Author Archives: bookvolunteer

About bookvolunteer

I'm passionate about books, about Oxfam and about making the world a better place. When I'm not filling the shelves in Oxfam Wilmslow, I might be found reading the books I've bought in the beautiful surroundings of North Pembrokeshire.

Who messed up?

Posted on September 2, 2014 by bookvolunteer

You may have admired the 1000 year old cross at Nevern and noticed that the top doesn’t fit on the bottom as it should. The stone masons who created the cross were clearly competent and the stone is weather resistant … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crafts, History, Religion | Tagged Carew Cross, Celtic Cross, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Nevern Cross, Pembrokeshire | 7 Comments

Ducks and Drakes

Posted on August 29, 2014 by bookvolunteer

If you are on the beach at Dinas’ Aberbach or Aberfforest it won’t take you long to gather a handful of perfect ‘duck and drake’ slates from the high-tide line. While you are skimming them across the water, here is a … Continue reading →

Posted in books, History, Sea, Sport | Tagged beach, children's game, Dinas, Dinas Cross, ducks and drakes, skimming stones, slates, stone shipping | 2 Comments

Fifty years too late

Posted on August 26, 2014 by bookvolunteer

This photograph of Cwm yr Eglwys Churchyard, taken in 2005, gives a false impression of timelessness. This scene has not remained unchanged for centuries. The 1859 storm that destroyed the Church (while a service was taking place – miraculously there were … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Sea, Uncategorized | Tagged Cwm yr Eglwys, Dinas, Dinas Cross, family history, history, St Brynach's Church | 2 Comments

What did the Sea Captains from Dinas do with their money?

Posted on August 22, 2014 by bookvolunteer

The first thing many of them did was to build a house and change the shape of the village. Dinas had originally been sited in the bay of Cwm yr Eglwys, where all the land was owned by large land … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crafts, History, Religion, Sea, Welsh language | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, sea captains, Tabor, Tegfan | 3 Comments

Home spun treasure

Posted on August 19, 2014 by bookvolunteer

This beautiful skein of pure new wool comes from a flock of Llanwenog sheep on a small holding in Llanllwni near Lampeter. You don’t have to travel far from Dinas, however, because you’ll find it on Jana Davidson’s ‘Leafy Lion’ stall … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Farming | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Fishguard, fleeces, knitting, knitting wool, sheep, Tegfan, undyed yarn | Leave a comment

Dressing up for Dinas Carnival c1930

Posted on August 15, 2014 by bookvolunteer

This photo survives from the early 1930s (pity about the nasty mark) and was probably taken at the time of Dinas’ Carnival at the beginning of August. I’d say that the person with the camera was a friend or relation of the … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged 1930s, carnival, Dinas, Dinas Cross, dressing up, fancy dress, Pembrokeshire | 1 Comment

Marie Elsie and the Man with the Golden Gun

Posted on August 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Capt. Joe Francis (of Eryl, Dinas) was captain of SS Marie Elsie in 1915 – a dangerous time to be a sailor. Fortunately, by the time the Marie Elsie was torpedoed and sunk on its way to Arkhangelsk in June 1917 … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Sea, Transport | Tagged 1st world war, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Ian Fleming, James Bond, master mariner, Pembrokeshire, scaramanga brothers, sea captain, tramp steamer | 1 Comment

John Brett’s holiday rental

Posted on August 8, 2014 by bookvolunteer

When the artist, John Brett, decided to paint on the coast of West Wales in the 1880s he became a regular summer visitor to the Dinas area, renting Newport Castle to accommodate his large family. This was handy for visits to the bays … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Nature, Sea | Tagged artists, Dinas, Dinas Cross, John Brett, Newport, Pembrokeshire, photography, seascapes | Leave a comment

A bill from Mr Thomas, the blacksmith

Posted on August 5, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Here is Mr Selwyn Harries, at a local ploughing match, showing us how farming used to be done. Before the age of tractors, the horses on my great-grandfather’s farm at Hescwm worked hard and the proof is in the number … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, History | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Hescwm, horseshoes, ploughing, sow ring, Stephen George | Leave a comment

Tycanol Wood and its magic mossy ways

Posted on August 1, 2014 by bookvolunteer

The roots of this oak tree must surely offer shelter to many small animals that venture out when the coast is clear. On the wet day of our visit to Tycanol Wood, however, we saw only the sheep that nibble … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Oak trees, Tycanol, Woods | 2 Comments

Dinas fashions c1912 (or More than you ever thought you’d want to know about gentlemen’s hats)

Posted on July 29, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Before I learnt the names of these men, who served as Deacons at Tabor Chapel (Dinas) in about 1912, I became fascinated by their hats. Did their choice of headgear tell us anything about the individuals beneath? John Stephenson of Lock … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Sea | Tagged Deacons, fashion, hats, Tabor | 2 Comments

The bus shelter at Yet y Bontbren (or Teenage passion c1955)

Posted on July 25, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Have a good look at this bus shelter because it will soon disappear and be replaced with something much more modern and probably flimsier. Before it’s demolished, however, we should celebrate its beginnings and give thanks for the community spirit that … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Welsh language | Tagged bus shelter, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Tegfan, Yet y Bontbren | 3 Comments