OGMORE VALLEY

Send Your News To:

Owen Sendell

1 Cardiff Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend. CF32 7EW.

01656 840914 gazette@ogmore-vale.co.uk

Nantymoel Boys’ & Girls’ Club: Closed until further notice.

Wyndham Boys & Girls Club: Closed until further notice.

Coffee Morning: Closed until further notice.

All Saints Church, Penyfai: Information is changing for services due to the very serious nature of the coronavirus pandemic.

For All Saints Church (Penyfai) Delyth Parry (Church Warden) can be contacted on 01656 724 994.

Church services are now online as this is seen as a safer way of worship.

All Saints Church Penyfair has taken consideration of the serious risks posed by the more transmissible nature of the new Covid strain of the virus.

A review has now been taken by the churches of the risk assessment procedures.

The Parochial Church Council of All Saints Church Penyfai (“the PCC”) in Penyfai has advised that, in the interest of the public safety, All Saints Church will remain closed at the present time.

The PCC continue to review the situation on a regular basis, thus during April (and possibly May) there will be no services in All Saints Church Penyfai, but there will continue to be services and acts of worship online.

If additional information is needed, the Reverend Anthony Beer’s contact number is 01656 859 487.

Smyrna Chapel, Penyfai: Peter David, the Organist and Deacon of the Smyrna Baptist Chapel, Penyfai, has advised that they do not intend reopen Smyrna Welsh Baptist Chapel Penyfai, for public worship in the interest of public safety during April and May.

For more information about Smyrna Chapel Penyfai please contact Mr Peter David on 01656 659 856.

Penyfai WI News: The Penyfai Branch of the Women’s Institute (or WI) will, this year celebrate the 36th anniversary of its founding on the 20th May 1985.

The Penyfai WI Committee have recently held a Zoom meeting and are now exploring the possibility of Zoom meetings for all the

Penyfai WI members.

Congratulations are sent from Penyfai to the Penyfai WI on the celebration of their 36th anniversary.

Community Council

News: The coronavirus lockdown has caused many school children problems trying to study who do not have the benefit of a laptop or tablet.

A big Thank You has been given to Cllr Malcom John and Cllr Ann John and the people of Penyfai and members of All Saints Church Penyfai who donated 14 of their old lap tops for the children to continue with their education.

The weather is so changeable at the moment with cold winds and even snow showers, the Newcastle Higher Community Councillors are now hoping for warmer weather and look forward to seeing the flowering hanging baskets they provide every year on the lamps around Penyfai and Aberkenfig.

We must all be vigilant and keep wearing our protective masks and keeping to the social distancing rules, if our public health continues to remain positive on April 22 more lockdown restrictions could be lifted.

Please keep watching the media for further updates and reviews

Our thoughts are with families who have all lost loved ones from the Covid-19 and with the National Health Service nurses and doctors who are working hard to save lives.

The message from the Newcastle Higher Community Council is we must take the Information and the rules from the Welsh Government very seriously – please Stay Safe.

Penyfai Playground: Please don’t forget hand sanitizers are essential when entering the children’s playground and after the children have stopped playing, social distancing rules are in place, please wipe the play equipment down after use to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, we want everyone to stay safe.

Welsh Blood Service:

With the lockdown restrictions in place, Cllr Altaf Husain has reported to the community councillors that the Welsh Blood Services need your help even more.

Please phone the Welsh Blood Service donor engagement co-ordinator Paul Chiplin on 07795

831 889 or email: paul. chiplin@Wales.nhs.uk.

Your help is much appreciated and can save lives.

Street Ambassadors:

Over many months the Street Ambassadors and our Penyfai friendly local shop the Selection Box in Treharne Drive, Penyfai have been working together.

We know the coronavirus has not gone away and their combined help is much appreciated by the residents of Penyfai.

Please phone Sian Lewis on 075444 888 210.

Penyfai Guides and Scout Group: If parents need further information, call the number provided by Pippa O’Neill on 07480 825 532 or email Zoe Plumley at zoeplumley@ outlook.com.

Penyfai Lighting Problem: Over many years there was a problem with the electric supply to the houses in Penyrheol with sudden power cuts.

All has been well for some years and we have always been prepared with a good supply of torches and candles.

After many years we thought the electricity problem had gone away, but we have just experienced another power cut.

This tells me I must always be prepared in future and put my torches and candles where I can find them.

The power cut in Penryheol Penyfai was caused by a faulty fuse box on a lighting pole near to Penyfai Common.

HRH Phillip Duke of Edinburgh – RIP:

It was a sad day on Friday when the news of the passing of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh was announced – what an amazing man: and what a life of service and dedication to Queen and country.

The tales came fast and furious during the day, about his work with young people and the Commonwealth: his love of sport and his love and dedication for Queen Elizabeth II.

Everyone had a tale to tell of the man and his many attributes and some mentioned his ability to say the wrong thing at the right time.

More often the press picked up on his ‘gaffs’ when they were in fact a light-hearted way of breaking the ice.

There was an interview from a resident of Aberfan who had been a pupil in

Pantglas Primary School prior to the event who told the tale that the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the site on Saturday, October 22 in 1966, the day after this tragic event to see for himself the site and the mammoth task facing the rescuers.

He came back again with the Queen some days later and on four or five other occasions over the years.

The man spoke quietly about the event and how on one occasion the Queen and Phillip were there to meet with the Aldermen and Councillors of Merthyr Council who were all lined up in their robes and finery waiting to be introduced.

Phillip aised his nose slightly and said ‘I smell mothballs!’ and the atmosphere changed. To quote Shakespeare’s comment from Hamlet: “He was a man take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again”?

I know where I was on the day of the disaster.

I was in my office in Swansea in a meeting with a long time mining engineer and Sir Jack Zunce who was a partner with Ove Arup and Partners world renowned Struct ural Engineers, and in fact he had been the senior Design Engineer on the Sydney Opera House.

We were discussing the implications of building new offices for the then newly formed Taf Fechan Water Board (Now Welsh Water) on a mining subsidence troubled site in Nelson: We had a small portable wireless set and it was fascinating to listen to these two men talking about the possible causes and implications arising out of the tragic event.

It is at times like this that it makes me think that we as a town should have a flagpole so that we too could pay our respects to people of merit and national events generally.

Porthcawl Ymca Visit by the Late Dame Cheryl Gillan Secretary of State for Wales:

I had a note from John Berry BEM this week remembering a visit made to Porthcawl and the YMCA by Damme Cheryl Gillan, when she was Secretary of State for Wales, and who sadly passed away earlier this month.

The after-school club was taking place at the time of her visit. As an organisation the YMCA is always wary of political visitors, but it was a very pleasant and enjoyable time.

Later, in the autumn of 2011, after she had been appointed Secretary of State for Wales she again visited Porthcawl and this time asked to visit the YMCA – this time the half-term holiday club was running.

Everything was organised according to the quite new regulations with a visitors sheet for everybody to sign in at the entrance and there was a visitors Badge for everybody.

Once again we had a very pleasant time, the most noticeable part being that our distinguished guest spent most of the time on her hands and knees with the children.

As they were leaving and her entourage was signing out, she took John to one side to say thank you for the time given to her and how much she had enjoyed the visit.

Later, John learned that it was she who had written the bill and led it through Parliament that brought after school clubs into being! (Was I glad to have done all the right things in the entrance!).

She went on to commend the YMCA for extending the club into school holidays. The YMCA was among the first to open an after school club and holiday club, which continues to today.

Cheryl Gillian’s contribution to this work and people generally together with her continued interest and commitment throughout her illness reflects her compassion and stirling character. She will be missed as a great Parliamentarian and a beautiful human being. May she Rest in Peace.

Lockdown and a Closed Border Between Wales and England: Lockdown reminds me of a visit to London to attend a family wedding not long after the opening of the Severn Bridge.

I arrived in Harrow and we found ourselves in the middle of a family gettogether.

I was whisked into the back room to meet the patriarch of this branch of my wife’s family. I found myself being introduced to an elderly gentleman, rather deaf and looking a bit like Lloyd George.

‘This is David-Carole’s husband. He’s just come up from Wales.’

This grandee of the Labour movement with a political Knighthood for services to the cinemaphotography union thought for a minute and then said: ‘Have you ever thought how marvellous it is that you have to pay to get into Wales!’ and I hadn’t got the cheek to say ‘Yes! And they collect it on the English side!’

Porthcawl Town Train: I also understand that a new operator has been selected for the Town Train that is to run between the Promenade and Rest Bay, hopefully by the end of the season.

I am sure that we all fondly remember the last one, run as it was by Phil Rixon and his brother and who will forget the running commentary by the conductor, Steve Maitland Thomas as he talked to visiting children about the herds of elephants roaming the common.

Perhaps they could persuade Steve to come out of retirement.

Porthcawl And Kenfig Hill RAFA Branch: Paul Gates, chairman of the Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill RAFA Branch, has been in touch to say that the Branch are trying to programme their AGM.

Whether this will be an actual AGM or a virtual reality AGM will depend on the Welsh Government.

The RAFA Club will be sending out emails for the end of March and as well as sending out emails to members (given that the RAFA Club is currently closed), they are looking at other methods of letting people know.

I will obviously keep you informed. If any member has any queries then please contact chairman Paul on 07834 189 256.

Porthcawl Covid-19 Strategy Group: From what I now hear, the coronavirus is still alive and kicking in Porthcawl so we should all still be exceptionally careful – wash our hands to the words of Happy Birthday; wear a mask and keep away from people – it’s sensible advice after all.

I also understand that the Porthcawl Strategy Group is still here and active.

Volunteers are still here helping the main stores prepare home deliveries; chemist shops have taken over the delivery of prescriptions, but there could still well be vulnerable people out there and I can’t stress strongly enough, that if you know anybody who needs any of the services that the group offers, then don’t forget to go onto the Covid-19 website or contact your local chemist to get a contact number relative to your ward.

I am also aware that the Talk to a Buddy scheme is still working well and hopefully will continue long after the pandemic has gone away.