IT'S FESTIVAL TIME: Blaenavon Traders and Tourism Association are organising the opening concert of the Blaenavon Spring Festival, at Blaenavon Workmen's Hall, where one of the world's leading harpists, Catrin Finch, appears there on Saturday, May 5, at 7.30pm. Blaenavon Male Voice Choir will also bring their usual high standard of singing to the occasion.

Catrin started playing the harp when she was five years old, and went on to study at the Royal Academy in London.

Prince Charles heard her playing at a concert and was so impressed that he re-instated the position of Royal Harpist, and Catrin held that role from 2000 to 2004.

She is a masterful and adventurous harpist, her style reflecting her personality, colourful, confident and completely natural.

She has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Welsh Proms in Cardiff, and also in concert with Bryn Terfel, Sir James Galway, Julian Lloyd-Webber and Katherine Jenkins.

Do not miss this chance to see Catrin perform locally. You will not be disappointed.

Tickets are on sale now, price £10, available from Morris Butchers, 24 Broad Street, Blaenavon. Tel Barbara, on 01495 790719, or Amy, on 01633 648812.

WELSH CAKE COMPETITION: Blaenavon Towswomen's Guild are organising a Welsh Cake Competition which is their contribution to the Blaenavon Spring Festival, on Saturday, May 5, at the Bethlehem Chapel schoolroom.

Children and adults can make five Welsh cakes and take them to the schoolroom at 10am to noon and judging will then take place by cookery writer, Annette Yates.

There will be prizes in both classes of the competition and entry to the display of Welsh cakes is free.

Do join in the fun. There are lots of marvellous cooks in Blaenavon, so we hope that there will be keen competition for the titles of junior and senior Champion Welsh Cake Maker'.

QUIZ NIGHT: The Blaenavon Spring Festival Quiz Night is at Blaenavon RFC, Middle Coed Cae, on Monday May 7, at 8pm.

All you quiz fans can go along and enter their team. Please arrive early to register your maximum of 6 people per team, who will compete for the Festival Quiz Cup.

Book prior to the event with Amy Taylor, on 01633 648812.

OUR SPIRIT THROUGH A LENS: The Spring Festival committee are holding a new photography competition, and they want entrants to capture the Spirit of Blaenavon' as part of the festival.

Entries will be exhibited at 16 Broad Street, from Monday, April 30 to Friday, May 4, from 10am to 2pm.

The competition will be judged by photographer Terrick Meakin ARPS, APAGB.

There are two categories, with prizes in gift vouchers: Adult, first prize £100, second, £50 and third £25.

The under-16s, prizes are in gift vouchers again, first £50, second £25 and third £15.

There will also be a special prize of a £50 gift voucher, which will be for the best entry to be judged by visitors to the exhibition. Entry is free, and the closing date is Thursday, April 26. All entries must be in the form of prints, digital images will not be accepted.

For details, tel 01633 648812.

Terrick will be presenting and displaying examples of his own work on Sunday, May 6, at the Workmen's Hall Cinema, from 11am to 1pm.

PACT' MEETING: The Blaenavon Partnerships and Communities Together meeting will be held on Thursday, April 19, at 7pm, at the Blaenavon Workmen's Hall.

It will be a public meeting and all residents are invited to attend. It is a chance for everyone to make their views known to the neighbourhood policing team and partnership, to ensure that issues that matter locally are dealt with effectively.

PACT meetings are an opportunity for communities to set local priorities in neighbourhood policing. The intention is to build confidence in communities, a confidence that the community can influence and, where appropriate, participate in addressing the issues.

PACT is about partner and community problem-solving at a local level and about long-term sustainable solutions to local problems.

Residents will be invited to identify priorities for their area and select three main priorities. The neighbourhood team will work together to resolve issues and feed back success, or lack of success.

Please attend this meeting if you are able. It is only by working together and airing our views and concerns that we can make our town a safer place.