CARDRIS DANCE CLUB RESOLVEN

A familiar feature of Resolfen life in recent years has been that of the Cardris Dance Club. John Rees has sent this account by Caryl Thomas of the origins and activities of the club.

“Idris and I were ballroom and latin dancers, who due to illness had to retire from competing. As we did not want to give up our love of dancing ( and what we had achieved) we decided to open a dance club at the village Rugby Club. When they realised the proceeds were to be donated to charity they gave us free use of the hall on Thursday nights, and we commenced on May 25th 1995. Another evening was also designated for line dancing.

At that time one of the dancers suggested a name for the club by using our Christian names

CARyl + iDRIS = CARDRIS

As the photograph shows we now have a loyal following of dancers including couples and singles.

The following local charities have benefited from our efforts:-

LATCH cancer

NEATH AND DISTRICT CANCER CARE

TY OLWEN HOSPICE

ALZHEIMERS AT TONNA HOSPITAL

M.S.SWANSEA

AIR AMBULANCE

EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP

TY HAFAN CHILDREN’S HOSPICE. ”

An anonymous dancer adds the following information to this post.

“Caryl in her modesty has not told you that we have over the years donated the grand total of £60,000!!. The quality of the instruction is emphasised by the fact that some of our members travel from Swansea, Neath, Crynant, Aberdare and Port Talbot. These asylum seekers were welcomed and many lasting friendships have developed over the years. We appreciate the exercise but the therapy of having fun with good companions is beyond measure”.


NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME AT RESOLVEN RUGBY CLUB ON THURSDAY AT 8p.m.

Or contact :

Caryl Thomas
26 Rheola Avenue
Resolfen

Tel: 711422

cardris-danceclub@hotmail.co.uk

Summer Trip to Newcastle Emlyn

Arriving at Drefach-Felindre- amazingly the members forego a cup of tea before commencing.

Some twenty seven members embarked on the annual summer trip. This year, the National Wool Museum at Drefach Felindre and the West Wales Museum of Childhood at Llangeler were the chosen destinations.

Wool was historically the most widespread of Wales’s industries. Drefach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn was once the centre of a thriving woollen industry and was even called the “Huddersfield of Wales”. The wool industry produced cloth, shirts, shawls, blankets, bedcovers stockings and socks all aimed at the heavy industrial market of the time. Indeed the Cambrian Mills (where the museum is located) still produces some of these goods for the tourist market but to all intents and purposes production these days has either moved abroad or lacks a natural market.Demonstrating a Welsh style shawl for nursing an infant - a sight stll viewed occasionally in Resolfen today

The Cambrian Mills began production in the 1880s and declined slowly as did the remainder of the “brethyn” industry over the twentieth century in parallel with social and industrial changes in Wales. The building was eventually converted into a museum in the 1980s and was re-opened in 2004 following major re-development . The members were treated to a guided tour lasting some one and a half hours in which the guides gave several practical demonstrations of the process of cloth production.



Demonstrating a foot driven loom


Demonstrating the weaving of brethyn on a large loom


The Museum of Childhood is a rather more modest if no less interesting museum, set in the old farmhouse of Pen-Ffynnon at Llangeler. It includes over 10,000 enchanting items of memorabilia which could not but engender happy memories of past childhoods. The museum was split into four rooms covering model railways, toys, heritage and a timeline. It also included a well stocked tea room for the members who could not wait to partake of its delights; after all they had gone at least half an hour since the last watering hole!! The welcome at both museums was excellent and their websites can be visited for more information:




Mair and Bob Norton enjoy the model train room. Mair is shortly stepping down as treasurer to the History Society after decades of service.

www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/wool/

http://www.toymuseumwales.co.uk/


Trefor Jones