The village of Troedrhiwfuwch ran their fourth community activity this year, since Dr Liz Jones (Commercial Engagement & Research Development Officer, Awen Institute) and Professor Alan Dix (Director of the Computational Foundry, Swansea University), began working with them in March 2021. The event was the Remembrance Service held at the Troedrhiwfuwch War Memorial, for the fallen men of Troedrhiwfuwch in both World Wars. This was an extremely well supported inter-generational community event this year, and was attended by 37 people, ranging in age from six to 86. People attending came from as far afield as Yorkshire, and also included the two latest members of the community, who moved into the newly renovated Post Office (one of only two buildings that remain in the village).
Dr Jones made a wreath for the war memorial with one poppy representing each name on the memorial (16 from WW1 and from WW2). The wreath also included five additional poppies for men who Carys-Ann Neads (Community Archivist) and Vincent Davies (Military History Expert) have found during the course of their research this year. Carys made a label to go on the wreath, adding the additional five names. This was really significant, as this was the first time those men’s names had been remembered along with others fallen on the memorial. The community plan to get a plaque made with the additional names, so that it can be displayed on the wall next to the memorial. These Troedrhiwfuwch men can then be remembered alongside other men from the community.
The Remembrance Service was followed by a presentation of a plaque to Mr Brian Thomas in the newly furnished Memorial Garden, marking the 60th anniversary of his conducting of the Troedrhiwfuwch Remembrance Services from 1961-2021.
The Memorial Garden was the site of Troedrhiwfuwch’s St Teilo’s Church, which was demolished when the village site was cleared in the mid-1980s.
After the presentation, the community went on to St Tyfaelog’s Church in the neighbouring village of Pontlottyn. This church is the mother church of St Teilo’s (previously cited in Troedrhiwfuwch) and the contents of St Teilo’s were moved to St Tyfaelog’s when the daughter church was demolished.
Much of the Troedrhiwfuwch military archive was on display for the Open Day, with Carys-Ann Neads and Vince Davies speaking with community members about its content and future plans.
Dr Liz Jones, Commercial Engagement & Research Development Officer at the Awen Institute, said:
“It is wonderful to see the community coming together with so much respect to honour and remember the fallen men of Troedrhiwfuwch; and for the memorial garden to start to look cared for again. I think it will be well used by the community and they have many plans for next stages of development, which will hopefully be able to integrate the community archive material and digital technology that Professor Alan Dix has developed.”
