Thursday, August 5, 2010 NewsNews


Tourism’s window of opportunity


report


by Twm Owen twm@brecon-


radnor.co.uk


WINDOW shopping has


whole new meaning for tourists seeking in f o rma t i o n


Brecon. A 2 4 - h ou r


in


interactive information screen which visitors can use to access local information via mobile phone has been placed in window of


centre gallery. By c a l l i ng t he


screen the caller on a town the


local phone number displayed


able to view pages of local information and using the keypad on


the is


t aken on a


their phone they can see what events are taking place and even book a hotel


or reserve restaurant seats. The screen, which


resembles a large iPad,


the front window of the Ardent Gallery in


by promotion agency Br e c o n Bea cons Tourism (BBT) whose off icial website it displays. BBT d i r e c t o r


Punch Maughan, said: “We’re delighted


be able to offer this to has


the Bulwark and been provided


is positioned in room


interactive and out of hours service. “Th e


captures information about


interest


another opportunity for visitors to find out what they need and want at any time of the day or night.” Punch said similar


screens have already been used in England whi le the Brecon screen is


be the first in Wales. Llandudno is also set to launch a screen. The


screen was thought


on a real and


the in


provides


time basis yet


the area


s y s t e m problems visitor’s


placed in the Ardent Gallery as


Bre con’s Tou r i s t Information Office from host ing screen,


hoped a screen could be placed at the TIC in future as well as at hotels and other locations. Ian Dent


to


somewhere to put the screen and at the time we had the bus stops outside and I thought


Breathing fire into tale of locals’ journey


AN a u t h o r


‘adventures, dangers and separations’ that Margery Isaac and Leonard Williams endured as they emigrated from Wales to the Chinese region in the 1930s. The story of their expedition between Wales, home of


Chinese imperial mythical monster the red dragon, and the land of


was inspired to write the book because after my parents retired to Cardiff in 1978 many people found my father’s stories fascinating and said he should write about them. He never did, but made odd notes which I found after he passed away in 1985, and so with my mother’s memories I started to put things down. I think if I had spoken more to my father when he was alive I would have had a great deal more, but, youngsters never care about that sort of thing!” Margery, Mark’s mother, was born in Brecon,


the youngest of eight children who resided at Castle Farm opposite St David’s Church in Llanfaes. Leonard, meanwhile, was born in Cape Town,


but spent part of his youth in the Mid Wales market town. It would be the Brecon link between the two that brought them together on a cold, wet train


by their son Mark L Isaac-Williams who still resides in Hong Kong to this day. Mark, 70, said of the biographical novel: “I


compiled the story of his late parents’ journey from Brecon to Hong Kong from their old notes and memories. ‘From Dragon to Dragon’


h a s report


by Daniel Johns dan@brecon-radnor.co.uk


char ts the


platform in Wales. Margarery, who was in her 20s, was travelling


between Abergavenny and Newport whilst Leonard spent much of his time as a railway passenger between Cardiff and Hereford as he studied for his master’s certificate in the Welsh capital. Leonard overheard Margery talking about


is penned the


and she advised him to take the job as there was nothing in the UK, and he agreed as long as she joined him later to be married there.” After a brief spell in


Suffolk, author Mark L Isaac-Williams returned to Hong Kong in 2008 to return to his role as consultant on the


orchids. ‘From Dragon to Dragon’


conservation of local


can be purchased at Oh! and Welsh Life and Country Flair in Brecon.


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Shw


LOCALS in Llanyre ar e


preparing for this ye a r ’ s L l a n y r e Show which takes place this weekend, Saturday August 7. Thi s we e k e n d


e x c i tedl y


will mark the 62nd staging of the show and there is perhaps even more excitement and


su r roundi ng th is year’s event, after the 2009 show had to be


 


 


  


 


  


 


  


  


    ant i c i p a t i o n


cancelled due to last summer’s horrendous wet weather. Lla nyr e


Radnorshire the


se c r et a r y, David Parsons has lived in


 


located just outside Llandrindod Wells, for the last 25 years and has been heavily involved with


show during his time th e r e ,


in mo r e the


years following his retirement when he was asked to


on the role of show secretary. Ll a n y r e


which David says take


run very much along the same lines as the average village show, is geared very much towards children and the the


assures us


year’s event is bound to have something for everyone. “I ’v e


community and show secretary that


this


Llanyre for 25 years and I’ve always been happy to help out,” said David. “Since


I’ve volunteered to be the secretary and this


 


 


 


 l ive d i n


s h ow, is


e sp e c i ally r e c e n t


picturesque village,


Show’s carnival


show.” The


o t They love it in Llanyre


year we very much bel ieve


will be something for everyone.” David added: “The


plenty of children’s races,


there wi l l a


community will also be well represented at the


to David. “There will be


small that there


show is very much geared towards the children as well as the local community and


rural


number of farming events, including a best hay competition and various vegetable competitions.” Meanwhile, David said there will


be events for big kids too!


some adult races too, so no-one will be left out!” David said that the


retirement


ru n n i ng now for 62 years and we’re


year everyone is more excited than usual. “The


show’s been this “There will also be


show is usually ‘very well supported’ by locals and that


also


show, according a


particularly pleased to


this year b e be


chi ldren’s and a pet


year’s event had to be cancelled due to bad weather, but this year it looks like the weather is going to be kind to us.” David added his thanks


grateful


Julian Gibson-Watt, of Doldowlod, who has once again agreed to open and attend this


along with his wife. “Jul ian Gibson -


while his wife will be one of


one of the sections.” The


be held in the field


the judges in s h ow wi l l


Watt will be opening this


yea r ’s yea r ’s show, show, to


hold i ng after


last i t


ad j a ce n t b e en


village church which ha s


donated for the day and proceedings get underway at 2pm on Saturday. “As a lways the


show will be brought to


terrier and dog racing and


wit h


“Everyone is welcome to


Llanyre Show.” Fo r m o r e


attend this year’s


information contact show secretary David Parsons on 01597 822853.


 


  


 


 





 


coming down on the afternoon’s suarez at 4.30pm. David concluded:


t he a


close by the the footbal l ,


cu r t a i n k i n d ly t o t h e Mark L Isaac-Williams’ PW9769-1


‘From Dragon to Dragon’ charts his family’s journey from rural Mid Wales to the Far East and left, author Mark


depression but eventually my father was offered a job to take an old ship out to Shanghai with the offer of a job with the Chinese Maritime Customs or to return to the UK. “He spoke to my mother


Brecon and over the coming weeks the two became close. When Leonard, a keen seafarer, was offered a job in the Far East Margery followed him. The couple went on to marry at Shanghai in 1935. Mark explained: “There was no work in the


Ardent Gallery said he was happy to offer the screen a home: “I knew Punch was lo ok ing


fo r of though it’s the


technical prevented


it would be ideal for people stepping off a bus looking fo r i n fo rma t io n , particularly in the evening. The added bonus is that they are looking in our window at the same time.” The


the


placed in the gallery’s window some four weeks ago but was officially launched by Brecon Mayor David Meredith, on Thursday, July 29 in time for


Jazz Festival. Councillor Meredith


said: “This technology can help solve the


the Brecon screen was


the screen had already been ‘fairly well used’ without


BBT is also able store the telephone numbers of screen users and contact


future ma rket ing purposes. The


provided with grant aid from the Brecon Beacons National Park Col labor8 tour ism project


County Council. and Powys s c r e e n them for i s PW9767-1


Mayor David Meredith tries out the new screen. Also pictured, from left, are: Clare Dent of Ardent Gallery, Helen Jones of Tourism Partnership Mid Wales, Catherine Maggs of Brecon Beacons Tourism, Kevin Jones of Your Tourism Community, Punch Maughan and Richard Tyler from the Brecon Beacons National Park


Skateboarders flip over thefts


report


by Matthew Jones matt@brecon-radnor.co.uk


A RADNORSHIRE man has admitted three counts of theft,


a tray of cider from a supermarket and two mobile phones from two children. Bot h s a le s st a ff at


including stealing


to three thefts at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last week. Lewis,


heard how the crimes had been ‘opportunistic’. Prosecutor Karen Kirkwood


Temple Street, Llandrindod, admitted it was ‘stupid’ to have committed the offences on June 26 and July 11. In Lewis’ defence the court


said a witness ran out of the Somerfield store to try and apprehend Lewis after he’d walked out with the tray of cider. “A sales assistant’s attention


was drawn to the defendant and she noticed his clothing when he entered the shop before


of The Berkley,


Llandrindod Wells’ Somerfield st ore and two yo u n g skateboarders flipped out when David Wayne Lewis stole the items. Lewis, 25, pleaded guilty


unable to stop him but he was recorded on CCTV.” In


then seeing him with a crate of Strongbow walking out of the shop without attempting to pay. “A witness ran out but was


admitted he had intended not to pay for the cider and admitted it was stupid. In relation to the July thefts,


interview Lewis had


Ms Kirkwood added that the two boys who had their phones stolen had given chase to the defendant. “The young lads, aged 12


Sherrard said previous matters against his client had been commit ted


alcohol and described the thefts as ‘minor matters’. “The mobile phone thefts


and 13, were skateboarding late in the afternoon in the car park of Aldi’s supermarket. “They had put their phones


thing they looked round and the phones had gone. “They tried going after him


drunk and that he didn’t realise what he was doing.”


police to locate him. “The defendant said he was


entrance then the next


down on the wall and had noticed a male walking past the


but he ran off and they reported the matter to the police. “It did not take long for the


the two thefts were due to be heard at separate hearings and that police were intending to caution Lewis about the mobile phones before they came across the cider theft. “He


embar rassed about being in


concluded. Magist rates adjourned


sentencing this week. Addict relapses after break-up


by police officers in Llandrindod Wells last month with two ‘wraps’ of the Class A drug in his possession. The court heard that Gubbins, of Cadwalader, Park Crescent, Llandrindod, had been taken heroin to ‘stop me feeling bad’ and that his addiction had stemmed from severe domestic violence he had witnessed growing up as a child which had forced


A HEROIN addict relapsed after the breakdown of a long term relationship, a court has heard. Michael Paul Gubbins, 27, was stopped


him out of the family home to live rough on the streets. Gubbins pleaded guilty to possessing


0.31grams of heroin when he appeared at Llandrindod Magistrates’ Court last week. Prosecutor Karen Kirkwood told the hearing that Gubbins was searched by officers on July 9. “He was stopped by officers in Beaufort Road acting somewhat erratic and he couldn’t seem to stand still,” she said. “In his rear pocket he had two small wraps of white powder which later


tested positive for heroin. He admitted in interview they had belonged to him, that he’d paid £20 for them, and he said he had used it to ‘stop me feeling bad’.” Acting for Gubbins, Edwina Gatehouse


A SMALL Radnorshire church is to receive a grant of nearly £20,000 to fund external buiding repairs. St Anno’s, a 19th century


Award for St Anno’s Church


authority to fund work on histor ic buildings


church in Llananno near Llandr indod Wells, wi ll receive £18,400 through the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic building grants which will be put towards roof and stonework repairs at the site. The award sees St Anno’s


receive a share of nearly £1 million distributed by the


its exceptional and rare rood screen - a decorated screen often seen in Victor ian churches between the alters and pews. Announcing the grants on Wednesday, July 28, Alun Ffred Jones, Minister for Heritage, said: “I am delighted to


building repairs. They are for a wide range of historic buildings


offer these grants for


Wales. St Anno’s is notable for


across properties


said her client had struggled with heroin addiction over a number of years. “He was frank and forthright about the drugs in interview and it was a very diminutive quantity. He has worked with PDAC and been clean for 12 months so this is a setback.” She said Gubbins had not had an auspicious start to life. “He grew up in a severe


household of domestic


across Wales, reflecting our rich heritage. Funding will ensure


maintained for the enjoyment of future generations.” Wel s h C o n s e r v a t i v e


Assembly Member for Mid & West Wales Nick Bourne added: “I very much welcome the news of this historic buildings grant which will go a long way in preserving St Anno’s Church for the enjoyment of generations.”


future


that these important are


restored and


where he saw his father beat his mother and he left home, became homeless, and was living rough. He used heroin as a means of escapism from that. He also returned to heroin after the breakdown of a long term relationship.” Gubbins was given


an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs while the drugs were ordered to be destroyed.


New chairman for Park Authority


THE Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has elected a new chairman. Councillor Eric Saxon takes over


from Mary Taylor, who had been the Park’s longest serving chairman. Monmouthshire county councillor,


Mr Saxon was elected at the Authority’s meeting on Friday, July 31 at its Plas y Ffynnon base in Brecon. Mrs Taylor, who has held


chairmanship since 2006, has been a member for 13 years and will officially step down from the Authority on August 31. Meanwhile, Welsh Assembly Government appointed member


Monmouthshire County Councillor for the last six years and as a community councillor for 14 years and following his appointment Cllr Saxon said: “Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has made significant progress under the valued leadership of Mrs Mary Taylor, but we cannot afford to be complacent – we still have much work to do. I am very honoured to be elected as chairman and I am ambitious for the National Park and keen that the improvements we have achieved so far should be a foundation for further improvements. Above all, I have a deep belief in National Parks and I will strive to ensure that I can guide, support and lead the National Park Authority’s positive work in conservation and in our local communities.” Park chief executive John Cooke said


James has been elected as deputy chairman of the Park Authority. Cll r Saxon,


has served as Julie a the violence cour t,” Mr Sher ra rd


Lewis’ case for a report and he will


return to court for is apologetic


scene of the crime and had not attempted to hide what he’d done,” said Mr Sherrard, before adding that the cider theft was a tray and not a crate of and that his client has “an on/off relationship with alcohol.” Mr Sherrard also noted that


took officers to the after drinking


was opportunistic and Mr Lewis


incident as like ‘finding coins on the floor’. “He


has descr ibed the Act ing for Lewis, Phi l promotion.


problem of where to find information and I think I would give it a go if I needed tourist information.” Punch added that


Brecon and Radnor Express and Powys County Times


E-Mail: theeditor@brecon-radnor.co.uk Circulation: Tel: 01874 610111 Fax: 01874 624097


www.brecon-radnor-today.co.uk Editorial: Tel: 01874 610111


and


From left are Julie James (deputy chairman), Mary Taylor (former chairman), Cllr Eric Saxon (newly elected chairman) and John Cook (chief executive)


he welcomed the appointments of Mrs James and Cllr Saxon and also paid tribute to Mrs Taylor. He said: “I would like to say a sincere


and heartfelt thank you to Mrs Mary Taylor, our outgoing chairman, who has made such a significant contribution to Brecon Beacons National Park Authority during her leadership. She will be sadly missed when her term ends in August but we wish her all the very best for the future.”


Silk will continue as the chairman of the Planning, Access and Rights of Way committee while Cllr Huw Morgan from Carmarthenshire County Council was elected as deputy chairman. The Audit and Scrutiny Committee


Powys County Councillor Kathryn


will be chaired by Richard Stow, a Welsh Assembly Government appointed Member, with deputy chairman Cllr Krishn Pathak from Powys County Council.


s’


m i


e t I


e





Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28