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The countdown is on to Armed Forces Day South Wales in Caerphilly
It’s less than two weeks until Armed Forces Day South Wales 2016, which for the first time will take place in Caerphilly. Update 1: Update near bottom of article regarding times and road closures. Update 2: Update to include paragraph commitment of servicemen and women past and present. Updated first line to indicate updated time frame (only two weeks!) Hundreds of Armed Services personnel, cadets and veterans will march through the town (starting at 11am) before holding a special Drum Head Service, held against the backdrop of the impressive Caerphilly Castle. A free action packed event then takes place at Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields (on Crescent Road) in the heart of the town, where the area will be filled with military stalls and marquees, demonstrations, an events arena, licensed bar and much more. The event is organised and coordinated by the South Wales Armed Forces Day committee, a dedicated team of volunteers – and supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council. Celebrating the commitment of servicemen and women past and present, the event will be attended by: the First Minister of Wales, the Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones; Major-General Richard Stanford General Officer Commanding Support Command; Commodore Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander, Wales and Western England; Air Officer for Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams; and Brigadier Martyn Gamble, Commander 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales. Phil Hubbard, Chair of the South Wales Armed Forces Day Committee said: Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to show their support and recognition for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces…
Gritty Realism Wins Zoom Cymru Award for Film About Miner’s Wives Stories
Animation company Gritty Realism Productions based in Tredomen Business and Technology Centre have won a Zoom Cymru Award for Best Film for their animated film based on the reminiscences of miner’s wives who were involved in the 1984 – 1985 strike. Funded by the Arts Council of Wales, Communities First and Caerphilly Arts Development the film, ‘Striking Stories’, takes an often humorous look at how this experience changed the lives of these women. It was made with young people in the Caerphilly area from Senghenydd Youth Drop in Centre and St Martin’s School working with professional filmmakers Jeremy Roberts and Gritty managing director Gerald Conn. Photo: Gerald Conn (Gritty Realism Productions), Charlotte Moss, Nikki Pitten, Matthew Thorne (Senghenydd Youth Drop in Centre) The company had previously won a Zoom Award for their film ‘Shadows of Senghenydd’ in 2014 which was also made with SYDIC and was screened at the San Francisco Film Festival. ‘Striking Stories’ involved a group of girls from the youth centre who interviewed a number of local women about their role in the 1980s strike. These interviews were edited and the young people drew storyboards to illustrate these stories. The film also involved working with pupils from the Lansbury Park Estate at St Martin’s School in Caerphilly. The school has a strong track record in film with school leavers now working in the animation industry. Gerald also returned during the post-production stages of the film to record a song by a former pupil Megan Churchland. The film had its premiere screening in Blackwood Miner’s Institute. One of…
Award Winning Florist Picks Caerphilly
An award winning florist with over 18 years experience has decided its time to run her own business in Caerphilly town centre. Nicola Downie runs The Caerphilly Florist, which is an independent florist specialising in weddings and funerals. The shop is located on Cardiff Road and overlooks Caerphilly Castle. Nicola said: At The Caerphilly Florist our aim is always to provide beautiful flowers for special people. It really helps that I know many of my customers and so far things are going really well
Local Charity Restores Hope
Pre-Loved Furniture is a registered charity which works to improve the lives of those in need. Their shop, which is located on High Street in Blackwood town centre, sells a range of furniture that has been repaired & restored. As well as selling furniture, the charities shop also offers afternoon tea at a reasonable cost and encourages people to purchase tea for someone who may be unable to treat themselves. As a charity, Pre-Loved Furniture are working to provide help for local people who need to develop a CV, or simply gain some confidence. Founder Susan Glendinning said: Our aim at Pre-Loved Furniture is to bring hope to those who may have lost it. I would really encourage people to call in support for us whenever they are in Blackwood. Pre-Loved Furniture are always looking for donations of furniture to find out more please contact the shop: Telephone 01495 230656.
Bargoed Welcomes Another New Business – N-Style’z
Bargoed town centre recently welcomed a new Turkish barber onto the high street. N-Style’z has opened next to Peacocks on High Street and offers customers the full Turkish barber experience. In addition to offering haircuts in all the modern styles, owner Nazim Yalcinkaya uses the traditional open razor and hot towel to make sure his customers get a really close shave. N-Style’z also offer beard styling and eyebrow trimming. Nazim said: After working at a barbers in Newport I really wanted to start my own shop. I looked at lots of towns in Gwent and decided on Bargoed. I liked the town and this shop on the high street was in a great location
The Business that Dresses for Success
Husband and wife team Jonathan and Rachel Hooper have built Dunbar Costumes in Caerphilly town centre into a thriving business, but it all started from an idea they had to sell fancy dress costumes online. Dunbar Costumes opened its first shop in Bartlett Street in 2007 and within a few years the specialist fancy dress and party supplier found it needed more floor space. In 2013, the business relocated to a larger premises in Pentrebane Street. Jonathan said: It is tough running your own business but we have worked hard and not been afraid to change and look at new opportunities. Our staff offer an amazing customer service and I think that’s a big part of our success.
Costa Coffee Chooses Blackwood High Street
Costa Coffee has opened a new shop in Blackwood town centre in what was formally the Coed Duon Public House located next to New Look on High Street. The national coffee chain, operated by a Welsh franchisee, has spent the last few months making extensive renovations to the building in order to create its signature fit out which can seat in excess of 50 customers. In opening its new Blackwood shop Costa Coffee has created 11 jobs for local people. Manager Siobhan Clifton said: We are delighted to open in Blackwood and have had a great welcome from customers. Our aim is to bring something different to the town and work alongside existing businesses.
Cobbler Helps Shoppers Keep in Step
The high street may have changed, but in Bargoed the traditional cobbler is still going strong. Thirty four years ago Steve Knight set up his own business The Shoe Clinic on Cardiff Road in Bargoed town centre. Over the years he has seen many changes, but The Shoe Clinic remains a traditional cobbler’s carrying out all types of boot and shoe repairs including specialist building up for orthopaedic footwear. It also offers a key cutting service and engraves pet tags. Steve said: Things have changed a lot but I find that people still want to save money and repairing shoes is always much cheaper than buying a new pair. People are amazed at what I can do to repair shoes they thought they would have to throw away.
Applications open to bag a share up to £12,000 for community projects
Tesco are inviting local community groups and good causes to apply for their share of a £12 million carrier bag charge fund. The supermarket teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help initiative, which sees grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects. For more information click on the link below. http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme/pages/applications-open-to-bag-a-share-up-to-12000-for-community-projects