Community

Pupils chosen in worldwide competition

Published

8 years ago

June 22, 2016

Dylan’s ‘Great Poem’: Eight Johnston School pupils’ words chosen out
of hundreds worldwide to be part of bilingual epic poem

JOHNSTON Primary School’s last-minute entry for a poetry competition has been heralded as a success, and has even yielded a prize.

The worldwide competition which was entered by the Year Five and Year Six pupils, who are taught by Mr Tim Pounder, saw the children contributing towards ‘Dylan’s Great Poem’.

The poem is a bilingual piece of work which has been completely written by young people aged between seven and 25 to celebrate International Dylan Thomas Day.

To enter the competition, budding young poets had to submit four lines of poetry, with no more than eight words per line based around Dylan Thomas’ famous poem ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’.

The best 100 lines which were received in the worldwide competition were then combined to create the ‘Great Poem’.

The poem, which was a combined effort uniting a variety of different countries around the world, was recited live at Cardiff Library on International Dylan Thomas Day (Saturday May 14).

From the hundreds of submissions received, an incredible eight pupils from Johnston C.P. had their lines chosen for the final poem.

Mr Pounder said that having so many children from the school contributing to the final poem was a wonderful surprise. He said the competition result was a bonus, because the way in which all the children within the class embraced the task was what really impressed him.

He said: “I only decided to enter the competition at the eleventh hour and thought we had left it too late, so to have so many lines be included in the poem is an unexpected bonus.

“We just did some classwork based on it and asked them to think about how they could contribute to the ‘Great Poem’

“We put a lot of emphasis on writing for a purpose in school and this helped focus their thoughts. It shows what can be achieved by our pupils.

“Once the children started talking about what ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’ was about, they really got into it and the quality of their work was incredible.

“In my day, we didn’t touch poetry at this level until we were in secondary school, but if you don’t give children opportunity you don’t know what they are capable of and the pupils have created something inspirational.

“I’m extremely proud of them. Firstly, for showing such enthusiasm for poetry and secondly for creating such brilliant work.”

Mr Pounder’s words were echoed by Eva John, Challenge Adviser for English and Literacy.

She said: “The children responded very strongly to Dylan Thomas’s poem, ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’.

“Their own writing on the subject of hands, using the poem as a stimulus, reflects their clarity of observation, sensitivity and individuality.

“It is a wonderful achievement to have their words selected as part of an international bilingual poem in celebration of a great Welsh poet.”

Dylan’s Great Poem can be viewed on the Literature Wales website.

Community

Pembroke Dock care home with no planning permission for 15 years can stay open

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK care home which has been operating without planning permission for some 15 years has been approved by county planners.

Care home specialist Orbis Ltd sought a retrospective change of use for the former house on Stockwell Road to a residential care home for up to five adults, plus staff; the change of use having started in September 2009.

A supporting statement accompanying the application, by agent C2J Architects & Town Planners, said: “The applicant, Orbis Ltd is a sector-leading provider of specialist services for children and adults with complex needs associated with autism.

“Their integrated model of learning and living, combined with a holistic therapeutic approach, ensures that they can offer unique homes for life with continuous community-based learning for adults.

“The applicant’s primary aim is to provide a safe environment that encourages individuality, self-confidence, self-esteem and lifelong learning. It is a person-centred approach, encouraging adults to learn and develop skills that will enable them to play an active role in their community, supporting them to make their own informed decisions. The applicants work closely with families and carers to support individuals to develop and maintain relationships.”

It went on to say: “Up to five adults would remain at the property as their principal residence. Adults who are in the guardianship of Orbis have been taken into care for a variety of reasons, including fears for their physical wellbeing, learning disabilities or because of emotional or behavioural difficulties.

“The existing dwelling has been in use as a care home and registered with Care Inspectorate Wales for over 15 years, despite not formally having planning permission. It is key to note that given the use (C2) has been in operation for a continuous period in excess of 10 years, in accordance with Section 171B (3) of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, the current use is immune from any enforcement action.”

A report by planning officers, recommending approval, noted the retrospective nature, but added: “The scale and design of the property would remain acceptable within its setting and the surrounding area. There would be no impact on the residential amenity of the property or neighbouring properties.”

The application was conditionally approved by planning officers.

Community

Pembrokeshire County Council launches festive info hub

Published

23 hours ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WITH the festive season fast approaching, Pembrokeshire County Council has made it easier than ever to access essential service updates for Christmas and New Year.

The council’s website now features an updated ‘Christmas in Pembrokeshire’ page, providing answers to key holiday queries such as bin collection schedules and free parking availability.

Residents can also find information about leisure centre and library opening times, winter driving tips, bus timetables, salting routes, and a guide to Christmas markets across the county.

The page includes reminders about recycling rules, including what can and cannot be recycled, as well as details on Christmas tree recycling services.

For everything you need to know this festive season, visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/christmas-in-pembrokeshire.

Community

Henry Tufnell MP advocates for Pembroke’s bell restoration project

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

LAST weekend, Henry Tufnell MP visited St David’s Cathedral, where he had the opportunity to witness the tradition of bell ringing and meet with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project. The meeting underscored the vital importance of preserving Pembroke’s unique heritage while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the restoration team.

St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Pembroke, is home to a set of historic bells that have been a cherished part of the town’s life for over 260 years. However, due to structural and safety concerns, these bells have been silent, putting a pause on their role in significant civic and cultural events, including Remembrance Sunday and local celebrations.

A significant £150,000 from the £10.5 million UK Government funding pot has been allocated to this restoration project, but delays in finalising the grant have hindered progress. Henry pledged his commitment to ensuring that the project receives the attention it deserves to move forward without further obstacles.

Following his visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Speaking with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project at St David’s Cathedral highlighted how much this initiative means to the people of Pembroke. Restoring these historic bells is about more than just tradition; it’s about community pride and keeping our heritage alive for future generations. I’m determined to help ensure this project gets the green light it needs and I will be doing everything in my power to ensure it happens.”

The St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project has garnered widespread support from local residents and businesses, whose donations have helped secure the match funding required for the Fund. Completing the project would be a significant milestone, securing a vital piece of Pembroke’s history for years to come.