Llanhilleth Institute's Launch Week, May 27-30 2008, (with Mgr, Hannah Jenkins)
Harry illustrated his talk with his photographs. Starting at Pen-y-Fan pond
he presented a guided tour around many of the beautiful sights of Wales.
Wednesday: 7.30pm, Chunkie Russel, a Children's Show with Folly Farm.
Thursday: 7.30pm, Open Mic - Poetry, and music night with Llanhilleth writers group. open to everyone. Guest speaker: crime-writing author Babs Horton, with local tenor Lesley Price.
Friday: Swinging Sixties Night with a top tribute show, Welsh Beatles, disco, fancy dress optional.
Tuesday – Friday: 10.00am-4.00pm, Carnival Arts, with a carnival performance.
Prince Charles Visit, 23 October 2008
On Thurs 23 October
2008 HRH Prince Charles was met by hundreds of well-wishers for the official
opening of the restored Institute.
During his three hour tour of the building the Prince was shown the
facilities including the function hall, Red Ash community cafe, training rooms,
IT facilities, interactive library and mobile creche.
He met staff, volunteers and representatives of local groups who
used the building for education and leisure, as well as people involved with
its renovation. The Prince was
accompanied by members of the press and TV, and Chris Smith, the Chairman of
the Institute management committee, met the Prince and explained that the
regeneration scheme had also included
the new St Illtyds school and railway station as well as the bypass and
a new town square. Chris is
the son of Bill (Shilling) Smith, a miner, and chairman of the Institute for 30
years (WHEN).  |
| The new spiral staircase joining the 'Stute to the school. |
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First Wedding
The
Institute has been known for many years as a suitable place to look for a
prospective partner, and later as the venue for the wedding reception.
Back in the 1950s Llanhilleth Methodist Church celebrated the double wedding of Mavis and her sister, two of the four daughters of Mr Smith the baker from Herberts Bakers. The two white wedding dresses were made along with the bridesmaids’ gowns by Mavis’ mother, and her father made the four-tier wedding cake.
 |
| The newel posts have been recreated in the original design |
Apparently
any couple forwarding to the manufacturers, a wedding photograph displaying a
bottle of HP sauce next to the wedding cake would receive a free gift. Unfortunately I have been unable to find
evidence to support this statement.
Now
couples can take this a step further and take their marriage vows on the
premises.
On
1 September 2009 Llanhilleth Institute received approval notification as a
venue for solemnisation of marriage and registration of Civil Partnerships in
accordance with Marriages Act 1949, amended 1994 and further amendments.
This
approval covered The Main Hall (Ithel) and the Ebbw Suite for the registration
District of Blaenau Gwent, which consists of Tredegar, Abertillery and
Brynmawr.
On
14 November 2009 the ‘Stute held its first wedding ceremony for Rob and Nicola
Griffiths from Plymouth.
 |
| The tiered section of the Ballroom with new balustrades |
Facilities & Statistics
Over the year 2010 the ‘Stute had 18,000 visitors
with 161 organisations using the facilities.
A
range of sound and lighting equipment has been installed in the ballroom to
enhance a variety of shows and provide a choice of stage effects.
It is interesting to see that the glitter ball
which was removed during the recent renovations has now been replaced along
with quite a sophisticated lighting system, enabling the ambience to be changed
to suit any occasion.
 |
| The tiered section as many remember with solid panels. |
Quotes from some of the
volunteers who help at the Institute:
“It’s a
fabulous building and everyone’s so friendly.
Its relaxing, not like going to work at all.”
“I volunteer in the cafe a few days a week, but I
help with buffets, the bar, lunches and take courses. Recently I did a balloon course to arrange
them for weddings and parties. They
push you, but in a nice way.”
“When I’m not working, I’m talking to the
customers.”
 |
| The first floor corridor in place of the Bar. |
A brown sign
indicating a historical building, has been erected at the junction into
Llanhilleth from the A467.
Services available at the
‘Stute
In 2010 there are two
Doctor’s surgeries and a Flying Start Creche as well as the Communities First
office to bring in a rental income.
Weddings, room hire, buffets, conferences also contribute to the
cash-flow. Currently it is run as a
registered charity with any profit going to contribute free events for the
local community. Hallowe’en 2010 was an
example of this. Community Groups such
as the Karate Club and Tea Dance Club are subsidised to encourage local
involvement.
As well as a Baby Innoculation
Clinic, Communities First support parenting classes for families with children
up to the age of primary school.
Youth Work
St Illtyds Communities
First provide Outreach and detached programs for young people to help them link
into new and existing services and gain experience and self confidence. Advice is available on Employment, Sexual
health, general health and local services.
Events are held on bullying as well as street games and dance, and
sport. A respect for the local
community is gained by holding community litter picks as well as activities
such as Action Camp, Ice Skating and the Youth Mayors Inauguration event. Various issues have been identified and
tackled including alcohol abuse, and lack of youth provision in the area.
Tylorstown Institute
The Llanhilleth
Partnership Board and Institute are supporting Tylorstown Communities First in
restoring their local institute to its former glory.
Flying Start Nursery
The Flying Start Nursery
is funded by the WAG (Welsh Assembly Gov.)
It is based in a new section of the Institute with access from the
staircase linking the Ground and Upper Ground floors. This section of the building is light and
bright with a secure outside area where the infants can enjoy lively play
safely in fine weather.
The nursery provides free
supervision for 2-3 year olds from families who fit a set of criteria, within
the local catchment area. Each session
lasts for two and a half hours.
Children are allowed to start the term after their second birthday and
remain until after their third birthday before progressing on to the Play &
Grow nursery located in the school building next door. Often parents are busy with work and
family problems, but the ethos of Flying Start is to encourage families to play
together. Monday sessions are for
babies aged 0-1 years, Tuesday for toddlers aged 1-3 years, and a baby clinic
is held on Wednesdays, for any problems the children may have and to keep a
check on their weight and developmental stepping stones. Most families live within walking distance
of the Institute which also houses a Family Support Team and Health Visitor who
can make house calls and help support the family, finding child care if
necessary and generally encourage the family to ensure their child learns
through play.
Luncheon Club
Billy Bennet, a comedian
from Neath appears regularly at the monthly luncheon club. A three-course meal and bingo usually
completes the £5 entertainment.
Llanhilleth Institute
appears to have great support from the populations of Tredegar, Abertillery,
Blaina, Sofrydd, Nantyglo, Ebbw Vale and
beyond. Unfortunately this cannot
always be said of the local people of Llanhilleth village.
GENERATE PROJECT
organised
by Communities First in 2011, was an intergenerational project designed to
bring Llanhilleth residents of different age groups together to discuss their
similarities and differences and find a better mutual understanding .
Young and old were paired together to
interview each other. These interviews
were recorded and played back at the Institute in front of an invited
audience. Many of the questions on
screen brought discussion from the floor.
Quoted below are comments, ideas and views of some of the people taking
part in those interviews:
Anti-social Behaviour
Are
young people involved in anti-social behaviour these days any different from
the youth of fifty years
ago? Groups of young people outside
shops can be felt to be intimidating to older people. Fifty
years ago, the young people, and their
families would have been known to the older generation. Many fewer motor cars meant people remained
in the village and had more local contact.
Older people spoke of when they were young, tying cotton to door
knockers to allow them to be activated from a distance without being
caught. Kids getting up to mischief, or
anti-social behaviour? Access was
allowed to the tip and youngsters would take coal and make a fire on the
mountain to camp. Would this be classed as thieving today? It wasn’t then.
Football used to be played in the
street where everyone knew each other. It was
perhaps a nuisance, devilment. Would this be tolerated
today?
In
the 1950s and 60s there were 4 youth clubs, a cinema, sports clubs and lots of
things for young people to be involved wsith.
Teenagers of 15 and 16 would be running their own youth club with very
little supervision from adults. They
would have been possibly working at that age.
Once you started work you were treated as an adult and respected.
Education
Fifty
or more years ago punishment would have been a slap with a ruler, a cane or
slipper. Some of pride amongst
classmates. Children would play outside
until dark. There were no after-school
events or social workers or careers guidance.
These
days teachers could not touch a child, and must have a parent’s
permission before keeping a child after school.
permission before keeping a child after school.
Volunteering
Young
people enjoyed learning new skills and leadership away from the house. They met new people and had a sense of
achievement. Today people are less
willing to share their time and experiences with the young. Llanhilleth Institute provides a base for
volunteering opportunities for all ages.
Young people enjoyed helping
others. It provided a good feeling and
helped them develop and gain confidence.
The youth group at the Institute has been raising money for charity.
In the 1950s it was easier to
organise volunteers. There was no
requirement for a
CRB check or risk assessment.
CRB check or risk assessment.
Employment
Today
a part-time job can be uneconomical as the money earned can go on
bus fare.
bus fare.
Years
ago there was plenty of employment: the
pit, steel works, tin works.
You went from one job to another quite easily, but not today. The average pit
labourer earned £7.50 a week in 1950s. It could take an hour and a half by bus and
walking to get to work out of the area. Perhaps two hours to get home after you
missed the bus.
You went from one job to another quite easily, but not today. The average pit
labourer earned £7.50 a week in 1950s. It could take an hour and a half by bus and
walking to get to work out of the area. Perhaps two hours to get home after you
missed the bus.
Often
youths were employed by people who knew the family. Its not so easy
today. There are no more jobs for life.
today. There are no more jobs for life.
Environment
The
buildings, roads and river were dirty with a lot of smoke from the industries
and pollution in the river. The colliery washed the coal and dumped the
waste in the river. It would run black,
or brown from the steel works. Now
there are herons and fish, but there is still litter in the river. There were more people on the roads, you
walked everywhere. Everyone used the
streets and housewives washed their front-door step and pavement. There was no litter on the roads as there
was little money for luxuries, and ice-cream
and ice lollipops didn’t come wrapped in paper. There were no fast-food outlets years ago
or takeaway food. People were not so
fussy about their back lanes though.
These were often full of litter.
There used to be road sweepers with a wheelbarrow to keep the streets clean. People couldn’t afford cars, so they stayed
in their own village. They had more
The
mountains and streams were fairly clean.
As a child in the 1950’s you
could walk anywhere on the mountains, it was quite safe. You could take a picnic
and play all day in the ponds, light a fire on the side and bake potatoes. There was
never any idea of anyone molesting or causing trouble. Everyone looked out for one
another.
could walk anywhere on the mountains, it was quite safe. You could take a picnic
and play all day in the ponds, light a fire on the side and bake potatoes. There was
never any idea of anyone molesting or causing trouble. Everyone looked out for one
another.
Today
people dump litter, and do whatever they feel like. They don’t care
about the problems it will cause in the future. There are green spaces and nice
views, but children cannot play outside. There are no pathways to walk along. There
are not enough shops in the town centre and too many serving food. They just
don’t look attractive. The graffiti should be cleaned up.
about the problems it will cause in the future. There are green spaces and nice
views, but children cannot play outside. There are no pathways to walk along. There
are not enough shops in the town centre and too many serving food. They just
don’t look attractive. The graffiti should be cleaned up.
--oo0oo—
Communities
First has helped the generations to talk together. With everyone caring for their surroundings
and feeling part of the same community progress can be made towards a clean and
pleasant environment.
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