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November - December 2007

CHOIR ROUNDS OFF SUCCESSFUL YEAR - Recently, Cor Meibion Cwm Rhondda, under the leadership of their Musical Director Neil Topping, gave a concert on behalf of the Red Cross Home Section, at the Carnegie Hall in Church Village . 

The Compere for the evening was Kerry Steele, Chairman of the Choir.

They opened with Cwm Rhondda, which has been their opening song since their formation in 1999, and continued with songs from the shows and ballads, which were all very well received by a capacity audience.

Guest Artistes for the evening were Lucy Thomas and Danielle Thomas.

Danielle sang ‘Out here on my Own’ from Fame and Lucy sang ‘On my Own’ from Les Miserables, which were very highly appreciated by the audience.

After the interval the choir started their set with ‘Anthem’ from Chess and then went on to sing some carols, which had been requested by the audience. 

Lucy and Danielle then gave two duets, ‘What is this Feeling from Wicked’ and ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’, again very well received. 

The Choir finished the final set with ‘Love Changes Everything’ from Aspects of Love.

Lisa Kenny, Field Officer with the Red Cross Home Section, thanked the choir and the guest artistes for their contribution to a very successful evening.
Mulled wine and minced pies were served by the Red Cross volunteers after the concert, and everyone expressed their appreciation.

Cor Meibion Cwm Rhondda will be taking part in Carols and Lessons services, on Sunday, December 16 at St. Stephens Church, Ystrad and on Thursday, December 20 at St. Barnabas Church, Penygraig.

They will finish off a very successful year with their Christmas Dinner at the Penrhys Golf Club.

Anyone interested in joining a Male Voice Choir, please come along to rehearsals on a Wednesday evening at 7.30pm in the Ton Pentre Junior School , where you will be made most welcome.

• DAY NURSERY - Gail James will be opening a children’s day nursery in Hermon Street, Treorchy after Christmas. For further information, please contact Gail on 01443 778407.

TRACING FOOTSTEPS - This year, Tom Jenkins of Ynyswen revisited the USA, along with his eldest son Pastor Andrew Jenkins who is the Asia Representative of ‘Action Overseas’ – the missionary arm of the UK Apostolic Church. In past years they have both travelled extensively in America, and in July Andrew was the guest speaker in a well known Philadelphia, Pennsylvanian Church.

On this occasion they flew to New York and motored down to Scranton Northern Pennsylvania in a hired vehicle, their intention being to research the family tree and to trace the footsteps of Andrew’s great, great grandparents on his mother Rita’s side.

• In the year 1870, a certain Jencyn Phillips and his wife of Treorchy emigrated to the USA , sailing from Cardiff (steerage) to New York and ultimately settling down in a small anthracite coal community named Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles from Scranton.

• Jencyn Phillips was a coal miner aged 30 and secured employment in the No 3 Colliery, Susquehanna Coal Company, Nanticoke, USA .

Andrew and his father Tom spent quality time in the Reference Department of Scranton Central Library, also exploring Nanticoke, descending the Lackawanna Anthracite Coal Mine and were also invited to address a party of American visitors as to how things were in the Rhondda ’s collieries in times past and how living conditions were in the old days.

• Andrew’s great grandmother, the daughter of Jencyn Phillips, was born in Nanticoke, USA in 1873 and she passed away in 1953, aged 73, at her home in Glynrhondda Street, Treorchy. She was the wife of the late Daniel Morgan (Sol) who was in charge of the pit bottom of the old Tylacoch Colliery, Treorchy. Their family was a very old and well known as the Sols.

On leaving Scranton, Tom and Andrew visited Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, and the famous town and Civil War battlefields of Gettysburg. Prior to flying back home they drove to Toronto, Ontaria, Canada via Niagra.

Tom commented that he was extremely happy for his son to drive across America, and in particular driving to and through New York, which was the experience of a lifetime.

• An interesting statistic Tom discovered from his journey is that between the years 1860 and 1926, approximately 60,000 Welsh people emigrated to the USA and approximately 13,000 plus settled in the Scranton area – many from the Rhondda Valley .

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

• Pinewood House (Noddfa), Treorchy, on Thursday, December 13 from 12noon to 1pm. 

• On Friday, December 14, 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.

RHONDDA CAMEO - The Rhondda Cameo Society held its Autumn meeting on Wednesday, October 31. Best wishes were sent to Treasurer Betty Hayter who is now recovering at home after a stay in hospital. The Secretary, Megan Morris, gave a report on future events and Christmas arrangements.

Crinllys Davies then introduced the guest speaker, Sheena Crossley of Pencoed College, who gave an entertaining, informative and colourful talk, with slides on ‘Welsh Stately Homes and Gardens’. The vote of thanks was given by Annie Clarke.

At our Christmas Dinner on November 28, the Pencoed Players will present ‘ Olde Tyme Music Hall ’ 

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

METAL GIG - Rhondda based metal band "Hand of the Daedra" are pictured left when they recently enjoyed playing to a sold-out gig at Pontypridd Muni Arts Centre.

The five members of the band hail from Treorchy, Cwmparc, Trehafod & Ferndale in the Rhondda and currently have their own webpage at www.myspace.com/handofthedaedra where you can listen to some of their amazing tracks and read more about their schedule playing around the UK this year...

"Hand of the Daedra produce a brutal, metal groove that has set their music apart from the current trends.

Their new EP ‘Perfect is The Worst’ is now available. Recorded at Motorhead guitarist Phillip Campbell’s studio, this showcases the band’s unique, style and dual vocal assault.

The EP has been met with an outstanding reception, with airplay on BBC Radio One, Kerrang! Radio, GTFM UK and Celtica radio in the UK, and Hollywood Music Radio in the USA, amongst others.

The band is now touring the UK with their own headline show, and supporting acts such as Sikth, Gutworm, Exit Ten, Forever Never and Murder One.

Hand Of The Daedra’s live show features theatrical elements, including sword play and projections! This has become legendary with fans and continues to draw audiences around the UK."

"Get into the holiday spirit with Travelcare Treorchy!

Travelcare in Treorchy are getting into the Christmas spirit early by taking advantage of Pingu`s visit to Travelcare Treorchy between 5 to 7pm on Friday 30th November 2007. 

Pingu will be the main attraction for this year's Christmas Parade and Travelcare will have their doors open to the public to come into the branch and meet the team. Travelcare will be providing hot drinks, biscuits, children's refreshments and goody bags. 

There will be a raffle in the branch to win some fantastic prizes just in time for Christmas, with the first prize being a £25 gift voucher to use off your next holiday booked with Travelcare. All money raised on the day and throughout the year will be donated to Tros Gynnal, the children’s charity for Wales.

Travelcare are part of the Cooperative group, the largest Independant Travel Agent in the United Kingdom, who offer impartial advice and the widest choice of holidays. We guarantee we will not be beaten on price!  

For any holiday booked on the 30^th November, you can choose a complimentary bottle of Red or White Fairtrade Wine to toast your Christmas celebrations. In addition we also have a free overnight trip to London courtesy of Edwards coaches up for grabs to the person who names our cuddly Christmas bear correctly. Everybody is welcome and we look forward to seeing you there. " Melissa Mowat, Branch Manager

• Travelcare Terms and Conditions - Our price promise applies to selected holidays with selected tour operators. Terms and conditions apply please ask for details. The £25 gift voucher can be redeemed at Travelcare Treorchy only and can be used against new bookings with selected tour operators. Edwards coach trip is based on 2 people sharing, departing 1 March 08 and is for 2 days, staying at the Hilton Metropole hotel in London . A 2% surcharge will be applied to all credit card transactions. We reserve the right to withdraw these offers without notice. Agents for ATOL protected tour operators.  

• SURGERIES - Local Labour Councillor Gordon M Lewis holds surgeries on the second Thursday and Friday of every month.

• Councillor Lewis will be at Pinewood House (Noddfa), Treorchy, on Thursday, November 8 from 12noon to 1pm.

• On Friday, November 9, 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.

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Christmas Post for Scouts - In 1981 the government announced that charities could deliver Christmas cards during the period of November 1st to January 1st and make a small charge for this service. In the weeks that lead up to Christmas hundreds of Scouts, Leaders, Parents and Committee members from the Rhondda take on the responsible job of delivering Christmas Card Post which contain our special stamps and posted in Scout posting boxes.

• Postal Delivery Area - The postal delivery area is clearly defined with cards only being delivery to villages within the Rhondda  Valleys. Please note that we do not deliver to any part of the Cynon Valley or Taff Ely. Any cards for outside the area will remain undelivered.

Location of Posting Boxes - There will be post boxes located through out the Rhondda in premises displaying our distinctive yellow posters and you can post your cards at any of the venues. Please make sure you use the Scout Posting boxes and not the Royal Mail as any cards delivered by the Royal Mail will incur a charge to the person who receives the card.   

• Postal charges per Card - The cost of the stamps are 12p each and these again can be bought from premises displaying our posters. The last date for posting is Mid-day on the 8^th December with cards being delivered from the 9^th December. It would be much appreciated if you could include the post codes this year.

Volunteering in Scouting is fun and rewarding and here in the Rhondda we would like to here from any adults who have something to offer our young people. You will have the chance to learn new skills, rediscover adventure, make new friends, spend more time with your child if they are a Scout and give something back to your community. For further details contact John on 423550.

For further information on scouting in the Rhondda please visit our website www.rhondda-scouts.co.uk  

• SURGERIES - Local Plaid Cymru Councillors hold their next monthly advice surgeries on Friday, November 2.

• 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.

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