PORTHCAWL

Send your news to: 42 Suffolk Place, Porthcawl, CF36 3EB. 01656 451844 davidn- w@ homecall. co. uk

Porthcawl Townswomens Guild News: This is an important year for the Guild nationally; as it is 100 years since the vote was given to women over the age of 30. Even then it was not until 1928 that all women over the age of 21 had the vote and it was in that year that Townswomen’s Guilds began to be formed round the country; and the reason for the formation of these Guild Branches was mainly to educate women on how to use the vote. It is strange to think that in 1918 women over 21 could stand for parliament but were not allowed the vote. A statue will shortly be erected in Parliament Square to honour Millicent Fawcett a leader in the early suffrage movement.

The Porthcawl Branch of the Townswomen’s Guild still goes from strength to strength and as part of their programme of public events held a very successful coffee morning in January raising money for Guild funds. They always have good speakers to address their meetings and that doesn’t come cheap nowadays: so extra funds are a help and it means that annual subs don’t have to be increased!. The literary group which is now to be renamed “Poems for Pleasure” celebrated the life and works of Robert Burns whose Birthday falls on January 25. The members also organised a visit to their favourite lunch time spot- Beales Fish and Chip Restaurant, and were also pleased to welcome Councillor Norah Clarke to their January Meeting who brought her current charge ‘Storm’ along with her on the day. Storm, is a young dog who hopefully will be starting his Guide Dog for the Blind training soon. Norah has been a puppy walker for many years and gave us a most interesting and informative talk about all aspects of Guide Dogs.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, March 14 at 2pm, in All Saints Church Hall and is the branch A.G.M. All are welcome to come and hear what the branch got up to over the past year! For further information contact Dorothy Thomas on 01656 772157

Beat The Bully: Starting on Sunday, March 4th there will be a new group meeting at Griffin Park Community Centre from 2.30pm-3.30pm, for parents to bring children over 5 with the intention of giving them defensive training and confidence as a way of reducing the chances of them being bullied by other children when they start in Primary School. Training is based mainly on the “gentle” Chinese Internal Martial Arts system.

Parents will be required to stay for their own class of Chinese Internal Martial arts (such as Tai Chi) running concurrently with the children’s class.

The class is run on a nonprofit basis so the fee will vary depending on the numbers turning up. For details ring John 784991

Fairtrade Event: You are all invited to a Fairtrade Coffee and Cake Afternoon on Saturday, March 10 from 2.30pm4.30pm, in Trinity, John Street, Porthcawl. This will be a very special event, as there will be an opportunity to meet a Fairtrade producer from Kerala, India who is involved with the production of FT coffee and spices. He will be giving a short talk about this at about 3pm and then there will be a chance to chat with him over your ‘cuppa’. Fairtrade Porthcawl is also delighted to announce that the Fairtrade Town Status for Porthcawl has been renewed for another two years.

So please come and celebrate with Porthcawl’s FT Town Group by sampling a range of delicious FT cakes, coffee or tea. Tickets are only £1.50 and will be available from FT Group members or at the door. Come and join us for a very interesting afternoon!

Porthcawl Amateur Operatic And Dramatic Society (PAODS): Check your Diary for Thursday, April 26 – Saturday, April 28 and if there is nothing booked in, then why not get in touch with the PAODS Box Office on 01656 788148, or The Grand Pavilion Box Office 01656 815995. Why? To book up for Menkin, Steinkellner and Slater Musical ‘Sister Act’ of course. POADS are putting it on every evening between those dates, and there is a matinee on the Saturday. When lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg in the film) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she is relocated for her protection.

Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, Deloris proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters. In an effort to keep her out of trouble, they assign Deloris to the convent’s choir, an ensemble that she soon turns into a vibrant and soulful act that gains widespread attention.

Ladies Charity Luncheon In Support Of Tŷ Elis Counselling: A Charity Lunch has been arranged by Ty Elis Counselling Service for Saturday, March 3. It is being held in The Grove Golf Club at 1.30 pm and I hope to have more information in time for next week’s issue.

Griffin Park Table Top Sale: This is held every Friday morning in Griffin Park Hall in New Road starting at 8am and finishing at 12.30pm. I believe that refreshments are available and from my experience it is usually worth a visit.

Porthcawl Shout Forum: First Let me say how sorry I am to hear of the passing of one of Porthcawl Stalwartssomeone who fought so hard for what was right for Porthcawl. Des Reespast chairman of Shout and someone who knew more about the leases for Salt Lake Carpark than the staff in BCBC!

One of the early members of the SAS, and someone that was regularly invited to Hereford to help the curator of the base Museum there to help in research. He will be sadly missed in SHOUT and in Porthcawl: and our condolences must surely go to his family.

With all the cuts planned by BCBC for bus and toilets etc in the Borough, it will be of interest to many in Porthcawl that the Shout Speaker at the next meeting on Friday, March 2 at Trinity will be BCBC Cabinet Member for “Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing” Cllr Philip White.All are welcome.

Pop-Up Café: This Saturday, March 3, 11am-4pm. Fairtrade Fortnight St David Day’s Menu, The Green Room, above SUSSED, Porthcawl. The selection includes traditional Welsh, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Come on in and sample the homemade bread, soups, cakes and savouries all at reasonable prices.

The café not only helps raise awareness of fairtrade, but chooses ingredients that help to make a difference to the lives of their producers and families. The volunteer bakers aim to use mainly fairtrade and local ingredients offering both savoury and sweet dishes for morning coffee, lunch and tea.

The farmers receive a fair price and have decent working conditions. Funds also go to support Sustainable Wales. Janet Jennings had us in awe with her talk “Hats through the Ages”.

Janet began with the Victorian era showing us two very delicate black silk examples before moving on to Paris in the 1900s and very large hats as depicted by Gabriella Chanel and held in place with hat pins up to 18 inches long.

The ladies would often promenade in Deauville displaying their finery; likened to the fashions and colours of Ascot today.

From the 1920s we admired several cloche hats and a scull cap decorated with pearls.

The 1930s collection brought about sophistication and glamour with the fashionable trilby and fedora.

Janet told us that berets were made originally for the forces and Kangol berets became very popular in a variety of colours.

We were shown turbans along with pillbox hats that were made popular by Jackie Kennedy.

In the 1940s with materials being scarce the hats were small and called cocktail hats (similar to today’s fascinators) and gloves too were important at this time.

From the 1950s came straw boaters made from Bedford straw and the Panama also, half hats like bands on top of the head.

Janet had such an amazing collection up to the 1980s she modelled them well and brought back a great deal of memories.

It was a very interesting and entertaining evening. Janet predicts that large hats are coming back and made us aware that on Thursday, March 29 is “Wear a Hat Day” for the charity Brain Tumour.

Diary Dates: Tuesday, March 6 - Monthly Meeting,Williams Memorial Hall. 7.30pm. Welsh Themed evening with Cawl and Welsh cakes and quiz.

Please remember to bring your own crockery and cutlery for the evening.

Wednesday, March 21 - Spring Federation Walk, Llantrisant.

Thursday, March 22 - Literary Lunch, Hi Tide, Porthcawl.

For further information contact Sandra Davidson on 01656 669232.