Centenary of the Royal British Legion
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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.
THE RBL was founded a hundred years ago on May 15 1921when at 9am a wreath was laid at the London Cenotaph War Memorial in Whitehall.
Four men representing societies that had been rivals over the previous three years laid a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph.
On that wreath were the four badges of the whether we should have a Welsh equivelant. Perhaps in Llandaf, St David’s or even in the Welsh National Gardens in Carmarthenshire.
Nottage Village: I wrote last week about John Blundell and what a character he was.
This week I drove through Nottage on the way to the Kenfig Nature Reserve and was made aware of efforts to introduce a one way system with cars entering the village by the normal way and then exiting the village via Heol y Capel and past the Rose and Crown.
This made me think back to a meeting with John Blundell and my late father-in-law, Chief Superintendant Ken Boowen, his deputy Inspector Geoff Robinson and John Blundell, to discusss making Nottage a one way system.
After they had spent some time explaining the proposed road system to the local squire he told them that while he “had no objections to the one way circuit in the village they should not expect him to come out of his stable and only turn left!”
That was in the early 70s, some 50 years later that there seems to be movement.
I knowthat the event happened because at that time I lived in West Road and one morning I was driving past Graham Orphan’s shop as it was then and saw the three four organisations that would officially amalgamate to form the Royal British Legion.
This year on May 15, the event was again marked when the present President of the Royal British Legion again laid a wreath at the Cenotaph.
The Porthcawl Branch of the RBL was formed on January 24 1924 and marked the event by laying a wreath at the of them standing on the corner.
Later that dayI asked Bampa Ken what he and Geoff were doing there and he told me just that.
Computers For Schools: Steve Flett and some of his colleagues in the computer repair business have got together and repaired and reprogrammed some 60 odd tablets,laptops etc and passed them on to local schools. Good thinking Steve.
So if any of you out there have a tablet or a laptop you don’t need let me know and I will pass them on to Steve for you.
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 base of the War Memorial in the grounds of All Saints Church, Victoria Avenue, after a short service led by Canon Phillip Masson the Branch Chaplain.
The event was attended by Branch Officials and members, as well as by members of the Porthcawl Veterans Hub and the Last Post was played by trumpeter Rob Young. 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.
Gifts To Charity: May I remind you that all the charitable organisations in the town, and indeed in the country are suffering from the lockdown.
There are no meetings, table top sales or flag days: so if you can find it in you to make a donation to the charity of your choice then do so please they need it.