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April 2002

• "We all rushed to the Church Hall and waited with baited breath to see exactly what ‘evacuees’ were and to our disappointment we saw not some exotic animals but just a bunch of very tired and bedraggled children some already in tears and others looking as if the tears were not far away."
• "Treorchy Fair... my brothers were walking from Blaencwm down to the fair - thrupence each. They got as far as Ynysfeio Bridge in Penyrenglyn and the youngest of the two swallowed his thrupenny bit. They came home crying, so the fair was put off that time."
• "National School, December 1873. Claudia Lloyd persistently refused to come out of the desks when requested, for which she was lifted out and punished."

Accompanied by over 200 old photographs, experiences are recalled vividly; from work in the mines to celebrations and life in the valley during wartime. A chance to reminisce for many, this valuable record of local history will offer newcomers an opportunity to understand how modern Rhondda has been shaped. “Rhondda Voices” is published by Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-2625-7.

SPORTSABILITY - Pupils from across South Wales have participated in the first Sportsability Festival for Wales for children and young people with disabilities. 230 pupils took part in the events such as indoor versions of cricket and golf which were held in Cardiff recently - with half the medals being won by children from Rhondda Cynon Taff.

• SURGERIES - Chris Bryant MP for Rhondda can be contacted via the constituency office at 5 Cemetery Road Porth or by telephoning 01443 687697 - surgeries for April will be held at the following venues - 

  Date	Time	Place
  Friday, 19 April	2.00-3.00 pm	Pinewood Day Centre (Noddfa), Treorchy
  Friday, 19 April	3.30-4.30 pm	Ferndale Labour Club
  Saturday, 20 April	10.00-10.45 am	5 Cemetery Road, Porth

FUN DAY - The University of Glamorgan holds a charity fun day on Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May, when up to 50 charities will be at the campus in Treforest from noon until 5pm for various fundraising events - including a bungee jump and a car boot sale costing £5 a car. Phone 01443 483500 for details.

• DONORS - The Kidney Research Unit for Wales Foundation requires more names on its register of people who wish to become kidney donors. Register online at www.wales.gov.uk/organdonor or phone 029 2038 3731. 

ACCESS - The Audit Commission has revealed that only 264 out of 2,206 local authority buildings across Wales are "suitable and accessible to people with disabilities". Rhondda Cynon Taff was the second best authority for access in Wales - with 91 out of its 191 buildings being accessible.

• BAN - 27 yr-old Mark Latham of Bryn Henllan, Blaenrhondda has been temporarily banned from riding horses or entering licensed premises  - after allegedly galloping through Pentre after an all day drinking session.

WAR TRIPS - Trips to the battlefields and war cemeteries of Northern Europe are being organised by the War Research Society, which is run by retires and serving police officers and ex-servicemen. For further details send a medium sized SAE to Ralph Wilkins, War Research Society, 51 Princes Road, Tivoli, Cheltenham GL50 2TX.

• CREDIT UNION - A new Credit Union Collection Point will be opening on Wednesday 11^th April 2002 at Spar in Bute Street, Treorchy. The collection point will be open every Wednesday between the hours of 11am and 1pm. Credit Unions offer savings and low cost loan facilities convenient to member’s homes and workplace. Free life insurance is provided on all savings and loans and Credit Unions are owned , controlled and operated by its members and are non-profit making. Becoming a member is easy and only costs £1 to join. For more information please telephone 01443 778244. Members old and new are welcome.

FUND - RCT Council is inviting applications for grant aid from its Welsh Church Act Fund. The fund is available for a wide range of charitable purposes for organisations - within the Rhondda Cynon Taff / Merthyr Tydfil / Bridgend County Borough Council areas - involved in social, recreational, cultural, religious etc. activities - including organisations which provide hobby activities for members but whose facilities are also available for the general public.  

Assistance will only be given towards projects or expenditure of a capital nature - normal running expenses will not be supported. Partial assistance only is awarded - as the fund income is limited - and applicants are encouraged to seek assistance from other agencies, both charitable and statutory. 

Application forms are available from Susan Robinson, Development and Regeneration Team, RCT County Borough Council, Valleys Innovation Centre, Navigation PArk, Abercynon. CF45 4SN or phone 01443 665744. Closing date for applications is 31st July 2002.

• REGULATORY BODY - A new regulatory body for nurses and midwives - the Nursing and Midwifery Council - has been launched. Fast track information will be available on how to make a complaint about a nurse or midwife by visiting the website at www.nmc-uk.org or by phoning either Stuart Skyte on 020 7333 6558 or John Knape on 020 7333 6557 for further information. This new regulatory body will be the first health regulator to hold annual general meetings.

PRINCE'S TRUST - A free workshop, for young people interested in finding how the Prince's Trust can help them to set up a business, will be held at the Model House, Llantrisant on Saturday 11th May.

• CRAFTS - Craftspeople from all over Wales, who have received funding from the Prince's Trust and are still in business three years later, will display their work - including jewellry, silversmithing, ceramics, furniture and rugs - at Llantrisant's Model House Craft and Design Centre from 17th April to 2nd June.

MEDIA - Black, Asian and minority ethnic people interested in a career in the media are invited to attend The Colour of Welsh Media event at Cardiff International Arena on Saturday 20th April from noon until 4.30pm. Representatives from the BBC, HTV and other media companies will be present and workshops will be held by leading black journalists, producers and directors.  The event is free but places must be booked in advance by e-mailing black.light@bss.org or phone Black Light on 029 2057 5444.

• RCT's Pest Control service has been awarded a two star rating (maximium rating being three stars) in a Best Value review report and a tribute from the Audit Commission in Wales for its high level of motivation, dedication and enthusiasm for their work. Inspectors noted some areas for improvement included checking on sewer baiting and performance management.

CHALLENGE - More than 5,500 children from 32 schools across Rhondda Cynon Taff took part in the recycling challenge to collect old Yellow Pages telephone directories, collecting  a total of 4,500 books weighing 10 tonnes. Pupils from Porth County Comprehensive amassing 1,072 directories, while St. Gabriel's and St. Raphael's RC Primary School in Tonypandy collected the most number of books per pupil - at an average of more than 3 each. Both schools won a total of £1000 in prize money for their efforts from the Directory Recycling Scheme in Wales.

• LIBRARIES - RCT libraries are hosting craft and story telling events for children over the Easter period. For more information phone the Schools Library Service on 01443 478463.

RECYCLING - The European Parliament's environment committee are to discuss controversial draft legislation proposals for recycling disused television sets and other electrical goods. The committee wants the EU to make manufacturers individually responsible for financing take-back schemes for discarded equipment.

• PILATES - Pilates exercise classes are held at Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff - costing £5 for a one-hour session. For further details phone Molly Melhuish on 029 2091 6313.

VOLUNTEERS - Volunteer drivers - aged 25 to 65 - are needed to drive a minibus in Cardiff for three or four hours on Mondays or Wednesdays, to help elderly and disabled get about the city. Drivers will receive expenses. Phone the charity Vest Transport on 029 2048 5036.

• DEPRESSION - National Depression Week begins from Monday 8th April with more information about depression and how to deal with it is available from Depression Alliance on 029 2069 2891 or visit www.depressionalliance.org 

CONDOLENCE - Books of condolence will be opened in all our 34 public libraries for local people to record their own personal messages of sympathy and good will in memory of the Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The books of condolence will be arriving at libraries during Thursday, April 4. Local people will be able to write their messages at any library during normal opening hours from Friday onwards.

• BOWLS - The Pengelli Senior Citizens Mixed Bowls Club holds a pre-season meeting on Tuesday 16^th April at Treorchy Conservative Club at 3pm. Would members please make every effort to attend. Anyone wishing to join, should give a written application to Mr. Peter Sampson 59 Bute Street, Treorchy before the meeting.

PROJECTS - Rhondda Cynon Taff Council's Objective One Partnership - the largest in Wales - has won backing worth almost £18.9million for 53 regeneration projects applying for European Objective One funding in Rhondda Cynon Taff. 

• BEST NEIGHBOUR - The Neighbourhood Watch Association is supporting the national "Britain's Best Neighbour" award run by Kleeneze. All regional winners and their nominators will receive a prize. The person who nominates the national winner will also receive a bonus of £500. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.neighbourhoodwatch.net or by phoning Kleeneze on 0870 333 6688.   

SPIRITUAL SESSION - The National Federation of Spiritual Healers holds evening sessions every Monday from 6.30 to 8.30pm at the Therapy Centre, 33 The Parade, Cardiff. For further details phone 029 2032 7347.

• CAR BOOT SALE - Friends of the Rhondda Heritage Park hold a car boot sale at the Heritage car park in Trehafod at 9.30 am Sunday, 7th April. Entry fees for cars £3 and £5 for vans. Phone the group's secretary on 01633 865065 for further details.

SHORT FILM -  Budding actors are needed for a short film to be made in and around Merthyr Tydfil this summer. Between 10 and 15 volunteers are required - aged between 5 and 45 years - with or without acting experience. Phone Merv Smith at Creative Vision on 01685 882011 for further information.

• GRANT - Ystradfechan Bowling Club in Treorchy - along with five other bowling clubs in Rhondda Cynon Taff - has received a £750 grant from RCT Council's Community Chest Fund.

OSTEOPOROSIS - The National Osteoporosis Society holds a public meeting at the Copthorne Hotel, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff on Wednesday 17th April between 7.15 and 9.30pm.

• MUSICAL - Treherbert-based operatic company - Selsig - presents the musical "Hello Dolly" at the Park and Dare Theatre, Treorchy from 16th - 20th April at 7.15pm. Tickets are available from Barbara Norris on 01443 430806 or the theatre box office on 01443 773112.

ACCIDENT -  Police are appealing for witnesses or information about a serious road accident which happened in Church Road, Gelli at 11.30pm on Friday 29th March  - when a pedestrian was struck by a white Ford Escort, suffering serious head injuries. Please contact the South Wales Police Northern Traffic Office at Treforest on 01443 743734.

• MOBILE FINES - A total of 478 drivers across South Wales were given £30 on-the-spot penalty fines for using their mobile phones while at the wheel - in a two-week blitz by the police. 19 drivers were fined in the Rhondda.

SPEED LIMITS - New 40mph speed limits, and a ban on on cyclists, will come into force on the Heads of the Valleys road when the long-awaited dualling scheme to create four lanes on the Dowlais Top, Merthyr Tydfil to Tredegar section begins from 22nd April.

• NEW SERVICE - Patients with a terminal illness who are being cared for at home are to receive a new 24-hour help service after a £85,000 project was launched by the National Assembly. The service will aim to prevent the need for relatives to leave a dying patient in order to find an out-of-hours pharmacy to collect emergency drugs.

HELPERS - Cardiff Action for the Single Homeless seeks volunteers to help with its charity work. Phone 029 2034 9980 or call in at the Huggard Centre, Tresillian Way, Cardiff.

• PLAYGROUND REBUILD - Rhondda Heritage Park's outdoor adventure playground "The Energy Zone" is to be rebuilt in time for an official opening on 6th May. The winning design was chosen by pupils representing Hafod Primary School in consultation with councillors and officers on Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.

STAMMERING - A special five-day course to help overcome stammering - using a breathing technique to control the condition - will be held at the Hanover International Hotel, Atlantic Wharf Cardiff between 12th to 16th June. For further information e-mail ashley@guerin.fsbusiness.co.uk of phone Ashley Guerin on 01162 880702.

• JIVE CLASSES - "Le Roc" jive dance classes have begun at Treorchy Conservative Club, every Tuesday evening from 8 till 10pm. The current dance class, run by Martyn, hopes to soon expand into further evening classes and male dance partners are urgently needed.

SURGERIES  -The monthly councillors’ advice surgeries throughout Ynyswen, Cwmparc and Treorchy for the first Friday in April have been cancelled. Surgeries will resume in May at the usual venues. Anyone wishing to contact any of our local councillors can still phone them directly - at any time throughout the month - as usual. Phone Richard Ashton on 441596, Cennard Davies on 435563 or Edward Hancock on 774785.

• YNYSWEN HALL - The Ynyswen Welfare Hall committee would like to announce that the recently refurbished hall in Ynyswen Road, Treorchy is available for hire at very reasonable rates. As well as the main hall, there are toilet and kitchen facilities and disabled access. Please contact Brian Jones on 01443 422792 for further details.

TALKSHOW - Voted "Best Unsigned Act" Welsh Music Awards 2001 - "Talkshow" play live in Ebbw vale on Friday, 5th April (with support) at the Hilltop Club, Ebbw Vale. Doors open at 7.30pm Entrance: £3.50 (£3.00 concessions) Talkshow on stage 10.15pm. 

• ROADWORKS - Temporary traffic lights will be on the A4119 between Tonypandy and Llwynypia for two weeks from Sunday 31st March, to allow installation work for a new 300metre gas main.

Local Labour MP, Chris Bryant is this week reminding women over 60 and men over 65, together with eligible disabled people in the area, that they will be entitled to travel free on local bus services.

"I urge all Rhondda pensioners and eligible disabled people, if they haven't already done so, to apply for their pass for free bus travel.

Rhondda Cynon Taff are responsible for administering this scheme and for further details they can be contacted on 01443 494815."

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