YOUR COMMUNITY
ABERKENFIG & COYTRAHEN
Send Your News To: Gerry Lewis Old Police House, Maesteg Road, Tondu Cf32 9dw 01656 725911 07779 870137 G_j_lewis2002@yahoo.co.uk
Spiritual Healing: Spiritual healing is offered each Tuesday from 6pm7.30pm at the Ynysawdre Community Centre (at the junction of Bryn Road and Heol-yr-Ysgol).
There is no charge for the service but a small donation to help defray expenses is appreciated.
Call Mrs Bryant as before.
Christian Spiritualist Church: Meet Sundays at 6.30pm at the Ynysawdre Community Centre. For more information phone Mrs Bryant as before.
Nazareth Chapel: Nazareth Baptist Chapel Bryncethin offers a service at 4pm each Sunday.
For more informations, call Andrew Davies on 01656 663 652.
Items: Please send items to the address at the head of the column by the Wednesday evening for publication the following week.
BRACKLA
Send Your News To: Hannah May hannahlouisemay@gmail.com
Brackla Community Centre: Is available to hire Saturday and Sunday afternoons 2.30pm5.30pm at £60.
Please contact Brackla Community Council to book, Tel-01656767072 or email- clerk@brackla communitycouncil.gov.uk (weekdays 10am-4pm).
Where possible please book around six months ahead.
Election: Brackla Community Council has an election called for Thursday, January 3, 2019 to replace a seat on the council.
BRIDGEND TOWN
Send Your News To: John Dunkley-Williams 16 Nant Yr Adar, Bridgend, CF31 4TY john.dunkley-williams@outlook.com
Bridgend Writers Circle: December’s meeting saw the presentation of trophies, cups and certificates to this year’s successful competition winners. The Saviker Shield being won by John Bowdidge, for his poem ‘Little One’ and memoir ‘Memories of Wartime’; Claudette Evans, received the runner-up Shield for her story ‘The Great Gnome Mystery’ and collected the Endeavour Shield for her journalistic effort ‘ Your Starter for Ten’. Other winners receiving their trophies were; Bridie Branwell - the Keith Cole Shield and Michael Hayes for his Monologue. Unfortunately, Liz Mahoney was unavailable to collect her Railton Shield, and she also won the annual short play competition, with her farce ‘What a Shower’.
Entries being read and judged on the evening, by Alex Marshall. Members and guests were also treated to a buffet and readings from the Ogmore Valley Local History Society’s Anthology ‘Wartime Memories’.
The Bridgend Writers Circle will take a break until February, when they meet again at 7pm, on the first Thursday of the month at Carnegie House, Wyndham Street, Bridgend, where new members are always welcome.
The Circle’s annual short story competition for this year is 1500-1800 words on a theme of your choice. Entry is £5 for a single story, £7.50 for two stories; closing date is Friday, March 1, 2019.
Prizes are £100, £50, £30 and publication on the Circle’s website. The judge is Colum SansonRegan. Rules, conditions of entry and entry form can be viewed at: http:// bridgendwriters.webplus. net/. Contact: fenos51@ hotmail.co.uk
Bridgend Victorian Christmas: Bridgend Town Centre was graced with a day-long visit from royalty, despite the weather not being all that kind. The Town Council petitioned her Majesty Queen Victoria to attend their Victorian Christmas event -and she graciously accepted. The Queen made her royal progress around the Town Centre and mingled with her subjects to the delight of people of all ages.
Many stalls were sited in Wyndham Street with demonstrations of how life was at a Victorian Christmastime with many people dressed in period costume adding to the street scene. By early afternoon, crowds had swelled and a special atmosphere prevailed engaging with the spirit of the event.
Town Council organisers were delighted with the way the event turned out, despite the damp weather, and gave thanks to all the participants who came together – some from long distances – to make the experience a yuletide success. On this occasion, Queen Victoria was, indeed, amused!
Lions Club of Bridgend: Bridgend Lions are now collecting books in readiness for their 2019 spring Book Fair, as well as DVDs, CDs, Jigsaws and Computer Games. All donations can be handed in at the Westward Community Centre on Sundays between 10.30am and 11.30am. (Please do not deliver books outside of these hours.)
Books can also be delivered to Aberkenfig Welfare Hall on weekday mornings from 11am. Alternatively, call 0845 833 9582 to arrange a collection.
Hospital Christian Fellowship: The next service to be held in the Princess of Wales Hospital Chapel, is at 3pm on Friday, December 28.
CEFN CRIBWR
Send Your News To: Jill Goudge 01656 740026 jgoudge@sky.com
Christmas Carol Service: At Bethlehem Church Life Centre - Celebrate Christmas at the Life Centre on Sunday, December 23 at 10.30am - 12noon with a Million Dreams Christmas Carol Service and coffee!
BCLC would love to see you there.
Cefn On The Radio on Christmas Day: A few weeks ago BBC Radio Wales was at Bethlehem Church Life Centre recording two services to be broadcast over the coming weeks and months.
The BBC Production Team have now announced the exciting news that the Christmas Day Service will actually be one of the sessions recorded!
This is, obviously, a great honour and privilege and puts Cefn Cribwr and Bridgend Borough on the map on Christmas Day. (Not forgetting a worldwide audience!)
The programme is entitled A Gospel Christmas - a Special Celebration for Christmas Day from BCLC and will begin at 8.30am Santa Experience At Cefn School: This year Cefn school PTA will be holding a “meet and greet” with Santa on Wednesday, December 19 in the school hall.
Father Christmas will be seeing children at 3.15pm - 4.30pm and 4.45pm - 6pm. Tickets are just £3 per child and include a photo and a gift from Santa, hot chocolate, cakes, games and craft activities.
Also available will be a “pop up” shop with affordable gifts for children to buy and a festive tuck shop offering Christmas treats.
Christmas Dinner For Cefn Seniors & Christmas Party For Cefn Juniors: Cefn Sports & Social Club will once again be treating members who are pensioners and their partners to a free traditional Christmas dinner.
All older members can sign up for the annual Christmas dinner, held this year on Wednesday, December 19. If you are old enough and a members please don’t miss out, sign up a the Club now!
Extra Bin Bag This Christmas: While residents are usually restricted to filling two bin bags each fortnight, each home will be permitted to put out one extra bin bag for their first refuse collection after Christmas Day to help accommodate all of the additional rubbish accumulated over the festive season.
Bridgend County Borough Council have also confirmed there WILL be collections on Christmas Eve but there WON’T be any collections on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, so everything will be picked up two days later than normal for the rest of the week.
Collections will be made as usual on New Year’s Eve, but there won’t be any collection on New Year’s Day so everything will be one day later up until Saturday, January 5. Collections will be back to normal from Monday, January 7.
The main festive item that can’t be recycled is wrapping paper, while certain types of packaging can’t either, such as black plastic, cellophane wrap and polystyrene.
Rather than using one of their allocation of blue bin bags, residents are recommended to use a black plastic bin bag should they need to use the extra allowance for their first refuse collection following Christmas Day.
GARW VALLEY
Send Your News To: Liz Streatfield 01656 513416 Liz.streatfield@gmail.com
New Milk Round: Steve Simmonds is your local milkman, waging war against plastic. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at the crack of dawn, he will be delivering glass pint bottles of milk in Llangeinor, Bettws and the nearby area. For further details please contact him on 07807 282790.
Garw SBGC: It was announced recently that on Sunday, December 30, Garw SBGC will be holding a Past v Present football match at Blandy Park, Pontycymer. Kick off is at 11am, with all welcome, and afterwards it’s back to the Vetz Club, Oxford Street for some festive Yuletide refreshments.
The draw was made last week for round two of this season’s John Owen Cup. Garw will face local rivals Pencoed at their Felindre Road ground on Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Pontycymer R.F.C.: A reminder that Pontycymer Rugby Club will be holding their annual Family Christmas Disco on Sunday, December 23, from 3pm-6pm, at their clubhouse in Oxford Street. Entry is £1 an adult, with children free, and there will be a special visit from Santa himself.
Now in its 17th year, the annual Boxing Day, Jimmy Walker Memorial match, between Pontycymer R.F.C. and Llangeinor A.F.C, will be at Lawrence Park, Pontycymer, on Wednesday, December 26. Kick off is at 11am and afterwards, the club will be holding Soup Day 2018. All are welcome.
On Saturday, December 29, it’s back to league duties for Pontycymer when they travel to Ynyscorrwg Park to face Glyngorrwg in a division three west central encounter.
The clubhouse in Oxford Street will be open Christmas morning for anyone wishing to have a pre-Christmas lunch drink. Merry Christmas to all.
LALESTON, BRYNTIRION, CEFN GLAS & BROADLANDS
Send Your News To: Carol Thomas Carbrya, Heol-Y-Bardd, Bridgend CF31 4BT 01656 657846 carbrya@supanet.com
Happy Christmas: and Best Wishes for a Healthy New Year 2019 to all readers.
It is hoped that Santa makes all our wishes come true, if possible, but we know he does keep a Naughty List too. On that Naughty List are the persons who throw all their rubbish into skips that law abiding residents have paid a lot of money for their use. Only recently an old 50 inch television was thrown into a resident’s garden with the box of a new one too. A roll of carpet was left in the skip, dog waste etc. etc.
We are so lucky to have a great recycling service in the vicinity operated by really helpful staff. Hopefully Santa has made note of those irresponsible, lazy individuals who prefer to litter other residents’ skips and gardens rather than use the facilities available.
Church Services: St. David’s Church, Laleston
Thursday, December 20 – Advent Compline, Carols and Coffee at 7pm.
Sunday, December 23 – Traditional Carol Service at 10.30am and Childrens’ Nativity Service at 4pm.
Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) – 1st Communion of Christmas at 7.30pm.
Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) – Christmas Communion at 9.30am.
Wednesdays, December 12, 19 and 26 (Boxing Day) – Holy Communion at 9.30am with refreshments from 10.15am.
Please join us for either or both.
All Saints Church, Peny-Fai
Sunday, December 16 – Holy Communion at 8.30am and Morning Prayer at 10.30am.
Sunday, December 23 – Traditional Carol Service at 10.30am.
Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) – Christingle at 4pm, Family Carol Service at 5.15pm and Christmas Communion at 11pm.
OGMORE VALLEY
Send Your News To: Owen Sendell 1 Cardiff Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend. CF32 7EW. 01656 840914 gazette@ogmore-vale.co.uk The Inn, Nantymoel: Saturday, December 22 – Cobalt. Saturday, December 26 (Boxing Night) – Elegantly Wasted.
Saturday, December 29 – Fair Warning.
Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – The Pretty Feckless.
The children’s Christmas party is on Friday, December 21, 6.30pm-9.30pm so call in and put your child’s name down as soon as you can to avoid disappointment, but the closing date is Wednesday, December 19.
The cost will be £3 per child which includes a small gift off Santa.
The Wyndham Pub: Join us on a Tuesday night for poker from 8pm.
Every Thursday night 9pm is our quiz and Play Your Cards Right where you could have a chance to win £100.
Coffee Mornings: There is no coffee morning at the end of the month at Christchurch Chapel Corbett Street, Ogmore Vale. We will restart them the end of January 2019.
We would like to wish everyone from us all at Christchurch a Merry Christmas & Happy New year.
Charity Work: Would like to update you on what Brent & Theresa Edwards of Edwards 3JJJs of Ogmore Vale have done over the last year.
They have given boxes each month to Christchurch Chapel Corbett Street Ogmore Vale, raffle prizes to Wyndham Boys & Girls Club, School’s & to the whole community, too many to mansion for different things but one charity is Cancer Research which they have given over six times on the last count.
One of the best things that they have done so far is getting t-shirt’s printed & signed by the Most
Haunted crew and selling them for raffle prizes for our local charity’s.
Brent has just won an award for South Wales Voluntary Work but not forgetting Trigger and Snowdrop the horses that does so much with them to.
They both would like to say a Big Thank You to Bridgend Embroidery Store, Tim & Owen all the fans and customers who buy raffles, etc, because without you we couldn’t do what we do. Thank you all.
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 from 10am12noon.
We are always looking for new members and all our efforts are to make things for charity’s.
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. Merry Christmas: Would like to thank everyone who sends in information for the Gazette and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Owen.
Your News: Please remember to send any news or information to me by 10.30pm 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
Sunday Services: All Saints Church Penyfai:
First Sunday of the month – Morning prayer and Holy Eucharist at 10.30am.
Second Sunday of the month – Shared Benefice Eucharist, 10.30am.
Third Sunday of the month – Said Holy Eucharist 8.30am, followed by Morning Prayer, 10.30am
Fourth Sunday of the month – Holy Eucharist, 10.30am.
Fifth Sunday of the month – Benefice Eucharist at 10.30am, followed by lunch.
Call the Rev Anthony Beer on 01656 859 487.
Smyrna Chapel Services: A traditional Sunday school service in Smyrna Chapel, Penyfai, always starts at 10.30am and the evening services take place in Smyrna Chapel starting at 6pm.
There is a coffee morning every Tuesday in the Smyrna Chapel vestry from 10am-12noon where stalls of produce are also on offer.
Bible studies take place on Thursdays at 7.15pm and are led by Marlyn James and Dorothy Evans. Newcomers to the village of Penyfai are always welcome. Community Council: Newcastle Higher Community councillors from Penyfai and Aberkenfig and a guest Diana Woods have taken part in the judging in St Johns Church Aberkenfig of the Newcastle Higher Community Council Christmas Card Competition, the standard of the handmade Christmas Cards was excellent made by the pupils of Penyfai Church in wales school, Tondu school, St Roberts catholic school and Three Nurseries, The old school house, Penyfai and Aberkenfig, the winners of the Newcastle Higher Community Council Christmas Card Competition will be announced next week, when the Penyfai and Aberkenfig Community Councillors will be visiting the school to give the prizes to the winners
Pheasant Field: John Richfield is expecting a reply from the monitoring officer Kelly Watson,the property department of Bridgend County Borough Council are to look again for documents and answers to the ownership to Pheasant field Penyfai by Bridgend County Borough Council.
Dunraven Estate: Mr Jonathan Chubb solicitor for the Dunraven Estate Company and Cook and Arkwright has had enough time to digest my letter of reply.
Mr Jonathan Chubb solicitor for the Dunraven Estate Company and Cook & Arkwright asked me to set out what evidence I have in a coherent manner,this I did with my solicitor in reply to his letter of the 29th October 2018. Anyone who reads my letter will have no difficulty reading that I have evidence, Mr Jonathan Chubb and his partner solicitors Jonathan David, Elizabeth Ann Thompson and their client Julian Golunski, have given me no chance to present my genuine document evidence infront of them to examine, they have ignored.
I have my real genuine documents I accepted and received to the lands and hereditaments of the Dunraven Estate signed by Stockwood and Williams Court Road Bridgend, they must be afraid to meet me. Penyfai Church in Wales: Congratulations to all the pupils of Penyfai Church in Wales school who gave a great performance in their Christmas nativity play titled The InnSpectors. Many thanks go to the head Teacher Mr Street and class teachers for making this Christmas very special for everyone.
Penyfai Guide
Group: Scout and Guide Hall, Court Coleman Road, Penyfai (except summer) as follows:
Rainbows (ages 5 to 7) meet Wednesdays from 5.30pm-6.45pm.
Brownies (age 7 to 10) meet Mondays from 5.30pm-7pm.
Call Pippa O’Neill on 07480 825 532 for more information. 1st Penyfai Scout Group: Scout and Guide Hall, Court Coleman Road, Penyfai (except summer):
Beavers (ages 6 to 8), meet Thursdays from 5pm-6.15pm.
Cubs (ages 8 to 10) meet Thursdays from 6.30pm-8pm.
Scouts (ages 10 to 14) meet Thursdays, 6.30pm-8pm.
Call Christine Jordan on 01656 860 831.
Play and Community Playgroup: For families of newcomers to the village of Penyfai with children from two years to four years looking to join a play group, there is the Play and Community play group held in the Scout hall on Court Coleman Road, Penyfai.
The play group is open 9.15am-3pm Monday to Friday during term time.
Call 07813 392 464 for more information.
PORTHCAWL
Send your news to: David Newton-Williams 42 Suffolk Place, Porthcawl, CF36 3EB. 01656 451844 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk
Porthcawl RNLI Fundraising Events Diary 2018: Those of us who braved the cold weather to attend the RNLI Carol Service last Wednesday had a most enjoyable time: there were readings by the Rector and by members of the RNLI as well as performances by West Park Primary School and the Porthcawl Male Voice and then the public carols when we all had a chance to sing our hearts out and all this in the ongoing atmosphere of the Rotary Christmas Tree Festival which seems to be growing bigger and better year by year.
Don’t forget Saturday, December 22 when the RNLI Father Christmas Event will be held at the Station.
Porthcawl Rotary Club
Christmas Events: The Christmas Tree Festival in All Saints Church has lived up to expectations and has again been a great success and a credit to the work put into it by Porthcawl Rotary and the Organisations and individuals who providing trees.
Rotarians will be out collecting in John Street on Saturday, December 22 from 9.30am -4pm and on Christmas Eve from 9.30am to 12noon.
Finally the Rotary Carolcade will be touring the town for the last time this year on Thursday, December 20.
Griffin Park Table Top Sale: This popular indoor table top sale is held every Friday morning in Griffin Park Hall in New Road starting at 8am and finishing at 12.30pm.
If you want a table to sell items yourself then the cost is £5 per table.
Porthcawl Farmers Market: The next Farmer’s Market will be held at Griffin Park Hall, New Road Porthcawl CF36 5DF on Saturday, December 22, just in time for your last shopping expeditions. It is open from 9.30am to 12.30pm: all the usual local stalls will be there and there and refreshments will be available.
Remember, that the Farmer’s Market is always on the 4th Saturday of the month.
The Biggest And Best Christmas Morning Swim In Wales: It is time to get your ‘cozzies’ out and take cold baths on a regular basis to get yourself ready for the Christmas Morning Swim at 11am on Christmas morning.
The biggest and best Christmas morning Swim in Wales and think, you could be part of it and get yourself a free mug at the same time. And even if you don’t go in on the day, you can always be there to give moral support and to help the committee raise money for local charities.
Lions Boxing Day Fun Run: This event will be taking place on Boxing Day Morning starting at the Hi-Tide at 11am.
The fresh air just watching the event gives you a nice feeling of wellbeing.
Cabin Bar Coney Beach: The management and staff of the Cabin Bar at the entrance to Coney Beach Amusement Park put on a Christmas lunch for their many senior citizen customers last week: and what an event it was.
About 150 people sat down to a superb Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings and I mean all the trimmings!
The staff rose to the task with military precision and there were free raffle tickets for all as well as ‘bingo’ cards (’HousyHousy’ as it used to be known in the Army) with extremely generous cash prizes and then a visit from Santa during which everyone received a present.
While all this was going on Carl carried out a running commentary, acted as Bingo caller and then went into ‘Quick Change’ Cabaret mode and performed as everyone from Elvis to Elton John.
Nothing was too much effort and both Carl and his staff deserve a great big ‘Thank you!’
ST BRIDES MAJOR LLANTWIT MAJOR
Send your news to: Dawn Lewis 01656 880418
Pat Bevan-Morgan: It is with the deepest regret that I report the death of Pat, who wrote this column for many years and even though my name is on it now she still contributed a great deal and kept me up to date so that I could bring you details of events and she provided background information and history too.
Sincere condolences to her family and many friends.
Funeral is at 1.15pm on Wednesday, December 12 in Coychurch Crematorium.
Garden Green Waste: The fortnightly collection of green-bag garden waste for our area by the Vale Council has now ceased until the spring and the ring & request service has recommenced. Call 01446 700111.
Coffee Morning: All welcome to come along to a coffee morning at 11am on Monday, December 17 in the Evangelical Church, Ogmore-by-Sea when we will be celebrating Christmas.