Risca news

This helped to make the event at the Newbridge Memo an outstanding success for all concerned.

With swinging music coming from the Dave Barry Big Band, everyone got into the spirit of things and danced, jigged and jiggled the night away.

Some people were so enthusiastic they danced almost until they dropped, but all had a good time.

Amy Dowden and Gino Gabrielli also thrilled the audience with a fabulous and red-hot demonstration of sizzling Latin American dancing.

However, the evening also took time to honour those who help others.

Abercarn and Newbridge Rotary Club president Brian Evans presented the Community Service Awards to Joan and Ray Martin for their outstanding contributions to improving community life.

The third recipient was Robert Bushell for his outstanding contribution to the Newbridge Division of St John's Ambulance, where he has been divisional commander for more than 21 years.

The evening resulted in the Rotary Club presenting a cheque for £850 to the Friends of Newbridge Memo towards the Restoration Fund.

Oxford House Museum: The museum, in the old Miners Institute at Oxford House, Grove Road, Risca, will be open again throughout the summer every Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm until September.

There are many exhibits of local and regional interest, adequate free parking in Grove Road adjacent to the museum building and visits to the museum are free of charge.

Information regarding the museum, the Oxford House Industrial History Society or local history of the area can be found on the website www.riscamuseum.org.uk A Reminder About Rotary Concert: On Tuesday, May 22, Risca Rotary Club, assisted by Martin Hodson, musical director of Risca Male Choir, is sponsoring a concert to be given by the Fredonia Chamber Singers.

The choir is made up of male and female students of the School of Music at the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, and is led by Dr Donald Lang, director of choral studies.

Fredonia is a town on the shores of Lake Erie, which is a short distance from Buffalo, New York State.

The choir has visited this country on seven occasions and have given concerts in Newport sponsored by Newport Rotary Club.

After their upcoming show, the choir will then travel up to Scotland to give concerts, performing at various places in England on the way.

The choir has a well-balanced programme covering classical, traditional and folk music and will also feature James Piorkowski a classical guitarist.

Throughout the years the singers have achieved an outstanding reputation for musical excellence.

The concert will take place at the Moriah Baptist Church, Risca, commencing at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £3 and are available at Barclays Bank, Fitwell Footwear, Commercial Street, Pontymister, and Rotarian Tom Cowlin, telephone no: 612231.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards Rotary charities, which include the annual visit with Christmas gifts to the residents of the residential homes, nursing homes and the children's respite home within the club's catchment area.

Welsh choirs are always well received in America and the club would be very pleased if the people of Risca (which includes the whole of the former urban area) showed a similar welcome to the students making up the Fredonia Chamber Singers.

Bobby Dazzler Bargain Hunting: At St Mary's Church Hall, Risca, on Friday, May 18, from 10am until 1pm, a bric-a-brac and jumble sale will be held with proceeds of same in aid of church funds.

Admission is 20p. Please make every effort to support this event.

Jewellery Party: On Monday, May 21, at 7pm, the above party will be held at the Britannia Close Complex, Maryland Road, Pontymister.

Necklaces, earrings, etc, all made from glass will be on display and available for purchase.

Once again, your support is requested.

They Will, They Will Rock You: On Saturday, May 26, live at the Memo, Newbridge, A Night At The Opera, a Queen tribute show will be held commencing at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £8 (in advance) or £10 (pay at the door at the evening).

For more details, please contact the Memo on 01495 243252.

Latch Appeal: On Saturday, January 27, a Stars in Your Eyes social evening was held at the Pantside Social Club, Newbridge, organised by the Dave Taylor and Dawn Hewlett LATCH appeal and the magnificent total of £1,751 was raised plus a further £25.48 in gift aid making a total of £1,776.48, The donations of this appeal go to children who suffer from cancer or leukaemia and over the years a total of £41,848 has been raised.

The charity would once again like to thank the stewardess, Heidi, the chairman, committee, bar staff and members of social club for the support and encouragement they give to all the fundraising events held there.

A very special thank you is extended to Owen Peregrine for his expertise with projection and sound and to all the talented stars who provided such wonderful entertainment.

The charity would also like to thank world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe and his father Enzo Calzaghe, for the signed photograph of Joe, which was donated towards the raffle and raised £200 on the night.

Also, thanks to Gareth Jones for his donation of £100 and to the members of staff and customers of the Spar, Pantside for their donation of £47, the proceeds of the collection box.

Mrs Kerry Edwards of the Cross Keys branch of LATCH has expressed her thanks to the Taylor and Hewlett Appeal for their continued support to the Welsh Children's Cancer Charity.

Risca and District Guild: At the May business meeting of the above Guild there was a favourable feedback on the April trip.

Departing from the usual coach outing, a rail trip was taken to Cheltenham that had been enjoyed in warm weather.

The hobbies chairman, Mrs Blakemore, has arranged a trip to Southsea in June and names were taken of those interested.

The hobbies group had knitted ten cot blankets, jumpers and cardigans for an orphanage in Egypt and the members were thanked for their generosity and efforts.

The treasurer, Mrs Niblett, gave the annual financial report and was pleased to announce that through members fundraising efforts for charity, the sum of £220 has been forwarded to the leukaemia department and £220 to the eye department at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

Also, a sum of £155 was donated to the St John's Ambulance Brigade.

This year's charity fundraising will be for the Wales Ambulance Service.

Betty Williams, chairman, welcomed the speaker, Mrs J Harrhy of the Salvation Army.

She is a third generation Salvationist in her family and has been an active member all her life.

She related how she had been involved in the various children's groups and Sunday school teaching, and the musical side with the choir.

Mrs Harrhy explained that every twelve years the uniform is changed slightly, and the change from the well-known straw bonnet to the present day type of bowler was necessary because the skill in weaving the traditional bonnet has declined over the years.

Mrs Harrhy gave an informative talk on the origins of the Salvation Army, which is conducted on military lines and was instigated by General Booth.

The work of the army has changed and grown over the years to meet the current demands. The well-known work of tracing missing persons being just one aspect.

The charity, among other outlets, deals with hostels for the homeless, cares for the elderly, blind, mothers and babies, refugees, drug addiction and canteens for armies.

The work is wide-ranging and is now opening up in countries such as Latvia and China.

Locally in Pontymister a Wednesday luncheon club is run for anyone who wishes to enjoy a cooked lunch for £2, or join the over 60's club.

A warm welcome is also extended to everyone to join their Sunday worship at the Risca Salvation Army Church.

Mrs Harrhy remarked that she had thoroughly enjoyed every minute of her service, which has been very rewarding.

Mrs Williams thanked Mrs Harrhy for her excellent talk and Maureen Francis gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the members.

Cross Keys Community Group: The garden at St Catherine's will again be entered into the Caerphilly in Bloom 2007 competition, so donations of compost, annuals and perennial plants will be greatly accepted.

The community hall is open for hire for bookings including table top sales, exhibitions, fashion shows, parties, wedding receptions, meetings, in fact anything that will be of benefit to the local community.

Please call 01495 271947 where an answerphone is available and all calls will be returned.

Also a dance club for two age groups will commence in June, when funding becomes available.

So come on kids show an interest and contact the above number.

Meanwhile, tea/coffee mornings continue on Tuesdays, from 10.30am to 12pm and bingo sessions in the afternoon, doors open 2pm for 2.30pm start.

The Snowball now stands at £41, so come along, try your luck. There is also a bring and buy sale.

A weekenders' Fashion Sale will be held on Wednesday, May 16, at 10am in the Community Hall with sale items priced at £5-£10.

Refreshments available, entrance £1 per person and all are welcome.

In Bloom With Cross Keys Allotments: The above will be entering the Caerphilly in Bloom competition.

Last year Cobden Street allotments attained a highly commended certificate from Caerphilly CBC and the Cross Keys group is aiming to equal that achievement this year.

A newsletter has now been produced and all plotholders should have received same. Thanks to Jo Milne who compiled this.

Please refer to notice boards for news of meetings, etc.

Donations of seedlings, especially Snapdragons and Begonias would be very welcome to enable re-stocking of the flowerbeds at St Catherine's.

Check online for more details at www.crosskeys.org.uk.