Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.

The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives.  None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.

But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.

With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.

Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar.  She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage.  As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.

The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.

A NURSE has been suspended for 12 months after striking an elderly patient during a challenging incident at Withybush Hospital.

The suspension followed an incident in May 2022 on the trauma and orthopaedic ward, where nurse Primrose James, described as experienced and respected, was assisting an 80-year-old man known as Patient D. The patient, who had been recovering from a broken hip for six months, had a history of lashing out at staff.

A healthcare assistant who witnessed the event reported that James had struck the patient across his face and tapped his cheek after he had hit her. Recalling the incident, the assistant told the panel: “Primrose was standing beside the bed when she struck him across the face and then tapped him on the cheek, telling him off for hitting out.”

Reflecting on the incident, Ms. James expressed regret, noting her intention was never to harm patients. “This was a difficult encounter in a fast-moving situation,” she stated. “Knowing his history of aggression, I should have anticipated he might strike out, but I reacted instinctively in the moment.”

ALLEGATIONS REVIEWED

At the Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing, Ms. James faced multiple allegations. Two were substantiated: that she struck the patient and tapped his cheek. Allegations that she had acted further aggressively by pressing on his forehead and making unprofessional comments were dismissed as unproven.

The panel acknowledged Ms. James’s previously unblemished 16-year career, her extensive experience with dementia patients, and her immediate remorse following the incident. It was noted that Patient D’s aggressive behaviour was a recurring issue on the ward, and despite staff regularly facing his outbursts, no measures had been implemented by senior staff to manage the situation.

NEED FOR SUPPORT

In its decision, the panel criticised the lack of support for managing Patient D’s behaviour, stating: “Staff had reported ongoing assaults, yet action to address the patient’s aggression was lacking.”

While the panel determined that Patient D suffered no physical harm, they raised concerns about the potential for psychological distress to the patient and his family.

12-MONTH SUSPENSION

The panel ultimately ruled that a 12-month suspension was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the misconduct, despite Ms. James’s previously clean record and her remorse over the incident. The panel remarked: “This was an isolated incident involving a challenging patient, but a suspension order is warranted to underline the gravity of the incident.”

Ms. James’s suspension is subject to review at the end of the 12 months.

Pembrokeshire’s ancient Roman road network is once again coming under the spotlight thanks to a new publication by local historian and architect, Martin Davies.

‘A Few Causeways More’ explores some 90-miles of potential Roman routes extending from Whitesands to Caersws, which is half way between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.

The booklet follows hot on the heels of Martin’s previous booklet ‘Ancient Causeways Uncovered’ which was published in 2017, charting the previously undiscovered Roman route from Wiston to Trawscoed.

“Thanks to the support I’ve had from retired Cardigan solicitor John Dyer, we’ve been able to amass new evidence which includes 55 pages, over 100 illustrations, photos, maps, aerial views and cross-section roads,” Martin told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

The publication includes a total of 11 road uncoverings as well as some ‘mystery’ sites and what Martin describes as ‘a very unusual form of concrete’.

One complete route is covered in detail in the Ponterwyd area.

“So much survives in this area, enabling us to see how these roads once appeared in the more arable lowlands, where the name ‘sarn’ or causeway is now all too often just a memory,” he said. “But here, the ‘sarns’ can still be seen and walked on and are illustrated in the booklet.”

Martin, a retired architect, worked for the National Trust in the 1990s supervising the restoration of home farm outbuildings at Llanerchaeron and applying conservation repair techniques. He also ran the project to create Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan from the remains of the town’s former abattoir.

His first publication followed four years of extensive research and no fewer than eight excavations.

“I’ve purposely avoided producing a book that’s technical or academic, because I want people to experience the thrill of finding new evidence coming over in its pages,” he said.

“The books are written for the lay public by a lay author, and it relies on observation, practical experience and the occasional hard graft with a shovel and a trowel.”

‘A Few Causeways More’ is available in local bookshops including the Victoria Bookshop in Haverfordwest, the Seaways Bookshop, Fishguard, and Awen Teifi, Cardigan. It is priced £10 with all author’s profits being donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation, Haverfordwest.