A report on the January Meeting of Resolfen History Society

 

In the absence of the normal scribe, David Woosnam and Cathy Grahame have kindly provided an account of the meeting. Another change to the programme, was that of the advertised speaker since Mr Phylip Jones was unable to speak owing to illness. Glyn Williams, ably stepped into the gap and gave another splendid talk on his “hero’, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this time on the numerous mysteries which surround the engineering genius that was Brunel.

The first mystery surrounds Brunel’s  Christian name  since he may have originally been called “Eysambard”, ( he was half French by extraction Ed.) though no one really knows which one is correct. Glyn was of the opinion, that probably either would have suited.

The second mystery surrounded the “Lost Bridge at Paddington”. Brunel had favoured a different location to that of today’s London terminus. He built a bridge over the canal and erected a new viaduct at the site ,so obstructing the view of the bridge. As rail traffic increased, the staton was moved to its present location. Some ninety seven years later, the bridge (which was the first built by Brunel) was discovered and lies now ( in pieces) in the good care of English Heritage. Glyn wondered how such a treasure could have been simply forgotten ?

The third mystery, is that of Brunel’s famous fixation with that of using the “broad gauge”, for his famous GWR between London and the west of Britain.  Robert Stephenson had set the gauge between the rails at 4’ 8”; George Stephenson  at  five feet  but Brunel set the gauge at seven feet and a quarter of an inch. Despite, protestations as to the efficiency of the broad gauge , Glyn thought that Brunel had proverbially “dropped a clanger”, but pride dictated that he kept to his original plans.

Resolven Welfare Hall Events

  1. The Welfare is host to a fundraising concert by local youth group Resolven Young Performers on Saturday 26th January. After so many successful shows over the years by this group the Welfare is pleased to welcome them back again to perform a charity night for the Restoration Fund.

 

  1. CHINESE AUCTIONSaturday February 2nd  at 1pm.  Anyone who has attended a Chinese auction at the Church Hall will understand the concept. There is a £2 entry fee and light refreshments are included. There will be a variety of new and nearly new items up for grabs ranging from household items to jewellery and even a guitar will be on auction along with all manner of other things.

 

 

3 .WELFACTOR = in conjunction with BBC Wales we will hold a Variety Show on February the 8th  with mainly local talent and the Welfare is thrilled to have Owen Money and Mandy Starr in attendance on the night . More details can be found on the Resolven Miners Welfare Facebook page. This is going to be a cracker.

REPORT BY DIANE SIMS

Total Lunar Eclipse

When most people were tucked up in their beds last night, I could not miss  this wonderful show of our universe-the lunar eclipse.  Getting the picture was a waiting game, hoping the cloud wouldn’t spoil the spectacle.  On this occasion, the heavens were kind to me.
The next one is in ten years time and I’m hoping to get that one too!

This kind of eclipse occurs when the Earth passes precisely between the Sun and the Moon. In this situation, the Sun is behind the Earth, and the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow.

 

REPORT and PICTURE MIKE DAVIES

First Snows of Winter

 Is this a taste of what is to come? 

Brecon Beacons.  Picture  taken from Neath,17/01/2019, by MIKE DAVIES

Funeral Notice for the Rev. David Ormond

Calm Before the Storm?

Sunset over the Vale of Neath  taken from the Brecon Beacons 16th Jan.  by MIKE DAVIES

 

 

 

Message from RESOLVEN PHARMACY

Bowlers Wanted

Funeral Notice for Ms Nicola Jayne Howells

A Glimpse of Winter in Resolven

A frosty start in the val,e

 

Early morning walk along  canal

Frost on Rheola Lake

IMAGES BY RDN PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE DAVIES

Festive Lights/Christmas Displays in and around Resolven 2018

Some of the Festive Lights and Christmas Displays recently seen in and around Resolven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images by HUGH LEWIS

 

 

 

Funeral Notice for Mr Allan Tregoning

Next History Society Meeting

Greetings from RDN

IMAGE  MIKE DAVIES

 

 

Boxing Day Hunt

As always, a good turnout to see the Banwen Miners’  Boxing Day Meet in Neath

 

 

 

 

 

images and video by RDN photographer Mike Davies

youtube link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBSL5nZerIg