A Report on the 40^th Anniversary Celebration of Resolfen History Society

Some 26 members and friends of the Society gathered at the Church hall to celebrate the milestone of having been in existence for over 40 years. Mrs Jane Llewelyn provided a sumptuous buffet for the occasion, which was enjoyed by one and all.

It was intended that the occasion would be an informal one and anecdotes were freely voiced of the history of the Society since October 1983. However, the formal aspect was not ignored and Mr Trefor Jones, read an extract from Resolfen Recalled which set out the early history of the Society and noted that at the turn of the Millennium the membership stood at 59 full members. He then took up the story of what had happened in the following 24 years. Firstly he paid tribute to the giants of the Society, in particular Phylip Jones who was the inspiration for its foundation in the first instance. He then pointed out some of the milestones, including memorial tablets to the Three Doctors of Music and to Professor Cliff Darby, who was and adviser to Churchill during the war. Reference was made to dinners, concerts, visits and treasure hunts held by the Society during the years. Reference was also made to the website which had received almost 250,000 visitors since its inception and included a digital modern history of the village via the work of Alun Morgan.

Turning to the more recent past, the Society had survived the pandemic with difficulty, and the road had been arduous in the past few years. However there were signs of recovery in the form of new members on both the committee and in general. Another welcome development had been the new found cooperation with sister organisations in the local area. In an age of instant satisfaction via Google it was important that original scholarship was given a platform in societies such as Cymdeithas Hanes Resolfen.

We now look forward to the 50^th celebration!

Trefor Jones

~ ~ ~ ~

A message from the Secretary for the Resolven Miners Welfare Scheme

Big News from the Resolven Miners Welfare! 

We’re thrilled to share exciting progress on the restoration of our cherished old miners’ welfare building! This heart of our community is poised for a grand revival, promising to once again be a vibrant hub for all.

Restoration Updates:

Our dedicated trustees are in deep discussions about the building’s future. As insurance issues are being resolved, we are brainstorming potential business collaborations to breathe new life into this historic space. Imagine a revitalized centre buzzing with activities and opportunities!

Community Involvement:

We’re setting up a dynamic new volunteer group and eagerly seeking community members to join us. Got ideas or time to contribute? We’d love to hear from you!

Social Media Revolution:

Stay tuned as we transform our social media into a ‘community hub’. We’re planning a series of engaging posts starting May 13th to keep you informed and involved. Expect heart-warming stories, key updates, and perhaps even sneak peeks into the architectural plans!

Looking Ahead:

Meetings with funding bodies are already on the calendar. We’re committed to ensuring every penny is put to good use restoring the heart of Resolven.

Join Us:

Be part of this exciting journey. Together, we can turn the dream of reopening this historic site into reality. Let’s make history, Resolven! You can access read the full summary of our feasibility study along with viewing some drawings of what we have planned by visiting – https://resolvenwelfare.co.uk/feasibility-study-2/

Feel the excitement? Spread the word, and let’s make this project a shining example of what we can achieve together! 

Robert Sims

Secretary for the Resolven MIners Welfare Scheme

~ ~ ~ ~