get set For a ‘Burst of Summer’
IT promises to be a glorious start to the Easter holidays with temperatures set to hit record heights for 2017 this weekend.
Wales is set to be bathed in sunshine with forecasters predicting an above average April as the great British getaway begins.
This weekend marks the start of the summer season for a number of tourist attractions including Barry Island pleasure park and the Pontypridd Lido, which is closed over the winter months.
Yesterday also marked the start of the RHS Flower Show, which takes place in Cardiff’s Bute Park throughout this weekend.
Show manager Rose Gore Brown said: “Our Cardiff show is always a great event – the first major show of the season and it really kicks everything off for us in a lovely way.
“This gorgeous sun we’re having just makes it that little bit more perfect and the spring flowers on display look even more amazing with the sun on them.
“Everyone is relaxed and happy in the Cardiff sunshine – and whatever they’re doing; listening to the band, having an ice cream, playing with the kids or even a cheeky glass of bubbly, it’s all made better by this gorgeous weather.
“The crowds were out in force for our first day and if this weather continues as promised, let’s hope for another record breaking weekend.”
By tomorrow, temperatures are expected to jump as high as 230C, making it the warmest day of 2017 so far.
The heat is anticipated to start creeping up throughout today, peaking at 180C or 190C across north-west Wales.
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “It is likely tomorrow we will see further sunshine for many parts of the UK.
“In the sunshine across Wales and England we will see temperatures above average for this time of year, above 180C or 190C.
“In south east England we could see highs of around 230C.
“It will be a lovely weekend for much of Wales and England, but in Northern Ireland and Scotland it will turn a bit cloudier.”
The stunning weather follows one of the mildest March months on record. Last month was the fifthequal warmest since 1910.
But make the most of it – as average temperatures are expected to return on Monday morning.
A MUCH-LOVED Valleys church will close its doors later this year after serving its community for 130 years.
St Anne’s Church in Ynyshir, near Pontypridd, has seen its congregation dwindle and, with a rising repair bill, the Church in Wales has made the difficult decision to close the church.
The news comes just weeks after the retirement of the ministry’s vicar, Father Paul Bigmore, who stepped down from his role of 20 years due to ill health.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Llandaff said: “It is always sad when a muchloved church which has served the community for over 100 years has to close but the small congregation and the large costs needed to repair the building make this inevitable.
“But the commitment of the church members continues and the Church of St John Evangelist in the parish of Porth Newydd will care for all those who wish to worship, to marry and to be baptised.
“It is important to celebrate the enormous commitment of all the parish priests and laypeople who, through the years, have worshipped in St Anne’s Church and have served the people of Ynyshir so faithfully.”
The church was designed by EM Bruce Vaughan and was built in early English style to serve the people of Ynyshir in 1886.
Fr Paul became vicar of the church in the late 1980s, and in his time focused much of his efforts on replenishing the once legendary musical heritage of the area.
During his ministry at St Anne’s, Fr Paul set up the Music in the Community scheme, organising concerts, recitals, masterclasses and competitions at the church.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the scheme, Fr Paul organised a concert at Canterbury Cathedral for local choirs and then hosted a return concert at St Anne’s featuring the Canterbury Cathedral choirboys.
A traditional Cymanfa Ganu – a festival of Welsh hymns sung by a congregation – was held last month to celebrate Fr Paul’s long commitment to the church.
Speaking before the event, he said: “Sadly we live in an age of declining congregations and of ageing buildings which are so expensive to maintain.
“The closure of any church is always a very poignant occasion for so many people as their lives have been involved in its ministry for generations.
“However, I am confident St Anne’s will leave a legacy of faith, hope and encouragement in the hearts and minds of all the people it has served over the years.”
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