OGMORE VALLEY

So I hope it’s fine on Thursday but I think it’s still in doubt

So Derek has suggested we keep our brollies out

So I’ll stand outside the City Hall with its gilded marble dome

And sing like England soccer fans that Geraint’s coming home!

Laleston Gardening Club: The club’s 48th Annual Horticultural Show and Barbecue takes place on Saturday, September 1 and this is the time when members old and new should be planning entries for the show.

Following the club’s Open Day in April and Plant Sale in May, there has been a surge in membership, especially amongst the local allotment holders, and it is hoped that this will be reflected in multiple entries on the show benches.

There is a novice section which is open to club members who do not normally exhibit, previous holders of the trophy awarded for this section will be ineligible to enter.

This should encourage less experienced growers to participate and take their first steps into exhibiting.

The club can always rely on support of the ladies in the domestic and craft sections.

Show schedules have been available for some time and can be collected from Cliff Cottage in Laleston between 10am and 12noon every Thursday and Saturday, during which time the club’s not for profit shop (The Cabin) is open for business for members.

The Show Secretaries Pauline Sloan and Joyce Pegg, are keen to get young children involved and have liaised with the headteacher of the local primary school to bring to his attention the Children and Families section of the show schedule.

Under 18s do not have to be members to exhibit at the show, and a simplified entry form will be provided for the children.

The Gardening Club’s next trip will be to Aberglasney on Saturday, August 18, a favourite destination for gardening club members. Send Your News To: 1 Cardiff Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend. CF32 7EW. 01656 840914 gazette@ogmore-vale.co.uk

The Inn, Nantymoel: Entertainment as follows

Saturday, August 18 - Night Machine.

Saturday, August 25 - The Madissons.

Sunday, August 26 - Contraband, 5pm-7pm. Second Chance, 9pm til late.

The Blaenogwr Pub: On Saturday, August 25, from 12noon-8pm, the Blaen Summer Party will be held in the Blaen Beer Garden.

Four acts entertaining us throughout the day includign: Daz Cortina, Cloneutopia, Strawberry Jam and Inner rights! Sun (hopefully), sand, beach balls food and refreshments.

Tickets cost £5 for adults with children free. You can reserve your tickets now by messaging us.

Berthas Bites will be providing us with food on the day, and we will have a selection of alcoholic drinks to purchase from the beer garden including cocktails. Be sure to grab your tickets.

Children’s disco every Wednesday from 5pm6.30pm. £1 entry and aged seven to 14 years.

Check out the notice board for entertainment and what’s on.

The Wyndham Pub: Why not join them on a Tuesday night for poker. This will be every week and starts at 8pm.

Every Thursday night 9pm is our quiz and play ur cards right where you could have a chance to win £100.

Quiz League: Bridgend & District Quiz League is starting its 46th season on Monday, September 3 at Tondu Railway Club (next to Tondu railway station CF32 9DY) with team registration and a free fun, open to all, general knowledge quiz, starting at 8pm, with a buffet provided after the quiz.

Come along, have a drink and a chat, exercise your grey matter and meet new friends, there is no obligation to join the league.

The league quizzes are played on Monday nights at home and away venues throughout the Bridgend Borough, with breaks for Christmas and New Year.

Any team of four or any individual interested in joining the League can get information from our website bridgendquiz. com or by email or phone to stevekingscott@yahoo. co.uk or call 01656 722 754.

Coffee Morning: Coffee morning at Christchurch Chapel Corbett Street, Ogmore Vale on Thursday, August 30, with a cake stall, book stall, china and clothes stalls and not forgetting a Raffle etc.

It will be from 9.30am10.45am.

So why not join them for a coffee and its free admission.

Blackmill Over-50s: Blackmill Over-50s meet at the community centre on Wednesdays at 7pm.

New members are welcome.

This is a social gathering and occasionally a trip to the theatre or a meal out is arranged.

Nantymoel Knitters: We meet twice a week at Dinam Close every Tuesday and Friday from 10am-12noon.

We are always looking for new members and all our efforts are to make things for charities.

If there is anyone who has any spare wool they do not want, we would be very grateful to receive it.

Your News: Please send any news or information to me by 10.30pm on Wednesdays. the evening services take place in Smyrna Chapel starting at 6pm.

There is a coffee morning every Tuesday in the Smyrna Chapel vestry from 10am-12noon where stalls of produce are also on offer.

Bible studies take place on Thursdays at 7.15pm and are led by Marlyn James and Dorothy Evans.

Newcomers to the village of Penyfai are always welcome.

Penyfai W I News: The President of the Penyfai W I Angela Smith opened the July 16 meeting and welcomed all the members and visitors, a warm welcome was also given to the Speaker Debra John, who gave a talk on the Aspects of World War One, the lady members found this very interesting, a vote of thanks was given by Beverley,

On Wednesday, July 18 to celebrate Women’s Achievements Afternoon tea was served at Jennifer Thomas the Vice Presidents Garden Sunnylea Penyfai, everyone agreed this was a lovely day and all the lady members would like to thank Jennifer very much,

On Saturday, July 21 the Penyfai W I visited the Glamorgan Federation WI Show, Entries by Joy Allen and Susan Habberfield, a very proud Grandmother saw Here Grandson Zack Habberfield won a 1st in class 4 age 5-7 and Granddaughter Rachel Richards came 3rd age 8-11.

Everyone had a good day and have enjoyed the show every year.

There was Craft for the Penyfai WI members on the Friday, July 28 as there was no Penyfai WI member meeting in August.

The next committee meeting is on Tuesday, August 28 at 2pm in the All Saints Church Penyfai vestry.

Community Council: There is no meeting of The Newcastle Higher Community Council in August, a longer consultation period must be given to Newcastle Higher Community Councillors on various planning issues that Bridgend County Borough Council has sent the clerk to the Newcastle Higher Community Council John Richfield, this is to make transparency and openness High on the agenda, the Newcastle Higher Community Council are one of the sponsors for the Penyfai Fun Day on Saturday, September 1

Precious Countryside: As seen at the Royal Welsh Show, our marvellous countryside views, like the Vale of Glamorgan and Cowbridge, that we take for granted is in danger of disappearing around us – at the moment Penyfai is nearly at gridlock with large queues of traffic.

Penyfai Guide Group: Scout and Guide Hall, Court Coleman Road, Penyfai (except summer) as follows:

Rainbows (ages 5 to 7) meet Wednesdays from 5.30pm-6.45pm.

Brownies (age 7 to 10) meet Mondays from 5.30pm-7pm.

Call Pippa O’Neill on 07480 825 532 for more information.

1st Penyfai Scout Group: Scout and Guide Hall, Court Coleman Road, Penyfai (except summer):

Beavers (ages 6 to 8), meet Thursdays from 5pm-6.15pm.

Cubs (ages 8 to 10) meet Thursdays from 6.30pm-8pm.

Scouts (ages 10 to 14) meet Thursdays, 6.30pm -8pm.

Call Christine Jordan on 01656 860 831.

Play and Community Playgroup: For families of newcomers to the village of Penyfai with children from two years to four years looking to join a play group, there is the Play and Community play group held in the Scout hall on Court Coleman Road, Penyfai.

The play group is open 9.15am-3pm Monday to Friday during term time. Call 07813 392 464. 01656 815 995 www. grandpavilion.co.uk or by calling Tracy on 07791 525 838 or Norah Clarke on 01656 786 018 or 07776 437 565.

If you haven’t seen any of Ceri’s previous lectures you don’t know what you’ve missed.

Who will forget her striding across the stage in the Hi-Tide talking about Waterloo and Wellington and his eponymous boots or the over the shoulder look she gave when talking about Napoleon and the fact that he couldn’t turn up for the battle because of a rather personal and painful complaint.

I wonder what she will do if she includes Emily Wilding Davison who died after being hit by King George V’s horse Anmer at the 1913 Derby while protesting for the cause.

Royal British Legion Porthcawl Branch: Just a reminder that the Porthcawl Branch of the Royal British Legion meets on the third Wednesday of the month in the RAFA Club on Station Hill at 7pm.

Are any of you exservice?

If so come along to the next Branch Meeting on Wednesday, August 15 and meet up with a friendly group of exservice personnel and find out the benefits of membership.

Porthcawl Lions Sunday Car Boot Sale: This popular event which gets bigger and bigger by the week is back again on Sunday mornings from 8am-12.30pm at the Porthcawl Rugby Club off South Road, weather permitting.

Griffin Park Table Top Sale: This popular indoor table top sale is held every Friday morning in Griffin Park Hall in New Road starting at 8am and finishing at 12.30pm.

If you want a table to sell items yourself then the cost is £5 per table.

Finally, I believe that refreshments are available and from my experience the sale is usually worth a visit.

Porthcawl Farmers Market: The next Farmer’s Market will be held in Griffin Park, New Road Porthcawl CF36 5DF on Saturday, August 25 from 9.30am-12.30pm.

All the usual local stalls will be there and refreshments are available.

Remember, that the Farmer’s Market is always on the 4th Saturday of the month. THE Welsh Government states that it wants everyone in Wales to be able to access fast, reliable broadband.

It states that it wants Wales to become a truly digital nation, and over recent years the Superfast Cymru programme has managed to provide access to high speed broadband to the many homes and businesses in Wales.

However, it is clear that a number of businesses and residential premises still do not have access, and this needs to be resolved.

Plaid Cymru continues to push the Labour Welsh Government to ensure that every business and property has fair access, to what is by now for many, an essential service.

Over recent months I have worked closely with Llangynwyd Middle Community Council to try to tackle the chronically insufficient broadband services locally.

Several businesses within this rural community are heavily reliant on a high quality broadband provision, and despite assurances from the Welsh Government and service providers that the service will be rolled out, residents and business people have been left frustrated with the lack of progress.

With often poor highways and railway infrastructure broadband offers many of our businesses an opportunity to compete with international companies, but evidence suggests that poor broadband provision is having a negative impact.

Earlier this year I raised the difficulties faced by businesses and residents in the area of Llangynwyd in the Assembly with the relevant minister, Julie James AM. As a result, I am pleased that she agreed to attend a public meeting in Llangynwyd in July to discuss concerns, and Welsh Government officials are now looking at ways in which we can deliver a solution.

If your property or business suffers from poor broadband, then please get in touch with myself at dai.lloyd@ assembly.wales.