15 minute read
Club features
PORTHCAWL VETERANS HUB THROUGH CHRISTIAN EYES
Although Porthcawl Veterans Hub has been closed since the end of March, our committee have been working hard behind the scenes to support members and the wider community. To commemorate VE Day on 8th May a flag raising ceremony was held at the hub building. This was also the first use of our flagpole. Throughout the last 2 months flags of regiments/services that our members served in have been raised for a week at a time to maintain morale. Several committee members have been volunteering with the Porthcawl Covid 19 Strategy Group. The hub building has also been in use as a base for coordinating the distribution of medicines to vulnerable members of the community. Although our building is closed for our meetings, we remain available for veterans to contact us for help and support. If there are any veterans, or their families that may be isolated and need support or assistance during the pandemic, we would encourage them to contact us and we will do what we can to help. We hope to see you all again soon. Get in touch with Porthcawl Veterans Hub by ringing Louise (Membership Secretary) on 07518 416265.
Louise Magenty Membership Secretary
LOCAL HISTORY, POEMS & PIMMS WITH SOROPTIMISTS
Covid-19 is not proving to be a deterrent to Bridgend Soroptimist Club who continue with their twice-monthly meetings via ZOOM. President Sharon held 2 meetings in the past month. The format may be different but members’ enthusiasm remains unchanged and it is proving invaluable in keeping our ladies connected. On 1st July we shared some intriguing facts and figures on the history of our area with tales of life in bygone times from the archives of Porthcawl, Bridgend, Llantrisant, Maesteg, and Cowbridge, whilst our July 15th meeting revolved around Poetry readings with Pimms for refreshment. Soroptimists enjoy fun and friendship whatever life throws at us in addition to supporting the Community and look forward to resuming external meetings whenever it becomes possible. Follow us on facebook.com/ BridgendSoroptimists or visit our website sigbi.org/bridgend-and-district/
Eileen Bayley Publicity Officer
Where were the Christians of Porthcawl during the Coronavirus crisis? 1. At the Food Bank continuing to provide practical support to the most needy in our community. Thank you to everyone who helped by donating food and household essentials. 2. All over town, supporting groups like the Porthcawl Covid 19 Strategy Group who did a wonderful work arranging for the home delivery of foods and medicines to those ‘shielding’ from the virus. 3. Online and making the most of social media. There are some great examples of local church services now available on YouTube, Facebook etc. Check them out and hear their amazing message of faith, hope and love. 4. On the phone, or texting, or using email, or ‘snail mail’ to keep in touch with church members, neighbours, family and friends, supporting everyone in the stressful and emotionally challenging lockdown. 5. At home, helping to stop the spread of the virus by the sacrifice of closing church buildings. Yet while the buildings were closed the church itself was very active. Now the buildings are open, come and join us. And there is much more. If only I had room... Jesus said ‘You are the salt of the earth’ (Matthew 5:13)
Rev. Martin Gillard (www.gilgal.co.uk)
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NATIONAL COASTWATCH INSTITUTION – PORTHCAWL
During June we dealt with 6 logged incidents and we monitored a further 12. The logged incidents involved various surfers and swimmers in difficulty and a Coastguard request to monitor a vessel also believed to be in difficulty. With single-crewed watches our priorities have been monitoring the shoreline and small craft users close to shore using our CCTV and high-powered optics. We logged 46 commercial vessels, 782 leisure craft, 1 military and 9 others. We hope to have a new CCTV camera installed at Ogmore by Sea soon, covering the dangerous river mouth at Ogmore. This will join the other cameras in the network and be controlled from our tower. All of course can be monitored by the Coastguard Operations Centre at Milford Haven or in fact any Coastguard Operations Centre in the UK. We send good luck wishes and a huge “Thank You” to the Porthcawl Polar Bears who are swimming across the English Channel to raise money for us and Porthcawl RNLI. Our traditional fund-raising activities have been curtailed by Covid19 and the restrictions put upon us. As an organisation that relies totally on public donations, such a gesture means so much to us in the current climate.
Nick Weedon Media Officer, Porthcawl NCI
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NEW PORTHCAWL ROTARY PRESIDENT
Held in Andrew’s garden on 23rd June 2020 the outgoing President Hugh Moatt hands over the chain of office to the new President Andrew Singer. Porthcawl Rotary is pleased to welcome Andrew Singer as its new President. Andrew is a long serving member of Rotary and has held several key roles within the club. Andrew is a Chartered accountant. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions the handing over of the chain was a short ceremony witnessed by a couple of members and guests. Hon Rotarian Canon Philip Masson gave his blessing. On Friday 26th June 2020 the official virtual handover was completed via ZOOM. Hugh welcomed everybody and then gave his outgoing speech and thanked all those who supported him as President during his term of office. Andrew then gave his welcoming address and thanked Hugh for all his hard work, commitment and enthusiasm. Judy Moatt, Inner Wheel President then gave her greetings and best wishes on behalf of Inner Wheel. This was followed by a talk given by Steven Moat on the Madagascar Charity project, which the club supported. Porthcawl Rotarians would like to thank the public for their continued support even through these difficult times. Keep safe and well.
Robert Lee TRINITY CHURCH
Greetings to all our Trinity Members, friends and family. Thoughts are especially with those who have been isolated. We hope the weekly newsletter and audio service from Teddy and the worship team are helpful. Congratulations are due to Pat Thomas and Derek Crowder who have successfully completed a sponsored cycling challenge during June. They have raised over £1800 for the NHS. We are all missing social contact and fellowship but have to find new ways to reach each other. We have organised a Bible study via Zoom and this will also be used for our Church Council meetings. We will be exploring ways in which we can safely open the church for services. Many changes and adaptations will be necessary to meet Government guidelines and protect our vulnerable members. Until we can meet all safety requirements we will need to continue virtual meetings and Services. The Trinity Bargain Corner is hoping to partially open during August on selected mornings. This will be outside the church and therefore weather permitting. Please contact Teddy or the pastoral team via telephone, Facebook page or website if you have any concerns. We would also welcome suggestions for future ways of communicating and sharing fellowship.
Alison Meredith Thomas, Communication Secretary www.trinitychurchporthcawl.org
TOOLS FOR SELF RELIANCE
The workshop is still closed due to social distancing, it is difficult for us to comply with the rules as our premises are quite small but we are considering ways to get back to work. At the present time we are unable to accept any tool deliveries, as we have no staff to process and store them. I would like to say a few words about the late Brian Froley. He was a great friend of ours and helped us on many occasions with various electrical issues over the years, always willing to give advice and suggestions. We had a large grit blaster given to us so we asked Brian to look at what we needed to get it working, the electrical load was so great that Brian gave us a choice of running the blaster or the workshop, sadly it had to go. One of his last act of kindness was to donate a trailer that he had built several years ago, it needed some work which was duly carried out by our members and now is back on the road, see photo. Our first pick up using it was to Barry, it worked perfectly.
David Cook, Workshop Manager
PORTHCAWL LIONS
Outgoing President Joan Cosson passes the Porthcawl Lions Presidential Chain across a social distance to her successor Lorrie Desmond-Williams Porthcawl Lions are looking forward to resuming their activities as soon as possible and have started meeting by Zoom. At her first meeting i/c Lorrie thanked Joan for holding things together in a very difficult time. This is the more true with an age profile to extend covid-caution, so new younger members would be all the more welcome - to enjoy our fund-raising and community activities and friendly company contact Jim on 859505.
Andrew Collier
THE INNER WHEEL CLUB OF PORTHCAWL
It has been four months since we met last and we have no idea when we will be able to meet again, however we have not been idle. We have still been able to make donations to deserving causes and have given donations to the Guide Hall, the Porthcawl covid baker’s cookery book and the Inner Wheel International Covid 19 fund. July 1st is the start of a new year and the inauguration of a new President. We could not go out for our usual club afternoon tea but had a little ceremony where outgoing President Judy Moatt handed the chain of office to our new President Mary Emment Lewis, who intends to make Autism Awareness and Liver disease her charities for the year. Hopefully things will be back to normal before too long and we will be able to resume our monthly meetings and coffee mornings. Keep well and safe.
Liz Jones
SANDVILLE SELF HELP CENTRE
Like many organisations we have had to close our doors here at Sandville Court from the 23rd March to the present, with no idea when we will be able to open once again. This has been so sad for all our Patients, Volunteers and Therapist’s when you consider approximately 130 patients a week attended the centre. We are also missing our Respite Patients who stay with us from Mon –Fri and come from all over the UK. We have had two staff members on furlough for three months, but I have worked 10-2pm to keep the place ticking over and I have also done Self Hypnosis via telephone, in fact I did 90 patients in May and 70 in June. The centre has taken advantage during this period and we have had our big activity room known as ‘Colin’s Room’, and our bar lounge known as ‘Porthcawl Truckers Bar’ refurbished. The carpets and furnishings were done by James, of Porthcawl Furnishers and the curtains and cushions by Omega Interiors. We hope everyone associated with the Sandville is keeping well, and we look forward to seeing you when this difficult time ends. God Bless.
Sister Gwyneth Poacher
NATIONAL COASTWATCH INSTITUTION – PORTHCAWL
During June we dealt with 6 logged incidents and we monitored a further 12. The logged incidents involved various surfers and swimmers in difficulty and a Coastguard request to monitor a vessel also believed to be in difficulty. With single-crewed watches our priorities have been monitoring the shoreline and small craft users close to shore using our CCTV and high-powered optics. We logged 46 commercial vessels, 782 leisure craft, 1 military and 9 others. We hope to have a new CCTV camera installed at Ogmore by Sea soon, covering the dangerous river mouth at Ogmore. This will join the other cameras in the network and be controlled from our tower. All of course can be monitored by the Coastguard Operations Centre at Milford Haven or in fact any Coastguard Operations Centre in the UK. We send good luck wishes and a huge “Thank You” to the Porthcawl Polar Bears who are swimming across the English Channel to raise money for us and Porthcawl RNLI. Our traditional fund-raising activities have been curtailed by Covid19 and the restrictions put upon us. As an organisation that relies totally on public donations, such a gesture means so much to us in the current climate.
Nick Weedon Media Officer, Porthcawl NCI
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RLE LAW WELCOMES JANINE
RLE Law are pleased to announce that Janine Edwards has joined the team as our new Head of Property. a former salaried partner and the Head of an award winning Property Department of a South wales Practice. She was also awarded the prestigious ‘Conveyancer of the Year’ by the Modern Law awards in 2016.
She has a wealth of experience in both Residential and Commercial Property matters and can advise on a broad and complex range of transactions. Janine states that she ‘is committed to client satisfaction and that having a proactive approach and keeping all parties updated is key to ensuring a smooth transaction. My goal is to deliver the service that I would expect as a client.’
Janine will also be expanding the firm’s commercial property service and is an expert in her field; being able to advise on the acquisition and disposal of commercial buildings, development land, lease of all commercial buildings (having acted for both landlord and tenant) to include industrial units, public houses, places of worship and education centres. She is also an experienced adviser in commercial financing, building leases and development agreements.
And is looking forward to Heading the Property Department at RLE Law and welcomes any enquiries you have in respect of all property related transactions.
PRoPERtY Law UPDatE the Housing Market in wales begins to re-open
As from 22nd June 2020, the law in Wales has allowed you to move home if your sale has been previously agreed but not yet completed. The property must have been empty for at least three days or there is evidence that the property has been deep cleaned. This will be the same if a tenancy has also been agreed.
You will be able to place your home on the market for sale, but if you are living at that property or it has tenants (occupied) then viewings by potential buyers and or tenants can only be carried out virtually. In the week commencing 27 July 2020, the Welsh Government will look again at the latest health advice and evidence and consider fully reopening the housing market to allow viewings in occupied properties, which will be welcome news to house sellers and buyers who are keen move home.
the welsh Government has issued further guidance which can be viewed at: https://gov. wales/moving-home-during-coronavirus-pandemic Stamp duty holiday for Buyers in wales
The Finance Minister for Wales has confirmed that there will be a Homebuyer’s tax holiday for Wales. The starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase from £180,000 to £250,000 for the residential main rates when the new measure is introduced on Monday 27th July 2020. The tax reduction will last until 31st March 2021.
It is said that the changes reflect the nature of the housing market in Wales, where house prices on average are considerably lower in Wales than in England.
However, the tax reduction will not apply to purchase on additional properties including buy to let and second homes.
For further information please read https://gov.wales/finance-minister-sets-out-homebuyerstax-holiday-for-wales Visit our new website at www.rlelaw.com today!
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T: 01656 656861 E: bridgend@rlelaw.com - 4 Derwen Rd, Bridgend, CF31 1LH T: 01443 775000 E: treorchy@rlelaw.com - 13 High St, Treorchy, CF42 6AA
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