Working together and developing friendships
Currently we are exploring ways to strengthen the friendship network:
'Building Bridges': Children at Ysgol Maesgichen, Ysgol Pen y Bryn, Ysol Tregarth and Ysgol Llanllechid Schools planned to link with the children at John Austin All Age School in Pennants to create an anthology of poetry written in 2019. However Covid challenges mean this is on hold. This project is led by Jamaican Poet, Yasus Afari.
Researching the life and times of Robert Rumble, leader of the strike undertaken by tennants in Pennants in 1938 against their unreasonable absentee landlord, Lord Penrhyn.
'Rotary Opens the Doors': As Bangor Rotarian Liz Millman has been 'stuck' in Australia since 2019, the Rotary Club of Bangor has stepped back, however the Rotary Club of Denbigh is currently picking up the link with the Rotary Club of May Pen, but work to update the Community Assessment that will form the basis of an application to Rotary International for a Global Grant is on hold. The main focus is on the need to improve the school facilities.
'Mayoral Links': the Mayors of Clarendon led the way to create links with the Pennant Family in 2007 when Mayor Cllr Milton Brown challenged the descendants of the Pennant Family to give support to the community in Clarendon. In 2015 Mayor Cllr Scean Barnswell welcomed a group from Bangor who were involved in research into the shared history between the Pennant family and Clarendon. In 2017 Mayor Cllr Winston Maragh and Cllr Milton Brown welcomed Liz Millman to discuss the next steps and Liz brought greetings from the Mayor of Bangor, Cllr Derek Hainge.
Since then the Mayors of Bangor have kept links with Mayor Cllr Winston Maragh. Sadly and most recenty in May 2020 - sent condolences on the passing of past Mayor and Cllr Milton Brown.
'Covid 19 Response': Bangor Rotary Club teamed up with Learning Links International to send funds that help the John Austin Baptist Church Welfare Programme, which was much appreciated.
Baptist Church Links: we are waiting to find a way to link with Baptist Churches in Wales. At present Bangor Baptist Church is without a minister.
Personal Friendships: Liz Millman (nee Williams) developed a friendship with Pennants resident, Jennifer Williams and her family. Over the years they have stayed in touch, modern technology now enables messages and photos to fly back and forth.
Local residents Hirfa Kirsley Anderson, as well as Leonora and Clifford Headly have also kept in touch with Liz, and Leonora visited North Wales when she was Chair of the John Austin PTA and she met Edmund Pennant to ask for support with projects at the school.