KEEPING UP WITH THE TIME: I received a delightful letter two weeks ago from Tredegar Town Council. It gave a detailed description of the renovation work being carried out on the town clock.

It is hoped that by the time you are reading this, most of the work will have been done.

All the defective rendering will be taken off the walls, "in addition, the work of buttressing the existing walls will start, shoring up the existing walls on the inside".

The railings and the old drinking fountain will be shot-blasted, but the old drinking fountain will not be used again, because of health and safety considerations.

Finance has been provided with the support of CADW, but one aspect of the works not covered by their support is the upgrade of the electric works on the clock.

Bringing the electrics up to 21st century standards. The electrical works come under a separate contract.