Signs of the times
After battling the world of regional and national news for the last few years, working in just about every possible and imaginable section, I have now moved into editing and writing for a business to business publication. So if you want to see my most recent work, go and check out www.signlink.co.uk.
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Medieval Mayhem
Blood and Honour
‘Gwain Hetherfield’ and ‘Lord Henry De Cavesham’ come to blows and duel to protect the hounour of the Lady Cosmeston. Lord De Cavesham then shows onlookers how to fend off multiple attackers in the heat of battle.
THE YEAR is 1350 and the smell of blood, vomit and charred flesh is in the air, bodies lye slain around the battlefield as the sheriff executes the last of the Welsh rebels on Cosmeston field.
Throw your mind back six-hundred years and this scene would have been typical of medieval South Glamorgan as the remnants of Wales’ royal lines and their followers battled against the foreign lords who ruled in the name of King Edward III.
Today this period is being re-enacted by hundreds of men and women from archaeologist to black smiths who want to re-capture this era in living history, dispelling myths about the dark ages and educating the public. But over the last ten years the debate has raged in both local councils and Westminster about whether money should be devoted to living history projects or if it is better spent on local bus services and filling pot holes.
Playing Sergeant at Arms Gwalchmai and defending the Lord of De-Caversham’s lands against the rebel pup Prince Caradog, Nick Coles is also the manager and historical curator of Cosmeston Medieval Village.
He said:” Our original intent was to base the village in the 1450’s. But we really needed some event to hang the village around. We chose the Black Death which was rife in this area around 1348 and changed the whole structure of power and economic relations.
“We do not want the village to be just a big museum, we want people to feel like they have walked right into a medieval village and experience it as it lived and breathed.”
Mr Coles is one man who has quite literally lived the 14th century for three decades in attempt to bring it to life for another generation.
Starting life as an archaeologist he helped to literally dig up the remains of the medieval village, in one of South Wales’ famed beauty spots in 1978, rebuild it from the ground up, and then continue to fight for its existence.
“The response living history gets from people and politicians is really polarised. Some think it is amazing to have access to such a valuable learning resource where they can come themselves to visit events throughout the year, but others feel the money would be better spent on more street lights or equipment for schools.” He said.
“My view is that if you do not believe there is any point to history and culture then I can’t do anything to persuade you otherwise. But I strongly believe there is a point to living history and all that it entails as it is an invaluable asset to our nation’s heritage.
“ My role in the village is to run it on a day to day basis from making sure the boars are fed and happy in the piggery to organising events and trying to secure funding for the village to continue to run and flourish so we can present it to people as a living window on history.”
Cosmeston Medieval Village was discovered during the development of Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. Following a campaign to preserve the site by Mr Coles and the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, it was decided rather than simply excavate the foundations of the village they would be incorporated into the re-building a cross section of village life.
Mr Coles outlined why he has continued to battle sceptics for thirty years, he said:
“On average 18,000 people come through the gates every year. This includes people doing research for their PHD thesis, re-enactment enthusiasts who like dressing up and being mad for a day, to those who are just curious and want an interesting day out.
“50-years-ago people were simply happy to engage with history passively, to read it and imagine. But in today’s world, where everything is interactive and there is no distance between people and information through technology, they want to experience something more tangible. This is where living history comes in.
“We are open for people to come and experience 14th century life throughout the year but it gets really exiting when we hold our festival events. Our battle event is the biggest event of its kind in Wales and sees a huge swathe of expertise attend such as archaeologists and historians to ancient warfare enthusiasts and student groups.
“The people who come to watch are also very varied, some times its families who want a day out to do something different, or couples out on an alternative date, or maybe just the odd person who wants to see people pretend to hack lumps out of each other with swords.”
Melissa Hainsworth, playing Princess Catherine De-Caversham, is a member of Cardiff Castle Garrison, a group of dedicated enthusiasts with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, but with a common zeal to get dressed up and attack each other with sadistic glee.
Playing a member of the house hold archers on the day of the battle, Miss Hainsworth, 22, an archaeology student at Cardiff University, would have been a rare but historically accurate breed of female archers who in times of great need would help swell the numbers of the household militia to fend of attacks.
Standing among a massed rank of archers at the back of the battle field, and using a three-foot ewe long bow and rubber tipped arrows, Princess Catherine formed part of the long range artillery during the battle.
“Allot of people think re-enactors are strange, but we all come from backgrounds that are in some level involved with the investigation of history. What better way to do that then physically re-creating it and then giving people the chance to witness it in action.
“ There is no greater kick than pulling on my armour, stringing my bow and walking out into battle and being part of hundreds of people just having such fun, its also great to be able to shoot people with arrows without worrying about anyone getting hurt. She said.
“While fighting in re-enactments is one of the best parts of being part of the Cardiff Garrison, it is also great to go back to basics and just live life as someone would have six-hundred-years-ago. It is also great to physically show spectators how hard life was in the 14th century, showing them how to bake bread in a clay over or how simple cloth was spun, to giving tutorials on ancient battle strategies and the background history.
“Roman Britain up to the end of Medieval Britain is my specialist area and being able to re-create that life helps me in my work of studying and preserving that history for future generations.”
Founded in 2000 by medieval historians Karen Vaughn and Alex Armstrong, the Cardiff Castle Garrison has always maintained strong links with Cosmeston and is its principal re-enactment group.
The Garriosn now travels not only around Wales but to archaeological digs and re-enactments around Europe in their quest for blood and glory.
Drew Druid, commander of the garrison, outlined why he has continued to campaign for the profile and funding for living history.
“ The purpose of living history is to put the idea of what life was like in a specific period into practice and see if theories stand up to the test.
“ Through making bread, beating metal, or even making your own clothes with no modern tools and only what has been found from archaeological digs in the area we can see where our modern civilisation has come from, what we have lost and what skills and tools we currently have are a development on older methods. He said.
“Our other aim is to just get away from the trappings of modern day life and show people how our ancestors lived on a day to basis.
“Those who join the garrison are from all sorts of interest areas, whether they are archaeologists who want to live the world they research or modern black smiths who want to test themselves and see the roots of their profession.
“When interacting with the public we also try to dispel many of the myths about medieval life which were instilled by a Victorian perception of history which is largely very wrong and simply smashes together chunks of history from over half a millennia to represent some mythical noble age of dark age chivalry and peasant life.”
Hammering at a molten sword over a blazing hand pumped furnace, by name and by nature Gore Smith is the Garrisons resident black smith, he said:
“My motivation for living history is simple, I want to see if I can achieve the same results of high quality craftsmanship I have with modern tools with ancient ones.
“ It helps to make me even better at my trade and there is something really enjoyable about just using techniques put into practice six hundred years ago and seeing them work.
“ Now there is only two dedicated schools in the UK teaching smithing, but in the 14th century there were thousands of black smith across the country as well as farriers. While enjoying my own interest my aim is also to help teach people about the reality of their own history, devoid of the trappings of modern life.
“For example, contrary to popular belief, farriers were the only people who would shoe horses, black smiths concentrated on heavy metal work and making armour and the two were separate trades. But if you watch holywood both very distinct roles are merged into one.
“The idea of a replacement culture simply did not exist as it did today, everything was repaired through the use of artisans like black smiths. It gives me such pleasure to take a broken tool or weapon and repair through these ancient skills good as new.
Walking around on the fringes of a full scale medieval battle is a strange experience as the re-enactors for the most part stay very firmly in character. Women bake bread in burningly hot bakeries, while apothecaries tend to the ‘injured’ with ointments and ancient cures. Catching a lull in the fighting one burly soldier, Paul Lamborne, explains just why he thinks history and living museums such as Cosmeston are so important.
“ The joy of living history is that it brings the past to life, instead of just reading a book you can actually go and live in the period you are interested in for the day and experience their hard ships and their experiences.
“ I am a retired rifleman for the British Army and so for me it is fascinating to see the weapons, tactics and tools used in warfare in this time and to just enjoy being around like minded people.
“ I think it is vital people can come and access living history as it makes learning more interactive and fun for a younger generation and it is also a growing hobby, there are regularly 6,000 or more people who attend re-enactment events such as the one at Windsor.
“Just sleeping out for a night in a medieval tent or actually wearing armour and feeling how heavy it was keeps you more in touch with our human past than simply reading about it.”
While re-enactors feel ardently about their cause, those such as Mr Coles feeling living history has remained underfunded not only in Wales but across the UK for many years. But hope may be on the way as with more spending power devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government, sights such as Cosmeston have seen the bare trickle of support turn into more sustainable grants.
In 2008 Allun Fredd Jones, became Heritage Minister, and among his mission statement for Wales tourism industry and historical preservation was a commitment to living history, he said:
“It is important that we dispel the subconscious impression, which many may have, that the historic environment is all about the monuments of the rich and powerful.
“ Telling the story of history’s ordinary people, including the underdog, is also our responsibility. Cadw and bodies such as the Royal Commission, the National Trust,national and local archives, and museums are already doing a great deal to tell these ‘hidden histories’ and will develop this further through interpretation, publication and ‘living history’.
“Caring for our inheritance is a duty and a privilege, but the full significance of this responsibility is only apparent in a broader context.
“We live in times of rapid change and great challenges. Beneath the ‘credit crunch’ lies the fundamental need to make the transition to amore sustainable way of life: one that not only respects environmental limits, but also promotes human values and our sense of community rather than undermines them.
“The commitment to meet this challenge is rooted in a strong sense of our obligation to future generations and we are much more likely to be able to foster such commitment if, as a society, we have a genuine feeling for the debt we owe to generations past.”
While Mr Fredd-Jones may make positive sounds those such as Anthony Ernest, Cabinet Member in charge of heritage for Vale of Glamorgan Council, feel that not enough is being done to support centres of culture like Cosmeston.
“Funding for living history is not a statutory requirement, and it should be. At the moment the council is not obliged to provide funding for projects such as the Cosmeston Medieval Village, rather we allocated discretionary grants towards it construction and now its maintenance.
“I think what Cosmeston have achieved with their funding is amazing, but they do rely heavily on enthusiastic volunteers such as the Cardiff Castle Garrison. I would like to see more money directed towards the development of living history but unfortunately the council has to live within its means.
“What I would say to critics of living history is that specifically Cosmeston forms part of the over all pattern of tourism in the Vale of Glamorgan and is one of our premier attractions in conjunction with the nature park and lake. When you attend one of their events you really feel like you have jumped into a time machine. Being able to experience the exact same smells, sights and sounds from six-hundred years ago is simply an amazing opportunity.
“It far better than a static museum, and all the structures and people living in them brings history to life, which for a generation which seems out of touch with the importance of history is very vital.
“The feed back I get from people who have visited the site is very positive. Although income is limited it needs to be defended as currently the village provides amazing value for money as an entertainment experience as well as a learning tool for local schools and even colleges.
“It also puts Vale of Glamorgan on the map as on big festival days people come from not just around Britain , but from around Europe to participate in the battle recreations.”
Indeed, following recent meetings with Cadw, the Assembly Governments historic environment division, Nick coles and Mr Ernest have recently secured funding from Creative Rural Communities, which could see Cosmeston step up onto the world stage in terms its service quality.
The first phase of the project will see Cosmeston receive an audio tour packages so that spectators of festival events will be able to instantly access the detailed history unfolding before their eyes, while on simply village days will help to enrich the experience of visiting the village. And the second phase will allow for all the costumes and armour used in the village to be given a more authentic
Rebbeca Hayes, Manager of Creative Rural Communities, said:
“This project aims to show how life will have changed in the village from the mid 14th century with a vibrant medieval community enjoying the benefits of post ‘black death’ Britain to the farmsteads of the 16th. This will enable Cosmeston to provide throughout the year a number of different events including ‘history through the ages’ and European Heritage weekend.
“I feel Cosmeston is a vital asset within the tourism offer in the Vale of Glamorgan as it offers a unique experience for visitors within the historical tourism sector. The element of living history and in particular the events Cosmeston successfully holds offers opportunities for those not usually engaged in history to gain educational experiences they would not normally choose to experience.”
As the heat of the day begins to swelter the valiant efforts of Prince Caradog to overthrow the oppressive rule of Lord William De-Caversham seem doomed to failure.
Fighting with short swords and pikes, with no archers, the ranks of the Welsh rebels are mown down and their front lines devastated. In a final bid for victory, Caradog challenges Lord William to single combat but after a flurry of blows is knocked to the ground and then executed.
The stunned crowd then looks on as hundreds of bodies, lying seemingly motionless in death, suddenly get back up laughing shed their heavy armour and leather and go for a much needed quaff and feast in their camps after a days hard fighting.
Ross O’Hennessy, 36, from Balckwood, otherwise known as Lord William De-Caversham himself, explained why living history is becoming such a popular past-time and spectator sport:
“Places like Cosmeston and living history events open peoples eyes to the gritty reality of history, and popular history based series such as Robin Hood and the Tudors have started to re-engage peoples fascination with a past age.
“The idea of Cosmeston and living history is to set the record straight. For instance we show people how the arms race began in the 14th Century with armour and arrows out competing each other for protection and penetration.
“A common myth we dispel would be that archers were individual stars in conflicts where as they were only useful in massed ranks, or that knights on horseback were able to fight like they do in the film, when in fact they were very cumbersome and only effective against rushing infantry to break their ranks.
“There is also the mythic notion of medieval chivalry which the Victorians promoted. The reality is rulers such as Edward I, through to King Henry V at Adjencourt, would often execute far more prisoners of war after a battle than were killed during it.”
Walking past a troupe of archers, massaging aching arms after releasing over a thousand arrows in just under an hour, Princess Catherine excitedly runs out of the group triumphantly brandishing her bow and proves that living history is not just fancy dress.
“This is amazing, I just proved the theory without doubt that women archers were not only used in battles but were just as effective as men, I just got the highest kill ratio of the whole garrison.”
The next event at Cosmeston Medieval Village will take place on May 30 from 11am to 5pm and will see the villagers of Cosmeston be invaded by time travelling Vikings, Greek Warriors, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Queen Victoria’s Redcoats and Pirates of the Spanish Main. For tickets and more information all 029 2070 1678.
Getting Healthy and Going Green
Taking advantage of a £1 million grant, a new food co-operative scheme has been launched in a Cardiff local community to try and improve resident’s health and well being.
Financed by the Welsh Assembly Government, and one of 270 such schemes nation wide, the newly opened Splott food co-operative has utilised around £200 of the Wales wide funding pot, which allows people to buy fresh fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices.
A group of volunteers organised by the Rural Regeneration Unit, a government quango, runs the service.
Hannah James, food development worker for the Splott co-op said:
” Our aim is to not only support wholesalers and farms on one side but to improve peoples health and bring fruit and vegetables back into peoples diets.
” It is open to everyone to come along and take part. You come and see what is on offer, place your order and then the same time next week your delivery arrives and you pick it up from the market.”
“The average cost of a bag of produce is £2.50 and would cater for a families ‘five a day’ needs for a week.”
Running since 2004 the co-op project seeks to close the distance between farm and consumer, allowing both to benefit from increased sales margins and decreased prices, each project costs £200 on average to set up and is then self sustaining. A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman commented on investment in community food co-ops in Wales:
“Latest figures for the end of March show that food co-operatives operating in Wales provide fruit and vegetables to approximately 6,500 families. The co-operatives across Wales sell around 11,000 bags of fruit and vegetables per week.
“Just over a million pounds has been invested by the Assembly Government in the scheme across Wales since April 2008. Food co-operatives support six growers, 20 retailers, and 16 wholesalers.
“The retailers and wholesalers are selected on the basis that they provide as much local produce as possible. One of the growers supplies more than 30 of the co-operatives in North Wales.”
Debbie Neale, general manager of rural regeneration unit, said:
” Those who take part in the co-op can gain important skills such as book keeping, money handling, and customer service.
“It also helps to improve links within communities and gives people confidence a boost.
” Our aim is also to empower communities to be more self- sustainable and help local farmers in each area sell only a specific amount of crops each week without losing out to a middle man.”
For those who wish to participate in a co-op venture contact Hannah James on 029 2023 2943 or 0771
7205 438.
69 years is only a snip
Billy Bennett, 82, from Ystrad-Mynach, who started work as barbers apprentice at 14, opened up his own barbers shop on September 9, 1953, simply calling it Billy Bennett’s. He paid just 12 pounds and 6 pence per month in rent, and now he is retiring.
Mr Bennett said:
”I am a bit sad now and if I had my time over I would do it all again, I have just really enjoyed being part of this community for all these years and just cutting peoples hair how they like it.”
For the last 15 year Mr Bennett has been helped out in the afternoons by his daughter Trudy Howell, 60 and the business has continued to thrive under his steady hand. But as he is shortly due to turn 83 he has decided he should spend his leisure time now with his wife Remo, or Betty as she is affectionately known.
” There have been big changes over the last sixty years in this town, there used to only one or two shops, myself and a café but now it is a busy little place with more shops and houses going up and it has expanded much further out.
” I remember the first day I opened the shop, I had bought my barber chairs for £1 each. Now some of the children who’s hair I cut that first day are now my oldest customers and they can remember sitting in here when they were that small.
” There has not been a thing changed in my shop for 57 years, it’s a traditional barbers shop, and it is the same today as it was when I first opened.” He said.
Mr Bennett has also enjoyed certain hair style periods better than other over the years, leading to the business going through some tough times in the late 1960’s thanks to a certain band from Liverpool.
” When the Beatles became really popular in 1968 everyone started to grow their hair long and it was bad for business, even my older customers started to grow their long and it really was difficult, but I kept going and short hair came back in. I have seen styles come in and go out over the years, my enjoyment has always come from giving people what they want.”
Huw Lloyd, a long-standing customer of Billy Bennett’s, said:
” Billy is a great guy and he really deserves recognition for his achievement and what a strong part of our community he his. Everyone knows him here and I will be in his shop tomorrow to get my very last hair cut from him.”
Mr Bennett said:
” I have lost a lot of customers over the years as they have passed away or moved out of the town but I have also gained so many. I really have had a good run but I think I have had enough now and it is time to stop.
” I would like to thank all my customers over the years for coming to my shop, I will miss it but think its about time I took a rest.”
Cardiff Capital of Culture
After a £66,000 grant a local Cardiff community is to become one of the capitals leading artistic ambassadors.
Using a portion of the grant the Adamsdown Community First Project’s latest endeavour, Art-Y-Park, is set to make it the home of world class art installations, and 6.30pm on May 7 will see their final plans unveiled.
Bethan Gamble, manger of the Adamsdown Community Project, said:
“In a city where the investment in public art around the city centre, this a chance for a small local community to really put themselves on the map.
“The grant which has made this possible has been funded by the landfill tax and given to us by Cardiff County Council.”
The Art-Y-Park event will include interactive exhibitions from artists including photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and graffiti artists and will be held in the Adamsdown Primary School.
The public will be able to come and see and interact with a series of designs for art pieces, which will be built in Anderson Fields Park. They will also be asked to give suggestions and vote on the project they like best.
Ms Gamble added:
” This is a first for Cardiff, these installations are not just bronze statues to look at but beautiful and useful structures which can be played on and interacted with.
” We are so exited about this project as the community will be able to create something themselves.
“The whole aim of the project is not to just produce art for arts sake but to produce something which will be useful and create a sense of civic pride not only in Cardiff but in Adamsdown.”
The design which receives the most votes will be constructed at the entrance way into Anderson Fields Park using volunteers from surrounding communities.
Bill Taylor-Beales, artistic director of Art-Y-Park, said:
“Intergenerational projects and community events are so important in giving a community a sense of ownership over a place.
“The Anderson Fields regeneration project is about to enter a very visual and tactile final phase as a very talented crew of artists engage with all sections of the Adamsdown community.
“Together they will grasp something of the history and energy of all those living, working and studying there, and transform it into vibrant interactive art pieces to frame this wonderful Art-Y-Park.”
The new art installation will be completed in September and is the final improvement to a park which includes several interactive art installations from climbing frames to a Stone Henge like football pitch.
Outsourcing Abuse
A Cardiff asylum seeker’s abuse claims has been fully vindicated by a home office report after a five-year battle for justice, he has vowed to hold those responsible to account.
Suren Katchaturyan , 38, said: “People who abuse other human beings should not be allowed to lead a normal life they should not be allowed on the street, they should be in prison so they cannot hurt people like they hurt me. I will keep fighting until this happens.”
Mr Katchaturyan fled from Armenia 10 years ago following political persecution and the jailing of his brother without trial. But after five years, and a failed asylum claim, the Home Office attempted to deport him, and on 4 April 2005 he was taken to Heathrow were he resisted being put on an Aeroflot flight to Yerevan, Armenia.
Following a struggle with three guards from Company 5 of GSL UK Ltd the flight refused to take him. He was then forcibly removed, put in a holding cell and then taken to Campsfield House immigration removal centre.
On arrival he was found unconscious, with severe bruising, broken ribs and a collapsed lung, he made an official complaint to police but following enquiries, the case was closed.
The investigation into this and other cases of abuse of asylum seekers was carried out By Baroness Nuala O’Loan. Titled, “outsourcing abuse,” the report was commissioned by then home secretary Jacqui Smith in 2008, following a campaign by the Independent and charity Medical Justice.
The report was published on March 12 and from the 29 cases which Baroness O’Loan investigated she found two-thirds of the complaints had not been properly investigated or not investigated at all.
In the report, Baroness O’Loan said: “There was no proper investigation of Mr Katchaturyan’s complaint about the assault which was alleged to have caused the collapsed lung, or of whether the force used against him was lawful, necessary or proportionate.
”There is also no explanation of how Mr Katchaturyan suffered his injuries. He did not have them before the attempted removal, and he did have them by the time the paramedic was called at Heathrow Airport.
”Whilst accepting the failure to investigate does not automatically substantiate the allegation, I am of the view the injuries reported to the paramedic at Heathrow Airport are very relevant in any analysis of this case.
“There also appears to be missing medical evidence from John Radcliffe Hospital, and there was no interview of other witnesses, including the staff at the airport, the ambulance man, the doctor, the nurse, or the staff on duty when the Mr Katchaturyan was returned to Campsfield House, the medical staff whom he saw the following day, and the police who were called to Campsfield House on the night of the incident.
Baroness O’Loan concluded: “This was an inadequate investigation of a complaint by a man who had suffered a serious injury.
“The home office has to limit the power of those who they contract to deal with asylum seekers, there also needs to be a culture change in how we are viewed.
“I am hoping this finding and the campaign from Medical Justice will stop what happened to me happening to any one else, I hope it has made a difference and the Home Office will really take lessons, but I am not confident. David Wood, Strategic Director of the Criminality and Detention Group, UK Border Agency, said: “We expect the highest standards of integrity and behaviour from our staff and contractors. We take all allegations of mistreatment seriously and the significant improvements made to our complaints procedures are recognised in this report.
“It is regrettable there are very few people who were around at the time and are still with us, and none are able to throw any light on what was conducted.”
Emma Ginn, of medical justice, said: “We welcome the publication of Baroness O’Loan’s detailed report into the allegations raised by us in the dossier presented to the Home Secretary in 2008. There are many alarming findings in relation to both the complaints process, the retention of paperwork by United Kingdom Border Agency and the application of the use of force in immigration detention.”
Mr Katchaturyan will continue to run advice and support sessions for other asylum seekers in Cardiff.
“There was also no access by the immigration services investigator to notes of interviews with the three detention custody officers and no evidence of any attempt to secure CCTV footage, which may have been available.”
Severn Controversy
A world leader in hydroelectric engineering has renewed his dispute with a multi-national firm, over the rights to a £18.9 billion development on Cardiff’s environmentally protected coastline.
Rupert Armstrong Evans, of 200-year-old family engineering firm Joseph Evans and Sons, has been designing and building hydropower systems for more than 30 years, and is regarded as the brain behind every major leap in hydro-electric power creation since 1976.
He is in dispute with engine giant Rolls Royce and Atkins engineering consultancy over a design for the development of hydro-electric power on the Severn Estuary, along Cardiff’s coastline.
Mr Evans was approached by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), when they began their feasibility study into hydro-electric power generation in South Wales’, Severn Estuary in 2007. After 18 months of work he produced a groundbreaking new design dubbed Tidal Reef in September 2008. As part of the scheme multi-national engine giant Rolls-Royce was brought on board to consult over the design of the individual turbines to go into the scheme
Mr Evans, describing his scheme, said: “The other seven proposals for electricity capture on the Severn Estuary either defy European Union laws, and will result in 15 years of litigation with environmental organisations, or defy the laws of physics and simply won’t work.
“Atkins consultancy did a feasibility study on my plan and found it would generate 11 per cent more electricity than the Cardiff- Weston Barrage, the biggest of the seven schemes, and be £2 billion cheaper at £18.9 billion.
“Unlike other monolithic tidal barrages designed to hold back the full height of the Severn tide, at 11.2 meters, the ‘Reef’ works with only two metres of the tide, but slices off the power over a much longer generation period that is much easier to match to the peaks in electricity demand.
“The full range of the tide is harnessed by a large number of simple low-head turbines along the 12-mile route from Minehead in Somerset to Aberthaw in Wales.
“My structural envelope is a method of capturing tidal energy that is halfway between conventional barrages, which delay the tide by many hours to produce a head of water, and a tidal stream turbine that extracts some of the kinetic energy from a moving current of water.
“The ‘Tidal Reef Concept’ grew out of the requirement, in my mind at least, that any project would have to be environmentally benign.
“I am proposing a radically new concept and then looking at the structures necessary to deliver that concept and lastly at the turbines which could be part of the structure. It is totally contrary to the usual approach, where a particular turbine type and performance envelope is used as the basis for designing the structures.
“The small difference in level also facilitates the safe passage of salmon and other fish through the special turbines, something that is not possible with conventional turbines.”
In March 2009, after a six month wait, a short list of the hyrdo-schemes, for the development of the Severn Estuary, was announced by Secretary of State for Business, Peter Mandelson and Secretary of State for the Energy and Climate Change, Ed Milliband.
They stated, in addition to the five main barrage and lagoon hydro schemes, there would be three embryonic new designs. Two were tidal fences, which are not being given serious backing due to the cost and lack of technology available to create them. The final project was announced as the Low Head Barrage, put forward by Rolls Royce in partnership with Atkins.
Mr Evans said: “With one hour to go to the announcement I received a phone call telling me my design had been excluded and they were only working on a turbine scheme with Rolls Royce and Atkins.”
Rolls Royce, Atkins published a description of their Low Head barrage in March 2009. It is also designed to run between Minehead and Aberthaw. Their proposal states: “It is similar in structure to a conventional barrage but with a new type of turbine, not yet developed at scale.
“The turbine is likely to draw upon technologies from both tidal stream and tidal range schemes. The turbine design would generate electricity on both the incoming and outgoing tides.
“The turbine would operate at a lower depth and water level difference than conventional barrage turbines. By operating in this way tides would be held back behind the barrage for less time which should reduce the potential impact on large areas of the important Severn Estuary inter-tidal habitat and reduce the impact on fish.”
Mr Evans argues the only structural design which could support the Rolls Royce and Atkins Turbine is the Tidal Reef, which he designed 18 months previously. He also argues it reverses his top down approach and does not place the same emphasis on protecting the area’s ecology.
DECC spokesman Mark Malbas said: “All applications for funding were assessed by the programme board for Severn Embryonic Technologies against predefined criteria, the Tidal Reef proposal did not meet those criteria and was not funded. The Department wrote to the proposers outlining reasons for the decisions made.”
Rolls Royce has acknowledged Mr Evans complaint but denies any link to his work, and Atkins consultancy has published a statement saying their design is significantly different to the Tidal Reef and focuses on building tailored turbine technology for harnessing the power of the Severn Estuary.
Peter Jones, chief spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: “There are 70,000 birds which use the mud-flats and wet-lands around the Severn Estuary, if the Cardiff Weston Barrage scheme was to be finally accepted, it would cost £29 billion, generate five per cent of Britain’s electricity, but destroy 80 per cent of the habitat for these birds. This would destroy their numbers totally.
“When I heard of the Tidal Reef scheme we backed Mr Evans as we liked his approach to it from an environmentally sustainable perspective. His scheme would only see the loss of 25 per cent of the wetlands at most. We are also very interested in the embryonic schemes being considered by DECC.
“We expect the Low Head Barrage would see impact figures comparable to the Tidal Reef. The two Tidal Fence plans would see no impact on the Severn wetlands, but on the other hand could not produce any where near the same level of electricity generation.”
DECC plan to begin a second public consultation later this year following the formal publication of detailed plans by each of the eight schemes.
Rent to soar for Cardiff’s traveller community
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THE GYPSY and traveller sites in Cardiff will be faced with a 58 per cent rise in the cost of their site rents and service charges, following the publication of Cardiff Council’s April budget.
The severe rise in charges at the Rover Way and Shirenewton sites has not been adequately explained in the April budget and could be unlawful.
This is if an investigation finds the hike is implemented to recover previous, unpaid rent and service costs by select individuals at the site.
Claire McGurin, lawyer for the Friends, Families and Travellers Advice Team, said:
“If this severe rise is an attempt by the council to recover costs from individual travellers by blanket charging both sites, then it would be considered unlawful.
“Similarly, if the rise was to try and retrospectively recover income due to a prolonged period of low rent on the site then it too could possibly be considered unlawful.”
The income summary of the council budget, which comes into effect on April 1, details the 58.6 per cent increase in gypsy and traveller site rent and a 57.65 per cent increase in service charges.
Ralph Cook, chair of the Scrutiny Committee for Community and Adult Services, said:
“The facts given by the council to explain this increase in charges are not sufficient on the face of it.
“We do have a lot of problems with service provision for travellers due to the high level of demand for sites in Cardiff. But I certainly think it is unfair to justify it on the grounds of recovering costs.
“The council must also be very careful not to try and reclaim grant money which has been spent on service provision at these two sites.
“Although in real terms it may not be a huge increase in costs, I would say anyone who is confronted by such a large percentage rise in the charges on their homes is unacceptable without very clear reasoning.”
A traveller at the Rover Way site said:
“As there are no properties here in any case, the council should not be able to levy rents and charges on us in the first place. Our homes are not fixed and so fixed costs should not be put on us.”
A spokesman for Cardiff Council defended the rise in rent and service charges at the two sites: “ The increase does not seek to address any historical debt or cover any arrears charges. It is to ensure that the current costs of running the sites are covered.
”Cardiff charges are not in any way higher than other Local authorities in Wales who provide sites, but we need to move to a position where the sites are self financing and we are seeking to do that within an extended time period to minimise the impact on residents. ”
The reasons detailed in the budget for the increase, which amounts to £39 more per month, have caused worry to local traveller support groups. Tim Wilson, manager of the Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Project, said:
“We have not been notified of any such major change, which is unusual because we have close ties with the council. We are going to carry out an investigation into this budget proposal.”
Cardiff’s fencing teams fight for glory
THE IMAGES which spring to mind when you hear the word fencing are normally of a small wealthy elite at top universities with illusions of grandeur, encased in white.
This staid image could not be farther from the truth and in five clubs across Cardiff hundreds of people young and old take part in this ancient martial sport.
Since the beginning of the year there have been six major competitions, the most recent being the annual O’Sullivan cup, hosted by Whitchurch Fencing Club, which has run into its 21st year.
The competition, which was held last weekend, saw competitors from across Wales duel in the furious short sword epee event. Max Weedon made an early surge into the lead and continued to demolish his opponents from the first round to take a clear overall victory.
Preparations have now begun for the gruelling national championships in Birmingham held on April 3 and 4. Following on the performance of their members clubs will begin to prepare competitors for the prestigious Bristol Open at the end of the year.
Closer to home, February 27 should prove to be a highlight for Cardiff’s clubs as swords are due to clash in the British Youth Championship qualifiers. The event will begin at 9.30am at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Sophia Gardens.
All five Cardiff clubs, and several from around Wales, will pit their young hopefuls against each other in the hope of gold medals in the foil event. With reduced target areas on the body, and an electronic scoring system through the tip of the blades, the foil represents one of fencing’s prestige events.
Russell Swords are hoping to continue their success at the championship as they claimed 12 medals at the Welsh Youth Championships earlier this month, including a gold for Molly Baker in the under-10 girls.
Marisol Russell, coach and business partner at Russell Swords, said:
“ Our young fencers put on a superb performance. Our winning formula is the varied background of our coaches. My husband, who is head coach, trained in marital arts before moving into fencing and so brings the experience of its techniques to the table.
“ Our ethos has always been to make fencing more accessible. We have given free training to three thousand children across Cardiff’s schools and our aim is to really try and bring up the profile of fencing and make it a mainstream sport.
“ Our kids have to work hard to progress from using our training swords to metal weapons and it provides a great goal to work towards while building their fitness.
“ We also have a very talented group of adult competitors who often train with us some of whom feed into the Welsh team, and hopefully in future years into the British Olympic team.
One of their regular competitors in the top ranks of British fencing is Joanna Chen, who is set to be one of Wales fencing champions in Birmingham.
Russell Swords are also the key organisers in the Oxfam Fencing Open to take place later in the year. The event will see entries from local teams such as Cardiff Fencing, Cardiff University, Howardian Sword, and Whitchurch Fencing, as well as international competitors from Europe.
If you are interested in fencing at any age Russell Swords are holding a free training session for all age groups on Thursday, March 4, in the Star Centre, 2 Splott Road. Training sessions cost from £13 to £24 per-month for seniors, and from £20 to £30 per-term for juniors. The cost per-session is £4.50.
Info Boxes:
If you are interested in getting more involved with fencing please see the list of upcoming fixtures at the Welsh Fencing web site: www.welshfencing.org.
Contacts:
Cardiff Fencing Club: 02920 371844 / www.cardifffencing.org
Howardian Sword: http://howardian-sword-club.org.uk
Whitchurch Fencing Club: 02920 751155/ www.whitchurchfencing.co.uk
Russell Swords: 07598 324 878 / 02920 619 819/ www.russellswords.com
(All pictures by Webber Design Copyright)
Rubicon is still lord of the dance
A blur of vibrant colour meets the eye and the sound of thumping feet and pumping music mingles in the air outside the doors of studio one.
For 34-years dancers young and old, novice and professional, have sprung, leapt, shimmied and side stepped their way through the doors of Rubicon Dance Cardiff.
Funded by the Arts Council for Wales Rubicon’s ethos has always been to encourage community participation in their projects, as well as providing an academy where those with talent can transition to the world of professional dance.
Adam Lloyd-Binding, 36, General Manger of Rubicon, explained the ethos behind the dance academy which has been at the heart of the arts scene in Cardiff since 1976: “Our aim is to encourage dancers to express themselves fully in every move they make, to be the best they can be and nurture their talent. At every level of skill we want to help dancers on their way to realise their dreams.”
The building which houses Rubicon Dance Cardiff is 102-years old and began life as a church before being taken over by the Arts Council in 1968 when it became a small studio theatre. In 1980 the Welsh Dance Theatre Trust was given the space and handed it over to Molly Kenny, the founder of Rubicon. Three years were spent renovating the building and in 1983 Princess Diana inaugurated the grand opening of the present studio.
Most graduates from Rubicon go onto perform in a range of venues from London’s West End to the bright lights of Hollywood’s pop videos. Alumni over the years have featured such names as film and stage actor Steven Berkoff and starlet of the silver screen Jessie Mathews.
Most recently graduates have featured in the BBC drama Lark Rise to Candelford, and two of their youth dancers supported George Sampson in his 2008 award winning Royal Variety Show
performance. Rubicon director Ruth Till was also awarded an MBE in 2005 for her services to art and community work.
Mr Lloyd-Binding described how Rubicon presents opportunities for lights and fame but is grounded in the needs of helping the local people of Cardiff: “ A lot of the work we do is out in the community. We hold classes for the elderly who are young at heart and for those with learning disabilities, so they can express themselves through their bodies and appreciation of music and rhythm.
“Our curriculum and drop in classes reflect the trends of the time and so we are currently running a lot of hip-hop and modern jazz classes.
“I love my job here, it has such a buzz. When the place is full of music, life and laughter, and people are running to
and fro the atmosphere is electric. They are trying to get me into the dance studio but I keep telling them I am the wrong shape.”
The teachers at Rubicon are most proud of their flagship youth dance troop Nubrico who travel around the world every year on cultural exchange. Rubicon directors are most proud of thier annual volunteering project with orphanages in Romania where they teach children through the language of dance. They have also pushed pins into the world map by visiting Australia, Salt Lake City and Utah USA, Barcelona, Sweden, Brussels, and Berlin.
Looking over hundreds of pictures, which adorn the walls, 30 years of dance is represented. The smiles of people such as Warren Davies, who competed in the 1983 Malibu Disco Dance Championships, beam out at you. A few images away is the picture of Cate Lovett from 1996 attached to a personal letter to the studio: “ Thanks to you I was able to achieve my dreams and literally turn my life around. I took a gamble when I left rural West Wales to go to Rubicon Dance but it paid off! If only every town had a Rubicon.”
Walking out the doors of Rubicon an image of a contemporary dancer caught in mid leap, wrapped in deep lines of purple light hangs next to the picture of Rubicon’s oldest pupil Susi, 97, in mid-plié. She has attended classes since the doors of the new building opened in 1983. The defining factor in both is the sheer joy of self-expression through dance.
Classes:
Classes run Monday to Saturday with four difficulty ratings from general to advanced.
Adult drop in classes are from 18 years: £1.40 to £4.50 per class.
Children’s classes range from 18 months to 12 years: £2.00 per class.
Youth dance classes range from 12 to 21 years and form the talent base for Nubrico and StreetworX youth dance groups: £1.80 to £2.50 per class.
The full time dance academy semester begins in September and ends in July with a minimum age of 16 years. Auditions for places will be held on February and March 27.
Upcoming shows:
Venue: Eastmoores Community Centre
Adults Tap, Ballet and Jazz expose: June 26
Youth Dance Groups Street and Contemporary Expose: July 11 and 12.
Contact Rubicon:
Tel: 02920 491 477
Email: info@rubicondance.co.uk
Web: www.rubicondance.co.uk (Full list of classes and programmes available)
