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Sir Herbert Lloyd of Maesyfelin and Peterwell just outside Lampeter can arguably be acknowledged as one of the wickedest men Wales ever produced.

In many ways he was the archetypal evil squires so beloved by romantic writers and early film makers. If he had been born and lived a hundred years later it would be easy to imagine him tying delicate young maidens to railway tracks and laughing as the train came ever closed.

In the 18th century, of course, there were no railway trains and Lloyd's wickedness took him in other directions.

Born in 1720, Sir Herbert Lloyd succeeded to the family estate of Maesyfelin after the death of his brother John in 1755 but had little liking for the place, preferring his own inherited property, the nearby land and house at Peterwell.

Indeed, he literally plundered the riches of Maesyfelin - its contents, its treasures, even the very stones of the place - in order to embellish and enrich his favourite house at Peterwell.

However, by inheriting the estate at Maesyfelin, Lloyd also succeeded to control of the court sessions at Lampeter.

As a JP he was brutal and vindictive, always seeking to fill his own pockets. Thanks to the corrupt nature of voting in the mid 1700s - servants and tenants of Lloyd's estates being enrolled as voters - he also became member of parliament for Cardigan Boroughs in 1761.

Representing his constituents meant nothing to Lloyd, it simply gave him more opportunity for lining his coffers, invariably at the expense of others. As someone once said of him, "he will never cease to persecute. It is become second nature to him."

Aided and abetted by his steward Oakley Leigh, Lloyd became famous for his violent and tyrannical lifestyle, heading up a band of friends and retainers who were soon regarded as being as dissolute as Lloyd himself.

He was vain, greedy and arrogant and during his time as Lord of Lampeter his control of the courts and their finances - their revenue meant to be a means to enforce things like road repairs and trade tariffs - was brutally enforced. Fines increased dramatically, much of the revenue undoubtedly finding its way into Lloyd's pockets.

The tale of the black ram

So vicious and violent was Herbert Lloyd's reputation that many of his deeds have gone down in Lampeter and Ceredigion folk lore. There are dozens of stories about the man but none is more powerful than the tale of the black ram. There was even an opera about the events written in 1957.

Apparently, Sir Herbert Lloyd wanted to gaze out at only his own lands from the roof of Peterwell - a vantage point that, amazingly, boasted an elegant roof garden. Unfortunately his vista was broken by the lands of one Sion Philip, an old farmer. He refused to sell his land to Lloyd and so a dastardly scheme was hatched by the owner of Peterwell.

Lloyd's prize black ram was taken and hidden away. Declaring the ram to have been stolen, Lloyd conducted searches all over the area. This went on for several days. Then, one dark night, servants from Peterwell climbed onto the roof of Sion Philip's cottage and carefully lowered the ram down his chimney. Philip and his wife slept on, unmindful of the fact that they were about to be charged with what was then a capital offence.

Sir Herbert Lloyd immediately sent for the Lampeter constable and, together with Oakley Leigh, headed for the cottage. The noise of the ram being lowered down the wide chimney had woken Philip but before he could do anything the constable and Sir Herbert burst in through the door. Philip was arrested and, apparently, marched off to jail, a journey of 30 miles through deep snow and frost.

The old man refused to confess to something he had not done and spent several weeks chained up in jail before a jury - hand-picked by Sir Herbert Lloyd, of course - convicted him for sheep stealing. He was duly hanged and Sir Herbert quickly acquired his lands.

At this distance, it is hard to say whether or not the story is true. Certainly Sion Philip existed and his small parcel of land did eventually end up as part of the Peterwell estate. And Sir Herbert was cruel and greedy enough to resort to such tactics. However you view it, it remains a fascinating tale and there are many people who still believe it implicitly.

In another country legend from the Lampeter area, the house and estate at Maesyfelin were subject to a curse, placed upon them by the local vicar. When Herbert Lloyd died in London on 19 August 1769 - some say by his own hand, others from natural causes - the two Lampeter estates were in severe financial difficulties. Most of the problems, it seems, were due to Lloyd's bad management and dissolute ways.

It seems, however, that the curse was effective. Sir Herbert Lloyd died childless and his estates soon passed into ruin. Many of the locals claimed that the curse on Maesyfelin was transferred to Peterwell along with the stones that Lloyd had moved from the original building to his favourite house.

By the end of the 19th century neither Maesyfelin nor Peterwell remained, the houses smashed down and left to moulder. Now all that remains of Peterwell is a pile of old stones and a stately avenue of trees. And, of course, the legend of Sir Herbert Lloyd, west Wales' very own wicked squire.

This summer the has opened its doors to some of the nation's best-loved cartoon characters and allowed 's mischief-makers to run riot across the country.

Dennis the Menace and Gnasher kick off the summertime chaos as they conquer medieval Powis Castle in Welshpool.

The Beano front page: Dennis and Gnasher at Powis Castle

Dennis and Gnasher at Powis Castle

Dennis and the hedge menaces

This is the first ever time that the National Trust has given fictional characters keys to all of its 300 homes and access to the 617,500 acres of land it cares for.

The Beano characters have invaded historic properties to help the trust bring its places to life and prove that its doors are open to all.

Other Beano characters have had some cracking fun at National Trust properties including The Numskulls, who live inside Edd's nostrils (of course). They are sneezed out at Edwardian Surrey estate Polesden Lacey into a game of croquet - and a planned bug hunt - to enjoy the buzz of bumblebee racing. Minnie The Minx takes her dad on a manic trip to Northern Ireland to discover the iconic Giant's Causeway and find the giant Finn McCool himself, and Billy Whizz has a fast-paced day, topped off by a good night's sleep in Lyme Park's Edwardian Nursery.

John-Paul Murphy, head of brand marketing at the Beano's publishers DC Thomson, speaking about Dennis' visit to Powis, said:

"We couldn't think of a better way to prove what fun kids can have at 'Gnashional Trust' properties than by letting the world's most famous menace and his friends from Beanotown loose on them. Dennis hasn't let his own 60th anniversary affect his ability to cause his own brand of havoc and it is a fitting birthday treat for him to become 'King of the Castle' at Powis. We're sure Beano readers will have just as much fun as the characters when they visit the venues featured in our comic this summer."

Tony Berry, visitor experience director of the National Trust, added:

"We are delighted to open our doors to The Beano and all of its mischievous characters. The National Trust and The Beano are both British institutions and we are hoping the news that we have opened our doors to them all will encourage families to take a leaf out of Dennis' book and organise a trip to one of our places. As our black and red stripy friend says: 'a menace always has a plan' and this summer should be no exception."

If you're looking for things to do with your little menaces over the school holidays take a look at the website.

The Gnashional Trust issue of The Beano goes on sale Wednesday 27 July 2011. For a behind-the-scenes look at the takeover visit .

Swansea's copperworks are set to play a role in Swansea's Council's redevelopment strategy, helped in part by Channel 4's programme.

The history programme, fronted by actor , features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig in an area of historical interest. The team spent three days at the site of Hafod Copperworks carrying out a series of investigations with the assistance of Swansea Council, CADW and other partners.

Findings from the initial excavations are set to feed in to the regeneration strategy for the area.

Swansea was the world centre of copper smelting during the industrial revolution. Speaking about Swansea dig, Tony Robinson said: "This is the lost story that has status across the whole world.

"We made some pretty exciting discoveries and what we have done should lay the foundations for future work to tell what's largely an unknown story."

Read more about the exciting development to revamp Swansea's historic copperworks on .

This series of Time Team can be seen on Channel 4 from January to April next year.

Watch a clip from the first series of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Hidden Histories when a team from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales investigated Swansea's Upper Bank copper smelting works, established in 1755.

No matter what your feelings or opinions about the post, position, honour (call it what you will) of Prince of Wales, the 1911 investiture of Edward, later king Edward VIII, has to be one of the most interesting moments in the long and often troubled relationship between Wales and England. With hindsight, it is also one of the saddest.

HRH the Duke of Windsor (became Edward VIII in 1936) broadcasting to the empire from Broadcasting House, April 1935.

Arguably, the last true Prince of Wales was Owain Glyndwr who was crowned in 1404 - although there are many who would say that Llywelyn, killed by the forces of in 1282, was really the last man to hold the title. The title of Prince of Wales as we know it was invented and first bestowed by Edward 1st in 1301, the recipient being his infant son.

Legend, of course, has had a field day with this event. The Welsh leaders, says the story, wanted a Prince who could speak no English. Edward gave them his baby son who could speak neither Welsh nor English. It is just a story and one that bestows far more credit on Edward than it does on the Welsh chieftains - which is what the circulation of the legend was all about anyway.

It quickly became traditional for English kings to make their heirs Prince of Wales. And to begin with the coronet of Llywelyn the Last - deposited by him for safe keeping with the monks at Cymer Abbey but which soon to fall into the hands of the avaricious Edward - was used in the ceremony.

Interestingly, a public investiture was not always thought to be necessary. The title Prince of Wales was created by Letters of Patent and the ceremony - usually held in front of the members of the Houses of Parliament - was only a formal piece of pomp. Nevertheless the coronet of Llywelyn was always used until it became too old and new ones had to be made.

George V ordered the coronet of George, Prince of Wales to be made for his investiture at the end of the 19th century and went on to wear it, both then and at his later coronation. When the time came for his son to succeed to the title he also used the coronet. When Edward (David as he was always known) went into exile after his abdication he took the coronet with him, something that was actually illegal. So when the time came for Prince Charles to be invested in 1969 another new coronet had to be made.

The decision to make the investiture of Prince Edward (Edward VIII as he became) a public occasion owed much to the machinations of David Lloyd George. Concerned about his own popularity - and the clear growth of Welsh nationalism - he persuaded King George V to agree to a public ceremony. This was most unusual and was undoubtedly playing on the king's immense popularity.

He had been a well respected prince of Wales who had taken considerable interest in his adopted country - as he did with many other parts of the British Empire. As a result there was a groundswell of support for the new king and a clear expectation that the title would quickly be passed on to his eldest son.

Edward was actually created Prince of Wales on his 16th birthday, 23 June 1910. The investiture came a year later, on 13 July 1911. Edward was duly dressed in ceremonial robes - a garb that he considered ludicrous - and underwent the Investiture ceremony at Caernarfon Castle. The location, once more, owed much to Lloyd George. It was a distant spot, hard to reach from other parts of Wales, let alone England, but it was in Lloyd George's constituency and was, of course, the place where Edward I had originally purloined the title back in the 14th century.

As Prince of Wales, Edward was hugely popular. He served with distinction in World War One and, during the Depression years, toured the badly hit parts of Britain - the Welsh mining valleys in particular. His phrase "Something must be done" when confronted by the poverty and hardship has gone down in folk lore.

Of course, nothing was actually done - either by the prince or by government. But it helped to increase Edward's popularity so that when the Wallis Simpson scandal finally erupted there was much sympathy for the Prince of Wales. Edward became king on 20 January 1936 and, unable to marry the woman he loved, a divorced American - how different things are these days - he abdicated on 10 December the same year. Sadly, he had spent 25 years as Prince of Wales, less than a year as king.

Whether or not Edward would have made a good king remains a matter of conjecture. Many people felt that he had been a good Prince of Wales. His story is a tragic one, a man who gave up a position of power and influence for the woman he loved - the most famous and renowned of all princes of Wales.

Archaeologist Dr George Nash of Bristol University believes a wall carving discovered in a Gower cave could be Britain's oldest example of rock art.

The faded scratchings of a speared reindeer are believed to have been carved during the Ice Age more than 14,000 years ago. Dr Nash, called the discovery "very, very exciting."

For now, the exact location of the art is being kept secret as experts are working to verify the art.

The limestone cliffs along the Gower coast are renowned for their archaeological importance. The Red Lady of Paviland, actually the remains of a young male, is the earliest formal human burial to have been found in western Europe. It is thought the remains are around 29,000 years old.

Read more about this remarkable find on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales News website.

A new project to curate and digitise historic photography from collections has been made possible with the support of the . The Foundation, which is marking its 50th Birthday this year, has made the ambitious project possible by gifting £600,000.

Calvert Richard Jones, Canal, Brecon, c. 1845

Natural Images - Amgueddfa Cymru's new initiative, which begins in Autumn 2011, will involve transferring around 500,000 photographs and historic items into accessible digital formats.

Currently items from the museum's photography collection are spread across several disciplines including geology and botany, social and industrial history and more recently, art.

The museums host works by a wide range of photographers, including Welsh pioneer of photography such as John Dillwyn Llewelyn.

"Remember, Remember the 5th of November" by John Dillwyn Llewelyn.

There are 1,500 images and objects associated with Dillwyn Llewelyn which includes original prints from the 1850s and examples of his pioneering work. The above image is perhaps the earliest surviving photograph in Wales of a Guy Fawkes bonfire (c.1853).

The museum hosts a collection of photograph albums and books on photography. It not only owns a first edition of The Pencil of Nature by William Henry Fox Talbot - one of the first books to describe photography, but also images by the Calvert Richard Jones, who developed his own technique for taking panoramic photographs and accompanied Fox Talbot when he toured Britain whilst working on the book.

"How charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durable and remain fixed upon the paper! And why should it not be possible? I ask myself." (The Pencil of Nature by William Henry Fox Talbot)

The museum hopes that Natural Images will take Fox Talbot's vision a step further through transforming photographs from the collection, from glass and celluloid to digital file, and from negative to paper facsimiles and the screen.

Michael Tooby, Director of Learning, Programmes and Development, Amgueddfa Cymru said: "We are extremely grateful to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for its generous gift, which will drive this important and much needed programme for Amgueddfa Cymru, the people of Wales and those further afield.

"We hope the newly interpreted collection will inspire new and established photographers."

Michael Tooby and archivist Lowri Jenkins

Keep up to date with the latest news from National Museum Wales on their .

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation was established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn as a memorial to his wife Esmée. Today it is one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK. Find out more on their .

You only have to turn on the television or open a newspaper to see that piracy is still alive and - I hesitate to say "well" - kicking in our modern world. These days it seems to be restricted, in the main, to the near and far East. But it was not so long ago that pirates and piracy flourished around the Welsh coast - around Pembrokeshire in particular.

Angle Bay in Pembrokeshire was the scene of pirate activity (image from coletracey)

In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries the problem of piracy was a major issue in all of the western counties of Wales. This was, in many respects, due to the fact that the area was so far away from central government but a large part of the problem also stemmed from the fact that all elements of society, from squires and landed gentry to humble shop owners and fishermen, were involved in the business.

For a long while, in the days of Elizabeth I, one of the prime movers in both piracy and smuggling was George Clerk. He was at the centre of a web of illegal operations that brought him hundreds of pounds every year. And he was also a senior customs officer stationed at the town and port of Pembroke! Small wonder he could operate with impunity.

Clerk was the man who also owned the Point House Inn in Angle. This ancient beer house was renowned as the haunt of pirates and smugglers, often giving sanctuary to men on the run from the law. John Callice, the famous Cardiff pirate, was just one man who made use of Clerk's hospitality - for a price, of course.

From the mid 1570s onwards Clerk was regularly paid to "turn a blind eye" to the dealings of the more unscrupulous merchants of Pembroke town. Although war between Britain and Spain did not break out until 1587, the two countries had been implacable enemies for many years as men like Francis Drake and John Hawkins constantly harassed and captured Spanish ships. It did not stop the Pembroke merchants transporting cargoes of leather and grain to and from Spain. Clerk simply ignored the trade and happily took his share.

One of the best "piracy" stories from west Wales concerns Sir John Perrott and a pirate gang led by a certain Edward Herberde in the early 17th century.

Off the Heads outside Milford Haven, Herberde boarded and took a vessel carrying a cargo of salt. He then sailed the captured ship into the Haven and up the river to Pembroke, then the largest port in west Wales. The ship's owner, Dutchman Peter Muncke, was frogmarched into the town and at the point of a hidden dagger was forced to stand in the town market and attempt to sell the salt.

Unfortunately for Herberde and his gang, the town mayor took one look at Muncke and realised he was acting under duress. When the pirates were looking the other way he managed to exchange a quick word with the unfortunate Dutchman and confirm his suspicions.

From there events moved rapidly. Sir John Perrott, the mayor said, was the man most likely to buy such a huge cargo and so Muncke and two pirates set off for his home in nearby Carew. Once there the pirates were overpowered and a plan was hatched.

As dusk fell slowly and easily over Pembroke River, two longboats pushed off from the quay. They held Sir John Perrott, the town mayor, Peter Muncke and several dozen armed men. Under cover of darkness they climbed the side of Muncke's ship and fell on the pirates who were more concerned with drinking away the profits they soon expected to come their way. Surprise was absolute and after a brief fight the ship was taken.

The piracy did not end there, however, and surprisingly the cargo did not revert to Peter Muncke. Sir John Perrott decided that he would retain half of the cargo as a "reward" for his part in the affair. Pembroke's town mayor also grabbed himself a further five tons of salt, again as a reward for himself. After all, civic duty demanded some recompense!

The ship, the rest of her cargo, even her ropes and tackle, were then divided up between John Vaughan - the original customer for the salt - and Sir Richard Vaughan who qualified for a large portion of the cargo simply because he was deputy vice admiral for south Wales. The men who had done the actual fighting received a few bags of salt each - a valuable and much sought after commodity in those days as it was the only means of preserving fish and meat.

And Peter Muncke? Much to his chagrin he was graciously allowed share of the profits, decided to cut his losses and promptly disappeared from the scene - probably vowing never to go near Pembrokeshire again.

Muncke's disappearance did cause a few problems, however. When the pirates came to trial at Haverfordwest Assizes later in the year, he was called to give evidence. Of course, he did not appear and the case simply fell apart. Judge Fetyplace was obliged to set the defendants free and they returned to their piratical ways, no doubt supplying Sir John Perrott and other local dignitaries with whatever goods they could capture on the seas around the Pembrokeshire coast.

Piracy in the 16th and 17th centuries was clearly not restricted simply to low born ruffians and scoundrels. It was a business open to everyone.

Phil will be talking to Roy Noble about the pirates of the Pembrokeshire coast on Tuesday 19 July from 2pm on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Wales.

No doubt about it. You either love the and can happily spend hours wandering around the show ground every July - or you hate it with a vengeance and sit there, in your car, fuming as you try to navigate your way around . Whichever category you fall into, one thing is sure - you can't ignore it.

The Royal Welsh Show came to Llanelwedd at Builth Wells for the first time on 23 July 1963. Before then it had led a peripatetic life, the show being held at no fewer than 37 different locations, alternating between the north and the south.

The new show ground, slap bang in the middle of Wales, was an ideal venue being relatively easily reached from most parts of the country.

Heddiw filming the show jumping at The Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells 1963

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society was founded in 1904. It was then called, simply, the Welsh National Agricultural Society and the inaugural meeting, when rules and regulations were set down, took place at the House of Commons in London.

Twenty well-known and established figures from the field of agriculture made up the initial forum and right from the start it was clear that the main aim of the society was to encourage the growth and development of agriculture throughout the whole of Wales.

The early days of the society were not easy. There were arguments between members and finances were usually perilous. Nevertheless, the society survived, holding its first annual show at Aberystwyth in 1904, the year of its creation.

For that first meeting there were just over 400 livestock entries; within four years that figure had risen enormously with over 200 cattle trucks and horse boxes making their way to the seaside town. Twenty three special trains had to laid on in order to cater for the visitors and those wishing to show their livestock.

The Royal Welsh Show has continued to grow. These days livestock entries number around 8,000 each year and 20,000 cars are expected every day of the four day gathering. Many people bring their camper vans or tents and spend the week in and around Builth Wells. No wonder something of a log jam can be created at certain times! As anyone who has ever been to the show will tell you, the experience is well worth the effort.

The first show at the new ground in Llanelwedd in 1963 brought in just over 40,000 people. These days that figure has risen to an average of 200,000. In 2004, the centenary year, 227,360 people made their way to the ground and since then the attendance figures have continued to climb.

Heddiw at the Royal Welsh Show 1963, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells

The Royal Welsh Show has the avowed aim of showcasing the very best of Welsh livestock and certain days - such as the Welsh cob day - have become important moments in the rural year. But the show is more than just livestock. There are stalls and exhibitions, displays of country sports and traditional Welsh crafts. The showcasing of high quality Welsh food and drink makes a visit to the show almost compulsory.

The Royal Welsh Show is not just for farmers and those who live in the country - these days there are almost as many town dwellers to be found around the show ring. The show is an important part of the Welsh social calendar, for everyone, regardless of where they live or their occupation. It is something not to be missed.

Don't forget to check out he ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales Nature website every day for the latest blogs and galleries from the Royal Welsh Show and to watch Royal Welsh Show 2011 on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two Wales from Monday 18 July to Thursday 21 July, when Sara Edwards, Rachael Garside and Rhys Jones will explore the highlights from the show.

Oystermouth Castle re-opens to the public this Saturday (16 July) after undergoing a £1.7m makeover. Live medieval music, falconry and archery displays will form part of the family fun day.

The castle, which sits majestically overlooking Swansea Bay at Mumbles, was established by William De Londres early in the 12th century. Read about the history of this fantastic castle and the development plans on the .

There are features on a range of Welsh castles on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales History website.

Llanyrafon Manor, a 17th century grade II-listed manor house in Cwmbran, is set to become a bustling town centre tourist attraction celebrating the history of the local area.

The manor was damaged by fire and fell into disrepair in the 1970s, but was saved and run as a farming museum in the 1980s. After the museum closed, local residents campaigned to save the site from development, eventually resulting in the current restoration initiative.

The manor is one of only a handful of historic buildings that can be found in the town centre of Cwmbran, which was transformed by development after World War Two to provide new employment opportunities in the area.

Torfaen council leader Bob Wellington, speaking about the development of the building said: "Our plans for Llanyrafon Manor will encourage even more people to visit this wonderful part of Torfaen and to see for themselves how important our rural communities are."

The cost will be met by , , the and the .

Read more about the plans for Llanyrafon Manor on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales News website.

Most people know the name , the famous Red Baron. Those who are particularly interested in the history of World War One will also probably know about British pilots such as Mick Mannock and Jimmy McCudden. But not many will know the story of Captain Benjamin Thomas MC who died in October 1918.

Benjamin Thomas came from the west Wales town of Pembroke Dock; he was born at and lived in 71 Gwyther Street. These days Gwyther Street is a quiet residential road running from north to south across the town. The road is wide - like many of the streets of the town - supposedly to allow access for men and machinery into the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Gwyther Street, however, is a backwater and no materials or machinery ever trundled up this road. It is wide simply to add grandeur and dignity to a town which in the middle years of the 19th century was preening itself as one of the fastest growing and most important places in Wales. The closure of the dockyard and years of Depression lay some way in the future.

Benjamin Thomas was preparing to join the teaching profession when war broke out in August 1914. He was 24 years old and had already completed his basic education. The war changed everything.

Thomas immediately obtained a commission in the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment and by the summer of 1916 was serving with his regiment in France. That August, during the Battle of the Somme, he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. During a German attack he was instrumental in holding an exposed flank and then organising a counter attack.

Like many young men Thomas had become interested in flying. Every day he saw the flimsy fighters and bombers wheeling and diving in the sky above the trenches and resolved that this was something he would like to do. Consequently, he applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, the predecessor of the RAF, and in September 1917 was accepted.

After a period of training he was posted to No 11 Squadron in France, a unit that was flying the powerful two seater Bristol Fighters. By now it was early 1918 and the war in the air had become a violent and vicious affair. The Red Baron had been shot down and killed only a few months before and in August Thomas suffered a similar accident.

His aeroplane was hit by anti-aircraft fire - "Archie" as the British pilots called it - and Thomas was forced to crash land behind British lines. He escaped injury and was soon back in the air.

Benjamin Thomas, along with his observer Lt WT Barnes, was credited with three "kills," two of them during the same patrol. His combat report for 16 September 1918 reads as follows:

"My observer spotted a single EA diving down onto one of our machines. He opened fire ... after a short burst the EA fell in a slow spin and was seen to crash near a small clump of trees north of Cambrai."

(from the Paul Kemp Archive)

There was more to come as Thomas himself now opened fire:

"We then encountered a large formation of EA scouts above us and to the east. I noticed two Fokkers detached from their formation and much lower. I picked one out and fired about 100 rounds at an approximate range of 150 yards. The EA immediately went down out of control and was seen to crash just south of Cambrai." (from the Paul Kemp Archive)

Less than a month later Benjamin Thomas was killed at 8.45am on 4 October when returning from the Dawn Patrol. His plane collided with another aircraft - flown by fellow Welshman Lt DR Phillips - and both machines fell to earth.

Benjamin Thomas, like many of the early air fighters, is now a forgotten man. But without him, and others like him, the war could not have been won and the Royal Air Force would not have developed into one of the most formidable fighting forces in the world.

Airbag technology developed by a Welsh company has helped to save Egypt's oldest pyramid.

Giant airbags have stabilised Djoser pyramid, a 4,700 year old structure that was damaged by an earthquake in 1982, and was in danger of collapsing from the inside. The step pyramid was built as burial place for the mummified body of Pharaoh Djoser who reigned for 19 years.

Speaking about the specialist structural engineering needed to stabilise the roof, Peter James boss of the Newport based company called Cintec said: "It was like a lethal and massive game of Ker-Plunk - trying to hold everything up, without dislodging anything further."

The airbag technology was originally created by Mr James to help in the safer disposal of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

Read more about this story on .

The has come up with a unique way of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the iconic building.

On Friday 15 July 2011, staff will attempt to form the world's biggest cwtsh around the iconic neo classical building, and they are calling on friends and fans of the Library to help them with this record attempt.

The Library employs 300 people but to create a human chain to encircle the half kilometre circumference of the building, they will need around 450 people.

Commenting on the approaching anniversary, librarian, Andrew Green said:

"Over the years thousands of people have visited the Library as readers or to see exhibitions and events here. We'd like to invite them to join us and a create a huge human chain around the building in celebration of the contribution of the National Library to Welsh cultural and intellectual life and to the town of Aberystwyth.

"The National Library of Wales was founded on the back of a mass subscription campaign waged by the Welsh people over a century ago. In that respect it is unique among the national libraries of the world. We are now asking the Welsh people to show their continued support for the Library and affirm that the building and its collections will serve the people for the next hundred years."

The foundation stone was laid on 15 July 1911 by George V.

Images kindly provided by the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Cornish granite was used for the ground floor and white Portland stone for the floors above. The building itself wasn't actually completed until 1936 as a result of financial constraints brought about by World War One and later, by the Depression.

To find out how you can be part of the cwtsh, and to read more about the history of this wonderful building, visit the website of the .

Supporters are asked to wear red clothing if possible - the colour of the Library's logo and Welsh dragon, so that the chain will stand out.

Other centenary events taking place at the Library include:

Wednesday 13 July at 1.15pm

- archive clips of the Library including a film of laying the foundation stone, the official opening in 1937 and an early film by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards.

Thursday 14 July at 1.15pm

- Poetry and talk in the company of Wales's National Poet who composed the Library's centenary poems during the celebrations of the Library's founding in 2007.

Friday 15 July at 10.30 am & 3.30 pm

in the company of Tony Morgan, architect.

Sarah Siddons was the most renowned actress of 18th century Britain. Her performances at Drury Lane and Covent Garden - particularly her portrayal of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth - were so powerful that audiences swooned and often had to be helped out of the theatre in various stages of distress. In the words of essayist , Sarah Siddons "was tragedy personified."

And yet what many people do not realize is the fact that this incomparable tragedienne was born in Wales, in the little market town of Brecon. The date was 5 July 1755, and the place of birth was a room above a small tavern in High Street.

These days the place of her birth is known as The Sarah Siddons Inn and the pub sign, now proudly displayed outside the door, is a replica detail of ' famous 1784 painting of the actress. When she was born here, however, the pub was called The Shoulder of Mutton, a tiny place that stood in the shadow of the much larger and grander St Mary's Church tower.

Sarah was the daughter of the actor-manager Roger Kemble, a man who travelled the country with his small troop of actors - a dozen at the most - entertaining people in the courtyards of country inns or market squares in a way of life that was not far removed from that of Shakespeare's strolling players over a century before.

Actors would each play several roles and while their performances were wildly applauded and greatly looked forward to, the travelling companies were certainly not regarded as respectable. Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mr Kemble, was a piece of advice that might have been given to Roger Kemble. It was advice he chose to ignore.

Acting was in the blood - Sarah's grandmother was the famous actress - and the lure of the footlights was too great, for both father and daughter. As a young child, Sarah was regularly appearing in her father's stage shows. By the time she was a teenager she was an experienced performer.

Legend has it that the handsome actor William Siddons, a member of Kemble's troop, proposed to Sarah during one performance at The Bell Inn at Brecon. Whether or not that is true, the announcement caused dismay to her parents who had intended her to marry someone of "greater quality" and Sarah was sent off to work as maid to Lady Greathead. It was a short engagement but it does show the social status of actresses at this time - and also the social connections of the Kemble family.

Realising that Sarah was serious, her parents relented and she returned to the company and duly married William. They had seven children, five of them dying young, but the marriage was not a success and eventually culminated in an informal separation.

Acting was more important for Sarah than marriage. After a false start when David Garrick booked her to appear at Drury Lane - she did not impress and the manager had to write to tell her that her services were not required - Sarah spent six years touring the provinces in what would now be called rep shows. She returned to the London theatre in 1782 in Garrick's adaptation of The Fatal Marriage. She was an instant success.

Over the next 20 years Sarah Siddons became the toast of Drury Lane. Her tall, beautiful figure and stunning good looks made her ideal for the role of Lady Macbeth, a part where she was easily and effortlessly able to show the vicious nature and passion of the woman who led Macbeth to his doom. Her personal favourite role, however, was not the evil Lady Macbeth but Queen Catherine in Shakespeare's little-known play Henry VIII.

Sarah Siddons was the most famous actress of her day, at a time when the job of actress was at last beginning to become respectable. She held soirées or receptions where the rich and famous - men such as the Duke of Wellington, Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson - regularly attended.

In 1802 Sarah left Drury Lane for Covent Garden, appearing there to more huge acclaim for a further 10 years. During her years on the stage it was recorded that "Siddons Fever" gripped the theatre going world, a form of mass hysteria with which many modern audiences may relate. Joshua Reynolds painted a famous portrait of her, even signing his name across the hem of her dress on the painting. It could not go on forever, of course, and on 29 June 1812, at the age of 57 years, Sarah retired.

During her farewell performance in Macbeth the audience was so moved that they simply refused to allow the play to continue after the sleepwalking scene where Lady Macbeth makes her final appearance. In desperation, the curtain was closed, only to re-open a few minutes later with Sarah in her day clothes, sitting centre stage.

She made an emotional speech that lasted for nearly 10 minutes before quitting the stage - not quite for ever as the lure of fame and public adulation were too great, and she did relent to did make the occasional guest appearance over the next few years.

Sarah Siddons died on 8 June 1831, renowned and acclaimed as the greatest actress the world had ever seen. Over 5,000 people attended her funeral and internment at St Mary's Cemetery in Paddington. These days there are statues to her, streets named after her and, of course, that pub in Brecon.

In 1952 the Sarah Siddons Award was created, thus imitating a fictional award of the same name that had originally been mentioned in the film All About Eve. The award is given each year by the for outstanding performance in the dramatic arts.

Perhaps the most interesting commemoration of the great actress, however, was the naming of an electric locomotive after her. This came in 1923, on an engine built for the Metropolitan Railway - the engine still exists and still runs, the oldest working main line electric locomotive in Britain. Not bad for a young girl from Brecon!

When war broke out in September 1939, Cardiff docks constituted the biggest coal exporting port in the United Kingdom, maybe even the world.

Craddock Street in Cardiff

Sitting on the flat coastal plain below the twin Rhondda valleys, Cardiff sent out a much greater tonnage of coal than any other British port, including the bigger and more renowned docks of places like London, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Therefore, it was inevitable that, as the aerial war developed, the city and its docks would become a major target for enemy bombers. And yet, in those early war years, nobody really had the slightest inclination of what was to come.

The first German air raid on Cardiff took place on 3 July 1940, only a few weeks after the fall of France. Previously, the Welsh port had been virtually out of range for the German Dornier and Junkers bombers but with captured French airfields now in enemy hands the war came suddenly close, terrifyingly close, for the people of south Wales.

Further raids on Cardiff occurred that year on 10 and 17 July, and then again on 7 August. They were just the start of a four year bombing offensive but they were terrifying occasions for the city's populace - air raid sirens screaming, the wail of bombs hurtling through the air, the crump of anti-aircraft shells, smoke, dust and rubble and, always, the thought of red-hot pieces of metal cutting into human flesh.

The next year, 1941, saw dozens of raids, particularly in the spring and early summer months when, sometimes, it seemed as if the bombers would appear every single night of the week. There were fewer raids in 1942, the most noticeable being an attack on 17 May. It was widely believed that this was a retaliation for the famous Dambuster Raids on the German industrial centres and hydro-electric dams earlier in the year.

The final attack on Cardiff came, surprisingly when you consider the state of German armaments, as late as March 1944. During this raid Cardiff station was hit and for a while it looked as if the main Cardiff-London railway link would be severed.

Strangely, there was also an air attack on Cork in neutral Ireland at this time. The pilot and navigator mistook the Irish town for Cardiff, believing that they were over, not the Irish Sea but the River Severn! Diplomatic incidents had been started by less.

In all more than 2,100 bombs fell on Cardiff during the war years. They caused 355 deaths and at least 500 injuries.

Hundreds of houses and business premises were damaged or destroyed in the four years of heavy and sustained bombing, particularly in the western end of the city.

Cardiff's worst night was 2 January 1941 when a fleet of over 100 German planes droned in across the Severn Estuary. There was a full moon that night - a 'bombers moon' as they called it - and the whole of Cardiff, docks and town, were illuminated as if it was day. Over 350 homes were destroyed in the raid that began just after 6.30pm and lasted for a horrifying ten hours.

Llandaff Cathedral was badly damaged and both the Canton and Riverside areas were also seriously hit. A total of 165 people were killed in the raid, 116 of them coming from the Canton and Riverside communities. Fifty people from just one street in Riverside became casualties.

Site of Hollyman's bakery on Corporation Road in Grangetown

The saddest story about the raid concerned Hollyman's bakery on the corner of Stockland Street and Corporation Road in Grangetown. Mr Hollyman had a huge cellar under his house and business and as the raid began he encouraged people to come and take shelter. Unfortunately, the building took a direct hit and 32 people were killed, including at least five members of the Hollyman family.

Sometimes, however, there were funny sides to the German raids, particularly for the children of the city who were more concerned about collecting shrapnel than they were with potential danger. Alan Worrell particularly remembered one incident involving the old swimming pool in Splott Park:

"We were crowded into the swimming pool and, believe me, they really used to jam them in. The air raid warning went but we didn't hear it. The pool attendant came round shouting 'Everybody out of the pool.' So we got out, just as we were, in our bathing costumes, and went across the road into Baden Powell School which had air raid shelters. And we spent the rest of the afternoon in those shelters, just sitting there with our bathers on."

(from "Wales at War", Gomer Press)

Clearly the memory of those cold and wet bathing costumes and the dank, dark air raid shelter - when he should have been enjoying himself in the swimming pool - has stayed with him!

In all, nearly 1,000 people across Wales were killed in air raids during the war. Most of these came from Cardiff and Swansea but other, smaller communities suffered as well. As far as the people of the capital city are concerned, however, they will never forget the dreadful memories and the horror of the four-year Cardiff Blitz.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales News created as series of articles to mark the anniversary of the heaviest night of bombing during the Cardiff Blitz on 2 January 1941.

Night of Cardiff Blitz remembered

Keith Matheson - Keith Matheson shares his memories of the night that German bombs fell on the Welsh capital 70 years ago, the worst night of the Blitz in Cardiff.

Cardiff's 'worst night' of Blitz remembered 70 years on