Rhymney Brewery I visited the recently-opened Rhymney Brewery and Visitor Centre in Blaenavon and was taken on a tour of the operation.

They’ve done an excellent job in making a new building look old and it was fascinating to watch the process for brewing.

There’s also a great little exhibition where young and old can see how the industry developed.

It is a location I would recommend groups and individuals visit and, of course, there’s the opportunity to sample the beer at the end – with a magnificent view of Big Pit.

Rhymney Brewery employs ten staff and that is very welcome in these difficult economic times.

HSBC

They call themselves the world’s local bank but they don’t act anything like that.

Firstly, they closed their Blaenavon branch and now they are proposing shutting the Caerleon branch later this year.

This means that customers will have their accounts transferred to Cwmbran and face a return trip of ten miles there in the future. That is, frankly, not good enough and customers will no doubt consider if HSBC is the ‘local’ bank they need in the future.

Pontypool Rugby Club

It is desperately sad to hear about the financial problems faced by Pontypool Rugby Club, one of Wales’ great clubs.

While not wishing to take sides, it was disappointing to see that Pontypool won’t be in the new 12- strong Premiership with all its history.

As a fervent Welsh rugby fan, I have fantastic memories of Pontypool and the famous Pontypool Front Row and it is a shame that the club’s whole future is now in doubt as a result of its High Court challenge against the Welsh Rugby Union.

I hope things can be sorted and we have a strong club in the future.

Community Champion

It is important to have community champions. Coed Eva councillor Fiona Cross is one. She is a huge supporter of the Stroke Association’s work and support an event organised by them recently.

The charity’s communication support service in Gwent does a fantastic job helping people who have suffered communication difficulties following a stroke, providing a lifeline for people.

Fiona was also out with Cllr Dave Standing, Melin Homes, Keep Wales Tidy and local volunteers.

They collected an impressive 30 bags of rubbish in Coed Eva, including a golf club and TV dumped in the woods. There is really no excuse for dumping unwanted items – people should take them to civic amenity sites.