THE latest community news from Machynlleth

Marie Curie

A COFFEE morning in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care will take place at Ysbyty Bro Ddyfi Hospital on Thursday, 7 September, from 11am-1pm.

Bags of Help

ADVICE Mid Wales are appealing for votes to bag a cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative. Vote for them at the Aberystwyth Tesco stores between 1 September and 31 October.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco being awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant. Advice Mid Wales is one of the three groups on the shortlist at the Aberystwyth store.

The Advice Mid Wales general manager Cyril Breeze Evans, said: “Our volunteers give their time freely but in return we need to cover the cost of providing adequate training to build their capacity and pay travel costs to ensure volunteering is both affordable and rewarding.

“We assist clients with problems including employment, housing, welfare benefits and consumer issues. We reach out to people marginalised by financial problems, rural isolation, lack of public transport, poor access to services, age, ill health, disability, and caring duties. We aim to make a difference to individuals, their families and to the wider community.”

Valuation day

AT St Peter’s Church on Friday (8 September) between 10am and 2pm, Halls of Shrewsbury will be in attendance to value items (£2 per item, from tables to teacups) with all proceeds going to the church.

Bowls

FOUR Machynlleth lady bowlers slipped just one step short of the top rung at the Mid Wales Women’s Bowling Association county finals at Llanidloes Bowling Club on Saturday, August 19.

Sue Mount was unable to overcome Berriew’s Emma Gittins in the four-wood singles final, having gained a semi-final victory over Pauline Cutts of Brecon.

And, after ousting a Berriew threesome in the semi-finals, a similar fate befell Jean Price, Kate Jones and Eileen Jones as they fell at the final hurdle to Berriew’s Janet Thomas, Isabel Jones and Kathy Pearce in the two-wood triples.

There was even more success for Machynlleth ladies Betty Fleming, Naomi Fleming and Sue Mount who, as members of the Mid Wales Women’s Bowling Association squad, won the coveted Welsh Women’s Bowling Association Savegar Cup, beating Glamorgan 122-101 in Ebbw Vale.

Mach ladies have also been riding high in the Montgomeryshire CBA Ladies’ Wednesday League. They held fourth place, four points behind leaders Carno ladies, after round nine of 13.

In the recent Welsh Bowling Association National Finals at Llandrindod Wells, Montgomeryshire county champion 2016, Andrew Fleming secured a 21-19 first-round victory over D. Salmon (Penylan) in the open singles but, in an equally enthralling second-round tie, lost 21-18 to Ebbw Vale’s O. Dando.

Meanwhile, in the senior pairs, David Rowlands and Barry Fleming progressed into the semi-finals where they lost to D. Curtis and B. Griffiths, of Sully, 20-5. Earlier they’d claimed excellent results over W. Lister and G. Moorhouse (24-12) and B. Harris and I. Penrose (18-16).

Charity events

A MACHYNLLETH charity will host two events this week.

HAZINA, which works in co-operation with the village of Bangalala in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, welcomes After Freedom Productions on Friday (8 September) for a charity performance of the show ‘I am Rhythm’ at 7.30pm at Y Plas.

‘I am Rhythm’ is a dance production promoting South Africa’s young street talent.

It tells a story of Rhythm, the one that runs in the blood and dictates the heartbeat in South Africa.

The production includes both tribal and modern music and dance with a strong focus on showcasing the youth culture of South Africa where urban dance and beats set the rhythm for a new generation of Sowetans.

Music and dance are combined with storytelling and audio-visual effects to enrich the story of Rhythm.

The production was supported by the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Department of Arts and Culture under the South African Presidency Office.

As well as watching the show, there is also an opportunity to join the group for a one day workshop on Saturday (9 September) at 10am at Y Plas Machynlleth.

Travel through South African history with Zulu and Tswana rhythms and dance styles.

Dance the war dance of a Zulu warrior while chanting to the beat of the drum. Learn the gentle dance of the Tswana tribe that pays tribute to the animal kingdom through movement and song.

The fundraising events are for HAZINA whose current projects are community based rehabilitation nurses for children with disabilities and educational projects and building projects to improve the facilities at the primary and secondary schools in Bangalala.

The event is supported by the Night Out Scheme.

Please contact Märit Olsson on 01654 761582 or 07766 002340, or email [email protected]

Health

HYWEL Dda University Health Board and Powys Teaching Health Board are holding a public and stakeholder event at Plas Machynlleth on Wednesday, 13 September, from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

It is important for as many as possible to attend to have the chance to have a say on how services should improve across the area served by Hywel Dda UHB.

More information is available via email - [email protected] or by writing to Freepost Hywel Dda Health Board. A questionnaire is available online at www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/tcs or https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/tqc-tcs Visiting www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/tcs or calling 01554 899056.

Edible Mach Maethlon

FOLLOWING last month’s highly successful workshops, Edible Mach Maethlon is pleased to announce its September workshops, which are free to the public, from 6pm until 8pm.

Summer pruning on Thursday, 7 September, at the edible table, Y Plas; Thursday, 14 September, spicy puffed rice at the Bowling Club; Thursday, 21 September, autumn salads at the edible table, Y Plas; Thursday, 28 September, arancini cooking workshop at the bowling club.

Concert

THE popular series of lunchtime concerts continue at the Tabernacle on Saturday, 16 September, at noon.

Osian Penry Dance (clarinet), Greg Crowley (bassoon), Euryn Jones (piano) will be playing music by Glinka, Debussy, Lyons, Saint-Saens and Mendelssohn.

The concert, which is in the auditorium, is free. A collection will be made in aid of the Education Foundation. For more information please call 01654 703355.

New Dyfi Players

THE New Dyfi Players next production will be The Three Musketeers.

Mach Panto will be held during February 2018 half term (Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Saturday 17).

If you would like to be part of it, please go along to the sign-up session on Saturday (9 September), from 10am-1pm at St Peter’s Church.

Not only do the group want actors and actresses, but singers, dancers and musicians also, as well as backstage help too - costume makers, scenery and props creators, sound and lighting technicians, production, management, advertising and front of house.

All ages and all abilities needed. If you have very little experience and want to develop your skills come along.

Golf

ON 19 August, Machynlleth Ladies hosted the Mid-Wales County Golf Teams of Three competition. This had been cancelled in March due to heavy rain and it was touch and go again this time.

Several ladies took part - the course was full to capacity - and despite conditions it was an enjoyable day.

The winners were Sherrie Edwards, Chris Hughes and Lisa Hughes from Builth with 70 points.

Ladies’ Captain Rhian Wynn thanked all who had helped to make the day successful: the MWCGA president Sue Wilson who gave enormous support and did the cards; the lady members who helped; Kevin Lewis the green- keeper; Andrew Vaughan and Phil Harris and other male members and the caterers who provided the bacon baps at the start and the meal at the end. Justine from Penarth brought a lot of clothes which is always an attraction at these events.

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