Band’s TV appearance

Last Friday evening the Oakeley Silver Band, under their conductor John Glyn Jones, appeared on S4C’s Heno programme during their concert at the Plas Tanybwlch theatre. The concert was to launch the band’s CD celebrating its 150th anniversary last year.

Clwb Cerdded

The winter programme has been released and the first outing will be on the 8 November with a round walk in the Dolwyddelen area.

£10,000 donation

The South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team, which has Blaenau Ffestiniog-based members, has received a donation of £10,000 from Tom and Angela Parry, of Birmingham, from the Daniel Parry Foundation set up in memory of their late son Daniel with the aim of helping others who, like him, loved mountaineering.

The team is based at a site in Trawsfynydd but are in the process of looking for a new site, preferably in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area.

Services

Holy Cross: Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Bishop Edwin.

St Mary Magdalene: Mass at 11am with Bishop Edwin.

St Michael’s: Morning service at 9.30am.

St David’s: Morning service at 11am.

Manod Orthodox: Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed 30 minutes later by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

Calfaria: Rev O G Williams, morning.

Bethesda: Rev Megan Williams, 10am.

Bowydd: Rev Aled Edwards, morning and evening.

Bethel, Ffestiniog: Communion service with Rev Anita Parry Ephraim.

Trains

The last of the diesel charter trains was in the town on 17 October, having started from Didcot Parkway. Many train enthusiasts came to see it.

There was disappointment among the train spotters because the steam excursions failed to reach the town due to different reasons during the previous months.

Advice

On Mondays, a Citizens’ Advice Bureau representative will be present at the library. Also, on Fridays afternoons between 2pm and 4pm a Macmillan support co-ordinator will be present at the library to deal with any relevant issues.

Consultation

Those who might have missed the first chance to have their say on the Gwynedd County Council’s consultation day, which was set to discuss where the council should make cuts in an effort to save £9m, can have another chance to do so because there will be another meeting planned at Ysgol y Moelwyn, on 2 November, at 6.45pm.

Exhibition

The Maenofferen Gallery hosts an exhibition by artist Joanne Humphreys of Cheltenham who was brought up in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Admission to the gallery is free during the library’s opening hours.

Poetry and creative writing

The group’s next monthly meeting will be held next Tuesday at the Bridge Cafe between 10.30am and noon. For more information, contact 01766 830403.

Sports

Blaenau Amateurs FC were 4-3 winners at Amlwch on Saturday thanks to David Copsey and Gareth Roberts scoring.

The Reserves were held 1-1 at home to Trearddur Bay with Iwan Williams their scorer.

This Saturday the first team are away at Llanllyfni and the Reserves take on Llanberis Res at Cae Clyd with a 2pm kick off.

After a week’s break Bro Ffestniog XV returned to WRU Division 2 action with an 12-6 away win at Llanidloes.

Their next match will be home to Flint on 7 November.

Playing fields

The monthly report on the condition of the playing fields states that trees require trimming and the need for a price for the installation of new safety mats at Cae Baltic and the mats are needed at Tanygrisiau field as well as repairing its fence.

The probation service have been thanked for their work in cutting the hedge around the park.

Fireworks night

Blaenau Bendgedig has been busy with its involvement in arranging this year’s fireworks night, which will be held at Cae Pipes.

In addition to the firework display there will be various stalls, entertainment and more.

The group is appealing for volunteers to act as stewards on the night and would gratefully receive any donations towards the costs of the evening, because it would go towards the group’s next venture, which is the switching on of the town’s Christmas Lights on Thursday, 3 December.

Reduced bus service

The Dolwyddelen Community Council has sent a letter to Express Motors and a copy to the Ffestiniog Town Council expressing their dismay that the X1 bus service between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws y Coed has been drastically reduced.

The issue was also debated at the town’s Chamber of Commerce and Tourism meeting where it was stated that the Conwy Council has agreed to finance the Sunday bus service from Blaenau to Llandudno, which previously was only between Dolwyddelen and Llandudno.

The Sunday buses will be operating once more in December. There is also talk about the X1 services time table which is believed to be under review.

Skate park

Two young users of the skate park attended a council meeting where they voiced their concerns reg­arding the state of one of the ramps.

A contractor has promised that a cabinet for the cables would be in place by now and Cllr Will G Roberts is to arrange for a Llanrwst company to come and look at the ramp to see if it possible to place a new steel skin on it.

Also, the defective ramp is to be closed and signs to be placed that it is dangerous and not to be used.

Y Gorlan

Bydd cyfarfod mis Tachwedd Y Gorlan yn cymryd lle ar yr ail o’r mis yng Nghapel Bethesda, pryd fydd Tecwyn Vaughan Jones yn rhoi sgwrs ar Arferion Tymhorol am 7yh.

Parking

Although Gwynedd Council have agreed to cut the charges for parking behind Ty Gorsaf, there is no notification on site nor any signpost for motorists to use it as yet.

Several residents can not understand how it is cheaper to park in other towns in the county than here in Blaenau.

Royal British Legion

The Blaenau Ffestiniog Branch will be on parade, on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November.

The branch has said attendance of members of the public, comrades, service and ex-service personnel and all other associations would be appreciated to assist and be on parade.

The order of procedure under the command of parade marshal, Gary Williams, is as follows:

• 9am, form up outside the Eurospar area at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

• 9.15am, March off to St David’s Church (eyes right Towyn road at old physio centre, poppy wreath on wall).

• 9.30am, arrive for Remembrance Service in St David’s Church.

• 10.20am, reassemble outside the church, march off to The Memorial Hospital.

• The Royal Oakeley silver Band will be situated in the town centre, where the salute will be taken.

• 10.50am, service begins service begins at Memorial Hospital

• 11am, two minutes’ silence, followed by wreath laying at the War Memorial.

A mini bus will be available for dignitaries and people with walking difficulty from St David’s Church to saluting base and on to the Memorial Hospital.

Following the 11am service at The Memorial Hospital a short service and wreath-laying will take place at the Rhiw Memorial.

Wednesday, 11 November, there will be a short service of Remembrance at the Memorial Hospital. All service personnel and public are invited to attend. Assemble at the Memorial Hospital at 10.45am.

On Tuesday, 10 November, the AGM of the Blaenau and sub branch, Sarn Helen, will take place, followed by the branch meeting.

Members are not expected to take on any office or commitments by attending.

The branch meets at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades Association Club, Church Street, on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm.