outside garden spaces 

ready for your new plants. Remove any weeds that have started growing 

as these could present a problem later in the year when they get too large 

and unmanageable. 

Harden tender 

vegetables 

Tender vegetables will need 

to be exposed to the great 

outdoors if they are to flourish 

over the summer. Spring is the 

best time to do this as conditions 

are, for the most part, gentle and 

welcoming. 

Start by taking them outside for 

just one day a week and leaving 

them in a safe, sheltered spot. 

Bring them in at night if you feel 

that the temperature is dropping 

too much, or that frost is forecast. 

This toughening up process 

will help the plants flourish 

and become tough enough to 

withstand the rain and wind. 

Towards the end of spring, you 

can plant them in their final 

growing space, where they will 

remain for the warmer months. 

46

Carrots 

Carrots are easy enough to grow 

from the packet, taking up a 

minimal amount of space and 

can even be grown in containers. 

Carrots are one of our staple 

vegetables so growing them 

at home can certainly save you 

money off your shopping bill. 

Sow in small batches from 

early spring onwards. They 

flourish best in full sun and light, 

fertile, well-drained soil. If your soil is shallow, 

aim to buy short-rooted types. Usually ready to harvest in 12-16 weeks. 

Beetroot 

Beetroot has a variety of great health 

benefits and is delicious in soups, stews, 

smoothies and even cakes. They're also 

ideal for gardening beginners. 

Beetroot fares best in fertile, welldrained 

soil. You can sow without 

protection from about March onwards 

and beetroot sown from June onwards 

can be stored for use in winter. 

They can also be grown in containers 

all year round. 

Cauliflower 

Cauliflower can be sown until late May and do best in fertile soil. The best 

results come from sowing in cell trays using a good multi-purpose potting 

compost and transplanting to outdoors when the weather is suitable. 

Cauliflowers tends to take three to five months from sowing to maturity, 

although growth rates can vary according to the variety and weather 

conditions. White varieties can turn yellow if left for too long so it's always 

best to harvest these before this happens. 

Brussels sprouts 

Brussels sprouts grow on large 

plants so are eventually happiest 

outside in a garden where they 

will have more space. 

If you want to grow them from 

seed, you can start them in May 

indoors, before moving the 

seedlings to the outdoors after 

about six weeks. Keep the soil 

consistently moist while they are 

indoors, and fertilise with a liquid 

organic vegetable food every few 

weeks. 

Once outside, your sprouts 

could be susceptible to pests 

so it may be worth investing 

in a lightweight insect fabric. 

Promote healthy growth by 

providing ample and continuous 

moisture. Feeding them several 

times during the growing season, 

and topping the plants in early 

autumn will mean that they will 

be perfect for those autumn 

casseroles. 

47

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Crazy 

about 

kale 

Fish and kale 

in tahini sauce 

with crispy 

shallots 

canola oil for frying 

3 shallots 

3 tbsp olive oil 

1kg haddock loins 

12 tbsp tahini 

115ml lemon juice 

3 cloves garlic 

50 

Kale is a superfood that's been on people's plates since the Roman 

times. And for good reason - it's packed full of nutrients, it's versatile - 

plus it tastes great. Go green this spring with these delicious recipes 

115ml warm water 

1 bunch kale stems discarded, 

leaves coarsely chopped 

toasted pine nuts (optional) 

☐ Whisk together the tahini, lemon 

juice, garlic and water. Add salt to 

taste. 

☐ In a deep saucepan, heat 

1-2 inches of the canola oil until 

shimmering hot. Add the shallots and 

cook until they are golden brown, 

stirring frequently. Transfer the 

shallots to paper towels to drain and 

toss immediately with a good pinch 

of salt. 

☐ Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet 

over a high heat until it is shimmering. 

Working in batches, brown the fish 

on one side until it releases easily 

with a spatula. It won't release until 

it's browned. Transfer each fish piece 

to a plate once both sides of each 

piece of fish is browned. 

☐ Add another tablespoon of olive 

oil to the pan and then add the kale, 

stirring until it's wilted. 

☐ Stir in sauce then return fish to the 

pan and nestle it in, spooning some 

sauce over the top. The fish will cook 

further during this process. 

☐ Cook for a minute or two, until fish 

is opaque and flakes easily. Transfer 

to warmed plates and top the dish 

with the fried shallots and pine nuts, 

if desired. 

Kale smoothie 

2 handfuls kale 

½ avocado 

½ lime, juice only 

large handful frozen pineapple 

chunks 

medium-sized chunk ginger 

1 tbsp cashew nuts 

1 banana, optional 

chia seeds 

☐ ☐ Put all of the ingredients into a 

bullet or smoothie maker, add a large 

splash of water and blitz. Add more 

water until you have the desired 

consistency.

Kale salad 

food 

one butternut squash, peeled and 

cut into 1-inch pieces 

150ml extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tsp ground cumin 

salt and pepper 

150g pumpkin seeds 

225ml whole-milk yogurt 

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 

1 tbsp almond butter 

1 tbsp minced chipotle peppers in 

adobo sauce 

1 small garlic clove, finely grated 

1 teaspoon sweet paprika 

425g baby kale 

1 small red onion, very thinly sliced 

4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled 

☐ Preheat the oven to 220°C. On a 

large baking sheet, toss the butternut 

squash with 110ml oil and the cumin 

and season with salt and pepper. 

Bake for about 30 minutes. 

☐ On another baking sheet, toss the 

pumpkin seeds with the remaining 

olive oil and toast for about 7 minutes. 

☐ In a medium bowl, whisk the yogurt 

with the lemon juice, almond butter, 

chipotle, garlic and paprika. Season 

the dressing with salt and pepper. 

Kale and bacon 

soup 

☐ In a large bowl, toss the kale with 

half the dressing and season with 

salt and pepper. Fold in the butternut 

squash and onion. Top with the 

pumpkin seeds and blue cheese and 

serve. Use the remaining dressing if 

required. 

2 tbsp olive oil 

1 onion, roughly chopped 

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped 

2 bags kale (about 320-400g) 

900ml vegetable stock 

1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg 

150ml milk 

freshly ground black pepper 

200g bacon lardons 

40g Parmesan, grated 

☐ Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the 

chopped onion and fry for a few minutes until 

slightly golden. Add the sweet potato and cook 

for around 5 minutes. If the mixture begins to 

stick, add a splash of water. 

☐ Remove and dispose of any thick stalks from 

the kale. Wash the kale thoroughly and then 

place into the pan, along with the vegetable 

stock. Bring everything to the boil before 

reducing the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, 

until the vegetables are soft. 

☐ Add the nutmeg and then remove from the 

heat. Allow to cool and then blend using a stickblender 

(or in a blender or food processor). 

☐ Return the soup to a clean pan and warm 

over a medium heat. Add the milk and black 

pepper. In a separate pan, fry the bacon lardons 

and set aside. 

☐ Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with the bacon 

lardons and grated Parmesan and a grind of 

fresh black pepper. 

51

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City Ringers is a small friendly group who practice music on 

handchimes throughout the year - you may have heard us 

playing at the Rhiwbina Festival before Christmas 2021. 

Handchimes are easy to play and you only need a basic 

knowledge of musical notes to join in. 

We practice in All Saints Church Hall, Rhiwbina on a Sunday 

afternoon. If you would like to come along and see what we 

are about, please email me sallydavies@ntlworld.com 

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On-site glazing and repairs 

All types of contact lenses 

Wide range of excellent value frames from 

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Sunglasses 

Friendly husband and wife team 

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Hydrangeas 

Hilda Henrietta Hannah 

Hodgekinson hated 

hydrangeas. She hated them 

with a passion, an all-consuming, 

energy draining, soul-destroying 

passion. 

The hatred she felt for the ghastly 

shrub was only equalled by her 

hatred for Mitzy, her next-door 

neighbour’s Persian kitten, who 

persistently used her beloved rose 

garden for his very own, personal 

public convenience. 

What provoked such emotion in 

her, she couldn’t quite fathom. The 

shrub seemed innocuous enough 

at first glance. It never outgrew 

itself like the giant rhododendrons 

in the street, leaning dangerously 

like drunken giants, laden with 

gaudy coloured flowers. Neither 

was it one of those terribly irritating 

non-descript, namby-pamby type 

of plants. 

No! At first glance it could be 

described as, pleasant enough. 

Its perfectly formed flowers in 

delicate pastel shades of pink, 

blue or white, could hardly be 

described by anyone as offensive. 

A less discerning person than 

herself might even be tempted to 

call it pleasantly attractive, bland 

perhaps, but certainly never vulgar 

or ostentatious. 

Nevertheless, they gave her the 

heebie-jeebies, the creeps, the 

willies or whatever way you like 

to describe the creepy crawling 

feeling that would totally engulf her, 

whenever she caught just one, tiny, 

glimpse of the offending shrub. And 

as every single garden in her street 

had at least one specimen of the 

monster, her daily trip to the shops 

had become ‘A Nightmare in Elm 

Street’. 

54 

“I can’t go on like this!” she 

grumbled as she scurried along, 

head down, both eyes firmly fixed 

to the ground. “It’s ridiculous, totally 

illogical, it’s controlling my life!” 

“Morning, Miss Hodgekinson!” 

the postman greeted her with a 

cheerful grin. “Lovely day for it.” 

He placed his heavy sack on the 

ground and started sorting through 

some bundles of letters. 

“Oh, yes! - I suppose, if you say so,” 

she grunted. 

“Is everything all right?” he asked 

with concern. “Only - if you don’t 

mind me saying - you haven’t been 

looking quite - yourself lately - 

perhaps a check-up at the surgery 

might be an idea. Only a suggestion 

you understand, please forgive the 

familiarity.” 

Her eyes rose from the ground 

and looked into his, watchful as if 

calculating something, then fell 

again. “Yes - oh, I’m sorry for being 

so rude. You’re right I have been 

feeling a little below par. Thank you 

for your concern - so kind." 

Hilda hated doctors almost as 

much as she hated hydrangeas! In 

her opinion, there was nothing - no 

nothing at all, that couldn’t be cured 

with lots of fresh air and vegetables. 

That was why the receptionist was 

so startled when she turned up at 

the morning surgery. 

“Miss Hodgekinson! What a 

surprise!” she said, as she peered 

over her half rim spectacles. “We 

haven’t seen you here for quite 

some time!” She clicked her 

computer. “Look, we’ve got you 

down as an Inactive Patient!” 

Hilda decided to ignore the 

incivility and took a seat next to a 

young mother trying to console a 

screaming baby. 

“Lots of fresh air and vegetables, 

that’s all he needs,” she said, 

peering into the baby’s red, bloated 

face. 

Then, from within her bag, she 

produced a pair of pure white 

cotton gloves; she nimbly slipped 

them on before immersing herself 

in a National Geographic. 

“Nasty germ-filled place,” she 

muttered, almost inaudibly. 

Dr. Everswell leaned forward in his 

chair and rested both elbows on his 

desk. He was a tall slim man, with a 

fragile and faintly aesthetic air. His 

long grey worsted legs stretched 

out languidly beneath the desk. 

“Come in dear lady, do come in - 

and take a seat.” His voice was soft, 

and his manner courteous as he 

gestured towards an empty chair. 

“To what do I owe this honour?” 

She threw him a disapproving 

glare and sat down, very upright, 

looking straight ahead, with her 

hands folded on her lap. 

“I mean,” his voice raised a tone. 

“How may I be of assistance?” 

“Well,” she began, shifting about 

uncomfortably on her seat. “It’s like 

this, doctor.” She paused to think for 

a moment… 

“Yes?” he replied, in anticipation. 

“Well,” she said, placing her 

handbag firmly on the floor and 

tightly securing the buttons of her 

cardigan. 

“It’s like this, doctor.” 

“Yes?” he eagerly replied. 

“Well!” she said. 

“Oh, come on dear lady, out with it. 

I do have other patients, you know.” 

“Well!” she said. 

“Yes?” he replied. 

“Well, doctor,” she paused, took a 

deep breath, then began again.

“Well, doctor - you see - my skin 

tingles and all the hairs stand on 

end. Then I feel cold and shivery 

and a huge knot forms in my 

stomach, which then starts to churn 

and makes me feel nauseous.” 

“I see - please do continue.” He 

suddenly popped a small wooden 

spatula into her mouth. "Say ah!” 

“Ah! Aaaaaargh!” 

Dr Everswell gently took her wrist 

and read her pulse, then listened to 

her chest with his stethoscope. She 

sat rigid with tension at the ordeal. 

“Have you recently returned from 

the tropics?” 

“NO!” 

“Ah!” he said. 

“Any rashes, eruptions or boils?” 

“NO!” 

“Ah!” 

“Any projectile vomiting or 

diarrhoea?” 

“NO! CERTAINLY NOT!” 

“Ah! – I see.” Dr Everswell's shrewd 

little eyes rested on her face and 

moved over it slowly, as though 

searching for something. He smiled, 

showing pure white teeth. 

“Well, dear lady, I’m pleased to 

inform you that it doesn’t seem to 

be anything serious.” 

“But, what about the hydrangeas?” 

Hilda stared hard and long at 

Dr Everswell, as if willing him to 

administer some form of Divine 

Intervention. So uncomfortable did 

she make him feel, that he stood up 

and walked to the window for some 

air. 

“Hydrangeas? Ah, yes, quite 

wonderful, my own garden is simply 

overflowing with the delightful 

plant.” His eyes glazed over and for 

a few minutes, he drifted away to a 

place of eternal happiness. 

“If you want a few late shrubs to go 

with perennials, all the hydrangeas 

are good, but the white species 

such as Hydrangea Paniculata 

and Hydrangea Arborescence 

Annabelle are stunning! Pure white 

blooms are my personal favourite. 

I know one should never have 

favourites, but one is only human, 

after all!” 

Hilda stood up suddenly and 

banged the table hard with her 

clenched fist. “The HYDRANGEAS!" 

she said crossly. "Don’t you 

understand…it’s the HYDRANGEAS 

that are making me ill!” 

“Well, why on earth didn’t you say 

so in the beginning?” Dr Everswell 

sat down again and stared her 

straight in the face. 

“This my dear lady, is what in 

the medical profession, we call a 

psychosomatic illness. There are 

no pills I can give you…Medical 

Science, I’m afraid, has little to offer 

in these circumstances.” 

“Is it…fatal…doctor?” 

“No, no, not at all,” he lowered his 

voice, “I’m sure that all you need to 

do is to remove the irritant! Then 

it should be possible to lead a 

perfectly normal life.” 

“Cured?” she pleaded. “One 

hundred percent cured? Will I 

be totally cured of this dreadful 

affliction?” 

“ABSOLUTELY!” 

“Remove the irritant?” 

“Yes!” 

“Of course, doctor. Why didn’t 

I think of that?” Hilda felt as if 

an enormous weight had been 

lifted from her. She suddenly saw 

the light, a technicolor flash of 

inspiration, shot through her mind! 

She smiled coyly. 

“Thank you doctor!” She picked up 

her handbag, and half bowed and 

half curtseyed as she backed her 

way out of the room. 

Hilda almost skipped down the 

road with joy. 

“Why of course!” she told herself. 

If she had driven tractors in the war, 

then surely it was not beyond her 

capability, (even taking into account 

her advancing years) to rid herself 

of irritants! 

Half an hour later, she left her local 

hardware store carrying a large 

plastic bag. She hummed happily to 

herself as she hurried home. 

Dr Percival Everswell lopped off the 

top of his boiled egg, buttered a 

piece of toast and dipped it into the 

runny yolk. 

“Darling!” his wife Isabella excitedly 

said, suddenly dropping her 

grapefruit spoon, “Look at this! Who 

says nothing exciting ever happens 

around here?” She waved the 

morning paper dangerously near his 

face. 

“Careful! My Dearest Love - what is 

it, have the terrorists struck again?” 

Isabella Everswell cleared her 

throat and adjusted her reading 

glasses. She shuffled her chair and 

leaned closer so as to be more 

audible. Then, delivered an Oscar 

winning impersonation of Fiona 

Bruce on News at Ten. 

“Massacre In Elm Street!” she 

began… 

Pausing, she held her hand to her 

mouth and gave a genteel little 

cough. 

“Police are investigating a 

mysterious act of vandalism. 

Residents in a quiet residential 

suburb of the city awoke this 

morning to a scene of 'wanton 

destruction and vandalism'. 

"The attack is thought to have 

taken place in the early hours of 

the morning. The mysterious attack 

on every hydrangea plant in each 

garden has left police mystified. 

"Chief Superintendent Wayne 

Watts said: 

"In all my years in the force, this 

was the worst case of vandalism I've 

ever seen. Every single hydrangea 

plant in the street has been ripped 

out of the ground and mercilessly 

chopped into tiny pieces." 

“Well!” she said taking off her 

glasses. “What do you make 

of that? There really are some 

strange people out there! It’s quite 

- worrying! Whatever sort of person 

would do something like that? 

Percival dearest, don’t you have 

some patients in Elm Street?” 

“What’s that? My love – yes, I do 

believe I do!” 

He stood up quickly and walked 

over to the French doors. There was 

a touch of autumn in the air, but his 

garden was still in full bloom. 

He cast his eyes across the lawn to 

the herbaceous border and saw his 

beloved Hydrangea Arborescence 

Annabelle glorious in full flower. For 

a few minutes he just stood there, 

before turning to his wife. 

“Quite exceptional blooms this 

year…and yes, my dear I agree, there 

are some strange people about!” 

For several seconds he was lost 

in thought. “I wonder,” he said 

nervously, “I just wonder…!” 

Mitzy nonchalantly sashayed his 

way across the newly mowed lawn 

to Hilda's rose beds, stopping only 

to sniff the freshly turned earth. His 

tail, erect except for a little curl at 

the tip, navigated its way gracefully 

away from the thorny branches, as 

he wove in and out of the bushes. 

Carefully selecting a soft patch 

of earth, he dug a neat little hole, 

squatted and relieved himself. 

A lace curtain twitched in an 

upstairs window, drew back fully, 

then retracted and was still again. 

As if caressing a lover, Hilda's 

fingers adoringly stroked the full 

length of the blade. It gleamed in 

the light, which filtered through the 

curtain. 

“Hm,” she said thoughtfully, “It 

seems to be a little blunt, after last 

week’s gardening. I will need to 

sharpen it a little, before removing 

the next irritant…” 

By Geraldine Seymour 

short story 

55

www.cardiffwindows.com

Rhiwbina Living Issue 54 │ Spring 2022

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