Countynews


UNDY SONG IS A YOUTUBE HIT A


song promoting a Monmouthshire village has


become an unlikely hit on the internet site You Tube. The song Undy by Welsh


singersongwriter Lorraine King has had more than 2,000 hits on the site.


The three-minute song which


promotes the village, makes references to community groups organisations such as Undy Farmers’ Market, the scouts, bellringers, the WI and sports teams. The lyrics include the lines; ‘It’s


undeniably the friendliest place you have ever been,’ and ‘The world would be a better place if there were Undys everywhere’. The video for the song, fi lmed


by John Wake, shows popular signs including Vinegar Hill, the entrance to Undy, iconic buildings and village life.


Lorraine King, who took on the


challenge by BBC Radio Wales to write songs about places in Wales, has previously written about places such as Talgarth and the A470. The song has received a warm


response from people in Undy and neighbouring Magor. Heather Dearden, of Magor, said: “It’s nice that someone has captured Undy in a song and video. It’s a nice place to grow up.” Heather Jones, of Rogiet, hopes


the song will encourage people to visit the village. “It’s great for tourism. There is a lot of history here and


it tends to be missed because it’s out of the way.” Magor Postmistress, Nicola


Whild thinks the song is fantastic. “It’s very cleverly done and really funny. I think she should write one for Magor as well.” James Padfi eld, bar manager


at The Golden Lion, Magor, said he hadn’t heard the song but says there is much to celebrate in the area. Undy has kept its traditional feel, it’s a pretty place to visit. Anything that helps encourage people to visit it is great.”


Nurse aims to help bears


A vetinery nurse has left Monmouthshire for China to care for more than 150 endangered bears rescued from the horrors of bile farms. Adina Valentine (pictured),


ex-head nurse at Monmouth’s Monnow Bridge veterinary surgery, accepted a job at Animals Asia’s bear rescue sanctuary near Chengdu, Sichuan province. The sanctuary looks after


bears who have previously been kept in tiny cages and milked for their bile, which is used in traditional Asian medicine to treat anything from hangovers to haemorrhoids. The 27-year-old, from


Undy, spent Christmas and New


Year getting accustomed to her new job, which involves


looking after


the animals in their pain-free home.


Animals Asia says in China


the bile is removed through rusting metal catheters implanted deep into the gall bladders of the bears or via permanently open infected holes in their abdomens, sometimes for around 30 years. It says the animals usually


have


no free access to water and limited food supplies.


The charity is working with


the Chinese and Vietnamese governments to close down bear bile farms. So far it has rescued 381


bears in those countries and moved them to its sanctuaries.


Congratulations to our winners from the last edition. Mrs J Perrin, of Chepstow, won a weekend spa break at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, and Mrs L Williams, of Usk, won a meal for two at 1861 restaurant, near Abergavenny. For your chance to win in this edition turn to page 49.


Town unveils its new jubilee arch


It was at the beginning of 2012 that Usk Councillor Jill Jeremiah had an idea of a permanent memorial to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth ll. A few months later Usk Town Council


unanimously agreed a commemorative arch, for pedestrian use, should be built at the entrance to the Owain Glyndwr playing fi eld and Jane’s Meadow, which is the former site of the town’s market. In addition to the arch, it was agreed to replace the missing walls and railings which would be fashioned to marry up to the existing ones. In 1887 Queen Victoria


celebrated her golden jubilee and the people of Usk collected funds to build the town clock in Twyn Square. Last year, 125 years later, history repeated itself when the the town council called upon residents to donate to ‘The Diamond Jubilee Arch Appeal’ – which they did, generously. Local blacksmith Patrick Morgan, of Llangibby,


was commissioned to carry out the work. A detailed plan was produced by Cathy Davies, of Porthycarne Street, which showed the proposed arch and the restored railings. David and Nancy Morgan, of Morgans of Usk, donated the steel for the arch.


Mark and Tony, HMP Prescoed, built the walls and offi cers Craig Hill, Steve Pearson and Dave Hopkins, supported and supervised their work. Ray Hughes knew nothing of this project or the town council until Jenny Mee, the Sessions House manager and the Mayor Cllr Chris Wilkinson walked into his business premises looking for someone to make coping stones for the wall. Ray not only made them, but sourced the bricks for the walls. He advised and helped the bricklayers and liaised with Patrick and became an ‘unoffi cial site manager’ bringing his knowledge and expertise to the project, sometimes visiting Usk on a daily basis.


Through the generosity of the townsfolk, the project will now


include a gate for vehicular access and a path following the line of Jane’s Meadow, which will complete the Maryport Street boundary of the Owain Glyndwr Field. Jenny Mee, who had steered the project from


March when it began, was determined the arch should be unveiled within the Jubilee year. The grand unveiling of the arch was undertaken by the Cllr Christine Wilkinson, on New Year’s Eve in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant, who represents the Queen in Gwent.


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