Local & Community News
Summer 2007
Throughout the summer of 2007 Llancaiach staged a series of special events in the Manor as well as in and around the Visitor Centre but the school summer holidays were particularly hectic.
Valleys Heritage Tour
On 29th July Valley Sports and Classic Cars held a charity car rally which started in Merthyr Tydfil and followed an 80 mile route to end at Llancaiach Fawr with a buffet prior to the Awards Ceremony. Over 120 cars took part and despite a dire forecast the weather stayed fine throughout. An exhibition of models and a raffle completed the proceedings and the money raised will go to DebRA UK and Caerphilly Miners Hospital.
www.valleyclassics.co.uk
Activity Days for Children
On 1st August the Welsh Pre-School Playgroups Association celebrated their 20th birthday with a Street Party. In the morning families played a wide range of indoor and outdoor games, took part in gloriously messy craft activities, enjoyed music and dance or just chilled for a while in the Calm Space. By 2pm, however, all the tables and chairs were occupied awaiting the arrival of the big cake. Candles were lit, Happy Birthday was sung, the cake disappeared down hundreds of small throats and everyone agreed that it had been a very, very good party indeed. www.walesppa.org
On 15th and 22nd August hundreds more children had fun taking part in a range of traditional games, sports including archery and rugby, arts and crafts activities and getting up close and personal with creepy crawlies.
We were surprised by the number of visitors who came and thrilled by their obvious delight in finding ‘something for everyone’ We will certainly be doing this again next year – check the Events pages for dates.
Kings Weekend
King Charles I came to visit Llancaiach on 5th August 1645 and we celebrate this each year. The Marquess of Winchester’s Regiment of soldiers arrived in advance to set up their encampment on the Meadow ready to provide an escort for His Majesty and also to sign up and train new recruits for the army.
Colonel Prichard and his lady were present to entertain the King to a sumptuous lunch and discuss weighty matters in this troubled time of Civil War.
www.marquisofwinchesters.co.uk
Praising the Ordinary
An unusual selling Art Exhibition was held over the last week of August and beginning of September. Author and artist Arwyn Evans combined striking photographic images with Japanese Haiku verse to produce a thought-provoking show which was much appreciated by its many visitors.
Barking Mad Dog Show
This years Fun Dog Show on Bank Holiday Monday was run in conjunction with Hope Rescue to raise money for their work with stray and abandoned dogs.
The classes attracted over 500 entrants of all sizes, shapes and breeds judged by Rosie Cavill from Caerphilly Agility Club who had great difficulty in choosing the winners. Treowen Dog Club gave an impressive agility display and also kindly provided a ‘Have a Go’ ring. K9 Celtic Security demonstrated the skills of their drug sniffer dogs. Stallholders included Four Paws Animal Rescue, Friends of the Shelter, Greyhound Gap, TRPD Pet Craft Project and Snip Pets Groomers.
Sponsors ensured an array of wonderful prizes and a huge thank you goes to Budget Vets, Sarah Stone Pet Photography, Trophy Pet Foods and Cwm Farm Kennels for their support.
Hope Rescue’s Vanessa Waddon said that over £1100 had been raised which would go directly towards kennelling, vets fees and transport costs and would help immensely in the run up to Christmas – their busiest time.
www.hoperescue.org.uk
www.budgetvets.co.uk
www.urtheshot.co.uk
SWPR Evening with Ciaran O’Keeffe
On Thursday 30th September we were pleased to host a special evening with parapsychologist Dr. Ciaran O’Keefe from Living TV’s Most Haunted. Over 50 people attended Ciaran’s lecture on the paranormal organised by South Wales Paranormal Research to raise money for their charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Afterwards, auction bidding was brisk for 25 places on a special Ghost Tour of Llancaiach Fawr Manor with Ciaran which followed. The evening was a great success and almost £1000 was raised.
www.swpr.co.uk
www.theparapsychologist.com |
