Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Caerau Hill and its history

English: St Mary the Virgin Church at Caerau, ...
English: St Mary the Virgin Church at Caerau, Cardiff, in 1971 before it was deconsecrated and fell into ruin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)










I grew up in the shadow of the mighty Caerau Hill fort and the (then) beautiful medieval church of St Mary's with it's adjacent (and mysterious) ring work, my family (and others) would picnic at the church (try doing that now) using my imagination with British warrior engaging in battle with the Roman legionary storming it's mighty ramparts. Then walk with me a thousand years later into the 13th Century as you smell the incense and hear the bells as the priest elevates the chalice in is vestments of gold as the faithful surrounded by wall paintings of the saints who are present and are windows into the eternal. Then into the 16th Century when the Reformers sold, the vestments whitewashed the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints blocking out the eternal. This church stands as a link between our ancient past, and our tragic present. In the 1950s, a priest, holy man of vision, a leader of his community Father Victor Jones,  summoned up the courage to rebuild St Mary's restoring her image a Statue, (that now graces St Timothy church, Heol Pennar) and an icon that was given as a gift by the Greek Orthodox Church to St Mary's (that icon disappeared when a curate had it sent away to be valued and was never seen again). Recently the church was badly vandalized and left in a dangerous state and it was rumored that the council was going to demolish it. That was prevented when 2 intrepid Ely expats (Rosemary Lewis and Delia Jay) wrote letters and saved it when Cadw. Thanks to the ladies, and the "Friends of St Mary's at Caerau"  http://www.stmaryscaerau.org/  St Mary's will saved for future generations, and just to show that this not just a minority interest, the kids at Trelai School made a movie in 2005 which shows their enthusiasm for their hill  http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/movies/hillfort-the-lost-world-of-ely The lost world of Ely. Time Team came along to help the Cardiff Archeologists excavate one of the biggest hill forts in south Wales. I live in Dodge City and often visit the Boot Hill Museum, which is located exactly where Boot Hill was. We have travelled all over the United States and visit living history museums, in fact my daughter was In San Antonio Texas and visited the Alamo , and we visited Vicksburg and the fort there. I don't see why Caerau could not have a Caerau Hill Heritage park, we just need people with vision to see it through because I believe the people of Caerau deserve it.

















































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Monday, May 20, 2013

St Patrick Was Born Here!!!!!! Llantwit Major

English: East Street, Llantwit Major Български...
English: East Street, Llantwit Major Български: Улица "Ист Стрийт" в Лантуит Мейджър (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Llantwit Major The cliffs at sunset.
English: Llantwit Major The cliffs at sunset. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: St Illtud, Llantwit Major, Glamorgan,...
English: St Illtud, Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As kids we spent many summers in Cowbridge with family that lived there and along the Heritage coast. and back in 2005 lived in Llantwit Major AKA Llaniltudd Fawr. For history buffs like my wife and myself it was heaven. This report makes for depressing reading. Both places have very rich histories that could bring people in. Llantwit is one of those places that St Patrick was born in. Something I had mentioned could be used to bring tourists in. A extensive marketing campaign is needed. I don't know how much they paid for these consultants, I could given that advice for free!!!


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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Cllr Phil Hawkins CV for those who want to know about Cardiff's potential next


 

PHILIP HAWKINS
Phil Hawkins
+44 (0)29 2039 7109
9 Fields Park Road 
Cardiff+44 (0)7973 890706
CF11 9JPphil@newmdsx.com

Career

1999 - Consultant, Sigma Essex Research & Consultancy
2003 - 2004Centre Manager. Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (Islay Columba Centre)(p/t)
2002 - 2003Learning Support Officer, Web-based Learning, Department of Health and Human Sciences, University of Essex (p/t) 
2001, 2002
Senior Research Officer, Project Sigma, Health & Social Services Institute, University of Essex (p/t)
2001
Research Counsellor & Computing (SPSS) Facilitator, Health & Social Services Institute Summer School, University of Essex
2001
Teaching Fellow, Essex Summer School in the Social Sciences, University of Essex
2000
Research Counsellor, Health & Social Services Institute Summer School, University of Essex
1999 - 2000Research Officer (HIV and AIDS), The Terrence Higgins Trust (p/t)
1998Assistant Instructor, Swiss Summer School in the Social Sciences, Lugarno
1997 - 1999
Manager, Service Development, Community Education Services, Essex County Council
1993 - 1997
Principal Officer, Special Projects, Community Education Services, Essex County Council
1990 - 1992
Community Education Officer, SW Essex, Essex County Council
1988 - 1990
Staff Development Officer, Youth Service, Essex County Council
1980 - 1988
Assistant Community Education Officer, SE Essex, Essex County Council
1977 - 1980
Youth & Community Services Officer, London Borough of Haringey
1974 - 1977
General Secretary, Mansfield House University Settlement, Plaistow, E13.
1971 - 1974
Teacher of English, The Rokeby School, Stratford E15.

Political Career (Full Political & Trade Union CV available here)

2012 -
Member, Children & Young People and Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committees, Cardiff Council
2012 -
Councillor, Cardiff County Council, Riverside Ward
2007
Candidate, Argyll & Bute Council, North Kintyre & The Islands ward
2000 - 2003
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Colchester Borough Council
2002 - 2003
Councillor for Wivenhoe Cross Ward, Colchester Borough Council
2002 - 2003
Member, Planning and Standards Committees, Colchester Borough Council
2001 - 2002
Cabinet Member without Portfolio, Colchester Borough Council
2001
Parliamentary Candidate, North Essex Constituency
2000 - 2001
Chair, Best Value Review Panel, Colchester Borough Council
1999 - 2000
Member, Planning and Human and Financial Resources Committees, Colchester Borough Council
1999 - 2002
Councillor for Wivenhoe Ward, Colchester Borough Council
1996 - 1997
Member, Essex Environmental Forum
1995 - 1997 
Member: Planning, Licensing, Social Services (LGR), Libraries (LGR) Committees, Southend Borough Council
1996 - 1997
Labour Spokesperson, Highways & Transport Committee, Southend Borough Council
1995 - 1997
Vice-Chair, Community Services Committee
1995 - 1997
Councillor for Milton Ward, Southend Borough Council
1994
Agent, Borough Council Elections, Southend Borough Council
1994 - 1999
Member of the Co-operative Party
1993 - 1995
Delegate to Southend Constituency GC
1993 - 1995
Chair, Milton Ward Branch, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
1988 -
Member of the Labour Party

Education

1971
B.Ed.  (English, History & Education) University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
1994
M.A. (Post Compulsory Education & Training) University of Greenwich.

Publications

1995
Formula Funding and Financial Delegation in Local Authority Youth Services and Adult Education,Youth Work Press, Leicester.
2006
With Mills, D., Jepson, A., Coxon, A., Easterby-Smith, M, Spencer, J. Demographic Review of the UK Social SciencesESRC, Swindon.
2006
With Tiliopoulos, N., Bikker, A., Coxon, A. The means and ends of religiosity: A fresh look at Gordon Allport's religious orientation dimensions, Personality and Individual Differences 42, 1609-1620, Elsevier.
2007
With Coxon, A. Demographic Review of the UK Social Sciences - ScotlandESRC,  (unpublished)
2007
With Mills, D., Jepson, A., Coxon, A., Howe, C.,  Lunt, I., Orme, J., Spencer, J. Review of the 1+3 Training Model, ESRC, unpublished.
2007
With Coxon, A., McVie, S., Palmer, J., Rice, R. Scoping Study of Quantitative Methods Building Capacity in Scotland, SFC/ESRC, unpublished
  


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