PORTHCAWL
Send your news to: The Cottage, 34 Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl CF36 3YU 01656 783068 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk
Sad News: ‘Liz’ Sumner Passed away some two weeks ago and a large gathering of friends attended All Saints Church earlier this week to celebrate the life of this lovely lady. She taught drama in Porthcawl Comprehensive School for a period spanning more than four decades and influenced the lives of so many young people who came to study under her.
She was a well liked teacher who was also the backstage mainstay of the school shows over many years: a self-confessed Francophile she with her husband Neil was one of the founding members of the Porthcawl Town and San Sebastian Town Twinning Association.
She was a keen member of U3A where she led the drama group and she sang with the Porthcawl Choral Society.
She had a smile which could light up a winter’s day like nobody else I know. It only seems weeks ago that I saw her rushing through town on a mission, but still taking time to stop and chat with no sign of the worries or problems she must have had.
She was a person who made a difference in the town and will be sorely missed by husband Neil and family and by her many, many friends both here and in France.
Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill Branch of Rafa: Roy Orbison Tribute artist on Friday, April 28.
Guide Dogs for the Blind – Sponsored Walk: A sponsored walk has been arranged in memory of the much loved town councillor and past mayor of Porthcawl Phil Rixon, who passed away suddenly in January 2014.
It will be on 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 info from Councillor Norah Clarke 01656 786018 or 07776 437 565 or by e.mail norahclarke@ btopenworld.com.
U3A Volunteers’ Forum: Andrew Collier has arranged a further meeting of the group for Tuesday, May 9, at the Y-Centre in John Street at 7.15pm.
Mike Clark and Stuart Bentley have been invited to attend and update everyone as to the current position with regard to the new Maritime Centre.
Queries and RSVPs to Clare at the Y Centre. email: sdw@theycentre. com or email Andrew (U3A) at: helgandrew@ yahoo.com.
Rhian Edwards at The Green Room: Bridgend’s Rhian Edwards, winner of the Wales Book of the Year award, launches her latest collection of poetry – Brood – at this Sustainable Wales event at the Green Room at Sussed, in James Street, Porthcawl, on Friday, March 31, from 8pm. Signed copies of Rhian’s book will also be available to buy. The reading will be followed by an Open Mic in which other writers are invited to perform. Entrance £4. Call 01656 773627 or 783962.
Easter Dog Walk: The service and keep the doors open.
Garw Valley Links Community Church: From April 2, the church will meet on Sundays at 11am in His Place (next to SPAR) in Pontycymer. Everyone is welcome. Activities for children included. (Children under six need to come with an adult.)
Garw Valley Links also meet every Sunday at 6pm in Blaengarw Community Centre.
Contact Pastor David Rhodes on 871198.
Blaengarw Cricket Club: The club meet every Sunday at Tondu Cricket Club at 2pm for indoor net practise. Visit the Blaengarw C.C. facebook page for more information.
Pontycymer RFC: South Wales brance of the Edward Foundation (dedicated to the rescue and homing of Bulldogs), hold a fundraising Dog Walk starting at the Hi Tide, Porthcawl (CF36 5BT) on Saturday, April 1, at 1pm.
Porthcawl Lions: A new season of book sales will start in John Street on April 15, and these are scheduled to run on a fortnightly basis thereafter. To donate contact Martin on 01656 786745.
The May Fayre, which has become an established favourite for the May Day Bank Holiday, will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 1 at All Saints Church and grounds, Victoria Avenue.
As part of Lions Clubs International Centennial celebrations, the club will be staging an Evening with Niall Ferguson. The event, at All Saints Church on June 21 promises to be one of topical debate. Tickets be available in April. Call Stephen on 029 20757818 or email stephen1simmonds@ btinternet.com
Or visit http:// porthcawllions.org.uk/ index.html
Porthcawl Choral Society: The group will be performing Reflective Music and Readings for Holy Week with soloists at All Saints Church Porthcawl on Monday, April 10 at 7pm. No tickets are required.
They will also be performing a concert of Reflective Music in the Green Hall in Cefn Cribbwr on Saturday, April 8, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 from choir members or at the door,
Practices are held on Mondays, from 7.15pm- On Saturday, April 1, Pontycymer rugby club will be playing a home fixture at Lawrence Park. Kick off will be at 2.30pm hours and the match is against Taibach.
Pontycymer Over 35s Tour: On the weekend of May 20-21,Pontycymer Over 35s will be returning Newbury, for this season’s end of season tour.
The squad will be based in Newbury, but will be playing Hungerford Veterans at Triangle Field on Saturday, May 20.
However, before Pontycymer cross Offa’s Dyke in May their Over 35s play a charity game against valley neighbours Blaengarw Over 35s at Lawrence Park on April 22, kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Strictly Cinema: The group’s latest screening 9.15pm in Trinity Church. Call Porthcawl 784211.
All Shook Up – Elvis Musical: Porthcawl Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society present All Shook Up.
The show is at the Grand Pavilion on Friday, May 5 at 7.30pm and Saturday, May 6 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets cost £14, £12, and £10 (children) from the PAODS on 01656 788148 or the box office on 01656 815995.
Spring Lunch: The Porthcawl Branch of Cancer Research UK are holding their Spring Lunch on Saturday, April 8 at the Hi-Tide Inn at 12.30pm for 1pm. Tickets cost £8.50 (including a choice of meal and tea or coffee) from Diane on 01656 784762.
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.
Sunday Quiz: At the Seagull in the Precinct in Nottage at 9pm. £1 entry per person. The prize is a bottle of wine and there is always a charity raffle.
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.
Groups of paintings will will be The Proud Valley with Paul Robeson and others. The original Paul Robeson’s address to miners made at the Porthcawl Grand Pavillion in 1957 will also feature.
It takes place on March 28, at 11am at the Blaengarw Workmen’s Hall.
Community Furniture Aid: The charity is closed this week for stock taking and also spring cleaning. They are in need of key items such as clean pillows, kettles, toasters, microwaves and baby bedding. If you can help, contact Marianne Cash on 01656 870149.
On Good Friday, April 14, the charity will be hosting a Table Top Sale at the Blaengarw Rugby Club in Victoria Street, Pontycymer. be taken out to churches in sets of four as follows.
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.
Porthcawl Museum And Historic Society: April 1 sees the reopening of the Porthcawl Museum and Historical Society’s revamped premises in John Street.
It opens with a new Maritime Exhibition which will help you discover the story of the SS Samtampa disaster.
The 2017 Gwyn Petty Lecture is being held on Tuesday, April 25, at the Hi-Tide, when Professor Christopher Williams, from Cardiff University, will give a talk on Joseph Morewood Staniforth at 2.30pm. Tickets £4.
Porthcawl Mayor’s Charity Fund Events: On Sunday, April 2 there is a Sunday Lunch at 19 Mary Street. Admission is by £12 ticket only from Jill Sweet on 01656 788551 or Chris Smart on 01656 782915.
The highlight of the year 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.
Free Tai Chi: Classses held at the Awel y Mor Centre on Friday mornings.
Porthcawl Farmers’ Market: Held at Griffin Park Community Hall in New Road, Porthcawl, on the last Saturday of the month (next is April 29), from 9.30am-12.30pm. Contact Mike Pett on 01656 658963.
Entry will be free and there will be refreshments and cakes as well as a Bric a Brac stall, crafts, toys and more.
There will be a raffle and if you’d like to donate a prize contact Marianne as above.
Valley Derby: On April 22, the big derby game between Pontycymer RFC Vetrans v Blaengarw RFC Veterans will take place.
This game has become a key talking point for the whole of the Garw Valley recently. It takes place at Lawrence Park, Pontycymer and kick-off will be at 2.30pm.
It is hoped the Valley Ravens mini rugby team will be playing a curtain raiser before the main event. Money raised will go to Cancer UK and prostate cancer charities.