Five good things from the last week
A few things made me feel good this week. It’s hard stopping at five, and not all made me feel ‘good’ as in happy and smiling. For example, the video of the bikers leaving the Hollybush estate for Mark Wood’s just left me feeling glad I was able to record a special moment. for his family and the community to remember. I had goosebumps hearing the revving of the bikes as they headed out Bryn Milwr and onto Hollybush Way. Local journalism should try its best to cover all aspects of life in a community and emotional events like this, and talking to a mum whose daughter was killed in a car crash, is part of what I try to do.
🤳🏼 Mike Gale, a Llantarnam resident, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis six years. He’s started a YouTube channel to raise awareness, share his journey, and help others going through similar challenges. We had a lovely chat a few days ago and I now subscribe to his channel and suggest you do the same.
🏍️ Mark Wood was an avid biker from Hollybush who passed away at 49 from a bleed in his stomach. His family asked motorbikers to join them on his final journey to Gwent Crematorium. I called his wife, Gill, and asked if she would mind if I stood on the road and filmed the procession to his funeral. She kindly said yes. You can watch the video on Facebook here. It’s been viewed over 190,000 times and attracted some lovely comments from his family, friends and just people who were touched by the tribute.
🧶 Attending events on Saturdays can be a juggle with it being the weekend and family stuff going on. But I was so glad I went along to this learn to crochet day for charity in Pontnewydd yesterday. During my 45-minute visit, I spoke to a few people and it just reminded me why I love proper local community news. The lovely volunteers appreciated me popping to get a few pics to put the spotlight on what they’d done to record it in a story 😊.
🗻 Three men who became mates during their years at Llantarnam Comprehensive School are doing the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for their mate, Joe Little, a Gwent Police officer who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer earlier this year. I chatted to Chris, one of the walkers, and enjoyed hearing their story and special friendship that’s still going strong into their late 40s.
🎧 Some stories take me ages to sit down and write. My interview with Danielle O’Halloran was done last month. I met her at an event in Sebastopol. Her incredible story took me time to figure out how best to get it down on ‘paper’. Her daughter, Chloe Hayman, 17, died in a car crash in July 2022. The man driving the car she was in had taken drugs and was over the drink-drive limit when he crashed in Fochriw, Caerphilly county borough. Read Danielle’s story here.
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