Oxford House Museum reopens: The museum, in the Old Miner's Institute at Oxford House will reopen on May 10 and will be open every Sunday from 10am to 12.30pm throughout the summer months.

See an old chemist shop and the coal mining and railway sections.

There are many items of local interest on view with expert advice and information on hand.

Entrance is free with ample parking close by.

Information regarding the museum, the Oxford House Industrial History Society or the local history of the area can be found on the website riscamuseum.org.uk Cross Keys Community Group: A letter of thanks has been received from Tina Williams for our support of her 2008 convoy to aid the people of Kosovo.

The group is planning a garden open day this summer and hopes to earn Green Plant Status.

A date and time for the open day has yet to be decided and details will also be confirmed for a table top sale.

These events will be advertised on the notice board and in local shops, pubs, etc.

For further information please contact Lynne on 01495 271947 or Rebecca on 07900 516381.

Meanwhile, tea/coffee/toast/marmalade is served from 10.30am to 12pm, every Tuesday morning in St Catherine's Community Church Hall.

Do come along and have a chat, exchange ideas and have a laugh, followed by bingo every Tuesday.

Doors open 2pm for a 2.30pm start. Admission is £1 and raffle is £1.

A warm welcome is extended to all.

Awards Ceremony: On Thursday April 10, the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Councillor Alan Williams supported by his consort, Mrs Veater, hailed the personal and community achievements of people from the borough at Llancaich Fawr, Nelson.

The evening opened with the presenter for the ceremony John Fairfax, county borough council members services manager, welcoming the recipients and their guests after which, the Mayor added his speech.

In total, some 28 persons were invited to their award certificates).

The last recipient was Ivor Powell, the former Queens Park Rangers and Wales international now with Team Bath who head the British Gas Southern Premier League.

Ivor was also presented with a QPR shirt with green and white stripes with the dates of his association with the club on the back!

Following the presentations a group photograph was taken - which will feature in a future edition of Grassroots - and an excellent buffet was held in the conservatory to end a grand occasion.

The winners were: * Yvonne Thomas.

* Alan Brooker.

* Joan Bryant.

* David Batten.

* Lynne John.

* Reverend John Hayward.

* Geoffrey Jones.

* Marilyn Nicholls.

* Alan Kethro.

* Joan Cummings.

* Roger Barrie Williams.

* Lynne Florence.

* Reginald Cawthorn.

* Bethan Phillips.

* Mr and Mrs Hunt.

* John Hayes.

* Alice May Saunders.

* Walter Jones.

* Pauline Williams.

* Don Braithwaite.

* Kerry Bowden.

* Janet Bowden.

* Peter Collins.

* Neirun Davies.

* Gaynor Worgan.

* John R Lewis.

* Alexander Pritchard.

* Ivor Powell.

Chance to go fishing: Pontymister Angling Club would like to welcome existing and new members to fish the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

The club controls the fishing rights from Manor Way in Risca to Pontywaun, Matches are fished regularly throughout the season for both seniors and junior members.

The club will be cleaning up the Woodview section of Risca in the coming months to allow local fishermen the chance to fill their nets.

Licences are available from Risca Post Office and Pezzetti Angling Supplies in Cross Keys and cost £12 for seniors and £5 for juniors, OAPs and disabled anglers.

Meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month at Cross Keys Hotel, at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

If anyone has any old photos relating to fishing on the canal please e-mail steven@btinternet. com For more details see pontymisterangling.club.offi celive.com Centenary Dance: This is your last chance to get tickets for the Newbridge Memo Centenary Dance to be held on Friday, April 25.

The dance sponsored by the Abercarn and Newbridge Rotary Club features the very popular Elastic Band.

Tickets are £10 and can be obtained from any rotary club member or by ringing 01495 243252 or 243570.

Dancers will be entertained by performances from the newly crowned British Juvenile Dance Champions, Leah Hill of Pontywaun and Jordan Storey of Pentwynmawr in addition to two of Wales' most promising young adult dancers.

Oh what a night: The charity evening, disco and raffle held at the manor, Ty Sign, Risca on Saturday April 12, raised £550 for the Royal Gwent Special Baby Care Unit. Many thanks to all who attended and so helped to raise this amount.

Jumble sale success:A jumble sale and bric-a-brac morning at St Mary's Church Hall, Risca on Friday, April 11, helped to raise £120 in aid of church funds.

Risca Male Choir's Trip: Risca Male Choir has just returned from a hectic, but very enjoyable five-day tour of Edinburgh.

The choir performed three concerts in All-One Centre of Edinburgh, one at Liberton Kirk, and the third a joint venture with East Fife Male Choir at the Corn Exchange in Cupar.

The audiences were very appreciative and enjoyed the interesting and varied repertoire.

They were particularly rapturous about the two specially arranged Scottish pieces, Ye Banks and Bracs and Flower of Scotland.

Choir members say it was a pleasure to sing in a city steeped in a rich cultural musical heritage.

Men's Breakfast: On April 26 there will be a men's breakfast at Moriah Baptist Church, Risca, starting at 8.30am.

The speaker will be Peter Anderson of Leicester.

Please telephone Anne Hayward on 01633 613865 for details.