PORTHCAWL
Send your news to: The Cottage, 34 Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl CF36 3YU 01656 783068 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk
Porthcawl Male Choir: Porthcawl Male Choir – Côr Meibion Porthcawl have a joint concert with Whitland Male Choir in All Saint’s Church Porthcawl on Saturday, May 13, at 7pm. Tickets £6 from choir members or 07773 622 537. The soloist is Rhian Thomas and the harpist is Kath Lewis.
Newton Pop and Beer Festival: This year’s festival is on Saturday, August 26 and that bands are coming from as far afield as Italy to appear. Steve Maitland Thomas says the committee is looking for volunteer stewards – call him on 07926 909 912.
Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill Branch of Rafa: Present a Roy Orbison tribute artist on Friday, April 28.
U3A Volunteers' Forum: You will recall that last year a series of lectures was arranged by U3A in which representatives of individual voluntary organisations talked about the causes that they supported. and at the end of the course there was a joint meeting at which there was a general discussion to discover what members of the various organisations could do to help each other. At the end of this very useful and informative meeting it was agreed that the group would meet again in the Spring Well Spring has just about sprung and Andrew Collier has arranged a further meeting of the group for Tuesday, May 9, at the Y-Centre in John Street at 7.15pm.
Queries and RSVPs to Clare at the Y Centre. email: sdw@theycentre.com or email Andrew (U3A) at: helgandrew@yahoo.com.
Porthcawl Lions: A new season of book sales started in John Street last Saturday and these are scheduled to run on a fortnightly basis thereafter.
To donate unwanted books to the Lions contact Martin on 01656 786 745.
The May Fayre takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 1 at All Saints, Victoria Avenue.
Porthcawl Choral Society: Practices are held on Mondays from 7.15pm9.15pm in Trinity Church. Call Porthcawl 784211.
All Shook Up – Elvis Musical: Porthcawl Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society present All Shook Up at the Grand Pavilion on Friday, May 5 at 7.30pm and Saturday, May 6 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets from the PAODS on 01656 788148 or 01656 815995.
Sunday Quiz: At the Seagull in the Precinct in Nottage at 9pm. £1 entry per person.
Traditional Morning Services: At Gilgal Baptist Church, Park Avenue, Porthcawl. Wednesdays at 11am, Gilgal Baptist Church Porthcawl hold a morning service. The service concludes at 11.40am and is followed by prayer and tea and coffee in the hall.
Porthcawl Museum And Historic Society: The museum has reopened with a new Maritime Exhibition which will help you discover the story of the SS Samtampa disaster.
A May Day Coffee Morning will be held at the Y Centre, John Street, from10.30am12noon on Friday, May 5. Entry is £1.50 to include tea or coffee and cake. There will also be a raffle, tombola and a quiz.
The lecture by Ceri Joseph on Dic Penderyn is now on May 16 at 7pm at the Y-Centre.
The cost is £1 for nonmembers with members having free entry. be a beer and cider festival with a range of ciders, real ales and entertainment available.
The Mini Fest is coming back for two days on Saturday and Sunday August 26 and 27.
Preparations are well on the way and tickets are on sale at the Blaenogwr.
Here are just some of the groups that are appearing, The Cuddly Toys, Murphy’s Boat, Contraband, Slightly Dazed, Monkey See Monkey Do, Fair Warning Wales and lots more.
Tickets are now on sale at the Blaenogwr so get yours now before they sell-out.
Wyndham Arms: The charity fundraising fun day for Y Bont and local Bridgend Down’s Syndrome Group takes place on Saturday, June 10.
Tuesdays at 8pm is Poker Night.
Thursdays at 9pm is Quiz Night and Play Your Cards Right where you could win £100.
Porthcawl Mayor's Charity Fund Events: The highlight of the year will be Mayor’s Ball at the Grand Pavilion this Saturday, April 29. The ball has a James Bond theme. Tickets cost £30 from Jill or Chris as before.
Free Tai Chi: Classes held at the Awel y Mor Centre on Friday mornings.
Samtampa Anniversary: On the 23rd of April 1947, the liberty ship ‘Samtampa’ on passage from Middlesborough to Newport, went aground on rocks at Sker Point near Porthcawl in one of the worst storms within living memory. Mumbles lifeboat, the ‘Edward Prince of Wales’ was launched with a crew of eight on board in a bid to save and rescue the crew of thirtynine on board the stricken ship.
Tragically, all thirtynine souls on board the ‘Samtampa’ and the entire crew of eight from the Mumbles lifeboat crew who had bravely taken to sea in the rescue bid perished and resulting in the largest loss of civilian life at sea in Wales for over two hundred years.
This year marks 70 years since this tragedy occurred, and as you will be aware a number of events have been organized to commemorate this tragic loss of life.
One such event was held last Tuesday evening in the Y-Centre when Ross Martin from the RNLI and Alison Missen from HM Coastguards talked about the event from a Rescue Service operative’s point of view.
There was a service in All Saint’s Church last Sunday when relatives of the men lost at sea hoped to attend and the following day there was an an open–air service and wreath laying at Sker Point followed by a small service at the Memorial to those lost along our coast at The Prince Of Wales in Kenfig.
Wyndham Boys & Girls Club: This year’s Football Presentation Night will be on Friday, May 12. Raffle, disco & buffet all for £3 (children £1.50). Tickets from Paul Uppington or the Boys and Girls Club.
Club days and times are: Monday (club) 5.30pm-8.30pm. Tuesday (bingo) 6.30pm-7.30pm (doors open at 6pm). Wednesday (club) 5.30pm-8.30pm. Thursday (club) 5.30pm-8.30pm. Friday (bingo) 6.30pm- 7.30pm (doors open at 6). Sunday – Film Club (please see Facebook or poster at club for details).
Ladies' Boxfit: The Nantymoel Armature Boxing Club meets every Monday and Wednesday for a ladies’ Boxfit. This is on the following nights from 6pm-7pm with a charge of £4 each.
The club is at Bethania Row, but the entrance is at the back
Porthcawl Farmers' Market: Don’t forget that the Porthcawl Farmer’s Market has moved, they have relocated to Griffin Park Community Hall in New Road Porthcawl, and as usual they will be there on the last Saturday of the month which this month will be April 29th. They will be open from 9.30am- 12.30pm, and should you want further information on stalls etc please contact Mike Pett on 01656 658963.
Guide dog for the blind quiz: Date: Saturday 3rd June at Laleston Gardening Club, Cliff Cottage in Laleston, Bridgend (to the side of St David’s Church) It starts at 7.30pm and the entry price of £10 includes a fish & chip supper. You need to take your own drink on the night and tickets are available from Norah Clarke on 01656 786016. I know it is in Laleston; but it is only 4/5 miles down the road and I can’t think of a more worthy cause than Guide Dogs Cymru!
Porthcawl Townswomen's Guild news: Since last month’s report the Guild members have enjoyed another lunchtime drama at the Pavilion and the monthly lunch, at Isabella’s in Well Street was a great success.
At the April meeting Guild members were privileged to welcome Simon Richardson MBE - son of chairman Dee - as a speaker. He gave a presentation which covered his career as a paralympic cycling medallist and his plans for the future. His told how he had decided that his priority at this time is a charity cycle ride from Paris to Swansea in August in aid of the Welsh Air Ambulance. Knowing the many problems he has overcome to be able to ride again, the guild has decided to sponsor him for this worthwhile project. If you dear reader would like on High Street (opposite the Non Political Club).
Blackmill Over 50s: Blackmill Over 50s meet at The Local Community Centre on Wednesdays at 7pm, new members welcome.
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.
Pilates Class: Thursdays at 6.15pm at Litchard Mission Church, Litchard, Bridgend. For beginners and intermediate. Contact Ruth on 07786 627 335 or email ruth@ c2cfitness.co.uk
Coffee Mornings: at Christchurch Chapel Corbett Street, Ogmore Vale, on Thursday, April 27, 9.30am10.45am. They have a coffee to sponsor Simon in this amazing venture then you can go on the internet to “Just Giving” Simon Richardson Paris to Swansea or call in at Stains “The Paper People” next to Percy House in Church Place: (opposite Porthcawl Library.}
The next meeting of the Porthcawl Townswomen’s Guild will be held on May 10th at 2p.m. in All Saints Church Hall when the ever popular Miss Debra John makes a return visit with more “Welsh Tales”.
For any further information on the PCTWG, please ring Dorothy Thomas on 01656 772157 Local elections 2017: My father used to say that "service to the community was the rent you paid for living in that community". Not a bad philosophy. The other day I realized that I have lived in Porthcawl since the late seventies and have served on Porthcawl Town Council over four decades, during the ‘eighties’, the ‘nineties’, the ‘noughties’ and the ‘tens’, and during that time I have had the privilege of being elected mayor on four occasions This time I have decided that for various reasons, (none of which relate to the fact that I am over twenty-one), I will not be standing this time round.
I wish those who are, well and hope that they remember the traditions and respect that the council has deservedly earned over the years: and I would wish to thank my family and everyone in the town for their support and help in so many different ways over that period.
Gaynor deserves a special medal for her love, her loyalty and her support. Good luck to all who stand and to those who are elected remember where you stand as part of the history of this lovely town. morning with a Cake Stall, Book Stall, China and Clothes Stall’s & not forgetting a Raffle etc. It will be from 9.30am10.45am.
Adult Community Learning: Adult Community learning are offering an Introduction to Drawing course starting in April at Nantymoel Memorial Hall. The course will be for five weeks and involves a variety of drawing materials, techniques, and processes.
Call 01656 642729 or go to www.bridgend.gov.uk/ adultlearning for details.
Ladies Choir: Ogmore Valley Ladies Choir now have their practice night on Mondays at: Canolfan, Bethlehem, Commercial Street, Ogmore Vale. Starting at 7pm. All are welcome - over 18 years.
News items: Items for this column need to be sent to me by 10.30pm on Wednesdays. Contact details at top of column.