Chuckles and Cheers in the Valley

There was big chuckles and cheers of applause tonight marking the long-awaited return of local drama sensation, the Library Luvvies.

Staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Libraries service – aka ‘the Library Luvvies’ – performed their own musical comedy ‘Where in the World?’ at Ton Pentre Library.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Libraries Service is holding a week of travel-related activities during its ‘Where in the World Week’, starting Monday, June 7, 2010. The local library service in Rhondda Cynon Taff offer a range of travel books and DVDs available for loan.

Tonight was an hilarious night of comedy sketches from around the world.

Walking Proud in Rhondda

Congratulations to the 84 pioneers who took part in Rhondda’s first Macmillan Walk today raising vital money for this cancer charity.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor Robert Smith cut the starting line ribbon at 9.10 am at Tonypandy where charity walkers began the 11 mile trek to the finishing point at Rhondda Heritage Park.

Enjoy exclusive photos from the day here.

Goodbye Maerdy Hall

Christine Black Jones blogs about the loss of a great Maerdy institution …. the Maerdy Workingmens Hall and Institute.

Today I stopped to watch, as I was driving down the hill, As workmen chipped and hammered, then removed its pointed sill..

I swear I heard it cry with pain, as it was ripped away, Heard it beg them, to be left alone, to stand another day.

I wondered, did they realise, a 100 years and more, That builders gave their hearts and souls, for us to have somewhere to go?

Read the rest of this page »

Walk this Way in Rhondda

Going, going… soon to be gone. Maerdy Workmen’s Hall

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council confirmed today that demolition of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall will begin soon.

Built in 1905, the grand old building was an iconic symbol of Rhondda’s wealth based on the coalmining industry.

The local Council plan to recycle as much of the remains of the building as possible.

Several local organisations have already expressed an interest in reusing the old stone from the venue as soon as it is razed to the ground.

Click here for the Gallery of Photos of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall

Rhyscycle and the Aberdare Grot Spots

We have prepared a collection of Aberdare Grot Spots using photos from a variety of locations across Aberdare and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

One of the ugliest grot spots is perhaps at the top of the Mountain overlooking Aberdare. Hereabouts people dump their fast-food flotsam.

Visitors coming to Aberdare via Maerdy in the Rhondda are greeted by the sight of wrappings from the local junk food merchants.

In fairness to Aberdare’s local Council, they clean up the mess left by other people pretty soon, but perhaps, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council should prosecute a few more litter-bugs to ‘get the message across’.

Local recycling mascot Rhyscycle does an excellent of educating young people about the importance of recycling. Maybe it is now time to invent a similar cartoon character to help educate the Neanderthal adults in our midst who have not yet discovered the modern invention called a dust-bin!

Click on the thumbnail photos to see larger versions.

• Link to the Aberdare Grot Spots

Rhondda Redheads

Wow, wow.. it’s Park & Stare weather.

Find a nice spot, park up and just stare… it’s the Autumn colour show.

Here’s some photos of ‘redheads’ (or perhaps reddish-heads) from the car park at Rhondda Heritage Park, Trehafod this weekend.

Early signs of Autumn in Blaenrhondda

Autumn seems to be upon us much earlier this year. Outside the War Memorial in Blaenrhondda this week, there was a carpet of early golden Autumn leaves.

The weather has certainly been very unusual this year. We had a very warm and dry Spring followed by the wettest Summers since around 1766 according to the Met Office.

The Autumn harvest is here much earlier this year.

The blackberry and elderberry are ripe for picking now, and many people are picking their apple trees a month or so earlier than usual.