LLYNFI VALLEY

Send Your News To: 01656 733417 llynficolumn@sky.com

Greek Food: A Big Fat Greek Food Night will be held at St Michael’s Church Crypt this coming 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.

Beach Day Party: Maesteg Market’s Beach Day Party is this coming Saturday, August 13. There’s going to be plenty of fun and rides from 11am-3pm and, of course, plenty of stalls.

Summer Concert: Rhian Hughes and Charlotte Edwards have organised a concert in aid of Cancer Research UK.

It’s next week on Wednesday, August 17 in St David’s Church Maesteg (opposite ASDA) at 7pm. Tickets cost £5 – pay at the door.

It’s music for everyone to suit all tastes, consisting of a number of duets and solos ranging from Classical To Musical Theatre, and their accompanist Neil Parker is also going to play some Jazz repertoire on the piano.

There will also be some cakes for the event.

Strictly Cinema: Always on the last Wednesday of the month at Maesteg Town Hall at 11am, it’s film day, followed by a buffet and bingo – all for a remarkable £6.

Tir Iarll WI: the ladies meet at Llangynwyd Primary School on a Tuesday at 7pm. There is no August meeting, so the next meeting is on Tuesday, September 6, where there will be a Harvest Supper.

Charity Concert: This will take place on Wednesday, September 28 at 7pm in Central Church, doors open at 6.30pm.

This year, Curtain Up Youth Theatre will perform in aid of Action for Children. Last year Maesteg Children’s Choir perfomed, and it’s good to know that young people are ready to support other young people less fortunate than themselves. Tickets cost £3 and will soon be available from church members, or you can pay at the door.

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.

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.

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

Choir News: 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.

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.