LLYNFI VALLEY
Send Your News To: Marion Rogers 01656 733417 llynficolumn@sky.com
Murder: It’s here this week. Friday, March 23. The murder mystery play, Murder with a Twist (of lemon), will be performed at Maesteg Workmen’s Club. Remember that the audience will have the chance to decide who is the guilty person, what was the motive and why, then hand their slip in.
The correct answer wins a prize. Tickets cost £8 including a buffet and proceeds are in aid of the Mayor’s Fund.
Passion Play: Next week on Good Friday, March 30, the walk of witness takes place, when Jesus carries his cross with the Roman soldiers and the crowd following. They will leave the steps of the Catholic Church at 10.30am, ending at the Market Square for the play to be performed at 11am. You are all welcome to join them in the hymn singing and to play your part in the crowd scenes The play ends with the empty tomb
Cor Meibion Programme: From Friday, March 23 until Sunday, March 25, they will be on tour in Letchworth. Then their annual concert will be on Saturday, May 12 in Maesteg Town Hall with guest artiste Shan Cothi.
Gleemen: Maesteg Gleemen are eagerly looking forward to their trip on Thursday, April 5. Maesteg when they and their supporters head off to Guernsey. This is part of the celebrations for their 60th year. The main event will be a concert with Guernsey M.V.C. in St James’s Hall St. Petersport, this event is already a sell-out. There is also a Gala Dinner on the last night of the Tour, when both Choirs will attend the “Les Cotils” with an afterglow to finish the evening off, and say farewell to new found friends.
Easter Services : St Cynfelyn - Palm Sunday, March 25 - 8am - 11.15am Eucharist & Distribution of Palms; Holy Week, Tuesday, March 27 & Wednesday, March 28 - 7pm Stations of the Cross & Eucharist. Maundy Thursday, March 29 - 7pm. Eucharist of the Last Supper, Stripping of the Altar & Silent Watch. Good Friday, March 30 - 1pm – 2pm Service of Devotion. Holy Saturday, March 31 - 8pm Easter Vigil. Easter Day, April 1 - 8am & 11.15am. Central Chuch - Lent services each Sunday at 11am, Good Friday at 9.45am, Easter Sunday at 11am.
Curtain Up: Curtain Up Youth Theatre will be performing Hairspray JR at Maesteg Town Hall on Thursday, April 12 until Saturday, April 14 at 7and at 3pm on the 14th.
Tickets are £10 and are available by ringing the hall’s booking number on 01656 815915, or call at Maesteg Library.
Cor Merched: Book your tickets now for Côr Merched Cwm Llynfi’s (Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir), annual concert. The concert takes place on Friday, April 20 in Maesteg Town Hall, beginning at 7pm. Led by Musical Director Paul Deenik and accompanist Laura Deenik, it promises to be a great evening’s entertainment, with guest artist tenor Rhodri Prys Jones. The evening will also feature the Bridgend based string trio, “Bridge Strings”. The whole event will be compered by Maesteg’s own Tony Mullins. Tickets priced £8 are available from Maesteg Town Hall’s box office in Maesteg Library, Tel. 01656 815995 or online www.maestegtownhall. com
Star Seach: Maesteg Town Hall. MaestegFestival’s big TalentSearch is fast approaching, get your entries in by Friday, April 27 for the chance to win £1000!
The Grand Final is Sunday, June 24.
Mayor’s Fund: The Mayor of Maesteg’s Fund has arranged a number of Fundraising Events to raise funds for the Mayor, Cllr. Idris Williams’ nominated charities: Diabetes UK Cymru and Cefn Yr Afon Community Rehabilitation Unit. The next events will be on Sunday, April 15 and Saturday, April 21. Details coming soon.:
Town Hall Events: All tickets are available from the hall on 01656 815915 or maestegtownhall.com
Friday, March 23 - 7.30pm - The Lady Vanishes - A Thriller Play.
Thursday, March 29 - 7:30pm - The Barber of Seville presented by Swansea City Opera.
Wednesday, April 4 - Stop Motion Animation workshop - 10am Tickets £6 limited availability.
Friday, April 6 - Welsh Easter Workshop - 2pm Tickets £2.
Monday, April 9 - The Legendary Adventures of Litla the Brave - 2pm Tickets £6.
Thursday, April 12 - Saturday, April 14 - Curtain Up “Hairspray” All dates 7pm & a 3pm Sat 14th Tickets £10.
Friday, April 20 - Cor Meibion Annual guest Artiste Shan Cothi Compere Garry Owen - 7pm Tickets £8.
Saturday, April 21 - Samba Drumming Workshop - 10.30am - Tickets £6.
Friday, April 27 - Eric Bibb - 8pm Tickets £25.
Saturday, April 28 - Magic of Hollywood Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis - 7.30pm Tickets £23.50 - £24.50.
Events Diary: There is a town events diary in the council offices, accessible during office hours.
All organisations in the valley are urged to enter individual events in that diary to avoid overlap or clashing of dinners/ concerts etc in the town/ valley.
Special dates: Do you have a 100th birthday coming up, or a golden or diamond wedding and live in the Maesteg Town Council area?
You, or your relatives, can inform the council.
Then you can expect a special visit from the Mayor and consort bearing gifts or even a card from the Queen.
If you live in the Llangynwyd Middle Council area, then you contact their clerk of the council.
Cwlwm Cwm Llynfi: The purpose of the group is to promote and enhance the awareness and use of Welsh language ,culture and traditions in a social context for the benefit of residents in the Llynfi Valley and surrounding areas in partnership with other bodies where appropriate. The group meet once a month in Maesteg Council Offices to plan future events.
Anyone who is interested and would like to join us would be very welcome. For further information contact Rhian Sterio on 07861 660970 or email rsterio@ icloud.com
Urdd Eisteddfod Group: The purpose of the group is to promote and enhance the awareness and use of Welsh language, culture and traditions in a social context for the benefit of residents in the Llynfi Valley and surrounding areas in partnership with other bodies where appropriate.
The group meet once a month in Maesteg Council Offices to plan future events. Anyone who is interested and would like to join us would be very welcome. For further information contact Rhian Sterio on 07861 660970 or email rsterio@icloud.com
Rotary: Maesteg club has been running for over 70 years and meet every fortnight on a Monday at 1pm in the Cross Inn Maesteg/ Cwmfelin. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss projects to benefit others (often in the valley) and socialise.
They are looking for new members so they can continue to be able to help local charities as well as international.
If anyone male or female who is able to spare an hour each fortnight and would like to help in the benefit of others please contact Tal Harries on 01656 711078.
Lions: Maesteg Lions meet on the first Wednesday of each month at Maesteg Golf Club at 7.30pm for 8pm.
The purpose of their meeting is to discuss projects to benefit others local charities and socialise.
If anyone would like to join to make new friends and, at the same time, to help in the projects, please contact V Sharma on 01656 733236.
Maesteg W I: Meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm in Maesteg Rugby Club.
River Care: There are two groups, who sometimes work separately and sometimes together. One group is responsible for the community garden in Garth, the other with Resources Wales, the three year plan to get rid of Japanese Knotweed.
Both work to clear the rubbish still being dumped along the banks of our River Llynfi and are planting more bulbs in readiness for spring.
Ramblers: Maesteg Ramblers will meet at 9am on Sunday for the 12-mile Llyn y fan Fawr walk. Contact 07927 386306. All are welcome to join and remember that you walk at your own risk and take a snack and a drink with you.
Art Society: The society meets at Maesteg College on Mondays, from 4pm6pm, and work is created in a variety of media.
Local History: Llynfi Valley Historical Society on the first Tuesday of the month in St David’s’ Church at 7pm.
They next meet on April 6th when the speaker will be David Lewis, whose subject is The Steam Coal Trade in Relation to the Llynfi Valley.
Yoga (seated): For people with mobility difficulties, gentle exercise aims to help the release of tension from the body. At St David’s Church (opposite Asda), Mondays, 10.30am11.30am (except bank holidays). Cost £5 per session.
Maesteg Miners: The newly formed Llynfi Valley Ex-miners Group meets fortnightly on a Tuesday at 6.30pm in Maesteg Rugby Club.
All ex-miners who worked on top or underground are welcome.
For more information contact Chris Davies on 07521 906 796 or see the Facebook page: Llynfi Valley Ex-miners.
Ukelele Club: The Maesteg Ukulele Club meets every Monday (except bank holidays) at 7pm in the Cross Inn, Cwmfelin/Maesteg. For all levels of players – new members are welcome.
Maesteg U3A: Maesteg U3A meets at Central Church on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 2pm.
As well as monthly meetings, there are interest groups which are set up by members – walking (striders, sight seekers and strollers), art appreciation, music appreciation, family history, French Interludes, book club, gardening and the occasional quiz teams, plus regular monthly lunches, a quiz group and a theatre group when appropriate.
For more information on what’s on during the month please visit our web site at: www. maestegu3a.org
Parkinson’s Support: The Maesteg Parkinson’s support group has unfortunately disbanded and are now meeting as ‘Friends of Pendre’. The reason being Pendre is the Parkinson’s ward in Bridgend general hospital.
We meet at friends’ houses for a chat and still enjoy our meals out. We will try and continue our trips but that will depend on how many book. Price will be paid in full beforehand with no refund on cancellation. Inquiries to Bernard Franks on 01656 733560.
Your partner is welcome to attend with
Men’s Shed: The Men’s Shed Maesteg headquarters is open at the Court House every Thursday from 11am1.30pm.
They have been producing a monthly podcast, which goes out live on Celtica Radio on the last Wednesday of the month at 8pm, and podcasts are available on the Shedquarters website (maesteg shedquarters. wordpress.com).
Regular activities include a music group, woodwork, guest speakers, painting and other activities and community events.
All welcome, and a hot meal is cooked every week. The Men’s Shed is part of a national movement aimed at bringing men together in a social environment to get involved in activities that interest them.
Spirit of Llynfi: The Llynfi Woodland group meets on the first Saturday of the month.
The group has been busy installing picnic benches for families to enjoy their visit to the site.
New volunteers are welcome – contact llynfi woodlandgroup@gmail. com for details.
Murder: There’s a Murder Mystery Book Club which is held at the library in Maesteg Sports Centre.
A book for the month is given, you read to a specified page, ring Martyn to say who you think is the murderer, then meet to discuss the book on a Saturday morning. Interested? Contact Martyn at the library.
News: If you like to sing then join our friendly choristers, who come from all over the borough.
Côr Meibion Maesteg a’r cylch/Maesteg Male Voice Choir rehearse at the Celtic Club on Thursdays and every other Tuesday; from 7pm - 9pm on Thursday with a 15-minute break, and from 7pm - 8.30pm on 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, from 7pm - 9pm.
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.
Children/Youth: We have two children’s. and young people’s cultural activities in our valley plus scouts, air cadets and the Courthouse:
New KIDZONE Club. The first Friday of each month, 4pm-5.30 at the Salvation Army, Castle Street.
Maesteg Children’s Choir: The children are guaranteed a great time learning new songs.
They meet every Saturday in the Crypt of St Michael’s Church from 10am-noon and pay only £2 a week.
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.
They are trained to a high standard in all aspects of stage-craft – acting, mime and movement.
Fee is £6 with an offer of £10 for 2 in the family.
Scouts, Community Based: The 3rd Maesteg Group meets at the building in Llwydarth Road.
Beavers (6-8 year-olds) meet Monda,y 5pm - 6.30pm; Cubs (8-10) meet Thursdays, 5.30pm - 7pm; and Scouts (10-14) meet Thursday, 7.15pm - 9.15pm. All cost £3 each week.
Activities include helping in the community; activity badges; camping; learning and investigating; fun days.
The 631 (Maesteg) Squadron meet on Tuesday and Friday evenings at their Upper Street HQ and welcome boys and girls aged 13 and over.
The Courthouse in Station Street Maesteg is open every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30pm7.30pm.
Plus there are dance groups of various styles – ballet with Miss Sian, based in Church Street, Maesteg, (near the bus station); plus UDC from Caerau, Funk Force and Contagious from Maesteg.
MHM Wales: Wellbeing and emotional wellbeing drop-in – increase your positive emotional wellbeing. Wellbeing Hub at Masonic Hall,