THE latest community news from around Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Swimming Club

AT the beginning of the year, 28 children from the area travelled to Cardiff to compete in a National Urdd Swimming Gala.

After the gala, Paul Williams, who is the Ffestiniog Swimming Club’s coach, heard some of the children discussing how far the journey is from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Cardiff.

Mr Williams decided to set a challenge for the children of the Swimming Club (pictured above).

The challenge was to swim the distance from the pool in Blaenau Ffestiniog to the pool in Cardiff, in less than 48 hours! That is a total of 155 Miles, 249,450 Meters or 9,978 pool lengths.

It was also decided that the children would receive a sponsor sheet to try to raise money for the Swimming Club.

Mr Williams said: “To be completely honest, at the beginning I started to worry that this challenge would be too much for them.”

The children were swimming in groups of five to eight depending on age.

After three or four hours, a new group of children would take their place. Some of the children swam all night, with staff and parents there to support.

“At the end of the 48 hours, the children had swum 284 miles, 18,228 length of the pool!

This was almost double the enormous challenge that was set for them, and it’s positive to be able to say that the children have raised £4,500 for the Swimming Club.

“I can’t be more proud of the children, their effort and commitment is a credit to their parents and the Ffestiniog area.”

Cllr Mair Rowlands, the Cabinet member for healthy Gwynedd at Gwynedd Council added: “In a short period of time, the quality of the Swimmers of Ffestiniog’s Swimming Club has been recognised throughout north Wales. Many of them compete in national competitions, and we are proud to say that one 12-year-old boy from Blaenau area has been chosen for the Wales skill squad.

“I would like to thank the swimmers’ parents for their constant support and the Bro Ffestiniog community for their generosity. They should be extremely proud of these excellent young swimmers.”

The money that has been raised will be invested back into the club to continue the improvement and development of local swimmers.

Services

BOWYDD: United chapels service with the Rev Aled Edwards, Cardiff, 10 am; Manod Orthodox: Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom; St David’s: Morning service at 11am; St Michael’s: Morning service at 9.30am; St Mary Magdalene: Mass at 11am with Bishop Edwin; Holy Cross: Mass at 6pm on Saturday with Bishop Edwin; Bethel, Ffestiniog: Rev Iwan Ll Jones;

Pavilion

HAVING received a letter from the lessee of the park pavilion complaining about the high costs of electricity, the council is to request once again to the Total Gas and Power Company to remove the overnight meter from the pavilion and get Y Dref Werdd to look at the problem.

Choirs

IT is now confirmed that on 12 November the Brythoniaid Choir will be joining Côr Godre’r Aran and Ar ôl Tri choir to entertain the crowd before the Wales v Argentina friendly rugby international at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff.

A week before Rhiannedd y Moelwyn ladies choir will be competing at the North Wales Choral Festival at The Venue, Llandudno where they won the ladies choirs first prize last year.

Then on 19 November, Rhiannedd y Moelwyn will join Rhys Meirion in a concert at St Asaph Cathedral.

Benches

ALTHOUGH a contract has been agreed to paint benches, work is yet to be carried out and also that the grass is overgrown under the Dolrhedyn bench.

Councillors are to look at the benches in their wards and report back to the council and it has been resolved to get the grass cut at Dolrhedyn.

Clwb Cerdded

TAITH aelodau Clwb Cerdded Stiniog fore Sul nesaf fydd Pen yr Heigi Ddu a Phenllithrig y Wrach; gofynnir i’r aelodau i ddod at Ty Gorsaf am 9yb ac mae esgidiau cryf, dillad

addas a phecyn o fwyd yn hanfodol i’r daith.

Gallery

THE Maenofferen Gallery hosts an exhibition under the heading of All Things Bright of prints and photographs by Cill Collier till the 28th of the month and admission to the gallery is free during the library’s opening hours.

Clwb Merched

MEDWEN a Rowena o Rhyduchaf, oedd gwragedd gwadd cyfarfod Clwb Merched nos Fawrth.

Cafwyd arddangosfa wych o waith brodwaith yn cynnwys croesbwyth, calico, crosio a beads.

Gwesteion y te oedd Joan a Lowri ac ennillydd y raffl oedd Ann, wedi ei roddi gan Glenys.

Archaeological Society

THE next talk will be held on Thursday, 20 October at the Day Centre, Y Ganolfan at 7pm.

Vivian Parry Williams will give a talk on the story of the Graves of the Men of Ardudwy

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]