YOUR COMMUNITY
CEFN CRIBWR Send Your News To:
Jill Goudge 01656 740026 jgoudge@sky.com
● Disruption To Bus Services: Due to the nationwide driver shortage,
First Cymru Buses Ltd have decided to temporarily reduce some of its timetables to try and provide a more reliable service.
Service 63 between Bridgend and Porthcawl via Cefn, Kenfig
Hill, Pyle and North Cornelly has been temporarily reduced to every 30 minutes (it is normally every 20 minutes) until 23rd October.
Some of the company’s services will be run temporarily by alternative operators.
First Cymru is reviewing staffing levels weekly and has stated it will increase services as soon as new drivers are recruited and trained.
● Bedford Park Investment: A number of nature reserves, parks and outdoors spaces including Bedford Park and Frog Pond Wood are set to benefit from a £580,000 Welsh Government investment secured by Bridgend County Borough Council.
Part of the Cwm Taf Nature Network Project, work will be undertaken to improve and regenerate access to high quality green spaces and engage with communities with plans to develop early years learning spaces. ● Walk-In Covid-19 Vaccinations:
Anyone aged 16 and over who has not yet received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine and adults who had their first shot more than eight weeks ago but are overdue for their second vaccine can now walk in to any community vaccination centre without an appointment.
This includes the council’s Ravens Court in Bridgend town centre (CF31 4AP) where the walk-in appointments are available between 9.15am and 4.30pm.
You will need to take along a form of ID such as a passport, drivers licence or a utility bill for proof of address.
Visit the health board website at https://cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/covid-19-vaccine/ for details of other vaccination centres in the region.
● Cefn’s Fitstep Fab (For All Bodies) Classes: Want to try a different exercise class? Love to dance around to great music?
Then why not give the FitSteps FAB class at Cefn’s Community Centre (Green Hall) a try, it’s every Friday morning, from 9.30am-10.30am.
Dances like the Bossa Nova, Cha Sway, Swing Waltz, Charleston, Argentine Tango, Bhangra, Flamenco, Disco & more will get you moving!
No partner is required, you just need to wear T-shirts, leggings and trainers and take some water too.
Book you space now on Gymcatch. com. It cost £5 a class.
For more information please visit http://www.facebook.com/vanessa.fitstepsporthcawl
● Book Your Appointment For Heathbridge Flu Clinic: Heathbridge House Medical Centre will be holding the flu clinic for its patients on Saturday, October 9 at the Bethlehem Life Centre in Cefn.
Please call the surgery on 01656
740 359 after 2.30pm to make an appointment.
The phone lines are very busy prior to this due to triage appointments.
LALESTON & BROADLANDS Send Your News To: Carol Thomas carbrya@supanet.com
● Condolences: Sincere condolences to Ann and Bryn Richards, of Heol y Bardd, on the recent loss of Ann’s dear Dad, Cyril Jones, beloved husband of the late Gwyneth Jones of 1 Cae Glas, Ewenny.
Cyril’s funeral took place in Coychurch Crematorium on Thursday, September 29 – just four months after the loss of Gwyneth on June 4.
A very sad year indeed for the family that is daughters Ann and Liz, son Robert, their partners and all grandchildren.
Cyril and Gwyneth will be sorely missed by all.
● Happy Birthday: Many Happy Returns to Maria Evans, on October 8, from all your friends and family.
Also the Recycling Team who enjoy the cakes you leave outside for them when they empty the bins! You are such a kind lady.
● Westward Community Centre: ‘Super Agers’ (Over 50s) Social Section are meeting every Wednesday from 10am-12 noon. Pop in for a cuppa and a natter and meet new friends.
● Craft Fayre at Bridgend Indoor Market: The Craft Fayre will take place on Saturday, October 16, where there will be lots of lovely Xmas gifts, etc, to browse or purchase. Don’t miss it !
● Bridgend Lions Community Book
Stall: In Bridgend Indoor Market on Saturdays throughout the month of October – 9, 16 and 23 – there will be lots more bargain books and jigsaws for sale to help the Lions with their fundraising activities.
It is hoped a large two-day Book Sale will take place at Westward Community Centre at the end of October.
For the time being no book donations are needed until after this event due to lack of storage.
Many thanks for your support and understanding.
● Laleston Gardening Club: The past 18 months have proved very difficult for all organisations and Laleston Gardening Club is no exception.
Forward planning has been a nightmare due to uncertainty about the Covid situation and members will rightly wonder about the year ahead.
Sue Ford, the Club’s Chairman, has been mindful of this and throughout the pandemic has produced a series of newsletters which have kept members in touch with any developments at Cliff Cottage.
An informative newsletter has recently been produced by Sue and has been distributed to all members either electronically, by post or by hand.
The newsletter broached the subject of the ever increasing number of members of Laleston Gardening Club, some 220 members having enlisted or rejoined last year and over 150 in the early stages of this current membership year (Sept 2021 - Sept 2022).
Although it is a good problem to have, the Club doesn’t have the capacity to cope with excessive numbers when it comes to functions, trips, lectures, etc.
For insurance purposes, the capacity of the hall is 60, but Covid restrictions demand we lower this to smaller groups.
Consequently, and with regret, the Committee has decided that the Club will have to close its membership book in the near future.
Full details are included in the newsletter, but this is a reminder that time is of the essence for those wishing to renew or take up membership.
Any decision on a date to close the membership book will be communicated through the usual channels.
Another topic covered in the newsletter is the measures that have to be taken by the Club to provide the level of ventilation that will be needed to hold meetings and lectures in the hall while complying with Covid regulations.
Sue has researched the matter and established the Club needs to have windows in the main hall that open and supply fresh air, preferably a medical standard air purifier and a CO2 monitor to ensure the air quality is safe.
Funding grants are being sought at the moment to supplement Club funds to put these things in place. Without these measures it will not be possible to use the hall during the winter months.
On a brighter note, a Covidcompliant Christmas Fayre Fundraiser is planned for the November 13 following the same format as last year.
Our President, Margaret Worgan, has made provisional inquiries regarding a venue for a Christmas Dinner, details to follow later.
The newsletter stressed the importance of the forthcoming AGM. Last year there was no AGM, only end of year reports. This year the AGM is scheduled for Friday, October 8.
It will take place at 7.30pm, but there will be a limit on numbers able to attend so anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact Sue Ford as soon as possible.
The newsletter concluded with a sincere thank you to the membership for their support and forbearance during these difficult times.
LLYNFI VALLEY Send Your News To: 01656 810084 llyngazmvr@hotmail.co.uk
● 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.
● Clwb Maesteg: Mae rhagor o fanylion ar gael gan Lloyd Evans 07856 553 777 e-bost: Psycho1283@ hotmail.com.
OGMORE VALLEY Send Your News To: Owen Sendell 1 Cardiff Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend. CF32 7EW. 01656 760 640 gazette@ogmore-vale.co.uk
● The Inn Nantymoel: Open now as normal and more information to come.
● The Wyndham Pub: Open now as normal and more information to come.
● The Blaenogwr Nantymoel: They are now fully open. They also have Sunday lunch back on and an artist to warm you up from 4pm into the evening.
● Nantymoel Boys & Girls Club Cafe: They are back open for all your needs. Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10am2pm.
● Nantymoel Boys & Girls Club: They are now open Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
● Wyndham Boys & Girls Club: They we are now open so go along and check them out once again. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm.
● Lite Bites Cafe: They are now open for sit downs meals and take away meals serving some food including proper chips and some fab cakes, etc.
They can also deliver your food or you can collect.
They are open Monday to Saturday from 8am-3pm and Sunday TBC.
● Harvey’s Journey: Harvey Doak is a young man who is fighting duchenne muscular dystrophy.
He needs a new all terrain wheelchair which are very expensive, so the Valley Ravens mini and junior rugby section are going to do all they can to help Harvey, they have already started fundraising by doing a bucket collection in the recent Pontycymer vs Ogmore Vale WRU Shield match, if you can help in any way please contact any Valley Ravens member, thank you.
● Blackmill Over 50s: Blackmill Over 50s meet at the local community centre on Wednesday evenings at 7pm, always glad to welcome new members.
This is a social gathering and occasionally a trip to the theatre or a meal out is arranged.
● Nantymoel Knitters Class: We are members of a Knitting Club who live in Nantymoel. We meet twice a week at Dinam Close every Tuesday and Friday at 10am to noon.
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.
Many thanks from all the knitting club members.
● Your News: Please remember to send any news or information to me by 8.30pm on Wednesday night every week. Email gazette@ogmore-vale. co.uk or ring 01656 760 640.
PENYFAI Send Your News To: Meryl Wilkins 1 Pen-yr-Heol, Penyfai CF31 4ND
01656 724794
● All Saints Church, Penyfai: Sunday Worship, October 10, at 10.30am Communion. Online worship 6.30pm with St David’s Church Laleston and St Teilo’s Church Merthyr Mawr.
General Worship Arrangements: Services remain short to limit the time are spent indoors with one another, however with more services available, there is no limit on numbers and no longer a requirement to book. In addition there will continue to be services and acts of worship online.
Worship remains subject to social distancing requirements, sanitisation of hands and wearing of face covering for the majority of the time people are in church are required, once attendees have been shown to their seat, they will be asked to remain in place until the time that they leave church, Communion (blessed at the Altar) will be brought to the people but one kind (bread) only.
At present infection rates in our area are too high there is some music but hymn singing is not allowed at the moment.
All these are intended to protect us all and ensure that the opportunities for any transmission of the virus Covid-19 are kept to an absolute minimum.
For more information About
All Saints Church please contact the priest in charge the Reverend Anthony Beer, the Vicarage, Rogers Lane, Laleston, contact number 01656 859 487.
● Smyrna Welsh Baptist Chapel Penyfai: Sunday evening worship 6pm. There are safety measures in place.
■ Tuesday 10am – Coffee Morning.
■ Thursday 6.30pm-8.30pm – Bible Study.
In respect, the Deacons would like to thank the members of Smyrna’s Congregation in advance for their Patience and understanding in this matter.
For more information about Smyrna Chapel Penyfai, please contact Mr Peter David on 01656 659 856.
● Penyfai Bell Ringing: All Saints Church Penyfai have announced their Team Captain bell ringer David Oates has recently stepped down as the Team Captain of the All Saints Church bell ringing team.
David Oates has been involved in the bell ringing at All Saints Church for nearly 40 years and in that time he taught many people how to bell ring.
He has lead the ringers as well as maintaining and repairing the bell tower, looking after the heating and helping to take care of the All Saints Church building.
An enormous Thank You goes to David Oates and Best Wishes for a very Happy Retirement from All Saints Church and the Community of Penyfai.
● Penyfai Remembered: My report published in the September 30 edition of the Glamorgan Gazette, including going to the Pheasant field, is a snap shot of Penyfai village life for the tenant farmers of Penyfai and Court Colman and Aberkenfig.
I have a list of (The Estate) tenant farmers names Colonel William Herbert Clydwyn Llewellyn, his father and mother are related to me.
I have my tree confirmed by Mrs Jenny Newman genealogist.
At Christmas time a brace of pheasant was sent from the Big
House Whitehall – there were fetes held in summer in the Big House grounds.
Colonel William Herbert Clydwyn Llewellyn liked to sit by the lake and do a spot of fishing and he always had a little dog with him.
I was with my mother, he called my mother Gwenny, he showed me and my mother the birds and where they were nesting in the wall by the lake.
It is true W H Cooke & Arkwright, Park Street, Bridgend, is in association with Alfred Savill and were running (The Estate) with Colonel William Herbert Clydwyn Llewellyn from 1952.
The tenant for life, The Dunraven Estate, Mr William Vincent Stuart
Corbett W H Cooke & Arkwright land agent and Mr Robert Watkin Stacey Knight was in charge of the tenant farmers in Court Coleman including Llangewedd Court Farm, Ton Gwyn and other farms in Court Colman, Aberkenfig and the Dunraven Estate Common land Penyfai.
Registered by the Glamorgan County Council, Mr William Vincent Stuart Corbett and Robert Watkin Stacey Knight were well known land agent for Dunraven Estate tenant farmers in Court Colman Penyfai, the Vale of Glamorgan and the Merthyr Mawr Estate.
My memories keep flooding back.
● Community Council News: The next meeting of the Newcastle higher community Council will be held on Tuesday, October 12, by a video conference at 7 pm.
The Newcastle Higher Community Council have the responsibility of looking after the Aberkenfig Square and the war memorial.
In preparation for this year’s Remembrance Day service, the square is to have a refurbishments of winter flowering plants and an overall cleaning in readiness for the annual Remembrance Service which will take place at the War Memorial in the Aberkenfig Square on November 14.
The Newcastle Higher Community Councillors also attend the Remembrance Day Service in All Saints Church, Penyfai, and the laying of wreaths at the Penyfai War Memorial at the All Saint Church graveyard to remember the fallen of Penyfai.
The clerk to the Newcastle Higher Community Council is keeping the chair and fellow Community councillors informed about the arrangements for both Remembrance Day services.
The Christmas street lighting for Penyfai, Aberkenfig and Tondu are included on the Agenda for the October meeting.
The field known as the Pheasant field is a very important centre for Penyfai Village Daily life where recreation and events can take place.
The Newcastle Higher Community Councillors are very pleased that a Young Players Soccer School will be using again in next year’s football season the Pheasant Field for Boys and Girls ages two to five, every Friday from 5pm-6pm; and for Boys and
Girls ages six to nine from 6pm-7pm.
Please call 07803 079 548 for more information and bookings.
The coronavirus has not gone away, we must not forget there are still new cases reported daily, information in the media can change very quickly from the Welsh Government as 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: As a precaution because we still have the coronavirus with us after the children have stopped playing in the playground, 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: Some of the Covid-19 restrictions are still in place.
Cllr Altaf Hussain has reported to the Community Councillors that the Welsh Blood Services do still need your help. Covid -19 has not gone away in Wales, and information could change.
Please phone the Welsh Blood Service Donor Engagement Coordinator Paul Chiplin on 07795 831889 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.
The coronavirus is still very much with us in our community, their combined help is much appreciated by the residents of Penyfai.
Please phone Sian Lewis on 07544 4888 210.
● Penyfai Guides and Scout Group: The groups are making plans for when meetings can resume fully and are now looking for children to join the group in Penyfai.
If parents need further information about the Penyfai Guide Group, they can contact Pippa O’Neill on 07480 825 532 or the Penyfai Scout Group via email at: zoeplumley@outlook.com.
PORTHCAWL Send Your News To:
David Newton-Williams
42 Suffolk Place, Porthcawl, CF36 3EB. 01656 451844 davidnewtonwilliams1929@gmail.com
● The Banff Mountain Film Festival: The Banff Mountain Film Festival is on the road again.
This year it is made up of short films about the oceans of the world.
If you haven’t ever seen one of these evenings before, then I have to say that it is well worth the price of the ticket.
The venue is The Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl and the date for your diary is Thursday, October 28.
For times etc check posters or go to the Grand Pavilion website.
● Kenfig Nature Reserve: The Centre is now up and running and all the events that have been organised so far have been well attended. I look forward to details of further events and until then just remember that the views are magnificent and the walks well worth the effort.
If you don’t feel that energetic or the dog doesn’t need exercising then remember that you can get a good cup of coffee and enjoy the views over Kenfig Pool without any effort and also note that the Toilets are open at the Reserve seven days a week from 10 am to 4 pm.
Finally if you wish to hire any of the rooms at Kenfig Nature Reserve or would like any information then please contact Chris on 01656 530 089.
● Royal British Legion Porthcawl Branch: Branch meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month, so that the next one will be on Wednesday, October 20 at 7.30pm in the RAFA Club on Station Hill in Porthcawl.
● Armistice Day 2021: Plans are already afoot to prepare for the Armistice
Day Service at all Saints Church Victoria Avenue and as soon as they are finalised I will give details in this column.
● Porthcawl Museum Is Now Open:
The Porthcawl Museum has now reopened on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am-3pm with the last admission being 2.30pm.
It has been fully refurbished and I believe the café is open again as well.
● Activities In Griffin Park: The Friday Table Top Sale is still taking place and is now also being held on a Sunday morning.
In both cases the doors open at 8.30am for stall holders to set up their stalls and the public are allowed in from 9am-1pm.
Bingo sessions are now being held on Thursdays and Saturdays with two sessions on a Thursday (2pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm) and one session on a Saturday (6pm-9pm).
There are mobility exercises and exercises to keep you fit on a Tuesday at 1pm at a cost of £1.50 per session.
● Farmers’ Market Is Back: The Farmers Market is back in Griffin Park on the third Saturday of every month with all the usual stalls. And it opens to the general public from 9am-1pm.
The next Farmer’s Market will be held in Griffin Park on Saturday, October 23.
Porthcawlcivic Trust Society: I have just received notification that the Annual General Meeting is being held on Tuesday, October 20, at Trinity Church John street Porthcawl.
The committee work hard on our behalf and they deserve all the help they can get.
They fight BCBC every inch of the way on our behalf and most probably they are fighting the biggest battle since they were formed – Salt Lake and Sandy Bay.
Do we really need these extra houses when the facilities that exist are inadequate for the present population?
And who in their right mind would put forward a scheme with an Aldi Store as being something that will make Porthcawl a ‘destination point’? London Marathon: Brilliant to see it back again after the pandemic made it impossible to hold last year.
I know it’s usually held in April and not October but next year it will return to its original slot.
I sometimes think back to my childhood and as far as I can remember it seemed to me that the marathon was a race run by the same 10 men every four years and now everybody is doing it and we all know somebody who has.
This year there were 40,000 running in London alone and the same number doing it ‘virtually’ making the numbers in excess of 80,000 in all and every one had a medal and every one deserved it.
Just think of the vast sums of money raised for individual charities and the good that it does. Everybody in the race had a tale to tell and a memory in their mind of a mother, father, son or daughter.
Thank you all for your efforts and your kindness and thank you all who contributed and whose gifts made life easier for the likes of you and I.
And finally no, I’m not old enough to remember the 1908 Olympic Marathon, where Dorando Pietri was helped over the line because his legs gave in just yards from the finishing line and a well wisher helped him over those last few yards, only to find that Pietri was disqualified for being assisted.
It happens regularly these days because times and positions are not that important to the majority of runners in the ‘pack’.