Brynmawr news

It is in recognition of individuals and/or groups of citizens whose work reflects well on the people and the town of Brynmawr.

This year's categories are: Champion Carer, Champion Good Neighbour, Champion Shopkeeper/Assistant, Champion Business/Retailer, Champion Pupil (infants, juniors, and seniors), Champion Teacher, Champion Environmental, Special Achievement Award, Champion Senior Citizen, Champion Youth, Champion Community Group, Brynmawr Citizen of the Year and the Edwin L Jones Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nomination forms are available from The Framing Centre, Bailey Street, Brynmawr; The Post Office, Beaufort Street, Brynmawr; Brynmawr DIY Centre, Beaufort Street and BrynmawrScene/BRfm at Lakeside Studios, Pond Road Nantyglo or telephone 01495 313003 for further information.The event is organised by BrynmawrScene.

Fire Service Update: A few weeks ago I made a request in this news column for information on the Fire Service as I had been contacted by John Harrington.

I had a reply dated February 23 from a Mr or Mrs Jones of Blaenafon but unfortunately the letter was very late in getting delivered to me, was badly damaged while in transit and a part of it was missing.

I have salvaged as much as I could and the author of the letter says they recall the fire station in Blaenavon being under the council offices (now the library), but the station is now in Cae White and has been since about 1950.

The letter also says the old horse-drawn fire wagon, kept at the Blaenafon Company Stables (also at Cae White, Abergavenny Road) is now at the museum in Pontypool Park, near St Albans School.

So where are all the shining brass helmets worn at all the civic parades in Blaenafon in the 1930s?

Thank you Mr/Mrs Jones for that information and apologies for the late entry in this column but circumstances were out of my control.

We are certainly catching up on our fire service knowledge this week.

Thank you to Gareth Morgan of Brynmawr for the following information about his local fire service.

The first fire station in Brynmawr was next to Brynmawr Institute - now the new toilets.

You can see photographs of this building with the Brynmawr brigade outside the current facilities with their first appliance, Captain Webb a local ironmonger was the officer in charge, all wearing their brass helmets.

The first appliance was man-powered, and then Brynmawr UDC purchased a second-hand motorised appliance from London.

This was used until the start of the Second World War, when the Brynmawr firefighters and many others became the National Fire Service (NFS).

At the end of the war, the local fire service became part of the Brecon and Radnorshire Fire Service.

This existed until local government boundary changes, when Brynmawr Station was then controlled by Gwent Brigade.

This has now changed again to be part of South Wales Brigade.

The shed Mr Harrington refers to was in Factory Road.This was built at the start of the war and was operational until the present fire station was built in the early 1960's.

Thank you Mr Morgan for that information and apologies again for the late mention here in the news column.

I will pass this information on to Mr Harrington.

We Will Rock You: Brynmawr Comprehensive School is performing the West End musical, We Will Rock You from April 24 to 27 in its school hall.

The show, written by Ben Elton, features the music of Queen.

You can buy tickets from the school on 01495 310527 for £5 per adult and £4 per child.

Brynmawr Arts and Crafts Society: Brynmawr Arts and Crafts Society will meet at 7pm on Wednesday, April 18, at Brynmawr Learning Action Centre, in Market Square.

Frank Olding will lecture and show slides on the art and archaeology of the Celts.Visitors are always welcome for £1 per evening.

Brynmawr Historical Society: The next meeting of the historical society will be on Wednesday, April 18, at Ysgol Gymraeg, Clydach Street, Brynmawr at 7pm. Margaret Lloyd will be speaking on the Crawshay Family.

BRfm - Open Day: Call in to BRfm's new home at Lakeside Studios, Pond Road, Nantyglo on Saturday 21st April between 10am and 4pm.

BRfm is inviting visitors to have a look at its new studios, meet the station directors and volunteers, chat with the BRfm presenters, see how live shows are broadcast and even have a go at presenting or making a jingle.

There will be a full day of live shows with a variety of presenters.

If you want to be part of the team then you can sign up and register your interest.

There are taster sessions available to let you learn broadcasting and media production skills.

This is also a chance for the directors and presenters to say thank you to all their supporters who helped them realise their dream of getting a full-time broadcasting license for BRfm.

BRfm is back for good and aims to be live in your living room, kitchen and your car by September 2007 - watch this space.

In the meantime keep listening by logging onto the BRfm website www.brfm.co.uk and you can also see the presenters on air via the BRfm webcam.

Have a good week.