26/5/08 Gwyn Rees Retires
One of Llantrisant Town Trust's longest-serving Trustees has retired after 45 dedicated years service to the organisation. Trustee Gwyn Rees decided not to seek re-election at the last AGM of the Freemen. For many years Gwyn and his family hve worked tirelessly in keeping the Common rubbish-free. During the 1960s he was also instrumental in placing the Trust on a more secure financial foothold by organising fundraising dinners and dances. He was thanked for his massive contribution to the Trust at the recent Court Leet where he was presented with a certificate. A framed photograph of Gwyn will now hang at the Guild Hall.

24/5/08 Court Leet Dinner Success
Llantrisant's Freemen gathered in the Guild Hall for the annual Court Leet ceremony on Friday May 23 rd . Sixteen new Freemen were enrolled in the ceremony, which was chaired by Trustee Martin Hooker who welcomed guests from as far a field as Spain and Canada. Following the ancient inauguration, the Court Leet Dinner was held at Llantrisant Leisure Centre. More than a hundred guests celebrated the age-old tradition of the Freemen by enjoying a delicious meal, liquid refreshment and good humour! Chaired by Trustee Dean Powell, the dinner welcomed the return of raconteur Mel Thomas as their Guest Speaker. The Penclawdd-born retired headteacher, who now resides in Halesowen, gave an outstanding contribution to the night with his hilarious tales of childhood, teaching and the love of rugby. This year's newly-enrolled Freeman was unable to attend the dinner to give the welcoming speech, but fortunately Pontypridd MP Dr Kim Howells quickly obliged and gave an impassioned, and often humourous talk on his work in counter terrorism and the similarities between today's conflicts in Afghanistan compared to the Llantrisant bowmen's fight at Crecy in 1346.

19/3/08 Court Leet Dinner
The annual Court Leet Dinner will be held at Llantrisant Leisure Centre on Friday May 23rd at 7.15pm. This year's Guest Speaker will be raconteur Mel Thomas. The Penclawdd-born headteacher, who spent his working life in Halesowen, is no stranger to the Court Leet Dinner. This year he will once again bring his own inimitable brand of Welsh humour - just a few months after the Grand Slam rugby victory - to entertain and delight. Tickets for the dinner, priced £18 per head, are available from the Clerk, Howard Thomas at 37 Trenos Place, Bryncae, Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF72 9RX

18/3/08 Freemen Applications
Individuals who wish to apply for enrolment as a Freeman in 2008, will need to submit an application form before April 1st 2008. For further details contact the Assistant Clerk John Berry on 01443 222683

16/10/07 Enrolment of Freemen
One of the responsibilities of your Trustees is ensuring that the Trust and Freemen continue into perpetuity. Therefore the question of changes in society affecting the institution of marriage, with an ever growing tendency for less formal arrangements (unmarried men and women partners and same sex partners) and the implications of such changes to the future of Freemen of Llantrisant have to be addressed by the Trust.

The state of affairs is hindered by a tendency for conventional marriages to breakdown prematurely and the rising tendency to single parentage. In 2006 T he Office of National Statistics indicated that 42% of births were outside wedlock (predicted to be 50% within 10 years) and of these 10% are single parentage. Furthermore it has been the Trust's experience that lately significant numbers of candidates attending Court Leets have been well over 21 years of age, and in many cases fathers and sons are made Freemen together.

More and more cases have come to light of the ineligibility and loss of rights of Freemen's daughters' husbands, and child sons, as a result of early divorce. Recent reference to the Freemen's Roll revealed the numbers of enrolments in the years from 1960 to 2006, the greatest number being 64 in 1989 and the minimum of only 10 in 1999.

The proportion of these being sons-in-law was also analysed from 1969 to 2006 the average over these 38 years was 34.4%; the maximum being 68.8% in 1973 with the minimum 15.4% in 1986. School intake statistics for the local borough council for September 2006 showed that 50% of children are of unmarried parents and it was predicted this figure will increase.

At present enrolment, by established birthright, is open to sons of an enrolled Freeman and sons-in-law, that is, the husband of an enrolled Freeman's daughter. A direct consequence of less conventional marriages is means fewer sons-in-law. This will therefore have an imminent effect of substantially reducing the number of entitled Freemen because their child-sons cannot become Freemen unless they are made Freemen themselves and they cannot do this until they are married to an enrolled Freeman's daughter.

In an endeavour to stem any adverse impact on future numbers of Freemen being entitled to be admitted to the Roll a review of the eligibility of potential future Freemen is intended to be undertaken by Trustees. The Charity Commissioners have clarified that there is nothing specifically laid down in the scheme defining enrolment criteria of new Freemen and have established such definition as the responsibility of the Trustees.

To date no firm conclusion has been reached by the Trustees but the favoured option appears to be an additional category of "Grandsons" - limited to the immediate grandfather-grandson link, i.e. one generation break only. In this way enrolment entitlement would be assured, the lineage preserved with supporting documentary evidence remaining straightforward, as at present - being primarily birth and marriage certificates. A grandson's enrolment entitlement would thus be secured in such instances where the father was not enrolled as a Freeman; the Freeman's daughter is unmarried etc.

There is a viewpoint that any interference with the present sons / sons-in-law scenario is unwarranted as, as of yet, there is no sustained evidence that enrolment numbers are declining. It could well be that the aforementioned changes in society concerning matrimony and the like may be halted and even reversed and the whole issue proven to be irrelevant. An immediate decision is not critical thus there is adequate time for reflection. However your Trustees would welcome your consideration and opinion as to whether the proposed new category of grandson is acceptable or any other suggestion you may wish to make. Please indicate by contacting dean@llantrisant.net Thank you for your time and consideration.

14/09/07 Visit to Crecy
Llantrisant Town Trust are in the process of arranging a three-day visit to Crecy in the autumn of 2008. It is hoped that a link between Crecy and Llantrisant can be secured for the benefit of both communities. Once the initial exploratory group has met with dignitaries in the French town, and site of the famous battle of 1346, future trips will hopefully be planned for Freemen of the town.

14/09/07 Valedictions
It was with great sadness that the Trust was informed of the death of Freeman Alun Rees (Roll No. 2343)   late of West Wales. Mr Rees, whose brother Gwyn is a Trustee and nephew Huw was also a Trustee, was an active member of Llantrisant life for many years, where he built the town's first rugby club. The Trust were also informed of the death of Freeman  Arthur Glyn Jones (Roll No. 2047) of Edinburgh who passed away at the age of 90 in July. Sympathy is extended to both families on behalf of the Trustees and Freemen.

14/09/07 Town Trust Clerkship
Llantrisant Town Trust greatly regrets receiving the news that Mr Howard Thomas, Clerk since 2000, has decided to relinquish his position before the end of the year. Mr Thomas has served the Trust will the utmost professionalism and dedication as Clerk and Trustees are indeed grateful for his massive contribution. Mr Thomas will of course continue in his role as a Trustee. It has been decided to advertise the position of Clerk in the local press in due course. Should any Freeman be interested in this fascinating and fulfilling post or is aware of anyone, not necessarily a Freeman, suitable then please contact Trustee Dean Powell via dean@llantrisant.net

30/8/07 Work Begins on Llantrisant Castle
Work has now started on the 13 th century ruins of Llantrisant Castle as volunteers cut back vegetation so conservation specialists can begin their expert restoration work. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cadw, the Welsh body for Ancient Monuments, are investing £42,625 into the castle as part of a two-phase project. This will mark the beginning of the first major scheme ever undertaken on the site and once completed further funding will be sought for the second phase of the project, which will involve preserving the ruins of the Raven's Tower and ringwork walls, enhancement of visitor interpretation at the site, and potentially a full archaeological dig of the site.Expert conservationists Page and Dean Consulting will undertake the clearance of ivy on the castle's stonework in consultation with Cadw over the coming weeks. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) are responsible for clearing vegetation around the tower, including its ringwork walls.