IT’S right up there as one of my favourite family outings - a wander around historic Kidwelly Castle. Sure, there’s a decent health warning about climbing the ramparts, stone walls and spiral staircases, but children (and adults) love exploring. Our family’s most recent visit was in March, 2025. Here’s a few photos - and some words to explain what the castle is all about. Kidwelly Castle is a formidable stronghold, proudly overlooking the River Gwendraeth in the historic ‘Black Cat’ town of Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire. Kidwelly Castle's story begins in the early 12th century, around 1106, when it was established by the Normans under Roger, Bishop of Salisbury. Its strategic location was crucial for controlling the surrounding territory and securing Norman influence in the region. The castle's initial form was a more basic earth and timber structure, a "ringwork." This early fortification laid the groundwork for the more substantial stone castle that would develop over...
In her first public engagement as Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth, Professor April McMahon welcomed more than 70 learners of Welsh from all corners of the World to the University on the opening day of the Cwrs Haf Awst 2011. The course, which is aimed at beginners and more experienced learners, is organised by the Mid Wales Welsh for Adults Centre at Aberystwyth University. It runs from 1 to 26 August and this year welcomes learners from America, Brittany, Poland, Germany, Australia, Japan and England, as well as Wales. Professor McMahon, who has been learning Welsh since March of this year, addressed learners at a special reception at 6.30 on Monday evening 1 August at Tamed Da on the Penglais campus. The evening included entertainment by the folk group Cerddcegin. Cwrs Haf Awst offers a full programme of social activity to enable learners to use their Welsh and get a taste of life and culture in the Aberystwyth area. The programme includes an evening to welcome the learners at St Mary...
There was a big class reunion held in Burry Port at the weekend. Members of the Class of 1980 from Porth Tywyn (Burry Port junior) School got together at The Coasting Pilot pub. The reunion was organised by Christine Rees and same 22 members of the original class of 28 turn up to discuss their old schooldays. One ‘Class of 1980’ member was Burry Port businessman Owain Davies. He said: “We all have very happy memories of our time in school. We had a fantastic teacher in Mr Heddwyn Jones, who now lives in Four Roads. “We were very fortunate to have the same teacher for three years and we were a very happy class. Mr Jones was an inspiring teacher and we all got on every well and we are all still good friends. “Heather Thomas (now Heather Osmond) made it from Surrey, but she was trumped by Gail Morris, who flew in from Ohio in the United States for the reunion. “It was a fantastic evening at the Coasting Pilot with good food, good wine and good company. We even recreated the class...
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