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August - September 2007

50 YEARS SERVICE AWARD

Treorchy Labour Party stalwart, Emrys Thomas of Ynyswen Road, enjoyed a surprise presentation evening at the Stag Hotel, Treorchy, on Friday, July 20, where unbeknown to him, Rhondda Labour Party members had arranged a gathering to mark his 50 years of membership of the Labour Party.

To the delight of the many local party members and activists who were in attendance for the surprise event, Chris Bryant MP for Rhondda, presented a genuinely shocked Emrys with an official Westminster Parliament tankard to mark his long service to the Labour Party.

Photo Left: Emrys Thomas and Chris Bryant MP

“I honestly thought I was calling in to a party for a friend” said Emrys

 “I was amazed to see everyone there."

"I’ve never been so shocked in my life. I made a bit of a speech and just spoke from the heart and it seemed to go down well, but I can’t remember a word of it! 

"I can’t tell you though how much I really appreciated it all. It was totally and utterly unexpected.”

Photo Right: Emrys with Leighton Andrews AM

Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews, who also attended the evening celebration party, presented Emrys with a map depicting pre-industrial Glamorgan.

RCT Councillor Jackie Jenkins (pictured left) was also on hand to present Emrys with a framed 50 Years Service Certificate, which had been signed by the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Friends attending included recently elected Treorchy Labour Councillor Gordon Lewis of Cwmparc, who was joined by the majority of fellow RCT Labour Councillors who represent local wards ranging from mid-Rhondda to the top of the Rhondda Fawr.

Emrys, who was born in Park Road, Cwmparc, joined the Labour Party when he left school at the age of 15, beginning his working life underground at the former Park Colliery.

From 1965 he worked as a refuse collector for the former Rhondda Borough Council, until taking early retirement in 1996, and has been an active party member all his adult life, campaigning for the Labour Party in all the South East Wales constituencies over his 50 years of membership.

Photos: Emrys Thomas of Ynyswen with his Labour Party Medal 

awarded for outstanding service

Emrys, who celebrated his 65th birthday on July 31, has also since received life membership to the party and a specially enamelled badge, awarded to commemorate his 50 Years of Service to the Labour Party.

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CANCER RESEARCH UK - The Treorchy and District Cancer Research Committee’s 7th Annual Continental Tour took place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The 45 supporters again thoroughly enjoyed a busy and interesting tour based in the medieval Belgian city of Leuven .

Everyone found Leuven most impressive and interesting and the second day was spent in the beautiful city of Brussels .

The tour raised a magnificent sum of £2,400 towards cancer research and Janet Jones, on behalf of the Committee, would like to thank all the people who again gave their full support before and on the tour.

‘Trolley Dollies’ John Mallin and Francois Lagier again cheerfully served hundreds of teas and coffees and Elaine Lewis and Judith Lagier organised the quiz and raffle. We are also grateful to Judith Jones for doing all the typing.

Next year’s tour is to Reims in the champagne region of France and already it is almost sold out.

  • SURGERIES - County Borough Councillor Gordon M Lewis will be holding surgeries on the second Thursday and Friday of every month.

  • Councillor Lewis will be at Pinewood House (Noddfa), Treorchy, on Thursday, September 13 from 12noon to 1pm.

  • On Friday, September 14, Councillor Lewis will be at Park Hall, Cwmparc between 11am and 12noon.

  • Appointments are not necessary.

  • Any person wishing to have a private meeting should contact Councillor Lewis on 773058 to make an appointment.

NEW HORIZONS - A well being drop-in resource centre, called New Horizons, is based at the Phoenix Centre in Ton Pentre, and offers a safe and supportive environment to individuals who may be experiencing emotional well being issues.

They are open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm and offer a range of daily activities, including Art, Crafts, Day Trips and Sporting sessions. Advice and access to support services, as well as volunteering opportunities, are also on offer.

For further information, please contact Tania Harries, Centre Manager, New Horizons, The Phoenix Centre, Church Road, Ton Pentre CF41 7EH or telephone 01443 431651.

  • SURGERIES - Local Plaid Cymru Councillors hold their next monthly advice surgeries on Friday, September 7.

  • They will be at Cwmparc Welfare Hall from 10am to 10.50am and afterwards at Noddfa Day Centre from 11am to 12noon.

  • All residents are welcome to attend and no appointments are necessary.

  • At any other time, please contact Councillor Cennard Davies on 435563 or Councillor Edward Hancock on 774785.

ANNUAL OUTING - Treorchy Women's Institute's annual outing this year was a ‘Mystery Trip’. The weather was perfect and the trip was very well-organised, with members being greeted with a very welcome bottle of water on what was to be one of our rare hot summer days.

Marian and Anita were the organisers of the trip and members were asked to chose a place name out of the ‘hat’, and if this proved to be the destination the winner would have a prize.

A bag of wrapped chocolates was then handed around the coach and three lucky winners found a raffle prize ticket hidden in the wrapping.

The coach then stopped for a welcome break at the Sanders Garden Centre, bear Burnham on Sea. We enjoyed browsing around the Centre and having a very enjoyable snack.

Back on the coach the guessing game began about the whereabouts of our destination. Could it be Hampton Court , or perhaps, Ross-on-Wye?

Eventually the bus arrived at a crossroad with Sidmouth to the left and Exmouth to the right. Finally we arrived in the pretty resort of Exmouth. Our President, Mrs Pauline Worman, thanked Marian and Anita for a most enjoyable day trip, and this was echoed by all on the coach.

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