Countynews
Couple are first to tie the knot in courthouse
B
World of discovery at stargazers’ new home
Amateur astronomers in Usk have unveiled the first observatory in Britain which is attached to a community education centre. Members of Usk Astronomical Society
named it The Alfred Russel Wallace Observatory after the Welsh scientist, who was born in nearby Llanbadoc. The society’s life president, David Thomas, 65, said the observatory, located within the grounds of Usk community education centre on Maryport Street, is believed to be the first in Monmouthshire which is accessible to the public and will be open to groups such as the WI, Scouts, schools and adult organisations to enable them to study the sky from the ground as part of its outreach programme.
“There are similar observatories in the county but none are open to the public to our knowledge, so this is very exciting and will further our own investigations into the night sky,” said Mr Thomas, a retired science teacher, who joined the society 30 years ago.
The observatory was funded by a £6,500
grant from the county council and delivered from Canada as a construction pack which members assembled on a decking platform in the grounds of the centre.
The observatory itself is a dome which houses an eight inch Smitt-Cassigrain telescope and a webcam, which is removed when not being used by the society’s 35 members. Mr Thomas, of Maryport Street, said: “Many amateur astronomers are making proper scientific studies of the sky and we’re discovering new things all the time. It’s a fantastic research tool which enables us to look at the stars and analyse what they are made of.”
eing directed into the dock, prosecutor’s bench and jury and witness boxes are
probably the last things most guests would expect when arriving for a wedding. But, that is what happened
at Usk’s Sessions House for the wedding of Donna Murray, from Usk and Josh Davies, from
Newport, who are pictured below. It was the first marriage at the
historic building’s court room, which has following a 12 year restoration programme which cost £200,000. The couple decided to marry
after being together for 10 nearly and thought the court room would be a perfect location.
Sudbrook history centre opens doors
Visitors to a Monmouthshire village will be able to get to grips with its past thanks to the opening of a new history centre. Members of the public will be able
to find out more about Sudbrook, a village on the edge of the River Severn between Chepstow and Caldicot, after a local history group secured funds for the facility. Based at a room in the village’s non-
political club, it will be run by volunteers from the Caldicot and District Local History Society. The project has been financed with
£1,000 from Monmouthshire council’s community environmental grants scheme and will feature an exhibition, video, walking guides, souvenirs, refreshments and toilets on site.
10
Nursery scoops gold
A Monmouthshire nursery has won a gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea flower show.
Penhow nurseries of Carrow Hill, St Brides Netherwent, pictured, scooped the award in the floral marquee section. Also celebrating was Charlotte Cooke, of Hilarys Four Seasons, in Cross Street, Abergavenny, who was awarded a bronze medal in the young florist of the year category.
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 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83