LLYNFI VALLEY
Send Your News To: Marion Rogers 01656 733417 llyngazmvr@hotmail.co.uk llunficolumn@sky.co.uk,
Mayoy’s Ball: This coming Saturday, May 5 at 7pm the Mayor’s Annual Ball will be at Maesteg Town Hall. Each year there is a different theme and the Ball is the final event. This year’s Mayor, Cllr Idris Williams, has nominated these charities – Diabetes UK Cymru and Cefn Yr Afon Community Rehabilitation Unit. Tickets are £27.50 from Maesteg Council Offices.
Children: Maesteg Children’s Choir will perform next week at 7pm in St Cynwyds Church, on Friday, May 11. Tickets are £5 each and are available from members of the committee or the choir.
Cor Meibion: Next week Maesteg Male Voice Choir, Cor Meibion Maesteg a’r cylch, will hold their annual concert at Maesteg Town Hall on Saturday, May 12 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm). The choir, led by MD Huw Morgan and accompanist Laura Deenik, will perform along with guest artist Welsh television and West End star Shan Cothi and compere BBC presenter Garry Owen.
Drama: The Graduate is at Maesteg Town Hall from Wednesday, June 6 to Friday, June 8, as part of the Gwl Maesteg Festival. Llynfi Valley Amateur Dramatic Society’s cast of characters – Benjamin Braddock, James Owes; Mrs Robinson, Sarah Thomas; Mr Robinson, Steve Jenkins: Elaine Robinson, Lowri Jones: Mr Braddock, Jim Lediard: Mrs Braddock, Judith Hall: Stripper, Sally Richards: Hotel Staff, Sian Rees& Bethan Skye: Guests, Tracey Lewis & Meryl Osborne, Victoria Owen and Huw Williams as a Priest. Produced and Directed by Alan J Flay, this promises to be an unmissable event, so put it in your diary.
Tickets are available from the Town Hall and Maesteg Library 01656 815995 www. maestegtownhall.com
Town Hall Events: All tickets are available from the hall on 01656 815915 or maestegtownhall.com
Friday, May 18 - Murder she didn’t write 7.30pm Tickets £12.50 Saturday, May 19 - Star Search Auditions Sunday, May 20 - Gypsy Queen 7.30pm Tickets £10.
- Strictly Cinema “Dunkirk” 11am Tickets £5.50. Thursday, May 31 - Morning Has Broken – Ron Vincent sings Cat Stevens 7.30pm Tickets £18.
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.
Cor Merched: The ladies’ choir, Cor Merched Cwm Llynfi, excelled themselves at their annual concert in Maesteg Town Hall on Friday, April 20. Congratulations to MD Paul Deenik and accompanist Laura Deenik on leading the choir so strongly in a wonderful selection of songs.
The programme wouldn’t be the same without the choir’s signature tune, ‘As Long as I have Music’ for that is the essence of any choir, and that was what was given us all – lovely contrasting music. Items included Nella Fantasia, True Colours and Gershwin for Girls. The final set was Feed the Birds, which was very atmospheric, I’ll Stand by You and Sing – a most appropriate ending.
Guest artist Rhodri Prys Jones enthralled the audience, his beautiful tenor voice filling the hall as he gave us arias from operas and songs by Srauss, Schubert and Donizetti plus Welsh songs Llanrwst and O Na Byddai’n Haf o Hyd (William Davies). Also, our valley’s own Aled Willaims, always a pleasure to hear him sing, was the soloist with the choir in Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn and Bridge Strings in the rousing Cwm Rhondda, then also in Sing.
As for the trio – father and two daughters, Bridge Strings, they created the atmosphere for what followed as they played us in when we entered the hall. Of course there has to be a compere who holds the programme together, and who better than Tony Mullins (double ll as he always reminds me!) Tony, as usual, did a sterling job introducing the items and soloists with humour.
After the presentations were made, the choir offered us I Love Him from Sister Act.
Noteworthy: It was another night of music, this time with a difference, because Noteworthy is a mixed voice choir, so has the completely wonderful sound of all four sections (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) harmonising so beautifully and with such an interesting programme.
Ryan Wood as MD and Stewart Roberts make a good team and the choir responds accordingly, all having a love of music. As well as the choir, there was guest soloist Steffan Rhys Hughes and violinist Benjamin Isaac.
The choir’s singing always touches the heart and soul and takes us to a new dimension. Items in the first half included the complicated The Lamb with its discords eventually resolving, For the Beauty of the Earth, Pantyfedwyn and the popular Y Tangnefeddwyr.
Steffan chose a mixture of English and Welsh and his voice and personality were both popular with the audience. Included were Go the Distance from Hercules, Lisa Lan I’m Not my Father’s Son from Kinky Boots and the lovely Anfonaf Angel. While Benjamin gave a virtuoso performance with the first movement of Schumann’s Violin Concerto in A minor and Czardas Monti.
The second half of Noteworthy’s programme contained Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George, One Day More, With a Song in my Heart and Builth. However, after presentations, they gave us one more – You’ll Never Walk Alone, joined by Steffan.
Gleemen: From their fabulous time in Guernsey, Maesteg Gleemen were in Cardiff where, together with compere BBC Wales’ Beverley Humphreys, they presented the Dunraven Welsh Young Singer of the Year in a new venue – Cardiff College of Music and Drama.
The winners of the schools competition were 11-14 group Rihanna Hogg from Cowbridge Comprehensive School, and 15-18 Jack Cox from Rhadyr Comprehensive School, winning £100 and a £400 voucher for further musical education at their school while the runners up received £50 personal cheque and a £50 voucher for their school.
Then came the prestigious 19- 30 group, with the winner, counter tenor Kieron-Cooper Valentine receiving a prize of £2,500, with all four runners-up receiving £500.
Each year all winners also receive the beautiful Bryan Davies trophies.
Accompanists were Sian Davies, Ryan Wood and Suzanne Hodges and adjudicators were internationally famous conductor Anthony Gabriele, Artistic Director of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition David Jackson and winner of the Welsh Simgers competition in 2012 tenor Gary Griffiths, now gaining an international reputation. All three were full of praise for the Gleemen. It was a great night of singing enjoyed by all.
Milk: Delivered to your door in glass bottles instead of plastic, contact Steve Simmomds [delivery Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday] – telephone 01656 712858/ mobile 07807 282790.
Sewing Class: At Cwm Calon Community Hub (opposite Asda) every Tuesday from 6pm7.30pm. Beginners and experienced sewers welcome. Dressmaking, soft furnishing, soft toys, patchwork, quilting, embroidery, cross stitch, cushions, all expertly taught by a fully qualified instructor. Telephone 01656 735 622 for more details. The class is full at present.
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.
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.
Maesteg WI: Meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm in Maesteg Rugby Club.
Maesteg CC: The club is available to hire for parties, christenings, etc – contact Ryan Parry 07712 243589 and Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943284.
Ramblers: Maesteg Ramblers will meet at 9am on Sunday for the eight-mile Kenfig walk. Contact 01656 731568. 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 Tuesday, April 6 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, Miners’ Wives meet on Thursdays at Central Church.
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 733 560.
Your partner is welcome to attend with you to join this cheerful group.
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.
Cor Meibion Maesteg a’r cylch/Maesteg Male Voice Choir rehearse at the Celtic with a 15 minute break and 7pm-8.30pm, Tuesday with no break.
Cor Merched Cwm Llynfi, the Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir rehearse at the Celtic Club – on Wednesdays 7pm-9pm.
Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir rehearse at 7pm at the British Legion Club on Mondays and Thursdays.
Harmony Ladies Choir, rehearse Mondays 7.30pm-9pm at Nanty Rugby Club
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.
Taking To The Stage: The Llynfi Valley Amateur Dramatic Society meet at 7.30pm at the Quins on a Thursday.
They are now rehearsing for The Graduate, which will be performed in June. New members are always welcome.
MAOS: Singing and acting combined – the award-winning Maesteg Amateur Operatic Society meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm. They are now busy rehearsing for their next show, which will be Sister Act’ There’ll be a warm welcome for new members.
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 two 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