Latest Pics from Site of Vale of Neath New Health Centre
Taken by Mike Davies, our RDN photographer, on Saturday the 29th 0f September
Lord Elis-Thomas Visits Miners’ Welfare Hall Resolven
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Minister of Culture, Media and Sport for Wales (seen right in photo above) visited Resolven Miners’ Welfare Hall on Wednesday, September 12th. He was accompanied by Mr Phillip Abraham who represents Visit Wales, a tourism organisation that promotes Wales as a tourist destination across the world. The meeting was arranged by Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, Mrs Bethan Sayed. During his visit we were able to open a dialogue to ascertain funding streams and what the government can do to aid us in our plans to firstly keep the building open for the community to use, as well as long term funding for the charities plans for restoration
The minister was taken on a full tour of the building and he was very impressed with what he saw. Gaining support from ministers like Lord Elis-Thomas drives the charities passion and dedication to the restoration project they have planned. It also allows the charity to add further backing to funding applications they wish to submit.
Over the next few weeks, if they haven’t received them already, residents will be getting a newsletter and donation pack through their doors, delivered by Resolven Scouts. Donations will allow the charity to continue to invest in the repair jobs that are so desperately needed to allow the building to remain open whilst the trustees continue their hard work in the background, gaining support and funds for the project to develop.
If anyone would like to donate online then we have a Local Giving website – www.localgiving.org/charity/resolvenwelfare OR our own website www.resolvenwelfare.co.uk If anyone would like further information on the restoration project or how they can help, please email info@resolvenwelfare.co.uk
ROBET SIMS (Trustee)
Macmillan Coffee Morning in Sardis
Macmillan Coffee Morning
On Friday 28th of September
From 9.30 a.m. -12 noon
In Sardis Chapel Vestry
Please call in and support this worthy Charity.
How did the Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning all begin?
“The first ever Coffee Morning happened way back in 1990. It was a rather small affair with a simple idea: guests would gather over coffee and donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan in the process. It was so effective; we did it again the next year – only this time nationally Since then, Coffee Morning has raised over £200 million for Macmillan.with 2,600 supporters taking part”
“The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer. We ask people all over the UK to host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year alone we raised over £27 million and together we can make this another successful year”
ALL WELCOME THIS YEAR
IN SARDIS VESTRY
FRIDAY 28th SEPTEMBER-9.30-12 NOON
Harvest Thanksgiving Service
Capel Melincwrt
A Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held at Melincourt Chapel {Mother Chapel of Jerusalem} at 2.30pm on Monday, 17 September.
Officiating minister will be Rev. D M Hughes, Clydach.
Melincourt Chapel is a wonderful example of a traditional Welsh chapel still in use today.
Everyone welcome
Jerusalem Chapel
Neath Great September Fair 2018
If you’ve missed Neath Fair this year, enjoy some or the sights as photographed by Mike Davies
Photos by Mike Davies. Click on link below for his youtube coverage
Resolven Mother and Daughter Meet in Bowls Final
The last tournament game of the season for Resolven Ladies’ Bowls Club turned out to be a spellbinding one. Carwen Thomas faced her daughter Ceri Holmes in the Four Woods Final in an attempt to become Club Champion for the first time. Carwen was a founder member of the club in 1986.and she became treasurer in 2002 , then secretary/treasurer in 2008. But the coveted title of club champion has eluded her. It was left to daughter Ceri, who only began playing in 2016 to walk off with the trophy for the first time last year. Since Carwen, Ceri and family all live in the same house, interestingly, whoever won this year the trophy would “stay put” in Glynneath Road, Resolven! But who would have the honour of dusting it this year?
Club captain Brenda Rees congratulates the winner Ceri ! What a close match! Down to the wire! After 29 thrilling ends, daughter beat mother by just 4 shots.
Christine Twaite, many times winner of the trophy, marked the game for Ceri and Carwen
Comment from Ceri:
“We both played to win, but I would have been delighted for my mother if she’d won:”
Carwen said ” As long as we both had a good game I didn’t mind who won. But she’s not having tea tonight!”
Annual Meeting of Resolfen History Society
A Report on the Annual Meeting of Resolfen History Society
The attendance was rather sparse in this year’s Annual Meeting with only 13 members in attendance. The Chairman, Mr Gwyn Thomas drew attention to the fact that even the Society President was absent owing to a long term medical condition and hoped that he would soon be able to attend meetings once again.
The Treasurer, Mrs Julie Hicks, gave a very positive financial report and noted that membership of the Society was very good value and stood steady at 33 full members. On another positive note the committee and officials agreed to carry on for another year en bloc.
In his address, Chairman Gwyn Thomas, thanked the officials and committee for their hard work during the year. He also stated that he had not played an active part in the Society over the preceding year owing to the final illness of his wife, Jean.
The meeting itself finished earlier than usual and in order to give the members some historical entertainment the Secretary read the first chapter of the autobiography of Joe Cookson, a resident of Melincourt during the early decades of the twentieth century. The fascinating story of Joe’s first day at work in Clyne Merthyr colliery in April 1920 brought another era back to life. It also sparked animated discussion on the days of the small private mines which proliferated in this area.
Members were also reminded that two open days will be held at Neath Abbey on the 29th and 30th of September with official guided tours of the site from 2o’clock in the afternoon
Trefor Jones
Flag Raising Ceremony at Resolven Community Centre
Resolven Community Council held a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Community Centre to observe and honour Merchant Navy Day.
Chairman of Resolven Community Council Aylwin Jones was joined by deputy chairman Alun Morgan, past Chairman Trefor Jones, Clerk to the Council Cheryl Payne and the Rev. Fortunato Santos from Sardis Baptist Church.
Chairman Aylwin Jones began the Ceremony with the following words:
“The 3rd of September 1939 marked the outbreak of the Second World War. However, not everyone is aware that it also marks the first major British maritime tragedy.. The SS Athenia was torpedoed just hours after war was declared, with the loss of 128 passengers and crew. During the following years, hundreds of merchant ships and thousands of seafarers suffered the same fate. The 3rd of September has been enshrined as Merchant Navy Day to honour the men and women who kept our nation afloat during both World Wars.
I would like us to stand together for a minutes silence to remember the fallen heroes”
The Rev .Fortunato Santos then brought the ceremony to an end with a moving prayer.
Sunflowers at Rhossili Bay from Mike Davies
I thought readers might like to see these images. I had known about the fields of sunflowers at Rhossili Bay, and as the days and weather are changing I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about, The flowers were starting to go over but nevertheless a superb sight to behold,
I tried different aspects of photographing them which I found to be quite a challenge as I wanted the iconic Worms Head in the distance,
It’s actually quite rare to see so many sunflowers in Wales. The Royal Horticultural Society has explained that countries with ‘long hot summers’ are better suited to them. There are around 400.000 flowers
The ‘golden field’, as it has been called by the National Trust, has brightened up an already picturesque spot with Rhossili beach being known all around the world for its natural beauty.
Mike Davies RDN photographer