LLYNFI VALLEY
Send Your News To: 01656 733417 llynficolumn@sky.com
Mayor’s Fund Events: The final event is on Saturday, April 29 when the Mayor of Maesteg’s Annual Charity Ball takes place at Maesteg Town Hall, from 7pm – this year’s theme being Mascarade.
A four-course dinner and souvenir mask costs £27.50 with the music of Swing Shift with their lead vocalist Ryland.
All money raised in all events will be donated to the Mayor’s four nominated charities: Macmillan Cancer Support, Diabetes Wales, Noddfa Youth and Caerau Community Growers.
Tickets can be pruchased from Maesteg Council offices, Lizzy’s Candy Store, Talbot Street, Maesteg, and at the individual venues and members of the committee.
Concert: On Saturday, April 1, the Côr Meibion Maesteg a’r cyclch visited Warminster to perform for the Rotary Club’s fundraising for local charities.
MD Rhian Jenkins arranged a varied programme including traditional Welsh to songs from the shows which was very well received by a packed theatre.
Rhian and Ryan Wood performed a piano duet which was very well received by the audience.
Soloist Rhian again enchanted all with Out of my Dreams from Oklahoma, What good Would the Moon Be and I Could Have Danced All Night. The choir ended with Troyts Chant, Ave Verum and the choir’s favourite Finlandia.
All joined together to sing both national anthems to end a very successful evening of entertainment.
Murder Mystery: You can forget your Allo Allo, it was more of a So Long, Farewell for poor Renè at Friday night’s Murder Mystery at Maesteg Workmans Club.
With a script that Hitchcock would have passed on and enough double entendres to make the late Kenneth Williams blush, the actors did a superb job in engaging the audience from the onset.
With exaggerated accents and just the right amount of ‘over the top’ delivery, this talented group had us (and themselves) in stitches from start to finish.
They were Michael Banks, Sian Rees, Sally Kingsbury, Jane Mullins, Tony Kingsbury, Ross Penhale-Thomas, Ryan Penhale-Thomas, Bethan Thomas, Aaled Williams and Nia Scourfield.
After a delicious and cyanide-free buffet, the crime was eventually solved (on radio!) by the popular and much loved Super Sleuth, Miss Jessica Marbles aka Marion Rogers.
The whole evening was a huge success, raising £1,000 – a massive thank you must go to every member of the cast who gave us such an entertaining evening and I will be first in line for a ticket next year.
MAOS Production: A Hundred Million Miracles, will be performed by MAOS at St Michael’s Church on Friday, May 19 at 7.15pm. Tickets cost £7 from members, Maesteg Library or pay at the door.
Up Pompeii: From June 14 to June 16, Llynfi Valley Amateur Dramatic Society present comedy Up Pompeii. Tickets cost £6 in advance (£7 on the door) from the Town Hall and library on 01656 815 995.
Town Hall Events: Coming in May – The Searchers on Saturday, May 13, at 7.30pm with tickets at £21.
Then there’s Andy Fairweather Low and the Lowriders on Saturday May 27, at 7.30pm with tickets at £27.50.
You can order from www.maestegtownhall. com or phone 01656 815 995.
Peter Pan Jr: Curtain Up Youth Theatre invite you to join them in Neverland this Easter on Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, at Maesteg Town Hall. It will be their last production before the hall closes. Tickets cost £10 from Maesteg Library 01656 815995 or Maesteg Town Hall on www. maestegtownhall.com
Hospital Fete: Notice for those who give donations and those who make and create items for stalls – the 55th Annual Maesteg Hospital Fete takes place on Saturday,June 17 in Maesteg Market Square. Just a teaser – think Wild West!
Bus Trips: A bus trip to Paultons Family Theme Park (Peppa Pig World) on Saturday, June 17. Adults & children over one metre £38, children under one metre, park entry £14 includes bus and park entry – pick up Maesteg and Sainsbury’s Sarn.
Also a bus trip to Drayton Manor on Saturday, July 29. Prices are age 4 years plus £33, age 2-3 years £20 and anyone under the age of two is £13. Prices include bus & park entry – pick up Maesteg and Sainsbury’s Sarn.
Contact Suzanne Talbot on 01656 739644 or Claire on 01656 739562 or 01656 733 312
Plus... Ladies’ Day at Ffos Las races. General admission ticket and bus £25 includes, entry, access to all public areas of racecourse, grandstand, parade ring viewing and blinkers bar.
Deposit £15 for general admission by May 14.
Call Suzanne Talbot on 01656 739644 or Claire on 01656 739562 or 01656 733 312.
Art Society: If you have a talent for drawing/ painting/designing you may like to join this society. They meet at Maesteg College Mondays from 4pm-6pm and work in a variety of media.
Yoga Class: St David’s Church holds weekly ‘seated yoga’ classes, on Mondays from 10.30am11.30am (except bank holidays). £4 per session.
Ukulele Club: Maesteg Ukulele Club meet every Monday at The Cross Inn, Cwmfelin from 7.30pm.
Contact Shaun on 07747 425035 or shaun@ maestegukulele.club
Parkinson’s Support: The Maesteg Parkinson’s Support Group meet at Maesteg Hospital on alternate Wednesdays at 2pm. They meet next week. Contact Bernard Franks on 01656 733560.
Murder Book Club: This is held at the library in Maesteg Sports Centre on a Saturday each month. Contact Martyn at the library for more information.
Maesteg Men’s Shed: The men meet on Thursdays from 11.30am-1.30pm 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.
Book Club: If you enjoy reading murder mystery books, then the Murder Mystery Book Club is the one for you – Contact Martyn at the library.
Choir News: The following choirs are in the area if you would like to join:
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 Tuesdays 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, from 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
Harmony Ladies Choir, rehearse Mondays 7.30pm-9pm at Nanty Rugby Club.
Maesteg Children’s Choir: Meet every Saturday in the Crypt of St Michael’s Church from 10am12noon and pay £2 a week.
Maesteg CC: The club is available for hire for parties, christenings, etc. Contact Ryan Parry 07712 243 589 or Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943 284.
Curtain Up Youth Theatre: 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. Fee is £6 with an offer of £10 for 2 in the family.
3rd Maesteg Scout Group: Meet at the building in Llwydarth Road. Beavers (6-8 year-olds) meet Monday 5pm-6.30pm; Cubs (8-10) meet Thursday 5.30pm-7pm and Scouts (10-14) meet Thursday 7.15pm-9.15pm, all at £3 each week.
The 631 (Maesteg) Squadron: meet on Tuesday and Friday evenings at their Upper Street HQ and welcome boys and girls aged 13 and over.
Courthouse: 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. Now the age-limit has been lowered.
It’s open every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30pm-7.30pm. Plus there are dance groups of various styles – ballet with Miss Sian, based in Church Street, Maesteg (near the bus station); plus Contagious; and Funk Force.
MHM Wales: Wellbeing Drop-in. Come and join us and increase your positive emotional wellbeing. Every Thursday 12.30pm4.30pm at Central Ecumenical Church, Church Street, Maesteg.
Then there’s the Over 50s Coffee Group held every Wednesday 2pm4pm 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 3.30pm-5.30pm 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 on 07588 460 796 or find Special Families Maesteg on Facebook.
Credit Union: Llynfi Valley Credit Union is open for business for just £1 membership joining fee. You’ll find it at 15a Talbot Street from 9am1pm Monday to Saturday, call 731392; or 177 Caerau Road, also from 9am-1pm, Monday to Friday, call 736267.
Table Tennis: Llynfi Valley Table Tennis is open Fridays from 6.30pm-9pm, at Maesteg Sports Centre.
Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children. Contact Peter Williams on 07956 608 581.
Bingo Nights: Held at Nanty Miners’ Institute on a Monday and Thursday from 7.15pm (the Saturday Bingo has been suspended). As well as bingo, there are refreshments.
Caerau Development Trust: Daily cooked meals from wide menu Monday to Friday. Free food available MondaySaturday mornings. Charity Shop open Monday-Saturday. Library. Computer suite with computer use – help available. Craft sessions Thursday 6pm onwards; Keep fit – two sessions according to ability Wednesdays ring for more details on 01656 810 225; Music and story recording sessions Tuesdays; Craft group – jewellery and card making; computer suite; various courses. Call 01656 810225 or email caeraudevelopmenttrust @gmail.com
NODDFA Community Project, Caerau: A timetable of what’s on: Monday 5pm-8pm UDC Dance; 6pm-8pm Fitness Class. Tuesday 10am-12noon Caerau Foodbank – vouchers only (vouchers can be obtained on Monday and Thursday 1pm-3pm from Noddfa); 1pm-3pm Bingo Club; 4pm -6pm Caerau Boxing Club; 4pm-5.30pm Kids Club (Homework and Drop In – Primary School); 6.30pm-8.30pm Youth Club (11 – 25 year old). Both Kids/Youth Club link with Caerau Growers – Market Garden. Wednesday PM: Job Club and Adult Art/Crafts; 5pm-8pm UDC Dance; 6pm-8pm Fitness Class. Thursday 11am-3pm Sewing Class; 4pm-5.30pm Kids Club (Homework and Drop In – Primary Schools); 6.30pm-8.30pm Youth Club (11- 25 year old). Friday 4pm-5.30pm Youth Drop In; 6pm-8pm Fitness Club. Saturday free for bookings. Sunday UDC Dance Noddfa Community Project. Call 01656 738 866 for more information.
Garth Hall: Garth OAP Club meet in their hall on Bridgend Road every Wednesday from 5.30pm7pm. New members are needed to secure the future of the club and hall. Membership £2, weekly subs £1.
The hall is also available for hire (except Wednesday evenings) with accessible toilets, kitchen and hall on one level. Phone Anne on 0790 460 4049 or 737323 for details.
Social Session – chat over tea and coffee, bingo, card games, day trips, dining out and the occasional speaker. Call Anne on 737323 or 07904 604 049 or Ethel on 735571 for details.
We are also now on Facebook.
Llan Hall: The fundraising lunches (plus raffles, etc) on the third Wednesday of each month at 12.30 for 1pm, at the Corner House.
Current activities at the hall include:
Monday and Tuesday evenings – Sewing Group Mondays 6pm-9pm and Tuesday 7pm-9pm for beginners.
Tuesday morning – Tai Chi;
Wednesday morning – 50+ Keep Fit – there is a new tutor – 10.30am-11.30;
Thursday morning – Parent & Toddlers, Table Tennis at 5pm, Girl Guides in the evening; Friday evening Yoga. We also serve coffee/ tea and light refreshments Tues, Wed and Thursday 10am-1pm.
Details of groups and hire availability are on our website: www.llanvillage hall.org and facebook plus ring the booking line on 07936 524 553.
Llangynwyd Middle Community Council hold their meetings at the hall on the second Monday of the month (except Bank Holidays) in the coffee room at 6.30pm.
Please see LMCC website for full details at www.llangynwyd middlecommunity council.co.uk
Free Courses: Reduce Stress: Learn how to reduce your stress sessions at Caerau Development Trust Wednesdays April 12 and 19, from 1pm-3pm. Join us in making relaxing essential oils and scented bath bombs!
Macmillan Match 4: Macmillan is a new fundraising initiative – all you have to do is decide on your activity, choose a date, register on line at www.macmillan. org.uk/match or register on 0300 1000 200. If you need help with fundraising, tips on organising your event, or just want to know more about Macmillan, we’re here for you.
Sandville: There is a door-to-door bus service, taking people from the Llynfi valley to the lovely Sandville Court, a charitable organisation, where they can have therapy – reflexology, relaxation, hydrotherapy and much more.
The bus leaves every Thursday morning, providing it’s fairly full – there’s a small fee for the bus and all the therapies are donations only.
Tudor is the transport manager, so, to go, just phone him on 01656 731 697.
Sandville’s website is www.sandville.org or you can ring them on 01656 743 344.
Maesteg Carers’ Outreach: Maesteg Carers now contact the centre to arrange a visit at their home, or another suitable place. The centre is at Bridgend Carers, call 01656 658479.
It is open from Monday to Friday and there are various activities for carers plus advisers to help carers to deal with particular problems or other situations
Maesteg U3A: They meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2pm in Central Church Maesteg (pposite the bus station). For more information on what’s on during the month please visit our web site at: www.maestegu3a. org
Cwm Calon: This is a Community Hulb opposite Asda and, if you are an organisation who may wish to use Cwm Calon – the centre’s opening hours are weekdays from 6pm.
You can contact the comunity access development officer, Sharon Gronland on 01656 815092 or email: Sharon. Gronland@Bridgend.Gov. Uk
Computer Help: Sessions are held at Bryn Community Centre, Bryn, Tuesdays, from 10.30amnoon. They will help to get you to feel comfortable and confident when using a computer.
Contact Paul Bulmer on 07757 016 572 or Gaynor Jones, on 07989 130 933. Bring your phone, tablet or laptop.