Resolven School Photos 1959/60

Hello Resolven District News!

I came across your site whilst googling for a newspaper local to Resolven.  I lived in Resolven from 1957 to April 1961 before moving to Reading where my family still lives.  Last week, whilst with my mum, we were going through the box of old black and white photos , she brought out some class photos  taken during our time at school in Resolven.

Photo 1 is of my nursery class in1960.   Photo 2 shows my brother Peter’s class in 1960 and Photo 3 shows my sister Susan’s class in 1960.  Photo 4 is dated 1959 and is Susan’s class again.

I had never seen these photos before.  My mum had written our classmates’ and teachers’ names, as far as she knew them, on the back of the photos.. I would be delighted to be able to confirm names and add names to complete these lists with the help of RDN viewers

 Miss Williams, Miss Noreen

Sian Evans/Karen/Colin Bennards/Ian/Leyton Case/Davies/Michael Lewis/Keryn Weefer/Alan/Carol/Alison

 Sally Nicholls/Georgean/Gillian Davies/Julie James/Cathryn Perry/Linda/Janie/Pat/Molly Evans/Linfa

 Howard Rees/Stephen/Wayne Jenkins/Geoffrey/Wayne Addiscot/Owen/Randall

I have always known that my best friend at the time was Georgean, but it was the first time I have ever seen this photo. She is sitting next to me in the photo —  I even named my doll after Georgean. My only other recollection of my nursery days (and they may not be correct) is having camp beds set up to have a sleep and eating custard cream biscuits or jammy dodgers from a round tin at playtime.

PHOTO 2

Peter Nicholls/Roy Gillespie/Adrian Davies/Paul Tregonning/Melville Morgan/Keith Llewellyn/Lynn Gillard/Ivor Jones/David Weeter

 Katrina/Judith Pritchard/Nicholas Jarrett/Robert Bordon/GarethEdwards/Lynn Evans/Julia Roner/Pat Jones/Gina

 Jane Newberry/Frances Lewis/Christine Price/Theresa Leman/Heather Davies/Wendy James/Linda Roberts/Joyce Welstead/Jean Powell/Pauline Billen

 Christopher Osborne/John Davies/Tony Davies/Maldwyn Machie

PHOTO 3

Jimmy/Howell Rees/Peter Williams/Stephen Perry/Glen Alan/John Morgan/Lyn Davies/Alan Jenkins/Lyn Jones

 Judith Jones/Ceryl Norton/Gillian Winters/Ann Jones/Linda Jenkins/Peggy O’Donnall/Kathleen Williams/Glynis Collard/Jane Sweetman

 

 Karen Hale/Colleen Beynon/Eluned Davies/Janice Morgan/Pam Wellbourne/Julie Davies/Susan Ncholls/Cheryl Davies/Deborah Jenkins/Yvonne Godfrey

 Kerry Roberts/Colin Sims/Michael Jones/Gareth James

PHOTO 4

 

 

The above  is  my sister Susan’s class too.  I believe she also also appears in a photo on your website that is dated 1957-58.

I scrolled through the school photos on your website but couldn’t find the 4 photos  I’ve sent you and I would love to complete the names for them. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could do this please?

. I would be particularly interested to make contact with Georgean.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 Helen Corps (née Nicholls and known at school by the name of Sally)

 Many thanks for taking the trouble to send us the photos and all the information, Helen –very welcome additions to our photo gallery.  But before we put them in place,  if there is anyone out there with names to add, call in Marcia’s shop or email us at:

 

am@resolvendistrictnews.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Free Course for Parents

 Resolven Building Blocks Family Centre is  offering a free course  for parents on understanding speech, language and communication development with their child.

The speech and communication workshop will look at  speech and communication in children and look at  ways in which we, as parents can support our children develop these skills.

Join us for an informal and fun session!

There is also free childcare available.

Ceri Pritchard —Manager

.  To book a space, please use the link below.

https://www.buildingblocksfamilycentre.co.uk/Event/parent-speech-language-and-communication-workshop

 

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A Frosty Start on the Canal

Twelfth night, January the 5th is over, the Christmas decorations taken down till next year and there’s a frosty start to greet January the 6th on Resolven Canal Basin.

 

   Picture taken  by MIKE DAVIES

 

 

 

 

 

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Resolven Events Group Latest News

On behalf of Resolven Community Events Group, I’d like to let everyone know about the Tesco promotion we have going on at the moment.  We have been successful in our application for the Tesco Bags Of Help Scheme. It works by shopping in Tesco and with every bag for life someone purchases, they will be handed a blue token chip at the checkout which is then put into a collection box when they leave the store. We are competing with 2 other community groups so there is 1st (£4,000), 2nd (£2,000) and 3rd (£1,000) prizes.

 

It runs from January 2nd until February 28th 2018 and the following Tesco Stores are participating, Briton Ferry Tesco Express, Neath Abbey Tesco Superstore, Cimla Tesco Express and Waunceirch Tesco Express. The winner will be announced mid March.

Robert Sims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Storm Eleanor Hits Porthcawl

|A Resolven District News photographer never misses a challenge!  Mike Davies went to Porthcawl at 9 a.m  in the  morning, to capture Storm Eleanor for us.  High tide was at 7 a.m– too dark for camera shots, but Mike says he would have been there at that time if the lighting had been right!!

The storm was at its height when Mike took these images and he says it was an amazing sight to see the ferocity of Mother Nature at work.

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Mike Davies

 

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HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL 2018

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First New Year Pics from Mike

On January 1 and 2, the moon was the closest  to Earth that it will be for the entire 2018–An astronomical event that excites space enthusiasts. In the first couple days of 2018, the moon was just 356,565 km on January 1, and 356,846 km on January 2.  Lucky for me there was a break in the cloud cover for no more that 10 minutes, so I had to get it right!

 

Super moon

I was also lucky to have the photo shown on the BBC as Editor’s pic

More good fortune to start 2018!  But I needed to be “quick on the trigger” to capture this heron’s New Year flight over Resolven canal.

 

 

Mike Davies

Happy and Healthy New Year to all our RDN viewers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FESTIVE LIGHTS – In and Around Resolven

 

 

These are a few of the many festive lights that

are displayed and enjoyed by us all in and

around the homes in the Resolven area, before

they are taken down and put away for another year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Boxing Day Hunt

The turnout was  excellent  for the annual Boxing Day Banwen Miners’ Hunt which set out, as usual, from the Castle Hotel  Neath, 

We were fortunate to have a dry spell during the proceedings, 

Mike Davies (Report, photos and video)

 

 

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YouTube  link for video below

https://youtu.be/xOkN-nd0F0E 

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Message from NPT Councillor Des Davies

 May I take this opportunity to wish all Resolven  District News readers a “Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year”.

That said, for those who rely on the bus services as their only form of transport it’s not going to be a “HAPPY NEW YEAR”.  Many of the bus companies are reducing services throughout the Neath Valley and NPT generally from the 7th of January 2018.

Officers of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have asked the General Manager of First Cymru if he or his representative would meet with Local Councillors to discuss issues of public concern or attend a public meeting, again to discuss issues of public concern, both requests were declined.

First Cymru is the major provider of bus services locally and is a privately owned company which is, in my opinion, putting profit before service. One example of their imposed service reduction is that the X55 service which at present is a half hourly service is being reduced to one bus an hour.

For further information contact First Cymru Customer Services 01792 572255

Or for time table information contact Traveline Cymru  0800 4640000.

Should there be a change in bus companies plan I will inform you all through Resolven District News.

Des

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Resolven International Pools Player in Malta

Congratulations to Amanda Evans of John Street Resolven, who represented Wales in a recent international pools competition held on the island of Malta.  After three years in the Welsh Ladies’  B team, Amanda was chosen for the top A side for the first time and she and her team mates did exceptionally well against women pool players from nine nations including Australia, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. –winning one more frame would have placed them in the semi- final. The Welsh team had one unexpected supporter in Malta, when Borough Councillor Des Davies walked through the door!  Des was on the island recuperating after a recent period of ill health.

 

Amanda is centre back row -next to Des

Des is looking back on form in this photo and we wish him the very best of health in 2018.

The New Year will bring more international appearances   for Amanda who has already qualified to play for Wales in 2018.  She is now the 4th best in the country-beating over 50 players to get there.

Well done Amanda!

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Youth Quiz Night in Welfare Hall

 

On Friday December 9th, students from Neath Port Talbot College held a Christmas Quiz and raffle at Resolven Miner’s Welfare for the fundraising section of their Welsh Bacc qualification. The charitywhich they decided to support was Maggie’s Cancer Care and at the end of the night the hard working girls managed to collect a total of £105 for the cause.

When attending the quiz I asked Ffion Owen, one of the organizers, a few questions on the planning behind the event. “The quiz was organized for our Welsh Bacc qualification at college. We wanted to support Maggie’s Cancer Care as they don’t only help those living with cancer but also provide help and support for the families of those suffering. The charity also helps people get back into work after recovering”. I also asked if there were any other ideas in the making to continue with their fundraising. “We plan to hold a charity curry night at Panshee’s in Skewen and we also want to do something sponsored, maybe a walk or sponsored silence.  I have really enjoyed fundraising with the girls because it’s good to be able to get to know others while fundraising money for such a good charity”,

 

Most of the turnout consisted of the village youth however the girls managed to sell raffle tickets to the usual visitors at the bar.

I thoroughly enjoyed attending the quiz! I thought that it provided a fun and relaxing atmosphere and got everyone into the Christmas spirit, and winning first prize wasn’t that bad either!

Report by  ROWAN DAVIES

 

 

 

 

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Let it Snow Says Mike

 

For RDN readers who might miss out on a white Christmas, share these scenes captured on the Brecon Beacons, Dec 11th 2017

 

Images by Mike Davies 

 Editor’s comment:

 Mike is a BBC Weather Watcher and his Brecon photos were shown on the main BBC news that night and BBC Breakfast Time the following morning. But he and his equally intrepid wife Maureen, who was with him on the Beacons, deserve a prize for daring too!  All the shots (120 in all) had to be taken on the move through the car window.  If they’d stopped the car they might not have got going again.

 

 

 

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Christmas Tea Great Success

Every year, a mouthwatering Christmas Tea is held in St. David’s Church Hall, Resolven.and last Friday, I attended the event for the first time and spoke with Val Bishop, one of the main organizers, who told me more about the preparation of the tea and what happens during the event. She said, “The tea is in aid of the Church Restoration Fund and we usually expect around 90 people each year. We normally raise around £700 per year and the highest we’ve ever raised is £900. People who can’t make it on the day will give donations also. We are very grateful to the community. The tea was set up around six years ago and each year we hold a summer tea and a Christmas tea. We wanted to use the idea to provide something different for the village and we are very happy with its success”.

Val Bishop

I also asked Val Bishop if she has enjoyed being a part of the Church Restoration.   “Yes I’ve enjoyed it very much. When we saw the improvements on the outside of the Church it was worth all of our hard work. I mostly enjoy drawing the raffle each year. I am the Queen of the Raffle!”

After visiting the members who were working hard preparing for the tea, it struck me that we have some very dedicated and passionate members of the community, who really care for the village. The annual tea has proven to be a great success for the Church committee and I hope that our enthusiastic organizers can keep this popular tradition active for years to come.

 

Neath MP Christina Rees (1st left at back) joins the workers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONEY MADE THIS YEAR_£787.27

REPORT BY ROWAN DAVIES

 

 

 

 

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Message From Resolven Boy in Luton

  Hello Resolven District News!

Pleased to see you back with your new web site. I am interested in William Willis’s new book and to hear he is getting another one lined up, as I have a few things he may be interested in researching. I haven’t got his recent published book yet though.   I’ll see to that now.

I left Resolven in January 1950.  I live in Luton now and was 92 years old last Friday ..

  With All Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and the New Year.     

   Des Jones 

  (Councillor Des Davies’s uncle)

EDITOR—Lovely to hear from you again Des and belated Happy 92nd birthday greetings from the Resolven District News team

 

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