THE volcanic ash cloud brought travel chaos across Europe – and Taff Ely was no exception.
Last week a volcanic eruption at Eyjafjallajoekull, in Iceland, sent a plume of ash over much of northern Europe.
It was feared this dust could clog jet engines, so flights were grounded at all UK airports – including Cardiff.
Terminals were only starting to re-open yesterday (Tuesday, April 20).
This was too late for Beddau RFC. The club had planned a trip to Magaluf, but, on arriving at Rhoose, had to wait anxiously at the check-in desks before finally being told their flight was cancelled.
Meanwhile, Edward’s Coach Holidays – which is based on Newtown Industrial Estate, Llantwit Fardre, just down the road from the Beddau clubhouse – stepped in to help those stranded by the air traffic shutdown.
The Llantwit Fardre company, which also provides school transport for 6,000 pupils, dispatched 10 of its coaches to locations across Britain and Europe – some as far afield as Italy, Hungary and Denmark – to help stranded travellers get home.
Jason Edwards is commercial director of the firm, which has been operating for 85 years.
He said: “We were contacted in the early hours to aid in the transport of Danish school children back to their homes, and since then we have been working closely with ferry and other travel operators in order to help wherever we can.”
The news came in the same week that Church Village-born rugby legend Neil Jenkins, who scored more than 1,000 points and became Wales’ highest-ever points scorer during his international career, attended the launch of a new service.
The 40EE, from Beddau to Cardiff, via Church Village and Tonteg, which will run at 30-minute intervals.
