LLYNFI VALLEY

Send Your News To: Marion Rogers 01656 733417 llyngazmvr@hotmail.co.uk

Diamonds: Celebrating their Diamond Wedding Aniversary this week are Mr and Mrs Tony and Doreen Lewis from of John Street, Nantyffyllon.

Young Tony an evacuee when WW2 broke out and was taken in by Alice and Morgan Davies of John Street, where he still lives.

An ex Welsh Guards M, he also worked in the colliery and was a Minor Deputy in four collieries and then an Overman at the last one Mrs Lewis, who came from Port Talbot originally, worked in the shoe factory in Bridgend - Fiona Footwear, then in the Colliers Arms pub in Nantyffyllon, where she was a barmaid.

The couple have one daughter, Caroline, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Flu Jabs: Last notice :Woodlands Surgery – Flu Vaccines are available at any time during surgery opening hours and no appointment is needed. Clinics will also be held, check out our website on www.woodlands surgerymaesteg.co.uk for details of when these will be held.

Please also ensure we have an up-to-date mobile number, as text notifications will be sent when the vaccines arrive. www.beatflu.org

Noteworthy: On Saturday, October 20 this mixed voice choir will be celebrating their Annual Concert at St Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg.

Their very special guests are Fflur Wyn (Soprano), Callum Howells and Cor Merched Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda and, when you hear them, you will know why they are so special.

Fflur is a noted soprano, who has a number of complimentary reviews of her operatic roles.

Tickets are £10 each (free admission for children) and are available from any choir member or online at www.ticketsource. co.uk/noteworthychoir.

If you are paying for your tickets by cheque please make your cheque payable to “Noteworthy” and send it to: 23 Maesteg Road, Cwmfelin, Maesteg CF34 9LD.

Another date for your diaries – their Annual Coffee, Cake and Craft morning is being held on Saturday, November 10 at 10am at Maesteg Town Hall.

Murder: On Friday, October 26 Banksie’s Babes will perform a new murder Mystery play called And the Murderer Is. All this will happen at Maesteg Workingmen’s Club at 7pm for 7.30pm.

Always performing for a charity, this time it’s in aid of funding for Noteworthy Mixed Choir.

Don’t forget that you, the audience, are invited to play detective, so bring a pen with you.

For any new members of the audience, you need to know that the play will be read according to instructions from the writers, so that all clues are there for everyone to hear.

Tickets are £8, with buffet included, from Jane at Maesteg Library, Noteworthy box office on 07713 014937, Michael Banks on 07584 177456.

Drama: Llynfi Valley Amateur Dramatic Society invite you to meet them at Maesteg Harlequins RFC on Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, November 23, when they will be presenting a tribute to Frank Vickery Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.30 start.

There’ll be snippets of five of his plays – All’s Fair, Family Planning, A Night Out, 1 o’clock from the House and After I’m Gone.

Tickets are only £5 and are available from Society members.

Because seating is limited, this is an admission by ticket only, so please buy yours soon to avoid disappointment. Contact 01656 735 622. Town Hall Events: All tickets are available from the hall on 01656 815 915.

Thursday, October 11 - Comedy Club, 7.30pm. £5.50 in advance & £7.50 at the door.

Wednesday, October 17 - Tea Dance, 2pm. £5.

Thursday, October 18 - Romeo and Juliet, presented by Fluellen Theatre, 7.30pm. £9.50.

Saturday, October 20 - T.Rextasy, 7.30pm. £21.50 & £20.50 Conc.

Tuesday, October 23 - Nye and Jennie A New Play based on the life of Aneurin Bevan. 7.30pm. £12.50 & £10.50 Conc. Saturday, October 27 - Lipstick On Your Collar: Hits of the 50s & 60s, 7.30pm. £21.50 & £20.50 Conc.

Wednesday, October 31 - Dramatised Ghost Tours, 5.30pm. £8.50 & £6.50 Conc.

Friday, November 2 - The Gentle Good: Welsh folk Singer Songwriter with full string band. 7.30pm. £10.50.

Sunday, November 4- There Was An Old Lady Who Swalled A Fly: Children’s theatre. 2pm. £6.50.

Friday, November 9 - Loot: Dark comedy play. 7.30pm. £15.50 / £14.50.

Friday, November 16 - Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers. 8pm. £23.

Saturday, November 24 - Ventoux: New play about the greatest rqace in history. 7.30pm. £9.50

Friday, November 30 - Buddy Holly: A legend reborn. 7.30pm. £22.50 / £21.50

Lions: Maesteg Lions are closing down. It’s such a shame, because there are no new younger members to carry on their good work.

Over the years they have held a number of money-raising events – the only one left was their Book Sale at the Town Hall – and they have contributed to so many local charities.

So it’s Goodbye our Lions, thank you for all that you have done for the people in our valley.

Events Diary: This is for organisations of the valley, asking them to check at the Council Office’s Diary before arranging an event, so that you won’t clash with anyone else.

The diary is in the office purely for that purpose.

MAOS: Fabulous, with standing ovations every night from people who came from near and far and wide to see you perform Sister Act.

As usual, all cast were brilliant in their roles, from Dolores to Mother Superior, from Curtis to Monseigior (oh, and the Pope!).

Also the chorus sang beautifully and moved so well, especially those wonderful dancing nuns.

As well as being such a success, it was a farewell to the three Ss – Sarah Thomas, Sue Heffy and Sue Bickle, who are retiring form the posts of producer, MD and choreographer, but will remain in the society.

If you want to see more, look at facebook and MAOS where there are still a number of pictures.

Macmillan: The Grand Coffee Morning held at Central Church Maesteg raised over £500.

The organisers wish to thank all who donated prizes and everybody who attended on the day.

As is done each year, the money is donated to Y Bwythyn at the Princess of Wales Hospital, where Macmillan Nurses work.

Maesteg Gleemen: They were in Porthcawl for their second stint in the Elvis Festival.

This year the format changed to the spectacle of having a concert on the roof of the Pavilion!

The Esplanade was blocked off from traffic and a huge crowd gathered in front of the Pavilion to be entertained by the artistes and the choir.

The Gleemen opened the second half of the performance inside the Pavillion with How Great Thou Art to a standing ovation.

After a short break, they closed the classic Elvis Show with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra with a rousing American Trilogy, finishing with the Welsh national anthem.

The Gleemen are looking forward to doing it all again in St David’s Hall Cardiff in January.

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.

Therapy Dogs: Therapy Dogs Nationwide have a South Wales Representative in Ben the Poochon.

TDN is a national charity. Our volunteers have the unique privilege of volunteering with their own temperament tested Therapy Dogs; some with over 10 years experience and always focused on caring for people in the community, so our volunteers will be taking their own pet dog to nursing homes, also schools, special needs schools, hospitals, hospices, care centres and prisons, or local groups and we offer help by working with the professional medical sector.

For more information on joining TDN or the programs we offer please contact -claregriffiths@ aol.com.

Clwb Maesteg: Clwb Cymraeg Maesteg / Maesteg Welsh Club Mae’r Clwb yn rhoi gyfle i Siaradwyr Cymraeg gyfarfod yn gymdeithasol a chynnal neu wella eu sgiliau Iaith Gymraeg.

Mae’r clwb yn cyfarfod bob pythefnos am 7 og nos Fercher yng Nghlwb y Gweithwyr yn Stryd y Teml.

Mae rhagor o fanylion ar gael gan Lloyd Evans; Mob: 07856 553 777; e-bost: Psycho1283@ hotmail.com.

The club provides an opportunity for Welsh Speakers to meet socially and maintain or improve their Welsh language skills.

The club meets every fortnight at 7pm on Wednesday evening in the Workingmen’s Club in Temple Street.

Further details are available from Lloyd Evans; Mob: 07856 553 777; e-mail: Psycho1283@ hotmail.com

Milk: Delivered to your door in glass bottles instead of plastic, contact Steve Simmomds [delivery Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday] – call 01656 712 858 or 07807 282 790.

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. Call 01656 735 622 for more details.

There is now room for two people who’d like to join, so give them a ring.

Cwlwm Cwm Llynfi: The group continue to meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Council Offices Talbot St Maesteg.

Anyone wishing to join us is welcome.

The purpose is still to promote and enhance the awareness and use of Welsh culture and language in particular to the benefit of residents of Maesteg and surrounding areas.

A number of events have been arranged on Saturday, October 12, there will be a Cawl a Chan held in Maesteg Squash club.

If shopping is your scene come and join us on Saturday, November 24 when there will be a trip to Carmarthen.

Tickets are £12.50 to include Prosecco, mince pies and a raffle.

For further information contact Rhian Sterio on 07861 660 970 or email rsterio@icloud.com.

Rotary Club: The Maesteg club has been running for more than 70 years and meet every fortnight on a Monday at 1pm in the Cross Inn Maesteg/ Cwmfelin.

At last week’s meeting at the Cross Inn outgoing President Talfyn Harries handed over the chain of office to Robert Davies for the year 2018/19.

Robert’s main priority for his year is to try and increase membership of the club which at present has nine members with only six active so it is getting harder to keep the club going which at the end of the day will mean less assistance for those who need it in the valley.

He intends to maintain the activities already being done at the club, such as organising the annual fireworks display, sending students to the Rotary Youth Leadership course on the Brecon Beacons and sending primary school children out for a day at Gower Heritage centre.

To this end the Rotary club have organised a bucket collection for Friday, July 27 at Tesco Maesteg.

All money raised will be used for local charities.

Anybody who is interested in joining the club and ultimately helping local charities please contact Tal Harries on 07999 886 142.

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 Harries 01656 711 078 or 079 998 861.

Maesteg WI: Maesteg WI welcomes new members, come along and see for yourself what we get up to. Meetings are on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm in Maesteg Rugby Club. We welcome visitors and prospective members at all times.

Contact us on maestegwi@ gmail.com for further information.

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 planting bulbs.

Maesteg CC: The club is available to hire for parties, christenings, etc – contact Ryan Parry 07712 243 589 and Lyndon Horrigan 07971 943 284.

Ramblers: Maesteg Ramblers will meet at 9am on Sunday for the 10-mile Horseshoe walk, for details contact 07977 831 317.

All are welcome to join and wear sensible clothing and walking boots/shoes are advised and bring a packed lunch and a drink.

Art Society: The society meets at Maesteg College on Mondays, from 4pm6pm, and work is created in a variety of media.

History: Llynfi Valley Historical Society on the first Tuesday of the month in Fairfield Community Centre, Maesteg Park at 7pm.

The next meeting is on Tuersday, October 23 when Dean Powell will speak on This Land of Song.

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 as well as 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. www. maestegu3a.org.

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 Come along to join us – it really does you good.

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.

Ukelele Club: The Maesteg Ukulele Club meets every Monday (except bank holidays) at 7pm in the Cross Inn, Cwmfelin/Maesteg.

It is suitable for all levels of players – and 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