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.

Why little girls in our family had to wear cotton pyjamas

Posted on March 18, 2014 by bookvolunteer

My Dinas grandfather became an economic migrant to London when his colour blindness put an end to his ambition in the merchant navy. In London he joined the fire service, where his daughter spectacularly survived a fall down the pole … Continue reading →

Did this legendary PR man for the Church in Wales really exist?

Posted on March 14, 2014 by bookvolunteer

St Brynach was a sixth century monk who earned his sainthood while socialising with royalty and travelling extensively both in mainland Europe and on the route which is now the A 487 between Fishguard and Nevern. He’s not exactly a … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Welsh language | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, St Brynach, Tegfan | Leave a comment

Spot a chough in Dinas

Posted on March 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

The RSPB estimates that there are only 250 to 350 breeding pairs of choughs in Britain and I’d say that there’s a good chance that you’ll see some during a Tegfan holiday. With their bright red beak and matching legs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Walking, Wildlife | Tagged bird-watching, Birding, chough, coast path, Coastal path, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Dinas Island, Pembrokeshire, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Tegfan | Leave a comment

Follow Dylan Thomas to our local

Posted on March 7, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Dylan Thomas’ (1914-1953) centenary will be celebrated with many events in South Wales throughout the year. The 1973 film of Under Milk Wood, with Richard Burton, was made in Lower Fishguard. I remember the houses round the harbour dressed with new shop … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Dylan Thomas, Pembrokeshire, poet, poetry, Tegfan, Under Milk Wood | Leave a comment

Wild rabbits on Dinas Island

Posted on March 4, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Did Dinas Island rabbits give birth to ‘Watership Down’? It seems likely that Ron M Lockley’s fascination with rabbits begin when he was farming on Dinas Island during the years of the second world war. His subsequent study on Skokholm … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, Nature, Walking, Wildlife | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Dinas Island, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire coast path, R M Lockley, Richard Adams, Tegfan, wild rabbits | Leave a comment

Getting closer to Ireland

Posted on February 28, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Our childhood summer holidays in Dinas seemed exotic to us Londoners. Of course the language was different, as was the food, the weather, the freedom we were allowed to roam, the stamps we bought for our postcards and even the … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged catamaran, day trip, Dinas, Dinas Cross, ferry, Fishguard, Irish sea, Pembrokeshire, Rosslare, stena, Tegfan, welsh language, Wexford | 4 Comments

The risky business of researching your family tree

Posted on February 25, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Our local author, Patricia Watkins, comes from a literary family, but started writing in earnest when inspired by the characters she discovered in her family tree. Her research into the ‘Potter’s of Haverfordwest has lead to a new career and … Continue reading →

Posted in books, History | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, family history, Haverfordwest, historical fiction, local author, Pembrokeshire | Leave a comment

Bobbin Lace

Posted on February 21, 2014 by bookvolunteer

I recently visited the Wallace Collection in London’s Manchester Square and was struck by Caspar Netscher’s Lace Maker. The sitter for this portrait was making her lace 350 years ago in the Netherlands in the same way as Mary Worthington … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crafts | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Lace making, Pembrokeshire, Tegfan | Leave a comment

Perished at sea

Posted on February 18, 2014 by bookvolunteer

David Vaughan Clay fell overboard and was drowned at sea when his ship was off the River Plate in S America. His family’s gravestone in Ramah Churchyard, a few minutes’ walk from Tegfan, gives the bare facts. The wonderfully informative … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Sea | Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, mariners, master mariner, Pembrokeshire, Ramah, sea captain, Tegfan | Leave a comment

A very local author

Posted on February 14, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Helen Carey is a very local author whose books have a double connection to our part of West Wales. Her Lavender Road series is set during the second world war and centres on a (fictional) South London street. My grandfather, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, History | Tagged author, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, romantic fiction, Tegfan, WW2 | Leave a comment

The work of J E Thomas and Son : craft in the community

Posted on February 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

If you love the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the offer of artistic treats surprising you in the landscape, I think you’ll enjoy the challenge of finding the work of Dinas’ local blacksmiths in the village. The tennis seat (look on … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crafts | Tagged Blacksmith, Dinas, Dinas Cross, forge, J E Thomas and Son, Pembrokeshire, smithy, Tegfan | Leave a comment

Car spotting and other nerdy pursuits

Posted on February 7, 2014 by bookvolunteer

With a possibly unjustified generalisation I’ll categorise people interested in the finer points of buses (or trains – planes – cars) as either geeks or nerds – probably nerds. I don’t think it is overly unkind as I’m going to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Transport | Tagged A 487, buses, car spotting, copper beech, Richards Brothers, transport | Leave a comment