Victory for Aberdare Sikh Excluded from School via Aberdare Blog
Today the High Court awarded victory to Sarika Singh, a Sikh schoolgirl, who was excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle.
The human rights group Liberty, representing 14-year-old Sarika Singh, successfully argued that Aberdare Girls’ School breached race relations and equality laws by excluding her since November 2007 for wearing the kara (a plain single bangle widely accepted as a central tenet of the Sikh race and religion).
Sarika Singh, of mixed Welsh/Punjabi origin, has been raised in the Sikh faith and was the only Sikh at the Aberdare Girls’ School. The school’s uniform policy prohibits the wearing of any jewellery other than a wrist watch and plain ear studs. When the school noticed that Singh was wearing the kara, she was isolated for two months, including...
Two more people wanted from Aberdare…
If two more people sign up for the free Hear From Your MP service, Aberdare’s MP will receive an invitation to contact her constituents via the service.
The Hear From Your MP service is free and it enables MPs to communicate with their constituents.
In the words of Tom Steinberg and the MySociety crew : “HearFromYourMP is a site which allows you, the constituent, to sign up to get emails from your local MP about local issues. When your MP writes to you and other constituents, we give you the chance to discuss what has been said in a simple online forum.”
Here’s the link to Aberdare’s MP Ann Clwyd (Labour) on Hear From Your...... 
An Icarean sculpture seems like a good idea!
Aberdare was bathed in some sun today and the forecast remains good for the rest of the week.
We have added photos of Tom Harvey’s Fall of Icarus to the Gallery.
Sculpted in Indian Cedar and measuring 9′ tall, the sculpture forms part of the Cwmaman Sculpture Trail and is located near St Joseph’s Church, Cwmaman.
It is a pleasure to be able to publish photos of local sculptures. The Cwmaman Sculpture Trail offers a very pleasant walk in a beautiful nook of the Valley reclaimed from former industrial...... 
A growing number of Aberdare people are Skip Diving as part of a healthier lifestyle.
We have added a smorgasbord of skip diving photos for apprentice divers to test their wits.
Which skips are worth a second look ? Which might contain treasure and pearls ?... 
It is with considerable sadness we announce that Huw Lewis AM has joined the Mumbo Jumbo Cult.
On 3rd July 2008, he announced on his blog that he has “joined the revolution”. This is a common phrase chanted by new Cult Members as they ritually affirm that they belong to their new ‘family’.
The Mumbo Jumbo Cult has swept through the Welsh political landscape claiming many other Assembly Member casualties.
Symptoms of Cult Membership include excessive references to brand names and imagery in a not-very-subtle attempt to recruit more people to the Mumbo Jumbo ’cause’.
Huw Lewis History
On July 18th 2007, Huw Lewis was sacked as Deputy Minister for Transport and the Economy. Two months later he published his Winning for Wales pamphlet on the future... 
The People of this Valley will extend a warm welcome to Prince Charles who will be visiting today as part of a Royal Tour.
HRH Prince Charles the Prince of Wales is expected to visit the Welsh Whisky Company distillery in the village of Penderyn, set in the beautiful landscape of Brecon Beacons National Park.
Prince Charles takes a deep interest in the important things in life : the people, the land and the food we grow. He is a knowledgeable farmer who has championed the environmental cause for many, many years.
Thus we hope this Royal visit will encourage a greater interest in these subjects in Aberdare. We need to grow more of our own food in Aberdare and other former industrial areas and we need to husband and conserve the land and our resources more responsibly.
In the... 
Ann Clwyd - Aberdare’s MP - drew attention to the plight of starving people in Zimbabwe yesterday in a debate in the House of Commons. She contributed a persuasive anecdote concerning her recent trip to South Africa…
While I was in South Africa a few weeks ago, Zimbabwean refugees handed me a note for 10 million Zimbabwean dollars. That buys a bag of tomatoes in Zimbabwe. Now Mugabe is prepared to starve his people to death for their votes. What kind of human being is President Mugabe ?
- Source Hansard, via TheyWorkForYou. Click the link to read Mrs Clwyd’s full contribution to the Parliamentary debate.
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For regular updates on Ann Clwyd MP’s debate contributions, sign-up to the free Hear From your MP...... 
Once again Groundwork Trust host another Green Dayz Weekend at the Fedw Hir Eco Centre near Llwydcoed. The event runs this weekend on Saturday 17th May and Sunday 18th May from 10am until 4pm.
There was plenty of activities to entertain the whole family including hands-on pottery and ceramic session, handmade twig pencil-making, felt-making, face-painting, willow weaving, hurdle fencing and … welly wanging.
For Saturday only there was grand show of eagles and owls, including the world’s largest owl who was, thankfully, quite placid and friendly.
According to the Groundwork Trust, Welly Wanging is a sport that originated in Britain, most likely in Yorkshire. Competitors are required to hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within boundary...... 
There is no need to panic, the green-haired ‘aliens’ currently walking from Hirwaun via Aberdare to Abercynon are friendly!
And they are raising lots of hard cash for Macmillan Cancer Care Support as part of the annual Macmillan Walk.
Please feel free to liberate all spare change in your pockets, purses, piggy banks… it’s all for a good...... 
Adrian Shepherd is fighting for the survival of the Allotment Gardens at Trallwng, near Pontypridd.
This is the second allotment site in Rhondda Cynon Taf threatened with closure.
It defies common sense that in a time of rapidly rising energy costs, places to grow food locally are being stolen from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Read the full story on Green Drinks, Rhondda Cynon...... 
Spring is in the air, the sap is rising and creative juices begin to flow in Aberdare.
By popular demand, we have commissioned an exhibition by our mysterious Aberdare Food Artist.
For the Philistine and untrained eye, these works of art look like an everyday meal of eggs, toast, tomato, and cheese.
But it is art, bach, Aberdare Art… click on the images to view the Spring Exhibition.
See also :
Do Play With Your Food, Spring 2007 Exhibition... 
Principal Librarian Norma Jones based at Aberdare Library has vowed to catch up on her reading after retiring from the job after 42 happy years.
Staff at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Libraries and Museum Service gave their favourite colleague a magical send-off in a special retirement party this week.
Gill Evans, Head of Libraries and Museums said: “Norma’s warmth and keen sense of humour made her a firm favourite with staff and users alike and her enthusiasm and commitment enabled the Library Service to deliver a wide range of special projects in addition to day to day normal services.
“As a published poet herself, she was responsible for producing the hugely popular library poetry anthologies, while her musical interests also led to the creation of the recently... 
Aberdare Blog started as an experiment in communicating views of Aberdare and views from Aberdare. It remains an experiment in communication open to participation. Jane from Mountain Ash blogged the lead story on the Mountain Ash Opencast plans this week. Why not blog your own story from Aberdare today ?
Here is a list of the Top 100 tags used to describe posts on Aberdare Blog… if we haven’t blogged on a subject close to your heart, you can fix that yourself. If you prefer to blog a story with photos or video, that’ll do nicely thank you, send them today.
abercynon aberdare Aberdare Town aberdare_park Ann Clwyd Baptists bbc bbc_wales Books Caerphilly capitalism cardiff Ceredigion Chapels charity christine_chapman christmas christmas_2005 Church coal comedy... 
Rev. Bernard Jones became the new Aberdare Rural Dean this week.
Rev. Bernard is currently (Church in Wales) Vicar for the Parish of Hirwaun responsible for two Churches within the Parish : St Lleurwg’s Church (Hirwaun) and the sister church at Penywaun, St Winifred.
The role of Aberdare Rural Dean involves extra responsibilities and duties within other Parishes in the Deanery of Cynon Valley. A key role for the Rural Dean is to support parishes during vacancies. The previous Rural Dean was Rev. Robert Davies of Aberdare Parish.
Congratulations to Rev. Bernard and we wish him well in this new...... 
Would the last Employer to Leave Aberdare please switch off the lights.
It’s no joking matter … Aberdare’s biggest employer is apparently a plastics-factory now threatened with closure.
The news that Everwhite Plastics are in dire financial straits has triggered a predictable political response.
Start of the Funny Season
Politicians have started making wild promises.
Unlike Pinocchio their noses will not grow longer.
They will, however, attempt to out-lie each other.
We can smell your Cant
If you can smell the Cant from Cardiff Bay it’s due to one fact : In May 2008, only four months hence, there are elections for the local council. Nearabouts the factory threatened with closure are some of the most marginal and contested seats in the County Borough of Rhondda... 
Aberdare Caradog School were crowned the Champions at a gruelling schools challenge held recently at Rhondda Heritage Park.
The pupils were all finalists in The Construction Skills Challenge with each team set a challenge to build a bridge with a 50cm span using K’NEX.
Of the 10 schools who participated, Caradog Primary School, Aberdare were crowned the Construction...... 
Merthyr people raise a glass in celebration tonight as the local brewery wins the top award in Cardiff at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival 2007.
The Champion Beer of Wales competition has been won by Rhymney Brewery of Merthyr Tydfil with their classic beer, Dark. The competition, run by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, was held at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival at Cardiff City Hall today. The beer was judged by a panel of beer experts from a selection of more than 200 real ales that are brewed every year in Wales. The judges looked at the aroma, appearance, taste and aftertaste of the top beers of Wales and came to the unanimous decision that Rhymney Dark was the best beer brewed in Wales this year. The beer is 3.9% ABV.
Rhymney Brewery was set up 3 years in Merthyr... 
Aberdare Police show their Community Spirit and help make the Santa Parade events in Aberdare run smoothly this week.
Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers from Aberdare and surrounding villages were at the event to help ensure everything ran smoothly.
Although it was cold, it wasn’t wet and many, many people came to line the route, see the procession with reindeers and the Town Christmas Lights being switched on by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Mayor Jane Ward.
There was an old-fashioned Town Cryer with bells and a horn, and Scooby Doo too!
In the photograph : Aberaman South PCSO Samantha Llewellyn Jones joins in the fun... 
Pirates took over the reception for the Outpatients Clinic at Aberdare Hospital on Friday.
They were raising money in aid of the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
Congratulations to staff at Aberdare Hospital for being such good sports.
The pirates certainly cheered the waiting...... 
Val’s annual coffee morning in aid of Save the Children was a great success this year.
The coffee morning event was held recently at St Fagan’s Church Hall, Trecynon, Aberdare.
There were delicious cakes sold, along with a bric-a-brac sale, raffle, and of course tea and coffee served all to raise money for Save the Children charity.
Congratulations to all those involved in organising this event.
Click on the thumbnail photographs to see larger versions.... 
Good News today for Aberdare people… Remploy announced today that the Cwmbach Remploy site will remain open.
Remploy is the UK’s leading provider of employment services for disabled people. Today it published details of revised proposals for modernisation of the company. Following lengthy consultations with trade unions, the company is proposing to retain operations at the Cwmbach site.
Remploy was opened in Aberdare in 1973 and is part of the company’s healthcare business and manufactures orthotic products, mainly bespoke footwear. It now employs 68 people of whom 64 are disabled. The company is planning to keep the site open in order to develop a plan to support potential increases in business for orthotics arising from public procurement regulations.
Bob... 
Aberdare MP Ann Clwyd (Labour, Cynon Valley) came to Aberdare Town today November 11th 2007 for Remembrance Sunday to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Aberdare, along with representatives from other groups in the Community and several hundred of her constituents.
Photo : Laying the wreath at Aberdare Cenotaph - Ann Clwyd MP and Rhondda Cynon Taff Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Anthony...... 
Twelve year old Richard Morgan and brothers Robert (15yrs), Gareth (12yrs) and Morgan Abraham (10yrs), are all students of the Korean Martial Art Of Tang Soo Do and members of the International Tang Soo Do Federation class which trains at the Penywaun Community centre Gwladys Street.
In their recent grading test, they all achieved high marks and were promoted to green belt one tag (5th GUP). Master Wynford Williams 6th Dan Chief European Instructor and 5th Dan Master Richard Hellings were very impressed with their performances, their attitude and Tang Soo Do Spirit.
As part of the test they had to demonstrate all the basic and advanced kicking techniques for which Tang Soo Do is renowned; their blocking and striking hand techniques, their one step and free sparring abilities, their... 
A staggering 440 social care staff from across Rhondda Cynon Taf have celebrated attaining qualifications - and heard first hand the massive difference they make in the lives of others.
The staff received their NVQ certificates and degree diplomas from Cllr Annette Davies, Cabinet member for Equality and Children’s Services, at Rhondda Heritage Park on October 9. Councillor John David, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, was also at the event to commend their achievements.
As well as being praised for their achievements, which demonstrate their commitment to their work, the staff heard from clients who highlighted how important the profession is.
Rachel Williams and Sharon Clack bravely took to the stage to describe the impact mental illnesses had on their lives, leaving them... 
Congratulations to a very special lady from Penywaun…
Mrs Jenny Roberts of Derlwyn, Penywaun recently celebrated her 80th Birthday.
Best wishes to her and all her family from the Penywaun Online team !
For all your birthday, anniversary and other announcements please drop us a note with a suitable photo.
Birthday Greetings, penywaun, Penywaun... 
A few snaps taken at the Aberdare Rugby Tournament today.
Aberdare Under 12s won their competition.
Aberdare Library, Aberdare Rugby Club, photos, rugby... 
Andy Ferrier was a stallholder today at the Neath Fair and Market.
Dressed in a pink hat and carrying a large inflatable daffodil, he definitely has star quality.
No...