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But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited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

Concerns are mounting that the Beast of Bodmin could be holidaying in Pembrokeshire following reports that a large black cat, ‘the size of a labrador’ has been spotted in a field in Crundale.

The sighting was made on Saturday morning in a field adjoining Howard Crescent.

“We just want to make everyone aware that the huge black cat was seen in a field at the rear of our house in Howards Crescent,” commented concerned resident, Christine Hancock. ” And it was about the size of a labrador.”

Nearby residents have also reported that their dogs have been reacting to an unidentified presence whenever they are taken for walks in the same field.

This isn’t the first time that a ‘big cat’ has been seen in Crundale. A decade ago a black puma was seen on at least three separate occasions in fields near to the village.

There have been numerous big cats sightings in Pembrokeshire, including in 2012 when a former police officer reported a close encounter with a big cat in Treffgarne, near Haverfordwest. The officer described the animal as being about three feet tall with a large head, a muscular build and a smooth coat with brown spots. Pembrokeshire County Council described it as ‘the closest anyone has been to a big cat’.

Two years later a Letterston smallholder was alerted to a large black cat escaping from his farmyard, carrying a 30lb goose in his mouth.

“He didn’t expect to see me, and I didn’t expect to see him,” said smallholder Martin Hughes. “I was shaking for about two hours after.”

Mr Hughes described the animal as being jet black, approximately three-and-a-half feet long with a long black tail, a large head, large paws and big teeth.

Meanwhile the Beast of Boncath in north Pembrokeshire has made numerous appearances to motorists and local residents, while walkers in the area have reported seeing very large pad marks.

In 2021 a motorist reported seeing a light brown, muscular animal with a long tail near to Greenway Farm, Narberth. The motorist claimed the animal appeared to be chasing or pouncing on something. And in 2023 a big black cat was reported to have run across the path of a dash cam near Tavernspite.

Two days prior to last weekend’s Crundale sighting, kayakers David Davis and his wife Natalie spotted a big black cat, the size of an alsation dog, near to the Llangollen canal. After watching the cat saunter across the fields, it disappeared into a nearby forest.

A male panther’s territory ranges between 150 and 275 square miles while the female’s territory is typically 70 to 80 square miles. Panthers mark their territory with scrapes which are piles of dirt and grass scratched up with their hind legs.

Earlier this year the British Big Cats Society reported between 300 and 500 sightings of big cats in the UK per year, the vast majority being black panthers.

Big cats were once the height of fashion in the 1960s and ’70s, however this all changed with the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976. This resulted in people secretly releasing their pets into the wild to dodge the new ownership fees.