Get ready for box's festive tour

Contained within the Posada box are Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the donkey and a large flock of Risca sheep on their way to St Catherine's Church in Crosskeys.

The Posada figures will arrive at St Catherine's Church at Crosskeys at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

Do come to this service and see all of the nativity play and the large flock of sheep, and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Events: Community carol service, St Margaret's Church, on Thursday, December 6, at 7pm.

Risca Primary School christingle service, St Mary's Church, on Tuesday, December 18, at 6pm.

Parish carol service, St Margaret's Church, on Sunday, December 23, at 6pm followed by sherry and mince pies.

Parish Posada Service, St Catherine's, on Monday, December 24, at 6pm.

Midnight Eucharist, St Margaret's, Monday, December 24, at 11.30pm.

Christmas Day Eucharist, St Mary's, Tuesday, December 25, at 10am.

Pontywaun Christmas Lights Fundraising Group: The group would like to invite you to join in its festive celebrations at the official switch on of the Christmas tree and lights on Friday, November 30, at 6.30pm at Twyncarn Road, Pontywaun (Castle Court).

To give you an update on the group's progress, within the first year of it being established enough money was raised to provide a Christmas tree and three new festive lighting figurines near the Eagle Inn at Crosskeys.

The second year they purchased a further four new festive figurines for the new lampposts at one end of Pontywaun near the Scenic Drive entrance.

In the third year the group was successful in providing another four at Pontywaun Bridge end.

This year the group has had all of the lamppost lighting columns in Pontywaun replaced and is now fundraising to add to the display and put festive lighting on these columns too.

However, this task is not easy one - at a cost of £550 per lamppost column for the festive lights a lot of fundraising activities have and need to take place throughout the year.

The group held a harvest festival this year, which raised more than £1,000, organisers send their thanks to all those who supported this event.

The appeal has also received kind donations from residents, and the team is grateful for these contribution, as without community support, fundraising would be almost impossible.

Organisers would also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to each and every one of you who have donated to the fund this year.

If you would like to make a donation toward this fund then you can do so at one of the collection boxes in Silver Street Stores, the Philanthropic Inn or the Castle Inn.

Alternatively, cheques can also be accepted made to Pontywaun Christmas Lights Fundraising Group.

All donations are gratefully received - however big or small.

Every penny counts and the group appreciates every contribution that is made.

Crosskeys Community Group: The group based at St Catherine's Community Church Hall, Crosskeys holds a tea/coffee morning every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12pm.

Throughout the winter months it will be serving tea, toast and marmalade so do come along and a warm welcome will be extended to all.

Bingo sessions begin at 2.30pm every Tuesday afternoon. Doors open at 2pm. The snowball currently stands at £19.

The group is looking to attract new punters - come along and have some fun, you might win some cash.

The Brownie group at the Community Hall is hosting its Christmas play on the evening of Monday, December 3.

For further details contact Rebecca on 07900 516381.

The annual Christmas carol service and lighting up of the Christmas holly tree in the Community Garden will be held from 6pm on Wednesday, December 5.

Crosskeys Silver Band will be in attendance and everyone gathered will be welcomed to enjoy mince pies and mulled wine in the Community Hall.

Please come along, bring the children and support this unique event in Crosskeys Village.

School Interviews: For the past 19 years, members and friends of Abercarn and Newbridge Rotary Club have, at request of Elizabeth Jenkins, head of careers, interviewed pupils at Newbridge Comprehensive School prior to their leaving for future careers.

Mrs Jenkins pointed out the value of the experience, a fact confirmed by a number of the pupils' parents.

This year, more than 200 pupils were interviewed, making a total of 3,000 who have benefited from the experience.

Rotarian Len Rees who organised the team of interviewers wishes to thank a number of friends who assisted the club and said he considered the interviews a useful service to the community and it is hoped the time spent in future will be just as useful for pupils and parents alike.

For further details on the above contact Brian Evans on 01495 244320.

The Black and White Group: The former players' association at Crosskeys Rugby Club will play hosts to the Ebbw Vale RFC former players at the club house, Pandy Park on Saturday, December 29.

Members are asked to meet at the club at 12pm for a 12.30pm start when the guest speaker will be David Watkins, former Wales, British Lions and Barbarians outside half as well as a former Great Britain Rugby League international.

The get together will be followed by Crosskeys v Ebbw Vale Premier League fixture that will kick off at 2.30pm and supporters of both clubs are invited to be present at this fixture.

Crosskeys RFC wish to express their best to the visitors for a merry Christmas and a good New Year in 2008.

Islwyn Canal Association: All members of the association are reminded that the annual general meeting will be held at the senior citizens hall, Park Road, Risca on Monday, December 10, doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Nominations for officers will take place and on completion of business on the agenda, the annual raffle will be held.

For further news of the ICA please watch this column.

Royal British Legion: The next monthly meeting of the Risca branch will take place on Wednesday, December 5, at 7.15pm.

Also that evening the annual Christmas draw will take place and books of tickets are available from legion members and at the branch club, Pontymister on the night.

The latest figure of the amount of money raised with the sale of poppies, wreaths and crosses stands at £5,733 with further cash still to be received by the branch and grateful thanks are expressed to everyone who so generously helped to make the collection a successful one.

Christmas Bazaar: The Risca East Ward committee of the Labour Party is holding its annual Christmas event at St David's Church Hall, Ty Sign, on Saturday, December 8, from at 11am.

It is understood there will be a variety of stalls including refreshments and a raffle will take place with prizes to be won.

Your support of this event will be greatly appreciated.

For more information contact Stan Jenkins on 01633 614963.

Admission 30p adults and 20p children.

Carol Concert: The 11th annual carol concert is to be held on Thursday, December 6, in St Margaret's Church at 7pm featuring the Risca Salvation Army Band, School Choirs and conducted by local clergy.

Following the service, Santa will be in his grotto in the Church Hall where children can visit him - £1.50 each including a present from Santa - hot punch, coffee, tea and mince pies will be available.

The festive street lighting will be switched on during the proceedings, courtesy of Caerphilly County Borough Council.

As the group of workers over the previous ten years are no longer involved as such, no Christmas tree will be located outside the church this year.

However, the public is cordially invited to go along and give their support and assist in the singing of carols. Merry Christmas to you all.

Concert Reminder: Tickets for the annual Christmas concert by Risca Male Choir - When You Wish Upon A Star are now available for £6 each for Friday, December, and £7 each for Saturday, December 15.

The show starts at 7.30pm and the tickets can be obtained from choristers or by ringing Keith Davies on 01633 896015 or Alan Davies on 01495 272664.

So make a note of the dates, come along and hear some old favourites tunes, as well as new ones also of the Disney era, sung and played by your local choir and accompanists and directed by Martin Hodson.

There is also a singalong for the audience participation in both halves of the show.

Please Note: Should you wish to have your Christmas services included in this column, please arrange for details to reach your correspondent by Tuesday, December 11, by 12pm at the latest.

This could be the last grassroots column prior to 2008. Thank you - have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Release of New Book: A new Crumlin to Pontymister book entitled Over The Years is now on sale written and compiled by Brian Collins.

He is a local historian with splendid photographs and who will take readers on a chronological tour through the mid parts of Gwent's Western Valley from Crumlin onwards to Pontymister.

Industry is not the only product of the valley as there are items on world class sportsmen including boxing champ Joe Calzaghe, rugby's John Davies, snooker's Darren Morgan and Olympic medallist Jamie Baulch.

The publication is by Old Bakehouse Publications, Church Street, Abertillery NP13 1EA and printed by JR Davies Printers. And is one sale at Thoughts Card Shop, Tredegar Street, Risca, priced at £14.95 each.

Sales of this book will again benefit Ty Hafan, the children's hospice in Wales, making the project that much more worthwhile.

The book is an excellent present that can be passed on to relatives and friends wherever they may now reside in the UK or abroad.

Crosskeys Silver Band: On Saturday, November 17, Crosskeys Silver Band competed at the Gerald Coleman Memorial Contest, held at the Parc and Dare Theatre, Treorchy.

Having once again been drawn to play first, the band put in a performance, which was to be an excellent marker for the other bands to follow.

In the end, the adjudicator, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies , senior director of music for the Royal Marines, awarded the band second place behind the eventual winners, The City Of Cardiff (Mellingriffith) Band.

In doing so, the Crosskeys Silver Band secured the title of third section champion band of Wales for the second year running, and were once more presented with the TJ Powell Trophy.

This means the band will be promoted to the second section from January next year, competing in contests on a local level.

Apart from securing second place, ten-year-old Ellis Davies was awarded a prize for being the youngest competing player of the day.

Ellis is the youngest son of Steve and Pat Davies, who also play in the band, along with their two older sons, Rhys and Owen.

The most pleasing prize, was the Rhondda Cynon Taff Trophy, for the best instrumentalist in the section, this was presented to the bands flugel player, David Glastonbury.

His progress over the last 18 months has been incredible and this recognition is well deserved.

Musical director Kerry Bowden said he was really proud of the bands performance and winning the title of third section champion band of Wales for a second time was just reward for all the hard work the band has put in over the last two years.

He added he was over the moon at the best instrumentalist prize awarded to David.

The band is now busy preparing for the Christmas season, especially the band's annual Christmas concert on Tuesday, December 4, which once again is being held at the Cross Keys Methodist Church, and features the choir of Waunfawr Primary School.

Come along and enjoy an evening designed to put you in the Christmas mood - the band promises it is the best concert in the area this Christmas.

Club's very own guitar virtuoso takes centre stage: On Friday, December 7, at 7pm Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club welcomes Chris Fry, its very own guitar virtuoso, to take centre stage at the Crosskeys Hotel at Crosskeys.

Chris Fry, from Griffithstown via Abercarn is a leading Welsh classical guitarist, guitar teacher and lead guitarist with award-winning progressive rock band Magenta.

One rock reviewer said: "Chris Fry is definitely a guitar hero in the making.

"One of those busy' guitarists, he always seemed to have something interesting up his sleeve to add a little flavour to the overall sound, but also able to handle the heavier sections when called upon."

In addition to Magenta, Chris has also played with Eskimo, Cyan and a host of other talents as a session musician in the studio and on television.

Chris began formal lessons on the guitar at 16-years-old.

He sat examinations on classical guitar, concluding with Grade Eight of the Associated Board.

He continued his studies and gained associate and licentiate diplomas in 1995 and 1996 respectively with the London College of Music Examining board.

Chris is an accomplished classical guitarist who regularly appears in venues across South Wales and the west of England.

He also performed solo at the 2004 Gower Guitar Festival and, as a part of a classical guitar duo with Andy Gulligan, at this year's Cowbridge Food Festival.

His repertoire includes the works of Spanish, South American and English composers and original arrangements of works for other instruments.

Chris has also appeared recently in the company of his brother Dan playing an amazing mixture of acoustic classical, jazz, flamenco and progressive rock material Doors open at 7pm for a guitar workshop with Chris on his amazing guitar technique followed by the open mic session and concert with Chris and a few of his friends from 8pm. Expect a few surprises.

Tickets cost £5 (concessions £4), inclusive of concert and workshop.

Tickets may be reserved by ringing the organiser on 01495 270078.