STAY SAFE IN THE HOME

 

The following is information from the

Mid and West Wales FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

HOME FIRE SAFETY

Most fires in the home can be prevented, by taking some basic and common sense precautions.

By following the guidance shown here, you will substantially reduce the chances of fire harming you, your family or your home.

Should you require any further advice or support, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Fire Safety Check Co-ordinator on 0800 169 1234

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FREE home fire safety check

FREE smoke alarms

from your local Fire and Rescue Service

Call FREE now

0800 169 1234

www.fireflash.org

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New Resolven Donation Centre for Food Bank

Resolven Cyber and Resource Centre is now collecting donations of food for the Vale of Neath food bank which is based in Glynneath. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a very worthwhile cause and we hope it will be well supported. Please see the poster for a full list of the foods that are needed.

From Non Humphreys ( secretary to the trustees )

 

 

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Happy 90th Birthday Gwenda

Gwenda North of Cory Street Resolven was 90 on the 21st of June. But congratulations  went on for days after that and on Wednesday the 27th of June, it was the turn of her friends in Resolven Ladies Bowls Club to raise a glass in her honour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gwenda is a non-playing member of the club now.  But she was an invaluable team player for many years-one of the club’s finest bowlers and current team players were delighted to share a birthday meal with her in the Lamb and Flag. Glynneath.

 

 

 

 

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Red Kite Stage Rally at Resolven

A ‘Red Kite Stage’ at Resolven

On 24th June the 2018 Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championships moved into the second half of the season with the Red Kite Stages. The series has generated a record number of entries and produced a tight battle for the overall title.

Rally Location Map

The return of these classic stages of the South Wales valleys is a welcome prospect for the Championship contenders.

Crews had 45 miles of action on some of the most challenging stages in Wales, used previous on the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB.

The two-wheel drive (2WD) contenders in this event, organised by the Amman & District Motor Club started at Resolven at 8.30am and the four wheel drive (4WD) event at 1.00pm.

Also many local motor clubs provided their support – marshalling etc.

It was the usual quiet Sunday morning when the tranquillity of the village was suddenly interrupted by the sounds and sights of rally cars.

Outside Marcia’s/Post Office – Thumbs Up from the driver

The Course covered the mountain north west of Resolven, namely Hirfynydd, the majestic mountain which overlooks the village, and the mountain south east of the Neath Valley Moel yr Hyrddod, and Mynydd Resolfen Mountain.

Dust rising along the rally route on Hirfynydd mountain, North West of Resolven, above Abergarwed

 

No.49 Tom Coughtrie & Simon Jones in Ford Escort RS 1800 MkII, at the Resolven Square – with Hirfynydd in the background

It was indeed an unexpected and exciting sight for the village, to see the cars at the Square come from both directions, at the same time, as they made their way, at intervals, from one stage to the next

No 45 BMW 325i E30 with Andrew Fox & Lee Jaime Fox + No 20 Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII of B Stevenson-Wheeler & J Pickavance

Max Utting driving past the Square with co-driver Robbie Durant in a Ford Fiesta ST

Spectators were welcomed and directed to selected areas

Passing Tabernacle Chapel

No. 33 Hillman Avenger – Barry Jordan & Paul Wakely

The Service and Maintenance Area for the event was the old TRW/Cam Gears car park and the facilities of the adjacent Resolven Community and Recreational Centre/Resolven RFC (Cam Gears Club) were available.

The MG ZR of James Weaver & Teresa Butler No 78 after the Event

For the spectators on the mountainsides with wonderfully clear visibility the Vale of Neath must have looked impressive with the village and surrounding areas looking the best that it could be.

Due to the dry weather, the road conditions for the competitors turned out to be quite different from some previous years in this area.

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Further information is available on the event website,  https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/45788-red-kite-stages-national-a-2018/  while you can find out more about the Pirelli MSA Welsh Forest Rally Championship at   wnrc.wamc.org.uk, on the Championship Facebook page and on Twitter @WnRC

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Article by Lorna & Hugh Lewis (RDN Team)

 

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UPDATE on Vale of Neath Health Centre

 

Estimated Completion Date – Early 2019

The following text is supplied by:

 

Work has started on a new purpose-built £3.3m centre on a regeneration site in Vale of Neath, which will relocate the Vale of Neath Practice, D.R. Cecil Jones Pharmacy and Health Board Services.

Aerial Photographs taken on 3 May 2018

 

The development of this impressive and innovative 1,664 sq m scheme, developed by The Healthcare Property Company Wales (HPC Wales), is aimed at improving the quality of the patient’s experience and treatment. It will provide 56 parking spaces for staff and patients including 6 disabled spaces.

Bringing all of these services together under one roof will substantially improve the primary care offering to the local communities of Glynneath, Cwmgwrach, Pontneddfechan, Ystradfellte, Rhigos, Resolven, Melincourt, Clyne and Abergarwed. The centre will have the flexibility to adapt for future health service requirements.

The centre, which is being built on the former Washery Site at Aberpergwm is supported by the Welsh Government and is being developed in partnership with the Vale of Neath Practice and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. The project also has the full backing of ABM Community Health Council.

Photograph – early June 2018

“This development will significantly enhance the health offering for the Vale of Neath. Our team has carefully considered the requirements of the surgeries, pharmacy and health board to ensure that we build a facility that is sustainable and flexible for future use. We are delighted that work has started on-site to see this much-needed centre come to fruition,” said Paul Stacey, HPC Wales Managing Director.

Photograph – Mid June 2018

The building has been designed by architects Austin-Smith:Lord and is being constructed by John Weaver Contractors to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and an ‘Excellent’ rating for energy.

 

Photograph – Mid June 2018

Senior partner Dr Paul Westwood said: “All the GP partners and staff at the Vale of Neath Practice are delighted to witness the commencement of work on the new health centre, which will undoubtedly be a vast improvement to the facilities that we are currently utilising to provide primary care services.

“Our registered patients in the various surrounding local communities have patiently waited more than 13 years for the development to reach this stage but there is a buzz of excitement within the locality as the  new  health centre ‘dream’ develops into a structural reality which will hopefully be open to our patients in early 2019.”

ABMU’s Director of Primary and Community Services Hilary Dover added: “We are delighted that work is now starting on the site which will provide first class modern facilities for GP and community healthcare services to meet the needs of residents. 

“As healthcare conditions change and develop we need the space and facilities to provide appropriate treatment and services, which could not always be possible from the existing practice premises. I would like to thank all those involved with the project who have worked tirelessly over a number of years to progress this development for a truly integrated new primary care centre.”

Superintendent Pharmacy Director Niki Watts said: “All the pharmacy team and myself are looking forward to the completion of the health centre and the new opportunities it will bring to serve the community. 

“Up-to-date robotic technology will create more time to take up the welcomed widening role of community pharmacy.  With three consultation rooms we will be able to continue, develop and improve our health services. Working under one roof with our health colleagues, this will enable us to offer a seamless, efficient and effective holistic service. 

“It will be sad to leave the old shop but unfortunately, it could not physically meet the needs of the pharmacy’s changing role. Whilst the building and location of the pharmacy maybe changing, our ethos and values of being a community pharmacy remain the same and will be at the heart of the health centre.”

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HPC Wales is a joint venture between The Healthcare Property Company Ltd and Gaufron Healthcare Ltd of Llandrindod Wells. The development was financed by MedicX Fund.

About The Healthcare Property Company

The Healthcare Property Company develops healthcare real estate partnering clinical service providers in the UK to deliver bespoke and cost-effective care facilities. It has extensive experience in delivering all aspects of the process, including financing, site finding, construction and relocation, project management and design.

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The above text kindly supplied by

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Photographs & Graphics kindly supplied by

Austin-Smith:Lord

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Compiled by Hugh Lewis (RDN Team)

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Photos from Scrumptious Cream Tea

 

 

 

 

Word has spread about the mouth-watering array of cakes on display in St David’s Church Hall for the Annual Summer Cream Tea  All tables were taken on Friday afternoon for this year’s tea party-very good news for the organisers who arrange the tea to raise funds for St. David’s Church Restoration Fund

Maybe not so good for the waistline,but who cared!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry Father Andrew -not your raffle

 

Congratulations  to all the hard working church members who  arranged the tea party.and raised £872.12  for the Church Restoration Fund–and a scrumptious afternoon was enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

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Sardis Community Hall

 

Sardis Community Hall (the old Apostolic Church) will be officially opened on Tuesday the 19th of June.

As a matter of interest, this is the same date 50 years ago that this building was first opened for Christian worship at 7p.m on the 19th.

Kevin John, well known celebrity, will be opening the Hall.

 The Hall will be available for hire:

 Contact 01639  711398 for enquiries

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Royal Wedding for Resolven Bride and Groom

On the same day as the Royal Wedding, Resolven’s own Rory Healey married Steph Harries at St. David’s Church. The sun came out and everything shone -it was a glorious day. Their friends and family turned out to celebrate their happy day with the reception held at the Aberdulais Golf Range under the new wedding marquee.

 

The happy couple begin their new lives together honeymooning in Mexico.

 

We wish them every happiness!

 

Report by Diane Sims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Building Blocks Family Centre launches the new Families Together 2 Project

On Friday 4th May 2018, Building Blocks Family Centre held it’s  official launch of the Families Together 2 project funded by the Big Lottery Fund.  The new project will be a family led, supportive service which will enable families to get the best start in life. It will help families to build vital skills such as parenting, employability, confidence, self-esteem, advocacy, plus provide childcare support including support to families with disabled children in a way that meets their unique needs.

Ceri Pritchard, Centre Manager at Building Blocks said “Our partner launch was a huge success with so many key partners attending the celebrations with us.  Our Assembly Member, Jeremy Miles officially launched the service and it was lovely to have support from Mayor Dennis Keogh and Mayoress Christina Keogh, MP Christina Rees, Councillor Des Davies and Rebecca Blanche from the Big Lottery Fund.  We are now looking forward to our community launch in the near future”

The event celebrated the amazing four year grant support of £433,543 from the National Lottery players’ which will help Building Blocks Family Centre support families across Neath Port Talbot to improve their life chances.

Amanda Casey, Family Development Officer of the Families Together 2 Project said “The project will work with families who are facing a disadvantage and in need of help, advice and support. When working with families we will be helping them to achieve their goals, and supporting them to do this. These goals might be very small from being able to leave the house, to going back to work or studying. We are keen to build on our relationships with existing partners and new partners so we can provide an all-round support to families. So we are happy to get referrals from organisations, and we will be looking to refer parents to organisation that will be able to support them. Our priority is enhancing each family’s quality of life, improving their relationships and giving them increased opportunity”.

REPORT by CERI PRITCHARD

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Who Won the Church Hall Quiz?

There was a very good “turnout” for the Christian Aid Week Quiz in St David’s Church Hall Resolven this week.  11 teams really enjoyed the challenge set for them by quiz master Trefor Jones, ably abetted by organiser Ruth Jones.

RUTH GETS ENTRY MONEY FROM HUSBAND HUW WHILE TREFOR CHECKS HIS QUESTIONS

 

 

 

 

As usual, lots of imagination was shown in the choice of team names.

Split the Difference,Waifs and Strays,Yellow Feral,The Wallflowers, The Diehards

Simple Minds,WI Winners, St Cadoc’s Angels,The Nobodies, 3 Missing. The Nobodies

There was an exciting battle for top place this year. The NOBODIES proved they were far from what their name suggested-they scored 44 points and came 3rd.  The DIEHARDS with 51 points came 2nd and were breathing down the necks of 3 MISSING who scored 55 to end in the top spot

Eamonn Murphy, Peter Evans, Angela Evans, William Willis, Eurfyl Davies

Well done the winners! 

 But win or lose, all agreed they’d had a really enjoyable evening.!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Life

Another delightful  image captured for us by MIKE DAVIES

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Bowls Win for Resolven Mother and Daughter

Resolven Ladies’ Bowls players Carwen Thomas and her daughter Ceri Holmes had a good win in the first round of the West Glamorgan Pairs Competition this week. It was a home game and, as usual, our players had supporters!

Gareth Evans, Eddie Tucker and Roy Gillespie

Iris Thomas and Christine Twaite

 

 

 

CARWEN IN ACTION

CERI BOWLING

In an absorbing  game against Carol Davies and Margaret Phillips from the Llansawel Ladies’ Club, they emerged victors by I shot  on an extra end after trailing for the whole match until the last bowl was delivered, giving them a close but deserved victory.

Well done and good luck in the next round!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Royal Wedding Celebrated in Style in Resolven Welfare

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and his bride Meghan was celebrated at the Miners’ Welfare, Resolven.

The ladies arrived from 10am onwards to watch the build- up to the big day and examine the outfits worn by not only the royal family but by the many celebrities and friends who attended.  There were smiles when the groom and his brother arrived and awes when the bride arrived with her entourage of young pages and flower girls. Everyone agreed the day was memorable and enjoyable for all the right reasons and toasted the bride and groom wishing them every happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a cold lunch served prepared for the ladies who

were waited on by Diane Sims and Joshua Sims who

excelled in his first role as waiter for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The youngest who attended was Roxy Clarke who was fascinated by the princesses but was more excited about the cakes that came with the lunch provided.

 

 

REPORT BY DIANE SIMS

 

 

 

 

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Hanging Baskets Competition

This will be the 5th year for RDN’s Hanging Baskets

Competition, and we are pleased to say that

Resolven Community Council is kindly sponsoring it again.

1st Prize-£50

 2nd Prize-£30

 3rd Prize-£20

 

The baskets will be judged on Tuesday the 3rd of July and the judges for the 5th year running, will be from Neath College’s Horticultural Department (seen above)

 WHY NOT HAVE A  GO?

To enter, contact us at  the email address seen below,  with your name, address, phone number and let us know if your baskets are front or back of the house.

am@resolvendistrictnews.co.uk

 OR

 Pop into Marcia’s (Post Office), Costcutters or the Library to sign the entry form

To get you up and going, here are some tips from Mark Cunningham, one of our judges, on how to make the perfect hanging basket.

 “Hanging baskets come in various shapes and sizes.  You have your moss lined ones where you line it with moss yourself.  There are wicker baskets which are made of willow or hazel.  You also have plastic baskets which come in a standard size but with various colours.

Mossed lined baskets

First place your basket.  Place moss at the bottom of the basket and create a bird’s nest half way up the basket.  Place a piece of plastic before putting in compost.  This will help to hold some water for the plants in the basket when they are growing.  Once you have done this you are ready to plant.  First place compost, a little bit of fertiliser and swell gel.  You can then place your trailing plants.  You are going to use 6 plants at this level.  These plants could be any trailer from Lobelia, Surfinia, Trailing Nepeta, etc. Place your first three plants at the position 12, 8 and 4.  Next place the other three at 6, 2 and 11.  This is your first layer done.

Your next layer will be under the top bar of the basket.  So fill up with moss but do not fill the centre.  Once you have done this fill with more compost.  You are now ready to plant your next three these will be planted with more trailers.  Your first three will be planted at 3, 10 and 7and the other three at 9, 1 and 5.

Once you have done this, get the moss and fill just slightly above the bar of the basket. Fill with compost to the line of the bar and have a slight dome in the centre.  Place an upright plant such as upright Geranium or Fuchsia in the centre of the basket.  Next place your next batch of trailers around the edge of the basket where you think there may be a gap.  Then to finish place 4 Bedding plants such as Begonias, Ageratums, Alyssums, etc. around the centre plant. All you have to do then is water it and keep it frost free and watch it grow.  Moss baskets when the plants are actively growing will require a liquid feed once a week will ensure your basket is tip top through the growing season.

Wicker Baskets and Plastic Baskets

 With wicker baskets and plastic baskets it is a matter of piercing the plastic line with small holes a few times for drainage.  Fill half full with compost, place fertiliser and swell gel in.  Then fill to the top and plant with an upright Geranium and trailing plants on the edge and place 4 Bedding plants such as Begonias, Ageratums, Alyssums, etc. around the centre plant.  Wicker baskets when the plants are actively growing will require a liquid feed once a week will ensure your basket is tip top through the growing season.”

Mark Cunningham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Report from Resolfen History Society

 

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive’, Sir Walter Scott.

 

The above quote is often mistakenly attributed to Shakespeare, when in fact it comes from a poem by Sir Walter Scott on Flodden field. Yet it is very apt to describe the fascinating talk given by Phil Davies on the ‘suspected’ assassin of President John F Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald. This was the third talk given by Mr Davies on the subject, yet the question as to who ultimately shot Kennedy is still very uncertain,

Mr Davies began his talk by stating that the poster advertising the talk had been incorrect and the “J”, might refer to Lee’s elder brother (joke, Ed). However, in his view the assassination would rank with most of the world shattering events of the last century. He mused as to how the late twentieth century would have panned out had he not been shot. Possibly, there would not have been a Vietnam War, a Nixon Presidency, Watergate, Chinese détente or glasnost. He then turned the focus of his talk on to the mercurial Lee Harvey Oswald, on whom there is little evidence that he actually pulled the trigger.

Oswald was born in New Orleans in 1939, his father, Robert Lee Oswald, left his unstable mother and two older siblings. In the absence of a father figure, Oswald came under the influence of an uncle who was a minor figure in the New Orleans underworld. He in turn was known to Carlos Marcello, the father figure of the Sicilian Mafioso in New Orleans. Robert Kennedy, brother of JFK had attempted (unsuccessfully) to extradite Marcello to his native Colombia, and it is possible that this played a part in his assassination.

Oswald was rather a misfit as a child as well as being dyslexic. It did not help that his mother who worked as a care worker moved schools thirteen times, which did not help him make friends. He had an above average IQ ( 118) and was prone to seek attention, a feature of his character which would remain with him until his ultimate demise. It is also probable that he was influenced by the television programme “I have Three Lives”, which featured the “Reds under the beds scare”, of Joseph McCarthy. Oswald empathised with the victimhood exemplified at this time.

In 1954, Oswald returned to New Orleans and joined the Air Cadets, where he was trained by a rather strange character David Ferry. Ferry, suffered from alopecia, wore a wig and was a homosexual, yet was involved in the JFK shooting some eight years hence.  Oswald began reading avidly, especially military manuals and he also had an interest in the writings of Karl Marx. Ironically, he attempted to join the American Socialist Party at this point when also enlisting in the US Marine Corps. He trained in Mississippi and California where he was trusted with classified information. He was then transferred to Osaka, Japan, where the evidence points that he was in the process of defecting to Russia. He may have had a role in the downing of the U2 spy plane. In Osaka, Oswald became fluent in both Japanese and Russian , in addition he became involved with a beautiful geisha who inevitably was a Russian spy. Following a series of disciplinary incidents, Oswald was forced to leave the Marines and then began a bizarre series of events whereby he moved to Le Havre, London, Helsinki and then Stockholm. He gained a visitor’s visa to enter Russia and appeared on Russian television.

At first, the Russians viewed him as an embarrassment yet allowed him to overstay his visa when he slit his wrists in protest. Following a stay in a psychiatric hospital he went to Minsk, where the Soviets began to view him as a ‘useful idiot’. There he worked in a radio factory where he learned photographic skills, a skill which would help him identify fake photos when he was arrested after the Kennedy shooting. He married the daughter of a KGB Colonel, Marina. Yet, getting bored with life in the USSR he demanded to be sent back to the USA.

In 1961, Oswald and his wife arrive back in the USA, where he felt slighted that his return did not get much attention from the media. He then went to Fort Worth, Texas, where he was befriended by an oil magnate, a white Russian emigre who was also a covert agent for the CIA (he was not thought to be a material witness in the ultimate investigation into the assassination). Oswald then had a series of menial jobs and was very cruel to his wife who left him taking the two children with her. Oswald at this point buys two rifles for $29, using aliases and safe boxes in classic spy style. It is thought at this point that he tried to assassinate a right wing US general, whom he missed as an easy target, a doubt then arises as to how he would have been able to shoot Kennedy with crack accuracy. Bizarrely, he also left the USA for Mexico City where he visited both the Cuban and Russian embassy, Oswald even had time for an affair with a Russian attaché. Another twist to the tale is that five weeks before the assassination of Kennedy, the file held by the FBI on Oswald was ordered to be destroyed by J Edgar Hoover.

The events surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, on Friday, November 22, 1963, at 12:30 p.m., also indicate that Oswald, though part of the plot in some way, was unlikely to be the killer. To begin with he could not drive and took the bus to the centre of Dallas. After the assassination he took a taxi to his lodgings after a visit to the cinema, he also passes a policeman without arising suspicion. After lurking in a doorway it was a shopkeeper that alerted the Police to his whereabouts in the cinema. Despite the fact that the rifle belonged to Oswald there is no evidence that he shot it.

Taken to the Chief of Police in Dallas, he is questioned for 14 hours, yet there is no written record of the deliberations. The press were outside and on occasion Oswald was seen, where he referred to himself as a “patsy”, slang for fall guy. Later when attempting to be moved to the city penitentiary a series of unfortunate events gave Jack Ruby, an Italian Jew with connections to the mafia, a clear view of Oswald whom he shot dead. Ruby was arrested and the body of Lee Harvey Oswald was taken, ironically, to the same Parkland Hospital where the corpse of JFK lay.

So who shot JFK? After three talks it is still a mystery. Even Donald Trump, who promised to release the files, found that some would never be declassified.

Mr Gwyn Thomas thanked Mr Davies for a most interesting talk.

 

The History Society will now take a break until September. The Annual trip has been moved to Saturday 20th October, and details will be available in the AGM on the second Monday in September.

REPORT by Mr Trefor Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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