PORTHCAWL
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Sad News – Beatrice Rose Howell (nee Altmeyer): Although not born here Rose, as she was known lived in Porthcawl for over 30 years and I am sure that she was most probably Porthcawl’s oldest inhabitant when she passed away last Christmas Day at the age of 104!
Some weeks after the sinking of the Titanic and at the time that the Suffragettes were becoming more actively involved in the fight for women’s rights, on 11 June 1912 to be precise, Beatrice Rose Altermeyer was born in Merthyr Tydfil.
Her parents kept a Fish and Chip shop on the Brecon Road where she lived and grew up with her parents and her three brothers.
She moved to London as a teenager where she lived with her Grandmother and had various jobs there before she met and married Emlyn Rosser Howell who she met when she worked as a cashier in the ticket kiosk of the local cinema.
‘Em’, as he was known to one and all had moved from the Welsh Valleys to London to make his fortune and when he was not accepted as a suitable suitor by Rose’s family they slipped away to the Smithy in Gretna Green where they jumped over the broom and got married!
Rose and ‘Em’ had a long and happy marriage in London where they lived in a big house in Maida Vale; ‘Em’ had a successful bookmaker’s business and Rose made a success of letting rooms out to suitable young single ladies and as she always insisted on the young lady being accompanied by their mother she never had any problems.
Rose became a very astute business woman in her own right, and they led a very active social life in the big city.
They longed for a child but without success and eventually adopted Kenneth who became the centre of their world.
In the 1950s Rose and ‘Em’ retired to Porthcawl where several of ‘Em’s family already lived; but ‘Em’s retirement years were cut short and he died leaving Rose financially sound but grieving his absence.
Kenneth continued to live in London and worked for many years for BT after serving time in the Royal Navy. He too took early retirement and decided to settle in Porthcawl but this again was not to be, and he passed away just before his 50th birthday.
From that time on and thanks to loyal friends and her strong character, Rose continued to enjoy an active if not more limited life until dementia set in and she had to move into Monkstone House at the age of 99.
She was a character who had enjoyed a life of luxury with fine clothes and foreign travel and even in the last year or so she always enjoyed having her hair done and her nails painted.
She got on well with the staff at Monkstone House where she became a bit of a celebrity with staff and visitors alike and while she sometimes could appear to be stubborn or a tad insensitive she could also be generous and loving with a sense of fun and a glimpse of mischief.
She will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Porthcawl Saint Sebastian Town Twinning Association (Ptssta): I note from correspondence that after a period of some 11 years as treasurer and latterly chairman of PTSSTA, Rob Chick stood down as chairman at the business meeting held on January 20.
Rob has worked extremely hard over this period and in his comments on the night he said how much he had enjoyed his stint and how much he appreciated the support and dedication of the committee members and the many others who had helped maintain the continued success of PTSSTA over the years. Mary Emmett Lewis has taken over as chairwoman until the AGM in May, and I am sure that we all wish her every success.
The PTSSTA will be holding a Silent Auction on Saturday February 11 starting at 7pm in All Saints’ Church Hall Victoria Avenue. Entrance is £5 including a glass of wine or a soft drink and nibbles and the evening is being organized to help raise some extra funds for when the French guests arrive in April.
Tickets from Mary Emmett Lewis on 01656 782238. All contributions will, of course, be gratefully received!
Note that all documents, including agendas, minutes, photographs and many other archived materials are available on PTSSTTA’s web pages at www.porthcawl-towntwinning.com and that with effect from January 20 you should use one of the following email addresses to contact the Association: ann@ porthcawl-town-twinning. com or Emmentlewis@ aol.com.
Porthcawl Museum And Historic Society: The February Lecture will be held as usual in the Y–Centre in John Street and the subject of the talk which will be delivered by Phil Owen will be on Henry VIII’s warship The Mary Rose. Members go free; non-memebers £1.
There is also a St David’s Day Coffee morning on Friday March 3 in the Y-Centre at 10.30am and I am sure that there will be stalls and a quiz; so why not go along and meet friends and help raise money for this marvelous organisation of which we as a town are justly proud.
Porthcawl Townswomens Guild News: This month’s meeting is on Tuesday, February 8 at 2pm at All Saints Church Hall when Mrs Alison Westwood will demonstrate Eclipse Gift Wrapping and all are welcome.
Coffee Morning: There will be a Townswomen’s Guild Coffee Morning at the RAAFA Club on Station Hill on Tuesday, January 24, from 10.30am. Any queries please contact Dorothy Thomas on Porthcawl 772157.
Porthcawl Mayor’s Charity Fund: The Porthcawl Town Mayor’s Charity Committee have finalised the programme of fundraising events for the remainder of this mayoral year in May.
On Friday, February 10, there is a curry night – now at The Bengal Lounge on Pisgah Street, Kenfig Hill (not the Brentwood Hotel as previously reported).
Admission by £12 ticket only from Jill Sweet on 01656 788551 or Chris Smart on 01656 782915.
A month later on Friday, March 10, there will be a Thai Night at the All Saint’s Church Hall in Victoria Avenue followed by a Sunday Lunch at 19 Mary Street on April 2 – more about those next week.
Finally, the highlight of the entire mayoral year will be Mayor’s Ball at the Grand Pavilion on April 29 which is just under two weeks before popular Porthcawl Town mayor, Councillor Rob Lee finishes his mayoral year.
The Mayor’s Ball this year has a James Bond theme. Tickets cost £30 each from Jill Sweet on 01656 788551 or Chris Smart on 01656 782915.
Porthcawl U3A: The U3A AGM has been set for Friday, March 24, at The Hi-Tide with several vacancies on the main committee including the position of Secretary to replace Andrew Collier who stepped down last year.
St David’s Day Concert: Awen, the cultural trust who now run The Grand Pavilion and Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2017, are presenting a St David’s Day Concert in The Grand Pavilion on March 1.
The Morriston Orphius Male Choir will be joined by soprano Angharad Rees, Porthcawl Comprehensi ve School, Bridgend Youth Theatre and Yr Ailwyd Porthcawl all helping to make this a night to remember.
Tickets cost £12 adults and £10 children from the Grand Pavilion box office on 01656 875995.
PAODS presents: The Porthcawl Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s 2017 production is a show inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley entitled All Shook Up which will be at The Grand Pavilion on Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6. There are two performances each day at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £14, £12, £10 (child concession) and are available from PAODS ticket hotline on 01656 788148, or the Grand Pavilion box office on 01656 815995.
Fiddler On The Roof: One of my favourite shows performed by one of my favourite companies; the Bridgend Youth Theatre. RYT is producing this wonderful show in the Grand Pavilion on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 with two performances each day at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8-£12 from the box office on 01656 815995.
Free Tai Chi: The teacher who First brought Tai Chi to Porthcawl has always run classes at the Awel y Mor Centre on a not-for- profit basis. Now the same teacher is even offering free Tai Chi for health at the centre on Friday mornings.
Porthcawl Farmers’ Market: Held at Griffin Park Community Hall in New Road, Porthcawl.
As usual they are there on the last Saturday of the month, from 9.30am12.30pm and there will certainly be no change in quality.
For further information on stalls etc, please contact Mike Pett on 01656 658963.