LLYNFI VALLEY

preparation of the lists and the frustration I experienced trying to work out the answers. Seriously though, you both did a great job.

FACEBOOK: There seems to be a post doing the rounds on facebook; asking people to try and remember their childhood telephone number. Most are six figure numbers obviously: mine? Port Talbot 297 and a party line and don’t forget if we wanted to get out of Porthcawl we had to go through the operator. Can you imagine that now!

Even better: when they were demolishing some unused lock up garages attached to the Labour Exchange behind the Grand Pavilion, (now the site of Pavilion Court), they opened the timber double door and found a tradesman’s sign hanging on the other side. It was trade advert for the original owner of the garage who was a plumber.

I can’t remember his name but I do remember his telephone number. Porthcawl ‘2’ and as far as I remember the Esplanade Hotel was Porthcawl ‘1’.

BUILDINGS IN

PORTHCAWL: I watched a series called The Village which turned out to be the day to day story of the people who make Portmeirion tick.

As you know Sir

Bertam Clough Williams Ellis was a prominent Welsh Architect whose work was appreciated nationally.

What most people in Porthcawl perhaps don’t realise is that he designed at least one house in Danygraig Avenue.

It is a corner house with a semi-circular bay.

I went to a dinner in Cardiff back in the ’60s when he was the guest speaker and whereas everyone turned up in dinner suits he arrived wearing a tweed Norfolk jacket and plus-fours, long woollen socks and brogues and his trade mark bow tie.

Then in the ’70s, after his death at the age of 94, I was involved in the rebuilding of a “lodge” in Brechfa, near Nantgaredig, which had unfortunately been partially destroyed in a fire and which had been designed by Sir Clough Williams Ellis himself. It really was a fascinating experience.

I also remember seeing a Sunday night arts programme which brought together Sir Clough Williams Ellis and Frank Lloyd Wright the internationally acclaimed American architect who had Welsh ancestry and even called his office and home in Arizona “Taliesin”.

I believe he was visiting Wales for the first time when this programme was made and he had a small amount of the “language of heaven” whereas Sir Clough was at a loss.

There is a history to every house: who designed them, why did they build them in that form. Who knows, I might put one in the column now and again out of interest.

It is not only houses that have stories; really, every building has a story to tell: some more personal than others.

Back in the mid fifties

I was involved in the design and construction of the Rest Bay Life Guard Centre and we were coming up to completion at a time when there were two or three hurricane warnings broadcast in close succession.

This particular day

I was in my office in

Wind Street, Swansea.

The warnings were out that the glass was rising when my phone rang. It was one of the committee members of the centre calling to say that the roof was coming off the lifeguard centre. No time to dawdle, into the car and off driving to Porthcawl in terrible conditions.

The sky was black, there was torrential rain, strong gusting winds and curved steel sheets from the partially demolished BP Oil Tanks on the side of the Jersey Marine road scything across the sky.

I reached Rest Bay to find the truth was that two or three slates had slipped but the general foreman who had driven down from Maesteg, had arrived slightly before me and was standing at the back of the building, ringing wet and ready to go home. When he had arrived there, he noticed that the cast iron rainwater gutter on the sea side of the building was swinging in the wind.

He climbed onto the railing to unfasten it just as a once in a lifetime wave broke over the roof and took him off the rail. He was a typical jobbing builder about fourteen stone and he had the presence of mind and the strength, to catch hold of the top rail as he was being swept out to sea and luckily lived to tell the tale.

Every time I see the building on a bad day I remember the incident and I am sure that the foreman will never forget it either!

Send Your News To: llyngazmvr@hotmail.co.uk

Llynfi Valley Voluntary

Aid: Are you a society/ group that puts on events in Maesteg or the surrounding area?

With the Town

Hall being closed for renovation, don’t forget that if you want first aid cover at your events you now need to arrange it yourselves.

We are a voluntary group and do not charge to attend your events.

Just drop us a message with the details and we will do all we can to be there with our equipment.

Maesteg Ramblers: At the March meeting president Alexis James welcomed members and after the business meeting members grouped together to form teams and there then followed a quiz.

Members enjoyed refreshments that had been made by committee members.

Aberkenfig Radio Club: has relocated to Talbot Community Centre, 9 Prince Road, Kenfig

Hill, CF33 6ED. All welcome, disabled access and refreshments are available.

Rotary Maesteg: Maesteg Rotary President Gwynfor Phillips handed over a cheque for £1,500 for the purchase and installation of an (AED) defibrillator in Maesteg town centre to Nikki Dart of Maesteg Community First Responders.

Also at the Cross Inn in Cwmfelin was PCSO Julie Banks of South Wales Police who also donated £600 from the Police Station tuck shop fund.

There are a number of AEDs sited throughout the Llynfi Valley, and access to them is dependent on where and how they situated.

It is intended to site the new AED in the centre of Maesteg for maximum usefulness.

Nik Dart of Maesteg Community First Responders said: “Having access to an AED within a crucial timeframe is essential to respond to life threatening situations”.

Nik is also compiling a register of all the AEDs within the valley for the public’s information. Maesteg Community First Responders also provide First Aid lessons including the use of the AEDs, which are intended to be as easy to use as possible with audible and visual instructions.

Maesteg Rotary President Gwynfor Phillips added:

“Following Maesteg Rotary’s donation to

Llynfi Valley Voluntary

Aid (who provide first aid cover at local events) in November for a defibrillator, this donation is part of our continuing commitment to serving the community locally as well as our national and international charitable work”.

Maesteg Rotary has also made donations to other organisations and clubs within the Llynfi Valley over the past few years.

The new AED will be installed in the old

New Theatre doorway of the Sawyers Arms in Commercial Street, and electricity will be supplied by J D Wetherspoon.

Even though AEDs are a relatively new phenomenon, the portable version of the defibrillator was invented as far back as the mid1960s by Frank Pantridge in Belfast, Northern Ireland, since when countless lives have been saved.

Caerau Mens Shed: The Caerau Mens shed was, before the lockdown, going from strength to strength, with 33 members. We are a community space for men to connect, and converse.

They are for men to enjoy a laugh together, get involved in different projects whether it be the Drama group, Fundraising group or community projects. Sheds are about meeting like minded people, having someone to share your worries with. They are about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge with like minded people.

When retirement comes it can feel like personal identity and purpose is lost. Surveys from mental health are finding that millions of people report feeling lonely on a daily basis.

The fundraising group are planning a gala concert at the St Cynfelins Church in Caerau featuring the Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir, The Maesteg Children’s Choir and guest soloist Rhydian Jenkins on Saturday, September 26.

A Winter Craft and Food fayre is also being planned for Saturday, November 28 at Maesteg Rugby Club– ideal opportunity to buy presents for Christmas and support local organisations.

For further information on these please contact Rob Doyle 079692 032 51.

Uniform Swap Shop: A school uniform swap shop will be opening soon in Central Church Maesteg when current restrictions allow.

The more school uniforms that are donated to us when they are no longer in use, the better.

If your child has outgrown any school items, and they are in reasonable condition, please donate it to us, hopefully in a clean and reasonable condition to be then made available to another family.

We will also accept games kit, bags, coats and jackets, shoes, togs etc, all associated with schoolbased needs.

Non-badged items will also be accepted in the school’s colours.

The swap shop will initially be open on a Monday afternoon from 1pm-5pm and dependent on a needs-based system will increase its hours of opening accordingly.

For more information please call 07811 339 988.

Maesteg Harlequins:

Next season we are looking to restart our youth team when current restrictions are lifted!

If you are currently in year 11, 12 or 13 in school and are looking to get into rugby or would like a fresh challenge then Maesteg Harlequins RFC is the place for you.

All our youth coaches are fully qualified, plus there will be a strong working relationship with our senior squad including joint sessions.

If you are interested then please contact us.

Noteworthy: The choir have a busy year ahead of them and here are some dates for your diary, pending current restrictions being lifted:

Sunday, September 6– Concert with Loud Applause Rising Stars at

Margam Orangery.

Saturday, September 12 – Memorial Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at St Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg.

Friday, December

11 – Annual Christmas Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at St

Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg.

If you would like to continue to support Noteworthy as a Vice President and do not pay your annual fee via direct debit/standing order, please could you arrange to send a payment to me as soon as possible.

Our fees for 2019/20 are £20 (single) and £30 (couple).

On behalf of Noteworthy Mixed

Choir may I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued and much appreciated support.

News: Do you have any stories, pictures, history, old programmes/tickets/ posters or fond memories of Maesteg Town Hall?

We’re compiling as many stories and as much information from the past that we can, in order to preserve our history and better shape our future!

Please send anything you have to memories@ maestegtownhall.com .

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.

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 – current restrictions pending.

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 their own pet dog, temperament tested, and always focused on caring for people in the community, so our volunteers will go to nursing homes, schools, special needs schools, hospitals, hospices, care centres and prisons, or local groups plus we offer help by working with the professional medical sector.

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

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

Further details are available from Lloyd Evans on 07856 553 777; or email: Psycho1283@ hotmail.com.

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.

The Maesteg Community First Responder (CFR):

The team comprises volunteers who respond to high priority emergency 999 calls in our valley, on behalf of the Welsh Ambulance Service. This can range from cardiac arrests, to strokes, choking infants or major bleeding, along with many other types of emergency situations.

Please check our website www.maestegcfr. comor find us on Facebook or Twitter @ maestegcfr to follow our volunteer work, saving lives in your area!

Carers Link Worker: Sarah Jarvis is the Carers Link Worker for Bridgend Carers Centre covering Maesteg, Caerau and the surrounding area.

She supports people who are caring for their loved ones and can provide support, advice and assistance in order to support the carer and their loved ones. Call on 07876 872 236 or 01656 658 479.

They offer services including benefits advice, counselling, carers assessment, legal advice, exercise, support groups, training and a listening ear and emotional support.