Heron at large in the Vale of Neath Canal at Resolven
Our thanks to Jamie Bowen for these two photographs taken recently
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A new look perimeter for the Park
The old fencing around the Resolven park is being treated to a much needed new coat of green paint and it is all due to the efforts and energy of Community Councillor Aylwin Jones and his wife Fran. They have been working tirelessly painting the fence for the past few months, but of course they have had to wait for days of dry weather without Resolven rain.
Resolven is indeed fortunate that we have a Councillor and his wife who are willing to give of their time serving their local community.
This project for Aylwin and Fran has been a ‘mammoth’ task, in terms of figures, there are over 2900 vertical rails and posts, and two horizontal bars along the full length of over 400 metres (approximately a quarter of a mile).
Up to today, 21st June 2021, the whole of the rear of John Street, Cross Street and two thirds of Vaughan Avenue have been completed. They also intend painting all the entrance gates in a contrasting shade of green.
This is an extraordinary achievement that they can be very proud of.
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Our thanks to Aylwin and Fran for a job that is being well done, it’s a definite improvement to the park.
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Swimming Lessons for Cygnets
Swimming trials as the parents watch over their youngsters
Images taken by Mike Davies for RDN
Ynysfach WI getting sporty
Getting expert tuition
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YnysfachWI held their June meeting in the grounds of the Resolven Bowls Club and were blessed with a beautiful summer’s day.
Twenty members assembled to enjoy an afternoon of chat and laughter in beautiful surroundings.
We were delighted to welcome Carwen, Ceri and Christine from the ladies lawn bowls team, who had very kindly offered to give us a ‘taster’ session on the green.
Eight brave WI members took up the challenge and a certain amount of hilarity ensued – it certainly kept the rest of our group entertained.
We received our initial instruction of the basic technique from Hugh Lewis and (once some of us had retrieved our bowls from the gutter) the ladies took us in hand to try a game. As Ceri said “ Bowls is a very simple game” but devilishly tricky to get right.
We all thoroughly enjoyed our ‘sport’ and were rewarded with tea and cake.
We are very grateful to the club for welcoming us to their grounds, special thanks to Gareth and Roy for all their help with the tables and chairs and to Hugh, Carwen, Ceri and Christine for their expertise and unfailing good humour!
Kay getting in the swing
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Carole demonstrating great technique
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Never too young or old to enjoy WI and cake
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Report by Jen Colley
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A Welsh ‘Three Peaks’ Success
A Resolven born man has just achieved a personal ambition by climbing the Three Peaks of Wales in One Day. This is his story, in his own words:-
It’s 4.30am, the sun is about to rise and the dark blue sky is highlighted by bright red clouds.
Today is the day I’ve been waiting for, months of planning, nine months of sitting on my backside during lockdown, but now I’m feeling free. The official Welsh Three Peaks Challenge is over 15 hours so that’s the time I’d like to complete this in. There’s enough daylight in the day, there’s no school holidays and it’s a Tuesday. All things considered when planning a little walk. It’s just walking, putting one foot in front of the other, how hard can it be?
Pen y Pass car park now has a pre-book parking system so I know I have a space, luckily I knew about it as it’s already filling up.
5.19am and I’m ready to start. I’ve chosen the Miners’ Track at Snowdon. I’ve done most of the tracks to the top and this one is the quickest. It starts with a shallow climb on a good track, then steeper terrain walking on huge stones, the steep part which is in part down on your hands scrambling over massive rocks. As I get my first glimpse of the peak all I can see are clouds, the path seems tougher than I remember and I’m not gaining as much ground as I want to.
Not too many people about, but everyone is much chattier than usual. When I get to the top, I have the place to myself. Well, I can’t see anyone else. I can’t see anything more than ten metres away.
At the summit of Snowdon
I quickly take my photos and return to the car park. It’s a great feeling walking down, people going up panting, and I’m just skipping down!
“How much further?” and “Am I going the right way?” are the usual questions and it makes me feel like a tour guide. I was hoping for a time of around three hours for Snowdon but I was a little over four hours, this is where the advantage of a Tuesday comes in, less traffic on the road and less hold-ups between Peaks.
For Cader Idris I have chosen the Pony path, I have not done it before but been told that it is quicker than the nightmare that is the Minffordd pass. The Minffordd pass has always been a challenge for me, it’s long, there are big steps and you never know where the peak is until you get there. Out of the five times I have tried it, only once I have got to the top, weather or time have always beaten me. The Pony path is a six mile walk with a 734 metre ascent. There are steps but they are nowhere near as steep as the other path. If you are slightly older (like me) or slightly larger (like me) and are thinking of doing this pass, I would highly recommend walking poles for this one. I’ve got them but like and idiot, left them in the car! Beginning the climb, I can see a peak and I am happy that after about an hour, I am over half way. I climb to a ridge and spot another peak further away and higher, that’s where I have to go. The sun is out and at its hottest, there is no shade and hardly any wind, glad I covered myself with sunblock. I reach the peak at 12.55pm.
At the summit of Cader Idris
There’s a stunning view of Barmouth and Snowdonia but I don’t have time to enjoy it. A quick photo and the plod back, knee impact is starting to cause a bit of pain and the concentration of where to put every step is tiring. I slip a few times and think what a disaster it would be if I had an injury now.
The drive to Pen y Fan is an interesting one. I cut through the country and see places I haven’t seen before. There’s a feeling of glad not to be walking but wanting to get there to start walking. I get out of the car and now I face my biggest challenge of the day, bending down to get my boots on! Happy to be on more familiar turf, I saunter up the path at the speed of a Sloth, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.
The clear air and evening sun made it a pleasant way of ending the day. Get to the peak, take a single photo and turn around, too tired to enjoy the atmosphere.
At the summit of Pen y Fan
Back to the car park and a finishing time of 6.35pm. Just over 13 and a bit hours, 52,794 steps, an epic day out and a big tick off my ‘to do’ list.
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The following are photographs previously taken near the three summits.
Snowdon
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Cader Idris
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Pen y Fan
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Jack_Walkaholic
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The RDN Team would like to say thanks for sharing this achievement with us.
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Man on Mountain Mystery
LOCATE INTERNATIONAL seeks help in trying to solve a 40 year old mystery.
In December 1979 the skeletal remains of a man were found on the mountainside near Resolven, South Wales
The man is believed to have been born between the World Wars and was therefore aged between 40 and 60 at the time of his death. He was white with short grey hair, and of stocky build. He would have walked with a limp as his right leg was fused at the knee and he would not have been able to bend it.
Several items were found with the man. Although no return ticket was traced, he had British Airways timetables for 1978. On one were hand-written notes indicating that he was planning a return flight from London to Johannesburg and then an onward internal flight to Durban. He also had a Salvation Testament with the name ‘D Malan’ and the address PO Box Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa on the flyleaf. Enquiries in the Randburg area have drawn a blank. A commemorative bookmark for a Christian mission conducted in King Williamstown by ‘Rhodes Varsity Trekkers’ which was held at Easter (April 9 -17) 1960 was also found.
Does anyone remember a visitor to Resolven , maybe to your chapel, or someone who may have stayed in local B&B, used a taxi firm in 1978 or 1979 and whom you did not see again? If you have any information, please contact investigations@locate.international to help us solve the mystery of the man on the mountain.
Ready! Steady! Go???
Our RDN photographer MIKE DAVIES took this charming picture
More News from Ynysfach School
We have moved all the carnival stones that pupils have found around the village into the Nursery yard.
I’ve sent some photographs I thought your readers may like to see on Resolven District News.
They look fantastic in the yard and if anymore are found please leave them along the front gate and we’ll gladly display them in the Nursery yard
Donna Stroud
School Clerk
Ynysfach Primary School
Ynysfach Primary School – O Dan yr Awyr (Under the Sky) Group
Sandra, Chris and Ethan came into school today to do some gardening with some Year 3 pupils.
They are able to do this thanks to funding they had from Pen Y Cymoedd Community fund and Glynneath training Centre.
Pupils planted vegetables and herbs, they have helped to weed the raised beds that they made earlier this year.
Planted flowers in the pots and made planters from wooden pallets.
They’ve had a lovely morning.
Report by Donna Stroud
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New Life
RDN photographer Mike Davies captured this delightful family gathering from Neath Bridge this morning.
Whit Sunday – Marching Through Time
As a child growing up in the village of Resolven
I have special memories of the Whitsun Marching and Whitsun Tea
When all the Chapels and the Church came together
to show their faith in Christianity
The British Christian tradition of Whitsun
is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter
It is believed to be the birth of Christian beliefs and values
by many a Pentecostal Theology teacher
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On that particular Sunday, I always woke early, excited about the day
The sun was usually shining; the rain just seemed to stay away
My new outfit faced me, hanging neatly and ready to wear
A new pair of shoes still boxed, were sitting silently on the chair
My pink lace gloves took pride of place, on my dressing table
Completing my look of being stylish, but obviously presentable
This was a calendar highlight for all denominations, and such an unique day
Eager volunteers were ready to serve all the goodies on display
Tea was prepared with all the best white china on show
Cups and saucers all lined up in an organised row.
Every religious abode was now ready, as members unite
The cleverly embroidered tablecloths starched and brightly white
The long tables and benches placed so that everyone sat together
The old boiler for hot water, dusted off (not used since last December)
The lady members had worked hard to make the tea a delight
And now felt ready and able to join in the marching, and be in sight
So with new hats put on in a hurry, they rushed up to the school yard
With just minutes to go, they managed to be there at the start!
The school yard was crowded, everybody trying to get to their place
The sound of someone singing, is he a tenor or maybe a bass?
The organisation was not easy, but it never failed to get done
Each Group was first one year, the last the next year, taking turns to be number one
There were eight in total of the Chapels/Churches in the village at that particular time
Each one equally important and an integral part of the procession line
Sometimes a faithful member carried their particular Chapel Banner, and for the Church a Cross
Proudly making a statement which the occasion made easy to endorse
We all started walking and some maybe talking to a fellow friend
As we reached the Square, we turned slowly around the bend
Commercial Road ahead, the hymn singing was louder than before
“Look down Cory Street, there’s Grantley standing at Trevor the Barber’s door!”
Many a time, the schedule of re-surfacing the road with Tarmac seemed to be on cue
Because when the sun was strong and bright, it melted, and stuck to your shoes like glue
We would stop outside a chapel member’s home who maybe due to illness had stayed away
And sing a hymn or two to remind them that their presence was missed more than words could say
We finished our walk through the village then onto our chapel vestry or church for the tea
Where sandwiches, trifle and home made cakes was a wonderful sight to see
We sometimes brought our own spoons marked with coloured wool or string
Which was a necessity that gave to us (as children) a sense of belonging
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The Whitsun Marching and Whitsun Tea are sadly for many, days gone by
But for those who experienced it, will always be remembered with perhaps a little sigh!
It’s a poignant reminder that nothing stays the same, and life changes whatever
But those are special memories, and meant to be treasured forever
Thanks to everyone who contributed photographs
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Written & Compiled by Lorna & Hugh Lewis
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Keep Wales Safe ~ Update
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Breakfast Treat
Bet he thinks its a chocolate bar
IMAGE BY MIKE DAVIES (R.D.N PHOTOGRAPHER)