Porthcawl Lions Sandcastle Competition:

This year it takes place over four days from Wednesday, August 4 to Saturday, August 7 with prizes every day.

The Location as usual is Coney Beach in front of the Fun Fair.

With judging taking place every day at noon and castles don’t have to be just that they can be cars, boats, creatures – in fact any shape you fancy.

Go down and join in! Entrants can be any age.

The Lions official Photographer will be there to photograph the entries at noon every day and the will be daily prizes and a Grand Photo Final judged by the Mayor of Porthcawl at noon on Saturday, August 7.

Entry is free but should you wish to donate to the lion’s charity it would be greatly welcomed. See you there on the day.

A Parent’s Worst Nightmare: A telephone call from one of my grandchildren to her brother to say that their mum had collapsed and that Mack had given her CPR until the ambulance came and took her to Chesterfield Hospital.

There she had been put into an induced coma: then hurried arrangements were made with

Nick to go north the next morning: only to have Nick come round to the house earlier than agreed to say that it was too late and that

Sara had passed away at 2am that morning.

Then memory cuts in and you suddenly realise that all you can remember is a series of phone calls.

“Dad? Can you come and pick me up. I’m OK but the car is a write-off.”

She knew how to get around me. “Dad? Is it alright for Iain and I to come round to see you and Mum?

“I think Iain wants to ask you something.”

(That was when our sin in law became our son in law.)

Then there was the phone call to tell her that her mother had passed away.

A few years later another phone call: “Dad?” This time the call was from Hull. “I’ve just arrived at the Maternity Hospital here.

“They are going to do an emergency Caesarian operation.”

Gay and I rushed up to Hull to welcome him and that’s when Cameron arrived into this world.

Twelve weeks early, and about as heavy as a bag of sugar: and as if that wasn’t enough, a hole in his heart and open heart surgery; but what he also had was two amazing parents in his corner and a fighting spirit which brought him through.

He is now 26, and something in the city.

Then there were other welcome phone calls heralding the arrival of Tiggie, Mack and Finbob.

Of course, there were the occasional sad calls like the one to say she was getting divorced, but of course, there were plenty of other lovely long phone calls over the years and plenty of hugs for Gay and I when she came home but at this point in time it’s the phone calls that stick in my mind.

Sara loved Porthcawl, and everybody knew that it was where her heart was and that will be where her final resting place will be: in the church where she was married and the kids were christened and where her adored mother was buried at almost the same age.

Art Exhibition and Auction: Talented local artist Tracie Warmsley is holding an exhibition of her work in General Picton in New Road on Wednesday, July 28, at 7pm.

The Exhibition is to be opened by the Town Mayor, Councillor Tracy Hill. Well worth a visit.

Destination Point: Gay and I drove down to Aberafon Beach this week to see the latest attraction to be completed on the seafront along with the Skate Board Park and the Adventure Park.

It had been mentioned on the Welsh News and “a spokesperson for the Authority” stated that it had been decided to create the water park as an attempt to make a ‘Destination Point’ for visitors.

That they have certainly done! It was as big and colourful as any I have seen on the continent and it was full with almost as many queuing to go in when we walked past. And lots of parents.

Porthcawl however is getting an Aldi, cut off from the town and lots and lots of houses and some sheds with specialist shops in, down by the harbour.

I remember one public meeting some years ago when one of the directors of the WDA came to talk to the good people of Porthcawl about the potential of the town and he mentioned putting Specialist Shops in Jennings Buildings.

‘What do you mean by Specialist Shops?’ somebody asked.

‘Shops selling things you don’t really want!’, came the glib reply.

Neither of these will help the town which has already lost its position as one of Wales’ premier resorts.

Try and find a Hotel room in the town.

Perhaps the borough councillors and officers of BCBC should go and talk to their colleagues in NPT.

Who knows they might learn a thing or two.

Griffin Park Table Top Sale: Town life is getting back to some form of reality here in Porthcawl, and one of the first organizations to open up again is the Table Top Sale in Griffin Park.

Now Covid friendly and maintaining social distancing it is back on Fridays.

This is a weekly event and is held every Friday at Griffin Park Hall in New Road.

Doors open between 8.30am and 12.30pm.

If you want a table to sell things yourself, then tables are available at £5 per event.

More information on this and other events in Griffin Park can be obtained by contacting Barry Morse on 07883 065 507.