PORTHCAWL

Send your news to: The Cottage, 34 Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl CF36 3YU 01656 783068 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk

Porthcawl Jazz Festival: Tonight Wednesday, June 22 sees the Jazz and Blues Party organised by the Porthcawl Jazz Festival Committee being held at the Hi-tide in Mackworth Road from 7pm till late.

There will be big band music provided by the Archbishop Mcgrath Comprehensive School Band, Dixie Land Jazz provided by the Liberty Street Jazz Band, Welsh Jazz vocalist Clare Hingot, the Graham Watkins Trio, and the Wayne Warlow Quartet and possibly even more.

Food is available on the night from the Hitide Menu (Starting at £4.50) and tickets are £10 available from committee members or from the Hi-tide.

Mrs Val Sizer RIP: A few weeks ago I commented on the passing of a lady called Val Sizer who lived in Nottage, but spent a lot of time in the town.

I have no doubt that you’ve all seen her in John Street with her ‘mac’ on and her hood up, and her wheeled walker which contained as it happens, her mobile ‘swear box’.

I had a couple of phone calls after the article to find out when the funeral was, and on enquiry I was told that there was not going to be a funeral as she had donated her body to medical science; it would appear that Val was just as quirky in death as she was in life!

But I’m sure that her friends in Museum Society will not let the opportunity pass without meeting together to say a fond goodbye.

Lily-May Charity Night: Gaynor and I had the privilege of meeting LilyMay this week when her Nan Ann, and her Mum called in to see us, and while Lily-May herself may have missed out on certain elements of life’s lottery at birth, what she hasn’t missed out on is love and affection and indeed she has those in trumps!.

What a sweet, happy child with a beautiful smile she is.

Bench Seats Here In Porthcawl: The majority of public bench seats in Porthcawl are under the control of BCBC and there is one on the Esplanade, not far from the ‘Selfy Seats’ which has a broken slat which makes it difficult to sit on.

I reported it to BCBC some weeks ago and here we are with Spring Bank Holiday long gone and Mid-Summer’s day on the horizon and then downhill to Christmas and the bench is still there, still needing repair and now the grass is growing in the paving underneath it as it does under all the other benches on the Esplanade.

I can’t help but wonder, whether this is the way that the Borough Council should be looking after the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ as they used to refer to Porthcawl in the old days! UDI for Porthcawl say I!

US Mission Week: Just to let you know that Gilgal Baptist Church, Park Avenue, Porthcawl is again welcoming this group of American friends who come over for a US Mission Week here in Porthcawl.

The main events of this important week are as follows:

Wednesday, June 29: 11am Traditional Service - Gospel Hour at Gilgal 7.30pm ‘Sounds of the South’ at the Hi-Tide - tickets (free) are available for collection from Martin Gillard at Gilgal – Tel: 01656 785046

Thursday, June 30: 7.30pm Concert in the Pavilion

Sunday, July 3: 10.30am American Band leading worship at Gilgal 3pm Beach Bar-B-Q Fun & Games- let’s hope the weather is kind.

6pm Youth service at Gilgal.

Gaynor and I went to quite a few of the events last year and like everyone else there, thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Porthcawl Horticultural Society: I believe that there are still some seats left on the Outing which the Porthcawl Horticultural Society has organised to Rodmarton Manor in Gloucestershire, for Tuesday, June 28th.

It includes a guided tour round this Art and Craft house which has a garden of some 8 acres designed as a series of ‘outdoor’ rooms. Lunch is in Cirencester and the cost is £20.

The trip as usual, leaves West Road Bus Shelter at 9am (although it may be 10 minutes early) and then all the usual stops here in Porthcawl.

For more information contact Bon Marche in John Street.

Porthcawl Townswomens Guild: How time flies particularly as you get older.

The ladies of the Guild are looking forward to a summer of sport.

Football has started and Wales won their first match, Hurrah!

Then its Wimbledon and the Olympics.

The luncheon group had a great meal at the Angel in Maudlam, and Guild Members sponsored secretary Dorothy on a walk in Newbridge Fields, Bridgend in aid of the Stroke Association.

The committee discussed the Cream Tea they are holding on August 17th – there are a limited number of tickets but if anyone would like to attend, then get in touch with Dorothy Thomas on 01656 772167.

There was a change of speakers at the June Guild meeting and Debra John, who was due in July came and spoke on Aspects of World War I.

Always a splendid speaker she held the ladies of the Guild spellbound by her research into the subject and her delivery.

Next month the Rev Clive Williams who should have been there in June will be at the meeting on July 13 at 2pm at All Saints Church Hall when he will talk about The Music of Handel.

Craft Sale Of Work And Materials: There will be a sale of Craft Work and materials at The Newton Institute in Newton Nottage Road on Saturday, June 25 starting at 10.30am.

All proceeds will be going to the Wallach Group which is a group who help local homeless people get back into work and to find accommodation.

Tea and coffee will be available and entry is free.

Art Challenge Wales: Can you paint or draw or make any Art Work in one day? Then this is for you!

If last year’s competition is anything to go on, then Saturday, July 26th should see hundreds of artists arriving in Porthcawl to paint/draw/ sculpt ‘en pleine air’ and to compete for cash prizes totalling £1,000.

Art Challenge Wales is an event organised by local businessman Phillip Vaughan who invites YOU to take part.

Get in touch and Register by calling 01656 772222 or by e-mail at info@artchallenge wales. co.uk or by going on line at www.artchallenge wales.co.uk

First Prize £500: Second Prize £300 and Third Prize £200-with other prizes to be announced.

Sea Sunday: July is going to be a busy month here in Porthcawl!

What with the Carnival on the 23rd July and The Sea Festival on July 30 and now Sea Sunday on July 10 at the Bandstand in John Street at 2pm there will be a band Concert given by the Ogmore Silver Prize band under their musical director Alice Jones.

Then at 3.15pm there will be a chance for you all to join in the ‘Songs of Praise’ with hymns, songs and readings for everyone.

Note that in the event of wet weather both events will be in the Y Centre.

Refreshments will be available in the Y Centre following the Songs of Praise.

Collection for Missions to seafarers and the Mayor of Porthcawl’s Charities.

This is an event arranged by Churches Together in Porthcawl and always attracts a good crowd on the day. meeting on 13 June, only the Clerk, Chairman and three Councillors were present, along with eight members of the public.

Our PCSO was in attendance and gave a crime report, saying that in the month of May the number of crimes for the area was as many as in the first five months of 2016.

There has been a trial of the school bus dropping off/ picking up the primary school children at Southerndown Road (Heol Cae Gwyn) with the pupils walking along No 7 footpath to/from the school entrance.

This is considered to be a safer route and will help prevent the frequent bottleneck at the beginning and end of each school day when the school bus is parked on the B4265 (Ewenny Road) and children are being brought to/fetched from school in other vehicles while traffic negotiates around them.

It had been arranged for representative/s from Barratts to attend the meeting to discuss the work being carried out at Ogmore-by-Sea, with particular reference to complaints from the public about the drainage and sewerage system, but disappointingly no one turned up and there was no explanation for this. It was hoped that someone would come to the next meeting in July.

Both internal and external auditors have checked the accounts; the Clerk read out a statement and advised that the Auditors report was very satisfactory.

Although at present it is not being used, the bus shelter at Pant, St Brides, has been repaired in the hope that a bus service will once again run through the lower end of the village at some point in the future.

Three trees representing the three Wards of the Parish were planted some time ago at Bull Hill near the War Memorial and following the loss of a birch it was proposed that a replacement be purchased.

Members of Ogmore by Sea Village Hall Association are meeting to discuss the plans that have been submitted as it has been suggested that the number of parking bays be increased. Money has been secured to construct a pathway which will make accessing the site and playground much safer.

A five-year lease is about to be signed for the cricket ground and organisers will be holding another fundraising fun day.

Following the Quarry Liaison meeting it was reported that Pant Quarry and Ewenny Quarry have been mothballed and only the concrete plant is still working. Lorries are travelling from other local quarries so will continue to come through the village on the way to Aberthaw.

Planning applications were discussed as well as notification of those granted and refused.

Next meeting July 11 at 7pm in All Saints, Southerndown. Please note there is no Community Council meeting in August.