EXHIBITION: Coastal landscapes by Judith James are this month’s art show at Fourteen Locks Centre.

Judith has been artist in residence at the RSPB Newport Wetlands Reserve since 2014. Many of the twenty water colours, acrylics and prints on sale reflect Judith’s love for the Gwent Levels and the Severn Estuary.

“Living in Newport during the 1970s and 1980s, I was intensely interested by the daily tidal sculpting of the foreshore at Goldcliff and the mudflats of the river Usk.”

Recent work of the south Wales coast further west is also exhibited. ‘Beyond the Cardiff Barrage’, ‘From Ogmore to Dunraven’ and ‘Red Kite above the Kenfig Dunes’ draw inspiration from Judith’s early years spent exploring the sand, rocks and cliffs of what has become the Glamorgan Heritage coast. At university in the 1960s, Judith studied Botany.

‘Six in a Row’ is Judith James’ sixth exhibition at Fourteen Locks since 2012 and is on until April 29.

AWARENESS DAY: Come and join us in Rogerstone for #justtalk youth mental health awareness day which is being held in conjunction with 19 (nineteen.org) at Faith Church, Trebor Celebration Building, Wern Industrial Estate, Rogerstone, on Easter Monday,  April 17, 10am-3pm. With free entry for all, it will be a fun yet informative day, centred around the five steps to positive mental health: connect, take notice, be active, learn, give. The aim is that everyone leaves feeling that it’s OK to #justtalk about mental health.

Highlights include: Beth Reekles –Rogerstone’s own award winning author of The Kissing Booth which is currently being made into a film, Music from The Hatchers and The Voice’s Tobias Robertson - both from Newport.

Incredible speakers including Hope Virgo - author of Stand Tall Little Girl, talking about how she overcame anorexia, Wayne Ashe, father of Sam who took his own life last year, Andrew Williams - Newport father who was saved from suicide when the phone rang and he talked about how he was feeling, Adam Smith - Chair of Rainbow Newport. Free food for all under 25’s (and reasonably priced food for all over 25’s). Poetry readings from ‘View From The Cheap Seats’ by Rogerstone based poet Barry Holland. Gaming comps with the chance to win £30 Amazon voucher and play Fifa top 10 ranking haz_27.

Activities for younger visitors with school fete stalls, face painting, bubble bike and giant games. Great prizes to be won including a football signed by the Wales team, shopping vouchers, restaurant vouchers, loads of chocolate, tickets for Tredegar House, Boulders, the Escape Rooms, cinema, laserquest, superbowl and many more.

TINY REBEL: Our new neighbours in Rogerstone Tiny Rebel are also planning something special to coincide with #justtalk as they are just next door! #justtalk would like to thank Newport City Homes for sponsoring this event and the many local businesses who have supported in various ways. Look out for regular updates on facebook (facebook.com/19justtalk/) and on Twitter (twitter.com/19Justtalk).

For further information phone Kath Hopkins on 07871156671, Emma Barnes-Lewis on 07411288908 or Karen Powell on 07870116546.

VELOTHON WALES 2017: Planning and preparation for the cycle race Velothon Wales 2017 is underway. The organisers are working with the council, local communities and individuals to organise an event in which up to 16,000 sportive riders take part followed by a professional race. The route has been designed to keep disruptions to a minimum, with rolling road closures around the Pro Race for the first time in 2017 to reduce disruption.

The event starts in Cardiff, continues through Newport and around Gwent and after 140 or 110km finishes back in Cardiff.

The community engagement plan will give improved maps and improved communications in 2017. Letters will be delivered to 100,000 homes around the route in mid May and mid June.

There will also be a dedicated call centre to provide bespoke advice to residents. The event organisers will work with communities affected to promote Community Events which may be linked to watching the Velothon or simply taking advantage of the opportunities presented by a period of road closures. So Sunday July 9 could be a good day for a community event. 

SPRING CLEAN: The next Rogerstone Spring Clean will start from Bethesda Church on Wednesday April  19 at 10am, with refreshments in the church afterwards. We are very grateful to Bethesda Church for their help and support. Please come and help if you can, for more information see the Rogerstone directory. 

ROUTES PATH TIDY: The next Rogerstone Routes path tidy activity will be on Saturday April 29 at 10am, meeting at the bridge on Rivermead Way and tidying the path beside the Ebbw River. Please come and help if you can, for more information see facebook Rogerstone Routes or contact me.

ALLOTMENTS AVAILABLE: Rogerstone Community Council has a few allotments available for rent. If you are interested then please call 01633 893350 or email rogerstonecc@gmail.com. 

Rogerstone
Yvonne Forsey
y.forsey@ntlworld.com
01633 897831
07714 810045