THE latest community news from Machynlleth.

Sustainable Wales

PLAID Cymru chief executive Gareth Clubb was the guest speaker at a public meeting held at Y Tabernacl on Saturday, 3 December.

Organised by the local Plaid Cymru Montgomeryshire branch, the meeting, titled ‘A Sustainable Wales?’, discussed the way forward towards securing a greener, environmentally secure Wales.

Chaired by Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru candidate for Glantwymyn ward in next year’s Powys County Council election, a range of discussions were had on issues including renewable energy, sustainable living, and the possible effects of the new Wales bill on environmental issues.

Following the meeting, Mr Clubb, a former director of Friends of the Earth Wales, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the engaging and lively discussion about the way forward for securing a sustainable, greener Wales.

“Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley remain to be one of the most important focal points for environmental activity and activism in Wales, and it was great to have that expertise and enthusiasm reflected at the meeting.”

Royal British Legion

THE meeting held on Tuesday, 4 October, at the bowling club was opened by chairman Stephen Doyle. The exhortation was given in English by Anthony Jones and in Welsh by Beryl Ingram.

A card was received from Arthur Brennan thanking the branch for the get-well card, and a letter of invitation to Cardiff Castle for the Poppy Appeal service.

Poppy Appeal organiser Stephen Doyle asked members if they could help sell poppies at the Co-op. He told members that the local army cadets would help sell the poppies on the two Saturdays. All poppy boxes are ready to be taken to the town’s businesses.

Secretary Anthony Jones told members that he had booked a table for the branch to hold a tombola at the Mayor’s Christmas Fair in the community hall at the Plas on 10 December, starting at 10am.

Nominations for officers for 2016/17: Chairman, Stephen Doyle; vice-chairman, Sylvia Rowlands; secretary, Anthony Jones; treasurer, Iris Doyle; Poppy Appeal, Stephen Doyle; welfare officer, Stephen Doyle; sick visitor, Elsbeth McAuley; standard bearer, I Edwards. There was no president nominated, but members decided to ask Ivor Price to become the branch president.

Stephen told members that he met with members of the Tywyn branch to discuss the members joining them as a sub branch. He said that they would be joining Machynlleth as a sub branch early in the new year.They will be able to join meetings but won’t be allowed to vote.

Sylvia Whittaker asked why the branch had two accounts – the general fund and the benevolent fund – and could they be combined. Anthony said he would find out by the next meeting.

Stephen said he had sent for affiliation badges for the cadets. Eirian Owen Jenkins handed out menus for the RWF Christmas dinner at Tyn y Cornel Hotel at Tal-y-llyn.

Anthony informed members that it was Armed Forces Day on 17 June. Marilyn Jones thanked the members for the certificates she and husband Richie had received from the branch.

Stephen said that because Iris Doyle is the new treasurer, all paperwork to do with the signatures will be sent to the bank.

Sadly, since this gathering, Richie Jones, who had been the legion chairman for five years and member of the branch for over 40 years, passed away after a long illness. He will be sadly missed by all members of the Machynlleth RBL.

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