A celebration of Stuart Cable’s life takes place at St Elvans Church, Church St, Aberdare at 12.00 on 21st June 2010.

Procession Starts from Richard’s Funeral Services Chapel of Rest, Harriet St. in Trecynon to Mill St.
Left at The Welsh Harp into B4725,
Continue for 1 mile to town center (Canon St).
Right at Cenotaph into Victoria Sq, bear right
Right into Church St.

Procession End:
St Elvans Church can be found directly ahead.

For Parking:

From Cardiff:
Use Dukes St Car Park or continue to Tesco roundabout,
Turn left and follow road to R’bout then continue straight over
into Gadlys Pit Car Park

Secondary Parking:
YNYS Car Park. Right off A 4059 towards
Michael Sobell Sport Centre.

Send your Pics and Video and Share your Thoughts here.

Mountain Ash folk are urged to line the streets of Mountain Ash this weekend to enjoy a public ceremony organised to mark the rededication of the town’s war memorial.

The event will include a parade through the town being led by local dignitaries and the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh, which is set to please the crowds.

Significant work has taken place on and around the important memorial after it was damaged by mindless vandals in 2008.

As well as a full repair of the structure and new plaques, important work has also taken place to improve the footways and lighting around the war memorial.

To mark the end of such an important restoration, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and its partners, including the Royal British Legion, has worked to organise a community-based event to rededicate the war memorial.

The event takes place on Sunday, May 23 and begins with a parade that leaves the Remembrance Gardens in Oxford Street at 1.45pm.

For those who feel they cannot complete the full distance from Oxford Street to the war memorial, the parade will be stopping at St Margaret’s Church, where those who can walk the final 200m to the memorial can join it.

The Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh will lead the parade, which will also include local dignitaries, including Mayors from neighbouring authorities, ward members and the Royal British Legion.

The parade will end at the war memorial, where the service will begin with a welcome from Cllr Simon Lloyd, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf and prayers and hymns led by Reverend Michael Jones, vicar of Mountain Ash and Miskin.

The restored war memorial will be unveiled by Lord Aberdare and Cllr Lloyd, before the Last Post is played and wreaths are laid – by the Representative of the Queen, the Mayor and the Royal British Legion.

Mountain Ash War Memorial was originally dedicated in 1922 and Reverend Jones will reflect on that service over 80 years ago in his service on Sunday.

Cllr Simon Lloyd, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Ward Member for Mountain Ash West, said: “We were all devastated when the war memorial was damaged by mindless vandals in 2008.

Cwmaman Music Festival 2009 is on its way folks. Oh yes, the 2nd annual music shindig will be bigger and better even than last years amazing cultural weekend.

Cancel all plans for the last weekend in September 09 because there’s only one place you wanna be. Yep, once again Cwmaman will extend a welcome to music fans everywhere and showcase the excellent talent on offer around the valleys and beyond, following the success of last year we have a surprise headline act.

For more information on the weekend enjoy the Cwmaman Music Festival Myspace page here.

On Thursday 19th September 2009 between 7pm – 10pm.

There will be an open mic slot and refreshments will be provided.

Places are limited – please ring to book.

Telephone Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery on 01685 886729

More Information on Alun Lewis on Rhondda Cynon Taff Wiki here

Rhondda Cynon Taf Mental Health Partnership is working together to raise awareness of mental illness in the County Borough by hosting a series of sponsored walks as part of world mental health week.

Choose the walk that suits you best, the walks start at 11am and are taking place in the following locations on the dates listed:

• Rhondda Mile at Gelligaled Park – 5th of October,

• Cynon Mile at Aberdare Park – 8th of October,

• Taff Mile at Ynysangharad Park – 10th of October.

The mile can be walked, run, cycled, skateboarded, whatever you fancy. Come along as a group, as a family, alone or in fancy dress and the best dressed will win a prize. The routes are wheelchair accessible and are suitable for pushchairs.

If you are unable to take part in the walk, why not come along and support the walkers or become an event volunteer.

Entrance Fee is £1.00 per walker payable on the day, for more information on the Rhondda Mile call Paul Bargewell on 01443 688770, for the Cynon Mile call Angela Evans on 01685 875481 or for the Taff Mile call Nannette King on 01443 486856.

Thanks to a £8,900 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the three-week exhibition celebrates the massive contribution made by St John to the health and welfare of the people of the Cynon Valley.

Long before the establishment of the National Health Service in 1946, St John Ambulance was often the only provider of organised first aid training, nursing care and ambulance services. They attended events, accidents and frequent colliery disasters to provide care for those who had been injured.

St John Ambulance was of particular importance in the Cynon Valley of South Wales as rapid expansion of the population during the industrial revolution and the poverty of many iron and mine workers meant that St John Ambulance services were invaluable to local people. The St John Ambulance Aberdare Division was established in 1908.

St John Ambulance Centenary Celebrated

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, added: “This project will stir up a lot of emotions and memories and highlight the invaluable contribution St. John the Ambulance has made to the well being of generations living in the Cynon Valley. This project will help bring young and old members of the community together to share an insight into the area’s past.”

The exhibition takes place at Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery located on Depot Road, Aberdare, CF44 8DL until August 22nd 2009. Entrance is free.

The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm. For further details visit www.cvmg.co.uk or telephone 01685 886729.

Photographer Rhodri Jones tells the story of the nation in a thought provoking and informative way, highlighting the day-to-day problems they face, their often desperate living conditions.

Accompanying his book ‘Made in China’ showed in the International Photo Festivals of China, Holland and Italy as well as other venues in both the UK and abroad, “GO! Internal migration in the People’s Republic of China” is on show in the Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery.

Mr Jones explained: “Over the last 25 years China has experienced a period of unprecedented economic growth. A by-product of which has been an unbelievable internal migration. During this time, according to official estimates, more than 200 million people have moved with as many again likely to be affected in the future.

GO! Internal migration in the People’s Republic of China” goes on show at the Cynon Valley Museum & Gallery from August 15th to October 3rd 2009. Entrance is free. The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm. For further details visit www.cvmg.co.uk or telephone 01685 886729.

The event at Ynys Sports Centre, Aberdare, on July 29, is being supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor Cllr Robert Smith and will raise funds for one of his chosen charities, Help for Heroes.

As many residents as possible are invited to attend the event in order to enjoy the sport, but also to show their support and respect for the servicemen and women who fight for our country.

Aberdare RFC was approached by one of its former players, Darren Thomas, who is now in the 1st Dragoon Guards (Welsh Cavalry) and plays for their rugby team.

He was keen to hold a rugby match and it was agreed the event should be organised as a fundraiser.

Entrance is free to all, but there will be programmes for sale and collections to raise money for Help for Heroes. The event opens at 7pm for a 7.15pm kick off.

Ydych chi, neu rhywun chi’n adnabod yn ystyried addysg Gymraeg i’ch plant neu eisiau gwybodaeth am eich Cylch Ti a Fi neu’ch Cylch Meithrin lleol. Croeso i chi ddod clybiau anffurfiol newydd i rhieni ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf. Rhedir gan Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Mae Clwb Cloncan yn rhedeg yn wythnosol ar hyn o bryd yng Nghanolfan yr Urdd, Stryd y Gwynt, Aberdâr sy’n cael ei chynnal rhwng 1.30 a 3.00 bob Dydd Llun

Os hoffech mwy o fanylion am eich Clwb Cloncan lleol, cysylltwch â Vicky Pugh ar 07500 878289 neu swyddfa’r fenter ar 01443 407570.

Delineavit by Manchester-born David Alan Atkins who now resided in Miskin, includes a vast selection of cartoon-type works of art inspired by his fascination for the genre.

Alan explained: “Renaissance artists drew cartoons prior to the painting of a mural or large canvas. Art schools have long used the drawing of ancient statues and sculpture as a way of learning and perfecting observational skills.

“Drawing is the starting point for many diverse forms of creativity from painting, printmaking and architectural plans to preliminary sketches for 3-dimensional work or storyboards for movies and animation. Drawing is a fine way to learn about the world around you.

“To draw a thing is to see it clearer, to understand it more. Drawing gave us Leonardo’s heads, Durer’s hands and Mickey Mouse. Drawing can be fun.

“The artworks in this exhibition have two things in common – they are all drawings (in one media or another) and they have all been born out of a sense of fun.

“Some of the works follow particular themes whilst other pieces literally drew themselves with the subconscious mind in the driving seat and a bit of lunacy as the passenger. I have had great fun drawing them – now I’m off to water my platypus.”

The talented printmaker and artist trained at Manchester High School of Art, Rochdale Art College and the University of Glamorgan.

Alan describes his work as being, “Inspired by the bizarre, the grotesque and surreal with touches of humour that can sometimes be described as barbed or dark.

“My influences range from the works of Bosch, Breugel and Goya to the illustrations of Brian Froud and Ian Miller, the books of Jack Vance, Mervyn Peake and Terry Pratchett to the plays of Shakespeare and the films of Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam.”

Alan has exhibited in galleries throughout the United Kingdom and has had his work published in numerous publications. His work is held in private and public collections throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, America and Canada.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation Cllr Robert Bevan said: “The range of drawings on display is quite extraordinary and illustrates a vast range of styles. But above all they are fun to view.

“The Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery prides itself in its variety of exhibits, the high quality of displays and the popularity of these exhibitions amongst members of the public. I’m confident this will be yet another successful exhibition and hope plenty of people will visit the gallery and enjoy the remarkable works on show.”

Delineavit will run until February 28th 2009 at the Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery, Aberdare. Opening times are 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday. For details contact the Museum on 01685 886729.