GOWER NEWSGower’s Independent Online News, Event and Information Guide

Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies © 2011 Andrew Brooks

Issue 723rd September 2011

www.gowernews.co.uk

Gower Chilli Festival24th September 2011

THIS WEEKEND

Gower Chilli Festival24th September 2011

From the Editor

7th Edition

It’s hard to believe that the Gower e-News

e-publication has now reached its 7th edition; the

project started on 7th August 2011 with Issue 1.

Available online at www.issuu.com/gowernews and

the Gower News website - www.gowernews.co.uk -

the Gower e-News publication is being directly

accessed by around 500 people each week.

Indirectly, it’s estimate that the publication is being

read by a further 150+ people per day.

The pioneering of a regular e-publication dedicated

to the Gower area is already paying dividends; new

people are contributing on a weekly basis, helping to

spread hyper-local Gower news and events far and

wide!

Pictu

re: Num

ex Tw

ighlight Chillies ©

2011 Andrew

Brooks

Chilli-Fest

This week’s feature article contributor

is Gower resident and Chilli producer,

Andrew Brooks. On Saturday 24th

September 2011, Andrew will be

organising Gower’s first ‘Chilli

Festival’ in the village of Port Eynon.

You can read Andrew’s article in full

on pages 16-21

Marketing Mix

In order to maximise the coverage of

Gower e-News content , event

information like the Gower Chilli

Festival is regularly promoted via the

Gower News website and associated

social media channels: Twitter and

Facebook. In the last seven days,

Gower News’ Facebook content alone

has received 3,325 interactions from

Facebook users.

Follow Us On Twitter!

The number of Twitter followers is

also gaining ground; Twitter’s a great

way to share local information with a

global audience. The number of

followers of @gowernews is now

approaching 1,500!

For daily Gower ‘Tweets’ follow

Gower News on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/gowernews

Gower Harvest

It was a delight to be part of the

Gower Harvest foodie event at Eddy’s

in Llangennith recently; chef Andrew

Addis-Fuller did a superb job with the

local produce. A feature article about

the event, to include details of a future

event, will follow in due course.

This week, resident weather expert,

Chris Ridgway, enlightens us with

more of his celestial knowledge. This

week Chris has written a timely piece

to coincide with the Autumn Equinox

which is on Friday 23rd September

2011. Read Chris’ weather forecast

and feature article from page 28.

Cath Evans, one of the organisers of

Llangennith’s seasonal local produce

and craft market, writes about how

the local village produce market has

gone this year. By all accounts, there

was a bit of a ‘rush’ on pasties in July!

Read Cath’s report from page 12.

The MumblesGower OceanFest has

been rescheduled for this weekend

after bad weather resulted in the event

being postponed earlier in the month.

Let’s hope the weather is kinder to

participants and spectators alike.

Have a great weekend :)

This Week’s Contributors:

• Ian Ambrose

Chris Ridgway

• Emma Jones

http://www.ambiencefinearts.com

• Andrew Brooks

• Cath Evans

Cover Picture: Numex Twighlight Chillies © 2011

Andrew Brooks

If you would like to get involved by writing an article, or to share

your Gower news or event information, simply send an

email to the Editor: editorial@gowernews.co.uk

23rd September 2011GOWER NEWS

Editor / Design / Illustration

Ian Ambrose

Publisher

Gower News | www.gowernews.co.uk

editorial@gowernews.co.uk

Gower News is an independent and privately owned

online publication.

Distribution

This e-publication is freely distributed through

Gower News’ e-newsletter and online media network:

www.gowernews.co.uk

www.facebook.com/gowernews

www.twitter.com/gowernews

Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of

Gower News' Editor. Gower News does not accept responsibility for the

products, goods or services featured or advertised throughout this e-

publication. Gower News does not personally endorse any business,

organisation, product or service featured in this publication. Every effort is

made to ensure the information contained within this publication is accurate

and up to date. The contents of this publication are subject copyright and

must not be reproduced in any way without the express prior permission of

the publisher.

This W

eek’s Contributors

6

HA

RV

EST

Contents

7

8 - 9 What’s On

10 - 11 Local Produce Markets

12 - 15 Llangennith Produce Market

16 - 21 Gower Chilli Festival

22 National Trust Volunteering

24 MumblesGower OceanFest

26 Mumbles Tide Times

28 - 29 Weekend Weather Outlook

30 - 36 The Equinoxes Ancient Historical

Influences

37 Gower Ancestry

Date Time Details Contact Website

24/09/11 Clydach produce and craft market.

- Click Here

24/09/11 9.30am - 1pm Llangennith local produce market.

- Click Here

24/09/11 10am - 4pm A celebration of chillies at Port Eynon Village Hall. FREE entry.

- Click Here

24/09/11 7pm Charity summer concert at Bishopston Comprehensive School.

01792 234476

-

24/09/11 Various Mumbles Gower OceanFest. - Click Here

25/09/11 Various Mumbles Gower OceanFest. - Click Here

25/09/11 1pm The Admiral Swansea Bay 10k.

- Click Here

Events Around Gower

8

Event details believed to be correct at time of publication. Event charges may apply. Check event contact for further details and booking information.

9

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Gower Chilli FestivalPort Eynon, Gower

24th September 2011

Visit www.whatsongower.co.uk for more information.

Pontarddulais Produce and Craft MarketSecond Wednesday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm

The Institute, 45 St. Teilo Street, Pontarddulais

Mumbles Produce and Craft MarketSecond Saturday of every month between 9.00am - 1.00pm

The Dairy Car Park, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles

Gorseinon Canolfan Food and Craft FayreSecond Saturday of every month between 9.30am - 1.00pm

Canolfan Centre, Millers Drive, Gorseinon

Pennard Produce and Craft MarketSecond Sunday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm

Pennard Community Centre, Pennard

Penclawdd Produce and Craft MarketThird Saturday of every month between 9.30am - 12.30pm

Community Centre, Banc Bach, Penclawdd

Clydach Produce and Craft MarketLast Saturday of each month between 10.00am - 1.30pm

Moose Hall, Beryl Road, Clydach

Llangennith Produce and Craft Market24th September 9.30am - 1.00pm

Llangennith Hall, Llangennith

Local Produce

‘Local Produce “Market” of the Week’

~~~

Llangennith Produce and Craft Market24th September 9.30am - 1.00pm

Llangennith Hall, Llangennith

~~~

With the exception of ad-hoc events, this weekend sees the last of the seasonal produce market at Llangennith for another year.

“2011 has been another successful year for the market. In fact, at our July market, many of our food

producers had sold out by 11.00am and with still many shoppers turning up, there were quite a few

disappointed faces!”

~~~

Cath Evans, one of the organisers, writes about the Llangennith produce market which has taken place in the village community

hall over the summer period.

Read Cath’s report on the following pages...

~~~

& Craft Markets

Llangennith Local Produce MarketBy Cath Evans

Llangennith Produce Market has been running for 6 years. It is held from April to September on the last Saturday of the month as a fundraiser for Llangennith Hall.

Llangennith is a small village, but the market is lucky in that there are two caravan parks in the village, along with a number of campsites and bed and breakfasts.

The market is well supported by villagers, caravanners of Broughton and Hillend, and of course by the numerous holiday-makers and day-trippers who come to visit our beautiful beaches.

“Llangennith Produce Market is a lively village event - a good place

to meet up and have a chat.”

The seasonal monthly market at Llangennith offers a selection of producers, and includes both food and craft stalls.

Food producers include the butcher Paul Tucker, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, (when it is in season), Mary’s Kitchen, Gower Pasty Company, Orgranics and lovely cakes by My Simply Gorgeous Cakes, a local company based in Llanmadoc.

The committee of the hall also run a vegetable stall, selling local veg and Gower honey when available. They also run the café where bacon rolls and tea and coffee are available - very popular with campers and villagers alike, especially on those wet and windy Gower days!

Crafters include local artist Katie Kneath and photographer John Jenkins. Jewellery, knitted and fabric items, felt items and beautiful wood products - including chopping boards and candle holders made from locally sourced wood from Singleton Park - are also produced and sold by local crafters.

“Gower Pasty Company had sold out of pasties very early on and had to send back to the shop for more; they were then i n u n d a t e d w i t h customers and very soon sold out for a second time!”

Hillend Campsite near Llangennith. A view from Rhossili Down.

Llangennith Produce market is a lively village event, a good place to meet up and have a chat. It is friendly and a good place to buy locally produced food and craft.

The last of the summer season markets takes p lace th is Saturday September 24th

A special ‘Christmas’ Llangennith Local Produce and Craft Market is planned for the last Saturday in November.

Gower Chilli Festival24th September 2011Gower Chillis

Gower Chillis was established

by Andrew Brooks in Port

Eynon, near Swansea, in

2008. This is very much a

cottage industry but one

driven by a real passion to

grow a range of chillis that demonstrates the full

breadth and flavour of this humble, but fiery fruit.

Because Chillis are not native to the UK they take

a bit of looking after, explains Andrew. Careful

germination in January or February provides the

starting point for the Chilli year. Following

germination, in a hot room or electric propagator,

they need constant attention. They grow into

mature plants within 4-5 months (normally in a

greenhouse or poly-tunnel) and then flower and

fruit. Chilli ripening can take another 3 or 4

months and you can still be harvesting at

Christmas, so it is a year-long endeavour.

Pictu

re: Num

ex Tw

ighlight Chillies ©

2011 Andrew

Brooks

Most people think of blistering heat when they think of chillis but Andrew

didn’t set out to grow only hot varieties. “I wanted to grow chillis with real

personality and flavour, from all five chilli families, not just ones that would

blow your head off. The things that really excite me are the technical challenge

of growing great plants with high yields and the huge variety of recipes that

can be developed with what you produce,” said Andrew.

I wanted to

grow chillis

with real

personality and

flavour, from all

five chilli

families, not

just ones that

would blow

your head off.

”

“Picture: Aji Omnicolour (from South America) © 2011 Andrew Brooks

Chi

lli H

eat a

nd th

e Sco

ville

Sca

le

Picture: Purple Jalapeno's (Amercia / Mexico)© 2011 Andrew Brooks

Chilli Heat and the Scoville Scale

The fiery sensation of Chillis is caused by capsaicin, a potent chemical that survives both cooking and freezing, but apart from the burning sensation it also triggers the brain to produce endorphins, natural painkillers that promote a sense of well being.

Chilli heat is measured on the Scoville scale, which is named after Wilbur L. Scoville (1865-1942), who developed the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912. As originally devised, a solution of the pepper extract is diluted in sugar water until the 'heat' is no longer detectable to a panel of (usually five) tasters; the degree of dilution gives its measure on the Scoville scale.

Nowadays, capsaicin concentrations are determined using more scientific methods, typically High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The Scoville scale begins at zero with mild bell peppers and ends with chillis over 1Million in strength. Several chillis are vying for supremacy at the moment; Bhut Jolokia, Naga Viper, Dorset Naga and Infinity, to name but a few.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not the seeds that are the hottest part of a chilli, but the white pith that surrounds them and runs in thick veins through the pod. Fresh red chillies are two to three times hotter than green fruit, and dried pods are between two and ten times hotter than fresh pods.

The best antidote to chilli heat is either patience, or a dairy product such as milk or yoghurt. Drinking beer or water is the worst thing you can do, as the it washes the heat further into your taste buds. When cooking, remember the golden rule, you can add but you can't take away.

Picture: Cherry Bombs (from Europe) © 2011 Andrew Brooks

We would like to

hear from people

who would be

willing to ‘chilli-sit’

10 or more chilli

plants over the

winter.

“

”

Gower Chillis

Gower Chillis sell seeds, plants, chilli gifts, fresh and dried chillis and of course Specialist Chilli sauces. Their sauce Brand ‘BB Chilli’ is a collaboration between Gower Chillis and Paul Brandon who runs Changing Seasons Ltd. with outlets and restaurants in the Swansea Valley.

Gower Chillis current annual production is a few hundred plants and a few thousand chillis but we are on the lookout for suitable premises to develop the business further over the next few years.

The Gower Chilli Festival in Port Eynon on Saturday 24th September 2011 is the first step in what we hope to be an Annual Event.

“It is an opportunity to see more than 30 species of chilli in full fruit and taste some great chilli flavours,” said Andrew.

“We would also like to hear from people who would be willing to ‘chilli-sit’ 10 or more chilli plants over the winter (a centrally heated house and a light room is all that is needed).

“Full instructions and help will be given and payment can be taken in plants, seeds or sauces in Spring 2012.”

If you would like any more information please contact Andrew Brooks on 07854 3 1 9 7 6 8 o r f o l l o w h i m o n Tw i t t e r @Andrewbr00ks

Enjoy the great outdoors while helping the National Trust to keep Gower special!

Held once a month, the National Trust Gower ‘Saturday Volunteering Group’ undertakes a range of tasks such as litter-picks, scrub clearance, vegetation management and fencing.

The Saturday Volunteering Group is family friendly - children must be accompanied by an adult!

If you would like to help or want further information, please contact Claire Hannington on (01792) 390636 or email claire.hannington@nationaltrust.org.uk

1st October - Whiteford: Pine Pulling/Fencing

5th November - Mewslade: Gorse Clearance

3rd December - Bovehill: Scrub Clearance

www.mumblesgoweroceanfest.com

This year the Mumbles Gower OceanFest will host the Welsh Longboard Classic, Bay 6K Paddle Enduro and the Gower SUP Surf Classic. With stand up paddle boarding and surf clinics, expert advice and free board demos, there'll be plenty of opportunities for newcomers to the sports and also anyone wishing to progress.

The event sees the long-awaited return of the Welsh Longboard Classic, a prestigious surfing tournament which was considered one of the premier longboarding events in the country.  

The Longboard Classic ran for two decades and over the years attracted some distinguished names in the international field of surf stars and world champions, including Californian greats Jay Moriarty and Robert 'Wingnut' Weaver, star of the cult surf classic Endless Summer. 

Whether competing in the tournaments or just chilling at the beach and soaking up the atmosphere, the event promises to deliver a spectacular experience for everyone.  

CLICK FOR LOCAL ACCOMMODATION

Advertisement

26

Date Low High Low High Low

MUMBLES Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.Predicted Times Shown in British Summer Time.

Friday 23 - 03:00 09:05 15:38 21:49

Saturday 24 - 04:16 10:10 16:40 22:44

Sunday 25 - 05:11 11:03 17:31 23:32

Monday 26 - 05:58 11:49 18:17 -

Tuesday 27 00:17 06:44 12:33 19:03 -

Wednesday 28 00:59 07:27 13:16 19:48 -

Thursday 29 01:42 08:11 14:00 20:32 -

Sep

tem

ber

201

1 |

Mum

bles

Mumbles Tide

!!!

Predictions

Tide Predictions: © Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK

Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk).

Community

28

Gower Weatherw

eeke

nd w

eath

erWeather Outlook 23/09/2011 to 26/09/2011

Another weather outlook accompanied by yet another unsettled week as we approach the Autumn Equinox (Friday 23/09/11). A low pressure system (the remnants of Hurricane Maria) brought rain and an unsettled start to the week, the system has moved off into Scandinavia leaving a westerly airflow with a series of weak weather fronts, bring us cloudy and windy conditions. This unsettled theme is set to continue this weekend as a low-pressure system is situated in the mid-Atlantic ready to sweep across us.

Friday The southern half of the UK will see a ridge of High Pressure nose in, bringing a dry day, with some cloud but also sunny spells. The airflow will be from the SW so should it should feel relatively mild, around 16-17°C. The winds should be light earlier in the day, however the winds will noticeably pick up as the day goes on. The Atlantic depression will be moving off the NW coast of Scotland bringing wind and rain to the North, the same system will push weather fronts in our direction into Saturday.

Community

Saturday a Cold Front will pass over us Saturday, bring a cloud and rain during the day, although the air-flow is still SW and a relatively mild direction, the cloud and rain will make it feel cooler, temperatures around 14-15°C. Hopefully as the day moves on the rain should clear and things get a little brighter.

Sunday The low-pressure system will be situated South of Iceland by Sunday - as it’s rotating anti-clockwise it’s swirling in weather fronts and dragging in airflow from a Southerly direction. The winds on Sunday will be noticeable 18-20mph, gusting 30mph, but should feel relatively warm, as they are being dragged up from the Azores, reflecting the temperatures of 18-20°C. However there will be cloud and rain around.

Monday A low-pressure system will be forming in the Atlantic just SW of Ireland over the weekend, which will push in Sunday night into Monday morning, bringing wind and rain. Monday will see a cloudy start to the working week with winds gusting around 28mph - hopefully as the day moves on it might brighten up a little and the winds drop!

The Autumnal feel continues yet again for us this weekend, not going to be great conditions for getting out and about, water proofs probably a must!

As we pass the Equinox on Friday the days will start to get noticeably shorter and it’s all down hill until the Mid-Winter Solstice (22nd December). So whatever you are up to this weekend have a good one.

Chris.

Specific detailed daily forecasts can be obtained from professional organisations like the Met Office:http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wl/swansea_forecast_weather.html

Weekend Outlook

29

!e Equinoxes Ancient

H#to$cal InfluencesBy Chris Ridgway

30

Autumn Equinox

!is Friday, the 23rd of September, marks the Autumn Equinox which, to our ancient ancestors, was the festival Mabon (other Celtic names for it include Mea’n Fomhair and Alban Elfred) and represented what we would regard today as the Harvest Festival.

Mabon was when livestock would be slaughtered and preserved to provide enough food for the winter ahead. To our ancestors it was time to recognise that the balance of the year has changed: the wheel had turned and summer was over. !ey also recognised that it marked the start of the descent into darkening of the winter months.

Sun, Moon and Stars

!e alignment of the Sun, Moon and Stars were important to our ancestors - many ancient burial chambers and monuments across the UK and Ireland are aligned with the solstices and equinoxes. A famous example is the 5000 year old Loughcrew Megalithic Cairn in Ireland. At dawn, only on both the spring and autumn equinox, the light from the rising Sun illuminates the passage of the chamber and lights up sun symbols carved on a stone at the back of the it.

➤

31

Interestingly though, the burial mounds of Arthur’s Stone and Sweyne’s Howes on Gower are not aligned to any particular astronomical alignment, but seem to be more to do with a culture of ancestor worship prevalent in West Wales and Ireland at the time. Although there are suggestions that other ancient tombs throughout South Wales have an Equinox in"uence in the alignment of the their construction. In the Medieval period, the Christian Church replaced Celtic Festivals with Christianised occasions: Michaelmas, (29th of September) the feast of the Archangel Michael, subsequently replaced the Autumn Equinox festival.

32

Picture: Arthur’s Stone, Cefn Bryn, Gower. © 2011 Emma Jones

33

Pictu

re: Arthur’s Stone, C

efn Bryn, G

ower. ©

2011 Em

ma Jones

➤

!e Scienti"c Phenomena of Equinoxes

!ere is a common misconception that the day of the Equinox represents equal amount daylight and night time - this is not strictly not true. !at day is known as the Equilux and occurs when sunrise and sunset are closest to being exactly 12 hours apart. !is year Equilux will occur on the 26th of September where the Sunrise will be 06:52 and Sunset 18.51.

To understand the phenomena of the Equinox, cast your mind back to your school days and lessons on how we get the different seasons. !e Earth is tilted at 23.5° as it moves in its orbit around the sun. When the tilt of the Earth positions the Northern Hemisphere in its orbit in a declining position from the Sun, we have winter and the Southern Hemisphere has summer. When the Earth is in the opposite position in its orbit - the Northern Hemisphere inclined towards the sun - we have summer and the South has winter (remember the tilt remains the same).

When the position of the Earth in it’s orbit around the Sun is half way between the Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter points, the Equinoxes occur. !e Earth is in a position in its orbit where there is no inclination towards or away from the Sun. When we view the Sun from Earth during the Equinox, the Sun appears to pass through the plane of the celestial equator (just an imaginary circle representing the equator in space) as it travels along the elliptic line (the imaginary line that the planets and the Sun appear to move across the sky in).

34

!e Equinox therefore represents a moment in time: this year that moment in time will be 09:05 on 23/09/2011.

From an Earth perspective, the Sun appears to cross these two imaginary lines at a point called the Equinoctial Point. As we know, the Sun doesn’t orbit the Earth, so on the Equinox any observer would see the Sun rise due East and set due West.

35

!e Equinox and High Tides

Another natural phenomena that occurs around the time of the equinoxes, are the largest tides of the year. !is is the result of three factors: $rstly the direct alignment of the Sun and Moon combining their gravitational pulls; secondly, the Sun and Moon are at their closest respective distance; and thirdly, the Sun and Moon coinciding with the celestial equator - the phenomena of the equinox - has the dramatic effect of causing the highest Spring Tides to occur in March and September.

Are your ancestors from Gower?

Who do you think they were?

Send us your questions and we

will ask sue to answer as many as

possible by publishing them in future editions of

gower e-news!

36

Weather Folklore

!is month’s weather folklore is quite appropriate as it concerns Michaelmas (29th of September) as mentioned in

the Equinox article.

~~~

“If Michaelmas brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the !elds with

snow.”

“A dark Michaelmas, a light Christmas.”

~~~

We’ll have to wait and see what Christmas brings!

Ask SUE!

Ruth Madoc with Susan Rainey from Gower Ancestry

37

Last year Susan Rainey from Gower Ancestry conducted research for BBC Wales’ Coming Home series featuring the

famous Welsh actress, Ruth Madoc.

Susan said: “Ruth's ancestors came from Swansea, Llansamlet, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Unfortunately none from Gower.

“I was with Ruth all day at the filming of the programme in Swansea - I even arranged for her to meet long-lost relatives from Llangennech.”

One of the highlights of Susan’s research was the discovery that Ruth Madoc was related to former British Prime Minister, David Lloyd

George.

GOWER ANCESTRY

FREE CONSULTATIONFlute LessonS

If you are a beginner, the consultation lesson will allow you to try a flute and get advice about hiring or buying an instrument, if you then decide that you wish to start.

If you play already a longer consultation will be appropriate. Individual weekly or fortnightly lessons can then be arranged of any length from 20 to 40 minutes depending

upon age, standard and stamina.

Theory lessons and pre-instrumental classes are also available. Pre-instrumental lessons are usually taken in groups and prepare children for learning any instrument. The Curwen

and Dalcroze techniques used help develop the child's aural awareness and aim to get them feeling music as well as reading it before beginning to play.

Rhian Clement B. Mus (Hons) Lond.Rhian enjoys teaching from beginner to conservatoire level and offers professional lessons

for beginners, non-beginners, children and adults. *Enhanced CRB disclosure.To find out more and/or to arrange a time for a consultation lesson:

Tel: 01792 233978 or for texts 07772 533891e-mail: crclement@hotmail.com

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BiographyIan Ambrose - Editor

BA (Hons) FInstAM (Dip) MInstLM

Ian grew up in Swansea and spent much of his summer holidaying around the Gower peninsula.

After leaving school at the age of 16, Ian enlisted into the British Army as a professional musician. On completion of 12 years service in 2003, Ian became Community Manager for The Salvation Army at their Richardson Street Citadel in Swansea, having first gained a Diploma in Administrative Management through the British Army’s resettlement training programme.

In 2007 Ian established Prestige Ironing, a professional collect and return ironing service in Swansea.

As part of his continuing professional development, Ian graduated from Swansea Metropolitan University in 2011 with a First Class Honours in Public Services. Ian is a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management and a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Ian’s interests include: management, leadership, administration, marketing communication, writing, hyper-local blogging and social media. He is married with three children and lives on the Gower peninsula.

Gower News was established by Ian in 2009 - it has continued to develop and grow into Gower’s most up-to-date independent news, events and information service for Gower.

BiographyChris Ridgway - Scientific Editor

BSc (Hons)

Chris was born and bred in Gowerton and attended Gowerton Comprehensive between 1987-1994; he subsequently gained a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1997.

After graduating, Chris worked as a Geophysicist for an Oil Exploration Company based in Aberdeen, Scotland. He subsequently gained his professional qualifications in Houston, Texas and has performed many exploration surveys across the world from sub-Sahara Africa to former Soviet Republics.

Since returning to his home town of Swansea, Chris has taken the lead role of Environmental Scientist at Tir-John Landfill.

Chris is married with three children and currently lives in the village of Grovesend in the Gower Constituency.