Platinum 70th Wedding Anniversary

Many congratulations to Brenda and Terry Rees on their 70th Wedding Anniversary. This marks an extremely rare and precious milestone – seven decades of love devotion and shared memories.

Brenda and Terry Rees were married on November 5, 1955 at Sardis Church, Resolven followed by a Reception at St John’s Ambulance Hall.

Brenda and Terry leaving for London on honeymoon.

This is a very special occasion as only 30 couples a year in the UK achieve this honour with a special message from the King and Queen.

Enjoy your Celebrations with the Family.

Best Wishes from RDN.

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Autumn

All photographs taken in the Vale of Neath

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Resolven Ladies Win Evening League

Congratulations to Resolven Ladies Bowls Club on their achievements in the Summer of 2025.

The above photograph shows the Members celebrating at the 2025 West Glamorgan Annual General Meeting after the presentations.
Resolven Ladies won the Monday evening League which consists of 2 rinks of 4 bowlers (playing 2 bowls each) on each rink against 8 opposition Clubs, weekly over the Summer season.

RLBC 2025 Captain Christine Gregg being presented with the Monday Evening League Trophy.

In their first year as members of Resolven Ladies Bowls Club Emma Bennett and Sarah Beynon were successful in becoming West Glamorgan Pairs Champions.

Emma and Sarah with the 2025 West Glamorgan County Bowling Association President, Bethan Russ immediately after winning the Tournament
Finalists of the 2025 West Glamorgan County Fours – Emma Bennett, Natasha Williams, Sarah Beynon and Ceri Holmes.
Finalist of the County Singles, Sarah Beynon with Bethan Russ
Finalists in the 2025 County Triples – Emma, Sarah and Ceri

RDN wish Resolven Ladies Bowls Club another successful season in 2026 when they will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary.

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Memorial Service for Mrs Vina Bradley

On Sunday 2nd November at 6pm there is a Memorial Service for Vina at Clyne Free Mission, followed by a buffet and refreshments.

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Employment and Skills Fund

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Halloween No Callers Poster

Below is a poster, supplied by the Police, that you may want to display if you do not wish to have callers during the evening of Halloween.

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Ynysfach WI Foodie & Floral Treat

On October 1st, as the trees start to change to the colours of Autumn

Twenty ladies of Ynysfach WI travelled to Lampeter for a day of culinary delights along with seasonal flowers and fun

Mr Gareth Richards, well known for being a Chef and for Flower Arranging, and who is much in demand

Treated us to a day to remember with every little detail meticulously planned

There was a welcome morning coffee and tea, and mini welsh cakes when we arrived

Before we moved to the ‘demo’ room, Gareth’s fully equipped kitchen of the very best kind

He was so entertaining, so personable, and gave us lots of tips to think about

He was truly an expert in his craft, and a clever sociable speaker of that there is no doubt

We then sat down to a meal we saw him cooking and that he had prepared for us

All themed around Autumn, which he made look so easy, with the minimum of fuss!!

It was tasty and nutritious, well presented and three-courses of a feast

Gareth even served us as a waiter, showing that his sense of duty never ceased

In the afternoon, we returned to the ‘demo’ room, to see him creating several floral displays

Which he duly raffled before we left, which the lucky winners kept as a reminder of the day

It was a delightful day and Gareth’s versatility was very special to see

Thanks again from the Ynysfach WI to a gentleman who has a gift for entertaining that comes to him easily

The day ended with tea and cakes before we boarded the bus for the journey homeward bound

An interesting experience offered by Gareth Richards and family, and surely one that they can be proud to have found!

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Photographs & Poem by an Ynysfach WI Member

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Charity Coffee Morning

All proceeds from this event will go to fund the Breast Cancer research and support for patients and their families undertaken by this charity.

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Funeral Notice for Mr Owen Rhys Davies

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Job Opportunities Event

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Events to Remember Mr Paul Morgan

The Referees for the Tournament were supplied by the ‘SWANSEA CITY AFC FOUNDATION’ which is a charitable arm of the Swans that strives to inspire and engage people from all backgrounds from across South West Wales. The Foundation has been working at the heart of the community for the last 15 years.

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We previously reported that the ‘Men’s Shed’ members had provided a bench in memory of Mr Paul Morgan, so the following photographs were taken at Ynysfach Primary School the same day as the above football tournament.

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Photographs provided by Lucy LeMesurier and Hugh Lewis

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A Transition from Summer to Autumn

The following photographs of the Vale of Neath Canal have been sent to RDN by Ruth Davies, Daughter of the late Mike Davies who contributed immensely to this website over many years.

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Funeral Notice for Mr Ken Evans

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MACMILLAN Fundraising Further Down The Valley

Friday, 26 September Tonna Primary School held a fundraising event for cancer support. Visitors enjoyed a variety of cakes and Welsh cakes, including walnut and lemon cakes, with contributions helping this important cause.

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Also on Sunday, 28th September, from 10am to 12pm, everyone is invited to help the School Grounds Working Party make Tonna Primary school grounds more welcoming for the children. Please bring any gardening tools you have. Your support is greatly appreciated!

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Photographs and Information from Ruth Davies

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Remembering Headteacher Mr Paul Morgan

In April 2025, Mr Paul Morgan, Headteacher at Ynysfach Primary
School, sadly passed away having lost his brave and courageous battle
against cancer.

As many of you may know, Mr Morgan had workedg at Ynysfach for
twelve years, first as Deputy Head and then as Headteacher from 2018.
During this time, he taught, nurtured and supported pupils from
Resolven and Clun, built a fantastic, hardworking, dedicated family of
staff and governors and created close bonds with the community. As
well as being a strong leader, staff always appreciated Mr Morgan’s
friendship, kindness and wicked sense of humour and will continue to
maintain his positivity, passion and pride for the work that he did.

In memory of Mr Morgan, staff at Ynysfach approached Resolven Men’s
Shed to ask if they could build a memorial bench for Mr Morgan which
would include planters that pupils could plant with colourful flowers.

Four of the nine ‘Man Shed’ Members working on the Memorial Bench
Before installation of the bench

The photograph shows all the ‘Man Shed’ members: Dewi Williams, Alun Williams, Lyn Davies, Ryan Davies, Keith Evans, Dave Pink, Richard Williams, Paul Roberts, Michael Robert Coulter, Jeff Pritchard and Paul Minton

The bench has now been built at the top of the yard, and a memorial plaque
is due to be added. Blaengwrach Primary School have very kindly given
Ynysfach a beautiful olive tree to plant in memory of Mr Morgan, plus
shrubs have been kindly donated by Tom’s Nurseries and Garden
Centre in Cadoxton.

In addition, to remember their football loving headteacher, Ynysfach Primary will be hosting an annual ‘Paul Morgan Football tournament’ for their cluster family of schools. The first of these is due to take place on Friday September 26th.

This is the same day as a

MACMILLAN Cancer Support Coffee Morning held at
Ynysfach Primary School Hall between 9.30 – 10.30am

where tea, coffee and cakes will be available. Ynysfach hope to welcome as many people to this coffee morning as possible – parents, friends and members of the community – so that they can raise as much money as they can in memory of Mr Morgan.

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Thanks to Mrs Groth for some of the above information.

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