A PONTHIR pub has helped our anniversary appeal by staging a bank holiday ‘Staycation’ with live music, a barbecue and tea bag throwing.

Barrie Walden, the landlord from the Ponthir House Inn, said that the pub was hoping to raise as much as possible for our 125 Appeal.

Our aim is to raise money to help with the huge costs of running St David’s Hospice Care in Newport, in our 125th anniversary year.

Mr Walden said: “We had a couple of bands performing in the beer garden and the kids took part in a tea bag throwing competition which was really great.”

“The aim for us has been to raise as much as we can. We’ve raised £2,000 in the past and every little does help.

The landlord said that the pub has close ties with St David’s, which will count the proceeds itself.

“A few of our regulars work for St David’s and the pub has also been a proud supporter of the charity so we were more than happy to carry on with this event,” added Mr Walden.

“The bank holiday weekend seemed like as good of a time as any to put on the event.”

Musicians from different genres performed from acoustic covers of rock songs to jazz and rockabilly numbers.

Rachel Day, the singer for The House of Betty Blues band was one of the performers to take to the stage at the Ponthir event.

“I know one of the fundraisers with St David’s and we’ve played at previous fundraising events for the charity such as the Kolor Dash and for the Rock on the Rooftop at the Celtic Manor,” said Miss Day.

“We were asked if we would be able to come again and play again.”

“A good friend of mine passed away last year from cancer and it was actually St David’s who gave the hospice care to him towards the end of his life,” she added.

“This has a personal meaning to it.”

The 125 Appeal is supporting the St David’s Hospice and donations of £5 to the appeal can be made by texting ARGUS 125 to 70500.

UK taxpayers can also add Gift Aid to your donation by filling in a simple form online.

Donate at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/sdf/SWArgus125