THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog

Services

BOWYDD, United chapels service with the Rev John Owen; St David’s, morning service at 11am; St Michael’s, morning service at 9.30am; Manod Orthodox, Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom; Holy Cross, Mass at 6pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday with Fr Shaji Punnati.

Choirs

THE Brythoniaid Choir, conducted by John Eifion and accompanist Elizabeth Ellis, together with the Oakeley Silver Band, conducted by John Glyn Jones, took part in an evening of carols and community singing last Thursday at the park as part of a winter festival programme.

On Wednesday evening the Blaenau Mixed Choir, conducted by Wenna Francis Jones and accompanists Gwyn Vaughan Jones and Alwena Morgan, was in concert at Bowydd Chapel, joined by the Ysgol Maenofferen school choir, conducted by Meinir Williams and accompanist Manon Reed Jones and soloist Edryd Williams.

The proceeds of the evening are to be donated to Dementia UK.

On Sunday, the mixed choir was in concert at St Madryn Church, Trawsfynydd, with soloists Awel Jones and Thomas Heddwyn.

It was the turn of the Moelwyn Choir, conducted by Sylvia Ann Jones and accompanist Wenna Francis Jones, to be in concert at Betws y Coed on Friday evening, with Gareth Griffiths the compère.

Music fundraiser

AN evening of Northern Soul music presented by John El, Kev Coch, Lewgi and Cliff took place at the RWF Club and raised £580 for the High Dependency Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd in memory of Michael Jennings, the former RWF Club official.

The money was presented by Helen Wyn Jones to Sharon Owen, a local nurse at the unit.

Christmas lights

THE town’s annual switching on of its Christmas lights took place last Thursday evening.

Despite the bad weather, many turned out for the event, which included an appearance from Santa Claus at his grotto at T? Gorsaf.

The best decorated shop window competition was won by Eifion Stores and the best house window winner was 6 Maenofferen Street.

As for the whole house competition, the winner was Dafydd Hughes of Glan Dulyn, Glanypwll.

The winner of the Elf on the Shelf competition was Gwendolen.

The evening ended there with live music from Chris Mac.

Festival

THE winter festival came to an end at the park on Saturday after bad weather put a halt to Sunday’s events.

On Saturday there was Gypsy Jazz with Rainbow and the 4TS, as well as Gai Toms and his band. Dafydd Iwan and the Horizons were the guests on Friday evening.

On the Tuesday there was an evening under the title of Blaenau’s Got Talent and the finals then took place on Wednesday, with Dilwyn Morgan the compère.

The winner was pianist Alex Anthony.

The adjudicators were members of the S4C Rownd a Rownd programme, Gwyn V Jones, Eleri Roberts and Rheinallt Davies.

Boundary change

THE Local Boundary and Democracy Commission for Wales has published its survey of the Gwynedd Council electoral arrangements.

The final recommendation proposes to move the boundary of the Diffwys and Maenofferen ward further into Manod and this will mean the Conglywal ward boundary will also change.

The town council is to discuss the matter further at its amenities committee meeting.

Camera club

THE club hosted this year’s interclub competition against Llandudno, with Gareth Jenkins the adjudicator.

The home club won both the print and projected images section with a total points score of 517-479.

Sign of the times was the subject for the first themed competition of the season. Tom Dodd was placed first and second in the prints, and Peter Jepson was third.

In the projected images, Helen Kelly was first and overall winner, with Ian O’Neill second and Rachel Williams third. Club member Juliet Dover was the adjudicator.

The club was pleased to hear that Ian O’Neill has been elected as the vice-president of the North Wales Photographic Association and Amanda Sims as its treasurer and competition secretary.

Recycling

GWYNEDD Council has ceased the recycling bin service of paper and magazines, which was based at Diffwys, due to an increase in service costs which has made it no longer sustainable.

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