Llandaff play centre uncertain of future

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 15, 2010

Llandaff’s play centre, the Jazzy Jungle, may be in jeopardy of closing, according to its owner.

Teresa Dupuy and Jazzy

Teresa Dupuy, the owner of the business, leases the Memorial Hall building adjacent to the car park off Llandaff High Street. Through a letter posted online by the Cathedral School, Teresa said she learned that the registered owner of the hall, The Llandaff Diocesan Board of Finance, is in negotiations to sell the building to the school.

“I think the deal’s done without me being involved,” Teresa said.

Teresa bought the Jazzy Jungle business a little more than five years ago. According to her, the lease on the Memorial Hall expired in March or April of this year, though she does not have a copy of the contract.

“I kept being reassured ‘don’t worry about it’,” Teresa said about her communication with Llandaff Cathedral prior to 13 July. The most she said she expected was a rent review. “I had no idea this was going on whatsoever.”

On 13 July, Teresa said she heard from her liaison at the Cathedral, administrator Michael Turk. “He said, ‘You’re going to hear an announcement from the Cathedral School’.”

The details of the negotiation are murky. The Very Reverend John T. Lewis said, “I don’t know if it’s terribly appropriate for me to comment on it.” He said the matter was between the Cathedral and the Cathedral School. He also said he had it on “good authority” Teresa had only been in contact with the Cathedral last week.

Tribute plaque in Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall was built in 1957 in remembrance to those who served in the second World War, according to the plaque in the entry of the building. “The plaque that I dedicated,” Lewis said.

Lewis would not elaborate on the history of the building, and questioned the status of the building as a landmark in Llandaff. “I would call it what it is: a Memorial Hall,” he said.

Teresa said the building is old and has its share of problems. Though she said she is interested in buying the property.

The Cathedral School outlines its plans for the building in part 2 of this letter to parents detailing the expansion of the Woodard-owned private school:

Creation of a new Infant School
We plan to extensively develop ‘The Lodge’, a C.19th listed ‘Arts and Crafts’ building, which will include the demolition of the current extension to the rear, to create a new home for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

The Dean and Chapter have agreed, following a period of negotiation, to sell the Llandaff Memorial Hall (presently ‘Jazzy Jungle’) to the School, as part of ‘The Lodge’ development plans, subject to contract and planning consent.

This will significantly improve the provision for the Infant Section with a new modern purpose-built extension, coupled with a landscaped outside area for external play and learning space.

The close proximity to the Junior Section in the Gloucester Building will of course be advantageous for pupils and staff alike, creating a campus, which is largely ‘zoned’ according to age group.

As Teresa’s apprehensions grow, she’s been in contact with local councillours Gareth Aubrey and Kirsty Davies, and has begun a petition.

On Friday — the first day Teresa solicited signatures to the petition — she had 19 customers signing support to her cause to keep Jazzy Jungle in the Memorial Hall:

“The undersigned are customers and supporters of Jazzy Jungle who object to the proposed sale of the Memorial Hall to the Cathedral School, and want Jazzy Jungle to stay in the Memorial Hall and continue to offer a much needed facility for children in the local and wider community.”

These supporters left messages saying, “It is essential for toddlers and mums!” and “Nobody wants to see this place go down. It’s fantastic.”

The building has been used as a children’s play centre for around 15 years, according to Teresa.

Llandaff News understands negotiations between the Cathedral and Cathedral School are still in progress and no planning permission has been sought by the Cathedral School.

“If people are concerned, they should contact the people involved — the Cathedral and the Cathedral School,” Lewis said.

To contact Llandaff Cathedral and the Very Reverend John T. Lewis: 02920 56 1545 or 02920 56 4554. Additional contacts for clergy and administrators are listed on the Cathedral website.

To contact the Cathedral School and Headmaster Stephen Morris: 029 2056 3179. Additional contacts are listed on the Cathedral School website.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Llandaff News is on summer holidays from 16 to 29 August. We welcome fair comment. We will make every effort for comments left on the site to be approved with speed and accuracy. Please note that comments must be approved by the editor before they appear on the site.

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Sun shines on Insole Court summer picnic

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 15, 2010

The sun was out along with a crowd at Insole Court on Sunday. The occasion: the first of three Summer Sunday Picnics.

People danced to Round the Horn, participated in storytelling, knocked about on the croquet grounds, took tours of Insole Court and soaked up the South Wales sunshine. And it was all free.

See the atmosphere for yourself:

Listen in to the crowd-pleasing tunes from Round the Horn:
Round the Horn playing at Insole Court’s Summer Sunday Picnic by llandaffnews

If you missed this picnic, pop over to Insole Court on 22 August and 29 August from 3 pm.

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‘Mass Observing’ on Llandaff High Street

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 12, 2010

Today Llandavians are encouraged to pull out a pen, paper or camera and record what they see. The “Mass Observation” project aims to record history by drawing on hundreds of people’s diary entries, photographs and video recordings. Anyone can participate.

Editor of Llandaff News, Joni Ayn Alexander, took the opportunity to pop into one of the local cafes this morning. Here’s what she observed:

9:20 am at Garland’s Cafe on Llandaff High Street

It’s a grey day. Clouds overhead only showing off patches of blue sky. But no rain. Not yet.

I’m sitting in Garland’s cafe. It’s a new addition to the shop, which sells flowers off the High Street and posh bits and bobs — mostly for women — inside. The cafe is small and modern with Ikea-like white chairs. The extension to the shop was only built recently.

I feel a bit bad. I ordered a skinny mocha, and the young girl at the till thought they’d run out of skinny milk. So she sent the other young girl across the street to the Spar. I can hear the cafe manager telling her there was some in the other frig upstairs. The girl’s shy, excited smile looks muted now.

I’m sat outside in the garden. The table is tiny and would struggle to fit another person’s coffee or tea and treats. That’s probably because I’ve piled the table with a scone, a mocha, a camera and my notebook. A big wasp buzzes behind me in a tiny terracotta pot of lavender I can’t quite smell.

The first young person I see — other than the cafe girls — walks out of the parking area off the High Street. Cars begin to fill the space. Typical. Even in the height of summer hols.

It’s dead quiet outside. Just a whir from the traffic on Cardiff Road, the occasional car door shutting, and chirping birds. Oh! Voices! Construction workers walk by. One young lad tells the other his mate’s driven from the east coast to the west coast — of America, I presume.

A young mum follows behind with two children grasping her hands. She peeks into the garden of Garland’s to see me, nose in my notebook. The little boy stares quickly with wide eyes and a pacifier lodged between his lips. They hurry off.

The clouds are beginning to look more ominous. No more blue sky finding its way through. The closest I’m coming to sunshine is the picture of a smiling sun that’s blocking out what light there is on a passing car. I’m just glad I brought my brolly.

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UWIC begins to reveal new Llandaff campus

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 11, 2010

UWIC’s Llandaff campus may look more like a construction training ground than a university. But that’s beginning to change with the completion of the new Cardiff School of Management.

The four-story, 8,000-square-metre structure echos the architectural look of other Welsh contemporary buildings. With its angular metal exterior and glass atrium extending the length of the building, the Wales Millennium Centre comes to mind.

Form your own opinion of the new building. Take a sneak peek inside:

Here are some facts and figures about the building:

  • Built at a cost of £20 million
  • 200-seat traditional lecture theatre
  • Three Harvard-styled semi-circular lecture theatres
  • A ground-floor cafe with glass-covered garden terrace
  • A new restaurant and bar for events and hospitality
  • A professional-standard training kitchen for hospitality students
  • Unique wall space designed to display art exhibitions from CSAD

Compare the finished building to the site under construction as Linda Spillane tells more about the school itself in this SU Tube video:

David Pritchard, Dean of the Cardiff School of Management, said:

“This spectacular new building has state of the art facilities, allowing UWIC’s Cardiff School of Management to build on its enviable reputation for attracting students from around the world. It will enable us to move on to the next stage of our mission to become a centre of excellence for professional development and a hub for joint learning with employers across South Wales.”

Read David Pritchard’s essay on how the building came to be on WalesOnline.

In the thick of August holidays, the building looks rather sparse without many students or staff. When mid September rolls around, the void will be filled.

The Llandaff campus is due to absorb nearly all of the students and staff from the Colchester Avenue site — roughly 160 staff and 2,000 students.

Whilst the Cardiff School of Management isn’t the only new structure on campus, it is the only one completed to date. When autumn term begins, UWIC officials say the other building results will be waiting for all the students and staff.

Llandaff Learning Centre
£1.6m has been invested in extending the current learning centre — more commonly known as the library. The refurbishment will add a three-story extension, new archive, social learning facilities, IT suites, training suites and study spaces. The extension makes room for the Colchester Avenue collections as the two campuses merge. Get your library cards at the ready for early October — even if you’re not a student.

The i-zone

The revamp to UWIC’s Llandaff campus main entry has been dubbed the “i-zone”, which officials say is a “one stop shop for all the student needs”.

This translates to a more spacious area with modern furniture where students can find information on anything to do with being a student.

The upstairs extension will cater to the thirst and hunger needs of students and staff. A glass-enclosed balcony will add more seating in the Dolce Vita cafe. Croeso y i-zone in September.

Student Union Campus Centre
UWIC’s facilities and catering department may get a run for its money when Starbucks moves into the new Student Union Campus Centre. What was the first-floor bar above the refectory will trade pints of lager for grande lattes. The redecorated area will have “a more relaxed social ambience”, according to a statement from SU president Clare Rafferty. Doors are set to open on 14 Sept.

What do you think of the new UWIC Llandaff campus? Tell us in the comments below.

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Sneak a peek of Llandaff’s blooming Cathedral

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 4, 2010

Tomorrow at 10 am Llandaff Cathedral will open its doors for three days of floral fun. See why the Festival of Flowers is worth the £6 entry fee in the photo slideshow below:

To find out more about the festival, see the event listing. And save 50 pence by pre booking a ticket online.

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Pizzaman doesn’t seem to deliver Llandaff

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 3, 2010

Today, the Cardiff-based series Pizzaman released episode 11: Llandaf. In six-plus minutes of drama, pizza deliveryman Taj didn’t appear to set foot in Llandaff. Can you spot a Llandaff landmark in the video below?

Other episodes of the series can be watch here on WalesOnline.

The series is actually a 90-minute film serialised for the web. Teilo Trimble and James Robson created and produced Pizzaman.

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Llandaff pushes up roses at the Cathedral

by Joni Ayn Alexander on August 2, 2010

More than 200 flower arrangers have begun to transform Llandaff Cathedral into a blooming good Festival of Flowers. Leading Llandaff’s own floral society is chairwoman Jeanne Hughes.

The Seeds of David by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

“It’s quite taxing and challenging,” Jeanne says after a day’s work on her floral arrangement. Despite the tired words, her voice gives away an air of excitement.

The Llandaff flower arranging team is working on a masterpiece to echo another: The Seeds of David painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (photographed by Martin Beek). The painting that hangs in the Cathedral has inspired the hand-crafted golden frames filled with red roses and carnations that Jeanne describes as a “panel of rich flowers”.

Sitting under the pulpit, this Llandaff entry will compete with floral designs from societies across South Wales, Worcestershire, Gloucstershire and Herefordshire.

“I’m afraid I won’t be at the display the whole time, though,” Jeanne says.

That’s because the festival isn’t only about looking, it’s also about doing. And around the corner at the Cathedral School, floral designers and enthusiasts will run demonstrations, workshops and sales. Jeanne will put her 20 years of floral arranging expertise to good use, along with many of her peers.

Two years in the making, the festival will celebrate flowers, but it also will celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s re-dedication of the Cathedral in 1960. This golden jubilee also marks 50 years of existence for the South Wales and Three Counties chapter of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, better known as NAFAS.

The Festival of Flowers runs from 10 am to 5:30 pm between Thursday 5 and Saturday 7 August. Tickets cost £5.50 in advance, or £6 at the door. For more information, see the event listing.

A Gala Preview Evening runs from 7 pm on Wednesday 4 August at Llandaff Cathedral. Tickets cost £25 in advance. For more information, see the event listing.

All proceeds from the festival will benefit the Llandaff Cathedral’s appeal to raise £1.5m to pay for its new organ.

If the Festival of Flowers inspires you to take up floral arranging, the Llandaff Floral Society welcomes new members. From 16 September, the club will resume meeting every first and third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm in Llandaff Parish Hall. The active club involves classes, demonstrations, field trips and festival competitions. For more information, contact Jeanne on 02920 842 737 or email secretary_3candsw@btinternet.com.

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Llandaff Society calls for mass observation

by Joni Ayn Alexander on July 28, 2010

Need an excuse to spend a few hours at your local Llandaff pub or cafe? The Llandaff Society has the perfect reason: Mass Observation.

On Thursday 12 August, the people of Llandaff — along with communities around the UK — are asked to take a spot of time to record what they see, do and think. You can record your day in a journal, photograph a street, answer a questionnaire, or observe life in a pub or cafe.

The Mass Observation Communities Online, or MOCO for short, has partnered with the Llandaff Society to record daily life to make history in this patch of Cardiff.

Where did mass observation come from?

In 1937, Mass Observation called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did and thought from when they woke up in the morning, to when they went to sleep at night on 12 May. The resulting diaries provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of all sorts of people in the late 1930s. They are stored, with many other diaries and papers, at the Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex.

What is this Mass Observation Communities Online project?

MOCO expands on the mass observation tradition by asking community groups to participate in a nation-wide initiative.  Thursday 12 August is the day for people around the UK to participate. But if you’re busy baking cupcakes, taking a holiday, or working, MOCO doesn’t mind if you observe Llandaff on a different day.

Do I have to live in Llandaff to observe?

No way. You can live anywhere in the UK, and you don’t even have to observe in Llandaff. The project is designed to capture a range of observations across the country. So if you’d rather sip a coffee in a city centre arcade, take photos down by the bay, or keep a journal as you ramble up in the valleys, MOCO will welcome your contribution.

What’s the value in mass observation?

With participation across the country, the aim is to create a national archive of written and photographic accounts that reflect a day in the life. The Llandaff Society wants this archive to become a valuable record for the community.

How do I submit my mass observations?

Where will my observations go?

The submissions will be displayed on the MOCO online archive and donated to the historic Mass Observation Archive.

If you still have questions about the project, contact the Llandaff Society at webteam@llandaffcity.co.uk.

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‘Jolly’ local filmmaker documents Llandaff

by Joni Ayn Alexander on July 22, 2010

Andrew Middleton, a Cardiff-based singer and guitarist, is out and about in Llandaff with a camera. Also known as Jolly Hollie, he’s in the midst of filming his first documentary about a city rich with his family history.

I have a story to tell. A story about the history of Llandaff and the people who saved lives, fought battles, and stood for what was right, so that we can now marvel at our inheritance.

My grandfather, Cecil Henry Legg, single-handedly disarmed a fallen bomb in Llandaff during the second world war when villagers were evacuating. He was disassembling German engineering with moments to spare.

He told me how his thoughts were of local families he knew with children still in their houses nearby. I can only imagine the fear and adrenaline racing through his body as he turned the screws to open up a ticking bomb!

In this documentary I will be exploring from as far back as records began how Llandaff became Llandaff, and why Llandaff was the Capital of Wales at one point in history.

I have started filming in the area to tell my story, and also to tell the story of Llandaff through the ages. I am calling on all local historians and people with stories of the area.

This will be my first documentary, funded by me. I hope you can help by offering any information you may have about Llandaff. If you would like to find out about the filming, have any useful information on Llandaff, or would like to get involved, please get in touch with me by email at jollyhollie@live.co.uk.

I am aiming to release the documentary late August, possibly early September. Keep your eye on my website, www.jollyhollie.com, for a release date.

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Llandaff to pilot Welsh course for families

August 13, 2010

A new Welsh course for families with children learning the language is the first of its kind — and is set to start here in Llandaff this autumn.
Parents, grandparents, babysitters — basically anyone in close contact with young children learning Welsh — are the targets for this new, national course. Because of the interest [...]

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