Roath Cardiff » Roath People

Roath People: Christina Thatcher

Geraldine — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:00:31 +0000

I have written more poetry about Roath than any other place in Wales. Not only because I am the writer-in-residence at the Milkwood Gallery, but because there is something unique and wonderful about this community. Beneath the diverse store fronts and rows of terraced houses is a thriving network of artists, writers, film-makers, and other creatives brought together by the vibrancy contained in this neighbourhood. It is hard to say what specifically drew these people here – the many parks, the Victorian architecture, the exciting food – but, whatever it was, the love Roath residents have for their home is nothing short of inspiring.

For this reason, I seek every opportunity to contribute to the positive, creative atmosphere of this community. If you would like to read about the projects I’m working on in and around Roath please visit my website.

Follow Christina on twitter here.

Christina is taking part in the Made in Roath Festival this weekend:

Milkwood Musings: Talk, Walk and Write Milkwood Gallery, Saturday 20th October, 10am

Voices of Roath Open Mic Night Thé Pot, Saturday 20th October, 8.30pm

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Roath People: Angie Dutton

Geraldine — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:00:09 +0000

I love Mill Gardens with its dogs and ducks, Roath Park picnics, Albany and Wellfield Roads’ eateries and shopping at Roath Farmers’ Market and Allen’s secret bakery. The area is dotted with fascinating buildings and architectural details from St Margaret’s Church with its Bute tombs to the faded painted adverts around the Mackintosh Institute. The Edwardian planners of Penylan’s tree lined streets would be delighted it still thrives. Ten years ago I started an art and aesthetics degree and discovered our buzzing creative community. Through helping organise the Cardiff Design Festival I know what it takes to make events like Made in Roath happen, so appreciate their team and others’ work in supporting local designers, artists and doers. Events that promote participation engender a sense of community, joy, pride and belonging and I think that’s hugely valuable for us all.

Follow Angie on twitter here and Cardiff Design Festival here.

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Roath People: Helia Phoenix

Geraldine — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:47:40 +0000

Smiling birth. Screaming toddler. Liberating wardrobe-top Lego from the house on Pen-Y-Lan Road, tangled in 1980s dark curtains and lace netting. It is my last memory of the city. Then through the years, Roath swells with Indian, Pakistani, Polish. I escape the darkness of south London shootings for its friendly streets, the kind grocer on Albany Road, the miasma of second years, foreign students, half-way houses, sustained by late night booze and nitrous delivery service, nourished by independent cafes, galleries, scenes, pound churches, happenings, pizza delivery, neon friendships. En masse we scamper through the night between house parties and town and unemployment and breakups, nursing cocktails in Milgi, sushi at Tenkaichi. The taste of childhood for sale in the ethnic shops on City Road. You try to move away from it. But you can only ever move around within it.

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Roath People: Anne Bell

Geraldine — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 09:00:26 +0000

I live near Roath Park and have always felt lucky to have the park with its diversity of plant and animal life right on my doorstep. Three years ago I started collecting old postcards of Roath Park and realised what a long history it has and what a bold undertaking it was in the 1880s to create Cardiff’s first public park in Roath. I now spend a lot of my spare time looking for stories and historical facts about Roath Park!

I have a lot of cards of Roath Park’s bandstand, the earliest posted in 1905. I didn’t know that Roath Park used to have a bandstand or that in the early 1900s thousands of people would visit the park for the band performances.

Sharing the postcards is one of the pleasures of collecting them. You can see some of my collection at http://www.cardiffparks.org.uk

Follow Anne on twitter here

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Roath People: Jessica Donnan

Geraldine — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:43:57 +0000

I’ve lived in Roath since I started University in 2005 and never moved. It was perfect for me as a student and it’s perfect now for me as a freelance designer.

It’s so diverse culturally and I love how many different kinds of restaurants you can find just around the corner. My favourite is Puccini’s! I love the Lake and going for walks around Waterloo Gardens and visiting Waterloo Tea Rooms.

I can’t think of anywhere better to live and all this a stone’s throw away from my little studio. There’s so much to see and do and great people to meet! I’m keen to get involved with businesses in the area in terms of branding and design and to try and make Roath an even more stylish place to be! Please visit my website or drop me a line on twitter @jessicadraws

See more of Jessica’s work on etsy here.

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Roath People: Dave Oldham

Geraldine — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:23:05 +0000

I have lived in and out of Roath for the last 12 years and I am always impressed by the fact that everything you could possibly need is accessible without the need for a car. I can buy game meat from Roath Market for my home made pastry pies, drink real ale in The Albany pub and plan country walks that start from Roath and end up miles away in the Caerphilly Hills.

Over the years I have built a collection of these walks that can be explored via my Cardiff Pub Walks blog – taking in every real ale pub en route of course!

I’m also a running fanatic so on a Saturday morning I like to run 8 miles around Roath and the surrounding districts as a bit of a warm up before going hiking!

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Roath People: Adam Care

Geraldine — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:43 +0000

As a journalist I was assigned Roath to cover, and couldn’t be happier with it.

For such a tightly-packed community, the range of things going on is constantly surprising – if it happens in Cardiff, there’s a good chance you’ll find it in Roath.

In my short time reporting from the district I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’ve met some fascinating people, danced like a loon at the Globe, wasted Saturday nights playing cards in The Albany, hidden from my editor in Pen-y-Lan library, surveyed the many estate agents for opinions on house prices, watched American Football in Roath Park, and dragged myself out on a Saturday for organic sausages from the market. (But everybody probably says that one).

I don’t know how long I’ll be in Cardiff, but as long as I am, Roath will always be my favourite spot.

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Roath People: Calum Ross

Geraldine — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:12:46 +0000

I gotta say, I’m in love with Roath. The best of everything Cardiff has to offer in such a nice setting, and I’m glad to say that I feel a part of the community that makes up Roath’s contribution to music, arts, events and parks.

I’m from a village in the Swansea valley so I feel at home in this corner of Cardiff. I moved to Cardiff to progress with music, and that I’ve done. Some of my favourite gigs have been in Roath: from big shows at The Globe with the Soul/Blues/Motown/Rock band that I front, to intimate acoustic gigs in The Coffi House, or even busking at the farmers market! Although I play mostly South Wales, I love to keep it local.

Next up?! Organising another show at Globe in April (19th) & running the new Open-Mic Wednesdays at Rileys (City Road).

Twitter – @CalumRossMusic Web – www.thescarlets.org.uk email – calumross[at]hotmail[dot][co][dot]uk BBC Radio Wales Video – http://www.youtube.com/embed/bJS5CdClOw8?rel=0

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Roath People: Norma Jean Finnegan

Geraldine — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:15:01 +0000

I moved to Cardiff after graduating from a photography degree in Carmarthen in 2009. The people have only been lovely to me since I came here, and I can see myself here for some time.

I live in Cathays but venture into Roath almost every day. I work in the Globe in the evenings and get to meet a lot of the locals that way.

I also have an addiction to the charity shops on Albany Road (seriously, I have a problem!).

You’re never short of choice when popping in for a tea and cake anywhere either. With most places offering free WIFI, you’re never short of choice.

The parks are ideal for strolling round having picnics, and with all the new flowers starting to arrive, it makes me feel lucky this is all on my door step!

Norma Jean’s photography business is based in The Globe Centre, Roath.

Find Norma Jean on Facebook here and follow her on twitter here.

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Roath People: Cara Reed

Matt — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:16:32 +0000

I’ve only ever lived in Roath as a student – thing is I’ve been a student on and off for nine years, so far, racking up four degrees and currently in my last year of my PhD .
My return to academia after a brief spell working for a living also signalled a return to Roath.
So why come back? Albany Fish Bar alone would convince me, but all the other amenities on your doorstep also make life easy here. I like buying cards in Paperweight, buying sweets in Tea & Cake, picking up a deal in Home Bargains, visiting the farmers market, and eating out at Ichiban, Empire, or Troy.
I also like picking up a kebab or chicken and chips from City Road at the end of a night out – just so I can relive my younger student exploits.

Cara is @reedcara on twitter

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