A SAD LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY: Many of you will have learned of the sad loss of Councillor Cheryl Morris last week.

Cheryl had been a trader in Abertillery for over 30 years, and her shop was also a centre where many of us would call in and share our troubles and joys.

Cheryl was always a champion for the underdog and would help as many people as she could from supporting local charity appeals to helping sick children, being the collection point for hand-knitted or crocheted blankets, maternity coats and bonnets for the premature baby units at both The Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall Hospitals, to selling tickets for our local societies' productions as well as giving generously to local raffles.

In recent years her shop had been the local collection point for Operation Christmas Child and she took great pride in the support the appeal was given from local residents.

If people needed information, it was always, "Ask Cheryl: if she doesn't know, she'll find out.".

Cheryl was well known for being the local correspondent of The Gwent Gazette, a position which she had covered for 10 years.

As well as being a member of the Abertillery Traders' Forum, Cheryl also played a large part in St John's Church being a member of the PCC, taking her turn as secretary and compiling the parish magazine.

But it was when she was elected ward member for Cwmtillery that Cheryl really came into her own, serving her constituents tirelessly and helping to improve living conditions for those in her ward.

Cheryl was that rare breed who gave of herself and time willingly and unsparingly.

Although I had known Cheryl to nod to for many years, it was only over the last five years that we became friends.

Her sense of what was right, her willingness to fight for a just cause and her innate integrity were all qualities which I valued.

But there was so much more to Cheryl; she was a completely reliable confidant and her positive attitude made finding solutions to problems much easier.

She helped me tremendously through a particularly dark period of my life, and I know I am not alone in finding that.

There was also her wicked sense of humour, her love for Man Utd, but, above all, her zest for life.

For those of us who were privileged to be among her friends, her passing has left a huge hole in our lives which we are only just beginning to comprehend.

Our thoughts are with her family as they try to come to terms with their loss.

WIZARD TIME WILL BE HAD BY ALL: Abertillery Youth Drama & Music Society takes to the stage, once more with their production of The Wizard of Oz.

The popular, family musical will be performed by this young talented cast from Tuesday 19-Friday 22, February, at the Metropole, Abertillery.

Please contact the Society on (01495) 217049 for sales. Tuesday night tickets cost £5 with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at £5.50.Doors open at 6.30pm, curtain up at 7pm.

After the success of last year's show, Summer Holiday, you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment. It promises to be a very good night's entertainment.

EDUCATION AT THE MUSEUM: Abertillery and District Museum caters for school groups, offering fun educational activities.

The themes and subjects in the museum are geared to school requirements and the National Curriculum.

Subjects and displays include: Romans and Celts, Tudors and Stuarts, Victorian (Ironworkers, Coalminers, Shop and Washday) and the Second World War (on both the battle and the home front).

There are interactive displays where children can dress up in costumes relevant to the period they are studying, and these include the Bon Marché Shop, which can be adapted for either the Victorian era or that of the Second World War rationing and the use of ration books.

The Second World War costumes, uniforms and equipment can be used to illustrate this period in our history following health and safety guidelines.

Victorian Washday has always been popular with schoolchildren visiting the museum, using the dolly pegs, rubbing boards and the whole process of washday, from the tub to the ironing board.

The new addition of a replica wash house gives the children an even better insight of the Welsh mam' and her arduous task on the Monday washing day.

Then there's Who am I? A section with mirrors and different period hats for the children to try on.

What's under the floorboards? Is a fun game, giving the children a tactile experience of old objects hidden beneath floorboards.

Roman corn grinding has a full-size quoin stone, with Roman numerals stamp, used to grind corn and smaller ones available for the children to participate in grinding corn into flour.

Other activities include sand pit excavation, where children can delve in the sand to find buried objects.

Please contact the Curator, Don Bearcroft, on (01495) 211140 if you would like to book Abertillery and District Museum for a school visit.