LALESTON & BROADLANDS

Send Your News To: Carol Thomas

carbrya1@gmail.com

01656 657846

● Birthday Greetings: Congratulations and Best Wishes to Margaret Williams, a very smart lady who attained her 80th birthday on February 20. Margaret was employed in the Improvement Grants Department of BCBC for many years and friends and family send her Many Happy Returns.

● Also More February Birthdays for

BCBC Staff: Happy 55th Birthday to Meryl Morgan, of Bryntirion Hill, for February 23, who has become a doting grandmother for the first time to baby Arlow. Love from family and all colleagues at BCBC.

● Laleston Gardening Club: As we move into 2024, it is true to say that Laleston Gardening Club has hit the ground running.

The remaining sash windows were installed in January, the shop reopened on February 3 and the lecture program is in full swing.

The social calendar started on Saturday, February 10 with a lovely meal to celebrate Chinese New Year, (the Year of the Dragon). A St David’s Day Supper is planned for Friday, March 1.

A new system has been developed for the shop following the retirement of our shop manager Dennis Roberts. Dennis had been shop manager for many, many years and had done a brilliant job.

It was decided that things had to change and the onerous job of running the shop should be shared among Committee Members.

Gavin Thomas readily accepted the position of Shop Supervisor, with responsibility for maintaining a new computer app, which records sales, stock levels and takings.

Sian James and Linda Thomas are responsible for buying and procuring stock. Store Assistants are drawn from Committee Members and a rota system is in operation.

Store helpers will still be on hand to help customers take goods to their cars, these helpers are drawn from volunteer members again on a rota system.

Members should be aware that peat based composts are now being phased out and when current stocks are exhausted only peat free composts will be available.

As far as lectures are concerned Chairman Sue gave a presentation on February 6, entitled Concorde, Queen of the skies and that was very well received. On Tuesday, February 20, Sian James gave a presentation on seed and plant propagation and we are lucky that there are two such ladies within the Club that can deliver informative talks at no cost to the speakers budget.

Chris Jones, warden of Kenfig Nature Reserve, attracted a large audience on February 12 and gave an absorbing talk on this site of special scientific interest.

At our committee meeting, Chairman Sue said she was very pleased with the way the Chinese Evening had gone, it was a very successful evening. She said the addition of Lucy Bloomfield and Heather Williams to the event team had made a huge difference and that it was a pleasure to work with them.

Lucy was to be congratulated on passing her food hygiene test and her certificate will be displayed in the Club.

Some 52 members had been treated to a delightful Chinese meal with delightful table settings and wonderful service from the events team in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The next gastronomic experience will be at the St David’s Day Supper on March 1.

Further improvements have taken place at Cliff Cottage following the prohibition of open fires within the building – a new log effect fire has been installed in the hearth where previously we had an open fire.

The Club are extremely grateful to

Richard Worgan, son of Margaret, who generously provided funding for this fire. Richard arranged the purchase and delivery from his home in Germany where he now lives. Sue has thanked him warmly and sent photos of his welcomed gift to the Club.

New wall heaters have been fitted in the main hall, one of the original heaters has been reinstalled in the old kitchen and the remaining two are shortly to be installed in the upstairs model railway room. The new heaters and fire should ensure visitors to Cliff Cottage should never feel the need for thermals. Further improvements are being undertaken but details will be reported and can wait until another day.

My thanks to Secretary, Patrick Stevens for this interesting update of the Club’s continuing hard work.

Bridgend Lions Charity Book Sale: Calling all avid readers. Bridgend Lions Book Sale will take place at the Westward Community Centre, Cefn Glas, on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, from 9am-4pm.

Entrance free with book bargains galore, including jigsaws too!

● After School activities: At the Rhiw Arcade in Bridgend as follows: n Tuesdays, from 4pm-5pm: Colouring Club for ages four and up n Fridays, from 4pm-6pm: Art

Club for ages six to 14. Book via megartclub@gmail.com n Saturdays, from 9.30am-10.30am: Colouring Club for ages four and over

Also, all youngsters are invited to enter our poster competition. Group 1 ages four to 10 and Group 2 ages 11 to 18.

It needs to be a colourful, Welshthemed poster to be submitted to the Craft Cwtch Artisan Shop and Studios, by Thursday, February 29.

The posters will be judged by the Mayoress of Bridgend and the winners will receive premium brush/ fine liner colouring pens. The size of the poster should be A4 and the lucky winners will be presented with their prize on March 2 at 10am in the shop.

Name and age and child and parent/carer contact details must be written on the back of the poster when submitted.