Residential Trip to Cardiff
October 2018
46 members of our U3A group visited Cardiff for four days stopping, en route, at Bristol to indulge our love of Brunel. ‘Darwin told us where we came from, but it was Brunel who took us where we wanted to go’.
Day 1: SS Great Britain. We knew this ship would be a wonderful exhibit and we were not disappointed. There were first class cabins, family cabins and steerage areas all kitted out with narrow bunks, a few shelves and sea chests. There was a doctor’s cabin, the captain’s cabin and the all-important galley, complete with rats! We learnt about the history of the ship’s life including its return from the Falklands on a barge. Subsequently it has been refurbish and presented as close to its original state as designed by Brunel. The recently opened, and award winning, exhibition staged in the dockside sheds shows how Brunel was responsible for railways, bridges, tunnels and ships. Many of his original pencil drawings were on display showing that he was a meticulous and talented draughtsman as well as designer.
Day 2: Brecon Light Railway. Off we went on the little train pulled by a vintage steam locomotive, off into the Brecon Beacon’s National Park to Torpantau. The railway was originally built to transport slate from the quarries for export all over the world. We passed along the full length of the picturesque Taff Fechan Reservoir. On the return journey the train stopped for passengers to have coffee and welsh cakes together with a photo opportunity of the high peaks nestled against the clear blue sky and occasion white fluffy cloud.
The Big Pit. Many of us braved the ‘shaky’ miners’ cage and went down into the coal pit suitably donned in helmet and headlamp, with gas masks strung to our belts. Through the damp, the smells and the stories told by our guide we could easily imagine the miners, and children, at work. We saw the stable for the horses who were kept underground in the darkness for hauling the coal trucks for up to 15 years. We also saw the air-lock doors that young children were stationed to operate for the coal tubs to go through. These children were perhaps on 6 or 7 and many were sons and daughters of the miners. Those that survived childhood often became miners themselves, ill health and the dust shortened the lives of the men that worked there. We have to admire those men and what they did for their families, communities and their country.
Day 3: St. Fagan’s National Museum of Welsh History. The advert says ‘explore how people in Wales have lived, worked, spent their leisure time’. We did exactly that. Farmhouses had been re-sited from the countryside retaining their warm family feeling within their thick walls. The church nestled among the beautiful woodland had bible stories painted in red on the walls for those who couldn’t read. The Iron Age roundhouses were stunning and iron ore was being worked on inside. We also learnt about the use of plants in medicines. Back among the terraced houses kitted out through the ages together with vegetable gardens etc completed a fascinating morning’s visit.
Cardiff Castle. Some of us went up to the Castle and enjoyed the sunshine, the ramparts, the keep and the war-time shelters. The ornate Castle rooms were memorable with their opulence. An unforgettable experience.
Cardiff Bay. Others had chosen to spend the afternoon around the Bay, one of the greatest marine developments in Europe. Some took a boat trip to the Barrage and watched the raising of the bridge and the lock opening to allow boats through to open sea. Many of the buildings are high tec modern but period buildings can be seen in and around the Bay.
Day 4: The Royal Mint. During our guided tour of the Mint we pressed a brand new design of the £2 coin and watched the manufacturing of pound coins. 750 pound coins were being pressed every minute. We saw how the blanks are prepared which involved scalping, rolling, blanking, electroplating, annealing, pickling and finally ‘struck’. We saw the edge lettering and the bi-colour coins being made. Coins for all over the world and British medals are also made here, the largest Mint in the world.
The trip was enjoyed by all and our thanks go to Colin for organising and Bradley our coach driver. We came away understanding the pride that the Welsh have for their country, language, communities and their families.
Victoria Polland
October 2018
Day 1: SS Great Britain. We knew this ship would be a wonderful exhibit and we were not disappointed. There were first class cabins, family cabins and steerage areas all kitted out with narrow bunks, a few shelves and sea chests. There was a doctor’s cabin, the captain’s cabin and the all-important galley, complete with rats! We learnt about the history of the ship’s life including its return from the Falklands on a barge. Subsequently it has been refurbish and presented as close to its original state as designed by Brunel. The recently opened, and award winning, exhibition staged in the dockside sheds shows how Brunel was responsible for railways, bridges, tunnels and ships. Many of his original pencil drawings were on display showing that he was a meticulous and talented draughtsman as well as designer.
Day 2: Brecon Light Railway. Off we went on the little train pulled by a vintage steam locomotive, off into the Brecon Beacon’s National Park to Torpantau. The railway was originally built to transport slate from the quarries for export all over the world. We passed along the full length of the picturesque Taff Fechan Reservoir. On the return journey the train stopped for passengers to have coffee and welsh cakes together with a photo opportunity of the high peaks nestled against the clear blue sky and occasion white fluffy cloud.
The Big Pit. Many of us braved the ‘shaky’ miners’ cage and went down into the coal pit suitably donned in helmet and headlamp, with gas masks strung to our belts. Through the damp, the smells and the stories told by our guide we could easily imagine the miners, and children, at work. We saw the stable for the horses who were kept underground in the darkness for hauling the coal trucks for up to 15 years. We also saw the air-lock doors that young children were stationed to operate for the coal tubs to go through. These children were perhaps on 6 or 7 and many were sons and daughters of the miners. Those that survived childhood often became miners themselves, ill health and the dust shortened the lives of the men that worked there. We have to admire those men and what they did for their families, communities and their country.
Day 3: St. Fagan’s National Museum of Welsh History. The advert says ‘explore how people in Wales have lived, worked, spent their leisure time’. We did exactly that. Farmhouses had been re-sited from the countryside retaining their warm family feeling within their thick walls. The church nestled among the beautiful woodland had bible stories painted in red on the walls for those who couldn’t read. The Iron Age roundhouses were stunning and iron ore was being worked on inside. We also learnt about the use of plants in medicines. Back among the terraced houses kitted out through the ages together with vegetable gardens etc completed a fascinating morning’s visit.
Cardiff Castle. Some of us went up to the Castle and enjoyed the sunshine, the ramparts, the keep and the war-time shelters. The ornate Castle rooms were memorable with their opulence. An unforgettable experience.
Cardiff Bay. Others had chosen to spend the afternoon around the Bay, one of the greatest marine developments in Europe. Some took a boat trip to the Barrage and watched the raising of the bridge and the lock opening to allow boats through to open sea. Many of the buildings are high tec modern but period buildings can be seen in and around the Bay.
Day 4: The Royal Mint. During our guided tour of the Mint we pressed a brand new design of the £2 coin and watched the manufacturing of pound coins. 750 pound coins were being pressed every minute. We saw how the blanks are prepared which involved scalping, rolling, blanking, electroplating, annealing, pickling and finally ‘struck’. We saw the edge lettering and the bi-colour coins being made. Coins for all over the world and British medals are also made here, the largest Mint in the world.
The trip was enjoyed by all and our thanks go to Colin for organising and Bradley our coach driver. We came away understanding the pride that the Welsh have for their country, language, communities and their families.
Victoria Polland
October 2018