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.
I have written and researched a variety of stories which are stored away on this site and I will be updating it, so come back, have a look, and let me know what you think.
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
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)
Dance of the Dragon
The dragon writhed and roared destroying the offerings placed before its voracious maw. Well almost, Chinese new-year celebrations kicked into full swing this weekend as members of the Cardiff Chinese Cultural Association organised and performed the Dragon Dance on Cardiff’s Tudor Street.
This tradition is thousands of years old and rather than the evil dragons of Western tradition the Chinese dragon represents love, kindness, long-life and wisdom. Performers beat drums and chant to entice it into shops and homes where the dragon chases away evil spirits. An offering of food, wrapped in a message to the gods, is then placed before the dragon who in a crescendo of colour, noise and cheering consumes it.
Wai Ling Li, mother of two, moved to Cardiff from Hong Kong when she was five-years old. She described why she came to take part in the Dragon Dance: “ I brought my kids down here because they are half Chinese. I want to give them a flavour of what their ancestral home is like, our traditions and our culture.”
Michelle Tsungi, owner of the Chinese Supermarket, explained the importance of the dragons visit to her shop: “ We welcome this spirit every year and I believe it protects the shop and gives us good luck for the year ahead.
“The value of tradition and superstition is very important, it connects you to the culture which your ancestors developed.
“ The local community also really benefit from it as we all come together afterwards for a party. My parents moved here from Hong Kong thirty years ago and took over this shop. The dance has been performed every year and we have never had trouble yet.”
Brendan Perring 