The Tintern News
Produced by the Friends of Tintern –
January 2008
A
New Year message from the Rev. Nora Hill
The New Year always provides a unique opportunity to reflect on both personal
and communal achievements of the past year for no one year is like any other.
Having only taken responsibility for the spiritual heart of Tintern Parish Church in June of 2007 last year I want to
thank all those who have given help and solace when things have not proceeded
at the pace I would have liked.
However, a good start has been made to care for St. Michael's Church and to
provide a place where all those who enter might feel comfortable and welcome.
There are plans in place to look at the drainage and the foundations and
to restore the 15 century porch. Generous donations have been received for the
purchase of prayer books and hymn books and at the time of writing others are
gifting items or cash in remembrance of family members. Hopefully 2008
will be a time of building upon these generous foundations because I have no doubt
that this year will bring fresh challenges and mountains to climb.
Our
prayers at Tintern Church this year will be for fresh
hope and peace in the world and for a year filled with joy. The Church in
this place wishes the village a very, very happy New Year.
Tintern Senior’s Citizen’s Christmas lunch at the Abbey Hotel was a great success; everyone enjoyed their meal, raffle, and bingo session. Our thanks are sent to the chef, his staff and the waitresses. Thank you also, from the Friends of Tintern Committee to Mr. David George for hosting and financing the event and to Sue and Janet for their organisation. (FoT)
Re
Angiddy Hydro Project. Tintern
News Dec. Issue
At last a sensible, well-informed and intelligently argued appraisal of the Angiddy Hydo Project.
I have no technical knowledge about such things but felt intuitively that this
project was a non-starter. Confirmation came when reading some of the silly
correspondence written in favour of it. I lost interest believing it would soon
be forgotten and was surprised to learn from Mr Geoff Dawes's article, that
there followed much “vitriolic sparring” between the “Luddites of Llandogo” and the “Bigots of Brockweir”.
What fun village politics is. I remember similar “vitriolic sparring” when the
village shop closed down. However, we now have an undeniably scientific
judgement from the most competent Mr Lewis supported by “ten kettles” Mr Dawes
which should put the kybosh on the whole affair.
I have lived in Tintern for ten years in what is
jokingly referred to as “perma-frost valley”. This
refers to the absence of sun for three months from November to February. For
us, the brilliant blue skies and sun-filled days of the last month have only
been experienced vicariously i.e. seen on the opposite bank. I have often
wondered if the Forestry Commission could be persuaded to lower the tree line,
no doubt at a cost, on the southern side of the valley; we could enjoy at least another month of
sunshine before the sun is too low to appear over the brow of the hill. This
would considerably lower our heating bill, ergo use of oil, and would, to my
mind, be a far more practical and cost - effective way of conserving energy
than the AHP. Perhaps Mr Lewis would care to comment on this. Of course this
may have already been considered and I would like to hear about it if that is
the case.
On a lighter note, perhaps we could consider what the French are doing in some
seventy villages, bringing back the horse and cart. I believe they are not
alone as some farmers with small-holdings in the UK are already replacing the
tractor wherever possible with the shire horse. (All emulating Nigel in The
Archers of course!) Could not the use of these magnificent beasts be extended to
the leisure industry? We could have horse-drawn carts for jolly rides to
outlying villages and even between Monmouth and Chepstow. Sadly, we will never
bring the railway back but if we could have fewer cars whizzing at great speed
through our beautiful village making walking a dangerous sport, it might be
something to contemplate.
Think what a tourist attraction it would be.
Hatti Pegram
Springfield Dec. 10/07
TAP - Project
Update
Work
is continuing on the action points required to achieve all the permissions and
consents by Spring 2008.
Actual
water flow remains a key element and regular measurements have been taken since
18th October. Following the heavy rain on the weekend of 16th
November, and subsequent frequent rainfall, the flow rates have fluctuated
between 300 litres per second and 700 litres per second. Peaking briefly at
considerably more on a number of occasions.
The
TAP team were invited to attend a Climate Change day at the University of
Glamorgan on 1st December. The day was organised by the Welsh
Assembly Government and attracted delegates from across South Wales. TAP was
one of 18 organisations asked to set up a stand outlining their Project or
field of interest, and was one of only 3 organisations invited to present their
project to the assembled delegates. This was done to a packed auditorium,
including Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.
The presentation was well received and the potential for duplicating the
proposed scheme in other locations recognised.
A
letter of thanks and appreciation for the TAP contribution to the day has
subsequently been received from Jane Davidson.
TAP
now has a web site. It can be found at www.tapenergy.org
TAP
is very grateful to Martin Fenn-Smith for setting up
the site. Martin is a TAP member and kindly donated his time to construct the
site.
The
site will be updated regularly as the Project develops.
If
you would like to become a member of TAP, the web page includes an application
form which can be printed and posted. Membership only costs £1.
TAP
has an E Mail address which can be used to contact TAP with general enquiries
or with comments concerning the Project.
The
E Mail address is info@tapenergy.org
Future
copies of TAP News can be sent to individuals by E Mail. If you would like to
receive copies by E Mail, please contact the above E Mail address.
If
you are already a TAP member, and are not receiving TAP News by E Mail, please
send your E Mail address to info@tapenergy.org
and request that it be added to the E Mailing list.
Norman Williams 01291 680016
Marketing
& Publicity Director
Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd
Donations for the Christmas lights in Tintern village have continued to come in throughout the month of December, and we are so grateful for all your donations. In addition to those mentioned last month we must thank:
The Ball family for their donation to the Christmas Lights, in loving memory of June Shaw.
Ruby, John and Robert Pruit in memory of a loving husband and father.
Tintern Women’s Institute, Liz and Roger Woods, Judy Bartholomew, Joan Hollins, Anne Webb, Grace, Mandy Pritchard, Doreen Heath,
Our Christmas Party was held in the Village Hall on Friday 14th December and provided an enjoyable way to round off the year. The next monthly meeting will be on Friday 18th January 2008 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when we will be holding our Annual General Meeting to elect Officers of the Association , review finances and present the programme for the coming year.
New members and visitors are always welcome; if you are interested and would like to know more come along to a meeting or call 01291 689 877 (Bernard or Christine Bradshaw).
BDB
The weather may have been cold and dull but Tintern WI members past and present received a warm welcome at the “Florence”. We had a wonderful Christmas lunch there and it was very pleasant for once to be waited on. After the meal we picked a Christmas present each and wished each other “Merry Christmas”.
Our next meeting will be on Monday 21st January at 2.00pm in the Village Hall. We will be having “an afternoon with Pam Ayres” – not in person of course, our finances may be healthier thanks to the Bring and Buy stall at last month’s soup lunch but we’re not that rich! Instead we will watch a DVD and hope that her poems will cheer up a dull January afternoon. If this interests you do come along and join us.
CB
Church Services – United
Benefice of Tintern and Llandogo
with Whitebrook
St. Oudoceus Church, Llandogo – Communion Service 9.00am every Sunday (Rev. John Dearnley)
Services in Tintern
and Llandogo Village Halls
First Sunday of
each month; Family Service in Tintern Village Hall at
10.30am
Other Sundays; Worship Service with KFC for children at Llandogo
Village Hall at 10.30am (Rev. Canon Phil Rees)
Midweek; A range of day time and evening activities including; Bible Study
groups, Prayer Meetings, Youth Group and Book Club.
Anyone is welcome to come along to any of these events - transport can be
arranged.
For further details please contact Kate Barnes 680046 or Ruth Harper 689349
St. Michael’s Church - Cleaning Rota
- fortnight beginning:
31st
December Janet, Sue and
Barbara
14th
January Tintern WI
28th
January Carole Evans
11th
February Jude Spooner
25th
February Trudy and Nine
Phelps
10th
March Ann and Barry
Richardson
24th
March Elspeth and Karen
Wednesday
9th January - 7.30pm Bingo at the Anchor
If you wish to book the village hall please ring 07512
856024 or email: Tintern.hall@yahoo.co.uk.
Please note the following: Bookings need to be made at least 7 days in advance.
Payment will need to be made in advance except for regular users.
Friday
1st February - Quiz Night.
Friday 18th April - Tony Jacobs, 100 years of popular song.
Saturday 21st June - Wye Jazz.
Yoga Classes will recommence in the New Year. For information ring Ruth
on 01600-860648.
Coffee
Mornings held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10.30 a.m. All
welcome.
For
details on all events or to hire the hall contact Rosemary Stephens on
01600-860451
The
Tintern News is delivered to approximately 250 houses
in Tintern. If
you would like to advertise something in the News the current rates is £5.00
for a small ad./half a page, and £10.00 for a full page (per month). Please send items to the editor at the
address below with full contact details.
Items
for the Newsletter – dates for the February 2008 edition
Items for the Tintern Newsletter can be
sent by email to andrew.elspeth@virgin.net delivered to Wye Barn,
Tintern. Items for the February Newsletter should be
received by Sunday 27th January, 2008.
The
Tintern News is a vehicle for the expression of
opinion by all members of the Tintern community.
While it does not necessarily endorse the views of any particular contributors,
it does wholeheartedly support the promotion of lively debate on the
development of the village and of freedom of speech in general. However, it
will reserve the right to edit any contributions in order to preserve
moderation and a spirit of good intent in the presentation of arguments.
Thoughts from everyone in our community will continue to be very welcome. ER
Tintern
News is sponsored by Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund.