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.

Cwm-yr-Eglwys regatta

Posted on April 29, 2014 by bookvolunteer

The first Cwm-yr-Eglwys regatta took place in 1899 – planned in a hurry when Newport decided to abandon its regatta for that year. There was much enthusiasm in the village and Dinas residents determined to put the Fishguard regatta in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, History, Sport | Tagged 2015, August, Charlotte Cowley, Cwm yr Eglwys, Dinas, Dinas Cross, handmade cards, Pembrokeshire, regatta, regatta dates, Tegfan | 2 Comments

A treat for horse lovers

Posted on April 25, 2014 by bookvolunteer

This year’s Grand National Favourite – TeaForThree – was trained just down the road from Tegfan, at Aber Fforest. Tegfan is very close to the racing stables of Rebecca Curtis who trains a string of horses at Fforest Farm, just off … Continue reading →

Posted in Sea, Sport | Tagged Aber Fforest, Dinas, Dinas Cross, horse riding, Pembrokeshire, racing stables, Rebecca Curtis, stables, Tegfan | Leave a comment

Have a beach to yourself

Posted on April 22, 2014 by bookvolunteer

There are a number of beautiful beaches near Tegfan with no parking or easy road access. If you are prepared to walk a mile or two, you’ll discover that you are among a minority of holiday makers and you’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Sea, Walking | Tagged Aber Bach, Aber Fforest, Aberbach, Aberfforest, coast path, Coastal path, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, Tegfan | 1 Comment

Women without men (or Why Kiel House?)

Posted on April 18, 2014 by bookvolunteer

There were so many women without men in Dinas in the 1890s that the local paper suggested that the village should have a policeman to keep an eye on all these vulnerable “lady residents whose husbands are engaged at sea”.* However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, History, Sea | Tagged Blodwen Howell, Blodwen Rees, David Rees, Dinas, Dinas Cross, John Philip Howell, Kiel House, Mace, Mace store, Mace supermarket, Martha Ann Howell, Pembrokeshire, Philip Howell | 6 Comments

Who are these people?

Posted on April 15, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Can you help us identify the people in this photo? These men were deacons of Tabor Baptist Chapel, Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, and the photo was probably taken in the early years of the twentieth century. I know that Stephen George stands … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Welsh language | Tagged Baptist chapel, Deacons, Dinas, Dinas Cross, J W Maurice, Pembrokeshire, Tabor, Tegfan | 4 Comments

Even better than John Lewis

Posted on April 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

You could buy this quality ‘lambswool throw’ on-line from John Lewis and take it on trust that the colours are stunningly beautiful and that it is soft to touch. Tegfan visitors, however, are within easy reach of Melin Tregwynt where … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, History, Wildlife | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, mill shop, Pembrokeshire, Tegfan, weaving, wool | Leave a comment

Buy local and delicious

Posted on April 8, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Posted in Farming, Food, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Ann Evans, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Glan-y-Mor, Kiel House, local honey, Pembrokeshire | 1 Comment

I was a child vandal

Posted on April 4, 2014 by bookvolunteer

I’m confessing to having played a part in destroying the dunes at Newport. As children we slid down into the hollows, we tunnelled dangerously deep into the sand and we raced heedlessly to get lost in the dips and the tall … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, History, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, dunes, erosion, Geraint Jenkins, marram grass, Newport sands, Pembrokeshire, sand dunes, Tegfan, The Craft Industries | 1 Comment

Welsh Ships and Sailing Men

Posted on April 1, 2014 by bookvolunteer

I have bought this delightful book and shall be adding it our collection. What a treat! Just the thought of it sitting expectantly on our shelves, should tempt you down to Tegfan to read it. J Geraint Jenkins, who was … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Crafts, History, Sea, Welsh language | Tagged Cwm yr Eglwys, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Fishguard, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Pwllgwaelod, sea faring, ship building, Tegfan, West Wales | Leave a comment

Dry Stone Walls

Posted on March 28, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Dinas has miles of beautiful old stone walls and even some relatively new ones. My favourite old walls are up the mountain where they are host to the vegetation that causes their eventual disintegration – and a richness of wildlife. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Farming, History, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, dry stone walls, Pembrokeshire, Preselis, Tegfan | 2 Comments

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Spring

Posted on March 25, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Tegfan is within a few hundred yards of the coast path, which provides wonderful walking at any time of the year. The scenery, the flowers, the sky and the sea change from month to month to enchant and delight. It … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Nature, Sea, Walking, Wildlife | Tagged cliffs, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire coast path, Pembrokeshire coastal path, sea, Tegfan, walking | Leave a comment

The Great Storm of 1859

Posted on March 21, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Now that we have seen the TV pictures of the storms battering the SW coast in the winter of 2013/2014, we can begin to imagine the strength of the Royal Charter Storm, the most powerful storm in the Irish Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Sea | Tagged Cwm yr Eglwys, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Dinas head, Dinas Island, Pembrokeshire, St Brynach's Church | Leave a comment