CAN YOU HELP With Memorial? As I wrote a few weeks earlier the Vicar of Risca, the Venerable John Blackburn is installing a Miners' Memorial Window in St Mary the Virgin Church, Risca, in memory of all the men and boys who worked died in the mining industry of the area, particularly those who lost their lives in the Blackvein Colliery Mining Disaster on 1st December 1860.

As a lasting memorial for the generations to come, the new stained glass window needs to be very accurate in its detail.

Please can I ask if anyone reading this has any photographs of the following: * The Blackvein Colliery.

* Cwm Byr Mass Grave, above the old Greenmeadow Inn (particularly the headstone inscription).

* The Miners' Institute, Crosskeys Corner.

* Oxford House, Risca.

All of these places will be faithfully reproduced into the Miners' Memorial Window, so everyone will know the price paid by those who worked in the mining industry in the valley.

If you could help please send details to Gill Hollister, Reader of the Parish of Risca, 4 Birch Grove, Risca, Gwent.

Call 01633 615608 or e-mail ghollister05@aol.com for details.

A POSADA IS COMING TO RISCA: What is a Posada? A Posada is Mexican tradition where in the weeks leading up to Christmas, people dressed as Mary and Joseph travelled from house to house around a village asking for a room for the night, and telling people about the news of the coming of Jesus.

Then on Christmas Eve the whole village goes to church to enact the Nativity Story.

So Posada is a journey - the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.

At Risca this year, as a way of marking Advent and looking forward to the coming of Christmas figures of Mary and Joseph and a flock of hand knitted sheep are going to travel around Pontymister, Risca and Crosskeys and stay over night in the families of local brownie pack.

The travelling Posada will be handed on from one host family to another each day.

When the Posada leaves the host's home the family removes a sheep to keep from the flock until the Christmas Eve brownie service at 6pm at St Katherine's Church, Crosskeys.

They then bring their sheep and place it in the baby's crib.

If you are interested in coming to this service don't be sheepish about asking for details.

Call Gill Hollister on 01633 615608 for details.

THREE CHOIRS' CHARITY NIGHT: On Thursday, October 25, at Tynewydd school, Newbridge, there will be a charity concert featuring the Mynyddislwyn Male Voice Choir, the Pentwynmawr Ladies Choir and Tynewydd Primary School choir starting at 7pm to raise funds for the Brawn Girls Hydrotherapy Pool Fund Appeal.

Tickets are on sale at £4 each and you can pay on the door.

Please give your support to this concert and in doing so enjoy the event of popular male voice, ladies' and children's music. Call 01633 615964 for details.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY: A fundraising concert will be held for Cancer Research UK Cymru featuring the national championship-winning Newbridge (Celenyn) Band.

The concert will be held in Crosskeys Tertiary College Hall, Crosskeys, on Friday, November 27, from 7pm.

Ty Sign Primary School Choir is also due to perform.

Tickets priced £4 for adults or £2 for under 12s are available from Granville West solicitors, Risca, on 01633 612353.

Both participating parties have been fully active over recent months either at competitions or entertaining groups and another fine concert is anticipated on this occasion. Don't be disappointed - be there.

Prior to this on Friday, November 9, at 7.15pm the Royal British Legion, Risca branch will hold for its forth consecutive remembrance concert evening featuring Risca Male Voice Choir, Crosskeys Silver Band, Ty Sign Primary School Junior Choir and soloist Jessica Allen (soprano).

There will also be a drumhead service conducted by the Legion padre Reverend John Blackburn followed by the last post and reveille.

Civic dignitaries are expected to be in attendance and standard bearers of various organisations will also be present.

The general public are invited to attend and tickets are now available priced £4 and can be obtained from the Cobbler's Cabin, Pontymister, Risca Rent Office, Risca Post Office, Risca Male Choir or by calling 01633 614963.

Organisers are also asking the public to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal by buying your poppy from poppy sellers at various points shortly, and/or placing an order for wreaths or crosses from your local branch of the Royal British Legion.

In the meantime, details of the annual parade and service of remembrance at the War Memorial opposite Ty Darran Home, Risca will be included in this column as soon as they are received from the local branch.

It will be Sunday, November 11, but all other details are not yet to hand.

The next legion branch meeting will be on Wednesday, November 7, at 7.15pm at the branch club, Pontymister.

All members and prospective members, male or female are welcome to attend.

Let us remember the fallen of two world wars as well as other conflicts, which have and are taking place at the present time.

CARDIOLOGY FUND: The Royal Gwent Hospital and St Woolos Hospital newsletter was received over the past week and the next fundraising event will be the Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 24, in the Belle Vue Restaurant at The Royal Gwent Hospital at 10am.

The organisers would be grateful for donations of tins and bottles for the tombola stall and any gifts for the craft stall and raffle, for which tickets will soon be available.

Contact 01633 234308, answer phone available, to make a donation or for more details.

All funds raised are for the cardiology fund.

ANNUAL CONCERT: Just a reminder that tickets are still available for the annual concert by Risca Male Choir and featuring Robert Anderson (bass) by kind permission of the Welsh National Opera who will be accompanied at the piano by Gia Louise Coppolo.

The event takes place at Risca Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 27, from 7pm and promises to be an exciting evening of popular and not so popular music by both choir and artiste, the show will also include spirituals.

ISLWYN ACOUSTIC GUITAR CLUB: On Friday, November 2, at the Crosskeys Hotel, guitar great Bob Brozman will be in concert.

Blues musician and author, he is equally renowned as a virtuoso national steel guitarist as a musicologist.

He is also an avid collector of steel guitars and as a guitarist like no other, is an established and prolific recording artist, performer, producer and author.

His work with musicians from around the world in the past several years has marked him out as not only an excellent musician and slide guitarist, but also as a pioneer in finding a common thread among global musical guitarists.

Tickets are £8 (concessions £6).

Contact 01495 270078 for further details.

CROSSKEYS AND PONTYWAUN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION (CAPRA) On Monday, October 1, there was a CAPRA meeting. The items discussed were: * Local opposition to the council's plan to introduce double yellow lines on many of the streets near the new station.

* Spare land that might be available for a BMX park for the youngsters of the area.

* Proposed development below Hilary Rise and the threat of flooding.

All residents of Crosskeys and Pontywaun are welcome to attend CAPRA meetings whether they have a grievance they wish to discuss or whether they think they can contribute to the regeneration of the community.

The next meeting is at the Philanthropic Inn on Monday, November 12, at 7pm.

CROSSKEYS COMMUNITY GROUP: Tea/coffee mornings are held every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12pm.

Bingo sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons.

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

The community hall is available for hire - for bookings and information please telephone Rebecca 07900 519381 or Lynne 01495 271947.

Answer phone available and all calls returned.

We are now preparing for the Caerphilly in Bloom 2008 competition and there are gaps to fill.

Donations of bulbs etc would be much appreciated.

Does anyone have a spare wheelbarrow they don't need?

Call Lynne on the above number.