LLYNFI VALLEY

Maesteg In Bloom: Have you noticed the improvements in our town?

We have a wonderful display of flowers and new benches, so it’s now a pleasure to stop, sit and stare – like the poem, Leisure – ‘What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’.

So take your time on a lovely sunny day to sit on our new benches and admire the flowers. Why, the flowers even brighten up the cloudy and rainy days, so colourful are they.

And new benches are on the way, too.

We need uplifting in these days of austerity.

Exhibition: St Cynwyd’s Church, Llangynwyd, is holding a quilting festival this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 4th, 5th and 6th.

The display will include other crafts as well as quilts.

Tickets cost £3 and will be valid for the duration of the festival.

Opening hours will be 10am to 3pm.

There will be refreshments served in the schoolroom which will cost £1.50 for tea/ coffee and a cake. Top ups will be free. Everyone is welcome to join us and have a lovely day.

Greek Food: A Big Fat Greek Food Night will be held at St Michael’s Church Crypt on Friday August 12 at 7pm for 7.30pm and drinks will also be served.

Tickets cost £10 from the cook on 07960 327042 or contact MAOS members.

The crypt, I am told, will be transformed into a restaurant for one night only. A vegetarian option is also available.

This is another fundraiser for Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society and it is hoped to be as popular as the Murder Mystery play, which raised a large amount of money for the society, with the help of members who roamed the room selling raffle tickets etc – Nia, Rhian, Sarah and Enid Sian and special thanks to Carl Bickle for his expertise on the sound effects and ‘Boc Office Lady’ Sue Bickle, plus the preperformance hard work by Michael Banks, Sian Rees and Jane Mullins.

This time, though it will be the committee members at work, acting as waiters/waitresses.

Maesteg GLEEMEN: This year’s Annual Concert of Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir will be at St Michael’s Church Maesteg on September 3rd.

Led by M D Alun Hodges and accompanist Suzanne Hodges, the compere will be Anthony Bwye, who has his own style of infectious humour.

The soloist, who will be making a most welcome appearance after a ten year absence is the popular Chilean tenor Luis Olivares Sandoval, who was the solist in the 2006 annual concert following the Cardiff Singer of the Year 2005.

MAOS Show: Advance notice of this year’s show at Maesteg Town Hall– Joan Littelwood’s

musical comedy ‘Oh What a Lovely War!’

It’s on Friday and Saturday October 21st and 22nd.

Tickets cost £12 or £10 cons from Maesteg library on 01656 815995 or maestegtownhall.com

What a good choice for this year, with so many special ceremonies to remember the dead in battles fought, in particular The Battle of the Somme.

The original production was performed with the cast in pierrot costumes and metal helmets due to Littlewood’s abhorrence of the colour khaki and anti-war feelings.

The production features such World War I-era songs as It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, Pack up Your Troubles and Keep the Home Fires Burning.

The song Oh! It’s a Lovely War was written by JP Long and Maurice Scott in 1917. Fright Night: Advance notice of the Llynfi Valley Amateur Dramatic Society’s Fright Night.

The date is October 28th and the venue Maesteg Harlequins, time 7.30pm. Admission £5.

We will be providing a buffet and the bar will be open.

Alan Flay is wondering if any of you have personal experience of any ghosts, the paranormal, etc.

If so, please contact him. Two 2-Day Trips: The first is the Christmas Market in Birmingham on 14th December, cost £109 and £42 extra for a single room with a £35 deposit required when booking.

Then on 21st December - Andre Rieu in concert in Birmingham £204 and £15 extra single room with a deposit of £108 required when booking.

Contact Eirwen Thomas on 01656 736379. Events Diary: With so many events taking place and often clashing, this is going to be tried once again.

There is a Town Events Diary in the Council Offices, accessible during office hours.

All organisations are invited to enter individual events in that Diary to avoid overlap or clashing dinners/ concerts etc in the town.

Our River: The Llynfi Valley Rivercare Group, who clean our river and plant flowers along its banks, have a ten year lease on a piece of land in Bridgend Road, Garth.

They intend creating a ‘wetland’ there and have already had the land for five years, waiting for BCBC’s planning permission.

At last it’s now in the hands of the Planning Department - so watch this space Special Dates: Do you have a 100th birthday coming up, or a Golden or Diamond Wedding and live in the Maesteg Town Council area?

You, or your relatives, can inform the council. Then you can expect a special visit from the Mayor and consort bearing gifts. Befriending Scheme: The Big Lottery funded Community Companions befriending scheme for over 50s is looking for volunteer voluntary befrienders in the Maesteg area.

Imagine going days or weeks wit seeing somebody or not being able to get out of the house?

An hour of your time to visit someone or help them participate in community activities can make a huge difference to their day.

Led by Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) and delivered by BAVO and its partners, the project is free of charge, confidential and nonjudgemental, providing volunteer befrienders and community cafés for socially isolated people aged over 50 throughout Bridgend County Borough.

By becoming a befriender you can experience first hand the difference that you can make to people’s lives.

You can help older people meet others, improve their access to local services and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

An hour of your day will really go a long way!

For further details call BAVO, T: 01656 810400 E: bavo@bavo.org.uk

CHOIRS: Do you like music? Do you like to sing?

Do you like making new friends?

Then one of these choirs is for you.

Each has choristers from all over the borough, has their own style in making music and all are friendly, with a warm welcome waiting for new members.

If you have attended any of their concerts, you already know their style and their friendliness, which come across to the audience.

CÔr Meibion Maesteg a’r cylch/Maesteg Male Voice Choir rehearse at the Celtic club on Thursdays and every other Tuesday starting at 7pm-9pm on Thursday with a 15 minute break and 7pm-8.30pm Tuesday with no break.

CÔr Merched Cwm Llynfi, the Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir rehearse at the Catholic Church – St Mary’s and St Patrick’s – on Wednesdays 7pm-9pm.

The Gleemen – Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir rehearse at the British Legion Club.

Harmony Ladies Choir, rehearse Mondays 7.30pm-9pm at Nanty Rugby Club.

Work Chance: Working in Amazon – Bridgend Communities First free information and enrolment sessions at Maesteg Town Hall on Thursday August 11th at 1.30pm and Thursday September 15th at 1,30pm.

BAVO are working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and a recruitment agency who will offer guaranteed interviews upon completion of a four day course.

Interested? Join us to find out more! The employer may provide transport to and from work, call 01656 642605 or email cf.besp@ bridgend.gov.uk

Please let us know if you want your session delivered in Welsh

Bridgend Communities First is funded by Welsh Government.

Doggy Bags: Maesteg Council Offiices always have free doggy bags for dog owners to clear up the mess their animals make.

There’s no need to make an appointment, you can just call into the offices any time between 10am and 1pm from Monday to Friday.

Let’s try to keep all our valley as clean and as tidy as we possibly can.

PET CARE: Anyone thinking of holidays away, or feel like they haven’t got enough hours in the day?

Llynfi Pet Care has been set up for anyone who is in need of a little help with pet care within the Maesteg area.

They offer dog walking,

pet sitting and house visits throughout the day.

For more information please contact Leah Powell on 07966351244., email info@llynfipetcare, or find them on Facebook. Rambling Along: The Maesteg Ramblers will meet at Maesteg car park this coming Sunday at 9am for the 8-mile St Mary’s Hill walk.

Ring 01656 734779 for more details.

All are welcome to join us on our walks but please remember that you walk at your own risk. Yoga Class: Are you less than able bodied, with mobility difficulties?

Or would you just like to do some gentle exercise, or meet friends?

This aims to help the release of tension from the body.

St David’s Church holds weekly ‘seated yoga’ classes, on a Monday morning from 10.30am-11.30am (except Bank Holidays). The cost is £4 per session Ukelele Club: The Maesteg Ukulele Club meet every Monday (except bank holidays) at 7pm in the Cross Inn, Cwmfelin/Maesteg.

For all levels of players from beginners to experienced and they are looking for new members to join.

Parkinson’s Support: The Maesteg Parkinson’s Support Group meet at Maesteg Hospital on alternate Wednesdays at 2pm. They meet today.

If anyone has this illness, you and your partner are welcome to attend to join this cheerful group, who, as well as speakers, arrange trips and lunches as well as free Wednesdays when they enjoy a chat, or bingo, and always have delicious cakes with tea or coffee.

Men’s Shed: The ‘shed’ is at the Court House, 4 Station Street, Maesteg and the men meet on Thursdays from 11.30am1.30pm with lunch included for a donation.

John Gates makes an appeal for all men that are crafters in the Llynfi Valley to join us every Thursday at The Court House.

More information can be found on the website www.shedquarters. walesShedQuarters (www.shedquarters. wales) have their own monthly radio show now on www.CelticaRadio. com (online radio station) and this first one

went out this last Friday at 9pm.

Please have a listen as I’m sure you would find it interesting (very radio 4): http://s124347079. websitehome.co.uk/ NewCelts/shed.mp3 Book Club: A Murder Mystery Book Club Is held at the library in Maesteg Sports Centre on a Saturday each month (the Saturday to be decided each month). If anyone is interested, please contact Martyn at the library. MHM Wales: Wellbeing Drop-in. Come and join us and increase your positive emotional wellbeing.

Every Thursday 12.30pm-4.30pm at Central Ecumenical Church, Church Street, Maesteg.

Then there’s the Over 50s Coffee Group. Are you over 50?

Come along and make new friends and check out other opportunities which are out there just for you!

Every Wednesday 2pm-4pm at Lloyds Café, Maesteg

Special Families: This is a family support group in Maesteg for families that have children with disabilities.

There is now a youth club for special needs children and their siblings at the Court House. It is on a Thursday, from 3.30pm5.30pm for children under 10 years of age.

From 5.30pm-7.30pm for children aged over 10 years of age.

Special Families Maesteg offer weekly coffee mornings at the Court House during term time, Wednesday from 10am-12noon.

Saturday activities at Maesteg Sports Centre 12noon-1.30pm.

Contact: Claire Edmunds 07588 460796 or find Special Families Maesteg on Facebook.

Credit Union: These banks are to help people to escape crippling debts by borrowing from rogue firms and loan sharks.

The long-established Llynfi Valley Credit Union is open for business for just £1 membership joining fee.

Then you can save as much or as little as you wish (from 50p upwards) and, after 6 weeks of regular saving, you can take out a loan (there is a maximum amount) for twice as much as you have saved at only 2% interest per month – lower than any other lenders.

You’ll find it at 15a Talbot Street from 9am-1pm Monday to Saturday, telephone 731392; or 177 Caerau Rd, also from 9am1pm Monday to Friday, telephone 736267.

Food Bank: This is an essential service and is kept stocked by generous people and stores within the community.

The next time you go shopping, please spare a thought for this service.

For those who wish to contribute, baked beans are good, but, for variety, dry goods or other tins are most acceptable.

You can either deliver them to Noddfa in Caerau, or Peniel in Maesteg, or Caerau Development Trust via Dr Jill.

Those of you who believe that you are entitled to use the Food Bank at Peniel Chapel Maesteg or at Bridgend, please note that you can’t just go along to get food there.

You must check – you need a note from your doctor, the Social Services, the Job Centre or Citizens’ Advice Bureau, which you then take with you and hand it in. Nanty Sport: Llynfi Valley Table Tennis is open every Friday evening from (note change of time) 6.30pm till 9pm, at Maesteg Sports Centre.

All equipment is provided for use, with qualified coaches to help and assist from absolute beginners to the more experienced player.

Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children.

For any more details or information contact Peter Williams on 07956 608 581. Maesteg C C: The club is available for hire for parties, christenings, etc.

If you wish to hire Maesteg Cricket Club, the contacts are Ryan Parry 07712 243589 and Lyndon Horrigan 07971 94328

Latest events at the club include:

Saturday 6th August, Prosapio (Duet), club open from 7pm. Contact Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943284.

Saturday 20th August, Bad Reputation, club open from 7pm. Contact Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943284.

Saturday 27th August, Sunshine Cab Company, club open from 7pm. Contact Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943284.

Sunday 28th August (Bank Holiday), Brass Monkeys, club open from 5pm.

Contact Lyndon Horrigan on 07971 943284 .

Children/Youth: We have two children’s and young people’s cultural activities in our valley plus scouts, air cadets and the Courthouse.

Maesteg Children’s Choir have exciting plans for this year, when the choir will be celebrating 30 years, so they say, ‘Why not come along and join the celebrations’.

The children are guaranteed a great time learning new songs.

They meet every Saturday in the Crypt of St Michael’s Church from 10am to 12 noon and pay only £2 a week.

Then there’s Curtain Up Youth Theatre which meets every Tuesday at Maesteg Town Hall from 4.15pm for primary school age children and 6pm for those of comprehensive school age up to 18.

They are trained to a high standard in all aspects of stage-craft – acting, mime and movement.

There is a weekly fee of £6 with an offer of £10 for 2 in the family.

Community based, the 3rd Maesteg Scout Group, began in 1959 and still going strong, meeting at the building in Llwydarth Road:

Beavers (6-8 yearolds) meet Monday 5pm-6.30pm Cubs (8-10) meet Thursday 5.30pm7pm and Scouts (10-14) meet Thursday 7.15pm9.15pm, all at £3 each week.

Activities include helping in the community; activity badges; camping; learning and investigating; fun days.

We are doing lots of fundraising at present for the group.

The 631 (Maesteg) Squadron meet on Tuesday and Friday evenings at their Upper Street HQ and welcome boys and girls aged 13 and over.

The Courthouse is in Station Street, Maesteg, and was started as a place for 16-25-year-olds to go, where they could just sit around and chat, or do various activities on offer.