Grant boosts heritage group

This award is part of a Lottery-funded grants programme.

The money will make a difference to the society and consequently the local community as it will increase the number of activities the heritage group is able to run.

Heritage society chairman Henry Chivers, is thrilled at the award.

He said: "The money will make a real difference to the community. The process was fast and easy.

"I would definitely recommend the Awards For All Wales programme."

"We have had this award due to the time and effort put in by Gina Jones, formerly James, of GAVO (Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations).

"We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Don Touhig MP and chairman of GAVO, Bob Cook, for their letters of support."

NEW COURSES FOR NEW YEAR: The following courses will be starting in January 2008 at Oxford House, Risca: * Introduction to beading (five weeks) starts Tuesday, January 15.

* Aromatherapy (ten weeks) starts Tuesday, January 15.

* Computers For The Terrified (five weeks) starts Tuesday, January 15.

* Computers For Beginners Class (ten weeks) starts Thursday, January 10; starts Monday, January 14; starts Tuesday, January 22.

* File Management (ten weeks) starts Thursday, January 10.

* Intermediate Word Processing (15 weeks) starts Monday, January 14.

* Introduction To Digital Photography (ten weeks) starts Monday, January 21.

* Introduction To Desk Top Publishing (ten weeks) starts Monday, January 21.

* Researching Your Family History (12 weeks) starts Friday, January 11.

Also spaces still available in the following classes: * Dressmaking; Mixed Cards and Scrapbooking; French Year 3.

For more information on these courses telephone Oxford House 01633 612245.

CHRISTMAS WITH CROSS KEYS BAND: As is the norm, the end of the year has been a busy time for the Cross Keys Silver Band.

Starting on November 30, when the band played at the lighting up ceremony in Pontywaun, and despite some very dodgy weather, they provided quite a few seasonal items to ensure a good start to the festive season.

On Saturday, December 1, a small group from the band entertained a small crowd in Cwmcarn at the lighting up of the Christmas tree, again in adverse weather conditions, but as usual much appreciated by the local community.

On Tuesday, December 4, the band held its annual Christmas concert, which is held every year in the Cross Keys Methodist Church and, once again, featured the choir from Waunfawr Primary School, and the learners' group from the band.

Although the audience numbers were up from last year, conductor Kerry Bowden feels that the local community is missing out on what is one of the best concerts in the district.

On Thursday, December 6, the band entertained the members of the Newbridge Ladies' Inner Wheel at their annual Christmas meal.

This is an engagement that the Cross Keys Band took over from the Newbridge (Celynen) Band last year and, having proved as popular, were invited to repeat their performance this year.

Sunday, December 16, saw the band playing at the annual Christmas concert of the Homfray Lodge of the Grand Order of Masons.

This is an engagement that the band has carried out for a number of years and would like to thank the members of the Homfray Lodge for their continued support.

On Friday, December 21, the band played for the Friday Nighters of the Cross Keys Rugby Club, and then on Saturday, December 22, they played at the annual Christmas dinner of the Band of the Royal Welsh Regiment, another longstanding engagement forged through some very close links between the bands.

Also, during the festive period, the band has performed at Asda and Tesco supermarkets in Caerphilly, Newport, Cardiff and Ystrad Mynach, and would like to thank those organisations for their continued support to local culture.

2007 has been a very successful year for the Cross Keys Silver Band.

Very few bands play at the national finals more than once in their lifetime, to do so four times in eight years is a credit to the commitment of their players and their hard work should be recognised as such.

Sadly, we have lost a few players during the year, namely Allan Maddocks, Chris Squires and Reece Gardner respectively, and conductor Kerry Bowden would like to publicly thank all three for their hard work and commitment during the last two years.

To close, it only goes to show that 2008 will be a massive year for the band when it will, hopefully, add to its recent success.

The officers, members and musical director would like to thank all the bands' supporters and wish them a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

CAPRA MEETING REPORT: Crosskeys and Pontywaun Residents' Association met at the Philanthropic Inn on Monday, November 12, and the following items were discussed: * The proposed development at Hillary Rise. Discussions are still ongoing regarding the drainage and sewage.

* The regeneration of Crosskeys corner is imminent, with the toilets and the billboard having been demolished.

* Caerphilly County Borough Council has decided to go ahead with the plan to restrict parking in a number of streets in Crosskeys.

This decision by the Highways' Department has been made because of the extra traffic the Ebbw Valley railway line will bring to Crosskeys.

This action is in sharp contrast to the assurance given by council officers and other officials who were involved in the planning of the Ebbw Valley railway line that people would walk, not drive, to the Crosskeys Halt.

The residents ask: "If people will not bring their cars to Crosskeys to catch the train, why will there be extra traffic?"

* The next CAPRA meeting is at the Philanthropic in Pontywaun on Monday, January 7, at 7pm.

NEW YEAR WALKS: Islwyn Ramblers announce the following walks for the month of January: Sunday, January 6 - Sugar Loaf. Leave Blackview at 9am, moderate eight miles. Contact Ann and Richard (01633 768541).

Saturday, January 12 - Circular walk taking in Penylan, Manmoel, Cwm and Aberbeeg. Leave Blackview at 9.30am, moderate eight miles. Contact Terry Williams (01495 244866).

Sunday, January 20 - Mynyddislwyn with pub stop. Leave Blackview at 9.30am, moderate eight miles. Contact Jill Jones (01495 248328).

Saturday, January 26 - Gwyddon. Meet at Blackview at 9.30am, easy/moderate six miles. Contact Anne and Richard (01633 768541).

It is understood that there is a possibility that some extra Saturday walks, easy and fairly short, will be organised in the near future.

Details in this column as they come to hand.

RISCA MALE CHOIR NEWS: For the 29th time in the 37 years of the choir's life, this year's theme show by Risca Male Choir was performed at Crosskeys College on Friday and Saturday, December 14 and 15, once again devised and directed by musical director Martin Hodson MBE.

On this occasion the show, When You Wish Upon A Star, featured items on a Disney musical fantasy theme and was attended by a most knowledgeable and appreciative audience on both evenings of the show.

Some 13 items were rendered by the choir and solos were sung by the choir's baritone Andrew Jenkins and by Katy Treharne, the guest soloist for the show.

Julie Bevan, the choir's accompanist, was at the keyboard and was joined by Dan Thomas (keyboard) and Rhys Roberts (percussion) as other guests.

Further performances of the show will be given at Blackwood Miners' Institute on Saturday, January 12, and the Congress Theatre, Cwmbran, on Saturday, January 26.

Tickets for these performances can be obtained from the box office of the respective venues.

As with last year's (2006) show, it is recommended that should you wish to attend one of these performances that you obtain your ticket early to avoid the disappointment of missing out.

As a matter of interest there are audience sing-a-longs in both halves of the evening's programme.

So be there, don't miss out on all the fun.

RISCA PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS: A special Christmas assembly was held at Risca County Primary School on Friday, December 21.

The school's head teacher John Rees, led the celebration with children of Year Six acting as narrators.

The choir, led by Debbie James, rendered songs appropriate to the occasion and the Year Six choir sang the carol Sleep My Baby with accompaniment of a flute solo.

Following the service, presentations were made to three members of staff who were leaving the school for different reasons that day.

They were Rhian Maidment (maternity leave) who was presented with a bouquet of flowers, Gareth Roden, taking over as deputy head teacher at Cwmfelinfach Primary School and, last but not least, Sue Peebles, retiring following 37 years in teaching, the last 23 years at Risca CPS, who is wished a happy retirement.

Presentations to Mr Roden and Mrs Peebles were made later in the day.

The assembly ended with the whole school singing It's A Magical Time, accompanied by Mrs James at the piano.

SCRUM ON DOWN TO PANTOMIME: Risca RFC is staging an entertaining pantomime entitled Jack And The Beanstalk in the clubhouse on Wednesday, January 2, at 7pm.

Tickets are available by contacting Amanda on 01633 612586 (evenings only).

This should be a hilarious event, so get your ticket now and get ready for an evening of fun.

WESLEY GUILD: This is held at Dan-y-Graig Church every Monday evening at 7pm, lasting about one hour, and the gatherings for January 2008 are as follows: * January 7 - Miss Marion Redwood, parish deaconess, devotional evening.

* January 14 - Wendy, from the Rumanian Aid Foundation, Christian service meeting.

* January 21 - quiz led by Mrs S Stevens, social evening.

* January 28 - David Lock, wildlife cultural evening.

Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy a chat and cup of tea/coffee following the meetings.