Newspaper article talks of Ladies' relationship

* The Ladies of Llangollen.

A newspaper article says the Ladies of Llangollen became Ireland’s “first known lesbian couple” years before it was decriminalised.

The precise relationship of the two women who fled from their homes in British-ruled Ireland in the late 18^th century to famously set up home at Plas Newydd has long been the subject of debate.

Many claim Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby were like-minded friends while others believe they were linked romantically.

However, a story in Ireland’s Sunday Independent last weekend describes their status in very definite terms.  

The subject of the ladies, who both lie buried beneath their own memorial in St Collen’s churchyard in the town, was raised by the newspaper ahead of a vase featuring them coming up for auction in Ireland early next month. Comments

The story says: “Two Irish aristocratic ladies known as the ‘two most celebrated virgins in Europe’ became Ireland's first known lesbian couple centuries before it was decriminalised.

“The Ladies of Llangollen - Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two upper-class women from Kilkenny - scandalised society and had to elope to Wales in 1778.

* Plas Newydd.

“Eleanor was the youngest daughter of the Earl of Ormonde of Kilkenny Castle. She was said to be clever, bookish and satirical but at 39, was viewed as a spinster.

“Her family considered putting her in a nunnery. Some 28 kms away, at the mansion of Woodstock House and gardens, Sarah Ponsonby, a 23-year-old orphan, was fending off the unwanted attentions of Sir William Fownes, her married middle-aged guardian.

"His wife, Betty, whose health was deteriorating, was loved by Sarah. However, William was over-eager in his hope to take Sarah as his second wife, leading her to flee with Eleanor.

“The pair met after Eleanor was asked by both families to mind Sarah, who was attending Miss Parke's School close to Kilkenny Castle in 1768.

“Both women felt trapped in an unbearable situation. Clandestine correspondence led to their decision to elope to Wales together.

“Dressed as men and travelling by horse, they rode overnight to Waterford. But luck was not on their side, as their boat did not sail, and the pair were forced to hide in a barn. They were caught and taken home. Sarah fell seriously ill with a fever, but Eleanor, faced with incarceration in a French convent, ran away again - to hide in Sarah's bedroom.

“When this was discovered, the Ormondes refused to collect their daughter and the Fownes family caved in. Sarah and Eleanor were free to go.

“Living first in a rented home in the village of Llangollen, they moved in 1780 to a small cottage that they called Plas Newydd or "new mansion". They developed their home in the Gothic style with Welsh oak panelling, pointed arches, stained glass windows, and an extensive library, in which they received guests.

“Their house became a haven for visitors travelling between Dublin and London. William Wordsworth wrote a sonnet about them. Other visitors included Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott and the Duke of Wellington. Queen Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, persuaded King George III to grant them a pension.”

“Mealy auctioneers are holding an auction on July 10 and 11, and selling a vase detailing the two ladies. George Mealy said the piece was reflective of ‘the brave women’.

"Obviously the unusual curiosity piece is a great conversation starter. These two women paved the way and took a leap of faith in a time when it was taboo and became infamous at that time."

The auction catalogue, which has the vase at lot number 195, describes it as: “A porcelain Group of two Ladies wearing Hunting Attire, German (Bisque) “The Ladies of Llangollen,” together with a blue two handled Vase with coloured print transfer of the “Ladies of Llangollen,” unusual and rare. The guide price is €80 – 120.

Festival of Praise at Methodist Church

Government asked to retain Independent Living Grant

Pressure is mounting on the Welsh Government to maintain an essential grant for disabled people after 20% of AMs backed a statement of opinion.

Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd has tabled a Statement of Opinion in the National Assembly calling for the Welsh Independent Living Grant, which allows severely disabled people to continue to live independently, to be retained.

The Welsh Government plans to scrap the grant next year, transferring the responsibilities over to Local Authorities.

Nathan Lee Davies, of Wrexham, has been campaigning to keep the grant for several years, and managed to pass a motion of support for maintain the grant at this year’s Welsh Labour Spring Conference.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: “Recipients of the Welsh Independent Living Grant tell me that the system as it is now works well, and they fear that transferring the responsibility over to councils would compromise their independence. Maintaining their independence is paramount. Their dignity and right to independence should be respected.

“Scotland’s Government has maintained its Independent Living Grant and indeed invested in the scheme. It’s widely supported by disabled people, and it provides a national criteria instead of forcing a prescribed criteria locally that would result in a post code lottery for the most severely disabled people. This is what will happen in Wales under the proposals.

“I’m calling for each Assembly member to sign up to my Statement of Opinion, and urging as many people to contact their Assembly Member asking them to support it. So far 20% of Assembly Members have signed up. I would hope that Labour Assembly Members would support it, as it chimes with their own party policy that was only passed earlier this year following a strong grassroots campaign.”

Growing interest in community garden

* Visitors check out the community garden.

* Plants on sale during the day.

A steady stream of interested visitors called in at a sun-soaked open day hosted by Llangollen Community Garden yesterday (Sunday).

They were able to see latest developments by the group of volunteers which runs the plot adjacent to the grounds of Plas Newydd.

These included a system powered by solar energy for pumping water into the garden which doesn't have its own mains supply.

People who called in were also served tea and home-made cakes and were able to take advantage of a plant sale.

Search is on for volunteer custody visitors

A search has been launched in North Wales to find volunteers to act as custody watchdogs to police the police.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones is seeking for up to six independent custody visitors to help him.

Mr Jones wants to appoint volunteers to join the existing team responsible for visiting custody facilities in Wrexham.

Their job will be to safeguard the welfare of people detained by the police and ensure their rights are upheld.

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake at least 10 unannounced visits a year along with and attending training courses, meetings and conferences.

Mr Jones said: “We have a responsibility to ensure that the police are doing things correctly and abiding by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. It is imperative therefore that we have a way of monitoring what goes on in a police custody area.

“We are looking for people with good communications skills who can demonstrate that they have independence and an impartial view, while at the same time maintaining confidentiality.

“This is a very important and interesting role, and I hope that we will attract a lot of interest from suitable candidates from all kinds of backgrounds. I am particularly keen to attract Welsh speakers, younger people and members of the black and ethnic minority communities.”

Custody visiting, formerly known as ‘lay visiting’, owes its origin to Lord Scarman, whose report on the Brixton disorders in 1981 recommended a system of independent  inspection of procedures and detention in police stations by local community members.

It did not become statutory until 1984 when responsibility was given to police authorities to have in place an effective independent custody visiting scheme.

All work done is on a voluntary basis, and travelling expenses are reimbursed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Executive Officer Meinir Jones, who has responsibility for overseeing the visiting scheme within the PCC’s office, said: “This is one of the Commissioner’s statutory duties and we are looking to recruit people over the age of 18 who either live or work in the North Wales Police area.

“They should also be independent of the criminal justice in that they do not work for the police or the probation service and do not serve as magistrates.

“The overall objective is to ensure that people held in custody are detained safely and properly and that their rights and welfare are being attended to.

“Visitors are free to arrange their own visiting times which can be anytime from early in the morning to late at night, any day of the week.

John Dolan, the Chair of the North Wales Custody Visitors’ Panel, said: “Operating in pairs, we approach a custody area unannounced and we have to be given immediate access.

“Accompanied by a sergeant or a civilian detention officer, we speak to detainees and check the condition of the cells to make sure they are clean and that everything is in working order.

“When vulnerable people are held in custody, we have to ensure that their needs are met as well as those of other detainees.

“We are not allowed to know the names of people in detention or what they are in for which allows us to retain our objectivity.

“We produce a written report at the end of each visit which is signed by the custody sergeant and anything we believe needs rectifying is put right straightaway or can be raised at the quarterly meetings which are held between visitors, the Police and Crime Commissioner and senior police officers.

“Ninety-six per cent of the people in custody wish to speak to us and we find that they communicate freely with us. They also value the opportunity to speak to an independent person about their detention and their welfare.”

He added: “I have been a Custody Visitor now for over four years and I find it a very fulfilling role. It does give you a sense of purpose and it’s not just a box-ticking exercise.

“It’s important to be a good communicator so that you can build up a rapport with detainees and also a professional relationship with the police.

“Our visits can be very rewarding and I believe detainees feel more confident that their welfare is of the utmost importance.

“The custody staff  welcome the fact that there is an additional layer of checks which confirm they are fulfilling their own role correctly and appropriately.

“The scheme can only add value to the whole policing service.”

Magistrates and serving or former police officers and special constables are not allowed to become custody visitors. To avoid possible conflict of interest, others may be excluded if they have direct involvement in the criminal justice system, such as solicitors or probation officers.

* Eligible individuals who are interested in applying to become a Custody Visitor in North Wales should contact Meinir Jones at the Commissioner’s office, either by ringing 01492 805486 or via email at: opcc@nthwales.pnn.police.uk

Operatic members in the honours

* Helen Belton receives the Special Achievement award from Jackie Titley. Pictures by Jon Haddy.

* ... and the Diana Gay Rose Bowl from Paul Gay.

* Bill Hughes with John Evans Memorial Award.

Members of Llangollen Operatic Society were in the honours at their annual meeting on Tuesday evening.

Producer Helen Belton received the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Wales and Ireland Region Special Achievement award.

_{It was handed over by NODA regional representative Jackie Titley who had come especially to make the presentation.}

_{Helen also won the Diana Gay Rose Bowl, voted on by the membership for having contributed the most to the society. It was presented by Paul Gay in whose late wife’s memory it was instituted.}

_{Bill Hughes picked up the John Evans Memorial Award for Best Performance for his role as Alfred Doolittle in the society’s recent production of  My Fair Lady.}

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers sought

Denbighshire Library Service is on the look-out for young volunteers to help with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Last year, 3,394 children got involved in the challenge and the service is looking to repeat last year’s success by involving volunteers.

The theme for this year is Mischief Makers.

Young people aged between 14 and 24 are invited to sign up as volunteers and will benefit from valuable work experience, the opportunity to develop confidence and social skills, as well as making a positive contribution to the local community.

Volunteers will sign up children to the challenge and help them find and choose books, help children and families to use the challenge website and to assist with events in the county’s libraries.

The volunteers will need to commit to a minimum of three hours across four weeks.

They will need good communication skills and preferably a willingness to engage with children and families in both Welsh and English, an interest in supporting and working with children, and in books and reading and a flexible, friendly approach to tasks undertaken, punctuality and reliability.

* For further information, please contact the local library. Details can be found on www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries