THE latest community news from Machynlleth

Dementia Friends

DEMENTIA Friends’ open day at the Memory Café and Christmas celebration on Wednesday, 19 December from 2pm to 4pm in the bowling club. Everyone welcome, free refreshments.

Children’s Christmas Service

THE children of Corris and Pennal primary schools put on an excellent Christmas service at Pennal Church on Wednesday, 12 December.

In what was described as a nativity story with a twist, the children, all admirably turned out inventive period costumes, alternated between the Bethlehem of 2,000 years ago and the present day to produce a thoroughly enjoyable concert.

The organisers passed on special thanks to the Friends of Saint Peter and Vincula Church for their help and support, and to Sue Jones for accompanying on the piano.

Cancer Research AGM

HOLDING their annual general meeting of 2018 at the local bowling club on 20 November, members of Machynlleth and District Committee of North West Cancer Research heard chairman Geraint Jones praise members, officials and friends for their support and hard work over the year.

He continued by saying that the branch has donated £36,700 for vital research at Bangor, Liverpool and Lancaster universities.

Secretary Meinir Davies reported on the branch’s 60th birthday celebrations at Plas Dolguog Hotel, where Michael Williams was presented with a 40 year long service award.

Meinir said: “After a lovely meal and a slice of celebration cake made by Margaret Wilson, a wonderful afternoon was shared by members past and present, including the two officers who attended from Liverpool head office. The hotel’s management and staff did us proud.”

The following members were elected to serve as officers and committee for the next 12 months: chairman, Geraint Jones; vice-chairman, Karyl Davies; secretary, Meinir Davies; treasurer, Alwena Price and press/publicity, Michael Williams.

Before electing the committee, the chairman expressed deep condolences to the families of two dedicated committee members, Hilda Humphreys and Ann Owen, who died earlier in the year.

Two new members, Glenys Evans and Eirlys Pugh, received a warm welcome from all present.

Secretary Meinir Davies confirmed that, although they were not the eventual winners, the branch’s status was confirmed when they were nominated for the highly prestigious award ‘Dedication to the cause’.

Committee elected: Eluned Besent, Eryl Evans, Glenys Evans, Margaret Evans, Alice Hughes Anwen Hughes, Ann Lloyd Jones, Bronwen Jones, Catrin Jones, Ann Parry, Eirlys Pugh, Olwen Roberts and Margaret Wilson.

Alwena Price presented the balance sheet and explained that the marvellous sum of £9,400 has been transferred to Liverpool head office at the end of the financial year.

Alice Hughes proposed, duly seconded, that the accounts be received and agreed with grateful thanks. This was endorsed by all present.

The branch now has a Facebook page. This helps to promote the charity and is a different and modern way of reaching a wider audience.

Initial arrangements were made for next year’s events, namely, the street/house-to-house collection on 4 to 10 August and the coffee morning on Saturday, 5 October.

Thanks were extended to Margaret Evans and Liz Thomlinson. The whist drives in Corris will also continue. Alice Hughes said that she would like to organise a sponsored walk and possibly an afternoon tea to follow.

Alwen Price stated that there is £2,117 in the bank this year already, raised through the coffee morning in October (£1,643), whist drives (£227) and £230 from a coffee morning held at the Newtown Welsh Assembly Office.

Wales Air Ambulance

CONTINUING their proud record of fundraising success for charities (local and national) and other worthy causes, members of Machynlleth Bowling Club made a donation of £1,500 to the Wales Air Ambulance.

Eirlys Pugh received the cheque on behalf of the WAA and said: “I am grateful to Machynlleth Bowling Club entertainment committee for their enormous effort in raising £1,500 as the cost of running the service across Wales is over £6.5m per year. Every year the WAA attend an average 2,500 missions and the total missions attended since it began in 2001 to the end of September 2018 is 30,120. The Wales Air Ambulance is an all-Wales charity dedicated to serving the whole of our country 365 days a year.”

Principal organiser Eileen Jones said: “The entertainment committee and club members greatly value the life-giving work of the Wales Air Ambulance and is part of the committee’s ongoing commitment to support such worthy causes.”

Garden thanks

GERDDI Bro Ddyfi Gardens held their most recent meeting at the White Lion Hotel on Tuesday, 4 December.

Co-ordinator Angela Paxton led members in a vote of thanks to all who’d contributed to the success of the group’s stall at the recent Christmas fair at Y Plas.

The stall raised £260 plus a good number of donations and pledges to sponsor a tree or edible hedge at the Plas-based gardens.

Mach Maethlon

NUT roast was on the menu for Edible Mach Maethlon’s free cooking workshop at the bowling club on Thursday, 6 December.

Regulars and first-time cooks were shown how to make a vegan gluten-free version of this veggie Christmas classic with chef Jeanette.

On 4 December, the group held an information-gathering day at the club to gain the public’s ideas in shaping Mach Maethlon’s direction over the next few years, and received a number of excellent suggestions for the group to consider going forward.

The Pathways to Farming project is looking into ways to support small scale food producers, and one of those ways is to diversify land-based income streams.

Are you a honey producer in the Dyfi Valley?

There is an exciting opportunity to add value to your honey and support the local food economy.

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