She said “I was a Brownie, a Guide and gained my Queens Guide Award, a Young Leader, and then I became a Guider at the age of 18 and took over 1st Abercynon Guide unit.
I have been involved in guiding in the county continuously since becoming a guider – Outdoor activities adviser, International Adviser for Cynon Valley Guiding. I have been district commissioner for Mountain ash, International Adviser for Central Glamorgan, also Outdoor Activities Adviser for Central Glamorgan. I have been Divisional Commissioner for Cynon Valley for 5 years. Now I have been lucky to hand the post to the very capable and enthusiastic Guider Mrs. Stephanie Martin.”

Photograph by Joan Rees: On the Left is Julie Thomas. On the Right is the new Divisional Commissioner of Guiding for the Cynon Valley Mrs. Stephanie Martin.

Cllr Margaret Davies, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, joined local historians and guests for the event outside the Navigation Inn, Abercynon.

The building once housed the head office of the Glamorganshire Canal, a feat of engineering that would allow the coal and iron industries of Rhondda, Cynon and Merthyr an acceptable route to the docklands of Cardiff for transportation around the world.

The Glamorganshire Canal originally ran from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff. Construction started in 1790, and the 25 miles was fully opened by 1794. Its primary purpose was to enable the Merthyr iron industries to transport their goods, and it later served the coal industry of its neighbouring valleys.

It was due to the canal that the Brown Lenox Chainworks opened on its banks, an event which acted as a catalyst to the rapid growth of neighbouring Pontypridd.

Now a popular public house, the Navigation Inn is one of 30 locations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf where the new Blue Plaques will be installed. The project celebrates the proud tradition of world-famous events, people, places, music and culture which originated in the county borough.

Due to £49,200 of Heritage Lottery funding, the project has set out to identify icons, events and buildings, culminating in the placing of blue plaques to commemorate their history and achievements.

Children from Abercynon-based Carnetown Boys and Girls FC took part in the races in Mountain Ash on New Year’s Eve and sponsorship money collected since – around £600 – will help keep their club running in 2009. Club coach Mike Byard and fellow coaches Nigel Evans and Neil Morgan thanked all the youngsters who ran and everyone who sponsored them.

Mr Byard said: “We would like to thank all the children, who are aged between eight and 13, for their efforts. Without the sponsorship money, our club couldn’t continue this year.”

More than 60 youngsters are registered to Carnetown Boys and Girls FC, training every week at the football ground at Abercynon Sports Centre. The club is looking for annual sponsors and anyone who may be able to help should contact Mike Byard on 07929 033457

The Nos Galan Races are held in Mountain Ash every New Year’s Eve and many runners taking part choose to get sponsored, raising money for charities and local organisations. Youngsters from Carnetown Boys and Girls FC who ran in 2007 raised around £700 in sponsorship.

Following heavy rainfall in September, houses in the Nantyfedw area of the village suffered flooding damage and residents were forced to evacuate their homes.

The Council is currently undertaking a full investigation to establish the cause of the flooding and assist in any way possible to attempt to avoid a reoccurrence.

Next week the Council is carrying out a condition survey of the existing culverts in Nantyfedw by using CCTV equipment. Over a three-day period culverts were filmed and examined with access via manholes and inlet structures on private properties.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Frontline Services Cllr Anthony Christopher said: “We are doing all we can to fully investigate the topography of Nantyfedw to try and ascertain why homes were so severely damaged during the flooding of September 5th this year.

“Once our investigations are complete on the number of properties affected, we will determine what we can do to reduce the chances of it happening again. We will of course remain in close contact with the residents and bring them up to date with any information that arises as soon as possible.”

The scheme is part of the Council’s ongoing Streetcare Blitz programme where teams visit communities throughout the county borough with a range of equipment – including chewing gum removal machines, road sweepers and graffiti removers.

Abercynon is the next area to be targeted in the scheme and staff will visit the village on Thursday October 16th.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Frontline Services Cllr Anthony Christopher said: “Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Council’s Streetcare Cleansing Team the county borough has never been cleaner.

“During this latest programme staff will target different communities every week throughout the autumn and winter and the effect this is happening is visible for all to see.”