PORTHCAWL
Send your news to: The Cottage, 34 Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl CF36 3YU 01656 783068 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk
Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill Branch of Rafa: You only have to look at the notice board in the foyer to appreciate the club’s involvement with the community with activities on offer from Bingo through to U3A meetings via darts and whist.
Then there are the Sunday lunches (Well worth a try!) and events galore! The Function Room is well used by the community for Weddings, Birthday Celebrations, Engagements and Wakes and the staff are always efficient and friendly to all.
-They also put on cabaret evenings most weekends and coming up is Ricky Aron – an Elvis tribute artist who will perform there on Friday, March 17 and a Roy Orbison Tribute artist on Friday, April 28.
Guide Dogs for the Blind – Sponsored Walk: A sponsored walk has been arranged at the request of Cheryl Rixon in memory of the much loved town councillor and past mayor of Porthcawl Phil Rixon, who passed away suddenly in January 2014.
He had always wanted to do something to help Guide Dogs for the Blind raise funds and this is now the time.
The sponsored walk is being arranged for Sunday, April 2 at 11am, starting at Coney Beach (a bench nearby is in memory of Phil) and then onwards and upwards to the Ocean View flats and back (start of the coastal path).
Sponsorship forms and information can be obtained from Councillor Norah Clarke 01656 786018 or 07776 437 565 or by e.mail norahclarke@ btopenworld.com.
SS Samtampa: Every one of us of a certain age will remember where they were on Thursday morning, April 24 in 1947 when we first heard the tragic news of the sinking of the SS Samtampa and the loss of the Mumbles Lifeboat the night before; both lost with all hands.
The loss of the Samtampa was fast becoming forgotten in the sea mists of time until Gary Victor and other members of Shout decided to do something about it
As part of the programme they have set up will be an exhibition devoted to the loss of the SS Samtampa in the Maritime Exhibition being staged in the Porthcawl Museum from April 1.
There will be further exhibitions in the Sennydd and the Welsh Maritime Museum in Swansea and in other areas affected – all proving that Wales hasn’t forgotten this tragic event, nor the men and boys that died.
They will be remembered in song and dance and drama and art in schools and colleges as well as having a unique memorial erected in the open area in front of the new Maritime Centre here in Porthcawl.
PACT News: The West Central Ward Pact Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21 at 7pm.
Ladies’ Charity Lunch: Ty Elis, the confidential councilling service based in Victoria Avenue in Porthcawl, has arranged a Ladies’ Charity Lunch for Saturday, April 8 at at Grove Golf Club from1pm. Watch out for posters or check them out on their website.
Sunday Quiz: If you want an enjoyable evening’s Quiz, then it’s off to the Seagull in the Precinct in Nottage. The quiz starts at 9pm and there is an entry charge of £1 per person.
The prize is a bottle of wine and there is always a charity raffle.
Porthcawl Museum And Historic Society: On Tuesday, March 21, there will be a talk on Mysterious Margam by Alan Doyle.
Tradtional Morning Services: At Gilgal Baptist Church, Park Avenue Porthcawl. Wednesdays at 11am, Gilgal Baptist Church Porthcawl holdam orning service. The service concludes at 11.40am and is followed by prayer and tea & coffee in the hall.
Lent 2017: This year the popular Lent Lectures organized by Churches Together in Porthcawl are based on a series of paintings by prominent artist Mark Cazalet.
These paintings illustrate a modern day version of the Stations of the Cross.
The Stations of the cross also known as ‘The Way of Sorrow’, ‘ Via Crucis’ or the Via Delorosa’ traditionally depict Christ on the day of his crucifixion.
Mark Cazon was commissioned to carry out these paintings along with a number of other artists with the objective of bringing the story into the twenty first century.
The set he produced and which will be exhibited in Trinity Church Porthcawl was purchased by a Welsh benefactor who allows it to be taken out into the wider church at Eastertime.
The paintings which show the Stations of the Cross as taking place in London in 2001, will be on display in Trinity Church from Tuesday, February 28 when the Lent Programme organized by Churches in Porthcawl will be opened by Councillor Rob Lee the Mayor of Porthcawl, at 11am and they will be on display throughout Lent.
Groups of paintings will be taken out to various churches in sets of four as follows.
Wednesday, March 22 at 7pm at Stella Maris RC Church in New Road: Pictures 9-12 – ‘The Destination’ led by Rev Anthony Martin.
Thursday, March 30 at 7pm at Gilgal Church Park Avenue: Pictures 13-15 – ‘Death and Resurrection’ led by Rev Martin Gillard.
Friday, April 7 at 7pm at All Saints: all the pictures will be on display set aginst the traditional stations already in place.
Age Concern: I note that Age Concern UK are looking for volunteers to man their shop in John Street. If you have an hour or two to spare, then call in and see the manager.
Porthcawl Museum And Historic Society: The 2017 Gwyn Petty Lecture is being held on Tuesday, April 25, at the HiTide, when Professor Christopher Williams, from Cardiff University, will give a talk on Joseph Morewood Staniforth at 2.30pm.
Tickets from the museum cost £4.
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. The highlight will be Mayor’s Ball at the Grand Pavilion on Saturday, April 29.
The ball has a James Bond theme this year. Tickets cost £30 each from Jill or Chris as before.
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.
Free Tai Chi: Classses held at the Awel y Mor Centre on a not-for-profit basis on Friday mornings.
Go along and show your support.
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 (next is March 25), from 9.30am-12.30pm.
Contact Mike Pett on 01656 658963. Tickets £10.
Knit & Natter: Come along at 10.30am on the third Tuesday of the month (February 20) to All Saints, Southerndown.
Village Library: Open on Wednesdays from 3.30pm-6pm and Saturdays from 10am-12 noon in the Church Hall, St Brides Major.
Zumba Class: Meet on Mondays in St Brides Major Primary School, from 8pm-9pm, for a fun, easy and energetic Latininspired dance fitness class suitable for people over 16 years of age.
Tea & Chat: A friendly open meeting from 10.30am-12noon every Saturday in the Church Hall, St Brides Major.
Keep Fit: Classes held every Tuesday at 7pm in the Scout Hall, St Brides Major. All welcome.
Women’s Institute: Southerndown WI meeting at 7.15 pm on Thursday, March 9, in Church Hall, St Brides Major. Church and Wick Rugby club met to discuss how the Section 106 monies could be used by their organisations; these included a suspended ceiling in the village hall, a contribution to the extension at the church and replacement lighting for the rugby pitch.
Councillor Ambrose reported that the Wick Art Project required more time to consult with new residents at St James’ Gardens and so the timeline had been extended.
Young Farmers: Wick and District YFC are holding their annual Dinner and Dance on March 25 at the Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl.
Wick Cricket Club: At the Wick CC AGM all officers were re-elected with Robert Dixon as Chairman, Alun Escott as Treasurer and Gareth Davies as club vice captain.
Fixtures for the coming season will be available soon.
College Show: The Atlantic College International Show is being held at St Donat’s Art Centre on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18. Tickets cost £5 and £6. Call 01446 799100.
Wick Chapel: Special Family Services at 3pm on March 26 for Mothering Sunday and April 9 for Palm Sunday. A warm welcome awaits.
New Vicar: Craig Vaughan, the new Team Vicar, should be moving into the Wick Vicarage in early March and his licensing will be in St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit Major on Monday, March 27, at 7.30pm.