Oct 4 2007 by Gerry Holt, South Wales Echo
Now that the dark nights have returned the ghost tour season has started and places are available on Ghost Tours, Ghost Tour Extra and, for hands-on paranormal investigation, Ghostwatch.
For full details visit www.llancaiachfawr.co.uk or call 01443 412248 for bookings.
Co-ordinator Kevin Griffiths-Boden said: “It is well-known that this road is supposedly haunted, going back years and years.
“There have been a lot of crashes on this road, usually involving one vehicle, and what people have said is they saw white shapes coming out of the road.
“They feel they have run something over, they stop, and there is nothing there. And it is next to Plas Teg, which is a notorious haunted spot.”
Ghanon have investigated a number of locations in North Wales and North West England in recent years.
They use equipment including a digital CCTV system triggered by movement, and an electromagnetic sensor which registers changes in magnetic fields.
Kevin, an IT support manager by day, said: “We don’t want to disprove anything – we really want something to be paranormal, but we have to be realistic.
“We go looking for a temperature change or any anomalies.
“None of us found anything, but the reality is that, most of the time, nothing will happen.
“The more we do though, the more likely it is we will spot something.”
Kevin is now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed something paranormal on the A541 near Plas Teg to contact him.
Ghanon can be reached through their website, www.ghanon.org
Aug 17 2007 by Robin Turner, Western Mail
THE debate on whether big cats stroll the Welsh hills may still be ongoing.
But now an animal lover from the Swansea Valley wants to open his “hotel for cats” to leopards.
Gareth Williams, who runs the Abertawe Country Hotel for Cats in Glais in the Lower Swansea Valley, has applied for permission to breed Persian leopards in a special secure enclosure there.
Swansea Council has turned down his application for an operating licence under the 1976 Dangerous and Wild Animals Act.
Mr Williams, involved as a volunteer helper in an international big cats conservation scheme run by the European Endangered Species Project, has appealed to the Welsh Assembly Government.
Speaking at his cattery in Ynysmond Road, Glais, he said, “I hope to know within the next two months. It has stirred up quite a bit of interest but the project is vitally important for the future of Persian leopards which are an endangered species.
“I cannot say too much at this stage, however, out of respect for the planning process and those tasked with making a final decision on this.”
Swansea Council received a 338-name petition in support for the project and a 137-name petition against.
Mr Williams hopes to keep two Persian leopards at the Abertawe Country Hotel for Cats, with the aim of breeding them and then eventually releasing the animals in their natural habitats.
The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) is currently endangered throughout its distribution area in the Middle East.
The principal factors jeopardising the long-term survival of the Persian leopard are disturbance by building and commercial activities, poaching, and wildfires.
It can grow to up to 1.5 to 2.7ft tall at the shoulder, and weigh as much as 155 lbs.
The Persian leopard’s diet varies from small mammals and birds, to larger animals such as deer, antelope and occasionally wild boar.
The animal silently stalks its prey then strikes without warning, ending with a bite to the throat.
Aug 2 2007 by Our Correspondent, Celtic
A MISSIONARY-TURNED-MUM with an international family may not be the first person you expect to write about Saint Tydfil.
But Coral Smith of Park Crescent, Twynyrodyn is doing just that, penning a historical novel called Giant Steps that traces the history of Merthyr Tydfil’s patron saint.
Depicting St Tydfil’s life through the journey of a giant across the country, Coral’s tale takes some large steps of its own.
Coral traces the possible lineage of St Tydfil, a woman whom very little is known about, to the landing of Joseph of Arimathea in Britain and their settlement at Glastonbury.
Along the way, the novel draws upon legends including King Arthur to illustrate its case.
Coral is keen to stress her book is not a theory set in stone, instead hoping to promote debate.
“Ideas shouldn’t be too fixed, we have to look at everything,” said the 50-year-old .
“Exploration always happens when things are put in an exciting enough way.”
Her first book, Little Miss Tearful, also explored the history of Merthyr Tydfil, examining its construction through the eyes of an angel.
Coral ultimately hopes books such as Giant Strides will be the tip of a historical iceberg.
“People perhaps need to be more proud of Merthyr,” said the mother-of-seven, “if people started to create more, then the history of Merthyr could become something to explore and be proud of.”
Having adopted her children on her missionary travels from places such as Zambia and Mauritius, Coral is very aware of having to juggle the responsibilities of parenthood and work.
When asked how her children feel having an author for a mother, Coral said: “The little ones are still quite excited by it.
“I try to sneak time in when they are in bed, but they understand that sometimes mum has to write her book.”
Aug 1 2007 by Sam Lister, Daily Post
A SECRET “X-files” style dossier of UFO sightings in North Wales has been made public for the first time.
Details revealed under the Freedom of Information Act show 33 sightings have been reported in the area over the past decade.
They range from bright lights to dome-shaped objects, according to Ministry of Defence log-books which list times, dates, places and descriptions.
And on February 7 2001, two separate sightings were recorded in different parts of North Wales on the same day.
At 7.40pm in Caernarfon a witness reported seeing a star, with green and red on the side, that looked as though it was going to crash into their house.
Five minutes later in Amlwch, Anglesey, someone claimed to have seen an object with a blue glow that turned green, broke up and left smoke.
Other reports include a golden sphere “bigger than a planet” and a “white onion shaped object, glowing white with yellow sparks”.
Jul 9 2007 by Carl Butler, Daily Post
A GHOULS’ night out at a haunted mansion raised spirits – and plenty of cash for a good cause.
Staff from the Wrexham-based care organisation Pendine Park went on a paranormal vigil at one of the most haunted houses in Wales.
They followed in the footsteps of pop stars Girls Aloud by spending the night at Plas Teg, near Mold.
The girl band filmed their spooky experiences for a television programme, Most Haunted.
But the aim of Pendine Park’s sponsored fright night was to raise money for their residents’ fund.
The group of 12 staff raised £400 to pay for special treats for the residents.
As the spine-chilling antics were for such a good cause, Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft stumped up the £40 registration fee for each of the brave participants.
And the would-be ghost busters were not disappointed – because the Plas Teg spooks were not shy on the night.
Senior care practitioner Claire Venables said: “I was really scared before we went.
“When we went into the Cradle Room things started happening in there. I felt someone standing next to me.
“It was really weird in there and I didn’t like that room.
“It was horrible but then I started experiencing things like, it went really cold where it had been really hot and I wanted to take my jumper off – but then suddenly the temperature just dropped.
“I actually recorded the temperature, it was 16 degrees and it dropped to 0.6 degrees right in front of me.
“I must admit that did quite unnerve me.”
Receptionist Sue Owens was equally impressed with the spine-chilling experience – so much so that she’s now considering becoming a paranormal investigator.
She said: “It was brilliant, I saw a couple of flashing lights, my mobile changed colour and moved from the bottom of my bag to the top of my bag.
“I saw flashing lights under the door and, apparently, on the television you could see that there were orbs and other stuff flashing all around me.”
