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

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!”

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 29^th and 30^th of September with official guided tours of the site from 2o’clock in the afternoon

Trefor Jones

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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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.

Just to let you know that it is Merchant Navy Day on Monday 3rd September, and at 11 am we will be holding a Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the Community Centre in Resolven.

                                           The Merchant Navy Red Ensign– the “Red Duster”

If you know anyone who was or is in the Merchant Navy they are welcome to attend. 

 Cheryl Payne (Clerk to Resolven Community Council)

Resolven District News would be delighted to see pictures of your gardens in full bloom.

Kathleen Evans starts us off  off with a lovely display in her garden .in Resolven

Why not add your own pics to our 2018  SUMMER GALLERY  by emailng us at:

am@resolvendistrictnews.co,uk

and attaching the photos