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.

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

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.

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.