As the UK and Welsh 'Sports Personality of the Year' reviews are about to be broadcast on BBC TV it's worth sparing a thought for local cycling hero Josh Tarling. Compared to his stellar 2023 season it’s been a somewhat cruel 2024 for the professional track & road time trial specialist from Ffos-y-ffin who continues to ride for the UK-based Ineos Grenadiers team. Josh started the 2024 season well … A team pursuit victory and a 3rd place in the Madison race at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup at Adelaide, Australia in early February. A road time trial stage victory at the O Gran Camino (The Great Way) staged through the Galicia region of Spain in late February. A 6th place at the Dwars door Vlaanderen one-day road race on the treacherous Belgian cobblestones in late March. Another victory in the elite time trial race at the UCI National Championships in June, repeating his previous win in 2023. Sadly, for this year’s ‘higher profile’ events, lady luck has not quite been on Josh’s side despite his continuing great form. He was ... Denied at least a bronze (or a probable silver) medal in the Olympic Road Time Trial after sustaining the only puncture of the race on the rain-soaked streets of Paris. He missed out on a medal by a mere 2 seconds. A soul-destroying result for Josh as well as his family and fans. Forced to abandon after a horrible high-speed crash on stage 9 of his ‘Grand Tour’ debut in La Vuelta (the Tour of Spain) in August, after a promising 6th place finish in the stage 1 time-trial. Edged out to 4th place at the UCI Road World Championships time trial in Zurich, Switzerland. More bad luck struck Josh when he suffered broken ribs after a crash in the Tour of Croatia in early October. To add insult to injury (no pun intended) his accident resulted in him having to withdraw from the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark. That said, it has to be recognised that, despite being a mere 20 years of age, Josh is regularly mixing it with arguably the top 2 time trialists in the world, in the shape of older riders Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) and Josh’s Ineos-Grenadiers team-mate Fillipo Ganna (Italy). Josh had already previously finished in 3rd place behind this pair in the 2023 UCI World Championships time trial after a stunning performance (aged 19) which finished spectacularly on the steep cobbled ramparts of Stirling Castle in Scotland. This performance really raised Josh's public profile as it was broadcast live on mainstream UK TV. To match that, on stage 4 of the renowned the 2024 Citerium du Dauphine race in France the 34km time trial from Saint-Germain-Laval to Neulise saw Josh lead the entire field of racers by 1 second at the second time check, only to be nudged into 2nd place by the renowned Remco Evenepoel at the finish. A great performance against an elite field of competitors, this further consolidated his place in the upper echelons of world time trialists. BBC TV interview after 4th place finish in the 2024 UCI time trial in Zurich Continuing in a positive vein, the challenges that he has faced in 2024 will surely be character-building in the long term. His disappointment after his string of narrow podium misses and crash-related abandonments was evident in his TV interviews, particularly after the 4th place in the UCI time trial in Zurich (see photo above). He is clearly a driven and self-critical young man despite his incredible achievements to date at a world level, let alone the UK. This bodes well for any athlete. His potential to hit new heights has been further rubber-stamped by a 3-year contract extension to 2027 by his team, Ineos-Grenadiers. Given that Josh already has 10 years of full-time competitive cycling under his lycra there’s no knowing where he’ll be when he reaches his mid-30s, which is when many of the greats were in their prime … including a certain Geraint Thomas ;) Here's hoping that Josh continues to grow as an athlete. He’s got great support team from his father Mike (a Welsh track and road cyclist), mother Dawn and younger brother Finlay (also a professional cyclist with Israel Premier Tech Academy). Of course, it goes without saying that the residents of the Aberaeron area are all 100% behind Josh and are wishing him ‘pob lwc’ through 2025! Paris Olympics send-off for Josh at Aberaeron bakers 'Y Popty'. Left to right: Pete 'Bach' Evans, Ray 'Penmaesglas', Sian Thomas, Mike & Dawn Tarling. For those wanting to follow Josh's stats & achievements, there’s plenty of information available online: Josh's Story: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/article/20240726-My-Story--Josh-Tarling-0 Pro Cycling Statistics: Josh & Finlay https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/joshua-tarling/start https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/finlay-tarling

‘Y Wal’. Dyna oedd teitl sioe Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron eleni! Ond pa wal? Wal fawr Tsiena? Wal Berlin? Neu Wal ‘Cofio Tryweryn’? Na! Ein wal ni ein hunain yma yn Harbwr Aberaeron. Dyna beth oedd sioe. Swynwyd y gynulleidfa ar ddwy noson wrth iddynt gael eu tywys trwy’r ddwy ganrif a mwy diwethaf o hanes yr harbwr. Dechreuwyd gyda’r enwog Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne yn cyhoeddi’r siarter a arweiniodd at adeiladu’r harbwr a datblygiad Aberaeron fel tref forwrol a masnachol. Clywyd am adeiladu’r llongau mawr ac atgoffwyd ni o enwau rhai o’r llongau hynny a deithiodd i bedwar ban byd gyda bechgyn lleol ar eu bwrdd. Mae enwau’r llongau yn fyw o hyd yn enwau tai Aberaeron heddiw! Gwelwyd y dyrfa wrth yr harbwr yn ffarwelio wrth i deuluoedd lleol ymfudo i Ohio yn 1818 oherwydd gorthrwm tirfeddianwyr. Wrth gwrs mae’r cysylltiadau rhwng Aberaeron ag Ohio yn parhau hyd heddiw. Cofiwyd hefyd am bysgotwyr lleol ac yn arbennig y teulu Jenkins. Mor braf oedd cael dau o’u disgynyddion o’r Ysgol yn adrodd eu hanes. Portreadwyd taith stormus nifer o’r pysgotwyr hynny yn llawn hiwmor. Mewn golyga hynod liwgar, atgoffwyd y gynulleidfa o’r hyn sy’n denu’r tyrfodd i harbwr Aberaeron bob blwyddyn. O’r ffair ym mis Tachwedd i dynnu gelyn ar draws yr harbwr yn yr haf, i’r carnifal unigryw a Gŵyl y Mecryll i gloi’r tymor gwyliau. Trwy gyfrwng ffilm gwelwyd disgyblion y Dosbarth Meithrin yn ‘crwydro’r’ safle adeiladu ac yn holi, “Pam fod angen y morglawdd newydd arnom?” I gloi’r perfformiad, talwyd gwrogaeth i gwmni BAM am eu gwaith a’u dyfalbarhad trwy ddawns fywiog. Dyma oedd perfformiad a fydd yn dal yn y cof am amser hir a pa well ffordd o drosglwyddo hanes ein tref i’r genhedlaeth nesaf. Llongyfarchiadau i bawb a fu ynghlwm â’r sioe. Mair Jones

Hunkered down at home in the storm? Thought it might be timely to give you some light reading in the form of our Christmas Newsletter. As the photo on the first page suggests, it is highly focused on the issue of the year- our library :

Curated Galleries Select by Category ANIMALS & FARMING BEACH & SEAFRONT BICENTENARY CARNIVAL COMMERCE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LANDSCAPE MAPS & DOCUMENTS PEOPLE PERFORMANCES PLACES OF WORSHIP POSTCARDS RIVERS & BRIDGES SCHOOL SHIPS & HARBOUR SPORTS TOWN TRANSPORT Navigation Help Copyright Notice 1800s 1900s 1920s 2000s UNDATED 2635 Select by Era

Articles Open Evan Jones, Coedmore: Merchant Navy Chief Steward (1861-1937) Open Evan Jones' Descendants: Allen Stanford Jones (1918-1941) Open Evan Jones' Descendants: Timothy Jones (1894-1943) Open Evan Jones' Descendants: David Owen Jones (1896-1967) Open Evan Jones' Descendants: Gwilym Ieuan Morgan (1914-2005) Open Ron Davies: Photographer (1921 – 2013) Open Dr Hugh Herbert: Student, Serviceman, Physician Open The Herbert Family of Llangeitho Open The Aberaeron Post Office Scandal 1874 Open Tanyfron Villa 1870-1955 Open Mariners at Rest Open J.R Evans, Anchor House Open Aberaeron Shops: Booksellers Open Mariners: Military Sons, Capt John Evans, Milford House Open Mariners: Capt Evan Daniel Jones Open Mariners: Capt William Williams Open The Barque Glenara Open Mariners: Capt Thomas Thomas Open Mariners: Capt John Evans, Milford House Open Mariners: Capt David Jones, Pantteg Open Mariners: Capt David Jones & Wife Mary, Pentwr Open Portland House Captains Open Portland People

Timeline Select Era 1200-1799 1800s 1900s 2000s Castell Cadwgan, earth and timber castle built on the coast 1200 Cywydd (poem) by Lewis Glyn Cothi mentions Aberaeron 1500 Aberaeron mentioned in a survey of the coast 1565 First surviving entry in Court Leet records of Manor of Llyswen (next is 1774) 1693 Chart of the coast by Lewis Morris doesn’t show Aberaeron 1748 Aberaeron Uchaf (Dolau Aeron) built by Lewis Gwynne. Closed c 1815, rebuilt 1852 1757 Earliest known reference by a visitor to an Inn at Aberaeron 1769 Turnpike Trust formed. Presumably a toll gate was erected shortly afterwards 1770 Court Leet (council of the Manor of Llyswen) records complete to late 19th century 1774 Upper Bridge built 15 yards from the old one 1783 Aberaeron Benefit Society formed 1785 Chart of the coast by William Morris shows Aberaeron 1801 Act of Parliament enabling Rev. Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne to improve harbour 1807 Harbourmaster Hotel built 1807 First Pier complete 1809 Crescent of 4 houses (Mynachdy Row – Bedlam Barracks) built north of Harbour 1811 Second Pier complete 1811 New Lower bridge built (rebuilt 1881-2) 1813 Storm damage to the new piers 1813 Pengarreg House built by John Atwood, son-in-law of Rev. A.T.J. Gwynne 1815 The Feathers hotel built by William Lewes of Llanaeron 1815 School (Ysgol-Glan y-môr) built on the shore just north of the Harbour mouth 1818 Rev. A.T.J. Gwynne died 1819 Colonel Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne succeeded his mother to the estate 1830 Peniel Chapel (Congregationalists) built (remodelled 1857, 1897) 1833 Tabernacle (Calvinistic Methodists) built (enlarged 1869) 1833 Trinity Chapel built (now Holy Trinity Church); Edward Haycock rebuilt 1872 1835 Workhouse {now Aberaeron Hospital) built 1839 Northern Pier extended to the north 1840 Town Hall (for magistrates), market and gaol built 1844 Tithe survey and map 1845 National School established 1848 Post Office established in the town 1859 Col Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne died 1861 Aberayron Steam Navigation Company was formed (existed until 1876) 1863 Salem chapel (Wesleyan Methodists) built (Roman Catholic church 1997) 1864 Act enabling Aberaeron to have gas lighting 1866 National School opened (now Freemasons’ Lodge) 1872 Chalybeate Well discovered 1872 British School built (behind Portland Place) 1872 Holy Trinity rebuilt (chancel rebuilt 1897) 1872 The Aberayron Steam Packet Company, formed, (existed until about 1918) 1877 Siloam Chapel (Baptists) built (now carpet warehouse) 1878 Lower Bridge damaged in a flood and rebuilt 1881 Aerial railway across harbour. Closed ~1931; re-built 1988, closed ~1990 1881 Tennis Club formed 1882 Last ship, the Cadwgan, to be built in the harbour 1884 Aberaeron became the County Town 1888 20th September. Aberaeron Urban and Rural Districts formed 1892 County School opened 1898 Work began on the new railway line to Aberaeron, opened in 1911 1909 New Upper Bridge built to provide access to the new station 1911 Memorial Hall built 1925 Railway closed for passengers 1951 Last goods train left Aberaeron 1965 Bicentenary of 1807 Harbour Act 2007